Hercules TLJ Fanfic: Dragonheart

Flames burned over his head, missing Hercules by mere inches... Iolus took the confused moments and found an opening, dashing at the huge winged creature and cut a gash along its leg. The monstrous dragon was more enraged than damaged, turning around to face his small attacker. Hercules saw the dangerous moment... his friend staring eye to eye with a monster, if it wasn't so real he would think it absurd. The dragon roared and Iolus watched his life flash before his eyes. Hercules leapt up into the air and grabbed the beast's neck, causing it to thrash around as its enormous bellow ended in choked silence.

As Hercules wrestled with the dragon Iolus could only watch stupefied for a few moments. Feeling like a sidekick once again Iolus was once again in awe of the hero's sheer strength. At least until he was knocked away by the reptilian tail and slammed into the wall. It took him a few moments to recover and notice that Hercules was not in control of this beast, instead he was hanging on and being taken for a dangerous ride. Finally the mammoth creature was released from the hero who was sent flying through the air. Iolus knew for a moment that it was only he and the dragon. The only thought he allowed himself was to search for protection from the raging flames that would be coming his way.

He was relieved to find the cover of a nearby rock that he ran for, diving behind it as he felt the heat pass around him, too close for comfort. He realized the sword was missing, he must have dropped when the tail hit him. All he could do now is wait. But he didn't have to wait long, a dull metal clang lifting his spirits had to be signification that Hercules was back and had thrown over the sword. Iolus was glad that this distracted the giant red monster and was once again surprised to see another of Hercules' feats, this time spinning the dragon through the air by its tail. The massive creature turned slowly at first scrambling for a foothold on the rough dirt that served as the large cave's floor. Later, it was lifted spinning faster and faster the arrowhead shape of its tail clutched with both of the Hero's hands as he swung around, dizzying himself. Eventually he let go and the Dragon was no longer flying of its own accord, instead it crashed into the wall of the cave, causing the whole place to tremble.

The cave had awakened with a life of its own. Everything from small rocks to boulders fell from the cave's roof as if balance of serenity of this fragile environment was disturbed. Being much larger the Dragon was in more danger of being attacked by the falling debris than they were. After it recovered from this latest blow, it was greeted by a boulder that struck its head, and a stony spike that pinned its left foot to the ground, at least until the enraged beast pulled it painfully free. Hercules, still recovering from dizziness, knew the roaring from the dragon wasn't doing anything to stabilize the surroundings but he suspected the stone cavern walls would hold. Iolus was able to collect the sword and run to Hercules' side, still two brave warriors against the mighty dragon.

Iolus was beginning to wonder if anything would defeat their current foe as it jumped up and stayed in the air using its wings. The two heroes could only look up in awe at their opponent. The Dragon seemed to ignore the tear in one of its wings created from the Sword Iolus threw at it. Iolus caught the falling weapon and the cave seemed to settle when the dragon prepared to dive.

Hercules jumped up to meet it, his legs powering the leap that allowed him to catch the savage animal's body after dodging its open jaws. The combined weight was too much and they both came crashing down together, the Dragon falling on the hero. Iolus had to dodge the main bulk of the beast that would have crushed him had he remained still. Horrified at what he just saw Iolus feared Hercules was hurt or worse, but soon found the half-god returning to wrestle the dragon once more. "Iolus... the heart... go for its heart," the hero called out between grunts.

Iolus found himself wondering where to find the dragon's heart, but put his concerns aside and aimed at its chest. The sword sliced deep into its body, causing a loud screeching wail from its victim. The dying animal thrashed around but soon lost its strength and eventually became no more than a still corpse. When he was satisfied the Dragon was dead Iolus tried to recover the sword but it was stuck inside. Hercules slowly and painfully come to help him but the Dragon erupted in flames that dissolved most of its body, leaving behind only a skeleton and an enormous ruby where its heart should have been, now pierced by the sword.