//------------------------------//
// The Great Hippogriffia Freeze-up 
// Story: Tugs of Seaquestria 
// by The Blue EM2 
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It was the coldest winter I could ever remember, and I've lived through a lot of cold winters. The tugs could still move about, as most of the ice had been cleared, but supplies such as coal and oil were severely interrupted. I chose to move my tugs to the outer edges of the port, to ensure we could still get into and out of the harbour to carry out our duties. The reason for this was due to the bad weather. The fog and thick ice meant that big ships couldn't enter the harbour, and as a result had to moor outside it. Not only that, very few ships had radio or radar. One morning, I received news on the wireless that the Princess Cadence, an ocean liner, had radioed in and requested an ocean going tug to tow her as close to the port as possible. I, of course, dispatched Ocean Flow to carry out the task.

Ocean Flow set off on her way, and stopped at where Sunset Shimmer was positioned. Owing to the fog, her light and the nearby lighthouses were working double time to keep everything visible- as much as possible. "Good morning, Sunset!" Ocean Flow greeted cheerfully.

"Thanks for the sentiment, but the day could be better." Sunset sighed. "Have you seen Skystar anywhere?"

"She's somewhere in the bay. Why?"

"She supposed to be bringing oil for my light. My fuel guage is about three quarters empty, and I need to be able to guide the liner in, after all."

"And I can't tow the liner in if I can't see her," Ocean Flow noted. "I'll be bringing the Princess Cadence in on the night tide. If I can't see the liner, or I can't see the light, she doesn't come in."

"Then what is taking her so long?" Sunset asked. "It's most unlike her."

"The company that maintains the fuel barges was storing most of theirs in a storage pen, and the gates to the pen are now frozen shut. They're trying to melt the ice on the gates with blowtorches, but until then there's fewer barges to go around, and more demand for them than ever. But I'm certain they'll be hear soon. Keep smiling, Sunset!"

"I always do, Ocean Flow," Sunset smiled in return. "Despite my concerns."





Elsewhere, Skystar and Silverstream were searching for a fuel barge. They were desparate. I had explained to all the tugs that if the Princess Cadence was unable to navigate in close, she would abandon the run and move onto the next port up the coast. This would not only mean that we would be unable to service the liner, but people whose jobs depended on liner traffic would go hungry too. They were determined to ensure that the liner got her supplies, even if that meant bringing the liner's supplies out to the edge of the bay.

"Where are the fuel barges?" Skystar cried out in frustration. "There must be some somewhere! Why aren't they at the fuel depot?"

"Most are iced up in the holding pen," Silverstream explained. "Most of the barges holed up where nobody can get to them plus a great demand for fuel equals fighting over the barges with renewed vigour."

"Some must be out there in the port!" Skystar exclaimed. "Come on, let's go find one!"





Sky Beak was in a terrible muddle. The liner would have rubbish to offload; several hundred tons of it, as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single empty barge. The bad weather had created a backlog of garbage, and the garbage company could barely cope with the sheer weight of rubbish coming in off the city and rivers. Even Chrysalis was full, and the matter was not helped by Silver Spoon breaking down. "There has to be usable barge somewhere!" Chrysalis said.

"There's a half empty one over there," Sky Beak pondered.

"Then use that instead of me," Chrysalis replied. "Quickly now, before the liner arrives!"

Meanwhile, Skystar and Silverstream were still searching for a fuel barge, and not finding one either. "Come on!" Silverstream exclaimed. "How hard can finding a barge be?"

"We must get that fuel, no matter what!" Skystar added. "No fuel means no light. No light means no liner. And no liner means a lot of people go hungry tonight." Just then, she spotted Tempest Shadow sailing past with a fuel barge. "Bingo."

"Are you sure she'll give it to us?" Silverstream asked.

"The Storm Fleet's profits are directly connected to the liner business too, remember?" Skystar pointed out. "It's in her interest as well as mine to let us borrow the barge. Let's go, after her!"

Both my tugs and the Storm King's tugs had the contract to supply the liners that came into and out of the port. This meant that so many tugs fighting over so few supplies would always cause problems. Tempest parked the barge at the fuel dock. "Full load, kerosene," she ordered.

The operator of the fuel dock, a woman with green skin and  purple hair, nodded. "Sure thing! It'll take a while in this cold, though..."

"I'll be happy if the fuel's in there, Starlight," Tempest replied. Just then, she heard Skystar whistling.

"Hey! Tempest! Can we have a fuel barge?"

"This one's occupied! We've just started pumping, and we'd need to pump her out in order to let you guys use it. It's not possible. Besides, there are other fuel barges around."

"We need fuel for Sunset's light!" Silverstream protested. "If there's no light, the liner won't get in!"

