Work Text:
"I'm so bored!" Claire complained loudly to her best friend, Popuri.
They were currently in Claire's house sitting at the dining table.
"Doesn't your farm keep you busy?" Popuri asked, flipping through the channels on the big flatscreen TV.
"Normally, yes." Claire groaned, "But crops don't grow during the Winter season, and so I only have to care for my livestock. I get done within three hours and have nothing to do for the rest of the day except chop wood, break boulders, and go fishing. It gets old real quick... Oh, is that Be My Princess?"
Popuri stopped on the channel that had a princess, a demon lord, and a knight on the screen.
"Aww, I wish I could've watched this from the beginning now that I have all this time on my hands..." Claire sighed, "It's my favorite show, but I miss so much of it during the other seasons."
"I have the movie version on DVD." Popuri said, "Ouuu, why don't we get the other girls and have a sleep over? We could do it this weekend!"
"I like that idea a lot!" Claire jumped up, "Let's go ask everyone right now!"
"Sure!"
The two girls put on their shoes and coats, and hurried out into the cold, excitement in their steps.
...Saturday 7PM...
Knock! Knock!
"It's open, come in!" Claire yelled from her kitchen.
The door opened and Marie, Karen, Popuri, and Elly walked in with greetings, over night bags, sleeping bags, and pillows.
"Where's Ran and Jennifer?" Claire asked, not seeing the two.
"Not sure, want me to go check?" Karen asked.
"They'll be here, don't worry!" Popuri spoke up.
Just then there was a knock on the door and Popuri answered it. Ran and Jennifer were on the other side, bent over and out of breath.
"Sorry we're late!" Ran wheezed, "My dad made me finish a few things before I could leave!"
"And I felt bad leaving without her, so I waited." Jennifer said, just as out of breath as Ran.
The two women came in and shut the door behind them, putting their things with everyone else's.
"No worries! I just finished making dinner." Claire said, "Elly, Marie will you set the table? Ran come help me move the food over there."
The women chatted as they moved around and then they were sat around the table. It was a little cramped, but they gossiped and laughed as they ate. Soon enough they were finished and helped Claire clear the table and wash and put away the dishes.
Then they took turns showering and changing into their pajamas.
"I'm going to check on Spots real quick. She's due any day to give birth." Claire said, throwing a robe over her pink and blue pajamas. "You girls can set up your sleeping bags and get the movie ready. I shouldn't be too long!"
...
After checking on her cow Claire hurried inside, stripping off her robe. She checked the fireplace and threw in another log to fuel the fire.
"Hurry up, Claire!" Popuri whined.
"Sorry, it gets really cold in here." Claire said, "I have to make sure the fire burns all night."
Claire, turned the lights off, grabbed the remote from Popuri and made herself comfortable on the nest of blankets and sleeping bags. She was sat between Marie and Jennifer. There was popcorn, French fries, pudding, cookies, chocolate candy bars, premium grape juce, churros, strawberry milk, fruit juice, and a few other assortments of snacks and drinks.
"Okay, ready?" She asked.
The other woman gave their yeses and Claire pressed play.
...
"I am the Princess of this kingdom." A blonde haired, blue eyes Princess in a pink dress said, "Today it seems to me that things are more lively outside. When I went to see why, crowds cheered our returning hero. His latest adventure had apparently involved going to slay a Demon Lord in a land north of us. Ah, our hero must be truly mighty to have slain a Demon Lord... I wish someone as mighty as this hero could be my husband. I need only wed this noble hero to make my wish come true. A hero who slew a Demon Lord could hardly be unsuitable to anyone. I am certain that I will be congratulated by one and all. Come to think of it though, and even if I don't, I know nothing about this hero. I haven't even seen his face. Still, there is likely to be a celebration of some sort, seeing as how we have a hero who has returned from slaying a Demon Lord. I will take that opportunity to talk to him, or some such."
So I went to the celebration for the hero's triumphant return and all. My first impression was not so much that of a hero, really, but someone who fights beside the hero. He was a big guy with all these muscles, you see. Anyway, I chatted him up and found that he apparently hasn't done much talking to the ladies. He turned a bright scarlet when I asked him a simple question, barely uttering a solitary syllable in reply. It was actually kind of sweet.
