Chapter 14: High Adventure


Goldilocks clung desperately onto the flagpole, crying.  Then 
she had an idea and looked up to where the broomstick sat 
motionless in the air, some ten yards away from her.  Maybe if 
she could get it to go again, it would come down and she could 
get back on.  It couldn't be a worse situation than she was in 
now, anyway.  She forced herself to stop crying and shouted at 
it, "Go!"

The broom went.  From total standstill, it suddenly resumed the 
rapid speed it had been travelling when it had halted in mid-
air.  However, it also resumed its path - which took it 
straight into the side of the stone castle.  Goldilocks 
shrieked as the broomstick smashed against the castle wall, the 
wood splaying apart like the spine an open umbrella, and then 
tumbled down to the ground below - a fall which seemed to take 
forever at this height.  The little girl watched its downward 
tumble, and as her eyes reached the ground she noted toward the 
edge of the courtyard the large red dragon that had been 
keeping watch the previous night from the top of the church.  
It was now lying on some type of wooden platform and bound 
there by heavy chains, its large yellow eyes looking up at her 
in curiosity.  Then Goldilocks saw Fiona racing into the 
courtyard, followed closely by Shrek and then some soldiers, 
and behind them a man that she recognized as some local big-
wig, and then behind him it looked like the rest of Duloc was 
filing into view.  And they were all beholding the spectacle 
that she was making of herself.  So much for being a rescuer, 
she thought to herself, and began to cry again.

*     *     *

Fiona stopped at the base of the castle and tired to catch her 
breath as she looked up at the suspended little girl.  The pole 
the girl clung to was attached to the wall just below a window, 
but Goldilocks was more than four feet down the length of the 
pole away from the window.

"GOLDILOCKS!"  Fiona called up as Shrek arrived at her side and 
looked up at the small girl, "LISTEN TO ME!"

Goldilocks kept crying for a few seconds longer, then slowly 
her sobs lessened and she looked down at Fiona.

"TRY TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE WINDOW!" Fiona called up as 
Maximus and his soldiers arrived at the ogres' side and also 
started staring up.

Goldilocks looked over toward the window, still trying to choke 
back sobs.  Then she began to slide the hand closest to the 
window down the pole.  Suddenly the hand slipped off, and 
hundreds of voices screamed as Goldilocks shrieked herself and 
hung suspended by one hand for several seconds.  Fiona covered 
her mouth with her hands and her blue eyes bulged.  Then 
Goldilocks was able to swing her free hand back up to its 
former position on the pole.  She now hung there as she had 
before ... and again started to cry, even louder than before.

"GOLDILOCKS!" Fiona called back up again, "DON'T MOVE, 
SWEETHEART, WE'LL COME GET YOU!"  The little girl continued to 
cling there, still crying, and Fiona didn't know if she'd heard 
her or not.  But at least she wasn't trying to move anymore.

Fiona looked around her.  Milquest and many of the various 
Dulocians had arrived at this point, and were looking up at the 
spectacle above them.  Then she picked out Maximus.

"Lieutenant!" she said, "You have soldiers in that building, 
right?"

"No, ma'am," Maximus replied.

Fiona blinked.  "You don't have ANYBODY in that WHOLE CASTLE?!"

"No," he repeated, "Captain Gledius had ordered everybody to be 
at the coliseum to witness your execution ... to set an 
example."

Fiona growled deep in her throat for a moment, then turned to 
Shrek.  "You were pretty quick on your feet back in MY castle," 
she said analytically, "and with your armspan, you may be able 
to reach out the window and grab her.  Try and get up there as 
fast as you can!"

Shrek nodded, but then frowned.  "But once inside, how'll I 
know which room - heck, which FLOOR - the room with that window 
is?  They all look so much alike -"

"Perhaps *I* might be of assistance," a cool, familiar voice 
said from beside the two ogres.  Startled, they swung their 
gaze to the figure of Beaglely.

"Where the blazes did YOU come from?" Shrek said.

