Author's notes: All right. Let's get into this one. I got to say, this episode is a really good one, and goes to show you that at 1st you don't succeed, you mustn't stop trying, and another lesson is, 'don't be afraid to speak up to higher authorities when you know they are in the wrong'.

The Deputation

Douglas: (Sad sigh) It's all over Donal'…. They'll send us both away for sure.

Donald: I'm thinkin your right there Douggie. The lucks side has been against us, an engine dinna ken what to do for the best.

Narrator: Both engines went sadly to sleep following there mishaps the other day. They weren't the only ones sad and worried. Back at Knapford hotel, Braeburn, Big Macintosh and Applejack along with Miss Ravens, Mr. Holden and Mr. Hawkins were sitting in the café just drinking down cocoa. They too were feeling furlong about the Scottish engines.

Applejack: (Sad sniffle) I feel so bad for those two Scottish engines. They were the best workers ever.

Big Macintosh: (Tearing up) Eeeeyup….

Mr. Hawkins: (Sigh) I just wish we could do something to save them.

Braeburn: Yeah Mr. Hawkins, but what? We don't know how to tackle this.

Miss Ravens: If only we could show Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller how good Donald and Douglas work together.

Mr. Holden: That's a great idea Rachel. But how will we show them? They're away for a week in England.

Narrator: They all thought very hard but no one knew what to do. Snow came early that year and it was heavier than usual. It stayed too and choked the lines. One evening at Tidmouth, Henry was waiting at the platform, shivering impatiently with the WildNorWester Gordon was being repaired at knapford sheds. Henry, being the second strongest to pull it was rostered. Mr. Hawkins and Applejack were to work with him that night too. It was a bitter cold winter, snow swirled and the wind seemed to howl like anything and because of the terrible storm the train was not due to be back until the following morning.

Henry: BBBBBRRRR! Come on! this storm is getting worse every minute.

Applejack: Simmer down Henry. We can't go without the guards permission.

Mr. Hawkins: I don't want be out in this tundra either Henry, but rules are rules.

Narrator: Finally, Henry started, through the cold blizzard night. The storm was blinding, Henry's headlamps were barely visible through the thick blizzard. As they left the tunnel leaving Knapford, the full force of the blizzard struck Henry like a blow!

Henry: GUGH! (Shivers) Mmm… My lamp… Iron's are… frrr… freezing…

Mr. Hawkins: Don't worry Henry. Will be entering ballhoo in few minutes.

AppleJack: Yeah! Just hang in there Henry.

Narrator: Henry continued to charge down line with WildNorWester, determined not to be beaten by the storm. Despite the brunt of the blizzard, Henry, Applejack and Mr. Hawkins soldiered on passed Maron, but after they passed Killdane junction Henry started to lose speed. Applejack tried to put sand on the rails, but nothing happened!

Applejack: What in tarnation?!

Henry: Hey. What's going on? I'm slipping!

Applejack: Your sanding gears failed Henry! It's most likely been frozen over by the snow!

Mr. Hawkins: Applejack, take the controls. I've got a bucket of sand here. I climb out onto Henry's running board and drop the sand by hand.

Applejack: What in tarnation?! Your not serious right?! You'll freeze to death!

Mr. Hawkins: It's our only chance to keep going!

Narrator: So with that, Mr. Hawkins grabbed his bucket of sand and climbed to the running and began dropping sand on the rails by hand. But it was no use. Henry's wheels just spun helplessly. They we're losing more speed. Mr. Hawkins came back looking worried.

Mr. Hawkins: It's no good. We'll just have to struggle on until we reach Corvans gate.

Narrator: By morning, the whole island was covered now covered in over 12 feet of snow. Most of the engines hated snow, but Donald Douglas were used to it. They knew what they had to do.

Miss Ravens: Good glory! Look at this mess! How are we ever going to clean this up?

Donald/ Douglas: Lae it tae us! We've worked oan snaw removal trains afair th' groopin' act of 1922.

Narrator: Miss Ravens', Mr. Holden's, Braeburn's and Big Macintosh's faces lit up like Christmas trees! The twins would now be able to prove themselves!

Mr. Holden: Oh that's great. Very great!

Braeburn: YEEEHAW! Now that's the Apple Family spirit!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Miss Ravens: We'll go make the arrangements right away!

Narrator: The four friends were as good as there word. They went to speak to inspector Nash. Once they got the approval, the twins were soon couple back to back with a van between there tenders and then each with a snowplough attached to their front.

Inspector Nash: Alright. You'll be taking the mainline. Drivers, ponies, do you have everything.

Miss Ravens: Yes Sir. They're in the van and the snowploughs are on.

Inspector Nash: Good, then off you go. Good luck to you all.

