Last time on Green Maiden!
Butch - BOI!
BC - Can someone put a rush order on chill pills?
Blossom - #DaddyIssues
And now back to Green Maiden
(Sorry this took so long. I was extra finnicky with this chapter because I've been planning it for years)
The Mysterious Shrine
When she woke up the next day, things were eerily quiet. She didn't hear the pitter patter of feet walking down the corridor. There were no howling winds to signify the immenant arrival of winter. She heard no chatter of maids or singing of gardners.
The silence that once permeated this place had returned.
Buttercup sat up and sighed. She had tossed and turned all night, restless in her dreams. She dreamt that she was running frantically, trying to get away from...or go to someone.
She dreamt of fiery breath and earth shattering howls of rage.
She dreamt of a lonely man standing just out of her reach, crying out to her.
She dreamt of darkness and flame and chill and light.
She dreamt of horror and happiness.
Buttercup dreamt of Butch.
He must still be angry...she thought, standing up on the chilly ground. It seemed that the ambience of the palace often reflected that of its master. She looked down, noticing that she hadn't changed out of the clothes that she wore before. The exhaustion she had felt as soon as she stepped over the threshold of her room was like a boulder on her shoulders.
At least I don't have to change, Buttercup thought. What a childish thought, she mused immediately after, Rose would laugh at me.
Speaking of childish, where was Black? She had been gone for a week and the young dragoness usually wailed if she didn't see her for more than an hour. She half expected the little thing to be snuggled up on her side with her goopy slime cat resting upon her head.
Buttercup walked towards the door, the eerie silence making it difficult to swallow. She had this irrational fear of being heard, like a predator was searching for her as she hid in the brush like a mouse. Her heart hammered in her chest, beating like a war drum. She reached a clammy hand out and gripped the door handle.
The door didn't budge.
She tugged and pulled with all her might, horror slowly creeping up on her as she screamed and pounded on the door to be let out.
She was locked in.
For days and nights, she sat alone in her room. Buttercup considered escaping via the window, but this proved to be an impossible thing without a dragon or rope present to catch her. She never realized how high this tower was. She could see the entire garden, now barren of leaves and flowers as the world prepared for snow.
Servants came and left with ease, dropping off food and bathing her when necessary. She couldn't leave though. Each time Buttercup took a step towards the door, she was nearly thrown back to her bed.
A low growl was heard throughout the palace and the servants would escape her room, afraid of incurring Butch's wrath before the door was harshly slammed and she was trapped again. "Butch," she spent hours screaming and pounding at the door, "let me out! Jerk!"
Finally, after God knows how long, he came to her room. She was sitting on the window sill, staring out at the moonlit sky. He had been avoiding this room for days, postponing the wedding until the last possible second.
The guests had all arrived.
The most of the feast was prepared.
The offerings had been made at his local shrines, of each religion, for luck by the humans who lived within his domain.
Now all that was missing was her, his bride. His beautiful, vexing, stubborn bullheaded bride.
Butch wanted to be angry, he wanted to be furious. He wanted each tear and wail that escaped her these past few days and nights to irritate him until he snapped and rampaged through his lair.
But he was done being angry. The fire in him had simmered down to ash. Now he stood, beyond the threshold, holding a lamp as Buttercup stared out the window with hooded eyes, gazing at the moon like she was begging for help. He said nothing for a moment before speaking, "...the wedding is tomorrow. Your handmaidens will be by in the morning to help you dress."
Nothing.
As Butch turned to leave, she spoke. "So that's that, huh?" He let out a deep breath.
"Can we not do this now? It's been a stressful few days." Buttercup laughed humorlessly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have taken the feelings of my kidnapper into consideration. I'm so sorry." Butch leaned forward, crossing his arms so she didn't see his clenched hands. So Buttercup didn't see his claws dig into the soft flesh of his palms.
"Do we have to do this right now? You couldn't wait to get onto my nerves when I'm not angry at you," he said in a dangerously clipping tone, watching her with serpentine pupils out of the corner of his eyes. She got off the window sill and stood behind him, feet apart and shoulders hunched.
Buttercup was done.
She was done with being afraid to face him.
She was done with being pushed around.
She.
Was.
Done.
Narrowed eyes trained on him, "what are you so angry about?"
Now he turned to her, "I have a right to be angry!" He stalked up to her, "you defy me at almost every turn, you're insobordinate, and you run off the minute I take my eyes off you!"
