Rose looked up when a group walked up to her, she was gently rocking in a chair Lily had made for her at their home in the cliffs. She slowed her rocking as she set the book she was reading to the side. Her graying hair was carefully braided into a bun at the back of her head, thanks to Lily. She started to get up when Lily waved her hand, letting her grandmother know she could stay sitting. "My sweet girl, what can I do for you all?"

"Gram, can you describe mom for Goldi? He was telling us a story and the woman he described sounds a lot like mom, at least, from what I remember from pictures back home." Lily walked up the stairs and sat on the railing on the small porch.

Goldi came up the side of the stairs, almost too tall to stand on the porch. He held his hand out to Babs and Rosie as they walked up onto the porch as well. "Long golden hair with blue eyes and a mess of freckles. She went by-"

"My sweet Calla, she was a kind soul. I can do you one better, I've been meaning to give this to you." Rose pulled a locket out from beneath the collar of her dress, holding it out to Lily who took it gingerly. She paused, seeing the confused look on Goldi's face. "Hm?"

"You said Calla, but she told me the name Marie."

Lily's voice cracked as she stared down at the picture in the locket, a soft smile on her lips as she looked at the woman who could almost be her twin. "Mom's middle name is Marie. If she was trying to evade someone it isn't surprising that she would use Marie."

"Actually, she preferred to go by Marie. Especially back in Cantlin. She liked her first name but she wanted a break from what that name meant. I'm surprised she came here and built things. She didn't mind building, but she wasn't like Lily. It wasn't what she wanted to do for a living." Rose went back to slowly rocking, her eyes closed as she let the midafternoon sun soak into her.

Goldi finally looked at the picture in the locket, carefully taking it from Lily. "Yeah, that's Miss Marie. She was a firecracker in the mines."

"How did she get here, if this place was an illusion?" Malroth stood back on the path leading up to the house, arms crossed over his strong chest as he glared up at Rose. "And how did Lily get back?"

"I believe I can at least answer the first question."

The group turned, seeing Dracken walking down the path with a small pouch dangling from his gloved hand. Malroth stepped back, letting the priest walk by him. Rose pointed to a small table Lily had placed under the tree, letting the man turned God know they would be moving down there in a moment. Malroth gave a small huff but moved to the tree, easily jumping up to one of the thick branches. Dracken disappeared into the house as the others followed Rose down to the table. "Dracken and I have been having lunch the last few days, he reminds me of my childhood." She gave a small smile to Lily who stopped and turned, seeing Dracken shuffling about the kitchen through the large windows she had installed.

She had remodeled the house again, giving it a second story, which was the room she and Malroth shared while the main level consisted of a guest room, kitchen and living room. Malroth griped that as soon as he got used to one layout, she would tear down the house and rebuild. But he enjoyed it all the same.

Goldi sat beneath the tree that Malroth was sitting in while Lily leaned against the thick trunk, Rosie and Babs sat at the table with Rose, leaving a spot open for Dracken as he started down the stairs, a small platter of tea cups and snacks in hand. He set the platter on the table as he sat, waiting for the girls around him to get a cup of tea before he took his own. "I've met Calla… before I started working for Hargon, I worked with an order of people, a long story that I don't feel like going into. She was very pregnant when I met her. She kept saying she recognized me, that she trusted me. She entrusted her baby to me, whom I took back to Cantlin to Rose. The place I met her was somewhere very real, lost to time and eventually swallowed into the illusion that Hargon had built, though I was surprised it had taken so long for it to become a part of the illusion. When I met her she was dying, but the illusion kept her from dying. I no longer worked with the organization but they trusted me enough to let me walk into their walls." He carefully removed his mask, pausing when he saw Rosie and Babs gawking at him. "I apologize… this face is grotesque."

Babs took a sip of her tea, a warm smile on her lips. "I's odd, but ever since movin' 'ere, I've become a lot more comfortable wiv you monsters. I bet i's all thanks to Mal."

"Nah, if you're comfortable then I'm not doing my job." Malroth was leaning against the trunk up where he sat, his arms crossed and eyes closed. He was grinning though, knowing full well that he wasn't doing his job as Master of the monsters.

Rosie smiled up at Malroth as she leaned back in her seat. "So, if you didn't work with that organization anymore, why did you go back there? And how does that answer why she came here?"

