Progeny
Devon Wakefield sat on a log carving a spear from a branch, the wind ruffling his long blonde hair as a noble cat sat by his side, but this cat was twice the size he remembered, "Onyx?" The cat rubbed against his hand, "Dinner will not be long, bud."
He stood up, walked to the rivers edge and taking off socks and shoes; he rolled his jeans up just below his knees and stepped gingerly into the crystal waters. He couldn't believe his eyes. The fish, and what were those? They were glowing. But he had to eat. He speared one, and the light fled the creature, its body flopping helplessly on the soft silt-laden bank, fins twitching. Feeling a sense of sadness unexpectedly overtaking him, he began to weep uncontrollably as Onyx mewed consolingly.
"What the hell is wrong with me!" he sobbed, pushing his hair out of his eyes, brushing his cheeks clear of the sapphire droplets that he'd not shed since losing his parents six years earlier.
He stepped out of the water, and started cleaning the fish and preparing it for their meal. What prompted his reaction was the sight of the light surrounding the speared fish, having maintained its mortal shape as it slipped out of its dying host and swam away, leaving him his quarry. But why did he feel so sad.
Then it dawned on him. Not knowing why, he gathered what was unwanted from the meal preparation and stepped into the lake once more. As he dropped the remains into the water, they burst into a bright blue light.
He opened his mouth and sung a sustained note, his heart breaking at the outpouring of emotion that rose of its own accord, unbidden. This display of pathos gave way to the most exquisite sensation, love, and a love of nature, for the fish from which he had taken life.
"I understand," he whispered as he gazed upon the lake as the cat mewed, meowed and sang a note of its own.
He cooked the fish, adding spices and set the salad he'd prepared earlier on the table, placing a bowl before his faithful black and white cat and they ate companionably.
~*~
The following day, he woke to the sounds of rustling leaves. Poking his head outside his tent, he caught the bare ankles of a most delightful creature, but this was no furry beast, feline or otherwise, it was a lovely young woman, she was playing with Onyx.
"Good morning! My name is Alana Sky!" came her cheerful greeting, "I apologize for disturbing you, but your cat is so sweet."
He rubbed the tiredness from his eyes and emerged from the tent. "Hi, I'm Devon… I have no complaints about seeing such a vision of loveliness first thing in the morning in the middle of…," he broke off as he took in the figures of a man standing behind the beautiful girl holding two bundles, sleeping babies, in his arms. This tall spindly gentleman, for that was the first description that came to mind, was flanked by several young girls. "Um, can I be of any assistance?"
"Yes," the silvery-haired man with gold-rimmed glasses replied. "We need a place to stay for a time, is there room enough for us to share this encampment with you?"
"Sure, but I must warn you, there are strange beasts that roam these lands. I haven't seen the like anywhere, but I have no idea where we are," he laughed, waving a free arm, "I was roughing it in the hills outside Bardsite, a town not far from Swan Hill when all this…" Staring at the man, Devon recognized him straight away, it was one of the scientists from Isadora. "I know you, but I'm not sure, are you one of those scientists in the paper responsible for all this?"
"I don't know. I know about physics and such things, but I cannot remember much about my former life, seems this is part of the changes we're experiencing."
"No sweat, I am suffering the same affliction," Devon said, looking at Alana, who was about to speak and he waited.
"It’s all part of the awakening of the Maple world. I learned this from…," she stopped short, not sure if she should trust Devon despite his friendly disposition and unconditional hospitality. But was he a friend or foe, that she couldn't exactly say quite yet, so Alana thought it prudent to err on the side of caution for the time being and smiled cheerfully at the good-looking young man. "So, can we pitch our tents here?" she indicated the open space under two large palms.
"You're of course welcome to stay. But have your wits about you. I have found the strange creatures around here like a bit of a fight." Devon pointed to several large mushroom stalks and pots filled with mushroom soup. "Help yourself. We have to be very careful, those leap at you and have a nasty bite. I was out for three days, and had to keep the fires burning all night, I was only able to wake once a day to bathe and eat before stacking fresh logs on the fire, it seems to keep them away as too the other terrors, the slimy things and the snails as big as a dog!"
