Thomas & Equestria Girls 2:
Adventures From Sodor!
Chapter 21: In Times of Worry
Back at Ulfstead Castle, two older steam engines carrying open-topped carriages lined up along the platform to collect passengers. They were eager to begin their tour of the Castle grounds, as well as the majority of Sodor's North Western Railway. Their names were Stephen and Glynn, and they were glad to still keep on doing their jobs. The company was nice too. Engines picked for the Earl's upcoming railway museum resided at the Castle now, so there were more friendly faces for them to stoke up a conversation.
Stephen and Glynn waited for their passengers to arrive and board their carriages. Then, Adagio Dazzle came fuming into the estate's junction.
"Ah!" Stephen said upon noticing her. "Gisborne's Engine. Welcome back to Ulfstead Castle. Is there anything we can… do… for…?"
Adagio simply ignored the two engines as he spoke and continued steaming with furry towards the Castle itself. Stephen raised a brow.
"Well, that was very rude," Stephen commented.
"I'll say." Glynn scoffed, "Young engines these days; thinking they can just storm in anywhere like they own the place."
"That engine's been visiting this estate more often than usual. She certainty has a strange fixation with the lads inside in particular."
"Or maybe," Glynn suggested. "Could she perhaps be looking for Edward and his new friend?"
"Now what reason would they have for that? It's not like Edward already told us they're hiding from someone and-" Stephen suddenly gasped upon realizing. "Oh-no! We have to warn the others!"
Glynn stammered a little. "B-but she's already likely gotten to them by now! What can we do?"
The two engines debated until the signalman waved his flag. Then, an idea popped into Stephen's funnel. He grinned as he tooted his whistle and took off with the tourist.
The draw bridge lowered before Adagio, allowing her to enter the castle with a hasty but carful chuff. Adagio had followed Twilight and Edward to this estate after all the commotion at the Dieselworks finally settled. She inspected the interior carefully for any sudden movements, out of place sounds or whispers. Adagio was determined to snuff them out before they sneak Edward over to Canterlot High. Thought Henry may be still held up at the Dieselworks, Adagio Dazzle went out after the mess was cleared to investigate where the Girls might've taken Edward, and to see that they don't succeed any further than they have.
"Why, hello!"
Adagio stopped. Facing her were Duck, Oliver and Toad parked on three separate lines in front of her. One line led to two platforms, a turntable, and the other also branching off towards different sections of the castle.
"Welcome to Ulfstead Castle!" Duck greeted in a friendly tone. "Home to Sir Robert Normandy, the Earl of Sodor! And you must be Mr. Gisborne's-"
"Adagio," She corrected, bitterly. "Just Adagio."
"Right. I'm Montague. But you can just call me Duck. Everyone else does!"
Duck had a chuckle but Adagio simply rolled her eyes. She had already lost patience with these engines.
"I'm Oliver," He introduced next. "And this is my brake van Toad."
"You finished? Good. Now, tell me where you're hiding them?" She asked, bluntly.
"Hiding who?" Toad asked.
Far off in the back, Donald and Douglas remained parked under the castle's large station, quietly listening to the conversation. They and all their friends knew who this engine really was. And even though Duck, Oliver and Toad were acting like they didn't, the fact that the Siren was now here had put the two Scottish twins in a panic.
"What do we do, Douggie?" Donald whispered.
"I don't know," Douglas whispered back. "But we ought tae dae somehtin' before that creature on wheel's catches on tae our charade."
"How about your little friends hiding in the back?" Adagio called. "Maybe they know who I'm talking about."
Donald and Douglas froze and looked at each other with shriveled lips. They and the others knew right off the bat that a grinning Adagio snuffed them out. This forced the twins to reveal themselves, who slowly and nervously emerged from the station with coy grins.
"Oh, uh, hello," Donald greeted. "We was juist, eh, we was juist havin' a wee chat."
"No' about anyone, err, anything in particular."
