//------------------------------// // Chapter 34: Sonata the Dim Singer Engine // Story: MLP: The Equestrian Engines // by SuperSamYoshi //------------------------------// Sonata was working in the coal yards. She was feeling bored and lonely with only the silly trucks for company. “Cheer up, Sonata,” said her driver, “the Fat Controller has told me that we must be here again tomorrow. We've just got to make the best of a bad situation.” “I'll try sir,” sighed Sonata. Next morning, the trucks started teasing Sonata. “Sonata, Sonata, blue and small, she's no use to us at all, around the yards she'll puff and blow but on the hills, she's oh so slow!” they sung. “Be quiet!” snapped Sonata. Then she took the trucks to the coal hopper to be loaded up. Sonata still felt glum as she puffed up to the top of the hill. She parked her trucks and then set off back down the mines. Not even the cheerful sight of Bertie the Bus could bring a smile to Sonata's face. “What's the matter, Sonata?” asked Bertie. “Nothing exciting ever happens. That's the matter,” sighed Sonata, “It's just coal, coal, coal and trucks, trucks, trucks. I'm bored, bored, bored.” “Excitement is surprising,” observed Bertie, “you never know when it'll happen. Otherwise, it wouldn't be exciting. Tootle peep.” “It would be surprising if something surprising happened,” muttered Sonata. Later, she stopped by the water tower for a drink. “Hello Sonata. How are things?” asked Toby. “Boring,” replied Sonata. “Well, why not have a few fast spins on the turntable? You'll like that.” said Toby. “I think it would just make me giddy,” Sonata remarked. “Stop gossiping, you two,” Sonata's driver interrupted. “Cheer up, Sonata. You'll soon know about trucks than any other engine. That'll be exciting.” called Toby. The trucks were still grumbling and there was more of them than ever. “You much too small to pull all of us. We want another engine who will be struggling at the hill all night! All night, all right, you can puff and blow, but on the hill, you're still slow! Ha, ha!” they teased. “Slow yourself!” stuttered Sonata, as she shunted the trucks hard. “Temper, temper,” giggled the cars. Sonata decided to simply carry on. She started to puff up the hill. “Go to it, Percy,” shouted her driver. The trucks were still joking. “Too slow, more power, here all night, tomorrow too!” they mocked. “Be quiet!” said Sonata angrily. Then there was trouble. A coupling broke. “Surprise, surprise! Catch us if you can!” called the trucks as the rolled away “Oh no!” cried Sonata. The trucks sped away from Percy and pass Bertie. Sonata's driver told the signalman, and the yard foreman told The Fat Controller what was happening. “They're heading for the big hill! It'll slow them down, but they may roll back again right into the village,” he said. “Then we'll just have to stop them, won't we?” said the Fat Controller. The chase was on. As Sonata chased after the trucks on the tracks while the Fat Controller and Bertie ran after them on the road. As they approached the hill, they overtook the trucks. The Fat Controller and Bertie screeched to a halt and waited for them near the top. The hill slowed the trucks right down to a standstill. Then the workmen quickly put wooden blocks behind their wheels so they couldn't roll backwards. The trucks were now secured. Just then, Sonata arrived. “Well, what do you think of that?” Joked Bertie, “A good chase is always exciting.” “It was certainly a surprise,” decided Sonata, “and you are right, Bertie. A really useful engine should never be surprised by a surprise.” It was an icy day on the Island of Sodor. The engines were working very hard. They didn't mind the cold because they had toasting hot fireboxes to keep them warm. That evening, the Fat Controller came to Ponyville sheds. “There's a big freeze coming tonight,” he said, “Starlight and Sonata are to deliver extra coal to the stations.” “Yes sir,” they said eagerly, and the Fat Controller drove away. “You better hurry,” teased Rainbow, “or scary Jack Frost might get you.” “Who's Jack Frost?” Sonata whistled nervously. “Don't be so silly.” sniffed Starlight, “Jack Frost is not scary.” “Yes he is,” teased Rainbow, “He's all white with a big spiky face.” “Rubbish!” said Starlight. Starlight knew Jack Frost wasn't scary, but poor Sonata wasn't so sure. Sonata shivered as she