I believe that most folks – like yourselves – understand that on a train journey, great adventure may never be very far away, and that long after the sound of a train whistle has vanished, its romance will be safe in every human heart – whatever the age, whatever the time. Most folks are happy to know this – sadly, a few are not – which is a pity because that's all it takes to cause a lot of trouble to some of the most precious things in life.

This is the story about trains, six teenage girls, and the legends that brought them together, as they were meant to be.

Every story, like a railway, has its heroes. Our number one hero is Thomas the tank engine, a cheeky E2 class tank engine painted blue with red stripes, and a yellow number one on his tanks. He lives on the Island of Sodor, running on the North Western under the supervision of Sir Topham Hatt.

There's no place like Sodor and if you have the imagination that I think you do, you're about to find out why…

***

Knapford is the biggest station on the North Western Railway. With a large canopy, the station has got six tracks total, four being through tracks and the other two being terminal tracks. There's a refreshment kiosk, engine driver's common room, an M.C. BUNN café and bookstall.

A big blue 4-6-2 tender engine stood at platform 1 with four green and custard yellow express coaches. This is Gordon, the experimental A0 Pacific based off the A1/A3s of the London and North Eastern Railway, and the North Western Railway's number four engine.

Gordon was speaking with a teenage girl at sixteen. Her hair was streaked red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, she had cerise colored eyes, a short-sleeved blue jacket, black track shorts, blue tennis shoes with white soles and laces, her socks were red, yellow and blue, and she wore a white T-shirt with a blue, yellow and red lightning bolt with a cloud.

Now this girl is one of the six teenagers I mentioned earlier; her birth name is Rayne Dash, but everyone calls her Rainbow Dash because of her hair colors. She doesn't mind it though; the name fit to her.

This morning, Gordon was waiting impatiently for Thomas to arrive with passengers from his branchline. Rainbow Dash stood on platform 3.

"Where is that Thomas? He's late!"

"Ah, come on, G," said Rainbow Dash, "don't ya think you're over-reacting?"

"When Thomas is late, I am late," Gordon explained in annoyance, "and when I'm late, the passengers complain. And if the passengers complain, what happens to the railway then?"

"You'd probably end up pulling goods as a result," Rainbow Dash muttered.

"Don't remind me of that, please!" spluttered Gordon indignantly. He then looked at the clock, and after the minute hand reached XII (twelve in Roman numerals), he began counting the seconds that Thomas was late.

"One, two, three, four, five, six…"

PEEP PEEP!

"Seven, eight… Practicing your numbers, Gordon? That's a good engine!"

Gordon rolled his eyes and sighed. Thomas backed down onto platform three running bunker first, pulling two brown coaches with four wheels each. The composite coach was named Annie, and the brake coach Clarabel.

"I was counting how many seconds late you were, little Thomas," said Gordon grandly.

"Yeah, what took so long?" asked Rainbow Dash, "I've got a practice to play at Ffarquhar!"

"It wasn't our fault," said Annie, who was in front.

"A cow strayed on our line and we had to wait for the farmer to take it away," added Clarabel, who was coupled in front of Thomas.

"Well, what does that sign say?" Gordon asked, looking up at a large sign above him. It had the Hitchcockian image of Sir Topham Hatt, whose trademark is his daily attire of an English top hat.

Thomas was uncoupled from Clarabel so he could look at the sign and read. "'North Western Railway – really reliable and right on time! Signed, head of the Railway – Sir Topham Hatt.'"

"I thought he was the Fat Controller," said Rainbow Dash, confused.

"He is, young Rainbow," said Gordon reproachfully.

"That's what we call him," explained Thomas, "but others prefer to call him 'Sir Topham Hatt', like the sign reads. Oh, and it also says 'Sorry for any inconvenience during repairs. We are making this a better railway'."

Soon Thomas had run around his coaches and was coupled up to Annie, ready for his return trip to Ffarquhar. It was clear from their surroundings that repair work to the tracks and buffers was underway.

"Now if you'll excuse me," said Thomas to Gordon, "I'm to meet up with Miss Celestia. She'll be taking care of us while the Fat Controller has a very important short holiday."

"Personally," scoffed Gordon, letting off steam, "I think we can handle ourselves, little Thomas."

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a large diesel rolled through fast between Gordon and Thomas. He had a very unfriendly look on his face as he kicked up dust into the air, dirtying the two engines' smart blue paint. Rainbow Dash and several passengers were startled by the diesel's unexpected arrival and fell onto the platform.

"Oh goodness gracious," Annie and Clarabel exclaimed in fright.