"Nae, not at all!"
Adagio gave a wary glare. The twins remained still. Donald and Douglas couldn't leave without making their odd behavior more suspicious.
"Look, we're the only steam engines residing at this castle," Oliver said. "If it's a certain engine you're looking for, you're not going to find them here."
"That's right," Duck supported. "Only us steamies being prepped for the Earl's museum, and those working on castle grounds."
She looked around again and saw a few coal trucks and water tankers shunted by a corner. Presumably they could be just for the two old engines she passed outside. But it also added to the question of why museum engines needed to run on said coal and water like they were right now. Her suspicions regarding their absence from the Castle a few nights ago also blurred together when she began connecting the dots quicker than she had already deduced.
Adagio Dazzle steamed forward in an eerie pace.
"Those girls stormed the Dieselworks and made off with one of the engines that Gisborne wanted shipped off this miserable island. And I've heard from passing locals that they frequently like to convene at this Castle."
Duck and the others were shocked by her accusations, but tired to remain bold. She finally stopped inches in front of Oliver.
"So, either you tell me where you're hiding that blue engine, whether here or wherever, or I search every corner of this stronghold, this entire Island if I have to, and have them returned to Gisborne myself!"
Oliver and Duck shared worried looks. Toad, meanwhile, tried signalling Donald & Douglas to vacate while she was distracted, but they refused to do so. It was too risky to slip away without being spotted. Adagio remained silent and fixated on each engines, waiting for anyone to make even the slightest noise. She knew they where hiding here. She had already followed Twilight and Edward to this very location, as the track they took led straight to the estate. It mattered not if they'd actually told her, Adagio only wanted to see how devoted they where to their new friends. Toad and the four engines dared not move or give her anything.
Adagio Dazzle poised a smug lip after getting no response, and began reversing back to leave and look for the escaped engine.
"Wait!" Duck jolted forward.
She stopped with frowned eyes and an amused grin. Having just one of them jump to their defenses like so was all the confirmation she hoped for. Eyes were all on Duck and his hesitant stance.
"Duck?" Oliver questioned.
He only wanted to prevent Adagio from snooping around herself. Duck didn't have a plan in mind when he jumped in until he thought of one quick.
"How… How about we give you a tour ourselves?" He suggested. "That way you can see we're most definitely not hiding anything of the sorts."
Adagio raised a questionable brow before shrugging her cheeks.
"Fine. But I ride in front," She insisted.
"That seems fair," Duck smiled. "I'll back onto the turntable here real quick and we'll be on our way!"
Everyone waited for Duck to board the turntable so his cab could face backwards. Adagio surveyed Oliver and the other engines who played up friendly smiles despite their unease. They had no idea what Duck had in mind at first and weren't that confident in the Siren's attention being diverted that easily. Duck passed the engines and exited the Castle first. Adagio then left next, never slipping her focus on the others until the draw bridge rose to a close again.
"This isn't good, Mr. Oliver!" Toad worried. "She's going to find Ms. Twilight and Mr. Edward."
"Duck won't let that happen, Toad," Oliver assured. "Least I hope not. But they don't know the Siren's here. And Duck can only keep her distracted for so long."
"Donald, Douglas," Toad asked. "Someone has to warn them, quickly!"
"Aye!" Donald said, boldly. "On it!"
And the twins quickly reversed back into the station and chuffed off to the Dinosaur Park.
Meanwhile, Duck and Adagio traveled across the Estate Railway with Duck doing everything he can to subvert Adagio from the Dinosaur Park.
"Ah, yes, the Estate Railway is very lovely this time a year," Duck bragged. "Of course, my old branchline used to be just as lovely. They don't say much about the Little Western anymore now that we're gone though, no surprise. But at least the Earl's doing everything he can to keep it and everything else intact."
"Spare me your zealous fascination to this filth of an Island," Adagio groaned.
