Blare- Normally, we would say "Last time on Green Maiden..." but- (points to me)

(humming while sharpening knives. Feels-chan sits shaking, strapped to a chair with duck tape of their mouth)

Blossom- Oh God.

BC - Oh God.

Butch - Oh God.

Tar - Mrr Nyar.

Brick - Just read.

Reina

When Buttercup woke the next morning, her soul felt lighter. She felt like she could breath easier and her mind was clearer. Outside, the sun had broken through its cloudy cage and shone with glee over its freedom. The winds softly blew as damp leaves rustled clumsily on the ground.

She sat up, letting out a loud yawn as she stretched her stiff bones. Now that she had more light, Buttercup could see more of the room. It was very well kept, with a cherry oak dresser on one side, a matching vanity on the other. A loom with the tools and materials to make kimonos and yukatas sat beside the sliding door that led to a freshly trimmed garden.

Buttercup didn't think she'd really need to bother with it, since her needlework was so bad. Any kimono she made looked more like a tattered apron.

Anyway, she also saw a small water basin for her hands, feet, and face as well as a small hand mirror and brush made out of pure silver.

Rat-tat-tat

"Lady Tennoji, I apologize if I have woken you, but breakfast will be ready soon," Maya's tentative voice called from behind the shoji door.

"Ah, that's right!" Buttercup felfell out of bed and fumbled for her clothes when Maya came in, a worried look on her face.

The deer centaur cocked her head to the side, "have you fallen out of bed?"

"Err...well..." Maya walked over, carrying what looked like a new kimono on her back. Buttercup took it sheepishly. "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure."

"By the way, when I came last night, you seemed tired. I wanted to apologize for waking you so late," the centaur smiled and shook her head.

"It was not an issue, Lady Tennoji. Her majesty was due to arrive this morning anyways. I would've woken up a few hours later either way."

"I hope Blossom lets you go to sleep early today. I'd hate for you to drop from exhaustion," Buttercup had seen servants who were worked to exhaustion before. They never lasted long.

"Her highness has taken good care of me since I was a fawn. She has already instructed me to go to bed early tonight to make up for the lack of rest. You needn't worry, milady."

"Just Buttercup is fine." Maya looked conflicted before nodding.

"Perhaps I can call you Lady Buttercup? It would be dishonorable otherwise."

"Fine," Buttercup liked Maya. She seemed like a very simple girl...centaur. Maya held out her hands.

"Please, allow me to help with your kimono."

"Oh, there's no need to-"

"I insist."

"What is with everyone insisting in this place?" Needless to say, by the time Buttercup got to breakfast, it was ten past eight. Blossom gave her a blank look. "In my defense, Maya insisted."

"I see why, given the fact that you look like a girl."

"To think, the dragon empress has a sense of humor." Buttercup sat down and looked over the selection for breakfast. Unconsciously, she took note of the key differences in Butch's choice of food and Blossom's.

When having breakfast, Butch seemed to favor meat. She often saw pork cutlet, sausages, and omelettes with hot cooked rice and small nori salads for everyone. Blossom, on the other hand, was more traditional in her tastes. The breakfast she had set out for them was similar to ones Buttercup had back home, with freshly cooked rice, grilled fish, miso soup, and an omelette with a steaming cup of green tea. Unlike last night, which was similar to the all you can eat kiritanpo nabe hot pot back at the festival, Blossom had set portions for each of them.

Buttercup clapped her hands, said thanks, and began eating. Blossom chose that time to speak, "I hope you enjoyed your rest."

"I did, thank you for the room."

"It was no problem. Though, sorry to say, I do need to know how you came to be here." Buttercup fell quiet, "let me guess...you ran off."

"Am I that easy to read?"

"I'm two hundred and fifty years old, Buttercup. I have seen enough to be able to read anyone." Blossom sipped her tea, "so, care to share why you ran off in the rain in your conditions?" Buttercup crossed her arms.

"I'm almost fully healed."

"Almost only counts in games," Blossom huffed. "Look, I will not force you to go back to Butch. I think you've had enough of being forced. That will have to be a decision you and you alone must make. But I will have to know what would make you so upset that you would so recklessly ride off in the dead of night during a rain storm." The two sat quietly before Buttercup spoke.

"Blossom...how many of Butch's wives did you know?"

