Chapters At Canterlot High, school was carrying on like normal. Recently, two new students had enrolled. Both of them were siblings; the older of them was a fine-looking teenage boy with blue hair, dark green eyes and glasses while his younger sister had golden yellow hair with fuchsia stripes, fuchsia eyes and freckles. The boy's name was Vincent Van Colt, and his sister's name was Fictionary. They had started to get along with the students at Canterlot High.
It had been months since the incident at the Battle of the Bands. Everything seemed to have gone back to normal. And not too long after Twilight Sparkle had gone back to Equestria, the Human World's Twilight Sparkle came to Canterlot High to do some studying on the strange events that had happened. She had originally not intended on befriending the students, as it would interfere with her studies. But soon, she understood the magic of friendship and had become a good friend to them.
At the moment, it was lunch time and the students were making their way to the cafeteria. But before they could get in, a girl with white hair, purple eyes, and a star clip on her hair got in front of them.
"Stand aside," she said grandly. "For the one that shall go in first is the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
The other students rolled their eyes. They were used to Trixie boasting about herself. But as soon as Trixie opened the cafeteria door...
Splash!
... A bucket of icy water had splashed on her from above.
"Oooooh! Cold! Very cold!" she cried out in surprise, "What is this? The Ice Bucket Challenge?"
This caused the rest of the students to laugh. Trixie was cross.
"Who would dare pull such a stunt on the Great and Powerful Trixie?" she demanded.
"Guilty as charged," came a laugh from under one of the lunch tables.
"Who said that?" snapped Trixie.
From under one of the tables came the culprit, a guy with brown hair and eyes, still laughing. It was Jokesterrap; Rarity and Sweetie Belle's prankster cousin. He'd started attending school there about a month before Vincent and Fictionary had, and already gained quite a reputation as a prankster.
"Oh, you..." Trixie growled in annoyance.
"Can't say you didn't deserve it," Jokesterrap chuckled.
"I shall get you for this, Jokesterrap, if it's the last thing I do!" snapped Trixie. And she storm off to dry herself off. The rest of the students, however, went inside for some lunch.
“You should have seen her face,” Jokesterrap said, still laughing. “I thought that a bucket of water would be enough, but then I decided to add some ice for extra measures.” But not everyone else was laughing along. While some of the students found Jokesterrap's tricks to be funny, others seemed to think they were rather obnoxious.
"Why do you keep putting up with that goofball, Vincent?" asked a female student named Watermelody.
"Because he's my friend," replied Vincent. "He may be a prankster, but he's still a nice guy." He turned his attention to Rarity, who was putting on make-up. "And since he's your cousin, you should be defending him."
Before Rarity could reply, she started sneezing.
"Gesundheit," said Vincent.
"What on earth is hap...," Rarity began to say before sneezing again. Twilight Sparkle examined the make up powder before sneezing herself.
"It's sneezing powder!" she exclaimed.
“Sneezing powder?”
"Somebody must have swapped your make up with sneezing powder," said Twilight.
"This has Jokesterrap written all over it," growled Rarity.
"I don't see his name written there," said Pinkie Pie, a little confused.
"It means that she thinks he was responsible for this prank," explained Applejack.
"Oh, that makes much more sense," Pinkie Pie chuckled.
"Besides," said an Eco-teen named Captian Planet, "when's Jokesterrap been known to do anything but pull pranks all the time?"
Jokesterrap had been drinking some grape juice. When he heard this, he felt insulted and spit his juice out. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, shooting a glare at the Eco-teen.
"Oh, nothing," said Twilight innocently, trying to prevent a fight between the two. "He was just mentioning that you happen to have a rather well known habit of pranking everyone."
"Yeah," said another student named Mystery Mint. "Even though that's all you really do and you're not the best at being responsible."
She didn't mean for that to be an insult, but Jokesterrap took it as one.
"You all think I'm nothing but a joke, don't you?" he asked angrily.
"No, that's not what she meant!" remarked Vincent, trying to cover up Mystery's mistake.
"It's just like at my old school,” Jokesterrap said crossly. “Everyone thinks that I'm only good for playing pranks on others and making jokes. And then they go on by saying I'll never be responsible at something. Well I'll show you all one day. I'll show you all that I can be responsible and do more than pranks and jokes. Just you wait and see!" And he took a large bite out of his apple.
Suddenly Vice Principle Luna's voice came on the intercom.
"Would Jokesterrap please come to my office immediately?" she asked.
“Oh, busted,” Rainbow Dash snickered before getting elbowed by Applejack.
Oh, great, thought Jokesterrap, now I'm in trouble...
“Um, you'd better go see what she wants, Jokesterrap,” suggested Fluttershy in a rather timid voice. “You might get into a lot of trouble if you don't.”
Jokesterrap usually wasn't nervous on going to the vice principle's office. When he was little, he'd been sent to the principle's office many times for his pranks. But this time, he hadn't done anything that extreme.
“So far, I've only been down here when I put process cheese in Cranky Doodle's toupee,” he said to himself. “I sure hope I'm not getting blamed for something I didn't do. Cause if so, then I'm gonna find 3 other students who were blamed for something they didn't do, and form a group of freedom fighters rebelling against evil.” Realizing how silly this idea sounded, he shook his head. “Man, I have got to stop watching late night TV.”
Before long, Jokesterrap came to Vice Principle Luna's office. He took a deep breath, and went inside. As the window blinds were down, the room was rather dark. He could see Vince Principle Luna looking out the window blinds like how she usually did.
"You uh, wanted to see me, Vice Principle Luna?" Jokesterrap asked nervously.
"Indeed I have, Jokesterrap" she responded. “Thank you for coming down.”
“Am I in trouble for something?” asked Jokesterrap. “Cause I didn't do anything that extreme.”
“No, Jokesterrap,” Luna began. “It's...”
“Because if I did something extreme without realizing, then I'm really sorry,” Jokesterrap interrupted. “Like when I put process cheese in Cranky Doodle's toupee...”
“Jokesterrap!” Luna interrupted. “You are not in any trouble. So there is no reason for you to worry.”
“Oh, phew,” sighed Jokesterrap. “So what did you call me down here for?”
"A mailman came by and dropped this off." She showed him a package wrapped as if it were a present. "He said it was important that you receive it."
Must be an early birthday present, Jokesterrap thought. But why would it be so important I get it? Could it be...?
Jokesterrap unwrapped the package and saw an old box. On the box was written "To My Grandson".
"Uh, thank you Vice Principle Luna," he said, rather hurriedly. "I think I'll just be off now with this." With that, he dashed out of the office, leaving Vice Principle Luna looking rather puzzled.
Jokesterrap quickly made his way to his locker, making sure no one was following him. Once there, he hid the package inside.
"It should be safe here until after school," he said to himself.
"What should be safe until after school?"
Jokesterrap jumped. He didn't realize Sunset Shimmer had seen him.
"Oh, hey there," he said in surprise. "Didn't see you coming. What are you doing here?"
"I was just getting to my locker when I saw you acting sneaky," said Sunset Shimmer. “Say, what's in that box?”
"Box?" asked Jokesterrap, using his body to cover up the box. "Uh, what box?"
"The one you're hiding in your locker."
“Whose locker?”
"Your's, smart guy."
"Oh, that locker," Jokesterrap chuckled nervously. "Oh that's, uh, some new joke gags I ordered in the mail. Nothing too serious you see. Nothing suspicious at all."
Sunset Shimmer didn't seem to buy it. But before she could say anything else, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and time for the next class.
"Phew," Jokesterrap sighed with relief. "Saved by the bell." He gathered his books, and set off for his next class.
For the rest of the school day, Jokesterrap hadn't caused anymore pranks. His mind ways too preoccupied on the box.
"What is it that could be so special about that box?" he wondered. “It might be something my Grandpa was holding onto for me until he passed on. I wonder...”
Most of the students found it rather odd that someone like Jokesterrap would not even attempt to prank them. Sunset Shimmer was telling her group about it as well.
"Jokesterrap's been rather edgey ever since he got that box," she said.
"What was in it?" asked Fluttershy.
"He says it's joke gags, but I think something else is going on."
"Ooh! Is he planning a party for us?" asked Pinkie Pie?
"It could be another prank, Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow Dash.
"How do y'all know it's another prank?" asked Applejack.
"Trust me. You can hardly tell with that guy."
Before long, the last class of the day had ended. As soon as the bell rang Jokesterrap raced off to his locker.
"Now to see what's in my package," he said to himself. "If it's what I think it is, I don't want anyone else eavesdropping."
As soon as he had the package and his backpack, Jokesterrap raced off past another friend of his, Flash Sentry.
"Woah! Careful there, Jokesterrap!" he called.
"Sorry, Flash," called Jokesterrap. "Can't stop to chat!" And he raced on, leaving Flash surprised.
"What's that guy's hurry?" he asked.
Up ahead, Vincent and Fictionary were talking to Watermelody.
"So how do you think you did on that test?" Watermelody asked.
"I think well," Vincent replied. “Although most of it seemed rather difficult.”
"Well you did spend half the night studying," remarked Fictionary. "I was lucky to be able to get some sleep."
“Well you had it easy,” said Vincent. “You didn't have to study for a test this hard.”
"Gang way!"
Suddenly Jokesterrap shot past, accidently causing Vincent to fall.
"Woah!" he cried out.
"Sorry!" called Jokesterrap.
The fall had caused Vincent to knock into a nearby Sunset Shimmer.
"Whoa!" she said. "You okay there?"
"Uh, yeah, I am," Vincent replied with embarrassment.
Sunset offered Vincent a hand, which he accepted.
"I'm Sunset Shimmer, by the way," she went on.
"Name's Vincent."
Vincent bashfully kicked at the ground. He had never actually got to meet Sunset Shimmer until now. He'd seen her a few times, but it was usually just a “hello”. This time she was actually talking to him and helping him up.
"Looks like someone's got a crush," Fictionary teased.
"I do not!" Vincent objected, feeling embarrassed. His cheeks were as red as part of Sunset Shimmer's hair.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Watermelody and Sunset couldn't help but giggle.
"By the way, what was up with Jokesterrap?" asked Watermelody.
"I dunno what it was," said Vincent, "but he must've been in a hurry."
"I saw him leave Vice Principle Luna's office with some box," said Sunset. "He's been acting strange ever since."
"What was in it?" asked Fictionary.
"He didn't open it," replied Sunset. "He also pretended it wasn't there for some reason."
"What is that guy up to?" asked Vincent.
Author's Note
A couple of references are made. Keep an eye out. Also a little VincentxSunset moment.
Jokesterrap didn't stop running until he made it to his bike and rode off. He stopped behind the coffee shop when he made sure that he was alone.
"Now to see what's in this box," he said to himself. He carefully opened the box, keeping a watchful eye, gasped. He could not believe what he saw. Inside the box was an old journal, a map, some blueprints, a key, and a wrinkled letter.
"Whoa," said Jokesterrap. He picked up the letter and began to read it.
Dear Jokesterrap, By the time you get this box, I shall possibly be long gone. Remember the promise I made when you were little? Well, now that you're old enough, Gladstone is all yours. This map will help you find her. She'll require some repairs though, but if you're willing to take the responsibility of taking good care of her and keeping her safe, then I'm sure you'll do a great job of being her caretaker. Happy Birthday.
Love, Grandpa Porter Coupling.
Jokesterrap stayed silent for a bit. Then a few happy tears started to roll down his cheek.
"I don't believe it," he said softly. “He kept his promise.” Suddenly a huge grin spread on his face.
"Yes!!!" he cried in excitement. With that, he raced home as fast as he could. When he got home, Jokesterrap almost broke through the door.
"Mom! Dad!" he cried. "You're not going to believe it!"
"What is it, boy?"
"Grandpa kept his promise!" cried Jokesterrap. "See for yourself!" and he showed them the letter.
"Has he now?"
"Yes," said Jokesterrap. "When I was little, he promised that one day, his engine Gladstone would be mine. And now it's come true!"
"There's a slight problem with that," said Tinker. "He never told anyone where she was hidden."
"On the contrary," said Jokesterrap, holding up the map, "he left this map so I could be able to find her."
"He did?" asked Tinker in bewilderment.
"Yeah," said Jokesterrap. "And I'm gonna go find her."
"Are you sure you'll be safe?" asked Jokesterrap's mother. “What if something unexpected happened?”
"I'm sure I'll be okay," said Jokesterrap. "I told you I'd be fine when you had doubts of me coming to this school, but I showed you that I'm alright. So I'll be fine with this."
His parents were not so sure, but they didn't argue against their son's decision.
"See you later," Jokesterrap called as he headed for the door. "I'll try and be back by suppertime. If not, then don't panic cause I probably stopped somewhere else for food."
Jokesterrap followed the map very closely as he made his way past the school. He made extra sure nobody saw him.
"I don't want anybody asking what I'm doing and following me," he said to himself.
He did a quick double take.
"All clear." And he set off again. He looked behind him to make sure he wasn't being followed, but when he looked ahead, he braked hard to avoid hitting Trixie.
"Watch where you're going!" Trixie snapped.
"Sorry, Trixie! Can't stop!” And Jokesterrap took off again. Trixie was puzzled.
"What is that guy up to?" she asked herself.
His journey took him through a rather deep forest.
"Sure is deep in here," Jokesterrap said to himself, getting off of his bike to take a look at the map. "But I'm getting close."
Just as he said that, he tripped over something.
"Ouch!" he cried as he hit the ground, "Watch it, you stupid rail!"
Realizing what he said, he got right back up.
"Rail? This is it!" he cried. "All I gotta do is follow this rail to Gladstone! But which way?"
He looked at the map again.
When you find the railway lines, follow them to the west.
So that's what he did. Getting back on his bike, he followed the tracks into the forest along the dirt path.
The line went through various turns, but at last, Jokesterrap stopped to rest and gasped at what was in front of him. It was an engine shed.
"There it is!" Jokesterrap cried. With a newfound burst of energy, he raced towards the shed. "This is the moment I've waited for since I was little."
Using the key, he unlocked the shed and slowly opened it. Once the shed was opened, Jokesterrap saw something in front of him. Its top half was sheeted in tarp, and he could see that the bottom half had wheels. Jokesterrap carefully took off the tarp and gasped. His eyes widened in amazement. There, in place of the sheeted object, was an old tank engine. It looked like it had not been used for a long time.
"She's beautiful," he said quietly,
He walked around the engine, examining it. It had gathered a fair amount of dust while it was in the shed on the parts of it that weren't covered up. A cobweb or two had formed around the wheels. And the back part of its cab was missing except for the bunker. On its side tanks, he could see the nameplates that read Gladstone . Once he'd finished walking around the engine, he laid his head on its bufferbeam.
"Hello, Gladstone," he said calmly. "My name is Jokesterrap. I'm your new driver now. I'm going to fix you, take good care of you, and keep you safe from anyone who wants to hurt you. I promise."
