Author's notes: Oh man did I get emotional and have a lot of fun with this one. Yeah, it's kind of hard to explain, but the story pretty much speaks for itself. Not much has changed, except that I did add in Mr Holden's and Miss Ravens' predecessors as well as 2 of the main 6's predecessors in the flashback. Oh, and Sir Handel actually tells the flashback in 1st person... er... 1st engine in this case. Let's begin.

Bulldog

Narrator: ever since Skarloey and Rheneas had there 100th birthday Peter Sam and Sir Handel were worried, which quickly drew the attention of Princess Luna whom was very worried for them. One night, before heading home, Princess Luna saw Peter Sam and Sir Handel muttering in there sleep, gently at first but steadily getting louder. She eventually caught a few words that worried her.

Peter Sam: NOOO! NOO! PLEASE! WE'RE SORRY!

Sir Handel: NNOO! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH US YOU HORRID MONSTER!

Luna: Oh dear. Thou little ones are having thyselves nightmares. I must help them!

Narrator: Princess Luna lit her horn up. A shaded blue eliminated and she disappeared. This was spell she used to visit engines in there dreams and to control them to. Inside the Sir Handel's and Peter Sam' nightmares, she saw the two little engines in a dark shed. Then she saw the two engines being tormented by another man.

Man: You stupid useless piles of junk have failed me for the last time!

Peter Sam: Oh please! Don't scrap us please! We didn't mean too.

Sir Handel: Peter Sam is right! You are very unfair you can't! Our mentor would never let you do this! As he would say, 'it would never suit his grace.'

Narrator: The man smiled devilishly and pulled out a name plate that made the two engines cry. On it, read 'Duke'.

Man: Heheheheheh! Well then, ask him yourselves. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Narrator: The two engines began to cry as the man came closer and closer, but as he was about to cut them up, he vanished into thin air.

Peter Sam: Hang on. Where did he go?

Sir Handel: Your guess is as good as mine Peter Sam. Hold up… is that…

Princess Luna: A warm welcome to you young Sir Handel and Peter Sam.

Peter Sam/Sir Handel: Huh? It can't be… Princess Luna! Is that you?

Narrator: Sure enough, Princess Luna was standing right in front of the little engines where the evil man stood.

Sir Handel: I don't understand. I thought that you were….

Luna: Bless you no my dear engines. You were mistake but I hope not disappointed.

Peter Sam: Oh thank goodness. Your much better than….

Sir Handel: Oy! Wait a minute. Hold on. Um, excuse me for asking, but mind you, I thought you had gone home to Canterlot for the evening malady.

Princess Luna: I am the princess of the night, thus it is my duties to come into your dreams, even if thou aren't from Equestria.

Peter Sam: Coo Blimey. This is weird. So wait, this a dream?

Sir Handel: And yet, feels so vivid.

Princess Luna: I assure you that you both are asleep. But, when you awake, the thing that frightens you most will still exist.

Peter Sam/Sir Handel: (Confused) You mean the manager from the Aluminum Works?

Princess Luna: Hmmm... Is he from the Aluminum Works really what frightens you the most? He has long since been imprisoned for his crime after.

Peter Sam: Well partly, but the main fear is that we're scared of telling the engines about our old mentor from the Mid Sodor Railway in fear that they might have us scrapped.

Sir Handel: We tried do so at the Aluminum Works, but they tried scrap us and we don't know why.

Luna: Everyone has fears, Sir Handel and Peter Sam. Everyone must face them in their own way. But they must be faced, or the nightmares will continue.

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: Your right. We will face our fears tomorrow morning.

Luna: There's some good engines. Now rest up. Your going need your strength tomorrow.

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: Of course malady. Thank you princess Luna.

Luna: (Giggles) Think nothing of it thy grateful little ones.

Narrator: Soon Princess Luna left and the engines woke up from they're dreams.

William: Sir Handel!

Rachel: Peter Sam!

William/Rachel: WAKE UP!

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: AAAAAHHHHHHH! (Breathing hard)

William: It's just me and Rachel. Don't panic.

Rachel: Are you two alright?

William: Yeah. You two look like you've saw a ghost.

Narrator: The two engines looked at each other and remembered what Princess Luna said. They decided to finally reveal the secret by morning.

