Meanwhile, at the yards, George was near a set of buffers ready to smash them, but his driver would not allow it.

"I don't care what those bullies offer you," he scolded, "but I'm not letting you help them with their selfish deeds!"

"Oh, really?" said a voice from behind.

George's driver jumped. "Who said that?" he demanded. No sooner had he turned around…

WHAM!

A fist punched him and sent him flying to the ground; the fist belonged to Sunset Shimmer, who'd been convinced by Trixie and Lightning Dust to help Diesel 10 while they helped Chrysalis.

"Right, steamroller…"

"George."

"George, right. But anyway, let's smash some buffers!"

Sunset drove George to the set of buffers, and they were smashed to bits. As he did so, Diesel 10 rolled up alongside, Splatter and Dodge next to him; the look on George's face meant he was in for a severe reprimanding.

"One set of buffers smashed isn't enough, George," said Diesel 10.

"Yeah, remember our motto," said Splatter.

"They go up, we come down," added Dodge.

Diesel 10 groaned in irritation. "No, you blithering idiots!" he shouted, his claw snapping wildly at them, "They add, we subtract! Can't you morons do anything right?!"

Splatter and Dodge gulped nervously.

"Sooner or later," Discord told George, "you'll hit the buffers that are so precious to Celestia. Destroy, George."

George started to have second doubts; this wasn't really his scene.

"But I might hurt something… or someone," he said.

"So what?" Sunset scoffed, "The steam engines are gonna crash anyway."

"Good point, I suppose," said George.

Meanwhile, at Wellsworth, BoCo was holding a meeting with Mavis and Daisy. Daisy is a single-unit diesel railcar painted bright green with yellow lining and makeup on her face; eyelashes, red lipstick, blush and blue eyeshadow, almost similar to Rarity. She had come to the Ffarquhar branchline after Thomas had an accident involving the stationmaster's house. Although lazy and stubborn to start with, Daisy has mellowed out and has become a really useful engine since.

"So why were we called out here, BoCo?" asked Daisy.

"I've gather both of you girls here because like me," said BoCo, "you're the only diesels on Sodor who don't want to hurt the steam engines."

Then he explained to them about Diesel 10.

"I heard from Toby about the attack at Tidmouth Sheds earlier that morning," said Mavis, "I haven't met Diesel 10 yet, but I did meet with those creeps Splatter and Dodge."

"What were they like?" asked Daisy.

"Let's say they're not the brightest tools in the shed," explained Mavis, "I heard they're also enlisting help from other diesels."

"Other diesels?" asked BoCo, "Oh dear…"

"What's the matter?" asked Daisy, "Who are the other diesels?"

"Two of them who were at odds with Duck, and two of them who nearly got Stepney scrapped…"

"You don't mean…?"

"I do mean," said BoCo grimly.

At the Vicarstown Rolling Bridge, the four diesels BoCo had mentioned were rolling over to Sodor. One of them was long and green with yellow ends and the number 261. This diesel once came to Sodor during Stepney's visit years ago.

With D261 were three diesel shunters similar to Splatter and Dodge; two of them were greenish gray with hazard stripes on their fronts and rears and yellow cabs, and both had "SODOR IRONWORKS" written on their sides in white. These diesels were Arry and Bert, the same diesels who nearly got Stepney scrapped. Bert had stubble on his face.

The third diesel shunter was painted black; this was Diesel, who'd come to Sodor in trial years before and told lies about Duck to Gordon, Henry and James.

"Can't wait to meet up with other diesels," said Arry.

"And then we can cause trouble for the steam engines," added Bert.

"With steamers out of the way," said Diesel, "that fat tub of lard will finally see that diesels are far superior and we will rule!"

Not too far away, Miss Celestia had come across some standard gauge tracks, looking for civilization. She was cold, tired and miserable, and she didn't know how long she'd been walking and looked at her watch.

