Sacrifice
"He saved the princess!" Felicia chirped, pointing at the tangle of people in front of them. She almost broke free of her father's grip, but Shrek tackled her back into his lap, not without complaint from the little ogress.
"I told you Felix was good, mommy!" Farkle looked directly at his mother, eyebrows raised.
"Alright," Fiona's tone was slightly sharper than she had perhaps intended. As much as her children were convinced, she still had reservations.
"When it's good Felix, he's nice," Fergus pointed at him, nodding his head.
"Yeah, he is!"
"How do you know he's good Felix right now?" Fiona tested them.
"Because bad Felix wouldn't save the princess, mom," Felicia's voice was flat. The three of them looked at her incredulously. Fiona shook her head.
"Yeah mom," came Shrek's mocking voice, a smile slowly spread over his face, "The kid did it."
The ogress took a breath. She didn't know what he was so happy about. There was no need for celebration. Their situation hadn't improved just because one person had been saved. She allowed herself an eye roll and sighed. Her heart was still racing in her chest. The anxiety of the situation was still eating at her, bit by bit.
Shrek's smile faded watching her face. Securing their daughter in one arm, he wrapped the other around her. She leant into his embrace as best she could. He kissed her temple, "I love you," his voice was low.
Fiona felt a knot tie itself in her throat. She knew why he was telling her that. "I love you too," she could barely hear herself speak. Though she knew he heard her. She closed her eyes, he leant his forehead against hers. They shared a kiss that lingered for slightly longer than either of them intended.
"Hey, kids?" Shrek rose his voice a little, catching their attention. They all turned back, to face their parents. Their expressions expectant, eyes wide. Fiona felt herself melt, in their little faces she could see the babies she held when they were first born and every day they had looked at her since. She wanted to both smile and sob. Shrek continued, "Ye mom an' I love you, ye know that right?"
They looked confused, nodding.
"We love you so, so much," Fiona added, blinking back the tears.
Mischievous smiles spread across their faces, "We love you more!"
"This much more!"
It was a game they often played at home. It made Fiona giggle, "We love you even more than that."
"How much?" they eagerly asked, gazes shifting to their father.
Shrek briefly let go of the two ogresses to stretch his arms out as far as they went, "This much," he smiled at them.
They fell about laughing, muttering about their defeat. But their eyes alit, they clutched onto each other's hands, leaning out as far as their little arms would allow them. "But we love you this much!" They did that every single time, and it made Fiona laugh as if it were the first. In that moment she didn't think her heart could contain how much love she felt for her family.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, in mock defeat.
"Looks like they've got us beat, Fiona," Shrek nudged her playfully.
"Surely n-"
Fiona was interrupted as a gasp was sent around the deck. Her head snapped up to watch as Felix stormed up to Artie and violently pushed him to the deck.
"... oh no," Shrek's utterance was enough conformation for Fiona.
She pulled her sons against her. Bad Felix was back. The ogress wasn't surprised. Still, she felt sick. It meant the witch had given up toying with them. If she was targeting Artie directly, it meant it was almost their turn. Rain began to fall in sheets around them, the wind picking up. It was chilling. Fiona opened her arms to Felicia who fell against her once again. She wrapped the blanket around them, holding them tight against her. Shrek didn't move the arm with which he firmly held onto her. Fiona gulped, they were as prepared as they could be.
Elena screamed as Felix glowered over where Artie lay.
"Fine!" Felix shouted, "Fine, if you'll just find ways to save each other, I guess I'll just cut to the chase." He looked around, eyes loosely hovering on the family of ogres. "Is that what you want, King Arthur?"
"Artie..." Shrek began to advance but Fiona momentarily removed one arm from her bundle of children, to clasp onto her husband.
"Please, Shrek," she found herself begging him in a whisper, "Don't draw attention to us."
As much as she loved her cousin, as much as it tore her apart to think of the fate he was about to experience, she loved her children more. If there was a chance that they'd somehow escape the situation alive, she'd take it. Even if they were the only ones to do so. Shrek's eyes were pained, he looked from her to Artie and back again. Finally his eyes dropped to the children, huddled in the blanket, shielding their faces from the rain. He took a shallow breath and nodded, frowning, eyebrows knitted. If Shrek could have tried to save Artie without bringing their children to the witch's attention, he would have. But the witch had already made her threat clear.