Sir Handel: William,

Peter Sam: Rache. We need all you engines to listen to us tomorrow morning before we start work.

Rachel: (Smile) Of course Peter Sam my dear, you too Sir Handel, my brother in law.

William: (Smile) We'll here you out.

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: Thank you.

Narrator: The 4 friends (Boyfriend/Girlfriend in Peter Sam's and Rachel's case with each other) went thoughtfully asleep. The following morning, all the engines and were were finally awake, and were worried for they're two friends.

Sir Handel: Guys, we have to talk about something.

Peter Sam: You see guys… the duke didn't come to…

Duncan: Rubbish! Of course he was real. He said it himself.

Rachel: Be quiet Duncan and don't be so rude!

Duncan: Oh for pete sake! Don't tell me you believe this gobbledygook now!

William: BE QUIET! Let them talk!

Narrator: Duncan subsided into a sulky silence

William/Rachel: Alright, go ahead you two.

Narrator: Peter Sam and Sir Handel saw Princess Luna standing in the by the platform talking with the Thin Controller but she managed to wink at them. Peter Sam and Sir Handel had finally had enough of keeping the secret and were ready to confess they're story.

Peter Sam: That maybe, Duncan but all the same, he wasn't our Duke.

Sir Handel: Our Duke is an engine.

Narrator: Freddie was surprised.

Freddie: (To himself) It can't be?

Duncan: Then your as bad as he is Sir Handel! All engine Dukes were scrapped. Ask Duck.

Skarloey: Duck doesn't know everything!

Mane 6 ponies/main 6 drivers/Mane 6 foals: Indeed he doesn't!

Narrator: The engines jumped and looked to see the all of the ponies and the 6 drivers, whom had just returned from there camping trip, standing at the sheds.

Mr. Holden: The Duke these two are talking about for your information Duncan, is an engine! But not the engine that Duck thought you were talking about Peter Sam. Remember, he was thinking about GWR DukeDog class 4-4-0 GWR engines named after dukes. Not your duke.

Rachel: (Indignant) Yeah but he still made my boy friend and brother in law very upse….

Miss Ravens: Rachel, please let us finish.

Narrator: Rachel subsided.

Miss Ravens: Listen the Duke that Peter Sam and Sir Handel are referring to is actually a George England and Co. Little England class 0-4-0 ST-T Steam engine. You see, it was a misunderstanding. Duck never meant any harm them, was talking about The Dukedogs being all scrapped, not duke himself.

Narrator: Rachel, Peter Sam and Sir Handel blushed and looked at their buffers.

Mr. Hawkins: Ah well, at least we got this little mix up unmixed up as I always call it.

Freddie: (Even more stunned and talking to himself) Wait a sec. It just has to…

Narrator: Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Rachel all smiled. Then the two ex Mid Sodor engines finally confessed.

Peter Sam: Alright, before I ever came here… I used to be called Stuart.

Sir Handel: And I was called Falcon. We named each other after our designers.

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: And we used to work… on the Mid Sodor Railway, a railway far on the west side of the island which has long since closed down.

Freddie: (Teary eyed ) Falcon …. Stuart?

Sir Handel/Peter Sam: That's right Freddie. We've missed you, Uncle Freddie (Tearing up).

Freddie: (Tearing up ) I've missed you too falcon and stuart…

Narrator: Almost all of the ponies and staff were either hiding there tears or bursting into tears.

Peter Sam: (Teary eyed) We're sorry keeping this horrible secret for so long.

Sir Handel: (Teary eyed) We were scared that none of you would believe us and have us sent away for scrap.

Rheneas: What?! Bless you no… We would never stoop down that low.

Rusty: Why on earth would you think that?

Peter Sam: Because, after the 2 of us were sold off to the Alumuim Works… the engines there would try to scrap us because we talked about our old line.

Rachel: Oh my word! That's just cruel. I would never wish that upon you my dear Peter Sam. Neither on Sir Handel.

William: And neither would I. Sure we may have gotten off on the wrong wheel Peter Sam, but, I never, ever want to have you scrapped. And we did became good friends afterwards.

Narrator: And everybody and everypony agreed.

Skarloey: Rheneas is right. We have nothing against you 3 for being from different railway. You can tell us anything. Come on now. How about you tell us about him so that we can help you.

