//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Stormy Skies 
// Story: Starlight 
// by ThePrinceOfTheNorth 
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	It was early in the morning when I woke up.

It seemed that I only ever needed to sleep once a week anymore. While this was somewhat disturbing, I was at least happy it gave me the chance to get a lot more done, but still hoped it was something that would pass.

I looked at the calendar. August 1st.

"Has so much time really passed already," I said aloud, waking up Teacup, who just looked at me and moaned like a child who didn't want to wake up.

"Sorry, boy," I said, "It's just that it's almost been two months since this happened. I'm used to it, don't worry. Kinda enjoy flying."

Teacup's features took on a sarcastic appearance.

"Okay, I LOVE flying," I said, falling back into my bed, "It's just so freeing. If it weren't for the fact my wings got sore after awhile, I'd have stayed up there forever. I wonder of pegasi can walk on clouds....what do you think, Teacup? Think I could walk on a cloud?"

Teacup just shrugged. I guess he's as clueless about some things as I am sometimes. Still, there must be somepony out there who knows.

Again I rose from my bed, spreading my sorely aching wings. I'd done a lot of flying yesterday, working on speed and stability. On top of that, I finally managed two perfect landings in a row! I was still in high spirits about that.

That town I'd seen had been engulfed by the flames already. I had been there once....Yorkton? I think....yeah, that's the one. I went there once, a few years ago. Now I'll never go there again.

It wasn't the nicest town I've ever been to, anyway, so no real loss there. I wonder if there were ponies there? If there were, I hope they made it out alright.

After going over what food I had left, I went outside, planning to just lay in the grass all day, watching the smoke that was growing ever closer.

It seems whatever powers that be had other plans.

"Bal.......tain, .....dy Mou.....Ponytown on......Megahertz, in.......Ontario, Canada......hear you.....copy....."

Someone was responding to my signal.

With haste I did not yet even imagine myself capable of, I rushed to the CB, hammering my hoof down so hard I think I almost broke the damn thing.

"Hello? This is Starlight Waltz at Baldy Mountain Tower? Is anyone there," I asked into the microphone. Please be real. Please don't be a figment of my imagination. Please, oh please....

"Say again....name, Ba.....in, I.....you. This......Stormy in.....Pickering......ada."

"DAMN IT," I screamed, smashing a hoof into the radio.

"Repeat, I hear you, Baldy Mountain. This is Stormy in Ponytown, in Pickering, Ontario, Canada."

So Armageddon wasn't compete crap....who knew? "This is Starlight Waltz at Baldy Mountain Tower, Manitoba, Canada. For a second I thought I was starting to hear things."

"Ha-ha, believe me, you're not the only one! I have you loud and clear. It's great to hear a voice from another part of the country. I gather from your name that you're... well, you've undergone Ponification too?"

"I like to think of it as the next stage of life," I said, "But yes, I have. It's great to hear another voice bottom-line. I've been rather lonely up here, nobody but my dog to keep me company....it's just nice to have a conversation that isn't entirely one-sided for a change."

Teacup, who had followed me out, gave me one of those 'oh really' looks.

I took my hoof of the button. "Don't look at me like that. It's not like you can talk."

He shrugged and nodded, so I refocused on the radio.

"So how are you faring there? For supplies and necessities. Doing okay?"

"To be completely honest, I've pretty much spent all my supplies," I said, "Other than that, pretty good. Better now that I know I'm not alone. Now I can finally leave this mountain, not that I wouldn't have to eventually. You heard about all those forest fires in Saskatchewan before? There's already closing in. I give it a few days before my position is an inferno. So, again, I'm glad you called. Now I can move forward with my plans."

"Yeah, I'd been worried about fires getting away, but I'm surrounded by concrete and pavement here, so I'm kinda safe. Get out while you're able. You said you have a plan? Have you heard of any other colonies, settlements, or groups of survivors at all?"

"You would be the first and only, otherwise I'd have left a long time ago," I said, "The plan was to wait until I got a response here, bless you for that. Right now, the plan is to head back to Dauphin to have another pony I met head over to Shilo to....requisition....some high explosives and stuff. While he's doing that, I'm going to Winnipeg to find Prairie Dog Central Engine No. 3. It's a steam locomotive. I may not be a mechanic or anything, but what I do know is we were using steam long before fuel, and fuel isn't going to last forever, not that it ever was in the first place. I've watched enough TV to know that. I'll use the CN lines to reach you. If I encounter any other survivors n the way, I'll pick them up. As for entire groups, the only other pony I've encountered is the pony from Dauphin."

"Wow. That's... actually not a bad idea. I hope it works out for you. I won't keep you in case you need to prepare, but if you need anything, keep calling. I'll make sure there's a radio on this frequency 24/7. We might not always answer immediately, but if and when we can, we will. If you need help, give us a shout. Good luck, Starlight."

"Good luck to you, too, Stormy," I said, "I look forward to meeting you. Until then."


I turned  to the radio, and stopped transmitting the message that had been playing since last month, instead recording a new message.

"This is Starlight Waltz at Baldy Mountain Tower to anypony and everypony out there. You may be scared and lonely, out there, wherever you are, but don't loose hope. You are not alone. I know the words of a pony coming over the radio probably mean nothing, but they are far better than silence, and far better than being alone. If you hear this, try to make it to the nearest rail line. I will son be travelling the CN, or the former CN, rail. If I find you along the rails, I will not leave you. You are not alone, and there is always hope. Remember that. This is Starlight Waltz, signing off, one last time."

I lifted my hoof from the transmitter, and listened as the message began to repeat. Sighing, I went back to the cabin.

"Looks like we're not alone anymore, eh," I said to Teacup, who dully nodded.

I opened the door to the cabin. Here was the place I had spent the last month, waiting for someone, no, somepony, to answer me. I thanked whatever powers that be for that, but knew this was the end of this part of my journey. I went in and gathered my thing. The photo albums, both new and old. A few cameras. My consoles and games. And, of course, my laptop. I put them all into a set of makeshift saddlebags, and slung them over my back.

Stepping back outside, I noted the smell of smoke in the air. It seemed that the wind's direction had changed, and was now blowing the smoke towards Baldy Mountain. I looked down at Teacup, who also seemed to know that that meant.

"Time to fly, boy," I said, to which he nodded, albeit hesitantly.

I took to hovering, and he jumped on my back, using his paws to hold on. I swear to god he's getter smarter every day. And so, abandoning the wagon I had worked so hard to acquire, and leaving the rest of my food behind, I set out for Dauphin, and the one pony I had met in person.

I had a little mission for him.