Ch- 9- A Love Triangle… or Polygon?
"I hope it isn't more Insectors," Aqune said. Especially if one of them were Mantid. But when she thought of it, as far as she knew, Mantid was always too weak to leave the castle. But in the past, it was possible he was stronger
"If it was, what damage could they do at this point?" Buguese replied. "Especially only two. The Spider Riders would make a far greater threat."
"They wouldn't hurt Aura," Aqune said. "I'm sure that would be the better alternative. And Aura would defend Roanin, I'm sure."
"Foolishly," Buguese replied. He couldn't deny that she was right. But defending an enemy who could kill you at any moment was something he wouldn't risk. He couldn't help but imagine Aqune in Aura's place. He knew Aqune would react the same. And he absolutely did not want to see Aqune hurt. The fact that Roanin was much like Buguese concerned him more than comforted him. Buguese was his one biggest critic of the things he had done during the war, in order to achieve the end he thought was right. That very much included hurting those he cared about. Hurting Aqune. Yet right now, he was reading a story out loud to her as she snuggled close, was talking with her, laughing as if they were friends. He didn't know how it came to this, but he felt it should never have happened.
"It isn't foolish," Aqune answered. "I think, in the end, he'll do what's right. Just like you did." Aqune thought fondly of the day Buguese freed her from Mantid's control. It touched her more than she'd even expected. She always wanted to believe Buguese was someone she could call an ally. Someone who really did care about her.
Aura could feel it as Roanin tensed up. Quite literally, as his grip on her tightened. She, however, was only worried for an instant. She began to react to the arriving party's presence as they got closer. They were two Spider Riders.
Roanin stayed still, waiting for their approach. Soon, the two were in clear view. It was Trigger and the Hero Brade.
"I thought I saw an Insector up ahead," Brade was the first to speak. "But this is unexpected."
"You again." Roanin scowled at Trigger.
"Yeah, it's me!" Trigger answered, sounding a bit insulted. "What's going on?! What in the world do you think you're doing with Aura?!"
"I… Trigger… I'm fine…" Aura stuttered. Of course she didn't mind seeing him, but it didn't make her any less surprised.
"We didn't expect you to poof away like that," Trigger said, glancing skeptically between Aura, Roanin and Brade. "We were coming to see if we could help out too. Well, looks like that was a good idea." He held out his manacled arm. "Oracle's Power!"
Roanin growled, seeing his opponent getting ready for attack. He gently put Aura down, but still held her close to him with one arm. With the other, he reached for his sword.
"Oh my," Brade said. "I guess there's going to be a battle today after all."
"No!" Aura shouted. Or, squeaked really. She hadn't the voice to yell as loudly as she wanted.
"Huh? Why not?" Trigger asked. He had his pike aimed threateningly at the Insector. "I thought that guy might come after you again, and it looks like I was right."
"That's not true," Aura said. She broke out coughing afterwards, which earned her looks of concern from all three men.
"Are you okay?" Trigger asked.
"Yes," replied Aura. "Thank you for worrying. But I'll be fine."
"That's good," he replied, though he didn't look exactly convinced.
"What I wanted to tell you was… well, what you said isn't completely true. I was attacked, but… Roanin saved my life. He hasn't done anything yet besides protect me. So please don't fight him. I don't want any of you to get hurt."
"I don't believe it," Trigger said.
"You would be right not to believe, because I did no such thing," Roanin answered in annoyance. "Now you will either get out of my way, Spider Riders, or I'll fight my way through."
"I don't see the point in lying now," Brade spoke up.
"Lying?" Trigger asked. He looked to Brade, waiting for an explanation.
"Look at it this way," Brade replied. "Is there any reason to believe the all-knowing Spirit Oracle is wrong about what she saw?"
"Well… no," Trigger answered. "But I still don't like that guy!"
"Well the feeling is mutual!" Roanin answered. Neither he nor Trigger let go of their weapons.
