Based on the fanfic "Thomas Leaves Sodor". Only this time he doesn't go to Brighton.
Everyone knows (or should know) the AU story from "Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure" where Thomas the Tank Engine runs away from Sodor after the dynamite incident, deciding to go to York. In this version, however, he ends up in Equestria, where he makes new friends in the Mane 6, as well as catching the eye of a certain alicorn.
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.
Thomas had decided to go to Brighton as that was where he came from. He remembered seeing a coffee pot engine named Glynn in an old siding, rusty from disuse. Thomas had been told that Glynn was the original number 1 engine before he-Thomas-had arrived. The little blue engine figured that Glynn would be a suitable replacement. As Thomas made his way to Glynn's location, he saw an eerie glow.
"I wonder what it could be," he thought. Curiosity getting the better of him, Thomas followed the glow until he found some old buffers. "What's this? I can't be near Lady's grotto. Unless...". He inched closer as the glow grew brighter. The more he looked at the buffers, the bigger and brighter they glowed. When Thomas came close enough: "Ay carumba!" Thomas became sucked in.
(SUPPOSEDLY MAGIC RAILROAD)
Thomas opened his eyes a little...and widened them with shock! He was in a Western type place and it was very windy. Realizing there was no other option, he puffed bravely forward. The problem was that the wind seemed to pick up as Thomas moved along. Soon he couldn't even see his own buffers, but he kept on puffing. Unfortunately, he didn't see the end of the track until it was too late!
"DAAH HOO HOO HOO HOY!"
Thomas shut his eyes, waiting for the sickening thud. It felt sickening, but the thud never came.
(EQUESTRIA)
The Mane and Spike were just settling down to eat. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had made the specials.
The latter grinned, "Wait until you get the surprise!" They never did. There was a flash of light, followed by a clang and an audible groan. They rushed over to the tracks where they found a blue stallion with a black mane and tail, a #1 cutie mark, and his head rested painfully on the rails.
"Rainbow Dash! Get him to the hospital, stat!" ordered Twilight. The blue Pegasus swung the stallion onto her back and flew off at lightning speed.
(PONYVILLE HOSPITAL)
Rainbow Dash had gotten the stallion to the hospital so that when the others arrived, he was already in a bed.
"Who is he?" wondered Twilight.
"Where do you think he came from?" asked Fluttershy. No pony knew, although Twilight suspected that he came from Canterlot High...and that he was kind of cute. She shook her head as the stallion groaned.
"Shh, he's waking up." The stallion opened his eyes, revealing the irises to be bright blue, and looked around, his head shaking a little. "Where am I?" he asked.
"Ya'll are in the Ponyville Hospital," said Applejack.
"Ponyville?" "Yes, we brought you here after you flew out of some buffers," explained Pinkie Pie.
"You had a pretty nasty landing on the rails," added Fluttershy, "are you ok?" "Just a little diz-," he started to say, then noticed his hooves. He froze and felt his head, growing apprehensive as he felt the mane, the ears, and the long face. He tried to get out of bed, but fell onto the floor.
"Sorry," he said as they helped him up, "it must be the headache. My name is Thomas." The Mane 6 and Spike began their introductions. "I'm Spike." "Ah'm Applejack." "My name is Rarity, darling." "My name is Fluttershy." "I'm Pinkie Pie!" "Rainbow Dash is the name." "And I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship." Thomas made a respectable gesture at this.
"Your Majesty..." Twilight blushed.
"Oh come on, don't be so formal. How did you get to here anyway?" Thomas's smile faded. To explain that was as painful as the bump on his head. Luckily, he was saved by Nurse Redheart.
"He needs rest for he's going to be here for a few days." The Mane 6 left the room. Thomas laid back down, thinking, "why did I turn into a pony? And how will I get back again?" That last question struck a nerve. "Will I ever want to go back?"
SODOR The next morning, it was time to do work. At first, no one noticed that Thomas was gone. They were all shocked at what had happened. Ryan was still upset over how Thomas had saved his life and how Sir Topham Hatt basically chewed him out for it and did not even consider finding out what really happened.
"I only wish that I had said something," he moaned, "then maybe Thomas wouldn't be in trouble." Anyhow, work progressed after Ryan got more dynamite. Still, no one noticed that Thomas wasn't there. They worked and worked, all too deep in thought. Eventually though, Ryan was passing the siding where Thomas was supposed to be confined.
"Oy Thomas! How are you-?" It was then he noticed he was talking to empty air. "Thomas?" Ryan looked around. He looked here; he looked there; he looked everywhere. But Thomas wasn't anywhere to be found. Ryan decided to ask around to see if anyone had seen Thomas. First he asked the Arlesdale engines, Rex, Bert, and Mike. They hadn't seen Thomas since they told him that he had bad coal. Ryan looked all over the island: the docks, the quarry, the wharf, Thomas's branchline, Edward's branchline, the whole shebang. But Thomas was nowhere to be found. Ryan passed through Knapford Station on his way backf the site. Sir Topham Hatt was there; he didn't look happy.
"Ryan, what do you think you are doing, galavanting off on your own and leaving the others to do the work by themselves? The new branchline isn't going to build itself. We need every engine we can spare there..." As he was talking, Ryan was trying to listen but found it difficult, given everything that was on his mind. "And we can't have blunders happening right and left, we have to get this line done. We're delayed enough as it is, especially since Thomas disposed of the dynamite the way he did."
"That's just it sir," Ryan could hold it in no longer, "Thomas is gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?"
"He's vanished, long gone, not where he should be."
"Oh no, what's he done this time? He's causing more trouble than a gremlin. Oh well I'll organize the search parties. He better have a good excuse this time." Ryan wanted to say that he had a theory of why Thomas wasn't anywhere, but he was too afraid of his master's current state. Work was delayed as the search parties were organized. They scoured the towns and cities. They looked in the quarries. They checked the hills, mountains, and valleys. The only good thing was that Ryan was paired with Stanley.
"This hasn't happened since I came to Sodor," remarked Stanley.
"When was that?" asked Ryan.
"Oh about 7 or 8 years ago," answered Stanley. "This was when Thomas discovered Great Waterton. I was new at the time and was only called to do his regular jobs. Thomas began to feel jealous, I guess it didn't help that I was with his coaches, his friends, in his berth. He gave me a long train of rubble that resulted in the tower tumbling down. No one spoke to Thomas. I later found him in a siding and thought he looked bad. The following morning, Thomas wasn't anywhere in sight. We all thought he had ran away. But it turned out that he was just trying to be really useful and got lost in a mine. We became friends after we helped each other."
"Wow," said Ryan, impressed, and he reiterated what had happened yesterday and today. "It seems that we have something in common. Thomas must've felt jealous of me which is probably why he didn't warn me of the bad coal. He did make up for it by getting the dynamite away, though."
"To you maybe, but what about Sir Topham Hatt?" asked Stanley. "It doesn't sound like he would listen. That must've been the last straw."
"So that's why he ran away!" cried Ryan. "He must feel unwanted. Will he want to come back if we find him?"
Twilight and Spike were at it again with their book sorting. There was one difference from the other times: Twilight's mind kept wandering to the blue stallion named Thomas. She wondered where he came from and how he got here. Some thoughts she had to push away, like seeing if he could attend the Grand Galloping Gala or if he had any other (heh heh) female friends. In fact, she was so deep in these thoughts that she didn't hear Spike coughing up a letter from Princess Celestia. Nor did she hear the little dragon call her name...3 times.
"Hey Twilight." No response. "Twilight?" She didn't even look up. "TWILIGHT!"
"Aah!" She screamed, sending books flying in every direction. As Twilight hastily picked up the books, she glared at Spike. "Was that really necessary?" she demanded. Spike sighed.
"Well yeah. You know, you haven't been yourself, lately." The glare got colder. "Well, it's true," protested Spike, "You keep putting books in the wrong shelves, you sometimes stand there staring, and some books don't even make it on the shelves." To prove his point, Spike indicated to the pile of misshelved books. Twilight's head hung as she hid her embarrassment.
"I'm sorry Spike. Its that stallion. I can't get him off my mind. He's so...so..."
"Ruggedly handsome?"
"Ye-you cut that out!" shrieked Twilight, blushing furiously. Spike laughed.
"Don't worry. I just got something that might be able to do just that." He held up the scroll. Twilight unravelled it with her magic and read; what she read shocked her.
"What does it say?" asked Spike.
"That I'm needed in Canterlot at once!"
CANTERLOT CASTLE
Twilight hurried there as fast as her wings would let her. Unfortunately, she still had Thomas on her mind, so she kept flying into things. But she made it the castle-give or take a few bruises-and staggered into the throne room. The other princesses were there, looking somber. Cadance was the first to greet her.
"Hello Twi...gracious goodness me! Whatever happened to you? You look as though you've been in a fight."
"Sorry," said Twilight, "I've been a little busy. We have a visitor in Ponyville."
"A stranger?" inquired Luna. "What does he look like?"
"He has fur that is as blue as the sky," said Twilight, "his eyes are no different, save being brighter. His mane and tail are pitch black...not as black as Sombra's, but friendlier. And-"
"Twilight," interrupted Cadance, "why are you blushing?"
"Blushing? Who's blushing?"
"You are."
"I am not."
"Yes you are. You doing it right now."
"I am not blushing."
"Yah hah."
"Nuh uh."
"Yah huh."
"Nuh uh." (NOTE: It's kind of hard to write words that 2 people are saying at the same time. So for those of you who have seen a certain Disney movie (my tablet isn't letting me write italicized) with 2 certain siblings arguing similar to what's said above, think of it like that.)
"LADIES!" This came from Celestia. "If that's all you have to say about him-"
"There is his cutie mark," said Twilight, "a very unusual one. It was a yellow number, a 1 to be exact."
"A number 1?" asked Luna. "What an unusual one indeed."
"I'm afraid we'll have to put the matter of the stranger behind us," said Celestia, "we have a more serious matter at hoof. There's some pony out there impersonating Twilight." The others were shocked, but none more than Twilight.
"I...have...a stand-in?" she asked, "is it Chrysalis?"
"We don't know," said Luna, "all we know is that she has similar features to you Twilight. We even know her name: Twivine Sparkle."
It was dark as 2 unicorns made their way along the road in Manehattan. They didn't know that they were being watched until it was too late. Almost immediately before the coaches stopped moving...oh uh sorry. Pardon me, wrong story.