"Me? I met all of them. But I can say I knew about three."

"Did...did you know Reina?" Buttercup watched as Blossom's irises shrank into slits and she snarled, nostrals flaring. She gulped and leaned back, wishing she had not left her sword in the guest room...but Maya had insisted. Soon, though, Blossom huffed out a plum of black smoke and calmed down.

"I'm sorry...instincts sometimes have a mind of their own, I'm afraid...why do you ask?"

Buttercup debated continuing, but if she wanted answers, Blossom was her best bet. If Butch really did kill his wife, he definately would not tell his fianceé. "Did Butch kill her?"

Blossom was quiet, eyes still reflecting that of a dragon that either felt angry...or threatened.

"...Yes." Chills filled Buttercup's spine. Blossom's tone left nothing to question. Butch had, without a doubt, killed his last wife.

Tears pricked her eyes as she stared down at her food, appetite gone.

That kitsune hadn't lied.

"However...that was because he had to choose between her...and his family." Tears marring her vision, Buttercup stared at Blossom now.

"What...?"

Blossom sighed, leaning back.

"Years ago, when Black was reaching ninety in human years, Butch married a young girl from a village in Aomori, somewhere along the coast. Her name was Reina and he fell deeply in love with her..." Buttercup wasn't sure she liked thinking of Butch being in love with someone else, even if he killed her later. "She was always smiling and rash, like you-"

"I resent that."

"Not very punctual, like you as well."

"I resent that too."

"Anyways, Butch stole her away-you are not the first girl he's done this to- and married her within weeks. Unlike you, however, she resented her life with him and Black. She locked herself away, refused to acknowledge him as her husband, and was constantly pushing Black away. Oh, there were times she was very affectionate, but it was just a ruse...a way to appease Butch when he got angry with her...Butch knew she was unhappy..." Blossom's face grew sad, "he simply wanted to make her happy...so one day, he surprised her and arranged for her to write letters to her family and friends. Soon, it was like she was back to the happy girl Butch told us of. She laughed and played and was a beaming ball of light..."

"So, why? Why would he kill her?" Blossom refilled her tea.

"One day, she begged Butch to allow her to return to her village. She said her brother's wife had given birth and she had sworn when they were children that she would present a gift for his first born child. She begged and begged so fervantly that Butch could not deny her request...he even gave a gift of his own, a necklace made of one of his scales. She went home with the promise to return with him in three days...When Butch went to retrieve her, he went earlier than expected, to surprise her family with a gift to celebrate their one year anniversary...and stumbled upon the village getting ready to storm his palace to murder both him and Black."

Buttercup stared in horror as Blossom continued to hiss, "that lying...she had used her brother's child, who had died years prior, as an excuse to meet with the village...every letter she had sent was to collaborate with the shogun to storm the castle, attack Butch, and murder him before going after Black...then they planned to take his treasures and mutilate their bodies so that they could sell their scales, claws, and teeth...Butch was so heartbroken...he had given his love to a girl who was plotting his death...he was then left with a choice, let the woman he loved live and endanger himself as well as his baby sister...or kill her and protect his family...so Butch...destroyed the village...everything...he didn't end his rampage until the next day, in the afternoon. By then, I had seen his flames from here and had come to his aide. I watched him weep amongst the ashes, holding the charred corpse of that vile girl...asking her why...why did she not love him..." Blossom looked at Buttercup, tears threatening to fall, "...I could not help him...I couldn't protect the man who had become like a brother to me."

Buttercup felt like her throat was closing up. Imagine, knowing the person who you loved was going to...Butch must have felt what she had last night...helpless...confused...scared...brokenhearted...

Black's words echoed like screaming spirits in her head.

"He sounded like he was dying."

"Covered in blood..."

"I don't know what happened, really..."

Black doesn't...

"Black doesn't know, does she?" Blossom shook her head.

"Once Butch was ready to face his actions, it was made clear that Black must never know...Black had truly loved Reina, imagine what that knowledge would have done to her." So Butch walked around with this...this...guilt...this...agony...not only knowing that he killed the woman he loves, but that the same woman was going to kill his sister...who also loved that same woman.

