There's something about moving trains that gives one a sense of man's technological achievements. The way the side rods bucked and rose, pumped by the power that the locomotive gave it. The pure energy behind each turn of the axle, a spin in its own designated space, creating circles of illusion, it was moving so fast. The smoke stack, like some medieval dragon, spewing out billowing clouds of smoke that streamed out behind it, dissipating in the wind. It was enough to catch one's breath in awe. It was enough to cause one's heart to beat with a pounding rhythm. But, of course, that was only the case when one was seeing a train from afar, or if one was riding safely within the cars of the locomotive. But to be on top of the train, as Donald Duck was finding out, was a very different matter altogether.

"WHOA!"

Donald swung his arms frantically, trying to regain his balance as his back arched over the rim of the train car. He barely managed to do so, and was only met by another swing from his adversary. The punch was aimed too high, and the duck easily dodged it, throwing off the balance of the dog before him.

It was a simple mission really, just a couple of Pomeranian bandits that had been seen in the vicinity, robbing trains and causing general panic among the citizens of that particular junction. But, as always, the mission had become far more complicated as it had gone along. The leader of the supposed gang had turned out not to be the leader at all, but the right hand man of the true leader. And to make matters worse, José had gone and gotten himself captured, suffering a good hit to the head. He had ended up alright, and Donald and Panchito had managed to rescue him, but then it had been a race to catch up to the bandits, who had been in the process of robbing a very well-stocked, governmental train. They had made it, though only just barely, and the outcome was still yet to be seen.

Donald caught the dog's wrist as the Pomeranian tried to smash his fist into the duck's beak. The move surprised the bandit, and Donald used his surprise against him, just as he had been taught. With a pull, Donald lay down suddenly on his back on top of the train, pulling his adversary down on top of the soles of his feet. With a hard push, he sent the bandit sailing over his head, only with one small catch. The bandit, being a fairly seasoned fighter, had acted swiftly, grabbing a hold of Donald's sleeves. The result was Donald being carried right along with his own throw. The two rolled several feet, coming very close to the edge of the train's side. The bandit gave a cry as he ran into a steel protrusion in the roof, kicking out at Donald in retaliation. With a gasp of pain, Donald stumbled back, falling right over the edge of the speeding locomotive.

"Entendi!* I've got you, Donald!"

A hand shot down, catching the duck's wrist. Donald winced as his lower half bumped against the side of the train, but his relief was far greater than the pain. The muscles in his arm protested, but it was better than falling to the fast moving ground below him. With a sense of bewilderment, he glanced up, right into the strained face of his partner, José Carioca. The Brazilian Parrot was struggling to hold Donald's weight, which couldn't be easy, seeing that Donald was just a bit bigger than José himself. They kept slipping further down, but the parrot kept pulling back, using his full strength that he always seemed to hold in reserve for just such an occasion. Donald was a little worried that his friend was participating in all of the excitement. His head bandaged, José really should have been somewhere safe, resting, but the Brazilian had not been willing to even consider that option, and now Donald was very glad that he hadn't.

Donald gave his friend a grateful smile, before it turned to horror. " José! Look out!"

The parrot grunted in exertion as he managed to look up over his shoulder. What he saw made his heart almost stop, but with a twist of his legs, he succeeded in shifting just enough to avoid the bullet from the angry bandit's gun. It hit the train top instead, ricocheting off of it with a loud, echoing shot. It even left a little dent in the metal. Instinct screamed at José to move, but his loyalty forced him to stay with his friend, who was still trying to climb up his arms and back onto the barreling train. The parrot could her the bandit cocking his pistol, preparing for another shot.

"Where's Panchito?!" Donald shouted in panic, pulling his legs tight to his body as a passing tree came a little too close for comfort. The wind whipped all around them, making it hard to be heard over the roar of rushing air. But the second gunshot, that once again came far too close, rang out causing both agents to flinch. The cocking was heard again, and they both had a feeling that this time the bandit wouldn't miss. The shot rang out, and José and Donald slammed their eyes shut, both expecting to feel the hot fire of lead pierce them...But it never came.

"Yeehaww!"

The familiar cry of elated joy caused them to sag slightly in relief. Panchito appeared, the rooster urging his horse to race alongside the fast moving train. His pistols were out and smoking slightly, as he aimed a few more well-placed shots toward the bandit, who had now forgotten all about José and Donald, and was now only trying to protect himself from Panchito's line of fire. Señor Martinez, Panchito's trusty steed, thrust his head forward as he ran, putting his all into keeping up with the train car where Donald and José were finally being able to shift back on top. They carefully stood to their feet, balancing on the train and shifting with its slightly rocking motion.

Panchito gave another whoop, thoroughly enjoying the adrenaline rush as he urged his horse just a little faster. When he was satisfied with the speed, he stood up in the saddle, arms braced out at his sides for balance. "Atrapame*!" he cried out, just before he jumped. Donald and José barely had time to grab a hold of him to keep the rooster from falling off the train himself. Regaining his balance, Panchito leveled his guns to the defiant looking bandit. "Surrender, Señor! The jig is up!"

Donald tried not to chuckle. Panchito had been picking up on some of his American phrases, and, even though Panchito often used them correctly, it still sounded funny coming out with his thick, Spanish pronunciation. But the duck's smile faded an instant later.

