Summary: Pendry and Hollow are on their way to get the second flame. Pendry has to live with the fact that the infection is worsening.

(Author's note: Yeah, sorry, this is late, I was very focused on grammar checking and proofreading my Dark Souls longfic for a month or so, but I am done with that now and finally can write the rest for Off Balance.

You probably know that this fic will be over soon, hmmm? Though I never can say how many chapters are left, because I often just let the story flow. However, pretty much every main plot point is established and now I just need to weave them together.

Please enjoy the chapter and I hope to see you again in next chapter or in the comment box of my other works! And also thanks to everyone who left reviews.)

"Wait.", Pendry said, prompting Hollow to stop who had already walked towards the well. He waited until his child had fully turned around before he continued: "When I used my foresight I could see us meeting them here... your sibling."

Hollow seemed to light up, not literally of course, that was Pendry's thing, but their posture straightened up and the air around them seemed to bristle a little bit, probably because of Soul that they had focused in their excitement.

"I thought we could take a look around and see if someone took them in? It wouldn't be the first time that one of your siblings found a new family."

It sounded a bit strange. Pendry knew that he didn't have the right to call them his children anymore, after abandoning them and leaving them to die, he knew that they had every right to cut any bonds with him and choose a new family. Still, the thought of what could have been made his heart tighten in his chest.

Hollow simply nodded and then followed him when Pendry walked back into the small town. Next to the bench they found a child which was playing with a small ball, they looked a bit younger than Hollow. According to Monomon, children who played outside would often see all kinds of stuff, so Pendry approached the young bug.

"Our apologies, but may we ask a question?", he said, vaguely noticing that Hollow stepped next to him.

The child stopped playing and looked at them, saying: "Of course, what do you want to-" Then they gasped as they shouted: "Wait, aren't you the king?!"

"Not so loud, please.", Pendry recoiled, hoping that none of the other villagers got too curious about him. Before he could say anything else, Hollow had gotten their journal out and written something in it, presenting it to the child. Pendry managed to take a glance.

"Have you seen a bug looking like this?", Hollow had written and completed their question with a little drawing. Their art was nowhere as good as that of Thorn, but the shape was done well enough to recognize the vessel from Pendry's foresight.

The child took the journal and studied it, then gave the journal back. "No, I have never seen a bug like that before. I don't think they live here, I am sure I would have met them then, I am always playing next to this bench." They gestured to the bench next to them. "But maybe they have travelled through Dirtmouth and gone elsewhere? You should ask the stags then, they meet all kinds of travellers."

Pendry cringed at the thought of even entering the stag station. There was a good reason why he never rode them and it had to do with his stomach not liking the motions while riding the stag at all.

"Thank you, child.", Pendry said and once Hollow had stowed their journal away, he looked at the stag station. Well, it was worth a try, he didn't have to actually ride the stags... he just had to ask a question.

Hollow tapped him and when Pendry turned to watch him, they signed: "Are you alright, Father?"

It was only then that Pendry noticed that he had clutched his stomach. The first memory of ever having rode the stags just had never left him and therefore his stomach was about to cramp.

"I might have a little stomach ache.", Pendry had to admit. He hated how nervous the stag stations made him.

"You really don't like riding the stags, right?", Hollow signed and Pendry nodded. "That's fine, we don't have to ride them.", Hollow signed further and Pendry knew they just wanted to give him courage, but it failed a bit on him.

"I know, Hollow, I just don't like going down there because of bad memories.", he murmured.

Hollow looked at him for five seconds and then something like realization seemed to happen because they lowered their hands and simply followed him, with their cold hand on their shoulder, which probably was meant as mental support.

As soon as they were in the station and rode the elevator down, Pendry hit the bell which called one of the many stags that would transport bugs. It appeared not much later and once it spotted its supposed guests, its thundering voice sounded: "Your Majesty! It's a rarity to see you here. You never are seen riding the stagways that you yourself constructed."

"We are sorry to disappoint you, but we're not here to ride the stagways.", Pendry said, "We are here to ask you a question."

"I wouldn't have thought differently.", the stag said, chuckling, "What happened after the opening of the stags tations when the king and queen rode it for the first time is a legend among us stags. Honestly, none of us blame you for staying absent, we are aware it can get quite intense on our backs."

"Legend?", Hollow signed, clearly interested, making Pendry cringe even more, hoping that the stag wouldn't understand sign language, but of course as someone who transported bugs it fully could understand Hollow's words.

"Oh, the Pale Heir, we stags have been given word of you by all the travellers we needed to get to the city.", it said, "Well, you might want to sit down, because this is a story that has been passed down for generations."

"Hollow, do you... do you really need to hear this?", Pendry asked weakly but Hollow had already taken a seat in front of the stag, far too eager to listen to a story which only invoked Pendry's shame and discomfort. Didn't Monomon say that normally parents shamed their children, why was it the other way round for him?

Pendry sat himself down too and curled his tail around his legs, trying to blot out the words of the stag as well as possible. Which wasn't easy when they were the only ones currently in the station and the stag talked so loudly.

