AN: Testing, testing. I'm trying to see if I can make an author's note at the beginning of my story. Again, this is all new to me so please bear with it.

It's pretty cool that people are actually viewing my story. Even though I have no idea if I'm properly using quotation marks or commas. My Grammar classes were not that in depth.

Also, I've uploaded a picture! Yay! I wanted to go for an image that effectively captured the gritty adventure and silly humor of my story. Then I thought, 'why not corn?' So corn it was.

Also, looking at other fanfics I realized a crucial error in my writing. No disclaimers! Up until now everyone was probably thinking I owned Minecraft or something. Well it's time to set the record straight!

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, there would be a better use for Rotten Flesh.

"Alright, wake up Cobb." Helena shook me awake.

"Whuzzat?" I replied groggily. Either time goes by really fast when you sleep, or that night only lasted 10 minutes tops because I can't believe the sun shining through that window.

"By the way, you snore REALLY loudly. I was banging my head against the wall just to drown the noise out." Helena got up from her seat at the table and walked over to the same chest she retrieved the food and water last night. "But enough of that. Today is a day of learning for you."

UGH. More learning. This whole Minecraftica or…Amince Crafticia…what was it again? Minecraftia, that was it! It was starting to feel like a place where all you do is learn stuff. Possibly with a lunch period in the middle of the day. But what would I call that?

"So you're gonna teach me a craft or something?" I asked.

"In a way, yes. I'm gonna teach you a craft or two. Just some basic survival tips and tricks you'll need to make an existence in this world." From the chest, Helena withdrew several items and tossed them to me. "Think fast!"

"Whoa, whoa! Too much stuff!" The first thing I caught was an empty glass bottle followed by a gold disk with markings on it. After that, a carrot and a book nailed me in the face and left shoulder. "Ow! Couldn't you have just handed them over to me one at a time?"

"That was your first lesson: To think fast. In this world, you need to make split-tick decisions or get killed." Helena explained grimly as she walked to the door. "If this was the real deal, you would be dead."

I shuddered at that. Dead? What would that mean for me? Would I cease to exist or would I be transported back to that Void area? Although really isn't that the same thing as not existing. As much as I hated learning stuff, I'd much rather pick up some tips to help me exist than go back to that nothingness. I stooped down to pick up my supplies before noticing they disappeared right in front of me.

"Oh not again!" I groaned. Why were things always disappearing in front of me? I fumbled around the floor searching for them.

"Check your belt!" Helena shouted from outside.

My belt? But I'm not wearing any…Sure enough, at my waist was a belt with nine pouches. Four of which were filled with the empty glass bottle, the carrot, the gold disk, and the book. When did I get a belt? I quickly checked the rest of myself for any other articles of clothing or additions before noticing a black single strap backpack slung across my shoulder. I didn't notice it at first because the thing felt weightless, almost as if it wasn't there. I tried to take it off to see what was inside, but the backpack wouldn't let go of me. Is it super glued or something?!

"Hurry up, we're burning daylight!" Helena shouted from outside.

"Ugh, coming." Leaving the backpack alone, I sprinted out the door and followed Helena's voice to the garden. Upon closer inspection, I saw carrots growing from within the fenced area. "So, any reason why things go flying into my belt when I try to pick them up?"

"That's lesson two: Item Interaction. Any item you can pick up will fly into your belt. Once your belt is full, they will instead fly into your backpack and once that's filled, you can no longer carry anything on your person." Helena motioned me over to the garden. "Now for lesson three: Quests!"

"A quest?" I asked with barely restrained excitement. The prospect of actually doing something rather than just hear Helena Big Nose babble on is a welcome change of pace.

"Farm my garden!" She commanded dramatically.

"…"

"…"

"…ewhat?" I deadpanned.

"I'm running low on carrots so farm my garden!" She explained. "They should all be fully grown by now so just punch the crops and they should zoom into your belt."

"Um…alright then." I began as I hesitantly punched the crops. Carrots shot out like a geyser and flew into my belt. "Whoa cool!"

"Very good now keep it up."

Several punches later I had 25 carrots on me and the farm was barren. "Done!"

"Not yet love. You need to replant some of those carrots so that the farm can re-grow." Helena explained with a smile.

"Tch, okay." I planted as many carrots in the garden as I could until the plots were all filled. I still had 17 carrots on me. "Now am I done?"

"Almost." UGH, what now!? "Now give me 15 of those carrots, and I will give you one emerald."

