Chapter Text
As if having to deal with a potential dragon problem wasn’t enough, later that week The Endermen attacked. Not in a small raid or by sending an assassin, no. A full army of the creatures appeared in a field near the castle, heavily armed and ready for war. It was everything Geoff, and everyone else for that matter, had feared. When it was only raids and assassins it could be believed that some of the Endermen were just acting out. That isolated individuals or maybe a small group of them had become hostile. But now it was clear that this was war.
Ryan was wavering between excitement and dread. The dragon in him, the side of him driven by basal instincts, longed for the battle, for the chance to prove his skills as Geoff’s warrior. But the more rational side of him knew that war meant death, more specifically death for people he knew. Geoff, Jack, or The Lads could die in the upcoming battle, as could Lindsay, Matt, or Jeremy. The second Ryan had heard the news he had gone down to the armory, intent on making sure his armor and weapons were in pique condition. It wouldn’t do to have something fail him on the battlefield.
Ryan wasn’t the only one who had had that idea, and the armory was full of people, of guards and knights, or squires and the miscellaneous warrior. Even Geoff and Jack were down there, as were the princes. Everyone was readying themselves for the upcoming battle. Geoff had made the plans clear. They would march through the night and meet the Endermen at dawn.
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The battle was just as rough as Ryan had been expecting it to be. Fighting creatures that could teleport if wounded, and while in human form, was proving difficult. Killing one was hard enough, but defeating an army seemed impossible. Achievement Kingdom at least had size on their side, and Ryan was pleasantly surprised to discover that The Lads, even Gavin, were proving themselves useful in the fight. Ray had even managed to cast a spell which had flooded much of the battle field, though the water did smell strongly of roses.
In the flurry of battle no one noticed that Ryan seemed too strong, too quick. Surely they must have just chalked it up to all those potions of strength that he drank and thought no more of it. Mostly they were probably just thankful to have him on their side.
Ryan surveyed the battlefield and a jolt when down his spine when he saw Geoff fighting off six Endermen at once and slowly losing. Ryan ran towards his king, his sword dripping foul enderblood onto the grass as he went. One of the Enderman struck forward with an obsidian dagger, catching the king in the gaps between his armor. Geoff cried out, turning towards the enemy and cutting the Enderman down, though it was clear that he was now struggling due to his injury. Ryan reached the group and lunged towards one of the Endermen, driving his sword into it. It dies with a gargling, horrible noise, failing to teleport away and off Ryan’s sword. Two down, four to go. Standing back to back with his king, Ryan lifted his sword, ready to defend his king to the last.
“Thank Buddy,” Geoff said, shooting Ryan a glance before turning back towards the Endermen surrounding them. Ryan’s heart raced in his chest and he flexed his fingers, angling his sword to either strike or defend. But then, before anyone could attack, a thunderclap roared out across the land. The Endermen looked towards the sky, distracted, and Ryan and Geoff saw the chance to attack. They each lunged, each one cutting down a distracted Enderman before turning on the other two. The remaining Endermen teleported away, along with the rest of the army. Geoff blinked, confused for a moment, until a raindrop landed right on his nose. The king blinked, looked up at the sky, and started laughing.
“That’s awesome as dicks,” he said, still cackling. He laughed for a bit before turning back to Ryan.
“Thanks Buddy,” he said. “You saved my ass back there.” Ryan bowed his head, sheathing his sword.
“It was nothing,” he started to say, but stopped when he saw Geoff shaking his head.
“It wasn’t nothing,” he said. “Kneel down, Ryan.” Ryan did as Geoff said, not quite understanding. Geoff lifted his sword and placed it down onto Ryan’s shoulder.
“Ryan,” Geoff started, “for helping to save my ass I’m knighting yours. You earned it, buddy.” Geoff took the sword back and sheathed it. “Now stand up, Asshole. Let’s get back to the rest of our troops.” Ryan rose, falling behind Geoff and thinking about how, while it wasn’t as formal as he would have expected, he was a knight. He laughed silently to himself, thinking of the absurdity of it all. A dragon as a knight.