>Day Independence Day in Canterlot High
>Be Norman.
>Summer vacation is pretty sweet so far.
>Spend all day gaming.
>Stay up late every night playing around online.
>Wake up around noon like nobody's fucking business.
>No homework and only the occasional chore to do.
>Doesn't get much better.
>You roll over in bed and unlock your iPhone to check the time.
>12:03pm, July 4th
>Only noon? More sleep then.
>You drop it back on your bed-side stand and roll over.
>*BRRRRRRRRRRZZZZT*
>Fuck. No. No texts.
>*BRRRRRRRRRRZZZZT*
>Fuck, no calls either.
>*BRRRRRRRRRRZZZZT*
>Please no...
>You roll back over and unlock your phone again.
>Incoming call from Nolan.
>How rare. Normally, Brad is the one to call you when you least want to be called.
>You answer.
"...Hello?"
>Fucking hell, you sound like shit.
>"Norman? Hell, you sound like shit bro. Up late again?"
"Fuck you too. What's up?"
>There is almost literally nothing but sleep in your voice.
>"Well, today's Independence Day, and my mom and dad went out to a party at dad's friend's house. So I figured I'll throw a party of my own. Better than spending all day inside doing nothing. What do you think?"
"Who else will be there?"
>"If I can help it, everyone that can come. We have more than enough space to accommodate everyone here."
"What time?"
>You feel yourself drifting off again. The sandman wants you.
>"I was thinking around two o'clock. Will probably last until about ten or so."
>Two more hours to sleep!
"Alright, I'll be there..."
>"See you there, man. I'll get a hold of everyone else."
>You were already asleep.
 
>Almost an hour later.
>Finally manage to roll out of bed.
>Roll yourself across the floor to your dresser.
>Slowly stand up, shed everything, and put on your usual outfit.
>Swap nightcap for beanie.
>Guess you should get over to Nolan's. You'll be early, but you can use that time to wake up.
>Your parents aren't home, so you waste no time locking up the house, getting in your car, and leaving.
>When you arrive at Nolan's, you're practically wide awake.
>As you pull up to the gate of the luxurious estate, you roll down your window and hit the buzzer.
>The gate opens.
>That's when you notice the windowless vans parked up and down the long driveway.
>Every one of them painted red, white, and blue.
>Men in various purple suits are hauling party goods, tables, and all manner of other things up to the house.
>What the fuck, Nolan.
>You even notice a few crates labeled "Dangerous" and "Highly Flammable".
>Hopefully they're just fireworks and not explosives.
>Some of the workers stop and look as you drive past.
>This has never been comfortable on the few occasions it's happened.
 
>Before you can even ring the doorbell, the door swings open and Nolan pulls you inside.
>"Norman! Good timing, everything is almost ready for tonight!"
"Tonight? What's happening tonight?"
>He walks you through the house to the backyard.
>"The fireworks show! We've imported some of the best stuff we could find for tonight."
"Fireworks show? I thought it was just a cookout."
>"If there's one thing I learned from my dad, you can't have a good cookout without some explosives."
>You're hope that those crates were not military-grade ordinance just skyrocketed.
>"You can't have a party on the fourth without a good fireworks display!"
>He's really excited about this.
>The two of you step out on to the patio.
>The backyard seems to stretch on quite a distance, lined with trees on either side and a small lake at the far end.
>Fucking rich people and their backyard lakes.
"Do you have a technician to fire them off?"
>"Of course! My dad is a good friend with a pyrotechnician.
"Please tell me he's licensed..."
>"Of course. Why wouldn't he be?"
"Nevermind...So, who all agreed to come?"
>"Everyone!"
>Doesn't anyone celebrate holidays with their family in this town?
"Cool."
>You glance at your watch. It's almost two o'clock now.
>That was fast.
>"Just wait here, I'll go make sure people can find their way in."
>Nolan runs off back through the house and leaves you standing out there.
>You look around and decide you may as well pull up a chair and sit.
>Not even three minutes and you're out like a light in that chair.
 
>Laughing.
>>"No, shut up, you'll wake him up!"
>>>"I will not. Trust me, I got this."
>The sounds of snickering.
>That's never good.
>Your eyes snap open and you scramble your chair backwards as quickly as you can.
>Blue and Brad jump back in surprise.
>>"See, I told you!" Blue shouted.
>>>"Damn. Uh...hey bro!"
"..."
>He was holding a sharpie.
"What were you going to do with that marker, Brad...?"
>>>"Um...what marker?"
>The nigger hides it behind his back like you didn't see it.
>You shake your head and slap yourself to wake up.
>As you stand up and take a look around, the party is in full swing.
>Everyone is here alright.
>It's practically a school day.
>You scope out the crowd.
>Axel was manning the grill, wearing an apron that reads "Kiss me, I'm Justice".
>What the hell does that even mean? And why is he using his axe instead of a spatula?
>Purple and her group of friends, minus Rainbow, are chatting away at one of the many tables.
>Roman, Pete, and Sweetleaf were all hanging out on the far end of the patio.
>Surprisingly, Roman isn't checking his food for poison. He really does trust Axel, doesn't he?
>Sophie, Scott, and Chloe are grouped together.
>There's no telling what kind of conversation they could be having...
>And of course, everyone else is here too.
>Even Aryan Beauty's sister and her "Talent Crusader" friends are running around out in the yard.
>It feels nice to blend into the crowd now and then.
>Nolan really did mean "everyone".
 
