AN: This was definitely my favorite chapter to write. Yes, I like writing about amusement parks, both in my fanfic and original stories.

Ch8-

The television was one of the strangest inventions Aqune had discovered in the time she had to explore her room. But it was oddly fascinating. She ended up turning it on one morning, as there was no school that day, so she didn't need to rush out.

"Huh?" A commercial was the first thing to come on, advertising for a place called Playland amusement park. It was showcasing the rides, and kids yelling and having fun, as cheery music played in the background.

"This is... I'm sure I've seen this place in my visions," she realized. Aqune knew she'd definitely never been to such a location before in reality. But through this strange method, she'd found the answer she was looking for. "Buguese!" she called. But there was no answer.

Slowly, Aqune opened the curtains. But Buguese was not in the room at all. She slipped out into the hall, and there, she was able to find him.

"Buguese, I found it," Aqune said.

"Found it? You mean the Oracle Key?!" Buguese realized.

She nodded.

"The Oracle Key is somewhere in Playland amusement park. I'm certain."

"Playland amusement park?" Questioned the Insector. "What in the world is that?" He didn't like the sound of it.

"Oh, it's…" Aqune paused. She had a hard time answering when she wasn't really certain either. "It's a place where Earthens go to have fun." At least, everyone on the commercial looked like they were having fun.

"I pity those who would waste their time seeking pleasure," Buguese stated, rather stunned that they would design a park just for that.

"I don't think it's really a bad thing," Aqune replied, softly.

"Regardless of its purpose, we must go, my dear. The Oracle Key will soon be ours," Buguese declared.

A short while later, Buguese (in human form) and Aqune had entered the gates of the infamous Playland. They actually had to wait in a fairly long line to get tickets, as the place was quite popular on the weekends.

"Alright. Now where is it, exactly?" Buguese asked, as soon as they were actually inside. He was visibly cringing from just how many humans were around them. That all of them seemed so ignorantly happy just made it more annoying.

"I actually don't know yet," Aqune admitted. "I'm sure I'll be able to sense it when we get closer."

"Very well," Buguese said. It wasn't as if they had another choice but to wait.

"Maybe… first we could try out a ride or two," Aqune suggested. Though, her voice was nervous. She doubted Buguese would agree. "We had to pay to get in, so it could make up for the cost," she added.

"What would make up for it is leaving with the Oracle Key in our possession," Buguese answered. "You know how vital they are." Aside from that, it wasn't even their money. The only reason they had Earthen money is because they were handed it for their mission.

"Yes, I understand," Aqune replied, though she was a bit disappointed. The rides actually did look pretty fun from up close.

"Aqune, what are you doing here?" Both she and Buguese were surprised when they heard Hunter's voice.

"Uh… I saw it on tv, and thought it would be nice to come for a day," she answered. "Actually, I've never been to a place like this before."

Corona noticed that Aqune's friend from school was there too. Were they really not dating? Then again, neither were she and Hunter, despite the two of them coming out to the park alone together.

"Want to hang out with us?" Hunter asked. "We would have invited you… if we had a way to contact you."

"Aqune, we should leave," Buguese answered for her. "We will have to come back here another day." Even if it was likely sheer coincidence, he couldn't believe the Spider Riders happened to be there too.

Aqune looked surprised, but she really wasn't sure what she could say, if anything at all.

"Who leaves so early in the day?" Hunter said. "You guys should at least go on one ride with us, while you're here."

"Please…" Aqune said. She somewhat regretted asking, when Buguese already refused, but she still did want to try.

"One," Buguese agreed. "But then we part ways."

"Thanks." Aqune smiled at him.

Buguese wished he wasn't in human form. Then he wouldn't have been put on the spot, and he could have just killed them. But Aqune's smile almost made everything worth it.

The one ride they ended up on was the bumper boats. As they were two-seaters, Hunter and Corona shared one boat, while Buguese and Aqune shared another.

"Maybe this ride isn't so bad, if it's built for attacking" Buguese commented, as he rammed his boat at full force into Hunter's yet again.

"I think you're supposed to try and hit the other boats too," Aqune suggested. At least that was her observation from watching the others on the ride. But she didn't dare try to take the wheel from Buguese.

"Hunter, does Brandon have some kind of grudge on us?" Corona whispered.

