A Tale of the Grimm Troupe

The Forgotten

     Scarlet fire erupted around the husk and Aspen raised a palm towards it.  It hissed as it fell to the ground, orange gunk seeping from its eyes.  That sickly orange goop...Aspen hadn't seen it since the day he left Hallownest.  He wondered if anyone had survived the temptation of the infection...well...anyone who was normal that it.  He knew that something down here could resist the infection...something with no mind to think, no will to break, no voice to cry screaming.  He turned on his heel and began walking to the right, searching for the temple he remembered so clearly...the Temple of the Black Egg.  More husks and vengeflies tried to stand in his way but they fell to Aspen's scarlet fire.

     It was impressive to see the temple still standing, perfectly intact despite the rest of the Crossroads being in ruins, even the seal on the Black Egg being pristine.  Resting a hand on the seal, he reached into his memory...feeling for the day this was made and the treasure inside was locked away forever.  The vessel...the pure vessel...the hollow knight....  He remembered the day the vessel was brought into the White Palace.  He remembered being told why the vessel had been created and that there once were others but not what had happened to the siblings of the hollow knight...all except for one.  She wasn't a vessel...the daughter of the Pale King and the queen of Deepnest in exchange for...something.

     The memories became maddening and he pulled himself out of them, looking at the masks which adorned the door...kneeling in reverence to Lurien, Herrah and Monomon.  The Dreamers who gave up their consciousness in order to create a nigh-unbreakable seal over the infection...which apparently had started to fade.  Those husks outside of the temple were evidence to the fact that the Pale King's plan wasn't working properly.

     Something flashed out of the corner of his eye, causing his grip on the cane at his hand to tighten.  

     "I would assume that you weren't taught not to sneak up on people," Aspen told whoever or whatever it was looking at him.  He moved out of the way as something flew past him, a silver strand of silk connecting the needle to pull it back to its owner.  She wasn't very tall, not much taller than Bretta and draped in a red cloak.  Her horns curled back far almost touching the needle she held behind her back.

     "You're a tad sinister to be around here," she said, coldly.  "And curiously you've come to the Black Egg...a looter?"  Her needle flew towards Aspen again who disappeared in a burst of red fire, teleporting a short distance away.  "You're not from here...that's for certain."

     "You'd be surprised, Princess," Aspen spat.  "I'm from this kingdom's past...and I remember you and your mother...seems she's still sleeping."  The princess looked almost surprised at the mention of who she was but moved out of the way as a pillar of scarlet fire erupted behind her.  "You were so much more fun as a child...and now you've grown up to be like your mother...."

     There was a cracking sound as her needle made contact with the mask covering Aspen's face, smashing it in half and cutting a line down his face.  Staggering back, clutching his face, Aspen looked at the girl.  "You've chosen a path that will lead you nowhere...this kingdom is dead and there is nothing more for you here...."  She lunged at him but missed only because he disappeared again is cloud of scarlet, returning to the safety of the tent above.

     "What happened to you?" Brumm asked, genuine concern in his voice.

     "The princess is down in the ruins of Hallownest," he answered.  "She's on a mission to protect the ruins from anyone who goes down there...thankfully our kin appear only for us and the one who holds the child....  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and make myself another mask...."