A/N: This was supposed to be a ballad, which my teacher defined as "a story poem with a repeating element". Well it qualifies to those criteria, but I'm not completely sure if it's a ballad. Oh well. This is my longest yet and I rather like it

How Things Have Always Been

You and I had a rivalry that was legendary

But it was clear in talent, you were secondary

But you wanted the matter settled once and for all

Utter foolishness that led to your downfall

There could be only one outcome; we both knew it deep down

You lose. I win

We challenged each other to the Four Challenges of Death

And vowed we would win, even with our last breath

It would end our bitter rivalry one and for all

Yes, we said, and let the winner stand tall!

I knew the outcome, we both did deep down

Things would be like they've always been

You lose. I win

The First Challenge was to pick deadly poison or wine

I passed; I can always identify all things fine

You cheated, observed me and picked second

Of course you did, best way to ensure Death never beckoned!

I could've easily switched them, finished you for riding off my glory

But no, too easy, and is that any way to end our story?

I foresaw the outcome, we both did deep down

Things were like they've always been

You lose. I win

The Second Challenge was to walk through a room of venomous spiders

Of course my solution was valid, you glory rider!

Nothing specified they had to be alive

And I know in fire they don't thrive

Of course your solution was to walk behind me

Actually, you're not really competing, don't you see?

Again the outcome was obvious, and you knew it deep down

Surprise, surprise, things are still like they've always been

You lose. I win

The Third Challenge was so easy as to be laughable

But really, you're lucky I'm so affable

Since if I hadn't told you, I don't think you'd have understood

The challenge was merely to set fire to the woods

I used fire from the spiders; let it spread through a vine

I saw you ignite your forest using fire from mine

If you want to acknowledge I'm better, fine, it's no lie

But my opinion of you has still not reached an all time high

Please, admit it, you knew the outcome deep down

I had the plan! So things are still like they've always been

You lose. I win

The Fourth Challenge was to walk through the woods we set ablaze

I couldn't help but smirk when I saw your eyes start to glaze

I knew exactly what to do

I think it's obvious, don't you?

If one of us dies, the other wins by default

So why so surprised by my sudden assault?

Did you really think I could walk though unscathed?

Even I'm not immortal, yes, I know you're amazed

It would end like this; you always knew that deep down

Things would end like they've always been!

You lose. I win

Too many times you've labeled my glory your own

A few more times than I could condone

So, literally, I let you go out in a blaze of glory! My glory!

And that makes a perfectly perfect ending to our little story

You still need me to explain why? Hm, where to begin?

Oh, I know! Ha-ha! I live! You die! You lose! I win!

Let me reiterate one more time, this is how things have always been!

You lose! I win!