The Dragon
The Dragon
Would you like to hear a story? It is a new story I have just thought of. Tell me, if you like it. Lets start with the gold dragon named Hrothgar. He was a proud dragon, very big and strong. He loved his treasure that he had stolen from many rich people, but most of it he had found. His most prized possession was his scales. He would spend all morning just cleaning his scales and admiring him self in the reflection of the river. You were lucky if you could find him, see him, and even more lucky if you could live to tell about it. See, he believed that his beauty was something other creatures did not deserve to see or remember.
Soon, the townsmen began to fear him. They began to argue. Some said to kill the dragon. Others said to leave it alone, so that it doesn't get angry and attack the town. Still the people went to attack the dragon. When they got to Hrothgar's cave with their pitchforks and scythes, they found that it was empty and they decided to look farther inside. What they found were mountains of precious stones and gold. They started filling their pockets and clothes with what they could grab but then, "RRROOOAAARRR!!!!" The men realized that Hrothgar is back, dropping the gold, and scrambling to find weapons. Some found swords and spears and others grabbed their pitchforks. As they regrouped and began to charge, a river of golden flames swallows them. When Hrothgar stopped the flames, all that was left was ashes and puddles of gold and silver.
After the other townsmen figured out Hrothgar had killed the men, the townsmen began to pay brave soldiers to go and fight the dragon. Yet one after another, they died. Hrothgar began to enjoy the killing and started to wait for the townsmen to send more people for him to burn or slice open with his talons.
Finally the townsmen acquired the assistance of three dragon slayers. They were cloaked in black robes that scraped against the ground. Their faces were hidden behind shadows and they spoke with raspy voices. They were told where to go and how to get there. They said they would attack during the night when Hrothgar would be asleep. So that night, there is a feast to honor their bravery. In the mountains, Hrothgar smelled the roasting pig that the townsmen were cooking for the feast and decided to have a look and find out what was going on.
What he finds is to his surprise, is a giant fire roasting a giant boar. He then noticed the three new men that he had never seen before. So, he watched them. The strangers didn't eat, drink, or even move as the celebration dragged on. Finally the feast drew to an end, the mysterious figures got up and start to walk in the direction of Hrothgar's cave. Not want wanting to disappoint them, Hrothgar heads back to his cave and waited. Finally, the clocked figures appear in his cave. Hrothgar says to them, "Prepare yourselves humans."
"We are ready demon, but what about you? ", one of the cloaked figures asks. They remove their cloaks. In a flash of dazzling white light, they reveal their identities as Ares, Hephaestus, and Zeus.
"AH HA! Finally some fight!" roars Hrothgar. He rears his head and attacks breathing fire at them. Hephaestus gets in front and absorbs the fire with his hammer. He strikes the ground with a mighty blow from his hammer, causing the ground to split. Hrothgar jumps to the side just as flames billow up from the crack. Now, Ares attacks and is able to cut Hrothgar along the scales that protect his heart, causing them to fall away. Hrothgar grabs Ares shoulder in his jaws and throws him into the wall of the cave with a loud thud. After Ares hits the ground, he does not get up. Both, Hephaestus and Zeus worry for their comrade but they must still fight.
Now that Hrothgar has a weakness, Zeus takes full advantage of it. He grabs one of his lighting bolts and hurls it at Hrothgar's heart. Hrothgar is unable to dodge the bolt and it hits its mark. Hrothgar bellows in pain and dismay as he dies falling to the floor with a giant thud. Zeus and Hephaestus run to their fallen comrade to find that he is severely injured, but he will make it. The three of them return back to the heavens tired and weary.
Alternate Ending
"We are ready demon, but what about you? " One of the cloaked figures asks. Then they remove their cloaks and revel in a flash of dazzling white light they revel their identities as Ares, Hephaestus, and Zeus.
"AH HA! Finally some fight" Roars Hrothgar and rears his head and attacks breathing fire at them. Hephaestus gets in front and absorbs the fire with his hammer. After absorbing the attack he strikes the ground with a might blow from his hammer causing the ground to split. Hrothgar is unable to move fast enough and is engulfed in the flames that erupted from the bottom of the earth. As the flames lick around him, his golden scales start to melt revealing the inner monster he has become. Hrothgar's body is covered in jet-black scales with pearl white spikes running from the back of his head to the tip of his tail. His mouth if filled with many sharp teeth and his eyes are blood red with black pupils that shine like coals.
