Snow Fight Read online

  Other books by Winter Morgan:

  An Unofficial Gamer’s Adventure series

  The Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure series

  The Lost Minecraft Journals series

  The Unofficial Minecrafters Academy series

  The Unofficial Minetrapped Adventure

  Tales of a Terrarian Warrior

  Book One: Attack of the Goblin Army

  This book is not authorized or sponsored by Re-Logic, Inc., Teh Gamez, Inc., 505 Games, Engine Software, or any other person or entity owning or controlling rights in Terraria, or its characters, name, trademarks, or copyrights.

  Copyright © 2016 by Hollan Publishing, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

  Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or [email protected].

  Sky Pony® is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation.

  Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

  Cover design by Brian Peterson

  Cover illustration by Amanda Brack

  Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1683-4

  Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1685-8

  Printed in Canada

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: A New Adventure

  Chapter 2: Pixies

  Chapter 3: In the Hallow

  Chapter 4: Old and New Homes

  Chapter 5: Demon Altars

  Chapter 6: Powder in the Wind

  Chapter 7: The Frost Legion

  Chapter 8: The Second Wave

  Chapter 9: Mining

  Chapter 10: Snowball Fight

  Chapter 11: Worms

  Chapter 12: The Return of the Frost Legion

  Chapter 13: Back in the Hallow

  Chapter 14: You’re a Slime

  Chapter 15: Ice Melts

  Chapter 16: New Adventures

  Chapter 1

  A NEW ADVENTURE

  Miles swung the Pwnhammer in an arc around his head, impressed by the balance and speed with which it completely wiped out a nearby tree. “Oops,” Miles mumbled, looking around to make sure no one saw his Noob move. He collected the wood from the tree, pretending that was his purpose all along.

  He had already killed zombies, crushed the Eye of Cthulhu, and defeated armies of goblins. Miles had even conquered the Wall of Flesh, earning him this awesome hammer that would lead to his next adventure.

  A few days before, Miles had stood alone, staring at an empty field, longing for a friend. And now, that field was a village, one house for each new companion he had earned.

  He had chosen his path as a warrior and, Miles admitted to himself, he was an excellent warrior. But he had already lost his guide and knew that more friends would sacrifice things to help him succeed. Miles found himself wondering: was it worth it? He could have stayed a beginner, gaining achievements, battling goblins and collecting coins. He wouldn’t be on his way to becoming an expert fighter, but at least life would be easy. Instead, Miles was off to battle his toughest foe yet: the Corruption. The darkness was already starting to spread, and beating the Corruption wouldn’t be easy.

  Without a guide, Miles knew things would be rough, but he smiled as he looked at his new friends laughing with each other as they worked. Shelly the Mechanic waved, signaling him to come join them.

  “Come on, Noob! Stop playing with that hammer and join the fun!” she called out.

  Miles placed the Pwnhammer back into his inventory, not wanting to use up its power on defenseless trees, and joined his friends.

  Cedric the Wizard approached Miles as he arrived at the village. “Hi John. What can I do for you today?”

  “I’m actually Miles, Cedric. But I’m happy to see you’re settling into your new home,” Miles replied.

  Cedric looked around to see if anyone was listening, then whispered to Miles: “Speaking of Miles, don’t tell him, but my last place was nicer. This is okay for a Noob house. Fine workmanship.”

  Miles tried to keep from laughing. Isabella had told him that the old wizard was losing his mind, but his way with magic overpowered his poor conversation skills. “Don’t worry, Cedric. I won’t say a word.”

  “About what?” The wizard looked confused.

  “Never mind,” Miles said, peeking at the wizard’s inventory. “I could use a few magical things. I’m off to fight the Corruption.”

  The wizard’s eyes grew wide and his tone grew serious. “The Corruption, you say? A bit over your head, young warrior.” He gazed at Miles studying him as if weighing his abilities. “Your power is strong but untamed.”

