Julia weakly grabbed a bottle of milk from her inventory and took a sip. The milk helped her gather enough energy to strike the wither skeleton, which tumbled back against the wall of the Nether fortress. Emma raced over and struck the weakened wither skeleton with her diamond sword, destroying it. She picked up the piece of coal it dropped and handed it to Julia. “You deserve this.”
An odd noise emanated from the hallway. Julia turned around and let out a terrified scream. It wasn’t as loud as the scream in the Jungle prison, but it was still quite piercing and powerful. Emma said, “Please, Julia, stop.”
“Magma cubes,” Lucy gasped. “We don’t have time to battle any more mobs, because we have to get back to campus. I’m afraid Hallie and Carla have taken over Minecrafters Academy by now.”
Two voices called out in unison, “Don’t worry! We can help!”
The trio looked over and saw Mia and Brad. They spawned in the center of the Nether fortress with full energy bars. Both energetically leapt at the magma cubes. Julia was hopeful they might get out of the Nether soon.
Chapter 16
SUNDOWN SURPRISES
Mia and Brad plunged their swords into the blocky cubes, as two blazes flew overhead.
“We have to get out of here,” Lucy warned them. “Every minute we are away from the campus, we are putting the entire Academy in jeopardy. We must stop Hallie and Carla.”
Julia closed her eyes as she plowed her sword into the wither skeleton. Even though fighting with your eyes closed was the worst fighting strategy, she couldn’t bear to look at the menacing mob because they frightened her. The wither skeleton fell back as Emma raced to her side and destroyed it. “Open your eyes, Julia. It’s over.”
Julia opened her eyes as Lucy screamed, “Everyone outside! We must build a portal and get back to campus.”
Brad and Mia were finishing up their two-person battle against the magma cubes, as Julia grabbed obsidian from her inventory and followed Lucy outside the Nether fortress.
“Is everyone here?” Lucy called out as she readied herself to ignite the portal.
“No,” Julia replied. “Mia and Brad are still battling the magma cubes.”
Brad hollered, “We’re here. We defeated those pesky cubes.”
Mia was out of breath. “That was intense.”
“We have to get back to campus.” Lucy made sure everyone was clustered together on the small portal before she ignited it.
Purple mist surrounded them. Julia grabbed a potion of strength as they traveled back to the campus. She knew she needed as much as energy as possible to defeat this evil duo that was overthrowing the campus.
The portal dropped them on the great lawn. Julia looked up at the sky and her heart beat fast as she saw night was approaching. It was already dark enough for hostile mobs to spawn. She knew they were in for a rough night as three zombies lumbered toward them.
Emma was the first to strike the vacant-eyed mobs, annihilating one of the mobs with her diamond sword. Brad rushed to her side to battle the remaining zombies. Julia was going to join them when she spotted Hallie sprinting past her. Julia raced toward Hallie.
“Stop!” Julia called out as an arrow struck her leg. She turned around and saw Carla standing in front of her with a bow and arrow.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Carla threatened.
Four skeletons spawned behind Carla. Julia didn’t warn her. She just stood in silence as the bony beasts aimed their arrows at Carla and flooded her with a barrage of arrows. Carla was gone, but Hallie was still terrorizing the campus. She was striking Mia with her diamond sword when Hallie sprinted over and leaped at Julia.
“Stop destroying our school!” Julia screamed as she plunged her sword deep into every limb that wasn’t covered by Hallie’s diamond armor. Hallie’s knee-high socks dropped to her ankles as Julia struck her roommate. “This has to stop!”
Lucy rushed over, delivering the final blow, destroying Hallie. “She must have respawned in your room. We have to trap her. The only way this battle will be over is if we place both Hallie and Carla in a bedrock prison. Julia, you must start constructing the prison. It’s our only hope.”
Julia didn’t have enough bedrock in her inventory to build a prison, but she knew someone who had a large supply. She sprinted toward Brad as the sun came up.
