Disclaimer: RWBY and Hollow Knight do not belong to me. They belong to RoosterTeeth and Team Cherry respectively.
Chapter 17: The Hive
...to rail against nature...
Blake Belladonna had an interesting life. From the shores of Menagerie to the deserts of Vacuo, the valleys of Mistral, and the forests of Vale, she'd seen a lot during her time with the White Fang. She'd seen a lot of the White Fang – in her life alone its leadership had changed completely, twice if one included Adam's practical usurpation of the Vale branch – and she did include that.
Her father, as leader of the White Fang, had been a pillar of strength. Firm and charismatic, he'd been a steady presence for faunus in Menagerie and beyond. But he had been cautious, and hadn't been unyielding. Progress for their civil rights had been slow and agonizing, and once upon a time Blake had thought her father soft and naive for those qualities.
Then he'd stepped down, and Sienna Khan had become leader. She too was a pillar of strength, continuing the legacy of aid to fanus across Remnant that her father had started. But she shared none of her father's patience, and made sure to teach humans that the White Fang and the faunus would no longer tolerate being pushed around. So far, it was a lesson that had yet to sink in.
For all her strength and anger, Sienna wasn't a remarkably intimidating woman, not physically. Especially compared to her father, who was a giant of a man. And despite the direction she'd taken the White Fang in, she wasn't without kindness. Blake could still remember a time when she'd called the woman "auntie."
The less said about Adam the better. For all that Blake had once believed him, with all her heart, her last memories were tainted. Tainted as she saw that justified anger was in fact destructive misanthropy, authority and charisma simply tools to intimidate any who didn't follow his lead – Adam had very well taken the most admirable qualities of her father and Sienna and twisted them.
They had been very different leaders. And Ruby was completely different from all of them, in a good way.
Blake Belladonna had lived an interesting life, serving under many people, and nothing in her life had prepared her for Hive Queen Vespa.
Blake kept a tight grip on Yang as the massive bug stared down at them. She was all too aware that the Queen could, at any moment, close her hands and crush them like – well – bugs. Blake could feel the Queen's aura thrum around her, warm and near suffocating. The ruff of brown fur around the Queen's neck shook and Blake realized with a start that hundreds of small bees were crawling through it, their bodies nearly lost in its depths.
Queen Vespa stared down at them, and her other hand began to move. Blake felt Yang tense up, and she resisted the urge to grab Gambol Shroud from her back. Even is they weren't currently in the Queen's palm, what was she going to do? Shoot her? Stab her? The Queen was big enough to have torn in half the Giant Nevermore that Team RWBY had fought on their first day, and they were surrounded by thousands of bees. Bees, who were at the moment placidly staring at them and their queen, filling the world with an ever present thrum as they buzzed, and the last thing Blake wanted to do was make them mad.
A hooked appendage, a cross between a human finger and a bug's limb, hung before them and-
With surprising gentleness the Queen poked the side of Yang's face.
"Uh-" Yang began.
"Fascinating," Queen Vespa's voice nearly drowned out the other bees, and she didn't even seem to be yelling, "What kind of creature are thee? With so squishy, yet firm, a body?"
The Queen's finger moved to Blake and she stood ramrod still as the tip of her finger brushed through her hair.
"Such curious hair as well..." Queen Vespa buzzed.
"Hive Queen Vespa!"
Blake began to breathe again as the Queen pulled her finger back and shifted her attention past them. On the ground far below them, Isma walked towards the Queen.
"Isma..." the Queen murmured, "You are a sight for old eyes."
"As are you, Hive Queen," Isma bowed once more, "I, along with my sister in arms, are here on behalf of Hallownest."
Blake bit back a yell as they descended in altitude, Queen Vespa lowering her hand as her attention fixed itself firmly on Isma.
"How strange. Thrice strange. And these strangers? Are they too, part of Hallownest?"
"No, your majesty. They are visitors."
"Visitors?"
"Indeed, your majesty. Visitors, and the entourage of she who seeks Hallownest," Isma motioned towards Weiss with her arm.
From this high above, it was hard to tell Weiss's facial expression. Blake could see her tense up as Queen Vespa turned her attention towards her, before relaxing.
"Your majesty," Weiss said, performing a flawless courtesy, "We apologize for dropping in on you unannounced."
"Never thought I'd say this," Yang whispered, "But I'm super glad Weiss, like, ate a dictionary on etiquette when she was a kid."
"Ahh," Queen Vespa buzzed as she stared at Weiss, "I see."
Her gaze traveled towards the Hollow Knight, who stood behind Weiss. Unlike Dryya or Isma, they did not bow, though they kept their gaze firmly on the ground.
"I see indeed," Queen Vespa's voice became louder, "It has been ages since we have received guests. Forgive us, for not preparing beforehand. As we speak, your rooms in the guest hall should be coming ready."
"Your majesty," Isma began.
"It would not do to let dignitaries of Hallownest to leave without experiencing our hospitality," Queen Vespa said, "Please, stay for a while."
Despite her words, it was clear that it was an order. Not a request.
"My knight," the bee that had appeared from nowhere, pointing their sword at Yang's neck, stood to attention. An impressive feat considering the level of attention they had already had, "Show our guests their rooms."
With a buzz the bee knight saluted, before turning to Isma. Around them, countless bees took flight, buzzing back to their regular activities. Even above this din, Queen Vespa's voice could be heard as she brought them closer to her face.
