Chapter 6: Let it snow
Once the Ambulance arrived at the port, the two got onboard a ship towards England.
The colt enjoyed the calm ride and see, having to smile. “This reminds me of the pirate stories my mother’s friend Purple Patch read me. He’s like an uncle for me. I even dressed up as a pirate on nightmare night.”
Jack chuckled. “I guess that is your version of Halloween?” Pip nodded in response.
“You know, back in the golden ages of Piracy, one of my ancestors fought in the Royal Navy, fighting against them. It was a dangerous but adventures job as far as I know.”
“And a quite honorable too I suppose.”
“Indeed, Pip.”
In the ship reached the next harbor in the next day, allowing them to get off board. Shortly afterwards, a brown Morris Eight pulled up and a young woman with blond hair and brown eyes stepped out, followed by a young girl with blond hair and green eyes, reminding Pip somehow of Dinky.
“Daddy!” The girl hugged Jack happily.
“I’m happy to see you too, Lucy. You too, Lola.” He smiled at his wife.
“It’s nice to see you again. You mentioned you would bring a guest, where is he?”
“Right here.” He pointed to Pip who waved at his wife and daughter, earning confused looks.
“Do…I see that right?” The woman asked, blinking, feeling awkward about it.
“Yes, Mrs. Wilson, my name is Pipsqueak.” The colt replied, causing the two females to take a step back in shock.
“Did he just talk?”
“Uh, yes, my dear. It’s hard to explain, so can this wait until we are home?” Her husband asked.
“Uh, sure.” His wife replied in confusion, forcing a smile as she looked at the colt. “Hello, Pipsqueak, my name is Lola.”
The young girl stretched her hand out for a hand/hoof shake, feeling strange about it but also kinda happy to meet the young boy. “I’m Lucy, pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
As the family drove home with his young guest, the girl managed to talk with Pip about London, the radio played Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark Baby It's Cold Outside.
The pinto colt enjoyed the winter atmosphere, seeing how everything was decorated for Christmas, barely sights of the war, save for some soldiers on leave and military trucks driving around.
“There it is…London. Tell the truth. You miss it?” Lola asked her husband.
“Yes, but I missed you both the most, but anything’s better than a foxhole.”
As the car arrived at the Wilson’s home, a loud engine sound echoed in Pip’s ears, looking up into the sky, seeing two Lancaster flying overhead, making him look at them in awe.
The home of the family looked very comfortable. A telephone and radio were on the living room, plus a TV. “Nice place you have here,” Pip commented, liking it.
“Glad to hear it. Why don’t you watch some TV or listen to music on the radio until dinner is ready?” Lola suggested.
“Good idea, mommy!” Her daughter turned the radio on, It played Bing Crosby - The pessimistic character.
As the two children danced to the music, Lola asked Jack, “How did you find him?”
With a sigh, he replied, “It’s kind of a long story, my dear.”
She listed with interest, sadness overtook her the more he told her about Pipsqueak. “That poor boy.” The woman let a tear escape as she looked at the colt. “Still, his luck can't be all bad if you found him. I suppose it just goes to show there's some good in the world, even with the war on.”
“I guess you’re right.”
As dinner was ready, the young pony enjoyed every bite of the baked potatoes, it reminded him of how his mother made them. “It’s delicious!” He exclaimed in joy.
The woman smiled at the happiness of him “Glad to hear it, Pip.”
Pipsqueak then yawned, showing unintentionally how tired he was.
“It’s getting late, you should catch some sleep,” Jack suggested as the sun was setting.
“Righto, do you have a guest bed or sleeping bag?” Pip asked a bit sleepy.
“You can share my bed with me, I don’t mind it, Pip.” Lucy offered with a smile.
"Thank you, I know to appreciate it,” he replied and the two got tucked in by Lola.
“Goodnight.” She said, turning the light off, the children were asleep fast.
“Doesn’t he look like an angel?” She asked as she joined her husband in bed.
“Yeah, he is. Goodnight, I love you.” He kissed her before they both fell asleep.
The next morning, the little colt awoke with a yawn, stretching himself as a delicious smell entered his nose.
“Good morning, Pip.” Lucy said as she walked in, bringing him breakfast, a glass of juice and cereal on a breakfast board.
“Thank you, that’s very kind.” After he enjoyed it, he and the girl checked on Jack and Lola, seeing they were still asleep. “How about making them breakfast? My mother always liked it when I made her breakfast.”
“Great idea.” The young girl smiled.
The married couple was awoken by a nice smell entering their noses, seeing their daughter and guests bringing them breakfast, toast and juice. “Thank you, children.” The mother was touched by this.
After having eaten, Jack asked, “What about a tour of London?”
Pip grinned. “I would love to!”
And with that the family showed him the city, he enjoyed it greatly, the Big Ben reminded him of the Tall Toby, being identical with it.
While everything reminded Pip of home, he knew he had to stay strong for his family and friends
In the evening, they all gathered at the fire place, the children were enjoying it to the fullest. “That reminds me when I and my mother spent the cold days at the fireplace, enjoying hot chocolate and listening to music…” Pip told his hosts before yawning and falling asleep together with Lucy.
“Honey, look.” Lola pointed at something between Pip’s hooves.
It was a drawn picture of his family.
