Last time on Green Maiden!
BC - I punched Butch.
Butch - IT HURT!
BC - I regret nothing.
And now back to Green Maiden!
Boomer - Hey, shouldn't you say something about not owning -
SHUSH, GIANT SUSHI ROLL!
Princess of Shadows
The reaction to Buttercup's assault was instantaneous. Butch stumbled back a few steps before coming right to her face and snarling. His eyes glowed sinisterly and a mixture of black and green smoke spewed from him mouth and nostrils in rage. "HOW DARE YOU STRIKE ME LIKE THAT!? I HAVE HALF A MIND TO LOCK YOU AWAY IN MY DUNGEON!"
"AND I HAVE HALF A MIND TO HIT YOU AGAIN! HOW DARE I? I THINK THE FACT YOU KIDNAPPED ME MAKES ME PLENTY DARING!"
"I THINK THE FACT I ALSO SAVED YOU FROM BEING KIDNAPPED BEFORE GIVES ME PLENTY REASON TO REQUEST YOUR HAND!"
"YOU DIDN'T REQUEST ANYTHING! YOU JUST TOOK!"
"I AM A DRAGON! WE ALL JUST TAKE!"
"WELL I'M A HUMAN! WE HIT!"
"GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T EAT YOU!"
"I'VE GIVEN YOU SEVERAL! NOW EAT ME!"
"I told you, not until after the wedding." Buttercup stared at him before punching him...again.
"YOU OVERGROWN SCALEY PERVERT!"
"STOP. HITTING. ME. OR. I. WILL. BURN. DOWN. THAT. VILLAGE." She froze as Butch hissed out his threat. Yes, they had sacrificed her to be eaten by a dragon and isolated her when she was younger. But her uncle and cousins were in that village too. She glared.
"You wouldn't."
"I've done it before, I will do it again."
"For generations, my village sacrificed innocent people to you! It's bad enough you came five years early! You can't just go back on your word like that!"
"Technically, I didn't. I was just in the woods, it was your village who jumped to conclusions."
"You only come into our woods when you want your sacrifice."
"Your woods? Your village is located in my woods, I come and go as I please." Before she could respond, Butch continued, "in fact, this is hardly the first time I have been in my woods near your village. I just made it more clear I was there." Buttercup thought back to all the times she had been in the woods. Then to all the times her uncle, Rose, or even Lily had been in those woods.
How many times had Butch been nearby, watching them?
How many times had they walked past death?
As Buttercup's face got paler at the thought, Butch checked his jaw. His new bride had quite the punch, he had seen it while watching her over the past decade. He just didn't exactly like being on the receiving end of the strike. Then again, he glanced at her sword, it's better than being on the receiving end of her sword. He had better be a bit more careful not to anger her enough to use that. Usually most swords didn't get past his scales.
That one, however...
"It's late and it will be dinner soon. Will you join me?"
"No." Butch growled, before huffing. She was being difficult.
"Fine. I'll show you to your room." He began walking up the steps and after several seconds, Buttercup followed him. He pushed his door open, it was gigantic and made of oak, with the carving of a willow tree in the finish. The inside of the castle was so dark that Buttercup could barely see Butch's back. He walked over to a dim lantern and breathed on it, producing a green flame. Now she could see him in the green glow of the lamp. He handed it to her and walked ahead.
"Don't you need one?"
"I can see in the darkness. The lamps are available for my servants." They walked in silence through the winding hallways and past gardens. "...I hope you find this room comfortable. Be sure to ask for whatever you want or need. I'll get it for you." She grunted. Silence took over again before he spoke. "You can go anywhere you like here... Except for the North Tower."
"Why not the North Tower?"
"Just don't." Finally, they came to a stairway and Butch began to climb it's steps. Buttercup followed as it twisted around the columns, vines wrapping around the rails. She noticed orchids that glowed lightly where the petals sprouted from the stem. She stopped and looked closer at them, amazed.
