Thomas & Equestria Girls:
Welcome To Canterlot High
Chapter 34: Friendship is Magic
The Girls and Engines all waited by the Wondercolt Statue. They sat, stood, paced, and occupied time until Thomas and Sunset return. Earlier, Diesel 10 found Thomas' friends and threatened to lock them in the Magic Railroad. Thomas and Sunset arrived on time and tried putting a stop to his attack by convincing Diesel 10 that it wasn't too late to start being good again; that he could save Sodor and clear his name from his past actions. Hoping Diesel 10 would stop his evil ways, Thomas offered him the Gold Dust filled whistle as a peace offering, giving him a chance to bring Lady back with them. But instead, Diesel 10 decided his hatred of them and Sodor was too great, that being bad is all he's good at. In return, he lashed out on Thomas, nearly ripping him to shreds before Twilight Sparkle and her friends stepped in and rescued him, driving off Diesel 10 with their magic Geodes Crystals. The ordeal left Thomas beaten, pressing Sunset to take him back to her house for treatment.
Thomas had the whistle on him so they couldn't restore Lady's memories until he comes back. With Diesel 10 still being chased off and Lady with the CMC, they knew there was no urgency in terms of her safety, but with the knowledge that the Magic Railroad was on the brink of destruction they began to grow impatient.
"Ugh, where are they?" Rainbow Dash said. "We can't wait any longer."
"Any news?" Rarity asked Twilight.
Twilight looks at her phone.
"Nothing but the text I got earlier." She reads over the Sunset's text. "'Taking care of him now. Off to the pharmacy for bandages and medicine'. That's all I got so far."
"Take it easy, Rainbow Dash," Applejack. "Sunset's doin' her best."
"I know. I'm just... You saw what Diesel 10 almost did to Thomas."
"You don't have to remind us," Edward said, solemnly.
The Engines were in just as much distress over their friend. Diesel 10 could've seriously hurt Thomas. After refusing Thomas' offer and from the looks of him after he was carried off, it seems he already did.
"How could Diesel 10 do such a thing?" Toby said.
"He's never done anything that evil before," Henry said.
"I can't imagine Thomas thinking he can still be good after that," Gordon said.
Twilight read over the text on her phone again, looking rather disquiet.
"What's the matter, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, noticing her unease.
"Why did she leave Thomas all alone? What if the Genie shows up and tries manipulating him again?"
"Not a chance," James said, confidently. "We told you girls already; Thomas would never abandon us for him. We're his true friends."
"You think he'll try a different tactic in light of having enough sparkles to restore Lady?" Spike asked.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Twilight said, bleakly.
"Let's just hope Thomas ain't that gullible enough to fall for whatever fancy schmancy tick this Genie might pull next," Applejack said.
Pinkie Pie tucked and rolls from behind the base then stood straight. She wore an army helmet and black paint smeared across her cheeks, looking stoic while saluting.
"Any sign of Diesel 10?" Twilight asked Pinkie.
"Mission Report; Cost Is Clear! No Sign Of D10 Or His Goonies!"
"Uh, good," Applejack said. "At ease."
She salutes then tuck and rolls away again. Applejack and Rainbow Dash shake their heads while smirking. Fluttershy slouched over the mention of Diesel 10's goonies.
"I'm sorry about Splatter & Dodge, Darling," Rarity said, comforting her.
"They made their choice," Gordon said. "Those good for nothing diesels are no better than the one they follow."
"And after we took them in too," James said.
"But they did want to be better," Fluttershy said. "Diesel 10 only scared them into working for him."
"Didn't exactly take them long to switch sides though," Spike commented.
Fluttershy's face buried into her hands. How could they turn on them like that? All this talking from Thomas led her to believe even Splatter & Dodge could be better too. They were at first, or so they believed, as they eagerly attended their party and denounced their allegiances to Diesel 10. However, when he did show up, Splatter & Dodge immediately went back to his side for fear of what Diesel 10 would do to them.
Meanwhile, Percy was standing near the sidewalk where the school sign was and stared in the direction Thomas and Sunset went. He was worried about Thomas the most, unable to get the image of Thomas lying motionless on the ground, beaten and torn. No engine has ever done anything so cruel before. On top of that, he felt guilty for not doing much after stepping in to protect him. It was the scariest thing he's ever done. Percy, like everyone else, wished they did step in even when Thomas told them not to. Twilight Sparkle stood beside Percy.
"I'm worried about them too," She commented.
Worried, Percy looks at her, back in the direction in front of them, then at the ground.
Twilight tried reassuring. "Sunset's taking good care of him. They'll be marching back here better than ever in no time. Just you wait."
He hesitated in his next response. Unlike him, Sunset could actually protect and take care of him, something Percy felt ashamed for being unable to do himself. He wouldn't be able to stand up to Diesel 10 like she did. Sunset could do practically anything. This was probably why Thomas liked her a lot, why she's his best Canterlot friend and why he's been spending more time with her and not Percy.
