A/N: Hello readers! I'm sorry I haven't been consistent, but now that I'm out of school I should have more time to work on this. Needless to say I'm determined to finish this story. I thank you for all your patience. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Spider Riders, just the OC and plot idea.

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Chapter Ten - Goodbye, My Love!

All eyes were on Alexander as he kneeled before the throne that Prince Lumen sat upon.

"I have made a pact with Cyan the Great, my prince. Both of us pledge our undying loyalty to you," Alexander said with determination. Yes, his loyalty would be with Lumen and the other Spider Riders...even if... The image of Aqune flashed in his mind and he winced. Fighting Aqune...would not be something he looked forward to, but if there was some way to get her on his side then he would do everything in his power.

"I'm very glad to hear that you were successful," Prince Lumen said with a nod of approval.

Alexander stood up from his kneeling position and forced a smile, "Thank you, Prince Lumen."

"Now you're an official Spider Rider!" Hunter chimed in, giving Alexander a pat on the back in congratulations.

Corona nodded and approached the new rider. "I look forward to fighting alongside you," she said earnestly.

"Same here," Alexander replied smoothly, his thoughts elsewhere at the moment. Politely he excused himself walking towards the exit, but stopped as a guard came rushing in.

"Y-You're highness!" The palace guard said, out of breath from running. Prince Lumen rose a brow and now all attention was focused on the panting guard.

"What is it?" The prince inquired curiously.

"T-There's a commotion in the town square," he explained hurriedly. "A mysterious rider on a purple spider is causing trouble and destroying everything in her path!"

Everyone shared glances with each other knowing well enough who it was. Alexander, however, was looking to the floor fists clenching at his sides. Aqune...why now? His gaze traveled to his manacle where Cyan was and he sighed.

"We must stop her!" Igneous spoke about ready to charge out there.

"I agree! We should go right now," Magma added, crossing his arms.

"I'll go." Alexander said firmly looking to Prince Lumen. "I want to test out just how great Cyan really is."

"Hey! I heard that!" Cyan said irritably from inside the manacle.

Lumen looked to everyone briefly before nodding with an amused smirk. "Fine. Do as you wish."

With a nod of support from his comrades, Alexander made his way outside the palace summoning his spider.

"You better not break our deal," Cyan warned as Alexander hopped on him.

"I don't plan to," he replied with a shrug, looking over his armor. It was black with golden carvings. In his hand he held a blade while his other had a shield. "Let's go." And with that they were off.

O

O

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Meanwhile in the palace...

"I want you and Corona to provide backup if it is needed," Lumen said eyeing Hunter and the blonde rider at his side. They both nodded in agreement, sharing a glance.

"It sucks to be backup," Hunter said with a pout but shrugged. "At least we get to see his skill. Maybe I can ask him for a friendly brawl later."

Corona rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Do we really have time to think about things like that?" She said in disapproval as she dragged Hunter out of the throne room.

O

O

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At the center of the town...

A masked Aqune was wrecking havoc, commanding her spider to destroy needlessly. Meanwhile, Buguese watched from his place on his hover craft still feeling bad about this whole situation. Aqune would never forgive him for this...

Alexander had quickly approached the scene before him, weapons at the ready. "Aqune!" He shouted gaining her attention. "Stop this, please! There is no need for this!" He looked around at the horror before him, the market was nearly destroyed and innocents lay lifeless in the streets. There was no way in hell Aqune would be so violent... He wouldn't believe it!

When no reply came from her, he frowned looking to Buguese. "W-what did you do to her?!" He demanded, looking between her and him.

"Boy...something's different here." Cyan said shifting a bit uncomfortably. He sensed something was way off with this girl.

"I know!" Alexander answered back bitterly still looking to Buguese for an answer.

The bug man just shrugged nonchalantly. "Isn't it obvious? She's showing her true colors as an Invectid. Her loyalty is and forever will be with the great Lord Mantid!"

Alexander gritted his teeth in annoyance. "She wouldn't do something like this!" He said gesturing to the destroyed market stands and dead bodies. The whole sight sickened him. It just wasn't like her at all. Buguese had put her up to this! That he could swear by.

"Well she did, so get over it lover boy," Buguese said disdainfully, looking to Aqune. "Aqune, my dear, please end this annoying brat." Like told Aqune charged at Alexander and Cyan. Blocking the move with his sword Alexander looked at the girl before him pleadingly with wide confused eyes. "Please! Stop this Aqune! This isn't you!" No words reached her however, and she only pushed harder against his weapon with her own.

"Boy! This is just a hunch, but that mask! Maybe that has something to do with it!" Cyan said grunting as he was collided into by Portia.

The mask? Maybe, maybe Cyan was right. Alexander looked to the object and with all his strength in one arm, he used the other to reach for her mask. This however failed as Aqune withdrew quickly, her spider taking a few steps back.

"It won't be that easy," Buguese said with a smug grin. "It's simple really boy. Kill or be killed."

