"Lily!" Lulu scrambled to her feet and tried to dive into the shrinking portal after her friend, screaming and kicking when Digby grabbed her and held her back. "No! Lily! Malroth!"
"Lulu! Ya need to calm yerself!" Babs grabbed Lulu's face, making the smaller female look at her. "We can't do nothin' to 'elp them right now. Lily has gone to 'elp Mal and all we can do is pray to the Goddess that the two o' 'em will come 'ome safe an' sound."
Lulu went limp in Digby's arms, sobs leaving her as she was carefully set down on the temple floor. "It's not fair! They don't deserve this… Babs… they don't deserve this at all…"
"I know, sweets. I know." Babs looked around at the others, seeing the fearful looks in their eyes. She stood up straight, hands balled into fists at her sides. "Rosie, Perry. You two go get the rest of the Furrowfield folks, Britney escort them an' make sure they make it to the Scarlet Sands safely, 'ight?" She looked to the Moonbrooke people, frowning at them. "You come to the Sands as well, it'll be the safest place right now."
"What 'bout Brownbeard?" Perry looked to Babs, frowning.
"Shit." Babs turned and looked towards the docks, her frown deepening. "He'll never leave 'is boat…"
"Should we make a stronghold down on the beach? That way we can stay close to Brownbeard?" Britney stepped over to Babs, looking out towards the docks. "There's that old hut Lily built when they first got to this island."
"We can use that as a base. Rosie, go ahead and go get yer people. Dougie and Digby, go get our people, bring e'eryone to the docks. We 'ave to build a solid place to rest that will keep e'eryone safe." Babs turned and grabbed Lulu's hand, pulling her to her feet. "C'mon, let's get prepared for Dooms Day."
Hargon glared at the priest in the room as he threw Dracken's body down, a growl leaving his throat. "Filthy traitors." He slammed the door shut, not waiting to watch as Dracken drew in a horrid gasp and floundered about for a moment as he tried to ground himself.
The other priest ran over, dropping down next to the desperate priest. "My friend, calm yourself."
"Pastor… I thought you were…" Dracken's eyes were wide as he looked around, slowly shaking his head. "I should be dead…"
"High Priest Hargon brought you home, friend… I am sure he intends to set us up so the Master will kill us first. He has a new pet; I hadn't seen this Batmandrill before."
"I see…"
Malroth let out a groan as he looked around. He was laying down on something hard and cold. He shut his eyes, trying to focus on what he could hear, his eyes were too unfocused for him to know where he was at.
"Tell me… who was it that killed you?" Hargon's voice was a little distant but it echoed off the walls around them.
Malroth was confused, he opened his mouth to tell the bastard that he wasn't dead when a voice spoke nearby. It was familiar… but he couldn't put his finger on it. "The builder… I want to rip her to shreds, Master. Eek, eek, eek."
"You'll get your chance. She only has to make it here before it is too late." Hargon chuckled as he moved over to Malroth. "Tell me, one of my priests told me that you found a way to control the builder?"
"I did. I used Atlas's magic that controls the monsters and she became compliant."
"Interesting." Hargon purred as he started painting something on Malroth's torso. "Don't worry, Master. It will hurt only for a while, then you'll be truly awakened, and then the pain will be gone."
"Is he… truly the Master?"
"He is. Do you have a problem with that?" Malroth's eyes fluttered opened, landing on the shadowy figure behind Hargon. Warwick. That was the voice. Malroth tried to move, but his body wouldn't listen as he let out a snarl and tried to thrash against the restraints on his wrists and hips. "I'm glad I took precautions. What did you do that angers our Lord and Master so?"
Lulu watched as Lillian set to cooking at the makeshift fires while everyone else worked together to build a new home. She hugged her knees to her chest, whimpering to herself. She knew she should be up helping the others, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She was worried about Lily and Malroth. Where were they? Would Lily be successful and bring Malroth home? What would happen to them after all of this? This illusion… would it just… cease?
Anessa sat next to Lulu, wrapping her arm around her. "Lady Lulu? Are you alright?"
"No… my best friends… they're gone. And I might never see them again. I might never hug Lily again or bicker with Malroth. Ever again." Lulu leaned into Anessa, tucking herself against the soldier. "All I wanted was to have a happy ending! I enjoyed my time on the island and grew excited when they came home! They always came home!"
"And they'll come home again, Lily is strong. If anyone can save Malroth, it'll be her. Just you wait."
Lily's eyes shot open and she let out a scream as she fumbled around. It was dark around her, but she could feel something moving over her bare belly. She went to swat when the being over her hissed. "G-Get off me!"
"Quiet… girl…" Dracken's voice echoed off the walls, he coughed, and something splattered on Lily's face. "You have… to… have to get to where it all started, Hargon's Castle. No matter what…"
"Dr-Dracken… I thought Hargon…"
"He did… I don't have much time on this borrowed power…" He faltered, dropping to his knees as he made a few more marks on her belly. "Y…you must… save us from him…"
Lily watched as the wet marks on her belly suddenly started to glow. It was a soft red glow at first, then it erupted, lighting up the cave that Dracken had been hiding her in. She curled and arched with the pain the seared through her body. A scream ripped from her throat as her muscles contracted and magic flowed through her.