"Yeah? That's rich coming from the guy who doesn't care about anyone's feelings but his own! And you threaten anyone if you don't get your way as well as force people to obey you through fear and violence! If anything, I have more of a right to be angry than you!" He snapped.
"Oh really?! Well, if I'm so terrible, why did you come back then!? Why not run back to your precious village!"She didn't back down.
"Because Blossom wouldn't let me!" She shouted, "besides, don't act like you wouldn't have burnt it down!"
His teeth bared and smoke billowing from his throat, Butch snarled. "YOU'RE RIGHT! I WOULD HAVE INCINERATED IT, WITH YOU ALONG WITH IT!"
Silence drowned them as Buttercup stared at him, horrified. He looked so...
Demonic...
Butch blinked, realizing that he just roared a death threat at the one girl he loved more than anything. He wanted to hit himself. Shoulders slumping, he watched Buttercup back away before turning back to the window. "...Buttercup...I...I'm s-" He reached out to her.
"Don't touch me...don't touch me, you...monster." His heart broke. As she sat back at the sill, Butch listened to her choke back sobs. He wanted to go to her...he wanted to plead forgiveness and assure her that he would never harm her...that he loved her, more than any of his past wives.
He left, instead. Butch stood outside the door, listening to her cry and gasp about why this was happening to her.
Stumbling down the stairs, Butch kept his head low and his eyes were dark and cloudy. This was a nightmare. It was nothing like the passionate romance Brick had with Blossom or the fairy tale Boomer had with Bubbles. Blare's courtship of Bell was never this dramatic...or painful.
He felt like he was dying inside.
"That didn't sound very...making up-ish." Butch glared at the sea dragon who had made his presence known. Boomer walked up to him with an easy gait as he looked curiously at the now "off limits" staircase that led to Lady Buttercup's room.
"...I don't want to talk about it."
"I've known you long enough to know when you don't want to talk about it and when you should..."
"Go away, Boomer."
"You know, Bubbles was heartbroken when you wouldn't let her see Lady Buttercup. I think she misses human company. I keep telling her that I'll hire some human servants or maids, but she is adament about making real human friends and not friends that are paid to be kind to-"
"I don't understand."
Got you. Boomer thought devillishly. He looked at Butch as they walked back to the guest hall. Brick had arrived after picking up Blossom and Blare had arrived along with Butch and Bell. Black was whining about not seeing Buttercup and got put to bed early. Boomer and Bubbles had been the last to arrive.
"What will it take to make her understand...? I love her more than anything I can stand." Buoomer shook his head.
"Word of advice from someone who's been married for seventy five years?" Boomer swung his arm around Butch's shoulder, "compromise...if you keep pushing her to do what you want, you'll push her away...also, you're wrong."
"About what?"
"With wives, you just are. Accept it...even if they're not right, you're wrong."
"That makes no sense."
"It doesn't have to."
Morning came too slow for most and too quick for the two most important people of the day. Butch laid in his bed, clad only in his junbei as he watched the sun raise over the valleys and into the congested rain clouds from his window. The morning was still, quiet.
It was finally here...again.
His wedding day.
Though he usually felt joyeous, now Butch felt dread. She hated him...she feared him...
God...please...please don't let this end...not like the others... With a loud pounding on his door, he sat up admist the mountains of gold and stretched.
It was finally time.
Buttercup awoke to the sounds of chittering maids and rustling silk. The sun was out, shining brightly as over a dozen maids came flying into the room, greeting her.
Her heart sank.
Her throat felt thick.
Today was the day that she would marry this lunatic dragon.
Buttercup felt numb as she was yanked out of bed and dragged down to the baths on the west side of the palace. Her skin was soaked in parfumed water, her hair was washed and oiled and brushed before she was dragged back to the room. There, endless amounts of make up and clothe awaited her.
There was no use fighting it.
She was doomed to this life.
Buttercup would marry a dragon and never return home.
She'd never see Rose, Lily, or Uncle again.
She'd never get to visit her parents' grave.
Tears welled up in her eyes as her heart shattered. "Ahh, my lady," a maid protested, "your make up!"
"Just send me out there without it...if he's going to force me, I'd rather be the ugliest bride he's ever had."
"I doubt that to be possible for you," a sweet voice chirped. Buttercup turned to see Bubbles, Bell, and Blossom standing in the doorway. Bubbles sighed, her eyes closed as if comtemplative, "you seem to be cursed with beauty."