puffed down her route with her coal.” “Jack Frost is not scary, Jack Frost is not scary, Jack Frost is not scary,” she said to herself. Meanwhile, Starlight puffed along her route, “Silly Percy,” she thought, “all steamed up over Jack Frost.” Sonata made her last delivery. The stationmaster was very pleased to see her. “Oh Sonata,” she cried, “we need twice as much coal to last through this freeze.” “Don't worry,” Sonata said, “This is my last stop, you can have mine.” So Sonata's driver parked her in a siding with only a lantern for company. “Do you think scary Jack Frost will find me?” said Sonata. “Jack Frost is not scary,” chuckled her driver, “and don't worry, Elizabeth will bring you some more coal in the morning.” And then her driver and fireman went home to bed. Late at night, the icy wind howled. It started to snow, and icicles started to hang off her boiler. Soon, Sonata's face was so cold, an icicle hung from her nose. “Oh, b-b-b-bother,” Sonata stuttered, but it didn't sound like Sonata. It was so cold, she could hardly make a sound. At last, Starlight was on her way back to the sheds. In the fog, she saw shadows and strange and scary shapes. “Scary Jack Frost,” she whispered nervously, “Pah!” She soon reached Sonata’s siding, but because she was covered in icicles, she didn’t look like Sonata. “Hello, S-S-S-Starlight,” muttered Sonata icily. “Scary Jack Frost!” cried Starlight and she raced away as fast as her wheels could carry her. She didn't stop until she got back to the sheds. The next morning, Elizabeth brought plenty of coal. “Oh my dear,” Elizabeth chuffed to Sonata, “It looks like Jack Frost really got you.” The firelighter started Sonata's fire. Soon, her ice mask melted away. “So scary Jack Frost is only frost,” tooted Sonata happily and soon she was as warm as toast. When Sonata arrived at the sheds, Starlight was bragging to the other engines. “I saw scary Jack Frost last night,” Starlight huffed, “He even knows my name.” “He also knows that you ran away,” teased Sonata and all the engines whistled including Starlight. But Sonata's was the loudest whistle of all. The Fat Controller’s engines love being shiny and clean. It makes them feel cheerful as they puffed across the Island of Sodor. Sonata often has the dirtiest work to do. But she likes to be clean as well as any other engine. So washdowns are important to Sonata. But the Fat Controller had bad news. “Due to a water shortage...” he said, “...No engine shall have more than one washdown a day. Usefulness before cleanliness.” He added and left. Sonata was upset. “I get dirty,” she complained, “I need washdowns. Rarity only does it to feel because she doesn’t want to do any dirty work.” “Very true,” Rarity sniffed, “I don’t want to take dirty trucks.” “You're a pouty puffer, Sonata,” teased Pinkie. “No I'm not,” wheeshed Sonata and she chuffed away. The next day, Sonata was loading trucks at the docks. She was trying extra hard to stay clean. But the troublesome trucks were being naughty. As Sonata pushed them under the coal chute, they sang out. “On! On! On!” they cried. Sonata found herself under the chute and coal dust flew everywhere. “Oh no,” coughed Sonata, “I'm filthy.” Sonata felt awful, but she knew she had to carry on. On the way to Callan Station, the troublesome trucks teased Sonata even more. “Clickety clack, don't look back, dirty Sonata's on our track,” they teased. “Be quiet!” Sonata snapped. When Sonata arrived at Callan Station she was very upset, “from now on I am only doing work where I won’t get dirty.” Harold the Helicopter was at Callan station picking up medical supplies. “Hello Percy,” he called. And he took off blowing cinders and ashes everywhere. “Not again!” cried Sonata, “I want a washdown.” “Usefulness before cleanliness,” Reminded her driver. “I want to be useful where I can't get dirty,” Sonata huffed. “There's a load of sugar going to the chocolate factory,” Her driver said, “we can take the sugar trucks.” “Sugar,” said Sonata, “that's nice and clean.” Sonata was pleased. Sonata didn't know that earlier a leaky trucks had spilled oil on the track. When she approached the chocolate factory, her driver applied the brakes. But Sonata's wheels just skidded on the oily rails. “Oh, no!” hooted Sonata. Sonata crashes into the factory and six windows splat themselves as she pops out. “Yuck!” she