"We know of these creatures. Fortunately, haven't chanced upon any on the way here," one of the younger girls taking a baby from the man and cooed to it said, her face alight with happiness at the child's gurgling sounds.
Devon spoke again, "This place is filled with wonders, both frightening and amazing at the same time. We should take it in turns to keep the campsite clear of them." Devon paused thoughtfully, then continued, "Juniper and red gum seem to keep them at bay best." he added as an afterthought, "But the bats, now they're another matter. They haven't attacked us, well not yet, but they seem to be afraid of cats and eat the fruit in those trees on the opposite banks. They can knock you down if you get between them and their prey -- they're like a Rhino that way."
"Rhino?" the raven-haired beauty inquired, tilting her pretty head. He was enchanted by her.
"Yup… They eat the mushrooms, too, that is, the bats do, not the Rhinos... they eat those horned ones. They're particularly nasty mushies… So it's -- shall we say, quite a unique food chain in these parts," he chuckled as they sat to breakfast.
Alana, dropping her initial reservations in respect to telling all, explained they were heading for Elfwood. Devon had no idea where it was, "Are you sure? I have never heard of it. I have lived in Victoria all my life, but never heard of that one. But I also never heard of glowing fish, mushrooms and snails and slimy blob things the size of a man leaping out of nowhere and believe me, they're not to be taken lightly. It's weird, but it's all gone to hell, nothing, and I mean nothing is remotely like it should be." Devon shook his head, "But, here we are!"
"The reason these things are happening is because the entire planet, and for that matter, this region of space is undergoing a transformation that has re-written the laws of physics and of life to its finest point. You are living on a world called Maple. Earth is gone, or at the very least… as a butterfly emerges from a cocoon, it is re-born!"
He sat back, staring at her as if she were insane, not able to believe what he was hearing. But then remembered the content of his last statement and sighed in resignation, despite all he had seen and the weird and wonderful things he'd encountered, it was hard to let go of the old ways. "I thought it a dream at first, I thought I was going mad, but what you're telling me is real, isn't it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so, it is an ongoing process and many of your people are just as confused."
"But there are billions of people all over the world affected by all this," he said, waving his arm across the landscape, "No police or military have turned up, it's as if they're all gone!"
"Yes, to other realms within the Maple Universe," Alana cut in and smiled.
Then the silver-haired man spoke up, introducing himself as Dominic. "The only thing I know for sure is, our world has been altered due to some sort of physics experiment, linking the Earth, the Maple world, and the planet itself, bringing about all you see here. Maple was a realm created in cyberspace, a game played by millions across countless countries around the world. This cyber-realm was so vast it generated a kind of living force that once linked by a burst of energy due to an experiment not far from here, opened the floodgates of the unknown and trashed reality, as we knew it. But I have to admit, I find this world far more fascinating and exciting than was its predecessor, despite all the strange flora and fauna."
Devon looked at Dominic, and nodded, realizing where he had definitely seen that face before. He had been part of the Isadora complex. Dominic knew that female scientist and her, what did she call it, Ludi Project. There was a huge thing in the papers and on 60 Minutes on her theories. Most contemporary scientists thought her crazy, but look who got the last laugh! Devon thought wryly and wondered where Dr. Sara what's-her-name was now, probably on some far off world across the galaxy or sucked into a new universe. He began to remember more, but allowed the resurfacing memories to percolate on their own at the back of his mind and tuned into the conversation once again.
"So where are you folks heading again?" he asked, forgetting he'd asked this question earlier, but they hadn't said they'd already told him.
"Elfwood, then we're seeking a transport to Skylark," Alana said, as she licked her fingers clean after eating a delicious pancake.
