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This is what's best, right? For some reason, Aqune had to remind herself of this. It didn't make any sense for her to be unhappy. Actually, she wasn't unhappy. Because now, the Inner World was at peace. Now, everyone could live under the sunlight. Now, she was free. She had no obligation to serve the Insectors, and could go anywhere she wanted. If she had all this, if she was happy, why was she still feeling so empty?
She was on the grounds of Arachna Castle now, outside, despite the fact that it was raining. A shower had begun pouring in soon after the sun's return, bringing precious water to the plants which had begun growing all across the once-barren Insector lands. Honestly, Aqune didn't mind the rain. At least not when it was this gentle. She knew most of the other Riders had gone inside, though. Lumen to take a nap, Magma to show Portia around and make sure she was comfortable, Igneous simply to stay dry. She thought Sparkle was still outside, running around with Grasshop somewhere. Hunter and Corona she hadn't heard from, though. It was curious that they slipped away somewhere, but not too curious. Hunter was a restless person, after all. And where he went, Corona would always follow. Her feelings for him were plain as the eyes could see. Maybe Hunter was the only one who didn't see them. But on the other hand, she felt Corona was the only one Hunter ever liked in that way. As to when they would get together… it wasn't an 'if', but a 'when'… it would probably happen sooner than later.
'It's fine that way,' Aqune thought to herself. 'They've gone through so much together. I was always an outsider.'
She sighed. Why was she thinking that way? She could always still be their friend. That's what they always wanted. They never saw her as anything less. Arachna was a place where Aqune was wanted.
'Even so, what do I really want? Can I be happy here?'
For once, no amount of positive thinking could help her. Maybe she just had to go inside, she thought. She'd never actually been inside Arachna Castle. It almost felt like intruding. But she wasn't an intruder, she was a guest. Or a resident? It was only circumstance that had prevented her from going there before now. Even her spider was inside.
Her eyes gazed down at a puddle, which was growing outside. She noticed her reflection, something she usually never did get to see. Her clear face, without a mask. It was relieving. Aqune was so used to wearing it, she almost expected to see it there. Not the first mask, even. The second one, which turned her blindly loyal to Mantid. She became a ruthless enemy to the Spider Riders, and even betrayed Buguese. The thought made her shiver. She knew it wasn't really her. She wasn't that monstrous. But it was like a dirty feeling that even the rain couldn't wash away.
'No one blames me,' she thought. At least, she needed to convince herself of that. 'And even so, it will never happen again.'
She glanced once more at the reflection before her. It hadn't changed. But there was another face there beside her.
"Aqune."
Hearing her name, she immediately turned around.
"Buguese…" She felt surprisingly relieved to see him standing before her.
"Are you alright?" The tenseness on Aqune's face was easy to notice.
"Yes," Aqune said. "You just surprised me."
"I suppose I shouldn't be here, after all," Buguese responded.
"I don't see why not," Aqune replied, tilting her head. "You aren't an enemy."
"I suppose I would be more comfortable to be treated like one," replied Buguese. "I won't stay here for long."
Aqune smiled at him.
"I think… I understand. It's weird, when we were enemies to the Spider Riders for so long. They must feel just as uncomfortable."
"Myself and them, perhaps," Buguese answered. "But I'm surprised. Why are you uncomfortable? You are a human, and a Spider Rider too."
"I know that," said Aqune. "I don't understand it myself, I guess. I wanted this day to come. I wanted to be a Spider Rider. But I don't feel like I have a place here."
"Don't be ridiculous," Buguese replied. His frustration showed more clearly than he'd intended. Not at her, exactly. It was the entire situation.
Buguese paused, and saw that Aqune was staring at him, a blank look on her face.
"I'm not angry. Don't get the wrong idea. I simply meant… of course you belong here. That's why it only makes sense for you to go inside. To stay and never think of Insectors again."
Aqune gasped. She covered her mouth with one hand.
"That's… No! I couldn't do that. Not even if I wanted to."
"Why wouldn't you want to?" questioned Buguese. "We Insectors were the cause of your unhappiness. You would have been here all along if not for me." He clenched his fists and looked away from her. He knew he shouldn't dare gaze at her any longer. Even so much as gracing her presence wasn't something he deserved.
Aqune shook her head. She clasped her hands together.
"You're wrong, Buguese. Or, perhaps, you're right about one thing. I may have been here if I wasn't with you. My life would have been completely different. And there were many hardships I faced while I was in the Insector world. But that doesn't change the fact that seeing you here right now brought me just a bit of ease. You've always been an important person to me. If not the most important person." She felt herself becoming flushed, but she didn't waver in her words. She had to continue. "Whatever happens in my life, you'll definitely be a part of it. That is, if you want to be." She looked down. Aqune hoped this was the case. But what did she know? Just as she was uncertain if she had a place with the humans, she didn't really know if she belonged with Insectors either. And if Buguese himself rejected her, she knew she never would.
"Aqune…" Buguese could only gaze at her, momentarily lacking the proper words to respond. It was shocking to him that she would even care… and yet she cared that much? "Yes," he answered. "I want that."
"Buguese…" Tears that she had been fighting back gushed out. Before she realized it, she was in his arms, holding him tightly, the warmth of his cape over her. It helped just a bit to shield her from the rain, which had been getting just a little heavier.
Buguese said nothing. He was shocked by what was occurring, but simply so pleased to be holding her like this. The woman he knew he'd wronged, who had no obligation to speak to him ever again. But yet, she was the same woman who meant everything to him. That he knew he could never feel complete without.
Abruptly, Aqune flinched backward, breaking free from Buguese's grip.
"I'm sorry…" her voice was hollow.
"Aqune, what's wrong?" Buguese was unhappy that their embrace was so short-lived, but more than that, he was concerned for her.
"What if… I hurt you?" She immediately started feeling for her face. Skin was all she felt, to her relief.
"Aqune, I'm certain you would not." He was beginning to understand why she was upset, however, from watching her actions. "Your will is your own, now and forever. And your nature is a gentle one." He reached out and took hold of one of her hands. "If you are willing to hold no ill will towards me, it would be wrong of me to treat you any differently. Especially when nothing you did was ever your fault."
Aqune smiled, despite the tears that hadn't stopped falling. With her free hand, she began to rub at her eyes to try and clear them away.
"Buguese, I know you're right. But I am scared. Perhaps I've been scared for a long time. Until now, I pushed all my feelings aside. But…"
"They've built up all this time, right?" Buguese interrupted.
"Yes." Aqune nodded.
"I understand. For me it was the same." He reached out to touch her, ran his fingers through her hair. "Not fear, per se, but anger, doubt, guilt. We're rather alike, Aqune. We both push our personal feelings away to achieve what needs to be done."
"But now that's been achieved," replied Aqune. "There isn't a need for it."
"I know that. But it is difficult to change."
"Maybe," said Aqune. "But now we both have so much to look forward to. We can finally have our happiness. Let's try and face that with honesty."
"That's much more like you," Buguese replied. "It hurts to see you so ridden with fear and uncertainty, especially now. This is the side of you which shines the brightest. How could I ever fear the person who was my hope for so long?" The words came out so easily, it surprised Buguese. It almost didn't sound like him. Yet it felt almost relieving to speak those feelings honestly.
"Thank you, Buguese," she replied.
To his surprise, Aqune proceeded to reach up and tug lightly on his antenna.
"Speaking of things we can look forward to, I've wanted to try that for a long time," she said, smiling at his confused expression. "It was worth the wait!"