Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 5
Chapter 6: The Gathering of Humility
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It had been six days since Deok-Su and Yasuchika came here as they were busy helping out in the kitchen with Reiko and Moro. Both of them were hard at work as they were even expecting the arrival of Albus, who was anxious to see Moro after being gone for so long on his hunting mission. Still, life was slowly returning to normal as I was there to check up on everything, but this day was something that I was trying not to forget so far. It was the sound of normality coming and going until I noticed the day on the calendar on the wall. It was the second day of May as it was also not only my birthday, but Gyatso's as well. By the time I noticed him sitting outside on the porch, he was looking at a cupcake that was baked for him. Even though he wanted it, but he wasn't about to be greedy with it as he saw me sit down next to him. Both of us had birthdays on the same day, but we also had to see what was looming in the future as well.
"Aren't you gonna eat that cupcake?" I asked.
"I was thinking that it should be cut in half so we can each get a piece," said Gyatso.
"We're expecting company from Wall Keep, but there will also be a surprise on the horizon."
"I heard that Albus was coming to pick up Moro."
"He is, but he also has business to report in before he goes back to Wall Keep in the Tensho Mountains."
"Hey, aren't the two of you supposed to be in the dining room by now?" asked Moro as she caught us on sight. "Besides, we made two birthday cakes instead of one, so I suggest that you get in there before the party starts."
"We'll be there, Moro," I said. "Besides, I can't forget my own birthday forever."
"By the way, Dean's coming with his family, so I suggest that you look alive before-"
Without warning, Moro felt a stabbing pain in her stomach as she noticed a wetness dripping between her legs. I came to her aid as I sensed that the child inside of her was ready to come out before the arrival of Albus. Even Gyatso was puzzled to see what was going on as he had a feeling that something was terribly wrong with Moro directly.
"Not now…," we heard her say as she walked towards a chair. "The baby wasn't due until another week, but it's too soon now."
"Let's get you inside," I said as I escorted Moro into the kitchen and towards the main area.
"Albus will be here any minute, but he's in for a surprise when our bundle of joy will be out into the open."
"Sam, what's wrong with Moro?" asked Gyatso as he followed us out fo curiosity.
"She's going into labor early," I said. "We need to get her towards the hospital area immediately."
I carted Moro further out of main area as we were going towards the entrance to the hospital area in which we noticed Reuben standing in front of us. As usual, he had his stern demeanor at the ready, but now wasn't the time to be putting up with his rhetoric right now. A dire emergency was happening as I wasn't about to let Moro suffer too much while going into labor too soon.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the dining room for your birthday party, Sam?" he asked me.
"This isn't the time to celebrate my birthday right now," I said as I was worried for Moro's life.
"He's right," said Kalindra as she was dressed in fresh medical scrubs. "I had a feeling that Mumsy's prediction would come true and it's right on Sam's birthday."
"I can feel its head coming out!"
At that moment, we ushered Moro towards one of the sterile rooms as Reuben and I were also dressed up in medical scrubs. With Moro laying down on a bed, we noticed Kalindra beginning to start the process of delivery as she was on hand into making sure that no complications were present. This wasn't the first time that I witnessed the birth of many children as I wasn't about to miss this moment that occurred on the day of my birthday.
"It's too soon 'cause Albus will be here at any minute..." said Moro.
"Save your strength," said Kalindra. "That little one will stop at nothing to show her head soon."
"Albus will be floored to see that it will be a girl soon..."
"Let's push so we can all get it over with," said Reuben.
Without warning, I noticed Moro pushing with all of her might as she felt the baby's head emerging with her legs spread open. With Kalindra taking charge, she noticed a head of purple hair emerging as she gently pulled it out carefully. By the time we helped along with Moro giving the final push, the baby was finally out as it was a small newborn Orcress with silver tips on her ears. I noticed the newest arrival having her cord cut and tied while dressed in a swaddling blanket as she wailed with a good set of lungs. It wasn't long until we noticed Albus burst into the sterile room as he was stunned to see the newborn Orcress out into the open at last.
"It's a girl," I said.
