Wings of Fire in MHA

A/N-Almost done with BONE!! We will be returning to MHA in the next chapter, be sure to leave a review, donate some powerstones and tell a friend if you like this story! Shoutout John_A_Mandrake for the 6 powerstones!!

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The horde was massive.

Pawans and Rat creatures filled the land as far as the eye could see as the gate of Atheia slammed shut. Carter just stared out at the horde as Tarsil tightened his grip on his sword, "Look they are sending a delegation!" A soldier called as a part of the horde split off from the rest and raced towards them. "Hold your ground." Tarsil said calmly.

Up on the parapet, a trio of soldiers carrying bows came across Rose as she gazed at the horde. "Hey you! Clear the ramparts!" One of them said he had the symbol of the Vedu marked on his robe. He advanced towards Rose, sword in hand, "Can't you see we're under attack? Seek shelter with the other old women-" Without warning Rose slammed her fist into his head sending him tumbling from the wall.

The pair behind him drew their bows but one stopped his comrade, "Wait! It's Queen Rose!" He yelled as the other froze. "Your majesty! We heard you were back in the city but we didn't dare hope it was true!" Rose didn't let her guard down just yet however, "I can see there's no eye symbol on your hoods, but I don't have time to play, are you going to arrest me or not?" The two soldiers drew their swords and knelt blades piercing stone, "We are NOT Vedu, we have no loyalty to the tyrant Tarsil." They said as the delegation sent by the horde reached the gates below.

The Pawan gazed at the burning buildings near the wall before he bellowed "SURRENDER ATHEIA! Your long reign as master of the valley has come to an end! We offer you ONE chance to live. Open the gates and surrender, oppose us and DIE!" He roared as Tarsil stepped forward unafraid.

Seeing that Carter had the right idea Rose turned to the kneeling soldiers, "If you want to serve me do it now! get out your tinderboxes and strike me a fire!"

"Why should we answer to a MOB that gathers at our doorstep?" Tarsil roared, "Who DARES approach the world's mightiest citadel with a ragtag army of HILL PEOPLE?" He demanded as the Pawans and rats split, letting a hooded figure step through.

"I do . . ." Briar croaked. "And I have FAR greater claim to the city that you, O Tarsil the Usurper. I am the Princess Briar, and I have come to reclaim my kingdom." She said as Carter eyed Rose up on the wall then looked back to Briar. He didn't care much for the victor of this war, just as long as Thorn survived he would be happy since he would get a reward, and a ticket back home.

"I warn you for the last time, lay down your arms and surrender unconditionally." Briar said, leaning on her scythe. "This army is protected by the Lord of the Locust and cannot be defeated." This threw Tarsil into a rage as he jabbed a finger at Briar. "Your family no longer rules here, take your black army and leave! You do not frighten us with your little spells!" Briar nodded as if expecting this, "Yes, I thought you would say that, I see there is still much to teach you about fear."

"YOU CAN'T TEACH ME ANYTHING!" Tarsil roared as he ripped his hood from his head, revealing a bald head with horrendous scars, with a particularly large one running from the crown of his head down the middle of his face, stopping right above his mouth. "I HAVE FOUGHT WITH DRAGONS!"

"Heh heh heh" Briar started to laugh before ripping her own hood off, beneath what appeared to be an undamaged Tarsil. "What is she doing?" Rose asked, leaning over to peer down as one of the soldiers looked over, "That's Tarsil's old face!" He was shocked as Briar laughed louder and louder.

"Ha Ha HA! Aren't I handsome?" She mocked as the delegation behind her gripped their weapons in anticipation. Still cackling Briar rushed Tarsil swinging her scythe, too shocked to move Tarsil could do nothing as Briar bisected him at the waist as he hit the ground dead.

I could have saved him, he would have been useful to keep the Vedu in line. He would have gotten in the way later though so it doesn't bother me. Carter thought before throwing a ball of flame he had been condensing at Briar forcing her to dodge. Normally she would be livid since he had disrupted so many of her plans, but now at the gates of Atheia she was filled with joy as she turned to the army and declared still covered in blood. "ATTACK! FOR THE GLORY OF THE LOCUST WHO SHIELDS YOU FROM HARM!"

AAAAAHHHHHH

"BAR THE GATES!" Rose yelled as soldiers started to arrive, "Set fire to those buildings near the wall!" She commanded as Carter forced Briar back with a wall of flames, "Meddling worm!" She spat as she dodged another bolt of flames before tearing through the Vedu that Tarsil had brought with him.

Tch Carter frowned seeing their bodies hit the ground but wasted no time using his fire to burn the closest enemies before flying up to the ramparts, "Archers forward! Use your pike to push back their ladders!" Rose yelled as Briar finally noticed her sister's presence.

Landing next to an archer, Carter wasted no time with words as he turned and burned the closest ladder to cinders, along with the Pawan warriors climbing it.

