Heyo. How is everyone doing? I've been doing great lately.
Alright, you're here for a chapter, not my personal life. I'm done blabbing around.
Enjoy.
It had been several hours since the climatic battle of the Tourney.
Joe was back in the guest room, giving himself a much deserved rest.
Blazzette was also in the room, as she watched over the peacefully sleeping human.
She could hear him slightly snoring, which caused her to giggle to herself.
"You're actually kind of cute when you don't have your guard up..." The princess said to herself, as she smiled at the slumbering hero.
She stared at the young man, turning a tad pink.
"You barely know me, yet you want to protect me with your life...I've never met anyone as kind and compassionate as you..." She said, as she rose from her seat, and leaned over Joe.
"You really are the hero we have been waiting for..." She stated, as she lowered her face to Joe's.
She then gave Joe a quick peck on the forehead, causing him to turn a tad in his sleep.
She giggled more at this, as she returned to her seat.
She then made a slight yawn.
"I'm getting a bit tired myself...That fight made me exhausted..." The princess said, wiping tears from her eyes.
She then rested her arms on the side of the bed, and rested her head on her arms, looking upon the sleeping young man.
She felt her eyes grow heavy, as she closed her eyes, falling into slumber herself.
A few moments pass, as Joe then slowly opened his eyes, awakening from his slumber.
He made a pleasant moan, as he stretched his arms.
"I slept like a rock..." He said, sitting up and popping has neck.
He turned his head to see the princess peacefully sleeping against the bed, smiling in her slumber.
"She must have been up for me..." Joe whispered to himself.
He then smiled, as he slowly stood from the bed, making sure not to awaken the princess.
He then pulled the blanket, and laid it on the slumbering princess.
"You deserve the sleep, Flare." He whispered, as he sat on the bed, next to Blazette.
He watched over the peacefully sleeping princess, and slightly rubbed her head.
At that moment, there was a slight knock on the door, in which Joe walked to the door.
He slowly opened the door, to see Krieg at the door.
"Mister Joe, the other-"
"Sh!" Joe interrupted, asking for silence. "The princess is sleeping right now, try and tone down your voice.
Krieg nodded at this. "The other prisoners have requested you, given they are now free because of your victory." He whispered.
"Others?" Joe asked silently.
"The lives you spared and saved in the Tourney" Krieg replied.
Joe then realized Krieg's words, and nodded in return. "Alright, where are they?"
"They are in the foyer, waiting for you." Krieg replied.
"All right, I'll be right down there." Joe said, smiling.
Krieg nodded, and continued down the hall, disappearing from Joe's sight.
He then stepped out of the room, slowly closing the door behind him.
He then started down his way down the opposite end of the hall, heading towards the foyer.
After a few moments, Joe had reached the foyer, and looked upon the three former combatants.
Braug was the first to see him, as he waved to the young man.
"Brother!" He said, as he walked towards Joe.
"Brother?" Joe asked, only to be met with Braug patting him on the back. The force of the pat made Joe fall to the ground, him laying on his face.
"Yes, you are now a brother-in-arms to me, because you spared my life!" Braug laughed.
He works a lot like Gorons from Ocarina of Time... Joe thought, as Braug picked him up back to his feet.
Ludvia and Lia then stepped forward.
"That was quite the impressive fight for someone such as you." Ludvia said, smiling.
Joe didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted, but he quickly shrugged it off.
"Surprised myself back there..." He chuckled, scratching his cheek.
Lia then quickly hugged Joe out of nowhere, suffocating him.
"We thought you were dead for sure!" She said, holding her death grip on Joe.
"I'm flattered...and all... but...I can't...breath!" Joe croaked, suffocating from Lia's bear-hug.
She then let go, and let Joe catch his breath.
"Jesus..." He said, chuckling.
"We just wanted to thank you for what you've done for us. Ludvia and I wouldn't be here, if it weren't for your mercy." Braug stated, patting Joe's back gently.
"That bastard would have ended me if you hadn't interfered..." Ludvia said.
Joe smiled. "Well, I couldn't let him kill you in front of me. That slimeball played dirty, so I had to do something."
Ludvia went a tad pink at this, as she nodded.
Lia lowered her head, looking at the ground.
"And I wanted to apologize for the pain I put you through in our battle...You were screaming so much..."
