AN: Alright. As the summary says, this is an AU. Honestly, it might be the weirdest thing I wrote for this fandom that isn't also crack fic. But I like trying out different ideas. This starts right before the series begins, and then goes off in its own direction.
Ch1-
She was chanting that same chant as usual, as he watched from a distance. A typical scene in Mantid's castle. Although Buguese despised Spirit Oracle, the cause of the darkness in his world, he couldn't disapprove of the girl's constant prayers to her. They were the only thing keeping the Insector world alive. It was clearly shown in the bright aura around Aqune, always shining though the dark. Of course, the importance behind it wasn't really the reason why he watched her. Maybe it was in the past, but not anymore. Though he hated to admit it, even to himself, he was truly charmed by the handmaiden's beauty. Aqune always looked so serene. Well, that was usually the case.
Today, again, Buguese could tell something was wrong. There was a definite feeling of unease in her motions, her posture. Whatever the reason, it was unlike the Aqune he was used to watching. He chose to come down from the balcony and confront her on this day. And that was the start of the change in everything.
"Buguese?" The girl paused from what she was doing and turned her head, having heard his approach.
"Aqune… I can't help but notice," he began. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"
"Oh…" she replied, not expecting to be asked that. "Well…"
The girl was silent for a moment. Yes, there was something, but she wasn't sure what it even meant. If it were meaningless, was there any reason to waste Buguese's time explaining to him? Yet, on the other hand, maybe she'd feel better if she did just let it out. And Buguese was really the only person she felt comfortable enough around to tell.
"What?" Buguese asked, finally breaking the silence. "If it's nothing, then I'll go. You must continue chanting, and I wouldn't want to distract you from it."
"I'm sorry," replied Aqune, nervously. "You see, Buguese… lately I've been seeing these ominous visions."
"Ominous?" Buguese wondered. It was a kind of heavy word. "How so?"
"It's hard to explain," answered Aqune. "Maybe it's nothing bad after all. Just… like any ordinary dream. But in the visions I saw, there was this other world. It's a very different world from ours, where the sun is small, the sky is blue. There are only humans living there. Ordinary humans, without power. But then, I saw Insectors and Spider Riders suddenly appear in this world. Fighting breaks out, just like here. And there are Oracle Keys there too."
"Oracle Keys?!" That part struck Buguese more than the rest of her story. "A world of only humans…" he continued to ponder out loud. That sounded like it would be unpleasant.
Aqune simply nodded as he spoke.
"Could this place be the Outer World?" Buguese questioned.
"I don't know," Aqune replied. But the idea was interesting to her. She didn't know much about the world on the surface, but she had heard legends. The theory made some sense. "Whatever it is, I've seen these visions constantly in my meditations. There must be a reason behind it."
"Perhaps there is," Buguese answered. "But could Oracle Keys really be in the Outer World?" He stared at the lone Key in the orb which Aqune chanted in front of. That Key had been with them for a long time, but it was the only one of the four they'd managed to acquire.
Aqune gasped. "Is that even possible?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Spirit Oracle would do anything to stand in our way, dear Aqune. Even if it means hiding the remaining Oracle Keys in another world." Cynical, perhaps, but he had every reason to be that way.
"If that's true, then how will we be able to get those Keys?" asked Aqune, worriedly. As far as she knew, there was no way to travel between worlds. Aqune stood up from the ground, simply facing the Insector.
"There must be a way," Buguese declared, clenching his fists. He dreaded to even think of what would happen if there was not. "We should report this to Mantid-sama."
"Yes," Aqune replied.
As she was about to head out with Buguese, Aqune felt a sharp pain shoot through her head. Another vision? This time, it was the figure of an unfamiliar man. But somehow, this man was the most ominous thing of all.
"Aqune!" Buguese called, worried. The next thing Aqune realized, she was lying in Buguese's arms.
"Buguese… what happened?"
"You passed out," he said. "What's wrong?"