"Dinner time," she said with alarm in her voice, "where's Luna when I need her help the most…?"

Then she heard the sounds of diesel horns honking in the distance.

"Oh no," she said with worry. Then Miss Celestia saw the diesels approaching and quickly hid in a bush. Fortunately, they hadn't spotted her.

"That was a close call," she sighed in relief, and looking both ways to see no trains were coming, Miss Celesita hastily crossed the tracks to the other side.

Back at Muffle Mountain, we'd finally arrived at Shining Armor and Cadance's house. It was a rather small cottage that sort of blended in with the background. On the journey, I found it rather surprising that Shining Armor (who was driving at the time) hadn't said a word, let alone strike up a conversation.

"We met with our friend Rainbow Dash at Crovan's Gate," I was saying, "and this woman named Luna – she had dark hair and…" I trailed off, unsure of what so say next.

"She appeared and disappeared with gold dust," Spike finished for me.

Neither Cadance nor Shining Armor replied.

"Could you believe that?" I asked finally.

"I only believe what I see," Shining Armor muttered, but loud enough for us to hear.

Spike and I said no more; who were we to risk an argument?

That evening at the dinner table, we all were rather quiet eating our dinner of spaghetti. Not wanting to eat I awkward silence, I spoke up.

"Why'd you move out here?" I asked, "Don't you like trains anymore?"

"It's just more peaceful here," Shining Armor said quietly.

"But wouldn't you still be able to hear the trains go by?" I asked.

"I fixed that too," said Shining Armor, "this part of the mountain muffles the sounds of trains, hence the name Muffle Mountain."

"Clever," Spike commented.

Briefly, I stood up and got a couple of things out of my pocket; the friendship bracelets I made him and Cadance.

"I made these for you two," I said.

"Why, thank you, Twilight," said Cadance, smiling, "how thoughtful."

After dinner was a little game of Go Fish; me and Cadance against Shining Armor and Spike. It was fun, but I really wished Shining Armor would have smiled a bit more. Before long, nightfall had come across the Sudrian countryside, and it was time for myself and Spike to go to bed.

In the guest room made for me, I was just buttoning up my lavender pajama top when I heard a knock on the door.

"Twilight, could I come in?" Cadance's voice called.

"Yes," I replied, "I just buttoned up my pajama top."

I opened the door and allowed Cadance in.

"I wanted to talk to you," she said, "it's about this Luna person you mentioned earlier."

I nodded to show I understood. "Do you know her?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, I do," she replied, "she's one of my aunts."

My eyes were wide with surprise; how come I never knew about this until now?

"I waited to tell you about her because I didn't want Shining Armor to get upset," Cadance explained. I was eager to know more, and asked her to continue.

"When I was a little girl," Cadance began, "Aunt Luna told me a story about something called the Elements of Harmony."

I was confused. "Elements of Harmony?"

"They're six supernatural artifacts representing subjective aspects of harmony," Cadance explained, "they are Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic."

"Magic?" I repeated, surprised.

"Yes," replied Cadance, "out of the six, it is the most powerful element."

Then she wished me good night, and left the room, closing the door behind her. I was left alone in my temporary room, but before I could climb into bed, I heard the sounds of an engine whistle.

Quietly, I walked to the window, opening the shutters just a tad. The moon was shining brightly in the sky, and my heart was filled with curiosity and puzzlement; how could I hear a whistle in the valley if the mountain was supposed to muffle the sound of trains from the other side?

I wondered if I was the only one to hear it. Fortunately, I wasn't. Flash was outside with his horse. He heard the whistle as well and looked around curiously.

At another part of Muffle Mountain, Chrysalis was digging into the cutting with help from Lightning Dust and Trixie, who said Sunset was "busy that evening." They were completely oblivious to the sound Flash and I heard.

Back in the house, Shining Armor looked up when he heard the whistle too. The sound seemed to rejuvenate him and caused him to lay back with a little smile. Cadance could also hear it and smiled as she saw her smiling husband.