Buttercup felt sick. Is this the type of world they lived in? Where it was okay to plot the murder of your husband and sister-in-law in a savage attempt to gain wealth? Where you can easily discuss the mutilation of their bodies as if discussing the weather? Oh, God, how did Butch find out about this?

"...but...how did he know...?"

"He stumbled upon the letters. Reina had stored them in her room and, when he went to gather her things, he found them."

So he read them...he saw her plans...Buttercup wanted to throw up. Were they detailed or vague? Did she write them like she was gossiping with a friend or did she write them hastily, worried about being caught?

Did Butch confront her? Did she at least look guilty? Or had she laughed in his face? Mocked his pain?

No wonder he acted so bitter towards her sometimes...no wonder he never cared about what she wanted...the last woman he cared about was...was...

"Easy," a warm hand was placed on her back and Buttercup erupted into choked sobs. Why did he do this to himself, then? Why keep hoping for a different outcome? "Buttercup, you must breathe..."

Sucking in air, Buttercup looked up at Blossom, who had lost her feral eyes and was back to the composed queen she was. How was such a creature, who could obliterate thousands, so serene?

Then again, were dragons really the destructive ones? Butch made no effort to hide his power or his outrage. He had proved so to her village for generations. Even Black was open sbout her own powers, popping out of shadows from seemingly nowhere and using the darkness to mask her destructive wake. At least dragons were upfront about it.

Anger a dragon, expect devastation.

Humans, though, were different. Humans hid things, cheated each other, and lied to their loved ones. Humans caused pain for the joy of it, they fought over trivial matters, and stepped on those who stood in their way. The bandits from long ago, who had laughed as she screamed for her mother and father within her burning childhood home, materalized in her subconscious.

Sneering.

Laughing.

Cheering.

Humans, it seemed, were more monstrous than dragons.

She stood abruptly, as Blossom watched her hurry to the door. "I have...I have to go back."

Faster than anything Buttercup had seen before, Blossom was beside her. She wrangled her arm away from the door. "No."

"...No? What do you mean, no?"

"You're staying here."

"I can't stay here!" Was Blossom insane?! What if Butch freaked out again and desecrated her village? She had to go and let him know that she wasn't like Reina, that she wasn't going to turn her back on him. Blossom didn't relent, instead leveling her with a firm stare.

"No. You are staying here. You are in no right mind to confront Butch."

"No, if I go now, I might be able to fix this."

"You won't be able to fix anything, foolish girl. You are panicky, reckless, and not thinking clearly. You're reactive to anything and everyone. You jumped when I growled at you, when Butch has told me many times of how you hit him after watching him first shift from his true form." Blossom shook her head, almost sadly, "you're jumpy and frightened and Butch will notice it. And he will feed off that, even if he does not mean to...he is already well aware that you are gone and, more than likely, he's furious."

A vision of a gigantic black dragon tearing through her village and ripping it to shreds flashed in Buttercup's mind. She quickly shook her head.

"He will not listen to you when you are like this. He is not a human, he will feed off your fear and go on another rampage, until his rage finally subsides again...and trust me...it will take a very long time. The only way I will allow you to leave is if I am certain you are of a calm mind again."

"But...But...if he knows I'm gone, how do you know he won't go to my village?"

"Because he knows where you are. If he didn't, he'd look for you there immediately. Butch is already aware that you are in my territory, Brick has just managed to keep him from barging in here like a savage...then again," Blossom's eyes flashed dangerously and she grinned, showcasing her pristine fangs, "I would enjoy a good fight...but for the sake of my baby, I suppose I will relent...anyhow, the moment you step out of my territory, Butch will be there and he will not be happy. Do you want to make sure you both get out of that confrontation with your heads?"

"...Yes..."

"Good. Then you'll stay here until I say you're ready."

"...Fine..." Pleased with her obedience, Blossom looped her arm through Buttercup's and led her back to the table.

"Now, have you ever chess? I learnt it when I spent a few summers in England, it's really fun."

It was not fun.

Blossom was a savage when it came to this game that reminded Buttercup a lot of Go, but then again, it was totally different. This...rooku could move so many spaces, but the king (some weird word that meant Emperor) could only move this many spaces and the Queen (Empress) could practically do whatever it wanted and- she won again! Buttercup now knew how Butch felt when playing Tic Tac Toe with her. This was too much.

