The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas was upon the Isle of Purbeck once more, and hopefully this year Christmas would be a much quieter time than most. With Opaline vanquished and Captain Mitchell apparently sleeping with the fishes again, the hope was that Christmastime would be a time for contemplation and reflection on the year that had preceeded it. And what a year it had been.
Haunted ships, a revolution, visits to an island, and so, so much more. It was so much going on that you'd need multiple years normally in order to get through it all. And yet the Falmouth crew seemed to be through this sort of encounter almost weekly. Almost as if it was their full time job.
Still, Christmas was here, and it was time to sit back and reflect. After all, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Christmas.
"That doesn't make a lot of sense, Mr. Narrator!"
Izzy, you're not even in this story! And I'm referencing a really old YouTube Poop from the early 2010s.
"Ohhhhh, that would explain why I wouldn't recognise it. I was only little in the early 2010s."
Between the ages of 3 and 7, to be precise. Now can I get on with the story?
"Sure! Senor Butterscotch needs some peanut butter crackers anyway."
Honestly, that girl... anyway, on with the story.
One morning, it was bright and early. Although there was plenty of snow on the ground, the sky was blue, with not a single cloud in the sky to spoil the view. And the sun shone brightly, producing plenty of light.
Today was the final day of Santa trains, before the big day came. After all, there was one last chance to get a letter to the man with the bag before he took off from the North Pole in the evening, to visit the majority of homes in the world (apparently he didn't bother with countries that don't celebrate Christmas). On that note, Charles was in conversation with Bellerophon.
"There's something I don't really understand," Charles said.
"Talk about something new," Bellerophon joked.
Charles rolled his eyes. "Luckily for you, I'm going to ignore that insult. The thing I don't understand is this. Most people don't think Santa Claus exists, correct?"
"That's my understanding," Ray said. "And yet last year we saw him with our own eyes. Alexandra still has some staining in her carpets from the snow the reindeer walked in."
"Don't remind me!" said Alexandra.
"OK then, we won't," Sophie replied.
Charles looked about. "So, my question is this. If the majority of people in the world do not believe in Santa Claus, mostly adults, then how do they explain presents they didn't buy appearing under the tree?"
There was a moment of silence. And then Bellerophon spoke. "It's obvious, isn't it?"
"No, it really isn't," Charles replied.
Bellerophon smiled. "Santa's magic simply rewrites their memories to include having bought them."
"Clever thought," Ray said.
But Charles wasn't satisfied. "But that opens up another can of worms! After Christmas, when they start going through their credit card bills, they'll see the extra presents aren't on the bill and their maths won't match up! Can Santa change the amount of money in their bank accounts and manipulate their credit card statements? And if he can do that, why is he only using this power to mess with the memories of parents? There are thousands of other more useful uses for such incredible powers."
Ray sighed. "Charles, you're overthinking things."
"I've been sat here being fixed! I've had plenty of time to think!"
"Stop arguing, you two," Sophie said. "A driver's approaching, and I doubt she wants to hear us arguing about something that really doesn't matter."
Sure enough, Misty then arrived, but it didn't take them long to see something wasn't quite right. Her eyes were looking towards the floor, and her face was looking down as well. She seemed quite unhappy.
She hopped onto Bellerophon's footplate. "We're booked on the first Santa run," she said.
Bellerophon knew something wasn't right. Misty could sometimes be quite quiet, but she sounded rather down. "Misty, is everything OK?" he asked gently.
"I'll talk about it once we're coupled up, OK?" Misty replied.
"I understand," Bellerophon replied. As his fire had already been brought up to temperature by a fitter, he was piping hot and ready to go. With a blast of steam, he backed out of the shed and reversed to the platform.
The platform was very busy, absolutely thronging with excited passengers. Many were eating mince pies. Some of the adults were drinking mulled wine. And some adults were eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine. The children, of course, were drinking hot chocolate, an altogether very sensible beverage for cold weather.
Bellerophon rolled onto the coaches and stopped. "Ready to be hooked up!" he called.
Misty hopped off his footplate, placed a red lamp next to the engine, and set about hooking Bellerophon up to the coaches. She lifted the chain onto the hook, and then dropped down to set the vacuum hoses. Once that was done, she pulled herself up and sat on the platform, before getting to her feet. "All set up. Now just need to set the vacuum pressure and..."
She suddenly trailed off as she saw a figure with dark green hair. For a split second she was there, and moments later she was gone.
"Mom?" Misty said, blinking. She then looked about, and the figure was gone. "Oh. It's probably nothing." She hopped back onto Bellerophon's footplate and began to prepare the train for departure.
The run up to Norden went well, all things considered. The passengers all enjoyed a pleasant trip in warm coaches (the warmth provided, quite naturally, by steam heat, as Bellerophon had been fitted with the required pipework at his last overhaul). As the passengers got off to go and see Santa, Misty ran Bellerophon round the train and coupled him up at the other end.
It was now Bellerophon could see what was going on. Misty's eyes were red and somewhat puffy. He decided to speak. "You've been crying, haven't you?" he asked.
Misty sighed, knowing the game was up. "Fine. I'll tell you. I miss mom."