As the sound of the whistle echoed on Muffle Mountain, at Sweet Apple Acres, the other five teenagers and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were having a meeting. Edward and Toby were also there.

"What is this all about?" asked Toby.

"Apple Bloom's overheard Diesel 10 makin' a deal with George to smash all the buffers," said Applejack.

"And Sweetie Belle heard Sunset Shimmer offer to help some mysterious woman to destroy an engine hiding in Muffle Mountain," added Rarity.

"I saw Twilight earlier that day at Crovan's Gate," said Rainbow Dash, "she and Spike were meant to stop at Killdane and ride up the electric branchline to Peel Godred close to Muffle Mountain."

"Oh, my," said Fluttershy nervously.

"Not to mention, for some reason though, Winona had them get on Gordon's train instead," added Rainbow Dash.

"Why would a dog lead two humans to the wrong train?" asked Scootaloo.

"I don't know," said Rarity, "it's very strange."

"Maybe she knows something's wrong," Fluttershy suggested quietly.

"Could be," said Applejack, "she's been barkin' towards Muffle Mountain for the past two days."

Applejack then remembered the picture I gave her and took it out of her jeans pocket.

"Ah think it might also have somethin' ta do with 'er," she said, pointing to Chrysalis in the picture.

"Chrysalis was a very serious enemy to Shining Armor and Cadance," said Big Macintosh, who was with the girls at the time, "she quarreled with them over an engine and after that, she left Sodor and we never saw her again… until now."

"Did you ever see the engine?" asked Fluttershy.

"Nnope, never," said Big Macintosh, "but Ah believe she was – or is, if she still exists – precious to Shining Armor and the island. He's had four passions in his life – Cadance, Twilight, trains, and the island."

"I think I know which engine you're talking about," said Edward.

"Who?" the girls asked curiously.

"When I was first new to the railway," explained Edward, "I met a small tank engine with the word 'Lady' on her sides in gold. She seemed very kind and we had a bit of a chat.

"Did you ever see her again?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Sadly not," replied Edward mournfully, "but from what I've heard, if anything bad happened to her, then life on Sodor's railways as we know them would cease to be."

"You know," said Toby, looking at a nearby tree, "now that I think about it, that tree over there's losing its blossoms and it's not even October yet."

Applejack looked surprised.

"He's right," she said, "Something's goin' on, and it ain't good."

"Nnope."

Just then, Edward and Toby heard the rumble of diesel engines in the distance.

"What on earth?" asked Edward. Then suddenly, three diesel shunters and one long green diesel rumbled past the blue tender engine and Toby, startling them both.

"Get out of our way, old timers!" the green diesel sneered, "We got business here!"

"But my buffers!" exclaimed Toby once the diesels were out of earshot, "That was Diesel, Arry, Bert, and Bowler!"

"Bowler" was the nickname D261 gained ever since a bowler hat got sucked into his air intake during Stepney's stay on the North Western Railway. He hated it.

"What are they doing here?" wondered Edward.

"Whatever it is," said Rainbow Dash, "it can't be good."

"C'mon, Toby," said Applejack, climbing into the tram engine's cab, "we better see what's goin' on!"

"Are you sure about this?" asked Fluttershy worriedly, "You could get hurt…"

"That ain't important," said Applejack, "we gotta make sure them diesels ain't gonna hurt our friends."

So Toby set off down the line after the diesels.

"We can't keep up with them," he said, "they're too far away and faster than us. Well, Bowler is, but still…"

"And by the looks of it, they're going to the smelters," said the tram engine's driver.

"We'll have to try a shortcut through Knapford," suggested the fireman, "but that line is closed for maintenance."

"Isn't there another route?" asked Applejack.

"Well, there is one," said Toby, "but we never really use the shortcut as it goes over an old wooden bridge. It isn't very safe and we've been warned not to use it."