THUNK THUNK THUNK

Three arrows came dangerously close to hitting Rose as she climbed a ladder, looking down she could just see Briar holding a bow, and smiling up at her. "PUSH THE LADDERS BACK, KEEP BURNING THE BUILDINGS NEAR THE WALL!" Carter yelled as he shot a bolt of flame at Briar forcing her to flee.

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"Useless filth!" Carter hissed seeing how even with him and Rose killing most of the Pawans and rats, they still couldn't keep the ladder off the walls. "LOOK OUT!" A Pawan yelled but it was too late as Rose took up a fallen pike and smashed him and two others to death with it before grappling with a rat before throwing it over the wall.

"MAJESTY!" A soldier said running over as Carter burned another ladder to ash. "The enemy is gathering for an attack on our left flank, where our forces are the weakest!" He said as Rose nodded, "Let's go, do as much damage on the way as possible." She took off running as Carter turned to the still Vedu, "Even now you fools still cling to dogma?" He sneered, "Do not expect us to bow down to you EXILED Queen, under the circumstances we are with you." One said as we started chasing after Rose.

"But even with all the disciples of Venu fighting as one, I fear the enemy's numbers will overwhelm us." He said as a dozen ladders lifted up and crashed onto the wall. "STAY TOGETHER, DON'T LET THEM SEPARATE YOU!" Rose yelled as Carter let loose flames like never before, still there were too many as the soldiers swarmed and Rose and Carter pinned beneath dozens of bodies.

"IT'S THE QUEEN!" One bellowed as they focused more men on Rose, leaving fewer men to pin Carter. A fatal mistake as he erupted in flames! The men covering him didn't even feel the pain as the fire that covered Carter's body burned them to ash, turning their armor and weapons to molten slag as he stood up.

One side of his body burned brightly like a star, with his skeleton faintly visible, the other side resembled a frozen block of Ice as wings burst from his back, one of flames another of Ice as he turned his fury upon the Pawans and Rat creatures that still struggled to hold down Rose.

"IT'S THE DEMON!" Several Rat creatures cried out in terror as they caught sight of Carter. For years they had heard stories of a 'demon' roaming the valley burning any rat creatures it came across to ash, but it seems the demon had come for them this day.

Carter took a breath to stabilize himself before he extended his hands, on his left a gauntlet formed and started spewing flames like a flamethrower as he burned the rats and Pawans still attacking the few soldiers left alive. In his right hand formed a large great sword and he threw himself at the pile of bodies pinning Rose as he felt a massive surge of energy appear.

"BLOODY STAR!" The Pawans screamed as a massive wraith appeared behind Rose, "AAH!" "Run, we can't fight that!" They cried as they abandoned Rose and threw themselves off the wall. Carter killed dozens that tried to escape as well as throwing projectiles of fire and ice as those running away from the wall, they were pulling back . . . for now.

"Mermie?" Rose said as she turned and looked at her savior, "Nothing to fear you Highness. Just a simple vision to chase off our enemies." She said smiling as Carter watched the clouds drift away from the city. "Where are the other dream masters?" Rose asked as Mermie gestured behind her, "Right behind me." She said as Carter walked over, "Where is my granddaughter?" Rose asked as the Old Man looked at her "We thought she was with you."

"Rose, there are still enemies on the ramparts." Carter said as those present did a double take seeing his current form. "Are you done looking? They won't kill themselves!" Carter snapped seeing their inaction as he marched down the wall, burning ladders and killing everything that stood in his way.

On the opposite side of the wall, Thorn and Fone Bone rushed up the wall attacking a rat creature using the bars of the very prison they had been in minutes before. Thorn cracked open a rat creature's skull before backhanding the Pawan who tried to attack her as Mermie appeared. "Good to see you Princess. Cover your eyes please, all of them." She said politely before more wraiths appeared behind the walls scaring off the remaining enemies as they ran back to the rest of the horde.

"Gran'ma!" Thorn shouted seeing Rose as she ran over and hugged her. Fone Bone followed behind as Carter walked over as well, now looking normal though he still carried his Ice sword. "Briar has called them back, there's no way those visions routed them all." Carter said as Mermie nodded. "Why would she call them back?" Rose wondered as Fone Bone pointed to the sky, "LOOK!"

Now everyone noticed what Carter had seen, the clouds had left Athiea, and the stars were out, but they shone orange, not their usual white light. "What is it Thorn, it looks like the stars are going out?" Rose said as Thorn nodded "They're only going out for us. Ghost circles are descending around the city." The silence shook them as everyone struggled to comprehend what that meant, but Carter wasn't listening to Thorn right now, he was looking at the blood RED star that shone brighter than the rest.

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Carter stayed with the soldiers as Thorn, Rose, Mermie and the Bone cousins all went up to the tower to see what Briar was up to. "Take the dead and pile them below the wall, your brother will be buried later. Burn all the corpses of the Rats and the Pawans!" He yelled as the men scurried about. "Sir, some of our weapons have been damaged in battle, others have been lost, do we send men to the armory?" Carter shook his head, "No, we don't know how much time we have until they return. Take the weapons of the fallen, both the Pawans and ours and give them to those who need them. If there is still a need THEN send a few men to resupply." The soldier nodded before running off.