"Emeralds?" I asked interested. She pulled out a green gem from her pocket that could only be the emerald she was referring to. It had a brilliant luster to it and reflected the light in ways that made it sparkle vibrantly. I want it!

I quickly handed her the carrots and snatched the emerald from her hand. My reflection was staring back at me from its surface and I could see the greed and lust in my eyes before I snapped back to reality. The emerald and what little carrots I had left flew into my belt.

"Transaction completed!" Helena declared with a smile. "Testificates can offer trades and quests for Crafters to complete in exchange for powerful items, emeralds, or useless garbage."

"Oh, I see. How much are these emerald's worth?" I asked.

"That's up to the traders to decide." Helena began as she motioned me to follow her around the house. "Each Testificate has a preference to certain items and will want certain items depending on their occupation. Since I'm clad in brown, I'm a farmer and crops or food are my preference."

"You mean your clothes determine your occupation?" I asked as I followed her around the house.

"Yes. Brown means Farmer, Fletcher, Fisherman, or Shepherd. White means Librarian. Purple is Cleric. Black is Armorer, Weapon Smith, or Tool Smith. And White Apron is a Butcher or Leatherworker." She stopped at a metal basin filled with water. "Looks like the rain filled it up pretty well. Alright you still have that bottle?"

"Yeah, is this another quest?" I withdrew the bottle.

"No, just some water for the next person who shows up at my doorstep. Don't punch this time; just imagine scooping some water into that bottle." She moved aside as I approached the basin.

I held the bottle above the basin and imagined filling it with the water. To my surprise the bottle instantly filled with water.

Man everything here seems instant. Food is instantly eaten, crops are instantly harvested, and items instantly fly into your belt. It's like time for all these things is…sped up. Wait. Maybe that sleep I had wasn't short because I had a dream and couldn't verify if I was asleep or awake. Maybe it was because time in Minecraftia is a lot shorter than time on…wherever I came from before. Gah! This is bugging me. I vaguely remember being from somewhere, but…WHERE?

"See? Easy." Helena broke my train of thought and snatched the filled water bottle from my grasp. "You mind checking the time while I put this back in the chest?"

Check the time? How am I supposed to do that when I don't even know how time works in this place? Before I could voice my thoughts Helena walks away, water bottle in tow. Great. Alright Cobb. You're a smart guy. You can figure this out. It probably has something to do with the items she gave me at the beginning of these stupid lessons. I quickly check my belt for something of use.

Carrots. Maybe I could stick them in the ground and make a sundial? Nah, that can't be it. Emerald. Last I checked, gems can't tell time. Book. No. Gold Thing-a-ma-jig. Maybe? I look at the markings on the gold disk. An arrow was pointing towards a semicircle with a yellow orb and a blue sky. Guess that means it's day time. I was about to put the newly discovered clock away before I noticed a sliver of black come into view from the left side of the disk. Does that mean night is approaching?

Wait! This is just what I need to get a grasp on time in this world. I just need to count how many seconds it takes for this clock to make one full revolution. Man, I'm smart!

I begin counting inside my head. 1…2…3…4…5…

"Hey, Cobb! What time is it?!" Helena calls out, once again interrupting me.

"Um…it's daytime, but night is approaching." I answered before cursing under my breath as I lost track of counting.

"Alright, then we have time for the final lesson: Crafting." Helena appeared from around the house and beckoned me over. "But we need to be quick so follow me."

I followed her as she walked away from the house and away from the Origin towards the dense line of trees. The meadows had yellow and red flowers and I could spot a rabbit or two frolicking around. After a minute of walking, I noticed something odd about the area in front of us. Are those…craters?

"Once we cross this line, we'll be vulnerable to the world around us." Helena explained as she stopped in front of a stone line in the meadow. The stone had circular etchings in it, just like the stone from the Origin. Only this stone seemed to stretch in a circle around the Origin to form an outer circle. Steeling herself, Helena crossed the line and motioned me to follow her. "Stay close."

I was about to follow her across the line when I stopped mid-step. I don't know what it is about that line, but I feel like I'm better off behind it than in front of it. Maybe it's the eeriness of those craters. It feels like a no-man's-land.

"Today, Cobb! I swear the last 500 Crafters were not this wimpy." Helena urged.

"Okay, keep your shirt on!" I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and took the step. Immediately, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. The meadow behind me felt calm and peaceful. It had frolicking bunnies for God's sake! But this place, with the mysterious craters and disturbed landscape, felt dangerous. Like anything could jump out and kill me. Like everything was watching me move. Like something was ready to end me. "Let's just hurry this up. This place feels…weird. Bad weird!"

