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Ghost didn't expect to meet Grimm again in the Pantheons.
They were afraid at first—afraid that Grimm would be angry with them. They were expecting that he would make it as impossible as he could for Ghost to ascend, or for him to chew them out at least. But he seems fine. He acts like he usually does, though Ghost is also acutely aware that they don't know much about Grimm to begin with.
He, at least, has nothing to say when Carefree Melody summons familiar scarlet fire.
He doesn't say much either when he manages to defeat Ghost, nor when they defeat him the next time.
The next Pantheon is called "Pantheon of the Knight" and, if the Godseekers are doing what Ghost thinks they're doing, they might as well take a break outside of the Dream. Most of everything has been done in Hallownest, and Ghost finds that not a lot of bugs appreciate eternally silent company, so they go to the grave of the Traitor's child.
They're aware their idea of a break is also a little strange. They don't mind—they need to learn to avoid getting hurt more.
With them are a number of Delicate Flowers that sprouted around the grave, and they go about delivering it to anyone who would want them. A few get destroyed in the process, but it seems Ze'mer has blessed the grave of her lover to bear infinite flowers.
Ghost goes all over, even back to the Godseeker, who surprisingly accepts the flower. More of a surprise than Nailmaster Oro keeping the flower in a vase. Less of a surprise than their mother saying the ominous sentence "to hold it close, one must surely be unaware of its nature."
"What in the world do you mean by that, mother?" they want to ask, but alas, they have no voice to cry confusion.
They're more careful when they deliver flowers now. Little by little, they offer the flowers to whoever they can, starting from the bottom and going up. At reaching Dirtmouth, they give one to Elderbug—who nearly cries—and then they offer one to Nymm.
He refuses, citing playing the accordion as a reason. But he does take notice of them wearing the Carefree Melody charm. And as he keeps talking, Ghost feels something heavy settling somewhere inside them.
"... my memory stirs, something, and someone, forgotten, lost far away. The specifics elude me, but a strange sense remains, fear, but also... longing?"
Oh.
He loved Grimm.
Brumm wanted to free Grimm, but based on what Ghost saw in the third Pantheon, he seems to still be tied to whatever it was controlling the Grimm Troupe. The same can be said in the Hall of Gods. He doesn't seem to notice or care that Ghost has defeated him ten times in a row now.
Technically, Ghost has no obligations to him or anyone related to the Grimm Troupe anymore—but it feels wrong to leave Grimm trapped. They should at least talk to him.
Unfortunately, Grimm doesn't seem intent to talk with them . Though, he doesn't seem to want to fight either. He looks like he's going through the motions.
Maybe it's because he sees this as a ritual, too. The thoughts he has in Dream seem to suggest as much. His thoughts loop like any other, and he and Hornet are the only ones cognizant that they're in a Dream. They're not sure what any of that means, though.
What they do know is that as long as they're being spectated by the Godseeker, then Grimm likely won't talk to them. The seeker doesn't respect them enough to listen to whatever request they have, either.
Well…
They were planning on going through all the Pantheons anyway.
They lie face down on the ground, right where the gates to the Pantheon of Hallownest are.
This isn't the first time they've found themselves here. In fact, they lost count after twenty, and by their estimate, it's been more than twenty attempts since. The Godseeker seems impressed at their tenacity. That, or she's baffled—one of the two.
This also isn't the first time they roll over to look up at the endless sky, thinking unkind thoughts. Thoughts such as "why did I save Zote at all?" and "Zote shouldn't have any rights."
After a moment of sulking, they get up and try again.
Void sloughing off them, dispersing into the air, Ghost manages to heal once before the arena is covered in light and they're brought to a new one.
This arena is bathed in scarlet.
There's a sound, a rhythmic thumping coming from the giant fabric heart suspended in the far back. There's more sounds, this time like something is trying to get out, and a portion of the heart tears open.
There's fire. So much fire—
Hm.
Maybe he is angry.
Eventually.
Eventually.
It takes a ridiculous amount of effort, but eventually they ascend. They take their place at Hallownest's peak, and somehow—some way—manage to control themselves into calming down before they wreak (irreversible) havoc on everyone.