"I don't think I'd have much trouble marrying him, though I'd like to see for myself just how strong he is and all. There must be something I can do..." The Princess wondered.
“How about this, then?” I jumped at the sound of a nearby voice. "Eh? Who's there?"
I wondered as I turned toward the softly uttered words. Standing outside the window was a handsome guy, but the funny thing was that my window was three stories up! But I was more interested in talking to him than in figuring out how he got there, so I opened the royal window and let him glide into my room.
“My apologies for speaking to you like this,” he said. “But you sounded like you were having such fun that I couldn't help myself.”
"But that would mean that I had been thinking aloud... Oh well, whatever. If you heard me talk, then you must know the dire and heartrending predicament that I'm in?" The Princess asked.
“You mean about how you wish to wed a strong man and you wish also to see just how strong this hero is?” The mysterious man asked.
"Why yes. That's it. Have you any valorous-type ideas?" The Princess asked
My unusual guest did have a good idea in mind for testing the power of my hero and suitor, but...
“Before we get to that, may I offer myself as a prospective husband too? I'm strong. It's just that...” The mysterious man trailed off.
"Just... what?" The Princess prompted.
“I'm not human. In fact, I'm the greatest of the demons, what you might colloquially call the Demon Lord.” The newly revealed Demon Lord said, dispelling the glamour around him and revealing two green horns sprouting from his head.
"Eh? The Demon Lord? But I thought our hero slew the Demon Lord. Didn't he?" The Princess asked, shocked.
“Your hero slew an imposter in all likelihood. After all, the Demon Lord stands before you now.” The Demon Lord smirked.
"But you don't look all that different from any human." The Princess said looking the demon lord over, "I mean you don't have wings or a tail or anything like that. A Demon Lord ought to be bigger and have a bunch of arms and give off a stinky aura or something, shouldn't he?"
The man outside my window told me that he was, in fact, the Demon Lord...
“This is what I really look like." The Demon Lord said, "While I suppose I could change my appearance to look the way you suggest, to take on such a fearsome form seems to demonstrate a lack of confidence in one's ability to socially adapt. Besides, I also felt that there was no need to go out of my way to frighten you.”
"So what you're saying is, you're so tough that you don't have to do that sort of thing. Well, then, how can you prove your might to me, Demon Lord?" The Princess asked.
“I will triumph in battle against your hero.” The Demon Lord proclaimed.
The Princess nodded.
"Yes, I suppose that if you were to do that you would certainly be mighty." She agreed, "From what I understand, our hero doesn't like to do battle without cause. So I doubt he'd give you a fight simply because you asked for one."
“In that case, I ask you to let me take you away with me, Your Highness.” The Demon Lord bowed and extended his hand out to her.
I wondered what connection there could be between a good idea for getting our hero to show his might and my being abducted by the Demon Lord...
"Excuse me? What exactly, do you mean by that?" The Princess asked, eye widening.
“Princess, if you were abducted the king would almost certainly command the hero to bring you back." The Demon Lord explained, "Of course, if the abduction of the Princess by the demon lord does not bring the hero at a run, royal command or no, then the effort will have been for naught, wouldn't you agree?”
"I see... You intend to get our hero to come to your lair and fight you to bring me back home." The Princess mused, "That would certainly give me the chance to see what the two of you are like in battle... Okay, it might work. But what should I be doing in the meantime? I mean, if I try to hide here someone is likely to find me soon enough so I guess I have no choice but to come to your remote fortress..."
Having our hero and the Demon Lord do battle might really be a sight to see...
“Well, I suggest you accept it because the fact is that you will have to come with me." The Demon Lord said, "Once we are at my lair you need not bother doing anything in particular, aside from waiting for the hero to arrive.”
"Well, that sounds positively boring." The Princess sighed, "Still I guess there is no other alternative. If I'm going to see you and our hero demonstrate power and might, right? Okay, you have a deal.
“Then let us be off to my lair." The Demon Lord tossed his arm out, his cape moving back dramatically, "But before we go, would I be an acceptable suitor for Your Highness's hand in wedlock?”
