Thomas was chuffing fast as his wheels could let him, for it was a long way to Crovan's Gate. He was wheel to wheel with Bertie, a friendly red bus who loved having races.

"I'm going to win this time, Thomas!" called Bertie.

"No you're not," the blue engine chuckled, and the two friends raced on.

Suddenly, Thomas had to stop at a level crossing for a green steamroller to pass. His name is George, and he is grumpy and rude to trains alike.

"Bother," groaned Thomas, "morning, George."

"Slow down, you useless blue puffball!" the steamroller snapped rudely.

"Bad luck, Thomas!" tooted Bertie as he raced by.

Once George had rolled clear of the crossing gates, they opened up for Thomas who sped off after Bertie.

"Railways are no good!" George shouted, "Pull 'em up; turn 'em into roads!"

"That'll never happen, George," Thomas shouted back. Despite how rude George seemed, the engines felt that deep down, he was a softie.

Whilst all of this was going on, at Knapford station, Spike and I had arrived with our luggage to catch the local running to Barrow-in-Furness. Our stop would be at Killdane, where would ride on the branchline all the way to Peel Godred. I was wearing a light purple and white sweater vest and jeans, whilst Spike had on a light purple T-shirt underneath a light green hoodie and jeans.

"The local service from Knapford to Barrow will depart from platform five," said the station announcer, "the Wild Nor'Wester will depart from platform three. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."

"Well, looks like this is it," said Spike.

"Our train is being pulled by the North Western's number five," I said, "which one is number five?"

The number five we were in search for was James, who had backed down onto his coaches on platform five. Gordon stood on platform three with the Wild Nor'Wester.

All of a sudden, we heard barking and looked; barking at us was Winona. She and Applejack were there dropping off a delivery of apples.

"Hey, isn't that Applejack's dog?" asked Spike.

"What's Winona doing here?" I wondered.

Winona barked again and turned her head towards the platform where Gordon stood.

"I think she could be telling us where number five is," said Spike, and followed Winona.

Shrugging to myself, I followed Spike. Winona's tail wagged and her friendly face assured me that she knew what she was doing.

"Is this the train pulled by number five?" I asked Winona, who barked once. I knew this was dog speak for "yes."

"Well, I hope you're right," I said, patting her head, and I boarded the coach with Spike following behind.

Winona felt very pleased with herself. She had put us on the wrong train, but she knew she was doing so for the right reasons. She ran up to the last coach of the train and jumped in without anyone seeing her.

At the front of the train, however, Gordon wasn't happy.

"What's the problem, G?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"My fireman's just taken ill," explained Gordon.

"The relief fireman hasn't shown up either," said the driver, "and our train is due to leave any minute. What now?"

"Why don't I be the fireman? Er, firewoman, in this case?" suggest Rainbow Dash.

Gordon and his driver were rather surprised by her offer.

"That's kind of you to offer," said Gordon, "but haven't you got a football game to attend?"

"It's been rescheduled till tomorrow," Rainbow Dash explained, "after all, aren't passengers important?"

"She's got a point," said the driver. So Rainbow Dash was allowed in the cab after explaining to the stationmaster. The guard's whistle sounded and the green flag waved; Gordon started off.

"Well, we're on our way to Shining Armor and Cadance's," I said to Spike.

"Yeah, but it makes me wish we went to somewhere magical," he sighed. Little did we know how much that wish would come true…

Back at Crovan's Gate, the little engines were having a meeting. Peter Sam had been brought back by Rusty after the former's earlier mishap.

"I can't believe ye lost Miss Celesita!" snapped Duncan, "What are we gonna dae now? Probably sit here and rust tae nothin' because of ye, Peter Sam!"

"Oh, we'll all just get destroyed for sure!" Sir Handel panicked, "We need help – who'll give it to us now?!"

"Sir Handel, just calm down," Duke was saying, "and Duncan, Peter Sam didn't mean to lose her; Miss Celestia continued on by foot anyway. Besides, we should help each other, and that's what the Fat Controller would expect for engines big and small."

"Pity he went 'way in the first place…" muttered Duncan.

Just then, Thomas puffed in.