"I bet that the gods wanted the small one to be born on your birthday after all the moment the Draaza boy told me about it," said Albus as he rushed to Moro's side.
"She's all Orc with silver tips," she said as she was exhausted.
"The little one is a spitting image of Moro with Kirgar blood in her veins," said Reuben as he was busy removing the afterbirth while throwing it away in a waste container. "This isn't the first time that she was born on someone's birthday and it won't be the last."
"You there…," said Albus as he was staring at me. "We need a name for the new arrival since you came back as promised by Old Lady Sybil."
"That's up to you and Moro to decide," I said. "Besides, names can't be decided be Elders alone for other members of the Order of Letters and the Judah Initiative." I noticed Reuben glaring at me as I had to do my part into giving the new arrival a name for it. "On second thought, I'll name the newborn Sura because of the factor that some Orcs view that name to be a strong one due to what is witnessed earlier."
"We'll stick to it, Sam," said Moro. "Besides, I looked up in the Kirgar family tree and noticed a relative named Sura in it and she was one of the founders of Wall Keep."
I noticed Kalindra handing little Sura to Moro as she was starting to get hungry after coming out unexpectedly. Even though I decided to give the new parents some time to bond with their newborn, I left the room with a smile on my face as I followed Reuben and Kalindra out into the hall. It wasn't long until we noticed Gyatso standing in front of us as he was concerned about what went on earlier. Even though he shared a birthday with me, the both of us were already making room for little Sura on the horizon as we were going towards the kitchen. With the festivities of the birthday celebration on schedule, everything was going fine until I noticed General Arbogast entering through the back door while overseeing every nook and cranny throughout the castle and the town. The presence of him coming here uninvited set internal alarms off within me as he was itching to get back at me for the humiliation at the ramen stand over a week ago.
"Well, well; if it isn't the moron who continues to shit on the little guy," he said to me as he stood firm in front of me and Gyatso. "You're probably chomping away at cake instead of taking care of the rest of the townsfolk who are without their homes here in Kanto Village."
"This isn't the time to exchange jabs right now," I said as I was trying to get out of the general's way.
"You may think that you're upping the ante on such grandeur, but what about the other residents here and those who have been displaced by Darbus' cold and soulless creations almost ten months ago? Have you forgotten about that in mind?"
"Darbus Toller was killed by his own daughter while she blew up his ship before returning here with a teleportation stone until it was confiscated. Luckily, everyone was lenient on her in which she vowed to stop the further production of the same soulless dolls that caused misery all over the galaxy."
"Remember this very well, Sam! The people come first before us and as for the birthday party, I suggest that you give all the cake and ice cream to those who are in much need than you. Still, I'm holding you to your commitment into making damn sure that you live up to your reputation into honoring the little guy or else I'll come back, is that clear to you?"
When I saw General Arbogast leave, I was left stunned by his comments as I stared at the birthday cake that was made for me. Once again, I was on the defensive as I was on the verge of not celebrating my birthday again. It was too much for me again as I went outside on the porch to think about what the general said to me. His words about putting others first before oneself was something that didn't leave my mind so far, for I was in a bind that could never let me go anytime soon…
Deok-Su was sitting next to the stream as she heard the noise of Yasuchika's biwa being strummed while enjoying the warm weather that was a godsend here. It would be a while before the two of them would be returned to their respected regions as they were most likely to be getting word from their home turfs anytime soon. In the meantime, they were enjoying the life here on the castle grounds as they didn't have much to do so far. Even though they were having a moment of bliss together, their time to lounge around was interrupted by the arrival of General Arbogast as he was outside of the main house and going towards the gate. As usual, he was assuring that everything went towards the people who were still not ready to go to their homes yet, but he wasn't about to let me treat myself to anything soon and that included my birthday as well.
"I take it that you're not here for the party favors," said Yasuchika as he put away his biwa.
"Sam may have gotten back from exile on Shiganshina, but that doesn't mean that he can be the man of the day," said General Arbogast. "The little guy must be shown the respect that it deserves, so I suggest that the people here should get the cake instead of the one who's having the party."
"But Sam's birthday is today, General," said Deok-Su. "As I recall, he used his raw power to repel a group of angels from killing me and Yasuchika six days ago."