“Brad,” Julia said breathlessly. “I need your help.” She told Brad Lucy’s plan, and he gathered bedrock from his inventory.
“I have a great idea for the design,” Brad said.
Julia didn’t want to admit that she enjoyed this project, and she really liked working with Brad to construct the prison. They created the foundation and worked tirelessly to finish the prison while they waited for Lucy to deliver the first criminals.
“I heard there used to be a bedrock prison on this campus before,” Brad said.
“Really?”
“Aaron told me about a corrupt headmaster who was once housed on the campus, along with various griefers.”
“That’s awful. I wonder what happened to them,” Julia said as they placed a door on the prison.
“I think that was ages ago and they were released,” Brad said. “I don’t know what happened to the original prison, though.”
Julia wanted Aaron to tell her tales of Minecrafters Academy and its history, but she also knew that she was in the middle of creating history at Minecrafters Academy as they placed the door and finished the bedrock jail.
Julia heard someone call for help. With a concerned expression, she looked over at Brad. “It sounds like Lucy!”
Chapter 17
BACK TO CLASS
“Help!” Lucy cried out again.
Julia and Brad sprinted toward the sounds of Lucy’s cries as they pulled their swords from their inventory, ready to attack Carla and Hallie.
“I think the cries are coming from in here.” Julia led Brad into the dorms, and they raced into Julia’s room.
Brad opened the door to find Lucy surrounded by Carla and Hallie. Brad pounced on Hallie as she dropped her sword.
Julia knew that destroying Hallie was useless. She just had to weaken her enough to get her into the prison.
Aaron, Emma, Henry, and Mia sprinted into the room. Aaron declared with excitement, “We have removed every brick of TNT from the campus.”
“What?” Carla was infuriated and struck Lucy with her diamond sword in anger.
“It’s over,” Aaron said. “You’re outnumbered.”
“Did you complete the prison?” Lucy asked. Her voice was weak and after the last blow from Carla, she barely had enough energy to stand.
“Yes,” Brad replied. “Julia and I finished it.”
“Do you seriously think you’re going to keep me behind bars?” Hallie laughed as she struck Lucy with her sword. Lucy cried in pain.
“Yes.” Aaron walked up to Hallie and splashed a potion of weakness on her as Mia doused Carla with a potion.
Julia pointed her sword at Hallie. “Follow me. You have a new home now.”
Hallie and Carla knew the battle was over, and reluctantly followed Julia out of the dorms and toward the bedrock building.
Everyone stood on the great lawn and watched as Hallie and Carla marched across the grass and into the bedrock prison. As Hallie and Carla took their final steps of freedom, Hallie called out to the crowd of students and faculty, “This isn’t over. I promise you it’s far from over.”
“I’m sorry, but it is over,” Lucy said as she closed the door of the bedrock prison and announced to the students and faculty, “Thank you all for helping us defeat these criminals. They intended to turn this prestigious academy into a place where people would be taught to be evil. I’m glad that we were able to save Minecrafters Academy. This is a great day in our school’s history.”
The crowd cheered as Lucy continued. “We must spend the next few days rebuilding, but then we will be back to class.”
Julia worked on constructed the dining hall,
alongside Brad. As they finished the construction of the dining hall, she began to focus on the Academic Olympics. She wondered if the school was still going to participate after the antics that had taken place on campus. She also wondered if she would be chosen. After working with Brad, she knew they were equally skilled, and it would be a tough decision for the faculty to choose between them. She wished they could both go, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen. Only one person could represent the Academy in each subject.
When all of the buildings were completed, Lucy held an assembly in the new auditorium. Everyone on campus gathered in the assembly as Lucy stepped behind a shiny new wooden podium. “Classes will resume tomorrow.”
The crowd cheered again.
“I have a special announcement. We have chosen the students for the Minecraft Academic Olympics.”
The auditorium was silent.
