With everything going smoothly on the Island and the homestead, the rest of the world is uncertain about their futures. The problems may have allowed for some to travel to the Island in hopes for some refuge from it all. However, when a group of familiar folks from a certain Steel works wander onto the Island learning all that took place for a couple of years already. Want to find out who and, should we all be at ease? Or should we be worried? Let us pop in and find out how everything will playout before the Holiday season.

I do not own any part of My Little pony Friendship is magic, Tugs the television series nor that of Thomas the tank engine and friends. They are owned by their respective companies while other characters where created by Pinkninjaprime, BGW4life, and blackboard26.

Responsibilities of love.

Part 1

It has been a week since the first week of the puppies on the homestead, Thomas and everyone who still remain on the homestead continue to come up with new Ideas not only for the homestead, but for their own futures as well. Donald and Douglas decided to mill up some of the logs into building materials in hopes to build their own home near the little western with Duck and Oliver once they can find the passage from the Billington homestead to the bluff near the Little western.

Duck. "What do you two think about coming here for the expansion of the homestead?"

Oliver. "I do not know Duck, I believe Dukes' old line used to come this way, I think it would be nice if he would come here and let us know about his old line where it once stood before the little engines came in."

Donald. "I have a feeling you want to come here, so you can keep close to your branch line Duck.'

Duck. "Well maybe, after all the great western way is to always know what to expect on the line if we want to be proper and precise."

Douglas. "Do not tell us you become like Twilight Sparkle when she needs things to be precise there Duck."

Duck. "Do I look like the Princess of Friendship to you Douglas? I am talking about being a proper driver for the branch line. Doing the work without Fuss."

Oliver. "Duck I am great western too; it also means not to get too much over our domes about our pride. WE also have responsibilities we need to address, for me is to keep an eye on my rabbits on the homestead along with my pigs in the wallow."

Donald. "Not to mention you have all those period builds you have created since becoming part of this homestead Oliver, they happen to be your pride on the homestead."

Oliver. "True, and I believe you and Douglas have big pride on the many things you had contribute since becoming part of this homestead too."

Douglas. "Aye, we build many things on the homestead, we even build that table in the Pony dormer, so Twilight and her friends can come back from their world to attend school along with us."

Donald. "Are you still feeling a bit down about not being able to perform things on the homestead since being back on the rails again with James Duck?"

Duck. "Are you kidding? I am glad to be back on the rails, I hardly miss anything on the homestead while riding along the line, making sure everything is simply fine."

Oliver. "I have a feeling you use the return to the railway in coming up with excuses in doing more for the homestead than you do when you where the engine on the branch line."

Duck. "No, I am just doing what I have always done, making sure my branch line is performing as it should."

Oliver. "That is, you continue run away from finding what else you can do besides of being an engine, am I right Duck."

Duck. "I-I, um. Do- do not know of what you are talking about Oliver, I have done plenty as you had said before, doing the slightest thing to be part of a bigger team than I used to managed. When we were still the engines."

Douglas. "Let us know about how you plan to stay close to Nia while continue have pride in your line as you return as a driver now instead of being the engine. Remember there come a time in anyone's life where life will make turns when we are unable to control them Duck."

Donald. "Aye, Douggie is right, remember when Thomas and Rosie found out about little Carter Billington their god son, when both Chad and Sally was so unprepared in becoming parents too soon. But we are all doing our best to make sure the loved ones are safe from our love with them."

Oliver. "Duck I also loved being part of the railway, but there come a time when you need to be with the ones that mean the most to you and for you it is Nia. What will happen when one day she may be enticed by someone else when you spend most of your time on the rails. Nia and the rest of us are still young and there could be a time when our time for attention for one another may change."

Duck. "Nia! A change from me to someone else! I do not believe she would do something like that you three. She and I are together as long as she wants me to be."

Donald. "I know you may not like to hear something like that Duck, but the more you pay attention to your branch line more than you do with your love interest. I would not be surprised when she needed you for comfort and you are unable to do so because your workload on the rails can wear a person out like here on the homestead."

Oliver. "There will not be another Nia as long as she exists Duck, and there will not be another like her again. Remember we met her during our around the world with Ace and that criminal in America. She helped stood firm against that Cougar fellow and helped stop him before he could hurt our chances for home."

