Malroth stood up straight once the explosion was over, dusting himself off as he moved. He looked back, tilting his head at the sight. "Hey… Lil?"

Lily stood up, shaking her head to help get rid of the dust there. She looked around seeing where the tracks picked back up, she grinned as she slipped around Malroth, starting towards the new tunnel. She let out a cry though, gripping her head when Malroth caught her by the ponytail, not letting her get very far. "M-Mal…!"

Mal pointed to Dougie who was bouncing on his toes, clapping happily. "Have a look there." Mal gave her a grin when she spotted the all too familiar balls of light springing off of the miner. "And you almost wanted to say no to helping out here."

Lily scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. "I had to bed you to let me stay here." She gave him a playful push before jumping down to Dougie, quietly retrieving her new source of magic. She trotted into the new area of the mine, looking around as Malroth ran on ahead. "Any monsters?" She shouted up to him as she examined the tracks where she was at.

"Not yet."

"Monsters?!" Dougie ran up to Lily, grabbing her and pulling her in front of him. "Protect me!"

Lily let out a gasp, stumbling over her own feet when Dougie pulled her around. "D-Dougie! Everything is alright! Mal said there weren't any!" She yanked away from him, frowning. "Weirdo."

"The tracks are blocked up here though, Lily." Malroth called out, Lily had to quiet her breathing in order to hear him.

Lily grabbed Dougie's hand, pulling him along behind her. "C'mon, then! Time to show me around the mines!" She laughed when Dougie started to protest, but Lily was stronger than the miner thought she was. The two finally rounded a corner, seeing Malroth leaning against a wall of rocks. "Sorry, he turned scaredy cat on me."

"I can tell." Malroth smirked as he pushed off the rocks, taking his axe out when Lily pulled her hammer out. "I didn't want to take all of your fun." He gave her a wink as he set to work on the rocks.

Lily found herself pausing when he winked at her, her heart was slamming against her ribs. She glanced to Dougie seeing he wasn't paying attention to them. She looked up when she saw Tiny flying towards them, a look in his eyes as he landed on her shoulder again. "You know, they sssay there'sss sssomething in that Digger Jigger that makesss butterfliesss come to this desssert isssland."

"I ain't never 'eard nothin' like that." Dougie perked up at Tiny's words, tilting his masked head at the dracky. "Are ya sure?"

Lily, now flustered, let out a grunt and left the two to talk about Digger Jigger and butterflies while she and Malroth cleared away the rocks. She glanced down, seeing some moles running around; somehow, they hadn't noticed the four newcomers just yet. She looked to Malroth, who grinned and nodded before jumping down and starting his assault on the other monsters. "We could have seen if they were friendly first-"

"Humans?! Attack! You aren't supposed to be here!"

"Never mind." Lily sighed as Dougie let out a cry and used Tiny as a shield this time. She jumped down and into the fray with Malroth, slashing at a few of the monsters with bored swings of her sword while Malroth chopped away with his usual excited stature.

"What's wrong, Lily? Didn't enjoy that fight?" Malroth leaned against his axe as he rested it on the ground and leaned towards her, his nose inches from her own.

Lily looked away from Malroth, a blush dusting her cheeks as she grumbled at him. "The fight was fine."

Malroth pulled back, a hand on his hip as he studied her for a moment. "Don't start acting weird on me now, Lily." He reached out, musing her hair with a smile before he went back to the tracks.

Lily sighed softly as she followed Malroth up the slight incline, frowning when she saw Tiny eyeing her. She looked over, seeing Dougie waiting next to another roadblock. "This mine really got abused in the absence of you all, huh?"

"Sure did. Rather sad seein' it like this." Dougie shrugged, stepping back so Lily and Malroth could clear the tracks again. "We'll need to get these tracks back up and running eventually, it'll make a lot of things easier." When he stepped back, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye that made him gasp. He leapt from the tracks and raced over.

