Lillian jumped up next to Malroth, her eyes wide as the Isle of Awakening came into view. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she looked to Malroth. "This is your home?!"
"And now it's yours too." Malroth couldn't help his smile as he leaned back on his hands, his feet dangling off the front of the ship. "Man, Lulu had better not have messed anything up on my island."
Lily rolled her eyes as she stepped up next to Malroth, leaning against the edge as the salty air washed over her. She closed her eyes, breathing in deep. She could still feel the magic of the Deitree, even from this far away. When she opened her eyes again, they were pulling up next to the dock. Lulu was standing there; a stern look on her face and hands on her hips as she waited. "Wh-Why is she mad? We were gone, we haven't done anything." Lily straightened up; eyes wide.
"Do you know how long you've been gone?! Three months! THREE WHOLE MONTHS." Lulu stomped as they slowly got off the boat. "You better have something to show for it! I've been-" Lulu gasped, freezing when Lily wrapped her arms around the pink haired girl. "Lily?"
"I didn't realize it had been three months, Lulu. I'm sorry." Lily pulled back, letting Lulu see the others she had brought with her. "These are the citizens of Furrowfield farm, they've come to help us build a farm of our own. Make this place… a little more livable."
Rosie ran up, giving Lulu a hug. "I'm Rosie! This is Perry, Bonanzo, Britney, Lillian and Wrigley!"
Lulu was doing fine until her eyes landed on Wrigley. "Oh… oh my-"
Lily quickly covered Lulu's mouth, a dark smile on her lips that only Malroth and Lulu could see. "He's a friend. Try to be kind." She dropped her hand when Lulu slowly nodded.
"How did you and that scallywag-stealing hammerhood get along? He didn't try anything funny, did he?" Malroth glanced around, looking to see if the hammerhood was there.
"Not at all! We got along like a house on fire. That funny old fellow told me everything there is to know about this island."
"You speak of the far-famed Hairy Hermit, yes?" Bonanzo chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "You must introduce us posthaste! The meeting of our islands' masters can brook no delay!"
"What island are you the master of?" Malroth growled, seeing Bonanzo flinch and pout.
"Perhaps you should comb that beard." Lulu gave Bonanzo a disgusted look. "Looks like it's been dragged through a bush backwards."
"Ah, yeah. I almost forgot!" Brownbeard interrupted, easily putting up a mailbox for the islands people. "Now yer mates on Furrowfield can send ye letters by sea-snail mail. Semaphore can't hold a flag to that!"
"Oh, how wonderful! Saffie will be able to keep me informed on all the comings and goings back home!" Lillian jumped up and down, eyes sparkling once again.
Lily stared at the postbox for a moment before leading the way along the shore, waving to her friends. "Come along then, time to meet the Hermit." She led them up the steep stairs and along the path up the mountain, almost like it was nothing.
Bonanzo was gasping and panting by the time they reached the temple. "Weren't you just making a big fuss about the Deitree's stairs!? What is this nonsense?!"
Lily only laughed as she easily trotted up the stairs, Malroth and Lulu right behind her. "It's different when you've been away from home for a while."
"Ho, ho, ho! You're back, Lily! And you brought some new friends with you! That's crack-crack-cracking!" Hairy sprang out of the temple, grinning at the new comers.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mister Hermit. We've come all the way from Furrowfield. Lily said we could live here. So, here we are!" Rosie stepped up, stiff as a board with her arms against her sides. "We're looking forward to helping her make this place into a proper paradise!"
"It's smash-smash-smashing to have you here, young lady. Welcome to the Isle of Awakening!" Hairy turned to Lily, giving her a playful wink. "Well, Lily. Hadn't you better knock-knock-knock a few houses together for our new residents?"
"Nah, mate!" Britney put a hand on her hip, grinning at Lily. "I came here to, like, build stuff? Not get stuff built for me, yeah? We were all talking about it on the boat, and now I'm totally stoked to get started!"
"Speaking of buildin', this soil is in a terrible state." Wrigley frowned, glancing behind him at the vast land of dried soil.
"We'll need to make Wrigley lots of food so he can get to work on the soil." Lillian nodded matter-of-factly. "As soon as we have some lovely, healthy soil, we can start growing our crops!"
"I know a bang-bang-banging place to do that! The Green Gardens!" Hairy bounced in the air, raising his hammer above his head. "Just have to head north-east until you bump-bump-bump into a stone tablet. Let's go-go-go!"
Malroth caught Lily again, easily setting her down so she could climb up to a large tablet that stood before them. "Is this what old Whitebeard told us about?"