A mare with pale-brown coat, while her mane was a wheat-blonde, having Gray eyes and a pocket watch as Cutie Mark. Under her was the word “Mother.”
Next to her were three ponies, the first being a mare with a cobalt blue and dark red mane and Scarlet eyes, next to her a colt the with same coat color but a ginger/orange mane and Amber eyes. Under him was the word “Brother.”
The last pony was a stallion with purple and white patch-patterned coat, a long messy mane of indigo and silver streaks and matching eyes, having the world “uncle”.
Above them was written, “I miss you.”
The woman let a tear escape as she hung the picture on the fridge. “It’s sad how much he misses his family.”
“Indeed. But until they find him, we do anything we can to make sure he’s comfortable.” Jack pointed out as he and his wife brought the kids to bed.
“I think I have an idea for Pip’s Christmas present.” Lola grinned.
“You’re thinking what I’m thinking?” Her husband asked with a grin of his own.
As the young colt opened his eyes, he found himself in a snowy landscape, not a single pony or human in sight.
After a while of walking, he saw a house in the distance. “This time, you won’t escape!” A voice ringed in his ears, turning into the direction it came from.
Pip froze in fear as the same stallion in golden armor he had seen in his nightmare was running towards the house, slamming the door shut as he entered.
Shortly after, smoke came out of it and an explosion followed before the door was thrown open and the same stallion came out coughing. “Wasn’t my best idea to use a fire spell in a closed room with flammable material.” He removed his mask get fresh air, showing he had blue eyes and a white coat, like the Pegasus guards.
The house started to creak and the stallion looked up in shock and fear. “Uh-Oh.”
Before he could react, a roof avalanche buried him. “Well, that backfired.” Pip commented before trying to dig out the poor unicorn.
Upon succeeding, the stallion smiled. “Thank you, young one.”
“You’re welcome.”
Pip couldn’t tell why he just had helping him, it just felt so natural.
The days passed and Christmas was at the doorstep, Pipsqueak helped to decorate the tree, putting the star on the tip with help from Jack, getting lifted by him.
The radio played Dean Martin - Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! As it was time to unwrap the presents, Lucy got a doll by her parents, her mother a cookbook and knitting by her husband. Jack’s present was a wine bottle by his wife and a history book by his daughter.
“Now Pip, time for your present.” Jack said as he got it, the colt becoming curious as he noticed that it was larger than the other presents.
Upon unwrapping it, his eyes went wide in joy. “Wow!”
It was a toy pirate ship. “Thank you!” He said with glee.
“Merry Christmas, Pip!” The young mother smiled at him as he played with Lola, pretending to be a pirate.
“Yarr, avast on the port side! Avast!” He yelled merrily as he put one forehoof above his eyes in an observant gesture “Ahoy! ‘Tis Moby Duck! Thar’ she blows! Duck ho, on the port bow! Man the cannons! She’s gettin’ away! Faster yer swabs, faster!”
“Aye, Aye!” The girl replied in response.
Arr, we’re gainin’ on ‘er. She’ll not get away this time! Forty years I’ve awaited this moment!” The boy yelled with enthusiasm, letting out an evil cackle.
“Arr! Yes, I know what you’ve said about me! I know what’s been whispered on this ship! Ye all think I’m a raving madam! I...” He paused “Wait...”
It took only seconds for the entire family to break out in laughter, the pony included. “Not again! I...I misspoke! I m-meant to say ‘mad’. A madpony! I’m...pffhaha...I’m not...I’m..” He couldn’t stop laughing, remembering he had done the same error when first playing with Dinky and Tootsie.
The next days, Pip spent the time outside, building a snowpony with Loa and had snowball fights with her, having fun.
As New Year's Eve came, Pipsqueak counted down for his hosts. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy new year!” He exclaimed, clinging a glass of juice with the others, celebrating the New Year, also hoping Thomas could enjoy it too.
A few days later, Lola checked the fridge. “We’re short on milk, could you get some?”
“Of course!” Pip said, wanting to repay their hospitality in any way he could.
The young father couldn’t help but smile as he saw the colt singing happily as they walked through the town.
“Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free
Praise the Lord and swing into position
Can't afford to be a politician
Praise the Lord, we're all between perdition
And the deep blue sea
Yes the sky pilot said it
Ya gotta give him credit
For a sonofagun of a gunner was he
Shouting Praise the Lord, we're on a mighty mission
All aboard, we ain't a-goin' fishin'
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free”
As a policeman walked past Pip, the boy greeted friendly, “Lovely weather.”
The policeman tipped his hat in response. “Right as rain, right as rain.”
Pipsqueak couldn’t tell why he was so cheerful. It wasn’t his home but he enjoyed the Wilson’s company.
As the boy looked into the sky, he could swear he saw a flash. Looking closer, it looked more like a speck.
Quick as a flash, a loud explosion knocked him over with great force, like a bomb had exploded right next to him his entire body ached as if someone had stung him with thousand needles, he heard screams as he hit the ground with a cry of pain.
His hearing was muffed, his vision blurry as he faintly felt like fire was around him. Everything ached so much that he couldn’t move.
Despite the pain and screams, he wondered what had happened as everything was so sudden.
As everything went black, he could faintly hear how his name got called out.