Alfred and Applejack

Transcript
Narrator: Last time in Casey Jr. and Friends, a Union Pacific Forty-Niner called Montana had passed his trial runs on the NWR and was now a part of the NWR family. At that same time, 6 special talking ponies had just discovered the island via a magic portal through a magic railway. It was also because of this, that two friendly teenage humans named Rachel Marie Ravens and William James Holden helped them to get acquainted with the Fantasyland way of life. They soon became friends with everybody... For the most part. It was a few weeks after Montana passed the test and the ponies and engines were now well acquainted with each other. William even asked Hoity Toity if Rachel Ravens could be put into training as an engine driver for the NWR as an apprentice driver under William's guidance. One morning, all the engines were sleeping soundly when Twilight Sparkle and the other ponies woke them up.

Twilight Sparkle: Good morning engines! I have the now gotten the checklist of what needs to be done today.

Stan: (Grouchy) Oh for heaven's sakes. It's 6:00 am in the bloody morning you dumb pack mule.

Mally: (Grouchy) Yeah. Can't our jobs wait for an hour? Good grief. Don't you know when to let engines sleep you darn….

Narrator: Just at the moment, William and Rainbow Dash both stepped into view, each wielding a soapy foamed brush. William had a 2nd one in his hand too.

William: Ahem…. Oh dear Stan, is that the plack of bad manners I see in your teeth? (Grinning grimly) what do you think Rainbow Dash?

Rainbow Dash: Ah. He's not only one, looks like Mally has been shirking his dental hygiene too. (Grinning grimly two as she and William exchange winks) Mwah Hahahaha.

Narrator: Twilight Sparkle joined in too as she levitated a soap foamed brush too.

Twilight Sparkle: Mind if I join in too? That looks like fun and I can reach in between the gum lines.

William: The more the merrier Twilight. The more the merrier.

Narrator: Then William burst into a quiet but psychotic laugh. Stan's and Mally's eyes widened with horror, they glanced nervously from side to side.

Stan: (Nervous) Uh I mean…. Nice pretty pony. Very smart and so intelligent…Aheheh thank you for w-w-waking us up, for work today.

Mally: I-i-indeed. Heheh. And, did I mention that you were well organized with the schedule? Um… so uh... um... how 'bout we get onto that chores list, huh, Twilight?

Narrator: After successfully hiding there laughter, William, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle went back to normal.

Twilight Sparkle: Well now, that's more like it. Let's see... hmmm. Rarity, you will be working with Mr. Bennett on Simmons, taking a stopping passenger train to Knapford.

Simmons: Yes ma'am.

Rarity: No problem, Twilight, dear.

Twilight Sparkle: Applejack will work with Rachel Ravens and William Holden on Alfred today. You'll be taking a slow goods train to Killdane Junction, then return.

Applejack: No problem Twi.

Alfred: Sure thing.

Twilight Sparkle: I'll be working in the yards with Pinkie Pie and Mr. Perkins on Casey Jr.

Casey Jr: No problem. I was hoping you would choose me.

Narrator: Twilight Sparkle grinned.

Twilight Sparkle: And Fluttershy, you will work with Mr. Awkright on Stan taking a passenger train to Wellsworth.

Narrator: Stan glanced devilishly at her making the poor pegasus winch. William noticed and felt worried.

William: (In his mind.) Oh dear. I can't let Fluttershy suffer at the regulator of that wretched B-12. He'll tear her apart.

Narrator: William then quickly stepped in.

William: Um, Twilight, can't someone else take Stan's job?

Narrator: Twilight then looked puzzled as Stan's face fell.

Twilight Sparkle: Well alright. Mister Arkwright was supposed to take Stan's passenger to Wellsworth Station, but I guess I could find someone else to do it.

Narrator: Fluttershy quickly stepped in.

Fluttershy: Oh that's okay, I can just um... clean the sheds and get some tea ready.

Narrator: And she gave a nervous squee.

Twilight Sparkle: Right, I'll just assign Mr. Arnold with Mally's goods train to Tidmouth and Mr. Walters with Johnny's tanker train to Kirk Ronan. (To self with her quill, ink, and checklist in her magic) Just make some changes here, cross that, and... There. (Outloud) Ok, got someone else to work with Stan and I'll inform the drivers on the change. Fluttershy, you get to clean up.

Fluttershy: (Saluting her) Right Twi. (Flutters off to get the cleaning supplies)

Twilight Sparkle: That leaves you with Montana and the Wild Nor Wester for Rainbow Dash with Mr. Conrad.

Montana: Yes ma'am!

Rainbow dash: Alright! I was hoping you'd let me work with him.

Narrator: So everyone set off to work. At that time, Alfred's class was an enigma to everyone. Although the design was a failure, Alfred was sold to Hoity Toity, whom at the time was so desperate that he would take anything. However, these problems had gone unnoticed even by Alfred. Meanwhile, Applejack, Rachel Ravens, William Holden, and the old red engine were working hard.

Applejack: So Alfred, what kinda locomotive are yah?

Alfred: Hmmm… Well, don't know to be quite honest. Let's see, old Johnny is an American Standard from Vaughan, Mississippi. Montana came from the GNR and is a Union Pacific Forty-Niner engine. Rojo is a freelance locomotive. Of course, the troublemaking Stan is a freelance and so is the spiteful Mally. Little Casey Jr. is a Nevada Central No. 2 engine… and as for me, I really wasn't given a class when I was built. I don't know why.

Applejack: I see. Hmmm… I feel kinda sorry for ya Alfred.

Narrator: Alfred tried to lighten the mood.

Alfred: Ah well. At least I'm working here.

Applejack: (Smile) That' a boy Alfred.

