A/N: Chapter 60! A milestone for Days of Autumn!

(1/30/11)

Wednesday...

I had yet another dream.

It was set in a freezing mountain somewhere at its side. There was a magnificent palace carved out of marble, shale and gold.

I was outside, in the courtyard garden. The garden blossomed despite the harsh weather. It was also strangely warm, as if the weather in the citadel was different. Several armored men guarded the palace, stationed at the entrances, with four guards guarding the fountain. They wore electric blue surcoats with flowing blue capes, with the surcoats embroidered with patterns of thunder and lightning. Their helmets were of silver and gold, with high wings that rose on the side of the helm and cheek guards that protected their face. Their helms were etched with symbols of weather. They also covered their faces with black masks, revealing only their eyes. They each carried a spear and an elaborate shield, with swords at their sides and knives strapped to their boots as a last resort weapon. Some also carried bows.

"Elder's power grows... the hour is late and Koril Sorensen seeks my counsel... is that right?" a voice said behind me as I turned around.

Two people were talking. One was a burly looking young man, wearing a tattered cloak, battered armor, a tarnished sword and looked haggard. His bright brown eyes were filled with wrath and anger.

"Zythos, you fool, enough with this!" The young man cried at a big man. The big man, Zythos, was a rather strapping handsome man. His hair was blonde and eyes were electric blue. His beard was black, braided and plaited. He looked grim and proud. He had a wore a hauberk of overlapping platinum strips, with a flowing cape of sky blue held by a lightning brooch. He wielded a warhammer and radiated power, his head topped by a circlet of rhodium.

"I bring a message from Elder..." Sorensen whispered fearfully.

"You serve him now?" Zythos said with raised eyebrows.

"Don't be absurd!" Sorensen cried, "He's coming for you! You must double the guards and remain vigilant! You must take precautions!"

"What!?" Zythos boomed, thunder rolling overhead, "Are you saying my guards are inadequate?!

"Damn right!" Sorensen snapped, "These inexperienced fools aren't enough to stop the Elder!" He declared as the guards made dagger-looks at him, but didn't move.

"Just because you've gone rusty doesn't mean we all are!" Zythos cried.

"You forget your place, brother!" Sorensen spat, "You may have this palace and act as king, but I am still your elder brother!"

"My apologies..." Zythos sniffed, "Follow me, brother." He went to the battlements, "Entry to Olympus is impossible!" He points to the lower grounds, strewn with traps and impassable crossways, "We are prepared for all possible setbacks, such as having a ballista gun, cannons, mortars, wizards and archer towers." He points to the defenses, and sure enough, they were enough to stop an army. Several men at the foot of the mountain were setting up traps.

"Impressive." Sorensen admitted.

"One way out, no way in. And nearly one thousand guards too!" Zythos cried, "And just one intruder."

"You fool..." Sorensen whispered, "That intruder... is Elder." He points to a shadowy figure below. Elder stood there like a shadowy tree, wielding a falx.

Zythos laughed, "Is that him?" He then cupped his mouth, "Hey, we're up here, and you're all the way down there! Come up if you want!"

"I wouldn't try to make him mad..." Sorensen warned.

"What's he gonna do about it? I'm up here and he's down there!"

"For now..." Sorensen whispered so low, only I could hear it.

They began talking about someone named Thalia.

"She recently turned 17." Zythos said, "She misses you. You weren't there at the party. Brother Viktor was there."

"I apologize." Sorensen mumbled, "I was being tracked by Elder's minions."

"What is so special about this Elder-" Zythos began.

"My Lords Zythos, Lord Sorensen!" The captain salutes.

"What is it?" Zythos said sternly, "This better be good, Captain."

"Sir, that Elder fellow is climbing up the mountain!" He cried.

Zythos and Sorensen run to the ledge, "Summon the defensive unit. Time to send this child home." Zythos said.

"Yes, Lord!" The guard ran and summoned a unit of men to garrison the defenses. They stood in order, in perfectly formed ranks.

"To your posts!" Zythos barked as they obeyed without question.

"Your orders, Lord?" The captain asked.

"Fire spears!" Zythos commanded.

The captain gave the order as the men loosed the crossbow firing thick shafts of spears at Elder.

Several missed their marks, but Elder shattered three bolts and kicked the others away, finding their marks in the mountainside, as he ascended the mountain using the spears as a stairway.

"Oh shit, you guys are screwed!" Sorensen saluted, "I'm out of here!" Sorensen tried to escape, but Zythos held him.

