The Queen of Deepnest stood in front of the pale monarch at his White Palace. The walls gleamed white but seemed to carry a sad air instead of their normal elegance and beauty.
"Herrah you must come now so I can start the spell." the being said sharply before swiftly turning and slithering off with his head held high and wings fanned regally. The Spider felt tears forming behimnd her mask as she turned to face her young daughter.
"Mother, what's going on?" asked the young princess. She was today dressed in a fine red cloak embroided with the symbol of the weavers and several spells of protection. Her head was looking upwards seemingly relaxed but Herrah could read her distress from the young spider's trembling legs and slightly hunched shoulders.
"Hornet I have to leave now. I-I likely won't see y-you again but be good for them won't you. O-one day you'll rule over them. Be great my child" Herrah spoke softly and fearfully. She then rushed over and scooped her daughter into her many arms.
"Goodbye" she whispered.
Then the Beast set her daughter down gently and turned to leave, unable to bear it any longer.
"Mother!" the young girl called, "Don't go! I-I'll save you!" I took all of her will power not to turn back to her crying daughter then but she had to seem strong. She had been gifted the child, she could not go back on her word now.
I was then that the Pale monarch strode back in clearly annoyed.
"Herrah! What is the hold up!?" he huffed.
"Father! You won't take mother away! I won't allow it!" Hornet cried before drawing her small needle and leaping forward ready to strike the being who was in her eyes responsible for all of this. She used her silk to propel herself forward but was thrown harshly back at the flick of the Pale King's hand.
"Foolish child" he spat, "You should learn gratitude. You would be here if your mother had not agreed to this." Herrah staved off a growl and retort and instead hung her head low.
"Calm yourself Hornet" she spoke. She then gave a slight nod to her weaver escorts and they rushed forward and contained her daughter. It was better this way she reminded herself. Her daughter and kingdom could exist in a safe world free of plague like this. They could survive without their queen. They were strong.
With that, both Herrah and the pale being left ready to begin.
Monomon smiled fondly at the young scholar before her. She had known he was special right from the moment she first met him and that was why he was the one she trusted for this task now. She knew him capable and she knew him trustworthy. After all, this was her best friend. So with that she lifted her mask off of her face.
"Quirrel, you know my duties to the king. You know what I have to do. So I ask of you that you take my mask and leave this kingdom"
"Madame! What will become of you if I tke this!?"
"Quirrel, this plan won't hold up forever but somedy some bug will purge the kingdom of this plague. I need the seals kep[t intact for that day. I'll call you back when it omes."
"But Monomon, suely you see what you're asking of me! You're asking me to carry the mask of my friend around as a constant reminder of my friend who might as well be dead."
Monomon looked pitifully at the pillbug. It was a big ask but a necessary one. She understood that the king's pln would not hold up for that long. Someday though, the eals would have to be broken. But she could not risk them being broken early.
"Quirrel" she began with increased urgency, "I know this is hard for you but its hard for me too. How do you think I feel knowing I've signed a contract leding me to my death? But its what's needed. So please, I don't have long. As my final request would you please just take it!"
"Mada-Monomon. If this is what you really want me to do then I'll do it. But know that I'll never forget you even if my mind is wiped upon my depature. I promise you I'll come back. G-goodb-bye." he sniffled. Dark arms then reached fpor the mask and sat it upon the pillbug's head.
"Goodbye too Quirrel. Stay safe...please" They were both on the verge of tears now. What else would be the reaction of two best friends being torn apart?
Before she could think twice about making things worse, Monomon pulled Quirrel into a hug. Her many tentacles glowed faintly. When she eventually had to pull out as to not be late, she gently waved befoe turning. There was no mas to conceal her tears dropping to the floor. Tears, not for hat she had to do, but her student.
Lurien sat quitely next to cracked frame of he vessel he knew so well. He hadn't been able to hide them well enough in the end. His king found them and they were tried and found impure. So they now sat -slumped over in incredible pain- in the Ancient Basin.
"I'm sorry" he whispered to them. He didn't really have the time to be hangong around here but he hadn't asked the king for anything in return for his service so he should be allowed this moment. Lost tilted their head slightly and shakily brought up a cracked hand to point at them. It may have seemed vague and ambiguous to most but the Watcher saw the message clear. They wanted to know what he had to be sorry for.