New Swan Hill
She stood on the sidewalk, looking left and right, the streets devoid of houses, and those that had them were shrouded in leafy canopies and located on the far side of the town. Turning around, she caught the sight of some wild horses on the bank of a vast lake, looking as if seeking the safety and familiarity of the old world. The graceful animals tightly gathered together in a bunch as they drank, every now and then lifting their heads, keeping an eye on the Maple creatures drinking passively a short distance away, the latter oblivious to the old world beasts. All this Rosaria took in at a glance as she stood looking over the vast mirror-like surface of the lake. She sighed and turned around and gazed once more upon the strange township and walked towards the residential quarter, or what remained of it, as she continued making her way along the flagstone path -- its pale light grey surface unsettling her.
Soon, she came across a young man sitting on a strange vehicle, its engine purring like a large cat. "Hi, you look lost, I'm Kirk!" he said with a sardonic edge to his voice.
"I am sorry, but I don't know this place," she replied, confused.
"It's my home, or at least, until three weeks ago, it was, but it's all screwed up!" he said, shaking his head.
"How so, and screwed… What do you mean by this term?"
"Hey girl, are you for real? Look around you, now that's…screwed!" The slim, tall indigo-haired woman in body hugging robes caught his interest for the first time. "On your way to a fancy-dress party or something are we?"
"I don't understand, what's a—"
"Hey, you're, as out of place as the décor here, you have no idea do you," he laughed uncontrollably, making her feel slightly uncomfortable and she hated to admit, a little scared. "Let me spell it out for you. I was on my way home, finished delivering my last pizza order for the night, dropped off my takings, went home, and found it gone. Not only that, but a pyrotechnics display like nothing I have ever seen knocks me off my feet and strips half the town and its people away…I have spent my time hiding from the strangest creatures and organizing survivors, you tell me, I haven't a clue what's going on!"
"Nor do I. But could you please stop shouting, I have had my own troubles and am at my wits end...," She implored, tears beginning to fall freely down her cheeks.
Then as if on cue, a helicopter appeared over the horizon and flew towards the town. The girl jumped into his arms. She began screaming.
"Hey, it's only a chopper, um, helicopter, it won't hurt you!" She burrowed her face in his coat and he chuckled, finding himself stroking her hair, and loving its apple-like scent and soft texture and despite himself, he felt an affinity with this strange, but pretty girl. "Hey, its okay, it's an aircraft, it wont hurt you," he said gently, surprising himself.
"Like our flying ships…?" she stammered.
He looked at her strangely and shrugged before replying, "Yeah, I suppose, they are transportation craft, probably like your... air ships?"." He looked down at her and lost himself in her large, insanely large and beautiful eyes, smiling like an idiot at her. She was so vulnerable and frightened, reminding him of his sister Lucilla, "Looks like you're lost, what do you say we pool our resources, try, and find answers together?"
"I am unsure, but you're not a warrior, and I know you aren't a thief, and a cleric is definitely not you… So, what are you?"
He chuckled, hugging her. "Just a guy, a pizza delivery guy is all."
"Pizza?" She tilted her head to one side, and he couldn't help but laugh, "Did I say something to amuse you?" She looked up and smiled, and the look melted his heart. "Well, you know nothing about pizzas. They're a pie, food from my world…though I know this is, or was a part…" he trailed off, unsure what to say next.
"My name is Rosaria, sorry for my rudeness, Kirk... It will soon be night, will the heli… Err, thing come back?"
"No, I don't think so, Rosaria. It's a troop carrier and not ours, US I think, or maybe British. I didn't get a look at its insignia," he explained. He was only met with more confused looks from the pretty indigo-haired woman clinging to him. He liked the sensation. He had been dating a girl at college, Tania, but she broke it off after telling him she was getting engaged and was pregnant. He hung out with his friends and decided to steer clear of relationships for a while after all the heavy crap he'd gone through. But now, he felt drawn to this strange girl who popped out of nowhere, as had this bizarre world in which he now found himself.