"Then that's where we'll go," said Applejack, "it's our only chance of catchin' them varmint diesels!"

"What?!" cried Toby, "Are you out of your mind? I'd end up on a tightrope again with no engine to help me!"

"Just trust me, Toby," said Applejack, "you and your crew will be fine."

Toby wasn't sure, but he decided that Applejack had a point. So they went down the track towards the old bridge after informing the signalman.

The bridge was just how Toby imagined it, and the strong river beneath it made him nervous. It almost reminded him of his near-miss with some trucks and how Mavis saved him from a potentially nasty accident.

"Ya can do it, Toby!" Applejack encouraged, "Just don't look down!"

Cautiously, Toby crossed over the bridge foot by foot. It creaked underneath his weight, but Toby pressed bravely on until at last, he reached the other side.

"I made it," he gasped triumphantly.

Applejack smiled. "See, I told ya you'd be okay," she said.

Meanwhile, Thomas and Percy were busy taking the mail train. Oliver was also assisting them so there wouldn't be as much for them to take down the Little Western.

At Knapford, Thomas and Percy were talking, unaware that Diesel 10 and Discord were in a nearby shed listening in to their conversation. Toby and Applejack, who were still going after Bowler and the diesel shunters, spotted Diesel 10 and the tram engine stopped before him.

"All three of us are on time with our mail trains, Thomas," said Percy, "Miss Celestia would be pleased with us."

"If we could find her," sighed Thomas.

"Say, Thomas," said Percy, "I was thinking; how does Miss Celestia travel around here?"

"By gold dust," replied Thomas, "why do you ask?"

"Well," said Percy, "you told me about a lost engine you heard about from the little engines. And if there's a lost engine, maybe there's a lost railway as well – Miss Celestia's railway!"

"The journey gets bumpier and bumpier from what she told me," said Thomas.

"Oh, she talked about buffers in her sleep last night," remarked Percy, "buffers are at the end of a railway track, and do you know what I think, Thomas?"

"No, what?"

"I think that's how Miss Celestia travels around here – on a secret railway!"

"But if Miss Celestia has lost her gold dust," said Thomas, "maybe this railway is losing its magic too… And where is the entrance, anyway?"

"I don't know," said Percy.

Diesel 10 sneaked away while the two tank engines talked, but Thomas heard the sound of his engine rumbling.

"Oh my… I think Diesel 10 and Discord are around here!"

Suddenly, he heard a bell, and Toby appeared alongside with Applejack on board.

"I'm sorry, you two, but I think Diesel 10 heard every word you said," said Toby, "so we're going after him to see what he does next. You'd better carry on and get the mail delivered."

"You're very brave, Toby," smiled Percy, watching his friend puff away.

"Ah, Diesel 10 ain't gonna bother with an old engine like Toby," said Applejack, "he thinks he's scrap already, and people think country folk ain't too bright!"

"What do you mean, you couldn't find Twinkle Toes?" Diesel 10 snarled to Splatter and Dodge.

"But… but finding a person like her…" began Splatter.

"Is a bit like finding a haystack in a needle," added Dodge.

"That's a needle in a haystack, you fools!" retorted Discord, "And it can't possibly be hard to find her with her attire and hair!"

Then they heard the sound of four diesel horns as Diesel, Arry, Bert and Bowler rolled up alongside.

"We are here, 10," said Diesel in his oily tone.

"Excellent," grinned Diesel 10.

Toby and Applejack were quietly hidden on a siding by a pile of scrap.

"There they are," whispered Toby. Then suddenly, George rumbled in being driven by Sunset Shimmer.

"Sunset Shimmer?" whispered Applejack, "What's she doin', drivin' George?"

"Shh," hushed Toby, "listen…"

"Come in, and join the party, George and Sunset," said Diesel 10.

"Hooray!" cheered Splatter, "We're gonna have a party!"

"I love parties," said Dodge, "who's got the balloons?"