"Do... Do you like those?" Buttercup jumped and looked at him. He was staring at her with a bewildered look on his face.
"They're different. I've never seen flowers that glow." Butch smiled quickly before it disappeared.
"They're common among dragon lairs. You'll find them everywhere." They continued a little further before they came to a door made of pure gold. He gripped the handle and opened it for her. The room was large and a window overlooking the the courtyard was opposite of the door. There was a large futon with blankets that looked like they were made of green silk. On the other end of the room was a dresser made of oak wood and a matching vanity. The same orchids glowed in corners of the room and around the head of the futon. Crystals in the shape of rain drops holding from the ceiling, lightly touching the top of Butch's head. They caught the glow of the lantern. Buttercup's jaw dropped as she took in the beautiful room.
"I'll send someone up to give you dinner...have a good night." He closed the door and left Buttercup to her own company. The weight of today's events finally caught up with her and she felt like every muscle in her body was three tons, including her heart. She wobbled over to the futon, kicking her sandals off on the process, and fell onto it. She pulled her fan out and gripped it tightly, wondering what her mother would have done if she had been there. Buttercup remembered her as a woman who had fire in her eyes, snarling at all who challenged her. Even her father would quake when her mother was in a rage.
This wouldn't have happened if she had been there.
She would have stormed the dragon's alter and challenged Butch right there.
She would have calmed Buttercup's fears while simultaneously slapping Shirogane for daring to gang up on her daughter.
Buttercup wouldn't have felt the need to cry.
But her mother was gone, Butch went unchallenged, Shirogane Itsuki was uninjured, and Buttercup cried until she fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Buttercup woke to see her position on the bed had been changed. Before, she fell across the bed horizontally, completely parallel to the pillows. Now, she had been moved vertically and she had been changed into a night gown. The covers were tucked over her and her dinner sat, cold, on the dresser beside her. She sat up, looking around. The sun had not risen yet, though the shadows were lighter than before. She quickly ate her food and grabbed a robe before pulling on a pair of slippers that had been placed next to her sandals.
It seems someone had put them away for her.
Opening the door, she looked down the winding staircase, as the orchids from the night before began to grow dimmer and dimmer. I might be able to find a way out if I explore a bit, Buttercup thought. She began to walk down the steps. The shadows were still prominent here, darker in some places than others.
Wind gently blower and Buttercup shivered in the fall air.
She finally made it back to corridor and was greeted with almost complete darkness. Buttercup swore, realizing she hadn't brought a lantern. Sighing, Buttercup carefully pressed on, using the wall as a guide. She continued down the hall.
"Tee-hee!"
Freezing, Buttercup glanced around. Darkness encased her as the silence pervaded her after that sound. Was that... Laughter? She stood still for a few minutes before continuing on.
"Tee-hee! Hee-hee!"
Pitter-Patter
Pitter-Patter
Buttercup froze again and looked around. Now there were footsteps! She gulped, thinking of all the yokai that could possibly be and gripped her sword.
Plop plop SPLAT
Plop plop SPLAT
What was THAT? Buttercup began to walk faster.
"Ha ha ha!" The footsteps got faster and soon Buttercup was running, trying to get away from whatever that was. The splashing sounds and eerie laughter seemed to come from everywhere and she turned down every turn she came to. The laughter got louder and louder until it abruptly stopped. Buttercup slowed down, panting and sweating. She looked around.
Was the sun still not up?
It must have been thirty minutes by now.
Her heart pounded, but it was getting easier to breathe now that whatever was chasing her had disapp-
Buttercup was thrown back as something heavy and small pounced onto her. She landed on her back with a grunt while the creature laughed loudly. "TAG! YOU'RE IT!" Suddenly, the shadows disappeared and Buttercup saw that the sun had indeed risen. The creature was actually an incredibly pale little girl with hair as black as the shadows that disappeared. She looked to be about ten years old with big grey eyes and slits for irises. She wore a black and grey child's kimono and had her hair back in a messy braid. Black claws gripped Buttercup's robe excitedly. Buttercup stared dumbly at her.
