//------------------------------// // Chapter 37: Out of Control // Story: Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome to Canterlot High // by LPFanFic //------------------------------// Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome To Canterlot High Chapter 37: Out of Control Inside the school, students and faculty members were still recovering from the near fatal incident that saw a number of them being torn by a strange shadow that began knocking everyone unconscious. Vice Principal Luna and the school nurse went around checking to make sure they weren't hurt. At most, the ones nearly consumed were dazed and confused. They had trouble recollecting their consciousness and stared at their surroundings wondering what happened. Other than that, students and teachers were up and walking again. Then everyone began asking what it was that happened with no clear answer. Luna steps inside one of the class rooms seeing if everything was clear. All was fine, but the students were gathered by the windows gawking outside. Luna joins them and peers through the window. She see's Principal Celestia and rotund man with a black top hat helping Twilight and some of her friends guiding students and other bystanders to the entrance. Luna was in shock. Things were just as bad outside as they were inside. She began speculating whether the Genie or Diesel 10 were behind this. A scream from one of the students alerted Luna and other faculty members in different classes to the halls. A girl pointed and shrieked as Diesel 10, Splatter and Dodge stood in the middle of the halls put off by her cries. Students froze in their place. The man looked rather scary. But what was it about him the girl was screaming for? Diesel 10 looked at everyone and grinned. Then, Pinchy rose up from behind his jacket and chomped the air frantically. Much like moments ago, students were screaming and running away. This time from the strange man with a giant claw harnessed on his back laughing at the sight of everyone fleeing in fear. Luna leans out from the classroom and sees Diesel 10 marching down the halls with two teens following him. She then exits the classroom and hurries over to Principal Celesita's office. Barging through the doors, Luna runs over to the P.A. com and presses the speaker button. "Attention all students and teachers. Quickly gather to the nearest classroom and remain inside until further notice." Splatter & Dodge reluctantly follow a chuckling Diesel 10 making his way down one of the halls while Luna continues giving her warning through the P.A. speakers. "This is a full lock down! Keep your doors closed and don't open for anyone or anything. I repeat, keep all doors locked." Cheerilee, Cranky Doodle, and other teachers directed the frightened students to their classroom then closed the doors behind them. Doors slammed shut as Diesel 10 passes by each of them. He wasn't too bothered with it. If the lost engine wasn't in halls, all he'd have to do is start tearing down doors to get inside and look there. He ordered Splatter & Dodge to peak inside the classrooms anyways to make sure. Looking inside through the windows, Splatter & Dodge could only make out students and faculty member huddled together in far off corners shivering in fear. They didn't see Lady though and grudgingly moved on. Each time he passed a student, Pinchy snapped at them then quickly reclines back, giving them a fright before safely running off to a classroom. Diesel 10's piercing eyes surveyed the halls. He was going to find Lady one way or another. And no amount of hiding or running was going to slow him down anymore. Finally, Diesel 10 came to a halt. His grin grew as he stared down the end of the hallway. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were struggling to keep Mystic on her feet. Mystic kept needing their support to stand on both legs. Finally, she couldn't bare it anymore and fell to her knees. "C'mon, Mystic," Scootaloo warned. "We have to get inside the classroom!" Apple Bloom urged. "I don't know what's wrong with me," Mystic said covering her forehead with her palm. Sweetie Belle's scream alerted the two girls towards the hallway they came from. Diesel 10 stood mere feet away from Mystic and the CMC. Mystic wearily looks down and sees him as well with his arms hidden behind his back smiling with an unwelcoming grin. The CMC got a bad vibe off this man almost instantly. "If you don't mind me, I'll just be taking that girl off your hands and be on my way." Meanwhile, Splatter & Dodge stayed behind watching this unfold. They didn't want to intervene anymore and let things played out as is. The girls grabbed Mystic and tried backing away from him. Mystic tried crawling backward with them despite how weak she felt. She then started groaning in pain. Flashing memories of a shrieking claw and a maniacal laughter fill her memory. She stood on all threes while clutching her head. "Mystic?" Sweetie Belle asked attending to her. "What's the matter?" "T-the man. With a giant claw!" The CMC look at each other wondering what she meant until they remembered her mentioning this a while back. She was having nightmares about running down the hallways being chased by an evil man with a claw. They look back at Diesel 10. With everything that's going on. The mysterious shadow cast consuming everyone, Mystic's magic sparkle situation, and the people looking for her, they quickly assumed might be the man from Mystic's nightmares, and he was as real as ever. Unlike Thomas, whatever this man wanted with Mystic, they discerned his tone of voice not sounding very altruistic at all. "All I need is the one girl you're carrying there," Diesel 10 said in a soft voice. "You can run off and do whatever after you've handed her over." The girls tried being brave, despite every limb quivering with fright. "W-well," Apple Bloom stuttered. "You can't have her." "Yeah!" Scootaloo said. "She stays with us. And that's that." "Okay. That's fine too," He said throwing his arms up. "I was hoping Pinchy would have something to munch on anyways." A terrible shriek catches them off guard when Pinchy rose from behind Diesel 10's back and chomps the air in front of them spitting out sparks and fumes of thick smelly smoke. The girls screamed and hurried back away from him further and further as Pinchy munches frantically while a chuckle or two slips Diesel 10. Dodge watched nervously while Splatter spots something down the hall. He get's Dodges attention and points him to a jar of Gold Dust lying on the floor. The two boys looked at each other. They were getting sick of working for Diesel 10. It really was fear driving them to stick with him. After seeing all the freighted students and their boss attaching innocent little girls, Splatter & Dodge came to the same agreement. They were going to leave Diesel 10 behind. They grab the jar of Gold Dust and then ran away down the hall as quickly as their legs carried them. Diesel 10 hardly noticed their absence. He finally found the lost engine. Nothing else mattered to him other than this moment. "Here we go!" "What do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked. All four girls were