Gladstone, of course, didn't say anything. But Jokesterrap felt that if she had a face, she wound say "thank you". Jokesterrap stayed for a little while with his new engine, cleaning some of the dust and cobwebs off of her, until the sun began to set.
"See you tomorrow, Gladstone," Jokesterrap said. With that, he closed the shed, and prepared to go home. Suddenly, he smelled something.
"What's that?" he wondered. He took a big sniff and recognized that smell.
"It's apple pie! But where's it coming from?"
Then he noticed a few familiar people at a very familiar place.
"It's the Apple Family at Sweet Apple Acres!" he gasped. "Sweet Apple Acres isn't too far from Gladstone's Shed! My gosh, what a wild coincidence! If I'd known that, I would have just..."
Suddenly, Jokesterrap had a terrible thought.
"That means that Applejack and her family will be around in the orchards," he said. "If they go deeper into this forest and find Gladstone, they'll tell somebody and Gladstone will get scrapped! I'm going to have to be very careful. Especially when Trixie is nearby. If she finds out about Gladstone, she'll probably try to get her scrapped as revenge for that Ice Bucket prank."
So Jokesterrap quietly and carefully tiptoed out of the trees away without being spotted. But just before he was in the clear, he stepped on a twig and gasped.
"What was that?" asked Applejack.
Jokesterrap dove into a bush before Applejack could see him.
"Huh," she said. "Must have been a critter."
With that, she went inside the house for supper.
"Phew," sighed Jokesterrap. "That was close."
After making double sure the coast was clear, Jokesterrap raced away from Sweet Apple Acres. Half way home, he bumped into Trixie again.
"Watch where you're going!" she snapped.
"You watch where you're going," said Jokesterrap.
"You're up to something, aren't you?" asked Trixie.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You seemed in a hurry earlier today," said Trixie. "I bet you're up to something and I'm going to find out what it is."
"I doubt that will happen, Trixie," said Jokesterrap. And he raced off again.
“He's up to something,” said Trixie. “I just know it. I don't know what he's plotting, but I am going to find out one way or another!"
Jokesterrap didn't stop until he got home.
"That was a very close call," he said.
"Hey there, son," said Tinker. "How'd the trip go?"
"It went fairly well," said Jokesterrap.
"Did you find Gladstone?"
"I did."
"That's great news, son," said Tinker. He felt proud of Jokesterrap.
"You know what else I found out?" added Jokesterrap.
"What?"
"Gladstone's hideout isn't too far from Sweet Apple Acres."
"Really?"
"Yes," said Jokesterrap. "But I can't let Applejack or her family notice me or else they'll find out about Gladstone."
"You're afraid of her getting scrapped, aren't you?" asked Tinker.
"How'd you know about that?"
"Cause that's the same reason your grandpa Porter Coupling kept Gladstone's hideout a secret too," replied Tinker.
"Guess me and him think alike."
"That might also be a reason he wanted you to have Gladstone when you were old enough," said Tinker. He looked to the ceiling and remembered some time ago before Porter Coupling's death when Tinker had asked him where he hid Gladstone.
Tinker was talking to his father Porter Coupling one day in Porter's house.
"Come on, dad," said Tinker. "Can't you tell us where that engine of yours is?"
"Sorry, Tinker," said the old man. "But Gladstone's hiding spot is a secret. I can't tell anybody where she is."
"Not even your own family? That's not fair."
"It's also the best way to make sure that she stays safe," Porter Coupling went on. "Besides, the only one I want to find her is Joksterrap."
"Jokesterrap? But he's a boy."
"That's why I won't tell him where she is until he is old enough," went on Porter.
Porter then showed Tinker a box.
"This is for Jokesterrap," he said. "But don't give this to him until he's old enough just in case I don't live long enough to give it to him myself."
“Don't worry, Dad,” said Tinker. “I'll make sure when he's old enough, he gets it.” He took the box, gave his father a hug, and walked out of the room.
Tinker's flashback ended as Jokesterrap snapped his fingers in front of him to get his attention.
“You alright there, pop?” he asked.
“Sorry boy,” said Tinker. “Just remembering the past. Say why did you run home instead of using your bike?" asked Tinker.
Suddenly Jokesterrap remembered.
"My bike!" he exclaimed. "I must have left it back by Gladstone's shed! I'll have to go back for it tomorrow. Just hope I don't get seen at Sweet Apple Acres or they'll be asking questions."
Before long, the family had their supper of spaghetti and garlic bread.
"Tastes like you've gotten better at cooking, mom," commented Jokesterrap. "Nothing's burnt to a crisp this time."
Last time that happened, the kitchen had caught fire burning his mother's drapes and ruining his father's garden.
"Well I've been taking cooking lessons," said his mother. “What's your thought on Mud Pie for dessert?”
“Is that the real thing,” asked Jokesterrap, “or a pie made from actually mud?”
His mom chuckled. “The dessert, silly. What do you take me for, a lunatic?”
Before long, the family went to bed, Jokesterrap looked up at the ceiling.
"Don't worry, Grandpa," he said to himself. "I promise I'll fix Gladstone and keep her safe. Just like you did."
Then he realized something. "How am I supposed to fix Gladstone? Last I checked, steam engine parts were rather expensive. And besides that, I have no idea how to fix a steam engine."
Then he remembered something. "There was more in that box. It was a journal and blueprints to Gladstone. Those could help out a lot."
Jokesterrap then dug inside the box and pulled out the journal and blueprints.
"There we go," he said. "With these, finding out what parts Gladstone needs will be easy."
And so he began reading into the night. Unfortunately, he fell asleep halfway through it and decided to pick up where he left off tomorrow.
“Shouldn't be that difficult,” he yawned. He put the journal on the nightstand next to his bed and turned his reading lamp off. Then he looked at a picture of him when he was little. He was standing next to his grandpa while the two were beside Gladstone. He smiled at this.
"Goodnight Grandpa," he said quietly. "Goodnight Gladstone." With that, he fell right asleep.
That night, as Jokesterrap slept soundly, he began to have a dream.
Insert dream sequence music bit.
The sun was glistening through the trees. The faint sound of an engine's pistons pumping could be heard, breaking the silence. The sounds got louder and louder until a shrill whistle echoed around. Then from around a bend came Gladstone.
She had been restored to her original beauty and her paintwork sparkled in the sunlight. And in the cab, happily at the controls, was Jokesterrap.
"Aw yeah, this is great!" he said.
As the engine continued down the line, Jokesterrap could see his school mates by the lines cheering for him.
"Told you all that I could do more than pranks," he called. "Let's show them what we can do, Gladstone."
He opened the regulator even more and Gladstone picked up speed, letting off a huge cloud of steam that completely soaked Trixie.
"JOKESTERRAAAAAAAP!!!"
Trixie's incident made everyone laugh.
Then Jokesterrap climbed out of the cab and stood on top of it.
"This is amazing!" he cried out. Suddenly his joyous feeling was interrupted by a loud beeping.
"Ugh..."
The beeping came from Jokesterrap's alarm clock.
"Bother that alarm clock," he groaned. "I was having such a nice dream too."
He hit the button that turned his alarm off, then rolled off the bed onto the floor with a thud.
"Oof! Who thought it was a good idea for floors to be hard?"
After getting himself up and dressed, Jokesterrap made himself some breakfast of scrambled eggs and French Toast. A minute or so later, his parents came into the kitchen.
"Morning mom. Morning dad."
"Morning, son."
"Soon as I'm done with breakfast," said Jokesterrap, "I'll get my tool box and head over to Gladstone."
"Are you sure you don't want your friends to help?" his mother asked.
"I'm sure of it."
"Don't you think you're hogging the fun to yourself?"
"A little bit," said Jokesterrap. "But I don't want to risk Gladstone's safety. Besides, I'll tell them about her after I've fixed her."
"Alright then," said Tinker. "Just remember what I said last night."
"I will, dad," said Jokesterrap. As soon as breakfast was done, he picked up his tool box and set off on his bike.
Jokesterrap soon came to Sweet Apple Acres, seeing none of the Apple Family watching, and made his way into the forest. He didn't know that at at moment, Applejack came outside.
"Say wasn't that Jokesterrap?" she asked, watching the back wheel of Jokesterrap's bike disappear into the forest. "What in tarnation's he goin' back there for?"
"No idea," said Big Macintosh as he walked past with a crate of apple cider.
Jokesterrap soon arrived at Gladstone's shed. He opened the shed door and greeted his engine.
"Good morning, Gladstone," he said cheerfully. "Ready to get that new steam dome on?"
Even though Gladstone couldn't talk, Jokesterrap felt like she was ready.
"Right," he said. "I'll just get my tool kit out and just set to work."
First, he loosened the rivets that held the old steam dome in place.
"That was easy enough," he said. "Now to get the old dome off."
But doing that was easier said than done. Lifting up a steam dome by hand is not the easiest task in the world, and Jokesterrap took some muscle to move it.
"Come on, you!" he strained. "Get moving!"
At last, the old dome slid off the engine and hit the ground with a clang!
The noise echoed all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres.
Granny Smith was napping on a rocking chair at the time and she woke with a start.
"Can't Applebloom and her friends do more quiet activities?" she asked.
At that moment, Applejack came into the room.
"Y'all alright granny?" she asked.
"Apple Bloom and her friends're causin' a ruckus ag'in!"
"How can they be causing a rukus? They all went down to the arcade."
"Oh, right. But then what was that clang I heard?"
Back at the shed, Jokesterrap was resting his arms for a bit.
"Now to get the new dome on," he said.
Getting the old dome off was difficulty work. But getting the new one up on the boiler, now that was even more challenging.
"Shoulda asked them to get me a small crane, I suppose..."
So Jokesterrap got out his cellphone and called the engine repair shop.
"Hello? It's me again. Listen I know I called before asking if you had spare parts you didn't need anymore, well now I need another favor. See, I realized that some of these parts might be a little heavy for me to move on my own. You wouldn't happen to have a small crane I could use, would you? You do? Oh thank you very much. You don't know how much this helps. When do you think it'll be here" Next time the parts come by? Great. See you then. And thanks."
With that, Jokesterrap hung up and turned towards Gladstone.
"They're going to be bringing a crane around soon," he said. "That way I won't risk hurting myself while trying to get that new dome up on you."
Jokesterrap stayed with his engine talking about various things. And as always, Gladstone remained silent.
"If only you could talk," he said sadly, "I could have someone to confide in when I'm alone."
A little bit later, Jokesterrap had to go home for some lunch.
"I'll see you again later, Gladstone," he said as he closed the shed door.
"I look forward to it too," said a voice.
Jokesterrap heard the voice.
"Who said that?" he asked, sounding rather alarmed at someone might have found Gladstone's hiding place.
He waited to see if he'd hear anymore, but the only thing he could hear was the trees rustling in the breeze.
"I'm probably imagining things," he said to himself.
He got on his bike and made his way back through Sweet Apple Acres.
"I sure hope nobody catches me," he said to himself. "Last time I made it through easily."
Jokesterrap soon came into view of Sweet Apple Acres.
"The coast is clear," he said. "Better get going." He was just about away from the house when...
"Hold it!"
"Oh, man..."
From behind one of the trees came Applejack.
"May I ask what y'all were doin' in the woods back there?" she asked.
"Oh, uh,"Jokesterrap begin, trying to come up with a story, "I was just taking a little ride through the forest. It's such a nice day, you know."
Applejack looked at Jokesterrap for a few seconds beore backing off.
"Alrighty then," she said. "Y'all know what made that clang earlier?"
"Clang? What clang? I didn't hear a clang."
"Are ya sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," said Jokesterrap innocently.
Before Applejack could say anymore, Jokesterrap raced off.
"What's he in a hurry for?" she wondered.
Applejack decided to call the gang in for a meeting in the barn.
"Ah bet y'all are wonderin' why Ah called ya here," she said.
"Ooh! Is it a party for all of us?" asked Pinkie.
"Not really," said Applejack. "Ah think there something up with Jokesterrap."
"Where?" asked Pinkie.
"Not up there," said Rainbow Dash, "down here."
"How can something be up when it's down?" asked Pinkie.
The rest of the gang facepalmed.
"She means that something is going on," said Vincent.
"Ohhhhh," said Pinkie.
"Applejack's right," said Flash. "Jokesterrap's not been acting like himself lately. He doesn't do pranks anymore, and he doesn't hang out with us as much."
"He's been acting that way since he got that package," said Sunset.
"He also got offended when I called his old bike a heap of scrap," said Vincent.
"Earlier, Ah saw him comin' out of the forest by Sweet Apple Acres," said Applejack. "Said he was just taking a ride."
"Why would he ride through a forest, of all places?" asked Rarity.
"Beats me," said Appljack. "Also Granny Smith heard some clang in the forest, thinkin' it was Apple Bloom and her friends again. But it couldn't have been them cause they were at the arcade."
"Maybe we should ask him what's going on," suggested Fluttershy.
"He probably won't listen to us, and especially not me," said Vincent, "considering I upset him without meaning to... twice."
Sunset put an arm around Vincent's shoulder to comfort him.
"If that's the case," said Rainbow Dash, "we'll make him listen to us."
"How?"
Rainbow Dash motioned the gang closer into a huddle and whispered.
A little while later, Jokesterrap was making his way back to Gladstone's shed.
"I think I'll take the long way this time," he said. "I don't want to risk Applejack catching me."
"What's that?" he said. He sniffed again and recognized that smell to be...
"Apple pie!"
The smell seemed to levitate him off the ground as he followed it.
As Jokesterrap followed the smell, he bumped into a lamp post.
"Sorry, madam," he said, rubbing his head and continuing to follow the smell.
Eventually, the smell lead him to the barn at Sweet Apple Acres.
"Why have I been lead here?" he wondered.
He then saw the pie sitting on a table. Next to it was a piece of paper saying "Free Pie".
"Guess it wouldn't hurt," said Jokesterrap. As soon as he was close to to the table...
"Grab him!"
Suddenly he was grabbed by Flash and Big Macintosh.
"Hey, what the-?!"
Suddenly the rest of the gang came out from behind some of the bails of hay.
"Good work, guys," said Vincent.
"What's the big idea?" asked Jokesterrap. "Luring a guy in with pie and ambushing him. What next; you gonna give me cement overshoes and send me sleeping with the fishes?
"It's not like that," said Rainbow Dash.
"We just wanted to talk to you," said Twilight.
"Well, ya could've come up to me and asked!" retorted Jokesterrap.
"We figured you wouldn't listen to us if we did," said Rainbow Dash. "You've been hardly paying any attention to us lately and you act as if you're hiding something."
"Now it's time to come clean," said Twilight. "What is going on here? What are you up to?"
Jokesterrap didn't want to say anything, but then he remembered what his father had said.
"Don't be too proud to ask for help."
He also remembered how he had struggled with Gladstone's dome and figured he would infact need help. So he took a deep breath.
"Alright," he said at last. "I'll tell you what's going on."
Flash and Big Macintosh released their grips on him as Jokesterrap dusted himself off.
