//------------------------------// // Bertram’s Birthday // Story: Ogres and Oubliettes: The Gathering // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// Later, as night approached, Star Swirl and Bertram sit outside Golden Oaks, each with a pipe in their mouth, looking at the field where the party was to be held, the tents were set up and lanterns were lit. “Ahh… Old Toby. One of the finest weed in the Southeastern fields,” Bertram said. He blew a ring of smoke. Star Swirl smiled and blew a ship of smoke, sailing through the smoke ring that Bertram made. “Star Swirl, my old friend. This will be a night to remember,” Bertram said. A huge firework exploded over the party field below, showering the crowd in sparks, which disappeared right before they hit the villagers, while a group carried a large cake to a safer spot in order to avoid being splattered to crumbs. A lot of people were dancing, eating from the buffets, drinking and talking with each other. Bertram was greeting his guests at the entrance, “Hello, hello. Lovely to see you! Welcome, welcome!” Spike was dancing with the crowd, as Star Swirl let another set of fireworks off, which took the form of arrows flying through the air. Meanwhile, Bertram was sitting in front of a group of little children, telling one of his stories of his adventures. The children listened in apprehension. “So then there I was, at the mercy of three monstrous ogres! And they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit, like skewering a fat pig and roasting it for a rotisserie, or whether they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly. But actually it’s quite good on toast.” Star Swirl was seen dancing with the citizens, sticking out like as sore thumb. “They spent so much time arguing with the withertos and the whyfors, that without realizing it, the sun’s first light cracked over the top of the trees. . . poof!” The children gasped and jumped a little. “And turned them all to stone!” Star Swirl got some more fireworks from his carriage, laughing and having a good time. A hobbit boy named Snips poked out from the otherside of the carriage and watched Star Swirl leave. He smacked the tent flap and another hobbit boy named Snails came out from behind a tent. They stopped beside the carriage. “Quickly!” Snips said. Snips gave Snails a boost onto the carriage, until he started searching for a good firework to use. Snips looked over his shoulder to see what Star Swirl was doing. Star Swirl was unaware of what Snips and Snails were doing, until he let off some fireworks that looked like butterflies. “Whoa! Up they go,” he said. He laughed as he watched the children run after the butterflies, trying to catch them. Snails showed a firework to Snips. “No, the big one, big one,” Snips said. Snails found one shaped as a large Chinese dragon in red and gold. Snips gasped and nodded. Snails jumped down from the carriage, and into the tent beside it. Snips took a bite from an apple trying to look inconspicuous and followed Snails into the tent. Bertram shook more hands of people showing up at his party. “Mr and Mrs. Cake, how nice to see you two this evening. Welcome, welcome. And congratulations on your twins, and thank you for the cake!” Bertram watched as they passed by and looked surprised. As they move on, Bertram listened to the crowd. Until he suddenly felt a presence. He whipped around in fear, when he saw Spike behind him. He pointed in the direction where he heard the relatives of his, and he and Spike ran away quickly to find a hiding place. “Sackville-Pendragons! Quickly, hide!” Two sour and grumpy looking people push their way through the crowd looking for Bertram. Bertram and Spike stop beside a tent and Bertram covered his face with his jacket. The couple appeared around the corner of the tent, yet do not see Bertram or Spike. They continue on, looking for Bertram. Bertram then turned to Spike, “Thank you, my boy, You’re a good lad, Spike. I’m very selfish, you know. Yes, I am. Very selfish. I don’t know why I took you in after your mother and father died but it wasn’t out of charity. I think it was because of all my numerous relations you were the one Pendragon that showed real spirit.” “Uncle Bertram, have you been at the town’s home brew?” Spike asked in concern. Bertram looked confused, “No…well, yes, but that’s not the point. The point is, Spike… you’ll be all right.” He then took a sip of his ale and Spike looked at him in confusion over what Bertram just said to him. Inside a tent, Snips and Snails lit up the firework that they took. Snails stood up after lighting the firework, “Done!” “You’re supposed to stick it in the ground!” Snips said, as he pushed the firework onto Snails. “It is in the ground,” Snails pushed it to Snips. “Outside!” Snips pushed it back to Snails. “It was your idea!” Snails started to push it back to Snips when the firework ignited and flew off. Everyone around turned towards the explosion and watched. Snips and Snails were knocked back onto the ground, their faces black from the explosion. The firework got high into the sky and exploded into an array of sparks. The crowd starts to clap and cheer as they watch. The firework then turned into a colossal red dragon, and it flew down towards the party field. The people ran away in fright, screaming. “Uncle Bertram? Uncle, look