Author's notes: Again, this story did not disappoint me. Great to see more of the Culdee Fell line and some development on Lord Harry/Patrick. It was also great to see the crystal ponies.

'Devils Back'

Narrator: As a punishment, they took Lord Harry's name away and put him at the back of the shed and Long Jump was demoted to cleaner. Culdee then told the two the story of Godred.

No.6: Poh! That wouldn't happen to me.

Long Jump: You said it.

Narrator: They were anxious all the same. At last, Shining Armor and the manager came to see them.

No.6: Please Sir, I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I will try to be different.

Long Jump: Same here Shining Srmor Sir. I will be more careful next time and obey the rules. Please give me another chance.

CFR Manager: The passengers don't trust you two. But you still have some valuable used to us.

No.6: Yes Sir's.

Long Jump: Anything sir's.

Shining Armor: Very well. You two will be taking what we like to call the truck.

Narrator: It was arranged. No.6 and Long Jump took supplies with them to Summit Hotel. They also took gangers to work in the morning and brought them home in the evening. They found it dull and grumbled.

Wilfred: It's important work No.6.

Castle: Yeah, and tough too.

No. 6: What? That little lot?

Long Jump: You must be joking.

Wilfred: Nope, he's not joking. Have you 2 ever been up Devils Back in gale?

No. 6: No

Long Jump: Never.

No. 6: All the same I see what you mean.

Long Jump: Really? But wouldn't the pegasi take care of the winds?

Castle: You wish. Unfortunately they pegasi are unable to control this worlds weather.

Long Jump: Oh, well then I think I know what you mean now. That must pretty dangerous.

Narrator: The line runs along a rocky ridge a mile below Summit Station. There is always wind there. Sometimes it is gentle. Other times, it can be fierce and very dangerous. Then, all passenger trains must stop at devils back station so that the wind does not blow them off the rails. But whatever the weather, supply trains and more importantly, rescue trains must always get through. A few days later, No. 6 reached Devils Back station at 5:15pm. He was on his way to fetch the railway staff from summit station.

Guard: All clear now! Now don't waste time Mr. Roberts. I heard from Rainbow Dash that we'll be having a gale in couple of hours.

No.6 : Oh dear. I'd hate to get caught up in that.

Mr. Roberts: Neither do I, so let's get going as soon as possible

Long Jump: Right.

Narrator: The guard went inside to set the points but the telephone rang and he came out looking worried.

Guard: There's trouble. Mr. Roberts, come with me inside so I can explain to you out of this wind. Long Jump, porter, get that truck's water tanks full to the brim and get sand bags loaded on it right away, on the double.

Long Jump: (Confused) uh, yes Sir!

Narrator: So, Long Jump and the station staff filled the trucks big tank with water and sand bags ballasted the van. The wind whistled fiercely all around them as they worked.

No. 6: What is all this Long Jump?

Long Jump: Your guess is as good as mine.

Mr. Roberts: There's been a group of climbers and one of them has been injured at the summit. Mr. Holden is bring up Culdee and Catherine up with a doctor and rescue team along with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Shining Armor and the Manager. But Catherine is too light to withstand this gale, so we'll go up ourselves.

Narrator: No.6 and Long Jump were horrified.

No.6 /Long Jump: WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?! THAT GALE WIND WILL KNOCK US OFF THE RAILS!

Mr. Roberts: Not likely. The water and the sand bags will help keep us on the rails. Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens used this tactic to save Rainbow Dash back in 1926, plus Rainbow dash told us that the wonderbolts will be escorting us up. And if you can keep going, we have good chance. Can you do it?

No.6 : Yes Sir! I'll have a jolly good try.

Long Jump: Same here. We've got to save them.

Mr. Roberts: (Claps his hands) That's the spirit! I'll get you get you guys all ready.

Narrator: When Culdee arrived, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash along with the doctor and the rescue team changed trains. The manager was there and so was Shining Armor. The Wonderbolts also arrived right on scene.

CFR Manager: Splendid. Everything is ready.

Shining Armor: Now No.6, Long Jump, you do realise this is a very big risk your taking. Are you sure you want to go through this?

No. 6: Yes Sir, Shining Armor. I am dead serious.

Long Jump: Same here. We need to rescue them at all costs.

CFR manager: Well No. 6. it's up to now. Just do your best. And I wish all 3 of you, good luck.

Mr. Holden: Good luck Mr. Roberts. I know you guys can do it.

Mr. Roberts: Thanks .

Narrator: Every pony and everybody saluted each other bravely. At last, the guard signalled Mr. Roberts and they were off.

No.6 : A real job at last! Now I'll show them!

Long Jump: Alright. That's the spirit!

No.6: Hey, this wind isn't so bad.

Narrator: But he was wrong, as soon as they left the shelter of the station, the full force of the Gale struck them like a blow from a king sized cannonball.

No. 6: WHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA!

Long Jump: WWHHHOAAA! HANG ON!

Mr. Roberts: Hang on No. 6. Steady now No. 6! I'm using your brakes to check you to make sure you don't fall off!

Spitfire: Mayday! Mayday! No. 6 is in trouble! He's being rocked violently! Soarin', throw on another sand bag.

Soarin': Rodger Spitfire! I'm heading in for my first run! It's a good thing we've practiced for this kind of situation!

Spitfire : CUT THE CHATTER SOARIN and get the sand bag on to the truck!

Narrator: Fluttershy coward in fear. Rainbow Dash wanted to get out and get to climbers but she remembered what happened to her in 1926 and thought best to stay in the van's compartment and gently squeezed Fluttershy's hoof for comfort instead. Knight Night, Catherine, Cludee and Mr. Holden saw them waver violently as the Soarin' dropped his sandbag onto the truck and rejoined in formation.