"Oh come on! Of course not!" The Princess huffed, "We've only just met! After all, I hardly know anything about you...though it's true that I only met our righteous hero today, too... Seeing as how it looks like we're going to be sharing space for a bit, let's see how we do as dreary lair denizens before you splurge on a ring, OK?"
And so it was that I went to live with the Demon Lord for a while...
“I can accept that. After all, when all is said and done I will do battle with the hero and show you my might." The Demon Lord nodded, "So let us not delay further in going to my remote lair.”
OK! But, uh... How are we going to get there?
“If you will permit me...” Without another word, the Demon Lord grabbed the Princess and flew away.
"Eeeek!" I screamed,
The Demon Lord just reached out and grabbed me. And since he's grabbing me and leaving by the window that means we're flying. Does this mean that we have far to go? I hope I'm not too heavy for him if we're soaring around and all. But then, if he couldn't manage the load, he wouldn't be all that strong, Demon Lord or not, right?
"Oh wow, we're floating! And it feels... so good..." I murmured.
The Demon Lord took me in his arms and leapt out the window...
"Do you always do impossible things this easily? It seems sort of unfair." The Princess pouted.
“Well, that's probably because you don't have your own wings and you can't fly under your own power. Hardly what I would call unfair, however.” The Demon Lord explained.4
"Ha! I'm kidding." The Princess smiled, "It's just that it feels good, though. The breeze is cool, and the view of the towns from up here is lovely. But how far is it to your lair from here? Do we just keep going straight on until we get there?
“Yes, it's about 10 minutes as the dragon flies from here. Or, if you like, I can go a little faster.” The Demon Lord smirked.
"You can go faster? Then do it, please." The Princess demanded in excitement.
I am now on my way to the Demon Lord's lair...
“We have arrived, Your Highness. There is my lair.” The Demon Lord said, upon arriving.
"You mean, that's it?" The Princess asked, From here, at least, it looks like a fairly ordinary place. I would have thought that a Demon Lord's lair would be all gloomy and dark, surrounded by fog and weird vines and moss growing all over it and blood dripping all over everything, you know?
“I would be reluctant to live in such a place..." The Demon Lord turned up his nose, "I admit though that it isn't as clean or nice as it could be, since I live here alone.”
As he said this we entered his castle through a second floor window. I wondered whether he always came and went through windows, though I figured it wasn't really all that big a deal. What really got me thinking was hearing that he lived in that big castle all by himself. It had to be a lonely existence, right?
The Demon Lord had a big enough lair, but he lived there all alone. How sad.
“That's one more reason why I brought you here." The Demon Lord said, setting the Princess down on her feet. "But please, rest yourself. Your quarters are not ready. I will prepare a suitable room for Your Highness while you rest and catch your breath.”
"All right. You know something? I haven't had dinner yet and I'm starting to get hungry..." The Princess said, "What should I do? Come to think of it, is there anything to eat here? And if there is, is it anything that I could eat? You know, I hadn't even thought about that. I could really be in a lot of trouble here, you know?"
“You mean you haven't had dinner either?" The Demon Lord asked, "Then why don't we dine together? I'll cook but I can't offer anything too spectacular...”
Now it seems that the Demon Lord is making dinner for me...
“By the way, I eat the same things as humans do so please worry not about unusual cuisine.” The Demon Lord said.
"I must admit to being a bit curious about what sort of dinner a Demon Lord would make," The Princess said, "But since I'm here and all, why don't you let me cook instead? What do you say, Demon Lord?"
“Oh, but you are my guest, Your Highness, and besides...” The Demon Lord trailed off hesitantly.
"Huh? Oh, I get it, you don't think that a princess like me would even know how to cook." The Princess said, and puffed out her chest proudly, "Well it might come as a surprise, but I'm really not a bad cook. Hanging around a castle I don't have much to do with my time other than study, so I save my free moments for making gourmet candies and such."
“Is that so?” The Demon Lord smiled.
Nobody eats my cooking though, so I don't quite know whether I'm doing it right or not.
"I like to cook my own meals. After leaving home I'm independent and all..." The Princess said, "It seems OK when I eat my own meals, so let me do it, please. Just once I'd like to have someone else eat my cooking."
'Even if that someone is a Demon Lord.' The Princess thought.
"Okay?" The Princess asked.