Mr. Holden/ Miss Ravens: Go ahead you two.

Narrator: Everyone sat down. Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens got they're diaries and pens out

Mr. Holden: Hey! What the… Wait a minute! Where's my pen?! Ugh! Pinkie! If you….

Pinkie Pie: I found it Mr. Holden! You dropped it and I picked up so you didn't forget it.

Mr. Holden: (Blushing with embarrassment) Oh uh, thank you. Aheheheheh.

(Pinkie Pie plays trombone fail song)

Narrator: So after getting his pen back, the foals and Twilight Sparkle all grabbed not books and quills and ink of course. Peter Sam and Sir Handel took a deep breath and this is the story they told. It happened when Sir Handel was new to the line… Now have you remembered that in those days he was called falcon and painted blue? (Reader nods) Oh you have. Heheh. Well then, now we can begin.

(Mid Sodor Railway. 1904)

Narrating Sir Handel: This story takes place in 1904, at time in which I was still learning the roots of the line. One day, the manager came to see me. Angus Sean Holden and Sky Dasher were busy tending to me.

Sweetie Belle: (Through flashback) Who's Angus Sean Holden and Sky Dasher?

Sir Handel: (Through flashback) If I recall correctly, Angus was Mr Holden's grandfather and Sky Dasher was Rainbow Dash's great grandmother.

Mr Holden: (Through Flashback) He sure was.

Rainbow Dash: (Through Flashback) Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! My great grandmother worked on Sodor too?!

Sir Handel: (Through flashback) Please, I can't carry on with the story if you keep interrupting me.

Mr Holden/Rainbow Dash: (Through flashback) Oh, sorry!

MSR Manager: Falcon, I am pleased with your work so far. Now Falcon, you must learn the mountain road.

Narrator: Falcon was excited.

Falcon: Yes please Sir.

MSR manager: Heheheh. Very well. That's settled. Tomorrow you will go double heading on it with Duke and Twilight Dusk and Elizabeth Emily Ravens. They'll explain everything.

Narrating Sir Handel: The manager left to make the arrangements. At the time, I didn't like this. Um… well, I thought Duke was an old fuss pot and a regular class A fuddy-duddy, though of course this has changed as time went on. As for Twilight Dusk, well, according to Sky Dasher, she was an egghead.

Angus Holden: Oh come on Falcon, Sky Dasher! You've got to give them a fair chance.

Falcon: Huph! If I know Duke, he'd just ramble on and on about his grace the whole journey and I won't have time to look at the view. He's an old fusspot.

Sky Dasher: Yeah, and Twilight Dusk will just ramble on about her books and studies. She's such an egghead.

Falcon/Sky Dasher: And both are regular old fuddy-duddies.

Angus Holden: (Sighs) This is going to take a while.

Narrating Sir Handel: In the summer months usually between Easter and Michaelmas, Duke would pull a special passenger excursion train that was one for holiday makers. Running between Arlesburgh at 10am, calling at all stations as well as many beauty spots on route for ramblers and picnic parties and it had a relaxed timing to allow for these. The return left Peel Godred a 3.30pm returning passengers to Arlesburgh at 5.10 in time for High tea at the sacred hour (to Sudrian Landladies) of 5.30. He called it, 'the picnic'. The next day, I was ready and waiting at Arlesburgh station with a fresh coat of paint with Angus and Sky Dasher giving me a final checking over, when Duke, Elizabeth Ravens and Twilight Dusk arrived and drew forward beside me.

Featherweight: (Through flashback) Who are they?

Sir Handel: (Through flashback) Well, I think Twilight Dusk was Twilight Sparkle's great grandmother, and Elizabeth Emily Ravens was…

Miss Ravens: (Through flashback) My grandmother!

Twilight Sparkle: (Through flashback) Oh wow! I need to take this down!

Sir Handel: (Through flashback) Do calm yourselves girls, I haven't even gotten half done and Peter Sam still needs to tell his story.

Miss Ravens/Twilight Sparkle: (Through flashback) Oh! Sorry!

Elizabeth Ravens: Listen, the mountain road is difficult.

Twilight Dusk: You guys had better watch where your going. There have been terrible accidents on the Mountain Road a few times.

