Author's notes: This is another one of those sad ones, but don't worry. There is a happy ending to come. Also, this is where Emily finds her love interest.

An End To An Era

(Sodor 1914)

James holden Narrating: It is 1914. It is a bit of sorrowful day for most of us. The old S&M Railway had gone bankrupt in 1910 just when my son William turned 4 years old and my best friend Marie's Daughter, Rachel, turned 3 years old. My Father, Angus, told me that the S&M Closed down due to a loss of traffic and passengers. In order to keep the engines safe the manager purposed to that in order to protect the S&M engines. Me, Marie, my father and Marie's mother all agreed to hide the engines from the scrappers torch, but unfortunately Sean nor Rolf couldn't be spared and so Hero, Neil, Emily and Winfred were put into hiding with the help of our friend ponies. But before the financial collapse, and we did give one last hurrah from 1906 to 1910.

(1906)

Marie Ravens: Neil, along with my friend James Holden and Zap Apple gave Emily and Jewel a lesson on trucks. Jewel wasn't pleased one bit, but Emily did mind one bit.

Jewel: Oh! I detest working with such scruffy wagons. They are crime against fashion!

Emily: I don't mind. It seems quite fun.

Jewel: Your kidding me. You actually like trucks? Your a passenger engine!

Marie Ravens: Oh come on Jewel. It's not all about passengers. Goods are important too, right Winfred?

Winfred: Exactly. They help to build the economies, something very important to know. Why without goods trains, you wouldn't have any materials to make your gorgeous outfits.

Jewel: Well, now that you put it that way, I think your right.

Zap Apple: YYEEHAWWW! Now that's the spirt! Now come along now. We'll teach you how to shunt and then how to pull trucks and you'll be as right as rain.

Marie Ravens Narrating: Emily was a good learner and she handled supply trains and slate trains very well. Even my best friend James was impressed.

James Holden: Well now your quite the versatile engine.

Marie Ravens: One day, she pulled into the newly built Ballahoo Station with her local goods train when another train came in. To Emily, the engine was very handsome as he came into sight.

Emily: Oh my word. Who's that?

Marie Ravens: Hmm. He isn't one of the S&M or W&S engines, but I know his class is a K2 'Larger Seagull'. He must be from the Furness Railway.

(The K2 pulls in)

Emily: Hullo.

K2: Oh hullo there. My word, your quite a beautiful engine

Emily: And…your...v...very nice looking too. Um… um… pardon me, but may I ask your name?

K2: Well, I unfortunately don't have an name.

Narrator Marie Ravens: Emily thought long and hard. She then looked at me.

Emily: Uh, Marie, what's your husband's name again?

Marie Ravens: He's name is Edward.

Emily: Thank you. (Looks over at the K2) Do you like that name?

Edward: Okay. I like that. Edward shall be, Miss..

Emily: Oh umm… mmy name is is uh… Emily…

Edward: Oh, what a wonderful name Emily.

Emily: Oh thank you Edward. So um, what brings you to Sodor?

Edward: I'm actually here to bring a local goods back to the Furness Railway.

Emily: Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.

Edward: Don't worry. Just keep faith, and who knows? Maybe we'll see each other again.

Emily: I hope so.

Narrator Marie Ravens: Just then, the guard blew the whistle and Edward puffed away. Emily sighed

Emily: (Sigh) What wonderful engine.

Jewel: Aww. It looks like Emily is love. (giggles mouth hushed)

Marie Ravens: Ssshh. Keep it down!

Marie Ravens Narrating: Soon, Emily turned round on the turntable and went home. Years passed and hard times soon hit. Passenger numbers began dwindling, even the P.S Cumberland didn't call at the port. Track work was poor and locomotives and rolling stock derailed on there way to and from the port. Time was lost and re-railing them.

Zap Apple: It looks like we're losing lots of goods work and passengers. This Ain't lookin' good.

Neil: Aye. I know what ye mean lass.

Narrator Marie Ravens: Soon the fishing industry closed and soon the passengers dwindled, and at last in 1910, the railway closed.

Manager: I am afraid this is the end for all of us.

Jewel: But what about Emily and Rolf?

Sky Dasher: And Sean and Hero of Sodor?

Zap Apple: And Neil and Winfried?

Marie Ravens/James Holden: Surely you can't scrap them surely.

Manager: I'm sorry but I'm afraid this is the end of the engines. How ever, after such good service from Neil, Winfred, Hero and Emily I wouldn't dream of scrapping them. We'll put them into hiding where no one can scrap them. I'm sorry for the loss of Sean, James Holden.

James Holden: I understand sir.

Marie Ravens Narrates: Before we took the engines into hiding we had one last hurrah. We all went on one last express train run. All 6 of our engines, our families and all 3 ponies joined in one last run along the line. We all enjoyed it very well, though tears filled our eyes.

James Holden Narrator: Unfortunately father, your grandfathers's engine wasn't saved but the manager gave me his name plate to hang over the fire place mantle to keep a part of him as a memory of him. Oh, it's nearly time for me to catch my train to England to fight in this so called great war. Before I go, I want you to know that incase I don't make it out I will always love forever William. And so I write this to you William James Holden my loving son from your loving father

Marie ravens Narrating: After we hid Winfred, Emily, Hero and Neil, we had gotten word that the great war was now in full swing. The ponies, fearing for there lives, decided it would be best to leave. Me and James Holden begged them to reconsider but they said they had no choice after all they no longer had any work here anymore but they did promise to come back one day. So we all went to the magic buffers said our good buys and the flag had finally fallen. But my dear Daughter Rachel I beg you not be sad as the great American inventor of the telephone alexander Grahamnbell once said. 'When one door closes another opens'. This time, you and your friend William Holden can write this next chapter together, and so I write to you, Rachel Marie Ravens, my loving daughter from your loving mother.

(Present day)

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens turned the next pages but they were blank so they closed the book. There was a long silence. Not one pony or human spoke…. At last, Miss Ravens spoke up.

Miss Ravens: Gee wizard…. Thank you for this book.

Mr. Holden: Indeed, thank you very much Mr. Volley but mind you, how did you come across it?

Mr. Volley: Well, before William Holden's father went to war and died, he consulted with your mother Rachel Ravens, and she asked me to look after this book incase it fell into the wrong hands. But now that time has passed, I think it's only fair that I return it to the both of you.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh my goodness! So that's what happened to the lost ancestors. I had no idea.

Rainbow Dash: Wicked.

Narrator: Fluttershy couldn't speak she was burying her face into Mrs. Volley in tears as Mrs. Volley hugged the little pegasi

Applejack: So that explains a lot about my ancestors past.

Rarity: And mine too.

Rainbow Dash: And mine.

Mr. Volley: It was my pleasure youngins, to bring back a little history.

Narrator: The clock struck the hour and the ponies and drivers had to go home. As they did, Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens were still thought about the book written by their parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

Yep. If you guess that Emily's love interest was Edward, you were correct. See you in part 4.