Sooooo sorry that I didn't update in forever. It was the end of the school year, and I had to study for finals, and finish up those last-minute projects ect… Anyway, I've updated now, and updates should come a little more regularly during the summer.

Aran'sApprentice- You'll see Caern's got some redeeming qualities, especially later on. Be patient. :D

On with the fic!

Realization

Samus stood looking at a statue of a figure that she knew all too well. It was a chozo, sitting down, arms outstretched, as if it was asking for something. Samus looked in wonder at the perfectly chiseled face, so kind, yet serious. Awestruck, she walked over to the statue, and ran her hand across the cold stone.

"What is it?" Caern asked from behind her, his voice filled with wonder. Samus did not answer. She was busy examining the perfect piece of art.

"He's wonderful…" Samus murmured, still in disbelief. "I wonder what it is he wants…" Suddenly Samus was no longer the strong image of an adult that she was trying to be. She was now that little girl, watching the illusion of the butterfly, in complete wonderment.

"Samus, what is it?" Caern repeated. Suddenly Samus snapped back to her usual self.

"Ahem, well, it's clearly a statue of a chozo… but as to what it's doing here, I have no idea…" Samus thought for a moment. "No, wait! Now that I think about it, I remember learning about something like this at school. They were used by miners for things."

"So, we're in a mine?" Caern asked, trying to understand it all.

Samus hadn't arrived at this thought yet. "We must be. But how? We just left a space pirate hideout." Samus suddenly lit up like a light. "This changes everything. It means that we're in a mine on Zebes. The only mine that I know of is the Brinstar mines. That means that I'm not far from home!"

Samus was suddenly excited. She would be able to make it back! She looked at Caern. He gave a weak smile, but it quickly faded. Samus realized that Caern was very far from his home. He had little chance of getting back. She quickly sobered up.

"Caern…" Samus said, for the first time showing sympathy for the cowardly boy. He looked like he was going to cry.

"I'll be alright." He said weakly. "Let's just move on."

Samus nodded, and turned away from the statue. She took the lead again in silence, walking back down the corridor towards some giant mushrooms. Not pausing to glance at the unusual fungus, the two continued walking for quite some time.

Eventually, they came to a door. Samus opened it and began to enter the room, but gasped and staggered backwards.

"What is it?" Caern shouted, ready to run.

"See for yourself." Samus said, regaining her composure. Slowly, Caern went through the door. After a moment, he quickly came scrambling back again.

"What are we gonna do?" Caern muttered, bewildered.

"Well," Samus thought for a moment, "We'll just have to climb down."

"What? Are you crazy?" Caern screeched. "That cliff is almost vertical! We'll never be able to get down alive."

"We have no choice. We can't turn around now." Samus' answer was blunt. She walked back to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. She saw a few small creatures flying around far down, and a couple of ledges big enough to stand on comfortably.

"Follow me," Samus said, securing the guns in her belt. "The first gap seems to be the longest climb. Once we reach that ledge," Samus indicated the nearest outcrop, "It should be pretty easy to make our way to the bottom."

"Samus," Caern muttered, his voice wavering, "I can't do this. I won't. What if I fall?"

"Don't."

Samus carefully lowered herself over the edge, searching the wall for hand and footholds. Painfully, slowly, Samus scaled the sheer wall of the cliff, unit by unit, her mind focused on the task at hand. Her muscles bulged as she tried to make her way down. Many times she had to crawl back up the wall to find a better path to crawl down.

Samus finally made it to the ledge after what seemed like a lifetime. It was nerve-wracking: One wrong move could be the end. She let out a sigh of relief when her shoes landed on the outcropping.

"Alright Caern. Now it's your turn," Samus urged. Caern whimpered and dropped to his hands and knees and inched his way toward the edge of the cliff. He peered down, and immediately decided that the task was impossible.

"I'm not doing this, Samus. I have to go back." Caern immediately distanced himself from the edge.

"Caern! You must come! We cannot go back!" Samus' voice was urgent.

"No! No, Samus! No! I can't do it!"

"Caern, stop telling yourself that! You have to believe in yourself."

"Samus, I'm going to get myself killed. I… I can't…"

Samus sighed, frustrated at Caern's lack of willpower. How could she make him understand? They can't give up now. They had to keep going, no matter how hard the situation became.

Overcome with weariness, and the fact that she may have to leave her new friend and only company behind, Samus slumped to the ground. A single tear dropped to the dry rock. She tried to be strong, but everything was beginning to become too much for her. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms.

Just then, a small number of pebbles rained down on Samus' head. She looked up to see Caern clutching the cliff face. Samus got to her feet and looked up, joy suddenly flowing through her being.

That joy suddenly turned to horror as the foothold beneath Caern's left foot broke from the wall. The stone came hurtling down, and almost hit Samus on the head.

"Oh! Oh, help me Samus!"