Shrek guided the white Arab mare through the forest and down to a lily pond. He was far too large to ride the horse, so guided the king's mount with its reins while Harold hopped up from the saddle to the horse's head occasionally to better view the world around him. Having lived as a human for so long, Harold was finding it difficult to get used to looking at the world at six inches from the floor again. He had loved horse riding as a human and had often ridden out into these woods with Lillian when they were younger. As Shrek approached the pond, Harold jumped off the horse and headed into the water, welcoming the feel of the cold water against his drying skin. Of all the family, Shrek seemed to best understand that, as a frog, the king needed to keep moist – his frog's skin drying in the heat of the palace. Lillian had bought an elaborate child's bath for Harold to swim in inside the royal apartments, but it just wasn't the same as a pond. Harold kicked twice more and jumped onto the bank.
"Ready to go home Shrek?" he croaked. Shrek picked up Harold and placed him carefully onto the horse's back.
"Right you are, dad, how about we go back through the main gate and surprise Puss?"
Ten minutes later, Shrek and Harold were approaching the main road when a streak of orange sped passed them and disappeared into the woods. They heard a rustle of leaves, as though the streak had turned around, then it returned, equally as fast as it had disappeared. Puss, out of breath, started to explain.
"Boss! Your majesty! Do not go that way – I was ah, on my way to get reinforcements," he panted, not convincing anyone, "it's not safe!"
"I'll be the judge of that! After all, I am an ogre you know!" said Shrek. "Where's the trouble Puss?" Puss swallowed nervously.
"The main road," he answered, drawing his sword. "Your majesty, you must trust me on this – stay away from there! Let me bring the guards!" The king shook his head and Puss was forced to admit defeat. When Shrek started creeping slowly towards the direction Puss had run from, the cat sighed and followed the ogre forward, leading the king's horse at a safe distance.
Shrek emerged from the undergrowth cautiously, looking up the main road to Puss' usual stopping point. A farm cart was at the side of the road, the horse grazing lazily at the roadside verge. Puss arrived at Shrek's side and Shrek noticed that he was shaking ever so slightly.
"Harold, maybe you should wait here, we'll check this out." The pair sneaked forward, waiting for any surprises. Shrek peered over the side of the cart at its contents and laughed at what he saw.
"Puss – you could have just said there was someone to see me," he shook his head. "Hey Gingy, how are things?" He looked back into the cart where Gingy, the three blind mice and the Big Bad Wolf were sitting watching him, Wolf fussing with the hem of his travelling nightgown as though he wasn't quite sure what it was. Shrek sensed that something was not quite right here.
"Back off boss!" warned Puss. Shrek nodded silently in agreement. The travelling companions were not greeting him, chatting or arguing as was usual for them. They were watching Shrek impassively and there seemed to be something sinister behind their emotionless eyes. At the bottom of the cart, a broken mirror glinted in the sunlight. Shrek recognised the mirror's frame and glanced back at the occupants of the cart, feeling now the terror that had struck Puss. The five friends were staring blankly at Shrek, soulless eyes looking through him and threatening him at the same time. Shrek backed away from the cart.
"I tried to threaten them into talking boss, and they all turned on me!"
"Why did you threaten them?"
"Look at them!" mewed Puss. "Mirror was still in one piece when I stopped the cart – he tried to tell me to back off and they smashed him!" Puss shook his head, "it's like they are under a spell, signor."
"Puss, you take the king forward and into the city. Get the guards to come out and meet me." Puss saluted and ran to Harold, quickly guiding the horse forward while explaining to the king what exactly was going on.
Shrek turned his back on the cart and gently urged the carthorse onwards, sweat forming on the back of his neck as he tried not to turn and face his former friends. Occasionally he turned his head and was always greeted with the same sight – the five were now hanging over the front of the cart, staring at the back of Shrek's head with the same blank expressions. It was with some relief that Shrek greeted the forward guard sent to meet him. Two guards carefully lifted Gingy out of the cart, triggering him to start fighting their hands viciously to gain his freedom. Gingy failed to break free and was quickly pushed into a sack. More disturbing in Shrek's view was the behaviour of Wolf and the three blind mice – they were simply waiting patiently until it was their turn to fight. He guessed that Puss had threatened all of the occupants simultaneously with his sword – there was no way they would have attacked him otherwise. He would also swear that the mice could see, even if they didn't seem to react to anything. There was something unnerving about the way they stared impassively at him, bursting into violent kicks and bites once picked up. The five were placed into the castle dungeons for their own safety until a cure could be found.
It was late before a plan of action was finally decided upon. Harold and Lillian sent out messages to all magical creatures within the country, demanding they attend a magical council the next day. The guards around the castle were doubled and the gates to the city were closed for the first time in a hundred years. Fiona watched guards patrol the city walls and saw archers taking their positions in towers. Torches had been lit around the perimeter to allow guards to see any movement outside the walls. Fiona shivered and felt Shrek wrap his arms around her protectively. Neither she nor Far Far Away would sleep easily tonight.