If Lily had really been worried that she would be alone for that long, she shouldn't have been. Before she knew it, she heard Lulu's chimera cry out in warning, and soon her battlefield was flooded with fighters, even the ones from Furrowfield and Khrumbul-Dun.
Babs jumped down on one of the sabrecubs, grinning at Lily as she dove into battle with the builder. "We're gonna 'ave to get our boys shit, Lily! They're missin' out on a good fight!"
Lily couldn't help her grin, it felt good to fight with Babs and Britney at her side. The three girls worked well together as they fought back monster after monster. Magic healed any wounds they received as Esther prayed over them from one of the cliffs above. Dougie and Digby rolled around each other, taking out the bewarewolves with ease.
When the robots barged in was when things got a little dicey, but Lily and Zara were able to take the first one down after a few well-placed swings. Lily turned her attention to the ship, seeing Shane getting frustrated. "C'mon, man! You wanna end things, man?! Come and do it yourself, man!"
"You're mocking me, man! That ain't cool, man!" Shane dropped down to the battlefield, holding his scepter up at Lily. "I'll show you, man!"
Lily lunged at Shane, making sure she kept him on the defensive as she lashed wildly with her sword. Each blow hit its mark as she struck the monster in front of her. She saw his arm move, swinging in an upwards arch, but Lily read it too quick and leaned back, easily avoiding the fist. She slammed her foot in the wet sand, twisting her body and thrusting forward with her arm. Her sword sank into Shane's skull with a fierce hunger that made the builder drop the blade. When she pulled it free, it was just a normal blade. Perhaps she had imagined things.
"Lily! Lily! We did it! Those traps of yours really are incredible!" Lulu ran up to her friend, hugging the builder from behind. "Our soldiers hardly needed to attack them at all! And yet, it feels like something is missing…" She pulled back, grabbing Lily's hand with a sad look in her eyes. "It just doesn't seem like a real battle without seeing Malroth charging into the fray, beating the baddies six ways from Sunday…"
"Indeed, Lady Lulu." Anessa stood behind them, just up the hill with her hands on her hips. "The fight feels unfinished without a hearty high-five between Lily and Malroth…"
"Why didn't he come to our aid? Even with the monsters storming our beaches, he didn't lift a finger to help." Lulu crossed her arms, pouting with a knitted brow.
"Don't be upset with, Mal, Lulu. He… something is going on, I'm not sure what yet, but I'll find out. I promise. You know Malroth as well as I do, if something weren't going on, you know he'd be here in our hour of need." Lily gently touched Lulu's shoulder, feeling odd as she tried to comfort the other female.
Lily and Lulu sat in the valley near the tablet, munching on some snacks that Lillian had lovingly sent their way while they waited for the castle to be built. Lily knew it would take a while, what they had in mind was a large structure. So, when Anessa came running down to them with a grand smile on her lips, Lily pushed a brow up in curiosity. "Ness?"
"We've done it! The castle is done! And we've got the works of a second story going!" The general started clapping, grinning at Lily and Lulu.
The two girls looked at each other as they got up and walked up the path to the castle, a small laugh leaving Lily at the sight. While Lulu gasped in an offended manner. "Is this a joke to you all?! These walls have so many holes! And the… the…!" She jabbed to the mortar that had been hastily spread. "What is this?! Did you even mix it correctly?!" She glared at Hayden and Gerome when they started singing their own praise. "AND THERE'S STILL A TREE IN HERE!"
Lily was trying to hide her laughter as Lulu went through the tour of the skeleton of what should be a castle in a rage. She followed the pink-haired girl to the other side where Zara and Esther awaited their own cruel words from Lulu. "Look at the rooms we made!" Zara laughed, but her laughter died off when she saw the look in Lulu's eyes. "Miss… Lulu…?"
"Aren't these rooms a little on the small side? Are they supposed to be pens for pigs? You were supposed to be building a castle! Not a mausoleum or a… a snuggle chamber!" Lulu threw her hands up in defeat before going to the main area, her eyes nearly bugging from her head. "WHAT IN THE GODDESS'S NAME IS THIS?!"
Lily stood behind Lulu with her hands behind her back, a slow smirk spreading on her lips. The stairs to the second floor were half finished as the two girls carefully picked their way up to Anessa and Jeremiah who were waiting on them. "Ah, Lily! Lulu! I see you have completed the tour of the ground floor."
"And what of the stairs? I labored over them greatly, making sure everything was just right! I say we call them the Great Staircase of Jeremiah!" The old wizard belted out a gruff laugh.
