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Today was the day. The day that Hornet would propose to Lace. She was nervous, but her excitement far exceeded her fear of rejection. They’d been dating for years, and Lace had even been willing to move to Hallownest for her. For her to refuse… it just wouldn’t make sense. She had already gotten her siblings to start preparing the wedding (under Quirrel’s supervision, of course. Those hooligans can’t be left on their own or the entirety of Dirtmouth will be burnt to the ground when she returns). Still, even though everything was ready, even though she knew Lace would say yes and that nothing would go wrong, she was still nervous.
A dark wind blew through Dirtmouth on that day, and even ElderBug had moved inside. The insidious shadow overhead, of approaching rain clouds and the threat of thunder, just made her even more anxious. With flowers in hand and a small, carefully designed box with a ring inside, Hornet approached where she knew Lace to be. The mushroom leaned against the wall past the graveyard, dressed in her white robes, arms crossed, a gentle frown covering her face.
Hornet immediately knew something was wrong, but she pushed it to the back of her mind. This was going to be a happy day, whatever was bothering Lace could be fixed. “Lace.” Hornet called out, doing her best to keep her strong demeanor up despite her increasing dread. Lace looked at her with sad eyes that made Hornet want to run to her, to pick her up and keep her safe, to take her back to their nest and make sure nothing ever hurts her again, but she manages to resist her instincts. She gets onto one knee, holding out the flowers and the box. “I’ve known you for a long time Lace, and I love you a lot. I… fuck I didn’t think out how I’d actually ask. Um… I was wondering if you’d… be with me forever? Will you marry me?” Hornet asks, a smile on her face.
But Lace’s frown doesn’t change, it only deepens. Tears begin to swell in the corners of her eyes. “Hornet, I’m so sorry.” The mushroom says, and Hornet’s heart instantly shatters, knowing what must come next. “I’m sorry, Hornet… but… we can be together no longer.” She says, and Hornet almost starts crying, and she barely manages to hold back tears. She drops the flowers and ring box, the ring falling out and disappearing in the thick, unkempt grass beneath her.
“What? Lace… why? I love you!” Hornet asks, nearly screams. Her legs give out with grief, and her tears burst forth, running down her face like rivers. Lace dramatically turns away from Hornet, one hand extended towards Hornet and the other across her forehead as she gasps between tears.
“I know, I love you too! But… my father doesn’t approve of us! He’ll never give you his blessing!” Lace cries.
“Who is he?” Hornet asks, desperate, grabbing onto the hem of Lace’s dress like she’ll disappear at any moment. “Please tell me, I’ll talk to him! I’ll change his mind!” She cries. Suddenly, she hears movement behind her, she becomes aware that someone is standing right behind her, and she whirls around, shock, confusion, and fear coursing through her veins. “MR. MUSHROOM?!?” She asks, falling backward and quickly attempting to crawl away from the colossal fungus. She realizes that Lace has disappeared, leaving her all alone with the monsterous mushroom.
“Hornet.” He bellows, shaking the very ground beneath her feet as a bolt of lighting strikes in the distance, and the rain begins to fall in sheets. “You may not marry my daughter, Lace. I forbid it.” He says with a cold frown. Hornet, completely consumed by despair, let’s out a wail of defeat.
——
Hornet lurches awake, jumping upright with a gasp, clutching her blankets in a white-knuckle grip. Sweat is running down her forehead as she struggles to catch her breath. Lace stirs beside her, opening one eye to check on her wife. “Hornet, sweetie? Are you okay?” She asks.
Hornet nods, wiping the sweat off of her forehead. “Im okay. Just a nightmare, I’m fine, go back to bed.” She rambles, and Lace gives her a silent nod, snuggling a bit closer before falling back asleep. She’s in Lace’s and her house in Dirtmouth… it’s been… what, seven years since they got married? The prospect of meeting Lace’s parents shouldn’t be scary because it won’t happen, Lace said it herself, her parents were most likely dead. Still, what if Mr. Mushroom was Lace’s father? What if he returned to Hallownest? What if he was outside of their house at this very moment, giving her a judgement glare. Her head whips around to their window, but no one stands outside it. She takes a deep breath, laying down next to Lace, cuddling up next to her. Could she live with the knowledge that he would be her father in law?
Hornet hopes she never has a nightmare like that ever again.