"...and then it was said he turned around and his stomach got rid of everything he had eaten in the two weeks before.", the stag said. Oh by his Root, the story had taken quite a change, even a Higher Being wasn't able to puke that extensively. "The White Lady stayed with him and rubbed his back, but it is said that she was much more interested in his digestive system than in his comfort."

Unfortunately, that part was true. Rydellia completely lacked any digestive system and always had been very very fascinated by his, asking all kinds of awkward questions and sometimes even lamenting that she would never experience what having to throw up felt like.

Once the stag had finished its story, Hollow looked at Pendry and just signed: "So that is why you don't want to ride them. It is like me when I try your coffee."

"Yes, Hollow...", Pendry said, asking himself how all his life decisions had led to his moment. It probably had been the moment he had decided he had a child and not a vessel. "But that wasn't what we came for..."

"Oh right, you wanted to ask a question.", the stag said.

"Hollow, please.", Pendry said. Hollow nodded and showed the stag their journal with the drawing.

"You are searching for this bug? I can't say that I have seen them, but I can give word to the other stags and if any of us sees them, we will inform the White Palace. You can count on us. If they are here in Hallownest, we will find them."

"And if not?", Hollow asked.

"Well, then you probably will never find them, because nobody can leave this place without losing their memories of it."

The stag was off then, leaving Pendry and Hollow alone again.

"Father.", Hollow signed, "Will we lose our memory too if we leave Hallownest?"

"I am afraid yes, Hollow.", Pendry answered, "Not even we Higher Beings are spared by the spell laid over this land... Let's just hope that the stags will find your sibling. If they really have left, I don't know how we should find them..." Pendry turned around and went back to the elevator, only noticing Hollow's footsteps after around ten seconds or so had passed.

The next day once Pendry was ready for the day, he passed the five (six, he would need a while to get used to it) great knights as usual. Normally they were sparring at this time, but he couldn't hear the clanking of their weapons, instead, they all sat in a circle and seemed to be locked into a heated discussion.

Curious, Pendry came closer, listening in.

"You should get an armour that is easy to clean.", Ogrim said, "Like mine. I need to get it cleaned all the time."

"Then why did you put on an armour that is white?", Hegemol remarked, "You quite literally use dung as a weapon, Ogrim."

"What, are you implying that your armour is better?", Ogrim said and crossed his arms. Pendry noticed that for once he wasn't stinking up the place, Isma must have forced him to take a bath.

"Well, it is doing a great job protecting me.", Hegemol said, "I have never been hurt in battle."

"Actually, Hegemol is a lot smaller than he appears.", Dryya chimed in, "So an armour like yours wouldn't be right for Hollow, especially because as the heir, we can't obscure their face."

She looked at Hollow for a moment, frowning, because their face was quite literally a mask.

"Dryya, how could you spill out my secret?!", Hegemol said, but his mortification sounded fake.

"Hollow would have learned sooner or later anyway.", Dryya said. "Well, who else has an idea?"

"I would like to suggest an armour with a certain flow.", Isma said and stood up, her leaf skirt twirling around, "Hollow likes dresses, so an armour like mine should suit them just fine. I can grow them one."

"Only that they aren't symbiotic with plants and it will just wilt around them.", Dryya sighed, looking at Ze'mer.

"Ah, che' is afraid that mele'd style of armour would only hinder Hollow.", she said, "Che' had to practice a lot moving around in mele'd garb and Hollow had troubles keeping their balances even without any armour of their own."

"Hmmm...", Dryya said, tapping her fingers, "Hollow, help us out a bit, the armour is for you after all. You have to feel comfortable in it."

Pendry's gaze fell on Hollow who looked lost. It didn't surprise him, they always felt a bit lost when they had to decide on their own. They raised their head and waved at Pendry once they spotted him, signing a "Good Morning, Father."

"Oh, your Majesty, since when have you been here?!", Dryya asked and the other four knights made sure to greet him and made some room for him in their circle, "We were discussing Hollow's armour. It's about time they get one."

"Yes, we noticed.", Pendry said, making himself comfortable in the circle, looking at Hollow.

"Are you having an idea for my armour?", they asked.

"Well...", Pendry started, thinking about the design he did had in mind for the Pure Vessel. A chest plate, a long cape, shoulder pauldrons with rings that were supposed to support the chains that should bind them...

"No.", Pendry shook his head, "We never thought about any armour for Hollow. Ever."

His denial seemed to be a bit too drastic though, because all of the knights were staring at him, but especially Ogrim.

"We don't want to know, right?", he just said and defeated, Pendry nodded his head, but then murmured: "One part of it was a long cape though, we think that would suit Hollow. They are already used to wearing a robe and their wings normally engulf them like a cape anyway."

Dryya looked into the round and then at Hollow: "Would you like to have a cape? If we have a starting point, we can design the rest around it and finally give our design to the blacksmith."

Hollow seemed to be a bit pensive for a moment and then nodded. "I would like a cape.", they said, "And...", they paused shortly and then signed: "It should be comfortable to wear."