Lily and Malroth turned, watching him take off deeper into the mine. They looked to each other before running after him. "Dougie! Wait up!" Lily called out, stumbling to a stop when he did. "Shit! I didn't mean like that…" She gasped, pushing on him so she didn't run into him. "What's wrong?"

"The supports! Look at 'em! This is 'orrible!" Dougie pointed to a series of eight supports that were holding the ceiling of the mines up. He turned to Lily; eyes wide behind the mesh eyeholes of his mask. "Can ya fix 'em, Lily?!"

Lily scoffed and walked over, yanking her magicked gloves on. "Can I fix it. Can I fix it."

Malroth patted Dougie on the shoulder, grinning at him. "Don't upset the resident builder there, Dougie." He teased while they waited for Lily to finish up the beams. "It's more of a what can she not fix."

"Nice one, Lily!" Dougie clapped as he and Malroth walked over to her. "Fanks to yer marv'lloous mendin' skills, those supports should 'old for the foreseeable." He pointed to the area in front of them, chuckling to himself. "Look there, we found the copper an' coal!" He tipped his head, looking to Lily's back. "That mallet o' yours won't be able to break the 'arder rocks, but it should do the trick for this stuff."

Lily frowned at Dougie as she reached back, touching her mallet. She followed him over to the copper where the three set to work on mining coal and copper. When she had enough, she smiled and wiped the sweat from her brow. "We should head back to Magrog so he can inspect this."

"Yeah! Le's go!" Dougie jumped down from where he was mining, only to freeze when he saw Malroth staring at him. "Wh… what is it Malroff?"

"Shouldn't… the miner stay here and mine? You wouldn't want another tongue lashing from Babs, would you?"

"Er… yeah, maybe you've got a point… Alright then, I'll stay 'ere and dig for a bit longer, but you two better go and see Magrog pronto!"

Lily led the way back along the tracks, casting a smirk back at Malroth. "That was kinda mean of you, making Dougie stick back and mine like that."

"Hey, the more copper we get, the sooner we can help Goldirox out. You know that as well as I do. If we can get something to stay back and keep going at it, it just gets us one step closer." Malroth shrugged as he put his hands behind his head while they walked, breathing in deep as they got closer to the entrance. "I think we'll have fun here but being down in these mines is gonna do some work on my nose."


The two had barely gotten up the steps when everyone rushed them, Digby looked around then stared at them. "Where is Dougie?"

"He's down mining more copper." Malroth raised a brow at the miner before turning to Magrog, handing him the lumps of coal they found.

"This is indeed Khrumbul-Dun quality copper! I was worried that the mines would dry up, but how wrong was I!" The man let out a roar of laughter, tossing the lumps to Den.

"I was talkin' to Goldi, 'e said that the more metal we give 'im the stronger he'll be. And if we can get 'is strength back, 'e can keep the mines full! It'll be like the Gold Age ne'er ended!" Babs ran up, hugging Lily. "Khrumbul-Dun will be good as new soon!"

"Is that so? Then perhaps he'd benefit from the copper Lily just brought back." Den handed then copper back to Lily with a smile.

Babs pulled back, her eyes pleading with Lily. "Can we give 'im the copper? I don't wanna leave 'im in this state, poor old thing."

"COPPER?!" Goldi jumped up, eyes glued on Lily. "COPPER NOT STRONG… ENOUGH… NEED GOLD. BECOME GOLD GOLEM. MINES OVERFLOW…! BUT COPPER STRONGER… THAN STONE. COPPER GOLEM FIRST. HIT ME, LITTLE BUILDER."

Lily took the copper, eyeing Goldirox before giving it her best pitch, the copper hit the golem and a bright light erupted, causing everyone to cover their eyes for a moment. "Blimey! That's bleedin' brilliant! You've turned 'im into a copper golem!" Digby gasped, throwing his arms up in victory.

Lily opened her eyes, her jaw dropping when she saw Goldirox. His body was still gray stone, but his head was a brilliant copper. She covered her mouth, trying to hide her giggle. "Oh, Goldi…"

"NO LAUGH. GOLDI SHY."