“It was a tough decision. As you know, I feel everyone at the school is incredibly skilled, but these are the students the faculty has chosen to represent the school.”
There was not a sound in the room. Julia held her breath. This was the minute she was both excited for and equally dreading.
“Mia,” Julia called out. “Please come up to the podium.”
Mia walked up to the podium, and Lucy said, “You are chosen to represent Minecrafters Academy as an alchemist.”
“Thank you.” Mia’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so honored to be chosen. I will try my hardest to represent the school.”
Mia stood next to Lucy as she called out the second name. “Emma.”
Julia was thrilled both of her friends were chosen. She hoped she’d be next, but she looked over at Brad and also wished he might be the one asked to participate in the competition.
Lucy announced, “Emma will represent the school as a warrior. She will prove that she’s a skilled fighter in the Academic Olympics.” Emma thanked Lucy, and everyone collectively held their breath as they waited for Lucy to announce the final name.
Chapter 18
ACADEMIC OLYMPICS
Julia didn’t walk up to the podium when Lucy called her name. She didn’t believe her name was called, and she stood in the crowd.
“Julia,” Lucy repeated.
It was then Julia finally realized her name was really called. She hated standing in front of a crowd, and shook as she approached the podium. This should have been her moment of glory, but she wasn’t a fan of attention. She preferred to be behind the scenes. Standing next to Lucy in front of the assembly, she thanked everyone on the faculty. Julia took a deep breath and smiled. She looked over at her two friends. Their dream had come true; they were going to represent the school in the Minecraft Academic Olympics.
The assembly was over and Brad made his way over to Julia, “Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks.” Julia smiled.
“You’re going to blow away all the other builders in the Overworld,” Brad told her.
Emma sprinted over to Julia. “I can’t believe we’re going together.”
Mia exclaimed, “How awesome!”
Julia felt bad for Brad as he stood next to them and overheard the trio discussing their excitement for being chosen to represent the school. Students and faculty approached them and wished them luck and congratulations.
Mia and Julia noticed Aaron standing at the back of the auditorium, talking to Lucy. They walked toward him. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” Mia said, “but I was wondering if Aaron could help me practice for the competition.”
“Funny you should ask that,” Lucy said as she smiled, “Aaron, can you tell them what we were discussing?”
“I accepted a position at the Academy. I’m going to teach alchemy,” he said.
“Wow, that’s amazing.” Mia sounded excited to study with Aaron.
Emma ran over to the group as Aaron told them about his new job. “I can’t wait to teach you how to brew various potions.”
Henry walked over. “I will teach you how to survive when you’re on the hunt for the ingredients.”
Max overheard their discussion. “And I’m still going to get you to make the best mods ever.”
Julia looked at her teachers and friends. She knew she’d try her best when they were at the competition, but she also knew that once she returned, she’d be able to learn from both the faculty and students at Minecrafters Academy. It was a long journey from her solitary life in the snowy biome, and she was certainly glad she made it. No matter what the outcome of the competition was, she had already learned so much in her new life.
READ ON FOR AN EXCITING SNEAK PEEK AT THE NEXT BOOK IN
Winter Morgan’s Unofficial Minecrafters Academy series
Available wherever books are sold in June 2017
From Sky Pony Press
Chapter 1
SPECIAL GUESTS
Julia’s heart skipped a beat when she walked underneath the gate that stood at the entrance to Minecrafters Academy. This was her second year at the school, but she still had a tinge of excitement as she entered the campus. Julia was particularly happy because this year, students were allowed to choose their roommates. After sharing a dorm room with Hallie, Julia was thrilled at the opportunity to pick her bunkmate, but there was one problem: she wanted to choose both Emma and Mia, but she could only pick one roommate.
“What are we going to do?” Julia asked her friends as they stood outside the dorm.
Lucy stood in the middle of a group of students and called out, “Everyone stand next to the person you’d like to be your roommate.”