"Oh. Alright," He was a little offended, but got over it quick. "How about we start by circling the Earl's estate itself then?"
But Adagio soon became preoccupied when she stopped and saw smoke billowing behind a thicket of tress from across the junction. The smoke came from the Dinosaur Park, the one place Duck was trying to avoid taking her. But it was too late. Adagio had seen everything, even as the smoke finally withered out before Duck could notice it himself. Adagio tried to look back and glared daggers at the small green engine.
"Ah… heh-heh, that could be any engine," Duck chuckled, nervously. "We're not the only steamies here, after all, right?"
"I'm well aware," She seethed.
Duck wasn't so confident anymore.
"Your new director will be happy to have words with you all once he learns what you've been hiding from us!"
Adagio hissed an eerie steam, blew her whistle, and stormed off towards the Dinosaur Park. Duck could only follow after her. He continued playing up his casual demeanor while attempting to convince her to explore a different portion of the Estate with no success.
Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle and Edward were stationed near one of the Dinosaur props on display in the Dinosaur park. Twilight had suggested they hid here while their friends shook off all the diesels chasing them earlier after their Dieselworks raid. But circumstances soon jeopardized this tactic when Donald and Douglas came scurrying up to the two.
"Edward, Twilight!" Donald panted.
"Ye have tae leave, now!" Douglas warned.
"The Siren's comin'! An' she on tae us!"
The Twins moved out of their way and allowed them to escape. Twilight Sparkle urgently pulled on Edward and carried them both towards the tunnel exiting the park. But Edward told her to stop when he noticed two bright lights closing in from the darkness. Twilight stopped just in time but whoever was entering from the tunnel will spot them in seconds. They were running out of options, until Twilight Sparkle saw something up a head past Edward that gave her one.
Adagio Dazzle emerged from the tunnel and stopped in her place. She looked around and saw nothing. The park was empty. Nothing but a Apatosaurus, Ankylosaurus, and a Megalosaurus propped near a model Volcano emitting fake smoke.
She puffed slowly further into the park. Duck emerged from the tunnel next, still trying to divert Adagio's suspicions.
"Eh, beg pardon, ma'am, but if it's of any consideration, we are perfectly well aware of these," Duck cleared his throat, "'rogue steamies', and don't much condone their actions much at all, nor do we share any part of whatever crazy schemes they're concocting."
Adagio ignored Duck at this point and continued surveying the area. She passed by most of the dinosaur props, mostly uninterested and unimpressed with the display, on top of Duck's chit-chat getting on her last eye twitching nerves.
"Now, I'd gladly offer any leads of their whereabouts should that work in favor for you and Mr. Gisborne. As for us steamies here though we-"
The two engines applied their brakes when Adagio spotted the smoke spewing from across the park again, this time from behind a model volcano. Adagio leered and charged onwards with Duck hurrying from behind.
"Oh, deer, oh, deer!" He muttered.
A determined Adagio raced towards the smoke. She finally reached its source and applied her brakes, but what she nearly ran into caught her by surprise.
"Whoa-whoa! Careful there!" Stephen said.
Adagio had nearly run into Stephen, the one she saw emitting smoke. He was carrying his carriage of passengers through the Dinosaur park. Flabbergasted, she watched the small, old steamie slowly veer onto another line through a set of switches in front of her.
"And on your left, we have the current Railway Controller's private engine; the only steamie still in service on the whole North Western."
Passengers pointed, admired, and took photographs with their cameras at the big, orange and purple tender engine, who was now steaming and fumed smoke out her funnel with frustration.
"Marvelous, ain't it! Truly a rare sight these days now."
Stephen shot Duck a cheeky wink along the way.
"Keep up the good work, Stephen!" Duck grinned.
Stephen chuckled. "Make way for the Rocket! Pyow!"