"Do you think Thomas prefers Sunset over me?"
She raised a brow. "Why do you ask?"
Percy kicks the ground casually. "I don't know. He calls her his best friend from Canterlot. She's smart, powerful, and fearless. Everything I'm not."
"I doubt that. You seemed pretty fearless being the first to step in when things got bad."
"Sunset stepped in too."
"Only because you did. How long has this been on your mind?"
He shrugs shamefully. "I don't like doing all this scary stuff, but I put up with it because my friend needed me. At least, I thought he did."
"Just because Thomas has another best friend doesn't mean he plans on getting rid of you anytime soon."
Percy hugs his arm. "But I couldn't save him from Diesel 10. Not like Sunset or the rest of you did. I wouldn't even know what to do if I found Thomas as he was moments ago. Sunset knew what to do. She knows everything. That's why she's the better best friend."
"Now that's just ridiculous," Twilight crossed her arms. "There's no such thing as a better best friend. You're still Thomas' best friend regardless of what you do for him."
"Not for long. Sunset might as well go from being his Canterlot best friend to his only best friend."
"You two have a lot more history together though. I can't imagine he'd throw all that away in favor of someone new."
"I'd like to believe that too. But let's face it, she won the title. Now I'm just his friend, the one who stands by and watches him get hurt."
Worrisome, Twilight places her hand on Percy's shoulder.
"I promise you're more important to him than you realize. Just like the rest of his friends all are collectively. Besides, what's wrong with having more than one best friend? Sure, we all have our one special friend, but their importance doesn't always outweigh or out match everyone else. Sunset's my best friend, just like I'm hers. And the rest,"
Twilight directs their attention to the girls and engines all talking by the Wondercolt Statue.
"All of them are my best friends. They mean the world to me. They're my first priority."
Percy looks back at Twilight and smiled with gratitude. Twilight does the same as both continue waiting for Thomas and Sunset to return. Percy felt a little bit better but not enough to change his stance. Just because Twilight thinks that way doesn't mean Thomas would. If one person can have more than one best friend why does Thomas treat Sunset like she's his only one? Twilight warps her arm around Percy's shoulder and turns them back around.
"Come on. Thomas and Sunset will be here soon. Let's wait with the others until they do."
Still smiling, they walk over towards the Wondercolt Statue and rejoin the group. Pinkie Pie rushes up and gives Percy a tight hug to cheer him up, making him and the rest chuckle and relieve stress.
From the corner of his eye, Percy looks back down the street and sees Thomas approaching them.
He gasped excitedly. "Thomas!"
The Girls and Engines saw him too. Thomas stormed towards them with the whistle clutched in his hand. Everyone was relieved and ecstatic to see him, but upon seeing Thomas' stern complexion and Sunset's absence, their excitement soon turned into confusion and concern. Where was Sunset Shimmer? Why did Thomas look so angry? The girls were the first to all gather by him as Thomas reaches and walks pass the Wondercolt Statue.
"Yippie!" Pinkie Pie jumped. "Thomas Is Back!"
"Oh, Thomas!" Fluttershy said happily. "I'm so glad to see you're alright."
"And you look great!" Rainbow Dash said. "Sunset must have patched you up real good."
Thomas didn't say anything to them, not even making eye contact or giving the girls his attention.
"Didn't I ask her to donate those old drabs?" Rarity points.
"Where is Sunset by the way?" Applejack asked.
He just kept walking, cutting pass the girls who were growing even more worried.
"Thomas?" Rarity said trying to get his attention.
Ignoring her, a vexed Thomas continued on. They had a part in using the Elements and he didn't feel like saying anything to them in light of this knowledge. Thomas knew he'd only be shooting his mouth off again if he did. All he wants now is to return Lady back to Sodor. Applejack placed her hand on his should only for it to slip off as he kept walking.
"Thomas?!" Rarity said appalled.
The girls were in shock. Why was Thomas ignoring them? The engines had no idea what was wrong either. They've seen Thomas pout, complain, and fuss over things before, but this was different. Percy recognized his attitude however. Something was bugging him. Something didn't go according to how he hoped. Just as worried and confused, Twilight Sparkle ran up and walked beside Thomas, trying to keep up while he marched across campus.
"Thomas, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, bluntly.
Thomas knew she wasn't the same Twilight that used the Element of Magic on Sunset and felt less vexed to at least acknowledge her.
Twilight stopped in her tracks, growing more concerned as he continued. She then felt Edward place his hand on her shoulder. It was clear Thomas wasn't in the mood to talk to any of the girls for whatever reason. Edward nodded at Twilight, indicating he and the engines will try to find out what's wrong. Twilight nods back. Edward then catches up to Thomas walking at a much slower pace now that the others weren't bothering him.
"Uh, Thomas?" Edward said. "You mind telling us what's going on?"
"I just want to get this whistle to Lady and bring her back to the Magic Railroad like we planned."