"And recklessness. Running off again? After what happened last time," Bell strode in and pinched her cheek, earning a new indignant huff from the maid. "You have more dragon in you than you think." Bell sat down, pouting, "mou, that rotten dragon! First he forces you into marriage, then he chooses the most hideously out of style kimono -so glad you're wearing the one I sent- and then he tries to keep us from seeing you."
Buttercup sniffled, smiling while Blossom hissed at Bell for her rudeness. Bubbles sighed, "she's right, this should have been handled differently."
"Be that as it may, I'm afraid we can't change it." Blossom came over, took the brush from one of the maids, and began brushing Buttercup's hair while Bell shooed away the maid with make up and began doing it herself. Bubbles finally got everyone out, glad they had been able to sneak in before Buttercup had a meltdown.
Buttercup sighed, "I don't suppose any of you could sneak me out."
"I would, but Blare would return you immediately. He hates being tangled up in Butch's dramas."
"I would, but we're not going home straight away. Boomer wants to head to his winter palace before the snow sets in."
"If I do, Butch will go insane. Brick will protect me and won't force you to return, but then we'd risk alienating his general and we don't want that."
Buttercup figured as much. Just as she was stuck, they were too. More tugging at her head and Bell finally moved from her snow white foundation to the kohl on her eyes. Bubbles began rubbing her nails. "If I..." they looked at her, " I won't be able to go home...If I do this..."
"Ahhh...not right away, no...but," Bubbles smiled, "I think Butch would be willing to let you visit...some day."
"Right." Buttercup's bland tone spoke volumes.
Blossom smiled, "you may feel stuck...but was it not you who wanted to prove to Butch that you were different from Reina?"
Bell hissed, her silver eyes flashing to reflect that of a cave dwelling serpent. "I hated that woman, she was rotten."
"Bell, her lip color."
"Ah! Right." Bubbles began handing Blossom golden pins tipped with pearls. Buttercup smiled faintly.
They were trying to distract her.
These three, though she hadn't even known them for a year, were the best friends she had ever had. It was a good thing they were married to Butch's friends, or she'd go crazy.
Butch...
His words echoed through her soul and his eyes pierced her heart. He had never seemed so...monsterous. Even in his true form, he was tamer than last night. She wanted to puke all over this beautiful shiromuku. She wanted to cry and scream all over again.
Soft hands clasped over hers and she looked into Bell's deep, silverpool eyes. "He's an idiot. He's egotistical. He's brash. And he's bullheaded...but then again...aren't we?"
Breathing was easier.
It was odd, but true. She was bullheaded...she could be an idiot...she was egotistical at times.
Besides being a dragon, he seemed a lot like any other man.
Weren't those her thoughts?
Buttercup smiled at Bell. Bell beamed, pearly fangs shining, "see? There's that beautiful girl."
"Done!" Bubbles produced a hand mirror, showing Buttercup her reflection. Bell had painted her lips a deep, cherry red and powdered her skin until it was as snowy as hers. Her eyes and cheeks were colored with peach colored powder, her eyes were lined with red. Bell sprinkled purfumed powder on her neck.
Blossom had brushed out her wild tresses and weaved it into a loose braid, pulling it up into a braided bun. Bubbles' pearl tipped pins held it in place, catching the light. Bubbles had also added pins and combs with sea pearls, shells, and camillia flowers decorating them.
"You're so beautiful, Buttercup!" Bubbles gushed. Buttercup couldn't deny it...she looked like a Celestial being. Blossom nodded in agreement.
"I can see why he's so enamoured." A sharp knock sounded on her door.
"My ladies, its almost time!"
"Oh gosh, the time!" When Buttercup had woken up, it had been early morning. Now, mid afternoon dawned on them with llight rain sprinkling down.
"AHH! I'd better go stand by Boomer!"
Buttercup found herself whirled away as her friends scurried down the hall, with Bell departing with Bubbles down the opposite end of the hall. Blossom stopped Buttercup, smiling. "You forgot something."
She reached up and settled the wataboshi* onto Buttercup's head, hiding the detailed hairstyle and pins. Then she offered her a white wagasa, which Buttercup took shakily. "Let's move. It would be a travesty if the bride was late."
"My sword, I-"
"Bubbles will fetch it after the ceremony. It's customary for female dragons to leave their pearls in a safe place during this."
"...Fine..."
