Daughter of Hallownest (NSFW) (CANCELLED)

Encounter

In a way, this was the first step in Hornet's decision for self improvement. This pale bug was just another thing tearing her up on the inside and threatening her resolve in defending the kingdom. She needed to confront it. If it wasn't a threat, she would let it mind its own business. But if she decided it had bad intentions, she would destroy it. Whether or not it could speak she didn't know yet, but it was definitely sentient, judging by its skill with the nail, its exchange with the Dirtmouth residents, and its purchase (and use) of Cornifer's map. Not to mention she had slipped up and revealed that she was stalking it. Even if she could have just forgotten about it and walked away before, now she was obligated to do something about it. It was her own fault and she owned up to it.

Hornet pressed on, focusing on a single goal and not thinking of anything else. She set an ambush in a roomlike cave in which she had, in fact, fought and killed a similar bug in the past in. Its corpse was still lying there. The sight filled her with even more conflict; she had never thought of herself as a heartless killer. Yet she had killed this one without for sure knowing its intent, and she was about to kill another. Was it right? She reasoned that she was the defender of Hallownest, and these weren't residents of Hallownest. They were outsiders, probably with bad intentions. This comforted her, but she remembered she was focusing on a single goal right now. She could think about self improvement afterwards.

Before long, she once again heard the familiar footsteps of the ghost. They were a welcome interruption to her thoughts, before they could run wild again. Entering the room inquisitively, the bug tucked its map away again, looking around and surveying the room before him. This was her moment. Hornet stepped out, blocking its path- a welcome change from all the hiding she'd been doing. For the first time, it looked directly at her. Its eyes were wide, dark, and empty. Soulless. Yet they pierced her. For a moment she hesitated, feeling the same fear she had when she first spotted this bug in the King's Pass. But she took the initiative and spoke up.

"Come no closer, ghost. I've seen you. I've watched you. This old kingdom... a terrible thing awakens. I know what you are. I know what you'd try to do. I can't allow it."

She was stunned at her own words. She hadn't felt this way on the way here. In fact, she had been thinking of sparing the bug. But after staring into its eyes, she knew what it was. Her fears had subsided since her first sighting of it, but now they came rushing back. This no ordinary wanderer. It was a relic of the darkest parts of Hallownest's past, and by extension her own past. A ghost of the past. She had already allowed it passage into the kingdom, and she regretted not slaying it the first time she laid eyes on it.

For a moment, it appeared as if the ghostly vessel didn't want to fight. It looked almost sorrowful that this had to happen. Hornet hesitated ever so slightly- but its eyes are lifeless! How could it portray any emotion anyway? The bug seemed to accept that this was a necessary fight and drew its nail. She assumed a fighting stance- the same she had used against the masked fellow weeks ago. Her shawl drooped, as usual, bringing back that now familiar tension and putting her off guard. But she couldn't give in this time. She had to put her best in this fight. The bug rushed at her, striking first but being blocked by Hornet's long needle, which triggered a second stab attempt. She dodged and leapt into the air, forgetting her shawl. Her opponent leapt as well, striking in the air, sending her down to the ground. He followed with more attacks, which she dodged, returning with offensive attacks of her own.

And so as the clash unfolded and the opposing sides bounced around the wide room, Hornet entered her flow state that she just kept slipping into. It was like she was meant for it. It felt so good, releasing her tension and allowing her to focus her all on the task at hand. As a result she fought exceptionally well. And there was one other thing- it inexplicably, almost felt... good. Somehow it almost felt simply good to feel her cleavage flashing through her flapping gown. Knowing full well that her opponent could see it all. The very thing she had been so anxious, afraid over lately actually felt positive. It was as if she was creating the problem in her head. When she would constantly think about it, constantly adjusting her gown and watching for onlookers, it would cause anxiousness and insecurity. But when she would simply let go and let it happen, not only would the discomfort would not only lift, but legitimately feel good, like darkness vanishing when shined upon, replaced by light. It was hard to describe.

But despite the incredible performance the clarity brought, Hornet was quickly losing the fight. She tried not to think about it at first, but as it became obvious that she was failing, she simply could not believe it. She had never even considered that she might lose the fight. Her entire mindset was based on defeating this bug, whether she chose to kill it or not. But to lose? To this frail bug?!

Trying as hard as she could not to think about it, and to continue putting all her focus on the fight, Hornet took a defensive stance on the other side of the room, fully expecting it to rush at her with the nail again. But she could have never imagined what it would do next. In the fraction of a second, the bug surrounded itself with an aura of glowing energy, gathering it into a magical fireball attack which it launched at Hornet straight from its body. The impact knocked her nearly unconscious, destroying any remnant of her will to fight. She weakly stood up and launched her nail into another room, swinging away.