Godhome is a little scuffed, but Ghost and the Godseeker managed to fix the place enough and more. Unlike the Gods of Thunder and Gods of Rain, Ghost doesn't plan to abandon them and looks to be more of a benevolent sort, so they help out as much as the seekers are comfortable with letting them. After all, part of the reason Godhome is damaged in places is because of them.
Ascension, it turns out, can be insanity inducing. They see why the Radiance was the way she was.
In any case, they come to an agreement with the Godseeker—all she and her kin really need is for them to participate in ritual combat. They have no problems with that, but they did request something of the Godseeker.
"Oh, Lord of Shades, merely ask of us and we shall do it!"
And so, in a familiar scarlet room, Ghost comes face to face with Grimm once more. This time, they don't raise their nail, and he doesn't raise his claws. They simply bow, and so does he.
When he straightens, he asks: "well, what's this about?"
They pause. They weren't quite expecting him to ask them something. They were expecting him to talk and they need only to listen, like usual. They're not sure what to say—they really just wanted to know if Grimm is alright—and the Godseeker must hear it because she hums and Grimm gets a look of understanding.
"Oh, is that so?" He smiles. "I've been well. And you?"
They've… they've been well too, all things considered. They're more worried about Grimm right now, actually.
He looks surprised for a moment, then his expression melts into something like fondness. "That's very kind of you. But you need not worry about me."
Well, Ghost can't help it. After all, they banished him—
" Banished? " Grimm sounds incredulous. "Are you thinking of doing that?"
They pause. They look at the Godseeker, who meets their gaze. But through the ringing they can hear at the back of their mind, she assures them she's been translating correctly. Something is off.
Again, both Ghost and the Godseeker try. They explain in detail how they destroyed the Nightmare's Lantern in the Howling Cliffs, knowing what doing so meant, and meanwhile Grimm watches them with an unreadable expression. Or rather, it's partially unreadable. Ghost can at least tell that he's confused.
"Where is this coming from?" Grimm asks. "Is that what you plan to do?"
No, they—they did already. Before they ascended.
"Ascension? You… want to become a higher being, after banishing me?" At that, a laugh leaves him, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "You—you can't do that! You're nowhere near powerful enough, silly! How were you even planning on accomplishing that?"
If Ghost could only express their incredulity themselves, they would. Instead they trust the Godseeker to explain that they have already. They're the Lord of Shades now!
Grimm looks thoroughly amused.
"What in the world are you talking about, Brumm?"
Before he can say anymore, he freezes—he stops moving, stops breathing, and the Godseeker is suddenly next to them with an unwrapped claw outstretched. Grimm then disperses into essence with a wave before she returns her arm to her bindings.
Ghost looks up at her. They hope their confusion is clear, even without them needing to explicitly send her that message. The Godseeker hums as she always does, but her tone sounds more contemplative than normal. They can feel her trying to reach out with her tuning abilities, then startle when they feel it strangely close to their small body.
She seems to notice something too, because then she looks at them fully.
"O Lord, may I ask… Do you have a token from the scarlet clan?"
Carefree Melody.
They don't always have it equipped, but they never leave it outside themselves—it's always in their pocket Void, where all their other things are. They take it from within themselves to show her and she bends down to take a closer look. Hums leave her again.
Then, she straightens. She sounds somber. "We understand now."
Ghost looks at her. Please explain, they think.
"We ask for thine forgiveness, o God of Gods, it seems that… we have not attuned to the correct Nightmare." She lowers herself, looking pointedly at Carefree Melody still in their palms. "The traveling god we have been attuning to is a lingering Nightmare of the Soul within thine charm."
The Soul within…? Brumm?
Is-is that’s what’s happening? These are Brumm’s memories?
“We apologize for not explaining thoroughly,” she says with a bow, before straightening. “The manner through which We attune is by gathering Essence of any kind. Usually, the Essence would come from the being by themself and thus be an accurate reflection. But since the Nightmare kin have been banished from this world, it seems We have instead been getting the Essence from the Soul that powers thine charm.”
That wasn’t Grimm.
It’s just how Brumm thought of Grimm—how Brumm thought Grimm would act in this situation.
