Lily dusted her hands off on her dress, looking up as Anessa walked into the new room, her eyes sparkled when she saw the wizard workshop she had asked for. "All done."

"Wait. Lil." Anessa seemed smaller than the last time Lily had really looked at the girl, meek even. "I've been curious… how long have you known Malroth? As a general of the Moonbrooke Brigade of- I've seen my fair share of fighters over the years, but never one as strong as him." She bit her lip, she could tell she was slowly losing Lily's interest, she needed to get to the point. "However, success on the battlefield requires more than raw strength. A soldier without discipline is a danger to his fellow fighters. Malroth is a fine warrior, I warrant, but I fear his recklessness could get us all killed. I trust you will do all in your power to restrain his… darker impulses."

Lily gritted her teeth, glaring at Anessa for a moment. "It's a damn good thing he isn't a soldier then, isn't it? Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bell to go ring." She stalked away, shouldering past Anessa and to the Bell Room. She knew the girl would follow her, only because she was going to ring the bell, but she couldn't help her annoyance. "And to answer your question, Anessa! I've known him for a year. He was the first person I saw when I woke up after my shipwreck. He is the only person to truly have my back in a battle and he is the only person allowed to call me Lil." She slammed her hammer against the bell, feeling the magic of it wash over her, as if it were trying to calm her.

With the bell rung, Lily watched the people beneath her. Gerome was shivering with the need to build; Zara was bouncing on her toes as the magic washed over her. The King was ecstatic per usual, the other newcomers were excited as well, ready to give up their vows to Hargon. Warwick had a warm smile on his lips, but his eyes were dull, almost as Lily looked at him. Anessa was looking at Lily like she had ten arms, something in the girls' eyes made Lily decide she'd give Anessa another shot, it wasn't the magic of the bell, it was the words that Lily had spoken before she struck the bell that seemed to confirm something for Anessa.

Lily grinned down at the people, hand on her hip. She looked to the back seeing that Malroth was a lot more attentive right now. "Guess we should welcome these newcomers with a smile and a fight, what do you say, Mal?"

Malroth returned that devilish little grin Lily had. "I think there's no better way than to do just that." He crossed his arms, grinning at everyone. "I can sense more monsters this time, I can't wait to see what new kinds of skulls I get to smash."


This fight almost seemed to go by faster than the last one, a few casters had joined them to try and knock out the Zap Columns, but Lily and Anessa took them out quickly. The new soldiers, led by Zara, took on the horde of skeletons that came up as Malroth and Warwick took on the headhunters. Lily hardly blinked it felt like and Malroth was already scooping her up and cheering, far too excited after that battle. "Ha, ha, ha! Another one bites the dust! They put up a pretty good fight this time though, huh?"

"Malroth, sir! You were amazing!" One of the newer soldiers ran up, eyes gleaming as he stared at Malroth. "The way you belted those beasts was absolutely breathtaking! Let me be your squire, I prithee!"

Malroth grinned at Lily who only rolled her eyes at him. "D'you hear that, Lily? Looks like I've got an admirer!" He turned to the man, shrugging. "Look, I don't really need a squire, but if you want to follow me around and try to pick up my moves, that's your business."

"Speaking of moves, what manner of monster were those fireball-slinging sorcerers?" Warwick scratched his head, surprised by those beings.

"Weaklings." Lily laughed as she swung her hammer around, grinning at Anessa, who shook her head this time.

"Those were shaman, I feared the enemy might send them against us. Neither our walls nor our traps can defend against their spells… There is only on thing for it. We must repair the great gate and keep them out of the castle altogether!" She slammed a fist into her palm, determination in her eyes.


Lily sat on the walls; legs crossed as she looked over the remains of the great gate. She needed to figure out a blueprint for that monstrosity; at least how many pieces she would be using since the residents decided they wouldn't gather the resources like the other islands had, no she would do that part while they threw the rest together. Which was just as fine with her.

Malroth walked by around three hours later, seeing Lily still sitting at the top of the wall as monsters jumped at the Zap Columns and tried to beat the castle brick with their weak weapons. He could only laugh as she tried to calculate the supplies she needed for a build that big. "Lil, come down, would ya?"

Lily gave a jolt and looked back, seeing Malroth waving up at her. "How long have I been here?"

"Three hours? Give or take one." He stood beneath her, catching her when she slid from the wall. "Are you close to what you need?"

"I think so." She grinned and wiggled from his arms, disappearing into her workshop with him right behind her. "Honestly, if I just build all of this and leave it in the chest, everyone said they would do the building, so I should just let them do that."

Malroth leaned against the wall, watching her run in and out with the supplies needed, leaving them as if they were an offering to the people of Moonbrooke. He followed her out the last time, brows raised in surprise to see people were actually working on the gate. "Oh… alright then."