"Where's Miss Celestia?" he asked the little engines, "She said I was to meet with her here at Crovan's Gate."

"Actually, Thomas," said Peter Sam, still sheepish, "I ran out of coal before I reached Rheneas station near the waterfall, and she carried on without me by foot."

"She's lost?" Thomas gasped, "Oh no! Her sparkle must be all gone!"

"I should've filled up on coal," said Peter Sam sadly.

"It wasn't your fault," assured Rheneas.

Suddenly, Thomas sneezed again.

"Oh no," cried Sir Handel, "now Thomas is getting ill… oh no!"

"Be quiet, Sir Handel," said Skarloey firmly.

"I still got a few ashes up my funnel," said Thomas, "but I'm actually feeling better than earlier, Sir Handel. We have to find Miss Celestia before Diesel 10 does."

"I agree," said Duke, "and hopefully before he decides to look for the lost engine."

"Lost engine?" asked Thomas.

Skarloey told Thomas what he had told the Cutie Mark Crusaders. What none of the engines knew, however, was that Sunset Shimmer had secretly been listening in on their conversation.

"So there's some mysterious magic engine, eh?" she said deviously to herself. Before anyone could spot her, she slipped away.

Meanwhile, Miss Celesita was rummaging through the vegetation, looking for a bellflower. Soon enough, she found one and picked it up like an old-fashioned telephone.

"I only hope Luna can answer me," she said to herself.

Luna was far away off Sodor on another railway, looking over some steam engines and diesels. Suddenly, a telephone went off. Luna picked it up and answered.

"Hello?"

"Luna. Luna, where are you?"

"I'm on the mainland," Luna replied.

"You've got to get back to the island of Sodor right now!" said Celestia urgently, "I've run out of gold dust, and because of that, I'm losing my energy as well! Our universe is in serious trouble."

"That is dreadful news, sister! When should I get here?"

"As soon as you can. You have to help me find the source of our gold dust."

"I hate to bring bad news, but I've used up most my gold dust already…"

"What?!" Celestia had a look of disbelief on her face.

"Then go to my place first," she said, "in my room, in a box in the closet are the Elements of Harmony. They might come in handy. Then on the bottom left of the box is a small compartment. In that compartment, you'll find my emergency whistle with the last of my supply. Please take care of it, Luna, ad whatever you do…" she started to whisper, "don't talk to anyone about the magic buffers!"

"Understood, sister. But where can we find the source?"

Before Celestia could answer, the bellflower had wilted, and all Luna could hear was ringing.

Luna sighed. "I better come as fast as I can," she said to herself.

Meanwhile, Gordon was thundering down the mainline while Rainbow Dash worked hard as his temporary firewoman. She had never ridden in an engine's cab before, and the thought of speeding down the line was an exciting experience for her.

In the coaches, Spike and I looked out and waited for the train to stop at Killdane.

"There's our stop!" Spike said, pointing to the station outside, "We must be really early."

I was prepared to put on my backpack the moment our train came to a complete stop, but Gordon never did, and he kept on going past Killdane.

"That can't be right," I said in surprise, "our train isn't stopping!"

"Are we really on the right train?" asked Spike. I didn't have an answer to Spike's question; I was just as puzzled as he was.

The journey from Killdane to Crovan's Gate was very quiet; other than passing a station at Kellsthorpe Road, Spike and I saw nothing but green, green, and more green. At some point, I could swear I saw a teenage boy with blue hair riding a dun furred horse with a brown mane.

Spike and I found the silence rather spooky, so to soothe our nerves, I took out my guitar and played to break our silence, picking up the rhythm of the train wheels, but the silence overwhelmed my playing and I stopped.

"I wish we could stop," I said at last, "do you know where our journey is taking us?"

"No idea," said Spike, "I wish I knew."

Meanwhile at Arlesburgh, Douglas had finished with a goods train and was on the turntable to get turned around. Near him a green 0-4-2 tank engine; this is Oliver, the engine Douglas had saved from scrap years before, and the North Western Railway's number eleven. With him was a Great Western brakevan named Toad, who had also been saved from scrap by Douglas.

