Author's notes: Not much edited here, but it is a good episode.

Dear Rachel

It appears that Gordon had been very naughty and was demoted to a goods engine and even Thomas got a stern punishment too from the fat controller. But thank's to Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Edward, Fluttershy and you we have now helped Gordon and Thomas back into the fat controller's good graces and just in time for Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's coronation ceremony. Who would have thought she and Princess Celestia would get along so well at first sight? Anyway, here's what happened to 'Gordon, The Big Engine'.

Your friend

William James Holden

November 30th 1953

Off The Rails

Narrator: It was a lovely warm summer of 1952. Gordon was resting in a siding beneath the warm Sudrian sun at Knapford station as Rainbow Dash oiled his moving parts. Sometimes, when he was resting, he would think about how important he was to the railway.

Gordon: (sigh) It's nice to be a very prestige, yet sometimes it's can be very tiring to be such a large and splendid engine such as myself, yet one must keep up appearances so.

Rainbow dash: (rolling her eyes sigh) I guess.

Narrator: At that moment Henry, William and Applejack arrived with the Flyer of Vicarstown. Henry whistled loudly and made Gordon jump.

Gordon: AAAAHHHHH! I SURRENDER! Huh?

Henry: Hullo Fat face. Hehehehehehheh...

William: Oh good one Henry.

Narrator: Gordon was furious.

Gordon: OOOH! What a cheek! How very disrespectful! That Henry is getting to big for his wheels.

Applejack: Heheheheh Oh don't worry your pretty little head. We were only kiddin.

Rainbow Dash: Yeah come on Gordon. Can't you take a joke?

Narrator: But Gordon didn't listen and went on ranting, letting off steam crossly as Henry departed chuckling at his own wit.

Gordon: Ooh fancy him speaking to me like that. Meee! The NWR 's finest express passenger locomotive. Meee! LNER'S greatest industrial marvels of the 1920's. Meee! Who has never had an accident. The nerve of that engine.

Narrator: Percy, Rachel and pinkie pie heard Gordon's last remark and both knew that it wasn't true and hiding their giggles. They innocently asked.

Pinkie Pie: Wait? What about those other accidents you had before in 1922 and 1944 big G?

Percy: Yeah Pinkie's right. Aren't jammed whistles and bursting safety valves accidents too, Gordon?

Rachel: Shattering valve gears. Don't forget that.

Narrator: Gordon was fuming. The safety valve incident of 1922, the valve gear incident of 1933 and the jammed whistle incident of 1944 was incidents that Gordon didn't want to be reminded of but he managed to keep his poise.

Gordon: No indeed little Percy, Pinkie Pie & Rachel. High spirits could happen to any engine, but to come off the rails in like Henry did when he was pulling the flying kipper in 1939. Well I must ask, is right? Is it even decent?

Rainbow dash: Heh. Doubt that.

Narrator: A few days later, it was Henry's turn to take the WildNor Wester. As William and Rainbow Dash service him, Gordon watched Henry and Applejack back down onto the train.

Gordon: Now, you better be very careful Henry. You're not pulling the flying kipper now. You're pulling a prestige passenger train, and I don't want my coaches to have single scratch on them. So mind you keep on the rails today.

Henry: (Annoyed) Oh put a piece of coal in it will you!

Applejack: (Annoyed) Oh put an apple fritter in it Gordon!

Narrator: Henry snorted and went off in huff, as Gordon continued to criticise Henry and Applejack.

Gordon: OH FOR GRESLEY'S SAKE APPLEJACK! If you and Henry keep starting like that, you're going to snap a coupling soon.

William/Rainbow Dash: (Annoyed) Gordon... JUST SHUT UP!

Narrator: Henry was going at full speed and was so furious that ran right up to the top of Gordon's hill without stopping. Back at Knapford, Gordon yawned and went to sleep. But not for long. William came up to him.

William: Wake up Gordon. A special train is here and we're to pull it.

Gordon: Is it coaches or trucks?

William: Trucks.

Gordon: TRUCKS?! PAH! Do I Look anything like a Holden B-12 mix traffic engine?! I am…

William and Rainbow Dash: FOR THE HUNDREDTH GORDON! AN EXPERIMENTAL GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY GRESLEY PROTOTYPE A-0 PACIFIC EXPRESS ENGINE!

Gordon: That's right.