“Very well, please be my guest. I would be honored to be the first to be able to partake of your cooking, Your Highness.” The Demon Lord bowed politely.
"Yes! I'll get started right away." The Princess exclaimed, "I just need to make enough for the two of us, right?"
“Uh, yes. Now please let me do something to help.” The Demon Lord said.
"Why don't you set out the utensils?" The Princess asked, "But first where is your kitchen in this place? Also, I need to know what there is in your icebox or ice cavern..."
“The kitchen is this way.” The Demon Lord said, offering the Princess his arm.
The Demon Lord showed me to his kitchen. Now I'm going to cook something wonderful. Tick, tick, tick, done!
"Mmmmm... that's very good. Oh, Demon Lord, it's done!" The Princess said showing the food she pulled out of the oven.
“Oh, that smells delicious. It looks good, too.” The Demon Lord complimented the Princess.
"Doesn't it though?" The Princess preened, "I think I outdid myself today. I guess cooking for someone else, even a Demon Lord, brought out the best in me. Whatever the case I'm ravenous. Let's hurry up and get the food over to the table."
“Allow me to set the table.” The Demon Lord snapped his fingers.
"Wow!" The Princess gasped, "You just snapped your fingers and instantly teleported my meals to the table. That's great! It's like a magician's trick!"
“Well, I can do magic.” The Demon Lord chuckled.
The Demon Lord instantly teleported my meals to the dinner table...
“Why don't we get started?” The Demon Lord asked, pulling out a chair for the Princess.
"Yes, please eat." The Princess grinned, "Because I'm digging in right now."
“I'll start with the soup, then.” The Demon Lord said, and tasted the soup.
'He's eating it. Oh, yes! He's the only person (even if he is a Demon Lord and all) besides me to ever eat my cooking.' The Princess thought happily.
"Well? What do you think?" The Princess asked, "I hope you like my soup recipe, I hope."
“Yes, it's delicious.” The Demon Lord said with a smile.
"Oh good!" The Princess exclaimed, "It has bits of fish and onions and mushrooms all mixed in. It's my own recipe. Now if you like that, try some of this too."
The Princess gestured to the salad.
“All right then, I'll try these vegetables..." The Demon Lord said, taking a bite, "Yes, these are good too.”
"Yes! And what do you think of this here?" The Princess said, offering him more food.
The Demon Lord ate all my cooking and he really seemed to like it...
“That was delicious. Thank you. It seems a shame to think that none of the people in your own castle have ever eaten your cooking, Your Highness.” The Demon Lord said.
"Oh, I'm so glad you liked it." The Princess said happily, "I wasn't really sure if it was any good or not since no one's ever eaten it before. Now that you've eaten my cooking though, I'm feeling much more confident. Just wait and see what I cook up next."
“Thank you. Now allow me to escort you to where you'll be staying for the next several days or so. It's this way.” The Demon Lord said, again offering her his arm.
The room he showed me to was completely covered in layers of dust.
“My apologies." The Demon Lord said with a frown, "None of the rooms in my lair were cleaned, aside from those that I use myself.”
The room the Demon Lord showed me to was completely covered in layers of dust.
“I intended to clean up this room while you ate, but I was so captivated by your delicious cooking that I completely forgot my responsibilities. If you will wait just a few minutes, I will clean it up for you now.”
"Hey, if I'm going to stay in this room, I'd just as soon clean it myself." The Princess said, "And don't tell me that I can't do it because I'm a princess or something. After all, I already made dinner for us. And seeing as how I'm not in my father's castle right now, I'd be much happier being treated like an ordinary girl rather than a princess, you know?"
“I see." The Demon Lord said, amused, "Very well then, you can probably arrange your own rooms to best suit yourself if you clean them yourself. I will leave you to it, but if you need any heavy lifting done, don't hesitate to ask.”
"OK! I'll get started on the cleaning right away!" The Princess said, rolling up her sleeves.
I can at least manage to clean my own room, you know.
"Whew. All done." The Princess sighed, wiping an arm across her forehead. "Oh, Demon Lord, I've finished cleaning up in here."
“What has become of this room? It's so polished that I can scarcely believe it to be the same room at all.” The Demon Lord asked, looking incredulous.
