Flash Fiction - The Boy of Steel

There was once a boy made out of steel. In his village, the people praised him, worshiping for the protection the boy offered. He defended them from beasts and monsters from the outer boy, bravely gazing into the eyes of creatures that defied definition.

With the years, the boy’s confidence increased. And in the excitement, he forgot fear and death, thinking himself invincible. He fought things bigger than his village, slayed monsters of nightmares and won wars for his country. Together, the people and the boy proclaimed divine right, deifying the boy, placing him on a pedestal of honor. In his name, the people built monuments and buildings of gold and jewels, praising his name as savior.

But in the far lands, an eye of greed opened in the shouts of delight, noticing the bounty and beauty, something he had never seen in such quantity. It saw the gold and wanted. It saw the jewels and needed them. It saw the boy reflect the colors of the light and desired him.

It came at night, lighting the darkness as day. The people ran. Many died in the first barrage. The fire flowed, thick as liquid, so hot it burned white. The people cried, “where is our hero?”

Proud and bold, the boy ran at the dragon, his sword gleaming with courage. He jumped and struck, sliced its scales. And before it fell, it roared in pain. The boy landed close, iron clad, and stuck his sword on the earth.

“The beast is slayed,” the people cheered.

The dragon had never seen so much pride in a single man. It was too much. No one could have more than he. It was the dragon’s way. This metal boy, who glowed yellow and red, surrounded by flames had to cease. The dragon rose; the people froze. The white, a hot so fierce, fell on the boy and burned him more, a pain so high he screamed beyond the sobs and tears his people shed for the fear for the boy, their fallen boy of silver and steel. The white liquid melted him red along his sword, leaving a mirroring pool. So proud and bold, the boy now lay, nothing more and nothing less than any coin that could buy greed.

Satisfied, the dragon flew, threw his wings and picked up wind. The people saw it fly beyond the morning sun, away from their town and their fragile lives.