Merry christmas!!!

)()()()()()()()(
The ride to the train was peaceful, and so was the train ride it's self.

We got off the train, and we calculated it would take about 3 days ride to get back to the base.

The first night was good, and so was the second.

On the night of the third day, we we're really close to the base, and decided to forget rest and head straight back.

"But it's dark. Who knows what will be lurking here! Worst thing is that we're in the dark oak forest!" Kisha mourned "Can't we just go back the next morning?"

"Kisha, you want to go back as much as we do. Com'on, it wont take long. Besides, we have a well rounded team" Theo pointed out.

Kisha pouted, but didn't say anything.

An arrow whizzed past Ethan's head, who let out a scream.

We drew our swords- simple iron swords, but Kisha drew her bow and notched an arrow.

A skeleton appeared out of the shadows, it's nonexistent eyes staring right at me.

Stop, I thought I am Amethyst, princess of the Nether. Retreat, before you face the wrath of the Nether.

It stared right back, zombies approaching behind him.

Our loyalties have changed, our king has risen, it is our war.

I stepped back, shocked, and swung my sword into the neck of the zombie that snuck up on me.

Who dares to defy my father?

Our king, the savior who knows the inner workings of the Nether realm.

I bit my lip, and threw my sword at his head.

He would find it very hard to talk with out his head.

Seeing the skeleton has died, the monsters charged.

I ran toward my sword, punching any monster that came to me.
When I reached my sword, I swung it all around me, eliminating any monsters that came toward me.

"Amethyst! Duck!" I heard Theo shout. I ducked, and I heard a hissing sound- then an explosion. I turned back, and saw a corpse of a creeper, dissolving.

I kicked a zombie, decapitated it, and reached behind me, crabbing the hand of another.
I swung the zombie around and hit a spider.

I blocked a arrow, and swung my sword like a bat at the next arrow, aiming it at the skeleton who fired.

I didn't play 'Hit-the-Fireball-Back' for nothing.

Kisha's arrow whizzed past my ear, hitting a creeper on the head. I kicked it backwards, and it exploded in a group of very surprised- but now dead- zombies.

"There's too many of them!" Matthew cried. "Where's the horses?"

I whistled, and we all heard the faint neighs of the horses.

"Retreat!" Theo shouted, even though we we're already doing that.

But only one this was on my mind even after we left the mobs way behind.

There was a traitor in the Nether, and my father needs to know about this.

I rose my identification tag to the gatekeeper, and they let us in.

We crashed at Kisha's place to three very surprised family members. 

Kisha's mom was warm, and she made us stew while her grandmother fussed over our cuts and scrapes. We got out unharmed, which was good.

"You guys got back a lot earlier than the others" Kisha's father nodded.

"Thanks to Amethyst" Kisha smiled, slinging her arm around my shoulder. "She found a shortcut."

"What time is it?" Matthew asked.

"Can I have some more food?" Ethan asked at the same time.

Ethan's mom whacked her spoon at Ethan's head, who complained. "It's nearly sunrise, we awoke early to help with the battle preparation"

"Battle preparations?" I asked

"Yes. General Williams is planning to take a base in the Nether, and we're helping them set up." Kisha's father sighed. "I'll arrange the horses to be taken back, you guys report back to the commander."

The sun was rising already, and we barged into the commander's office.

He was surprised that we made it back so early, and we had to give him papers about the mansion and how we got there and back. He was so impressed, he called General William over.

"So they completed the task within only a week, eh?" He smirked, and rubbed on my head, messing up my brown hair slightly. "Well done, Amethyst" 

I smiled.

"Well done. Now, originally, we wouldn't be entering a battle so soon after recruitment, but the capital had ordered an attack" He said, turning his back on us. "For being the first team here, you have a choice to join or not."

"What if we don't?" I asked.

"Then you stay alive for another mission" he turned around and looked at me in the eyes, his emerald green eyes gleaming. "The last group standing will be sent to the Capital for further competition and training until you have seats of power."

I nodded. So this whole system was to pick out the smartest and the strongest ones for the capital to use, huh?

I looked at my teammates, and they all nodded.

"My team agrees to go. When will the battle begin?"

That night I sat on my bed, composing a report to my father.

Father, I have returned from the mission they have assigned us. And i assure you I am well and uninjured.
Though I do have a few things I want to bring to your attention.
First, I have analyzed the fighting patterns of the mobs I have been sent to check. They have a combination of ground, air, and melee attacks. I trust that you can adjust the training of the troops of the Nether.

Though they admit it is early, but they are planning a attack on the small town of Qil. They are planning to use it's massive quartz mines to fund for their armies. I assume the attack is within this week or the next, have the army be alert.

Also, father, I suggest you watch who you trust in the Nether. Not every one is our ally, a mystery person has tuned our Overworld mobs into their own army and has turned them against us. Though I doubt that they will join the forces of the Overworld, this is a dramatic decrease of our army. The only one that is currently uninvolved is the Ender realm. Though they have said nothing about turning them to their side, they will without doubt, do it soon. I pray that the alliance still stands.

This is all I can say, and I assure you, when the battle comes, I will return as your daughter, but with your permission, continue spying in the Overworld- it's quite nice here.