Archive of Our Own

A hot, burning feeling had been ignited underneath her silk body ever since the weaver saved her from getting consumed by the void years ago. It’s a feeling that she can’t describe initially. The flame within her burns stronger as time flows by, finding herself to be committing a lot of her time alongside that weaver. Whether it would be helping her to rebuild Pharloom, or simply enjoying the silence alongside her, Lace’s opinion on her has shifted drastically compared to their first encounter. Lace playfully remarked about having strong desires towards the weaver, but it has evolved into a genuine affection towards her.

It was difficult for Hornet to find someone that would stick with her for the rest of their life. She has outlived all her previous loved ones due to her long lifespan as a half pale-being, thus she ended up isolated throughout the majority of her life. Even though she has gotten used to it, part of her wanted someone else with an eternal life to provide her company and support her. Hornet never had someone in her entire life to see her growth and development, thus her barriers were raised very high among the bugs she encountered through her life. That’s not to say that she did not have any friends throughout her lifespan, but Hornet has an internal fear that she successfully masks, the fear of not having someone else who shares the same eternal lifespan to witness her struggles and comfort her about it.

That was, until she saved Lace.

Hornet had devoted her time towards the eternal silk being, helping her to live the life she yearned for. She felt happy to be able to find someone else that she can devote her time to in her exhausting life. Despite the bickering, she’s proud to witness her finding new purpose in life through the new activities she enjoys, such as singing alongside Sherma in Songclave and visiting Fleatopia. Her spending time with Lace causes a reignition of a long lost spark within Hornet’s heart. Even though the emotion isn’t as strong compared to Lace, Hornet finds herself to be more comfortable spending time with her. It’ll be lying to say that Hornet isn’t a little embarrassed of having feelings towards her.

To say that both of them are unprepared for taking their relationships into the next level is a huge understatement. Lace often fantasized about the idea of being in romantic relationships for her personal desires, but to actually enter one is something different entirely, especially when it's with Hornet of all the bugs she encountered in her life.

For Hornet, a spark reignited within her body thanks to her time spent with Lace, and she’s extremely conflicted regarding the idea of having her as a partner. Both of them are unaware that they have crushes on each other. It’s quite a mess between them.

•───────────────────────────────────⋅۝⋅───────────────────────────────────•

“Miss Lace, I notice your lack of passion in your beautiful hums. Is anything bothering you?”

Upon hearing Sherma’s innocent tone, Lace snaps out of her stressful thoughts and tries to regain her composure.

“Ahahahaha! My beloved Sherma, the passion of my hums remains just as lively as it always has been. I’m experimenting with the range of my vocal chords. Doesn’t it get stale to hear the same melody without any variations?”

Sherma can’t ignore the shift in Lace’s disposition. How she’s been playing with her sleeves for the past five minutes, how she’s been avoiding his gaze. He approaches her closer, gently laying his hand on Lace’s back. This helps Lace to calm down a little.

“Miss Lace, you appeared to be overwhelmed, are you okay? We can end our session early if you want to.”

Upon hearing Sherma, she shifts on her seat. She is grateful for Sherma’s consideration and genuine care for her well-being, as she needs space for herself.

On the other hand, she also knows that she can’t fully resolve her inner turmoil by herself, and she needs someone else to seek support. Despite being far more mature now, her low self-esteem still persists, with her believing that she can’t expand her relationships beyond what she currently has.

With Lace still looking nervous, Sherma gently sings a lullaby. Upon hearing it, she starts to relax more, giving her a better thought flow into processing her feelings and considering her actions.

“Thanks, Sherma…” Lace smiles, grateful for the beloved pilgrim. “I apologize for not opening up regarding the inner turmoils I have for a while now. I’m hesitant whether I should open up despite knowing how complicated it can be.”

“Miss Lace, I fully understand your hesitation about revealing your inner demons. However, I’m certain that whatever emotional baggage you still have I’ll provide the best help I can offer. I do not wish to witness my beloved friends in pain.”

Despite being close friends for many years, Lace is still surprised by Sherma’s kind-hearted attitude to help everyone in need, even the ones who seemed unforgivable at first glance. Prior to befriending Sherma, she never believed a soul so pure could be graced upon this world. His kind hearted nature can often be enigmatic to a lot of the bugs in this universe.

“My…my…you silly little pilgrim.” Lace teases, patting Sherma’s back gently as both of them share a giggle. Lace takes a deep breath, letting herself calm a little before finally venting to him.

“Sherma, how would you describe our friendship? Are you happy with what we have currently?”

“Of course I do, Miss Lace! I’m always happy whenever you show up and start singing together. I will always remember the moment when you were hesitant at our first ever session and your beautiful voice eventually flourished from the bottom of your heart.” says Sherma cheerfully. “Aren’t you happy about our current friendship?” Sherma questions her worryingly.

