I know I have said I will keep up with my stories but finding the right material and the timing of it can be tiring. I decided to wait the other stories for another day. It is best to keep up with everything, and up to date in our point in time.
Weeks past and now we are in the new year and starting off on a good note while word from the mainland will help their guests from the steel works to return there for their jobs. Let us head on over to the Island of Sodor and find out what our friends are up to.
I do not own any part of My little pony friendship is magic, Thomas the tank engine & Friends, nor that of Tugs the television series. They are owned by their respective companies while other characters were developed by Pinkninjaprime, BWG4life, and blackboard26.
Plans for after High School
It was a clear winters day on the Island of sodor, Thomas and the three little western friends had visited to a spot on the other side of the bay to clear bring down a reasonable number of trees to be used in the new cabin that Oliver, Donald, and Douglas will be housed in. Duck and Nia did decide to head over to the spot Duck had planned with the other humanized little western engines but decided to ask Nia if she had thought about moving to this part of the Island. Nia was a bit hesitant for a bit knowing how much further she and Duck would be from Thomas and the rest of their friends from the homestead. She and Duck decided to talk it out.
Nia. "So, you want to move all the way out here close to your branch line, while everyone besides that of the Gresley's minus Ryan and Rebecca are still living on the homestead of Thomas and Rosie?"
Duck. "I am not saying immediately for us to move out here. Just when we finally get out diplomas and began working again then we need to see where to live and find what we can do for a living. I still plan of working on the railway, even if my old crew are still in their primes and I have a couple of years to go before I can make my time on the rails full time."
Nia. "It is a wonderful spot, but I may need to know what we are allowed to have out here since all I know is farm work with Thomas and everyone on that homestead."
Duck. "Why not open your own childcare center here while I am working on the little western according to what the controller suggests for me."
Nia. "In order for me to do that Duck I must have a college degree on childcare and how to address the various ways children can be like."
Duck. "I am sure you can do such a fine job like you do in handling children in some of Thomas's gatherings where the children had to be escorted to many things on the property."
Nia. "That is because I would have some help in managing the children, usually it would be Rebecca and Fluttershy to help calm down the children along with Rainbow Dash who sometimes show off now and then in order to keep the kids entertained while the children in take turns on the events we host."
Duck. "If anyone can manage the children of Sodor then I can believe you can do it Nia."
Nia. "Just to be safe about that Duck I do plan of going to Sodor University to attend children services for struggling families between here and the mainland."
Duck. "You will be alright, just do your best, and find out what you can do to help our sudrian life here, I have my faith into you my African Sweet." He says as he approaches Nia in hopes to give her the support to go for her dreams and become a caregiver for the residents on the island of Sodor. Then the two came together for a hopeful and loving kiss to ensure the future can go right if planed right. "So, what do you say, once high school is done for us. You can get that degree and find your dreams of opening up a child daycare center for working families on our island in hopes to give the working people a place to safely allow their children in a place with the best of care this island hopes to have."
Nia thought about this, she knew that they will be far away from the homestead, but also know they can visit the homestead whenever they are permitted to, once they get the proper training their dreams on the Island will come true. "I believe we can pull it off Duck, after high school is done for us, then hopefully my grades are good enough to be part of Sodor University, and find the education in running a daycare for young families with small children."
Duck smiled knowing he helped convinced his lover about finding the dreams for her to pursue, and hopefully find a career that helps her find her place and find a rewarding career on the island of Sodor if working for the railway is not on the cards for her. "I am glad to help you find a possible path for you my love. I just wanted a way for our relationship to grow as we find our paths that are meant for us to be on. I just wanted you to see our possibilities once we reach our goals after high school Nia. I love you Nia, I do not want that to change over my silliness of my branch line."
Then the two came together in a loving hold knowing they have each other's back while venturing into their futures as Nia laid her head on his shoulder. Duck kissed her on the check before allowing his lips to caress down her neck before resting his head on her shoulders to continue their moment in time on the plans they just presented to each other.
