Author's notes: This one is one of my favourites. Her Sandel is becoming one of my favourite fan characters. She is just so much fun to write for.

A Proud Day For Her Sandel

(Crovens Gate, 1990)

Rheanes: She must have done extremely well.

Duke: Indeed so Rheanes. But, that wasn't the last time she made a tremendous effort.

Scootaloo: What do you mean?

Duke: Well, I remember this one time where she managed to help someone get to the hospital on time.

Sir Handel: Oh! I remember now. (Winks at Duke)

Apple Bloom: Just what story is it then?

Duke: Glad you asked Apple Bloom.

(Mid Sodor years, 1906)

Narrator: Her Sandel finally came back in March of 1906 with trailing wheels and a new cab just like Falcon. She still grumbled a bit about pulling four wheel coaches and trucks, but she managed to keep it to herself, much to the relief of Jewel and Elizabeth Ravens.

Elizabeth Ravens: You know Jewel, I think Her Sandel is really starting to improve a lot.

Jewel: Of course. She's still grumbling here and there a bit, but not as much as she used to. She is really improving.

Narrator: Her Sandel heard this and was very happy and was now even more determined to improve her behaviour. Even Falcon, Sky Dasher, Angus Holden, Twilight Dusk and Duke were impressed.

Duke: Well I must say that Her Sandel is starting to show signs of improvement. Now this is very impressive.

Twilight Dusk: Indeed. She is show lots of potential.

Sky Dasher: Yeah. Despite a few grumbles here and there, she is really showing lots of improvement.

Falcon: And she's even stopped insulting me too. I hope she keeps it this way.

Angus Holden: Same here.

Narrator: Her Sandel was making great progress. Eventually, she got used to pulling 4 wheel coaches and even stopped grumbling about pulling trucks. By 1907, Her Sandel became a better engine.

Jewel: Well done darling. You've really improved since you're first day.

Elizabeth Ravens: Indeed. You've really have matured a lot since then and we're very proud of you.

Her Sandel: Oh thank you so much.

Narrator: One snowy day on November 10th, 1907, Duke was taking a a holiday train to the Peel Godred to get villagers home for the holidays. James Holden came back after his absence. Everyone was so pleased to see him again that the manager allowed him to work with Twilight Dusk on the holiday passenger train with Duke. The ponies, Angus Holden and Elizabeth Ravens were even more delight that Marie Ravens was riding the holiday train to Peel Godred for shopping. The ponies came to ride with her and catch up on what's been going on.

Twilight Dusk: Boy, have we missed you James Holden. You're fathers a good driver but we did miss you and Marie Ravens too.

James Holden: I missed you girls too. My wife is going to be at Peel Godred waiting for me. We've got a wonderful surprise for you girls once we get there.

Twilight Dusk: Oh, I can't wait to see it.

Narrator: Duke arrived safely at Marthwaite station and was resting happily as James Holden and Twilight Dusk serviced him. They were just finished when the guard ran up looking worried.

Guard: James Holden, Twilight Dusk! We've got a medical emergency!

Twilight Dusk: What?! What's wrong Murray?

Guard: One of the passengers on our train, Marie Ravens, is need of medical assistance. We have a doctor on board but we need to get her to Peel Godred hospital or she will be at risk. I grant you to go at the speed of your discretion.

Twilight Dusk: You got it Murray! You heard him Duke!

Duke: Right! I'll never let this railway down not even in a medical emergency. That would never suit his grace at all!

James Holden: That's a good engine. Now hurry!

Narrator: Twilight Dusk and James Holden climbed back on board. The guard blew the whistle and they started off to Peel Godred as quickly and as safely as they could. The first few miles were alright but as they rushed through Marthwaite a heavy snow storm struck them like a blow.

Duke: Gwah! We must make it! I must! I must!

James Holden: Oh glory! I can't see a thing through this storm.

Twilight Dusk: Here. Perhaps this may help!

Narrator: Twilight Dusk's unicorn magic glowed and she created a light for them to see better.

Duke: Thank you Twilight Dusk. Now we'll manage!

Narrator: But they didn't. Duke began feel a strange pain and before they could check it, there was loud crack and steam hissed in an alarming way.

Duke: Aaaarrgghh!... What… (Coughs)…..

Narrator: Duke began to go slower and slower in a cloud of steam and he came to a depressing stop at the works station.

Duke: What's happened?!

James Holden: Oh no! Your safety valve has burst. We won't be able to get them get Marie Ravens to the hospital in time!

Narrator: But luckily for them, Her Sandel was resting in the works sheds. Twilight Dusk told the passengers the situation whilst the guard telephoned King Orry's Bridge Station to have an ambulance on standby. Then, Jewel rushed over to Her Sandel with Elizabeth Ravens whom was with Marie Ravens and her husband.

Jewel: Her Sandel! We need your help please. Duke's broken down and we've a passenger on board that needs to get to the hospital in Peel Godred and fast! We need you to help get the train there!

Her Sandel: You don't have to tell me twice!

Jewel: Oh thank you so much! I'll get you steamed up and we'll couple you in front of Duke.

Narrator: Soon Jewel lit Her Sandel's fire and Elizabeth Ravens quickly got her out of the sheds and coupled in front of Duke. The all clear was given and Her Sandel started off with a mighty effort as they soldiered up the mountain road.