Dracken stared down into his tea, his deep red eyes flickered an emotion that Rosie couldn't get a read on. "Something was calling to me, a magic that I faintly recognized, I feel it in Rose and Lily now. She had told me that she had been having these dreams, awful and dreadful. Something about someone trying to bring back a great evil. The organization that I worked with, they had a few monsters they worked with, but I wasn't very high in their ranks, I didn't know exactly what they were doing. But I have a feeling they were the ones who she was talking about. That island was close enough to the illusion that I think she was able to move freely between the real world and the illusion without Hargon noticing, like I was able to."

"How did you become Hargon's highest ranking priest?" Lily leaned around Dracken, snagging three cookies from the platter. She turned and handed one to Goldi and one to Malroth before resuming her position against the tree.

Dracken let out a sigh, a grumble in his voice as he turned to the builder. "I worked hard. He saw that I'm a powerful magic caster and used that to his advantage. And then I was the one that went and found builder after builder until you were old enough that I decided to pick you."

"Why me?"

"You were weak."

"But I wasn't."

"You appeared weak."

"But I'm-"

"Lily isn't weak. You knew what she had laying dormant within her. You picked her on purpose." Malroth snapped, cutting his other half off as he dropped down from his branch.

"Exactly. I didn't want Dooms Day to happen anymore than all of you did. I knew Lily could do it. I had seen what her mother could do with the magic, another incarnation would make that magic that much stronger. Lily had Creation as well as being born within the illusion? Creating a bond with you made her even stronger. It Has made you even stronger too."

"No need to get defensive, Dracken. They just want to understand. And no need to attack the priest, my dears. He is on our side." Rose set her empty cup down before getting up and holding her hand out to Lily. "In the morning we're returning to Cantlin so we can retrieve that last piece of Malroth, correct?"

Lily walked around the table, taking her grandmother's hand as she nodded. "Yeah. The earlier, the better."

"Then you need something from me." Rose took both of the younger woman's hands, squeezing them as she put her forehead to Lily's. "I have no use of this, I never have."

Babs and Rosie gawked as magic eagerly wrapped around Rose before slamming into Lily. It made the builder stumble back a step but she straightened up and accepted the magic she was given. A warm breeze slid between all of the people standing around her, a gentle caress that made them all sigh. Except for Malroth who gave a harsh snarl. He turned away from the group, rubbing the side of his head as he struggled with himself.

Lily stepped towards Malroth as he moved towards the path in their little canyon, she frowned as his body changed and soon the large dragon was sitting with his back to them, his large wings limp on either side of them. "Malroth?"

He turned his head to look back at her, sadness in his eyes. I didn't recognize you. I didn't want to. The monster turned and scooped his builder up, staring down at her. Her name isn't Creation, that is her power. Just like mine is destruction. Her name is Nyenda. His deep voice echoed around them, it wasn't nearly as harsh as Lily remembered from Malhalla, but when he spoke that name her body relaxed. We were separated long ago, before your puny world was born. I thought I would never see you again.

Babs all but lunged across the table, blue eyes sparkling as she watched them, her hands tight on Rosie's. "I-Is Malroth, like the Old God Malroth… in love?! Wiv Lily?!"

Goldi slowly stood and placed his hand on Babs' shoulder. "I don't think it's Lily he's in love with, my heart. It's the old beast she holds."

Dracken snapped his fingers at them, wanting them to pipe down as the two in front of them watched each other. He looked over at Rose who was staring up at her granddaughter, she seemed fine. He turned to his Master and builder, stepping towards them. "Master-"

Malroth and Lily both looked to Dracken, Malroth slowly got up and stretched a clawed hand out to the priest. A bright red claw barely tapped Dracken on the forehead as the old beast gave a grin. Shut up. He watched as the priest gawked at him. What? I'm not in the mood for your speeches. We will go retrieve what we need now and then take off to our- He froze, seeing Lily glaring up at him from his palm, hands on her hips. What?

"First. We will celebrate. And then in the morning, you, grandma and I will all go to Cantlin and get the last of your power and you will play nice with Mal and after I know you'll play nice, we can go get the last of my power. Got it?"

The God of Destruction simply stared at Lily, too surprised that she was sassing him. He slowly sat back down as he stared at her, unsure of how to feel about this turn of events. He glanced down at the humans standing beneath the tree. One condition-

"You'll do as I say."

Or?

"Or I'll beat you to a pulp again."

You didn't beat me to a pulp.

"Pretty sure I did. And I'll do it again. Play nice."

Malroth lashed out, easily destroying the half of the canyon next to him as he watched Lily with a bored expression. No.