terrified. They grew distressed even more so when they found themselves backed against a wall at the end of the hallway with Diesel 10 closing in. There was no escape. The CMC huddled and hugged Mystic trying to shield her from the scary man and his clamping claw. Just then, Mystic began glowing a bright light. Golden sparkles shine off her being radiantly. Wind chimes clatter as her entire being was gradually covered in shiny gold sparkles, similar to the ones from Sweetie Belle's jar. The girls examine her amazed and confused. Mystic looked at her hands twinkling with gold. She didn't know why or how, but Mystic then grabbed hold of her friends and pulled them close, thinking the sparkles with protect them somehow. Diesel 10 knew what this meant. Frustrated, he lunges forward and grabs Mystic by the arm and yanks her up to her feet. "Not this time, steamie!" He chuckled. Mystic tried breaking free from his grasp but Diesel 10's grip was too strong. All she could do was stare at his conniving grin as the sparkles slowly began merging over onto and covering him from mystic's arm. Diesel 10 knew no matter where she teleported, he'd be there to take all her magic away for good. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo step up and stood between Mystic and Diesel 10, now angrier than they were afraid. "Leave her alone!" Scootaloo said. Scootaloo then bravely jumps up and grabs Diesel 10 by the arm that held Mystic's. The weight kept throwing him off and forced him to release his hold. Sweetie Belle steps in next and hugs his leg. Before he knew what was going on, Apple Bloom jumps on top of and tackles Diesel 10, causing him and all three to trip over and fall on to the ground. Mystic's was covered head to toe and gold sparkles now muchbrighter. She reached out for her friends keeping Diesel 10 at bay. "No!" Before she could do anything, Mystic disappears under the blanket of pure light. And as the light clears, she was no longer standing were she was. The CMC all notice this as they sat up and stared at the corner only to find nothing but left-over sprinkles gathered  where Mystic stood. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked at each other very worried and very confused. Gasping, they heard Diesel 10 grunting and quickly got back on their feet and ran away. Pinchy dug into the floor and used its hydraulic arm to lean Diesel 10 back up. Diesel 10 shook his head until he realized what happened. He frantically crawled over to the collection of gold sparkles gathers some in his hands. He clenched his fist so tight the sparkles clattered under his fist. Diesel 10 fumed. He was red in the face and quivering with frustration. On his knees with his arms waved out, Diesel 10 yells a loud cry while still gripping the Gold Dust in his palms. The CMC ran down the halls hearing the reverberated yelling from Diesel 10. They looked everywhere for Mystic but didn't see her anywhere. Finally, they find Mystic Sprinkles, laying on her stomach close to the door by the gymnasium. The three girls ran over and inspected her. She was awake still, but now weaker than she was before. "Mystic," Sweetie Belle asked nudging her shoulders. Mystic looks up confusing like. Her eyes then shot open. "Are you all okay?!" "We're fine," Apple Bloom smiled. "No sweat. We taught that big old meanie a thing or two," Scootaloo said casually. Mystic sighed in relief. The CMC had a lot of questions. Why was the school in hysteria? What did this claw man want from her? Why couldn't she remember her given name and where she is after she was covered in gold sparkles? "So, what was that all about?" Apple Bloom asked. "What was what?" she said tilting her head. "The guy with the giant claw!" Scootaloo specified. "And you glowing in all those pretty gold sparkles," Sweetie Belle said. "Just like the ones I found around school." "And when you were singing in the Gym," Apple Bloom finished. Mystic looked confused. "When was I glowing sparkles?" "When that man cornered us in the hallways," Apple Bloom explained. "It just happened literally seconds ago." "Don't you remember?" Scootaloo asked. She shook her head quizzed. "The giant claw man I vividly remember. You all saved me from him." The girls smiled. "But, gold sparkles? Are you sure this happened?" "But it did," Apple Bloom said. "What else can you remember?" Sweetie Belle asked. Just then, Vice Principal Luna shows up to investigate the commotion. "Girls," She said worryingly. "What are you doing?" "We're trying to help Mystic," Scootaloo explained. "It's not safe out here," Luna said. "Help Mystic to her feet and follow me to the classroom." The three girls nodded. Mystic leaned up on her arms looking at Vice Principal Luna then the CMC. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle turn and look at her. "We gotta get you inside the class now, Mystic," Apple Bloom told her. She stared blankly at the floor. "Mystic?" She looks back at them. "Why do you keep calling me that? Is that my name?" The three girls share a glance. They weren't so sure themselves anymore who she was. Luna had never officially met Mystic until now. Sunset was right. Maybe she was from Thomas' world after all. Her amnesia was the reason Lady doesn't believe she was a magical train. And it seems her memory issue was only getting worse. With Diesel 10 loose in the school, Mystic was no longer safe in CHS. Whatever Thomas and Sunset have planned to fix Lady's amnesia, Luna hoped they were on their way to do so right this second. Until then, she knew getting them all to safety will buy then enough time. "Right. Let's get going, girls," Luna ordered. "We'll figure out what to do once we're safe." Mystic sat up kneeling on the floor. "Listen. This is going to sound silly, but. We… know each other, right?" The girls became more worried. She didn't completely forget them thankfully. But using her magic to get away from Diesel 10 knocked away a few moments. However, she did remember Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle as well as recollections of all four spending time together. "I mean, I can remember all the things we did together. But, I feel like we've only just met. Is that normal?" The CMC have never been more afraid and concerned for her now more than ever. Apple Bloom smiled however, confusing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Of course. You're an honorary member of our club." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shrugged then joined in. "That's right! We're called The Canterlot Mystical Crusaders," Sweetie Belle imputed. "Mystical," She said puzzled. "Did you name it after me? Why?" "Cause we're trying to help you learn who you are," Scootaloo said. "And we're still gonna," Apple Bloom said. "No matter what." "Who I am. That's what we were doing?" The girls nod happily. This made Mystic smile. She knew something was wrong with her memory. And to hear them say the times they spent were helping her fit in and learn who she is fill her with joy. The CMC pitched in and helped her to her feet. Once she was steady, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom hold her hand, and the four girls carried her across the halls to the classroom. "Now that I think of it, I sort of remember you saying something like that before," Mystic said. "And, there was something else too." "What's that?" Apple Bloom asked. "Someone saying I was, a train? Or something? Do you know that means?" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo share a glance. Luna goes over and holds the door open stepping in when necessary for support. The CMC stood between the threshold. They look up at her and smiled in reassurance. Mystic does the same. Luna, and the CMC then step inside the classroom where Cranky Doodle would teach Geography. "Alright everyone!" Applejack called. "On the count of three, we heave this bad boy open." The girls and engines gathered by the nesting doll Henry was trapped in after saving Fluttershy from nearly getting caught by it herself. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Gordon, and James held onto the door while Twilight readied her Geode. "One. Two. Three!" The four friends pulled and pulled. With Applejack's strength and Twilight's telekinesis, they managed to pull the nesting doll wide open. Henry was sitting by the corner in a fetal position when light beamed inside. Ecstatic, he stood up quickly and ran out, meeting everyone checking over and asking if he was okay. Closing the thing shut, Applejack then lifts up the whole doll and throws it over the school. Henry leaned on his knees panting with relief. He didn't know how much longer he could take it being inside. Suddenly, Fluttershy swept in and hugged Henry off the ground. Fluttershy's wings flap elegantly as he hugged back while swirling in her grasp. Both remained happily embraced until the two floated down on the ground landing gently on their feet. Fluttershy looked up to Henry, both were happy to see each other again. "You saved me, Henry." "Yeah! I did, didn't I?" Henry chuckled. "Kind of like an angel. Right?" Fluttershy beamed and nodded. The two hug again while everyone happily watches. "Uh, hate to break up the reunion," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "But we still got a magic mess to clean up." There was still an abundance of Discord's chaos sweeping campus. The engines and girls nod and branch off to continue the fight. Henry and Fluttershy see a group of students pressed against the school walls across from them. Fluttershy recognized them as Lyra Heartstrings, Sweetie Drops, Sandalwood, and Microchips. A green Gummy Bear giant was strolling near by. They were trying to sneak pass the creature, hoping it wouldn't spot them. Meanwhile, Sir Topham Hatt and Principal Celestia were busy helping Twilight and her friends when Celestia notices the four students and the giant Gummy Bear looming over them. Impetuously, she runs over to try and help, but not before being pulled back by Sir Topham Hatt. Soccer, cue, volley, and basket balls came flying past nearly hitting Principal Celestia followed by the floating marching band instruments. He had pulled her out of the way on time before any of them could strike. She looks back at Sir Topham Hatt and smiles gratefully. He does the same, but then quickly notices Henry standing next to Fluttershy. Then Gordon with Rainbow Dash, and then Edward with Twilight. All of his engines were out rescuing people and stopping the chaos when he ordered them to wait in the school. "What are all my engines doing out here?" He said. "I told them to stay inside." "Maybe it's a good thing they didn't," Celestia said. "I don't see anymore people we need to rescue. Looks like their the last group." "I suppose so. But it's still too dangerous. If we're quick, we can get those students back inside so we can make sure the rest are safe." "If only the three-story gummy bear didn't make that chore more complicated." The Gummy Bear Creature looks down at Henry and Fluttershy, both holding each other and quivering. Celestia and Sir Topham Hatt waited anxiously for the opportune time to run over and save Fluttershy, Henry, the four students escape. Splatter & Dodge exit the school and ran straight to the portal from the Wondercolt Statue. Reaching portal heading to the Magic Railroad, Splatter touches the surface to find his hand wouldn't pass through. "It's not working!" He said beginning to panic. "Why's it not working?" "I don't know?" Dodge then looked at the jar of Gold Dust they snatch on their way out. "Oh, Oh! Why don't we use these!" "Oh yeah! That should work," Splatter nodded. Dodge opens the jar. He holds it above Splatters head and flips the top around. Gold Dust spilled all over Splatter. His hair and face were a mess with sparkles. Splatter looks at him rather annoyed. Dodge just grins and shrugs sheepishly. Splatter takes a hand full off his head and sprinkles it on Dodge by rubbing some on his head and shirt. They go over to touch the surface again. This time, the portal opens as Splatter's hand seeps through the rippling portal. "Bingo!" Splatter said. "Was his namo!" Splatter looks at Dodge annoyed still. "Sorry," He shrugged again. Before they left though, they heard cries coming from down the courtyard. The giant green Gummy Bear drew its attention back to Sweetie Drops, Lyra, Sandalwood, and Microchips. Fluttershy, Henry, Sir Topham Hatt and Celestia watched helplessly as the monster slowly turned until its shadow loomed over the four students. Splatter & Dodge stood where they were watching the frightened students backed against the wall. The two stared at each other nervously. Splatter was half way in the portal, but he didn't go any further. Even if they wanted to, what could they do to help? They were just as scared of the giants and wanted nothing to do with them. The only difference between their predicament was that they can actually escape and run home as free diesels. But the sound of their cries, the sight of them quivering held them back for some reason. Then the strawberry milkshake tornado stormed by the streets flinging debris all over. One of these scraps caught in the tornado was a round folding table, which flew off and lands inches from Splatter & Dodge. The two looked at it then back at the students cowering from the monster. They were free diesels. They don't have to do anything Diesel 10 told them to. They don't have to be here in this dangerously weird world anymore. But seeing the danger everyone was in kept them bounded, along with all the nice things Fluttershy said about them now flowing through their heads. Fluttershy, the girl who stood up for them among her friend's denial, got them out of trouble, and gave them a chance to act independently. As if a spark ignited, Splatter & Dodge looked back at the folding table again, then at each other both conjuring up the same crazy idea. The Gummy Bear monster roared at the four students. Lyra and Sweetie Drops hugged each other as does Sandalwood and Microchips, awaiting their impeding doom. Waving its stubby arms in the air, four gummy spikes materialize and grow out from their studs. With the swing of its arm, the creature launches the spikes directly at the four students. Waiting fearfully for something to happen, all four open their eyes and realize nothing did happened. Lyra