"That's a load of horse shit! Sam's still treading on the little guy while the rest of the people in other places have suffered from the wrath of Darbus and his soulless dolls all the live long. Still, we all need to pull our weight instead of indulging to our self-needs 'cause the little guy should never be ignored!"
"I hate to put a damper on your lecture, General, but you can't just push Sam around like that after he saved us," said Yasuchika as he displayed the royal tattoo on his wrist by accident. "Um, sorry for the inconvenience..." He shakes with embarrassment as he covers up the tattoo. "Still, you should show respect to Sam after he saved me and Deok-Su from certain death, so I suggest that you get off your high horse and show humility towards him."
"Are you thumbing your nose at the little guy, son? Are you digging out your boogers just to fling at him in his time of need?"
"I'm not afraid of you, but know this in front." Yasuchika uncovers his royal tattoo as he showed it to General Arbogast. "My name is Yasuchika Kurotaka and I'm also a prince of Clavell Valley. As for your talk about standing up for the little guy, why can't you stand up for yourself for once?"
"The real reason why I don't do indulgences is because of what I witnessed during my mission to Kabizashi when those things with blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin showed no mercy and caused slaughter at the orders of their deceased master. The survivors suffered far worse than illness and injury when most of their dignity had been put through hell. As for my own predicament in mind, I refuse to embrace such self-needs after what I witnessed, so I suggest that you think thoroughly about what's been going on here."
Without warning, General Arbogast heard the sound of a car approaching as he got out of the way with the gates opening up. By the time he saw the Impala pulling in, it stopped as Dean got out of the driver's side and was ready to see me in all my glory on my birthday, which was very important after all. When he saw General Arbogast standing near the gates, he had a bad feeling that his aspirations for ruining my day were very high as he was willing to punch him instead of showing respect for the blowhard in question.
"Well, well; if it isn't the blowhard who prefers stale crackers than a full-course meal," he said.
"The little guy prefers the full-course meal because of what has happened in the past nine months," said General Arbogast. "And to put a blow on such matters that consider the people's needs, your little brother throws a birthday party instead of helping those in need."
"There are other members of the Alecrian Army on deck into helping out the people who got burned by Darbus' popularity and his efforts to silence those who stood against him. I'm no stranger to dealing with such crap 'cause I didn't bow down and kiss Darbus' ass for the months that my brother and his family fled from Alecrast until I found them and brought them home."
"Good for you… And what about the rest of us who suffered from that bastard and his soulless dolls he paraded around? What about the damages he wrought in the town of Kabizashi? Darbus was just coming up roses when he used his artificial creations to put some of the Jewish residents to the slaughter until he wore out his welcome the moment those Orcs from Wall Keep kicked him out. And what about Akatsuki? A suicide bomber sent by Darbus blows up a teahouse that killed many people, but the survivor of the attack made it out, but he was once labeled as the King of Hell until he dropped off the map. Or what about the worst part in that seaside town of Vanizia? Darbus and his groupies made an effort to cause slaughter over there when they even killed that collector and placed an inverted pink triangle on him before they tore him to pieces. Even the copies of the popular Supernatural books and spinoffs that got published didn't escape the media machine that Darbus put to the flames and that included the death of that bookstore owner. These atrocities we've been cleaning up have costed us millions of gaurhee just to rebuild those towns and the people come first before our own interests."
"And what about Dr. Ichinose? He got mowed down by Darbus' lackeys until they got taken out by Gadreel and Shotaro a few months back. He may have been Sam and Reiko's doctor, but his death won't be in vain." Dean notices me hearing the exchange between him and Dr. Arbogast as I saw him stand his ground against the blowhard. "As for the soulless dolls that Darbus churned out, they tried to do away with Sam and his family on Shiganshina, tried to ambush us on Albarn, and attempted to cause havoc on Westeros. I even aided in the effort to shut down the factories that the asshat made for himself on Trost, Nedegratys, and Maugrim, but we came out swinging just to go home to finding the dirt roads littered with the leftovers. And furthermore, Darbus is sleeping with the asteroids 'cause his influence will never come here again after his uncle and admirer got caught and put in prison. As for Sam's predicament, he's had it worse most of his life when we left this planet, only to endure such abuses from Sylvanus, but the only thing that saved him from becoming a bitter person is not only the books he had, but his kind heart that stood head first in the end."
