Dragonfire 🌩 On The Wings Of Thunderbird⚡️

The Next Day

Outside the Friendship Castle, Pipsqueak was hard at work, finishing the airship he and Captain Celaeno have been working on for the past weeks, or so.

Pipsqueak was hammering the nails away, securing every wooden tiles in place, while getting a few bruises here and there.

Just then, the rest of the Knights came passing by, with their pal, Spike Draco.

“Ahoy, Pip!” Button called out. “What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to be searching for Celaeno?”

"I am,” Pip replied. “But first, I need to get the Thunderbird up and ready,” Pip pointed to the side of the ship, where its name was carved. “Princess Luna said she will help me look for Celaeno." Pip explain.

Spike looked at Pip, curiously, "Auntie Luna told you that?" He asked.

"Aye, that she did,” Pip replied, hoisting a lifeboat up. "Now if you landlubbers will excuse me, I’ve got a ship to finish.”

Spike and the Knights all looked at each other, exchanging looks of concerns for their pirate enthusiastic, fanatic friend.

With a series of nods, Spike changed himself into his dragon form as he flaps his wings and picked up a huge wooden beam.

“Then let’s help ya out, Pip,” Spike offered. “If auntie says this ship will help you find Celaeno, then you’ll need all the help you can get.”

“Yeah!” Rumble added as he and Button picked up a crate and brought it onboard. “Besides, Celaeno is kinda like our captain, too.”

“Plus, she’s our friend,” Rainbow Dash’s voice added, as the cyan pegasus made herself known, together with Applejack, and the McColt family. “And we’d do anything to help out a friend.”

“Darn tootin’,” Applejack smirked.

Pipsqueak smiled, “Thanks everybody,” He said in gratitude.

“C’mon, everyone!” Applejack began. “We got a ship to finish! Yee-ha!!”

With that, everyone all went straight to work, finishing the Thunderbird, getting her ready for her first flight.

It was only half an hour, but with the determination and their strong support for their friend, the whole ship looked nearly complete.

“That’s it everyone!” Pipsqueak complimented. “Keep up the good work! Button, raise that sail a bit. Tender, quit fooling around with those ropes!”

“Help,” Tender moaned, having gone and tangled himself in a web of ropes.

As he watched his friends hard at work, Pip decided to join in to get his ship done faster.

A wave of nostalgia washed itself over Pip as he thought about some times when it’s just him and Celaeno, and back when the Thunderbird was incomplete, they would still use the ship as their hangout, or base of operations.

He tipped his captain’s hat on his head as he recalled the time when he learned the origin of the ship’s name.

Past

Captain Celaeno was busy carving some letters onto the side of her unfinished ship's hull. Pipsqueak walked over to her side to read the name she had carved: "The Thunderbird."

"Wow, that's a cool name for this ship!" Pipsqueak commented.

"Glad ya thought of it that way Pip," Celaeno smiled, turning to Pip. "Feels like the appropriate name for her, when I make my greatest comeback to the skies."

"Sounds powerful," Pipsqueak replied.

"Aye, that it is. Just like the very beast itself!"

“Really?” Pip asked, his curiosity piqued. “What’s the thunderbird like?”

Celaeno tipped her hat as she began, "The Thunderbird was a majestic and legendary bird creature that only appeared on the darkest of days and the cruelest of nights. Legends say that it is dark all over, with eyes of blue fires that struck fear in the faintest of hearts. It rides on thunder clouds, and with every beats of its great wings, lightning bolts rained down from the skies, striking those unfortunate, beneath its shadow."

“Wicked!” Pipsqueak said in awe.

Celaeno chuckled, before she turned stern. “As soon as this ship be finished, then like the cracking sounds of thunder, I’ll see to it that my greatest comeback strikes fears into the hearts of my enemies. Even the Storm King and Cerulean Hunters will tremble at the mention of my ship’s name.”

Looking down, Celaeno could see Pipsqueak looked rather intimidated, if not albeit frightened, “Aye-aye, captain.”

Celaeno chuckled, “At ease there first mate,” Celaeno reassured with a pat on the boy’s head. “All part of the spirit of adventure is all,” Celaeno playfully ruffled Pip’s head. “Well what are ya waiting for? She ain’t gonna get in the air herself! Get back to work!”

“Aye-aye, Captain!”

Present

Pipsqueak was so lost in thoughts of the memory to notice Applejack walking up to the boy, "Pipsqueak?" Applejack asked, startling the boy. "Sorry, Sugarcube. Didn't mean to scare ya."

