//------------------------------// // Comfort Zone // Story: Tales Of The Canterlot & Central Territory Railway // by CyberFan479 //------------------------------// Applejack is a reliable, strong, and hard-working engine. With her eight medium-sized driving wheels and two small lead ones, she had clearly been built for hauling long, heavy goods trains. She always completed her work with little complaints or delays, even Rainbow Dash was a little jealous. "I don't get it," she would say, "AJ seems to just steam along the line with no bother at all. She makes work look so easy." One morning, Applejack was having a rest in a siding when Bon Bon puffed by with the breakdown crane, a worried look on her face. "Bon Bon, what's going on?" asked Applejack in concern. "Vinyl's off the line! Can't stop to chat! I have to hurry!" Bon Bon was already gone before Applejack could say another word. "I do hope she's alright," Applejack puffed to herself. Just then, Celestia approached her, "Applejack, Vinyl has been in a bad accident with some trucks. I'm afraid she'll be in the repair yard for a few weeks. There isn't any other engine available, so you will have to take her next train." Applejack grinned, "Of course, Celestia. I'm the loyalest and the most dependable of engines!" "I'm glad to hear that," remarked Celestia. "So, what kind of trucks will I be pulling?" "It's not a goods train, Applejack. It's a semi-fast passenger service" replied Celestia, she pointed at three brown coaches waiting in a nearby siding. "Passengers? But I've never pulled coaches before, I'm a goods engine," puffed Applejack. "Applejack, it's not what you're built for that determines what you do," said Celestia, repeating what she had always told her engines, "It's what you think you can do that does." "Besides," added her driver, "we can't leave the passengers stranded." With that, Applejack headed off to pick up the passenger coaches. But when she backed up to be coupled up, she biffed them very hard. "Careful!" cried the yard manager, "You can bump trucks, but you can't bump coaches!" "Sorry about that!" exclaimed Applejack. Soon, Applejack had brought the coaches to Ponyville station. When all of her passengers were onboard, the guard blew his whistle, waved his green flag, and Applejack pulled out of the station. But she started too quickly, and the coaches jerked and shuddered. "We have to be a bit more gentle," called her driver, "Our passengers won't be very comfortable with a bumpy ride like that." "I'll try my best!" replied Applejack. Later, Applejack reached Everfree station. But she was going too fast and screeched to a stop at the platform, the coaches banged right into each other. The passengers were not very happy with their sudden stop, at all. Rainbow Dash was at the opposite platform, she had seen everything, "Your poor passengers, Applejack! You shouldn't stop so quickly with coaches. Watch me!" When the guard blew his whistle, Rainbow pulled smoothly out of the station, "Now that is how you pull coaches!" she boasted. Applejack was fed up, "Show-off," she huffed, "I can be as good as Rainbow Dash when pulling passengers! I'll show her!" Soon, it was time to leave. Applejack tried to pull away as smoothly as she could, but she was too busy thinking about what to say to Rainbow Dash when they next met. The passengers didn't think it was a very smooth ride, at all. Later, Applejack arrive at Dodge Junction station. She looked over as a grey tender engine pulled in next to her. "It's Applejack, isn't it?" asked the engine in a posh accent. "Yes, and you must be Octavia," replied Applejack. "So, Applejack. What brings you down here?" Octavia asked pleasantly Applejack quickly explained about Vinyl's accident, Octavia frowned slightly as she finished. "I see," replied Octavia, "Vinyl can get herself into all sorts of trouble. To be honest, I'm not quite surprised anymore." "So, Celestia wanted me to pull this passenger train," Applejack added. "May I offer you some advice then?" But Applejack wasn't listening, she was still thinking about Rainbow Dash, "No thanks. I know how to handle a passenger train just as well as everybody," and she hurried away to be turned around. "That engine is as stubborn as a mule," remarked Octavia. "She'll just have to learn the hard way," said her driver. Later, Applejack was turned around and was getting ready for her return run. Out of habit, she bumped the coaches as she backed down onto them. As she steamed off, Applejack felt a strange tug on her