"I don't know," Hunter said. "But he shouldn't be a problem for much longer. Watch this." Pushing a button on the wheel resulted from water spraying out. The jets hit Buguese and Aqune right in the face.

"What has he done?!" Buguese asked.

"Oh, now I get it!" Aqune had seen other riders using this attack method earlier. She reached in and hit the same button, returning the favor.

Soon, the ride came to an end.

Buguese got off the boat as quickly as he was allowed, prompting Aqune to do the same. She complied, although she wanted to stay around longer, and at least say goodbye to the other two Spider Riders.

The two walked for a bit, although not in the direction of the exit. They weren't even certain where it was in such a large place.

"Wait! I know where to find the Key," Aqune exclaimed.

"Where?" Buguese asked.

"The tower. We just passed it, and I got this strong feeling of the Oracle's presence," she answered.

"Good," he said. "Then let's hurry and take it."

The 'tower' in question was actually part of the haunted house. There was a small section of grass surrounding this tower, blocked off by a gate.

"Come," Buguese said, as he effortlessly leapt over the gate.

"Right," Aqune said, following him. There was a sign that said 'restricted', but that probably wasn't the issue now, she realized.

Gazing up at the tower, Aqune spotted it. Right up in the belfry, full of fake bats, sat the Oracle Key.

"I'll get it," she said, and began to climb up. It wasn't difficult for her. Finally, she reached inside the belfry, and pulled out the Key.

"Aqune! What are you doing?!" Corona yelled. Aqune hadn't expected to be seen by anyone. Shocked, she lost her grip and fell from the tower. Fortunately, she landed in Buguese's arms, who had moved in to catch her.

"Th-thank you…" she said.

"It's fine," he replied. "We have what we came here for. Just be more careful." He put her back on the ground.

"Aqune, are you stealing?" Hunter asked, with surprise. The two of them had also disregarded the sign and climbed into the restricted area.

"No!" Aqune said immediately, even though she sort of was. "This… I grabbed it by accident when I fell."

"Okay, but what were you doing up there?" Hunter wondered.

"Trying to get a balloon," she decided, as she saw one fly into the air, out of a child's hand. "Someone must have lost it. Like that."

"But that's really dangerous," Corona said. It was then, she got a glimpse of the item in Aqune's hand. "That seems familiar. Can I see it?"

"Umm…" Aqune spoke. Obviously, she couldn't give it to one who was supposed to be her enemy. She shook her head.

"But I thought you didn't want it," said Hunter, confused. "Then, you were trying to take it? What is that thing anyway? It doesn't look like part of the haunted house."

'This is absurd,' Buguese thought to himself. He turned and walked off until he was out of sight. 'If Corona knows what the Key is, the Spider Riders won't let Aqune leave with it. And she won't be able to fight them for it either.'

In a moment, Buguese reappeared before them, in full Insector form.

"Aqune, that belongs to me," he said, and pulled it from her hand.

"Buguese, what are you doing here?!" Hunter shouted.

"He wants the key!" Corona exclaimed.

"Alright, can someone please explain what that is?" Hunter asked.

"An Oracle Key," said Corona. "I don't know much about them, but they're said to be very powerful."

"I forced Aqune and her friend to get it for me," Buguese spoke. "That coward tried to run, but I stopped him, although he should still be alive. And I won't let you Spider Riders interfere now that I've found it."

Aqune wasn't sure what to think. Although now she would come off as innocent in the eyes of Hunter and Corona, she was certain this day was only going to get messier.

"If you wish to live, you will let me leave," Buguese continued.

"No way!" Hunter declared. "Not if you're going to take some weapon with you. Oracle's Power!"

"Oracle's Soul!" The two were transformed.

"Please, let him have the Key," Aqune spoke. She wondered if there was any way Buguese could just escape, but it would likely be complicated.

"No!" Hunter said. "Don't worry. We won't let him hurt you." If they actually had been threatened, that explained why Aqune and her friend were in such a hurry before.

Hunter charged at Buguese. However, the man deflected him back with his own sword. Then, he fired a return shot at Hunter, though the attack was dodged.

"My turn!" Corona fired one of her arrows. But Buguese was also able to block that, using the side of his sword.

Although the fighting in general bothered Aqune, she also acknowledged that other people would see this. The park was crowded, after all. The only slight relief was that no one had called out any spiders yet.

