Author's notes: I really like this one. It shows how creative people can get with their rewrites. Adding in Sigrid was a great touch.

Sticking Power

Narrator: It was 1975 and the summer season was drawing to a close. It had been a very busy year. Tourist trains and goods trains became heavier and longer. Even with the help of Sigrid of Arlesdale, the workload was still heavier than ever and the small railway engines and the foal ponies were all worked off there hooves and wheels, especially for Bert, he had been feeling unwell for several decades. Throughout the late 1960's and early 1970's, poor Bert, whom was the oldest of the Arlesdale Railway engines, had started to become a very poor steamer. He had a very delicate fire that needed a very careful firing technique, but no matter how hard Mr. Holden or Twist tried, almost every day, Bert rolled home nearly out of puff or being towed home completely out of steam by either Frank, Sigrid or one of the local farmer's shire horses. Rex and Mike were unsympathetic and often made Bert a laughing stock.

Rex/Mike: (Mockingly) Poor old Bert.

Mike: Heheheheh. What a shame. He's out of puff.

Snips: Hey! That was not nice Mike!

Mr. Hawkins: Yeah. It's not his fault and you know it!

Rex: I know what you mean Mike. Heheheh. No stamina in these youngster these days. Heheheheh.

Snails: Rex! How rude!

Rex: What? We're just stating a fact.

Miss Ravens: Then tell me Rex. Who broke down from a leaky steam pipe back in 1967 and derailed himself the same year at the green?

Mr Hawkins: And Mike, who whistled so loudly that they lost their whistle the same year?

(Pinkie Pie playing trombone fail)

Mike: Oi! At least you and Snips fixed my whistle.

Rex: And, at least you and Snails fixed my steam pipe and re-railed me. Besides, I haven't been struggling with my trains like poor old Bert the hypochondriac engine Heheheheh.

Mike: Hahahaha! Oh good one Rex! You know what you need Bert, is sticking power and more determination.

Narrator: Mike and Rex burst into laughter until they cried.

Mike: Get it? Sticking power! hahahahaha…

Snips: Hey now, that was very uncalled for.

Mr. Hawkins: That was very rude of you Mike. Apologise to him right now.

Narrator: Bert felt hurt and although he tried not to cry, a tear or two trickled down his face.

Bert: (Offended) Hmph! Sticking power be blown (Sad sigh) I should have known that I'd get no sympathy from you.

Mike: Oh quite griping Bert you old timer. You just don't hard enough like me and Rex do.

Rex: Yeah. It's all in your smokebox so stop being such a lazy slacker Bert!

Sigrid: (Blows her horn) THAT IS ENOUGH FROM BOTH OF YOU!

Narrator: Rex and Mike jumped and there backing down next to Bert's side of the shed was Sigrid of Arlesdale looking very cross at Rex and Mike. Mr Thomson, Gingersnap and Tornado Bolt looked crossly at the red and green Arlesdale Miniature Engines.

Sigrid: Listen here! Just because bert has steaming troubles does not give you any rights to bully him!

Gingersnap: Yeah! If you two were foal scouts, scoutmaster Braeburn would be very ashamed of you!

Tornado Bolt: Just leave the poor engine alone. It's not his fault and you two jolly well know that!

Sigrid: You two will be late with your trains if you dawdle about here and pick on your brother Bert like rotten children! Now get going to your trains AND LEAVE BERT ALONE!

Narrator: Soon, Rex and Mike puffed nervously away. They knew better than to argue with Sigrid of Arlesdale. This left, Sigrid, Gingersnap, Tornado Bolt, Twist, Mr Thomson and Mr. Holden alone with Bert.

Bert: (Sad, tears dripping from his eyes) Sigrid I… I try very very hard. I'm very sorry for causing delays.

Sigrid: Oh it's alright Bert. I know you can't help your condition. At least you do manage to get your trains to there destinations. That takes a lot of courage. I'm proud of you Bert and so is the small controller and Princess Cadence.

Tornado Bolt: Same here.

Twist: Yeah. You're a truly are a useful engine on our railway.

