Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Sometimes You're Netherite, and Sometimes You're Netherwrong. In the real world, the group finally had all the pigurines: ice skaters, vampire, boat captain, and rock skipper. There were only a few more minutes before the school was closed for the day—they had to hurry if they were going to help Ash and Eek! Po volunteered to take the pigurines back to Principal Ferris's office while the others rushed to the computer lab. When he arrived, the office door was unlocked—but Principal Ferris wasn't there. Will was, though. He was sitting in one of the chairs, writing in a notebook.

"Oh, hey, Po!" Will smiled and set his binder aside. "How's it going? I got your swords." He gestured to a bag by the chair. "What are you doing in here?" Po asked as he set the pigs on Ferris's desk. "Uh, he told me to wait for him here. I had to write an essay on everything I love about Ironsword, and how 'the rules make

my favorite things possible.' "He shrugged. "What about you? Do you understand 'the beauty of a school kept clean, orderly, and perfect' now, or whatever?" Po thought about it. "I understand that Ironsword is big and weird, at least. And that I have really good friends. I liked the koi pond, and the suits of armor were cool. I'm not sure that I ever want to go back into that library." "I love those fish!" Will agreed. "And did you see that one helmet in the hall that's like"—he made a face—" 'goiby boiby boiby'?" "YES!" Po said. "THAT WAS MY FAVORITE!"

They laughed. Will glanced at the clock on the wall. "You should go before you have to talk to him. I'll let him know you came by." "Okay. I will." Po put the sword bag in his lap and spun his chair around to leave. "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble." "I would think someone from a school that's truly so thoughtful and artistic would know better than to apologize for something that wasn't his fault." He held out his fist. "And did you see the

principal's face this morning? Today was the most fun I've had in ages. I should be thanking you." Po bumped Will's fist with his. "You're welcome, then." "Way better. See you tomorrow!" When Po made it back to the computer lab, Jodi was already logged in. With all the mobs in boats and the team coaching her, it was easy to build a staircase down to the island Ash and Eek were trapped on. They quickly returned to their Nether base and could, finally, relax. "Eek!" Jodi yelled. "I'm so glad you're safe!" She hopped around him in a circle, and Eek joined her in jumping happily. Po didn't have much on him, so he placed torches in a circle of celebration. "I'm sorry for rushing ahead on my own." Ash sounded the most exhausted of all of them. "I

think…well, I don't know." She hadn't really been bored. She'd spent all day packing and feeling lonely. Then when she booted up Minecraft, she'd lost her friends there, too. But they couldn't know what she was going through if she didn't tell them. "I haven't told you guys, but I'm moving again. Before Woodsword, I had to leave behind my troop and our tree house. Then I left Woodsword, and we lost our whole original server…and another scout troop. This time, I didn't even have time to build a tree house, or even have a whole adventure. Just another troop full of people I am leaving behind." "Oh, Ash. I'm sorry." Morgan couldn't give her a hug over Minecraft. "I'm here for you. We all are." "You're my only friends who really stayed in touch when I left. Today, when you were pulled away, I started feeling like even that could disappear one day. Like I could lose you, too, over something as silly as a sword fight at the wrong