Rupert and his friends discover a secret chamber underground in the woods with hieroglyphics etched into all the walls and a pedestal containing a giant ruby red egg that hatches as soon as Rupert holds it in the sunlight. Rupert assume responsibility of caring for the mysterious young bird, whom the Professor learns from studying the writings is a "firebird," with exactly the kind of powers the name implies and that can never be exposed to water. That information comes about five minutes too late, after Rupert's new pet has burst into flames and spread them all over Nutwood. Torn between the need to protect his village and to protect his new friend, Rupert reaches out to the only person he can think of for help — the Bird King. He has to speak to him before the villagers injure the firebird after another series of fires breaks out... and despite being taken prisoner again as soon as he arrives.
This episode provides examples of:
- Arbitrary Skepticism: With one exception, giant talking birds living in the magical Bird Kingdom insist firebirds are just a myth.
- Bright Is Not Good: The firebird's tail feathers sparkle in the sunlight like diamonds before bursting into dangerous flames.
- Call a Smeerp a "Rabbit"/Call a Pegasus a "Hippogriff": Calling a phoenix a firebird fits either one or both of these.
- Continuity Nod: The Professor's (redesigned) Sky Cycle makes a reappearance.
- Cue the Sun: The firebird is injured by contact with a little water but healed by the rising sun.
- Hot Wings: Averted in exchange for hot tail feathers.
- Imprinting: The firebird immediately bonds with Rupert, who was holding his egg when it hatched.
- Kill It with Water: Unsurprisingly, water is lethal to firebirds.
- The Owl-Knowing One: Subverted — The owl guards assume they're this ("He can't trick us — we're owls!"), but they’re... not.
- Owls Ask "Who?": It's the owl guards' favorite word.
- The Phoenix: A mythological Single Specimen Species of fiery bird. It's a phoenix.
- We Named the Monkey "Jack": Podgy says the bird reminds him of his Uncle Bernie, and the name sticks.