groaned, “I've never been this dirty.” She was covered from funnel to firebox in sticky gooey chocolate. Back at the sheds, everyone thought it was very funny. “You look good enough to eat,” Twilight tooted. “Supper Sonata,” teased Trixie. “Choc-ice on wheels,” chipped in Sunset. “Keep away from me,” said Rarity pompously. “Ahem,” said a stern sounding voice. It was The Fat Controller. “You've had a trying day, Sonata,” he said. “Yes, sir,” replied Sonata from beneath the chocolate. “But you showed us all that usefulness does come before cleanliness. So...” he added, “you shall have your washdown.” “Oh sir,” Sonata cheered. “And a new coat of paint,” the Fat Controller finished. Sonata just beamed. Aria and Sonata are good sisters, but sometimes Sonata teases Aria about being frightened and she doesn't like that at all. One evening she was dozing happily in the shed, but Sonata wanted to talk. “Wake up, Aria. Are you dreaming about the time you thought I was a ghost?” she asked. Certainly not,” Aria snapped, “Anyway, I was only pretending to be scared. I knew it was you’re really.” Sonata went on teasing her. “I hope the guard leaves the light on for you tonight,” she said. “Why?” asked Aria, “I quite like the dark.” “Oh really?” explained Sonata, “I am surprised. I'd always thought you were afraid of the dark. I wonder why?” “Sonata,” called Adagio from next to her, “do us all a favour.” “AND SHUT UP!” replied all the pony-engines all together. Sonata huffed, Aria just smirked and went to sleep instead. Next day, The Fat Controller came to see her. “I would like you to go to the docks tonight,” he told her, “you have to collect something rather unusual.” “What sort of something?” asked Aria. “Wait and see,” replied the Fat Controller. Meanwhile, Sonata was moving some trucks into a siding. Applejack arrived with her goods train. The signalman changed the points and Sonata waited on the siding until Applejack had steamed by. Then, there was trouble. The points are jammed,” called the signalman, “I can't switch them back. The workmen will have to mend them in the morning. It's too late now.” “Hmmm,” said Sonata's Driver, “I'm sorry, Sonata. But you will have to stay here for the night.” “Where are you going?” asked Sonata. “Home for tea,” replied the fireman. Sonata was speechless. She watched as the other engines went home to the shed. Night-time came and Sonata began to feel very lonely. “Oh dear, she murmured, “It's very dark.” A screeching noise can be heard. “Oh! Oh! What's that?!” Sonata cried. It was only an owl, but Sonata didn't realize this. “Oh, I wish Aria was here too,” she sighed. Aria was waiting for her mysterious load at the docks. Suddenly, there it was. Cranky unloaded a Chinese dragon. “Cinders and Ashes!” cried Aria, “It's a dragon!” “Don't worry,” laughed her driver, “this dragon is made of paper. It's for the carnival tomorrow.” Workmen lifted the dragon onto Aira's load loader and put lights all around it for protection. Then, Aria set off into the misty night. Sonata was asleep on her siding and had no idea that Aria was approaching her. Aria and the dragon approach Sonata and scare her. Aria wheeshed steam, this covered her, so Sonata didn’t see her. Sonata woke up with a start and saw the dragon roll passed. “Help! cried Sonata, “I'm not going to open my eyes until my driver comes.” Next morning the points were mended, and Sonata puffed back to the junction. Gordon was just about to leave with the express. “You'll never guess what I saw last night,” Sonata said, Gordon was in no mood for puzzles. “I'm a busy engine,” he stated, “I don't have time for your games.” “I've seen a huge dragon,” Sonata cried, “It was covered in lights.” Gordon snorted, “You've been in the sun too long. Your dome has cracked.” When the other engines heard the news, they laughed too. “Look out, Sonata!” chuckled James, “Or the dragon may gobble you up!” “No one believes me,” huffed Sonata, “Maybe I did imagine the dragon after all.” But Sonata soon found out that she hadn't. “Help! Save me!” cried Sonata. “It's alright,” whistled Aria. And she explained about the carnival, “By the way, how was your night out?” Sonata decided to tell Aria the truth. “Well, Sonata,” said Aria, “maybe we do get scared sometimes, but if we're not afraid to tell each other, then that means we're quite brave too.”