"Thank you, Hero Brade," Aura spoke up. Her voice sounded even weaker. "What you said was correct."
"You should go back to Arachna Castle and rest," Brade replied. "You seem to have quite a fever."
"That's what I wanted," said Aura. "But, Roanin… won't you please come with me?"
"Absolutely not!" he answered. "I told you that much already."
"It may be a wise idea," Brade said.
"Why is that?" Trigger asked. He didn't seem too happy about it.
"An Insector who betrayed Mantid and protected Spirit Oracle won't be welcomed back so simply," Brade said. "And Mantid has spies everywhere. I'd bet that he knows exactly what happened, even if this Insector himself wants to deny it."
"So you're saying, for his protection?" Trigger asked.
"I have no need for the aid of Spider Riders!" Roanin shouted. He released his hold on Aura, placing both hands on the hilt of his sword. He moved in closer to Trigger. "Even if you take her, I will not come to Arachna Castle!"
Trigger looked over to Aura, before focusing back on Roanin.
"You know, Aura really wants to help you," he said. "We were willing to help too."
"Nothing can help us but collecting the four Oracle Keys!" Roanin replied in annoyance.
"Then maybe we'll find the Keys…" Trigger said. "Whatever they are." His face was red with embarrassment.
"Yes, why don't we find the Oracle Keys?" Brade suggested.
"Can anyone tell me what these Oracle Key things are?" Trigger questioned.
"Four powerful objects, which give the bearer infinite power when together," Brade answered. "Whatever their owner wishes can come true. The Oracle Keys can be used for great evil, or for great good. It all depends on who possesses them."
"Yes," Aura said. "It's my fault that they exist in the first place. But if we're able to collect them again, I promise I can restore the Insector lands, and make sure no one is ever able to use my power to do something terrible again."
"Then it's settled," Brade said.
"Umm… okay," Trigger said. "Well, I think it will be alright."
"That would still require my consent, which you will not have," Roanin replied. "Even if you managed to collect the Keys, why should I trust that you would use them for such an altruistic purpose? You could do anything you desired. Perhaps, wipe out the entire Insector race for good."
"We would never!" Aura insisted.
"Now don't look for excuses," Brade said. "Besides, when a beautiful girl asks for you to come with her, what man could refuse?"
Roanin reeled back. He tried to object, but no words could come out. He appeared to have been rendered speechless.
"I'm sorry to say, but I think Trigger here saw this particular lady first. It's something of a love triangle we have. And here I am, most disappointed I don't even have a standing in it."
Now Trigger too was completely flustered.
"Brade, what does that have to do with anything?!" he asked
"Don't worry, I can find someone else," Brade replied.
Aura had no idea what to think hearing any of this. Brade liked to tease, she knew. And he liked cute girls. She supposed she hadn't thought of herself as a cute girl. She still wasn't really human, even if she'd tried to be. But she had wondered before about whether Trigger really liked her that way. A thought she'd tried to push back. And she liked him too, of course. At least in the broadest sense of the word. She was even growing very attached to Roanin, though she hadn't wondered at all of the possibility that he could see her in that way. But…Trigger or Roanin or Brade, it didn't matter. She was still the Oracle.
"All of this is absolutely ridiculous!" Roanin declared.
Brade narrowed his eyes at him. "Complicated maybe, but you're still going to come with us." To Aura's surprise, Brade ran towards Roanin and whacked him in the back of the head with the staff he carried in his untransformed state. The unsuspecting Insector fell to the floor in a heap, unconscious.
"What did you do?" Aura asked, looking horrified.
"Eh, serves him right," Trigger said.
"He'll be fine," Brade said. "If not, you could heal him. But Insectors are pretty durable, and he didn't want to be reasoned with. I hope we can talk with him in a more civilized manner in the castle."
"A-Alright," Aura said.
"Of course, he was carrying Aura before," Brade pointed out. "It wouldn't be fair to make her walk back. Trigger, you do it."
