Mushroom, Mushroom Title: Mushroom, Mushroom
Author: Amedia (amedia@fanfic.tv)
Word Count: 780
Rating: G
Summary: Glitch experiences side effects.
Note: Initially posted to my livejournal and to other lj communities.
Loosely inspired (after the end of the contest) by the mushroom picture prompt on the "tm_challenge" community; koslorollo, who had posted the prompt pictures, innocently wrote: I was just secretly wishing someone would write a musical Tin Man story with dancing mushrooms and a singing Wyatt Cain. Hehehe. And inspiration struck!
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Imagiquest Entertainment. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
"This will help to prepare your brain for the surgery," the doctor explained, swabbing the back of Glitch's neck as he leaned obediently forward.
"What's in it?" Glitch asked, interested.
"It's an extract from Moritanimycota Magica."
"That's a mushroom with magical psychotropic properties!" Glitch said, sitting upright abruptly.
"Yes, that's correct," she said calmly. "But among its neurological effects are some chemical transactions that will make it easier and safer to reconnect your brain."
"Will it cause hallucinations?" Glitch asked.
She nodded. "Probably mild ones. It should also slow your reflexes, so even if you hallucinate something dangerous, you won't actually be able to kill any of your friends."
"That's very comforting," Glitch said. "I appreciate your considering the consequences in such detail." He leaned forward again for the injection.
Walking back to his suite on the opposite side of the palace, he was alert, even hopeful for signs that he was hallucinating, but was sadly disappointed. The giant rutabagas standing guard outside the Queen's offices saluted as usual when he went past. The suns' light streaming through the arched windows of the Northern Cloister Walk was its normal orangey-purple. And the faint smell of cinnamon and nutmeg when he passed the physical plant was just what he was expecting when they were cleaning and oiling the machinery.
He opened the door to his suite and was greeted by a sight that truly astonished him. Wyatt Cain was arranging flowers in vases on the mantelpiece.
Okay, thought Glitch, this must be where the hallucination starts. "Wyatt?" he said aloud.
His arms full of gardenias, Cain turned around. "I meant to have these done before you got back," he said, looking slightly guilty. "It was DG's idea, but she had to go to magic lessons now. We thought they might cheer you up after your appointment."
Glitch beamed, relieved. "What a thoughtful idea," he said, coming into the room and looking around at the thousands of fragrant blossoms that covered every surface.
Well, except the area on the floor by the fireplace. Those aren't flowers, Glitch thought, puzzled. They're mushrooms! Magic mushrooms! Did they think it would make me feel *better* to remind me of my medicine? That didn't seem quite right.
Then he realized that that wasn't the mushrooms' purpose at all. They had all jumped out of their basket and were standing upright on the floor as if awaiting a signal. Wyatt took out a little pitchpipe and blew a note, the biggest mushroom cleared its throat, and then they all began to sing, with surprisingly high, piping little voices.
You're out of the woods
You're out of the dark
You're out of the night
Step into the sun, step into the light
They were doing a nifty little shuffle in time to the music, which Glitch supposed was as close to dancing as mushrooms could really get. Then to his amazement and delight, Cain slid out in front of them, coming to a perfect stop in the exact center and performing an elegant soft-shoe, wielding his top hat and cane like an expert. As the mushrooms came to the end of their song, Cain began his:
When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be kind of human
If I only had a heart
When he reached the end of the verse, the mushrooms broke in again with their little song while he did some more dancing. Glitch could not keep himself from clapping.
"You really like it?" Cain asked, stepping away from the fireplace.
"Oh, yes! You're not done yet, are you?" asked Glitch.
Cain looked around at the two vases on the mantel and the basket of autumn gourds on the floor beside the fireplace. "Um, well, yes, actually," he said.
Glitch looked disappointed, although Cain couldn't figure out why Glitch had been watching him put flowers into a vase with such rapt admiration.
"Where did your top hat and cane go?" Glitch asked, puzzled.
Ah, yes. They warned us about this, Cain remembered. He thought fast. "I put them in the rack with the poker and tongs," he said, pointing. "Why don't you lie down on the couch and take a nap?"
Glitch nodded, although Cain noticed that he made a point of brushing off the couch before he lay down, muttering about the petals staining his coat. "Will you sing to me again?" Glitch asked, closing his eyes.
Again? Cain thought, puzzled. He patted Glitch's cheek. "Someday, sweetheart, you're going to have to tell me what you just saw."
Glitch smiled. "It would blow your mind."
THE END
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