“That’s the thrill that comes with being creative,” said Jodi. “It can be messy and chaotic, but in the end, creating new things—art or inventions or stories or friendships—is the best way we have to make the world a better place.”
Morgan found that he agreed with her. “Creation helps us make sense of a messy world,” he added.
The Evoker King smiled shyly. “This is all very interesting to me. I have much to consider.” He turned his gaze toward Jodi. “I…would like very much to have you as friends, I think.”
“And none of that vengeance incarnate stuff, right?” Jodi asked.
The Evoker King tried to hold her gaze with his fiercest look, but then he timidly replied, “No. No vengeance incarnate stuff.”
“Then it’s settled,” said Jodi. “So says Queen Jodi, Ruler of Minecraft!” And she laughed a deep, dark, sinister laugh. Morgan’s blood ran cold as the sound of echoed through the halls.
“You guys!” Jodi said in her normal voice. “I’m totally joking!”
“We’re putting the Foundation Stone back where we found it,” said Morgan.
“Oh yes,” said Ash. “Deep underground.”
Harper nodded. “Theo, you can be in charge of building a new dungeon to keep it safe.”
“Aw, I was hoping I’d get a turn with it,” said Po.
“No!” they all cried at once.
The Evoker King looked at Theo. “Are they always like this?” he asked.
“Don’t ask me,” said Theo. “I’m new, too.”
It was Ash’s last day at Woodsword Middle School.
She had emptied her locker. She’d returned her textbooks and packed up her gym clothes.
All that was left now was to say goodbye.
They all gathered in the computer lab. Harper had made a “science cake,” which was what she called all cakes. Jodi had put up streamers. Doc and Ms. Minerva were there, and they told Ash how much they would miss her. Ash thought she saw Morgan cry a little, but he denied it later.
“I want you to have this,” said Doc. She handed Ash a set of VR goggles with a big red bow on top. “Ms. Minerva tells me all the glitches have been fixed, thanks to you.”
“Yes, no more glitches,” Ms. Minerva said, adding a very unsubtle wink.
“What was that?” Doc asked. “Why did you wink just then?”
“Oh, just being a bit chaotic, Doc,” said Ms. Minerva. “I know how much you enjoy that.”
“Thanks for these,” Ash said, holding the goggles to her chest. “Thanks for everything. I’ve had just…just the best time here. My new school won’t be the same.”
“But it’s just a few towns over,” said Theo. “We can see you on weekends.”
“And virtually every weekday,” said Jodi, pointing to the headset.
“We’re never more than a call away,” Harper added. She held up her old phone, which she’d had to quit using when the Evoker King had taken over the school’s tech. Now, with a little help from Doc and Theo, it was working better than ever.
Ash laughed. “Yeah. I guess so.”
“You’re taking it well, though, Ash,” said Doc. “This can’t be easy for you.”
“It’s not,” said Ash. “It’s sad, and scary, and totally out of my control.” She smiled, just a little. “But I’ve got friends to help me through it.”
“Aw, gee,” said Po. “You’re going to make the rest of us cry like Morgan.”
“I wasn’t crying!” Morgan protested, quickly pulling his hand away from the corner of his eye. “I have allergies!”
“And I have a present for you,” Ash said. “All of you. The whole school, actually!”
Ash led them outside and across the schoolyard. They passed the bat house they’d built together some time ago, and they kept walking. “I couldn’t put it too close to the bat house,” she said. “That might have caused some problems if the bats decided to take up residence.” She laughed as she led them farther down the path and around the back of the school’s mobile classrooms. She heard them all gasp when they saw her surprise.
“It’s your tree house!” said Morgan. “How in the world did you move it here?”
“Well, my mom’s an engineer, remember?” said Ash. “I know how much you all love it. So I thought it would be a nice gift.”
“It’s the best gift,” Jodi said. And she giggled as the hamster she was holding twisted out of her grip and went running for the playset. “You’ve definitely made the Baron’s day!”
“Aw, he looks all happy,” said Morgan. “But you know he’s gonna miss you a lot.”
“I’m going to miss him, too, Morgan,” said Ash. “I’m going to miss all of you.”
Ash held open her arms, and Morgan and Jodi and Harper and Po all gathered together for a group hug.
“You too, Theo,” Ash said. “Get in here.”
Theo grinned from ear to ear, happy to be included.
Ash smiled, too, even though she was crying.
Theo could hardly wait to get back to Minecraft.
He’d always loved the game. But it was so much better getting to share it with friends.
He’d almost gotten used to the idea that one of those friends was a digital consciousness. Life was strange!
“We’re going to have to convince EK to dial back his powers, I think,” Theo said as he picked up his goggles. “Otherwise our building project will be too easy!”
“You’re one to talk,” Jodi teased.
Theo grinned. “Just one or two mods today,” he said. “I promise.”
He closed his eyes as he donned his headset, and when he opened them again, he was in the game. They were all there: Morgan and Jodi, Harper and Po…
And Ash was there, waiting for them.
“What took you so long?” she said.
“It’s good to see you, too, Ash!” Morgan said with good-natured sarcasm.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “Something’s wrong. Look!”
Theo and the others gasped at the sight. There, standing atop a hill, was the Evoker King.
He had been turned to stone. Petrified!
“That’s not possible,” said Theo. “He’s so powerful even without the Foundation Stone. What could do that to him?”
“I have no idea,” said Ash. “But we had better find out.”
“We will,” said Theo.
“All of us,” added Morgan. “Together.”
is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. Build, play, and explore across infinitely generated worlds of mountains, caverns, oceans, jungles, and deserts. Defeat hordes of zombies, bake the cake of your dreams, venture to new dimensions, or build a skyscraper. What you do in Minecraft is up to you.
Nick Eliopulos is a writer who lives in Brooklyn (as many writers do). He likes to spend half his free time reading and the other half gaming. He cowrote the Adventurers Guild series with his best friend and works as a narrative designer for a small video game studio. After all these years, Endermen still give him the creeps.
Luke Flowers is an author-illustrator living in Colorado Springs with his wife and three children. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to illustrate forty-five books since 2014, when he began living his lifelong dream of illustrating children’s books. Luke has also written and illustrated a best-selling book series called Moby Shinobi. When he’s not illustrating in his creative cave, he enjoys performing puppetry, playing basketball, and going on adventures with his family.
Chris Hill is an illustrator living in Birmingham, England, with his wife and two daughters and has been loving it for twenty-five years! When he’s not working, he loves spending time with his family and trying to tire out his dog on long walks. If there’s any time left after that, he loves to go riding on his motorcycle, feeling the
wind on his face while contemplating his next illustration adventure.
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Last Block Standing! (Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles #6) Page 6
