A/N: And here we fucking Go. Hope this chapter is good, because I'm finally putting Hollow Knight shit in here that isn't just Bug fucking around.

Wardes watched past the brim of his hat as the Insects lead them towards their destination. The Captain of the Guard, at the request of Count Mott, was beside the carriage that housed the palace messenger.

He noticed from time to time how the Count would look his way from the corner of his eye.

To his discontent, the other guards from the estate were all chatting up any of the Insects that weren't leading them. At least the guards he had with him were professional enough not to speak with the Insects.

He kept quiet as they continued their journey.

Finally, they reached a fork in the road, with a sign that pointed towards Tarbes. With another sign that pointed towards the other direction, but instead of words.

A mess of symbols, each of them seemingly intersecting with each other without any rhyme or reason.

It looked like something bandits would have scribbled on to deter away any unwanted trespassers.

"This, Direction" The one leading them all pointed towards the scribbled post "Close to Hallownest." He turned back towards the group "But cannot lead you now."

"And why is that?" Wardes' hand reached for his weapon "Going to summon more of your Insect friends to ambush us?"

A series of inhuman words escaped the leader Insect's mouth, something which caused Count Mott to cover his mouth that he noticed from the corner of his eye, before the Insect shook its head.

Wardes' grip on his weapon tightened.

"No, no ambush." It pointed a long finger at the forest behind them "Patrol, forest. Job." The last word had the Insect jab its finger towards the trees. Once more it shook its head "All, cannot guide."

Suddenly it snapped in its inhuman voice, and he heard one of other Insects that were in the middle of their group suddenly perk up and rush forward.

It was the nervous pudgy one, and Wardes watched as the two conversed in their language for a good while.

Wardes turned to the Count, and nodded his head to get his attention. When the Messenger looked his way, Wardes lifted an eyebrow and asked "What did that Insect say?"

Instead of a look of concern, or an angry glare. The messenger face blushed and looked away, before he coughed into his fist "It's better if you don't find out."

"Um, Hello!"

The humans turned back to the front, where the pudgy Insect was standing in front of the leader.

It shifted in spot, fidgeting before a smack from the leader Insect caused it to straighten up again. "I am your guide. To lead you to Hallownest."" There was a distinctly feminine tone to how the Insect spoke, enough that Wardes couldn't help but identify it as a 'she'. Her voice was also more fluent than her supposed superior.

Wardes said nothing to the creature.

Count Mott however made a gesture with his hand "A pleasure to have you lead us to Hallownest," He looked her and narrowed his eyes "…Miss?"

"Oh, It is Siesta!" She answered.

Wardes' eyes narrowed.

Mott blinked "My, that is a very… human name, Miss Siesta."

The Insect nodded, somewhat hesitantly due to the glare that was being thrown her way, she straightened up when her superior made a sound "My mother lives in Tarbes, and wanted me to have a name that fits in." The Insect shook in place when she heard Wardes click his tongue.

The guard suddenly found himself staring at a wooden staff, and the Viscount turned to see a disgruntled looking Count. There was a look in his eye, that caused the man to roll his eyes and turn away from the conversation.

He heard a silent thank you from the Count, and merely listened the conversation with one ear.

"Thank you for telling us, Miss Siesta. Once again, It is a pleasure to have you lead us to Hallownest." The Count paused before coughing "Please forgive any hostility from my guard and his entourage, he's simply had some bad interactions with other Insects."

Wardes heard the Insect that was 'Siesta's Superior openly speak the same words that had caused the Count to grimace. This time however, it spoke it loudly and seemingly did not care that the rest of them could hear It.

This time he saw how Siesta entire body seemed to retreat into itself at the words.

After a moment, the Insect nodded towards the pudgier Insect. It spoke in its language, before turning back to the humans in front of It "We," It paused, seemingly to look for the word to say "Welcome you Humans, to Hallownest."

It bowed, something that the rest of the Insects followed. Soon, the nine Insects took to the skies, their wings buzzing as they left Siesta alone with them.

She gave a rather stilted nod "F-Follow me!" And turned on her feet, leading them down the path pointed by the sign filled with indescribable scribbles.

The entourage looked between themselves, and followed the Insect leading them, Count Mott even climbing back into his carriage.

Riding his Griffin next to the carriage, Wardes voice spoke through the door "For someone with no love for Insects, you were oddly protective of them, My Lord."

The window of the carriage shimmered, and when it vanished the irate face of the Count met with Wardes' own indifferent one.