Carter looked around to see what else he could fix as he could hear Rose yelling at Briar from atop the tower. He paid her no mind as he sent a few men to find those willing among the populace, they would need all the hands they could get, whether to kill or drag away wounded it didn't matter.

CHUNK! Carter threw himself to the side as a chunk of the tower almost hit him as the ground started to shake.

RRRRUMMMBLLE . . .

"You go and check on the Queen." Carter sent a soldier up as he barked orders, "Look for any breaches in the walls and gates!" He yelled as the soldier he sent up to Rose came back, "The Queen requests you negotiate with the Vedu who have taken over the armory." He said as Carter swore, "Lead the way."

"Until we are sure the Queen can meet our demands we will not capitulate!" The Vedu captain sneered as Carter faced him. Feeling the ground shake more he decided enough was enough, and punched the man in the face. "I declare ALL disciples of Vedu to be deserters! Surrender or be burned IMMEDIATELY!" He roared as he burnt the captain to ash.

Without a second thought the other Vedu threw their swords to the ground as I nodded. "Finally you idiot act smart. Go and loot any Pawan wearing armor, then grab a pike. You lot are going to push back as many ladders as you can." They didn't complain, not because they didn't want to, but because they didn't want to be burned like their captain.

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As Carter organized the volunteers that had been found among the people, the horns sounded again as the horde advanced.

AWWOOOOOOOAH!

AAWOOOOAH!

Carter yelled for the pikes to hurry up as they got ready to push back the invaders. He started forming balls of explosive fire and with tremendous effort, he forced them to orbit around him as he made more. He was able to form five before his control weakened and he launched them at the horde killing dozens as balls of fire engulfed them.

"Look a rat creature!" A soldier yelled and Carter spun to see Bartleby running by with Smiley and Phoney Bone riding his back as a mob of people chased after them.

Let Rose deal with him. The voice snapped as he yelled for the Pikes to push back the ladders that were almost on the wall. "PUSH THEM BACK!" He roared as rat creatures climbed the wall itself dividing their attention as they clambered up the walls.

As the fighting raged on, a messenger ran over to Carter, "SIR! The south tower is under heavy assault, the only defenders are farmers, hurry before the gate falls!" He said as Carter sent him off to tell Rose. As he ran along the wall Carter burned dozens of rats that were trying to climb the wall as well as burning buildings close by so they couldn't be used against them.

BAM!

As Carter slid down the ladder to the southern gate, he could feel the gate start to give as the Pawans used a battering ram to break it down. "Any ideas Rose?" He asked as the Queen slid down next to him, "Got something that might work." She said as she started barking orders to those around her. Carter looked down at Phoney who had grabbed a helmet, sword and shield. "Didn't think you had it in you." He said as Phoney pointed at Rose, "Next to her? Safest place in the whole war." He said as Carter grinned, for once Phoney said something smart.

BAM!

"NOW!" Rose yelled as they yanked the gate open stunning the Pawans behind it. "KILL THEM ALL!" Carter roared as he led the charge, tearing through rats and Pawan's alike. "Watch out, two got through!" Carter heard someone yell but he was too busy dealing with a large brute of a Pawan to worry about anything else. It took marginally longer than it did for the rest of the others, but enough that when Carter finally looked back he saw Smiley, laughing at that pair of stupid rats for getting caught.

"RUN BACK TO YOUR MISTRESS! TELL HER TO COME HERSELF NEX TIME!" Rose yelled at the fleeing Pawans as Carter went back to work, "Break those ladders to pieces, we're going to have to rebar the gate." Looking down at the sword he was holding Phoney shivered at the blood that glistened on the point before throwing it aside with a shudder.

"Where is Thorn?" Carter asked Rose as she stared out across the plains, towards Sinner's Rock. "Do you want to go home, Phoncible P. Bone?" She asked instead as she looked at Phoney. "What?" He asked, confused, "Not far from here there is a secret tunnel that will take you past the ghost circles, and up into the mountains." She said, "You can leave for Boneville." Phoney stared at her in shock, his brain struggling to catch up. "The tunnel is real, if you want to go answer quickly." She said impatiently as Phoney came to, "I can't leave without my cousins!" He said as Carter nodded, At least he's not a total waste.

Rose stared at Phoney for a moment before nodding satisfied, "Good, just checking. Follow me." She then turned to Carter. "The city should be able to hold, you and I have killed a good portion of the horde, and the dream masters are here to support, but I need you to go and protect Thorn." Carter nodded, then groaned, "She's not in the city, is she?" He asked as Rose shook her head. 

"Phoney here claims that the only logical spot the Crown of Horns could be is in Tanen Gard, so naturally my granddaughter went to go check it out, I need you to make sure she makes it back alive." Carter felt like punching a wall, so he did just that. BAM! Leaving a fist sized hole in the wall he turned back to Rose. "There must be a shortcut if you're telling me this, where is it?" He asked as Rose pointed off into the distance, "There is a trench that leads to the chasm, if you go now and use that new form of yours, I'm sure you can make it." She said before leaving with Phoney, going to do who knows what.

