Author's notes: Again, this story is another fun one, and gives us an insight to Skarloey's and Rheanes' history. I also love the other tidbits of information thrown in about the human's and ponies' ancestors. Also, 2 things to note: 1, the blushing shown back in 'Crosspatch' wasn't meant to imply any sort of relationship between Sean Holden and Emily Ravens, they are just friends. 2, engines being startled of the ponies when they 1st meet them is a reoccurring gag in the series. Anyway, let's go.

Bucking Bronco

(Crovans gate 1864)

Narrating Skarloey: I was lonely and missable for days. At last, the manager and Sean Holden came.

Mr Mac: I hope now that your a better engine.

Skarloey: Oh yes sir, please sir.

Mr Mac: Because, I've asked Mr Bobby and his new pony friend Citrus Orange to come and look after you. Sean Holden you'll be learning how to drive Skarloey under Mr. Bobby's wing starting as apprentice fireman.

Sean Holden: Aye sir. it'll be me pleasure

Narrating Skarloey: Mr Bobby had helped to build me in England. I liked him. But at the time, I didn't know who Citrus Orange was.

Skarloey: Who's Citrus Orange?

Mr Mac: She is Apple Blossom's rival, regretfully.

(Crovans gate, present)

Babs Seed: Whoa. Hold it Skarloey.

Apple Bloom: Our past relatives were rivals?

Skarloey: Yes. It's hard to explain young fillies. Maybe when you are in your teens you would understand it a bit better. As I was saying.

(Crovans Gate 1864)

Narrating Skarloey: …We soon had steam up and coupled up to the trucks.

Mr Bobby: Come on Skarloey.

Citrus Orange: We must finish the line before the inspector comes.

Skarloey: Hmm. This isn't so bad after all.

Sean Holden: Aye, that'a boy Skarloey me lad.

Narrating Skarloey: I didn't mind pulling trucks with Mr. Bobby, he taught Sean Holden many things on how to operate me and they took it in turns to drive me. Why eventually, Mr. Bobby and Sean Holden taught Emily Ravens and though a little reluctant, the S&M Manager and Mr. Mack allowed her to work with us. We worked so hard that by the time Rheneas arrived in 1865, the line was ready. I was so pleased to see Rheneas again.

Skarloey: Rheneas! Good to see you my brother. Oh Rheneas, I've missed you so much!

Rheaneas: Calm down Skarloey. It's good to see you too. Wow. Nice job you did here.

Skarloey : Why thank you Rheneas. Oh, I'd like to introduce you to our new friends

Sean Holden: Top of the morning to ye Rheneas. Me names Sean Rodger Holden,

Emily Ravens: Good Morning Rheneas, my names Emily Catherine Ravens. Pleasure to meet you mate. We all met Skarloey on the paddle steamer the P.S Cumberland together.

Rheneas: Why pleasure to meet you two. I hear you two are becoming quite the bees knees.

Citrus Orange: Nice to meet you Rheaneas. I'm Citrus Orange.

Skarloey narrator: Although we were built around the same time as each other, Rheneas never got so bouncy and excited as I did. Well… when I say that, I don't mean his first encounter with the famous ponies of Equestria.

(Kirk Ronan port, 1865)

Rheneas: Well, this is lovely. Who are you?

Neil: I'm Neil, I work alongside with me brothers Rolf whom's named after a castle somewhere and Sean whom's named after one the most promising railway engine drivers in all of Sodor whom came from Ireland, Sean Holden.

Rheneas: Really? And who's the other?

Neil: Ye be suprisied laddie, it's young girl named Emily Ravens. Some of the men scoff at her for this, but we engines and Sean Holden believe that anyone has right to whatever they believe.

Rheneas: Yes. Very true indeed. (Notices the pony) Hullo? What is that horse doing up there? Isn't it against rules?

Jewel: I beg your pardon young engine, but I'm not a horse I am a pony. More importantly, I am lady.

Rheneas: (startled) AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! IT TALKS!

Neil: JEWEL! Calm down Rheneas. This very normal here on Sodor. There are loads of talkin ponies here.

Jewel: Hullo Rheneas. I'm Jewel. I'm sorry for the scare.

Rheneas: (Shaken) That's alright (Gulp, calming down) It's just my first day here. I'm still a little new.

(Crovans gate present day, 1965)

Narrator: Everyone and everypony chuckled and laughed as Rheneas blushed.

