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Astro always envied humans.
Especially, the humans that worked at Gardenview.
Astro was a toon, he was meant for entertaining children, and he believed that he did a good job. While, he might have been more introverted than his fellow toons, he was still always there to lend a hand, and always had tons of fun dream stories that he could ramble on about for hours.
Some of the dream stories he had couldn't be told, not only out of the privacy of his friends, but also since certain dreams could be quite scary for the young ones.
Astro never liked seeing his friends have nightmares.
He tried his best to prevent that from happening, however he couldn't give everyone a good night's sleep every night. Even if he tried his hardest. He had only been around for a few years physically, even if he was mentally an adult, he was still adjusting to life, and getting used to his powers.
Sometimes, nightmares slipped by him.
It was always an honest accident. He would never actually give someone a nightmare on purpose.
... Sure, he had thought about it before. However, he would never go through with it. No matter how mad he was at a toon, he knew it wasn't worth stooping down to such petty tactics. Plus, his anger always faded quickly, he couldn't stay mad at his friends for long.
On top of trying to save his friends from nightmares while coming up with dreams they would like, plus entertaining the kids, he also had to get a good night's rest.
Sleeping was never hard for Astro, he slept all the time, everywhere and anywhere.
He was almost like a cat.
He would sometimes even fall asleep on the really high shelves.
How he got up there was always a mystery, even to himself.
Though, despite how easy sleep came to him. Pleasant dreams didn't follow. In fact, he had nightmares quite a lot. That's why he had to take the time to give himself good dreams as well, or else he would end up with nightmares.
Astro didn't mind nightmares if it meant the rest of his friends could sleep peacefully, however that wasn't what it meant. Whenever Astro would have nightmares, it would slip into his friend's dream subconsciously.
Life was never fair.
Astro really needs to be able to better control his powers.
Humans on the other hand, were very different from toons.
Humans had no one to give them good or bad dreams, their dreams were simply left up to faith.
Some people had nightmares, some people didn't.
There was no real way to determine who would and wouldn't get a nightmare. There was no way to give someone a good dream that night. You just had to hope.
He supposes that's why humans always wish each other sweet dreams when they are headed to bed.
It was a nice saying, but meaningless at the end of the day.
This wasn't the reason why Astro envied humans, no.
If anything, Astro feels like humans should envy toons for this fact. While Astro may not be perfect with his dream abilities, he still does a pretty good job. A much better job than faith does.
That being said though, humans having to deal with nightmares was a low price to pay for everything that they got in return, that the toons didn't.
Humans had independence, humans were allowed to go outside.
Humans were able to vote, humans were able to pick out what they wanted to wear that day, humans were able to buy what they wanted, humans were able to choose their friends.
Humans could go outside. Humans could play in the flowers, Humans could run around outside and play sports together, humans could go riding on a bike. However, most important of all, humans could go see fireworks.
Today was The Fourth Of July, a holiday were America celebrated it's freedom. Astro found it interesting that he had to participate in the festivities, despite not being free. It was most certainly a human holiday.
Though they still let the toons participate, in most activities that is. They had decorated the lobby, they played games together, and colored in coloring pages, they did trivia on the history of America, and they all were able to eat burgers and hotdogs for dinner.
Made generously by Sprout, and Cosmo.
Even the Holiday toons were allowed in on the fun.
For others it might have seemed fun or like a great day, though Astro wasn't too sure about that. He found most of today boring and dull.
The only Fourth Of July festivity that he wanted to participate in was watching the fireworks.
He overheard the toon handlers talking about it earlier today. There was a firework show going on later tonight, at the baseball stadium.
Though, he wasn't allowed to come.
He wasn't allowed outside at all, he knew this very well.
It shouldn't have hurt as much as it did, after all he was never allowed outside, why would colorful gumpower change that? However, he still felt hurt, disappointed even.
He was currently in his room, right near the window, squinting his eyes, trying his hardest to see even a glimpse of a firework.
He heard them going off, yet he couldn't see them. It was a shame really.
The toon's were allowed windows, though they didn't show the toons much of the world, only a small amount.
Most of the toons were okay with this set up. Quite a lot of them didn't want to go outside at all, which was fair considering how scary the humans made it sound. Though, the stories didn't stop Astro from wanting to go outside.
Even if it was just for a few minutes to see the fireworks. That would've been enough.
Astro let out a heavy sigh, before standing up and walking away from the window, he headed over towards his bed. This was pointless he wasn't gonna see any fireworks.
Yet, before he could lay down he heard a loud crashing noise and a yelp.
