//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Trust & Promises // Story: Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome to Canterlot High // by LPFanFic //------------------------------// Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome To Canterlot High Chapter 3: Trust & Promises It was early in the morning on the island of Sodor. The Engines at Tidmouth Shed were already well awake to start the new day. Yesterday, after Sir Topham Hatt proposed his idea to the Engines that they'd be getting different jobs to do everyday, they were more than excited to quickly start the day and prepared themselves for what they might get today. The Engines were waiting in their sheds for Sir Topham Hatt to arrive and give them their new job. James on the other hand was the most impatient out of all. "Ooh. When's he gonna be here?" James asked, impatiently. "I can't wait any longer." "Soon enough, James," Edward said. "He's probably still handing out jobs to other engines." "Well, he needs to hurry up if we're gonna make it to our jobs on time." "You seem eager to be pulling a goods train today, James," Henry teased. James tried to take no notice of Henry's comment. "Huh. Not likely. I guarantee he'll have me pulling nothing but passengers the whole summer." "If that's your thinking," Gordon said, "then you're just setting yourself up for disappointment." "No, I'm not. Just wait and see," James said, confidently. "Soon I'll be pulling the Express along side you, Gordon." Gordon only shot him a piercing stare and made an annoyed hum under his mouth. "So, then what will you do tomorrow after he's had you pull coaches?" Emily asked. "You know, since we're all getting different jobs each day." "Probably a much-needed break… Then it's back to pulling passenger trains!" The Engines all groaned while James continued beaming proudly. Everyone knew he wasn't likely going to get what he wanted, so they played along with his boastings until Sir Topham Hatt finally arrived and walked towards the shed. "Good morning, everyone! Have a good sleep, did we?" "Yes, Sir," They all responded. "Now, as you all know, today we start our new job everyday experience. I did a lot of planning and deduced which engine will would be working in what job and who will be working with whom. I've assigned some of you a task to complete for the rest of the day come time tomorrow when you'll be assigned a new job." Gordon cleared his throat. "Except me though. Right, Sir?" Sir Topham Hatt smiled and shook his head. "Yes, Gordon, excluding you." Gordon sighed a sigh of relief and smiled with reassurance. Some of the engines looked at Gordon with disapproval. Gordon has never been an engine who pulls anything other than the express. He'd rather be pulling passenger trains than anything else; and causes unnecessary confusion and delay when given a job that requires him to pull a goods train or anything similar. While it's a good experience for the other engines to try something new each day, Gordon would just be doing the same job he always does. This made the engines a bit cross because Gordon always get's what he wants. And if he's pulling the express more often now then ever, it leaves little room for the others to help pull the Express, limiting the number of engines that Sir Topham Hatt will choose to pull it. "Now, I know a lot of you probably have your expectations on which jobs you'd like the most, but this experiment is to prove that you're all capable of working different jobs should the occasion call for it. It also gives other engines a much-needed break from doing the same tasks everyday and a nice change in environment. And that's what this is all about. I'm not giving you your favorite job to do every day." The engines were listening of course, but the anticipation of finding out what their jobs are was boiling up inside of them. "That being said, each and every one of you has more than enough time to do every possible job. So, if you don't get your favorite one today, perhaps the next day, or the day after. That's what makes this experiment fun. It's the variety!" "Um, please, Sir. Can we know what our jobs are for today?" Thomas asked, unable to wait any longer. "What?" Sir Topham Hatt was caught off guard but then chuckled. "Oh right. Suppose I am babbling on at this point." The engines were all avid. "Right then, let's get this show on the rail. Gordon, you and Henry will be pulling the Express with Hank and Neville." Henry was wide eyed and gasped with excitement. He wanted to pull the express but didn't think it would happen on the first day of their new assignments. Henry was now very excited than anyone to start his day. "I'm sure you're still familiar with the basics, Henry. But just in case, Gordon will be helping you and the others should you run into any problems." "I am. Thank you, Sir! I won't let you down!" Henry beamed. "Excellent!" Sir Topham Hatt said Gordon wasn't too excited about having more engines pull the express. But since he gets to keep his job it wasn't that much of a bother. "Emily, I want you to continue pulling your coaches for the day," Sir Topham Hatt continued. "Yes, Sir." Emily was a bit disappointed she wasn't pulling the Express. But pulling her own coaches was good enough. She knew there was still plenty of