User:The Dunkman/sandbox/Shrek!

Shrek! is a humorous fantasy picture book illustrated and published by author and cartoonist William Steig, the book follows a repugnant green monster who leaves home to see the world and ends up marrying an ugly princess. The book served as the basis for the 2001 film of the same name and spawned a franchise which was met with positive reception.

Plot
Shrek is a repugnant, green-skinned, fire-breathing, seemingly indestructible monster who enjoys causing misery with his repulsiveness. After his parents decide that he must see the world, they (literally) kick him out of their swamp. Shrek soon encounters a witch, who, in exchange for his rare lice, reads his fortune: using the magic words "Apple Strudel", he will be taken by donkey to a castle, where he will battle a knight and marry a princess who is even uglier than him.

Excitedly on his way, Shrek encounters a scything peasant from whom he steals and eats his pheasant, counters an attack from thunder, lightning and rain by eating lightning's fiercest bolt, and knocks out a dragon with his fiery breath. While resting, he is disturbed by a nightmare in which he is helpless to being hugged and kissed by a multitude of children. Awakening, he meets the donkey, who takes him to the Nutty Knight of Crazy Castle.

The Knight is offended by Shrek's demands to see the princess and attacks him, to which Shrek responds with a fire blast that sends him into the surrounding moat. Inside the castle, Shrek is terrified when he appears to be surrounded by an army of similarly hideous creatures, but regains his resolve and self-esteem upon discovering that he is in the hall of mirrors. He finally meets the princess; mutually smitten by their shared ugliness, they marry and live "horribly ever after, scaring the socks off all who fell afoul of them".