The Passengers took more pictures as Stephen and his train left the park. Adagio tried looking everywhere else to make sure they truly weren't the only steam engines here. But now the park was back to being occupied by nothing but herself, Duck, and the dinosaurs. Duck couldn't help but beam a genuine smile as he pulled up to her.
"Now, shall we continue our tour, Adagio?"
Adagio grit her teeth in anger. She hissed steam and stormed off towards the track leading to the Blue Mountain Quarry. Duck stopped just before the tracks and watched her chuff away, having no idea where or why she was going to the Quarry for. Duck exhaled with relief, finally glad to be rid of her.
Oliver and Toad showed up and park next to him.
"Now that was too close," Oliver commented.
"Agreed," Duck said. "Far too close for my liking."
"At least she didn't find Twilight and Edward," Toad added.
"But now she knows we're helping them," Duck began. "I'm sorry, you two, but with close calls like this, I don't see how much longer we can aid our new friends without getting them or us into even more trouble."
"No way! We can't cut our ties now!" Oliver argued. "They need us just like we need them."
"And we need to stay out of Gisborne's hair, Oliver," He responded, sternly. "For our good and theirs. And that's that!"
Duck tooted his whistle and steamed off back to the Castle. Oliver looked back at Toad, both sharing the same disagreement. They weren't about to abandon their new friends just yet when they could be very close to restoring everything back to the way it was. So Oliver stood where he was and thought to himself. He tried to think of some way he could help his new friends, but Oliver was too stumped to formulate a good strategy.
Twilight Sparkle and Edward coasted down the castle's mountain railway path with Donald and Douglas following not to far behind. They had just narrowly escaped being spotted by Adagio Dazzle. But with Twilight, and even Stephen's bright idea, they managed to slip past her undetected while the engines up at the Castle kept her distracted.
The four engines made it to the bottom and braked to a stop. The two Scottish twins couldn't stop laughing after they gained far enough distance for everyone back up top to not hear.
Donald chuckled. "That ought of boggled that 'ol sea dog what for!"
Douglas also chuckled. "I only wish we saw her face when she realized it was Stephen!"
"Thanks for all your help, you two," Edward said.
"We're very grateful to have everyone at the castle sticking out for us," Twilight added, wholeheartedly.
"Ah, away an' whisht," Donald said. "Helpin' a fellow steam engine is no question. My brother and I are still indebted to yous for that rescuin' back on the Mainline."
"Give the other engines our luck when ye see 'em again, Edward," Douglas said. "Me and Donnie will take care of what's left back at the castle."
The two engines agreed before Twilight Sparkle took off and carried Edward down the line.
They didn't know where the others were and wondered if they managed to deal with the diesels. Mr. & Mrs. Birdie soon flew in and tweeted to the two. Twilight couldn't understand them, but continued moving forward while keeping an eye on the blue jay and robin pointing their wings and soaring in several directions.
At last, Twilight and Edward ran into Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Spike and Sir Topham Hatt. Sunset, Spike and Twilight were overjoyed to be reunited, as well as ecstatic to see Edward again. Twilight asked where the others were and was told by Sunset that they too got separated from each other.
"Thank goodness this is all settling down a bit," Twilight explained. "Edward and I were almost caught by the Siren at the Earl's Castle."
Edward gasped upon remembering something important. "Oh, Twilight, Sunset, I almost forgot. There's something important I have to tell you; something to do with you and this Siren's magic."
Everyone arched inquisitive brows and listened to what Edward had to say. He told them everything the Siren revealed to him and Henry about how their tussle with each diesel they encounter is really conjuring negative energy for the Siren to consume and strengthen her magic pendant, which would in turn give her the full power needed to enchant just about anyone on Sodor.
The Girls, Spike, and Sir Topham Hatt were shocked.
"That's how she's been stealing out magic?! Ugh, it's the Battle of the Bands all over again," Sunset complained in frustration. "She's been using us the whole time!"
"I knew our altercations would come back to bite us!" Sir Topham Hatt said, mostly angry at himself for not knowing. "What did I say; Do. Not. Cause. A ruckus!"