  Miles tilted his chin up defiantly. “I know how to fight and, thanks to my training, I know when to ask for help.”

  The wizard nodded. “Wise words, young Isaac. Heed them well.”

  Isaac? Really? Now he’s confusing me with a goblin tinkerer! Miles was polite enough to keep those thoughts to himself.

  “Hey Cedric, do you have anything that could help me in my next quest?” Miles asked.

  The wizard handed him a rod topped with a glowing flame. “Try this.”

  Miles aimed the rod at the sky. “What does this button do?” He pressed it. A ball of fire shot out, knocking Miles back. As Miles fell, the rod angled toward the nearby forest. The fire ball followed the direction of the rod, speeding up and slamming into a nearby tree before bursting into flames.

  Shelly and Isaac leapt into action and ran toward the tree to battle the fire. “Don’t worry! We’ve got this!” Shelly called.

  “Perhaps the Flamelash can wait until you have more experience,” the wizard said, pulling out a scepter topped with a crystal. “For fifty gold, I will give you this Ice Rod. Use it to protect you and to provide light.”

  Miles took the rod more carefully and pointed it at the sky. Nothing happened. “It doesn’t work,” Miles said.

  “You used up your Mana,” the wizard replied. “All magic comes at a cost. You gain more Mana when you stand still and listen to the universe.”

  John the Merchant came up to inspect the rod in Miles’s hands. “That an Ice Rod? Nice. It’ll get you places. Do good things for you, too. At fifty gold, it’s the best magic you can buy.”

  Miles handed fifty gold to the wizard and shrugged. “I guess that makes me the proud owner of an Ice Rod, whatever that is.”

  The wizard wandered off.

  “Thanks! It was nice doing business with you,” Miles called out to him. Cedric disappeared into his house without a word.

  “He’s an odd one, that wizard, but he knows his magic,” John said. “Just like I know my merchandise. Can I check out that Pwnhammer?”

  Miles handed it over. “I know I need it to break a demon altar to help me advance, but I don’t know why.”

  “Easy. A demon altar is a crafting station, but you won’t use it much for crafting. You want it for what you get from it,” John explained, handing the Pwnhammer back to Miles. “The first demon altar you break releases cobalt or palladium ore which you can mine. It’s intense and awesome for crafting. Things made with palladium can’t explode, and things made with cobalt last longer, so either way you win.”

  “I could’ve used both of t
hose in the goblin attacks,” Miles said. “I need to be prepared for my next battle, which means I’m off to smash a demon altar!” he pronounced. “Who’s with me?”

  “What are we off to smash?” Jack the Demolitionist asked as he wandered over. “I’m all about that!”

  “Miles wants to smash a demon altar for materials, but I was about to suggest we hit the Hallow first,” John answered. “It’s a good place to …”

  “Did someone say we are going to the Hallow?” the dryad Isabella chimed in. “Yes, yes! We must go.”

  “What’s the Hallow?” Miles asked innocently.

  “It’s only the most magical, beautiful, rainbow-covered, unicorn-filled place in existence,” Isabella practically bubbled over with happiness. “And wherever the Hallow is, the Corruption and the Crimson are not. You should go, Miles, and see what you are protecting when you work to defeat the spread of the Corruption.”

  Miles shook his head. “It sounds pretty, but we have to get good building materials. We have to survive out here, and I need the best weapons we can get.”

  “I side with Isabella,” Shelly said as she walked over, brushing the last of the embers from her cloak.

  “I side with Shelly,” Isaac said, grinning at Shelly. “What were we agreeing to?”

  Shelly blushed. “Oh, Isaac. You’re so funny.”

  “Look, it’s all in the same direction anyway,” John the Merchant reasoned. “We’re wasting time standing here. Let’s go and figure it out along the way.”

  They each grabbed a weapon and a few supplies. Miles was disappointed to see he had spent most of his gold on the Ice Rod and had very few coins to spend. Hopefully he wouldn’t need to shop for anything expensive before he earned or found more.

