//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Buffersville // Story: Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome to Canterlot High // by LPFanFic //------------------------------// Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome To Canterlot High Chapter 4: Buffersville Another important section of the island that keeps it running is one that was once buried in mystery. That being a place called the Magic Railroad. It is a magical railway line that's run by a steam engine called Lady, who in fact brings magic to everything on the Island of Sodor. Gold Dust is the source of Lady's magic; It's what gives her the means to run the Magic Railroad and keep Sodor alive and in balanced. She is a key player in using the magic, for she recharges the line's magical energy while keeping everything else intact. Mr. Conductor is a train conductor who uses Gold Dust from the Magic Railroad to transport himself from his world over to the Island of Sodor. He's a friend to all the engines on Sodor. Whenever Mr. Conductor isn't busy back in his home at Shining Time Station, he fills in for Sir Topham Hatt in running the railway whenever he's gone away on important businesses. He helps to keeps his Railway, it's engines, and everything else in order. "Hello Thomas and Percy," Mr. Conductor said. "Mr. Conductor!" Thomas said, happy to see his old friend. "What brings you to the Island of Sodor?" Mr. Conductor coughed. "Well, from what I'm seeing, it seems like you two are trying to enter the Magic Railroad. But unfortunately, I'm here to say that's no longer possible." "What?!" both said. "What do you mean?" Thomas asked. Mr. Conductor coughed again. "There's been a disturbance in the Magic Railroad. I don't know what it is. I've tried with all my sparkle to get inside and see what's causing the line to go crazy but somethings preventing us from entering." Thomas and Percy looked at each other, both confused and worried by what Mr. Conductor said. They finally noticed Mr. Conductor wasn't his usual self. His entire suit was a much darker shade of blue. The buttons of his coat were undone, his vest was untucked from his trousers as well as a few buttons. His now maroon colored tie was partially undone and his hat was crooked and missing part of it's brim. "You don't look good, Sir," Percy said. He looked over his appearance. "I think it might have something to do with the corruption." "Corruption?" Thomas said. "Either Lady is gone, or someone else is running the Magic Railroad." Percy gasped. "You don't think it could be-" But before he could say his name, Thomas interrupts. "It can't be, Percy. Sir Topham Hatt sent him away years ago. There's no way he ended up in there." "Yes, but. I was talking to Paxton by the Dieselworks once. He said things over there were a lot busier now that they had a new Diesel in charge." "But Sir Topham Hatt would've known about it. That can't be possible." "Paxton said something about him hiding in the main Dieselworks building," Percy said ominously. "That's why nobody believed him when Paxton told us he was back because, well, apparently he never left." "If what you're saying is true, Percy," Mr. Conductor chimed, "then Diesel 10 really is back, and he's more than made himself comfortable outside the Dieselworks." "No! It's not true," Thomas protested. Percy started to worry. "Thomas-" "Diesel 10 is good now remember? He learned his lesson when he tried taking over the Steamworks and stole our Christmas decorations." Mr. Conductor made a perplexed face, questioning what kind of crazy antics took place since he'd last visited Sodor. "I know, Thomas. But, maybe… Maybe Diesel 10 might not be as good as we all thought." "He does tend to tense up when around authority figures," Mr. Conductor said. "But it also could've been an act; playing along so he doesn't get sent away again." He then lets out a loud enough cough that could be heard through out the surrounding woods. Mr. Conductor nearly lost his balance in the process. He leaned up against Thomas' buffer for support as he tried to catch his breath. "Are you okay, Sir?" Thomas asked. "It makes sense if Diesel 10 has control over the magic. He'd be more than happy to use it on me in any way." "Can Diesel 10 really use Gold Dust to do such a thing?" Percy asked. "Gold Dust is limitless from what I've learned over the years. There's more to the Railroad and it's power than just teleportation and its connection to both our worlds." "Other worlds you mean," Thomas corrected. He looked at Thomas with a confused brow. "Lady told me before she left that she's working on making more tracks that lead to other worlds." The corner of Mr. Conductor's mouth rose an inch. "My father was right; I'm always going to learn something I never knew about this line and its Gold Dust." "So, what are we going to do about the Magic Railroad?" Percy asked. "I told you, we can't enter it," Mr. Conductor struggled to hold back another cough. Thomas and Percy felt so helpless. They hated