Chapter One: Starting Out
Starting Out
“Come on, Zetaloo, you have to get up!”
“Grrrr....Maaaa...” What does she want now?
“Come on! Get up!”
Zetaloo’s eyes shot open as he got a pillow to the side of the head. He stared at Scootaloo and growled.
“Sorry...but it’s time you have something to eat.”
The Zeta acknowledged, spending a year in Ponyville, he had eventually learned to understand some phrases ponies spoke to him, some being “AAAAGH! RUN AWAY!”, or “GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU MONSTER!”
The Metroid sighed, then followed the orange pegasus, she eventually reached the Everfree Forest, where a lone rabbit hopped into view. Zetaloo’s leech-like mouth started drooling as his mouth watered, he sprung into his pouncing position, awaiting the rabbit’s next move.
Scootaloo closed her eyes and turned her head as her pet pounced, a loud squeal, followed by several grotesque squishing noises, then absolute silence. Scootaloo opened her eyes, and saw the Zeta’s saliva washing away the blood on his teeth.
They stopped as they heard hoofsteps and a familiar voice in the distance.
“Hey Scoot’! Are you coming over to my house like we planned?”
Scootaloo shouted back in response, “Sure! Hang on one sec’, Sweetie Belle!”
She looked at Zetaloo again, and asked “Wanna go to Rarity’s boutique?” He didn’t understand what she said, but, on instinct, followed her.
They reached the Carousel Boutique, where a rather energetic unicorn was waiting in front. “Oh...you brought Zetaloo...I’m not sure if Rarity’s really gonna want that.” Sweetie Belle suggested.
“Oh...it should be fine, what’s the worst he could do?” Scootaloo returned with a shrug.
“Well...alright then...” Sweetie sighed, she opened the door, and walked in, the pegasus and Metroid following.
“AAAAGH!” the scream echoed through the building, standing in front of the three was a much larger white unicorn. However, still smaller than the Zeta Metroid standing before her.
“Sweetie Belle...what did I tell you about letting animals in the boutique?” the pony asked, still shaking in fear. Another common phrase Zetaloo understood, the creature sighed, and hung his head down.
“Oh...I don’t mean it like that, Darling, it’s just...” the pony was silenced with a roar that scared her beyond anything.
“GRAAA! MAAA! SHAAA!” I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS! Zetaloo screamed. The three ponies screamed as the Metroid arched his back, and moved into an attack position.
“No...please Darling, I’m sorry, just...d-don’t hurt me!” the pony screamed, hooves over her head. “No! Zetaloo! Stop it! Don’t hurt Rarity, she didn’t do anything!” Scootaloo shouted, trying to break the Metroid’s trance.
He eventually stopped, he stood back up, and looked at the ponies with a sullen gaze. Zetaloo whimpered again, but stopped, and looked at Rarity hopelessly.
“I...apologize for insulting you...please...take this.” the fashionista murmured as she handed him a small gem.
“Gra, Dra, Vaa, Sna?” What am I supposed to do with this? the Zeta mumbled to himself. He stared at it for a few more seconds, then threw it on the ground, shattering it into pieces.
Rarity, angered, asked Scootaloo “Is it...well...natural for an adult Metroid to have the same maturity level as Diamond Tiara?”
Scootaloo shrugged, “Metroids take food as a gift, usually a special kind of food.”
“Hmph...maybe he just needs a touch of class.” Rarity said in a snooty tone.
“Also, I was thinking, maybe, since it doesn’t seem so bad that he’s a meat-eating monster. That perhaps there are jobs he can do?” Scootaloo suggested.
“Why ask me?”
“You’re the only adult right now.”
“Well...I suppose he could get a job as a load-carrier at the Ponyville Wholesale Shipping Company. Then I suppos-”
Rarity was cut off as several screams rang through her ears. She went to the window, the three others following, and saw a sight that made all four of them, especially Zetaloo, scared as scared can be.
A Gamma Metroid, floating about and patrolling the streets.
“Oh...my Celestia...” Rarity mumbled. “W-what is that?” Sweetie Belle asked nervously.
“It’s a Gamma Metroid, I think it’s after...” Rarity stopped as she looked at Zetaloo. The Zeta Metroid looked back, and nodded.
He immediately stepped out of the building, and out towards the massive creature flying around.
“NO! ZETALOO! DON’T DO IT!” Scootaloo screamed, but it came to no avail.
