//------------------------------// // chapter 35: Universes Crumbling Pt.1 // Story: Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome to Canterlot High // by LPFanFic //------------------------------// Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome To Canterlot High Chapter 35: Universes Crumbling Pt. 1 Mystic Sprinkles and the CMC still sat by the edge of the stairwell talking and laughing away. As time passed however, Scootaloo drifted off into her own thoughts while the rest continued their conversation. She thought about how well she did on her test, then thought about the boy that taught her how to rope climb. While she was more than grateful for his advice, there was something off about him that came to her attention, something she didn't catch on at first. When trying to motivate her to climb, he mentioned being a strong and fast Express engine. Why did he refer to himself as that? What was an Express engine? Where was this Sodor place he mentioned as well? "What's the matter, Scoot?" Apple Bloom asked Everyone turned their attentionto her. "You know the boy who helped me with my rope climbing yesterday?" They all nodded. "Do you remember him saying he was an Express engine at one point?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pondered while stroking their chins. Mystic just watches. "Hey, yeah. Ah do remember him sayin' somethin' like that," Apple Bloom said. "So, do I," Sweetie Belle said. "What even is an Express engine?" Irritably, Mystic slouched and rested her chin on her palm. "I think he was referring to himself as a train." "What makes you think that?" Apple Bloom asked. Mystic remembered while they spoke that he was a friend of Thomas, the other blue boy who made claims of her being a magical talking train. She explained this to the girls. "He was just playing along with Thomas' trick. I remember. He mentioned something about realizing who I am." "Wait, he said that to you?" Scootaloo asked. Mystic nodded grudgingly. This boy was also in on the trick? The one who helped Scootaloo, a student they've never seen around school now that they thought about it. The three girls exchange several glances then turned their attention back to Mystic. "Uh, Mystic," Apple Bloom began. "We want you to hear us out on this." "Okay?" She said hesitantly. They explained everything they've been doing these past couple of days trying to jog her memory with no visible success. Nothing seemed to resonate with Mystic Sprinkles in terms of interests or gave her the slightest peak of how she's related to Canterlot. They reminded her of what she remembers about herself. How Mystic says she woke up around campus, where she belongs, or who she is. Then Thomas and this other boy show up claiming she's a magical talking train, the urgency of her return to their home, and how they kept referring to Mystic as Lady. They've only just met her this week. And now, two boys they've never seen around school were also going to CHS. With this in mind, it all seemed to make a little too much sense. "Hold on," Mystic said. "Are you seriously saying that me being a magical train from another world could be true?" "I don't know," Apple Bloom said doubtfully. "Maybe all this magical train nonsense isn't just a joke." "If even this guy is saying you're a magic train," Scootaloo said. "Then it must mean something. He sounded like he really meant it too." "You do know he's just in on it too, right? Even these girls Thomas was with tried convincing me as well." "What girls?" Sweetie Belle asked. Mystic shook her head. She didn't remember them all that well anymore all a sudden. "Well, there's also that time you were covered in all that shiny stuff and floated in the air all whimsical like," Apple Bloom said. "You remember when that happened right?" "That wasn't just special effects?" Sweetie Belle asked. Mystic rubbed the back of her head. "Yeah, but. How could I be from some other world? That just doesn't sound possible. Does it?" "Maybe not as mush as we thought," Apple Bloom said sharing looks with Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle chimed in. "Yeah. In fact, there's this other world inside the Wondercolt Statue that leads to a land of magical ponies. A girl that goes to this school named Twilight has a pony version of herself living there!" Mystic's eyes widened. She had never head of this magical pony land. How do they know this and why did it sound so causal to them? The CMC all look at each other, realizing she didn't know about this. Mystic shook her head and stared suspiciously at them. "Come on, girls, don't you go and make up stories now too." "We're not making it up," Sweetie Belle said. "My sister and her friends have powers now because a magic crown was brought over from that world to our school." "They can grow pony ears, wings, and long pony tails whenever they