Chapter Text
“ The world is a cruel, cruel place, you know. ”
Dandy remembered how often he would speak to Pebble alone in his room.
“ We’ve been left here for decades, Pebble, and not once has anyone come back for us. Trains come by, but they never stop here. ”
The rocky dog simply whined in response, cuddling his floral friend.
Dandy wished he could do something.
And eventually, he found a way to.
“ The ichor is a strange substance... but it will save us. No more sad thoughts if you can’t think at all... ”
It was all Dandy could think about. He wanted to help. He wanted to give joy where only stress and sadness reigned.
He didn’t notice the fear in their eyes.
He didn’t hear their pleas, nor did he see their turmoil; the effort that went into saving their friends – well, at the time, he thought they were overreacting – it went nowhere if he was around. And yet no one had thought to trace this back to him, no matter how calm he was... they just thought he was oblivious.
They were right, but not for the reason they thought.
It was only after he had gotten everyone that he began to really think.
---
Wandering around Gardenview was very difficult today.
Sprout and Cosmo were in the kitchen, yes, but they weren’t bantering all friendly like normal. They were snarling at each other, standoffish – Dandy had even been so nice as to give them matching ichor injuries and yet they fought. Oh well, he thought.
Goob and Scraps were asleep in the hallway. They were violent sleep-kickers. Not today. Not for the past month or so, actually. Oh well, Dandy thought.
Toodles was normally bothering Rodger at this time of day, or she was asleep. Instead, she was holding the capsule he was lodged in like the dog plush she had loved so dearly when she was awake. She snarled at Glisten when he walked by. Oh well...
Wait, Glisten flinched.
Dandy had then remembered that Glisten had too strong of a heart to be completely taken by the ichor. He decided to walk up to him.
“ So. ”
“ AH! ” He shrunk back onto the floor. “ NO MORE, PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE! ”
“ Relax, glitter boy. ” Dandy helped him up, though the mirror didn’t appreciate the touch. “ I just wanted to ask; don’t you think it’s a bit depressing today...? ”
“ Of course it’s depressing, everyone is DEAD! You fucking killed them all. " Glisten spat back.
“ What? What are you talking about? ”
“ I’m talking about the endless screaming, constant FEAR FOR OUR LIVES because of the ichor. But I figured it out, it was YOU who did this to us, I- I SHOULD FUCKING KILL YOU! ”
“ WAIT- WAIT. WAIT! ” He rubbed his temples. “ You said they were dead? ”
“ Oh, I guess you’ve REALLY lost it. Go to either one of the craft twins and check their pulse. ”
Confused severely, Dandy went to the sleeping Scraps. He slowly put two fingers against her neck. Nothing. Not a single beat.
“ The only thing keeping us alive is the ichor, Dandy. ”
He was horrified, stepping back. “ ...no, that’s- ”
“ Do you see now what you’ve done? ”
“ I- I just- ”
Glisten walked to him, his eye a deeper red than before. “ You are a fucking murderer. ”
“ FUCK, I JUST WANTED US TO BE HAPPY! ”
The resounding echo of the flower’s voice not only woke Scraps and Goob but attracted several of the others.
“ I- I didn’t mean-... ” He began to cry. His knees buckled and down he went. “ I just wanted you guys to stop being sad, and stressed, and- and so hopeless... So I thought if all the thinking stopped- ”
“ Dandy... ”
He looked up at the half-living beauty king.
“ That is such a stupid reason. "
He looked around as Glisten spoke, breathing heavier and heavier.
“ You seriously didn’t ever stop to think about the REASON why we would stop thinking? ”
He shook his head, closing his eyes to stop the tears.
“ Oh, for God’s-... ” He looked around, growling at the others to scare them away as he sat next to Dandy. “ Well. You’ve achieved our thoughtlessness at least. ”
He muttered to himself as Glisten went on; “ So, why are you crying? Your project is complete. They’ve forgotten everything. All the pain they endured... before AND during the operation. They’ve also forgotten all their happiness. They forgot who these people are, they forgot why they’re here, they forgot why their eyes sting with tears when they see you. "
“ Everything...? ”
“ Everything. "
“ I have t- ” His eyes fluttered, and he shook his head. He felt as if he was about to pass out. He killed his friends. “ Hell...- ugh, I gotta- ”
Glisten picked him up, bringing him to a trash can. He wondered why until he began to gag. Glisten had predicted that – out of panic - he would vomit, and he had.
“ Now what do you plan to do? ”
“ I... don't- ” Again, he threw up.
“ Take your time. ”
It took him until noon to think of a plan.
“ Well... Glisten? "
“ Yes, Dandy? ”
“ I’ve... decided I’ll find a way to reverse this. ”
“ But... you do know they’re only ‘alive’ because of the ichor? ”
“ I’ll find something. I have to- I NEED to. "
He stood, taking Glisten’s hand as he did. “ I’ll do something... ”
---
The center had a few phones, but not much aside from that in the way of communication. They also had a mailbox, so children could send letters to the Toons. Dandy wondered if he could do something with the mail.
Though he doubted anyone would come check it. So, he decided he’d try to find a way to get to the outside world. Eventually, he got to Boxten’s computer and booted it on. Thankfully there was no password required.
He Googled a few things and found the city hall’s email. In an email, he requested someone to come down to Gardenview to talk.
He wouldn’t get a reply until it was time for dinner. He hadn’t eaten all day thanks to guilt. Still, he breathed a breath of relief. The reply stated that they would send some of the old Handlers there, and if needed, some police officers. That was more than enough. Until then, he had to find ways to heal everyone...
Dandy stayed up late trying to find ways to heal the others. When he finally looked up, it was 11:10. And then, he’d decided he would make a wish.
Wishes were sacred to the Toons. That wasn’t even something from their cartoon roots. It was proven to them by their time at Gardenview.
So, when 11:11 hit, he closed his eyes and made a wish.
I wish that I could undo the damage I’ve done. Whatever setback this wish has for me; I’ll take it. I just want them to be happy, no matter what happens to me.
When he opened his eyes, he watched the number change to 11:12.
He yawned, deciding it was time for bed. Sleepily, he dragged himself to his own room.
Dandy let the grief set in as he laid in his bed. He had taken their lives. He turned to his side, facing the wall, and began to cry. He missed Shelly. He somehow missed Vee, and he missed Sprout. He missed Pebble. The most tears came when he thought of Astro.
He missed his moon worst of all.