It sounded like Dandy's voice.
Astro flung up and headed outside of his room.
The toons were not allowed outside of their rooms after ten at night, however Astro couldn't just stay put if one of his friends were potentially in danger.
The noise came from the supply closet that was at the end of the hall of the main's room.
Astro walked over towards it, and opened it.
The closet was rather large, and was filled to the brim with lots of clutter. The lights were on, which was unusual, and several of the boxes were opened, or were out of place.
There Dandy laid on the floor, an empty cardboard box on top of his head. The contents of the box were spilled onto Dandy's body, cords tangled around him. It was quite a ridiculous sight. Astro had to bite back a laugh.
Astro walked over towards Dandy and pull the box off of him, then Astro sat down at the floor with Dandy, and started to untangle the wires, slowly. Making sure that he didn't end up getting them more tangled or hurting Dandy.
< "Hehe, thanks Astro!"
Dandy muttered, a nervous chuckle came out of him.
Astro hummed in response.
< "It's no problem, what are friends for after all!"
Astro responded, smiling at Dandy.
Dandy smiled back at him.
Astro finished untangling the wires, and Dandy was able to get up, and brush himself off.
< "Dandy, if I may ask, what were you doing in here?"
Astro asked Dandy. Astro was a little suspicious if he was being honest. No one was supposed to be outside of their rooms after curfew, Dandy knew that. On top of that, it was clear that Dandy was looking for something, as a majority of the boxes were opened.
Dandy's smile turned into more of a smirk.
He put a finger up to his mouth.
< "You promise not to tell anyone?"
He asked.
Astro nodded, Astro then put one of his finger up to his own mouth, mimicking Dandy.
This was normal between the two of them. There were quite a few secrets, that only the two of them could share together.
Dandy pushed a box over towards Astro. Astro looked in the box.
The box contained fireworks.
The fireworks varied in size, shape, and color. The box was overflown with them. They were clearly supposed to be for a big celebration.
< "Fireworks? In the closet? Isn't that sort of dangerous?"
Astro asked Dandy.
Astro's mind instantly went to the safety of others, like always.
Dandy simply shrugged.
He didn't seem as bothered as Astro was.
< "I'm not sure, they haven't exploded yet though."
Dandy stated.
Astro supposed that if the humans and Dandy were not concerned about it, that it most likely wasn't an issue.
He tried to just brush his worries aside.
< "Alright, then. Why were you looking for fireworks?"
Astro was confused, why was Dandy looking for fireworks?
< "Now hear me out fully before you pass judgement,"
Dandy started off his explanation with a caution warning. Astro was sure that this wasn't gonna be good.
< "You know how they plan on setting off fireworks at the stadium? Well, what if we put off our own fireworks?"
Dandy suggested.
Astro's intuition was right. This wasn't going to be good at all.
< "Dandy, if we set off fireworks, we'll set the building on fire."
Astro deadpanned.
< "No, Astro, we wouldn't set them off inside, we would set them off outside!"
Dandy explained.
Astro's eyes widened at that.
< "You're not... You're not suggesting we go outside, are you?"
Astro asked, despite the fact that it was just the two of them together in a soundproof room, Astro's voice was quiet. Almost a mutter.
Astro couldn't believe what he was hearing.
< "It's late, Astro. Everyone's asleep. There's a window in the kitchen, it's big enough for us to sneak though, no one would notice."
Dandy tried to convince Astro.
Astro thought about it for a few minutes. He really did want to see the fireworks after all, and he did want to go outside, yet when it became real instead of just a fantasy, he started to feel nervous, sick even.
< "...Surely they'll hear the fireworks."
Astro tried to point out. Afterall, fireworks were really loud. Humans had sensitive ears.
< "C'mon Astro, everyone is setting off fireworks tonight. They won't realize it's us."
Dandy responsed, and honestly, he had a good response. Astro considered it.
< "Yeah, but what happens when they come looking in the closet for their fireworks and they're gone?"
Astro asked another question.
It seemed like Astro had a million of them at this point.
< "These fireworks have been in here for a while. They won't come looking for now!"
Dandy reasoned.
Astro had finally ran dry of questions.
Astro took a long pause, before finally nodded at Dandy.
< "Alright, let's do it."
Astro agreed.
Dandy's smile grew, he clapped his hand together.
< "Yippee!"
He exclaimed.
Astro could help but smile at how excited and how cute Dandy was.
Astro picked up the box using his magic. Dandy then grabbed on of his hands, and lead him downstairs to the kitchen.
