The Secrets of MapleWood
By: AJ Price
A/N: This is the last revised version of the prologue. I forgot to mention some things about this story. For one, the villain of the story, Shapeshifter, is the creation of my friend Proud to be Canadian. Read her stories they are so worth it. Also, my problem with updating is annoying, I understand that it takes awhile for me to update but if you hold on, because of a deal I made, this story should be done by May, should you wish, I have a sequel as this is a series, please notify me if you wish to read the sequel.
Prologue: The Black Hole

BLOWING UP THE SCHOOL WAS not their intention. Their intention had been to shut up their annoying friend; experiments, hunches, pranks and all. Well, at least it had been his intention. "C'mon Maxie!" Leo said, trying to persuade his reluctant friend to help him with yet another one of his crazy ideas. "It's just one last harmless experiment and then you're free to leave." That was when he should have run. He should have bolted away and never looked back. But of course he just had to stay, because he was his friend and only a friend would let another friend drag them into doing something that would most likely end with either close death, hospital fees, a life time sentence in jail, or a close encounter with the MapleWood Police Department.
"Uh, Leo, I'm not so sure that's a good idea. And by who's standards is it safe? I mean, your definition of harmless is the Big Bang theory, which involved an asteroid hitting Earth so hard it caused the beginning of the world." Leo opened his mouth to retort something along the lines of "If the world hadn't begun, then no one could decide if the hit was hard!" But Max continued. "Remember Robert Simpson? You sent him to the hospital not three weeks into school, and he still hasn't returned." When Leo didn't even blink at this news, Max added; "It's June now!" His voice was rising with fright at the idea of Leo causing even more havoc than usual.
Leo lowered his messy brown haired head, as though in shame and stared at the ground sadly. Taking a deep breath he let out a sigh. "Okay Max." This caused Max to raise an eyebrow; Leo didn't give up that easily, in fact, he had given up so easily, that Max was pretty sure Leo had more up his sleeve than just that. "I guess we aren't as tight as I thought. I'll remember that when I'm writing my will; don't leave you anything," 'Way to lay it on thick, Leo.' Max thought. "You won't take it … see you." Leo started walking, his head hanging low. His feet dragged across the floor, making a shuffling noise heard above the sound of the music. Opening the back door slowly, he looked back at Max, his blue eyes while downcast still held a mischievous gleam, which told Max not to do the next thing he did.
Max hesitated for a second, 'This is insane,' he thought,' don't do it, you're stronger than this. If you move towards that door, you will never forgive yourself.' All the same, Max found himself moving towards the double doors and as they were closing he slipped out after Leo.
"Leo!" He screamed into the night. Turning his head he saw Leo's silhouette walking towards the double doors of the gray stone building across the freshly mowed lawn. His head was hung low and his hands were stuffed in his pockets. 'What a faker,' Max thought. Leo's ears perked up at Max's call, but then they went right back down. "Don't you ignore me Leonardo!" Max said, now furious that he could hear him, but was avoiding him. Leo's pace quickened and before Max rationalized anything, he was running after Leo, chasing him in the moonlight.
Before he knew it, Max stopped in front of the double doors. 'Last chance to back out and avoid bailing Leo out of jail.' But of course, he opened the double doors running after Leo who stopped in the main assembly room where all the Magyck students went for their weekly assemblies. Staring through the doorway, Max saw his girlfriend, Charlotte, and Leo's girlfriend, Roxanne, sitting on the stage, legs swinging over the side looking sort of bored. Leo stood in front of the two girls, his back to Max. "Well, I'm sorry to say that Maxwell has decided not to grace us with his presence, and that we will be doing this alone. Now-" Max cleared his throat and Leo turned around slowly. He faked surprise, "Max? What are you doing here?" 'Guilt trip always works,' Leo thought, a smug smile on his lips.
"Start explaining to me how you roped my girlfriend into doing this and then maybe we'll talk civilly." Max folded his arms, and walked into the room, with a grin on his face. He couldn't help it, or the slight chuckle that escaped his lips. "You always did the craziest of things, and somehow got me to participate, mind telling me what it is this time?"
