Return to Canterlot High

This is how return to Canterlot High goes in Thomas' Rock and Roll Adventure.

Gordon: [sighs] I'm starting to think he's not coming.

Timothy: Don't worry, Gordon. He'll come.

[The portal behind starts to fizz and crackle with magic. It opens and Thomas and Percy, now humans again, shoot out onto the stone floor]

Percy: Wow, now I know how flying on Ryan's jetpack feels like.

Steambooms: Thomas! Percy!

Thomas: Oof. Percy and I are back.

Rest of main cast: [greeting Thomas]

Percy: And my friend and I have got some bad news about those new boys.

Rest of main cast:  [worried reaction]

James: Oh, I do hate that you had to return at a time of crisis. There's so much catching up to do!

Toby: For starters, a certain purple haired guitar player was askin' about you.

Thomas: [excitedly] Jenna was asking about me?! [clears throat] Isn't that nice? [sips milkshake]

James: Perhaps you would give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world?

Percy: Yes, James. Thomas has got his own title now. [imitates fanfare] An honorary Trainbot!

Timothy: Wow, this is awesome. Guess you really were Optimus Prime's prized pupil.

Percy: He even have his own Autobot team.

James: An Autobot Team?! You have your own Autobot Team?!? Eh... [clears throat] Ooh, uh, lovely.

Thomas: What's new here? I mean, besides your school becoming the target of dangerous magical creatures from Cybertron?

Gordon: Yeah, so, that isn't exactly the only strange thing that's happened since you left. Pretty sweet, huh? It happens to all of us when we play.

Percy: Hmm, Optimus' Matrix was returned to Cybertron.

Thomas: You're right, Percy. But some of its magic must have remained here at Canterlot High. Now that we're all back together, we can use that magic on the sirens. Just like when we were able to use it on Timothy when he turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster! No offense.

Timothy: [disgruntled] None taken, Thomas. Heh, heh. I'm used to it.

Gordon: They'll never even know what hit 'em! [karate yells]

Toby: We've got nothin' to worry about now that Thomas's back.

Henry: Oh, I'm pretty sure I could find something to worry about. But it won't be the sirens.

Thomas: The sooner we do this, the better. Any idea where the Diesel Trio might be?

Charlie: [sips milkshake] [sighs] There's a big party tonight for all the bands who signed up to be in the showcase! That would include the Diesel Trio.

Thomas: Looks like we've got a party to crash.

Percy: Good idea, Thomas.

Charlie: [squee]

[Later on, in the school gym]

[students arguing]

Jenna: [sighs] I'm gonna get more punch.

[crash!]

Jenna: Thomas?

Thomas: Eh, bumped, into, always, doing?

Jenna: What are you doing here, Thomas? You came back for the big competition, right?

Thomas: Something like that.

Jenna: Yeah. Not that there's gonna be any real competition. No one here wants this as bad as my band does!

Thomas: Can you excuse for just a moment, please?

[students' arguing becomes louder]

Diesel: [mock surprise] Oh no! No one is mingling! It's like there's some kind of underlying tension that could bubble to the surface at any minute!

Bert: It's the fruit punch, isn't it? I knew I used too much grape juice!

Diesel: [sighs] It's not the fruit punch, Bert! It's us!

'Arry: But the punch is awful, too.

Bert: What do you know about good fruit punch, 'Arry?

'Arry: More than you, Bert. [pushes Bert's hand, which has the fruit punch in it, away]

Bert: [hits 'Arry's face] You do not!

'Arry: [slaps Bert's hair] I do too!

Diesel: Calm down. This is just the kickoff party, boys. Imagine what a tizzy they'll be in by the time the Battle of the Bands starts.

Thomas: I don't think there's going to be a Battle of the Bands!

Diesel: Thomas, long time, no see!

Thomas: You won't get away with this, Diesel Trio! We're gonna make sure of that! Alright, boys, let's do this! Friendship is magic!

[cricket chirping]

[someone coughs]

Gordon: Uh, Thomas? Wasn't there be rainbows and lasers and stuff like last time?

Thomas: I don't understand. We're all together again. Why isn't this working?

Percy: You, uh... really need to go ahead and do that whole "magic of friendship" thing now, Thomas.

Thomas: I'm trying, Percy. I thought the fourteen of us standing together against the sirens would bring out the magic we needed to defeat them. That's what happened before.

Diesel: Talk about dropping the hammer! This group is obviously serious about winning! A little cocky though, aren't they? Claiming there won't really be a battle. Seems they think they've already got this thing all locked up.