Anyway, the unicorns were just passing an alleyway when a sirenic voice began to sing the Latin introduction to "Hellfire". Lulled, they entered the alley, forgetting everything except to see the source of the voice. They entered the darkness of the alley...and wobbled out following a flash of purple light. Their flanks were bare. Their eyes were gray, dull, and lifeless. Worst of all, they were all wrinkled. A purple alicorn dressed in black with a mane and tail that were black with aquamarine stripes stepped out. Her horn was glowing with the souls she stole.
"Soon, this will all be mine," vowed Twivine Sparkle, "and I'll see to it that Princess Twilight Sparkle rot in Tartarus."
PONYVILLE
Thomas had been released from the hospital as Twilight was returning from Canterlot. He didn't know where to go, so he decided to go exploring. His travels took him to a quaint little cottage in the middle of a forest. Not knowing what to do, he walked over. He couldn't help but admire how beautiful the trees were.
"Henry would love this place," he mused. He was so busy ogling that he didn't watch where he was going. Then there was trouble. Fluttershy was just around the corner with Discord, walking along from having a few spots of tea when she and Thomas had collided head-on...literally.
"Oh my goodness," cried Fluttershy, "are you ok?"
"I guess," groaned Thomas, rubbing his head.
"Now that's what I call a double header," joked Discord.
"Discord!" scolded Fluttershy. She turned to Thomas. "Come inside and we'll get some ice packs."
"Ahem." Discord cleared his throat. Instantly, a flash of green light engulfed them and they were in a sickbay of a spaceship. Fluttershy and Thomas were all wearing red space uniforms while Discord was wearing a sky blue uniform as he examined them.
"They're not too severe though they could do with some ice." He snapped both his eagle fingers and lion...toes and 2 ice packs materialized and strapped themselves to the 2 ponies' heads.
"Thanks Discord," said Fluttershy, "but I think you're scaring our friend here."
"Actually, he isn't," said Thomas. He looked at Discord with narrowed eyes, half interested, half suspicious. "Didn't I hear you before in 'Tapestry'?" Discord also narrowed his eyes, smirking.
"Maybe you did and maybe you didn't."
"Then why are you wearing blue and not red?"
"Because I'm a doctor, not an Expy."
"Um, what's an Expy?" asked Fluttershy.
"Probably something you wouldn't understand Fluttershy," said Thomas.
"Oh, I see you two have met?" mused Discord. Fluttershy told him about meeting Thomas. Thomas picked up on the fact that the hospital had let him out and he was lost. "Well now, I suppose I should show you around the place."
"Uh, maybe I should-" started Fluttershy, but Discord waved her off.
"He knows me."
SWEET APPLE ACRES
Applejack was busy apple bucking the trees. She didn't know that some pony was standing on the other side of a tree until after she bucked it and heard repeated cries of pain. She looked around and saw Thomas sprawled out on the ground in the Western guise of Ricky Nelson as Colorado with apples cluttered around him.
"Thomas?" cried Applejack, "what in tarnation are you doing here...in that...get up?" She faltered as he got up. "Ah like what ah see."
"Oh ho ho, some pony has a crush," sang a voice. Discord suddenly appeared in the guise of Randall Bragg.
"Ah do not!" protested Applejack. "Ah just think he looks good in those duds. What're y'all doing here anyways?"
"Oh just showing our boy in blue around."
"I was let out of the hospital and got...lost."
"Are ya sure ya want Discord to be the one to show you around?" Applejack asked Thomas.
"He knows me," said Discord, "so now we're off to see Pinkie Pie. Come on Thomas"-his eyes narrowed as he smirked-"the tank engine." There was a flash of green light and the 2 were gone, leaving a very confused Applejack behind.
"Tank engine?"
SUGARCUBE CORNER
There was a flash of light and the 2 appeared in front of the counter, Discord in the guise of Ray Bolger as Barnaby and Thomas in the guise of Gene Sheldon as Roderigo. The latter looked at the former in surprise.
"You know what I am?"
"Oh please," snorted Discord, "I am the Lord of Chaos. I know all. I see all. I AM all."
Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere. "Like how Thomas isn't really a pony or from anywhere in Equestria, but he is from another place full of talking locomotives that are so similar to us that there are authors that write stories and artists that make pictures of us together?"
Thomas wasn't sure what to be more surprised at: Pinkie Pie appearing completely out of the blue; how she was able to say all that in one single breath; but what he was most surprised at was how she was able to guess all that. "How...? How did...?"
"Just a hunch," said the hyperactive pony, "Cupcakes?" She presented a tray full. Discord accepted one, but Thomas wasn't so sure.
"I don't think I should. These have sugar and given my...condtion-"
"Aw, come on Thomas," protested Pinkie Pie, "just one?"
"No," snapped Thomas, "trains and sugar don't mix."
Discord leaned over and whispered to Pinkie Pie, "Stall him," and slipped off his stool. Whole Pinkie Pie tried to get Thomas to eat a cupcake, Discord turned his back and snapped his eagle fingers; Sweetie Belle appeared instantly. The little filly looked around anxiously, but Discord hushed her and whispered something.
She walked up to Thomas. "Please mister, just try one. Please?" She pulled her cute puppy eyes on him. Thomas blushed and, deciding that he couldn't loose nothing, tried one...then swallowed it five seconds later.
"Uh Thomas? Haven't you forgotten something?" asked Pinkie Pie. Thomas began to choke. Discord slapped him until he spat out the wrapping paper.
All the engines were meeting at the Search and Rescue Centre after a very excruciating search. They had seen neither buffer nor boiler of the little blue engine. Their faces were so red that James and Norman looked as though they were on fire. To make matters worse, Sir Topham Hatt was getting edgier and edgier.
"If that tank engine is going to be a nuisance, we might as well call off the search. What with him sabotaging the Express lines, throwing flatbeds of rail girders down a cavern, and disposing of the dynamite the way he did. He could've hurt Ryan!"
"Um sir?" This came from Ryan. "I had some bad coal earlier to that time. It caused some sparks to fly from my funnel onto the dynamite. He was just trying to get rid of the cars before anyone got hurt. I was at the wrong place."
Sir Topham Hatt was shocked, but recovered. "Yes well, that still doesn't justify his other misdeeds."
"He told us that he found the pirate ship in the cavern," said Duck.
"And he was provoked into "taking" the Express because Gordon called him a silly little tank engine," added Emily.
("See?" said Duck. "We're agreeing on things. We always did. Even during that so-called replacement spat."
"I never replaced him!" protested Emily. There were complaints about lack of female power."
"GET ON WITH IT!" thundered God.)
Anyway, Sir Topham Hatt was astounded by these new revelations. "I'll still call off the search, but only to give you all a chance to recuperate. We shall resume afterwards. I will speak to Thomas when we find him."
"But sir," protested Stanley, "considering how harsh you were, Ryan and I figured that he might not want to come back."
"We'll just have to try," sighed Sir Topham Hatt.
EQUESTRIA CAROUSEL BOUTIQUE
Thomas had recovered from his bout with the cupcake wrap so Discord asked Sweetie Belle to take them to Rarity. This time Discord was dressed as Eagleton from "Batman: The animated series" (ask John de Lancie) and Thomas was in tacky clothes (I'm a fop when it comes to telling which clothes are tacky or not. Those of you who are will just have to use your imagination. Possibly resembling Woody Allen?)
"So how did you get here, mister?" asked Sweetie Belle. Thomas was again reluctant to explain so Discord spun a half truth about Thomas visiting from somewhere else. What was false was that he claimed that Thomas was from Las Pegasus. "Then why are his clothes so...?" Discord whispered to her that Rarity would want to do something about it. Soon the reached the Carousel Boutique, home and workplace to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. The 3 walked in. "Big sis, we have visitors."
"In a moment." Rarity was at the sewing machine, working on some clothes. She turned to greet them...and gasped. "Why Thomas, what on earth are you wearing?!?" She looked Thomas over, appalled by the clothes he was wearing. "This won't do a tall, darling. What you need is a new suit. I could get one for you, if you want," she added, fluttering her eyes in a flirtatious way.
Thomas blushed and tugged at his collar, Rodney Dangerfield like. "Uh sure. Er, of course you can." ("She's starting to remind me of somebody I know," he thought.) Rarity bundled onto the posing spot, then measured him.
"Honestly my dear, what were you thinking, putting on these...things? Did you think you could bring on the 80s?"
("That era sounds familiar," thought Thomas.)
"Why if I was in that getup, I'd hide in my room."
("Now I know who she reminds me of," thought Thomas, "James.")
"They'd get along smashingly, wouldn't they," mused Discord aloud.
"Yes, they w-" Thomas started to agree, then realized: "Will you get out of my head?"
"Hold still," chided Rarity.
"Sorry."
Eventually, Rarity was working on the suit, and some time later produced a dark blue suit with a thin gold stripe down each side. There was also a red tie to go with it. "Well, what are you waiting for, darling? Put it on." She showed him to the fitting room and he stumbled in. He tried to try it on, but they could hear him having difficulties. But he managed to get it on and soon entered the room, not bad to look at.
"Oh...my," sighed Rarity, "you look stunning." She almost swooned, but Sweetie Belle and Discord caught her.
"My Thomas, you certainly do have a way with the ladies," remarked Discord. This got Rarity's attention.
"Don't you dare..." she started, but Sweetie Belle couldn't hold it in. Seconds later, she was bursting into song.
"Thomas and Rarity, sitting under a tree. K-I-S-S-I-"
"SWEETIE BELLE!" interrupted Rarity, blushing furiously; likewise with Thomas whose face was almost as red as James. Looking around desperately for something that could change the subject, she spotted a bag of books on a counter. "Here, um maybe you could, uh, take these to Twilight for a donation. She's away at the moment, but if you could give them to Spike..."
"I'd be happy to," said Thomas, a little louder than he intended. Rarity draped (if you could call it draping) the satchel on Thomas's shoulders (or back) and he and Discord were gone in a flash. Sweetie Belle lost her giggly persona.
"Um you do know we were planning on throwing those books out right?"
"Oh, shazbot."
FRIENDSHIP CASTLE
Spike was dozing on the table when he was awoken by same flash. He looked around wildly until he saw Thomas and Discord standing in the doorway. There was a difference: Thomas's suit was in one of those big cleaner bags, held by Discord who was in the guise of the Sheriff of Nottingham. As for Thomas, he was in the guise of Robin Hood. He looked at Discord incredulously.
"Ok, I'll bite. Why this? Wasn't the suit Rarity made good enough?"
"Oh, it was, but only for special occasions," said Discord. "I chose these because once again, they seem familiar."
Discord's words flew 'round Thomas's head until it dawned on him. "Oh no. We can't. We couldn't. You wouldn't."
