AN: I had a ton of fun writing this chapter. Honestly, I was thinking if I ended up scrapping this fic idea, I'd retool this chapter as a one-shot. Hopefully you'll also find it amusing.
8- The New Legend of Brade
Glint trailed behind as Magma was walking the streets of the Arachna castle town.
"Hey, any reason why we're on an early morning walk?" she asked. "Is it part of your super secret training regimen?"
"Huh? No, this isn't training," Magma replied. "I just needed to cool down a bit, before I get too angry." He wasn't sure why the girl was following him, but she wasn't really bothering him.
"Do tell," she replied, excitedly.
"It's not that interesting," Magma replied. "It's… Buguese is in our castle, using our things. What right does he have to be there?"
"Eww… I really don't know," said Glint. "Insectors are so creepy."
"More than Insectors, it's him I don't like," said Magma. "He's the reason it took so long to get Portia back. An even after we did get her back, then Aqune got engaged to him. It's hopeless."
"Ew! Ew! Ew!" Glint exclaimed. "Marrying an Insector?! Never! But, at least it keeps Aqune away from the rest of you. Maybe I should try hooking Corona up with an Insector boyfriend also."
"You… you really don't get it," Magma mumbled.
"Hey, Magma!" The man looked up as he heard a familiar voice, only to see the head of the theatre troupe (and the biggest Brade fanboy he knew besides himself) running up to him.
"Ah, my comrade," Magma said. "It's so good to see you again."
"Yes," he replied. "But today, I'm seeing you for more than pleasure. I have an important announcement."
"Is it about Brade?! Ooh, I can't wait!" Magma exclaimed.
"Yes. Thanks to the great information you gave us, the theatre troupe has created a sequel to the legend of the Hero Brade play. It's titled 'The Second Coming of Brade- Brade Conquers the Insector Menace and Saves the World.'"
"Wonderful!" Magma shouted, his eyes glowing. "When do I get to see it?!"
"Our first performance is later today. Of course, for all the help you provided us in the past, you and the rest of the Spider Riders can have free admission. And any friends you want to bring too," he added, noticing the unfamiliar blue-haired girl.
"Okay!" declared Magma. "I'll make sure everyone is here to see history made!"
"Wow, now that's enthusiasm," Glint commented in fascination.
"A new play on the Hero Brade?" Hunter wondered. "Well, that does sound pretty fun."
"Oh, I've never seen a play before," Aqune commented. "May I please come?"
"Of course," Magma said. "All of you are invited to come for free."
Aqune smiled. "This is great. Hey, Buguese, please come with us too."
"Why?" he asked. "I don't care about what the irritating Hero Brade does."
"He's not so bad," Aqune replied. But, she looked sad. "I wanted you to come with me."
"Fine, if I must," replied the Insector.
"No matter how I look at it, this is going to be a chore," Richter commented. "Doubt I'll even learn anything useful."
And thus, the group of Spider Riders, plus Glint and Buguese, were seated in the front row at the small theatre. It wasn't long before the curtain was raised, and the actors appeared on the stage.
"Hm…" Igneous commented, as he glanced at them. "I see Hunter, Corona, Magma, Lumen and Sparkle. But… where's me?"
"Oh," replied the troupe leader, who also sat in the audience. "Well, we didn't have enough actors for all the roles, so we came to the collective decision that the character of Igenous just wasn't important enough."
"What?!" he yelled. "I was very important!"
"Please, just remain quiet and enjoy the show," the man replied.
Though Igneous was twitching in anger, he complied.
"Weak little humans, you will all perish!" an evil-sounding voice yelled. On stage appeared an actor dressed as Grasshop.
"Oh no! An Insector!" Actor-Hunter shouted, a terrified look on his face.
At that, Actor-Grasshop began to pound the helpless team of Spider Riders.
"Wait…" said Hunter. "We're getting beat up… by Grasshop?!"
"Uncle Hop was on our side!" Sparkle added. "This is cruel!"
"Wait, Spider Riders! I will save you!"
The booming voice of Actor-Brade could be heard, and finally, he appeared before them.
"Yes!" cheered Magma. "Hero Brade-sama!"
