So time to go back to the canon episodes and well…this is probably gonna be a shorter one, but it does give Firecracker a chance to be more of a normal teen…and also reveal a bit more about Thomas.

While Firecracker knew that she was pretty different from most girls she attended school, (she regularly worked with explosions while most girls in school would scream and cry if they so much as broke a nail) that didn't mean she didn't have her girlish quirks. She enjoyed having her hair long, even when, for someone in her line work, it was likely better to get it cut shorter. She also enjoyed having her nails done, even if fingernail art never really lasted long (much to her dismay).

And, for a more recent example, she was actually pretty excited for the school's prom.

While she was never super big into the dating scene, mostly because most people she would have considered attractive were Teen Ninjas (and she was pan, so she found a lot of people attractive), that didn't mean she couldn't just go by herself if she needed to. Of course, there was no fun in that, so she had asked Thomas to go. And, even though he wasn't really into that (or romance in general) or her, a traditional prom with a date was something every highschooler deserved to experience at least once

"You think I should go with a suit or a dress for prom?" Firecracker asked no one in particular one day in the Teens Next Door hideout.

"Wait, you're going?" Chad asked in disbelief. "I thought if anyone would skip prom, it would be you for sure. Well, you or Thomas."

"Joke's on you because we're actually going together," Firecracker replied smugly, enjoying Chad's flabbergasted face maybe a little too much. "But it's just as friends. We don't see each other that way."

"Ah, but if my long time friend wished to attend in a traditional manner, who was I to say no?" Thomas chimed in as he came into the room. "Will you be attending?"

"Yeah," Chad replied. "You know the cheerleader Stacy?"

"Chad, they all could be clones of each other to me with how little I know or care about the cheerleading squad," Firecracker bluntly said. Chad let out a snort at that.

"Fair enough," He conceded the point with a chuckle. "Point is is that I managed to get in good with one of the younger ones-since I'm a rising football star and all-and one thing led to another."

"Nice." Firecracker replied, her voice making it clear she was being sincere.

"As fun as the event will be, I do pity Maurice for having to take our most infamous traitor," Thomas commented, reminding them who Maurice was "dating" and, in turn, who he was taking to prom.

"Thanks for the thoughts, Thomas, but one thing I learned quickly was that as long as I keep Cree happy, she's pretty willing to spill information," Maurice said as he entered the base. "Happy wife, happy life and all that. Not that I actually want to marry her."

"Sounds like a nightmare to me," Chad snarked, drawing a laugh from all four teens. "So, you already asked her?"

"Earlier this week," Maurice revealed as he took a seat on the base's couch. "Surprise you didn't hear it, considering how loud she accepted."

"…So back to my original question-suit or dress?" Firecracker said after a couple seconds, reminding everyone how they got into the topic.

"Personally, I kinda just want to see you in a dress," Chad admitted. "I mean, you going is probably gonna surprise half the school. Just make it even crazier!"

"Hey I actually like that idea!" Firecracker admitted with a laugh. "Besides, you know me! I love making an explosion!" That comment drew a laugh out of all three boys, which, in turn, got Firecracker to chuckle as well.

"To change the topic, I also got some important Kids Next Door intel," Maurice revealed, causing Firecracker, Chad and Thomas to all snap to attention. "Apparently, the scientists working in the Deep Sea Lab have found their answer to the chicken pox."

"No doubt the results of that will be heinous…" Thomas trailed off as his mind went to all the methods of payback the KND could have dreamed up to get payback on the Teen Ninjas for the chicken pox.

"Luckily, they're planning to only test it on Teen Ninjas, so as long as we avoid their hangouts…and Chad doesn't wear his armor around, we should be fine." Maurice further explained to the group, getting three nods in response.

"Still, I hope they're smart with who they pick," Thomas noted ominously. "We all know the pain that Cree would bring if they made her the unfortunate victim."

"Especially with prom so close," Firecracker agreed. With how excited she'd seen Cree for the event, Firecracker knew damn well that anyone who messed with her would pay the price. She shuddered at the thought. She'd seen how fierce Cree was in battle when she was in a good mood. In a bad mood?

Firecracker shook her head. She didn't need nightmares while awake.

"So…to go back to the prom topic, do you guys think a limo is too much?" Chad asked, in a blatant attempt to change the topic.

