Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hornet entered the Watcher spire, Lurien was still working diligently reading the reports the city staff had submitted, it had been a few months since the end of the infection, and with that Hornet’s role as Hallownest protector as well. Now she along with the  former Dreamers had been working nonstop to revitalize both Hallownest and Deepnest.

“Watcher” She announced her presence, Lurien looked up to her, gesturing for her to approach, Hornet made her way to the chair in front of the Watcher work table, he put away the reports and then pulled an old large piece of silk parchment, it had lost its once pristine color and  its borders were  eaten by time. 

“Hornet” he greeted her back, “I'm glad you could come. I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you” he said, unfurling the parchment revealing a map. The drawing was half faded, but it was still clear the dark lines connecting Hallownest to different points 

“This is a map of our old trade routes” He said “ i think it's time we send some expeditions in search for our old allies, re establish our alliances and invite more bugs towards Hallownest”

Hornet traced the old silk with her fingers studying what the Watcher said 

“Are we really in that need of it?” she said 

He nodded

“we’re in need of food and resources, we haven't had enough time to start producing our own, we need outside help” he said “ And we need people…more people if we hope revitalizing this kingdom” he sighed “We can trade the crystals from the peaks, and Deepnest has its silk”

Hornet thought over his words, she had already had a similar discussion with her mother, After all Deepnest had been affected greatly by the infection with almost no weavers left, but neither of them had mentioned reaching out to other kingdoms for help. She imagined Herrah wouldn't like the suggestion, still proud as she was.

But while Deepnest may still survive on hunting the few creatures left alive given how few survivors they had, Hallownest being larger would probably not, and the thought of the kingdom falling again when they had barely just started to rise again made Hornet stomach churn. 

She could not let all those sacrifices go in vain.

“And who do you plan on sending”  She asked 

“That’s what i wanted to discuss” he said “ we’re low on staff and people in general, most of our survivors are still to vulnerable and unprepared for such journey” he said leaning over the table “ we need someone who can act as an ambassador for Hallownest but also can protect themselves on the wastes.”

“Get to the point Watcher” she ordered leaning over to face him

Lurien hesitated his hands fidgeting in front of him, seeming to regret his decision at the moment

“I  ask if you would be willing to play this part”

Hornet leaned back, mulling over his words. She half expected it the moment he opened his mouth, she felt her back aching already from tension. The wastes were an unpredictable environment, she herself never ventured past Kingdom’s edge or The Howling cliffs, and to go in search of a kingdom that might not even exist given how many years have passed, she started to doubt whether or not she could make it through the long expanse of nothing. 

Legend has it no one had done it. 

Except she knew one who did.

“Can I take someone with me? someone who knows the Wastes better?”

“And who would that be?” Lurien asked with curiosity.

“Ghost of Hallownest”

—-

Hornet now kind of regretted suggesting it.

She stood in front of the Grimm troupe’s tent, where Elderbug said her sibling was. She breathed out hesitating, she had no right to ask for Ghost help after all she did to them, threatening their life and trying to end it many times in the past, it was pretentious of her to think they would help, especially when they’ve done so much for Hallownest already.

But Lurien insisted it was a good idea, and her more logical part agreed. Ghost knew the wastes better than anyone in Hallownest currently. 

And in the end if they refused she would have to go either way, so it was worth the shot.

Brumm guided her inside, she disliked the tents and the presence of Grimm and what he represented, Hornet did not trust him since he was a Higher Being, his intentions could never be straightforward, and why he and his troupe had not left once the Ritual had been completed she didn't know. She had tried to avoid confronting the god about it, but if the Troupe remained much longer in Hallownest without reason she would have to take extreme measures, after all they were never a good omen.

Walking towards the ring she could hear the tell tale sounds of battle, Grimm and Ghost must be sparring again, she thought entering the arena. 

Just as she imagined, Ghost and Grimm both stood at different ends, lunging attacks at each other, Grimm red flames lighting up the poorly lit room, Ghost dodging with ease his attacks. 