"But what I'm about to tell you," he went on, "cannot leave this barn. Understand?"
"Yes."
Jokesterrap made sure no one else was listening in and spoke.
"I have inherited a real steam locomotive," he said. "Her name is Gladstone."
The friends couldn't believe what they had heard.
"You? Owning a steam locomotive?" Rarity had to wonder how of all people, Jokesterrap could own a locomotive in spite of his childish behavior.
"Yes," Jokesterrap retorted. "Want to see her so you'll believe me?"
"Oh, I suppose..."
With that, Jokesterrap lead the group out into the forest towards Gladstone's shed.
"Remember," he said, "this is only between us."
There were murmurs of agreement and understanding.
"Alright," said Jokesterrap, as he opened the door. "Friends, meet Gladstone."
The doors creaked open and the group couldn't believe what they were seeing!
"Isn't she a beauty?" Jokesterrap asked.
"So this is what you've been up to," said Vincent.
"That's right," said Jokesterrap, "all I've done is try to fit the dome on... which kinda explains the clang, Applejack." He then turned to his engine.
"Gladstone,” he said. “This is Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, Flash Sentry, Applejack, her brother Big Macintosh, Vincent, and my cousin Rarity. They're my friends. Now they're your friends too."
"Pardon my pickiness," said Rarity, "but don't you think Gladstone looks rather old?"
"Be careful with what you say about Gladstone," said Jokesterrap firmly as he put a hand on the engine's buffer. "She's sensitive."
"Kinda like you when you get the teeniest bit of dirty on your dresses, eh, Rare?" Vincent joked with sarcasm.
Rarity just fumed and said nothing.
"How did you come in possession of her?" asked Sunset.
Jokesterrap told them all about his grandfather Porter Coupling and of how he helped build Gladstone.
"And when she was about to be scrapped," he went on, "grandpa actually bought her from the railway to save her. He even promised me that one day, she would be mine."
"Why didn't you tell us about her in the first place?" asked Flash.
"Because Gladstone's a very delicate and old steam engine," said Jokesterrap. "You know what people do to old steam engines? They leave them in cold and lonely sidings, then they cut them up and sell them for scrap."
"That's not fair," Fluttershy said quietly.
"Eenope," agreed Big Macintosh.
"To most people, Gladstone's just a simple little engine," Jokesterrap went on. "But to me and Grandpa Porter, she's family. If anything bad happened to her, I don't know what I would do. Since you guys are my friends, will you help me fix her and keep her safe?"
"Of course we will," said Vincent. "What are friends for?"
"We'll make Gladstone the most awesome engine there ever was," said Rainbow Dash.
"Yay," said Fluttershy quietly.
"Eeyup."
"One question," said Twilight. "How are we even going to be able to fix her? None of us know anything on fixing a locomotive."
"My grandpa left me the blueprints to her along with a journal containing info on what parts she needed," explained Jokesterrap. "That's what was in the package I got."
"Oh, well that answers my question."
"What about you, Rare?"
"Well," said Rarity, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
"You can count me in as well," added Sunset.
The friends got into a circle and one by one, put one arm out, which went on top the other. Then on three, they threw them into the air. They were now a team together with one similar goal.
Later that day, Jokesterrap came home for supper.
"Hey mom and dad," he said. "I'm home."
"Hey, son,” said Tinker.
“Did you have a good visit with Gladstone?" asked Jokesterrap's mother.
"Oh, yeah."
Jokesterrap told them about him letting his friends in on Gladstone.
"So you finally let them help you, I see," said Tinker.
"Uh, yeah. Had a bit of trouble with the steam dome, so."
"You didn't hurt yourself did you?" asked his mother.
"I'm fine, mom," said Jokesterrap. He knew that sometimes his mother worried about him when he did something she found dangerous.
"The boy's tough like his old man," Tinker chuckled.
"This coming from the man who still sleeps with a nightlight on?" his wife chuckled.
"Oh, you...!"
Jokesterrap chuckled at how silly his parents were acting.
The next day after breakfast, Jokesterrap headed off to see his friends.
"I wonder how we'll compromise between homework and engine restoration?" he wondered. “It'll take up a lot of time and I don't want any of them to fall behind in their studies.” A little later, he talked it over with his friends at the coffee shop. He was careful not to let anyone else listen in.
"It'll be rather difficult," he said. "Balancing out time between doing homework and our other misson."
"I had a feeling that a problem like this would occur," said Twilight. "So I've thought up a solution." And she pulled up a calendar. "I have arranged schedules for groups to work on the other project after school."
"I guess that could work," said Fluttershy.
"This is gonna be fun!" said Pinkie Pie.
"And hopefully, we keep it quiet too," Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"Sorry," whispered Pinkie, before stifling a giggle.
"Now you made sure nobody else found out, didn't you?" Jokesterrap asked.
"Actually," Vincent said, sounding rather guilty, "Fictionary knows and told Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle."
"How did she find out?"
Vincent mumbled something Jokesterrap could barely hear.
"What was that?"
"I told her myself," Vincent mumbled before repeating it out loud.
"You what?!" Jokesterrap was not happy about this at all. "I thought I told you not to tell anyone else!"
"I just didn't feel comfortable keeping secrets from my sister," said Vincent. "We share everything together. I also asked her to keep it between us."
"And she probably told the other 3 too?"
"Ah yes, about that - they overheard me and Fictionary."
"Haven't they learned not to eavesdrops?" asked Rarity.
"Seeing as how they know about Gladstone now," said Jokesterrap, "I guess they can help us out in a way."
"How can they?" asked Applejack.
Later that day, Jokesterrap had been asked by the 4 young girls to show them Gladstone.
"We wanna see her!" said Sweetie Belle.
"We've never actually seen a real steam engine up close in person," added Scootaloo.
"It's mostly them new-fangled oily diesels," said Apple Bloom.
"I've only seen them in the books, but never one up close!" exclaimed Fictionary.
"Alright then," said Jokesterrap. "I'll show you."
When they got to the shed, Jokesterrap opened the door. The 4 girls gasped when they saw Gladstone.
"Wow!" cried Fictionary in excitement. "A real steam locomotive!
"She looks great," remarked Scootaloo.
"Yeah," added Apple Bloom.
Noticing that Sweetie Belle hadn't said a word, Fictionary elbowed her to get her to speak.
"I really like her... paint?" Sweetie Belle asked awkwardly.
"Your brother and sisters will be helping me fix her," Jokesterrap said. "Now I need your help with another thing."
"How can we help?" asked Fictionary.
"I need you four to make sure no one else, not even Trixie, finds Gladstone," said Jokesterrap. "If Trixie finds her, she'll most likely try to hurt Gladstone to get back at me for that Ice Bucket prank."
"That would be awful!" exclaimed Apple Bloom.
"I agree," said Sweetie Belle.
"Don't worry," said Scootaloo. "We'll help keep this engine safe."
"Thanks you guys," said Jokesterrap.
A little later, Jokesterrap travelled up the line to find the workman from before waiting with a flatbed and the crane he had asked for.
"Thanks a bunch," Jokesterrap said.
"The crane's self-propelled by the way," said the workman. "I left you an instruction book inside."
"Oh, that could help a bunch, man," said Jokesterrap.
Jokesterrap climbed into the crane, and with the help of the instructions, soon arrived at the sheds. When he arrived, he saw the rest of the gang waiting for him.
"Took ya long enough," said Rainbow Dash.
"Sorry I'm late," said Jokesterrap. "Had to work out how to get this crane to work."
Before long, they moved the crane into position and it had a grip on the new steam dome.
Jokesterrap took controls while Twilight guided him where to move the crane arm. Vincent and Flash were on the boiler waiting for the dome.
"Easy does it," said Vincent.
Then there was trouble. As Jokesterrap started to lower the dome, the switch controlling the winch jammed.
"Bother," said Jokesterrap. As he struggled to unjam the lever, he bumped into the lever that controlled the crane arm.
"Look out!" he cried. But it was too late. The dome hit Vincent's hand as he brought it up to shield himself.
"Yeow!" he cried out in pain.
"Vincent!" cried Sunset as she raced to her friend's aid. "Are you alright?"
"I think so," Vincent said, holding his hand. There was a bruise where he'd been hit and it hurt very badly.
"Oh, you poor thing," said Sunset sympathetically. She took Vincent's hand and kissed it. "I hope this helps."
"It does a little," he said with a small smile.Vincent blushed a little bit at the thought of Sunset kissing his hand. While Sunset tended to Vincent, the rest of the gang continued with fitting Gladstone's new dome into place. It was soon finished.
"Sorry about what happened, Vincent," said Jokesterrap. "The lever jammed and I must have bumped another one by mistake."
"Early days, I suppose," sighed Vincent, "early days."
"Now we start on the piston cylinder," said Jokesterrap.
"We do what in a cylinder?! " exclaimed Pinkie Pie with disgust.
"That's not what I meant!" said Jokesterrap. "I was talking about the engine's piston." And he pointed to the piston on the flatbed.
"Ohhh," said Pinkie, "I thought you meant-"
"Not now, Pinkie!" everyone else groaned.
The friends set to work, taking the old piston cylinder off and replacing it with the new one. Thankfully, it wasn't as difficult to mess with as the dome.
"This is much easier," said Rainbow Dash.
"And there's less noise to wake Granny up," added Applejack.
"Eeyup," added Big Macintosh.
"Since today was Sunday," said Jokesterrap, "the next parts won't arrive until Tuesday."
"That's good," said Vincent. "That way we won't spend every day out here and can rest up."
Pretty soon, it was getting late and the groups were making their ways home.
"Good night, Gladstone," said Jokesterrap as he closed the shed door.
As he was leaving, he heard a voice.
"Goodnight, Jokesterrap," the voice said.
He didn't know where it came from or who said it, but he shrugged it off.
Vincent had offered to walk Sunset home.
"Where is it that you live?" he asked.
"Just a couple miles down the road," said Sunset.
"Not too far from the school," said Sunset.
"Mind if I go with you?" Vincent offered.
"Oh, um..."
Vincent felt like she didn't want him to.
"I guess I'll be going then..."
"Wait!" Sunset cried. "I didn't say no. I mean I would like you to walk me home."
"Oh."
Sunset took a hold of Vincent's hand and the two headed off. All the way, Vincent's cheeks were red. As red as a beetroot. Sunset looked over and noticed this, causing her to blush as well. Before long, they arrived at her house.
"Thanks for walking me home, Vincent," said Sunset.
"It was nothin', y'know," said Vincent, "anything for a lovely bird."
Before Vincent could say anymore, Sunset gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.Vicent's cheeks went even redder. A goofy smile formed on his face as he walked home. On the way there, he passed Watermelody and another student named Indigo.
"Vincent, what's with you, mate?" asked Indigo.
"Bowling ball in the tickle pants," Vincent said, still dazed after getting kissed by Sunset Shimmer.
"What?!" Watermelody exclaimed in confusion and shock.
"Peanut monkey on a pogo Friday," the goofy Vincent said.
"What does that mean?!" exclaimed Indigo, just as confused and shocked.
Before Vincent could say anymore confusing jibberish, he collapsed.
"Vincent?!" exclaimed Watermelody, getting down on her knees and slapping him in the face, hoping he'd open his eyes.
"I think we should get him home," said Indigo.
"I know where he lives," said Watermelody.
The two picked Vincent up and started walking him home. Soon they came to his front door and Indigo knocked. The door opened and revealed Vincent's pet monkey Archibald answering it.
"Hey Archie," said Watermelody. "Vincent was spouting gibberish and collapse so we brought him home."
Archibald turned his head to the house and made monkey noises. Soon Fictionary came from upstairs to see what was going on.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
Archibald started acting out about Vincent collapsing.
"Vincent collapse after saying silly things?" Fictionary translated.
"Mm-hm," Archibald nodded.
"Maybe Sunset Shimmer gave him a kiss," Fictionary said cheekily.
"He's barely been here a month and already he's got a girl?!" remarked Indigo.
"I think it's rather cute," commented Watermelody.
The two helped bring Vincent up to his bedroom and laid him on the bed.
"Thanks for the help, guys," said Fictionary.
"You think he'll be alright?" asked Watermelody.
"I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Then I guess we'll be going then," said Indigo.
With that, the two made their ways home as Fictionary waved goodbye.
Vincent finally awoke with his senses early next morning.
"Morning, sleepyhead," said Fictionary as she poked her head into his room. "You collapse last night and Watermelody and Indigo brought you home."
"They did?" asked Vincent.
"Yeah," said Fictionary. "Did Sunset Shimmer give you a kiss?"
That caused his face go red once again.
"D-don't be silly," Vincent objected. "Nothing like that happened."
"Then why did you collapse last night and say goofy things?"
Vincent didn't have an answer to that. Fictionary started teasing him.
"Vincent's got a girlfriend. Vincent's got a girlfriend," she sang cheekily.
"Oh, very mature," he said sarcastically.
Even Archibald found it funny.
"Oh be quiet, you," said Vincent to the laughing monkey.
Vincent went to school that day with his hand bandaged up from the incident the day before with the dome. He kept his jacket over it to make sure nobody saw and asked what had happened. Everything was going well until lunch time. As Vincent was in line with his tray, another student accidently stepped on his jacket, which fell off and exposed his bandaged hand.
"What happened to your hand, Vincent" asked Mystery Mint.
"Had an accident on the stairs," he said, "no biggie; just a flesh wound is all."
"I think you should go see the nurse."
"Rubbish, Mystery; I've had worse than a broken hand."
"Alright then," said Mystery Mint. "If you say so."
When Vincent got his lunch, he went over to a table to join his friends.
"How's your hand?" asked Fluttershy.
"It's fine," said Vincent, "and I'd have gotten away with it if Mystery Mint didn't make a fuss over it."
"Heard you collapsed last night," said Applejack. "What happened?"
"Oh... er..."
Before Vincent could make up a story, Pinkie Pie spoke.
"After you walked Sunset Shimmer home, she kissed you on the cheek and that caused you to walk home saying goofy things until you passed out and Watermelody and Indgio had to help you back home," she said all in one breath. "Right?"
Vincent just stared in disbelief!
"How... how did you figure that out?" he said at last.
"Just a hunch," said Pinkie, before squeeing.
Vincent and Sunset blushed with embarrassment.
"So you finally got the guts, eh Sunset?" teased Rainbow Dash.
"Who's got a crush on a certain member of the Wonderbolts, eh?" Vincent retorted.
Rainbow Dash's face when bright red.
"Not funny!" she protested as the others giggled.
"What's the matter?" teased Twilight. "Scared that we know your secret?"
"You mean like your own crush on Flash?" Rainbow Dash retorted.
Now it was Twilight's turn to blush.
At that moment, Jokesterrap came to their table.
"Hey guys," he said. "What are you lot talking about?"
"Sunset Shimmer kissed Vincent," said Fluttershy.
Jokesterrap chuckled. "Atta boy, Vinney!" he said, patting Vincent on the back.
"We're not exactly in a relationship... yet," Vincent managed to utter out.