"W-Well, you couldn't help it." Joe said, smiling at Lia. "I only wanted to help you. You were screaming in fear, I couldn't hurt you while you were freaking out like that."
Lia smiled gently at Joe, and nodded.
"Thank you. I guess I just needed some help..." She said, looking down.
Joe simply chuckled, and rubbed Lia's head. "Always willing to help out whenever needed."
Instantly, Lia embraced Joe again, in which he smiled and returned the hug.
"You fought valiantly. For that, you have our thanks, and our trust." Braug stated, holding out his large hand.
Joe released Lia, and took Braug's hand, in a firm handshake.
"It's an honor to have you three as friends." Joe thanked, smiling brightly.
Braug nodded in return. "We came here to thank you, but we must be going. We will be in our respective lands, so whenever you are around, be sure to visit."
The young man nodded in return, as he looked over everyone.
"I'll be sure to visit. I promise." He said, smiling.
After a few farewells, the three warriors left the castle foyer, the large front doors closing behind them.
Joe then stood alone, looking at the door.
"There's much more to this world than I thought." He said to himself.
In that moment, Krieg appeared from the upper level.
"Mister Joe, Your Majesty requests you."
Joe looked over, and tilted his head.
"Guess she woke up." Joe said, then started towards Krieg's position.
He walked down the halls, until he reached the door, in which he opened the door.
He saw the princess sitting on the opposite end of the bed, facing away from him.
"You needed me?" Joe asked.
The princess turned around, with a red face, looking at Joe.
"I need to...talk to you..." She muttered.
Joe shrugged, as he closed to door and walked towards the princess.
"Anything wrong?" He asked.
Blazette seemed to be hesitant with her words, until she spoke.
"Well...I wanted to ask you a question..." She said.
"Well, what is it?" Joe asked, sitting on the bed with the princess.
She looked down, then raised her head.
In that moment, she grabbed Joe, and pinned him to the bed.
"F-Flare?" He asked, massively confused.
She then raised her legs and sat on Joe, straddling him.
"D-Do you want to...D-D-Do it now, or later...?" The princess croaked, stuttering every word.
"W-What are you talking about? And why are you straddling me!?" Joe asked, his face red as a beet.
Blazette then cupped her hand on Joe's face.
"W-We are engaged, are we?" She said, as she rubbed her thumb against Joe's cheek.
Oh shit. I forgot about that.
"L-Listen, Flare, I don't want to say this to you, but-"
"O-Oh! H-How forgetful of me...I guess..." The princess interrupted.
Joe raised an eyebrow, as the princess cupped his other cheek with her other hand.
"F-Flare?" He asked, extremely confused.
She lowered her head, exposing her just as red face. She rested her forehead on top of Joe's, staring into his eyes.
"The first kiss should be important, am I correct?"
Joe's eyes beamed in shock.
Blazette then closed her eyes, and slightly puckered her lips. She then went in for the kiss, when something stopped her.
Joe had placed his finger on the princess's lips, stopping her.
"I-I...Can't do this..." The embarrassed young man said.
The princess was confused.
"A-Are you nervous?" She asked.
"W-Well, yeah, but I meant that I can't marry you..." He replied.
Her eyes beamed in shock as well.
"W-What do you mean? A-Am I not good enough for you?" She asked, her voice weak.
Joe shook his head. "N-No, it's just...I can't be King...I don't think I deserve to be..."
"What do you mean? You won the Tourney, and won the prize. You have proved your strength, now you can claim your winning." The princess said, her eyes sparkling with sadness.
Joe raised himself, sitting upright, the princess still sitting on him.
"I can't take the responsibility to become a King. Plus, I was only fighting for my freedom. I have a home to get back to." Joe explained.
"But...But..." The princess stammered.
"It's nothing against you. If anything..." Joe stopped, choking on his words. "I don't feel like I deserve a woman as beautiful as you." He said, smiling.
Tears started to swell in the princess's eyes, after hearing his words.
"So….your mind's….made up…" She asked, sniveling.
In response to this, Joe then cupped Blazette's cheek with his hand, and wiped her tears with his thumb.
"I'm sure you'll find your real prince one day. Not just some random-ass guy like me." :He said, smiling.
Blazette smiled back. "But, theres just this thing…"
Joe titled his head in confusion.
"Our engagement is still in set...We'll just have to say, we postponed the wedding. For a later time." The princess explained.
Joe was still confused, as he scratched his head.
