Author's notes: I really like this one. Goes to show you that being late isn't always a bad thing. But don't take this one too lightly, otherwise you might be too late for something important.

Better Late Than Never

Narrator: A few days had passed and Thomas' brakes were finally mended properly and he was back at work. For a while everything was running like clockwork, but month later, the engines on the island of Sodor and the ponies of the land of Equestria were finding life difficult. Workmen and workponies were mending the viaduct on the mainline west from Cronk. The arches needed strengthening but the Fat controller did not want to close the railway while the work was being done, so he and Princess Celestia created a speed restriction across the bridge for a while, and this meant that the repairs took a long time. The engines and to take great care when crossing the viaduct, and the delay often made them late on they're journey to Knapford junction where they knew Thomas would be there with Twilight sparkle and Mr. Hawkins, ready to collect their passengers. Twilight Sparkle and Mr. Hawkins didn't mind they knew that safety had to come first. On other buffer, Thomas grew crosser and crosser.

Thomas: (Cross) Times time! Why should I keep my passengers waiting whilst Henry, Fluttershy, Applejack, James, Rarity, Belle, Blossomforth, Hero and Top Tapper dawdle about all day on viaducts!

Fluttershy: Hhhhnnnhh. Oh my. I'm so sorry!

Applejack: Hey, chill out Thomas! It ain't our fault. That the viaduct needs repairs!

Henry: Applejack is right. Don't blame us! If we hurried across the viaduct, it might collapse and your passengers would come down with us, and then you wouldn't have any passengers at all, so what would you do then?

Narrator: Thomas just scoffed

Thomas: Run my trains on time, that's one thing.

Narrator: He hurried away before Henry, Fluttershy and Applejack could reply. But Twilight Sparkle, Mr. Hawkins, Annie and Clarabel had plenty to say.

Mr. Hawkins: Your pushing it Thomas!

Annie: At the least the mainline engines have a reason for being late!

Clarabel: Safety always comes first, not punctuality!

Twilight Sparkle: You took the words right out of my mouth Mr. Hawkins, Annie and Clarabel.

Thomas: Oh really? Coming from a unicorn that hates being tardy!

Twilight Sparkle: You better mind you're P's and Q's Thomas. I don't like these delays as much as you do, and neither do the mainline engines, but for goodness sake I'd rather pick safety over being on time!

Narrator: Thomas snorted crossly and stayed silent. But Thomas wasn't the only growing impatient. At the top station at Ffarquhar, Bertie the bus was timed to arrive just after Thomas, but his passengers found out that instead of going straight from Bertie to their train they were having to wait at the platform till Thomas arrived. Soon Bertie and Spike grew cross with Thomas. One day they were waiting crossly for Thomas at Ffarquhar, till at last Thomas came panting wearily in 10 minutes after time.

Spike/Bertie: Late again!

Bertie: We all maybe friends here, but I thought that you could go fast Thomas!

Spike: Yeah, and I thought from experience that you hated being tardy Twilight.

Narrator: Bertie and Spike winked at each other.

Bertie: I think it's high time that we had another race. I reckon I can beat you now Thomas.

Spike: Yeah, and with me at the wheel and Pinkie Pie now with Percy, you and Thomas will be left in the dust, Twilight!

Twilight Sparkle: Huh?! But I?! WHAT?!

Narrator: Thomas went bluer than ever and hissing furiously, Thomas let off steam loudly and twilight also let off steam from her nostrils!

Thomas/Twilight: (Exasperated) RUBBISH!

Thomas: I'd still beat you any day Bertie, even if you were with Spike!

Twilight Sparkle: And you know as well as I do Spike that it's the viaduct repairs that are delaying us. I may like being punctual but I and you know too that safety to passengers always comes first. Both the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia have made that clear to all of us!

Thomas: It's also those main line engines faults and there ponies as well! They dither about on their viaduct and then blame the Fat Controller's workmen and Princess Celestia's workponies. It's just an excuse for laziness if you ask me!

Narrator: Thomas collected his passengers and snorted away fuming with rage. One morning, James with his Tidmouth Thunderbird was later than ever at the junction as he panted breathlessly into the platform.

James: I'm sorry I'm late Thomas. I was held up at the station and the viaduct made it worse.

Rarity: Were sorry. Gator and Miss Peachbottom were delayed at the viaduct and we had to wait for their path to clear.

Miss Ravens: Yeah, and speed restriction delayed us badly.

Mr. Hawkins: Oh, that's alright.

Twilight Sparkle: Yeah, at least you tried to make it.

Thomas: Hmph! It's lucky for you that I'm a guaranteed connection.

Narrator: He puffed importantly away, leaving James, Rarity and Miss Ravens at a loss for words. Thomas whistled at every station.

Thomas: Come on come on!

Annie and Clarabel: We're coming along we're coming along.

Narrator: Twilight checked her watch anxious. Thomas whistled at every station.

Thomas: PEEP! PEEP! Get in quickly please!

Twilight: Come on! Come on! Clock is ticking! (Nearly crazed) Clock is ticking!

Mr. Hawkins: Twilight! Calm down and think clearly!

Twilight Sparkle: (Shakes herself out of craziness) Oh yeah. Your right.

Narrator: Annie, Clarabel and the passengers all did their best but Thomas Twilight and Mr. Hawkins found that they couldn't save much time. Suddenly as they neared the tunnel, Thomas thought that he saw a flash of red on the road beside the line.

Thomas: Wait a minute. That looks like Bertie, but Bertie should have got to Ffarquhar ages ago.

Twilight Sparkle: And that's looks like Spike's with him.

Narrator: It was Bertie, and spike was there flagging them down. Thomas stopped close by as he could. Bertie's radiator was steaming.

Thomas: What's the matter? Your late.

Twilight Sparkle: You should have been at Ffarquharr by now. Is everything alright spike?

Spike: Yeah, I'm okay Twilight, but I'm afraid Bertie's radiator's overheated and he's broken down. Me and the driver tried everything, but it's no good.

Bertie: I feel dreadful all upset inside and driver and Spike say that they can't make me better.

Spike/Bertie: (Sigh) I never thought we'd say this, but, thank goodness you guys are late.

Bertie: Can you take my passengers please? They'll never get home otherwise.

Narrator: Thomas, Twilight and Mr Hawkins smiled kindly.

Thomas/Twilight Sparkle/Mr. Hawkins: Of course.

Twilight Sparkle: You can ride with us too Spike.

Spike: Oh, thank you Twilight.

Annie: Your passengers can hop on us.

Clarabel: Yes. We still have plenty of room for them. Hop abroad.

Narrator: They now felt sorry for Bertie. The passengers thankfully climbed into Annie and Clarabel and after promising Bertie that he would send for help at the next station, Thomas set off again already he was feeling much more cheerful. The passengers all reached home safely. When Bertie was better, he and Spike came to thank Thomas, Twilight and Mr Hawkins.

Bertie: I'm sorry me and Spike teased you about being late.

Spike: Yeah thank you for helping us out.

Thomas: That's alright. I'm glad that me and Twilight can help. Perhaps being late isn't such a bad thing after all.

Twilight Sparkle: Yeah I guess you could say better late than never.

Mr Hawkins: Well said Twilight.

Narrator: With a good cheerful laugh, the 5 friends went back to work.

Right. Onto 'Drip Tank'.