Douglas. "We also did not start out as human too Duck, we all suddenly became human over two years ago, not knowing where we would go, nor where we would end up. To be honest, I like it better as a human knowing I can do more than follow old tacks to where we have been before. But never forget where we started from Duck."

Duck. "I do understand of what you all are saying, and I may miss my old life as an engine, I just wanted to get back to work Like I have always done. By the way of the great western way."

Oliver. "But! Before you finish that Duck, you better ask yourself what the wright way is, the way of pride or way of responsibility of friends, family, and future of choice."

Oliver and the twins had left Duck where he was as he stood over his old branch line knowing how much he misses it, and one day to return to perform as he always had before his change into a human. The words of his friends did cause a stir into his mind about the importance between his pride and his responsibilities with his friends and the love he has with Nia."

Nia is with Rebecca heading down to the Billington bay waiting to hear about the new arrivals from the mainland knowing how hard it has been there from the problems going around.

Rebecca. "Who do you believe is coming in from the mainland Nia?"

Nia. "I am not sure Rebecca; I hope the next few guests who arrive will be here for the week and return home with wonderful memories of this place."

Rainbow Dash came over to reinsure the two as they come to greet the visitors from the mainland. "Not to worry you two, I am sure who ever it is, I am sure they will love it here and tell everyone they know about who and why a place like this can exist."

Nia. "I do not know Rainbow, after the drama with Boomer and Bowler, I believe we may need to keep an eye out for anyone Rebecca and I do not know of. Remember I came all the way from Kenya in Africa. If it was not for both Thomas and Duck come along their way to help each other in pulling that train to Dares Sa lam in Tanzania. Then I would never get to find a new place to call home and find the friends I have gained since coming to Sodor."

Rebecca. "And I was here just before Nia came over Rainbow, I may not know of all the engines they have managed to see since our arrival here. But if there are going to be troublemakers they only knew before we came. I would like to know of who they are and try and make sure they have not caused any trouble while they visit the island and this resort of Thomas and Rosie."

Rainbow Dash. "I get you two. I know we have done quite a bit back at home since both Celestia and Luna had retired from their princess duties, we have done quite a lot since then and it is still a work in progress. We still managed to do the things we feel we can contribute on."

Nia. "Please be careful when you mean "make a contribution," I believe Duck still feels under contributable for the homestead since his humanization two years ago."

Rebecca. "Do not tell me he feels unable to be part of the team on the homestead Nia, he has done his part as much as everyone here has."

Nia. "He has Rebecca, but I cannot help but to notice how much more interested in returning to his old branch line after he was returned to it a week ago."

Rainbow. "Does that bother you that he wanted to return to his old branch line?"

Nia. "It is not about his returning to his old branch line that is bothering me, since he has returned to it, he has not stopped talking about how good it feels to return to it after two years as a human. But the time on the line also causes him to forget to have his interest in me after he is finished with his day on the tacks."

Rebecca. "You do not believe he is starting to find more interest in his new job than he is with you Nia?"

Nia started to shed a tear unable to understand about the change in behavior in Duck since returning to the tracks on the little western. "I think he is starting to love his work over me Rebecca, there had been a couple of times when I wanted just to be us together since coming together as a couple, but recently he would have to sleep early than spend time with me."

Feeling empathy with Nia both Rebecca and Rainbow Dash had come over and granted her a hug, knowing how much Duck is starting to neglect Nia now he had returned to the branch line.

Oscar Jones (O.J.) and Zeb Eddie (Zebedee) had come over and notice the group of friends in a bit of sorrow for something.

Oscar. "Now, now you two. There is no need for tears as our new guests are to arrive."

Zeb. "Yeah, it is a time to show happiness instead of sadness, want to tell us about it."

Rainbow. "Sorry you two, Nia is having a relation problem with Duck."

Oscar. "Oh, I am so sorry Ms. Nia, is it too much to talk to another about?"

Nia. "It is something that needs to be sorted out between Duck and me, I can talk about this later after our new guest come to the Island for a getaway from the troubles on the mainland."

Oscar. "Fair enough."