Thomas reaches the steps to the entrance of Canterlot High. The other engines catch up as well gathering by the stairs. Thomas stopped and stood in front of the doors. Trying to keep his frustration in check, he spun around and faced his friends.
"Our Island is slowly falling apart. We need to get this job done and over with before it's too late so we can go back home."
"Why the sudden urgency to leave?" Gordon asked.
"Is the Magic Railroad really getting worse?" Toby asked.
"It will," Thomas said. "And it's already taken affect. I'm done wasting time. I am done waiting for others to come to realize who they are."
"I wouldn't say we wasted time necessarily," Edward said, looking back at the girls.
Thomas realized what he said as the engines eyed him perplexedly. He hugged his arm shamefully.
"You were all right. Diesel 10 can never be good. I thought I could help him somehow. But, no matter how you go about it, you just can't. So, go a head and tell me how wrong I was. I deserve it."
Nobody said anything. Instead they exchange several glances to one another trying to decipher what went on at Sunset's house. Was their argument about Diesel 10? Was his last encounter with him finally the tipping point that brought Thomas down to reality and see him for who Diesel 10 really is? That offering help and friendship cannot save him? Did Sunset have to convince Thomas of this? Or was there something more to the conversations? Speaking of which, Toby looks over his shoulder and sees the girls gathered close by. They over heard everything he said. He noticed that Sunset never showed up with him. The others look behind also to noticing one of them was missing.
"Wait. Where's Sunset?" Henry asked.
"Yeah," James said. "Weren't you at her house? Why isn't she here?"
"Did you have a fight?" Percy asked, shyly. "Is that why you're angry?"
Thomas turned away from his friends, shutting his eyes and gritting his teeth angrily.
"What was the fight about, Thomas?" Edward asked.
Not wanting to think or talk about it anymore, Thomas barged through the door and entered the school. The engines were all distraught. They each look at each other again trying to figure out what's gotten Thomas so upset. He was furious about something, and it had something to do with Sunset Shimmer.
"What was that all about?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
The engines started putting together the pieces. They faced the girls and tried explaining their guess the best they can based on what the engines were told about Sunset's past, and how it relates to Diesel 10 denying Thomas' offer to help them rescue Lady.
This whole week, Thomas has been trying to get Diesel 10 to turn over a new leaf and become a good engine again. He denied him that chance however in favor of their destruction. Sunset was someone who wanted to use magic to rule over a kingdom, until the girls defeated her using the magic crown, forcing the evil within to wither away and in tern making her a much nicer person from that point on. Was Thomas mad at Sunset because she wasn't good on her own? That only the Elements of Harmony were the reason she's a better person now? If Sunset couldn't redeem herself, neither could Diesel 10. And after learning Diesel 10 doesn't want to be good, he believes the only way to do so is by forcing magic on him.
"But… we didn't force her to be good. Did we?" Fluttershy asked, wondering herself.
"Of course, we didn't, Darlings," Rarity said. "The magic in Twilight's crown simply zapped away all the bad magic that turned Sunset into a raging monster."
"Didn't she use to be mean before all that as well?" Toby asked. "What happened to that Sunset Shimmer after her defeat?"
"If the crown got rid of all the bad magic, does it mean it got rid of All the badness?" Henry asked.
"Well, when you put it that way, I can kinda see how Thomas would think that," Twilight said.
Seeing a turmoil brewing between them, she tried explaining to the engines what the Elements really did to her. Sunset began making choices she thought would give her everything she wanted. It got to the point where she began making decisions that were morally questionable. Her heart was filled with darkness, and the magic crown she stole and tried wearing turned that darkness into the very thing she kept deep inside herself, built up from all the resentment, jealousy, and hatred towards Princess Celestia and Twilight. Thus, it led her into becoming the monster Sunset claimed she wasn't. At that moment, she realized too late what she had become, not until she witnessed what the magic did to her right as it consumed her and shaped Sunset into the real monster that wanted Equestria all to herself. Twilight had to use the crown's magic to reverse the affects tampered by her darkness. And when she offered her friendship, Sunset took it, desperate for another way after witnessing the monstrosity that shaped her being.
The engines understood, some what. They now knew at least that the Elements didn't change Sunset's behavior. At first, they too were thought the Elements had something to do with Sunset becoming nice all of a sudden, Twilight's explanations cleared the air before an argument broke out. The Elements are a means to restore balance in Harmony. But itt was Princess Twilight and the others that changed her, by giving Sunset a second chance, one that she wanted to take. The only problem they faced now was that Thomas didn't realize this.
"You don't think the Genie had something to do with this?" James suggested.
"I think you might be on to something," Rarity said.
"When Sunset left him alone," Twilight explained, "he must have appeared before Thomas and told him what the Elements did to her. He twisted the truth to make it sound like you used magic to force Sunset into becoming a better person."
"Now why would he do that?" Applejack asked. "What exactly is he hopin' to accomplish with that?"
Edward chimed in. "There had to be some reason why he'd want Thomas thinking badly about the Elements. Why does he want Thomas turning against you all by telling him how Sunset was redeemed?"