Artie sat up, he shakily stood to look Felix in the face, "Take me," his voice wavered, he cleared his throat, "Take me, and then no one else will stand in your way. Far Far Away will be yours," he spared a glance to them, "You have my word," he spoke defiantly.
"Hm," Felix's nose wrinkled, "I'll think on it."
Felix turned and walked away from the young king. He was taking slow strides, looking down at the deck, arms folded. He was in thought. Fiona found herself closing her eyes and lightly crossing her fingers. She wished on every star she could ever remember wishing on. Wishing for a sudden turn of events that would lead to everyone surviving, for them to be able to arrive safely back home and continue with their lives. Though, as she opened her eyes again, Felix turned and was staring directly at Artie once again. The hard reality hit the ogress, wishing didn't do much, it was action that counted. And so far, no one had any action that could compare to the witch's power. Once again, Fiona found herself hoping for a rescuer.
"I'm considering your offer, King Arthur..." he wandered around in thought, "It would be a much greater defeat if I managed to persuade you to give me the kingdom, as well as taking it by force," he put a finger to his chin, "I'm just thinking about the looks on everyone's faces when I show up and they can't fight me," a smile spread over his face. "But... here's my problem," he stopped, pointing at Artie, who visibly jumped at the gesture, "How will they know you gave that word? We are here after all," he held his arms out, turning in a circle, gesturing to the vast ocean. "Don't think they're going to see that kingdom ever again," he pointed at Fiona, Shrek held onto her tighter. "Because I have a sneaking feeling that they won't be true to your word if it were up to them. It has to be your word, King Arthur."
Artie look dumbfounded. He stared blankly at Felix, who seemed to be waiting for a response. "I can write a declaration," his words were hesitant.
Felix shook his head, "Too easily destroyed." Though before Artie could offer another suggestion, the magic user's eyes widened, "I have an idea." He looked up to the clouds, blinking in the rain. The dark clouds began to morph and lower. They stretched out until the whispy hand was back. It lowered and grew smaller until it formed a fist. It slowly approached Artie, who began to shuffle away from it until his back hit the mast. Finally when he had stopped, the hand hovered in front of him. It opened, revealing a shell in its shadowy palm. Artie looked in horror at it, the shell was shimmering in the soft candlelight. Felix only laughed, "Give me your word, King Arthur."
Artie looked down at the shell before him, he took another glance at them. Fiona could only offer what she hoped was a sympathetic look amongst how terrified she felt.
"Um..."
"Tell it," he gestured to the shell, "What do you wish, King Arthur?"
"I... King Arthur Pendragon, of Far Far Away," his words seemed to have a ghostly echo as the shell began to glow in front of him, "grant the kingdom... the entire kingdom and everyone in it," he paused, a look of pain flashing over his face, "to..." he hesitated, taking a breath, "to the Wickedly Wicked Witch of Far Far Away," he squeezed his eyes closed, leaning his head back against the mast, holding onto it.
The cloud hand closed around the shell again and retracted back over to Felix. He took hold of it, "This is incredible," he took a deep breath, "Really. Sacrificing yourself to save your people, and your little girlfriend. For that, I respect you, I grant you that," there were sighs of relief, "You have my word, King Arthur." Fiona was almost relieved, almost, until Felix flashed a smile at her, "It's just a shame I don't trust your family. They're the people you wanted to save, hm?" he began wandering again. "Oh you had to save the children," he laughed mirthlessly, "Sorry. No deal."
Fiona felt her world crash around her. Her face creased up, she could feel the pain bubbling over, she tried desperately to keep herself from crying. Shrek's grip on her loosened, she could hear his shuddery breath. She looked down to her children, a tear dropping onto the blanket they shivered within. She sniffed.
"I hope you don't take it personally, Princess," he addressed her directly, "But it was your father who defeated me before. I have to be careful. Saving kingdoms seems to run in your family."