They walked down the corridor, hushed whispers of gentle rain and rustling leaves. Buttercup could see servants skittering in the shadows out of the corners of her eyes, giggling with glee over this occasion. Blossom happily filled Buttercup in on dragon ceremonies as they walked.
"The ceremony will be short and very simple. We'll ride along with you to the shrine where you'll meet the priest of the Tengoku No Namida Shrine. From there, you and Butch will follow him into the inner sanctuary, where the priest will perform a purifying rite. Butch will breathe fire of a pyre to symbolize his promise to protect your home. Normally, the bride would too, but since your human, that changes things. You'll have to pour the water given to you by the priest to symbolize your promise to care for his emotional needs. After that, you'll both perform the standard san san kudo*. That's where Brick and I will enter to stand in for your families. I represent you and Brick will represent Butch. After that, the priest will say the traditional Heavenly Rites of Unity and Loyalty. When he finishes, Butch will bow first, then you will follow. The Rites are to symbolize the male dragon's promise to lead you to safety every moment of your lives. Then he will walk towards the shrine door. You have to follow, but once he reaches the threshold, he will walk with you over it. After that, you will be his wife officially."
"That's kind of different from the weddings I've been to..." Not that she had been invited to many, but still. Blossom giggled.
"Yes, dragon weddings are more symbolic than they are spiritual. The heavens, to us, are represented by the skies. Water represents comfort and soothing. Fire represents protection. Males are traditionally supposed to protect their mates with their lives," Blossom's eyes seemed to glow as she remembered something that made her heart sing, "because to them, a life without their chosen mates is a life of darkness."
They finally came to the foyer, where Butch stood in his montsuki haori hakama* with Brick by his side. Brick nudged him and gestured behind him. Once he turned, Butch felt the wind knock out of him.
Buttercup was stunning.
The pure white shiromuku with green silk sewn into the hems made her look like a goddess. The rosy hue of her lips and eyes made his heart stutter. She slowly walked up to him, looking anywhere but him.
She completely missed the loving gaze he had given her.
His anger was over.
He now only wanted her to be happy.
"...my flame..." She looked at him.
"Eh?" He jumped.
"Nothing!" Butch turned bright red, "you...you look...you..." Brick scoffed.
"This is his way of telling you that you look beautiful, Buttercup. Dare I say, you might even rival my own wife." Blossom gasped, indignant over Brick's tactlessness. Butch snorted out black smoke, glaring at Brick who grinned cheekily.
"Excuse me, she far surpasses your wife."
"Are you saying that I'm ugly, Butch?" The draconic human paled as he caught onto his blunder.
"What?! No, I...that is to say...what I meant was...don't kill me..." Buttercup watched Butch's brain melt as he struggled to defend his position while simultaneously retract it. She snorted and then started laughing. Butch froze and looked at her, surprised before he began chuckling and burst into laughter himself.
Brick winked at Blossom, who rolled her eyes with a smile. "We'd better get going if we want to meet the priest on time." With that, the dragon emperor hurried them along to the outside where the zagyoshiki awaited them. Handmaidens covered them from the rain with parasols as horses pulled it along. After what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at the Tengoku No Namida Shrine.
It was a small shrine, inconspicuous. To Buttercup, it looked like any other Shinto Shrine she had seen, with a properly polished archway and swept stone path. The rain was slowly dying down. The prayer bells were hanging limply. But as soon as she stepped onto the path, she could feel the difference of it in her soul. The cut grass sung of untold truths and the purifying water of the wash basins seemed to teem with cosmic power. She shuddered at the thought of the bells ringing, would they signify death or joy? At the entrance of the shrine stood the priest, garbed in his finest robe with four shrine maidens and attendants on each side. Butch silently stepped closer to her and Blossom bowed as Brick nodded.
It was time.
Buttercup gulped audibly. Butch flashed her a reassuring smile before stowing away his emotion in an expression that spoke of indifference, but challenging. With a slight nudge, Buttercup walked side by side with him until they reached the entrance of the shrine. Blossom and Brick followed closely behind before stopping at the archway, bowing as they stayed. Buttercup wanted to look back at Blossom. Why? She didn't know...but Butch shook his head slightly.
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to do.
Buttercup was about to do it anyway, but they arrived in front of the shrine priest sooner than she expected.
He was an old man, with young eyes. He gave them a blank look before nodding, turning and walking into the shrine courtyard. His attendees followed and soon Butch began walking, prompting Buttercup to move.
