AN: Interesting that this installment had the same name as the real episode 49 in the anime. It's not quite the same, but certainly looked like it would be full of enough shippy goodness to be worthy of the title.

46- Welcome Back

"Aqune!" Hunter called out in vain. He too managed to witness what had happened.

Hunter wasn't the only one on the battlefield feeling troubled, when they realized Aqune was gone. Though she was quiet as ever, Portia was clearly the one most upset.

Once again, she was inside Mantid's fortress. But Aqune didn't have the will to return to chanting then. She could just sit there against a wall, staring at the manacle on her wrist.

"Portia…"

This had been the first time she and her spider had been apart since Aqune left Nuuma years ago. Portia was always her friend, was always there when she needed someone.

'Are you happy?' she wondered. 'You did want to see your brother after all. If you're happy, at least, then that would be enough for me.'

That's what she tried to think with all her heart anyway. But despite the fact that she was one who always threw away her own happiness, she wasn't completely immune to any selfish feelings. She just wanted to have her spider by her side now, like always.

"Why are you sitting there moping around?" Buguese, who noticed her, approached the girl.

"Oh…" she replied, lacking the drive to answer at the moment. But she realized she had to say something. "I miss Portia."

Oh, that. Buguese hadn't even realized he took Aqune without her spider. It was usually in the manacle.

"You don't really need her anymore," said Buguese. "There's no more sense in bringing you out to fight, if you'll betray us so easily. Besides, it's better for you to stay here and chant anyway, despite what Mantid-sama wanted." He did realize how bitter that sounded.

"Of course I need Portia!" she exclaimed. "She's my partner!" Aqune felt bad about raising her voice to Buguese. It was something she never did. But she was rather offended.

Buguese too was surprised by Aqune's reaction. He guessed Aqune really did care about Portia. They were together a lot. Personally, Buguese hardly noticed the spider. It didn't talk much, especially to him.

"I suppose that was insensitive," he said, and then walked away.

Aqune looked down.

'It really is Buguese who's at fault,' she thought to herself. 'Yet, I can't blame him. Buguese only wanted to restore sunlight to this land. And I can tell that time is running out. My powers can't sustain it forever.'

Aqune walked toward the orb, which held the two Oracle Keys. The one that was there from the start, and the one they'd acquired in Nuuma.

'That's what Buguese wanted,' she knew. 'But what does Mantid want?'

She stared at the Keys, mainly the original.

'I think the teacher gave me this Key to protect it. How am I really protecting the Key if I allow Mantid to use it?'

She reached out her hands, and touched that Key. But something odd happened then. Her body was fully encased in light, and Aqune felt a warmth pulsing through it.

'What is this feeling?'

It was an amazing feeling though, that she'd never felt before. She almost thought she could lose herself in it.

The Oracle's light stopped flowing into her though, when she suddenly felt a very bad feeling, and was broken from her calm. Aqune pulled out the Key, clutching it tightly in her hands, and looked around.

Mantid appeared before her.

"I felt the Oracle's power within me weaken," he said. "What did you do?!"

"N-Nothing!" she said. Well, that was technically a lie, but how was she going to explain? She felt very nervous, just seeing Mantid again.

"The Key is missing!" Mantid shouted. Though, he didn't notice it in Aqune's hand, because it was small enough to be hidden. The Insector leader grabbed Aqune by the arm, and dragged her into his chambers. She did nothing to resist. Finally, Mantid let go of her forcefully, knocking her to the ground in the process.

"I've thought for some time now that you are no longer useful to our cause," Mantid spoke. "Even Buguese can't control you anymore. Your true loyalties lie with the Spider Riders, and with Spirit Oracle."

Aqune got to her feet. She felt herself shivering, but tried to stay calm.

"I…"

"No excuses!" replied Mantid. "The Keys are nearly in my hands. My dreams are almost reality. I no longer need you, you handmaiden scum!" He threw his pincer down towards her. Aqune flinched, but when she opened her eyes, she realized a blow never came. Mantid fell back in pain, having taken an energy blast from a distance away.

Confused, Aqune ran to the direction of that attack. There, she saw Buguese.

"You-" she started to say, but Buguese put a hand over her mouth, signaling for her to be quiet. She did so, and followed the Insector a distance away.

"What was that?" Mantid wasn't really hurt, just taken aback. Rather, he was kind of amused at that turn of events, having his suspicions as to what had happened.

"Why would you turn on Mantid and save me?" Aqune asked.

"I was not going to let him hurt you," Buguese replied. He took a deep breath. He didn't want to be so blunt, but couldn't really think of an excuse.

"Thank you," she said. Though, she was rather worried for Buguese. Would Mantid know it was his attack? Would Buguese get punished now?

"Aqune…" Buguese said, noticing the Key that she was still clutching in her hands. "That was the Key you bought here with you, right?"

She nodded, but was a little concerned that he'd noticed. She wished that she'd tried to hide it better.

"Sorry. I'll put it back now," she said nervously. "And I'll get back to chanting." She turned away from the Insector.

"Wait!"

Aqune stopped, and looked at him, confused.

"When I learned that you were the re-incarnated Oracle, I realized something," said Buguese. "Our paths were truly never meant to cross. You should never have become a servant to Insectors. When Mantid-sama uses the Oracle Keys, or even before then… one way or another, he will kill you. It's best if you leave, and don't return."

Aqune gasped.

"But… I can't! I owe it to you to help you finally see sunlight."

"Aqune, I will do everything in my power to restore our sunlight," Buguese replied. "I will never, ever give up. I'll find a way, somehow, that doesn't involve you! So it's best if you leave this fortress, and follow your own destiny. You can take the Key with you."

Aqune looked at him, worriedly.

"Aqune…" seeing her troubled face pained Buguese. He thought that she'd be happy to be released. If anything, she could see her spider again. "We may never meet again," said Buguese. "So I should grant you with one last thing. It's only fair that I make my true feelings known."

"What do you mean?" asked Aqune, upset.

"Just close your eyes," he replied. Aqune did so, and waited. Then, Buguese leaned down, for he was much taller, and kissed her lips.

Aqune's eyes opened, as Buguese was pulling away. She wanted to say something in reply, but no words would come out. Her face was flushed red, and she smiled. At least, for a moment she smiled, but this wasn't a time for happiness.

"I really won't see you again?" Aqune finally spoke.

"I don't know," Buguese replied. "But I wouldn't count on it. Now, Aqune. I want you to head to the barrier. I will remove it, just for a moment, so you can get through. Go out and carry out your mission, and I will take care of mine."

"Understood," she said. Aqune felt like crying, but she couldn't. She just had to hurry now. It was true that her mission now was to fight alongside the Spider Riders. To protect the Oracle Keys from ever falling into Mantid's hands. Well, they would still have to find a way to reclaim the one Key Mantid had.

Finally, Aqune made it to the barrier. And as Buguese said, it lifted momentarily. The girl ran through, and not too far away were the Spider Riders, still in battle.

"Everyone!" she called. "I'm back!"

Though they were distracted, all of the Riders took notice. And of course, Portia, who was watching them from the side, also noticed.

"Aqune!" said Portia.

"Portia!" Aqune exclaimed. "I'm glad you're alright!"

Joyfully, Aqune went to her spider's side.

'Goodbye, Aqune,' Buguese said to himself. He never thought he'd see the day when Aqune was gone. He'd finally realized exactly what she meant to him. It took the fear of losing her forever for that to happen.