As I looked out my window, I sighed contently. Life was... as perfect as it could be right about now. I had a steady job, a place to live, and someone to share my life with. I looked down at the shed next to my house, where Frieda was sleeping.
Ever since I met her a few months back, my entire life had changed. After her initial introduction to Sodor, and getting her to soften her heart, she became as happy as I was. She finally had a place she could call home, and had a shed to stay in. A drastic change from her original home in Germany.
She had told me stories of her home in Germany, and very few of them were happy ones. Her controller hated her, and treated her poorly. She never had a shed to sleep in, and was almost always confined to slow speeds due to the traffic of the railway. Over time, it made her quite upset, and she had to harden herself to deal with it. That is why she was so cold to everyone when she first arrived.
You will be like those you hang out with, more or less. If you're surrounded by people who treat you like dirt, you'll treat others like dirt. That's just the way it goes.
But I had been patient with her, and after a while, she had learned to love. She was fairly friendly now, and we both loved each other very much. The two of us had confessed feelings for each other after an accident she had that nearly destroyed her.
It would have... had I not been there to stop her.
I shook my head, and forced myself to not think about it. All that mattered now was that she was safe, and I loved her. As big and intimidating as the German engine could be, I always saw past her tough demeanor, and saw the kind woman inside.
I got dressed, then walked to the front door, before stepping outside. I quietly walked over to Frieda's custom built shed, and entered. As I looked at the sleeping German, I remembered everything that had happened recently.
I had given up my job as the dock manager in trade for being Frieda's driver. It paid less, but it was less stressful, and allowed me to be with Frieda as much as possible. It made the both of us quite happy. She had an Express route now, alongside Gordon's. She ran along the coast of Sodor, allowed to move at the speeds she enjoyed. Her line ran past the beach, through a few of the smaller mountains, and ended at Vicarstown Station. She seemed quite happy with it, as was I.
When Sir Topham Hatt had gotten back from his vacation, I had informed him of Frieda's new home, and he was happy to have another engine on his line. He gave her the Express route after I explained what her home was like. He felt bad for her.
"It's all in the past now." I said quietly. Frieda was breathing peacefully, probably dreaming of high speeds. She always had the most pleasant smile on her face when she slept. Before coming here, the dream world might have been the only place she found joy.
I gently placed a hand on her buffers, and she stirred.
Well shit. I didn't mean to wake her up, she was normally a heavy sleeper.
She yawned, and opened her eyes, before looking down at me.
"Anon? Vat time eez eet?" she asked. I smiled sheepishly.
"Uh, about three in the morning. I didn't mean to wake you, I just couldn't sleep myself. I just came down here to look at you, and go through memories." I said. Frieda sighed.
"Must you feel ze need to vake me as vell?" she complained, yawning. I bowed my head.
"I didn't mean too. I thought you would have been sleeping deep enough that I wouldn't have bothered you. I'm sorry." I apologized. Frieda smiled a little.
"Eet eez fine. I vas dreaming about you und ze Express anyvay." she said. I smiled.
"Good things about both, I hope." I said. She smiled, and looked out the small window in the wall of the shed.
"Perhaps." she said, blushing. I sighed, and leaned against her.
"I love you."
"ich liebe dich auch." Frieda replied. I frowned at her response.
The one and only thing that bugged me about Frieda was that for some reason, she could never say she loved me in English. She would only say it in German. I had brought it up once, but she dodged the question. Clearly, it was something she did not want to talk about, and I respected that. But I hoped someday, I'd hear those three meaningful words in English from her.
The two of us sat quietly for fifteen minutes, before Frieda broke the silence.
"Vat should vee do? Eet is to late to get back to sleep, und I do not haf to be ready fohr ze Express until seven." she asked. I looked outside. It was still dark out.
"Want to go for a night run?" I suggested. Frieda wasn't usually out at night, even though her four headlights were some of the brightest on the island.