"You're getting there, though."
What the friends didn't know was that Trixie was watching them from another table.
"Jokesterrap is obviously up to something," she said. "And now he's enlisting those friends of his to his cause. I'll soon find out what he's scheming. No secret shall be kept from the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
For the rest of the schools day, Trixie watched Jokesterrap to see what he was up to.
"I'm going to find his secret," she said to herself.
"What secret?" said a voice from behind her.
Trixie jumped and saw that Mystery Mint was right behind her, looking rather puzzled.
"Jokesterrap has been acting unusual lately," she said. "I intend to find out what his scheme is."
"Ever hear of keeping your nose out of other people's business?" suggested Mystery.
"I didn't ask for your opinion!" snapped Trixie.
"Well, too bad, because I gave it to you anyway," Mystery smirked.
But Trixie ignored her. She was determined to find out what Jokesterrap was up to.
"She's just asking for trouble," Mystery Mint told herself.
Soon, the school day was over and everyone was heading off for home or whatever they had planned. Jokesterrap was getting ready to head to Sweet Apple Acres. Trixie decided to ask around to see what he was up to. She started with Sweetie Belle.
"You there; the adorable one," she said. "What is your cousin up to?"
"I don't know," said Sweetie Belle innocently, "Jokesterrap's a busy guy and all."
"Are you in on his schemes?" Trixie asked suspiciously.
"Me?" Sweetie Belle gasped innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"
Before Trixie could reply, Rarity called out for her little sister.
"Sweetie Belle!"
"Coming sis!" And Sweetie Belle ran off to catch up with her sister.
"Bother," Trixie growled.
Later, Jokesterrap made his way to Gladstone's shed to visit his engine for a little bit.
"Hi, Gladstone," he said after opening the door. "Did you miss me?"
Gladstone said nothing, but Jokesterrap had a feeling that she did.
"I'm afraid that it'll be risky to visit you by way of Sweet Apple Acres," he said. "One of my schoolmates will probably be poking her nose around here and might hurt you if she finds you. So I'll have to limit my visiting time here for a while."
Jokesterrap could tell somehow that Gladstone seemed sad about something even though she didn't have a face to show it.
"Don't worry," he said. "My friends promised that they'll come to visit you too when I'm not able to. You'll never be lonely."
He felt that she would've been comforted, but to Gladstone, it wouldn't exactly be the same. Jokesterrap decided to stay a bit longer with Gladstone so she wouldn't feel so lonely tonight. He had to get back home though for supper.
"See you next time, Gladstone," he said. And he closed the shed door and headed off home. As Jokesterrap made it back out to Sweet Apple Acres, he could see Trixie nearby.
Oh no, he thought, it's her...
"What are you doing around Sweet Apple Acres, Jokesterrap?" Trixie asked suspiciously.
Before Jokesterrap could come up with something, Applejack came out.
"Trixie," she said, taking Trixie by the hand. "You're just in time to help me feed the pigs."
"Me? Feeding pigs?!"
Jokesterrap laughed. "Have fun, Trixie."
Trixie didn't think this was funny one bit!
While she had to help Applejack, Jokesterrap used this opportunity to escape.
"The shame of it," groaned Trixie. "Someone as great and powerful as me being forced to feed these slobby pigs. Ugh!"
This insult made the pigs cross. So in retaliation, they jump out of their pin and started chasing Trixie.
"Oink! Oink!"
"Stop chasing me! The Great and Powerful Trixie commands you to cease and desist!"
But the pigs ignored her and kept on chasing. Suddenly, Trixie tripped on a pitchfork and fell head first into a pile of manure.
"MANURE!!" screamed Trixie, "I HATE MANURE!!"
Applejack couldn't help but laugh.
"Would y'all care to take a shower?" she offered.
"No thank you," groaned Trixie. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has overstayed her welcome."
She walked away, unaware of a little piglet on her head.
Trixie went to school the next day in a foul mood. To add insult to injury, the story of her plight with the pigs had reached school before she had. As she walked down the hallway, students would snicker at her and make snappy remarks.
"Hey Trixie!" laughed an Eco-Teen called Green Cycle. "Never knew you could be so pig headed!"
"Tired of hugging the spotlight, are ya?" Aqua Blossom joked.
"Getting piggy with it, Trixie?" snickered Drum Role.
All of those pig-related puns and jokes began to make Trixie's blood boil, but she tried not to show it.
"You know, you're supposed to shovel manure, Bellatrix," chuckled Vincent, "not wade in it!"
Trixie growled angrily at this comment.
"We'll see who laughs last," she sneered.
At lunch she was still angry.
"Those filthy little slobs," she said. "How dare they attack the Great and Powerful Trixie."
Fluttershy had overheard and didn't take kindly to Trixie's rudeness toward the animals in question.
"Don't you dare talk about those innocent piggies like that!" she snapped.
"Innocent? After they chased me and threw me into some manure, you call them innocent?"
"You shouldn't have insulted them."
"What is this; Educating Trixie Week? First Mystery Mint and now you, Fluttershy! I should not be treated like I'm some kind of idiot!"
"Then quit acting like one," muttered Rainbow Dash.
"What was that, Rainbows Dash?!"
"Oh, nothing," said Rainbow Dash innocently.
A little later, the school day was over and the students were getting ready for home. As Trixie gathered her things, she noticed Fluttershy talking to Jokesterrap. She couldn't hear what they were talking about, but believed Fluttershy was in on whatever Jokesterrap was up to.
"If I follow that Fluttershy," she said, "I'll be able to find out about Jokesterrap's scheme."
Fluttershy had just gotten out of the school when she saw a cat on the sidewalk.
"Meow."
"Oh hello there, little one," said Fluttershy as she bent down to pet the cat. "You're just a cute little kitty, aren't you?"
The cat purred happily as Fluttershy petted him. While Fluttershy was distracted, Trixie sneaked up quietly behind her and tied some thread to the bottom of her shoe.
This'll lead me to what she's up to, Trixie thought with a brief smirk.
She ducked into a bush before Fluttershy got back up.
"I'd better get going little one," she said to the cat. "It was nice to meet you."
As she walked off, the thread came lose. The cat picked it up and took off with it. Trixie, who was still hiding in the bushes, didn't notice.
"I'll wait till the spool gets halfway unwound before I follow," she said. I don't want to draw attention."
"Hey, Trixie - what are you doing in a bush?"
Trixie jumped and looked around to find Fictionary looking at her.
"Go away, kid," Trixie said with annoyance, "can you not see that I'm waiting for this spool of thread to unwind?"
"Why?" asked Fictionary.
"That's a silly thing to do, isn't it?"
"Not unless it helps you in tracking down what you're after."
"Like that cat up ahead?"
"What cat?" This thread is tied to Fluttershy and I'll use her to find her."
Suddenly, Trixie noticed what Fictionary was talking about as she saw the cat with the string in its mouth.
"Get back here!" shouted Trixie, leaping from the bush and chasing after the cat.
The frightened cat raced away from Trixie.
"Stupid cat!" Trixie shouted.
She should've learned not to insult animals after her encounter with the pigs, but being calling the cat stupid really made the feline mad. Just as Trixie caught up to it, the cat reared back, and pounced at her. It hissed and scratched at her angrily.
"Not the face! Not the face!" shrieked Trixie.
When the cat was done scratching Trixie, he started running around her, causing the thread to wrap around her legs.
"Whoa!" she cried as she fell over, hitting the ground with a thud. Fictionary couldn't help but laugh at the situation.
"Looks like you've weaved yourself into another problem, Trixie," she chuckled.
"Not another of these jokes!" Trixie growled angrily. I've got to come up with a new strategy, she thought bitterly.
Fictionary soon caught up to Fluttershy and told her what had happened.
"It served Trixie right for being mean to that innocent little kitty," said Fluttershy.
"A little ironic, coming from you to say that," said Fictionary, "but still, we have to keep her far away from Gladstone as much as possible."
"You're right," said Fluttershy. "Or else Trixie will try to hurt her to get even with Jokesterrap for that Ice Bucket Prank."
The two girls decided to tell Jokesterrap about what had happened as well.
"That Trixie sure is too stubborn to give up, isn't she?" asked Jokesterrap.
"Oh yeah," said Fictionary, "I mean, what else could she be up to?"
"She's going to eventually get herself into trouble," added Fluttershy.
"If that happens, then it'll serve her right for poking her nose into someone else's business," said Jokesterrap.
Despite the last two incidents, Trixie would not give up. She was as stubborn as a mule. Next day at lunch, Trixie was still trying to think of a plan.
"I have to find out what Jokesterrap is up to," she said to herself. "But what else is there for me to try?"
Then as she saw Pinkie Pie munching down on a cupcake, she had an idea. At the end of the school day, Pinkie Pie was getting ready to see Gladstone when she heard Trixie by a tree.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie?"
The pink haired girl looked over. "Yeah?"
"Look what I've got," said Trixie. She opened her lunch bag and showed Pinkie a large cupcake with blueberry frosting. "I'll bet this looks super tasty, doesn't it?"
Pinkie Pie's mouth started to water.
"I was going to eat it during lunch, but I was too full. Would you like a bite?" Trixie asked, holding the cupcake in front of Pinkie's face.
"Yes, please!"
"Not so fast," said Trixie as she pulled the cupcake away before Pinkie had the chance to take a large bite out of it. "Before I let you taste this extremely delicious cupcake, I want you to tell me any secrets you might be keeping."
"Any secrets?" Pinkie knew inside that if she'd spilled the beans, Trixie would find out what Jokesterrap was up to, and she mentally prepared a plan.
"This cupcake sure does look delicious," Trixie said temptingly as she waved it back and forth in front of Pinkie Pie, her eyes watching its movements. "Sure would be a shame if I were to accidently eat it before you got the chance to see how tasty it is."
"Alright!" said Pinkie Pie. "I'll tell you."
"That's a good girl," said Trixie.
But instead of telling Trixie what was going on, she began to tell her every truthful thing about herself, her family, and her real full name. Trixie was feeling rather frustrated.
"That's not what I was talking about!" she shouted.
"Hey what's that over there?" said Pinkie Pie, pointing in a random direction. If Trixie had any common sense, she wouldn't have looked, but she did anyway, and when she wasn't looking, Pinkie snatched the cupcake out of her hand and ran off.
"I don't see anything," said Trixie. When she turned back around, she found both Pinkie Pie and the cupcake gone.
"Where did-" was all Trixie could say before she remembered who she had been dealing with.
"That Pinkie Pie!" she snapped out of annoyance. "She tricked me! Nobody tricks the Great and Powerful Trixie and gets away with it!"
"Well well well," chuckled Jokesterrap as he walked by. "Let this be a lesson for you, Trixie. Never try to outsmart Pinkie Pie. You'll just end up driving yourself insane."
Trixie didn't respond; she just fumed on the spot.
"Still trying to find out what I'm doing, are you?" Jokesterrap went on. "Well you never will. What I do is none of your business. So if I were you, I'd stop poking my nose where it's not wanted." With that, he walked off.
"Oh, I'll find out what you're up to, Jokesterrap," Trixie scowled as soon as he was out of earshot, "and when I do, you'll wish you haven't messed with me!"
Over the next few days, Jokesterrap's friends had kept their promise and whenever they had the chance, they would come by and visit with Gladstone for a while so she wouldn't feel lonely. Sometimes, they would tell her some stories about some of the things they had gone through, such as when Sunset Shimmer used to be mean before she changed her ways. And whenever he could, Jokesterrap would come by and help them with fixing Gladstone with new parts while keeping out of Trixie's snooping watch. Eventually, Gladstone was now a colorful patchwork of parts.
"She looks great guys," said Jokesterrap to his friends. "Thanks for the help. I couldn't have done it without you."
"That's what friends are for," said Vincent.
"Now that we've got her fixed, why don't we think about giving her a new coat of paint?" suggested Rarity. "Perhaps a dazzling Pink with golden stripes?"
"What kind of a livery is that?!" laughed Rainbow Dash.
"Well what livery would you give her, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked.
"I'd give her colors to make her look cool!"
"That's always yer way of things," muttered Applejack.
"Well you'd probably paint her in hillbilly colors," said Rainbow Dash.
"Hey!"
"Can we not argue over something that isn't that important?" asked Sunset, standing right between Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
"She's right," said Vincent. "The main thing is that we've gotten Gladstone fixed up."
"Eeyup," said Big Macintosh.
"We've worked hard," said Jokesterrap. "How about we go out for pizza and celebrate? Then tomorrow after school, we can start her up."
"Locomotive pizza party!" yelled Pinkie with excitement.
"Can you believe it, Gladstone?" Jokesterrap said to the engine. "Tomorrow's the big day. I bet it'll be great to be back in steam for the first time in years."
Jokesterrap felt that if Gladstone had a face, she'd be beaming with pride. Before he left with the gang, Jokesterrap gave Gladstone a quick hug. As he was leaving and closing Gladstone's shed door, the mysterious voice spoke.
"I certainly hope so too."
Jokesterrap heard the voice and looked around. But there was nobody else around.
"I sure wish I knew where that voice was coming from," he said to himself.
"Um... what voice?" asked Fluttershy.
"Didn't you hear it too?" Jokesterrap asked.
"Um, no."
"That's even more odd," Jokesterrap said to himself.
The following morning, Jokesterrap was getting ready for school.
"Today's the big day," he said to his father. "After school, we're gonna light Gladstone's fire and take her for a ride."
"That's great, son," said Tinker. "You and your friends have worked very hard to make Gladstone good as new, and now it's going to pay off. If your grandfather were alive, he would be proud of you."
"He sure would've, " agreed his wife.
Later at school, Jokesterrap had a large smile on his face. He just couldn't wait for the school day to end so he could take Gladstone for a ride.
"What are you so happy about?" asked Trixie suspiciously.
"Can't a guy be happy and not have any reason to be?" asked Jokesterrap.
"Not unless that guy is you," said Trixie.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don't play innocent with me. I know you're up to something. And I am going to find out what it is if it's the last thing I do."
"Like that'll ever happen," said Jokesterrap as he headed off to his next class.
"I beg to differ," Trixie said to herself.
At last, the school day was over. Vincent was just putting his things up when he noticed a note on his locker door.
"Eh? What's this?"
He took the note off his locker and read it.
Meet me in the parking lot after school. I have a surprise for you. Love, Sunset Shimmer.
"A surprise for me?" Vincent asked to no one in particular, "How thoughtful of her!"
So, Vincent went over to the parking lot to find Sunset Shimmer.
"Where could she be?" he asked.
"Well, well, if it isn't Vector von Crab."
Vincent recognized that voice right away.
"Oh no," he said to himself. He turned around only to face Trixie and two girls he'd never met before.
"Trixie! What are you doing here?"
"And who are these girls with you?"
"We were in Trixie's band," said one of the girls.
"She told us she needed help in getting some information," said the second girl.
