Purple Dragonfire

And the Winner Is... (Chapter 13)

Hey guys! Thanks for being patient with this late final update. I do have other works in progress, and if you have ideas, feel free to message me! Anyway, hope you enjoy!

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Lance lifted his blade up and charged the king.

The king easily blocked his attack and they locked blades. "An archer with a sword is like a child with a spear. You can't possibly defeat me with such meager skills."

"We'll see about that!" Lance tipped his blade down, Alfor falling off balance as Lance scooted behind him and kicked his back, sending the man stumbling forward.

"Was that supposed to hurt?" Alfor demanded as he quickly recovered.

"Not yet."

The two circled each other, waiting to see who'd make the next move. "I've defeated many opponents; I personally train my own soldiers in combat. I was taught by one of the greatest swordsmen across the seas! How do you possibly think you could win? My master taught me well!" Alfor growled.

"Well, Keith taught me better!" Lance countered, watching as Alfor charged him. At the last second, Lance spun around the king's blade, bringing his own blade down from behind. Alfor narrowly deflected the strong swing and regained his footing.

He couldn't help but glare at the archer.

Since when could he sword fight? Did the dragon seriously teach him?!

"I'll admit, you have some skill, but not enough to save you!" The king raised his blade again.

"Funny, I was about to say the same to you," Lance countered as he too readied to attack.

He charged again, as Alfor swung. At the last second, he slid under the blade, a few of his hairs being sliced.

Alfor whirled around and brought his sword down where the Latino was supposed to be, but his blade only sliced dirt.

Lance had rolled around the king and was behind him in an instant, blade hovering at the side of the king's neck.

In a roar of anger, the king brought his blade up, knocking Lance's away and bumping him back.

Lance dove for his sword in the grass, missing another swing of the king's blade as the two once again circled each other.

Lance may have learned to fight, but he hadn't built up his stamina yet, and it was growing obvious that the Latino was exhausted. Keith noticed Lance's arms slightly trembling, the beads of sweat running down his face.

"Finish it, Lance!" He encouraged. "Patience yields focus! Stay on him!"

'Keep your guard up! Look for an opening to go on the offensive!'

That's what Keith had instructed him. He had to keep a broad perspective. He had to watch his opponent...to wait for an opening...

And he had to win.

Alfor got tired of the dragon's words, and charged once more. Lance waited and watched his advance, seeing his chance.

Alfor's blade wasn't as high as it had been when they had begun. Age wasn't on his side, and his body was growing exhausted too. There was Lance's opening.

Lance lifted his blade, faster than Alfor could lift his own. Lance swung his sword into Alfor's, loosening it in his hands before he spun it around and sent it flying into the air. He whirled around, kicking the back Alfor's knee, forcing the king down to his knees. Lance caught the king's blade in midair and crossed both blades at the king's throat.

"Yield!" Lance snarled.

"Never! You'll have to kill me!" Alfor shouted. "I refuse to live with the dragon in my kingdom!"

Lance locked glares with the king, his grips on the swords growing tighter.

Alfor caused both Keith and Lance so much trouble and pain... he had planned on killing both of them...

Lance could end it all, with only a flick of his wrists.

Shiro and Hunk exchanged fearful, anxious looks, as Lance seemed to be leaning towards the wrong choice.

Keith shook his head slowly. Don't do it Lance. Don't be like me and turn into your own dragon out of your anger...

Lance took a deep breath and lowered the blades. "That may be your way, but it's not mine. It never was." Lance lodged the two blades into the dirt beside him as the villagers erupted in cheer.

Lance turned back to Keith and his friends, all with big smiles on their faces. Alfor glared up at the Latino as he snatched his sword and lunged at the unarmed teen from behind.

However, his blade never connected to the Latino. It clanged against a shield... Shiro's shield, with the Altean crest across the metal. Keith pulled Lance back from the defeated king and his top knight.

"Your Highness, do not show your people a king who loses with disgrace, but one who was defeated honorably. This needs to end." Shiro told him as the two lowered their weapons. "Fulfill your promise and maintain the honor that we hold in such high esteem."

The king looked at his subjects, then at the dragon, who had his arms around the archer and the archer around the dragon in a protective stance. The anger faded from his body, his expression softening as he dropped his blade to the grass.

"It seems that I must make good on my word," he sighed with mild disdain at himself. "You two are free to stay in Altea, for as long as you wish."

The two teens shared a grin, as all of Altea erupted in cheers.

Keith pulled the teen into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Lance," he muttered. "You truly are worthy of being a knight, at least to me."

The two led the celebrating procession back to the palace to celebrate Lance's return, and properly welcome the dragon to his new home on Altea, with new friends, and a new chance at life.

And it was all thanks to the newest knight on Altea, Sir Lance.