"Wait…" Trigger said. His face had only just turned a natural color after Brade's last comment. "She doesn't have to walk. Can't she just go back to Arachna Castle the same way she left?"
"Yeah, I can," said Aura. "Besides, who's going to carry Roanin?"
"A spider would do just fine," Brade replied.
"Well… I don't really mind," Trigger said. "Just… I never carried a person before. I got a little nervous thinking about it."
Yet, he went up to Aura, and awkwardly lifted her into his arms. He'd definitely built some muscle from all his training, at least.
"Umm…" Aura was dumbfounded. She didn't mind though. Not at all. She wasn't going to tell him not to carry her. But it very much took her by surprise.
It didn't matter though. Trigger put her down in a moment. She quickly realized that embarrassment was not the reason.
"Aura, stay back," he said.
There were Insectors approaching. They may have been the remainder of those who attacked the seaside village, although Aura wasn't completely certain. The coloring was correct, but most Insectors looked too much alike to really tell them apart.
"We're not gonna let you near Aura!" Trigger declared. Then, he turned back to his comrade. "Are you ready, Brade?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Brade replied. "Oracle's Faith!" He quickly transformed as well, and called out Dagger.
"Sector!" The Insectors were a small group, but they rushed in against the two Riders anyway. Aura was sure that the Riders would be able to win. But she still felt nervous. It was natural for her.
The battle was indeed one-sided. Trigger had become very strong, and Brade was a legend for a reason. Soon the Insectors lay twitching and defeated, and the two Riders turned around to face their Oracle once again.
"Well then, I suppose we should go now before Mantid sends over any more," Brade suggested.
"You mean, walking or…" Trigger was embarrassed to even bring that up again. Despite already carrying Aura for a moment earlier.
"We're not going to walk," Aura said. It would probably be safe, but there was no point in taking the risk of unnecessary danger.
"Oh, okay," Trigger replied, this time sounding half disappointed. "I mean, yeah, good idea."
"If you're going to use your powers, just don't forget to bring back your hostage… I mean suitor," Brade said, laughing to himself.
"He's not a hostage, or a suitor," Aura corrected. "Just a friend. Of course I wouldn't leave him." She gazed down at Roanin's figure, hoping he really was okay. But it seemed alright. "Well… let's go back then." Just like the time in the Insector lands before, she took everyone around her back. They appeared again at Arachna Castle.
Unsurprisingly, the guards outside quickly took notice of an Insector atop Dagger's back.
"What happened?!" one of them asked, his hand grasping the hilt of his holstered sword.
"Oh, you don't have to worry," Brade answered. "He's just a guest of Aura's. We'll take care of him."
"A guest?" He didn't seem convinced, and neither were the other guards, going by their confused stares.
"The harder part will come explaining this to the other Spider Riders. Especially Mantle," Trigger commented nervously.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Aura. She sat down on Darkness' back. The two spiders rode in through the large doors unhindered.
Soon after they'd gotten inside, Roanin regained consciousness. He seemed a bit disoriented. It probably didn't help that he was on top of a spider.
"Roanin… are you alright?" Aura got up and moved closer to him.
"Yes," he said, though he was rubbing the top of his head, squinting from the pain.
"I'm sorry," Aura said. "I didn't know Brade was going to do that to you."
Trigger got up too, and stood by Aura's side. He was watching Roanin closely.
"Where is this?" Roanin asked. He was too confused to be angry yet.
"Arachna Castle," Aura replied.
"What?!" He sprung up from Dagger's back. "Why?!"
"Because… well… I wanted you to come," Aura answered. Thinking about it now, it did sort of seem like a kidnapping. Even if they had believed it was for the best.
"You have brought an enemy into your stronghold," Roanin replied. "You Spider Riders are more foolish than I thought."
"I don't see any enemies," Aura replied. "I don't have any enemies," she corrected herself. "But you're certainly a friend."
"A friend?" Just saying the words made him cringe.
