Wicked Warrior
Page 6
The spinning head was inches from Miles; he was too weak to hold his megashark and it dropped onto the platform, leaving him defenseless.
“Oh no!” Owen cried. “The sun is coming up! Get that head now Asher, or we’ll have to battle it again.”
Asher flew past Miles, handed him a potion of strength and gave him instructions. “Use your Dao of Pow and help me defeat this head.”
Miles quickly sipped the potion, and grabbing his Dao of Pow, he flew next to Asher and they sprayed the spinning head with projectiles that led to the demise of Skeletron Prime.
“You did it, you guys destroyed Skeletron Prime!” Owen exclaimed.
Chapter 16:
BUCKETS OF BOLTS
Before the sun rose, Miles and Owen were rewarded with the Buckets of Bolts achievement. As the sun came up, they stood in the middle of the jungle.
“Should we spawn Plantera tonight?” asked Asher.
“Can’t we just enjoy getting this achievement? I know you already have one, but this is a big deal to us,” Miles explained. “Everyone back home is going to be so proud of us.”
“I can’t believe I have the Buckets of Bolts achievement,” said Owen.
Miles stared at Asher. “I can’t believe you saved my life.”
“Believe it.” Asher smiled.
“You guys destroyed Skeletron Prime together,” added Owen.
Asher said, “We all did it. And now we’re going to battle Plantera.”
Miles confessed, “I’m glad we were able to defeat Skeletron Prime together, but I have to admit that ever since you guys met, I feel like a third wheel. You both have so much in common, and I feel like I just don’t belong.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Owen said. “I didn’t realize this.”
“Really? We went from being partners to me be becoming invisible,” said Miles.
“I was just excited to meet Asher. He had already battled Skeletron Prime and he reminds me of Kyle. He’s always teaching me how to become a better fighter, which is my ultimate goal.”
“Maybe I just don’t share the same goals as you guys,” said Miles.
“I will admit that I might have been a bit rude,” Asher said, taking a deep breath. “But as you know I am trying to become a better person. I don’t want you to feel left out. We really needed you when were in the middle of the battle. I know we’re seriously going to need you when it comes time to battle Plantera. That plant is intense.”
Miles shook his head. “It’s hard when there are three people, and I think someone always feels left out.”
Owen asked, “But can’t we be The Three Amigos?”
“Yeah, that’s perfect, The Three Amigos battle Plantera. It sounds like the name of a super awesome movie,” said Asher.
“It does,” Owen agreed.
“Listen, if we’re going to battle Plantera tonight, we’ve got to be prepared. Let’s sort through our inventories to make sure we have the proper supplies. I know we were running low on potions, and Owen doesn’t have a Dao of Pow. We can head back to my house and start crafting weapons and potions. I don’t live too far from here.”
Owen looked in his inventory. “I’m running low on a lot of supplies. I might have to go mining.”’
“We better start making a list of everything we need,” said Asher.
“Good idea,” Owen said as he listed a bunch of supplies they needed to battle Plantera.
“What do you have in your inventory, Miles?” asked Asher.
“Um,” Miles said as he looked. “I’m all out of potions.”
“I can help with that,” said Asher.
Miles was conflicted. He did enjoy his new friendship with Asher, and knew he wouldn’t have been able to defeat Skeletron Prime without him and Owen, but he also felt like he was being forced into something he didn’t want to do. Miles had to speak up.
“I don’t know if I want to be apart of The Three Amigos. I want to go home. I miss my friends and I would rather tell them about defeating Skeletron Prime than running off to battle Plantera,” Miles explained. “I just want to go home.”
Owen said, “Maybe going back home is a good idea. We can get a bunch of supplies from everyone there. I know Jack has explosives and I need to replenish my supply.”
Asher paused. “Miles, do you think everyone will be okay with me coming back to the village?”
“What did you do to the village?” Owen asked.
“As we said before, it’s in the past,” explained Miles. “I think they will be happy to see you. Isabella would love to hear how you’re stopping the Corruption. I’m also sure Sarah would want to give you a haircut; you’ve definitely let your hair grow.”
“Let’s go back to the village,” Asher said.
“Don’t forget Bunny is going to throw us a cool after-party. Bunny throws the craziest parties,” remarked Owen.
“Who’s Bunny?” asked Asher
“She’s a friend of Owen’s, and a party girl,” said Miles.
As they walked toward the village, Asher spotted The Hallow in the distance. “We want to avoid going back through The Hallow.”
Miles saw a man standing outside of The Hallow painting a picture of the biome. “Who is that?”
Asher looked at the man. “I have no idea, I’ve never seen him before.”
Owen approached the man, “What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see I’m painting?” replied the man, who was wearing a red beret and holding a paintbrush.
“It’s a really nice picture of the Hallow,” Miles stared at the painting. “You really captured the colors. Especially the turquoise grass.”
Without looking up from the painting the painter said, "I know the difference between turquoise and blue-green. But I won't tell you."
“Don’t worry, we won’t ask,” said Asher.
“What’s your name?” asked Owen.
“Carlo, and yours?”
“Owen, and these are my friends Miles and Asher,” said Owen.
“Owen, can you do me a favor?” asked the painter.
Owen smiled. “Do you want me to build you a home?”
“Are you a mind reader?” Carlo was shocked.
Owen laughed. “No, I’ve just seen this before. Of course, come back to our village with us.”
“We’re about to go to a party in our village,” said Miles.
“Those party girls really paint the town red,” Carlo said. “That sounds like fun. I’ll paint a picture of it for you.”
“I’d like that,” Miles said, as they tried to avoid The Hallow. But no matter how they tried to avoid it, they couldn’t get around The Hallow. Miles stared at the rainbow overhead, and braced himself for another trip through his brightly colored challenging biome.
