Author's notes: I added in the fact that William and I are adoptive brother and sister since William's mother's passing. I hope you don't mind this atsf. Just thought it would be a nice touch.

A Little Help From My Friends

Narrator: The year was 1928 and Edward had taken William, Rachel, and the mane 6 to their next stop at Crovans Gate, then went back to work. The cavalcade looked around, near them they saw some really ancient old railway equipment and rolling stock, when a man walked up to them.

William: Ah. Sir Handel Brown. Great to see you again.

Rachel: Greetings Sir Handel Brown.

Narrator: They reached over and shook hands.

Owner: Ah. Good to see you again young William and Rachel. I haven't seen you since you were children. By George time does fly.

Narrator: The girls giggled. They knew that William's and Rachel's family lineages was very well known around Sodor.

Owner: Oh hullo there. You didn't tell me you were bring friends?

William: Ah yes, that's right. I forgot.

Rachel: Ponies, this the Skarloey Railway's current owner, Sir Handel Brown.

Narrator: The ponies introduce themselves. The owner smiled and tipped his hat.

Owner: Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now then, follow me. I would like to get you all acquainted with our engines.

Narrator: So they went to the sheds to visit the engines. To the ponies' surprise, there were only two.

Skarkloey: Ah, hullo again William and Rachel. Good job on getting Edward back in service.

Rheneas: Indeed youngin's. We haven't seen him in years.

William: Heh. It's our pleasure.

Rachel: Happy to help a friend in need.

Skarloey: Ahem. Anyway, my name is Skarloey. I'm one the first engines to run on this. I ran it line solely at first.

Rheneas: And then I came along and helped him out. Name's Rheneas. We deliver slates from the quarries at the top station and then bring them down here for the NWR railway to take.

Skarloey: Indeed, and we also are starting passenger services and tourist services as well.

Applejack: Well, that there is mighty fine livin' your there sugar cubes. Anyway, my name is Applejack. I run a little family business similar to yours, but only with apples, not slate.

Rarity: My name is Rarity. I make fine outfits and often find gems.

Rainbow Dash: The name's Rainbow Dash. I don't mean to brag or anything, but I am one of the best flyers in all of Equestria.

Skarloey: Equestria. Hmmm. That sounds familiar, doesn't it Rheneas?

Rheneas: Indeed. I know I've heard that name somewhere before.

Narrator: Rainbow Dash was confused.

Rainbow Dash: Uuhhh? What you guys talking about?

Narrator: Rheneas and Skarloey then returned back to the ponies.

Skarloey: Oh. Nothing Rainbow Dash.

Rheneas: Yes. Please continue.

Narrator: At that moment, a party cannon went off, making the two old Skarloey Railway engines jump in surprise.

Skarloey/Rheneas: Great Glennlock! What was that!?

Pinkie Pie: HIYA SKARLOEY AND RHENEAS! I am Pinkie Pie!

Skarloey: Wow! I see you're quite the party girl there Pinkie Pie.

Rheneas: Indeed. We've never had a surprising introduction like that before.

Pinkie Pie: Well that's my speciality: Parties! Along with baking too for my friends back home, Mr. and Mrs. Cake at Sugarcube Corner.

Skarloey: Oh. I see you must be very popular around your friends.

Pinkie Pie: (Blush, giggle)

Narrator: Then the two narrow gauge engines noticed Fluttershy.

Skarloey: Excuse me miss? You look absolutely familiar.

Fluttershy: Oh… um… I'm Fluttershy. I take care of animals, and I'm a little shy. When I work here, I sometimes share duties with Applejack on Henry, but for the most part I work with Edward.

Rheneas: Edward! Now I remember where I saw from. You were working with Edward when came out of his shed in 1922. I must say you did cracking good job driving him.

William: Indeed she did.

Rachel: I'll say. She got the passenger train to Brendam with 25 minutes to spare.

Fluttershy: (Blushes) Aww.. How sweet of you, (giggle) you adorable little engines.

Narrator: Rheneas and Skarloey both blushed as red as their paint work.

Rheneas: Well.. um….uheheheh… Think… um I mean.. um Thank you miss Fluttershy.

Skarloey: Um eh yes. Heheh, I must say your quite adorable yourself too.

Narrator: Skarloey felt embarrassed inside at acknowledgement he gave her and blushed even brighter and looked at his buffers. But he didn't feel embarrassed for long, as Fluttershy blushed and giggled too.