"Hello, Douglas," said Oliver, "we heard from James you had a run in with Diesel 10 last night."

"I hope he didn't do anything bad to you, Mr. Douglas," said Toad, "that would be dreadful if that were the case."

"Nae, he didn't," said Douglas, "but he did give us steamers a good fright."

Unknown to the trio, George the steamroller had rolled up. He watched enviously as Douglas began to spin on the turntable.

"Charming sight, isn't it? So soothing."

George was startled by the voice. He turned and saw Diesel 10 next to him.

"Oh, great," the steamroller grumbled, "another engine to deal with!"

"Fear not," said Diesel 10, "we're on your side."

George raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Then Splatter and Dodge rolled up alongside the clawed diesel.

"Picture this, George," said Discord, getting out of Diesel 10's cab, "having your own roller rink for your wheels only. Goodbye turntable, hello roller rink – just for George forever circling it in balletic bliss…"

As George took in this offer, he began to have a vision…

George was in a large roller rink where the turntable used to be. As he rolled around it, he was greeted by cheers from people coming to watch him, while engines like Donald and Douglas would be scowling crossly in disgust.

"So what am I to do?" asked George, snapping back to reality.

"We don't need steam engines," explained Diesel 10, "they need buffers at the end of the tracks to stop them from crashing. So we'll destroy the buffers, and when the steam engines are destroyed as well, we can build them up again for ourselves!"

Splatter and Dodge listened with glee, while George looked dismayed, but didn't object.

"We don't need Celestia either," Discord said, continuing where Diesel 10 left off, "she'll just be a problem to our plan. She's able to teleport with her whistle, and has something to do with buffers. We heard her talking about them in her sleep, an even better reason to destroy them. Then we'll make your dreams come true, George. Deal?"

"Deal," George said, a bit reluctantly.

"Excellent, and remember our motto," said Diesel 10, "They add, we subtract."

At that moment, Trixie and Lightning Dust came up.

"We happened to hear you talking about causing trouble for those steam engines," said Lightning Dust, "we wish to help with that."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Splatter.

"They're just teenage girls," added Dodge.

"Who are you calling 'just teenage girls'?!" snapped Trixie, "We hate steam engines as much as you do."

"Join the club, girls," Diesel 10 grinned, "you'll be excellent allies along with George here, right?"

"Erm, yes… Diesel…"

"Remember our motto, George; they add, we subtract – say it."

"They add, we subtract," George repeated, "but what do we subtract?"

Diesel 10 groaned, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"We eliminate the buffers, the steam engines, and Celetisa," explained Discord.

"Oh," said George, "gotcha."

Unknown to Diesel 10, Apple Bloom had gone with Applejack to make another delivery of apples and overheard the plan.

"Oh, no," she whispered, "that big bully Diesel 10 wants George to help hurt the steam engines. And is that Lighnin' Dust and Trixie he's enlisted?"

Apple Bloom was worried, and so was Applejack, but for a different reason.

"Winona?" the older sister called, "Where are ya, girl?"

"Applejack," her younger sister said, "I heard Diesel 10's enlisted George, Lightning Dust and Trixie to cause trouble fer our steam engine friends!"

"What?" asked Applejack, "First Winona goes missin', and now Diesel 10's enlisted help for his so-called schemes?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"We ought to go warn the engines." And with that, the sisters set off.

"Come on, Trixie," said Lightning Dust, "let's tell Sunset about the plan."

"Oh, yes, Lightning," agreed Trixie, "she would love to help make life a misery for the steam engines!"

Speaking of whom, Sunset Shimmer was making her way to the nearest station when she came across Chrysalis.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Just a drifter who's come back," answered Chrysalis.

"Well, what do you want?" asked Sunset.

"I've come back to find a steam engine," Chrysalis replied.

"Easy enough," Sunset shrugged, "they're everywhere around here."

"Yes, but not the one I want," said Chrysalis, "she escaped me once before and is most likely hiding in Muffle Mountain. I intend to find her so I can destroy her!"