General Arbogast was unmoved by Dean's words as he was walking towards me, who was listening on the conversation I noticed. He was ready to make his move to topple me until I noticed Chuck emerging from the main house while wagging his tail. He noticed General Arbogast to be such a prominent blowhard to the end as he ran towards him while hiking up his leg to pee. He was aiming at the general as he did his business on his leg before he left the castle grounds with a stormy look on his face. I stared at the small dog as he was there to cause embarrassment to the man who always stuck up to the "little guy." Even Dean was smiling as he was grateful that the blowhard who left didn't cause too much of an uproar so far.
"Looks like the general made an exit," he said.
"General Arbogast is the worst one in the Alecrian Army," said Chuck. "The guy prefers munching on stale crackers then participate in a family dinner in his honor. The guy has no self-worth whatsoever because of the fact that he puts everyone else's needs over his own and that's just sad."
"He's right about what he witnessed when it comes to those who suffered from the weight of Darbus' machinations," I said. "It's like he kept telling me: the people come first, not us in our self-needs and cares. I know that we have to put up with the repair effort to restore Kanto Village, but in the end, we all have to pull our weight for others."
"Anyway, isn't today your birthday, Sam?"
"It is, but I won't be having first dibs on the cake that Reiko baked. As for the people who are still taking up temporary residence in the castle, they can have some."
"Hey, don't let this day be a repeat offender like last year," said Dean as he was walking towards me while having a stern look on his face. "Last time, you tried to avoid it after trying so hard to do so, only to allow it to happen on the spot. This time, you're doing it again, but you're under pressure from that blowhard just to allow the so-called 'little guy' some space instead of your own personal needs."
"I'm not the only one who has a birthday, Dean. Gyatso has one today and so does the new arrival, Sura. Still, we all celebrate our birthdays on the same day, but in the end, the needs of others trumps our own."
"And what about you? You put everything off just to make damn sure that we have a fair share of the pie. On the ladder, you put the needs of your family, friends, and the townsfolk who are staying here until their homes are restored, but what position do you have? You get stuck on the bottom and that hurts us more than what you suffer from."
"You once told me that the day I once feared was being on Gehenna all over again… I remember being in my room on my birthday over the years with nothing but a cupcake with a candle on it. I was once disappointed all because of the fact that I got overlooked all the time and it hurts so bad. Now that General Arbogast keeps telling me to put the needs of others over mine, he'll end up coming back just to poke at me like he did at the ramen stand."
"Hey, don't listen to that asshat 'cause your birthday is happening whether you like it or not." I sighed so heavily as I couldn't get the comments from General Arbogast out of my head. "This isn't a joke or a debate 'cause you matter the most when you came back home and that's all that mattered. You even stood up to Reinhardt when he used Darbus' leftovers to do away with the townsfolk here in Kanto Village. In the end, don't let anything stop you. Even if you are belittled, put aside, or deemed worthless, you always outshine every expectation that is put in front of you and that's a fact. Now, then; are you coming to your party or do I have to drag you by the hair?"
I couldn't say no as I followed Dean towards the backyard in which I noticed a plethora of barbecue and appetizers on the sly. Even Barca was staring at the meat that was cooking as he was itching to get some of the bones that are left behind. By the time I noticed Deok-Su and Yasuchika sprinting to the food that was cooking, they were also waiting for the festivities to start as there were three birthday cakes instead of two due to the birth of Sura earlier. By the time I noticed the children being ushered outside for the outdoor festivities, they were most likely to be having the food served first before the cake. Even the rest of the people who were in the main house were ready to celebrate this occasion as it was a moment to savor so far without the further meddling of General Arbogast.
Just as I was about to go towards the festivities, I noticed Reiko approaching with the twins in tow as they were on hand into seeing me in all my glory with my birthday so far. Even though I had a bit of trouble with trying to put it off, I was coaxed at the last minute as I saw the largest gathering since the fair nearly two years ago. Even Dean was wanting me to get some food to eat as he grabbed my arm and hauled me towards the picnic table filled with freshly cooked meat and side dishes.
