OKAY, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SHREK FILMS, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST TWO. (LIKE C'MON, SHREK 2? AMAZING.) HOWEVER, FIONA AS A CHARACTER, NOT TO MENTION THE MAIN LEAD FEMALE CHARACTER IN ALL THE FILMS, IS EXTREMELY OVERSHADOWED COMPARED TO JUST ABOUT EVERY MALE WITHIN THE SERIES. SHE'S MOULDED INTO WHATEVER PLOT SUITS THE MOMENT THE BEST, STRIPPING HER FROM BASICALLY ANY SUSTAINABLE CHARACTER ARC OR SENSE OF INDIVIDUALITY. SHE'S MORE OR LESS DIFFERENT IN EVERY FILM; THERE IS LITTLE COHERENCY AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT OF CONSISTENCY. WHICH SUCKS, BECAUSE SHE COULD BE INCREDIBLY FLESHED OUT, BUT ULTIMATELY AIDS SHREK IN WHATEVER SITUATION HE IS IN, HELPING MOVE HIS STORY ALONG WHILE SHE REMAINS AT A STANDSTILL. FUNNILY ENOUGH, SHREK: FOREVER AFTER GAVE HER THE MOST INDIVIDUAL STORYLINE, WHERE (IN MY OPINION) IT'S THE WORST FILM OF THE FOUR. BUT OGRE WARRIOR FIONA? I VIBE WITH IT!IN SHREK THE THIRD, WHEN THE KING DIES, FIONA ISN'T EVEN CONSULTED ON HER OPINION, ON WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH HER KINGDOM. NO, INSTEAD THE MALE LEADS OF THE FILMS GO OFF TO BRING IN ANOTHER HEIR ALL SO FIONA (MAY I MENTION, PREGNANT AT THIS TIME, GETTING ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT FROM HER HUSBAND AND WHO'S FATHER JUST DIED!!!! SMH.) CAN FIT INTO SHREK'S WAY OF LIFE. SHE IS SIDE LINED THE ENTIRE FILM DESPITE HAVING SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE SCENES WITH THE OTHER PRINCESSES IN THE WHOLE FILM, AND ULTIMATELY FORGOTTEN AS HER OWN CHARACTER. AGAIN. FIONA IS SEPARATED FROM HER PEOPLE, HER KINGDOM, WITHOUT ANY SAY. THE FILMS PACE IS SO ADAMANT TO GET FIONA AND SHREK BACK TO THE SWAP, IT DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH UPON HOW FIONA WOULD BE FEELING. THE FACT ALONE THAT SHREK IS CONSIDERED THE HEIR OPPOSED TO FIONA IS VERY BACKWARDS TO ME. SHE ALSO WOULD NOT LEAVE HER MOTHER ANY TIME SOON, EVEN IF HER COUSIN HAS COME IN TO HELP LIGHTEN THE LOAD.THE MESSAGE OF SHREK AND THE DIVERSITY IS FUN AND NEAT AND I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THAT. BUT WHEN YOU SEE HUMAN FIONA STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETIES AND BEING A VERY COMPLEX CHARACTER, IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD. BUT THEN, WHEN OGRE FIONA BECOMES A LITERAL COPY OF SHREK, IT BLURS THE LINES ON THE WHOLE ATTEMPT. DREAMWORKS SACRIFICED ANY SENSE WE HAD AS A STAND ALONE CHARACTER; WHAT WE SAW IN THE FIRST FILM, CUTTING AHEAD TO HER BEING HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE IN HER OGRE FORM IN THE SECOND. I DON'T DENY THAT SHE TRULY LOVES SHREK, AND YEAH IT'S GREAT HE THINKS SHE'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT HE'S LITERALLY AN OGRE TOO. THAT TRANSITION WOULD NOT OCCUR AS SMOOTHLY AS THE FILMS SHOW IT. PRETTY MUCH ALL WE GET IS, "I MADE CHANGES FOR YOU, SHREK, THINK ABOUT THAT."" AND THAT'S IT. THERE'S A WHIFF OF INTERNAL CONFLICT, BUT IT'S LITERALLY NEVER BROUGHT UP AGAIN. I DO THINK SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE COMFORTABLE AND BECOME HERSELF IN THAT FORM, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN SO FAST. NOR WOULD SHE SACRIFICE HER CONNECTIONS WITH HER HOME FOR IT. SHE IS AN ADDITION TO HIS LIFE, AND VERY LITTLE MORE.IN POP CULTURE FIONA CERTAINLY DOES HAVE A NAME FOR HERSELF IN TERMS OF BEING A STRONG PRINCESS. SHE'S PLUS SIZED AS AN OGRE, SHE ISN'T TRADITIONAL, NOR DOES SHE FALL IN THE DISNEY PRINCESS LINE UP. SHE'S LOOKED ON AS AN INDEPENDENT PRINCESS WHO FIGHTS WITH OTHER PRINCESSES AND HAS SOME AWESOME MOVES UP HER SLEEVE. THAT'S GREAT, BUT LIKE, WHERE IS THIS SO CALLED INDEPENDENCE? THE FIGHT FOR HERSELF? IN THE FIRST THREE SHREK FILMS WE NEVER PHYSICALLY SEE FIONA RESCUING HERSELF; SHREK ALWAYS NEEDS TO COME TO HER AID. IN DECIDING TO MARRY FARQUAAD, IT'S SHREK WHO REALISES HE'S MADE A MISTAKE AND SETS OFF TO GET HER BACK. IT'S SHREK WHO BARGES IN TO SAVE HER FROM CHARMING AND FAIRY GODMOTHER'S LOVE POTION. AND ALTHOUGH FIONA ESCAPES CHARMINGS' PRISON IN SHREK THE THIRD, SHE'S ULTIMATELY RECAPTURED, AND GUESS WHAT? SHREK SAVES HER. AGAIN. THERE IS A STIGMA AROUND FIONA THAT SHE 'DOESN'T NEED A MAN', WHERE IN FACT, THE FILMS VERY MUCH PORTRAY THAT SHE DOES.

WHEN WE FIRST MEET FIONA, SHE'S A STEREOTYPICAL, FAIRY TALE BRED PRINCESS. SHE'S WAITING FOR HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR, WAITING FOR TRUE LOVES KISS, TO BE WHISKED AWAY INTO HER HAPPILY EVER AFTER. THIS IS OUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF HER, AND WE ASSUME SHE'S LIKE ANY OTHER PRINCESS. (NOW, I AM NOT, AND I WILL NEVER TALK DOWN ON PRINCESSES LIKE SNOW WHITE / CINDERELLA / AURORA BECAUSE I FIRMLY DISAGREE WITH THE THEY WERE WAITING FOR A MAN CRAP. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS. THOSE PRINCESS' SHOWED THEIR FIERCENESS, THEIR BRAVERY AND STRENGTH IN KINDNESS, AND OVERCAME EVIL BY STAYING TRUE TO THEMSELVES! NOT ALL PRINCESSES NEED TO PHYSICALLY FIGHT OR BE SASSY TO SHOW THEY ARE POWERFUL... THEY'RE AMAZING ROLE MODELS IDC.) BUT THEN SHE OVERHEARS SHREK TALKING ABOUT HOW THE WORLD TREATS HIM, AND IT'S MORE OR LESS THE STARTING POINT TO MAKE FIONA SERVE HIS CHARACTER AND NOT HER OWN. WITHIN THE NEXT THREE SCENES SHE'S BURPING, SHOWING OFF HER STRENGTH BY FIGHTING THE MERRY MEN; WE IMMEDIATELY ARE LOST ON THE PERSONA THAT WE ASSUMED SHE HAD, AND ARE INSTEAD GRANTED WITH AN EQUAL to SHREK.I LOVE THESE CHARACTERISTICS OF FIONA. I LOVE THE divide between HER GRACEFUL BEHAVIOUR, HER TYPICAL PRINCESS ATTITUDE, AND THE SASSY / UNGRACEFUL SIDE. I THINK THEY BOTH COMPLIMENT HER CHARACTER VERY WELL, BUT NOT WHEN ONE IS TRADED FOR THE OTHER IN ORDER TO SERVE THE PARTICULAR SCENE OR STORY. IT COULD EASILY BE SAID THAT HER BEHAVIOUR WHEN WE FIRST MET HER IS A PRACTISED ROUTINE OF WHAT SHE'S BEEN TOLD HER WHOLE LIFE. TO LIVE THINGS BY THE BOOK. THAT SHE HAD TO BEHAVE THIS WAY TO GET A KNIGHT OR A PRINCE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS WAY OF THINKING, BUT I DO NOT THINK IT'S TRUE. FIONA IS CAPABLE OF BOTH THESE SIDES. SHE CAN BE VULNERABLE WHILE ALSO BEING STRONG. SHE CAN ALSO BE VERY SWEET, AND SOFT. "I AM SWEETNESS, I AM BRATTY / I'M A MESS OF CONTRADICTIONS IN A DRESS." (THANK U MUSICAL FOR DOING A SLIGHTLY BETTER JOB WITH FIONA.) SHE DOES NOT NEED TO SACRIFICE ONE SIDE OF HERSELF FOR THE OTHER. ON THAT NOTE OF THE MUSICAL, WE SEE A GLIMPSE OF FIONA GROWING UP, AND A TINY LITTLE SCENE BEFORE SHREK RESCUES HER. HER SASS EXISTED BEFORE MEETING SHREK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT! BUT SHE'S ALSO EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL, WHILE MAINTAINING THIS STRONG, POWERFUL IMAGE. DESPITE BEING A PRINCESS LOCKED AWAY IN A TOWER, SHE EMITS ALL OF THESE QUALITIES THAT DREAMWORKS ONLY DEEMED NECESSARY TO SHOW IN DICTATED SCENES WITH SHREK. THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS BASED AND THRIVES ON HOW SIMILAR THEY ARE, BUT ALSO HOW THEY DIFFER. THAT'S BASICALLY THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW BEFORE THE FIRST FILM EVEN ENDS. SHE PRACTICALLY HAS NO LIFE OUTSIDE HIM.