"Hello Thomas," Spike interrupted, "what brings you here? And why are you with Discord?"
"We just came from the Carousel Boutique," said Discord.
"Rarity made me a new suit," said Thomas, "and she had some books to donate."
"Ooh," said Spike, "what kind of books?"
"We don't know, we were...kind of...rushed." said Thomas, "Well let's see what fascinating pubescent treasures are here."
"Now why do those words ring a bell?" murmured Discord.
Thomas had selected a book with a title that consisted of a shed and a number and showed it to Spike. "According to the back cover, this explains how trains can-"
"[Uh oh]," murmured Discord, "[I know why those words sounded familiar.] Uh Thomas-"
"JESUS H. TAP DANCING CHRIST!"
Too late. Thomas rushed out of the room, screaming. He returned later, carrying a stunned Twilight (who for some reason was in the guise of Maid Marian), and leveled her at the book. He began moving her hind legs up and down, omitting blasts from her horn to the book until it was reduced to a pile of ashes. Thomas released Twilight and pointed a hoof angrily at the remnants. "You...can't hurt...anyone...anymore." Discord touched Thomas's head with his lion paw and the poor stallion passed out.
LATER
"What was all that about?" asked Spike.
"He found the part in that story where a clone took the phrase 'screaming fit to burst' all too literally," explained Discord. Twilight had levitated the unconscious Thomas to her room. Rarity had arrived to stop Twilight, but saw her carrying Thomas. The 2 mares exchanged stories on how Thomas and Discord acquired the books (which got a little heated if you recall Rarity's swooning). After which, the 4 skimmed through the stories; words cannot describe their expressions as they discovered the horrors of the stories that shall not be mentioned here. Twilight destroyed them then went to check on Thomas. The poor boy was awake and very down in the dumps.
"I'm sorry for what I did," he told Twilight, "the one picture was so terrible. The thing looked as though it was going to drag me in." And he began to cry. "This may sound embarrassing, but...can you hold me please?"
Twilight was taken aback by this, but all the same, she wrapped her hooves around him. He buried his face into her, sobbing uncontrollably. "Shh, there there," she whispered, "it's ok. I'm here for you."
Word of Thomas's reason for disappearing spread like a wildlife in July (and believe me, those spread...I think). There were mixed feelings on the subject: some engines were heartbroken; others figured the island would be better off without him. There were a few odd bits about that; the oddest of all was Diesel 10.
"I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but Fat Hat would stoop so low?!?" he roared. "It's obvious the puffball was being a hero and the lard didn't even consider asking what had happened! True that Thomas was being pain, but he seemed to be making up for it! After all, Fatty was the one who said, during that Blue Mountain Quarry incident, that it was wrong to jump to conclusions before knowing the truth, which makes him a hypocrite! That's revolting, especially when he's compared to me (thanks a lot Aaron) and I'm the one who actually deliberately attempted murder-twice-16 years ago. He should be ashamed of himself."
Sir Topham Hatt was feeling ashamed. He didn't know how harsh he had really been. He was aware that some engines were losing respect for him. He never blamed them, for it was to be expected after finding out what really happened. Sir Topham Hatt vowed that when Thomas was found, he would listen to Thomas before going out on him.
Gordon was equally emotionally blue. While he was still upset at Thomas for taking the Express, scrambling the coaches among the lines, and blaming him for the incident, the big engine couldn't help but wonder if that was a little personal. Gordon also realized that he too would've done the same thing if he could and that maybe calling him a "silly little tank engine" was a bit too much. The #4 also made the same vow.
Unfortunately, the chances of that were slim. Everyone searched here and there, far and near, up and down, yet Thomas still wasn't to be found. Reluctantly, the search was called off.
TWIVINE'S CASTLE
Twivine had seen and heard everything...everything. From her 2 mirrors, she had witnessed both the search being called off with a heavy atmosphere as well as Thomas's near breakdown and Twilight's promise. Since, she was clone in more ways than one, Twivine could feel the strong feeling inside Twilight as the latter made her pact with Thomas.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no," she hissed with crescending laughter. "I can't stand it. This is so easy. She's in love with a tank engine, and not just any tank engine, but one who is so popular that he holds the moral of a whole island." She studied the Equine mirror. "This bond may be the key to my lovesick sister's undoing. After all, who says the love isn't easy? Plus, I could use him to take over the island as well." But the more she looked at Thomas's pony counterpart, the more the attraction to him seemed like her own. "He is quite a catch. Maybe he can be my king. Success can be lonely and every mare wants a handsome stud by her side as she a accomplishes her greatest dreams. Besides, I can't rule 2 places at once.
HIT THE VIOLIN BOYS!"
A familiar intro came into the air as she envisioned herself dancing with Thomas (who looked more like this http://fav.me/d7jl9fs) as well as demonstrated her powers to turn into inanimate objects and famous villains...pony forms anyway.
When the Devil is too busy,
And Death's a bit too much,
They call on we, by name you see, (They morph into Boris and Natasha.)
For our special touch.
To the gentlecolts I'm Miss Fortune (She morphs into Poison Ivy.)
To the mares he's Sir Prize. (He morphs into Frank Burns.)
But call us by any name
Any way, it's all the same.
We're the flies in your soup. (Scene of them swimming in a soup bowl as Parasprites.)
We're the pebbles in your shoe. (The bowl tips over and dumps them into a boot as they turn into pebbles.)
We're the peas beneath your bed. (They turn into peas and are covered by a mattress.)
We're the bumps on every head. (They squeeze out as gray ponies and ball up until they hit their respective doppelgangers on the noggins.)
We're the peels on which you slip. (As the Joker and Harley Quinn, they leave banana peels everywhere, causing ponies to slip.)
We're the pins in every hip. (As Dr. Facilier and Lucifera, they stick pins in voodoo dolls.)
We're the thorns in your side,
Make you wiggle and writhe. (They become the Ringwraiths, watching a colt sized stallion scream in pain.)
And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life you see,
Tirek makes a nod to we. (Said centaur does this as they pass each other.)
We do it all because we're evil.
And we do it all for free,
Your tears are all the pay we'll ever need. (Footage of Twilight shedding a tear in "The Return of Harmony, Part 2". A jar appears beside her and the tear drops in.)
While there's candy to be had,
While there's children to make sad, (Twivine and Dark Thomas morph into Lena and Merle Gogun, abusing and stealing from fillies.)
While there's pockets left to pick, (They do this as Bonnie and Clyde.)
While there's elders to kick down the stairs, we'll be there. (Dark Thomas does this as P. T. Boomer to Burnett Stone.)
We'll be waiting 'round the corner, it's a game, I'm glad we're in it, (They are shown waiting in an alleyway in the forms of Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) and Monsparkle.)
Cuz there's one born every minute.
And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life you see,
Tirek makes a nod to we.
We do it all because we're evil.
And we do it all for free,
Your tears are all the pay we'll ever need. (They start to half waltz, half tango.)
We pledge allegiance to all things dark and we'll promised
Promise on our twisted souls to do as we are told.
For Cerebus* has never seen soldiers quite like we
Not only do their job, but do it happily.
We're the fear that keeps you awake.
We're the shadows on the wall.
We're the monsters they become. (They become the Scarecrow and Scream Queen, spreading fear..)
We're the nightmares in your skull. (They become Shadowfright and Nightmare Rarity.)
We're the daggers in your back.
Some extra turns on the rack.
We're the quivering of your heart,
A stabbing pain, a sudden start. Use your imagination on those lines.)
And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life you see
Tirek makes a nod to we.
We do it all because we're evil.
And we do it all for free, your tears are all the pay we'll ever need.
And we do it all for free, your tears are all the pay we'll ever need.
(The music slows down as the Dark Thomas apparition fades. Twivine watches this and starts to feel a bit sad.)
It gets so lonely being evil. What I'd do to see a smile,
Even for a little while.
And no one loves you when you're evil. (For the moment, Twivine looks like she may cry. Then she smirks and the music resumes, starting with a violin crescendo.)
I'm lying through my teeth, your tears are all the company I need.
As the song ended, Twivine smirked and said, "Anything Changelings can do, I take up to Eleven."
Percy was chuffing sadly along the tracks. Ever since the search ended, the atmosphere became more like the U.S in 1929. Everyone still had their jobs, it wasn't like that. But with Thomas gone, there wasn't a smile in sight. The air seemed a little...gray. Even Charlie didn't have the heart to prattle off one of his jokes. Percy would sometimes go off on his own, as he wasn't humane enough to drink anything other than water (even if he was, he still couldn't, ah, hit the bottle, if you catch my drift). But one night was going to be different.
This time he was on the same track Thomas was on when he saw the same glow. Of course, being the child of the Team ("They had to Flanderize that," grumbled Percy.), he decided to see what it was. As he got closer to the glow, it grew brighter and a fog rolled in. Percy looked around; the fog made everything look spooky. The trees looked as though they were alive. Strange faces seemed to glare at him from all sides. Percy got so scared that he increased speed and went-eyes shut-into the glow, terrified.
"I'M COMING ELIZABETH!"
EQUESTRIA FRIENDSHIP CASTLE
Thomas woke up to feel something on the bed he was sleeping on and turned over to see Twilight dozing beside him. Shocked, he tried to slip around her, but tripped over her instead. He fall over the bed and landed on the floor with a thump, taking the covers with him. Twilight felt a draft and try to pull the blanket back, but felt nothing. She woke up and looked around to find Thomas sprawled on the floor with the blanket draped over him. She couldn't help but giggle. "Good morning Thomas."
"Good morning," groaned Thomas. He tried to get up, but the blanket only got more tangled, causing him to fall down repeatedly. Twilight tried to hold back her laughter, but was losing. It got darn near impossible when Thomas somehow ended up hanging upside down in the blanket with one end tied to a hook on the ceiling.
Twilight burst out laughing, "My my Thomas, you certainly are an unusual chandelier."
"Ha ha hardy har har," grumbled Thomas, "can you get me down now?"
Twilight was still laughing as she heard what she thought was an unusual question. "You have a horn don't you? Can't you use it?"
Thomas didn't know what to say or do when she said that, so he closed his eyes and concentrated; his horn glowed a blue aura. He waited for the blanket's grip to expand, but nothing happened.
"Uh, Thomas?"
Thomas opened his eyes...and saw 2 purple ones inches from his own. Apparently, instead of loosening the blanket, he had telekinetically picked up Twilight and brought her a little too close to him. He screamed which broke concentration. The blue aura on his horn vanished and so did the aura containing Twilight. She fell to the floor with a bang, followed by what sounded like a crack. Twilight groaned in pain. The fall had caused a knee injury.