Narrator: They set to work. They puffed busily backwards and forwards patrolling the railway. The snow slipped away easily but sometimes they came across deeper drifts. They would charge them again and again, snorting, slipping, puffing and panting until they had forced their way through. Presently, they came to a drift which was larger than most outside Kellsthorpe road.

Big Macintosh: Hey Mr. Holden, there's mighty 13 foot drift up ahead. We're gonna have to charge this one full steam!

Mr. Holden: Right Big Macintosh! Donald, standby for full force charge attack. Pass the word to Douglas, Rachel and Braeburn!

Donald: Rodger 'at Mr. Holden! Dooggie, gie ready tae charge a deep drift full steam!

Douglas: Rodger 'at Donald! Ready! Miss Ravens, Braeburn?!

Miss Ravens/Braeburn: Ready!

Narrator: They charged it full steam!

Mr. Holden: Alright, good charge everyone. Good charge! Okay, now lets back up and try for another charge.

Narrator: They were just backing for another try when they heard a feeble whistle. People waved and shouted and shivering man and pony were trying in vain to shovel the snow away miserably.

Donald: LOS SAKE! IT'S HENRY, MR. HAWKINS AND APPLEJACK!

Big Macintosh: WHHHAAAT!

Narrator: Donald was right. There was Henry with the WildNorWester stuck in 12 feet of snow. Henry never made it to Crovan Gate last night. With his sanding gear frozen, he began to stall until he hit a snow slide. Mr. Hawkins and Applejack tried to reverse him away, but it was no use and they were stuck. Henry had frozen overnight. Icicles hung from his running board and boiler hand rails.

Braeburn: Oh Sweet Apple Arces! They must be freezing!

Donald/ Douglas: Dinna fash yerself Henry. Bide a while, we'll hae ye out!

Big Macintosh: EEEYUP! HANG ON SIS! BIG MAC'S A COMMIN!

Narrator: Big Macintosh and Braeburn ran out with shovels to help Applejack and Mr. Hawkins free Henry, whilst Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden took over as both fireman and driver, and Donald and Douglas charged again and again! More than once, Donald nearly derailed but just stayed on the rails. At last they pushed the last of the drift away. Donald and Douglas backed onto a crossing. Donald was uncoupled from the van and his snowplough was temporarily taken off to pull henry's train back to kellsthorpe station so that Rainbow Dash with Gordon, who also had snowplow, could pull Henry and his train on to Burrow in furness. Donald was recouped to van, reattached to his snowplough and the twins soon set off again with the signalman's permission. A few days later, the twins were now looking even more depressed than ever. They told the ponies and the engines that fat controller and Princess Celestia were returning soon and were making their final decision and confessed about their past.

Donald and Douglas: They'll send us back for sure….

Narrator: The engines and ponies all felt very sad. Most of them burst into tears. Pinkie Pie was so upset that her cotton candy mane deflated as it did when the Fat Controller contemplated on getting rid of Henry before he was rebuilt at Crewe.

Pinkie pie: Oh no. Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller are going send both of them away, then they'll be scrapped and we'll never see them again.

Percy: It's a crying shame.

Twilight: I know what you mean Percy. Normally I'm mare whom never goes against Princess Celestia's decisions, but in this case I am making an exception. Freeing a chaos crazed maniac is one thing, ahem… even though he did change for the better, thanks to you Fluttershy, heheh…

Narrator: Fluttershy blushed with flattery.

Twilight: But to send an engine away to a place where a steam engine's life is threatened is an outrage. Donald and Douglas really are good engines, despite a few mishaps.

Gordon: I agree! A lot of fuss and nonsense about a broken signal-box! Too many of those if you ask me!

Rainbow Dash: Heck yeah Gordon! It makes it so hard to race each other. And… Who the heck place's a signal-box in front of a siding?

Miss Ravens: Apparently that dumb signalman. He should be fired ASAP.

Rarity: I agree you 2! They had no right to blame Donald for that!

James: And don't even forget that Brake van too. Douglas actually did more good than bad. He actually ended a rolling stock rebellion by destroying that Spiteful brake van. Good riddance, that's white I say!

Rarity: Same here. Douglas did the railway a favour by disposing of that Spiteful fiend of a brake van. GOOD RIDDANCE! In capital letters!

Narrator: Henry was absolutely grateful.

Henry: They were absolutely splendid in the snow!

Applejack: I know Henry. If it wasn't for them, we would have frozen to death/scrap out there!

Applejack/Henry: It isn't fair!

Big Macintosh: Eeeeyup!

Sally: I honestly don't know what's up with them. They did save me and Bridget a few years ago.

Bridget: Your right there dear sister. They just have to save you as well Donald and Douglas.

Flitter: It isn't fair that your being put through all this.

Cloud Chaser: Something needs to be done for them.

