Blossom - Has anyone seen Black? Her tutors said she skipped her lessons again.

Bell - Oh, she's gone.

Butch - What do you mean she's gone!?

Bell - Well... Zshi was reading her reviews and saw another one talking about Red Canterella, which is on hiatus until Green Maiden's rewrite is complete. So, she stood up and said, and I quote, "That's it! I am taking my loli and I am leaving!" And she picked Black up and SHOOP! off she went.

Butch - Oh brilliant! We need Black for this chapter!

Mirror, Mirror

The next morning wasn't as eventful as before. Buttercup woke up in her room with the sun actually shining this time. It seems Black wasn't planning to sneak up on her this time. She redid her breast binds, put on a new kimono, and grabbed her sword before taking her fan. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and walked out of her room. The flowers lost their glow when the sun rose, growing brighter once it began to set.

Her steps echoed in the corridor and she was hit with the realization that it was incredibly lonely here. She had only seen a couple dozen servants in the main part of the palace and only near meal times. She was greeted with the cold silence of this place, with only soft whispers of the wind in the air. She pulled her haori closer to her and gulped, hoping that she would find a way to escape soon. In her village, sound was unavoidable with how many people were bustling about.

Now the silence chilled her to the bone.

As she continued down the corridor, past the entrance to the gardens, her fan began to him and her sword began to vibrate. Looking down at them, Buttercup wondered if other swords did this too. Ever since she came, her sword and fan would act strangely in certain parts of the castle, especially near the North Tower. It was as if something was calling to them, enchanting her to come closer.

"You can go anywhere you like here... Except for the North Tower."

"...The North Tower. No one is allowed here, only Butch... We should get going, he gets really angry when someone comes here."

Why was it so important that she didn't go to the North Tower? Even Tar had been displeased that she was in the mere vicinity of the tower. Butch hadn't said anything, though she had a feeling that he knew she had been near there. The dinner before had been tense as he reminded everyone that the North Tower was off limits, though the warning was definitely directed at her. Black had even decided to hole them both up in her room to play with her toys instead of running around.

But Buttercup's curiosity grew. She found herself staring into the garden, the whispers she thought were wind had gotten louder. She could see the path she took too and-

"NYARP!" Tar appeared further down the corridor, looking at her expectantly. Buttercup blinked, pulled out of her thoughts as the slime creature continued to meow.

What was she thinking about?

"Nyrrrrrrrrr."

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" She walked up to Tar, who walked in circles in her path as they continued to the dining hall, where Butch and Black were already sitting and eating. Butch looked up, mouth full.

Swallow, he cleared his throat. "Sorry we didn't wait, but I have a lot of work to do today." Black nodded as she practically shoveled food into her mouth.

"Yeah Big Mimer! Big Mwother is making me grow to messoms urry."

"Uh, what?"

"Black, don't talk with your mouth full." She swallowed and repeated herself.

"Big Brother is making me go to lessons early."

"To make up for yesterday?" Butch nodded as she sat in her previous spot. He glared at her but was ignored as food was served to her. She began eating and they sat in silence, save for Black talking about a dream she had last night that involved goats and the number eleven. Then Buttercup suddenly realized something. "Butch?" He perked up. In the few times they had been together, Buttercup hadn't directly asked for his attention. She did feel a bit bad, but it had only been two days and she didn't plan on staying, anyway.

"Yes? What is it?"

"What kind of work does a dragon do?" Butch chuckled, suddenly looking very proud.

"We dragons don't just sit around, counting our hoards, Joji. I am also, technically, a Shogun. I have villages of my own that I have to look after, taxes to approve or veto, complaints to deal with, business to attend to regarding other dragon shoguns, and the dragon emperor will be here soon to meet you. I have to get ready for that. Not to mention, all the wedding preparations to supervise and-"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What? A dragon emperor!?" Butch nodded.

"I am his second in command. He simply wishes to come and formally introduce himself before the wedding."

"Oh God... Isn't that a little soon?" She had to think of a way to delay it, after all, the wedding preparations would take a while, right?

"Well, the wedding is in a week."

The palace had been peaceful so far and the servants were grateful. Lord Butch was a pretty fair employer, who paid well and made sure all were treated fairly under his care. No slacking off was tolerated and doing extra work resulted in extra privileges. Maids, both yokai and human, rested assured that they were protected from any funny business from the male staff. The male staff and butlers knew they were safe from any rumors being spread about misconduct. And everyone got along fairly well, save for a few issues (but every workplace had those).

So, the servants were milling about, doing their morning chores and gossiping when a loud, ground shaking scream stunned them all into silence. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE WEDDING IS IN A WEEK!?"