(Pinkie Pie trombone fail song)

Rheneas: Uh, heheheheheh…. Yeah. I was a bit startled too like Skarloey. Anyway, continue brother

Skarloey: right um… lets see. Were we… Ah yes.

(Crovans gate 1865)

Rheanes: Ah. I see your another one of those famous talking ponies I've seen and heard of. Nice to meet you too. I've never seen ponies that small before.

Skarloey: Indeed. That was my reaction too. They are so small, they can fit in where the people operate our little control thingys.

Rheanes: Oh. Who's this other pony coming over here?

Citrus Orange: Oh no! Not Apple Blossom!

Apple Blossom: Hello there. Who are you?

Rheanes: My name is Rheanes. Nice to meet you. Uh Apple Blossom is it?

Appleblossom: Yes (In a not too happy tone.) I see you met Citrus Orange here. (Climbs up onto Rheanes' footplate.)

Rheanes: What's wrong?

Skarloey: According to the manager, they are rivals.

Rheanes: Oh dear.

Narrating Skarloey: Like I said, Rheanes didn't get as bouncy and excited as I did. He worked without hurry or fuss with Apple Blossom and Emily Ravens. Trucks often played tricks on me to make me cross.

Skarloey: Oh. Hey! Stop that!

Truck 1: Hold back!

Truck 2: Hold back, pass it on.

Citrus Orange: Oh no. Stop it trucks!

Trucks: (laughs)

Sean Holden: (Sighs) This is going to take a while.

Narrating Skarloey: But they soon found out that teasing Rheanes was a mistake .

Truck 1: Hold back!

Truck 2: Pass it on.

Rheanes: (Bumps them) Don't you play your tricks on me.

Truck 1: I take that back.

Appleblossom: Good job Rheanes. That's the way.

Skarloey Narrator: And soon he passed his knowledge of trucks to me, and we soon had them under control. Then one year later in 1866 Rheanes was shunting with Apple Blossom and Emily Ravens on his footplate…

Pinkie Pie: (Through flashback) Or 'where the people operate [your] little control thingys' as you called them back then.

Skarloey (Through flashback, sighs) Yeah, (To self) How could I have been so dumb back then? (Continues narrating.) When I pulled up alongside with Citrus Orange, Mr. Bobby and Sean Holden on my footplate.

Skarloey: I'm really excited! I'm pulling a directors train and taking the inspector tomorrow. Think of that!

Citrus Orange: It will be heaps of fun for us both.

Emily Ravens: Oh that does sound like fun. I wish I was going with you.

Sean Holden: Aye. Same here me lass.

Rheaneas: You mind your bucks and bounces then Skarloey. The directors won't like them.

Apple Blossom: Watch yourselves.

Emily Ravens: And be careful out there mates.

Sean Holden: Thanks for the advice. We'll try to be careful

Skarloey: POH! I know how to handle passengers.

Citrus Orange: Whose side are you on you fool!

Sean Holden: Neither yer's nor Apple Blossom's side. I be wantin' no part of this grudge between the two of ye ponies.

Emily Ravens: Good on ya mate!

Apple Blossom: What?! Come on, you can't be…

Emily Ravens: Enough! I don't want any part of your grudge between you and citrus orange either mate.

Citrus Orange: Hmph! Well anyway, we can take the train better then you and Rheanes can, Apple Blossom.

Apple Blossom: Yeah right. That will be the day.

Citrus Orange: Come on Skarloey. Let's go find the coaches.

Skarloey narrator: We bounced away to fetch the coaches whistling cheerfully.

Skarloey: Hullo Girls.

Agnes: Who is it?

Beatrice: It's an engine. He's come to take us out.

Agnus: Beware of strange engines. We must be on our guard.

Beatrice: (Giggles) But our guard's just come.

Jemima: Who's just come? I don't know.

Beatrice: Our guard has just come?

Jemimia: Oh! Why didn't you say so?

Agnus: All the same, we must be on our guard.

Jemima: What? You want to know far? How far to where?

Agnus: No! I said we must be on our guard?

Jemima: We're going far? We're only going to lake and back.

Agnes: No! I said we must be on our guard.

Jemima: 'We must be going to a farm?' I don't know if there is a farm on the trip.

Agnes: NO! I SAID WE MUST BE ON OUR GUARD!

Jemima: Oh! Why didn't you say so?

