Last time on Green Maiden!

Brute - This dragon is my destiny! He said -

Butch - OooooOooooOOOOOh shut up...(begins walking away, points at Brute) Shut up.

Brute -...

And now back to Green Maiden.

The Girl Who Fights

After being thrown for the umpteenth time this week across a dirt field, Buttercup was beginning to wonder if she had miscalculated her own strength. It was true, she could beat all the boys in the village at a one on one battle. She'd even won sparring matches against multiple boys at the same time. She had staved off men trying to kidnap her or assault her and had begun to think she could really fight anything and win.

Perhaps her hubris really was an issue, like Rose said.

"My lady, are you alright? Shall we stop?"

"It's not right for females to be on the battlefield, after all," those irritating words came from the group of ogre soldiers that Butch apparently had for his own personal army. As the days rolled back, Buttercup was seeing more and more of Butch's household and vassals, no longer hiding them while their lord went through a tumultuously harsh courtship. While this meant that the castle was finally less quiet, something Buttercup enjoyed immensely, the vassals had no clue of her personality and her desires as a warrior and that it was downright cruel of their lord to force his "new, beautiful, fragile little wife" to learn to fight.

Buttercup wasn't sure what irked her more: the fact that they were going easy on her or the fact that she was still losing despite them going easy on her.

And Butch wouldn't let her use her own sword, stating that it was a crutch at this point and she needed to learn to fight without such a powerful weapon. He couldn't physically take it, so he bribed Black to do it with the promise of being allowed to skip her lessons while she watched over Buttercup's most prized possession.

"I'm fine," she snapped. Standing up, her bones ached and her muscles throbbed. The three ogres that she was sparring with were several times her size and weighed several tons in fat and muscle. One was named Ota and he had thinning hair tied into a tight chonmage*. His tusks stuck out of his mouth, one had been broken from a battle fought long ago. The second ogre was called Rotan and he was the largest out of the three. He had a sweet disposition, but he was adamant against Buttercup sparring with them, arguing with Butch that such a "fragile lady like our new Lady Buttercup" should be settled safely inside the palace, embroidering and such.

Buttercup wanted to hate him, she really did, but Butch pulled her to the side and said Rotan knew nothing of her own warrior background and simply didn't want her to get hurt.

She was still going to hit him over the head once she got the chance, though.

The last was Hinata, the youngest of the three. Buttercup liked him the most, since he seemed to be more aware of her skills and was taking her a little bit more seriously. She could feel him pulling his punches less when he hit her. Ota and Rotan noticed it too and kept pulling him to the side to reprimand him until she snapped and screamed at them to take this seriously or sleep outside instead of their rooms tonight.

Finally, they started actually working (all three of them) and Buttercup was tossed about like a rag doll for hours until she finally landed a solid hit with her bokkan* on Rotan when he leaned down to help her again after she had stumbled.

Right across his face.

The dazed look in his eyes as he fell to the side in shock was satisfaction to her soul. The loud crack against his skull as she used her full strength in that blow was music to her tired ears. Ota and Hinata cackled loudly, their sharp teeth and tusks glistening with saliva as they laughed at their comrade misfortune. The match was finally over, as the terms were it would continue until either Buttercup cried defeat or she got at least one hit on one of them. The sun was high in the sky, working on warming away the winter into spring. The birds were beginning to return, the rivers were teeming with fish again, and all was quiet for now. Buttercup collapsed on the ground, sighing in relief as the tension in her body relaxed now that her sparring match was over. She ached in places that she didn't know could. She had been knocked around and dislocated joints. She probably had a concussion, from the way a part of her head was throbbing. Her jaw would probably swell later, too.

Buttercup broke into a huge grin.

This place was beginning to feel like home.

Across the ocean, where sea serpents were abundant and mermaids were plenty, there was a land vastly different from Japan. The months there were filled with fresh rain and grass stretched across the island like the sea, waving to and fro. The palaces were different, made of stone and mortar and built towering into the clouds. Small stone cottages dotted the countryside and farmers worked the land with no complaint and songs on their tongues. Their wives worked beside them or in the house, raising the children. Merchants called out their wares, nobility walked the cobble streets with their noses in the air.