YOU HAVE WATCHED DARKNESS OUTSIDE ONE PLAIN WINDOW FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS. YOU WERE SEVEN WHEN YOUR FATHER KISSED YOU ON THE FOREHEAD, TUCKED A STRAND OF HAIR BEHIND YOUR EAR, AND TOLD YOU WE ARE DOING THIS FOR YOU. YOU WERE SEVEN WHEN YOUR MOTHER CRIED HER EYES OUT, HELD YOU TIGHT WITH SUCH AN EMBRACE IT SEEMED SHE DIDN’T WANT TO LET YOU GO. BUT SHE DID. YOU SAW THE GLANCE SHE GAVE YOUR FATHER, THE LOOK OF SHEER HATRED, A LOOK THAT COULD KILL. YOU’VE HEARD THE SCREAMING BETWEEN PARENTS DOWN THE HALLWAY OF YOUR OLD CASTLE WHEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ASLEEP. YOU HEARD YOUR MOTHER PROTESTING, YOUR FATHERS CALM YET STERN VOICE. YOU DIDN’T UNDERSTAND IT THEN, NOT REALLY. YOU STILL DON’T. YOU’VE BEEN TOLD YOU WERE DIFFERENT SINCE YOU WERE FOUR YEARS OLD. BUT YOU NEVER FELT DIFFERENT. YOU WERE FIONA FAIREWAY. WEREN’T YOU?YOUR MOTHER ALWAYS READ YOU STORYBOOKS TO LULL YOU TO SLUMBER WHEN YOUR FATHER WOULDN’T LET YOU HAVE SLEEPOVERS WITH THE OTHER PRINCESSES. YOUR MOTHER LOVED YOU ENDLESSLY, YOUR FATHER WORRIED. THEY WALKED YOU ACROSS THAT OLD RICKETY BRIDGE, AS YOU SQUEEZED YOUR MOTHERS HAND SO TIGHT, THE HEAT BLAZING IN YOUR BONES. THEY WALKED YOU ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR NEW ROOM. THEY CLOSED THE DOOR. THEY LOCKED IT. YOU WERE TOLD WHAT YOU HAD TO DO. YOU WERE TOLD YOU WOULD BE SAVED. YOU WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. WORTHY OF BEING A PRINCESS. YOU BELIEVED THEM.YOU WERE SEVEN. ALONE.
THEN YOU WERE EIGHT. NINE. TEN.
YOU READ. YOU COOK. YOU SING. YOU IMAGINE THE DAY YOU’LL BE SAVED. YOU PRACTISE YOUR CURTSY. YOU PRACTISE YOUR VOWS. YOU DANCE ON YOUR OWN. YOU ARE EXCITED. YOU WAIT.YOU TURN TWENTY TWO. TWENTY THREE. TWENTY FOUR.
YOU PRACTISE FIGHTING. YOU HAVE BECOME CYNICAL. YOU SCREAM. YOU SOB. YOU CURSE. YOU WAIT.
YOU WAIT SOME MORE. AND MORE.YOU TALLY ON THE WALL. YOU BREAK YOUR NAILS IN THE STONE. THEY BLEED. YOU DON’T CARE. YOU THINK THE HEIGHT FROM THE WINDOW MIGHT KILL YOU. IF IT DOESN’T, THE LAVA WILL. IT WOULD BE QUICK.
YOU WAIT. UNTIL. YOU’RE DONE WAITING. BUT YOU’RE NOT READY TO DEPART YOUR POTENTIAL, EITHER.YOU MARK THE FINAL TALLY. YOU SLAM YOUR FIRST INTO THE WALL. KNUCKLES STREAM RED BUT YOU BARELY FEEL A THING. YOU STAIN YOUR DRESS. WALKING TO THE WINDOW, YOU SCREAM OUT FOR THE ONLY COMPANION YOU HAVE KNOWN ALL THESE YEARS. SHE BECKONS YOUR CALL. SHE ALWAYS DOES. YOU’VE ALWAYS HAD A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GREAT BEAST. SHE WAS YOUR ONLY FRIEND FOR MOST OF YOUR LIFE, AND YET SHE’S THE ONE KEEPING YOU HERE.WE PLAY OUR PARTS. WE FOLLOW EVERY RULE. THIS IS BY THE BOOK.YOU KNOW DEEP DOWN IT’S NOT HER FAULT. JUST AS YOU ARE THE DUTIFUL PRINCESS, THE SLAVE TO THE STORY, SHE IS THE FIRE BREATHING MONSTER FORCED TO KEEP YOU LOCKED AWAY. HER BREATH HAS KEPT YOU WARM AT NIGHT. SHE HAS OFTEN TIRED OUT HER WINGS TO STAY BY YOUR WINDOW AND WATCH OVER YOU WHEN THE SUN SETS. ALTHOUGH SHE NEVER STRAYS FAR, SHE HAS BROUGHT YOU FOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. SHE HAS BROUGHT YOU FLOWERS TO KEEP YOUR BOUQUET FRESH IN CASE YOUR PRINCE FINALLY PROVES HIMSELF WORTHY, FULLY AWARE IT WOULD MEAN HER DEMISE. BUT SHE ALSO BRINGS YOU FLOWERS BECAUSE SHE THINKS YOU WILL LIKE THEM. BECAUSE YOU NEED THEM. SHE’S AT THE WINDOW NOW, ON THIS FATEFUL DAY, AND YOU STARE AT EACH OTHER A MOMENT. BLOOD DRIPS DOWN YOUR HANDS, THROAT RAW FROM THE SCREAMING NO ONE BUT DRAGON SHALL EVER HEAR. SHE LOWERS HER HEAD MOURNFULLY, AND BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN SPEAK THE WORD, SHE GESTURES FOR YOU TO CLIMB ON HER BACK.YOU LEAVE YOUR TIARA AND YOUR FAVOUR BEHIND. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A PRINCESS, YES. BUT YOU WONDER IF YOU WEREN’T BORN INTO ROYALTY, WOULD YOUR CURSE HAVE LED YOU HERE. YOUR FAVOUR WAS A SYMBOL OF LOVE YOU WILL NEVER SEEM TO RECEIVE. YOU CLIMB ATOP THE DRAGON READY TO FEEL THE SUN ON YOUR BACK. BEFORE DEPARTING, DRAGON INSTEAD TAKES YOU TO THE LOWEST CHAMBER OF THE KEEP, A ROOM FULL OF GOLD AND PRICELESS GEMS. THIS WILL BENEFIT YOUR JOURNEY. YOU PRIZE EACH FINGER WITH A WORTHY RING, YOU PLACE A NECKLACE ‘ROUND YOUR NECK. YOU'D NEED SUPPLIES. NEED TO TRANSFER SUCH ARTEFACTS FOR COINS.YOU ARE TWENTY FOUR.
