BuguAqu

BuguAqu is the het ship between Buguese and Aqune from the Spider Riders fandom.

Season 1
Buguese and Aqune first met prior to the series, when Buguese found Aqune trapped in the Forest of Bewilderment. He saved her from the forest, but made her into a tool for Mantid due to her possessing powers of an Oracle Handmaiden. Based on an original press release, the two may have met previously, when Aqune saved an injured Buguese using her powers, but was exiled from her village as a result. This was not shown in the anime itself.

In episode 4, Buguese is seen watching Aqune as she chants, with the implication that he does so often, and that Beerain, who has feelings for Buguese, is jealous of their relationship. At the end of the episode, Mantid orders Buguese to bring Aqune into battle against the Spider Riders. It seems that he’d never done so before, knowing Aqune is a pacifist, and is surprised by the order. However, he won’t disobey.

In episode 8, Buguese is watching Aqune chant again and is smiling genuinely. In the dub, he calls her “beautiful.”

In episode 10, Aqune’s mask breaks in a battle with Hunter. The two fall from a cliff, being separated from their comrades, and Aqune takes care of Hunter’s injuries. Meanwhile, Buguese muses over his lack of understanding of humans and goes to search for Aqune in the rain. When Buguese finds them, he attacks Hunter, but is shocked when Aqune stands in his way and holds back his sword. Aqune tells him that Hunter is injured and that when he recovers, then she’ll defeat him. The two stare at each other in silence, but Buguese accepts and retracts his blade. Afterwards, he gives a new mask to her and tells her to not be charmed by the Spider Riders.

In episode 11, the two need to get past a barrier to retrieve an Oracle Key. Aqune is unable to break it with her powers, so Buguese then tries himself with brute force, despite not having any Oracle powers. This is still not enough, so he tells Aqune they both have to risk their lives to get through. When they work together, they’re able to destroy it.

In episode 12, the Spider Riders attempt to destroy Aqune’s mask again, realizing that it was controlling her. After they succeed, Aqune starts to freak out. Concerned, Buguese embraces her in his cape, and Aqune quickly calms down.

Episode 13 starts with a fight, where Buguese is mostly just blocking while still holding Aqune close to him the whole time. He is later able to flee with her and the key. Despite seemingly succeeding, he expresses worry due to Aqune being hurt. Soon battling the Spider Riders again, Aqune once again tries to protect Hunter, believing that she can make Buguese stop. He doesn’t, however, angry that Aqune didn’t keep her word and that they lost the Key. Buguese is forced to retreat after, and brings Aqune back with him.

In episode 18, Buguese asks Aqune for help with something. Aqune smiles and willingly cooperates with this plan, because it doesn’t involve hurting anyone.

In episode 23, Aqune is exhausting herself by chanting, which she does to keep the Insector land which has no sunlight sustained. Her spider Portia in concerned, but Aqune assures she’s fine, because she feels for the Insectors and wants to help. Later, Buguese comes to see her, asking her to come to a certain place with him. Aqune is confused but goes along. Buguese starts talking about how the sun disappeared without warning one day, killing all the plant life and leaving his people in misery. He expresses anger that Spirit Oracle would abandon the Insectors but then grant power to the humans, allowing them to become Spider Riders. Desperate for an answer, he pleads to Aqune, his hands on her shoulders, who is an Oracle Handmaiden. However, Aqune has no answer either. But she replies that their must be some reason, seeming desperate to believe in that herself, as someone with strong faith in Spirit Oracle. Buguese won’t accept this answer, however. Aqune being one of the only things that keeps him close to emotionally stable, he wants her approval and puts a mask on her, telling her that they’ll do whatever it takes to get their sunlight back and need her power.

In episode 26, Aqune is again injured when her mask is broken and helps Hunter. Unlike the previous time, Buguese doesn’t get angry at her. He instead just carries her back later, princess style.

Season 2
In episode 31, Aqune again refuses to fight against the Spider Riders. Buguese attacks Hunter on his own, but during the battle, all the Riders, including Aqune, are pulled away into a portal created by Brade. Buguese, worried for Aqune, is shocked by this. The two having been transported into a paradise-like dream world, Aqune uses this chance to explain to Hunter that she’s not a prisoner who is with the Insectors against her will, and is trying to help them.

