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From all around Dirtmouth a commotion could be heard. The mountain nearby rumbled, and the winds from the howling cliffs were washed away by the sound of wheels rolling over stone. Within this noise an origin could be heard, a single note that was lost among the arrival of so much; the shattering of a lantern followed by the rush of a dying flame. Dirtmouth was a quiet place ever since the fall of the kingdom of Hallownest and for the most part, the residents preferred it that way. Most were unaccustomed to sudden disturbances and travelers were a rarity. The rare traveler was often gone before long as the only thing of note was the well leading into the kingdom. Treasure seekers were gone in a few blinks and often never heard from again leaving the town in blissful and mournful silence, but this noise persisted and grew louder until the source arrived. Massive bugs with long necks pulled wagons into town and soon those vehicles split open with various strangers dressed in red and black, bouncing and bounding through the air to build their camp. A few tents for the smaller performers and soothsayers and a massive big top of some sort for the main attraction brought up in a strange shape. Music began to travel through the air while strange scents and sighs wafted from one of the smaller tents. Most residents of Dirtmouth shuttered themselves in their homes but a few watched with curious and wide gazes. Their eyes reflected the red glow emanating from the largest tent, and distracted as they were they did not notice the same glow burning from the well leading into the remains of Hallownest.

The wheels from the troupe's wagons had created a disturbance that could be felt even in the deepest spots of Hallownest. Those who still had their minds ignored the noise for the most part and turned their attention to more important matters, however, there was one that bore curiosity. That curiosity only existed due to what her eyes witnessed. On one of the many broken roads leading to the City of Tears, a torch appeared containing a flame of deep and swirling red that captivated the eyes as it danced from left to right. That torch was held by a strange bug cackling and giggling to themselves as they bounced from left to right, spinning as if celebrating their discovery. That odd bug didn't seem to have any legs and instead floated off of the ground with the torch held in hand and before long their captivating sight began to fade away as they made their way out of Hallownest. Unbeknownst to the torchbearer, they were followed by curious eyes.

Hornet had seen a few of these strangers in Hallownest now but each time she had wanted to approach she found herself captivated by the odd light. The flames that they carried off formed from thin air and seemed to pulse with an odd life. She found herself drawn to that flame as if she were a simple child without a mind of her own and in some ways, it reminded her of the corruption that pulsed through Hallownest, and yet, somehow entirely different. She did not trust these strange bugs dancing and cackling about and wanted to know what had gone on and so, she followed them where she could until eventually, the destination became obvious to her. Dirtmouth.

She did not rush on her journey up through Hallownest. Hornet had spent a long time guarding this place, a long time hunting leads and finding herself entirely bereft of answers, and of company. Those who remained kept to themselves and often were mad in their own ways, and stray vessels she spotted seemed to meander about without any true meaning as if they were simply wayward ghosts. None of them would be strong enough to contain the corruption and yet, she could only hope that one of them would be able to do something. Her own light, her own hope had cracked, had chipped away like the stones of this once beautiful place, and the shells of those who had fallen. Hornet closed her eyes as she stopped for a moment to steel herself. She still had a duty, still had a purpose in being here. When she opened her eyes, she took her needle and continued to walk to investigate these strange beings.

Everything was not quite normal in Dirtmouth. The oldest resident of the town cowered behind a lantern while staring at a massive tent Hornet had never seen before. Merrymakers wandered outside of the large tent in Dirtmouth. They played their accordions and stood at attention beckoning all to enter. Beside them were large bugs with long necks that craned their heads from left to right on occasion. Of course, most were too frightened to even approach but Hornet made her way to the front without a shred of fear. She wore a cloak of fine silk dyed scarlet and in one hand she clutched a long and sharp needle with a loop at the pommel. The tent itself resembled a head with an open maw and eyes, both glowing with that same crimson glow.

Hornet had never seen such an eerie place. Even among the ruins of Hallownest, she had not found such a sinister energy. Everything about it made her feel as if something was terribly wrong. The shape, the aura, the odd glow, and even the merrymakers wandering about with blank faces and pasted on jubilee. The innards of the tent seemed to call her with the bright glow that flickered with shadows as she stared deeper into it. Her instincts prickled and told her to go back but her duty told her to stand strong. Another tent nearby carried a sweet scent, almost sickeningly so. That scent called to her but she could hear a languid sighing and chattering that made her question whether or not she should even think about getting close to that place.

The flame she had seen the odd specters carrying seemed to be part of Hallownest in some sort of way so she was bound to see it returned, but she wasn't even sure if that was the case. It was only her gut telling her that it was the case, and only her gut telling her that there was something very wrong sitting before her. Her curiosity, however, continued to grow as well as an odd glee at the sight of a circus. The merrymakers outside of the tent were welcoming and even waved at her. They were almost jolly enough to make her lower her guard, and she would have if not for the eerie tent at the center of it all.

