AN: Although I've never been a fan of the Magma/Aqune pairing (honestly Aqune only seems interested in Buguese or Hunter) I think the relationship really could have been better explored, given how Magma seemed to really hate Aqune early on. So I tried to work that in here.

45- A Brother and Sister

It was in their sights. The horror movie-esque castle that was the Insector's base.

"Looks like they expected company," Lumen said, sounding fairly disappointed.

"It doesn't matter how many opponents they throw at us," Hunter replied. "We won't give up until the end!"

But as they came closer, it was easy to notice who stood among the Insector warriors.

"Aqune!" Hunter exclaimed.

"So, they're here?" Mantid was watching outside the castle on his monitors. Now the show was going to get interesting.

Hunter wasn't happy about having Aqune as an enemy again. He looked around, and didn't see Buguese anywhere. It was interesting that Aqune would be sent out on her own.

"I don't want to hurt you, Aqune!" he declared. "Still, I won't let you take the Keys!"

"The Oracle Keys belong to Mantid-sama alone," Aqune replied. Her voice was cold and cruel, very different from the usual Aqune.

"Ahhh!" Hunter was instantly attacked by an Insector.

"Hunter!" Corona screamed.

As Hunter tried to get up from the ground, another Insector smacked him down hard. That attack was instantly followed by another blow from a warrior's sword.

"Looks like they're targeting Hunter," Lumen said.

"Of course," Igneous replied. "He has the Keys!"

"Let's help him!" Lumen ordered.

"Right," said Igneous.

The prince, already fully transformed, leapt in, batting one of the Insectors who had Hunter surrounded out of the way with his sword.

"Thanks, Prince," Hunter said, and used the opening to attack another Insector.

Igneous and Flame also started attacking some soldiers who were nearby.

"Brutus, our opponents are Aqune and Portia!" Magma shouted.

"Right!" replied Brutus.

The team rode right up to Aqune.

"Are you gonna play nice today, or do you want to fight?" Magma asked, though he knew what the answer was.

"You're just an annoyance in my way!" shouted Aqune. The girl lunged at Magma, knocking him off his spider and onto the ground.

"Not bad," said Magma.

Portia, her sights set on Brutus, fired her webs in the spider's face, which caused him to reel back in pain.

"Portia, stop!" yelled Brutus. "You're my sister! We shouldn't be fighting."

But Portia jumped at Brutus, viciously.

"No!" yelled Magma, seeing this happen. "Portia, stop!" He was hardly paying attention to Aqune. Obviously annoyed by this, Aqune swung her sword hard at his side. Magma doubled over in pain.

"You're too weak!" Aqune's electrically charged sword flew down, striking the already-hurt Magma.

"Ugh…" Magma was not ready to give up, despite the pain.

"It's futile to resist me," said Aqune.

"I don't think so," replied Magma, who got to his feet. "I'm going to get Portia back today, no matter what it takes! I owe it to Brutus!"

As for Brutus, he was busy taking quite the beating from Portia. He was too reluctant to fight back.

Corona, looking back and forth between Hunter and Magma, was troubled. Hunter seemed to have the fight under control, with the help Lumen and Igneous were providing him, despite the large number of opponents they had to deal with. Magma, on the other hand, was clearly struggling.

'I don't think he can reach Portia, unless he can also reach Aqune,' Corona thought to herself. 'Back in Nuuma, Aqune was bought back to herself, just briefly. It was because of my powers.' Back then, she didn't know the truth. That Aqune was the Oracle's reincarnation, and Hunter's destined one. It wasn't that Corona disliked Aqune at all, but by trying to save her… then would Corona never have a chance to be with Hunter? But she couldn't think that way. Corona wasn't a cold person.

"I'm going to help Magma!" she declared. "Are you guys alright?"

"Yes!" said Igneous, as he struck down an Insector.

"Don't worry about me!" shouted Hunter. "Magma needs you right now… and Aqune too!"

"Yeah," she replied.

'Hunter cares about Aqune, after all,' she thought to herself. 'For his sake, I have to save her.'

Corona concentrated her powers, until she was surrounded by the Oracle's light.

"Aqune!" she called.

Fortunately, Aqune turned her head for a moment, pausing from brutally pounding Magma to the ground.

"You have to wake up, Aqune!" called Corona. "Spirit Oracle's power should never be used for evil. You should know that more than anyone."

Aqune wasn't attacking, just standing there.

"Listen!" Magma said. "When I first met you, I really hated you, Aqune. I thought that you kidnapped Portia. Even though Hunter tried to get along with you, all I wanted was to fight you. And it isn't just that. You resemble my younger sister, who died a long time ago. It isn't possible that you're really her, I know that, but it killed me to see someone I loved in the face of someone I hated. Still, when we were all together in the cave, I saw another side of you. I understood why Hunter wanted to be friends with you. I hope that you'll join us again, along with Portia."

"Me too," said Corona. "I envy you… but, you're a part of the team too. You're important to Hunter. Please, fight with us now."

"Corona… Magma…" Aqune said. The girl fell to her knees, and an aura of light shined around her. This time, her mask fell from her face, and the one Portia wore dissolved as well.

"I'm sorry…" Aqune said. "I… what was I even doing?"

"Portia!" Brutus shouted, running up to her.

"Brutus…" she said.

"Thank goodness you're back!" Brutus said.

"At last," commented Magma. "I'll make sure you and Portia aren't separated again."

Corona wanted to smile too, but she couldn't bring herself to.

"What should I do now?" Aqune wondered out loud.

"Huh?" replied Corona. "Fight with us, of course," she said.

"But…" She couldn't help but wonder about Buguese. If Aqune were to betray him, to switch sides like this, how would he feel? True, she didn't want to fight for Mantid anymore, but Mantid wasn't the only one waiting behind the barrier.

"Hunter seems to be having some trouble," Magma said. "Brutus, we should help him now. Of course, you can fight with us too, Portia."

Aqune looked over, seeing Hunter, Lumen and Igneous' struggle. Their opponents may not have been on the level of Big Four generals. But it was just the sheer number of them.

"Alright," she decided. "I'll help. Corona, come on!"

She turned to the other girl, and smiled.

Aqune didn't expect for Buguese to appear then.

"We're going back, Aqune," he said bluntly.

"Wait!" she exclaimed. She wasn't quite sure what she could say in protest, though.

Buguese pulled her close to him. "Mantid-sama is watching. If he sees you fighting for the other side, he will be furious."

It wasn't just that, though. Buguese was not ready to let go of Aqune.

Buguese's transport was above them, and took both him and Aqune inside.

"P-Portia!" Aqune exclaimed, her spider still being down in the battlefield. But it was too late to call the spider back. And the ship flew over the barrier, and back to the castle.

"But why?!" Corona exclaimed. "We had Aqune."

"Corona," said Venus.

"Huh?"

"It's sad, but we can't worry about that now. Let's go and help Hunter."

"Right!" Corona realized. Magma had already gone in that direction, leading Brutus and a very confused Portia. Corona followed.

"Portia…" Aqune thought sadly.