"Some people are just too evil to have the evil from their hearts ripped out," Brade spoke. At that, he quickly slaughtered Grasshop.
"Thank you, Hero Brade. You saved us," said Actor-Hunter.
"A kiss for the hero," added Actor-Corona, who then gave Brade a big smooch.
"Wh-why…?" muttered the real Corona from the audience.
"Wait! Another kiss for the hero," said Actor-Sparkle, who copied Corona.
"Sparkle, nooooo!" Lumen yelled. He had actually been half-asleep for the whole beginning of the play, but this was enough to jolt him out of it. As for the real Sparkle, she was too busy crying over Grasshop's death to even notice the scene.
"Now," said Actor-Brade. "We need the eighth Spider Rider."
On cue, Actor-Buguese and Actor-Aqune appeared on stage.
"Muwahahahahahahahaha!" laughed Actor-Buguese. "We Insectors will destroy not only the Inner World, but all life in the universe. You will never save this mere slave girl."
"Ahhhh! Save me, Hero Brade!" yelled Actor-Aqune in a shrill voice.
"Destroy the universe?!" Buguese exclaimed, standing up in his chair. "What blasphemy is this?!"
"Buguese, wait!" said Aqune, who grabbed him by the arm when she noticed he was about to run up to the stage.
"Let go, Aqune!" he shouted.
"No…" Aqune replied, who was gripped as tightly as possible to Buguese. "It… it's all just fake." Not that she really was thrilled with it either, but she didn't want Buguese proving the writers' point.
"Never fear!" Actor-Brade yelled. "I will kill this monster too." And quickly, Actor-Buguese was obliterated.
"Brade, you are so strong and cool," said Actor-Hunter.
"Thank you!" said Actor-Aqune. "Now, a kiss for the hero." Then, she gave Brade his third kiss of the day.
"Last, we must defeat the terrible Mantid," Actor-Brade announced.
"But he's so powerful," Actor-Lumen spoke. "Whatever will we do?"
"We must use the Oracle Keys," answered Actor-Brade. "Only they can crush the Insector menace permanently."
"Hero Brade, you can have them," said Actor-Hunter. "This task is only fitting for you."
"Alright!" Magma exclaimed. "Here comes Hero Brade-sama's big heroic moment."
"I was the one who used the Oracle Keys!" shouted Hunter, who was probably the only one paying any attention to the play anymore, besides Richter who didn't want to come to begin with, and Glint.
"You will never defeat true evil," said Actor-Mantid, who had now entered stage, complete with lightning effects.
"Never underestimate the power of the Hero Brade," yelled Actor-Brade, who then flashed the Oracle Keys before Mantid, and transformed with them.
"No, not the Oracle Keys!" screamed Actor-Mantid like a little girl. "I… I surrender!"
"I don't trust the lies of evil Insectors," Actor-Brade declared.
"By the way, Mantid is a human," Hunter whispered to the troupe leader.
"This blow will save the world!" shouted Actor-Brade.
"Go, Hero Brade! Save us!" the actor Spider Riders yelled in unison.
"Gladly," said Brade, who also obliterated Mantid in a single attack.
"And so…" spoke the narrator. "Once again, the day is saved, thanks to the wonderful efforts of the Hero Brade." Then, the curtain fell.
"Bravo! Bravo!" Magma cheered, as tears streamed from his eyes. "You've outdone yourselves with this one." He looked at the others, who were all too stunned or miserable. "Everyone, applaud!"
"Yeah!" Glint said, and began clapping. She then walked up to the chief. "I, for one, think you did an excellent job. Though, I have one piece of criticism."
"What's that?" the leader asked, a bit skeptical after all the previous critique.
"You should have given Hunter a greater role!" she shouted. "I mean, Brade is an old guy. He's not really hot. I thought it was kind of out-of-character for all those girls to want to kiss him."
"I'd kiss the Hero Brade over anyone!" Magma exclaimed.
"Yes, we all would," agreed the troupe leader.
"Hey, Richter," said Hunter. "You weren't around for all this, so, what did you think?"
"I think you wasted my day," he answered. "This was a bad idea."
"Well, at least Magma liked it," Hunter said. Nonetheless, he was more than ready to go home and try to forget all about this play.