Return of Metal
Chapter 1
"It Begins Again"
By MEGAMANX411

Metal clenched his fist tightly as he looked at the shadowy figure before him. He looked so imposing, so ruthless. He was seemingly invincible, like an immortal deity. His features were fully cascaded in the enveloping darkness, there seemed to be no escape from his supposedly infinite grasp. The darkness around him swirled about, like an evil wind. A bead of sweat trickled down Metal's face, and he bared his fangs.

All his life, Metal had been the one who had been imposing, like a hunter stalking his prey in a shroud of darkness. His appearance was specifically catered to induce fear into his victims. But this time, it was different. Metal was the one being hunted by an unknown figure.

"How does it feel Metal?" the figure hissed, his voice thick with evil.

Metal knew he couldn't lose his edge. If he showed fear, he'd be as good as dead. And he wouldn't let this guy come into his life just to screw up everything he worked so hard for. He had to retain his typical arrogant attitude and keep his cool.

"How does what feel, you dumb fuck?" Metal replied, shaking his head.

"I've watched you Metal. I've seen you stalk your prey in the night, silently killing your foes with the greatest of ease. I watched you as you hunted your greatest goals with intense passion, as you struggled for power to kill Zero..."

"How do you know about that?" Metal shouted, interrupting the figure.

"I know everything about you. I've been planning something for you Metal. Well, the old you at least. Look at you now...without your weapons, you've been reduced to nothing," the figure taunted, his shadowy figure hiding any signs of emotion.

Metal shot a look back at Goth, who was still sleeping. He did not want to get her involved with this, but he honestly didn't know if he could beat this opponent. He growled at his apparent predicament and just decided to hell with it.

"I've had enough of you. You talk too much!" Metal shouted, running at the shadowy figure again.

Metal dashed over to the figure, trying to ram the blades on his elbows through the figure. The sharp weapons merely passed through, not doing any damage to the shadowy demon-like monster who stood before Metal. Metal tried to do a round-house kick, and even tried as many punches as he could throw ina short span of time, but nothing seemed to work. He backed off for a second, staring back at this figure in sheer disbelief.

"Do you see now?" the figure hissed.

Metal fell to his knees in shame. He couldn't beat this guy. He couldn't even touch him. It was horrible; he had never felt this weak since...

"Zero!" Metal screamed, slamming his fist on the ground.

"That's right, Zero is your true opponent..." the figure hissed.

Metal lowered his head. If he were stronger, he could've beaten this guy. That's when it hit Metal. If he had kept pursuing his first goal, his goal to become stronger, he would've been able to defeat this foe before him. It was all the fault of X, Zero, and Axl...they had somehow changed his mind, when Metal realized the only thing they had done is made him weak.

"That must've been their plan all along! To make me weaker again!" Metal screamed.

"Yes, that's right Metal. They've made you look weak. Now what are you going to do about it?" the figure added, seeming to add to Metal's rage.

Metal's inner hatred only grew and grew with each passing moment. The memories of his past flooded back to haunt him, and he only remembered how much he wanted to get stronger so he could beat any foe. He seemed to forget all his promises to Goth that he made. His mind was slowly becoming corrupted. Visions of his previous goals came back in, making his eyes burn with hate and desire. Metal wanted to get stronger. He wanted to get strong enough to beat anyone.

"Power...that's what I need..." Metal muttered, raising his head, standing up slowly.

Goth slowly began to awake from her slumber to see Metal outside. Her vision was a bit hazy at first, but she rubbed her eyes to remove the fatigue from her sight. She then focused to see Metal looking a bit odd. When he had quit his plan for vengeance, his face had become more calm and less imposing. But now, the frightening countenance that Metal previously wore seemed to be back. Something was wrong.

Goth quickly ran outside and slowly approached Metal. She stretched out her hand and tried to place it on Metal's shoulder. He quickly turned himself around, batted her hand away, and looked her square in the eye. The evil look that once resided in his eyes was back. It was truly a frightening sight for Goth...the demon that she once knew inside of Metal had returned.

"Stay out of the way Goth. I need to get stronger. I can't do that with you always inmy way," Metal announced, his voice turning to an evil hiss.

Goth stared back at Metal in disbelief. This wasn't the Metal she wanted to have by her side. This was the twisted, evil Metal that she was scared of. She had to get him back.

"Metal, snap out of it..." Goth pleaded.

All of the sudden, the shadowy figure, which seemed to sense a threat to his plans within Goth, appeared in front of her. It looked down on her, and its eyes became visible. They were like beacoms of evil, signaling that all hope was lost. Goth looked back at Metal with a pleading look in her eyes, and a tear streamed down her cheek as she looked on helpessly. Metal merely chuckled with a sadistic smirk on his face.

The legendary outlaw Metal had returned. And he did nothing while the shadowy figure enveloped Goth. Her screams were muffled amongst the encroaching darkness, and everything seemed to fade. While the previously happy scene turned to a depiction of utter chaos, the only sound came from the shadowy figure.

"Now the plan begins..."