"Are you ok?" asked Thomas.
"Nothing a healing spell won't fix," gasped Twilight. With difficulty, she turned to her leg and touched it with her horn. Then she stood up and flexed it, no wincing, no grimace. Thomas was impressed...until Twilight glared at him.
"Um...oops?" Twilight said nothing, but her horn glowed again. This time the blanket was encased in a purple aura, and literally spun Thomas free. Unfortunately, he stopped spinning directly above Twilight and fell onto her. They were silent for a few seconds, then Thomas got up and said a little too quickly, "Time for breakfast". He rushed to the door, but didn't stop in time to open it, hitting his head on the hard wood. "Forgot to open the door," he giggled nervously and rushed out.
Twilight shook her head. "I suppose I should tell him about the rusty step." She was too late, however, for she heard loud clattering, grunting, which included a loud "D'OH!" followed by Thomas yelling "I'm ok!"
Thomas made his way to the kitchen where Spike had made some breakfast. "Hello Thomas. Get you some breakfast?"
"Sure Spike." Thomas made his way over to the table with a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and then left for some orange juice. Soon, Spike joined him.
"How did you sleep?"
"Fine, except for one thing," said Thomas, "why was Twilight sleeping with me?"
"Well, you were in her bed because you had a little breakdown and her room was the closest place that had a proper bed."
"But why didn't she move me or tell me to move when it was bedtime?"
"She didn't want to be rude. Besides," added Spike with a sly grin, "I got the feeling she wanted to know you up close and personal."
"What do you mean?" demanded Thomas.
"Well," said Spike, "you're a stallion and she's a mare. Uh you two didn't...?"
"Certainly not!" snapped Thomas, blushing furiously. "I'm going out. I just lost my appetite." He galloped angrily out of the room...then poked his back in. "Which way do I exit?" Spike told him. "Thanks."
Thomas stepped out for a bit...and almost got run over by an orange blur. "Hey! I'm walking here! Trying to anyway..."
It was Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash's sister. She usually zoomed through Ponyville at high speeds on her scooter. This time, however, she was trying to go faster than usual. If Thomas had looked closer, he would've seen a green colt with a 6 for a cutie mark.
LATER
Thomas was walking around when he leaped down. A rainbow comet flew by, nearly taking him with it. "Holy smoke!" he coughed. "Why don't you watch where you're going!" The comet flew back and landed in the road, sending dust everywhere. When it cleared, Rainbow Dash was standing there, looking indignant.
"Look bub, I was on my way to the hospital. My sister is there and-"
"Hold it!" interrupted Thomas, "your sister isn't orange by any chance is she? Because earlier, I almost got run over by an orange blur."
"Yeah, that's my sister, Scootaloo."
Thomas's jaw dropped (just like the Genie's). "But...how did she-"
"Hey, aren't you that blue stallion that we took to the hospital?" interrupted Rainbow Dash.
"Yes," answered Thomas, "I'd be happy to meet your sister."
"Then hop on," said Rainbow Dash, kneeling down, "if my sister is the one incapacitated, we better get there post haste.
"Uh ok," said Thomas, a little hesitant before obliging, "but I don't see how-HOLY CHEESE CUBE ON A STICK!"
Rainbow Dash flew off at lightning speed. With the wind blowing so hard, Thomas felt as though his face would peel off. The temperature seemed to drop so the air felt real cold. Rainbow Dash took some sharp turns and seemed to avoid any hazards, but that didn't help.
PONYVILLE HOSPITAL
Rainbow landed in the front and shook her head. "Ah, that felt good." Then she heard whimpering. She looked behind her: Thomas was holding on for dear life. "We're here," she announced and knelt down.
Thomas tried to climb off, but tripped over her as he did. "I'll be with you as soon as the world stops spinning." He wasn't used to going as faster than what the jet engine allowed him to. Five minutes later, he was still on the ground, panting. He managed to get up. "I'm ok. I'm cool. I'm calm." He entered the hospital with Rainbow Dash following, rolling her eyes. They walked up to the front desk.
"Hey, did you see an orange Pegasus filly enter here?" asked Rainbow Dash. "She's my sister."
"Oh yes," said the nurse, "she came in with a green earth pony. They're in room 394."
"Thanks."
"Oh and it's crowded in there. Two more fillies came by with their sisters. Your coltfriend may have to wait outside unless he's a relative." The blues walked towards the elevator...then Rainbow Dash flew up to her face.
"We're NOT dating!"
"Aw come on, Rainbow!"
They entered the elevator and waited for their floor.
(Muzak: "Thomas' Anthem")
It was quiet...a little too quiet. Rainbow Dash tapped the floor impatiently. She heard a sigh; she looked to find Thomas with his head hanging sadly. "You ok?"
He sighed again. "I just don't feel like I belong."
"Why not?"
"I'm not really a unicorn. I've never used my horn until today."
"What happened?"
"Long story short, me and Twilight were nose to nose."
Here Rainbow Dash grinned slyly. "Did you smooch?"
Thomas blushed furiously. "Well no. We came close, but-"
DING!
"Oh look! Our floor's here!" And he rushed out a little too quickly. So much so that he passed 394. Rainbow Dash flew up to him, grabbed him, and showed him the room. He laughed nervously and entered the room. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes before following suit.
They found the former CMC and their sisters gathered around the bed. "Well Thomas, you already met Sweetie Belle. Meet her friends Apple Bloom-"
"Mah sister," interrupt Applejack.
"Howdy mister," said Apple Bloom.
"-and Scootaloo."
"Hello," said Scootaloo.
"We've sort of met," said Thomas. "She almost ran over me."
"Sorry," said Scootaloo, "but I had to get this colt here pdq."
"What was his cutie mark?" asked Rarity?
"A number 6."
Almost immediately, the mares looked at Thomas, then back at the colt as he groaned and opened his eyes, revealing spring green irises. "Howdy," said Apple Bloom, "what's yer name?"
"I...am...Percy." The little colt then noticed his legs. Then he felt his head. His apprehension was more extreme than Thomas'. "Could I see a mirror?" Sweetie Belle held up one and he gazed at it. He screamed and burrowed in his blankets.
"What's the matter young 'in?" inquired Applejack.
"I'm sorry," sniffed Percy, "I've never been like this before. I used to be a tank engine."
"WHAT?" cried every pony except Thomas.
Percy grinned sheepishly. "I come from a place called Sodor. It's full of trains that talk and feel emotions."
"Then how on earth did you get here?" demanded Rarity.
Percy told his story while Thomas got increasingly queasy. "That's how I got here. I didn't mean to enter the buffers. They just seemed to brighten the atmosphere. We certainly could use a little cheer, given what's happened."
"What happened?" asked Sweetie Belle
"One of our engines disappeared. He had caused some accidents, but one he wasn't allowed to explain himself. That was the last straw for him and he disappeared." Percy began to cry. "He was my best friend and #1 on the whole island."
Applejack stroked her chin thoughtfully then asked, "What was his name?"
"Thomas."
The 3 older mares' eyes widened and did a :-0. They turned to look at Thomas...who had slipped out. And Twivine heard everything.
Twilight sat at the table, deep in thought. She wondered what Thomas was up to. She had come down to see Spike in the kitchen by himself. When she asked where Thomas had gone, Spike had replied that Thomas had went out and would only say that he had asked Thomas a question too personal. Now Twilight was waiting for him to return when Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash burst in with Percy. "We have a problem."
LATER
The princess was stunned by this revelation. "So Thomas is from a world where trains talk?"
"Yup," said Applejack, "it explains why Discord called him a tank engine."
"And he came here by accident because he was running away?"
"Sounds like it," said Rainbow Dash.
"But why would he run away?"
Percy told her about all the events that led up to Thomas' disappearance.
"Wow," she said again. "Reminds me of the time when the Changeling queen posed as Cadance and convinced my friends that I was the bad one."
"We've got to find him." sobbed Percy. "The island needs him. The morale is crumbling. Everything is gray. Even the trees are starting to lose the will to live."
"Oh my," whispered Fluttershy, "that does sound dreadful. It sounds like Thomas is connected to this island more than he knows."
"I just want my best friend back," sniffled Percy and he buried his head in his forelegs and sobbed.
Pinkie Pie felt sorry for the poor lad, so she walked over to her and wrapped her hooves around him. "There there, Percy-wercy." Percy buried his face into her chest, shaking while he shed tears. That was enough for Twilight.
"Spike! Take this down and send it to Celestia."
CANTERLOT TOWERTOWER
Celestia was equally surprised by a what she just heard. Then she left the room and returned with a circular mirror. "This isn't the mirror you are familiar with, Twilight. This is a message mirror. We use it to send messages to other worlds and still remain here. Since Thomas is from this Sodor, it is best that we try to contact there." Her horn glowed an yellow aura and she touched the mirror. It too glowed yellow and shook violently. Pinkie Pie placed a protective hoof around Percy as it raised into the air and showed images from Sodor.
"Home." said Percy. The mirror then showed an image of Tidmouth Sheds. The rest of the Steam Team (save Toby) were in their berths. They looked dull, gray, and depressed. Apparently, they hadn't rested since Thomas had disappeared.
"Speak to them Percy." said Celestia.
"Hello?"
The engines stirred. "I thought I heard Percy's voice," said Henry.
"Rubbish," snorted James.
"You probably imagined it Henry," rasped Edward who now looked and sounded as old as they said he was.
Percy spotted a familiar whistle lying a few feet away. He picked up and blew as hard as he could. What followed was what sounded like Percy's own whistle with a blocked valve. Every pony covered their ears and the engines groaned in pain.
"Alright Percy!" yelled Gordon. "We believe that you're here!"
"I'm not really there Gordon. I'm passing a message from Equestria."
"Equestria? Where's that?" asked Emily.
"Just head to some buffers in the woods in the west countryside. Thomas is here somewhere."
"In that case Percy, we'll head first thing tomorrow." said Edward.
The aura vanished and so did the connection. Every pony was silent, though it was because of Percy's whistle. Finally, Pinkie Pie broke the silence with her party cannon.
"AWESOME! We get to have more new friends! We can have TWO parties: one for meeting new friends and one for when we find Thomas!
"If we find him," sighed Percy. "I don't think he wants to be found."
"We will find him," growled Twilight, "and I will not rest until he's found." With grim determination, she set off for the buffers to meet the rest of the Steam Team.
"Someone's in love," whispered Rainbow Dash.
"I AM NOT!"
