Author's notes: I really love this one. Nice to see what happens when you create a friendly rivalry in an early friendship.

Thomas and Bertie

Narrator: One day, Thomas, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rachel, William, Annie and Clarabel were waiting at the junction when a bus came into the yard.

Thomas: Hullo, who are you?

Bertie: I'm Bertie, who are you?

Twilight Sparkle: Well, I'm twilight sparkle

Pinkie Pie: I'm Pinkie Pie!

Bertie: Ah, the talking ponies. I heard that from Terrence a while ago.

William: I am William James Holden.

Rachel: Rachel Marie Ravens. Pleasure to meet you Bertie.

Bertie: So you 2 are Wilbert's writing partners. You must be proud to have some books out.

William: Indeed we are.

Annie: Name's Annie.

Clarabel: I'm Clarabel.

Bertie: Pleasure to meet you girls. You're the 1st 2 coaches I have met with names so far.

Annie: We were originally just coaches with numbers, but thanks to the kindness of the once station pilot, we have been given names too.

Bertie: You 2 must be very grateful for that.

Clarabel: Indeed we are Bertie.

Thomas: And I'm Thomas. I run this branchline with Annie and Clarabel.

Bertie : So you're Thomas. Aye. I remember now. You got stuck in the snow back in January. I rescued your passengers and Terrence pulled you and your coaches out. On my way back I saw, you Pinkie Pie giving away those snow cones. Boy, and I thought Summer was the only time for snow cones… I've come to help you with your passengers today.

Narrator: Thomas wheeshed crossly and went than redder than James' paint.

Thomas: HELP ME!? I don't need any help. I can go faster than you!

Bertie: You can't!

Thomas: I can!

Bertie: Very well then. I'll race you.

Thomas: Your on Bertie.

Narrator: William, Rachel, the ponies and Bertie's driver agreed to the race going ahead.

William: Alright Thomas. We're with you all the way.

Twilight Sparkle: We'll do our best in this race.

Pinkie Pie: And just remember that its all for fun, but never forget that…

(She launches into a song.)

Pinkie Pie: (Singing) A lesson that's worth learning

One you never should forget.

Is the art of friendly rivalry,

It's not always about winning.

You must learn that from the start,

Enjoy yourself, remember,

What counts is taking part,

Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

On your marks, now get set, go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race

Rachel: Okay. Thank you Pinkie Pie, but we better get ready for the race.

Narrator: Soon the stationmaster came out.

Stationmaster: Okay here's ground rules. First one to make it to Ffarquhar, wins. So are you ready?

Thomas: Ready!

Bertie: Ready!

Stationmaster: Steady! ….GO!

Narrator: And they were off. Thomas never could go fast at first, and Bertie drew in front. Thomas ran well, but he wasn't hurrying.

Annie: Why don't you go fast?

Clarabel: Why don't you go fast?

Thomas: Wait and see. Just wait and see my dear coaches.

Twilight Sparkle: But he's a long way ahead.

Pinkie Pie: If we keep at this pace, we'll never catch him.

William: Hmhmhmh. That's where your wrong, girls.

Rachel: They're right. He's got a plan. Wait till we're at the level crossing.

Narrator: And they all smiled. Sure enough, there was Bertie fuming at the gate, while they sailed gaily through.

Thomas: Goodbye Bertie. See you at Ffarquhar.

Narrator: Afterwards, the road left the railway and went through a village. They couldn't see Bertie after that. Then they had to stop at station to pick up and let off passengers. Thomas whistled impatiently.

Thomas: Quickly please. Get in and out quickly please.

Pinkie Pie: Yes, hurry passengers. Because…

(Pinkie Pie launches into song again.)

Pinkie Pie: (Singing) Thomas challenged Bertie

To a friendly race one day

The drivers said get ready

But be careful on the way

The friends lined up together

Enjoying the fun

The stationmaster called out

Are you ready to begin?

Twilight: (Impatiently) Yes, we all know that.

Pinkie: But the passengers getting on don't know.

Rachel: Never mind. Let's get going.

Narrator: The passengers quickly got in and out, the guard waved the green flag and blew the whistle and they started off as quickly as they could.

Thomas:Come along everyone! Come along!

Annie & Clarabel: We're come along Thomas! We're coming along!

Thomas: Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Twilight Sparkle: Go it Thomas!

Rachel: That a boy.

Thomas: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Bertie's passed us!

Pinkie: (Gasp!)

Twilight: Holy sweet Celestia! William! FLOOR IT! FLOOR IT!

Narrator: There to Thomas's and his team's horror was Bertie crossing the road bridge over the railway tooting triumphantly.

Thomas: Oh deary me! Oh deary me!

Annie: He's now along way in front.

Clarabel: No kidding there sister.

Rachel: Steady now Thomas. We'll beat Bertie yet.

Annie: We'll beat Bertie yet!

Clarabel: Faster Thomas. We can do this.

Thomas: Oh bother! There's Troyreck station!

Narrator: As Thomas stopped, they heard a toot.

Bertie: Goodbye Thomas. You must be tired. Sorry I can't stop. We bus have to work you know. Tata!

Narrator: They reached the next station at Elsbridge quickly, but unluckily, the signal was up.

