The Clash of the Withers, page 1
This book is not authorized or sponsored by Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, Notch Development AB or Scholastic Inc., or any other person or entity owning or controlling rights in the Minecraft name, trademark, or copyrights.
Copyright © 2018 by Hollan Publishing, Inc.
Minecraft® is a registered trademark of Notch Development AB.
The Minecraft game is copyright © Mojang AB.
This book is not authorized or sponsored by Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, Notch Development AB or Scholastic Inc., or any other person or entity owning or controlling rights in the Minecraft name, trademark, or copyrights.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or info@skyhorsepublishing.com.
Sky Pony® is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation.
Minecraft® is a registered trademark of Notch Development AB.
The Minecraft game is copyright © Mojang AB.
Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
Cover design by Brian Peterson
Cover photo by Megan Miller
Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3735-8
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3740-2
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Practical Jokes
Chapter 2: New Friend
Chapter 3: In the Darkness
Chapter 4: Down the Hole
Chapter 5: Where Are We?
Chapter 6: Old Neighbors
Chapter 7: Watch Out for Withers
Chapter 8: Living History
Chapter 9: Chicken Jockey
Chapter 10: Problems in the Past
Chapter 11: In the Middle of the Night
Chapter 12: Spontaneous Soldiers
Chapter 13: Nether Return
Chapter 14: What Year Is This?
Chapter 15: Nether Meant to Hurt You
Chapter 16: Back to the Battle
Chapter 17: The Past and the Future
Chapter 18: Farm Life
1
PRACTICAL JOKES
“Do you have the pickaxe?” asked Brett.
Poppy nodded with a giggle. “Are we really going to dig the hole?”
“Of course,” Brett smiled.
“I hope Joe doesn’t get mad when he falls down it,” said Poppy.
“He’s going to laugh. I promise you,” Brett reassured her. “Remember what happened last week?”
Brett and Poppy had a reputation for pranking people in Meadow Mews. Just last week, they completed one of their ultimate pranks. They had booby-trapped their friend Nancy’s house. When she walked through the door, a bunch of cookies fell on her head.
“Is the hole deep enough?” Brett asked. This prank on Joe was going to be the biggest prank they had ever pulled on anyone, he thought.
“No.” Poppy giggled. “We have to make it deep enough that only his head is seen from the top.”
“Great idea.” Brett banged his pickaxe deep into the blocky ground and warned Poppy, “We don’t have that much time. Joe is going to be here soon.”
“Have you met Joe before?” questioned Poppy.
“No, but he’s the new apprentice. He’s going to help me on the farm. He just moved here from the cold biome. After we complete this farm, I’m going to stay with him in the cold biome and teach them how to build a farm on ice,” said Brett.
“Wow, I can’t wait for you guys to build a bigger farm in Meadow Mews,” Poppy said, and she rattled off a list of ways they could improve the farm.
“I agree,” said Brett. “The farm needs a lot of work. I have a big job ahead of me. We have to build a new irrigation system. It’s not going to be easy, but I think when it’s done, the town of Meadow Mews will have a big enough farm to sustain it for a while.”
Poppy was a builder. People from around the Overworld invited her to build skyscrapers. She was an expert at crafting large office buildings. She once built one that went so high up into the sky that Brett thought it touched the clouds. She had been asked to work on a project in the desert, and she had to leave that afternoon. She reminded Brett, “This is my last day before I go to the desert. So I want to see this prank work before I go. I won’t be able to have any fun when I leave. I can’t prank on a construction site because it’s too dangerous.”
“I get it,” Brett said as sweat formed on his forehead. They had been digging for a while, and he was tired. He hoped he had enough energy left to construct the farm.
Poppy dug another block out of the hole and then hopped in. “Do you see my head?”
“Yes.” He laughed. “Just the top.”
“This is going to be a great introduction,” Poppy said as she climbed out of the hole.
Poppy fixed her purple pigtails and adjusted her pink shirt. “Okay, now we just have to wait for Joe.”
“He should be here soon,” Brett said.
“I hope so,” said Poppy. “I really don’t want to miss this.”
“There’s also an opening ceremony for the new farm. Can you stay for that?” Brett asked.
Poppy wasn’t sure. She knew she had to be in the desert by morning, and she didn’t like to travel when it was dark because she feared being attacked by hostile mobs. “If I TP to the new job, I can stay for the ceremony.”
“Then you should. I want you there. This is my big project, and you’re my best friend.” As Brett spoke, he saw a man with blue hair dressed in a black leather jacket walk toward them. “I think that’s Joe,” said Brett.
2
NEW FRIEND
As Joe walked toward them, Poppy tried to control her giggling. “I am going to lead him to the hole.”
“We can’t pull a prank on him the minute we see him,” said Brett. “We have to introduce ourselves. We want to make a good impression.”
“I know, but I can’t wait to see his face when he falls down the hole. It will be priceless.”
Joe walked over to them. “Hi”—he put his hand out to shake—“are you Brett?”
