Sticks and Stones

A/N- More fluff!

Ch 4

Artie was freaking about this. "Why would they do this? We were having a personal moment!" he said looking at the paper that Fiona had shown him.

"I think it was Lancelot. He wanted to do this to make you pay because he didn't finish on you in Worchester." Shrek suggested calmly. Artie scowled at that. But then he remembered that it was December and his birthday was on Christmas Eve. He smiled at that. "He can't wreck it this year because I'm turning eighteen and becoming a man! I'm throwing a huge party at the castle in Far, Far Away. It's gonna rock!" he thought as he secretly planned his guest list. Fiona smiled at that. She knew he loved his birthday but Lancelot was watching him. "I think by wrecking his party, you could be King." He told Charming smiling evilly. "What's your plan?" he asked Lance. "Don't rush me. I'm thinking on it." He answered.

He then chuckled. Ruing somebody's life was fun but Charming seemed sad. "What's wrong man? In a few weeks you're going to be King of Far, Far Away." He asked Charming. "It's just I… miss Rapunzel. She was just like me and we were going to rule together but then Fiona and her friends went and ruined it all." He explained to Lance angrily. Lance understood how he felt.

"What do you mean?" Charming asked him curiously. "I love Gwen with all my heart but now I see she's into that loser Artie. Now I wanna get revenge on him." he answered him sadly. He couldn't wait until Artie's birthday party. That was when he'd destroy the king in waiting's life. He then pulled out a spell book. He then flipped through the pages looking for magical mojo. He then found it in a transformation spell. "Let's see how Gwen likes it when he's a monster!" Charming cackled with him. He then watched as Artie and his friends were planning an awesome party. Lillian was doing damage control about the photo incident. She knew somebody had taken that picture and she wanted to find out who it was. Artie then gulped as he entered the castle. He knew Lillian would be angry at him. "Aunt Lillian I'm sorry. I never meant for that photo thing to happen. It was an accident." he said to her. "It's okay Artie. I know it was an accident. Besides we have more things to talk about like somebody's birthday. I know that you're getting the kingdom." she told him.

He smiled at that. He hoped that Lancelot and Charming wouldn't try to wreck it. He then went back to the swamp. For the next few weeks nothing bad happened but Artie wasn't sure. He had a feeling they'd start on him on his birthday. Shrek knew that might happen and needed to protect the teen. They then got into the onion carriage on the day of Artie's birthday to set off for Far, Far Away. Lillian smiled as they arrived later at the castle. "I'm glad you arrived safely. The servants are setting up the ball room for later. Don't worry the guards won't let Charming or Lancelot into the castle." she told them reassuringly. But Lancelot and Charming had already gotten into the castle by wearing hooded cloaks. Lancelot had snuck the potion into Artie's tea. He knew that he would drink it before going down for the party. Fiona watched as Artie went upstairs to get ready for the party. In his room he changed into a black frilly shirt, a long black coat, long trousers and a pair of black boots. "I look hot! I can't wait to see the look on Gwen's face when she sees me." he thought as he drank tea. He then felt really weird as a flash of light surrounded him. Shrek heard a loud ear splitting roar and ran upstairs. He kicked open the door and found Artie lying on the floor. He'd became a monstrous creature with fangs, dark blue fur, claws and almond coloured eye slits. He took a swat at his ogre friend without realising what he was doing.

"Artie stop! It's me Shrek! We're friends remember? Just calm down. I... wanna help you man. I don't know how this happened but I'll help ya get back to your normal self, okay?" he said calmly. He watched as the Artie beast calmed down. "Help me! I'm scared! I... don't know why this happened to me." Artie told him. Shrek smiled as he embraced his furry body. He listened as the kid just let it out. He had a feeling that Charming and Lance had done this but he was madder than before. "I can't go down there like this! The whole kingdom would freak especially Gwen and Lillian." Artie told him miserably. "Don't worry about it. I have an idea." Shrek said as he threw a hooded cloak around him. "Cool! Thanks man!" Artie said as he felt his friend kiss him on the lips. He blushed as they left the room and headed downstairs to the ball room.

But Gwen watched as Lance ran over to him and pulled off the cloak protecting Artie from letting anybody see his present appearance. Gwen was shocked and began to back away from him. "Gwen it's still me. Somebody did this to me, okay? Please don't leave me!" he said as she left him. "Goodbye Artie. I guess I was wrong about you." she told him running off. Charming laughed as he saw Artie upset. "This is your King? A beast! He should just be sent into the Forest like the rest of them to wait for his fate!" Charming said as guards grabbed Artie and walked out of the castle. Shrek was fuming and had followed them into the forest. He was mad that Charming had done that to Artie. He found Artie hiding in the inside of a huge tree. He could hear him sobbing. He felt sorry for Artie as he climbed into it. Artie was curled up in a ball with his head in his clawed hands. "Hey Artie I'm sorry those losers ruined your party. Maybe we could find a way to get your throne back. There has to be." he told him reassuringly. He'd been wearing a tuxedo. "There's no point man. They already won. Just let them get their way." Artie said defeated. Shrek couldn't blame the kid. Lance had been picking on him all his life since he first came to Worchester but Charming had started too on him because he wanted to be King.

"I want to help you get your inner strength back. That way we can take back your throne." he told him gently as he watched him close his eyes and fell asleep in the ogre's arms. He wanted the kingdom but was afraid. Would they still want him as a monster if the spell didn't wear off? Only time would tell...