The party was in full swing. Upbeat tunes of music enveloped Old Corona's citizens in a bubble of joy and happiness as they spun and twirled around the crackling bonfire, celebrating life. In the center of it all a young girl - cheeks flushed and a wide smile smudged with frosting. On paper, she should have looked like a perfect little princess in her cute pink tulle dress and the flower crown adorning her head, however, the puffs on her shoulders seemed more like plates of armor, while the thick braids of nut-brown hair reminded of a shield-maiden fresh from battle. Also, the pair of clunky boots on her tiny feet weren't helping. At least her father had tried.
"Onward we ride!" Lizzy declared. Like a sword, she wielded the scepter the alchemist had gifted her. The eyes of the wooden frog on top shimmered mischievous in the rhythm of her animated movements. She had a knack to aim the bulky thing suspiciously accurately at other people's shins.
The girl spurred her mighty steed, urging it to go as fast as humanly possible. Stan grimaced, yet complied, and rushed past Pete to win the piggyback race. Together they crossed the finish line and Lizzy cheered in the glory of her victory. Timmy never stood a chance! Suddenly a high-pitched whistle joined in as a gleaming line of fire rose. Heads turned while the night was cut in half by the bright glow of spinning silver strings. The first rocket went off without a hitch.
"Finally!" Lizzy squealed in delight. Unperturbed she grabbed the helmet of her poor horse, hoisting herself up until she towered over the guard's shoulders to get the best view.
Flowers of gleaming light bloomed in the dark. Their sparkling pedals changed from a brilliant purple to a radiant green and back to a deep red. Every new burst of color was accompanied by 'Oooooooh's' and 'Aaaaaahh's', igniting a child-like wonder in the hearts of its audience.
"Magical," the princess breathed as a shower of golden shooting stars shattered into a thousand pieces.
"Well, technically it's alchemy," Lizzy beamed.
Rapunzel nodded entranced by the beautiful constellations.
The sky turned into a dazzling kaleidoscope of endless shifting patterns and shapes. Her wish came true. Lizzy couldn't contain her excitement. Higher and higher her laughter soared until it reached its destination.
Varian smirked as he watched the spectacle below. He sat on top of the hill, leaning back on his arms. The soft grass tickled between his fingers. As the wind picked up Ruddiger snuggled closer around his neck.
"You went all out," Quirin stated fondly while he approached.
"Hmm," Varian mused. "Everyone helped."
They weren't finished though. He got one last present to give. The earth quivered beneath their feet and a deafening roar emerged from the machinery Varian had set up. Quirin jumped at the loud bang behind him. He twisted around. Between smoke and heat, he caught a glimpse of what had just been launched into the air. Mouth agape, he could only stare.
The boy's gaze lifted as well, following his father's while the smell of burned black powder mixed with sulfur clung to their souls.
"Va-Varian, what did you do?" Quirin asked dumbstruck, shock and disbelief mirrored on his face as the night before him was ripped apart by a blue hue.
"I made the sky explode," he replied satisfied.
A blazing glow, rivaling the sun, spread on and on. Darkness was replaced by a fountain of bright light. As far as the eye could reach it lit the heavens, blowing away the shadows.
And more quietly. "After all, it's her birthday too."
Quirin's eyes widened as he realized Varian was right. How could he forget, on this last day of summer… He looked down, seeing Varian clearly in the gentle light, his gaze still fixed on the sky, and a soft smile on his lips.
Quirin despised tearing up in front of people, hasn't cried in over half a decade, and knew if he started now he wouldn't be able to stop. He was not breaking down over a stupid firework. Choking back his tears, he thought about the million ways Varian had changed. Over the past two years, his son had become so many new things. Sometimes he could barely recognize him, but at his core, Varian didn't change, not really. Above all Varian was and has always been kind.
"She would have loved it." The old soldier sat down next to his son, leaning against him ever so slightly. He exhaled. Maybe Varian didn't need to be fixed.
.
.
.
Everything was fine.