Nia spoke. "I love you too Duck Windsor, you were the one who felt lost when he believed he could not do more than a really useful engine from the little western, then after learning on who may have been responsible on starting the coal fire, that is when our feelings for each other begun my Great wester man." Duck just chuckled as the two just stood there in each other's arms just as the winter sun signaled how soon they needed to return to the homestead.
Down by the station in Knapford, the Gresley brothers Gordon and Scot had arrived with the A 1 for the return trip with the express, to allow the night crew to take over since both brothers are not yet ready for long day trips. Scot does hope to return to the mainland to run his trains like he does with Gordon's express runs.
Gordon. "Another well done run with my express for the day, now I need to see how Rebecca is doing while visiting Thomas on his homestead."
Scott. "I am sure she is doing well brother; I just hope that the mainland company can allow for me to return to my old self in order for me to drive it one day."
Gordon. "Perhaps Scott, but I do believe you are doing just fine while working on our island while the mainland crew can find ways off allowing you back."
Scott. "I just hope you are right brother; I just wonder how long it would be until I can get back to my engine side with the approval of the other railway?"
Gordon. "Why not ask Sir Topham Hat if that would be a possibility for your return to the mainland as a driver to your old self?"
Scott. "There would be any possibilities that they may not want me back as the engine's driver even when I was once the engine before my humanizations almost two years ago."
Gordon. "You never know, let us ask him before we can leave for the Billington Vulcan homestead before heading for home with Rebecca."
On the homestead Thomas, Henry and Edward were busy cutting down the selecting trees Applejack and Fluttershy helped to make sure no animals were in the areas where the trees were cut down.
Fluttershy. "Alright Angle, check over with those trees to make sure no animals are here when Thomas and the others come over to trim these trees down." Angel her bunny checked from tree to tree up and down and all the way around to find no animals in the trees marked for falling. "Everything here is ready for you to cut down Thomas."
Thomas. "Thank you Fluttershy, we will come over to that area in just a minute. We need trim away the branches of the trees we just felled. That way Henry can choose the still green limbs to be use as new growth for the forests."
Twilight. "I do not mind of helping you help the little western engines find a place close to their branch line and still be part of this forest too."
Edward. "Not only that but, we were asked by the fire rescue team on sodor to open up fire breaks in case of fire to pop up during the hottest times of the summer."
Thomas. "I can remember a few summers ago when my branch line suffered a terrible heat wave that not only caused the line to buckle in the heat, but it was the reason for a fire to erupt after taking Dowenger Hat to Knapford to help the controller in that time received a safari hat that everyone could not help but laugh about. I am sorry about his little problem but like the mother of the controller said, rather to safari than to be sorry especially after hearing on how the color of white can reflect the heat of the sun causing the controller feel cooler that day instead of his usual black top hat."
Henry had to chuckled after hearing how the controller was having an off day due to the white hat he received. "I am sorry, but it did seem a bit silly for the controller acted like any of us when we felt disgraced over silly things."
This is when Oliver came over to see if he could be of some assistance.
Oliver. "Hello everyone, can you use another handout here Thomas?"
Thomas. "that we can Oliver, you can help Flash chop off the limbs of the trees we fell so we can size them up before loading them onto the flat bed that is pointed into the direction of the lumber yard of the homestead."
Oliver. "No problem Thomas, by the way. How is your engine project with Rosie is doing Thomas?"
Thomas. "The engines the two of us are working on are doing quite well. Both hers and mine are close to completion in a couple of weeks, then we needed to test them for their quality for the railway before we can use them for the rails between here and knapford."
Oliver. "That is good to know, my own engine project is coming along too, I have almost a month until it is ready for its first firing. After that I hope it could help me since there will be too many engines for the rails, and we can use them for our own use for our respective trades too."
Twilight. "Are you still hoping to return to the rail Oliver, I thought you wanted to return to your engine side as a driver once high school is over for you."
Oliver. "I do plan to return to the rails twilight, I just wanted a place to unwind and come up with new projects by researching the various ways primitive man would have used to make homes, and other types of shelters they had to make during the times when the things we have today happen to be absent back then."