"Now we are getting somewhere.", Dryya smiled and soon after, all of the knights were locked in discussion again, this time about what was and wasn't comfortable. Pendry stayed a while with them until a Royal Retainer got him for his duties.

Lurien was already waiting for him, carrying a myriad of documents.

"You look concerned.", Pendry said, being able to see it in Lurien's posture and the way his claws tightened around the documents he was carrying. He didn't need to see Lurien's face, hidden by the mask, to read him. Hollow had taught him how to read body language, even the most subtle, rather well over the last few months.

"Your Majesty, the situation with the infection is slowly but surely becoming dire.", Lurien said, putting the documents down in front of him, "The crossroads have become too dangerous to cross. The Mantis are fighting against the infected from Deepnest and have trouble in their own ranks. We barely get crystals from Crystal Peak anymore. Voices in the city demand that we lock the city to keep the infection out."

"That wouldn't do much, the infection comes from within.", Pendry murmured, looking over the documents, all calls for help from bugs who couldn't afford their living anymore. The White Palace had gathered relief funds, but with so many afflicted it was difficult to keep them all satisfied. Pendry also hoped that Rydellia managed to convince some of the nobles to share their geo with the less well-off, the taxes weren't enough to pay the castle staff and to make sure that every bug would be fed until the infection was over.

"I know, your Highness, but they have a point. At least when the gates are closed, no bugs from outside can bring the infection in anymore and the situation in the city could be more controlled. Besides, I have trouble keeping the Soul Master at bay, he tries to convince me to talk to you and convince you to approve his experiments."

Pendry shuddered at the mention of the Soul Master. He was one of the bugs who had gathered some Soul Arts from him when they awakened, but this one wanted to use Soul for something more. Something that it never should be used for. Something that reminded Pendry too much of what he did in the Abyss.

"We can't let him experiment.", Pendry said, "Keep him at bay still, Lurien and make sure that he doesn't turn to illegal experiments. We haven't approved anything of that." Pendry crossed his arms and then considered what to do. His thoughts drifted to the knights, having so innocently discussed Hollow's armour this morning. "We have to send out the five great knights again..."

"It's the only thing to keep the situation at least somewhat under control.", Lurien confirmed.

"Hegemol to the Crossroads.", Pendry decided, "He has a good relationship with the commoners and the working class, he will be the most suitable to help out there. Ze'Mer will go to the Mantis Clan, she has been spending a lot of time there anyway. Ogrim should be sent to the waterways, to make sure that the bugs who dwell there don't threaten the city."

While the waterways had been established to get rid of the city's waste, of course a few bugs that loved said waste had gathered there. Ogrim was fitting right in their middle, as a dung beetle.

"That leaves Dryya and Isma.", Lurien said.

"Dryya will never leave our Root's side.", Pendry said, "And Isma should stay here, the palace needs at least one of the great five knights to control the sentries and check on the kingsmoulds. Their programming can sometimes be a bit of a handful..."

"And Hollow?", Lurien asked, not forgetting that Hollow was also part of the knights now.

"They have their own mission and have to stay at our side.", Pendry said, "They are the key to getting rid of the infection, and not in the way we originally had planned. Unfortunately, we still need a little bit of time. Lurien, let your Watcher Knights patrol the city, at least two of them at each time and keep at least two of them near the Spire, to protect yourself and..."

Pendry's voice broke a bit, as his thoughts briefly went to Lurien with orange tinted eyes, being a victim of the infection. Once it took hold, not even Pendry could get rid of it. He only had been able to save Thorn because they were void.

"...and if any of them show signs of the infection, like orange eyes or them talking about having seen the light, we trust that you will do the right thing..."

Lurien swallowed hard but then straightened himself up. "Of course, your Majesty.", he said and gathered the documents, "And now we'll have more work to do."

The both of them worked on the relief funds for the better part of the afternoon and when Lurien left, Pendry told the five great knights of their new duties. All of them would be leaving in the morning to man their new posts.

As Pendry went to dinner, he considered if maybe the doors of the City really should be closed, but... that felt like too much. He decided to double the controls instead, hopefully enough sentries were left, a good portion of them already had fallen to the infection...

"We decided on a design.", Hollow signed after dinner was over.

"Design? For what?", Rydellia asked. She had been busy most of the day and had barely been able to see Hollow.

"Their armour.", Pendry said, "With how much the knights were discussing, it surely took the better part of the day."

"We didn't do any training.", Hollow signed, flinching when the Grimmchild suddenly hopped onto their shoulders and curled itself around their neck. Pendry didn't miss the frown of Rydellia. He was rather familiar with her distaste of Grimm and his kin.

"Well, can we see it?", Pendry asked and nudged Rydellia, to get the frown off her face and turn her interest to something else.

Hollow nodded and got their journal out, flapping through quite a few pages before turning it around and presenting a drawing of the armour that they would wear. The drawing looked far too good to be made by Hollow, it probably was Isma's work.