"What was that?" remarked Rainbow Dash, standing up and dusting herself off.

"That just arrived," explained Thomas, "and I've heard of him – his name is Diesel 10. Ten out of ten for devious deeds, brutal strength, and for being a big bully from thirty years ago. The Fat Controller sent him to help us North Western engines – steam and diesel alike – but Diesel 10's behaving like he hates us. We should all have to be very careful."

"Now that you mention it," said Gordon after his guard's whistle sounded, "perhaps we do need Miss Celestia here after all – and on time too!"

Gordon pulled out of Knapford Station with his express, the Wild Nor'Wester. Soon Rainbow Dash and other passengers boarded Annie and Clarabel, and then Thomas set off as well.

At Wellsworth, a blue 4-4-0 tender engine stopped beside an orchard with a general goods train. This engine is Edward, the North Western Railway's number two, and the oldest running engine on the line. He spotted a green traction engine approaching him with a cartload of apples. His name is Trevor; Edward and the vicar of Wellsworth had helped to save him from scrap years before.

"Morning, Trevor," called Edward.

"Good morning, Edward," Trevor called back.

"I see you're helping the Apple-Smith family with tending to the apples," Edward commented.

"Indeed he is, Edward partner," said a young woman hauling a basket of apples, "we've got plenty to harvest!"

This girl is Jacqueline Apple-Smith; a fifteen year old girl with blonde hair tied to a ponytail, green eyes, freckles, slightly tannish skin, a rolled-up white cowgirl shirt with a green vest, blue jeans, brown cowgirl boots with two red apples on each, a belt with a red apple for a buckle, and she wore a Stetson hat on her head.

Jacqueline mostly goes by "Applejack", and like Rainbow Dash, she's another of the six teenage girls. Her family, the Apple-Smiths, came from America and had moved to the orchard at Wellsworth before Applejack was born, and they have lived and worked there since at Wellsworth Apple Acres, but it is mostly known to many as Sweet Apple Acres.

"Good to see you, Applejack," smiled Edward, "how's the family?"

"Apple Bloom's doin' pretty darn good," replied Applejack, "Big Macintosh is becomin' a bit more open, and Granny Smith's gettin' her urge to walk on two feet again!"

"That is good news from your family," said Edward.

"Indeed it is," agreed Applejack, "well, it was nice talkin' to ya again, Edward, but Ah got some work to do!"

"As do I. Good day, Applejack. Goodbye, Trevor." And with that, Edward puffed away once Gordon had passed with the express.

There's a forest between Cronk and Killdane, and that morning, a girl of fifteen was observing the peaceful scenery. She had long light pink hair, cyan eyes, a white butterfly clip on her hair, wore a white sleeveless top, a light green skirt with three pink butterflies on it, light green sandals and pink socks.

This girl is Florence Sherry, more commonly known as Fluttershy. She lives at a cottage on the outskirts of Cronk and has a love for animals. She's the third of the six girls alongside Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

As Fluttershy was enjoying the peace and quiet of the forest, she heard the sounds of a steam engine approaching light engine. This is Henry; a 4-6-0 green tender engine and the North Western Railway's number three. When he first came to Sodor, he was prone to illness and needed special coal to steam properly. After a crash, he was rebuilt and Henry now steams well again, but very recently, he was put back on special coal not long after a dunking in the sea.

Henry's driver, Ted, made some arrangements with the signalman to stop by the forest for a while after his day's work. This forest in particular happens to be Henry's favorite.

"Hello, Fluttershy," the big green engine said as he backed onto a siding.

"Oh, morning, Henry," Fluttershy replied, "isn't it a beautiful day today?"

"Indeed it is," Henry smiled, "my driver's just made arrangements for us to stay for a bit here and admire the scenery."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Fluttershy, "how is your coal situation doing?"

"Still on the special coal, sadly," replied Henry, "I no longer needed it since my accident with the Flying Kipper, but since that dive, my problems have come back."

"Oh, that's a pity," said Fluttershy sympathetically.

"I know," frowned Henry, "I hope I'll be able to burn regular coal again soon."

"Don't worry, Henry," said Fluttershy kindly, "I'm sure one day you'll be back to regular coal."

At the dockyards of Brendam, a red 2-6-0 tender engine with black wheels was moaning. This engine is James, the North Western Railway's number five, with yellow lining on his boiler and firebox, black lining on his cab, wheel splashers and tender, and a shiny brass dome. James is a bit temperamental and has a tendency to over-dramatize, and his temper can be as red as his paint.

"Why do I have to take a dirty goods train instead of a splendid passenger train?" he grumbled to no one in particular.

