Lillian pulled a book off the shelf. She opened it to the first chapter, scanned the table of contents, flipped a few pages, and stopped short once a yellowed paper fell out of one of the pages. "Hm?" She placed the book on the table, open, bent down and picked up the scroll. "What is this? If it's in one of the books, I should've known..."
Lillian opened the scroll and read it, her expression changing to shock the further she got. "I have to tell Fiona!" Lillian cried.
Lillian ran through the castle to the front of the throne room hall, stopping short in front of the doors, dusting her dress off. The guards in front of the door bowed at the former queen's presence. "Lillian," one of the guards said, rising. "What can we help you with?"
"I found this scroll," Lillian said, panting. She held up the scroll. "I must contact Fiona at once."
"Right away, ma'am," the second guard said. He walked away from the door and into a different room.
Shrek opened the door to a fanfare outside. "What is it now?" he yelled.
"Shrek!" Fiona cried. "Be nice! These are my mom's messengers!"
"Again?" Shrek asked, rolling his eyes. "What is it now?"
The scribe cleared his throat and unrolled a large scroll. "By request of Lillian, you are called to come into an audience with King Arthur and former queen Lillian of important matters."
"Another call?" Fiona asked. "What could be so important?"
"Whatever it is," Donkey exclaimed, pushing his way through Shrek, "I hope there's pie! Ooh! Or...waffles!"
"What's up with you and waffles?" Puss asked.
"I love waffles!" Donkey replied honestly and excitedly.
"What's this meeting for?" Fiona asked.
"Don't know," the scribe said. "She didn't give us very many details. Just to come to Far Far Away for an emergency audience with the king."
"That can't be good," Shrek huffed.
"Shrek!" Fiona said, elbowing him. "Be nice! Maybe it's something really important!"
"Like waffles!" Donkey said.
"No!" Shrek and Fiona yelled.
"Well, geez," Donkey said. "If you're gonna put it that way..."
The ride pulled to a stop in front of Far Far Away palace. "Here we are!" the man driving said. "Everybody off!"
The garlic opened. Donkey was the first out. Puss followed after, Fiona and Shrek last. Fiona is holding Felicia and Fergus. Shrek is holding Farkle. "What could be so important that mom called us from out of our swamp and to-" Shrek whispered, grouchy.
"Shrek!" Fiona shot back. "Be quiet!"
"Hey, isn't this the kids first time in Far Far Away?" Puss asked.
"Yeah!" Donkey said. "That's right!"
"Oh, they are right, Shrek," Fiona said. "They should enjoy their time here. Plus, they get to meet their cousin!"
"Arthur?" Shrek asked.
"Yep!" Fiona replied jubilantly.
They entered the palace to be greeted by one of the guards by the doorway. Puss jumped, then hissed. Donkey playfully shoved him. "Shrek, Fiona," the guard greeted. "Right this way."
The guard led them down the hall to a large hallway blocked by two large doors. "Here we are," the guard said. He walked off to the side of the group. "Ooh, ominous!" Donkey said.
"Ah, Fiona, Shrek!" Lillian said. "Glad to see you could make it! And you brought your children! How lovely!" Lillian grabbed Ferguson from Fiona and played with him for a little.
"What did you need us for, mom?" Fiona asked.
"That'll have to wait a moment," Lillian replied. "Arthur is busy."
"Busy?" Shrek asked. "Busy with what? He's-"
"Seventeen?" Lillian asked. "Yes, I know. Arthur hired a personal tutor so he could continue school-"
"Far, far away," Shrek sighed, his ears dropping a little.
"At least he's enthusiastic about his education!" Lillian said.
The guard nearest the door nodded at Lillian. "Here you go, sweetie," Lillian said, handing Ferguson back to Fiona. "Let me go speak to him for a moment." The guard opened the door enough for her to enter, closing it behind her. After a few minutes, she came back out with Artie.
"So, did I miss a date or something?" Artie was saying as he walked out next to Lillian. "I could've sworn I didn't have anything until after lunch."
"No, Arthur, you didn't miss anything," Lillian explained. "There's just an urgent matter to handle first."
"Arthur!" Fiona called.
"Fiona!" Artie replied, throwing his hands up. "And you brought your kids!"
"Well we couldn't just leave them," Shrek mumbled.
"I'm really sorry I couldn't come to their first birthday," Artie said. "I tried but I got held up."
"No, it's fine, Arthur," Fiona said, smiling.
"I hate to interrupt," Lillian said, "however we do still have the important matter to take care of."
"Oh, right," Artie said.
"Follow me, please," Lillian said, walking towards the library.
They followed her inside and waited as she walked upstairs and pulled a book off the shelf. She returned downstairs with just a yellowed scroll. "This," Lillian said, holding up the rolled scroll.