Duke: You take the train and I'll couple in front and lead.

Falcon: No. I'll lead. How can I learn the road with you lumbering ahead and blocking the view?

Sky Dasher: Yeah! I want to see the whole island without using my wings.

Duke: Suit yourselves. But never mind the view. Attended to track.

Angus Holden: (Sighs) Been trying to tell them that all day yesterday and this morning.

Elizabeth Ravens: Never mind Angus. Hopefully they'll learn before it's too late.

Narrating Sir Handel: Angus Holden, Twilight Dusk and Duke quietly agreed with her. Finally, the guards whistle blew and green flag waved and me and Duke started off.

Duke: (On starting) Look at the track! Never mind the view!

Twilight Dusk: (On starting) Be sure to keep focus at all times. This is very tricky.

Falcon: (On starting) Fusspot! Fusspot!

Sky Dasher: (On starting) Egghead, egghead!

Falcon/Sky Dasher: Fuddy duddy! Fuddy duddy! Fuddy duddy!

Angus Holden/Elisabeth Ravens: Oh for the love of Sodor, shut up!

Duke: Pay no attention. Just carry on.

Twilight Dusk: Be calm. We can't afford accidents up here.

Elizabeth Ravens: Good point you 2.

Angus Holden: Your right… (Checks Falcon) Whoa! Slow down young one. This isn't a race.

Falcon: (Groans) I wanted to go a little faster.

Duke: No Falcon. It's too dangerous to go faster then need be.

Falcon: Easy for you to say!

Narrating Sir Handel: Leaving Alresdale, we rattled through the first Tunnel, crossed the river arles, looped round, re crossed the river and entered the second tunnel climbing all the time. Our speed grew slower and slower.

Angus Holden: (Checks Falcon's speed) Easy on boy! Slow down.

Elizabeth Ravens: (Checks Duke's speed) Good boy. Alright, we're all good.

Flacon: Don't! dawdle! Don't dawdle!

Sky Dasher: Yeah! We need to get to the top as quickly as possible.

Duke: No hurry! No hurry!

Twilight Dusk: We need to go steady here.

Narrator: The tunnel was curved and pitch black. Sky Dasher and I didn't like the tunnel. We felt stifled and wanted to get out.

Falcon: I want to get out! I want to get out!

Sky Dasher: Ah! Get us out of here!

Angus Holden: It's ok you 2. Calm down, we'll be fine.

Narrator: Presently, the light at the other end grew and two ribbons of track appeared ahead in the gloom.

Duke: Watch the track! Watch the track!

Twilight Dusk: Careful, don't slip.

Falcon: Fusspot! Fusspot!

Sky Dasher: (Same time as Falcon) Egghead, egghead!

Narrating Sir Handel: The tunnel mouth grew larger and larger, till at last we burst into the Sudrian sunshine. The line here swung sharply right it was laid on ledge cut into the hill side. Below lay the valley up which they had come. Track and buildings looked tiny, like toys. No one quite knows what happened next. Duke, Twilight Dusk, Angus Holden and Elizabeth Ravens said that they're must have been something on the track and Sky Dasher and I hadn't kept a good lookout. Sky Dasher and I said that we were dazzled, so how could we keep a good lookout? Anyway, our coaches had barely cleared the tunnel, when suddenly I lurched. My front wheels derailed crunched over the sleepers and ballast, and I came to rest with one wheel uncomfortably and dangerously over the edge.

(Exiting tunnel)

Sky Dasher: (Sighs) That's better. I need to be able to see the sky!

Falcon: (Sigh) Finally. I thought we'd never get out of that tunne… whoa! whoa whoa! WWWHHHHHHHOAAAAAAAA!

(Derails as Angus and Sky Dasher jumped/flew clear)

Angus Holden: Oh my stars!

Sky Dasher: SSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAA!

Elizabeth Ravens: Good lord!

Twilight Dusk: What in Equestria!?

Falcon: HELP!

Narrator: Duke had saved me, now he bravely held on with all his strength with locked wheels and taunt couplings.

Duke: (Cross) YOUNG IDIOT! STOP SHAKING! STOP IT! I CAN'T HOLD YOU IF YOU SHAKE!

