Author's notes: Yes, I did take down 'Home At Last'. Don't worry. That story will be back up soon. I just wanted to do this 1st. Get ready for a bonus story for 'The Little Old Engine'.

Reliable Rachel

Narrator: As Peter Sam was out of condition, Sir Handel, Rusty and Rachel had to run the line together with Miss Ravens, Mr Holden, Mr Hawkins and the CMC. Rachel was still cross at Sir Handel for the accident as revealed one night when the humans and ponies went to bed.

Rachel: You should think more about others in future! I can't believe you'd do something like that.

Sir Handel: Please Rach. I know it was bad, but I won't let anyone get hurt like that again.

Rachel: I'll believe that when I see it.

Sir Handel: Why you…

Rusty: Sis, Sir Handel, calm down. I know your upset, but don't let it get to you.

Rachel: But Peter Sam got badly hurt. Goodness knows when he will be in condition to work again.

Sir Handel: Look, I'm just as worried about Peter Sam as you are, but can you just move on from it?!

Rusty: It's getting late. Why don't we all get some sleep and sort this out tomorrow?

Narrator: They did so. Next day, Rachel was taking a supply train with Babs Seed and Miss Ravens to mend some bits of track. As they went over the viaduct near Rhenaes Station, they hit a big bump!

Babs Seed: What in ManeHatten?!

Miss Ravens: GREAT SCOT!

Rachel: Great Ruston and Hornsby! What happened?!

Narrator: Miss Ravens and Babs Seed got out to take a look.

Miss Ravens: There's the culprit.

Narrator: A big crack had formed in the supports.

Babs Seed: That could lead to disaster.

Rachel: No kidding. We'd better warn the Thin Controller and Princess Luna.

Narrator: They quickly found them at Croven's Gate.

Thin Controller: Thank you for informing us.

Princess Luna: We shall send up some workmen imminently. Thou should also warn thy others. We cannot risk them getting hurt or worse.

Rachel: Right Sir, Princess.

Babs Seed: We shall do our best to make things safe again.

Narrator: Sir Handel and Rusty were filling up on coal and oil respectively and being tended by Mr Holden, Mr Hugh, Mr Hawkins, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle when Rachel, Miss Ravens and Babs Seed bustled in.

Rachel: The viaduct before Rhenaes station is weak.

Miss Ravens: Whatever you do, don't use it.

Apple Bloom: But that's the only way ta get to Rheanes station and Skarloey station.

Rusty: We'll just have to manage without them for now I'm afraid, Apple Bloom.

Sir Handel: Some of the passengers might get disappointed if they don't see all the stops on our line. Surely the viaduct can hold us!

Scootaloo: Sir Handel, listen, that viaduct is dangerous and will not support your weight.

Narrator: But Sir Handel was still angry at Rachel for not moving on from the incline accident and payed no attention. Meanwhile, Mr Hugh placed a sign near Glennook station, 'Line Closed'. The engines had to stop at the station, then take the train on the return journey from there. Pinkie Pie and Applejack helped out by selling baked goods there as a temporary replacement for the Refreshment Lady's shop. The Refreshment Lady was also there, but she was glad to have some helping hooves.

Passenger: Oh, yum. That apple fritter really hit the spot. Thank you Applejack.

Applejack: Heh, it's nothin' sir.

Passenger 2: And I love this donut. Thanks Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie: No problem. Glad we could put our skills to good use.

Refreshment Lady: You 2 should work with me more often. I didn't know that ponies were also expert bakers.

Applejack: We'll see if we can arrange it with the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia.

Pinkie Pie: Can we also get Mr and Mrs Cake to come too? They know about baking as well.

Refreshment Lady: Don't see why not.

Narrator: Sir Handel was also trying to pass Glennook to get to viaduct to prove Rachel wrong. But everytime, he failed.

(Attempt 1)

Sir Handel: Right, now we'll get to the… Whoa, whoa, whoa.

(Brakes on)

Mr Holden: Nice try Sir Handel.

(Attempt 2)

Sir Handel: (Whistling a tune innocently) Hey look! It's a Swallowtail.

(Brakes on)

Sweetie Belle: I don't see any butterflies around here.

Sir Handel: Oh come on SB!

(Attempt 3)

Sir Handel: Nice Sudrian sunshine we are having today…

(Brakes on)

Mr Holden/Sweetie Belle: (Grimly) You nearly got us.

