Tramway Engineers part 4

*Intermission Ends*

The Quarry Manager spoke severely to Mavis and Trixie.

Quarry Manager: You two are very naughty. You have no business to go jauntering down Toby's line instead of doing your work down here.

Mavis: *protesting* It's that Toby. He's a fusspot.

Trixie: Indeed. And that Applejack...

Quarry Manager: Toby has forgotten more about cars than you'll ever know. You are to put the cars where he wants them and no where else.

Mavis: But...

Quarry Manager: *sternly* There are no "buts". You will do as you are told or else.

Fluttershy was called in by the quarry manager to help. Because of this and the quarry manager's talk, Mavis and Trixie both behaved for several days. But soon, they got tried of being good.

Mavis: *to Trixie* Why shouldn't we go on Toby's line?

Trixie: I don't see why the Manager wants to keep us cooped up in this quarry.

Fluttershy: Girls, be pateint. Good things come to those who wait. Now, we need to get the cars into their correct sidings for Toby and Applejack.

At the Top Station, the siding arrangements were awkward. To put the cars where Toby and Applejack wanted, Mavis had to take a few at a time. She started making a plan.

Mavis: *to Fluttershy and Trixie* If we used the tinniest bit of Toby's line, we could save all this bother.

Fluttershy: Well, I suppose one teeny bit of Toby's line won't hurt.

Trixie: Yes, let's do it!

The manager allowed them to go as far as the first level crossing.

Mavis: *chuckles, to self* Now this will do for my plan.

Trixie: *overhearding comment, to Mavis quietly, smiles* What plan?

Mavis: *quietly* Meet me at my house later. We'll talk then.

Fluttershy: *having not heard anything* This wasn't a bad idea. We are really getting the trucks  under control now.

Frost hindered work on the quarry, but a thaw made them busy again. More cars were needed. Some trains were so long that Mavis had to go beyond the level crossing. This gave her ideas and a chance to go further down the line without it being her fault.

Mavis: *to some delinquents* Can you lot keep a secret?

Delinquents: Yes! Yes! Yes!

Mavis: Will you bump us at the level crossing?

Trixie: And tell no one we asked you?

Delinquent 1: You can count on us.

Delinquent 2: When do you want us to do it?

Mavis: Tomorrow morning. Fluttershy will be with Edward then, and won't know.

Delinquent 3: Got it.

Trixie: Speaking of, here she comes. Stay quiet.

Fluttershy returned with sandwiches for the other girls and the 3 headed off, the animal lover not hearing anything.

It was unfornate, that Pinkie had gotten the flu that day and couldn't come to work. With Percy looking after her, Mavis and Trixie had to do his work shunting cars at the harbour. Fluttershy knew she had to tag along too, as the Ffarquar drivers couldn't quite trust them properly yet.

Meanwhile, Toby and Applejack arrived at the quarry and decided to shunt the train themselves.

Toby: Percy hasn't had the best of luck lately.

Applejack: Ah know. First, he gets covered in lime, then he gets covered in treacle and hay, and now his girlfriend's sick. Whatever will happen next?

Toby: No idea. He's going to walk a tightrope?

Applejack: Heheheheh! Oh, Toby. Ah doubt anyone's going ta be doing that on this railway.

Even though the delinquents were told to bump Mavis, they decided to bump Toby instead. They reached the level crossing and the brakes came on. This was the signal for the delinquents.

Delinquents: On! On! On!

Toby/Applejack: *falling over* Whoa!

Applejack: *trying to get up* What just happened?

Toby: *trying to get up* Don't know. But what I do know is, we are in for a bumpy ride!

Toby and Applejack were away with the delinquents screaming and yelling behind them.

No one had realized that with the warmer weather, melted snow from the mountains had turned a quiet stream into a raging torrent. And the bridge above it was about to collapse.

Applejack: Holy apple fritters! Toby, look!

As Applejack spoke, the supports finally fell in the water, and the rails stretched across the gap just like a tightrope.

Toby: *blows the engine's whistle desperingly* Oh great! We're getting too close to the bridge!