With one foot in The Hallow, Miles screamed as a unicorn charged at them. Carlo splattered the unicorn with paintballs. Asher threw knives at it, as Owen and Miles used their bows, until the unicorn disappeared.
“After conquering Skeletron Prime, this trip through The Hallow is going to seem like a breeze,” said Asher.
“I hope you’re right,” Miles hollered as a sea of pixies flew in their direction.
Chapter 17:
CHOICES
As the pixies surrounded them, the trio shot arrows at the flickering lights emanating from the yellow creatures of The Hallow.
“We destroyed them all,” Asher said gleefully. “See how well we work together?”
“You guys are like The Three Amigos,” said Carlo.
“I know! We are!” exclaimed Owen.
Miles knew he had to make a choice. Although they worked well as a team and ironed out all of their issues, he knew he didn’t share the same interests. His friends were motivated by achievement, and Miles was motivated by the thought of sleeping in his own bed, and not in a strange place in the middle of a jungle or a snowy biome. Miles couldn’t wait to get back home and out of The Hallow.
“Watch out!” Owen war
ned them as two unicorns sprinted in their direction.
Miles hid behind a purple tree, and watched as Owen and Asher battled the unicorns. He told himself that they’d be fine without him, and they could be the Deadly Debonair Duo rather than The Three Amigos. He hoped they’d understand that he wasn’t going to join them in the battle or Plantera after they returned home. But he wasn’t sure they would. He had already tried to tell them, and they didn’t listen.
Another unicorn sprinted through The Hallow. This time Miles couldn’t hide behind a tree, and Asher called to him, “Miles, get the unicorn. You don’t have any potions left. You can’t get hurt by it.”
Miles aimed at the unicorn, destroying it with a single shot. Owen raced over to him. “You’re such a great fighter. I’m so glad to team up with you. We are totally going to defeat Plantera.”
Asher gave Miles a high five, and Miles felt a pit in his stomach. “Thanks,” he said quietly.
“Look, there’s an exit,” Owen pointed to the end of The Hallow. As they sprinted toward the exit, Carlo’s screams echoed through the pastel colored biome.
Two pixies hovered above Carlo; he feebly threw paintballs at them, which didn’t weaken the pixies.
“Help!” Carlo cried.
Miles used his jetpack to soar next to the pixies and strike them with his sword, destroying each of them.
“How can I thank you? Can I paint you a picture?” asked Carlo.
“Let’s just get out of The Hallow safely,” Miles said as he sprinted out of the colorful biome and toward his village.
Chapter 18:
AFTER PARTY
“They’re back!”Sarah called out.
Owen exclaimed, “We did it! We got the Buckets of Bolts achievement!”
“Asher?” Isabella asked, “Where did you find him?”
Asher replied, “They found me in The Hallow. I’ve followed your directions and have destroyed much of the Corruption.”
“I know,” remarked Isabella. “We are grateful to you for doing this. Do you need any more Purification Powder?”
“I can definitely replenish my supply,” said Asher.
“Purification Powder! Boring! Let’s get the disco ball rolling! I want to party!” Bunny raced into the center of town. “Now that you guys have the Buckets of Bolts, I am throwing you the best party ever. First we will feast on Pad Thai and after that we will dance until dawn.”
“They must build me a house before you begin your marathon night of partying,” Carlo said.
“I promised to build him a house,” Owen explained.
“We’ll help.” Asher looked over at Miles, who nodded his head that they would help him construct the house.
“Can you just give him Bunny’s house?” Katie asked. “I can’t deal with her anymore. She plays music all the time.”
“I bet if you danced more, you’d be a happier person.” Bunny shot Katie a dirty look.
“I’m building it here,” Owen stood by a patch of land near trees and a mountain, “On the edge of the village, so Carlo will be inspired and paint pictures every day.”
“Thank you,” Carlo said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. What a lovely idea.”
“Better build it fast!” Bunny exclaimed. “The party starts soon. It’s at my place. I have a disco ball.”
Owen finished the house alongside Miles and Asher. Carlo entered his new home, excited about the large picture window. “This place is perfect. Now go off to your party, you guys deserve it.”
Asher said, “We can’t stay long if we want to get to the underground jungle to see if Plantera’s bulbs have grown.”
Miles knew he had to tell them that he wasn’t going with them, and that The Three Amigos were over. “I’m sorry, guys,” he said.
“Sorry about what?” asked Owen.
“I can’t battle Plantera with you. I want to stay here. I hope you’ll understand,” Miles said tearfully. “I know you guys are going to become the best warriors in Terraria. I can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures, but I can’t participate in them.”
Owen sounded heartbroken. “I’ll miss you a lot.”
Asher said, “Me too. I was really getting used to the idea of The Three Amigos.”
“I’ve renamed you. I think you guys could be the Deadly Debonair Duo,” Miles told them.
“Hmm, maybe we can remove Deadly and just be the Debonair Duo,” suggested Owen.
As they walked into Bunny’s party, Miles put on his embroidered clown hat, and their friends greeted them with cheers. Owen announced, “I’m afraid this is also a farewell party. Soon, Asher and I will travel to the jungle to defeat Plantera.”
“Miles, are you not joining them?” asked Cedric.
Miles was excited Cedric got his name right. “Nope, I’m staying here.”
Asher added, “For now, right? You never know when we’ll need your help.”
Miles smiled. “If you guys really need me, you know I’ll always be there.”
Bunny raised her voice. “Quit yapping and start dancing.”
The music played and Miles couldn’t have been happier, as he twirled underneath the disco ball with his friends. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Carlo standing beside an easel painting a picture, immortalizing this moment that Miles never wanted to forget.