The prince had stopped his bleeding but he couldn’t hope to stand

and things weren’t going as his friend, the first hero had planned

no one dared disturb the three whose battle made no sense

and once again the red-eyed demon went on the offense

“Human prince, you’ll die today, and soon your father too

don’t resent me though, your hero did this all to you”

the demon laughed a bitter laugh and then attacked again

and just as before, the hero stood between the men

The prince was still in shock but was resolved to fight and die

he spoke toward the hero in a pained and weary sigh

“my old friend, you’ve lost your powers, now you’ve lost your mind

i’m sorry that i didn’t see how much you’d left behind”

The hero could see clearly on the prince’s bloody face

friendship even his betrayal could never erase

“just leave this to me, you should escape this place and live

surely you have given all a hero has to give”

The prince’s words were like a blade that pierced the hero’s heart

the hero reeled in pain as his own purpose fell apart

the demon had to laugh at the absurd human affair

the traitor being pardoned by the empire’s rightful heir

“This must be your talent, twisting fate until it breaks

bring ruin to the world no matter what it takes

however, I'm afraid you won’t be running from this place

you will bear the weight of all your sins against my race”

The hero only wanted for the war to quickly end

stuck between his duty to his conscience and his friend

but all he had the power left to do was kick and scream

and watch his destiny be ripped apart at every seam

Again the prince attempted to attack the red-eyed man

hoping that by the the hero would have turned and ran

but still the hero fought to stay between the enemies

shouting at them, “stop this killing, end this battle, please”

The red-eyed demon grew annoyed, but never slowed his sword

“your hypocrisy is boundless, but i’m starting to grow bored”

the pair’s attacks began to fill with magic meant to kill

the hero doing all he could to stand between them still

None who watched in terror could make sense of what they saw

the fight was growing desperate, yet emerged a three-way draw

battles still continued all around the three who fought

before long though both armies’ full attention had been caught

The battle started to converge upon the three-way duel

as more and more the red-eyed man’s attacks became more cruel

the weakened prince and hero, though not allies anymore

found it harder with each moment to stand anymore

The human army tried to help but couldn’t reach the three

surrounded by a barrier cast by the enemy

the injured hero parried the attacks of both the men

pleading with them both to stop and failing once again

Tears poured down his face and all his thoughts became unclear

he wasn’t sure if what he felt was panic,guilt, or fear

finally the prince was hit and landed far away

the hero tried to beg, but there was nothing left to say

The red-eyed man approached the fallen prince to finish him

the prince was only half awake, and his expression grim

though in vain, the hero held his hand out to attack

but still his missing magic showed no sign of coming back

He fell, exhausted from the battle, far from his old friend

the demon now about to bring their battle to an end

he met he prince’s eyes, full of forgiveness and he cried

when suddenly a force befell him like an ocean tide

He wondered if his heart had grown too weak to bear his guilt

or if he’d stood too long upon a battlefield he’d built

but then he truly understood the nature of his fear

the greatest power he had ever known was drawing near

Panic and confusion overthrew the battleground

from high above the clouds there came an overwhelming sound

like thunder claps the dragon flapped its wings and then it came

the cloudy sky became an endless sea of fire and flame

The red-eyed demon panicked and he stumbled on his feet

some among the armies even started to retreat

among those gathered on the bloody field of blood and war

only one man knew with certainty what was in store

And so the war had ended, as the prince lay on the ground

the red-eyed man collected himself and he looked around

upon the hero’s face he saw unfathomable fear

and soon a voice like thunder found its way into his ear

“Foolish little creatures, have you no respect or pride

endless chaos, when will anyone be satisfied”

the dragon spoke with fiery breath and every being heard

their fear grew to anger as they clung to every word

The hero watched in resignation as the dragon flew

and landed right in front of him in everybody’s view

“angry little human who insisted I should leave

you’ve made a war of stories which these other fools believe”

The dragon looked in anger at the scars upon the land

forests overthrown by chaos, by the hero’s hand

“let this be the final day you petty creatures fight

let this be the day that I make all you failures right”

The dragon flew up high above the bloody scene of war

and looking down upon the armies, spoke to them once more

“I ask that those of you who do escape do not forget

the consequence of chaos and destruction is regret”

The dragon took a breath and all around fell deathly still

slowly they began to understand the dragon’s will

the hero couldn’t bring himself to run away and flee

the armies didn’t have a chance to curse reality

The dragon bathed the world beneath in unforgiving flames

making ash of armies, man and monster all the same

between the northern demon lands and humans to the south

a wall of fire exploded from the mighty dragon’s mouth

~