YOU KNOW MAGIC EXISTS BEYOND YOUR HELL. YOU NO LONGER BELIEVE IN TRUE LOVES KISS. YOU ONLY BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.YOU THANK DRAGON. YOU CRY. YOU CRY BECAUSE THE SUN FEELS SO WARM AND THE AIR IS COLD. YOU CRY BECAUSE YOU HAVE MISSED THIS. YOU HOLD HER TIGHT. YOU STROKE HER SCALES. YOU FALL ASLEEP MOMENTARILY ON HER WARMING BACK DUE TO THE ADRENALINE. WHEN YOU WAKE, YOU’RE WRAPPED UP IN HER WINGS. YOU’RE IN A FOREST. NIGHT HAS FALLEN AND YOU ARE A MONSTER ONCE MORE. SHE SHIELDS YOU FROM THE WORLD, AND YOU ONLY HOLD HER in return, AND CLOSE YOUR EYES. YOU FEEL HER LICKING YOUR BLOODIED HAND WITH HER LARGE TONGUE. IT’S AFFECTIONATE AND YOU CRY AGAIN.THE SUN RISES. YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN A MORNING PERSON. YOU TELL DRAGON YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK THIS CURSE ON YOUR OWN. YOU PICTURE THE DAY YOU CAN RETURN HOME AND SHOW YOUR HATRED TO YOUR PARENTS. YOU NEED TO SCREAM AT THEM. YOU NEED TO SHUN THEM. YOU ASK DRAGON TO STAY WITH YOU, IT’S SELFISH, and YOU KNOW it. SHE’S FINALLY FREE, JUST LIKE YOU. BUT BY HER REACTION, HER TENDER CARE, YOU DON’T THINK SHE INTENDED TO LEAVE. YOU TAKE TO THE SKIES AGAIN. FOR THREE HOURS AIMLESSLY SOARING, UNTIL A SMALL VILLAGE COMES TO SIGHT AND YOU STOP. THIS IS THE FIRST SIGN OF CIVILISATION YOU HAVE SEEN IN TWENTY YEARS. YOU AND DRAGON WANDER FREELY. THE BEASTS PRESENCE ALMOST GOES UNNOTICED. YOU TAKE THIS AS A GOOD SIGN. IT’S A PROSPEROUS KINGDOM, AND MAGIC CAN PRACTICALLY BE FELT IN THE STATIC OF THE AIR. ALL SORTS OF CREATURES WANDER ABOUT; IT’S AN INCLUSIVE LOCATION, SO IT SEEMS.YOU SELL ONE OF YOUR RINGS FOR A LARGE BAG OF GOLD. YOU USE SIX PIECES OF IT TO SET YOURSELF UP IN AN INN. DRAGON RETURNS TO THE SKIES FOR A FEW HOURS, INTENT ON RETURNING.YOU GO INTO A LOCAL TAVERN. YOU DRINK. YOU LAUGH WITH STRANGERS. THEY DON’T KNOW YOU AND YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO. YOU TELL THEM YOUR NAME IS GENEVIEVE FOR THE HELL OF IT. PERHAPS YOU COULD DO WITH A NEW IDENTITY. YOU BUY A ROUND OF DRINKS FOR THIS GROUP. YOU LAUGH UNTIL YOUR THROAT HURTS. IT’S WONDERFUL. BUT THEN THE DARKNESS BEGINS TO SHROUD THE SKY, AND YOU QUICKLY HURRY AWAY WITHOUT EXPLANATION, BACK TO THE INN. DRAGON RETURNS AN HOUR AFTER YOU TRANSFORM.THE FOLLOWING MORNING YOU ASK AROUND ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE. ABOUT ITS MAGIC. YOU FIND YOUR NEW GROUP OF FRIENDS AND MAKE SOME POOR EXCUSE FOR RUSHING OUT. YOU ALL SPEND THE DAY TOGETHER. THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE WISHING STAR AND THE DARK FOREST. (re, 2022's puss in boots.) THERE IS A FOREST A FEW HUNDRED MILES AWAY, SAID TO HAVE GROWN AROUND A FALLEN STAR. WHOEVER CAN REACH SAID STAR CAN BE GRANTED ONE WISH. IT’S BELIEVED THE MAGIC IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT BLEEDS INTO THE VILLAGE, ALLOWING IT TO THRIVE AS IT DOES. YOU ASK TO KNOW HOW TO FIND THIS STAR. YOU ARE GENTLY LAUGHED AT; NO ONE KNOWS IF IT'S ACTUALLY REAL. YOU DON’T CARE. IT’S HOPE. YOU SPEND SIX DAYS IN THIS VILLAGE. YOU BUY NEW CLOTHES. YOU LET YOUR HAIR OUT. YOU STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES. WITH DRAGONS PERMISSION, YOU TIE THREE SATCHELS TO HER BACK, WHILE KEEPING ONE ON YOUR OWN.YOUR FRIEND DRAWS A MAP FOR YOU, HOW TO GET INTO THE DARK FOREST. SHE TELLS YOU TO BE CAREFUL. SHE HOPES TO SEE YOU AGAIN. YOU SET OFF. IT TAKES SEVEN HOURS BY AIR. YOU STOP WHEN THE SUN SETS, AND FIND A SECLUDED AREA WHERE YOU AND DRAGON REST FOR THE NIGHT. YOU CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP. DRAGON NUDGES AT YOUR HANDS AND CROONS. YOU BOTH WAKE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, AND TRAVEL THE LAST THREE HOURS. THE DARK FOREST IS DISCOVERED, AND WITHOUT HESITATION YOU ENTER.IT’S BEAUTIFUL. IT DOESN’T LIVE UP TO ITS NAME. IT’S COLOURFUL AND GRAND AND YOU ALMOST CRY BECAUSE YOU FORGOT SUCH THINGS EXISTED. YOU AND DRAGON PLAY IN THE LARGE FIELDS OF FLOWERS. SHE ROLLS AROUND LIKE A CAT AND YOU MERELY LAY THERE, UNDER THE OPEN SKY. HAPPY. YOU SET TO WORK AFTER NOT TOO LONG. NO IDEA WHERE TO GO, MERELY HOLDING THE HOPE THAT YOUR CURSE MIGHT BE broken VERY SOON. YOU ARE WRONG. YOU SEARCH AND SEARCH. YOU WALK AROUND IN CIRCLES. YOU SPEND THREE WEEKS IN THIS FOREST. YOU LEAVE EMPTY HANDED. BUT IT’S ONLY THE FIRST TRY. A WISHING STAR WAS PROBABLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, ANYWAY. YOU HAVE TO BE MORE PRACTICAL. SET YOUR SIGHTS TOWARDS MORE REALISTIC MEASURES. NEVERTHELESS, YOU’RE STILL OUT. YOU’RE NOT PRINCESS LONELY WALKING CIRCLES ANYMORE. YOU HAVE SEEN A BEAUTIFUL FOREST and IT’S A MEMORY YOU HOLD CLOSE, EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN’T TURN OUT THE WAY YOU HOPED.YOU AND DRAGON SPEND TWO MORE WEEKS TOGETHER BEFORE THE NEXT STOP. YOU REST ON CLIFF TOPS, ON MOUNTAINSIDES. YOU SEE WONDERFUL VIEWS. YOU LOVE FLYING. YOU STILL CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP. YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR PARENTS. YOU WONDER IF ANY PRINCE CHARMING HAS SHOWN UP TO YOUR TOWER ONLY TO FIND YOU GONE. YOU WONDER IF YOU EVEN CARE.SOON, YOU RECALL AN OLD FACE. A GIRL WITH MAGIC IN HER STRIDE AND ICE IN HER FINGERS. YOU REMEMBER ARENDELLE. YOU REMEMBER MEETING ELSA AT SIX YEARS OLD, AS YOUR KINGDOMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN GREAT UNISON. YOU REMEMBER HER POWER. YOU REMEMBER HER SITTING IN YOUR ROOM WITH YOU AT NIGHT, NOT BLINKING AN EYE AS YOU changed. SHE STILL WANTED TO PLAY WITH YOU. YOU SEEK THE DIRECTION OF ARENDELLE. YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. YOU SOON FIND GENERAL DIRECTION THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH. YOU MEET AN OLD COUPLE LIVING IN A COTTAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. YOU ARE HUNGRY, YOU AND DRAGON BOTH. YOU KNOCK ON THE DOOR, DRAGON STAYS OUT OF SIGHT FOR THIS ONE. YOU OFFER ONE OF YOUR PRICELESS JEWELS IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME FOOD FROM THESE STRANGERS. THEY USHER YOU IN FROM THE COLD AIR, AND FILL YOUR STOMACH WITH THEIR BAKED BREAD AND JAM. THEY REFUSE YOUR OFFERING. YOU ASK IF THEY KNOW ANYTHING OF ARENDELLE, AND THEY POINT YOU TO THE DIRECTION OF A DOCKING BAY OF BOATS