So, like I said, it's time to begin the chaotic year that is Firecracker's twelfth year of life. Obviously, there's a lot of bad stuff…but there's also some good. And let's start with the good. Now, there's a character who's been tagged since the beginning, but I haven't actually done anything with them. Well…how about we finally explain that.

"Well, I'd certainly call that a success, huh?" Firecracker joked as she slung the large sack of candy she was carrying over her shoulder. She'd been teamed up with Sector V for a mission earlier that day-to stop the Crazy Candy Bunch from looting a town out west. It ended with the KND and the locals having to set up traps to thin out their numbers and then getting into a brawl with those who were left.

Obviously, the Kids Next Door came out on top easily.

"I'm just happy we got all this candy!" Mickey commented. "Those people were really nice!...And that soda bar lady totally had a thing for me!"

"No she didn't! She liked me!" Ricky challenged.

"She liked me!"

"She liked me!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Sometimes I wonder how you haven't gone insane," Firecracker couldn't help but comment to Cree, who seemed more amused than anything.

"Eh, you just get used to it," Cree replied. "Besides, they make funny stories to tell Abby."

"You excited she's finally going to be one of us?" Maurice asked, prompting Cree to light up with excitement. After repeated begging, Cree had finally managed to convince the higher ups that her younger sister, Abby, was ready to join the Kids Next Door.

"I've been waiting so long for this! I'm going to finally get to go on missions with one of my siblings!" Cree gushed.

"Well then I think Sector V's gonna be unstoppable if it's got BOTH of the Lincoln sisters on it." Firecracker commented with a smirk.

"You ever wish you had a sibling, Firecracker?" Maurice asked. Firecracker was about to point out that she already had Sector Z, only to get cut off by Ricky pushing his brother into her.

"…I think that answers that," She replied as she brushed herself off. Looking up at the street signs, she noticed the street she had to turn onto was coming up. "This is my street. See you guys soon?"

"You know it!" Cree responded as they exchanged a high five before Firecracker headed off. She'd memorized the path home, so it didn't take long.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" She called out as she entered. Her parents were sitting at the table, but Firecracker noticed someone else at the table with them. She was really little, only around three if Firecracker had to guess, and seemed to be nervous about everything. "Who's…who's that?"

"Ava," Her mother began and almost instantly, Firecracker knew it was serious. No one ever used her real name unless it was. "This is Sonia. I met her today. Her parents were really mean to her."

"How mean?" Firecracker had to ask.

"They would lock her in a dark closet if she did something they didn't like," Her dad revealed and almost instantly, Firecracker had to choke back bile. How did the Kids Next Door miss this?! "Luckily, your mother realized something was wrong and she saved her."

"Her parents are going to jail. Don't worry about that," Her mom spoke up once she took notice of Firecracker's horrified face.

"Still gonna have to tell everyone to reinforce those cells," Firecracker thought to herself. "So what's gonna happen to Sonia?"

"Well…we think she's gonna stay with us," Her mom replied. "You're gonna be a big sister!"

"But I thought I was one? To Sector Z?" Firecracker questioned, prompting her parents to both chuckle.

"Officially, in Sonia's case," Her dad replied. "Now, how about you introduce yourself?" Almost instantly, Firecracker's bravo died. Who just puts someone on the spot like that?!

"Uh…hi?" She offered the younger girl awkwardly, waving just as awkwardly. "I'm Ava. But everyone calls me Firecracker. Guess we're gonna be sisters?" When Sonia didn't react, Firecracker found herself at a further loss on what to do. Then she looked at the bag she had yet to let go of and got an idea. "You like candy?"

"…Yes," Sonia said so softly that it was almost impossible to hear.

"Then how about you take a piece from in here?" Firecracker offered as she held the bag open. Sonia flinched away at first but then noticed all the treats in the bag. Nervously and slowly, she reached into the bag, stopping for a second, but continuing upon noticing her new parents and Firecracker giving her a smile. Once she gripped the piece she wanted, she pulled it out.

"You need some help unwrapping that?" New dad asked.

"Yes please," Sonia replied. She was admittedly a little shocked when new dad unwrapped it and then immediately gave it back. She liked it here already.

"What are these?" Sonia asked as she held up one of Firecracker's latest creations.

"They're fireworks," Firecracker responded. "I make them. Basically, I light the fuse on the bottom and that makes it go flying and shoot into the air!"

"…Can I see one?" Sonia asked.

"Okay, but we'll have to go outside. Mom and dad don't like it when I set them off inside," Firecracker replied as she moved to grab some of her supplies to set up.

"But it's so dark outside!" Sonia instantly protested. Firecracker knelt down, placing her hands on Sonia's shoulder.

"Listen, I promise I'll protect you from the scary dark," Firecracker responded with a warm smile.

"How do I know you can do that?" Sonia softly asked. It broke Firecracker's heart to see her being so shy and withdrawn.

"Because it's what big sisters do," Was all Firecracker had to say. "But if you don't want to do it, that's okay."

"...I want to see them," Sonia assured Firecracker, who merely smiled and held out a hand. Nervously, Sonia took it, but managed to smile all the same. They headed into the backyard, waving to their parents as they did, and Firecracker quickly began to set up. Sonia was still clinging to her, but was managing to avoid freaking out.

"You ready?" Firecracker asked. Sonia merely nodded. Before setting everything off, Firecracker placed a set of headphones over Sonia's ears. She then lit the fuses and swiftly moved away, holding her arms in front of Sonia. The younger girl was left in awe as she watched the various explosions and colors fill the night sky.

"Wow…." Sonia exclaimed in awe. Firecracker just smiled. She could get used to this.

"Abby! Cree!"

"Hey Firecracker," Cree greeted her friend as she turned around. The first thing she noticed was the younger girl Firecracker had with her. "Who's your little friend?"

"This is Sonia! She's my little sister!" Firecracker exclaimed. "I'm like you now!"

"Firecracker…?" Sonia nervously asked. "Who's this?"

"This is my best friend, Cree and her little sister, Abby!" Firecracker cheerfully introduced her friends to her sister.

"Well, if you're as good of a big sister as you are a Kids Next Door operative, you're gonna be awesome," Cree assured her friend.

"What's the Kids Next Door?" Sonia asked. She promptly got three massive smiles.

"Sit down kid," Cree said as she sat down as well. "Because your older sister? She's got a lot of stories about her…."

Yep! Firecracker is Sonia's adoptive older sister! I wanted to reveal this in The Candygirl, but couldn't slot it in. I thought the idea of a loud mouth being the older sister to a bit of a wallflower and I went with adoption because of my own personal headcanons for where Sonia's fear of the dark comes from (a reaction that violent isn't a normal fear of the dark). Anyways, see you next time!