"Well, Sammy, what do you think?" he told me as he got out a plate.
"I never saw so much food here since the fair," I answered.
"Then you better dig in before this party is over 'cause Magda and the girls will be here soon and they'll also reign in the dim sum and shrimp dumplings they can muster."
"Let's hope that the blowhard general doesn't crash this party."
I was digging into the food I had on my plate as I tasted the meat that was grilled with such tender accuracy. With Dean going for the pies in the dessert table, I was not about to let my time go to waste as I was enjoying the food on my plate with such gusto on the side. It was the best thing that I had so far as I was enjoying with ease, but I later noticed General Arbogast coming back again just to pick at me. He wasn't about to let me enjoy my party anytime soon as he was about to let me have it in spades, for he was still committed to forcing the "little guy" rhetoric on those who balance time between themselves and the people around them. When I set my plate of food down on the picnic table, I noticed him standing in front of me as he punched me in the eye in a blow that made me fall down into the grass. Anger flooded him as he wasn't about to let me get away with what he calls being selfish for my personal needs. By the time I got up on my feet, I was pushed down again as I saw General Arbogast standing in front of me like a bully attacking a small child on a playground.
"You're still celebrating your birthday after I told you all about the needs of the little guy?!" he yelled as he placed his foot over my ankle. "You're not getting the picture about others in need and you still focus on your self-needs instead of others who have been displaced from their homes and businesses! As for this birthday party, it's nothing but a mockery just to stick one's ass in the little guy's face!"
"You have no right to be here, General!" I cried as I was reeling from the last blow.
"I have every right to be here because of the fact that I stand up for the people instead of myself. As for putting one's needs first before the many who have suffered from the yoke of the Tollers, that is considered to be selfish and I won't tolerate it for the next few months or so!"
"I'm here now, aren't I? I stood up to Reinhardt, didn't I? I used my raw power to rebuild some of the homes and businesses that were destroyed in the attack last month, didn't I? Why can't you let me enjoy what I have at my disposal for once?!"
"And what about the people who suffered in Kabizashi, Akatsuki, and Vanizia?! Did they enjoy what they got at their disposal?!" I shook my head in shame as I was staring at the general who refused to get off my case. "While you were off in some backwater planet, those people lost loved ones, businesses, and even a teahouse! For starters, the people's needs trump our own, so I suggest that you get over it!"
"This is not only my birthday, but for one of my wards and a future niece who was born over an hour ago. My party is not only for me or my family, but the townsfolk who lost their homes to Reinhardt Toller's terror..."
"What the hell are you staring at?!" General Arbogast sees some of the townsfolk who were living here temporary stare at him as he wasn't about to let me get off the hook that easily. "The people come first, so I suggest that you get off your asses and stand up to the one who thinks highly of himself!"
"Back away from him!" yelled the grocer who was one of the temporary residents here on the castle grounds. "How dare you do that to Sam after he gave us a roof after our town got ransacked by Reinhardt Toller and his nephew's leftovers?! As for your importance of the so-called 'little guy,' you and your army weren't there to help us except for the four soldier corps units that came from the Order! You have no right to belittle Sam or treat him like a dog because he came back for a reason just to protect us when the chips were down! And you call yourself a general in the Alecrian Army?! You're nothing but a deranged bully! Even the squad leader of the Hunter Corps doesn't like you much all because you talk about people being selfish by putting themselves first! If I were you, I suggest that you allow Sam to put himself first after all the trouble into helping us out in the repair effort in Kanto Village or else I'll file a complaint to Chief Tamanori! In a broader sense, everyone else matters and so does Sam because he was there to help repair some of the homes and businesses that went tits-up when Reinhardt punched holes with his club when he got here."
