Shrek noticed some ivy along the wall of the dungeon. Donkey tried to keep his balance of Shrek's shoulders as he climbed the ivy, Artie following behind, Puss climbing up last. Oberon waved them off.

The group stopped at the top of the dungeon, Shrek pushing up the cover a little for them to see outside. Outside, in front of the dungeon are three flying monkeys. "It's boring floating out here without anything to do!" one monkey whined.

"As boring as it is," the largest monkey said, "we have a job to do."

"Yeah, but, can't it be more entertaining?" the third monkey complained.

"It is a little boring," the largest monkey agreed.

Shrek beckoned the group to follow him. He slowly, and quietly, lifted up the top the rest of the way, quietly crawled out, Artie holding it open for him. Once Shrek made it out, he scanned the area, to make sure the monkeys didn't see him, and pulled Donkey up, who was standing on Artie's knee. Puss went up next. Shrek held open the top while Puss helped Artie out.

Oberon waved them goodbye a final time before Shrek slowly closed the top. Shrek led them into the bushes, being careful not to crunch any leaves or draw any attention to themselves. One monkey glanced their way, but when he saw nothing, he turned back.

The monkey continued their conversation, about all the fun things they could do, while Shrek pulled the party in. "We aren't going anywhere until these monkeys move."

"And it seems like they aren't going anywhere for a while," Puss said.

"We need a plan," Artie said. "It has to involve a distraction."

"A distraction?" Donkey asked. "I can be a distraction!"

"That would be great, except Charming isn't after you or Puss. He wants Shrek and me," Artie said.

"You saying one of us should be the distraction?" Shrek asked.

"Not one of us, me," Artie said. "I am the king of Far Far Away, I have to protect my kingdom."

"Yeah, but you can't protect your kingdom if no one is protecting you," Shrek said.

"I don't need anyone to protect me!" Artie cried. "I've been protecting myself for years now! All because I had to grow up on my own."

"You can't protect yourself if you have everyone after you!" Shrek retorted. "You are the king! You're a big target!"

"I can defend myself just fine!" Artie snapped. "I took archery and sword classes in Worcestershire Academy! And I was the best at them!"

"Sword and archery classes aren't important!" Shrek said. "People will be coming after you with torches and pitchforks and there'll be nothing you can do about it!"

"Torches and pitchforks?" Artie cried. "People don't chase people out with torches and pitchforks! That's an ogre thing!"

"What would you know about ogre things?" Shrek yelled.

"Guys?" Donkey said.

"You've never even seen an ogre until I came to get you!" Shrek cried.

"Yeah, but I had to learn about them in school!" Artie yelled. "And the books said you eat our kids!"

"Guys?" Puss tried.

"Eat your kids?" Shrek cried. "That's a lie! Ogres eat their own kids if they aren't out of the house by ten!"

"Well, my parents kicked me out since...I don't even know how old I was!" Artie cried.

"Guys!" Donkey and Puss yelled, interrupting Shrek and Artie's argument.

"What?" they both yelled, looking at the two animals.

"We have company!" Donkey cried.

Artie and Shrek looked to where Puss is pointing and found the three monkey guards, flying over them. "Boo," the large one said. Donkey screamed, but before he could run off, Shrek grabbed him.

The party took off, running in the opposite direction of the monkeys. The flying monkeys chased them, the largest one blowing a horn. A band of monkeys soon came, chasing down the party relentlessly.

"We're not getting anywhere with these monkeys!" Artie cried.

"Yeah, and who's fault is that?" Shrek replied.

"Hey, I didn't start yelling first!" Artie cried.

"Can you two fight later and run first?" Puss asked, running on all fours.

"Fine, fine!" Shrek replied. He pulled back a branch and smacked some of the monkeys out of the air. Puss jumped at one of them and scratched its face. The monkey grabbed Puss' tail and threw him, right at Artie.

Artie tripped, rolled, grabbing Puss in the process, and began to roll down the hill with him. Puss meowed the entire way down, digging his claws into Artie's clothes. "Move your claws, Puss!" Artie cried, trying to pry him from his chest, while rolling. Artie stopped rolling once he hit the bottom of the hill.

Shrek helped him up. Artie followed him, stumbling along the way, until he regained his balance, and pried Puss off his clothes. "Down here!" Shrek cried. He held Donkey closer, and slid down a small decline of ground, into a small cave, made from a tree. Artie followed him inside, pulling Puss down with him.

"Are we-" Donkey started before Shrek closed his mouth. Artie ducked further into the shadows at the monkeys flew past them, into the fog. They sat in silence for a little before Shrek let Donkey go. Puss pushed his way out of Artie's arms.

Author's Note

I'm finding a pattern in the characters Justin Timberlake plays and I don't think I like it.