"I once beat every boy in my village in a wrestling match...I've stared down Butch...a basilisk...I can use odachi swords, katanas, shuriken, and fire arrows...and I lose at this stupid game." Blossom smiled with a cheeky grin as she won another round.

The two were in Buttercup's room, with the shoji door slid open to allow the fresh air in. Maya sat beside the dragon empress, brushing her long hair as Blossom played. "It simply takes practice."

"Right...how long have you had practice?"

"About a century and a half."

"See?"

"Okay, so you were doomed when you began playing with me. Not my fault."

"I beg to differ." Blossom laughed as Buttercup gave her a cheeky grin back. Blossom was right, Buttercup decided, I needed this. The quiet lull of the winds, the soft smell of cinnamon and walnuts wafting through the air, and the serene feeling that seemed to saturate the air whenever Blossom was near. It was a refreshing break from the constant tension with living from Butch as his involuntary bride to be. Though, Buttercup did feel a slight tug on her heart when she thought of that kitsune.

She said that she had been Butch's fiancee...

Was that true? She had told the truth about Butch killing Reina, carefully omitting the fact that Reina was plotting to kill Butch and Black.

Blossom caught Buttercup's thoughtful look. "What's on your mind this time?"

"...Nothing..."

"I meant to ask this earlier. How did you know about Reina? I know Butch wouldn't have mentioned it. He'd be content to live his whole life without speaking Reina's name." Buttercup debated telling Blossom about the kitsune, but she rationalized that Blossom would know best once again. She sighed and answered her.

"When I went to try on my shiromuku yesterday, I met this kitsune." At the word 'kitsune', Blossom stiffened and stared at her. Maya also froze and stared at Buttercup, bright brown eyes wide in shock. "She looked...a lot like me, but...she was...she was furious...somehow she knew I was engaged to Butch and that I knew nothing of Reina or Butch's other wives..." Buttercup watched as Blossom's eyes narrowed and she huffed. "She said that she was Butch's fiancee."

"...Well, don't pay her any mind when you see her next. I know the kitsune you're referring to and she is not Butch's fiancee. In fact, he despises her and will never consider her a mate." Blossom shook her head, "and it's just like her to cause such trouble. She did the same to several other girls too. She even did such a thing to Bubbles when Boomer was courting her."

"Eh? Why? Bubbles is so sweet."

"Yes, but that kitsune's sister was interested in Boomer as a mate. She almost convinced Bubbles that he planned to throw her out immediately if she did not birth a son within the first few months of their marriage."

"Bubbles...did know that it takes nine months for a baby to be born...right?"

"Yes, but she didn't know the same applied to dragons. Poor dear was a wreck." Buttercup glared. So she was simply another victim in a long, long game for that kitsune. The news was a sour taste in her mouth. Blossom sniffed. "So, I'd advise in just ignoring her the next time she comes along. She won't touch you since Butch will...well...kitsunes would rather not incite a war with dragons and harming the wife of the Dragon Emperor's secondhand man would be very detrimental." The redhaired beauty then caught sight of Buttercup's sword and, desperate to change the subject, pointed to this. "Is that yours?"

"Mmm hmm." Buttercup leaned over and pulled the sword onto her lap. Shifting so that Blossom could see it easier, she presented the sword, slowly taking it out of its sheath. "One of the last things I have of my mother and father, along with this fan." She pulled the fan from her obi. Blossom's eyes widened in shock as she spoke, "when Butch and I met, my family had been slaughtered by bandits hired by this shogun named Jinnoya. He wanted to punish my mother for running away from their marriage and planned to marry me to restore his honor. After Butch killed them and left me back in my village, I was taken back to my house. They had burnt it down, along with my parents' corpses, but this sword and fan...somehow survived. I found them hidden beneath the floorboards...I haven't parted with them since."

Blossom slowly reached for the sword and took it, eyes wide still. "...How...did your family get this..." She whispered.

"I don't know. I didn't even know they were there." Why was Blossom acting so strange? The dragon empress looked up at her, still confused.

"Buttercup, this is no ordinary sword...this...this sword is made of a dragon's pearl." She also picked up the fan, "the fan is also made of the same thing."

"...A dragon's pearl?" She had seen pictures depicting dragons curling and swirling in the air and water, holding large white orbs in the palms of their claws. Her eyes shifted to the white ball that sat by Blossom's feet, seemingly ever present. Blossom nodded, picking her orb up.

