Well, I finally got some sleep. Hopefully this chapter will go well, because I kind of want to make filler before the Final Battle of the Tourney.

I'm mentally exhausted from the last one, so I kind of want a breather.

I hope you can understand, the most exciting of chapters take up about 3-4 hours to type, scaling to about over 4,000 words each.

Well, most of them anyway.

Anyway, I'm done complaining, you waited for a chapter, and I'm delivering.

Enjoy.

"Ugh….My head…"

Joe had awoken the next morning inside of the bed of the castle guest room, covering in the regal sheets.

"What the hell happened last night…?" Joe said, rubbing his aching head. Much to his surprise, he was in his normal clothes, with his armor and sword over on the other end of the room.

He rested his head back onto his pillow.

"I've got that big fight with Dreu today…Shit…" He complained.

He sat up, but found that something was bounding him by his left arm.

He lifted the sheets to see what was holding him down, and the sight turned him beet red.

There laid the Princess, Heir to the North Kingdom of the Nether, royal and regal in every way...laying next to Joe, snuggling with his arm.

"W...W...What…" Joe muttered, to shocked and embarrassed.

He was surprised to see she was not wearing her gauntlets and greaves, all she had on was her two-piece.

HIs mouth gaped open in shock at the sight of the princess.

She made a slight moan in her sleep, in which Joe prompted to cover his mouth.

Just what the fuck happened last night!?

He tried to wiggle his arm out of Blazette's grip, but the more he struggled, the more she tightened her grip.

Shitshitshit...This is not good! If someone finds us like this, they'll probably have my head!

"Please...Don't go…"

Joe jumped a bit at hearing this sudden voice. He looked over to the princess, and noticed she was talking in her sleep.

"Please, don't go...I'll be all alone…" She muttered in her sleep.

Joe's eyes widened in shock at this.

Is she talking about her parents? Or maybe a boyfriend? Or something?

"I miss you two so much…" The princess moaned.

Probably her parents...Speaking of that, where are the King and Queen? If shes a princess, wouldn't that make her a Queen?

He sighed at this, and looked at the sleeping beauty.

She must be really lonely here…

He was still laying on the bed, in which he turned to his side, facing the princess.

He then took his free arm, and wrapped it around the princess's back, his hand on the back of her head.

Krieg would kill me if he saw me like this…

He held her head close to his chest, and could hear her cooing in her sleep.

The scent of her hair permeated his nose, leaving a pleasant smell.

Huh...Red Hots…

He was like this for a few moments, passing the time with his thoughts.

I can remember doing this with Cupa one time when she had a nightmare...She was so adorable when she was terrified…

He could hear the tiny snores of the princess, causing him to chuckle to himself a bit.

You know, being a independent, strong, royal figure...Shes kinda cute when she's sleeping...Almost as cute as Cupa…

He was surprised at his own thought.

That was weird...Why am I thinking about Cupa so much?

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, as he looked back to the sleeping princess.

The princess then moaned slightly, as she had awoken from her slumber.

Joe flinched slightly at this, as he let go of her, and laid back onto his back.

Blazette opened her eyes, and found she was cuddling with Joe's arm.

She went bright pink, as she looked back to Joe.

"M-Morning…" Joe said, trying not to make the situation more awkward.

The princess let go of Joe, as she sat up.

"M-Morning…" She muttered.

Joe then sat up, and scratched his head.

"Any...Chance you know what happened last night?" Joe asked.

"W-Well, we had a few drinks of wine with dinner...I guess we went a little overboard with it…" Blazette answered.

The color from Joe's face sunk, as he slowly looked at the princess.

"Did we...You know...'Do it'...At all?" Joe nervously asked.

She put her hand her her mouth in embarrassment, as she looked away from Joe.

"Do...You really want me to say what we did?" The princess said, blushing.

OH SHIT.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I didn't know what I was thinking! I mean, I was a tad intoxicated, and my judgement was faded, but I didn't mean to do anything!" Joe yelled in a frantic state.

Meanwhile, the princess was smiling to herself, slightly laughing.

"Calm down, I was just joking. I guess I passed out while we were going over strategies for the fight today." The princess said, laughing at Joe.

A wind of relief blew over Joe, as he sighed.

"Don't scare me like that…" Joe said, scratching his cheek.

She giggled to herself, watching Joe's reaction.

