Well, this hopefully won't be as confusing as Altoda's Bane, and it is a bit easier to follow and also contains more action.

The Closing of the Age:
Elephande’s Final Journey


Preface:

This is the sequel to the semi-popular Altoda’s Bane and the last in my Elephande Series, which spans 818 years, from the coronation of Allysulia-Matriarch-Allyutig to the Closing of the Age of Ten and the coronation of Suliantig-Patriarch-Afrin as leader of the Indosyne Union.

In a way, Elephande is like Yossarian from Catch-22 in the fact that I could have this series spread over a million years, and Elephande, like the bombardier Yossarian, would never die. So instead, I have him fade out of power, still magnificent and awe-inspiring, but no longer the visible head of his creation.

And it could be implied from the 23rd book, Afrin’s Test, that Elephande is no longer the main focus of my writing, but it is slowly shifting to his son. Indeed, by the previously mentioned Altoda’s Bane, Elephande appears only a few times in a book, and the focus is now set on Afrin and the General, as Zambiandë named the young Adept.

In itself, Afrin is still not the main character. Afrin, the General, or anyone else but Elephande could die, and the driving force would still be there. That is my point. Elephande is forever, whether you like it or not, and I must build the stories around that. I proved that a central story character could die many times throughout the stories: Memdrian, Elephade, Elephate, Altoda, all of them, they aren’t really necessary to the plot. Elephande is, and he will never die. In fact, all of the Elephatide are more important that the human characters. And I show you that. Why do you think the dead Elephatide come back? They are needed, if not for the plot, then for a later plot element.

Many people like this fact, but some think it is like the comic book element that makes sure that there is always a safety net to bring Useless Piece of Crap’s character back to life. But in my stories, UPC stays dead, but his spirit interacts with the living characters. That is the difference. UPC is always dead after he dies, like in actual real-life deaths. Now, some people will say I used a plot device to bring back two characters from the dead in Altoda’s Bane. Notice this line: “Among the dead I counted Kevin and his troops. I also noted that no Vesuvian was left alive, including Nick, Mute, or Elrik. Sadly, Ryan and Andy, natives of Contigo, and Cyrus, native to this city, were counted among the dead.” (Chapter Sixteen) Counted among the dead. I never said they were dead, I just implied it.

Now, all of you who say my stories are strange, yes I will admit that. If my stories weren’t strange I could put any set of names, including Needledick, Idiotloser, ****head, and any other names in it, and it would still sound normal. I DON”T WANT MY STORIES TO SOUND NORMAL!!! That is the point of the names, the places, everything in my stories. They can’t take place anywhere else.

Now that I have gotten all that explanation off my back, here is the story.


Prologue:

Elephande looked around at the multitude of people there, from all corners of not only the Union, but the galaxy. Dreg Generals, now at peace with everyone, were there, General Falcane’s squadrons, indeed, all of Zancron turned up. Many people still living here on Earth showed up as well. The legend was here at last.

The Ten were all present, as well as Suliantig’s council of six. Elephade Zambiandë stood near Allysuntis, his daughter, while Allysuntis the Elder and Suliantig were standing near Elephande. Memdrian and Anine looked towards the procession, while Elder Akim and the prophet Afrin studied the crowd. Allyutig stood talking to Defoc and Suisande while Elephate, Suisan, Assiria, and Alsiria listened quietly. Allysulia-Major-Akona was over with Amind and Suian reminiscing about the last time they had been here.

Flashback, from Allysulia’s Pride:

“Allysulia-Rangeffer-Elephande, son of Memdrian and bearer of the Mark of Suliantig, in the name of the High Elder, I, Allysulia-Elder-Akim, declare you Allysulia-Patriarch-Elephande!”

A familiar voice rang out from the forest. “Akiz iste Elder!” yelled Zambiandë, throwing two spears.

They hit Elders Anine and Akim, killing them instantly. Defond-Patriarch-Elephate let out a yell of fury and rushed off after Zambiandë. Above him, an apparition rose.

Altoda, General for the Fallen Elder, spoke. “Well now, where is Allyutig? Dead, with this young knave in her place? It seems that my victory is on hand!” He then looked again at the young patriarch, and a sinister smile appeared. “Well, have you returned indeed, Elephande?” he sneered. “This time, however, you are too late. My purge of your filth is at hand!”

Altoda disappeared, and Elephande somehow knew the outcome of this struggle he had gotten himself into…

Suligan stood near the General and his friends, talking to Allen and Cyrus while Mekae impatiently waited for Afrin, who stood talking to Richard.

Elephande called over to his son, who left Richard there while Mekae walked up.

“You know, it’s too bad we couldn’t bring my cousin, or Blair and Brooke here. They would like it a lot here.”

Mekae was referring to the rest of their disbanded company, all back in Anegon making sure everything didn’t collapse like it had too often over the last five years.

Reno walked up. “Want me to go get them?” he asked Richard.

“If they can be brought away without you losing too much of your hair,” joked Mekae, talking about his sometimes insane cousin.

Reno laughed, and he disappeared, presumably to go find them.

Chapter One:
Afrin’s Coronation

“Suliantig-Patriarch-Afrin,” begin the master of ceremonies, Elder Akim, “In the name of the High Elder and with the authority given to me by the Ten, I name you Leader of the High Council of the Indosyne Union!”

The valley erupted in cheers. As if they were loaded guns, the Ten fired off a series of fireworks into the cool night air. It reminded Elephande of the celebration after they had defeated the Cladlen two hundred years earlier.

Flashback, from Victory for Elephatide:

The forests of Indosyne roared with a din of noise never equaled in all of history, as the Friendship herd and the Intyde celebrated their victory. The Cladlen had been tough, Elephande knew, and his victory was bought by many lives.

But it was victory! It was Elephande’s first sweet victory, so much different from his victory on the plains of Frontian years earlier. Chief Alti of the Intyde had performed wonderfully in his duty, unlike High Chief Alexsen, who ran off immediately after the start of the battle.

Placing Alti as High Chief of the Intyde was one of the best decisions of Elephande’s career. He formed multiple Intyde Armies from all tribes, and they won many battles, even after Alti’s death in 2708.

Suddenly, a large flash of light erupted above the procession.

“Sorry to rain on your parade,” laughed a shadowy figure that Elephande realized as a Cladlen.

Flashback, from Suliantig and Allysuntis:

The Cladlen had left their mark on the valley of his youth, and Elephande was glad that they were destroyed. Except for the last words of their general, Askinqua.

“You haven’t even broken our reconnaissance mission,” he laughed. You victory is short!” he had said.

The shadow disappeared, but not before Altoda had found a way into its portal. He disappeared along with the shadow.

Altoda’s Point of View:

I found my way onto the bridge of the Cladlen vessel unnoticed, which surprised me. At fifteen feet tall, I was hard to miss in any crowd.

Maybe they couldn’t see our spirits, I wondered.

With that thought, I decided to see what I could find out. I walked towards where I hoped the observation deck was, but instead found the guidance room for the entire fleet. I could have some fun in here! I found the controls for the ships, and saw how long it would take them to notice the collision courses, and I also wondered where the blame would fall, if I was unseen.

As if it was telepathic, a visual of the fleet popped up in front of me. I saw the forty ships, all in a rapidly closing circle that was approaching a critical diameter.

And then I realized. How was I supposed to get off? Mistakes like that were what had cost me the Battle of Graupia millennia ago. I had no choice. I reversed their directions, and went off in search of a teleporter. Maybe there was another way I could cause chaos in the Cladlen fleet. After all, because I spent many millennia under the power of the Fallen Elder, I was the supreme chaos-creator of the known universe.

Chapter Two:
Relenda’s Secret
(Thx to Chrono Ivan for the cycle theory)

“So where are we going?” asked Blair, sitting with Elephande and Afrin along with the rest of the Adepts.

“First,” explained Elephande, “we go to Indosyne. I need to look up my records.”

So to Indosyne they came, descending over the lush green forests in the Zalendaria II, Afrin’s flagship. The Adepts looked with great awe at the breathtaking sight of the capital city of Relenda, its large silver towers rising gracefully out of the endless forests around the city.

Relenda rose next to a large cliff with thousands of tiny waterfalls cascading into the large lakes and rivers that Relenda was built upon.

The Zalendaria II landed on the outskirts of the city, in a large spaceport that was well over twice the size of Hydrolonia, Weyard’s largest city. A group of Intyde stood waiting for them. One girl stood away from the rest, and she looked very different from the Intyde.

“Andrea! What’s happening here?” yelled Elephande over the crowd.

“There was a group of strange-looking intruders running rampant through the city! They were shouting about avenging Askinqua! Who’s Askinqua?” she said.

“Look through your records, my friend,” Elephande replied. “He’s there under the Cladlen.”

At mention of the Cladlen, the Intyde around them fell into a deathly silence. Many Intyde had died during their first war outside of Indosyne, and the legends of Alti have inspired all the High Chiefs that followed him.

“Ok,” she said, looking suddenly at Richard. “Adepts? Here? When did you achieve flight? Did I miss something when I left Weyard?”

“Not really,” replied Ryan.

“It’s his fault,” laughed Brooke, pointing at Afrin.

“I see,” she replied. “I am a Venus Adept from Vale, but I somehow ended up on Indosyne. Elephande noticed my love of history, and made me the record-keeper of Indosyne.”

She was telling this mostly to Brooke and Blair, because the others had noticed the huge army getting ready to leave.

“Vale?” Richard asked. “You…didn’t hear, did you?”

“No, what?” she asked.

Mekae walked up. “When the lighthouses were lit, their energy collected at Sol Sanctum, and Mt. Aleph and everything was sucked down into the earth.”

Unlike they had thought she would, Andrea didn’t pale. Instead she looked like she had expected it to happen.

“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. It’s happened before, always over a few millennia.”

Everyone just stared at her.

She continued. “That should explain why Elephande picked me. I knew the hidden history of Weyard before I was five. That makes ten times the cycle has happened then. One more is left before the end.”

“The end? Of what?” asked Blair.

“That I don’t know. I only know the legends speak of ‘the end’, but I don’t remember anything else.”

“Andrea! I don’t mean to be rude, but we don’t have very long!” yelled Elephande.

“Hold on then, I’m hurrying!”

A speeder took the through the wide streets of Relenda. The avenues in the center of the city were lined with grand statues and plazas that were as eye catching as the city itself. Golden statues of Elephande, Suliantig, Zambiandë, and various Intyde lined the avenue leading to the tallest and largest building in the city.

Reaching nearly half a mile skyward, the Hall of the High Council was a deep, dark shade of blue.

“It’s magnificent,” said Ryan, summing up the thoughts of the Adepts as they entered the building.

Inside, they found a five story high natural waterfall.

“Relenda was built after I came,” Elephande explained. “I had the architects purposely design this building into the side of this cliff. I just love natural beauty above artificial.”

The elevator was carved into the cliff just behind the waterfall, and the windows allowed the Adepts to take in everything inside the grand building.

They got off at the two hundred and fifty-second floor, which was near the top of the huge escarpment. Walking down a hall, Andrea explained the function of the Hall of Records.

“Indosyne has gone through so many events that without a very detailed set of records kept by a very diligent set of record keepers, little of our history would be remembered.”

She opened a large set of double doors, and they found themselves in a tall room with tall shelves nearly two stories high.

“This is the Hall of Records, which holds nearly five millennia of Indosyne’s history. Now, Elephande, what did you want me to search for?”

“Askinqua of the Cladlen.”

“Ok. It’ll take me a few minutes though, but I’ll find it.”

Several hours later, Andrea came out of the Hall of Records to find Elephande gone, and Richard the only one awake.

“Where did he go?” Andrea asked of the daydreaming Adept.

Richard looked as if he had been shaken awake by her request.

“He went that way, I think,” he said, pointing upwards towards where Elephande had said the council halls were.

“Beautiful,” muttered Andrea sarcastically. “Well, that means I have about 10 hours to prepare my report.”

Richard laughed at this.

“So, where are all you from?” asked Andrea.

“We all live in Anegon, but we’re from a few different cities around Weyard.”

“Anegon? You’re the group from Anegon?”

“Yep.”

“Can I see…?”

Richard unsheathed Altoda’s Bane and roared a command. Zambiandë roared out and charged down the hall, startling quite a few Elephatide standing around the hall.

“I get that all the time,” he laughed. “I expected you to ask that sooner or later.