"I gave it everything I had." The Princess said proudly, "The garbage bag outside the door is full of blackened rags and dusters. Is there any place where I can dispose of them?"
“I will dispose of them myself. You have surely gotten yourself dirty from all that cleaning. Feel free to have a bath.” The Demon Lord said, vanishing the bag.
"Yes! My, you certainly are considerate, Demon Lord." The Princess smiled, "I feel so icky with all this dust and grit on me. I'll have that bath right away."
When I finished cleaning my room the Demon Lord drew a bath for me.
"Now where is the bath?" The Princess asked, "Oh, wait, what about changing my clothes? I didn't bring anything with me."
“I will go to your rooms in the king's castle and pick some suitable things out of your wardrobe while you take your bath.” The Demon Lord said.
"Thank you. I'll just go and have my bath, then change my clothes when you get back." The Princess said, disappearing into the bathing room.
Splash!
"Oh, this feels so great. It's a little smaller than my tub at home, but it's big enough for a single person to fit comfortably and there's a big window, with a beautiful view, too." The Princess sighed, "I came to the Demon Lord's castle so quickly... I bet Mom and Dad and the castle staff are probably worried about what's happened to me. Oh, wait, I haven't been gone very long. They probably haven't even noticed. Come to think of it, I wonder if anyone's noticed that I've gone... Well, I certainly don't regret coming here. There's nobody here at all, which makes it quiet enough, and the Demon Lord seems nice enough, for a Demon Lord, not to mention plenty strong, still, I'll let him show me his true might when our hero appears. For now I'll just take it easy."
“I have brought your entire wardrobe, Your Highness." The Demon Lord's voice came from outside the room, "I will leave them here.”
"Thank you." The Princess called out to him.
'Well, now that the Demon Lord is back, I probably should get out of the tub.' The Princess thought. 'Now to brush my teeth and gargle...'
"Well, that's all done so I think I'm going to call it a day. Good night, Demon Lord." The Princess murmured.
It was such a busy day that I slept like a log...
The Princess yawned.
"I really needed that." The Princess said, "That's funny. This doesn't feel like my bed... Oh, I remember, I'm staying in the Demon Lord's lair. And the sun sure is high in the sky. I must have slept in late this morning, if that is any indication... For a place I've never been before I sure did sleep soundly. I guess I could make myself at home in this magical place. Say... where is my host? I wonder if he's already awake. I think I'll go peek in his room. First, I'll just get dressed... Well, how do you like that? He brought my entire wardrobe..."
The Princess changed into a dress and shoes
"Okay, now I'm decent. Now, off to the Demon Lord's chambers." The Princess said leaving her room.
Knock knock... Knock knock. Knock knock...
"Demon Lord? That's funny, there's no answer. Maybe he's still asleep." The Princess murmured.
I went to find the Demon Lord in his chambers but there was no answer when I knocked. Maybe he's still asleep...
"Well, that's OK. I'll take this opportunity to make breakfast." The Princess smiled.
The Princess made a simple breakfast.
"All set! Now to go and wake up the Demon Lord." The Princess said.
Knock knock... Knock knock. Knock knock...
"Demon Lord? That's funny, there's no answer. Maybe he's still asleep. In that case, I'll just slip inside." The Princess whispered. "Good morning. Why, the Demon Lord is sitting in a chair... Hey, is that how you sleep?"
“Snore... Snore...”
'Well I'll be. He's asleep all right.' The Princess thought, 'But why does he sleep like that? Could it be because his wings get in the way of him lying on his back? No matter. I'll just go and wake him up now.
Once breakfast was done, I decided to wake up the Demon Lord...
"Good morning, Demon Lord, it's time to wake up." The Princess said, tapping on his arm, "You'd best wake up soon or else breakfast will soon be cold."
“Huh? Oh, it's you, Your Highness." The Demon Lord yawned, "Good morning. What brings you here at such an early hour?”
"You're awake at last." The Princess said smiling, "And it isn't early. The sun is already high in the sky. Anyway, I made breakfast so I thought you might like to join me. You can't really refuse, because I already made plenty for the two of us."
“I'd be delighted. Just let me get dressed, and we'll be on our way.” The Demon Lord snapped his fingers and his clothes changed.