Fluttershy: (Giggle) Oh you two are so sweet. Just like those Mid Sodor engines.

Twilight Sparkle: Well it's a pleasure to meet you too Skarloey and Rheneas. I'm Twilight Sparkle. I'm a unicorn student of magic at the Canterlot Academy of magic. I was sent to Ponyville to research the magic of friendship. And thanks to my friends here, I'm making great progress.

Skarloey: Interesting Twilight…

Rheneas: Extraordinary…

Narrator: It seemed the two little engines were lost in thought for a while. William, Twilight Sparkle, Rachel and Fluttershy were worried.

Rheneas: It's quite an extraordinary that these mares have discovered Sodor again….

Skarloey: Indeed Rheneas…. It's like history repeating itself.

Twilight Sparkle: What you two talking about?

Skarloey: Well you see young Twilight, a long time ago a group of horses came to work here for several railway networks such as the Sodor and Mainland Railway where your grandfather and grandmother worked William and Rachel. Some even worked here. They were multicoloured, unlike our shire horses that frequently worked on our island. And they could not only operate machinery but they could speak too.

Narrator: Twilight Sparkle grinned broadly.

Twilight Sparkle: The lost Ancestors! I knew used to work on this island. I never knew they be this spread out.

William: Halleujah! I knew the facts were right after all.

Narrator: Twilight and William were so happy they jumped and hugged each other in the air and then let go blushing. So after some happy gossip, the 8 friends went to find the booking office at the station, but it was nowhere to be seen.

Rarity: Hmph. You would at least expect to find a booking office somewhere in this little station, but where on earth is it?

Thin Controller: It's right here.

Narrator: The Rachel, William and the ponies all turned around and a thin man was standing and pointing to the guards van.

William: Ah that's right. How could I forget about Beatrice?

Rachel: We should have known.

Rarity: (Puzzled) Whatever do you mean?

Thin Controller: Beatrice is the name of our guards van. She is used to help trains along the line when needed to. She has a little window to which we can sell tickets from.

Twilight Sparkle: How enterprising. That way people can just easily board the train without missing it.

Thin Controller: Quite right miss… Um…

Twilight Sparkle: Oh my name is Twilight Sparkle.

William: I'm William Holden. I'm Angus Holden's grandson and James Holden's son.

Rachel: Name's Rachel Ravens. I'm Elisabeth Raven's granddaughter and Marie Raven's daughter.

Thin Controller: Ah. That's right. I remember now. Glad to see you're here.

Narrator: The rest of the mane 6 then introduced themselves.

Thin Controller: Ah. Pleasure to meet you all. Anyway, I am called Mr. Peter Sam. I mostly act as guard for the railway.

Narrator: Just then, Skarloey backed down onto the coaches and another man walked up.

Mr. Hugh: Ah hullo Peter. I see we have guests to day.

Thin Controller: Indeed Ivo.

Narrator: The ponies introduce themselves and so did Rachel and William.

Mr Hugh: Well hullo there. My name is Ivo Hugh, but I prefer Mr. Hugh if you don't mind. You know Rachel and William I hear that you two are quite the writers.

Rachel: Indeed we are Mr Hugh.

William: We even work together to help write our books.

Twilight Sparkle: I'm also fond of writing myself.

Mr. Hugh: Ah, that's just smashing. You know, I'm actually quite the writer myself.

Narrator: Twilight Sparkle, William and Rachel gaped in wonderment.

Rachel: Really, you don't say.

William: How extraordinary! I had no idea that you wrote books too.

Twilight Sparkle: Interesting. So what's your next novel about?

Mr. Hugh: Well, it's going to be about this railway.

Narrator: He then turned to William.

Mr. Hugh: Hey William. Did you know I knew father way back before you were born? And same with your mother Rachel?

William/Rachel: (Surprised) Really?

Mr. Hugh: Indeed I have. They used to work for Sir Topham Hatt's railway, and whenever they had time off, they'd always come down here to help out occasionally. I also went to school with them. They were very good people, just like William's grandfather Angus, and Rachel's grandmother Elizabeth.

William: Indeed they were.

Rachel: Their teachings have always rubbed off onto us.

Mr. Hugh: That's good. I'm sure your mother is proud of you for following her footsteps Rachel.

Rachel: Well, thank you sir.