"Tell me," the Queen began, "By what name are you called?"
"My name is Blake Belladonna," Blake began when Yang hesitated, "And this is my partner. Yang Xiao Long."
"A-A pleasure to meet you, your majesty?"
"...Curious," Queen Vespa said at last, "Most curious."
...to rail against nature…
"Gah, laser-!"
"Easy there kiddo!"
Ruby blinked her eyes. To her side, Uncle Qrow leaned back in his chair.
"Back in the waking world, kiddo?" he asked, voice soft.
"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby winced as she sat up, "What happe-"
The words died in her throat as she saw her surroundings.
"Before you ask, yes we're in a beehive," Uncle Qrow grunted.
"Like..." Ruby began, staring at the honeycomb room they were in. She was laying down on the floor, a blanket under her body and a pillow under her head. The brown floor under her hand was smooth and waxy, and warm.
"Like an actual honeycomb," Uncle Qrow confirmed, "It's freaky as hell."
"...What happened?" she asked, tearing her eyes away from the walls made of perfect hexagons, and the soft golden light that spilled from them.
"Hell if I know what happened to you and Ice Princess-" Uncle Qrow pushed his hand through his hair, "But we were getting our asses handed to us by this little lady bug. Not. Not an actual lady bug, but..."
"You were losing?" Ruby asked. It was hard to imagine. She'd never even come close to beating Uncle Qrow.
"I never said that," Uncle Qrow protested lazily, "We turned the tides near the end. Till, er...Well, let's just say we had some bad luck," he muttered.
"...The laser," Ruby said.
"The laser," Uncle Qrow confirmed, "That other bug. Think her name was Dryya? She caught you as you guys fell."
"Really? Why?"
"Hell if I know," Uncle Qrow stood up, stretching his arms, "Ready to see the rest of this place?"
"Where is everyone?" Ruby asked, getting up.
"In other rooms. The Queen's given us an entire wing to ourselves. Including those two knights," Uncle Qrow grimaced.
"That's nice of her?" Ruby wondered what this queen looked like. She wondered what Hallownest's bees looked like in general.
"Yeah. Best be on our best behavior though," Uncle Qrow warned.
"Why's that?" Ruby asked as she stepped out of the honeycomb room.
She immediately found her answer when she saw the sheer amount of bees bumbling about. Flying through the air, crawling across the ceiling and walls, so many that she could barely make out individuals. None of them came close to the suite of honeycomb rooms that she and Uncle Qrow were near, but even at a distance the number was intimidating enough. Their buzzing a physical force that she could feel in her chest.
"Oh," she said.
"Yeah," Uncle Qrow took a swig from his flask, "Oh."
"Ruby!"
Ruby turned around just in time to get hugged by Penny. Once more Ruby was struck by how deceptively heavy the other girl was, knees buckling as she tried to support the energetic girl.
"I was so worried when you fell!" Penny yelled.
"Oh, don't worry! See, I'm fine!"
"But it was my attack that put you in danger!" Penny cried out, her expression wretched.
"You didn't do it on purpose, right?"
"I would never-!" Penny began. Ruby placed her hands on Penny's shoulders and gave her a firm look.
"Then it wasn't your fault. It was an accident."
Penny still looked unconvinced, so Ruby pressed on.
"Sometimes accidents happen. It's no big deal."
"Data indicated that if you had been hit point blank with my attack your aura would've broken," Penny protested.
"But that didn't happen, did it?"
Penny opened and closed her mouth several times.
"Listen to her," Uncle Qrow said suddenly, "She won't stop until you do, first of all."
"Hey!"
"And second of all," Uncle Qrow leaned down to tap Penny's forehead, "Accidents happen. It wasn't your fault, nothing bad happened, and you'll do better next time. Right?"
Penny stared at Uncle Qrow before nodding, brow furrowing into a comical expression of determination.
"Roger, sir!"
"Don't call me that," Uncle Qrow began to walk away, "Anyway, that's enough teaching for, oh, about a week. Don't piss off our hosts, kids."
"Where are you going?" Ruby called after the retreating shape of her uncle.
"Gonna see if I can't nab me some honey!" he called back, "Bet it'd make some killer mead!"
"Is your uncle always like that?" Penny tilted her head.
"Yeah," Ruby said, watching her uncle disappear around a corner, "Yeah, he is."
"I still have much to learn about the world," Penny said, expression serious.
"Don't take my uncle that seriously," Ruby laughed, "Uncle Qrow's advice is never good unless it is."
"I...don't understand?" Penny said, lost.
"Yeah, he's just like that. So, you guys got attacked by someone too?"
"Oh, yes. She introduced herself as Kindly Isma, knight of Hallownest."
"Another knight..." Ruby muttered.
"Was your foe also a knight, Ruby?"
"She said she was. Called herself Fierce Dryya," Ruby made a noise of contemplation, "I wonder if they're the same sort of knight as the Hollow Knight? Like, part of this big order of knights? After all, if Hallownest had a king and queen, they had to have had a buncha knights. It only makes sense! Maybe we could ask the Hollow Knight?"
"I am afraid that the Hollow Knight has left the Hive, along with Specialist Schnee and her little sister. They went out to search for those strange plants we were searching for before."