"You want to name that thing after yourself?! Only half of the stupid thing has steps on it! There's a landing half way up it! It's the worst staircase I've ever seen in my life!" Lulu growled as she threw her hands up again.
"Wha-… Bu-…! I have a bad back! The landing is there in case I need to take a break during the climb!" Jeremiah snapped back at the young girl.
"Lily, Lady Lulu… perhaps it is not the most expertly constructed example, but if you would be so kind as to look at the throne room I have made for you…" Anessa tried to avert Lulu away from the old man.
"Throne room?" Lulu looked around, not noticing the shocked look that crossed Anessa's face. "Wait – surely you're not talking about this place, are you?!" Lulu gaped at Anessa who only gasped in offense back at the girl. "All you've done is throw down a red carpet and a few purple tiles! There's nothing else about it that's even remotely royal!" Lulu let out a huff and put her hands on her hips. "Alright, everyone – I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to give me an honest answer: do you really think that this castle is finished?"
Lily winced at the collective gasps and sobs as the people of Moonbrooke cried over their failed attempt. "Look, I have something to work with and that's what matters. If you guys give me time, I'll build you a castle, but I have some things I need to get done. I need to go talk to Hermit-"
"If you all needed Lily's help, you should have just said so from the start! Lily is the best builder I know; she loves to help people. Next time, just ask." Lulu glared at the others, sticking her nose in the air at them. "I wonder where Malroth is, I'd love to hear what he has to say about this ridiculous castle."
Hear me, Malroth
O Mighty Master of Destruction
"Urrrgh…" Malroth was in so much pain that he couldn't even lift his head from the hot rocks he was laying on.
Without Creation, there can be no Destruction
And in a world without Creation
The Master of Destruction cannot awaken…
This is why I summoned that child to this world…
I did not predict that You would meet
That You would enter into a fellowship
But it seems she had her effect nonetheless
The end of the world approaches
But it is up to You to deliver the final blow
This is the only way to achieve salvation
And the only way to satisfy Your desires
As the Lord and Master of Destruction
"Who… Who are you…?"
I am the creator of this illusory world
Your most faithful servant
And your dearest friend
Even as we speak, the builder fills this world
With the power of creation
It is nearly time
Time for you to realize your true potential
As the Master of Destruction!
"Hnngh… Lily…"
Before Lily could protest, the others had talked her into finishing the castle. At least, the throne room and royal bedchambers, which she had given to Lulu. It took her a fraction of the time to build those rooms than it had for the Moonbrookians to build a single wall, but at least Lily only needed to fix a few places along said wall. Once she was finished, she let the others ogle at the rooms. "Okay, can we go to the tablet now so I can find Hermit and Malroth? Please?"
"Fine! Yes, yes!" Lulu laughed as she grabbed Lily's hand, dragging the builder down away from the castle and to the tablet. "I can feel the power coming from it already!" She laughed as she pushed Lily towards it. "Well, c'mon then!"
Lily touched the tablet, feeling the power of it flow through her and into her veins. She let out a soft sigh, enjoying the way it made her muscles relax. "After this… I'm relaxing… I don't care what happens…"
"You know, there's something that I've been thinking about for a while now…" Lulu put her finger to her lips as she thought out loud. "I think you might just be the best builder in the whole wide world, Lily! When we first met, you were little more than a hopeless apprentice. But now you can build with the best of them."
Lily had to blink away a few stupid tears that burned in her eyes as she gave Lulu a soft grin. "Thanks, Lu."
"Smash-smash-smashing job, Lily! Now all three stone tablets are brim-brim-brim with building power! And with that, the ancient builder's hopes and dream-dream-dreams that course through this island are finally fulfilled! There is one last job-job-job that I would request of you, young builder…" Hermit appeared next to Lily, smiling at her as he pointed his hammer towards where his temple lay. "Meet-meet-meet with me at my temple when you are read-read-ready – and come alone."
"Lily, we of Moonbrooke shall take up residence here. It is the most fitting place for us." Anessa saluted Lily, grinning. "If you wish to see to your business with the Hermit immediately, then go with my blessing. But I would not object if you stayed around to build for a while first…" She gave a sheepish shrug, knowing which option Lily would pick.
"Sorry, Ness. But I need to talk to Hermit, I've been needing to talk to him. I'll come back when I'm able to." Lily bounced down from the tablet, pausing next to Lulu as the girl frowned at her.
"Hermit wanted you to go to the temple alone… I suppose I'll stay here, then."
"If he changes his mind, I'll send for you."