Her regret is palpable. “That is correct. It seems We have been giving form to the imprint the Soul had of this god, instead of the god himself. We sincerely apologize.”
They look down at the charm, held safely in their shaking palms. Brumm’s mask stares up at them, fluffy ruff surrounding it and all. They remember Salubra’s words—about the origins of charms—and they wonder if Brumm had died when they helped banish the Grimm Troupe. Does the Soul Nymm have right now come from somewhere else, or was it a part of Brumm? Did his soul split, and that's why Nymm doesn't remember anything?
Could it be that it split because Brumm's Soul is still grieving?
"We regret that We cannot answer your questions, O Divine Darkness," the Godseeker says. "When We attune, We are not privy to thoughts or feelings considered private by the individual. However, We do not bring gods here without consent—We call to them and see if they answer. The Soul left in that charm has answered us multiple times, and given us the visage of the scarlet god you fight."
What does that mean?
"The Soul, for whatever reason, continues to consent to us giving form to its Nightmare." She seems contemplative. "Perhaps it is an attempt at preservation."
Ghost looks back down, into the eyes of Carefree Melody—and they feel Brumm looking back.
Somewhere inside, they feel grief.
There is a garden of Delicate Flowers in Godhome.
Apparently, the Godseeker has taken a liking to the one Ghost gave her; so much so that she brought it into Godhome, and now tends to the flowers herself. She says it's because it's a gift from them, but Ghost can tell it's a little more than that; the flower stopped Ghost from going on a rampage, after all. If this is a personal precaution, Ghost is more than happy to let the seekers keep the garden.
The flowers give Ghost an idea, though.
They pick one and carefully store it in themselves, just like before. Then they walk all the way to the other end of the Hall of Gods, where Grimm's statue is.
His grave.
It feels wrong to just leave the flower at the foot of it when there's a version of him that can accept it. They should at least try to see if they can leave it in his arena. So they ask the Godseeker to bring Grimm back to talk.
He appears in a puff of smoke as usual, but like before he doesn't raise his claws.
"You called?"
Ghost nods. They don't really know what Grimm sees or hears, or if… there's a Grimm to even really perceive any of this. But, they bring out the Delicate Flower, as careful as always. It feels odd to give him a flower they intend to leave over his grave, but they offer it to him anyway.
Grimm looks surprised. "Oh? For me?"
Ghost nods.
He takes it, just as careful, and brings it close to admire the petals. His claws carefully touch one, watching it spring back, and Ghost has to wonder how exactly this mimic of Grimm exists—if he can actually see the flower, if he's just a puppet, if…
Regardless, Ghost watches him, how his eyes burn with fondness.
"Oh Brumm, you shouldn't have. You've given me so many already."
They're sure he did. They hope that, if there's a Grimm still in there, that he knows Brumm loves him, even from beyond. This is the only way Ghost can send that message.
"I know." His eyes turn sad for a moment, but then he brightens again. "Still, thank you. I'll put this with the others."
With that, flower still carefully held in his claws, he begins walking away.
The arena dissolves right after.
When they come to, they find the flower still in their tiny claws. They look at it for a moment, something they can't explain taking root in their Void Heart, before gently placing it at the foot of his statue.
They linger there a little longer.
Time passes.
They're not sure how long, but it goes by steadily.
They reconnect with those still left in Hallownest, they find their siblings and try to build some kind of relationship with them, distant as they are. Every so often, they return to the Pantheons and participate in the ritual of the seekers.
Without a mission to accomplish, existence for them slows and they have space to breathe.
It's nice.
A lot of their time is spent honing their skills with the nail, often giving themselves handicaps to force themselves to be creative. They do become a Nailmaster; one that Sly, Oro, Mato, Sheo and the Nailsmith are proud of. They train with Hornet, who still finds comfort in wielding her needle, while Hallow watches them from afar, content to never raise their weapon again.
The Godseekers are always pleased with them, and impressed when they achieve feats the seekers didn't think were possible. Over and over, Ghost ascends the Pantheons, faster and faster, more efficiently…
All except for the last Pantheon.