Toby and Applejack were puzzled by Splatter and Dodge's utter stupidity.

"What?"

"Correction – join the party that's over," sad Discord, "just like Celestia's magic railway is going to be over – gone, and the buffers busted."

Splatter, Dodge and even George looked terrified. Toby and Applejack scowled angrily.

"George and Sunset Shimmer will take opportunity of smashing all the buffers until we come across the ones to that magic railway," continued Discord, "and the so called 'lost engine'. We aren't sure of the entrance's location, so they'll smash them all just to be safe…"

"What are you going to do?" asked Arry.

"And where do we come in?" added Bert.

"You four, along with Spladge, will do whatever's possible to cause trouble for the steam engines," said Diesel 10, "and as for me… It's time to finally put Twinkle Toes' lights out, for this is a job… for the boss!"

From Toby and Applejack's point of view, they could see Diesel 10's claw emerge from his roof, snapping three times.

"Right, Applejack, it's time," whispered Toby bravely, "we have to delay and distract them! Any ideas?"

"I yodel, and you ring yer bell."

"Right."

There was silence for a few seconds, other than the villains cackling. Then…

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

"Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!"

"It's the old teapot!" shouted Diesel 10.

"And that crazy cowgirl!" exclaimed Sunset.

Suddenly, out of distraction, Diesel 10's claw swung aside and knocked into one of the poles holding the shed, causing it to fall on the villains, who were annoyed at having a roof fall on them. Bowler was in a panicky state because he was dusty.

"Errg!" he shrieked, "Dust! Getitoff, getitoff, getitoff!"

Then Diesel 10's claw burst through the roof… literally. Toby, his crew, and Applejack chuckled at the mess the villains were in.

"Oooh, I hate when this happens!" snarled Diesel 10 as his claw snapped wildly.

"That was a good show," chuckled Toby as he puffed away.

"Yeah, and who says country folk ain't bright?" agreed Applejack, "Looks like Sunset Shimmer and her new friends ain't that bright at all, especially not Diesel 10!"

"Er, boss?" said Dodge, "Did you mean to let the roof fall in?"

"All the way in?" added Splatter.

"Grrrr!" Diesel 10 snarled, "I always mean what I do, you rattletraps!"

Diesel 10 was in a dump, but the steam engines were still right on track. The following morning, Thomas was at Crovan's Gate when he noticed Henry on a siding.

"Good morning, Henry," he called, "what's the matter?"

"I've got boiler ache, Thomas," groaned Henry, "I need a change of coal. There's six trucks with fresh coal waiting for me up at Vicarstown… If Miss Celestia was here, I'm sure she'd ask you to…"

"Say no more, Henry," said Thomas kindly, "of course I'll fetch them for you to make you feel better."

"Thank you, Thomas," Henry called.

At that moment, Fluttershy came up.

"Oh my, Henry," she said, "you don't look very well."

"I've got boiler ache," Henry replied, "but Thomas is gonna pick up some coal for me."

"Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that," Fluttershy said. With that, she leaned on Henry's bufferbeam and gave him a hug. (Just so you know, Henry's smokebox was cooled.) "I hope you feel better."

Henry smiled. "I think I'm starting to feel a little better," he said, "thanks, Fluttershy."

"You're welcome," Fluttershy smiled, "sometimes, all we need is a little kindness."

Meanwhile, Thomas was busy shunting the coal trucks to take to Henry. He and his crew had no idea the sixth truck wasn't coupled properly. The sixth truck found himself rolling along backwards, and saw he was headed toward an old set of buffers obscured by bramble!

"Oh no!" the truck cried as he rolled through the buffers and magically disappeared.

Thomas was completely oblivious to what had happened, and he set off with five trucks and a brakevan.

"I wish we could make Miss Celestia feel better by finding her," he said to his crew.

"So do we, Thomas," said the fireman.

"We better hope she isn't hurt," agreed the driver.