Applejack. "Well let me know sugar cube, I will be able to help you on your premodern builds as a history lesion as you did with the others you had built since starting to live here with Thomas and Rosie."
Oliver. "I do take pride in my works whether they be on the tracks, or deep into the woods for anyone to see and marvel over."
Thomas. "And the reason why so many people especially those who are in the architect field and learn more about the builds back them to make modern versions of them for today's world."
In the animal barns of the homestead, Mavis and toby were busy feeding the cows and horses, while Polly and Percy were in the chicken pens feeding and checking the nest boxes for new eggs laid between the two pens. One only holds just the hens while the other has both hens and roosters. After which they had taken the eggs into the dark room where Percy looks through them with a light that can illuminate all the insides of the egg to help determined if any are fertile and place them in an incubator tray and setting the non-fertile eggs into an egg container to help get them sterile. After the final count they had at least 20 fertile eggs and 30 non fertile eggs. The following year will be filled up with more chickens, but in their eyes, it is just what they need since the previous year's chickens had to be dispatched, the present chickens help lay this year's eggs while the new brew will begin the new cycle of nesting hens and rooters. The roosters they plan to sell away as stock birds, while some of the downed hens will be sent to marked if their freezers are too full of the homestead to devour.
Percy. "I bet Thomas will be glad about the number of chickens he will have before the spring arrives."
Polly. "I am sure he will, he and Rosie had almost nothing to their name. But now he has a huge cattle herd, large flocks of Chickens for his egg productions as well his needed poultry supply. He even has extra for the markets once he realizes how many he needs to thin to keep his herds and flocks healthy for their needs."
Percy. "Yeah, I just wonder how everything will be like once Toby and I choose to return to the rails as drivers and not the engines."
Polly. "You plan of returning to the rails once high school is over Percy?"
Percy. "To tell the truth, not really. I am wondering if it is something I must do. Thomas had already said that the homestead keeps him busy all days of the year and hardly gets a brake in most cases."
Polly. "I believe that Thomas is caring for a land that is in his name and all the animals are his responsibility to care for until he sees fit of what to do with them. From what I have seen he is doing a great effort of what he can do."
Percy. "Yeah, I know, I just worry about him since we are all still here hoping to help him with the many things, he needs done in one year. I feel like, we need to be here, so he is not too overwhelmed with the work he needs to get done before next winter sets in."
Polly. "If you feel you need to be here for Thomas with the chores around the homestead Percy, then do so. No one is stopping you from that. This will be a decision all of us need to make once high school is over for us all."
Percy. "How about you, you still plan of returning to the magic railway to keep the magic alive between here and wherever the magic railway goes to."
Polly. "There is no denying of where I need to be once high school is over for me Percy, I still need to keep the magic alive. But at the end of the day do prepare for me to return to you and remain the focus on our future my sweet Percy Avonside." She says as she and Percy came together for a loving moment before kissing each other on the lips, the show of real love between her and the green haired humanized green saddle tank engine before her. Percy held her tight as he kissed her back knowing how much Polly (Lady) Stone means to him even before she returned to be part of the humanized engine world.
Percy. "That is something worth looking forward to, we can still have each other no matter what jobs we get or what careers we get once high school is over for us."
Polly. "I love you too much to not come back to this little cute caterpillar once on wheels not become the other focus on my life besides that of the magic railroads beyond the magic buffers."
Percy. "I love you too my beautiful Polly Stone, the magical miracle of my life." He said as he and Polly came together for another loving kiss now that their chores are nearly over.
Over on another part of the Homestead James with his girlfriend Molly Hudswell, his twin sister Jessica and her lover Jasper are together cross-country skiing across the countryside taking in all the scenery before fate will make them return to the rails one day. James knows he will be spending most of his days running his engine side on the rails. Not much time to take the advantage he has now that he is only working part time on the rails. Molly and the others are also taking this time to reflect that the time will come to return to the rails but as drivers this time. Molly had already had her training with her old crew on the harrwick branch like with Nevel. Jessica and Jasper are not too worried about where they will be a part of. They both decided to be part of the homestead and find a spot where they will be most comfortable in building a homestead on another part of the Island and still contact everyone with the Billington Vulcan homestead for advice and help when needed.
