Edward and The Scarlet Engine

It was a sunny day on the Island of Sodor. The engines were out and about, bustling back and forth, trying their hardest to prove that they were really useful. Yes, everyone was out, working hard and enjoying the sunshine.

Well, almost everyone.

Edward, the one of the older engines on the island, was resting in his shed at Tidmouth. Not by choice, of course! A few days prior, Edward had broken down when a heavy goods train had weakened him, and Victor had ordered him to really rest up until he was feeling back up to par.

Although the weather was nice and everything around him was cheery, Edward couldn't bring himself to be in a positive mood. His usual smiling face was stoic, his eyes focusing down on the rails before him. Every time he broke down, he became this way: depressed and unapproachable. The reasoning was, surprisingly, not due to the injury. No, no; to him, it was more than that.

Every time he was hurt, he thought of her.

As he became lost in thought again, deep scarlet and gold flashing before him in his mind, he didn't notice Thomas backing into his shed. The little engine had finished his work early today, and had earned himself a rest in his shed.

"Hello, Edward!" he greeted with his usual cheeky smile. When Edward didn't look up for a few moments, Thomas grew puzzled. It wasn't like the blue engine not to return a greeting. Thomas decided to try and be a bit louder. "Edward? Hey, Edward!" The little engine gave a loud wheesh, hoping to finally grab his attention.

Edward's eyes blinked quickly as he was snapped back into reality, and he looked over. "Cinders and ashes, Thomas! You scared me!"

Thomas's cheeky grin softened to a sheepish one, and he chuckled softly. "Sorry, Edward. I was just a bit worried. It isn't like you to be spacey."

The mixed-traffic engine puffed out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Thomas," he apologized. "I was just lost in thought."

"About? Are you hurting? Should I fetch Victor-?"

"No, no," Edward soothed. "Believe me, I've taken worse." He chuckled, though it didn't sound light as it usually did. "It's just that..." His voice trailed away, and once again, he looked down at the rails.

"What is it, Edward?" Thomas asked softly. "You can tell me."

"Well... every time I break down, I think of an old friend of mine."

"An old friend? Who? Gordon? James?"

"No, no." Edward denied all of the smaller engine's inquiries. "She goes back farther than they do. She was here before Henry, Gordon, and James... here before you, too, as a matter of fact."

Thomas's eyes glistened with wonder. "So, she was on the island when you were new?"

"Sort of. I had been here a few years when she came about, so I guess, yes, I was still new."

"Wow!" Thomas whistled. "So she goes way back with you!"

"Yes... she does." In the back of Edward's mind, he could hear the faint sounds of a beautiful, crystal clear whistle.

'Edward! I'll race you to the docks!'

"So, where is she now? Did she go to work on another railway? Will she be back?"

Edward felt an ache deep in his tank the more and more Thomas questioned. He wasn't sure how to answer his question; no, rather, he didn't want to answer it. In all of the years that had gone by, he still hadn't come to terms with what had happened.

"Not... exactly," Edward began. "She-," his voice cracked slightly, "she was in a bad accident, Thomas, and so they sent her away."

Thomas instantly quieted down. "...How bad...?"

'Doesn't the sunset look beautiful tonight, Edward?'

"...She was probably scrapped."

There was a long silence. Thomas wasn't sure what to say. Neither did Edward, and the sweet whistle and voice that he had hear in his head slowly turned to shrieking peeps and crackling fire.

'Faster, Bella! You're almost out!'

'Edward-!'

'Bella, the tree!'

Before the sad blue engine was lost in thought again, Thomas asked quietly. "...You said she, right?"

Edward couldn't help but let at least one corner of his mouth curl upwards in a small smile. "Yes, she. You didn't see very many lady engines back in my day, so you could imagine how pleased I was."

Thomas smiled back. "Was she pretty?" He wanted his friend to remember all the good things.

"Beautiful. The most beautiful engine that has ever ridden these rails, in fact." Edward's eye got a dreamy look in them. "Scarlet red, the prettiest shade of red I've ever seen."

"Don't let James hear you say that, or he might get pouty!" Thomas teased. As Edward chuckled at his joke, Thomas finally asked, "...What was her name?"

Edward smiled sadly as the name left his mouth: "Arabella. But I called her Bella."

"Arabella..." Thomas echoed. "That is a pretty name."

"Indeed it is... or, rather, was," Edward corrected sadly.

"You know, Edward..." the little tank engine began, "whenever I used to miss Brighton, the other engines always told me to remember the good things, and it made me feel better. Why don't you remember all the good things about Arabella?"

"Oh, there are so many," the blue engine replied. "I don't know where to begin!"

"Well... how about from the beginning?" Thomas grinned. "Tell me the story of how she came to the island!"

"It's a long on, Thomas."

"I've got time!"

With a soft sigh and a half-smile, Edward chuckled. "Alright, settle down. Well, I could never forget the day she first arrived..."


It was a cheery morning on Sodor, thanks to the shining sun and gentle breeze. Edward awoke with his usual smile, enjoying the extra rest he had been able to get due to an early night.

Shortly after he woke up, none other than Sir Topham Hatt himself drove up, walking up to the mixed-traffic engine.

"G-Good morning, sir!" Edward greeted quickly.

Sir Topham Hatt smile. "Good morning, Edward. I have a special task for you this morning."

Edward was definitely awake now. A special, just for him! "Anything, sir!"

"We are recieving a new engine this morning," Sir Topham Hatt told him. "I would like you to greet her at the docks, perhaps show her around and show her how we do things around here."

'Her?' Edward thought to himself, but quickly gave a whistle. "Oh, yes sir! I'd be happy to, sir!" A new engine meant someone to share the work with, to talk to... to make friends with!

Happily, Edward chugged away.

When he reached Brendam Docks, a large ship was pulled up to port. The men were all bustling about, and Edward assumed (and hoped) that it was for the new engine.

Soon, Edward saw her. Her scarlet paint reflecting the sun, and glints flicked off of her well-maintained paintwork. Her eyes were wide as she looked all around; 'Perhaps she had a bad boat ride,' Edward thought to himself, and slowly chuffed forward to meet her.

As they got her on the rails, the engine didn't dare budge. At the sound of Edward of approaching, she looked up, startled.

The closer Edward got, the more he realized just how tiny this engine was! She was probably half his size! He waited while the workmen checked her over and tried to listen to what they had to say.

"...LB&SCR A1x Class "Terrier" 0-6-0T tank locomotive from Wales. Just sign off here and she's good to go!"

Realizing that they were done with her, Edward approached again. "...Hello," he finally greeted softly, and her eyes darted to look at him.

"Um... hello," she responded.

"My name is Edward," he told her with a smile. "Welcome to Sodor!"

After a brief pause, the scarlet engine smiled back. "Thank you... Edward, was it? My name is Arabella."

"Arabella..." he whooshed, feeling his smile grow. "Well, Arabella, we're glad to have you here! Follow me, I'll show you around the island!" And with a loud, excited whistle, Edward chuffed off.

Arabella followed suit, giving her own whistle a good blow. As Edward heard the sound from behind him, he shut his eyes and sighed.

It was the most beautiful sound in the world.