Richard then started to tell the final events of the party’s defense of Anegon.

Flashback from Altoda’s Bane: (Reno’s POV)

I saw Richard collapse, and I saw the shadows come out from his sword. Mute yelled in fury as he was knocked down. That was my chance. I ran up and thrust my sword down into him.

“I told you not to pursue them!”

“And who made you the boss?” spat Mute.

He struck at me, and I cleanly dodged the blade.

“You couldn’t fight an elite,” I said, “not as worn out as you are.”

“Maybe not,” he agreed, “but I did something your precious trainee couldn’t. I defeated him,” he said, pointing at Richard, who had just come to.

I gave him a look telling him not to move, and apparently, he understood what I meant.

I then noticed the shadows returning, and I jumped out of the way. Mute must have thought I was running away from him, and he ran after me.

I heard a laugh behind me, and I turned to see him set fire to the forest around Anegon. I turned, and swung, but he parried my blade.

The one they called Mekae watched me fight Mute with a confused expression on his face.

Mute was laughing again, and I was obviously out of his mind. I thrust my sword into his chest, and he fell to the ground and died nearly instantly.

“Wow,” she said. “That was amazing. You lost so many friends though. I couldn’t have lived through that.”

“I don’t know what got us through that,” replied Richard, looking at the Adepts of Hydrolonia, Brooke and Blair. “It was probably them and their laughter that kept us sane.”

“New friends can do that well,” remarked Andrea very wisely, as if speaking from her own experience.

“I agree, and I feel like I’ve known them all forever.”

Andrea went off to find Elephande, and when she came back half an hour later, Blair had woken up and was talking excitedly to a nearby Intyde. Richard had again lapsed in to thought, staring out the window and looking down upon Relenda. Andrea walked up to Blair and the Intyde, who turned out to be Chief Aginshire.

“Aginshire, have you seen Elephande?”

“No. He’s not that hard to miss though. He’s taller than all of us by at least three feet.”

“Did you find what he was looking for?” asked Blair

“Yes, in fact I have.”

“And what did you find out?”

“Askinqua was the leader of the Cladlen’s first assault on Indosyne,” remarked Richard, coming out of his trance.

“How do you know that?” asked Andrea.

His answer was simple. “Altoda.”

“That doesn’t make sense though,” said Andrea. “Altoda’s never been in the Hall of Records.”

“No,” said Altoda, “but I just got back from their ship, and I ‘convinced’ a few of them to tell me what was happening.”

“I see,” said Andrea, laughing very hard.

“If you know all that,” Andrea started, “where is Elephande?”

“In the Chamber of Frontian. It’s restricted to you, though, and you know it.”

“Why is it restricted though?” she asked.

“That is not for you to know,” replied Altoda.

Andrea walked away with a downcast expression as Altoda headed towards the elevators. Blair looked again at Richard, and she caught his attention by sitting down next to him.

“That sounded strange. Why would Altoda be so blunt?” asked Blair

“I don’t know,” he replied.

They had all grown much closer over the two years since their first adventure, and it was hard to see one of the without seeing at least one other surviving member of the group, although it was most common to see Richard, Ryan, Allen and Cyrus dueling with their short swords in the park at the center of Anegon.

Though they were all under twenty, they were the most respected group in the city. No one dared insult them, the group that had lost so many friends to save the city. And nobody spoke evil about Vesuvia anymore, because Nick had come to their aid, and the populace of Vesuvia was burnt along with the forests.

Blair’s POV:

He seemed awfully silent for where he was. For someone so interested in history and new scenery in general, he didn’t pay much attention to the breathtaking view outside the window.

Ever since Afrin’s coronation, he had been drifting away from reality more often, and each time he did, it took something more drastic to bring him back to the present.

I saw his head pop up painfully and he turned to me.

“They’re going after Indosyne, Weyard, and any other planet remotely connected with Elephande.”

That was definitely not what I wanted to hear.

“How do you know?” I asked him.

“I just saw it in a vision.”

“Vision? Is that what’s been happening when you’ve drifted off from reality the past few weeks?”

“You could say that. But then again, I am a Jupiter Adept.”

It all came back to the uncanny future seeing powers of Jupiter Adepts. This was a time, however, when I would trust them. I knew Richard would never lie about a threat like this.

Andrea came back over, startled at the looks on our faces.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“It’s all going down in flames,” said Richard a little to apocalyptic to be believed. “Not literally, but all we know will soon be over, and we’ll have to fight for our lives.”

“What”? Andrea asked. She looked as confused as I felt.

“You were wrong, and so were the legends. There are only ten cycles, not eleven. The Cladlen are bringing with them the scourge of the universe. Our final battle is upon us.”

These words shook me to my bones. Final battle? Scourge of the universe? This was way over my head, but this time, I know that I can’t fail. The fate of Weyard rests on our shoulders now. Ten Adepts and a bunch of Elephatide against the army from hell. Not exactly my idea of a fair fight. I thought of my sister, and I tried to visualize what Alex would do if she were in my position. Then I thought a happier thought.

“Richard, don’t you think we should go back and find more Adepts?”

Chapter Three:
The New Company

For once, I think I may have it a jackpot idea! I know if nobody else will, my sister will help us.

I convinced Richard to go first to Hydrolonia, where I approached Chris.

“Do you know where my sister is?”

“No,” he replied. “But we do have a number of willing Adepts who would gladly join you. And they aren’t just Mercury either. Most of the Vesuvian survivors will join Richard, and a few resident Earth Adepts will join.”

“Vesuvian survivors?” asked Richard. “You have Vesuvian survivors?”

“Not many,” said Chris.

Just then, Alex walked in.

“I was told you were here,” she said to Richard.

“And who may you be?” he replied.

“Richard,” I said, “this is my sister, Alex.”

“Ah,” he remarked. “So you are who she talks about all the time.”

Alex laughed, and replied, “Yes, I probably am talked about a lot.”

“So, has word of our arrival gotten around this swiftly?” he asked her.

“Yep. You’ve got about fifty people looking to join you. I’m just the first.”

Richard laughed this time. “Just because you had an insider who planted information, you can join us.”

Blair rolled her eyes, which made all three laugh.

“And actually, I was going to ask to join you,” said Chris, catching them all surprised.

“You, Chris?” asked Alex. “Why?”

“I’ve always wanted to do something like this… One of those quests that put your name down in history, even if you die trying.”

“That’s a good point,” said Richard. “This is bigger than stopping one person. This is a number of systems we’re talking about saving.

“Besides,” said Chris, “I know a secret way back to your dock.”

“Good. Lets go.”

They snuck out into a rock tunnel that led towards the docks. Mekae was waiting with his ship to take them to Grebuldine, on an island near Hesperia.

Grebuldine was the only pure Venus Adept city outside Gondowan and Angara. The company landed outside of the city, pulling up to a well-used dock.

The Adepts stepped off the dock and onto a large platform with many pavilions set up, as if a festival was about to begin.

“You know,” whispered Cyrus, “they probably don’t like us in their town in the middle of the night.”

“And you say that why?” asked Alex.

The five Jupiter Adepts had stopped, and had reached for their weapons. Following their lead, everyone but Ryan reached for their weapons.

“Scott?” he called out into the darkness.

A boy of about 18 stepped out and replied. “Ryan, you’re back! I heard about all that crazy stuff you’ve been doing.”

Just then, Richard turned and hit another boy that had been sneaking up on him with the broadside of Altoda’s Bane.

“Thomas,” said Ryan, “forget it. They’re all Jupiter Adepts.”

Thomas instead picked up his sword, and charged at Chris.

“Not smart,” remarked Chris, picking up his sword. “Hydro Blast!” he yelled, and he shot a wave of water out of his hands.

Richard took the initiative. “Lightning Strike!” he yelled, and Thomas was now writhing on the ground at Ryan’s feet.

“Y’all are good,” he finally said.

Ryan helped him off the ground.

“Why’d you come back?” asked Scott.

“We need some help,” he replied.

“And you came to us?” laughed Thomas.

“Good point,” Richard whispered to Andrea and Blair, who both started laughing.

Thomas started to move towards Richard, but apparently the memory was enough pain.

Ryan told then their predicament. Their jaws dropped about five feet into the ground.

“That was my reaction,” he said.

“Except yours went six feet into the ground,” laughed Allen.

“Oh, man, Moron number One strikes again!” said Thomas.

Allen lashed out at Thomas with a bolt of lightning.

“I think you should shut up now,” said Scott.

“Very well,” he said. “Where to now?”

A lone figure in a black cloak walked towards them. As Ryan and Cyrus drew their swords, he drew out a lightsaber from the folds of his cloak.

“I thought I would find you here,” said the figure.

“Ah, yes, General Falcane,” remarked Andrea.

“Andrea, why are you here?”

“Well, this kinda is my home.”

“This city?”

“No, I wouldn’t live here, but I’m from this planet.”

“I see. Well, I think you better come with me.”

“Why?” asked Alex.

“Because Council Leader Afrin has requested your presence at Zancron today. He has some news for you.”

They walked back through the city to the docks, where they found Falcane’s sleek fighter waiting for them. As they stepped in, the noticed it was a lavish shuttle.

“Sweet! This kicks!” yelled Allen, jumping into a couch and turning on the extra large flat screen.

It turned out that Falcane had excellent taste. Inside the shuttle they found many flat screens, computers, and all the Sprite you could drink. That didn’t make Ryan happy.

“Sprite? How the hell can you drink that stuff?” he said, while the others laughed.

Within two hours, Ryan had psuedo-hijacked the shuttle and had landed on the nearest planet that had Coke available. Sadly, that was Zancron, where they were headed.

Except for the Sprite incident, the shuttle ride went along smoothly, and they soon arrived at Zancron, the space station that was famous for its pilots. It seemed soon, those pilots, including Falcane, would be needed.

Chapter Four:
Reanimations

“Boy, this looks familiar,” whispered Allen as they stood in the circle inside Zancron’s administration and hangar building. A large viewscreen was on one wall, and they were watching scenes of destruction.

“That was two hundred years ago,” remarked Elephande. “They would have gotten worse.”

“Yes,” agreed Richard, “But are you not stronger also?”

“Of course he is, are you insane?” asked Major Ali Spence.

“He does have a point,” argued General Caleb Pomeroy.

“I hate it when people argue!” yelled out the spirit of Allysulia-Matriarch-Allyutig, causing many of the spirits and Elephande to laugh. “Shut up! All of you!”

“Before you go any farther, Allyutig, there is no valley for light-years around,” laughed Elder Anine.

“Anine…” began Elephande.

“No valley?” said Allyutig. “I’ll just change my line.”

The Adepts and pilots looked confused. Then Allyutig erupted.

“Fools!” she yelled. “Do you want to wake the entire space station?”

“Actually, Allyutig,” began Memdrian, “it’s light outside. Everyone is already awake.”

“See!” she yelled. “You woke them all up!”

The entire council was silent until a Dreg general spoke up.

“May I ask what that was about?”

Elephande replied, “Well, Sulit-Aladan, that,” he paused until Allyutig had left, “was the matriarch of my old herd. She used that line all the time.”

“She did,” agreed Elder Anine, “It’s a wonder she never woke the valley up.”

The room erupted with laughter, and a boy of about 17 looked in.

“Did I miss something?” he asked.

Mekae looked at him. “I don’t know your name, but you missed everything!”

“Where were we?” asked Elephande.

“Wouldn’t you know?” asked Ali.

“Oh yes, here we were,” he said, and continued. “The Cladlen were remarkable in the fact that they would never give up.”

Another man rushed in. “Askinqua is alive, and he seems to be on Weyard for some reason. The people of Anegon saw him raise a black figure from a shallow grave.”

The Adepts looked at each other, and they knew who Askinqua had raised from the dead. Mute was back, and there was no doubt he would exact revenge on them.

Chapter Five:
Zancron’s Council

“Askinqua? Back?” asked Elephande.

“I can verify it,” said Altoda. “I saw him.”

“What?”

“He was cloned, as was this Adept he ‘raised’ from the dead. Very complex, but they’ll have all their memories before they were cloned intact.”

“Well then, we do have our work cut out for us then,” said Elephande. “Now where’s General Falcane?”

Cain Falcane’s POV:

I walked through the darkness shadowing the station, knowing that something, or someone unwanted was out there in that black void.

“You! Over there!” yelled an unfamiliar voice.