"A dragon's pearl. You humans have seen us with them, but you do not realize that only female dragons have pearls." She studied the sword as she spoke, "legend tells that long ago, when we dragons were a new being upon the land, the Dragon Mother saw that the male dragons had begun to oppress the females. We were weaker and smaller physically, with less stamina. Our wings were faster and we were more agile, but we could not stand against the onslaught of males who demanded dominance. So, one evening, she gifted every female a pearl made from her scales that held untold powers, allowing us to defend ourselves and our loved ones from dangers. A dragon pearl is one of the only things that can bring down another dragon...its power is...well...almost godlike. The thing is, a dragon can only create one pearl in their life. Very few have made more than one. This sword...is a dragon pearl in a different form."

Buttercup was astounded. All this time, she had been carrying around something that carried the powers of a dragon. She had received the sword when she was just a child and had unknowingly held the power to decimate villages. "But...how did my family get it? There are no dragons in my family..."

Blossom squinted at the inscription on the base of the sword. "This inscription...Roshu tana wa meyoshitsu tsukiyomi no warani..."

"Eh?"

"That's what it says. Roshu tana wa meyoshitsu tsukiyomi no warani. It's an ancient draconic tongue. Humans have family crests or names for nobility. Dragons also have crests, but females use a inscription...This inscription is from my family, on my mother's side."

"...A dragon inscription...that's why no one could translate it..."

"Yes. The draconic tongue used has been secret for some time. Some say it's due to the fact that, if used while reciting a certain incantation, it will allow the speaker untold power. Even the ability to move between realities. My family..." Blossom sighed, this subject was sore to her. "I am not a very common species of dragon. Brick is an Oriental Red Mountain Dragon. I am a Japanese Celestial Dragon...currently, I'm one of the few left." Buttercup blinked.

"What happened to the others?"

"No one knows...They simply began disappearing...dragons aren't born the same way a human is. If a human has parents with different heritages, that human is considered half of each heritage. Dragons are simply one species each. My species happened to be a Celestial Dragon." She pointed to the inscription. "This inscription comes from my mother's side, and it means "May the Weilder of This Blade be Blessed by the Moon."..." Blossom leaned back and thought. "Maya, please bring me some tea."

"Yes, milady." The deer centaur left the room.

"I do think I know how this came to be in your family's possession. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to tell you a tale of one of my ancestors...one of the most powerful Celestial Dragons of this realm, Tsukiya Teruko."

Okay! So, we had fun this chapter didn't we?

(Camera pans to Feels-Chan, who's bleeding/unconscious/possibly dead, but whateves)

Anyway, we learned some things. We learned about Reina (Butch- *sobs in the distance*), we learned about Blossom's heritage, and we learned that Buttercup's sword is actually a dragon pearl and what that is!

Now I enjoy making dragon species. That is something I do often. One of my favorite babies is the Celestial Dragon, which our very special Blossom is! A Celestial Dragon to me is what the Night Fury is to How To Train Your Dragon fans. Thy're the cream of the crop, the alpha dragons, literal gods amongst dragons, the-

Bell - AHEM!

Fine. Anyway, so allow me to explain what a Celestial Dragon is. Basically, a Celestial Dragon is a large, bipedal dragon that can come in three different forms: feathered, scaled, and mixed. Blossom happens to be, technically, a Japanese Cherry Blossom Celestial Dragon (Solar Type). These dragons are special for their innate ability to control weather, summon other monsters and dragons to do their bidding, and a range of other abilities. They do have weaknesses, like water and ice. They also become very lethargic in winter and need to consume a high amount of vitamins, proteins, and fibers to support their slightly weaker than average immune systems.

Blossom - ACHOO!

Bless you.

Blossom - Thank you.

They also require repeated grooming, especially if they have feathers. However, they conduct electricity much like an electric eel and can use this to fire heated bolts of electrified fire. They also seem to posses some kinetic abilities, some even say telepathy and mind control. However, this hasn't been proven. More abilities abide in this magnificent beast of a dragon, but we'll find out those later.

BC- Next time on Green Maiden, we take a short trip to the past as Blossom tells me a story passed down in her family! That also, inexplicably, explains how my sword became my sword.