play music," Scootaloo explained. "Are you hearing yourselves? Magic crown? Pony place? This is the only world that exists." "We didn't know nothin' about it either," Apple Bloom said. "Not until a bunch of monsters started takin' over CHS." "Monsters?" Mystic hugged herself, thinking about the giant claw from her nightmare. "Well, I mean, I guess that would explain how I can float in the air whenever I sing." "I don't think pony magic is the reason that happens though," Sweetie Belle said. "It must have been something else. Something to do with this Sodor place." "Even so, how often do you hear about a world filled with magical talking trains?" "That does seem a bit out there," Scootaloo said rubbing her head. "But the point is," Apple Bloom continued, "Leave out all the magic and the train talkin' and It's soundin' like you and Thomas might have some sort of connection." Mystic shifted away from them in disbelief. "I don't believe it. You're not seriously buying into this, are you?" "We're just tryin' to make sense of it," Apple Bloom stated. "That's all." "I suppose everything the boy said about being an Express engine is true too, right?" Mystic looks away. "Mystic!" Scootaloo said. "Why would he help me and try tricking us? You don't think it's even remotely coincidental that they show up looking for you on the same week you lost your memories and started going to CHS?" Mystic shyly hugs herself. "I-I guess it does when you put it that way. I don't know." "We'd never lie to you," Apple Bloom said. "And you'd know we'd never be friends just to trick yah. Why, we don't even know ourselves what's really goin' on. But now we're willin' to believe him if it means findin' yer memories." She looks back at them. "So, what? Are you gonna take me to Thomas now? Ask him what he knows about me and fall for everything he says?" "No," Scootaloo said, crossing her arms. "No?" Everyone said, looking perplexed. "We're not gonna do anything; not unless that's what you wanna do." Mystic didn't understand at first. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle share a glance and nod. They knew what she meant. Sweetie Belle spoke next. "She's right. We're suppose to find out who you are, and Thomas is the only lead we have. But if you don't wanna to talk with him, then that's your call to make." "Really?" Mystic said shyly. "Absolutely!" Apple Bloom said happily. "It's like what Scootaloo said; if you don't wanna, then we ain't gonna force yah. Not unless yer ready." Mystic looked down the hall where she heard a noise earlier. Maybe she should ask Thomas. He does seem to know more about her than even she does. But it still didn't feel right for some reason. Mystic was too grounded by the rules she caught onto during her time in Canterlot High. She trusts her friends more than anyone. Even so, she still held a sense of distrust among anyone else. Mystic still had to live by what she felt was right. And to her, going to Thomas was not something she was eager to do. She sighed. "I rather not." The CMC all look at each other worrisome. They knew speaking with Thomas might be what's best, but they didn't want to upset Mystic either by bringing her to him. So, they nodded and agreed with her wishes instead. "Okay," Apple Bloom said. "Sounds good to us." "We'll keep searching for who you are for as long as we can," Sweetie Belle said confidently. Mystic looks back at her friends and smiled, shifting closer next to Apple Bloom again. Scootaloo got up. "Now that we got that out of the way, how about we move on to more pressing matters." "Like what?" Mystic asked. Apple Bloom interjected. "Like making our official CMC banner!" "Yeah!" the three girls shouted, happily sitting up and high fiving. The three girls then went through their backpacks and unpacked their supplies. They laid out a long, wide strip of paper, markers, regular and coloring pencils. Mystic and everyone knelt down eager to get started. "Hey," Apple Bloom thought. "Maybe decoratin' could be something you liked doin'." "Yeah. There's lots of ways you can make art," Scootaloo said. "Odds are one of them has gotta peak your interest." "Only one way to find out," Mystic said optimistically. Her, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo grabbed some pencils and began outlining their banner. As they began drawing, Sweetie Belle then took out of her bag a glass jar. Inside was an almost empty collection of golden glitter that gave off wind chimes as she places it on the floor next to her. The girls hear the strange noise and look over to see her jar and the bright gold sparkles inside. "What'cha got there, Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked. "Some type of glitter I think?" She admitted. "I found these just laying around the floor. There was a whole bunch of them scattered all over school." Mystic stared at the