THAT TAKE YOU ACROSS THE SEAS. THEY EVEN DRAW A ROUGH MAP. THEY HAVEN’T HEARD OF ARENDELLE, BUT SURELY YOU WILL HAVE MORE LUCK WHERE THEY DIRECT YOU. THEY WANT YOU TO STAY THE NIGHT, ‘A PRETTY THING LIKE YOU SHOULDN’T BE OUT ALONE IN THIS WEATHER’. IT’S YOUR TURN TO DECLINE THEIR OFFER NOW, AS YOU THANK THEM FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND THEY GIVE YOU FOOD FOR THE ROAD. THEY ARE THE KINDEST PEOPLE YOU HAVE EVER MET AND YOU NEVER FORGET THEM. YOU TELL THEM THIS. YOU AND DRAGON FIND A DWELLING FOR THE NIGHT. AS USUAL, HER FIRE KEEPS YOU BOTH WARM. YOU TELL DRAGON YOU LOVE HER.YOU FIND THE OCEAN FINALLY. YOU AND DRAGON BOTH BATHE IN A PRIVATE CREVICE. YOU FIND WHAT YOU SOUGHT: DIRECTIONS TO ARENDELLE. YOU TAKE OFF. YOU FIND IT. DRAGON DOESN’T ACCOMPANY YOU INTO THE TOWN. THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRIVATE KINGDOM, BORN OF NOBILITY. YOU DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HER. SHE IS HAPPY TO WAIT IN THE FOREST AS SHE SCOURS THE LANDS. YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE HEIR OF FAR FAR AWAY TO HER HIGHNESS, QUEEN ELSA, AND SHE RECOGNISES YOU. YOU PROCLAIM YOUR TRUE INTENTION, YOUR DESIRE OF MAGIC TO REVERSE YOUR CURSE. ELSA TELLS YOU SHE ISN’T AWARE OF SUCH MAGIC, BUT ALLOWS YOU TO PEER THROUGH THE CASTLES LIBRARY WHERE THERE IS A GREAT ARRAY OF INFORMATION REGARDING MAGIC ACROSS THE SEVEN SEAS. YOU AND ELSA GROW CLOSE. YOU QUICKLY MEET HER SISTER AND SHE REMINDS YOU OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE. DRAGON IS WELCOMEd INTO ARENDELLE. FRIENDSHIP EXTENDS AND YOU STAY THREE MONTHS IN THE GREAT KINGDOM. YOU SOCIALISE, YOU ROAM FREE, AND YOU EVEN ATTEND A BALL. ELSA INSISTS YOU DON’T NEED TO LEAVE THE BALL EARLY ON THE COUNT OF YOUR CURSE; ARENDELLE IS A VERY PROGRESSIVE, OPEN KINGDOM. YOU DECLINE. YOU DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THE WONDERFUL festivities, BUT YOU RETIRE TO YOUR ROOM IN THE CASTLE AS THE SUN BEGINS TO SET.YOU FINALLY GET A LEAD. YOU DISCOVER CURSES OF SUCH MAGNITUDE ARE LIKELY TO BE BROKEN EITHER BY MAGICIANS OR POWERFUL FAIRIES AND FAIRY GUARDIANS. SISTERS PROTEST WHY YOUR CURSE EVEN NEEDS TO BE BROKEN. THAT YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT AN OGRE THAN YOU ARE HUMAN. YOU EMBRACE THEM BOTH. ELSA TELLS YOU OF STORIES SHE HAS HEARD FROM NEIGHBOURING KINGDOMS. ANY SOURCE OF MAGIC. SHE PROVIDES YOU WITH ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS AND PEOPLE IN CHARGE. YOU SPEND YOUR FINAL NIGHT IN ARENDELLE, PLACING A KISS ON ELSA’S CHEEK AND HOLDING ANNA SO TIGHT THE GIRL COULD ALMOST BURST. YOU EXPERIENCE AN ARRAY OF PLACES. YOU DIDN’T KNOW THERE WERE SO MANY. FAR FAR AWAY SEEMED SMALL SUDDENLY.YOU FORGET YOURSELF IN THE KINGDOM OF DAWNARTH. YOU ARE PURCHASING A NEW SATCHEL FROM THE MARKETPLACE WHEN THE SUN SETS AND YOU TRANSFORM IN FRONT OF MANY ONLOOKERS. THE WOMEN SCREAM. THE MEN CURSE. SOMETHING HITS YOU IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BUT YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT IT WAS. ONLY THAT IT HURT. IT DREW BLOOD UNDER YOUR HAIR. A STRONG ARM REACHES OUT TO GRAB YOU; AN ATTEMPT TO drag YOU TO THE FLOOR. YOU DROP ALL OF YOUR OPEN COINS, THEY SHATTER LOUDLY. IT DISTRACTS THEM MOMENTARILY. IT GIVES YOU ENOUGH TIME TO BREAK FREE. TO CLUMSILY KICK OUT, FLAIL YOUR ARMS ABOUT. ALL YOUR FIGHTING SKILLS ARE SUDDENLY LOST. YOU ARE TRAINED FOR THIS. BUT YOUR MIND IS FROZEN. YOU RUN. YOU CRY. YOU TRY TO REASON AT FIRST BUT IT DOES NOTHING. DRAGON HEARS THE COMMOTION AND PULLS YOU OFF THE FLOOR IN A CLEAN SWOOP. SHE INHALES SHARPLY; YOU KNOW SHE’S ABOUT TO PUNISH THE TOWN WITH HER FIERY BREATH FOR THEIR ACTIONS TOWARDS YOU. YOU TELL HER NOT TO. YOU THANK HER FOR SAVING YOU. YOU ARE NUMB. YOU CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR MONTHS. DRAGON CRIES WITH YOU.YOU WAKE THE NEXT MORNING WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE. IT’S A COVER. YOUR INSIDES CHURN AND YOU FEEL SICK. BUT YOU NEED TO BREAK YOUR CURSE. YOU CAN’T DO THAT IF YOU SIT AROUND MOPING.YOU COME BY A SMALL KINGDOM. IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YOU HAVE SEEN YET. YOU ASK A LOVELY YOUNG BAKERS DAUGHTER ABOUT THE PLACE. HER NAME IS ODETTE. (re, 2003's barbie's swan lake.) SHE TELLS YOU SHE HAS LIVED HERE HER WHOLE LIFE AND SHE’S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING MAGICAL HAPPEN. YOU THANK HER FOR HER HELP AND YOU BUY TWENTY BAKED TREATS. SHE LOOKS AT YOU WITH AN AMUSED GRIN; YOU WEREN’T ABOUT TO TELL HER YOU WERE WITH A DRAGON WHO HAD A LARGE APPETITE. YOU REMEMBER ODETTE. YOU AND DRAGON CAMP OUT IN THE WOODS. YOU WAKE ONE NIGHT TO DRAGON FLAPPING YOU WITH HER WING. YOU OPEN YOUR EYES. THERE IS A UNICORN IN THE FOREST. A PURPLE CREATURE WATCHING YOU BOTH. SHE APPROACHES; SHE TALKS TO YOU. SHE ASKS IF YOU NEED PROTECTION FROM ROTHBART. SHE TELLS YOU IF THE PEOPLE FROM THE HUMAN VILLAGE FIND YOU, YOU’LL BE IN TROUBLE. YOU ARE CONFUSED, BUT YOU FOLLOW HER. SHE APPROACHED YOU BECAUSE YOU LOOKED KIND, TRUSTWORTHY. YOU ARE SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS, YOU WERE AN OGRE, AFTER ALL. AND SHE, A BEAUTIFUL UNICORN. YOU BOTH FOLLOW HER THROUGH A ROCK IN THE WALL AND FIND THE MOST WONDERFUL ENCHANTED FOREST. THE SUN RISES IN THIS TIME. YOU MEET THE FAIRY QUEEN. YOU ASK HER HELP but SHE TELLS YOU SHE CANNOT AID. HER OWN SUBJECTS BECOME ANIMALS IN THE SUNRISE. SHE IS GENUINE AND KIND, AND YOU FEEL AWFUL WHEN YOU DISCOVER WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS FOREST. THE WAR OCCURRING. YOU’RE ALLOWED TO STAY AS LONG AS YOU WISH. YOU SAY YOU WANT TO HELP THEM. THE FAIRY QUEEN IS GRATEFUL, BUT KNOWS YOU ARE NOT THE GIRL THEY ARE WAITING FOR. SHE CLAIMS YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS ELSEWHERE. SHE TOUCHES YOUR CHEEK, KISSES YOUR FOREHEAD AND TELLS YOU TO SEEK YOUR HAPPINESS.YOU CONTINUE TRAVELLING. YOU HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE TOWER FOR A YEAR. YOU HAVE HAD NO LUCK IN REVERSING YOUR CURSE. ALTHOUGH, YOU HAVE SEEN A GRAND ARRAY OF THINGS. HOPE SLOWLY DWINDLES. YOU CONSIDER, VERY BRIEFLY, GOING BACK TO YOUR TOWER TO AWAIT YOUR TRUE LOVES KISS. YOU QUICKLY RID THIS THOUGHT. THERE WAS NO GOING BACK THERE.

