READER IMAGINES [1]

Here is part two of my last Artie x Reader. Please enjoy!

Dt: @Duskwolftail @Ashword369 @Hiyori1403 @Nyla76 @MarilouDouca I5g8j2o0 ChibiOkami HighComix Allikat123 @ShadowclawStudio88

Word count: 7,403

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The last time you participated in Mr Merlin's 'journey to the soul', you had seen white paper which had been burned. Apparently that meant that you had lack of empathy, which didn't seem right, but you made a joke out of it by pretending that it was directed at the two school geeks. That's probably what started one of their nosebleeds.

This time around you don't think anything of value will come out of what you'll see, but after Donkey told you about the way you look at Artie you're scared something might get lost in interpretation. You had never even considered Artie as anything more than a friend, but now you're uncertain. It sucks to feel this way.

Mr Merlin lights up a campfire and everyone sits on the logs around it. Shrek sits further away from everyone on his own log, while you instinctively sit next to Artie. Donkey gives you a look from across the campfire and you look away.

"Now," Mr Merlin begins, "all of you look into the fire of truth and tell me what you see!"

He throws what you believe to be some sort of cosmic dust (or maybe it's just dirt and that's what he calls it) into the campfire with a native chant. A gust of flames erupt into the air with a overhanging smoke cloud. Donkey, Puss and Shrek lean away from the heat. You and Artie would as well, but you're used to it.

"Ooh, charades!" Donkey suddenly chimes, "Ok, I see a... a Dutch fudge torte with cinnamon swirls!"

You try not to laugh as Puss shakes his head.

"Ok, monster. Go for it." Mr Merlin encourages Shrek.

Shrek sighs and leans in to look into the flames. His facial expression transitions from furrowed eyebrows to a shocked expression, and now he's trying to blow out the fire. When that fails and Mr Merlin gives him a look, Shrek awkwardly laughs.

"I see a rainbow pony." He lies.

"Excellent work!" Mr Merlin exclaims.

"I wonder what it means." You say.

Shrek gives you a half glare, half plead with his eyes. You smile and then shrug your shoulders.

"Indeed. I know the symbolic term of every colour, but to have an entire rainbow... absolutely astonishing!" Mr Merlin beams.

"I think (Y/n) should go next." Shrek says.

This time you're the one to give him the half glare, half plead expression. Shrek just shrugs his shoulders with a smile; mimicking you from before. You sigh and look into the flames.

At first, nothing happens. You're almost relieved at the thought that there's nothing, but then the smoke twists into an image that takes you a while to recognise.

"I see a shell... an oyster shell." You explain, "It's closed. Not doing anything."

Suddenly the oyster shell begins to rattle and you describe what you're seeing.