"Have it your way then..." I saw General Arbogast back away from me as he took his foot off from my ankle. "You're on my shit list, Sam! You may get off easily when some of the townsfolk here were thankful that you were here, but you won't last another few seconds from me! You can enjoy your birthday with a bulls-eye on your face, but you won't be enjoying anything else fancy in the coming months! Instead of going to social gatherings, you're going to food drives and flea markets. Instead of going to the spa for a massage, you're going to the public bathhouses. Instead of going to a ramen stand to enjoy a nice bowl of the good stuff, you'll be going to some backwater diner just to eat rice balls and stale crackers. Instead of going to the theater on occasions with your family and friends, you're gonna spend the rest of your year watching wrestling matches, monster truck rallies, and bad karaoke, so I suggest that you get strapped in and enjoy the guilt trip."
I watched General Arbogast leave the grounds again as I got up on my feet while feeling at the black eye I received earlier. When I got to my food that was on the picnic table, I began to finish it as I felt the guilt of being selfish being hung over my head. By the time I saw Gyatso coming here with a plate of dim sum and shrimp dumplings, he noticed me to be downhearted as he sat down beside me. Even when the both of us were celebrating our birthdays on the same day, one of us was put under the microscope of scrutiny as I just wanted to go back into the house and go to bed after the party was over. The words from General Arbogast stung me to the core as I couldn't shake them off so readily, but I wasn't about to get around Gyatso and his curiosity just yet.
"Are you feeling alright, Sam?" he asked me.
"I'm fine, but I'll live," I answered.
"Why is there a black eye on your face? Did someone hurt you?"
"Where's that prick?!" I heard Dean yell out as he saw me in my worst predicament. "I want that blowhard general to get his ass kicked for this!"
"He left, Dean," I said as my voice choked out a sob that made my brother furious.
"General Arbogast is not coming back here again! If I even see him here, I'll slug the crap out of him!"
"He'll always be coming back because he's the one in charge of overseeing the relief effort into restoring Kanto Village. Lately, he kept dogging me due to the fact that I put myself first before the people, which he says that is selfish."
"If you think that your predicament is bad, General Arbogast's is a lot worse. According to the higher-ups in the Alecrian Army, he mainly goes by with a meal of stale crackers instead of the standard meals that his own family prepares for him due to his lack of his own self-needs. Even Ginryu said that he puts his self-needs off as selfish and arrogant in which he's put at odds with both his family and his subordinates. As for your own self-needs, Sammy, you need to focus on rebuilding yourself one slow step at a time or else you'd end up becoming a carbon copy of General Arbogast. I know that you're afraid of him and it shows 'cause of the black eye you got. And no, you're not going to no crappy flea markets 'cause it ain't you at all. Now, if I were you, I suggest that you quit worrying and enjoy your party. The townsfolk here are glad that you're home, but they kept talking about how you don't take time for yourself anymore and it hurts."
"And you want me to embrace my self-needs before the needs of the townsfolk?"
"Yes. Besides, if you don't put a shred of decency in your effort to put more time for yourself, I'm filing a report to the Review Board and they don't shy away with the well-being of those who are from the Council of Elders. In the long haul, you're not about to wriggle your way out of your reason to improve your outlook instead of wandering around in some flea market looking for cheap junk that can be a knockoff."
I reluctantly agreed as I was under the microscope of Dean's ultimatum to get me out of my hard shell again. When I saw the birthday cakes being put on display at a different picnic table, I was trying hard not to think about General Arbogast's words as they were the tipping point of what I would endure next. With Gyatso standing next to me, he wasn't taking his eyes off from me as he didn't want me to be sad on the day we shared birthdays. It wasn't long until we were ushered towards the crafted pieces of confections as we heard the Happy Birthday song played in our honor. By the time the song was finished, Gyatso blew out the candles on his cake as he was wanting me to do the same. When I did so, I did it with less enthusiasm as I was feeling the pinch of the general's words gnawing at me in which I felt concerned for the needs of the remaining townsfolk who have suffered much after the incidents that caused terror and mayhem in both the town and dirt roads that connected it to them. By the time I was ready to cut the cake, I noticed Chuck running towards me as he was worried about my health and well-being that was brought on by General Arbogast's presence earlier.
"They're waiting for you to cut it," he said.
"I'll cut it, but I won't get any," I said.