seeing their good friend in the condition he's in. Then Mr. Conductor noticed something. A little bit of Gold Dust clinging from the palm of his hand got onto Thomas' front footplate. Thomas was still close enough to the Magic Buffers where occasional sparks from the portal were popping up whenever Thomas got close to the Buffers whilst covered in the Sparkles. Picking up on this, an idea sprung into Mr. Conductors head. "Wait here," Mr. Conductor ordered. He stumbled over after another cough snuck up on him. Thomas and Percy watched Mr. Conductor drag his feet over to some bushes and bristled through the foliage. After coming back out, he held in his hands a carrot and a stick of celery. The two engines were surprised. Where they just laying there the whole time? Mr. Conductor took a bite from the carrot and fiddled around with it while thinking to himself. His head sprung up. "Dark! Arc!" Thomas and Percy both glanced at each other befuddled, wondering if they should be worried at all, or if this was another affect the magic was having on Mr. Conductor. He took another bite out of the carrot, once again thinking to himself until his head springs up. "Connection! Flection! Affection!" "A-are you okay, Mr. Conductor?" Thomas asked. "Just fine, Thomas," He responded while examining the carrot. "Although this doesn't seem to be working. I know, I'll try eating the Celery!" "How will that make a difference?" Percy whispered to Thomas. Thomas simply nudges his chin indicating he had no idea. Mr. Conductor took a bite from the Celery and paced back and forth while thinking to himself. His head launched back up again, this time facing Thomas and Percy, both growing a little freaked out and concerned. "Wardrobe, Cupcake, Gadget!" Mr. Conductor hiccuped before pacing around again. "Forest! Racing! Strawhat!" "Maybe we should try something else, Sir," Thomas suggested. "I could always try ramming the Buffers again." Mr. Conductor looks over at the Gold Dust sitting on Thomas' buffers then at the Magic Buffers themselves across from the two engines. After connecting the pieces together, it became all the clearer to him, although he wished it wasn't. Never has the Magic Railroad been in a crisis at this kind of scale. Before when Lady disappeared, the magic Gold Dust Mr. Conductor uses to travel from his world to the Island stopped working, making it difficult for him to find anyone or getting back to Shining Time. Without Lady, the Magic Railroad became a dark place, with a forest of thorns surrounding every track of the land. If Lady is not running on the Magic Railroad, the line will fade out of existence, bringing both the Island of Sodor and all other universes that it bridges into extreme disorder. Mr. Conductor's family motto circled around in his head after thinking over whether or not he should go through with the plan he has in mind. "As long as there is a railroad, there will be harmony. As long as there is Gold Dust, there will be energy." Thomas and Percy weren't sure what he walking about. Percy heard him speak this motto before, but didn't know what relation it had until Mr. Conductor made his move. Mr. Conductor then went over to Thomas and began climbing up to the top of his cab, nearly stumbling over doing so a few times when he acceded his boiler. "What are you doing now, Mr. Conductor?" Thomas asked. "Sorry, Thomas. Just bare with me for a second and I'll explain everything." "Bear! Wear?" Percy looked around frantically. Reaching the top of Thomas' cab, Mr. Conductor stood on the roof, took off his whistle and poured out all its Gold Dust into his hand. He made sure to leave enough in his whistle to get back home. With a wave of his arm, he proceeded to sprinkle Thomas with the remaining Gold Dust all over him. Magic Gold Dust rained everywhere on top of Thomas, covering him in gold, shimmering, gleaming sparkles that resonated and nested on different spots in a collective gathering. Each speck clinged to every inch of his surface, until there weren't any visible sparkles left shining off Thomas. Percy and Thomas were amazed but in deed mystified more so to say the least. "What did you do?" Thomas asked. "I gave you all of my Sparkles, Thomas," Mr. Conductor said. "I don't know how or why it doesn't work with me; but having Gold Dust on you, an engine, allows that portal to let you through." "Wait. You want me to go in there?" "Find out where Lady is and if Diesel 10 really has taken over the Magic Railroad. Yes." Thomas stared at the Buffers. Now he was allowed to enter the Magic Railroad, but trying to find Lady while potentially running into Diesel 10 made Thomas second guess his decision to visit the Magic Railroad. This was a big journey for Thomas to undertake. The entire Island and the rest of the universe now depends on him. If he doesn't find Lady, the Magic Railroad will cease to exist, and if the Railroad is gone, The Island of Sodor will fall onto complete chaos. The Island will be filled with disharmony, then the rest of