"Never mind that," Fiona interrupted.  "Mr. Beaglely, how might 
you help?"

"As you recall, Princess," he said, "I have spent quite a bit 
of time examining the blueprints for this castle for its 
eventual conversion into an educational facility.  I am 
relatively confident that, once inside, I can locate the room 
with that window."


"Great!" Fiona said, then turned to the ogre, "Shrek ..."

"I'm on it!" Shrek said, "Come on, Beaglely, let's go!"

With that, the ogre suddenly reached over and grabbed the city 
manager.  Beaglely uttered an unusual cry of surprise as Shrek 
quickly tucked him under his arm and ran toward the castle 
door, explaining, "It'll be quicker this way - my stride's 
wider."

But even as Shrek and Beaglely disappeared into the castle 
entrance, Goldilocks let go another shriek.  Fiona swung her 
eyes up to the little girl.

Goldilocks was losing her grip, in more ways that one.

"HOLD ON, DARLING!  HELP'S ON ITS WAY!" Fiona called up.  
Again, she wasn't sure if the panicked, crying little girl 
heard her or not.

Then, unexpectedly, Milquest sprang into action.  "You there!" 
he called to a couple of nearby soldiers and, getting their 
attention, pointed to a nearby wagon filled with straw, 
"maneuver that underneath the little girl!"

The soldiers, surprised and confused by the firm order by the 
formerly obtuse mayor, looked over at Maximus.  The lieutenant 
nodded, and the two soldiers sprung into action.

Fiona looked from the hay wagon, then back up at Goldilocks, 
then to Milquest, who also was looking up at the little girl, 
his face fixed with resolution.  It was a look she had never 
seen on him, and it was with some disappointment that she felt 
she had to say, "That's a wonderful thought, Mayor, but at that 
height - I don't think it will make any difference."

"We've got to try SOMETHING else," he said, still watching 
Goldilocks, "I don't think she can hold on long enough for your 
companion to climb all those stairs to reach her."

Fiona, reluctantly, had to nod sad agreement.  But what else 
could ...

Then she thought of Dragon.

Fiona whirled to see the great chained animal several yards 
away, staring at her - a look that still gave Fiona a little 
chill.  But then Dragon glanced up at Goldilocks then back to 
Fiona - and a little grin appeared at the corner of Dragon's 
mouth - a mouth whose snout was itself chained shut so as to 
prevent her from using her fiery breath.

Fiona ran over to Dragon.  "Can you get her?!" the ogress asked 
excitedly.

Dragon shrugged ... and rattled her chains to emphasize her 
confinement.

Fiona whiled back the other way - and found herself standing 
face-to-face with Maximus.

"Release her!" she ordered.

"No," he said.

Fiona blinked.  "What?" was all she could say.

Maximus drew is sword and pointed at Dragon.  "Unlike you and 
your companions," he said, "we KNOW that this beast is a 
killer.  We know of many knights who, over the years, she has 
vanquished.  Knights who, incidentally, were trying to save 
YOU, your highness."

"But ... but ..." Fiona stammered, then thought of something.  
"Don't you SEE?  Dragon was under a different form of the same 
spell that *I* was!"

Both Maximus and Dragon cocked an eyebrow, the former in 
incredulity, the latter in bemusement.

"Besides," Fiona continued, "they were attacking her in her own 
home, trying to kill HER!  At worst, she was only trying to 
defend herself!"

Chains rattled as Dragon pursed her lips and nodded, buying 
some (but not all) of that argument.  But Maximus just 
continued to stare at the ogress.  "You're beginning to sound 
like Mr. Beaglely," the lieutenant said.

"At least Mr. Beaglely is trying to save HER!" Fiona said 
angrily, then turned and pointed up to Goldilocks, who was 
trying to maintain her loosening grip.  "You can do the same, 
by freeing Dragon!  I know that, now that the spell is broken, 
and there is no longer a need to invade her castle, that Dragon 
will never harm another human ever again." Fiona turned and 
addressed the reptilian.  "WILL you, Dragon?" Fiona asked, her 
eyes pleading.

