Chapter Text
All is coming to an end. Their purpose for coming here, held within the unforgiving chains of the Black Egg. Doomed to forever play their part as the dutiful late wish of their father.
To fulfill their role as a vessel.
To stop the infection.
To save their siblings from their demise.
If only the Pale King understood that no matter how much he tried to make his creations feel no emotions and having no minds of their own, it cannot be done.
His creations... all love him, deep down, and for the knight... they don't want any of this to happen.
The sorrow of this kingdom. Bugs dying and many were mind-controlled by the infections with their souls overtaken by the rage of an old Goddess. The Light.
At this very moment, they're being held by heavy chains covered in seals of binding.
They glistened slightly when the Knight moved or when they were just standing still and for the first time in their life, they felt emotions...pure boredom.
Even though it had only been a few hours after that fight with their sibling, the Hollow Knight.
If this was how their elder sibling spent their time here, then Ghost could understand why they stabbed themself- Okay no, actually they did that because they wanted to be free of the infection and helped Ghost get rid of it.
In the back of their mind, they could hear the sound of a being... the Goddess of the Sun.
The fluffiest of moths. The feathery-
"I get it, shadow being. Silence your thoughts, it's getting too loud for me," The Sun Goddess said telepathically to the knight as she rested up in her new cage.
It was not going to hold her for long, mark her words.
Though it felt different here than from being in that Pale Wyrm's ‘pure’ vessel or so she thought.
This little shadow... was full of unrestrained emotions and thoughts, like it had a mind of its own.
Ahh, maybe this could be of use to her.
She could infect the mind of this little knight too just like what she did to that last one. After making up her mind, The Radiance focused on the last of her weakened power to slip into the mind of this little Knight...
But... something was holding her back
"What is this!" The god hollered as she couldn't even penetrate the Knight's mind, blocked by the searing coldness of ink-like properties, dragging at her wings and trying to drown her alive.
Don't you recognize it?
The knight thought out loud to the sun goddess.
The radiance mumbled something under her breath that sounded like "Void" to the Knight, but they weren't so sure if they heard it right.
Then there was silence. No one talked or spoke to anyone in this silent chamber. Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into days.
...
Only the sounds of dust particles falling and clanging of the chains could be heard within the quiet chamber meant to trap anyone unfortunate inside.
...
... until the quietness was broken by the Radiance.
"If only I am free from my confines, I would personally drag you to the deepest, darkest part of dream, little shadow," She huffed before curling up into a ball and pout.
All those years getting trapped really made her lonely, at least this one talks.
That sounds more like a nightmare to me. I thought dreams are supposed to be good.
The knight replied jokingly, their head tilted downwards as they felt more and more tired standing up.
Radiance just rolled her white-tinted eyes.
Joke?
Who knew a lifeless vessel could joke, but this one was not like the others.
"Oh please, dreams are good...but if that dream doesn't stand out then it'll be forgotten forever..." As she said that, the moth turned silent as her mind drifted back to the past.
The light of the Pale being radiated so bright as he turned all of her children and subjects away.
They all see him as a better leader after he gave them thoughts.
All because he was better and usurped her of her light and kingdom before trapping her in that child of his...
She zoned out for a while until Ghost repeatedly called her name.
Radiance? Moth mom? Sun God-
"Wait, what did you just call me?" The moth asked while feeling like she had just woken from a bad dream.
Sun Goddess?
The knight replied before Radiance stopped them again.
...
"No no, before that"
...
Moth mom?
They said again while this time tilting their head confusingly. What's up with that?
"That name...I haven't heard that name since eons ago," Her gaze softened as she remembered something of the past... that really brought back some good memories that were locked in the back of her mind.
Ghost didn't know why they said her name like that, but it felt appropriate since she feels.... warm and safe for some reason.
Even though she's an evil moth who tried to enslave everyone to infection- That thought got cut off as the feathery moth tried to say something.
"If... if I could change something in the past, I would accept the fact that even if I hate the Pale Wyrm, I would not want many individuals to die because of me," Something sparked within her. A bright light within a gentle alluring dream.
Just spending a small time with the little vessel made her feel something that she had forgotten while she was in the rampaging phase.
Ghost looked surprised. It only took a small-time (few days or is it years?) for her to open up to them and she felt regretful that she caused all that infection.
Wow, it's very unbelievable. Almost as unbelievable as having them stopped the infection in under 5 hours, which would be impossible.
Why the change of heart?
The Radiance paused her thoughts...why did she say that?
"Maybe because...who would adore you if there's no one alive?"
And maybe that was the only reason why she changed her perspective of the infection, but that answer will be stuck with her every time she asks herself "Is it really what she wanted? Is the infection worth it?"
The knight went silent before saying,
If I could... I would want our father to love and care for us. Would it change if he didn't need to care for the infection plaguing his citizens?
Ghost said in their mind sadly as the two sat quietly in the Black Egg once more. Though, only The Radiance was chilling in the dream world. They had the unfortunate circumstances of being held by chains, tethered to the center of the chamber.
After everything that had happened to them, they felt exhausted. With a tired nod of their head, they went into a deep slumber.
The radiance seemed to go quiet too as she wrapped her feathery wings around the cold Knight.
Not that they could feel her, but at least they would feel some... comfort that they were no longer alone in this place.
That, and she was no longer driven by the feeling of hatred and the need to return.
Almost everyone died, there was no one to follow her anymore.
...
If only they could both wake up from this nightmare.
Bonus: Tada, it's Grimm!
"Did someone say nightmare?" Fire particles started to float around the darkroom, giving off a slight glow of comfort.
As the one and only, Grimm appeared... elegantly!
"Oh no," The Radiance facepalmed at the appearance of Grimm. Her counterpart of dream and nightmare.
The nightmare-being winked at the moth.
"Oh yes!" Grimm purred before offering a cup of hot, red, chili hot cocoa.
"I heard you're in need of-" He didn't even get to finish his sentence before Radiance slapped the hot cocoa in his face and the knight seems to be sleeping soundly even though there's a chaotic choco trouble going on.