Jessica. "This is the most beautiful spot of all the island of sodor, Thomas and Rosie must be very proud in owning this part of the Island for their own personal space."
Jasper. "How about after highs school is over you and I can get a degree in construction in building off grid homes. After learning all we needed to know while living on Thomas's Homestead, I feel we can help find others find what they dream about for themselves."
Molly. "That is wonderful Jessica and Jasper, you two are now thinking of what you want to do for your own futures."
Jasper. "Like I have said, that after living on Thomas's homestead since our own humanization almost two years ago. I believe Jessica and I felt this was a good direction for the two of us since she and I are a great team together."
James. "Pennies for your thoughts you two/"
Jessica. "Just thinking of where we want to be once we gained our own independence. Planning on taking courses at the local university on leaning the importance of construction and architecture. That can help us on what kind of development we want to be acquired with. We choose to be cabin builders with other way of construction of other home and cabin developments they may want to consider."
Jasper. "Just think about it James, we are planning of where we want to build our own home in the woods to allow us ways of making it out here by our own means of being out from everyone else."
James. "Planning to make a trip to Alaska you two, I am sure the challenges there are far more than what you may get here."
Jessica. "WE are staying on the island since our engine sides are still here and we needed to be close to them to make sure of what to do if they are threatened by anyone who is not our current controller."
Molly. "Remember James, we are lucky that Bertram Sir Topham Hat as our controller, or our engine sides would not be here still to provide the services that are needed now that we have been separated from them. You and I still plan to be able to return to them once high school is over and we can return full time. I believe your sister and her lover may want to find a different lifestyle than returning to the rails as drivers and firemen and women."
James. "Yeah, I know, and I will also know that I will be missing you two once you find the right career for the both of you. I am sure you will do well. Just remember to stop in occasionally and since I want to make the time between us sweeter once we separate for our futures.
Jessica. "Do not worry my brother, we are only looking into our careers, Not moving away from the Island. We still have a couple of years left before we say goodbye to our school years and into our new careers on the rails and wherever our careers may take us."
Then both brother and sister came together in a family style hug knowing the have each other's back in times of trouble and when times are the happiest."
Wyatt and Sonny are taking this time out to play some video games in the dining hall common room. This room was meant only for the residents of the homestead. while all homes have individual kitchens, but not everyone can cook like Rosie, Emily, Molly and Rebecca can do. Applejack returning from the woods with Thomas and the others came in to join up with the ladies to prepare a desert to help make the meal of Roasted pork chops with fresh steamed winter vegetables. Other dishes are for the vegans of the homestead knowing not everyone cares that much about being omnivores. Applejack and now pinkie pie are in the dining hall preparing the night's dish for the hard-working men who had finished with the unloading of the piles and piles of logs from the area they had worked from. Now back the boys are now in their residents cleaning up from their outings while the Greasley brothers had arrived to take part in the meal since they missed a hard-earned meal since leaving the homestead.
Gordon. "Good evening everyone, including you my beautiful Rebecca." He says as he and Rebecca came together for a loving hello kiss knowing they missed each other since Gordon and Scott started driving during the day.
Rebecca covered with the preparations of the meal as she spreads her arms open as she leans over to give Gordon a kiss hello after his daily run with the express. "MM, U, ah, hello my handsome Gordon how did you and Scott do on the rails today?"
Scott. "He and I did well today Rebecca, but I did have a discussion with the controller and the other controller from the other railway with my old engine side."
Rainbow Dash came in and just listened to the two Gresley boys as she zoomed in to listen to them as she waits for her friends to arrive for their trip back to Equestria.