"Information, eh?" said Vincent, "Oh, I got plenty - there's a Freshman Fair every year at CHS, uh, the square root of 169 is 13, my friend Rainbow Dash owns a tortoise named Tank-"
"We don't care if she has a turtle named Frank!" snapped Trixie.
"Well no need to be rude," said Vincent.
"We just want to know what that Jokesterrap guy is up to," said one of the girls.
"You'll get nothing like that out of me," Vincent said firmly.
This didn't deter the girls.
"We've got ways of making you talk," said Trixie. "Grab him!"
"Hey! What are you-?!"
Before Vincent could do anything, the two girls grabbed him.
"Hey! Let me go."
They dragged him over to Flash Sentry's car.
"Why are you taking me here?!"
"To get you to talk," said Trixie. Trixie took out the keys to Flash's car that she had stolen when he wasn't looking from her pocket and opened the trunk as the girls threw Vincent in and closed it behind him.
"Hey! What are you girls doing to my car?"
The 3 looked around and saw Flash Sentry looking rather cross.
"Hey, beat it spook!" snapped one of the girls, "This don't concern you!"
"When you mess with my friends and my car, then it does concern me," said Flash. "Now beat it before I report you to Principle Celestia!"
The girls ran off, not wanting to face an angry principal.
"You alright, Vincent?" asked Flash.
"Not quite!" Vincent shouted through the trunk, "The keys are in here!"
Flash opened the car and got the key. Then he opened the trunk and let Vincent out.
"Thanks," said Vincent.
"What were those girls doing to you?" asked Flash.
"They wanted me to tell them what Jokesterrap was up to," said Vincent. "But I wouldn't tell them so they took me to your car and threw me in the trunk! Also, they took my house keys."
"That is just wrong," said Flash. "We'd better warn Jokesterrap."
Then Vincent realized something and felt horrified.
"Jokesterrap left the map to Gladstone in my house!" he cried. "If Trixie finds it, she'll find Gladstone!"
Quickly, he ran fast as his legs could carry him. Unfortunately, when Vincent got to his house, he found that someone had trashed it as if they had been looking for something.
"Good grief!" he cried, "What in the name of Yoko Ono happened here?"
He found Archibald hiding under a blanket on his bed.
"Archie!" Vincent scolded, "What's the meaning of all this, eh?"
Archibald squeaked in fright and using his body language, told Vincent that Trixie had broken into the house and trashed it.
"Oh no!" said Vincent. Quickly, he ran back downstairs and looked in the nightstand, but it was empty. "Trixie's got the map! Oh, how could this have happened?! I gotta warn Jokesterrap!"
Meanwhile at the shed, Jokesterrap and the rest of the gang were getting Gladstone's fire ready. They had already started it with some dried grass and sticks, and were letting the steam pressure get up enough.
"Where's Flash and Vincent?" asked Twilight. "They should have been here by now."
"I hope nothing bad happened," said Sunset.
Suddenly they saw Flash and Vincent race into view. Both boys looked as though they'd run a marathon.
"You guys alright?" asked Jokesterrap. "What's the rush?"
“Trixie and her bandmates locked Vincent in the trunk of my car,” said Flash after the two caught their breath.
“Then she broke into my house and stole the map!” said Vincent. “She's on her way right now! Also, my bike got a flat."
"Oh no!" cried Fluttershy. "Trixie's gonna try and hurt Gladstone."
"No she won't," said Jokesterrap firmly. "Gladstone's fixed up and she's got steam. By the time Trixie gets here, I'll have taken Gladstone down the line away from her." And he climbed into the cab.
"Wait," said Vincent. "You need a fireman to keep the fire stoked, don't you?"
"That's a very good point," said Jokesterrap. "Vincent, how'd you like to be Gladstone's fireman?"
Vincent didn't really know what to say at first.
"You bet!" he said at last. He jumped into the cab and took up his shovel.
"Come on, Gladstone," said Jokesterrap, opening the regulator. "Let's go!"
"Good thing the boiler works fine," said Vincent, "otherwise, it'd have taken months!"
Slowly, wheel turn by wheel turn, Gladstone chuffed out of the shed for the first time in years.
"Take care, guys!" called Applejack.
Gladstone steamed down the line. The rails hummed as she rolled along.
"She's doing great so far," said Vincent.
"Well done, Gladstone!" called Jokesterrap. "You're doing great!"
"Eh? What's that behind us?"
Jokesterrap looked back and could see a rather familiar looking girl with a blue hoodie chasing them on the handcart from the shed.
"It's Trixie!" he cried.
"How'd she steal that handcart?" remarked Vincent.
"Don't worry about that now," said Jokesterrap, advancing the regulator. "If she wants to get us, she'll have to catch us first. Faster, Gladstone! Faster!"
"You're not getting away from me this time!" shouted Trixie.
Gladstone chuffed as fast as her could to get away from Trixie. But Trixie would not give up. Some of the new parts on her started to rattle as though they were coming lose. Suddenly, one of the cylinders lost its cover and steam began to leak out.
"What was that?!" cried Jokesterrap.
"One of the cylinders' covers came off!" cried Vincent. "She's falling apart!"
"Don't worry, Gladstone!" called Jokesterrap. "You can do it!"
"I don't think it can!" Trixie smirked.
Trixie was right. At that moment, there was a crack and Gladstone's cab filled with more leaking steam.
"Keep puffing, Gladstone!" Jokesterrap cried. But Gladstone couldn't. She was going slower and slower.
"It's no good," said Vincent. "We gotta take her onto a siding before she comes to a complete stop."
Thankfully, a signalman up ahead saw them and diverted them onto a siding. With a loud bang from her boiler, Gladstone came to a complete stop.
"Is this what you've been doing, Jokesterrap?" asked Trixie tauntingly. "Spending your free time to build a junky old steam engine?"
"Gladstone is not a junky old steam engine!" snapped Jokesterrap. "She's family!"
"Oh, and you consider this object to be family?"
"Yes! My grandfather helped to build her years ago!"
"Well the way I see it," said Trixie rudely, "this is nothing but a rusty old tin kettle that's only good for scrap metal. The Great and Powerful Trixie shall see to it."
Before the 2 could stop her, Trixie disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"She's gone!" said Vincent. "Oh wait, there she is."
Trixie was hiding behind a tree. Noticing she'd been spotted, Trixie ran off.
"Looks like we'd better get the crane and take Gladstone back to the shed," said Vincent.
"But what about Trixie? " asked Jokesterrap, "We can't let her scrap Gladstone!"
"You're right. I'll call the others and warn them." Vincent got out his phone and hoped Sunset Shimmer had hers. Thankfully, she did.
"Hello?" she said, answering her phone.
"Uh, yeah, we got bad news," said Vincent, "the boiler's failed and to make it worse, Trixie has found our plan out."
"Don't worry," said Sunset. "We'll hunt her down for you."
"We're also gonna need the crane to bring Gladstone back," said Vincent.
So, Flash and Sunset came with the crane while the rest of the gang went after Trixie. Jokesterrap was very upset.
"I'm sorry," he said to his engine. "I'm so, so sorry, Gladstone. I worked my hardest to keep you safe, but I let you down. Worst of all, I let Grandpa Porter down too. If he were here, he would be ashamed of me."
"Don't talk like that," said Vincent. He didn't like how upset his friend was. "It wasn't your fault this happened. It was Trixie's fault for being nosy."
"Well what are we supposed to do? Now that Trixie knows, she'll stop at nothing to destroy Gladstone just so she can get even with me and get money for it."
"We might have another chance to save her," said Flash.
"But how?" asked Jokesterrap.
"We have to tell Principle Celestia about her."
"Given that Trixie hasn't told her first," said Sunset quietly, "then that would be a disaster."
Jokesterrap wasn't so sure that he wanted to tell Principle Celestia. But he knew Flash was right. He had to do it for Gladstone.
Author's Note
The part of Vincent getting locked in the trunk is a reference to Back to the Future.
Trixie was racing down the street feeling very pleased with herself. But her delight was soon to be short lived. She was suddenly ambushed by Rainbow Dash.
"Gotcha!" she shouted.
"Let go of me, Rainbow Dash!" Trixie demanded. "I have a steam engine to destroy!"
"Not on our watch, ya don't!" said Applejack.
The rest of the gang circled around Trixie so that if she managed to get away from Rainbow Dash, she'd have nowhere else to run.
"That engine belongs to Jokesterrap, Trixie," said Twilight. "And you have no right to bring any harm to her."
"That's what you think," snarled Trixie. "Once I've destroyed that engine, I will have finally achieved revenge for that prank, and also make a profit on it!"
"You want to destroy her just because of a prank?" scoffed Rarity, "I may dislike Jokesterrap's pranks, but I would never go that far to destroy his belongings!"
Just then Jokesterrap raced past on his bike.
"Can't stop!" he called. "I gotta find Principle Celestia!"
Trixie growled, struggling to free her hand. "You're going to tell her about that scrap engine, aren't you?" she shouted. "Well I'll get there first to make sure your plan doesn't work. That engine is going to the scrap yard where it belongs!"
Suddenly she set off another smokeball. When the smoke cleared, she had vanished.
"She's gone!" cried Pinkie Pie. "Oh wait. There she is."
The friends looked back and saw Trixie racing off on a bike. Just then, Mystery Mint came up.
“Trixie!” she shouted. “Get back here with my bike!”
Jokesterrap looked back and saw Trixie chasing after him.
"I have to get to Principle Celestia first," he said to himself. "I won't let Trixie scrap Gladstone!"
Jokesterrap and Trixie had the bike race of their lives. They sped through parks and empty streets. Both determined to get to Principle Celestia before the other. Then Jokesterrap slowed down and pulled down a different path.
"That fool must have realized he was no match for me," Trixie smirked. But she was so busy being proud of herself, she didn't realize she was heading straight for a pond!
"Yikes!" Trixie cried. She braked hard but it was too late. She flew into the pond with a splash and emerged with a lily pad on her head.
Trixie spat out some water.
"Ugh!" she groaned, "Why can't I ever have nice days?"
At long last, Jokesterrap came to Principle Celestia's house. The only time he had gone there was when she had broken her arm and the students came to her house to throw her a Get Well Party, all courtesy of Pinkie Pie, of course.
"I'm not so sure I can do this," Jokesterrap said to himself. But he had to do it or say goodbye to Gladstone forever. So, gathering his courage, he walked up to the door and knocked. The door opened and there stood Principle Celestia.
"Can I help you with something, Jokesterrap?" she asked.
Jokesterrap took a deep breath and told Principle Celestia all about Gladstone.
"Gladstone is a very important steam engine," he said. "But she's more than that. She's family. My grandfather Porter Coupling helped to build her many years ago. He even bought her from the railway to save her from scrap and promised that she would be mine when I was old enough. I wanted to do what I could to keep her safe from harm like Grandpa did."
Celestia remained quiet. Jokesterrap hung his head in defeat. He felt for sure that Celestia would also think Gladstone was to be scrapped.
"Did you say Porter Coupling was your grandfather?" Celestia finally said.
"Yes, I have."
"You mean, one of the best engine drivers that ever lived?"
"Yes, I do."
"And his most treasured engine which had been lost for years is now under your care?"
"Yes, she is."
"Why on earth would you keep something this important such a secret?" Celestia asked.
"Because I was scared that someone would try and destroy Gladstone," Jokesterrap explained. "And I wanted to show the other students I could be more than just a prankster. So I tried to fix her alone."
"But he had all of us," said a voice.
Jokesterrap turned around and saw that it had came from Fluttershy. And with her was Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Sunset, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Fictionary, Vincent, and Flash.
"We got Gladstone back to her shed with no problem," said Vincent.
"And Big Macintosh went to guard her in case Trixie came back," said Flash.
"What does Trixie have to do with this?" asked Celestia.
"Trixie found out about Gladstone and wanted to destroy her just because Jokesterrap pulled a prank on her," said Rainbow Dash.
"Also, she wanted to gain money from it," Vincent added, "that's simply a greedy motivation."
"She's a greedy meany pants," agreed Pinkie Pie.
"I am going to have a word with Trixie's mother," said Celestia. "I have a feeling that she will not be pleased."
Meawhile, Trixie had finally arrived at her house, soaking wet and fuming.
"I cannot believe that Jokesterrap tricked me again!" she fumed. "I'll destroy that engine of his if it's the last thing I do!" When Trixie opened the door, she found her mother waiting for her. She did not look happy.
"Bellatrix Lulamoon! A word, please!"
Trixie was a bit startled by her angry mother.
"Yes mother?" she asked as innocently as possible.
"Don't play the innocent game with me, young lady! We need to talk. I've heard from my friend Celestia that you've been causing trouble and stalking and harassing Jokesterrap and his friends!"
"But mother," objected Trixie. "he humiliated me! I wanted revenge!"
"That's no excuse to try and destroy a steam engine that's been an important part of his family!"
"His friends tormented me as well - and I was covered in manure! MANURE, I tell you!"
"And so to get even you try to destroy something precious to him?"
Trixie felt too nervous to say anything.
"Celestia also says that your actions have earned you 2 weeks of detention," her mother went on. "And during those two weeks, you're grounded!"
"What?!"
"You heard me. And you'll have plenty of chores around the house to keep you busy."
While Trixie was being scolded by her mother, Jokesterrap had gone back to the shed to see Gladstone.
"You'll never believe it, Gladstone!" he said excitedly. "I've just spoken to Principle Celestia. She's heard about you and Grandpa! She know's you're famous and doesn't want you scrapped. You're going to the works so you can be mended properly and run the rails again. Isn't that great?"
Gladstone of course stayed silent.
“Guess I was a bit of a fool,” sighed Jokesterrap. “Believing that you could actually talk. Trains can't talk afterall.”
“You're wrong, Jokesterrap,” said a voice.
Jokesterrap looked around. Big Macintosh had gone back to Sweet Apple Acres when he had come, and there was no other person around but him. And the voice seemed closer when he was with Gladstone. So he looked up at the engine in curiosity.
“You see, I can speak,” the voice continued. “In a way.” It sounded much closer than last few times.
Jokesterrap stumbled back in surprise. Gladstone could talk! How was this possible if she didn't have a face?
"Gladstone!?" Jokesterrap finally asked in bewilderment. “Was that you? But you have no face.”
“No, Jokesterrap,” said Gladstone. “But you can hear my thoughts. As you have with the last times I spoke to you.”
“You mean you were the voice I kept hearing before?” Jokesterrap asked.
“Yes.”
“How is it I was the only one who could hear your thoughts?”
“You share the same bond with me your grandfather did,” explained Gladstone.
"But if you could talk to me all this time," Jokesterrap went on, "then why did you stay so quiet when I first found you?"
“I've been alone in this shed with no real company for years,” Gladstone explained. “When you came and found me, I was scared and thought you were a vandal. But then you started treating me as family instead of treating me like a steam engine. The same kindness your grandfather treated me with. Because of that, I felt that I could trust you. Especially when you were determined to protect me from that wicked girl Trixie.”
Jokesterrap smiled and gave his engine a hug. Everything was going to be alright now.
