"In their Shoes"
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this stories (Really I wish that I would own them, but alas they're not mine) All rights belong to RHI Entertainment, Sci- Fi Channel, the writers of Tin Man and the Sprit of L. Frank Baum. The other characters of this story belong to the Spirit of William Shakespeare. And finally I don´t own the lyrics and the song mentioned in Chapter 4 , it´s from the movie The Princess and the Frog so all rights belong to the creators and to Disney .
Author's Note: Yesterday I read "Midsummer Night's Dream" after some time and this is what inspired this confusing little story. I hope that you like it. It's not one of my usual Cain/Glitch stories. There is no romance but a lots of friendship. I hope you enjoy it ^^ This story is dedicated to my dearest darling Aloysious, who is always a big help and support. And I want to add that I know that someone on here once posted a story based on A Midsummer Night's dream, but I want to underline that I didn't steal any ideas for my story is totally different (except that it´s based on the same story ) and I didn't even read the story of this person completely (sorry for that, it's my lack of time).
Prologue or What you have to know first: This story takes place after the happenings of the movie and after the defeat of the Witch. One year has passed and our friends are on their way to Finaqua where the Queen, Ahamo, Azkadellia and Jeb are already waiting for them. They were wandering through the woods and now have lost their way. They have to make camp in the forest. Glitch and Cain are nervous-wrecks, D.G. is over challenged with her arguing friends and Raw isn't much of a help with his mind-reading (I hope that you will get into this story very fast, I'm sorry for this lousy Prologue.)
Act 1 Scene 1 (In the Forest) Our friends have lost their way and now they´re stuck at a clearing.
"You have no idea how it is to forget everything!" Glitch yelled at Cain.
"No, I don't that is true but at least I don't call myself "tour guide" if I know that I won't be able find the way because of my lousy brain!" Cain yelled back.
They were lost, or at least they had lost their way to Finaqua. For the big summer ball the Queen had decided to move to Finaqua and after a long argument, with D.G., she had allowed her youngest daughter to catch up with her friends whenever she felt like attending a ball. This was the second time that she was visiting Finaqua after her return and neither D.G. nor her friends were a hundred percent sure where to go. Glitch had appointed himself "tour guide" and so the Queen hadn't feared to let them follow someone who knew the way. Now D.G. regretted her decision not to travel with somebody more appropriate. She didn't want to hurt Glitch's feelings but everybody could see that he had no idea where they were and none of them wanted to sleep under the trees. But it was too late, night was coming and so she had to deal with an angry Tin Man, a confused advisor and a nervous Seer.
"At least its better than wearing a gown," she thought.
"You're a pain in the ass, do you know that Cain?! Do you know that Cain? Do you know …" with a soft nudge D.G. stopped the glitching and the advisor nodded in response.
"Thanks doll," he whispered.
"You have no idea!" Cain answered and stared at Glitch with anger in his eyes.
"Now let us stop this childish behavior and think," D.G interrupted her friends.
"But he CAN`T think, that is why we're in this situation kid. I accept that he's babbling nonsense, I accept this annoying repeating all the time. I even accept this never-ending smile.
But now we're standing in the forest, without tents we just have a covered cart with food and blankets and HE is responsible for it! I don't even understand why no one was against all this," Cain snorted and kicked against a tree.
The Tin Man was angry and D.G. could understand him, but he offended one of her friends and she couldn´t let him do this.
"Because they understand me," Glitch interrupted her thoughts. She whirled around and looked into the watery eyes of her shaggy friend.
"What is he talking about now?" Cain threw his hands into the air and shook his head.
"I mean that they trust me because they believe in me and they understand me. That's why they let me be the tour-guide. Trust that is something that you don´t know!" Glitch whimpered.
"Head-case don't get me wrong but I trusted people and did it help me? NO!" Cain started.
"Yeah but ..." Glitch interrupted.
"So shut the hell up and help me to find some wood. I'm afraid that we have to make camp here, tomorrow we´ll find a way out but until then I don't want to freeze to death." the Tin Man answered with a dry voice and Glitch jumped to his orders.
Both had been very strange lately, but D.G. thought that she knew the reason. Cain was annoyed by Glitch's clumsy behavior and Glitch was whiny because he couldn´t be reunited with his brain. Plus he didn't understand why the Tin Man was still so cold and dismissive, after he finally was reunited with his son. Now the two of them had left she and Raw alone to seek some wood, not even thinking to ask if the princess wanted to spend the night in the forest.
And there she stood now, freezing and without any other protection than the calm seer. Theatrically she sat down on a chopped tree trunk crossing her arms in front of her chest. She wanted to pout but felt that she was too old for pouting. She couldn't believe that they had ignored her and that they had left without paying attention to Raw and her. Her fuzzy friend stood next to her, his palm finding its place on her shoulder. An uncomfortable feeling started to build up in her body and she pulled her shoulder away.
"Raw stop it!" she shouted without noticing how loud she really was. The Viewer looked at her in shock and surprise, now she realized what she had done.
"I'm sorry, it's just that this mind reading thing is..." she stammered.
"Uncomfortable. Raw know," her friend replied.
"Would you mind if we just talk?" she asked although she knew that she had hurt his feelings.
"Raw not good at talking, that's why reading thoughts," Raw answered and D.G. looked at him in confusion.
"But that is not true, you aren't dumb Raw! I bet you can talk with me! You know some things are private and there are people who don't like to be read like a book, you understand?" the princess laid her hand on her friends cheek and stroked over the sad face.
"Nobody understands what Raw really does ... Reads feelings, reads wishes, can help because he sees heart," the Viewer answered.
"But can't you read, um, the heart by listening to my words?" she asked him in response but her friend shook his head.
"That is sad, but I wish you would understand us humans as well. We're not used to thought-reading and some people don't even want to be touched. I'm sorry I can't let you read my thoughts. I was only thinking of Glitch's and Cain's stupid behavior anyway," D.G. sighed and let go of his cheek.
For more than 20 minutes everything was silent but then D.G. could hear the arrival of her still arguing friends.
"Was it my fault that they took out my brain, huh? What about that Tin Man?"Glitch yelled, carrying some huge branches.
"And was it my fault that this stinking Zero locked me up in this Tin Suit? Zipperhead I guess we both have our issues, but I'm the one who doesn't harm other people with these issues of mine!" the Tin Man yelled back. They were still arguing about this stupid old stuff D.G. couldn't believe it.
"Guys could you please promise me something and stop!" she moaned and finally her friends paid attention to her.
"Not until Cain accepts that he's gruff, rude, offensive and heartless!" the ex-advisor pouted.
"And not until this Headcase here accepts that he's a clumsy, annoying, nerve-racking, IDIOT!" Cain added.
Both men were in a rage and D.G. didn't know what to say. How could they be so mean to each other? They were friends, friends didn't do such things. She threw her hands up in horror and sighed.
"ENOUGH!" she said. "You need a break, I want you to be silent now! Cain, you go and light a fire and Glitch you help me get the blankets from our covered cart. I don´t want to hear you talk until we will break camp again. Do you understand me?" she added with a firm tone and both Glitch and Cain nodded in astonishment.
"Good, come Glitch I need you now," D.G smiled and let the two other men light a fire.
When night had come, the four friends had all calmed down and near the campfire they all had soon fall asleep. None of them noticed that two men, or men-like creatures were observing them.