A.N. The antagonist and his brother introduced here were really brought in because I was inspired by a scene in D. J. Vlach's story ATLANTEAN HEARTS from and wanted to reproduce it. The names of the antagonist, his brother, and the location they came from were done for humor. Credit for the scene between Fone Bone and Lucius goes mostly to D. J. Vlach for inspiring me, thank you D. J. Vlach.

After they arrived, the inner council greeted them. Grandma Ben's old teacher, Mermie, and the Headmaster especially inquired as to how Fone and his cousins were going to live their lives in two different cities.

"I'll spend most of my time here in court with Thorn," Fone replied. "And whenever I have free time I'll visit Boneville."

"Me and Smiley, well, we're more at home in Boneville then here so we'll only visit now and then." Phoney said; Smiley nodded in agreement.

"As for me, well, my main loyalty is to Smiley so I go where he goes." Bartleby said. "But if you ever need my help then I'll come as quick as I can."

"Sounds reasonable." Headmaster nodded; then he noticed that Fone and Thorn were holding hands. "Is there something you want to tell us?"

"Oh, er, Fone and I are together." Thorn said.

"You mean…as a couple?" The old teacher looked skeptical.

"Before you say anything Thorn and Fone's love is too strong for the fact that they are different species to get in the way." Grandma Ben said. "For your information I actually have been hoping that this would happen."

"Yes…well…let's just hope that nothing bad will come of this."

"Your highness!" A guard called, running up to them. "An army is approaching the gates, they seem to be led by a prince."

"Quick, let us see what they want." Thorn said.

They all went to the walkway – or whatever it's called – that hung above the gates and encircled the walls surrounding the city. There they saw a small army led by a (physically only) handsome man wearing royal robes and a crown. The man had black hair and his fame resembled Prince Charming's face (Prince Charming from Shrek 2).

"Citizens of Atheia, I am Prince Narcissus of the city of Greecia." The prince said. "I have come to court Queen Thorn and make her my bride."

"Forget it!" Thorn snapped. "I already have a suitor."

"Ah, Queen Thorn, such beauty, our marriage will bring honor to Greecia and Atheia." Narcissus smiled. "Surely a prince is a better suitor then who you have in mind?"

"He's ten times better than any prince!" Thorn retorted.

"Oh is that so?" Narcissus frowned. "Well then prove it! No one fights better than royalty, let us see if this so called suitor of yours can defeat me in combat!"

"There is no way I'm risking Fone's life just so that you can have pleasure fighting him." Thorn glared.

"It's either that or I raid your kingdom and kill everyone who opposes me."

"Your army won't stand a chance against ours." Thorn retorted.

"No Thorn," Fone said. "He seems desperate to win, he might go so far as to kidnap you."

"But Fone, you don't know how to fight with swords." Thorn looked worried.

"Hey, we won against the Lord of Locusts, this guy must be a pushover compared to him." Fone smiled.

"Fone…." Smiley said tearfully.

"Smiley I am as every bit as loyal to Atheia as Thorn is. There is no way I'm putting it at risk just to keep myself safe."

"Fone, I'm not good with emotional speeches, but…." Phoney looked sad. "You can't, you could get killed."

"If I do, it'll be in defense of Atheia and Thorn…and so it'll be worth it."

"But Fone…." Thorn started to argue.

"You can't change my mind on this, if I am going to rule Atheia with you then I have to be a good ruler, and a good ruler puts his kingdom above his own life."

"I had you wrong," Headmaster apologized. "You indeed make a fine suitor for Queen Thorn…and will make a fine ruler."

"Thank you." Fone smiled.

"Here, a blade and armor that suits you." The Old Teacher said, handing Fone the top half of a suit of armor and what looked like a crossbreed between a sword and a dagger. "They were fashioned after you left in hopes that you might return."

"Thank you." Fone put the armor on and then turned to Thorn. "Thorn, no matter what happens I'll always love you."

"Fone don't talk like that…." Thorn sobbed, taking his hands in her own.

"Don't worry, I'll never leave you…even if I do die I'll always be with you."

Fone and Thorn hugged, tears in their eyes, and Fone left. Thorn and the others followed. Fone left through the gate and Thorn and the others waited at the gate.

"He's your suitor?" Narcissus laughed. "Oh that's rich…."

"Love is what's on the inside, not the outside." Fone retorted coldly. "I have way more on the inside than you ever will."

"Is that so?" Narcissus glared. "We'll see."

They began fighting. Of course since Fone didn't know how to fight with swords very well, the best he could do was block attacks and quickly sneak in some attacks of his own. He unfortunately couldn't block all the attacks, and soon he was covered in deep cuts. He managed to cut Narcissus now and then, but it wasn't exactly 'an-eye-for-an-eye' sort of achievement.

"Come on Fone! You can do it!" Smiley cheered Fone on.

"Please be okay." Thorn said mostly to herself.

Unfortunately, Fone got a bad cut in his chest and was knocked into a wall! He fell to the ground unconscious!

"NO!" Thorn cried.

"FONE!" Smiley, Phoney, and Bartleby cried and Grandma Ben, Taneal, and William gasped.

Fortunately, instead of going straight over to kill Fone Narcissus wasted time by gloating. Thorn took the opportunity to try to wake Fone up, but to no avail. There was a very good reason why Fone didn't wake up, and it wasn't because he was dead….

"Fone…Fone Bone."

"Wh-who is it?" Fone asked with his thoughts.

