Author's notes: Alright! This is a fun story indeed. By now, I think you guys are aware of my passion for Fluttershy and Big Mac as a couple. Here, we see our 2nd main 6 pairing start blossoming.

Resource and Sagacity

Narrator: Oliver is a Great Western 1400 class 0-4-2T steam tank engine. British Railways under the ownership region wide by Doctor Richard Beeching wanted to scrap him, so he ran away from british railway to the North Western Railway on the island of Sodor. Isabel, his faithful great western auto coach came with him and so did Toad, a GWR 20-ton brakevan, ironically nicknamed toads which was derived from the GWR's electric telegraph code for a brake van, with each bespoke Toad model allocated diagrams in the AA series. At the last moment, they were nearly caught, 4 miles away from Barrow-in-Furness. But Douglas along with Braeburn, Mr. McCloud, Mr. Dustin Hoskins and Miss Rachel Marie Ravens saved them. The Fat Controller and Princess Celestia were pleased.

Celestia: Well Oliver, Sir Charles Topham Hatt and I have heard all about your great escape and we are very pleased with you. Since you are from the Great Western Railway, once we have mended you and your friends, you can help out with our Great Western 5700 Class 0-6-0 PT Pannier Steam Tank engine. His name is Duck and he works on the newly reopened and restored Arlesburgh branchline.

Fat Controller: Since you are from the Great Western Railway we shall give you, Isabel and Toad official great western railway colours like Duck and his two auto coaches Alice and Mirabel. We shall give you an extra Great Western Auto Coach called Dulcie, Donald and Big Mac rescued her along with Alice, Mirabel and another guard's van called Ted. Dulcie will be painted Great Western colours as well.

Oliver: Oh thank you Sir and Malady.

Celestia: Your quite welcome Oliver. We shall get you to work with Mr. Holden and one of our new Wonderbolt volunteers, Soarin.

Oliver: Yes malady and yes Sir we'll do our best.

Fat Controller/Princess Celestia: That's a good engine. Now, let's get you fixed up.

Narrator: With increasing workload that the island was facing, Princess Celestia had consulted with Spitfire. She and the Wonderbolts had volunteered to help out on the railway whenever they had time. Heheh, needless to say, Rainbow Dash was very very excited with this. Now as all may know from my previous story entitled "Donald's Duck" The little Western branchline starts from the big station at tidmouth and runs along the coast of the Faarkey-Y- Sudrah which in ancient Sudric means Sudrian sea. Till it reaches the port city of Arlesburgh. The actual top station terminus However is located west of Alresburgh at Arlesburgh west where the Arlesdale Miniature Railway resides. When Oliver and Soarin first started work being trialed on passenger duties at Tidmouth Station, they often met other engines and ponies there who all wanted to hear and know all about Oliver's adventures.

(Tidmouth Sheds, evening)

Oliver: So we left Fairfort, traveling in pitch darkness. Friendly signalman would slip us into gaps in there schedules, allowing us to be passed from box to box. We had to continue on in this fashion when it was daytime. We hid in disused branchlines sheds or sidings concealed from view whilst we continued on at night. For a while, this worked well, but our luck soon ran out. As I was headed down the line, a diesel from another region sounded the alarm and soon the headquarters of the entire British Railway network heard about us and tried to hunt us down. We were really on the run now. But fortunately, a kind signal man let us hide on disused branchline. My crew concealed me from view until the search was called off. Then, we continued until we ran out coal 4 miles away from Barrow-in Furness. Luckily on that same night, Douglas, Braeburn Mr. Hoskins, Mr. McCloud and Miss Ravens saved us at the last minute. If it wasn't for them, we might have been caught and we would have been history.

Applejack: Well I'll be an apple fritter. You were sure brave fight your way through them diesel's Ollie boy.

Oliver: (Surprised) well I …

Henry: Well I must say, you sure had a pretty amazing adventure there Oliver.

Oliver: (Even more surprised yet a bit flattered) Oh really …but i.

James: Yes, I agree with you Henry and Applejack. Oliver here definitely has resource

Rarity: Oh most certainly James. He really knew what he what he was doing

Oliver: (Blushing slightly) Oh but… I'm not really that….

Gordon: Not mention sagacity.

Rainbow Dash: Ah yeah! You must have been able to think quickly, and you definitely were very brave out there, just like my favourite character in my favourite book series, "Daring Do".

Bridget: I must admit Oliver, you were very brave in battling those diesels.

Sally: Indeed you were. I don't think we could have done that.

Flitter: Neither. Oh thank goodness we ponies are welcome up here.

Cloud Chaser: Goodness knows what Breeching would do to us.

Blossomforth: Your right there you 2.

Belle: I would have been afraid myself Oliver. It was lucky that BoCo managed to get me, otherwise I never would have gotten out of the scrapyards.

Bear: Indeed. I heard a couple of western region diesel and some of my kind sympathised with your escape and even let you go scotch free.

Oliver: Well, your right there.

Soarin': Wow, looks like your escape also gained you many an ally too.

Spitfire: You know Oliver, you really quite a brave engine there.