"Well, the liner also needs fresh kerosene for its heating systems and lighting," Tempest replied. "So you are not getting this barge as we're filling it. Hurry it up already!"

"I did tell you it would take a while in the cold..." Starlight replied.

"Indeed! You'll have to wait!" Silverstream said, in a sing song voice.

Skystar then saw Mistmane moored nearby. She was very wise, and usually knew what to do in a given situation such as this. "Mistmane?" she called.

The paddle steamer glanced over. "What's happening, you two?" she asked.

"We're in trouble!" Skystar replied. "We're in dire need of a fuel barge, and we can't find one. We need fuel for Lily's light, and Tempest won't hand over her barge!"

"It's the only one we've seen," Silverstream said. "It's bizarre, really."

"Doesn't she know that there will be no liner if there's no light?" Mistmane asked. "Honestly, the things that youngsters overlook!"

"Wait!" Silverstream said. "I just remembered. There's an emergency fuel barge kept nearby in the old dock. It's always filled up ready for emergencies, and this is an emergency!"

"Quick thinking indeed, Silverstream," Mistmane smiled. "Go and get it!"

Skystar and Silverstream set off, but unfortunately Sonata and Aira overheard. "What was that?" Sonata asked.

"They're getting a fuel barge so they can get to the Princess Cadence first, and we lose the money if that happens," Aria replied. "Let's go!"





"There it is!" Silverstream called. "See? Light barge!"

"Nice work!" Skystar called. "How'd you find this creek? I'd never have located this place!"

"I used to work up river, remember?" Silverstream replied. "Now then, let's take that barge and bring it back."

"I'll push behind. If we work hard, we'll get to Sunset and refuel her in time, before dark!"

What they didn't know was that Aria and Sonata had stolen a fire barge, and had wedged it across the creek. The loud sound of a barge bumping against the sides of the creek caught Skystar's attention. "Hey, what gives?"

"Get out of that one, you two!" Sonata laughed.

"Get out of what?" Silverstream asked, confused.

"You can't beat us to the liner now," Aria snorted, and moved off.

"That's really stupid of you!" Skystar replied. "Now the liner can't even find the port!"

"Too bad, so sad!" Sonata laughed, and the two Storm tugs steamed away laughing.





Elsewhere, Ocean Flow met the Princess Cadence and attached her tow line. She was going to tow her into the port if all was well. Both vessels exchanged a series of horn and whistle blasts to communicate.

Unfortunately, things weren't well. Tempest's usual short temper was now even shorter as the fuel barge was taking forever to fill up. She glanced over to see Aria and Sonata approaching. "Why are you still here?" she demanded.

"Well," Sonata began, "we thought that you'd like to know that-"

"I don't care," Tempest snapped. "Get to Sunset's position now, and prepare for the liner's arrival."

Skystar and Silverstream were still stuck in the gulley. "Well, that's it," Skystar said. "We're stuck."

"Not for much longer," Silverstream replied, smiling.

"What do you mean?"

"We can't get out at low tide, as you can see. However, when the moon floats over, the water levels will rise to the night tide. That'll allows us to sail over the top of the barge in front of us!"

"But by that time the liner will have gone!" Skystar protested.

"No she won't," Silverstream replied.





As the light fell, most of the tugs gathered at Sunset's location, their spirits falling too. Sunset, ever the optimist, tried to cheer them up. "I haven't had this much company in a long time," she said. "A pity I'm running on fumes here. I can't run my light without the fuel, after all."

"Where are Skystar and Silverstream?" Mistmane huffed. "They should have been here hours ago!" She looked over as Sky Beak puffed in with a barge. "Sky Beak, have you seen Skystar anywhere?"

"Can't say I have!" Sky Beak replied. "The waterways are very quiet at this time of night. I think most people are either at home or taking refuge at the pub."

"Even the dockhands?" Blueblood asked. "It sounds rather unlike them to be drinking when a liner is due in."

"It's non alcoholic today," Sky Beak explained. "They do that to ensure they aren't drunk on shift."

"They'll have no liner to work with if I can't shine a light!" Sunset despaired.

"Does anybody have a bright idea?" Mistmane asked.





As Ocean Flow and the Princess Cadence approached, Skystar and Silverstream were still stuck in the gulley. "I think the level's risen enough for us to get over," Silverstream said.

"And the level will only continue to rise as we go," Skystar added, a smile forming on her face. "Let's give it a shot! The worst that can happen is that we get stuck."

"Right, away we go," Silverstream said. "Remember, if you catch the bottom of the bed, keep going with engines full."

The two tugs valiently puffed away, steam pouring from their chimneys. They knew they didn't have long to get out to sea. If the liner couldn't follow the light, she'd break off and go to a different port which, amongst other things, would mean no work and no pay for thousands of people. Back at Sunset's location, the tugs were all thinking of ideas, but couldn't think of one.

