In His Shoes

Artie woke up the next morning feeling weird but didn't know why. But Fiona gasped in awe but worry seeing Artie as he walked into the dining room.

"Why're they staring at me?" he thought as Lillian was worried.

"Artie..... you're an ogre." Shrek said softly.

Artie thought he was joking until he looked in the mirror as it began to crack.

"B-But why?

How could this happen to me?" Artie asked looked scared.

"We don't know but it'll be okay Artie.

Being an ogre's not so bad.

At least you're not a frog." Shrek said smiling.

"Sorry Artie about that.

I know you feel scared about this sudden change but I know you can make this work for you like being King worked out so far." he reassured him but Artie looked sad.

"Yeah I guess.

The kingdom won't understand this or accept me like this.

I'd better stay in here for a while, okay?" Artie told them.

Fiona understood how her cousin was feeling.

She'd felt that way since living in the tower but things had changed for her for the better.

"I know you feel Artie.

I used to feel ashamed of being an ogre too because my father felt ashamed of it but I've learned how to deal with it.

I hope you will too." she mused as Artie had locked himself in his room.

Shrek then started knocking on his door loudly.

"I'm not coming out, okay?

I'm a monster now!" he yelled from behind the door. Fiona sighed as she made her husband leave this to her.

"Please Artie let me in.

I know you're feeling scared.

I was the same when I found out about my curse but things worked out for me and they can too if you let me show you." she said softly to the door.

Lillian then saw the door open as Fiona went in.

She found Artie sitting on his bed with his trumpet shaped ears dropping sadly.

"You look like my kids when Shrek won't let them eat cookies." she said trying to get him to smile. But no luck. Artie looked like he was going to cry.

"How can Far, Far Away have an ogre for a king?

It wouldn't work out well and the people wouldn't understand." he told her as tears were in his emerald eyes. She wished there was something she could do to comfort him but saw him look out at the kingdom.

It seemed to make him sadder.

"Artie...... they won't hate you as an ogre.

This kingdom has accepted Shrek and me with open arms so it'll be the same for you." Fiona reassured him but Artie wasn't so sure. His life had been rough since he'd been dropped off at Worchester and he didn't want his royal life to be like that.

"But you'll never know until you try.

Maybe the kingdom will accept you like this." he thought as he looked out and heard people mutter.

"It's up to you what you want to do but you have to do this for yourself and not to make anybody happy." Fiona said as she left the room.

Artie then sat there thinking about what Fiona had said.....