The armour consisted of a breast plate and some small shoulder pauldrons, just enough to let a cape be attached to it, which was long enough to almost hit the floor. The design was topped off with a skirt around their waist and when Pendry read the descriptions, it was supposed to be made out of weaver silk, which could be stronger than any ore (but not stronger than Pale Ore). Thanks to Hollow's good relationship with their sister and Herrah, it wouldn't even be too far-fetched to get weaver silk for their armour.

"A good design.", Pendry said.

"Agreed.", Rydellia said, "It is worthy of a knight along with your own personality imbued into it. The silver and white colours will show your relationship to the royal family nicely."

"Us, you mean.", Pendry corrected her, feeling a bit strange that Rydellia had talked as if they weren't Hollow's parents.

"That's what I said.", Rydellia said and left it at that.

With no food left and nothing else to talk abut anymore, Hollow got up and signed: "I am going to play with little Grimm." They then left the room, with Pendry calling after them: "Don't go to bed too late, we will have to collect the second flame tomorrow."

With Hollow gone, Pendry had his scheduled evening with Rydellia and while he was just letting himself fall against her stem, he noticed that she still was pensive and even a little bit upset. He could feel it in his Kingsoul.

He sighed as he said: "Root, you know that we are only doing this for Hallownest. I am not interested in him anymore. He invaded my dreams once too often for tasteless pranks."

"I know.", Rydellia said and her branches engulfed Pendry, a bit too much maybe, in fact, Pendry pretty much found himself in a cage of branches after only a minute had passed, "But I can't help but feel a little possessive, Wyrm. His kin is with Hollow all the time and you always smell so awful when you were in his presence..."

"Root, please.", Pendry said once again, "It's over between us. I shared my soul with you. There is only one other Higher Being for me and it is my Root. You never have to be afraid of losing me to the Nightmare King."

"I know that, but my heart still hurts.", Rydellia said as her branch cage got denser around Pendry, so much that it got dark and only his light made him able to still see himself, "Imagine if I would suddenly see the Old Light and we had been a thing in the past, how would that make you feel?"

"Not... good.", Pendry had to admit. He couldn't blame Rydellia for her feelings at all. Of course she would get a bit jealous when Pendry saw his ex so often, even if it was business. Especially because Grimm seemed like he had no qualms to just reconcile their relationship if Pendry would be fine with it.

And... it hadn't been all bad, there had been a time in his life when Pendry and Grimm had truly been in love, a love that had slowly evaporated when their two too different natures clashed.

"I will make sure to spend some time with you and only you once the ritual is complete.", Pendry promised Rydellia, which prompted her to finally leave him out of her branch cage. Not that Pendry minded, he would easily be able to free himself from it, but sometimes it was nice to see the possessive side of his Root.

"Go and woo Lurien instead.", Rydellia purred and Pendry spluttered: "Root, please!"

The next day, Pendry and Hollow found themselves in Dirtmouth again, but not to visit Grimm, but because Hollow had felt the next flame around the area. It wasn't in Dirtmouth though and Hollow soon noticed that the flame actually was a little bit lower, so the both of them hopped back into the well.

As Pendry followed Hollow, heart heavy when he saw the state of the crossroads again, he noticed that they were heading for the Crystal Peaks. That made sense, the Radiance always had liked to be worshipped at high places. Quite the opposite of Pendry who had his palace built quite literally just over the Abyss, in the Ancient Basin.

"The Crystal Peaks.", Pendry said as they were walking, "The miner bugs are getting crystals there which are then brought to the city. While they are not as powerful as Soul, they glow in the dark on their own and have their own power, if one knows how to harness it. Though, we have to be careful Hollow, there is no guarantee that the miner bugs still have their minds intact."

In fact, there was a crystal shortage in the city that Lurien had told Pendry about. There certainly was something wrong with the mine and once the duo entered the cave that housed the entrance to the peaks, he saw a group of miners sitting around, clearly not on break, but unable to work.

"Your Majesty, are you really planning to go inside?", one of the miners asked, her voice high and shrill, "Most of our comrades lost their minds to the infection. They still mine, day and night, and they also attack everyone who is entering. Going in could be suicide."

Pendry turned to her and then said: "We have our loyal knight at our side." Hollow turned around and waved to the miners, the Grimmchild fluttering behind them, cooing at the new impressions of all the colourful crystals.

"Please, the sooner you can get rid of the infection the better.", the miner said, "The relief funds of the City might not be enough to keep us all fed when we literally can't work..."

Pendry's heart fell in his stomach, having to see his subjects struggle like that. "Before that happens, move to the palace.", he said, "We will make sure that no bug has to go hungry while the infection is still rampant."

Even if that meant to cut his own supplies short. Pendry could survive on soul alone, food was just more tangible and it was easier to keep his strength up with it. Still, Pendry felt guilty for being ignorant of the commoner bug's struggles for so long, having been too caught up in the vessel plan and his own crushing guilt of what he had done to his brood.

"Your Majesty, Pale Heir, we will pray for your success.", the miner said and several of her comrades agreed. For Pendry, receiving prayers only made him stronger and even though Hollow hadn't ascended to full godhood yet, the same was probably true for them. He nodded at the miners and then followed Hollow into the Crystal Peaks.

