Random little one-shot I felt like writing for America's Independence Day. Yes, I know Ranger's Apprentice isn't set in the USA. Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice.

Will rushed into Halt and Pauline's rooms at Castle Redmont. "Halt!" he yelled.

Halt set his coffee mug down and turned slowly to face his former apprentice. "What is so important that you had to show up and seven in the morning?" he asked drily.

"I'm sure it's very important, Halt," Pauline said. Halt snorted.

"We should get fireworks and set them off!"

"Never mind," Pauline muttered.

Halt sighed. "I barely trust you with hot water, Will. What makes you think I'll let you have fireworks?"

"That's why I said 'we'."

Halt rolled his eyes. "If you can find ten more people from this country who can make it here by eight tonight, we will do fireworks."

"Really?" Will asked.

Pauline glanced at her husband. "Yeah, really, Halt, is that wise?"

Halt shrugged. "Everything I do is wise—"

"'Cause he's so old," Will added. Halt shot him a glare.

"I'll be there and some people are responsible too. Some, not many, but some. And Will?"

"Yeah?"

"No more than five can be Rangers."

"Fine."

SEVERAL HOURS LATER:

Will and his newly acquired participants in what he had started to call the "Grand Fireworks Display" marched into Castle Araluen and stopped in front of the doors to the throne room. The guards gave them weird looks.

Will turned to Horace, Gilan, Alyss, Jenny, Crowley, and Baron Arald. "Alright, does everyone remember the plan?"

Everyone except Gilan, who looked slightly uncertain, nodded.

Will sighed. "Seriously, Gilan? You forgot already? I told you guys this five"—Alyss shot him a look—"Never mind. I don't have room to talk. Anyway, we're going to go in and DEMAND that King Duncan and Cassandra accompany us in the Grand Firework Display!"

Crowley frowned at him. "You know, wouldn't it just be easier to just ask them?"

Will shook his head. "That's boring." They muttered agreement.

Will turned to the door and, ignoring the guards in their vain attempt to stop him and the rest of the group, burst into the throne room. "I demand to ask King Duncan and Princess Cassandra to attend the Grand Firework display! Please."

Duncan, Cassandra, and Lord Anthony looked up from a map on a table. "'Kay," they said, hopping up and heading toward the group.

Will glanced at the rest of the group. "That was easier than I thought. We just need one more person."

SEVEN-THIRTY THAT NIGHT:

They trouped into Halt's quarters. Will sighed, "Halt? We didn't get enough people."

Halt looked up from his newspaper. He smiled. "Well, it turns out that I asked all the other Rangers to come and asked Malcolm to set off fireworks."

Will's mouth dropped open. "Really, Halt? You did that for me."

Halt shrugged. "Pauline suggested that I do so, and I wanted to see your expression when the first firework went off."

SEVERAL HOURS LATER:

Alyss grinned. "It's about to start!"

A couple seconds later, a firework shot up into the sky and exploded with a loud BOOM into red sparks. Will screamed like the world was coming to an end and covered his ears.

Halt laughed and clapped his adopted son on the shoulder. "You get used to it."

So, hopefully you enjoyed it a little and happy 4th of July! Please review!