YOU COME BY A POWERFUL WIZARD IN THE KINGDOM OF ENCHANCIA. (re, sofia the first.) HE IS CLOSE TO SUCCEEDING, to ending your curse. YOU SPEND WEEKS WITH HIM. HE IS ELDERLY AND KIND, AND HE WANTS TO HELP YOU. BUT THE MAGIC IS TOO STRONG. HE IS UNABLE. YOU THANK HIM FOR HIS ASSISTANCE. YOUR STOMACH IS FEELING A LITTLE LIGHTER, THERE IS A SLIGHT SPRING IN YOUR STEP. THIS IS THE CLOSEST YOU HAVE GOTTEN. THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE.YOU EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS AND HORRORS OF PEOPLE. THEY HAVE SEEN YOU TRANSFORM AND THEY DO NOT CARE. THEY HAVE SEEN YOU TRANSFORM AND THEY RUN AWAY IN FEAR. THEY HAVE SEEN YOU TRANSFORM AND THEY WANT TO HURT YOU. SOMETIMES THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO. THEIR INITIAL SHOCK IS UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT SOMETIMES THEY APOLOGISE, AND THEY STICK AROUND. YOU HAVE MET AMAZING PEOPLE. YOU BEGIN TO REMEMBER THIS MORE FONDLY THAN THE WEIGHING DREAD OF THE TORTURED REACTIONS.THIS IS NOT HOW YOU WERE TOLD THE WORLD WOULD TREAT YOU. YOU WERE TOLD YOU WOULD NEVER BE LOVED. IT’S CONFLICTING. IT’S CONFUSING.
YOU FIGHT for your rights. YOU CARRY A SWORD WITH YOU NOW, YOU FIGURED YOU MIGHT ONE DAY NEED ONE. YOU ARE CORRECT. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO DEFEND YOURSELF MORE SERIOUSLY. YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS WITH DRAGON AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO RELY ON HER. YOU WERE CORNERED ONE NIGHT BY DRUNKEN MEN SPITTING VILE THINGS AT YOU. THEY CAUGHT YOU BY SURPRISE, AND THEY HAD THE UPPER HAND. A MONSTER HUNT, THEY CALLED IT. THEY CAUGHT YOU TRANSFORMING. THEY FOLLOWED YOU THE NEXT DAY. A SWIFT ARROW TO THE BACK OF YOUR KNEE CAUGHT YOU OFF GUARD. YOU FELL. YOU RAN. THEY ATTACKED YOU. ONE HAD A SWORD, AND MANAGED TO SWIPE CLEAR ACROSS YOUR CHEEK. IT BLED FOR HOURS. YOU MANAGED TO ESCAPE BY THE SHEER will TO LIVE. YOU KICKED, PUNCHED, SCRATCHED. YOUR NAILS AS AN OGRE WERE FAR MORE DEADLY. YOU THINK YOU KILLED ONE OF THE MEN BY SCRATCHING OUT HIS THROAT. you don't properly remember. THE OTHER'S FLEE THE SCENE AFTER THIS. YOU FLEE, TOO. YOU NEVER LOOKED BACK TO SEE IF HE WAS ALIVE OR NOT. YOU ALWAYS CARRY A SWORD. you don't want the blood physically on your hands.

YOU BEGIN ENJOYING LIFE. YOU BEGIN HELPING OTHERS. YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN UP HOPE IN FINDING A CURE, BUT YOUR ACTIONS ARE NOT BASED AROUND IT. YOU GO WHERE THE WIND TAKES YOU AND DRAGON. YOU STOP ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE. YOU BEGIN TO ASK LESS AND LESS QUESTIONS ABOUT MAGIC. YOU ASK OUT OF CURIOSITY, NOT FOR YOURSELF. YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE. YOU WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING. YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL. AFTER TWENTY YEARS WITHOUT IT, YOU NEED A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.YOU SOON BEGIN TO ENJOY THE TRAVELLING. SOMETIMES YOU CAN TELL IF A KINGDOM WILL BE ACCEPTING OR NOT. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE WAY THEY WALK, THEIR STANCE, THEIR WAY OF MANNER. YOU HAVE BECOME QUITE AN EXPERT ON THIS. YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE’S HEARTS. YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN. YOU MEET INTERESTING PEOPLE. YOU EAT INTERESTING FOOD. YOU SEE THINGS YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN BEFORE. YOU ALSO SEE DESPAIR. YOU SEE HOW MAGIC CAN TEAR APART PEOPLES LIVES. YOU SEE WAR STRICKEN LOCATIONS. THOSE LOST IN POVERTY. YOU NEVER FLY OVER THESE PLACES. YOU STOP TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP. YOU GIVE. YOU HELP REBUILD THEIR LIVES. YOUR CURSE SUDDENLY SEEMS SO SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS. YOU REALISE IT IS SMALL. YOU’RE STILL YOU. YOU’VE STILL DONE ALL THESE REMARKABLE THINGS. THE OGRE DOESN’T CHANGE THAT.WHEN YOU’RE TWENTY EIGHT, YOU MAKE THE DECISION THAT’S BEEN HATCHING AT THE BACK OF YOUR MIND. YOU AND DRAGON TAKE ONE FINAL ADVENTURE TOGETHER. YOU RETURN HOME. YOU RETURN TO A LOVING MOTHER WHO HOLDS YOU JUST AS TIGHT AS THE DAY SHE LEFT YOU. YOUR FATHER HUGS YOU TOO, BUT IT’S STIFF. HE HOLDS THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, DRAWING YOU TO HIM, BUT IT’S SOMEHOW NOT AS GENUINE. YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THEY ARE SHOCKED. YOUR MOTHER HOLDS YOUR HAND, YOUR FATHER STARES AT YOU. YOU TELL THEM YOU’RE NOT GOING BACK. YOU ARE HERE TO RECLAIM YOUR PLACE AS A PRINCESS, CURSE AND ALL. YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN PUT INTO A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE. YOU ASK TO BE RESPECTED. YOU DEMAND IT. YOU TELL THEM YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON BREAKING YOUR CURSE. YOU ALSO TELL THEM YOU ARE GROWING COMFORTABLE IN BOTH SKINS. YOUR APPEARANCE DOES NOT CHANGE who you are.