"Not so fast! You'll see today how effective our defenses are!" Zythos declared.

"Unhand me, you gorilla!" Sorensen cried, but couldn't move from Zythos' grip.

Elder jumped from rock to rock with stunning agility, avoiding projectiles and rocks thrown at him.

The workers below fled to their lift, as one man got left behind.

"Hey! Don't forget about-" his cried were cut off as Elder ran him through with his falx and flung his body down the mountain.

"He's coming this way!" Sorensen cried.

"He won't get far." Zythos swore, "Cannons!"

Several cannons were readied, "Fire!" Zythos cried as a volley of lead balls were fired. Elder saw this and sliced several balls. He deflected the rest like soccer balls, sending them back to the cannons, destroying them, leaving a giant trail of smoke in its wake.

He teleported to the top of the elevator, sliced the rope and sailed up, sending the elevator and its occupants to die on the hard rocks.

He then jumped and reached the next landing, deflecting missiles from the defenders as he made his way up.

"To your posts!" Zythos screamed as the soldiers scrambled to obey, "Elder, Elder, Elder... Why are you so eager to die...?" He muttered as Sorensen rolled his eyes.

"You're the one eager to die, you tomfool!" Sorensen cried.

Elder then climbed to the next area like a car, where a unit of soldiers formed a phalanx and a sturdy shield wall.

Elder ran up to them and aged their shields into useless termite infested boards. The soldiers descarded them with disgust as they did a spear charge instead.

Elder teleported behind them as they were bewildered. Elder hacked through their armor as if they were paper and killed every man on the bridge with little to no trouble, teleporting back and forth and striking them down.

With a smile, he ascended to the final plateau, where the entire guard assembled above. Zythos looked apprehensive.

"We're fucked." Sorensen cursed, "That was the elite unit, wasn't it?!"

"Hush!" Zythos said, "Not yet." He rushes over to the ledge and shouted, "Nice try, Elder! But now you die!" He nods to the guard, who lit a fuse-like device.

Elder's eyes grew wide as the charges exploded on the ground where Elder was. He survived, jumping from rock to rock, expertly scaling the falling debris and attempted one last jump towards the army. He fell short and went down, to the army's glee.

A soldier grabbed a lit charge, "Shove this up your ass!" He flung it down as the army roared with laughter.

As Elder fell, he saw the charge and redirected it back to the army with one expert spin and a throw of his left hand.

"Oh shit..." Everyone whispered in fear.

"Can we run now?" Sorensen asked.

"Yes..." Zythos whimpered. The explosion was so powerful, so violent, the dream sequence dissolved. When the smoke cleared and became focused, the courtyard was destroyed, and everyone was down. Many died from the explosion, some from the debris, and some from falling off the mountain, and only a score or three were still alive. The survivors went up and shakily tried to remain in form.

Elder stood and smiled, "Is this how you treat your guests?"

Zythos, without a word, wielded his hammer and charged at Elder. Elder sighed and defended against his strikes with his falx.

With every hit Zythos struck, thunder boomed as the winds roared like a monsoon whip. And with every hit Elder deflected, the space and time around them distorted badly. Nearby soldiers turned old, some turning young, while some disappeared entirely.

Zythos managed to strike at Elder's chest, sending him flying. Several soldiers tried to subdue him, but he dispatched them quickly, hacking off their heads as many stopped and placed their shields in front of them. Many nearby pointed arrows at him.

"No, don't!" Zythos commanded, "He's mine."

Elder, without looking, fired a dark fireball at the battlements, killing all the archers within.

"Just to make sure." Elder winked.

With a roar, Zythos raised his hammer as a lightning bolt struck it, imbuing it with power. He smashed it on the ground, sending a shockwave of energy to Elder, who stumbled and fell.

Zythos smashed his hammer down at Elder, who dodged it and rolled away.

"Come back here, boy!" Zythos bellowed, "I'm not through with you yet!" He raised his hand as thunder crashed to where Elder lay. He dodged it as another bolt fell through. He dodged it again. On the third strike, he deftly held out his fingers and redirected lightning to a group of soldiers, killing them.

Zythos looked furious. He made some hand gestures as he radiated with power. He then shot lightning fron his fingers. Elder avoided it as Zythos tried again, but Elder averted it as he grabbed Zythos' fingers and redirected it at the sky, causing Zythos to be drained and weakened.