I turned and looked in the direction of the shout. Six men, all wearing swords, ran out of the darkness around me.

“In the name of the great Askinqua, who are you and what is your business here? This is our station now!” shouted the leader.

“Not on my watch it isn’t,” I replied. “Besides, my authority and loyalty goes to only one person.”

“Who? I demand you tell me!”

“Your worst nightmare,” I laughed as the shadow belonging to Elephande walked up silently behind him.

“He means me,” growled Elephande.

The leader and his men turned and gasped at the Mark of Suliantig.

“Recognize it, I suppose?” Elephande laughed.

The leader laughed. “You are still alive? Askinqua has told us many times that you must be dead.”

“Well, if I let you go,” he started, “tell Askinqua that I am very much alive.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll know.” He started towards me at a run, and had struck me before I knew it.

Falcane fell to the ground as Richard and Mekae ran up to investigate the noises.

Richard’s POV:

I saw Elephande throw one attacker over his shoulder, but the men kept coming. It looked like there were over three dozen in all.

Cain had gotten up and taken out his sword. He rushed at the leader, who started to duel him.

“Zambiandë!” I yelled, my cry ringing out into the night.

The attackers stopped to look in awe at the ten shadows appearing out of my sword.

“Bad idea!” yelled Elephande, taking his blades to the frozen warriors.

Ten other elephant-like shadows sped towards the warriors, causing them to scatter. That’s where Mekae and I came in use.

Bolts of lightning shot out of my hands towards a dozen or so fleeing warriors, hitting and paralyzing most of them. The shadows then took care of them for me.

The carnage continued for another hour until only the leader was left, still fighting an exhausted General Falcane. Then he disappeared, much like we teleport. We all decided to present the attack to the council tomorrow.

“I can assure you that he will be relaying these happenings to Askinqua right away,” said Cain the next day.

“I agree,” said Richard. “We must work quickly now in order to have a greater chance of success.”

“Well, continuing where we left off yesterday, there is someone who does have some information,” said Elephande. The boy who had been late yesterday stood up. “Bill, is there anything of relevant interest that you have found out?”

Bill stood up. “In all reality, Askinqua’s capitol of Haldiar is much like the city of Relenda in the fact that it is based mainly on the military. Every street is passable by assault vehicles as large as a MR-10 Mobile Fortress,” he started.

“They can all hold an MR-10?” asked a skeptical General Pomeroy. “That’s impossible. Those things are two hundred feet wide! No street here or anywhere else could hold that thing, except for major highways!”

“Well, I can assure you, I rode in one while I was there, and these roads are large enough,” replied Bill.

“Might be to our advantage them if we decide to storm the city,” said Caleb.

“We aren’t going to storm the city!” said Elephande.

“I agree,” said Cain. “We don’t have the soldiers available to do so in their own city.”

“And however many MR-10’s they can bring out at Chilaquand, they would not be useful on the grassy terrain,” added Altoda.

“Good point. Both armies will know Chilaquand well before coming into the battle,” said Bill. “But we will have a superior advantage in terrain knowledge and manipulation.

“And by no means shall I give up the space battle,” remarked Suisane-Patriarch-Suligan firmly.

“By the gods we won’t, not with us up there!” agreed Cain.

“Well, I think I have come to a decision on a course of action,” said Elephande. “Cain and I shall take our armies to the plains of Frotain to wait for Askinqua,” he started.

Cain nodded his head in approval.

“General Sulit-Aladan, you shall lead your fleet in a blockade of the planet Aldiria, the main supply station for the Cladlen.”

“I shall not fail you, my friend,” replied Sulit-Aladan.

“And Bill, you will guide Richard and the Adepts on a covert mission into Haldiar.”

“With pleasure,” replied Bill.

Afrin spoke. “My friends, this is the greatest war any of us have seen. This will determine the fate of our societies. Richard, you will strike first at the city of Haldiar, as Sulit-Aladan and I draw most of their military away from the planet of Cladlenia.”

“I still have two more I would like to add to our number. Kaiyt, Carter, can you two get in here?” Bill called into an intercom.

A girl and a boy, both about Bill’s age, walked into the room.

“These to Adepts are my friends and colleagues in my operation. Kaiyt is a Mercury Adept from Imil, while,” started Bill.

“Carter!” exclaimed Mekae. “I never knew you were here!”

“Save the introductions, my friends,” said Elephande. “We start immediately! Morte toqune emite delqune Marto!”

Funny how no one ever replied to this.

Maybe noone wanted to read it. too bad for Elephande.

I feel bad for him. So much work. Maybe I'll try and see what this whole thing is about. :(

Maybe you could continue it. ^_^

I'm not sure about that. Writing about a herd of elephants isn't my style....

The story is about elephants? I didn't actually read it. I wasn't planning to either, but elephants? No wonder no one wanted to read it. :blink:

LOL :D :D Lets make a story about cows. :D :}

What's Altoda's Bane? Oh, and nice new ava Beyonder.

Thanks you! ;)

Or a farm, ... <_<

I..uh..don't like Beyoner's new avatar. Probably because I don't like BDZ. But that's my opinion. Nothing against you Beyonder.

god of black flame!!!!! uuuuUUUuuuu you dont like DBZ I know at some times it drags on (goku fighting freesa) but it never gets dull and repets the same plot with new people like with some animes I have seen <_< not saying FLCL is like that FLCL is clearly better butuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUuuuuu :(

FLCL doesn't have enough time to drag stuff out, so of course it doesn't do that. It's just tha6t DBZ was adapted for kids in America, and they have too many cheesy comments, and I hate how they drag everything out. I'm a very impatient person. I just don't like DBZ. And They didn't make GT any better. The narrator there has such a stupid voice. But The original Dragon Ball series isn't all that bad. I did watch that when it was on. Is it still on?

nice to see ive gotten some replys. i have been very busy, and unable to post for some time now, but i have started working again on this story... and i am glad someone actually figured out on their own that a lot of my charecters are elephants...

Chapter Six:
Dregnaught

“Well, this may be it. You are a truly remarkable group of people. I knew that since I saw you unleash your power on my unlucky comrade,” said Sulit-Aladan.

The Adepts were prepared to depart for Cladlenia soon.

“Well, I can’t stay long,” he said, looking out the bridge window. “I’m famous already.”

“They didn’t expect you,” said Richard. “Askinqua probably told them that Elephande was ruthless and that he had killed all of you.”

“Wouldn’t have put it past him,” Sulit-Aladan replied.

“Come on, guys, lets go,” insisted Bill.

“Right with you,” replied Mekae.

The started down to the planet of Cladlenia, its majestic mountains and wide oceans below them.

Sulit-Aladan watched the shuttle descend and turned to his second in command.

“Gladia-Neflon?”

“Sir?”

“Set your course to Aldiria.”

“Yes sir. Estimated time of arrival: 5:48 from now, and counting.”

Sulit-Aladan’s POV:

Aldiria turned out to be a large planet, roughly three times the size of my command ship. No matter. My pilots were second to only Elite Squadron and the Suisane herd.

“We’ve got company!” yelled my tactician, Alsan-Dilra.

The Cladlen had arrived. Their ships, long, sleek silver bullet-shaped craft were not very agile or maneuverable, which was very unfortunate for them.

“Ashlinder formation Beta 3-9!” I called out, using the Dreg battle formation made famous at the final space battle above Balecroft.

They split and ran like mad. I thought to myself, “Where are the rest of them?”

“Admiral Sulit-Aladan!” I looked up. “Oh. There they are.”

Thousands of Cladlen ships appeared around Aldiria, and the fighters that flew out of them were an exact duplicate of Elephande’s fighters, swift, sleek, and deadly.

“Well, we’re here,” remarked Bill as they landed on the outskirts of Haldiar.

“Afrin should be at Chilaquand by now,” added Richard.

Afrin’s POV:

After hearing 57 years’ worth of stories about it, I finally set my gaze upon the valley that my father had once called home.

“It has been a long time, Elephade,” remarked a voice.

“Who are you?” asked Zambiandë.

“Defond-Patriarch-Delegace of the Valley of Chilaquand. Elephande!” he yelled in greeting, looking at the Mark on my forehead.

“No, I am Suliantig-Patriarch-Afrin, son of Elephande and leader of the Indosyne Union,” I replied.

“Delegace? It’s been a while, old friend,” said the shadow of Patriarch Elephate.

“Patriarch Elephate! You have returned!”

“Delegace! Gather your herd!” yelled Elephande.

“Sir?”

“A great host is coming. Here, on these ancient grounds of our home, we shall do battle.”

“Well, these grounds have favored us since Bleeding Allysulia, why shouldn’t they be our end now?”

“Begging your pardon,” said Zambiandë icily, “I was six years your senior then, and it was not as glorious as it is depicted.”

“Heh, especially not for you!”

“Delegace! We are on the same side now, despite what you have heard!”

“And you may be?” asked Delegace.

“Istean-Elder-Altoda, thank you very much. And as I am your senior here,” Altoda started.

“By what,” Suliantig roared, “five minutes?”

“Fools,” started Elephande, “what good will it do to argue here while the Cladlen approach?”

“He has a point,” agreed Allysuntis.

“Thank you, at least someone agrees with me. To Frontian!”
“Something’s not right here,” said Mekae. “I can sense it.”

“So can we, but we don’t know what it is,” grumbled Allen. “For all we know, it could be Elephande that we sense!”

Suligan’s POV:

“Coming up on the battle, time of arrival 23 minutes,” said Suisane-Captian-Adrian, a squadron leader in my herd.

“Squad leaders, ready your commands. Watch for enemy at all points. They could be anywhere.”

“We got incoming!” yelled Captain Adrian.

“Scatter!”

We did. In a few seconds, they were on us, exact duplicates of the ships used at Balecroft, but no match for us.

“Suligan!” exclaimed Sulit-Aladan.

“I though I would help, my friend,” I replied.

“What? A party without us?” called in Cain.

“Never dreamt of it,” said Sulit-Aladan.

“Please,” I added, “the more, the merrier.”

And so it began. The greatest space battle in history, and I was at the head of it. Hopefully, I would still be at the end, but I didn’t know if I would be.




Chapter Seven:
Haldiar

Richard’s POV:

We stopped in front of a group of what looked like regular apartment buildings, about twenty in all, around large courtyards.

“This is normally where we work from,” said Carter.

“It’s never failed us before,” said Bill. As an afterthought, he added, “And it has beautiful scenery.”

Kaiyt rolled her eyes and Cater thwapped Bill on the back of the head.

“You know,” said Brooke, “that’s completely beside the point.”

“I know,” Bill replied. “It is true though.”

We walked through the courtyards to a small building on the edge of the complex.

“This is it. Our little pocket of resistance in a hostile world,” remarked Kaiyt.

“Wait a minute,” started Mekae.

I nodded in agreement. “Behind us.”

“Well, that didn’t go as planned now, did it?” said a voice behind me.

I turned around and saw the man who had been in Zancron a few weeks ago.

“Ah, someone I know here,” he sneered. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Matt, and I hail from Grebuldine.”

“You know you can’t win a fight here,” said Blair.

“Are you sure about that? I could duel you right here!” Matt shouted, and leaped towards her.

Blair nodded, and Reno struck, his blade going deep into Matt.

“That was cheap,” he gasped.

“And you wouldn’t have done the same thing?” asked Blair.

“You think you are such a good group?” Matt sneered. “Meet mine!”

A group of twenty or so Adepts popped out from behind bushes, stairs, and trees.

“Not feeling on top now, are you?” Matt laughed.

Kaiyt struck first, shooting ice missiles at two Mars Adepts near her. Matt leaped at Blair, swinging a sword. Mekae, Allen, and Cyrus talked a group of five Mercury Adepts wielding maces.

“Zambiandë!” I yelled, hoping to cut the battle short.

Elephade led ten shadows out of my sword, and they scattered in all directions. Elephande and Elephade ran towards Matt, who was sneaking up behind Reno and Bill. Suliantig and Allysuntis lent their aid to Blair, Brooke and Alex, while Defoc and Elephate came towards Allen and I.

Soon, all lay dead except Matt, who was on the ground, fury in his gaze. Some distance away, his attacker was found.

Blaze lay in thick grass, her sword in her hand. Before he had fallen, his sword had found her neck, and a deep gash was in it.

“Should have expected it sooner or later, though. One of us would be the first,” said Chris.

“Take him inside,” I said. “Let’s hope this is still a safe house for now.”