Dragon looked back at Fiona, a look of amusement on her face.

"WILL YOU?" Fiona repeated, mimicking the stomping of her foot 
and shooting Dragon a wide-eyed agitated look, grateful that 
Maximus had continued to stare at Goldilocks and had not turned 
to see Dragon's initial reaction nor Fiona's unspoken pleas.  
But now the lieutenant did turn around, and as he did so 
Dragon's face assume a contrite, remorseful expression as she 
shook her head in response to Fiona's question, agreeing that 
no, she would never slay another human ever again.

Maximus sighed.  "Perhaps you're right.  But it doesn't much 
matter."

"What do you mean?" Fiona asked, confused.

"There are no locks to these chains," Maximus said, gesturing 
with his sword.  "For safely, we simply bolted all the chains 
to the blocks that border the platform."  Here he tapped one of 
the thick wooden blocks where the chain was bolted into it.  
"Unless ..." he said, trailing off.  Then he lifted his sword 
and took two quick and powerful chops at the wood near where 
the chain was bolted.  The strokes left indentations, but only 
two or three inches.  "It's no good," he said, "there's not 
enough time -"

"Wou' 'hish hel," a muffled voice said a couple of paces behind 
them.  Fiona and Maximus turned to see Donkey, dragging the 
sharp, heavy executioner's axe, the tip of its handle held firm 
in his mouth.  He spit it out, smacked his lips and then 
explained, "I saw what was goin' on and figured this might come 
in handy."

"Indeed!" Maximus said, hefting the axe as Fiona looked down at 
Donkey and beamed.

"Donkey, you're brilliant!" she beamed.

Donkey shrugged self-consciously.  "I got my moments," he 
conceded semi-self consciously.

Meanwhile, Maximus stood with the axe at the ready - and then 
seemed to think again.  He looked at Dragon, who stared back at 
him, her expression apparently neutral but with an odd, 
disconcerting glimmer in her eye.  It gave him pause, as the 
scene of their earlier encounter flashed through his mind.  He 
remembered the terrible fear, fear that he had never 
experienced before.  He remembered the way she had not only 
filled him with that fear, but had humiliated him, turned the 
pride of his profession into a laughing stock as she waited for 
him to flail futilely at the smoke-shrouded air as she lay 
nearby, mocking him.  Then he remembered those glistening white 
teeth as she was about to -

Then he heard Goldilocks scream again.

Shaking his head, pushing everything aside with a great mental 
heave, he brought the axe down on the wood, cleaving several 
inches.  Then again.  Then again.  Meanwhile, Dragon pushed up 
against the chain, pulling the connection from above.   
Eventually there was a crack, and that part of the chain 
webbing came free.  Dragon tried to rise up, but although she 
had more movement, she was not quite free.

"One more of the bolts ought to do it," Maximus said, then 
Goldilocks gave a particularly loud scream and everyone looked 
back up as the crowd gasped.  One of the exhausted girl's hands 
had let go again, and this time she seemed not able to make the 
effort to reach back up.  Only one hand now secured her to the 
pole.

"Quick, give me that!" Fiona cried, grabbing the axe from the 
stunned lieutenant.  Then, with her ogress's strength augmented 
by desperation, she struck at the wood around another bolt.  
Her stroke went more than twice as deep as Maximus's had.  She 
struck quickly again, and again, as Dragon got one of her 
paw/hands around the chain just above the bolt and pulled.  And 
then suddenly the bolt broke free.

Her paws free, Dragon pulled the chain from off her snout and 
with a great roar of triumph rose to her full standing height, 
shrugging the remaining raiment of chains from off her back.  
Many in the crowd shrieked or gasped and stepped back from the 
fearful sight.  Dragon looked at them disdainfully for a 
moment, then her gaze swung up to where Goldilocks hung.

"You go, girl!" Donkey called up.  "Spotlight dance!"