Sir Handel: Oh, really?!

Mr Holden: (Under breath) Need I remind you of what happened in 1904?

Sir Handel: (Gulp) Uh… right, Mr Holden.

Sweetie Belle: What did happen in 1904?

(Toink)

Sir Handel/Mr Holden: Uh… nothing you need to know, SB.

Narrator: That got Sir Handel to stop trying to go past Glennook. In fact, sometimes he would panic if they got too close to the edge of the station. A few days later, the Thin Controller and Princess Luna hired a new driver to work with Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle. This driver was unfortunately, not a good choice for an engine driver, but no one here knew that yet.

Thin Controller: Mr Holden, Sweetie Belle, Sir Handel, this is Richard.

Princess Luna: We'd like you to show him how we do things around here.

Mr Holden: With pleasure sir.

Narrator: So Sir Handel quickly went to fetch his coaches and Sweetie Belle coupled him up. Mr Holden had also forgotten his and Sweetie Belle's sandwiches and rushed back to get them.

Agnus: I hope he's not going to bump us this time!

Ruth: Now Agnus, Sir Handel has been improving greatly.

Lucy: He hasn't bumped us for years now, not since Skarloey took the train home when he was cockered.

Agnus: (Sighs) Suppose your right.

Jemima: What did you say?!

Beatrice: We were just saying that Sir Handel has been improving.

Jemima: Well why didn't you say so?

Ruth: (Sighs) Someone has to get her a hearing aid.

Narrator: Meanwhile, Richard was looking at a picture of 3 little engines. One was brown, one green and one blue. He was looking very closely at the blue one.

Richard: (Thinks) Yes. That engine looks just like Sir Handel. That's one of the engines that the boss wants to have scrapped. I'll get him. I'll get him.

(Sweetie Belle jumps into the cab.)

Sweetie Belle: What are you looking at Richard?

Richard: Oh, um… (Put's the picture in his bag.) Just a picture of my family.

Sweetie Belle: Can I see it?

Richard: Um… It's kind of a personal one. You wouldn't like it.

Sweetie Belle: I see.

Narrator: Just then, Mr Holden returned.

Mr Holden: Ok, got the sandwiches. Let's go.

Sir Handel: Right away Mr Holden.

Narrator: Mr Holden, opened the regulator, and they were off.

Richard: So um, where is this train to be taken?

Sweetie Belle: To Glennock. We'd usually take it over to Skarloey, but the bridge has been weakened and cannot provide enough weight for the engines.

Richard: (Thinks) Ah, perfect for my plan.

Narrator: Sir Handel made it to Glennock in good time. Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle decided to get something out from the bakers stand.

Mr Holden: Hey Richard, want to try a piece of one of Applejack's pies?

Sweetie Belle: Or one of Pinkie Pie's cupcakes?

Richard: Oh no, I had a big lunch before coming to the railway. I live far away from trains you see, and haven't met all the ponies here, nor did I know that 2 of them were bakers.

Sweetie Belle: Suit yourself.

Narrator: And they both proceeded to get a taste of one of the baker's delights, along with the other human and pony passengers. Sir Handel simmered quietly to himself and went to sleep, and the coaches also decided to take a nap. But Richard had other ideas.

Richard: (To self) Heheheheh! Now to put my plan into action.

Narrator: Richard quietly uncoupled the coaches and used a pin to make the reverser not work properly. When the hour had past, Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle came back and Sir Handel and the coaches woke up.

Mr Holden: Those treats are so good.

Sweetie Belle: I know. You don't know what your missing Richard.

Richard: Heh, yeah. They look really good.

Sir Handel: I'm ready to go. How 'bout you girls?

Agnus: I'm ready.

Ruth: So am I.

Lucy: I'm really ready.

Beatrice: Same here.

Jemima: My name's not Freddie.

Sir Handel: Freddie?! Where?

Ruth: No Jemima! Sir Handel was asking if we were ready!

Jemima: Oh, right.

Sir Handel: (Sighs of relieve) Oh, never mind.

Ruth: (To self) Something is really on Sir Handel's mind. I wish I knew what.

Narrator: Mr Holden tried to open the reverser for the journey back, but to no avail, and Sweetie Belle's magic was no different. She was, after all, just a filly.

Sir Handel: What's happening guys?

