Lily and Malroth stood at the edge of the crumbling bridge before them, a small bodkin archer stood with them, looking at the bridge then up at them. "The graveyard is just ahead…"
"We heard you the first time." Malroth snarled, snapping his teeth at the small archer who flinched back away from him. "Are you sure you want to go over there, Lil?"
Lily swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding as she carefully walked across the bridge and towards the gothic church that loomed just ahead. "We need pumpkin seeds… and this is where they are." She watched as Harvest ran off into the graveyard, leaving Malroth and herself alone. "I really hope the seeds aren't buried in the graves…"
Malroth leaned down, reaching into the pouch at Lily's hip. He pulled out a lantern and easily lit it, frowning at how the sun seemed to dip faster now that they were at this run-down church. "C'mon. The faster we get these damn seeds, the faster we can go home."
Lily pulled her hammer out, readying herself for wherever Harvest sniffed out seeds. She risked a glance at Malroth, her heart in her throat. "Hey, I never apologized for before."
"Apologized for what?"
"For… the bathhouse incident."
"What do you have to apologize for?"
"For getting you worked up, I owe Clayton an apology too. I should have said something. I just… wasn't expecting anyone to come in and-"
"You have nothing to apologize for." Malroth stopped, his hand carefully on Lily's arm, stopping her where she was at. "Shit happens, like I said, just tell me next time you wanna clean up and I'll guard the door."
Lily nodded slowly; her cheeks warm as she glanced at him. "Thank you, Mal." She straightened up before trotting after Harvest who was barking near some tall grass. "I hope Bonanzo and Britney are having good luck with their expeditions."
"More than likely." Malroth shrugged as he started digging next to Harvest and Lily. He watched as Harvest took off to the next batch, sitting near a graveyard. "I swear, if these damn seeds go into the graveyard, I'm going to strangle Al."
Lily couldn't help but laugh at Malroth's rude words. The two worked together to gather as many seeds as they could when Malroth looked up, barely able to see the outline of something on the top of the hill above them. "What's up there?" Before he could start up the hill, Harvest jumped back, growling and barking at whatever was up there. "Oi, hush up."
Lily watched as Malroth headed up the hill before her, frowning when he took the only source of light that they had. "Wait for me." She whispered as she trotted up after him, a small whimper leaving her when something brushed by her arm. "Hey! What the hell Harvest!"
Malroth turned, looking down towards Lily. "Harvest? What did she do?"
"She touched my arm."
"What? She's up here with me."
"She… is? Then… then what?"
"Hey. Show yourself." Malroth growled, suddenly next to Lily; yanking her behind him. He didn't notice that she stumbled over a rock and fell flat on her ass, her blue eyes wide as a small ghost materialized before them. "Who the hell are you?"
"Whooooo are yooooou?"
"I asked first!"
Lily got up, stepping around Malroth and putting her hands up. "We're here searching for pumpkin seeds; we didn't mean to disturb you."
"Yooooou're looooooking for seeds?" The ghost twisted in the air, bouncing up and down as it watched them. "I used to groooow pumpkins; the Children tried to take them from me, so I hid them. But then they turned my beautiful church into an unholy shrine of destruction!" The ghost let out a wail and went to grab Lily's hand, frowning when his hands went right through hers. "If ooooonly a builder woooould come to this island and repair the damage they've done."
"I'm a builder! I'll fix it!" Lily gasped, instinctively going to grab the ghost; but she stopped herself before her hands went through his little body. "Do you have more seeds? Possibly?"
"Oooooh, I doooo! If yoooou fix up my church, I'll happily hand them ooover!" The ghost spun around, twisting around Lily's shoulders before taking off towards the church in the middle of the small island.
Malroth gasped, reaching out and barely catching Lily's hand when she turned to run after the ghost. "Hey now! What do you think you're doing!?"
"We need seeds, Mal! Seeds! He has them! I just gotta fix the church!"
Malroth thrust both hands out towards the church, which they could barely see in the dim moonlight. "It looks torn down, Lil! You're insane!"
"M-Maybe he just wants part of it rebuilt! Not the whole thing! Just let me go find out. Please?!" Lily clutched both of his hands between hers, pulling them to her chest so he could feel her heart pounding with excitement. "Please?!"
