The next morning found Shrek, Harold, Kyle, Puss and Donkey lurking in a dark corner of Farbucks, trying not to be seen.
"How is Lillian this morning?" asked Shrek.
"She still has a lousy headache, but she feels much better. She's more convinced than ever that Maria was reading her mind," answered Harold. "Lillian doesn't want to be told of anything we're planning in case Maria finds out through her."
"Of course," said Puss.
"Where are these fairies?" asked Shrek. "It's been half an hour."
"I don't mind – this coffee's great!" said Donkey.
"How many have you had?" asked Puss.
"Four – and counting!" Donkey was unused to coffee and the caffeine high he was riding caused him to speak more quickly than usual. He was shaking ever so slightly. "Another please!" A waitress acknowledged his order.
"Decaff for the ass!" shouted Puss. Before Donkey could respond, the three good fairies entered Farbucks. It became obvious that they had never entered a coffee house before – they huddled together protectively and stared bewildered at the menu. Shrek waved to attract their attention, then realised he probably hadn't needed to – there were not many seven foot tall ogres in Farbucks this morning. The three fairies rushed to the corner and sat down awkwardly on the moulded chairs.
"What did you want?" asked Fauna. "And why all the secrecy?"
"We have reason to believe that Maria may not be as loyal as we were led to believe," said Harold, "this is Kyle – he knew both Maria and Fairy Godmother when they still worked together. Maria has been lying to us." Harold related all their evidence to the three fairies.
"What are we going to do?" gasped Merryweather.
"Assuming it's true of course," added Fauna.
"What do you mean?" demanded Kyle.
"You have to admit that you are a little biased dear," said Flora softly. Kyle stood and glared at the three fairies.
"I told you it was a waste of time asking these three for help," snapped Kyle, storming out of Farbucks. His temper carried him through the streets of Far Far Away and into the rented cottage he was hiding in from Maria. Idiots, he thought. Why couldn't they just believe him – were they really as stupid as Fairy Godmother had always said?
Later that afternoon, Kyle heard a knock at the door and opened it cautiously. A short woman in a large dark cloak was standing outside. Kyle reached for the fire iron he'd hidden behind the doorframe in case this happened.
"Can I help you?" he asked the cloak, raising the fire iron behind the door.
"It's me, Flora, can I come in?" She looked up at Kyle.
"If you're trying to blend in, you're making a real hash of the attempt."
"Let me in?"
"Quickly. Before Maria herself sees you." Kyle ushered her quickly through the door and closed it behind Flora, keeping his grip on the fire iron. Flora sat down nervously, then stood, removed her cloak and started rubbing her palms together in an agitated way. "What is it?" asked Kyle.
"There's something we need to discuss."
"What?"
"We're all agreed that Maria is probably a traitor."
"Good – then you three will help us overthrow her?"
"No."
"But you just said..."
"Let me finish. With Dama Fortuna dead, Maria is our best chance of defeating Simon."
"But she's in love with Simon!"
"I know. But with Dama Fortuna dead, we have no choice but to trust Maria."
"Why did you bother to come here if only to state the obvious?"
"Because there is an obvious solution. Let me see if you can work it out Kyle," said Flora, her patience waning. "With Dama Fortuna dead we have no other options when it come to fighting Simon."
"So?"
"So if our only problem is that Dama is dead, we need to?" she paused, waiting for the proverbial copper disc to fall.
"We need to see to it that she's no longer dead?" asked Kyle, scarcely daring to hope he was right.
"Right! But there's a problem. The spell that would raise Dama is dangerous and my sisters believe that it is too risky. They will not consider performing the reparare vita spell as the last three people who have tried have all died painful deaths and the spell has failed in each case. We have agreed that there will be no attempt by my sisters or myself to raise Dama in a mass rebellion against Maria."
"Then it is hopeless?"
"No, because despite what I may have agreed in front of my sisters, I am quite willing to perform the resurrection spell and risk my own life if it will save this kingdom."
"I can't ask you to do that," said Kyle. "And nor can this kingdom."
"That is why I am insisting you help me, rather than waiting for you to ask. Do you know what happened to Dama's wand?"
"I have it." Kyle ran into his bedroom, threw open the drawer and pulled out Fairy Godmother's wand. He passed it to Flora.
"This is all we need – well done!" said Flora, smiling. "Keep it safe – you must bring it tomorrow morning at around three o' clock up to the hill above the castle."
"Why so early?"
"We need to cast the spell as dawn breaks. There is one more thing – a price if you like."
"What is it?"
"Like all truly powerful spells, a condition has to be met within a time limit or the spell will reverse. In this case, I think we'll go for the traditional – she will have to kiss her true love by midnight."
"That is me, isn't it?" asked Kyle. "The definition of true love is so precise, it might not actually be me despite the fact we were involved before she died."
"It's you Kyle. I'm as sure as anyone can be that it's you. But the problem is, she cannot be told the condition until after she's met it."
"So if I tell her she has to kiss me to live?"
"She'll die immediately. And so will you."
"What?"
"Reparare vita is one of those 'double-or-quits' spells. Either you win and Fairy Godmother lives, or you lose and both of you die. You have to offer your life in exchange for Dama's in case she does not kiss you."
"And the last three times people have tried this?"
"The spell-caster and the true love, viz your role, have died horribly."
"Has the spell ever worked?"
"Once." Flora looked down at her hands. "I could try the spell with a different sacrifice and a different condition, but this is the easiest combination."
"I'll take the odds. It's not like we have any other real choice. Three o'clock you say?"
"Kyle – tell no-one."
"Of course not. Until tomorrow," he said quietly, shaking Flora's hand as she left the cottage.
"Until tomorrow."