“Yes,” Brett said. “And this is my friend Poppy.”
“It’s great to meet you guys. I’ve actually heard of you, Poppy. I saw your building in my hometown.”
“Where’s that?” she asked.
“Farmer’s Bay,” he responded.
“Oh, that’s where I built a skyscraper by the shore. I loved it there.”
“I also visited the castle you have outside of the village in Meadow Mews. You are very talented,” Joe remarked.
“Thanks,” Poppy grinned.
Joe said, “I also was warned that when you guys get together, you like to play pranks on people. I hope you weren’t planning to play any on me.” Joe raised an eyebrow as he scanned the area, as if he were searching for any possible items they could use to prank him.
“We’d never do anything like that,” Poppy replied with a smirk.
“From your expression, I have a feeling you might not be telling the truth,” said Joe.
Brett didn’t respond to Joe’s comment. “We have the opening ceremony happening soon, and I want to show you around the farm before we begin.” Brett pointed to a large stretch of land. “We can use all of that land.”
“Wow,” Joe said as he walked around the grassy patch. “This is going to be the biggest farm I’ve ever worked on. I am so thankful you asked me to be an apprentice on this farm. I know I’m going to learn a lot while I’m here.”
“Do you have a place to stay?” asked Brett.
“Not yet,” Joe replied.
“You can stay in my house,” Poppy offered. “I will be away building a skyscraper in the desert.”
“Thank you,” said Joe. “I was looking for a place to stay.”
“And I promise that I didn’t booby-trap it and you won’t be pranked while you’re staying there. You just have to take care of my ocelot, Sam, when I’m gone.”
“I love ocelots,” said Joe. “I’ll take care of Sam.”
“I have to show you around the farm,” Brett reminded him.
Crowds of people were walking toward the farm, and the mayor of Meadow Mews hurried in their direction.
Mayor Allens rushed over. “Are you guys ready? We have to start the ceremony.”
“Yes,” Brett said as he spotted Joe walking near the hole. He signaled to Poppy to move Joe away from the hole. He didn’t want his apprentice falling in, because there was an audience.
Brett turned around and saw Joe was even closer to the hole. “Joe,” he hollered.
Joe stopped. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” said Brett, “I just need you here to stand beside me as I discuss the farm.”
Joe stopped in front of the hole. “There’s a large hole in the ground. We have to fill that in, or someone might get hurt.”
“Thanks for letting us know. We will fix it,” sa
As the crowds grew, Poppy placed blocks in the hole, but the mayor called her over, and she never got to cover it.
“Poppy will be representing our town as she leaves to construct her sixth skyscraper.” The town applauded. The mayor continued, “When she returns home, Poppy will build a large skyscraper in our town.”
There were more cheers. Poppy blushed. She was never comfortable getting a lot of attention.
The mayor announced the opening of the farm and discussed how the town would benefit from the wheat and other crops that would grow on the farm. Brett gave a lecture on the importance of farming and irrigation. When he was done, they feasted on cookies and cake.
The sun was beginning to set, and the group disbanded. While Poppy, Brett, and Joe walked back to their homes, Joe asked, “You guys wanted me to trip and fall down that hole, didn’t you?”
Poppy and Brett looked at each other. They started to laugh. They couldn’t lie. “Yeah,” said Brett.
“Sorry,” Poppy explained. “We thought it would be funny.”
“I’m going to stay one step ahead of you,” said Joe.
“Good luck,” said Poppy.
“Watch out!” Brett cried as a barrage of arrows flew in their direction. They were under attack.
3
IN THE DARKNESS
The armed skeletons surrounded them. The sound of clanging bones was deafening. The trio was in the thick of a battle they never expected. Brett had two hearts left as he dodged an arrow flying at him. The three grabbed their diamond swords and leaped at the skeletons surrounding them. Brett struck a skeleton, but as he lunged at the bony beast, another arrow struck him. With only one heart left, he tried to battle the skeleton that stood inches from him, but another arrow pierced his arm. The last thing he remembered was Poppy screaming his name.
Brett awoke in his bed to the sound of his front door being ripped from its hinges. He put on armor, picked up his diamond sword, and tore from his bed, but when he reached the living room, three zombies crowded his small doorway. He tried to hold his breath, but the fetid stench was overpowering, and he started to gag. He knew he had to destroy the zombies fast. Brett tried not to breathe as he pulled a bottle of potion from his inventory and splashed it on the undead beasts. The potion weakened them as he sliced into their oozing flesh with his sword. The first hit destroyed the zombie that stood closest to him, but the other two zombies were stronger, and he used all of his energy to rip into the beasts until they dropped rotten flesh on his living room floor.
“Brett!” He heard Poppy’s familiar voice in the distance. “Brett!” she called again.
Brett rushed toward the sound of Poppy’s voice, but every time he felt he was close by, the voice seemed farther away.
“Poppy!” Brett called out.
