44- Good and Evil

"We're going to be there soon!" Hunter led the group, riding atop Shadow. Though the Insector world was far closer to Arachna Kingdom than Nuuma was, he still wished he could get there a little faster.

The two Keys were in Hunter's hand and he looked down at them.

"I'll make sure to protect these."

"Brutus, I'm sure we'll meet Portia there," Magma said. He wasn't just trying to reassure his spider, but himself too. Brutus and Portia were so close to being re-united. It still bugged Magma that Aqune would return to the Insectors side. But this time, he couldn't allow Portia to slip away again.

"Definitely," replied Brutus.

"I'm also ready to fight," Igneous said. He felt weak, having easily been defeated in Nuuma, but that gave him the inspiration to fight even harder.

"It's just a shame you don't have anyone to cheer you on," commented Magma. "Like those cute girls from Arachna Kigndom."

Igneous looked gloomy.

"Don't remind me."

"Guys, what are you talking about?" Corona asked, curious.

"Igneous' fan club all got boyfriends," Magma said. "They got bored because he was away at Nuuma for too long."

"We weren't even gone that long. I think it was the fault of those rumors," Igneous mumbled. "They're not true, really!"

Magma started laughing.

"Huh?" Corona wondered. "What rumors."

"Sorry. I was just having a little fun."

"It was you?!" Igneous looked at him, stunned.

"On second thought, maybe I don't want to know," Corona said.

Although seeing the fate of Stags saddened Sparkle, she didn't have time to dwell on it now. She knew she had to move forward, and be reunited with the others.

"Uncle Hop," she said. "I need to get to the Insectors land now."

"You really want to go there?" Grasshop asked.

"Yeah!" Sparkle replied. "Everyone is going to risk their lives. I want to help them."

"Kyu!"

"Well, you were headed in the wrong direction," Grasshop replied.

"Really?" she looked disappointed.

"Hey, no worries," Grasshop replied. "I'll take you there. I used to live there, after all. Maybe I can see my family again." Sparkle noticed how excited Grasshop sounded about that.

"Yeah!" She exclaimed. "I'd really like to meet your family too. What are they like, anyway?"

They were conversing as they moved forward, as quickly as they could.

"Well, my wife is kind of bossy, but she is well meaning," said Grasshop. "Actually, I need her to keep me in shape. I'm the coward, and she's the tough one. My two kids are adorable. Their names are Step and Jump. They used to think I was cool. Now they probably don't."

"I'm sure they do," Sparkle argued. "I think you'd make an awesome dad! And they must miss you."

"Kyu! Kyu!" Hotarla added.

"Well, yeah, I am pretty awesome," said Grasshop. "I think you're right."

As usual, Buguese was watching Aqune chant from a distance away. As he was doing this, Beerain approached him. Admittedly, he'd been ignoring her since he returned to the fortress. It would be kind of difficult to deal with her.

"What do you want?" Buguese asked, sounding pretty agitated.

"You're still watching her?" Beerain asked.

"Yes," replied Buguese. "But what does that matter?"

"Do you really think, after Mantid collects the Oracle Keys, that he would let her live?" Beerain asked. "As a human, she has no place in the Insector world. If you become too attached to her, it will only hurt you in the long run. And I don't want to see you hurt!"

"Beerain…" he replied. Her words were even more true than she realized. Aqune's life was in imminent danger, because of who she really was. "I know that."

Buguese sighed.

"Thank you for your concern."

"It's more than just concern for you," she said. "If we don't restore the sun soon, every Insector who lives here will die. I also believe that the lives of all of our people are worth more than the life of one human girl."

Before Buguese could say anything in reply, a messenger bug appeared to them. It started to chirp out orders.

"I see," said Buguese. "We will be there shortly."

After Buguese got Aqune, the two of them met with Beerain in Mantid's chambers.

"You are my last remaining generals," Mantid spoke. "My last line of defense. I thought that you should know what Dungobeet just reported to me."

"Please tell us," Beerain said.

"The Spider Riders are heading to our fortress. It won't be long until a battle breaks out," Mantid explained.

"What?" Beerain asked, surprised.

"Then it's almost certain that they have the Keys with them," Buguese stated. He didn't expect they would head to battle without their greatest weapon.

"Indeed," Mantid replied. "Those fools will bring the Keys right to us."

Just from coming into Mantid's chamber, Aqune felt herself shaking. All this time, she thought it was alright if the Insectors had the Keys. After all, they were going to use them to restore sunlight. But, if that was truly what Mantid desired, why did she get such terrible feelings? What was it he really wanted?

Buguese noticed her troubled expression, but didn't really think this was a good time to say anything.

"Not only will we easily be able to get the Keys," Mantid spoke. "But I have a defense strategy. A barrier will rise around the castle, making it impossible for anyone outside to get inside, unless I let them through. And I will also send out troops to fight them. Aqune, you will lead the first defense line."

"Me?" Aqune asked, though quickly realized that she was in no place to question Mantid's orders.

Mantid looked at her intently.

"Yes. I'm sorry," she added.

'I have to fight the Spider Riders once again?' she thought to herself. 'I don't want to fight anymore. And I don't want Mantid to get the last two Oracle Keys.'

"I think that you're perfect for this job, Aqune," Mantid said. "The other Riders can't fight their hardest when they're fighting a comrade."

Smirking, the Insector turned his gaze to Buguese and Beerain.

"I want the two of you to fight your hardest as well," he said. "Once the Spider Riders are weakened, you will be the final defense, so they will be crushed, if they even make it that far. Do you understand? Our sunlight and our revenge… everything depends on this victory."

"I understand," said Beerain. "We can't lose when we've made it this far."

Although for a moment he hesitated, Buguese nodded his head.

"Yes, Mantid-sama. I will personally make sure we do not lose. The Keys will be yours, and the Spider Riders will be crushed."

"That's very good to hear," said Mantid. "Don't let anything stop you."

After that, Mantid dismissed them.

"Aqune." The girl stopped when Buguese called to her. She turned to him. "I know that this will not make you happy. But you must fight. That is the only way."

He pulled out the mask from his belt, and put it on her face. Aqune simply stood there, not trying to resist.

Buguese bought Aqune outside with him. There were a large amount of Insector troops who must have already been called outside. Well, certainly the Spider Riders would have difficulty dealing with such a large number of enemies.

Of course, now that she was masked, Aqune didn't seem to be concerned at all, as she was when they had just met with Mantid. Buguese was pleased that she was calm, but still… he knew she wasn't really. He couldn't really say the overall situation didn't bother him. But he swore his loyalties to Mantid. That wasn't something he could turn back from.

'Did I make the right choice?' Buguese wondered, and he headed back to the castle alone. After he'd returned, a large transparent barrier rose from the ground.

Mantid pressed a button, which opened the door to his closet. Inside was the doll-like body of a girl who had died long ago.

"Lorraine," he said. "Very soon, they will all pay."

Cold laugher echoed from his chambers.

At that time, Hunter's group had nearly made it. But they didn't know just what would be waiting for them.