Outside by the carriage, Fiona held Fergus and Farkle in a gentle headlock, one under each arm, kissing back and forth on their heads. The boys playfully struggled to escape their affectionate mother until she finally released them, tears shining in her eyes. She reached out and gently lifted their chins.

"My beautiful boys."

"We'll be fine, mom! Relax!" Farkle said.

"Yeah, it's just school! We'll be back home for the holidays anyway," Fergus added.

"Oh, and laundry!"

"And food!"

Felicia watched the exchange from the threshold of the front door; the horse and coachman already prepared for departure. She felt her dad's hand rest on her shoulder and looked up.

"Everything alright?" Shrek asked.

"Oh! Yeah! Yeah, totally," she stammered.

Shrek squatted down to her level. "It's okay to be nervous. If it helps, I'm nervous too."

"I'm not nervous!" Felicia said a bit too loudly, her tone defensive. "And why are you nervous?"

"Well, this is all new to me too," he said with a small smile. "Not to undermine what you're feeling, of course, but your mom and I are in this with you. You're our kids, and we want you to have the best life. When I look at you sometimes, I still see wee babies." He took both of Felicia's hands in his. "No matter what happens at high school, as long as you try your best, your mom and I will be so proud of you."

Felicia leaned in and hugged her dad. Still in his embrace, she asked quietly, "But will I be good enough?"

"Oh, Felicia," he said softly. "You already are."

She stayed in her father's embrace until Fergus's voice broke the silence. "Felicia! We gotta go!"

She let go of her dad, picked up her final suitcase, and walked toward the carriage where her mom waited to say goodbye.

Fiona opened her arms, and Felicia gratefully stepped into the hug.

"You're going to do amazing things! I just know it!" her mother said optimistically. She pulled back, gently tucking hair away from Felicia's face. "My wonderful girl."

Out of habit, Felicia bowed her head, and Fiona kissed the top of it before stepping aside to give her room to board.

Felicia tossed in her suitcase and took one last look at the swamp.

"Get in!" Farkle grumbled. "We're going to be late for extracurricular sign-ups!"

Felicia rolled her eyes, the moment gone, and climbed into the carriage beside Fergus. Fiona signaled the coachman, and the carriage rolled away.

Shrek and Fiona waved from their home, and the triplets waved back until they disappeared from view. The journey to Worcestershire Academy had officially begun, and there was no turning back.

Almost immediately, Fergus began poking fun at his brother. "Extracurriculars? Like what, chess club?"

"Well, sure! Who knows what there'll be?" Farkle replied, eyes gleaming. "Chess, astronomy, book club—"

He noticed Fergus's cheeky grin and slumped back in his seat. "Oh. Sarcasm. That was sarcasm."

"Well, you know," Felicia said, "sports count as extracurriculars too. It'd be a shame if you missed tryouts for the jousting team."

Fergus's eyes went wide. "Driver!" he yelled. "Crank that horsepower!"

The whip cracked, the horse neighed, and the carriage picked up speed.

"I hope I get a good roommate," Farkle said.

"I heard since we're half-royal, we get our own rooms," Fergus replied.

"Well, I guess no roommate is better than being stuck with you," Farkle said, leaning over to punch his brother's arm.

Fergus clutched his chest dramatically. "You'd rather room alone than with me? The brother you've roomed with for fourteen years?!"

"Yeah, 'cause you stink!"

"You stink!"

"You both stink!" Felicia interjected, sending all three into laughter.

The rest of the carriage ride passed in much the same way, idle chatter and bickering, or sleeping, until they reached the Far Far Away boat docks.

The carriage stopped, and they boarded one of King Arthur's private ships reserved for Shrek's family. After three days and nights at sea, and enduring Fergus's relentless seasickness, they docked at Pepperdell, where another carriage awaited them to finish the journey to the Academy.

As they neared their destination, it felt like a dream. The Academy appeared over the horizon, growing larger with every passing moment. Its tall gray stone structure and courtyard greeted them through open iron gates. Crossing the drawbridge, they saw the campus was flooded with students.

The courtyard buzzed with excitement and nerves. Some students were unpacking and saying their goodbyes, while others laughed and reunited with friends. Teachers and assistants rushed about, attempting, unsuccessfully, to keep things organized.

