//------------------------------//
// Chapter 37: Shinning Armour the Royal Guard Engine 
// Story: MLP: The Equestrian Engines 
// by SuperSamYoshi 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armour was racing across the Island of Sodor to get to the Ffarquhar Branchline. He was very excited, and he didn't want to be late.

“Right on time,” said the Fat Controller. Bill, Ben, and Mavis looked up at Shining’s big engine. He looked very impressive. They had never meant Shining before.

“This is Shining Armour, Mavis, Bill and Ben,” said the Fat Controller, “he's here help you on the branchline.”

“Nice to meet you,” Shining puffed politely, “and he's gained a spotless record while working on the railway.”

“What's a spotless record?” whispered Bill and Ben.

“It means he's never been naughty or made a mess,” replied Mavis. The four engines were soon at work. Bill and Ben were bumping trucks. They knew this was naughty, but they were having fun.

“Join in Shining,” said Bill.

“No thank you,” wheezed Shining. He'd never been naughty before. Shining's first job was to push a train load of fruit to market. The troublesome trucks started to sing.

“Root, toot, tow, we want to go, the fruit's going off cause you're too slow!” they sung.

“How rude,” huffed Shining. This gave Bill and Ben a naughty idea.

“The Fat Controller doesn't like the troublesome trucks singing,” said Bill.

“You must stop them,” added Ben.

“Thank you,” said Shining, “I will.”

Shining Armour was glad he could keep the troublesome trucks in order.

“They'll never stop the trucks from singing,” laughed Bill and Ben. Shining Armour chuffed cheerfully through the countryside. Soon the troublesome trucks started singing again.

“Chuff, chuff, chuff, you tug and huff, but you're so rusty, you can even puff!” they sung.

“Stop singing!” huffed Shining, “trucks should do as they are telling.”

The Troublesome Trucks were cross. If they couldn't sing, they will teach Shining Armour a lesson instead.

“We'll show him!” they giggled, “you can't push us around!”

Shining Armour struggled over bridges, and he huffed and puffed through tunnels. He came over the top of a big hill.

“You can't catch us!” laughed the Troublesome Trucks, “Whee-hee-hee!”

But there was trouble ahead. Rarity had stopped at the crossing at the bottom of the hill. Shining's driver applied the brakes, but it was too late! Shining crashes into the back of Rarity's train, squashed fruit flew everywhere on Shining’s driver, the signalman and Rarity! Shining was upset. His spotless record was ruined.

“Shining Armour!” cried Rarity crossly, “look at my paintwork!”

“Peep, peep, what a mess!” puffed Bill and Ben, with the Fat Controller was on board Bill. He was very annoyed.

“What happened here?” he asked.

“The troublesome trucks were singing,” Shining armour replied sadly, “I told them to stop but they made me go too fast.”

“Please sir, it's our fault,” Bill and Ben told the Fat Controller what he had done.

“Shining, it's um... fruitless for me to say more. Ahem. But Bill and Ben, you must help clear up this mess,” The Fat Controller said.

Harvey arrived with the breakdown crane. He could see there was lot of work to be done. Everyone worked hard and Bill and Ben took the loaded trucks away. That evening, Shining Armour and Rarity were having the squashed fruit cleaned out of their funnels.

“Hello, Bill and Ben,” he greeted them as they puffed up to the washdown.

“Shining, we’re sorry we played a trick on you,” said Bill and Ben.

“Thanks for owning up to it,” replied Shining.

“Maybe spotless records are made to be broken,” smiled Rarity.

“And then mended again,” finished Shining Armour, “just like friendships.”



Shining Armour loves working on the Island of Sodor. Although he has been on the island for a while, he had really only explored the Mainline and Thomas’ branchline. One morning, he discovered the fishing village. The sun made the water sparkle and the seagulls called across the harbour. This was Shining's favourite place. That evening the Fat Controller came to the sheds.

“There's going to be a new line to the fishing village. I have to decide which engine shall run it,” he paused impressively. Trixie and Starlight looked away. They had enough work to do. Shining Armour hoped he would be chosen.

“Trixie, you will work on the new line,” said the Fat Controller.

“Yes sir,” said Trixie. But she really didn't like the smell of fish. Shining Armour was disappointment. The Fat Controller sent him to haul coal to the steelworks. That evening, Trixie was at the washdown when Shining puffed in.

“Do I smell a fishy engine?” He teased.

“Yes,” huffed Trixie, “smelly fish, smelly new line.”

Shining wished he could go to the fishing village instead of the steelworks. He'd be much happier than Trixie. The next morning, Trixie was still grumpy. The fishermen had caught lots of fish.

“Hurry up,” Said Trixie, “I'm a busy engine.”

“And a fussy one too,” said the fisherman, “just enjoy the fresh salty smell of the fish.”

“Pee-eew!” puffed Trixie. Trixie steamed as fast as she could along the line. But there was trouble ahead. Some faulty points sent her trucks one way and Trixie onto the old pier rail.

