The Whole Shebang

"Come with me!" Cherry Crash squealed, pulling Tennis Match and Mystery Mint with her. "It's going to be so epic!"

"What's gonna be epic?" Tennis Match asked, running to keep up with Cherry Crash's pace.

"And slow down!" Mystery panted. Unfortunately, the Rocker wasn't doing as well as Tennis Match keeping pace.

"But it's so exciting!" Cherry Crash told them, slowing her run to a jog.

"Are you running us all the way to your house?" Tennis Match asked. Cherry Crash shook her head.

"Just to the store. I have to pick up some supplies for our Fourth of July party."

"Our Fourth of July party?" Mystery repeated.

"Well, duh, I need you guy's help to pull it off!" Cherry Crash told them. "And with Starlight and Drama Letter and Blueberry Cake, but you know, Star's sick, and Drama Letter and Blueberry have plans with their families this afternoon."

"Of course I'll help!" Mystery exclaimed. "I just wish you would've told us sooner. The fourth is only a week away." Cherry turned to grin at her.

"Alright, let's get started! What exactly are we getting?" Tennis Match asked.

"We're getting everything you could ever want for a Fourth of July party!" Cherry Crash exclaimed. "The whole shebang! Oh look, we're here!"

Tennis Match and Mystery exchanged glances.

"Does that include fireworks?" Mystery asked.

"Of course!" Cherry Crash exclaimed.

"Alright, but don't expect me to pay your hospital bills when you get injured," Tennis Match joked. "But seriously, does our budget pay for these?"

"Sure," Cherry Crash responded confidently as the trio entered the store. "Now, spread out and get decorations!"

Tennis Match went to get some flags from the back of the store. Mystery picked out red, white, and blue necklaces, hats, and streamers.

Meanwhile, Cherry Crash went up to the salesperson.

"Do you have any fireworks?" She asked. The girl eyed her suspiciously.

"You're not going to use them for anything illegal, are you?" She asked. Cherry Crash tried not to roll her eyes.

"No, I just want them for my Fourth of July party!" She responded. "Nothing illegal." She smiled at the salesperson pleasantly. She started at Cherry Crash for a few more moments.

"How many do you need?" She finally asked.

"How many do you have?" Cherry Crash countered. The salesperson sighed and bent down to pick up a box of fireworks that had been apparently sitting underneath the counter.

"I'll take fourteen," Cherry decided. Just then, Mystery and Tennis Match came back, arms loaded with decorations and Fourth of July accessories. Cherry Crash waved them over.

"We'll be paying for these as well," Cherry told the salesperson. She blew her spiky green hair out of her eyes.

When they were finished, they left the store. Cherry flipped out her phone.

"Did I mention we can't have the party at my house?" She asked. Tennis Match gasped at her.

"You're not going to host your own party at your house?" She asked.

"Oh, relax, I know someone without any siblings who won't mind me using his backyard." She dialed Flash Sentry's number.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Hi Flash! This is Cherry Crash!" She exclaimed.

"Cherry! What can I do for you?" Flash asked.

"I was wondering... you know how my mother is so old-fashioned, right? I'm planning a Fourth of July party, so could I please use your backyard?"

"You want to use my backyard for your party?" Flash repeated.

It'll have fireworks!" Cherry Crash coaxed. She heard Flash sigh.

"Alright, Cherry."

"Yes!" She exclaimed, jumping in the air and pumping her first. "Thanks, Flash!" She clicked her phone shut.

"Hey girls!" She said to Tennis Match and Mystery. "The party's gonna be at Flash's place!"

"He agreed?" Tennis Match asked incredulously. "Oh wait, of course he agreed. He's always looking for popularity points."

"Well, where the party is held won't make much of a difference, will it?" Mystery asked. "Besides, we should be nice to everyone."

"I wasn't being mean to Flash," Tennis Match huffed. "Anyway, let's get this stuff to your house, Mystery. You live closest to Flash."

"Alright," Mystery agreed. "Let's go."

"Should I leave a message for Blueberry?" Cherry Crash wondered as they walked. "She could make great invitations." The girls continued talking about the party for the rest of the trip.

~

On the Fourth of July, Cherry Crash drove Drama Letter, Starlight, and Blueberry to Mystery's house. Tennis Match came on her own. They each wore a red, white, and blue outfit. Drama Letter was even wearing a beret with blue stars on it! The friends all grabbed boxes and left for Flash's house.

"This shall be fun!" Drama Letter exclaimed.

"Definitely!" Tennis Match responded excitedly. She shifted the boxes in her arms.

Is everyone in Canterlot High coming?" Blueberry asked. "You guys never told me the guest list."

"Sorry," Cherry apologized. "Yeah, everyone's coming. Plus some older siblings and younger siblings."