“Oh, not at all, Sherma. I’m extremely grateful for our current friendship. It’s just that I don’t think I can push myself beyond any further regarding my relationship with someone else…despite my desires urging me. My mind and body to accomplish that…and it just upsets me thinking that…I will never…” Lace pauses, unable to form the proper words. Her mood shifts down, drowned by the same doubts lingering in her mind for years. “I won’t…be…” Lace tries to continue, but her mood shift halts her train of thought again.

Sherma notices Lace’s mood shift and immediately approaches her, trying to understand the internal turmoil Lace has been compressing. He gradually becomes worried as only silence comes from Lace as she continues to remain vulnerable to those thoughts, getting completely absorbed by them.

“Miss Lace…is everything alright?”

Lace immediately snaps out of her thoughts and realises that Sherma has been concerned for her for a good while now. Lace tries to portray her dramatic persona. However, she can’t bring herself to do that, and is left standing still with her emotions still bubbling up, unprepared to reveal them to Sherma.

A couple of seconds flowed by as the tension gradually became awkward. Lace is still hesitant to reveal her crush, but she understands that she needs his help. Lace takes a few deep breaths before continuing. “Sherma, ever since Hornet saved me from the void a long time ago, I have this burning desire to reveal my feelings for her, and it continues to grow stronger every passing day.”

Upon hearing that, Sherma is astonished, his eyes sparkle brighter than the stars shine at night. His expression becomes more joyous, with the purest form of happiness any bug could possess in the entire universe. Lace notices Sherma’s joy and that pushes her to continue to reveal her genuine romantic love for the weaver to the little pilgrim.

“I’m eternally grateful for the deeds she has done for me, helping me to find my new purpose in life beyond what I was conceived for. Thanks to her, I’m proud to have made new companionships that I appreciate having to this day. There has never been another bug I’ve encountered that actually sees me more than the character I was conceived for, and that has made me develop genuine feelings for her.” says Lace, as she looks downwards, trying to hide her slight blush while faintly smiling. “As years pass, the feelings I have inside become stronger every day, and I have to confess them to Hornet. However, I doubt myself a lot as I still don’t believe myself to be the romantic partner that spider yearns for in her mind. I fear that our romantic desires won’t work out in the end and that it’s better for us to remain as friends instead…”

Sherma notices Lace’s mood shifting to a lower one, and is empathetic towards her. He knows that Lace and Hornet have become quite close to each other after Pharloom had been saved from the void, as he catches glimpses of them being happy in each other’s company in Bellhart. However, he never knew that her close friend had developed such strong emotions towards the weaver, and that motivates him further to help his friend.

“Miss Lace, I’m proud of you for admitting you have feelings towards the Red Maiden. It brings me joy to know you enjoy her company and you seek more in your relationship. May I wonder why you are afraid of taking the leap?”

Lace becomes slightly nervous, as she’s about to explore her miserable past again, after abandoning it for many years. The doubts hiding in the back of her mind have resurfaced again.

“I have reflected on my lack of experience regarding the quite limited number of true connections I have made in my life overall. Despite being loved by everyone, the doubts back in my mind still linger on to this day, as I don’t believe myself to carry the relationship I have with the spider further. The love I received from her reminds me of the love I could have gotten from my mother and my elder sibling, hence I ended up being quite closed off in public spaces. I fear that the spider will soon understand how much of a pariah I am and will abandon me should we become mates.”

“But Miss Lace, you and the Red Maiden have been close companions for a long time. She wouldn’t abandon you for that alone.”

“Throughout the years, I have attempted to subtly show my affection towards her, but she remains ignorant. I must be a fool to believe I would have even the slightest opportunity to have Hornet as my mate.” says Lace bitterly, disappointed at herself for having her hopes up towards an unlikely outcome. She sits down, curling herself up so that everyone else won’t have to witness the sadness from her.

“Miss Lace…” says Sherma emphatically.

Before he could continue, Lace raises her hand, her head still facing down. “Sherma, my dear. You don’t need to worry about me over an improbable outcome. I blame myself for raising both of our hopes up and I should be grateful that the spider and I still remain as close friends to this day. I should just get over my desires already…”

Sherma continues to approach Lace, sitting down right beside her. The sadness continues to linger on her, as she tries her best not to dwell on something so stupid and meaningless. Without hesitation, Sherma hugs Lace. She faces up and smiles sadly at Sherma, the both of them enjoy the silence for a while.

“Miss Lace, you aren’t foolish for believing you have a chance with the Red Maiden. I firmly believe that you would be the best partner she would ever have in her life.” says Sherma, breaking the silence between them.

“Ohhhhhhh my dear Sherma, as if I have a chance in getting that spider to fall in love with me! Please quit raising my hopes high again, as I know they will drop steeply and I will be hurt.” utters Lace dramatically, as she distances herself slightly away from Sherma.

“Miss Lace, I’m being serious when I believe you can open the Red Maiden’s heart. Whenever she shows up to our sessions, I often notice she becomes enamoured when you start your beautiful hums. Her cheery expressions from your gorgeous vocals are so pure that it makes me joyful too. I can’t help but wonder if she might have feelings for you too.”