Rainbow Dash: (Sigh) Oh for the love of pete Gordon. You really need to be more flexible with goods work.

Gordon: Hey! I am a flexible engine Rainbow dash. I just don't like pulling trucks that much! Either you tow get me some coaches and I'll pull them, otherwise I'm going back to sleep.

William: Oh come on Gordon! It's not as bad you think!

Gordon: I am not pulling the goods train and that is final.

Narrator: Rainbow Dash and William slap their faces. They oiled him up and lit his fire ready for the goods run. However, Gordon's fire was sulky and wouldn't burn properly. Rainbow Dash and William got crosser and crosser.

William/Rainbow Dash: OH FOR PETE SAKE!

Narrator: At last they lost patience and couldn't wait any long. They called over Edward, Fluttershy and Rachel to help get him started.

William: (Grimly) Okay Gordon! This is your last chance. Either pull the goods train or pay the consequences!

Gordon: Pah! You heard my case! I am not pulling the train and that is absolutely final!

Narratior: Rainbow Dash and William were so cross that they began gnashing their teeth.

Rainbow Dash: (Furiously) Oooh! You are seriously testing our patience Gordon!

William: (Furiously) You are so so lucky that me and Rainbow Dash have abandoned the mouth wash punishment! Besides, Fluttershy's stare is punishment enough!

Rainbow Dash/William: OH FLUTTERSHY!

Narrator: Fluttershy flew over.

Fluttershy: Um yes Rainbow Dash and William?

William: I hope this isn't too much to ask of you, but would you please be a dear and give this naughty engine a good stare down?

Fluttershy: Certainly we can't have troublemakers.

Narrator: Fluttershy came up to Gordon and began to give him the stare.

Fluttershy: Now you listen here Gordon, you might be an express passenger train but on this railway you are to follow the Fat controllers orders.

Narrator: But Gordon anticipated this and closed his eyes.

Fluttershy: (Sigh) Oh dear. He anticipated it I'm sorry.

William: It's not your fault, Fluttershy.

Rachel: Don't worry. We'll have Edward push Gordon to the turntable so you'll face in the right direction.

Narrator: So Edward buffered up behind Gordon and he pushed him to the turntable. Gordon grumbled like anything all the way.

Gordon: I won't go! I won't go!

Rainbow dash: Oh come on big G! You know it's for your own good.

Edward: Come on! Don't be silly! Don't be silly!

Narrator: Gordon tried hard to stop Edward from pushing him but it was no use.

Gordon: (Complaining) Edward leave me alone please!

Edward: Oh come along Gordon. You know as well as I do that it's the right thing to do.

Gordon: Hmph!

William: Need I remind you about certain blue pacific like you got stuck up a certain named hill, because he didn't want to pull a coal train, and had to be rescued by an old K-2 larger seagull like him. (William points to Edward) Not to mention that same engine forgot to thank the old K-2 larger seagull.

(Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Edward and Rachel had to hide their giggles.)

Narrator: Gordon grunted crossly. At last he was on the turntable.

William: Thank you Edward, Fluttershy, Rachel

Rainbow Dash: Yeah. We owe you one.

Edward: Heheheh. No need

Rachel: That's right. We're just happy to help fellow friends in need.

Fluttershy: Oh yes. So true.

Narrator: Then Rachel and Fluttershy uncoupled Edward climbed back into his cab. The old blue engine puffed away. Then, Rainbow Dash and William got out began to turn him round. The movement had shaken Gordon's fire and it was now burning nicely. Gordon was furious and didn't care what he did. He waited until the turntable was halfway round. He then saw his chance and took it. This was a big mistake.

Gordon: I'll show them! I'll show those idiots!

Narrator: He moved slowly forward. He only meant to go a little way, just far enough to jam the turntable and stop it from turning as he had done before in 1937. But his plan was going wrong, for he couldn't stop himself. He crashed through the side of the turntable, plowed through a wooden fence, and slithered and slipped helplessly off the rails, down an embankment and settle wheels deep in a dirty muddy ditch.

Gordon: OOOOssshh! GET ME OUT! GET ME OUT!

Narrator: William and Rainbow Dash, who had jumped clear, ran over to see Gordon. They took one looked at Gordon, coughed, giggled and began to laugh out loud both laughed so hard they were rolling around the ground tears of laughter flying from their eyes.