It was loud, as usual. The sound of pickaxes, the sound of crystals tinkling into boxes, the sound of conveyor belts. Only that nobody really did any work in here anymore, these were all the infected who kept their habits, but never actually finished the mining work they were doing, letting all the precious crystals go to waste instead.

"Be careful, Hollow.", Pendry said, "As the miners said, most of their comrades have been infected. There is a high chance that we will get attacked."

And the miners weren't the only problem, they had trained crawlers to use crystals to help with cutting new tunnels into the mines and if they were infected, they certainly would turn into a very dangerous weapon. Crystal Hunters also were known to plague the place, normally being fend off by any security staff, like the Crystal Guardians. Hopefully they hadn't become infected too... Hallownest seemed to turn more and more into a death trap.

They really had to get rid of the infection before the Radiance ruined it all and only left ruins, roamed forever by the reanimated husks, not even knowing what they were worshipping.

Hollow turned around to Pendry and signed: "The flame should be near. I can feel it. And little Grimm is excited too."

Pendry shuddered a bit at the nickname that Hollow had given the Grimmchild, all too aware that the little menace soon would inherit all of Grimm's memories and grow up into the next Troupe Master (which hopefully wouldn't deem his kingdom as the right place for the next ritual).

"At least.", Pendry said, toneless, looking at the Grimmchild which fluttered forward and then turned a sharp right into a certain cavern. Hollow followed them and Pendry could hear several nail slashes. Once he had caught up, he looked at the husks of two miners, who clearly had tried to attack the Grimmchild. They had a few little scorch marks on them, right, the Grimmchild had learned how to breathe fire that actually was effective.

"Is the flame near, Hollow?", Pendry said, having an odd feeling in his stomach. As a Higher Being, he didn't experience loss the same as a mortal would, but he knew how much they cherished their relationships, especially because of their naturally short life spans.

The thought of these mortals feeling something akin to him should he lose Rydellia for whatever reason, was hard to stomach. He quickly shook these thoughts away and looked at Hollow, who turned in every direction and then crossed their arms and tapped their foot deep in thought.

Then, they moved again and pointed upwards. The flame was a little more upwards apparently. Hollow hopped on a conveyor belt and got carried upwards while the Grimmchild fluttered after them. Pendry also spread his wings and followed Hollow, fending off some Crystal Crawlers. As Pendry had predicted, with the infection clouding their mind they had turned into very dangerous weapons.

Hollow jumped off once the conveyor belt ended and looked further up. Apparently the flame was still higher up.

"Did Grimm let his kin collect the flames at the highest point possible?", Pendry complained, watching as Hollow used their own Soul to fend off a Crystal Crawler and then got rid of two more miners. Then, they looked at a series of platforms that would lead upwards. The platforms had very sharp crystals underneath them and looked like they could be easily flipped.

"Hollow, let me carry you.", Pendry said, "That is too dangerous."

Hollow however shook their head and then signed at him: "I want to enjoy the challenge."

Ah, Pendry had forgotten the nature of his child. One of the few things they had decided for themselves, that they liked to challenge themselves and soar to new heights. Quite literally this time.

The Grimmchild fluttered near Pendry when Hollow started to jump. As predicted, the platforms did flip once Hollow's feet touched them and if they wouldn't be quick their feet would get cut by a bunch of razor sharp crystals.

Pendry spread his wings to follow Hollow, still keeping an eye on them, because he would save them should they make a mistake. As he watched them jump over the platforms, he was filled with pride. The child that had barely been able to keep themselves upright just a few months prior was gracefully soaring through the air, not losing their balance even once.

...Pendry had spoken too early, because Hollow messed up the last jump. They managed to save their feet with a last second teleport, though they kinda landed face first in the wall and a crack was heard. Pendry winced as well as the Grimmchild beside him and they both made sure to land next to Hollow who had void seeping out of a wound on their forehead.

"Are you alright?", Pendry asked, already concentrating Soul in his claws when Hollow focused and the crack closed itself. They nodded and got up, inviting the Grimmchild to sit on their shoulders.

"Soon you won't need me anymore.", Penry said, part joyful of their progress and part woeful because he wanted to spend more time with Hollow.

Hollow simply replied by nodding: "But Father, you will need me. I have to make sure that you eat regularly and go to bed on time. Besides, I am your knight."

"How the roles have been reversed.", Pendry said, but he had to smile, Hollow was too cute, with how literal they often took things and how they tried to cheer him up. "Let's move on, the sooner we are done with this, the sooner we can find your missing sibling and get rid of the infection once and for all."

They continued to climb up Crystal Peaks until they reached a room with a bench. "A break room of the miners.", Pendry said and let himself all on the bank. "Let's take a little break, climbing this mountain is taxing, even with wings, so you certainly need the break even more."

Hollow was eager to sit down next to him and Pendry could see from the movement of their chest that they were jaded as well. They could catch their breath here and then move on.

At least, Pendry had liked when it would have stayed this way, but suddenly something that had laid behind the bench got a mind of its own and stared at them. As Pendry turned around, he saw the orange eyes and knew that they were facing an infected Crystal Guardian, the security workers of the mines.