"I, for one, would recognize that complaining anywhere," said a female voice. James knew who that voice belonged to.

This here is Aurora Belle, more commonly known by Rarity. She is a seventeen year old girl with purple-indigo hair, blue eyes, wore two golden wrist bracelets, a pale blue top, a light purple skirt with three lozenge diamonds on it, a purple belt with a light blue buckle, and dark purple boots. Rarity is yet another of the six girls in our story with Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy.

"Hello, Rarity," said James, "what are you doing here at the docks?"

"I was just coming by to see if some new fabric for my clothes has arrived yet," Rarity explained, "oh, and I can't help but notice how splendid your red paint looks in the sunlight."

"Thank you," James grinned, before frowning again, "but it's unfair that I must pull a dirty goods train instead of a passenger train."

"Why, James," said Rarity, "goods are just as important as passengers, even though I'm more into fashion, even I know that, and so should you. Sodor doesn't just rely on passengers to keep running."

Inside, James knew Rarity had a point; he was built to be a mixed-traffic engine.

"You're right, Rarity," he said at last, "but I wish it didn't have to be so dirty."

"As do I, James," replied Rarity, shaking her head, "as do I."

"Well, I'd best be going," said James, after his guard's whistle sounded, "take care!"

"Oh, yes, goodbye James!" called Rarity, waving as he went.

There is a harbor at Knapford where goods trains come from Anopha Quarry on Thomas' branchline. A green 0-4-0 saddle tank engine was arranging stone trucks in place. This is Percy, the North Western Railway's number six. He came to Sodor when the big engines went on strike to shunt their trains, but when the harbor was being built, Percy came to help on Thomas' branchline and run the line on goods duties since.

Just then, Percy heard the sound of a bell ringing, and a brown 0-6-0 tram engine with gray sideplates came into view pulling stone trucks from Ffarquhar. This quaint little engine is named Toby, the number seven of North Western Railway. He lived north of Sodor on a tramway terminating at Arlesdale End, but when Thomas got into trouble with a policeman, Toby was brought to the North Western with his coach Henrietta, not long after the Fat Controller's father once went on holiday.

"Hello, Percy," called Toby as he stopped alongside the green saddle tank engine, "you're looking worried."

"Tonight, I've to go to the scrapyards," moaned Percy, "I hate going there, especially at night!"

"I wouldn't worry about it," assured Toby, "the Fat Controller had sent away Arry and Bert since they nearly got Stepney scrapped."

At that moment, they heard a stirring.

"W-what was that?" asked Percy.

"I don't know," answered Toby, "but it sounds like it came from over there."

In the direction Toby was looking was a wooden crate. The crate shook and suddenly, it burst open in a stream of confetti! Percy jumped in surprise, bumping the trucks from behind him.

"Surprise!"

"Pinkie Pie, that wasn't funny!" said Toby sternly.

The girl in question, Pinkie Pie, is fourteen years old, with curly raspberry hair, light blue eyes, a white t-shirt with blue sleeves and a pink heart in the middle, pink shorts with three balloons (two blue, one yellow) on the right leg, and blue shoes with pink soles. Like the four girls I mentioned earlier, she's one of the six teenage girls of the story. Her full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, but she prefers that everyone call her Pinkie for short.

"Aw, come on now," she said, "I was just trying to turn Percy's frown upside down with a surprise!"

"I'm upset because I have to work at the scrapyards tonight," sad Percy, "it's very scary at night."

"Oh, that reminds me," said Toby, "I'm coming too."

"That's a relief," smiled Percy, "it'll be better than going alone."

"Don't worry, Percy," said Pinkie, "if you get scared, try laughing at the scary stuff and you'll feel better, just like what Nana Pie would tell me when I was a little girl."

"Okay then, Pinkie," said Percy, "I'll give it a try."

"Well, we best be going," said Toby, "goodbye, Pinkie and thanks for the advice."

"Oh, it's no problem," smiled Pinkie, "I just love seeing my friends happy!"

Remember Thomas mentioning that Miss Celestia would take care of the engines while the Fat Controller was away? You do? Well then, I'll tell you about her.

Miss Celestia is the woman with all the sparkle and she knows the North Western engines very well. She's a woman in her late thirties with pink hair streaked with cobalt blue, turquoise and cerulean, light magenta eyes, a pale gold button front jacket, a purple and white shirt underneath her jacket, purple trousers and pale gold shoes.

Miss Celestia is a kind, well-mannered woman with a source of wisdom in the time of emergency, but she can be strict when she needs to be, such as when someone goofs off instead of doing as they're told. She lives somewhere near Knapford, but not very close to the railway.