"I think ya look 'andsome, Goldi." Babs peeked around from behind him, smiling.

"BABS SO SWEET! BABS SO KIND!" He looked away, his stone hands hiding his face. "BUT NOT ENOUGH COPPER. NEED THOUSAND LUMPS."

"Blimey! That's an impossible task, Goldirox!" Den gasped, his jaw slack as he stared at the golem.

"I wouldn't say that, da. The mine might not be what she used to be, but there's gotta be more copper down there." Babs frowned, her hand on Goldi's arm.

"LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND!"

The group turned, seeing Dougie sprinting up the stairs. He huffed and puffed as he grabbed Malroth, thinking he could use the other male as a way to slow down, but when Malroth grabbed the miner in return, he stopped dead in his tracks. Malroth grinned, having not budged even a hair when the running miner grabbed him. "I… 'ad a bit more… of a dig abaht… and that mine… is chock full o' copper! Look at… all this… wot I brought back…!"

Lily's eyes nearly bugged out of her head when he dumped two bags of copper onto the ground in front of her. "That's awesome, Dougie!"

"That's it?!" Digby ran up, punching Dougie as hard as he could. "That ain't nothin'!"

"I did the best I could! I'm the only geezer down there diggin'!" Dougie hit Digby back, growling at his friend. "And I still don't 'ave a bar to unwind at when the day is done!"

"Always with the excuses. Why don't you stop moaning about 'morale' and get on with your job?" Malroth shrugged and shook his head at the two.

"Don't be so 'arsh on 'im, Malroth. Minin' ain't no 'oliday in the sun, ya know. It's 'ard graft, dirty, dark an' dangerous. The lads 'ave to 'ave some way o' lettin' off steam." Babs walked over, hands in the pockets of her dress.

"I'll help that layabout let off some steam – by cracking his thick head open!" Malroth growled, throwing punches in the air. "That should get rid of all the hot air!"

"Let's save that as a last… resort." Lily laughed and touched Malroth's shoulder to bring him down.

"I think I've got a better idea 'ow we can get all the copper Goldirox needs." Babs grinned, eyeing Lily as she walked over. "If we rebuild the pub, the miners 'ave somethin' to look forward to af'er a 'ard day o' work." She wrapped an arm around Lily's shoulders, directing her attention over to the skeleton of an old pub. "If we give 'em their old pub back, that thousand lumps o' copper would be nothin'." She pulled away once again, shrugging at Lily. "But I ain't no expert, Magrog can help you with any metal working problems."

Lily gave a nod and walked over to Magrog, grinning at him. "Whatcha want, little lady." He grinned at her, laughing softly. "That cheerful expression of yours is going to be contagious, I can tell."

"Will you teach me how to work metal?"

"I'm guessing little Babs put you up to this task?" He let out a groan when Lily nodded eagerly. "Alright, alright. I'll teach you what you need to know. I trust you'll keep our little arrangement a secret?"

Lily grinned from ear to ear, him teaching her metal working wouldn't be a secret in a small group of six people, but she would play nice for him. "Deal."


Malroth sat on the bed of rocks above the forge that Lily had built, munching on some cactus fruit as he observed his builder. She had ripped her dress off and was working in the small black shorts and thin black shirt she wore beneath it. Her twin tails had been traded in for a messy bun that sat on the top of her head as she worked with Magrog, smelting the copper in the forge. He leaned down, whistling at her to get her attention; when she looked up, he tossed a piece of the cactus fruit down to her, smiling at her. "Hot?"

"Burning! I'm excited to work with metals, but this is hell! I swear!" Lily let out a moan when the sweet nectar of the fruit hit her tongue, a coolness flooding her body as the flavor spread across her tongue. She finished it quickly and went back to work, thankful for her guardian above her.

An hour or so later, and Lily was holding a cocktail shaker, a tired look in her eyes. "Alright. If this doesn't get me magic, I'm calling it quits and going home."