Dragon looked down at Donkey and smiled warmly.  Then her gaze 
shifted to Maximus, and her warm smile morphed into one of 
slyness.  She winked at the lieutenant, and he felt his blood 
freeze.  But then Dragon shifted her gaze once again up toward 
the little girl.  Then the great beast spread her wings.

*     *     *

The room just above the flagpole where Goldilocks hung was 
quiet and peaceful.  Then a sound came from the door as the 
knob was tried.  It was locked.  A moment latter a much louder 
sound erupted through the room and the wooden slats of the door 
bucked inward briefly as something heavy pounded against it 
from without.  Then the same thing happened again, and then 
again as, the third time, the lock broke and the door caved in.  
Shrek tumbled into the room, sweating profusely and breathing 
in great gasps following his race up the many, many, many 
stairs leading up the tower.  Beaglely followed him, not 
breathing very heavy at all as he had been carried most of the 
way.  The city manager raced past the prostrate ogre's form to 
the window.

"Quickly!" he called back, "She's hanging by one hand now!"

Shrek forced himself up and half-sprinted, half-lumbered to the 
window.  He reached it just in time to see the girl, at the end 
of her own strength, let go.

"NOOOO!" Shrek cried, and leaned out the window.  For a brief, 
horrified moment he saw Goldilocks in free-fall toward the 
courtyard below.  But then, suddenly, Dragon appeared.  The 
great beast quickly closed in on the falling little girl - then 
opened her mouth, let the girl fall in, and then closed her 
mouth on her.  Dragon continued flying, past the castle, and 
into the distance.

Shrek felt his jaw drop.  He stood there, silent, for several 
moments.

"Well," Beaglely offered, "it HAS been quite a while since the 
dragon fed.  She was probably working on instinct."

*     *     *

As Dragon snatched Goldilocks into her mouth and disappeared 
around the castle, Fiona started to scream, and again quickly 
covered her mouth with her hands to choke it off.  Many in the 
crowd did not show such restraint, and the courtyard was filled 
with screams and gasps, and several people fainted.  Meanwhile, 
Maximus shot a venomous look Fiona's way.  "So, the dragon was 
just defending herself, eh?" he mocked, "She'll never eat 
another human, eh?"

Fiona looked down, shocked, ashamed, and unable to speak.  She 
considered pointing out that the girl would have died anyway 
from the fall, but that didn't seem to be a particularly 
winning argument right now.

"I swear," Maximus said, staring off to where Dragon had 
disappeared and shaking his fist, "I will hunt that beast down 
and kill it if it is the last thing I do!"

Donkey's ears drooped as he bowed his head and kicked weekly at 
a pebble on the ground.  "Jus' when ya think ya get to know 
someone," he muttered.  Then he glanced upwards, and then his 
head sprang to attention and his ears perked up.  "Hey!" he 
called excitedly, "Incoming bandit at ten o'clock!"

Fiona looked over at him.  "What did you say?" she asked, still 
somewhat in a daze.

"Up there!" Donkey replied, jerkily pointing with his nose.

Fiona and Maximus followed Donkey's gesture.  In the sky they 
saw what appeared to be yet another figure riding on a broom 
heading toward them.  But this broom was leaving in its wake 
several puffs of black smoke.  As it grew nearer they could see 
that there were actually *two* figures on the broom.  As they 
came in for a landing at the base of the castle near where 
Fiona stood, she could see that the lead figure and apparent 
"driver" was the witch that had accosted them the previous 
night.  Sitting on the stick behind her and holding onto the 
witch's torso for dear life was another woman wearing  old 
careworn clothes and a motorcycle helmet.