Swearing internally Carter had the gates shut behind him before he left, as an added layer of help he put a huge block of ice in front of the south gate since the horde seemed to be focusing on them at the moment. Shifting to his new form (A/N-IDK what to call it, awakened form? idk give ideas pls) he took to the air and sped towards the mountains.

'Is there any quirk that would make things easier? [Yes, there are plenty of quirks and other things you could purchase that would make things easier for you. I would recommend against doing that until you reach 100k points however since that will give you more room for a variety of things.] 'How many points do I currently have?' [You had around 12k the last time you checked in. Since then you set up two markers, and killed about a thousand rat creatures and Pawan's put together, that brings you to about 23,705 points.] Not as many as he would like, but it was enough to work with.

As he flew over the mountain trench Carter spotted Rogue Jaw, he wanted to go down and skin the damn cat alive, but he was pressed for time so he just threw a bolt of fire down singing the overgrown cat's fur before speeding off towards Tanen Gard. "What are those idiots doing!" Carter swore as he spotted Fone Bone and Bartleby, Fone Bone kept pointing at the mountain and yelling as Bartleby kept trying to get him to run since a large force of Pawans was heading right for them.

Thankfully Bartleby grabbed Fone Bone in time as he made his way through the rats and they started to run up the mountain. Seeing as they would take a second to reach the gorge Carter wasted no time attacking the army below him, so that's exactly what he did, slamming into the ground right in the middle of them.

Screams and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air as he laid waste to man and beast. None were spared as he blazed through them with murderous intent. He wasted little energy as he used his right side to constantly cool down as he burned them to ash, armor cooked those inside them alive as axes and swords turned to slag in their wielders hands. The Rat creatures didn't fare any better as their fur burst into flames just from being around him, those who were on the outskirts ran once they realized the 'demon' had come for them. Though for those running to the mountains, a certain feline was waiting for something to vent his fury upon.

Looking around at the burning corpse surrounding him, Carter smiled briefly before looking up and seeing Fone Bone and Bartleby head into the gorge, flexing his legs he crouched before flying into the air speeding towards them.

Reaching the top he found Bartleby behind a rock, shivering in terror. "Where is Fone Bone?" He asked the startled cub. "H-he went down to look for Thorn." He shivered. Carter nodded before going down where he quickly caught up with Fone Bone. 

"I can't leave you fools for a minute before you run off to die huh?" Carter asks as Fone Bone jumps, "WHA-? Carter? When did you get here?" He says but Carter pushes him on, "We need to get to Thorn, Veni-Van-Cari or not the dragons WILL kill her." They push on as the smell of brimstone permeates the air. 

SHUH SHUH 

As they descended the path Carter could sense HUNDREDS of sleeping lifeforms around them, some were as small as Fone Bone, but there were also plenty that were bigger than the Red Dragon. As they walked Fone Bone jumped as vents belched sulfur.

SHUHSH GURGLE

"Thorn?" Fone Bone called, but no one answered.

GURRRRGULL SLURP

"Keep moving, we need to find her as quickly as possible before the dragons wake up." Carter said. He could feel the dragons around them stirring, twitching as they felt their burial grounds be desecrated by trespassers.

Coming to the edge of the path they looked down, as far as they could see there were bridges and walkways that snakes throughout the gorge, the bottom was still nothing but a black abyss. "There she is!" Fone Bone said pointing down. Thorn was slowly picking her way along a narrow path, right next to an opening in the wall.

"Hey Thorn!" Fone Bone yelled but that agitated the sleeping dragon next to them as it stirred. 

SHUH GURGLE! 

With an ear splitting crack the stone burst open as water poured out, the dragon though half-asleep was not pleased. 

ROAR!

Carter swore as Fone Bone was swept over the edge by the water. Running to the edge he looked down to see that the lucky Bone had landed in a shallow pool, where the rock had formed a natural bowl. "Carter, look up!" Fone Bone yelled as he tilted his head up, there watching them from the upper bridge was a group of rat creatures.

Carter activated his quirk and shot down to the bowl, more dragons were starting to slowly wake up, he could hear the distant roars as they slowly came to. "next time don't scream like an idiot." Carter hissed at Fone Bone as he drug him out of the bowl by the arm. "I'm sorry I just want to get out of this place as fast as possible." He said and Carter nodded, "I'd like that."

"Look, they're crossing to the other side!" Fone Bone cried out as Carter looked up to where the rats were. The bridge they were on connected to the cave that Thorn had entered. "Hold on tight, and don't look down!" Carter said shooting forward, "What do you mea-"

Fone Bone didn't even get to finish his question before they were flying through the air. Seeing Carter take the direct route the rats on the bridge hurried as they moved to complete their mission.