Mott turned his head up "I just didn't want to be known as the Palace Messenger that allowed the Palace guard to start a war with the Insects," He narrowed his eyes "I would be ruined socially, especially since the Princess is more than a little interested in a full alliance with them. Can you even imagine how much influenced I'd get from completely this message without any issue?"

Wardes shook his head and chuckled.

"Don't laugh," Count Mott pointed a finger towards him "I understand why you're so hostile towards them. But at least try to antagonise them while I'm not leading you."

"Very well," Wardes turned away from the carriage, and saw a huge cave entrance with a sign that had the same scribbles.

His grip on the reins of his Griffin tightened when he saw the giant Insect guards by the entrance. Giant hammers the size of horses held casually in their hands.

Count Mott gulped loudly "Especially since, if you want to fight them, I'd rather you just die and not involve me."

[Scene]

I'm thinking of writing a book with all my spells. What do you two think? Should I just write it down, or should I just commit it to memory? I can't exactly put them in my head and extract it like you two.

"Ms Valliere?"

Louise felt her head spin as she stared down at the book. She blinked once, twice, before she lifted her head and opened her mouth "I-I'm sorry, Principal Osmond, I'm just nursing a little headace. Can you explain what you need of me about this," She eyed the book suspiciously "Book?"

The old man eyes turned soft "I'm sorry that you have to listen another request from the Palace so soon," at her rather panicked expression, the Principal raised a hand "Don't worry, I will not say anything in regard to your mission to Albion."

She allowed her shoulders relax.

"As you know, the wedding between Princess Henrietta and the Germanian emperor is occurring next month."

Louise's hand went to her stomach, her clothes sinking into the literal pit that was her stomach.

"And as tradition, a Noble is to be the Princess' Bridesmaid." Osmond smiled and nodded towards her "And as per a messenger," the old man looked away with an annoyed look on his face "That wasn't Count Mott thankfully, you were chosen to be her Bridesmaid for the wedding." The smile returned "Congratulations Ms Valliere."

Louise felt her eyebrows raise at the info she had received. She was supposed to be Henrietta's Bridesmaid?

A giddy feeling went up her throat. It was something that she and her old friend had fantasised about when they played house. Both of them had promised that if they ever got married, they would be Bridesmaids for each other.

But the memory was cut short as she recalled what the wedding would truly be about. There was no love, only practicality to protect them from some power hungry rebels at Albion.

The happy feeling fell back down from her throat and vanished into her stomach.

"I'm," She swallowed the spit in her mouth "honoured, Principal Osmond." Her eyes looked at the book "But what does that have to do with…"

At her question, the old man picked up the book and handed it towards her. Cautiously, the girl grabbed it with both hands. She looked it over with a confused look on her face.

"In your hands right now, is the Founder's Prayer Book." He gestured towards it "As the Bridesmaid you are to be given it, and also think of a written edict to be given as a speech during the wedding."

The sceptical look on Louise's face vanished as she registered the words of the Principal. Looking down at the book, she opened it and flipped through the pages, and found it empty. She stared at the blank pages, before she lifted her head "So should I just… write in this?"

"Yes," Osmond nodded "It is yours to use for the wedding, so long as you do not damage it to the point of destruction, you may use it as you see fit." The old man nodded "This is very big honour Ms. Valliere."

Louise looked down at the book and nodded her head.

She was still staring at the book even as she left the Principal's office.

Both Bug and Sib were waiting for her outside, the former was still dirty from the chase it had to endure. Both of their empty eyes stared up at her, and both tilted their heads at the book in her hands.

She smiled and waved it with one hand "I have to give a speech to a wedding."

Their heads tilted the other direction.

WEDDING?

The Valliere walked past the two Void Vessels, both of which followed her down the stairs. As she did, she explained to them what a wedding was, and what was her role in the upcoming ceremony.

"So I basically need to give a speech," She looked at the book in her hands, once more she flipped through the empty pages with her lips pulled in a straight line "Honestly, I'm not really sure what to write in it."

Her gaze went to her Familiars, she raised an eyebrow "Do you two have any ideas?"

Both of them shook their heads.

She smiled "I thought so." She turned back to the book, and as she flipped through the pages, a thought came to her head.

"Although..." The two Void Vessels skulls perked up at her words "In about a month, the wedding is going to be held. And if the teachers and other Nobles are to be believed, the leader of Hallownest is also going to be there." She stared into the empty pages "Do you… want me to say anything to them?"

The two Void Vessels looked at each other.

