So…I know it's been a while, but school has been kicking my butt and I needed to focus on that. Also I've been having trouble coming up with plots. But now that I have some time and have a new original plot idea, we're going back into the story! And we're focusing on the other major toy brand in the show that it seems to forget exists!

"Dang. They really increased the number of vendors this year." Firecracker thought to herself as she walked around the conference hall. Every year, a decently well known YipperCon would come into town and Firecracker made sure to carve at least one day out for herself to attend and have some fun. Sure, she wasn't as into the game as some people she knew, but she enjoyed collecting the cards and had a decent amount of talent when it came to the game. Sometimes her father would come and, when she was younger, she'd often find some operatives to go with. This year, however, her father was busy, meaning she was on her own.

"I miss being a kid," Firecracker said to herself with a sigh as she watched a group of kids sit down to enjoy a game of Yipper. Shaking her head, she kept walking. No sense in making herself feel sad. Besides, she's ran several parties lately and had some money to burn. Might as well try to collect some new cards or some other merch.

"Hey, isn't that the fireworks lady that shot a firework at you?"

"Hey yeah! I think it is!"

Turning around, Firecracker saw two of the Sector V boys running up to her. "Hey, aren't you guys Abby's friends?"

"Yeah that's us!" The blond one, Wally, declared proudly. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I think," Firecracker replied as she dug her personal deck out of her pocket. Sure, she wasn't that good, but you didn't go to YipperCon without your deck. "Just because I'm sixteen doesn't mean I can't still enjoy this stuff."

"Aw cool!" Hoagie cheered as he and Wally pulled out their own decks. "Looks like you've had some of those cards for a while!" Firecracker looked at her deck. Several of the cards were visibly worn down, especially when compared to Hoagie and Wally's much newer decks.

"Well I have been collecting them much longer than you guys," Firecracker admitted. "I've got a whole binder at home, but I only really play with my favorites. Not that good, but I'm not a beginner either."

"You wanna play with us?" Hoagie asked.

"Yeah! Numbuh 1 says we're not supposed to hang out with teenagers, but he likes you and you're cool, so I think we can hang out with you!" Wally declared. Firecracker chuckled at that. She had a feeling they weren't supposed to tell her that, but she'd play dumb. She'd worked with her fair share of idiots back when she was an operative.

"Alright. Let's go see if one of the tables is open," Firecracker declared as she pointed towards the area set up specifically for people to have Yipper match ups. In truth, she knew that she probably shouldn't be hanging out with two current operatives, but so long as nothing bad happened and she didn't give away that she knew about the Kids Next Door than she let on, then she was probably fine.

Besides, if Abby was close with these kids, then they had to be good.

"Dang, you're good," Firecracker admitted after yet another game. She had played several games of Yipper against both Hoagie and Wally and, while she had managed to beat the former a couple times, Hoagie proved himself quite the challenge.

"Hey, thanks!" Hoagie declared proudly as they both cleaned up their cards. "I've been working on my strategies."

"I could tell," Firecracker replied. "I would, but my parties keep me busy. Fireworks don't grow on trees, ya know!"

"Aw man! That would be so cool!" Wally complained, causing Firecracker to chuckle once again. The kid was a riot! She had no doubt his stupidity probably would have driven her up the wall if they were on the same team, but since they weren't, she could enjoy it from a distance. Still, there was something that was bugging her about her last visit to their school.

And it wasn't the boys themselves.

"So…I've got a question for you two," Firecracker began. "Those five weirdos that only wear school uniforms, what's their deal?"

"Oh! You mean the Delightful Children?" Hoagie asked.

"That's their group name?" Firecracker questioned, not that she let the boys answer. "From what I saw of 'em, they certainly weren't delightful. Better name would probably be, like, the "Creepy Brats" or something like that." Almost instantly, Wally and Hoagie burst out laughing.

"Oh man! I gotta save that one for the next time I see 'em!" Wally managed out in between his fits of giggles.

"But yeah, they're the big jerks of the school," Hoagie explained. "They suck up to the teachers, pick on all the other kids and always side with the adults, even when they do stuff to make kids miserable."

"They sound like mini adults," Firecracker replied dryly. "Seriously, they're the first kids I've ever met who didn't like my firework shows! Like, I'm pretty sure you can't hate my shows!"

"I didn't!" Wally declared proudly.

"Heh. Thanks," Firecracker said. "Like, I know kids love my shows, but it's still good to hear it."

"So…do you have to pay for your shows? Or can we get one for free?" Hoagie asked.

"Sorry kid, but just because I like you doesn't mean I'm not making you pay me. My stuff is expensive!" Firecracker apologized. Even if she did do free shows, she had a feeling that she would not be allowed to attend whatever KND event the boys wanted her to entertain for. Both because she was a teenager and because she was in the Teens Next Door.

"Dang it," Wally grumbled. "Would have loved a private fireworks show."

"Hey, just try saving your allowance! Maybe you can afford me!" Firecracker assured the boy. She was only half joking.

"But you should probably keep an eye out for the Delightful Children!" Hoagie warned her, causing both Firecracker and Wally to turn back to him. "Even though you're a teenager, they might still try to sabotage one of your shows!"

"Oh yeah! I didn't even think of that!" Wally admitted. "Hey, you got a picture or something we can give to her?"

"I think so. Hang on," Hoagie declared as he began to dig through her pockets. Firecracker was about to say that it wasn't necessary only for Hoagie to pass a photo to her. "This is what they look like in case you forgot!"

"Don't think I could to be honest," Firecracker replied as she took the photo, not looking at it just yet. "So, you boys up for another round or two?"

"For su-" Hoagie began to say, only to catch a look at the clock. "Hey when did it get so late!? We're gonna be late for the meeting!"

"Crud! Numbuh 1 said we can't be late for another one!" Wally exclaimed. He and Hoagie quickly rushed to gather up all their cards and headed out as they both tossed a quick goodbye over their shoulder.

"Heh. I can see why Abby likes them," Firecracker noted with a smile. She was glad Abby had a good group of friends who were actually her age. Even if some of them weren't…the brightest. But then again, Ricky and Mickey could be quite the idiots as well. Shaking her head, she turned to look at the photo that Hoagie had given her. Even in photo form, the Delightful Children were creepy, between their blue eyes that Firecracker swore were glowing, their unfeeling smiles and the way they stood together in a group.

Yet why did something about them feel so…familiar?

"Ugh, it's that same weird feeling I got when I saw them at the show," Firecracker grunted as she stood up, shoving the picture and her cards into her pocket. Holding her hand to her head, she headed back towards the merch booths, hoping she could still score something good.

And maybe figure out why these weirdos were giving her such a weird sense of deja vu.

So I wasn't sure about this chapter, but I thought it would be cool for Firecracker to get to know some of the members of Sector V a little more personally. If I can come up with a plot for her, I'd do one for Numbuh 3 too (I don't think Numbuh 1 and especially Numbuh 5 need one since, obviously, Firecracker knew them back in the KND). Anyways, next time, we pivot back to canon events! See you then!