"Wow!" The Princess exclaimed, "You just snapped your fingers and your clothes instantly changed. That's amazing. It's like seeing a magician do his tricks.
“Well, like I said, this is real magic...” The Demon Lord sweatdropped.
...
"Claire, can you pause the movie, please? I have to pee." Karen asked.
"Sure." Claire said, doing as she was asked. "Do you want me to turn on the lights?"
"Yes, please." Karen answered, and Claire did just that.
"I'm going to grab more snacks!" Ran said, getting up and heading for the kitchen.
"I'll get more drinks!" Popuri shouted, jumping up and following Ran.
"We're over halfway through the movie, right? I wonder what the epic battle will look like?" Jennifer said thoughtfully.
"Maybe it'll inspire me for the next scene of the novel I'm writing!" Marie giggled.
Ran and Popuri brought over the snacks and drinks, just as Karen exited the bathroom. They all settled themselves.
"Ready?" Claire asked.
The others confirmed and she turned the lights back off. Then she pressed the play button.
...
The Demon Lord really was asleep, but now we're enjoying breakfast.
“This looks like another delicious meal.” He complimented.
"Oh, thank you ever so much, Demon Lord." The Princess preened.
“And without further ado, let us eat.” The Demon Lord said moving to the table.
"Oh yes, you eat up and so will I." The Princess followed him.
“I think I'll start with the toast... Hmh?” The Demon Lord stopped in the middle of speaking.
All of a sudden the Demon Lord froze and glanced out the window.
'There was something strange and I hoped it was not my cooking. Perhaps he didn't like the whole grain bread I made as toast.' I wondered to myself.
“It would appear that we will not have the luxury of eating breakfast at our leisure. He is here so we must finish quickly.” The Demon Lord said.
We just sat down to eat breakfast when the Demon Lord started acting strangely...
'But eating quickly isn't the same as not eating at all. His actions were not on account of a dislike for bread. And what did he mean by saying "he is here?" He couldn't be talking about our hero?' The Princess thought.
"It's still too soon for him to be here, isn't it?" The Princess asked.
“The hero is here now. You see, when I went to get your clothes last night, I also left behind a map in your chambers showing the way here which would explain how he arrived so quickly. Even on foot it is only half a day's journey here from your father's royal castle. So if you were discovered missing last night and the king wasted no time ordering the hero to rescue you, I imagined that he would be here at about this time.” The Demon Lord explained.
"Well yes, that would explain it. If our hero has arrived then I guess we had better hurry up and finish eating our breakfast." The Princess agreed.
At last our hero arrived at the Demon Lord's lair.
"But what should I do? If our hero is already at the gates of the lair, then I hardly have time to sit around and wash the dishes, do I?" The Princess asked "I mean, you and our hero are going to do battle and I need to see it. To do that I need a clear vantage point from which I can view the action. But if our hero finds me right away then there won't be any need for you and him to do battle. I guess I need to remain concealed someplace where our hero won't spot me."
“When you have finished your breakfast Your Highness, come with me and I will make the necessary preparations.” The Demon Lord said,
'Wait a second. What kind of preparations are we talking about here? If he wants me to go with him then I guess it must be so I can watch him do battle with our hero. Is this a trick?' The Princess wondered.
What sort of preparations do we need to make for the battle between our hero and the Demon Lord, anyway?
We went to a fairly large room that opened onto a stairwell. Here it seemed, was where the Demon Lord intended to fight our hero.
The Demon Lord told me that all I had to do was sit in a chair at the top of the stairs. So I did as I was told and quickly realized that I could see the room below just fine. This would probably be all right for watching the battle between the Demon Lord and our hero. There was also little danger that our hero would simply take me away from here even if he did spot me because the Demon Lord was standing at my side. It was perfect.
I even had time to wonder why the Demon Lord was holding a glass of the mixed fruit juice I'd made with breakfast that morning. I remembered that he'd drunk all that I'd made, leaving nothing behind. And I could see that the fruit juice in his cup was fresh, too.
As these thoughts were running through my head, our hero arrived...
Our hero was by now standing at the lair gates... With a loud thump the gates quickly swung open and our hero strode into the room.
“At last I've found you, Demon Lord! Let Her Highness the Princess go! Oh, wait, there you are Your Highness! You need have no more fear now that I have found you.” The azure haired Hero bellowed.