Twilight pondered. "Its hard to say what exactly this has to do with the whistle. But since he chose now to pull this tactic after getting more Gold Dust, that must be what he's aiming for."
"But Thomas Still Wants To Return Lady's Magic," Pinkie Pie said. "Looks More Like He Failed Epically In That Regard."
"If Twilight hadn't told us just now how the Elements really work and how Sunset came to be," Toby stated. "We all would've been arguing just like Thomas and Sunset where. Maybe, the Genie's trying to drive our worlds apart; By driving us apart."
The gang fell silent. They knew now why Thomas was ignoring all the girls. If he believed the Elements are what changed Sunset, then that meant they were the coordinators of it's magic turning her into a different person. Now he wants nothing to do with them. He wants to bring Lady and his friends back home. But since Thomas was too hot headed at the moment to be thinking straight, a number of things could go wrong. He could force Lady to accept the Magic Sparkles now that he's eager for everyone's return to Sodor. Or, he could not give her the Sparkles, thinking he'd be forcing someone against their will to change by using magic. One thing's for certain, this wedge between Thomas and Sunset has them divided. But not the girls or engines.
Twilight pondered to herself as a word popped in her head, a word that perfectly describes what's happening to them.
"Discord," She said, quietly to herself.
The girls and engines shot perplexed glances over to Twilight.
"We need to stop Thomas," She said. "He's not in no state of mind to speak with Lady. He'll only scare her away even more unless we explain what's really going on."
She searches through her backpack and pulls out her magic tracker.
"Maybe this genie is out to divide us, but in doing so he's tricked Thomas into thinking magic forced Sunset into being good. Slowly he'll start piece it together and when he tries delivering the whistle,"
"He might force Lady to take her magic back," Percy said.
"Or not give it back at all!" Spike said.
Everyone gasped.
"But how do we tell him this?" Fluttershy said. "Thomas won't listen to any of us."
Then Twilight had an idea. He won't listen to them, but maybe he'll listen to one of his Sodor friends. She turns and looks at Percy. Everyone does the same. Percy stood shyly ridged looking back at his friends.
"Maybe not from us." Twilight then walks over to Percy and hangs the locket over his head, "I'd say if anyone can talk some sense into him, it should be from one of his best friends."
With the magic tracker hanging around his neck, Percy grabs and examines it curiously, then looks back at Twilight Sparkle with her arms behind her back and a proud smile.
"But what if he doesn't listen to me?"
"You can do it, Percy," She encouraged. "Thomas needs his best friend now more than ever."
Twilight then pushes a button on the tracker, turning it on as the gold light starts blinking faintly, pointing to the school entrance on his right.
"Unless he wants to prove us wrong, I just know he'll listen to you."
Percy looks at the locket again then back at everyone smiling with assurance and pride. They knew how close they were based on how much Thomas talked about him and how much time they spend together on Sodor. If anyone can turn Thomas around, Percy was the friend to do so. Maybe this is his chance to fix their friendship after all. Hesitant, Percy sighs then builds confidence.
"Okay. I'll try."
He heads towards the entrance with the locket in his hand. The blinking light beeped and pointed towards the school. Percy reaches the doors and was about to go in, but not before looking back at everyone waving and cheering him on.
"GO, PERCY! Woo-Hoo!" Pinkie Pie cheered.
Smiling himself, Percy then faces the doors and enters the school.
Mystic Sprinkle, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were sitting on the end of stairwell steps waiting for Scootaloo to get back from her rope climbing test. They waited anxiously, nervous over whether she passed or not. The girls bought chocolate milk on stand by to toast her victory, or even just to cheer her up if she doesn't do well. Finally, Scootaloo shows up. The girls all get up and awaited her response. Scootaloo had her arms behind her back looking glum and dejected, leading them to believe she failed as they slouched in disappointment. Then, Scootaloo smiled, and stretched her arms proudly in the air.
"I passed!"
Ecstatic, Mystic, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle cheered and went up to hug their friend. After Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle finish theirs, Mystic grabbed Scootaloo and lifted her off the ground embracing her in her grasp. Scootaloo happily returns the favor.
"I knew you could do it," Mystic said proudly, then puts her back down.
"Yeah, no biggie," She said, nonchalantly. "Totally knew I was gonna ace it."
The girls all giggle. Sweetie Belle hands Scootaloo her chocolate milk. Then they go back to sitting on the edge of the stairwell.
"But seriously, I don't think I would've passed if that guy didn't show me that trick yesterday."
"Now that I think about it," Sweetie Belle said, "Do we even know him? I don't think I've ever seen him around school before."
Scootaloo shrugs. "Me neither. A lot of students have been showing up lately. I just assumed he had to be new too."
"Well, he sure knows a lot about rope climbin'," Apple Bloom said. "Where do you think he learned it from? I wouldn't mind askin' fer a few pointers myself."
