Author's Note

Just to be clear first, this indeed takes place in the same timeline of Dragonfire.

It's time for Pipsqueak to have his chance to shine, with Captain Celaeno.

Prologue

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

It was a bright sunny day. Mighty airships flew across the sky, under the flags of mighty thunderbolts. Little did they know, however, they were pursued by pirates.

And the most famed of these pirates, is the brash and bold Captain Celaeno.

With a slash of her sword, Celaeno emits a loud screech, signaling for her crew to fire harpoons onto an airship they were targeting, latching their airship onto their target, before they all swung themselves across. In retaliations, the guards onboard the ship conjured staffs, with electricity pulsing from one end before they fired lightning bolts at Celaeno and her band of anthropomorphic parrot pirates.

Reaching into her jacket, Celaeno pulled out a musket, which she used to open fire on the guards. Though, she carefully, and accurately aimed for the staffs, disarming the guards of their weapons, while her crew continue their assaults, with blades, hooks, and fists.

Soon, Celaeno came for a landing on the deck, joining with her crew, "Ya-ha-har!" The parrot squawked, as she unsheathes her sword, and pointed it at one of the guards. "Prepare to be boarded, ye sky dogs!"

"Sky pirates!" The guards exclaimed.

"Avast, ye scurvy scallywags!" The parrot began, pulling her blade away. "I be Captain Celaeno, and we are fearsome pirates!" Holding her sword at their throat, Celaeno threatens. "Give us ye loot, or feel our wrath!"

"N-No way!" One of the guards whimpered.

"The Storm King's Rulebook says w-we ought to guard our cargo to the end," In response, Celaeno presses her sword closer, digging into the skin of the guard's neck. "T-Then again, we could consider a temporary suspension on the rulebook."

"Mighty wise of ye fellows," Celaeno smirked as she sheathes her blade away. "Now, what cargo are ye hauling? Gold doubloons? Precious jewels? Valuable knick-knacks?"

The guards looked at each other, before one of them hesitantly speak, "Wallpaper paste and bags of sands?"

The pirates looked gravely at the guards before they all shouted, "YAR!!"

"Ye hear that mates?" One of them exclaimed. "Sands!"

With that, the pirates went to work, hauling the cargo from the captured ship, onto their ship. Once they came onboard, the pirates shoved off, with their latest steal.

"Another fine haul, eh Captain Celaeno?" One of the parrots asked.

Breathing in the warm sunny air, Celaeno sighed in content, "Indeed it is, Mullet," She spoke. "Surely there's never been as brave or as noble band of adventurers to sail the skies." Looking behind her, Celaeno mused, "Some of us may be missing a few parts, sure....." She noted to some of her crew's missing limbs, counting the jade crystal where her right leg used to be. "But that doesn't make us broken." Turning her attention back to Mullet, Celaeno continues, "We're not just a crew, Mullet." She said. "We're a family. And we've made this ship into a home."

"Maybe so," Mullet said in agreement, before his expression turns solemn. "But the ship needs repairs and restock. If we're going to keep flying, we need to bag more than paste and sand."

Celaeno sighed, "You're right. We can't keep scraping by going after cargo haulers," She admitted.

"We could go after bigger ships," Mullet suggested. "Follow the trade routes into the Storm King's territory. Find richer targets-"

"And put ourselves in greater danger!" Celaeno interrupted, with a stern tone. "We've survived this long because we go after smaller ships. The more we harass the Storm King, the more he'll notice us. And the more likely he'll want to destroy us." Turning back to face Mullet, Celaeno continued solemnly, "I admit, we can't keep flying with so little. But going after bigger prizes means bigger risks. And I won't put my crew in danger."

Mullet smirked as he replies, "That's a worthy sentiment, captain," He replied. "But I don't think a better opportunity would simply fall onto the deck."

Celaeno looked away, and back out onto the horizon, struggling with her troubled thoughts. It wasn't long, when she and her crew suddenly felt a strong gust of wind.

Before any of them could react, their ship was struck.

"What the blunder?!" Celaeno exclaimed, as she and her crew fell on deck, while holding onto any party of the ship for dear life, barely preventing herself from falling off. Frantically looking around, Celaeno looked through a ripped fabric of her airship's torn balloon, to see a glimpse of something reflective.

However, that's not her major concern. She and her crew are all going down with their ship.

"Captain!" One of the her crew asked, frightfully. "What do we do?!"

Looking around, trying to process the situation together, while forming a plan. Celaeno quickly grabbed a piece of fabric, and ropes, forming a somewhat makeshift balloon for herself and her crew, passing the rope from one parrot to another.

"Hold on tight, me hearties!" Celaeno ordered, as she and her crew all embraced together, while bracing themselves for the impact of their landing.

During their plummet, Celaeno squinted her eyes a little, hoping to get a last look at the sky before she was about to meet her upcoming demise. Though she wasn't sure of it, she could've sworn she saw, what appeared to be a giant metallic vulture, diving towards her and her crew. Behind the vulture, was a huge dark mass of thunderclouds, in the shape of a bird, with lightning cackling from its mighty wings, beak, and eyes.

With a loud screech, a huge thunderbolt was shot from the giant bird, before Celaeno's whole world was a flash of white light.

Snapping her eyes open, Celaeno jolted awake, panting heavily, before she begins to ease, when she finds herself, back in the safety of her room.

Placing her claws up to her head, Celaeno rubbed her temples together, "I would never put my crew in danger," Celaeno muttered. "And still, danger comes for us."

The next morning, Celaeno was walking through the streets of Ponyville, somewhat tired, but sharp. All the ponies looked at her and greeted her, to which she was too troubled and tired to reply.

All that, however, is about to change, when a certain little boy came to her.

"Morning, Celaeno!" Pipsqueak greeted eagerly, which was enough to lift Celaeno's tired mood up.

Celaeno turned her head, and looked fondly at Pipsqueak, "Aye, good morning to ya, Pip!" She smiled, as she and Pipsqueak shared a tender hug together.

While Pipsqueak isn't much of pirate, nor is he a parrot or a pony, he does, however, possess the spirit of an adventurer of her standards. Something she finds amusing. Even more so, considering how lonely Pipsqueak really is, after the death of his parents, and how he carries the pain, on his own, and throughout his adventures.

"So, captain," Pipsqueak began, looking up at the parrot. "What should we do today?"

"Now Pip," Celaeno spoke, crossing her arms. "What did I say about referring me as captain?"

Pipsqueak looked hesitant, while at the same time, unsure, "Gosh, I don't know," Pipsqueak spoke. "I mean, it feels kinda weird to just refer to you, casually."

"Not to worry there, Pip," Celaeno assured. "Ye may be my new first-mate. But I've given you the privilege to call me by my real name."

Pipsqueak nodded as he saluted, "Aye-aye, captain. Uh, I mean, Celaeno," He corrected himself. "So, what's our first objective?" He asked.