To Slay a Dragon

The ground shuddered beneath the stallion’s onyx hooves, the sun glinting off its dark coat. The fearsome beast’s hoofbeats pounding the earth mimicked its rider, Tristen’s, heartbeat. He wiped his brow, his gleaming armor stifling in the setting sun. He smirked as he relished the life he’d soon have, finally living in the luxury he knew he deserved. His sword hung heavy at his side, and he was itching with the anticipation of wielding it. He squinted, the blazing sun an inferno in his tawny eyes. He flicked the reins, edging the horse from a steady canter into a gallop. The lush grass slowly faded into desert under his steed’s mighty hooves, giving way to a wasteland as he approached his destination.

The wind rushed through Tristen’s blonde hair as he whizzed by charred trees indicating the creature’s presence. A burst of heat seared his skin as his horse carried him past one newly ablaze. The stone fortress of the dragon’s keep rose in the distance, its inky stone seeming to drink up the sunset. He squinted, longing to see the captured princess calling out to him. The stallion skidded to a halt and whinnied as its hooves arrived at a steep cliff above a ravine. Tristen dismounted, tied the reins around the branch of an intact tree, and brandished his sword, a shrill noise echoing as he pulled it from its scabbard. He placed his platinum helmet on his head and wandered once again to the edge of the precipice, peering into the steam rising from below. He glanced up at the tower, searching for any sign of distress. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a rusted bridge still glinting in the setting sun. Indomitably, he placed his foot on the bridge, causing it to groan under weight it likely had not endured in ages. He grabbed the rusted rail and shook it, testing the bridge’s strength. The railing snapped off and sailed into the steaming abyss below, almost taking Tristen with it. He jumped back and watched it fall, descending much farther than he thought. His stomach churned as it descended. When it found the bottom, a monstrous roar erupted from the pit.

In a burst of steam and heat, a magnificent dragon arose from the depths, baring its teeth at Tristen. The setting sun glinted off its silver scales. Smirking, he took a swing at the beast, conducting his sword with the skill of only one who had endured years of training under the summer sun. His sword did not meet scales, however. The dragon flew in an arc above him and dove below, returning to the abyss.

That was easy, Tristen thought. He continued across the bridge, warily this time. He snapped to attention as a small thump shook the bridge, his hand on his sword. Suddenly the whole bridge rattled, knocking him to the ground and tossing his sword a few feet away. The bridge was torn in half by the dragon that flew up from underneath it, and Tristen’s world began to tilt as the bridge began to fall into the abyss below. The bolts holding the bridge to the tower island behind him began to spring from the ground. The dragon hovered beneath Tristen as he dangled precariously from the rusting bridge, opening its mouth, waiting for him to fall. Grabbing the final bolt, he hurled himself to land and turned to face the dragon. Its sharp teeth, splattered with its last victims, waited below him, its snakelike tongue blazing with orange flame. Growing impatient waiting for Tristen to fall, it began to rise in pursuit.

This is my opportunity, he thought. Squinting his eye, Tristen thrust the longsword into its open maw, watching as it sailed into the darkness of its throat. The dragon wailed in agony, steam erupting from its nostrils as it choked on the sharp blade. Its eyes almost appeared sorrowful as it landed on the ground beside him. He was going to miss his longsword, but at least he’d have a doting princess. If only he could find her. He marched toward the ominous tower, spirit proud despite his moaning legs. His armor clamored as he searched for a point of entry, his aching legs threatening to collapse under its weight. He approached an archway leading to a staircase at the foot of the windowless tower.

“Who are you?”

He glanced up at the landing, eyes finally capturing the beautiful princess he’d been searching for as she glided to the base of the stairs. He removed his stifling helmet and ran his hand through his golden hair.

“You’re welcome princess! I’ve slayed the hideous beast and rescued you! Return with me at once and you shall be my bride!” He leaned in for a kiss.

The princess swayed to the side with finality, causing him to stumble.

“What have you done?”

She walked to the dragon’s corpse with wide eyes and began to survey it, her hazel locks obscuring her delicate face. Before Tristen could tell her to step away from the creature, she knelt by the vicious head and cradled it in her lap.

“Princess?”

She paid him no heed. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, barely illuminated in the light of the hardly visible sky. They splattered on the dragons shimmering scales, rolling down its face like it was mourning as well.

“Princess, step away from that terrible monster.”

She glared up at him, her piercing green eyes sharper than the dragon’s teeth.

“You are the only monster here,” she said with cold indignation.

Rising to her feet, she stalked toward Tristen, her swishing icy blue dress creating an ethereal air around her.

“I don’t understand!” Tristen said, scratching his blonde hair in confusion, “She imprisoned you!”

“She saved me! She protected me from a world who only wanted to harm me. And here she lies, what a token she’s been given for her courageous acts! Slain by a petty knight, and only in pursuit of property!” She spat, her emerald eyes gleaming with rage.

He was taken aback, but began walking toward her to comfort her, feeling useless standing idly.

“Princess, I-”

“I have a name,” she cut him off. “I am Zephys, and I am not your princess.”

A gust of wind accompanied by a twitch of her hand sent Tristen flying backwards, hitting the rocky ground near the steaming canyon with force.

“I loved her.” Zephys said, tears staining her beautiful face as she reached down to the dragon’s corpse. “We were happy, almost like mother and daughter, living here, protected from the cruel world.” She tore a tooth from the dragon’s mouth, cradling it in one hand.

She strode toward Tristen, rage alight in her gleaming eyes, tears reflected in them.

“Until you came along.”

She plunged the tooth into his abdomen, slowly twisting it and watching the pain on his face with grim elation. She let him fall to the ground near the remnants of the bridge when the battle had taken place. She turned and walked away, leaving him to either die or to crawl away and live.

“What are you?”

She turned sharply on him, her dark face wet with tears and twisted with emotion. She grimaced and strode back to where he lay, placing her boot on top on his chest.

“The last thing you’ll ever see.”

And she shoved him into the ravine.