//------------------------------//
// Up River 
// Story: Tugs of Seaquestria 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

It had been an exceptionally harsh winter, but thankfully the worst of said winter was over. The frozen waterways and ice packed quays were finally starting to thaw, making them navigable to shipping once again. As the situation was now improved, the transport network finally got moving again. Goods that had been held up for days was loaded onto either trains or boats and moved off towards their destination, the customers showing a level of understanding for the delays I only wish they showed during other times of the year. Another popular industry had also restarted operations, and that was logging. My tugs had been contracted to haul thousands of logs downriver from the Klugetown sawmills to the harbour. This was cold, dangerous work, and as such I put Big Mac in charge of operations. A massive logjam had formed one wintery morning, blocking the tugs and fresh logs in.

Silverstream was crossing the harbour when she accidentally steamed into it.

"Careful!" Big Mac called. "Logs ain't no joke. They can be very dangerous."

"Yup, this is one nasty jam," Silverstream sighed. "It's going to take us a while to clear this mess."

"Indeed," Big Mac added. "Logs respect nobody. They're so dangerous they can sink anythin', even tugs!"

"I had no idea that there would be so much to learn!" Silverstream grunted, as she had another go at the logs.

"There's more yet," Big Mac told her. "Logs need ta be roped just right. If they're too slack, they float off uncontrollably. If too tight, they rub against each other as they float and then they catch fire due ta the friction."

"I am surprised," Silverstream noted. "Wet logs catching fire. How confusing."

"It's surprisin' even when it does happen," Big Mac admitted. "And it'll happen ta this mess if we can't shift it. Let's go!"

Silverstream then had an idea. "Big Mac?" she asked. "Would going around the back of the jam and knocking a few out clear the problem? At this end, we're just ramming the logs back in, which isn't going to clear the jam."

"Ya can give it a try," Big Mac conceded, "but don't say Ah didn't warn ya. It might not work."

Silverstream began a perilous journey round the log pile, bashing into a few on the way. Unfortunately, she had forgotten that logs could easily gang up on her, and as she made a bid for freedom, several of the logs came free and fell down, blocking her route ahead and behind her.

"Get outta there!" Big Mac shouted. "There's a chain reaction amongst the logs!"

It was too late. The logs had completely wedged Silverstream in. "I'm stuck!" she called.

"Full power on yer engine!" Big Mac told her.

"I'm already doing that," Silverstream replied. "Fat load of use that is. I'm well and truly stuck in here, and you did warn me. So there's that."

"Ah'll need help ta shift this lot," Big Mac admitted. "Ah'll head upriver and see if Ah can find anybody. There's got ta be at least one tug about."

"And find help quickly, if you wouldn't mind," Silverstream added. "This is not exactly the nicest of places to be wedged in."

Just then, Apple Bloom the goods engine arrived, whistling to them cheerfully. "Mornin', y'all!" she called. "What got ya inta such a sticky mess, Silverstream?"

"Falling logs and bad luck," Silverstream replied.

Big Mac took over proceedings almost immediately. "Apple Bloom, we gotta tug stuck in the jam. Head back down the river and get some help!"

"On it, sir!" Apple Bloom replied, and began heading back down the line. She was running light engine, so could safely operate bunker first.

Big Mac steamed back over to the jam. "Apple Bloom's a speedy little engine," he said. "She'll get down to the town faster than Ah ever could, and then she can get help. Hopefully, she'll see Skystar or somebody out on the water."

"In the meantime, I guess I need to sit it out," Silverstream said, before sniffing. "Wait a moment, can I smell smoke?"

"Oh no." Big Mac looked very worried. "Ah was concerned that might happen. The heat's buildin' up in the logs, as Ah said. Too much friction."

"Oh dear," Silverstream replied. "I hope somebody gets here soon."





Skystar was taking on supplies when she saw Apple Bloom blast into town, blowing her whistle loudly. "Is everything OK, Bloom?" she asked. "You're whistling a lot!"

Apple Bloom took a deep breath. 
"There'sbeenanaccidentupriverandSilverstreamisjammedinthelogsandBigMacaskedforhelpsocanyou-"

"Sorry?" Skystar asked. "Slow down, if you please."

"There's been an accident up river, and Silverstream is jammed in the logs, and Big Mac asked for help so can you go up and help him?" Apple Bloom sucked in lots of air after that. "Sorry fer that. Ah were goin' full throttle the entire way!"

"Oh no!" Skystar cried. "I'll get up there right away!" She steamed off as Apple Bloom continued her journey towards the city.