Holy shaz elephande i haven't seen you in a couple months! good to have you back

Yes. Good. ^_^

And I'm glad to be back here as well. It'll take me a while to get the next couple of chapters typed up, since i cant type fast and look at a doc. at the same time... maybe next week, i guess?

Finally, I'm back AGIAN... and I can continue this.

Chapter Eight:
Afrin's Command

Afrin and Delagace stood on Nietyp Hill, at the head of the valley. Their host was massed some distance away, near the shores of Frontian.

"We should hold this position for many months," remarked Delagace, who had not seen battle for nearly eight centuries.

"Not if half of what my father says is true," replied Afrin, gazing at the sky.

----------
Delphi-Gladicle's POV:

"Watch it, Cain, you've got one on you!"

"I'm on it! Echo, Caleb, with me!"

"Suligan, watch your left!"

The battle had raged for days upon end. I stood next to General Mastredocil, who was providing a commentary.

"We're away!" yelled Cain, streaking from the ruins of a Cladlen ship.

More explosions followed, and Sulit-Aladan spoke up.

"Everyone, out of there now!"

One lone fighter stayed behind, bringing chaos to the fleet of ships, waiting to swat him like a bug.

"Suligan, get out of there!" yelled Sulit-Aladan.

"That'll give 'em something to think about!" he yelled, flying from the mass of fireballs.

The last remaining captial ship exploded, and the fighters turned to flee.

"Suisane, to me! After them!" cried Suligan, dashing madly after them.

----------
Allen's POV:

I stood there, watching Matt slowly wake.

"You're still here?" he sneered.

"Yep. And I will be for a while."

"You try to frighten me? It's your sword weilding friend who does all your work."

"Maybe it is," I agreed. "But I can act on my own."

He fell silent as lightning flew from my hands.

"Was that really necesary?"

"Maybe. What's it to you, Reno?"

"Traitor," said Matt. Reno quit laughing.

"To whom? I am no traitor to the Order."

"Order? I know nothing about the Order you seem to value."

"Like hell you don't," Reno replied. "Your brother is still one of our best fighters anywhere."

"Jeremy has dishonored us."

Reno laughed again. "And how did he do that?"

"Your Order is a society for the weak, Reno. You know not true power."

"And neither does the one you hold so highly."

In an instant, Matt was up, laughing as he ran out the door, only to be frozen.

"It's not quite that easy," said Brooke.

"Get out of the way!" yelled Reno, as Matt began to melt.

"Matt, you've failed me agian! You expect me to put up with your failures? Go! I'll deal with them!"

"I told you long ago not to show your face to me agian, Mute!"

"And I replied that I care not for restrictions another sets upon me!" Mute yelled, moving to fight Reno.


---------
Chris's POV:

We walked back to the hideout early, following Mekae's suspicions.

"Do you know what it is you think went wrong?" asked Alex.

"The question is, do we want to know?" said Scott.

"Who's that in the doorway?"

"No idea, Thomas."

I reconized him at once. Long had he sat on my council, spreading whatever lies he felt would decieve us, always biding his time.

"What the...!"

"My thoughts exactly," said Mekae.

"Just what we need," said Cyrus.

"I thought he was dead!"

"No, the council said he wasn't. We can remedy that, however!"

We could hear Reno from inside.

"I could take you here, right now!"

"You vastly underestimate me!"

"Do I?"

The figure on the ground spoke. "Mute, behind you!"

Richard came running out of the bushes, roaring a command. "Zambiandë!"

"Akromanda!"

A strange looking warrior erupted from Mute's sword and erupted a barrage of flames at Richard, who ducked with extrodinary speed.

"Niepdre!"

Reno had summoned the spirit of a falcon, the ancient protector of his Order.

Mute had thrown Matt his sword back, and he joined the fight.

"Alsirandra!"

Out came Alsiandra, a legdenary Adept from Grebuldine.

"How did he get our sword?" yelled Scott.

"I remember him. He was sent out to alert the Order of the events at Anegon, but it seems he never reached Elidion."

Mute turned back towards Reno, who leapt forward to fight.

"Hey, I'm over here!" yelled Richard, as Zambiandë slammed into Mute.

Matt tried to sneak behind Richard, but was stopped when a wall of earth came down on him. Mute agian turned, this time unleashing fire towards Ryan.

"Niepdre!" The falcon flew towards Mute, letting loose a barrage of elemental forces. I heard one last voice before I froze.


----------
Brooke's POV:

"Ice Missle!" cried the girl behind Chris.

"Kailin!" yelled Matt, getting up, "we could use some help here!"

"You aren't going anywhere!" snarled Ryan, jumping at him.

The girl had ran towards them, only to find Blair blocking her path. Thier Psyenergy parried each other. Matt sent a spire of rock flying at Ryan, only to have it sent back at him. Mute now had two swords, and was dancing away from both Richard and Reno. I did the only thing i knew how to.

"Blizzard!" The ice fell everywhere. Matt and Ryan found their swords frozen, while Reno rushed over to defrost Blair. He had left Richard to deal with Mute alone.

----------
"General!"
Sulit-Aladan moved towards the window. "This can't be good," he said. Thousands of Cladlen ship blocked their path to Afrin. "Afrin," he whispered, "your command is before you. Do not lose it!"

One ship sped past the blockade, drawing the general's attention. Altoda was returning home.

nice story and I never met you before

Elephande I really hope your staying this time. ^_^

Heh, hopefully I'll stay... depends on school...

Chapter Nine:
Chilaquand

Elephande's POV:

They had arrived. Hundreds of transports carrying millions of Cladlen.

"Delagace? Were you at Frontian?"

"When the Five appeared? Of course I was!"

"And here, last time?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Those were just the warmups. This is the title fight!"

A loud voice rang down from a hill across the river.

"Is this all you bring agianst me, Elephande?"

Afrin responded. "Elephande? I am not he, and you see only a small portion of what shall be your downfall, Askinqua."

Askinqua laughed. "Elephande a sends a child as his champion? Where is the aged imbecile?"

Afrin erupted in fury. "Child? I do believe am the elder of you!"

"Judjing by that response, you must be Afrin."

"And if I am?"

"You are extremly foolish to be here. You may indeed be my elder, but what do you know of war?"

"More than you think."

-----------------------
Reno's POV:

"Give it up," I said. "You can't win here!"

"Oh? And who says that?"

"I do!" yelled Ryan. "Meteor Shower!"

"Protæus!" replied Mute, causing the meteors to deflect harmlessly agianst him. Your turn. Akromanda!"

"Niepdre!" The falcon grabbed the sword from the warrior and threw it away from the fight.

"Zambiandë!"

This caused a cry to escape Matt, who dove out of the way of the shadows. Three of them slammed into Mute, who collapsed to the ground.

"We're leaving!" yelled Kailin. She and Matt grabbed Mute and teleported away.

I dropped my sword to the ground, and turned to the others.

"That wasn't that bad," gasped Blair, right before she collapsed.

-----------------------
Sulit-Aladan's POV

"I believe the phrase our friends use is 'By the High Elder!'" I said.

Suliantig's squadron appeared, and Suliantig himself started cursing.

Cain laughed. "That sounds about right."

A deck officer walked up. "They're hailing us."

Delphi-Gladicle spoke. "Of course they are! If large fleet appeared out of nowhere, what would you do?"

"I'm on it," said Cain. "Will? What can you do here?"

Will spoke. "This is the captian of the Delagate. We are returning from a classified mission."

"Do you expect them to believe that? Our identifier will show them different."

The bridges of our ships came alive then. In one second, our identifers had changed to support the claim. The blockade spoke.

"You may proceed. Ground Command wishes us to inform you that airspace over the valley of Frontian is resricted. Doing some sort of testing over there."

"We'll keep that in mind."

The fleet dropped in on an approach.

-----------------------

"You aren't welcome here, Askinqua. I banished you from our realm many years ago."

"Ahh, Elephande..." Askinqua started.

Elephande looked down, listening to Chief Algoshire.

"Sulit-Aladan will be here shortly. Suligan and Falcane are with him."

Askinqua had continued. "...I was hoping you hadn't died in one of your 'idealistic wars' before we met again. This is a moment I've waited 200 years for, and we can just let this last now, can't we? I mean, you don't seem to be going anywhere soon, do you?"

-----------------------

Cain spoke up. "Sulit-Aladan! I have my shot!"

"Take it!"

The heavy artillery around Askinqua erupted in flames.

-----------------------

Down below, Askinqua was beside himself.

"Is that your awnser? The attack of these worthless Dreg?"

"That is their own response. They're not under my control."

"Very well, I guess two can play this game!" He roared a command to his troops.

-----------------------

"Fire!" cried Delphi-Gladicle. "Take out as many as you can!" He moved to a tactical display, watching as Elephande's definsive positions fell under attack.

-----------------------

Elephande surveyed the scene from the islands in Talabad Lake.

"Well, Afrin, we shall wait."

"I can handle a siege. I handeled Mastredocil's on Balecroft for six months."

Delagace strode up. "I never though I'd see this day."

Afrin spoke. "The end of an age? That comes afterwards, to those who triumph here."

"And we may not see that day, Delagace," said Elephande. "For now, we shall fight!"

Hmm.....well, it's good to have another member around at least. Perhaps I'll have to read this story soon. As long as it's got an intersting beginning, I'll probably be hooked. :D

Chapter Ten:
Altoda's Return

Altoda's POV:

It was time. I didn't know what compelled me to return, but I was going home. Not my true home, but a place that had been my home for so long, where we were exiled to after Graupia.

What do you tell a multitude that blames you for their exile? I guess the High Elder will take care of that later.

A plethora of questions keep running through my mind. Had my status as elder been revoked? I wouldn't be the first. Nimoloc had ruled when I left, years ago. Was he still alive? Or was Delagog, his son, in charge? Would Alinqua, Supreme General of Istean blast me out of the sky? Or would my best friend even still hold that title?

A lone ship stood in my way. I heard a familiar voice over the speakers, and my fate was not mine anymore.

-----------------------
Alinqua's POV:

The captian in charge of the station called me over. "General, we have incoming! It looks to be one of Elephande's!"

"Elephande?"

"Shall I hail it, sir?"

"Yes, you should! When I left, that was standard!" The voice was one I would reconize in a moment.

"By the High Elder! Altoda!"

"Alinqua!"

"Get down there! Delagog's looking for any refrence of you!"

-----------------------

"Father?" asked Delagog. "I've found him."

"Elder Altoda," started Nimoloc, in a barely audible voice, "you have returned."

"Nimoloc! Old friend, what's happened here?"

"It's my time now. The High Elder spoke to me earlier. He said you would return victorious."

"And so I have, Patriarch."

"Why would he report a victory agianst him? Why would he bring me news of Elephande's loss?"

"Elephande's... No, Nimoloc, the curse is gone. It is gone, and the Dreg and Elephande are in dire need!"

"Gone? Shattered? By who, Elder?"

"Heh. Our old friend, Zambiandë!"

"Young Zambiandë? Amazing!" He paused for a moment. "But what of this General He told me of?"

"The General? He's an Adept, no less!"

"From Elidion? The one Elder Higenti spoke of was of Elidion ancestry."

"Elidion? No, I don't think he's from there."

Nimoloc paused agian. "My time here is done, Altoda. Take the cuase. Elephande will need the Elder Children before long, I have been told."

"Patriarch? How did you know?"

But he spoke no more. Nimoloc, fifth patriarch of Istean, had died. Altoda's gaze fell to the floor. Delagog walked back in.

"I was told. Patriarch Altoda, come with me. The people must know this."

-----------------------

Delagog, Altoda, Alinqua, and the five elders stood on a raised platform in front of the mass of Istean. They stood in all directions, as far as the eyes could see. Delagog was speaking.

"I present to you all, Altoda, sixth patriarch of Istean!"

Altoda stepped forward. "My fellow Istean, I have returned! The Elder Children are bound no more by our curse! The High Elder has need our the might of Istean. I shall ride to Chilaquand, to our ancient homeland, and support the High Elder's chosen one. I shall go with all who wish to accompany me, and with this deed our name might be renewed! So, who follows me? Who will ride with their patriarch?"

There was a moment of silence. Then, Alinqua stepped to Altoda's side. "I shall follow you, to whatever awaits us, my friend."

Delagog stood up. "My father respected your desision, even though it brought exile upon us. Surely these Cladlen are puppets of the Fallen Elder! I will ride with you, for glory and Istean!"