glitter. Why were they scattered all over the school for? "I figured we can use them to decorate our banner." "Sure thing!" Apple Bloom approved. "Gold will definitely make our banner stand out more." "Just don't add too much," Scootaloo said. As Sweetie Belle opens the lid, something strange started happening to the jar. It began vibrating forcefully and the glitter inside was glowing a bright beam. Suddenly, the glitter rose out from the jar in a golden aura and floated in the air. Everyone's jaw dropped. What was this glitter doing? How was it glowing and floating in the air like so? The golden aura streams straight towards Mystic Sprinkles. Mystic drops her pencil as the glitter strikes and begins covering her from head to toe in it's brightly golden glare. She tried fighting back against the sparkles, waving her arms to brush them away, but more kept gathering and clinging to her. The three girls didn't know what was going on. They began to panic even more as Mystic clutched her head and began groaning in pain. Something had to be done to stop this fast. "Close it, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo said. "I can't!" Sweetie Belle tried and tried, but couldn't get the lid over the stream of gold glitter. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ran over and helped Sweetie Belle close the lid, finding it hard themselves just how much the force was pushing against it. All the while, Mystic began levitating again. Her knees lift off the ground until she remained floating mid air and glowing all over with shiny, sparkling gold. Putting in all their might, the CMC finally manage to slap the lid on top and twist it tightly. The stream of gold aura disappears and Mystic falls back to the ground, landing on her knees then collapsing to her stomach. The jar was still vibrating and glowing as the glitter clings to one side of the jar in Mystic's direction. Scootaloo takes the jar and places it on the ground while Apple Bloom steps up and kicks it away. The jar rolls down the opposite hallway with the golden glitter stationary in their direction until it was far enough to droop back down and diminish in brightness. The CMC all exhale a sigh of relief. "Did that magical glow look familiar to ya'll?" Apple Bloom asked. The three look over their shoulders to see Mystic Sprinkles struggling to get up. They run over and lean down next to Mystic as she steady's herself on her arms. "Where did you say you found them again?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle. "All around the halls." Mystic rose her head and sees the three concerned girls all looking at her. She spoke through a weary voice, trying to keep her eyes from collapsing. "Apple Bloom? Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle?" "Yes?" Apple Bloom confirmed. "What do you think happened?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Not sure," Scootaloo said. "How are you feeling, Mystic?" Her eyes squinted. "Who's, Mystic?" The CMC all gasped. She looked around her surroundings very confusing like. "Where are we? What is this place?" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle share concerning glances. Whatever the glitter did to her, she had no memory of where or who she is. Where these sprinkles the cause of her amnesia all along? If Sweetie Belle found them scattered across the school no wonder Mystic couldn't remember herself. One things for sure though, they didn't know enough to declare if this was the case. They only had one solution that can answer this, one they promised Mystic they wouldn't do. The girls look at Mystic staring back like they were outer worldly beings with fear in her eyes. "We should probably find Thomas," Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. Thomas burst through the doors from the school entrance and sprints down the steps. He had to find Sunset and apologies for how he acted and tell her what he learned. He just couldn't wait. So, he had to make up for lost time and get to her quick so he can go back and save Lady. "Thomas!" Twilight said. She ran up and stopped him in his tracks. "Did you find Lady? You didn't try forcing her to take the whistle, did you?" "I did find her. But, I haven't returned her magic yet. Listen, I have to talk to Sunset. There's something I really need to tell her." Thomas was about to run off again until Twilight stepped in front of and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Wait, what do you need to talk to Sunset about?" Thomas hung his head. "Something about our fight. It's really important that I tell her. Otherwise I don't know how long she'll stay mad at me for." Twilight kept looking back at the Wondercolt Statue while he talked, coming across rather worried. Thomas caught on and raised an inquisitive brow. "Twilight? What are you looking at?" She lets go, looking back and chuckling