It's an enormous effort, going into that Pantheon, and they're concerned they'll lose themselves again and might do more serious damage once they reach the peak. But after the seekers assure them repeatedly, they finally revisit the Pantheon of Hallownest for the sake of the challenge.
They're used to seeing Grimm, but Grimm swathed in scarlet is one they almost forgot.
And suddenly, they wonder.
Has Brumm ever seen Nightmare King Grimm?
The Godseeker has become more candid with Ghost over time. It probably helps that they retain their small stature, rarely leaving their shell as the Lord of Shades, and only ever does so when protecting someone they hold dear, the seekers included. So when Ghost asks her about talking to the Nightmare King, she makes her objections known immediately.
"The God of Nightmares is…feral." She casts a look at the statue of Grimm in the Hall of Gods, one that Ghost doesn't quite know how to decipher. "We do not normally pry into where the Essence comes from when We attune, so We cannot say for certain why, but the lingering Nightmare of the Soul of thine friend… it also leads to the aspect of the God of Nightmares present here in Our temple. And for one reason or another, that aspect of the God of Nightmares is very…goal-oriented."
Ghost tilts their head. What does she mean by that?
"It would seem that the God of Nightmares is intent on only fighting Thee. We are unsure if there is…anything else." She pauses, and she looks apologetic, even in her posture. "The rift between Dream and Nightmare is vast, moreso with the banishment of the scarlet clan from this world… There is not much We can do without disturbing the integrity of the Nightmare."
But is there a chance there's some version of Grimm in there? Can she check? Is that possible?
She nods. "If it is wished of Us, then rest assured that We will try."
And as she says that, the perpetual humming throughout all of Godhome takes on a different tune. They feel it extending out, far past the constraints of Godhome, through Dream, into a place they can't quite perceive. It must be difficult, even if the seekers all have an innate talent for it, so Ghost makes sure to quietly express their gratitude in a way that is unobtrusive.
It takes a while, but soon enough she finds something.
She brings Ghost into the arena without prompt, only giving Ghost a split second to take the flower they left at the foot of his statue. The world shifts around them, dispersing into Essence and reforming until the arena of Nightmare King Grimm comes into focus. It's burning red like always, with scarlet lamps hanging and veins and arteries from the ominous fabric Heart extending and wrapping around the only platform.
It beats as steadily as usual, but this time there isn't the telltale sound of Grimm tearing through the Heart and coming down in a hail of searing fire. Instead, there is a column of flame that manifests in front of them before it dissipates to reveal Grimm in his Nightmare form.
He immediately turns to the Godseeker. "You mentioned wanting to speak with me?"
"Not Us," she says, her claw leaving her bindings for a moment to gesture as she bows. "It is Our God who wishes to speak with thee."
Grimm is visibly confused, his gaze lingering on the Godseeker as she distances herself before finally landing on them. Knowing the Godseeker will translate for them, they take out the Delicate Flower and offer it to him.
The flower is meant for Grimm. They don't know what Grimm was thinking right before they… did what they did. But they're sure on some level that he must have felt betrayed—that Brumm would do that. They want Grimm to know that Brumm had his best interest in mind the whole time, that to the end Brumm loved him, that this is the only way Ghost knows how to express it in Brumm’s place…
Still, they're met with visible confusion.
"Brumm." Grimm nods slowly. "The bug that plays the accordion."
A pause. Then, Ghost nods. Yes, that Brumm.
"Loved me, you say?" He gets a thoughtful look. Or perhaps, something more confused. "I… don't normally allow that. I'll need to speak with him."
Huh? But—was the specter Brumm's Soul created inaccurate then? The Troupe Master mentioned Brumm giving him flowers…
"Giving me flowers?" He looks incredulous. "I wouldn't allow such a thing. Such behavior isn't tolerated in my Troupe."
Unless the Nightmare Brumm brought into Godhome was a complete fabrication, then obviously he did. Maybe… maybe he forgot? Maybe it happened a long time ago, and Brumm's Soul is only remembering now.
"Brumm's Soul? Here, in the home of the seekers?"
They nod. They always keep Carefree Melody with them. And to prove their point, they return the Delicate Flower within themselves and take out the charm, Brumm staring back at him.