coupling. "That doesn't feel right," she muttered to herself. The train came along smoothly, so she didn't think anymore of it. Meanwhile, Vinyl was at the repair yard. She wasn't very happy, she had collided with some tar tankers and was covered from smokebox to cab in sticky, black tar. Some workmen were trying to clean it off, but it was taking a very long time. Vinyl was lonely, she missed her friends, and she missed her passengers. The passengers were missing Vinyl too. They were being bumped and bounced around inside the coaches. But Applejack didn't notice, she was still thinking about being as good as Rainbow Dash. Soon, Applejack approached Everfree station. Applejack felt that strange tug on her coupling again. Before she could say anything, a loud 'Snap!' sounded out. Applejack felt the weight on her coupling slacken. Her driver shut off steam, "Applejack, we've lost our train!" Applejack quickly stopped and reversed back to retrieve her coaches. Luckily, the guard had applied the emergency brake and brought the trains to a safe stop. Applejack's driver climbed down from her footplate and inspected the train, "We've got a problem, Applejack. The front coupling on the first coach has snapped." "Snapped?" Applejack asked, worried. "The screw link's completely gone," explained her driver," It must have gotten damaged when you bumped into the coaches. What are we going to do now?" Applejack knew she had to get the passengers home, but she didn't know what to do. She thought hard. Then, an idea flew into her funnel, "Driver, you know what autocoaches are?" Her driver thought for a moment, "Yes, they were used on the Vanhoover & Western Pegacific Railway. They had a driving cab at one end, which allowed the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the engine." "So, if I push the train from behind. The guard can look out of the first coach, and use his whistle to let us know when to stop. Just like them fancy schmancy auto-trains." "Good idea!" exclaimed her driver. Applejack ran around the train and was coupled to the last coach, the guard had released the emergency brake and climbed into the first coach. Applejack slowly brought the train to the platform. When all of the passengers were onboard, she quickly set off, she knew she had to make up for lost time. She managed to reach Ponyville station just in time. As Applejack brought the train to a halt, she noticed Luna, who always came to see the evening trains depart and arrive, on the platform. Luna glanced over at Applejack and her train, "Did you break a coupling, Applejack?" she asked. Applejack explained about the incident near Everfree station. "Then how did you see where you were going?" Luna asked. "I don't," replied Applejack, "I had the guard lookin' out for me at the front coach, I got the idea from the autocoaches used by the Vanhoover & Western Pegacific Railway." "I see. That was good thinking, Applejack. Thanks to your idea, your passengers can go home on time tonight," she frowned slightly as she noticed some of Applejack's passengers feeling a bit queasy, "Though, I think you still have a lot to learn about pulling passengers." "Yes, but maybe I should've listened to Octavia when she offered some advice. Then maybe all this would have never happened!" "Applejack, you have to learn to look past your pride and accept help from others. There is nothing to be ashamed about accepting help," said Luna. "Yes, Luna. Now I know," replied Applejack. Luna smiled, "I'm glad to hear that." The next day, Applejack was coupled to a long line of heavy trucks. She was about to leave when Rainbow Dash chuffed alongside. "Hey Applejack!" Rainbow Dash greeted. "Howdy there, Rainbow. What are you doing here? Have you come to pull trucks?" "Well, no. Actually, I'm here to apologise to you," Applejack couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "Apologise?" she asked, wondering if she had simply misheard. "Yeah, I'm sorry about showing off yesterday. That idea of yours was great! Even I couldn't have think of that!" "Really?" Applejack asked in surprise. "Really," replied Rainbow, then a smug grin crossed her face, "But you're still not as good as me when it comes to pulling passengers, later!" with that, Rainbow Dash steamed away. Applejack smiled, "Of course, Rainbow. You're better than me with passenger trains, but I'm fine with that." As she pulled away, she couldn't help feeling a bit relieved. She had enjoyed the change of scene, but it was much better doing the jobs that she was good at.