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Language:
English
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Published:
2026-06-22
Updated:
2026-07-06
Words:
5,119
Chapters:
4/?
Comments:
9
Kudos:
11
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3
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215

The Means To Kill Regina Textrix

Summary:

After Hornet binds Grand Mother Silk, she finds herself starving for silk, and also, finds that Shakra and all the other bugs must be persecuting her. After Phantom is chased out of the Exhaust Organ by a divine figure they call "Regina Textrix", they desire nothing more than to return to her. And of course, she must be right in her belief that the other bugs are out to get her. They know, because a certain golden bug is trying to separate them both.

Meanwhile Shakra and Lace, with the help of Caretaker and Second Sentinel, combine their efforts in order to get both Hornet and Phantom back to sanity.

Notes:

If anyone needs to know exactly who dies, just shoot me a DM over on Tumblr (@theoiandtuna) and I'll tell you! I know it's hard being sensitive to very specific things when the author doesn't disclose if those specific things happen in the fic. Of course, that would apply to other aspects as well, really don't be scared to ask about specific triggers over DMs

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

"Bakelo! Pursue your path, Hornet Wielding Needle, I will flee from this wretched place in favor of something more natural," Shakra told her. 

Hornet looked up, ahead. She had just claimed the last puzzle piece of the Threefold Melody— the Conductor's Melody— with Shakra's help. Her goal was near; soon, she would be free. Soon, she would be in control. 

"Hornet, are you well?"

Hornet directed her attention back to the tall wasp. "Shakra," she began, "Would you care to dwell in this Citadel if I resided here? Hypothetically speaking."

Shakra laughed heartily: "Ka, va! What strange hypotheticals you conjure in your mind! Surely this is no place to ever find peace in, not like I could stand to stay in any place for too long anyway."

Shakra stilled upon feeling Hornet's dreadful silence. Something in the air changed. 

Hornet broke the silence between them: "I shall see if I will reside, once I make it up top. If I prevail, though I have little reason to doubt my own ability."

"You sense a battle ahead of you?"

"I sense a confrontation, naturally. The one who has brought me here, she hungers for me. Of course, she will not be victorious. I am ready."

"And you believe you want to stay afterward? To what goal? This is a horrid place!"

"It is not like a bug as yourself would understand..."

Shakra frowned. "Yokkala. A bug as I? Are we not equals?"

Hornet shook her head. "Apologies. Of course you are my friend, you've been quite the help to me. I must thank you." Then she pursued her goal, and Shakra went another way, out of the Citadel, somewhere, anywhere. Hornet made her way to the very top of the Citadel, where the Monarch waited.