• This battle had worn the old King. His bones ached, and his steady grip broke. The old man trembled as he took the few steps that it took to reach the edge of the cliff. The beast had fallen over, into the blackness that was Hades. "And be gone with you, ye foul beast!" The old man shouted into the abyss. His words were answered only by a single mind rattling roar. The sound of flapping wings could be heard as the shadows of the abyss were parted and moved by the great wings of the monster. The King raised his shield once more to protect himself, as did he raise his sword to fight.

    It'd been said that the King hadn't had such a fight in over forty years, and when the chance came to him to fight for his beloved kingdom's safety, he almost jumped with joy as he accepted it. Instead of sending out for a knight to fight, the eighty year old King took it upon himself to rid the lands of the foul serpent that had come from the skies. The King's heart truly did pump courage and adventure. Sadly, that wasn't what seeped out of the King's sword arm after the beast had slashed its tail at him, instead, blood came out.

    The King rose his shield as the beast spat fire out of its mouth. His shield became hot and the leather straps broke. Throwing aside his only defense, the King growled. The monster replied back with another roar, sending chills down the man's spine. This wasn't the first time these two had meant in battle, but the second. When he was a teen, the King before him had ordered him to battle the monster. The three day long battle ended with his sword plunged into the monster's chest. The King, a boy at the time, had pushed the monster into the gorge they now battled next to.

    The time in the abyss had turned its scales from green to white. Its eyes now the color of the blood of the many villagers it'd killed. Once more, the King raised his sword. His hand shook slightly as the pain got worse. His skin sagged below his eyes, and his body was covered in freckles and moles. Clear signs of his age. It was obvious that time had gotten the better of both warriors, and yet they battled each other still! One could only wonder what they were fighting for, be it honor and glory, or who was the true king.

    The battled raged on for many hours, both sides coming up to meet in the middle. It was clear that there could be no victor at this rate. The King backed the beast to the ledge and grabbed his shield. Gripping it with one hand, he tossed it at the beast! It spun quickly and caught the monster at the throat. A shrill scream came from the monster as blood came from its neck. It tried to spit fire at the King and failed. The fire came back on the beast and scorched its face and neck. When the smoke cleared, the beast was gone.

    The King, confused and astonished, walked to the edge again. He gazed into the darkness and watched as the white dragon fell once more. Had he done it again? Had he defeated the dragon once more? No. The dragon stopped its fall with the sudden use of its wings. It hovered in the hole, watching the King. "You stubborn creature! Just die already!" The King shouted with great fury. The dragon growled and then let out a roar that could only mean the same.

    The two watched each other for a moment, then they both knew what had to be done. The beast charged at the King, racing upward towards the light of day. The King, closing his eyes and silently saying his goodbyes, jumped into the gorge. He opened his eyes and held his sword tight. He pointed the blade down as he fell, his body angled as his sword was. He fell head first at the beast, ready to die for his home. The monster roared once more and came at the King ready to swallow him. "Die now ye evil Dragon!" The King spat as he was suddenly swallowed by the monster.

    The Dragon came rushing out of the dark hole and into the sky. It stopped and hovered in the sky for a moment, possibly gloating to itself about its victory. Then, as if stabbed from the inside, the beast bleed from its side! With the speed of a blade being thrashed around, the beast started bleeding from all sides, cut wounds appearing all over its body! There was another shrill yell from the monster as though its heart had been sliced in half. It fell from the sky and into the dark oblivion. Never, to be seen or heard from again.