Narrator: Then engines and ponies along with Mr. Hawkins, Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden all agreed, but none knew what. Luckily, their answer came just in time. One day, Miss Ravens Pinkie Pie and Percy took some stone trucks to Edward's station and to his luck, as he shunted his trucks onto the pickup siding, Edward was there.

Percy/Pinkie Pie: (sad sigh) Hi Edward…. Hi Fluttershy…

Edward: Hullo Percy, Pinkie Pie, what a nice surprise to see you two here. Why the long faces my friends and the long mane Pinkie Pie?

Fluttershy: They're worried about Donald and Douglas, Edward, and so am I.

Edward: Oh yes, I heard about that Fluttershy. Those poor engines, and they did wonders clearing the line the other day.

Percy: Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller are planning on sending the Scottish twins away. It's a crying shame. They are really nice engines.

Miss Ravens: Let alone good workers too. I can tell by working with Douglas.

Mr. Holden: Same here with me and Donald. They may have had terrible accidents and a few mistakes, but they couldn't help it.

Narrator: Edward pondered the situation.

Edward: Hmmm… Let me see… Ah that's it! I've got it! And such a nice diplomatic solution as well. That should take a load off Twilight Sparkle's mind. What you all need, is a deputation.

Pinkie Pie/ Fluttershy/Percy: A depu…what?

Edward: A deputation my dear friends is when a representative from a house of government, business firm, parliament, or in this case a shed goes to speak to the higher authority, in this case Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller, that there is a certain problem that has occurred that needs to be seen to and corrected.

Fluttershy/Pinkie Pie/ Percy: Huh?

Edward: Oh uh, in shorter words, its when an engine/pony/human just tells the Fat Controller or Princess Celestia that something is wrong and ask them to put it right…

Narrator: Percy, Pinkie Pie, the two humans, Fluttershy and Percy were delighted. Pinkie Pie was so happy her cotton candy mane reflated again,

Percy: Oh thank you Edward! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!

Fluttershy: I'll come with you Percy. I can't wait to tell the others. Um that is if it's alright with you…

Mr. Holden: Of course! Sidney Heaver and I can cover for you. Right Sid?

Sid: Righto William! Good luck Fluttershy!

Narrator: Fluttershy climbed aboard Percy and they ran back excitedly to Knapford sheds.

Percy: GUYS! GUYS! GUYS! WE'VE GOT THE SOLUTION!

Gordon: Really! What is it?

Percy: Edward say's we need a uhh….a uh… Depotstation…

Pinkie Pie: I'd don't think that's what Edward called it? I think maybe a desperation?

Gordon: OF COURSE! But the only only question is…

Henry: What is a uhh… Desperation?

Applejack: Uh or is it depotstation or maybe disputation?

Sally: I think it's a…

Fluttershy: Well whatever it's called, it's when an engine or pony tells the Fat Controller and or Princess Celestia that something is wrong.

Percy: That's right, and then they ask them put it right.

Narrator: The ponies and engines eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

Twilight: Did I hear you right?

Duck: Did you say tell Princess or the Fat Controller?

Twilight Sparkle: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND PERCY?!

Percy: Well Edward told me it was a very diplomatic solution.

Narrator: There was very long silence.

Gordon: Since Percy and Fluttershy came up with idea and Twilight Sparkle knows Princess Celestia better than any of us, I purpose that Percy, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy be our ambassador for our uh… disputation! All in favour say I.

Big Macintosh: EEEYUP!

Rarity/Rainbow Dash/ Pinkie Pie/Applejack/Braeburn/Gordon/Henry James/Flitter/Cloud Chaser: I.

Donald and Douglas: Och aye!

Percy/Fluttershy/Twilight: (Horrified) I?! We can't!

Henry: Rubbish Percy and Fluttershy! It's easy just be your diplomatic selves

Rainbow Dash: Good luck!

Percy/Fluttershy/Twilight Sparkle: (gulp) Oh why me.

Bridget: Calm down you 3. I'm sure you can do this.

Sally: Just remember, it's for Donald and Douglas. Don't be scared to get your thoughts out there.

Narrator: Despite Sally and Bridget trying to keep them calm, poor Percy, Fluttershy and Twilight wished it wasn't settled. They were just shunting in the yards, thinking of what to say to the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia, when…

Princess Celestia: Oh why hello Twilight Sparkle.

Fat controller: Oh hullo Percy, Fluttershy….

Narrator: Percy, Twilight and Fluttershy jumped in fright and some trucks went flying.

Percy/Twilight/Fluttershy: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Narrator: Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller looked confused.

Princess Celestia/Fat Controller: Uhhh, it's nice to be back...

Percy: Uh yes Sir and Malady…. Please Malady and Sir…

Twilight: Uh… Yeah it's very nice that your back Princess Celestia and Sir Topham Hatt….

Fluttershy: Same here… So how was your trip at London?