The two didn't notice Sweetie Belle eavesdropping on them. Rarity brought her along to do some shopping for some dresses she was working on.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle cried once her older sister came back, "I heard Sunset Shimmer talking to some mean lady that wants to destroy a steam engine."

"That's awful!" exclaimed Rarity, "Being rude to us and our friends is bad enough, but trying to destroy an innocent steam engine? Oh, of all the worst things that could happen… this is the! WORST! POSSIBLE! THING!!"

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes; Rarity had this huge habit of becoming over-dramatic. Fortunately, Chrysalis and Sunset hadn't heard Rarity's dramatizing.

"We need to warn someone," said Sweetie Belle.

"If this engine you want to destroy is who I think it is," Sunset said with a devious grin, "then I'd be willing to help."

"Excellent," said Chrysalis darkly.

Meanwhile, at Crovan's Gate, Gordon steamed to a stop with the Wild Nor'Wester. Spike and I looked out the window of our coach.

"Crovan's Gate?" I wondered, "Why have we stopped here?"

Then we heard a familiar barking and saw Winona.

"Her again?" asked Spike, "Why is she following us?"

"I don't know," I said, "but I think she wants us to get off here."

No sooner had we gotten out of the coach when Rainbow Dash got out of Gordon's cab. To my shock, she was covered in coal dust.

"Hey guys," she waved to us.

"What's happened to you, Rainbow Dash?" I exclaimed, "You're covered in coal dust!"

"Gordon's fireman took ill, the relief man was late, and so I volunteered to help, "said Rainbow Dash, "can't let the passengers down, after all."

"Is Gordon the driver of this engine?" asked Spike.

"Gordon is the engine," said Rainbow Dash.

"What, never seen a talking train before?" asked a male voice.

Spike and I jumped in surprise as the big express engine spoke.

"Who said that?!" cried Spike.

"That would be me," Gordon said, "the engine that's in front of you, perhaps?"

Spike and I looked up at the big engine in front of us.

"S-sorry," I said nervously, "I've never seen an engine talk since we don't live close to the railways."

Spike then noticed the large number four on Gordon's tender.

"We definitely got on the wrong train," he said.

"How'd that happen?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"We were led by Winona," I admitted. The little dog barked cheerfully.

"Applejack's gonna be wondering where you are," Rainbow Dash said to Winona.

"What I don't know is why she wanted us to come here," said Spike.

Suddenly, just before us, Luna appeared in a shower of gold dust, dusting herself off.

"Oh, botheration," she said, looking around, "this isn't Knapford. I don't know how to do this… Who does sister think I am, Houdini?" Then she noticed us.

"Oh, hello there," she said, "who might you be?"

"I'm Twilight Sparkle," I said, "that's my younger brother Spike—"

"And I'm Rainbow Dash," the athletic girl interrupted me, "who are you?"

"I'm Luna," the twenty-something woman replied, and then looked around, "did I drop some sunglasses around here?"

I shrugged, humming an "I don't know."

"Ah well," said Luna, "good day then." With that, she disappeared again. I then noticed some gold dust on the ground where she was and got some on my fingers."

"What is this stuff?" I wondered.

Miss Celestia had been trying her best to make it back to Crovan's Gate by foot, but she had ended up lost and was now lying under a bridge before the tunnel before Glennock.

"Why did I take my gold dust for granted?" she said quietly, "I can't help without it… What is the source of my gold dust…?" Then she heard the sounds of a steam engine puffing over the bridge.

"Is someone there?" It was Rheneas with a passenger train.

"Rheneas? Is that you?" Miss Celestia called weakly. But Rheneas didn't reply; he couldn't hear her.

"Rheneas?" Still, no answer. Celestia lay on the grass sadly, a tear in her eye.

"How can I possibly say that I'm really useful now?" she said sadly.

Meanwhile, the mean trio met up once again.

"Where have you two been?" Sunset asked.

"We've met up with a diesel and his driver that hate steam engines just like we three," said Trixie.

"We're gonna help them cause trouble for the steam engines by helping to smash the buffers," added Lightning Dust, "where have you been?"

"Some mysterious lady needed my help in finding some lost steam engine hidden away on Muffle Mountain," Sunset replied.