Fiona felt the rage take over her sadness. She wanted to jump up and scream at him, shake at him until she couldn't any more. But she didn't. Her children were attached to her. Her husband was holding her. She gritted her teeth, trying to take deep breaths.
"No," Artie dropped onto his knees, "Please, at least leave the kids..."
"To what? Grow up, learn of their parents' demise and take revenge?" Felix laughed dryly. "I'd rather nip it in the bud. It's in their blood after all," he spoke flatly, "Though, don't worry, you won't get to see it. It's your turn first, King Arthur. I'm enjoying it too much making them wait," his eyes were once again on her family, "Like they made me wait."
With a brief hand movement, the shell disappeared in the air. He smiled, eyes resting on Artie. Felix took a deep breath, "Are you ready?"
Felix, or the witch, launched into another speech about how long she had been waiting for this moment but Fiona tried to block it out. It didn't matter anymore. Her gaze dropped down to the children, they were her priority. They weren't looking, but Fiona pulled the blanket up further over their heads anyway. She wanted them to experience as little of this as possible. If that was possible. What she really wanted was to look at each of them properly, gush over them in turn, hug them and kiss them equally. Tell them how much she loved them and how sorry she was. But that was selfish. What they needed was shelter from the rain, to be blissfully unaware, and for their mother to be strong. Though, Fiona could feel her strength melting away. She looked to Shrek, she knew he would be strong, he always was. But his attention was fastly held by what was going on with Artie. Shrek looked back, he seemed surprised by meeting her gaze, he looked past her. He then firmly resumed staring at Felix, though, he gently let go of Fiona's shoulder. It shocked the ogress. She looked beside her to where he had glanced before and realised there was a mirror sitting on the crates beside them. Though, what alarmed her the most was her husband's hand slowly reaching past her to get it. Her thoughts immediately aligned with his, "Shrek no," she whispered through clenched teeth. She briefly recalled the night they were thinking about, when her father sacrificed his humanity for them. Still, Fiona couldn't be sure the same would happen here. There might have still been a sliver of a chance for them. Shrek diving in front of the magic could be the end of him completely.
The look on Shrek's face said that he was going to do it whether she liked it or not. Their death was on the horizon, if there was ever a time to be reckless, it was now. Fiona immediately drew her attention back to Felix-
"And now," his grin was theatrical, "Now, my wait is over..."
The feeling of Shrek's arm then disappeared from behind her. He had the mirror. Fiona watched as Felix closed his eyes, tilting his head back. He was about to do it. Shrek was about to run. Her thoughts were drawn back to that night years ago. While the fairy godmother was destroyed, her father only sacrificed his humanity... because he was enchanted. This was something her and her father had in common. Her gaze landed on her husband, who had the mirror clasped in his hands. Shrek wasn't enchanted. If anyone was going to be running front of the magic, it should be her. Fiona's eyes widened. With her children's lives being threatened, now was the time to be reckless. If her interpretation of the magic was correct, she had the best shot out of anyone on the boat.
Fiona's gaze moved from her husband, to the mirror, to Artie, to Felix and back again. Felix drew his hands back. Resuming his deathly stare on Artie.
It was now or never. It was her or her husband.
In one fluid movement, Fiona shifted the children onto her husband's lap and snatched the mirror from his grasp. She sprung up from where she was sat, ignoring the numbness in her legs from how she had been positioned. She vaguely registered her husband shouting for her, but she didn't have time to think. Bolts of magic energy were released from Felix's fingertips. The magic user's gaze fixed on Artie, he didn't notice her. Artie didn't either, he had flinched on the ground, shielding his face. Felix turned to the sky once more, laughing in victory. Fiona ran, skidding down onto her knees, holding the mirror against her torso. The ogress had barely closed her eyes in anticipation of the hit when she felt it strike her. She heard the mirror smash and felt the wind knocked out of her. She didn't manage to see the results before everything went black.
AN: Fun fact #3: This chapter and the previous chapter were originally one. Then I realised I apologised for the length of Chapter 18 and the next was way longer. You were kept on edge for an extra click to change the chapter... I'm sorry.
Was I way too mean in this chapter? I feel like I got a bit carried away. I'm kinda shocked at myself.
