While the Queen and her daughter were arguing over the sudden news of the ball being held that night, Belle snuck out of the room to find her sorcerer.

Wait. Mine? Belle wasn't sure when she started thinking that Rumple was her sorcerer. If anything she was his.

What?! Belle's mind screamed.

Belle's mind started getting carried away that she didn't notice her feet were carrying her right into her master's arms. Walking right into the green man, Rumple caught his maid's arms before she could fall back.

"Are you okay? You know, you really should watch where you are going." Rumple grinned.

"Rumple." Belle said.

"Yes maid?" He chuckled.

"What did you do?"

"Now what makes you think that everything that happens here is my doing?" He watched as Belle simple stared him down with her crystal blue eyes. Her pink lush lips up in a grin.

Shaking his head to throw away the thoughts that he should not be having of his help, he started walking pass her only to find her following him, as she often did.

"Me and the princess just heard news from her mother that the ball will be held tonight." Belle said watching Rumple.

"Really?" He asked in his impish voice. "How wonderful."

"It is?" Belle questioned. She didn't expect him to say that.

"Yes. Now we can leave very much sooner." He grinned. That she expected.

"What?! Tonight?" Shrek nearly yelled.

"It appears so, yes." Fiona said trying to calm her husband down.

"But I thought there was still preparations to be made. What about the cake?"

"Shrek, you don't care about them."

"I care about the cake." Donkey said to the side.

"You can't eat cake Donkey." Shrek scolded.

"The preparations seem to have 'magically' be finished and with us being human, father wants the ball done tonight."

"Magically? Your father? I knew it!" Shrek exclaimed. "This is their doing."

"What?" Fiona asked.

"Your father invited the sorcerer here to 'get rid' of me." Shrek used air quotes to emphasize his point. "Instead, that scaly green man comes to me and gives me a potion to turn us human and now that we are, your father decides to go ahead and how the ball tonight. I told you we shouldn't have come!"

Fiona only stared at her husband as he rambled, shocked by the news.

"What?"

"What?" Shrek asked.

"What." Donkey said. The two stared at him for a few seconds. "Sorry. I thought we were playing a game."

"The sorcerer, Rumplestiltskin, gave you a potion to make us human?"

Shrek stood with his mouth open, realizing that he hadn't meant to tell her.

"Shrek," Fiona said walking up to him. "Do you want this?"

"I just want you to be happy." He sighed.

"I am happy with you."

"No, I mean...as a human."

"What?"

"Fiona, do you want to stay a human?" He asked.

"I don't understand."

"Rumplshilshskin, or whatever his stupid name is, said that the potion only last today."

"What?! You didn't tell me that Shrek." Donkey exclaimed.

"Shut up Donkey. Fiona, if you kiss me by midnight tonight, we will remain human."

Fiona thought about everything and looked at her husband for a few seconds. She was shocked. She loved him for making her happy but not like this. She fell in love with him when he was an ogre and took True Love's form. He didn't understand that she didn't care if she was a human or ogre, she only wanted him. But she understood that he would make that great change, something he loves being, for her.

"I need to think." She said as she walked past Shrek and left him with Donkey.

"So what do you plan to wear to the ball? It will be happening this evening." Rumple said.

It was already noon and in a few short hours, many visitors would be pouring into the castle for the ball. Belle decided it was best to leave the royals to themselves while they got ready for the big event and left to take a short walk around the palace grounds. She smiled when she saw Rumple follow her. She couldn't stop her heart's rapid beating when she found him looping his arm around her and walking beside her.

"I'm not sure just yet. I was thinking of one of the new dresses I had bought yesterday."

"We just got here yesterday?" Rumple teased. Belle giggled.

"It seems a lot has happened already."

"Yes. Indeed."

"Rumple," Belle smiled. "Are you sure you didn't do anything with the preparations?"

"Perhaps the workers were tired of working and decided to finish quickly." He quipped. "Why do you ask?"

"I know you."

"Do you now."

"Yes. And I know that you don't do anything without a reason. I mean we came for business-"

"Correction dear. I came here for business. You came here because I didn't want to return home with the castle in ruins." He smiled as Belle giggled at his joke.

"As for the ball being held tonight, well, I may have had a hand in that." He said.

"I knew it." Belle smiled. "But why? Does this have to do with that potion you gave the husband?"

"Yes. It ends."

"I don't understand."

"The potion. It ends tonight." Belle stopped.

"They won't be human forever?"

"Well, that's their choice."

"Rumple, what do you mean?"

"The potion ends at midnight tonight. By True Love's Kiss. If they kiss before midnight, they remain human forever. If not." Rumple didn't have to finish his explanation. Belle knew. And she smiled when she thought about True Love's Kiss. It changed Fiona into an ogre because of the curse. Now it could change them both into a human. She wondered what her friend would pick. If it was her in the situation-

"So, your dress?"

Belle almost missed Rumple's question when she looked up at him to see a questioning look in his eyes.

"Nothing special." She said. She continued walking with Rumple, arms linked, and didn't notice the sad expression that flashed through her master's eyes.

"Shrek. Are you sure about this?" Donkey asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. I want you to be happy."

"I will be." Shrek said dryly.

Shrek only stared at the animal. He was really getting sick of Donkey being so...he didn't know what but he hated it. He would be happy, wouldn't he? Sure, he would miss all the mud baths and burping and toadstool stew, but he loved Fiona and if they were together, they would be happy. Right?

"There's no need to worry child. You will be."

Shrek and Donkey nearly jumped from their skins when they heard a voice from no where. They looked around but saw no one but themselves in the woods but a small blue light. Looking closely they saw that the blue light was a fairy.

"Who are you?!" Donkey cried.

"You can call me Blue." The fairy said.

"Blue?" Shrek asked. "I'm-"

"I know who you are child." She smiled. "And I know that you are nervous."

"You know what's happening?" Shrek asked, not liking the feeling he got from the fairy.

"Yes. I know the Dark One gave you a potion so you and your wife can become human."

"The Dark One? You mean the green scaly looking guy?" Donkey asked.

"Yes. You must not trust him. He has no pure intention for anyone. He only cares for himself." Blue said.

"What do you mean? He likes that maid of his." The ogre said. "Besides, I already took the potion in case you couldn't tell." Shrek gestured towards himself.

"Yes, I know. However, you must not let it work."

"What? But me and Fiona will be human."

"Perhaps, but it is not meant to be." Blue said.

"What are you talking about bug?"

Ignoring the insult the former ogre gave her, Blue continued to explain how the Dark One only wished to complete his business with the king.

"So if me and Fiona kiss before midnight and let the potion work, it's going to take away our life?" Shrek asked.

"Only yours dear child. The Dark One made a deal with the king to get rid of you. So he gave you a potion that will you and the princess both human. However, only she will survive and remain human while you will quickly die." Blue explained.

"I knew it. The king doesn't want me and Fiona to be married. I told her this was a bad idea."

"What are you going to do Shrek?" Donkey asked.

"I'm talking to that wizard."

Shrek and Donkey quickly walked off to find the green skinned wizard while Blue flew off to find the king.

To the Guest who reviewed about reviews and the blue fairy, thank you. First, thank you for telling me not to get discouraged by the lack of reviews. It really helped me feel better because it's what I always did. I remembered to tell myself that me liking my own story mattered just as much as my readers. Thank you for that encouragement. And, as you can tell, I loved your idea of the blue fairy coming in and being all evil. I hate her for her 'pure' intentions but she only cares about herself. If she admitted to that, than perhaps I would be okay with her, but I hate hypocrites very much. Besides, I needed a little more drama here. :) Thank you.