Elder then took Zythos's powers away.

"You... You stole my powers!" Zythos mumbled weakly.

"What can I say?" Elder shrugs, "I'm a taker." He grabs Zythos, who tried to wield his hammer, but Elder kicked it away, "Tell me where the Last Lord is."

"Okay, fine..." Zythos said weakly, "He can be found easily."

"Zythos!" Sorensen, who woke up under a pile of rubble, said.

"I've said enough." Zythos said meekly.

Suddenly, a beautiful girl wearing a robe of rich colors and royal style, about 17, went out. She had waist length black hair that was styled in a princess fashion. Her eyes were electric blue as well, and her nose was splashed with freckles. On top of that, she was really pretty.

"Father? Is everything alright, father?" She asked as she gasped from the destruction Elder caused.

"Thalia!" Zythos cried, "Ah, yes, everything's alright. Go back in."

"Yes, go back in, Lady." Elder said coldly, "So I can kill you in private, since your father thinks a Dark Lord is more important than you." He advanced towards the Princess.

Sorensen limped in front of Elder, pointing a spear at him, "Not one step further, monster."

"Suit yourself." Elder mumbled as he digressed his advance.

Zythos grabbed Eder by the throat, "Nothing is more important to me than my daughter! NOTHING!" Zythos barked, "Only he who seeks him, but does not want his powers, may find him. Now leave!"

"I daresay so." Elder agreed, "However... I wouldn't let a foe so great as you escape my clutches. Also, I'm not merciful as I was now. There is nothing stopping me from defeating Minato. Here, you must die." He raised his falx to strike Zythos down.

Zythos looked at Thalia, "Thalia... I'm sorry." He said, tears falling from his bleary eyes, "May your rule be prosperous, prinkipissa mou..."

"Father, no!" Thalia cried as Elder's falx came down. Sorensen grabbed Thalia and covered her eyes as Elder brutalized her father and mutilated him with his falx.

"Look away, Lass." Sorensen said softly, holding her head to his chest, "Just look away." He held her like that for five brutal minutes.

When Elder was finished, he laughed and teleported away.

The body was badly mutilated. I doubt even dental records could help identify the corpse, "You! Cover him up!" Sorensen commanded a young officer, the fallen Captain's son, who obliged and covered Zythos with his cloak.

"Father..." Thalia whispered, "FATHER!" Thalia saw the bloodsoaked ground and blanket and jumped over the battlements in grief. Sorensen reacted quickly and teleported and brought her back unharmed. She sobbed uncontrollably.

"Thalia! Look at me!" Sorensen said, "You are your people's leader now!" Sorensen barked, "Act like it... Don't get mad..." Sorensen said, "Just get even. For your father. For your grandfather, Isil."

Thalia bowed her head, "Yes, Uncle."

"You're no longer a princess..." Sorensen said, taking her tiara off and replacing it with Zythos' circlet, after wiping the blood, and handing her a knife, "But a Queen in exile."

She took it and cut her hair off at the shoulder. She discarded the rest of the plaited braid.

"Captain?" She called out.

One soldier shook his head, "Dead."

"Who's next in command?" Thalia asked.

"Me." The young officer said, "Theseus, son of Captain Pericles. At your service."

Thalia nodded, "You're captain now. Muster the remaining survivors to fix this place up. And gather twelve of your best men." Then, she turned to Sorensen, "Uncle, kindly gather twelve followers for every fallen lord, including you."

"Understood." Sorensen nodded and teleported away.

Theseus raised an eyebrow, "Pardon me, but what are we mustering for, my Lady?"

She stares at the horizon, "We've got some hunting to do. This Minato... He caused this... And he must pay."

The dream ended as I woke up. Elder was definitely up to something bad, and now I have to deal with Xena, the Warrior Princess and her Merry Yeomen... Just great.

I dressed up for school and went with Minako. Minako and I didn't ever talk about what happened days ago. We merely acted like it was a dream. But I did notice a glow around Minako when she smiled at me. It was strange.

However, classes weren't as active, since the teachers needed to finalize the events for Prom, which is scheduled sometime between February 14-20.

As usual, Yukari tried to approach me, and I almost successfully avoided her with some early warning messages from my friends.

Well, almost...

She succeeded in cornering me at the roof. With the only exit blocked by Yukari, I felt like doing a leap of faith, like the ones they do in Assassin's Creed, except there wasn't anything to cushion my fall. I already made the decision to jump, when Yukari grabbed me in the arm.