The elders also moved forward. It started softly, growing louder as the mass chanted "Istean! Istean!" long a rallying cry used to stir up fervor.

Altoda spoke, his words carrying over the voices of the mass. "Then it is decided! Come, my fellow Istean! We ride to war! Akiz Elder Higenti!"

Alinqua's loud voice echoed the words of Isteanoc, first patriarch of Istean. "Istean akiz Elder Higenti! Akiz gloric delqune Istean!"

Yes I might read it but it is about elephants I would rather read about chickens LOL

Heh. Whats wrong with elephants?

Just my comment, I wont be able to update this until my site comes back up.

Chapter Eleven:
Elder Afrin's Miracle

Alinqua's POV:

"So are we really going home, or was that just a figure of speech?" I asked Altoda.

A shadow appeared next to Altoda. "Yes," it spoke, "you go to Chilaquand."

"And how do you know where we are going?"

"Because I forsaw it."

Altoda turned. "Well recieved, Elder Afrin."

"I bring you a choice, Patriarch. You have been chosen to recieve a... gift, as you might call it."

"Gift? I need nothing, except..."

"A better form? A second chance?"

"Exactly."

"The High Elder bestowed a choice to Elephande. He was to pick one who deserved a second chance, and he has chosen you."

"He chose me over Zambiandë? How is that possible?"

"He knew all that has befallen here, and chose based on the fact that Istean will be catapulted back into glory on the shoulders of its' greatest patriarch."

I started. "OK, I'm confused... A second chance? You're resurrecting him?"

"In a sense..."

"The debt is returning now," started Altoda. "Zambiandë sacrificed himself to destroy me. Now I shall return!"

-----------------------
Allysuntis (the Younger's) POV:

"Where in the name of the High Elder is Afrin?" I shouted.

"He'll get to us!" called Zambiandë.

We were surrounded by Askinqua's troops, who were assulting our position relentlessly. Afrin had said earlier that we would get aid, but as I looked towards the plains, I saw the mass of the main body of the Indosyne Union army also surrounded.

"You need some help?"

"By the High Elder! Suligan!"

Suligan's Suisane fleet unleashed a deadly barrage on Askinqua's men, while he himself led a compliment of troops down the hill.

-----------------------
Afrin's POV:

Our perimeter was falling to wave after wave of Askinqua's forces. I had promised aid to my cousin, but now, I needed aid.

"Brace yourself, Patriarch!"

"Sulit-Aladan!"

He opened fire at point-blank range. I had been on the opposite side of Dreg gunners before, and it wasn't very pretty. Blood flowed down the hills we were on, slowing the next wave of Cladlen. I acted.

"Foward, my friends, and let's find Allysuntis!"

My father let the war-cry of Allysulia ring in its' old home once more. "Morte delqune emite toqune Martos!"

Many of the Cladlen were frozen into place, as what the remembered from legends of that cry flooded their mind. Many simply fled back towards Askinqua's artillery. Others just stood there while Sulit-Aladan's gunners made short work of them.

-----------------------

"Well?" asked Chris, after Reno had thawed them all.

"Our job here is done," said Richard. "We must get to Elephande immediatly."

"I agree," said Reno. "Besides, we don't know where Mute will pop up next, and do we really want to be here when he does?"

-----------------------
Altoda's POV:

"So you want us to go to the center of the problem to find the solution?" asked a skeptical Alinqua.

"And what will we find on Cladlenia, Elder?" I asked.

"The solution, naturally."

Alinqua erupted. "So we're following the words of a deranged old windbag, travelling to the heart of the enemy, and looking for the High Elder knows what? Perfect..."

Elder Afrin smiled. "Doubt not the words of the High Elder's enlightened one," he said, and promptly disappeared.

The pilot spoke up. "Look! Down there!"

-----------------------

Ryan spotted something. "Up there!" he yelled.

"Who is that?" asked Mekae.

-----------------------
Altoda's POV:

"Land over there."

"As ordered, Patriarch."

Our ship headed down to the group of Adepts. They would indeed be a great help, but they weren't the mythical army Elephande spoke of with reverence. After they boarded, Richard asked me what I knew of Elidion.

"The Adepts of Elidion are legendary, and are known to many of us. Elephande said that an army of Adepts from Elidion helped him beat Askinqua the first time. A few dozen of them, and we'll have this fight before it starts!"

Richard laughed. "A few dozen? Try about twenty thousand."

At those words, everyone's heads turned towards him.

"Elidion? Have Adepts? Impossible!" said Chris. "Anybody who sets foot there is never seen agian. Elidion is nothing more than a haunted ruin, a ghost of what it was."

"The Army of Elidion is not made of ghosts," remarked Reno, very quietly. "Care to see?"

yes i care to see ...lolim just putting myself in the storie

You do? I can post the next 3 or 4 chapters when I have time, so here's the next:

Chapter Twelve:
Elidion's Order

Ryan's POV:

"Reno?" I asked. "Is there something you forgot to tell us?"

"Elidion's Army, the group of Adepts Richard spoke of, is a lesser known name," explained Reno. "Most of you know it as the Order of the Hidden, of which I am a member."

"The Order guarded our secret cities: Prox, Conitgo, Vale, Anegon, and the such," said Richard. "They are headquartered in Elidion, the most powerful Adept city on Weyard."

Reno nodded. "Membership in the Order is hereditary. Once a person gets in, membership cannot be denied to any of his or her descendants, much like the power of Alchemy itself."

Brooke replied, "I get the feeling Reno isn't the only one with a secret."

"For that matter, you'd be right," said Richard. "My father was accepted nearly twenty years ago, but he left me in his home of Anegon right before he ran off to Prox."

"Prox?" asked Mekae. "To the lighthouse?"

Reno nodded. "We had to see if the prophecy was true. Although we couldn't have done much if Weyard had started to blow up or anything, we could at least warn everybody."

A voice rang out from the front of the shuttle. "Coming up on Elidion."

----------------------------

"How much more of this can we take?" asked Mastredocil.

"Easily to the middle of next month," said Elephande, "even if nobody recieves our call for help."

Elephade Zambiandë entered the meeting. "Where is Altoda? We could use him about now!"

"Altoda has been called on a mission from the High Elder," replied a voice from the shadows.

"Great," replied Delagace, "We don't have the strength we need to win. This is hopeless!"

Defoc, first patriarch of the herd Delagace commanded, spoke icily, "Has my bloodline become so tainted that you speak these words?"

Elephate said nothing, but he was a brilliant shade of violet at the moment. Luckily for Delagace, his words we cut off by the entrance of Allyutig.

"Did I miss something?" she snarled. "All the yelling woke me up!"

"Allyutig," Suliantig calmly remarked, "with all the noise outside, it's a wonder you slept at all!"

Elder Afrin chose that moment to reveal himself from the shadows. His deep voice rolled out onto the plains. "Gather the forgotten monarchs of Frontian. Thriteen will unite with Twelve, and the Eldest shall return. Unicely, Cónserver y Derógger! Forget your strife, and show your might! Children of the Second Strife, teach those of the Third the fury of our people, but forget not the lessons you learned from your elders! For just as the First and Second creted the Third, so shall the Fourth begin! Akiz Elder Higenti!"

----------------------------

Carter's POV:

We passed into Elidion on a huge ship, one of Reno's. Tall stone buildings rose up around us, blocking our view of anything else. A figure stood by a lone dock straight ahead of us. When we got close enough, Reno shoutted a greeting.

"How does it all go, Billy?"

"Same as always, Reno, who are all these? I reconize a few of them, including the large one, but you know..." He turned to Richard. "Welcome home, old friend. It has been a while since the line of Anegon resided here."

"It has been a while, has it not! Where is the rest of our old group?"

"Jeremy is around here somewhere. You know about his brother, I see, and the eldest of us left long ago."

"Matt has been dealt with. We shall be his haven no longer."

----------------------------

Elephande's POV:

"Hold fast!" yelled Afrin, and our forces formed a line.

"Take them down!" roared Delanate, Askinqua's son. The advancing Cladlen broke into a run, and their weapons were trained on us.

"Wait a minute," I said. They came closer. "Now!"

Delanate's line collapsed as we rained fire down on them. Fighters roared overhead, and a shot took out Elronid, Defoci's patriarch. His daughter, Elrodac, stood speechless as the ground around her father burst into flame.

I stood, watching as the bodies piled up across my home, wondering when help would come. Where was Altoda, and ddid he succed?

----------------------------

"Is it just me, or is everything here really small?" asked Altoda. At nearly fifteen feet of height, he had to duck through the architecture of Elidion. "And I know I can't fit in there," he said, indicating the building Billy had led them to.

"You don't have to," said Reno. "I'll be right back."

A short boy walked up to them. "Reno, she's waiting for you. I see you brought some friends back with you."

"That I did, Brandon. Make sure the tall one doesn't run off anywhere," he said jokingly, entering the building.

"Run off to?" asked Altoda. "Honestly, where would I run to?"

The Company laughed as Reno led a girl towards them. She was dressed all in black, and appeared to be Reno's age.

"Rachel," said Reno, "this is the Company of Anegon."

Her eyes met those of each of the company's before they settled on Richard. "Old friend, has it not been a while?"

"Indeed, it has been a while, Rachel. The command has passed then?"

"It has. Most of Elidion's command stands before you. And our old group is only missing a few members, but we can solve that. Would you like to see what remains of your family?"

"How long will it take to reach Contigo?"

"Hah. Your skills are indeed great. Soon we will leave."

----------------------------

Delagace's POV:

I watched as the Cladlen overran our positions on the other side of the creek. Sulit-Aladan and Suliantig valiantly holding the two crossings. Fighters, something never before heard in my home, flew overhead. My gunners where nowhere near as skilled as those of the Dreg, but they did manage to down two dozen before their positions fell under fire.

Elephande had been right. Neither of the other battles I had fought here had prepared me for this. Dwindler's War, the period every one of us wanted to forget, was bad, but nothing could match this. At least here, we knew who the enemy was. Dwindler's War was chaos, trying to figure out who was on your side, fighting assults on three flanks, and stuff nobody ever teaches you to handle. And to think, that was a warmup...

----------------------------

Rachel gazed at Altoda. "You must have been sent by Elephande, for it has been many years since one of you was here."

Altoda replied. "I am here of my own accord. I am not Elephande's messenger, but I bear his news. Askinqua has risen again, and he once agian needs the help of the Adepts of Elidion at Chilaquand!"

"Chilaquand! That name is associated with our greatest legends! However, I fear that my troops are nowhere near that powerful. The skills of old are easily lost."

"That doesn't matter right now. Will you help?"

Rachel nodded. "Billy, sound the alarm. We leave in two hours!" He ran off and she continued. "Brandon, go find Jeremy. The Company shall need your help."

Brandon also ran off.

"Amazing. Four of Elidion's generals are with us?" asked Cyrus.

Reno smiled. "Five," he said, pointing to Richard. "He is one of us as well."

"There is another," said Rachel. "Richard, what do you remember of Elidion and your family?"

"Enough to know that the other you speak of is standing with us."

"Yes. Now if he will kindly present himself, this would be easy."

"Mekae, there is a reason I reconized you so easily. You are also of Elidion's group, and shared a past with the rest of us," said Richard. "Do you remember it?"

And officially, my hiatus is over!

Chapter Thirteen:
Elidion's Army

Mekae's POV:

I stared at him. "Somewhat, yes."

Rachel smiled. "Well then, Reno, lead them to Contigo. I'll lead the Army to Chilaquand."

"Right. Let's go, then."

They found Altoda near the dock in Elidion, gazing at the assembled Army of Elidion.

"Like what you see, Patriarch?" asked Rachel.

"Very much. It reminds me of my own army."

"And where is it? On Chilaquand?"

"No. It's above your head."

The entire mass of Adepts looked up as thousands of transports came into view. Transports filled the sky across the horizon, like a giant flock of birds landing en masse.

"Now I must leave," said Altoda. "Richard, I will take you wherever you need to go."

"I'll guide you there, said Reno."

As they boarded the transport, the Army of Elidion vanished. Altoda's transports lifted back into the sky.

----------------------------

Dilan's POV:

I stood with the ledgend himself. Suliantig, whose herd became the basis for all that followed. His praise, when offered, was music to my ears.

Elephande, the other legend, also stood nearby, listening to the prophet speak of a returning army.

