Children's Tale - Beyond the Reasonable Doubt

This is the story of four valiant warriors and a ferocious dragon. Many years ago, far in the past, the beginning of this story takes place, as all stories must begin somewhere.
The evil dragon from the deep was becoming a nuisance with his raiding the cities, razing the crops, and stealing the treasures. He had to be stopped. But most especially, he was taking all the fair maidens. He really had to be stopped.
Three warriors rode forth to do the deed. One was a warrior from the past, partaker in many of many battles. One was a great warrior of the day, indeed, though he had never actually fought a battle. All he had ever done was practice and practice until practice had made perfect. One was a seasoned warrior, but his only claim to fame was that he was the father of the fourth warrior.
Confronting the dragon with lances raised high, they made a heroic effort that day, but alas, were nothing more than a dragon appetizer.
The news, traveling at unearthly speeds, reach the fourth warrior's farm where he lived with his mother. The fourth warrior, who was very grieved wept for his father for many hours. But hope still remained in the lands, for this warrior was brave. This warrior was courageous. This warrior was confident. This warrior was pure of heart. This warrior was six years old. He vowed that day to avenge his fallen father. Though he was just six, he had one gift the other warriors did not have. He knew not of his own mortality - for what six-year-old can conceive of a complicated notion like his own ending.
With great determination, the boy grabbed his shovel and was going to tunnel straight to the lair of the dragon. And dig he did - all day long, for about a week. Of course, this didn't include the times he was eating, or napping, or chasing that bug which had just caught his eye. But when he did dig, he dug well with heart, with intention, with purpose.
The boy was not alone in this endeavor. He had his lucky coin which he had found a few weeks earlier. Now, this coin was very special, as it was possibly the most potent magic coin in the world. With this coin, nations had risen to great heights, but on the flip-side, nations had also fallen to ruin from the same heights. With this coin, people had risen to great fame, but on the flip-side, people had drifted off into obscurity. This coin made hopes come true. It also made doubts come true. What the holder believed happened.
And the boy did believe, with all of his heart. Miraculously, his digging did reach the lair of the dragon. Well, not the actual lair, but a small neglected tunnel which led straight to the lair. Armed only with his small bow and a single arrow, a gift from his beloved father, he descended into the depths of the earth.
Bravely marching into the lair, he loudly announced, "Most evil dragon, you have dared to kill my father, and for that, I will hurt you back."
Now this big, black, most evil-looking dragon looked down on this little morsel of a human with great amusement. Quaking in mock fear the dragon shakily replied, "O great and tasty warrior, you have indeed found out my great crime. As such, I beg you let me close my guilty eyes first, as I cannot face death. Please, slay me most quickly."
"Very well, shut your eyes, for I must be quick. I don't wish to be late for dinner."
The dragon, closing his eyes to promote this little game, caught a brief glimpse of what the boy was holding in his tiny hand. Almost shut, the eyes snapped wide open.
Now, the dragon was very old, very wise, and most of all, very knowledgeable. He saw the coin, and recognition of it was fleet in coming. He knew the possible danger. That coin might actually succeed in getting him seriously hurt.
"Wait, ferocious warrior, please wait. I just remembered something. That coin you’re holding - it looks like the coin I saw the gentle king once holding."
"You really saw a king, and he was holding a coin like this?" the boy asked, now very curious.
"O yes, o yes. At least I think so anyway. May I see the coin for just a few moments. I will tell you if that is the same coin I saw in a truly great king's hand," the dragon glibly replied.
The boy, very trusting and very pure of heart, didn't really understand dishonesty all that well. He tossed the coin to the dragon and eagerly blurted out, "Well, did a king really have a coin like that?"
"Nope, I was wrong, but I think I'll keep the coin now. Thank you much, for it is a rare thing for a dragon to own something which he did not take."
"You thief, give that back at once!" yelled the exasperated boy.
"Sorry, I guess you'll you just have to kill me." the dragon smirked.
"Very well," replied the boy, raising his bow to aim, "for that, I'll not kill you once, but I'll kill you twice."
Taking careful aim, the boy loosed his arrow at the dragon. The dragon, still in good humor, watched as the arrow sped toward him. Being a very intelligent dragon, his thoughts were as fast as they were smart. Thinking to himself, "Hmmmm!, this arrow is coming straight toward my eye. That might sting. Wait a minute, I'm holding this stupid coin. If I think it will sting, it will sting and it might actually hurt me. Stop thinking this way you silly old dragon, for if you keep on this thought, it might actually ki--."
The boy slowly walked over to the dragon and picked up his coin. "You shouldn't have taken my coin you evil black monster."
Looking around, the boy surveyed his surroundings. The cave was filled with fortunes from several kings. Thinking that this might make him rich, the boy started filling his pockets. Suddenly, he stumbled across a large leather sack. "Well now," thought the boy, "if I put this treasure in here, I might get a lot of it back home." He started to fill the sack. Before long, he thought, at this rate, I might just get it all. And before long, have it all he did.
Taking a last look at the dragon's lair, the boy turned and ran down the tunnel toward home, saying to himself, "Now if I am really fast, I can probably still make it home for dinner."