//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 Lost Honor  
// Story: Thomas goes to Equestria 
// by Even Evil Has Standards 
//------------------------------//

Thomas the Tank Engine was feeling blue and not literally. He was in a siding thinking about the going-ons that have been going on. He had just saved a purple tank engine named Ryan as well as the construction company from cars full of lit bundles of dynamite by shunting them into a cavern. Unfortunately, he had endangered Ryan in the process and Sir Topham Hatt, who had seen almost everything, assumed that Thomas was causing trouble and sent him to the siding for the rest of the day. Thomas felt a heavy pain as he remembered how furious his superior was that day...
FLASHBACK
"THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE! What are you playing at this time?!? I thought you would learn more responsibility here, but  apparently I was mistaken!" 
"But sir, it wasn't my fault this time" protested Thomas, but Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't listen. 
"I'm not interested in your excuses! Go to your shed and stay there! As for the rest of you, get back to work!" With that, he stomped away.

PRESENT
Thomas felt humiliated and ignored, which wasn't the first time. Ever since Ryan came, the little blue engine thought that that was the last straw. 						
"That's it. I'm leaving this place. If the FAT Controller doesn't want me, then what's the point of sticking around? I'm leaving...for good!" Sniffling and on the verge of tears, he sneaked sadly away.

MEANWHILE, IN PONYVILLE, EQUESTRIA
Princess Twilight Sparkle was reading in the library at the Castle of Friendship when her dragon assistant Spike came up, toting a picnic basket. 					"Well Twilight, are ready?" he asked. 
"For what?" asked Twilight. Spike rolled his eyes and said in a tone that suggested he said this hundreds of times, 
"You know, the picnic we're having with our friends. You'd said you'd come and I could too remember?" "Oh...yeah, I...did," said Twilight in a tone that suggested she actually didn't. 

LATER
Twilight and Spike were in an open field adjacent to Sweet Apple Acres with their 5 friends: Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. They were looking for a spot to eat when...
"Hey girls! Look over here!" This came from Pinkie Pie. The others galloped over to find her looking at a set of old buffers. 
"How long do you reckon those have been there?" inquired Applejack. 
"I don't know," said Twilight, "I never did study railroads." 
"Well, they certainly could use a makeover," snorted Rarity. "Come on! Let's eat, I'm starving," called Rainbow Dash. They all settled down to eat, but nopony seemed to notice that the buffers were glowing.