"I had to. You scared me a bit when you fought against Lia." She mentioned. "I couldn't bear to see anyone tortured like that…"

Joe slightly chuckled to himself, remembering the fight. "Yeah, that hurt like a bitch…I thought she was going to tear my arm off."

"Well, at least she's calmed down now. I actually had word she cooperated with the guards." She said, remembering the previous night.

"W-Well...Either she changed, or she hasn't and she couldn't use her hair, and the guards are skeletons, so she couldn't control them…" Joe said, making a valid point.

"True...but, she hasn't caused trouble since you escorted her. I think you really reached out to her." The princess said, smiling.

"I guess…" Joe said, nodding slightly. "So...When is the match?" Joe asked.

"Well, since its the final match of the tourney, preparations have to be made." Blazette explained.

"Ah, I see. I heard the prize of the match will be announced at the beginning of the match." Joe mentioned.

After hearing what Joe said, Blazette seemed to try and change the subject.

"Y-Yeah...W-Well, If you're interested, We can go down for breakfast. You'll need your energy for your match." Blazette offered.

Joe raised an eyebrow.

"You really want me to win this, don't you? I mean, the death rule has been lifted, so if I lost, it wouldn't really matter...Except I probably wouldn't be able to get home." Joe said, looking at the princess.

"W-Well, if you're going to be the hero from my visions, you'll need to prove to the other Kingdoms that you're over par…" She said, getting a nod from Joe.

"I still don't really believe that I'm this mysterious hero from your dream, I'm just one guy…" Joe said.

Plus your dream sounds like its from The Legend of Zelda…

"I believe you are. Anyway, we should get to breakfast. I'm a tad famished after all this excitement going on…" Blazette said, rubbing her stomach.

"Yeah, I'm starving." Joe said, getting out of bed, with Blazette following after.

"I wonder what they could be serving…" Blazette wondered, with Joe shrugging as they left the room.

They walked down the halls, on their way to the dining room.

They approached the door, in which Blazette stopped Joe.

"I-I should go in and tell the chefs you're here for breakfast. I'm sure they would be surprised to see you here again." She mentioned.

"Good point. I'll wait here." Joe said, as he stayed behind.

Blazette then entered the room, and much to her surprise, someone was already in the room.

She found it was Dreu, who was being served tea by one of the servants.

"Why, good morning Your Majesty. You're looking as radiant as always." He said in a confident tone.

"Why are you here? Who let you in?" Blazette asked, in a serious tone.

"Why, I was invited here. I merely came in, and before I knew it, I was served." He replied, with a smug grin on his face.

"I don't remember inviting you. You just came in here, didn't you?" Blazette said, with an angered tone.

"Well, I didn't see anyone stopping me." Dreu said, sipping his tea.

"Leave. Now." Blazette demanded.

The prince then put his tea cup on the table, and stood up. "Now now, no need to be hasty. I merely came here to say hello." He said, stepping towards the princess.

"You're not welcome here. Leave!" She yelled.

He seemed to ignore this, as he stepped up to the princess, and caressed a lock of her hair.

"You've always had the Queen's beauty. It's quite marvelous." Dreu said.

She quickly slapped Dreu's hand away, offended. "Don't you dare touch me!" She yelled in Drue's face.

In that moment, the door opened to have Joe walk in.

"Hey, everything alright in here? I heard you yell." Joe asked.

He then saw Dreu, who looked at him with a disgusted face.

"What are you doing here, Rat?" Dreu said with a disgusted tone.

Joe's face went from curious to angry, as he stepped in.

"I should be asking you, slimeball." Joe replied, clenching his fists.

Dreu seemed to laugh to himself.

"Prisoners. I swear, I'm surprised he isn't dead by now. Especially after the day before." He said, with a devilish tone.

Joe was offended by this, as he separated the princess from the prince, getting into the prince's face.

"Is that a threat?" Joe said in Dreu's face.

"Its a promise, scum." Dreu said, insulting him.

Joe then pushed Dreu away from him, nearly sending the smug prince off balance

"How dare you!?" The prince yelled, offended at Joe's action. He then drew his rapier, and pointed it at the young man.

Joe responded to this by grabbing a nearby knife from the table, holding it off-hand.

"What, the prince can't take a hit?" Joe said, chuckling confidently.

"I ought to kill you right here!" Drue threatened.