"T... Tag?" The girl looked up at her, happily.
"Are you ready to play again, Big Sister? You can try and catch me this time!" Buttercup didn't think well in the mornings, but it finally came to her a minute later.
"You were the one chasing me?!" The girl nodded, giggling.
"I came to wake you up for breakfast, but you were already up. But when I went to say good morning, you ran off! A lot of my other Big Sisters did that too, but they usually screamed as they ran, so I didn't follow them. I didn't mean to scare them. But, you didn't scream, so that meant you must have wanted to play tag! You're a really fast runner, Big Sister!" The girl was obviously not human, but she seemed so young.
"Uhhh... Oh... I'm sorry for running off... I guess I was a bit frightened, but I guess we can play tag. But let's do that after breakfast, okay... I'm Buttercup, what's your name?" The girl blinked and smiled, her sharp teeth glinted in the light.
"I'm Black, younger sister to Butch and you're my new Big Sister! I'm so excited! I like you a lot more than the others!" Buttercup blinked.
"Others?" Black gasped and covered her mouth, blushing.
"Uh oh, I wasn't supposed to tell! Big Brother is going to be so mad at me, he won't let me have play time for a month!" Buttercup smiled. Black reminded her a lot of Lily. She patted the baby dragon - if she was Butch's sister, she must be a baby dragon - on the head.
"I'll keep it a secret, Black." Black smiled at her.
"Thanks, Big Sister!" Black pulled on her robe, "come on, let's go eat! Let's go eat!"
For such a small thing, she was very strong. "I'm coming, slow down... Hey, what was that splashing sound before?"
"That was Tar! She's a slime creature!" Black whistled and suddenly, black goo began to bubble up from beneath the floor panels. Buttercup yelped when some touched her foot, it was cold and slimy. It began to move towards the emerging puddle and formed and molded itself like an invisible sculpturer was shaping it into the form of a small kitten with red glowing eyes. The cat shook the excess goop off, but it slid beneath her paws.
"Nyarp!" Tar's meows sounded gurgly and high pitched. When she walked, slimy tar stuck to the floor before following the cat until it reattached to her gooey body. In the way she shifted, Buttercup caught flashes of her spine and shivered.
Tar was much creepier than Black.
Said baby dragon didn't seem to care and quickly scooped Tar up from the ground before situating her on top of her head. Tar stuck there, gurgling (purring?) contently. "Big Brother got her for me as a gift for my fourth birthday! Isn't she cute?"
"If you say so..." Buttercup could see why Black would like her. After all, she assumed a slime creature shaped like a cat was normal for monsters. As long as she didn't eat her, they'd get along just fine.
Then again, if Tar ate her, Buttercup wouldn't have to marry Butch. Before Buttercup could pitch the idea to the slime creature, Black was pulling her along again to the dining hall. "Come on, Big Sister! If we hurry, we'll get there before Big Brother eats everything!"
When the trio finally got there, Buttercup was surprised to see over a dozen servants bustling about with trays of food. The group was a mixture of either humans or yokai, and they stopped and bowed to them before rushing off. Butch sat at the head of the table, arms crossed while he looked at them. "You three are late," he hissed.
Black muttered, "Big Brother isn't a morning person." She quickly bowed and took her seat further from Butch. "Good morning, Big Brother. I'm sorry we took so long, I was getting to know Buttercup." Butch grunted, but threw Black a soft smile. There were now three other seats. Two were next to Butch, one on each side. The last was furthest from Butch, on the opposite side of Black. Buttercup took that seat.
Butch snarled, "you would do much better to sit beside me."
"I don't think so," Buttercup snapped. Black looked surprised, "you may have kidnapped me, but that doesn't mean I want to be next to you." Black cocked her head to the side. Buttercup seemed much friendlier before they got there. Then she groaned and looked at Butch.
"Big Brother, what did you do?" Butch sputtered.