"Nein, I vould prefer to keep my energy fohr ze Express." she said. I sat there in thought for a few minutes.
"Vhy did you come to look at me? Vouldn't you rather try und get back to sleep?" she asked. I shook my head.
"I'm like you. If I wake up after a certain time, I won't get back to sleep, so it's pointless to try. I just wanted to come and see you while you sleep. I know that sounds weird, but it's nice to see you at peace. Smiling gently while you sleep, looking content and happy. It makes me happy." I explained. Frieda was silent for a moment.
"I haf never been happier zen ven I vas accepted here. Zis eez ze first place zat has ever felt like home to me." she said. I smiled.
"And just think, it was all because of that ship having an engine failure."
"Ja, zat is vhy steam eez better zen diesel." Frieda said. I chuckled. There was no arguing with that.
The two of us chatted for a long while, before it was finally time to start Frieda's fire, and get her ready for the Express. I climbed into her cab and threw a lit match into her firebox. It roared to life, and would be warm enough for Frieda to move soon. Frieda groaned as she began to warm up. It was kind of her way of stretching.
I opened her shed doors, and she squinted as the sunlight found its way towards her.
"It's going to be a lovely day. Perfect for the Coastal Express." I said. Frieda slowly moved forwards, steam building inside her boiler. She crawled out of her shed, and let the sunlight cover her bright blue body. Her red wheels shone brightly, accenting her perfectly, as they always did.
While she warmed herself, I did my normal morning maintenance. Lubricating her drive rods, axles, pistons, and giving her entire body a wipe down.
"Express engine's always have to look their best! Not that you'd need me for that, but still." I said, climbing onto her bumper so you could apply her light shade of eyeliner. Frieda blushed, and looked at me.
"No von has evfor taken better care of me zen you do." she said. I smiled as she closed her eyes, so I could gently apply her makeup. She only wore eyeliner, but the thin black highlight above her eyes really did make her look lovely.
"Oh shoot." I said, smudging a little on her cheek.
"Vat?" she asked. I climbed off her bumper.
"I smudged a little. Hang on, I'll get it off." I said, getting a clean rag from your house. I came back out, and got back onto her bumper, gently wiping the smudge off, and then I stood back as far as I could to look at her without falling off of her bumper.
"Perfect." I said. Frieda smiled, and looked at me with lidded eyes.
"I might need some... motivation to get started zis morning..." she said, blushing. I smirked.
"Ah... and tell me, what might this... motivation be?" I teased, leaning towards her. She didn't answer as I placed my lips on hers, giving her a gentle kiss of passion.
As we kissed, the sun smiled down on us, warming the both of us to our cores. A gentle summer breeze ran through the air, and through my hair.
We were finally forced to part as my watch beeped. I looked at her lovingly.
"Time to go..."
"I vill go anyvhere, as long as eet eez vith you." she whispered, smiling at me gently. I gave her another kiss, and then got back onto the ground.
"I'll go where you go, my lovely German." I said, climbing into her cab. Frieda blew her whistle, piercing the quiet morning air, and chuffed towards the start of her line, Elsbridge Station.
. . .
The moment Frieda pulled into the station, everyone waved at her. She had gotten quite popular recently. Of course, the Express engine's were always popular. But she enjoyed the attention. She whistled cheerfully to everyone as she slowly coupled up to her eight bright blue and red coaches, custom built for her from the Mainland. She pulled the biggest Express on the Island, much to Gordon's annoyance. But, Frieda was stronger than he was, and Sir Topham Hatt wanted to make use of that fact.
I stepped out onto the platform to get my morning coffee while the passengers boarded. The Elsbridge Coastal Express, as I called it, left at exactly seven thirty seven, leaving a few minutes to bumble about. I bought my coffee, and then walked back out onto the platform, smiling as I saw two children gazing up at Frieda in awe. She smiled kindly at them, and greeted them.
"Hallo leetle vons." she said. The children patted her side, and smiled up at her. I sighed.