Louise scowled "I mean, I know what I'm gonna say to him." She paused before blushing "Assuming what I say doesn't end up resulting in me declaring war on behalf of either Tristain or the Valliere family."

She felt Sib's stump touch her shin, causing her to shiver at the cold touch. She looked down at It, and smiled "Found something you want to say?"

Tell The Pale King, Sorry For Not Being Pure Enough.

Her grip on the Founder's Prayer Book tightened. If she wasn't aware of its value, her fingers would have dug into the pages and wrinkled it. But she stopped herself. Her eyes bored into the empty holes of Sib's skull, and shook her head.

"Not that," She told It firmly "You have nothing to apologise for that."

The four horned Void Vessel tilted its head, but simply pulled its stump away.

Louise face fell as she rubbed her temple with one hand "Can't you think of something more negative or something? I don't want to go there, give him a piece of my mind, and then quietly apologise!" She stepped out of the main tower, her Familiars following her the whole time "It would be awkward."

Bug lifted its head.

IF YOU SEE THE PALE KING, CAN YOU ASK IT WHY THE WHITE PALACE HAS SO MANY BUZZSAWS?

Louise turned to the Void Vessel as its voice echoed in her head. She blinked once, she blinked twice, and then stared at her Familiar.

Her Familiar won the staring contest handily, by virtue of the lack of eyelids that it had, and it continued to stare at her as if to rub that victory in her face.

Louise scratched her head "Uh sure, I guess I can ask him that." She let out an amused snort "If that's something that can be found in the King's palace, then I'm pretty excited to see what else is in Hallownest."

[Scene]

Count Mott had been in Hallownest for about fifteen minutes, and the Noble felt that he had seen enough of it for his entire lifetime.

As he sat in his carriage, being lead through the dark expanses of the Insect Kingdom towards the capital 'city' that was Grape Vine, Count Mott had to stop himself from pissing in fear at some of the things he saw in that Kingdom.

He thought that he could handle the Insects, he had seen more than a few mandibles peeking through the hoods of the Insects that acted as messengers or merchants. He had grabbed, and flinched away, at carapace skin when he had to shake the hand of another messenger to confirm the letter it was bringing.

Absolutely none of that prepared him when he saw a small swarm of flies the size of children suddenly flew overhead when he and his entourage entered what he could only think to be the Insect's version of a Frontier town.

It terrified him even more when he heard Siesta mention how cute that the 'kids' were out playing about.

He had been so used to the more humanly proportioned Insects that he would occasionally see in Tristain, that the thought of the more 'insect-like' Insects being more common in their Kingdom had never crossed his mind.

He was lucky that he hadn't drunk anything intoxicating, because the prospect of giant flies or maggots or mosquitoes nearly made him threw up. Because of such, instead of staying out for too long, Count Mott opted to simply sit in his carriage, with the windows opened.

Even if he was terrified, the Messenger had to at least familiarise himself with the layout of the Insect Kingdom in case he needed to go through the place once more.

And from the view, he had two things to say about Hallownest.

One, that it was dark. It was to be expected, while he had expected to descend into Hallownest, he didn't expect for the cave entrance that lead to the Insect Kingdom to actually descend into the ground as they went deeper and deeper into the cave.

Siesta had told them to take out any torches or Lumafly Lanterns that they might have, as she told them that the path that they would take wasn't the normal path that Insects normally took due to the horse and carriages that they had. As such, it wasn't as well lit as the normal areas.

True enough, during the rather long walk from the cave entrance and towards the 'main' gates of Grape Vine, there were barely any sources of light save for the sporadic Lumafly Lanterns on the walls.

It was rather unnerving that such a dark path was what they had to take.

Two, Count Mott had to admit that the Insect Kingdom was a terrifying place. As along the path that they had to take, the carriage would often rock and shake. When he had emerged from the carriage to scold the driver, he saw massive foot prints that dug furrows into the path where the carriage was taking.

He had asked what made those.

And Siesta told them that it the Stags, which was their own methods of mass transportation in Hallownest. According to her, due to an upcoming event most of the Stags were being used to carry and transport other goods that they shouldn't expect to see a Stag.

At least, that was what she had said. And it was a statement that was proven terrifying false.

During their walk silent walk, the ground under them started shaking. And from the darkness of the caves in front of them, Count Mott spotted a massive figure approaching them.

He had grabbed his staff, and Wardes was already pointing his Sword Wand towards the upcoming threat. The guards were getting ready to fight whatever it was that was approaching. It was only with the excited exclamation of the Insect guard leading them, that it was a Stag, that they stopped themselves from attacking the creature.