Next morning when Jokesterrap came to school, he noticed some of the other students talking about him.
"What's all this about?" he asked.
"Pinkie Pie called some of the other students and told them about Gladstone," explained Vincent. "Then they told their friends and now the whole school knows."
"That silly Pinkie Pie," said Jokesterrap. At first he felt nervous that the others had found out about Gladstone, but he felt better when he heard that they were talking positively about him. It was at that moment the other students noticed Jokesterrap. They started bombing him with questions about how long he knew of Gladstone's whereabouts and why he didn't tell them his grandfather was famous. Some even wanted to see Gladstone themselves.
"Hey! One at a time!" called Vincent, "Give him some space, will ya?"
"Why didn't you tell us you had a famous grandfather?" asked Watermelody.
"To be honest," said Jokesterrap, "I didn't think you guys would take me seriously."
"Why wouldn't we?"
"Because you all saw me as this class clown and would have thought I was pulling your legs."
Then Trixie went past on her way to class. The other students didn't talk to her. Some would give her pitying looks while others would quietly laugh at her.
"I told you not to poke your nose into other people's business," said Mystery Mint to Trixie. "But what do you do? You ignore me, try to destroy a steam engine, and steal my bike!"
"Seriously? She did that?" asked Cherry Crash.
"Yeah. All because she wanted revenge for a simple prank."
"That's just low," said Captian Planet.
"Hey Jokesterrap, maybe you can show us that engine of yours after school," suggested Green Cycle.
"Well, we had Gladstone sent to the works after the events of yesterday," explained Jokesterrap.
A little later, Jokesterrap was in class when Principle Celestia's voice came on the intercoms.
“All students report to the gym,” she said.
Once all the students were in the gym, Celestia spoke into a microphone to get their attention.
"Thank you for coming down," she said. "After being informed about what had been going on recently and after many of you had asked, there will be a field trip Monday to the Railway Works. There you will be able to see how work goes on with locomotive repairs. Also you will be able to see the restoration of the recently rediscovered steam engine Gladstone."
The students roared with excitement but got quiet when Celestia continued.
"As long as it is alright with Jokesterrap since Gladstone is his engine."
The students all looked at Jokesterrap hopefully.
"Fine by me," he said.
The class roared with applause once again.
When lunch time came, Jokesterrap joined his friends again.
"You guys are not going to believe what I'm about to tell you," he said.
"Ooh! What?" asked Pinkie.
"She can talk," said Jokesterrap.
“Who?” asked Fluttershy.
“Gladstone,” said Jokesterrap. “She can talk.”
"Seriously?" asked Rainbow Dash, trying not to laugh, "The only times trains can talk is in a kid's show!"
"I'm serious,” said Jokesterrap. “Gladston is the mysterious voice I had been hearing around that shed lately when I was alone. Although it was actually her thoughts."
“You mean like in that one episode of that puppet show with that mute girl that can breathe underwater?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“That's the one.”
"But how is it possible?" asked Twilight. "Steam engines do not have faces or even minds of their own. How is it Gladstone was able to speak to you, let alone use telepathy?"
"I guess there are some questions out there that can't be answered," said Vincent.
"Eeyup."
That evening, Jokesterrap told his parents about the field trip and about Gladstone speaking to him.
"You actually heard her talk?" asked his mother, thinking her son was a little crazy.
"I thought I was hearing things, but it turned out I wasn't," said Jokesterrap. "I could hear her thoughts like on that one show."
"Well when dad was alive," said Tinker, "he would say that Gladstone would sometimes talk to him too."
"So I wasn't the only one, then. Also we're going to the Works Monday as a field trip."
"Did Principle Celestia actually say that?" asked his mother.
"She did. As long as it was alright with me of course that we see Gladstone."
"You're actually alright with other people seeing her?"
"Yes, I am. I'm not really afraid of bad things happening to her anymore."
"That's great news, son," said Tinker. "Your grandpa would be proud of you if he were still alive."
Jokesterrap smiled. "I think he already is."
"By the way," said his mother. "How are you going to be able to afford the repairs for Gladstone?"
"I actually don't know," said Jokesterrap. "But the works said they wouldn't bother with paying for the job until it was done."
"Well that's good to know. Now wash up for dinner."
Author's Note
The part of Jokesterrap finding out Gladstone's secret is rather based on the scene of the Stingray Episode Raptures of the Deep.
Monday morning, the students of Canterlot High got on the buses for their field trip.
"This is gonna be so awesome," said Rainbow Dash.
"And it's all thanks to Jokesterrap," added Vincent.
"And my pals," Jokesterrap said. "If you guys hadn't helped, this wouldn't have been possible."
At long last, they arrived at their destination.
"Now remember," said Principle Celestia. "Be on your very best behavior."
Everyone knew who she was referring to. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Fictionary all sat innocently in their seats with halos over their heads.
Once everyone was out of the buses, their tour of the Works began. They were shown many parts of the yard where repairs were to be carried out and even got to take notes and pictures.
"When are we gonna see Jokesterrap's engine?" asked Snails.
"Yeah," said Snips. "We wanna see her."
"Patience," said Principle Celestia. "We shall get to her soon."
As the tour continued, the students began to get more impatient. At last, Jokesterrap pointed out towards one of the sheds.
"There she is," he smiled.
Before Celestia could say anything, the student ran off excitedly towards the engine.
"Students, calm down!" Celestia called.
But the students were already buzzing around Gladstone, talking in excitement and wanted to take pictures of her. The workmen had to keep them from getting too close.
"There's dangerous equipment we're using," they said. "We don't want anyone getting hurt."
"How's the works treating you, Gladstone?" Jokesterrap asked.
Some of the students thought Jokesterrap had gone loopy.
"Why's he talking to her?" asked Mystery Mint. "Trains can't talk. At least, not outside of a kids' show."
"Don't laugh at him," scolded Vincent. "Gladstone can talk. Jokesterrap can really hear her."
"The workmen have been very kind to me," said Gladstone. "And I had the chance to speak with some of the other engines that would come in for repairs as well."
"Glad to see you're not lonely," Jokesterrap smiled.
Then he spoke to one of the workmen.
"How long do you think the repairs will take?" he asked.
"I'd say a couple weeks," said the workman. “The boiler's gonna take some time due to its age."
"I know you said you wouldn't charge me until the job was done, but how much do you think it'll cost?"
"I'd say about 4 or 5 grand."
"Imagine what you could do with that money," remarked Sunset.
"I could buy a super duper party cannon so that the whole COUNTRY could party!" cried Pinkie Pie in excitement.
"But how are we going to get that money?" asked Jokesterrap.
"How about we start a fundraiser?" asked Vincent. "We could raise enough money to cover the repairs."
"Now, that's a great idea!" remarked Jokesterrap.
Meanwhile, it was time for Trixie to go home from her detention. As she was walking about the door, she bumped into a guy she had never seen before.
"Watch where you're going!" he said. "You almost messed up my fabulous hair."
The man had light amber hair and matching arctic blue eyes.
Trixie felt a little smitten at this stranger, but quickly brushed it off.
"Who are you, anyway?" she asked.
"Blueblood. My aunt is Principle of this middle class school. And I came for a visit from my private school out of town."
"She and the rest of the school went on a field trip to the Rail Works," said Trixie.
“Why did you not go with?”
“I'm in detention for wanting to destroy a steam engine that belongs to one of my classmates.”
“Ugh,” said Blueblood. “Why do people care so much for those smokey old things?”
"Heritage - it's old and stupid."
"Couldn't agree more," said Blueblood. "Well I must be off for a hair appointment."
With that, Blueblood entered his limo and took off.
“Well, that was fast,” Trixie mused to herself.
The school had begun fundraisers to raise enough money for Gladstone's repairs. Some students would go door to door selling chocolate bars while others would come up with their own ways of getting donations. The had even set up a fundraiser carnival with games and bake sales. Blueberry Cake got her aunt and uncle to help as well.
"Every little bit helps," said Cupcake.
The Flim Flam brothers had started raising the prices in their Pawn Shop, claiming that the differences made would go to Gladstone's repairs. But we know better don't we? Applejack was passing by the shop when she saw some flyers.
"Now what's this all about?"
She read one of the flyers.
The Flim Flam Brothers' Everything-Under-The-Sun Emporium Fundraiser Special. Pay extra for your merchandise and that extra will go to the funds of repairing the steam engine Gladstone.
Applejack decided to show this to Jokesterrap.
"I never heard from them about this," he said. "Nor did I see a single penny from them. Those weasels are trying to use Gladstone as a means of making a quick buck!"
"Has no one heard of making honest money?" sighed Vincent.
"Not those two," said Applejack.
"We should teach them a lesson," said Jokesterrap.
The friends made their way to the pawn shop. When they entered, they were greated by two tall men.
Both of them wore blue and white vertical striped shirts and boater hats, but had different hairstyles and one of them had a mustache.
"Welcome to the Flim Flam Brothers' Everything-Under-the-Sun Emporium!" said Flim, the one without the moustache.
"If you want it, we've got it!" said Flam.
Jokesterrap held the flyer up to them.
"What's the big idea using my engine to make yourselves rich?" he said crossly. "You have no intentions of donating any shares to cover her repairs, do you?"
The brothers were taken aback.
"My dear boy, you must have us mistaken," said Flim, trying to act as though they had done nothing wrong.
"Indeed," said Flam. "We were merely waiting until we had a much larger amount of money so we could donate it to your fine locomotive."
Jokesterrap just crossed his arms. "Oh really?"
"Quite certainly."
"Good," said Jokesterrap. "Then we'll be sure to await your donations or else the police might be coming around to see if you're being fair."
The brothers looked nervously at each other as Jokesterrap and his friends took off.
"The nerve of those two trying to con people out of their money," said Vincent.
"Eeyup," said Applejack. "At least my family's earning money the honest way."
"How's that?" askd Jokesterrap.
"We're sellin' Apple Cider."
"And jugfulls of it too!" added Pinkie.
"And make sure you don't hog it all like last time!" shouted Rainbow Dash.
"But it's so tasty!"
"Boy, you all seem to be doing whatever you can to help out," said Jokesterrap. "What are the others doing?"
"Rarity said something about selling some clothes she made," said Rainbow Dash.
"Must be hard for her to part with some of her precious fabulous clothes," Jokesterrap joked.
"And Twilight's selling some of her old books that she doesn't need anymore too," added Pinkie Pie.
"Who would have thought a bookworm like Twilight would actually give up books?" Rainbow Dash smirked.
"And what are you doing to help out, Rainbow Dash?" asked Applejack.
"I... er..."
"She was probably spending too much time with that boyfriend of her's," teased Vincent.
This caused Rainbow Dash's face to blush bright red with embarrassment. She quickly recovered, though.
"Well at least I don't spout random gibberish when someone kisses me," she teased.
Now it was Vincent's turn to blush.
"I heard that Flash and his band got together for a small concert," said Pinkie Pie.
"I called my cousin Song Cue and told her about Gladstone," said Fluttershy. "She's a fan of steam locomotives too and is coming over to help with raising money."
"Well that's nice of her," said Jokesterrap. "When's she going to be here?"
"She said her bus should be here within a half hour," said Fluttershy. "I can't wait for you all to meet her."
"We should throw her a Welcome Party!" Pinkie Pie cried in excitement.
"You've already set up a carnival," said Twilight, "isn't that a bit much for you?"
"You do realize who you're talking to, don't you?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Good point."
Soon, the friends came to the bus stop to wait for Song Cue to arrive.
"Here comes the bus!" Pinkie Pie cried in excitement. And she was right. The bus pulled up and made a stop. Out came a girl about Fluttershy's age. She had purple eyes and hair.
"Song Cue!" Fluttershy ran up and gave the girl a hug.
"Good to see you, Fluttershy," said Song Cue. "These must be your friends."
"Indeed. Meet Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Vincent van Colt, and Jokesterrap." she jestered to each friend as she spoke. "You'll meet the others later."
"We heard that you like steam engines too," said Vincent. "When did that start?"
"Well, I read stories about talking engines when I was a little girl," said Song Cue. "And my passion grew from there."
"Neat," said Jokesterrap.
"May I see your engine?" asked Song Cue.
"She's still at the Works," said Jokesterrap. "But I guess we could go and see how the repairs are coming along."
So that's what they did.
"Hello Gladstone," said Jokesterrap. "We brought another friend to see how you were doing."
"Hi," Song Cue said, waving to Gladstone.
"You're not gonna believe this," said Jokesterrap, "but she can actually talk."
"That is so amazing!" cried Song Cue in excitement. "What does she usually talk to you about?"
"Not much," said Jokesterrap. "For a while, I didn't even know she could talk until recently."
"Trixie wanted to destroy her just to get even with Jokesterrap for some prank," said Applejack.
"That's horrible!" gasped Song Cue. "Revenge is no excuse to try to destroy something this precious."
"That's what we said," said Jokesterrap. "Gladstone is not just an engine, she's family."
"I'm very glad you see her that way," smiled Song Cue. "Not many people care that much about steam engines anymore. They think they're just old fashioned and choose more modern locomotives instead."
"If y'all ask me," said Applejack, "we'd all be better off without those oily diesels."
"Applejack," said Twilight, "We'd need an alternative fuel source if the coal supply in the world should run dry. In a way, the diesel engines do some good."
A little later, the friends had gotten together at the coffee shop. Song Cue had gotten a chance to meet the rest of their friends and got along well with them.
"It's great to make new friends and learn about them," she said.
"How was your trip to the works?" asked Sunset.
"It went rather well," said Jokesterrap. "Althought, Gladstone told me that she wanted a new name for her new life."
"Like what?" asked Flash.
"How about Marina?" suggested Rarity. "A name like that is very refined."
"Sounds too posh if you ask me," said Rainbow Dash. "How about something awesome like Hurricane?"
"What about Iron Mare?" asked Vincent.
"Sounds like a pony version of Iron Man," said Twilight.
"Then I don't suppose you have a better idea then?"
"I like Fluffy!" said Pinkie Pie.
The others looked at her confused.
"Who names a steam engine Fluffy?" asked Applejack.
"How about Harmony?" Suggested Sunset.
"That's actually a good idea," said Jokesterrap. "I'll ask Gladstone what she thinks."
So later, Jokesterrap went back to the works to talk to Gladstone.
"The gang and I were talking about giving you a new name," he said. "How would you like to be called Harmony?"
"That would be an excellent name," said Gladstone.
"Good. Harmony it is."
A week later, Jokesterrap was having breakfast with his parents when the telephone rang.
"I'll get it," said Tinker. He got up and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Is Jokesterrap there?"
"Why yes he is. Who's this?"
"It's a member of the Rail Works."
"Hold on. Jokesterrap, it's for you from the Rail Works."
"What's up?"
"They want to talk to you."
Jokesterrap took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Jokesterrap? We're calling to tell you that she's ready."
"Ready?" asked Jokesterrap. "You mean the repairs are finished?"
"Exactly."