The landing was not particularly elegant.  As they descended 
within a couple of feet of the ground, the witch yelled out 
"WHOA!," but the broom continued to move along the ground in 
hesitant jerks.  The witch stretched out her feet and began 
dragging them in the dirt, yelling out "WHOA!  I said WHOA, 
DAGNABBIT!"  Eventually they skidded to a stop a few feet away 
from Fiona and Maximus.  The broom continued to vibrate, make 
distressed rumbling noises, and spew puffs of black smoke as 
the witch dismounted and then helped the other woman off.  Then 
the broom gave a final gasp and spewed a particularly large 
cloud of acrid black smoke which engulfed the witch, Fiona, and 
several other people in the vicinity, sending them all into 
coughing fits.  As the air cleared the witch kicked the now 
idle broom and said with disgust, "Blasted rental!"

The witch's former passenger took her helmet off to reveal a 
lined face and graying, disheveled hair.  She took a moment to 
digest the scene around her, noted the ogress in the worn 
wedding dress with surprise and suspicion, and then recognized 
Maximus in his officer's uniform.  She ran to him and implored, 
"Oh, sir, could you please help me?  I'm looking for my 
daughter, Goldilocks!  You recall the little girl you brought 
back to us last night -"

"Yes, I - I know the little girl," Maximus said, shifting 
uncomfortably and treating Fiona to another accusatory glance.

The old woman's face brightened.  "Oh, good!  I'm sorry, but 
she ran away again last night, and we believe she was heading 
here.  Has anyone seen her?"

Maximus's lips pursed, and he looked down, avoiding the woman's 
hopeful gaze.  Fiona did the same.  An uneasy silence fell 
across the people as they did likewise, shifting uncomfortably.

The old woman looked around, confused, and a growing alarm 
starting to show in her face.  "What's wrong?" she asked, "why 
is everybody -"

"WHOA!" Donkey suddenly exclaimed, "Incoming Dragon, eleven 
o'clock!"

Everyone's gaze shifted up to where Donkey was looking.  
Indeed, Dragon was flying back towards into the courtyard, 
specifically toward where the witch, woman, Fiona, Maximus, 
Milquest, and Donkey all stood.  Many people in the crowd 
screamed yet again and started to run, fearful that Dragon was 
not quite through with her meal.  But Maximus gulped, struck a 
ready pose with his sword, and steeled himself.

Dragon landed with an earth-shaking thump a few yards away from 
the principals.  Goldilocks's mother screamed in fear, but the 
witch just rested her hands on her hips and said, "Well!  And I 
thought *I* knew how to make an entrance!"

"ALL RIGHT, YOU MURDEROUS BEAST," Maximus called up, forcing 
bravado into his voice, "THE TIME HAS COME AND THE DIE IS CAST!  
LET US END THIS NOW!"  The lieutenant brandished his sword, and 
gulped again.

Dragon looked down at Maximus in amused silence for a few 
moments, then shook her head dismissively and turned her 
attention to the others.  Her eyes lit on Goldilocks's mother 
who stared back at her, terrified.

"THAT'S THE MOTHER OF THE POOR GIRL YOU DEVOURED, HEINOUS 
MONSTER!" Maximus called.

Goldilocks's mother looked over at Maximus, her eyes wide with 
terror.  "WHAT?!" he gasped.

Maximus looked over at her and bit his lip.  "Oops," he said.

Dragon rolled her eyes and shook her head again, and then 
lowered her head to the ground.  Then she opened her mouth and 
unrolled her tongue like a carpet.  As it reached its full 
extension, off the tip rolled Goldilocks, covered in the 
Dragon's saliva but otherwise unharmed.

As everyone signed in relief and Dragon raised her head back 
up, Goldilocks stood up, looked at her drenched self, wrinkled 
her nose in distaste and said, "Ewww!  I've been slimed!"

"Oh, my girl!" Goldilocks's mother said, dropping to her knees 
as relief washed over her.

"Mommy!" Goldilocks cried out in return, flinging herself into 
her mother's arms and hugging her tightly.  Her mother returned 
the hug, oblivious to the wetness that now soaked them both.

Everyone then broke out in applause and cheers.  Dragon looked 
around, surprised at the unaccustomed adulation being sent her 
way by this flock of humans, some of which she couldn't help 
but notice looked quite tender and juicy.