"Okay, hop in, it's a car, another conveyance, hydrogen fuel cell, only the best for a lady such as yourself…like your flying ships, but they move on roads." She looked at the streamlined metallic-rose-colored vehicle, and came to a decision and nodded, climbing awkwardly into the passenger seat, he showed her how to use the seatbelts, and they were soon heading towards the main street of the town.
Elfwood
Kayla spent several hours trying to work out what happened to his house, and patted his Laptop suspended on its strap and placed it over his shoulder, the machine was so light one had to remember it was there.
The street in which he lived was different. Everything was different in fact. Like millions of Maplers the world over, he found himself a part of the Maple Universe, but with one inexplicable twist, it was real, but more than this, it had integrated itself into the real world. He saw things that seemed to belong in other cyber realms, or places he didn't understand, but these were he thought, fleeting shards of unknown internet possibilities.
He stood in his robes, a senior cleric holding a circular talisman in the palm of his hand; it pulsed with a soft golden light as he stood opposite a house on the other side of the street. It was a Victorian house, stylized after the fashion of new millennium architectural hybrids; it looked inviting. Aside from some teenagers huddled in a tight group, looking at him wide-eyed, and at every strange sight they laid eyes on, everything seemed so tranquil. There were no other people about aside from these kids huddled together in a crystal parody of a bus shelter on the other side of the street. The locals, he supposed, were either cowering indoors, or gone.
His blue robes flapped in the stiffening breeze, his coppery mane tied back behind him as he stepped across the narrow ornate street with its transductive lighting terminals fashioned to look like nineteenth century gaslights on black Gothic posts and opened the squat gate and in three strides he stood at the threshold of his destination.
Knocking, a strange man appeared, dressed in a tuxedo with military ribbons pinned to the jacket and bald as an eagle. "You are welcome to enter, cleric. Follow me."
"Nothing like personal service," he muttered under his breath as he walked the length of the narrow hallway, following the enigmatic man a few paces ahead, walking with a slight limp. On both sides of the corridor, an assortment of alcoves containing unusual items: sculptures, busts that were animated -- he refused to use the word, alive -- some baring sharp canine teeth, hissing or growling like guard dogs. Then there were the pretty figurines varying in height, some half a meter high, blushing and smiling at him, some blowing him kisses and others giving him the 'come hither' look. This made him grin. The cutest ones were only a few inches high, these dancing or gathering fruit and putting it into baskets propped upon there pretty heads. He was enchanted and fascinated. But as miraculous as this world was proving to be, he had to reach his destination to get an explanation as to what was going on.
"Always a pleasure sire, thank you for blessing our home with the presence of the Gods," the man spouted as Kayla nodded curtly by way of reply and stepped into an open park.
~*~
The housing was sparse, magnificent trees hundreds of feet high with lofty terraces connecting them could be seen behind the town and Ghost Gums reminded him of his terrestrial heritage, these clustered together as if in meetings to discuss their displacement from the phenomenal world and finding themselves thrust into the Maple one.
He moved with a confident spring in his step, the sound of his boots echoing off the bluestone walls, whereupon he found an entrance to a playground of sorts.
Sitting demurely on a child's carousel, ankles crossed, was Alana. He knew her from the Maple community. She waved at him. But now she was flesh and blood, not animated and realized he too was flesh and blood and not a typical Maple character as such.
He ran towards her and she rose to greet him. "I am so glad to see you, Kayla... you're the first Mapler I have come across aside from the queen and her family, but more of all that later. I have no idea what is happening. I am thrilled and frightened all at once if that makes sense," she gasped, blinking as she put on a brave face.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Holding his talisman before him, the falcon atop its silver perch shone like a gentle star. "We need to go that way," he told Alana and she smiled her ascent.
