Fire crackled somewhere to her left as water gently moved around her prone body. Chains rattled somewhere in front of her as her eyes flickered opened for a heartbeat before closing again. "No… wake up. You cannot allow Him to consume us." The voice was like soft bells that rang through Lily's head as she opened her eyes again. She barely recognized this area, Dracken had brought her here to save her back on Moonbrooke. She had brought herself here to free herself from Warwick. This time, it was dimly lit, and the water was even more shallow as she pushed herself up. Slowly, the builder looked around, able to feel that dark monster magic nearby. "What's happening?"

"The Master of Destruction is savoring the power we give Him as He feeds." Lily climbed to her feet as she watched the darkness in front of her, taking half a step back when a scaled snout showed itself in the pathetic torchlight. "The priest bound us this way, locked us up this way, to protect you. He thinks you cannot handle our power. But you are a Master Builder, you do not wish for your friend to gobble you up and live with that knowledge. Do you?"

Lily's jaw went slack as a large white and gold beast stepped forward, a dark chain of energy wrapped around her snout, forcing it against her long slender neck. She had white feathered wings that shimmered gold, they were chained down against her slender body. Eyes as blue as the sky watched Lily carefully as two whiskers moved in a breeze that Lily couldn't feel. "Why do you want to help me?"

"Because, I was created from the joining of powers between Creation and Destruction. Weak as I was, our power has only grown. You are stunted but my binding. The Master of Destruction is an endless pool of power, you are as well. We are. You and I are one in the same. The people of this world believe in you; their prayers have given you a power like that of the God of Destruction. They have fed us this power. Just like the monsters fed Destruction." The dragon like beast stopped moving, the chains around her taut as they tried to pull her back into the darkness of Lily's mind. "You are no hero, Lily. You are much, much more than that. But you are broken, bleeding out into Malroth's mouth, feeding His power-"

"If I'm feeding his power, how will pairing up with you save him?" Lily slowly stepped towards the beast, keeping herself ready to jump away if the beast tried to attack.

The two whiskers at the end of the white snout shifted, pointing to an area behind Lily. "We are still bound to one another. It was always your fate to find Him, to be bound to Him. Creation and Destruction are only two sides to one coin, child."

Lily looked over her shoulder, seeing a red glow that seemed to throb. Now that Lily noticed it, she could feel the power of Destruction feeding into this area. She looked back to the beast, watching it closely. She had to save Malroth. "We have to save him."

"And save Him we will." The beast closed its' eyes as Lily slowly reached out, her cold fingers spreading over the warm scales.


Lily's eyes snapped open, but she lay still for a moment, fear locking her in place as she stared up at Malroth's back. The snake headed tail was focused forward as Malroth and Hargon talked for a few moments. "Why don't you eat the girl already? She means nothing to you." Hargon snarled, clearly annoyed with the God that stood before him.

"She holds more power than you realize. If I take my time with her, I can grow even stronger. The power she will give me will only last for some time if I devour her all now." Malroth growled as he began to stalk towards Hargon.

Lily reached down, her side was wet with saliva which made her cringe some, but she sighed softly when she felt no wound there. She rolled over, making sure her movements were slow and quiet as she climbed to her feet. She watched Malroth's back, glancing towards his tail every now and again when it would twitch. Now or never.

The sword scraped the ground when Lily picked it up, but Malroth turned too slow. A roar ripped from him when the builder dug the sword into his side. "You have to wake up, Mal! Please!" She lashed out a few more times, the sword gliding down his scaled side.

"GRAAAGH! Lily… you were always such a wimp… How… How did you get so strong?!" The monster yanked away from Lily as two hands gripped the giant head. "No… it's not… not you… It's me! There's something… inside me… Tearing me apart…!" The monster turned to her, roaring at her to push her back, a snarl ripping from him when the builder stood her ground. "What have you done!?" He lunged, claws stretched forward, ready to tear into her. "You'll pay for this!"

Lily dove underneath him, tears threatening her eyes again as she pushed her sword up, the blade eagerly digging into his soft underbelly. She turned and watched as he struggled with himself, holding his own hands back as he turned to attack her.