SSSSSSSSSSSHHHH

Water poured from the ceiling as Carter and Fone Bone landed, "SHIT THORN!" Carter yelled seeing the state she was in. "What happened?" He demanded as he ran over, Thorn was trapped in the jaws of a dead Kingdok. "I killed him, get him OFF!" She yelled as Carter grabbed Kingdok's massive jaws and started prying them apart. Thorn cried out in pain but he didn't stop, the rats would be here soon.

"Fone Bone, help me touch the Crown of Horns!" Thorn shouted as Kingdoks jaws moved agonizingly slowly, grunting with effort Carter spotted the sword she killed him with still embedded above his eye. SKITTER SKITTER 

"FONE BONE, HELP HER NOW!" Carter yelled as he pried the jaws apart using the sword as leverage. At the cave entrance the rat creatures got over their shock of seeing their chieftain dead and charged them.

As the jaws came open Carte burnt the nearest rat before looking down to see Fone Bone holding Thorns hand while shuffling his feet. "THE HELL IS TAKING YOU LONG!" He roared as Fone Bone looked back unafraid for once, "Building up a static charge for luck!" He said with a smile before touching the Crown of Horns. SNAP!

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I was in a void, there was no light, no sound, no feeling, no voice screaming at me . . . . nothing . . .

I flexed my body, my arms, my legs, hands and fingers. Everything felt like it was there.

Then like flexing a muscle, wings sprouted from my back, scales formed over my skin stopping just below my jaw, clawed hands formed over my human ones, talons formed on my feet, and a tail emerged to provide balance where gravity had no hold.

I felt them, then gazed at the black scales, they shifted to pale blue, like drifts of snow on a mountaintop.

Then they turned a deep blue, with lighter scales along my stomach, with faint glowing symbols all along my wings and body.

Then I was human again. Then I remembered what happened, 20 long years in the valley, how far I'd come from an angry little monster that wanted nothing but revenge.

I hadn't changed, only gotten stronger, and soon I would have the strength to break free, and finish what I started.

"No more love . . ." Killed right before me . . .

"No more joy . . ." The one source of it is long gone . . .

"Only death . . ." Like the corpses that scream for my soul . . .

"ONLY BLOOD . . ." THAT WILL FLOW UNTIL THE STARS DIE OUT . . .

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"CARTER WAKE UP!"

GASP! He snapped awake looking wildly around the cave for anything that might be a threat, to him, to Thorn. Seeing nothing he looked down to see that he was standing in knee deep water with Thorn and Fone Bone crouched beside him. "What happened?" RUMBLE

"The dragons are coming from all directions, we have to go!" Thorn shouted above the roar of angry dragons as Carter could feel the rage pouring out from everywhere, and it was coming to get them.

"Your leg!" He caught sight of where Kingdok had clamped his jaw around her leg, "I can make it!" Thorn insisted but Carter shook his head, bending down and placing a firm hand on the wound, "Heal." Like magic the wound sealed itself shut, as new muscle grew where it had been shredded before.

KREE! KREE! KAAAAA!

"Keep going, just a little further!" They only needed to get to the mouth of the cave and Carter would be able to fly them to, but Thorn fainted as even though her wound was healed she had still lost an unhealthy amount of blood.

RUMMMBLLEEE RRREEEAH!

The gorge shook around them as Carter carried Thorn to the mouth of the cave, looking up and out he could already see tens of Dragons coming to rip them apart. "Climb on my back." A voice said as Carter snapped up, it was the Red Dragon! "Hurry, the other dragons are blind with rage. They'll rip us apart if they catch us."

Carter clambered up and pulled Fone Bone up by his arm as the Red Dragon started to climb out. KREE! REAAAAAAAH! 

The roars got louder and angrier as the dragons found the body of Kingdok, the Dragon paid them no mind as he leapt across the chasm, wasting no time to start scaling the sheer cliff as the dragons turned their attention away from the Crown of Horns, to the trespassers that needed to DIE!

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Bartleby jumped in fright as the Red Dragon jumped over the edge of the chasm and took off running, "GET AWAY WE WOKE THE DRAGONS!" Fone Bone yelled as Bartleby chased after them, "How many!" He asked as the ground shook behind and under them "ALL OF THEM!"

KEERAAKKK! ROAR!

Up on sinners rock, Rose rallied the Veni-yan soldiers from Old Man's Cave to leave through the tunnel since the rats and Pawans were rushing them from two sides when a soldier shouted, "Your Highness! Across the plain, it's the Great Red Dragon!" She looked to see the Dragon carrying Thorn, Fone Bone and Carter. "That fool has his wings out." She muttered before seeing what they were running from, "What's that behind them?"

As the Dragons underneath them got closer Carter noticed a small green bug come over to him. "How ya doin' boys?" Ted asked as he buzzed alongside the dragon, "Gran'ma Ben's up on Sinner's Rock, she could use some help!" He said as the dragon changed course. "Hold Thorn!" Carter said before taking flight.