"Indeed, it is, Malroth my boy! This tablet was knock-knock-knocked together by the last builder who lived here. A mysterious and magical creation." Hairy appeared next to Malroth, making the boy jump. "It reacts to the innermost thoughts of the island's master. When an idea materializes in their mind, it will be etch-etch-etched into the stone itself."
Malroth and Lulu stared long and hard at the tablet while Lily sat on the ledge just beneath it. They wanted green fields to put their crops, and for those crops they would need water, so they would need a river… she closed her eyes, breathing in deep. Images of a small country field nestled between a lush forest and a sparkling stream formed in her mind, causing a smile to form on her lips.
Gasps all around her, had Lily opening her eyes and looking back at the tablet. The images she had seen in her head were there now, letting everyone else see what she had been thinking of. "You want… to make a river, a meadow and a forest? Bwaaah hah hah! You're nothing if ambitious my girl!" Bonanzo laughed, clapping in his support for her crazy idea.
"When I said this island needed nature, I didn't actually expect you to make it!" Lulu gasped, staring bug eyed at Lily. "This is rather a bigger undertaking than searing a scallywinkle, you know."
"While we're busy prettying this place up, how about you build us those new cribs your hermit mate promised us?" Britney beamed, giggling as she grabbed Lillian, starting to lead the girl away from the others.
"I thought you said you wanted to build." Malroth stared at Britney, his voice all but a growl when the two girls laughed and took off towards the cliff next to them.
"Well, if you all want to build a river, I know the perfect spot!" Lulu looked proud of herself, grinning with her hands on her hips. "If you all will follow me. I'll be your guide today." The group climbed up to the highlands, looking back out at the barren land that lay before them. "See how this stone is a different color that the rest? I think it's an old riverbed."
Perry ran up next to Lulu and Lily, staring out at what they were looking at. "'Ang on a minute, Lulu – this is a blimmin' big river you're after, en't it? Lily's a builder, not a miracle worker!"
"We rebuilt a farm and built the Deitree, Perry." Lily smiled as she stepped away and pulled out her bottomless pot, holding it out so water began to rush out, rushing around Britney and Bonanzo who were standing on the old stone. "I think a meadow and a river will be no problem at all."
"Wh-What?! Look at all the water come out of the pot!" Lulu ran over, taking the pot from Lily. "What kind of magic is this?!"
"There's water all over! I'm soaked all the way to my small clothes!" Bonanzo laughed from where he was just a little way away.
The group wandered down the cliff side, going down to the riverbed where Lily poured more water out. They watched as the water raced along the old bed, filling it up bit by bit. Once the bed was filled, the crew looked around, Malroth called out from just down the way. "Hey, nerds! I think the river is supposed to keep going!" He ran back over, grinning at Lily. "Give me a little bit and I'll have all of this cleared out!"
Lily started to help remove the sand and dirt from where they wanted the river to go when Wrigley, Britney and Lillian came over, asking her to help them get some greenery started. With a soft chuckle, Lily left Malroth and Rosie to dig away for the riverbed and went into the highlands with the other three.
After a few hours, the ground around them was a lush green and the riverbed was cleared. Lily sat on top of a hill nearby, Malroth relaxing right next to her when Perry came up, a pathetic look in his eyes. "Miss Lily… I 'ave a favor… ta ask of ya."
"What's up, Per?" Lily bit a chunk out of the cabbage she was holding before handing it over to Malroth who took a nice bite out of it.
"My tummy is a rumblin' an' I can't take it no more! I need food! Somethin' other than damn cabbages!" Perry cried out, holding his belly.
Malroth sat up, eyes narrowed as Perry shouted. "Hey-!"
"You know, while these guys get to clear-clear-clearing the way, you two could go get some chick-chick-chickens!" Hairy appeared next to Malroth, cutting him off before he could strangle Perry. "There are some Explorer's Shores littered around, I'm sure Brown-Brown-Brownbeard would happily take you."
Perry's eyes lit up as he looked to Lily and Malroth, hoping they would do just that. "Fine." Lily laughed, shaking her head as she got up, patting Malroth's knee. "Let's go tell Lulu then see what Brownbeard knows."
Lulu frowned as she stood at the docks with Malroth and Lily. "You two better hurry back. No three month adventure this time!"
Lily shook her head, giving Lulu a hug as Malroth and Brownbeard talked about what route they would take to one of the small islands. "Five days max, I promise." She turned to Malroth and Brownbeard, seeing they were waiting for her on the boat already. "Five days!" She laughed as she waved to Lulu from the boat.