Elidion's Army was another legend, and they were known for aiding Elephande centuries ago.

As if on command, a huge group of Adpets, all dressed in black, appeared out of the night air. Their leader, a younger girl, appeared right next to me and burst into laughter upon seeing my face.

"Welcome to Chilaquand, Elidiocan," said Elephande.

The girl laughed agian. "Elidiocan is a title I have yet to earn. I am rachel, and I have come to aid you once more, and bring in a new age for all of us."

"Then Reno has found you."

"Found me? I was never lost. But you must be Elephande, a name of reverance and legend in my halls."

"I imagine it is a well-known name."

"It is. I have 20,000 Adepts at my command. Is that enough?"

"My friend, it is more than enough!"

----------------------------

"There's Contigo," said Richard, "and I don't think Caitlin is the only one waiting for us."

"What do you mean?"

"Down there, Reno."

Reno burst into a mad rage. "I'm going to kill that b******!"

"Well put, Reno," said Billy.

As they landed, Reno, Richard, Chris and Jeremy jumped off quickly.

A single girl stood in front of Mute, Matt, and Kailin. She resembled Richard, and she also seemed to radiate a bit of power from her, enough to hold the trio at bay for a while. Her long hair was the same color as her staff, which was blacker than the night.

Richard saw her, and ran to her side, while Jeremy found his brother, and immediatly started to fight. Reno and Mute just stared at each other, neither moving a muscle. Kailin shot an ice spear at Chris, who immediatly doged it and charged.

Mute charged towards Jeremy and Matt, but Richard roared his command, and Zambiandë's shadow raced out to counter him. Mute, however had already struck, and a wall of Psyenergy was all that separated him from Caitlin, who felt it was time to unleash a storm, which promptly blew Mute onto a large geyser of air.

Matt rushed to help Mute, but Jeremy knocked him down with a rain of boulders as Richard's storm of lightning dropped Mute to the ground. Reno was on his feet, and in an instant, he stood over Mute, sword drawn over a gash in his legs.

----------------------------

Alquencitil's POV:

I stood near Dilan, my brother, and we watched the transports of Asindir land amidst heavy fighting at the Fords.

"Dilan," I said to him, "go see if Nimac needs any help in that chaos."

He nodded, and started towards the Fords of Chilaquand. My herd, Remembrance, was relatively safe at the moment. However, I had sent my brother to the Fords, where the fighting was fiercest. Dilan was only fourteen, and at the Fords he would win glory... or lose his life.

Suddenly, a transport exploded, and my brother left my mind.

----------------------------

Dilan was there when Patriarch Nimac's ship exploded. As the soldiers and officers rushed out of the flaming wreck, Dilan ran in, looking for the patriarch. Nimac was at his helm, and he looked very bad. Dilan moved next to him.

"Sir, you've got to leave. your ship is on fire!"

"Young one, does it really matter?" asked Nimac in a feeble voice. "And who is that?"

"I am Remembrance-Rangeffer-Dilan, brother of Alquencitil. And it does matter, at least to me."

"Very well, then. I will need help to stand."

Slowly, the young patriarch arose. "You realize that i will die, and I am the last of my line. Let Elephande choose my heir."

With that, he collapsed agian. With his last breath, he spoke once more. "I am the first. All of Indosyne rushes to your aid. Remembrance-Major-Dilan, I bid you farewell. The High Elder awaits me..."

Those were his last words. Dilan looked on as twenty-five year old Asindir-Patriarch-Nimac left the mortal realm.

----------------------------

Elephande's POV:

I watched the young soldier run into Nimoc's burning ship. He re-emerged a few minutes later, running towards us.

Algoshire turned to me. "Many of Asindir's generals were on that ship. No word of Nimoc, however."

"He is dead," the young one said. "He said he was the first, and asked you to name his heir."

"The first, he said? And you are?"

"Remembrance-Major-Dilan, Patriarch."

"Ah, Alquencitil's brother. I thought you were just a Rangeffer. Forgive my mistake, Major."

"Nimoc's promotion, sir."

"Young Dilan, will you quit calling me sir? Nimoc told me to choose his heir, and I know who he had picked. Asindir-Patriarch-Dilan, take your post!"

"Thank you, Elephande. I won't fail." He ran back to the Fords, the youngest patriarch since Dwindler's War.

Algoshire spoke agian. "Was that wise, trusting the battle to one so young?"

"Have you doubted me yet, Algoshire? My decision stands. Let the patriarch lead his troops!"

"I had no arguement about his ability. But he's just fourteen!"

"I was twelve!"

Algoshire got quiet, knowing exactly when to quit.

"And Algoshire?"

"Sir?"

"I was not the youngest. Find out who was."

----------------------------

Reno stood over Mute. Everything else had frozen.

"What do we have here?" asked Reno.

"Watch it, Reno," warned Richard, also turning towards Mute.

"Seven years, Mute," That was Chris. "For seven years, you were in the Council of Hydrolonia, spreading false rumors and such."

Jeremy spoke next. "Thirteen you spent in the Order, calling Elidion home."

"Now the Hidden reveal you, Mute," said Reno, very solemnly. "Agianst my better judgement, I will let you go, but first..." He glowed red as light streamed from both Mute and Matt, "First I revoke your membership, and exile you from Elidion."

Richard steeped forward. "This is not the end. We will deal with you soon enough!"

The five disappeared.

Chapter Fourteen:
All of Indosyne

A large fleet of warships dropped towards Chilaquand.

"Patriarch Delagin, you may want to see this!"

Récord-Patriarch-Delagin gased at the huge Cladlen blockade.

"All right. Alert Akimin and Gorban. We'll have to fight our way through."

At that point, a slew of various voices erupter over the ship's communications, puntcuated by long screams.

"This is Asindir-Patriarch-Nimoc! Send all support, we are under attack! Repe-"

The message cut off, and all eyes turned to Delagin. It was well known, at least on this bridge, that he and Nimoc had been friends for over three decades. Anger imbued flames in the eyes of Récord's patriarch, and he issued a command.

"Launch all fighters! At them, now!"

Another voice rang out over the sounds of battle. "Glad you could make it, Delagin. We need all availble help here!"

"By the High Elder, Suligan, did you do this all yourself?" asked Koril-Patriarch-Akimin, gazing at the debris field.

"Not alone!' shouted Cain, as a slew of Zancron's fighters screamed out of the sky. "After Nimoc died, we were sent up here. Nimoc had said that 'all of Indosyne would be coming!'"

"He's right. We're here! Suligan, you stand not alone! Three more have returned home!" replied Agoth-Patriarch-Gorban.

"Launch the fighters. Break us a path down there."

--------------------

Algoshire ran to Elephande. "Altoda is around two weeks out."

"Very well. He will come when he will come. As for me, I will wait, and endure."

--------------------

"Suligan, watch yourself!"

"By the High Elder, there's more of them!"

"Every time we destory one, three more come to replace it!" yelled Cain. "We can't fight like this!"

"Need some help?"

"Depends on your version of help, Eracil!" laughed Suligan.

"How's this? Alsirsed, maintain your course. Fire on my mark!"

Eracil was halfway to the fighter bay before these words left his mouth.

"Mark!"

A dozen of the Cladlen's capital ships exploded unter Eracil's furious attack. Eracil himself, like Suligan, was in the melee. Suligan was the youngest leader out there, but he was in charge. And as immature as he was bound to be, there was a side of Suligan few had seen. In a tactician class at the main academy in Relenda, he had finished second. Although all of his time was spent on the ground, Suligan's ascension to patriarch of the legendary Suisane herd was remembered as one of Afrin's best decisions. In short, Suligan was a tactical genius.

Now, his tactics, plus the added strength of four different fleets, gave him the upper hand. A line of capital ships exploded, and the leader of Zancron sped away.

"Three more down. I took them out with one shot!" he boasted.

Suligan laughed. "Interesting, General. Might be a new record, but I don't know."

His fleet fired, and the last capital ship exploded.

"Delagin, you're clear! Get down there!"

"Right. Travata, on me!" cried Cain. "We'll cover you, Patriarch!"

--------------------

Algoshire gazed at the sky.

"Appears to be four different herds. By the insignia, I'd say all but Siansane have come."

"Elephande, Rebomo is bogged down on Balecroft!"

"Balecroft?" asked Cain. "That's two weeks away!"

"We'll last," stated Elephande.

Another voice split the silence.

"Am I late?"

"Rebomo! You were on Balecroft!"

"Yeah, almost a week ago. I followed Elriza here."

"Indeed? Well then, all of Indosyne is now with us."

"Excellent. I'll join you down there, Elephande."

"I'm afriad I can't stay. Our success is based on wheter or not I get to where I need to be tommorow."

"Then may the High Elder be with you."

"At this meeting, he will be."

"Then good luck."

Elephande laughed. "I'll need that, as well. Zambiandë! We're off!"

"They await us."

The two brothers flew towards a well-known, but rarely-travelled part of the galaxy. The final reunion was starting.

If someone replies, I have more for you to read.

Chapter Fifteen:
Mute's Folly

The city of Relenda sat in relative silence. In fact, it could have been mistaken as deserted. And there were those who thought that.

"Down there," whispered Matt, gazing at the city below.

He and Kailin were leading a group of Adepts who called themselves the Renagades. They were loyal only to Mute, and felt no connection to others of their order.

"I still don't think this is wise," muttered Kailin.

"Relax, everything's fine. Besides, Mute trusts me."

"Only because I agreed to come with you. He doesn't hold such a high view of you after Haldiar."

In a rage usually reserved for short-tempered Fire Adepts, Matt blasted out, sending a spear of earth at Kailin, who barely managed to dodge.

"That's another reason he doesn't trust you. If there are still troops down there, they will have noticed this. If we are to move in, do it now!"

Matt looked agian at her silently.

"Right. Let's move out."

-------------------------------

Suliantig-General-Goraban, the officer in charge of Relenda's defence, notice the flashes of light that signified the heated arguement between Matt and Kailin.

"Major Akula!" he called. "Alert Five, Sector Twelve. It looks like Afrin was right. Order defensive positions!"

"I see it! Adepts, by the lights!"

"Agreed. We'll need a squad down there, preferably led by a veteran of Anegon or Balecroft."

"No need, I'll do it myself," said Akula, rushing from the room.

Goraban moved next to the transmitter, coding the position of Chilaquand.

"Afrin, Patriarch Afrin, we have a problem!"

Algoshire's face came on the reciever as sounds of the raging battle filled the command room.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Tell Afrin he was right. We've spotted Adepts north of Relenda, and Major Akula was dispached to handle the problem."

"Right. Tell us when the problem has been handled, General."

Goraban nodded.

"Relenda, out." The screen faded.

-------------------------------

Akula set up position near the northern cliffs, in a position the renegade Adepts wouldn't notice right away. He was able to track the descent of the group perfectly. He roared a command, and the specialized artillery under his command flashed to life, sending huge bursts of energy towards the Adepts, who were caught off-guard.

Matt was taken aback, but recovered fairly quickly.

"Move faster, they can't hit us if we outrun them!"

As the Adepts increased speed, Akula called off the artillery. Other troops stepped forward, and more Adepts fell prey to the marksmen of Defond and Origin. As the Adepts reached the ground, however, the scales again switched as furious survivors pulled off blasts of Psyenergy which decimated Akula's ranks. Akula's next choice was, arguably, one of the best he ever made.

"Forward!" he cried. "Charge!"

Major Akula's contingent rushed straight at the Adepts in pure, unrestrained power. Most of the Adepts fell prey to the onslaught, while a few managed to survive, running back towards the cliffs.

Most military commanders would have called it victory and retired, but not Major Akula. He was a top notch tactician, and his tactics were from the school of Frontain, as the devastating strategies that were pulled off during Dwindler's War were called. For Akula, victory was not merely sending an enemy back, but making it impossible for retailiation. He led the chase, dowing Adpets left and right, until only a handful remained. At a command from Matt, they all teleported to the top of the cliff, where snipers picked off a few more before the retreat was out of sight.

-------------------------------

Back at the command post, Akula and Goraban related the entire incident to Patriarch Afrin.

"We have decided, Major Akula, that your exceptional tactics are batter served here at Chilaquand. General Goraban, further instructions will be given in a few days. Until then, I'm out."

Both officers nodded, then turned and looked at each other.

"I guess I should leave," Akula said.

