Written by herm8281 for Grub-a-Thon 2026
Author’s note: This story has been translated into English for the purposes of its transmission to a human audience. The author credits the bards, oral historians, and story-singers of the Grub community for the contents of this story.
Second author’s note: Gay rights! Queer rights! Trans rights! Happy Pride!
Once upon a time, in a Hallownest after the Radiance’s fall, there lived a grubby little grub named Gonzo. After grubbing around, Gonzo’s family had grown. Mona, Merryl, and Mauricio, mimics and friends, moved from Deepnest to Grubhome. The four climbed to Dirtmouth to welcome Marlone, a lonely old mimic who’d once called Crystal Peak home. After giving grub-hugs and telling Elderbug hello, the party returned to the Grubfather’s abode.
Days and weeks passed. Grubs and mimics exchanged new songs. But Gonzo’s big heart feared his friends felt something was off.
One day, after snoozing on the Crossroads’ smooth floor, Gonzo consulted his mimic pal Mona.
“Mona, I’m so glad that you’ve come to my home. But I can’t help but wonder if you five feel alone. Does our grubby melody drown out your harmonious song?”
Mona’s eye turned as she saw Gonzo’s concern. Her tentacle waved as she considered her words.
“Gonzo, my dear, I’m so glad you asked. I love our community, but there’s something it lacks. What other friends might be wishing and waiting, wanting to join us but just feeling daunted?”
Gonzo jumped up and awoo’d to the sky. “Mona, you’re brilliant! I think you’re just right. I’ll go find us new friends to join us at home, and then we’ll have balance in beautiful song.”
Mona and Gonzo bumped tails in assent, and the gallant Gonzo collected Geo for the journey ahead.
Maybe Mona meant to point Gonzo to the friendly bugs below, but Gonzo had a different idea for where his journey would go.
Gonzo had heard there was a land phar, phar away from the grubs’ grubby home. So phar, in fact, it was a place no grub had ever gone.
He went to the Stag with a special request.
“Sir Stag-a-long-legs, O Lord of the Road, take me to the place where the Bell Beasts roam. I’m searching for new friends to improve the grubs’ song.” Gonzo wiggled his grubby feet and twirled as he proclaimed the Stag’s praises. He knew that the Stag was a particular bug, and going to the end of the line would take more than a tug.
But Gonzo had power that other bugs lacked. The power of cuteness, unsurpassed. When he twinkled his eyes as he danced his grubdance, Gonzo watched the Stag’s heart melt–all according to his plans. All in due time, he boarded the Stag’s back, sticking on tight as he hurtled into the black of Hallownest’s tunneled map.
For what felt like hours, the stag ran and ran. In the tunnels’ dim light, Gonzo saw signs, leading to places where his friends had previously been consigned. Greenpath, Deepnest, the City of Tears…all of these places were once nests of grubs’ fears. But now, Gonzo knew, his family was safe. Hallownest had entered a new age, and new friends would continue to make it great.
CLANG! The Stag startled at the metallic noise, jolting Gonzo out of his daze. Without station lights or a bench in sight, it was clear they’d yet to reach the end of the line. Peeking up from his spot, Gonzo saw a whole lot! The Bell Beast of fables had pounced on its bell, curled up in a ball like a baldur in its shell.
Floating gently at its side was a creature unknown to Gonzo’s grubby button eyes. Before he could hail the brown, fluffy, fly, a melodious song echoed on by:
“There once was a flea named Lee
Who’d hoped to find new things to see
So she hopped on the beast,
but it stopped just to feast,
Before she knew it, she’d met a grubby!”
Gonzo had never heard of a flea, but he was delighted by her poetry! He echoed back her song, keeping his voice strong, but singing up a third in harmony:
“There once was a grub named Gonzo,
Who sought to find new friends to bring home
So he hopped on the stag,
but it stopped at a crash,
And he met the first flea he’d ever known!”
Gonzo and Lea were both transfixed by each other’s songs. Switching back to his own grub singing, Gonzo asked Lea:
“My new friend Lea, as fluffy as can be! Would you join me, a humble grubby, in vacationing to Hallownest for the purpose of singing?”
Lea responded in kind: “My dear friend Gonzo, greener than green can green! I will join you, as a humble flea, to share the songs of Pharloom, as long as you share the songs of Hallownest with me!”
The Bell Beast, content to snuggle the extra bells Lea tossed its way, raised a few feet to wave goodbye as the two climbed onto the back of the Old Stag, excited for the new adventures that awaited them.
For all the years hence, both grubs and fleas, having been connected for the first time, would live happily ever after.