"Miss." Said one of the small bugs near the entrance, "Oh miss, are you debating and postulating whether or not you should or should not? You glow so splendidly and it would be good to see you be merry!"

The other one opened his arms wide, "We would be more than happy to escort you if not for our duty to stand here and welcome all!"

Hornet fidgeted before the odd pair and she decided to air her curiosities outside the odd tent instead of braving it just yet, "What is this place?"

Both of the bugs tilted their heads, motions the exact same as one touched his masked chin and hummed, "What is this place?" And the other answered, "We are the troupe, and these tents are where we perform! There are many things here but the main tent is where the main show is always running. We all dance and sing for the ritual, to keep it going for all eternity and this wonderful place is our latest stop. A dying kingdom."

For a moment she looked all around as if she were enchanted until she heard that last bit. She clutched tightly onto her needle and huffed, "Why visit a dying kingdom? And what is this ritual?"

"So curious!" Said one before the other clapped and added, "So curious indeed! Wander inside and all your questions will be answered."

Hornet took a step closer toward the main tent before pausing. She didn't know what she would find and despite claims of innocence, she found herself concerned about the sinister energy she felt radiating from this entire situation. In the end, she kept on inching closer and closer to the entrance until she took a single step past the threshold and brought her body with her as curiosity cut away caution. She found herself standing in a place far more different than what she had been expecting. The crimson brightness from outside that had seemed so blindingly brilliant was nowhere to be seen. The innards of the tent were dark and opened into a hallway of sorts with various symbols drawn on the walls, a hanging brazier creaking from side to side and flickering with a dull crimson flame. Her shoulders relaxed and the tension seeped out of her body as she took a few more tentative steps inside and saw nothing that seemed dangerous. Hornet wandered deeper within with just a bit more confidence and heard an accordion playing a joyful little tune, except, somehow it sounded almost mournful.

A heavy-shouldered bug wearing fur around his neck and a black hood complete with a white mask stood off to the side in the hall playing his music on what appeared to be a living grub. She stopped for a moment and his voice rasped as he ceased playing, "Worry not. This instrument here of mine has not been alive for quite some time."

He continued to play as she inched closer, and then as she muttered, "The friendly bugs outside of the tent told me a bit about this place but I don't think they told me the full story. What is this place, what is it really? It can't just be a bunch of merrymakers with such a strange feel, can it?"

Again he stopped and he looked up and around as slowly as possible before a dry and weak chuckle escaped him, "We are the troupe. Wander from land to land to seek flames from dying kingdoms to light our ritual, our master's song and dance." Those dark hollowed eyes then peered at her and for a moment, she saw something gleaming as he added in a hushed tone, "You would be perfect. A remnant that lives and breathes. A treasure a kingdom would weep to leave. Please, my master would welcome you with open arms." And quieter still he breathed as he began playing again, "Or perhaps it would be best to depart."

She clutched her needle just a bit tighter at his words and found that she had no reply. There was an eerie way that he had been looking at her for a second. For a moment she thought that he was about to attempt to prey on her, and yet, now he was docile again. That final statement had been said so weakly as well, as though he had barely been able to utter the words before returning to his musical stupor. Again, she found that her instincts told her that it would be best to depart but her pride did not let her. Dying flames. That most likely meant the soul of the kingdom. Hallownest had fallen but she did not enjoy the idea of it being desecrated for someone's ritual. Feeling a strange chill curling beneath her cloak, Hornet wandered further into the tent.

Hornet stopped when she reached the center of what appeared to be a ring or circular stage. She couldn't see much of anything but there were shapes in the dimly lit arena. Scarlet braziers hung from the ceiling but the light seemed to not reach a certain point. The prickling of her instincts and the chill brushing along her body urged her to dodge some sort of unseen threat but she remained still refusing to be a slave to her body. Crimson flames burst from the ground and she did not flinch, but her grip tightened around her needle.

From the flames appeared a single bug, tall and grande wearing a cape of black kissed by red on the inside. No, he wore them like a cape but whatever surrounded him appeared to be his wings. She could see the lines separating his wings but truly, she had never seen a bug like him. Slender arms slipped free of his wings before he placed a hand on his chest as he bowed to her before rising again to look at her with crimson eyes. Hornet's first instinct was to brandish her weapon, to ready herself for a battle but she did not feel any sort of hostility in his appearance, nor in the way that he watched her quietly. His head tilted for a second before he drew himself up to full height as he stared at her, and continued doing so until he chuckled. The sound was soft and somehow, she found herself growing warm in the presence of this odd man. Partially because he still did not present any hostility despite her own bubbling clearly on the surface.

"A surprise guest has visited us. Tell me, do you know where you wander? Where you arrive with such a delightful glow?" He said with honey and spice in his tone that clung to her mind in odd ways.

She shook her head at his voice and spoke aloud, "I only know that you mean to desecrate my home and so I ask that you stop, and leave this place."

