.-.-. Ways of the Ancients .-.-.


(A/N)- Thanks for all the reviews:-D Enjoy (if you can) ;-)

Chapter 3- In The Wagon


Cain and Tik Tok talked a while as Cain drove, and it was discovered that Tik Tok knew Cain's grandfather. They chatted away for a while, since Cain mentioned he didn't know his grandfather for too long- he died when Cain was only three annuals old. So Tik Tok, happy to have another person to talk to, was all too happy to tell him how his grandfather was like. DG listened to them for a while but her thoughts drifted as she watched the scenery go by.

She felt bad about the way she treated Glitch and all, but he deserved it, in a way. She knew it was all because of the surgery, but lately he had gotten worse. It's as if he had glitches and didn't bother to fight them. The subject of marriage probably brought it on. What he didn't understand was that she was nervous too, scared even. She feared marriage because she was afraid it would change their relationship. And already, it had.

"Kid," Cain called, bringing her to her senses, "Get in the back."

"Why?"

"Instinct. I don't like this area."

She looked around. Not a soul was in sight as they drove along a dirt road through a forest. "I don't see anyone …"

"I'm your guardian," he reminded, "Get in the back."

She sighed. It was probably a tactic of his to get her to talk to Glitch. He probably noticed that she and he would normally be cuddling and for one- she would be back there with him and not in the front seat. She dreaded going back there for fear he'd probably fight with her, and she was too tired to deal with that.

Reluctantly, she climbed into the back as Tik Tok said to Cain, "You're her guardian? You remind me of how the Tin Man was like to Dorothy Gale."

DG looked over curiously, wanting to hear this. She glanced at Glitch, who was leaning on the back wall, looking out the window flap that he folded up a little. She seated herself behind the front passenger seat as Cain answered, "I am a Tin Man."

Tik Tok's emerald eyes widened, "But you are not made of tin!" he said, astonished. DG couldn't help but giggle.

"That's what they call the police officers around here- Tin Men."

"Hmm," he murmured, "Well the Tin Man that guarded Dorothy Gale was made of real tin. He became king of the Winkies but when his son took over he returned to the castle."

"If he was made of tin, how did he have a son?" DG asked, shocked.

He turned to her, "Glinda used her magic to give him one. She gave the Scarecrow one as well."

"So I'm the great grandson of Glinda?" Glitch asked suddenly. DG looked at him, and when their eyes met, his gaze immediately fell to the floor.

"No, you're the great grandson of the Scarecrow and the Patchwork girl." Tik Tok corrected.

"But … how?" DG asked, confused. If they weren't human and Glinda gave them a baby, but it wasn't hers … was it created out of thin air or something?

Tik Tok chuckled, "I have never fully understood the ways of magic. I just accept it for what it is."

DG tried to make sense of it all, but found she was agreeing with Tik Tok, and deciding that she should just take it as it was. But then … she couldn't help but wonder …

"Who was my great great grandfather then?" she asked, "The husband of Dorothy. Who was he?"

"Dorothy Gale married Kiki Aru of Mount Munch,"

DG couldn't help it- it sounded so funny that she burst out into laughter, but quickly covered her mouth. Tik Tok didn't seem offended, he simply said with a chuckle, "Laugh if you must, Princess- you're blood related."

Glitch was trying to hide his laughter and blushed deeply when DG saw this, and he looked away, fighting back his amusement. She didn't mind though- it did sound rather silly. Cain had even laughed as well.

The drive there took longer than expected because some of the forest had been restored to create a boundary between Finaqua and the rest of the O.Z. Cain grumpily decided to drive around it rather than go through, for he realized that Tik Tok wouldn't be able to keep up even if he could make it through the hills, jagged rocks, and trees.

DG listened to Cain and Tik Tok's conversations, occasionally glancing over at Glitch. Glitch kept his eyes out the window, arms folded, making him look more like a stubborn child. He avoided her gaze but she knew that he knew she was watching him. His frown deepened each time.

Eventually, Glitch had fallen asleep. She thought he was pretending, but if he was he was really getting into it. He was slumped to the side, mouth agape, and she wasn't surprised if he would start drooling.

As the others talked, she crept across through the quilts that covered the floor of the wagon. She watched him as she snuggled beside him, carefully resting the palm of her hand against his chest. He stirred a little, smacked his lips and relaxed again with a deep breath. Instinctively his hand reached over and relaxed over hers. She looked up to him, hoping for that instant that he had awoken, but he remained fast asleep, a soft smile playing on his lips.

He couldn't still be mad at her then … it must be hard, she thought, trying to cope with two halves of his brain becoming one. She'd been stressing him out lately. Perhaps she allowed the memories of them to come back too quick … it seemed too much for him to handle. And though they both loved each other with all their hearts … marriage scared them. She saw it in her self too; she may have punched Glitch for being disrespectful towards her new friend, but part of that anger she unleashed upon him must've had something to do with the frustration she was experiencing due to this whole marriage thing. Why were they so stressed? They weren't being forced to wed. Perhaps it was simply the topic that hung around too much in the air. They both wanted it, or at least, she knew she wanted it, but she just didn't feel ready. Not yet.

She rested there with him for awhile, but she didn't want him waking up and freaking out. Thankfully, Cain announced that they had arrived, and she promptly removed herself from him and mere seconds later he stirred, rubbing his eyes.

She stood, taking Tik Tok's hand as Cain parked and jumped out of the truck. She led him to the back and asked quietly to Glitch, avoiding his eyes, "Can you open the hatch?"

He was silent a moment, but he soon reached down and unhooked the latch, accidentally letting the ramp drop down with a long bang. Cain had come around back, looked down, and back up at Glitch again with a short nod, "Nice one."

He meant it to be kidding but Glitch was in no mood to kid. He just stared sourly off to the side as Tik Tok waddled his way past him down the ramp. Cain gave DG a questioning look, but DG simply shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"You comin'?" Cain asked, for Glitch just stood there. He finally walked down the ramp, hands in his pocket as he focused on his feet while he walked. DG was already further off now, talking to Tik Tok about how much he'll like to meet her family, and about how pleased they would be to meet him.

"Hey," Cain said, touching Glitch's arm as he walked past. Glitch looked up at him darkly, but acknowledged him.

"You okay?" he asked.

Glitch looked back down and nodded, and followed the others off to the castle. Cain sighed and shook his head before lifting up the ramp and locking it.


(A/N)- Kiki Aru and Mount Munch don't belong to me, sadly. They're an unlikely couple but they're about the same age so I just figured … :) Didn't pair Scarecrow with Dorothy for a reason. Review please!