"What did I..!? I didn't do anything!"
"Then why does Big Sister not like you?"
"He kidnapped me. I am allergic to kidnappers."
"Big Brother can be really stupid sometimes."
"Black, you traitor!" He glared at her, "you'd turn your back on your brother so easily?"
"Well, if someone had played tag with me, I would've defended him." The little girl stuck her tongue out at him. Buttercup couldn't help it, she laughed. Here was the dragon that struck fear and horror into her home for generations...and he was arguing with a little baby dragon with a kitten creature on her head and over a game of tag, too.
It reminded her of how she and her cousins would fight over everything to her uncle's frustration (and amusement). Lily would take one of Rose's things, Rose would nag Buttercup about her manners and way of dressing, and Buttercup would tease Lily endlessly. It was all in plain fun, of course. Buttercup wondered how they all were.
Did they miss her?
Did they think she was dead?
Her smile dropped and she stared at the food provided to her with a depressed look on her face. She didn't realize that Butch was watching her and growing frantic. He'd seen that look before with his previous wives. He couldn't let it happen again. She'd walked in there with Black, meaning they had gotten along.
Maybe...?
Butch got Black's attention and gestured to Buttercup, who was still lost in thought. Black looked at her and nodded at him. "Big Sister! Big Sister!" Buttercup was jolted out of her thoughts when Black jumped onto her arm. "When breakfast is over, let's play tag in the gardens!"
"Oi," Butch snapped, "you have your lessons after breakfast." Black stuck her tongue out at him again while Tar growled at him. He glared at her. Butch should've never gotten her that little beast.
"Lessons are boring! I wanna play with Big Sister!" Buttercup snickered at Butch's face. It seemed that she was not the only one to defy him almost every time he spoke. Butch huffed before leaning back.
"Fine, I guess I'll let you goof off today!" Black's cheer was cut off by his next statement, "though, your tutors will just make you work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for it." Black gasped as Butch began to laugh evilly.
"Don't you dare tell them to do that, Butch! I mean it!" Buttercup began to eat as she watched Butch bicker with his baby sister. Honestly, this is not how she envisioned this morning to go.
"Black! Slow down!" Black turned out to be exactly like a human kid, but with ten times the energy. She ran faster, jumped higher, and the attention span of a little child. Tar was no different, jumping from the curtains to the walls and from the walls to Black's head or the floor or even Buttercup. She even ran and jumped so much that the slime she left wasn't able to reattach to her quickly enough, leaving inky black spots everywhere. Buttercup caught sight of a few maids that looked justifiably miffed about cleaning up after her.
"Come on, Big Sister, catch me!" So. Much. Energy. And so naughty, from the way she eagerly climbed up shoji doors and left claw marks on the walls.
"Black, get down from-Oh forget it!" She was not Rose and she did not keep asking. Buttercup ran over and plucked Black from the back of the marble sculpture she had climbed on. Tar was on a higher part of it, but immediately dripped down when Buttercup pointed at the floor. Black squirmed, laughing. "That is enough, Black. Honestly, you've been running around like crazy for over an hour." It was true, Buttercup had barely changed back into her kimono when Black had tagged her and rushed off in an impromptu game of tag. She had chased them all over the palace since until she caught them on the edge of the garden. "Aren't you tired yet?"
"No, I almost never get to play anymore! Big Brother is either too busy or he's in a bad mood. And all the servants are too busy to play with me. And my nannies are no fun." Black wiggled until Buttercup's grasp loosened enough for her to slip out. "But we can stop playing tag now. Wanna play hide and seek instead?"
"Do you promise to behave?"
"Yes, Big Sister."
"Okay, I'll go hide. Be sure to count to twenty." Black spun around and closed her eyes, starting the count down while Buttercup rushed into the gardens. She went deeper and deeper until she couldn't hear Black anymore and slowed down.