Lace is taken aback by Sherma. She never considered taking a glance at Hornet’s reaction since she is often too focused on her hums whenever their session manages to attract an audience. She also never considered whether her hums truly manage to bring out certain indescribable emotions from the bugs in Pharloom. Is it possible for Lace to have another chance?

“Even so, I still heavily doubt that the spider truly has feelings for me. I don’t believe I am prepared to enter a relationship and I feel it’s better to just move on…” Lace stops mid-sentence, unable to bring herself to finish it. Her body shifts nervously, wanting to distance herself from Sherma. Her breathing slowly becomes quicker, trying to get her thoughts to flow back. She turns away from Sherma in embarrassment as she tries to regain her composure again.

With no time wasted, Sherma immediately heads towards Lace and gently lays his hand on her back, eventually giving her light pats. Her shoulders drop lightly, her posture easing. She slows her breathing down, taking in huge deep breaths instead. Her body relaxes and she turns her head back to face Sherma.

“Hahahahahahaha! My, my, I am being melodramatic once again! We should let this embarrassing moment slip our mind and move on with our lives! Forget about raising my hopes up again, I should be grateful that the spider is still close friends with me to this day!”

“Miss Lace! Please listen to what I have to say first!” says Sherma as he grabs both of Lace’s hands. His brows furrow and his eyes focus on the eternal silk bug. His smile is absent. His usual cheery demeanor is replaced with a serious and determined one. Upon noticing the change in Sherma’s expression, Lace halts her self-deprecating behaviour and shifts her entire focus onto him.

“Miss Lace. I understand your worries regarding not being the partner that the Red Maiden yearns for. However, you shouldn’t let the same doubts linger on you for too long. I don’t want to witness you be in a state of instability especially after what you have gone through, and I know that in your heart you won’t be able to live down if you don’t confess your feelings to her. Both of you have gone through so much together and have learnt to trust each other, so I believe she would understand your feelings towards her even if she doesn’t reciprocate them back. Would you rather finally obtain closure with her or let the same doubts haunt you for eternity?”

Lace remains silent, letting his words sink into her mind. She reflected the pain she had gone through while under her mother’s control, how she was forced into an act she didn’t want to live and the freedom she felt after her journey with Hornet. This should be the moment for her to fully heal, to move on from the doubts and start to improve her self-worth and life, to learn to fully believe and love herself. Despite that, it’s still a challenge for her to fully move on from her horrible past.

“Sherma…my dear…I really appreciate your huge consideration regarding me. You’re right about being true to my feelings to Hornet deep in my heart. To be frank, I’m extremely nervous. I didn’t know when would be the perfect time for my confession due to Hornet and I having tight schedules. I just keep on delaying it even though I hate doing that. I fear that my confession won’t go as I planned and it will push Hornet away…”

“Miss Lace, I believe you can do it. Remember how you scoffed at the idea of both of us being friends? Look at us now, our friendship has been growing stronger each passing day. I believe this also applies to you with the Red Maiden. You don’t have to be anxious about what happens in the future when you haven’t even started taking action. I want you to push those doubts and fears away and focus on your goals dead straight. I believe you, Miss Lace!”

Lace is touched by Sherma’s kindness, which prompts her to immediately hug him.

“Thank you…Sherma…” says Lace, assured that Sherma will always help her in need. “I’m still struggling to work on my inner fears, but I’ll keep on going if it means the best.”

Sherma is delighted upon hearing her friend. He gives Lace a gentle pat on her head as she chuckles elegantly. “Miss Lace, whatever happens regarding the confession, I will always be there to hear and comfort you if there’s demons still haunting inside you.” says Sherma eagerly. Lace gently smiles, grateful for having him as a close friend.

“Miss Lace, I heard that you also have a plan about confessing to Hornet.”

“Yes, Sherma. Part of me is still afraid, but I want to start believing that things will work out between the spider and I. I will show my true affection towards her!”

“Are you prepared to carry your plan out?”

“Yes, I am.”

•───────────────────────────────────⋅۝⋅───────────────────────────────────•

The trees hum with life, the large roots stretching into the bed of the lakes. The colors of blooming flowers are vibrant and captivating, the smooth petals swaying in the calm breeze. Phacias, pollenicas and gahlias are in a state of tranquility, as they enjoy the profound peace their homeland has to offer. Pond skippers can be seen skipping through the water, elegantly and swiftly making their steps dynamic as they land onto its calm surface. The serene breeze along with the gentle rhythm of the lake’s waves provides the pond skippers a much needed area to ease themselves up after hours of skipping. They gently glide on the body of water alongside their group.

