//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Trapped 
// Story: Bridle City Port 
// by Magi Tail Welkin 
//------------------------------//

There were times believe it or not when the Star Ponies and Z Manes took on a big job together. One of those jobs occurred when a large shipment of timber and tanning bark, a bark of certain trees used for tanning hides into leather, need to be taking down from the sawmills upriver, a task which required constant teamwork and cooperation.

However, Zug could not take part as he towed a wagon full off scrap metal, and made little progress.

Along the way, he met up with Zip and Zak, his follow Earth Pony called over "Hey Zug!"

"Hey Zug," Zak said stopping and taking a puff of his cigar "Zorran's going mad wait for you, where you been?"

"Captain Zero to me to believe this bunch of metal to the Breaker's Yard."

Zak grimaced "You'll see Zorran at Hitchville, he’s not going to like it."

"I'm only carrying out orders, Zorran can't blame me."

"Ha," Zip laughed as the two-started moving again "don't you believe it."



A small white Unicorn, roughly Sunshine's size, with a carrot orange mane, called Billy Shoepack worked upriver delivering essentials like ropes, fuses and fireworks from Hitchville to the logging camps. He towed his load to one of the sawmills where OJ and Big Jock loaded their wagons with logs, OJ noticed him and nudged Big Jock "Well look who's here."

"Hey Star Ponies," Shoepack began "don't wish you carried something more exciting than wood?"

Big Jock eyed Billy's wagonload "No thanks, just get that stuff away from here, your welcome to it."

"Firework's exciting stuff, makes lovely big bangs! Harmless if you know how to handle it like I do.", he took off his yoke and walked round to the back, OJ blinked and became concerned "Here you're not unloading next to us are you?"

"Afraid so OJ." Billy said peering out from the edge "Don't worry if it goes up we all go up." Then he started laughing.

"Hey?" Big Jock questioned sternly. Billy flinched and held his hoof up "No it's safe only joking."

"You'd better be." The large Earth Pony replied.



In Hitchville half way Upriver Zug still struggled with the load of scrap he towed behind him.

Zorran walked up and turned bemused "What are you doing with that, we're all on log detail remember?"

Zug stopped to catch his breath "Sorry Zorran I did remember, Captain Zero said to take these to the Breaker's Yard on my way."

"On your way? It's a mile further Upriver, I've been waiting for you so long I think my manes starting to grey."

"We've got to do what the Captain says Zorran, unless they get these today they won't take it, they've a lot of breaking up to do."

"So, do you," Zorran muttered "if you don't get moving."

"I can't go no fast." he panted "the hill, it's only going to get stepper as I continue on you can see that."

"Alright then," Zorran said flapping his wings "let's get it there and get rid of it, fast as we can.", as the de facto leader of the Z Manes flew to the back of the wagon Zug looked back and smiled "Oh thanks Zorran."

"Never mind the thanks." Zorran said pushing into the back of the wagon and creating a wind storm "Get moving," he called, "get speed up. Full speed, come on, come on!", Zug felt himself being pushed by the wagon as he tried to out run it "Don't push so hard Zorran I can't keep ahead."
"Go faster, more speed."

"I haven't anymore." Zug panted, presently they entered a narrow canyon, the road right beside the river.

"Pull, your tows going slack.", at that moment one of the wagon wheels hit a big stone and broke off, the cart swerved.

"Pull tight Zug you fool!"

"I'm trying! Hard as I can! It's no good."

"Hold it! Hold it!"

"It's got to go." He threw his reigns off, the wagon crashed into the gorge, soil and rock shifted, one rock fell, then another, and another, before long a landslip covered the wagon and separated the two Z Manes.

Zug called over "The gorge is blocked."

"Of course, the gorge is blocked, idiot."

"I'm trapped this side what can I do?"

"Wait there, unclaimed salvage." The Pegasus called back.

"But help could be ages getting here."

"You've got company, all the Stars are on your side." He chuckled "That mean us Z Manes have all the harbour to ourselves haven't we, Captain Zero will be pleased.", Zug blinked and tried to jump other the mound of rock and earth but failed "Don't leave me here!"

"Sorry Zug, we'll have to manage without you." And Zorran flew off back downriver laughing.

Zug paced back and forth along the narrow space behind cliff and cliff. Every so often he peered down at the water of the river continued to flow but be halted by the blockage.

The sound of clopping took his mind of the water of the river and he looked up.

Top Hat and Sunshine pulled a pair of wagons, the snobbish Unicorn spoke his mind "Oh sweat Celestia, what in Luna's name, we can't get downriver."

Zug sighed "It's not my fault." He said nervously "What can I do?"

Sunshine looked at the landslide and sighed "Even together our magic's not going to clear that away."

Top Hat groaned "Oh that means we're stuck up here."

"Aye, probably." The smaller Unicorn said and turned to the Earth Pony "Are you alright Zug?", Zug nodded and explained about the wagon and the landslide.

Sunshine sighed "Aye, once it starts to go you cannot stop it.", Zug nodded "We found that out."

Top Hat frowned "Puts the blinkers on get back to Bridle City."