Lily whimpered as she looked around again, some time had passed since she had felt the magic course through her and now Dracken lay limp on the ground next to where she lay. She whimpered as she slowly sat up, tears in her eyes as she wiggled her toes. "How…?"
"A very dark magic." Her grandmother scoffed from the old chair Lily used to get around. "Child, why is the priest dead?"
"Hargon. Hargon killed Dracken in the illusion when he came and took Malroth… Dracken said he was on borrowed power…" Lily reached down, choking back the sob that left her when she felt her own fingers pressing against her legs. "I'm on borrowed power too." She looked to her grandmother as she rubbed the tears from her eyes. "Gram. I need to get to Hargon's Castle."
"Child… that's an extremely far distance. Do you think you can make it there on this borrowed time?"
"I don't know. But for the sake of my friends and for the sake of our home, I have to try." Lily watched as her grandmother got up and held a hand out to her. She took it and pulled herself off the slab, sighing when she felt the dirt beneath her toes as she pulled her shirt down over her belly. "Will anyone let me borrow a horse?"
"You've never rode a horse, child." Her grandmother frowned as Lily all but sprinted up the stairs to the surface.
Lily paused near the top, grinning down at the old woman. "I've been on a great sabrecub, that's close enough."
"Excuse me?"
Lily laughed as she ran out of the cave, breathing in the sharp air that surrounded her. "I'm not a hero, Gram. But I have to save my friends. No matter the cost."
Her grandmother looked at her when she finally emerged, smiling some. "You're more of a hero than I ever was, my child." She touched the girls' shoulder and led the way back into town, stopping in front of the stables. "In the morning I will tell Mackenzie that you took a horse, I will pay for it then. Go. Save both worlds, my dear."
Hooves pounded on the dirt as Lily rode through the forest, knuckles white from how hard she was gripping the reigns. Her heart was in her throat as she urged the horse through the trees. She could have gone the safer route along the main roads, but she needed the quicker route which was to cut through the forests and valleys. If she pushed the horse, she could make it there by nightfall the next day.
Lily tipped her head back and looked up at the stars through the canopy above her as the horse galloped along. She wondered, with a soft sigh, if her friends could see those same stars. If Malroth was going to be alright. She shook her head, he was strong, he could hold out long enough for her to come.
Lulu had finally gone outside, a sadness in her brown eyes as she looked up at the clouded sky. It was so dark, but every now and again the stars would peak out between the clouds. She brushed her hair out of her face as she turned and started to get to work on helping the others finish on the base. "Once we're done, could we send a small party to Furrowfield? They don't have a golem or a castle to protect them from anything that could come up."
Babs and Rosie looked to Lulu, smiling at her. "I'd appreciate that." Rosie looked to Perry and Britney. "I think the three of us could go when we're finished here."
Brownbeard, who was staying as close to the docks as he could get without the others worrying about him, looked to Rosie and grinned. "I think I could get ya there quick! The winds are strong and headed in that direction, we'd have to leave soon though, I think."
Lulu looked between the base and the four that would be leaving. "Go. The rest of us will finish up here, we need to get the others to safety as soon as possible." She watched as they nodded and took off towards the boat. "Alright, let's get dirty."
"I hate you." The shadowy batmandrill hissed in Malroth's ear when Hargon stepped out of the room. "I don't know if you want to rip the builder to shreds or not, but you'll never get the chance, eek, eek, eek! I'll tear her to bits and pieces, just wait."
Malroth turned his head, his once bright red eyes were now swirled with golden flecks as he stared at Warwick. A grin slowly spread across his lips as he hissed back at him. "I can't wait… until I get to tear you limb from limb. You'll never… ever… lay a hand on her ever again…" He heard the doors open behind Warwick and the batmandrill backed away from Malroth as he closed his eyes, too exhausted to keep them open.
"You are tainted… unworthy… pitiful… But you may yet be saved. I proffer you a chance to break free from those constraints. Merely step forth from the darkness. Come to me… my child!"
Malroth's eyes slowly opened again, but it didn't matter. Everything was pitch black around him. He could feel water lapping at his feet as small blue flames slowly lit a path before him. He took a few steps, but even when he was right next to the flames, he couldn't see anything. Not even his own hands. He moved into the circle of flames and looked around, a growl leaving him. "Where am I?"
"O Mighty Malroth, Lord and Master of Destruction. I see you have become quite attached to that form, hopelessly weak though it may be." Hargon's voice echoed around him in that darkness, laughing as he spoke. "Perhaps a few sacrificial lambs will allow you to see the truth, hm?"
Malroth watched as the blue flames grew, outlining five skeletons just beyond. He scoffed and pulled out his club, easily taking them out. He dropped to his knees, groaning in agony as energy wrapped around him. "What's… happening to me?" He howled as pain surged through him
Yes… More…
Give me more…
"That… voice…" Malroth wretched, throwing up as the pain twisted inside of him. "What's… going on?"
