The gang kept on going through their adventure. They've walked through the field as it was sunset, camp out at the night time, and morning came when Shrek tries to put out the fire with his foot, Madison was disgusted by how Donkey put out the fire with his pee but Shrek was impressed. They continued to keep walking the path until they saw a mountain but not just a mountain, but a volcano.

Madison's heart was pounding as she saw the volcano and Donkey's ear perked down as he was getting scared. Zor however just looked at it. He sniff the air and then jumped out of Madison's arms, heading straight towards the mountain.

"Zor! Zor, stop! Wait!" Madison quickly chased her until she finally caught him but they were now near the mountain. "Zor, you must never leave out of my sight. The volcano is dangerous and I cannot let go on your own."

Zor just looked at her with sad eyes like how a puppy does and Madison tried to resist but she can't.

"Oh! I can't stay mad at you. Why do you have to be so cute?" she said and then giggle as the baby dragon licked her cheek.

"Come on, we don't have time to play. The sooner we get the princess, the sooner I get my swamp back." said Shrek as he and Donkey went past her and starts climbing up the mountain along with Madison and Zor.

"Ohh! Shrek! Did you do that?" Donkey spoke as he smelled something bad, "You gotta warn somebody before you just crack one off. My mouth was open and everything."

"I really don't think that was him." said Madison as she sniffed the air.

"Yeah. Believe me, Donkey, if it was me, you'd be dead." said Shrek and then sniffed the air. "It's brimstone. We must be getting close."

"Yeah, right, brimstone. Don't be talking about it's the brimstone. I know what I smell. It wasn't no brimstone. It didn't come off no stone neither." Donkey muttered.

All four climbed up the mountain but as they reached to the top, gaze out into the crater. An immense, dilapidated castle sits upon a large rock surround by boiling lava in the center of the crater. The only way forward is over a precarious wooden bridge. A single light can be seen in the window of the tallest tower. Thunder strikes and crows circling the castle can be heard. It's all very ominous.

"Whoa..." that was all Madison could say and Zor chirped at seeing the sight.

"Sure, it's big enough, but look at the location." Shrek laughs at his joke and then continued going along with Madison and Zor.

"Uh, Shrek?" Donkey spoke as he chuckled nervously, "Uh, remember when you said that ogres have layers?"

"Oh, aye."

"What about it?" Madison asked as she looked at him.

"Well, I have a bit of a confession to make..." before Donkey could speak more, he gasps at seeing a skeleton of a horse, "Donkeys don't have layers. We wear our fear right out there on our sleeves."

"Sleeves?" Madison spoke in confusion.

"Wait a second. Donkeys don't have sleeves." said Shrek as he pointed.

"You know what I mean."

"Oh, you can't tell me you're afraid of heights."

"No, I'm just a little uncomfortable about being on a rickety bridge over a boiling like of lava!" said Donkey as he looked down to see the lava boiling.

"You know, I have to agree with Donkey. I'm mean... lava and a bridge. There's no way that can't be safe." said Madison as she looked down.

"Come on, you two. I'm right here beside ya both, okay? For emotional support. We'll just tackle this thing together one little baby step at a time." said Shrek was at the bridge.

Donkey was in front of him, and Madison and Zor were in front of them both.

"Really?" Donkey asked as he looked at the ogre.

"Really, really." he answered but look up to see Madison and Zor were walking already.

"Okay, that makes me feel so much better." said Donkey as he starts walking.

"Just keep moving. And don't look down." said Shrek as he followed him.

Madison kept on walking on the bride, while Zor was on her shoulder, holding onto her. She looked at her baby dragon, seeing that he was scared as he looked at the lava.

"Don't look down Zor, okay? I got you." she spoke softly to him, "Just look straight at this direction, we're almost there."

Zor looked up to see that they are almost to the other side. He chirped happily as they made it until the two heard something broke. They turned and saw Shrek and Donkey from the distance.

"Shrek, I'm looking down!" Donkey screamed and turned to the other direction, "Oh, God, I can't do this! Just let me off, please!"