Thomas: (Groaning in defeat) Oh dear. We've lost.

William: Oh no. Don't worry Thomas! We can do it and we will do it!

Narrator: And Twilight, William, Rachel, Pinkie Pie, Annie, Clarabel and the passengers all chanted out!

All: Thomas! Thomas! Thomas!

Narrator: And Thomas felt much better and more confident than ever when he had a drink of water, this time from the newly fixed water column. Then James and Rarity passed by with a goods train and they too cheered Thomas on too.

James and Rarity: You can do it Thomas!

Thomas: Thanks guys.

Twilight Sparkle: How did they know about the race?

Pinkie Pie: I sent a letter to them.

Narrator: The others shrugged it off quickly. It was Pinkie Pie logic. Thomas's confidence was now at one hundred percent as the signal dropped.

Thomas: HURRAH! WE'RE OFF! HURRAH! WE'RE OFF!

William: That a boy, Thomas.

Narrator: As they crossed over the river of els, they heard an impatient.

Bertie: TOOT! TOOOOT!

Narrator: There was Bertie waiting furiously at the traffic light while cars and lorries crossed over the narrow bridge on the other side. Road and railway ran up the valley side by side with only a stream in between them. Thomas had not yet crossed the bridge when Bertie started with a roar and soon shot on ahead. Excited passengers from train and bus shouted across the valley, Rachel, Twilight Sparkle and William worked like War heroes. Pinkie Pie sang.

Pinkie: (Singing) Oh Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

On your marks, now get set, go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race

Narrator: At last, with everyone's support, Thomas had now reached his maximum speed. And foot by foot, yard by yard, he caught up with Bertie until they were running level. Bertie tried hard, but Thomas was too fast. Then, whistling triumphantly, they plunged into the tunnel leaving Bertie toiling far behind in the dust.

Thomas: I've done it! I've done it!

Annie and Clarabel: We've done it hurray! We've done it hurray!

Narrator: And whistling proudly, Thomas whooshed out of the tunnel into Ffarquhar station. The passengers gave him three cheers and told the station staff about the race. They cheered too.

William: THAT'S IT! WE DID IT!

Rachel: WE DID IT!

Twilight Sparkle: GREAT CANTERLOT! WE'VE DONE IT! HAHA

Pinkie Pie: YIPPY SKIPPY! WE DID IT! YAAAAAAY!

Narrator: And William, Rachel, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie all jumped up and gave each other a hug in excitement and triumph! When Bertie came in, they gave him three cheers too.

Bertie: Whew! Well done Thomas. That was fun, but to beat you over those hills, I'll shall have to grow wings and be an aeroplane.

Narrator: Thomas and Bertie now keep each other very busy. Bertie finds people in the villages that want to go by train, and takes them to Thomas, while Thomas brings them to the station for Bertie to take home. They often talk about their race but Bertie's passengers don't like being bounced like peas in a frying pan and the Fat Controller has warned Thomas about what happens to engines who race at dangerous speeds. So although between you and me, they would like to have another race. Personally I don't think they ever will. But do you?

(The evening after.)

Narrator: Back at Knapford hotel, William, Rachel, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie told the other ponies all about the race.

Rainbow Dash: Ah yeah. Nice one Twilight! I wish I was racing with you guys.

Applejack: So, how did it feel?

Narrator: William smiled.

William: Well, I think we can all tell you together.

Narrator: They walked over to the rec room. William sat down in front of a piano and he, Rachel, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle all sang.

Twilight Sparkle: (singing) A lesson that's worth learning

One you never should forget

Is the art of friendly rivalry.

Pinkie Pie: (singing) But It's not always about winning

You must learn that from the start.

Rachel: (Singing) Enjoy yourself

William: (Singing) remember

Rachel/William/Twilight Sparkle/Pinkie Pie: (Singing) What counts is taking part. So Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

On your marks, now get set, go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race

(William plays piano solo)

Pinkie Pie: (Singing) Thomas challenged Bertie

To a friendly race one day

Twilight Sparkle: (Singing) The drivers said get ready

But be careful on the way

Rachel: (Singing) The friends lined up together

Enjoying the fun

William: (Singing) The stationmaster called out

Are you ready to begin,

All (Including the remainder of the main 6): (Singing) Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

On your marks, now get set, go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race.

(William plays the piano solo)

William: (Singing) Now Bertie bus was winning

He sped along the way

Twilight Sparkle: (Singing) And Thomas tried so hard

To catch up on the way

Rachel: (Singing) But eventually he passed him

And Bertie had to say

Pinkie: (Singing) To pass you on that hill Thomas

I'd need wings like an airplane.

Rainbow Dash/Fluttershy: (Spoken) Or maybe a pegasus.

All: (Singing) Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

On your marks, now get set, go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race

Let's have a race, have a race, have a race

Let's see who is the quickest

Who can be the fastest

Ready, set go

Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace

Let's see if you can catch me

Let's see if you can match me so

Let's have a race, have a race

Let's have a race

Let's have a race

Right now .

Narrator: And they all fell to the floor laughing in revealing in the victory.

The End...

...Of this saga. Atsf had a nice touch in the story with the song. Next up, is 'Troublesome Engines'. And yes, you will see Percy in this lot. Guess who is working with him. See you there.