Heart of a Dragon
By Karasuhato, the "Raven Dove"
(karasuhato@ecmail.i-p.com)
and
Ultima Mayu
(mayu_roxx@hotmail.com)
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The "Metroid" series is copyright of Nintendo co. ltd.
"Rudra no Hihou" (Rudra's Secret Treasure) is copyright of Squaresoft and Graphical Corporations CROWD inc.
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Karasuhato's Key/Legend to story elementals:
= A character's thoughts
italics=character's point of view
CAPITAL LETTERS= character talking loudly
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Doppelganger
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Ridley found himself in a cold, dark world. He could not see where he was going or where he was heading to. He could not turn back either. What was this place? Why was Ridley here to begin with? Suddenly, from the black "sky", a red-violet light fell and landed right in front of Ridley.
"Yaaaah! What is the meaning of this?" Ridley snarled as he started to get ready to battle the light. But as he got near it, it started to take on a form of a mysterious woman, whom was dressed in a golden kimono, with a onyx cloak over the outfit and her head, complete with pearly white rims around the edges. Her blue violet braids hung out, totally contrasting with her pale skin. Her lips were bright blue and she had two red spots on her forehead, above her thin blue-violet eyebrows. From the looks of things, this woman was apparently of a life form higher than Ridley's race, or any race for that matter. So Ridley started to slightly back off and bow to the woman.
"Greetings, dear Ridley." The woman said softly, opening her pale blue eyes. "I am Varuna, one of the five heroic deities." Ridley noticed her blank stare and dilating pupils. Apparently, Varuna was a blind goddess.
"Ah, how did you know my name?" Ridley asked Varuna. "Besides, how did you know that I was here?"
"Well, even though I am a blind goddess, I can sense your warm, living presence here besides me, opposed to the cool presence of a deceased soul." Varuna explains as she felt Ridley's warm body. "And besides, the young heiress of Meifa told me to hand down the Yin Jade to you Ridley."
"But why me, out of every other living being in the galaxy?" Ridley asked, feeling a tad unsure of himself. "All I am good at is slaying lesser beings."
"Oh Ridley, please, don't doubt yourself like that!" cried Varuna, kissing Ridley in the tip of his beak. "You are strong willed and powerful. You were just repressed for many years, that's all. Besides that, you have inherited my sacred treasure and my abilities!"
"Really?" Ridley screeched out, feeling slightly anxious. "That is the same thing that the others with the Jades told me!"
"Yes." replies Varuna, nodding to the Aeonese Dragon. "Now, let me tell you about the 'Legend of the Jades', and show you how everything happened."
"Okay." Ridley said calmly. Varuna struck the ground and a bunch of light blue mist and the mist started to form an image. The image showed five ancient warriors and a misty being with evil eyes and swirling vortex in the center.
This all began on the "Day of Destiny". It was five of us versus one omnipresent being, the Nothingness of Beyond. All five of us fought as hard as we could, using every special power and technique to try and rid of the horrible being. The whole worlds have depended on us, and we would never turn back.
Just before the destruction of this being of Nothingness, Houzhen, Meifa, Mitora and Saizou were starting to weaken and were dying. I was the only one left feeling healthy and robust. So I, Varuna, chose the destiny of offering myself as a sacrifice to the Nothingness of Beyond, so my friends could be saved. Unfortunately though, I was unaware that the Yin Jade was with me while being sacrificed, so confusion and disorder would take place in the galaxy. It was only four out of five jades that stood the test of time.
Now the picture cuts to five of the major Jades and the heirs of the heroic deities.
Now that all five major Jade elements are re-united, you and the others could be the bringers of peace and prosperity in the galaxy.
"How amazing. So that is my destiny!" Ridley sighed in awe. "Don't worry, I won't fail you, dear Varuna!" Varuna started to have other thoughts go through her mind.
"Are Houzhen, Meifa, Mitora and Saizou all right?" Varuna asked, feeling concerned for her estranged friends. It was many epochs since she has seen any of them. She was trapped in the Nothingness' realm the whole time, struggling to get out and see the light. Now, her dream was to come true.
"Yes. They are fine." Ridley responds. "They reside at the palace Gaff in the Netherworld." Varuna started to smile and feel hope after all.
"Oh, thank you very much Ridley! I shall meet them there. I bet they have missed me for so long!" with those final words, Varuna started to dematerialize within the Yin Jade imbedded in Ridley's chest.