"But you're already halfway." said Shrek as he looked up to see Madison and Zor who are already at the other side.

"But I know that half is safe!"

"Okay, fine. I don't have time for this. You go back."

Madison and Zor watched the two as they were at the middle of the bridge. Donkey tried to get past him but then Shrek bounce and sways the bridge.

"Don't do that!" Donkey exclaimed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Do what? Oh, this?" Shrek asked as he sways the bridge again.

"Yes, that!"

"Yes? Yes, do it. Okay."

Madison giggled but watched as Donkey was going backwards with his eyes closed and Shrek kept swaying and go forward.

"No, Shrek! No! Stop it!"

"You said do it! I'm doin' it."

"I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. Shrek, I'm gonna die."

"Donkey, open your eyes. You've already made it." Madison spoke as she chuckled.

Donkey open his eyes and saw that he was on solid ground.

"Oh!"

"That'll do, Donkey. That'll do." said Shrek as he patted him and walks off with Madison and Zor.

"Cool." said Donkey and quickly caught up with the others, "So where is this fire-breathing pain-in-the-neck anyway?"

"Inside, waiting for us to rescue her." Shrek answered and chuckled.

"I was talkin' about the dragon, Shrek."

"Hey! Zor with me!" Madison spoke as she pointed her baby dragon.

"I don't mean him."

Shrek, Donkey, Madison, and Zor wander through the halls of the castle in search of the princess. The castle is in ruins and not a sound can be heard. Madison looked around, seeing the abounded surroundings. She doesn't feel afraid cause she went through one abandoned castle before, with a beast. Her heart was pounding a little and Zor was shaking in her arms, but he was calmed down a little as Madison was petting him.

"You afraid?" Donkey asked softly.

"No. But... shh!" Shrek shushed him and continue walking.

"Oh, good. Me neither." he said but felt spooked and continued going, "What about you Maddy?"

"Me. Nah, not really." Madison spoke softly as she kept on walking.

"Good. Cause there's nothin' wrong with bein' afraid. Fear's a sensible response to an unfamiliar situation. Unfamiliar dangerous situation, I might add. With a dragon that breathes fire and eats knights and breathes fire. It sure doesn't mean you're a coward if you're a little scared."

Shrek and Madison looked at each other as they felt a little annoyed of hearing Donkey keeps talking.

"I sure as heck ain't no coward. I know that." he said until he crashes into a pile of knight remains, knocking over a skeleton whose helmet lands on Donkey's head. The skeleton head falls off and he gasped.

"Donkey, two things, okay? Shut... up. Now go over there and see if you can find any stairs. You two come with me." said Shrek as he looked at Madison and Zor and then he grabbed the helmet.

"Stairs? I thought we were lookin' for the princess."

"The princess will be up the stairs in the highest room in the tallest tower."

"What makes you think she'll be there?"

"I read it in a book once." said Shrek and as he along with Madison and Zor walked off.

"Cool. You handle the dragon. I'll handle the stairs. I'll find those stairs. I'll whip their butt too. Those stairs won't know which way they're goin'." said Donkey as he walked off.

Madison looked back at Donkey, seeing as he walked away and then looked at Shrek as he was putting on his helmet. She wanted to say something. Asking him if it was a good idea for Donkey to find stairs but she doesn't want to annoy him.

"You might want to put your hood. Just for a reason." said Shrek.

Madison nodded her head and put her hood on, but Shrek kept looking at her.

"You're... being quiet today."

"I'm always quiet. There's nothing much to talk about." she answered.

"Hmm..." that was all that Shrek could make until the two spots a light in the window of a tower.

Zor chirped to see a light coming in the tall tower.

"Well, at least we know where the princess is, but where's the...?"

Madison was about to finish his question until a voice cried out...

"DRAGON!"

She and Zor turned around as the heard the voice. They felt the ground shaking, but Madison looked up and saw Donkey and a dragon behind him.

"Shrek...!" Madison spoke up.

Shrek turned around and saw the Dragon chasing Donkey.