Malroth caught Lily once again as she landed from their glide over from the ship, his eyes scanning the horizon for enemies. Which this small island had an abundance of. "Are we sure… Brownbeard dropped us off at the right spot?"
Lily slid from Malroth's arms, keeping herself against him as droplets of rain started to hit her head and shoulders. "I think so. He's an odd duck, but I think he knows his way around the water pretty well." She gave Malroth a smile before slipping away from him. "Let's go see if this island has chickens."
The two wandered around for a while, finding two chickens and some new plants to take back to the island. The rain was coming down hard as Lily waited in a small cavern with the two chickens while Malroth ran out to get some wood so they could make a fire. When he returned, he saw Lily munching on an apple she had found earlier, her dress hanging nearby, waiting for the fire to help dry it out.
Malroth set the wood down, watching as Lily got to work on the fire, it took a little bit due to the wood being wet, but she got it going eventually. Malroth couldn't help himself as he reached out, playing with the wet strands of blonde hair that hung loose across Lily's back. Once the fire was going, he wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her back against him. "I say we try to find a few more chickens then head home directly after."
Lily nodded, leaning back into Malroth. He was so warm against her even though he had just been out in the rain. She listened to the fire crackle next to them, the chickens cooing softly as they slept nearby. She laid out a small blanket, inviting Malroth to join her under it. His arms wrapped tight around her as the two slowly drifted to sleep in their little cave.
The next morning came all too quickly for Malroth's liking, he grumbled when he heard Lily rummaging around. She was whimpering as she put her pigtails back up, having to fight with a few tangles there. She glanced back at Malroth, giving him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"You're fine. Do you need help?"
"No, I'm almost finished." Lily smiled and finished up as quick as she could. "We should go ahead and look for a few more chickens and then head home."
Six chickens and two days travel later, Lily, Malroth and Brownbeard pulled up to the dock back home. Lily eagerly jumped off the boat, thankful to feel dry land beneath her boots. "Thanks again, Brownbeard!"
"Not a problem, lass. Aye, I heard of an island as big as Furrowfield while the twos of ya were on that small island. Perhaps it's inhabited, you could get more mates and materials there!" Brownbeard leaned against the side of his boat, grinning at Lily.
"Another island?" Malroth licked his lips, eyes bright with the need for excitement. "Let's go find Perry and finish up the highlands before we head to another rock. I wanna rub this chicken in his face."
Speaking of the devil, Perry rounded the cliffside, jumping for joy when he saw the two adventurers. "Lily! Malroth! Lookit how cute my chicken is!" He clapped, clicking for one of the chickens to come to him. "Once she starts laying eggs, I'll never 'ave to eat cabbage again!" He looked to Lily, then back at Brownbeard. "I over'eard you sayin' somethin' about another island, yeah? I remember 'earin' about this one place that were famous for minin' metal right out the ground." He stood up, chicken in his arms. "A long time ago, the people of Furrowfield used to trade wi' them folk, swappin' veggies for metal and whatnot. Till the Children made us put a stop to it o' course."
Lily looked back at Malroth, both clearly intrigued by this. "Guess we better get to making greenery and water." Lily purred, taking off without Perry. Malroth and the other chickens were hard on her heels as she ran.
The morning went by in a blur, between digging and pouring and planting and fighting off iron ants and ghosts, Malroth and Lily leaned against the last canyon wall, water pooling around their feet. The sun was about to reach its' peak as Bonanzo led the way towards a large cave. The only problem was that it was caved in for the most part. "Drats. I was hoping we could get this to lead to the pond we built!"
"We could dig through it. Malroth hasn't destroyed enough today." Lily giggled when Malroth yanked out his axe, red eyes sparkling. "Just leave it to us, Bon."
The two set to slamming axe and hammer against old rock and dirt, slowly but surely, they made headway, leaving the cavern wide open. Water poured over their heads, making Lily thankful she had kicked her boots off and left her book down below. She looked to Malroth, nodding as they struck the final wall of stone and dirt down.
Lily looked out over the new pond they built, her eyes sparkling with wonder. They built this. This ragtag team of friends. She shivered as cool water ran over her toes and ankles. She reached out, grabbing the vines that hung down in front of her, a sigh leaving her as she watched her friends waving at her from below.
"Now… how do we get down from here?"
Lily glanced to Malroth, her eyes flicking to Bonanzo when he spoke. "Guess we take the long way back around and follow the other part of the river."
"Or we take the fast way."