YOU SPEND THE NIGHT BACK IN YOUR ROOM AND YOUR MOTHER ACCOMPANIES YOU AND HOLDS YOU CLOSE. SHE RUNS HER FINGERS ACROSS THE THICK SCAR ON YOUR CHEEK. YOU TELL HER HOW YOU GOT IT. SHE FALLS ASLEEP BY YOUR SIDE. IT’S BITTERSWEET. DRAGON SQUEEZES THROUGH YOUR BALCONY DOORS, CURLING UP BESIDE THE BED.YOU ALLOW BOTTLED EMOTIONS TO SCREAM OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. YOU BARELY REMEMBER CONTEXT OR HOW IT CAME. YOU'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK ON YOUR PARENTS FACES. YOU WERE EATING BREAKFAST, JUST THE THREE OF YOU. YOUR MOTHER SAID HOW GOOD IT WAS YOU WERE home. YOU STOOD UP, YOU YELLED, YOU SCREAMED. YOU TELL THEM YOU'RE HERE FOR YOURSELF, NOT FOR THEM. YOU TELL THEM OF YOUR HATRED AND ANGER. YOU CRY IN FRONT OF THEM. YOU BANG YOUR FISTS AGAINST THE TABLE. YOU HURL A DRINKING GLASS AT THE WALL. YOUR FURY IS POSSESSING. YOU ASK THEM HOW THEY COULD DO THIS TO YOU. YOU LEAVE, RETIRE TO YOUR ROOM, AND THEY DON'T FOLLOW.YOUR RETURN IS ANNOUNCED IN THREE DAYS LATER. YOUR CURSE IS NOT KEPT SECRET. YOU WILL NOT HIDE AWAY IN THE CASTLE WHEN THE SUN SETS. YOU WILL ROAM YOUR STREETS, YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU PLEASE. YOU HAVE COOLED DOWN. YOU APOLOGISE FOR BREAKING THE GLASS. YOU ASK YOUR PARENTS TO LEAVE YOU BE AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MET WITH GRAVE CONFLICT. YOU TELL THEM YOU ARE FINE (YOU REALLY ARE!). YOU LEAVE THE CASTLE AS NIGHT RISES OVER THE SKY.IT IS PEACEFUL, AND MANY APPROACH TO TELL YOU THEY ARE HAPPY YOU’VE RETURNED. YOUR LARGE HANDS SHAKE THEIRS, YOU THANK THEM, YOU CURTSY. WHEN YOU ARE LEFT ALONE, YOU GIVE YOURSELF ANOTHER HOUR ON THE TOWN. YOU FEEL SOMETHING BRACE AGAINST YOUR CHEEK. THEN YOUR ARM. YOU HEAR SNICKERING. YOU WIPE YOUR FACE TO SEE RED; NOT BLOOD, THANKFULLY. BUT A TOMATO. ANOTHER ONE IS HURLED YOUR WAY, SQUARE IN THE EYES, AND YOU DOUBLE BACK FROM THE SUDDEN stinging. THE LAUGHTER INCREASES. ANOTHER SHOT HITS YOUR CHEST AND LEAKS DOWN YOUR DRESS. YOU’RE CLEARING THE MUCK OUT OF YOUR EYES, HEAD SPINNING, AS SILENCE ENSURES. WHEN YOUR VISION IS CLEAR, YOU SEE TWO SMALL CHILDREN STANDING BEFORE YOU, PROTECTING YOU, WORDLESSLY DEFIANT. YOU NEVER SAW WHO THREW THE ROTTEN FRUIT. THESE CHILDREN TAKE YOUR HANDS, ONE EACH, AND LEAD YOU HOME. YOU FOLLOW WITHOUT A SOUND. IT’S NOT A FAR WALK. THEIR MOTHER IS ALERTED. YOU ALLOW THE WOMAN TO CLEAN YOUR MESS WITH CAREFUL HANDS. YOU ARE EMBARRASSED. SHE TELLS YOU NOT TO BE. SHE BREWS YOU TEA AND REWARDS THE CHILDREN WITH A COOKIE EACH FROM THE JAR. YOU SPEND AN HOUR IN THEIR LITTLE HOUSEHOLD. THE CHILDREN ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND YOU ANSWER HONESTLY. THEIR MOTHER TELLS YOU SHE’S GLAD TO SEE YOU RETURN. YOU LEAVE FEELING SATISFIED DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT TOOK YOU TO THEIR HOUSE. YOU REALISE THIS WON’T BE EASY. YOU’VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT, THOUGH. YOU OFTEN VISIT THE GRAND FAMILY. THE LITTLE GIRL THINKS YOU’RE PRETTIER AS AN OGRE.YOU SPEND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PRIMARILY WITH YOUR MOTHER. SHE CRIES. SHE BEGS FORGIVENESS. YOU GRANT IT. YOU ARE STILL BITTER. BUT YOU WON’T ALLOW IT TO SHOW. SHE TEACHES YOU HOW TO BE A PRINCESS. SHE GRANTS YOU A CROWN. SHE TEACHES YOU THE INS AND OUTS, HOW TO RUN THE KINGDOM, HOW TO ANSWER YOUR PEOPLES NEEDS. YOU ARE A NATURAL. YOUR KINDNESS AND GRACE CHANGES THE MINDS OF SOME NAYSAYERS INITIALLY AGAINST THE IDEA OF AN OGRE PRINCESS. YOU ARE STILL THROWN INSULTS WHEN YOU ARE IN PUBLIC. YOU DON’T ALLOW IT TO GET YOU DOWN. YOU BEGIN TO SEE THE OVERALL MISTREATMENT OF PARTICULAR FAIRY TALE CREATURES IN THE KINGDOM. THE DIVERSION. CREATURES TREATED AS LESSER DUE TO THEIR STATUS. BEAUTY CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING, YET WOODEN PUPPETS AND TALKING ANIMALS ARE PERCEIVED AS NOT WORTHY. YOU BEGIN ADVOCATING FOR THESE CITIZENS. YOU BRING A WITCH ONTO YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS; YOU HIRE TALKING TREES AS GUARDS FOR THE CASTLE; YOU PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR A VAMPIRE TO OPEN HIS VERY OWN RESTAURANT IN TOWN. YOUR CHANGE SEEPS INTO THE CITY. SOME PROTEST. IT’S NOT ACCEPTED. YOU CHANGE LAWS, YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING. CLOSED MINDED CITIZENS PACK UP AND LEAVE FOR A SMALL KINGDOM NAMED DULOC. GOOD. YOU DIDN’T WANT THEM HERE ANYWAY. YOU BECOME A WELL RESPECTED LEADER. DRAGON IS BY YOUR SIDE THROUGHOUT IT ALL. SHE IS LIVING A CARE FREE LIFE. SHE WALKS THE TOWNS AS SHE PLEASES AND FLIES OFF ON HER OWN. SHE’S ALWAYS BACK WITHIN SIX DAYS.YOUR FATHER FINALLY APOLOGISES. TELLS YOU HE WAS WRONG. he cries, but you don't, you don't want him to see it.YOU ARE THIRTY THREE YEARS OLD WHEN YOU DECIDE TO HAVE ONE LAST ADVENTURE. FAR FAR AWAY IS PROSPERING. YOU HAVE BROUGHT IN CONNECTIONS FROM THE KINGDOMS YOU TRAVELED TO. YOU HAVE MADE A GRAVE DIFFERENCE AND SOON YOU WILL BE QUEEN. YOUR KINGDOM IS HEALTHY AND SECURE, BUT YOU STILL WANT TO HELP. YOU WANT TO AID THOSE POORER PLACES YOU CAME BY YEARS AGO. YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS; THEY KNOW YOU’RE CAPABLE OF IT. YOU AND DRAGON SET OFF ON A FINAL ADVENTURE, RETRACING YOUR TREASURED MAP, WHILE ADDING NEW LOCATIONS. YOU REQUIRE FREEDOM ONCE MORE. YOU ADORE YOUR KINGDOM, BUT THEY CAN DO WITHOUT YOU FOR A YEAR OR SO.YOUR HELP ISN’T ALWAYS WANTED OR ACCEPTED. NOR IS YOUR CURSE. YOU UNDERSTAND. YOU DO NOT PUSH OR STICK AROUND WHERE YOU’RE NOT WANTED. YOU MEET OLD FRIENDS, THEY REMEMBER YOU, AND IT’S A GLORIOUS THING. YOU MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS AND HOLD THEM CLOSE TO YOUR HEART.YOU COME BY AN ISLAND kingdom BY THE NAME OF DRAITH. A PLACE WITHOUT ANY MAGIC. ITS PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE IN IT. DUE TO THIS REASON, A DARK SORCERESS FIGURED THE ISLAND AN EASY TAKING, AND POSSESSED IT WITH HER MALEVOLENT MAGIC, CLAIMING HERSELF ITS LEADER. YOU OFFER TO EVACUATE THE PEOPLE, YOU CAN GET THEM TO SHELTER. THEY DECLINE. THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS WITCH FOR THREE MONTHS. THEY WILL NOT LEAVE THEIR HOME. YOU STAY. YOU FIGHT. YOU ARE TRAINED ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND SERVE A WORTHY WARRIOR. YOU KNOW HOW TO AID IN MANY INJURIES. YOU ARE TREATED AS A MEDIC. DRAGON PROVIDES WARMTH. SHE FIGHTS ALONGSIDE YOU.YOU MEET A MAIDEN, EVELYN, IN YOUR SECOND MONTH OF RESIDENCE. YOU HEALED A NASTY WOUND TO HER SHOULDER, AND SINCE THAT MOMENT, YOU CANNOT STOP THINKING OF HER. IN MOMENTS OF REPRIEVE YOU ARE TOGETHER. YOU LAUGH EVEN IN THESE