"It's okay," Pip replied, taking the moment to brush himself. "What's up?"

"We just stopped for a lunch break," Applejack answered, showing everyone had all stopped to share a meal together, before she handed him the apple pie she was carrying on her back. "Thought ya might be hungry."

Pipsqueak looked down and sure enough, his stomach was growling, "Oh yeah," Pip replied, as he gratefully accepted the pie. "Thanks AJ."

Applejack smiled as she and Pip both cut a slice of the pie for each of them, and they ate away. While eating, Applejack decided to strike up conversation, "So, Pip," She began. "I was wondering if you could tell us more about you and Captain Celaeno. You must really admire her, seeing how you're really determined to find her."

"Well, I am her first mate, after all," Pip replied.

Applejack shook her head, "I think it goes deeper than that."

Knowing what Applejack was getting at, Pip nodded, "Okay," He scratched the back of his head. "Yes, I'll admit, ever since we first met Celaeno, I think she's bloody brilliant, being a pirate and all. That and the fact she's unlike any pirates I've ever read about in books and stuff. It's just how she always looks out for her crew, the many adventures she's had, and how brave she is when she stares danger in the face. Who wouldn't want someone like her for their captain?"

Applejack smiled, "Sounds to me she's a really special friend to ya, isn't she, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

“That and more,” Pipsqueak replied.

Past

It was during the time when Fear Haunter came to terrorize all of Ponyville. In fact, that was the time when both Pip and Celaeno truly began to bond with each other.

"Pip?" Celaeno spoke quietly.

Pip jumped up in surprise, as he looks up, "Oh, hey captain," he greeted sadly.

"You alright there lad?" Celaeno asked with concern, sitting next to him.

"I'm fine," He replied, wiping a tear. "It's just a really bad dream, I had."

"About?" She asked trying to understand. “What’s it about? C’mon, Pip. Ya can tell me.”

He sighs, "My parents." Celaeno raises an eyebrow. "I guess I should explain," Pip began. "You heard that my parents moved to the U.K. and left me at my cousin's right?" Celaeno nods, "Well that was half the story. On their way to Britain, the jet they were on crashed into the ocean. And while there were survivors, my mum and dad...weren't one of them." He finished that last part with a tear.

Celaeno was shocked, that this boy lost his parents, "Do...you have these nightmares often?" She asked, hoping she isn't being insensitive.

"Once in a great while," He replied with a shrug. The next thing he knew, Celaeno wraps an arm around him, and pulls him closer.

"I'm sorry," She said in a somber, yet somewhat maternal tone. "I didn't know."

Pip was taken aback by this strange development. Especially from someone he's grown to admire, and idolize. And above all, a pirate captain, "C-captain-"

"Please Pip, just call me Celaeno," She assured him.

"O-ok." He complied.

"So," Celaeno spoke, wanting to get back on topic. "Tell me, Pip. Does anyoneelse, know about this?"

Pip looked down for a moment, before he sadly replied, "There's cousin Featherweight, and my uncle, and auntie," Pip closed his eyes, as he continues, "But it's not something I like to talk about."

"Well little Pip," Celaeno replied. "Ya can always talk to me, if ya like."

Pip looked up at Celaeno, stars trucked, "Do you mean it?" He asked hopefully, to which Celaeno responded with a tip of her hat. Seeing the sincerity in the parrot's eyes, Pip was surprised, "Gosh, thanks," Pip spoke, still sniffling a tear. "That's awfully kind of you, Captain-um, I mean, Celaeno."

Celaeno playfully ruffled Pip's hair, "Pip, I may be a pirate," Celaeno smiled. "But I know love."

"You do?" Pip asked.

"Of course. How do ya think I'm captain of my hearty crew?"

Pip was silent for a moment, before he spoke, "Gosh. I always thought pirate captains have to be scary and intimidating in front of their crews. Otherwise, there'd be a mutiny."

Celaeno chuckled, "Well, not this captain," she spoke. "Unlike these other pirate captains you spoke of, I've looked out for my crew, and they've looked out for me. Aye, I'd trade away all the gold doubloons, and my jade peg leg, just to secure their lives." Celaeno looked solemn, as she finds herself missing her pirate crew even more. "I miss them, just as much as ye miss your mama and papa."

Pip looks up to her in sympathy, "It must have been hard losing your crew."