Everyone shrugs and continued drinking their milk. Scootaloo blew in her straw creating bubbles in her drink. Mystic watched her do so not knowing why she was drinking her shake like that.
"What're you doing?" She asked fiddling with her own straw.
"Making bubbles."
"You should try it, Mystic," Apple Bloom said. "It's lots of fun."
"And funny," Sweetie Belle inputted.
Hesitant, Mystic places the straw in her mouth. She looks over Scootaloo demonstrating how to do it. Looking at her drink, Mystic blew air into her straw. However, she blew too much air and caused some of her drink to spill out. Shocked at first, the girls then all burst into laughing after trying to hold it in. Even Mystic couldn't help but laugh. She tries again this time putting in less force and makes her chocolate milk bubble and pop. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle do the same. All four friends continue making bubbles in their drinks and laughing all the while.
Thomas marched down the halls of Canterlot High, determined to get this whistle to Lady. He didn't know where Lady was, but knew she was still here somewhere, and he was going to find her even if he had to circle the whole school. He went down every hallway, poked inside every room, climbed up stairwells and back down again. Some students gave him looks, wondering what he was so driven by. But Thomas didn't care. It's time he returned things back to normal.
Entering another hallway from around the corner, Thomas immediately stops in his place. There in his sights was Mystic Sprinkles, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle sitting on the edge of the stairwell. Seeing Lady always curled Thomas' stomach for some reason. He always marveled her beauty even now. Something especially particular about her seemed off this time. He stood for a few seconds taking it in. This was it. He was going to return her magic and save Sodor. Everything is coming together at long last. Still persistent, Thomas was about to storm up to Mystic, taking one step to start off. Until, he stopped. Thomas stood frozen in his place yet again. His fuming and perseverance began to diminish upon observing Mystic and the CMC.
It was then that Thomas saw that something particular about her; something in Mystic he's never seen from her since this whole ordeal started. Ever since coming to this school she's been lost and alone, sad and hopeless. Now, Mystic Sprinkles was happy. Thomas knew that the CMC were looking after her, but to actually see her smile and laugh caught Thomas off guard. He watched her and the CMC play with their drinks by blowing bubbles in them, all laughing and chuckling while doing so. They were having a good time. Mystic was having a good time.
Recollections and memories began flooding Thomas' mind. Almost like when Sunset peers into his thoughts. Moments from their journey to Muffle Mountain through the Magic Railroad were projected in his head.
"Maybe because they actually treated her like a person, and not as a source of powerful magic or someone's punching bag."
"I have to wonder, If the same would've happened to me. Would I have been picked on because I didn't know any better?"
[Thomas went on.]
"I remember feeling very lost. I was ready to give up. I didn't know what I was doing, and I didn't wanna cause anymore confusion or delay."
"You didn't know what you're doing because you were doing everything alone."
"They offered to be Lady's friend."
"My friends and I saw someone we couldn't stand to see accomplish this on their own. You are a good person. That's why we all wanted to help you."
Thomas shook his head and went back to staring dejectedly at Mystic and the CMC, who were unaware of the boy standing mere thirty feet away from them. The more he wanted to approach her, the more a voice at the back of his head told him not to.
Mystic was upset because people treated her badly, all while the urgency of her absence from the Railroad pushed Thomas and his friends to bring her back home, not thinking twice about her state of mind until it was too late. But the CMC, unlike everyone, treated Lady as a friend, as someone who's looking for a place to belong. Thomas had never seen this side of Lady in such a long time. When he found her, she was timid, diffident, self-conscious yet so self assured about who she is, which conflicted with her persona and made Lady even more distant. Now she was happy. Whatever the CMC did, it embraced her true self.
Hearing and seeing all these thoughts led him back to everything he's been preaching for the past week. About how he believed in Diesel 10, how he could make him realize his mistakes and in return make amends for them, how showing someone the way can help embrace their better self, about him turning it all down and throwing it in his face. Then, he started thinking about Sunset, and what she said to him about her friends doing exactly so. Trying to shake these thoughts, Thomas couldn't help but let them play out while looking back at Lady and the CMC still unaware and having fun.
"It was their friendship that really save me."
"The Magic of Friendship,"
[Twilight grabs hold of Sunset's hand, pulling her up from the crater and back on her feet, motioning her to the girls and promising they'd look after her. Sunset picks up a microphone and begins to sing, triggering her first pony up and solidifying her place in the group.]
"They took me in and helped me become a better person. They showed me the right path so I could embrace my true self."
[The whole gang embrace a blissful Sunset in one collective hug after the Battle of the Bands. Sunset transforms into Daydream Shimmer. She stops Midnight Sparkle from taking control over Twilight Sparkle by offering her a way.]
"My Friends saved me by showing me there was another way."
[The CMC pull Mystic off her feet, accepting her as their new friend, offering to help find out who she really is and solidifying her place in the club.]
"All of them gave me a second chance and offered their hand in friendship."