Lily looked up at the Hermit as she climbed the final stairs, seeing he was floating around with a bored leisure. "Hermit."
"Ho, ho, ho! Now that you've finished all the targ-targ-targets on the blue stone tablet, the whole island is blessed with the pow-pow-power of building! And that isn't all, my girl… my memories have finally come flood-flood-flooding back to me." He slowly drifted to the ground, relaxing before her. "Thank-thank-thank you for putting up with all of my selfish request-quest-quests up to now… I think you've earned the full ex-ex-explanation. And the citizens of this island will need to put-put-put their heads together and decide what they want to do from here on out-out-out."
He lifted his hammer, lightly touching it to her forehead. "But there will be time-time-time for all that later! Right now, you need to put the finishing touch on this island. There's one final thing that needs build-build-building! Once that's done, I'll sit you down-down-down and tell you everything. Don't make any plan-plan-plans, it'll take at least three days to go over it all!"
Lily rolled her shoulders and shifted her head from side to side, popping her neck. "Alright, what's the last thing, Hermit."
"I'm as proud as a punch-punch-punch, Lily! Of course, a builder's work is never done. There's always something that needs doing. But it's good to stop-stop-stop now and then and appreciate your work. And now's as good-good-good a time as any! The island is thriving – it's bubbling with building pow-pow-power – but there is one last thing it needs." Hermit started to lead her up the stairs, taking her to the top of the cliffs. "A Builder's Banner! This island needs a Build-Build-Builder's Banner – a flag that mark-mark-marks it out as a paradise for builders the world over!"
He lifted his hammer again, waving it around gleefully. "And as our resident build-build-builder, it's up to you to decide on the design for its emb-emb-emblem! Just fill this area with the design you desire, and it will convey what you want out of this isle!"
Lily stared at the empty space for a moment before grabbing white and black blocks from the box the hermit set out for her. She quickly made her design, stepping back and staring at the two swirling sides, white and black with a little of each other in the opposing sides. Creation and Destruction. Yin and Yang. Love and Pain.
"Are you happy with this?" Lily gave a nod to the Hermit without looking away from her design, feeling a weight fall from her shoulders as she looked down at it. "Good-good-good to hear! Then let's-" The Hermit twirled his hammer and magic burst from the design with such force that it knocked Lily to her ass. She looked down when something was suddenly in her hands. It was a red flag with gold and green embroidery in the middle was the design she had just created. "Hermit…?"
"Come with me! I have the perfect place to fly it!" Hermit disappeared, leaving Lily alone for a moment. She recovered from her stupor and got up, joining the hermit on the top level of the temple. She lifted the flag up, her muscles tensing as she slammed it into the ground in front of her. She turned around, jaw dropping when she saw her friends gathering all around the temple, grinning up at her.
"Great-great-great work, my girl!" Hermit cheered from next to her, his beady eyes sparkling as he watched her. "The Banner of Lily looks absolutely fan-fan-fantastic! And now, all the prep-prep-preparations are finally in order!"
"Lily! That flag is incredible! I feel so full of magic and… and…!" Lulu clapped wildly, tears in her eyes as she looked up at her friend.
Lily stood up there, looking down at her friends with a sincere smile on her lips, but one was missing. She wanted to share this with Malroth. Though she had no idea where he was, why had he disappeared like this, she knew he said they'd go their separate ways, but Babs hadn't even seen him at the pub which was a normal hang out spot for him.
The celebration was short lived as dark clouds rolled over the isle, filling Lily with dread. She reached up, touching her chest as she looked around. "Hermit?"
"Who turned out the light-light-lights!?" Hermit gasped, backing up until he bumped into Lily.
Lily looked down, seeing Malroth staggering up the stairs, pain written across his entire being. "Mal!" She stepped around Hermit and jumped down from the top level of the temple, rolling with her landing. "Mal! What's wrong?!"
"Lily… wh-when did you build… th-that flag…?" He pointed a clawed finger towards the flag above them, his eyes dull from the pain he was in. "Lily… please… I need you to… to…
Slain by the scions of Erdrick,
The high priest of Hargon offered up his soul
That almighty Malroth might be reborn
Ever since that moment
I have lain dormant within Him
Biding my time…
I have watched over His every move…
And the Builder's, too…
Malroth straightened up, a wicked laugh leaving him as a dark purple aura wafted from his skin. "This world of nothingness is now filled with the power of creation… The stage is finally set! Almighty Malroth's awakening is at hand!" Malroth's eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground as a portal opened up behind him.