The anthro parrot sighs, "I'll admit. There hasn't been a day gone by that I worry for them," the kind parrot took of her hat for a moment, as she continues, "They're tough birds, don't get me wrong. But still..." She stares at the dimming fireplace, before she continues, "As we'd say, birds of a feather, stick together. They're my flock, my family. The only family I have left," Celaeno muttered at the last part. "Without them, I'm just flying solo."

Pip placed a comforting hand on Celaeno's claw, "If it makes you feel better, I'd consideryoua part ofourfamily."

Celaeno looked down at the little boy, feeling touched by his attachment, "Yes, I know," She replied, with a small hearty smile.

After a few minutes of silence and just enjoying each other's company, Celaeno spoke up, "I'm off to bed," She got up. "Care to join me?"

Pip's eyes widen, "Really?" He asked, to which she nods. Without a second thought, Pipsqueak accepted the parrot's offer, as he followed her, close behind.

Once they reach Celaeno's room, Pip notices a book on the night stand. He picks it up, "The Dark Tower," He read the title. "You read?" He asked the anthro parrot.

"Every now and then," Celaeno shrugs, "Though I prefer books from Earth, as the authors there aren't scared to pull punches, especially that Stephen King fella."

"You should try books written by Jeremy Robinson!" Pip recommended.

She smiles, "I'll keep that in mind," She replied, while hanging her hat on a nearby rack, before she took her earring off, and her jade peg leg, before getting into bed, with Pipsqueak.

As they got into bed, Celaeno spoke up, "Hey Pip?"

"Yeah?"

"About you joining me crew, I'll...think about it."

Pip couldn’t help but smiles, "Thank you." While holding Celaeno’s arm close, Pipsqueak snuggles up close, feeling himself lost in the warm, and soft texture of Celaeno’s body, beneath her feathers.

In truth, it reminded him of the comfort he once had, from his mother before she left.

Present

"Oh," Applejack mused. "So she's kinda like another mother for you then."

Pipsqueak blushed, "Yeah, so?"

"No need to feel ashamed, Sugarcube," Applejack reassured. "If she was able to fill in that empty void where yer mom used to be, there's no need to be afraid of addressing her as such."

"Maybe," Pipsqueak replied. "But for now, I'm just gonna refer to her as Captain, or Celaeno for now."

Applejack chuckled, "Alright, Pip."

After they were done with their pie, Pip went back to join the rest of their friends to finish the Thunderbird, "Hey Applejack?" Pip began. "Thanks. It's really nice to talk about Celaeno, once in awhile."

"No problem, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled, while putting her hoof affectionately on her hat. 'I've had my shares of losing someone I loved,' She thought about her father, and how his hat kept her close to him.

After some times, working on the ship, the Thunderbird was complete. In appearance, it looked just like an average airship, with a few differences. Its hull was painted darker than a stormy night, with a large dark balloon to match the appearance of a thundercloud. To further add the ferocity of this ship's appearance, the prow of the ship was decorated in strong metals, with the figurehead in the shape of a fearsome eagle, with metallic spikes aligned along the hulls of the ship, and the two sails that attached to the sides, and a large propeller at the stern.

The ship was being prepared to launch, bound to the ground by a web of ropes, with Pipsqueak standing behind Pinkie's party cannon.

"Care to do the honors, Pipsqueak?" Pinkie Pie asked, handing the boy a small champagne bottle.

Pipsqueak nodded his head as he loaded the cannon into Pinkie's cannon. Clearing his throat, Pipsqueak spoked loudly, "Attention everyone! I would like to thank you all for taking part in the completion of the Thunderbird! I only wished Captain Celaeno was here with us now to witness her christening. But now, I shall board the Thunderbird and pray to Faust that she shall guide me to our captain so that we may sail together for more great adventures, and the Thunderbird shall be captained by its true captain!"

Everyone all cheered as Pip lit up the cannon, "By the power invested in me, I christened thee, the Thunderbird!!" Pipsqueak declared, as he fired the bottle, shattering upon impact.

"Okay!" Spike shouted, as the McColt family all cut the ropes, freeing the ship, allowing it to float in the air, while remaining close to the ground. Everyone all cheered in celebration of the ship's launch.

Pip smiled, feeling proud to himself, while wishing Celaeno could be there to witness it, "Alright, Pipsqueak," Rainbow Dash began, as she picked the boy up. "It's time for the Thunderbird to have her first maiden voyage!" With a flap of her wings, Dash took the boy behind the wheel.

Soon, Spike came onboard, together with the rest of the Knights, "Take her away captain!" Spike said.

Rumble smiled, as he sets the Thunderbird into action.