"That's because this area is beyond the Origin's protection. Out here, you can die." Helena hurriedly maneuvered past the craters towards the tree line with me following closely.

I want to ask her more about this place, more about how many Crafters are in existence. But maybe I should focus more on my surroundings. Like what could've made those large craters in the ground? Were meteors a concern?

We finally made our way to the tree line and walked up to a regular tree. "Now quickly. Punch the tree."

It's funny how 10 minutes ago I would think she was weird for telling me to punch a tree, but now I'm more experienced with this world and how things work. Punching solves everything!

I ready my fist and deliver a right hook to the center of the tree. Nothing happens. How did I possibly screw that up?

"Trees are more durable than crops love." Helena sighed exhaustively. "Just keep punching."

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." I waved her off as I resumed my punching. "And stop calling me 'love.' I don't have a thing for big-nosed women."

Helena angrily twitched at that. She opened her mouth to retort, but closed it upon spotting a green figure moving amongst the trees. She smiled to herself and took a step away from Cobb.

"Come…on…you…darn…TREE!" After several moments, I finally punched through a section of the tree.

"TIMBER!" I gasped as I dove to the ground with my hands covering my head. Nothing happened.

I looked up to see that half of the tree was hovering over the ground as if gravity didn't exist.

Ok, that is definitely not normal. What's holding this thing up? I waved my hand through the section of tree I destroyed only to discover the section in my belt. Holding it in my hand, I automatically thought of the word [OAK LOG]. I guess I have an oak log now. "Hey, Helena now what do I…"

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a green creature approach me. I jerked my head in its direction and watched as it slowly walked towards me. It had four legs, was speckled green, and had a deep frown set into its face. "What the heck are you?"

"Don't worry Cobb. Those are harmless creatures called Huggers." Helena called out from a safe distance away. "All they want is a hug from another being."

"Well, find a tree to hug buddy, because I'm kind of busy right now." I explained to the creature. The Hugger, however, ignored my words and kept approaching me.

Geez, first Big Nose, now this thing. Why am I always a magnet to wierdos? Well, I guess one hug can't hurt. Then maybe it will leave me alone…The Hugger got closer. But wait, I have arms, but the Hugger doesn't so…how is it supposed to hug anything? And closer. Seems like a stupid design flaw considering these things are called Huggers. I opened my arms to embrace the creature mere feet away. And why is Helena moving away from me?

*sssssssSSSSS!*

Why is it hissing? Why is it flashing?! WHY IS IT…crap.

Lesson one: Think fast. I remember. *BOOM!*

I jump back a split-second before the creature expands and explodes in a cloud of dust and fire. Despite my reflexes I get caught by the blast radius and am sent flying backwards before tumbling upon the ground in a heap. Right in front of where Helena is standing. I look up to see a crater where I was standing, with a few pieces of dirt and wood remaining.

"Nice reflexes." Helena nods as if impressed.

I groan as I try to stand up. "The Hell was that!? You said it was a Hugger! HARMLESS MY ASS!

"That's what you get for being disrespectful to your elders." Helena replies with her big nose held high. "I'm offering you the skills you'll need to survive in this world and you respond with insensitive comments about my nose? I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart. All I ask for is a little respect."

I glare at her angrily while silently thinking to myself. She was willing to let me die to that…THING…just because of harmless name-calling? That's stupid! But…I still need more information about how to survive. And…she has been nice to me so far. So I guess I was out of line with those comments. I'll just have to swallow my anger on this.

"You…you're…r-right." I stammer out lamely as I take a calming breath. Helena seems surprised at my statement. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings with those words. And I appreciate everything you're teaching me. I'm sorry." I hang my head dejectedly for added effect.

"I forgive you." Helena responds. "That creature was actually known as a Creeper. One of the most dangerous Mobs in Minecraftia."

"What's a Mob?" I asked as I slowly approached the smoldering crater.

"A monster with the capability to inflict harm upon people." Helena explains. "That book I gave you earlier has a list of basic Mobs you're sure to encounter. Why don't you read it while your health recovers?"

"Um…what do you mean by recover?" I asked as I collected the dirt and oak logs caught in the Creeper explosion.

"On your left arm is two meters. A Health Meter and an Experience Meter. The one with the Hearts is the Health Meter." I glance at the tattoos on my left arm before noticing that several of the hearts, which were previously red, were now black. The bar below it, that could only be the Experience Meter, was still black.