sheepishly with arms behind her back. Thomas tried seeing what was behind her but kept getting blocked by Twilight leaning in front of his direction. She was preventing him from seeing what was behind her. Thomas grew annoyed when Twilight finally stops and grips her hands nervously. "So, funny story," She smiled awkwardly. "You are not gonna believe who just showed up while you were looking for Lady." Thomas was confused. "Oh? Who is it?" "THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE!" Startled, both teens jumped in their feet as the booming force alerted them towards the Wondercolt Statue. They watched frightfully as none other than Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller himself, strolled up angrily to Thomas and Twilight. Thomas stuttered, trying to get his name out. "Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir!" Sir Topham Hatt reaches and stood firmly in front of them with hands on his waist and eyes glaring strictly at Thomas. "Thomas, you've got a lot of explaining to do young tank eng," He corrected himself. "Err, whatever you are now." Thomas couldn't believe it. He had to second guess himself. What was Sir Topham Hatt doing in Canterlot High? "But, but, how did you find us, Sir? How are you even here?" "Emily and I followed the tracks on the Magic Railroad straight to this place." "Emily?! She's here too?" Thomas looks behind him and sees all his friends gathered by the Statue base. He saw a girl Thomas didn't recognize at first until conceding that it was in deed Emily, who was now a teenage girl. "That's right. We came here to, uh. Um, where exactly are we again?" Sir Topham Hatt asked. "Canterlot High. Uh, Sir," Twilight responded. Sir Topham Hatt looks at the school then back at Thomas and Twilight. "Right?" Being in another world was too much to take in all at once. He shook off the absurdity of it and spoke severely to Thomas. "No matter. You best have a very good reason why you all kept this a secret from me. Diesel 10 on the loose again. Mr. Conductor asking you to find Lady, and the Magic Railroad on the brink of falling apart? Just what on earth is going on?" Thomas and Twilight looked at each other shamefully. He sighed, then explained everything to Sir Topham Hatt. Meanwhile, Emily was having trouble of her own adjusting to this strange new world. The engines and girls advised her while she struggled to stand on both her legs while clinging to the base. Emily was about the same height as the Twilight and her friends. She had light emerald skin and gold eyes. Long, layered, emerald green hair with a low and loose pigtail resting on her shoulder and held in a red hair tie. Emily wore a long, un-tucked chocolate colored top that reaches just below her hips. A short, emerald green cropped cardigan stopping above her hips and the top button un-did. An emerald green pleated skirt with silver linings, black tights and red flats. Both collars on the top and cardigan were collared a light yellow. "Nice to finally meet you, Emily," Applejack said. "Um, hi," She said, still trying to wrap her head around her environment. "Just a word of warning before you freak out," Fluttershy said. "Twilight's pet dog can talk." "Hi there. I'm Spike," he said strutting up to her. "Man, a lot more of you keep coming here every other day." It was already too much of a shock for Emily being a person in a completely different world, but now animals were talking to her. She surveyed all the weird looking people with welcoming smiles. They seemed pretty nice so far, but too much change to her made it difficult for Emily to cope at first. "At least she has somewhat of a well ensembled wardrobe, so to speak," Rarity commented. "Just needs a little more pazazz. With enough time, I think I can have you sporting something with less last century." Emily's legs shook trying to stand straight. "Who are you? What are you?" "They're our new friends," Henry said. "They've been helping us save our Island." Edward introduced Emily to the girls. "Over there with Thomas is Twilight Sparkle. There's also Sunset Shimmer but we don't really know where she is at the moment." Toby introduced the rest. "As for these girls. This is Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and," "Pinkie Pie!" She said, leaning close in her face. "Oh, okay? Pinkie Pie," Emily said, a little weirded out. "Here, Have A Cupcake!" "I-I'm good. Thank you." They all looked and bared such strange names. Her friends looked just as strange too. It was odd seeing them as people, more so seeing herself as a person. Emily didn't know how to feel about them. But seeing her friends just casually hanging out with them put her at ease a little. If they were happy around these girls, then they must be very good friends. She let's go of the base and attempted to stand on her own. But Emily teetered and