"Well, if you insist." Leo said a cocky grin plastered on his lips. "You see Maxwell, I happened to have overheard some Myth students speaking about a little old, well, myth. It involved four people, one with the ability to control, manipulate and create Fire, one with the same abilities with Water and so on, and the whole conversation ended with the ability to open up a vortex, ah, black hole, if you will. Now, it is with my greatest pleasure to-"
"Oh no, not gonna happen!" Max said before Leo could finish his little speech. "I am not getting roped into something this stupid. You always make a mess, and I'm always cleaning it up, and it's about high time you stopped this and actually considered what you're doing. If you go to jail, I'm not bailing you out."
"No one will know, besides it's a harmless little experiment and no one-"
"'And no one will get hurt.' I've heard it all before Leo so why don't you can it, and we can go along with our merry lives without a criminal record?"
"There you go again! Always being so responsible. You know you're not going to have youth forever, and what do you want to tell your kids when you're older?" Leo pretended to be Max though his impersonation was horrible, "'Oh I'm Maxwell and I followed every rule anyone ever told me! I'm such a goody-two-shoes and I never do anything wrong!' HA!"
"Oh yeah? That's what you think? I could break rules, I could break a thousand and you know what? That's just what I'll do right now! Lay it on me Leo, what do I have to do?" Then, it sunk in what he had said. "Damn it!"
"Great, so here's what you do," Leo said, as Max silently fumed. Leo ignored all his screams of protest because it was about time that Max did something a little out of line.
"Are you absolutely certain that this will end with me having all my limbs?" Max asked Leo after he had positioned them all into a square, (Max in the top right, Charlotte in the bottom right, Leo in the bottom left, and Roxy in the top left) "I mean, this could be highly dangerous and someone could end up in the hospital."
"Shut up Max and just do what I tell you!" Leo screamed, his patience disappearing rapidly. Max was testing his last nerve.
Max took a deep breath and closing his eyes, he silently prayed 'Dear Lord, don't hold this against me for I have done no wrong! If anyone should have to cower at your greatness, make it the goofy looking dude to the bottom left.' and then he conjured Fire. The feeling of warmth spread through his fingers as he imagined a burning hearth in his mind's eye, his hand reaching out to touch the flames, he grasped it, and held it in the palm of his hand, then opening his eyes, Max threw the Fire Ball into the center of the square.
Roxy placed a little green plant, straight from the soil next to the Fire, and it rested slightly to the left of the flames, Charlotte summoned a small tornado, and with a soft blow, it too landed in the centre, slightly to the right of the plant, and finally, Leo hurled a tiny Water Orb into the centre, it began to shift slightly to the right of the Fire.
"Ready?" Leo yelled above the sound of Charlotte's wind. Roxy and Charlotte nodded, but Max didn't move a muscle as he still had many doubts about this whole situation.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Max asked over the wind, but Leo wasn't listening and Max knew it was hopeless, but he wasn't going to stay silent.
"On the count of three, ready? One..."
"This could totally blow up in our faces!"
"Two..."
"If we die you are so responsible!"
"Three!"
They all pushed their right hand forward towards the square, the whole room lighting up as they did so. Around Max's feet, a red glow illuminated his face, and wind rushed in his ears, then the light died out, the wind stopped and Max was certain he was safe.
"That's it?" He asked, while Leo looked awfully disappointed. "It's over?" He spoke too soon, because then a huge wind came and knocked them all off their feet. They went crashing into the walls, and a bright white light began to shine. Max covered his eyes slightly from the brilliant light that was coming from an unknown source, and squinting he managed to see a tall, dark figure walk around the room, before disappearing and leaving.
Max wasn't sure if it was just a dream, or if it had actually happened, but then he heard screaming, and his head spun around. Chaos was going on outside, shrieks and cries of pain and the sound of buildings falling and crashing glass echoed in his ears.
With a horrified gulp, Max had a feeling that it was their fault.