Lily gave a slow blink before simply turning away from him, arms crossed as she jumped from his hand. She put her thumb and index finger in her mouth and gave a sharp whistle, waiting with her back on the monster behind her as Salmon ran up to her, panting excitedly. "To the fishing hole. Please."

The others all watched as Malroth loomed over Lily and Salmon as they turned to leave. Babs slowly sat back as Rosie tried to stifle her laughter. "Is… Lily giving Malroth the silent treatment?"

"How very odd." Rose commented before laughing with the others. "He's like a giant puppy." They all watched as Malroth quickly followed after them, his steps soft for such a large beast. Though he had to climb onto the remaining cliffs to get out of the canyon to follow after Lily.

Dracken carefully put his mask back on to hide his smile. "I wonder if the Master will tell us what happened before he was summoned here."

Gillian kept glancing behind them as she and Lily quietly fished, seeing the large monster staring down at Lily. "'E keeps lookin' atcha…"

"I'm aware. But I'm mad at him so he can stare all he wants." Lily reeled in a large sunfish before tossing it back out into the fishing hole. She couldn't help the small grin on her lips when she heard Malroth lay down, a growl leaving him.

The sun was lower in the sky now and Lily could hear people shouting and laughing as they gathered down on the beach near the docks so they could party and celebrate. She turned, looking to see that everyone from the Scarlet Sands and Green Gardens were there. She wondered if those from the Cerulean Steps would join them, but that thought was pushed away when she saw Esther and Gerome coming down the stairs, the rest of the Moonbrookians following slowly behind them. Movement behind her caused Lily to look back at Malroth who was very much standing on four legs, his front two arms trembling as he stared out at the ocean beyond them. Lily turned, easily spotting the large boat that was headed their way. "Gillian, we should go get this celebration started."

Gillian frowned at the ship beyond but nodded to Lily as she headed towards the pier Lily had built earlier on in the week. How Lily had managed to build so much in so little time while also traveling around had surprised the angler, but then again, the girl was a master builder. She looked back, smiling a little when she saw Lily and Malroth standing next to each other, Lily leaning on the beast form of her lover. "The two o' ya deserve so much peace… I only 'ope it comes soon."

Lily leaned against Malroth, pressing her cheek against his warm scales. "No matter what happens… I don't want to fight tonight. I want to let him pass with as much peace as we can muster, please?"

I won't strike him unless he harms you. Any funny business towards you and he'll be nothing but a speck of blood on this beach. Malroth leaned his head down, pressing his face against Lily who in turn kissed his nose. But you haven't won this little battle either, builder. It is my entire being to destroy things. I can only play nice for so long.

Lily gave him her biggest, dopiest grin as she cupped his face. "Don't worry, I have a plan to play nice. You just have to give me a little bit of time alright?" She pulled away and headed towards the pier, smiling to herself as she let memories she didn't recognize play in her head, faint but comforting as she walked.

Golden claws easily scraped a small mass together before she moved away from it, twisting through the abyss she called home. She turned, watching as the mass slowly grew into a small green planet. She let out a small noise, watching as a large green beast rushed forward and attacked the planet, easily crushing it between his dark red claws. Nyenda… are you sure I can destroy these? You worked so hard on them.

"I created them for you. You said you were bored out here, doing nothing." The slender beast purred as she wrapped herself around the thicker beast, her soft cheek rubbing against him, ignoring the way he grumped at her. "Will you leave this next one though? I want to see what happens to it."

Only because you asked.

Malroth sat next to the pier as the fireworks shot high into the sky, listening to the humans and monsters gasp and cheer. He looked out, seeing the ship was close enough to the Isle that three smaller boats rowed over to the shore. He watched as Lily made her way back down to the beach, Lulu, Gillian, Babs, Rosie and Anessa hard on her heels. Malroth slid into the shadows of the ocean, readying himself to strike on Lily's behest.

Lily stood with her hands crossed in front of her as Arusu walked up to her, a small group of soldiers behind him with one sorcerer just to his left. "What do you want?" Her voice was soft even though her expression was struggling to stay neutral.

"Well met, m'lady." Arusu bowed to her, grinning at her. "I was hoping to speak to you." He looked at the females that stood behind Lily, a lopsided grin on his face as he turned his attention back to Lily. "Your mother sends her regards, she wishes she could have made the voyage but she's been terribly busy as of late."

