She couldn't help but notice how much bigger the ogres seemed, and she stayed on the stairs to make herself feel less like an outcast. Within seconds they were halting in their conversations and approaching her.
"Is he dead?" Fiona asked, her voice clipped.
"Yes," Gretched confirmed. "Prison was too good for the rat."
Despite her infinite sadness, Fiona had to smile. She definitely loved her friends. "Thank you," she said, and moved on to her announcement. "I have some news," she began. "Now that you all know who I really am, I've decided to take the kingdom back. And you, all of you, are invited to stay with me."
"Here?" Cookie asked.
"Yes," she repeated. "We'll send word that the palace is accepting ogres as residents, and..." she paused when she realized how dissatisfied the entire Resistance looked. "Let's put it to a vote," she offered.
"No," they said in one voice.
"Why not? I'm making a great offer."
"Fiona, we appreciate it," Cookie said. "But this just won't fly."
"He's right," Brogan cut in. "Far Far Away would never approve. We would be bigger social pariahs than Rumpelstiltskin."
Fiona smiled at him. "I highly doubt that."
"Fiona," Cookie said succinctly. "All of us in one place?"
"Behind high walls and a closed gate, with all of the witches behind bars," Fiona assured him. "Would you rather be alone at night, in the open?"
They looked at one another.
"We'll protect each other; we always have. Sleep on it?" she requested.
They murmured in uncertain agreement and began to disperse. Fiona watched them in amazement before turning to Puss. "I thought they would be happy," she murmured.
"They are grateful for everything you have done. But princesa, they have a lot to consider, too."
"Justice has been served."
"Evil is never truly vanquished," Puss answered.
"'Evil' won't set foot in the palace ever again. I thought they knew that," she said flatly. "We were supposed to stand united, Puss. You can't tell me I don't have the room." Her eyes wandered the massive building.
"You definitely stand united."
"And you know they are proper warriors."
"I know," he acknowledged. "But they have not been in a house in a long time - "
"Neither have I!" she snapped. Suddenly both were silent, not knowing what to say. Finally Fiona drew a breath. "You don't think I'm scared, Puss? What kind of chance do I have without any of them?"
Puss was quiet, staring at the floor like a little boy. Fiona turned and walked huffily from the room. She couldn't deny that retracing her steps to her bedroom felt right, but there was still very much that was wrong in her new world. What Stiltskin hadn't changed, he had utterly destroyed. Fiona huffily locked herself in her bedroom and flung open the drapes; and words began pouring from her mouth. "Who has the right to disapprove? I'm the queen. I'm the queen! They didn't dare go against Stiltskin and he was a common criminal. This is my duty, my right by birth! Who would have the nerve to tell me what I can't do!" She sat on her bed and folded her arms, heaving a loud sigh. "Stiltskin was a manipulative killer, and they still showed him respect. I'm trying to help innocent people; they can just deal with it."
"Who can deal with it?"
Fiona turned to give a dirty look to the Mirror. "Excuse me, I'm trying to have a private conversation."
"With the knick-knack?"
Fiona rolled her eyes.
"Alright, well, I'm here if you want a discussion." The Mirror smiled at her as he began to fade from view, leaving the glass looking deceptively normal.
Fiona stood and went to the window, staring out at the destruction of the sign on the hill. Reparations would have to be made. And she thought it would be nice to have a statue of Shrek mounted between the palace and his swamp. He had mentioned it being somewhere in the west. That would be easy enough.
The palace also needed to be cleaned and restored, and she would have to notify the Pope that she had regained the kingdom...Fiona's mind hummed to life with the obligations and power that her status granted her.
-x-
That evening, around sunset, the Magic Mirror appeared in every mirror in Far Far Away at once to deliver Fiona's message. "Attention, citizens! The tyrannical reign of Rumpelstiltskin has come to its end. Finally, we have a true leader among us; the rightful heiress, the daughter to the lost King Harold and Queen Lillian. You may have noticed her absence! She has been freed from her tower, and we should rejoice. The manipulations and terror are over; I repeat, Rumpelstiltskin has been replaced by the fair, talented Princess Fiona!"
The mask faded into darkness; and looking down into her handheld mirror, Fairy Godmother began to smile. Setting the mirror down she flew toward the door. "Charming! Mummy has good news, sweetheart!"
"What is it?" Charming shouted back, looking up from his newspaper.
Fairy Godmother landed softly before him. "Fiona has been rescued. All you must do is destroy her knight and woo her!"
"Mother, I thought we agreed!" Charming huffed, as he stood and threw his newspaper onto the coffee table. "I am too good for her. You liked Cindy at my formal and I told you, things are serious. Furthermore Fiona was supposed to be destroyed, by that runt of a stormy petrel you call a son!"
"Well, she hasn't been, pumpkin-pie; so our initial plans are back on course."
"Forget it!" Charming huffed. "I have new plans. Cindy and I are getting married!"
"Oh, no you're not. No son of mine is taking a pathetic maid as his bride."
"She's royal!"
"So is Fiona. So here is what you'll do. You will slay her rescuer. You will go to the palace and present her with flowers, a box of chocolates, and a shoulder to cry on. She will invite you inside and you will stay there until dismissed! Am I understood?"
Prince Charming just stared at her.
Fairy Godmother walked closer. "Cindy is history. End the relationship tonight in peace, or I promise you, Charming, I will make her disappear."
Prince Charming hung his head, turned and walked away in defeat. "That's my boy," she sighed, after he had shut the door behind him.