Bellerophon looked confused. "But Lady Haven's down at Swanage!"
"Not her," Misty replied. "Remember when we went to the Dean Forest Railway and I vanished for a bit?"
"That was a scary time," Bellerophon said. "I thought some wildlife had gotten you!"
Misty sighed again. "During that time, I found my mom. My biological mom. She's a doctor called Faven, and I could tell she really missed me. And now... I'm really missing her. I have no real memories of my childhood- everything I can recall is from when I was serving Opaline. And this was set off when I spotted somebody who kinda looks like her in the crowd."
"Well, you did bump into your father in the last place you expected," Bellerophon said.
"I know. Who expected Alphabittle to be my dad?" Misty replied, before getting back on topic. "I know it's probably selfish, as she has her own life out there- but I wish she was here for Christmas, even if only for one day."
Bellerophon was touched by this. In his mind, a plan started to form.
Later that day, Misty and Bellerophon brought the train into the platform at Swanage, and watched as the passengers got off and headed down the platform. Families headed either for the station buffet or to their cars or other transport, kids excitedly talking about what they had wished for or asked Santa to get them.
All of this made Misty feel even worse, and she sighed again as she got to work uncoupling Bellerophon from the train. Christmas was supposed to be the happiest time of the year. So why did she feel so blue?
At least Ray was taking the next train out of Swanage, so Bellerophon could return to the shed and rest. He was temporarily stabled in the goods loop whilst Ray backed down onto the coaches. Misty had temporarily popped away to pick up an oil can to lubricate Bellerophon's bearings, so he took this opportunity to talk to Ray.
"Ray, I think something needs doing," Bellerophon said.
"And what's that?" Ray asked. "Has somebody misplaced the Christmas Tree again? Or hidden the decorations?"
"Unlikely, given Boomer is currently in a prison cell, and probably will be for life," Bellerophon replied. "But Misty is sad. She really misses her mother- and there's nothing worse than spending the holiday season far away from somebody you love. But I have an idea."
And so, Bellerophon told Ray his plan, not leaving out a single detail. "That's how we'll do it," he finished. "Can you tell Lady Haven?"
Ray thought. "It's ambitious, I'll give you that. But we have to try. I'll talk it over with Lady Haven when we get to Norden."
Bellerophon hoped to whatever entity was up there that this plan would work.
"Look, Misty!" said Faven, pointing from the fence towards the tracks. "Here it comes!"
"What's coming, mommy?" Misty asked, looking excitedly out towards the line.
Just then, the land began to sound to the rapid snorting of steam and the rapid movement of pistons. And as the sound continued to build, the sounds swelling into a glorious orchestra of mechanical precision, it appeared.
A whistle sounded, and sure enough the train hoved into view. The small pacific at the front gleaming as it guided the train and its passengers along the line.
And sat at the controls of this engine was Alphabittle himself. He waved as they flew past. "Afternoon!" he called, as he whizzed by. "See you this evening!"
Any other words he may have said were sucked away by the wind as they passed, and before long the train had vanished into the distance, the smoke and steam continuing to drift on the currents of the sky.
Misty was grinning.
"How was that?" Faven asked her little child.
"I loved it!" Misty said. "I wanna be a train driver just like daddy!"
Faven laughed and pulled Misty into a hug. "Never stop chasing your dreams, Misty," she said, with her trademark gentle smile. "You can be anything you want to be in this world, so don't let anybody tell you otherwise."
Misty sat up in bed and looked about her, confused. What had she just witnessed? Was it a long lost memory? Or a dream formed from her desires for a family?
This happiness she had known was only a short part of her life. Truth be told she remembered next to nothing about her life before Opaline- and the life that remained in her mind was one of hardship. One of suffering. One of constant abuse dressed up as complements, or sometimes just a narcissistic woman venting her rage at somebody who couldn't fight back.
She'd had enough bruises on the cheek to make that clear. Misty had noticed she still flinched whenever somebody near her raised their voice. Although she had a better life know, she always knew that could be suddenly torn away from her.
She turned to her bedside table and picked up a photo from before Opaline destroyed her life. It showed her with Alphabittle and Faven, the perfect family they had once been before it all fell apart.
Misty held the picture close, desperately trying not to sob. After all, only babies cry. And she wasn't a baby.
"I wish you were here, mom," she said quietly, before placing the picture down and lying back in bed. The clock next to her suddenly chimed the hour. It was midnight on Christmas Day.
At least she had that to look forward to. It was only her second normal Christmas in living memory, after all.
Misty woke up again a few hours later, the sun now in the sky and the brass bands already playing Christmas tunes. "Well, at least that should cheer me up." She got out of bed and went off to get showered and dressed.
However, to her surprise, the kitchen and dining rooms were completely deserted when she got down there. Nobody was there. Not even Wadsworth, which was a bit strange.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" she asked.
Just then, she spotted a notice on the table, and picked it up to read it.
We're at the station, in case you're wondering where we are.
We have a big surprise for you.
Love,
Pipp.