Splash! A longpin stabs through the body of one of the creatures, prompting the remaining unharmed ones to flee. The poor bug tries to glide, but the longpin has severely damaged its muscles to the point of struggle. The longpin appears to be coated with a venomous substance, weakening the bug movement and strength. As seconds passes, the injured bug slowly deteriorates, as it halts its movement due to the lack of strength for support. Its inevitable outcome approaches, as the body lays dead, floating on the huge body of water. A weaver with a red cloak approaches the body, examining it to ensure that it's truly dead before proceeding to carrying it, bringing it towards the nearby pondcatcher.

“Thanks, miss! Your help is well appreciated!” says the pondcatcher, as they carries the dead body back to Bellhart. Hornet smiles lightly. Her choice to devote her time in helping to rebuild Pharloom has shifted her perspective on life significantly, as she gradually grows to genuinely care towards the citizens. That isn’t to say her life has gotten any easier, as she currently has way more responsibilities on her shoulders in order to ensure that Pharloom will continue to improve over the years. Despite enjoying providing constant assistance towards the citizens, it can also be exhausting for Hornet, being endlessly overwhelmed by the quantity of tasks she’s provided daily.

Hornet decides to take a small break at a nearby bench. As she heads towards it, she notices a familiar ring stuck on the ground, appearing to be recently placed. More rings can be seen on the ground, resembling a path. A recognizable melody can be heard from afar, one that brings Hornet joy and comfort knowing the bug that often sings that melody…

“Poshanka! Hornet Wielding Needle, it’s a pleasure for us to encounter each other again.”

Hornet smiles as she approaches the bench, taking a seat right next to her longtime friend.

A calm wind howls as Hornet takes a seat, giving the exhausted weaver much needed space to relax. Hornet takes some deep breaths, letting herself get absorbed into the atmosphere.

“It appears you seem to be extremely exhausted, Hornet Wielding Needle. May I inquire what has been bothering you lately?”

“Thank you for your concern, Shakra. I’ve just been tired from the tasks and deeds I’ve done in this flourishing kingdom.”

“I understand, Hornet Wielding Needle. Ever since I settled here I have also been lending my hand, and my perspective has been expanded as I learn the harsh obstacles these citizens have to face daily. I admire their resilience during the toughest of times.”

“It is indeed admirable, Shakra.”

Both of them went back to enjoying the silence, the wind continuing to sway calmly.

“Hornet Wielding Needle, do you enjoy your residence in Bellhart?”

“Indeed, Shakra. I have warmed up to the lifestyle significantly. Their worship can be tiresome, but their conversations are quite pleasant.”

Shakra chuckles. “I can’t imagine how bothersome it can be for you to be constantly admired, especially the little ones.”

Hornet groans, remembering how the little pilgrims would always follow her even when she’s doing the most mundane tasks ever.

“Pavo has been helping me a lot in some of my tasks. I greatly appreciate his assistance and concern regarding how exhausted I felt after my tasks.”

“I remembered how insistent you were about refusing to let anyone else help you.” Shakra teases. Upon hearing that, Hornet flushes with embarrassment, recalling how foolish she was in allowing assistance from her friends, and how she always brings herself into more trouble. “Shakra!” Hornet sighs, lightly punching Shakra’s shoulder as she giggles.

They went back to enjoy the scenery while relaxing. The calm wind continues to murmur, and they soak in the environment.

“Hornet Wielding Needle, do you have any more individuals that particularly stick out to you?”

“Of course Shakra. Pinmaster Plinney comes to mind. He has significantly improved in his combat abilities, and I’m impressed by his fast learning skills.”

“Indeed. I noticed that he has gotten better at defending himself and participates a lot in aiding a couple of pondcatchers in hunting.”

“Ever since I saved Pharloom from the void, Plinney has taken a more active role in rebuilding by teaching the residents how to wield a pin so that they can learn to defend themselves. Lace also has lended her hand alongside Pinmaster Plinney in teaching.”

“Ahhhh, Lace Wielding Pin. I have grown to appreciate her as well. Initially I was extremely skeptical regarding her nature due to her unforgiving misdeeds. Hornet Wielding Needle, from what I recall ages ago, you’re the only one who sees something within her while the other residents in Pharloom have disgusted looks.”

“Ever since I understood her circumstances, I have this feeling within me that she deserves another chance to live the life that she needs. I’d rather not allow everyone else to continuously demean her solely based on her past actions despite understanding the circumstances. It’s an uphill battle, but eventually everyone warmed up to her as she continues proving herself capable of assisting others in need.”

“I respect her perseverance in redeeming herself, along with her helping others who struggle to find reasons to live. Hornet Wielding Needle, I also notice that you have spent a lot of time with Lace Wielding Pin in a variety of activities.”

