AN: And... it's finally time for the introduction of Brade.

33- The Great Magician Insect

To Corona's shock, Hunter made no delay to run to Aqune's side. He picked her up in his arms.

"Aqune! Are you okay?"

"Hunter?" said Aqune, confused. "Where am I?"

"Umm… I don't really know," said Hunter, a bit embarrassed. "It's some kind of cave, I think."

"Hunter," called Corona. "Aqune's okay. I think you can put her down now."

"Oh yeah," he said nervously.

Aqune laughed, as she got up from the ground. Then, her expression turned solemn.

"I remember everything," she said.

"Remember?" Hunter asked.

"I could never remember who I was before I lived with the Insectors," said Aqune. "But now, it's all finally clear."

"What happened to you?" asked Hunter. "Did Buguese do something to you to make you forget? Why were you saying his name?"

"I was?" Aqune asked, blushing slightly. She looked down. "It's because I want to see him again," she said. "And no, I didn't lose my memory because of him."

"Why don't you tell us everything," said Corona.

"Alright," Aqune replied. And she recounted the story to them as best she could.

"So, Portia was given to you in Nuuma?" asked Magma, only really caring about that part of the story.

"Yes," she said. "I don't know how she got there."

"I see," Magma replied. "But at least, now she and Brutus can finally be together again."

The two spiders had been happily re-united there in the cave.

"You know," said Corona. "I also don't remember much of my childhood. I'm a little jealous that you were able to remember."

"Really?" said Aqune. To her, Corona seemed pretty normal, and not like her. Though, she supposed most everyone led 'normal' lives compared to her. "Well, don't worry. I'm sure your memories will return to you one day."

"Now that I've heard the story, I still don't get it," Hunter began. "Why do you want to see Buguese again? He controls you with those masks and forces you to fight against us."

"I know that," said Aqune. "I hate to fight, and I don't like wearing masks. But you know, until recently, Buguese never made me fight. I never even left the Insector lands. Then something changed. And even despite that, he's still someone very important to me. People may not always get along with loved ones, but once a bond is formed, I believe it's always still there somewhere. There are ways to reconcile."

"That's pretty deep," said Hunter. "But I agree. Maybe if we all tried to get along with each other, there wouldn't have to be anymore fighting."

"But now there is conflict," said Magma. "And somehow I don't think we can stop the invasion in Nuuma with love."

"I know that," Hunter replied. "But now, what's important is finding a way out of this cave! I didn't see an exit anywhere, but we should never give up!"

"Because there is no exit!" came a voice.

The four Riders looked to each other, confused.

Buguese had returned to his transport, where Beerain was waiting.

"Aqune is gone," he said bitterly.

Beerain didn't expect to hear that, but it certainly perked her interests.

"Is that really so bad?" she asked.

"Yes," replied Buguese, looking away. "You know that Aqune is an Oracle Handmaiden. Without her powers, we can't survive."

"Of course," said Beerain. "But we could always find a new handmaiden once we get to Nuuma. Aren't there plenty there?"

Buguese scowled.

"We have to find Aqune," he said. "Getting to Nuuma can wait. She must be somewhere."

"If you say so," she replied unenthusiastically.

None of the Riders could figure out where the voice was coming from.

"What do you mean, there's no way out?" asked Shadow.

"Yeah, and can you tell us who you are?" Hunter added.

"Hmm…" he said. "You can call me the great magician insect. And isn't that convenient, because magic is the answer you're looking for."

"Insect?" asked Corona. "You're an Insector?"

"Maybe," he replied. "Maybe not."

"Well which is it?" asked Shadow.

"You guys," said Aqune. "I think I can feel his presence. That means he has some connection to Spirit Oracle."

"Where is he?!" Hunter asked, excitedly.

"Just follow me," she said, and started running ahead.

The others followed her through the winding caves. Eventually, they reached the figure of an old-looking Insector.

"You are an Insector!" Magma exclaimed. "This is some kind of trap, isn't it?"

"Why would I set a trap, when you're already trapped within the cave?" the magician replied.

"I guess that's a good point," Aqune commented.

"I commend you for finding me, girl," he said to Aqune. "I have a feeling you had a very interesting experience in this cave."

Aqune nodded.

"My memories returned to me."

"Of course," replied the magician. "They call this place Memory Sealed Cave. They say sometimes a person will recall their forgotten memories. At least the memories you had of this life."

"Hm?" replied Aqune. "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out in due time," the magician said. "Anyway, since you've found me, I may help you get out of this cave."

"May help us?" asked Corona. "If you have the way out, why can't you just show us?"

"Yeah!" said Hunter. "We have to get out of here. We want to save the people of Nuuma. And our friends Igneous, Lumen and Sparkle are missing. We've got to find them again!"

"Of course you have things to do," the magician answered. "But I wonder if you're truly ready for those things."

"Of course we are!" said Hunter. "If we weren't prepared, we wouldn't have left Arachna in the first place."

"You sound confident," he said. "By the way, I think I should tell you a little about myself. First, I'm not really an Insector. I just took this guise for the fun of it."

A light came around him, and in place of the Insector was a very short old man.

"I wasn't lying about having magic though." He waved the staff that he held in his hand. "You've probably heard of me. My name is Brade."

Magma was stunned.

"The Hero Brade?!" he exclaimed, and nearly was hyperventilating.

"Yes, I'm that Brade," the man replied.

"My hero!" Magma yelled, and ran to him, taking him into a painfully tight embrace.

"My oxygen…" Brade mumbled.

"I've wanted to meet you for so, so long!" yelled Magma. "Ever since I was little, you were my absolute hero. I know everything about you. Well, not everything. Now that you're here, I can ask you all the questions I have that the legends never talked about. Tell me, do you prefer boxers or briefs?"

"Will you please let go?" asked Brade. Magma reluctantly did so.

Hunter, Corona and Aqune could only stare, rather disturbed by what they just witnessed. None of them even had a chance yet to register the fact that they were actually meeting someone as famous as Brade.

"What is your answer?" Magma asked, much calmer this time.

Brade didn't answer his question though. Instead, he went over to see Corona and Aqune.

"I just noticed, but you two are beautiful young ladies," he said.

"Thank you," Aqune replied.

"Yeah, thanks," said Corona, but she felt a little weird, wondering if she was being hit on by this old guy.

"Alright," said Hunter. "If you're really a legendary hero, can you please help us get out of here now?"