Most would think it's impossible for such a grumpy, bent out of shape engine as she was when she first arrived to turn into such a kind, friendly, and lovely engine. But I knew Frieda was always a kind engine inside, she just needed help show that part of her.
I looked at my watch. The Express didn't leave for five more minutes. I decided to humor the children. I walked over to them, and bent down next to them.
"Admiring my engine, are you?" I asked. The two children looked at me with big smiles.
"She's your engine Mister?! Really?!" one asked gleefully.
"She's pretty!" said the other one. I looked up at Frieda, who winked at me.
Let zem climb inside. Show zem around. I heard her say in my head.
That was another thing. About a month ago, Frieda had asked me to be her Rider. I didn't have a bloody clue what that was, so she had explained it all to me.
In a nutshell, it was something engine's only asked someone they REALLY liked to be. It was kind of a magical bond between the person and the engine, and it gave them all kinds of unique abilities. The would feel each others emotions and feelings, share each others problems, and just be closer to each other as a whole. The two become one, as it were. The Rider and engine would always work together, and most of the time, the engine would only allow their Rider to drive them manually if need be. But the MOST important part of the bond was the protection. A Rider would protect their engine with their life, as would the engine protect you with theirs.
But the coolest part, to me anyway, of being bonded with Frieda was that the two of us shared a special mind link that allowed us to speak with each other through our thoughts.
When Frieda asked me to be her Rider, I had barely hesitated with my answer. I loved Frieda, and would have protected her with my life even if I wasn't her Rider.
I glanced down at the red wheel on my left palm. It had appeared after I accepted Frieda's request. It was the sign of the bond, that I was a Rider. As long as it was on my palm, I would always be bonded with Frieda.
I smiled at the two children.
"Would you guys like to see inside?" I asked, standing next to her cab entrance. The children's eyes widened in excitement.
"Can we?!" they asked. I smiled.
"Of course. We've got a few minutes before she has to leave. I'd be delighted to show you the workings of a steamer." I said, carefully picking the two children up, and setting them inside Frieda's cab. They looked around at the numerous levers, gauges, and knobs. They looked at the pile of coal at the rear of the cab, leading in from her tender.
"Wow, it looks so complicated!" one child said. I chuckled.
"Once you get used to it, it's pretty simple. See that lever there?" I asked, pointing to the throttle. "That lever controls her speed. The closer you pull it towards you, the faster she goes. And that one..." I said, pointing towards the brake. "That one slows her down. The more you turn it to the right, the faster she stops. And the coal goes into her firebox, but let's leave that shut. It's very hot, and dangerous." I said. I explained a few more things, and even let the children blow Frieda's whistle, with her permission, of course.
Eet eez time to go, Anon. Frieda said in my mind. I gently set the children back down onto the platform.
"It's time for me to go, you two. Step back a safe distance, and watch this big girl at work!" I said, smiling from the cab. The two children stepped back, and Frieda blew her whistle. Steam erupted from her sides, hissing through the air as she slowly began to puff forwards. Smoke poofed from her funnel, creating the magical cloud above.
"Bye pretty engine!" the children called. Frieda blew her whistle at them, before fully leaving the station, and picking up speed.
You're such a sucker for kids. I teased.
Of course. Children vere not allowed to be near trains back home. Eet vas considered dangerous. she replied. I shook my head.
Frieda's home was such a rotten place. I was just as happy as she was that she had moved here.
As Frieda charged through the country side, she finally reached the coast, the ocean water flickering in the sunlight.
"Let's see what you've got!" I shouted out her window.
"You haf asked fohr eet!" Frieda said, opening up her throttle. She glided along the coast track, the Express coaches smoothly trailing behind. From the feedback I had heard, the passengers always loved speeding along the coast to the next station. It was a beautiful sight, and it always was a nice way for them to start their day.
As we rounded a corner, Emily and James passed by the other way, pulling a mid sized goods train.