Rainbow Dash. "Really, so what exactly did you asked him for today, may be a raise, or maybe becoming the new number and replacing Thomas's old number with your number four Gordon or." This is where Applejack cuts her off knowing she is over her head about what the discussion is about.
Applejack. "Rainbow! (Sighs) Sorry you two she can be overly excited about anything to do with her favorite things."
Rainbow. "and hearing how my favorite two members of the express team happens to be my newest thing since Daring doo, being a wonderbolt, and coming back to this homestead with my friends. Well, what did you ask of the controller today anyways?"
Scott. "To tell you the truth Rainbow dash, it was about if I would ever return to my engine side since I have not done anything with it since my separation from it two years ago."
Emily. "What exactly did they say from the mainland about you becoming part of their railway with your engine side Scott."
Gordon. "It turns out they have no clue if it would have been right to have him return without explaining how he had separated from his old self into the ways of a human being."
Rebecca. "Are you feeling OK with this Scott, I am sure they are just trying not to get too much attention then they already have with your old self running the rails like no other."
Scott. "I will be fine although I am a bit disappointed that they did not considered of what to become of me since of my separation of my engine self."
Gordon. "Until then Scott is more than welcome to work the rails of Sodor with me unless the mainland had changed its mind about the most famous engine of Brittan after the Millard and of course Thomas the tank engine during his engines days."
Then Thomas and the others had came in after hearing his name along with that of the fastest engine of Great Britain. "Did someone mention my name just a minute ago?"
Rosie just giggle knowing she heard him get cheeky about his name being called out. "Gordon is just ease Scott's disappointment about not returning to the mainland to rejoin his engine side now he has graduated from high school with Gordon and the others who did."
Thomas to Scott. "Oh, Sorry to hear that Scott, but I have a feeling then drive team wonders if you are doing well and waiting for the day you have graduated from school."
Scott. "What makes you say that Thomas?"
Thomas. "Our real crews do keep wondering how we are holding out since our humanizations two years ago. They see us as a part of their world and we in turn see them as a part of our world too. We are often awfully glad to see not one of our crews have ever forgotten the personality of their engines even when we became humanized. If any of them felt, then needed to help us further like the time when Sally and chad had a problem they needed help solving. Our crews came over and helped us in a time when we knew nothing about taking care of small children."
Scott. "I see, and if my old crew ever wondered if they would want to see me again, they will go out of their way to see if I was alright or not."
Thomas. "That is correct, and if your crew felt you have been neglected by the controller of that railway, they will definitely want to make their statement heard even if it does fall in deaf ears from their own head office."
Scott. "Well, I still have my driver's number if I ever wanted to speak with him about how he and the others felt about me being here instead of returning to the old ways but as the driver this time and not the engine itself."
Edward. "You do that Scott, I am sure they have missed you since they know you very well, if they have missed you then they will surely ask their controller about the delay about reunited with them on the other railway."
Scott. "I will try that after we get set for home after we eat of course."
It was then the rest of the ponies had arrived signaling the time to return to their home world while everyone on the homestead had returned after their venture across the island to gather their thoughts about their futures once high school is over for the rest of them.
The boys had set the table as the girls have finished preparing the food for everyone in the dinning hall allowing Wyatt and Sonny to finish their gaming session and join in of the feast just as the Macintosh twins and Bill and Ben with Boco along with them and signals the three-month-old puppies to topple the clay twins again much to the annoyance of Bill and Ben.
Bill. "Haven't you three grown out of that already?"
Ben. "You three are just too cheeky for your own good."
The three puppies just growled and barked a bit after their little joke on the clay twins.
Bo co could not help but to laugh about the three little puppies of the homestead playing tricks on bill and Ben.
Bo Co. "what is the matter with you two, cannot take a joke from three funny puppies you have ever seen?"
Bill. "Not as fun as getting knocked down by them every time we come in for dinner."
Ben. "I'd wish they can stop that since it is getting annoying."
Thomas came over and picked up his puppy Buddy about his little joke on the twins. "You are just the little Cheeky stinky puppy aren't you little Buddy." Buddy just wagged his tail and began to lick Thomas on the nose, knowing he was just kidding with the twins.