"I'm sorry I didn't keep you out of his grasp. Or protected you more. And mostly now I'm sorry I'm leaving you here alone. I know I have my duties and you had yours but this fate is not fair upon you!"
He couldn't save his city. He couldn't save his friend. He was leaving Lost here waiting for their days to end and Brett alone to run an empty spire. He convinced himself this was making up for his past sins but a small part of him knew the plan wouldn't last forever. That someday his sacrifice would be in vain. But he was strangely okay with it; Lurien believed he had caused enough trouble.
Lost was now glancing at him worriedly.
"Ah worry not my friend, I'll be fine. I hope you do not have to suffer much longer. I'm sorry, again. B-but I do have to l-leave. Goodbye." The vessel tore a peice of fabric of the side of their cloak weakly. They then slowly brang it up to touch the centre of their chest before the centre of Luriens. It was an offering. A goodbye. It wasn't words, it was a message to complex to convey even if it were possible for them. And Lurien felt ashamed to recieve such a gesture. He'd do his duty well. He's do it for the kingdom. For his friends.
Great. Just great. Ghost had been landed with entertaining four of their siblings and Myla for the day while Monomon visited Herrah and Lurien. They liked having some time to spend with their siblings and friend of course but it was hardwork to find something they could all enjoy!
Currently they were wandering throught the City of Tears trying to find the Triple Trouble Team. All of the group liked them and the group was supposedly based in the city. They should be able to help! Well, they didn't know it at the time but they were getting a whole new kind of entertainment...
They were just coming into the clearing around the memorial to the Hollow Knight and Dreamers when a large figure came into view. Curious, Ghost shuffled closer and examined them while they weren't looking. They were a tall knight in pale amour. Three tall prongs sat upon his head, the outer two curved and the inner symmetrical. There were shining scarlet areas of amour across him- on his shoulders, on his helmet and across his waist. A dark vizor concealed his eyes and shadows masked his true from under the kinks of his armour. The armour not in pale silver was a deep regal blue. The scariest part about him though was his blade. It was a full on double edged sword with one sharp nail like edge and another spiked like a saw. It had several soul channels running through it and was easily as tall as them.
They silently held out their hand and signed for their companions to stay back. Myla paled and started shaking but Ghost needed to stop them if they were a threat. They might not be but their instincts were telling them to be wary. They hadn't survived all Hallownest by trusting everything!
So, they strode over to him and lightly tapped him on the back. Keeping his regal posture, he turned and stared down Ghost. His fingers then twitched slightly before curling around his sword.
"Give me the Void Heart vessel. It belongs to our Pure Vessel, not you" his cold voice spoke. They stared at him in disbelief. Did this random armoured bug just ask them for their most important possession that they weren't even to sure they could give up even if they wanted to? Reaching swiftly to their back, they drew their nail and swung it out as a symbol for challenge. A harsh raspy laugh left his throat as he entered a battle stance.
He started by swinging his large sword right where Ghost was standing moments before. But Ghost didn't panic, they enveloped themself in the shade cloak and dashed right through the blade. More attacks came in quick and each was unique. Each in a different style. Each using a different edge of his sword. Each requiring a different solution to dodge. Ghost could dodge easily enough but not land a hit.
They risked glance around them. This part of the caverns was vast but not vast enough for their true form... They just needed to wait for an opening...
Wanda was worried now. Ghost clearly didn't know who they were fighting but they did... It was Judicator Argustus. He had been the Judicator of the Pale Court before the infection. Everyone feared him due to his incredible skill in combat. He had vanished with the White Palace but it wasn't really surprising that if the Pale King could come back, he could too.
Even worse, the Judicator was clearly delusional now. So, Ghost was fighting a crazy knight with incredible skill and enough power to finish off void beings for good...
"I-is Ghost going t-to be ok?" Myla stammered.
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll be fine" Wanda said hoping, Myla couldn't tell that they were lying.
"Yes, Ghost is powerful" Shadow agreed.
Wanda swallowed their fear. There had to be something they could do to help! They couldn't join the fight; they'd be destroyed! Maybe her knowledge could help? No... If she yelled the infomation that would just alert the Judicator to their presence and possibly get them killed...