DESPAIRING TIMES. SHE ADMIRES YOU. YOU SPEND THREE WEEKS TOGETHER. YOU SHARE WITH HER THINGS YOU NEVER THOUGHT WOULD LEAVE YOU AND DRAGON. SHE LISTENS. SHE HOLDS YOU ON THE ONE OCCASION YOU CRY. YOU FEEL LOVED. ONE EVE SILENCE BREAKS, BUT TENSION IS LOUD. HER HAND IS ON YOUR CHEEK. YOURS IS ON HER LEG. BEWITCHED ONE FATEFUL NIGHT AS WEEKS OF YEARNING WERE EXPELLED. YOU ARE BROKEN APART, NEAR EMBRACE BROKEN BY THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION OUTSIDE. SHE GRABS HER CROSSBOW AS YOU PICK UP YOUR SWORD. YOU FIGHT IN THE NIGHT. A KILLING CURSE IS AIMED YOUR WAY; YOU ARE DISTRACTED. EVELYN IS NOT. SHE STEPS IN FRONT OF IT FOR YOU, TAKING THE BRUNT. SHE DIES IMMEDIATELY. YOU DO NOT GET TO SAY GOODBYE. YOU PLACE A KISS ON HER LIPS, YOU HOLD HER IN YOUR ARMS, AND YOU CARRY HER BACK WHEN THE CHAOS IS OVER. YOU DO NOT EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU KNOW WAS TO BE YOUR TRUE LOVES KISS. YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR CURSE, YOU JUST WANTED HER. YOU FIGHT. YOU BLEED. YOU SCREAM FOR AN ISLAND YOU DIDN’T KNOW EXISTED LAST YEAR. YOU WIN THE BATTLE. AS YOU AND YOUR NEW FOUND FAMILY ARE CELEBRATING, YOU FAIL TO SEE THE LONE KNIGHT FROM THE OPPOSING TEAM STAGGER FROM THE GROUND BENEATH YOUR FEET. YOU FEEL A SWORD SLASH THROUGH YOUR STOMACH, YOU SEE THE POINT COME OUT THE OTHER END. YOUR BODY IS CAUGHT BY DAMIEN, THE LEADER OF YOUR ARMY, YOUR FRIEND, AND HE HOLDS YOU CLOSE, SCREAMING TO HOLD ON. BEFORE PASSING OUT, YOU SEE A SINGULAR ARROW CROSS THE SKY ABOVE, YOU HEAR A BODY FALLING. THE ARROW REMINDS YOU OF EVELYN, AND YOU DRIFT OFF WITH HER IN MIND. PERHAPS YOU’D SEE HER AGAIN.THE FIRST TIME YOU WAKE, YOU ARE AN OGRE AGAIN; NIGHT HAS FALLEN AND YOU ARE THRASHING AND SCREAMING. YOUR LUNGS WHEEZE OUT TINY PIECES OF AIR, AS CHAOS ENSURES AROUND YOU. YOU FEEL A HAND HOLDING YOURS, YOU FEEL DRAGONS BREATH RUSTLING YOUR HAIR. BEGGING FOR DEATH, YOU’RE HELD DOWN BY MULTIPLE HANDS. YOU LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS ONCE MORE AS YOUR WOUND IS BEING CAUTERISED. IT TAKES SIXTEEN DAYS TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN. YOU NEED HELP BATHING. YOU ARE WAITED ON. YOU ARE HELPED. YOU ARE VULNERABLE AND STUBBORN AND EMBARRASSED. YOU MISS EVELYN AND YOU JUST WANT TO GO HOME. YOU CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS. YOU HAVE NEVER RELIED ON ANYONE BUT DRAGON, AND NOW YOUR LIFE IS IN OTHER’S HANDS. YOU TRUST THESE PEOPLE, YOU LOVE THEM, BUT IT’S NOT RIGHT. YOU HATE THIS WEAKNESS OOZING OFF YOU. YOU FEEL LIKE YOURSELF AGAIN, SLOWLY BUT SURELY, AFTER THREE WEEKS. YOU ATTEND THE FUNERALS. THEY WAITED FOR YOU TO REGAIN YOURSELF BEFORE HOLDING THESE CEREMONIES. PARTICULARLY EVELYN’S: THEY ALL KNOW HOW YOU BOTH FELT. THEY THANK YOU. THEY THANK DRAGON. THEY DO NOT DENY THE ASSISTANCE YOU HAVE PROVIDED IN GRANTING THEIR LAND SAFETY. YOU APOLOGISE TO EVELYN’S SISTER, FEELING HER DEATH WAS YOUR FAULT. SHE ONLY SHAKES HER HEAD, CUPS YOUR FACE IN HER HANDS, TELLS YOU HOW MUCH EVELYN LOVED YOU, THE LIFE YOU BROUGHT. SHE BESTOWS YOU A silver necklace with a seven point star on the end. EVELYN FORGED IT FOR YOU, AND INTENDED TO GIVE IT TO YOU WHEN SHE COULD BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ADMIT HER FEELINGS. YOU ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO LEAVE. YOU HAVE SPENT MONTHS ON THIS ISLAND. FOUR FIGHTING, THREE FALLING AND LOSING LOVE. TWO REGAINING YOUR STRENGTH. YOU ARE WELL TO FLY AGAIN. YOU STAY ANOTHER FOUR.YOU FINALLY BID FAREWELL WITH A HEAVY HEART. YOU INTEND TO GO HOME. THERE IS TO BE NO MORE ADVENTURE. YOU JUST WANT YOUR MOTHER TO HOLD YOU.THE FINAL EXPERIENCE OF YOUR SOARING THROUGH THE SKIES IS SOLEMN. YOU DON’T SPEAK TO DRAGON AND SHE DOESN’T EXPECT YOU TO, MERELY RESTING YOUR HEAD ON HERS AND ALLOWING HER TO TAKE YOU HOME. YOU ARE ONLY A FEW HOURS FROM FAR FAR AWAY WHEN THE SMELL OF SMOKE ATTACKS. DRAGON FEELS IT TOO, SHE’S DARTING AROUND TO SEEK WHERE IT COMES FROM. YOU WANT TO GO HOME. BUT YOU CAN’T. DRAGON FOLLOWS THE SCENT AND YOU’RE fully ALERT. YOU QUICKLY SEE THE CAUSE. YOUR STOMACH DROPS. YOU’VE SEEN MUCH IN YOUR YEARS AND YET YOU CAN STILL BE SURPRISED BY THE sight OF DESTRUCTION. YOU AND DRAGON LAND, THE GROUND THUMPS, IT VIBRATES AND YOU ALMOST TOPPLE OVER. THERE ARE GIANTS IN THE AREA. YOU’VE FELT THIS BEFORE. FIRE BURNS AROUND YOU, THE TREES, THE HOUSES, THE TENTS. IT’S BARELY A VILLAGE YOU’VE LANDED IN. MORE OF A CAMPGROUND. IT’S A SMALL POPULATION. WAS. BUT IT SEEMED TRANQUIL ENOUGH. THREE WOMEN RUN OUT TO YOU. THEY SEE DRAGON, THEY SEE YOUR FACE, AND THEY BEG FOR HELP. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE THE ONLY SURVIVORS. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT. THE GIANTS ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK. YOU IMMEDIATELY ALLOW THEM ATOP DRAGON TO TAKE THEM HOME.YOU STOP. YOUR EARS PRICK UP. YOU HEAR CRYING IN THE FAR DISTANCE. THE SOUNDS OF A CHILD. YOU ASK DRAGON TO WAIT A MOMENT, AS YOU SPRINT, FOLLOWING THIS SOUND. YOUR STOMACH ACHES ALL OF A SUDDEN. YOU ALMOST FALL AS YOU HOLD YOUR STILL TENDER WOUND TIGHT. BUT THEN YOU SEE THE SOURCE. YOUR EYES WIDEN. YOU FALL TO YOUR KNEES, not from the pain THAT COMPASSES YOU. A BABY OGRE. A LITTLE GIRL. A LITTLE GIRL SURROUNDED BY THE BODIES OF WHAT YOU CAN ONLY ASSUME WERE HER PARENTS. HER LEG IS BADLY TWISTED. FOR A MOMENT YOU ARE ENTRANCED. BUT THEN THE SOUNDS FROM AFAR CONTINUE DRAWING NEARER, AND YOU WASTE NO TIME. YOU QUICKLY PICK HER UP AND FLEE THE SCENE. THE CHILD IS CRADLED IN YOUR ARMS AS YOU SPEAK TO THE SURVIVORS OF THE HORRIBLE MASSACRE.YOU RETURN HOME IN THE DEAD OF night. YOUR PARENTS GREET YOU IN EXCITEMENT BEFORE GAZING AT YOUR APPEARANCE. YOU ASK FOR YOUR MOTHER TO RETRIEVE HER HANDMAIDENS TO ASSIST THE THREE WOMEN. TO OFFER THEM A ROOM IN THE CASTLE AND GRANT THEM ANYTHING THEY DESIRE. YOU ASK YOUR FATHER IF HE STILL HAD THE CRADLE FROM WHEN YOU WERE A BABE. HE DOES. THE OGRE IS SET UP IN YOUR ROOM. YOU ATTEND TO THE INJURIES BEFORE LULLING HER TO SLEEP. YOU WILL ALLOW HER TO GAIN SOME STRENGTH AND HEALTH BEFORE PLACING HER IN THE ORPHANAGE at a later date.YOU ARE QUIET. YOUR FATHER VISITS YOU AS YOU SIT ON THE STEPS LEADING DOWN TO THE COURTYARD, FINGERS BRUSHING AGAINST THE NECKLACE YOU’VE NEVER TAKEN OFF. HE SITS BESIDE YOU. HE HOLDS YOUR HAND. HE DRAWS YOU NEAR AND YOU CRY INTO HIS CHEST. YOU TELL HIM OF EVELYN. YOU TELL HIM OF THE WAR. HE LISTENS AND HOLDS YOU CLOSE. YOU ARE AN OGRE RIGHT NOW, WHICH MEANS EVEN MORE. ONCE, HE COULD BARELY GAZE UPON YOU IN THIS APPEARANCE. NOW HE HOLDS YOU JUST AS TIGHT AS YOUR MOTHER DID THE