Malroth leaned down, easily grabbing Lily's hand, pulling her up over the ledge and onto the rocky cliffs edge. The sky was bright pink, and the air was thin up here as the two looked at the sign in front of them. 'May the white flowers of the covenant bring peace to the land – a peace that lies on the far horizon.' Lily turned and looked at Malroth who pointed to the horizon, a large island out there. "Time to fly, builder." Malroth grabbed her hand, leading her to the edge.
Lily gave a nod before jumping of the edge, before her foot left the edge, she yanked out the blue feathered cloak, taking it in both hands and letting it glide her over the water. She glanced down, seeing Malroth hanging onto her feet as the wind carried them. She watched as he dropped down, landing on the rocky ledge below, his arms out to catch her. She gave a smile and dropped down to him, her arms wrapping around his neck. "That was pretty easy."
"Squeak! Squeak! Well, if it isn't a human! How did you get all the way over here?!" A fat rat peaked over the edge, then his beady red eyes snapped wide, gawking at the two of them. "Hold on… a human…! Here?! Elder! Squeak!" The rat turned and ran off. "Elder! Squeak! It's a human! A human has arrived!"
Malroth and Lily looked at each other, Lily prepared herself to be set down and walk up to where they had seen the rat when Malroth did the opposite. He kept her tight in his arms and easily jumped up to where they last saw the rat. He set her down finally and looked around, seeing a tombstone up ahead. "He probably ran off there."
The two rounded the rise, eyes wide at the large rat that was curled up in the murky water. It looked to them, eyes narrowing. "Mmmm… so, a human finally arrives. Well met." The rat leaned towards Lily, breathing in deep. "You're a builder. I can smell it on you." When the rat stood, it towered over Lily, making her crane her head back, Malroth had to look up as well. "This can mean only one thing – it is time for me to uphold our part of the covenant. A builder came here long ago. He built the Deitree and imbued it with great power by means of three types of flowers."
"So, Wrigley was right. We're looking for flowers." Lily couldn't help her smile, looking to Malroth who had his arms crossed over his chest, listening to the rat.
"When the Children of Hargon corrupted the tree, the elders of the Fat Rats, Humans and Bodkin archers gathered to discuss what could be done… We all agreed that the seeds of those flowers must be kept safe, until such time a builder returned to the island and rebuilt the Deitree." The rat turned, opening a small door that lay beneath the tombstone Malroth had seen a few moments ago. "One of the three sets of sacred seeds lies in the chest behind me. Take them, builder – they're yours now."
Lily slipped in, opening the chest that hid in the small space, she pulled the white seeds out, examining them. She turned back to the rat, seeing he had curled back up. "Thank you."
"No, we thank you, young builder. Now go. Restore peace to our land, so that I might be able to rest once and for all." He watched as Lily and Malroth pulled out their map before disappearing.
"They're back!"
"Look!"
"Welcome back, Lily! Did 'ee find out 'ow to power up the Deitree?!" Wrigley wiggled over to them, not even letting the two catch their breath before the chorus of farmers erupted around them.
"We got these seeds." Lily held out the white seeds, showing them to Wrigley and Rosie when she ran up to them as well. She explained what she had learned about the covenant; which had Rosie scratching her head for a solid minute. "These have to be how we power up the Deitree, I just know it."
Lily looked up, seeing the first part of the tree was almost finished. She glanced to Malroth who held his hand out to her, helping her over to the stairs that led up the tree. He was right behind her, taking a moment to look back when others slowly followed behind them. Lily pulled out the Heartwood, holding it close to her chest before leaning down and putting it in the center of the tower that had been built. She felt a small pulse of magic, a soft sigh leaving her as it washed over her.
"Go ahead and plant the flowers." Malroth whispered from behind her, easily holding the others at bay as his builder pulled out the little white seeds. As soon as she planted the fourth one in the soil around the Heartwood, they instantly bloomed.