the universes connected will also fall to disorder and dysfunction. Thomas wasn't so sure anymore if he can take on this kind of job, let alone see to it till the end. Before Thomas could object, a bell toll startled himself, Percy, and Mr. Conductor. The three look over to their right. "Oh, there you are, Thomas," Toby the Tram Engine said. "I've been looking everywhere for you." Releasing steam, Toby puffed in and came to a stop a few inches behind Percy on another set of tracks next to his. Coupled up to him were Thomas' coaches, Annie & Clarabel, and Toby's coach Henrietta was coupled up behind the two coaches. "Hi, Toby," Thomas said. "Hello, Toby," Percy said. "What on earth are you two doing near the buffers?" Toby then spotted the ragged old man climbing down from Thomas' cab. He soon recognized him as Mr. Conductor, but his appearance greatly differed from how Toby remembered him. "Mr. Conductor? Is that you?" "Hello, Toby." Mr. Conductor coughed, "It's good to see you again." "It's good to see you too! Although, you're not looking so hot this afternoon," Toby pointed out. "You were looking for me, Toby?" Thomas asked. "Oh, yes! Listen, I know you must be on break right now, but I'm having trouble remembering where to drop off these passengers. On top of that, Philip got delayed and couldn't carry the quarry workers to Anopha. So now I have to take them and the passengers to their stations." "Percy, do you think you can help Toby with that?" Thomas asked. "I wouldn't know where to drop off your passengers either, Thomas." Toby then realized why everyone was here. "Uh-oh. Is something wrong with the Magic Railroad again?" "Yes, Toby," Mr. Conductor said. "Not to worry though, it's being dealt with as we speak." "That's good. Because the last thing we need is another crisis like last time, what with all the work switching and visitors piling up," Toby chuckled a little. "Yeah, wouldn't want that," Thomas said, reluctantly. "So, do you think you can help me out with this, Thomas? Just this one time? Afterwards, I should know your line by this point." Thomas looked to Mr. Conductor who proceeded with his instructions. "Once you're in the Railroad, your presence should leave the Buffers open to everyone else. You need only but to allow them to. I know this all must be confusing, but just believe in the magic, and you can do anything with it." Thomas was still uncertain. Mr. Conductor could tell but decided not to comment. He coughed profusely. "Come on back to the buffers as soon as possible. If I'm not here, then I'm back in Shining Time Station. Just go through the Buffers. Don't wait for me." "Wait, you're leaving?" Percy said. "I've given Thomas all the Gold Dust I have on me. The rest I'll need to get home and make sure everyone there is safe." But Thomas didn't want Mr. Conductor to leave. He wasn't sure about going into the Magic Railroad or finding Lady. "I don't know if I can do this, Sir. This is all so… big! If I don't find Lady out there, somewhere in all of that-" Mr. Conductor interrupted. "Thomas the Tank Engine. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it, no matter what the odds are. Little engines can do big things. But you, Thomas, can do anything." Thomas smiled, still unsure of himself but surer than ever to at least give it try. If Mr. Conductor believed in him, if he could fix everything from spiralling out of control, it was enough for Thomas to pluck up courage. "Then, I'll try." "That's a good tank engine. We're all counting on you now," Mr. Conductor said in his now raspy voice. With the weight of the world on his funnel, Thomas accepted his duty of seeking out Lady and restoring peace to the Island of Sodor. Thomas soon blew his whistle and chuffed back to couple up with Henrietta. "I better get going." "Be careful, Thomas." Then Percy remembered something. "Wait! What about our jobs? The one we have tonight?" Thomas came to a sudden halt. Both he and Percy had almost forgotten about their assigned night job. Thomas looked at Percy, now worried about to do regarding this. Sir Topham Hatt might be very cross if he finds out Thomas didn't make it on time. Percy didn't want his friend to get in trouble; but he wasn't sure how to tell Sir Topham Hatt about Thomas being assigned with a task of much greater importance. "Try to find another engine to take my place. Okay?" Thomas instructed. "Oh. Okay, I guess," Percy said, upset but compliant. "Thank you, Percy," Thomas smiled, sincerely. "I promise this whole thing will work out for us." Chuffing back again, Thomas soon made his way onto Toby's line and coupled up behind Henrietta. "Ready, Thomas?" Toby asked. "Ready, Toby!" Thomas called out and blew his whistle. Toby ranged his bell and the two friends set off to the next station. Percy watched Thomas and Toby make their way down the line until they were no longer in sight. He then looked over to Mr. Conductor struggling to stand on both feet. "Why Thomas, Sir?" Percy asked. "I'm sorry?" Mr. Conductor said. "How