He cursed himself for not having used his foresight before sitting down on the bench and summoned his trident right away. Hollow had noticed the threat as well and grabbed for their nail, glancing at Pendry.

"Be careful, it seems like the crystals have fused with them.", Pendry said, jumping into the air when the Crystal Guardian fired a beam of light. That was almost hurtful to look at, even for him. His light grew brighter as he searched for the right angle to attack. Hollow in the meantime, charged at the Crystal Guardian, their nail getting repelled by the solid crystal around its head.

"You won't be able to break the crystal with a nail.", Pendry said, "Try attacking the husk beneath the crystal."

Hollow nodded and charged forward again, only for the Crystal Guardian to jump high into the air and land behind both Pendry and Hollow. Pendry, who had still been busy with finding the best angle to attack, got taken off guard and turned around, getting distracted when the Crystal Guardian shrieked and beams of light appeared only to bounce off the crystals and turn the room into a death trap.

"Hollow, behind me.", Pendry shouted as he erected a Soul Shield around them, having to squint when the beams of light bounced off his shield, making the already bright room even brighter. Too bright Hm, maybe all the Royal Retainers complaining about him glowing too brightly had a point after all. Pendry vowed to himself to dim his light around his subjects a bit more in the future.

Once the attack was over and Pendry lowered the shield, panting because that had taken quite a bit of his Soul, Hollow charged forward again, this time aiming for the soft husk. They managed a nice slash, but had to retreat when the Crystal Guardian fired another beam of light and then hopped away again.

"Hm, a rather simple pattern.", Pendry said, having finished his analysis. "Hollow, the next time it jumps, we will both attack it from below."

Right after he had said that, Pendry flew out of the way of another beam of light. While simple, the attack still could be devastating, especially for Hollow, who was mostly made of void and could get bad burns from the light.

Hollow stayed near Pendry, dodging every attack together with him and when the Crystal Guardian finally hopped into the air again, both of them rose up and drove their respective weapons deep into the empty, reanimated husk.

The crystal shuttered and the husk fell to the ground, hopefully to never get reanimated again. Pendry dispelled his trident and then went to check on Hollow.

"Are you alright? Any injuries or pain? Can you see right or have you been dazzled?", he asked.

Hollow seemed to try to both nod and shake their head and then resorted to signing: "I can see fine. I am not hurt. Little Grimm also isn't hurt."

Huh, now that he thought about it, had the Grimmchild been present during the battle? If, then Pendry hadn't noticed it, but its little fireballs wouldn't have been much help anyway. Right at this moment, the Grimmchild was fluttering next to Hollow, waiting for their next move.

"Now let's rest.", Pendry said. "And hope that no other Crystal Guardians are around."

The Grimmchild laid itself in the front of the bench and apparently took a nap while Hollow and Pendry took in some water and a little bit of food (Hollow had insisted on lunch boxes and thankfully they had prepared the lunch boxes after a recipe). Pendry very much needed to refill his Soul, so he was grateful for the meal.

"Dryya's lessons paid off.", Pendry said once the lunch box was cleaned out, "Both in fighting and in cooking, you improved a lot."

"She is a good teacher.", Hollow signed as reply, collecting the empty boxes, probably to wash and use again in the future. That wasn't something that Pendry would use his foresight on.

After their little break was over, Hollow woke the Grimmchild which mewled in annoyance, but spread its wings and followed Hollow. They had to climb Crystal Peaks even higher up until they were at its peaks, where an old statue of the Radiance had been withering away. Right next to it was the flame.

"Really, the Grimmkin just had to collect the flames at the highest point possible.", Pendry sighed, wondering if Grimm had told his Grimmkin to make the ritual as annoying as possible. Though, the first lantern had been easy to locate and Crystal Peaks wouldn't have been such a daunting task to climb when the infection wouldn't have been a thing.

Hollow looked at Pendry and then nodded, the Grimmchild following them. Hollow went and touched the flame, making a Grimmkin Master appear, which chuckled and took up the fight right away.

As with the first fight, Pendry wasn't allowed to help Hollow, so he stood at the site and simply watched the fight. The Grimmkin Master was stronger and faster than the Grimmkin Novice and had a more tight control over their flames. Hollow was pushed into the defense at first, with a lot of fireballs coming flying at them without any room to breath, topped off with a fireball spiral. However, after that barrage of attacks the Grimmkin Master was open for an attack of Hollow and received a nasty gash right next to their mask.

They teleported away and stayed out of Hollow's reach regardless how much they tried to close the gap. Even the Grimmchild tried to help, spitting out fireballs, but they couldn't reach the Grimmkin Master.

Then, the Grimmkin Master charged at Hollow with such ferocious speed that they didn't have a chance to dodge and a tiny crack in their mask formed as they recoiled from the attack. However, this attack seemed to have given Hollow an idea, because they teleported in front of the Grimmkin Master and drove their nail into a very surprised looking Grimmkin... well they would have looked surprised if not for the mask. The sounds they made were certainly of the surprised kind.