"Really? Drat," Ruby thought for a moment, "Do you know where my backpack is, Penny?"
"It should be with the rest of the bags. I can show you where they are!"
"Please do! I need to check the Hunter's Journal, see if he had anything to say about these knights, or bees..." Ruby snapped out of her thoughts and gave Penny a nervous chuckle, "Uh, though, pouring over a book would probably be boring, huh?"
"I would love to join you," Penny smiled.
"Are you sure?" Ruby asked, dubious, "I mean, we're literally in a whole nother world. Wouldn't you rather explore it?"
"I would like to explore," Penny admitted, "But I want to explore it with you," Penny took Ruby's hands in her own, "And I want to help you, too! The optimal solution is clear."
"...Right!" Ruby couldn't help but smile, "Let's read super quick and see what this place has to offer!"
"Lets!"
...to rail against nature…
"Did you find what you guys were looking for?"
Blake Belladonna looked up from her book, and seeing Weiss followed by her sister and the Hollow Knight, slipped a bookmark and closed it. A small bee – small being relative for it was about the size of a kitten – bumbled past her and past the returning party.
Blake and Yang were standing at the entrance to the Hive. As they had waited for Weiss, bees continuously flew into the dark depths of Hallownest, and just as many returned into the Hive. Blake wasn't sure why. She had noticed a distinct lack of flowers in Hallownest, so far.
"Indeed, we did," despite the news, Weiss seemed troubled.
"What's wrong?" Blake asked.
Weiss opened her mouth, only to glance back at the Hollow Knight and her sister.
"I'll explain later," she said, lips pursed.
Blake raised an eyebrow, trading a glance with Yang, before turning back to Weiss.
"Alright. Let's go inside then. Get warmed up."
If there was one thing so far Blake appreciated about their stay in the Hive, it was that it was by far the warmest part of Hallownest they'd found so far.
"I'll never cease to be surprised by how averse you are to a little chill," Weiss sniped, though it was clear by the smile tugging at her face that she meant it in jest.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it, you're an Atlas girl and you rolled in the snow in your pajamas every morning to wake up," Yang snarked.
"Personally I'd recommend a cup of coffee," Winter Schnee said, walking past Yang.
Yang did a double take, staring at the retreating form of Winter before turning to Weiss.
"Was that a joke?"
"Snow rolling will certainly wake you up," Weiss's expression was impressively neutral, "But I'd also recommend a cup of coffee."
Before Yang could say anything, Weiss followed her sister.
"...I still can't tell," Yang said, scratching her head.
"Did anything happen?" Blake asked the Hollow Knight.
They considered the question for a moment before shaking their head. That didn't necessarily mean anything – certainly Weiss felt like something had happened.
As they walked deeper into the Hive, doing their best to avoid the bees coming the opposite way, their way was suddenly bared. Once more Blake is struck by how quick the Hive Knight is. She could barely hear them approach over the bustle of the Hive, could barely see them coming.
Knight faced Knight, the Hive Knight staring up and the Hollow Knight staring down, dark eyes meeting. She can't tell what they're thinking, but she can't deny a certain tension between the two.
"Can we help you?" Winter asked, slightly impatient.
The Hive Knight glanced at her before pointing down a path away from the guest wings and towards the depths of the Hive.
"Does the Queen want to see us?" Blake hazarded a guess.
The Hive Knight buzzed, and Blake thinks it's a buzz of confirmation. She glanced at Weiss and Yang, and the three came to an agreement.
"We cannot keep the Queen waiting," Weiss said, "Please, lead the way."
The three of them manage to pass the Hive Knight by, but the armored bee barred the way once more when Winter and the Knight try to follow.
"What is the meaning of this?" Winter demanded. Behind her, the Hollow Knight went from merely tall to looming over the other knight. If the Hive Knight is perturbed, they do not show it, shaking their head with a short buzz. Blake can see Winter's jaw clench, see the way the Hollow Knight tensed up, and she knows that the Hive Knight's noticed because they tense up too, and the tension is spilling out towards the surrounding bees, who stopped bumbling and started hovering-
"We'll be fine Winter," Weiss said.
"Weiss-" Winter began.
"No harm will come of us," Weiss's tone is as near flippant one can get while still sounding respectful, but Blake can see how tense she is, "I expect the Queen is only curious as to the results of our mission. As soon as our audience with her is done, we will come back."
The two sisters stare at each other, and though their dynamic is different from the one Yang and Ruby share it is clear that words unspoken are being conveyed, and not for the first time Blake felt a stab of jealousy. What would her life have been like, if she had had a younger sibling?
She liked to think she might've stayed. But in her heart she knows she would've left, and that made her feel worse.
"Very well," Winter said at last, "Do not dally."
It was an order, but it's clear that it came from worry more than anything. Winter Schnee, despite her colder demeanor, wore her heart on her sleeve just as much as Weiss did.
"We won't," Weiss said, before looking at the Hollow Knight. The Knight stared back, and Weiss raised an eyebrow before crossing her arms..
"We'll be fine," she repeated.
"Yeah!" Yang chimed in, placing her chin on top of Weiss's head – causing the shorter girl to scowl, "We'll be fine! Don't worry so much!"
The Hollow Knight stared at the two for a moment before turning towards Blake. The request was clear and Blake stifled a smile.
"I'll keep an eye on them," she promised, keeping her tone as dull as she can.