"There appears to be a distinct lack of bright ideas, Mistmane," said Blueblood.

"Does anybody have a stupid idea?" Mistmane asked. "At the moment we'll take any ideas we can get."

"I've got one!" Sky Beak said. "I'll set fire to my garbage."

"What? Why?" asked Blueblood.

"A fire produces light as well as heat," Sky Beak pointed out. "The Princess Cadence will see that and come into port."

"Brilliant!" Sunset cried. "That's a fantastic idea! Go for it!"

Sky Beak steamed to a safe distance, and then ran his engines to full. Sparks flew from his chimney and eventually ignited the garbage in the barge.

"Bravo!" called Blueblood. "Sorry for doubting you, old chap!"

"Excellent idea!" Mistmane called.

"A beacon fer the liner, genius move!" Big Mac called. "Ya really are a fountain of good ideas, Sky Beak!"

"I just hope it burns for long enough!" Sky Beak replied.

Out at sea, Ocean Flow saw the giant fire burning. She had figured out that Sunset's light was not on for whatever reason, and this light was supposed to guide them in. "Princess Cadence, adjust bearing. Marker light is confirmed for docking operation."

Suddenly, the light went out. "Keep it burning, darling! We still need it for docking or we'll run aground!"'

Back at Sunset's location, Sky Beak desperately tried to restart the fire, but just then Skystar and Silverstream blasted in with the emergency fuel barge, puffing and panting. "Sorry we're late!" Skystar panted.

"No time to talk!" Mistmane replied. "Get the pipes connected and start pumping fuel to Sunset. Sunset, the second so much as one drop of oil enters the fuel tank, you get that light running. Got it?"

"Yes, Mistmane!" both replied, and the highly hazardous process of pumping fuel began. Sunset's light whirred into life, shining across the sea like a beacon of hope to all who saw it.

"We have our bearings!" Ocean Flow called. "Superb work, Sunset!"





Sunset glanced over as Tempest steamed in with a barge. "Hello Tempest! Got some fuel for me?"

"I'm afraid not," Tempest replied. "Kerosene for the liner's heating and lighting systems."

Aria and Sonata arrived moments later. "How did you get past the fire barge, Skystar?" Sonata asked.

"Go back to sleep, Sonata," Aria snarled.

"Sorry, what's going on?" Tempest asked.

"We blocked them in to prevent them getting the fuel barge, saving the contract for you," Aria replied.

Tempest looked furious. "Idiots, both of you! We need that light to guide the liner in! And what was that about a fire barge?"

"We jammed one across the river."

"Then unjam it!" Tempest snapped. "Taking a fire barge without a good reason is a criminal offence. Get it back to its station before Spitfire gets there!"

The two tugs steamed away, thoroughly chastised, as Sky Beak laughed. "It'll take them a while to unjam that barge," she said.

"That's that over with," Mistmane said, focusing them on the task at hand. "The Princess Cadence is here!"

And indeed she was. Ocean Flow brought the liner to a halt just off Sunset's location. Once the liner had dropped anchor, they set about changing the fuel over, loading and unloading passengers, and clearing up rubbish. It was a familiar routine, but not one they usually did whilst out at sea.

"Where are the fuel hoses?" Tempest shouted. "Come on, hurry up!"

A fast turnaround was crucial, but hard to achieve given the conditions. It turned out that the Princess Cadence has more than enough fuel for heating and lighting, resulting in Tempest being turned away. "The liner has enough fuel," she said to Sunset. "Want some of this kerosene?"

"Thanks!" Sunset said. "Half price, of course."

"In return, we'll say nothing about Aria and Sonata, eh?" Silverstream laughed.

"Deal," Tempest said quickly. "Even though I suspect those two are already up to mischief..."





Aria and Sonata were trying to free the barge, when Spitfire steamed in. "What are you doing with barge?" she asked.

"Getting it free," Aria replied.

"That's not what I was told by Celaeno," Spitfire said. "She saw you two nick the barge. That's a serious crime. You're coming with me."





Back at Sunset's place, all was done. "Cargo transfer complete!" called Ocean Flow. "We're ready to sail on by!"

"Keep on shining, Sunset," Sky Beak smiled. "Shining like a film star."

"You're quite the star yourself!" Sunset smiled. "Without you, the liner would have carried on without us!"

The tugs watched as the Princess Cadence steamed onwards and into the night, the mysterious sound of a singer starting in the background.

"I daresay that this most beautiful of sights makes the most perfect of cadences to this most frightful day," said Blueblood. And I think he was right, for no matter what happened in the world, we always pulled through in the end.