"Why so formal, Akula? We're friends, and I will wait for what they say."

Akula smiled, laughed, and walked out of the room. Goraban turned to an aide.

"I need all officers here in an hour."

-------------------------------

Matt looked at Kailin. "Their leader was at Anegon. No other would have responded so quickly, and so fearlessly."

"Mute said that kind of Indosyne leader was nearly gone."

"Guess we found a straggler," said Matt. "It'll be harder next time."

"I agree."

Agian, I am back.

Chapter Sixteen:
Meeting of Twelve

"Rebomo! They're all over you!" yelled Afrin.

"So I've noticed! Hang on!"

The Cladlen had massed on the ground, blocking the landing space for Rebomo's ships. Their packed mass made them perfect targets for Cain's Travata Wing of fighters, and soon Rebomo was in the thick of battle.

"Now!" thundered Rebomo.

His ships opened fire into the Cladlen separating him from Afrin's lines. As they fled, Rebomo rushed to the safety of the Indosyne lines.

"Well met, Patriarch Afrin," he cried. "We do seem to have a problem though."

"I noticed. The fleets are running on skeleton crews, however. We've squeezed every soldier possible. Altoda is supposedly still many weeks out, so I hear."

"You have your father's skill, Afrin."

"Thank you, but it might not be enough."

"It will have to be. This is your final test. Can Indosyne stand without Elephande's guidance?"

"I will try, at least, to follow in his footsteps."

Rebomo cracked a wry grin. "Be careful in your promises, Afrin. Your father's strides are long. But your feet seem to be just as big."

Afrin started to laugh. "That is great comfort, Rebomo."

"My pleasure."

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Who would've thought this would happened?" asked Asender-Patriarch-Erandel. "All of Frontain is one place agian?"

"Indeed," replied Zambiandë, "considering our last meeting?"

Korla-Matriarch-Zela brushed the thought aside. "We left that far behind us."

"Indeed," said Sian-Patriarch-Agola. "But Elephande remains silent. Are the memories returning?"

"Agola, they never left me."

"I imagine, cousin," said Elephate.

"And anyway, to business. What can be done against an onslaught?" asked Assiria.

"What we should've done last time," said a resolute Elephande. "Drive them from our home!"

The leaders of Frontain grew silent, and Elephande continued.

"Long ago, during the First Strife, while even Istean was young, Eleder Higenti had his first council with the best and brightest of the age. However, one of them, Korata, left to pursue his own agenda."

"Iste Elder!" cried Zela.

"Indeed. As Korata became twisted, war erupted between himself and the other Elders of the High Council. For this war, he was defeated and banished by High General Isteanoc. However, that all has faded into obscurity."

"Indeed it has," replied Elephate. "Istean faded long ago."

"Not yet," interjected Zambiandë. "At Graupia he struck agian, taking captive the mind of High Councilman Atuitá, and forcing Istean's fall."

"So Askinqua is the latest in a line? Maybe now, we can defeat him!" exclaimed Quinsane-Patriarch-Qwen.

"Indeed," said Zambiandë. "Defond, Allysulia, and my herd are there. Who will join us?"

Erandel spoke out. "I speak for us all. Cónserver and Derógger will unite, and the Twelve shall return home!"

"Excellent. Gather your armies. My son has the best aid my people can offer, but they know not how to truly fight."

"Here is the situation," started Zambiandë. "We are being pushed back, towards Talabad. Askinqua threatens to cross Chilaquand at any time, and surround us completely."

"So we have decided," said Erandel, "to fight, one last time."

Elephande took up the cry. "Gather the Dwindelers, old friends! The Second Strife returns home! Akiz Elder Higenti!"

And another great story is born!

Technically it was already born a while ago.

However you view it.

Chapter Seventeen:
Failing Traditions

Akula's POV:

So this is Chilaquand, where all of our legends were born. By most accounts, the valley could still be called pristine, which seemed to be why Askinqua is destroying everything in sight.

"Major Akula! This way!"

Afrin's voice led to a large tent, apparently the one used for the High Council. I entered, and found myself in front of every leader, with the exception of Elephande. A wizened figure, whom I recognized as Allysulia's legendary prophet, Elder Afrin, stood at the front of the tent. He spoke first.

"Hear me Indosyne, for I present to you your next legend. Allysulia-Major-Akula, here is your task: You are to lead Allysulia in the name of Elephande until he returns."

"That's a daunting task, Elder," replied young Patriarch Dilan.

"Indeed, young Dilan. As the second largest and secont oldest herd on record, the leadership of Allysulia is a task for a brilliant leader. Akula! Take your place in history!"

I then noticed another legend: my own leader, Suliantig, whose presence was almost tangible.

"This is Elephande's wish. Akula, your linage speaks for you. If we are correct, you are of the eldest line of Frontain, a descendant of High General Isteanoc. It is his title which is bestowed to you now, Akula. High General Akula, lead our people!"

-----------------------------------------

"He'll do fine," said Suliantig, after Akula had left. "I've had the honor of meeting Isteanoc, and his blood runs true."

"Yes, but I'm afraid the Age of Indosyne is near its end. Our traditions are failing, and we exert all of our energy trying not to follow them," said Afrin.

"Akula uses the style perfected by Elephande, Zambiandë, and the other Dwindlers, an aggressive style not used as much any more."

Rebomo spoke up. "If this is true, then Akula will achieve victory at the end."

"He is our chance."

-----------------------------------------

“So, exactly how far are we from Chilaquand?” Chris asked.

Alinqua studied a readout for a few seconds, and the replied, “The 17th, or sometime around there.”

“Be ready for a sight when you get there. None of the strife you have seen can prepare you for the sight of Chilaquand. Hopefully, at least, Afrin will still be there to provide the spectacle.”

A technician strode up to Altoda. “Patriarch, we have something out there. It’s only one ship, but there’s the energy signature of a large fleet.”

“What?!”

Altoda and the others ran to a viewport.

“By the High Elder, it’s Elephande! Let him in!”

The group ran down to a docking bay, where Elder Afrin, Elephande, and Zambiandë waited, along with 10 other wizened figures.

“Patriarch Altoda, I trust you need no introduction to the monarchs of Frontain, but the others have heard only legends. From the Dwindlers, I present Elephande, Zambiandë, Elephate, Dagot, Zela, Qwen, Quien, Agola, Reheboth, Assir, Erandel, and Guathed,” started Elder Afrin. “To Frontain, let me present to you Altoda, Alinqua, and Delagog, heroes of Graupia, along with the Company of Anegon.”

“Well met, indeed,” replied Elephande. “Thirteen shall be the number that swallows Askinqua. I fared well, and the monarchs of Frontain can add around a million to our cause. How did you do?”

Altoda laughed. “How many, Elephande? At last count, Istean numbered twelve million. Askinqua will choke on our fury.”

Delagog spoke up. “Also, nearly a million stand by, in case he decides to invade our planet.”

The monarchs of Frontain’s faces showed various degrees of astonishment. Zela was the first to recover.

“Strong is the race of Isteanoc. Now we better understand the scale of Graupia, I think.”

Elder Afrin spoke again. “And now Isteanoc’s line is revealed. Akula of Allysulia, descendant of Isteanoc, has been named High General of Indosyne, completing the lines.”

“Well then, we are all accounted for,” said Elephande. “I trust the signal is ready?”

Richard spoke up. “It is. The Company will reach Chilaquand first, and provide the beacon for the First and Second Strifes.”

“So it will be the same as it was on Balecroft?”

“Yes. Again, we shall turn the tide.”

-----------------------------------------

An aide showed Akula to a good-sized tent.

“This will be your command post, sir.”

“Post? My post is with our people, not sheltered in a hole somewhere!”

“Forgive me, High General. This is allocated to you for your use.”

Akula brushed away the apology, entered the tent, and found Afrin waiting for him.

“Greetings, High General Akula!”

“Afrin, you know the titles aren’t required between the two of us.”

“At least, that’s what Suligan’s been trying to cram through my head,” laughed Afrin. “But anyway, your first task is to coordinate the defense of Relenda.”

“I trust Goraban –“

“It is not Goraban that worries me. He must order his leaders to fight in Frontain’s style.”

“All right, I’ll tell him that.”

Afrin nodded, and walked out of the tent.

-----------------------------------------

Marzan, one of Goraban’s Intyde aides, shouted, “General! High priority message from Chilaquand!”

“Thanks, Marzan, I’ll take it now.”

Although Goraban recognized his friend’s face, something about Akula seemed different. Now, he exerted a palpable presence throughout the room. He also had an unfamiliar insignia on his screen.

“Akula! How are you?”

“It’s the rank of a High General, Goraban.”

“So you can read minds now?”

Akula laughed. “No, but I can see when you’re staring at a particular area of the screen. I have a task for you, my friend. Your forces must use the style of Frontain when you fight the renegade Adepts.”

“That won’t be easy,” warned Goraban. “Many leaders are confident in the style of Balecroft.”

“Maybe the loss of their soldiers will convince them? Tell them they will lose far too many soldiers fighting in a defensive style, such as Balecroft.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am, Goraban. I proved just that when they last attacked Relenda.”

“That’s true. I’ll do my best to convince them.”

“That’s all I ask, my friend.”

“Understood. Relenda out.”

-----------------------------------------

The leaders of Istean stood with the Company and the monarchs of Frontain, debating over the best course of action.

“My army is divided into four different corps,” explained Altoda. “Makes it easier to control, and will make life very hard for Askinqua.”

”We can keep Askinqua busy, very easily,” said Erandel. “That’s not the question.”

“No,” agreed Delagog. “The question is, will there be enough of you to do it? That depends on how good a job Akula does down there.”

“He’s doing excellently,” replied Zambiandë. “He’s stalling Askinqua at the crossings, but most of his troops have already dug in around the hills to the east of the lake.”

“But the Dreg,” asked Reheboth.

“Sulit-Aladan will follow Akula,” Altoda said simply.

“Yes, and he will decimate his army in doing so!”

“Sulit-Aladan will know when to withdraw,” Elephande replied. “I fought him. He is not cowardly, nor is he rash.”

“I agree. He knows exactly what he is doing.”

-----------------------------------------

Sulit-Aladan had to yell when he spoke to Akula.

“Can you hold out for three more hours?” Akula called. “The defensive positions will be ready by then.”

“Three hours?” asked Sulit-Aladan, astonished. “I doubt I could hold two, but I will hold as long as I can.”

“Then that’s all I’ll ask you to do. Tell Mastredocil to coordinate the fall back to our positions.”

“I can do that. One question, though: will we be covered when we do so?”

“Our cover fire is already in position. You won’t be exposed.”

“Right. I can guarantee at least another hour.”

Sulit-Aladan told Mastredocil the plan.

“Are you sure you can hold out that long?” Mastredocil asked.

“I’ll hold as long as I can. That’s all Akula asked for.”

Mastredocil knew he had the easier defense. Elephande’s Crossing, a small metal bridge, could be defended easily from his side of the river. However, Sulit-Aladan’s position, holding the Fords of Chilaquand was a test of Sulit-Aladan’s tactics. His forces we decreasing rapidly now, and he was finding it very hard to hold the wide crossing.

Fortunately, he did have one advantage: a well-known tactical superiority over Dilaq, his Cladlen opposite. Dilaq was throwing large, unorganized masses of troops at various points in Sulit-Aladan’s line, attacks that were easily repelled, even by a small number.

However, Dilaq outnumbered the Dreg commander nearly three to one, and he could hurl his troops directly at Sulit-Aladan, which he soon did. As Mastredocil’s signal flashed and Askinqua overran Elephande’s Crossing, Sulit-Aladan addressed his vanguard.

“We may fall here, but let this be our finest hour!” he cried. “On my signal, let’s give them something to remember us by!”

Sulit-Aladan’s vanguard readied for Dilaq’s strike. Just then, he heard uproar among Akula’s defensive lines. Sulit-Aladan turned quickly, and saw Mastredocil’s vanguard take direct fire from Askinqua’s pursuers. Mastredocil himself was hit, to a chorus of fury from Delphi-Gladicle’s troops inside the defensive position.

Akula called to restrain them, but Mastredocil’s troops rushed back to aid their fallen commander. Sulit-Aladan let out an audible gasp, and explained the scene to his comrades, many of whom turned to go help Mastredocil.

“Wait!” he commanded. “We must hold our position!”

His troops obeyed him, and ran back to the lines, just as Dilaq got within range.