Mr Holden: Your reverser isn't working Sir Handel.

Sir Handel: Oh no! Looks like we are stuck here.

Richard: Um… maybe if we pull this leaver.

Narrator: He pulls the regulator 'accidentally on purpose' and Sir Handel moved forward without the coaches.

Mr Holden: Wait! That's not the reverser!

Sweetie Belle: (Looks back) And we've left the coaches behind!

Richard: Heheheheh! Oh dear. Looks like your in trouble now, William James Holden!

Mr Holden: What are you talking about, Richard?

Richard: Don't you recall? I was also at the…

Narrator: Sir Handel quickly realised who he was too.

Sir Handel: (Gasps) Oh no! He's one of…

Narrator: Before Sir Handel could finish, Richard jumped out and ran away.

Mr Holden: Oh! I should have know there was something not right about that man!

Narrator: Sir Handel went faster and faster. He knocked the sign clear of the tracks and rattled on!

Sir Handel: HELP!

Sweetie Belle: Mr Holden, what do we do?

Mr Holden: Only one thing to do!

Narrator: Soon, they started to get closer to the weak bridge. Mr Holden quickly shut of steam and applied the brakes. Now Sir Handel was on the bridge and it was in danger of collapsing.

Sir Handel: Oh! Get us off!

Narrator: As it would have it, Spitfire and Harold were on daily patrol and saw what happened.

Spitfire: Hang tight you 3! Harold, you keep an eye on them, I'll get help!

Harold: Right away chap!

Narrator: And she sped off as fast as her wings could carry her. Meanwhile, Rachel, Miss Ravens, Babs Seed and Scootaloo were all working on another bit of track. Spitfire quickly showed up.

Spitfire: Rachel, Miss Ravens, Babs Seed, Scootaloo. There's trouble at the bridge! Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle are hanging from it.

Babs Seed/Scootaloo: Oh no! Sweetie Belle!

Miss Ravens: GREAT SCOT! WILLIAM!

Rachel: I warned him! I really did. Now look what's happened. He just goes off and tries it for himself.

Babs Seed: Rachel, listen to us. This is a dire situation.

Scootaloo: You wouldn't want to be in the same place he is now, would you? Also what will Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle do?

Narrator: Rachel didn't need telling twice.

Rachel: Your right. No one deserves to be close to scrap or death. Let's go now!

Narrator: The 4 friends hurried to the rescue. Back at the bridge, the beams started to fall down below. Sir Handel was now more scared then ever.

Sir Handel: Someone, anyone, HELP US!

Mr Holden: Calm down boy. I'm sure help is on the way.

Sweetie Belle: Look there.

Scootaloo: Hang tight guys!

Babs Seed: We're coming!

Narrator: Rachel bravely edged onto the bridge.

Sir Handel: Be careful Rachel!

Rachel: I will. Don't worry Sir Handel.

Narrator: Scootaloo quickly chained both engines together as Miss Ravens put Rachel into reverse. Babs Seed looked back to make sure that no one was coming.

Rachel: Hold on! I got you.

Sir Handel: (Still worried) Uh… ok.

Narrator: Rachel, Miss Ravens, Scootaloo and Babs Seed pulled Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle back, just in time.

(The bridge falls apart.)

Miss Ravens: William!

Mr Holden: Rach! (They hug) Author's notes, this is the driver Rachel he is referring to.

Rachel: Sir Handel, what were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself and your crew killed/scrapped.

Sir Handel: It wasn't me. Honest.

Sweetie Belle: He's right. It was the new driver, Richard.

Mr Holden: That driver also works for… (Whispers into Miss Ravens' ear)

Miss Ravens: (Gasps) Good lord! How could he?

Rachel: You mean that driver was evil?!

Mr Holden: Afraid so.

Rachel: Oh Sir Handel, I'm sorry I accused you for thinking that you disobeyed me.

Sir Handel: Well, to be honest, I kind of deserve it for not heeding your warning at 1st.

Rachel: Well, alls well that ends well.

(Everyone chuckles)

Narrator: Richard was fired for putting Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Sweetie Belle in danger, eventually the viaduct was repaired, Rachel and Sir Handel have forgiven each other, and everything was ready for when Skarloey was to come back.

What did you think of that? Also, atsf, can you guess who Richard's boss is? Don't spoil it here, post me a note on DA, ok? Good. See you for the next one guys.