The collected flames went into Hollow's charm and the Grimmchild settled back onto their shoulders, not having to help anymore, as the battle was over.

"Well done, Hollow.", Pendry said, standing up and coming over to his child, "Though, now comes the moment I have trained you for... the battle against the Troup Master will be the next step in the ritual."

He used a bit of Soul to heal Hollow's crack and then the both of them descended Crystal Peaks. Pendry was a bit worried though... he deemed the battle against the Troup Master more dangerous. The battle against the Nightmare King would happen in the dream realm, where death simply meant waking up, the Troup Master would and could kill anyone who wasn't ready to take him seriously.

It was a good thing he was severely weakened in his form as Grimm.

"What's the matter, Father? You look pensive.", Hollow asked once they were back on the Crossroads.

"Oh, just a bit worried.", Pendry said, "Hollow, please promise me to not underestimate Grimm."

Hollow cocked their head and then nodded, signing: "I promise." Then they added a question: "Is there anything I should know?"

"Show respect.", Pendry muttered, knowing from experience just how proud Grimm could be.

An hour or so later the two of them stood in front of Grimm's tent. Pendry had to go in this time, he couldn't leave Hollow alone. Of course he wasn't allowed to help them, but at least he would watch their fight and cheer for them.

"Oh Pendry, how nice to see that you don't wuss out today.", Grimm said with a big grin flashing on his face, the Grimmchild chirping and fluttering over to him once it spotted Grimm.

"As if I have a choice.", Pendry said, laying both of his claws on Hollow's shoulders (he actually had to get on his toes to reach them, now that Hollow was barely walking slouched over more, he noticed how tall they already were), "Hollow won't lose to you though."

"Which is the preferable outcome anyway.", Grimm said, examining the Grimmchild, "Ah yes, a powerful flame is housed within... now, child with the name of Hollow, complete this dance with me so that the flames get passed on."

All of a sudden, Pendry found himself in the middle of the audience, Grimmkin left and right to him. Some of them turned to him and one said: "Oh, Pale Wyrm, we haven't seen you around for a while."

"We've been... busy...", Pendry murmured, "Besides, it is Pale King now..."

"We already follow our own king, you'll always be the Pale Wyrm to us Grimmkin.", another Grimmkin said and then one of them shushed them all. "Shhh, it is about to begin."

Pendry swallowed and put his attention on the ring. He could see Grimm, tall, dark, flashing red eyes, handsome (well, there had been a reason he had fallen in love with him once), bowing to Hollow.

Hollow was opposite of Grimm, their nail in their hand, without their robe. They had worn it earlier, but they liked to get rid of it when a fight got serious, preferring to cover their void body only with the leftovers of their wings, that would never let them soar through the sky, but were pretty nice as cloak. All the vessels liked to use their wings like this.

Hollow bowed to Grimm as well and Pendry vaguely noticed that the Grimmchild wasn't present. Of course not, it would never help fight against its predecessor. Besides, it was about to receive the flames after the battle was over.

Before Pendry could end his thoughts, the battle had already begun and he gasped when he saw how Grimm started the battle with a bunch of teleportation attacks, leaving poor Hollow confused on where he would strike and clearly put into the defense as they dodged his uppercuts and dive dashs. Pendry had almost forgotten how much Grimm liked to not move his feet at all, but always would teleport through the flames. Even for absolutely mundane things. Pendry even remembered him sometimes teleporting next to him when they were sitting at the breakfast table only to teleport back to his chair.

Yes, there had been a good reason why Pendry had broken up with Grimm and it hadn't been the beautiful blue eyes of Rydellia... which had been a reason too, of course...

Why was he thinking about his ex boyfriend?! Pendry had to concentrate on Hollow and cheer on them.

"Hollow! Attack him right before he vanishes again!", Pendry called to them, hoping that his voice carried over to them through the noises of the battle and the audience. Hollow, who still had been on the defense, heard him though or maybe they had come to the same conclusion, because the next time Grimm did his uppercut, they managed to get a hit in.

The next time Grimm appeared he changed his tactics. He raised his cloak and four vaguely bat-shaped fireballs appeared which soared at Hollow's direction. Hollow jumped over the first one, ducked under the second one, stepped to the side when the third one was about to hit and got hit by the fourth one, searing their body.

Pendry gasped as he saw his child staggering from the attack, Grimm not waiting until they got their footing back. In fact, he started his next attack right away and sent his cloak into the ground.

"Hollow, below!", Pendry called, knowing what was about to come. Hollow clearly looked down, so they must have heard him and made sure to step back when giant spikes appeared out of the crown, almost impaling them.

Right after this attack, Pendry could feel how Soul gathered... He looked at Hollow who used their left hand to focus and he held his breath when he noticed what was about to come. The attack they had used to slay the Nosk. It had been a desperation move back then, but in the meantime they had trained so much more.

Grimm noticed the danger and hissed when their Soul Pillars appeared, not managing to dodge them completely and getting a nasty gash on his leg.