"I know it's been a year but don't you recognize my voice?"

"L-Lucius?" Fone gasped.

"Yes, it's me."

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come to help. You've become a great addition to the royal family and I am proud of you for it. Truthfully, Thorn has always been like my granddaughter, and in turn you're like my grandson."

"That's…wow…but how can you help…where are you?"

"I am a spirit, which is why you can't see me."

"You mean I'm not dead?" Fone was both confused and relieved.

"No, and as to how I can help, well, specifically I can help you fight, but this requires possessing you."

"Whoa, whoa, you mean like what the Lord of Locust did to Queen Mim?"

"There is an obvious difference…."

"True, but I want to win this fight fair and square."

"Considering you don't know how to fight it's not 'fair and square' right now."

"Er…good point."

"Besides, it won't be for the whole battle. It'll only be long enough for you to get a fair advantage. I must let you go now, Thorn is starting to get really worried."

"Right, thank you old friend."

"You're welcome."

Fone slowly opened his eyes and saw Thorn crying in front of him.

"Thorn?" Fone said weakly.

"Fone?" Thorn stopped crying. "Fone! You're alive!" Thorn hugged Fone.

"Yes, sorry to worry you like that but an old friend stopped by." Fone whispered.

"Really? Who?"

"Lucius."

Thorn stared at Fone stunned.

"Oh, Lucius said that you have been like his granddaughter." Fone smiled; Thorn smiled back.

"Out of the way your majesty, it's time to finish this." Narcissus jeered.

"Thorn it's okay, I can take him on now." Fone limped past Thorn.

"But you're…." Thorn stopped because Fone's eyes suddenly glowed bright white!

"Fone? Fone! What's wrong with you?" Thorn shook Fone's shoulders.

"I'm not Fone." A voice whispered out of Fone's mouth.

"Lucius?" Thorn gasped.

Lucius/Fone nodded.

"I'm here to help, don't worry about Fone he'll be fine." Lucius whispered.

Thorn nodded, got up, and went over to the others to tell them what was going on.

"Lucius." Grandma Ben whispered sadly.

Fone, with the help of Lucius, was now fighting Narcissus a lot better than he did previously. Narcissus's wounds were getting worse and worse, causing him to fight back angrier and angrier. Pretty soon Narcissus was wounded enough to not fight as well as he used to.

"This is where I leave you Fone, take care of Thorn for me." Lucius said inside Fone's thoughts.

"With my life." Fone thought back. "Thank you."

Fone's eyes returned to normal and he continued the fight on his own. He soon started to receive more wounds, but they weren't as bad as before. Narcissus then suddenly decided to play dirty! When he and Fone had locked swords Narcissus kicked Fone aside!

"Fone!" Thorn, Phoney, Smiley, and Bartleby cried.

Thorn quickly ran to Fone's side, but was struck aside by Narcissus's sword!

"It's your choice your highness, either marry me or die." Narcissus said coldly.

"I'd rather die." Thorn glared.

Narcissus continued striking Thorn, and soon her stomach and limbs were covered in wounds. He then gave her a deep wound in the stomach.

"Last chance." Narcissus said coldly.

"I'd still rather die." Thorn really stared daggers at him.

"So be it."

Narcissus raised his sword for the final blow, but his strike was stopped by another sword! Fone to the rescue!

"You can kill me but you're going to get for hurting Thorn." Fone glared.

"Out of the way shrimp." Narcissus sneered.

Fone struck him in the stomach for that. They went back to fighting, this time Fone fighting with real gusto. Narcissus then unfortunately got Fone hard in the stomach, knocking him aside! Narcissus raised his sword for the final blow, but just as he was bringing it down Fone beat him to the punch. Narcissus gasped with both pain and shock, and, before Fone could block him, he struck Fone so hard on the shoulder that he broke Fone's arm. Narcissus then fell over dead. To everyone's surprise Narcissus's army actually cheered! It became obvious that Narcissus wasn't a popular ruler.

"Thank you Master Fone." The colonel of the army smiled, taking off his helmet; he then put Narcissus's crown on!

"What the…?" Phoney said.

"I'm Heracles, Narcissus's younger brother." The colonel smiled.

"And now with Narcissus gone a true ruler can take his place." One of the soldiers added.

"As first act as the new ruler of Greecia I, Prince Heracles, decree an alliance with the kingdom of Atheia."

Everyone applauded, except for Fone because of his broken arm, and except for….

"Thorn!" Fone gasped, noticing that she wasn't moving; he quickly rushed to her side. "Thorn, please be okay."

Thorn was only weak from her wounds.

"Thank you Fone, for the second time you have saved my…our kingdom." Thorn smiled.

"'Our'?" Fone smiled back. "We had just begun dating."

"I have a feeling Atheia will be our kingdom sooner than we thought."

Everyone else rushed to Thorn's side.

"We must get her medical attention immediately, somebody bring a stretcher!" Grandma Ben called.

"Make that two." Fone groaned, collapsing next to Thorn and losing consciousness.

"Fone? Fone!" Smiley cried.

"Fone wake up!" Phoney shook Fone.

Fone didn't.

"Fone…." Thorn sobbed before also losing consciousness.

"Thorn…." Grandma Ben said sadly.

"Get her highness and Master Fone over to medical attentions stat." The Old Teacher ordered as four people with stretchers arrived.

Fone and Thorn were carried over to the medical ward at the palace, but not even Red Dragon knew whether they'd be all right or not….