The crowd before the grand stage was loud and excited as the time for the performance drew closer. Steadily, the lights began to dim in the vast tent. There was an audible gasp as complete blackness fell over the chamber and a slow music started to play. It built and built until there was a large flash of scarlet light and the stage lights beamed down. A figure in a draping cloak stood over the audience grandly before taking a deep bow. "Welcome all to the first showing of the Grimm Troupe's circus in Hallownest. Please, relax and enjoy the show! Up first is the fantastical stunts of Daring Embers!" she spoke in a loud but elegant voice.

Verde stood nervously in the wings as Scarlet finished her speech and swooped off stage. As she had said, the group of grimmkin stunt performers teleported on with all their equipment. They could hear the audience's excitement as the equipment was set up ready. There was a small ring a blaze with scarlet flames, a large corridor full of clamping spike and the most dangerous of all, a tall tesla complete with charged lumaflies at the top blocking the way to a high up platform containing a bowl of something red. Verde could just about make out their round shape and themed colour but not what they were.

The group flawlessly sailed through each trick wowing the crowd each time. All three grimmkin hurtled through the ring with the flames licking their sides but still emerged unharmed. They twirled through the corridor to the rythmic slamming of the jaw like contraption. Finally they used each other to lure off the bolts of electricity and climb to the bowl atop its peak. The red items were small colourful pelets which were thrown over the audience, exploding into shimmering red glitter.

After the crowd broke into cheers, a tall bug dressed in bright stripy uniform strode on and started to tell jokes. They started with small puns but soon turned to full on physical humour with large and exaggerated gags. This time the crowd was in hysterics when they took their leave.

Soon after Verde's eyes lit up as they saw Grace high above the stage preparing for her act. They watched each refined move mesmorised. The ribbon twirled behind her regally the whole time never dropping down at all. It was almost hypnotic with its grace. It really was quite amusing how graceful someone literally named Grace was...

Anxiety crept up their back Scarlet returned to the stage. They were the final act. After Scarlet, they would be there. They would be performing in front of all of their relatives...

Scarlet's dance was incredible as expected. She started by asking for a volunteer and let an eager Ghost up. They then proceded to complete a fight like dance with each ove giving the illusion of a swipe or strike. Flames danced around for the capable vessel to evade in careful and spottable patterns. As the routine went on, Verde began to feel their confidence seep back in as their love of arts swirled around in their mind from watching Scarlet. If Ghost could just go up on stage and make it look flawless then they could complete their rehearsed routine!

Once the routine wrapped up they heard the words that they had been both longing and dreading, "And finally please welcome our newest member Verde to the floor!"

They strode on and looked on at the beaming faces of their audience. Encouraging glances lit up towards them from their relatives an d they took a deep breath. It was time to start.

They flicked their long red cloak backwards like wings to gain the full attention of the crowd and truly began. Their leg flung over their mask and the rest of their body followed, whirling backwards. Tendrils of void struck out from the tips of their claws and curled around the supports of the tent. They soared upwards and tied the tendrils together sneakily while flipping around to hide it. Then they jumped along underneath it feeling the strength of the rope and using it as their on. Once at an end, they hurled their body sideways and ended up balanvced on top. They took steady steps forward with each foot daintily pressing in front of the other. Halfway, they threw their cloak outwards and winked at the audience before continuing. The thick curtains of the wings came once again into view from the otherside this time and Verde knew that their performance was coming to a close. They jumped down and tucked in to roll over and over again before hitting the floor. Once the dark floor was reached they leant backwards and did a somersult in that direction. They let the void making up them meld into them casting a dark ominous shadow over the far wall. The audience gasped before they reformed and took their bow.

Applause filled the chamber, they'd done it.

The clapping and cheers rang in Hollow's already aching head. They let out a little whimper of pain. Fortunately, the show was over so they could go somewhere quiet or find some medicine. Could the Snail Shaman help them? Dirtmouth was sure to be quiet so maybe they could stop off there on the way. But maybe not if they took the stagways.

They quietly shuffled out, staying hidden amongst the large crowd of other vessels. Their luck seemed to have run dry however as the bug they wanted to speak to the least spotted them...
"Hi Hollow! That was really good wasn't it! That bit at the end with the shadow was so thrilling! I didn't know theatre could be as exciting as battling!" Ghost babbled excitedly to them.
"Yeah it was good.." Hollow echoed somewhat quietly. At least Ghost was too caught up in the moment to notice their lack of volume or enthusiasm...
"Glad you agree! Where are you headed anyway then?"
"Oh I was just going to the back to see Tweet"
"Really?Tweet's over there near the front with Quiz!"
"Oh did I say Tweet? I meant uhh" Hollow craned their neck to see the back of the crowd, "Wanda!"
"That makes a lot more sense! We can go together!"
"That's a nice offer Ghost but umm I think err Misfortune is calling you!"
"I better go see her then! See you later!" Hollow sighed in relief and continued to sneak out.

They had never been more glad to see simplistic bell at the stag station in their whole life!
"Dirtmouth please" they croaked to the old stag once he arrived to the call of the ring. Wyrm, their head wa pounding now! And their throat felt like spomeone was rubbing sand on it! They shut their eyes tight and tried to relax and ignore the pounding of footsteps along the journey.