Agnes: Ugh!

Skarloey: Come along. We have a train to do. I'm so excited.

Citrus Orange: Me too Skarloey. (Climbs down from his footplate and couples the coaches up, then climbs back to the footplate.) Right. Let's go.

Sean Holden: I only hope yer know what yer doing lad and lass.

Narrating Skarloey: I pulled them happily to the station. Agnus, still not fully convinced, kept saying...

Agnus: Be on your guard. Be on your guard.

Jemima: What? Are we going too far? I don't think so

Agnes: Ugh! I said be on your guard.

Jemima: You need to be at the yards? Why? We have job to do.

Agnes: I SAID BE ON YOUR GUARD!

Jemima: Oh, why didn't you say so? But I don't think the guard would like us to be on top of him.

Skarloey Narrating: The coaches groaned. But I was too excited to listen.

Citrus Orange: You must be excited to pull this train Skarloey.

Skarloey: That I am Citrus. I can't wait! Alright, Mr Bobby, reverse me onto the train.

Sean Holden: Aye, neither can I me lads and young pony lass.

Mr Bobby: Right.

Skarloey Narrating: So I ran round and backed down onto coaches, simmering excitedly.

Skarloey: It's fun, it's fun!

Agnes: You may look harmless, but we'll watch you. We'll watch you.

Jemima: What? We need to watch Ruth? What for?

Agnes: Ugh! Not again.

Jemima: Have we started yet? (looks at the rails) I don't think so?

Ruth: Just be quiet Jemima, and don't speak.

Jemima: Can fly's speak? I don't think so.

Agnes: Ugh! Note to self; Tell Mr. Mack to get a hearing horn for Jemima.

Narrating Skarloey: She took me aback, but even Agnus couldn't complain about our upward journey. We stopped at every station, and the directors got out to admire the arrangements. Everything went well.

Ruth: Good job Skarloey. I must admit, your doing absolutely great.

Jemima: What? You need to harvest Grain? I don't think you can.

Skarloey: Uh, is that coach alright?

Lucy: Oh yeah, she's fine. Unfortunately the poor dear is deaf.

Sean Holden: Aye, I see what ye mean me lass (sigh) Poor dear.

Beatrice: Yeah I know. Hopefully in the future they'll fix her hearing.

Lucy: Same here.

Citrus Orange: I hope so too.

Skarloey narrating: We were going well. We reached the top station in fine style.

Agnes: Well, not bad young engine. I think I might have misjudged you.

Citrus Orange: Heh, nothing to it. Ah, eat your apples out Apple Blossom.

Skarloey: (Chuckles) Good one Citrus. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces.

Sean Holden: Alright ye two, ye be pushing yer luck.

Narrating Skarloey: The manager joined us on the footplate for the journey home.

Mr Mac: It looks so easy. Can I drive him please?

Sean Holden: Oh I don't know sir. It took me quite a while to learn me self. Have ye ever driven an engine?

Citrus Orange: Oh don't be such a stick in the mud Sean, Mr. Bobby will be supervising. Don't see what could go wrong Mr Mack.

Mr. Bobby: Step right up Sir.

Sean Holden: (To himself) Famous last words.

Narrating Skarloey: We were running nicely.

Skarloey: 1st rate, 1st rate!

Narrating Skarloey: I gathered speed, and all unknowingly, I began to bounce. Mr Mac, alarmed, closed the regulator too quickly and too much.

Sean Holden: NO! MR. MACK! YER BRAKIN! TOO HARD!

Citrus Orange: Uh oh.

Mr. Bobby: MR. MACK! YOUR GONNA SMACK THE COAC…

Narrating Skarloey: But it was too late. Agnes' buffers's clashed.

Agnes: HE'S PLAYING TRICKS! BUMP HIM GIRLS! BUMP HIM!

Skarloey Narrator: They surged against me, urging me on. I bounced and lurched and swayed, I couldn't help it. The Manager lost his footing reached wildly for hand rail, and disappeared.

Skarloey: What the? Oh no! I can't stop! Help!

Mr Mac: Stop the train you... Whoa. (Falls off the footplate.)

Skarloey: Brakes, please!

Mr Bobby: I got it.

Skarloey Narrating: Mr. Bobby and Sean Holden seized my controls and stopped the train. They looked back to see two legs waved wildly from a bush, the manager was unhurt but very cross.