"Isn't it your birthday? Besides, you can't just turn down a slice of cake that Reiko worked so hard for just to be made for you. It wouldn't be fair that General Arbogast gets his way just to see you falling down to his level."
"The general keeps telling me that the people come first instead of ourselves and our own self-needs, but part of me keeps trying to gravitate towards his plight he endured during my absence."
"That's General Arbogast talking, Sam; not you. He may have went through the terrors of Darbus Toller and his dolls causing terror all over the planet, but you were in exile in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina almost ten months ago. Give it a rest, will you? Anyway, General Arbogast hates climbing and staying in the mountains because of the fact that he had a near-death experience once when he was younger."
Just as I was about to say more, I noticed Dean giving me a slice of cake as he handed it to me without saying a word. Even though I was holding the plate with the cake slice on it, I took a bite of it as I tasted the hard work that was put into it by Reiko's gentle craftwork. Even Gyatso was getting into his slice of cake as he loved the taste of what was baked into it. It was a mixed day for me as I was being ushered into forgetting about the harsh words from General Arbogast for the rest of the day. Even though there was a minor setback, I wasn't about to be bogged down by scrutiny so far as I wanted to enjoy my birthday as anyone who had something to celebrate once a year. With plenty of food and desserts being doled out by the sitting townsfolk here in the castle, I was grateful that I had support from those who were in dire need as an idea was brewing in my mind. With an extra cake being set out to cart out to the workers, I was also ready to give the blowhard general a taste of his own medicine on the horizon soon enough...
A few hours later, General Arbogast was outside in the town square of Kanto Village as he was eating his dinner that consisted of crackers and water. As usual, he refused to cave into such indulgences like that as he wasn't ready to budge from his spot on the bench. Even though he was overseeing the repair effort in the town, he refused to treat himself to such pleasures and happiness as he viewed to see the people having such things before him. By the time he was finished, he noticed Abiasaph, or Chief Tamanori in which he is known so far, finishing up his rounds as he was ready to call it a day. Still, he wasn't about to cave into such indulgences of happy things as he wanted them to be for the people who suffered under the yoke of Darbus almost ten months ago, for the aftermath of what happened next had a stigma over the blowhard's psyche.
"You still snack on crackers again, aren't you, General?" said Abiasaph.
"It's better than embracing the indulgences that have been yanked from the little guy," he said. "As for putting oneself first over the people, it's nothing but selfish. Think of Sam for instance when he decides to throw a birthday party for himself instead of tending to the townsfolk in their time of need. After what we had with Darbus darkening every single doorway while parading those artificial women who were around him like a group of whores, everyone was reeling from such attacks in the three towns that got the full brunt of his wrath."
"Putting one's needs first isn't selfish. As for what Sam was doing when he used his raw power to help repair some of the buildings and homes that were destroyed by Reinhardt's army of soulless dolls a few weeks back, he's doing a better job into putting other needs first before his own. Hell, I was there when I had to deal with the bastard who put those things there just to destroy both the town and the townsfolk, only to have one of his limbs bitten off by that warg who stepped in just to save Sam's life at the last minute."
"That still doesn't mean that Sam's off the hook. Sooner or later, those words I told him at his party earlier will come to fruition and see how much the lives of others are much more important than ourselves."
"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but those words will backfire right in front of your face. As for the stale cracker diet you've been having, I suggest that you lay off of it before it makes you like one of those emaciated supermodels before the fashion industry banned them from modeling shows for the much curvier ones. You can't live on crackers and water forever because of the fact that it's not healthy for someone like you."
"And sink to Sam's level? I don't think so! And everyone says that I don't function well with my job? I function very well because of the fact that after Kanto Village is repaired, we'll move towards the afflicted towns of Akatsuki and Kabizashi to help out the people who suffered from Darbus' wrath almost ten months ago."
"Sam can't function well to your level anyway because he not only becomes exhausted from using his raw power to rebuild some of the homes and business here, but he's been stuck with clinical depression and it's not fun at all. You should be considerate with the feelings of Sam after doing his hardest to help the townsfolk go home after what happened a month ago. If I were you, I suggest that you be more sensitive towards people with mental illnesses instead of giving them a black eye or humiliating them at the local ramen stand. And another thing, lay off the crackers..."