"And you agreed to help her?" asked Trixie.

"Of course," said Sunset, "I've heard tales about this steam engine she's after and believe it's no ordinary one. As long as she exists, so do the other steam engines." Then a devious smile appeared on her face. "But if she can be destroyed…"

"Destroyed?" asked Lightning Dust.

"As in, hurt?" Trixie added.

"Yes, destroyed as in hurt," Sunset sighed.

"So…" said Lightning Dust, "by destroying this seam engine, all the other steam engines will be destroyed as well?"

"Exactly."

"But just in case that doesn't work," said Trixie, "what say we help with Diesel 10's plan as well?"

"Oh, of course I will," said Sunset, "anything to cause trouble for those stupid puffballs."

At Muffle Mountain, Shining Armor was on the telephone, sounding very worried.

"Alright. If you see them, please call me. Thank you." With that, he hung up and turned to Cadance. "Twilight and Spike didn't make it to the station."

"You don't think Chrysalis got to them first, do you?" Cadance asked worriedly.

"I hope not," said Shining Armor, "it's bad enough she destroyed one thing precious to me. I don't want to lose another."

Cadance wrapped her arms around her husband in an attempt to relax him.

Back at Crovan's Gate, Spike and I were still waiting around. As we waited, we got a chance to speak with the narrow gauge engines. Suddenly, ("Winona!") we saw Applejack come to the platform. Winona was pleased to see her mistress.

"Ah was worried sick about ya, gal," Applejack said, petting Winona. Then she noticed Spike and I.

"Hey, Applejack," I said.

"Howdy, Twilight. Spike," said Applejack, "weren't ya supposed to be on the local to Killdane?"

"We were supposed to be," said Spike, "but Winona got us on the wrong train."

"Somethin' strange must be goin' on here," muttered Applejack. Then she turned to us again.

"Never mind now; Big Macintosh and Ah can give ya a lift to Muffle Mountain."

"We really appreciate it," I smiled, "best news I've heard all day, other than meeting talking trains for the first time."

Big Macintosh's lorry (the British nickname for a truck, in case you're wondering) was close to the station so we didn't walk long.

In the lorry, Big Macintosh was driving, because he was old enough to drive. Applejack sat in front with him and had Winona on her lap. Spike and I sat in the back. As we went down the road, I thought of something.

"Did you know my brother and sister-in-law?" I asked Applejack.

"Big Macintosh here did," replied Applejack, "Ah found out about them through 'im."

"Eeyup."

"I think Shining Armor liked nickname Cadance 'Lady'," said Spike.

"Lady?" Applejack asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I heard them say that name one time when they were talking," said Spike. Right now, I was looking at the photograph of Shining Armor and Cadance's wedding, with Chrysalis in the background.

And speaking of whom, Shining Armor and Cadance were at a crossing near Peel Godred waiting for us when Chrysalis pulled up on her motorcycle.

"I didn't find her," she sneered.

"You never will," said Shining Armor firmly, "even if you did, she'd be of no use to you now."

"You're a liar, Shining Armor!" snapped Chrysalis.

"Why are you so obsessed with finding her anyway?" asked Cadance.

"You took something away from me, and soon I'll take something from you!" Chrysalis snarled, but before she could say anymore, she saw Big Macintosh's lorry pull up and she drove up.

"Who was that crazy woman?" asked Spike, watching Chrysalis drive away.

"Someone who likes to cause trouble," said Big Macintosh.

"Could Ah borrow that picture?" asked Applejack, "Ah promise to take care of it."

I handed her the photo and she accepted it. Soon the lorry stopped and we all stepped out. As I got out of the lorry, gold dust residue from my jeans drifted into the air, falling in a little puddle on the ground at the crossroads.

"Twilight, Spike," said Shining Armor, noticing us.

"Hi, B.B.B.F.F.," I said, "sorry we're late." And I explained to them what had happened.

"What matters is that you're alright," smiled Cadance. We said goodbye and thank you to Big Macintosh and Applejack, as well as Winona, and the Apple siblings drove off. Soon we got into Shining Armor's car and set off to his and Cadance's house.