Chapter 1: The Picnic

Throughout the story, my OC's gonna have his POV. Hope I got that right

And sequel to the Christmas story I worked on. Enjoy


Maple World. A world where explorers venture out to grow stronger in their fighting capabilities. They fight different types of monsters and gain new abilities throughout their adventures. Legend has it that the Black Mage tried to dominate the world but was defeated by the Heroes and the Alliance. Sounds a lot fun when you fight the most challenging foes.

And for my case, I got started and for 3 months, I explored parts of the world to grow stronger, hone my skills and experience what's life out there in the areas. Pretty fun as I learnt some during my adventures.

Right now, I find myself in a forest around noon. "Hmmm...it appears I'm in some forest between Ellinia and the Elven town of Elluel. Heh, 3 months of exploring and adventuring was a thrill and..." I stifled a yawn. "I could use a nap..." I soon found a nearby tree as I rested my head on it. Good thing there's a big stone beside tree for I used it as a pillow. I also took out a piece of bun because I just thought of eating something first before my nap.

As I got ready to eat, I sensed something. I looked to my right to see a green slime looking at me. "Hungry I see?" I spoke to it as I ripped the bun in half. "Here you go little one." The slime took the half and smiled at me as it hopped away. Sometimes, I wonder how some of those monsters can hold stuff even though they have no hands like the slime. No matter, I ate the other half and fell asleep after eating it.


Henesys...

Outside a farm, "Master, are you finished yet?"

"Almost Mir...okay done!" From the farm, Evan came out holding a picnic basket as he got onto Mir's back. "Let's go. To Elluel."

"Home of the elves! Ooh, I know why you want to go there. Hee! Hee! Hee..!"

"Very funny Mir..." Evan sighed as the onyx dragon took flight.

Elluel...(BGM is being played as the scene begins)

The duo arrived as they landed on the gardens. "Oh yes! I remember I was having fun chomping on some fruit on the plants!" Mir cheered as Evan got off him and met with Danika, one of the 3 elders. "Hi Evan! What brings you here?"

"Well...I came to see Mercedes." He began. That, was enough for the elder to scream gleefully as she ran off excitedly. "What just happened?" Mir asked as he began chomping on some fruit from the same bushes he did before on their first visit. (Heroes of Maple Act 1.5)

In the royal chambers, Mercedes is alone sitting on her large elven couch strumming her harp peacefully. One can see her bed on her northeast and her large bathtub with the pink curtains in her north. There's also a table in front of her and as she continued strumming, knocking on the door can be heard. "Enter!"

The door opened and a hyperactive Danika entered her chambers. "Mercedes! You got a visitor! He's here! He's here outside waiting for you!"

"Danika calm down. Why are you so full of energy to the point you can't control it?" Mercedes asked as she went to her wardrobe which is between her bed and bathtub to get changed. "I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Understood." Danika calmed down and left the chambers and Mercedes can hear her scream louder and more excited. "What could possibly have gone into her?" She thought.

A few minutes later, she's wearing her royal outfit(Hard to describe even though I saw it in the Heroes of Maple game)and left her chambers. Outside, she made her way down and then, she gasped. "Evan?"

"Mercedes! Hey!" Evan called out greeting her as she blushed at the sight of the dragon master as, "Ha! Ha! Ha! The queen is blushing! The queen is blushing!" Danika teased as Philius and Astilda showed up. "Keep your voice down. The children are in the middle of their education." Philius reminded her as, "Ah...the dragon master! It is good to see you again!" Astilda greeted Evan as he bowed down to her in respect. "Yes. Last time I was here, Mir has to carry a large crate full of supplies for your people." Evan recalled. "We owe you a great debt for your humble and generous aid." Astilda thanked him as, "Now what brings you here?"

"I...I came to see the queen. Spend time...with her?" Evan replied as he blushed a bit. "Ha! Ever since the Christmas Party at Ereve, you can't help it right?" Philius smirked as he looked at Mercedes. "My queen, if it favours you, we will watch over this town while you...go and spend time with-"

"Your boyfriend!" Danika interrupted as Mercedes felt like she wanted to run back into her chambers and hide under the covers of her bed. "Enough Danika! You've embarrassed me for like 5 minutes already!" The queen exclaimed while frowning with the colour red as, "Ooh. The queen is in love." Mir teased as Danika laughed in agreement as, "Very well. I trust you all will watch over this town while I'm gone." Mercedes told the elders as, "And take as much time as you like outside." Astilda encouraged her as the queen went to Evan. "Haven't seen you for 3 months."

"I did visit your town 2 months ago to keep my promise to you though I heard you were away when I came." Evan replied. "Thanks. I'm very grateful for you." She replied as, "So...you want to spend time with me? What are we doing?"

"This!" Evan showed her the picnic basket he brought as, "My master wants to bring you out for a picnic at the meadows near your town. He wants to have a time of his life being with the woman he-"

"Enough Mir! Now get ready Merc, time for you to experience what it's like to fly with an onyx dragon!" Evan told her as they got onto his back and Mir flew off. From the ground, "I wish I can watch them have fun!" Danika exclaimed. "And I wish you were watchful of your time because you're suppose to overseer the archers in training now right?" Philius stated leaving Danika shocked that she lost track of time as she went to the training grounds in a haste. Astilda chuckled as the elders resumed their duties.

Several minutes later...