Misty was very confused. Why had they gathered at the station? Christmas Day was a rare day off for the line, when no trains were running. The operating season only resumed on December 27th and continued until New Year's Day, after which running stopped again until March, with the exception of engineering trains.
Still, this was a mystery worth investigating, so Misty grabbed her coat and set off for Swanage Station. It wasn't too bad a walk- the station was built on part of the former Purbeck House site that was demolished when the Dukes of Dorset decided to downsize and use the stone to build a structure somewhere else.
Misty stepped through the ticket office, finding the door unlocked, and past the roaring coal fire that was a source of comfort on these cold days. She then stepped onto the platform. "Hey guys. I'm here!"
Then Pipp and Zipp appeared. "You got my note!" Pipp said. "Great you made it, Misty!"
Misty nodded. "I'll admit I'm more confused than anything else. What's going on?"
"Shall we reveal the surprise?" Zipp asked, indicating to the coaches parked behind her.
"Ready with the steam!" Ray called.
Just then, some steam blew over the platform, making it seem like something out of Brief Encounter. A door opened, and then a familiar figure stepped out and walked through the steam.
Faven Firstmorne smiled. "Hello Misty," she said. "It's been a while."
Misty was amazed, and sprinted across the platform before barrelling into her mother's arms. "MOM!" she cried, a firm note of joy in her voice. "You came back!"
"I was always looking for an opportunity to visit you and see how things are coming along," Faven replied. "I would have come sooner, but things were chaos at the clinic- yearly flu crisis and all that. But I'm here now, and I've got some wonderful news."
Misty looked up. "And that is?"
"I've got a transfer to the GP practice at Falmouth," Faven replied. "I'll be able to see you more often. I'll be renting a place in the town, so that should work out fine."
"Why not move in with dad?" Misty suggested.
"Maybe. But let's walk before trying to run."
"No doubt you want to find out how we got Faven here," Ray said, who had now appeared round the other side of the coaches, Lady Haven at the controls.
"Bellerophon told us what you had wished for, and we decided to make your wish come true," Lady Haven said. "So, we went over to Appledore to pick her up, and then returned here. Boy was that a long trip. But any hardship is worth it for a member of the family."
There was a moment of silence, before Zipp looked up. "Guys, can you hear music?"
"I think a song's coming!" Pipp added. "Just a second whilst we download the lyrics and tune!"
Misty, who had by now stepped back a bit, was the first to start singing.
"Searchin' high, searchin' low/
Lookin' for a place I belong!"
Zipp dropped in next with a set of vocals responding to that.
"Searchin' wide, tryin' to find/
Somethin' to make you feel less alone!"
Pipp then took over, somehow singing multiple notes at once.
"You know I heard it said! (said)
Home is wherever you are!
And friendship is forever/ (ever)
When you carry it in your heart!"
And then all three of them sang together.
"And now I see/
I've got you/
you know you've got me too!
When we're together/
there's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the one you choose/
I choose you, yeah, I choose you!"
Zipp then resumed vocal responsibilities.
"When you're up, when you're down/ (when you're down)
No matter what I'll be by your side!"
Misty stepped closer and hugged her.
"You and Me, We're Family/ (family)
We're sisters 'til the end of time!"
"You and I!" Charles shouted from a distance.
"Ignore him!" Sophie added.
Keen to return things to sense of normality, Pipp then resumed the vocals.
"You know I heard it said! (said)
Home is wherever you are/
And friendship is forever! (ever)
When you carry it in your heart!"
And once more, Pipp, Zipp and Misty sang together.
"And now I see/
I've got you/
you know you've got me too!
When we're together/
there's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the one you choose/
I choose you, yeah, I choose you!
I've got you/
you know you've got me too!
When we're together/
there's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the one you choose/
I choose you, yeah, I choose you!
I choose you! (ah-ah, ah, ah)
I choose you! (ah-ah, ah, ah)
You know I do!
I choose you, yeah, I choose you!
(Ah, ah-ah, ah, ah) You know I do!
(Ah-ah, ah, ah) You know I do!
I choose you, yeah, I choose you!"
Faven looked in amazement. "This wasn't rehearsed, was it?" she asked.
Lady Haven looked over. "Sometimes they somehow just know all the words and music. We're still trying to get to the bottom of how it works."
Faven nodded. "Maybe I could look into it." She then addressed Misty. "And it's not just today. I'll be staying the entire holiday, then travelling with you to Falmouth in January."
Misty smiled, knowing her one wish for Christmas had come true. "Thank you," she whispered.
Author's Note
No writing year of mine would be complete without a Christmas story, and considering how action-packed the rest of the year was for these characters, it only seemed fitting to end on a tale high on feels.
This is the video the narrator is referencing:
Brief Encounter is a 1945 film focusing on the brief interactions between two people whose paths cross at a railway station. The film is fondly remembered for its stunning use of atmosphere and steam effects, made all the more dramatic by the decision to shoot in black and white. The film has also been parodied many, many times.
I know that Tell your Tale (and with it G5) came to an end back in October, but rest assured the stories of the FalmouthVerse aren't close to over. As Hasbro have decided to close the door on this era of pony content, I shall continue to tell that story.
See you again in January for a new adventure!