swerved, eventually losing her balance until James stepped in and caught her before she fell. Emily smiles at James as he does. "Are you okay, Emily?" he asked. "I think so." "Nothing like your first trip to get the hang of it, eh?" He joked. "It's just so strange," Emily said taking it all in. "How are you all so use to it?" "We've had time to practice," Toby chuckled. "You're not even a little bit put off that we're people now?" "Hmm, maybe at first," James admitted. "You actually get pretty used to it surprisingly," Edward commented. The engines shared a few glances remembering their first day being people too. James lets go as Emily stood up on her own. James and the others spotted her as she gained a steady stance; though her knees shivered and locked together trying to support herself. "Looks like you got a lot of walkin' to do before you get to where yer friends are at," Applejack commented. "I don't think I'll be staying long enough to get use to it," Emily said ominously. The engines and girls all look back at Thomas with Sir Topham Hatt talking away. Twilight rejoins her friends fretting over the situation. "How is it?" Fluttershy asked. "It doesn't sound good," Twilight said hugging her arm. Everyone began to worry now too. What was Sir Topham Hatt going to do? Percy then walked out from the entrance. Still holding onto the door, Percy froze in his steps and stared anxiously at Thomas and the Fat Controller. "Sir Topham Hatt?!" Sir Topham Hatt was startled. "Percy?" Thomas looks back at Percy then at Sir Topham Hatt while chuckling sheepishly. He glared at Percy, however, and ordered him to stand with him, remembering that he was suppose to inform Sir Topham Hatt that Thomas left the Island in the first place. Percy slouched and shamefully walked towards and stood next to Thomas. Sir Topham Hatt then pointed him towards the others. He walks over to them still feeling disgraced until he notices Emily. Then he ran up to everyone while Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt continued their discussion. He was still wrapping his head around everything. Being isolated then informed of this past week concerning Diesel 10, Discord, Lady, and the Magic Railroad was tricky for him to understand. "Please don't be mad, Sir," Thomas said. "Percy didn't keep this from you purposefully. We're all very sorry." "They'll be time for apologies later, Thomas. But right now, all I'd like to know is what on earth does this Discord character want with Sodor?" "He wants to turn it into his own kingdom, Sir," Thomas said. "He asked Diesel 10 to steal Lady's magic so he can use it to grant him free control over all of us." "And you thought trying to stop them by yourself was a good idea because?" "I wasn't by myself. Well, for the most part maybe. It's just, this job was very important. Mr. Conductor," "What Mr. Conductor asks of you without my permission is not up to him," he interrupted. "Of all of you that knew about this, Mr. Conductor should've been the first person I heard from at most." The Girls and Engines slowly crept towards the two, trying to avoid getting involved while listening to what's being said. "He's losing his magic because of the Railroad's corruption," Thomas said. "The Magic Railroad is about to destroy everything on Sodor and Canterlot High." "Which is why you should have all come to inform me about this predicament from the start. This matter concerns all of us, Thomas." Thomas shied away. "I know, Sir. But there's nothing we could've done unless I went to look for Lady." "Wondering aimlessly around the Magic Railroad and getting dangerously lost in other worlds with Diesel 10 after us all is not an ideal decision." "But I didn't get lost! I found my way here using Gold Dust and made lots of good friends that are helping me rescue her." Just then, another person came walking out from the front entrance. It was Principal Celestia. She was about to approach the girls upon noticing them until catching eye of Thomas and a man with a black top hat. Celestia went up to them first and stood next to Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt. "Our home is in trouble. And if I didn't accept this task, we might all be flying off the rails and covered in shadows." "I don't believe we met," Celestia said reaching for Sir's hand. "I'm Principal Celestia." "Ah, so you're in charge of this institution then?" He said happily accepting her offer. "Bertram Hatt, Madame. But, I'd prefer Sir Topham." "Sir Topham Hatt?" She said with an arched brow. "Right. Nice to meet you." "I hope you don't mind. I was just having a chat with one of my uh," He clears his throat. "Students, here." Celestia smiles. "It's okay. I know all about Thomas being a talking train from another world." "Yes, well. Uh, you do?" "I do. And I'm assuming you're also responsible for those other 'students' dropping