"I enjoyed being mean. I loved being bad. I drove them apart. My Mistake. The bond they share is stronger than anything. It ties us all together,"
"The Magic of Friendship,"
Unable to take it anymore, Thomas turns away and hides behind the corner leading down the other hallway, pressing himself against some lockers. From the corner of her eye, Mystic looks down the hall thinking she saw something. But there was nothing to be seen. The CMC were still too busy laughing to take notice. Thomas froze trying to make as little sound as possible. Deciding not to bother, Mystic brushes it off and goes back to laughing with her friends.
Overwhelmed, Thomas collapses on the floor and lands on his rear. He brought his knees close to his chest and locks them under his arms. Thomas sighed a heavy breath. The whistle still wrapped and clutched in his hand, Thomas looks at it in all it's shiny, silver, Gold Dust filled glory. This was it. He can save Lady and his home here and now. But something kept holding him back. Why couldn't he approach her? Was it because she was having fun? How could he break that up and make her upset again? Thomas was ready to force her into taking the magic back if that's what it came to. He was about to make the very mistake he harped on Sunset Shimmer about. He was about to use magic and force Lady into becoming something she currently didn't want to be. Instead of approaching her as a friend, he would've approached her as a powerful source of energy that just needed refueling.
He has to give the whistle to Lady though. He as to save her, his home, and his friends. This is what he's been fighting for. This was his job. Everyone is counting on him. All of his friends. Percy, Mr. Conductor, Twilight Sparkle, Burnett Stone… Sunset Shimmer. But, he couldn't do it. He was too distressed to do anything with the whistle. He was too emotionally imbalanced to approach her. After what happened last time he lashed out on someone like so, it did not end so well. He didn't want a repeat of such, especially now that the last hour with him and Sunset were all he could think about; all that held him back.
Thomas didn't know what to do. Lost, alone, dejected, he buried his head in his arms, still thinking about Sunset, what he said, what she said, and the hypocrisy he nearly committed.
[Sunset sits on her couch next to Thomas.]
"My case is a lot different from his."
"Maybe some people just don't want to be good. Doing bad things or just being bad in general is all that they know."
"I'm, not, good! I never was, never will be."
"Old McDiesel is here to stay!"
"He just needs a little guidance. Someone who can show him there's room for your better self and discover the most important magic of all."
[Thomas and Percy sat on the porch of the Sweet Apple Acers house under the starry, violet night sky.]
"Well, I think he just likes being bad. Just because the others helped Sunset doesn't mean Diesel 10 will want the same offer."
[Thomas laid on her couch while she sat crouched next to him.]
"How is it not the same? Why isn't he helping us save Lady!"
"This should've stopped him from going after her."
"Is that really the only way? Why can't everyone just be good?"
"There are just some people you can't change, who don't want to change."
"You were never good!"
After minutes of sitting and rethinking this whole week, Thomas felt someone gently nudging and kicking his feet. After three nudges, Thomas looks up to see who it was. It was Derpy; the girl who gave him a muffin on his first day at Canterlot High. She had her arms behind her back, standing over and smiling down at Thomas.
"Oh. Hi, Derpy," He said, head hung timidly.
Despite seeing a friendly face, Thomas preferred being alone at the moment. He turned his head away and waited for her to leave after giving his acknowledgement. But Derpy wouldn't leave. Thomas' attention was brought back to her after Derpy reveals something she had hidden behind her back, and leaned down to hold it in front of him. It was a muffin. Thomas examined it then looks back at Derpy, beaming with content. Thomas mustered a smile and accepts her offering, even when he felt like he didn't deserve one.
"Thank you."
Derpy reveals another muffin she had hidden behind her back. She went over and sat down beside him, pressing herself against the lockers and scooches next to Thomas. At first, even though he was happy to see her, Thomas still preferred having this time for himself. He didn't want anyone clouding his thoughts right now or stoking up conversations. But all Derpy did was sit there and eat her muffin. She didn't talk to him, ask him what's wrong, or why he's sitting by himself. She just wanted to enjoy a little snack.
Feeling a bit better now, Thomas watches her chew on her muffin then looks at his held delicately in his hand. Thomas realized he never actually tried Derpy's muffins. This was his first time actually eating a muffin at all. He brought it up to his mouth and took a small bite out of the muffin. Upon his first bite, Thomas immediately felt the soft, moist texture and blueberry flavoring fill his mouth with endless tastes buds running rampant. How did he miss out on this the first time she gave him a muffin? Thomas swallows after chewing for a bit and beams with delight, looking over Derpy watching him finish his chew.
"You make the best muffins ever, Derpy."
Bashful, Derpy held her hand to her mouth and made an inaudible giggle. The two then continued eating their muffins together. As Thomas goes in for another bite, he pauses, and pulls the muffin away from him. He saw something in the muffin, something that surprised him. Mystified, Thomas looked at the half-eaten muffin in his hand, as sudden flashes project another memory of this week.
"Here, you can have my muffin!"
[A peckish and well famished Trixie looks at the muffin in Thomas' hand then back at his smiling face.]