Hornet glanced at the bleachers, where she easily spotted Hollow’s silhouette watching the fight. Hesitant she walked towards them, taking place a few seats from where they were. Her sibling sat with their back hunched over, the old Nail they wielded was sheathed and placed on their side, the cloak they refused to let go of falling over their shoulders tattered and ripped, she could see the crack on their shell.

Being with Hollow hurted the most so instead of confronting the feelings she ran, drowning herself in work to avoid having to face her injured sibling. She remembered them in the White Palace, standing tall and still like another of the palace marble statues. She wondered if she could have noticed that they were not empty, if she could have done something, she had been complicit in their suffering, she stood still and let them be taken away by the Pale King to be sealed forever in the Temple.  

Hollow remained still not giving away any sign that they had noticed her arrival. The fight below continued, the sound of Ghost’s nail echoing through the room. 

“Hello” she greeted Hollow, her voice was distant. Placing her nail by the side of theirs. It took a moment before they nodded their head in her direction before returning to focus on the fight.

The silence between them was not a comfortable one, both of them kept looking at the fight. 

She still had trouble reading her older sibling, they were more guarded, more still than Ghost, who expressed themselves through actions. She didn't blame Hollow of course, their entire life they had forced themselves to appear empty, in the past this lack of reaction didn't bother her, it was what everyone  expected them to be.  But now it made Hornet feel her insides churning with anxiety, did they hate her? Did they blame her?  she couldn't tell and they wouldn't tell her either.

Grimm slashed at Ghost, but they blocked the attack, the resounding clank echoing in the ring. 

Hollow tightened slightly their hold on their own nail, it was such a miniscule movement but Hornet noticed. 

“You wish to fight them too?” she asked.

They didn't react at first, their reactions to questions and conversations were always slow. But after a few seconds they nodded raising their hand

“ Want to show how i improved” they slowly  signed and Hornet felt herself untense. 

“No doubt you have” she said, her voice felt cold and it bothered her, but she didn't know how else to word the feeling without worrying she would overstep their boundaries. 

Hollow couldn't respond to her, as Ghost, who had dodged Grimm’s fire bats, slashed across them pinning the bug to the ground. Hollow and Hornet both snapped towards the ring to watch.

Grimm was visibly breathless, Ghost stood over him with their diminutive body, nail pointing directly at his face, the bug smiled and Ghost stepped off them, putting their nail back at its sheath on their back. 

“Well done friend” Grimm said, his voice raspier than usual “Your skill improves even more so, when i thought you couldn't grow stronger you amazes me once again”

Ghost nodded and helped the other get up, both giving flourished bows at each other. 

“I see another has joined our audience, hope you enjoyed the show Deepnest Princess” he said greeting her. 

Hornet gave Grimm a small nod of acknowledgement.

Ghost turned to Hornet, their empty eye sockets staring at her, she always felt judged against their seemingly empty stare, how could she not after trying to kill them twice. No doubt they still resented her. 

“Wonderful show of skill” she said “ although i expected more of you, Nightmare King” she said dismissively

Grimm laughed hoarse.

“You underestimate your sibling skills, believe i always give my all to the show” he said putting a hand over his chest offended. Hollow got up by Hornet's side.

“Can I go next?”   they signed

“Next time my friend” Grimm said “ i'm afraid your sibling has exhausted me for today”

Hollow stared at him, and for the first time Hornet could feel the annoyance emanating from her older sibling. 

“you’ve said that last time”  They accused Grimm and he had at least the decency of look embarrassed.

“I promise” Grimm said smiling softly at them “the next dance will be yours” 

While the two continued speaking she felt a sense of jealousy take over, how dare this god be so close to her siblings when she could barely face them? Hornet breathed out, this was not the time to dwell on such feelings, slowly she approached Ghost who had seated themselves on the bleachers, their little nub feet barely able to touch the floor, gently dangling in the air. 

