A/N- okay, so I did have an actual chapter written out, but then I got inspired to do a fourth of July Chapter. Being as Sophie was raised in the USA, I could work it in. You all won't hate me, right? Besides, it will give me an extra week to improve the ACTUAL chapter 10. So, enjoy!

I also posted early because you have to put up a holiday chapter on the ACTUAL holiday!

Disclaimer: I am SO sick of this. I DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT TI AND SOME OF THE PLOT!

I woke up, and smiled. Today would have been the 4th of July, in the Forbidden Cities. Being as I lived in America, everyone would have been celebrating Independence Day. It was always my favorite holiday, with the fireworks and barbecues. I would go to a big barbecue, and hang out there. Everyone always thought that I came with someone else.

I suddenly saddened.

I remembered that the elves didn't have the same holidays as humans. I wouldn't celebrate any of the holidays I had grown up with. But, Sophie was raised in the US, too. Maybe we could do something. I was a pyrokinetic, after all.

I didn't really want to go downstairs yet, so I just grabbed my sketchbook and started drawing memories from past years. I drew fireworks, and some of the parties that I had been to.

After a few hours, I went downstairs and saw Grady and Edaline. They had to run out to help some animal outside. Sophie was probably still asleep. It was pretty early, after all. I had been up most of the night.

Sophie came down not long after me though, still looking kind of tired. I smiled at her.

"Do you remember what day it is today, Sophie?" I asked.

She had to think for a sec, but it suddenly hit her. "It's the 4th of July, isn't it? But, you do realize that elves don't celebrate that, right?"

I shrugged. "But, I love fireworks. Besides, you and I would celebrate elven holidays with the humans, right?"

"I do remember having a lot of made up holidays. Wait, those were elven?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but all the humans saw was two kids celebrating some random, made up holiday."

"Why, exactly?"

"Well, I thought they were made up. But, it turns out that it was just info the Black Swan had in my mind."

"Wait, you have secrets in your mind, too?"

I laughed. "Not secrets. Things about everyday life. You have all the secrets. We were supposed to be brought into elven society together, but all the plans were kind of messed up. Mostly, by me."

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

"I ran away. The elves weren't supposed to know about us until this year, but it actually kind of worked out that the plans were needed up."

"Yeah, you're right. It's weird, though. Knowing that I want the only one they experimented on." Sophie paused. "Were there any others?"

I shrugged. "Not to my knowledge. We're all they need. So, are we going to go outside, because I think that Grady and Edaline need some help."

"What makes you say that?" Suddenly, a T-Rex ran by, with Grady, Edaline, and a horde of gnomes chasing it. "Yeah, I think you're right."

We ran outside, jumping into the fray.

That night, the Vackers had an aurenflare. Not for any particular reason, simply because sometimes, you just need to celebrate the simplistic joys in life. Especially when you're life is full of chaotic adventures. As I watched the last sparks dance in the sky, I couldn't help thinking I could do better.

Apparently, I had voiced this opinion, because Keefe snorted.

"Listen, last time I checked, to top something like this, you would have to be a Flasher, or a pyrokinetic." Keefe said. "If you are suddenly triggering a new ability, please stop. Leave some for the rest of us!"

I laughed, but it was hesitant, showing that I was hiding something, covering up a slip I had made. "Nah, I think I have them all triggered. I've been through enough life-or-death situations to have triggered every ability there is. I guess it's just easy to forget you have boundaries, when it's so hard to reach them."

I looked up at the stars, and say there for a while. After some time, the adults went inside, and I was left alone with the others. I looked at them cautiously . I didn't know why, but I really wanted to tell them about my pyrokinesis. Well, the less secrets we had, the easier it would be to protect them.

"Hey, guys, can I show you something?" I asked. They all nodded. I took a deep breath. "You can't tell anyone, though. Understand?"

More nods. I took another shaky breath, and opened my palm. I willed a tiny flame to come up, then I told it to explode, like a firework. It complied, pulling together before spiraling up, and exploding in a flash of red, white, and blue.

The others sat in silence, before Sophie spoke up. "You-you're a-you're a pyrokinetic?"

I nodded. "But, it was enhanced. I control everything, temperature, height, color, whether it even burns anything. There's not a lick of flame that doesn't do exactly as I tell it. So, unless I choose otherwise, it's safe."

Sophie shook her head, as if clearing it. "Yeah, yeah, I guess I trust you, but... I've just had... bad experiences with fire, and pyrokinetics."

Nodded. I knew all about Fintan, and how he was working for the Neverseen. I also knew of the Everblaze, and how Sophie had stopped it. "That's party of the reason I try to keep it hidden."

"Then," Fitz interjected, "why show is?"

I laughed. "Well, it was bound to come out eventually. This was just a more convenient option. Now, who wants more fireworks?"

The others laughed, too, and clapped as more little explosions erupted from my hands.

It was the best 4th of July that I could remember.

A/N- So, happy 4th of July! I do realize that not everyone reading this celebrates the fourth, but I'm American, and very patriotic. So, I'm sorry to those that don't celebrate this holiday. I'm also sorry, because, for some reason, I feel like this chapter is really short, and kind of sucks.

I recently haven't been able to get this word out of my mind. So, here is the random word of the week- arachibutyrophobia. It's the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. It's fun to say. Say it!

You know, I might start putting in a word of the week every chapter, now. It's kind of fun!

Anyway, please review! Bye!