Last chapter folks! Thanks for all your criticism and please keep it coming. Spunkeygirl160 - I tried to find your e-mail to say yes, there would be more, but I take it this chapter's presence is reply enough? ;-) And thanks Mandy of the Amoeba and Red and Gold Phoenix - and all the rest of you - for all of your support and encouragement. Oh, and while negative criticism is always appreciated (how else can one improve?), I'm sorry Shrekshlung but I think I'm too tall for it to be anatomically possible to grant your wish. Sorry!
Seriously, I hope you all had as much fun reading this as I did writing it. Love and peace to you all – may all your (nice) dreams come true.
Kyle circled the tower and saw the three figures below him wave to attract his attention. He landed the carriage gently on the snow and jumped down to hold the door open for his passengers. Merryweather hopped into the carriage and Charming threw his arms around his mother, holding her tightly. Then he ran back into the tower, appearing moments later mounted on his white stallion. He drew level with the carriage.
"I'll see you back at the castle."
"Are you sure pumpkin? We could send the horse back by magic you know."
"No, it upset him last time." Charming stroked the horse's mane and smiled down at his mother. "Besides, someone has to guide all these people home."
"Where are they from?"
"Duloc. Apparently they still haven't found a replacement for Farquaad, so no-one will be out looking for them."
"Call me."
"Yes, mother." Charming raised the horse into an impressive stand, then reeled around and waited at the base of the tower for Simon's servants to appear. He nodded and smiled at Fairy Godmother as she gave him a final wave and flew into her carriage.
Merryweather peered out of the carriage window as it jolted into life and Kyle guided it home.
"He's very brave, your son."
"I know."
"It must have been hard for him."
"I expect so." An awkward silence fell inside the carriage.
"What was it like?" Merryweather looked at Fairy Godmother expectantly.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I follow."
"Being, well, dead."
"I don't wish to discuss the exact details. It was... empty. No light. No laughter. No singing, dancing, or hope. And certainly no love. But you keep your memories – so while there is nothing around you that you need or want and while you are completely alone, you can remember exactly what it was like to be with those you loved and to be where sunshine hit the flowers you used to ignore. It's the separation from everything you love that hurts the most."
"But wasn't that the point - it was Hell wasn't it?"
"Oh no Merryweather – that was just the waiting room before they decide where to place you. Hell was far worse. Far worse..." she drifted off and closed her eyes. Merryweather decided not to push her any further, but one question still played in her mind.
"Where do you think my sisters are?"
"Where do you think? They never did anything wrong. They were sweet and innocent and kind to everyone, even me. They won't be in Hell."
"Could you..." Merryweather stopped herself, then looked up at Fairy Godmother hopefully. "Could we bring them back?"
"We could, but I don't think we should. Resurrection is a risky business – Flora was very lucky she only brought me back with her and not something else from that dimension as well. The spell only worked because it had been decided already that I had been punished enough and was due a second chance."
"Who decided?" asked Merryweather, hoping for any information on the next life. In response, Fairy Godmother just laughed and raised an eyebrow coyly.
"If I told you that, I think I'd be in even more trouble. I was very relieved to be rescued from where I was – and to be given the choice through my actions in this life to decide where I will spend my eternity when I finally die. In contrast, it would be cruel to tear Flora and Fauna away from their reward."
"So you're saying no?"
"Yes. Obviously if we have another major emergency and we need their help to save the kingdom my opinion may change. But let them enjoy their afterlife – they earned it."
"I understand." Merryweather looked down at her hands in her lap. Fairy Godmother leaned over and held her hand gently.
"No you don't, not yet. I know what it's like to want someone back so badly but then to be told it can never happen. And it's doubly hard for you, knowing the means to bring your sisters back but being refused the opportunity to do so. But one day, you will understand." Merryweather sniffled a little at that and Fairy Godmother moved next to her and put an arm around her, letting the younger fairy weep onto her shoulder as their journey continued.
Kyle's eyes swept lazily over the ground as he flew, exhaustion creeping in and causing him to nod off as he guided the carriage. He soon woke up however, as a huge red dragon 'buzzed' the carriage. Just as Kyle was about to shout a warning, he saw a small grey donkey and a large green ogre on the dragon's back. Shrek made a signal to Kyle that indicated he should land and Kyle edged the carriage downwards in response.
Harold stood at the head of his army, foot tapping, glaring at the carriage door. After a few moments, the door swung open and Fairy Godmother and Merryweather jumped out, both with their hands folded in front of them. They flew up to the king and waited patiently for him to speak. To Harold's left, Lillian smiled as she saw that the fairies, while tired, were still alive and must have therefore succeeded in whatever they had planned.
"Well?" demanded Harold.