"Well thank you," said Jokesterrap. "I'll be by later to see how she's doing. Goodbye and thank you."
Jokesterrap hung up the phone and told his parents the news.
"So they've finished with the repairs?" asked Tinker.
"They sure have."
"That's great news," said Jokesterrap's mother.
"You can say that again," said Jokesterrap. "And when she's out, maybe I can take her for her first proper run in years."
"Great news, everyone!"
Jokesterrap had gathered the friends to Sweet Apple Acres.
"The repairs are finished. Harmony will ride again."
"Awesome!" said Rainbow Dash.
"Yay," cheered Fluttershy.
"Think you'll be able to take us on rides with her?" asked Twilight.
"We'll see," said Jokesterrap. "Did we raise enough money?"
"Eeyup," said Applejack. "I got it hid under a floorboard in my room to make sure no one steals it."
Suddenly they all heard the sound of glass shattering.
"What was that?" asked Pinkie.
"Sounds like somebody shattered a window," said Sunset.
"We'd better check it out," said Applejack.
They went out of the barn to see what where the noise came from. What they saw was quite a shock! The window to Applejack's room had been shattered, as though someone had broken in.
Looking into the room, they could see that it was a mess.
"What the heck?!" exclaimed Applejack.
"Who could have done such a thing?" asked Song Cue.
"Someone trying to ruin it for Jokesterrap, I reckon," said Vincent grimly.
"Well it looks like it worked," said Applejack, showing them the pried open lockbox. "The money's gone!"
"And who could've done this?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I'll give you a hint," said Flash. "Who's the one who's been trying to cause trouble for us ever since that ice bucket prank?"
It didn't take anyone long to figure that out.
"TRIXIE!!!"
They confronted the girl in question outside of the cafe.
"Where's the money, Trixie?" snarled Rainbow Dash.
"What money?" asked Trixie.
"Don't play dumb with us!" said Song Cue, "We bet you stole the money to make our efforts seem pointless!"
"How dare you accuse the Great and Powerful Trixie of a crime she did not commit!" snapped Trixie. "Besides, what makes you think I did it and not someone else?"
"Because you've been looking for a way to get back at Jokesterrap ever since he pulled that prank on you," said Twilight. "And when trying to destroy his engine failed, you decided to make his efforts to raise enough money for her repairs go in vain."
"I didn't do it," objected Trixie. "I was here the whole time."
"If you were here," said Rarity, "then who do you think broke into Applejack's room?"
"I don't know."
"Wasn't Big Mac supposed to join us?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"He had some chores to deal with," said Applejack.
Just then, Fluttershy's phone vibrated, indicating she had gotten a text from someone.
"Oh! Yes?"
Fluttershy read the text message then spoke to her friends.
"It's from Big Macintosh. He and Flash have found something rather out of place."
"What? " everyone else asked.
"He didn't say," said Fluttershy. "But I think we should go back and see."
So they went back to Sweet Apple Acres to see what Big Macintosh and Flash wanted to show them.
"We found this on a tree branch," said Flash, as he showed them a boater hat.
"Now who would wear this kind of hat?" asked Song Cue. No one needed to answer that question.
The gang instantly marched down to the Flim Flam Brothers' store.
"Well look who has come back," said Flim.
"Can we interest you in anything?" asked Flam.
"Yes you can," said Jokesterrap firmly. "Where's the money?"
"What money?"
"Don't play innocent with us," said Applejack. "The fundraiser money that you stole!"
"What makes you believe that we did it?" asked Flam.
"Cause one of you dropped this at the scene of the crime," said Vincent, holding the boater hat.
The Flim Flam Brothers looked at each other nervously.
"Ah, well, there's a story behind it," said Flam.
"Oh really?" asked Song Cue, not that fooled.
"Uh, why yes," said Flim. "You see, my brother and I had this thought that a very cruel person would try to steal your hard earned money from you."
"So," said Flam, "we decided to merely relocate the fundraiser money to a much safer place so that we could keep an eye on it in case of thieves."
"Then how do you explain THIS?" asked Trixie. She then lifted up an upside down wastebasket and there lay the money in a bag.
"So you found where we hid it," said Flim, trying to not sound nervous. "No one would ever think to look under there."
"Not a very good place to hide money if you ask me," said Song Cue, "I never thought I'd say this, but good work in finding it, Trixie."
The rest of the gang was surprised with Song Cue congratulating Trixie like that.
"See, I said I was innocent," said Trixie.
"Looks like we'll be taking the money back," said Jokesterrap, picking up the bag, "along with an extra $200."
The brothers were rather shocked. "An extra $200?"
"To pay for Applejack's broken window. Unless, of course, you want us to tell the police your little story."
So, the friends left with the fundraiser money plus an additional $200 to pay for a new window for Applejack's room.
"I don't think it costs $200 dollars just to fix a broken windown," said Sunset.
"Me neither," said Jokesterrap. "I was just really mad at those two for what they did."
"The Great and Powerful Trixie wishes to apologize for how she acted," said Trixie.
"And we're sorry we accused you of stealing the money," said Twilight.
"And I'm sorry for that ice bucket prank," added Jokesterrap. "Well, I'd better take the money over to the works. If you want, tell whoever you can find that Harmony is ready to ride the rails again."
The gang did so, and a little while later, almost the entire town had gathered at the rail works waiting for the engine to steam out. The workmen had asked them to stay behind the fences so they would not get hurt.
"We can't have anyone sucked under the wheels," they had explained.
Suddenly, they could all see a cloud of smoke coming out from a shed in the works.
"Here she comes!" cried someone.
Out of the smoke emerged a 2-4-0 tank locomotive with its whistle shrieking for the first time in years. She was painted in new colors of blue with red and yellow stripes. Her back part of her cab had been restored as well. On the side tanks where the nameplates that read Gladstone used to be were new ones that read Harmony . And there at the controls was Jokesterrap.
"Hello everybody!" he waved. "Doesn't she look great?"
"She looks awesome!" cried Rainbow Dash.
"Definitely better looking than the engine we saw a couple of months ago," agreed Rarity.
"Eeyup," said Big Macintosh.
"How do ya feel, Harmony?" asked Jokesterrap.
"I feel wonderful!" Harmoney replied. "The best I've felt in years."
People began taking pictures of Harmony and chatting excitedly about her.
"Can we have a ride on her?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"We've got some coaches in a siding over there," said a workman. "You can use them if you want."
So Gladstone was coupled to the coaches.
"This is so exciting," she said happily. "My first passenger train in years."
"Just be careful not to bump the coaches," said Jokesterrap.
"I'll be careful," said Harmony.
They brought the coaches to the platform.
"Hop in everyone," called Jokesterrap.
"Don't push her too hard," said Vincent.
"Harmony won't need pushing," chuckled Jokesterrap. "I'll have to hold her back."
Soon, everyone who wanted to ride with Harmony was aboard the coaches. The guard's whistle sounded and he waved his green flag.
"Alright, Harmony," said Jokesterrap, opening the regulator. "Let's show them what you can do."
With the blow of her whistle, the little tank engine slowly began to chuff out of the station. They started out slowly, but once on the open line, Harmony went faster. She had never felt so great in years. She whistled at the people who would stop by and wave to her.
"They've all come out to see me," she said. "Isn't that nice of them?"
"It definitely is, old girl," said Jokesterrap, "Grandpa would've been happy to see you in service once more."
"I'm sure he would have," said Harmony. "And I'm sure he'd been happy to see everything you did for me."
"Well it's just like I said before. You're not just an engine, you're family. And family's look after each other."
They raced past diesel engines waiting at signals for them to go past. Many of their drivers were shocked upon seeing a steam engine in service.
"I don't think some of those drivers were happy to see me," said Harmony sounding a bit worried.
"Don't worry," said Jokesterrap. "They're just surprised to see that there's still a steam engine in service here."
Harmony soon felt a little bit better. She wanted to go faster, but Jokesterrap wouldn't let her.
"Steady girl," he chuckled. "It's not a race."
It wasn't long before they had reached their stop at one of the top stations.
"Did you all enjoy the ride?" he asked.
Not surprisingly, everyone said they enjoyed the ride.
"What are you going to do with her now that she's fixed?" asked Watermelody.
"I actually hadn't thought about it," said Jokesterrap.
At that moment, two gentlemen in business suits approached.
"It's the boys in suits," Pinkie whispered, "if you see them in uniform, you know it's trouble!"
"Is she always like this?" asked Song Cue to Rainbow Dash.
"Most of the time," said Rainbow Dash. "But she's just being random at times."
"Well, those men may not be that dangerous at all," said Song Cue.
"Can we help you with anything?" asked Vincent.
"Yes you can," said the first gentleman.
"We are from the Steam Preservation Society," said the second.
"Steam Preservation Society?" asked Applejack.
"You see, there are people like us who value steam engines and want to help them to a better place to thrive."
"You were on the train, weren't you?" asked Sunset.
"Yes, we were," said one of the gentlemen, "the ride was very comfortable too."
"You see," said the other gentleman to Jokesterrap, "We were wondering if you would consider us welcoming your engine to our heritage railway. It's not too far, in case your asking. Just a mile or two north of town."
"You hear that, Harmony?" asked Jokesterrap. "You've been invited to be part of a heritage railway. You'll see many other steam engines there."
Harmony could not believe what she had heard.
"That sounds amazing," she said happily. "It'll be great to interact with more steam engines."
On the return trip to the works, however, Harmony could tell that something was bothering Jokesterrap.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Not in the slightest," said Jokesterrap. "I'm just enjoying the view."
When they got back to the Works, Jokesterrap had Harmony shunt the coaches back to their original siding.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Harmony asked Jokesterrap. "It's just that you've been rather quiet on the way back."
Before Jokesterrap could reply, his friends came up.
"Is something the matter dude?" asked Vincent. "We thought you'd still be excited about Harmony going to a Heritage Railway."
"Well to be honest," Jokesterrap confessed, "I was excited at first. Now I'm having second thoughts."
"Why?"
"She will have many other engines to keep her company," said Song Cue. “So she won't be alone.”
"But what if she doesn't like it there?” asked Jokesterrap. “What if the other engines are mean to her? What if someone tries to hurt her and I'm not there to protect her?"
"You're worrying too much," said Twilight. "I'm sure Harmony will be fine in her new home."
"Exactly," said Rarity. "It's for the best that you let her go."
"I guess you're right," Jokesterrap sighed.
They soon went to see the gentlemen.
"Alright," said Jokesterrap. "Harmony can join your heritage railway. Just as long as I remain her owner and that me and my friends can visit her whenever we feel like it. And you had better see to it that she is treated with care or else."
"You see, Jokesterrap's rather protective of her," said Song Cue.
"Understandable," said the first gentleman. "We've heard about his grandfather, after all."
"You have?" asked Jokesterrap.
"Indeed," said the second gentleman. "The stories have spread through the newspapers."
"We'll need Harmony mostly during the summer holiday and weekends," said the first gentleman. "It's our busiest time of the year. So she won't get much work until then. But would you be interested in being her driver?"
"I would be delighted to," said Jokesterrap.
So it was arranged. They followed the gentlemen's car to the Harmony's new home.
"Here's your new home, Harmony," said Jokesterrap.
"It looks marvelous!" cried Harmony.
"Great balls of fire!" cried Vincent. "She really can talk!"
Jokesterrap was very surprised. "You can hear her?"
"So do I!" remarked Song Cue.
"Same here," said Applejack.
"We all heard her," said Sunset.
"They can hear you," Jokesterrap said to Harmony, still in surprise. "How can they hear you?"
"It appears that they have developed the same bond with me that you do after you told them your doubts of me coming here," suggested Harmony.
"Sounds about right," said Jokesterrap.
As soon as Harmony was shown around the railway, the friends got ready to leave.
"I guess this is goodbye," said Jokesterrap. "We'll all come to visit you, though. And I still get to be your driver."
"I am happy to hear that," said Harmony. "I'll never forget what you and your friends did for me. If it had not been for you, I would probably be either stuck in that shed forever or ended up scrapped."
"This calls for a group hug!" cried Pinkie Pie. The friends all hugged Harmony on her bufferbeam. Harmony clouded them with a gentle cloud of steam, as if it were her way of hugging them as well.
On the way back home, Jokesterrap wanted to stop by the cemetery for a bit.
"What for?" asked Song Cue.
"There's someone I want to pay a visit to," Jokesterrap explained.
Everyone else knew who the "someone" was. Jokesterrap and the gang soon came to a tombstone that had read Porter Coupling .
"Hey Grandpa," Jokesterrap said to the tombstone. "It's me, Jokesterrap. I just wanted to let you know that I've done it. I found Gladstone and, with the help of my friends, got her fixed up and ready to ride the rails once again like you and her did years ago."
Shortly after, the friends started to leave.
"Uh, Sunset," asked Vincent rather nervously. "If you didn't have any plans tomorrow, did you want to go see a movie?"
Sunset Shimmer blushed. Did Vincent just ask her out on a date? Without warning, she kissed him right on the lips!
"That answer your question?" asked Sunset.
Vincent couldn't help but grin big.
The others couldn't help but grin too.
"About time," said Rainbow Dash.
"They make such a cute couple," said Fluttershy.
"Oh behave yourselves," said Vincent. "Besides, at least I'm not shy about MY crush."
Now it was Rainbow Dash's turn to blush.
As the friends left the cemetery, the spirit of an elderly man rose form the tomestone and smiled at Jokesterrap.
"Well done, Jokesterrap," he said. "I knew you could do it." With that, he disappeared.
Prologue: The Tale of a Steam Engine
Many years ago, before Celestia became principle of Canterlot High School, there was a small railway. It ran not too far away from the school, and had many steam engines working there. One of these was a tank engine named Gladstone.
You see, Porter had helped to build the little engine when he was much younger, and because of that, Gladstone was considered as, not just a simple tank engine, but one of the family. And when he had been chosen to be her driver, he was tickled to death. Porter took such good care of Gladstone, that she never got old.
Unfortunately, times had begun to change. One by one, the steam engines had been withdrawn and replaced by diesels because they were much stronger and more efficient. Poor Gladstone had been condemned for scrap like the rest of them. But just as the workmen started to dismantle her, a voice cried out.
“No! You won't take Gladstone from me!”
Porter Coupling, now much older, had come back to save his little engine. After a hard bargain with the manager of the railway, he had managed to buy Gladstone, allowing him to decide what happened to her. And although railway officials had withdrawn older designs, old Porter Coupling fought the board every step of the way to ensure Gladstone was kept running.
"That little engine is like family to me," he would say. "And I won't let anybody hurt her."
Even as the elderly driver was well into his sixties, his word was law. Sometimes, his family would come up from the big cities for a visit. They loved seeing Porter and his little steam engine. Especially his Grandson. Sometimes, he would take the family for a ride on one of the coaches, and let the grandson ride with him in the cab. He would even allow him to blow the whistle.
"You think I could drive Gladstone someday, Grandpa Porter?" the boy would ask.