“That is true, Shakra. Both of us enjoy the flea games, and I often visit her singing alongside Sherma in Songclave. Her voice brings out a feeling that I have not felt in a long time, the same feeling I felt when I was with Herrah. It’s something that I will cherish forever, and that comfort continues to linger whenever I spend time with Lace. No matter how mundane and boring the tasks can be, her presence has sparked something within me that I’m determined to hold on to. I felt that both of us have grown closer due to our unique circumstances as immortal beings, with similar struggles and both of us learning to help each other over it. There will never be someone else I’ve grown more fondly compared to Lace. I feel like we could be something more…”

“Hornet Wielding Needle?” Shakra gasps, as she’s surprised how strong Hornet’s emotions are towards Lace. Upon realizing this, Hornet immediately snaps out of her monologue, facing away from Shakra as she feels embarrassed. How could she let herself reveal her inner feelings to anyone? Let alone Shakra, of all bugs?

“Come to think of it, I sense a recurring pattern that whenever Lace is brought up during conversations, your tone appears to become affectionate and warm-hearted…” Before Shakra could finish her sentence, Hornet grabs her needle as she dashes away in an instant. Shakra barely notices Hornet disappearing.

•─────⋅۝⋅─────•

“Hornet Wielding Needle!” Shakra calls out in the flourishing environment of Shellwood. She has been traversing the lush, dull-green habitat for a while, unable to find any traces of Hornet. Shakra walks pass through bushes filled with dozens of vibrant, eye-catching, purple flowers scattered in her surroundings. The splinters camouflaged themselves within the large, overgrown roots, as Shakra continues to trek though Shellwood.

A splinterbark didn’t get the memo from the rest of its fellow inhabitants, as it foolishly charged towards Shakra, attacking her. She evades its dash attack, as she prepares herself to counter another attack from the splinterbark. It sharpens its own claws, flying high enough that any form of direct contact is unviable. Shakra throws her rings in an unusual angle to confuse the enemy. Unfortunately for her, the splinterbark manages to block her attack with its claws and follows up with a sweep attack. Shakra uses the opportunity to kick the splinterbark and throw two rings that directly hit its forehead, severely damaging the splinterbark. It attempts to fly away, but it's too late as Shakra throws another ring directly at its face, killing it.

As Shakra retrieves her rings, she notices Hornet’s footprints right beside its dead body, forming a path heading towards Shellwood Pond. Shakra follows those footsteps and soon enough, she notices Hornet resting on a wooden platform as she has a perfect view of Shellwood Pond. The dimly reflected light on the shallow pond barely casts Hornet’s shadow, and the falling leaves paint a calming yet somber mood. Hornet’s needle is leaning right beside her.

“Hornet Wielding Needle…” Shakra gently approached Hornet, taking a seat right beside her. Hornet doesn’t respond, as she continues facing the view without looking at Shakra. She gives Hornet some space, as both of them silently view the dull-greenish scenery of Shellwood Pond, with the wind blowing gently and slowly across them.

“Shakra…” Hornet breaks the silence, catching her attention. “I’m embarrassed of myself for even falling in love with Lace to begin with…”

“Hornet Wielding Needle?”

“Despite Lace and I close companionship, I still heavily doubt that we would work well as mates. I’m still too foolish to admit to Lace regarding my true feelings, how much of her presence is enough for me to brighten my mood, how warm I feel inside in all the time we spent together, how she makes me relearn to love all over again. I should have confessed to her ages ago, but I doubt that Lace would have the courage to accept my true feelings as she tenses whenever the topic of romance is brought up…”

Shakra leans closer to Hornet, placing a hand on her shoulder, reassuring her that she is in a comfortable and safe environment to vent out her inner frustrations without any distractions or judgement from bugs.

“Part of me feels the only reason I devote my time towards Lace is solely to rebuild Pharloom, and that I should have no romantic investment and desire for Lace's character. I believe Lace would be upset and heartbroken when she eventually finds out that I didn’t care about her feelings and struggles as much as she thought I did, and is just an asset for my desires of rebuilding Pharloom into a better kingdom. The majority of our lives spent ever since I settled in Bellhart are flooded with tasks that I needed help from our residents in need. With our schedules becoming tighter every passing day, I feel like it would be a waste of time to invest in romantic relationships and I would bring both Lace and I into more trouble…”

Hornet trembles slightly, as her instincts are yelling that it isn’t right for her to go back to the life where she had lost her compassion towards any bug she encountered, the life that she has moved on from the time spent with Lace. The life that she didn’t want to return to after forming strong connections with the citizens in Pharloom.

“Hornet Wielding Needle, I fully understand your struggles regarding your nature and the difficulty faced when truly expressing yourself. Despite that, you shouldn’t let your insecurities assume control of your fate.” Shakra gestures to Hornet to let herself relax, allowing herself to be composed again. “Time flows quickly, so we shouldn’t waste any opportunities in front of us despite the potential risks involved.”

“I know, Shakra. It’s just that with Lace…I’m conflicted on whether both of us will work out romantically. I have no desire to allow myself to be heartbroken again ever since I outlived all of my past mates. Even considering the possibility of entering another romantic relationship with another bug is quite far-fetched…” says Hornet, with a bitter expression. It’s a struggle she has to grapple with in her life no matter how much she despises it.