BoCo: You definitely have a lot of courage Oliver. You should be very proud of yourself.

Narrator: Percy and Thomas were also at the sheds that night while Daisy and the 2 tram engines were sleeping at Wellsworth. Their sheds were being upgraded in case Pug wanted to visit for a night.

Percy: Ppssst. Twilight, Thomas? Do you know resource and sagacity means?

Thomas: Hmmm… Well not sure myself Percy, but I think it means that Oliver is clever and wise.

Twilight Sparkle: And that he is also a very interesting engine as well.

Gordon: He is an example to us all.

Narrator: Oliver, very flattered, blushed bright red. After all, he was only a little tank engine compared to Belle, and no bigger engine ever said such admiring things to him before.

Oliver: Aw really? Aw you engines and ponies. You are far too kind. I'm not all that special.

Rarity: Rubbish. You truly are an example to us all.

Narrator: Well I'm sorry to say, though all this admiration from the other engines went straight to Oliver's smoke box and he became rather puffed as well. Whenever Oliver started from a station with his coaches, he would sing little songs.

Oliver: (Singing) Oh Isabel's a funny coach, and so is Dulcie too. And if I didn't look after them, they'd not know what to do.

Dulcie: Just listen to him. Oh just listen to him Isabel. Heheheh.

Narrator: Isabel didn't share the same optimism as Dulcie did.

Isabel: Oh dear. He's proud and conceited and he's heading for trouble. I can feel it in my…

(Rounded a curve very fast)

Isabel: FFFFRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!

Mr. Holden: Easy Oliver! Easy!

Soarin': Yeah. I mean, I admire that you really want to do your best. But just take it easy.

Narrator: Oliver just laughed.

Oliver: Pah! Henry say's I'm amazing, Gordon say's I'm sagacious, James say's I have resource and Twilight called me interesting. They're right. What do I care for trouble, I'd just push it aside.

Narrator: And they swooshed along the line bound for Arlesburgh West. Later when they returned to Tidmouth, The Fat controller and Princess Celestia were waiting for him on the platform.

Princess Celestia: Well done. 6 punctual passenger trips in one week, very impressive Oliver. You, Soarin and Mr. Holden have been quite a team.

Soarin': Thank you your Highness.

Mr. Holden: Yes indeed. Thank you Princess Celestia.

Oliver: Oh thank you your highness. Like I said, I'll do my very best for this railway.

Fat Controller: You are doing absolutely well. Now that we know you can handle passenger duties, you must learn the ropes with trucks.

Narrator: All trucks are badly behaved, but ballast trucks are the worst of all. Like any trucks on the NWR, every wise engine and pony knows of course that you cannot trust trucks. Big Macintosh, Braeburn Applejack, Donald, Douglas and Duck all warned Oliver about this, but he took no notice.

(Next day at Tidmouth station)

Oliver: Heheh. Don't worry guys. I can handle these trucks by days end. It'll be a walk in a park.

Miss Ravens: (Sighs) I've heard that one before.

Mr. Holden: Ugh! You really pushing it this time Oliver!

Soarin': I agree. Your starting to become quite a cocky little sort of tank engine.

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup! Bitin off more than you can chew is just what I'm afraid of .

Oliver: (Huffily) Hmph! You all think I can't manage!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Oliver: Well for your information, Gordon knows better. He say's I'm sagacious.

Applejack: Don't you use your fancy mathematics to mutter the issue Ollie boy! These aren't your average ordinary day troublesome trucks here, these are really troublesome ballast trucks.

Duck: Applejack is right. You may be uuuhh… Goodgracious or whatever it is you call it… but ballast trucks are very troublesome and…

Donald: Och, say nae more Duck an Applejack… It mae be a pity, but the wee tank engine will just have to learn for himself

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Narrator: Today, Oliver took the ballast trucks by himself for the very first time with Soarin' and Mr. Holden from Tidmouth to Arlesburgh West. The up journey went well and when they reached Alresburgh West, Oliver was feeling proud.

Oliver: Heh. Look, we made it scotch free.

Soarin': That's a miracle.

Mr. Holden: Yeah. I was feeling very scared the whole trip.

Narrator: Oliver pulled the loaded trucks to a siding and pushed the empties to the chute for the Small Railway Engines to load with ballast. Then at half past eleven, Oliver came back full of confidence to take the loaded trucks away. But the loaded trucks were comfortable and didn't want to move. They had just realised too that they had a different engine and grumbled bitterly.

Ballast trucks: Duck we know and Donald and Douglas. What right has Oliver to poke his funnel in here? WE WANT DUCK! OR DONALD! OR DOUGLAS!

Narrator: Oliver gave them an imperious bump.

Oliver: Look Sharp! Smartly there!

Soarin : Easy will you!

Mr. Holden: Goodness Oliver! You almost broke the brake van with that shove! (To Soarin') and I know what I'm talking about.

Narrator: He told Soarin' about the spiteful brake van.

Soarin': Wow. That Douglas is one strong apple pie.

Ballast trucks: (Whisper) That's not the way to speak. Pay him out!

Narrator: Oliver heard nothing. The trucks moved off easily at first. Oliver thought that he had them under control.