Maybe...if she moves fast enough...she can run off into the woods and escape.
Butch flashed her a look.
No such luck anyway, she mused, this shiromuku is heavier than iron.
The two shrine maidens directly behind the priest were carrying these strange lanterns that seemed to glow with green flame, despite the rain. Butch leaned over to whisper, "will-o-wisp...little flame creatures who habit the woods around here...for good fortune."
Buttercup blinked.
That answered that unasked question.
They finally made it to the inner sanctuary of the shrine, or maybe they made it there way too fast? Buttercup didn't know anymore. Her stomach was empty, but she felt like she could puke. Inside the shrine was a small pyre, no bigger than a pillow, filled with wood. Two seating cushions sat in front of it, there was one on the far left side and the far right side. Obviously there was one behind it as well. The shrine priest settled his old bones on the one farthest from them. Butch sat on the one closer to the left and Buttercup sat beside him on the right. She struggled to remember the literal dump of dragon wedding ceremony knowledge that Blossom had given her merely an hour ago.
"The priest will perform a purifying rite..."
Buttercup's head snapped up when the old man finally began to speak, with a loud tone. "SHA...WAN YU REI MO FARISHUKU RA. SHA WAN YU REI TONU SHIKARA. SHA...WAN YU REI FRUI KAREMUKOYOSHIRO. SHA YU. SHA YU. REI NO RA/ REI MO FARISHUKU. REI TONU SHIKARA. HEI. HEI. MATTA YONEI ROKUWARA. MEI NIUYA. HOSHIRO NOROMANI. SHREIKARA. SHREIKARA. FARISHUKU. REI TONU SHIKARA. FARISHUKU. SHIKARA. SHA."
"SHA!" The attendees roared. Buttercup's heart flew into her chest at the booming roars.
They were all dragons. She glanced at Butch out of the corner of her eyes and he smiled, mouthing "later".
The priest bowed three times, sprinkling ash upon the pyre before standing. Butch stood too. Buttercup was about to, but then remembered Blossom's next snippet of knowledge.
"Butch will breathe fire of a pyre to symbolize his promise to protect your home."
Watching intently, Buttercup saw the telltale sign of green flames light up in Butch's throat before he opened his mouth and released a small turrent of flame. The pyre caught fire instantly, flames surging up and burning bright, casting the dimly lit sanctuary in a bright green glow. The priest looked more ominous then, with the light casting him in a sickly hue. A shrine maiden walked up to Buttercup, bowing as she presented a shallow bowl of water. It smelled sweet. Butch sat back down and was handed a similar bowl, sans water. He turned to face her. She faced him and slowly poured the water into his bowl. Then, surprisingly, Butch drank it.
Blossom hadn't mentioned that.
The priest raised an eyebrow.
Apparently, he wasn't supposed to do that.
Butch finally broke character and flashed her a cheeky grin. Buttercup blinked and then held back a snort.
The priest coughed, irritated, and the ceremony began again.
Blossom came in first, settling on the cushion closest to Buttercup. Brick came in from the opposite end and sat beside Butch. The priest began reciting rites Buttercup finally recognized from the normal weddings, pouring sake into the shallow sake cups. Butch was handed his first and sipped from the cup three times. Then Buttercup sipped hers, who handed it Blossom. Butch handed his to Brick, who followed suit. As tradition stated, this happened with the next two cups before the attendees collected them. The priest stood again and Buttercup readied herself for more draconic rites roared at her.
"I CALL UPON THE SEAS-"
OH COME ON.
"I CALL UPON THE LANDS. I CALL UPON THE FLAMES OF HEAVEN AND THE ICE WITHIN THE SAND. I CALL UPON TIME AND SPACE FAR ABOVE. FROM THE CELESTIAL DRAGONS WHO WATCH FROM ABOVE AND THE TRENCH DRAGONS WHO DEEPLY WATCH FROM BELOW. LOYALTY IS IN THE MALE DRAGON'S HEART TO THIS FEMALE HE HAS CHOSEN. UNITY IS WHAT THE FEMALE WISHES OF THE MALE THAT HAS SPOKEN. FROM HIS MOUTH, ONLY SHE MAY TAKE AND NOT BE HARMED. FROM HIS HEART ONLY SHE MAY ENTER AND ONLY SHE MAY GO. UPON HIS FIRE AND UPON HIS SOUL, WATCH HIM. JUDGE HIM. HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER SOUL. UPON HER EYES AND WITHIN HER HEART, WATCH HER. JUDGE HER. HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS HEART."