"For just two? Sounds pretty pricey," Maurice noted. "But…if you're willing to split the cost, I'd do it with you."

"Sounds like a deal," Chad said with a smirk before turning to the only "couple" present. "You two want in?"

"I'd agree, but how are we supposed to explain how you two know us?" Firecracker pointed out. "I'm supposed to be decommissioned and not interested in the Teen Ninjas, remember? Besides, I'm not sure I could handle the tension with Cree."

"Completely fair," Chad conceded. "Still, I'm looking forward to seeing that dress." Firecracker just rolled her eyes, but gave a smile all the same. This would be fun.

"You know what? The dress actually feels pretty good on me," Firecracker internally admitted. When she'd told her family her plans for prom, they were all rather shocked she wanted a dress, but were still eager to help her find something that would fit her style and that would still look nice.

And find something they did.

As she stepped out of her mom's car (Rose had even put the sirens on when they entered the parking lot, just to let everyone know how important her special little girl and her friend were), all eyes were on Firecracker's dress. It was black, with long flowing sleeves, with splashes of colors appearing in strategically placed spots. Thomas, for his part, had opened to keep the color to his tie, instead going with a standard suit. All eyes were on Firecracker, mostly because people weren't used to seeing her in a dress and even more were just shocked she turned up to the prom at all. Either way, the duo strode in the building like they owned the place.

"...Do you feel we should say something about those Kids Next Door weapons that have the building surrounded?" Thomas couldn't help but ask. How he and Firecracker were the only ones to seemingly notice was beyond him.

"Don't worry…I think we're gonna be just fine," Firecracker said with a smile. Glancing back, she couldn't help but chuckle as she saw Numbuh 5 drag what appeared to be two of their teammates off by their ears. She assumed that someone on the chance of KND command mistakenly assumed prom was a plot of some sort. Hopefully Numbuh 5 managed to get things cleared up. That girl could be as scary as her sister when she wanted to be.

"Hmm…you know, it actually does not reek of unwashed clothing and body odor for once," Thomas couldn't help but comment.

"Yeah well now they actually have a reason to clean it!" Firecracker joked, causing both her and Thomas to laugh as they headed over to the refreshments table. The DJ was playing some slow songs to start the night off and, as Firecracker and Thomas had no real romantic interest in each other, they opted to leave space for the actual couples. Still, they decided to watch the happy couples.

Or, more accurately in Firecracker's case, watch for Cree, Chad and Maurice.

Chad had been easy to spot, dancing with who Firecracker could only guess was Stacey, who was babbling on about some gossip Chad clearly couldn't care less about. Cree and Maurice were a bit harder to find, but Firecracker noted that they looked far more convincing as a couple and, deep down, in the part of her that remembered the close friendship she and Cree had, Firecracker was happy to see Cree was there. She'd heard about how the KND scientists had stupidly decided to make Cree their first test subject for their new unpoppable pimple virus and Firecracker sincerely hoped whoever came up with that idea got decommissioned or at least demoted. Cree was easily the most dangerous Teen Ninja alive at the moment! And even if they clearly didn't know what prom was, surely they could tell that trying to hurt Cree on the day of an event she was looking forward to wasn't just playing with fire, but playing with a nuclear bomb!

"Firecracker, my friend, I wanted to inform you you've been staring," Thomas warned her, causing Firecracker to snap out of her trance. "I assume you're enjoying seeing your old flame all dolled up for this event?"

"Hey! Don't say old flame like we were ever a thing," Firecracker said. She'd never say it out loud, but Cree did look pretty good in her dress. Still, it was her personality that made her unattractive in Firecracker's eyes. Somedays, Firecracker wondered why she even had a crush on Cree in the first place.

With a grunt, she shook her head. Those days were long gone.

"I believe you quite enjoy this song?" Thomas asked as a personal favorite party song of Firecracker's started up. "Shall we move to the dancefloor?"

"Let's party," Firecracker said with a grin and grateful she opted for boots and not heels. She was here to have fun. Besides, she spent enough time mopping about her failed friendship with Cree. She could ignore her for a night that was meant to be fun.

For the record, had I known how much you all would have loved the idea of Firecracker and Cree's close friendship as well as Firecracker herself, Firecracker would have been the one to ask Cree out in The Candygirl's version of this chapter. Eh live and learn.