As promised, here is the first chapter (also the sample) from the new Builderoth story I'm working on! I realize this first chapter is short; nevertheless, I hope you guys enjoy it and do let me know what you think! It's not going to be a step-by-step novelization of the game's events, but I've decided to use certain scenes and lines from the game to explore how things could have gone if the builder didn't have Malroth protecting her the whole way through. Would she really have made it on her own? I guess we'll see ;)

Thank you for the new favorites and follows! I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe.

AU: Prince Malroth has never had an issue keeping people in line. That is, not until a pesky blonde begins showing up on his radar. Rumor has it she's the last builder alive, and she's definitely been building, which is a cardinal sin according to Hargon. When she begins causing trouble for his men, will Malroth lay her low? Or will he be forced to rethink his stance on building?

The Builder and the Prince of Destruction

Ugh... What hit me?

The first thing that registered to her was a gentle, salty breeze caressing her face. Something rough was under her cheek, and after cracking open an eye, she confirmed that yes—she was, in fact, on a beach. Specifically, she was lying on what was once part of a wooden deck—fragments of what appeared to be a ship.

As the blonde sat up, careful not to push herself too hard, she looked around to see what she could see. Memories of what she'd been doing prior to ending up on this island slowly began to return to her. Captain Whitebones, running errands for the monsters, the sudden storm that ended up damaging his ship beyond repair... Somehow she'd survived the shipwreck, but the captain's ship hadn't been so lucky.

Speaking of which... Where was the skeletal captain?

The young woman stood and stretched, happy to find that she'd suffered no injuries. As she walked around the beach, trying to get her bearings and figure out what to do next, she spotted a little patch of sand and sediment that looked like it'd had years to gather inside a crevice within the rocky outcrop. She quickly walked over to it and, after inspecting it, began to try digging into it. As she did so, she began to see through to the other side, revealing another sliver of beach. Once she'd created a big-enough opening, she squeezed through and began to look around.

There's nothing here, she lamented, heaving a sigh at how empty the island appeared. The whole place is deserted. I must be the only one who survived the wreck.

As her gaze lifted to the heavens, she frowned, tilting her head to the side curiously. The sky's such a strange color... Have I died and gone to heaven? Or hell, more likely...

Suddenly, a noise caught her attention. The blonde followed the sound and found a few bodies lying chillingly still in the shallows of the waves. Among the corpses was a pink-haired woman who was coughing and spluttering, struggling to sit up. The blonde immediately rushed to her side, eager to help her.

"Hey! Are you okay?!"

"Where... am I?" the pinkette managed, clutching her chest as she coughed a few more times. "How did I get here?"

"You must've been on Captain Whitebones' ship," the blonde explained, gently patting her back. "We hit a bad storm that smashed his ship and now we're marooned on this island."

Once the pinkette seemed to gain her bearings, she turned to the blonde with a queer expression. "Just a moment... Do I know you?"

"Me?" The blonde blinked. "I mean, we were on his ship together, so... Maybe?"

"Yes! I remember! You're that builder!" The pinkette pointed at her accusingly, spitting the word 'builder' like it was a curse word. "The one who ran around grinning while those horrid monsters barked orders at you! I know you were in cahoots with them, so that means this is all your fault!"

"What? But I—"

"I won't hear of it! You're guilty!"

"Now wait a second, I—"

"Well?" The pink-haired girl placed her hands on her hips expectantly, a scowl on her delicate features. "What are you going to do about it?!"

The blonde wasn't sure what to make of this girl, but she figured the stress of being kidnapped, thrown into a cell, and then shipwrecked was enough to make anyone agitated (huge understatement) and want to point fingers. Plus, she was a builder; she was used to people being bossy and doling out demands.

Scratching her head, the blonde looked around. "Considering we might be here for a while... I can make the things we need to survive while we wait for a rescue party."

If there will even be a rescue party, she thought grimly.

The pinkette gave her a snooty once-over before nodding. "Oh, well... alright. Even a rank amateur like yourself should be able to use that worn-out workbench outside to make the most basic essentials."

After an awkward beat, the pinkette spoke up again. "I'm Lulu, by the way. Now, what will we need to hold out until help arrives? Let me see..."

The blonde listened intently as Lulu began to list the things they'd need to increase their chances of survival. Although Lulu's condescending, bossy tone would be off-putting to most, the builder didn't mind at all. It felt good to have something to do again, to have a few tasks to complete. It was better than sitting around doing nothing. Besides, she was a builder—having people bark demands at her was part of the job.