An older maid, who was very much aware of their newest household member and her circumstances, shook her head and ordered everyone to continue with the laundry. "Nevermind that now," she said, "the new lady is just settling in."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"

"HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO ASK THAT!?"

"UNTIL YOU REALIZE HOW CRAZY YOU ACTUALLY ARE!"

"I GUESS I AM BECAUSE I'M WILLINGLY MARRYING THE HUMAN VERSION OF A HARPY!"

"THEN PROVE TO ME YOU'RE NOT CRAZY! CALL IT OFF!"

"NO, I AM NOT CALLING IT OFF!"

"THEN YOU'RE CRAZY!"

"I'M PSYCHOPATHIC!"

"YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME PSYCHOPATHIC! A WEEK!? NOT HAPPENING!"

"YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!"

"I'D RATHER DIE THAN GO THROUGH WITH THIS!" Butch blinked and stared at her shocked. Buttercup stared back and watched as a pained expression flickered across his face before his eyes became stone.

"Regardless, it's happening in a week, no later. I suggest you get over it." With that, Butch stormed out of the room, the doors slammed behind them. Black came out from cowering in the kitchen, Tar at her heels. Buttercup was breathing heavily and she stormed up to the door and threw them back open.

"YOU STUPID, OVERGROWN BAG OF SCALES! YOU SHOULD'VE JUST LET ME DIE!" Panting, she stormed out herself and went back to her room. When she got there, she threw herself back onto her bed and screamed.

A week!

He expects her to marry him in a week.

He didn't even clarify if that meant a week from the night she got here or a week from today.

It didn't matter, he said a week.

The door slowly opened and tiny foot steps clacked against the tatami mat. A small hand pat down Buttercup's hair as she sighed. "Please don't be upset, Big Sister... I know he can seem mean and scary, but I promise Big Brother is really nice. He was so lonely when he first met you, I couldn't get him to smile. But you make him really happy. He just doesn't know how to show it anymore..." Buttercup cracked an eye open to see Black watching her sadly. "Please don't hate us, Big Sister."

Buttercup sighed and pulled Black onto her bed, "I don't hate you, Black. But I have to go home. My family is probably really worried about me."

"But if you go, Big Brother will be sad again and then...I don't think he'll ever be happy again if you leave."

"But what if I'm not happy if I stay?" Black didn't answer right away.

"I want you to be happy too..."

"See? So I have to go." Black whimpered and got off the bed. "Black-"

"No! Fine! If... If you don't like it here, then... Then go away before you hurt Butch!" Buttercup stared at her, shocked at her change in demeanor. Tears streamed down Black's face as she snarled, baring her teeth. "Go before you hurt me and Brother and Tar! Go before we love you any more!"

"Black, I-" But the little dragon has scooped up her pet and ran out the door, sobbing her eyes out. Buttercup stared at the door for a minute, guilt making her eyes water. "I didn't mean that I didn't love you..."

Lunch finally came, but neither Black nor Butch came to eat. Buttercup ate in solace when she realized that, without them, the dining hall was also incredibly quiet. Guilt ate at her as she remembered Black's tears and the agony that was in Butch's eyes when she refused to go through with the wedding.

Had she gone too far?

Yes, Butch should never have taken her, but she couldn't get the look out of his eyes from her head. Even if it had only lasted a moment, he looked so... Broken. Then his eyes turned to stone and he stalked away.

And Black, she had mentioned something about having other 'Big Sisters'. Buttercup wasn't an idiot, that meant Butch had, had other wives. She had favored Buttercup because she played with her. Now she thought she really didn't care.

Appetite lost, Buttercup left and wandered the castle until she got to the gardens. She pulled out her fan and opened it, staring at the dragon on the folds as she walked. Years went by, but the dragon never faded. The roses it flew through never dulled in their vibrant red. The dragon's silvery scales never dimmed their strange glow. And the inscription, mysterious as ever, the ink never getting any lighter. She liked to hold it when she felt doubt or shame, to remind her that she was more than an outcast... More than the Dragon's Maiden.

Maybe I should apologize...even if he should let me go, I could be nicer about it and- her thoughts stopped as her fan began to vibrate again. She automatically looked up. How long had she been walking?

Long enough to find herself at the North Tower, it seems.

It stood, in stark contrast to the the rest of the garden. The thorns and bristles sharper than ever, the tower seemed to block out the sun, and the vines looked like hands reaching up from the deepest pits of Hell to drag her down. The skies were rumbling as clouds rolled in, carrying an on coming storm. I shouldn't be here... I should go inside...But the tower called to her like a siren's song. Her sword pulsed with energy as she gulped and took a step forward.