As Hornet drowns herself with bitterness, Shakra begins to throw her rings across the shallow pond, being able to make them skip across the water in a long distance. She carries on with skipping her rings, with the following consecutive throws producing louder splashes. The loud sound eventually catches Hornet’s attention, puzzled by Shakra’s odd activity.

“Hornet Wielding Needle, it’s your turn,”

“Huh?” says Hornet, as she confusingly picks up one of Shakra’s rings. She stares at the ring for a while bewildered. While still confused, she stands up and awkwardly throws the ring across the pond. It ends up sinking immediately due to the low strength applied.

“Hornet Wielding Needle, is this all you got?”

“Shakra, I'm confused regarding your intentions.”

Shakra tosses her another ring without explaining anything.

“Put all your faith into it.”

Hornet examines the ring in bemusement, attempting to fathom what Shakra meant regarding putting her faith into it. She views the ring from all angles, really taking Shakra’s words into account.

After a long while, Hornet finally stands up. She takes a deep breath, absorbing the calm environment surrounding her, and directing all her energy and focus onto the single ring. She anticipates her throw by taking a few steps back, winding up her arm in an unusual angle to ensure that the full potential of the ring throw will be utilised.

Without any hesitation, Hornet throws the ring. It managed to surpass Shakra’s throw by a significant margin, her throw is thrice the distance of Shakra’s.

“Poshanka! I knew you had it in you.”

“Shakra, skipping a ring across a pond doesn’t help regarding my complicated feelings for Lace.”

“Hornet Wielding Needle, if you have faith regarding your ring throw earlier, I believe you can find credence in your relationship with Lace Wielding Pin blossoming into something much more beautiful. Despite claiming your deeds done for practical reasons, you always strive for stronger connections for every bug you encounter. Do you recall the countless joyful moments you spent bonding with every pilgrim in Pharloom? How do you always seek for more sincere outcomes regardless of the hopelessness of the situation? Consider every second you spent with Lace Wielding Pin, and question yourself is your relationship with her truly that exceptional to the point that you are willing to blossom that relationship?”

Hornet is stunned by Shakra’s wisdom. She often struggles in admitting that she does really care a lot about every moment spent with Lace, and the reason that she wants to pursue a romantic relationship with her in the first place is due to the sincere affection she has towards her. Every moment spent with Lace is always precious to her, with her feelings reaching to a personal level that she cherishes daily. It’s no longer just about rebuilding Pharloom, rather it’s reopening a path that Hornet hasn’t had in ages. Even then, Hornet’s doubts still hold her back, with the same feeling of outliving her partners always lingering. Her expression is conflicted, excited yet anxious about the fate that awaits her. She wants to pursue romance again, yet she also needs to keep in mind her current responsibilities in helping Pharloom, stressing her out.

“Shakra, I’m anxious about the same fate happening again…I don’t want to experience another heartbreak…”

“Hornet Wielding Needle, push those doubts away. You need to enlighten her with your sincere feelings and intentions. From the brief conversations I had with her, she thinks that you lack any romantic interest towards her, and she also has been anxious regarding pursuing a relationship with you as well. With that information in mind, would you rather take the initiative despite the risks involved or allow those ugly thoughts to continue to linger for ages as you continue to wonder, not satisfied with your current feelings?”

Hornet is stunned once again. Did Lace really have the same thoughts of Hornet too? She never considered how Lace feels towards her, nor has she ever considered how they may yearn for each other. Due to both of their tight schedules and responsibilities, Lace and Hornet often put those romantic thoughts aside to focus on rebuilding Pharloom, often leading to their intrusive thoughts lingering on the back of their minds.

“Shakra, I’m thankful for your support in realizing how long I have let my own troublesome thoughts linger. Frankly, I should have taken action ages ago.”

“It is not too late for you to take the leap. Despite your struggles in expressing your genuine feelings, your actions often manage to convey those same feelings to others. All of the pilgrims in Bellhart frequently look forward whenever you lend your hand to them or have casual conversations. Because of that, you carry on providing the glimmer of hope Pharloom needs in the toughest of times. I admire that a lot about you.”

Shakra’s words never fail to stun Hornet again. Perhaps focusing too much on her duties in rebuilding Pharloom has made her forget how appreciative everyone is towards her.

“Shakra, I’m prepared for my confession towards Lace. I still fear the possibility of the relationship not working as well as I thought, but I’d rather let those intrusive thoughts stop lingering once and for all. Whatever hurdles may appear, Lace and I will ensure we unconditionally love and support each other despite the circumstances.”

“Poshanka! May I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!” Shakra encourages. In an instant, she zooms out of Hornet’s sight, leaving behind a ring by Hornet’s foot. Hornet collects the ring, smiling with confidence. She skips the ring across the pond once again, the distance matching her previous throw, reassuring that her confidence isn’t misguided.