"Sheesh, only joking.'
CHAOSVILLE
Nothing much happened here...except that Discord was being drained of his magic...again. It wasn't Tirek, he was in Tartarus. It wasn't Twivine either. She was standing nearby with a look of utter shock on her face. "(Did not expect that.) Come on," she called to the (off-screen) creature, "on to Manehattan."
EQUESTRIA
Percy and the Mane 6 were standing nearby the buffers, waiting for Percy's friends...with Twilight in a shaky fit.
"Twilight dear, are you alright?" asked Rarity.
"It's...her," rasped Twilight.
Before anything else was said, there were 6 separate glows. The first caused the buffers to omit a blue unicorn with a 2 cutie mark and Harold Lloyd glasses named Edward; followed by a green Pegasus with a 3 cutie mark and a poofy mane that ended in a curl; next came a bulky blue Pegasus with a 4 cutie mark and was strong enough to rival Big Macintosh; followed by a red Pegasus with a 5 cutie mark and fur so sleek that it immediately caught Rarity's attention; next came a brown earth pony with a 7 cutie mark and a Stetson; finally came a beautiful emerald green unicorn with a (possibly) 12 cutie mark and a long black mane.
Introductions were made and the steam ponies (save Percy) were about to look over their new bodies when Twilight's tingling sensation got the better of her and rushed in the direction to Manehattan, screaming. "What on earth is wrong with her?" asked Toby.
"She's just starting to act like that," fretted Applejack, and they all raced after her.
"It's Twivine Sparkle," thought Twilight. "I can feel it in the water. I can smell it in the air. I can taste it in the trough."
MANEHATTAN
The protagonists arrived and were horrified by what they saw. Plunderseeds were everywhere, entangling trapping buildings and all living things. Ponies were laying in the streets, gray, wrinkled, and looking lifeless. Twilight spotted her draining an unicorn's soul.
"TWIVINE SPARKLE!" shouted Twilight.
Twivine heard her and teleported inches from her. "Hello sister. It seems that we meet as we were destined to."
"Where's Thomas?" demanded Twilight.
"Ooh, missing your boyfriend?"
"Why does every...? HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
"Then you don't mind that I took care of him?"
"YOU KILLED HIM?!?" shrieked Percy.
Twivine grinned like a mad man. "Oh he's worse than that, colt. Much MUCH worse than that."
"Show us Thomas, witch!" ordered Gordon.
"They're asking for you dearie," sang Twivine.
A stallion stepped out of an alley. He looked like Thomas, but he wasn't. He had dull silver fur, a 0 cutie mark, a wrinkled face, and angry red eyes. Worst of all, his body seemed to be bleeding yet he didn't seem to notice nor did he track anything.
"Thomas?" whispered a terrified Emily. He heard her.
"I am...Timothy."
Chapter 10 Not-So-Merry Reunion ("To the Smelters")
The 7 steam ponies where to shock to speak. They had found their missing friend yet he didn't seem to recognize them. He had been zombified by a clone of one of their friends. Now it seemed that any hope of reconciliation with Thomas was lost. Applejack was the first to speak.
"What in tarnation did you do to him?!?"
"Oh I just found him wandering in the Everfree Forest."
FLASHBACK TO THE EVERFREE FOREST
"He looked so forlorn that he didn't even notice my Plunderseeds. This did strike as unusual so I uh extended an hour invitation to your zebra friend's hut."
"How did you do it and what did you do with Zecora?" demanded Twilight.
"Oh relax I just gave her some loose ends to tie up. As for luring him in, it wasn't hard, given the fact that I resemble you. When he saw me, he thought I was you which seemed to brighten his day. He told me all about his troubles on Sodor so I...made him a proposition: in exchange for helping me take over Equestria, I'll help feed on his revenge and have Sudrians eating out of...his...whatever."
END FLASHBACK
The ponies were stunned. "He accepted THAT easily?" demanded James
"Well, he was a little reluctant," admitted Twivine, "so I had to...coerce him into embracing his inner darkness. Although, I must confess, the result wasn't quite what I expected." She betrayed a glance of disgust at Timothy.
"Enough talk," growled Timothy and he staggered over to the steam ponies. He glared at them all. The hatred in his demonic eyes made them flinch. But no more than Gordon. "So the great Express engine who is so important that he can't fetch his own coaches and that those who do are nothing to him but 'silly little tank engines' suddenly gets the strength to come to another world".
It hurt Gordon to hear his own words being used against him. "But Thomas-"
"SHUT UP! My name is Timothy! And you are too late to try any of THAT sappy forgiveness. The one you call Thomas no longer exists." Just then, a cage appeared out of the ground and trapped Gordon. "You had your chance to make up with him, but you never did. You never even considered the consequences for what you did to him. Now it's too late. He's gone and no considers you his friend." With that, he opened his mouth and inhaled. Gordon felt every bit of strength leave him as Timothy robbed him of his soul. He felt older and deathly sick.
Every pony watched as they witnessed this. They never said or did anything, they were frozen in shock. Even Twivine figured on turning her head away. Then Timothy was finished. As he let Gordon out of the cage, Timothy seemed to grow and his wings seemed...sharper*. Then he turned to Twivine. "Where do we strike next?"
She seemed a little stunned before answering, "B...Baltimare."
Timothy stomped away and Twivine followed, after telling the other ponies, "he actually stole every ounce of magic from the Lord of Chaos himself."
The other ponies were still shocked. Emily headed over to Gordon and asked, " Do you think that any of us should expected that?"
"I...knew he'd be...bitter," he rasped, "but I...wasn't expecting...him...to be...that bitter."
No pony did.
CANTERLOT CASTLE
Celestia and the other princesses were equally surprised by what they heard from Twilight's 5 friends. It started out when the 13 ponies appeared in the throne room. She had Gordon taken to the healing room, horrified by his condition. When she asked what happened, Twilight burst into tears and rushed out of the room. Now she, Luna, and Cadance didn't know what to say. Finally, Cadance spoke.
"All that hatred inside. It's. It's amazing he was able to hold it in for so long."
"It's also horrific, what happens when that anger is let out," mused Luna.
"What I don't understand is why this Sir Topham Hatt would directly accuse him of causing trouble." remarked Celestia. "It's almost like he refused to know the direct truth."
Percy cleared his throat. "Before we left to see my friends, Twilight said that it was like a wedding."
Celestia and the Mane 5 fell into an eembarrassed silence that was broken by a cracked voice. "I had forgiven them." It was Twilight and she looked terrible. Her mane was disheveled and her eyes were sunken and had bags underneath. She staggered in, wincing at every other step. "It may not seem like it, but I think that Thomas is still alive."
Rainbow Dash snorted, "Come on Twi, didn't you hear that zombie pony? Thomas is gone. That clone of yours killed him by doing that. All because of something Big G did." Everyone looked at her. "What?"
"Big G?" inquired Applejack.
"Ooh do you have a crush too?" asked Pinkie Pie.
"I don't! It's obvious that I don't; obvious that Twilight has one on Thomas." Here every pony looked at Twilight.
"I do not..."
"Aw come on, Twilight," said Applejack. "Yer showin' all the signs."
"You're acting as bashful as I use to," said Fluttershy.
"You're as red as I am," said James.
"And don't forget denial," said Pinkie Pie.
"ALRIGHT!" shouted Twilight. "I do! I've been feeling this way since we met him in the hospital. Do you all hear me? I love him!"
"Whoa, Twilight." said Edward. "We're all happy for you, but how do plan on telling Thomas?"
"He's right," said Henry. "In the state he's in, he probably won't listen to anyone. Look at what he did to Gordon."
"He won't listen to those who did him wrong," said Twilight. "But what of those who didn't?"
"It sounds crazy, but it might work," said Toby.
"It sounds like the power of love," mused Cadance.
"We have to try." growled Twilight. Then she felt a tingle. "They're in Baltimare. Let's go."
BALTIMARE
Timothy and Twivine were sucking souls out of ponies and had done enough so that Twivine began to gain the features of a centaur while Timothy gained those of a gargoyle resembling Scorpan. "Soon every unicorn, Pegasus, earth pony, and Sudrian will bow to the wills of Queen Tirevine and King..." She trailed off and looked questionably at the now half alicorn, half gargoyle, who thought before answering:
"King Onan. Now that we've run out of ponies here, where do we strike next?"
"Appleloosa, Canterlot, and finally Ponyville. But first Cloudsdale.
"Very well."
"But let's rest a bit."
"What?" growled Timothy.
"Sorry," rasped Twivine, "but even beings who stoop so low as to suck out souls need to pace themselves." Twivine started to kneel down, but found herself surrounded by a blood red aura, as well as getting closer to Timothy.
"Our so-called friends humiliated and destroyed us. Thomas may forgive them, but I will NOT rest until I see that they have paid dearly for it." Then he opened his jaw and inhaled.
Twivine felt as though her interior was being pulled out as Timothy drained her of her magic. Her features as a centaur became less noticeable. She began to look more like an alicorn. But it didn't end there. She began to age rapidly: her fur dulled; her became gray and saggy; her face and body developed wrinkles. When Timothy let her go, she landed on the ground with a sickening thud.
As for Timothy, he began to grow. His body became bigger and rounder; his cutie mark vanished; his wings sharper; and his tail pointier. Soon, he looked like a full fledged gargoyle. His power began to be stripped of its limits. As he started to fly away, though, he heard a small voice.
"How...could you...Timothy?"
"My name," he growled with the air of Neo Anderson, "is King Onan. When you're talking revenge, every last second counts." With that, he flew away.
MEANWHILE
The friends were running along when Twilight staggered. "That can't be right."
"What is it?" asked Henry.
"It feels like she...stopped..."
CLOUDSDALE
Onan began stealing Pegasus souls as his mind darkened with fires of revenge.
Sir Topham Hatt sat in his office, his head in his hands. He was trying to get over the fact that this time he had lost 2 engines. But things started to look up when the others said that they had a lead and were on their way to look for them. At first he didn't believe them. He remarked that they were making this up because of extensive searching and lack of sleep. Next morning, he found the sheds empty. Now he was regretting saying those things...when he heard a voice.
"Sir Topham Hatt."
"What? Who's there?" He looked around. There appeared to be no one there.
"Relax. I'm a friend."
"Friend?"
"I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria."
"Equestria?"
"It is a land where your missing engine was last seen."
"Thomas is there?" Hope flares up inside that was extinguished by the reply. "
"He was with friends. Then he disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Sir Topham Hatt was astounded. "Did you look for him?"
"We did, and we found him."
"Splendid! Will he come back?"