"Don't worry Varuna. Don't worry sacred heroes, I won't fail you now!"
---
Out in the voids of space, the Nothingness of Beyond was dormant and resting up from all the chaos it created. A slightly rusted up looking space ship flew towards it, trying to wake it up by nudging around in it's mists.
"Master Nothingness......MASTER NOTHINGNESS....." a feminine voice from the ship shouts out. The misty being opens it's eyes, looking at the pale, fiery armor clad woman coming out from her ship.
"What is it, specimen AR905?" the Nothingness asked in a raspy, wicked voice.
"On Planet Ashura, near the same solar system of Dai-Chi, there are some warriors that inherited the Jade on that planet." AR905 urgently announced. "They must be the heirs of the ancient ones that defeated us eons ago!" The Nothingness' wicked eyes were wide opened, hearing the news.
"Oh ho, we'll see about that!" The Nothingness cackled. "AR905, check out that one shipped that attacked me and my creations. Pretend you are working for them, but then, lead them to Planet Ashura, were we shall get even with the divine ones and return all to the beginning of time! Understand?"
"Yes Master. Indeed I do." AR905 smiled as she headed back to her ship, heading to the Galactic Federation vessels.
Meanwhile, back on the main GF vessel, Xibalba tried to convince everyone on the strange sighting he saw one night, only to get mixed opinions from people.
"But, I SWEAR, I DID see a different looking woman dressed in the armor that Samus Aran used to wear!" Xibalba pled to the group of disbelievers in the break-room, only to have a reply of laughs.
"Yeah right, Xibby! You were fantasizing of such a woman in bed last nights. Nya ha ha ha ha ha!" one of the soldiers taunted, thumbing his nose.
"Oh, I just think you have a 'crush' on Samus, huh?" another soldier taunted back to Xibalba.
"I DO NOT!" Xibalba shouted in frustration. "I like Samus, but not in that kind of way." As Xibalba was trying to deal with the immature soldiers, Azrael came into the break-room to see what the big fuss was about.
"Why is everybody causing a big commotion in here?" Azrael asked everyone. Xibalba ran up to his friend and decided to tell him.
"Oh, just dealing with some immature idiots here." Xibalba groaned. The soldiers still continued to laugh on about it.
"Xibby loves Samus, and he wants her to have his........"
"Guys, GROW UP! Just grow up, please! I swear, you all act like a bunch of punk high schoolers sometimes." Azrael shouted in humiliation. All the soldiers backed off and were quite quiet. Both Azrael and Xibalba left the break-room. "Now, what is it you wanted to say?"
"Remember what I talked about last night? Y'know, the Samus doppelganger?"
"Oh YES, now I remember." Azrael clears his throat. "I did not see her, but I saw a ship that resembled Samus' old ship that she would pilot in space. Just to make sure, I checked Samus' room and....."
"......And?" Xibalba interrupted anxiously.
".......Well, Samus was just laying down, resting up from a busy day." exclaims Azrael, looking slightly stunned. "I believe you Xibalba. Honestly, I do."
"Thank you Azrael." Xibalba smiled back and decided to fly around with Azrael for a bit to kill some time. Out in space, Samus Aran started to explore various parts of the galaxy, looking for new bounties to hunt, and to look for new worlds to explore. It was a nice, clear day out in space, nothing threatening could be seen.
"Wow, I'm shocked that there is nothing extremely hazardous out today." Samus was thinking as she looked out at the stars and planets from the window of her ship. But obviously, no where is really safe, since Samus was unknowingly being stalked by quite a familiar ship.
"Heh heh, this ship must be apart of the Galactic Federation ship that attacked my master." specimen AR905 chuckled in her mind. "This is so SWEEEET!" Then she started to ram Samus' ship around, shocking the unsuspecting bounty hunter.
"ACK, What NOW?" Samus shouted, feeling her ship shake back and forth. As the shaking stopped, Samus saw a familiar ship fly right passed her. "What the hell? Did that X virus I once had, make a ........DOPPELGANGER? Must be the works of the Nothingness of Beyond."
Now, Samus was involved in a "Dog & Cat" type of pursuit with her doppelganger, AR905. With all of her light speed, Samus tried to ram the clone's ship back and forth, also aiming weapons at her as well.