and Sweetie Drops then saw Splatter & Dodge standing in front of them holding onto the bars of the round folding table like a shield. Quivering themselves, Splatter & Dodge open their eyes and look at the four students smiling with gratitude. They do the same, with Dodge even giving them a thumb up. The Gummy Bear roared angrily and launches more spikes. The two diesels quickly braced for impact and steadied the table to deflect the oncoming spikes bouncing off the table. "Come on!" Splatter called. The students got up and followed Splatter & Dodge as they carried the table hung on their left shoulders while Lyra, Sweetie Drops, Sandalwood and Microchips ran behind them crouching close to the wall. Fluttershy and Henry see the moving bench and the teens fleeing the scene behind it. They couldn't quite make out who was carrying the bench though. Regardless, they were helping them escape. Now they had to do their part to ensure they reach the school safely. So Fluttershy flew high up to the Gummy Bear's face and got its attention. The Gummy Bear roared and turned to chase after Fluttershy already far enough to give it a chase. The floating laughing carrots arrived and spots Splatter, Dodge, and the four students hiding behind their table shield. Pointing the ends of their tips directly at them, the laughing carrots launch themselves at the six teens. Microchips warns Splatter & Dodge upon seeing them. Everyone stops and the two diesels readied the table. Soaring down rapidly, they strike the table with each impact causing them to implode on impact. Splatter & Dodge held their grounds feeling the push of each carrot jolting them a little until there were not more. They continue on and reach the middle of the courtyard. But then, something unexpected appeared in the courtyard. Something that caught everyone's attention and frightened them down to the core. A giant, scaly claw with long sharp talons lands on top of the statue base. Admits the thick dark smoke emitting from their nose, a red, fire breaking dragon emergence from the smoke. The dragon roars a fiery cry spewing flames from its mouth directly at the green Gummy Bear giant. The Gummy Bear melts away under the burning flames leaving behind a huge puddle of jelly. Everyone in the courtyard was frozen solid. The engines more so. They have never seen a real life dragon and the sight of one frightened them to a whimpering quiver. While they're still frightened by the dragon, Splatter & Dodge were more afraid of the flames upon watching it finish it's spewing. Seeing the last remaining people in need of saving quivering in the middle courtyard, Twilight and her friends step in and focused on distracting the dragon. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and a reluctant Fluttershy fly up to get the dragons attention. But it's sights were already set on Splatter, Dodge and the remaining students fleeing to the entrance. It crawls over ignoring the flying girls and calls coming from Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack. The engines dared not go anywhere near the dragon and found somewhere to hide. Sir Topham Hatt and Celestia join them, watching anxiously as the dragon approaches the six teens. A light inside their stomach and throat lit up brighter as it opens their mouth to blow more fire. Splatter & Dodge tell the students to stop and hide behind their table as they set it down in front of them. Before its fire could strike, the dragon felt a tug on its ear. The tug came from Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle averting the fire away from the teens. This gave them a chance to take their leave and continue running towards the school. The dragon snaps and blows more fire at the girls, causing them to flee when the flames got too close. Done dealing with them, the dragon goes back and continues after Splatter & Dodge. The two diesels managed to bring all four students successfully to the doors. Sweetie Drops, Lyra, Microchips, and Sandalwood escape and safely enter the school. Before they could step inside themselves, Splatter & Dodge hear the dragon preparing to blow more fire. Looking back nervously, they see the dragon pressing its lips together in their direction. Sandalwood urged them to get inside quickly, but Dodge closes the door on them. Readying the round folding table, the two diesels place it firmly on the steps. In mere seconds a force of scorching flames struck and winded off the table. Fluttershy, Twilight, and the rest watched in horror. The force was so strong it pushes Splatter & Dodge back against the doors. Splatter & Dodge scream behind the table feeling the heat scorching all around them getting hotter and hotter. Miraculously, Rarity then muzzles the dragon's mouth with her diamond faced shield, blocking it from spitting any more fire. Discord flashes mid air close by and sees the large dragon fighting to get the muzzle off his mouth. "Oops," He said surprised. "Don't know how that got here." He quickly snaps his fingers and the fire breathing dragon disappears in a flashing light. Everyone on campus exhaled in relief. The practically melted table reveals Splatter & Dodge, red in the face and their clothes scorched and covered in smoldering ash. Discord growled and snorted at the sight of them. Fluttershy sees them as well and gasped. Twilight and the others were just as surprised. The engines came out of hiding also in awe at the sight of Splatter and Dodge. The two diesels collapse to their knees still leaning against the door, burnt and worn out. Sandalwood and Sweetie Drops step outside and tried helping them to their feet. But with a flashing light, Splatter & Dodge disappear, surprising both teens along with the girls and engines all collectively gasping. Fluttershy held her hands to her mouth. She then looks over to Discord with his hands on his hips. Angered, Fluttershy flies over to him. "Discord! Where did you send them?" "Hm, back where I found them," He said casually examining his talons. "Well, you need to bring them back!" "Of course. Anything for you, Fluttershy. Oh, but unfortunately, I only listen to therealFluttershy. She felt rather offended. "Let me know when you get a hold of her and I'll bring them back upon her request." "Please, Discord," She pleaded. "At least tell me where they are and that they're safe." "I think their whereabouts should be the least of your concerns at the moment," Discord said snapping his fingers. Just then, more chaos began filling the courtyard. The girls, engines, Sir Topham Hatt and Celestia evade and engage the on coming slew of chaos chasing after them and causing a ruckus. Discord laughs while Fluttershy nervously stares at everyone combating his magic. She goes over and joins them before shooting Discord a disappointed glare. Discord stops laughing after he hears a chuffing noise and two peeps of a train whistle coming from afar. Confused, he peers all the way down the street. He sees none other than Thomas the Tank Engine and Sunset Shimmer aboard his cab puffing down the road determined to reach CHS. "Persistent little tank engine." Discord stares at the reader, "let's have some fun with him, shall we?" He