They ducked under the window as they heard the two Metroids fighting. The ponies shouted as the section of the wall next to them was blown in, Zetaloo following and landing inside the house.
Another scream emerged as the gargantuan Gamma Metroid landed on it. The Zeta shifted his head to the right as the creature attempted to pierce him with its tusks. Zetaloo quickly rolled out of the way as the Gamma attempted another jab. He jumped to his feet, and pulled his head back, seconds later, a red blob sprayed from his mouth, and made its target: The Gamma’s abdomen.
The Metroid screamed in pain as the corrosive liquid burned through the weak covering on its stomach. It started screaming even more, and the ponies watched in horror as the mixed reds, blues, and greens of the Gamma’s body fluids poured out of its body. It started running around, crashing into some of Rarity’s mannequins and knocking them down. The Gamma Metroid’s red eyes soon turned to a dull black, and it collapsed.
Rarity looked around at the damage of her boutique, a good sized hole was in the wall, the fluids of the Gamma were spilt all over the place, several mannequins knocked down and broken, and, finally, Zetaloo stood there, panting heavily.
“I-...I think it’s all over...” the fashionista wheezed. She gave the area another look, and shouted in disgust, “Ugh! This is going to cost thousands of bits I don’t have, how am I supposed to work when the bottom floor of my house is ransacked like this?!”
“Well...I-...Uh...” Scootaloo tried saying before Rarity pointed a hoof to the hole in the wall, “Out...Now!”
Scootaloo and Zetaloo were shoved out of the boutique, and they looked in dismay. “Well...there goes that playdate with Sweetie Belle.” the orange pegasus grumbled, brushing the dust out of her short, purple mane.
“Ya know...she should’ve given you some credit...I mean, you saved her life.”
The Zeta didn’t pay attention, it was still thinking over the events that had just occurred. It then looked at his friend, and asked “SCOO! TAAA! LOOO!”
Scootaloo was impressed, even though it was a roar that paused on each syllable, it was still the first word in Equestrian that had left the creature.
“Yeah?”
“DRAAA! MAAA! AKAAA! SKRREEAAA!” I fear that that Gamma Metroid wasn’t the only one.
Still can’t say any other word... Scootaloo thought.
Zetaloo shook his head, then looked at Scootaloo again, she couldn’t really tell, but she thought that she saw some worry in those six, blue eyes of his. “Do you think that...there’s more than one of those...looking for you?” she asked.
The creature nodded slowly, Scootaloo looked down, then back up at the him. “Do you think we should hide.”
Zetaloo shook his head once more, then continued along the path.
“SKRAAA! MAAAA! DRAAA?!” WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE “HASN’T RETURNED?!”
“MA VAA! GRAA! MAAA!” He hasn’t, Your Greatness, we’re not sure where he’s gone to.
The enraged Queen Metroid looked at the miniscule Zeta standing in front of her, then stamped her front foot down, creating a slight tremor. “GRAAA! SAAAA! SKRAA!” GET ANOTHER ONE TO FIND HIM, THEN!
The Zeta responded with a straightforward “GRA! MA VAA!” Yes, Your Greatness. and left the chamber. The Queen let out a long, low growl. “WRAA! MAA! GAA!” We will find you, and we will kill you...
“Aw....cheer up, Zetaloo! Maybe Applebloom can play, in a not so...dangerous place...” Scootaloo chirped, but the Metroid just grunted and continued walking. “Aw, c’mon! I’ll take ya there!” the orange pegasus exclaimed. She tugged at Zetaloo’s foot to steer him in the opposite direction, with an annoyed growl, he obeyed.
They continued walking for a good mile before reaching Sweet Apple Acres, they walked through the gateway and to the red barn in the distance. A small, yellow earth pony appeared nearby and walked up to them. “Well...Howdy there, Scoot’...and ya brought....Zetaloo...” the filly said in her iconic southern dialect. “Hey there, Applebloom, we’re just wondering if you can play.”
“Well...shucks...Ah can play for a lil’ bit, but then Applejack needs mah help with the trees soon, but, yeah, I can hang out for a lil’ while!” Applebloom replied with a grin.
Zetaloo grunted again, and followed her into the barn. It was probably the most stressful thirty minutes for the Metroid, being ridden on by the yellow pony, and displaying his high jumping ability. The pony’s energetic attitude was also something he resented. After a while, an orange earth pony walked in, and spoke to her sister. “C’mon, Applebloom, time to help with th’ trees.”