Princess Celestia: Uh it was nice thank you… is something wrong Twilight you're and Fluttershy's legs are shaking.

Fat controller: So is your boiler Percy, you three look absolutely nervous. What's the matter?

Percy: Ppplease sir, the engines and ponies made me a desperation… too sppeeak to you… Sir. I don't like it Ssir…

Twilight: And princess Celestia thte ponies and engines alsso mmade me and Fluttershy a disputation as wwwell ppprincess Cccelestia.

Fluttershy: too speak to you and ssir topham hatt… yyyour hhhighnesss.

Twilight/ Flutttershy: And wwwe don't like it mmmam.

Narrator: Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller pondered..

Fat controller: ah designation? I don't understand…

Celestia: Oh wait a minute, I think you mean deputation, am I right?

Percy: Yyyes Sir, and Malady… It's about the Caledonian 812 twin engines Donald and Douglas Sir and Malady.

Twilight: That's correct Princess Celestia. Now I just want to let you all know that we have absolutely no disrespect to you and Sir Charles Topham Hatt at all and hold you the most highest respect that you can possibly imagine Sir and Princess Celestia.

Percy: But we must stress to both of you Sir and Malady, that the twins have said that if they were to be sent away back to british rails, they will be turned into scrap sir and Malady.

Fluttershy: And that would be most terrible sir and mam, with all there bits and pieces being cut up rusting away, and being melted down sir and mam.

Fluttershy/Twilight/Percy: So please mam and Sir, don't send them both away sir and mam. They're really nice engines mam and sir, we couldn't bare thought of…

Celestia/ Fat Controller: Thank you Percy. Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy. That will do.

Narrator: The fat controller and Princess Celestia walked thoughtfully away as Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle staggered and fainted.

Twilight/Fluttershy: UUUUUGGGHHH…(faint)

Narrator: Later, the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia spoke to the ponies and engines.

Celestia/ Fat Controller: We've had a… a deputation.

Fat Controller: Princess Celestia and I both understand all of your feelings entirely but we do not approve of interferences.

Narrator: He paused impressively. The ponies biting there hooves, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Holden, and Miss Ravens felt as if there hearts were going to beat right out of there chest.

Celestia: However, giving this week's events, both me and Sir Charles Topham Hatt have given the situation a lot of thought and have made our decision.

Fat Controller: Donald and Douglas, Princess Celestia and I have heard that your work in the snow was good and the rescue of Henry and the WildNorWester was outstanding. So we must ask you both…

Fat Controller/Celestia: What colour paint would you like?

Narrator: The twins were surprised.

Donald: Uh blue sir and malady please

Douglas: It reminds us of home in Scotland.

Celestia: Good, but your names must be painted on first so we have no more… ehhh… mistakes.

Donald and Douglas: Thank ye malady and Sirr. Does that mean that… they both of us…

Narrator: Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller smiled and nodded.

Celestia/ Fat Controller: It means….

Narrator: But the rest of there speech was drowned out by a delightful chorus of cheers and whistles and singing.

Donald: (Singing) Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters,

Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies,

Douglas: (singing) Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters,

Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs.

Donald/ Douglas: (singing) Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled,

Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me,

Donald : (singing) Land of the misty cloud

Douglas: (singing) land of the tempest loud,

Donald/ Douglas: (singing) Land of the brave and proud land of the free.

Douglas : (singing) Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains,

Miss Ravens: (singing) The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free,

Donald: ( singing) Her green tartan waving o'er blue rock and fountain,

Mr. Holden: ( singing) And proudly she sings looking over the sea.

Douglas/ Donald : (singing) Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled,

When armies and empires against me were hurled,

Douglas: (singing) Firm as my native rock

Donald: (singing) I have withstood the shock,

Douglas: (singing) Of England,

Donald: (singing) of Denmark,

Donald/ Douglas: (singing) of Rome and the world.

Donald : (singing) But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing,

Miss Ravens: (singing) Deep groves of steel trodden down in their path,

Douglas: (Singing) The eyes of my sons like their bright swords are glancing.

Mr. Hawkins: (singing) Triumphantly riding through ruin and death.

Donald/ Douglas : (singing) Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs,

Deep-dyed in gore is the green tartan's wave,

Donald: (singing) Shivering are the ranks of steel

Douglas: (singing) dire is the horseman's wheel,

Donald/ Douglas: (singing) Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave.

Donald and Douglas: Come on everyone all together!

All: (Singing) Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs.

Deep-dyed in gore is the green tartan's wave,

Donald: (singing) Shivering are the ranks of steel

Douglas: (singing) dire is the horseman's wheel,

Donald and Douglas: (singing) Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave.

All: (singing) Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave.

Narrator: The twin engines were here to stay.

And that was 'The Twin Engines'. What's up next?