Mir landed the duo at some grassy meadow near a lake and a forest which is further from them and part of Ellinia. "The breeze is so cooling." Mercedes described as Evan set up the picnic. He spread out a checkered mat on the meadow and brought out 2 paper plate, a container with utensils inside, sandwiches in a container, 2 bottles of orange juice, grapes in a container and a whole apple pie. "You prepared all these?" Mercedes asked in amazement as he opened all the containers. "Cooking has become my hobby these days ever since the Black Mage's defeat." Evan replied as Mercedes took out a sandwich. It has a slice of cheddar cheese, a tomato slice and a lettuce between 2 toasted and buttered bread. She took a bite. "Mmmm...delicious!" Evan smiled as he took a sandwich and bit into it. It has a slice of cheddar cheese, a slice of fried luncheon meat and small pieces of bacon between the toasted and buttered bread.

This picnic sure gave the 2 heroes the time to catch up with things as they ate and chat. "I heard Aran and Lilin opened a Hot Spring Bathhouse in Rien." Mercedes spoke first as she ate a grape. "That's interesting. Bet a lot of penguins wanted to warm themselves once in a while." said Evan as he finished his first meat sandwich and took another one. "Has Mir taken his bites?" Mercedes asked. "Yeah. He had some meat for lunch and for dessert, cheesecake while I was prepping. And right now, he's taking a nap!" They looked behind to see Mir snoring. "Cheesecake...yummy..." He spoke to himself.

"And also, Shade moved to Rien to be with Aran." Mercedes continued on as she ate another grape since she finished her sandwich. "Interesting. I always knew these 2 are very close to each other." Evan brought up. "Yes...I often times see these 2 hang out, fight monsters together and compliment each other." Mercedes recalled. "I think I find them cute together."

"Who knows what fate has in store for them." said Evan as he opened his bottle of juice and he opened the other for Mercedes. They had a toast and drank a bit. "Phantom is still doing what he does." Evan continued on. "As always, getting richer in his heists and charms with the girls." Mercedes added. "And also, Luminous is planning to find a job." Evan revealed. "Really? I thought he'd prefer to be at home with Lania?" Mercedes exclaimed. "Well...he once talked to me and asked me if the farm is hiring. He also told me he wanted to provide for Lania just as how she provided for him when he's recovering from his unstable control over his dark magic before." Evan explained. "Well let's hope he can do it." said Mercedes as Evan took out a knife and cut the pie into 8 equal portions. He then took a slice out carefully and placed it on a paper plate and handed it Mercedes. He then served him as the queen sampled the pie with a fork. "Mmmm...this is so tasty! You baked it yourself?"

"Yup! With a bit of help from my mother." Evan replied as they continued their picnic eating the pie and chatting some more.

After a while, they lay down beside each other admiring the skies. "Can you believe it? Our world is at true peace with the defeat of the Black Mage." Mercedes brought up. "For now. We must be ready if ever our world is threatened again by any evil force." Evan reminded her. "True." She agreed as they sat up.

Then, Evan thought of something. "Merc, you remember what happened during the Christmas party?" Upon hearing that, Mercedes blushed and frowned a bit. "I don't blame you. Phantom was crafty enough to pull a stunt on us! Oh I feel much better after I threw that stick on his head."

"Ha...Ha..." Evan chuckled recalling it and, "But let's be serious. How do you feel when we...

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"Did it?" That rendered the queen speechless. "I...I don't know..." She replied as she looked away. "I understand. I also don't know but, we can open it out together. What do you say?" Evan suggested. Mercedes thought a bit. After a few minutes, "Yes...let's do it together. On a count to 3." Mercedes agreed as they faced each other and Evan began the countdown.

"1..."

"2..."

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"3!"

"I LIKE IT!" They shouted in unison and gasped. "Whoa...I did not expect-" Evan was then pulled in for a hug as Mercedes embraced him. He felt warm when she did that so he hugged her back. After that, "Evan...I...I need to get something off my chest. I like you!" Mercedes confessed while blushing. "I've been watching you grow when we first fought side by side together and you have matured so much in becoming our leader and growing stronger in your skills and leadership! There were times I dream about you, think about you and...I can't help it!" She then looked away flustered. "Did I...just open up to him?!" She thought when Evan grabbed her hand.

"I like you too." She gasped upon hearing his confession as she faced him. "You were badass in your bowguns and magic arrows when I first saw you in combat. I was mesmerized by your fighting skills, gracefulness and beauty. No wonder I can't stop thinking about you. It's been like that for as long as I remembered." Evan explained as he looked away feeling shy and flustered. "Did I...just open up to her?!"

At the same time, "I knew it! I knew it! I can't wait to tell the elves on what I heard!" Mir thought for he maybe asleep but his dragon ears are active enough to eavesdrop everything between the 2 heroes.

Back to them, they faced each other with a smile. They felt like doing it since they're opened up to each other and as they start to get closer...

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"THOOM!"

"What the?" Evan and Mercedes stood up as they drew out their respective weapons. A wand and dual bowguns. Mir also woke up. "What's going on master?"

"THOOM! THOOM! THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!"

"It's coming from over there..." Mercedes exclaimed as she pointed her bowguns at some forest to their right and it's part of Elluel. Mir flew to join them and then, they appeared.

"Stone Golems?" Mir exclaimed. "I thought they can only be found in the Henesys Ruins?" Mir exclaimed along. "Yeah...what are they doing here?!" Evan asked himself when suddenly, they heard more footsteps and the next thing it happened, "Master, we are surrounded." Mir exclaimed. "Not only that, we are facing all kinds of golems from the ruins!" Evan added as right in front of the trio is an army of Stone Golems, Mixed Golems, Dark Stone Golems, Icy Mixed Golems and Flaming Mixed Golems. This is gonna be one, stony battle for the heroes.

To Be Continued...