Hey all! BTM707 here, with my first Metroid story, Change of Heart! Couple things you should know: 1. This takes place during the original NES Metroid, and 2. Kraid and Ridley are roughly the same size as Samus, rather than giant hulking creatures. So read, review and enjoy!

Metroid: Change Of Heart

Chapter 1: Kraid and Ridley

The planet Zebes, the ex-home of the ancient Chozo race, now a Space Pirate base. Deep below the surface is a maze of caverns and corridors. Creatures crawled, jumped, and flew everywhere in the several areas that divided the planet.

In an area called Norfair, a reptile-like creature was walking through a passage. He was called Kraid, and he was a Space Pirate general. The creatures of Norfair, though they operated under another leader, knew and respected Kraid, and did not attack him, partially because they knew that if they even attempted to fight him, or their leader, they would be dead in a matter of seconds. So they left him alone as he went on through the caverns.

Soon, the general reached a door, and shooting a spike from an opening on his belly, opened it and walked through. In this room, his back to him was a purple dragon-like creature. He was the leader of Norfair and the other general of the Space Pirates, apart from Kraid. Kraid jumped onto the central platform in the room and called out, "Hey Ridley."

The dragon turned to face the one who had called him. "Kraid!" he said, a bit surprised. "Haven't seen you in a while!"

"Yeah, a couple of weeks or so," Kraid replied. "It doesn't help that I've got to climb up Brinstar, cross through Crateria, and then drop all the way to the depths of Norfair to find you."

"You're at the very depths of Brinstar yourself, Kraid. It's the same for me when I travel to your lair," Ridley told him. "So anyway, what's up?"

"I don't know, Rid. I've been thinking a lot lately, and I need someone to talk to."

"Oh come on! You've got how many creatures roaming around Brinstar; you can't talk to them?" Ridley asked.

"No, I needed to talk to you. My best friend, and the only other leader here," Kraid said.

"It you don't count the Mother Brain, I guess you're right," Ridley replied.

"Yeah, that's why I'm here," Kraid told him.

"What? You want more leaders?" Ridley asked.

"No, no. I meant about Mother Brain," Kraid said.

"Alright, I'm listening," said Ridley, leaning on a brick.

"We reside in the depths of Zebes. Mother Brain keeps us in these rooms to 'guard' them. But think about it; we're at the depths of Zebes, Rid! There's nothing down here. What are we guarding? No one will come down here for any reason!" Kraid explained.

"…Hmm," Ridley spoke at last. "You know, you actually have some good points there, Kraid. I've never thought about it before. You are right, there is nothing down here, and the only reason someone would come down this far is to see us."

"Maybe there's another reason," Kraid spoke slowly.

"What do you mean?" Ridley asked, confused.

"Maybe we're here because there's something Mother Brain isn't telling us," Kraid told him. "Because there's something she doesn't want us to know…"

"Well, I'll admit that is quite a theory," Ridley replied, "but come on! We're Mother Brain's most loyal followers. The Generals of the Space Pirates, second only to Mother Brain herself! Why should she keep something from us?"

"I don't know, Rid. Something just doesn't feel right," Kraid replied, heading for the door.

"Maybe you're right. We could try asking Mother Brain the next time we see her," Ridley suggested.

Kraid shrugged. "I doubt she'd give us an honest answer. Anyways, I'll see you later."

"Later, Kraid."

Kraid left the lair, leaving Ridley alone with his thoughts…

Kraid was on the elevation platform leaving Norfair up to Crateria.

"It seems insane that Mother Brain would be using us and keeping us in the dark, but I just cannot get over the feeling that something is wrong," he mumbled.

Ridley was pacing around his lair, his mind still abuzz with what Kraid had told him.

"It just doesn't seem possible, but could Kraid be right? Could Mother Brain actually not care about us at all? Are we just tools to be used when necessary, and then thrown away when we've served our purpose?" He said out loud.

Ridley decided to put his mind to rest and get some sleep. He needed it, for he was bored day and night, and the only fun he had was when he went to Kraid's lair, or when Kraid came to his. And the visits were never long enough…

It doesn't matter, he thought. If Mother Brain actually did betray us, it would still be the most excitement I've ever had.

Ridley went over to his bed in the corner of the room and lay down, closing his eyes and letting sleep overtake him. He and Kraid, however, were both unaware of the ship currently flying towards Zebes, carrying the one that would indeed change everything…