Ares charges at Hrothgar to attack, but Hrothgar turns to the side and impales Ares through the chest with his spear like tale. Hrothgar flings him at Zeus and Hephaestus with such force, that Ares's corps fly's into both of them knocking Zeus and Hephaestus to the ground. Before they can get up Hrothgar lunges and slashes Hephaestus chest open with his three eight-inch claws killing him. Jumping back to a safe distance, Hrothgar waits for Zeus to attack. Zeus grabs one of his thunderbolts and hurls it at Hrothgar's chest only to ricochet off into the wall. Hrothgar laughs and says, "It will take more that that to defeat me."
A river of black flames flowed from Hrothgar's mouth swallows Zeus, when he stopped all that remained was dust. In a whirl of black smoke, Hades appeared in the cave next to the dragon and said, "Well done Hrothgar. Next, we shall march on Mt. Olympus and conquer the rest of the Olympians."
Part 2
A cry of anguish and despair was heard from the havens that night. For they had been watching the battle from the havens and they saw what happened in the cave. They feared what would happen if Hades and his new pet appeared in the heavens to take over? Would they be able to defend themselves? Would they be over run? When would Hades attack? How would he attack? Would there be a warning, or would it be quick? There was debate on whether or not they should attack first but with out their leader, decision was no were in sight.
"We shall wait for them to calm down and relax so they think that we are cowards and we wont attack them." Hades said. But Hrothgar wasn't listening to what he was saying. He was looking at his reflection in the mirror admiring his new appearance. Now he had a fierce look making him more dangerous, he now realized what he had become. He felt a flash of sorrow for what he had done "It's to late to change what I did." He thought to himself, and pushed the thought from his head.
"We can not win. With the dragon by his side, there is only a small chance for Mt. Olympus." Declared Poseidon. "Our only hope, is that he does not attack with his minions by his side."
" What of us?" Asked Eros "The ones who can not fight. It would not be safe for us here." Said Artemis.
"Where, do you propose to move those of us who can't fight?" Questioned Poseidon.
After a moment of silent thinking, Athena "What of the cave the dragon came from?"
"What of it?" Asked Helios.
Athena responded, "Would that not be a safe place? It would be the last place Hades would think to look for us there."
Silence engulfed the room as they thought about the suggestion she had made. They thought long and hard consulting with one another. The silence turned from a murmur of voices, to an uproar of arguing.
"Quiet, Quiet!!" Shouted Poseidon over the clamor. "We shall not reach an agreement if we continue to argue like this!"
As the room quieted, he began to speak again. "Athena is right, we must move those of us who can't fight." There was a low murmur of agreement from most of the gods at the table. "Not all of us can fight in battle, and those of us who can't could cause unnecessary loses."
"Wouldn't they be safer here though?" Questioned Helios.
"In case we are overwhelmed, they should be in a safer place." Responded Poseidon.
CRACK, the pillar exploded into a thousand shards as it was hit by a ball of fire thrown from Hades in a furry of anger.
"Where will they hide!?!?!" Roared Hades. Calming down, he muttered to himself. "It would probable be somewhere I couldn't go possibly one of their temples. If that is so then I'll just send the dragon in to get them." There was a deep growl from Hrothgar when he heard himself referred to as the dragon, but Hades just ignored him.
"What if they don't, what if they keep them there when I attack them?" Hades asked him self. "If the do should I kill them, or take them prisoners in my domain?" He pondered this question for a long while, "Bah, it would be easier just to kill them on the spot so they can't escape."
Hrothgar let out a chocking growl curling his upper lip showing a formidable row of dagger like teeth.
"What's wrong with you?" Hades demanded
"Nothing its just amusing to watch you struggle over such simple questions." Hrothgar replied continuing with his strange growl.
Realizing that Hrothgar was laughing at him, Hades stormed away fuming at the dragon and mumbling about how stupid he is.
For the next few days, Mt. Olympus was covered with defenses and nests for archers where hundreds of arrows were places. Along with arrows, swords, bows, shields, and armor. Every thing was a flurry of action. Every one was doing something to help even the odds. Yet down in the underworld, Hrothgar Hades and his demons feasted and celebrated the soon downfall of the gods of Mt. Olympus.
While everyone else was feasting and enjoying himself, Hrothgar was wondering why the fire that came from the earth didn't turn that scale black also. "Maybe the flames missed it. No, then there would be more gold on me." As he pondered this question, Hades was thinking the same thing also.
"I wonder what it means?" He asked himself. "Maybe it is his weak spot. If so then he will need armor to protect his heart."
Part 3
"When are they going to attack?" asked Poseidon
"Maybe they won't attack, he just wants us to think that he will attack to keep us on edge." Replies Athena.
"Perhaps, but we will never know." Sighed Poseidon
"Our army is ready to fight." Declared Helios.