"YES!" The burning pyre suddenly vanished, as if something had snuffed it out. Butch stood up slowly and Buttercup followed suit. Then Brick and finally Blossom. Butch bowed and she copied before he turned and walked down the path they had entered.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
Buttercup felt like a war drum was in her chest, following Butch to the threshold. He suddenly stopped and glanced at her. Mere inches from their feet was the exit. Once they left, they would officially be husband and wife (by dragon standards). Her hands trembled as he slipped his into her grasp.
"We won't move," a sudden whisper, "until you're ready."
Calming words and a tight squeeze of her hand did wonders. Buttercup looked at him from under her wataboshi. He stared straight into her eyes with a brew of emotions in his.
Love...
Regret...
Apologies...
She could feel his feelings like waves from the ocean. Butch slowly moved her closer and, closing his eyes, pressed his forehead to hers. Buttercup closed hers in kind and gripped his forearms, finally breathing easier.
After a time that felt long enough, Buttercup nodded and the two newlyweds stepped over the threshold.
The feast lasted the rest of the day, with food Buttercup had never even seen. Roasted, marinated, and grilled pigs, birds, and cattle. Fish prepared in every way imaginable. Marinated and spiced fruits and cakes of every shape and color. Jellies glowed as if embedded with fairy light.
Sauces so fragrant that the scents were nearly visible in the air.
Little balls of glowing flame floated in the air, casting the massive dining hall in warm glows.
Yokai from every nation sat within the room, joyfully laughing and chattering over the dishes as they were passed about.
Sake poured like a flowing lake. Rice glistened in their bowls.
Buttercup sat beside Butch, staring in amaxement as the creatures often spoken of in tales sat around her, celebrating the wedding of their host.
"Strange, isn't it?" Butch whispered to her, smiling at a nearby ogre warlord as he gestured to them. Buttercup looked at him. He looked back at her, "would you believe me if I said I barely knew most of our guests?"
Buttercup blinked, "eh!? Then why invite them?"
"Politics," Butch replied, flatly. "Most of these people are nobility or at least highly respected. There's only a few that I didn't invite, but that's to be expected from our current relations. When we return, you'll see many of them around. They'll swarm around you the most, so watch out. Getting into your favor will aid them greatly."
"Why?" He looked at her fully and gently took her hand.
"You can influence me. One word from you and I'll go to war."
How...? Buttercup wondered. I couldn't even convince you to free me...
"Hey! Hey! Big Brother!" Black materialized from the shadows, dressed in a junihitoe awash in gold, white, and black. Tar trotted behind her. "Ah! Big Sister!" The tiny dragoness hopped onto Buttercup's lap. "I missed you! Where did you goooo!?"
Sorry, Black, I...had to think."
"Well, when you come back, you have to spend a whole week playing with me to make up for it! If you don't, I'll put snakes and worms in the maids' shoes!"
"Hey, don't do...what do you mean when I come back?"
"We're headed to Hokkaido after the feast. I think some time to ourselves will be nice. We'll be gone the rest of winter."
"EH!?" Her shout brought many eyes on her. She smiled nervously before glaring dangerously at Butch, "when was I going to be told?"
"Two weeks ago." That stung. She visibly stiffened at his words. "Sorry...that was uncalled for. In truth, its a human tradition in some cultures for newly weds to leave for extended periods of time. Dragons have only been doing this for a short time, plus I haven't been to that territory for some time. I need to check on it. It's the territory I plan on giving to Black when she's old enough."
"Why can't Black come then?" Butch huffed.
"I want to spend time with you, so she has to stay...besides, if I bring her, I'll have to bring her tutors and nannies and Tar..." His whiney tone made Buttercup snicker. Black pouted.
"Big Brother, you meanie. Taking Big Sister away when she just got back." Buttercup squeezed.
"It's fine, I come home, we'll play lots of games and have a sleep over. And Butch won't be invited."
"EH!?"
"Really? Yay! Hurry up and go so you can come back sooner!"
"Why am I not invited?"
The feast finally ended once the sun had begun to set and. The guests had retired for the night. Butch had left with Buttercup shortly before, muttering about snow fall.
Blossom sat at the table, watching her subjects fall asleep one by one in a drunken slumber. Bubbles sat beside her, watching in irritation as Boomer, Brick, and Blare continued their drinking match.
Blossom had opted to ignore them.