"Um, mom?" Shrek said. "Are you sure that's important?"
"Yes, Shrek," Lillian said. "Very." She placed the scroll on the table and unrolled it. "Here," she said, pointing to a paragraph halfway down the paper. "It reads, 'As a recent law has been created, and all law must be upheld, the king of Far Far Away, as long as he isn't a direct heir to the throne, must, in order to prove worthiness, wield a sword called 'Excalibur.' With this sword, he may rule Far Far Away with the position of king, just so long as he is worthy.'"
"'Worthy?'" Artie asked. "What is that supposed to mean?" Shrek handed Artie Farkle, as Farkle kept trying to get Artie's attention. "It continues with," Lillian continued, "'Only the true wielder of Excalibur may hold the sword. To become worthy, one must face many challenges and trials, all while pursuing his faith and belief of his kingdom. To be worthy, one must know the true worth of his soul. One may not wield Excalibur is he chooses to wield the sword with ill intentions. Power is not gifted in the sword, it is gifted in the wielder. To find Excalibur, you...must...'" Lillian squinted at the scroll. "'You must...' That's it. I can't see the rest."
"So Arthur has to get a sword to be the true king of Far Far Away?" Fiona asked.
"Seems so," Puss replied.
"But, why a sword?" Shrek asked.
"And what about all this...worthy stuff?" Artie asked. "How does being worthy to hold a sword make it any easier?"
"I'm just as stumped as you," Lillian said. "I found the scroll this morning so I haven't done much research on it yet."
"Wait, I think I remember reading something about Excalibur once in Mr. Merlin's class," Artie said, bouncing Farkle. "What was it?"
"The sword to rule them all?" Puss asked.
"No," Artie replied.
"The sword forged in the fires of the farthest volcano?" Donkey asked.
"No," Artie said, a little confused by Donkey's statement. "What was it?" He looked at the floor, muttering 'Excalibur' to himself. "Ah! Mr. Merlin said it was a sword created by the gods to choose one person worthy to hold it. I can't exactly remember why they did that, but he said only one person can pull it. I guess the person who pulls it is the rightful king of Far Far Away?"
"Seems so," Fiona said.
"So, Far Far Away is ruled by a divine power?" Puss asked.
"Only those who are not directly related to the heir," Lillian said. "In this case, Arthur."
"He's your distant cousin," Fiona whispered to Felicia and Ferguson. Felicia smiled while Ferguson made some sounds.
"I guess I have to get Excalibur," Artie said. Farkle grabbed Artie's crown. Artie quickly grabbed it back and smiled. Shrek handed him an earwax from his left ear. Farkle started playing with that instead. "But what about the kingdom?" Artie asked. "I can't just leave it."
"True," Lillian said. "I can keep the kingdom while you're away."
"You sure?" Artie asked. "You finally got a break. It's only been a year but it does make a difference."
"I am sure, Arthur," Lillian said. "I've been running it since before Fiona was born. I'm sure a few more weeks wouldn't hurt."
"You're too kind," Artie said.
"It's my honor, Arthur. It will be too dangerous to go on your own though."
"Hey, I'm seventeen!" Artie replied.
"You are still a child, Arthur," Lillian smiled. "You will need an escort. Maybe I'll send one of your guard to-"
"Woah, woah, woah! Wait a minute there!" Artie cried. "As much as I appreciate their help and all, it's just...sometimes, they're a bit too much."
"I understand," Lillian said. "But you cannot go on your own."
"Shrek should go," Fiona said.
"Me?" Shrek asked, who was silent the whole time.
"Yeah, you!" Fiona replied. "Arthur is still a kid and he doesn't want his guard around him! You guys seemed to have gotten along just fine before!"
"Yeah but that was because-"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Fiona said. "I don't want any excuses! You're going with him!"
"I'll go!" Donkey cheered. "Shrek needs emotional support!"
"I do not!" Shrek cried.
"And I'll go," Puss said. "I've seen Excalibur. I remember where it's at."
"You've seen Excalibur?" Arite asked. "Like...in person Excalibur? The Sword of Legend Excalibur?"
"Si," Puss said. "I had an encounter with it. I'll have to tell you about it on the way."
"I'll stay here with mom and the kids," Fiona said. "It's too dangerous for them out there."
"I'll help you," Lillian said to her daughter. "I would love to spend more time with my grandchildren."
"Then it's settled!" Fiona said.
"I never agreed to this!" Shrek yelled.
"Do you want to be king when Arthur dies?" Lillian asked.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Artie cried, offended. Shrek stayed silent for a moment. His ears went down. "No," Shrek moaned.
"Then you're going," Lillian said.
"Fine," Shrek moaned.
"That's the spirit, Shrek!" Donkey exclaimed.