Seeing his wings the Red Dragon was shocked but picked up speed as they both attacked the horde with blazing fire. "DEMON, RUN!" The rats yelled as they fled, those who were slowest being burned alive as Carter forged a war path through them, with the Great Red Dragon doing the same with the Pawans.

Seeing the enemy flee, Carter landed next to Rose and the Dragon as the Veni-Yan stared at him in shock. "Hold onto something." The dragon said as he grabbed a boulder, Carter looked up to see that the dragons hadn't chased after them, but had instead burst from the ground and taken to the air.

From the dark cloud above the body of Mim, the first dragon broke through. The Dragons would not let their mistake be repeated again however as they swarmed her body, covering it from head to tail. Mim tried to fight back, as the Locust within her raged, but it was useless as the swarm of dragons controlled the body of their beloved Mim, and drove it into the hole they had burst from, dragging her all the way to Tanen Gard, the sacred burial ground of the Dragons, where she would finally be laid to rest.

The people atop Sinner's Rock stared in shock silence at the damage left behind by the dragons, Phoney Bone arrived at some point with more soldiers but the war was finally over. "Steady, I have questions for you." The Red Dragon rumbled as Carter felt the world shift beneath his feet. "Gran'ma!" Thorn shouted as Rose fell to the ground, a large bloody wound inflicted by Briar finally catching up.

Carter walked forward unsteadily, and knelt down placing a hand on her wound, "Heal." and the world went dark.

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"He's waking up, call the Queen!" A voice yelled as I tried to sit up, "Stay down, you still need rest." A gentle voice said as a hand forced me back down. Feeling pain all over I complied, "Where am I?" My voice was broken and my throat felt scratchy, "Here have some water." I opened my eyes to see a woman with striking silver hair, "You are in the Royal Hospital."

"Who are you?" I said after drinking a bit of water. My body felt weak like it hadn't felt in decades, my arms and legs felt like jelly, and craning my neck forward I could see several bandages along my torso.

"I am the doctor who was told to take care of you by the Queen herself." The woman said as I looked at her, she had long silver hair with pale blue eyes, anyone else would have found her stunning, but Carter couldn't care less.

"Why would Rose assign you specifically, she knows I can heal quickly. All I needed was a nap, and I still never got your name." He said as the woman snorted, "Yes, your body can heal itself when you're not drained by whatever gives you powers, since you've been unconscious for about three days now, bleeding for two. That's why you got all those bandages." She said Carter felt his mind spin.

Sure he'd been hurt and had to sleep it off, but never three whole days. The woman kept going however, "Yes that healing of yours made most doctors want to study you, burn you as a monster, or just outright uncomfortable. I was the only one who showed no fear, so I was given the job." She said quite proudly as she waited for Carter to congratulate her on her success for being one of the only doctors to be allowed near the Queen's savior.

He just stared at her waiting blankly as she pouted, "My name is Astra, your welcome." She said as Carter nodded, then went to sleep.

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When Carter finally woke up, Thorn and the others had been overjoyed to see him. They didn't get to speak much however as Thorn was going to be crowned Queen of the Valley in a few hours and she had to get ready. After getting over the shock of Thorn being Queen, Carter tried to use his animus magic to turn his clothes into decent robes for the ceremony, but nearly fainted. 

Thankfully Astra was still with him to catch him as he panted. "No weird magic, not until I say so." She commanded as he nodded, too weak to resist as she took him to tailors who put him in a black robe, with red and blue trim, once he was lucid enough to get a look at he had to admit that it looked good on him.

He kept trying to doze off during the ceremony but Astra kept jabbing his side to keep him awake. The only fun thing he got to do was deal with the ONE rat creature that had somehow not been chased out of the city, he threw it over the cliff as Thorn sat on the Thorne prepared for her, when Rose stepped forward. "Carter Bate, I call you to stand before me!" She said as he froze, Shit , what did I do? He thought in a panic as Astra shoved him forward, and he walked the rest of the way to Rose who now stood before Thorn and the other masters in her Veni-Yan robes.

"I won't ask you to kneel since you are still injured and wouldn't listen to me anyway." She huffed as he couldn't help but crack a smile, something very rare. "You arrived to this valley a stranger, yet you have dedicated your time here to keep Queen Thorn safe, from rats, from herself, from the Locust, and all who wish her harm." She said as she gestured to the Veni-Yan headmaster from Old Man's Cave, "For your bravery in the face of impossible odds, for safeguarding the life of the Queen, and for your service to the Kingdom and the Valley as a whole I present to you, this!" 

The Headmaster stepped forward, and handed me a scabbard with a blade inside. I drew it, and noticed how the material wasn't steel, or any other metal, though I had seen the material before. Is this? I Looked to the Red Dragon laying next to Thorn and he nodded, "As a gift from the people and the Dragons, you now wield the ONLY blade to be forged using the crystal(Crown Of Horns). That blade shall never break, never crack, and will be of use for you until the day you pass on." The Dragon said as he stared at me, I could feel the questions burning inside him but he held his tongue as I took my place beside Astra once again.