"Donkey, look out!" said Shrek as he managed to grab Donkey out of the way just as the dragon breathes fire.

Madison and Zor quickly dodge from the fire and stood beside Shrek.

"We need to do something. It's gonna eat him." she said as she looked at Donkey running.

"I've got an idea. Come on." he said and the two ran towards the tail.

The dragon is just about to eat Donkey but felt something being grabbed. It turned around and saw Shrek and Madison grabbing ahold of its tail, and Zor on Madison's back.

"Got ya!" Shrek spoke as he and Madison kept grabbing it.

"Donkey, run!" Madison shouted as she looked at him.

The dragon starts swinging its tail back and forth with Shrek and the others still holding on, then launces them into the air. Shrek and Madison screamed as they were flying until they crashed through the roof of the tallest tower and into a room.

Madison and Zor were on top of Shrek and Madison groaned from the pain.

"Oh, god! That really hurt." Madison complained as she was sore and Shrek started to get up but then, she slightly turned to catch a glimpse of someone.

There she was. Princess Fiona. She was straightening her dress as she was lying down on the bed, grabbed a bouquet of flowers in her hands and pretend to sleep.

"Shrek." Madison whispered as she tapped on Shrek's armor.

Shrek turned and saw the princess sleeping. He walks over, leaving Madison and Zor behind as the two watched Shrek bend down over her. Madison saw the princess's lips puckered until Shrek starts shaking her, making Madison to cover her mouth and tries not to laugh.

"Wake up!" he said to her.

"What?!"

"Are you Princess Fiona?"

"I am..." she answered as she smiled, "awaiting a knight so bold as to rescue me."

"Oh, that's nice. Now let's go!" he said and starts walking off.

"But wait, Sir Knight! This be our first meeting. Should it not be a wonderful, romantic moment?" she asked as she threw the bouquet and lays back down with arm over her forehead.

"Yeah, sorry, lady. There's no time." said Shrek as he yanks the princess out of her bed and towards the door.

"Hey, wait. What are you doing? You know, you should sweep me off my feet out yonder window and down a rope onto your valiant steed."

Madison looked at her and then looked at Shrek as he was fiddling the door lock only for it to snap off.

"You've had a lot of time to plan this, haven't you?" Shrek asked as he looked at her and the princess nod her head.

Shrek suddenly smashes the door with his body as he was still holding onto Fiona's arm and rushes down the staircase. Madison and Zor went behind them while Shrek grabbed a torch from the wall.

"But we have to savor this moment! You could recite an epic poem for me. A ballad? A sonnet! A limerick? Or something!" said Fiona as she pulled her arm away from Shrek.

"I don't think so." said Shrek.

Madison and Zor finally caught up with them as they were all at a lone bridge connecting the tallest tower to the rest of the castle.

"Can I at least know the names of my champion?" Fiona asked.

"Uh, Shrek." he answered.

"Sir Shrek." she said as she cleared her throat and then holds out a handkerchief, "I pray that you take this favor as a token of my gratitude."

Shrek took the handkerchief with a confused look as he looked at her.

"Thanks." he spoke and then starts wiping off his face and hands it back to an appalled Fiona.

"Pretty sure, that wasn't supposed to be like that." Madison whispered to her.

Fiona looked at her until they all heard the dragon roared which made Fiona dropped the handkerchief.

"You didn't slay the dragon?!" Fiona asked angrily at the ogre.

"It's on my to-do list. Now come on!" he spoke as he takes off running, dragging Fiona behind him and Madison and Zor kept following them.

"But this isn't right! You were meant to charge in, sword drawn, banner flying. That's what all the other knights did!"

"Yeah, right before they burst into flame." Shrek gestures as he pointed at the skeleton knight at the wall.

"That's not the point!" she shouted as she yanks her arm free and all four of them stopped.

Shrek looked around and then heads straight towards a wooden door.

"Wait. Where are you going? The exit's over there." Fiona pointed to a different direction.

"Well, I have to save my donkey." he answered.

"Ugh. What kind of knight are you?"