"Rude!" Yang stuck her tongue out.
Finally the Knight and Winter turn, walking away. The Hive Knight watched them go for a moment before turning towards them. They buzzed and began to lead the way.
The hallway turned into a large open chamber, thousands of brown bees flying around. Workers repairing honeycombs, tending to the Hive and its honey, bumbling about. The much larger soldiers hovering around ominously, watching over the workers. Blake felt the soldiers turn their gazes towards them as they passed by - a reminder that at any moment they could stop being guests of the Hive. From a large hallway high up in the chamber, one of the giant boat sized bees bumbled out, bumping into a pillar with a low but surprised buzz before hurrying past it.
"Cute," Yang said, grinning up at the sight.
"In a way," Blake agreed, glancing at a soldier bee.
"You have to admit that they are adorable," Weiss argued. A little bee buzzed lazily past them, and Blake saw Weiss's gaze follow it. Yang would've made fun of the stars in the heiress's eyes, if it weren't for the fact that she had the exact same stars in her own eyes.
Blake glanced away from her teammates – she didn't hate bees per say, but she's fairly neutral on them – and looked back at the Hive Knight. Several smaller bees had landed on them, buzzing about happily, and while they seemed as poised as ever Blake saw how the knight brushed one of the bees with their free hand.
The ambient buzzing grew quieter, though not at all silent, as they entered the Queen's chambers. Cavern is a more appropriate word, but that's not an observation Blake was willing to vocalize. The Queen's aura filled the room, warm and deep, and it took effort to walk closer to her.
"Ah," Queen Vespa, standing in the center of the chamber as she had before, leaned down towards them, "Welcome back, my knight."
The Hive Knight saluted, buzzing proudly. Queen Vespa stared down at her knight, and Blake thought that there was pride in those dark eyes of hers. Then her gaze turned towards them and Blake was once more struck by how much of a presence Queen Vespa had. Just the act of being stared at made Blake feel like the Queen was peeling her, layer by layer.
"Seeker of Hallownest," the Queen said, "Did your search bear fruit?"
"It has, Hive Queen Vespa," Weiss curtsied, and Blake would follow her lead if she knew how to. The White Fang hadn't required curtsies.
"Then you have found the Whispering Root."
Queen Vespa said it so matter-of-factly, and Blake exchanged a glance with Yang. Weiss asked the question that was burning in their minds.
"The Whispering Root? Is that what it is called, your majesty?" Weiss asked.
"The roots that grow through Hallownest," Queen Vespa said, "The roots filled with the whispering essence of her dreams. Her name hasn't been uttered for ages, yet I am still surprised that you do not know her name."
"Forgive me, your majesty," Weiss said, "I am afraid that there are many mysteries I have yet to solve…If I may ask a question, your majesty?"
"Ask your query."
"This 'her' you speak of...Is it the Radiance?"
At once the gentle light that filled the Hive became sharper. Harsher. It was for but a brief moment, yet Blake flinched back all the same. The warmth of the Hive, like evenings in Menagerie's summers, became prickly against her skin.
The moment ended when Queen Vespa's aura flared, and Blake found herself washed away in it. Golden and heavy and all too sweet, and she felt like a poor bug drowning in amber.
At the edge of her hearing, she swore she could hear something scream and curse.
"You will not speak that name again," Queen Vespa commanded. Blake can feel the weight of the words wrap around her, like a geas, and her nails dug into her palm. She's only distracted from the weight of Queen Vespa's authority when a calloused hand wraps around hers. Blake looked to the side, and Yang flashed her a smile that's wobbly around the edges.
"F-Forgive me, your majesty," Weiss stammered, looking at the ground. Her voice is shaky and her complexion pallid, and it's a far cry from the girl Blake had grown used to.
Weiss tensed as Blake took her hand, only to relax a moment later. Blake gave her a gentle squeeze, and Weiss gripped her hand tightly. All the while, the expression on her face doesn't change. And Hive Queen Vespa stared down at them with those piercing eyes.
"You should know better than to invoke the name of your ancient enemy, you who seek Hallownest."
"I-It won't happen again."
"I must see to the Hive," Queen Vespa said, and the dismissal was clear. "There is another Whispering Root within the Hive. My knight will show you to her."
The Hive Knight turned towards them, expression unreadable as ever. Still, Blake can't help but notice their grip on their weapon. The bee certainly has no knuckles to turn white, but Blake felt the expression still applied.
As the Hive Knight led them out of the chamber, Hive Queen Vespa's voice followed them.
"I wish you luck in your quest, seeker of Hallownest's crown," Queen Vespa said simply.
Weiss stopped, and Blake can see the confusion running across her face, followed swiftly by burning curiosity. But the Hive Knight is behind them, urging them further, and bees watch them from the honeycombed walls. Yang tugged them further, and Blake can see Weiss swallow her frustration before she followed.
When Blake glanced back furtively, one last time before the Hive Knight blocked her view, she saw the Queen of the Hive staring at them.
...to rail against nature…
The Hive didn't have night.
This wasn't necessarily unique. Though they'd never stayed in Hallownest long enough before for it to be an issue, Blake had known on some level that without a sun, the dance of day and night was nonexistent. For the denizens of Hallownest, in their kingdom's gloom, the concept of a day must have held no meaning.
