AN: This was always one of the episodes I really wished I could see, because it looked like it might have adorable Buguese/Aqune. Whether or not I was right, now it does.

41- A Flame

Up ahead was a glorious sight to all the Riders. Shore. Fortunately, the trip back had gone far smoother than the trip to Nuuma was.

"Welcome back, Spider Riders." Lily was waiting for them in front of the castle, having heard news of a ship reaching the shore earlier that day. Grey was also there, and many soldiers from Arachna's army.

"It's great to be back!" Hunter exclaimed.

"Princess, thank goodness you're safe," said Lily, walking up to Sparkle. Unfortunately, she then realized the Insector by the girl's side, and screamed. "Sparkle, get away!"

"Huh?" Sparkle replied, before finally realizing what had startled Lily.

"Hey, I'm not here to attack or anything. No hard feelings," Grasshop said.

"He's one of the Big Four!" Lily exclaimed.

"Uncle Hop is my friend!" Sparkle declared. "He saved me, and went to Nuuma with us. So don't hurt him!"

Lily looked very puzzled by this, but moved away, deciding to accept it for now.

"Thank you, Princess!" Grasshop shouted. "I owe you."

Sparkle smiled back at him.

"No problem," she said. "So, do you want to stay with us at the castle, since you got fired?"

"That sounds wonderful," Grasshop said.

"Grey!" Igneous called, running up to his old friend. "How have things been?"

"There have been a few incidents of Insector attacks," Grey replied. "But we've stopped all of them! Looks like our training paid off."

"That's great to hear," Igneous replied.

"Well, what about you guys?" Grey asked.

"Nuuma is safe," answered Igneous. "The Insector forces withdrew. Hunter defeated Stags, and we also found the queen." He clenched a fist in frustration. "However, the Insectors took the Key."

"That's terrible," said Lily.

"We know," Hunter replied. "But don't worry! We Spider Riders will get the Keys back!" He threw his fist up in the air, in determination.

"Excellent work, Buguese," Mantid said, as he took the Key from his second-in-command. "However, I see Stags did not return with you."

"Stags was defeated by Hunter Steele," Buguese replied.

"I see," said Mantid. "Then now, he's as good as dead."

Buguese was surprised by the way Mantid worded that. Sure, he didn't know what exactly happened to Stags, but he wouldn't simply write the other general off as dead yet.

"Buguese, you may leave," Mantid spoke. Buguese bowed his head, and left the room.

Mantid held the new Key in his left hand, and in his right was the other Key which he had acquired long ago.

"At last," he said. "Two of the four are mine. Very soon, I will have my revenge… Lorraine."

Since returning to the castle, Aqune went back to chanting right away, though she barely had the strength for it. With all that she'd gone through lately, she wasn't feeling well either physically or emotionally.

"Aqune…" it was Portia's voice. Her spider, though still inside the manacle, could tell that Aqune was suffering.

"It's alright, Portia," she said, smiling at her partner's show of concern. "For now, I just have to chant."

But shortly after she'd said this, a messenger bug flew in her general direction, and started to chirp.

"Hm?" she couldn't understand the messenger's language, but it seemed to be calling to her. It was whizzing back and forth away from where the girl was kneeling.

"You want me to follow you?" asked Aqune. She took it as a yes when the bug just went away. It finally stopped at Mantid's chamber.

Cautiously, Aqune went inside. It wasn't usually a place she went, at least not alone. She had a pretty bad feeling about going in as well. But if Mantid needed her, who was she to argue? She technically was still a servant.

"Aqune, you came," said Mantid, his voice icy cold. Aqune nodded.

"Did you want something from me?"

"Yes," said Mantid. "You must activate the power of this new Key. I need its energy."

Aqune cringed at his words, a strong feeling telling her not to do it.

"Now." Mantid ordered, seeing her hesitation.

"Alright," replied Aqune. She kneeled down before him, and began to chant a prayer to the Oracle. All the while, pain pulsed through her body. Aqune knew Spirit Oracle was fighting with all her might to resist yielding power to Mantid. It wasn't something Aqune herself wanted either. But yet, she did it.

"Excellent," said Mantid. "I feel much stronger now. That is all I need you for now, Aqune."

Aqune staggered out of the room.

'What does Mantid want to do with Oracle's power? When Hunter wielded her power, I felt hopeful. But now…'

Her exhausted body gave out from under her, and she nearly fell to the ground. However, she felt someone catch her.

"Aqune…" Buguese said. "Are you alright?"

"Oh…" Aqune replied, a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I'm alright. I guess. I'll… go back to chanting."

"No," Buguese said. "There's no point in pushing yourself. You should get some rest before you become ill."

Aqune nodded, accepting that. She was surprised though when Buguese scooped her up in his arms and carried her towards her room.

'Isn't Aqune supposed to be the Oracle's reincarnation?' he thought to himself. 'In that case, she should have infinite power. Hmm… it probably isn't that simple. Right now, her body is that of a human. Even a human with her strength has limits.'

"Buguese… I'm sorry for troubling you," Aqune spoke, as she laid down on her bed. "But… thank you."

"This was no big deal, really," Buguese replied. Of course, he felt very awkward caring for her, he would have liked to avoid this situation, but he really was concerned. The Insector turned around, deciding to leave.

"Wait, Buguese!" Aqune called. "I know you must be busy, but… can you stay just a little longer? I've wanted to tell you something."

"Alright," Buguese decided. "What is it?"

"Ever since I got my memories back," Aqune began, "I felt as if I was meeting you again for the first time. I know it's silly, because the both of us have lived here for a long time… together, but apart. I was happy to see you again and I hoped that I could get closer to you."

"Is that so?" Buguese replied.

Aqune nodded. It was sort of embarrassing to say all that, but she was glad to get it out.

'If only it were that simple,' Buguese thought to himself. 'Aqune… I despised all humans, until I met you. You're different, somehow. But your fate is cruel, especially now, as Spirit Oracle. You lend your powers to Mantid-sama, who will eventually destroy you. And I am also fighting for Mantid-sama's ambition. So I can't save you from your suffering. I can only add to it.'

"Hmm… how do we get to the Insector's base anyway?" Hunter was sprawled out on a couch, anxiously pondering out loud.

"No human has ever traveled there," Lumen responded, having overheard him as he walked into the room. "Hunter, as I'm your prince, you should give up the couch to me. It looked like a very soft space for an afternoon nap."

"Nah, I don't wanna," Hunter replied.

"Well, alright" Lumen replied, disappointed and then sat on a nearby chair instead.

"Hey Prince!" Hunter called. "Even though no one's gone to the base before, do you happen to know where it is?"

Lumen didn't answer though, because he'd fallen asleep.

"That was fast," Hunter muttered.

"I'm sure there are maps," Shadow suggested. "You just have to take some time to study."

"Oh, alright," replied Hunter, reluctantly deciding to get up. Reading was boring, but this was too important a mission for him to be picky.

"Hey, Hunter, what's up?" Sparkle called, seeing him walk through the halls. Sparkle was together with Hotarla, unsurprisingly, and Grasshop.

"I'm going to look for a map of the Inner World," he replied. "I have to find out where the Insector's base is." Then he realized something that would make his life easier. "Oh, Grasshop, you're an Insector! Can you tell us where it is?"

"I suppose," Grasshop replied, though he was surprised by the question. "But you really don't want to go there. It's scary. I have nightmares about it, and I lived there."

"It doesn't matter if it's scary," Hunter said. "I'm going!"