Hornet returns to Bellhart, feeling exhausted after the lengthy exchange between Shakra. The desaturated-gold light cast down Bellhart’s central, with no pilgrims to be seen roaming around. All of the shops and services were closed for the day, and all the pilgrims returned to their bellhomes. Due to the environment being filled with tranquillity and serenity, Hornet is able to return to her own Bellhome peacefully.

Just as she opens the door of her Bellhome, Hornet spots an unwritten letter placed on her desk. She doesn’t recall anyone in particular that has requested her for a deed, nor did she order anything to be delivered as of recently. She walks up close to the desk, taking a close examination of the letter. She realizes it’s from Lace. Heart pounding, she opens the letter and reads it slowly.

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The wind howls aggressively across the sandy, desolate land, blowing tiny clusters of rocks travelling thousands of miles, in a continuous roll. A school of skrills traverses across the barren land, swiftly moving from one spot to another, escaping from any potential predators. Piles of sand fly along the wind, getting trapped in tiny patches of vegetation, and producing extremely disturbing noises that can overwhelm any bug who dares to explore the deserted land.

Eventually, the wind calms down, shifting the atmosphere to be more serene. The sand traversing along with the wind comes to a stop, settling on a golden pin. The pin appears to be struck on the ground, medium-sized rocks holding it in place. The pin reflects a figure covered in white silk, showing that it is implanted right behind its holder. The eternal silk being appears standing, watching the empty, void-like scenery right in front of her, as she waits for someone important in her life to meet up. She continues to look over the dark-bluish sky, filled with both excitement and fear over her uncertain fate.

Tiny footsteps can be heard on the sandy, uninhabited land, catching the silk being’s attention. She turns around, cheekily smiling upon seeing the weaver’s face right behind her.

“My, my! If it isn’t the saviour of Pharloom herself.”

Hornet rolls her eyes as Lace laughs gracefully. Her elegant yet stubborn personality still remains intact even after years of strong bonding between the two.

“It appears that you have accepted my request for the meet up after all. I’m extremely delighted for my precious spider and I to finally enter a new journey that neither of us are prepared for.”

“Lace, just cut to the chase.” says Hornet, as she approaches Lace. She faces her solemnly, determined to pursue romance after ages of being closed off and isolated.

“Ah…” Lace isn’t expecting Hornet to be this straightforward regarding this matter.

“As you say so, darling! My dear little spider, I have a confession that my silk heart has been yearning for ages. I greatly appreciate your companionship throughout my life ever since I have been rescued from the void, along with your assistance in finding my new purpose in life. Thanks to you, I have made quite a few strong connections that I cherish every day. Nevertheless, I felt a significantly intense rush of emotions each passing day, and you deserve to know after years of our strong relationship. Hornet, I…”

Lace's confident facade immediately shatters, as anxiety floods her mind. How could this be? Just moments ago she had no hesitation in letting Hornet know her true feelings, and now she can't even utter a single word. Her body shakes, gradually getting intense as her anxiety builds up. Her smile vanishes, replaced by a fearful expression. It gets so bad she stops facing Hornet, and instead faces down, realizing the awkward situation she willingly dug herself into.

“Lace? Are you alright?”

“Ah…my dear spider…there’s nothing…to be worried about…It’s just that…the weather…is quite cold…for my… liking…”

The atmosphere continues to be awkward, with no words being uttered from Lace. Whenever she attempts to resume her confession, her mouth is only capable of stuttering gibberish, unable to force herself to reveal her true feelings.

Without any seconds to waste, Hornet immediately reaches Lace, gently grabbing both of her hands.

“Huh?”

Lace is surprised by the sudden gesture. She faces back to her beloved weaver, whose face displays a warm expression. Lace's anxiousness and worriness slowly dissipates, with her affection towards the weaver restoring to its full glory. Her expression warms up as she is being reassured by Hornet.

“Hornet, dear…I…” Lace slowly emits out the words, taking deep breaths in-between times to rebuild her confidence minutes ago.

“I LOVE YOU!”

Lace cheeks gradually turn into a shade of pink.

“Every moment that we spend together I realize that I love you because of who you truly are. Your generosity is something I admire, as no other bug I encounter has given me this sort of kindness I didn’t know I needed badly. The time that we spent together is some of the best moments in my life. You showed me a new path that I never thought that it was possible until now, the path that I’m committed to sticking to. It would be easy for me to keep up playing about my strong desires towards you, but it has become so genuine that you deserve to understand my true feelings. No matter what you think of me, I will always love you!”

Lace’s eyes remain closed, filled with agitation. Her body stops shaking, feeling relieved after years of hiding the truth within her.

“Lace…” Hornet gently cups her cheek, causing Lace to finally open her eyes and face Hornet. Her cheeks continue to blush in deeper shades of pinkish-red upon noticing Hornet’s expression becoming warmer.