"So Fone Bone." I said looking at the cousins who were standing next to us, "Are you going to stay with your little girlfriend or are you going back home?" I teased though I was curious. The entire point of them meeting Thorn and Rose was to get back to Boneville, but now that they had been in the Valley and helped shape its future, would they remain in their new home or would they go back to Boneville? 

"Don't tease him!" Astra poked Carter as Fone Bone blushed slightly, "I don't know yet, I haven't made my choice just yet." Carter nodded, he knew what it was like to make a choice that would change one's life forever, good or bad.

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"I still don't see why we have to bring her." Carter growled as he dodged another blow from Astra. "Because you are still wounded, it seems that every injury you had was agitated by the shockwave, you can't even use your magic without fainting or throwing up blood!" Astra yelled at him as she chased him around the cart Rose and Thorn sat in.

"I think he's finally met his match, we might have a hero's wedding soon!" Rose chuckled as Carter froze to glare at her, "NEVER!" He spat before starting to run as Astra had grabbed a large metal pan, "SO YOU'RE SAYING I'M HIDEOUS HUH?!"

Despite their squabbling, Astra and Carter had become quick friends since no one else was brave enough to try and heal him, the fact that she made easy friends with Thorn and Rose was a plus, and her constant harassment kept him from threatening the Bones, which was a win in their book.

As they traveled north though Rose finally got tired of them so she sent Carter back to sit with Bone cousins on the hay cart. Carter slept most of the trip though he did help at river crossings to push the two carts along.

When they finally reached the Barrel Haven Fairgrounds Wendell and Euclid came to meet them. Phoney was still worried about being snowed in but he stayed quiet as they buried Lucius, Carter had nearly marched off to Pawa himself to burn what was left of it to the ground when he heard Lucius had died, but he tried to use his quirk the exact moment Astra hit him on the head to knock him out, and she was worried she had actually killed him when he started bleeding from backlash.

At the Barrel Haven Carter investigated to see how much of the original tavern they were able to put back together and was satisfied as he finally sat down. "Good job Wendell, Lucius would be proud of what you've done here." He said as he nodded. Thorn was finally able to come and sit after visiting all the villagers, they were thankful and gave all sorts of gifts to her to show their appreciation.

"The northern rooms are fixed again Rose if you all need a place to stay." Wendell said but Rose just shook her head softly, "Lucius would be proud of this place, but I'd like to stay a few days at the Old House before Thorn and I go back to Atheia." Phoney ran outside talking about snow and Carter followed him out of amusement, "SEE A SNOWFLAKE!" He yelled as Rose yelled at him to close the door. WHUMP! Carter opened the door to see the snow was piled up almost to the top of the door frame, Thorn and the others learned about three new swear words before Astra smacked Carter with a frying pan, knocking him out again.

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As the winter solstice rolled around Carter gazed outside at the snow as the Bone cousins played with Thorn and Bartleby. "Missing home?" Rose asked from the kitchen as she prepared dinner, "Something like that." Carter said as he watched Astra smack Phoney in the head with a snowball. "You ready to finally tell me the truth about where you're from?" Rose asked as Carter snorted, "You never stopped wondering that huh?" Rose shook her head, "Fire, Ice, Super strength, unnatural healing, plus magic and dragon wings. And you expect me to think you're from around here." She laughed as Carter turned to face her. 

She looked up and saw his face, "Oh you're actually going to tell me, lemme sit down for this." She took the pot from the fire before sitting at the table across from him. "I come from a different world, where there is no dreaming." He went on to explain quirks and how they affected everyday life, then he told her about how he had a 'patron' but didn't give her a name, "They heard Lunaria cry out for help, your gods didn't answer, my patron did. You know the rest." Rose sat for several minutes processing, "Was any of it real? Or was it because you were told to?"

He sighed, "At first it wasn't. But I've come to view this place as a second home after so many years here. You people mean a lot to me, EXCEPT YOU, GO AWAY!" He yelled at Astra as she tried to listen in, Rose smiled at that and they talked for hours as the Bones and Bartleby came in, and Thorn and Fone Bone went to get a tree.

Carter ate in silence as he watched Fone Bone take a Quiche out to the stupid rat creatures as Astra arrived with fresh bandages. "Let's go, until those wounds stop bleeding I have to change them." She said as he groaned but followed regardless. As she changed his bandages she asked him a question that chilled him, "So what's with that mark above your heart, it looks twisted." She said as she poked his hand that was hiding the mark of the Scarlet King. "I saw it the first time, when you were still in a coma." She explained.

"It's the mark of my patron." He said simply as she kept asking him more as she changed the dressings. As he drifted off to sleep, she asked him a question that he agreed to, not hearing what she said, it would come back to bite him later.

Then finally, the snow melted . . .

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Carter was the last to wake up the day that the Bone set out to the mountains, he was surprised to hear that Fone Bone would be going back to Boneville, he thought he would stay with Thorn but it seems he loved his cousin marginally more. As they made their way up to Dragon Stairs Carter spoke up, "Change course, we need to go visit something important." He didn't explain as the Dragon silently joined them, Ted in tow.