"You know, it's not like we want you here either," Trigger said. "But Aura does, and you probably shouldn't go back to Mantid now."
"Is that so?" Roanin replied.
Naturally, the noise they were generating lured others into the room. First came Therma and Mantle.
"Isn't that-" Therma's mouth hung open.
"Of all Insectors, one of the Big Four got in?!" Mantle exclaimed. "Man, the guards are really slacking."
"No, don't blame them," Aura said. "Actually, I invited Roanin here."
"Why would you do that?!" Mantle asked, exasperated.
"You do not need to talk about me as if I can't hear you," Roanin said.
"I can say whatever I want about Insectors," Mantle argued. "And believe me, I've been pretty generous so far."
"Stop!" Aura said. She stood in front of Roanin protectively. But she burst out coughing. She actually felt a bit faint.
"Aura!" Roanin yelled. He put a hand behind her back to support her.
"Thank you," Aura replied. She realized she'd probably been pushing herself.
"He really is your guest?" Therma asked in disbelief.
"Yes," said Aura.
When Diamond and Prince Arachna also made it into the room, Diamond immediately taking up a protective stance to guard the prince, it was obvious that everything needed to be explained from the beginning.
"You guys, we met this Insector… Roanin, his name was, when Therma, Mantle and I went to rescue Aura," Trigger said. "I thought that he hurt her, and I ended up fighting him. I got pretty banged up." He laughed nervously. "But when all three of us fought together, I was able to win. But Aura stopped me from hurting him. Then I ran into him again just now, not far from the village where Aura went out to help. Apparently, he saved her from the Insectors. The other Insectors, I mean. It's weird, I know, but they do seem kinda close. If he's going to protect Aura, I'm cool with him then."
Roanin was staring at all the Riders around him. He seemed to be completely overwhelmed.
"Yes," he said. "I did protect Aura."
"So you finally admitted it," Brade said, amused.
"I protected her before, but…" he paused, and started to silently seethe.
"The truth is, I had a proposal in mind for you," Brade spoke. "Now that we've gotten that part out of the way, I'd like to offer you a position as Aura's personal bodyguard."
"What do you mean?" Trigger asked. "Don't we already protect her as Spider Riders?"
"Yes," Brade said. "But it's clear Mantid has gotten persistent now. If we're forced to split up again, in order to protect the citizens of Arachna Kingdom, Aura would then be left alone. That is where Roanin comes in. He too is a powerful warrior. And he certainly seems fond of her."
"A bodyguard?" Roanin wondered. "You wish to employ me?"
"Oh, you wouldn't get paid for it," Brade said. "But you will get to live here for as long as you need, until things get worked out over in your world."
"I'd like that," Aura said. She smiled to him.
Roanin immediately flinched.
"Then… perhaps."
"We may need to split up again," said Aura. "If we're going to search for the Oracle Keys."
"Right, those things!" Trigger replied. "I almost forgot. I still don't really get what they're supposed to be, though. But they seem pretty cool."
"We'll tell you all about them," Therma offered.
"Hero Brade," Arachna chimed in. "As prince, I think I should be the one to decide if any random stranger can live here, especially an Insector. Though, in this case, I don't particularly mind. So, Roanin, do I take it you accept?"
"It's clear that I don't have another choice in the matter," he replied. "Yes, I will serve as a bodyguard for Aura. But only for Aura. I will not have the lives of the entire Spider Rider army resting on me."
"Nor would we expect that," Arachna said. "Then, I guess it's settled."
"Welcome to the team," Aura said. She took his hand in hers.
"Now, the first thing you should do is help her to bed," said Brade. "Aura needs her rest. But that does not give you permission to share a room with her."
"No one asked for that!" Roanin shouted.
Aura laughed. This all sounded great to her. She knew now, she'd been able to reach Roanin's heart after all. And at last, with his help, the Spider Riders were going to find the Oracle Keys and save the Insector world once and for all.