time to do an exciting job, so she happily accepted her current task for the day. "Edward, you're to shunt some trucks around the yard. We're going to need them for a job tomorrow." "Will do, Sir!" said Edward. Sir Topham Hatt then turned his attention to James and his beaming grin. "James," "Yes, Sir?" He said. "I want you-" "Yes!" "To pull-" "YES!" The tension was to much for James. "Waist trucks." "Waist Trucks?!" James exclaimed. All the Engines erupted into a laugh except James, who was too frozen with shock to say anything. This confused Sir Topham Hatt, who just stood tilting his hat a bit to scratch his head while the engine's laughter settled down. "Was there something I missed?" "Don't worry, Sir," Thomas said, cheekily. "James is just more than happy to pull some dirty old waist trucks ALL DAY." James just stood petrified. His eye twitched every so often. Still confused, Sir Topham Hatt then turned to Thomas and Percy. "Uh, very well. Thomas and Percy. For the rest of the morning, you'll be helping Edward shunt trucks in the yard. Afterwards, you two can have a break before I give out your next job for the night." While it wasn't anything too special, Thomas and Percy were excited to get started on their work, especially since they'd be working together. Though now they were more curious as to what their night job will be, they were more than happy to be shunting trucks with Edward in the yard all morning before their break. "But wait," Thomas asked. "Who's pulling Annie and Clarabel on my branchline, Sir?" "Not to worry, Thomas. I have Toby doing your job for today. They are both in very good care." Thomas sighed in relief. Toby the Tram Engine was a good friend to Thomas and the other engines. He knew he can leave his coaches Annie and Clarabel with Toby and not have to worry about them. Being a tram engine, he may not be the fastest or strongest engine on Sodor, but if there was any other engine Thomas could trust to take care of his coaches, Toby was the engine he'd be happy to have pulling Annie and Clarabel on his branchline. "Alright then. You all have your jobs for the day. I expect everyone to do their best and be really useful." He then walked back to his car. "I look forward to hearing about your day." "Goodbye, Sir!" the engines whistled. Gordon puffed out of his berth and stared flatly at Henry beaming with excitement. "Try not to get in my way," He said. "The Express needs to be reliable and on time. That can't happen if I'm baby sitting you three all day. So at least try to keep up." "Don't worry, Gordon," Henry said, cheerfully. "I still remember how to pull the Express. You won't have any trouble from me!" "We'll see," Gordon said begrudgingly as he left the shed to go fetch his coaches. Henry followed soon after him. "I better go find my coaches," Emily said leaving the sheds next. "Who knows how many visitors we might have this time." Thomas, Percy, and Edward glance over at James who hadn't moved from his berth yet. "You uh, you gonna go collect those waist trucks, James?" Edward asked. James said nothing. He was still in shock from the idea of having to pull waist trucks, the one job he didn't want at all. "Oh-okay. Thomas, Percy, let's go shunt those trucks," Edward got on the turntable and made his way to the shunting yard. "Should we be concerned about James?" Percy asked Thomas. "Nah! I'm sure he'll snap out of it soon." Thomas and Percy looked over at James still making the same petrified expression he's had on since Sir Topham Hatt Told him what his job was. The two looked at each other wondering if they should try and say anything to him. Deciding not to bother James, however, they went on the turntable to meet up with Edward in the shunting yard. In the shunting yard, Thomas, Percy and Edward spent all morning shunting trucks in different siding so that later in the day they will be filled up with goods ready to be delivered to another location somewhere else along the island. Thomas and Percy had fun shunting cars, it reminded them of the day when they first meet and became friends. Thomas showed Percy the quickest way how to shunt trucks into their respective sidings, which helped Percy a lot given the fact he doesn't feel like he's that good at shunting trucks like Thomas is. He still appreciates it either way; and the two engines continued on with their work looking forward to their breaks. "That should be enough for now," Edward said. "You two can go along and have your time off. I can finish the last loads here." "Are you sure?" Thomas asked. Edward smiled. "Yes. Just remember Sir Topham Hatt has another Job for you later. Make sure you're both on time for it." "We will," said the two engines in unison, as they drove off. Percy still couldn't help but wonder what it was Thomas had in mind after what he said last night regarding his break day. It had been on Percy's mind to know what he meat. The two engines exit the shunting yard and made their way across the mainline. Now that they were on break, Percy decided to ask him. "Say, Thomas, you never told me last night where you were thinking of going during your break." "Oh right. I didn't want to hurt the others feelings if they knew." "So, where are you going?" "Where we are going Percy," Thomas corrected. "We're going to The Magic