disappears in a flashing light. Thomas and Sunset see Discord appearing down a head of them floating inches above the road. Discord smiles a snide smirk and snaps his finger. Suddenly the road beneath Thomas began to rumble and shake. They stare at the ground and see cracks being made before them, detaching from the rest of the road all around. Both didn't what he was doing, but they had a pretty good idea none the less. "Sunset!" Thomas called. "Jump out, quickly!" Panicking at first, Sunset collects herself then grabs Mr. Conductor's whistle. She jumps out of Thomas' cab and securely lands on a lawn of grass. Thomas felt his wheels wobble against the vibrating pavement. The roads beneath him cracked and broke apart from the rest of the street. Before he knew it, Thomas found himself lifted off the ground by the roads he was chuffing down levitating high in the air. More sections of the road in front of him broke and rose off the ground into separate platforms as well. Thomas wobbled and bounced as the floating platform reaches its height, bringing him nearly ten stories above ground. Thomas anxiously steadied himself. The platform in front of him was lower then the one he was on when Thomas chuffs off it and lands with a loud clang of his wheels on the next platform. His wheels caused him to swing and teeter left then right upon landing. They dug deep and mowed through the pavement. Thomas was afraid but continued on. He chuffed off onto the next platform, landing with a hefty thud. Then he drove off onto the next one, then the next one, and the next one. Each one lower than the last bringing Thomas back closer to the ground. Finally, Thomas lands with a thud back on the streets. His wheels clanged upon impact. Thrown off a bit, Thomas collects himself then determinedly chuffs on. Discord slams his hands onto the ground. A blanket of thick ice materializes and covers the road all the way down to Thomas still chuffing towards him as he drives over the ice. His wheels began slipping and skidded along the icy road. "Whoa. Whoa!" Thomas found himself obliquely spinning sideways to his left, then to his right until faced away from Discord, then back again. He couldn't control himself. Although he was veering in different directions, Thomas was still moving straight towards Discord. He tired applying his brakes but they did little to stop his slippery spin. Discord smirks then somersaults off the ground, creating a large quarter pipe ramp in his wake big enough for an engine to jump. The ramp leads off into a canyon with a pool of crocodiles at the bottom. "Bust my buffers!" Thomas cried. He tried applying his brakes again but they were still no good. Thomas faced the ramp still impeding down the slippery terrain of ice. Thomas yelled to stop but kept sliding forward. Braced for impact, a screaming Thomas and his slippery wheels meet and jump off the ramp. Thomas shuts his eyes, feeling the wind pass by him as he plummets down to the crocodile pool. Then, with a loud thud and clang of his wheels, Thomas opens his eyes and looks around to see he was back on Sodor. He was panting all the while as he examined his surroundings. He was about to dive deep into a pool of hungry crocodiles. But now all of a sudden, he stood on the mainline. The trees still wilted away, the grasslands were coarse and wizened, and the railroad was covered with leaves and branches withering away as well. The tracks in front of him were buckled and bent. Thomas then heard a familiar peeping sound and looks a head to see Oliver the Great Western Engine chuffing down the mainline carrying a goods train with his brake van Toad coupled behind. "Oliver!" Thomas called and blew his whistle. "Is everyone okay?" Oliver didn't respond. He was looking around at all the trees wondering what's happened to them. He then stares directly at a perplexed Thomas. "Oliver?" Still he said nothing, almost as though Thomas wasn't actually there. Oliver continues examining the forest and chuffs along his way until Thomas couldn't hear his puffing anymore. Discord appears next to Thomas. "Discord! Why are you doing this? Don't you see? Sodor is falling apart. I'm doing everything I can to fix it but you keep getting in the way." "Now is that how you speak to someone who's been keeping your world afloat?" "Yeah right. I bet you weren't actually doing none of that. If you were really that worried for us, you wouldn't try to stop me from bringing Lady her magic." "Who do you think restored your little 'waddling' friend back to his original state then, hm?" "Huh?" Discord swirls his eagle claw in a circular motion in front of Thomas creating a cloud projecting a moving image. Discord smiled upon hearing Thomas gasp. There hauling his slip coaches was Duck happily chuffing down the Little Western branchline. Thomas was surprised but happy to see he wasn't what Henry and the others described him as. "Duck? Duck!" Thomas said excitedly. "He's okay!" "Not for long," Discord said ominously. He points Thomas' attention back to the screen. A dark green shadow slowly starts spreading all over his boiler and chipped away his paintwork. Duck was moaning and groaning. He struggled to keep his eyes open and move forward but the force of the shadow was too much for him. He was being turned back into a husk once again. "No! Discord please. Can you use your magic to fix him again?" Discord leans up and snaps his fingers. A flashing light appears on Duck through the projected image. But instead of stopping the shadow cast, the cycle just restarts, beginning with his dome being covered and torn away by the darkness. He snaps his fingers again but the shadow keeps resetting and chipping away his paint. Thomas anxiously watched the shadow cast getting worse. Discord casually snaps his fingers multiple times but he couldn't stop the darkness from consuming Duck. Eventually giving, Discord turns back to Thomas and shrugs. Thomas grew more anxious. "There has to be something we can do. I need more time." "Ah, but that's why I brought you here. For you see, there is a way we can stop this." "How?!" Discord pokes his nose. "You." Thomas jolts back in confusion. "Me?" He nods. "What do you mean? Are you saying I should return Lady's magic? That's what I'm trying to do." "Oh, good heavens no.Youcan stop this, Thomas. All you have to do is use the magic to power the Magic Railroad so that my," He corrects himself, "I mean,yourprecious Island doesn't succumb to this terrible fate." Thomas was confused at first. "But, I can't run the Magic Railroad. Lady is supposed to." "Oh please. Lady is too far gone at this point. Clearly she doesn't want to be the one powering the Railroad anymore." "But, her memory," He was interrupted when Discord pressed his face against Thomas'. "Did you really learn nothing about forcing magic on others? How very disappointing." Thomas had to think about his comments for a second. Was all this really just forcing her to take on a role she didn't know she's suppose to have? She was pretty distant with him. But that was only because of her memory. What if he couldn't convince her to take back her role? What if she really was too far gone? Discord