It was one thing to know it, and another to be a gilded prisoner in a place that was always awash in light. The Hive's golden light never stopped shining at any point. Never did it dim or fluctuate. It was a constant presence. So too was the activity of the bees. To be certain, Blake had seen them rest – or at least she assumed those bees nestled unmoving in the walls were asleep – but never all at once. In shifts they rested, never ceasing in total activity. Circadian rhythm held no sway. The Hive did not dim nor quiet.
This was a problem if you were, say, a human or a faunus after a long day.
Scratch that, especially if you were a faunus.
Blake, who was already not very comfortable sleeping in new places, couldn't fall asleep. Reading a well read novel, closing her eyes as tight as she could, even throwing a blanket over her head – nothing worked. Now she was just staring up at the ceiling of the Hive, watching the bees move around in a brown sea of Brownian motion. She'd tried counting them, hoping that the impossible task might lull her to sleep, but no luck. The world was just a little too bright, a little too loud even with her bow tying her ears, and the smell of honey in the air was reminding her a bit too much of sugarcane and bhaksham and nights home-
Blake sat up. It seemed that no one else shared her difficulty in sleeping. Ruby and Yang were passed out next to each other, Grimm's child a small curled up shape on Yang's belly. Weiss was situated slightly away, a sleeping mask over her eyes. Blake couldn't even make fun of her for that. Winter Schnee was asleep as well, her hair loose and her sword next to her. Nailmaster Mato and Doctor Oobleck weren't in sleeping bags – in part because Mato couldn't have fit in one if he tried – but both were asleep. Mato leaned against the wall, head lowered and soft snores escaping him. Doctor Oobleck was passed out amidst a pile of tablets and papers, in such a way that his neck and back were definitely going to hurt in the 'morning'. A pen was in one hand, his thermos in the other.
Qrow Branwen and Penny Polendina were on watch. Or, more accurately, Penny Polendina, the Hollow Knight, and the little knight were on watch. Qrow Branwen was passed out. From exhaustion or drink, Blake couldn't tell. Blake frowned at the sight. She still wasn't sure what to make of Yang and Ruby's uncle. Strong, sure. And skilled, no doubt. But she'd hesitate to say competent. Or trustworthy.
She was certain she'd heard the name Branwen before…
As quietly as she could – which was very – Blake got up to her feet. Several pairs of eyes snapped towards her.
"What is wrong, Blake?" Penny asked. The intensity of her stare was the same as the knights, and despite herself Blake felt goosebumps. "Do you have to use the facilitate-?"
"Nothing, Penny," Blake murmured, hoping that Penny would lower her volume in turn, "Just couldn't sleep. Thought I'd...take a walk."
Penny tilted her head at her, and for a moment Blake was worried that she'd try to wake up Qrow.
"It would be better for you to try to sleep," Penny said at last, voice low, "Studies show that even the act of trying to sleep increases one's restfulness by magnitudes. However, if you want to go for a short walk, I suppose I cannot stop you."
"I mean," Blake said as she walked towards the entrance of the room, "You could."
"But I do not want to," Penny said, "I like helping my friends."
Penny gave her a tentative smile, fragile and full of hope, and Blake immediately felt like a heel.
"I appreciate it, Penny," she said hurriedly, "I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
Before Blake went out, she glanced at the Hollow Knight, who hasn't done anything but stare at her.
"You should be getting some rest," Blake said.
The Knight shook their head, and she frowned.
"You don't have to take watch just cause he's passed out," Blake pointed out, despite it definitely ruining her plans, "You could just wake him up."
Another shake of their head. Blake sighed, before leaving.
She stuck out like a sore thumb in the golden tones of the Hive. So did the little knight.
"Felt like following me?" she asked her shadow. The little knight looked up at her before nodding.
"Cause you're worried? Or cause you couldn't sleep?" she asked.
The little knight nodded once, and lifted up a single hand.
"I can take care of myself," she felt the need to point out, "But. Thanks."
She could take care of herself, but that doesn't mean much with a thousand bees staring at them as they walk through the halls of the Hive. She tried her best to not think about them. She also tried her best not to think about the past, but she's always done her best thinking on her feet and now there's not much else to think about, and for some reason the past is coming unbidden in her thoughts more and more recently-
But she can't think of the past. Not now. She casted her thoughts to the present. To the entire situation around these whispering roots, these mysterious deities, and to Queen Vespa's enigmatic words.
What did Vespa mean? About Weiss seeking Hallownest's crown? Dryya and Isma referred to her as seeking something of Hallownest as well. Did they refer to the same thing? Was crown a literal crown, as in an artifact? Or were they being more abstract? Perhaps the crown of Hallownest was wordplay, and they meant the summit?
If they were referring to the actual title of ruler of Hallownest – well, what the hell did that mean? Weiss certainly wasn't gunning for becoming an actual Queen...Probably. Definitely. So why did they think she was? Did it have to do with the Hollow Knight? With the Dream Nail?
With the brand on her shoulder?
Blake was only broken out of her thoughts when she felt a tug on her feet – and a needle to her neck.
The Hive Knight stared down the length of their blade at her, and Blake resisted the urge to gulp. She did however glance down when she heard a whoosh, and thus saw the little knight brandish their own nail at the Hive Knight – to her alarm.
"Wait-" she hissed.
"Let her in, my Knight."