A fresh breeze blew towards them and they realised how warm they had been. At least it also signaled that they were close to their destination! They could almost feel the peace of the town! "There you go" the stag spoke kindly to them once the opening for the station was reached.
"Thank you" they replied while making their depature to the simple lift. The clattering of the contraption was soothing compared to what they had been hearing at the Troupe's tent...

The town itself was a nice as ever. Sly stood outside his shop trying to attract more customers with offers and it seemed he also was trying to advertise lessons in training with a nail. Elderbug had taken residence in an empty home for a tourist office to be able to use his knowledge of the town for others. Iselda was selling maps of the whole kingdom and equipment like pins for them. Her husband Cornifer on the other hand was training those who wanted it, cartography skills for what seemed criminally underpriced. Had geo gone up in value while they were locked in the black egg? It hadn't seemed so so far but it still seemed strange.

A beetle named Bretta was outside her house with a stand and a stack of books. Hollow assumed that she was signing books as they had a fairly popular title by her in the hands of Rim. They could also just about make out another home on the futher reaches of the town with a sign of a smily face. Maybe some kind of therapist? There were a few strangers that Ghost hadn't told them about.

Hollow waved to the local residents while they plodded tiredly over to the rather inviting bench. Before they knew it, they had dozed off.

They only awoke to a voice filled with awe.
"Are you Hollow?" they asked. Hollow stretched and glanced over to the speaker. They nearly fell off the bench when they saw that it was none other than their younger sibling Hornet. "Hornet?"
"You remember then" she grinned sounding slightly sheepish for her earlier excitement. She sure had matured a lot from the hyper spiderling they had known before. "I remember the overexcited menace running around the palace, yes" they put in before the pain in their throat could return.
"So what are you doing up here? I thought you were staying with our father and as far as I know they aren't far from the Troupe."
"I didn't feel great... My head was really hurting and my throat is a bit sore. I think i might be sick or something, if thats even possible..."
"I don't really know about you but I sure can get ill and it isn't nice. But why are you hanging around on your own in the cold if your sick?"
"To tell you the truth, I'm hiding from Ghost... They would worry if they knew I'm ill plus they are really noisy! They seem to very much love being able to speak and do it constantly and loudly all the time..."
Hornet chuckled before dashing off somewhere.

She returned a minute later with some blankets. "I came here to get supplies for Spider but so I should be heading back now... Do you want to come? I'm pretty sure I can keep Ghost out of Deepnest pretty easily"
"Sure! Isn't really that hard though.. They're practically traumatized from the place!"
The siblings laughed together before departing to the stag station.

Shadow stood thoughtfully in a corner rather ironically enveloped in shadow. They pondered what a good use of their abilities would be. Verde had used theirs to make a good outine but how could void help in the Archives?

They gave up wondering about this question when the crowd stated to bustle out. They followed not wanting to be the last still there. It was just their luck that they accidently tripped into the bug they hated the most. The pale king.
"Are you alright there" he started before seeing it was them and letting out a small squeak of fear.
"Fine" they said through gritted mandibles. They continued to stare him down as he scurried out to Lurien and Lost.

"What's your problem with him?" the voice of Wanda asked.
"What?" they replied surprised.
"Like, why do hate him so much?" they asked again.
"He created us for selfish reasons and discarded us like broken tools for being too much like normal bugs"
"I get that and it ws bad but he is trying now but its more than that, I can tell"

"You must have some reason!"

"You can speak out you know"
"I-I'm going to f-find Quirrel and Monomon." With that they departed from Wanda in a hurry.

"Who thought of asking you to speak your thoughts!?" a laughing black figure asked. They glanced up at it and saw it looked like a shade. It couldn't be a real one though because they hadn't died.
"Oh wait I know, that ridiculous vessel you keep as company that seems to think they actually have any brain cells" it continued.
"Shut up about Wanda will you. They're not that stupid"
"Well anyone who thinks that they can get you to talk definitely is! They all must know you as that silent one! They probably think you're ignoring them"
"I'm not"
"Just cause I know doesn't mean they do" How would this random thing know anything about them? They couldn't be real could they?
"The ones that actually care would"
"The ones that care? Lets list them! Oh wait there are none!"
"Wanda cares"
"Think they do anymore after that miserable attempt to understand you earlier"
"I didn't do anything that bad" they stated slowly.
"In your opinion"

"That no one knows"
"Stop trying to rub it in, its not like you're any better."
"Your the only one that can hear me!" it snapped.

It was then that Wanda found them. They looked rather unamused.
"So this is finding Quirrel and Monomon?"
"Sorry"
"It wasn't that bad!"
"I shouldn't have left like that. I'm never going to get anywhere if I won't speak my mind" They could see the 'shade' crumbling out of the corner of their eye before it reformed glowing pure white. It nodded its head acknowledging what Shadow was going to. Then it faded into them.
"Its just how he left me feeling like I should never show my true self. I was cast down for showing who I was cause I wasn't 'pure' so now he's left me hiding away myself now. Its just not fair..."
"Thank you"
"What?"
"Thank you for sharing this with me! You overcame what he left you with and you opened up! I'm honered that I can know the real you!"

They walked over to Shadow and embraced leaving void tears to mix from the two siblings.