It was the size his carriage, attached were Lumafly Lanterns that made it seem like it's eyes were higher than it was. When it got closer, the features were more pronounced.

Just as how Siesta had said, it was a 'Stag' and looked like those Stag Beetles, with six legs, body segmented in three, and a massive horn on top. Features that had seen in a book that he had read once. The only difference was its massive size.

It ran past them, the ground shaking as it kicked up the dirt underneath. Lugging behind the massive creature was a similarly sized wagon filled to the brim with supplies that were tied down.

Only when it seemingly vanished in a path to the left that he hadn't even noticed, did the ground stop shaking.

Count Mott was really lucky that he had opted not to indulge in the drinks in his carriage.

Thankfully, the silent trip eventually gave way to the chatter of the city. Their entourage emerging from the 'alternate' path. As they left the dark path, the inhuman chatter went silent.

There, waiting at a station were a whole group of Insects. Some of them were the more humanoid looking one, but some of them were taller than the Stag that they had just seen moments prior. Some of them were even larger flies, a few looked like they were crawling on the ground. All of them were staring at the entourage with their black eyes.

He had to make sure that Wardes didn't snap at the sight, thankfully the Viscount seemed content to simply glare at them.

The chatter picked up as they made their way out of the station, some of them speaking words that he understood. But with them pointing at his carriage, and oddly enough his horse, their words overlapped that Mott couldn't pick up anything.

When they left the station and entered Grape Vine, the darkness of the path finally gave way to light.

It wasn't sunlight. Instead, it was as if the whole city was illuminated by a pale glow that gave them enough light to see.

And what a sight it was.

Grape Vine itself was sitting inside a massively hollowed out cave. It stretched out farther than he could see, the ceiling was just as out of sight as the night sky, and with the smattering of Lumaflies flying above, it seemed like the stars were moving. The buildings around them reached tall into the air, with massive glass planes that let whoever lived inside those buildings to look out into the city.

Around some of the taller buildings, vines encircled the structures. They provided a contrast to the black and grey of the buildings with the greenery wrapped around them.

Looking around, he saw more flying Insects. Some of them were those flies and some that looked like mosquitoes, but more than a few of them were of those other guards. They hovered as they flew in and out of sight, disappearing behind a bridge that was suspended hundreds of feet in the air, and some of them appearing behind buildings that hid them.

On the ground, he saw some of those same guards walking around, alongside similar looking giants to the ones that were guarding the cave entrance. He spotted Insects walking around without the hoods and cloaks that he had been accustomed too.

Some of them were tall and slender, some were round and stocky, some were just walking on all fours as if the difference didn't even matter. A few of them didn't walk, instead they rode in their own carriages, pulled by other Insects.

All of them, sights that interested and baffled the Palace Messenger.

More than a few of the ones standing at the side of the road and stared at his entourage. Some of them pointed at him, specifically, while others were more interested in the horses and Griffin that Wardes was riding.

However, none of them did anything. Instead they simply allowed them to move without getting stopped.

Something that Mott was thankful fo-

"Humans!"

A few heads turned to where the sound had come from, and Mott and a few of his guards spotted what looked like a more human looking fly waving at them.

It stood in front of, what he could only assume, was a store. There was Insect writing, which had always looked like gibberish not matter how many times he tried to understand it. But there were a few human words found, scribbled underneath.

"Sly Wares. Come Buy. Price Good."

"I offer good price," It hollered at them "Good change from Ecu to Geo. Good souvenirs, buy and tell other humans to buy from Sly!"

From the looks around the Fly, they seemed more than a little annoyed but they looked amused as well.

Inhuman words were thrown the Fly's way, and from the laughter that came from every other Insect, including Fly, it was a humorous jab.

Mott couldn't tell, the words flew over his head.

Eventually though, Siesta managed to lead them all the way towards the largest building in Grape Vine.

It was palace. Some part of him felt pride that it was still smaller than the palace at Tristain, even if the overall city had put some of the cities back home to shame.

There were more guards stationed around it. Alongside the ones that he had seen thus far, he even saw of those Mantises that would act as Mercenaries standing guard at the castle vicinity.

They were stopped as Siesta talked with the guards at the gate.

Wardes' head was swivelling back and forth as he took in the sight around him. His grip on the reins of his Griffin tightening.

Mott himself felt more than little intimidated at some of the looks at the Insects were giving him. Although, he figured that it was just due to the naturally empty look that their black eyes tend to gave.