Blake's walk had taken her straight to the Queen's chambers, and she hadn't even noticed. The Hive Knight scrutinized her for a moment before lowering their weapon and stepping to the side.
Blake won't press her luck and try to leave. She wanted to, she very badly wanted to – but she knew better. So, with tentative steps, she entered the Queen's chamber. To her relief, the little knight shadowed after her – the Hive Knight not stopping them.
What she found in the Queen's Chamber hadn't been what she'd expected. A table of wax had been erected, with waxen chairs to match. What looked like fine china plates and cups were arranged on the table, and with practiced ease Isma picked up one of the cups.
And sitting across from her was Queen Vespa.
A Queen Vespa only as tall as Blake, and she couldn't help but look up. Queen Vespa as Blake has seen her before loomed over them, unmoving and with empty eyes.
When Blake tore her gaze away, she was caught by the smaller Vespa's gaze. That same feeling of being peeled away under her scrutiny hit Blake, and she couldn't help but take a step back.
"Sit," Queen Vespa ordered. While it was no longer as loud or deep, it was just as heavy with authority and Blake found herself sitting at the table before she realized what she was doing. As she pushed down the churning in her stomach, Isma gave her a kind look – at least, Blake had to assume the narrowing of her eyes was in kindness – and poured her a cup of liquid from what could've been a teapot.
"Please, try some," Isma said, "I know not if such a drink is in fashion, where you are from, but I quite enjoy it."
As Blake stared at the proffered cup, Isma nabbed a small crystallized hunk of honey from a plate in the center of the table, and knelt down to give to the little knight. After a moment the little knight took the honey, causing Isma to giggle.
"Isma," Blake blinked at the tone of Vespa's voice. The Queen's voice hadn't held much emotion at all before, except when she referred to her knight. But now there was a strange combination of fondness and exasperation buzzing under her words. "You were the one to come up with the drink. It is only sensible that you would find it to your taste."
"Come now Vespa," Isma said, "We both remember when I had first discovered the plant that makes this drink. The drink was barely anything but diluted leaf juice, before I honed the art of making it." Isma's eyes narrowed, this time not in kindness, and Blake was once more surprised when the warm tones of Isma's voice turned into something sharper. More playful.
"Of course, with how you drown yours in the Hive's blood," Isma sniffed, "Dare I say you've never even tasted what it's supposed to taste like."
A bee brought a honeycomb full of golden honey to Vespa, dropping it into her hands. Wordlessly the Queen squeezed it over her cup, till the liquid inside was more honey than drink.
As Isma berated the Queen – only adding to the surrealism of the situation – Blake decided to try it. She flinched slightly as she took the cup – what she had thought resembled china felt more like bone. But she managed to ignore the uncanny material and take a sip of the-
Tea?
It certainly tasted like tea. Some of the bitterest tea Blake had ever had. Biting back a wretch, Blake placed the cup back on the table. A passing bee was carrying another honey soaked honeycomb, and didn't protest as Blake snatched it and wrung it into her 'tea'.
"I believe I have just won our argument," Queen Vespa said, a touch smug. Startled, Blake looked up to find both bugs staring at her. It was then that Blake realized that the two looked similar. Eerily similar, and suddenly the banter clicked.
"Are you two...sisters?" Blake asked.
The two fell silent, and for a moment Blake was deathly worried that she'd made a misstep. Then, Queen Vespa took a sip of her own tea – proboscis snaking out from her mouth – and shook her head.
"I forget that you are strangers to these lands."
"In fairness," Isma's words are tinged with sadness, "It has been long since Hallownest's prime. And even then, the nature of our nature was a secret."
"True," Queen Vespa said, "Perhaps only an outsider could see the truth."
"Perhaps," Isma said, old bitterness mixed with something softer, like honey and 'tea'.
Blake's confusion must have been plain to see, for both bugs turned towards her.
"Only one Hive Queen may reign," Queen Vespa explained, "Unlike the bugs of Hallownest, Hive Queens are not born. They are made."
"A larva is fed a special diet," Blake said, "Right?"
"You know of our ways?" Queen Vespa asked, tilting her head.
"No," Blake shook her head, "It is just that there are creatures much like you, where I am from. Smaller though," Blake hesitated, before bringing her fingers together to indicate just how small, "A lot smaller."
"Fascinating," Queen Vespa said at last.
"You are correct," Isma continued, "A larvae is chosen for their qualities and skill, and she is fed royal jelly till she grows to become Hive Queen. The process is complete when the new Queen kills and drinks the blood of the old."
Blake nearly spat out the mouthful of tea she'd just drank. Isma had said as if it were an everyday mundanity.
"Sometimes," Isma's voice grew quieter, "Sometimes the old queen dies before a new one can be chosen."
"In such situations, several larvae are chosen to become Queen," Vespa explained, "When they reach maturation, one is chosen to become Queen."
"...How are they chosen?" Blake eventually asked, dreading the answer.
Isma looked down at her drink.
"The final trial is combat," Queen Vespa said simply, "The last one standing is crowned."
"...That's horrific," Blake said flatly.
"It is custom," Queen Vespa said, and Blake nearly broke the cup in her hands.
"Custom?" she hissed. Before she could go further, Isma interrupted.
"More than custom. The Hive cannot have more than one queen."
Blake looked between the two sisters.
"What do you mean?" she finally asked.