Three hours passed and with everyone except for Anessa and the King working on the gate, it was finished, Lily even stopped part way through to dig a hole and put spikes in it for monsters to fall into. Once it was finished, Malroth grabbed Lily before she could disappear into the castle. "Lily, Lily, Lils."

Lily laughed at Malroth; his voice was a desperate little purr. He was bored of the building; she could feel it in the air between them. He wanted to fight, he wanted bloodshed. That was his nature. "What, Mal."

"Don't make me beg, here." His lips worked against her throat, nipping and nibbling until her got a defeated little purr from his builder. "Please, can we? Pretty please?"

"I think I like the thought of you begging, Mal." Lily giggled when he growled at her. "Can we what?"

"Let's hurry things along. Fuck hiding in the castle until the monsters decide to come fight us. C'mon, please." His fangs brushed over her throat, making her knees wobble some. "Captain Worry's-A-Lot couldn't have gotten that far into your head, babe." He let out another growl when he felt her pulling at his power, but that meant he knew the answer to his plea. He cupped her cheeks, kissing her roughly for a moment until he pulled back.

The hunger in Lily's eyes matched the hunger in Malroth's as the two took each other's hands and ran out the gate, leaving the others to gawk at their backs. "Stop right there!" Anessa screamed, causing the two lovers to stop where they were at for a moment. "What are you thinking, Malroth?! Your rashness endangers us all! You can't just start a battle whenever you ruddy well feel like it!" She stomped after them, anger hunching her shoulders.

Lily sauntered back to Anessa; her fingers soft on the guards' cheeks. "But I can. And I will." She purred, snapping her teeth at the other woman before running backwards, arms spread as if saying 'stop me'. When Anessa only stood behind the gate, Lily turned and ran after Malroth to the center of the battlefield.

"Okay, let's see if we can get the troll really riled up. If we can get their leader to chase us, the rest of them are sure to follow." Malroth stood up tall, ax on his shoulder as he looked out over the monsters ahead of them. "Oi! Fatso!"

The troll looked up, seeing Malroth and Lily were suddenly very close to his monsters. "Who you? Moonbrooke soldiers?"

Malroth laughed as he took a few steps closer, a devilish grin on his lips. "You look like the stupidest one here. I guess that makes you the leader of this rabble. Or maybe it's the fattest, stickiest monster who gets to be the leader?"

"Malroth, wouldn't that still be him?" Lily had a foot propped up on her hammer, arms resting on the butt of it.

Malroth looked back at Lily, laughing even louder. "You're right! It would!"

The troll let out a roar, stomping his feet as he glared at the two. "GRRRRAAAAGH! I show you stupid!"

"I've known Golem's that can talk better than you can!" Lily threw her head back in laughter, gasping when Malroth grabbed her hand, yanking her along behind him.

"Time to outrun a troll!" Malroth let Lily go once she was running, he had to dodge around the little pit that she made, nearly falling into it as they dove back into the castle. "Man! Did you see the look on that troll's face? Well, we'll all get to take a closer look soon enough!" He wheezed as he laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. "Oh, shit. Shit, that was a good one!"

Warwick marched up to them, eyes narrowed. "There you are! Where have you two been? Anessa has been worried sick about-" His jaw dropped as he looked beyond the gate, his whole body going lax. "Good… heavens… what in the world is going on?"

Malroth gave Warwick a nudge, grinning at him. "Looks like our special guests have finally arrived, and not a moment too soon." He ran for the gate, beaming back at the soldiers that came running up. "Dibs on the troll!"

"You can't call dibs, Mal!" Lily gasped as she ran after him, ignoring the protests from Warwick and Anessa behind her.

"Too late!"

The hole Lily had dug worked like a charm, most of the skeletons and headhunters fell down, with no way back up, they only hurt themselves with the spikes. The shaman were a little harder to deal with, but they were easier to attack from behind.

The real trouble came with the troll, he went to go around the hole of spikes when Malroth came running up, slashing out the backs of the troll's legs, sending him down into the pit. He frowned, seeing a spike had impaled the beast, leaving him no one else to fight. "Man, that was too easy! Lily! I don't like your hole anymore!"

"That was only the siege, Mal. And you like my hole, plenty." Lily gave him a playful shove before leading the way back behind castle walls where the celebrations were only just beginning.

"Lily, Malroth. I found this in the troll's things, I don't know what use it could be…" The King muttered as he held out what appeared to be a large piece of coal to Lily.

The builder took it, looking it over. An idea popped into her head and she was gone, disappearing into her workshop. She reemerged a little while later, throwing down a large urn that stood in the middle of the wall, leaving everyone speechless. "May I present, the Beacon of Erdrick!" It was like a magical warmth spread through their little town, melting the snow and preventing it from sticking any longer, leaving everyone in awe of the power of this new item.