“Now! Attack!” cried Sulit-Aladan.

Dilaq’s line couldn’t stop in time, and the crashed into a heavily defended Dreg line. Sulit-Aladan’s signal flashed, and immediately, cover fire came from Delphi-Gladicle, Delagace and Dilan, covering Sulit-Aladan’s withdrawal. His sudden withdrawal confounded Dilaq’s troops, whose attacks were suddenly falling on comrades rather than enemies.

The ruse worked, and Dilaq was drawn towards Akula’s lines, following the calculated retreat of Sulit-Aladan. As Sulit-Aladan reached the relative safety of Akula’s entrenched position, he knew that Askinqua, who almost surrounded them, could attack at any moment. When he chose to attack, it would probably be Indosyne’s final stand.

Chapter Eighteen:
Echoes of Graupia

Time seemed to pass slowly through the giant fleet of Istean. Richard was the only member of the Company able to find solace from the long hours. He seemed to be farther away than Afrin, closed up in the darkest depths of his mind. When he was with the rest of them, he spoke little, and had a grim look on his face. The rest of his friends were confused and worried by his sudden change in mood, and went to Elder Afrin for help.

"Just let him think," he said. "There is much secrecy in him, but it will be revealed soon, I think."

"But he's been like this for a week!" argued Mekae. "We haven't gotten a word out of him."

"Yeah," agreed Blair. "You're the only one he'll talk to, so we thought you would know what's wrong with him."

"Ask me no more!" sighed Elder Afrin. "There is much that escapes even my view."

-----------

"We're three days out," said Alinqua.

"Go in without warning, even to our own," said Elephande.

"I agree," replied Altoda. "We should go in separately."

"We can go in unseen," said Zambiandë, "and Elder Higenti will give us a form in battle."

"Yes," agreed Erandel. "Frontain's monarchs will return home."

"We will leave now," said Elephande. "No ship is needed for us."

They left, leaving only Istean on the bridge. Richard walked in a few minutes later, and adressed them.

"The Company shall leave now," he said. "Give us a ship that can get past the blockade."

"I have one in mind," replied Delagog. "Follow me."

He led Richard to a shuttle hidden in his personal bay.

"This was my grandfather Adaline's, and my father's. It is my gift to you, for your help in returning Istean to glory."

"I'm sorry, but your ships will not suit the Company well. The rooms are much too large."

"I figured that. So I made some adjustments."

"A fine gift, my friend. May Isteanoc guide you!" cried Richard, echoing the farewell of Istean.

Delagog smiled, and replied, "And may he light your path. Isteanoc was a warrior. He will guide his sons, my friend." With that, he left.

An announcement was made, and the Company arrived in twos and threes. Chris was the last to arrive.

"Let's go," he said.

-----------

Alinqua laughed as Delagog returned to the bridge. "Altoda and I were talking, and I can't wait to see Suliantig's face when we arrive."

"It will be one of awe," replied Altoda. "Remember, he was one of us, even though he opposed us at Graupia."

Delagog added, "Indeed, he himself is desended from Isteanoc, I believe, and an elder line to even ours."

"But not the eldest, though he joined himself to it. Our contempories Alline and Allysuntis precede all of us."

"Listen to you two," laughed Alinqua. "I come from a far lesser line, my friends."

Delagog was still laughing. "Your friendship is still valued, nonetheless. Anyway, who woulda thought this would happen? It's gonna be us down there, at home. We brought Istean down, and it looks like we will return them to glory!"

Chapter Nineteen:
Goraban’s Gift

"General," said an aide, "Incoming transmission!"

Goraban walked to the command post. As he entered, every officer in the room snapped to attention. He looked to the screen and saw Afrin and Akula, who had been addressing the assembled officer corp. Afrin turned to Goraban and spoke.

"My friend, it's been quite a while since our journey."

"Indeed, Patriarch, it has been."

"Everyone else seems to have been rewarded though... And you have not been forgotten," said Akula.

"General Goraban," continued Afrin, "Here is your reward for your services: The herd Relendiac. Patriarch Goraban, these are your officers. They will assist you in the defense of Indosyne."

"Also," said Akula, "If we triumph at Chilaquand, another honor will be yours. At our signal, move on Haldiar and crush resistance."

"Understood," replied Goraban. "Afrin, Akula? Give my regards to our joker friend. En Elder Higenti!"

"Good luck, Patriarch!"

The screen flickered off, and turned to his officers.

"Alright," said Goraban, "Go about your duties, and reconveine here at dusk. I will choose the elders then. Dismissed."

The officers, various high ranking members of other herds, filed out. Goraban's aide handed him a sheet of paper.

"This just arrived."

Goraban looked at the paper and groaned. "Suligan..."

"At least he noticed," said another voice.

"Descantes!"

Allysulia-Major-Descantes walked into the room. "Captain? Leave us."

"Yes sir," said the aide, leaving the room.

"Congratulations, Patriarch. It's been a while since we last served together."

"Indeed. Eight years have passed since Anegon, and much has passed."

"I've been assigned to help you, my friend."

"Excellent. Someone I can trust. I've found my first general, becuase your skills would be wasted as an elder. Besides, you're not old enough."

Descantes roared with laughter. "I agree. Much of my time has been spent designing defenses for the cities of Indosyne."

"Relenda is all we have the manpower to defend."

"Maybe not. I think I could defend Ali-en-Vasa easily with a few hundred."

"Very well then," said Goraban. "Captain? Get Descantes a transport and four hundred troops."

Descantes and the captian left the room, leaving Goraban alone. He turned his attention to a screen showing the various troop positions in Relenda. Descantes was heading towards the spaceport, but his attention was drawn north. There was... nothing there.

"General Ashto!"

"Patriarch?"

"Get your troops to the north side, I think we have Adepts!"

"Agian?"

"Yes. Quickly, and quietly. Goraban, out."

Relendiac-General-Ashto was a valued member of Goraban's staff. He served in Anegon, but didn't really make a name for himself. Instead, his fame was won on Balecroft, where he achieved the rank of major, and became par with Akula.

Akula's destiny was much higher, and the High General was now at Chilaquand, with Ashto in his place. Ashto was also promoted, and now was a general. Ashto disliked the role of a peacetime officer, and preferred to lead his troops himself. It would be routine, if anything with Adepts could be routine.

The northern section of Relenda was eerily quiet.

"They're here," muttered Ashto.

"Pardon, General?"

Ashto didn't awnser. Instead, he took a weapon, and fired around a corner, decimating a group of Renegade Adepts.

"Stay alert!" he called.

The battle was joined as Matt led a desparate charge agianst and equally suprised Ashto.

"Hold your ground!" Ashto commanded, setting into the style of Balecroft. Many of his troops fell as Matt's squad unleahed a barrage of Psyenergy.

Matt knew now that this was not the same officer that he faced days ago. Ashto was more cautious, trying to find a delicate medium between the styles of Frontain and Balecroft. Ashto jammed his transmitter.

"Patriarch! I need some help!"

"Cando is en route. Djibon and Ranti are tied up in the south!"

"Pincer motion?"

"Yes. Fall back to Grid Seven! There are more divisions there!"

"Agreed." He turned to his troops. "Fall back!"

Matt saw Ashto starting to retreat, and followed. There was activity behind him, and Matt turned to see Cando and Descantes behind him."

"Only one way," he called. "Follow me!"

He ran into the central plaza, only to find every other entrance blocked.

"We've been tricked!"

The last exit had been blocked.

"No surrender," said Matt. "We fight to the last man."

The Battle for Relenda was under way.

Chapter Twenty:
Water and Fire

Kailin seemed to have better luck. Her Relendiac opposites, Djibon and Ranti, were younger and not present at Anegon, and had no knowledge of how to deal with Adepts. They also lost ground fighting in the defensive style of Balecroft. Kailin looked behind them and saw Central Plaza, the park in the middle of Relenda. Matt would meet her here, and they would have cut Relenda in half.

Djibon and Ranti split up suddenly, and Kailin rushed through the opening, where she saw a visibly exhausted Matt.

"It's a trap!" he breathed.

"Calm down. Look, there's six different ways ou... We are in trouble."

"I told you."

Descantes, Ashto, Djibon, Ranti and Cando blocked five exits, and another figure led a contingent up the avenue from Relenda's command district. It was Goraban who spoke.

"Greetings, Adepts," he cried. "I see you have met your welcoming commitee."

Some of the Adepts looked nervously at Goraban's display of strength. Matt spoke out in anger.

"We shall not surrender. We have heard of the atrocities commited under a false peace, and would rather die than see you defile our bodies!"

Matt's blow was in the form of an earthen spear, shattering the silence in Goraban. It hit him straight on, yet he didn't flinch at all.

"So that is the fate you choose. I could easily grant you your wish instantly, but I don't believe your fate lies here. Instead I give you a choice: I will give you free passage to join you leader at Chilaquand, or I will give you the death you willingly seek. Your fate need not all be one way or the other, but choose swiftly, befor my gift expires!" he said.

Kailin shot Matt a look before he could say something to infuriate Goraban, who was doing them a favor.

"We thank you for your gratitude. It is a lot more than what we expected, and we shall take your offer."

"Be warned, however," said Goraban, "if we find you here again, our courtesy shall not be extended twice."

Before anyone could awnser, a large group of Adepts, including Mute materialized. Mute looked around and considered the odds. Then he turned to Goraban.

"Overkill, perhaps?" he asked. "Surely you do not need this many to fight us?"

"Tell that to the multitude you led who now lies dead in Anegon, Mute."

"You were there, I take it?"

Goraban nodded slowly, then ducked as Mute shot flames out at him.

"I'm guessing you want out?"

"Yeah," challenged Matt, "And it's over your bodi-"

Mute hit him over the head, and turned to Goraban. "A way to the plateau, if you don't mind?"

"Ashto, escort them to the plateau. Everyone else, back to your posts."

----------

"I don't trust him, Patriarch," said Descantes. "He's more powerful than he lets on."

"Ranti and Cando are on it. They're tailing him, along with Ashto's squad. Just do your job, General."

"I will, Patriarch. Captian, to the transports!"

Goraban turned to the display.

"Cando?"

"Patriarch?"

"What are they doing?"

"Going up the plateau, sir. Our tracking beacons are active."

"Allysulia, General?"

Cando laughed. "Indeed. Elephande expects above and beyond the ordinary."

"I know that well. Do your duty."

"All right, Patriarch. Cando, out."

----------

"Akula! On the left!"

Askinqua was marshalling his troops for a charge against Allysuntis.

"No time. Come on."

Akula ran down the hill towards Allysuntis and Mastredocil. Soldiers joined him as he passed through the reserve ranks.

"Get to the front!" yelled Akula to the rear guard of Elephade. "The Cladlen are on our doorstep!"

That got their attention quickly, and they led him to Allysuntis.

"You're just in time, High General!" she called. "Brace yourself!"

Akula gained a second wind through the attack. Cladlen attackers watched in awe as Akula's ferocity cut through their ranks.

"Legaso del Isteanoc!" he cried, and his strength increased even futher.

Suddenly, the ranks thinned, and a single Cladlen stood before Akula. Aldiqua, second son of Askinqua, rushed at the High General.

"Akula!"

Allysuntis's cry warned him to block Aldiqua's blow in time. Agian, a strike, and agian Akula blocked his blade.

Aldiqua laughed. "You do have skill. All the better."

This time, Akula couldn't block quickly enough. As he fell, his blade turned up, and found Aldiqua's chest. Aldiqua released a cry of fury, and slumped over dead.

"Akula?" asked Allysuntis, coming to her cousin's side.

A groan came, and Akula tried, and failed, to rise. Allysuntis rushed to his side, followed by an Adept.

"General!"

"Not now. Get Akula, before Askinqua comes back."

As they carried Akula to his quarters, Richard spoke agian.

"He won't like that..."

"I expect not. He'll use it as an excuse to attack."

"Which means we need to revive Akula quickly."

"Revive me?" Akula groaned. "Why?"

"We think Askinqua will strike soon, to avenge the death of his son," explained Allysuntis.

Akula stood up. "So I got him? I blacked out when he hit me."

"Yes. The blow was guided by Elder Higenti, I think."

"Yes, it was," agreed Akula, who stepped back. "General! When did you arrive?"

"Not too long ago. By the looks of it, just in time."

"Indeed," replied Akula. "We will need everyone we can get."