Malroth yanked his hands away, casting a quick glare at her before puffing his chest out. "Fine. But if he wants the whole thing done; it's not happening."
Lily gave him a grin and snagged the lantern back as she ran down the hill, carefully picking her way around the rocks and shrubbery. She could hear Harvest and Malroth right on her tail, Malroth cursing under his breath as they ran through the night towards the decaying old church. She paused at the door, waiting for Malroth this time before she ran into a decrepit building again by herself. With a grin, she slipped inside, gasping when she saw a dark altar in the middle of the church. "Oh… wow."
"Isn't this just hideoooous?! What an abomination!" The ghost cried as it floated around Lily and Malroth.
"Hideous? I don't know that statue is pretty cool." Malroth shrugged as he moved over to the alter, looking over the large statue. It had the head of a monster perched on a skull with two large horns protruding out and up. A tail wrapped around the skull beneath the monster, keeping the two locked together.
The ghost turned and looked at Malroth, frowning. "You're an odd one, mister." He quickly turned back to Lily, pouting at her some. "But it isn't just about the statue! I want to rebuild the entire alter into something suuuuuuitable!" A sly look came across his face as he floated around Lily, whispering in her ear softly. "If you really are a builder, then this should be a piece of cake for yooooou."
Lily walked away from Malroth and the ghost, Harvest was tight on her heels as she pulled her book out and looked between the pages of it and the alter in front of her. "If I do this…" Her fingers wrapped tight around the feather pen, making it dance across the pages with ease as she mumbled to herself. "And put this here… and that there…"
Malroth leaned against the column nearby, watching his builder jot notes and scribbles down. He perked up when she tossed her book down and the floor around the alter lit up in a golden light before calming down. He watched as she ran around, stuffing everything from the current alter into her bag, watching as it shrank down to a size more suitable for the palm of her hand as soon as she touched the item. She took off towards another part of the church, ignoring whatever it was that the ghost was trying to tell her about a statue or… something.
That's when he pounced. He dashed over to her book, dropping down in front of it and flipping through the pages. It had been driving him insane for weeks about what could possibly be in this damn book of hers. "Malroth!" Her shout caused him to jump back, eyes wide as he looked around for her; but she was still further in the church. "What?!"
"Come help me, please!"
Malroth scoffed and rolled his eyes but followed the sound of her voice to some corner back behind the alter. He raised a brow at her, seeing she was struggling with some crates. "Why don't you just smash those?"
"They have stuff in them! Come help me, please!" Lily was doing her best to balance three from the current stack they were in over to another stack.
"You're helpless." Malroth rolled his eyes and took two from her, moving them over to where she needed them. After two more trips, they had finally dug back far enough to see an old statue of the Goddess and an old table. "How did you know this was here?"
"My builder senses were tingling."
"…Right…" Malroth slowly nodded, unable to help his chuckle as he helped her move the table back to the alter she was working on. "I still think you're weird."
The builder laughed while she placed things on the new alter, easily carrying the goddess statue over to its new home. Her laughter only grew when she saw the look on Malroth's face. "What?"
"You needed help carrying… a table… but a statue like that is fine?" He crossed his arms and watched as she placed the last candle. When she did, the alter glowed with a magic that made his skin itch.
The ghost came over, twisting and spinning with excitement. "It's done! Oooooooh, why thank yoooooou, young builder! It looks magnificent! Did you know that there was a builder whooooo came to Furrowfield long before yooooou? They built this church and everything around it, this whole island, really."
"But if a builder did all of this, how come everyone around here believes they bring nothing but desolation and despair?" Malroth growled from where he stood next to the completed alter.
"Well, that's a looooong story… I-" The ghost seemed to flinch back when Malroth shoved off the wall, lifting his chin to sniff at the air. "What is wrong, angry man?"
"Hold that thought… something's coming." Malroth put himself in front of Lily, narrowing his eyes on the front of the church as a large skeleton burst through the already damaged front. "Lily!"
"I know!" Lily ripped her blade out of its' home, getting herself ready for the fight ahead.
The two charged at the skeleton while the ghost and Harvest ducked behind the alter. Malroth dealt the first blow, easily sending a crack up the skeletons radius. Lily barely managed to duck beneath a blow that caught the ends of her pigtails before she twirled on her toes, her blade biting into the femur. She bounced back and slid around the back, whacking as hard as she could against the exposed ribs.
