#fridayflash "Kingdom Come"

This story is pre-Pull of Gravity and takes place on the planet Cupidis with Prince Edonys and his father.

Kingdom Come

“Come with me, Edonys,” King Jypitr, his father, unfolded his golden wings and offered his hand to the boy.

“Sure, papa.” His smaller hand slipped into his father’s large one as they took off into the air.

The city unfolded around them. It gleamed white in the afternoon sun. Edonys lifted his other hand and shielded his eyes from the glare. The marbled walls soon gave away to glittering water. Dolphins played, and the glimpse of a whale’s spout erupted from the lapping waves.

His father and he flew into the purplish sky and toward the snow-encrusted mountains. Ice crusted over his wings before they swooped toward the desert filled with its golden and red sands.

After hours of soaring through pink-cottoned clouds, they rested upon a cliff’s edge, overlooking their vast kingdom.

His father tossed him a yellow-hued apple, and Edonys munched on it. The sweet liquid dampened his parched tongue and refreshed him from their long flight. He didn’t think he would ever fly so far.

They sat in silence until the apples were gone and their breathing had returned to normal.

“Do you know why I brought you here,” his father asked.

“No, papa.” Edonys fluttered his wings before licking off the apple juice from his fingers.

“One day, this planet will be yours. The Cupidians will look up to you as their king.” His father motioned toward the expanse of land before them.

“Why won’t you be king?” Edonys’s hand fluttered to his side as he stared at his father. When had his hair grown so white? It reminded him of the city walls.

“I can’t be king forever, my child. Someday, you’ll find love and I’ll have to leave you then.” He patted his son on the back. “You’ll do the right thing when the time comes, just as I did with my own father.”

The gesture was meant for comfort, but it just confused Edonys. This talk of love, departure, and kingdoms had to wait. He wasn’t ready to listen. Nothing should ever change.

Was that too much to ask?