Metroid: The Last Aurealian *REWRITE*

Cataclysm of Destiny

The rest of the exhibition was uneventful, at least in terms of strange prophecies and eerie statues. My friends and I continued on through the recreation of Tallon IV, braving the molten caverns of the Magmoor region, (a steamy 85 degrees, more like walking into a dry sauna than a subterranean magma chamber. Understandable they took creative liberties) the frigid tundra of Phendrana Drifts (the snow was real, brrr. Good thing they put a rest area and a warning about the temperature drop between the two sections. 

I should've listened to the reviews and brought a jacket.) and the Underwater caves beneath the jungle. (the least faithful of the ecosystems, again, understandable since most museum-goers lacked gills, nevertheless, they still succeeded in giving the impression of being submerged with the hologram projection on the ceiling similar to the Ocean Wing). The Underwater caves substituted the Phazon Mines, which I believe was a good choice on the museum because nobody wants to be in the middle of a toxic Space Pirate mining sight, even a facsimile. The Artifact originally hidden in that area was given as the freebee at the entrance to the floor. Talk about forethought.

I gave into the inner child and accompanied my friends on the scavenger hunt, first collecting the stamps from the Chozo Ruins and continuing my search throughout the 'planet' while also immersing myself and exploring the environments. It was a fun romp, and I loved seeing my friends happily enjoying the museum when hours before they stuck their tongues at the idea. They'd have a story for the Gathering tonight.

"The Artifact Temple and the Impact Crater are next." Gort said, jittery with excitement. "You think they did it up good?" "Dude, were your eyes shut the whole time? Of course it will be good. Better than good, I'm saying. We're at the crux of the story!" "I know." Gort said hushed. "This is where Samus unlocked the cipher sealing the Phazon meteor and battled the Prime." His eyes widened.

"Guys..." He gaped. "Do you think they have the Metroid Prime in here?"

"Yes Gort." Griff snarked. "They have the Metroid Prime locked up in a Daiban City Museum where it can spread corruption and snack on tourists like French fries."

"I didn't mean the real one!" Gort thumped him on the head. "I know Samus killed the real Prime. I meant a copy of the monster, like those animatronic Magmoors and Sheegoths."

"It wouldn't surprise me." I said. "They went all out on everything else. Why would they skimp on the best part?" We followed the arrow and the moving crowd through a short tunnel. Chozo writings flanked the walls and images raced across the ceiling. What I appeared to be sunlight beamed from the other end, and as I stepped through, covering my eyes to adjust. What I saw when the light cleared was nothing short of astonishing.

A flat mountaintop crowned by towering Chozo totem poles and stone columns, its circular surface dotted with smaller Chozo totems, eye glowing authentically. In the center stand a blue glyph marking where the Cipher and entrance to the Phazon crater would have been. A light mist drizzled in the air, and the ceiling thundered with false clouds.

The Artifact Temple in the Natural Science Museum was a copy of something that no longer exists. The site was heavily damaged, and the totems destroyed after the crater's collapse. The room was painstakingly reconstructed from Samus's logbook before said events. Dozens of tourists gawked, snapping photos and pointing at the architecture. A low murmur ran throughout the space, gasps of disbelief, children squeaking in amazement. The three of us stood in the center of it all, completely gob smacked. "Still think Museums are boring?" I spoke quietly. Gort was left speechless. "Those crazy sons of bitches really outdid themselves." Griff said hushed. "I sorry I ever doubted you Lani."

I slowly nodded, soaking the sights in. Gort slowly walked to the center, gaining the final stamp of the Artifact with Griff and I following. Our eyes drifting at the ceiling. "Griff, Lani." Gort whispered a little too loudly. "Look over there." He pointed to a duo of tunnels at the other end of the summit, the arrow pointing to a hovering exit sign breaking the illusion. The right tunnel, as indicated by the arrow and signage above it, marked the exit. The tunnel on the left, however, had a large sign in front of it easy to read in bold lettering and impossible not to notice or pass unaware.