"But how were we suppose to know?" Spike defended. "Ooh! I bet we just gave her gem a bunch more energy at the Dieselworks."
Sunset, Fluttershy, Spike and Sir Topham Hatt felt ashamed and frustrated, feeling like they should've known about this prior to all the ruckus they caused on Sodor. All their efforts to save Sodor was really just an unknowing aid in Adagio's efforts to conquer it. Twilight didn't let this get to her though despite how bleak their efforts look. She was too hopeful after how far they've come to squander it all.
"I may not have been there when the Dazzlings first attacked our school," Twilight Sparkle explained, "but at least now we can try to prevent her from taking advantage of us or anyone else on Sodor."
"At least now you girls know not to give her anymore of your magic," Edward said. "The less you engage with any engine, the less energy she'll consume. Right?"
Everyone shared doubtful glances but then thought over their advantages in light of this news and agreed that they can still pull through. Edward had a valid point to, but there were still complications to his statement that worried them a little.
"We better warn the others in case more diesels try to pick a fight," Twilight began. "Fluttershy, do you think your birds can bring us to them? We'll need to get Edward and Henry to Canterlot High while we formulate another liberation agenda."
Fluttershy didn't answer though and remained quiet while looking downcast at the tracks beneath her. Sunset, Spike and Sir Topham Hatt all became downcast as well. Twilight and Edward had already escaped by the time things started spiraling out of control during their rescue and weren't caught up to what transpired. Twilight raised a confused brow.
"Uh, Fluttershy? Sunset? What's…"
"Sir, didn't you and the others rescue Henry too?" Edward asked.
Fluttershy slipped a loud whimper. Sunset knew how devastated she was by this and didn't know how to explain without upsetting her more. Sir Topham Hatt leaned out of Spike and tried to lay the news thin.
"Em, Edward," He began, but Sunset chimed in.
"We… didn't rescue him," She said, solemnly.
"What?!" Both Edward and Twilight exclaimed.
"Fluttershy got ambushed trying to get to him. Then more diesels showed up and forced us to retreat," Sunset explained. "Henry's still back at the Dieselworks as far as we know."
"Oh, deer," Edward said, dejectedly. "Poor Henry."
This especially struck a saddened Fluttershy. Now she truly felt like a failure. Twilight was worried for her.
"Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy still wouldn't say a word. She shied away and reversed back a little for Sunset to abstract her view. But despite everyone's doubts and sorrows, Sunset tried to remain optimistic.
"Hey, we're not giving up on him. We stick to the course. No one is getting left behind."
This managed to put a reassured smile on Sir Topham Hatt and Spike faces, who were more than willing to get back to business, especially having Edward out of their clutches now.
"Agreed. We'll just have to be one step a head," Twilight encouraged. "What matters now is that Edward's safe."
"I'll volunteer to take him back home," Sunset said.
"And I'll get to work on locating the others," Twilight beamed.
Edward smiled at Sunset's notion. He was at least happy over getting to see his friends again. He also wondered what it was they could've been doing while all this went on. After changing lines, Sunset Shimmer coupled up to Edward and slowly carried him backwards past Fluttershy and Spike.
"It'll be nice being filled with coal and water again," Edward commented. "Though it's also gonna feel real stiff after sitting around and doing nothing all week."
"Especially when you get to walking on two legs and lifting things with hands," Sunset joked.
Edward chuckled until he looked over to Fluttershy and noticed her shying away in disgrace.
"Whatever happened back there wasn't your fault, Fluttershy," He said, also retaining optimism. "You and Henry will see each other again. Just you wait and see."
She looked back on time to see Edward passing through with an assuring smile. She was expecting Edward to be cross with her for not saving Henry. But he seemed so sure of his friend's eventual success, and showed little anger over their mess-ups. And on that, Sunset conveyed Edward to the Sodor Steamworks to prep him for the journey to Canterlot High.
