Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been 2 weeks since Magnifico was defeated. Trapped in a crystal hanging somewhere in a dungeon.

Simon tried not to think about the former King too much. All it did was make him feel worse then he already felt.

He was known for falling asleep a lot. But ever since……..what he did, he's been having trouble sleeping.

And when he did manage to sleep, he was plagued by nightmares.

Of Magnifico. Of the green chains. Of his friends hating him forever.

And of Asha…

…His sword…

He shook his head frantically to get the unpleasant image out of his head. And he tried to focus on what he was doing.

Helping Safi gather eggs. Luckily Safi didn't notice him zoning out for a bit. The allergy ridden boy too distracted with a daredevil-ish chicken named Camilla.

Something which he'd consider weird in the past, but a living star, talking goat and a giant chicken changes a person's definition of weird.

“Okay, listen. You can either be shot out of a cannon, or do a musical number. But you can't do both!” Safi informed the daredevil diva.

Simon raised his brow in confusion of catching the end of that conversation.

Safi then looked thoughtful. “Or can you?”

While Camilla clucked in conformation she definitely can, Simon cleared his throat and caught Safi’s attention.

“My basket’s full. Need any more help or can I bring these to Dahlia?” The larger boy asked, showing his basket of eggs.

“Oh you can take those to Dahlia. I'll handle the rest!” Safi assured him.

Simon nodded and got up. Moving to leave but stopping himself. “Are you sure you don't need more help?”

“I can handle it, I'll be fine, you go!” Safi urged him on as Camilla started pulling on his scarf.

“Right. I'll just…go, then.” Simon said. Wondering how much of Safi wanting him to go was because of him, and what was because of the prissy poultry.

Either way he walked out of the coop to the kitchen, where Dahlia was pouring batter in a pan.

She spotted Simon with a full basket. “Ooh! Perfect! You can put those on the counter there!” She pointed to where and he followed her instructions.

“Once this cake is in the oven I can work on the cookie batter.” She explained.

She looked over her ingredients. “Actually can you get me 2 eggs and put them with the rest?”

Simon followed Dahlia’s slightly frantic requests. Whenever she was baking, she really got in the zone.

“There you go. Do you need anything else?” He asked hopefully.

The baker looked around to see if she needed anything. “The only thing I need from you…is to taste test later.” She said with a grin.

She turned to set the cakepan in the oven.

“Are you sure? Really don't need anything else?”

Dahlia faced him, a hint of concern on her face. “No, not anything I can't do myself.” She said.

“Oh. Okay.” Simon looked dissapointed.

“Is everything okay Simon? No offense but your eyebags have gotten larger. Have you been sleeping well?” Dahlia started interrogating him.

She was always one of the more observant in the group. She was also very much a “mom friend” (Dario coined the term.)

Simon didn't want her to worry. “I'm fine. Really, I'm just. Restless I guess?” He lied.

Dahlia didn't look entirely convinced. But brushed it off.

“Well, I think you should take a nap. I know Bazeema worked hard to set up a nice spot for you in the hideout.”

The hideout is where Bazeema used to go to hide away when things got too much for her.

After they used it to plan the downfall of…Him, they turned it into a hangout spot for all of them.

Bazeema assured them it was okay, and that she already found a new spot to hide.

Simon still didn't feel comfortable there.

Everytime they came there it reminded him of how he wasn't there when Bazeema revealed it. And why he wasn't there.

Still, he didn't wanna hurt his friends feelings by not going with them. And Bazeema had worked hard to make it comfortable for everyone.

Of course she didn't know how Simon felt about it. None of them did.

“...Simon? Simon!” Dahlia snapped him back to attention. He was lost in thought again.

She looked at him in concern. “Are you sure you're okay?”

Simon shook his head. “I'm fine. But, I do think I need a nap.”

He moved to leave. “I'll uh, go to the hideout.”

He lied.

“...Okay, I'll bring over some cookies later.” She said as he left.

He wasn't going to the hideout. He'd just tell them he fell asleep somewhere and couldn't make it if they asked.

Instead he made his way to the forest.

Back to the place he finally woke up from his nightmare…

Chapter Text

Rosas was bustling with activity.

Ever since the people got their wishes back, a lot of their creativity returned too.

The streets were filled with music and laughter, people running around working to fulfill their wish, and 2 teens trying to navigate the busy city while trying not to drop their stuff.

“Is it bad I kinda miss the old Rosas?” Safi asked as they walked.

“Well, I mean, there's pros and cons to everything.” Dahlia said. “The pros being the happier people, cons being the increased foot traffic. Careful!” She stopped him as a few kids ran in front of them.

“Thanks. Actually, I know a-ano-ah-ah-ah-ach-OO!” He sneezed as the kids were followed by an eager baby cow.

Dahlia offered a tissue. “Animal fur?”