Again he tilted his head, and again she heard him chuckling, could see his mouth moving as he let out a deep sigh before opening his cloak and bringing a hand out toward her as if he were beckoning while he spoke, "And why would I stop? This dance of ours provides such entertainment, such life that feeds us and keeps us moving from place to place. What good would it be to stop? No, the kingdom has already fallen and I am simply here to pick up what would be lost." He then added while closing his digits slowly, "But you are something special, aren't you? A beautiful gleam in the darkness of this kingdom. I see you shining so brightly even here and I cannot help but wonder, have you come here to dance? To join our performance?"

His words had such an odd effect on her. Warmth pushed against the chill she felt, and yet, it wasn't peace that dawned on her. Excitement welled up from within some unknown font deep within her. Everything that he was saying sounded wrong, sounded dark and terrible in some sort of way, and yet, the question of whether or not she was here to dance. It somehow enticed her, somehow made the gleam of her needle some that much brighter beneath the dim light. Hornet almost found herself expressing a wholehearted desire to join him in whatever this dance was, but she held herself on the spot firmly. She could not succumb to whatever this oddness was.

Breathing out, she brought her needle up and pointed it toward him while speaking, "This is the only dance we will have."

He laughed instead of balking, his fingers opening and his stance shifting to that of a dancer calling his partner with one arm angled with the hand on his chest, and his other arm pointed toward her as he spoke, "Then I accept your invitation. Know that whether you fall or whether you win, it will bring you one step closer to me."

She paused for a moment but did not have time to question his words as the world erupted into light. The crimson flame above them seemed to burn bright enough to scatter the shadows into nothingness. A crowd had gathered around them in the seats surrounding the arena, or perhaps, they had always been there. She faltered for a second, needle lowering as she was suddenly faced with an audience that made this feel less serious. Hornet had wanted a duel to drive away this nuisance from her home but now it felt as if she had fallen into his performance.

Annoyance darted her expression as she lowered her needle and looked toward the ringmaster who was bowing deeply toward her, "My name is Hornet. What is yours?"

Slowly, he sounded out the word as he rose, "Grimm."

She swiped her weapon through the air and took her stance but when he did not come to her, she charged forward. Hornet reached him and took a swing, her needle flashing through the air as he avoided her attack. He moved and darted from side to side, weaving away from her thrusts and swings until she narrowed her eyes and leaped into the air. She threw her needle at the height of her jump and began diving down toward him. The needle buried itself into the ground first but Grimm had stepped to the side with a flourish, arms out and waiting for her. Hornet stopped in midair before she reached him and spread her arms outward. Fine silk wires that appeared as pale lines of light in the air began to lash about.

That should have gotten him, at least, she even thought that it did but he seemed to disappear in a cloud of smoke and chittering noises. When she landed and took up her needle again, she tried to find him but could not see him. Her instincts prickled again and she took the time to pay attention instead of discarding them. She looked up in time to see the smoke gathering into the shape of Grimm. The ringmaster descended with his cape gathered around his arm and person like a drill. She hopped away mere moments before he landed, her eyes wide as their gazes met before she found herself needing to dash away as he chased her.

The shape of his cape had again changed into a scythe as he sliced through the air just near her face. She could feel the air being torn apart but had no time to be impressed as he continued forward. Again he charged forth as if to impale her but she would not be cowed so easily. She swung her needle to redirect his thrust and he disappeared again. She looked around while her chest rose and fell, but this time she knew what to look for.

Hornet spotted the smoke forming behind her and she charged with her needle prepared but paused as he appeared with one hand offered to her, his body floating off the ground. Flames gathered at his cloak, flames that swirled and turned into twisted shapes that erupted forth. She hopped over two before sliding under the next, dashing nearer and nearer until she thrust toward his body with wild intent. Hornet breathed in and out, steadying herself even as she strained to push her needle forward. Grimm had grabbed onto her needle at the last possible moment and now held it there while meeting her gaze.

While under the heat of battle, she kept her focus sharpened and prepared her next move wondering if she could overpower him even as he managed to push her weapon back with his hand alone. Just then, she found purchase in her thrust and took a step forward but she recognized too late that he had allowed this to happen. He did not strike her, did not avoid her; instead, he reached forward and brushed a few digits along her face. A single thumb pressed as a constant reminder of his touch, his face suddenly much closer than she expected it. Warmth gripped her from within alongside a familiar excitement. It did not feel as though their dance was over, and yet in this moment, she found herself hoping against her own mind that he would lean in to seal a kiss between them before they continued.

She shook off the thought and spat as she bounced back, "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"Enjoying our dance." Said Grimm as he landed on one leg before letting the other down.

Hornet breathed out, "You were just about to kiss me. Am I that beautiful that you can't think of anything else while my needle is about to pierce you?"

Grimm answered without hesitation, "Of course, you're more beautiful than you'll ever know. A moment more and I would have tasted that flame of yours."