Back at the logjam, Big Mac was still trying to shift the logs, to no avail. "It's no use," he said. "Ah can't get these logs to move!"

"That's alright," Silverstream replied. "But the smoke seems a bit thicker now. That must be a lot of friction going on back there based on the density of the smoke!"

Big Mac suddenly saw a flash of orange. "The jam's on fire!" he shouted, and he set about ramming the logs again. "Ah have ta get you outta there and now!"

Skystar steamed in just in time. "Big Mac, what happened here?"

"No time to explain, Skystar!" Big Mac snapped. "Get ta work movin' these logs before Silverstream becomes the meat on the biggest barbeque around!"

"I'm made of metal," Silverstream, confused, replied. "How would I be meat?"

"Never mind!" Big Mac interrupted. "Skystar, swing around the back and push. Hopefully that'll clear the logs out!"

Skystar swung round and pushed with all her might. However, her less powerful engines weren't exactly doing her any favours in that regard, and the jam barely moved.

The flame was now very noticable. Suddenly, a familiar whistle echoed through the harbour.

"Oh no!" cried Skystar. "It's Capper with his dynamite!"

"Tell him to stand well clear!" called Silversteam. "I don't want an explosion on top of a fire?"

"Silverstream stuck in the logs?" Capper asked. "Most unfortunate, how would that happen?"

"None of your business!" Big Mac snapped. "Now scra-"

"Wait, wait!" Skystar called. "I have an idea. Capper, can you spare some dynamite?"

"Sure. A little bit would throw enough logs clear to get him out without making the fire worse. Sure thing cat, I'm the friend you need."

Big Mac was concerned, as he knew that out of control logs could be very dangerous, but he agreed to the plan. After all, nobody else was coming up with any better ideas, after all. "Get it in there quickly," he said. "Silverstream's probably quite toasty in there!"

"That's one way of putting it!" Silverstream replied.

Capper nodded. "On my way. I think two charges ought to do the trick." He puffed over, and placed it very carefully, putting some within the logs, and some on top of the logs. "Charges placed, lighting the fuse!" As many tugs as possible cleared away from the area as the fuse continued to burn.

"I only hope to Faust that this works," Big Mac said. "If it don't, we'll all be in big trouble."

With a pair of explosions, the jam was blown apart, and the logs were thrown well clear of the danger zone. It seemed as though disaster had been averted, as the trapped tug could not now be towed out. "That was a big bang!" called Silverstream. "But I'm out!"

"Look there, the fire's out too," Capper pointed out. "The explosion drew in so much oxygen that the flames went out."

"Great work, Capper!" Skystar called.

"Ah think ya mean, 'Capper, yer an idiot'!" Big Mac called. "Move clear, get back! The jam's breakin' up and floatin' downriver!"

And it was. A mass of logs went towards the damming barges and tossed them aside like toys. The force of the explosions had turned the logs into a giant battering ram, which thundered downriver at dangerous speeds.

"If those logs reach the upper edges of the harbour, they'll flatten anything on the shoreline! It'll be a disaster!" Skystar cried.

"I'll head upriver and get some help," Capper started, and began to set off... only for Big Mac to block his path.

"Give me one reason why Ah shouldn't sink ya, right here, right now," Big Mac said. "This mess is yer fault."

"I didn't see you object to the dynamite plan!" Capper retaliated. "Can't we all blame each other later and clean this mess up first?"

"You have a fine tongue, little tug," Big Mac snarled. "Ah should-"

"Guys?" Silverstream called. "We've got bigger problems right now, such as the logs currently going towards the town!"

Big Mac backed off. "Go get help," he said to Capper. "Then never come back down here. Idiot."

Capper steamed off before Big Mac could say anything else, clearly rattled by the big tug's words. Suddenly, Apple Bloom skidded to a stop at the dockside.

"Why not send Apple Bloom to warn the others?" asked Silverstream.

"Great idea!" said Skystar. "She can run faster than the current can carry the logs! Apple Bloom?"

"Yeah?" the yellow tank engine asked.

"Run back to the port and warn the others of what's coming! Hopefully they'll be able to evacuate in time!"

"On mah way!" Apple Bloom called, blasting her whistle and setting off.

"Don't stop for anything! Blow through red signals if you have to!" Skystar added.