"That's where you're wrong, buster!" a voice growled from behind.

The secret service agents spun around, eyes widening as all three looked down the barrels of two rifles, held by to new bandits who had decided to join their comrade up top. With only a moments hesitation, Donald and José kicked out, catching both rifles and redirecting their shots just as the guns went off with a bang. Both partners flung themselves on the Pomeranians, rolling about on the train roof as both pairs struggled for control of the rifles. Panchito, still turned toward the first bandit, looked over his shoulder worriedly, momentarily distracted. The lone Pomeranian took his chance, raising his pistol and firing a hurried shot at the unfocused rooster.

Panchito gave a hissing gasp as he felt a thin line of heat graze his arm. His eyes snapped back to the first bandit, firing off a shot of his own before the dog could blink. It pegged the bandit straight in the shoulder, causing him to drop his gun and sink to the rooftop, his pistol falling off the train to the ground below. Knowing that the bandit was no longer a threat, Panchito turned, racing along the cars to reach his partners and help them.

José was having a bit of difficulty, whether it was the conk on the head he had received earlier, or just that he wasn't that good a fighter. His main tactics in this sort of situation consisted of using his wit, and dodging the enemy's various blows. But up here, atop the train, it was hard to do so. He had managed to wrestle the rifle away from his adversary, but had had it knocked from his hands a moment later. Now neither had an advantage, changing their fight to one of fists.

Suddenly, the bandit released a fast blow, catching the Brazilian right in the eye. José gave a yelp of surprise and pain, stumbling backward, momentarily blinded. The sensation of falling made his heart falter, suspecting that he had fallen right off of the train. But his landing, painful as it was, was far less so than he had expected, feeling the lumps of many rocks beneath his back. After a moment of lying there, realizing that he wasn't dead, the parrot opened his eyes, the one that had been punched only doing so slightly. He almost laughed in relief as he discovered that he had, indeed, fallen, but not to the ground as he had thought, but down inside the coal car. That explained the hundreds of stones digging into his back.

Panchito had reached José's spot just as the parrot fell. The rooster gave the bandit a powerful punch, sending him spinning off the train completely. Luckily for the Pomeranian, they were passing a lake at that precise moment, and he was fortunate enough to fall into the water.

Donald was getting frustrated, having not enjoyed this adventure at all. His opponent was arrogant and smirky, which only fed the white duck's anger, which in turn, unknown to the bandit, only made him stronger. Dodging another one of his adversary's blows, Donald decided to try his trick again on this dog. Falling flat onto his back again, the rifle held between him and the Pomeranian, stuck in a perpetual tug-of-war, he pulled the bandit up and over, giving him a kick that sent the villain flying over and off the train. He wasn't as fortunate as his colleague, and landed, rolling, along the grassy field to the trains left before coming to a painful stop. Donald took a deep breath, wiping an arm over his sweaty brow as he lay on his stomach, recovering from the fight.

"Donald!"

The duck looked up, spotting Panchito and José further down the line from him. It appeared that the rooster was trying to help a rather dazed looking José out of the coal car. The parrot was having difficulty climbing out, clinging to Panchito's extended arms as the rooster tried not to be pulled down to join him in the coal. It was Panchito who had shouted his name, the rooster glancing back at him urgently.

"Donald! Stop the train! Date prisa*!"

Donald nodded, scrambling to his feet. Of the three of them, he was closest to the engine car, and, after a moment or two of running, he made it there without any problem. Slipping down inside the empty car, he picked his way over the spilled coal, trying to locate the break. Where the engineer was was a mystery still yet to be solved. He hoped that the bandits hadn't hurt him. But, right now, the main problem was getting the train to halt. It was going at top speed; a speed that the duck had not realized trains of this style and make could go. His eyes roved frantically over the various gears and levers, none of which gave him even the slightest hint of which would stop the locomotive. His nerves were already on edge, and he could still hear Panchito shouting for him to stop the train. Frustration finally won out over his patience, and Donald lurched forward, took hold of the largest lever available, and gave it a violent tug.

The screech of breaks filled the air, as the train and everything in it was thrown into a long, grinding halt. Donald found himself with his beak pressed up against the side of the car, the brute strength of centrifugal force keeping him there. Somewhere far behind him, José and Panchito were both thrown back into the coal car, coal flying everywhere as the small, black rocks tumbled with the force of the stop. Cars crashed into each other, bending metal and axles cracking. The force caused a few further down the line to derail, as everything came to a loud, steaming halt.

Donald extricated himself from the pile of coal that had come bouncing down on top of him, covered from head to toe in black. With a cough that created a little black puff in the air, he scurried over to the window, poking his head out and surveying the damage.

He was quiet for a long moment, eyes wide at the mess his one, little action had caused. The trail was a twisted, steaming mess, little more than mutilated metal and chinked cars. The duck let loose a depressed sigh.

"Oops..."

*Entendi! = "Got it!" in Portuguese.

*Atrapame! = "Catch me!" in Spanish.

*Date prisa! = "Hurry up!" in Spanish.

HI! I'm back! Thank you all so much for your patience! I know that this story has been a long time in coming, so, here you go!

I do not own the Three Caballeros, Disney does. I do not write for profit, but for my own enjoyment and (hopefully) the enjoyment of others. THANK YOU!