"It seems as if there is something missing from the Beacon of Erdrick." The King looked up at it, thumb to his bearded chin. "It shall not be complete until it bears the Mark of Moonbrooke! Alas, this precious heirloom – the sacred symbol of my legendary line! – was stolen by the monsters many moons ago… One day, when we have laid their Major General low and affixed the Mark to the Beacon, true peace shall return to this land at least. Until that day comes, let us wage war against the monsters with all our might, and reclaim what is rightfully ours! For Moonbrooke!" The people beneath the King cheered, jumping in the air and hollering for the Majesty.


"So, you've rebuilt the Beacon of Erdrick? That's quite a feat." The large shadowed beast looked down at Moonbrooke, the moon was high in the sky as the people slept away their victory, knowing there was more fighting to come soon.

"Thank you, Father..." The cloaked human whispered, shivering from the bone chilling wind as they looked up at the being.

"And a foolish one. After all, this world is but an illusion. It matters not whether you humans win or lose. All will be destroyed." The beast cackled, turning his back on the small human. "But should you do as we say, you could et be saved from this fate. Saved from the destruction of Doom's Day. Well, what say you? 'Tis an offer few would refuse…" The beast turned again, casting a knowing eye on the human, awaiting the answer it knew would come.

"Yes, Father… Your wish is my command…"

"Muah, hah, hah! Very good! Then go, my child – spread fear and loathing throughout the human ranks. Let the builder's creations come crumbling down!"


"Imagine being forced to fight forever in a way you're not allowed to win… No wonder this island was off limits to anyone sensible." Malroth looked up at the Beacon the next morning, frowning up at the large piece of gold. Lily watched him for a moment, he always did his best thinking early in the morning. Despite the fact that she was shivering in the chilly wind that blew through the gate. "Meanwhile, that idiot Anessa stuck around to keep fighting the losing battle, all because of her so-called 'convictions'."

"If she wasn't convinced it was the right thing to do, Mal, she would have given up a long time ago. This is how she's holding on. I'm willing to wait Anessa out, to show her that there's more to this life than Hargon's teachings. We just have to have patience." Lily leaned into him, putting her head on his shoulder.

"Hmph. Why've you always got to take everyone else's side? I thought we were friends?" Malroth flinched when Lily yanked back, eyes wide. "What? It's true, you take everyone else's side."

"Mal- that's not- w… what?"

"Well, whatever. I can't get my head around it, personally." He sighed and shrugged it off. "But if you say you understand what she's talking about, I believe you." He turned his head to Lily, but his eyes were still locked on the Beacon. "All I know is, I'm up for this fight. There's a fire burning inside of me – something more powerful than ever before. I could really feel it in that last battle."

Lily rubbed her eyes, still reeling from him saying she took everyone else's side. She didn't want to cry, he was just frustrated, she needed to pay attention to him more, realize what was bothering him. "Hey… Lily?" She rubbed her eyes again, staring at him as he spoke. "Do you remember what I said when you, me and Lulu had our little dinner party? If I ever go off the rails, I want you to give me a proper pummeling and snap me out of it. I mean it. Don't let me down."

"My, my! You two are up early! It is so good to see such fine young friends enjoying each other's company like this!" The King came up to the two, enjoying the warmth the Beacon gave off. "You two have something about you, you know. Something quite different from my other subjects… When you rang the Builder's Bell, my mind was filled with wisdom! Knowledge! Memories! Some good, some bad…" He looked to them for a moment, then back at the Beacon, a softness in those brown eyes. "I suspect that your time on this island may reveal to you the dark secret at the heart of this world – a secret I dare not reveal to my loyalist subjects…"

"Hang on-" Malroth crossed his arms, not seeing the fear creeping into Lily's eyes, not seeing the faint spark that was there as he glared around her and at the King. "there's some deep, dark secret here, but you won't tell us anything about it? What do you think you're playing at, you big, beaded, brainless buffoon?"

"Bearded? BEARDED?! I am the King of Moonbrooke! How dare you speak to me like that!"

Lily turned to the King, unable to stop the tears as she opened her mouth to speak, the words caught in her throat for a moment. But then they came out in a gasp as Malroth jumped around her, his head tilted towards the gate. "Hey, Lily, do you hear that? It sounds like someone's in trouble!"

The two ran, Malroth ran, Lily stumbled after him, still trying to wrap her head around what she had been about to say to the King. She knew the secret, there was a reason she and Malroth were different. There was a reason she couldn't die and that probably meant Malroth couldn't either. They had bodies to return to elsewhere, while the others…

"Malroth! Lily! Wait up! What's happening!" Warwick ran up to them, looking at the soldier that was crawling towards them. "As I live and breathe! That's a soldier from Moonahan!"

"The monsters attacked… Moonahan… has fallen… they are… coming…" The soldier looked up at the trio, eyes dull as his life faded. "They are too strong… you must find a way… to sto-" An explosion sent the soldier into the barricades next to Lily and the boys, his back shredded from the blast.