"Oi! Don'cha go geeetiin' all hiyyah and m-mighty ahn ussz!" The blonde sea dragon hissed at Blare, who blinked at him blearily through rose red cheeks. "Jussszt becaussze you can driiink more."
"Ahahahah! Boomie'sssssz a liiiiightweight!" Brick stuck his forked tongue out at Boomer.
"Liiiiightweiiiight!" Blare cheered.
"All of you are lightweights." The three stared in horror as Bell drank her umpteenth glass of alcohol. And the diamond dragon didn't even seem to stutter.
"Blare...your wife terrifiesssz usssssz."
"Belly Welly, whhhhhhy!?"
"I appoint you as Official Alcohol Warrior!"
"Morons," Bubbles groaned, cheeks red, "all of them."
"Yes. And with Buttercup around, I fear the moronic tendancies here will increase."
"Ahhhh...I'll get grey hairs before I'm ninety at this rate..." Bubbles whined, "still...it feels likea weight has been lifted."
"As long as Butch can not act like an idiot and Buttercup can be less reckless, we should be okay." Silence permeated the two.
Bubbles sighed, "I think I need a drink." Blossom pouted.
"It's no fair...I can't drink."
Elsewhere, in Hokkaido
He watched her stare outside, wrapped in a thick blanket. The palace they were in was a traditionally styled one, with tatami mats and shoji doors. The outside was blowing winds, which swirled the snow about like the sands of the beach. The dark sky was cloudy and blocked the moon, casting the room in shadows. It had begun to snow as soon as they arrived, prompting Butch to hurry her inside. "It's late, you know," he walked over to her and sat beside Buttercup. "You should sleep."
"...I can't..." Butch sighed. It had been a hectic day, with Buttercup being a bundle of nerves and he, himself, having to make sure she didn't run away again. They'd barely been able to really talk, really, but this allowed Butch to cool back down. He had been upset, yes, but not ignorant. He had demanded a lot from her and Buttercup was right in being...hesitant, even if she had begun to understand him more and more. Butch huffed.
He was never one to be delicate or tactful, but now he wished he was.
"...Do I frighten you...?" She looked at him. Their relationship was now a big question mark. On one hand, she was furious. Buttercup had no say in when or whom she was marrying and Butch had ignored her feelings in favor of his own. On the other hand, Buttercup had begun to understand why Butch was like that. Being hurt so much made one selfish and tactless. Their relationship was a mystery because she couldn't stand him and she also felt a need to be with him. But there was one thing Butch didn't do... Not anymore.
"No..." Butch blinked and gave her a small smile.
"...Good... I'm sick of women who are afraid of me." He looked outside, "...why did you leave...? What can I do to make you happy here?" She looked at him, recognizing the ever present, ever hidden pain in his eyes. He gave her a solemn look, "what can I do to...earn your love?"
"...What do I have to do to earn yours?"
"You've had it...you've had my love for ten years...ever since I saw you in the woods that night...ever since I saw your eyes, looking at me so defiantly..." He took her hand, absentmindedly noticing that her hands were ice. The temperature in the room was low and she was shivering. Butch slowly opened his kimono, revealing more of his chest. Buttercup's face burst into flames and she pulled, but he held her wrist firmly. He gently placed her hand on his chest.
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Buttercup's fingers spread out, feeling his heart pump power and blood throughout his body. It was an oddly comforting sensation, feeling his heart beat. He spoke quietly, "this heart has been yours since that night...what do I have to do to earn yours?"
Buttercup stayed silent for a moment, staring at their entwined hands as they lay on his chest, right over his heart. The winds howled outside. "...Give me time...that's all I ask..." Butch gave her a soft smile, eyes bright.
"Time is what you'll have then..." They didn't move, "your skin is like ice... Are you cold...?"
"A little." He moved her hand from his chest and brought it to his lips. Opening his mouth just a tiny bit, Buttercup saw the ominous green tinge from his chest travel up to his throat. But there was no burst of flames and her hand wasn't singed or blistered. Instead, Butch's flames only glowed behind his lips, their heat sending warmth from the tips of her fingers and up her forearm. He set that hand down and did the same to the other. Buttercup felt his warmth spread to her legs and glanced down, seeing his hand on her ankle, warming her foot. Her cheeks flushed as Butch continued warming her with his hands and fire.
Then he stopped, giving her a smile. "Are you warmer now?" She pouted and glared, cheeks bright, burning red.