Malroth let out a roar of laughter as he jumped down to her, taking the shaker from her. "That's a lie and you know it." He handed it back and followed her to the bar. His eyes went wide when she slammed the shaker down and magic flared around the bar. The wave seemed to call everyone over, like a small beacon that they didn't notice.

"Lily! What's this!?" Babs ran over, blue eyes wide as she stared at the other girl.

"All I did… was set the shaker down…" Lily frowned, though she perked up when she head a nose nearby. Tiny was floating in a barrel of water at the other side of the ruined bar. "When did…?"

"Your magic allowsss you to create thingsss, and from thossse thingsss you can make mini blueprintsss. It'sss like when you ssset up tablesss with chairsss and the dishesss, it givesss this piessse a function." The dracky purred as he spit water up like he was a tiny monster fountain. "Now Den can find everything he needsss behind that counter while you all sssit at the counter and asssk him for drinksss."

"When did you fill that barrel?" Lily walked over, hands on the lip of the dracky's pool.

"Babsss filled it for me with your bottomlesss pot when I begged her to." Tiny gave Lily a look like he was daring her to tip the barrel.

"My bottomless pot is for pouring water for drinks. Not for giving little drackys a place to swim."

"If you're jealousss you could jussst make your own pool."

Lily rolled her eyes and went back over to the bar, shaking her head at Malroth who was laughing from his stool at the bar. "Thank you, Lily." Babs grinned as she ran over, looking to the shaker. "That cocktail counter is just wot we need to get these miners – an' me Da – motivated."

"Wot the-?! I can't believe me mince pies!" Den ran over and behind the bar, his eyes lit up as he looked it over. "Miss Lily! Thank you! Thank you!" He grabbed the shaker and turned to the cask, pouring some Digger Jigger into it before reaching under the bar and adding a few more things. "Me pub! It's back! Alright lads – Digger's Jigger is on the 'ouse tonight!"

Babs laughed as Magrog, Dougie and Digby drank cup after cup of the sweet drink. "I did mention me da used to be the landlord o' this gaff, didn't I?" She had a dreamy look in her eyes as she watched them. "The miners used to come 'ere every night to let off steam, but they was always back down the pit at the crack o' dawn the next mornin'. I was only a little girl back then, but I remember 'ow 'appy they always looked. You could say 'im and the miners was my 'eroes." She turned to Lily, grabbing the builders hands. "And now that you're 'ere, Lily, I know that we can rebuild the pub and turn this island back into the 'ive of activity it once was." Her eyes were round, pleading with the builder. "I know it's a big favor to ask, but will you 'elp me?"

Malroth and Tiny stared at Lily with slack jaws as the girls' grin turned big, her eyes sparkling with a desire to build everything she could. Malroth was preparing himself to let her know that he would be right by her side the whole way when she looked to him for permission; but the look back never came. Instead, Lily grabbed Babs, swinging the darker-haired female around as she cheered. "I'd love to! Please let me help you build the best pub this island has ever seen!"

"Yes! Yes! Thank ya, Lily! Thank ya so much!" Babs laughed, dancing with Lily. "Now, how do we get more miners… is the only question. Digby and Dougie can't mine all the copper we need on their own."

Lily yanked Babs in, stopping their dance mid-step. "Don't worry about that, Babs." Her eyes went to the builder bell at the entrance to the town, a knowing gleaming coming to those warm blue pools. "I know just how to get more here."

Malroth's jaw dropped, seeing the familiar glow on Lily's skin from when she had absorbed enough magic to ring the bell. "Wait… you haven't even absorbed that much, how did you-"

Tiny was out of the water and on Malroth's shoulder within two flaps of his little wings. "Massster should be weary."

"Who?" Malroth glanced to Tiny, frowning at the dracky.

"What?"

"You said Master should be weary."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I don't think I-" The two flinched when the bell rang out, a warm magic washing over them.

