Chapter Text
After about a week of staying in Pharloom to help with the rebuilding efforts and to say goodbye, Hornet had finally decided to begin the arduous journey back home to Hallownest. The first bug she visited was Lace, who began packing her things before Hornet had even finished talking. "Pharloom went through its worst without a protector," she said. "I'm sure it'll be fine in its newfound glory." Hornet found that hard to disagree with. After that, Hornet decided to invite the others as well. Shakra was eager to leave Pharloom, even more so at the promise of meeting a fellow cartographer. The Second Sentinel, to her dismay, had already deactivated in response to the threat passing along, perhaps forever. Sherma, who simply had to come, saw it as an opportunity to go on an even greater pilgrimage. At the entrance to the Blasted Steps, those who wished to stay bid the group farewell and showered them with gifts ranging from a silver bell bangle from Pavo, some craftmetal from Ballow, a very wet goodbye from the Bell Beast, and most beneficial, one of the Flea Caravan's carts for travel. With a last goodbye, they were off.
"It is good to not have to travel to your homeland by foot, Hornet Wielding Needle," Shakra said, stretching out on one of the seats of the cart. "I can only imagine how long it took for the bugs of that Citadel to carry you here."
Hornet nodded, reminiscing. "It certainly was a long time, most of which was spent unconscious. I hope the way back will be much quicker."
Sherma, who sat by the door, asked the obvious question: "How do you know how to get back, Miss Hornet?" He was still wearing the Caretaker's robe, which everyone agreed was as silly as it was a bit grim, knowing who he really was.
"According to Mooshka, the bugs pulling the carts have an excellent sense of smell," Hornet responded. "I only had to give them the scent of my cloak for them to find their way."
Shakra piped up. "I only half-trust that Mooshka. What he lacks in malevolence he makes up for in incompetence."
"Oh, come on, Shakkie!" Lace said, draping her arms around Shakra's shoulders. "I liked Mr. Fluffy. And all the other ones. We should have brought some with us."
"I would have liked that," Hornet said. "Though, I wouldn't want to worry the caravan like that. I already went through plenty trying to wrangle them back to where they were supposed to be."
A long silence followed until Sherma had the idea of playing a few board games he had found in the First Shrine, and that's how they spent the majority of the trip. The rest was spent sleeping. For once in a long time, Hornet really felt like she could laugh along with them.
They collectively awoke to the sound of knocking on the cart. Lace opened the door to see a very nervous Elderbug standing there, whole body shaking. "Um, h-hello, strangers. Your cart showed up here a few minutes ago, and I had decided to see if it was occupied." His voice was shaky and he was clearly trying to distance himself from Lace. "You're not more of those veiled bugs, are you?"
Lace looked back at Hornet, who stepped into view. "It is good to see you have not changed, sir. It is only I, Hornet, returning from my unexpected journey." She shook his hand as he let out a sigh of relief, though he was still wary of the rest of the cast exiting. He sees trouble in everything.
Once everyone was done stretching after the long ride, Hornet began the tour. First stop: Dirtmouth. Lace, Shakra, and Sherma looked around, Sherma in much more awe than the other two. Even Hornet knows it's not much to look at. Just three little houses, one looking much newer than the others following Hornet's decision to become a resident. She led them into her own abode first.
"This is my home here," she said, gesturing around. "I had... Minimal help building it. I keep mementos of Hallownest's time here, for the most part. Though, now I should find room for Pharloom's memen-"
"What's with that?" Lace shouted over her. She was pointing at the Hollow Knight's mask, displayed on its own special shelf. Admittedly, it did look rather grim.
"That," she sighed. "Is the mask of the Hollow Knight. The vessel initially responsible for sealing the infection that plagued this kingdom. It's... Complicated. I ended up needing to slay it following the destruction of the cause of the dream borne illness." She pulls the mask off the shelf and turns it toward them.
Shakra nods at the sight. "Mm, I can tell already it was a worthy foe."
"I'm sure we'll learn more about this as we explore the kingdom, Miss Hornet," Sherma added. "You don't need to tell us about all of it right away," followed by nods from Shakra and Lace.
After that, they paid a visit to Cornifer and Iselda's house, Cornifer out cold as usual. "Hello, Iselda," Hornet said. "I have returned from my involuntary leave from Hallownest. I have brought some friends with me as well."
Iselda cheered at the sight of Hornet, jumping over her desk to give her a big and very unwelcome hug. "Honey! Honey, wake up! The lady is back!" Cornifer rolled out of bed, falling onto the floor and getting up.
"Yes, yes? Oh, you're back. That whole incident stirred up some commotion that time ago." He readjusted his glasses to look at the crowd in his house, seemingly making a show of looking up enough to meet Shakra's eyes.
"Cornifer, Iselda, these are Shakra, Lace, and Sherma. I bring them from a faraway land called Pharloom," Hornet said. "Let me retrieve the Nailsage and we will introduce ourselves in the center."
In the center of Dirtmouth, Hornet watched the residents converse with her new friends. Cornifer and Iselda talked with Shakra both about mapping and combat, Sherma played around with Sly, who didn't seem to enjoy being seen as just a "little guy", and Zote recited his fifty-seven precepts to an unfortunate Lace. Hornet sat on the bench with Elderbug. "And another breath of life comes to our old home," Elderbug said. "It seems every time one of your kind is around, things become but a little bit brighter, even for just a moment."
"Have faith, old bug," Hornet said. "I believe that with my father's radiant power still blessing this land, more bugs will eventually come to reclaim Hallownest. Despite its decrepit state, it is still a valuable place. And know that should they attempt to move in by force, I, at the very least, will be there to make sure nobody is harmed. Believe it or not, old bug, you, Cornifer, Iselda, Nailsage, and even that insufferable Zote, are now the first residents of the new Hallownest. You should take pride in that."
Elderbug sighed, obviously not entirely getting her message. "I've spent so long living here, long before I even knew the importance of the kingdom beneath the well. I want nothing to do with it at this point."
"Maybe you could build a Memorium!" Lace shouted, suddenly behind them, scaring poor Elderbug half to death. "Back in the Citadel, there was this big place filled with tiny versions of the places in Pharloom. Maybe you could turn this place into a tourist spot, make a big Memorium with all the cool stuff from this place."
"I'd like something like that," Sherma said as he walked over to them. Hornet looks at Sly to see him straightening his antennae. "Hey, Miss Hornet, Mr. Sly told me there are hot springs here, is that true?" At hornet's nod of confirmation, he excitedly jumped up and down and rushed to Shakra so they can get a move on.
Hornet stood and gave Elderbug a parting wave. "It seems we'll be going now. Thank you for your hospitality."
They all stood gathered around the well. "Down here," Hornet began, "Is what's left of my father's kingdom. It should be mostly safe in the absence of the Infection." After that, they all descended down to see what kind of place gave birth to someone like Hornet.