And another.

And another.

Until she was climbing up the steps. From her vantage point, she could see more of the palace then before, the floating gardens below her spread out further than before. She could see the courtyard and the forests and mountains that surrounded this place.

The fan pulsed now too.

She kept going.

Up and up.

Further and further.

Winds howled louder, the whispers from before screaming into her ears as the air wailed.

Closer.

Closer.

Rain.

When did it start to rain?

Before the air was clear, now a downpour soaked her to the bone, but Buttercup pressed on. Against the storm, she climbed the stairs as water beat against her body until it seemed to stop.

She had gotten to the top and was now inside the North Tower.

A chill went through Butch's spine and he woke up from the nap he had taken. Inside his room, where his massive horde lay hidden, Butch jumped up in his draconic form. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared.

"No...NO!"

Buttercup looked around, her sword and fan were quiet. The whispers from before were softer, speaking a language she knew, in her heart, was not found anywhere on Earth. The tower's top had high arches to walk through, with the roof as a dome. It was almost completely barren, save for the strange flowers that bloomed in the cracks between the stones.

They weren't like the flowers that bloomed everywhere in the palace. They were pure white with multiple petals that were soft to the touch. A small yellow pod held seeds in the middle. They were everywhere, congregating mostly around stony pillar, climbing up it and surrounding...

A small hand mirror.

It was pure ivory, like her sword, with ornate carvings of a dragon similar to the one on her fan. The whispers got louder the closer she got to it until they were silent. She stared into the mirror. Her reflection didn't show, though the glass was clean. Something was there, though. As Buttercup's hand inch closer, a loud BOOM and a crack ripped through the air as the roof was ripped off and Butch, in all his fury appeared. Buttercup, in her shock, finally realized that she had just broken the one rule she had been given.

Butch may not forgive her for it.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!? WHY ARE YOU HERE!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

"i... I..." She would admit it. Buttercup was terrified. Butch's throat glowed ominously as fire threatened to burn her in rage.

"DON'T YOU REALIZE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED!? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US ALL!"

"I didn't mean... I... "

"GET OOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUT! NOOOOOOW!" Buttercup fell back, the force of his roar ringing in her ears. She hurried to her feet and ran down the steps, the rain belting her once again. She felt heat not far from where she had been standing.

He blew fire at her.

His enraged roars echoed, louder than thunder. She ran faster, panting. Her heart was pounding. Soon, but not soon enough, she was back in the palace. Feet not stopping, she tore down the corridor, pushing past servants who were running forward to see why their master was on a rampage. Black was running to the garden too when she saw Buttercup, her face as white as a sheet. "Buttercup, wh-"

"I'm sorry, I can't stay here!" Black shrieked as she ran out the door.

"Wait! He'll calm do-Big Sister, don't go out there!" Black and Tar stared at the door before running to get Butch.

After frantically checking over the mirror, Butch felt his rage ebb away until he realized what happened. He just tried to fry his bride. Guilt consumed him as he realized how frightened she must be. She's going to hate me forever now, Butch thought hopelessly. Broken rule or no, he overreacted.

"I'll have to-"

"BIG BROTHER! BIG BROTHER COME QUICK!" Black's scream grabbed his attention and he flew back down. What if he actually did hurt her? What if she's dying right then? He's to blame for all of it! He landed in the garden and lowered his head. The rain pounded against his scales.

"Is it Buttercup? Is she alright?"

"No, she's not, you stupid old bag of claws!" That was a first. It seems Buttercup influenced her more than he thought. "She just ran out into the woods!"

"WHAT!? WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER!?"

"SHE IS REALLY FAST!"

"YOU'RE A DRAGON!"

"I'M ONLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD! I CAN BARELY FLY STRAIGHT!" A frantic message ran into the garden. Butch recognized the insignia on his uniform as a guard messages.

"Sire, I have urgent news."

"What!? I'm in the middle of a crisis here!"

"Sire, one has been spotted in the Northern woods!" Black's eyes widened and she hissed in panic.

"Big Sister was headed there!"

Buttercup finally stopped running. Gasping for air, she looked around. These woods were unfamiliar to her. Her heart thumped painfully against her chest as she realized that she was completely and utterly lost.

The rain poured down in buckets and her sandals sunk into the muddy grass. Thunder roared and howled above. She was soaked and cold. Her hair stuck to her face and the back of her neck as she looked around, trying desperately to find some sort of path or landmark. Now she really wished she had just listened to Butch and avoided the North Tower.

What even came over her?

It was like she was being led there.

