I Need A Hero

Chapter 2: Time to Face the Change

Time can change me, but I can't change time.

This line kept repeating in the back of Shrek's head as he guided his onion carriage away from his children's school. They were colder than usual, giving him no thanks as they scrambled out onto the entrance path of Swamp Hills High. They knew something was wrong. They'd have to be blind and deaf not to notice the distance between their mother and father. I can't keep doing this, Shrek screamed silently. I'm tearing my family apart. 

He couldn't take it. At the fork in the road, he turned left instead of right. He had to go see him. He had laid with him late until in the night just hours ago, staring up at the stars. But he had to go back. He couldn't stand to go back to his swamp alone. Even the cicadas were silent.

He thought back to the night they first met, months ago, back at the Centaur Lounge. The dream was like a reoccurring movie, playing the moment of love-at-first-sight every night, as if on a loop. His hand touching Shrek's back. Shrek turning his head, confused yet still tipsily entranced by the night.

"Excuse me, but what is a man like you doing here?" The voice asked. 

He was half chiseled man, half chocolate-brown stallion. His face looked straight out of a cologne ad. Curls of brown locks covered his hair, slightly covering his honey-hued eyes. His pink lips were slightly ajar, exposing his glistening, pearly whites. His jaw looked as though it could cut glass.

"I...I-" Shrek stuttered, confused and blushing. He was afraid this man noticed he was out of place. It was his first night here, and he clearly didn't fit in.

"I can't believe I'm face-to-face with the ogre who single-handedly defeated Fairy Godmother."

Shrek smiled and looked down at his hands. Was he...complimenting him?

"Well...it was a group effort" He offered. He had no idea what to say, he been approached by countless people, but this particular instance felt different.

The centaur's hand slowly slid down to the middle of Shrek's back.

"And humble too. A man like that deserves another drink, on the house. Cynthia, get this man another..."

"Mudtini" Shrek politely contributed.

The waitress nodded and got to work. 

The centaur moved to Shrek's right, resting his elbow on the bar counter. Shrek was desperately trying not to blush. Was he flirting with him? No, he was too good-looking.

"So it's Shrek, right?" the beautiful creature asked him.

Shrek nodded, and as he did Cynthia came back with his drink, garnished with his favorite green crawler worms.

"And you are?" Shrek asked, trying to hold on to the shred of confidence he had left in him. What was going on with him? He had never felt like this before.

"Tony. Tony Thoroughbred " he said with a smile, extending his hairy, yet also beautiful arm.

Shrek shook it, and instantly felt an electric current run throughout his body.

Tony's golden eyes glistened as they locked gazes.

 "So tell me more about yourself, Shrek"

The horses stopped with a clatter. He was here. Slowly climbing out of his carriage, he bent down to pluck the flowering weeds he saw growing next to the oak in front of him. Flowers in hand, he slowly made his way down to the entrance, and through the rows. And rows. It seemed like an hour had gone by when he finally approached his destination.

"Tony Thoroughbred"

 The grey tombstone felt cold as he placed the flowers against it's base. 

"Hi Tony" Shrek whispered with tears welling up in his eyes. 

He laid down next to the stone, resting his hands behind his shiny head. "How are you today?"