Soon they were allowed inside, and Count Mott had to disembark from his carriage as they had to enter the palace itself.

Walking with Wardes, the palace guards, and his own, Mott looked around him. Just like how the ity seemed to be covered in a pale glow, it seemed that the palace had the same enchantment.

All around him, a pale white glow seemed to shine from every surface. It was honestly rather blinding if it was just a bit harsher. But it was just bright enough that it didn't hurt his eyes to look.

And look he did.

From the majestic looking pillars, to the balconies that opened to gardens and, ironically, other grape vines, the sight of the palace was rather extravagant. As they walked deeper and deeper, the guards were better equipped.

Their armour shone with the same glow, seemingly, and instead of simple lances or heavy hammers-

Mott had to stop himself from breathing too loudly.

-Each of them seemed to carrying a Soul Wand on their 'person'. Some of them at sword length at their hip, while others had what could only be called Soul Staves.

All of them carrying magical catalyst that had tales of turning Dot Mages into monsters, and they were using it like clubs.

He tried to ignore it, and instead tried to admire the artwork. Just as how Wardes was, seeing how the Viscount was looking everywhere at once.

Some of them were… interesting. Obviously, he could not understand any of the words. But some of them walls hung paintings and artwork. Occasionally, they'd spot statues of some larger than life figures.

He suppressed a laugh when he saw a statue that looked like a Dung Beetle. Had he been alone, he would've mocked such a statue. But with some of them guards staring at him and his entourage with such intensity, he kept his words to himself.

The last statues that they saw before they entered, what he assumed was a throne room, were two Insects that didn't look familiar at all.

Standing on the right, tall and proud, was a massive figure whose horns nearly reached the ceiling. Three internal spikes on both horns, the shape of it's head made it look like a giant 'V'. Two empty holes as eyes. From its neck was a large ornate cloak, carved with detail that hid the rest of the body. The only thing it did not cover was the two hands that peeked out from the cloak and gripped an equally massive sword that it planted into the ground.

On the left stood a much smaller figure, the size of small child even. Just like the larger figure, it had two horns that only bifurcated at the end. They grew from a much blockier looking head, it was cube like in shape, and just like the other statue all it had for eyes were black holes carved into them. A rattier looking cloak grew from the neck, and it split open in the front to reveal a featureless body. In one hand it held a weapon, a triangular blade held to the side.

As usual whatever words that were found at the base of those statues, he could not make out.

He did however make out the sound of terrified gasps.

Mott looked at Wardes and a few of the guards that he had brought recoiling away from the larger statue. They eyes wide with… fear?

Siesta paused from opening the door and turned to face them. She noticed their looks of fear and faced the statue.

"Ah, please don't be alarmed!" She tried to calm them down "It is just a statue that was made here to remember their sacrifice. It will not harm you."

Wardes stared at the statue, his hands just twitching shy of his Sword Wand. However he managed to force himself to relax, he looked between the two statues and gulped.

"If I may," He forced his voice out "Can I ask, who are these two?"

Siesta nodded, and gestured to the larger statue "This is the Hollow Knight, the knight of the city that once sacrifice everything to keep it safe. It once resided in a temple called the Black Vault, but it had long since perished, and this is to make sure that it's sacrifice is remembered."

Then she turned to the smaller statue "This is the Ghost of Hallownest, another one that sacrificed itself to take down a foe that threatened Hallownest. Although we do not have many records of what it did, Her Majesty was very insistent on making these statues of them."

Siesta bowed "She often says that 'Though their deeds cannot be remembered, their Sacrifice should not be forgotten. Through their own lives, does Hallownest still stand.'"

Wardes could only shiver.

Mott gulped down the saliva in this throat at the two statues that he had just assumed to be mere decoration.

"Very well," Mott tried to see if Wardes wanted to say anything, but when he said nothing the Count nodded at Siesta "Please lead us to your leader, so that we may deliver a message from Tristain."

The Insect turned to the door and pushed open the door.

And from within they saw a figure sitting upon a throne.

Red, White, and Black.

Three stark colours that made up the figure before them.

A mask seemingly glowing the same pale glow of the city. A red dress that flowed down to their legs. Eyes black as the night sky staring into them from the throne.

Siesta announced their appearance.

"Your Majesty, Queen Hornet. Messengers from Tristain come for you with a message from the Palace of Tristain herself."

She stared at them from her throne with a gaze so powerful, it could make a person's head spin.

Then with the slightest of nods she spoke.

"Enter."