She faltered a bit upon hearing that but she did not lower her weapon. Instead, she began to circle him, and in kind he began to do the same. The crowd had been clapping the entire time and had been cheering at certain points but now they remained quiet. Why had his comments about tasting her flame incited her? Even now the warmth that she had felt rising had not faded. This place was affecting her. That was the only excuse that she could think of, the only reason that could be behind the excitement that was still pulsing inside of her. She did not fear this strange man, did not fear the glow surrounding them, but instead, she found a strange sense of revelry in the pageantry and one that burst through as she ran forward with her needle held at the ready.

Hornet and Grimm clashed near the center, sparks bouncing off of their weapons as they clashed time and time again. The lights above them seemed to be burning ever brighter and at the same time, Hornet seemed to glow. The darkness of her eyes began to reflect the light of the crimson flame as her movements turned more intense, as the excitement from deep within could not be held back. She darted forward as he danced away from her before stopping. His cape pierced the floor like fangs gnashing through flash and spires began to rise from beneath her. Hornet hopped to the side avoiding what she could before she charged again once it felt like the barrage was over.

One last spire appeared beneath her as she was about to thrust toward Grimm but she did not stop. She went past the spire as it swept past her and stabbed with her needle. Grimm stood there and looked down to see that her needle had impaled itself into the wall instead of his body. They then shared a gaze, Hornet still holding onto her needle as she breathed in and out. Again he leaned in and grabbed her chin. The glow of his crimson gaze reflected in the deepness of her own eyes, flickering flames appearing from deep within. She allowed it to happen. Allowed him to lean in fully to connect their mouths in a firm kiss. The crowd cheered, and she sunk close into the embrace of the parasite.

The heat of the battle had taken her breath away already, but this excitement had truly winded her. Now her breath was stolen by the mouth on her own, her body trembling as Grimm pulled her closer with an arm looping around her shoulders. She placed her hands on his chest and closed her eyes to let herself enjoy this heat, to let her enjoy him tasting her flame. It did feel like the warmth of her body was being taken away but it could not be stolen, could not be quenched so easily. The sounds of the troupe poured through her mind. A gentle song pulled her deeper and deeper as she felt the silk of her own wires being manipulated into turning her into a marionette for his enjoyment. No, she was still herself. She had not become a puppet and would not become his puppet so easily, and yet, she did not pull away.

Digits brushing along her face trailed down and under her cloak, sliding along her bare body up to her chest where a thumb pushed and toyed with a single dot. Such boldness would get most slapped, would earn most a sharp retort but she could not help but sink to the touch. It had been so long. It had been so long since she had felt this sort of warmth, felt this sort of lust. Her body pulsed, her mind sinking further but she still did not fall fully as she fooled herself into believing this was simply part of the dance and not part of her desires being fulfilled.

When they parted, his long tongue lapped away at the air before he pulled it back into his maw and purred aloud between them, "Beautiful."

She almost mimicked the words before she instead muttered, "Is our dance over, do you concede?"

Grimm let her go and she wobbled back a few steps as he took hold of her needle by the handle. He tugged it out the wall and offered it to her in both hands while bowing deeply. As she took it gingerly, he spoke, "Take a bit of time to yourself. Let the world beyond the tent cool your mind before you come back. I would ask you to wait for another flame to wander in but your fire still burns so brightly so you are always welcome here. Especially should you want to stay."

Hornet felt a frown forming as she turned away from the strange ringmaster and huffed aloud, "I'll be back to force you out of this place, not to dance again."

The words were hollow, and Grimm did not answer as she stalked away. She stopped at the edge of the arena and thought of something. If she stepped out of this tent, would she ever come back? She knew that there was something odd about this place, something odd about that ringmaster. Hornet could still feel the dull pulse of excitement deep within her, that feeling that she could not deny. He had given her a chance to leave, to leave and never return, but why would he do that? She found herself wandering to the side of the man who was still playing his strange instrument. Hornet sat down nearby with her legs crossed and her needle resting by her side. Her eyes shut, her shoulders relaxed and she breathed out while letting the strange bug's music encircle her.

Interrupting the haunting tune was the bug's voice humming, "Will you not depart?"

She opened an eye and looked toward the stranger with his odd instrument still held ready to be played and she shook her head, "No."

"Why?" He asked plainly.

Looking up, she couldn't help but mutter, "I don't know. I really don't. Every instinct inside of me is telling me to leave." She then looked toward the bug and added quietly, "But there's a part of me that has been enjoying what has been going on. Dancing with that ringmaster of yours has felt good. It feels like I burn brighter than ever and I don't feel alone, I don't feel that my home is gone. All I feel is the dance, as he calls it."

His gaze creaked forward instead of at her as he uttered a great sigh, "Drawn in by the shadows you burn so bright. You may have the choice to stay with us in this eternal song of ours, or you may choose to leave."