"Eeeeek! Watch where you're shooting that thing! You could have kaboomed my tail off!" A large pink flying monkey landed above the three, screeching at them. "I said you should have let me handle it! Well, whatever – it's my turn now! Eek, eek!" He laughed as he flipped upside down, his tail the only thing holding him on the ledge. "Helloooooo, humans! The Hair Force are here, and we're going to make mincemeat out of the lot of you! Eek, eek, eek!"

A Chimera flapped down next to the monkey, cawing at them. "Squarrrk! You really must put up more of a fight than the men of Moonahan. My Air Force could have knocked them all down with a feather – and we did! Don't let that silly monkey finish you all off! We expect to get our fair share of fun out of you too! Squark, squark, squark!"

"Wait, wait, wait!" A large dragon like beast landed behind those two giant monsters, eyeing Lily behind the two boys below. "Leave some alive for my Scare Force, won't you? What good is killing them if we can't scare them out of their skins, first? Let's finish off Moonahan, then come back to set Moonbrooke ablaze!"

The three monsters all laughed, roaring down at Lily as they faked lunges towards them. "We're coming for you Builder! Prepare to face the wrath of Hargon's Heroes!" They set off another blast, knocking the three back into the arms of their own smaller army.

Lily stared up in shock, shaky breaths leaving her as she sat against Malroth dumbfounded. "Who were those guys?! What the hell is going on?!" He yanked Lily up, holding her against him so she didn't collapse down to the ground.

"Hargon's Heroes… I have heard rumors of this unholy trinity, but I never thought they would move against us so soon…" Gerome whispered, arms crossed over his chest as he spoke.

"Moved against us?" Malroth let out a short, unamused laugh as he stared at the old man. "They've already moved away. Should have finished us off when they had the chance."

Gerome shook his head, frowning at Malroth. "The only reason Moonbrooke still stands is to quench the fiend's thirst for destruction. Those good-for-nothing brutes mean to toy with us…"

"I told you, didn't I?" Anessa had her hands on her hips, glaring at the two friends. "No act better embodies Hargon's teachings than war. The monsters would not fight to win any more than they would lie down and accept defeat."

"Oh, shut up, will you? If they're not going to attack us, then I'm bloody well going to-

O Mighty Malroth, Master of Destruction…

"Hnnngh?!" Lily fell to her knees with Malroth, the tears streaming down her cheeks faster now. They didn't need this, not now, not here. Not in front of these people.

You know what You must do.

The time for creation is passed.

Now is the time for destruction.

Even Your builder friend knows this to be true.

"…Lily?"

"I'm right here, Mal. I'm right here, please-" She touched his shoulder, trying her best to hold back the sobs that pulled at her, she could feel his pain through the bond, could feel the need he had. "I'm right here…"

"But I… She…"

Do not hold back, O Great One…

Drink of my power…

And open Your eyes…

"Malroth! What the devil's got into you? Are you alright?" Anessa started forward, jumping back half a step when Lily whirled, glaring at her.

"Get back…!" Lily looked up, seeing Malroth slowly stand up straight and roll his shoulders, his neck popping with the movement.

"I… I'm fine." He turned to the group again, frowning at them. "We should be more worried about this 'Moonahan' place! Tell me where it is!"

"The city lies to the North-East, but-" Warwick started, surprised to see the resolve in Malroth's eyes.

"Lily stay here. I'm going to go and teach those monsters a lesson." He took off, not waiting for her to argue with him.

"Sir Malroth! Wait for us!" A few of the soldiers ran off after Malroth, determined to keep up with him.

Anessa started to run after them, fighting against Gerome who held her back. "No! Come back, you fools! Dash it all! That bally fool is going to get them all killed!"

"What's happening here? What's all this shouting?" The King ran up, frowning at his three top soldiers.

"Dire news, Your Majesty! This very moment, Malroth and several of our soldiers are… they went to Moonahan! Which is under attack!"

Lily stared numbly at the tracks Malroth left, they were slowly being covered by snow. He never ran off into a fight without her. Never. She slowly got up, no one was paying her any attention, they were all focused on the King. She stumbled the first few steps, but then she was running. She heard Warwick yelling her name, telling her to stay back. She looked up at that the overpass that loomed overhead.

Her feet stopped and she turned, magic gathering around her as she glared at Warwick who was growing closer. "Stay… back!" Her magic flared, reaching up to the overpass, bringing it down between herself and Warwick. She panted as she stared at the wall before her. She could hear the others shouting for her as she turned.

Hands gripped her head and she let out a scream, more magic erupted, bringing more ice and rocks down around her. She didn't understand what was happening, she had never been able to do something like that before. With a shake, Lily took off again, the cold wind and magic wrapping around her as she ran after Malroth.