flashes in front of Thomas. "She won't want to carry that kind of responsibility. But you, Thomas, would do anything to feel really useful. And keeping our worlds alive is something that'll make you feel much more than that." "Wait a minute!" Thomas said crossly. "You just want me to run the Magic Railroad so I can give you free use of your magic." "You know very well I can set things back to how it was. Allowing me to do so will give this Island a breath of new life. With its new engine running the line and a quick snap of my finger, our dimensions shall remain standing as is once again. And it'll all be thanks to you for filling in Lady's role as runner of the Magic Railroad." Thomas felt very indecisive for some reason. Discord faces the cloud and swipes the image with his paw to show Thomas even more of Sodor's destruction. "Maybe this will decide for you." He then leisurely leans against Thomas, standing on his lantern with his arm wrapped around Thomas' funnel. Thomas stares up at the cloud and watches it showcase what's currently happening on Sodor. The passengers at Knapford Station were not happy at all. Not a single engine was present to collect and bring them to where they had to be. Hours have gone by which caused an uproar of complaints and head scratches. They gathered in crowds by the ticket booth demanding their money back. A few crowded by the guards and stationmasters trying to reassure the passengers they're doing their best to find an available engine. But none could be found anywhere, which meant the passengers were stranded by the station. Every station across Sodor was filled with stranded passengers all wondering why there wasn't any train showing up with passenger coaches. In an attempt to keep the schedule running, passengers had to rely on other modes of transportation. Bertie, along with a bunch of other buses and road vehicles, pitched in and picked up the passengers at Knapford. There wasn't enough room for him to accommodate the number of passengers. So, Bertie had to work extra hard to deliver them to their proper destination and return back to do the same again and so forth. Even he was confused as to why there weren't any engines running as Bertie drove out of Knapford Station with people jammed inside. When word of mouth spread from other stations facing similar issues, they began asking even more questions to the Stationmaster and their guards, now more worried then they were angry. The Stationmaster calmed the crowd and tried answering the best he could. But then there was trouble. The curved glass roof of Knapford Station began to crack. Almost instantaneously, the entire class roof shattered into tiny fragments raining down from the top ceiling. Everyone screamed and ran away to find cover and avoid the sharp glistening shards landing everywhere on the platforms. Bertie was driving down a road carrying passengers when he suddenly started feeling dizzy. So much so his vision began to blur, causing him to swerve and weave until coming to a complete stop in the middle of the road. A car behind him drifts to a stop just on time before nearly running into Bertie. He leaned out his window shaking his fist in the air, unaware of the darkening shadow looming and chipping away Bertie's paint on his left side. A dark green shadow covers the right side of Oliver's boiler who just arrived at Knapford Junction with his goods train. He groaned and fought to keep his collapsing eyes open while the darkness tears away his paint. The signal gantry extending above the junction slowly rusted away about to split in half. The signal lights themselves went berserk. Switching, clunking, and pointing up and down in a frantic mess. Passing under the signal bridge, Oliver drives over a set of points that weren't switched to his line. Because he had no control over himself, this caused him to bounce off the tracks and land on his sides. Oliver finally passes out from the overwhelming darkness as he slid across the rails taking his goods train down with him. Over at Brendam Docks, Cranky the Crane fell over and crashed onto a load of cargo crates after the mast supporting him rusted away separating Cranky from the rest of his counterweight base. A tramp steamer behind him was sinking into the ocean while another, much older Tramp Steamer, plows through and demolishes a dockyard quay blaring its horn as it reaches shore. Workmen at Brendam Docks scattered about shouting for help while Cranky still moaned in pain and building structures and boats crumbled all around them. The rotors on Harold's propellers began to fail. He was plummeting to the ground trying to get his propeller spinning again while combating the dark shadow slithering all over his being. He gains a smidge or two of altitude, but it was no use as he kept falling straight for the ground. Rotors failing and malfunctions echoing across the woods, Harold crashes into a near by forest, landing with an abrupt slide scrapping against the earth and skids across the dirt. Murdoch was minding his own business when Hank charges down from another line directly towards him. He was looking rather tired and wearily. They were both heading for the same tracks that cross over one another. Only Murdoch applied his brakes but Hank kept on charging towards him. Rolling onto the same tracks, both engines collide and knock each other off the rails, falling to their sides and sliding across the dry, coarse land. Skarloey was coupled up to Rheneas heading straight towards a set of withering buffers placed by the edge of a cavern on the Blue Mountain Quarry. He was knocked unconscious by a crackling, orange shadow slithering over his boiler. Skarloey applied his brakes to stop him but couldn't keep Rheneas from moving forward still. Rheneas rams the buffers which detached from the tracks and plummets down the cavern. He hung dangerously over the cliff as Skarloey pulled back with all his might trying to keep him stationed half way on the rails. He wheels screeched against the tracks. "Help!" Skarloey cried. "Somebody!" All Thomas could do was watch his home fall apart helplessly before his eyes. "No!" Discord was just as shocked to see the damage. He knew what he was doing by trying to convince Thomas to run the Magic Railroad and continued urging the importance of this before things got even worse. He didn't come this far to see his new kingdom fall for nothing. Discord remained composed and continued talking Thomas into assuming his new role. "Thomas, repeat to me what your mission was again." Surprised by Discord's serious demeanor, Thomas pondered his mission. "Save the Magic Railroad. Save our worlds." Before he could conceive the thought Discord interrupts. "Exactly. Save the Magic Railroad. And save our worlds. But you must know this isn't a task you can't just do alone. It'll take more than reinvigorating the Railroad to fix all this. Which is why I'm proposing that you allow me to fix most of the damage." Discord explained further. "I admit I wanted to be your friend mostly so I can have you running the Magic Railroad. An engine needs to run the line after all. And since Diesel 10 wasn't going to follow through with my