"Simon's dead, the cursed at the watchtower have returned to their former selves and Charming's alive. You could say we won." There was a cheer from the nearby soldiers, which grew to a roar as the news spread through the ranks.
"You can explain how later. We'll publish a royal proclamation tomorrow once we've decided how much to share with the public," said Lillian quietly.
"Thank you. Why the dragon?" Fairy Godmother looked up at the red beast towering over the carriage and at Kyle petting the animal on its nose.
"We thought she may come in useful." Harold looked up at Dragon, who was purring.
"Fair point," murmured Fairy Godmother.
"Well, I suppose we should all just go home!" Lillian linked her arm in Harold's and led him back to their horses, the army slowly turning and heading south.
Back in Far Far Away, the first snows of winter had just started to fall. As Shrek, Donkey, Harold and Lillian gathered in the Great Hall with Fairy Godmother and Merryweather, Fairy Godmother realised something was missing.
"Where's the cat?" she asked.
"Donkey stood on his paw and broke it, so he couldn't come to battle," answered Shrek, glaring at the clumsy Donkey.
"What? It was an accident. Besides, it was nice for the kids to have their usual babysitter." On cue, there was a jabbering of incoherent baby-hybrid voices from an adjacent room. Donkey's six offspring bounded into the room in the middle of some game. They were carrying Puss-in-Boots above their heads, cheering. Puss clearly hadn't seen the crowd in the hall and raised his arm above his head.
"Onward! We must storm the bastille!" The group of playing children suddenly saw their father and rushed over, lowering Puss in front of him. Puss looked a little embarrassed and saluted the royals. The six children fanned out around him, each saluting and brandishing a replica of Puss' rapier. The children smiled wide grins and raised their feathered hats to their father.
"So this was the great plan to calm the kids down then Puss?" said Shrek, grinning at the group of would-be Zorros in front of him.
"That's right signor! Already their training is coming along well."
"You're training my kids to be thieves and assassins?"
"Si!"
"Cool."
"Actually, I think they're more interested in being musketeers. All for one!" Puss raised his rapier with his right hand, leaning on his wooden crutch with his left. The six dragkeys raised their rapiers and knotted them together with Puss' sword at the tip.
"And one for all!" they squeaked.
"How sweet!" gasped Fiona, descending the stairs carefully. She hugged Shrek in greeting and clasped hands with her mother.
"Perhaps now everything can get back to normal!" Shrek sighed. "I think I've had just about enough surprises for one lifetime."
"Can you take just one more?" asked Fiona, cuddling him. Shrek looked blankly at her as she grinned, moving his hand to touch her slightly swollen belly. Shrek shook his head, still not understanding even as Harold spluttered and whispered furiously to Lillian. Finally, the penny dropped and Shrek grinned, hugged Fiona, then passed out.
"Yes, everything is back to normal," laughed Fiona.
A few days later, back at the potions factory, Fairy Godmother closed the ledger in front of her and sat back, rubbing her eyes wearily. She had finally made sense of how Charming had landed her company in such a mess and had formulated a plan to rescue her business. The only reward that she'd asked for was to be reinstated as the official Fairy Godmother, a request Harold and Lillian had agreed to, provided she didn't use the position for her own family's gain. Harold had also given FGM Inc. a large business loan to pay off the existing debts and buy new potion ingredients. At some point she would have to contact her old client base and start advertising that she was back in business. Charming had been invited to take over in Duloc as king, a position he would take up in a few weeks after spending some time with his mother.
Kyle walked into the office brandishing a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates. Fairy Godmother smiled and waved a hand towards the bottle.
"What's the occasion?"
"I just dropped Charming off at your apartment and found these. We didn't get around to finishing them that night."
"I'm working."
"It's gone midnight." Kyle put the box of chocolates onto the desk in front of Fairy Godmother and looked at the champagne. "Warm, I'm afraid. I don't suppose you could oblige?" Fairy Godmother waved her wand and the champagne instantly chilled, two champagne flutes appearing on the desk.
"I suppose I'm due a break." Kyle popped the champagne and poured it slowly. Then he picked up a chocolate from the box and offered it to Fairy Godmother. He held the chocolate to her lips and she bit into it slowly. Kyle stole the other half of the chocolate, grinning as she furrowed her brow at him, unable to say anything as her mouth was full. He lifted his glass and toasted her.
"To you, Dama. May you remain as Fairy Godmother forever."
"Not forever. Just for a little while longer will do."
"If you insist." Both drank deeply, then looked back at each other. "Jerome put the crystal ball on answering machine before he left, there's no-one else here apart from us. We have alcohol and chocolate – will there be anything else ma'am?" Fairy Godmother raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Il est finis