Lily looked him up and down, a hard breath leaving her throat. "My mother died during my birth." She stared at the symbol on his chest, she recognized it as a dark symbol from a book she had read when she was much younger. Though she couldn't remember what it stood for. She glanced back at the pier, showing him she was bored. "You have spoken to me, have a safe trip home."

Lulu watched as Lily turned and started back for the pier as Malroth emerged from the ocean much closer to Arusu than she thought he had been, she couldn't help the grin on her face when she saw Arusu flinch away from the large monster.

"My Lord is speaking to you, wench! You will leave when he dismisses you!" The sorcerer next to the knight snarled, throwing his arm towards Lily as magic gathered on his fingertips. He let out a yelp and stumbled to his ass when Malroth was suddenly right in front of him, golden eyes glowing angrily as the two dark purple frills on the side of his head trembled. "Y-you!"

I DARE YOU TO CONTINUE.

A loud explosion had everyone whirling around to see fire engulfing the large ship. Arusu glared at Malroth for a moment before looking to the sorcerer. "I told you not to threaten her, we need her help."

The thick muscles in Malroth's body trembled as he loomed over the two men, not even Lily's hand on his maw would calm him down. He reached around with one of his four arms, carefully picking her up and lifting her away from the knight. YOU WILL NOT LAY A HAND ON HER. He slowly moved himself until he was standing over the other women of the Isle, shielding them from Arusu and the sorcerer. LEAVE, BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.

"We come in peace, despite my sorcerer's eagerness. We simply wish to speak with the builder." Arusu put his hands up, frowning at Malroth.

Lily relaxed in Malroth's hold, her fingers running over the yellow scales as she looked down at the knight. "You want my help with something, sadly I'm booked for the next eternity, so sorry but no. I can't help with what you need." She let out a gasp when Malroth shrunk down to the form she was familiar with, her arms quickly wrapping around his neck when they landed. She stared at him, unable to pull her attention away from those deep red eyes. "Have a safe trip home."

"Your monster destroyed our way home." Arusu growled as he watched them, his eyes narrowing on Malroth.

Malroth kept his focus on Lily, unable to help his grin at how flustered she seemed to become. "That sucks, three little boats will take a lot longer to get through all those storms on the way home." He turned, waiting for the others to take the lead before following behind them. "Maybe your sorcerer knows a teleportation spell."

Arusu clenched his fists, a snarl leaving him. "Gesundheit."

Malroth only paused when he felt the hand on the back of his neck tense for a moment. He slowly turned, looking back at Arusu. "Excuse me?"

Lily forced herself to focus on her breathing, that magic wouldn't affect her any longer. She was safe, she was stronger now. She let out a small noise when Malroth set her down and reached into the pouch on her hip, pulling out his hammer. "Mal?"

"The fuck did you just say?" Malroth slowly spun his hammer as he walked, his red eyes all but glowing with his anger as he approached Arusu.

"I didn't stutter."

"Sounded like a desperate plea for your death to me."

"I was just curious, it seems I was wrong."

"Seems like you're a deadman." Malroth swung the hammer, grinning as Arusu barely got his sword up in time to block the quick movement. "I changed my fucking mind."

Lily started to move forward, her hand clutching the fabric over her chest as she watched him and Arusu trade a few blows, neither of them landing any solid hits. She didn't want him to fight, they weren't ready, she knew it in her gut. "Mal…"

Malroth jumped back, landing softly in front of Lily. His stare was cold as monsters slowly emerged from the shadows, surrounding Arusu. "If I ever see you on this island again… I will gladly rip you from limb to limb, knight. You are not welcome here."

Anessa watched from the top of the stairs as the monsters moved onto the beach. She didn't get it, they were all willing to lay down their lives for Lily, a builder. Their sworn enemy. She looked down at her feet, trying her best to hide her frustrations. Humans and monsters couldn't live side by side. It wasn't possible.

Lulu glanced back, seeing Anessa trembling on the stairs, she carefully walked over to the soldier, putting her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Ness?"

Anessa flinched when Lulu spoke to her, but something caused her to take pause when Lulu gave her a worried expression. "I did not mean to worry you, Lady Lulu, I just… sometimes it's hard to really give up things we were taught."

Lulu gave her a warm grin before grabbing Anessa's hand. "I understand that." She pulled the soldier along behind her, smiling over her shoulder. "It took me some time after we landed here to think of the monsters as friends, it won't happen overnight. But I'm glad you're here with us. C'mon, let's go watch the fireworks."