plan, I needed another engine that would. The second I heard about you, I just knew you were the, one, pure enough for the job." Hesitant, Thomas looks at random spots around him discerning what he said. "Think about it, Thomas. You can save Sodor and Canterlot High right this second. Your job will be competed, your friends safe and sound, and your world will remain intact with newly reinvigorated energy." Still lost in his thoughts, Discord leans on Thomas' funnel again. "No more shadows, no more magic misuse, no more universal failings. Just one little trip down the Magic Railroad and a snap," He snaps his fingers in Thomas' face. "Just, like, that. What do you say?" With everything spiraling out of control, perhaps this really was the only way to ensure Sodor doesn't completely succumb to this terrible fate. Discord can teleport him in a matter of seconds to the Magic Railroad where he'll use the Gold Dust on himself, and power the Railroad back to it's original state, while also allowing Discord the freedom to change everything to normal again. He can save his friends and their worlds right now and stop the shadow's carnage from sweeping other dimensions. Thomas wanted to answer yes but didn't feel right doing so. If this can undo all that he's seeing then why was he hesitating? Still uncertain, Thomas looks back at the cloud and sees more engines flying off the rails and crashing into one another. "… I… I," Discord smirked all the while leaning against Thomas, waiting for him to agree. He stumbled in his response still, tripping on the verge and agreeing to his offer. Then, Burnett Stone's voice echoed in his thoughts. 'Save the Magic Railroad. Save our worlds. Save Lady.' Thomas had a job to do, one Mr. Conductor put faith in him to complete. He was asked to save the Magic Railroad and save their worlds. But in order to do so, he must save Lady. Thomas can't be the one to run the Magic Railroad. Despite everything he's seeing, despite knowing he could fix this himself right now, Thomas knew what his was meant to do, what this important task asked of him, and that was helping someone else realize theirs. Determination boiling inside, Thomas glares at the cloud then at Discord looking back with his brow raised. "Lady is the only one who can run the Magic Railroad." Discord's arm slips off Thomas's funnel as he reveres down the line an inch and continues his motivational speech. "I'm going return these sparkles to her, bring Lady home and save both our worlds, To-day!" Discord seethed with frustration. Thomas was a bit worried watching him grit his teeth. Waving both his arms, Discord's magic sweeps over Thomas and their surrounding. Sodor disappears all around them and the streets of Canterlot High fill in its place. Floating in the air, Thomas looks down at his appearance and realizes he was also a person again. Waving his arms and legs frantically, Thomas falls onto the ground and lands on his stomach. He leans up on both arms then brings himself back to his feet, wobbling a little while regaining is balance. Thomas stood in the middle of the road looking at his surroundings. To his left he saw Canterlot High, and in the courtyard were all his friends evading and fighting back against Discord's chaotic magic. Before he could run over to everyone, Discord leans in close to him glaring in annoyance. "You've toyed with my patience for the last time, Thomas! I've done nothing but held restraint when you all made things difficult. Now you've really done it this time." Thomas stood there worriedly then grew cross the more Discord pitted blame on him and his friends. Percy noticed Thomas by the road and gasped. Celestia, Sir Topham Hatt, the girls and engines also spotted him and also beamed. They were all thrilled to see him again. "He's back!" Percy shouted excitedly. "Thomas is back!" "And so is Discord!" James added anxiously. "Thomas?!" Sir Topham Hatt said happily. "Oh, thank goodness." "But where's Sunset?" Twilight asked. Before they could join Thomas, their attention was drawn back to the chaotic nonsense again. They hopped Thomas still had the whistle and so they did everything in their power to subdue the chaos and allow him enough time and passage to the school. Discord continued harping on him and blocked his path to the school. "All I ask is for you to do one thing, but your incompetence once again as doomed us all." "I would never give you free range of Sodor!" Thomas fired back having enough of him. "That's the only reason you wanted to be my best friend, remember? So, you could trick me into running the Magic Railroad." "You're not going to convince Lady to take that whistle, which means every unexploited moment is only destroying your Island to the point of no return!" "Then I have no time to waste." Thomas was about to run off until Discord slithers in front of him again. "I've told you already I will no longer stand by whilst everything falls to the Magic's corruption. Lady is a lost cause. The quicker you realize this, the quicker I can fix everything before we're gone. Now give me that whistle!" "Never!" Discord raises his eagle claw in the air. "Fine!" Thomas waves his arms in front of his face bracing for whatever Discord was about to do. With a fowl swoop, Discord grabs and pulls the whistle off Thomas' neck. But upon inspecting it, he saw it wasn't the same whistle Thomas showed him earlier. It was the brass whistle Burnett Stone gave him and Sunset. Clutching it tight in his hand, Discord throws it away onto a lawn and leans sternly close to Thomas with piercing eyes. "Where's the whistle?!" Thomas felt around his neck. Mr. Conductor's whistle was gone. Panicking at first, he then remembered Sunset jumping clear from his cab earlier. She must have grabbed it while he was lifted off the ground. Thomas tried playing it cool but Discord soon caught on, unamused by his attempts to hide the whistle's whereabouts. Discord teleports away, leaving Thomas alone and panicking again. Meanwhile, Sunset was sneaking along the west wing wall holding onto the whistle with her life. Off the corner of his left eye, Thomas spots her pressed against the school wall. "Sunset!" Thomas cried and ran over to her. "Thomas!" she said hearing his call. The two were reunited once again as Thomas met and stood in front of her. "I have the whistle," She informed. "But we don't have much time," "Salutations, Sunset!" Discord said flashing in between Sunset and Thomas. "How are things? I couldn't help but notice you have that whistle in your positions." He pushes Thomas away with his tail and holds him back. "Mind if we trade? You can have anything you want. Just name it." "Discord," She said. "Sodor is falling apart. There isn't going to be anything standing much longer if you keep messing with us." "I know what you mean. Something did seem off about Sodor. Must be the whether." Sunset was losing her patience. "We have to return Lady to the Magic Railroad now." "Why does it have to be Lady?" Discord transforms into a smaller version of his train form and puffs around a miniature train set circling around Sunset. "I can power the Magic Railroad just as well myself." He transforms back before