"What do you want?" I said coldly.

"To talk to you." She said promptly.

"Write me a letter. Call me on my cell. Send me an E-mail." I said coldly, "I frankly don't want to see your face."

She took a deep, patient breath, "Okay... I'm sorry you're insecure about yourself, but we can talk this out... I'm quite willing to forgive you-"

My blood rushed to my head in anger. I felt my fist balling, my knuckled turning white, "What!?" I thundered.

"Look, It's not my fault that you're being all insecure... It was just a fling... You do it all the time-" Yukari began, but I was determined not to put up with her bullshit.

"Can you even hear yourself?!" I cried exasperated, "The amount of bullshit that you're spouting is staggering!"

Yukari seemed shocked, "Minato, let me explain... James was... a longtime family friend and we, uh, were childhood friends-"

"Oh, sure..." I said sarcastically, "And I met him in New York... He didn't seem to recognize you."

"You met him...?" Yukari whispered, "Minato, I swear, we're just friends-"

"Oh, you're great pals, aren't ya?" I said hotly, "Let me guess... It just 'kinda' happened?"

"Well, yes, but it wasn't like that-"

"What? You tripped? Fell? Landed on his lips?" I said sardonically.

"Minato, I don't get why you're so angry about." Yukari said, "I mean, it's really your fault after all..."

"My fault?" I seethed, "Sure. It's my fault." I said sarcastically.

"I'm glad you finally see it." She said, not noticing the sarcastic hints in my voice.

"While you're at it, why not blame Global Warming on me? Or the extinction of animals? And when the world ends at 2012, you can blame it on me too! Blame all this shit on me!" I threw my hands up in exaggerated gestures.

"Okay, that was unnecessary..." Yukari mumbled, "But Minato, you have Minako... Can we call it even?"

"Even! Whooo... Ummm..." I pretended to mull it over, "To be honest, Yukari, I don't really mind you, uh, exchanging saliva from some guy who is, quote, 'probably being anally raped by his manager', but..." I sincerely became saddened, "I just can't seem to get over being lied to..."

Yukari stamped her foot, "Minato, I can't believe you! You just threw away everything we shared because I made a few mistakes! Sure, I screwed up, but so did you! You used to be one of us! Now, you've turned against me and sided with Minako! You left me when I wanted it to work!"

"Yukari..." I said through my teeth, "Are you forgetting? It was me who put up with your unreasonable mood swings! It was me who didn't run when you trained the Evoker at me! It was me who protected you! Even when you left me, I still loved you from the bottom of my heart. You were the one who left me when I wanted it to work!"

"Then why didn't you!?" Yukari asked angrily.

"Because I realized that... Even if I did, you'd eventually get bored... I'd get hurt again..." I said sadly.

"Minato... You lie..." She said sadly, "I'm willing to forgive you. You have to be willing to forgive me as well."

"I forgive you, Yukari..." I said calmly, "FOR STABBING ME IN THE BACK!"

"You're so wrapped in your little ball of insecurity, you can't see right from wrong!" Yukari cried.

I sighed, "Just leave me alone." I said sourly as I went around her and hastily left.

Minako was passing by the hall and hailed me, "Yoooo, buddy!"

"Hey." I greeted.

"Some dream last night, huh?" She said.

I stared at her confusedly, until I remembered the Dream Charms, which explained my dreams in the past night that involved unicorns and a Froot Loop world.

"Damn, that Princess looked scary." Minako said, "Pretty too."

"Yeah..." I said, "Although, psychological effects of traumatizing dreams sometimes state that after a traumatic or distressing dream, another set of dreams may take place, which means that the dream after the first may have been a figment of my overactive imagination."

"Ah... Okay." Minako said, after mulling over it for a while.

"Anyways, Yukari tried to get me to forgive her." I said as we walked out of the school

"Oh? What'd she say?" Minako asked.

"Long story." I said as I embarked on the conversation Yukari and I had. When I was nearly done, we were already closing to home.

"Well, I guess that proves Yukari is delusional." Minako agreed, "Anyway, forget her... You have bigger worries than Yukari. Elder and that Princess. You need to be careful."

I nodded and we went in. Leah was making Mexican food, which we indulged in. Akihiko and Junpei were already home by then.

But Minako was right... I did have bigger problems than Yukari... On one hand, I had a genocidal, mass-murdering maniac who was after me, either to kill, maim or coerce me into his ranks, and a suicidal Heiress of Weather, who is now after my head.