Then the three had calmed down enough to where they have seen five interesting group of people from the boat. The tall silvered clothed fellow with a distinctive top hat and cape was none other than Merlin who came along with two of his humanized engine friends from the steel works. The two who are with him is a lively girl who has a way to switching her personality to mimic anyone from the wild west to anyone from the land down under. Her name is Lexis and her shy and unconfident like friend Theo who came for a needed vacation from the steel works they have been a part of since the incident with Thomas and James in Journey beyond Sodor.

Merlin. "What a way to enjoy a rest from the mainland, and from the steel works aye there you two."

Lexi. "You know it Buddy boy, a few weeks from work will lighten our moods once we settle in for the next few weeks."

Theo. "B – but are you sure it will be safe to roam around the Island, that bug is still going around, and I am afraid to get it before we Leave for home again."

Frankie. "Do not worry too much little Theo, we have heard all about how the bug may or may not be a factor on this Island. Everyone who we met told us about how more freely the Island has been during this past year."

Hurricane. "Besides our work crews oversee our engine halves and this gives us a chance to see what else we could do. That is if we can find out what more we as humans and not engines can do now, we can walk like the people do."

Merlin. "Not only that! This is the Island of Sonar. The Island our friends Thomas and James had come from when all that fiasco Three years ago. Now we get to see all that has happened since then."

Frankie had gasped when she heard Thomas's name and is still extremely interested in what he is up to now. "Thomas you say Merlin? I may find it much to my liking to find Thomas again."

Theo. "But what about you and Hurricane? I thought you two are dating since you happen to be a couple."

Hurricane. "She just could not stop Thinking about Thomas since he and James left the steam works for their home on the Island of Sodor."

Merlin. "Surely you two, you just cannot come up to Thomas and anyone else and hope to have more in your relationships. For all I know is that he and his friends may be in some relationships that may be harder to break if their love for one another is strong."

Lexi. "Not too mention that is sounds forceful when you put things in that comment Frankie. Thomas should choose to who he wishes, and we are not to intrude in such a thing."

Frankie. "Maybe Lexi dear, but I would not mind finding time in that hunk of a tank engine again."

Hurricane. "Well enough thinking how to get our friends attention, why don't we head down the gang plank and find our cabin that was assigned to us."

Then the party of five came down the ramp to be greeted by Rebecca, Nia, Rainbow Dash, Oscar, and Zeb. Just about when the guests had given the homesteaders their baggage before being escorted to their three weeks long cabins stay. It is here where they will stay if they like, until it would be right to return to the mainland for work.

Oscar. "Well hello everyone, and Welcome to the Billington / Vulcan homestead and bay. My name is Oscar Jones, but my friends call me o. J. since I used to be a star tug named by the latter."

Merlin. "Ah hello my good sir. My name is Merlin and besides me are my coworkers from the mainland Steel Works."

R.D. "Would you like to introduce yourselves?"

Lexi. "Like glad o rainbow haired friend, my name is Lexi, and this is Theo He is shy and at times not as confident as the rest of us."

Rainbow Dash. "I think he and my friend Fluttershy may like to know each other to see how she overcame her shyness around others."

Theo. "Oh really, oh I do not know if I could."

Rainbow Dash. "Believe me you and she will definitely understand each other more than you would know Theo."

Rebecca is feeling uneasy about the other two who are with Merlin and his company. "Uh, May I ask your names, if you two are willing?"

Frankie. "My name is Frankie, and this fellow is Hurricane, all five of us are here for a needed vacation since becoming human not too long ago."

The names of both Frankie and Hurricane, stirred a bit of memory of what Thomas and the others have explained all that happened before she and Nia was part of the Island and becoming part of the local High school. She was told how Frankie and Hurricane decided to keep Thomas after promising him a way to Bringlington Goods yard in London, when the two decided to do the job and keep The tank engine for the help they needed. After learning where Thomas was located by James who almost shared the same fate as Thomas. Had to escape and Thomas almost ended his life while trying to save James from a terrible experience he already had.

Rebecca. "Excuse me, but you have said that you are Hurricane and Frankie from the Steel Works from the mainland, are you?"

Frankie. "That we are my dear, is there a reason of why you have heard of us?"