Fluttershy watched the trio take off down the line before exhaling a crestfallen sigh.
"But it was my fault," She muttered to herself.
That night, the group was together again and back at the Sodor Steamworks. The moon was full and the stars twinkled over the whole of Sodor and its sleeping engines. Everyone slept in different corners of the building. Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity slept near the foundry, steam hammer and machine laiths. Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Spike slept underneath a small shelter facing the turntables to leave the Works.
The Girls and Spike were all fast asleep. All except Fluttershy.
She awoke and darted around her surroundings. She looked to Twilight sleeping beside her, making sure her and Spike were still sleeping. Then, Fluttershy tried everything in her power to steam as quietly out of the Steamworks as she can.
She made sure to be really careful whilst driving. Spike wasn't coupled up to her, so Fluttershy would be done in if she didn't watch how fast she was going. She moved at a snail's pace over onto the transfer table, and even slower when she got off and took herself over to the west side of the building. On the westside was a large coal hopper where engines would fill their bunkers and tenders again after their visit. Further a head of these lines were a station platform and a set of buffers. There was enough space for an engine to safely buff into these buffers and reverse back towards the coal chute without. A prime set up for an engine with brake problems to safely stop themselves.
Fluttershy backed herself up all the way to the edge of the coal hopper were a set off butters prevented her from tumbling off. She squinted at the platform and it's buffers far up a head.
Then, hissing steam, Fluttershy build up speed and chuffed all the way towards the buffers. She focused on applying her brakes. Stopping with a screeching halt was the only thing on her mind. But her wheels never stopped. They kept on chuffing until Fluttershy reached the buffers and rammed into them with a loud thud. She soon recovered and stood waiting to see if the commotion woke anyone. Not a word or sound came from inside the Steamworks.
After sighing in relief, she backed up towards the coal hopper again and adjusted her sights solely on the buffers. Fluttershy became more determined. Then, she charged forward again with boiling determination. But still her brakes wouldn't slip on. She shut her eyes the closer she got. Doing this for Henry was the only thing on her mind now.
"Come on, Fluttershy! Brake. Brake!"
Suddenly, her wheels began screeching as her brakes slipped on. Fluttershy was too stunned to believe what she was seeing at first. Her smile beamed with exuberance when her eyes opened and saw herself slowing down a bit.
But then, her brakes immediately slipped off, sending a screaming Fluttershy rattling and colliding straight into the buffers with an even harder thud. This one managed to wind Fluttershy to the point where she merely remained biffed against the buffers with dizzying eyes.
When Fluttershy finally recovered, she stood pressed against the buffers, sighing and whimpering a little to herself. She wanted to keep on going but the lack of progress was taking its toll. Fluttershy was surprised when she heard another steam engine approaching her.
"Fluttershy," Twilight Sparkle inquired with a yawn. "What's with all the racket?"
She reversed next to the platform from across her friend. Fluttershy shied away in disgrace. Twilight had to deduce what the commotion was by examining Fluttershy and a set of buffers. Then it became obvious. She looked downcast herself.
"Oh."
Fluttershy held back her urge to weep when she began explaining what's been on her mind all day.
"He was right in front of me, Twilight. Henry saw us heading towards him, a-and warned me not to get close. That's when BoCo showed up and… A-and…"
She was too emotional to finish her sentence and the verge of breaking down.
"Got in the way," Twilight finished for her.
She looked back at Twilight. "I could still hear him calling for me, but all I could do was let myself be pushed around like I always am."
"Fluttershy-"
"I failed him, Twilight!" She interrupted. "I failed him and I'm still holding everyone back. All because I don't have what it takes to be an engine!"