Her Sandel: Come on! Come on! Come on!

Jewel: Alright. Come on. Keep it up! We must make it!

Narrator: It was hard goings, for the storm hit them very hard as they climbed. Her Sandel could hardly see where she was going but she was fired with determination.

Her Sandel: The passengers are relying on me. If I fail, that passenger may not make it. I mustn't fail! I'll get to Peel Godred or blow up trying!

Narrator: Duke was amazed at her determination to get the train to their destination and how she was so willing to help save Marie Ravens.

Her Sandel: I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!

Narrator: She made one last great effort until she crest the final slope of the mountain road and rode triumphantly into the King Orry's Station. Angus Holden, James Holden and Elizabeth Ravens and the ponies along with the Doctor helped Marie Ravens off the train and ambulance whisked her to hospital. The Holden's and the Ravens all raced over to the hospital as fast as they could. James Holden drove him, his father and his wife on board in his car. The ponies wanted to go with them but they had to look after the trains. Later that evening, Her Sandel and Duke were resting quietly at the work sheds hoping and praying for the best.

Her Sandel: Oh, I hope Elizabeth Ravens' daughter is alright.

Duke: Me too. You handled that run very well. I am extremely proud of you. What you demonstrated today would certainly suit his grace. All we can do is hope and pray for the best.

Narrator: The ponies were also hoping for the best at Alresburgh inn.

Jewel: I'm so worried. I just hope Marie Raven's will be okay.

Sunny: Well, at least there was a doctor on the train, so we can assume there's a good chance she'll be alright.

Sky Dasher: I hope so. She looked like she was in a lot of pain.

Twilight Dusk: Well, all we can do is hope and pray she's alright.

Zap Apple: That's right. We need to keep strong for her.

Party Time: That's right.

Narrator: The ponies then retired to bed praying for the best. A year passed. When the ponies went to work they found to that neither the Ravens' nor the Holden's were there. The engines were worried too. Both the engines and ponies Hearts sank, but then they heard the most beautiful sound ever.

Holden family/Ravens family: Hullo guys!

Narrator: And there to they're delight was Marie Ravens alive and well with her husband, her mother Elizabeth Ravens, and next to them were James Holden, his wife and Angus Holden.

Sunny: Oh Marie Ravens! You're alive and alright, and you are too James Holden.

Marie Ravens: I'm more than alright. I feel wonderful.

James Holden: Same here. We feel great. And we all want to introduce you guys to someone special.

Narrator: Mr Ravens handed Marie Ravens a bundle of blankets as did Mrs. Holden to James Holden.

James Holden: Girls, engines, I would like to introduce to me and my wife's son, William James Holden.

Marie Ravens: And I would love to introduce to mine and my husband's new daughter, Rachel Marie Ravens.

Ponies/Duke/Falcon/Her Sandel: Aaawww! How cute!

Marie Ravens: Her Sandel, Duke, I cannot thank you enough for what you did last year. You two are the best engines on the island. Thank you for helping me and my new beautiful daughter.

Her Sandel: (Happy tear) It was nothing at all Marie Ravens.

Duke: (Chuckle) Yes, glad to help those in need anytime.

Narrator: James Holden and Marie Ravens walked over to the ponies and engines with their infant children cooing happily in their arms.

Marie Ravens: Rachel, look. These are our engine friends and these are our pony friends.

James Holden: William, look. These are our train engine friends and our pony friends

James Holden/Marie Ravens: Duke, Falcon, Her Sandel, Twilight Dusk, Zap Apple, Sky Dasher, Jewel, Sunny and Party Time.

Infant Mr. Holden/Infant Miss Ravens: Engine…. Pony…

Ponies and engines: Aaaawwww… their first words.

Narrator: James Holden and Marie Ravens even let Sunny and Sky Dasher hold Rachel Ravens and William Holden.

Sunny: Aawww. Hullo there Rachel… aww. You are so adorable.

Infant Miss Ravens: Sunny….. (Cooing happily)

Buttercup: Aaaawww. She knows my name…. That's a good girl. You're gonna make you're mother and father proud. Coochy coochy coo!

Sky Dasher: Hey there William, you little guy …

Infant Mr. Holden: Sky Dasher…..( cooing happily)

Sky Dasher: Awww. Now that's a chip off the old block, he's knows my name. Coochy coochy coo!

(Infant Mr. Holden laughs happily as Sky Dasher tickles him and infant Miss Ravens laugh as Sunny tickles her)

Sky Dasher: Heheheheh. Aww. Aren't they the spunky ones?

Holden's and Ravens': They sure are girls.

Narrator: The two infants saw each other and cooed happily as the two pegasi handed them back to James Holden and Marie Ravens.

Duke: Well done Her Sandel. You've made this railway very proud.

Falcon: Well done sister. You make us Falcon works engines very proud.

Her Sandel: Thank you Duke, Falcon. I couldn't have done this without you're guidance Duke.

Narrator: And ever since that day, Her Sandel had now became a better engine. She can still be on the prissy side, because she is that sort of engine, but now no longer complained about what job she was given and she had finally became a really useful engine.

I know, so cute! Next part is where we meet 2 of the French mine engines. See you there.