"Yes, there's nothing you can do" familiar voice whispered. Wanda quietly turned around to see what looked like a shade of themself. But that should be impossible! They had read every article on vessels and void in the Archive and all had agreed that a shade was a being released from a vessel after their shell was broken and their shell was definitely still intact!
"You're impossible!" Wanda whispered back to them.
"How can you be sure, what good is knowledge doing you now? Its probably incomplete" it replied.
"Yeah, but I know more than anyone else here! They need what I know!"
"But is that helping? If your skill in memory was in combat instead, you could helping right now..."
"I suppose you have a point..."
"You might as well give up any hope of surviving now"
"This is my fault..."
"Pray to any higher beings you want!"
Then it clicked. Some information they had overlooked! Judicator Argustus was extremly loyal to the king. He did anything the being asked! They just needed to get him!
"Well there is something I can do! I can get the Pale King!" they whispered to it excitedly. It grumbled to itself for a bit before glowing white and speaking, "Good idea!"
They then turned to the other vessels. "Can you all distract him? I know how to stop this. Don't let him hit you, just play it evasive and defensive."
"Sure" Thorn smiled grimly while pulling out their needle.
"Of course" Shadow answered smirking.
"O-oh ok" Lili stuttered.
Wanda trustred them; they could handle it so they left them to handle this while they got help. The stag station wasn't far from here and the Hidden Station wasn't far from the Pale King. They ran off to their destination fidgeting scared the whole time. The journey wasn't long like predicted but it felt like it took an eternity...
When Wanda arrived, they were out of breath but still rushed on to find him. The crowned being was sat quietly at his desk crafting something. He turned to them at their arrival.
"Hello, Wanda"
Honestly, they were surprised he even knew their name.
"Sorry to bother you but we need help really badly. Me, Ghost, Thorn, Lili, Shadow and Myla ran into Judicator Argustus in the City of Tears and we definitely cannot defeat him!" she told. His face hardened and he stood up.
"I'm coming, lead the way." he spoke.
The pair travelled hurriedly back to the city where things were going badly. In the Judicator's grip was an injured Lili. His other hand was raised and glowing. He was about to finish them off!
"Stop Argustus!" the King yelled in a booming regal voice. The warrior saw his king and dropped Lili who was caught with void by Shadow. "Leave these vessels alone"
"Yes my king."
"And turn around"
"As you wish"
Wanda then saw the King sigh slightly before sending out a few wisps of soul into the armour. He then staggered back slightly.
"What did you do?" Wanda asked curious.
"Sent him back to sleep. He was meant to come back after his mind was healed. He had a brief run in with the infection so I sent him into a forced hibernation until he was ready. I suppose my returning presence must have stired him. You're lucky he was not as his best or none of you would have lasted long."
"Thank you I suppose" Ghost said stiffly. The king then gazed at them, studying them before swiftly turning to leave.
"Well I vote we go back to the Archive for medical supplies now" Wanda inputted. All their companions nodded or murmed in agreement so they all left for the Archive.
The air seemed to have a certain chill about it today. This made Fauna apprehensive. The Resting Grounds wasn't necessarily warm normally, but everything seemed colder and tense in a way Fauna couldn't explain. She shivered before getting up to find Tweet.
The small vessel had become firm friends with Fauna and the two spent a lot of time together. Tweet's stories facinated Fauna and she told her own in turn. That was why the moth believed that Tweet would be able to help he crack this conumdrum.
But she'd solved it before she made it to Tweet.
Fauna had been flying down to the stag station near where to pair of vessels had set up home when Seer called out for her as she had seen her go past. So the lilac moth fluttered back up to great the elderly moth.
"Hello, Seer. Can I help you?" she asked politely.
"Yes child, but I fear this may be too great a roblem for just us two. You see, something is severly wrong in the dream realm" Seer replied with her normally soft voice laced with undertones of urgency. It made sense to Fauna though. Of course the Resting Grounds -the place most connected to the other realm in Hallownest- would feel off if the dream realm had an issue. She nodded affirmitively at her company and spoke, "I'll go find Tweet and Quiz. They should be able to help"
So Fauna rushed off to find her friends now in need more than before.
—-
So, I know Im late again. I'm sorry! Small silly things kept coming up so I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!
