A New Beginning

Kyoko was nervous in bed that night as Artie was beside her. He wondered why she seemed nervous but she wouldn't tell him. He then saw her fall asleep but heard her cry in her sleep. He wondered what was going on.

"....Artie..... you're still alive." she said waking up.

He was a little worried by that but didn't mind.

"What's up?

You just said something very.... worrying." Artie said reassuringly as he hugged her.

"I-It's nothing Artie.

Go back to sleep, okay?" she said as his eyes closed. She then took a walk through the darkened hall ways of the castle. She peered into Yokira's room. The young dragon girl was asleep peacefully which brought a tear to her eye.

"I will do anything to keep you and your father safe, I promise.

Even if it means leaving to do it." Kyoko thought sadly.....

Next morning Artie woke up but didn't find Kyoko there by his side and was worried but went down the hall way.

He found her in the throne room asleep and sighed relief.

"You had me worried there.

I thought you'd been taken but you wanted somewhere peaceful to sleep.

I wonder why you're so sad.

Why won't you tell me?" he thought as he left the room hearing Yokira awake and went to stop her from waking Kyoko up.

"Ssh.... Mommy's asleep.

Go play okay?" Artie said to her.

She nodded as she ran off and flew off towards the forest. It was her favourite place to play whenever she was lonely or her parents were too busy to play with her. She then went to the creek which was like a mini swamp with frogs and stuff. She giggled happily.

"Hello child." Yokira heard a voice say as she looked up at a strange looking woman in a cloak.

To the five year old she looked scary and didn't trust her.

"Don't be afraid I won't hurt you child.

My name is Kani and I see your parents are the King and Queen but they......" she began trying to come up with something Yokira would believe.

"I was lost and couldn't find a place to call home so..... could you ask your parents to help me?" she said faking a sweet smile. Yokira wasn't so sure.

"I'm not sure.

My parents are busy helping the kingdom grow stronger and there's something about you I don't trust.

My Daddy said I shouldn't help strangers." Yokira said backing away scared.

"Hey leave her alone!" a familiar voice yelled.

Yokira was relieved to see her Uncle Shrek and felt better.

"What're you doing out here alone Yokira?

Does your father know you're out here alone?" he asked his niece.

"Y-Yeah he does.

He said for me to go and play but that woman showed up and I think she's a witch!" Yokira replied scared.

"Really you think she's a witch?" Charming cackled as he appeared from where he'd been hiding. Shrek tensed up in anger but worry. He hoped that Artie and Kyoko knew about this.

"Surprised to see me once more?

I see you've met my new friend Kani.

She's going to help me get the kingdom and the throne that Artie stole from me!" he said with disgust in his voice.

"You'll never beat us or get the throne!

It belongs to Artie by birthright." Shrek growled, anger growing in his calm voice.

"We'll see about that.

Come on Kani let's go.

We'll find another way." Charming told the sorceroress as they left. Shrek breathed a sigh of relief seeing them leave. But he saw fear in Yokira's eyes along with tears.

"Charming and his friend scared her badly.

I'd better take her back to the castle and tell Artie what happened." he thought as the dragon girl followed him nervous.

".....Uncle Shrek what was he talking about my Daddy?

He seemed mad at you and you seemed mad too." she asked him softly.

Shrek sighed trying to find the right way to explain to a five year old dragon girl why Charming hated her father and most of her family but decided to let Artie tell her himself. When he arrived, Kyoko looked very worried but relieved seeing Yokira as the young dragon girl ran into her arms. She saw Artie go with Shrek for a little while.

"I guess what they have to talk about is serious, the look on Shrek's face says it all.

I hope things are okay." she thought as she and Yokira went into the dining room to have breakfast.....

Artie looked angry but also nervous after Shrek told him what had happened this morning in the forest. His emerald eyes were full of sadness.

"Why has Charming came back?

I.... I thought we'd seen the last of him but I guess we were wrong.

I'm such a loser for letting Yokira go out there when Charming was there.

If you weren't there....." he told him not finishing his sentence.

Shrek noticed that his friend had changed since becoming King and having a family changed him but he seemed more quiter, more nervous than the Artie he knew.

"It.... wasn't your fault Artie.

How were you to know Charming and some sorceroress would be there considering she plays there all the time?" he reassured the twenty one year old but Artie looked like he was going to cry.

"Maybe she'll be safer once she starts kindergarten in a few days and makes some friends." he replied to him.

He left his royal friend in silence but understood where Artie was coming from. He would be the same if anything happened to the triplets but right now Artie seemed really worried than he'd ever been in his life.

"I wish there was something I could to help you but I don't know what." he thought as he left to go back to the swamp.....