Nia. "Let us say we heard not so nice things about you two when a pair of engines from our Island wanted to get a goods train to the mainland, and only stopped at a steel works for directions when one of them was lost. And gained the trust of the other when he went to find the first engine after taking the trucks that was meant for the second engine that the first one had taken."

Frankie. "Oh. Well we only needed some help and thought the two engines were the help we needed until they have shown us these people next to us to be possible help for the workload at the steel works were we are from my dear friend."

Rainbow Dash. "You mean you five are the engines from that steel works our friends have told us about?"

Zeb. "But you are human, how long ago was that?"

Merlin. "A few weeks ago when we are able to work our hardest during the summer months, but management decided for us to be on vacation since he has no idea of what to do with us until he knows for sure. Until then we have been given leave, until Management felt right in calling us back in for work."

Lexi. "Since no one is willing to book us to any resort on the mainland due to the problems there, we decided to come here for a chance to see what our capabilities are now we are not clumsy engines on the rails."

Theo. "When we heard that this place is run by someone who used to be an engine, we wanted to know of which engine had owned this place that has been mentioned back on the mainland about."

Oscar. "What exactly have you heard about this place that made you want to come here for your vacation?"

Hurricane. 'We heard this was the Billington/Vulcan homestead and resort, it often arouse our minds of who is owning this place."

Frankie. "But when we heard it was by someone by the name of Thomas Billington, it gave me a suspicion of who this Thomas Billington is and hoping he and I can have a reunion of sorts."

Nia. "I am afraid that he may have more occupation with the other owner of this resort, the name Vulcan refers to a friend of ours who goes by the name Rosie Vulcan. She and Thomas have an extraordinarily strong relationship that is very hard to break no matter who wishes to interfere with their love interests."

Zeb. "You are all welcome to visit the Island and see much of the sights with the regulations that has been in place since the start of the pandemic going around. If you wish to see the homesteaders for personal reasons, I suggest thinking twice about that since many here have extraordinarily strong hearts and bonds with everyone here." He also knows about Nia's problems with Duck but decided not to mention about it since it is for Nia and Duck to sort everything out.

Frankie does not believe it would be a problem to find time with the now humanized engine to see the kind of person Thomas turned out to be and find a way to allure Rosie away to find time with Thomas if she desires. Merlin sees Frankie's face knowing Frankie can be trouble for anyone who gets in front of her and if it means one of their hosts is going to get hurt for love. Then there will be trouble for sure.

Rebecca turns to Trent Dimes (Ten Cents) and Shawn Brightly (Sunshine) to assign the new guest to their cabins. "Trent and Shawn, may I ask you two in escorting our new visitors to their cabins and help them settle down from their travels. I am sure the down time can let them forget their troubles for the time being."

Trent. "Aye. Aye there Rebecca, alright everyone let us head over to the General store and stock us on your essentials while keeping in while under these times we are under. And if you must, you can ask the homeowners for any new stocking items to make sure you all have a wonderful time here on the homestead and resort."

Merlin. "Mighty kind of you, young man."

Lexi. "Ooh I cannot wait for the first of the thing to do while visiting here."

Theo. "Maybe we can see Thomas and catch up with everything since the last time we've seen him."

Hurricane. "You know that African Person at the docks is pretty cute, I wonder if she is available?'

Merlin. "Hurricane, I suggest asking her when she is not in a foul mood, both you and Frankie to be on your best behavior and not make fools of us during our stay here."

Frankie. 'You worry too much Merlin, we just want to find the fun while staying here, and that fun I hope to find that time when I have Thomas all to myself during my stay here."

Merlin. "Now you two, let us not get too much over our heads now. If there will be problems with both Thomas and his love interest, I doubt he would let us know about it."

Lexi. "Besides, we are here for fun, not to find love. You two are in a love relationship already, why ask for more when two is just enough."

Hurricane. "That is between me, Frankie and anyone else who wants in our circle of love."

Do we believe Thomas and everyone on the homestead ready for this group of visitors, especially when both Hurricane and Frankie developed love interests beyond their personal circle, while Thomas and the rest believes in loving the one who means the most in the heart. With Duck and Nia having trouble in keeping their love interests, do we believe our new visitors may play a hand on how the first two mentioned play out during their visit. Let us return to Northwestern high School yr. 3 and find out.

To be continued.