Railroad!" "What? You want to go there?" "Yes, why?" Percy didn't say anything and idly looks away. "What's the matter, Percy?" Thomas asked. "Well see, the thing is, I've never actually been to the Magic Railroad. The closest I've seen of it were the Magic Buffers." "Then you're going to love it!" Thomas said excitedly. While chuffing down the mainline, Thomas went on about the Magic Railroad to Percy and how great it is. It was a land unlike anything they have on Sodor. "The rails are pure gold, the sunlight bounces off the bright green grass, the lakes are clean and clear as glass, and there are tall, snowy mountains far off in the distance." "Wow. That sounds amazing!" Percy said, more excited now. "Are the tracks really made of pure gold?" "They looked like it from the glimpse I got when I traveled it's line. There may not be many, but the ones that do run the line lead to many different worlds!" "Really? They don't just go to Shining Time?" "Apparently. But just imagine where else they could go, Percy. The possibilities are endless!" "Hold on," Percy said. "You're not thinking of going to a different world, are you?" Thomas didn't think it was a big deal that he'd actually planned on visiting another world. Though he didn't take into account how long it would take him to get from one place to the next and back again. "Well, I figured if we had time," Percy interrupted. "Oh, I don't know if that's such a good idea, Thomas." "Why not? Come on, Percy, think about it. We'd be going to a completely different place! Remember, we were talking about it last night?" "I do, but, it would take too long for us if we're exploring other worlds," Percy said, nervously. "I was only thinking we'd visit just one place for a little bit. Maybe see if Lilly and Burnett Stone are still at Muffle Mountain." "But we have a job later tonight. What if we're late for it? Sir Topham Hatt will be very cross with us." "If we don't have time to explore another world, then we'll head straight to Sir Topham Hatt once we're done visiting the Magic Railroad." "Just the Magic Railroad?" "Just the Magic Railroad," Thomas confirmed. Percy hesitated to answer. Apart from his apprehension to go into the Magic Railroad for the first time, he didn't want to disappoint Sir Topham Hatt for being late for their late night job. However, Percy knows he can trust Thomas no matter what happens, and that's something only a real friend like Thomas can give him. Trust that everything will work out in the end. After thinking it over, Percy finally responded. "Well... okay. But promise me we'll be quick." "I promise." "Hmm. Good," He said, growing more excited. "Then, let' go and visit the Magic Railroad!" "That's the spirit, Percy!" Thomas chuckled. "Come on, I'll race you to the Buffers!" "Oh, no you don't!" The two chuckling engines raced along the mainline tracks pass open valleys, down Gordon's hill, and through Henry's forest. Until finally, they reached the area where the buffers leading to the Magic Railroad stood. The Buffers were located on an old railway line near the Kirk Ronan Branchline. Tall willow trees close to the tracks canopied the line with very little glimpses of sunlight seeping through. Thomas and Percy rode side by side along two separate tracks then stopped in front of a crossing that led to the buffers themselves. The Magic Buffers were covered in vines from never being used. Weeds and plants grew from under the tracks leading to it. The base where an engines buffers meet was rusty and brown. Clearly, these buffers have not been used in quite some time. "This is it, Percy. Are you ready?" "I hope so." Wanting to cheer himself up, Percy decided to ask Thomas a cheeky question. "Are you ready to see Lady again?" Thomas felt himself jump out of his pistons. His cheeks were bright red with the thought of seeing Lady again since the first time they've met. Trying to hide his face from Percy, who was holding back a smirk, Thomas chuffed forward towards the magic buffers. "I'll go first. You can go in once I have." "Okay." Chuffing closer and closer down the tracks, Thomas charged towards the buffers bracing for impact. Thomas ran into the buffers, only to bounce off of them. Confused by this, Thomas tried hitting the buffers again to no avail. He was still on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was not only confused, but he also began to worry. "What's going on?" Thomas said. "Is something suppose to happen?" Percy asked. "I should be in the Magic Railroad by now." Thomas continuously rams the buffers trying to activate the portal that would've taken him along the golden tracks of the Railroad. "Careful," Percy warned. "I don't know why it's not working," Thomas said, frustrated. "Let me try," Percy said, plucking up courage. Before Thomas could answer, a strange golden mist appears out of nowhere over by the field next to Thomas. A collective clattering of wind chimes give off as each twinkling spec shines and sparkles. With in this misty gold could emerged a man, sporting a blue coat with a worn red tie, blue trousers, and a train conductors hat walks out of the golden dust. It was hard to tell at first, but both Thomas and Percy knew who it was upon further inspection. Then both engines call his name in unison. "Mr. Conductor?!" To Be Continued.