"And unload the delivery." Put in Sunshine, he took his yoke off and turned around "Right I'll go back upriver for help, cranes or something.", as he walked away Top Hat called "Be as quick as you can, will you?" to which Zug nodded.



Down in Hitchville, Zorran became surprised as a familiar pony walked into town. The Pegasus stopped "Uh, well, well, well. Hello, Ten Bits."
The teenage Earth Pony stood "Zorran, what are you doing here?"

"I thought you were at the logging camp?", Ten Bits smirked "Yeah, wrong again Zorran, I was pulled out for this special delivery, to Hitchville," he said as he pulled his wagon to the front of a warehouse "Machinery for cutting timber.", Zorran frowned 'I thought all the Stars were upriver?"

Ten Bit turned his wagon round and walked up "Here what's been happening Zorran?"

"Uh, there's been an accident, a massive landslide in the gorge."

"What! Oh, you mean no one can get through?"

"Yeah that's right, you got it Ten Bits, oh my wrong quick."

"Oh no, we'll get behind schedule, all me mates are trapped Upriver."

"And Zug the fool."

"Yeah, I'll leave my wagon here and get off up there. Zorran are you going back to port to get help?"

"Of course," the Pegasus said flying downriver "to tell Captain Zero don't threat."

"Tell Captain Star, won't you?"

"Of course, I will."

"And Salvage?"

"Captain Star, Captain Zero and a salvage team, leave them all to me."



Shoepack walked down the road, his wagon almost empty towards Hitchville to resupply, a pony he recognised came around the corner 'Hello its Sunshine.' He then called out "How's life in Bridle City Port hey? Sunshine?"

The Unicorn with the redder mane looked up and smiled "Billy Shoepack hey!" he suddenly turned serious and sounded rather desperate "Hey where's the biggest crane around here? Is there still one in Trot Town?"

"Afraid not it was scrapped, what did you want it for?"

Sunshine kicked the ground before explained about the landslide "Do you know anyone how can help?"

Shoepack pointed to himself "Right here," he then pointed back to his wagon "See that case?"

"Yeah?" Sunshine read the red lettering on said case before rolling his eyes at the predictability of his friend "Oh on not fireworks, Billy?"

"What do you mean oh no? That'll blow a way through any landslide. I've always wanted the blast someone out of trouble. Useful stuff fireworks, great fun too."

Sunshine frowned and narrowed his eyes "Sounds dangerous."

"Not scared, are you?", Billy started to pull his wagon and got to a fast pace "Come on, come on!"



Ten Bits walked up to the landslide 'Oh no, this is serious. Hope every-pony's alright.' He got closer and shouted "Any-pony there? Any-pony that side?"

From the top the landslide Top Hat peered over "Oh, I say hello! Have you come to save the day Ten Bits?"

"If I can." The Earth Pony said craning his neck back "I'll have to go to Hitchville for a crane." He turned to the river and called over "The water level's falling this side must be building up on yours, is it?"

Top Hat looked down. Presently he stayed up high because Zug, while struggling pushed him up to look over. Top Hat saw Zug's hooves deep in water, he turned back to Ten Bits "So it appears yes."

Ten Bits nodded and turned around "I'll be back as soon as I can then."

"Right," Top Hat said nodded "but do hurry up.", and Ten Bits galloped off.

From the over side of the landslide OJ and Big Jock sighed, having passed Sunshine they knew what to expect be seeing his OJ could help but speak "What a mess isn't it, Captain Star will go mad!"

"Well I did tell him OJ," Top Hat said getting down from Zug’s back, he looked to the Z Mane and shook his head stating "working with Z Manes just doesn't work."

Zug grew nervous and stuttered "It wasn't my fault, ask Zorran."

Big Jock narrowed his eyes "One of Zorran's little schemes?" he nodded "I thought as much.”

"Never mind that," OJ said "let's just get out of here."

Top Hat smirked 'And now for the voice of experience.'

OJ tapped his chin and turned to look at the load, he turned back "Tell you what, we'll make a battering ram, let's lash three or four logs together, then we get behind then and ram the landslide."

Zug smiled "Great OJ, yeah!"

Big Jock looked at the logs "Might work, well let's try it."

Top Hat sighed "Oh well, I'll try anything." And walked up to his wagon and muttered "However unlikely."



Back down in Hitchville Ten Bits found Little Ditcher, and his A-frame Crane, he worked at dredging the river bank.

The teenager Earth Pony called over "Hey, Little Ditcher?"

"What's up Ten Bits?", Ten Bits came along side and explained the situation.

Little Ditcher nodded "My dredging, I'll just finish up on this part of the bank and I'm yours."



Meanwhile, up at the landslide the trapped ponies got the lashed-up battering ram pointed at the mound of earth and rock and took up positions for maximum impact.

OJ turned to the others "Right, no-pony push till I give the word, then keep going even when it hits. Ready, steady, go.", the group went into a gallop and bashed into the mound, however they hit a large rock and stopped abruptly, Zug run straight into the landslide and wailed, he looked down and his hoof and tried putting weight on it, but it stung.