Wrigley and Rosie rushed up, gawking at the flowers. "L-look at them, Wrigley…" Rosie let out a whimper, her fingers nervously grazing over the soft white petals. "They… they're so gorgeous." She whispered before rubbing the tears away from her eyes.
"Are you really going to cry over some flowers?" Malroth lifted a brow, frowning at Rosie and Wrigley who were all but sobbing over the flowers.
"Tis the first time I ever did see somethin' so… so pretty, mis'er Malroth!" Wrigley roared, tossing his head back and forth as he stared at the flowers.
Malroth took a step back, a small hiss leaving him when a stronger wave of magic hit him, making his skin itch. "What was that?"
"I'm guessin' it twas them flowers, buildin' up the Deitree nice 'n strong." Wrigley tilted his head towards Malroth.
Malroth grabbed Lily, yanking her up into his arms as he whirled around, a growl hard on his tongue. "What is that?! Does anyone else feel that energy?!"
Lily let out a soft noise, almost going limp in Malroth's arms as the magic washed over them. She couldn't explain it, but it was giving her energy but also taking energy from her. She watched as magic swirled around the Heartwood and the flowers before pulsing out, the land around the farm lost the pink tint from the Ill Wind.
"Oh. Em. Gee! Did y'all see that?!" Britney ran up, her eyes wide as she looked at Bonanzo. "Didja see that?! Didja do that!?"
"Well, I… I didn't do it deliberately, but perhaps I have powers beyond my own reckoning." Bonanzo gasped, his dark eyes wide.
"You lot really are a bunch of idiots. That was the flowers charging up the Deitree." Malroth barked as he held Lily, feeling her go limp for a moment before curling against him. "Think you could do another blueprint?"
"Yeah… I… yeah." Lily held onto Malroth, suddenly feeling tired as he helped to keep her up. She pulled out her book, scribbling things down. When she was done, magic pulsed from her book allowing the others to see what they needed to do next.
"Goodness gracious me!" Lillian gasped, smiling as she looked over the blueprint. "Well! What are we waiting for! Lily and Malroth, can go find the next seeds while we build!" She took off, grabbing the materials she would need before running around, some farmers right behind her doing the same.
"This new blueprint of yours is a work of blimmin' art! I'd never be able to draw summat like this – and not only 'cause I en't got no 'ands to 'old a pencil in!" Wrigley stared admiringly at the blueprint, his sharp teeth shining behind his smile. "The next flower will be at the tomato farm where that 'elpful orc lives. 'Ead East out of the bog, and you'll see the little spit of land. From there, 'ee can fly over to the island and 'opefully find more seeds!"
Lily and Malroth stared out at the island that lay ahead of them now, seeing old twisted trees against the swirling pink and purple sky. They looked to each other, nodding as Lily jumped off the edge, Malroth easily catching her feet and gliding over to the small island. The two barely landed before arrows were fired at them. Malroth dodged, grabbing Lily as he hid behind the rocky ledge. "I'll go over to the right and take those ones out, you get the left."
"Mm!" Lily watched as Malroth made easy work of jumping over the edge and taking off towards the archers. She slipped around to the left, running over to one of the trees, narrowly missing getting hit with an arrow as she rolled into cover.
She made her way up the tree, easily taking out one of the bodkin archers before heading towards her next one. She barely got that one finished when Malroth ran up to her, grinning. "That was the last of them, then! I wonder why they were attacking one of their own like that."
"Humans! I owe you my life, I do! Save me, you did!" The small bodkin down below hollered, jumping and waving his little arms at them. "Try to steal the seeds of the covenant, they did! Lucky you arrived in time, it was!" He paused, watching them make their way down to him. "Why are you here?"
"I'm a builder, I came looking for those seeds so we can rebuild the Deitree." Lily explained, tucking her hands away into her pockets.
"… A builder, you say?! Then take the daffodaisy seeds in this chest, you must! Seeds of the covenant, they are!" He watched as Malroth kicked the chest open, grabbing the seeds for Lily as he did. "Now go, you must! Rebuild the tree! Rejoice, our ancestors will!"
