Swords and Sorcery

George hadn't enjoyed his first day at Tramford Accountancy.  He suspected it showed on his face as he walked to the subway beside his new supervisor, gray-haired and gray-faced Mr. Erkenwhyte.

When the dragon emerged from the darkened tunnel, squamous and shrieking, George was taken aback.  He'd have been eaten instantly, but at the last moment, he saw a flash of gray, and the dragon retreated with a roar, spurting black ichor from its solitary eye.

"You will learn, boy," said Mr. Erkenwhyte.  "The monsters are always there, and this," he brandished his fountain pen, tip gleaming, "is my weapon."

Mouser

"You follow strange trails, little one," said the Cat. "It is not your kind's nature to stand and fight."

The Mouse marshaled what courage she had remaining to keep her place. Her legs badly wanted to bolt.

The Cat approached silently, as was his wont. "Intriguing," he said, inspecting the tiny needle-sword, the thimble hat, the foil breastplate. "Truly, you are the most unique mouse I have ever seen. I am impressed by your daring."

"Impressed enough to show mercy?" she squeaked.

"Alas," said the Cat, as his paw came down, "I am not possessed of your strength of character."

The Quest's End

His horse was puffing and lathered with sweat by the time he made it to the mountain cave.

"Dragon!" the knight called, drawing his sword. "Come and fight, for I have traveled far to end your reign of terror. You'll slay no more innocents this day!"

The knight was taken aback when a slender, humanoid figure sauntered from the cave mouth. "You?" he said. "But... the burnings... the slain cattle... the virgin offerings..."

The dark-haired man smiled up at the armored figure on horseback. He licked blood from one manicured hand. "One is what one aspires to be, Sir Knight."

Final Round

For reference. Again, I don't do continuity much, but sometimes things just stick in my mind.

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"This is it," said Stiletto. His left eye was swollen shut and his tunic shredded. Even his deadly electric lute had a broken string.

"I don't have anything left," said Big Gunderson. "I'm running on empty."

Crashbang didn't say anything, but he was nearly as badly beaten as his drum kit.

"We can do this," said Stiletto. "We out-bassed the trolls. We out-sang the Sirens. We're the best. We can win this."

The stage door flared with sudden light. Firelight.

"He's killing out there," said Big Gunderson. "We can't top that."

"He may be killing, but we're going to slay."