Planter wrapped her arms around Watcher, a joyous smile on her square face. She hugged him tight, refusing to let go.
“Planter … we need to talk about what happened with the Bow.”
“No,” she whispered in his ear. “Just wait. Let me enjoy holding you for a minute before everything changes.”
And so he waited … and waited …
“That’s the longest victory hug I’ve ever seen,” Blaster said, laughing.
Watcher’s cheeks grew hot as he and Planter finally let go of each other.
Blaster started saying something, but Watcher held up a glowing hand, stopping his friend. He turned back to Planter and gazed into her deep emerald eyes.
“Planter, you picked up the Bow of Destruction, knowing it would kill you,” Watcher said. “Why?”
A tear tumbled from Planter’s eye. “That wither and the zombies were going to destroy you. Its flaming skulls had wounded you, and I knew you’d never be able to stop the zombies before they reached you. I couldn’t live without you, so I figured I might as well do something to keep you safe, even if it cost me my life.”
“But it didn’t.”
She shook her head.
“You know what that must mean?”
Planter nodded, an expression of resignation on her beautiful face. “I must be a descendant of some wizard.”
“And you have magical powers as well,” Watcher added.
Planter nodded again. “You remember this?” She pulled out the Amulet of Planes they’d found in the Wizard’s Tower. “I was able to hear it singing to me when nobody else could. I also heard the Gauntlets of Life when they were buried in the Compass. That’s when I started to suspect something was wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Watcher said. “Just because you have magical powers, it doesn’t mean you’re flawed or …”
“Different? Is that what you’re saying? That you and I aren’t different from everyone else?”
“Well …” Watcher grew quiet, knowing the truth in her words. “We may be different, but at least we’re together, right?” He gazed into her eyes. “We are together, aren’t we?” He stepped closer to her. “Have you forgiven me for being a fool and taking you for granted? I can’t guarantee I won’t be an idiot again, but I will never take you for granted or seek fame again. All I want is to be with you and have everyone safe.”
She looked down at his glowing hands, then took them in hers. “I think I can live with that.”
A huge smile spread across Watcher’s face. It almost made his cheeks hurt. Planter giggled, then hugged him again.
“I think it’s time we left this place before we discover any new monsters from the Great War,” Mapper said.
“I like that idea,” Fencer said. “After all this excitement, I don’t think it was such a great choice to follow all of you to this terrifying place.”
“Ya think?” Blaster asked.
“Let’s get moving. I want to get home,” Watcher said as he glanced at Planter and took her hand in his, “and just live in peace.”
Planter nodded.
Fencer scowled at him.
They headed for the door, but when they reached the piles of items on the ground, Watcher stopped and stared at them, a sad expression on his face. NPCs had died here fighting Krael and the Broken Eight. Slowly, he raised his hand into the air, fingers spread wide, the other villagers doing the same. Clenching his fist, he squeezed his hand tight.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,” he whispered, “but your sacrifices saved the Far Lands, and possibly all of Minecraft.”
Watcher squeezed his fist tighter, knuckles popping. A tear tumbled down his cheek, but he didn’t wipe it away; he let it fall to the ground. Planter put a hand on his shoulder, then reached up and pulled his hand down. Watcher opened his fist and saw that his fingernails had dug into his glowing palm, leaving deep indentations in his skin.
“It’s not your fault,” Planter said in a soft, soothing voice.
Watcher said nothing; he just stared at the items for a moment, then knelt and picked them all up. Glancing at his friends, he pointed to the chamber exit. “Let’s get out of here.”
They moved toward the tunnel with Fencer near the front. Suddenly, an angry moan filled the chamber. The last surviving zombie from the Broken Eight jumped out of the shadows and lunged at Fencer with its sword.
Before anyone could react, a knife tumbled through the air and struck the monster in the chest, the blade sticking into its golden armor. The monster stopped for a moment, smiled, then swung its blade at Fencer. Another knife streaked through the air, but this time, it struck the handle of the blade already sticking out of the zombie’s chest and drove the first knife through the armor and into the monster’s flesh.
The zombie staggered back, flashing red as it clawed at the blade, but it was beneath the creature’s armor. Watcher drew Needle, but suddenly Blaster tore it from his hands and threw it like a spear. The enchanted blade sailed through the air, leaving a line of sparkling particles behind as it hit the zombie in the side, taking the last of the creature’s HP. With a sorrowful moan, the last of the Broken Eight disappeared, its armor and weapon fading into nothingness.
“Fencer, are you alright?” Mapper asked.
The girl was still shocked by what had almost happened; she was speechless.
Blaster moved forward and picked up his knives, then handed Needle back to Watcher. He moved to Fencer and shook her gently by the shoulders.
“Fencer, are you okay?” Blaster asked. “That was close.”