“I have trouble admitting to myself whether I truly have feelings for you or if they are just misguided. It’s a conflicted feeling that I have been grappling on for a long while. And yet, upon reflecting the time I devoted with you, my life has shifted into something much more hopeful. Within the depths inside me, I never knew how much I yearned to return to this sort of life and you have reopened that route.”

Hornet grabs Lace’s hand even tighter, causing Lace’s silk heart to flutter. Her entire face is coated with layers of shyness. She is startled by the intensity of Hornet’s feelings towards her. As Hornet faces closer to Lace, her mind is racing in different directions. The intimate scenario between the both of them leads to her emotions being the messiest she has ever experienced prior to this moment. Perhaps what Sherma said is true.

“Lace, I love you too. I apologize if I appeared to be oblivious regarding your romantic intentions throughout the years. To be honest, I also fear you not reciprocating mine since I fear whether you are prepared for a romantic relationship or not. I don’t want to let you linger on the doubts that we both seem to share, and it is time for us to end this. I love you, dearly.”

Lace freezes. Her inner desires, her dreams, her wishes…They all become a reality. Hornet does love her back, more love than she has expected from the weaver. She is unable to comprehend how committed Hornet is. The intense emotions she has continue to exponentially rise.

“Hornet…”

“Yes?”

“I’m…flabbergasted…that you feel this way towards me as well…Haha…To be honest…I was expecting myself to get rejected…”

“Lace?! Don’t say that!”

Lace expression shifts into a much downer mood. For a moment, she pushes away lightly, distancing herself to be alone. She faces back down, staring at the sandy ground. Her agitation earlier has vanished, with her self-deprecation returning to haunt her again.

“I’m sorry, Hornet…I just…feel like…I don’t deserve you…I mean…I appreciate your help in making my life better…but that you ended up having feelings for me too? I just can’t fathom it…”

Hornet immediately hugs Lace tightly.

“Wha…”

“Lace! You deserve my love! I’m aware that it's extremely difficult for you to grasp, but I love you for who you are! You’re the first bug in my life to make me relearn how to truly love again. Because of you, I can finally feel comfortable that I find joy in the company of the other bugs in Pharloom. Settling in Bellhart and bonding with all the residents has given me a sense of delight I haven’t had in ages. Despite your flamboyant and impertinent exterior, you have shown a lot of sincerity when we spent our time together. Remember the small talks we had every once in a while that painted a reflection of our lives? How about the quiet moments where we simply enjoy each other’s company?”

Lace goes silent. She never considered those small moments being meaningful to Hornet. Her eyes gaze back at Hornet, her love overtaking her doubts. Her mood shifts into a more affectionate appearance. No more doubts in her mind can truly replace the love within her to Hornet. She truly meant it when she loved Lace in every second spent with her.

Hornet gently grabs one of Lace’s hands, tenderly holding it to reassure that she is loved. Both of them share a smile, fully focused and facing each other, drowning themselves with romantic feelings that both of them yearn for. In response, Lace holds onto Hornet’s other hand, emphasising her romantic intentions to her. Both of their cheeks flush, displaying a mixture of pinkish-red tones.

“Lace, I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.”

With no hesitation, both Hornet and Lace’s lips met. The first touch of her mouth Lace fills with coziness and warmness, and her silk muscles relax. Lace’s mood has been altered into an adoration, with dopamine filling her mind every second they continue kissing. Her eyes close, as she begins to soak in the intimate atmosphere occurring, with feelings of affection and deep attachment being promoted through their non-verbal actions. With no other interruptions, they feel more comfortable within each other’s company and can truly show both of their true affections.

Hornet deepens the kiss as her face heads closer to Lace’s, strengthening her gripping on Lace’s body. Lace’s agitation rises, wanting the weaver to intensify her powerful intimacy onto her new partner. She pulls Hornet's head slightly closer, making the kiss appear more passionate and personal, emphasising their true romantic desires for each other.

Hornet finally escapes her grasp from Lace’s lips, with Lace expressing a flirtatious smile. Both of them remain silent, their faces burning up. They stare at each other while smiling, perceiving that both of them are a couple now.

“My, my! Spider dear, it seems that you want to seek out what I have, don't you?”

“Shush!” Hornet faces away from Lace, lightly punching her shoulder as she feels slightly embarrassed. Both of them share a light chuckle over how stubborn they were for not realizing the other’s romantic desire towards themselves.

With the silence returning, Hornet and Lace decide to enjoy the calm scenery. Both of them stare over at the dark-blueish sky, with millions of tiny, scattered, glittering stars visible, filling both bugs with inner peace. A few constellations can be spotted, with some of them forming shapes of hearts. Despite the vastness of the universe, it doesn’t make both of their experiences any less insignificant, being provided with respite knowing they have consistent love and support and they are prepared for any future challenges.

Lace leans closer to Hornet, with her head bumping onto her. She allows her partner to remain in intimate contact, as both of them are still filled with endearment. Both of their faces flush slightly, smiling warmly, as they continue to enjoy the view peacefully.

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