"Muah, hah, hah… as you wish, Master."
Malroth looked up, seeing more skeletons running towards him. He staggered to his feet, taking all six out before they could lift their swords. He dropped again to his hands and knees, his long black hair spilling over his back. "My… fucking head… I feel dizzy… something's not… right…"
Yes… I can feel it…
I need more…
More!
Malroth was panting as six more ran at him, he pushed himself up. He had to fight, had to get back to Lily, to the others. As soon as the last monster hit the ground though, he screamed out in pain, power surged through him, tearing through his muscles and bones. "What's happening… to me!? I'm… I'm fading away…" He caught himself before he could collapse again, his entire being ached as he tried to hang on to himself.
"Fading away? Not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. We must do away with that pathetic shell so that you may return to your true form." Hargon burst into laughter as Malroth finally went down once more in that shallow water.
The dark-haired male shot up though when the water turned to blood against his lips. He surged to his feet, fear and anger fueling him as he looked at the bodies of his old comrades. "Where did these bodies come from?!" He dropped down next to Lulu, his hand hovering just over her head. "Lulu? Who… who did this to you?"
Hargon laughed even more as Malroth gripped his head. "Has it not dawned on you yet, my Lord?" Suddenly the priest was next to Malroth, petting the top of his head as he crooned. "You killed them, Malroth! YOU! Nothing whets the appetite more than a few freshly sacrificed souls; would you not agree?"
"Me?" Malroth ripped away from Hargon, tripping over Lillian's limp body as he landed on his ass in the blood. "No… you liar! I would never… never!"
"Oh, but you did. Pity them not – the fools are more useful in death than they ever were in life. They died so that you may be reborn. It is an honor barely comprehensible to such base creatures as they."
Malroth climbed to his feet, his club in hand as he turned on Hargon. "You… you tricked me! I'll make you pay for this with your life!" He lashed out, the club connecting with Hargon's skull. As he pulled away though, it was Lily's body that fell limp in the blood. Not Hargon's. "Lily!? How… when!?" He grabbed her, cradling her in his arms as he stared down into those dull, lifeless eyes. "No… I never… it wasn't supposed to happen like this!" He put his forehead to hers, unable to control the tears that spilled from his eyes as he roared out. "This… this can't be happening…!" He slowly stood, hysterical laughter leaving him as he clung to Lily's limp form. Dark energy wrapped around him, he didn't notice when Lily and the others disappeared.
"Yes! Yes! This is exactly how I envisioned it! Your mind has been cleansed of all the repugnant memories that it had accumulated!" Hargon laughed as he floated around Malroth, hunger in those dark eyes as he watched Malroth fight the magic that gathered around him. "Now, Malroth! Arise once more as our Lord and Master of Destruction! Arise!" The priest cackled as scales began to cover Malroth's skin and new arms grew from his body.
"Lily… please… help… me…"
Lily looked up at the sky, frowning at the sun that was at its' peak. She had to be half way there. She was so close, yet so far away. She looked to her horse as it drank from the small pond. She grabbed the reigns, cooing to the horse. "I'm so sorry… but we have to hurry. We should be there soon." She stroked the beasts neck before climbing on and taking off again.
Lily and the horse looked up at the decaying castle as they approached. The sun was setting just beyond it, making it appear more decayed than it probably was. Lily slowly climbed off the horse, leaving it at the base of the stairs. She felt a shiver run through her as she felt the waves of dark magic wash over her. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she glanced to her horse that seemed to be growing antsy. "Sorry."
The builder turned and walked up the stairs to the castle, keeping her breathing even with deep breaths through her nose and out through her mouth. Even then, the air still felt thick with that dark energy. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a piece of flint to help light one of the torches at the main doors.
It didn't take Lily long to find what she was looking for; the pile of bones was like a beacon in the darkness. She stood over them, watching as muscle and sinew was slowly forming over the bones, reconnecting it all and reforming. She set the torch down and tucked herself down at the crook of Malroth's neck. She tried to shove the fear back down as her belly burned. The dark magic felt like a tongue that scorched over her skin, pushing and pulling at her as if it wanted to swallow her whole.
She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. She tried her best to ignore the fact that the skull next to her was big enough that if this monster finished reforming, she would be swallowed whole. She tried to keep herself relaxed as the magic gathered around her, pulling her into it. Down and back. Up and around. But she knew it wasn't moving her, no matter how much it felt like it was.
When she opened her eyes again, there was nothing but a barren wasteland in front of her. Lily stiffened when a three clawed hand stopped in front of her, pausing at her sudden appearance before destroying the landscape next to her. She watched as it returned to the portal it had come from as another appeared in the distance and destroyed even more. "Mal…" She looked over; hearing something cry out as the claws tore into the ground.
"Help! HEEEEEELP! Someblobby save me before I goo myself!"