Donkey stepped forward and looked up at her.  "Way to go, 
Babe!" he said, "I never doubted ya for a second!"

Dragon smiled at him, then looked over at Fiona, who was 
smiling weakly up at her.  Dragon gave her a wink, causing 
Fiona to utter a wry chuckle and shake her head.  Fiona then 
let her gaze drift beside her, where Maximus was still staring 
up at Dragon. But now the lieutenant's mouth was agape and 
silent.  He still held his sword at an upright angle and at the 
ready for a few seconds more, but then he slowly lowered it to 
the ground, all the time staring up at Dragon.

"Well, Lieutenant?" Fiona said, resting her hands on her hips 
and allowing a little "I told you so" attitude to creep into 
her voice.

Maximus slowly looked over at her, his expression dull 
confusion.  "Well," he reiterated, then looked down at the 
ground.  "Well ... well ..." he continued to repeat, now to 
himself, as he seemed deep in contemplation, trying to sort out 
everything he was experiencing.  Then, with sudden resolution, 
he looked back up at Dragon, his eyes sharp and alert.  "WELL 
DONE, DRAGON!" he called up, raised his sword, and bowed deeply 
in a salute. 

Dragon cocked an eyebrow in surprise, then bowed her head to 
Maximus in acknowledgement.  The Dulocians then let loose with 
another cheer.  Dragon looked around, smiled and bowed her head 
to them.    She seemed to be growing pleasantly enamored with 
such a response from creatures who she formerly used to derive 
so much pleasure from enticing abject terror.

As the crowd cheered, Donkey wandered over to Fiona, nodded up 
to Dragon and whispered, "Ya think this'll last?"

"Oh, I don't know," Fiona whispered back.  "They say that 
laughter's ten times more powerful than screams.  Maybe the 
same can be said of adulation and fear."

"EXCUSE me," the witch interrupted, "but there's the little 
matter of a missing broomstick?"

"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry!" Goldilocks said, "I - I - "  The 
little girl then gestured to the splintered remains of the 
broomstick laying at the base of the castle.

"Oh, just GREAT," the witch muttered, then mumbled something to 
herself as she approached the broomstick.  She picked it up, 
one hand holding the top of the crumpled stick and the other 
the base where the whisk began, then with a sudden jerk she 
pulled it in either direction and then, like magic, she was 
holding and entirely whole, undamaged broom.  A few in the 
crowd oo'ed and ah'ed at the display.  The witch looked around 
and one corner of her mouth cracked a smile.  "Hey!" she said, 
"If you like that trick, you should see me at parties!"

"Oh, speaking of parties!" Fiona said, then turned to face the 
Dulocian crowd.  "CITIZENS OF DULOC!" she shouted, her voice 
carrying across the courtyard and beyond, "I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO 
KNOW THAT SHREK AND I ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED ... AND YOU'RE 
ALL INVITED!"

The courtyard let loose with cheers and applause.  Fiona beamed 
as Milquest stepped forward.  "Congratulations, Your Highness," 
he said, bowing.  "And when is this joyous event scheduled to 
occur?"

Fiona thought for a moment, then she broke into a wide grin as 
an idea came into her mind.  She 
addressed the crowd again.  "WE'RE GOING TO BE MARRIED IN 
SHREK'S SWAMP ... TONIGHT ... AT SUNSET!"

The courtyard let loose with more cheers and applause, which 
was interrupted as Shrek, looking down from the window high up 
in the castle, bellowed down, "FIONA!"

She turned and looked up at him.

"WHAT?" she called up.

"AREN'T YE HURRIN' THINGS A BIT, WOMAN?" he called down.

"WHY WAIT?" she called back.  "UNLESS ... ARE YOU GETTING COLD 
FEET?"

"OH, MY FEET'S FINE.  BUT MY SWAMP'S TOO FAR FOR THESE PEOPLE 
TO REACH BY SUNSET."