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple."
Sir Topham Hatt didn't like the sound of that. "Why not? Is he refusing to come back?"
"No. An enemy found him first. She did terrible things to him." For a brief moment, there seemed to be a tiny noise. Sir Topham Hatt later swore that it sounded like inhumane screaming. "From what I've been told, she...persuaded Thomas to...change."
"Change?"
"She took advantage of how unwanted he felt; of how he felt like an outcast; of how he had felt mistreated."
"That was my fault in the third incident," sighed Sir Topham Hatt, "I thought he was trying to make up another excuse."
"I can relate a little to that. But I'm afraid telling him that won't do much good. When the one called Gordon tried to make amends..."
"What happened?"
"Thomas had been turned into a demonic pony by her and he...stole Gordon's soul."
"HE WHAT?!?"
"He. Took. His. Soul."
"His...soul?"
"Well, look behind you."
Sir Topham Hatt did...and nearly jumped out of his skin. Gordon was there in his Pegasus form, old and withered. "Is that...?"
"Yes."
"Is he...?"
"He is and he isn't." The phantasm vanished.
"So...Thomas is gone...for good?"
"We're not sure. My former student, now fellow princess, thinks that Thomas is still there and has a theory that he won't listen to those who did him wrong, but that he might to those who didn't."
"So now what?"
"We can only hope for the best."
BALTIMARE
The allies made it and although they were expecting to see ponies littering the ground in wrinkled bodies, they were NOT expecting to find Twivine among them.
"What happened?" asked Twilight.
It was hard for her clone to explain. "We...were just gaining...our features of...a centaur and...a gargoyle. After...I...told him...what our...next targets were...I had...suggested that we...rest. He didn't like it"
"Why not?"
"He was...hellbent...on revenge. For him...every last...second...counted. He considered...rest a...waste of...time. He said that...if I...had wanted to...rest..."
"And he did this to you?"
"Indeed. Now...he's a...gargoyle...named Onan."
Every pony was shocked. They weren't expecting this either.
"So much for trying to reason with him," sighed James.
Twilight whipped around and glared at him. It was as if there were 8 angry Twilights, just like when Lily Peet (or whatever) ranked Queen Chrysalis 8 of them out of 10. Enough to make James cower in fear. "We. WILL. Get. Him. Back."
Something strange began to happen. Twilight's cutie mark began to glow as did Rainbow Dash's. But instead of Pinkie Pie's, Percy's 6 began to glow; instead of Applejack's, Toby's 7 began to glow; instead of Rarity's, James' 5 began to glow; and instead of Fluttershy's, Henry's 3 began to glow.
"What is this?" demanded Henry.
"Usually, this means that the map at my castle is calling us," explained Twilight, "but it usually does this with me and my friends. I don't know why it's doing it to you 4."
"Well, there appears to be only one way to find out," remarked Edward.
"To the Friendship Castle!" declared Pinkie Pie.
[SFX: "BATMAN" BY NEAL HEFTI]
And through the magic of scrolling down, the allies were back at the castle and were facing the map. Much to their shock, not only were the 2 cutie marks hovering over where the Everfree Forest, but so were the 4 numbers.
"What does that mean?" asked Percy.
"Usually it means a friendship problem," explained Pinkie Pie, "but why would they be above the Everfree Forest? The only one who lives there is a zebra named Zecora."
"Maybe this Zecora has advice," guessed Henry.
"Maybe, but I don't think that the map would be calling us to the Everfree Forest if someone like Zecora would have advice." said Twilight.
"'Sides, we could just mosey on over there if we needed advice," added Applejack.
"But the Everfree Forest is where the Tree of Harmony is," said Fluttershy.
"Then let's get to it," announced Rarity and turned to the others, "we'll explain on the way, m' dears."
MEANWHILE
Onan was flapping towards Appleloosa when his altitude began to drop. He plummeted earthwards, clutching his head and blinking. There were a few times when his eyes began to look like Thomas's.
INSIDE THE MIND
He was facing a mirror. "Why? Why are you resisting?"
The reflection wasn't that of a gargoyle, but of a stallion named Thomas. "Because this isn't what I wanted. I'd never stoop this low. I'd forgive them."
"Exactly why I am in control," growled Onan, "it isn't good enough to " forgive" them and let them off just like that. Making them suffer makes it easier to put them through the pain they put us through."
"That's just it!" shouted Thomas, "It was just Gordon, Rocky, and Sir Topham Hatt! What did the others ever do?"
"They get in the way, they get it good."
"That's enough." hissed Thomas. "This gone on long enough. I'm not going to sit by and let you harm innocent ponies." He crouched down and lunged at Onan.
OUT
Onan held his head and continued to fall. Then, in one last desperate attempt, he put his thumb and index finger together and snapped them. Instantly, Zecora appeared in the air. As she began to fall, a coil of rope appeared and wrapped around all 4 of her hooves. The last length reached into her ear, pulled out an apple, and wedged it into her mouth.
INSIDE
Onan fought for breath as Thomas proved to be more formidable than he had thought. "Any last words?" asked Thomas.
Onan smirked, "There's a zebra falling with us, at a speed faster than us. If she hits the ground before us..."
"Alright! You win." Thomas didn't like it, but he gave in. Almost immediately, shackles appeared and snapped on to his hooves and neck.
OUT
Onan had stopped falling and straightened himself. After doing a few stretches, he snapped his fingers and an orb with an opened top appeared farther down below. Once Zecora landed in it, the top closed.
INSIDE
Onan scratched his head. "You barely even know that zebra, aside from her witnessing our transformation, yet you're willing to risk everything for her safety?" He smirked as he added, "Have you found a new (hee hee hee) mare?"
Thomas looked up weakly, "Evil cannot comprehend good, I guess."
Onan's smirk widened. "You never denied my last statement."
"I never confirmed it either." Onan mimed strangling something. "Alright!" choked Thomas. The shackle on his neck began to shorten. "I! LOVE! TWILIGHT!" Onan allowed the shackle to expand as Thomas ranted and raved, "I've always felt something ever since she took me in. I never knew what it was, but I knew it was strong. Now I know what it is. Do you hear me? I love her!"
The chains yanked him down. "Spare me your sentimental nonsense." muttered Onan.
OUT
He smirked at Zecora. "In a way, I have TWO hostages now."
TREE OF HARMONY
The steam ponies were in awe. The Tree was a majestic sight, but not more than the Chest. That last item was locked with only the Keys of Magic and Loyalty already inserted. The rest however...
"That's odd," said Rarity, "why are there only 2 Keys in there?"
"It is strange." agreed Twilight. "The only explanation I can offer is that because the Map didn't summon the rest of you. But why would it summon ponies who are strangers?"
No one could offer any suggestions so they sat down and thought...
ONE HOUR LATER
...and thought...
TWO HOURS LATER
...and thought. Rarity actually passed out under the wing of a dozing James.
THREE HOURS LATER
"Can you move along?" whined Pinkie Pie.
"We're all out of time cards," said Percy.
"Um...where did you get those?" asked Emily.
The two glanced at each other before answering, "We picked them up." Then they threw it away. It landed on the Chest, glowed, and turned into a key that inserted itself.
Everyone gasped. As if on cue, a fish landed on Rarity. "Ewwwwww!" she groaned and began flailing around, attempting to "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!"
Much to the surprise of the steam ponies, James caught it in his mouth. When asked why he did it, he (with difficulty) explained that he had to pull a train full of fish before-twice-and didn't like it, but he did it.
This gave Twilight an idea. "James, put it on the Chest."
Confused, he obliged...and the fish also glowed and turned into that inserted itself.
Everyone was shocked, except Twilight. "That proves it!"
"Proves what?" asked Fluttershy.
"I'm guessing the map called the 4 of you because it considers you all the equivalents of the regular Bearers of the Elements. Like it considers Percy to Pinkie Pie's equal because of...whatever just happened" ("How do you like them apples?" the 2 laughers asked the empty void behind them.) "and it considers James to be Rarity's equal because he did something that was out of his league." (Rarity nuzzled James.)
"But if Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy have their equals, then who're equals of me and Twilight?" demanded Rainbow Dash.
"I don't know, but we know that the 2 equals are these 2." She looked at Toby and Henry. "The question is which equals of these 2" (she gestured at Applejack and Fluttershy) "you are."
"How will we know?" asked Pinkie Pie.
Twilight walked over to Toby and placed her horn on his head. She searched through his memories until she found something that matched his equal. "Toby...there seems to be a time when you were afraid of this Sir Topham Hatt was...going to put you in a museum?"
"Yes," sighed Toby. "You have to understand that I was a steam tram. I am old over there. Everyone knows that museums are the home of old things. I didn't think I was really useful. So I tried doing everyone's jobs, always moving away when I saw him. When I had accident, he found me and I had then openly confessed why I did what I did. He laughed and said that I was too useful to be in a museum and had me repaired. It wasn't easy but at least I was honest."
Something from behind sparkled which caught his eye. Turning around, he found a rusty bell that was oddly gleaming. He picked it up with his mouth and rang it; seconds later, he dropped it in surprise. "I haven't heard that sound in a long time," he sniffled. Applejack pointed a hoof at the chest. Toby tearfully placed the bell on it, followed by the same thing with the other Keys.
Now Twilight turned to Henry. She searched his memories until she found something. "Henry, was there a time you showed kindness to someone who was the opposite to you?"
"Oh yes," said Henry as he recalled that day, " Arry and Bert kept teasing me for using special coal. I actually tried using normal coal, but it got worse. Arry and Bert's teasing intensified. When I went back to special coal, I found them broken down. They asked for help, which I did, despite their teasing."
Just then, a glow caught his eye too. Turning around, he found a lump of coal. "Strange," he said, "coal doesn't glow." A thought occurred to him and he placed the lump on the Chest. The result was the same. Now, all six Keys were in place. They opened the chest and the Six were engulfed in Rainbow Power.
The earth ponies were pacing around when the sky turned a sinister shade of red. They looked up to see a black comet hurtling down and landed in the middle of town. When the smoke cleared, Onan was there. They backed away as he surveyed the land with his deadly red eyes. Some really began to run when others were picked up in a deathly white aura. He continued to steal their souls, leaving the wrinkled bodies in his wake.
"Soon, my domination of this world will be complete. Then, onto Sodor, where we will have our revenge." As if on cue, his head began to feel numb.
INSIDE THE MIND
"Why do you do this?" demanded Thomas.
"Because it is necessary in these days of corruption and bad business antics."
