Shrek The Third: The Would Be King & I [Book 3]

Chapter 04: We've Finally Arrived!

Chapter 04: We've Finally Arrived!

*Willow's/Anastasia's POV*

"Princess Anastasia of Swan Lake, in order for you to break the spell, similar to that of the 'Happily Ever After' potion, you must receive true love's kiss by midnight on the next anniversary of your birth." Fairy Godmother chuckled. "Which just so happens to be in less than a month from now, if I do remember correctly, just as the seasons begin to change. You'll be, what? 17?
Oh, how to be young again!"

This nightmare again?

"If you fail to receive true love's kiss, you shall suffer the same fate as your family and kingdom, and remain frozen for all eternity!"

Why do I keep having this nightmare?

The purple magic was too quick for even Zero to deflect because it literally zoomed past him and hit me directly in the middle of my chest.

I closed my eyes from the pain and fell backwards from the impact. "Agh!"

Why does it hurt so much?

"Anastasia!!" Aunt Lillian and uncle Harold yelled at the same time.

"Willow!!" Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona yelled together.

"We've got you, Willow."

"Willow!"

I screamed and sat up straight and started breathing heavily. I could feel someone shaking my shoulders. "Willow? Willow, calm down." I took deep breaths in and out trying to calm myself down. "Are you okay?"

I sat up and placed a hand over my face. "Th-The spell...F-Fairy Godmother..."

"You've been having nightmares about it, haven't you?" Zero asked, or more like said.

I released a sigh and nodded slowly. "It's been happening a lot these last couple of weeks. It's like it's giving me a sad reminder of what will happen if I don't end up breaking the spell and can't free my family and the kingdom..."

Zero hummed in thought and helped me stand up. "Instead of thinking of it as a nightmare, think of it as a sort of motivation for you."

I walked over to the side of the boat and sighed while leaning my arms on the wooden railing. "I wish I didn't have this curse put on me in the first place. That way, I wouldn't have to rush to find someone to love and take my time with it how ever long I want to. You know I had the worst luck when it came to getting a boyfriend before. All the boys at school were-"

"Assholes?"

I nodded. "Yep, to put it politely. Not a single one of them wanted to talk to me or try to be my friend because I was the 'lonely nerd who had no friends', just as the rumours said."

Zero leaned his back against the railing and nudged me playfully. "Ah, come on, don't beat yourself up about it. They had the chance to become your friend, but they decided to be a bunch of assholes about it instead. It's not your fault that they decided that for themselves."

"Look, maybe this Prince Arthur dude is different? But if he turns out to be an arrogant piece of ass, then I won't hesitate to knock some sense into him for hurting my best friend."

I chuckled and shoved him playfully. "Aw, look at you getting all sentimental and stuff. But thanks, Zero. I mean it. I'm glad you and Alice stuck by me since day one."