Lily stood up at the bell, hammer resting on her shoulder as the occupants of Khrumbul-Dun ran up, clapping for her. "Lily! Look!" Babs bounced as three miners came running over, curious as to what the noise was.

Magrog gripped his head, eyes wide. "What is… I can't remember the last time I felt this way… I have this uncontrollable urge to… to make things again!"

Babs leaned over Lily's shoulder as the builder yanked out her large book, watching her scribble down notes on new ideas. "Lily… we can use this stuff to rebuild the pub!" She looked to the new miners, worried about how they were looking around the town.

"Wotcha… we 'eard the sound o' the bell and came over to see wot the commotion was. Wot's goin' on 'ere?" The biggest one tipped his head up, sniffing the air. "And why does it reek o' metal?"

Lily pranced over to them, hands behind her back as she leaned towards him. "Hiya! I'm Lily, and I'm a builder. This is Malroth, I would advise against making him grumpy. I'm rebuilding the pub and opening the mines!"

The three jumped back, their breath leaving them like they were sucker punched in the gut. "Do wot?! The Children o' 'Argon won't stand for it! I'm tellin' on ya! The Underseer'll 'ear abaht this!" The bigger one started to turn, to run off somewhere when a wave of anger washed over him like a tide coming in. He slowly turned around, his whole being trembling when his eyes landed on Malroth who was standing behind Lily, axe out and ready. "Uh-"

"Oi! You lot!"

The trio jumped again, suddenly very fearful of the blazing beauty up by the bell. Malroth's wrath was a speck of dust in the sandstorm that was Babs' wrath. "Wot… Babs?! Is that you?! You was nuffin' more than an ankle-biter last time I saw ya. 'Ow time flies, eh?" The biggest miner let out a weary chuckle, cowering away from her.

"Did ya just say ya was goin' to the Underseer?! Is that wot I 'eard ya say?!" Babs boomed from her spot, a dark grin on those once soft features. Even Lily took a step back, brows raised as she tried to pretend like the miners weren't about to get a new hole ripped somewhere on their bodies. "Bull-shite! You lot are stayin' 'ere an' 'elpin' me an' Lily get the mine back up and runnin' along with me Da's pub! Ya 'ear?!"

"Eh?! But that's 'eresy in the eyes of 'Argon!" The miners cried out, trying to get Babs to understand.

"Who cares about 'Argon?! Don't ya want some Digger's Jigger?! Don't you wanna see the dancin' bunnies?!" This seemed to catch everyone's attention. The miners cheered, suddenly very motivated to get the mines open and the pub going again.

"Wait, we ain't got no dancin' bunnies, though, Babs." Dougie frowned as he watched the girl for a moment.

"Not yet, anyways." Babs grinned, her eyes catching Lily's; who froze stiff, easily catching the hinting gleam in the darker blue eyes. "Anyways, we should let Goldi know so he'll quit poutin'."


The two girls sat on Goldi's shoulders, grinning at how eager he was to hear their plan. "So, you'll 'ave to be patient wiv us, Goldi. But we're gonna build the pub first, get a fire started under them boys and then they'll be bringing metal up 'ere for ya in no time! Then you'll get your powers back and the mines will be flowin' with rivers of silver an' gold!"

"BABS VERY CLEVER. VERY PRETTY! ME LIKE YOU VERY MUCH!" Goldi tapped a stone finger against his copper face, a frown in his voice. "BUT GOLD VERY DEEP. NEED LOTS OF COPPER."

"So, the faster we can get this copper, the faster we get the gold." Babs leaned around, looking to Lily. "You have any ideas on how to get the pub back up and running?"

"But of course." Lily grinned and jumped off, Goldirox, landing gracefully down below as she started scribbling a blueprint out in her book. When she finished, the ground glowed beneath the old pub, leaving the others to stare in awe at the magic. "Just leave this to me. It'll go by quicker if the miners could possibly go dig up more copper, that way I can keep working on this project."