"One of a kind." he answered and then looked at Madison and Zor. "You two stay with her. I'll be right back."

Madison nodded her head and watched him going in.

Everything was in silent now as they start waiting for Shrek to save Donkey from the dragon. Madison looked at the princess as she was still wearing her hood on and then spoke...

"So, uh... how long have you been living in that tower?" she asked which that was all that she could say.

"A long time as much I could remember, miss." she answered.

Madison looked at her by surprise and took her hood off to reveal her face to the princess.

"How did you know that I'm she?" she asked, and Fiona smiled.

"When you and Sir Shrek crashed through the roof, I did hear you spoke when you're in pain which sounds feminine and also how you spoke as well." she said, "May I ask to know the name of my champion's companion?"

"My name is Madison, your highness." she said as she bows her head to her, "But my friends called me Maddie."

"Well then, Lady Madison. You might be the first female to come through this journey as you are with my knight." she said and then looked at Zor at the floor. "But why is there a dragon?"

"He's with me, your highness. He was all alone in the forest until he found me sleeping." Madison answered as she picked him up in her arms, "Now we've somehow bonded and he became my baby."

Zor chirped happily at Madison and then looked at Fiona.

"I must say. The first lady to tame a dragon is quite something." said the princess.

"Thank you." Madison replied until both of the girls and Zor heard the dragon's roar. "There he is!" Madison pointed out.

The girls looked to see Shrek holding onto Donkey in one arm. He then grabbed Fiona in the other arm and ran off while Madison and Zor start following them.

"Guys wait up!" Madison shouted as she and Zor were behind.

"Hi, princess!" Donkey spoke.

"It talks!" the princess exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's getting him to shut up that's the trick." said Shrek until everyone all stopped as they reached to a dead end. Madison spotted the fallen column that has formed a sort of slide, but she can't slide like that as she saw broken parts.

"Maddie, get on my back, quick!" said Shrek.

She and Zor hopped on the ogre's back and he jumps on it, just as Dragon tries to bite them and slides down the column. Unfortunately, there is a huge crack in the stone, and it hits Shrek right in the groin. Madison cringed on seeing that until they all reached to the bottom.

"Oh!" Shrek exclaimed as he felt the pain while Madison and Zor got off his back and then continues running.

The Dragon chases after them while the chain of the chandelier, that was around the neck, was still unraveling. They were chased by Dragon through a large hall and the chain kept passing between multiple columns of stone. The gang kept on running until they saw the dragon in front of them, and it breathes fire but they all dodge from the flames. Madison and Zor kept running but then realized they weren't with the others. They must have accidently split.

Madison looked at Zor as he was in her arms, but he was growling. She looked up and then gasped to see the dragon right in front of her. She felt a little scared but still keeps looking at her. She was waiting to see if the necklace was doing anything but as she looked at the dragon. The dragon, who was actually a girl, was staring at Zor and then looked Madison. She starts sniffing at her and then brought out a curious look until her eyes grew wide as she looked at the necklace.

Madison was surprised to see that the dragon wasn't attacking her until she felt something grabbed her. She looked up and saw Shrek as he was holding her in arm until she let her go.

"Run!" he shouted as he and Madison along with the others, all took off running to the exit, but the Dragon was close behind.

The Dragon breathes fire at them, but they all outrun it. They're reached to the middle of the bridge, but the fire burns the rope of the bridge, and it snaps in half. All five hanged on to the wooden steps as they are swung to the other side. Donkey was unable to grab on and falls off, but Shrek caught him by the tail. Fiona screams in terror as Dragon flies over the boiling lava to get them. Madison looked at the dragon and saw that she was jerked back. Turns out that Shrek have used the sword between the chains, and it lodged itself into a stone column and getting the chain stuck.

Madison felt sorry for the dragon but sees that the Dragon have eyes on Donkey. All five of them have started climbing until they reached to surface. Madison looked back at the Dragon as she was angrily roars at them but then let out a sad whimper.

'Poor Dragon.' Madison thought and quickly climbed up the mountain.

To be continued...