He stood on the docks, ready to board a vessel that would take him to the eastern world, where unheard of treasure supposedly awaited. He had been planning this trip for years, against the wishes of his family. They loved that he was so revered for his bravery and strength, it meant prestige in the royal court and countless opportunities in wealth and marriage. But he craved more. He craved to explore and bring back honor from a distant land. "Wait!" The young man turned and saw a woman his age run up the docks, her skirts flying behind her as she raced to catch up.

He had known Robin since they were children. It had been their families hope that they would marry, but sadly it was not to be. Her father got too sickly before an agreement could be met and died before she was of age. His father died shortly after and, as the sole male heir, he simply hadn't agreed to do it. Most would call him mad, for Robin had eyes the color of a summer sky and her hair was a soft, honey brown. She had received many offers for her hand, but she had obviously been pining after him.

He simply didn't notice at this moment. "Do you have to go? There's more than enough places for you to explore here, where..." Where what? Where it was safe? Where it was familiar? "Who knows what might happen while you're at sea? Or while you're...wherever you're going..."

"Japan, Robin. It's a small island country, I told you about it." He smiled, and put his hands on her shoulders, "Robin, don't you see what this could mean? A place neither of us have ever been before. A chance to learn about another people, maybe fight other beasts and learn their ways." He couldn't wait to see what kind of game was there. He wondered what their food was like. Did they eat on plates like they did or with their hands, like others said they did? He was itching to know. The sailor who was pulling all of his luggage onto the massive ship advised him that the captain wanted to set sail before the storm set in ahead. Robin grabbed his sleeve, cheeks flushed as tears welled in her eyes.

"Please, don't go. I may never see you again...I may be married by the time you return." He smiled, ruffling her hair gently.

"If you are, I hope your new husband and I bond through the love we both have of you, Robin. And don't worry, I'll be home before you know it." He finally headed up the gangplank, heart filled with possibilities.

Lord Mitch Mitchelson of Devonshire was going abroad!

Buttercup's back ached.

She lay on her stomach, stubbornly refusing to moan in agony as Butch nearly begged her to reconsider training and to allow him to recant his vestiges' duties in that. She had stumbled home, leaving the three orcs back at the battle grounds. Probably for the best too, she had decided. Once the dragon had seen the bruises on her face and hands, he had almost flown into a rage (and probably would have torched his own training grounds down).

She had to remind him over and over for two hours that she had been the one to ask to be trained seriously. Black had been stuck in her classes for most of that, so she was given a short moment of peace while the maids slathered her back with a cooling salve (they said it was called a "roe" or something). Butch had stayed in the room, since they were married now after all, but he had his back turned to her while they talked.

"I don't see why you want to learn to fight, Joji. I've seen you fight in your village, you're already stronger than most girls."

"That's the thing. I don't want to be just stronger than most girls. I want to be able to defend myself, Black, even you." Butch snorted out smoke, but his cheeks were red.

"I don't need to be defended."

"Right. I never want to see a basilisk again and not know how to fight it. So if being tossed around by a few orcs is what it takes , then so be it." Butch sighed, but relented.

"I spent most of my life training to protect my territory and my mate and I wind up with a mate that wants to protect me...figures." Buttercup swatted at him, muttering that it was his fault for kidnapping her. The maids finally finished their task, excusing themselves while quietly giggling about how their lord and lady were finally acting like a couple. Butch sighed and laid on his back, perpendicular to Buttercup. He raised his eyes until his reptilian green gaze held hers. Buttercup stared back, thinking about how he used to repulse and annoy her. Now she felt the love she had for him growing until she wanted to shout it at him. But she couldn't.

For some reason, it was like an invisible hand was placed over her mouth. Buttercup could not tell him how she felt. Butch snorted, "we're going to be the most talked about couple in the castle."

"It's your fault for kidnapping your bride, you know."

"Well, do be sure to ask her if she's forgiven me yet."

"She's working on it."

"Glad to hear that there's hope for me." Butch yawned, "are you certain you want to train with my soldiers? I know things have been slow around here recently, but soon we'll be hosting guests again."

"Again? Why?"

"We're recently married and its customary for high ranking yokai to visit other high ranking yokai when they marry. Already, there's letters from all over, asking when is the best time for them to come over." Buttercup groaned. She had hoped that she wouldn't have to deal with that.