When Lily and Malroth got back, all that was left was to once again set down the Heartwood and plant the new flowers. Lily felt the same wave of magic from before as she planted the gorgeous yellow flowers, but it made her joints ache as she sat on the Heartwood. Rosie came up, smiling at her. "I think Pastor Al once said that in order to create a new tree, we need to use the purified essence of those which have grown. I wonder if he meant the essence of the plants we've grown?"
"And we'll need purified water, won't we?" Bonanzo chimed in, letting out a huff of air as he climbed the last steps of the tree. "Back in the bog, there are rumors of purified water somewhere in the bog."
"In the bog? I doubt that." Malroth laughed, shaking his head. "We can certainly go give it a look. Maybe that orc would know?" He looked around, seeing that he could survey the land from up here. "Is no one else concerned about the Children? We're almost done with this tree… but they haven't shown their faces yet."
"They'll wait until we finish building it. That's how they work. Destroy everything, let us rebuild and have hope, only to come smash it to pieces once more." Rosie frowned, shaking her head when Malroth laughed.
"That's sneaky! And horrible! I love it! But… they're bad guys… that need to be stopped." Malroth cleared his throat and scratched his cheek when everyone turned to look at him.
"Well. One last flower to go." Lily sighed, almost not ready to make this journey.
"Do we need to rest for the night?" Malroth touched her shoulder, frowning when she shook her head. "No, you know what. We're resting for the night; in the morning you can make the new blueprint and then we'll go get that last flower and find that stupid badboon."
Malroth held a hand up for Lily to take, helping her down into the cave of the island they had found at the edge of Furrowfield. He held the torch, guiding her through the twisting cavern. He glanced back every now and again, seeing that Lily looked so exhausted. It made him angry, that the others would ignore that look in her eyes for their own sake. He shook his head, pausing when the cavern opened up and a waterfall loomed ahead with a tombstone and a sleeping slime next to it. "Oi! Slime!"
The slime let out a cry, jumping up. "Goomans! Goomans?! What are you doing here!?"
"We're here to find some seeds so we can rebuild the Deitree." Malroth growled as they walked up.
"Oh? A gooman used to live here, protecting seeds from the Children. She died a long, long slime ago. You goomans just don't last as long as us monsters do. So sad." The slime twisted as it looked to Lily, seeing a sleeping dracky on her shoulder. He glanced to Malroth, then back at Lily. "Before she died, she asked me to wait here until the day another gooman came to collect the seeds – a builder like you." The slime turned, looking back at the waterfall. "The seeds are back there, goo on, take them."
Malroth shook his head at Lily when she started to go over. He left her with the slime, climbing up the rocky ledge and slipping behind the waterfall. Once he retrieved the seeds, he went back to the slime, patting it on the head. "Thanks. We owe ya."
Malroth carefully set Lily down, watching her for a moment as she set on the gross ground, her eyes closed from a headache. "Tiny, is this the Deitree's doing?"
"I think so, Malroth. It isn't complete, so it's feeding off of Lily's magic. Once it's completed, she should be fine. I've been thinking about that thing Rosie said, about the purest form of everything. There was a story long ago about a Leaf of Life. You should be able to use your crops and some pure water to make it." Tiny rubbed against Lily's cheek, frowning at her.
Malroth looked around, seeing land that jutted up, a signpost on the edge. "Over there. Think you can swim, Lil?"
Lily gave a nod, getting up so she could follow after Malroth. She rubbed Tiny's head, sighing softly. "You think once we finish the tree, I'll feel better?"
"Stronger. More than likely. The Deitree will stop taking energy from you and just give it to you." Tiny purred, frowning at the water down below them. "Uh… how about I just… stay up here and you two go in the water?"
Malroth rolled his eyes, easily plucking Tiny off of Lily's shoulder. "Spoilsport." He laughed, grabbing Lily's hand as the two jumped into the gross water.