As they finally reached the grave Carter jumped off the Carter as Thorn gasped, "Is that?!" "Yes," Carter said solemnly, "This is where I buried King Arlin and Queen Lunaria, their final resting place."

They sat for about an hour as Rose and Astra told Thorn stories about her parents, with the Red Dragon adding things every so often. Then finally it was time for them to go.

Smiley had tears in his eyes as he gave Rose a hug, Phoney kept wanting to hit the road but Fone Bone and Thorn cried silently as they hugged one last time. As they moved the carts down the mountain Carter shoved Astra for good luck before jumping onto a boulder.

"BONES!" He roared, shaking the ground as the three Bones and Bartleby looked back in surprise. Carter gave them a salute from his academy days, back straight, fist clenched over his heart as he roared, "BLEED. RISE. CONQUER!"  They saluted him back before going off into the desert, home to Boneville.

Carter didn't answer any questions as he went back to where he first arrived, 21 years ago. 'I'm done, call the asshole' [Displaying quest]

[Side quest- A mothers desperation.]

From: The Scarlet King

Reward: 5,000 System Points + "Mark of Red Mercy" Passive Buff + Scarlet Anchor

Danger: High

A mother has pledged her life, soul, and very existence to protect her only child from a world that seeks to destroy her. She prayed to the gods of her own world — Mim, the Dreaming Dragon, the Circle of Eyes — but was met with silence.

In the void left behind, I have heard her. I have answered.

You, — bearer of blood and fire, the walker between worlds — are chosen to carry her will across the threshold of fate.

Will you protect the girl purely? Or honor the power born of her desperation, letting despair birth something greater?

OBJECTIVES:

Protect Thorn from all harm — physical, spiritual, and mental — until the coming storm has passed.- COMPLETE

Locate and investigate the ruins of Thorn's mother's last shrine.- COMPLETE

Bind a Scarlet Anchor to let His influence take over.- SEMI-COMPLETE

Don't die- COMPLETE

[Though you did not place a marker on the Crown of Horns, there are still enough markers to allow a sliver of the Scarlet King to enter this reality. This world will be spared, but those around it will not.] Carter didn't think of that as Astra walked over to him, "Hey are you the reason things are floating?" He snapped back as stones the size of humans crashed back to the ground. "When are you gonna mark me with that symbol of yours?" She asked as his head snapped to her. "What?" He hissed as she explained that he had agreed just before going to sleep.

"sigh FINE, take off your top and show me your back, I'll be quick." She grinned at him as Thorn and Rose walked over, "What are you doing?" She asked but he paid them no mind as he split his hand open, and blood dripped onto Astra's back.

She groaned in pain as the sigil of the Scarlet King slowly burned itself onto her skin and soul, and right on time a portal came into being. [She will provide more help, good job] The system said as Dave walked through the portal.

"MAN, you look old dude! Ready to go?!" He asked since he still had a soul to judge so he was ready to go, Carter nodded but Thorn stopped him. "I'll miss you Carter, thank you for everything." She said as tears rolled down her face, he had been with her for as long as she could remember, him, Lucius and Rose. Lucius was dead and now Carter was leaving so it was a very emotional day for her. "Good bye little Dragon, be strong." He said as he pried her off him. He nodded to the Red Dragon who glared at him and Dave as he embraced Rose for the first and last time, "Take care dearie." She said softly as Dave sighed, "Come one, I got a gift for you." He said as he took two pictures out of his pocket, it was them!

Smiley, Phoney, Fone Bone, Bartleby, Thorn, Rose, Astra, and Carter lined up waving to the people of Atheia all dressed in their regalia. "To remember him by." Dave said as he handed another picture of the Bones, Rose Thorn and Lucius to them as well. Carter stared down at the two pictures in his hand as Thorn looked at the ones in hers, "Will we ever see you again?" She asked and he shook his head, smiling softly just once. "No, but I will carry your memory with me for eternity."

Carter looked at them one last time, engraving their facing in his memory though not really knowing why. He felt sad to leave them, but glad that he had spent a little time with them as he got to watch them grow and live. Then he stepped through the portal and was never seen in the Valley again. Though centuries later, stories spoke of a lone warrior, wielding fire and Ice, visiting the finest resting places of Queen Rose and Queen Thorn, the most beloved of all the rulers of the Valley.

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So that brings an end to our journey in the land of BONE. That last little bit was my form of closure since a lot of my friends are about to move away, as well as a teacher who has been a huge influence on me for the past 6 years of my life. If there is ever anything you take away as a lesson from anything I might write, it's this.

Cherish those around you, don't take them for granted because once they're gone, you won't have any fond memories of them, just regrets. Take the time to be with them, not on your phone, but actually with them. AND TAKES LOTS OF PICTURES wish I'd have taken a bunch more lol

Total word count: 8295