> Fire and Valley Lilies > by Comrade Bagel Muffin > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Fireworks > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky lit up with another streak of red as though the small layer of smoke another red explosion was seen. Four more streaks of differing color soon followed whistling as the danced across the sky before they erupted into the glittering display color popping and fizzling against the backdrop of night. Crazy Pyromaniac’s smiled grew broader and bolder as more and more of his fireworks began to scream and whistle as they left their canisters. Though, semantically and technically speaking they weren’t his, that could surely be overlooked if one saw just how beautiful the display of colors were. He’d been sure to be extra sneaky, when pilfering them back from the guard’s contraband office. He lit the fuse to the rest of the fireworks every firework show needed a grand finale. “I swear to all that’s good and right, I’m going to tan that boys hide!” Winged Shield hollered “Uh-oh.” He perked up listening trying to see if he could hear the sounds of his foster fathers looking for him. Sure, enough he could hear several bushes ruffling not to far away from him. He took the time that he had and began scurrying up a tree, with any luck he’d be hidden in the branches and still able to watch as his impromptu grand finale lit up the sky. “He’s around here somewhere. Come out this instant you little hooligan you are so getting a grounding for this!” “Come on kid your firework show’s already woken up half the town.” Duty Bound's voice called out the voice of reason and assurance of not being sprayed with the yard hose. “Hey look sparklers,” Loyal Heart said. “Those aren’t sparklers those are fuses, which mean that he’s around here somewhere.” Crazy Pyromaniac got down as low as he could to the branch that he was resting on. “Get down here now and I’ll only spray you down once with the garden hose.” “That’s great and all but those fuses are getting kind of short should you cut th-“ “You’re going to be mopping the floor with a toothbrush! Get out here this instant!” “Eight. Seven. Six.” “What are you counting down for?” There was a pause in which Crazy imagined both his other foster father pointing to the firework mortars. “CRAP hit the De-“ was all that was said before the rest of the fireworks went off. The sky erupted in brilliant colors. The predawn sky was in that one moment turned into his canvas and his crayons had been replaced with controlled low-yield explosives. The firework display formed a cake with little glowing orb fire works forming a “16” above it and “Happy B-Day Lily” below it all in light blue and white, Lily’s favorite colors. “Huh, guess it is Lily’s birthday.” “Who is Lily?” “Crazy’s little fillyfriend.” “No she’s not she’s just a filly in my class that I really like! Uh-oh.” “There you are little twirp!” “No I’m uh over there quickly I’m getting away!” He pointed in a random direction before jumping out of the tree and galloping as fast as he could the opposite direction. Despite not having wings or magic he was able to get a good lead on three of his four care takers. Before he could even wonder where Batty was he was tackled to the ground. The bat pony hugged him "Aw Crazy that is the cutest birthday card ever. I'm sure your fillyfriend will absolutely love it. You little charmer you oh! I'm sure you made her very happy." "But she's not my fillyfriend." "There you are excellent work Batty, Crazy you're grounded forever!" Winged Shield said. "No he's not he's getting cookies, for being a very thoughtful coltfriend." "But I'm not, though I do want cookies." "It was a nice birthday card." Loyal Heart added in. "True but he did violate several laws and regulation, so how about this. He cleans the barracks, is grounded from all explosives period, and after the barracks are clean he can have cookies." "That sounds fair." Batty nodded. "And why are we encouraging this with cookies?" Winged Shield asked. "We're not, we're encouraging his creativity. Now come on Crazy it's 4:25 AM you should get some sleep before you start cleaning the barracks." Crazy was sweeping the floor fortunately not with a tooth brush, he could smell the cookies in the kitchen, they smelled like mango and chocolate chips, Batty's specialty. He had been working on cleaning the house since 6 AM and was completely dog tired, and it was only 2 PM now. There was a soft knock at the door. "I got it Crazy you keep sweeping." "But I'm so tired." "Then maybe next time you won't wake up ponies while they're sleeping at such an unreasonable hour in the morning." Duty Bound answered patting him on the head as he walked to the door and opened it. "Oh hello there Valley Lily how are you doing?" "Hello Mr. Duty Bound can I come in?" Crazy perked up hearing Lily at the door. "Sure come on in." He let her in. "We'll be having cookies soon, would you like a plate?" "Sure I can stay for a bit." She smiled and nodded. She paused when she spotted Crazy. "Hey Crazy." She smiled and walked up to him. He gulped as the soft mint green unicorn nuzzled his cheek. "I really liked that birthday card you gave me you weren't joking when you said I couldn't miss it. So, are you doing anything next Monday?" "No I think I'm free why." "Because you're taking me on a date, so bring enough for popcorn and a drink, only need to buy one drink though I don't mind sharing a straw with you." "Does that mean we're coltfriend and fillyfriend?" Crazy asked blushing hard. "Does this answer your question?" She gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Now Duty said something about cookies can you show me where the dinning room is I'd like to have some with you." Crazy looked to Duty Bound. "Well go ahead and get some cookies with your fillyfriend." With a smile and a nod he took Lily by the hoof. "The kitchen is this way over here."