On a cliff overlooking the Crystal Empire snow whirled as great leather wings pounded the landscape with harsh flaps. With tremendous thud the dragon landed. Due to his arrival snow veiled his presence from the crystal ponies. He sat their towering his pale scales only aiding in his camouflage he easily could swallow Canterlot and everyone in it and he rivaled only the mountain in size. his wing span were miles long and his tongue could strangle all the necks on a hydra. He was the king of the frozen skies, Avalanche, the ice dragon.
He sat on the cliff shrouded as he lick his lips while looking at the hundreds of crystal ponies walking about their lives in the Crystal Empire. Avalanche wasn't in true need of increasing his hoard but he had a particular sweet tooth for crystals.
He had patiently waited a thousand years for it to return so he could seize the kingdom for his appetite and waited even longer for the scent of his old foe to disappear, and now the last trace of magic was gone the crystal heart alone couldn't stop his and mountain like size and weight. his victory was assured.
He took a moment recalling how hours before his recovery from the 30th time trying to take it, his foe had faced two foreign princess and was not able to protect the city as he arrived hoping the fight had weakened him he found the entire empire gone. With frustration he slept for centuries waiting for the delectable scent of pure crystal to return and the stench of the fool who kept him at bay to disappear. He sat letting both pride and victory wash over him he spanned his wings again readying to dive right at the thin magical barrier that separated him from his boon. when he felt a tingle in his back which quickly escalated into full soul tearing pain. Then a familiar stench filled his cavernous nostrils.
Avalanche spun and around kicking up a snowstorm while doing so.
“So,” He said through clenched teeth “we once again meet on the field of honor?”
A lone knight lowered his spell and merely stood red cap flowing in the wind. His blackened armor sticking out as a ink spot on a barren page. Though a helmet covered his face it didn't matter as Avalanche knew the expression was stoic.
“Did you really think a simple rock would have destroyed me you gluttonous lizard?” He spoke boldly, without any hint of fear and with justifiable confidence.
“I assumed the two goddesses would have destroyed you”
“Destroy a part of me perhaps, but I don’t see it as any sort of hindrance to my capability. Also I wouldn't say they had done it. rather, I think the new sovereigns are to be thanked.”
“Hrm. A fool if I ever cast my gaze on one. I feel you lost great power don’t think I can’t tell”
“perhaps my magical ability is weakened but my earthen abilities have a refreshed vigor” the knight drew his sword and aimed it to the gargantuan dragon. “ Now I do believe I should do something on this 31st fight of ours”
“oh and what pray tell is a tiny being like you going to do against me?” Avalanche then expanded his wings out showing his true and incredible size.
“I’m going to ensure there isn't a 32nd”
“Oh how nice of you to die”
“I’m not going to, stupid lizard”
With a volley of magic the black knight blasted to the dragon. sword forward . Avalanche anticipated the attack and swung a his massive arm swatting the knight like a bug. However the expected collision felt off. in quick realization the drake whipped his head around in time to catch a sword in his teeth. With a quick flip the armored pony flung into the air, but before coming down vanished once again.
“you’re tactics have changed very little. but i recall the illusions being more impressive. you've weakened ,you lost all while I've kept it all. You’re path-”
He was interrupted with a subtly shluk sound he felt no pain just sudden numbness. All over
“I may have lost my enhanced magical abilities” the pony said leaping of his shoulder “but you’re still just as stupid as back then, monologue-ing in the middle of combat.”
avalanche gazed down at his foe while he removed his helmet letting the obsidian black hair fall to his shoulders.
“Rather than sleeping you should have practiced”
with those word avalanche threw back his head and with the last of his internal fire shouted to the heavens.
“SOMBRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA………..”
The fires consumed his corpse as dragon due in passing and the stallion moved to the part of the cliff his enemy was sitting on. The fires having shifted the winds he felt a new mountain breeze pass through his mane as his gaze cast to the giant crystal citadel before him. sword re-sheathed and a map of a certain dragon hoard on his hip he let his gaze wander over the the city. as another gust washed over him he smiled and turned his back the empire departing the summit. while sliding his helmet back on he quietly spoke to himself, “I have quite the journey ahead to the empire. well then let it be.”
he trotted his way down the hill oddly enough in a good mood singly so lightly to himself.
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.