"Yes, I still want to train...can't you just-" she flayed her arms around, "-scare them off? Threaten to burn their village or something." He choked and began cracking up. "RAWR! Fear me, peasants! Leave me be so that my wife can train in peace and not have to host tea ceremonies!"

"S...sorry!" He was finally able to stop laughing, "but that doesn't work as well on other yokai as it does humans. I'm sure the rulers of the yuki-onna* will just make me into their latest ice sculpture."

"Yuki-onna?!"

"Yep. They'll be here in the winter, though. They don't travel far in the spring or summer months."

"Okay, but why do we have to prepare now?"

"We have the merfolk, oni*, tengu*, kappa*, and that's just to name a few. Really, the only ones I'm not concerned about are the kitsune*. I haven't hosted them for years."

"Why is that...?" Buttercup sat up a little and looked at Butch. Butch sighed, looking off in the distance as he relived some memory.

"It's not my story to tell. Just know that the alliance between the Kitsune Clans and the Dragons of the East is long over and I don't really expect it to be re-established any time soon. I take it Blossom told you about Brute."

"She said a little. All I know is she's in love with you, but you won't have her."

"Something like that." He continued, "Brute is infatuated with me at most. I'm the only male she's met who didn't fall for one of her sisters. Maybe it's because we've known each other since we were small." Buttercup listened carefully, feeling her heart clench as he talked about it. "I went off for a time before returning home one day. By then, she was fully grown. I was still considered an adolescent. She begged me to accept her as a mate and take her along, but I refused. Back then, it was because I was more interested in territory than a mate. Now it's simply because...I don't feel that way towards her."

"What do you feel?"

"...About Brute...? Good question. I haven't thought about it in a long time..." Butch looked at her, "I'm still too busy thinking about you, after all." Buttercup blushed, but pressed on. She had to know.

"Did...did you ever love her...?" He stared at her for a long time before answering.

"Yes...but not the way she wanted me to." She didn't understand what that really meant. Does he mean he loved her as a sister or maybe he loved her too much to make her a secondary wife? Is there a chance...that Buttercup might lose him to Brute? Dark thoughts swarmed her head as she imagined coming home one day to see Brute in her place, on his arm, whispering loving words while he stared at her like he was looking at Buttercup right now. She wanted to vomit. Butch blew smoke in her face, giving her an irritated look. "I know that face, you know. No, Brute has no chance becoming even a secondary wife. Our friendship is long dead, after all."

"But why? Why is it did and is it really or-"

"I'm not allowed to say, Buttercup." He sat up. "I've told you that Bell killed her sister, remember?" Buttercup remembered that day. It seemed like it was a day cursed with misfortune. First Butch tells her a grim rumor of Bell murdering her sister in cold blood and then she meets Brute, who warped her thoughts with lies. "I don't know the full story of that, but if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you much more than I already have. To us dragons, secrets are sacred. They are burned into our memories and the most valuable bit of treasure we own. Some are harmless, some of harmful, and some...are just horrendous. The only ones who could tell you about Bell and why she killed Beau is Bell and Blare, because it is their secret. The same applies here...except it's Boomer and Bubbles' secret."

So the reason the kitsunes and dragons weren't allies anymore had to do with Bubbles and Boomer. Buttercup tried to imagine what the blonde haired, blue eyed couple could be a part of that was so horrific that it ended an alliance - and friendship- that lasted years. She found it hard to imagine Bubbles, with her sweet personality and bell like laugh, could purposely do anything bad. And Boomer was the same. She remembered him doting on Bubbles during her wedding reception (before getting drunk).

Butch went on, "if I tell you too much, Boomer would have grounds to challenge me on his territory. And if I fight him and lose, we'll lose everything. My horde, my territory...hell, I would even lose you and Black. I can't risk it."

"Why would you lose so much just for telling a secret?"

"To a dragon, telling a secret is like stealing." Buttercup began to understand. It was a crime against a dragon's honor to steal what was theirs.

"Well, what can you tell me?"

"...One of the kitsune...tried to assassinate Bubbles and failed."

I think this is a good a place as any to end this chapter.

Boomer - Wow.