Rachel: Good on you Alfred. As long as you try your best, you'll do fine.

William: Yeah, and Rachel here is new to this job so I think you both are going to be alright.

Alfred: Aw. Thank you, guys.

Narrator: By the time Alfred exited the Ballahoo tunnel, Applejack looked concerned. Alfred's water gauge was gradually dropping.

Applejack: What in tarnation? I thought we filled you up back at Vicarstown. How did the gauge drop that low?

Rachel: Oh dear. That doesn't sound good at all.

William: Your right Rachel. Without water, Alfred's boiler might burst. Listen, take the controls whilst I keep an eye on the water gauge. I know you can do this Rachel, just try not to use much steam.

Rachel: (Nervously) Yes William.

(William and Rachel swap duties.)

Applejack: Alfred! How are you holding up there partner?

Alfred: (Panting) Whew… I don't know… Applejack… (Panting) but I think we'd better fill up at Crovans Gate. I'm starting to feel very thirsty…. (Panting).

Rachel: Alright, we're almost there Alfred… Just hang in there.

Narrator: They soon reached Crovans Gate and filled up with water. Applejack made sure he was filled to the brim and his coal load was piled high. Soon, they started off again. The extra water stop helped, but Alfred'scwater gauge soon began to dwindle again.

Applejack: What in the hay? (Taps the water gauge to make sure it's not going haywire, to which nothing was wrong with it) That can't be right. Alfred! Are you doing alright?

Narrator: Alfred was by now feeling even more thirsty than before.

Alfred: (Panting) I…. Don't know…. but we'll make it Killdane.

Narrator: Applejack, William and Rachel all felt even nervous more than Fluttershy would have felt.

William: All the same, we'd better stop at Kellsthorpe Road. Once we top you off again, we'll check to see if there is any leak in the pipes.

Narrator: When they arrived, Applejack was shocked to see the water in Alfred's tender was nearly at the bottom.

Applejack: What in tarnation?! How did you manage to use up that much water already?

Narrator: William and Rachel then inspected Alfred with Applejack. All three gave a bewildered sigh when they had finished.

William: It beats me, Alfred. We've checked you all over and found nothing wrong with you.

Applejack: And strangely enough, the water in his tender was almost bone dry. There was no leak in the tender either.

Narrator: Alfred felt even more worried.

Alfred: But what about this goods train to Killdane junction? We can't just leave it standing. Let me try again, I'm sure I can do it.

Rachel: Alright Alfred. We'll be with every wheel turn of the way. Just do your best.

Narrator: Alfred then set off again, this time with much determination. He was careful not to puff too hard so not to waste any water.

Alfred: I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!

Narrator: He made one more brave effort. At last exhausted, thirsty, but unbeaten, Alfred made it to Killdane junction and another engine took his train. Once Alfred had been uncoupled and ran round via the Peel Godred crossings, he was then serviced and watered to the brim again. The station master ran up looking worried.

Station Master: One of the midland engines pulling a stopping train has failed at Kellsthorpe Road. Applejack, William and Rachel, I'll need you three and Alfred to pull it to Vicarstown. Another engine from the other railway will take it from there.

Narrator: William, Applejack, and Rachel were just about to decline when Alfred interrupted.

Alfred: Yes Sir. We cannot allow our passengers to be stranded.

Narrator: Applejack, Rachel, and William were gobsmacked with both amazement and worry.

William: What the Devil?

Rachel: What in thunderation?

Applejack: Huh?! What in tarnation? Alfred, you can't be serious.

Alfred: I'm dead serious. It's an emergency you know. Trains must keep going.

Applejack: Suit yourself. I'll be with you all the way.

Narrator: Rachel, William, and Applejack all climbed aboard. They soon set off to the rescue. Fortunately, Kellsthorpe wasn't too far away, so Alfred didn't waste that much water. All the same, once Alfred arrived at the stranded train, Rachel backed Alfred down and William coupled Alfred to the train. Applejack immediately refilled Alfred's tender with water it was low but not at a dangerous rate though, much to her bewilderment. Then when guard blew the whistle and waved the green flag, they set off again.

Applejack: Do your best Alfred. That's all we can ask for you.

Alfred: Right. We need to go as quickly as possible.

Rachel: (Nervous) Alright... here we go...

Narrator: But pulling passengers is very different than pulling a goods train. Alfred wanted to stop for water at Crovans Gate, but the guard objected.

Guard: We need to keep to schedule.

Applejack: Why you two-legged toaded…..

Alfred: Don't worry Applejack. I'll manage. I heard from Montana that passenger trains are fairly easier than goods trains.

Narrator: So they carried on. Alfred's water gauge was dropping again, but he soldiered bravely on.

Alfred: I must do it! I must! I must!

Narrator: Alfred made one more effort. Then at last, terribly tired, nearly dry, but unbeaten, Alfred clanked into the Vicarstown yard right under the water column. Applejack quickly refilled Alfred and ran him back to sheds as the other railway engine took the train on.

Applejack: Yeehaw! We made it back Alfred! I'm proud of ya, old boy.

Hoity Toity: And so am I.

Narrator: Hoity Toity, who was on the failed train, came to sheds to congratulate Alfred, William, Applejack, and Rachel.

Hoity Toity: I am so proud of all of you indeed and especially Alfred. I must admit, at first I thought you're teething troubles would cause me nothing but grief, but after your bravery in both your work and rescuing a stranded train, I shall have you remain as a member of my railway fleet.

Narrator: Needless to say, Alfred felt very proud of this acclamation. However, I am sorry to say that this eventually made him puffed up in the smokebox. And I'm afraid for you and me that that's another story for another saga.