Edward was next to pick up his puppy Misty. "You could not help but not be resisting a possible knock down of the twins, ay Misty." Misty just yapped knowing that Edward was just being playful knowing she has to stop one day."
Then Emily picked up the golden puppy who also happens to be her shop dog for her floral shop. "Alright you had your fun little Goldie, one day your little joke will not be so funny into the future. No more knocking down Bill and ben for your amusement, alright." She says as Goldie just pawed her owner knowing she understands of what to be expecting of her as she grows older.
Then Rosie had announced that Dinner was ready and after everyone had washed their hands gathered around the table and began their meal just before that, Thomas decided to say grace about the possible future for them as the days of high school will one day come to be.
Thomas. "Dear Father, we come together to be part of this meal we are blessed to have. Now that a new year had dawned on us. They days of school will one day come, and we need to discover more about ourselves as we one day find our calling. We also pray for the vaccine of many people who had yet to receive it. WE all hope this year will be the last days of the pandemic that had let the whole world fall to its knees since the previous years. Give us the strength to journey on as we now set our course to the way of the future not only for us on the homestead, but for everyone who we encounter as everyone moves forward into the future. Amen,"
Everyone else. "Amen."
Thomas. "So, Nia have you and Duck decided about what you plan of doing once high school is over for us?"
Nia. "Duck insisted that I try Childcare services for the Island Thomas. After the many events on the homestead, he found my abilities of helping the families who visit here a great time and help them find the activities to keep them occupied as the families venture across the island before returning in the evening to gather their kids to rejoin the families."
Ariel. 'Just be careful that the parents do not misuse your services to make you sole caretaker of their child for free. I hear some entitled parents tend to not think about the consequences about leaving their children with random strangers."
Rosie. "I feel disgusted when someone does that with their children, it makes one feel sorry for the children who have such grownups in their lives."
James. "I believe we have seen many of them do incredible awful things while riding with us to the stations up and down the line."
Molly. "At least they have us to look out for them when the grownups in their lives acted more childish than the children do."
Thomas. "I just hope you do well on earning that degree in the local university in Tidmouth."
Nia. "I just hope that I can make a difference in making the children of our Island safe from harm while their parents work their day way until end of the workday."
Duck. "Let us see how it all turns out my Nia."
Percy. "Anyways Thomas any word about Hurricane and the rest of them/"
Thomas. "they have already left to return to work at the steel mills Percy. After a few weeks without the humanized engines of the steelworks, the management felt it was best for them to return home."
Rosie. "That is good, no more of her creepy ways of wanting your to do a threesome with her and Hurricane."
Duck. "You and me both Rosie."
Mavis. "Happy to be part of the homestead Toby, you seemed to be at home here with Thomas and Percy here."
Toby. "Let us just say that it is better than rolling through knapford stations with all those confusing signals and junctions. Here I am most at ease from that plus I get to spend most of my time admiring the countryside while on my duties as a range rider."
Percy. "You and me both Toby, it is beautiful out here, and I feel this is the best place to visit after the castle up by ulfstead."
Henry. "I am sure it is Percy, just as lovely as walking through my favorite Forrest on the Island."
Holly. "Planning of staying on the homestead Henry?"
Henry. "Of course, I am since I have my own house here, Emily and I do love being part of this homestead and owning our own part of it while perfecting our own futures with Thomas and Rosie here."
Emily. "Since opening up the greenhouse with the pavilion to the floral shop people had managed to pick up a bouquet to bring home from work at the stations or when ever they needed a pick up from a sorrowful day."
Everyone continued with their meal before calling it a day, for the next day they return to their school and finished what they had started two years ago and finish their high school days before they begin their careers on the Island of sodor and drivers and what ever future awaits our friends.
Come back next time as a new year blizzard has blown across the island and covering the roads in thick snow, it is up to the Macintosh Twins to help clean up the snow across the island. What more will be happening as we make a return to Northwestern High School year 3.