"The Hive will not accept more than one queen," Vespa said, "Loyalty cannot be divided. If it comes down to it, the Hive itself will kill the other candidates."
"That's...awful."
"It is nature," Queen Vespa said, and Blake's fury returned to her.
"How can you just say that?" she growled. She's on the verge of saying or doing something she might later regret, when she's clear headed and remembered where she is, when Isma cleared her throat.
"Nature is not so easily thwarted," she said sadly, "Even if we wanted to spare our sisters, we could not have saved them."
Blake looked at Isma, at her sad expression, and felt the anger leave her. She looked back at Vespa, and imagined trying to kill her family.
She'd never be able to do it.
At least, that's what she wants to think. But the truth – a truth that Blake has tried to avoid for a long time – is that she's afraid of dying.
She'd tried convincing herself otherwise. Countless years, in the White Fang, fighting for what she believed in. And every night she'd whisper to herself that she wasn't afraid of death, that she'd do whatever it would take to win freedom for her people. That her death, and the deaths of a few others, were price enough to pay if it meant freedom for the faunus.
She'd tell herself, try and fill herself with Sienna and Adam's zeal, because when it came down to it: she was scared of dying.
She still was.
So who was she to judge Vespa? If she was in Vespa's place, would she have died for her family? Killed to avoid dying?
Run away, like she always had?
Blake managed to draw herself from that train of thought, glancing at Isma.
"...But there are two of you," she whispered at last.
"Yes," Isma agreed, "Two of us. I..." Isma clutched her cup, "I could not bear to kill Vespa."
"Nor could I Isma," Vespa said, staring up at the ceiling, "Yet we were the last two standing."
"How?" Blake asked, "How did you-?"
"It was a risky plan," Vespa said, "By all accounts, a plan doomed to failure."
"Yet I survived," Isma said, some warmth returning to her voice. Vespa looked at her and nodded.
"We both did. Though not without cost."
Isma caught Blake's eyes.
"Vespa killed me by consuming my heart," Isma brought a hand to her chest, "In doing so she became one of the strongest Queen's the Hive has ever known. But before that, she had taken a gift from the Greenpath. A gift that the young red one has too."
Blake startled, but before she could press about Ruby, Vespa continued.
"It was not I alone who ventured into the Greenpath for the blessing," Vespa looked past Blake, and Blake turned to see the Hive Knight, guarding the entrance.
"My knight," Vespa said. Again her voice is filled with warmth, but there is sadness there too.
"They saved me as well," Isma said, "After Vespa consumed my heart, at the same time placing the blessing in the cavity where my heart once was, the Hive Knight disposed of my body in such a way that no one would learn that Greenpath's blessing was already at work to revive my body. And, if later, a strange bug with power over plants took audience with the King of Hallownest and swore fealty...Well, certainly that was unrelated."
Blake stared at the two, trying to process their story.
"...You said that there was a cost?" she asked.
"Everything has a cost," Queen Vespa said, "For Isma, her body became more and more plantlike with each day. And for me," and here the Queen stared up at her gigantic, unmoving body, "I grew. Bigger, and bigger, till one day I could no longer leave the Hive."
"That's...not too bad," Blake said at last.
Both Vespa and Isma shake their heads.
"Oh, I'm afraid you don't understand," Isma said, her tone full of sympathy and sadness.
Vespa's voice was filled with nothing as she says, "Unable to leave the Hive, I died a slow death. And Isma one day took root, and never woke up."
Blake stared at them, and for a moment she swore she could see through them, their bodies surrounded by pink glyphs. The world came back to focus in a snap, but Blake was still left cold as she realized that she was taking tea with two-
"Ghosts," she said, "You two are...dead?"
"We are," Vespa confirmed as Isma nodded, "And here we find ourselves in this dream of Hallownest. Haunted ourselves by the past."
"And the future," Isma whispered.
Blake doesn't know what to say. She almost can't comprehend it. That in a place thrumming with such life, these two are dead – it's incongruous.
"...May I ask some questions?" she finally asked.
Queen Vespa tilted her head.
"You've been asking many," Blake flushed under the slight reprimand, "But you may ask more."
"...Why do you call Weiss "she who seeks Hallownest's crown"?"
Queen Vespa and Isma stared at her for a moment.
"Because she seeks Hallownest's crown," Queen Vespa said.
"Okay..." Blake tried not to let annoyance filter into her tone, "But what does that mean?"
Isma stifled a laugh.
"There really is much you don't know," Vespa said.
"Hence my question," Blake managed, squishing down a sardonic smile.
"The roots you seek," Queen Vespa continued, and Blake perked up, "Do you know who they belong to?"
"...You mentioned a 'her', earlier," Blake said, mind racing.
"Indeed," Queen Vespa said, "The roots belong to the Queen of Hallownest."
"...The Queen of Hallownest," Blake repeated, sitting back in her chair. Isma was silent, looking back at her drink.
"You have more questions," Queen Vespa said, "And I cannot answer them. The answers you seek, belong to Hallownest's crown."
"How do we find her?" Blake asked. The one who answered her was Isma.
"This little one knows the way," she said, leaning down to hand the little knight another chunk of crystallized honey, "Don't you?"
The little knight stared up at her before nodding.
"Find Hallownest's Queen," Queen Vespa said, "And you will find your answers."