“It was good of you to come all this way, hero. I imagine you must be tired. Drink this, with my compliments.” The Demon Lord smiled.
The Demon Lord held out the glass of juice that I had made that morning.
'Now I get it.' I realized.
Our hero had been marching nonstop since the day before to get here and the Demon Lord brought the juice with him so as to offer him some refreshment upon his arrival. That would be an awfully sweet thing for a Demon Lord to do.
Or could it be that he felt defeating our hero while the latter was still exhausted would not be a true proof of true might? Come to think of it, our hero didn't sound as shy as he did before. It was all fascinating. Did the prospect of battle bring out a different side of his personality?
I wonder if our hero will actually drink the juice that I made?
“I don't know what you're up to, but a knight would never drink anything offered by a Demon Lord.” The Hero scoffed.
"That is so mean of you, especially after I went to all the trouble to make this juice." The Princess frowned, "Don't bother giving it to our hero, Demon Lord. I'll drink it myself."
“What's that you say? You prepared this juice, Your Highness? You went to all that trouble for me?" The Hero asked. "Even so, the Demon Lord may well have put something in it himself...”
"Well, I didn't exactly make it with you in mind, noble hero..." The Princess huffed "And besides, the Demon Lord isn't the kind of person, even if he is a demon, that would stoop to such tricks, or so I suspect, anyway. I mean it, you really don't have to give it to him. I'll gladly drink it to the last drop."
I mixed it for the Demon Lord after all, so there's no reason for our hero to drink the fruit juice.
“Her Highness has spoken. What will you do, hero?” The Demon Lord smirked.
“I... accept." The Hero took the juice and drank it, "My thanks to you, Your Highness. That was most delicious. Already I feel replenished and I shall promptly dispose of this evil Demon Lord and return you to the castle and your father, our king. This will all be over and done with a few short blade strokes.”
"Okay, I can accept that. Now that you're no longer fatigued this contest will be a fair one." The Princess said, "I will sit right here and observe the battle between the two of you men, though I keep forgetting that the Demon Lord isn't a man at all.
“Then let us commence with the battle, shall we?” The Demon Lord asked.
“Very well.” The Hero agreed.
The battle between the Demon Lord and our hero rang through the hall...
"Hmm, however you slice it the Demon Lord seems to have an edge. I mean, our hero is no slouch but the Demon Lord seems to be better at everything." The Princess mused as she watched, "Our hero's shoulders are heaving and yet the Demon Lord hardly seems winded. I think I can guess how this will turn out."
“Grr... The Demon Lord of the Northern Lands was nothing compared to you!” The Hero shouted.
“I had no idea you would prove so capable. You are truly deserving of the title of 'hero.' But our battle is now over.” The Demon Lord smirked.
"Let it end here, Demon Lord. The outcome is decided." The Princess said, standing. "Let us let the hero leave us unharmed. No, wait, this will never do. If I do not return with him the king and queen--my mother and father--would never sit still for it..."
There has to be some way of persuading my parents to accept my decision to remain here...
"Wait, I think I've got it." The Princess said, hurrying over to them. "How about we do this? First, I write my will... And then I take off my shoes... And now if you will let me have that blade of yours for a moment, hero, I will cut off my hair..."
The Hero wiped the blade clean and handed it to the Princess. She used it to cut her long ankle length hair to about passed her shoulders.
"There. Now would you be so kind as to give these things to my father the king?" The Princess tried to make the hero take her shoes, hair, and the will that she had just scribbled down.
'All I got in return was a tired and blank uncomprehending stare. Which only makes sense seeing as how I hadn't bothered to explain the situation to him.' The Princess thought.
So she stopped and told him the way things were, explaining that she was resolved to living with the Demon Lord in his lair.
“So that is what this is all about! If that be your wish, Your Highness...” The Hero said, bowing to her.
"Hero, I am resolved to live with the Demon Lord in his charming and magical lair. Thank you for your understanding, hero." The Princess said.
“It's nothing. It seems I am no match for the Demon Lord at present so it is only right for me to withdraw from the field in honor.” The Hero said.