"I don't quite know what you mean…" He said.
The princess smiled. "It means that to this kingdom...Theres no wedding, but you are still my fiance."
The color from Joe's face ran out from hearing this.
"So...Theres no wedding….but I'm still engaged to you…" He asked.
The princess smiled, and nodded. "Its, 'until a later time'."
Joe then let his body fall onto the bed, looking at the ceiling.
This is some To Love-Ru shit right here…
The princess then raised a leg, dismounting Joe. She laid next to him, holding his arm.
"But...Just to call you my fiance…" She said, her face in Joe's arm. "Makes me the happiest I've ever been..."
Joe went completely red a this.
Happiest you've ever been, huh…
He looked at the princess, who had her eyes closed, and was smiling peacefully.
He sighed.
What a mess…
Another few hours had passed, as everyone associated with the North Kingdom was in the royal court room.
Blazette was on her throne, watching over Joe, who was on the raised platform, but was bowing down.
She then asked for silence from the crowd, as she spoke:
"I have brought you all here today, to celebrate a ceremony that has not been performed in a very long time. That ceremony, is the one, that grants one the respect and honor of my Kingdom." She stated.
The crowd burst with a small applause after hearing this.
"I have the Champion of the Grand Tourney here with us tonight. I will be granting the title to him today, as he has proved his strength, bravery, and dedication to the safety of the Kingdom."
Joe went a tad red in flattery after hearing this, as he chuckled.
Kreig then stepped forward to speak.
"The title shall be given through a Knighting, but not just with any means."
At that moment, a guard came forth, with what looked like a blue sheathed Katana.
"He shall be given the legendary blade, one that has been dormant for many years, Susano." Krieg stated. "This shall cement his respect and honor for this kingdom, and give him title of General of the North Army."
The princess then took the blade, and stood from her seat.
She walked down the steps, towards the bowing Joe.
She then stepped next to Joe.
"Rise, valiant warrior."
Joe then stood up, facing the princess.
"Your strength, bravery, and compassion will go down in this kingdom as a legend. All we ask is you keep the sword you awoken, as a symbol of your efforts here."
Joe nodded, as he took the sword from the princess. "Yes, My Lady."
The princess made a secret smile at Joe, who in return nodded back.
"I would also request he keep this sacred pendant, for he will have to return to his own world." She said, as she opened her left hand to reveal a crimson red jewel on a silver relief.
Joe was confused as this as he whispered to the princess:
"What is that?" He asked.
"It is a TroubleStone. It is used as a sort of beacon." She replied.
"Beacon?"
"Well, you said you want to help whenever you can. So I brought this." She said, handing over the pendant.
Joe examined the pendant closely.
"Here, watch this." Blazette said, asking for the TroubleStone.
She took it, and asked for his right hand. Joe then noticed that there seemed to be a small indentation on his gauntlet.
The princess then took the stone, and placed it in the indentation. It seemed to be a perfect fit.
"So, It will like...Do something whenever you need me?" He asked, examining his right hand.
"It will shine with different lights on different occasions. I will have to let you find those out on your own." She replied, smiling.
Joe shrugged this off, as he smiled back.
"Now, It is time for you to return home, General Joe. We will request your assistance whenever it may be needed." Blazette stated.
At that moment, what seemed like a glowing magic seal appeared below Joe's feet.
This took him by surprise, as he looked below his feet.
"May the sword win you many battles, General!" The princess yelled, causing the seal to flash with light.
He looked over at the princess, who seemed to look sad looking at him.
He simply smiled at her, which caused her to lighten up a tad.
The light then started to envelope Joe, until it covered his entire body.
Then, In a flash, the light, seal, and Joe were all gone.
As if he had vanished.
The princess stood there, alone.
She then smiled at her thoughts, as she looked upon Joe's standing spot.
I'll make you fall for me one day…
Everything was white.
It seemed much similar to his nightmares, but this time, everything was enveloped in a white light.
"Guess I'm returning home now." He said, as he relaxed his body, making him feel like he was flying.
At that moment, the light then died down, as he could see all that was behind the light.
A small forest, with a certain decorated cave.
Yep. He was back.
He laughed hysterically to himself, as he jumped in the air in celebration.
"I'm home!" He laughed.
"O-Oh! I gotta go get to Cupa and the others!" He said, as he sprinted down the pathway.
He eventually reached his home, but found it to be rather quiet.
