It didn't take long for the group to arrive at the Biology & Zoology Research Laboratory. Samus was greeted by several scientists once she had arrived.

"I have brought the lifeforms from planet E-QUINE. They are indeed passive and act very friendly, and can even...talk," stated Samus.

The scientists stared in shock at the pastel-colored creatures and the purple drsgon and began taking notes on them.

"We will keep them for examination for a few hours," stated one scientist, "and it will be up to you what to do with them afterwards."

Another scientist approached Samus.

"The scientists other at the other laboratory have figured out a way to get their abilities back from your suit after powering it down. This will allow you to power down after missions but keep your abilities. I think they said it uses some form of the cloud, but that's jot my specialty," he shrugged before continuing, "I suggest you go there while we conduct our research on these new creatures."

Samus nodded in agreement, "Sounds like a plan."

Samus gave one last glance towards the ponies before her departure.

On her way to the Technology Research Laboratory, she gave more thought about the new pony-like creatures she had encountered. Was the purple one, Twilight, actually a princess? How could one be a princess...of friendship?

Upon arrival to the laboratory, she found it mysteriously empty and seemingly devoid of any life. A "CAUTION" sign sat haphazardly placed on the entrance doors. Samus opened the entrance door, as it was unlocked, and stepped inside. Everything seemed to be normal, except the lack of people. Straight ahead sat the computer, with all of her upgrades listed.

Samus shrugged, "I think this is relatively easy to handle on my own. It just needs to transfer the data to my arm cannon."

Samus pressed the transfer button.

TRANSFER LOCK REMOVED, PREPARING FOR DATA TRANSFER

Just then an alarm sounded.

"What the...?", questioned Samus to herself.

DANGER: EQUIPMENT ON THIS MACHINERY IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS UNSAFE TO REMAIN IN THIS AREA. EVACUATE AS SWIFTLY AS YOU CAN!

As Samus turned around to head straight back through the entrance, part of the ceiling above it collapsed into a pile of rubble. Samus shook her head.

"Couldn't ever be easy or convenient, huh?" she muttered to herself as she scanned her surroundings. She jumped on top of the rubble and entered a higher floor of the laboratory. She saw an "Emergency Escape" hatch on the opposite side of the room from her, but there was one issue.

The room was filled with smoke and fire, making it a risky endeavor to traverse the room. With some strategic rolls around fire and some crawling, she finally made it to the other side, opened the hatch, and looked down.

It was a narrow path on the side of the laboratory that led back to the front. Samus hesitated a bit, but one look back at the blazing fire behind her was enough motivation. She jumped and grabbed the narrow ledge, letting out a sigh of relief.

She pulled herself up and sidled across the ledge to the front. By now the laboratory was ignited in flames all over, and Samus rushed to her spaceship.

Mere seconds after she had taken off, the laboratory exploded behind me.

"Great, there goes any last chance of recovering all my upgrades," Samus grumbled to herself.

With this pseudo mission a failure, it was time to return and check on the researcher's progress. Samus let out a chuckle.

"Hanging out with those ponies might not be so bad afterall, a lot better than near-death experiences at least. Though I do wonder how they even ended up on a random planet in this great and wide galaxy, and where this Equestria they speak of is..."

Samus had so many questions and yet so few answers.

Author's Note

Can't have Metroid without an escape sequence towards the beginning!