"Mint Flower's coming," Tennis Match put in.

"So is Sonata," Mystery added, glancing behind the group, making sure her bossy older sister wasn't following them.

"Girls, we should plan what we're each going to set up," Starlight said. "I can do the table clothes."

"I'll do streamers!" Blueberry volunteered. Cherry Crash nodded.

"I have to talk to Flash. He thinks his band should play," she explained. "It's my party!"

"But it's his backyard," Blueberry pointed out. "Can you see why he thinks he has the right?"

"I guess."

"You could both play," Drama Letter suggested.

"We'll think about that, Drama Letter," Mystery promised. "It's a good idea!"

When they arrived, Flash's mom let them into the backyard. The girls immediately spread out to set up.

"Can we sing?" Drama Letter asked as she poked flags into the ground.

"Sure!" Starlight agreed. The two launched into a song about patriotism and stars and stripes while the other four girls looked on in amusement.

"Maybe you should sing instead of me!" Mystery joked. Everyone laughed, then went back to working.

At one point, when they were almost finished, Flash came outside to watch them.

"This won't be dangerous, right?" He asked. Cherry Crash rolled her eyes.

"You don't ask that until the point of no return? No, of course there won't be anything dangerous," she replied, setting down a bowl of pretzels. "Anyway, Drama Letter suggested that my band and your band play together. How does that sound?" Flash laughed.

"Oh, you're serious?" He asked when he noticed Cherry Crash glaring at him. "Nah, my band's already practiced. We can't change our plans."

"This is her party, Flash," Tennis Match pointed out, stepping up next to Cherry Crash. "She has as much a right as you to play."

"Yeah," Blueberry and Drama Letter agreed. Flash grabbed a flag and held it up like he was surrendering.

"Fine, fine," he grumbled.

"Yes!" Cherry Crash and Mystery high fived.

"Guys! Some of the guests are here!" Starlight came running into the backyard. Sure enough, she was followed by Sonata Dusk and Golden Harvest.

"Remind me why you're hosting your party in Flash Sentry's backyard?" Sonata asked Mystery, an uninterested look plastered on her face. Mystery rolled her eyes.

"Hi guys!" Golden Hazel exclaimed, grabbing a flag and a handful of pretzels. "Happy Fourth of July!"

"To you as well, Golden Hazel!" Drama Letter responded to her fellow Drama Kid.

More kids began to arrive, coming into the backyard and grabbing a flag. When Flash's band mates all showed up, they began setting up.

"This is Flashlight, performing alongside the Strikehearts!" He called into his microphone.

"Hey guys!" Mystery added. "Are you ready to kick up this Independence Day celebration?"

Yeah!" Came the crowds response.

~

"This is so cool, Cherry!" Cloudy Kicks exclaimed as Cherry Crash passed her.

"I agree," Rose Heart added, and she didn't give praise lightly.

"Thanks, guys!" Cherry Crash replied excitedly. She felt a tap on her back, and turned around to see Blueberry and Starlight.

"It's getting dark," Blueberry pointed out, sipping on her lemonade. "It's almost time for the fireworks."

"Totally," Cherry Crash agreed.

"You have them, right?" Starlight asked before taking a bite out of her home grown watermelon.

"Uh, yeah." Suddenly, Cherry Crash wasn't so sure. "I'm going to go check on the fireworks." Before Blueberry or Starlight could reply, she speed walked away.

She had taken the fireworks from Mystery's house, hadn't she?

"I know I did," Cherry Crash said aloud. "I remember, I put them... somewhere."

"Cherry Crash?" Cherry Crash turned to see Sweet Leaf, looking a little embarrassed.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"Um, I accidentally might have lit up some of those fireworks on the side of the house. By accident."

"I left them on the side of the house?!" Cherry exclaimed. "Thanks, Sweet Leaf! I totally forgot! We were going to light them soon anyway!" Just then, fireworks exploded overhead. Everyone gasped in awe at the unexpected sight.

"Yes!" Cherry exclaimed. "This party is a success!"

As she danced around, Tennis Match, Blueberry, Drama Letter, and Starlight exchanged glances.

"She does know that fireworks aren't the most important part of the Fourth, right?" Tennis Match asked. The other three shrugged. Blueberry walked up to the microphone as the fireworks died down.

"Happy Independence Day, everybody!" She exclaimed. Everyone clapped. Some of the younger kids waved their flags.

"It looks like Cherry Crash got what she wanted: a great party and fireworks," Mystery noted, coming up to stand with her friends.

"The whole shebang," Starlight agreed. The girls high fived.

"Best party ever!" Pinkie Pie squealed, popping up behind them. "Besides mine, of course!"

"Aaah!" The group shrieked at her unexpected appearance.