by my school lately?" "That I am. In fact, I'm here to bring them back to my Railway as soon as possible." "But, Sir!" Thomas protested. "You can't," "Oh? Is that so?" Celestia said. "I'm sorry to see you off so soon, Thomas. Did you manage to help Mystic with her memory at least?" "Who?" Sir Topham Hatt asked confused. "The magic engine that runs her own railroad?" She confided with Thomas, correcting her with a nod. Sir Topham Hatt looks at Thomas then back at Principal Celestia. "How much do you know about what's going on?" "About as much as I've been told. Why?" He turns to Thomas again, glaring with a grassed stare. Thomas stepped away with his arms behind his back and grinning. Sir Topham Hatt stepped forward with his hands on his waist. "Principal Celestia. Thomas here has undertaken a task far too dangerous for him to accomplish. He went behind my back and traveled off without a word of what's happening to Sodor. Worse of all, Percy and the others have been withholding this important information. They went into the Magic Railroad instead of coming to me first after I sent them to look for Thomas." "I'm really sorry, Sir. Percy didn't want to tell you because he was afraid this would happen." "Just like I'm afraid for you and everyone's safety, Thomas. You were nearly wiped out by Diesel 10 for goodness sake." Thomas hung his head shamefully. "This journey Mr. Conductor put you on is far too dangerous for a little tank engine. You've ran into too many close calls and put yourself and others in extreme jeopardy. Didn't you ever consider the risks of entering another world you've never been to?" Celestia chimed in. "Mr. Topham I can assure you, Thomas has been under our watchful care this whole time. Sunset Shimmer and the others have looked after him while they were rescuing his friend." "What, you mean them?" He waved at Twilight and the others. "You let your own students take on a task this dangerous?" "They've proved themselves more than once that they can handle this sort of thing, Mr. Topham." "But, they're still children." The girls all crossed their arms angrily. "What kind of school are you running here, Miss Celestia?" Celestia crossed her arms, standing no nonsense. "If it weren't for those girls, our school wouldn't be running at all; which is why I trust them to deal with any sort of magic problem. Especially ones that often slip my attention." "You know what, I was right; this is far too dangerous," He turns to Thomas. "Let's head back before Diesel 10 sees any of you." "No, Sir," He protested. "What was that?" "I still haven't returned Lady's magic yet." Thomas holds the whistle in front of Sir Topham Hatt. "If I don't deliver these Sparkles to Lady, then she'll never return to the Magic Railroad and our worlds will be lost forever!" Sir Topham Hatt examines the whistle then looks back at Thomas. "All you have to do is give her this whistle?" Thomas nodded. Sir Topham Hat pondered, then looks back at Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Grabbing the collars of his suit, he walks over to them and surveys the group skeptically. "So," Sir Topham Hatt began. "You're the girls who were helping Thomas this whole time?" "Yes. That's right," Twilight said. "And you've, dealt with this sort of thing before?" "Totally!" Pinkie Pie said. "We Face Magic Problems All The Time." "Well, maybe not quite like what we've been doing," Rarity said. "But this sort of incongruous anomaly is definitely 'up our ally'." "We've Defeated A She-Demon Sunset, Three Singing Sirens, An Evil Twilight Sparkle," Applejack nudges Pinkie's arm indicating her to stop talking. She looks at her then Sir Topham Hatt still surveying them with skepticism. "Well, thank you for looking after Thomas and the others," He smiled. "I greatly appreciate it. You've no idea how much they mean to me." "I think we do," Twilight smiled. "Yeah, don't mention it," Rainbow Dash said confidently. "It's kinda what we do." Sir Topham Hatt noted their comments, then turned to face Thomas and Celestia. "Very well." "Uh?" The girls say, tilting their heads. "I don't much approve of this, but the current task at hand seems pretty straight forward enough." He reaches Principal Celestia and Thomas. "Your students shall give Lady back her magic while Thomas and the rest of my engines return to Sodor." "What?!" Everyone said. "Sir!" Thomas said. "No buts, Thomas. My decision is final." The Girls and Engines immediately look at each other anxiously. "But," "What did I just say, young tank engine?" "I need to return her magic. Mr. Conductor said I'm one who has to use Gold Dust to bring harmony back to our worlds." "And now," He went on. "Principal Celestia's students will do just that." Thomas looks to Celestia. "I'm sorry, Thomas," She said. "But, he's your railway controller. Whatever he says goes. As does mine. Honestly, I