Narrator: Mr. Hugh then patted William on the back.

Mr. Hugh: Your father would be very proud of you too William. I'm sorry about you're loss though.

Narrator: Secretly, William felt strangely very lonely inside.

William: Um… It's alright Mr. Hugh. Well, we'd better go and get our tickets, kay girls?

Narrator: Although he kept his feelings inside, Rachel and Fluttershy could see that something was bothering him.

Rachel: Um, is something wrong William? You look as if you've just seen a ghost.

William: Hmmm… Oh it's okay? I'm… Um… We'd better get aboard.

Narrator: Skarloey's train that day consisted of 3 third class coaches and 1 first class coach. Behind the brake van were a string of slate trucks. Rachel and the ponies were just about to get into the first class coach when they noticed William just walking solemnly into one of the slate trucks very sluggishly. This made the girls feel even more concerned than ever.

Fluttershy: Oh my. William is really bothered by something.

Applejack: Boy. You ain't kiddin' Fluttershy. Somethin's really burstin' his bubble and no mistake.

Narrator: Pinkie Pie were also concerned too.

Pinkie Pie: Oh dear. He looks worser than me when I had that moment when I thought no one liked my parties anymore, but thank goodness he's not going crazy.

Rainbow Dash: I know what you mean. Whatever it is, it must have been something really painful.

Twilight: I know. It's like him to feel upset about something in front of us, but to see him separate himself from the rest of us is definitely out of his character.

Rarity: If only we could help the poor darling.

Rachel: I know, we'll all ride in the slate wagons with him.

Narrator: Everypony agreed on the plan… All except Rarity.

Rarity: What are you insane?! Me, ride in a filthy truck?!

Rachel: Oh Rarity, please don't uptight. We're doing this for William.

Rarity: But surely it can't be safe. I'm sorry, but I staying in the first class coach. Hmph.

Rachel: (Groaning crossly) I don't understand it. That mare has split personality. One minute she can be fine, dandy and always glad to help out, then the next she's fussier than James.

Twilight Sparkle: (Sigh) I wouldn't dwell on it Rachel. We'd better get on board the trucks. Its nearly time for the train to depart.

Narrator: Soon, the Thin Controller blew the whistle and waved the green flag. Mr. Hugh drove Skarloey out of the station. They were going greatly. They past through fields of sheep grazing and through woodlands and past a beautiful waterfall. But still, William looked furlong. Whenever the others asked him what was bothering him, he would just brush it off say he was fine and just getting some fresh air. Finally, they stopped at the last station and got out. Then they all followed William to the beach. Rachel sat next to him. He was staring out towards the lake and she noticed a lone tear drop running down his cheek. Now she felt even more worried than ever and so were the ponies.

Rachel: William, are you alright? Your mood right now is starting to worry all of us.

Twilight Sparkle: Indeed. We've never seen you like this before. You can always tell us if anything is bothering you.

Narrator: Fluttershy placed her hoof gently on top his hand.

Fluttershy: There there William. It sometimes helps to talk to friends.

Narrator: With that, William took a deep breath and confessed his feelings.

William: I'm sorry girls. It's just, when Mr. Hugh mentioned my father, don't worry, he meant no harm by mentioning him. It's just that, when Mr. Hugh apologised for my loss, he was talking about my father. He was killed during the great war.

Narrator: The ponies were silent for a moment. William explained what happened. Rachel knew this story well, and placed her hand on William's for comfort.

William narrator: I didn't hear about father's death until 1918. When I found the note of his death, it was written by one the squadron leaders he flew with. In those days he flew Sopwith Camel's, that's a type of aeroplane made by Great Britain. Anyway, an air raid siren sounded, a German zeppelin loaded with bombs, had broken through the anti air defence batteries. My father's squadron was the only flying group close enough to make the intercept, so they went up and tracked the zeppelin over nearing Verdun. The zeppelin was of course being escorted by German fighters called Albatros's and Fokker D7's. Well anyway, while they were attacking, 4 out 10 in my father's squadron were shot down and or killed. But my dad and the rest of the squadron men got out ok. Then, a group of 3 winged German triplanes of almost every colour of the rainbow swooped out from out the sun and attacked the remaining 6 sopwiths, Including my fathers. During the aerial struggle, my father had got into a scrap with blood red triplane. He fought valiantly, but as they made the last charge towards each other, the red triplane hit my father's oil tank and the Sopwith engine causing his plane to burn. Screaming in agony, my father had no choice but to fight for control of the plane and barrel rolling violently, he charged his plane into the zeppelin. The result was a crash that destroyed the zeppelin before it could do any damage. My father never made out in time. Then we had received the squad leaders note back in late 1918. My mother saw the note first and although she cried, she hugged me and told me what had happened.

