Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful and amazing comic book Bone. Maybe if I get in Jeff Smith's will…

A/N: DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU HAVE READ CROWN OF HORNS! MAJOR SPOILERS!

Summary: The last thoughts of Lucius, my favorite character.

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"No! ROSE!" thought Lucius as the Hooded One's scythe closed in on the queen of the valley. Quickly he jumped and went into a diving tackle, aimed at the Hooded One's legs. Lucius grabbed tightly and held on.

"NO BRIAR! YOU WILL NOT KILL YOUR SISTER!" he shouted as tears stung his face, "How did I ever fall for her," he thought as Briar struggled to get free, "I always picked wrong,"

He heard Rose shouting at him to let go and run, but he did not listen.

"Better I die than her. If Thorn dies, the valley will need a queen," he thought, "Jonathan…Euclid…all the people I couldn't save… and if I let go Wendel, Rose, and the whole valley will die because of my incompetence. I must make my life worth something. I must keep Briar from victory until Thorn reaches the Crown of Horns!"

As he thought this, a light suddenly burst out from Briar's body. As her body burned in the all-consuming hellfire, Lucius also burned. Letting go, he thought, "They did it… Thorn reached the Crown…I've led a good life…I can go now. Rose….."

With that Lucius Down, former palace guard and bartender, gave up his last breath and died. He would be mourned. Wendel, Euclid, Rose, Thorn, Ted, and the Bones all attended the small private ceremony where Lucius was buried in the remains of his bar.

From heaven, Lucius looked down and smiled. "In dreams," he thought, "we can always be together,"

Fin

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A/N: Well, that was my version of the death of Lucius. Lucius was my favorite character, and I cried when I read his death scene. I know, that was short. Please read and review.