“Help!” a faint voice, which sounded like Poppy, cried out in the distance.
“Where are you?” asked Brett, but there was no reply.
Brett pulled a potion of night vision from his inventory and took a sip, enabling him to see in the dark for three minutes. He wanted to use each minute to search for Poppy in the darkness, and after one minute, he was beginning to lose hope. He called her name, but there was still no response.
“Poppy!” Brett screamed, but again, he was met with silence.
He spent the next minute sprinting around Meadow Mews. As he reached Poppy’s house, another arrow struck his shoulder. Brett turned around and saw a spider jockey standing inches from him. The skeleton sitting atop the spider shot another arrow at his other shoulder. The arrow grazed his shoulder but didn’t break through the skin.
Brett didn’t want to spend the next minute battling a hostile mob. He wanted to spend it looking for his friend. This was the last bottle of potion of night vision left in his inventory, and he knew when this potion wore off, it would be almost impossible to find Poppy. He had to battle this tricky hostile mob in seconds, which was another impossibility.
Brett traded in his diamond sword for a bow and arrow and took shelter behind a large oak tree as he shot a barrage of arrows at the skeleton. It took six arrows to knock the skeleton off the spider. Brett pulled out his diamond sword and lunged toward the spider. He slammed his sword into the red-eyed spider, and after delivering a fatal blow, he picked up the spider eye and bone from the ground. With seconds left before the potion wore off, he called for Poppy, but he still heard nothing.
As the potion faded, he heard a rustling in the leaves. “Poppy?” he called out again.
“Brett,” a deep voice replied.
“Joe?” Brett called out in the darkness.
“Yes,” Joe breathlessly replied.
“Where are you?”
Joe said, “I’m almost at Poppy’s house.”
Brett didn’t need daylight to find Poppy’s house. He had traveled there so many times before. He sprinted toward Poppy’s front door, but as he reached the house, a loud noise shook the ground.
Kaboom!
“Poppy!” Brett screamed as he watched Poppy’s house explode.
“I’m right here.” Poppy raced toward the house.
“What happened?” asked Brett as he stood in front of her house staring at the burned remnants of her bungalow.
“I have no idea.” Poppy’s eyes were filled with tears. “Where’s Sam?” she questioned.
“We will find her,” Brett promised Poppy, although he knew this wasn’t a fair promise. He had no control over what had happened to the ocelot, and he wasn’t sure they’d find the animal.
Poppy pulled a torch from her inventory as she sprinted into her house searching for her pet. Smoke filled the living room, and Brett followed closely behind Poppy. His eyes stung from the smoke.
Joe called out from the doorway, “Poppy, I can’t believe someone did this to your house. What can I do to help?”
Poppy assessed the damage. “It’s not too bad.” She looked around the living room. “It looks worse than it is. If I fix the damaged wall, the house should be fine. But I need to find Sam. That’s more important than repairing the hole in the wall. Can you help me find her?”
Brett stared at the gaping hole in Poppy’s wall and wondered if Sam might have escaped through the hole during the explosion. Before he expressed this idea, the gang heard a meow coming from Poppy’s bedroom.
“I found her!” she called out.
“Now we have to find out who was behind this explosion,” said Brett.
“Do you think it was someone who was upset that you play so many practical jokes in Meadow Mews?” suggested Joe.
Poppy dismissed this idea. “We only play jokes on our friends. I don’t think any of them would intentionally place a few bricks of TNT near my living room and ignite them.”
“Then who do you think did this?” Joe asked.
“I have no idea,” Poppy said.
“Do you think it’s someone who is jealous you were asked to create that skyscraper in the desert? You mentioned there were a lot of candidates for the job. Maybe someone was upset that you got it,” Brett theorized.
“I wonder,” Poppy stared at the hole in the wall as she spoke, “but I don’t think we have the time to play detective. The truth will come out sooner or later, but we can’t be the ones to find out who it is. You have a farm to build, and I have to get ready to TP to the desert.”
The sun began to rise. Joe looked up at the sun. “Wow, I spent my first night in Meadow Mews, and it was a lot more intense than I imagined,” Joe laughed.
“It’s never boring when you hang out with us.” Poppy smiled.
“I know we didn’t get to sleep,” said Brett, “but we have to get to the farm. We have a lot of work we have to do with the irrigation system.”
Poppy said, “I have to stay here and repair this wall and head to the desert to build the skyscraper.”
“Do you need help repairing the wall?” asked Brett.
“No, it’s a simple job, and I have the supplies in my inventory. I appreciate the offer, but it’s easier for me to do it alone.”
“Okay,” said Brett, “but if you need us, let us know.”
Poppy paused and then asked, “While I’m gone, if you guys hear anything about the explosion, would you let me know?”
“Of course,” Brett replied.
Joe said, “Since I’ll be staying here, I will be able to keep a close eye on the house.”
“Great,” Poppy said. “I can’t wait to come back to Meadow Mews and see your completed farm.”
