Ch 4
Fiona wondered what all those wizard like ogres were doing at Merlin's place. "They're here to help me take care of Zeke. I know of a way to help your husband." He told them. " You do? How?" Artie asked him. "I know of a counter spell to heal him but you've got to get him to come here." He explained quietly as he went inside his house. Artie watched as Fiona lit a campfire. "Don't worry Fiona. We'll get him back. I'm sure Merlin can free him." Artie told her.
"I know. It's just… things are a little crazy. But I thought Puss said that it couldn't be broken. I nope Merlin can break the spell on Shrek or I don't know what I'll do." She vented through tears. He then hugged her but saw somebody show up on a skateboard. It was Shrek. He looked really pale with blackened eyes. Merlin then appeared and put his hand on the scar on his neck. He then recited a spell and magic flowed through his hand into the scar. "Let me go or I'll pound you!" Shrek yelled angrily but then sank to his knees in agony and the scar exploded. He then saw Artie help him up. "Hey man what happened to me? I feel really weird." He said to him. "Don't worry man. It wasn't your fault. You were under Zeke's control." He told him as Fiona came over and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're alright! I was so worried about you. I nearly gave up hope." She said to him as they kissed. "I remember. I felt so bad for all the things I did under that spell. Especially ignoring you and hurting Artie. I couldn't help myself. Can you forgive me? If you don't, I understand." he said to her. "We do forgive you. You... don't look so good. Is everything okay?" Artie told him. Fiona agreed. "I really don't look good? I feel really hot." Shrek asked him. Fiona was freaked as her husband fell onto her arms.
Merlin then seemed worried by this too. Fiona hoped it was nothing serious. "Don't worry. It's nothing serious. It's a side effect of the counter spell. Maybe you should go home now. I'm sure after rest, he'll be able to help us take care of Zeke." he told her as he transported them back to the swamp. Fiona then opened the door to find Donkey and Puss trying to get the babies to go to sleep but stopped when they saw her and the babies tried to crawl over to Shrek but Artie stopped them. "I know you wanna see Daddy but he isn' t feeling too well. We don't want you guys getting sick too. Fiona saw that her husband had fallen asleep in the alligator chair with his skateboarding stuff on. Artie watched as she put a blanket over her husband. Zeke was watching this with anger. Merlin had destroyed his ally but then he got an idea. "The spell on him may be broken but we can still make him help us by using those he loves." he told his friends. They laughed as he went to the swamp.
Fiona was asleep in bed but Shrek woke up when he heard her scream and stumbled into their bedroom. Zeke had grabbed her by the throat. "What do you want? The spell on me is broken so I won't help ya." he told Zeke. "I think you will if you want your wife and family to stay alive. How would you feel if they were to come to any harm or die?" he said gloating. Shrek was worried. He had to be careful or those he loved would suffer. "Fine I'll help you. Now let her go." he replied. Zeke smiled as he let go. Puss then burst in brandishing his sword. "I knew you were still under his spell! You're no longer an amigo of mine!" he yelled as he scratched Shrek in the face. Fiona then helped stop the bleeding of the cut. "I'm sorry Fiona. It was the only thing I could do to save you." he said weakly to her. "It's okay honey. You were brave to save me." she told him.
"I remembered something Zeke said once to these other ogres in the underground catacombs. He was going to lead a rebellion against the human subjects of the kingdoms." Shrek replied. Fiona was worried to hear that. "Does Artie know?" she asked him. "No." Shrek answered. The next morning he woke up and ate breakfast quietly. He then saw Donkey come into the house and was worried. "Are you gonna be angry with me too like Puss?" he said miserably. "No way! I overheard what Zeke told ya last night. Besides I'm not much of a noble steed without you by my side. Besides we've been friends for too long to stop now." he told him. He then saw a smile cross his friend's face. "Thanks Donkey for not deserting me. It's good to know who your friends are." he said to Donkey as he fell asleep. Puss had overheard that and was feeling bad about last night. "Le siento mi amigo," he whispered as he snuck in through the window...