The dismissal was clear. Clearer still as the Hive Knight appeared behind her. Blake stood up from the table, hesitating one what to say and settling for pressing her hands, palms together, and giving a slight bow of her head.
"Thank you," she said.
"It was nice talking to you, young woman," Isma smiled.
"Fortune follow you," was all Queen Vespa said.
As Blake and the little knight left the chamber, she couldn't help but turn back. The Hive Knight blocked her path, stalwart as always.
"Do you know?" she began. The Hive Knight stared at her.
"About...your queen...she's..."
The Hive Knight buzzed softly, thumping their chest. Pink glyphs fell from them, and Blake felt her hair stand on end.
"I..." she began, unsure of what to say.
The Hive Knight shook their head and pointed away. And Blake walked away, leaving behind the dead queens who hosted them, and the dead knight who continued to protect them.
...to rail against nature…
"It was our pleasure to have you as guests," Queen Vespa said. They had gathered in her chamber, with the exception of Dryya and Isma. The Queen of the Hive loomed over them, her Knight standing between her and them.
Weiss, personally, didn't see why they did so. The sort of thing that could threaten the Queen seemed to be the sort of thing that was far beyond the Hive Knight's weight class. But, at the same time, she could not help but find it admirable.
"It was our pleasure to be your guests, your majesty," Weiss curtsied. Penny followed, and the rest of everyone bowed – if Yang had to surreptitiously jab her possibly hungover uncle's knees with her boots to get him to follow a moment too late, well, thankfully Queen Vespa politely ignored the yelp that followed.
"The wealth of knowledge within these halls," Doctor Oobleck sniffled, "Your majesty, I do not jest when I say that I could devote years of study here!"
Queen Vespa stared down at him. That by itself wasn't curious, but that Blake was also giving Doctor Oobleck a strange look as well was. Blake herself looked dead exhausted, bags under her eyes, and she kept on staring at the Queen as well. Bad manners, but Weiss was more worried about her friend than propriety.
"I imagine you could," Queen Vespa buzzed at last, "But you have a mission, do you not?"
"Yes! Of course!" Doctor Oobleck brushed away something near his eye, "Thank you very much for your hospitality, your majesty!"
Weiss resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands. Did no one here but Winter and the Hollow Knight know how to treat those of a higher class?
"Queen Vespa," Weiss looked up, startled at Blake's words. Especially since Weiss had given an entire lecture on how you weren't supposed to address royalty directly!
"Where are Isma and Dryya?" Blake continued. Weiss's urge to pull her friend aside and re-explain some of the finer points of etiquette faded. When they had woken up, neither of the knights had been in sight. Not strange, seeing as the two had kept their distance from then since the fight. But now, that the Queen had called them to her chambers? And still no sight of them?
"Kindly Isma and Fierce Dryya left while you slumbered," Queen Vespa answered. Blake stared up at the Queen before nodding.
"I..." Blake hesitated, "I hope you spoke to them. Before they left."
As Weiss puzzled over what that meant and whether Blake was going to get them manhandled out of the Hive, the Queen regarded her.
"Before we say farewell," the Queen said, "A gift."
Queen Vespa brought her hand to her mouth, and Weiss felt her aura flare. Carefully the Queen brought her hand right above Blake, and dropped a shining glob of gold into her hands.
"A gift," Queen Vespa repeated, "Know that you will be friend to the Hive so long as you live."
"I..." Blake looked up from whatever she'd been given, catching Weiss's eyes, and bowed at the Queen.
"Thank you."
"Farewell, young one. Farewell, seeker of Hallownest. May fortune favour you."
Weiss considered it a miracle that no one spoke up until they were firmly outside the Hive, back in the chill and gloom of Hallownest's caverns.
"Sooo," Qrow began, "Care to explain what all of that was about, little lady?"
"I'd like to know as well," Winter said, eyes narrowing.
Blake seemed to ignore them, though Weiss could see how her bow twitched, staring down at whatever the Queen had given her.
"Blake?" Yang began.
Blake looked up at them, eyes shining in the gloom.
"I'll explain later," she said. She glanced back at the Hive, and when she looked back towards them Weiss could swear that there was something sad about her expression. Before she could ask, Blake knelt in front of the little knight.
"You know the way?" she asked.
To Weiss's surprise, the little knight nodded. She could feel the Hollow Knight's probing stare at their sibling from behind her, and she cleared her throat.
"Blake?"
"I'll explain on the way," some of Blake's curt tone softened as she stood up and looked at them, "It's...a lot to explain."
"Well then!" Ruby said loudly, planting her hands on her hips and looking down at the little knight, "Lead the way!"
The little knight stared up at her before dashing down the cavern, and soon they were running after the little shadow as they dashed further into the gloom of Hallownest.
"Where do I even begin?" Blake began as they ran.
"How about with what we're searching for?" Yang asked.
"Right," Blake's eyes shone in the dark, and Weiss could swear the shine was brighter than usual, "We're searching for the Queen of Hallownest."
There is no time...
To rail against nature is folly.
All things must accept an end.
At last...freed.
Oh Queen Vespa. If only we knew enough about you to not have to spin a backstory.
I suppose that could be said of many characters in Hollow Knight though.
Though we never see them side to side, Isma and Vespa look very similar. Too similar for us to ignore.
Thank you all for reading! Tune in next time for: "The Infection"!