Safi nodded. “Why can't they just have feathers! I'm not allergic to those!”

Dahlia patted his back in sympathy. “There there, I'm sure Asha has already been thinking of ways to magic away your allergies.”

Safi looked worried. “Uhm, no offense to Asha. But I think I'll wait on getting her magic help for a while.”

The baker nodded in understanding. “Mh, yeah I don't blame you for that. But on the upside our trees are looking much more fashionable.” She joked.

Asha had been practicing her magic a lot. But for some reason the only thing she's been able to do with consistency is making dresses for trees. Don't ask why.

The 2 teens finally made it to the hideout, sneaking through one of the secret entrances.

Following the wall of torches until they got to the main hangout spot.

Where they found Bazeema trying to free Dario from the hanging curtains, a knocked over ladder, and Gabo holding his head in his hands and sighing.

After a minute of silence Dahlia spoke up. “Do I want to know?”

“Yes!” “No!” “Uhm…” Came 3 different responses.

Safi wordlessly grabbed the bundles of baked goods from Dahlia and set them on the table as Dahlia went to help. “Seriously. How? Why?”

Then, a small bundle of light popped out of the folds of the curtains, looking sheepish.

“Star and I were playing tag!” Dario explained.

“You mean you 2 were running around making a mess!” Gabo explained.

“You left footprints on the table, knocked over our mini-Rosas and completely messed up Simon's napping spot!” The grumpier friend revealed.

Dahlia shook her head in exasperation. “Seriously? I swear you 2 are a dangerous combo.”

“...well, at least Valentino wasn't here too…” Bazeema pointed out.

Gabo shuddered in fright. That goat was a force of destruction if left alone too long.

“And Simon slept through it all?” Dahlia inquired.

Gabo looked confused. “What do you mean? Simon isn't here.”

“What?” Dahlia looked confused as Dario got untangled and dropped to the floor.

“Didn't he leave before us?” Safi asked from the table, where he was wiping away Dario's footprints.

“Well he hasn't been here today.” Gabo said. Dahlia turned to Bazeema, who also shook her head. “I haven't seen him. And I've been here since this morning.”

“That's weird.” Dahlia said. “He said he was gonna be here earlier.”

“Ooh! Maybe he fell asleep on the way!” Dario offered as he got off from the ground.

Star handed him back his hat which had fallen off.

“I don't think so…” Dahlia said thoughtfully.

Her train of thought was interrupted as the final 2 members (+1) of their group walked in.

Asha's hair was sparkling and floating upwards comically.

She dragged a rope with her, Valentino at the other end, also floating and sparkly.

Hal was trying her best not to laugh out loud as she walked behind them.

Asha gripped her wand and looked annoyed.

“Not. A. Word.”

She tied her end of the rope to a chair and Valentino stayed floating there. Star flew over and examined the flying goat.

“Well, now I finally understand why you like doing this so much.” Valentino said as he flipped upside down, Star giggled.

Asha sat down and put her head down on the table. Her braids still floating.

She groaned in frustration.

Dario had joined Hal in quiet giggling, Gabo and Bazeema looked bewildered.

Dahlia looked concerned.

“Cookie?” Safi offered from the bundle.

Asha looked up and at the cookie. It was the shape of Star. Who was currently pretending to be a Clownfish and treating Asha's hair as an anenome.

“Aww, cute.” Asha cooed.

The rest of the group sat down at the table as Dahlia helped Safi with the cookies.

“I've been trying new designs. I didn't even realize how bored I got of frosting Magnifico’s face every time.” Dahlia said.

Star grabbed a cookie and showed Valentino a cookie of the goat’s likeness, Valentino, still being upside down, didn't get it. “That. Is the ugliest turtle I've ever seen.”

“Thank you for this Dahlia, I really needed a pick-me-up like this.” Asha said before biting into her Star cookie.

“Then you'll love this one. I made it special for you.” She revealed a cookie in the shape of, and frosted like Asha's head.

“For the true Wish granter of Rosas!” She presented.

The group ooh-ed and aw-ed as Asha smiled. “Dahlia. That's so sweet! You didn't have to do this!”

“And I did it anyway. Now eat!” She urged her on.

Asha was about to do so but noticed something. “Hey, where's Simon?”

“Well, he was supposed to be here. But apparently he didn't show up.” Dahlia said.

The others that had been there re-confirmed they hadn't seen him.

“Truthfully, I'm worried about him. I don't think he's been sleeping well.” Dahlia revealed.

“Isn't he usually always asleep when he's here though?” Gabo pointed out.

Valentino piped up, as he liked to do. “Oh no, he hasn't been sleeping at all!”

The group looked confused at the little goat. “He just lays down with his eyes closed and pretends to sleep!” He clarified.

“Wait what?” “Why would he do that?” “How did you know!?”

“Guys!” Asha cuts in and addresses them all.

“We gotta find him.”