  As they walked and argued—Miles in favor of the demon altar battle, all the rest in favor of the Hallow—the weather grew hotter and the air became dry.

  “Man, I’m thirsty!” Miles said.

  “This is the desert,” Jack explained.

  Just then a shriek pierced the quiet afternoon air. Without thinking, Miles turned and loosed an arrow in the direction of the sound.

  “No!” Isabella cried. “Always look first, shoot second. Now you’ve made him angry.”

  “Who?” Miles asked. He didn’t need to wait for a response. A vulture, hovering above his shoulder, swooped down for an attack.

  Isabella raised a leaf barrier, causing the vulture to retreat and attack from another direction. That was all the time Shelly needed to toss her wrench for a direct hit. The vulture fell to the ground. The wrench returned to Shelly’s hand. Isabella’s leaf barrier withdrew.

  “Thanks, you two. I owe you. We can go to the Hallow first,” Miles said.

  “Friends don’t keep score, silly,” Isabella said as she hugged him. “But thanks for going to the Hallow. You won’t regret it.”

  “I hope not,” Miles replied, sensing that danger wasn’t as far off as the dryad hoped.

  Chapter 2

  PIXIES

  Miles kept his distance as he walked past the fallen vulture, even though he knew the dead bird couldn’t harm him anymore. As the vulture’s body flickered and disappeared, he felt his pack get a little heavier. John the Merchant stopped walking and looked carefully at Miles.

  “You look like you gained a little weight,” he observed. “About sixty copper coins worth, I’d say.”

  Miles laughed. “That feels about right, but I’m going to hold onto them for now.”

  John threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, I was making an observation. You know where to find me if you need me.”

  As Miles and his new friends trudged along, he noticed that Shelly and Isaac were laughing quietly together. He felt good knowing that his presence in Terraria was helping his friends bond, but it also worried him. He had seen the dangers that lurked everywhere he had been in so far. It seemed that getting too attached could distract a good warrior from his—or her—goal of spreading light and defeating enemies.

  Suddenly, he heard a happy squeal. He noticed that Isabella had run ahead in her eagerness to get to the Hallow. “It’s real! It’s here! Come see!”

  John and Miles broke into a jog with Shelly and Isaac following close behind. Cedric ambled, in no hurry. Jack the Demolitionist stayed by the wizard’s side.

  “What is it? Miles panted as he approached.

  The dryad was dancing with excitement. “The Hallow! It’s more beautiful than I remembered!”

  Miles couldn’t believe the colorful landscape he saw: blue grass, colorful trees, and the arc of a rainbow above.

  “Pretty, isn’t it?” Shelly asked.

  “It’s nice, but it kind of looks like a unicorn threw up,” Miles whispered.

  Shelly looked alarmed. “Ew, where? Did I step in it?”

  Miles laughed. “No, not literally. It’s too sweet for my warrior tastes,” Miles replied.

  Shelly shook her head. “You talk like a Noob.” She turned to the goblin tinkerer. “Isaac, you wanna explain this biome to Miles?”

  Isaac adjusted his toolbelt. “The Hallow looks harmless, but it’s powerful, and the only thing standing between us and the Corruption. Any one of the creatures you’ll meet here, night or day, can eat you alive.”

  Shelly saw Miles’s panic and put her hand on Isaac’s scaly shoulder. “Okay, tough guy. I didn’t mean you should scare the kid.” She turned to Miles. “What Isaac means is that the unicorns and pixies here may look innocent, but they’re vicious.”

  Before Miles had a chance to find out more, John walked over. “So, what do you think?”

  “About the Hallow?” Miles asked.

  “No, about your options. Have you figured out how you’re gonna spend the sixty copper sack that’s weighing you down?” John replied, a little too eagerly.

  “Maybe!” Miles squirmed, stepping back from the merchant. He thought of Shelly and Isaac’s warning. “I could use a new weapon, I guess.”