Gingersnap: Ditto. You'd make my scoutmaster Braeburn very proud. Why, he'd give you a merit badge for your determination. I'll ask at one of our meetings if we can bring ours scout troop to ride aboard your next passenger train.

Mr. Holden: Couldn't agree more. You remind me of Duke, the SKR No.8, as well as the SkR's numbers 1 and 2, Skarloey and Rheanes.

Mr Thomson: And Edward the blue engine when he managed to bring a train home on one cylinder.

Sigrid: That's right. You may be a little bit old and have little bit of steaming problems, but your still a very useful engine.

Narrator: Bert smiled sheepishly.

Bert: Thanks Sigrid, Gingersnap, Tornado Bolt, Twist, Mr. Holden, and you too Miss Ravens.

Narrator: But the next morning, Bert woke up feeling terrible. When Twist and Mr. Holden came to get him started, he felt like he couldn't breath properly.

Bert: Oh dear. I can't get my breath properly.

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Twist feeling worried checked Bert all over.

Twist: Ah ha! Theres your problem. Your tubes are worn you'll need new ones, but I'm afraid we can't spare you at present.

Mr. Holden: Yeah. Just try to keep going and we'll get you a new set of tubes come winter.

Narrator: Mr. Holden paused and looked over his shoulder then he whispered to Twist and Bert.

Mr. Holden: Keep this under your dome Bert, but I did hear rumours about a new engine being built. And good thing too, we need one because in case any of you five failed we'd really be in trouble. Can you also keep this a secret to Twist?

Narrator: Bert and Twist promised and she and Mr Holden soon gave Bert's tubes a good cleaning before Bert took his first train. This tactic helped, but Bert soon began to feel poorly again. Mike and Rex still went on teasing him but Bert took no notice and just gritted his teeth and did his best with both goods and tourist train.

Mr. Holden: What a show Bert!

Twist: Well done Bert!

Narrator: It was the last day of the tourist season. At Alresburgh platform, Bert's train was completely full of tourists and ponies. Gingersnap was also good as her word, Braeburn and the foal scouts were also passengers on the train and were excited. Twist gave Bert's old tubes such a cleaning that she could see herself through them, Mr. Holden lit Bert's fire as a carefully as he could. Then, once Bert had steam up, Mr. Holden and Twist climbed into his cab and drove him to the platform.

Mr. Holden: Now, steady Bert old boy. We've got a full tourist passenger train today. Think you can manage?

Bert: (Bravely) I'll try.

Narrator: Bert was soon coupled on. The guards whistle blew and the green flag waved. With a blast on the whistle, Bert puffed out of the station. He trundled valiantly along the line, stopping at each station for a pause of rest. After leaving Ffarquhar Road station, he passed Sigrid of Arlesdale, Tornado Bolt and Mr Thomson who cheered him on.

Tornado Bolt: That a boy Bert. Keep it up!

Mr Thomson: You're doing really well Bert!

Sigrid: Oh, good show Bert. Good show. Keep at it mate! You're doing great.

Narrator: Leaving Ffarquhar Road, Bert climbed the first hill at Victorian pace. Mr. Holden and Twist were very impressed.

Twist: What a show Bert. Keep at old boy and we'll be at Alresdale before we know it.

Mr. Holden: Well done old boy. Keep it up!

Narrator: Bert did very good despite his condition. And by afternoon they had reached the top station at Arlesdale in fine style. Bert felt very proud as ran onto the turntable to be turned round for the return journey. Although his train was full, Bert only lost a few minutes on the up journey. After being turned round, Bert ran eagerly around his coaches for the down journey.

Bert: (To himself) Right. That gives me the chance for a good breather before we go down again.

Narrator: Once coupled up, he simmered happily and waited for the guard to blow his whistle and wave his green flag. There was hill beyond the station. It was only a little bit steep. Bert knew that once he had crest it, he could run home without losing time. At last, the whistle blew and the green flag waved and Bert started away eagerly.

Bert: Come on! Come on! Come on! (Jerk) OOOHH!

Narrator: Suddenly with a jerk, everything became surprisingly easy. Mr. Holden and Twist looked back.

Mr. Holden: WHOA THERE BERT! Back we go!