"We don't know anything about-"
"You don't but I do. Look at how the big blue one thought he was too "important" to fetch his own coaches. Looked at how he looked down on because he thought you were a "silly little tank engine". Look at how the fat [censored] refuse to acknowledge that you were in the right when you disposed of the dynamite the way you did."
"Even so," growled Thomas, "even I did want to get back at them, I wouldn't want to use others or cause pain to those who didn't wrong me. What did they do?"
"Nothing. They never did anything. They never came to our defense. Which is why they must be destroyed as well."
"But why the ponies here? They didn't even know we existed."
"You know what we say about the ones who get in the way. And before you ask, need I remind you of our zebra friend?"
Thomas subsided, though he asked, "Why don't you just kill me?"
Onan smirked, "because I live deep inside you. So long as live, I'll be here still. Now enough; we're approaching Canterlot."
OUT-CANTERLOT
Shining Armor was out patrolling Canterlot with 2 Pegasai guards. They were crossing a bridge when the guards felt themselves being picked up. Shining Armor glanced behind him and watched in shock as they were lifted up by the white aura. It got even more sickening when the Pegasai appeared to be forcing out a sickly orangish light (y'all have my assurance that it was NOT vomit), aging in the process.
Shining Armor then fired a bolt of energy at the gargoyle, but Onan caught it in his hand and popped it into his mouth. He grabbed the captain and squeezed his neck until he choked up the orange substance. Onan sucked it up, threw Shining Armor over the side, and proceeded to the throne room.
THRONE ROOM
The three princesses were sitting down, thinking. "From what we've heard," said Celestia, "it seems that Thomas's hatred has surpassed its limits and his powers know no bounds. If he stole a soul from an alicorn-"
"Then it is more than possible that he could steal ours," said Luna, "and every pony's power will belong to him and to him alone."
"There'll be no stopping him as he could take over both worlds and go on from there with that kind of power," remarked Cadance.
"And they've tried reasoning with him and we know how that turned out," said Celestia. "We may have to give our own powers to Twilight again."
"Now wait a minute," said Cadance, "Twilight said that she and her friends would be able to bring Thomas back, no matter what. She sounded pretty determined, and if I know Twilight, she'll have her love back in short time."
CRASH!
The doors were blasted from their threshold as Onan barged in. The alicorns lept to their hooves and prepared for a facedown. "You're right, Cadenza," he growled, "WE are unstoppable. I am merely a new ego; his thirst revenge publicized; his retaliation pranks taken up to eleven. All we need is the magic from 3 of the 4 alicorn princesses and then we'll be on our way to Sodor."
With that, he banged his fists into the floor. The 3 barely had time to take flight as stalagmites popped from where they used to be. While airborne, they all fired deadly beams at him. He deflected it with his spiked bracelets. This caused the beams to be directed to the ceiling, causing a landslide of ceiling plaster to crumble down on him. Luna flew over to the wreckage. She only landed for half a minute when a large deathly white beam popped out of the ground and went in a circle. The next thing she knew, Onan was lifting the floor-with her on it-and throwing it upwards. Luna teleported just before the rubble hit the ceiling and appeared next to the others.
Onan fired his own rays at the princesses who almost got obliterated if they hadn't brought up their shields. The battle continued on, with all 4 fighters running out of breath. At last, they came to a standstill.
"One thing," panted Cadance, "Why do you need 3 alicorn souls instead of 4?"
"I made a promise to a certain lover boy that I would leave one princess out of this to keep him at bay," explained Onan wheezily, "naturally, it's none of you three, or I wouldn't be attacking you. Besides, we need alicorn magic to work the portal to Sodor. Only one is essential, but," he smirked, "enough is never enough."
Before the princesses could react, he grabbed Cadance with his aura and prepared to steal her soul. Luna appeared and encased her and Cadance in a dark blue orb. They floated back to Celestia and prepared to fight again when he held up his hand.
"I have a better idea." He snapped his fingers and the orb containing the hogtied Zecora appeared behind him. "It's very simple: a mere zebra for your three souls."
The 3 were shocked. They didn't know Zecora that wellwell, but they couldn't risk the life of any denizen of Equestria. On the other hoof, if they gave in, who knew what could happen to any place when Onan had such powers at his disposal. They talked amongst themselves, but couldn't think of a positive way out. So they reluctantly agreed.
Onan snapped his fingers and the orb lowered to the ground and popped, freeing Zecora though she remained bound and gagged. Then he whipped around so fast that his pointed tail wrapped itself around the princesses and squeezed until they threw up the substances. Onan caught them by flexing his muscles, then straightened his arm and swallowed them. He grew in size so much that he broke the ceiling even more and flew off to start a rampage.
It was sometime later that the Mane 6 and their allies arrived with Spike, looking flabbergasted. Spike ran over to Zecora and lightly blew a tiny flame. Her bonds singed until they fell off. Once she was free to speak she rasped, "'Tis no lie that one's a truly nasty guy."
"He never had some love, that's why," whispered Spike has he held her.
As for Twilight, she and the others rushed over to the princesses. She held Celestia in her forelegs before turning to her friends and said, "let's go pronto."
PONYVILLE
Onan went on about his rampage, ripping up buildings, making craters in the ground, uprooting trees, the whole shebang.
"ONAN!"
He turned and saw the heroes standing a ways away, glowing, both literally and figuratively. Even at that distance, Onan could feel Twilight's anger. But that wasn't what unsettled him. He inhaled sharply, but nothing happened.
"WHAT?!? How could you have found magic that's too powerful to steal?"
"Because we have friendship, that's why!" retorted Rainbow Dash.
"And you have stolen our friend!" shrieked Pinkie Pie
"My best friend is still alive in you," growled Percy, "and he's strong! He'll be back!"
Onan powered up to fire some magic, then clutched his head, writhing in pain.
INSIDE
The shackles began to melt off of Thomas and he crouched down, preparing to fight. "It. Is. On."
"So be it," snarled Onan. The 2 egos fought fiercely. It started out with magic. Onan may have built up power, but Thomas proved to be quite the fighter, which was saying something for a unicorn who was just getting use to wielding magic. They both fired lethal beams that ended meeting in the middle. Soon, they stopped with the magic.
"It is obvious that this cannot be decided by our knowledge of magic, but by our skills in combat," growled Onan.
This one was so brutal that they both got migranes. They tussled and wrestled, punched and kicked. It got worse as Onan began to Stooge poke Thomas in the eyes, Thomas biting Onan in the arm, etc.
OUT
Onan continued to thrash like a fish out of water for a few minutes until he was sprawled out. Twilight came as close as she dared and said, "Thomas please listen to me. We just want to talk. Gordon really was trying to apologize for what he did. He really was sorry. If you're still in there, please come back."
"Sodor hasn't been the same without you," added Percy. "We miss you. Please come back. We're no good with you gone."
"Some engines actually considered slipping champagne down their water tanks," whimpered Emily.
"And driving off cliffs," added Toby, remembering the time he had to pull Rosie back from doing just that.
"And scrapping themselves," added James.
"Everything is literally losing its color," said Edward.
"Even the plants are dying," sniffled Henry.
"See?" croaked Twilight, tears forming in her eyes, "everybody misses you. Please come back."
For a brief moment, his eyes were back to normal. Then he shook his head; Onan was back. He grabbed Twilight and squeezed her neck. Then he screamed in agony. For brief moment, it seemed like the bass part of the Skeleton Engine Scream (just the bass mind you).
"Right, that's it," growled Rainbow Dash.
The Elements-old and new-were lifted into the air and glowed brighter. They each emitted a color of the rainbow (it was a little different for Toby and Henry) that shot out at Onan. He began to change.
INSIDE
He was thrown against the wall painfully by Thomas who gave him a punch that rendered him done, but not before a parting phrase:
"Yippee Kai Ay mother bucker."
OUT
The stallion was sprawled out on the ground. He alternated between normal and zombified. His fur was white, but only half deathly; he had no cutie mark or blood leaking out; his face had wrinkles beneath the eyes. Then Twilight cradled his head and kissed him. His color turned blue; the 1 appeared on his flank; and the wrinkles vanished. As this happened she sobbed 3 words:
Harmony was restored in Equestria. Every pony had their souls returned to them, even Twivine, though her fate is of a different story. Thomas was revived in Canterlot where he and Gordon made up.
"I'm sorry I took your Express, Gordon."
"I'm the one who should be sorry," said Gordon, "I shouldn't have said what I did and insulted you like that. I was just tired of waiting for my coaches."
"I was tired after racing Bertie. That's usually exhausting."
"I'm in disgrace," laughed Gordon.
"So am I," agreed Thomas and they embraced.
At the buffers, tearful goodbyes were made. Thomas told Twilight that she could always visit Sodor, while she told him he was welcome back anytime. Then they held each other for a long time. Then they headed home.
SODOR
Following their arrival were cheers so noisy that the sound couldn've rivaled the Shot Heard 'Round the World. A celebration was called, and as the plans commenced, Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt had a long talk."
"Thomas, I'm sorry for everything. The others explained everything to me. I'm sorry for being unfair. You're Sodor's #1, no matter how cross I become. I was just upset with how much confusion and delay you caused with your cheekiness. I just wanted to help you accept responsibility for what you did. When you blamed Gordon and Emily for the sabotaged sidings and the workmen for the siding incident, I thought that you hadn't learn your lesson from the whole 'Geoffrey' fiasco. But do you want to know the biggest reason for mine being cross? You never apologize for your mistakes."
Thomas thought for a moment then realized that his master was right. He never did apologize for any of those things. "Well, sir, it's a little late for this, but-"
"Don't worry Thomas."
"But what about Ryan?"
"I brought him to Sodor to help with the goods traffic on the Harwick branch. He had arrived a day early, so I decided that he could use your branchline for practice... If or when you came back, he'd work there.
"'If' sir?"
Sir Topham Hatt scratched his head nervously and said, "well, you were gone for so long, we thought you were gone for good. So I uh purchased a diesel to help in your place."
"A diesel?!?"
"I didn't know he was that. But he is quite friendly. It's ironic, considering he's called Anarchy."
"Anarchy?"
"Oh ho, talking about me, are you?"
Thomas jumped, some cars went flying. There, right next to him, was a British Class 08 sshunter. His livery was a little strange: the body was brown except for the roof; the right half was purple while the left half was baby blue; his front buffers were different shades of yellow; his right rear buffer was green while the left one was a lighter shade of brown. His eyes were I most disturbing: the whites were normal and it was so that the gray eyebrows were normal; what was strange was how shaggy the right one was, looking like it was peelable. What was strange about the eyes was not only they were red, but the left pupil was smaller than the right.