Applejack: *taking control* Shut the regalater, reverser hardover, full steam against the trucks.

Nearer and nearer they came to the bridge. Though the steam had been reduced, braking was risky. But it was all or nothing, now. Toby braked hard. The engine stopped, still on the rails, but with the wheels treading the tightrope over the abyss.

Toby: AHHHHH! Applejack, what are we going to do?

Applejack: Toby, calm down. We can't think like this.

At the harbour, Mavis, Trixie and Fluttershy had arranged some cars for Thomas and Twilight to pick up.

Mavis: I must say, the harbour is very nice.

Fluttershy: Oh yes. Sometimes, seagulls come here and I feed them crumbs that come off my sandwiches.

Trixie: It does make a good change from the quarry.

Fluttershy: I wonder how Toby and Applejack are doing?

Trixie: Wouldn't they be coming down the tramline with stone cars by now?

Mavis: Yes, they...

*record scratch*

Mavis had remembered the plan that she and Trixie had worked out yesterday.

Mavis: Chocolate donuts! They are doing that now?!

Trixie: Oh sweet Celestia! Now we've done it.

Mavis: Come on! To the tramway!

Fluttershy: Girls, what's going...

But, before Fluttershy could do anything, Mavis had already pulled the throttle and they were off.

When Mavis saw what had happened, she was horrified. She brought some men who anchored Toby's engine with chains while she took the cars away. Then she ran to the rescue.

Mavis: Hold on, Toby! I'll save you!

Strong ropes were fastened between both engines. Toby's engine was still in steam so he was able to help. At last, they were safe on firm track.

Toby: Thanks for the save, Mavis.

Applejack: Yeah. That was a close call there.

Mavis: I can't imagine how you were able to stop them in time.

Toby: Oh well. One of my brothers has told me about circus people who walked tightropes, but I just didn't fancy doing it myself.

Fluttershy: *turning to Mavis and Trixie* How did you 2 know about this?

Both Mavis and Trixie knew it was time to reveal the truth.

Trixie: *Sighs, hangs her head in shame* Well, to be honest, me and Mavis both asked the delinquents to bump us at the crossing so we could go down the tramway.

Mavis: *Also feeling guilty* But, we didn't intend for this at all. We didn't even know the bridge was going to crumble away.

Toby: *Gently placing a hand on Mavis' shoulder* You just wanted to see what the tramway was like without anyone on your back, didn't you?

Mavis: *Tear falling down her eye, nodding* Mmhmm.

Toby: Well, why don't I teach you what to do?

Mavis: *surprised* You'd do that, for me?

Toby: You did come around and save me and Applejack, didn't you?

Mavis: Toby... I... I don't know what to say, but... *kisses Toby on the cheek*

Toby: *blushing bright red and hugging Mavis* Y-your welcome.

Applejack: Whoa! Didn't see that one... Uh, coming.

Fluttershy: But it's very sweet.

Applejack: Just like Ya and mah brother.

Fluttershy: *blushing as she thinks of snuggling up to Big Mac*

Trixie: *smiles weakly* Glad they found love. (Sighs) *in head* Something I would never find...

Sir Topham Hatt thanked the Manager and his men for rescuing Toby and Applejack from the "tightrope".

Sir Topham Hatt: A very smart piece of work. Mavis did well too from what I heard.

Mavis: *ashamed* It was my fault about those delinquents. I didn't know. But if I could...

Sir Topham Hatt: Could what?

Mavis: Come down the line sometime? Toby says he'll show me how to go on.

Sir Topham Hatt: Certainly. If your manager agrees.

And so it was arranged. Mavis and Trixie are now welcome visitors at Ffarquar. Mavis is still young and inexperienced, and Trixie is still a bit cocky, but they are never too proud to ask Toby and Applejack and they always help them to put things right. Hey, speaking of Toby and Mavis, where are the 2 love birds?

*show both of the on a date in a restaurant.

Mavis: Thanks for asking me out here, Toby. This place is great.

Toby: *blushing* Oh, that's alright, darling. I'm glad you could come.

*the 2 give each other a kiss on the lips.*

The End