“Ghost, I wish to speak with you” she said standing in front of them. They watched her, before giving a little nod for her to continue.

“Lurien and I have decided it's time to open Hallownests borders once again, and reach out to our old allies. The first kingdom we chose to interact with is called Archeon, our records of it state that its three days of travel through the wastes” she said “ I have accepted the role to take on the trip and reestablish our relations” 

Ghost watched  her, their head tilted to the side in confusion, Hornet clutched her hands on her back trying to stand still, she couldn't help but default to a more authoritative stance when feeling insecure. And Ghost made her feel very insecure, ever since the end of the Infection they felt different, they never said it but Hornet just knew they had been the one to end the infection, it might be related to the strange oddly realistic dream she had where they battled in front of a golden crowd. 

The last time she saw them was on the kingdom's edge, and the difference between the Ghost she faced then and the one that stood in front of her now was staggering. The void in their eyes felt more deep, not empty like Hollow’s but full and if she stared too long into them, she might get lost and never return. 

“I know i have no right to ask your help further after all you’ve done” she said “but you know the Wastes, you’ve been through it before, i need your help to travel it myself” she finally said 

Ghost stared at her again and for a long time before signing at her. Their little nubs moved much faster than Hollow’s slow hand.

“ Sure, it will probably be fun” they said, giving a little shrug. 

Hornet felt herself relax a lot. They accepted her offer, she felt almost bad for doubting them. She wouldn't lie to herself and say she understood Ghost’s motives, but she knew they were kind, their actions said as much.

She suddenly felt the towering presence of Hollow behind her. If it wasn't for the faint clink of their nail she wouldn’t have realized they were there despite her sharp senses. 

“Hollow you startled me” she turned to them, they raised their hand again.

“What are you two talking about?”  

“I needed to ask Ghost a favor” she said looking at them. They looked at Ghost.

The two vessels stared at each other for a few minutes

Hornet crossed her arms, they were communicating through the void. She couldn't blame them, it was no doubt easier for them to communicate with each other than sign, still she couldn't help but feel a little left out.

Finally Hollow turned to her again and signed.

“ I wanna go too ” they said.

“Hollow this isn't a common trip, is a diplomatic venture and Ghost is only coming because they know the wastes” She said hesitantly. The truth is she was worried for her sibling, they were still recovering, it had been just a few months since they were freed, and such a long trip might not be ideal for them yet…

“ I’ll go”   they insisted “ im not weak”

“That's not what i meant-” Hornet said growing antsy, she turned to Ghost but they looked away,  you deal with this was the message clear she sighed and restarted defaulting back into her authoritative voice . “it's not that i don't think you’re strong Hollow is that it will be a long and harsh journey-”

Hollow stared at her, whatever they were thinking was completely indecipherable to her.

“I think it's a great idea” Grimm interrupted one of their hands falling on Hollow shoulder “ i can lend you some of my Grimmsteeds if you wish”

“That's not needed” she said, turning to Grimm “this doesn't concern you” and she rather not stay in debt with the Nightmare troupe.

“Oh you wound me” he said dramatically, placing a hand over his chest“but I do believe it's a great idea, especially for some Sibling bonding” he smiled. 

“I said it's not a vacation” she insisted again, annoyed.

“That's not an excuse to not have some fun with it” he said “ you need to learn how to enjoy your time Deepnest princess” he said whimsical “maybe a travel with your siblings can be enlightening”

“I'm going and you can't stop me, Hornet”  They said resolutely glaring into her and she sighed defeated. 

“Fine… in that case i’ll take your Grimmsteeds” she grumbled and Grimm smiled wide 

“Wonderful” Grimm clasped his hands together victorious and Hornet let out a small sigh defeated.

The fear and anxiety coiled around her stomach like a centipede, crawling under her skin, she looked at Hollow and Ghost, both were foucused on Grimm chatter and she hoped her fears were unfounded. Otherwise she doubt she would survive the journey.