DAY YOU WERE SENT TO THE TOWER. YOU FALL ASLEEP IN HIS ARMS, EXHAUSTED. WHEN YOU WAKE, IT’S MORNING OUT, AND HE HASN’T MOVED. YOUR BACK ACHES AND YOU APOLOGISE. HE KISSES YOUR FOREHEAD AND TELLS YOU TO COME ALONG FOR BREAKFAST. YOU ARE THINNER THAN YOU WERE WHEN YOU LEFT. YOU HAVE MORE SCARS. THAT ONE ON YOUR CHEEK NEVER FADED, STILL PROMINENT AS THE DAY YOU RECIEVED IT. NOW YOU ARE LITTERED WITH SCARS. YOU EAT PRIVATELY WITH YOUR PARENTS. YOU TELL THEM OF DRAITH, OF EVELYN, OF YOUR WOUND. BUT YOU ALSO TELL THEM OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS.YOU SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY WITH THE OGRE BABY. YOU FEEL A CONNECTION. IT’S EVIDENT. IT’S TRUE. IT’S GRAND. YOUR HEART DECIDES BEFORE YOUR MIND THAT SHE SHAN’T BE GOING TO THE ORPHANAGE. SHE IS YOURS TO CARE FOR. TO MOTHER. YOU HAVE FOUND A TRUE LOVE IN THIS LITTLE GIRL. YOU CALL HER FELICIA. YOU RAISE HER AS YOUR OWN. YOUR PARENTS ARE OVERJOYED TO HEAR THE SOUND OF A CHILD IN THE CASTLE ONCE MORE. YOU SEE THE REGRET ON THEIR FACES. YOU TELL THEM IT’S OKAY BEFORE THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO APOLOGISE.YOU ARE THIRTY SIX YEARS OLD.YOU CONTINUE YOUR LIFE IN PEACE, ALTHOUGH YOUR HEART CONTINUES TO TWIST AND ACHE FOR YOUR LOST LOVE. YOUR KINGDOM IS STILL THRIVING, AS ARE YOUR PEOPLE. DRAGON IS GETTING OLDER AND SHE DOES LESS FLYING. YOU ARE HAPPY SHE IS ALWAYS NEAR, BUT SAD HER WINGS AREN’T AS STRONG AS THEY ONCE WERE. SHE KEEPS THE KINGDOM WARM IN THEIR HARSH WINTERS.YOU ARE COURTED BY A PRINCESS DURING A BALL. ASTRIANNA. YOU DANCE WITH HER, YOU ALLOW HER TO WHISPER PLEASANTRIES AND AFFECTION INTO YOUR EAR. SHE DOES NOT FLINCH WHEN YOU TRANSFORM; NO ONE DOES ANYMORE. YOU ALLOW HER TO LEAD YOU AWAY FROM THE GUESTS, UP TO YOUR VERY CHAMBERS, AND YOU EXPERIENCE SOMETHING YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. IT WAS PLEASANT, EXCITING, AND WONDERFUL. YOU WAKE THE FOLLOWING MORNING COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO HER. SHE TRACES YOUR SCARS, KISSES THEM, AND HOLDS YOU CLOSE. YOU DRESS TOGETHER AND DINE FOR BREAKFAST ALONE. YOU LAUGH, YOU FEEL BEAUTIFUL. YOU FEEL GUILTY AT FIRST, BUT YOU KNOW EVELYN WOULD NOT WANT YOU THINKING SUCH A WAY. YOU CARE FOR HER, TRULY. YOU ARE INTIMATE TWICE MORE. SHE WILL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO YOU, BUT IT IS NOT LOVE. YOU SPEND THREE DAYS TOGETHER BEFORE SHE RETURNS TO HER KINGDOM AND YOU REMAIN FRIENDS. LETTERS ARE SENT. CONTACT NEVER DWINDLES.

YOU BECOME QUEEN AT THIRTY NINE. THERE IS A LARGE CEREMONY. YOU ARE RESPECTED. YOUR CHILD IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND YOU SEE HER FACE SHINING IN THE CROWD. YOU LEAD WITH GRACE AND WISDOM. YOU HAVE A FEW MORE COURTSHIPS, WITH MEN AND WOMEN. THEY NEVER TURN SERIOUS ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NICE WHILE THEY LAST. YOU DON’T THINK YOU WANT THEM TO LAST. YOU REMAIN FRIENDS. YOU HAVE MANY FRIENDS. YOU ARE A FIERCE PROTECTOR OF YOUR FAMILY AND KINGDOM. A FIERCE PROTECTOR OF YOUR HEART. DRAGON IS KNIGHTED. YOU ARE HAPPY. YOU ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME PERSON. WITHOUT YOUR CURSE YOU WOULD HAVE LIVED THINGS BY THE BOOK. YOU WOULD HAVE LIVED A FAIRY TALE PRINCESS. YOU ARE GRATEFUL.YOU ARE queen FIONA FAIREWAY.

welcome to dragonskept, an independent, private and mutually exclusive portrayal of princess fiona faireway, originally from the shrek franchise, rewritten into a mature fantasy based character. i claim no ownership of the original character nor any of her affiliations, but her rewritten story is completely my own creation, with only ties to her curse, kingdom, and some characters taken from the original source material. i have a lot of issues with how fiona was portrayed as the only main female out of her franchise, and as such, have absolutely no interest in writing that version of her. i will never write in the storylines of the original films, (we say fuck shrek in this household!!) this blog will be very sporadic activity, with my muse and energy depicting the time in which i’m active. i ask that you do not follow me if you’re under eighteen, and that you give me a few days to check out your blog should you follow first. please only follow if you are really interested in writing with me. i cannot stress this enough. if you only post gif sets and hardly any writing, i will not follow back. i understand we can’t all be writing every single day, but i do not want my feed flooded with blogs that i know i am unlikely to write with.i am mutually exclusive and if i follow you, it means i genuinely want to interact. i wish to maintain actual connections on this blog, rather than just be a follow count on someone's dash. if i follow first, and you have no interest in writing with me, please hardblock so i don’t accidentally follow you again. if we are mutuals for a month, and there has been no interaction i will softblock.this blog will feature triggering themes and they will always be tagged. cw / example. please ask if you need anything specifically noted. i hc fiona as omnisexual. i am open for shipping, but it’s not a priority on this blog due to my lack of interest and the fact that fiona is hard to ship with.

i adore crossovers and oc's! memes are the best way to interact – there is never any pressure to respond to asks i answer, but i highly encourage it if you're feeling up to it!! i also love plotting and certainly can go a little overboard if i get super excited about an idea. i only ask if that we plot, please do not leave me to do all the work. it is super tiring, and if you give me yes/no responses, i will most likely block you.in regards to face claims, i think it's pretty clear who we should and should not be using these days, so i'm not going to make a list of them. i only ask that if you use hayley atwell, do not follow me, as i personally had a horrible experience with her and do not want to see her face anywhere. fandom dni: billy hargrove, james moriarty, gossip girl muses, genderbent muses, harry potter muses, or 13 reasons why muses. if you have them on a multi, that's fine, i just won't interact with them.hello hello! thank you for taking the time out to read this! i'm frankie, and i'm super excited to be bringing fiona back to her own blog. some of you may remember me from my old blog, day8423 but stupid me forgot the email and had to start fresh! this blog is pretty low maintenance, as i'm here basically for just chill vibes!! i can also be found on jane ives the doctor and my multi muse!

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