They managed to make a hole in the mound but failed to shift it.

The Stars could only hope help would come soon, but they never expected what Sunshine brought.

"Ah, we're here OJ.", Top Hat turned around and frowned his eyes and exclaimed "Sweet Celestia, who that?"

"Hi you fellers," Shoepack called "heard you need a nudge."

Big Jock rolled his eyes "I thought Sunshine had gone for a crane not a lark like him."

"Yeah Sunshine." OJ said "Haven't you some-pony else coming?"

Before Sunshine could say anything, Shoepack spoke up "We don't need any-pony, I've got enough fireworks to blast the," he saw the arrangement of the landslide "Oh great! it's already got an indentation! I'll blow it apart for you. Easy you'll all great through."

Top Hat eyes widened and he back away from the carrot topped Unicorn 'Or be blown to the moon and back!'

Little Ditcher finished with his dredging and he and Ten Bit hitched themselves to the A-frame crane, "Ready when you are Ten Bits."

"Right," Ten Bits look left and right see if anything came along on the roadway and saw a familiar pony coming up quickly 'What's Zorran doing back here on his own?'

The dark red Pegasus called over as he flew past "I wouldn't try that some like that on a rockslide that size it might crush you.", he chuckled as Ten Bits called back "Oi Zorran, where the salvage team? We can't move this on our own. Oi come back here!"

"I'll do the best I can Ten Bits." Little Ditcher said causing the teenager pony to get confused "Oh yeah course, come on Little Ditcher you can do it.", as they moved forward and slowly pulled the crane Ten Bits looked at the Z Mane speeding towards the blockage 'I should have realised Zorran wouldn’t alter a rescue, he must want me mates out of the harbour.'



Sunshine helped Zug clear as Shoepack set up the fireworks, "Ready for the big bang?" the carrot top unicorn called.

Big Jock leaned to OJ and muttered "This could be a disaster OJ.", to which the oldest pony on the group retorted "We've already got a disaster."

"Here we go!" Billy called back "Billy Shoepack's big moment!"

Top Hat huddling at the very back looked to the sky 'I hope so for all our sakes.'

"Stand by," Billy said, he used his magic to light the fuse and began running back while counting down from ten, the water of the blocked river splashed high as he galloped.

Big Jock looked back at the other 'I hope we're far enough away.'

Billy jumped back as he finished "Three. Two. One. Fire!"

Nothing, Billy's face fell "What's happened?", silence fell for another moment until OJ spoke "You tell us."

"Probably the fuse got damp that's all. One volunteer to go and see.", Big Jock frowned and raised an eyebrow "What do you mean one volunteer?"

"While I fix another fuse-wire.", OJ looked to him "Needs an expert Billy."

Top Hat smirked 'That so you say is you.'

Billy trotted forward again "Right, leave it to me, none of you move.", Top Hat looked at the other "Any-pony going to move? I not going to move."
Presently Billy reached the firework and examined it both nodded "I was dead right, just a wet fuse.", he heard Big Jock mutter something as he checked his other fuses "No problem, it'll go this time. Sky high!"

Top Hat shook his head 'Sky high is too high by far. I wonder who this Shoepack has managed not to blow himself up before now?’



Zorran landed and walked up to the mound and smirked 'Great couldn't be better. Forgot it Ten Bits, no A-frame going to shift that an inch.'
As he got closer a voice started counting down from time, one he didn't recognise, so he began to call out for his team member "Zug, Zug? Answer me you fool!"

"Three. Two. One. Fire!" The mound of earth blew up in a flurry of colourful explosions and a torrent of water, strong enough the Pegasus felt himself get swept away and his wings get water logged.

He heard cheers and the sing of praises and the Stars, and Zug leaning onto Sunshine approached.

Zorran however, found his leg stuck between a bunch of large rock, it hurt, and with his feather soaking he couldn't get out.

Big Jock walked up followed by the other "Oh you've got problem there Zorran.", they group started laughing and Sunshine and Zug walked up "Hey Zug," the small Star Unicorn said "doesn't Zorran look funny? Suck between those rock."

"Well I," and the Z Earth Pony started laughing as well. Zorran spoke as he struggled "Stop laughing, stop laughing it's not funny."

"Well we think it is." Sunshine said in between his laughter "Don't we Zug?"

"Yes," Zug said before shaking his head "No!"

"Alright," OJ called "joke's over, back up and pick up our wagons, problem solved."

Billy put his hoof to his chest "Thanks to me, you didn't believe I'm expert, did you?"

Sunshine nodded and rubbed the back of his neck "Aye true."

Top Hat spoke his mind "Well there was an element of luck I suspect. But I must say I am quite impressed.", Billy turned around and walked to his wagon and hitched himself up before heading downriver "Well I can't play anymore games with you, I've got real work to do."

"Bye Billy." Sunshine called.

Zorran scowled "Never mind him, what about me?"

"In trouble Zorran?" called a voice everyone turned as Ten Bits and Little Ditcher arrived, the teenage Earth Pony smirked "Looks like you got crushed instead of Little Ditcher's crane.", and the laughter start up again much to Zorran displeasure.