Tiny flapped over to the edge, watching… waiting… "I think Pastor Al was right... you'll make for a very powerful builder. And you, Malroth…"
Lily handed the bottomless pot to Malroth, smiling as she got to work on placing the Heartwood and flowers. She watched as he slowly began to pour pure water into a small pool at the top of the tree. The clear water trickled down at first, but soon is was pouring like a waterfall. "Ya know, Lily… I never thought about it before, but what happens when the water runs out up here."
"It won't, the tree has enough magic to act like the bottomless pot." Lily leaned back, unable to take her eyes off of Malroth as he moved to the next pool, doing the same there. He looked entertained to say the least.
"Lily! Lily!" Bonanzo sprinted up the steps, taking them two at a time as he ran. "The Deitree is literally overflowing with pure, clean water! I don't think I've ever seen water so clean! As your father-figure, I am so proud of you." He smiled at her confused face, not getting the hint from her eyes that wasn't what he thought at all. "Say, Lily… there's something I want to ask you, just between you and me…" Bonanzo blushed, having to look away from the builder. "Once our work here is done… may I… may I accompany you to your island? I'd be more than happy to help you grow gardens and greenery back home."
"Once we're done here, I'll talk to you about it again. How about that?" Lily smiled when Bonanzo excitedly nodded and ran back down the steps. She planted the last four flowers, feeling magic pour out of them and into the tree. She looked up at the sky, feeling a stronger breeze kick in, pushing the Ill Wind away.
Before the others could make it up to her, the tree shook with a loud roar from down below. "BUUUUIIIILDEEEEEEER."
Lily got up, looking down and seeing the big Badboon glaring up at the top of the tree, his red eyes narrowed on her. "Badboon." She jumped off the edge, letting her cloak ease her down until she was standing in the clearing between the large pink ape and the farm behind her. "Finally come to darken my doorstep once again. I'm guessing you have the Leaf of Life I'm looking for."
Badboon let out a roar of laughter, sitting down on the hill above her as he pulled out a large sack. He stuck his hand in and pulled out a banana. "Perha-ha-haps I do-oo-oo." He eyed her as he tossed one of the peels towards her.
Lily looked at the peel, tilting her head as she smiled at him. "What an idiot." Malroth purred as he slunk up next to Lily, the way he moved reminded Lily of a street cat getting ready to fit. "We were going to go kick his ass anyways, and the nimrod just hands himself over?" He licked his lips, his red eyes all but glowing with the need for a fight. "Are you ready to mash some monsters, Lil?"
The Brainy Badboon sat up at Malroth's words, his eyes narrowing. "What… did you-oo-oo say?!" He jumped up, rolling by Malroth and Lily, easily slamming into the Deitree.
"This isn't good. If he keeps slamming into the Deitree like that, he'll smash the whole thing in no time!" Malroth growled, trying to find an easy way to take on the monster.
Lily walked over, picking up one of the large banana peels. "I have an idea." She smirked, eyes on the monkey. She waited, watching him curl back up and spin, when he went to make a run at the tree again, Lily dropped the peel, standing a little way back from it.
The Brainy Badboon spun, rolling towards Lily; but he hit the peel first, spinning out of control and slamming his head into the ground with such a force that it knocked him out for a moment. "Thanks for the ammo." Lily purred as she started slashing away at the monster, Malroth and the others quickly joined her.
Though, he bounced back up, knocking everyone away from him. He glared at the group before curling up and spinning again. He rolled at Lily once again, not seeing her place another peel. And again, he was down, having smacked his face on the ground. He knocked everyone away again when they started hitting at him. "You-oo-oo'll regret this builder!"
Lily watched as he spat slime at her, but she easily dodged it. She danced around, her blue eyes almost seeming to glow as she walked towards him. "I won't regret anything, Brainy. Now, hand over the Leaf of Life."