Hargon watched in horror as Malroth took to the air and slammed into the stone walls. "L-Lord Malroth! How can this be?! This pathetic creature should not be capable of defeating one such as you!" He looked between the two, seeing the agony in Malroth's eyes as he plummeted to the ground again. "Do the memories of the life you lived with the builder… still linger?"

"Not just that, Hargon." Lily turned to the priest, pushing her hair from her face when it fell from the pigtails. "Malroth shared his powers with me back on Khrumbul-Dun. That's what Warwick didn't mention. That power is how I was controlled, I am no longer wholly human. All thanks to Mal."

Now is your chance, Lily… you have… have to finish me…

Lily's eyes widened as she looked back to Malroth, her body lurched, and she raised her sword. "No. No! We have to save him!"

Stop fighting, Lily… I'm happy we got to say goodbye… You have to do this. You know it. If anyone was going to take me down, I'm glad it's you, Lily. I love you…

Lily's body kept moving without her telling it to as Malroth's voice rumbled in her head. "Mal… no…! You… I can't!" She gasped when the sword fell from her hand, only to be replaced by the club she had first made for Malroth. "No…"

I thought you never… broke a promise…

"I am sorry, builder. But we have a world to save." Lily spoke to herself, her voice softer than usual as she lashed out, taking Malroth out with the club he enjoyed so much.

"Impossible! The Master of Destruction… beaten by a base-born builder?! One who shouldn't be even to stand, no less! How did you manage it, builder?!" Hargon fell to his knees, snarling as he stared at Malroth's limp form.

Lily dropped to hands and knees as she crawled to her best friend, her hand shaking as she reached out, gently touching the green scales on his face. "Mal… please… please don't leave me… not like this." She draped herself over his face, a pitiful wail leaving her as she mourned for her best friend. You mourn… but you know you feel it… The monster within Lily purred, easily quieting the builder as she forced herself to focus.

Lily pulled back, eyes bloodshot and wide as she looked him over. She could feel Malroth's life force, still beating through their bond and within the corpse in front of her. "Mal…"

Lily…

Lily…


Malroth slowly lifted his head, looking around the dark area he was in. No matter how hard he tried to focus, he couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything; not even the liquid that pooled at his hands and knees. He slowly sat up, scoffing as he looked around. "Right… I'm dead… aren't I?" He let out a chuckle and shook his head, his black hair falling over his shoulders. He flopped back, barely hearing the water splash around him as he stared up into the darkness. "I feel like I was waiting for someone… but who? Why?"

He lifted his hand, staring at the tanned digits as he lay in the cold water. "Wait… I… I remember…" He sprang up and looked around, his ruby eyes wide. "Lily! I can feel her…" He spun around, looking every which direction until he was dizzy. "Where are you? I can't pinpoint you, dammit!"

His long legs carried him quickly forward until his lungs burned. "C'mon, where are you?!" He froze, seeing a light flicker dimly off to his left until it blazed bright and hurt his eyes to look at.

Mal?

"There you are." Malroth grinned as he took off at a sprint again, eagerly ignoring the burn in his lungs. Once he got to the bright light, he reached out, eyes wide when a soft hand grabbed his own and he barreled through, landing on top of his builder. He was panting as he stared down at her. "Lily… I knew it was you…"

"You! But how?! You should no longer exist!" Hargon cried from there he stood, eyes angry on the two friends.

With trembling hands, Lily reached up and cupped Malroth's face. Tears sprung from her eyes and coated her cheeks as she let out her pathetic sobs. "Oh, Mal! You're back!" She let out a squeal when he pinned her and kissed her, his mouth wild against hers. The two were so wrapped up in each other they didn't see the monstrous body fade into the purple fog that filled the room. They hardly heard Hargon shouting at them, wishing death on their heads.

Lily took Malroth's hand when he got up and helped her to her feet. "Thank you for keeping your promise, Lily." Malroth pushed Lily behind him as he took the club from her hand. "That sword of yours is pretty damn sharp." He glanced back at her; a grin spread on his lips. "We have a lot to talk about, but that can wait until we teach this loony a lesson!"