Anessa trotted after Lulu, squeezing the girl's hand back, feeling something swell in her chest as the fireworks exploded above them. She glanced back, seeing the monsters returning to the pier with Malroth and Lily. Arusu must have retreated for now. She would enjoy this peace for now. They all deserved it.

Goldirox glanced at Babs nervously when she returned to her spot next to him. He looked around, seeing Den watching him and his daughter. Goldi swallowed the lump in his throat as he grabbed Babs' hand, pulling her back up. "Babs… I uhm…" He glanced over at the stairs, seeing Lily and Malroth watching him. "Babs… back on Khrumbul-Dun… I uhm… I was always shouting things and boasting that one day I would marry you." He nervously kneeled before her, pulling a small box out and holding it up to her, unable to look at her.

"Goldi. If ya can't even look at me when yer askin' me ta marry ya, why on this sweet lil' island would I say yes?"

Goldi flinched and stared up at the light of his life, his very reason to breathe. He gawked up at her, seeing the playful smile there. "Babs, love of my life, you are the sun that warms my aching muscles, the very diamond I've been searching for. Will you be mine? Will you marry me?"

"WOT?!" Dougie and Digby jumped up, Magrog next to them as they all gawked at the two love birds in front of them. "Now that ain't no fair!" Dougie stomped about, pouting at Goldi. "'E didn't give us no shot at winnin' 'er 'eart!"

"O'course I will, Goldi." Babs cupped his cheeks, kissing him softly before taking the ring from the box, her eyes sparkling at how big the diamond was. "This is gonna make my 'and look itty bitty!"

Malroth leaned down to Lily, his lips against her ear so no one else heard him as he asked; "Lils… what's he mean? What did he just ask her?"

Lily wrapped her arms around Malroth's neck, kissing him softly. "He's asking her to marry him, to be his forever. To share everything with each other no matter what happens between them. That at the end of the day, they'll always have each other's backs and protect each other. With side perks of doin' what bunicorns do best."

Malroth leaned against the railing, his arms slipping around her waist as he happily kissed her back. "So… you could say that you and I are married?"

Lily laughed against his lips, unable to stop the little snort that left her. "I guess you could say that, but you never asked me to marry you." She moved her hands until they were cupping his cheeks. "I thought you thought love was stupid."

"Love is stupid. You make me stupid." Malroth pulled her up until her legs were wrapping around his hips. "We already do all of those things." He walked away from the party, unable to pull his lips away from hers as he walked into one of the empty buildings at the back of the pier. "Especially my favorite~"

"Mmmm, and what's that?" Lily laughed more when Malroth kicked the door in, his hands too busy exploring her soft frame to open the door properly.

"Protecting you."

"Is that so?"

Goldi laughed as he went to scoop Babs' up, a strangled noise leaving him when he realized she was curled up in the arms of a Golden Golem. He frantically looked around for the builder and Malroth. "LILY!?"

Babs swiveled around in Goldi's arms, scanning the pier as the fireworks went off above them. "Lily! Malroth!?"

Soon everyone was looking around for the two of them, wondering why they weren't enjoying the fireworks. Pastor Al leaned back in his spot, watching the pretty explosions above him as humans and monsters alike slowly started to get up and go search for the builder. Hellen was about to get up from her spot next to Al when she saw how relaxed he was. "What's that smug expression for?"

"The Master is about to give Lily her own fireworks, I feel sorry for the fool that interrupts them. Too bad no one cared to ask the creator of the potion if he had any extras." Al chuckled from behind his mask when he heard someone scream, it sounded like poor Gremville. "I do in fact have extras."

Hellen turned her attention to the back of the pier where she saw Malroth burst from one of the buildings, a limp Gremville in his grasp. She flinched when she saw their Master snap at Griswold for something. Lily was straightening out her dress as she came out of the building behind Malroth, her cheeks bright red. "Poor things never get a moment of peace, do they?"

"You are truly a cruel one, Alakazam." Dracken laughed as he approached the other two shamans. "So, how many extras do you have?"

"Lily and I created about thirty potions. We weren't sure how often Goldi would need them, or if the Master would be able to freely change back and forth between forms. Until we can figure out just how the curse on the golem works they are now all meant for him."

Hellen couldn't peel her eyes away from the cluster behind them, seeing that Lily was gesturing towards the three of them, towards Pastor Al as she spoke softly and nervously. Hellen waved when all the humans and monsters turned their attention back to the front of the pier. "Those poor things."