William: Hahahaha! Well! Well! Well! Gordon so much for never having an accident. Eh Rainbow Dash? HAHAHAHAHOHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Rainbow Dash: BAH HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh Gordon! That was too funny! Hahahahahaha!

William: Oh Rainbow Dash hahahaha! I wish I had my camera right now.

Narrator: Both of them thought it a great joke. But Gordon didn't.

Gordon: (Whimper) Hey it's not funny you guys. I'm really stuck here. Now get me out please!

William: Nope… Not a hope Gordon. Your stuck in there you silly great engine. Don't you understand that?

Narrator Rainbow Dash then telephoned the Fat controller.

Fat Controller: Hullo. Tidmouth station office. Sir Topham Hatt speaking.

Rainbow Dash: (Through the Phone) Yes Sir. It's me, Rainbow Dash.

Fat controller: Yes Rainbow Dash?

Rainbow Dash: (Through the phone) Um… we have a little hiccup with Gordon, sir.

Fat controller: Oh? Whatever happened?

Narrator: And Rainbow Dash told him what had happened.

Fat controller: So Gordon didn't want to take the special goods train and ran into a ditch?!

Narrator: The fat controller looked out of his office window and saw the scene of disaster.

Fat controller: What's that you say? The special is waiting? (Sigh) Tell Edward to take it please, then you and Mr. Holden will work with him, Fluttershy and Miss Raven.

Rainbow Dash: (Through phone) Okay got it! Oh. But what about Gordon?

Fat controller: Oh and Gordon? Oh just leave him where he is. We haven't time to bother with him now. We won't be able to get the cranes over there until this evening.

Rainbow Dash: (Through phone) On it Sir!

Narrator: She hangs up and to let William know what to do. Whilst William and Rainbow dash went to let Fluttershy know about the change of plans, a family of toads croaked crossly at Gordon as he lay the mud. On the other side of the ditch three little boys were chattering cheekily. Pinkie Pie, whom was on her lunch break joined in.

Boys: Coo doesn't he look silly they'll never get him out.

Narrator: and soon the boys and Pinkie Pie all began to sing.

Pinkie Pie and the boys: (Singing) Oh Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch! Fell in a ditch! Fell in a ditch! Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch! All on a Monday morning!

Narrator: Pinkie Pie and the boys laughed, until the school bell rang and the boys still laughing at their wit walked back to school. Pinkie Pie went back to work with Percy. Gordon hooshed a little steam and blew away 3 tadpoles and and an inquisitive newt. At last, William and Rainbow Dash arrived back and told him about the plan. Gordon began to sulk.

Rainbow dash: Oh come on Big G! Don't look so mopey now!

Gordon: Well what in the name of Sir Nigel Greseley am I suppose to do? Incase you haven't noticed, I'm stuck in here until help arrives.

Rainbow Dash: Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen?

Gordon: (Eye brows raised in confusion) And what pray tell do you mean, Dash?

Rainbow Dash: Well why don't you try pulling yourself out?

(Record scratch Gordon and Williams eyes widen)

Gordon & William: Your joking right.?

Rainbow Dash: Nope. I mean, look, you're a big strong train! I bet you can pull yourself out of that ditch in ten seconds flat. It can only result in success.

Gordon: Okay 3 problems with that. 1. No one is inside my cab to operate me. And even if you guys were in my cab operating me it would do no good because… 2. I have no steam left and my fire is out. Even if I was in steam, that too wouldn't help either because… 3. I am stuck, wheels deep in mud and if try to move I'll only churn the mud and only make things worse.

William: (Sigh) I hate to admit it Rainbow Dash, but I'm afraid Gordon's right. Come on. We can't keep Edward, Rachel and Fluttershy waiting.

Rainbow Dash: Ugh! Fine! See ya later alligator.

Narrator: And she and William went over to Edward. Gordon lay in the ditch all day long.

Gordon: (Sigh sadly) Oh dear. Those boys and Pinkie Pie were right. I shall never get out of here.

Narrator: But that evening, workmen brought floodlights. Then with powerful jacks they lifted Gordon and made a road of sleepers to keep his wheels from the mud. Strong wire ropes and certain ponies lasso were fastened to his back end and James, Henry, Rarity and Applejack pulling hard, managed to pull him back onto the rails. Late that night, Gordon crawled home as a sadder and wiser engine.

Ok. What did you think? Look out for the next story