"You meddling builder! You'll regret crossing me!" Hargon roared as he thrust his scepter up. The three froze when the entire castle shook, even Hargon looked taken aback as the purple clouds swirled around the room. Hargon grinned, a wild look coming to his eyes. "Yes… YES! You imbeciles!"

LONG HAVE I WAITED

TO BE REBORN

I HAVE ONLY

ONE PURPOSE…

TO DESTROY ALL

I SEE BEFORE ME!

"Behold the Master's true form! I thank you, builder, for drawing your friend forth from His enfeebled form! For freeing His heart from that last, pathetic vestige of humanity!" Hargon cackled as a monster much larger than the one Malroth had been formed in the center of the room. His eyes gleamed red as he dwarfed the two friends as he threw his head back and let out a terrifying roar.

Malroth took half a step back, his eyes wide as he stared up at it. "Oh… fuck."

MY CHILD…

YOU WERE MY WEAKNESS.

BUT NOW I AM FREE.

MY POWER HAS RETURNED…

THE FIRST THING

I WILL DESTROY…

IS YOU!

Malroth turned, tucking Lily against him as the monster above them lashed out and destroyed the pillars that held the decaying castle over their heads.

TELL ME HARGON…

WHAT IS YOUR WISH?

TO DESTROY THIS

WORLD OF ILLUSION,

AND THEN THE REAL ONE?

YOUR APPETITE FOR

DESTRUCTION PLEASES ME.

IT SHALL BE DONE.

"At long last, Midenhall, Cannock and Moonbrooke shall fall… Erased from existence. Utterly destroyed! And this time… there is nothing… nothing that can be done to stop it!" Hargon's laughter cackled through the rubble.


Malroth slowly lifted his head and rubbed the back of it as he pushed himself up. He looked around, groaning as he stood. "Where is this place? The sky's such a strange color…" He crossed his arms as he huffed in annoyance. "Have I died and gone to heaven? Or hell, more likely…" He froze, eyes going wide. "Wait! Lily!?" He frantically looked around the immediate area around him, not seeing his builder before taking off and looking for her. "Lily! Lily?!"

Malroth jumped over rubble and shoved broken stone to the side as he searched for her. He broke into a sprint when he saw her as he rounded the corner. The builder was sprawled out on the ground and not moving. "How did you get so far from me?"

He ran over to her, shaking her as he slid to her on his knees. "Lily! Come on, we gotta go! Get up!" He tugged on her some, feeling fear slowly grip his aching chest. "Lily…? Come on… don't do this to me…" He pulled his hands back, staring at the blood on his fingertips. "Shit… dammit… fuck…"

Malroth stood and looked around, seeing a weird vehicle balancing on the rubble not too far from them. But that wouldn't help him now. He turned around, a nervous chuckle leaving him. "Ha… hah! Nice one, Lily! You had me going for a second there, but you can drop the act now…" His voice broke with how nervous he was as he growled and carefully rolled her over. "Lily?"

Lily's eyes slowly opened, but no sound came from her as she opened her mouth. She went limp again and her eyes closed as if she was too weak to move. She breathed in, wincing in pain as she put her hand on his. "Medicine… herb… Mal…"

"What? Dammit, Lily!" Malroth shook his head and gave her another little shake. "I-I can't make shit, Lily! You've seen me try a thousand times!"

Lily groaned when Malroth shook her, weakly trying to bat his hands off of her. "The Master of Destruction… can't… but you're different…" She grinned when Malroth snarled at her before disappearing.

Malroth breathed in deep, smelling the herbs on the air. "Convenient." He looked up, seeing a path leading up to what could have been a garden at one point in the past. He glanced back at Lily, seeing she had closed her eyes and was breathing shallowly at the moment. "I'll be right back." He ran up the path, ripping up the shrubbery as he got to it, sniffing it. "That's the herb, I know that horrid scent."

The leaves smelled weird to him, a strong scent that made him sneeze. "Alright… what would Lily do? She'd take it to that table thing…" He glanced over, a brow climbing with curiosity when he saw a bare table. "That… should work."

Malroth breathed in deep, focusing on trying to remember how Lily had made this medicine a thousand times. He could do this. He set to work, growling when it turned to mush, not at all like what Lily had made. "Dammit!" He tried again, working as quick as he could.