Dracken burst from it, panting as his snow-white mask whipped around, finding Lily quickly. "Builder! Run! You have to wake up! It is no longer safe! Wake u-" He let out a disgusting noise as something thin and golden pierced through the back of his head and clean through the snow-white mask. "Muah, hah, hah, hah, haaaaah! I knew he was a traitor… None can escape their fate! Neither men, nor monsters, nor even gods! The Master of Destruction will bring an end to all!" A beast with blue skin and frills on the side of his head was standing behind Dracken as the priest in the red robes collapsed next to Malroth.
"You… you're Hargon!" Hermit gasped, jumping down next to Lily who was frozen and staring at her friends limp form on the ground.
"Hargon?!" Lulu back peddled, moving all the faster when Babs and Digby yanked her back by the back of her dress. "B-But isn't he supposed to be dead?!"
Hargon leaned down over Malroth and Dracken, licking the black blood from the end of his scepter. "Yes! In the real world, I am dead. But in this illusory world of my own making, I am very much alive!"
"Wh-what do you mean…?" Rosie whimpered as she reached over and grabbed Perry's hand, squeezing it.
"I mean exactly what I say, child. This world is nothing more than an illusion – an unreal realm in which I sealed away Malroth's soul after the scions succeeded in slaying him. But now, His reawakening is at hand! He is ready to be reborn once more as the Master of Destruction!" Magic gathered in the High Priests hand before Malroth suddenly appeared there. Hargon reached down, plucking Dracken's limp form off the ground by the back of his robes. "I created this world of illusion to vex and befuddle the Scions of Erdrick. No blade of grass, nor pinch of soil, nor any pathetic humans – yourselves included – truly exists. Everything you see is but a figment of my imagination. Though this dream should have died with me, it has persisted long after my demise. Longer than I ever thought possible…"
"I always thought it was strange that the Children of Hargon were still so powerful here… they should have fallen apart after their leader died, but in this world, he never really did!" Lulu covered her mouth, but to no avail, the poor girl turned, vile spilling from her mouth.
As Hargon spoke to her friends, Lily began to inch forward, eyes locked solely on Malroth. Her muscles twitched with the need to get him to safety. She would run, hide from Hargon for the rest of her life. She would never build again if that's what it meant to keep her best friend safe from this horrible fate. "Alas, in the real world, I was not so fortunate. The detestable 'heroes' escaped my illusion, and proceeded to murder me, and then Malroth, in cold blood. But here, my spirit survives… as does the Lord and Master of Destruction himself!" Hargon turned his attention to Lily who didn't even notice, she was too focused on Malroth. "And so, it seems, does the power of Creation – worthless though it may be. You call this the Kingdom of Lily? Pah! It is nothing more than a kingdom of lies! And I suppose that is your nation's flag, hm? Never has a more hideous sight assaulted my eyes!"
Lily froze when Hargon put his face to hers, cackling at her. "Behold, Builder! Your fantasies of rallying allies to your side and saving the world are simply that – fantasies!"
"Give me back Malroth." Lily whimpered, fear causing tears to fall down her cheeks.
Hargon's eyes glowed for a moment. "…'Malroth' she says…" He let out a screech, magic rushing off him and forcing Lily backwards. "That's 'Almighty Malroth, Lord and Master of Destruction' to you, ungracious worms!"
"Take-take-take this you-" Hermit moved to slam his hammer down on Hargon when dark magic wrapped around him, freezing him where he was. "Hngh?!"
"So, this is what became of the ancient builder! Reduced to manipulating humans to achieve your ends… you and Dracken both." Hargon hissed as he gave Hermit a bored glare. "Begone, filth!" Lily let out a scream when Hargon blasted Hermit with magic and he turned to small particles. "Hear me, pathetic wretches! Grovel before your creator! Cower before me and be spared my wrath!" He backed away, Dracken and Malroth in his grasp. "It is time… When Almighty Malroth awakens, He shall tear this illusion to pieces, and return to the real world to bring about its glorious destruction." He looked to Lily, licking his lips as he grinned. "I can't wait to watch him tear into you first, Builder."
Lily surged to her feet, running forward and diving into the portal before it could close behind Hargon as he disappeared. She could hear the others screaming for her, but she couldn't stop. She didn't know when and if another portal would take her to Hargon, to her best friend. She had to save him, no matter the cost.
The dark magic that seeped out of the portal clung to her skin in sticky webs, it swallowed her. She had to squeeze her eyes shut and hold her breath as the magic tried to suffocate her. Her fingers pushed past the slimy magic, then her arms and shoulders. Lily let out scream as she quickly fell through the magic, plummeting into nothingness.