"Hallo!" Frieda called to them, blowing her whistle.
"Hello Frieda!" the two smaller engines replied, blowing their whistles in response. I leaned back, and smiled.
Although Frieda had given all the engines a scare upon her arrival, especially Thomas, most of them had warmed up to her by now. Thomas was still a little weary of her, but he had reason to be. Back when Frieda first arrived in the dockyards, he had made an teasing comment to her that made her quite angry. She lost her temper quite badly, and biffed Thomas off of the rails, and onto his side. That's why he always tried to steer clear of her.
Frieda pulled into the next station with expert precision, and hissed to a stop. I wiped my eyes as I got some of the salty coast air blown in my face. As the passengers boarded and deboarded, I shoveled a dozen shovel fulls of coal into Frieda's firebox. She was a large engine, and took quite a bit of coal to get going.
I heard the guards whistle blow, signaling that Frieda could proceed. She blew her whistle, and began moving forwards once again.
This sequence continued for a few hours, traveling to the specified stations along Frieda's route. She didn't stop at all of them, only the larger ones. When she came to the beginning of Gordon's hill, Frieda pumped her pistons, and climbed it with ease. As she stopped at Maron Station, the station manager frantically waved her down. I poked my head out of Frieda's window.
"When you pass through the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, you must stop! There's been an incident. Sir Topham Hatt has been hospitalized! We need all the engines to meet at the Rescue Center. Leave your Express coaches here!" he ordered. I raised my eyebrows in shock.
Sir Topham Hatt was in the hospital... leave the Express coaches behind? This sounded extremely serious. The Express stops for nothing unless it is of the utmost importance.
Frieda was uncoupled from her blue coaches, and the two of us quickly turned off of the mainline towards the Search and Rescue Center.
. . .
When Frieda and I arrived, the Search and Rescue Center yard was absolutely PACKED with engines. Almost every engine that I knew of was present. Loud whistling, chuffing, and chattering filled the air. Frieda struggled to squeeze into the yard, as she was one of the largest engines on the Island.
Vat do you think eez going on? she thought to me.
I don't know, but it's something very important. I replied.
Frieda finally found a spot, and parked, just as Mr. Percival, the lesser known controller arrived. He stood high up on a freight car, and signaled for everyone to be silent. The chatter and other various noises slowly died down. Mr. Percival had a somber look on his face.
"Thank you all for coming with haste. This is quite possibly the most important, and most unfortunate announcement I'm ever going to make." he started. I climbed out of Frieda's cab, and the two of us looked at each other in worry.
"Sir Topham Hatt... has died of a heart attack." Mr. Percival announced sadly. Several gasps filled the air. My eyes widened.
Sir Topham Hatt... was dead?
The man I had worked alongside for so long was gone?
I looked at Frieda with a horrified expression. She looked a little surprised, but not nearly as much as I probably did. I realized that Mr. Percival was still talking.
"A funeral will be held for him in three days time. Unfortunately, there will not be anyone to run the railway for a few days. I'm retiring tomorrow, so I won't be running it. We will have to get a new controller." he said. I did remember he had said something about his retirement recently.
"Nobody can replace Sir Topham Hatt!" one voice shouted, before several others began to agree. Mr. Percival raised his hands for silence.
"I know that. Sir Topham Hatt was the best controller around, and nobody can replace him. But this railway still needs one! There's nothing I can do about that! A new one will be arriving in a few days. I've already spoken with him, and he's qualified for the job. He hasn't given me any details, but he does have a few changes planned. We can only hope that they're for the better. In the mean time, I know you all will strive to remain really useful. It's what Sir Topham Hatt would want." he said, before stepping down.
I leaned against Frieda, and let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.
So Sir Topham Hatt was really gone. I couldn't help but wonder what the new controller would be like. Would be be like Sir Topham Hatt? Or would he be different?
And what changes would he bring?
Only time will tell. I'd just have to wait and see when the new controller arrives.