Julia looked over at Emma and Mia, who stood next to each other. She felt left out, and scanned the area for another friend who might want to room with her. Julia searched through the crowd, but there was nobody. Emma moved closer to Julia and whispered, “We want to be with you. Let’s just stick together and see if we can all share a room.”
Julia smiled. She knew her friends cared about her, but it was always tricky when three people were involved.
Lucy walked over to Julia, Mia, and Emma. “Would all three of you like to share a room? There’s an oversized room that has three beds. I can offer that to you.”
Julia unleashed the loudest sigh of relief and looked over at her two friends. Emma had already answered yes.
“Great.” Lucy led them to the corner room with four windows.
Mia rushed to the windows, gazing at the panoramic view of the great lawn, dining hall, and other campus buildings. “We have the best views of Minecrafters Academy. Thanks, Lucy.”
“All three of you were so helpful to the school last year and I wanted to make sure you were rewarded.”
Emma hesitated. “But we didn’t win the Minecraft Academic Olympics.” Tears filled Emma’s eyes. “We are a disappointment to the school, and it’s all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault,” Lucy comforted Emma. “You were skilled enough to be chosen. The Minecraft Academic Olympics is a tough competition. We should be proud that our school was even chosen to participate in it.”
Emma said, “But I lost the battle. I came in last.”
Julia walked over to Emma. “You are a skilled fighter and a teacher.”
“A teacher?” Emma asked.
“When I came to Minecrafters Academy, I didn’t even know how to use my sword. I’d freeze every time I’d encounter a zombie or a skeleton, but you taught how to fight and to be brave.”
“Really?” Emma dried her eyes.
Lucy said, “I must excuse myself. I have to meet my friend Steve. He’s going to be a guest teacher here this year.”
Mia’s eyes lit up. “What will he teach? I want to move past alchemy and try something else.”
“Farming. Steve is one of the best farmers in the Overworld,” Lucy explained and then exited the room.
Mia spoke as she decorated her wall with emeralds. “I’m glad there will be a good farming class. I might consider becoming a farmer. Once school is over, I can live on a small farm and se
ll potions.”
A sweat grew on Julia’s brow. She hadn’t thought about what she’d do after graduation. They had another year left of school, and she was just enjoying being back on campus. She assumed she’d just go back to the cold biome. However, when she came in first place at the Minecraft Academic Olympics, people from the Olympic Committee asked Julia if she’d build various structures in the Overworld. During the summer break, Julia didn’t return to the cold biome, and instead spent the school break constructing a tree house that someone had commissioned her to build. Julia knew she could be a builder when she graduated, and this thought comforted her as she organized her section of the room.
Emma spent a long time in the closet, and Julia called out, “Emma, are you okay?”
Emma chuckled. “Yes, I was just inspecting every inch of that closet. After finding Hallie’s closet filled with TNT, I was worried there would be something sinister in this one.”
“Well,” Mia asked, “is there?”
“No.” Emma smiled. “It’s just a plain old closet and we should fill it with our chests.”
The group carefully placed their chests on the closet floor as they heard footsteps approaching their room.
“Who’s there?” Julia’s heart raced. Even though all of the excitement from last year was over and the school was rebuilt, Julia was still on edge.
“It’s Brad,” he answered and stepped inside. “Are you guys here?”
“Yes.” Julia was excited to see her old friend. “How are you, Brad?”
“Hungry. It’s the First Night Back Dinner. Do you guys want to go?”
Emma rushed to the window. “Wow, I didn’t realize how late it was. It looks as if the dinner has already begun.”
They walked toward the dinner as Julia told Brad about her summer and the tree house.
“You know what I had to build this summer?” Brad asked.
“No, what?” Julia replied.
“An igloo. I wanted to contact you for help, but I knew you were working on the tree house.”
“You should have asked me to help you. I love building igloos,” Julia said.
Attack on Minecrafters Academy Page 6