Malroth sat back, feeling the energy that came off of Lily and the Deitree. He watched as the Brainy Badboon started to back away from her, he watched as she lashed out, her sword hitting deep into his chest. His red eyes followed the bubbles of light that slowly came off of Brainy before he faded away, leaving nothing but a glowing leaf behind. His eyes connected with hers when she turned around, looking to him for his approval. Malroth gave her a nod, smiling at her. "Couldn't have done it better myself." He held a hand out to her, carefully leading her through the cheering farmers and towards her little workshop. "Time to finish this, eh?"
"Lily, I left you three of each crop in your workshop. You should be able to create what you need to now." Rosie smiled; her eyes locked on the tree that towered above them.
Malroth waited with the others outside the workshop, he couldn't quite explain it, but he could feel Lily asking the Deitree for magic. And it happily gave her what she needed. It was a rhythmic push and pull of magic that left Malroth swaying gently against it. His eyes opened when the door to the workshop opened, though, Lily almost tripped over Malroth who was sitting in front of the door so no one would go bother her. "Oh! Mal! I didn't-"
"I know." Malroth laughed as he stood up, helping her to the base of the tree. "You're ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Lily smiled, leaning into Malroth before she started her climb up the steps, the little sphere of water cradled in the leaf in her hands. She let out a gasp when she poured the droplet onto the top of the tree, feeling magic wrap around her, listening to it sing praise for her and the others. The magic lifted Lily up, carefully sending her back down and dropping her into Malroth's arms. She smiled at him, her arms eagerly wrapping around is neck. "The Island says thank you."
'Brave young builder… by thy hand have I been born anew, to watch over Furrowfield once more. The Blessed Breeze that flows from my branches shall drive away the Ill Wind and spread light and life throughout the land. Thou hast my thanks, Lily, for all thou hast done…'
Malroth looked up at the tree, hearing the voice as well. "You're welcome." He purred, grinning at Lily who was rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "Shall we celebrate?"
Lily leaned against one of the fence posts the next morning, her hand pressed over her eyes as Rosie giggled loudly next to her. "Wow, Lily, you must be tired after all the partying you did last night!"
"I need you to stop giggling, Rosie." Lily whimpered. For some reason, Rosie had chosen to wake Lily and Malroth up with the sun to get ready to go back to the home island. Lily glared at Rosie when the girl seemed to laugh even more. What had really surprised Lily though, was to find out that Clayton and Saffron had chosen to stay behind. Malroth claimed he saw Clayton flirting with Saffron a lot the night before, so it didn't really surprise Lily that they chose to stay back. Even Harvest didn't want to leave, but Lily understood all the same.
"Lily! Malroth!" Clayton ran up to Lily, looking around for Malroth, not seeing the larger male standing behind him. "There's a boat that just docked A strange fellow in a turban said he came here to pick you up."
"Thanks, Clayton." Lily hissed, trying to ignore the need to throw up everywhere as she looked at the ragtag team that was going back home with them.
Malroth walked over to her, giving her a curious look. "Need me to carry you back to Brownbeard?"
"No, I think I'll be fine." She waved a hand out, letting Malroth take the lead as the others followed them towards the dock.
Brownbeard paced on the dock, arms crossed over his chest. He had talked to that weird Clayton fellow, but now he had to wait on his duo to come back. "Aha!" He saw them come over the ridge, a small troop behind them. "Who are these fellow sand-scrubbers o' yers? Are these the folks ye've sheeted in to take back to the island? Yarrr, Lily, me livery, ye've gathered up quite a crew to take back to Lady Lulu."
The crew got climbed onto the boat, looking back to see Saffron and Clayton leading the farmers and Harvest over to the dock. "We've come to see you off!" Saffron giggled, waving at them as Brownbeard slowly untied the ship. "Thank you so much, Lily… Malroth, for everything you've done for us! We'll be sure to keep watch over the island!"
"And we shall keep building with all our strength – we fully intend to surpass even the legendary Lily one day." Clayton laughed, arms waving above his head as they pushed away from the dock.
"Bye sissy!" Lillian ran to the edge, waving at her sister. "I'll write you lots!"