Apple Bloom puffed as hard as she could, trying her hardest to overtake the logs. She blasted the warning sequence at every signal; four short toots, to indicate a runaway train that needed priority clearance. She was aware she would get in trouble for this, but the port was counting on her. She ran as quickly as she could, her wheels slipping on icy rails. But at long last she reached a downhill section and drew level with them. Before long, she was running ahead of them, running faster than she had ever been designed to run and puffing and panting as she raced along. The logs were destroying everything in their path. They had collected a pier on their travels, and the tide swept them along at terrifying speeds.

Apple Bloom blasted into the upper harbour going at top speed, and skidded to a stop just before the buffers, where Mistmane, Blueblood, and Sky Beak were moored. "Where did she say to take Pipsqueak?" asked Mistmane.

"She said to take Pipsqueak to the demolition factory," Sky Beak replied.

"Are you sure he didn't mean the factory due for demolition?" Mistmane enquired.

Apple Bloom shouted over to them to get their attention. "There's a log tide comin' this way! Ya need ta get outta here, now! Big Mac, Skystar, and Silverstream are on their way, but they won't get here before the logs!"

Blueblood gasped. "Good Heavens!" he cried. "If those logs hit, they'll tear the harbour apart!"

"Why not try and stop them here?" Sky Beak suggested, as Sugar Belle arrived from the Harmonising Heights sugar plant. She was towing two big, heavy barges loaded with sugar.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Mistmane said. "Those logs would puncture our hulls and sink us!"

"If we were to position at right angles, yes," Sky Beak replied. "But if we were to position ourselves, Sugar Belle, and those heavy sugar barges on the horizontal, we could divert the logs onto another stream where they'd just pile up and stop!"

Mistmane's eyes lit up. "Brilliant idea!" she cried. "I'll move Pipsqueak into position as well to add extra weight, and Blueblood can tow his barge into position. Are you going to join us, Sugar Belle?"

"Absolutely!" she said. "This place is my home, and I intend to save it, no matter what." Blasting her whistle, she moved her barges into position. The tugs were out in front, with the sugar barges behind them. The empty barge and Pipsqueak sat behind that.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Pipsqueak asked.

"Either it works, or we never work again," Mistmane replied.





Big Mac, Skystar, and Silverstream proceeded at full steam towards the upper harbour, but they couldn't keep up with the logs. They watched in horror as the battering ram tore a pier apart. Which then, promptly, exploded.

"Is there anything around here that doesn't explode?" Silverstream asked.

"Not that Ah know of," Big Mac sighed. "Come on, let's keep going! That lot's gonna make a pretty big mess when it hits the quayside."





As the mass of logs hit the sector, something suddenly occurred to Sky Beak. "Oh no! I'm on the wrong side, and the logs are here!"

"Get ready!" Mistmane called. "Are you all set?"

"Ready!" Blueblood called.

"Ready!" Sugar Belle added, and sounded her whistle to indicate such readiness.

"I have no choice but to be ready!" Sky Beak replied.

The logs closed in.

"Steady!"

The logs, rattling and bouncing, got closer and closer.

"Steady!"

The logs were almost on top of them.

"NOW! ALL ENGINES AHEAD FULL!"

With a rattle and a roar, the engines of all four tugs went to full power, their chimneys belching smoke and their propellors (and in one case, paddle wheels) spinning furiously. The logs crashed into them, bouncing slightly as they hit the tugs and the barrier. The unstoppable force had truly met the immovable object, and the logs began to glance down the side of them and into a side stream.

"It worked!" Blueblood cried. "The logs are glancing off of us and into the stream! Huzzah!"

"I'm being dragged off!" Sky Beak called, and put his engines into reverse. The logs detached from him and collided with a building- which promptly exploded.

Big Mac's whistle echoed through the harbour as he came to a stop. "Is everyone alright?" he called. "Sugar Belle? What are you doin' here?"

"I helped with the dam that stopped the logs," she replied. "I'm fine, and so are the others."

When Skystar and Silverstream arrived, they explained all that had happened, and everybody was relieved that a bigger disaster had been averted. Big Mac looked over to the channel. "That factory owner's in fer a nasty shock," he said.

"On the other wheel, it'll be easier to pull down," Mistmane noted.

"I feel rather demolished myself," Sky Beak said. "Ouch. Never knew logs could hit that hard."

"You took the worst of it, but you saved the day once again," Blueblood smiled. "You're lucky to have survived, but you're a credit to us all. Three cheers for Sky Beak!"

That day, Silverstream and Skystar learned why Big Mac had such respect for logs, and we all gained new respect for Sky Beak. Without his bravery, the entirety of the upper port would have been destroyed.