Thomas could get closer to Sunset. "Just hand me the whistle and I'll prove it to you." "Discord, don't you know what's at stake here?" "Oh, I do. But good luck telling that to Thomas." Discord's head turns into a brick wall, "I think you and I can agree he's being a tad thick headed today." Thomas glared at him. Discord wraps his arm around Sunset while leisurely examining his talons. Sunset covers her face as Discord pressed his against hers. "At least I understand the importance, which is why I feel I should be the one who saves our world instead." "That's not happening. Once I give Thomas this whistle we're using it to stop all of this." "Jeez. Can you believe how boring she is now?" Discord said pointing his thumb at her. "Whatever happened to the mean spirited, pushy, and power hunger Sunset I grew to respect? I think I'd prefer that Sunset Shimmer more." He looks her in the eyes. "Wouldn't you agree?" Looping, expanding circles ripple a yellow, white, blue, and green pattern in his eyes. Unable to look away, Sunset stares into his hypnotizing gaze. Her eyes begin to expand and loop, each circle changing yellow, green, white and blue in the same pattern as his. "What are you doing?" Thomas asked. Discord hovers behind Sunset now lost in his hypnotic trance. Thomas notices the expanding circles in Sunset's eyes. She stared blankly a head with her jaw hung loose as the looping circles change color and rhythm with each dilate. "You really need to loosen up more, Sunset. Why don't you start by showing Thomas here who you really are?" Thomas gritted his teeth and clutched his fist. He charged after Discord. "Get away from her!" But before Thomas could grab him, Discord disappears in a flashing light. Looking around for him, Thomas then turned his attention back to Sunset still deep in his hypnotic trance. He rests his hands on her shoulders and tried snapping Sunset out of it. "Sunset? Sunset!" He said shaking her. "Can you hear me?" Sunsets eyes shut and her head hung. Thomas still held on inspecting her worriedly. Raising her head up again, Sunset opens her eyes, and a conniving grin displays on her face in full glory. Thomas was even more worried now. "Sunset?" Her evil grin ceased, and Sunset's glaring eyes pierces Thomas' hands resting on her shoulders. She grabs both arms and aggressively smacks them away. "Get your hands off me!" Thomas stepped back afraid of her sudden hostility. "And quit giving me that stupid look. Ugh, I could just yak at how sad you are. Don't you have anywhere else you can mope around? Just looking at you is making me sick." While she was talking, Thomas spotted Mr. Conductor's whistle still wrapped around in her right hand. He didn't know what was going on with Sunset, but he still had to get the whistle back from her. She clearly wasn't going with him to deliver the whistle or hand it off to Thomas like she said a minute ago. "Are we done here? Or are you gonna keep staring at me like some lost puppy? I've got a lot of catching up to do," Looking back at Sunset then her right hand, he discreetly tried approaching her and attentively reaches for the whistle. "So if you don't mind," Sunset sees what he's doing and jerks her arm away. "What do you think you're doing?" Thomas tried reaching for it again only for Sunset to place her hand on his chest. Then she pushes him down to the ground, forcing Thomas on his rear as Sunset looms over him with her hands on her waist patronizing and belittling Thomas even more. "Wow. You really are pathetic. It's no wonder you couldn't stop all this when you had the chance. Just look at you sitting there all weak and defeated. Aw, what's wrong? You gonna cry? Go a head you twerp. Tears aren't gonna stop our world from crumbling now is it?" Thomas couldn't believe what he was seeing. Sunset was acting mean again. Discord must have put a spell on Sunset to make her act like how she was before becoming friends with Twilight and the others. "But. But," Thomas was in disbelief. "This isn't you, Sunset." Sunset rolls her eyes. "Please. I was never good, remember? That's what you said." Her words were really hurting Thomas. He felt like crying but didn't want her to know it. He wanted Sunset to snap out of it. But Sunset's unsympathetic glare only made Thomas even more upset . "No. I didn't mean to say that! You're not bad, Sunset. Your every bit as good as you wanted. I'm sorry! Please, don't do this!" "Sorry, not sorry." Sunset cracks her knuckles, "Besides, I'm just getting started. You're about to see what being bad really looks like." Thomas anxiously crawls away from Sunset approaching him with her fist closed and ready to strike. But then, Gordon and James step in and grab Sunset's arms. She belligerently struggled trying to break free but their hold on her wouldn't budge. "Let go of me you fools!" Gordon grabbed the whistle out of Sunset's hand and throws it to Thomas. He catches it then watches Sunset struggle under James and Gordon's hold glaring at the two engines. "Go!" James said. "We'll look after her." Thomas hesitated. He wanted to help Sunset but Discord's hypnosis was too strong. He wouldn't be able to do anything at the moment. The only thing that can stop this now was Lady, and with the whistle back in his possession, Thomas knew he had to continue his job if he's too save all his friends. "Hurry, Thomas!" Gordon urged. Nodding to his friends, Thomas got back on his feet. He turns his back away and looks over his shoulder to see Sunset one last time reminding himself that he couldn't undo Discord's influence. Restoring Lady's magic is the only way she can hopefully undo everything he's done to their world, including freeing Sunset from his hypnotic trance. Thomas then ran a head hearing Sunset throwing more insults at him still as he reaches the middle courtyard. Thomas stopped in his place and examined the courtyard, still sweeping with Discord's chaotic magic. All his friends were running away, fighting off, or hiding from the nonsense growing more present than ever. He had to find Lady fast. But he couldn't do so alone. Looking at the whistle and clutching it tightly, Thomas then calls out amidst the chaos for the only person with the means of tracking Lady's location. "Twilight! Twilight!" Spike and a de-ponied Twilight Sparkle were by the Wondercolt statue's base when she heard Thomas' calls. She looks over and turns to him waving Mr. Conductors whistle in the air. "Let's go!" Twilight nodded and held out her Magic Tracker. She turns it on and adjusting the settings to track only Gold Dust then hangs it around her neck. Her device starts blinking and beeping towards the school. Twilight kneels down and opens her backpack. "C'mon, Spike." "Right behind you," He said determinedly. He jumps inside her bag then Twilight puts it on her back. She runs over to Thomas and shows him the magic tracker while Thomas shows her the whistle. It was up to them now. Both knew the moment they've all been traversing to has finally arrived. It was time to end this. Spike pokes out as Thomas and Twilight Sparkle run straight for the school entrance, where they plan on completing the job once and for all. To Be Continued.