Both Maria and Dama drew their wands.
"Go back to your cave Maria – I don't want to have to kill you."
"Why should you want to kill me? I'm the good one, remember? How Fiona and Shrek will thank me for killing you when they find out you burst in here and took out your revenge on the King and Queen." Maria whirled around to face Harold and Lillian, waving her wand in front of them menacingly.
"Leave them alone Maria!" warned Kyle, drawing a sword. Maria chuckled quietly.
"Did you expect that to work? Had he told you what the condition was yet dear sister?"
"What condition?"
"Oh, the resurrection spell that he and Flora carried out. He offered himself for you."
"Kyle why?" asked Dama, then stopped herself.
"Oh, so you weren't told? I suppose you don't know the condition either then, as Flora did say that if you were told before the condition was met you would die instantly." Dama closed her eyes as she realised that a few words from her sister would kill her.
"I don't believe Flora would have betrayed us like that!" shouted Kyle.
"Oh she didn't do so willingly. You can keep your original romantic idea of Flora as the brave warrior who would die before betraying you. In fact, she almost did. Her last thoughts were of you Kyle and she hoped you would succeed. That's what betrayed your cause."
"You killed her?" gasped Dama.
"I didn't intend to. She'd have made a much better servant than corpse, but she was so unwilling to let go of vital information. I had to destroy most of her mind before she gave up your secret Kyle."
"Why did you go after Flora? Only a few people knew she'd performed the spell!" Kyle fought his fears, trying to buy time for Dama to get around to silencing her sister. If the spell hadn't been sealed, they were both precariously close to death.
"And of those few, one in particular has been on my side from the start. Which reminds me, I shall be back in a moment." Maria waved her wand and turned the balcony curtains into solid doors that locked automatically preventing any escape through that route. She walked out of the bedroom door, and turned in the hallway.
"I hope you won't mind me leaving for a moment, only I'd hate to witness the death of a family member. The condition was that you should kiss him by midnight tonight, ciao," she closed the door quickly and locked it magically behind her. There was a collective intake of breath, then Dama smiled.
"Is that all?" she asked Kyle.
"Yes," he replied, walking over to hug her quickly.
"Then I take it you two have, ah, already, um, kissed?" asked Harold, knowing the answer.
"Amongst other things," mumbled Dama quietly. She raised her wand, waiting for Maria's re-entrance. Kyle picked up a sword, as did Lillian. Harold hopped out of sight.
Maria burst through the door dragging the body of Flora behind her. Kyle took a swing at her with his sword, but the swipe was blocked by a counter-curse. It certainly hadn't come from Maria. Dama gaped as she saw Fauna walking in behind Maria, wand raised to prevent Kyle causing Maria any harm.
"I told you I should come along," said Fauna.
"Yes, you were right. I needed help." Maria turned and saw Dama still standing. "Still here? How?" Dama rolled her eyes.
"Use your imagination," she drawled, pointing her wand at Maria. "Leave her body alone at least," she said, pointing briefly at Flora. "And you have some serious explaining to do when Merryweather finds out what you've done," she observed, glaring at Fauna. "Why did you help her do this?" Fauna looked uncomfortable.
"It wasn't supposed to go this far. Flora was always pushing me aside and trying to control everything I did. Maria offered me a chance to be my own master again."
"Provided you serve under Simon."
"No! Once this kingdom is under Simon's control he will let Maria and I leave to pursue our own destinies."
"And you believe that do you?"
"Yes. Flora's death was an accident, you have to believe that."
"I don't have to believe a word you say. You and Flora were always so close, why do this?"
"Simon treated your sister very well when they worked together. He has always been supportive of magical folk."
"If you followed everything he said, yes. Personally, I never liked the way he treated me."
"You were his enemy," interrupted Maria.
"Didn't you ever wonder why Maria? How can you tell me what he did to Linavia was right in any way?" Fairy Godmother fluttered off the floor in her frustration. "You sided with him to get back at me and you know it!"
"So what if I did? He's back and you know you won't be able to fight all three of us this time around. I guess your magic isn't back up to full strength yet is it Dama? Me, Simon and Fauna against a rogue Fairy Godmother out to destroy Far Far Away. Who do you think the people will believe Dama? Do you think they'll believe you came here to help tonight? Or to kill the royal family? And look – Flora was named your successor as Far Far Away's new official fairy godmother this morning. Look how you treated her. I didn't want to kill you myself Dama, I rather thought that Flora's spell would do that for me. Never mind, I shall rectify that mistake," Maria threw a quick stunning curse at Dama, which she dodged easily.