think this might be for the best, for all of you." Thomas began steaming with frustration. Sir Topham Hatt wasn't listening to him. His friends were all worried. He wanted the Girls to restore Lady's memories and guide her back home instead of Thomas and the other Engines, who now have to leave Canterlot and their new friends behind. Arguing with Sir Topham Hatt was no use. Then something popped in his thoughts. "Hey. I thought we were going to help them, Sir?" Emily asked. "You never said anything about bringing us home." "Even if I let Thomas finish the job, you'd all be coming home right now anyway. I need all of you to set things back in order again on my Railway. I'm sure your new friends can mange a simple," "Did you send Diesel 10 away to be scrapped?" Thomas fired, finally having enough of this. Sir Topham Hatt nearly jumped. "Ugh, Excuse me?" "Diesel 10 said you sent him away to be scrapped. Is this true?!" Everyone was nervous. They didn't know what was gonna happen. Thomas kept glaring at him. Confronted, Sir Topham Hatt notes all his Engines crossing their arms and glaring at him as well. Diesel 10 must have told them everything. Finally looking back at Thomas, he puts on his stern assertiveness and explained everything from the start. "I didn't want to scrap him. I tried reaching every railway I can that could take him in. Unfortunately for Diesel 10, however, he's built quite the reputation. Nobody wanted him. So, I, I," Thomas gasped and interrupted. "So, you did try to scrap him?" "What was I to do, Thomas? Its not like I had any other option available." "This is all happening because you sent him to the Ironworks." "This is happening because this genie character tempted him to do so." "Yes but," "That's enough, Thomas. I have done nothing but give him second chances. I don't like it anymore than you do. But time and time again, he goes out of his way to cause trouble on the railway. I could only weigh through the options with so much of what I had at the time. Diesel 10 made his choice and now we're all paying the price because of it. This, is his doing." Thomas knew this all too well. If this were him a day ago, Thomas would still be arguing in Diesel 10's favor. If destroying Sodor was offered to Diesel 10 years ago, he'd still take it. Now things were different. He wasn't going to win this argument knowing all that he's done to him and his friends. Twilight Sparkle looks over her shoulder and sees Sunset Shimmer. She approached the portal leading to Equestria with her satchel hung around her neck. Twilight quickly ran over to her. The other girls notice Sunset as well and followed after Twilight. "Sunset? What are you doing?" Her hands touch the portal's surface. "I'm going back to Equestria." "What?! Why?" Sunset sighed then looks back at Twilight. "Because; Discord is the Genie." Twilight's eyes widen. "Discord?!" "Discord?!" The girls shout in unison. They met Twilight and Sunset by the statue overhearing everything. "You mean that all powerful spirit of chaos that can sweep the floor of us with nothin' but the snap of his finger Discord?" Applejack asked. "But I thought he was tamed now?" Rarity asked. "Are you sure it's really him?" Twilight asked. "It's him," Sunset confirmed. "Oh no," Fluttershy said, looking for someone to hide behind. "Great! How are we suppose to take on a spirit of chaos?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Princess Twilight would know what to do. Her and the others have defeated him before." "Unless They Still Have The Elements Of Harmony, I'd Say We're Pretty Out Matched This Time," Pinkie commented. Frustrated, Sunset faces the portal and closed her eyes. "Maybe we can use the Magic Gold Dust to weaken him?" Twilight theorized. Turning back after hearing Twilight's suggestion, Sunset notices Emily and then Sir Topham Hatt talking with Thomas. "Is that who I think it is?" Sunset said, surprised. "It's their Railway controller," Fluttershy said, nervously looking at him. "What's he doing here?" "Exactly what we expected." "He came here with Emily after she told him about the Magic Railroad," Spike said. "Long story short," Rarity commented. "He's not entirely thrilled over the fact that he's just finding this out now." "That's Not Even The Worst Part," Pinkie Pie said. "He's Here To Take Thomas And Our Friends Back To Their World!" "Does Lady have her memories now at least?" Sunset asked. "No!" Twilight said, growing distressed. "That's the problem. He wants us to return her magic." "What?!" Sunset than ran up to Sir Topham Hatt still scolding Thomas. "You've all caused confusion and delay. I will not stand by while my engines throw themselves into danger anymore. We are going home and getting things running back on schedule, effective immediately." Shamefaced, Thomas notices Sunset standing next to Sir Topham Hatt and shied