It was a quiet, calm Monday morning in the near-empty market square. People milled about, exchanging their meager funds for delicious fruit, the prized export of their poor town. Each week, a new fruit stood center, attracting all to view its splendor. Bananas had once reigned over the food pyramid. Another time, it was the apple that left everyone breathless. It was a magnificent display. Blueberries, strawberries, and apricots lined the streets, each attracting the eye only for a moment. Despite their wondrous appearance, another stood above, reigning in its own glory as the passers-by gaped and reveled in its magnificence. Surely this would bring substance to their poor, meaningless lives; for the watermelon, that prized, oval beauty, sat upon the fruity pedestal of wonder. Light flowed from the heavens, trickling down to reach only the greatest melon, and all gazed upon its glorious green beauty. The only thing missing from this awe-striking 8th wonder was-

"FIREWORKS!"

Several faces turned toward the projectile that flew up from the central display of the market-square. Panic followed confusion as they realized what had been thrown from the life-blood of the town: the watermelon stand. Horror crossed every face as they witnessed the all too real terror spreading before their innocent eyes. "Oh gosh, everyone run! It's Monday!" People began to scatter in panic, screaming, "Not the watermelon!" and scurrying in helpless circles. One foolish vendor attempted to rescue the town's last hope, grabbing two precious melons. But as he dove away, the prizes he thought he'd claimed smashed against the ground, the first victims of this week's assault. They knew the drill; this happened on a weekly basis. Ten o' clock sharp on Monday morning, the 'fireworks' returned to claim their next scrumptious innocents.

"Get down!" And once again, that warning voice. Next would be- Those closest were tackled to the ground, protected from the shrapnel and explosion that rained down on the poor watermelons. Pink flesh joined the metallic shards that just barely missed the civilians that huddled together on these hopeless Mondays. In the past month, this ritual had claimed 4 fruit stands and injured two innocent vegetable vendors.

Shocked and saddened townsfolk began to rise from the destruction, gazing from the muck upon the shredded corpses of the watermelon which would have been their one hope.

Many heads turned furiously toward the middle of the square, where a young girl stood amongst the wreckage, defying their turmoil with her sinisterly innocent grin. "You're welcome!" the villain shouted gleefully, mistaking the stares of hatred for ones of adoration. "Wasn't that a great show! Great choreography with the ducking to the ground! It made it seem way more dangerous. Didja see the way those melons just 'sploded! That was way better than those bananas you set out last week. You guys are really upping your game!"

They stared at the carnage, hopelessly drawn to the spectacle of the ruin. Glances shifted from the stand to the girl and back again.

Through the bleakness and desperation a voice rang out like a beacon of light in the melon-y darkness. "I'll pay for that... again..." The owner of the voice dug in her pockets, taking out all she had. She looked down at the pile of paper, possibly the savior of the town, then sighed, "I'm about a thousand short..." The people looked on in horror as their hero turned toward the enemy. They looked one another in the eye, as if a showdown was about to take place for fruity justice. "Anya!" the savior yelled, holding up the town's new hope. "You got any twenties?"

"Of course! How many do you need? I don't think I can break this fifty. All I've got is some stupid hundreds. Candy machines won't even take 'em, and chocolate stores can't break them... You want 'em?"

The hero face-palmed as the people gaped. She had turned the villain away from evil and into goodness with only five words. They cheered as the former destroyer of happiness flung the blessed bills into the air. Where destruction had just fallen, there now fell hope, and a new beginning.

Leaving the rain of wondrous paper behind, the two girls set off, a force of evil now united with good. The townspeople waved them off, crying that they'd proclaim this day the morning of redemption. As they disappeared into the sunrise, the first hero turned back, gracing them with a final farewell. "Maybe next time you should use durian fruit. It's stronger than melon."

While they walked away, the converted nightmare turned to her companion and said in deepest regret, "Asche? Why did we have to go?" She twiddled her thumbs and looked down sadly. "They were throwing us a party."

With a sigh, the other girl looked off into the distance, half-smiling. "Because, Anya... we have training to do. You're still very weak and innocent. You don't even know how to throw grena- er, fireworks correctly."

"But I was doing a great job Asche. Did you see how they cheered? I'm like a celebrity~"

"They were screaming in horror! How did you mistake that for cheering? Besides, I had to save you. You almost killed yourself throwing that- firework above your head."

Anya looked at Asche, her green eyes squinting in childish confusion. "I don't think anyone's ever died from fireworks! Unless they dropped dead from their beauty. Besides, people greet you with that 'screaming' all the time. I just wanted some of the attention too... Everybody was staring at those silly watermelons anyway, so I thought some fireworks would liven it up. And I got to make a money storm. Whoooosh~" She wiggled her hands as she made a wind sound, giggling as she waved her hands in Asche's face. "You wanna try?"

"Nein."

"Yaaay!"

"For the last time Anya, nein means no, not yes!"

"Yes?"

"Nein!"

"Wheeeee~"

"Stop doing that!"

Asche put her hand over Anya's mouth to stop her ridiculous spoutings of nonsense. "It's getting dark. Let's just head out to the training grounds."

"Oh..." Anya looked down again sheepishly. "Tonight's the night we have lasagna. Lovi's making it special. Well, just like every Monday."

Asche's frown deepened. "Lovino... Why do you even live with him?"

"Well, our countries are right next to each other, so it's just more convenient if we share a house."

Asche glared at the ground. "Where is the logic in that?!"

"His house is bigger." Anya shrugged. "Anyway, sorry for bailing on you. I hope you have something else to do."

"Ja. Push-ups."

Anya chuckled, "No silly. I meant take the day off and hang out with friends. You guys have friends in South Germany, right?"
"Friends? I only 'hang out' with you... Don't you have training in Malta?"

"Not until you brought it here... No friends? But that's so lonely-like. I didn't think you'd be one to spend your days all alone. You can come hang out with me and Lovi and Feli if you want~"

Asche shuddered, then grimaced and shook her head. "No thanks... Besides, I'm used to being 'lonely-like' as you call it. Have fun... but not with fireworks."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow I guess."

"Ja, bright and early for training, since you're skipping out tonight."

"Right, I'll be over at noon! Byeeee!" With that, the two parted, going their separate ways with a wave from Anya and a blank nod from Asche.

Anya lingered on the path for a moment, watching her friend disappear down the hill. "I didn't know Asche was so lonely when I left. I always thought she had someone to hang out with, like one of her brothers, or Austria. Or maybe Hungary. I guess not..." Her usual smile had faded, and her voice trailed off into her thoughts. 'I have to do something. Anything. She's been so nice to me..." Anya paused for a second, wondering what she could possibly do for someone as serious and closed-minded as Asche. "That's it!" she cried, skipping along the path toward home. "I'll get her a boyfriend!"

End: Chapter One