"Now we must wait." Stated Poseidon.
"It is time to attack they have lost their leader and they are at there weakest!" declared Hades "We will attack at sunrise, what say you!"
An up roar loud enough to be hear from the heavens was heard in Mt. Olympus.
"They will attack soon and we have to be ready whet it comes." Poseidon declared.
Silence was everywhere. Fear was thick in the air. Each individual heart beet could be heard, the sound would drive a normal man insane but the gods paid no head to the noise. Though the gods knew they could easily slay thousands of demons they knew that with the dragon the odds were stacked against them.
Off in the distance a horn sounded then another soon thousands of them were sounding off. The ground shook with the amount of demons running at them.
"FIRE!!!" roared Poseidon. Balls of fire rained into the ranks of demons turning them into ash.
Camping at the bottom of Mt. Olympus, Hrothgar waited. He knew that the fighting would start soon and he felt strange, somewhat excited. Looking down he realized that his golden scale had begun to dull it was not as bright as it used to be.
"Why is it doing that?" Hrothgar asked him self, he had been puzzling over this for a long time, but yet he still couldn't find the answer.
"It is time," Hades said to Hrothgar "Prepare for battle."
"Today we take the heavens, tomorrow we take the world!!" Hades shouted to the mass of demons in front of him. There was an up roar like non-ever heard before, shaking the ground causing all the birds within two miles to take flight in fear.
"NOW WE ATTACK!!" shouted Hades to the demons. With a roar of delight the demons began running up the side of the mountain. As they were running, they heard the command "FIRE" shouted. Looking up they realized the gods had been waiting for them.
Loud explosions filled the air as the first of the fireballs landed. The fireballs caused large amounts of devastation. Bodies and showers of molten lead flying everywhere. All around, demons were falling into giant trenches filled with spears. Soon arrows were raining down on the demons each hitting their marks. Here and there a flaming arrow igniting puddles of tar. Everywhere traps began to spring up the traps were either spikes covered in poison or spring-loaded traps that would clamp onto the ankles of the advancing demons. With all of the defenses, there were still many, many more demons to fight. The trenches began to fill with mangled bodies. The arrows were running low. All the tar pits were light. The poisoned spikes were starting to lose their efficiency, and the traps were all sprung.
Hades watched as over the traps destroyed half of his army. He hoped that what was left was enough to weaken the gods.
Hrothgar watched as the traps began to thin out the demons, and he found it amusing as yet even more demons still ran forward. Finally, the arrows stopped buzzing through the air, and the fireballs stopped obliterating troops and the enemy troops advanced. This was also the time Hades and Hrothgar began to join the fight.
Poseidon watched as millions of demons fell victim to the traps, arrows, and fireballs. He felt no emotions for the millions of demons dying in the blood-covered ground. Then he say what he wished would never happen. He saw Hades and the dragon joining the army.
" NO!" He shouted "This cant be happening." Finally, he decided that now was the time to face the enemies. Turning to face the gods that had stayed, he said, "My friends, the enemy has come to us expecting a fight, I say we give them something to remember us by! Who is with me?" The gods answered him with a mighty up roar. Answering this up roar he shouted to his comrades "Then let us banish these fiends back to the black to the pit where they came from." He then shouted "For Zeus!" He shouted.
"For Zeus!" The gods replied. Thus they began to charge.
Seeing the gods rushing at him, Hades shouted at Hrothgar "Dragon turn those gods into ashes and dust."
Hearing the shout, Hrothgar realized that he was not but a tool. A tool to be used and thrown away like a broken sword. Taking of he landed between the two armies watching for any traps that might be there. Causing both forces to stop. Addressing Poseidon and Hades, Hrothgar said. "I am not but the middle. My choice will decide who will be victorious and who will be killed. The two of you will fight, I will join the winners side."
Hades tried to argue with him, but it was to no avail. "Fine then dragon." Hades said, "I will fight you Poseidon but I will kill you brother." The shadows around him rose up to his hand creating a sword.
"You cannot scare me." Poseidon said to Hades. Jumping at Hades, they locked into dangerous dance dodging, attacking, and parrying each other's blows. They fought for hours and hours until Poseidon got between Hades defenses, knocking him to the ground. Before Poseidon can make the final blow, Hades creates a dagger out of the shadows and hurls it at Poseidon head.
Looking at the last golden scale over his heart, Hrothgar sees it turn black. A river of black flames flowed from Hrothgar's mouth swallowing the rest of the gods turning them to ashes.
THUD "Ouch!" cried Jason he had fallen out of bead causing him to wake from the dream. "That's strange, never dreamed about that before."