“Whoa!” Trixie cried. The Troublesome Trucks were delighted.

“She's falling in the water!” they laughed.

Luckily, Trixie wasn't hurt, and the fish trucks stayed on the tracks. When the Fat Controller heard the news he checked his time table.

“Shining Armour is the nearest engine,” he said over the phone, “I'll send him right away.”

It was a hot day. The ice that was keeping the fish cold started to melt.

“I hope someone comes quickly,” moaned Trixie, “that fish will spoil soon.”

Shining Armour was surprised to see Trixie in the tidal pool.

“Are you all right Trixie?” Shining asked.

“No,” Trixie replied, “but I'll be much better when you take these fish away.”

“The breakdown van will be here soon,” called Shining Armour's Driver. Shining Armour knew he had to hurry. He raced along the line to the docks and arrived there just in time. Later, Shining Armour went to see Trixie at the fitter's yard.

“Thank you for helping me,” said Trixie.

“Thank you,” said Shining Armour, “I wish I had the fishing village line all the time.”

“Well please tell the Fat Controller,” said Trixie, “because I don't like fish.”

That evening, the Fat Controller came to the sheds.

“I need an engine to go to the fishing village while Trixie is being repaired,” he said, “Any Volunteers?”

“Me!” Shining Armour blurted out, “and please sir may I run on that line all the time? Trixie doesn't like fish, but I do.”

“Then the line is yours,” said the Fat Controller. Shining Armour was delighted. The next morning he puffed into the fishing village right on time. The smell of fish was everywhere. But he was sure he had the most beautiful line on the Island of Sodor.



The Island of Sodor is a busy, bustling place. There is always lots for the engines to do. One morning, Cadence had just arrived in the yard when The Fat Controller came to see her.

“The fishermen are celebrating their biggest catch of fish ever,” he told her, “Cadence, you must help Shining take the fish to the docks.”

Cadence was fed up. She didn't like the smell of fish unlike her husband. And when she got to the fishing village, there were lots of trucks, all stacked full of fish. Cadence had never seen so many fish!

“Phew!” she puffed, “what a horrible smell!”

Then Shining Armour arrived. Shining warned Cadence that the route to Brendam Docks was bumpy.

“Only take five trucks at a time,” said Shining, “and go slow and steady.”

Shining Armour carefully collected five trucks, then he puffed slowly out of the harbour yard. Cadence looked at all the trucks full of fish. She didn't want to go slow and steady, she wanted to get her smelly job over with. So Cadence shunted all the trucks into a long line, and she puffed out of the village. The trucks were heavy, and smelly, but was pleased her job would soon be over. But then, the troublesome trucks decided to have some fun. The trucks wiggled and they giggled. And they made Cadence’s journey very bumpy, and some of the fish were shaken loose.

“Yuck!” Cadence gasped, “I wish I'd taken fewer trucks!”

Cadence puffed hard. She pushed the long line of trucks up the hill. She started to puff down the other side. Cadence tried to go slowly, but the troublesome trucks wanted to go faster.

“On! On! On!” they cheered. Cadence went faster and faster.

“Cinders and Ashes!” Cadence cried. Shining Armour was at the bottom of the hill with his five trucks on fish. He was waiting for a signal. He didn't know Cadence was coming down the hill. Cadence was out of control. She braked as hard as she could, but the trucks of fish were too heavy, and she crashed into the back of Shining Armour.

“Oops,” said Cadence, “sorry.”

Shining Armour was covered in fish.

“Cadence!” shouted Shining, “I told you to take five trucks at a time.”

Cadence's driver telephoned for help, and soon Harvey was clearing the tracks. Cadence wondered what the Fat Controller would say. She found out soon enough.

“You have caused confusion and delay,” said the Fat Controller, “You must learn to be more safe.”

“Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir,” Cadence puffed sadly. So this time, Cadence shunted only five trucks together. she took a deep breath, and she chuffed away. Cadence puffed through the countryside.

“I will get to the docks on time!” she cried. But the troublesome trucks were up to their old tricks.

“Hold back!” they giggled. But this time, there were only five trucks. Cadence biffed and bashed and bumped them, and the trucks weren't troublesome anymore. As soon as she delivered the first trucks, Cadence went back to collect the next five. Her couplings smelled of kippers and her cabin smelled of cod. But she was working so hard, she forgot all about the smell. At last, she had just one more load to take. But it was nearly time for the ship to leave. Cadence raced as fast as she could. Her axles ached, and her buffers were bashed, but she got to the docks just in time. Cadence was very happy to say good-bye to the fish. Then, the Fat Controller came to see Cadence.

“I know you don't like the smell of fish, but you have worked very hard,” the Fat Controller said, “you really are a useful engine.”

Cadence was proud, but she still had the smell of fish in her funnel, and she couldn't wait to be cleaned, so she puffed off to the washdown. Shining was already there with Twilight, she had been working up at the coaling plant.

“Getting clean is lovely,” puffed Twilight.

“Best part of the day,” said Shining.

“Especially when you smell of fish!” said Cadence.