out for the dragon!” Spike shouted. “Dragon? Nonsense! There hasn’t been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years,” Bertram said. Spike pulled Bertram to the ground, as the dragon flew over them, barely making it over the field, before it exploded into a mass of colors. The people cheered and clapped, while Snips and Snails watched with stunned but satisfied faces. “That was good!” Snips said. “Let’s get another one,” Snails said. Star Swirl came up behind them and grabbed them each by their ear. Snips and Snails looked up, wincing. “Snips and Snails. I might’ve known,” Star Swirl said. Star Swirl sat down puffing his pipe, watching Snips and Snails doing the dishes after having cake and buffet. “Speech, Bertram! Speech!” a villager shouted. “Come on, Uncle! At least give them a few words,” Spike said, encouraging his uncle. Bertram got up and bowed to the beckonings. He stepped up on a barrel under the great tree and opened his arms welcomingly, “My dear friends of Wildebrook. Today is my 88th birthday!” “Happy birthday!” the people said, cheering for him. But alas, eighty eight years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable people. Even though I’ve hardly haven’t had time to know half of you one another, but I’ve been very grateful to have met you and offer you my sincere gratitude for everything you’ve done for me over the years.” The people felt soft feelings in their hearts when he said those kind words, until Bertram pulled the ring out of his pocket and fingered it behind his back. Star Swirl watched closely, suspecting something. Spike watched, his smile slowly vanishing. “But sadly, I, uh, I have things to do,” Bertram said, before whispering to himself. “I’ve put this off for far too long.” He then turned to the crowd, “I regret to announce this is the end! I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Thank you all for coming this evening.” He then looked at Spike. “Goodbye.” He put on the Ring and disappeared magically. The people gasped, not knowing what to think. They turned to each and start to whisper about Bertram disappearing. Spike watched in shock and Star Swirl took his pipe from his mouth with surprise. There was a big commotion among the people as they looked around and whispered to each other. The door at the Golden Oaks opened, and once inside, Bertram took off the Ring, becoming visible. He walked into his study, laughing. He flipped the Ring in the air, then put it back in his pocket and patted it. He walked over and grabbed his walking stick. Suddenly, Star Swirl stood near a corner. “I suppose you think that was terribly clever,” Star Swirl said. “Come on, Star Swirl! Did you see their faces?” Bertram asked. “There are many magic rings in this world, Bertram Pendragon, and none of them should be used lightly,” Star Swirl said. “It was just a bit of fun! Oh, you’re probably right, as usual,” Bertram said, as he then started packing his stuff for the journey. “I assume you’re going on another journey?” Star Swirl asked. “Indeed. More sightseeing, and hopefully more time to think on how to finish up my book. And as for Spike, I’m leaving everything to him until I decide to return,” Bertram said. “What about this Ring of yours, is that staying too?” Star Swirl asked. “Yes, yes. It’s in an envelope over there on the mantelpiece,” Bertram replied, as Star Swirl went over to the mantelpiece looking for the envelope. “No. Wait, it’s here in my pocket,” Bertram said, as he pulled out the Ring and looked at it. “Heh, isn’t that–? Isn’t that odd, now? Yet, after all, why not? Why shouldn’t I keep it?” “I think you should leave the Ring behind, Bertram. Is that so hard?” Star Swirl asked. Bertram then started getting greedy and angry, “Well no. And yes! Now it comes to it. I don’t feel like parting with it. It’s mine. I found it! It came to me!” “There’s no need to get angry,” Star Swirl said. Bertram turned towards Star Swirl with a furious look on his face, “Well, if I’m angry, it’s your fault!” He then looked back at the Ring. “It’s mine. My own.” “What do you mean?” Star Swirl asked. “Argh! What business is it of yours what I do with my own things!” Bertram said. “I think you’ve had that Ring quite long enough,” Star Swirl said. “You want it for yourself!” Bertram said. Star Swirl took a step forward, and talked to Bertram with a dark, scary voice. The room grew dark around them, “Bertram Pendragon!” Bertram flung himself towards the wall behind him. “Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks. I am not trying to rob you.” The room got lighter again and Star Swirl softened his voice. “I’m trying to help you.” Bertram rushed into Star Swirl’s arms, weeping, “All your long years, we’ve been friends. Trust me as you once did. Let it go.” “You’re right, Star Swirl. The Ring must go to Spike. Yes, it is time,” Bertram said, but suddenly he felt a clutch in his chest, before he tumbled down on the floor, with Star Swirl catching him in his arms. “Bertram. Bertram! Speak to me, old friend!” he said, until Bertram looked at him weakly. “I’ve thought of an ending for my book: “And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days”.” “And I’m sure you will, my dear friend,” Star Swirl said. Bertram weakly opened his hand, letting the Ring fall to the floor. It hit the floor with a heavy thud.