She and her younger sister Luna (more on her later) have a special way of getting to and from places rather quickly. This is possible because of gold dust; it used by the sisters contained inside special conductor's whistles. By blowing the whistles, they can "sparkle" out to wherever they need to be multiple times until they need to sound their whistles again.

With the two sisters around Sodor, there is peace and harmony across the island – a land of goodwill where you can take a breath of fresh air and feel free. I think you'd love to come here where your dreams can come true.

By this point, you may be thinking, "who is the sixth girl alongside Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity?" Well, I'm about to introduce you to her…

The sixth girl lives at a small house in the country near Elsbridge, not very close to the railway lines. This girl is sixteen years old with purple eyes, sapphire hair with violet and rose streaks, a light blue button school-girl shirt with a pink bow, a purple skirt with a pink six-pointed star surrounded by five white sparkles on it, black shoes and pink socks.

I'm that girl; my name is Twyla Sparkle, but everyone calls me Twilight. I live with my parents Tanya Velvet and Nigel Liddon Sparkle (commonly nicknamed Twilight Velvet and Night Light, respectively) and my adopted younger brother Spike.

Spike is twelve years old with spiky green hair, green eyes, a light purple jacket, purple shorts, a lime green t-shirt, and purple tennis shoes. When he was a baby, his parents abandoned him on our doorstep, and I was the first to notice him wrapped in a blanket in a basket with a stuffed dragon toy. Since then, my parents adopted him as their second son, and he's been my best friend since.

Back to me; I see the magic no one else has time for, like the lovely reflections of light on a rainy day. Soon, I would be off to visit my older brother Shining Armor and sister-in-law (and childhood babysitter) Cadance on Muffle Mountain, north of Peel Godred.

Right at the moment, I was looking at a picture of my older brother and Cadance dancing in their wedding clothes, with other people looking, and it had been taken about three years ago.

"I remember this picture," I told my mom, "it was after their wedding." I took a closer look at the picture; one of the onlookers had dark cerulean blue hair with holes in it – gelled, perhaps? – and she had an angry look on her face.

"Hey, isn't that Quinn Chryssa?" I asked. I showed the picture to Mom, and she too looked at the cerulean hared girl in the background.

"Yes, it is, Twilight," she told me, "but she goes by the pseudonym of 'Chrysalis'. She was a very nasty girl, your older brother said. Chrysalis tried to sabotage his wedding with Cadance, and not long after, she destroyed something very precious to Shining Armor. He never said what it was, and nor did Cadance."

I sighed. "He's been so sad since after his wedding," I replied, "and he doesn't come here to see us, even me…"

When I was much younger, Shining Armor was my B.B.B.F.F. (Big Brother Best Friend Forever, in case you're wondering) and he was such a happy young boy then. I looked at pictures of him and me from our youth; the day I was born, Spike's first birthday, celebrating Cadance's birthday, their graduation from Elsbridge Secondary School, and a photo of our family from their wedding. I smiled, tears forming in my eyes, but I tried not to cry.

"Maybe a visit will cheer him up," Mom said, putting her arm around me, "have you made him and Cadance something?"

"Yes," I replied, "I'm making them a friendship bracelet each… but I'd rather stay here with you," I added sadly.

"I know, dear." Mom gave me a hug and I returned it.

"I can't forget Smarty Pants either," I said, looking at a doll on a shelf. Smarty Pants is the name of the doll Shining Armor gave me when I was a toddler, and I've never let go of her since, even when Spike was adopted.

Then my dad came in with Spike; both were carrying cardboard boxes filled with paper.

"Boy, these boxes are heavy," groaned Spike.

"I know, boy," said our dad, "but we must sort through them."

Mom and I decided to pitch in and help Dad and Spike out. Very shortly, Mom came across a drawing.

"Look at this, dear," she told her husband, "you won't believe what I've found! It must be one of Shining's childhood drawings. There's his signature," she added, pointing at the name in the lower right corner.

"Is that him as a little boy?" asked Spike.

"It really is," I said, mesmerized. I hadn't seen the drawing in years.

"It's hard to believe he used to be that happy," Mom smiled.

"Oh, our son had a wonderful smile," said Dad, "and he loved railways too, one of his many passions."

My smile slowly faded into frown. Railways were a passion to my B.B.B.F.F., along with Cadance and I. I was longing to see him again.

So now you've met me, the other five girls, Miss Celestia, and Thomas. But whether we all meet each other depends on the story I'm about to tell…