The hero was concerned about the number that he led

and wondered what a better leader might do in his stead

he had never been in charge of anyone at war

he hadn’t thought of more than his own victory before

Luckily the prince had joined him on this epic quest

the hero would be left to do what heroes could do best

fighting at the battlefront, where everyone could see

and striking fear into the heart of every enemy

To reach the place where it was thought the battle would take place

took a week or two of travel at a modest pace

on the way the hero liked to talk with younger knights

telling all his epic tales while taking in the sights

One day on the march he came across a certain boy

barely old enough to be in any knight’s employ

he carried tools and weapons and he wore a joyful smile

carrying the heavy things but singing all the while

“Little boy, you look a little young to fight a war

do you even know what all of us are fighting for”

the hero did remember he was young when he left home

but rarely did he find so young a boy that chose to roam

“Just like you sir, I’ll become a hero too one day

I couldn’t stay at home no matter what my parents say

they told me that I’d be a farmer til the day I died

but I know I could be a hero if I only tried”

The boy was full of passion that the hero knew quite well

and looked as though one day he’d have his own stories to tell

“very well, I’ll lead you on your first decisive quest

look to me for guidance and you’ll rise above this test”

Many of the youngest in the army shared his tale

dreamers from a small town who believed they’d never fail

the hero was excited that so many shared his dream

blessed with luck and friends he marched along with eyes agleam

And so the army marched enthusiastically ahead

always motivated by the words the hero said

the only thing that bothered them while on their great campaign

was how the further they all walked, the heavier the rain

At first it didn’t seem unnatural to anyone

though it didn’t make their long excursion any fun

after one whole week however, some thought it was strange

it seemed as though the rainy weather might not ever change

It wasn’t long before morale began to slip away

but then the hero came up with an idea one day

he shot his magic fire straight up to clear the cloudy sky

but somehow it kept raining, and he knew the reason why

The rain clouds they were under were not natural at all

nor was the relentless rain continuing to fall

this storm was the product of a magic like his own

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and now the army that he led was soaking to the bone

He told his forces all to set up camp beneath the trees

the cold and rain had gotten to the point where they might freeze

he went ahead alone to find the source of all the rain

before the fight began, he wouldn’t see his allies slain

It wasn’t long before he found what he was looking for

a valley full of enemies all readying for war

only in the valley were they safe from rain and cold

they’d be well prepared should any battle soon unfold

He didn’t bother scouting, heroes wouldn’t sneak around

he ran into the camp and didn’t care that he was found

he cut the soldiers down as fiery winds began to blow

and at the centre of the camp the hero found his foe

A mage in azure robes who looked too old to even stand

but wielding mighty powers with the staff in his right hand

“foolish little sorcerer, your flames will not ignite

the holy water I control is everywhere in sight”

While the hero struggled to ignite a sword of flame

knowing that the mage’s water magic was to blame

the army quickly mobilized and started to advance

the hero’s great confusion gave them all the perfect chance

But just before the hero panicked, he began to grin

after all, there was no fight a hero couldn’t win

what more could a hero ask for than a worthy fight

this was just the reason that he first became a knight

“It’s nice to meet a mage with so much power in this land

just how much I’ve longed for this, you may not understand

please don’t underestimate me now, before we start

soon I do intend to tear your whole army apart”

The mage was just about to laugh, but then the air grew cold

he realized too late the words he’d heard were not just bold

the old man summoned one great wave to drown the errant knight

but with an icy blast the battlefield was all turned white

The water and the rain for miles around had turned to snow

the skies began to clear as icy winds began to blow

and as the mage’s power was beginning to expire

the hero walked toward him with two burning blades of fire

The mage resisted to the end but soon he’d breathed his last

no matter what amazing spells the elder mage could cast

then the hero turned to see the army moved ahead

slowed a little by the snow but quickly filled with dread

Their strongest mage had been defeated by a single man

and so a charge against the enemy became their plan

the hero had no problem with a war fought from behind

the hero would claim any battlefield that he could find

He cut through legion after legion, hunting them like mice

burning half the enemies still slipping on the ice

while they blindly charged he danced around irreverently

until the army met his waiting allies finally

He laughed as chaos broke out on the front line of the war

sweeping through his enemies then running back for more

he made sure that his allies saw his every mighty deed

feeling like a prisoner who’d finally been freed

Before the day was over, he had claimed their victory

they welcomed the surrender of their weakened enemy

the hero found the unit where he’d met the dreaming boy

to ask him if the battle was a fight he could enjoy

He found instead that most of those he’d spoken to were dead

there were few survivors of the front line he had led

the prince was badly injured, but was likely to survive

and wondered why the hero had been so late to arrive

“Without a word of warning, suddenly their army came

they ran over the mountains being chased by your great flame

while you killed at random most of our front line was lost

I guess for letting pirates lead us, that would be the cost”

“You wouldn’t understand the fate of heroes anyway

are you blind, or can’t you see that we have won the day

soldiers choose a battlefield to die on, don’t you know

even those without luck reap whatever seeds they sow”

The prince had trouble understanding what the hero said

but he couldn’t argue since at least he wasn’t dead

if the king relied upon the knight, then he would too

there was little more that such a prince as him could do

The hero knew he’d done enough in service of the king

heroes shouldn’t have to fret for every little thing

a hero was a symbol not a simple bodyguard

and so the prince’s bitter words were easy to discard

The army then returned to bring the king the happy news

but he was never worried that his favoured knight would lose

the kingdom then became a scene of festivals and fairs

after centuries of stalemates, victory was theirs

Once again, the hero was paraded through the street

listening to songs of their old enemy’s defeat

later he was summoned to the capital alone

and heard a plan that pleased him as he knelt before the throne

“As you may have heard our kingdom has a troubled past

now I think it’s time for you to hear my plan at last

no longer will we live beneath the shadow of our shame

no longer will we waste our time deciding who to blame

Centuries of enemies have stolen everything

undoing every victory of which we all still sing

you and I shall resurrect the great empire of old

I’ll have you become the greatest legend ever told”