Maple Chronicles

Prologue, of three parts.

Please note that this is entirely a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidence and unintentional.

Chapter 1

Amber looked at him with a cocked eye and a disappointed look on her face. She was hoping it would be a big secret, that only her and Virgil would be in on.

"Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me, nothing really important?" she laughed.

Virgil had a surprised look on his face. Had she found out? No, he thought, or else she wouldn't have been so joking. I'm safe. For now. Or at least until I can really tell her how I feel...

He opened his mouth to talk, but nothing came out. He was still a bit nervous from before. He swallowed hard and tried again. "Ye-- Yeah." Oh man, I wish I could just tell her. I do't care what she would think, I just want to let her know. That's it. I'm telling her right now. "Amber, listen--"

"Ooh, hold that thought," she said. "Watch this." She reached into her traveling bag and pulled out ger staff. "Ok, you ready?" Virgil nodded. "Ok, she said. Here goes nothing..." She closed her eyes, and concentrated for a minute. All of a sudden, she was gone. Virgil stared in disbelief.

"Amber? Amber? Oh hell, where'd you go?" He had a worried look on his face, but never thought to turn around. She poked him on the shoulder, and he nearly jumped out of his traditional graduation Qi Pao.

"Boo," she whispered. Virgil stopped and turned around on a dime, and there she was, looking no different."

"How the hell did you do that? Wait, what the hell just happened?"

Amber smiled, and said, "It's something my trainer tought me before we left. It's a teleport skill. I'm still working on it, and my mana flowing through the staff is getting weaker too, but if it was at a decent level, I could've teleported our of the ship. Now what was it you wanted to tell me?"

Dammit, it never fails... oh well, I guess when I'm in a mood to be impressed, I'll just tell her then. "Oh, err-- nothing. I forgot, usually teleportation becomes my mind number one priority when I see it."

"Aww, I'm sorry, I guess I should've given you fair warning." She looked out the cabin window. "Oh, it's getting late, now that I mention it, I am getting a bit tired, I guess I better get ready for bed," She yawned.

Virgil looked out he window at the star bathed clouds, and then back at Amber. She was dressng out of her lightweight training gear. Her long, flowing, brown, silky hair flowed down the back of her body, as she removed her gear. Virgil was actually quite impressed at the amount of gear she was wearing,a brown padded overall, plus a tank top and pants that resembled pajama bottoms, and her underwear. Virgil realized that she was only in her underwear, and looked back torwards the window, tring to make it look like he was concentrating on something. He could feel his cheeks flush. After a minute or so, he glanced bck at her, already in her pajamas, hips on her side, with a humored look on her face. "Dont hide it," she said. "You were watching me undress, weren't you?"

"I--err, no-- I mean--" Virgil stuttered.

"Hmm, at least I had my back to you, nothing like pretty young busty girl to keep you awake all night, eh?" Virgil had a dumbfounded look on his face. If you only knew...

"Relax, I'm only kidding," she said. She walked over to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks again for today."

Oy, it's going to be a looong journey...