Bert: What?

Twist: We left the train behind.

Narrator: They went back to the station where the guard met them.

Guard: Bert's tender coupling has broken. I'm afraid we'll just have to stick around until someone can give us a spare.

Narrator: Bert snorted indignantly.

Bert: Hmph! Stick around! Hmph! I know what Mike and Rex will say about sticking.

Gingersnap: Hey I've got an idea.

Narrator: Gingersnap, who was on the train with the rest of the foal scouts and Braeburn her scout master had heard the dilemma. She informed Braeburn about her idea and spoke to Mr. Holden and Twist.

Twist: That's a great idea

Mr. Holden: Wonderful. We'll just take it easy when we get started, but get the super kind.

Narrator: Gingersnap ran inside the station shop and came out with a box.

Bert: What in the name of Sodor is that?

Mr. Holden: Glue! And it's super glue too. It's said that it's to stick anything.

Narrator: Bert's eyes widened as mouth dropped in disbelief.

Bert: (Disbelief) WHAT? Have you and Twist gone mad or something?! I'm sure that glue can stick anything but a train. You think that this stuff can stick a fully load train!?

Mr. Holden: Heheheheh. Well Bert, we won't know unless we try.

Narrator: And he, Gingersnap and Twist set to work. Bert sighed heavily.

Bert: (Sigh) Now I've heard everything…

Narrator: Just then an idea came to him and Pinkie Pie, who was on the train too with the mane 6, rushed over and held a light bulb over Bert's smoke box then dashed back into her coach. Bert thanked Pinkie Pie and he smiled.

Bert: Heheheheh. Ah yes. That'll stop their teasing.

Narrator: At last, the job was done and they were on their way again.

Mr. Holden: Alright Bert, there's no hurry. We'll take it gently and make sure the passengers get home Guard and the foal scouts have explained what has happened and that they don't mind being late.

Narrator: The hill near the station was the difficult part. Gently and carefully, Bert eased the train over it. After that though, he took care. It was with growing confidence that he brought the train home. At Arlseburgh Station, the passengers all got out and gave Bert and his crew and Gingersnap three cheers.

Braeburn: Well done there Gingersnap for helping us get back home with your tactic. I scout leader Braeburn, hereby award you the Emergency Preparedness merit badge.

Narrator: The foal scouts cheered loudly as Gingersnap saluted for her achievement, but Braeburn wasn't done yet.

Braeburn: And Bert for bravery and helping us get home I hereby award you with the railway merit badge. Gingersnap was right, you truly are very useful little engine Bert.

Narrator: Gingersnap winked as the badge was placed inside Bert's cab. Bert could only whistle a salute to scout master Braeburn as the passengers foal scouts, the small controller and Princess Cadence all cheered loudly. That evening, Bert was resting in the sheds with Sigrid of Arlesdale. Frank had already gone to sleep so Bert told Sigrid of Arlesdale everything. She was very proud of Bert.

Bert: And foal scoutmaster Braeburn not only gave Gingersnap a merit badge, he also gave me one too.

Sigrid: Oh wow.. Well I must say, I'm very proud of you Bert. You really demonstrated a lot of courage out there today.

Bert: Thank you Sigrid, but I couldn't have done it without you, Tornado Bolt and Gingersnap.

Narrator: Just then, Mike and Rex came crawling into the sheds looking tired and weary. Then the rest of the foals joined up with Miss Ravens, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Holden on they're way back to Arlesburgh in.

Mike: Whew! Thank goodness we're not busy like that every week.

Narrator: Bert and Sigrid of Alresdale grinned and winked.

Bert: Oh dear. Sorry you two are tired, but I thought that you older engines had sticking power. What you need is…

Narrator: And he told them about the adventure with the glue.

Bert: And that my dear brothers, is sticking power for you. Ah well. Some of us have it and some of us don't. Good night my brothers.

Narrator: After he and Sigrid of Arlesdale had a good laugh, they went happily to sleep.

Heh, Pinkie Pie, you are so random. Next one is 'Bert's Rebuild'. Yeah, 2 fan stories for the price of one. How's that for filling in gaps?