"Now this dance is about to get fun.", he said. Pendry looked at him and saw the expression on Grimm's face. The expression that he was truly enjoying himself. He already had accepted Hollow, Pendry knew it, but he also knew that Grimm wouldn't stop until one of them would admit defeat (or even die).

"Show me your other dance moves, child of the Pale Wyrm. No, child of my past lover."

Pendry felt his face burn, did he have to put it like that? However, he could be embarrassed later, he watched as Grimm repeated the fire-bat attack from earlier. This time, Hollow didn't even try to jump, instead, they teleported, appeared behind Grimm and slashed his back, which made Grimm skitter away on all fours to keep his distance. How rare to see Grimm using his legs, Pendry thought to himself, being filled with pride over the tight control of Soul that Hollow showed.

"You can do it, Hollow!", he shouted and quite a few of the Grimmkin cheered with him, clearly being caught in the fever of the dance, er, the battle, was Pendry getting caught in the heat of it too now?

"Yes, you have it in you.", Grimm said, a grin flashing over his face, "But can you dodge this?" He shrieked and puffed his body up, flames circling away from him, all travelling towards Hollow.

Hollow did their best to dodge them, duck under them or jump over them and even managed to get one or two deflected with their nail, but a few hit them and they grabbed their nail tighter, searching for an opening to attack, only for Grimm to start his game of teleporting again.

That was when Hollow used a different attack, right when Grimm appeared to attack them, their arm morphed into a tentacle and grabbed Grimm, pinning him against the wall.

That was the move that Pendry had trained with them to pin the Radiance! It was clearly strong enough to pin Grimm, who struggled against their grip, all while the audience gasped in surprise.

Hollow jumped to Grimm and slashed him with their nail before having to release him (because Grimm wasn't too low to bite into their void tentacle).

"Void isn't the best taste I've ever had.", Grimm said, spitting out some void blood on the floor, "Not even singed."

Hollow didn't let themselves be intimidated though. As Grimm was still busy taunting them, Pendry could feel and see how they focussed Soul again. This time, they didn't let the Soul Pillars appear however.

Instead, a few bubbles appeared in the ring and Pendry already cocked his head in confusion. He hadn't taught them that spell, had he... Could it be... was it a spell of their own making? What would it do however? The bubbles just seemed to float there without doing anything.

And then they exploded, one by one. It took everyone by surprise, but mostly Grimm who had discarded the bubbles and now was hit by five explosions at once.

After the attack was over, Grimm literally fell apart. Pendry had seen this before, the mortal form of Grimm was mostly made up of several shade-like figures that resembled the Grimmchild. Only if they all came together would Grimm be formed and if he suffered enough damage, then he would fall apart.

Hollow showed their surprise for maybe half of a second and then pinned the shadow with the red eyes on the ground, their nail piercing through the wing of it. A few seconds after that, Grimm reappeared.

"I admit defeat.", he said, "You are clearly ready for the challenge. And see, our dance has filled the child with the flames. He lifted his not pinned arm and the Grimmchild fluttered out, slightly grown and having gained a new set of wings. Their body also had taken on a red colour.

"One more flame and the ritual will be complete. I will see you again, child of my past lover."

Pendry found himself next to Grimm as suddenly as he had found himself in the audience. "Stop this.", he said.

"What, teleporting you against your will?", Grimm said with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"No, calling them child of my past lover.", Pendry said, crossing all of his arms. Next to him he saw how Hollow looked at the both of them and their body language showed excitement. "Ah, let's not do this in front of Hollow.", Pendry said and he swore that Hollow's shoulders drooped. "I can't wait until the ritual is over and I don't have to see your face again."

He then took Hollow's hand and pretty much rushed to the exit of the tent, all while Grimm called after him: "Oh Pendry and here I thought you enjoyed our dances."

(Author's note: I have to explain Rydellia's bout of possessiveness, right? Well, even though I pretty much portray the Higher Beings as being a-okay with multiple partners, there is one BIG exception.

Other Higher Beings are off the table. They will never enter a polycule with another Higher Being, it is rare enough that two Higher Beings want to spend their life together like Pendry and Rydellia. So Pendry taking in the smell of Grimm because of the Grimmchild and him hanging around near the troupe isn't sitting well with Rydellia. Also, the canon dialogue that WL has for Grimmchild is not nice at all, so I think that she really really hates Grimm and very much wants to keep her husband close for a little bit.

Ironically, Pendry turned out to be into that. Sir, who told you to develop a new kink in my sfw fic?! Save this for any smut I might write in the future...

The rest of the chapter feels straightforward enough. As you can see, the infection is really rampaging now and is reaching levels of "before the fall". Let's hope that Pendry and Hollow find the last sibling soon, hmmm?

I know that the Crystal Guardians are described as Heavy Miner's in the Hunter's Journal, but I like them more as security guards, that makes a lot more sense with a name like that, so bear with me, I am just changing canon so that it fits my AU.

Oh, and in case you didn't find out on your own, the child bug at the beginning is Elderbug. Just younger.

Huh, I really wanted to embarrass Pendry in this chapter...

As always, tell me your thoughts and favourite scene in the comments!)