"Just try, I dare you." Joe said between his gritted teeth.

Blazette then intervened.

"Enough you two, settle it in the arena!" She yelled.

A moment passed, as Dreu then laughed to himself.

"I have no time for low-lives such as you. I have a tournament to win." Dreu said, sheathing his sword.

Joe remained in his readied pose, looking at the prince with a piercing stare.

The smug prince then walked towards the door, then looked back to the princess.

"I'll see you soon, Flare." He said grinning at her.

"Don't you dare call me that. Leave." She demanded.

He seemed to laugh, as he reached for the doorknob.

"I'm only trying to be friendly, My Lady." He said.

Joe then held the knife closer to him. "You heard her. Get the hell out of here."

Dreu 'hmph'ed through his nose, as he opened the door, and walked through, letting the door close behind him.

Joe then relaxed himself, putting the knife back on the table.

"Piece of shit." He said, then turned to Blazette.

"He's a bastard of a man…" She said, looking at Joe.

Joe then sighed. "He seems like a real problem."

"I don't trust him. He was the first one to tell me that my parents were killed..." She said.

Joe froze in place. He then turned to the princess. "K-Killed?"

"Yes...They were on their way to the East Kingdom, when they were killed by thieves." Blazette replied.

"I-I'm sorry for your loss...It must be hard…" Joe said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

She then placed her hand on top of his, as she smiled.

"Thank you...It's hard taking your parents' job…" She said, looking at Joe.

Joe then smiled back, as he let go of Blazette.

"Well, now that he's gone, shall we get to breakfast? All the threatening made me hungry." Joe said, pulling a seat for the princess.

The princess then nodded, as she took her seat.

Joe then pulled his own seat next to the princess, and sat down.

"So...Do we get to pick again?"

A few hours had passed, as Joe was back in the guest room, along with Blazette. He was fitting his armor on, with Blazette watching.

He strapped his sword to his side, finishing up his set-up.

He then turned to the princess."Well, I guess I should go. The match is in a few minutes." He said to the princess.

She in return nodded. "Yeah. I'll be supporting you."

Joe chuckled to himself, as he scratched his head.

"Heh...I have The Princess rooting for me in a match. 'Honored' feels like an understatement to me right now." He said.

Blazette giggled. "Well, I don't want that slimeball to win. But it doesn't mean I won't care for your safety."

"Thanks. That'll help out a lot." He said back.

The princess then walked towards the door. "I'll show you out. The guard will be waiting."

Joe nodded in return, as he followed the princess out of the room.

She lead him through the halls, back into the lobby, in which the same guard from before was waiting for him.

"Ready to go?" The skeleton asked.

"Yeah. Lead on." Joe said in return. He then turned to the princess. "Well, wish me luck."

Blazette then nodded, as she smiled at Joe.

"I'll be rooting for you." She said, in which Joe nodded in return.

He then turned back to the guard, and followed him out of the door, into the corridor.

The door closed behind him, to the princess looking at him with a worried face between the crack.

It was only the two, as they walked through the dark hall.

"So...Do you still think I'm not going to win?" Joe innocently asked.

The skeleton chuckled at this.

"It would seem you have proved me wrong. You have potential after all." It said, keeping its back on Joe.

Joe then chuckled in return. "Well, I'm honored to hear that."

"Besides. I don't like the prince just about as much as you do." The guard said.

"You think he's a bastard too?" Joe asked.

"Lets just say theres a reason I don't like him. A reason I don't feel like explaining." The guard replied.

Joe couldn't help but smile.

"Well, its good to see you've lightened up to me." He said.

"I just don't want that slimeball winning. You're my only hope of bringing him down." The skeleton replied.

Joe then shrugged to himself, as they continued down the hall.

They eventually reached the same gate from yesterday, as Joe could yet again, hear the cheers and cries of the audience.

"Well, Wish me luck, I guess." Joe said, looking through the gate.

The skeleton simply patted Joe on the shoulder.

"Fuck him up."

Joe chuckled and nodded at this, as he grew more confident.

The gate then soon rose, the cheers becoming more clear.

"Showtime." Joe said to himself, as he walked through the open pass.

Well, Get ready for next chapter, because it's going to be epic!

The final battle is going to be long, so I hope you're prepared.

Thank you for reading, I will see you in the next chapter.