Thomas still stared at his muffin in all it's entirety.
"R-really? Isn't that yours though?"
"You look like you need it more than I do."
[She brought her forearms together speechless over his offer. Trixie wasn't always the easiest person to get along with. She was often rude and arrogant. Caring little about others. But the truth is, all she wanted was a friend. She didn't have a huge selection. Her attitude and demeanor towards others played a part in such. To see this boy offering her his muffin when she forgot to bring her own lunch resonated something in Trixie she never felt in a long time.]
"But. That's the nicest thing, anyone has ever done for me."
"Well, I think a lot more people should be doing nicer things for you. Of course, that is up for you to decide."
[Overwhelmed with appreciation, Trixie happily nods and excepts Thomas' offer; then gleefully but gently takes the muffin from him.]
Arm resting on his knee, Thomas continues looking at the muffin in his hand. His mouth hung loose and his pupils glistened as all these flashes kept rolling through his head.
[Sunset Shimmer gave Thomas a friendly smirk and reached for her bag, searching through and pulling out some change.]
"I'll have one too."
[She hands Derpy her money. Derpy gives her a muffin and Thomas grabbed his off the table.]
"You didn't have to do that."
[Her gleeful response echoed and reverberated all over.]
"I wanted to."
It was then upon staring at his muffin still, now in disbelief, that the realization struck Thomas where his senses laid dormant.
Under all that meanness, there was a part of Sunset who didn't know better and thought the path they took was the only option. By the time the magic crown turned her into a raging she-demon, she realized this too late. After being saved, Sunset knew what she became and what the magic did to her. Lost and alone, she had no idea how to make up for what she did. Unlike Diesel 10, Sunset wanted forgiveness, she wanted to amend the wrongs of her past, to belong again and embrace her true self.
Thomas was more then right to believe he can help those who don't realize what they're doing, and become better people if shown the right way. Even when others where right to hold their reserves. Princess Twilight and his Canterlot friends were all the proof he needed. Sunset was all the proof he needed. There was just one thing he never considered when trying to offer friendship to Diesel 10, when he was told how Sunset was redeemed. Upon seeing this by looking at his muffin, it all became clear to Thomas.
"Sunset. She isn't good because of magic. Sunset is good… because she wants to be."
[Finishing their tour of the school, Thomas leans on the railing looking down at the Canterlot High Library. Sunset steps in and leans on the railing as well, looking over him and smiling.]
[At the Canterlot Mall, everyone was getting ready to eat, except for Thomas. Sunset then brought a tray with an extra burger for Thomas to have, giving it to him as he happily accepts it.]
[Thomas and Sunset chug on Apple Cider mugs then look at each other's fizzy orange mouths and laughed along with their friends.]
[The two friends sat on Sunset's living room couch mashing buttons on their controllers intensely, trying to defeat a boss level in the video game, Rise of Tirek.]
[Sunset demonstrates the EG Stomp to Thomas, crossing her arms and leaning side to side, then stomping her feet left and right. Thomas watches Sunset carefully. As soon as he caught up he continued on. Both friends smiled at each other now that they were in sync.]
[Staring out her window at the pale moon light and stars gleaming brightly, Sunset stood and smiled as Thomas describes the Island of Sodor to her in a way where she can look to the sky and imagine being there right now with him. She puts her hands on his, resting gently on her shoulders, singing every detail.]
[Sunset leans her head on Thomas' shoulder for comfort while the two sat in the band room staring blankly at the floor. Thomas froze looking down at her still staring at the ground nonchalant. Gingerly, he rests his head on top of hers. Sunset looks up at Thomas and smiled sweetly. Feeling comfortable himself now, Thomas smiles back.]
[Thomas and Sunset laugh as they make their way down the Magic Railroad and back to Canterlot High after obtaining more Gold Dust for Lady. The last image of Sunset's happy smile fades out.]
Thomas smiled while remembering those times; Back where it all started.
He was lost and alone when entering Canterlot High. Sunset offered him friendship by giving him a muffin, solidifying a new and eventual bond with her and all her friends. He wanted to be friends just as much as she did. Lady was alone and lost. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle offered her friendship by taking her into their club. Even though Lady still doesn't know who she really is, she was happy to call them her friends at the end of the day. Long before, Sunset Shimmer favored nothing more than to be Equestria's next ruler. Power was all she desired. But all that grew inside her, was a darkness she acquired. Twilight Sparkle rescued her and showed her a magic that can truly unite everyone in harmony.
All this time, Thomas has been drawing comparisons to Sunset Shimmer & Diesel 10. It was clear now both were not the same. Friendship couldn't save Diesel 10 because he accepts who he is and who he wants to be. Friendship saved Sunset because there was more to it that she never realized until seeing what darkness and light can make of her. Friendship saved Lady because she doesn't know who she is, until her friends embraced a dormant side of her, one that Lady never thought she had.
