Twisted Fairytales: Part 26 (Shrek)
Summary: In a world where those with magic are hated, Cedric lives alone in solitude. Per a deal with King Vali, Cedric heads out to rescue a princess from a tower. But the princess is not all she seems.
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Many years ago, magic was hated. Once, it had brought wonder to the world—but tragedy had followed in its wake, and the rulers of the kingdoms, fearful of its power, declared it forbidden. Any creature touched by magic—be they caster, shapeshifter, immortal, angel, demon, or fae—was shunned, reviled, or worse.

In a forest untouched by men, where the trees whispered secrets and the rivers shimmered with moonlight, there lived a man named Cedric. He was a powerful caster, though few ever saw him, for he preferred solitude. His hair was black save for a streak of white, the remnant of a spell gone awry in his youth, and his golden eyes glimmered with secrets. His only companion was Wormwood, a sleek raven who knew him better than anyone dared. Cedric’s home was a tower of branches and enchantments, built to protect him from the world that feared his kind.

But solitude rarely lasts in stories such as these.

The kingdoms had fallen under the rule of King Vali, a man whose golden eyes were glamored to appear blue, whose smile promised grandeur, and whose heart… promised nothing but cruelty. Vali saw the world as a painting, and in his mind, every subject had a place: beautiful princesses, brave princes, and valiant heroes. Everyone else—the animal sidekicks, fairy godmothers, villains, tricksters, and monsters—were pests to be banished.

And banished they were. They fled. They hid. Many found refuge in Cedric’s enchanted forest.

Cedric’s patience wore thin. His home, once peaceful, teemed with those Vali had cast out. Furious, he swore he would go to the kingdom, demand that Vali remove them, and reclaim his solitude.

He would not go alone.

Jasper, an unendowed but clever tracker, agreed to guide him. He was tall and thin, with near-perfect hair and glasses perched on his nose, the kind of man who noticed everything others overlooked. Pandora, a mischievous illusionist with split-dyed black and purple hair and freckles sprinkled across her fair cheeks, insisted on coming too. She wore every shade of purple she could find and soon developed a rather conspicuous crush on Jasper.

When Cedric, Jasper, and Pandora reached Vali’s kingdom, the king attempted to dispose of Cedric with a band of loyal guards. The fight was brief. Cedric and Pandora, in tandem, dispatched them with ease. Vali watched, intrigued rather than fearful.

“Perhaps we can make a deal,” Vali said, his voice smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. “Bring me the princess Nova, imprisoned in a tower beyond these lands, and I will see that your… unwanted guests are removed from your forest.”

Cedric, who trusted no one but Wormwood, agreed, more out of duty to his home than loyalty to Vali. And so, they set out.

The journey was far from ordinary. Along the way, they met Seth, a blond, silver-eyed werewolf with a voice as loud as his heart was kind. He was brash and excitable, a stark contrast to Cedric’s dry wit, but he joined willingly. Lunabelle, a soft-spoken empath with dark blue hair and silver eyes, who could heal both body and soul, followed soon after.

When they reached the tower, they expected a fearsome dragon guarding Nova. Instead, they found Callista, a dragon shapeshifter whose scales shimmered like diamonds in the sun. She did not attack. She protected. And she had a secret crush on Seth.

It was Nova herself who surprised them most. She was no ordinary princess: sassy, defiant, funny, and armed with a sword sharper than any soldier’s blade. She had been taught to fear magic, to think herself a monster because of it, and she hid her true power, reserving it only for the night when the sun dipped below the horizon. There, beneath the stars, she became a caster of unmatched strength.

As they traveled back toward the kingdom, Cedric and Nova grew close. She teased him, argued with him, and, most dangerously, made him laugh—a sound he rarely indulged.

One night, under a sky glittering with stars, Nova’s power revealed itself. Seth and Pandora were awed, and both promised to keep her secret. Cedric, however, overheard only fragments and believed the princess shared the prejudice of her kind—that she saw him as a monster.

The party returned to the kingdom. Vali, growing impatient and fearful of losing his grip, prepared to marry Nova to solidify his rule. But Seth and Pandora quickly revealed the truth of Nova’s power to Cedric, who realized his mistake. They rushed to stop the wedding.

In the great hall, with banners fluttering and courtiers gasping, Nova raised her hands. Magic surged, golden and silver light entwined, revealing her true self to the kingdom. Vali’s glamor shattered, exposing the dark, cruel king beneath. Shadows clashed with fire, illusions dissolved, and in the end, Callista delivered the final, decisive blow.

The kingdom fell silent. The threat was gone. And in that moment of triumph, Cedric and Nova could finally reveal the truth they had long kept hidden in their hearts. Their love was theirs, fierce and undeniable.

That same day, they were married. Joy and laughter filled the air as Seth and Callista followed suit, sealing the bonds of friendship and love forged on a journey of danger, magic, and discovery.

And so, in a land where magic had been feared, love, courage, and the strength of those who dared to be themselves restored wonder to the world once more.