"Mommy, look! What's that?" A young girl dragged her mother by the hand to the site. They weren't the only two to approach.

Aqune ran up to the gate. She had only one idea.

"We're making a new TV show!" she said. "Uh… you can watch if you really need to, but stay back."

She actually had no idea how TV shows were made, and it was probably noticeable to anyone who did that there wasn't a camera to be seen. Yet people seemed to believe her.

Of course, if this really were a TV show, it was going to be a grim one. Neither Rider had yet to get a hit on Buguese. Not that Aqune wanted Buguese to lose either. She didn't know what to think.

"Shadow, spider out!" Hearing Aqune's comments, Hunter decided it was good enough to explain Shadow's existence. And he really needed the help.

"Venus, spider out!" Corona followed his lead.

Both spiders shot at Buguese with their threads. But the Insector jumped up in the air and avoided it. This only caused the threads to get tangled in each other.

"Sorry, Venus," Shadow said, rather embarrassed.

"If you thought calling your spiders would help you, you're wrong!" shouted Buguese. He fired a strong wave of energy at both spiders. They could barely move from the resulting pain.

"Shadow!" Hunter exclaimed, angrily.

"Hunter Steele, you're next!" Buguese threw the same attack at Hunter. Of course, the boy's endurance had decreased by this point.

"No, Hunter!" Corona shouted.

Suddenly, light appeared before Hunter, absorbing the attack. Aqune could also see a golden glow around Corona.

'She's a handmaiden?' she wondered to herself.

"Corona… thanks, but… what's going on?"

Despite Hunter's question, Corona didn't reply.

To Buguese's shock, the Oracle Key shot out from his hand. Now, it was in Hunter's hand.

"How?" wondered Hunter, as he looked at his new acquisition.

"Return it now, Hunter Steele!" shouted Buguese, who charged at him. But he couldn't hit Hunter. He was pushed back by the barrier of light.

"Hunter… do you feel this?" Shadow spoke.

"Yeah," Hunter said. "Suddenly, I feel more powerful."

Light was around Shadow now as well, who felt like he'd recovered completely. The light that was growing around both spider and Rider was becoming too bright to even see through. And when it finally dissipated, the armor both wore had changed slightly.

"He awakened its power?!" Buguese exclaimed.

Aqune was in awe, unable to say anything.

'What did I just do?' Corona wondered. As beneficial as it seemed to be, she couldn't help but feel concerned.

Angrily, Buguese ran in to attack once more. Hunter also charged at his opponent, and their blades collided midway. But Hunter's attack was stronger, and Buguese's sword was knocked from his hand.

"What?! That's not possible!" The Insector was twitching.

"Stop this right now!" Aside from the crowds of people watching, there were now several security officers.

"Even if this wasn't a restricted area, you still don't have the proper permits to be filming any kind of shows on our property," a different officer spoke.

The three humans looked embarrassed, while Buguese was still furious.

"I will get the key next time," he said, and jumped over the gate. Pushing people away, he fled the area.

'Buguese…' Aqune thought to herself worriedly.

"We're really, really sorry," Hunter said to the officers, his head lowered out of respect. "I promise it won't happen again. We'll get out of here."

"It better not happen," said the first guard. "Otherwise, you might find yourselves with a nasty fine, if not some jail time. You're lucky we're letting you off with a warning for today."

While Hunter was trying to smooth things over, Aqune climbed over the fence too. She headed in the direction Buguese went.

"Aqune!" He was perched in a tree when he spotted her, as he was trying to avoid being seen. Aqune climbed up to join him.

"Buguese, I… I'm really sorry," she said.

"It wasn't your fault," he said, grudgingly. He then scooped up the surprised Aqune in his arms, and started to leap away through the treetops.

"I…I'll try my best to find the next one," said Aqune.

"Good," Buguese replied. "As you should. And we will get this one back."

"Wait, you found an Oracle Key?" Lumen was amazed by what his teammates brought back.

"Yeah," Hunter said. "But Buguese almost got it. Fortunately, Corona did something pretty cool, so we won."

"What?" Sparkle wondered.

"Umm…" Corona replied. She didn't really find it cool. Almost scary, actually. "I don't know. I guess… Spirit Oracle was on our side."

"How did Oracle Keys get to this world anyway?" Igneous wondered.

"That's a good question," said Corona. "But I think that finally explains why the Insectors came here."