away, hanging his head disgracefully. It was unfortunate she had to show up right as Sir Topham Hatt was about to take them home. Sunset was still peeved with Thomas but wanted to talk Sir Topham Hatt out of forcing him to leave. "Sir, they can't leave yet. Just give us a little more time and we can set things right." "Well, I hope you do. And when my engines and I return to Sodor, I should expect everything back to how it was in due time." "But," "Sunset," Celestia interrupts. Sunset stared at Thomas. His head still hung and his eyes closed. He didn't add or object to anything being said. Despite his harshness, Sir Topham Hatt saw how upset Thomas was. This was a very important job to him. But after hearing what he's been though; with the shadow magic, Diesel 10, and Discord, it was all very dangerous in deed. He wasn't there to do anything about it. Sir Topham Hatt approaches Thomas, kneeling down in front of him and placing his hands on his shoulders. He spoke sincerely to Thomas, trying to make eye contact with him. "I don't want to lose you, Thomas. Not again. All this magic and violence nonsense, it's not something you can stop yourself. This is way beyond your capabilities. I know you and Mr. Conductor mean well, but I can't forgive myself if I let something bad happen to you or the others. Your new friends here will bring Lady back safely. Surely, you must know they will, right?" Thomas didn't say anything. He felt a wave of tears building but to many thoughts distracted him from leaking. He didn't want to leave Canterlot High. He didn't want to leave his friends and the wonderful times they shared. Not without saving Lady himself. Not without saying sorry to Sunset. The Girls all looked at each other. So, did the Engines. They too didn't want them to leave. "Please, Thomas. Come home." He looks back at Sir Topham Hatt earnestly. Hanging his head again, Thomas lets out a heavy sigh and stares dejectedly at the ground, answering with an inaudible response. "Okay." Sir Topham Hatt nodded then stood back up while gripping his suit's collars. "Very good." Thomas shuts his eyes again, feeling defeated. Sunset didn't know how to feel. This whole journey involved the both of them reaching the same goal; the same goal their friends helped guide them through. She knew how badly Thomas wanted to rescue Lady. Seeing how important she and Sodor was to him, Sunset wanted nothing more out of this journey then to make sure that his home, friends, and way of living were restored and protected from harm at all cost. Aside from becoming his friend, that was one of many important factors Sunset tried to accomplish since meeting him. Thomas should be rescuing Lady; Mr. Conductor put him on this specific path to do so. Now he wasn't going to get that chance anymore. Worst of all, now he had to leave Canterlot High and likely never come back. "Wait," Gordon protested. "Don't we have a say?" "Yeah," James joined. "We want to stay and finish the job with our friends." Sir Topham Hatt turned and faced everyone. "You can't just take them back," Rainbow Dash complained. "I don't care how close we are to saving Lady, we were all gonna finish this together." "As two worlds uniting to save one's own," Applejack said. "Sir, please?" Emily said. "We can't come all this way just to leave so soon. You said so yourself; this matter concerns all of us. Don't you think we should help out as well?" He sighed. "I'm sorry, everyone. But this is how it has to be. That. Is. Final." Celestia wasn't so sure how to feel herself as she stood next to Sir Topham Hatt giving out his orders to his engines. At first she thought it was safer for them to leave and avoid anymore dangerous encounters, but seeing the girls and engines downhearted made her second guess their decision. She remained silent regardless while Sir Topham Hatt spoke. "Now, all of you can have plenty of time to say your goodbyes. Take as long as you need. But once that's done, we are going back to Sodor." The girls and engines slouch then look at each other. Sad, worried, and afraid. This was it. All of Sir Topham Hatt's engines had to leave. How could this be it? After everything they've been through? They just go home without getting a chance to help out? Was their visit to Canterlot High for nothing? They now had a means to fix Lady's memories. Their contribution at least helped them to achieve this. And all the times the engines and girls spent with each other were ones they will never forget. The lessons they learned and experiences they shared were moments in their lives they hope to carry over for a long time. What disappointed them the most was leaving. Leaving behind everyone and everything they've experienced, and everything they've learned here knowing they might not ever come back. Leaving on that note was too much for any of them to bare. To Be Continued.