The terrified expression on her face slowly faded away as she looked at her savior.
“Blaster, you’re the bravest, most important person in all of Minecraft.” She smiled a huge, joyous smile. “I’m gonna take care of you … forever.”
A look of sudden terror spread across Blaster’s face. He glanced at Planter and Watcher, eyes wide.
“You’re a lucky guy … Fencer is gonna take care of you forever.” Watcher smiled.
“Yeah,” Planter added. “For–ev–er.”
Blaster glanced at the other villagers, hoping to find help, but the rest of the NPCs just smiled, enjoying the boy’s misery.
“Come on, Blaster.” Fencer grabbed his arm with both hands. “Let’s walk together as we head home.”
She pulled him into the tunnel, a satisfied grin on her face. Blaster glanced over his shoulder at Watcher and mouthed HELP to him. Watcher just smiled.
“Come on, everyone,” Watcher said. “It’s time to head home.”
Then, with Planter’s hand in his, they walked away from the Cave of Slumber and toward home.
AVAILABLE NOW FROM MARK CHEVERTON AND SKY PONY PRESS
THE GAMEKNIGHT999 SERIES
The world of Minecraft comes to life in this thrilling adventure!
Gameknight999 loved Minecraft, and above all else, he loved to grief—to intentionally ruin the gaming experience for other users.
But when one of his father’s inventions teleports him into the game, Gameknight is forced to live out a real-life adventure inside a digital world. What will happen if he’s killed? Will he respawn? Die in real life? Stuck in the game, Gameknight discovers Minecraft’s best-kept secret, something not even the game’s programmers realize: the creatures within the game are alive! He will have to stay one step ahead of the sharp claws of zombies and pointed fangs of spiders, but he’ll also have to learn to make friends and work as a team if he has any chance of surviving the Minecraft war his arrival has started.
With deadly Endermen, ghasts, and dragons, this action-packed trilogy introduces the heroic Gameknight999 and has proven to be a runaway publishing smash, showing that the Gameknight999 series is the perfect companion for Minecraft fans of all ages.
Invasion of the Overworld (Book One):
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Battle for the Nether (Book Two):
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Conf
ronting the Dragon (Book Three):
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THE MYSTERY OF HEROBRINE SERIES
Gameknight999 must save his friends from an evil virus intent on destroying all of Minecraft!
Gameknight999 was sucked into the world of Minecraft when one of his father’s inventions went haywire. Trapped inside the game, the former griefer learned the error of his ways, transforming into a heroic warrior and defeating powerful Endermen, ghasts, and dragons to save the world of Minecraft and his NPC friends who live in it.
Gameknight swore he’d never go inside Minecraft again. But that was before Herobrine, a malicious virus infecting the very fabric of the game, threatened to destroy the entire Overworld and escape into the real world. To outsmart an enemy much more powerful than any he’s ever faced, the User-that-is-not-a-user will need to go back into the game, where real danger lies around every corner. From zombie villages and jungle temples to a secret hidden at the bottom of a deep ocean, the action-packed adventures of Gameknight999 and his friends (and, now, family) continue in this thrilling follow-up series for Minecraft fans of all ages.
Trouble in Zombie-town (Book One):
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The Jungle Temple Oracle (Book Two):
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HEROBRINE REBORN SERIES
Gameknight999 and his friends and family face
Herobrine in the biggest showdown the Overworld has ever seen!
Gameknight999, a former Minecraft griefer, got a big dose of virtual reality when his father’s invention teleported him into the game. Living out a dangerous adventure inside a digital world, he discovered that the Minecraft villagers were alive and needed his help to defeat the infamous virus, Herobrine, a diabolical enemy determined to escape into the real world.
Gameknight thought Herobrine had finally been stopped once and for all. But the virus proves to be even craftier than anyone could imagine, and his XP begins inhabiting new bodies in an effort to escape. The User-that-is-not-a-user will need the help of not only his Minecraft friends, but his own father, Monkeypants271, as well, if he has any hope of destroying the evil Herobrine once and for all.
Saving Crafter (Book One):
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Destruction of the Overworld (Book Two):
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HEROBRINE’S REVENGE SERIES
From beyond the digital grave, Herobrine has crafted some evil games for Gameknight999 to play!
Gameknight999, a former Minecraft griefer, got a big dose of virtual reality when his father’s invention teleported him into the game. Living out a dangerous adventure inside a digital world, he trekked all over Minecraft, with the help of some villager friends, in order to finally defeat a terrible virus, Herobrine, who was trying to escape into the real world.
Gameknight thought that Herobrine was gone for good. But as one last precaution before his death, the heinous villain laid traps for the User-that-is-not-a-user that would threaten all of the Overworld, even if the virus was no longer alive. Now Gameknight is racing the clock, trying to stop Herobrine from having one last diabolical laugh.