Falcon: (Stuttering and holding back tears) S-sorry!

Narrating Sir Handel: I tried to stop shuddering, but it was hard not to. Quickly, Twilight Dusk and Elizabeth Ravens chocked Duke's wheels with wooden boards, and strengthen the couplings between us.

Duke: (Sigh) Thank you. Now I'll manage.

Narrating Sir Handel: With Duke secure, Twilight Dusk, Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens and Sky Dasher helped by a platelayer, propped up my front end. They were looking forward to a rest when suddenly more trouble came when Duke began wheeshing in an alarming way.

Duke: (Coughs) Oh my. That's isn't good. (Coughs)

Sky Dasher/Falcon: (Alarmed) Now what?!

Narrating Sir Handel: Twilight Dusk ran to his cab.

Twilight Dusk: WATER! WE NEED WATER QUICKLY!

Narrating Sir Handel: Luckily, the platelayers cottage stood nearby. The platelayer went up, explained to his wife and the passengers soon borrowed jugs buckets, kettles, sauce pans, anything in fact which could hold water, even a bathtub.

Pinkie Pie: (Through flashback) Hahahahahah! A bathtub? Oh, that's a good one Sir Handel.

Sir Handel: (Through flashback) No, I am not kidding Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie: (Through flashback) Say wha…

Narrating Sir Handel: Anyway, they formed a chain from the well to Duke and passed them from hand to hand. Twilight Dusk, meanwhile reduced Duke's fire and anxiously watched the gauge. It was hot and tiring work for Duke needed many gallons. At last….

Twilight Dusk: (Cheerfully) WE'RE WINNING! DON'T WEAKEN!

Narrating Sir Handel: And they all set back to work with an all mighty will. At last, Duke's thirst was quenched and the passengers cheered they cheered again too when brake down gang arrived. They showed the passengers how to lever me back on to the rails. Then, Duke and I started off once more. This time, I was extra careful and watched the track. The manager was waiting at the top station. He apologised to the passengers and thanked them for there help.

Passengers: Not at all. We admire the way you put things right, and enjoyed the adventure as well.

Narrating Sir Handel: Then they thanked Duke and his crew for preventing a nasty accident.

Passenger: Your Duke is a hero! He stood firm like a bulldog and just wouldn't let go!

Angus Holden: And Twilight Dusk and Elizabeth did well too.

Elizabeth Ravens: You were a big help too Angus.

Narrating Sir Handel: I was grateful, and thanked Duke, Elizabeth and Twilight Dusk too.

Falcon: Thank you for saving me Duke, Twilight Dusk, Elisabeth. I don't know why you bothered after I've been so rude.

Sky Dasher: Yeah. You guys really did work hard out there. I was very impressed.

Narrating Sir Handel: Duke and Twilight Dusk smiled and chuckled.

Duke: Ah well. You just had a new coat of paint. It would have been a pity if you had rolled down the mountain and spoiled it. That would never had suited his grace.

Twilight Dusk: And you Sky Dasher, had a meeting with the Wonderbolts. If you had of flown down after Falcon, then your mane and tail would have been ruined and you wouldn't want Jewel after you.

Narrating Sir Handel: And we all laughed and chuckled.

Falcon: I promise I won't try to fall off the Mountain Road again. I really owe you for this, Granpuff.

Narrating Sir Handel: This was actually the 1st time that the nickname 'Granpuff' had been brought up, and needless to say, Duke was surprised, but touched too.

Elizabeth Ravens: Aww. I think you yourself a grandson there Duke.

Duke: Well... I... I don't know what to say. No one's ever called me that before. Very well then. You can call me 'Granpuff'.

Elizabeth Ravens: Say, Twilight Dusk, Sky Dasher, Angus, do you 3 want to join me in a round of some of Zap Apple's and Apple Blossom's cider?

Angus Holden/Sky Dasher/Twilight Dusk: Good idea Elizabeth!

Narrating Sir Handel: When Duke, myself and the other engines were back in the shed that evening, the 2 ponies and humans ran to find the apple sisters.

Yeah. Your probably wondering, 'Why are Miss Ravens' and Mr Holden's grandparents there? Should it be their parents?' Well, that will have to be uncovered in a later saga. Look out for "You Can't Win", next.