Second-place prize for  4thepeople, done by the talented  chickenzaur!

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“A noble warrior, mighty in deeds
His wrath both swift and sure
Righteous and strong, he can fight all day long
His heart completely pure.”

Arix smiled a little as the song drew to a close, already humming the last few notes. “Catchy,” he said. “But ‘all day long’? I may be tough, but even I can’t fight all day without a breather.”
“It’s a song!” Zilong couldn’t help but smile a little at his friend’s own simple naivety. “Poetry thrives on exaggeration. ‘Righteous and strong, he can fight for three and a half minutes’ isn’t nearly as noteworthy and memorable.”
“Three and a half minutes?!” Arix drew his head back, speaking with an air of mock indignation. “Give me some credit.”
“Well I don’t know! I don’t know what you do, how long does it usually last?”
“Well, depends on many things. Skill, condition, environment, how merciful I’m feeling…”

The two dragons walked in comfortable silence for some time. The thinly-wooded grove was pleasantly warm, with little canopy to cast shadows upon the soft grass. Sunlight danced off the dew that collected upon the leaves, and the soft sounds of birdsong and scavengers beneath the fallen branches told that the inhabitants of the grove didn’t at all seem disturbed at the presence of the passing dragons.
Zilong inhaled deeply, the scents of the blooming flowers pleasant and heady. “It must feel great,” he said, half to himself, “being a hero.”
“You’ll know for yourself before long,” Arix replied, turning his attention back to the other dragon.
Zilong laughed. “No, I won’t. I can’t fight.” He looked over Arix, noting the many scratches and dents that had built up on the red dragon’s armour over the years. “Not like you can, anyway.”
“What does that matter? So I’m a fighter. Fighting isn’t all there is to adventuring and heroics, you know.”
“Well, obviously. But it seems to be a key aspect. It’s the wizards and warriors who get the glory for striking down evil. No hero ever defeated a villain by singing at them or writing ballads.” He spoke very matter-of-factly, without a sense of wonder or regret to his words. He was not at all regretting his own life or wishing he was more like the warrior, only stating fact.
Arix stopped in his tracks. “Okay. Let’s say I ‘strike down the villain’. I won’t be able to do that forever. One day, I’ll be gone, and then I won’t be fighting anything.” He smiled and affectionately nudged Zilong with his muzzle. “But your songs will last long after we’re not around anymore. If they inspire one youngster to be the next great hero, then you’ll have done far more than I ever will.”
Zilong laughed and pushed back against him in turn. “I think you’re wrong, Arix.”
“I’m not. The most important thing is that every age has a hero, and…”
Zilong silenced him by laying a paw heavily on top of his muzzle. “No no no, you’re right about that. But you’re wrong about not being around forever. I don’t think even the greatest forces of nature itself could keep you down for long.”