"You'll have to try harder than that Maria," replied Dama, throwing a curse back at her.
"Do you have to kill each other?" asked Fauna.
"You know the plan – she'll never co-operate and Simon will arrive tomorrow expecting to walk into a city empty of its soldiers. She has to die. It's Flora's fault really – you did well to persuade her not to bring back Dama. It's a pity she changed her mind."
"You don't have to help her Fauna," said Lillian.
"Quiet you!" Maria hit Lillian mid-stomach with a curse. Lillian was thrown back onto the bed, while Fauna and Kyle gasped in astonishment. The sword Lillian had been holding clattered to the floor, breaking the temporary silence. Dama did not wait for a second attack from Maria but went straight for her sister with a killing blast. Maria did not see the spell coming and for a moment it looked like Dama may have won. However Fauna pushed Maria out of the way and took the full hit of the spell herself, crumpling to the floor. Dama looked aghast – she'd never killed anyone relatively innocent before.
"No!" screeched Dama. She lowered her wand to her side and started to shake with the horror of what she'd just done. Maria looked down at Fauna and shook her head. Then she advanced on Dama.
Dama looked at her sister and braced herself for another attack. Both were now cursing to kill and a furious dog-fight began in earnest. Dama dodged a curse from Maria, only to overbalance and drop her wand. She watched helplessly as it clattered away across the floor and Maria landed between the wand and Dama.
"You lose," whispered Maria, raising her wand. Dama closed her eyes, trying to will her wand to her hand knowing it wouldn't work. She waited for the inevitable curse. When it didn't come, she looked up at her sister. Maria was frozen, her wand raised above her head. Dama felt herself relax as a trickle of blood flowed down from Maria's mouth.
Kyle stepped out from behind Maria, blood on the sword he was holding. As Maria fell forward into her sister's arms, Kyle snatched her wand and snapped it in half. Dama looked impassively into her sister's eyes for a moment, then stroked Maria's face gently and closed her still-staring eyes. She stood and looked at Kyle, who dropped his sword.
"Thank-you," she whispered. Kyle wrapped his arms around her as she buried her face in his chest and Harold jumped out from under the bed.
"My God – Lillian!" croaked Harold. Kyle and Dama rushed to the queen's side.
"She's still breathing," said Dama. "It's just a stunning spell – it'll wear off by morning."
"Can't you do anything for her now?"
"Yes, just a moment," sighed Dama, gesturing over Lillian's prone body for a moment. Lillian woke up and pulled herself upright. She took in the scene around her.
"I see you won." Lillian rubbed her arms, still feeling a little numb.
"Yes. I think I've decided to help you defeat Simon. Now that the odds are a little more even that is." She looked down at Maria. "It wasn't supposed to end like this..."
"It never is. I wonder why Fauna turned against Flora?"
"Perhaps Merryweather will know?" suggested Harold, hopping into his wife's lap.
"We shall have to tell her what's happened. Kyle, could you go and call some guards please?" asked Lillian. Kyle half-bowed and left the room. There was a moment's awkward silence.
"I'm sorry about your sister," said Lillian.
"Thank-you. About the plan to marry Charming to Fiona..."
"Yes?" Lillian raised an eyebrow.
"I hope you realise I was only trying to make a good match for both of our children."
"Particularly your son."
"Granted. But perhaps my methods were a little over-the-top."
"You damn near killed both Shrek and my husband. I think perhaps 'over-the-top' is too mild a phrase to use in the circumstances."
"I apologise for my actions. Unreservedly. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes, actually," replied Lillian. Harold nodded in agreement. "So, what are we going to do tomorrow?"
"What we are going to do tonight is to recall the army and fasten the gates of the city," said Dama. "Tomorrow we are going to pray that I can convince Merryweather to help fight Simon so I at least have some back-up." At that moment, Kyle re-entered with some guards and Fiona and Shrek. "Kyle?"
"Yes Dama?"
"Go and find my son and bring him here."
"Of course." Kyle exited through the curtains, which were now freed from Maria's earlier curse. Dama followed him to, ahem, say good-bye.
"Mother – what happened?" asked Fiona. Lillian took her daughter's hands in hers.
"Sit down, both of you," she said, beckoning to Shrek. "We have a lot to discuss."