I stood at the entrance to the main vault, the Champion’s Crown warm on my head, and took the deepest breath I’d ever taken in my entire life. Three victories were glowing inside that crown already — Baron Blaze, Wither Wanda, the Ender Earl — and each one had taught me something. But this felt different. Because Captain Cactus wasn’t angry the way the others had been angry. He was sad the way that comes out sideways and ends up looking like stolen crafting supplies and misplaced sandstone slabs.
“Ready?” Biscuit whispered beside me. She had her backpack clasped shut, her lucky button right on top where she could reach it. She’d been carrying that button since Chapter Five without ever once using it sensibly, but tonight I noticed her fingers weren’t even hovering over it nervously. She looked calm. Decided.
I nodded. “I have a plan,” I said.
Biscuit’s jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the sandstone floor. “You have — I’m writing this down —”
“Biscuit.”
“Right. Yes. Let’s go.”