Citrus Orange: Oh dear. That's no good. (Climbs down to help Mr Mac.)

Sean Holden: Coming!

Mr Bobby: Wait for me!

(They all helped Mr Mac out of the bushes.)

Mr Mac: I will not ride that bucking bronco again!

Narrating Skarloey: He sat in Beatrice for the rest of the journey. The directors complained they have been badly shaken. They said it was my fault.

Skarloey: What did I do?

Citrus Orange: I don't know Skarloey. We will work it out when we get back.

Director 1: We want Rheanes to take the train tomorrow.

Director 2: We don't want this bucking bronco.

Director 3: You will stay in the shed.

Skarloey/Citrus Orange/Sean Holden: (Sighs) Yes Sir. Sorry sir.

Narrating Skarloey: But later, the manager came.

Skarloey: I'm sorry sir. I did try to be good.

Mr Mac: I understand completely. It wasn't your fault Skarloey. I'm sorry I was cross with all of you. But I'm afraid that, we must do what the directors say now, but I'll make it up to you later.

Citrus Orange: You did try Skarloey. It's ok my friend.

Skarloey: Thank you Citrus.

Sean Holden: Aye, that a be alright Sir. We all make mistakes, but what do ye say we put that all water under the bridge be friends again how about it.

Mr. Mack: (Smile) heheheh I'll drink to that, (Shakes Sean Holden's hand)

Sean holden: Hahahaha, thank ye sir. Tis good to be friends again. Speakin of drinks, after today's events, how bout we go down to Crovans Gate Inn and have ourselves a wee pint of that Apple cider that Apple Blossom and Zap Apple always makes. All on me paybucket sir.

Mr. Mack: Heheheh. Sure, why not.

Skarloey narrating: So they went to Crovans Gate inn and each had a lovely drink of Apple Blossom's and Zap Apple's apple family cider. Heh… I can tell you, Citrus Orange wasn't too happy to know they were going to drink her rival's beverage.

(At Crovans Gate Inn)

Emily Ravens: Good evening mates! I'm glad to see you still got your job on the SkR Sean. I was afraid that you were going to get fired.

Sean Holden: Aye. Same here Emily. I was a wee bit frightened too me lass…

Mr. Mack But we've made up for it, and we're all back on good terms.

Sean Holden: Oh by the way Emily, we've got some good news for ye me lass.

Emily Ravens: Oooh, really? What is it Sean?

Mr. Mack: You and Apple Blossom will be taking the inspector tomorrow with Rheneas.

Emily Ravens: OH THANK YOU SIR! I can't wait to tell Apple Blossom and Rheneas about this. They will be pleased.

Apple Blossom: Ah heard the news. Ah'm standin' right here ya know!

Emily Ravens: Oh, right, of course.

Apple Bloom: Yippe! Ha ha! Eat your heart out Citrus!

Sean Holden: Aye. Ye know, me thinks that this calls for another round on me. Oy! Zap Apple, how bout 5 more round of yer famous apple cider for me and the lads and lassies here on me.

Zap Apple: Coming right up Sean, but who are the other two ciders for?

Sean: Heheh why there for ye and yer sister me friend.

Zap Apple: Alright, now your talking

Skarloey narrator: Zap Apple handed down the drinks and they all drank their cider happily. The inspector was pleased with Rheneas next day.

Rheaneas: Ok. That's done. I didn't do too bad, did I sir?

Inspector: You did very well for a new engine.

Apple Blossom: I'm glad that you pulled it well Rheneas. They are very pleased.

Emily Ravens: I must say, good boy Rheanes. You did very well.

Rheneas: Thank you both. I must admit, I was a little shaky.

Emily Ravens: Never mind. Let's get you back to the sheds.

Narrating Skarloey: He told the directors about some improvements that were needed.

Inspector: But, on the whole, your arrangements are good. Now to see Skarloey. (Goes off to find him)

Apple Blossom: Well, he will never be as good as what you have done Rheneas.

Emily Ravens: (Severely) Apple Blossom, don't push it!

(At the sheds.)

Inspector: I think gentlemen, you are mistaken. Skarloey should prove to be a useful engine. But, he needs another pair of wheels. Take my advice and have them fitted. Then you will see a difference. Good day gentlemen and ponies.

Skarloey Narrator: The inspector tipped his hat, and walked kindly away.

And that was 'Bucking Bronco'. Next is 'Stick-In-The-Mud'.