//------------------------------// // Chapter 5:The Spare Engine // Story: Rails Of Wonder // by Sanguine Blade //------------------------------// It was a cloudy morning when Laurie woke up. She and Fluttershy got the morning trains ready then waited in a siding for more work. As they waited a whistle rang out. In rolled a yellow engine with red and yellow livery. The engine looked a bit strange with its small smoke deflectors and high running board above the splashers. "Well this place looks very dirty." The new engine spoke. "Now now Sunset don't be rude." Replied a familiar voice. Spike stepped out from the cab of Sunset. "Hey you two. This is Sunset Shimmer. She's here to pick up the work load since we have to keep Flutters shunting." Spike said. "Now I must sadly get back to the backlog." He said giving a sigh and walking to the office. The two smiled kindly at the new engine. "Welcome Sun-" "Look just fetch my train and we'll be fine" Sunset said cutting off the two and puffing off to the platforms. The two were confused, but shunted the train into line before bringing it to the station when they saw Applejack bieng talked to by Sunset. "Ugh, it's one of you Dodge Junction engines. Why are you here and not in the fields as a scare crow." Sunset said, "Ah beg yer pardon?!" AJ shouted. "I'm just saying you make the line look uglier. It's not your fault though, just your farmer designers." Sunset remarked so condescendingly. The two were staring daggers so Laurie rolled the train a bit roughly into Sunset's buffers. "Ow, why you." Sunset said looking back at Fluttershy. "Hey my hand slipped its not her fault. Also, your signal's green." Laurie said. Sunset harrumphed and rolled away with her train. The two pulled up next to Aj. "Ah swear that girl is going to get some from me if she keeps at it." Aj seethed between her teeth. "It's alright AJ. I'm sure she'll come around. That or she'll get knocked down a peg." Laurie said. AJ giggled and the two returned to the yard. It was a few hours until Sunset returned and was talking to Rarity and Rainbow. Laurie and Flutters listened in. "What are engines of your status doing here? none of us should be working with those farmer locomotives." Sunset said. "Apple Jack knows more about freight work than anyone else here except Fluttershy." Rainbow said. "Oh how could the only Pegasi Railway Prism class treat themselves like a commoner." Sunset said. "Well we are all friends who work together." Rarity replied. "That's all fine and dandy for you, but I'm more prestigious. My class ran some of the best passenger trains in Pre-nationalization." Sunset said. "Oh boy. Were we this bad?" Rainbow whispered to Rarity. "I don't have time for this! I have to get my passenger train." Sunset said reversing down the line to the station. Laurie and, Fluttershy looked at the two and were mad. "She has no right to assert her dominance on us." Rainbow said to Rarity. "well we best get back to work." Rainbow said as she rolled forward suddenly she hit something in the rails causing her to jump the track. "Ah darn it!" She said. Fluttershy and Laurie went to grab the cranes. By the time Rainbow was back on the rails, Sunset had left with her express to keep it on time. Rainbow seethed at this and she had also twisted the track she jumped. Spike had no choice but to have her sit in the shed for minor repair and for the track damage. That night Sunset rolled up to the sheds. "Well poor Rainbow. it's a shame that she was so clumsy." Sunset said smirking. "How dare you hurt one of our friends." Twilight said inching closer to Sunset's buffers. Sunset just kept smirking. and let off steam in Twilight's face. "You have no physical proof i did anything to dear Dashie. Now, I best get ready for the express in the morning and, you lot best stay out of my way." Sunset replied as she slithered backwards into the night. Laurie looked at all this and came up with a plan. The next morning, Fluttershy was left in the shed and Laurie wandered over to Sunset. "Listen here you rude, ungrateful locomotive! You have been insulting to all my friends here. If you don't fess up, karma will come back to bite you on the frames." Laurie said pointing at the engine, and glaring. Sunset's face showed a twinge of fear before settling back into her pompous smirk. "Oh like you can order me about. As I told your friends you have no proof so I'm fine" Sunset said and wheeshed away. Laurie just smirked to herself and walked off. Later, Sunset was back with the express. Then spike showed up. "Sunset you need to take the scrap train from the yard." Spike said before leaving. Sunset growled, but rolled off to the yard. The trucks were all sorted into a neat train filled with scrap metal. Sunset coupled up and pulled...but, the train didn't move. She tried again but it didn't move. "Come along you filthy scrap wagons!" She shouted and pulled harder when she heard a snap and the train jerked forward shoving her forward quickly. She hadn't waited for the brakes to be taken off and they had snapped. She braced against the train but couldn't and she slammed into the buffers. "grrr..." Sunset growled and shoved the train back and this caused the coupling to come loose as it rolled along the rails out of the yard. There was a crash as Sunset saw the train derail on the twisted rail Rainbow Dash had made. "Sunset Shimmer!" Shouted a familiar voice. Laurie and Fluttershy rolled up. "What did I tell you." Laurie continued. "Oh quiet you. I do what I want and nothing but you two's word as evidence." Sunset said smirking. "Not just their word." Spike spoke as he walked over to stand in front of Sunset. "You have been horrible and rude to all the engines. I would make you go crawling back to your shed right now!" Spike said in fury. "Lucky for you, we still need a spare engine so you better fix yourself or you'll face the consequences. Laurie take, Sunset to the out of use siding until further notice." Spike finished walking away in anger. Laurie and Flutters shunted her into the out of use siding. "I told you there would be consequences. I hope you change Sunset, because their will be those better than you and noone will come to your side. See you in the morning." Laurie said. "See you later Sunset." Fluttershy said quietly and the two left Sunset in the siding. As the rain came down that night, it concealed the tears of Sunset Shimmer as she realized what she had done...