Chapter 11

Chapter 11 A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK Headz. LET'S JUST HOPE THESE CHIPS DON'T END UP IN A BATCH OF MORGAN'S COOKIES! After school, the kids met up in Minecraft. Everything was just as usual. Except for one big difference. This time, Po watched his teammates with anger and suspicion. They were standing in one of the village's many abandoned houses, where they'd set up their beds in a neat row. "Theo and I have a new plan," said Harper. "Or a new version of the old plan." "We're still going to trap the spider," said Theo. "But not in a pit this time. We're going to build a trap… USING REDSTONE."

Po scoffed. "Redstone is too complicated," he said. "Here's my plan: Let's go to the Nether. Let's get some netherite. Let's craft some powerful weapons and armor and defeat the spider in a direct attack!"

"But we don't want to hurt it," said Theo. "Remember, it contains a piece of the Evoker King's code. WE NEED THAT CODE TO PUT OUR FRIEND BACK TOGETHER." "If we trap it, we can find a way to communicate with it," said Harper. "Maybe we can convince it to give us what we need, like we did with the Endermonster." "BESIDES, THE SPIDER HASN'T ACTUALLY HURT US," Jodi added. "It keeps using its mobs to chase us away when we get too close. Maybe it isn't so bad, really." Po felt hurt that nobody was listening to him. "Did you guys ask Shelly Silver what she thought about your

plan?" he asked. MORGAN'S JAW DROPPED IN SURPRISE. "Yeah, that's right," said Po. "I saw you all talking this morning. She was even taking notes! What did you tell her?" "It wasn't like that," Morgan said. "She was just asking us some questions about the school. About our opinions…" "Sounds like she's spying on my campaign," said Po. He looked at Jodi. "Speaking of spying, have you learned anything I can use, Jodi?" Jodi put her blocky fists on her hips. "I REFUSE TO USE MY DETECTIVE POWERS FOR EVIL!" she said. "Shelly is a nice person." "SHE'S MY COMPETITOR," said Po. "She can be both of those things!" argued Jodi. "That's enough, everybody," said Harper, and she stepped between them. "Let's remember we're all on the same team." "Are we, though?" said Po. He frowned at Morgan. "Or were those inedible cookies part of your plan to sabotage me?" "THEY'RE NOT INEDIBLE!" Morgan argued. "They're even pretty good if you dip them in mustard." "What's going on here?" said a voice from the doorway.

They all turned to see a familiar avatar. "Ash!" said Jodi. "Thank goodness you're here!" Ash smiled. "It's always good to see you guys." Then her smile fell away. "But I hate to see you like this. You'll never topple that tyrant if you don't work together." Theo chuckled. "WHEN YOU SAY 'TYRANT,' ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SPIDER? OR PO?" Po felt a rush of anger. "I'm not a tyrant!" he said. "I just want things to go my way for once!" Everyone was quiet after that. Po was normally such a happy guy. His anger had caught everyone by surprise.

"I think we all need to take a time out," said Ash. "There's no way we should be going up against a hostile boss mob in this state." "I'll make it easy for you guys," said Po, and he disconnected without another word. Po exited the library before his friends could disconnect and follow him. He knew Ash was right— he needed a time-out. He needed to breathe, before he said something he would regret.