Author's notes: Again, this was another fun little story. It also has a good song near the end. And, as usual, I try to combine the TVS characters into the RWS stories.

Down The Drain

Narrator: China clay is not quarried like other minerals are. It is washed out of the ground with strong hoses . Then the mixture of clay and water has to settle and dry before Bill, Ben, Charlie and Fergus with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Rumble and Prim Headline and one of the main 6 drivers can take it away.

(Bill puffs away to the harbour)

Ben: Good luck Bill and Apple Bloom.

Charlie: Have fun.

Scootaloo: Careful round the drain.

Rumble: I hear it's going to flood at any time now.

Bill/Apple Bloom: We will!

Narrator: Part of the line which Bill, Ben, Fergus and Charlie use to get to harbour from the china clay works runs along the sea. There is a hallow in the land that is prone to flooding after heavy rain. The local people, ponies, engines and the drivers call this area the drain. The autumn gales which had brought down Farmer Curtis' tree that Trevor had cut up was also creating rough seas and high tides. When the rain came too, the ponies, engines and Miss Ravens, Mr. Roberts and Mr Thomson felt gloomy.

Scootaloo: Oh dear. It looks like it's gonna be a really windy and rainy day today.

Mr. Roberts: I know what you mean. A really high tide now could make really big trouble at the drain.

Narrator: But though there were pools of water on both sides of the line, miraculously they grew no larger and Bill, Ben, Charlie and Fergus puffed happily to and fro replacing loaded china clay hoods with empty ones. They had soon forgotten about the drain. Then the rain began again, pouring down in thick sheets of water. The wind began to strengthen too as the twins, Charlie and Fergus went to the china clay pits. That morning, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Rumble, Miss Ravens, Mr Thomson, and Mr. Roberts noticed that the water was gradually rising.

Apple Bloom: Oh dear. It looks like the water's is a rising

Bill: I know it does look kinda scary, but will manage, right Ben, Charlie, Fergus?

Ben/Charlie: Right Bill.

Fergus: That's the spirit you 3.

Scootaloo: Are 4 sure about it.

Bill/Ben/Charlie/Fergus: We sure are Scootaloo!

Narrator: They reached the China Clayworks safely and began to start work. Bill, Apple Bloom, Prim Hemline, Mr Roberts and Mr Thomson arranged the empty trucks, while Ben, Charlie, Scootaloo, Rumble, Miss Ravens and Mrs Walker prepared to leave with a train a full ones all were covered with hoods.

Mr Roberts: You be careful out there you lot. This storm is getting pretty bad.

Apple Bloom: Yeah, be careful not get stuck down the drain.

Scootaloo: Very funny Apple Bloom, but I know what you mean.

Mrs Walker: Don't worry. We'll be careful .

Bill/Fergus: God speed to you Ben and Charlie.

Ben/Charlie: Thank you Bill and Fergus. God speed to you too.

Narrator: Soon Ben and Charlie started off. They were going well at first but once they reached the drain they found that the water was level with the top of the rails.

Rumble: Whoa! Stop!

Scootaloo: Hold up!

Narrator: Miss Ravens and Mrs Walker prepared to stop but Ben and Charlie refused.

Ben: Come on! We must get through.

Charlie: If only to get help from Mr Roberts, Mr Thomson, Bill, Fergus, Apple Bloom and Prim Hemline.

Narrator: And they started off again. The wind blew even harder screeching as if to urge Ben and Charlie to go back. But Ben and Charlike took no notice. They were just halfway across when suddenly the rising tide whipped into a huge gigantic wave and swept across the line and crashed against Ben's and Charlie's side.

Ben: Oooff! Help! I'm losing steam!

Charlie: Ohh! So am I.

Narrator: And Ben and Charlie were right. The water splashed into their cabs and sloshed at their fires.

Scootaloo: (Alarmed) HURRY BEN! HURRY! HURRY!

Rumble: (Alarmed) CHARLIE! QUICKLY! MOVE!

Narrator: But it was too late. With a despairing gasp, Ben and Charlie stopped, marooned and stranded in the middle of the drain with cold sea water lapping their wheels.

Scootaloo: Oh great! Now what do we do?!

Rumble: Easy Loo. We just need to focus.

Miss Ravens: You wait here. I'll go and get help.

Scootalos: Alright but try to keep on the sleepers.

Mrs Walker: We don't want you swamped as well.

Miss Ravens: Thanks girls. I'll be careful. (To herself) It's a good thing I know how to swim. Bbbrrr this water is cold…

Narrator: The water reached Miss Ravens' waist but she struggled on. Thomas, Twilight Sparkle and Mr. Hawkins were in the yards

Thomas: Hmph. Where's that Ben and Charlie at? They were suppose to have be here hours ago.

Twilight Sparkle: I don't know. I hope they, Scootaloo and Rumble are alright.