The ghost watched in awe as the two attacked the skeleton with ease. "They've fought tooooogether many times. Hooooow loooong have they been friends?" He glanced to Harvest who just curled up more in the corner away from him.
Before the ghost could admire more of their fighting prowess, the two were done and headed back over to him. "Yoooooou twooooo really know your way arooooound blows! Especially yoooou." The ghost turned to Malroth, spinning around the dark-haired male. "How are you friends with a builder with such an aura? I feel nothing but destruction coming from yooooou."
"What are you getting at? I'm just… me." Malroth crossed his arms, frowning as he glanced to Lily.
Lily gave a shrug and patted her leg, easily calling Harvest back over to her. "Mister-"
"Wait! You've both been such a huuuuuge help to me – I owe you my unlife! It's not much, but I want yoooooou to have these." The ghost disappeared for a moment before reappearing, dropping a small sack in front of Lily.
"Oh! You had more pumpkin seeds!" Lily gasped, snagging the pouch up and looking into it. "Thank you!"
"There are more where those came from, if you want them. They're down in the catacoooooombs."
"You know… we're planning on having a harvest festival as soon as we get pumpkins to grow. If you wanted to, I'm sure the others wouldn't mind you joining us." Lily smiled more when the ghosts jaw dropped open.
"Wh-what?! Really?!" The ghost started to fade out, but then it flinched and glared at Lily. "Wait. Is this a trick?! Are you trying tooooo get me sooooo ecstatic that I faded away for gooooood?!" The ghost let out a laugh at the dumbfounded looks on both Lily and Malroth's faces before it vanished. "Just kidding!"
A week had passed since Lily and the others had gathered their collective seeds, now they just played the waiting game as they planted the last of the seeds. Lily leaned back, brushing her hands off with a few claps. "There, I think we've planted all of the seeds we physically can!"
A tingling sensation at the base of Lily's neck had her turning around in time to see the Deitree twist and knot into itself as it grew even larger than before. Her jaw dropped as magic flowed into her, it hit her in the gut hard enough to knock her breath away. She craned her head back, seeing how vines dropped from the leaves, making her want to go grab some and swing around the tree like a child.
"Lily! What was tha-" Rosie nearly tumbled into Lily when she saw the changes the Deitree went through, she pushed her glasses up her nose, gawking at the large life form. "No way…"
"I will have to go talk to Badboon to see if he will allow you all to live in peace. This Deitree will surely gather his attention, she isn't to full power just yet, but she will be soon enough." Pastor Al walked up, his staff clicking against the ground as he moved. "I will go speak with Badboon today, he should be back-"
"That can wait, Pastor Al!" Perry ran up, grinning from ear to ear while tears streamed down his face. "Furrowfiel' farm is back on 'er feet! I say we celebrate by 'avin' our 'arvest festival!"
"Hm… well said, Perry. Hear me, humans! It is time to get ready for our celebrations! Lily! Let us go make the final preparations!" Pastor Al raised his staff into the air, earning him a loud cheer from the others.
"And we can wear all sorts o' costumes!" Perry clasped his hands together as he dreamed about everyone in costumes. His face exploding in every shade of red though when he saw Lily raise a brow at him. "N-Now, why you givin' me that look, Lily?! I wasn't dreamin' o' nothin' nasty!"
"Right…" Lily patted him on the shoulder as she laughed and walked away from him. "If you say so, Perry." She walked over to the kitchen she had made Lilian and Saffron, looking over Saffron's shoulder to watch as she worked on some small colorful flags. "What are those?"
"Wh-What?! Oh, my- well, uhm… I was going to ask you… uhm… actually… if you uhm… if you wouldn't mind… uhm…" Saffron breathed in deep, her cheeks red as she burst from her bubble. "IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND HANGING THESE UP FOR ME?!"
Lily leaned back, cleaning her ear out with her pinky. "I don't mind at all, Saff. I'll get them hung up for you."
Saffron started to hand over the flags, keeping them tight in her grasp as Lily went to take them. "Say… Lily, how did you and Malroth get to Furrowfield?"
"Huh? We sailed over here."