"Oh fuck! That wench won't leave me alone!" AR905 thought nervously as she tried to escape Samus' ramming and shooting. As the Samus started to charge up her ship and pre-pair to super-ram the clone ship, AR905 started to speed away as fast as she could, leaving a path of green mist in Samus' path, fogging up her windows.
"Oh great!" Samus groaned. "The doppelganger fought better than I thought." As Samus tried to follow the clone ship, she felt her own ship disfunctioning. So she started to turn on some radio communication devices to contact chairman Kilmer and the crew.
"EVERYONE, THIS IS SAMUS ARAN. MY SHIP IS STARTING TO DYSFUNCTION ON ME, SO I HAVE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A PLANET IN THE NEARBY DAI-CHI SOLAR SYSTEM." This started to make all the staff and civilians feel quite shocked and concerned for Samus, hoping that she could survive the emergency landing.
"SAMUS, THIS IS CHAIRMAN KILMER. WHICH PLANET IS IN YOUR SITE?"
"WELL....." Samus replied nervously. "IT IS THE THIRD PLANET FROM THE SUN, PLANET ASH......" right there, the transmition started to pick up major static before going out.
"Oh dear, this is horrible." cried chairman Kilmer.
"Now, what are we to do?" Gulim-Che added, feeling like a quivering mass of nerves. Azrael and Xibalba then started to have plans.
"Well, we are going to search for Samus and help her out!" Azrael cried out. Dr. Rebine caught up to him and tried to hold him and Xibalba back.
"But guys, it's too dangerous!" pled Dr. Rebine. "Please don't go!"
"Sorry Miss Rebine, but if we all sit here and wait, who knows what could all attack us." Xibalba replied, him and Azrael breaking free from the giantess' grasp. "Samus Aran has been our only hope for these many years." Xibalba and Azrael flew out the room at to the exit, beginning their search for Samus. Gulim-Che also started to feel concerned as well.
"I don't like the looks of this." Gulim-Che thought as he opened the door. Suddenly, the Samus doppelganger swung into the room, looking like she was going to aim her arm-cannon at everybody. "SAMUS!!!"
"I am NOT the one your call 'Samus Aran'. I am....." AR905 had to think up of a name for herself, and fast.
"If you are not Samus, then who are you?" Dr. Rebine asked. AR905 took off her helmet, brushing the glacier coloured hair out of her face.
"I am HAYLEY KAZHAN. I have something important to tell everyone."
"What is it then, Hayley." Chairman Kilmer asked. He felt quite suspicious about the woman. Her piercing eyes felt like it was going to turn his bowels to liquid. She was that intense looking.
"On the Planet Ashura, there are five terrible creatures that plan to destroy us all."
"Well, where is planet Ashura?" Chairman Kilmer asks nervously, trying to hold up his weak smile. 'Hayley' walks up to the chairman and points out to the right with her arm cannon.
"It is in the South-East direction of the galaxy, in the Dai-Chi solar system." Hayley responds sternly. "It might take a while, but if we keep going south and south east of here, we are destined to make it there. Dai-Chi is the fourth planet to the sun, while Ashura is the third to the sun." Everyone in the room looked suspicious about what Hayley wanted out of them.
"I don't trust this crazy woman." Chairman thought to himself. "I have a feeling she is going to use us at her advantage....."
---
Back on Planet Ashura, the travelers of the Hana-Nim started to feel quite exhausted from their busy weeks on the planet. Newcomer Jilde was just plain happy to be rescued from being sacrificed and also more than happy to meet his estranged daughter.
"Anybody need to bathe?" Kary asked everyone as she and Dr. Lagua shed their dead reptilian skin and hopped into the hot springs that the travelers used as their "natural bath tub". All the humanoids, Scion, Surlent, Riza, Dune and Jilde started to take off their clothing and join in with the Aeonese Dragons. It was like being at home (or at least back on the Hana-Nim mother ship), bathing in a ryokan bathtub with family and friends. It was nice for everyone to clean up and warm up in the nice hot spring water.
"This is so nice....." Surlent said in relief, as he and the other started to get cleansed in the spring's water. As they were getting to relax some more, a huge crash was heard throughout the jungle, vending some vibrating waves as far as where they we bathing.
"The hell was that!" Ridley shrieked, jumping up from the water. Riza stood up as well and was pre-paired to leave.
"Well, I'm going to investigate that!" Riza said in determination. She started to glow softly and became her Rudra form, flying out from the hot springs in a frenzy.