She let that hang in the air because well, what could she say? He wasn't wrong. Hornet found herself inexplicably drawn to this place or perhaps it was better to say that it was pulling her in. Even now she wondered how it would be to stay among these bugs, how it would feel to abandon her post here in Hallownest. That final thought brought her gaze downward. Her duty to her kingdom remained but her kingdom had died. The existence of the troupe here was, in part, proof of that fact. Even should she stem the tide of corruption herself, or should a vessel find a way to seal the corruption for good; then the kingdom would still lie in ruin.

Hornet rose slowly and took her needle while breathing out, "Thank you for speaking, and for your song. What's your name, friend?"

The bug answered with a grunt, "Brumm."

"Brumm." She said quietly as if to taste the name before she spoke up, "Do you think it would be wrong if I stayed? I don't think I'd be much of a performer."

Dry laughter escaped the large bug, "Is that so? Hum, your dance was splendid." He then rumbled, "It is not so wrong to want a place to belong and I would welcome your warmth."

She snorted, "Was that flirting?"

He drummed his digits on the handles of his instrument while grunting, "Whether it is or is not, is up to you. Are you confident enough to believe it?"

Hornet rolled her gaze away and looked toward the open maw of the hall leading into the arena. If she went in there again then she might not leave again. Part of her wanted to join the troupe, to leave behind this loneliness, but her duty still raged. If she suffered defeat then she would have no reason to stay. And with that thought echoing in her mind, Hornet wandered deep into the tent again. She found Grimm where she had left him. He stood facing away from her but turned as soon as she walked beyond the threshold. Shadows swirled around the audience but she could still make out their shapes there waiting for the next show. Hornet wondered how she would pose this question, wondered how she even felt about this right now herself. To stay or to leave. She had that choice, she always had that choice. What was left for her in Hallonest? Nothing. And yet, she knew that her flame would eventually wither here. Her eyes did not meet his. Instead, she kept her gaze low as she wondered, would it be better to wither as long as she wasn't alone? Even still, her decision had not been made quite yet.

Without a word, she brought her needle up at the ready and met his gaze. He brought a hand up and snapped his fingers in response, the shadows being pushed away by the flames as the crowd appeared again clapping. Grimm bowed to her deeply and in return, she inclined her head this time in a sign of mutual respect. When they both straightened, the dance began without a decision made.

Hornet threw herself into the fight with all of the fire in her soul. She swung her needle and danced in the air, pushing herself off of wires before attacking again. Grimm parried her blows before moving away to circle her again, this dance of theirs continuing on and on as it should. There was less ferocity, less blood on her movements than the first time and that was because she had let herself enjoy this fully. Her soul felt elated by the excitement pulsing through her, elated by the flame above them burning brighter and brighter as they continued to circle and clash. What would look the best? What would have the crowd roaring and the flames burning brighter? Her wires shone, and her needle flashed through the air as her cloak whipped past her. Bounding from place to place as if she were flying to draw the crowd's eyes and yet, not too fast! Not too quick or else she might lose them, and she might lose her dance partner.

Eventually, they stopped at the center. Her wrist was over his shoulder with her needle piercing nothing but the air. One hand held onto her arm, the other moving slowly toward her face. He could defeat her at this very moment. He could send her sprawling to the ground with her pride shattered and her old duty dashed away. His hand only moved to touch her, only moved to caress her and bring her just a bit closer. Instead of pulling away she leaned against his cool touch and looked into his gaze. She could feel the warmth swelling, the desire building as she remembered the kiss they shared. Closer and closer they inched before they sealed their dance and their connection with an embrace of mouth to mouth. The kiss lingered, his tongue dipping into her maw to slide along her own as she leaned in with all of her desire on display. The flickering crimson in the shadows of her eyes became a burning light that reflected his own. She expected to be taken fully by him, to have her light drained away and somehow, she didn't seem to mind at all.

When their kiss ended, Grimm rumbled, "Do you wish to stay by my side? To help in this eternal ritual time and time again, performing for all who come to watch the last lights of a fading kingdom's flame?"

The answer seemed so obvious to her as if it had always been the case, always been her desire to abandon her duty. And so she uttered it quietly but with all of her fallen confidence, "Yes."

Grimm brought his hand up and snapped, the lights dying away leaving them as the only figures left in the arena. He took her by the hand and began to lead her away. She followed while noting how loose his grip was. She had agreed but he still was giving her the choice to go, still giving her the choice to wander away from this dance but her heavy heart would not let her leave. The warmth and light of the ritual was too much to resist for her and it had taken root in her eyes. Others could care for Hallownest and could fight the corruption that plagued it. There would be no need for her involvement as even if she succeeded, what would she have there to build?

