Author's notes: This is one of my favourites of the original stories written for the series. It's simple, yet effective at the same time.

Rarity and Simmons

Narrator: With so many prestige passenger trains on The Fat Director's railway, one might think that the railway has always made a living on this income alone. But such has never been the case. Since the beginning before the NWR's grouping act in 1915, there has always been goods trains. Many industries and business often rely on the railway to move their goods to and from where ever they are need. Foreign Ships from the Mainland of England, Wales, Scotland and even the Isle Of Man have always transported their goods of all varieties and the railway would transport them to where they are needed. However, if you had heard Rarity talking a short while ago, you would have thought that goods trains were made for quite another reason.

Rarity: It's not fair Simmons!

Narrator: Simmons looked puzzled.

Simmons: What isn't fair?

Rarity: Ever since that enigma of engine called Henry rescued that foreign engine's train, he's been getting the passenger runs more than we have, while we've been getting nothing but filthy goods trains. I don't see the point of taking those disgusting, scruffy, horrid, rickety goods wagons, they'll mess up my mane. Worst still, you and I have been stuck pulling them more regularly this week.

Simmons: Rarity, look. Goods trains are just as important as passengers. They bring in materials that are essential.

Rarity: Hmph! How can something so frivols be that important.

Simmons: Well with these construction trains they help to maintain and update our railway network, express goods such as milk trains, and fish trains are need to transport food and raw materials such as stone, slate and china clay are used to help create foundations.

Rarity: Hmph! I still don't understand why we can't just take passengers instead of these goods trains. Passengers are our job.

Simmons: Rarity. It's not our job, its teamwork. So come on. We've got to take a train from Kirk Ronan.

Narrator: When Rachel and William arrived Rarity stopped complaining and reluctantly started work with them. When they arrived, Rarity found to her dismay that it was a fish train.

Rarity: Oh you have got to be kidding me. A smelly disgusting fish train?

Rachel : Ugh! Not again Rarity please…

Rarity: I'm just stating a fact, Miss Ravens.

Rachel: Oh put a sock in it Rarity. I didn't come here early to listen to be fusspot.

Rarity: Fusspot am I? I am not anywhere near as close to a fusspot. I am a lady.

William: Would you rather I assign you to B-12's?

Rarity: (Hesitates) Um... oh, alright. I'll stop complaining. I suppose this work is better than working with those rude arrogant tyrants.

Narrator: Finally, the guards whistle blew and the green flag waved and Simmons started off. Simmons was running good and the trucks behaved themselves and they reached their first station stop at rolfs castle. The fish was soon off loaded and then they started off again. And this time delievering more and more fish at each station bound for Arlesburgh. Rarity behaved well at 1st as they made their way to Tidmouth, when they got to the end of the line Arlesburgh, as they were unloading the last crate a workman accidently dropped it and the fish accidently fell all over Rarity.

Rarity: Ugh! I Look awful! (Growls angrily) I'm so sick and tired of pulling these disgusting, filthy, fish trains and dusty good for nothing goods trains. I wish they were all outlawed!

?: WHAT DID I JUST HEAR SAY YOUNG HOOLIGAN!

Narrator: Rarity, taken aback, jumped, startled.

Rarity: Who dare just called me a hooligan!

?: (Angrily) I did! You're complaining shall never suit his grace!

Narrator: Rarity blinked standing there right next to her was very old narrow gauge engine his eyes full of rough wisdom, he was painted a dark brown color with red lining and spoke with elegance and grace, but unlike rarity or the B-12 brothers he had no sign of snootiness.

Simmons: Oh thank goodness. Am I glad to see you again Duke.

Rachel: Oh same here.

William: Hey Duke. Good to see you here.

Duke: Good to see you too young Simmons, and to you too Miss Ravens and you as well Mr. Holden. Now, who is this trouble making horse here?

Simmons: This is Rarity. And I'm sorry Duke. She's new here and doesn't quite grasp the concept of goods work yet.

Duke: I see Simmons.

Narrator: He turned to a now disheveled Rarity.

Duke: This won't do youngin… Let tell you. I remember a time when I used to work alongside shire horses in my younger years, and they too had to pull wagons of goods through woods, across high bridges, up and down steep mountains and in those days me and my 3 brothers and sister were the only engines, on the line so we had to work with them regardless. In those days, the villagers were depending on us to deliver raw materials, food and supplies to them. Eventually the horses were soon discharged as more locomotives came to this railway. Consider yourself lucky, but don't forget that goods are also a vital link in an economy. And if those fade into oblivion, industry will grind to halt and business's will be shut down, but worst of all, people might starve and be without shelter, and eventually fade into oblivion as well.

Narrator: Rarity stood there frozen in the twilight of her own doubt, as tears ran down her cheeks.

Rarity: Oh dear. I had never thought of it like that. I'm sorry Simmons, William, Rachel, and you too Duke.

Narrator: Rarity then quickly used her unicorn magic to clean up the fish mess on narrow gauge wharf. Then, the unbelievable happened.

Rarity: Excuse me Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens, do we have any more goods work.

Narrator: William and Rachel smiled.

William: As a matter of fact, we do Rarity. We need take some slate from this railway to each station to help keep a roof over people and em... ponies heads.

Rachel: I hear it's a very important job too.

William & Rachel: (Giggle.)

Rarity: You can count on me. I'll see to it that no one will be left unroofed.

Simmons: That's the spirit Rarity.

Narrator: So they coupled up to the slate wagons.

Simmons: Thank you Duke. I don't how I can repay you.

Duke: Oh, no rewards are necessary Simmons, my dear friend. I'm just glad I could help. Take care, young Simmons.

Simmons: (Winks) You too Duke, you too.

Narrator: Duke smiled happily as he watched Simmons and Rarity pull out with their goods train.

Well, did you expect to see Duke in there? If you didn't, was it a pleasant surprise? Anyway, next one is an Edward and Fluttershy one, be on the lookout for that.