This day was not going like she thought. She had assumed that she'd be half way back home by now, after somehow escaping Butch, but that proved impossible. Black immediately began looking for her if she got too far behind and Tar seemed to be able to pop up where ever she pleased, no matter what. Buttercup couldn't tell if Black was purposely keeping an eye on her or if she didn't want her to get lost. This garden was like a labyrinth and the palace was enormous. Butch made himself scarce too, but Buttercup couldn't help the feeling that she was constantly being watched.
She stumbled on a loose rock and looked around. She was in a place she hadn't seen before. The path wasn't as well kept and thorns grew on the vines that stretched over it. Those same vines got thicker and sharper as they encircled a stone tower she hadn't noticed. The steps climbed up in in a circle on the outside and at the top were large arches that held a Roman styled roof. Buttercup could see a faint glow there too.
She felt a strange vibration coming from her sword and her fan. Something was pulling her towards that tower. Without a thought, she began walking towards the tower when someone grabbed her hand. "Found you." She looked to see Black looking up at her, worried. "You...you went really far, Big Sister. Maybe we shouldn't play hide and seek anymore so you don't get lost again."
"Ugh.. Yeah, good idea..." What was she doing again? Or right, she was playing with Black. Buttercup glanced at the tower again.
"We should go."
"Black, what is this place?"
Black gulped, glancing around, "...The North Tower. No one is allowed here, only Butch... We should get going, he gets really angry when someone comes here..."
"What's so important about it?" Black pulled her along.
"...I don't know..." The way she said it, though, made Buttercup think that Black was very much aware of what was up there.
She just wasn't going to say it. Tar looked back at Buttercup, narrowed her eyes, and looked ahead as she rode Black's head.
Oooooooooh, interesting.
So, now we've met Black and Tar, Butch's darling baby sister and one of my favorite Powerpuff OC's along with her kitten, Tar. Now, I want to talk about her a bit because this will come up later in the story. See, I never really gave much thought into Black's character for this story as she was just supposed to be this cute little ray of mischief. More or less, she was straight up comedy relief. But as I thought more on how to better this story, it became glaringly obvious that I needed to do some major adjustments to Black.
First off, her species is a dragon, but I didn't really think of what type of dragon she is. Butch will explain to Buttercup later, but Black is not a forest dragon like he is. She is, in fact, a Shadow Dragon. Black's species of dragons are able to manipulate shadows and blend into the dark completely, even in human form. This makes her an expert at sneak attacks or, in Black's specific case, pulling pranks. Though, her flames are normally colored, unlike the rest of our favorite dragons.
Second, Black is the youngest dragon of the group (we'll see the others in a few chapters, I promise), but she has seen every one of Butch's marriages and has known each of his wives. She's been abandoned multiple times by people she wanted to be friends with and Buttercup will be the first and only of Butch's wives to... Well... Love her. Butch's and Buttercup's relationship has changed to be a bit rockier in the beginning but I think Buttercup's relationship with Black has remained basically the same at its core. Black sees her as a new big sister with the potential to be really good for Butch. Buttercup sees a mischievous little girl who needs someone to look out for her. Black is going to really help Buttercup see how Butch really is and will probably be one of the things that influences Buttercup's decisions as the story goes on.
Now, about Tar. I made Tar a really long time ago, I think the beginning of middle school, and her backstory is that she is an alien. No, really. She came from space. But, this story she's changed from an alien to a slime monster. I wanted both Black and Tar to have a sort of creepy feel to them. I wanted you guys to feel like you can love these guys and think they're adorable, but they also make your hair stand on end. Anyone whose read that comic, Erma, will get me. So I made her description a bit weirder and her way of moving is a bit freakier. She's still a sweetheart, but she leaves slime everywhere. We're also going to see her with more personality. She'll roll her eyes, get angry, get sad, get in trouble, and play around. Black will do that too and we'll see what years of abandonment and heartbreak did to them as well as find out how she became Butch's sister. I can't wait to write this.
I also cannot wait until I write about what is IN that tower, especially when I get to why it's so important.
See you later! Oh and bring beef tacos!