Kaos: Not if I, Kaos, have anything to do with it!

Jenna: Whatever, Kaos! We're the best band at CHS!

Matau T. Monkey: No way! Matau and the Skylanders are going to win!

[students arguing even louder]

Diesel: I think we may have found what we're looking for. Or rather, it found us.

Bert: Found what, Diesel?

'Arry: [slaps himself]

Diesel: Energy!! Don't you see?! Everyone else has fallen under our spell. But not these boys. These boys are special.

Bert: Special indeed.

[Later on, outside the school]

Thomas: I don't understand. It doesn't make any sense. I should have been able to create the spark that would help us break their spell. That's how it worked before.

Timothy: But to defeat me, you drew magic from the Matrix I had in my chest. The sirens' magic comes from their music. So maybe you have to use the same kind of magic to defeat them. Or... maybe not.

Percy: No. But I think you're on to something.

Timothy: Really?

Percy: So let me guess. It's when you play music that you transform now, right?

Toby: Yup. Ears, tails, the whole shebang.

Thomas: So in order to use the magic to defeat the sirens is by playing a musical counter-spell!

Henry: You mean like a song?

Thomas: That's right, Henry. And in order to free everyone who's been exposed to the sirens' spell, we'll need them all to hear it.

Rest of main cast: Hmmm...

James: [gasps] The band competition! That's the next time we can be certain everyone will be in the same place at the same time.

Toby: Looks like the Steambooms are the band to beat.

James: And I believe you, Thomas, just became the Steambooms' newest member.

Rest of main cast: [laughing and cheering]

Charlie: So what do you wanna play? Triangle? [ding] Sousaphone? [fwomp!] Theremin? [plays theremin] Soooo magical.

Thomas: I might take a little too long to learn how to play something with these. I'll just sing.

Gordon: Like, as in, lead singer? Cuz that's usually my gig. This being my band and all.

Toby: Gordon, it's our band, you know. And, of course, as lead singer. He's the one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off.

Gordon: Okay, yeah, that's cool. I'll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills.

Thomas: It's only temporary. And we don't have to win the Battle of the Bands. We just have to perform during the first round of the competition.

Toby: Then what are we waiting for? Let's start working on that musical counter-spell.

Thomas: Well, that's just it. I don't know any.

Rest of main cast: Awwww....

Thomas: But I'm sure I could figure out how to write one.

Percy: Totally! Thomas can write a spell like it's nobody's business. That's pretty much how he got to become a Prime on Cybertron.

Thomas: Well, technically, I helped finish a spell. And there was a little more to it than that, Percy.

Percy: Ok, Thomas. Whatever.

Thomas:  I've got this. [to Percy] C'mon!

Toby: Where are you two goin'?

Thomas: The last time Percy and I visited, we slept in the school library. Like Twilight Sparkle did when she and Spike first came here.

Charlie: Are you crazy?

Thomas: [scoffs] No.

Charlie: We're besties now. Slumber party at my house!

[A few hours later]

[Video game sounds]

Gordon: [snacks control out of Toby's hands] Hah! Beat you!

Toby: You just snacked the control out of my hands! That's not beating me!

[Charlie's texting on his phone]

Charlie: Status update: "Okie-dokie-lokie."

[He takes a picture of him, James and Henry]

Gordon: So, Thomas. How is that counter-spell coming?

Thomas: Hmm. Not bad.

Percy: Thanks for lending Thomas your notebook, Henry.

Thomas: Yeah. I really appreciate it. And I like the song you wrote for the Steambooms.

Henry: Thank you. [sighs] Hopefully one day, we'll get a chance to play it.

Thomas: I hear you.

Gordon: [laughing]

Toby: Hey!

James: Thomas, I think I speak for all of us when I say I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come back to help us.

Rest of main cast: Uh-huu!

Toby: Darn tootin'

Percy: You said it.

[doorbell rings]

Charlie: Pizza's here!

[Whilst everyone leaves, Thomas stays behind to continue his counter spell]

Thomas: Now, let's see.[thinks]

Charlie: [peeks round the door] Are you coming?

Thomas: Ok, Charlie.

[Thomas puts Henry's notebook away in a drawer]

[Later on, everyone else is asleep. Thomas sneaks past them and opens the drawer and takes out Henry's notebook. He continues writing his counter spell in the kitchen]

Thomas: That's not going to work.

Timothy: [comes in] Hi, Thomas. You're up late. Still working on that counter-spell?

Thomas: Yes. And I can't come up with anything. I've got other things on my mind at the moment.