Narrator: The ponies stood there frozen in horror.

Fluttershy: Oh my. How awful.

Rainbow Dash: you can say that again. Dude, I'm so sorry about that.

Rarity: Of all the worst possible things that could happen, this is THE! WORST! POSSIBLE! THING!

Narrator: This time, she really meant it.

Applejack: Oh shucks there. Sorry about your dad partner. Ah know what that's like. (Sighs) Both ma parents died too. And ma grandfather.

Pinkie Pie: Oh dear. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Twilight Sparkle: Holy Celestia. I'm so sorry to hear that. Well at least your mother was there to raise you still.

Narrator: When the mention of his mother came up, although he tried very hard not to, cried a stream of tears came down his face like raindrops. A horrifying realisation struck the ponies and poor William confirmed it.

William: (Tearing up) Well… yes. She did take care of me very well. But that was only until…. 1919. She had gotten influenza and had died right after I had turned thirteen…

Narrator: With that William began to cry. The ponies all stood frozen in absolute shock. They had now realised that their friend, William James Holden, was actually an orphan.

Rarity: Oh my goodness, you poor man. How on earth did you survive?

William: Long story short. Rachel's family heard about it and adopted me as one of their own. As time went on, I managed to get a job on Sir Topham Hatt's railway. Rach, I can't thank you enough for the blessing you and your family did for me, and Sir Topham Hatt too.

Rachel: Anything for my childhood friend William.

William: And I'd do the same, Rachel. You know this area here is actually one of mine and Rachel's families' favourite spots to visit. We'd used to go out here every bank holiday and have little picnic down here by the beach.

Narrator: Everyone was anticipating William to get upset again. But to their surprise and delight, William started to smile.

William: (Sighing happily) It's just so peaceful around here. The beautiful crystal blue lake, the beautiful surrounding lush green forests and the beautiful warm sunshine. Always helps to throw you worries out the door. Now, Rachel and I have you all here to share it with, for with that I feel even more closer to my family than ever. I want to know, I am so grateful to have made friends with all of you.

Narrator: The girls all smiled, ran up and almost tackled William as they all gave him a group hug.

Mane 6 and Rachel: Awwww…

Pinkie Pie: I love you guys.

William: Thank you so much. This is everything I've ever wished for, even in my darker days. But now, thanks to all of you, that beautiful radiant sunlight of hope is shining once again.

Narrator: They all hugged each other warmly and then made their way back to the train. To their surprise, Rheneas was waiting for them with a goods train.

William: Wait a minute! I thought the down passenger train would be here.

Rheneas: I'm sorry chaps, but I'm afraid that you missed Skarloey's connection. But don't worry, you can ride with me in my goods train.

Narrator: Rarity was going to start protesting, but then she remember William's story and decide to ride along. The driver then invited William into the cab of Rheneas and allowed him to drive the train home.

Rheneas: Feeling better William?

William: Actually, I feel very great, thank you Rheneas. Say, how did you know about this?

Rheneas: (Chuckle) Oh you could say that a little engine told me you were feeling upset.

Narrator: William chuckled. He knew what Rheneas meant.

William: (Chuckle) Ah. I've said before when I was little, and I'll say it again. You and Skarloey do know how to cheer people up.

Narrator: Since the ponies and Rachel were in the slate trucks nearest to Rheneas, they overheard what he said, and they just giggled. Now William no longer has any secrets to hide and now knows that he is never alone.

Yes. There were a few innuendoes in here between Pinkie Pie's and Fluttershy's introductions to Skarloey and Rheanes. And no, they aren't shippings! Just thought I'd get that through to you. For those completely new to MLP, Pinkie Pie is very giggly and sometimes she can't help laughing. Fluttershy is shy, bashful and sometimes calls ponies, or in this case engines, cute and sweet. Also, Rarity can be flirtatious at times, but in most cases she is just trying to be friendly. Right, look out for 'Thomas The Tank Engine Again'. See you there.