Hornet was taken to a dressing chamber with finery and cloth draped all about. Her needle was taken gingerly by Grimm and she did not complain as he set it against the wall before he did the same with her cloak. She stood there with her body vulnerable and ready for his touch as his wings opened enough to reveal his body. They both stood exposed together, both leaning against one another's touch as he stroked her face and moved in for a kiss. Their other encounters had been gentle compared to what happened now.

Her mouth met his in a firm press, her body pushed back against the edge of a bed as her maw was invaded by a ravenous tongue. The hands that had been so gentle and reverent of her before were now moving down to her arms to grip tight, digits trailing up to the shoulders to dig sharp points in that made her wince and tremble. Hornet only felt excitement as his grandiose demeanor melted apart. He pulled his mouth away to let them both breathe, their mouths producing a shared steam that trailed around them and made her feel dizzy as she was settled back onto the bed.

A groping hand moved to her chest to squeeze while the other moved down to her waist to grip and tighten, his mouth moving near her shoulder as he rumbled aloud, "I did not think that I would be able to hold such a beautiful living flame. That I would be able to keep such a tender surprise for myself. We will make such beautiful music together. I almost want to keep you in a cage for only my amusement but doing so would rob this entire world of your splendor."

Terrible words and terrible intent. She knew that his desires were not innocent and that the sinister light of this tent had swallowed her whole but even still she breathed out in delight and placed a hand on his face while speaking quietly, "I am not yours quite yet. Hallownest still has a hold on me." And in nearly a whisper she leaned up to say, "Break that chain, please."

The words excited her as she said them while a sick wash of warmth trembled down her body and it seemed that it had a similar effect on Grimm. His body seemed to glow and his fingers dug into her flank as he hissed, "Then I will break all that holds you here and make you mine in true. A member of the Grimm troupe in body and soul."

Grimm's touch slipped away from her body but only for a moment. His touch returned to her thighs as he gripped tight and pushed them apart before dipping between her legs. She shuddered and clung to the softness of the bad as she felt his tongue drift along her outer warmth before slipping inside. The flames cast shadows that licked along her body and lapped away her mind just the same as the tongue inside of her. She could feel that crimson corruption taking hold of her with every little passing second. The loneliness faded. Her exhaustion passed. Her trials were over and she had nothing to worry about any longer as long as she remained quiet, cowed, and broken. Pleasure began to ebb and flow inside of her against her gut and back at her mind where she felt everything turn into fuzzy warmth but not all was as it should be. There was something inside of her mind that was ringing, a warning bell that rang aloud alongside a cry of defiance. She was not putting up nearly enough of a fight, not giving him enough of a back-and-forth as was expected of her. Was she a dainty flower, or was she the princess of Hallownest? Daughter to the Pale King? Daughter of the beasts of Deepnest?

Her legs clenched around his shoulders and she placed a hand atop his head urging his tongue in deeper, her upper half rising as she looked down at him with a breath, "No, I don't think I'll lose myself that easily. I'll always remain my own but I want to be with you, so you'll accept this offer of yours with good grace and I'll accept that you'll try to taint me and steal my flame for your own. At the same time, you have to earn it."

Clarity struck her but it did not waive her desires, especially since his tongue was so far inside of her. Grimm's response was to keep his tongue moving, to grip and massage her thighs rather than dig his claws into them like some feral beast. She demanded his respect, demanded his lust to be given to her as irreverence rather than thrust onto her as if she were a meal. If he could break her, if he could corrupt her fully then so be it, but she wasn't going to make it easy. That would be an insult to who she was and would be rather boring in the end.

There was still part of her rising that wanted to see if Grimm even deserved her presence, a strange twist of her own pride. A kingdom had been able to contain her but she would need someone just as powerful in order to keep her by his side. Grimm kept lapping, kept pushing his tongue inside to prove himself and she found herself wanting more and more of his kisses. On occasion, he tried to pull her legs, tried to test the strength of her lock and she kept her legs locked around his shoulders nice and tight to keep him from rebelling. It was a dance of a kind, a fight that was met with sighs and chuckles, her own breath escaping her in a joyful groan as he seemed to lap away at her heat more furiously.

Grimm began answering the tightening of her legs by digging his digits in a bit, by clawing her in response in a manner that had little chance of marking her thighs but enough that she could feel that they were close to doing as such. At the same time, his tongue would twist in odd ways as if that would get her to ease up, and in some ways, it did. Whenever he moved his tongue against her inner walls, she found herself squirming, found that she had to kick on occasion to keep herself from reacting too strongly.

The pressure began to grow more intense as the buildup of her pleasure in her gut began to beat against her properly. Her hips were moving now to grind her cunt to his tongue, to grind her heat against his maw in the hopes of bringing herself closer to that sweet release. His clawing became more prominent, became more violent now as she locked her legs tighter and grabbed the top of his head to shove his face against her crotch. She lifted her head up to the heavens and closed her eyes, grinding out her pleasure as she felt the burning of their dance continue in a different way.