"Huh. I was expecting everyone to be out..." He said as he walked to his door.
He entered and found there was still silence.
"Weird..." He said to himself, looking upon the empty interior of his home. "Where is everyone?"
In that moment, he heard a shriek.
"No! Keep your hands off me!"
Joe jumped at this, and grew worried.
"That was Ria's voice!" He whispered to himself.
He then went to the door that led to the spider girls' room, and listened closely.
"Come on, show your jugs to us!"
"Yeah! You can't keep them to yourself!"
"N-No! I'm saving myself! Don't touch me!"
Hearing that was all Joe needed to know what was happening.
He immediately kicked the door down, revealing what was going on behind it.
There were two men, dressed awfully familiar, subduing Ria. One had her in a full nelson, while the other was trying to spread her legs, attempting to undress her.
"J-Joe!?" Ria yelled in shock.
Joe took no chances, as he immediately drew his blade and sprinted at the closest man.
"It's hi-!" The man screamed, only to have Joe thrust his sword into the man's chest.
The other man then let go of Ria, and backed into a wall, fearing for his life.
Joe then took his blade, and cut through the side of the man, killing him instantly.
"Y-You little punk!" The shivering man screamed, as he pulled out a dagger.
Joe waved his sword, shaking the blood off his blade, and then turned to the man with his back against the wall.
"Ria, close your eyes." Joe said, as he slowly stepped towards the man.
Ria did so, closing her eyes and covering her ears, blocking out any input.
"D-Don't come any closer!" The man screamed, pointing the dagger at Joe.
Joe said nothing, as he stepped closer and closer.
"You bastard!" The man yelled, swinging his dagger at Joe.
Joe then swung his sword with one swipe, just moments before the man even thought of cutting him.
All the man could see was his arm freezing in mid-air. He looked at it, as he saw his hand drop his dagger.
In that moment, he saw his hand and half of his forearm fall off, cut cleanly from his arm.
"M-My arm!" The man screamed, falling to the ground, tending to his severed arm.
Joe was beyond infuriated, as he raised his sword.
"Where are the others!?" He yelled, his tone rather loud.
"You bastard! You cut half my hand off!" The man screamed, ignoring Joe's demand.
Joe growled to himself, as he swung his sword down.
He stopped his blade at the man's throat, the tip on his Adam's Apple.
"Where. Are. They." Joe growled through gritted teeth.
"D-Don't kill me! Please!"
"NOW! OR I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU!" Joe screamed in frustration.
"I-In a cave! T-To the north! J-Just please don't kill me! You showed mercy at the Tourney, you can't kill a helpless man!" The man begged.
"Tourney? How the hell do you know that!?" Joe yelled, slightly pushing his blade against the man's throat.
"P-Please!" The man begged, practically crying.
Joe thought to himself, as he gripped his sword.
He stayed his blade from the man's throat, as the man sighed in relief.
Joe then immediately raised his sword over his head, staring at the man.
"I may have shown mercy, but no one does that to my friends!" Joe screamed.
The man then looked at Joe, and jumped, shivering in fear.
"No! Please! NO!" The man screamed, only to have Joe bring his sword down, and cut through the man, deeply cutting him, killing him instantly.
Joe looked over the corpse, as he cracked his neck.
He then looked to Ria, who was covering her ears and keeping her eyes shut.
He ran over to her, and grabbed her wrist.
Ria reacted the wrong way, as she flailed her arms around, screaming.
"Ria, calm down! Its me!" Joe yelled, keeping her arms down.
She heard this, and immediately looked to Joe, who was looking at her.
"J-Joe…" She said, as tears swell in her eyes.
"They're gone now, it's alright." Joe said, rubbing Ria's head with his free hand.
Ria immediately flung her arms around Joe's neck, and embraced him, sobbing into his shoulder.
Joe responded with hugging her back, and holding her head.
"I-I was so scared! I didn't know what they were going to do…!" Ria sobbed.
"It's alright, I got you." Joe said, comforting Ria.
After a moment, Joe let go of Ria, and grabbed her shoulders, making her face him.
"Ria, I need you to tell me what's going on." Joe demanded.
She wiped tears from her face, as she spoke:
"A gang of those men swarmed in, and took everyone! They're all gone!"
And there it is. I'm sorry about the late update, I've just been so busy...
Thank you so much for your patience, and I will see you all in the next chapter.