A hero's End

What is a hero? Many say they know the anwser to this question...but there isn't a true anwser. Anyone could be a hero and not know it. Heroes define themselves. There are many Heroes but what kind of hero is a true hero? For one man being a hero is hell...a hell that only causes unending pain.

Would you want your hero to suffer for their good deeds?

.

.

.

Battered, broken, and near death the man walks. Through the crowd of people. For he has defeated the skeleton king, and ended his rein of terror. However they do not praise him, instead they fear the sight of a man near death. A man they thought invincible.

He walks, with one clear target. The castle of the kingdom he has vowed to protect. Missing an arm, leg, ear, eye, and a will to live. Using his former weapon, a sword, as a mere crutch.

No one in the crowd raise a finger to help him, on his bloody trek towards the castle. They watch in utter silence, knowing full well where he is heading.

He continues on, not caring about anything around him, focused solely on making it to the one spot he had been many times. The one spot where he felt at peace. Wheezing, almost lifeless, sticking onto the last bit of life hes has left to make it to that one place.

Many are crying at the sight of the man. Happy for the victory but devastated at the aftermath of it all.

A quarter of the kingdom gone, with many deaths sacrificed, and an empty shell of a so called "hero".

He passes by many people he had become close too. Not trying to say goodbye, knowing full well his death is inevitable.

The more he notices his friends, his supporters, the people he had tried so hard to protect...crying...made his wounds hurt more.

Many would say he didn't deserve such a fate. To die on such a glorious day. A victory had just been made, clear skies, blossoms floating throughout the streets.

Such a beautiful day being tainted by the sight of one man leaking blood as he nears his final destination.

He walks, longing for one last look at the beautiful city he had grown to love, admire, and protect.

The memories that the city and kingdom itself had given him, fading away. His story would be remembered and cherished, but he could not make anymore memories here. He could not protect his entire being any longer.

It was time for him to die. It was time to let go of all the love and memories he had made. It was time for his fate to be sealed.

Many say he could die happy for all of the accomplishments he had made, but no. He himself thought otherwise. The thought of dying infuriated him, he was angry.

"Why did I have to be a hero?"

As he finally reaches his destination, the tallest wall protecting the castle. He sits on the edge, resting his back on one of the grooves, looking out into the city.

Admiring the beautiful view before him, scanning every inch of it, the mountains in the distance, fog settling over them. The beautiful sky in blushing beauty.

This was the last thing he wanted to see before his death. Not blood, the field he battled in, nor the corpse of the dead king.

He wanted to see the very city that had got him killed.

As his body starts to get numb he hears the crying of a woman. As he looks over he see's that the woman crying is the very princess he had fallen for.

He was sad. He didn't want her to see him like this.

She had her face buried in her hands, tears still pouring out between her fingers.

"Look...at...me" He says to her. His voice practically broken, as his whole body was barely holding itself together.

As she she looks up, crying even harder than she was before, she sees him smile. A saddening smile was all he could give. His vision was fading and he had used all his effort to say something to her.

Her tears continue to flow but she stops making noise.

He looks down the wall below him, a river flowing out of the city. 'Perfect' he thinks to himself.

He looks over to the princess. Noticing that she still hadn't made noise. He looks at her a bit longer, flashing her another bright smile.

He looks back towards the city, a beautiful view coming back to his eyes. No flames, beautiful skies, birds chirping...'No...snap back to reality.'

He closes his eyes and opens them again. The beautiful view is gone, it's now filled fill smoke, houses destroyed, the sky is dark, and the mountains and the trees that cover it, are burning.

He was merely seeing memories, this...is reality.

Tears start to fall down his face, he lets out one last breath...not taking another one ever again.

The "Hero" Is dead...