  John grinned from ear to ear. “That’s what I’m talking about.” He pulled out what looked like a pair of blue discs. “I’ll give you this Code 1 for five gold.”

  Miles turned it over in his hands. “It looks like a … but it can’t be …”

  “It’s a yo-yo. What’d you think it was?”

  Miles tested it in his hands and spun it out. It slashed a nearby tree, then shot back into his hand.

  “Whoa,” Miles exclaimed in surprise. “That’s not any yo-yo I’ve seen. It’s powerful!”

  John took it from his hands. “You break it, you buy it.” He placed it back in his pack and pulled out a similar one in black. “Try this one. It’s even better.”

  Miles cradled it carefully in his hand. “What’s it do?”

  “It’s just better,” John replied quickly. “For you, twenty-five gold.”

  Shelly took the black yo-yo from Miles and gave it back to John. “Give him the Code 1 and enchant it.” She looked back at Miles. “The Code 2 looks cooler, but it costs five times as much and doesn’t do much more damage. You need to be a smart shopper.”

  John shrugged and handed Miles back the Code 1. “I’ll throw in the enchanting for free. ’Cause you’re a good friend.” He raised his eyebrows at Shelly, who nodded back.

  Miles handed over five gold coins. “That’s all the gold in my pouch. It had better be worth it.” Miles walked off with the yo-yo to practice on a nearby tree. He frowned, wondering if John the Merchant was as good a friend as he had thought. On one hand, John was trying to cheat him, but on the other hand, he was just doing his job. Miles thought as he took out a nearby pink tree with the yo-yo.

  A few trees away, Isabella let out another happy shriek. She pointed up a nearby tree. “Miles, Miles! Come quick!”

  Miles ran over and looked up. It was a series of tree houses connected by colorful vines. “Wow!” Miles replied, impressed. “Who lives there?”

  “Me!” Isabella replied. “Help me get in and I’ll tell you about it.”<
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  Miles created a staircase that wrapped around the trunk of the tree to the first door.

  Isabella led the way up the stairs, followed by Miles, John, Shelly, Isaac, and Jack. “Aren’t you coming up, Wizard?” Jack asked.

  Cedric shook his head. “Too much to do to waste time climbing trees, young Miles.”

  Jack shook his head and laughed to himself. “Jack. My name is Jack,” he said softly.

  Isabella walked around the house, touching everything reverently. “I used to live here. It was built by someone I traveled with a long time ago.”

  Miles wiped dust off of a nearby table. “How long ago was it?”

  “Hmm … about …” She paused as she counted on her fingers, mumbling to herself. “Let’s see, three blood moons, then the age of the Corruption which lasted … carry the one …” Then her eyes lit up. “It’s been about a hundred and three years since I was here last.” With that, she darted up to the next room, calling back to them, “Come on! Let’s see if anything’s changed.”

  Miles turned to John, feeling confused. “Isabella hasn’t been here in more than a hundred years? How old is she?”

  “She seems young for a dryad, so I’d guess about 400,” John replied

  Miles was shocked. “400 years is young?”

  John shrugged. “The last dryad I worked with was 536. But she kept giving people dandelions. She was a little crazy, but she had great stories to tell. Plus, I made a ton of coin selling all those dandelions she gave me.”

  John walked over to a pot in the corner of the room. “Hey. Smash this.”

  Miles eyed him suspiciously. “Why should I destroy something in the dryad’s house?”

  “It’s a breakable pot. That’s what it’s for.”

  Miles shrugged and pounded on the pot with his fist. It broke open, releasing a sack of copper coins and a grenade. “Geez, that’s a lot of loot.”

  “Yup. Don’t say I never gave you anything.” John winked at him.

  “Thanks,” Miles said shyly, embarrassed that he ever suspected John would cheat him.

  Shelly swung into the room on a vine. “Did you guys hear that?”

  The two exchanged a confused glance. “Hear what?” Miles was about to say when … zap! A bolt of lightning sang past Miles’s ear.