"I only have 3 hearts left…wait…what happens when the hearts hit zero?" I asked suddenly scared.

"What do you think?" Helena replied with a smirk.

Note to self: AVOID CREEPERS! I collect a total of 5 oak logs, including the one I punched, and 11 dirt. "Do you think anyone would be willing to trade for dirt?" I ask Helena.

"…No." She deadpans.

"Well, I'm keeping it anyw…*THONK!* GAH!" I cursed as something red nailed me in the head. "What the…?" I stooped down to pick up what had bonked me in the head: An apple.

Now I know how Isaac Newton felt…Wait. Who's Isaac Newton, again? Why does this keep happening?!

"Nice going. Apples rarely fall from the leaves of fallen oak trees. Also, how's your Hunger Meter doing? That's the one on your…"

"Right arm?" I finish for her as I place the apple in my belt and examine the tattoos. I guess the corndog one is hunger, but what's the circle one for?

"Yes…your Health will slowly increase if your Hunger Meter is filled or if you are full. The hungrier you get, the less health will increase and the less you'll be able to exert yourself. And if your Hunger Meter hits zero, you will begin to starve to death."

Yay…more weird stuff. I note as I spot 2 black corndogs on my arm. Tattoos aren't supposed to change based on hunger or injury. But I suppose in Minecraftia, the laws of nature, physics, and time don't apply in the same way as what I'm used to.

"So the Health Meter and Hunger Meter are the most important meters." I affirm as I eat my last two carrots and refill my Hunger Meter.

"Indeed. But enough about that. We need to get you started on crafting!"

"And we couldn't have done this at your house because…?" I venture.

"Because the Origin Zone is a safe area where nothing can be harmed or destroyed, except crops of course." I was about to ask why that was a thing, but Helena shushed me with her hand. "I'll explain it when we get back, but for now, I want you to take out the oak log and make planks from it. Just picture the log splitting into four different pieces."

"That's it? No punching?" I ask jokingly as I do as she says. Sure enough the log splits into 4 wooden planks. I do the same for the other 4 logs and soon I have 20 [OAK WOOD PLANKS].

"Good, now let's move closer to the Origin Zone for this next part." Helena walked away from the line of trees and I followed. "The next thing we'll make will probably be the single most important item of your existence."

Oooh, that sounds super important! I better listen closely.

"This looks close enough. Now arrange 4 planks into a 2x2 square."

I followed her instructions and arranged the planks in my hand before being greeted by an item I saw before. The item read [CRAFTING TABLE].

"That, is a crafting table." She pointed dramatically. "Usually, a Crafter can only craft things from a 2x2 grid standpoint. But the table pushes past those limits and enables a 3x3 crafting grid."

"Wait, so you can't craft one of these things? But I saw one in your house." I set the newly made table on the ground and gazed at its perplexity. It had a 3x3 grid on the top and several tools on the surrounding sides.

"That house was there when I moved in. After all, almost nothing in the Origin Zone can be destroyed or built. It's as old as the Origin, and that thing has been there since the First 100. Now shut up and make exactly 8 sticks." She urged.

"You didn't tell me how." I stated with a raised eyebrow.

"You're smart so you can figure it out yourself. Most Crafters have to learn these things on their own anyway." Helena responded with folded arms. "It's also super easy."

Or you can tell me how to make them and quit being a half-ass about everything! I thought to myself before attempting the recipe. Ok, sticks. Probably involves the wooden planks seeing as how they're the only wood I have. Maybe it's just a line of planks? I arrange the planks in a straight 3 grid line horizontally across the table and wait.

"No stop!" Helena shouts before the crafting table constructs 6 slabs of wood half the size of a regular plank. I hold the slab in my hand and read the name. [OAK WOOD SLABS]. "Those aren't sticks." She facepalms.

Inventory: 1 Book, 13 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Apple, 6 Oak Wood Slabs, 1 Clock, 11 Dirt, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Emerald

AN: Alright, hope these author notes stick. Anyway, I'll be keeping track of Cobb's Inventory so he won't be able to pull convenient gear out of nowhere. If I make an error in it, call me out for it IMMEDIATELY!

Also, thanks to all the viewers and the handful of REviewers. I appreciate the criticisms and can handle anything you say about my writing. (T_T)

I'll try and answer reviews if I can, but keep in mind I planned out quite a bit of obstacles for young Cobb to handle. And honestly using Mods never crossed my mind. But I'll see where it goes.