At last, Fluttershy couldn't contain herself anymore and began to cry. Twilight Sparkle couldn't bare seeing Fluttershy so upset. It made her feel all the more saddened herself when Twilight remembered her troubles with driving just a few nights ago. Only now, Twilight and all her friends had a pretty good handle on their engine forms. All except Fluttershy, now fully convincing herself that they might never get to Henry at this rate, especially after the stint they narrowly escaped at the Dieselworks.
Twilight Sparkle knew she had to reassure her friend somehow. And she already knew just what to say.
"Fluttershy, leaving Henry behind wasn't your fault."
"But… my… brakes…"
"Remember what Sunset Shimmer was saying earlier; it's not too late. No one is getting left behind. Especially not our friends."
Fluttershy tried to keep herself together despite her unwavering weeping, which spiraled out of control again the more she reminisced about Henry and his bleak future.
"W-what if we are t-too late? He was counting on us, Twilight. I was so looking forward to seeing his forest with him and everything. But now he might be gone for good!"
"Don't think like that, Fluttershy. Henry wouldn't want you to beat yourself up like this. I'm more than positive he's still expecting us to keep on trying. We're his only hope."
Still sniveling a little, Fluttershy sniffed and fixated on Twilight.
"I mean, just look at how far we've come since our arrival. I couldn't even drive without being towed around. I knew I needed to step up. That's when I remembered what you and everyone else have been going through, and what Edward must've been going through. That was my driving force. That and Edward's words."
"You mean," Fluttershy repeated through her sniffles. "'Never, never, never give up?"
Twilight Sparkle beamed her proudest genuine smile, picturing everything they've done and hearing the motivation she needed to push herself. Now she was now passing it all on to Fluttershy.
"I accomplished what I hoped to. Edward never gave up on us. On me. Neither will Henry. And neither will any of us. Not even me."
Fluttershy finally stifled her weeping. She looked up to the sky coated in blue, black and purple with stars shining brighter than they ever had since their visit. Doing so had put her somewhat at ease again; enough to take her mind off the conversation.
"The stars look very pretty tonight, don't they," Fluttershy commented.
Twilight was caught off guard for a second when she too looked to the sky and felt the same warm feeling boiling through her.
"Yeah," Twilight exhaled a relaxed sigh. "They sure do."
This managed to seep a barely visible smile across Fluttershy's face the more she thought about Twilight's words, her journey on Sodor as well as their own. The thought of Henry feeling helpless and alone, especially after her first failed attempt, still ached her heart. But Fluttershy became surer than ever that they'll still have a chance to save him, just like he once did back when the Magic Railroad was spiraling out of control. Maybe she can still be the angel Henry once mistook her for the second he laid eyes on her. Although she didn't feel like she would at first, a new sense of determination still flourished Fluttershy.
"I know you didn't want to," Fluttershy said, reflectively, "But I'm glad you and Sunset are looking out for us. I'm not sure how either of us could've gotten use to things here without you two."
Twilight shrugged her cheeks. "We've all collaborated so well individually that I didn't think It'd be logical having just one of us take command. I especially don't think I was good enough."
"Neither did Princess Twilight."
This caught Twilight Sparkle off guard for a moment. Then she thought long and hard about the quote Sunset Shimmer shared with her, the one her pony counterpart from Equestria also learned during her time at Canterlot High.
Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle spent the rest of the night parked outside looking up at the many varying stars coating the dark, purple night skies in all its captivating glory and shine. Fluttershy still thought about Henry's predicament as well as her own, but for different reasons now that she gained alternative insights. She thought about him some more and what he must be thinking right now. And though the thought saddened her still, Fluttershy tried to remain more determined than she ever felt during her arrival. And soon the thought of Henry's happy face as he's reunited with his friends and giddy chuckle gave her all the motivation needed to collaborate with her friends and accomplish what they've all set out to do and much more.
"I hope you're still here with us, Henry. Ooh. What I wouldn't do just to see you again." Fluttershy said before plucking more intent, "Hang in a little longer, Henry. We're coming for you. Or try to… at least."
To Be Continued.