"Oh," Aqune mumbled. But she could still remember clearly what she saw.
"It was another vision. Of a human this time. However, I don't know who he was at all. But somehow, he was frightening."
Buguese attempted to process that. It was odd for her to be afraid of someone she didn't even recognize.
"I have no idea who this man could have been, but if the rest of what you saw is true, he may be an Earthen. Maybe even someone we need to find to help locate the Keys."
"I guess so," replied Aqune, although she still felt uncomfortable. None of her past visions had caused her to black out.
Buguese then headed to Mantid's chamber, helping support Aqune as she walked. Awkward as it was, he didn't want her collapsing again. Once they made it to the door, he moved her aside.
"Thank you," Aqune said, softly.
Buguese nodded in reply. He then stepped into his leader's chambers, without a further word.
"Ah, Buguese," said Mantid. "Do you have something to report?"
"Yes, Mantid-sama," he replied. "In Aqune's meditations, she claims to have seen visions of the Outer World. These also indicate that the remaining Oracle Keys may be hiding there."
"Is this true, Aqune?" Mantid questioned. Though his voice was intense as ever, he didn't seem to be at all surprised.
"Yes, I believe so," Aqune answered.
"I was afraid Spirit Oracle would play such an ironic trick," Mantid replied. "Nonetheless, even this barrier will not stand in our way. We will simply have to hurry there, and take the Keys before the humans learn of this."
"Forgive me for questioning, but how is that possible?" Buguese asked.
Mantid simply laughed in reply.
"I have known of a portal there for some time. There was simply no reason to make use of it yet."
Buguese and Aqune watched without questioning as Mantid displayed a map on one of his computer screens.
"At this location…" he pointed to a red dot, "Is a certain closed temple. Gather the rest of the Big Four. Rally any soldiers you can find, and bring them there, along with Aqune. I will head there shortly as well."
"Understood," Buguese answered. Although he replied quickly, in order not to show disobedience, Buguese did have a few concerns. First, was it alright to bring Aqune? Her purpose was to chant, and preserve the Insector world in doing so. Second, Mantid traveling on his own? It was merely a strange concept, as the Insector leader's body was very weak. Buguese couldn't even recall the last time Mantid left the castle for any reason. However, he had no reason to concern himself with these things now. He had orders to follow.
In Arachna, there lived a certain blue spider. Shadow called himself the strongest of all spider soldiers. Though he had taken out many Insectors who wandered into his part of the forest, and perhaps lived up to his name, he was a loner, not a joiner. Thus, he'd never partnered with a human.
On this day, Shadow was quietly patrolling the forest. And he saw something which would horrify most Arachnans. It took even him by surprise.
'That's a lot of Insectors,' he thought to himself, watching a long line of soldiers marching through. 'Guess it's up to me to take them down.' He wasn't intimidated. Rather, the idea sounded like a thrill.
The spider flew at them from the bushes, squashing a few soldiers on impact.
"S-spider!" they started yelling. A clear panic was spreading.
Shadow whipped at them with his threads, knocking more over. Some of them even started to run away in fear.
A captain who was with the group seemed irritated by this.
"Do not flee!" he shouted. "We were ordered to head to the temple. There's enough of us to take out one measly spider!"
"Sector!" they cried out in reply. The ones who could still fight aimed knives and spears at Shadow. While the spider was easily brushing most away, he was truly outnumbered. Some of the attacks did make contact.
"Hold it right there!"
Shadow was surprised to hear the voice of a young girl. He turned, only to see her firing an arrow, with the intensity to take out several of the enemy soldiers at once.
"No!" the captain shouted in horror. "Now a Spider Rider too?!" He was finally beginning to lose confidence in their chance of victory.
"I suppose I should thank you, but I have this under control," Shadow said, deciding to acknowledge the girl.
Her expression was a bit puzzled.
"That looked a little rough to me. Anyway, they have to be stopped. It will be quicker with my help."