>Speak of the devil, Nolan seems to have noticed your awakened state.
>He drops his conversation with Tim and Amy and walks up to you.
>"Sleep well?"
"Why didn't you wake me up, man? Brad almost got me with one of his stupid pranks..."
>"Oh? Sorry about that. It's just...you seemed so peaceful that I didn't want to disturb you."
"Please don't say weird things like that. That's like something you'd say about a cute girl sleeping in front of you."
>"Anyway, food's ready if you want some. Just tell Axel your order. I have some things to attend to regarding the show later."
>Before you can say anything else, he's rushes off down the yard.
>Well, may as well get some food. You haven't had a good hotdog in ages.
>You carefully approach Axel.
>Even when cooking, this guy just exudes a dangerous aura.
"One hotdog, please?"
>Axel responds without looking away from the grill.
>>>>"Plate?"
>You hold out the foam plate you grabbed in passing.
>Axel flips a hotdog off the grill and into the air.
>He catches it in a fresh roll and puts it on your plate.
"This...looks surprisingly well-cooked."
>>>>"Today, the fires of freedom burn brightly in this grill. Justice will always prevail in the art of cooking."
>As he speaks, the burning coals are reflected in his shades.
"...Alright then."
>Now's probably the best time to go eat.
>If you stick around and try and decipher that sentence, your head might explode.
 
>You find a seat out of the way somewhere and down your dog.
>Nothing much to do but people-watch.
>It's nice though.
>By now the sky is burning red.
>You must've been asleep for quite a bit if the sun is setting already.
>Your watch reads nearly 8 o'clock.
>Nolan invites you over and lets you miss the whole freakin' party.
>What a fantastic host.
>What a fantastic bro.
>Faaaantastic.
>At least you'll be awake for the show.
>You spend the next few hours milling about, occasionally striking up some small-talk with people here and there, but otherwise just watching everyone.
>By 9 o'clock, the sun had finally set and the lights had come on all over the back yard.
>Nolan finally had returned by this point and climbed onto a table.
>"Attention everyone!"
>The crowd fell silent after a few moments.
>"As you should all be aware, there's a surprise that Norman and I have readied for you all!"
>What? Suddenly you're a part of this?
>The crowd murmurs, the odd glance finding you every now and then.
>"We've arranged a fireworks show, courtesy of a family friend! If you'll please direct your attention to the water down the way and get comfortable, I'll signal to the technician to begin!"
>He gestures to the lake several hundred yards away and hops down from the table.
>Nolan nudges you playfully as he passes.
 
>Five minutes later, the tables are all moved and everyone is situated where they wish to view from.
>You nabbed a nice spot on one of the thick, stone patio railings.
>Nolan has the lights turned off for maximum atmosphere.
>A flagpole is erected by two suited men halfway down the lawn.
>Spotlights light it up, and the American Flag is raised.
>For some reason, Axel rises from his spot and salutes.
>You see Nolan over with the rest of his "saints". He looked like he just spoke into a walkie-talkie.
>It's time.
>After several moments of silence, the first rocket is fired into the air.
>A thunderous starburst of Red lights up the night sky.
>Soon a second fires, not nearly as big or as loud, but this time blue.
>One by one, the fireworks fire up and explode, then in pairs, and trios.
>Red ones.
>Green ones.
>Silent ones.
>Loud ones.
>Clusters, single-burst, ones that quickly fizzle out, others that burn until they're almost grounded.
>Some of them even go off like flashbangs, going off with a crack, lighting up the entire night like a miniature sun and fading without a sound.
>It just all seems so magical.
>Each percussive blast ringing both your ears and your heart.
>Everyone else is "ooo"ing and "awww"ing, talking with each other between each blast.
>This is what it means to be at peace.
>You're brought back to earth when you feel a hand on your shoulder.
>Brad and Nolan are behind you.
>They smile at you, and you return one in kind as they climb the railing to sit with you.
>This is the kind of high school life you envisioned when moving to this town.
>Just a normal life, hanging with your bros, taking it easy, and having fun with everyone.
>And for just this one day, you got to experience that.
 
>Eventually, the show reaches its climax.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sm1px_BrGk
>The entire place is lit up like a nightclub as colorful flares explode across the sky.
>Everyone stares, awestruck by the blast symphony.
>Nolan's dad has some really amazing friends.
>Eventually the firing stops and everything falls into peaceful silence.
>Everyone begins cheering, yourself alongside them.
>But before any meaningful cheering can start, one final rockets shoots skyward, a trail of white light on its tail.
>With one loud bang, an American flag shines brightly in red, white, and blue embers.
>The cheering doubles and everyone rises from their seats.
>After 10 straight minutes of applause and shouting, everyone quickly falls into cheerful conversation.
>Brad nudges you from the right.
>>>"Dude, that show was totally Bradical.
>Nolan also nudges you from the left.
>"I know, right!? He didn't tell me about that last one! Was this party amazing or what!?"
>You smile and put the both of them in a headlock, one under each arm.
"That was fucking amazing!!"
>This next year is going to be just fine.
>Even if everyone still thinks you're a racist.
>Even if you don't do all that great in your classes.
>Even if you get caught up in all kinds of crazy shit.
>As long as you have your bros, and Purple, and Aryan Beauty, and everyone else...you'll be just fine.
>Happy birthday, America.
 
End
 
[spoiler]That took longer than I thought.[/spoiler]