Suddenly, his expression becomes one of realization. There's the sound of the fabric Heart tearing open again, and when Ghost looks, it's beating fast and its eyes are open.
"You banished him, is that right?"
Confused, Ghost nods. Yes, they banished him, with Brumm. Brumm didn't want to defile Hallownest, and he believed that Grimm was also trapped, so…
"No wonder. There's been a Void in this part of the Nightmare Realm and…" he glances at the Heart. "So that's why he disappeared."
Brumm?
"No, Grimm. Your Grimm, to be specific."
Huh?
"Oh," he says, something close to pity in his eyes, "I guess you wouldn't know."
Know? Know what?
He sighs. "The easiest way to explain it is: there are countless versions of 'Grimm', and I—The Nightmare King—am all of them put together, and also none of them. I'm more than the sum of my parts, and so I'm markedly different from all of them."
He looks genuinely apologetic.
"I'm not the Grimm you seek. The one you seek is already gone, and has been for some time now."
He kneels down, lightly touching the Carefree Melody still in their trembling hands. "The Soul in here must have known that, even before banishment took place. To banish Grimm means to not only kill him, but make him cease to exist to normal bugs, erasing even their memories over time like a faded dream. I hazard that you still remember because you're a higher being."
The Nightmare King pulls away, drawing to his full height. He normally looks so harsh, especially when they fight him, but this time he only looks despondent.
"You were his summoner, correct? Rest assured it was fully within your right to do that."
Ghost doesn't know what they're feeling, but it is a tangled mess where their Void Heart is. They know it's within their right, more or less, but what about Brumm?
"The Soul?" The Nightmare King looks down at the charm again. "Why, that's just barely a portion of the original Soul. It is merely an instinct, at this point. Instinct for what, I'm not sure. The only two likely to know are gone."
Distress. Maybe even pain and grief. Ghost feels like they reopened an old wound, even made it bigger this time. It doesn't make sense—they weren't even really close to him, but…
But they wish they were.
"My apologies, I can't help with that," the Nightmare King says. "If it eases you, Grimm doesn't usually like getting close to bugs anyway."
Ghost looks up at him, tilting their head.
"Our duty is to ruin kingdoms, not make friends—less so have relationships with our coworkers, no matter how short." He looks down at the charm again. "If not outright wishful thinking, the Nightmare you've been encountering in Godhome is likely just a mask your Grimm put on in front of your Brumm. But who knows?"
He smiles, but it's filled with an emotion Ghost can't place.
"Like I said, the only two that would know are no longer here. Nightmares may provide insights a Dream normally wouldn't, but dwelling on it isn't particularly productive for your likes."
Finally, Ghost returns the charm within themselves. They… they know. They recognize they're the only one looking for closure now—Nymm, after all, hasn't even so much as asked about his charm, simply finding joy in his music and in living in Dirtmouth.
"Once again, you have my apologies. And my condolences."
He bows low, and Ghost reciprocates just as the arena melts away.
Once more, they and the Godseeker stand in the Hall of Gods, next to Grimm's statue. They take the flower out from inside them and place it gently at the foot of his statue, just like it was before.
"Lord of Shades, what do you intend to do?"
Truth be told, they're not quite sure. They want to linger here a little longer.
"If I may," she says with a slight bow, in that way she tends to do when she's doing something she would deem rude if someone else did it, "perhaps that is not the wisest option."
They agree.
Now that they know, it feels wrong to have the Godseeker continue to bring about a mimic to keep fighting them when they don't need her to. It's also ghastly, the more they think about it. Like puppeteering a corpse.
But they also remember the Radiance and how hard she fought to be remembered. They've experienced firsthand how painful it is to be forgotten, too.
… Ah.
They know what to do now.
Within Godhome is a garden that Ghost tends to, one full of Delicate Flowers all tinted scarlet.
In the middle is a statue that no longer leads anywhere, no longer bears a Nightmare, but simply holds memories, however sparse. And at its feet is a charm of a familiar mask and ruff.
The flowers grow and wind around Grimm's silhouette, tangling too with Carefree Melody, tracing the path of a slow waltz Ghost will never know.