“Aw...now?” Applebloom exasperated. Applejack shook her head and sighed, then said “Yes...now...ya’ll know what happens when ya’ don’t work...”
“Ah know...alright...” Applebloom whimpered. After the filly left, the two left and headed back onto the main road.
“Well...school starts in a bit...so I guess afterwards we can see if anypony else wants to hang out...sounds good? Zetaloo?” Scootaloo suggested again.
Zetaloo wanted to reject, but he didn’t want to upset her, he just nodded his head, and continued following the filly down the street.
A/N:
You’re probably having one of those “What the buck did I just read?” moments, and that’s fine.
If you have read RiP (Ridley in Ponyville), then you are aware that Zetaloo is a Zeta Metroid that Scootaloo befriended quite some time ago. I decided that I might as well create my own side project. And, well, get an idea, play some Metroid Metal, and you got yourself a good way to write a story XD.
Anyways, I understand this is quite short, and I apologize for that, but, it’s an introduction chapter, so-to-speak. So the others will be quite longer, hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Two: The First Wave
Chapter Two: The First Wave
A purple Earth-pony mare pointed her hoof at the picture of the infant Metroid on the blackboard, finally finishing with a simple, straightforward, “While there is a low chance you will meet one, besides Scootaloo’s pet, always be careful, Metroids are extremely hostile and will attack anything they think is food. Alright?”
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee.” the younger ponies in the classroom responded in unison.
Cheerilee smiled, “Good, now, tomorrow is our science test, will you promise to study?”
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee.”
Before she could finish, a bell mounted on the wall, the kids got up, several chatting with each other, before walking out the door. Scootaloo immediately turned to her right and walked around the school, surely enough, Zetaloo was lying in the shade in a fetal position, making a cute, gurgling noise as he breathed.
“C’mon, Zetaloo, wanna see if anyone wants to hang out?” the filly asked.
Three, blue eyes opened and faced towards their friend. “Mmmmmmmm...” the Zeta Metroid groaned.
Scootaloo walked over to him and began tugging on his arm. “Aw...come on, it’ll be fun!”
Zetaloo responded with a fully-awake series of roars, “GRAA! DRAAAA! SAAA!” What’s ‘fun’ about being screamed at by everybody?
Scootaloo was becoming increasingly frustrated, posing herself in a kicking position in front of the creature’s unguarded gut, she raised her hind legs, and bucked it. The Zeta coughed hoarsely as he felt the wind knocked out of him. He immediately rolled over, growling at her, his height creating an imposing shadow upon the pegasus.
She backed away, nervously saying, “I-I’m sorry, Zetaloo, I was just trying to wake you up...”
He looked in remorse as she began whimpering, tears rolling down her cheeks. He grunted in frustration before bowing his head down to her, she smiled and climbed up, eventually turning around and wrapping her legs around his stubby neck. “C’mon, let’s go around the town and see if anypony wants to hang out!” she exclaimed.
“Grrr...Raa...” Yeah...whatever...
After walking for a good, long while, they finally reached a large building, seemingly built from a massive cloud. Scootaloo looked up at the massive cloud castle drifting above her, then screamed “RAINBOW!”
A few seconds later, a cyan shape popped over the edge of the structure. While it smiled at the orange filly, it laid a mysterious gaze on Zetaloo. Shortly afterwards, it hopped off, spiraling and doing flips downwards until landing in front of the two.
“Hey, Scoot’, what can I help ya’ with?” the larger pegasus asked with a kind smile.
“Well, Zetaloo and I are really bored, and we got nothing to do...” Scootaloo replied.
“Well, I s’pose you can hang out with me, that is, if you don’t destroy anything...”
The foal’s eyes went wide with shock, “You-...you know?”
“I went to Rarity’s house a couple of hours ago because she was about to have another breakdown because of it. Twilight went ahead and took the body to her house.”
“GRAA! SAAA! SKREAAA! DAAA! MAAA!” We do have an excellent sense of smell, however, so I suppose nobody is safe. Zetaloo intervened. The two pegasi turned their heads to the creature, looks of confusion pasted on their faces. He just shook their head and nodded them off.