The two men turned and looked at Lily, confusion in their eyes at her mischievous grin. "Fast way? What are you talking about?" Malroth's eyes followed Lily as she grabbed a sturdy vine and backed up, squaring up her shoulders. "Lily?" His eyes widened when the girl started running towards the mouth of the cave they opened up. "Lily!"
Lily's feet hit the edge of the waterfall and she pushed off, letting the vine swing her out more. She could hear the shouting from Malroth and Bonanzo as she swung, and the gasps from below her. She let go of the vine, her smile only growing as she twisted in the air, throwing a peace sign up for Malroth. "See ya down below!"
Malroth went to grab Lily but she was too far out there, she wouldn't survive that fall. "Lily! What are you-" He stopped when he looked down, seeing her splash into the small lake, getting their friends wet before bobbing back up. "Lily! You're insane!"
"C'mon! The water is great!" Lily laughed as she swam around in the water.
Malroth glanced to Bonanzo, frowning at him. He swallowed the lump in his throat before he grabbed the same vine Lily used. He slowly backed up, then took off running, jumping at the edge of the waterfall. He squeezed his eyes shut as he let the vine swing him out some before letting go.
Air rushed around him, his ponytail whipped his exposed skin and then water smacked his skin as he landed in the small lake. He surfaced and stared at Lily in awe, his stomach was still doing flips as he looked over at her. "Lily!"
"Mal!" Lily swam over to Malroth, wrapping her arms around him. "You did it!"
"That was so much fun! I thought I was going to die!"
Lulu rushed to the edge of the tiny island in the middle of the pond that she stood on; her eyes wide. "Are you two insane?! You could have died!" She gasped when Lily laughed. "Lily! Stop laughing! Why are you laughing?!"
Malroth and Lily climbed onto the small island, a small wave of magic coming from the direction of the tablet. Malroth winced and grabbed his stomach, growling some. "Augh…"
"What's wrong, Mal?" Lily cupped his cheek, frowning as he winced again.
"I'm getting this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach… wh-what's happening?"
"Do you want to go rest?" Lily gave him a sympathetic smile when he nodded. "C'mon, I'll build a small house that you can rest in."
My Lord and Master…
Hear me…
Malroth lifted his head, glancing around. "Lily… did you say something just now?"
Hear me, Malroth…
Hear me, O Mighty Master of Destruction…
Lily let Malroth push away from her, concern in her eyes as Malroth straightened up, glaring at the canyons around them. "Who is this?! What do you want?!"
As the Builder's power of Creation grow…
So too will Your powers of Destruction…
"Look, I don't know who the hell you are, or what the hell you're talking about, but-"
You know. You feel it.
When You witness great deeds of Creation,
A fearsome force stirs within You…
"Malroth!" Lily dove, catching her friend when he almost fell into the water, her hands tight on his purple jacket. "Mal! C'mon, snap out of it." She whispered, pulling his head against her chest as he let out a roar of pain.
Malroth pushed off of Lily again, he threw his arms and head back, a monstrous noise leaving him. A dark energy flared around him that made Lily scoot back as fast as she could. The power flowed through him, it looked like, from the peek that Lily got, that Malroth's canine teeth sharpened and his pupils became more feline-like. "Mal?"
Magnificent.
Use that Power.
Help the Builder to fulfil her aims...
Malroth turned to Lily, eyes blazing with this new energy. "Tell me… who you are." Lily didn't even register to him as he took a step towards her, his nostrils flaring as his body tried to adjust to this new energy.
I am the creator of this world…
Your most faithful servant,
And your dearest friend…
O Mighty Malroth, Master of Destruction…
I await the day You Awaken once more…
"Who in the world are you talking to, Malroth?" Lulu barked, grabbing his arm before he could reach Lily who was at the edge of the outcrop of land. "Are you going batty?"
Lily sat frozen, staring up at Malroth with wide eyes as his own returned to a more normal look. His goofy grin returned, and he looked at Lulu. "I don't know, but who cares! All I know is that I feel stronger than ever – so anyone who stands in Lily's way better watch out!"
Lily let out a shaky breath, blue eyes locked on Lulu and Malroth as they laughed at each other. She had heard the voice that final time. She knew that voice. Where had she heard it before? She let out a cry when Malroth was suddenly nose to nose with her, only those bright red eyes visible. "Monster got your tongue, Lily?" He laughed, yanking her up from her sitting. "Let's go build these guys a place to sleep in and then we can set off to this new island that Perry and Brownbeard were talking about, hm?"