"You can consider these little tasks as training exercises, if you like," Lulu continued, tapping her chin thoughtfully. After a moment, a smug smile lit up her face. "Then, when you become a fully fledged builder, you'll have me to thank for it!"

After creating a makeshift house for them to sleep in, making straw beds, and cooking a few scallywinkles until they were good and seared, evening fell and the two young women found themselves sitting close to the bonfire for warmth. The sound of the waves gently breaking against the shores was soothing, but the sea breeze was becoming a little too chilly for their liking.

"Oh, how rude of me!" Lulu exclaimed suddenly, finishing her third scallywinkle. "I just realized I never asked your name."

"You can call me 'builder,'" the blonde replied with a grin. "All my friends do."

"Builder, huh? Alright. It's nice to meet you, Builder."

"Nice to meet you, too!"

The pinkette grinned as well. "I must say, it's a real relief to have a builder around. And judging by the quality of your work, one would never imagine you were still only learning the ropes."

A genuine compliment from Lulu? The builder had a feeling that that was rare. "Gee, thanks, Lulu!"

Lulu lifted her gaze to the stars above. "I know we're stranded here, but in a weird way, I'm actually looking forward to it!" The moment would have been sweet if not for the determined twinkle that entered the pinkette's eyes. "I shall give you even more work to do, so that you might blossom as a builder!"

The builder shook her head in amusement. She should've known there'd be a catch to the compliment. "Gee, thanks, Lulu."

"You're doing excellent, my Lord."

High Priest Hargon's low cackle was practically in Malroth's ear as his boot came down onto his opponent's head. When the monster screeched, "I yield, I yield!" Malroth increased his weight, earning a pained cry from the creature and another delighted cackle from his mentor.

"You are part of my troops," he spoke, lifting his chin while continuing to make eye contact with the monster. "We show no mercy. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, my Lord, p-please—"

"We do not beg for mercy, no matter what. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord!"

Malroth's ear twitched as he heard Hargon take his leave, the High Priest's attention drawn to a monster who had requested his presence. Once he was gone, Malroth lifted his boot, releasing his opponent, and the monster let out a relieved sigh, relaxing flat against the dirt of the training arena. The prince made no move to help his opponent up, instead watching as the scrawny monster pushed itself up and scurried out of the arena. It didn't look back, which was just as well—if it had looked behind itself, it would not have seen pity, remorse, or any semblance of regret. Instead, it would have seen the prince looking rather weary, like he hadn't the least bit interest in sparring with one of his men.

To the Children of Hargon, going toe-to-toe with Malroth was one of the highest honors one could achieve; to Malroth, however, it was boring. No one could match his strength, not even the high-ranking monsters that had earned their positions through exceptional displays of brutality. He'd learned everything he could, he'd become almost as strong as his father, if not stronger since the seal had been placed on him all those years ago. Not a single monster in his ranks could defeat him in a sparring match, not even if it was him against multiple men. He was simply too strong. He could decimate an entire army without breaking a sweat.

Nothing was exciting anymore. When you were already the strongest one alive, when you had every bit of power and wealth at your fingertips, what could you do with your time? Luxury was nice, but it got old after a while.

After leaving the arena, Malroth began to head back up to his personal quarters. As he passed a few servants, he happened to overhear parts of their conversation.

"Did you hear? That bonehead's ship finally went under."

"Really? I thought he claimed he was good at piloting a ship."

"Nah, it was only a matter of time before it got destroyed, Lord Malroth be praised."

"Did you hear he caught a live builder?"

Now that piqued the prince's interest. "Builder" wasn't a word that had been tossed around in his palace for years, not since his late father had scoured the world, wreaking havoc and exterminating all builders he could find. His steps slowed to a halt as he strained his ears, trying to listen to the conversation as it drifted farther away.

"A live one? I thought they were all wiped out."

"Apparently, there was one back in Cantlin. She went down with the ship."

"So builders are still considered wiped out."

"Yep."

"What a pity... I'm sure the prince would have enjoyed taking her down himself."

As both monsters fell out of earshot, Malroth mulled over what he'd heard. So, one of his captains had managed to nab a builder? But the ship had gone down, and the builder had been lost to the waves... What a pity indeed. He'd almost gotten his hopes up that finally, after being bored for so long, he'd have a worthy adversary.

Little did he know he'd definitely be busy within the coming months. This would not be the last time he'd hear of this mysterious builder.