Mush, again. The angry male roared before going back to work. "Third time's the charm! I have to, for Lily's sake!" He went slower this time, but it was like his hands kept messing up. He slammed them down when it turned to mush again. "Are you fucking me?! Dammit, Malroth, make the fucking medicine!" He snarled as he tried a fourth time. Then a fifth. A sixth. A seventh.

He turned, crossing his arms with a scowl. He relaxed some, grinning at his stupid thoughts. "What am I doing? Lily never built stuff like this. She always had a dopey grin on her face when she worked. Even in Moonbrooke." His features softened as he looked down towards where she was laying. "And I always enjoyed watching her do it, too."

The grin on his face grew as he turned and started working again. "Building is supposed to be fun! No, building is fun!" He worked quickly, his hands flying around as he worked with the herbs. "I just gotta have fun! Stop trying so hard!"


Lily's eyes slowly opened when she felt something tug at her. No, not her. Something was tugging at her building powers. She tipped her head, hearing Malroth's victory shouts from wherever he was at. And then he was in her sights, a warm glow to his skin. "Mal…"

"I did it, Lily! Here! Here!" Malroth was next to her again, putting the medicine to her lips and helping her take it.

Lily's eyes widened when the medicine hit her tongue, a surprised noise leaving her as it immediately started healing her wounds. "Mal… this is… sweet. And… that worked so much faster than what I make."

Malroth flinched and jumped up and away from Lily who surged to her feet, a scowl on her face. "H-Hey! Don't get angry with me! What did I do?!"

"What did you… what did you do?!" Lily put her hands on her hips and snarled at him. "I never want to see you again, Lily! Don't come near me, Lily! And don't even get me started about how you got kidnapped by some batshit crazy priest!"

"Well… when you put it like that…" Malroth puckered his lips as he thought. And then he laughed, slapping his knee from the amount he laughed. He lashed out, wrapping his arm around her waist, and pulling her against him. "I'm sorry, Lils. It won't happen again, I promise." He smothered her bickering with his mouth, pinning her against the rubble behind her.

Lily batted at him, easily pushing him off her. "Mal! We have an ancient evil to-"

Malroth put a finger over her mouth, smirking at her. "Don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit? Come on, turn this frown upside down." He put his fingers in the corner of her mouth, forcing her to smile despite the glare in her eyes. "See? Smiling like an idiot suits you much better! Oi! Hey!" Malroth dove away from her fist when she slammed it down on the top of his head. "Come on!" He laughed before turning back to her and grabbing her fist, pulling her against him and hiding her there, his cheek on the top of her head. "Lily… if I'm being completely honest… I'm sorry about what I said in Moonbrooke. I didn't mean any of it. I was just lashing out and… I lashed out at the wrong person. I just-"

Lily wrapped her arms around him, breathing him in. He smelled of home and felt of safety. She rubbed her face against his bare chest, trying to hold back the whimper. "No, Mal. I did things I shouldn't have. But we're good now, right?"

"Yeah, we're good-" Malroth gasped when the ground beneath their feet shook again. He looked up, seeing something in the distance. "So… about that ancient evil…" He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the edge, seeing the dancing lights. "C'mon, we gotta put a stop to them."

"Wait, Mal." Lily held out his club, smiling when he looked back at her, realizing he had dropped it between his monstrous self tearing apart the castle and now. "You lugged this old thing all the way here?" He gave her his own dopey grin as he swung it around. "But it means a lot that you did."

Lily laughed as she led the way to the buggy, laughing when he ran around it and inspected it. "Like it?"

"Since when did you get good at building shit, Lils!? I get to drive this thing too, right?!" He whooped and hollered as Lily drove the buggy forward. It didn't take long for the two to come up on the gigantic alter ego of Malroth who was already destroying parts of the world.

THE VESTIGE LIVES…

BUT NOT FOR LONG.

IS THAT WHY YOU COME?

TO SEEK DEATH?

YOU WOULD SHUN THE

PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING

THE END OF THE WORLD?

SO BE IT.

IF THAT IS YOUR WISH,

I WILL GLADLY GRANT IT!