"RIZA, GET BACK HERE! YOU CAN GET HURT!" Ridley shouted out. Surlent beckoned Ridley to sit down for a bit.
"It's okay Ridley, let her go for a bit." Surlent replies calmly.
"But what if it's......."
"RIDLEY! If Riza could sense danger, she'll warn us." Kary cut off, trying to get Ridley to calm down.
Riza flew throughout the woods, searching for the source of that loud booming crash. The shockwaves seemed to be so powerful, that it knocked over some trees and bushes in the woods, suddenly, Riza notices a fire is beginning to happen.
"KINGUKOSUTO!!!" Riza chanted. She sent out a big wave of water to spread out through the Rainforests, putting out the fire. As she started to make her way through the smoke, she saw an armored figure and her slightly damaged ship. Riza started to back off slightly. "ACK! It's you again!"
"You.....you are that young lady I ran into on the Hana-Nim, with RIDLEY!!!" Samus stuttered nervously, having to unexpectedly run into Riza, AGAIN.
"I did not mean to attack you, but please, under any circumstances, do NOT attack me, nor my friends, or something will indeed happen." Riza warned Samus.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Samus said as calmly as she could. "I've noticed the strange behavior of the chairman on the GF ship. He does not believe a word me or my acquaintances say." Suddenly, Ridley came into the scene, catching up to Riza.
"Anything wrong Riza?" Ridley asked, but then started to stare at Samus at the same time. "You, Samus? AGAIN? If you are planning to attack me once more, I'm NOT up to it! OKAY?"
"Listen Ridley." Samus yelled, slapping him across the face. "I am not here to pick fights. I have came here, because my ship started to dysfunction. Oh, and another thing......"
"RIZA.....RIDLEY....." Surlent shouted, looking for the couple in the woods. There, where there was some faint smoke, he found Riza, Ridley and Samus conversing with each other. Surlent started to feel a bit surprised to see Samus there. All he hopes for, is that she won't be angry with him, Scion and Dune for leaving the GF.
"Ah, I know you ma'am!" Surlent said nervously. "You were that bounty hunter that worked for the Galactic Federation. So sorry to leave you guys behind. It is just that......" Samus walked up to Surlent, putting her hand on his bare shoulder.
"It's okay. You had every right to leave the Galactic Federation." Samus replied, smiling underneath all that armor. Surlent's eyes widdened, he did not expect Samus to take this like that so well and maturely.
"REALLY?" gasps Surlent. "I thought you'd be angry at us for doing something like that. Besides, why are you here?"
"Well, not only have I made an emergency landing on this planet, but I have came to warn you about a clone of mine that is willing to attack this planet." Samus explained to everyone. Ridley, Riza and Surlent started to turn pale.
"We'd better this to everyone!" Ridley cried out, heading back to the hot springs. As he, Surlent, Riza and Samus started to head back, Scion, Dune, Jilde, Kary and Dr. Lagua started to get out of the springs and dry off. "Guys.....GUYS!!!"
"What is it Ridley?" Jilde asked.
"Something is going to attack the planet!" Ridley shouted out loud. "We must contact the Aeonese Hana-Nim mother ship, AT ONCE!" Dr Lagua turned on the transmitter to contact Captain Zoltan, General Arvis, and the others back on the Hana-Nim.
"EMERGENCY!!! THIS IS DR. LAGUA! PLEASE , AT ONCE, COME TO THE CAMP-SPOT AND PICK US UP! ANYTIME NOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE UNDER ATTACK! OVER."
"Oh great, we better get going." General Arvis said nervously to Captain Zoltan.
"EVERYONE, HOLD ON! We are going to take off!" Captain Zolton warned everyone on the ship as it took off as fast as it could through the Rain Forests. As everybody was getting their food, clothing, camping supplies and other tools together, Samus Aran started to notice something quite odd about Ridley.
"Ehhhh.... Ridley? What's that on your chest?" Samus asked, looking closer at him. Suddenly, the Yin Jade flashed so bright, that it sent Samus flying in one direction. "Ahhhh.......it's a JADE!!! RIDLEY HAS A JADE!!!"
"Yeah, so what Samus." groaned Ridley. "You can't have it, because I inherited it."
"Well, DUH RIDLEY!" Samus replied sarcastically as she gotten her ship parts together.
"Need help Samus?" Dune asked, offering her some ship parts. Samus took some of the parts that Dune handed out to her.