The two began talking again, when Rainbow finally said, “Yeah, I suppose we can do something, but wha-”
A distant screech came in the distance. Zetaloo was shaking his head, the ponies became nervous. Then came an increasingly louder thumping, Scootaloo ran behind her role-model, shaking violently as it got louder. Finally, the distance was breached, and the three stared in horror as a gargantuan Omega Metroid began charging towards them.
Rainbow turned around and clutched onto her orange-and-purple friend before hopping in the air. The Zeta held his ground as the monster continued charging, at the last moment, he rolled out of the way.
The Omega stopped onto its side, digging its claws into the ground, once it stopped, it turned completely and came back towards Zetaloo. Scootaloo began flailing her legs violently, trying to get the cyan pegasus to let go.
“No! I’m not going to let this happen to him!” she shouted as the Metroid continued sprinting to its adversary. Zetaloo, once again, rolled out of the way. The larger creature reared up, screeching in raw fury, and revealing its abdomen.
The lesser Metroid planted his feet and prepared to spit a glob of corrosive enzymes when the Omega backed down, and lunged.
Not having enough time to react, Zetaloo was quickly swept up in his opponents jaws, roaring in agony as he felt the maw of the Omega Metroid pressing down on him.
“NO! ZETALOO!” the filly screamed as she watched her friend be brutally attacked.
“Scootaloo, there’s nothing that can be done about it, do you want to risk your own life?” the normally-cocky daredevil snapped. Scootaloo began crying, looking as the Omega thrashed its head to the left and right.
Zetaloo felt like he was about to be let go, when he finally felt his tough exoskeleton crack, and finally be pierced by the older, more powerful Metroid’s teeth. He looked around, his vision becoming blurred as death wrapped around him in its cold, sickly embrace, seeing his only friend one more time, before blacking out.
The Zeta thought that he was no more, but, through the black haze, he heard voices.
“Hang on...hey...I got a pulse! I think he still may be alive!”
“I guess we should be lucky that the Omega left him alone, I heard that when Metroids turn on their colonies that whoever catches them cannibalizes them.”
“Yeah, but I guess we can say that that little girl may have some hope after all.”
Zetaloo’s eyes slowly opened, and he looked around himself, advanced computer screens and equines donning white uniforms surrounded him. He, struggling, looked to his right, a small, orange shape slumped in a small chair. He looked up, two ponies stood over him, silently, he growled, “M-...Mrrrr...Gaaaa...Mmmm?” W-...What’s going on?
One of the doctors looked down, astonished. “Oh! You’re awake! That’s good, we were surprised you didn’t make it, heh, who knew that Metroids were warmed blooded, let alone able to receive a blood transfusion from a pony’s donated blood?” they said in a high-pitch, feminine accent.
Zetaloo looked around himself, his entire midsection was covered in bandaging, his arms and legs were scarred, and the mattress under him was covered in ranging reds, blues, and greens. He noticed that the doctor’s had gone, and suddenly was ambushed as a teary-eyed Scootaloo jumped on him.
“Oh, thank Celestia you’re alive!” the foal cried as she held tightly onto the creature. One of the doctors pulled her off, saying, “Now, you can’t be so physical with him, he’s still in a lot of pain, so he can only be touched by expert hooves.”
“Oh, right...sorry...” the small pony sniffled.
He looked at the flightless pony, and grumbled, “Draa...Oooh...Meeh...Gaah...Graaa...Syaaa?” The Omega...where did it go?
Assuming that the creature was talking about the Omega Metroid, Scootaloo shrugged, and said, “I dunno’, I think it ran away after a while, I’m just glad you’re okay...”
The Metroid nodded in acknowledgement, then laid back down. He looked at his friend, then growled “Mraa....Draa...Graammaaa...Skreaaa....Daaa....Naaa...” Realize, though, Scootaloo, that the Omega and Gamma weren’t the only ones, just the beginning of the first wave, there is much more to come.
A/N:
I know, I know, this is an incredibly short chapter, but I didn’t have much to work with, I’m gonna be doing some more research, and working a bit more to make them longer and better. I just wanted to bring up some level of sadness and suspense, and Zetaloo’s life will be more focused on, as well as the whole “Metroid-species-wanting-him-dead” thing. Even if it’s short, and probably not the most entertaining, I hope you all enjoy. Just please understand that, with the fact that I’m rewriting Ridley in Ponyville, and with my grades suffering, forcing me to pay more attention to that which then leaves me drained at the end of the day, I’m trying my best. Thank you for all the care and support that you guys give me.