"Thomas this is Anarchy. Anarchy this is my #1 engine Thomas."
"Pleased to meet you, Thomas," said Anarchy, "it's an honor to meet the famous engine I heard so much about."
Thomas was stunned. "Um, have we met?"
Anarchy said nothing, though he smirked and made a ^^ with his eyebrows.
Thomas was taking to Canterlot where he was confined to a bed for several days. Twilight and Percy stood by his side almost everyday. They only left when they had to go, when they had to eat, or when they had to sleep. Although in their cases, eating and sleeping were debatable. Percy would eat slowly while Twilight would select something that didn't appease her and then leave halfway through dinner without even touching it. Percy would go to bed, but would fall asleep hours into the morning pass midnight while barely slept at all, due to nightmares of Thomas dying or relapsing.
One morning, Thomas shifted in his bed until he woke up to find "Celestia?"
The white alicorn nodded, "yes, I am here."
"Thomas!" Percy rushed in.
"Percy!"
"Bless you, you're awake!" The two tackled each other in an embrace.
Celestia smiled, "he and Twilight have hardly left your side."
Just as Thomas was comprehending what she said, the princess became blurs of bright pink and emerald green.
"THOMAS! YOU'RE BACK!" Pinkie Pie must've taught Emily how to do bear hugs because Thomas couldn't breathe.
He became startled by 2 roars that turned out to be Gordon and James banging their hooves against the floor. Then Henry and Toby joined the others in jumping on the bed.
"Edward!" cried Thomas. Sure enough, the blue unicorn was there, laughing like Ian McKellen.
Applejack whooped and waved while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash did a little dance. Rarity was about to join in when she noticed Twilight walking away, her head hung low. "Why Twilight, whatever is the matter?"
Twilight sighed, "he's getting better."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"He'll be going away soon. And he won't be here. So soon after we confessed."
"Well, at least you confessed darling. And no pony could ask more, considering the circumstances."
Twilight said nothing and headed back to her room. "Poor dear," said Rarity and went to join the festivities. As for Twilight, she plopped onto her bed and sobbed into the pillow. A short while later, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see Thomas. He pulled her into a hug and she sobbed into his chest.
"Rarity told me everything."
She sniffled, "I'm really going to miss you."
Thomas said nothing, for he had an idea...
THE NEXT DAY
"I know it's late sir, but I'm-"
"Don't worry Thomas. I'll listen to the full story from now on."
Celestia had shown Thomas the message mirror and he was now on the line with Sir Topham Hatt. Ergo, the exchange from the last ending had already happened.
"So can we expect you back, Thomas?"
"Actually, sir I have a request..."
LATER
The friends met at the buffers. Twilight tackled Thomas in a hug. "I just wish I could visit your island."
Thomas held up her chin. "Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"Wish granted."
Before she knew it, Twilight was hanging onto him as he leaped into the buffers.
SODOR-WEST COUNTRYSIDE
Sir Topham Hatt waited by the buffers. Soon there was a flash and two engines appeared: Thomas and a LSMWR... LWMR... whatever it's called... M7. She had a purple livery with a strange picture on her bunker.
"Thomas! Welcome back! And who is this?"
"This is Twilight. Twilight, this is my superior and controller, Sir Topham Hatt."
"Hello sir," said Twilight shyly.
They would've said more except that Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Emily, and Toby burst from the buffers. It got a little bumpy from there.
Sir Topham Hatt laughed. "Well, let's get to the Steamworks before anything else happens."
Twilight's time on Sodor was memorable, even if she couldn't use magic. The trucks behaved surprisingly well. She worked with the others and became fast friends with every engine on Sodor. She even helped Diesel out of a jam and done a great job for a firstie.
"Never mind her, what about me?" demanded Diesel.
As daylight ended, Thomas noticed something. "Where's Percy?"
He didn't notice three engines slide from the shadows: a bright yellow one of Ashima's class, a bright violet one of Gina's class, and a sky blue one of Frieda's class. They smirked and sang in a quiet, sinister tone:
"Here ends the story."
EQUESTRIA
Actually, it ends in Sugarcube Corner. Apparently, the place had a secret room full of staircases discovered by Percy and Pinkie Pie. They were jamming and rapping it out on those things.
Thomas was confined to a bed for several days. Twilight had hardly left his side. Sadly, it didn't end well. The days turned into weeks. The weeks turned into months. But instead of getting better, his migraines got worse and worse. His temperature kept rising.
It was most unfortunate that one day Twilight was sitting by his side when...
"Twilight..."
She gasped, "Thomas! How are you feeling?"
"Not... Too... Well," he hacked.
"Can I get you anything?"
"A... Tiny glass... Of water... Please."
Twilight would've guessed it was a trick if his condition wasn't so. She conjured up a glass of water and cradled his head as she helped him drink it. His coughing subsided and his breathing became somewhat steadier.
"Can I get you anything else?"
"No. Nothing... Can help... Me now."
Twilight was apprehensive. She knew what that meant, but couldn't resist asking, "What are you saying?"
"This... Is... Goodbye."
"WHA?!? But Thomas-"
"Save it. But... Pass a message... To my.... Controller and friends."
"What will I say?"
"Tell them... How sorry... I am.
"I will."
"Twilight?"
"Yes?"
He weakly raised a leg and she took it in her hooves. "I'm sorry... That we... Never... Got to..."
"Got to what?" Nothing. "Thomas?" She opened her eyes. His leg was drooping in her hooves. She squeezed for a pulse, but found none. In desperation, she placed an ear on his chest and heard only silence. That only meant one thing. She threw back her head and let out chilling wail. "THOMAS!!" And she buried her face into his lifeless body.
The funeral was in a heavy atmosphere. Only Thomas' friends had words to say. Percy and Emily had some difficulties and their words were barely audible through the tears. Heck with it, some of the mares were practically bawling, those that were single anyway.
They placed the supposed corpse (yes, "supposed") in a longboat and covered it with a blue blanket. As they cast off the longboat, Twilight-with difficulty-sang a confession.
"This day was going to be perfect.
The kind of day of which I dreamed since I was small.
But instead of having cake, with all my friends to celebrate,
My wedding bells, they may not ring for me at all."
The longboat went on a perilous journey. It sailed on through maelstroms and hurricanes. Waters crashed against it, but it stayed strong, keeping its precious cargo onboard. Eventually, it came to a waterfall. When it went over, it bounced and bashed and banged against the rocks like it was pinball. (That's what happens when you let Pinkie Pie play with the SFX button.) At the bottom, the longboat was dashed to pieces, but Thomas floated to the top of the water, and was telekinetically lifted out.
Sometime later, he coughed and woke up to see that he was in a strange room. Everything was either not where it should be or was but not in the right way. The entire room looked like it was spinning, it made him feel dizzy. "Where am I?" he wondered.
"In the Castle of the Two Sisters," said a feminine voice.
A flash of light produced a creature that looked like Discord: gray head of pony, black mane of donkey, brown serpentine body, red tail of snake with white tuft edge, yellow eyes with red pupils of different size, and a snake tongue.
But there were differences: left paw of lion, right claw of eagle, left antler and right hoof of deer, left foot of lizard, right horn of goat, right wing of bluebird, left purple wing of bat, snake fang on the other side, and no goatee (well it was a she).
"Who are you?" asked Thomas.
"I'm Eris. Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. You're lucky to be alive, after that absurd stunt you pulled."
"Stunt?"
"You took a longboat ride over a huge fall in some rapids. Pretty near dead too."
Thomas rubbed his head. "All I remember was being sick, seeing her face, then passing out." His stomach growled.
"It seems that being sick hath left you starving." mused Eris. She snapped her eagle fingers and a table appeared with a chair at either end. "Now are you a carnivore or a herbivore?"
"Beg pardon?"
"Which do you prefer?" She snapped her fingers as she named each dish, causing it to appear. "Lobster? Chicken a la king? Meatloaf? Alaskan king crab? YEOW!" She held up her paw to reveal the crab hanging on; she flicked it away. "I hate it when they do that."
"Um, I'll take herbivore."
"Well then, how about hay? Oats? Baked Alaska?"
"I'll take a Caesar salad."
"Caesar salad it is." The foods vanished, leaving the salad by the smaller chair. As Thomas took his seat, he noticed a strange dish at the other end by the bigger chair.
"Is that paper?"
"I AM part goat dearie," said Eris as she took a seat. After a few minutes of silence, Eris broke it. "Come. Tell me everything."
So he did. He told her about his life on Sodor, how he came to Equestria, and his recent battle with his ego, King Onan. The stuff about Twilight seemed to have a heavier atmosphere. At last, his plate was empty. "Well, thanks for everything. I'll be on my way."
"Where to?"
"To see my friends."
"I'm surprised you would."
"Why? They're probably missing me."
"That's not what I saw."
She snapped her lion fingers and a little cloud appeared. It rotated rapidly, emitting rainbow lightning bolts. Thomas was shocked by what he saw.
"I'm not there. Why are they happy if I'm not there?" It got worse. "WHAT?!? WHY DOES RYAN HAVE MY NUMBER?!?" He glanced at his cutie mark, only to find a yellow 0.
Eris set him beside her and ran around in circles as if chasing her tale. Thomas got so dizzy he tipped over. When he came to, he was in a corridor filled with smiling balloons that were laughing rudely at him.
"What gives?" he demanded. The balloons became faces of his friends. They mocked him, insulted him, claimed that they were better without him, even brought up his past mistakes and how it affected them. He couldn't take it anymore and hid his face.
"Aw, poor Thomas," cooed Eris. "All because this happened."
She led him to a pool and touched the water. It rippled, showing Twilight pacing, half desperately, half deviously. "If I tell the others of his message, he'll leave. And that means no special somepony for me. But if I don't pass the message, he won't leave, and I'll have him all to myself." The image vanished.
Thomas couldn't believe it. His friends were living la vida loca without him, he had lost his branchline and number, all because Twilight delayed a message just so he could be hers. He cat down and shried (that was Eris' doing).
There was some Fridge Logic here and Eris must've known for she turned behind her and whispered, "Whoopsie". Then she stroked his chin and said, " It's true what they say, you know. Friendship is but a form of imprisonment. "
Thomas looked into her eyes. They had change to a swirling pool of colors. So beautiful, so round, so hypnotic. He brushed her off and shook violently. He began leaking blood, but didn't trail any. "Imprisonment?" His eyelids flew open, revealing demonic red eyes. "I don't think so."
Eris whispered triumphantly, "Yes!" and threw her head back in an evil laugh.