//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Day 1 of the Job // Story: Rails Of Wonder // by Sanguine Blade //------------------------------// "PEEEEEEEEEEP." rang a whistle. "AHH!" Cried Laurie as she tumbled from the bed to the floor. She blearily got up and grumbled at the loud wake up. She threw on some working clothes. She now wore a blue shirt with overalls. She wore long denim jeans and steel toed work boots and left the building. "Who blew that whistle!" She shouted angered at being startled. "Oh, my. I'm so sorry." Said a soft voice. Laurie looked over to see a 4-4-0 engine. She was painted bright yellow with pink bands. The engine was shaking a bit at the tone Laurie had used. So Laurie took a deep breath and tried again. "Sorry. I was just startled. What's your name?" Laurie asked. The engine calmed down and gave a meek smile. "I'm Fluttershy." FLuttershy responded. "Right so was that your whistle. I promise not to get mad." Laurie said. Fluttershy was hesitant for a moment then spoke. "No. That was Rainbow Dash with the Ponyville Flyer." Flutterhy said with a sigh that sounded like this happened often. "Alright I'll talk to Rainbow Dash later. So, do you know where Spike is? It's my first day so he was to show me the ropes." Laurie said looking round the yard. "Peep peep Here we are!" Called a voice. In rolled a mixed traffic engine with purple paint and lighter purple with pink highlights. Down from the cab stepped a drake about five foot eight and wearing similar overalls over his purple and green scales. "Hi there, Laurie right? I'm Spike sorry I had to get Twilight steamed up for her crew." Spike said as he offered out a clawed hand. Laurie shook it and then dusted her hand off of the soot Spike's hand had. "Yes I'm Laurie. So where do we start?" Laurie asked. "Well Ms. Conductor said to get you started with shunting. I'd start you with a tank engine but Pinkie is a little...rough for a beginner so Fluttershy would you mind shunting so she can learn the ropes?" Spike said looking to the small tender engine. "Oh of course. I could use the run to stretch my wheels." Fluttershy said. So, Laurie and Spike stepped into the cab and Flutterhy started of to the sidings for shunting. After shunting for a while Laurie had a question that was bugging her. "Fluttershy how often do you go out. You controls all feel stiffened and i think i see some rust near the tender." Laurie asked. Spike knew this was going to happen eventually. "Fluttershy doesn't usually do work. Her design was seen as outdated so she was left in that siding. Though Ms. Conductor keeps her as a spare engine to prevent them from harming her." Spike said sadly. Fluttershy merely started to tear up. Then a sudden weesh of steam rang throughout the yard. All three looked around and saw something truly bizarre. "Oh my, Pinkie! " Fluttershy shouted. Sitting their was an an 0-6-0 saddle tank engine. She was sitting derailed with a broken livestock vans. The cattle inside were spooked and running all over the yard. "Oh no. What are we gonna do?" Laurie asked looking at the chaos. Fluttershy saw the chaos and was worried. Then she took a deep breath and moved forward towards the cattle. "Calm down everyone. Their some grass right this way." She said softly to the cattle. Her whistle peeped quietly to lure the cattle down the tracks. "She's leading them to the overnight pens. look" Spike said pointing backwards. Laurie turned to see a steel pen that could hold the cattle. Once they reached the pens, Spike raced out of the cab to lure the cows with grass. "Just follow him." Fluttershy said as the cattle walked slowly to Spike and their food. With them all inside Spike ran out and shut the fence. "We did it!" Laurie said helping Spike back into the cab. "Yes now we best fetch the break down cranes to get Pinkie." Spike replied as they started moving again. Soon, Pinkie was on a flat wagon for repairs. "What happened Pinkie?" Spike asked. "Well I was moving the cattle wagons for shipment. The car got away and so I chased it but it bounced back from the other wagons back at me and you know the rest." Pinkie said meekly. Spike looked over the wagons and saw the problem. "I knew it!, another rushed repair!" He shouted with rage. Laurie and the other were confused. "The works didn't properly repair these wagons and so its coupling fell off and its brakes are shot!"Spike seethed. "Are you all okay?" Said a familiar voice. Ms. Conductor was walking towards them and Spike explained the situation. Ms. Conductor frowned in anger then smiled. "Well with Pinkie out of action, I suppose we will have to use Fluttershy as her replacement till she's fixed.Since she knows the yard batter than anyone i think that will convince the bean counters to see her as more..useful." Ms Conductor spoke with a sly tone. The four others looked at her and smiled in agreement. "This is your time Flutters. You are able to fill in until Pinkie is back and you also sorted out the trouble by yourself and that will help you get your overhaul." Laurie said patting the engine on the buffer. "Right now you two best get everything in order. I need to go with the Pinkie to file a repair and a complaint. Oh and Spike I might be a while so the schedule is on my desk with Rainbow dash returning on tomorrow's morning express from Manehattan." Ms. Conductor said getting into the cab of the works engine. The trio gave wished them a safe journey as the cavalcade departed. The trio got the yard in order before putting Fluttershy in the sheds. In the sheds sat a White 4-6-0 with brass fittings and purple bands. With the name Rarity written on a curved nameboard. Next to her sat a slightly odd looking goods engine. It had a 2-8-0 configuration with a small smokebox dor and large pump on the front. This engine was painted in Orange with golden yellow bands "Well I'll be. Fluttershy what are you doing here?" The goods engine said in awe. "Pinkie was in an accident so im shunting for now until she returns." Fluttershy replied. "Well we both agree its great to see you back in service. Right Applejack?" The white engine said looking to the goods engine. Applejack smiled in agreement. "Oh we have a new friend. Laurie this is Rarity and Apple Jack. Girls this is Laurie." LAurie parked Fluttershy and stepped otu with Spike. "Good to meet you. Now we best be off to bed." AJ said. Laurie and Spike locked the shed doors and then everyone went happily to sleep...