In episode 34, Buguese has become increasingly unstable due to being separated from Aqune. Beerain, who is still jealous of Aqune, suggests that she’s replaceable. Buguese reacts badly to this, arguing that Aqune is special because of her powers. From Beerain’s reaction, it’s clear she doesn’t buy that this is his real reason for wanting her back. Afterwards, to get Aqune back, Buguese takes Corona hostage and asks Aqune to return and bring him the Oracle Keys in exchange for her. Hunter is against this, but Aqune is willing to do so. Though he doesn’t seem happy about it, Buguese puts a new mask on Aqune, allowing Mantid to have direct control of her. After this, he and Aqune inexplicably appear to be cuddling.

In episode 38, Buguese makes a speech about how he cares about no one, thus he has no weaknesses. During this speech, the screen is focused on Aqune almost the whole time.

In episode 42, Buguese is shown sneaking around Mantid’s lab, where artificial Insectors are being developed, with Aqune alongside him. Later in the episode, Aqune is hurt when Mantid starts draining the Oracle’s power and Buguese is concerned for her.

In episode 44, when Buguese finds out how badly Beerain was hurt, he seems most shocked by the fact that Aqune was the one responsible.

In episode 46, after Hunter and Buguese have finally started to come to an understanding, Aqune, who was watching them silently smiles.

In episode 48, Mantid gives a special Machine-Sector to Buguese which can be piloted. The machine runs with Buguese and Aqune as co-pilots. During the battle, Buguese is shocked to find that Aqune won’t listen to him, and is draining the power of the Oracle Keys to give to Mantid. Aqune, who is under Mantid’s control, simply mocks him, telling him he should be pleased by this. Being “betrayed” by Aqune, Buguese is left so upset he’s hyperventilating.

In episode 49, Buguese attempts to fight back against Mantid, which becomes useless given that Mantid is nigh-omnipotent with the Oracle Keys’ power. Seeing the Machine-Sector taking damage, Buguese’s immediate concern is Aqune, who is still inside. But he finds that Aqune is gone. Although Buguese is injured, his ally, Stags, takes care of him. Stags asks him what he plans to do from here, and Buguese replies the first thing he needs to do is right a wrong. He is of course referring to Aqune. At this point, Mantid has given more power to Aqune and is having her fight the Spider Riders. Buguese takes an attack from her, immediately causing her to stop. He embraces her, commenting that he’s done nothing but use her until now, and in the dub, states that she’s “something precious” to him. Aqune calms down once he does this, and the two stare at each other. Buguese then removes her mask. Aqune is surprised by this, but passes out and is caught by Buguese. He lays her on the ground and watches her for a moment before reluctantly leaving her with the Spider Riders. Buguese returns to his Machine-Sector and plans to take out Mantid, killing himself in the process. Aqune, speaks his name, as if pining while she watches.

In episode 51, believing that Buguese had died, though he actually survived, Aqune is uncharacteristically angry at Mantid. She says that she’ll never forgive him for betraying the Insectors.

In episode 52, Aqune learns that Buguese is alive. She still says his name in the same pining tone, similarly to how Corona always calls Hunter’s name.

Fanon
The relationship is one of the most popular in Japan, while it is more controversial in the west. This is due to some fans being against an inter-species relationship, some being opposed to the apparent age difference (though neither have canon ages and live in a fantasy medieval world where age gap relationships would be more common), or they simply prefer rival ships. The main rival pairings are Hunter/Aqune or Buguese/Beerain, though Aqune is shipped with most other characters in the show, and some people support Hunter/Buguese.

The relationship is based on a strong bond between the two built up over many years, where they are ultimately able to have an understanding of each other without words, and are like a savior to each other. Buguese literally saved Aqune from the forest, and later, from Mantid. Aqune sacrifices herself to bring light to Buguese’s dark world, and figuratively is the one who gives him hope and stability. The ship has strong symbolism of light and darkness, despair and faith.

The idea of the two getting married at some point would be symbolic of a unification and peace between the two races.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION