Chapter 8.

The Potion Factory

As they walked on Puss whispered indistinctly, Donkey, Yarnell, Skyros and Deerling still did not trust the cat one bit. They soon came to where the Fairy Godmother lived and were surprised to see it was a huge a factory and a small cottage.

"Oh, no," said Donkey, "That's the old Keebler's place. Let's just back away slowly."

"That's the Fairy Godmother's cottage," said Puss.

"But what's the huge Factory for?" asked Yarnell.

"She's the largest producer of hexes and potions in the Whole Kingdom," explained Puss.

"Then why don't we pop in there for a spell?" asked Shrek and he chuckled:

"Spell."

And Puss burst into hysterical laughter and said:

"He makes me laugh."

They enterted the office. Inside, there was a huge waiting room filled with chairs and two portraits of Fairy Godmother. They saw a man at the front desk.

"Hi," said Shrek, "I'm here to see the . . ."

"The Fairy Godmother," said the man, "I'm sorry. She is not in."

The Fairy Godmother's voice came over the speaker.

Jerome! Coffee and a Monte Cristo. Now!

"Yes, Fairy Godmother," said Jerome, "Right away. Look, she's not seeing any clients, OK?"

"That's OK, buddy," said Yarnell, "We're from the union."

"The union?" asked Jerome.

"We represent the workers in all magical industries," said Shrek.

"Both evil and benign," said Yarnell and Deerling nodded in agreement.

"Oh! Right," said Jerome.

"Are you feeling at all degraded or oppressed?" asked Shrek.

"Uh . . . a little," said Jerome, "We don't even have dental."

"They don't even have dental," Shrek mutterted to Deerling and Donkey.

"OK," said Yarnell, "We're just gonna have a look around."

"Oh, by the way," said Shrek, "I think it'd be better if the Fairy Godmother didn't know we were here. Know what I'm saying? Huh?"

"Huh? Huh? Huh?" said Donkey.

"Stop it," said Skyros.

"Of course," whispered Jerome, "Go right in."

Once inside, Shrek, Donkey, Puss, Yarnell, Skyros and Deerling looked around. Millions of workers were making potions, bottles, testing out spells and checking to see if the potions were OK for the Potion Room. Turning around, they all saw a bright colored lights. Shrek lead them to the room.

Inside the room, the Fairy Godmother was making a love potion. Suddenly, Shrek and his friends appeared, that startled her.

"Excuse me," said Shrek, "Sorry to barge in like this, but . . ."

"What in Grimm's name are you doing here?" asked the Fairy Godmother.

"Well . . ." said Shrek, "It seems that Fiona's not exactly happy."

"Oh – ho – ho!" laughed the Fairy Godmother, "And there's some question as to why that is? Well, let's explore that, shall we?"

The Fairy Godmother flew to her book shelf and started looking through her books.

"Ah . . . P, p, p . . . Princess. Cinderella. Here we are. "Lived happily ever after." Oh . . . No ogres! Let's see. Snow White. A handsome prince. Oh, no ogres. Sleeping Beauty. Oh, no ogres! Hansel and Gretel? No! Thumbelina? No. The Golden Bird, The Little Mermaid, Pretty Woman . . . No, no, no, no, no! You see, ogres don't live happily ever after."

"All right," said Shrek angrily, "Look, lady!"

"Don't you point those dirty green sausages at me!" snapped the Fairy Godmother.

"Monte Cristo and coffee," said a Worker rolling in a cart, "Oh! Sorry."

"Ah . . ." said Yarnell, "That's OK. We were just leaving."

"Very sorry to have wasted your time, Miss Godmother," said Shrek.

"Just go," said the Fairy Godmother.

"Come on, guys," said Shrek and he, Donkey, Puss, Yarnell, Skyros and Deerling walked out of the room. Outside, Shrek hid inside a janitor's closet. Grabbing a worker that passed, he and Yarnell both walked out with Shrek wearing a disguise. Entering the potion room, Shrek unlocked the cart, where Donkey and Deerling were and Puss and Skyros jumped out of Yarnell's Saddlebag [that because Yarnell had his Saddlebag the whole time]. Potions covered the entire shelves.

"Well," said Shrek, "One of these has got to help."

"Me and Skyros were just concocting this very plan!" said Puss.

"Already our minds are becoming one," said Skyros.

"Donkey, Yarnell, Deerling go keep watch," said Shrek, "Puss, Skyros, do you guys think you can get to the ones on top?"

"No problema, boss," said Puss.

"You just leave it to us," said Skyros. Puss took off his sword, hat and boots and jumped on top, while Skyros floated all the way to the very top.

"Hey, Puss!" said Skyros, "Look at this."

"Hey!" said Puss, "How about 'Happily Ever After'?"

"Well," said Shrek, "What does it do?"

"It says "Beauty Divine," said Skyros.

"Guys!" said Yarnell, "We need to hurry!"

"Because two employees have spotted us," said Deerling.

"That'll have to do!" said Shrek, "We've got company!"

Puss used one of his claws to scratch the glass and tried to pull the potion out, he kept on struggling until the glass finally broke. However, the potion went flying and so did Puss! Donkey caught the potion in his mouth, while Puss landed in his boots. Suddenly, a huge wall came falling down. Shrek grabbed Puss and Donkey along with Deerling catching Skyros. They slid under the wall just in time before it came down.

"Uh – oh!" said Donkey, "We've got company!

Men carrying crossbows began shooting tons of arrows at the group, but Shrek dodged them with ease.

"That's it!" shouted Skyros, "I've enough of this!"

He suddenly formed into a large black and green phoenix with a feather that resamples a horn on his forehead. His back reached the ceiling but he still had enough room to move, all of the guards and workers gasped and quickly retreated.

"Skyros," shouted Yarnell, "Knock down that huge container of Potion."

With all his strengh, Skyros tipped over the huge container with Purple Potion, sending a huge wave over the factory workers.

After Skyros turned back into his ball form, he, Shrek, Puss, Donkey, Yarnell and Deerling ran out of the factory. Meanwhile the Fairy Godmother came inside.

"Look," she said, "I don't care whose fault it is. Just get this place cleaned up."

"Yes, Godmother."

"And somebody bring me something deep fried and smothered in chocolate?" asked the Fairy Godmother.

"Mother," said Prince Charming coming in.

"Charming. Sweetheart," said the Fairy Godmother, "This isn't a good time, pumpkin. Mama's working."

"Whoa," said Prince Charming, "What happened here?"

"The ogre," said the Fairy Godmother, "That's what!"

"What?" said Prince Charming, "Where is he, Mom? I shall rend his head from his shoulders! I will smite him where he stands! He will rue the very day he stole my Kingdom from me!"

"Oh, put it away, junior!" said the Fairy Godmother, "You're still gonna be king. We're just gonna have to come up with something smarther, that's all."

"Pardon," said a Dove, "Um . . . Everything is accounted for, Fairy Godmother, execpt for one Potion."

"What?" asked the Fairy Godmother, "Oh . . . I do believe we can make this work to our advantage."