Swamp bats · Y/n story by @Hiamchloe

The swamp was quiet. The kind of quiet that came only after weeks of frantic preparation, when every last gourd had been polished and every last banner strung between the cypress trees.

Shrek

grunts, nodding to himself Not bad. Not bad at all.

Fiona

emerging from the cottage, wiping her hands on a dishrag The kids are still asleep. Donkey's out back trying to convince the birds to form a choir.

Shrek

He's been at that since sunrise. The birds look terrified.

Fiona

smiles, moving to stand beside him It's beautiful, Shrek. Really.

Donkey

trotting up, breathless Beautiful? Beautiful?! It's a miracle! A festival-grade miracle! I'm talking banner-worthy, pie-baking, song-singing—

Shrek

Donkey.

Donkey

—I'm just saying, if anyone deserves a parade, it's these trees. And me. Mostly me.

They laughed. For a moment, the swamp felt full of light.

Shrek

WHAT IN THE NAME OF—

The orchard was still. Too still. The trees stood in neat rows, leaves rustling gently in the breeze. But every single fruit—every pear, every plum, every glistening apple—hung shriveled and gray, drained of color, of juice, of life. Dozens of them. Hundreds, maybe.

Fiona

running out, skidding to a halt Shrek? Shrek, what—freezes

Donkey

from somewhere behind them, voice cracking Uh. Uh-oh. That's a lot of uh-oh.

Puss in Boots

leaping onto a fencepost, eyes wide This was not the work of a simple thief. No one steals fruit and leaves it behind.

Shrek

stepping closer, bending to inspect a shriveled apple They didn't take it. They drained it.

A long pause.

Donkey

Okay, so, just checking—does anyone else feel like we're about to be the main course at a very weird dinner party?