With apologies to Simon the Sorcerer fans...
The newly assembled magical council sat around a large table in the main hall. Harold, Lillian, Shrek and Fiona were sat at the head, Donkey and Puss at the other end of the table. A few senior soldiers from the army sat around the table, interspersed with the magical creatures and beings called by the monarchs to attend. There were elves, talking animals, goblins and tree spirits. Most importantly of all, three fairies had arrived from a neighbouring kingdom – Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. They had often helped Far Far Away in the past, but the need for their being constantly in the kingdom had been reduced by the presence of the Fairy Godmother in recent years so they had stayed away. Besides which, Fairy Godmother had hated competition. It had been common for the different creatures to fight over differences in how they would use their magic – the fairies helping humans, the elves tricking humans and playing practical jokes on them. Today, however, they sat discussing Shrek's old friends and trying to work out how to cure them. The three fairies were huddled together, frantically arguing over some point they did not seem to want to share. Within moments however, their argument had reached screeching level.
"And I say that Simon Debaal was killed years ago!" shouted Merryweather.
"But he always attacked like this!" shouted back Flora.
"He's dead!"
"How do we know for sure?"
"Surely we could at least find out? Test one of the victims to find the magical signature," interrupted Fauna, once again splitting up her sisters' argument. She was the designated peacemaker of the family, the middle daughter who acted as the buffer between the controlling Flora and the hot-headed Merryweather. Shrek vaguely remembered the three from the days of Lord Farquaad, when they had been forced to live in his swamp. Everyone else knew them as Sleeping Beauty's fairy godmothers who had helped defeat the evil witch Carrabosse.
"Magical signature?" asked Shrek.
"Every fairy, witch, wizard or warlock leaves a mark when they perform a spell – it is unique to them alone," answered Fauna. "If we can find the mark on one of your little friends we should be able to find out who put the spell on them."
"Do it. Now. Guards – fetch the gingerbread man! And while they're fetching the boy, one of you is going to tell us who Simon Debaal is," said Harold, his tone brooking no arguments. The fairies exchanged glances, Flora stepping forward onto the table and waving her wand into the air. A sphere of light formed above the table, an image of a city slowly forming inside it.
"May I present Linavia, a proud and beautiful city that died thirty years ago. First a few people started acting strangely – they were found wandering outside the city, unable to speak, unable to feed themselves. Their families held them close – tried to help them. One day, a young man found his wife outside the gates, wandering aimlessly like the others. When she wouldn't answer, he shook her to get a response. She turned violent – tearing him apart. He was the first to die – there were many others. Every hostile reaction to one of the cursed led to them becoming violent and attacking all those around them."
"After a few months, with most of the city inhabitants having fled or died within the walls, Simon arrived at the city. He called the cursed to him and they became his servants inside the city. He proclaimed himself King of Linavia, sending out his mindless minions to farm his food and steal his gold. His ambition grew with his wealth and he turned his eyes westward, towards the neighbouring dukedom of Duloc." Fiona gasped – Duloc, apart from being Lord Farquaad's old stomping ground, was only a hundred miles east of Far Far Away. Flora nodded towards her, then continued her story.
"We three tried to stop him, but the effort nearly killed us all. We asked another for help – Dama Fortuna, another fairy. Her own sister, Maria, had been captured by Simon and under his control fought against Dama. Dama succeeded where we had failed – she trapped Simon in a pillar of stone, ending his control over Linavia. The cursed were released, returning to their former selves. Maria Fortuna fled the city, ashamed that she had turned against her sister. The people left, unable to live somewhere filled with the stench of corruption and death."
"Why could Dama defeat Simon when no-one else could?" asked Lillian.
"She was more powerful – occasionally a fairy clan will arise who are almost unequalled in magical ability. Maria Fortuna was the elder sister – her magic was less controlled, less reliable. Dama was the younger sister – a more powerful, controlled and intelligent fairy," answered Fauna, pleased that the queen was showing an interest in the history of their kind.
"What became of Dama?" asked Harold.
"She went back to brewing potions in a small factory and, after meeting you one day in the woods, she became the official Fairy Godmother of Far Far Away," replied Flora. A silence descended around the table.
"So FGM was the only one who could kill this guy and she's dead?" asked Donkey, effectively summarising for the slow-of-thinking around the table.
"Yes," said Flora. "Unless of course Maria is still alive and has learned to control her magic. She was almost as powerful as Dama." The guards returned at that moment with Gingy who was struggling inside a hemp sack. They tipped him out unceremoniously onto the stone floor, backing off quickly. Gingy screeched a few times in rage, but soon calmed down when he realised he was not being threatened any longer. He sat down on the floor and stared blankly forwards. Flora flew towards him.
"And now to find who did this to you" she started.
"I thought it was my turn to do the important magic?" interrupted Merryweather.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You always do the important spells. And you always give the first gift and I always have to go last. You always have to lead!"
"That's because I'm older and better than you! This is hardly the time!"
While her siblings continued to squabble, Fauna raised her wand over Gingy's head. She muttered under her breath, then shouted, "Reveal!" A thin wisp of purple smoke wound itself upwards from Gingy's heart and formed itself into a snake above his head. The snake rose as if to strike, revealing itself as a cobra as its mane flared out. The cobra's fangs bared, then the image disintegrated into coloured sand, disappearing as it hit the floor. Gingy blinked at Fauna, then went back to staring at the wall. She turned to the council.
"Simon Debaal is back – Fairy Godmother's magic must have failed when she died." The council muttered amongst themselves, Flora and Merryweather ending their argument for now in order to help the others.
"There is only one logical course of action," said Harold. "We must try to find Maria Fortuna, and convince her to aid us in saving our kingdom. Meanwhile, spread the word not to threaten anyone who appears in this state – have them brought to the palace and we will try to contain them here. Keep the gates locked unless absolutely necessary. An armed guard is to accompany all farmers leaving and returning from work on the fields." Harold shook a little, then continued. "Volunteers to come with me to find Maria?" Puss immediately jumped onto the table, brandishing his sword. Shrek raised his hand, as did Donkey. Fiona looked at Shrek, smiled and started to raise her right hand.
"No darling," said Lillian. "You are not to leave. If something happens to your father, you will be Queen. If something happens to both of you, we will have no-one left here to take the crown."
"But mother, you would be here!"
"Oh no darling, I'm going with your father." Harold looked at his wife in horror – she had never left the city to go on a quest before!
"Lillian I really must protest" he started.
"Hush now Harold, did you really think I'd let you go alone?" Lillian smiled at him softly, then turned back to her daughter. "You are not to leave Fiona, I think you have more to consider here than just your own safety." Lillian raised an eyebrow at Fiona and her daughter sighed, defeated.
"Be careful," whispered Fiona to Shrek, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
That night, under cover of darkness, Shrek led Donkey out of the back gates to the city. Lillian followed at a few paces behind, pausing to wave to Fiona. Harold and Puss sat on Donkey's back, looking back as the gates closed with a final thud behind them. They would have to travel for many days before they came to the seashore, to an area where the three fairies believed Maria Fortuna was hiding. Assuming she was still there of course. Not wanting to be discovered, the five travelled silently into the night, listening for any sign of Simon Debaal.