It was once again his time to shine. Of all 365 days in the year, this night was his. Sparky Sparky Boom man was always the life of the Day of Fire picnic and he would not allow that to change. Running his finger over the eye tattooed on his forehead, Sparky Sparky Boom man vowed not to disappoint the eager Fire Nation citizens. He would help them celebrate the glory of their nation with pride and honor.
He looked out at the crowd. Currently they had their eyes anywhere but on the stage. Of course not, he thought, my performance doesn't start until dark. Oh but that was just so late and he really wanted to blow shit up and he was growing jittery with nervousness.
His eyes swept the crowd again. The Avatar would be joining them this evening. He and his friends had taken to trying the festival food.
"Hey Sokka!" Shouted the blind one, "I bet I can handle the spice better than you can!"
Sokka squinted, "no one out does the food master." He promptly picked up the spiciest item in sight and scarfed it down, leaving his sister to roll her eyes.
A little ways down the hill Sparky Sparky Boom man spotted a group of children chasing each other and laughing. One of them stumble over, the grin never left her face. And a bit further away teens –mostly couples—would stand under yet to be lit lanterns chattering amongst themselves and pointing at food and clothing stands. Ah yes, the mood is most right, he thought to himself. So far the festival was looking as swell as ever. And just in time for the setting sun.
It wouldn't be long now before he could start his skillful and most acclaimed performance.
He stopped peering out from behind the curtains and began moving his props to the stage. Two golden twin dragon statues for either end of the stage and a spray of red and gold confetti for the floor. It was as he began laying stringing up the lanterns that he noticed the royals.
He grew tense at the memory of what happened last time they attended, nearly ten years ago. He'd never before seen a kid who could fit that many sparklers into his nose.
Sparky Sparky Boom man shuddered. And this year didn't look any better, for the princess was already whispering something to her brother.
"I totally can too!" Zuko declared. Followed by a giggle and a clap from Tylee and a 'really' from Mai. "But I'm not going to."
"Hey Zuko, come sit with us!" Avatar Aang called.
Much to Sparky Sparky Boom man's relief, the prince acted on that pristine excuse to distance himself from his predicament with the princess. Naturally the girl in question seemed less than thrilled.
"Way to go, Avatar. You ruined a perfectly good chance at a good time." Azula grumbled.
"And what does a good time for you look like?" Toph asked.
Azula leaned over and whispered the same something she had whispered to Zuko in Toph's ear. Sparky Sparky Boom man felt another wave of dread wash over him. He had to do something! He couldn't let the fire siblings ruin this for him again!
"Hey everyone!" Toph yelled as loudly as she could muster which, evidently, proved to be extremely volumous. "The Fire Lord's gonna shoot fireworks out his ass!"
"Oh no." Sparky Sparky Boom man squeaked. He leapt off of the stage, desperate to put a stop to these shenanigans.
"Oh my, Zu-Zu it appears you have to do it now. You wouldn't want your people to think you're a coward and a liar."
"Toph said it not me!" Zuko pointed out desperately.
"Aw but you don't want to disappoint them." Azula sighed dramatically, "they're already looking at you expecting a show."
Zuko's lip curled up in disgust and defeat. He certainly did not want to steal Mai's buzzkill title. With much dread, he held his hand out. Azula placed the fire crackers in his out-stretched palm with a look of devious delight.
Zuko was just about to position them in his bumhole when Sparky Sparky Boom man swooped down. "Don't do it young Fire Lord!" He shouted. "I beg of you, do not!"
"Well how can I ignore that?" Zuko offered Azula a phony smile.
"Oh come on Zu-Zu." She coaxed.
"Yeah, don't be a wuss!" Toph shouted. Her 'most appropriate' commentary was followed up with a choir of "do it, do it, do it!" And one extremely loud "FIREWORK DAT ASS ZUKO!"
Zuko took a deep breath and placed the firecrackers in Sparky Sparky Boom man's eager and desperate hands. "I am a wuss." He confessed.
And at his confession came a series of boos.
Saved the day again. Sparky Sparky Boom man wiped a joyful tear from his eye. He could now preform with ease and pride and without the fear of being out signed. He looked up at the night sky and from his forehead blasted the first firework, of many to come, into the sky.