come Thomas has to be the one to go through the Magic Railroad?" "You're worried about him, aren't you?" "Well, of course I am. Diesel 10 could be in there. If he has Lady's magic and finds Thomas," Percy couldn't finish his sentence. "It'll be okay, Percy," Mr. Conductor reassured. "Thomas is a brave engine." But Percy continued rambling on nervously. "We don't know where those other tracks could go. What if he ends up in a dangerous place?! What if he crashes?! It's not too late for another engine to go, is it? Send me instead!" Percy said, courageously. "Percy, I know you care for Thomas and I applaud your selflessness, but he's the only other engine on Sodor who's been through the Magic Railroad. This is a job I'm giving to Thomas. I understand the risks, but you should know I would never put Thomas in a situation he couldn't handle or one that puts him in dangers. Thomas has earned my trust and permission in giving up my Gold Dust. He's the only one that can restore some kind of balance to the Magic Railroad." Mr. Conductor leaned on Percy's buffers to cough his lungs out. "You're going to have to tell Sir Topham Hatt the importance of this," he said in his raspy voice. "He needs to know what's at stake." But Percy didn't want to tell Sir Topham Hatt where and why Thomas left. He knew it would only make Sir Topham Hatt cross and get Thomas in trouble. Mr. Conductor leaned up and stepped back onto the grass lawn between some trees and the tracks. "I have to get back to Shining Time. Give Thomas all our luck if you see him, I'm sure he could really use it," Mr. Conductor coughed away. "Okay, Sir," Percy said, reluctantly. He gripped his silver whistle hung around his neck and held it close to his mouth. "Goodbye, Percy," Mr. Conductor said. "May the Sparkles shine brightly again." And with that, Mr. Conductor blew into his whistle and used the last of his Gold Dust to teleport back to Shining Time Station. With not much else to do, Percy chuffed back down the line to look for another engine who could replace Thomas come time when they need to do their night job later. It took Thomas longer than expected to help Toby find the stations he's supposed to drop his passengers off. It got to a point where there wasn't enough time for Toby to deliver the quarry workers to Anopha. Toby apologized to Thomas for the delay. He felt ashamed to have needed help navigating a line he should be well familiar with by now. When you've been around for a long time like Toby has, memory can have a lasting effect on an old engine. Feeling sorry for Toby, Thomas volunteered to take the quarry workers to Anopha and make up for lost time. Toby promised Thomas that he wouldn't bug him anymore about his branch line and made a note to familiarize himself on the different stations and the direction of the tracks. Chuckling, Thomas assured Toby that he doesn't need his help; that he's more than capable of finding his way around Ffarquhar. Parked at Ffarquhar station. Thomas coupled up to Henrietta as Toby waited for the passengers to board Annie and Clarabel. "I'm always happy to help my friends, especially since I know my own branch line better than anyone. So, it's no trouble at all, Toby." This gave Toby more confidence. "Thank you, Thomas. I really appreciate that. Most engines wouldn't say I'm capable of doing things like this." Then Thomas remembered what Mr. Conductor told him. "You can do anything you set your mind to. It doesn't matter how big or small the job is." Toby grinned. "You're right, Thomas. I just got to set my mind to it!" Toby then asked Thomas why he, Percy and Mr. Conductor were all at the Magic Buffers. He had a pretty good idea from what he heard and saw, but still wanted more info regarding the danger of their situation. "So, is it really as bad as it looks?" Toby asked. Thomas hesitated to reveal the job Mr. Conductor gave him. But knowing what a wise friend Toby was, Thomas felt comfortable telling him what state the Magic Railroads in and what can be done to fix it. Maybe Toby could even offer some much-needed guidance. "Lady's gone. We think Diesel 10 might have control over the Magic Railroad. And only by finding Lady and stopping Diesel 10 can we prevent him from taking over the whole Island." "And that's why Mr. Conductor asked you to find Lady, right?" Toby stated. "You heard huh?" "Well, I did see Gold Dust glowing all over you when I approached yah. I guess only an engine carrying Gold Dust can open the portal to the Railroad, which is why he gave you his." "Pretty much," Thomas said, bleakly. "We may all be in grave danger if Diesel 10 really has gone back to his old ways. I'd take caution when entering the Magic Railroad. Try your best to avoid running into him if you can. There's no telling what he could do with all that power." "You don't think Diesel 10 has really gone back to being evil again, do you?" Thomas asked. "You'll have to find out when you're in the Magic Railroad," Toby said. "If that rumor over by the Dieselworks is