Shhhh. Not much to say in regards to Author's Notes. Ummm...oh, sorry it took so long to get this out. I was having trouble with how to get Mitch to Japan since it's the Feudal Era and England would be in it's Medieval Era right now. Then I said "Skip this" and just went with it. So sorry, I'm all out of consistency. No consistency until tomorrow when the shipment comes in. Have some vocabulary instead.

Bokkan - A wooden training sword most commonly seen in aikido, kendo, jaido, kenjutsu, and jodo (martial arts). It's a safer alternative to using a real sword (plus Butch refused to let Buttercup use a sword or to let his vassels use a sword against his wife.

Yuki Onna - A famous Japanese Monster whose name directly translates into Snow Woman. I've turned this from one singular monster into an entire species. These monsters are incredibly powerful and generally take the form of women. Now the tales of Yuki-Onna can vary from region to region, depending where you look. Some say they take the form of beautiful young women who captivate men and become their brides, before human error rolls on in like "Hey fam" and the yuki-onna abandons their husband (or low-key dies). Some say the yuki-onna willt trick wary passangers into holding their "child" to keep them warm in a blizzard. Doing so will result in the victim growing heavier and heavier until they freeze to death. Refusing will result in the yuki-onna attacking and killing the victim in rage. There is only one story I've found that the victim escapes unharmed. Some say they will steal children during the winter or that seeing one will result in the harvest being different from last year. There are a lot of stories surrounding yuki-onna but the general consensus is that they are beautiful, but cold creatures made of ice that are better left alone.

Tengu - Another famous type of Japanese monster. A type of bird like monster that is very revered in the Shinto belief. Opposite of the yuki-onna (which are usually depicted as female), the tengu are generally thought to be male. They're usually depicted as warrior like and are also highly respected. The monster is based off the chinese tiangou (there are special characters in that name, but I am unable to type them sorry) which translates to "Heavenly Dog". However, most recognize the tengu as being a type of bird monster (usually based of birds of prey like hawks). It's unknown why this transition from the canine family to the avian family, but we'll be using the avian version here. Also, the tengu are also considered to be incredibly formidable, with one piece of literature citing that a single tengu is able to carry off a dragon.

Kappa - An aquatic type of yokai that is characterized as very mischevious. They are usually depicted as amphibious human beings with green skin (sometimes described as slimy), webbed hands and feet, and a turtle-shell like carapace on their backs. They also have an indention on their heads that retain water, which if damaged or spilled, will weaken the kappa. Their characteristics will range from being somewhat harmless to outright violent, so I'd say they're as close to human as you can get. They're usually around the size of a child.

Oni - The word Oni is often translated to "demon", but that's not particularly the case. "Oni" is the monicur used for monsters that would otherwise be called ogres, trolls, ghouls, etc. Oni, in this case, is being used to describe ogres and trolls. These are the most common types of yokai heard about and are generally depicted as large hulking humanoid creatures with horns (sometimes one, sometimes more) and even multiple eyes (or one eye). They're usually considered to be malevolent, attacking villages/killing travelers/stealing women/kidnapping children/etc. We've mentioned them a few times here in GM, but they are considered more savage in this world. At this time, most of the yokai (or monster) world has more or less adopted the idea of tolerating humans and even emulating in some aspects. Oni are still adverse to humans and will attack and harass them whenever they get the chance.

Kitsune - I don't know if I explained this one, so I will now. The kitsune are fox yokai who are extremely well known (thanks to being reoccuring characters in many popular animes and mangas, as well as dramas). They are generally depicted as beautiful women (or men) who beguile their partners into marriage. Most of these stories end with the kitsune leaving at some point (either because of good ole human error or the kitsune was just messing around in the first place). Their personalities can range from story to story, but they're usually viewed as tricksters who torment the good and severely punish the evil (to the point of death in some instances). Of all, these monsters have to be one of my favorites, so we'll see them more often the not. It's also thought that a kitsune will have a lot of powerful abilities like shapeshifting and control over the elements.

Next time on Green Maiden!

Black - This chapter is missing a lot of me.

...

Black - So we're gonna have mORE ME!

Tar - NYAR!

Wait, that's not the nex-

Black - See you guys then.

WAI- (screen cuts out)