"Oh, I'm sure of it," Porter smiled, fondly tousling his grandson's hair. "Perhaps one day when you're old enough, you'll even own her."
"Oh wow!" cried the boy. "My own steam engine? That would be amazing, grandpa. You promise that might happen someday?"
“I promise,” said Porter. “But you have to remember that handling your own steam engine is a lot of responsibility. If you take good care of Gladstone, she'll be around for a much longer time.”
“I will, Grandpa,” said the boy.
Porter smiled. His grandson reminded him mostly of himself when he was little. So full of imagination and energy. He had a good feeling that one day, he would have the honor of driving Gladstone.
Sadly though, that was a promise that would be hard to keep. The workshops had run out of parts to keep Gladstone running properly, and she had started to break down. Porter couldn't afford to have more parts brought to fix her, and was afraid that he couldn't keep the railway board from scrapping her this time. So he had decided to hide her away until he could afford repairs for her.
“I'm sorry, old girl,” he said to Gladstone one night. “I can't fix you right now. But don't worry. I promise that you'll be fixed up and riding the rails again someday.” With that, he drove her out to find her a hiding spot, and came back on a handcart hours later. He never told anyone, not even the railway board, where he had hidden Gladstone. He knew that now since she couldn't be kept running properly, someone would try to scrap her. And as he would also say, “No steam engine deserves to be scrapped.”
Unfortunately, Porter had passed away one day from old age; it was a tragic day for his family, friends, and railway crewmen and women alike. He had been one of the best drivers they had ever known with a heart as big as a building. A few years after Porter's death, his son Tinker Fix-it was talking to his wife. They had moved into a house that was rather close to where Porter had once lived and taken care of Gladstone.They wished he would have told them where the engine was, but it was a secret he had taken to the grave.
Their son had enrolled into Canterlot High as well, following an incident where a troublemaking trio called the Dazzlings had turned a Musical Showcase into a Battle of the Bands in order to take over the world, only to be stopped by a band known as the Rainbooms with a little help from a redeemed Sunset Shimmer. Tinker and his wife were concered for their son's safety at that school because of that, but he convinced them he would be alright. Next to them on the bed was a rather old box. On top was written “To my Grandson”.
"Do you think our son is ready for this yet?" his wife asked.
"I think so," Tinker replied. “Dad told us not to have him open this box until he was ready. He's probably old enough to handle the responsibilities.”
“If only Porter hadn't kept his engine's hiding spot such a secret to us before he died,” said his wife. “Then we'd be fixing her by now and...”
“And if he had told us, someone would come along and try to scrap her,” reminded Tinker. “Dad really cared about that engine. It was like family to him.”
“It just didn't seem right that he wouldn't tell his own family where she is.”
“He wanted to make extra sure Gladstone was safe,” Tinker said. “And he didn't want to take any chances of telling us in case someone happened to overhear or we ended up telling someone in excitement. Dad would have done the same for us if we were in danger.”
They wrapped the box in wrapping paper, put a label on this corner, and Tinker took it to the mailbox, just as the mailman was coming.
"Take this package to Canterlot High School," said Tinker. "Make sure my son receives it."
"Don't worry, Tinker," said the Mailman. "I'm just finishing my routes and I've got some spare time. I'll make sure he gets it."
With that, the mailman drove off towards the school. Tinker watched until he had left.
"Good luck, son," he said to himself. "And Happy Birthday."
Author's Note
For those of you wondering, Gladstone is based on a 2-4-0 Kent and East Sussex Railway engine Northiam. Also mentioned are the events of Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks.
The following morning at Canterlot High, everything seemed to be carrying on as usual. But today, something was different. Jokesterrap had yet to pull any pranks. But instead, he spent most of his free time reading in his grandfather's journal. Some of the students felt rather relieved that they could get some peace and quiet without Jokesterrap playing a trick on them. But others felt like he would pull a huge prank later on.
"You never know what he might be up to," Rarity was saying.
"Maybe he doesn't want to pull pranks today," suggested Fluttershy.
"Perhaps he's sick," said Rainbow Dash.
"Ah don't think it's that," said Applejack.
"Maybe he's still upset about what the others said about him yesterday," said Vincent.
"I said I was sorry!" remarked Mystery Mint.
"I'll try seeing what's up," said Flash.
"I'll go too," said Vincent.
At lunch, Jokesterrap was sitting at a table by himself when Flash and Vincent come up.
"Hey Jokesterrap," said Vincent. "Mind if we sit with you?"
"Yeah, sure," he mumbled halfheartedly.
The two guys sat down, rather unsure of how to start a conversation.
"So," Flash finally said, "what's new with you?"
"Oh nothing really," said Jokesterrap. "What made you think there was something going on?"
"Well, usually around this time, you'd pull a prank on someone," said Vincent, rather concerned about Jokesterrap's new behavior. "Anything wrong?"
"No, nothing really."
"You sure you're not angry over yesterday?" asked Vincent.
“I'm sure.”
"Then what's going on?" asked Flash.
"I, uh, just don't feel like pulling pranks right now," said Jokesterrap. "I'm up to other stuff now."
"Like...?"
"If I told you," said Jokesterrap, "it wouldn't be secret."
"Fair enough, I guess."
"Want to come join the others?" asked Flash.
"Er, no thanks."
"What? But you like joking around with friends!" exclaimed Vincent.
"Well sometimes they don't like my jokes," said Jokesterrap. "So why bother them?"
"But most of the time, you mean no harm, right?"
"True. But still, I'm rather busy with my secret work."
"Well alright then," said Flash. With that, he and Vincent went over to the other table where their friends were.
"Any luck?" asked Sunset.
"He says he's busy with something," said Vincent. "And that he's not interesting in joking around since others find it annoying."
"That's not right..."
"He never used to worry about bothering us before," said Twilight.
"So what's making him worry now?" asked Flash.
"It's a mystery," said Rarity. "On the plus side, he seems to be behaving himself.”
"It's just not like him to all of a sudden stop joking around," said Vincent. "Something's obviously wrong with him."
"What if one of us told a joke?" suggested Pinkie Pie. "Maybe it would help him feel better."
"So, anyone got any good jokes?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I think I got one," said Vincent. "I remember seeing it on TV."
With that, he got out of his seat and held his corndog out as if it were a microphone.
"You know something we have in common?" he asked, while talking as if he were doing stand up comedy. "Flying on the airlines and listening to the airline announcements while trying to pretend to ourselves that the language they're using is really English. Doesn't seem like it to me, y'know? Whole thing starts when you get to the gate. First announcement; 'We would like to begin the Boarding Process'. Extra word 'process'; not necessary. Boarding is enough. 'We'd like to begin the boarding'. Simple enough and tells the story.”
"People want to add extra words to make things sounds more important than they are,” he went on. “'Boarding Process; sounds important'. It isn't. It's just a bunch of people getting on an airplane."
This had earned him some chuckles from some of the students.
"People like to sound important," Vincent continued. "Weathermen talk about Shower Activity. Sounds more important than showers. I even hear some guy talk about a rain event. He said 'The county will be expecting a rain event' and I thought "Whoa I hope I can get tickets to that'!
This resulted in more laughs from the other students. The only one not laughing was Jokesterrap.
"I knew it!" he snapped. "You all do think I'm nothing but a joke!" He thought they were laughing at him.
"No we weren't," objected Watermelody. "Vincent told a rather amausing joke and we laughed."
"It was about me, wasn't it?"
"Of course not," said Vincent. "Why would I make a joke about my friends?"
"Are you sure you didn't come up with those jokes yourself?" asked Sunset. "They were really good."
Vincent blushed a bit hearing this.
"Th-thanks," he said bashfully.
But Jokesterrap still wasn't happy.
"So you all find Vincent funnier than me, do you?" he scowled.
"They never said I was funnier than you!" the blue-haired teenager protested indignantly.
"Then why is it that they laughed at your joke while most of them thought mine were a nuisance?" Jokesterrap asked.
"Well," said Vincent. "That was my first time doing a joke. They're used to you doing jokes and pranks all the time."
"So they think I'm boring?"
"No! Far from it!"
Before Vincent could say anymore, Jokesterrap stormed off.
"I hadn't meant to hurt him, did I?" Vincent asked, feeling upset.
"He just took it the wrong way," said Twilight. "I'm sure sooner or later he'll be back to his old joking self."
"I hope," Vincent said before sighing.
Soon, the bell rang and the students made their ways to their classes.
Jokesterrap stayed quiet for the rest of the school day. He didn't even speak to his friends. Poor Vincent felt very bad; he never meant to hurt his friend on purpose.
"He's really upset with me," he said to himself. "I wish there was a way to make up for it."
"You shouldn't blame yourself like that," said Sunset, putting a hand on Vincent's shoulder. “I don't know what's wrong with Jokesterrap, but I know that it's not your fault."
"Are you sure?" Vincent asked, not once looking back on her.
Sunset smiled. "I'm sure. You're far too nice to hurt someone on purpose."
This made Vincent smile too.
"Thanks Sunset," he said. "I'm feeling a little better now."
Before Vincent could saymore, Sunset gave him a hug.
"Hey, what're you-?"
"It's just a little hug Vincent," said Sunset. "Nothing to be nervous about."
"I know that, it's just... I've rarely had a girl hug me, apart from Fictionary, as she's my sister."
Sunset could see that the hug had made Vincent's face blush bright red. She felt herself blush as well, but tried not to show it.
Soon, school had ended for the day. As the students were getting ready to go home, Jokestrrap raced off towards his spare bike. Since he had left his regular bike by Gladstone's shed, he had to make do with this other one.
"Not the most comfortable bike," he said. "But it'll have to do."
He was just getting ready to take off when...
"Hey, Jokesterrap, mate!"
It was Vincent.
"Oh, what does he want now?"
"I wanted to apologize for earlier in the lunch room," said Vincent, "and wanted to see if you wanted to join me and the gang for pizza later."
"Er, no thanks Vincent," said Jokesterrap. "It's such a nice day, so I thought I'd take a little bike ride."
"Well, if you say so," sighed Vincent, "I'll make sure we save at least a couple of slices for you."
"Thanks."
"By the way," asked Vincent. "What happened to your bike?"
"Oh, uh, I seem to have misplaced it," said Jokesterrap. "So till I find it, I'll have to use this one."
"Ya wouldn't last a minute on this heap of scrap!" Vincent remarked with a slight hint of sarcasm.
"What are you calling a heap of scrap?" snapped Jokesterrap. "This bike might be old, but it's still reliable!"
Before Vincent could say anymore, Jokesterrap sped off on his bike.
"Here I go again," muttered Vincent, "upsetting him without intending to. I gotta keep my mouth shut next time..."
Instead of going back to his house, Jokesterrap went along his trail to see Gladstone.
"It's a good thing I remembered to tell mom and dad this morning that I wouldn't come right home after school," he said, "otherwise they'd be panicking over where I was."
Jokesterrap soon came to the railway line in the forest. But instead of going West to Gladstone's shed, he went to the East.
At that moment, Trixie had been taking a walk when she thought she saw someone along the railway tracks.
"Isn't that Jokesterrap?" she asked herself. "I'll be he's up to something." But when she looked again, she saw no one. "I thought I saw... Oh, what the heck - I must be seeing things."
Eventually, Jokesterrap came to a nearby junction where a flatbed and a handcart were waiting for him. Waiting by them was a man wearing a workman's uniform.
"Just in time," the workman said. "Almost gave up on you."
"Sorry I'm late," said Jokesterrap. "Had to make do with this old bike and the journey wasn't so great."
Earlier that day, Jokesterrap had made a call to one of the Railway workshops, seeing if he could get the parts he needed to fix Gladstone without paying so much. And as it turned out, they had some parts that were taking up too much space. So Jokesterrap talked them into giving some of the parts to him instead.
"Did you guys get everything on my list?" he asked.
"Afraid not. The boss doesn't want us spending all time running off to drop off parts. So he says we gotta do it one piece at a time."
"That's okay," said Jokesterrap. "Better one at a time than not at all."
Jokesterrap gave the workman some money for the part.
"I know you guys said I could have the parts on the house," he said, "but I thought you deserved a little money for coming out here."
"Thanks."
The two shook hands and Jokesterrap climbed onto the handcart.
"I'll bring this back soon," he said.
"Go ahead and keep it," said the workman. "Boss got some new electric trollies and wanted me to get rid of that old thing."
"Alright! Thanks!"
Jokesterrap soon made it to Gladstone's shed. He stopped the handcart in front of it and opened the shed door to see his engine still where he had left her yesterday.
"Hi Gladstone," he said happily. "I've got something for you."
Jokesterrap then brought the handcar into the shed next to Gladstone and took the tarp off of the flatbed.
"Ta-da! A brand new steam dome just for you."
If she'd have talked, Gladstone would've been most grateful.
Then Jokesterrap started telling the engine about his day at school.
"You should have seen them at lunch, Gladstone," he said unhappily. "Everyone in the cafeteria was laughing at Vincent's jokes. They never laughed that much for mine. They probably think that's all I'm good for and have gotten bored of me. I bet you kinda know what that's like; to feel as though you're not appreciated now a days. It's a good thing Grandpa bought you and saved you from scrap, though."
Gladstone still stayed silent.
"Well don't you worry," said Jokesterrap. "Once I've fixed you up, we'll show them all what we can do. Just you wait and see."
Jokesterrap knew Gladstone couldn't say anything, but it felt good to have someone or something to talk to.
"Goodnight Gladstone," he said, getting ready to leave. "Tomorrow's Saturday so I'll come by earlier to get that new steam dome hooked up."
With that, he closed the shed door and set off with his bike. He alo remembered he had to go back and fetch his other bike so he wouldn't forget it.
When Jokesterrap got home, he put the bikes in the garage and went inside.
"Mom, dad, I'm home," he called.
"Hey son," said Tinker. "A friend of yours came by earlier and brought you some pizza."
"Who was it?" asked Jokesterrap.
"I forget his name," said his mother, "but he had blue hair and wore glasses... Vernon, Victor, or whatever it was..."
"Vincent?"
"Yeah, that's the one!"
"Well that was rather nice of him," said Jokesterrap.
So, the family ate the pizza for their dinner.
"Pepperoni and Gumdrop," commented Jokesterrap. "Rather interesting idea if I say so myself."
"Get any new parts for Gladstone?" asked Tinker.
"Yeah," Jokesterrap said. "Her new steam dome came in. It'll be a while until the rest arrives."
"Won't you need any help fixing her?" his mother asked.
"I'm sure I can manage on my own," said Jokesterrap.
"Okay then, son, but don't be too proud to ask for help."
"I won't, dad," said Jokesterrap.
Before long, it was time for bed. As Jokesterrap was settling down in his bed, he looked at the picture of Gladstone.
"We'll show them what we can do, Gladstone," he smiled. "Just you wait."
Author's Note
The joke Vincent tells at Lunch is part of George Carlin's routine on airplanes and flying. Also some more Vincent and Sunset moments.