Some people cannot and will not want friendship. They know who they are. But the people who do, the ones that know who they are, who want to know, are the one's worth fighting for. The Ones that are worth giving your attention to, spending time with, having fun, and helping. They want friendship more than the next person. It is only up to the next person themselves whether they want forgiveness; just like it's up to people who want redemption and who want a helping hand to show them the way. Only they can make that call. Not magic. Then and only then, can friendship begin to take its form, and seal a bond that can never truly be broken no matter the distance, arguments, disagreements, indifference, or turmoil that puts a wedge between the strong connection one shares with another.
What makes friendship magical is the way it's used. The way it makes you feel, be it good or bad, and how it bridges us closer together. It's a feeling that fills someone with confidence, assurance, bravery, benevolence, and an unselfish joy that's stronger than any malevolent desire. Sunset and Lady didn't know what they wanted. None of them knew or still don't know who they truly were. Not until people, friends, and their magic came along and guided them down a path they weren't sure about. But they accepted it anyways because they wanted to. They saw the most important magic of all. They saw, that friendship is magic.
Thomas let's out a heavy sigh. "I made a terrible mistake."
Derpy paused her chewing to glances over at Thomas looking contrite. He stared at random spots on the floor before looking back at his muffin again.
"I thought magic forced Sunset to realize her mistakes. But, is wasn't the Elements that changed her. Sunset changed because she really did want redemption."
All Derpy did was listen to Thomas go on about his discernment. She didn't know the full story or what he's saying, but tried to hear what's being said anyways.
"I said some awful things to her because I didn't realize this," Thomas continued. "All she ever wanted was to be my friend. But I ruined it. I turned against someone I called my best friend all because I didn't understand the most important magic of all. The Magic of Friendship."
He gripped the muffin in his hand just a tad then eases up.
"Before I though they were two separate things. But now I know they aren't. Now I know there's even more to what I've been saying all week."
Thomas knew why Discord tried making the Elements look bad. He was trying to drive them apart, by toying with his belief and turning it on himself. While he was right in that sense, there was more to Discord's trick that's now falling together the way he planned. Thomas may have learned a valuable lesson, but it's still a part of the plan. Not knowing his manipulation still lingers on him, a risky decision popped into Thomas' thoughts. He knew he has a job to complete. But with everything he's learned flowing through him, everything that's happened up until this point was starting to come together and make sense. Thomas knew he had to atone for what he did.
Nodding to himself, he got up and stood on his feet. Peaking behind the corner to check on Mystic really quick, Thomas saw she was still there with the CMC now just talking after finishing their drinks. Thomas smiled. He really was glad that they were looking out for her now more than ever. He turns back around and stood with determination
"Well, I'm not about to leave with Sunset and I divided. I'm going to fix our friendship! And if I'm right, Sunset will want to fix it as well. But there's only one way to know for sure."
Thomas was about to take off but then stopped. He ran back to Derpy confused by his sudden departure.
"Thank you again for the muffin, Derpy!" He said, kindly.
He takes a big bite out of his blueberry muffin before running off again down the hall. Derpy waves goodbye and continues eating her muffin. Thomas had never run so fast as a human. If there were any teachers around, he'd likely have to be stopped due to how far he's running. Thomas wouldn't care. Nothing can stop him from what he had his sights on now. Before he could fix Lady's memories, there was one other bond in need of mending.
Meanwhile, Percy was wondering the halls trying to navigate his way to Thomas and the whistle using Twilight's magic tracker. He held onto locket confused by the strangeness of it. He dared not press any of the buttons in fear of messing up the controls somehow. All Percy did was just follow the light the best he did. Just then, the beeping and blinking grew louder and brighter, so much so it began vigorously vibrating in his hands. Curious but nervous, Percy looks up and sees Thomas charging towards him from down the halls. Percy came to a halt.
"Thomas?!"
Thomas noticed Percy and stopped right in front of him just in time.
"Percy!" He said, happily.
Percy was happy to see him in high spirits again. He seemed really happy to see Percy as well. But then Thomas shook his head.
"Sorry, Percy, but there's no time to talk. I have to get going."
As he was about to ask, Thomas already took off. Percy turned back around to see him running down the halls. He was confused.
"Wait! What about Lady?" Percy called. "Thomas! Where are you going?"
"To find Sunset Shimmer and fix our friendship!"
Thomas disappears down another hallway leading to the main lobby. Just as he thought, Thomas and Sunset did have a fight. But it seems now he still cared about Sunset and wanted to undo whatever happened between them. Here Percy thought he was given a chance to reconcile their friendship in some way. To give him some advice or to stand by his side like he has through this whole ordeal. But it seems, he wasn't needed to help Thomas this time either. Thomas had his friendship with Sunset he sought to fix instead.
"Oh. Okay," Percy said, dejectedly. "You do that. I'll just stand by."
As Percy disappointingly hung his head, the beeping on Twilight's magic tracker began to diminish. The light grew faint and the noise winded down. Each beep slowly getting quieter as the whistle was now far and distant. The light stops blinking, and the beeping goes silent.
To Be Continued.