Fiona thought for a moment, then turned to the crowd.  "PEOPLE!  
NEW PLAN!" she called out.  "THE WEDDING WILL BE ... TOMORROW 
AT SUNSET!"

Another cheer went up as Fiona looked back up at Shrek and 
smiled mischievously.  He just smiled back, laughed, and shook 
his head.

"Hey, Princess," Donkey said, "I think we've done 'bout as much 
damage here as we can for now.  You finally ready to go?"

Fiona looked around her and sighed.  "Yes, Donkey, I think I 
am."  Her eyes then settled on Milquest.  "Well, Mr. Mayor," 
she said, "I leave Duloc in your capable hands."

He gave a thin smile.  "I don't know how capable they are, Your 
Majesty," he replied, bowing "but I'll do my best."

"Which I'm sure will be more than sufficient," she said.  "And 
could you please send messengers out to the villagers and fairy 
tale folk, telling them they're invited to the wedding, too?"

"With pleasure, Your Majesty," he said.

"Great!  Thank you!" she said, then turned to Maximus.  "And 
thank you, Lieutenant Maximus, for coming through when we 
needed you."

"One small correction," Milquest interrupted, "that's CAPTAIN 
Maximus now."

Maximus looked over at Milquest.  "Thank you, sir," he said.

"Not at all," Milquest replied, "you've earned it."

Maximus turned back to Fiona.  "And  thank YOU, your majesty," 
he said, bowing.  "And God's speed."

"Thank you," she said again, and looked down at Donkey, "well, 
I guess we're ready to go."

"All right!" Donkey said, then turned to Dragon.  "Okay, Babe.  
Boardin' time!"

Dragon smiled and reached down with a paw.  Donkey stepped on 
it, then turned back to Fiona.  "Princess?" he said.

Fiona looked up at Dragon and smiled tentatively.  "Okay," she 
said meekly, then carefully stepped up onto the paw beside 
Donkey.  Then she gave a yelp as Dragon lifted her paw and 
deposited the two on her back.

Dragon then spread her wings and took off, flying up to the 
window of the room where Shrek stood.

"All aboard!" Donkey called out.

"Jus' a sec," Shrek said, then turned back to face Beaglely. 
"Well, Mr. Beaglely, you've got yer wish.  And ye managed 
keepin' us alive while ye got it.  Good luck t'ya."  Shrek held 
out his hand.

"Thank you Mr. ... Shrek?" Beaglely said.

"It's ZACH!" Fiona called playfully from her perch on Dragon, 
using a voice loud enough to be heard across the courtyard, "As 
in MR. and MRS. SHREKLECHEH ZACH!"

Shrek cringed at Fiona's words, then looked back over his 
shoulder at his giggling fiancee.  "Thanks SO much," he said 
sarcastically.

"Don't mention it!" she said, and laughed.

Shrek chuckled too, despite himself, then turned back to 
Beaglely.  "Anyway," the ogre said, "again, good luck t'ye."

"Thank you, Mr. Zach," Beaglely said, taking a firm grim on the 
ogre's huge hand and shaking it, "and good luck to you in your 
new ..." he looked out the window at Fiona and concluded "... 
adventures."

"Yeah, thanks," Shrek said, cracking a smile, "I think I'll 
need it."

"You coming or what?" Fiona called out, feigning impatience.

"Yes, I'm comin', woman," Shrek replied, feigning irritation, 
and carefully climbed out the window and onto Dragon's 
outstretched paw.

As Dragon deposited Shrek on her back, Fiona called to 
Beaglely, "Thank you, Mr. Beaglely, and good luck!   And I hope 
I see you at the wedding!"

"I wouldn't miss it, Your Majesty," Beaglely said ... and 
smiled.

"Well, goodbye!" Fiona said to him, then looked down at the 
crowd below.  "GOODBYE!" she called down, waving.

"GOODBYE!  GOODBYE!" they called and waved back to their former 
queen.

And then, with a great flap of wings, Dragon was speeding them 
away from Duloc proper and over the forest that led to Shrek's 
swamp.