When can I ever get a break...?

A/N: Done at last. Next chapter will be filled with more action! Well, at least I hope it will pique your interest. I also apologize if the Elder scenes are much more plentiful than usual...

Review quota is in effect. Already a quarter through chapter 60. Review for updates! Thanks for all the support!

Q/A: (As a rule for space waste reduction, I only answer questions, so I kindly ask you be specific when asking!)

Also, to one of my answers to one person, I apologize if I seem too harsh, except to the said fool. I don't really like being wrongfully insulted.

Radaketor: Well, it's not really hardcore smut... I'm not comfortable making it either, so there's no P, C or V words. No vulgar words, actually. Just descriptions, really subtle descriptions.

And I guess you're right about that... Even I don't see them as they were! But I guess its a part of maturity.

No problem if you choose not to read it. Your choice, and I don't like forcing people to read what they don't want. I do hope you will if you feel up to it.

Hoshi: I guess it's better if we digress... It hurts my brain too. Anyways, nothing much I can say about the two, 'cept that the next chapter will involve Minako directly.

Blablah: My 'logic' is legit. Just because you lack the facilities to understand and read logic doesn't mean you can say illogical stuff.

Mind your language, boy. It could cause your review to be reported, and could cause you termination. Just saying cause I care about you oh so much! And it looks to me that you can't read very well too... Just saying...

You? Not hating Minako? Nah, you're kidding, right? Lol!

1. *off

2. Wow! Blue plus Red equals Purple?! Did YOU figure that out by yourself?! Amazing!1

Night: He looked different because... well, you'll see soon enough, buddy... The keyword is 'Yuki'. ;) if you know what I mean... If not, just PM me.

Cutie: And here begins me reading your reviews!

Well. i'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't think so much about that chapter, since I have no idea on making lemons.

The fact is you reviewed. It doesn't matter how long it is. Out personal lives are more important than our cyber life. And I'd hate to think I caused you fatigue...

S-Links? Sounds fun! Let the interaction begin!

Winnie: Oh, no worries! It's up to you to review whenever you please! And I do thank you for taking the time to review!

Hehehe... I only update since you guys review quickly! It's pretty fun to write too.

Oh, yeah, those mistakes were rectified, thanks! And the badmouthing thing was supposed to have a "badmouthing WITH Minako" and 'moms' is like a slang of 'mommy', 'momma' or 'mama'.

You've got a sharp eye, don't you? And observant as well... I'm impressed. Well, sorry about the typos... I write on an iPad. Much less cumbersome than a laptop.

Well, seeya soon!

Jack Daniel: And did I care about YOUR insults? i'm just returning the favor! And how am I sure you aren't just saying that? Whatever, I don't really have time to mess around. And what exactly is 'ursuperated'?

To have my pardon? HELLO? You were asking for it, Dory. Don't be so forgetful, stupidity should be a crime.

Yeah, your actions say that you were the one who wrote that. You're just trying to act innocent. Well, just don't. It's a bit pathetic, really.

And do you know how to avert that, the mistaken identity thing? Get off your lazy bum and make an account!

Guest (Jack Daniel): Don't swear on your life, boy. It makes you seem desperate. And about Lucifer... Either you truly are idiotical or ignorant, but just so you know, Lucifer is a fallen angel and the King of Hell, so is Helel, so it would be illogical to name Minato as Lucifer. Also, if you aren't too busy using your head as a hammer, realize that Lucifer is the enemy of God. Also, a brain would do you well, sonny boy.

"A little culture would do you good" LOL! Don't look down on me, kid, I know more stuff than you do, and I'm not really smart.

See how condescending I can be, fool? If you want to name Jesus Christ as Lucifer, because of your little intellect that fails to see who they are, then make your own story. No one's forcing you to read this story.

I don't believe you, and just because you swore on your tits and balls, doesn't make you any more credible than Rumpelstiltskin.

And you started the insulting part. I like brutal honesty, but not cultureless, uncouth mongrels looking down at me. You're words weren't harsh, they were insulting and hurtful. LOL hypocrite alert! You say that and insult a person with a different opinion against a robot you fap over at Faaku! You're not only a hypocrite, but a fool as well, since you insulted me in three separate reviews.

Whatever. As you can see, I'm a very proud guy. I don't take things lying down, sonny. I better not see you messing around anymore. Troll.

No. And even if I did, why would I tell you?