Mr. Hawkins: Same here. I hope they're alright too. Same with Mrs Walker and Miss Rav…. Hey, wait a minute. There's Miss Ravens coming this way. My goodness. She's soaked!

Narrator: Miss Ravens came panting up to them cold and soaking wet.

Twilight Sparkle: Miss Ravens, what's happened? And where are Ben and Charlie…

Miss Ravens: Ben and Charlie and stuck in the drain. The drain's flood and their fires are out. We need your help to pull them out!

Narrator: Thomas, Mr. Hawkins and Twilight Sparkle were horrified.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh my goodness! We've gotta save them! Poor Scootaloo, Rumble and Mrs Walker must be stuck in the drain too.

Mr. Hawkins: Right. Come on. There's not time to lose! We need a steel cable, a pair of waders, and most importantly, determination!

Twilight/Thomas: Huh? How are food servers going to help us in this situation.

Pinkie Pie: (Dressed as a waiter) Did somepony and engine call for a waiter? What can I get you? Oh wait, engines don't eat food.

Mr. Hawkins: No you guys. Not waiters, waders! There waterproof garments for the legs and body, now come on.

Pinkie Pie: Oh, sorry. (Gallops off)

Thomas/Twilight: Oh, alright then. Lets go.

Narrator: They set of to the rescue. Thomas gently and carefully stopped near the water's edge when they arrived at the drain.

Ben: Oh thank goodness.

Charlie: Are we glad to see you Thomas and Twilight!

Narrator: Twilight attached the cable to Thomas' front end, Mr. Hawkins put on the waders and carefully set out towards Ben carrying the other end of the cable. He attached it to Ben's front end, then he uncoupled the trucks so that Bill and Fergus, who had come up behind with Mr Thomson, Mr Roberts, Apple Bloom and Prim Hemline, could pull them clear. Charlie was then coupled up behind Ben. Then, Mr Hawkins came back and joined Scootaloo in Ben's cab. Miss Ravens joined Twilight Sparkle in to Thomas' cab.

Mr. Hawkins: Right then. Ready Scootaloo?

Scootaloo: Sure thing! Lets get out of this swimming hole!

Narrator: Poor Ben and Charlie had no steam left to answer, so Scootaloo, Mr. Hawkins, Mrs Walker and Rumble had to wave to show that they were ready.

Twilight Sparkle: Alright Thomas. Lets go. There we go. Carefully now. Easy.

Narrator: Thomas carefully took the strain as he pulled Ben and Charlie. Slowly, with water cascading all around then, Ben and Charlie at last came out of the drain. Once they were out, Thomas coupled up to them and helped them back to his shed. Ben and Charlie were very grateful and their eyes twinkled for the first time in several hours.

Ben: Oh thank you Thomas, Mr. Hawkins and Twilight.

Rumble: You were very brave.

Scootaloo: I agree. you were awesome out there!

Charlie: Yeah. I'm sorry we and Bill were rude to you. Twilight, Thomas, you 2 are our heroes.

Thomas: Oh that's alright Ben and Charlie. You and Bill remind me of myself when I younger.

Twilight Sparkle: Yeah and he used to be a station pilot back at Vicarstown Station.

Thomas: You know, this whole thing at drain reminds me of a song I once heard. Have any of you heard a little number that went like this? (Singing) You can never go down
Can never go down
Can never go down the drain.
You can never go down
Can never go down
Can never go down the drain.

Mr. Hawkins: (Singing) You're bigger than the water,

Mrs Walker: (Singing) You're bigger than the soap,

Thomas: (Singing) You're much bigger than all the bubbles

Twilight Sparkle: (Singing) And bigger than your telescope,

Ben: Oh. I see…. (Singing) So you can never go down
Can never go down
Can never go down the drain.

Bill: (Singing) You can never go down
Can never go down
Can never go down the drain.

Scootaloo: (Singing) The rain my go down

Thomas: (Singing) But you can't go down

Miss Ravens/Rumble: (Singing) You're bigger than any bathroom drain.

All: (Singing) You can never go down
Can never go down
Can never go down the drain.

Narrator: It was 4 days when the water in the drain had subsided. When Bill and Fergus returned with Apple Bloom, Mr Roberts, Prim Hemline and Mr Thomson, the twins and Charlie engines agreed that it would be very unwise to tease Thomas and Twilight Sparkle ever again. A few days later, when the bridge across the river els was mended, Thomas and Twilight along with Mr. Hawkins came home to a wonderful welcome home party courtesy of Pinkie Pie and everypony, engine and driver that worked on the branchline.

Thomas: (Sigh) It was lovely fun working with Edward, again but all the same…

Thomas/Twilight Sparkle: It's wonderful to be home again.

Alright! That's done. What's next? (Gasps) Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! So excited for the next one. See you there.