The two of them were careful to be quiet on the steps. The humans should all be in bed, or have gone home already, however they didn't wanna take any chances.
They made it to the window, just fine. No interruptions.
Dandy opened the window, and without even a hesitation, he leaped out of it. It was a tiny jump, one that Dandy and Astro could easily make without getting hurt.
Dandy turned around and looked up at Astro, he was smiling and signaling for Astro to jump down.
Astro looked out the window. There was grass under where Dandy was standing. Real grass, not fake grass. There were flowers around the grass growing peacefully. There were a few tall trees that grew behind Dandy. The leaves of the trees and the flowers blew back and forth in the wind.
The wind blew on Astro.
Astro closed his eyes, and leaped out of the window, falling to the ground with Dandy.
It took Astro a few minutes to open back up his eyes again, but when he did, he liked what he saw.
It was so amazing to finally be outside, in real life nature. He wasn't seeing it from a window, nor was he seeing a fake version of it, no. This time is was real, and was right next to him.
< "... I can't believe it, we're actually outside!"
Astro exclaimed.
< "I know, it's awesome right?"
Dandy followed Astro's energy.
< "Yes, it is."
Astro agreed with Dandy. A permanent relaxed and genuine smile on his face.
The two of them stood there together, for a few minutes. Silence washed over them, the only thing they could hear was the breeze blowing back and forth.
It was very nice.
< "I suppose we should go light the fireworks now."
Dandy said, breaking the silence.
< "Huh?"
Astro said, it was like as if Astro was broken out of a trance, at those words.
< "Yeah, that's what we came to do, right?"
Dandy asked, Astro nodded.
< "Right, so were should we set them off? We'll start a fire if we set them off here."
Astro was correct, there were a lot of trees. A fire was bound to start if they set off the fireworks there.
< "Follow me, dear!"
Dandy exclaimed, before running east. Astro blushed at being called dear by Dandy, but he quickly brushed it off, and followed behind his friend.
Dandy led Astro out to the Gardenview parking lot, it was empty. There was no one, nor any cars there.
< "We can set them off here!"
Dandy exclaimed. Astro nodded. Astro sat the box down.
Dandy went over to the box and took out a firework.
< "You wanna go first?"
Dandy asked Astro.
Astro nodded.
Dandy handed the firework over to Astro and Astro walked far away from Dandy, out in the middle of the parking lot.
He sat down the firework, and used his magic to lit a flame. Dandy had a match that came in the box, though Astro never missed an opportunity to test out and show off his magic.
Astro then ran away from the firework, back to Dandy. He looked up.
The firework sprung into action, flying upwards and then exploding into color.
Astro was amazed by the sight, he had never seen such a thing before. He stood there taking in the sight, even after it had faded.
Once Astro was done with his amazement, he looked over towards Dandy. Dandy had the same expression on his face as Astro did.
< "It's your turn now."
Astro told Dandy. Dandy quickly ran over to the box to grab a firework, his excitement very visable.
He did the same thing that Astro did, however he lit the firework with a match, instead of magic, and then he ran back to Astro to watch the firework explode with him.
It was even better the second time.
They went on like this for a while, Astro would light one, and then Dandy would light one, and so fourth.
Each time was more magical and amazing than the last.
The two of them had to have been out there for at least an hour.
Until, finally they had ran out of fireworks.
< "Well, that's all them! Did you have fun?"
Dandy asked Astro, after the last one had exploded.
Astro turned to Dandy.
< "Yeah, I did. Tonight was really nice."
Astro said.
Dandy smiled and giggled.
< "You wanna know what would make this night ever better~?"
Dandy asked.
Astro smiled and giggled as well.
< "What, Dandy?"
Astro asked in return.
< "You know what!"
Dandy said in a singing tone.
Astro giggled some more, before he grabbed Dandy's face and leaned in, giving Dandy a smooch.
Dandy leaned into it, happily.
The two of them broke away after a few seconds, and then erupted into giggles.
It was so childish, yet, Astro couldn't think of a better way to spend his night.
Tonight was probably the best night in his entire life. No movie marathon or sleepover could top this!
Though, all good things had to come to an end.
The two of them then crawled back into Gardenview using the window that they came out of. They walked back upstairs to the main's bedroom, and wished each other a good night. Astro gave Dandy another kiss before they went their separate ways, this time it was smaller, but it still meant the world to the two of them.
Astro headed into his room, and laid down. He pulled the blankets that he had overtop of him.
He smiled to himself, he was filled with such a joy, that he had never felt before.
He slept well that night.