Regardless, now she was lost and cold. And, judging from the way she was having trouble breathing through her nose, Buttercup was getting sick. She trudged on, looking for either a pathway to a village or shelter.

She had apparently covered a good amount of distance in her frantic run from Butch's palace. If the fact that her legs now ached told her anything. She sneezed, groaning. "There's got to be some shelter somewhere." She continued to look, but she didn't find shelter.

Instead, something found her.

Buttercup stared in horror as the beast, as large as Butch, turned and stared down at her. Instinctively, she grabbed her sword.

It was large, black, and scaley like Butch. But its skin hung off it's bones as if it had not eaten in days and the scales seemed to be falling off as its flesh rot. Diseased holes spread through its body, showing bone and muscle and organs that dripped in a putrid liquid. Drool spat from it's rotting mouth. The drool melted whatever tree, rock, or bush it landed on. Green, smoky mist blew from its mouth and nostrils as bright, soulless yellow eyes stared down at her. Its wings were tattered and it lacked hind legs, making its lower body curl like a snake.

Buttercup shivered as she looked into its eyes. The creature stood still, then snorted in angry confusion. It was as if it expected something to happen. Snarling, it roared at her, the putrid smell of its breath making her gas, as she backed up. The creature snarled, what was it waiting for? They stood there tensely before it lunged at Buttercup.

She dove out of the way and drew her sword, blocking a swipe of its black claws. The creature roared and bit at her, but she ducked and swiped at it, slashing the skin and making the creature's blood spew from the wound.

It was black.

"You're disgusting," she growled. The creature screamed in rage and lunged at her again, trying to trap her in its maw. Buttercup shouted and leapt out of the way, ducking into a barrel roll. The creature slammed its claw where she had been, missing her by mere inches.

Buttercup looked for a way out. She had gotten it in the chest, but other than angering it (and maybe hurting a little), the wound didn't seem to affect it at all. She had to get her baring before attacking it again. The monster lunged again, chasing after her, when it faked a lung to the left and hit her with it's right paw.

Buttercup screamed as she felt one of its claws tear up her right side. She was thrown to the other side of the clearing and laid there, feeling a horrific sting course through her as her blood leaked out of the cut. The creature chuckled evilly, looming over her as it readied it's maw to devour her. She got a good look at the inside of its mouth. Decaying flesh and blacked teeth that stuck out in every direction stared back at here. Maggots fell from its mouth as the droolly tongue got closer and closer.

"GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!" A large, black beast slammed into the creature, throwing it away from Buttercup.

"...B... B.. utch...?" He glanced back at her, eyes wide before he snarled at the creature. It hissed back, spitting at him. Butch snapped and charged at it, lowering his head and ramming his horns into its torso. The creature screamed before wrapping its tail around Butch's neck, squeezing. Butch rolled and bucked, using his claws to rip at the creature until it was forced to release him or be torn to shreds. Butch roared, it answers before they both charged.

The power from their collision would have ripped apart the mountain. Butch swiped at its eyes. The creature blew its breath in his face. Butch ducked out of the cloudy smoke and shot green flames at the creature, searing its flesh. The creature screamed and rolled, trying to put out the flames, but Butch jumped on top of it. He latched onto it's neck, clamped down, and stomped his front paw on its torso. Yanking with all his might, Butch ripped the creature's head off its body, the spine still connected to the back of its skull.

Dropping the body, he let out a victorious roar into the sky.

Watching all of this, Buttercup finally felt her consciousness slip from her. Her head throbbed, her side stung, and her heart was slowing down. Darkness swept over her.

BC - (staaaaaaaare)

Butch - (staaaaaaaaaare)

I promise she's not dead.

Black - (staaaaaaaaaare)

I swear it.

BC - (suspicious) It wouldn't be the first time you lied about something this serious.

Oh, please, when have I ever lied about something import-

(flashback)

(on a stand in court) And I saw him walk right out of that girl's house, covered in her blood! It was horrifying!

Lawyer-And you're sure your testimony has nothing to do with the fact that my client ate all of your cookies?

A man that EVIL SHOULD NOT WALK THE STREETS! HE'S A WITCH, I TELLS YAH, BURN HIM!

Judge- Ma'am if this has anything to do with cook-

They were raspberry cheesecake cookies!

Judge-I sentence you to the death penalty, Sir.

(end flashback)

...Okay, I'm not lying now.

BC/Butch - Right.

Side note: The flowers I described in the tower are called kadupul flowers, the tenth rarest flowers in the world. There is a specific reason I used those which will be explained later in the story.

Black - See you next time. Oh, and bring soft shell tacos!