Oliver: (Proudly) Trucks daren't play tricks on me. Right. I'll arrange them on the middle road for my return journey then start away as soon as Duck and Applejack arrive with Duck's passenger train, all scotch free. I can't understand why they say there so troublesome.

Soarin'/Mr. Holden: Famous last words Oliver. Famous last words.

Narrator: They reached the station throat and Oliver's brakes came on with a groan! But his brakes were useless against loaded surging trucks, Oliver, suddenly taken off guard felt, the trucks push forward.

Ballast trucks: ON! ON! ON!

Oliver: WHAT THE?! OY! WHAT YOUR DOING STOP! STOP! STOP!

Narrator: Mr. Holden leaped to the reverser, hard over, full steam against the trucks and whistling frantically for to get clear. Oliver fought hard but still they forced him on and on and on

Oliver: OY! PLEASE! STOP! STOP! WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ACCIDENT!

Ballast trucks: HEH! YOU MIGHT, BUT WE WON'T HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Narrator: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had just gotten off Rex's passenger train for a little excursion with Miss Ravens when suddenly they frantic whistling.

Rex: Hey, is that just me, or does that sound like an engine out of control?

Miss Ravens: Oh. that's just Oliver and some ballast trucks heading for the turntable out of…. (Toink!) HOLY SWEET CHEDDAM! HE IS A RUNAWAY! CLEAR THE PLATFORM GIRLS!

Fluttershy: HHHNNNGGGH! OH MY!

Rainbow Dash: SSSSSSSSTTTTTTAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Narrator: Their effort was slackened at last.

Oliver: OY! SOARIN'! MR. HOLDEN! THEY'RE GIVING UP! I THINK THEY'RE GETTING TIRED.

Rainbow Dash: Oh my goodness! He's not gonna stop in time!

Fluttershy: Hhhnnggg! I can't look!

Narrator: At last, the trucks grew tired.

Oliver: I'm winning! If only…..

Narrator: But it was too late. One moment his trail wheels were on the line, next they had none.

Oliver/ Soarin/ Mr. Holden: WHOA WHHOOOAAHHH! OOFF! (Oliver falls into turntable well)

Narrator: Oliver laid bruised and bemused bunker down in the turntable well with a deluge of ballast all around him. The sudden crash caused Mr. Holden to fall off the foot plate and land face first on the ground of the turntable's well, as did Soarin' who didn't get control of his wings in time. Mr. Holden and Soarin' weren't hurt, but one of the lenses of Mr. Holden's glasses were badly cracked. Miss Ravens and the two pegasi ran/flew over quickly to see anyone was hurt.

Miss Ravens: Oh my goodness! William, are you alright?!

Mr. Holden: Ooh.. yeah I'm alright. Though the same can't be said for my glasses.

Miss Ravens: Oh no… I'm so sorry, especially with your stigmatism. Don't worry. We'll go together to a lens crafter and see if we can get you some new glasses.

Rainbow Dash: OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! SOARIN! ARLIGHT?!

Soarin': Yeah don't worry Dashie. I'm alright. (Blushes with embarrassment, to self) Oh, oops. (In head) Oh great. She's going to hate me now.

Rainbow Dash: (Looking away, blushing slightly and giggling to herself) Hehehehe. He called me 'Dashie'.

Narrator: Soarin' flew out of the pit and Miss Ravens helped a now partly blind Mr. Holden out of the turntable well. When Duck arrived with Applejack and his coaches, he was flagged to the platform. He and Applejack surveyed the wreckage.

Duck: Hullo Oliver!

Applejack: Howdy Ollie boy! You alright there Ollie boy?

Oliver: (Annoyed ) Applejack, I got pushed by some BALLAST TRUCKS! Fallen into a TRUN TABLE WELL! Causing Mr. Holden and Soarin to FALL OUT OF MY CAB! And Mr Holden to BREAK HIS GLASSES! HOW THE HECK DO YOU THINK I FEEL !

Applejack: Uh point taken.

Duck: Are you being what's it called a good gracious engine? You know, I once heard that trucks can push you over the edge, but I always that was a figure of speech.

Oliver: (Annoyed) Ah ha ah ha ha ha ha! Very drawl Duck! Very drawl!

Duck: Well beggin' your pardon though, we really don't like this sort of surprise. Donald and Douglas will miss their turntable until it is mended.

Applejack: Well don't you worry your apple bumpkins. I heard the cranes are a comin' in a little bit.

Narrator: Oliver felt very upset for his literal crash coruse. Later that day when the cranes did come, Donald and Douglas spoke pungently in scotts and the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia spoke pointedly in English. All 4 left Oliver in doubt. That so far from being sagacious, he was very silly engine.

Yep. It's Soarin'XRainbow Dash. As well as myself being a fan of this pairing, I know that one of my friends, ThomasAngryBirds is also fond of this one. BTW, you should check out ThomasAngryBird's RWS remakes, MLP fanfics, and his crossover of the 2 shows 'Gold Dust And Harmony'. He's a really great writer. Anyway, 'Toad Stands By' is next. Look out for it.