Finally, she felt the crash of her pleasure, the gush and release of her climax shaking her to the core as she cursed quietly and threw her head forward while her calves kept his head close. When she finished, she slowly released Grimm while leaning back with her hands on the bed and her eyes still shut. Grimm withdrew his tongue from her insides nice and slow, his tongue then trailing along her thigh at the spots where he had scratched all the way until he pulled it back into his maw.

"My, I did not know you still had the will to have such ferocity." Grimm muttered.

Hornet looked down at him with one eye and breathed out, "Would you prefer me wilted and weary? An exhausted flower for you to pluck as you please? No, if you called me a beautiful flame then I should act like it, yes?"

He purred at that and rose as he let his claws dance along her thighs, as he breathed out his pleasure, "Yes, that is much nicer than you lying back and falling so easily. This is better for my partner, my flame that will dance with me time and time again."

She shuddered as she felt his intensity pouring over her. With her eyes open and her mind somewhat clear, she could really take in his shape now. Tall and lean with a strength she had not quite noticed before. Red body with rings of black. The intensity of his gaze was almost enough to wilt her but she drove herself into the warmth of that red glare and brought her hands up to hold his face, to admire what she was throwing herself into. Their mouths met again with a gentle peck. A single time, then another, and then another and another until they were locked mouth to mouth again. This time, however, she did not lie back and simply allow him to take control. No, this time she kept her mouth to his firmly pressed and her hands drifted to his shoulders to hold on as his own moved to grasp onto her hips.

Grimm sat on the bed now and Hornet climbed onto his lap while their mouths continued their game of kisses. She felt something firm pressing against her heat, something thick and big that was begging for entrance but she ignored it for now to keep the kiss going. That was her focus right now as she tried to steady herself mentally. Her climax had left her shivering but nowhere near weak. His hands on her hips were moving in different directions making it difficult to keep her thoughts clear as her entire being seemed sensitive and it was almost as if his touch were drilling down to her soul.

Hornet could feel his presence prickling at the back of her head, could feel his own soul pulling her into his mass as if he would swallow her up at any point. She did not fight against that pull but refused to lose herself in him. It seemed that Grimm could not help but be some sort of strange creature of dream and nightmare, could not help but try to corrupt her, but it was that very desire that seemed so innate to his being that held her there in place ready to let him penetrate her.

Finally, she found herself growing more excited for a different type of sensation. She found herself hungering for that pulsing heat she felt between her legs. Hornet drew herself up onto her knees while straddling his lap as best as she could, her hips rising slowly while he passed a hand along the crook of her back without missing a beat. His fingers drifted away from her body but she felt something else prodding her heat, something nice and long that promised to fill her. She could guide him inside, she could take control fully but something entertained her about the idea of letting him have this one.

While looking directly at him, while she felt the tip toying with her shallows as it began to sink inside, Hornet breathed out, "Here. I'll keep my arms around your shoulders so you won't have to struggle for dominance. Our last dance was full of such pleasure for me but it seemed like you gave in far too easily."

His expression did not crack and yet, that perhaps said more than a frown or a scowl. Everything about him seemed to freeze in place for a second as if she had struck him and he was processing what she had done. Grimm stared at her, and continued staring until he began to laugh. He laughed and continued doing so as she tilted her head. When she thought to ask him what was so funny, his fingers moved to her rear again to grasp and pull her down, forcing half of his shaft inside of her in one go.

As she gasped and groaned, Grimm rumbled, "A dance is not quite so fun unless you let your partner shine a bit. Forgive me for taking it easy on you." She found the urge to smack his smug face until he leaned back while humming, "And it is a spectacle, a sight beyond what most would even dream of to see you shine. I slow in simple awe of what you are, of how you appear, and how you shine. Forgive me for taking it easy on you."

She almost wanted to accept his apology in order to keep up the charade but found that her words would not obey her as he bucked his hips causing her to bounce, and easing more of his shaft into her cunt. Her arms around his neck clutched on a bit tighter, her eyes shutting as she tried to keep herself from shaking too much but before she could steady herself, he thrust into her again. Hornet heard him chuckle and was about to give him a choice word or two for his taunting until she felt him thrust in her again causing her words to fail yet again, and instead spill out as a groan.

Her fingers dug into his back now as she pulled herself up slowly before bringing herself down while she finally managed to huff, "Your apology is accepted as long as you give me all you have to give right now."

Another thrust bounced her and sent more of that thick thing inside of her while he hummed and grabbed her chest, squeezing on one of her breasts as he rumbled, "Very well."

Hornet began to rock back and forth on his lap while he bucked up inside of her nice and slow. Both of them were taking their sweet time with setting the pace but soon she began to move a bit faster and he did the same in kind. His other hand was still at the small of her back passing down to her rear before coming back up to her back as if he were stroking her like a common pet. She might've been a bit more annoyed about it and might have even said something to provoke him or feign true outrage, but she found that she was enjoying this a bit too much.

