Shrek and Princess Fiona are set to succeed the dying King Harold, but Shrek's attempts to serve as the Regent during the King's medical leave end in disaster. He insists that an ogre as king isn't ideal and that there must be someone else. Before he dies, Harold tells Shrek of another heir: his nephew, Arthur "Artie" Pendragon. Meanwhile, Prince Charming vows to become King of Far Far Away and avenge the death of his mother, the Fairy Godmother. Charming goes to the Poison Apple tavern and persuades fairy tale villains to fight for their "happily ever after".