The carriage stopped at the main entrance. The triplets hopped down and grabbed their luggage. Before they could even blink, the carriage pulled away, leaving them surrounded by bags and boxes.

They stared at one another, unsure what to do next. Felicia scanned the campus and spotted a girl standing in the middle of the yard wearing a school uniform, holding a clipboard and a large satchel.

Felicia approached her. "Excuse me?"

The girl yelped and jumped back. It wasn't the first time Felicia's ogre appearance startled someone, and it likely wouldn't be the last.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," the girl said, clearing her throat and regaining composure. "Thou startled me. Are you a freshman?"

"Yeah, me and my brothers," Felicia said, pointing to Fergus and Farkle, who were testing how many bags they could hold at once.

"Oh, how wonderful! Welcome to Worcestershire Academy! You're going to love it here!" she said in the perkiest voice Felicia had ever heard, and she knew Snow White. "Name?"

"I'm Felicia Evergreen, and these are my brothers, Fergus and Farkle."

The girl flipped through her clipboard. "Ah! Perfect!" She rummaged through her satchel and pulled out three folder packets, each labeled with a name. From a side pocket, she retrieved three maroon keychains embossed with a golden crown on one side and a gold W on the other.

"These packets contain everything you'll need. Class schedules, extracurriculars, maps, rules, library hours, and more. These keychains identify you as royal, which means private rooms. Take them up yonder stairs to Admissions, and they'll get you settled with rooms and uniforms."

Felicia accepted the items, feeling slightly overwhelmed. "Thanks. We'll do that."

"Good luck this year!" the girl said with a wave.

Felicia returned to her brothers and handed them their things. "We need to take these inside for rooms and uniforms."

"Ugh. Uniforms," Fergus groaned.

"You literally wear uniforms for sports."

"Oh. Yeah."

They lifted their luggage and shuffled into the Admissions office, joining a short line. When they dropped their boxes, a few students ahead glanced back and the noise, eyeing them curiously before resuming hushed conversations. Felicia scoffed.

"Prejudice against ogres and fairy-tale creatures is so last century," Farkle said with a smirk. Felicia smiled. At least she wouldn't be completely alone here.

By the time they reached the desk, her fears eased. Looking at their schedules, she and her brothers shared every freshman class. 

The man behind the counter gestured to their schedules. "As you can see, each day includes one free period. This may be used for study sessions, additional approved classes, or whatever else you high schoolers do in your spare time."

As he spoke, a stout woman measured each of them with a tape and returned moments later with brown bags of uniforms.

The man flipped to the extracurricular page. "These are our after-school offerings. Attendance at tryouts or first sessions is required to secure placement."

Farkle gasped. "The chess club has tryouts?! They must be pro-level!"

"And jousting tryouts are this weekend!" Fergus added, shaking his brother. "I gotta prepare if I'm gonna be a superstar!"

The man cleared his throat. The boys straightened instantly. Felicia fought a smile.

He handed them back the keychains, now fitted with golden keys. "Your rooms are located in the Royal Wing on the upper floors. Each of you has a private room. I trust you'll read the dormitory policies," he said sternly. "You are free to go. If you need assistance, the marching band can help with your bags."

He gestured to a hallway where several exhausted-looking students stood.

The triplets thanked him, hoisted their bags themselves, and headed for the dorms.

Felicia parted ways with her brothers at the girls' wing, promising to meet for dinner. After climbing three flights of stairs, she unlocked her door and stepped into a lavish dorm room.

Gray brick walls surrounded her, and a stained-glass window overlooked a grassy field bordered by woods. Inside stood a queen-sized bed dressed in maroon and navy blankets, two dressers, a side table with a lamp, a fireplace, and her own private bathing chamber.

She loved it instantly.

Felicia spent the evening unpacking and decorating, hardly noticing time pass until a knock came at her door. Her brothers stood outside, loudly complaining about hunger.

"Well, do you know where the dining quarters are?" she asked.

"You seriously think we don't know where food is?" Fergus said confidently, leading the way. Farkle nudged Felicia and pointed to the map tucked in hand, just to be safe.

As they headed downstairs, Felicia passed a room where someone's eyes seemed to peer at her through a partially open door. She stopped and looked back, but no one was there.

She shook off the feeling and continued on.