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THE BIRTH OF HEROBRINE SERIES
Can Gameknight999 survive a journey one hundred years into Minecraft’s past?
A freak thunderstorm strikes just as Gameknight999 is activating his father’s Digitizer to reenter Minecraft. Sparks flash across his vision as he is sucked into the game … and when the smoke clears he’s arrived safely. But it doesn’t take long to realize that things in the Overworld are very different.
The User-that-is-not-a-user realizes he’s been accidentally sent a hundred years into the past, back to the time of the historic Great Zombie Invasion. None of his friends have even been born yet. But that might be the least of Gameknight999’s worries, because traveling back in time also means that the evil virus Herobrine, the scourge of Minecraft, is still alive …
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THE MYSTERY OF ENTITY303 SERIES
Minecraft mods are covering the tracks of a mysterious new villain!
Gameknight999 reenters Minecraft to find it completely changed, and his old friends acting differently. The changes are not for the better.
Outside of Crafter’s village, a strange user named Entity303 is spotted with Weaver, a young NPC Gameknight knows from Minecraft’s past. He realizes that Weaver has somehow been kidnapped, and returning him to the correct time is the only way to fix things.
What’s worse: Entity303 has created a strange and bizarre modded version of Minecraft, full of unusual creatures and biomes. Racing through the Twilight Forest and MystCraft, and finally into the far reaches of outer space, Gameknight will face his toughest challenge yet in a Minecraft both alien and dangerous.
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Monsters in the Mist (Book Two):
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THE RISE OF THE WARLORDS SERIES
A brand new Minecraft fiction series from Mark Cheverton explores the mysterious borders of the Overworld!
The Far Lands is a hidden, mystical area located at the very edge of Minecraft’s outer borders, unknown to normal users. There, the life of a young boy named Watcher is suddenly turned upside down when his village is destroyed by a vile warlord.
That single event sets off a chain of unexpected events, as Watcher and a handful of his friends vow to save their friends and bring the warlords responsible to justice. But along the way, they’ll uncover a terrifying secret about the monsters in the Far Lands, one that could change Minecraft forever.
Zombies Attack! (Book One):
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The Bones of Doom (Book Two):
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Into the Spiders’ Lair (Book Three):
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EXCERPT FROM THE WITHERS AWAKEN
A BRAND NEW FAR LANDS ADVENTURE
The villagers followed Mirthrandos across the landscape, continuing westward. Watcher led the company in a defensive formation as they ran, and the boy worried about any more monstrous surprises coming from the leafy canopy overhead. Fortunately, none of the treetop inhabitants came down to challenge them, though Watcher was able to see shapes moving through the leaves. The monsters were still up there, watching and waiting.
The gigantic trees slowly grew smaller as they traveled through the biome, the forest gradually morphing into something Watcher would expect to see in the Far Lands—a birch forest with a smattering of oaks here and there, colorful splashes of flowers nestled within tal
l blades of grass. The company darted through the beautiful forest, racing the sun as it slowly descended toward the western horizon.
Watcher assumed they’d have to stop so that Mirthrandos could rest, but the old woman had no problem keeping up with the rest of them. Her immortality apparently kept her fit as well. They ran in silence, each villager listening for the approach of monsters, but the forest was peaceful and calm. The sound of cows, chickens, and pigs floated from between the pristine, white birch trees, but as before, the animals were nowhere in sight.
“You notice it again?” Blaster said to Watcher.
“What?”
“Animal sounds, but no animals.” Blaster pulled off his forest green cap to scratch his head. His black curls instantly sprang outward, yearning for freedom, but were quickly captured again by the leather cap.
“Yeah … this is strange.” Watcher pulled Needle from his inventory as he glanced to the left and right, looking for the animals, but finding none.
“Hey Mirthrandos,” Blaster said, moving closer to the old woman. “What was the deal with all the flames on the lake?”
“You liked my flames?” The ancient wizard smiled.
“Well … not at first, but it was a neat trick.”
“I put those there to keep anyone from bothering me in my underwater home.” She glanced at Watcher and glared. “Apparently it didn’t work very well.”
“You have to try much harder than that to keep Watcher from bugging you.” Blaster laughed.
“Apparently so,” she said, then laughed with Blaster.
“Mirthrandos, can I ask you a question?” Planter swerved around a birch tree, then moved to the old woman’s side.
“Of course, dear.”
“You were around during the Great War?”
The old woman nodded. “Bad times, yes it was, very bad times, indeed.”
“How is it you’re still alive?” Planter asked.
“I was given eternal life from one of our greatest wizards. Tharus was his name; I’m sure you’ve run across his name in books more than once.”
The Wither King Page 20