"Thanks Dune." Samus said, observing the pieces and putting them together. "I see you also fix some of the pieces too."
"Yes indeed." Dune winked. "I've worked with arks and flying ships before. That's why I know all of this."
"Amazing." Samus was cleaning off her ship and fixing parts together, when suddenly, some lasers started to shoot down from the sky.
"What the hell is going on?" cried out Jilde. "Is someone trying to attack us?" Samus looked up at the sky and saw more lasers shooting down, splitting trees in half. Feeling panicked, she tried to get her engine to work after Dune filled it with more fuel tanks.
"Come on ship.....PLEASE! Come on, WORK!" Samus thought to herself anxiously. The Engine kept struggling to start though. "Oh GOD! Please don't dysfunction on me NOW!" Suddenly, Samus' ship started up and started to glide around for a bit. Even though the ship could drive around properly, but I could not take off into the atmosphere. The Aeonese, Surlent, Scion, Dune, Riza, and Jilde had to think of something, and fast!
"COME ON EVERYONE! THERE IS NO TIME TO LOSE!" cried Surlent, grabbing some of the supplies and started to dash for life. Surlent then became his crystalline Rudra form and started to levitate "FOLLOW ME!"
All the Jade warriors became their Rudra forms and the Aeonese started to fly for their lives. Jilde, though a part of this Human Demi-God race, was nearly old and not as agile as the Rudras, so Riza had to carry her father on her back, flying alongside the others. "Riza, are you okay?"
Riza looked right next to her and saw a new looking Ridley. He was a deep maroon colour, nearly black. His amber eyes were more piercing than ever, his claws longer, his body more muscular and now, he had FOUR sets of wings and a razor tail. "Ridley, is that really you?"
"Yes Riza, it is my Rudra form." Ridley replies. "How do you like it?" Riza smiled.
"You look rather tough now. I like it." Riza laughed. Ridley smiled back at Riza and her father.
"You okay old man?" Ridley asked Jilde, looking quite weary.
"Don't worry, I will be. But I'll be more happier when this madness stops." Jilde replies in a tired tone of voice. As everyone started to flee the lasers, following Samus' ship, the Hana-Nim suddenly appeared, with General Arvis coming out from top of the ship.
"Come on guys, hop in!" Arvis shouted, beckoning everyone to hop into the mother ship. So, everyone hopped onto the ship's top and slipped through the top entrance way. Finally, at last, everyone was inside the ship, setting down the camping supplies. Surlent then looked out the window and saw Samus' ship struggling to fly.
"What about Samus?" Surlent asked in concern. Arvis looks out the window and looks quite concerned again, seeing another person struggling to get out of the planet under siege.
"Oh dear, looks like we have to get some towing device to help that ship." Arvis responds, rushing back to the captain's headquarters.
"Good luck Arvis!" Ridley shouts. "Be careful, that person is very un-predictable."
"RIDLEY!!!" Dune shouts, elbowing Ridley. "Enough with the grudges."
"Yeah Ridley, I think Samus knows about the whole situation by now." Scion adds. In the meantime, Arvis and Captain Zoltan were working out some of the towing devices, getting them to attach to Samus' ship and avoid the falling lasers.
"Come on, please, please work." Captain Zoltan whispers. The devices already attached themselves nice and firmly to Samus' ship, taking it with them.
"YAY! It's a success!" cries out General Arvis. More devices attach themselves around Samus' ship, now to the point where the ship will never fall from it's clutches. Samus also started to feel relief as well.
"Well, I guess the Aeonese are a lot more grateful than I thought." Samus was thinking to herself, feeling relief. Suddenly, the radio in the ship turns on.
"SAMUS, THIS IS CAPTAIN ZOLTAN! DO NOT BE ALARMED, WE ARE GOING TO DRAG YOUR SHIP INTO THE SHIP LOT WITHIN OUR GREAT MOTHERSHIP!" Samus took off her helmet and started to wipe her forehead, as the ship made it's way into the Hana-Nim.
"I guess I am in their debt." Samus says to herself. Now, it is known that everyone has a great battle on their hands. But the greatest concern were the people on the Galactic Federation armadas, which are now being controlled by Samus' doppelganger, AR905 (aka. Hayley). They were now hostages of her and the Nothingness' beings. Any wrong step on the GF, would result in a horrible, horrible fate.
.