true, then Diesel 10 truly is back and hungrier for Magic more than ever." Thomas sighed. He was usually one of many engines who was quick to judge the Diesels for being nothing but trouble. But after making friends with a lot of them, Thomas' opinion on Diesels began to change, even going so far as believing that Diesel 10 was fully redeemed after all the trouble he caused him and his friends. Thomas only thought Diesel 10 was sent away due to a possible compacity issue over at the Dieselworks. He had no idea that Diesel 10 was really just causing more trouble for the rest of the engines, and was ordered to be sent away for his malevolent behaviour. Only, he never left the Dieselworks; and when he did, he went straight to the Magic Railroad to finish a job that he once started a long time ago, the destruction of all steamies. "I better deliver the workers," Thomas said. "Thanks again for the advice, Toby." "Just be careful wherever you end up," Toby warned. "I imagine Percy didn't support Mr. Conductors decision to send you through the buffers. Stray away from anything dangerous for Percy and all our sake." "I will," Thomas said. "Thank you, Toby." Thomas then chuffed off quickly to deliver the quarry workers before it gets dark After delivering the passengers off Anopha Quarry, it was already late in the afternoon. The sun will begin to set in a few hours. Chuffing down the mainline, Thomas wasn't sure if he should tell anyone else about where he's going or the state of the Magic Railroad. He knew he had to rely on Percy to tell Sir Topham Hatt of his whereabouts, but he wondered if the rest of the engines should know where he's planning on going just in case. Thomas went around the Island looking for anyone to tell. Everyone was ether off somewhere else or too busy to talk. The engines didn't want to fail at their current job so they couldn't stop for a second to talk to one another. Thomas decided it was best if no one knew about his mission and chuffed off to the Magic Railroad. His first trip was a quick stop to get some water and coal first. Then Thomas chuffed on again, following the same pathway him and Percy took this morning to get to the magic buffers. On his way there, Thomas passed by a mountain that had a disturbing looking face sculpted on it. He could almost hear his maniacal cackle echoing eerily in his head. It's smirk sent a chill down Thomas' boiler and the void less eyes made him want to look away. Thomas deduced that this might be Diesel 10's work, back when he returned to the island to destroy Lady and take over the Railway. Thomas chuffed on quickly, refusing to look at the former shell he believes used to be the old Diesel 10. On his way to the buffers, a mist of fog surrounds the tracks creating an eerie atmosphere. Thomas continued to puff down the line towards where the Magic Buffers are located. Still standing, Thomas stopped in his place a couple of feet away from the Buffers. He looked around for any sight of Mr. Conductor. "Mr. Conductor?" Thomas called out. Thomas doesn't know Mr. Conductor had already gone back to Shining Time Station. Percy was supposed to tell him this but Thomas never ran into him since this morning. He knew that Mr. Conductor might have gone back to Shining Time Station like he said and so decided to go on without him. Thomas inched closer to the Buffers, feeling a surge of energy boil up inside him. The portal began flickering with every inch Thomas took towards the Buffers. He then backed up far away, so far that he had a good running start from where he's at to where he'll meet the Buffers. Taking deep breaths, building up confidence, swallowing his fears, Thomas started charging towards the Magic Buffers not slowing down one bit. Then a voice caught him off guard. "Howdy Blue Buckaroo!" said a rolling Tumbleweed. "Oh dear!" Thomas said. Thomas remembered running into the strange talking tumbleweed the last time he went through the Magic Buffers. The magic from the Gold Dust must have personified the tumbleweed with the ability to speak somehow. "Back for round two in buffersville are we?" The Tumbleweed asked. "Does that mean," Thomas was about asked. "It sure is, Little Boy Blue!" The Tumbleweed finished. Puffing with determination, Thomas then continued on towards the buffers at an increasingly fast pace while the Tumbleweed bounced around and tumbled hectically. "Now giddy yourself up on down the line and into paradise city, YEEEHHHAAAA!" Thomas was nearly close to hitting the buffers, showing no sign of slowing down. 'Little engines can do big things, but I can do anything!' Thomas thought to himself. Without realizing it, the loud sounds of locomotives passing by with blaring whistles echoed throughout the woods as a portal materializes and opens up in a golden spiral. Within seconds, Thomas found himself puffing through the Buffers, disappearing out of sight in the misty sphere of sparkling Gold Dust. Thomas was no longer on Sodor, he was now on the Magic Railroad. To Be Continued.