Catherine/Culdee/ Knightnight/Mr. Holden: GO IT! GO IT! GO IT!

Narrator: Long Jump, Mr. Roberts and No.6 heard them for a moment, the next they were battling all on their own. Long Jump and No. 6 didn't feel brave now. All they wanted to do was to get out of the biting stinging icy winds which seemed to come at them from all directions.

No.6: WHOAA! Oh lord, I nearly came off!

Mr. Roberts: Hang in there old boy! Just keep going.

Fluttershy: Uhhh… Oh my. We almost derailed!

Applejack: Don't worry Fluttershy. Remember what Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden told us? The sand bags and water will keep us steady.

Fluttershy: I know, but that was on Catherine and we too nearly got knocked off!

Rainbow Dash: I know Fluttershy! I know. Just be thankful it's not snowing!

Spitfire: Fleetfoot! Drop down another sandbag on to that truck!

Fleetfoot: Right away ma'm!

Narrator : Fleetfoot quickly dropped another bag of sand down into the truck and rejoined formation. The truck lurched and swayed and the wind tore at it. Like Fluttershy, it whimpered and groaned as though it were in pain tears, streaming down her face.

The truck: Oh my, please. I want to go back I'm scared.

No. 6: Oh my. Ahe wants to go back, and really don't blame her I do to. But if we're this scared, those poor climbers must be 50 times more scared than we are.

Long Jump : Your right old sport! We've got keep going or those climbers may not make it.

No. 6: I'm sorry my dear! I don't like this as much as you do and I'm pretty sure neither does Fluttershy. But we can't go back! The manager and Shining Armor are relying on us to save those climbers!

Long Jump: He's right. We can't think of ourselves right now. Those climbers lives are at stake!

Long Jump/ No.6: We must get through! We must! We must!

Mr. Roberts: That's the spirit guys! Keep it up!

Narrator : Slowly doggedly, they struggled on. Spitefire dropped the last sand bag onto the truck to help keep it stable. As they forged on, Fluttershy shut her eyes.

Fluttershy: I can't look!

No. 6: LOOK! I CAN SEE THE SUMMIT STATION! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

Spitfire: Right, we'll stay in formation and see you through! Keep at it!

Narrator: At last, they were in shelter again. They climbed the final steep ascent and rolled triumphantly into summit station.

Mr. Roberts: WELL DONE!

No. 6: YEAH! WE'VE DONE IT! WE'VE DONE IT!

Long Jump: I can't believe it we've done it! HAHAHA!

Fluttershy: HE MADE IT TO THE SUMMIT HE DID HE DID IT! YYYYYAAAAAYYYYYY!

Narrator : The rescue team, Rainbow Dash, the Wonderbolts and Fluttershy brought the climbers safely to the train and they brought them safely down. Back down at Devils Back Station, Culdee, Catherine, Mr. Holden, the manager, and Shining Srmor stood anxiously at platform fearing the worst when suddenly they heard a loud whistle and worn out, but undefeated No. 6 clanked wearily into Devils back station.

Mr. Holden: YEAH! THEY MADE IT! THEY MADE IT!

No. 6: We got them sir. they're still alive!

CFR Manager: Right, get them into the ambulance!

CFR Manager/ Shining Armor: WELL DONE BOYS! WELL DONE! HAHAHA!

CFR Manager: Heh fancy that Shining Armor, those two did something right for once.

Shining Armor: Indeed they did old friend. Indeed they did. I think I may even give a special reward to the driver too. I'll write to her at once.

Narrator: Next morning, the climbers leader came to thank them all.

Climbing leader: My friend Patrick injured himself saving me, but he's mending now thanks to you, your brave engine, pony and driver and the Wonderbolts. We've noticed that he has no name but his actions all remind us of brave old Patrick. We would be proud if you would name him Patrick too.

Narrator: The manager smiled.

CFR manager: Well No. 6 would like that?

Patrick: Oh sir, yes please. It's better than being a number.

CFR manager: Very well then. Patrick it is.

Shining Armor: Long Jump, I'm proud of both you and Patrick. You know, after that rescue, me and the Manager here kept saying 'was that the same reckless engine and colt that didn't give hoot about rules?'

Spitfire: Yeah that was really impressive out there.

Patrick: Well, we couldn't have done it without all of your support.

CFR Manager: Thank you Patrick, we're are both proud of you. And same goes for you Mr. Roberts. For your actions, I award you the queens service award medal for your bravery.

Mr. Roberts: Oh thank you Sir.

Celestia: And I'm proud of you too .

Twilight: Princess Celestia!

Celestia: Hullo Twilight, my faithful student. Mr. Roberts, I've heard all about the rescue from Shining Armor and I'm proud of you too. You have been very brave and supportive during the whole ordeal that I have offer you a humble gift for your brave actions.

Narrator: Mr. Holden, Miss Ravens and Mr. Hawkins all smiled. They knew what this meant. Princess Celestia was as good as her word. Mr. Roberts came out smiling and looking 20 years old again. He now has eternal life as well and is very happy about because he feels that he is now part of the Mr. Holden's, Miss Ravens' and Mr. Hawkins' family. Patrick and Long Jump are now great friends with the other mountain engines and crystal ponies. They are still brave, and still ready to take risks when need be, but they now know that it is very stupid to take risks just for the sake of showing off.

Alright! What's next? Ooh, bonus saga! This one is 'The Thin Controller's Engines'. Can't wait to get to that one.