//------------------------------// // James Learns a Lesson // Story: Equestria Girls: The Railway Stories // by friggin normie //------------------------------// James was enjoying his life on the island of Sodor, but his accident had made it clear that he still had a lot to learn. "You're a special mixed traffic engine," said Miss Hatt. "You can pull coaches and trucks quite easily, but you must learn from your mistakes." James didn't have to ask what she meant, as he could well remember that dreadful accident from his first day. "Today, you'll be double heading The Local with Edward." The blue engine grinned. "I'll lead and show you around the island. Make sure not to bump the coaches, James." The red engine gently backed into the platform and grinned at all the people admiring his shiny red paintwork. "You really are a splendid engine, darling," Rarity sighed when she noticed the attention her engine was getting. James swelled with confidence and let out steam, but a shower of water splashed all over Celestia's nice new suit. James' confidence vanished like magic. "Uh-oh," the red engine murmured. Sweetie Belle had seen what had happened and tried to reassure him. "I'm sure nobody noticed, James. And I'm sure Celestia won't be too upset." James wished he could say he believed her. The guard's whistle blew, and James started with a jerk. "Go on, go on," he hissed. "You needn't be pushy," Edward replied. The coaches were grumbling too. "Don't go so fast, don't go so fast." But James didn't listen. James was very distracted as he and Edward made their way down the line. On their way to the next signal, James had almost run past two red signals. And by the time they did reach the next station, two of the coaches had overshot the platform. "James," Edward said in an attempt to lighten his friend's spirits, "I know you're still new to passenger work, but you must remember that passengers like to get off at the platform." The red engine payed Edward no mind, but he was pleased that nobody but Sweeite Belle had noticed Miss Hatt's suit. Presently, they arrived at Elsbridge where Thomas was waiting with his own coaches. "Hello, James!" Thomas said cheerfully. "You're looking much better now that you're out of the works!" "Especially with that snazzy new paint job," put in Spike. "And I hope Rarity and Sweetie Belle are settling in nicely," Twilight added. Rarity smiled. "Oh, we're settling in nicely, darling. Sodor is such a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the Mainland." Thomas' guard blew his whistle and the little engine pulled out of the station. "Sorry, you lot! Can't stop," he puffed. "We do have a schedule to keep!" Soon, Edward and James passed the field where the red engine had had his accident. The fence by the line had been mended and the cows were once again grazing in the field. Sweetie Belle smiled and waved at them, but the bovines took no notice. A few minutes later, they arrived at the last station and rested before heading home. James was still worried about what Miss Hatt would say when she next saw him. "It'll be fine," Sweetie Belle assured him. It was not fine. The next morning, Miss Hatt spoke severely to James. "If you can't behave, I shall take away your red paint and have you painted blue!" "Jeez," Sweetie muttered once Celestia had left. "I didn't think she'd be that upset." "Well, you must understand, Sweetie," Rarity told her. "Having such a lovely new suit ruined is a disgrace! And Applejack tells me that Celestia is under a lot of stress. Not only does she have to run such a large railway-" "A railway with five engines doesn't seem very big." "It is when you're the one running it. And not only that, but there's a new problem plaguing the line every few weeks." James tuned out their conversation as they made their way to the platform. He was very rough as he shunted his coaches, and banged them even harder when he saw that nobody was taking any notice of him. "Don't talk, come on!" he called rudely. "The other engines never have to fetch their own coaches." "Edward does," his firewoman said. "Well, he's only painted blue," he replied, as though that helped his argument. "You needn't be so rude with the coaches, dear," Rarity soothed. The red engine grumbled to himself and waited for the guard's whistle. "I'll show them," he muttered once they were on their way. "They think Gordon is the only engine who knows how to pull coaches." Rarity held on to the cab handrail for dear life as James rattled down the line. "Calm down, James! We're being bounced around like peas in a frying pan!" "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" He called. "You're going too fast! You're going too fast!" Answered the coaches. But James still didn't listen. He tried hard to pick up more speed, but the coaches began holding him back. "We're going to stop!" They cried. "We're going to stop!" And with one final jerk, the train came to a stop in the middle of the line. "Stupid things," James puffed. "Now we'll be late! What's the matter?" "The brakes are hard on," Sweetie answered. "A leak in the pipe, most likely," Rarity groaned. "You were banging the coaches enough to make a leak in anything!" Despite their situation, Sweetie Belle snickered. Rarity rolled her eyes. "Come on, Sweetie. Let's go inspect the coaches." After a few minutes of searching, they found the broken brake pipe in the middle of the train. "How shall we mend it?" Asked the guard. Sweetie Belle thought for a moment. "One of the drivers on our old railway had a similar problem once. I think he said he fixed it with some newspapers and leather bootlaces." Rarity cringed at the thought of using bootlaces in such a matter. "I've got some newspapers in the brake coach," said the guard. "But we'll have to get some bootlaces from one of the passengers." The sisters groaned. The others were never going to let them live this down. A few minutes later, the passengers were outside the coaches and listened as Rarity explained the situation. "All we need are some leather bootlaces. Has anyone got some?" The passengers looked around. "This man does!" one eventually called out. The man in question scowled at the one who called him out. "Would you please give us your bootlaces, sir?" Sweetie Belle asked. "No," said the man, "I won't!" "Then I'm afraid we'll just have to stay out here in the middle of nowhere. And it'll be all your fault." The passengers started to shout about what a bad railway it was, then they turned to the man and shouted about how bad he was. "Alright, alright!" He grunted after a few minutes. "Take the bloody laces!" Rarity smiled and promised to pay for new ones. Then she wrapped the bootlaces and newspaper tightly around the hole, and James was able to pull the train very gently. He is a sadder and wiser engine now, and takes care never to bump the coaches again.