Timothy: I can tell.

Thomas: I know that I'm trying very hard on that counter-spell.

Timothy: Well, I know what it felt like to be the loser. [turns and is startled by Chaud, Charlie's brother]

Chaud: Sorry. My pet vine, Viney, was hungry.

Thomas: [whispers] Do you think he is the brother of Charlie?

Timothy: Yeah. I just can't get over the fact that he's related to him.

Thomas: Yeah. Me too.

Timothy: [yawns] I'd better get some shut eye. Good luck with the counter spell.

Thomas: Ok. Good night, Timothy.

[The next morning, the Steambooms practice their counter spell in a barn next to Toby's house]

Thomas: [off-key] Hey, hey!~

Listen to our song~

We'll make it clear~

[feedback]

It won't take long~

You may think you're in control~

Well, think again~

You're at 1 and we're at 10~

Gonna stomp our feet, clap our hands~

Gonna stop your evil plan~

With the magic of friendship~

[When Gordon manages a bit of transformation, he looks around. The ears then disappear]

Percy: I think it sounds like the last time you played it, Thomas.

Thomas: Yeah. I can tell.

James: You need to wear something stylish at the contest.

Thomas: Like what, James?

James: [trying on various outfits, which Toby gets annoyed with] Like this. Or this.

Toby: Do you realize, James, we are in the contest, not playing dress-up. Enough with the costumes!

James: [robotic voice] Oh, you can never have enough costumes, Toby!

Timothy: Guys, you don't have time for this. The Battle of the Bands starts in... [checks his watch] Fifthteen minuets.

Charlie: 15 minuets? Oh gosh, but the counter spell isn't finished yet!

Thomas: We might still have time.

Percy: You're right, Thomas.

Thomas: You guys will play in the first round, while I will continue working on the counter-spell.

Rest of main cast: Okay.

Gordon: He's right. Let's go win us some Battle of the Bands.

Toby: Yeah, and then we kick the Diesel Trio's butts.

[As the others leave, Thomas looks down sadly and Percy puts a hand on his back]

Percy: What's the matter, Timothy?

Timothy: Well, it's just, [sighs] I'm nervous that you might not win them over.

Percy: Don't worry. I'm sure the Steambooms are not under the Diesel Trio's spell.

Gordon: I already told you, Percy. We were there but we weren't affected.

Percy: Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me.

Thomas: Shh. Principle Celestia is about to start talking.

[Percy nods his head]

Principle Celestia: Welcome, one and all to the Annual Battle of the Bands.

[students cheering and applauding]

Principle Celestia: Calm yourselves, students. This is only the first round.

[students calm themselves down]

Vice Principle Luna: Of course if any of you wish to back out then that's fine.

[The students argue and more dark blue mist flows into the Diesel Trio's pendants]

Diesel: Do you feel that, boys? Our true power is being restored.

[The Diesle Trio start laughing but Diesel stops the laughter, seeing the Steambooms bellow]

Diesel: But, that was before we tapped into the most powerful magic and energy here.

'Arry: But the Steamblossoms, or whatever their called, aren't under our spell. How are we supposed to get to their energy.

Diesel: The Steambooms are capable to follow this part like everyone else. I think that they just need a little... push in the wrong direction.

Bert: And how is that going to happen?

Diesel: You know, Bert. I got a feeling that someone like the Portal Master, Kaos will be lining up to give them a shunt.

[As the Steambooms look around, Jenna walks up]

Thomas: Oh, hi, Jenna.

Jenna: Well, good timing, Thommy.

Thomas: So, Your band and the other bands are in this contest. Do you think you liked me?

Jenna: Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?

Thomas: Remember where we first met?

Jenna: Of course I do.

Thomas: Well, then, that's good.

Jenna: Oh, good times.

Diesel: Well, well, well. Look who it is. The Steamlosers.

Thomas: I thought I'd never see you back on Sodor.

Diesel: It's been a long time, Thomas.

Thomas: What are you doing here, Diesel?

Diesel: Doing the same thing that Dazzlings did. What else?

Thomas: Grr! I should've known you were up to your old tricks.

Diesel: I did, didn't I?

Thomas: Anyway, you still won't pull it off.

Diesel: Really? What about Kaos here? [points to Kaos]

Thomas: You leave him out of this.

Diesel: I think he and two of his friends have formed a band, like your friends.

Thomas: Whatever. We'll see in the semi-finals, if we get there, and we'll settle this once and for all.

Diesel: That sounds like a challenge. [looks slyly at 'Arry and Bert]

Bert: Is it?