Abiasaph disappeared without a trace as General Arbogast was left speechless about the truth about my mental condition that crippled me in many ways than one. Mental illness wasn't something to laugh at or mock as the blowhard general had a rude awakening in the form of Abiasaph's meddling that stood firm into defending the town from Reinhardt's army a month ago. By the time he noticed me coming towards the square to see to the work of the homes and business that were almost repaired, he saw me bringing some cake to some of the workers as they were in for a sweet tooth so far. Even though he glared at me, he wasn't about to be persuaded further by the words of Abiasaph anytime soon as he still viewed me to be selfish after getting a stern lecture from the village chief himself earlier.
Even though I was sharing cake with everyone who worked hard to finish up the remaining houses and businesses that were nearly repaired, I was ready to offer some cake to General Arbogast as he was most likely to turn it down. In that moment, he felt his stomach growling as he rushed towards the cart of leftover cake I was giving to the workers. With the diet of crackers weighing hard on his stomach, his entire body rebelled as he was staring at what was left of the birthday cake I had earlier. Even though the blowhard was trying hard to resist the temptation until a crumb and a tuft of frosting touched at his lips. In such a quick moment, he began to feel the temptation taking over as he devoured what was left of the cake I had at my disposal. By the time I saw him polishing off the rest of the cake, he had crumbs and frosting all over his uniform as he was full after what he ate up earlier.
"I take it that temptation ruled your senses after all," I said.
"Oh, the cake…," said General Arbogast as he was overwhelmed by his folly. "It got to me..."
"I was only giving what was left to the workers after their effort into rebuilding some of the homes and businesses that fell to ruin a month ago."
"What the hell is that behind you?" The general saw a giant piece of chocolate cake standing in front of him as he was ready to dive into such temptation. "Oh, I want the damn thing!"
I saw the general run towards the piece of cake as he was getting into such trouble than his worth instead of munching on stale crackers all the live long. Even though I was still reeling from the punch I took from the blowhard, my kind heart triumphed in the end as I gave him a taste of his own medicine in the form of the sweet temptation. By the time I left for home, I saw Dean sprinting towards me as he grabbed the long hair and towed me towards the pathway where we were going home to the castle. By the time we got there, we saw some of the food being put up as we noticed a lone cherry pie that was baked earlier. The sight of it was tempting as I was still partially full from the cake I ate, but how could I refuse so far?
"There's a cherry pie with your name on it, Sam," he said to me as he was ready to dig into it.
"Aren't you the one who is interested in pie all the time?" I said as I saw my older get a knife and slice into the cherry pie and put it on a small plate. "Besides, I'm still full from the cake and other food here earlier, so don't go hog wild on it too much."
"Are you kidding me, Sammy? I'm digging into this pie and I'm not doing it alone." He notices the pie slice getting larger as it broke the picnic table. "Son-of-a-bitch..." He turns around and sees me use my raw power to grow the slice of pie into the size of a tool shed. "Now, that's one hell of a pie."
"And we got all that filling on display..."
Dean and I stared at the slice of pie as we were ready to get into it without delay. When we got into the crust and filling, we were getting dirty as we couldn't help it. Little did we know was that Moro and Albus were staring from above the window of their room while holding Sura as they saw us getting messy with what was made from my raw power at the last minute. Even Reuben was staring at the slice of pie after checking up on the new arrival so readily.
"Looks like Sam didn't mess around," he said.
"After getting clocked by that Terran general, he was hard at first, but he was coaxed by Dean at the last minute," said Albus.
"Well, Dean got his pie after all, but not without Sam around," said Moro. "And everyone says 'let them eat cake.' The pie slice growing huge is a game changer."
"If you thought that the slice of pie was bad, the slice of chocolate cake was worse," said Reuben. "According to the onlookers, General Arbogast got a stomachache and had to be admitted to the hospital area afterwards."
The temptation of cake and pie was a game changer as everyone in Moro's room stared at the mess from below. The sight of Dean and me being dirty and messy from the slice of cherry pie was something that could never be forgotten as this was a birthday that was in the record books after all…
To be continued...