“So you realize that the time to part has come. In that case, allow me to give you a token of my esteem, by healing your wounds. Snap!” The Demon Lord snapped his fingers.
Wow! With just a snap of his fingers, the Demon Lord made the wounds our hero suffered in their battle go away.
"It's like a magician's trick. Amazing." The Princess gasped.
“I keep telling you, it's real magic.” The Demon Lord sighed.
“Hey! My wounds are sealing themselves! Thank you. And with that I will take my leave.” The Hero saluted.
“Oh, by the way... When you return, there are likely to be those who will wonder what became of the Demon Lord, so feel free to say that you slew me.” The Demon Lord waved his hand nonchalantly.
“Are you sure? You were so much mightier than I, which makes it most unlikely.” The Hero said, surprised.
“I did not want the infamy of an evil beast. All I wanted is the love of this good Princess.” The Hero said, taking the Princess's hand.
“Very well. And I hope the two of you will be happy together.” The Hero said, waving as he left.
"Thank you and take care, Hero. Good-bye." The Princess called after him. "Now there is no one to come between us is there, Demon Lord? There is still much that I do not know about you, which I hope you will take the time to explain. And I also have much to tell you about myself as well. Now that the two of us people, even though, yes, I know that you are not a person, are going to be living together, I want you to tell me all there is to know about you."
'And we lived happily ever after...'
...
The credits started rolling and a few of the women sniffled.
"That was such a beautiful ending..." Elly said wiping a tear away.
"I have so many ideas for my novel now!" Marie beamed.
"I just love this movie!" Popuri said.
"It was kinda cheesy." Ran made a face, "But I thought for sure the Hero would win."
"Oh, I love it when movies throw me for a loop." Jennifer sighed happily.
"It was so romantic!" Karen cooed.
"I'm just glad I finally got to see the whole thing and not miss anything!" Claire cheered.
The women giggled and chatted a bit more until Claire looked at the clock.
"Oh my Goddess, it's 1AM!" She yelled.
"We should probably get some sleep." Elly said.
"Yeah, we can clean up in the morning." Popuri yawned.
Claire set her alarm for later than usual since she didn't have much to do other than tend to her animals. She then climbed into her bed as the other women shuffled around and settled down in their sleeping bags.
"Goodnight!" Claire said, turning onto her side facing everyone.
"Goodnight!" The other women echoed.
...
At 8AM the alarm clock rang. Claire and some of the other women groaned.
"Claire, shut that stupid thing off!" Popuri whined.
Claire reached over and blindly felt for the alarm clock. After finding it she smacked it hard and it fell to the floor still ringing. Claire stuffed her face into the pillow and let out a muffled shout.
Ran who was the closest to the alarm clock grabbed it and pressed the button turning off the noise. Everyone breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Why is your alarm clock so loud and annoying?" Karen asked, looking disgruntled.
"It ensures I actually wake up on time." Claire sighed and sat up. "So, uh, good morning, I guess..."
"Good morning..." The others said tiredly.
"Who wants to make breakfast while I go feed my livestock?" Claire asked.
"Oh, I can! There's a new recipe I want to-" Karen started, but the other women screamed "No!" making her pout.
"I'll make breakfast." Ran said, getting up. "The rest of you can clean up and set the table."
Everyone agreed to their tasks and got to work. Claire quickly got dressed and fed her cows, sheep, alpacas, horse, rabbits, and chickens. She went back inside to see the mess was cleaned up, belongings packed up, everyone dressed, and breakfast being set on the table.
"That was quick." Popuri said, "You didn't get any eggs, milk or wool?"
"I figured I would leave doing all that for after you girls head out." Claire said, sitting down and grabbing some food. "Plus I didn't want to make anyone wait on me."
"We would have understood. You are a farmer after all." Jennifer said, "No one in Mineral town is half as busy as you usually are."
"True, but without crops to tend to in the winter, I don't have much to do. So I try to space things out as much as I can to keep busy." Claire explained, "Sure I could just fish a lot, but that gets boring real quick. Oh, Popuri, don't tell Denny I said that!"
Popuri giggled, "I won't, promise!" She said.
The women finished eating, cleaned up, and started heading out to their own homes and work.
"Well, that was fun! Maybe I should host another sleepover again soon." Claire said, grinning.