"Wait! What?! By ship?! But humans sailing is forbidden-" Saffron sighed, not letting herself get so worked up. "In all honesty, I've always wanted to go sailing. I hear there is a great, glittering city called Moonbrooke on an island far to the east of here. I've always dreamed of going to visit."
As Saffron spoke, Malroth miscalculated his step and fell off the ledge he was standing on, splashing into the water below. He sat up, glaring over at Lily who was trying her best to not laugh at how ridiculous he looked in that moment. "Shut up, Lily!"
With Malroth's help, Lily was able to put the flags up all around the small farming village rather quickly. The two even managed to use some of the pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns to give the village a rightfully spooky feeling. Lily sat with her feet dangling off one of the bridges she built over the sugarcane fields, smiling at her handy work when Perry came running up to her again. "Yes, Perry?"
"I think I have an idea for costumes! Just leave that up to me!" Perry started to run when Malroth grumbled about not being that big into costumes. "There's always a kill joy. C'mon, Malroth! I'll make one special just for you!"
"Be careful what you call me, Perry, or I'll show you joy's not the only thing I can kill." Malroth growled as he reached for the axe that was perched on his back.
Lily reached over, grabbing his hand and easily stopping him. "Easy, tiger. I'll call you a kill joy if you don't have fun tonight!"
Later that night, Malroth and Lily sat back down on the bridge, watching their new friends dance and cheer. The farm had been rebuilt, they knew how to grow things and Lily knew how to build more things. "I think we can set sail back home in a few days, what do you think, Mal?"
Malroth leaned back on his hands, his eyes on the Deitree before looking to Lily. "I think that would be just fine. I heard Perry and Rosie talking about wanting to go back with us. I think that would be an alright idea. It would give Lulu someone new to pester."
Lily laughed and leaned against Malroth; her cheek pressed against his shoulder. "Thank you, Mal, for coming with me to this island. And for making new friends with me."
Malroth put his chin on top of Lily's head, breathing in her sweet scent as he closed his eyes. "Anything for you, Lil."
"Lily! Mister Malroth! I have gifts for you!"
Lily sat up straight, nearly screaming when someone came running up to them with a pumpkin on their head. "Wh-What the hell!?"
Malroth jumped up, bringing his axe out. "Who in the hell are you!?"
"Wa-Wait! No need for violence, Mister Malroth! It's just me! Perry!" Perry pulled a pumpkin out and slammed it on Malroth's head, getting the angrier of the two males stuck in his new jack-o-lantern mask. "Here you go!"
Lily laughed when Perry simply handed one to her before taking off before Malroth could take a swing at him. "You look so cute, Mal!"
"D-Dammit, Lily! It's stuck!"
The night raged on, dancing and harvesting galore. Lily stole Rosie from Pastor Al to dance around the Deitree, both girls giggling in their silly pumpkin masks while they moved to music only they could hear. After a while, Lily found Malroth standing watch over the party. She smiled behind her mask and tapped his shoulder. "Will you dance with me?"
"Pffft, are you for real?" Malroth froze when Lily's shoulders seemed to slump. "Look, I don't dance, alright?"
"I'll take the pumpkin mask off of you if you dance with me." Lily let out a sharp giggle as Malroth grabbed her, awkwardly and roughly leading her into a swirling dance. "Mal!" Her laughter only grew as he twirled her around, pulling her back against him and back out into another twirl.
Malroth slowed down on the twirling as Lily reached up, easily taking the pumpkin off of his head. "You know, this hasn't been so bad. I kinda like it here."
Lily took her own mask off and leaned into him as the two danced with the others around the large tree. "Same here. I wouldn't mind staying, but we have Lulu and Hammerhead to get back to."
"I talked to Pastor Al, he told me he wanted to come back to the island and help us build back home. Something about dreams becoming a reality."
Lily's head snapped up so she could look Malroth in the eyes. "Really?!"
"Yeah, but he also mentioned that we need to get the protection from the Children before we even remotely thought of leaving this place unguarded." Malroth glanced over as Bonanzo started to sing. The bushy mans voice was oddly satisfying in song like this.
Lily smiled as she leaned against Malroth once more, letting Bonanzo's singing and everyone's humming and dancing be the final send off to the festival.