Grimm was grinding inside of her more and more, his hips bucking faster and faster as she felt his shaft striking the deepest spots within her. She could feel another climax creeping up on her, the pressure in her gut growing but she wanted to save that feeling for the end of their dance rather than in the middle of it. However, she found it difficult to resist as he continued to toy with her. A thumb along her chest pressing far too gently compared to his movements, his mouth at her neck and shoulders planting little kisses that threatened to be something sharper but never escalated. The constant grinding had her mind growing fuzzier and fuzzier, and she knew that she would lose out to him in the end if she did not do something. Would this be enough to topple her? Would this be satisfying to lose to? No. It wasn't enough.

She grabbed onto his shoulders sharply and pushed. When he only budged and tilted his head, Hornet leaned back while one of her hands moved to his chest. He opened his mouth to purr something sweet that made her mind turn to mush but before she could let that defeat claim her, wires of silk erupted from all around and curled around his arms yanking him down to the bed. They lashed onto him and kept him bound to the bed, bound to her as she placed both of her hands on his chest and began to rock and grind her hips down onto his cock.

The white of her silk twinkled in the dim light of the room, that pale glow surrounding his digits and arms where the silk had been placed. Lines of her binding could be seen all around the room as well, surrounding herself as to make a cage so she could not run away either, a perfect trap for both of them to enjoy. Strange, she expected him to pull away, to perhaps even burn her first attempts but he simply laid there lounging while looking up at her with longing eyes.

"Beautiful." She heard him whisper.

That simple word brought a trembling through her body as she slammed her hips down faster, as she shut her eyes to try and eliminate what would truly corrupt her. That warm gaze of his smoldering and turning into something more loving rather than the intense desire she had seen before. What she had peered into did not threaten to swallow her that time but instead had promised something sweeter and that alone could take her. Even with her eyes closed she could feel his desire on her, could feel his warmth surrounding her as his member throbbed against her inner walls.

Each of her movements now was accompanied by a subtle line of pre that stained her inner walls letting her know that he would soon burst inside of her but she did not stop moving her hips, did not stop the motion of her body atop of him. Anytime she bounced her thighs and her body struck his earning a clap that cheered them on, and encouraged her to keep going faster and faster. The curiosity of why he had not set flame to her silk continued to toy at the back of her head but was soon pushed aside by the constant beating of her pleasure against her thoughts. The lust and arousal became too much for her to handle, her head thrown back as she moaned aloud and gasped for more.

Hornet drove herself downward with one more push and shuddered as she felt him let loose inside of her without further warning. As his heat stained her entire being, she heard him whispering as if he were all around her, "My apologies, I could not stop myself. Your intensity, your beauty, your very presence is something I cannot help but behold in utter awe."

She shuddered while looking down at him, her fingers trailing over her crotch as if to outline where she felt his seed pumping in while she muttered, "You could be burying your claws into me right now, you could be breaking me as you said you would, so why have you not broken free? I'm sure you could burn this all away, can't you?"

"It would be a shame." Grimm said with a hum while looking at his bound hand.

"A shame?" Hornet repeated with a frown.

Grimm chuckled, "A shame to burn away such a delightful sight. My nightmares are nowhere near as beautiful as your silk."

Quietly, as the lights began to dim in the chamber, Hornet leaned down and accepted her defeat, to seal herself in this lovely ritual with one more kiss. Her silk loosened and the world turned over as she laid on her back now with her legs spread and her arms hanging loosely as he loomed over her, as his wings wrapped around her and swallowed her in a delightful world of darkness where she was the only light. The princess of Hallownest had fallen.

A tent sat at the center of Dirtmouth. It glowed with an eerie light, bright and burning with a scarlet hue. Despite that, there were a few curious enough to enter, a few fools that earned a place among the masked crowd at the center of the larger tent. A bug with an accordion played music in the dark standing at the center of it all before he bowed his head and disappeared as well in a cloud of smoke. The crowd appeared beneath the light of a flame that appeared high above the arena. It was there that an insect fell from the skies cloaked in scarlet kissed by black lines. A hood hung over her head but as she landed on a mesh of wires in the center of the air with her arms held out and her needle held in one hand, all could see the splendor of her eyes swirling with shadow and kissed at the center with the loveliest of flames. This latest addition to the troupe seemed to glow in many ways. The flames in her eyes that could be seen on occasion. Her aura itself produced a shine for all to see, and her body itself glowed with a particular life that made some wonder if the troupe would have another member in due time.

Though her old home remained in ruins, Hornet knew that life would begin and would continue to circle as this lovely song and dance continued. Brumm would play his strange instrument, and she would bound into the air for all to see her splendor, and as her foot touched the floor a gout of flame appeared behind her, wings soon surrounding her in comforting dark as her husband and partner introduced himself to the crowd and announced their next dance. Everything was a delight.