When those words left the bug man's lips, Alexander looked to Buguese in shock. What? How could he just say something like that? He cared about Aqune too! So why would he let her life hang in the balance like this!? Frustrated, he kept on fending off attacks from Aqune. Their blades clashing continuously causing sparks. No...no...he couldn't hurt her... Cyan sensed the hesitance in his rider and shouted something at him, but it fell on death ears as Aqune's weapon pierced his right shoulder. Bright crimson poured from the wound and the only thing Alexander could do was stare at her in shock. Aqune only dug the weapon in deeper and this caused Alexander to scream in pain. Yes, the wound hurt but it was nothing compared to the pain he felt in his heart. Anguish...loss...heartache. Negative feelings began to consume his being and this resonated with the jewel around Aqune's neck. This caused the jewel to glow dark and a beam shot out hitting Alexander's heart. He winced and gasped at the spike of pain in his chest. W-What had just happened?

"Aqune! Stop this!" He tried again weakly as it became harder to think clearly. It was like a dark fog was clouding his mind and judgement. Slowly, he grabbed her weapon pulling it out of him and shoving her back. More crimson liquid poured from the now open wound and he clutched his shoulder. Aqune recovered from the shove and stood back up, preparing to strike again.

Alexander grunted in pain and he dropped his weapon wrapping his arms around himself. W-what was happening to him?! His pulse began to quicken and his body shook. In the recess of his mind, he felt black tendrils seep into consciousness constricting it, suffocating it.

"...Boy?" Cyan asked in concern when there was no response from his rider. Alexander had collapsed to a kneeling position and yelled in pain.

"Get out of my head!" Everything fell silent then and every pair of eyes were looking at the boy.

"Did he fall unconscious?" Buguese wondered out loud. His question was answered when Alexander stood back up.

"A fight to the death, huh?" Alexander opened his eyes, revealing blood red hues. He looked to Buguese and chuckled darkly. "That sounds fun..." His gaze landed on Aqune and he became flooded with mixed emotions.

"Boy! Snap out of it! Now!" Cyan urged. "Fight it!" Something had definitely become very very wrong with his rider and this worried him.

Alexander smirked, picking up his weapon. "Really Cyan, you're no fun at all." He then pointed his weapon at Aqune. "Prepare yourself, because I won't hold back." His words were venomous and it was clear this was no longer Alexander. Urging his spider forward he clashed weapons with Aqune, brute force behind his attack. Throwing her back with force he laughed. His attacks continued mercilessly and a cut was made across Aqune's arm. She glanced to it, but due to the control of the mask continued to fight. It was a pretty deep wound.

"This makes us even!" Alexander said snidely gesturing to his own bleeding shoulder. Aqune said nothing and just attacked him again, blood flowing from her wound.

Inside...Alexander was screaming in anguish when Aqune was cut. No...no...NO! This was not him! This was not him! Get out of my head! Get out! Get out!

His pleas went ignored.

In a matter if moments Aqune was on the ground, cuts and bruises on her body. The cold tip of steel was pressed to her throat. "It's too bad really... The fun was only just starting." He sighed disappointed. Cold eyes looked at the masked girl and in a quick horizontal slice he cut the mask. Aqune gasped, regaining consciousness and yelping in pain at her injuries. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she saw who was responsible. Why? Why was he doing this? She looked around at the damage and the broken mask at her side. D-did I do all this?

"A-Alexander...no...why? W-What's going on?" She asked in pain and disbelief. Alexander stared at her for a long moment.

"Shut up," he replied darkly, her words only disturbing the other consciousness within himself.

Aqune...Aqune! She's back! Alexander thought in relief, but horror took over as he realized he was still not in control of himself. No! Give me back my body! He tried mentally fighting against this darkness that threatened to consume him.

"Hmph...seems like you're causing the other me to have a mental fit. Better end this quickly then." He raised his blade about to bring it down on the trembling girl.

"Boy! What do you think you're doing?!" Cyan asked knowing this wasn't what Alexander would have really wanted. All this time he had been keeping Portia back from her rider, holding her down. She struggled against him trying to get to Aqune.

"Cyan..." Alexander said sternly. "Isn't this what you want too? To kill Invectids? Don't get second thoughts now." He looked back to Aqune and laughed evilly.

Buguese's eyes widened as he realized what Alexander was about to do. No this isn't going according to plan! Lord Mantid was wrong about this power! It cannot be controlled! Damn it!

"Goodbye, my love!" The dark Alexander said with a twisted smirk plastered on his face. Inside, Alexander was crying out for this madness to stop as he sank into despair.

No! Stop this! Don't do this! Don't hurt Aqune!

The blade was then brought down piercing flesh...

NOOO!

A scream of anguish sounded to the skies...

And blood was spilled...

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A/N: Dun Dun Dun! What an interesting way this turned out, right? Well hope you guys enjoyed the cliff hanger. I'll update soon! Over and out, DestinedDuelist893