Without acknowledging her again, Shadow leapt towards the captain. He quickly shot out more threads, which hit the target as planned.
"Take that!" Shadow said, smug. The man was twitching on the ground in pain.
"Mr. Spider, look!" called the girl. From the direction she pointed, more Insectors were coming onto the scene.
"My name is Shadow, and I'm perfectly capable of taking them," he yelled back.
"I'm Corona," answered the girl. "Hey, can you come over here, Shadow?"
"Fine," he decided. The next group of soldiers was still a distance away.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Corona asked.
"Not a clue," Shadow answered. "But I don't care what their objective is. All that matters is beating them."
"I know," Corona said. "I'm going to call for backup. I don't know why, but I get the feeling this is something really serious. Maybe we should stay back for now. It's just the two of us, since even my spider is on patrol somewhere else."
Shadow strongly wanted to object. But he had been stabbed a few times, and he was starting to feel it.
"Alright, fine," he decided. "But if they come for us, I'm going to fight back. They're no big deal."
"You're a stubborn one," Corona commented.
Buguese took the other Big Four generals, Aqune, and a small amount of soldiers on his personal transport. Naturally, they got to their destination faster than those traveling by land.
"So, why are we going to a planet full of smelly humans again?" Grasshop asked. "No offense to you Aqune, but most humans smell."
"Because the Oracle Keys are there, you moron," Beerain answered. "The better question is, why are we bringing you?"
"Hey! I'm one of the Big Four, chosen personally by Mantid-sama," boasted Grasshop.
"We are here," Buguese announced, annoyed by Grasshop but not caring to say anything to him.
After leaving the transport, the group approached the temple. Though the doors were locked, Stags easily just demolished them with a single strike of his sword.
The temple was dark and silent. There was dust everywhere. Clearly, it had been abandoned for a long time. But then, with no warning, a blinding light filled the temple. When it disappeared, the space was once again empty.
Where Corona and Shadow waited, Igneous and Lumen soon arrived on their spiders.
"Corona, what's the situation like?" Igneous asked, concerned. He noticed the unfamiliar spider, but said nothing on the matter. Spiders were allies to humans, after all.
"Large groups of Insectors keep coming through this area," Corona explained. "I couldn't take the risk of fighting so many, at least not without Venus, but I'm getting really worried."
"Well, I guess that's worthy of waking me up from my nap," Lumen complained. "But hey… forget Venus. Looks like you found yourself a new spider."
"I'm not her partner!" Shadow shouted. "I'm not any human's partner. I fight alone, because I don't need help."
"It seems now you're injured," Igneous commented. "It would be wise of you to stay out of this battle."
"Stay out of it?!" Shadow yelled. "It would be wise of you to get a better haircut, but it looks like you don't take advice either."
Both Lumen and Corona couldn't help but laugh at that comment, but Igneous seemed rather annoyed.
"Everyone, let's go!" he ordered.
Just then, Venus arrived.
"Great timing!" Corona exclaimed. She climbed onto her spider's back.
The three Riders, plus their new spider companion, ran as fast as they could in the direction the Insectors were headed. However, rather than engaging them, they decided to try and stay hidden in the forest. Igneous thought it would be best to find out where the enemy was going first.
"What is that?" Lumen asked in amazement. Finally, the temple was ahead of them. The Insectors kept entering.
"Why would they all want to go in there?" Igneous wondered.
"Obviously, there's something inside they want," Shadow stated. "And I think it's about time we find out what!" He began to run towards the temple.
"Hey, wait!" Corona called, but it was too late to stop him.
Sighing to herself, she followed after, the boys next joining suit.
Shadow had already trapped a group of Insectors in webbing outside, leaving an opening to the temple. The Riders stepped inside.
"There's no one in here!" Corona exclaimed. But they had no time to be stunned, as in an instant, they were consumed in light. And in that light, the shadow of a strange figure flew past.