"Stupid pervert." His laugh echoed through the halls and suddenly...Buttercup wasn't so hesitant about this anymore.
Whoa, this chapter is FINALLY OUT! You guys don't even know, I have been planning this chapter since the ORIGINAL version came out. And it is finally ready! I can now move on to bigger and better plot points!
Brick- Someone's happy.
I am...and now I'm not.
BC - What? Why?
Now, something has been brought to my attention. So here's the Rant Card. Someone stamp it.
Bubbles - *stamps card*
Thanks. Anyway. I first want to say, I love you all. All of you whoreadthe first version of GM and stuck with me, even through that loooooong hiatus, are one of the reasons I decided to keep going. And yeah, a lot of you were uppity about me taking down the old version, but eventually you stopped bugging me about it and I appreciate that. I mean, I couldn't stand the old version and I took it down.
But IT IS STILL MY STORY, so REPOSTING IT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION ON A DIFFERENT WRITING SITE IS NOT APPRECIATED.
It was brought to my attention that a writer on Wattpad under the name ppgxrrbforlife hhas decided to repost the old version of Green Maiden and Red Canterella without consulting me first. I don't appreciate it. So if any of you go on Wattpad and see Green Maiden or any of my stories, it's not me. It's been plagerized and please report that author.
Okay, rant over.
Now let's chat about something HAPPY LIKE THE WEDDING. This chapter went through so many rewrites. I wanted to start it out on a tense note before ending it with a more understanding one. Butch hurt Buttercup and Buttercup hurt Butch. We've established this and now both of them are acknowledging it. And while many of you are angry at Butch (which you should be), don't forget that he's a dragon. He has a different moral code than Buttercup, which has been touched upon before (I.e. Bell killed her sister). He's starting to realize that his way of doing things isn't gonna work. And Buttercup is learning to start seeing things from his view. So their relationship will grow from here on out.
Tense Feels Time is over for now, my Maidens!
Now the ceremony. I had some trouble with it. Should I go with some unheard of dragon ceremony or should I go with a traditional wedding? Should I pay homage to Euro based dragons and have an anglo wedding or keep it asian? Decisions, decisions. Ultimately, I felt a traditional Shinto ceremony would be best because it was what was usually done in that time period.
But then something was glaringly obvious.
Why would dragons celebrate a mating ritual using Shintoism? Dragons have roots everywhere, honestly from the Inuits to Aboriginal people of Africa. And, to be honest, religion would probably be regarded as a human trait. Sure, some dragons were lauded as dieties and others as demons, but I don't think dragons would be too interested in it, save for a few.
So, how do I resolve this? How do I make the wedding traditional without making it seem like all dragons are into Shintoism?
Well, cultures can be easily influenced by other cultures. If this story was in England, Butch would have had his wedding in a church. Not because he's religious, but just because that's how things are he can't just have a totally human ceremony, not with so many other monsters watching. So, he goes to a Shinto shrine run by dragons who can perform the traditional dragon mating ceremony in the shrine.
There you go, a traditional wedding with some dragonism thrown , geez, was it difficult finding out what happens during a traditional Japanese wedding. I have, sadly, not been given the opportunity to attend one. But through the magic of lots of bridal magazines and YouTube videos, I got a small feel for them. One of the big things, it seems, is the san san kudo (three three nine), where the bride and groom take three sips out of three cups of sake each. Here's an excerpt from japanesestyle(for)com that explains it a bit better than I can:
"There are many different ideas about the symbolism of the three sake cups. Some believe it represents heaven, earth, and mankind, others believe it represents the love, wisdom, and happiness which grow over time in a marriage. Another source says the three cups represents three human flaws of hatred, passion, and ignorance." - Japanese Wedding Traditions: San San Kudo
That was a tradition I wanted to keep. I also swapped out the usual prayer to the Shinto gods and replaced it with traditional rites said only by dragons.
I'm finally happy with how this chapter came along. I can't wait to go from here.
Black - Can I talk now?
Sure.
Black - Everyone! I get to translate the things for you! Tengoku no namida means Tears of Heaven! A wataboshi is a special hat that brides wear over their heads, similar to a veil. Traditionally, it was a winter hat. Be sure to look up pictures, they can be so pretty!
So, anyone wanna preview the next chapter.
BC - Butch plays in the snow like a kitten.
Butch - What!? No, I do-
See you next time and-
Black - Bring tacos!
Bell - And booze!