Alana wore a short white dress, its wide hem seemed almost starched. But it was soft to the touch, her figure easy on the eye he thought and the sandals on her feet, a _newbie_ style he loved. He had a soft spot for the Maple Story ‘newbie-look.' Sighing, he turned to her and with questioning eyes, she grinned and slipped her arm into his and they walked towards a trampoline where two young guns began an impromptu performance . They were flying up and down off the contraption as if in zero gravity. Just watching them made them both giddy with a heightened sense of euphoria, but the young would-be athletes soon ceased their antics and ignoring them, the two adolescents strode towards what looked like a redbrick Victorian railway station, but for the fact there were no platforms to speak of, or tracks, but it had everything else.
Alana tugged at his arm, digging her nails into his skin as the two young guys began picking on a younger boy. He must have been fourteen-years-old.
One of the older boys pulled out a silver dagger and swished it back and forth, edging ever closer to the terrified boy.
"Leave him alone," Alana cried, stepping forth.
The two protagonists looked at her questioningly, and she winked at Kayla. "I know what I'm doing, believe me…"
"So, pretty lady, what's with the weird clothes and did you bring the circus to town?" Sneered the older of the two as he held the dagger's gleaming blade up to intimidate her. But Alana wasn't fazed. She boldly stepped forward and challenged the now snickering youths.
"I will only say this once more… leave him alone, the both of you."
"Or you'll what, spank us?" the other chuckled, giving her a lascivious stare as he looked her up and down hungrily, her face coloring slightly as his gaze lingered on her breast line and then her bare legs.
"I warned you!" She raised her arms and began to chant, a silhouette of her petite form stepped from her body, it was gossamer and wispy, a creature of etheric beauty, golden haired and clad in a shift of smoky blue.
"Now's there's a hot little trick, she your pet siren, what's she going to do, jump my bones and—"
His words were cut off as the apparition spun like a top, her slender leg kicking outward, finding the tip of the braggarts' jaw, sending him flying across the courtyard. Falling heavily, he was knocked out cold. Then the other lunged at Alana, ignoring the wispy figure and attempted to plunge the blade into her chest. But the younger boy jumped between them. Unexpectedly, an articulated metallic claw shot out, gripping the blade, snapping it in two, and flung the useless weapon aside. The shocked youth stood there, eyes wide, mouth agape. But before he knew what was happening, like his companion he too found himself flung across the courtyard, and unconscious.
"Thank you; you are a time maker's assistant?" Alana asked, knowing the young boy was an artificial life form, built by the Time Keepers from the Lubridium Clock Tower.
He nodded and smiled. "Those guys are from the old world. They haven't understood the changes and believe they're having a very strange dream," he told them and looked toward a family pushing a stroller in the park moving in their direction. "I better move on, looks like you'll have more confused humans to put right on what's happening on Maple Prime."
Without warning, the young fair-headed boy had transformed himself into a stylized golden cube with two missing sides and began to roll away, floating a foot or so off the ground towards a clump of trees and was gone.
The woman, with her hands over her mouth in alarm and disbelief; stood stock-still beside her husband as he shook his head-- their children delighted at the unusual sight.
~*~
"Well, I guess its off to Elfwood, Alana told him, I have some new friends to introduce you to, and one of our party is our king, Woden, but he is also a former Mapler who for some reason I haven't worked out is having trouble adjusting to the new realm."
"As are we all Alana, do you understand what is happening?"
"Only that one moment I was playing Maple Story, as my human self, and the next, I was part of it and the world as I knew it, my parents, brothers and sisters were gone, not dead, I know that for sure." She unbuttoned the second and third buttons of her dress and pulled out a large heart-shaped stone, it shone with a soft silvery light and filled the palm of her hand. She smiled and placed it in his hand, "Look carefully -- see?"
"Yeah, I can see them. It's your family." He loved her talisman, and wanted to acquire one himself, in the game world, he was an avid collector of such things. However, now it was all real, amazingly real.
"Yes, and they're safe in Sleepywood, and that's where we are headed, coming?"
"Why not, there is nothing for me here, like you, my world is gone -- scrambled eggs, but I feel perfectly at home despite the disorientation."
"As do I," Alana said, squeezing his hand. "Come!"
Once more, she slipped her arm in his and led him to the cottage where they were staying the night.
