To Guard a Life
It was a few days after Charming's attempt to take over Far, Far Away. Artie had became King but was getting training from Lillian on how to be a good ruler. Shrek and Fiona were getting ready to leave for the swamp when a page showed up. "Excuse me. Your Highness King Artie wishes your presence." He said to Shrek. He then followed him into the throne room where Artie was waiting for him. "What's going on?" he asked curiously. "Let's just say a great honour is to be bestowed to you." He told him. Puss watched as the boy unsheathed his sword. "I knight you Sir Shrek the Brave. It also makes you a Musketeer of Far, Far Away." He said to him.
"Wow. Artie what does a musketeer do if you know what I mean?" he asked him nervously, "Allow me to explain senor. They're like body guards to the King but they're sort of like French knights." Puss explained to him. He saw nervousness in the ogre's brown eyes at this. "Artie I don't know about this. I really just want to…" he said. "Go back home and start your family don't you?" Artie finished for him. He nodded in reply. "You're not mad are ya?" he told Artie. "No of course not. W…Why don't you think about it and let me know?" he said calmly.
He then left the room and rejoined Fiona in the royal suite. "What did Artie want?" she asked him. "He… He…" he began. "He knighted the boss and asked him about becoming a Musketeer of Far, Far Away." Someone said as he entered the room. It was Puss. He was wearing the Musketeer outfit. It was a suit or armour with the emblem of a dragon in the middle with a flowing purple cape. He also still had his black hat and precious boots on. "Let me guess, you became a Musketeer?" Shrek told him. "Si mi amigo. You know me. I love the thrill of the fight. What about you?" he answered proudly. "Well I think it makes you look cute and handsome. Fiona told him. Shrek rolled his eyes at that. He had a lot on his mind with the impending thoughts of father hood. "How can I be a Musketeer? Besides it wouldn't be right to Fiona or the kids because if I choose this, she'd have to look after them on her own in the swamp while I'm off gallivanting on adventures to save the kingdom. I always wanted to be a knight when I was a teen but things have changed since then." he thought to himself.
"You've got something on your mind haven't you?" Fiona said to him. "Yes. I want to be a Musketeer but..." he said. "But what honey?" she asked him. "It wouldn't be fair to you or the kids when they're born that I'm saving the kingdom or something. Besides I wouldn't want to leave ya to take of them on your own in our swamp." he explained to her. "Honey is this something you really want to do?" she said to him. "Yeah. Ever since I was a teen, I always wanted to be a knight but I never got a chance... to play the hero." he told her. "Then go for it! Don't worry. We'll find a way to work out the family thing. You and Puss will be amazing Musketeers." she reassured him. But on the way home in the onion carriage, something special was arriving. Shrek watched as his wife gritted her teeth at the pain. "Honey what's wrong?" he asked worriedly. "My water broke. It's time!" she told him. He then drove as fast as he could and found a hospital. He watched as Fiona was taken into the delivery suite and he waited outside. "Hola boss! Congrats on the bundles of joy on the way. You've got something on your mind, haven't you?" he told him. "Yeah I do. I might not decide to become a Musketeer." he told him. "Why not senor?" Puss asked him curiously. "Because it wouldn't be fair to Fiona if she has to look after the kids in the swamp on her own. while I'm gallivanting on quests. It just wouldn't be right. I hope Artie's not mad." he explained to him.
A few hours later they heard the sounds of infant crying and ran into the delivery suite. In Fiona's arms were two baby ogrelings and somebody put a third one in Shrek's arms. Puss smiled as he watched the new family together. Fiona saw sadness in her husband's eyes. While he was waiting, he'd fallen asleep and had a very bad vision. She wondered what was wrong. "It's nothing honey. Just a bad dream, that's all." he said as the baby was touching his face gently. But somebody was watching them. He was someone from Shrek's past, somebody he thought he'd forgot about...