One winter's day, there was a long shipment of steel pipes due to be delivered to Vicarstown Station that Donald and Douglas had been told to take. Emily had been ordered by the Fat Controller to help the twins and she was excited to be working with the twins again as she remembered working with them before after she and Thomas spent some time at Arlesburgh Harbour. But being twin brothers, of course Donald and Douglas could argue with each other and did not find it easy to agree with other engines all the time.
"Whoa, Douggie! Look at all these flatbeds!"
"Aye. I feel sorry for the engine that has to pull that lot, Donnie!" But Douglas was about to eat his own words, as Salty shunted one more flatbed onto the train.
"Aa-ha-ha. Ahoy, shipmates! Here's your train! A-ha!" Salty laughed.
"Oh, that's too much, Salty. Even for two engines," protested Douglas.
"Away an' weesht. We can pull that no bother. Come on, Douggie, let's show this old seadog what we can do!" boasted Donald.
"I'm no' gettin' behind that train, Donnie. It's too much for the two of us," argued Douglas.
"Nonsense, Douggie. We can manage that wee train no bother."
"We cannae! It's too heavy."
"Ach, we can, of course!"
"Cannae!"
"Can!"
"Cannae!"
"Can!"
Thomas was at the Docks too and could hear the twins arguing. Then as he passed through the shed with his own load of goods, he heard the whistle of his beloved angel.
"Hello, Emily!" whistled Thomas. "What are you doing down here?"
"I'm just on my way down to help Donald and Douglas," smiled Emily.
"Good luck with that!" chuckled Thomas.
"What do you mean?" asked Emily.
"They can't agree with each other, let alone another engine." Then Thomas heard more arguing from the twins as they began shouting to each other.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, Thomas," chuckled Emily.
"Well, then, you'd better hurry up, because they're already arguing!" said Thomas as he went on his way. Emily pondered those words as she whistled into the docks. As she huffed along the train, she counted the flatbeds to herself. As she neared the twins, she had counted twenty-five flatbeds altogether, the longest train she had ever seen. Even longer than what James tried to take to show he was stronger than Philip.
"Come on, Douggie, get to the back of the train," moaned Donald, as his brother still refused to co-operate, and was blocking the points.
"You're blocking the line," sighed Porter. Then they all heard Emily's whistle.
"Hello, everyone!" she called. "I hear this train could use an extra engine."
"Aye, that's right. Thanks, Emily!" called Donald. "Looks like me an' the lassie will have to do this on our own!"
"Wha'? No. Wait a minute. You're no takin' this train without ME!" huffed Douglas as he found a way to the back of the train. He did not like all the insistence Donald was giving him and preferred to be at the back with Emily. He remembered having a pleasant talk with her when she and Thomas went to help them at Arlesburgh. But when he came up behind Emily, he was still in a slightly bunchy mood about Donald, hence he buffered to her quite suddenly and abruptly.
"Aah!" exclaimed Emily.
"Ready to go, Donnie!" called Douglas. At last the heavy shipment was on the way to Vicarstown…
"About time!" Cranky cranked.
...and everything could get back to normal at the docks.
"We're decent-enough twins," Donald said to himself. "We can do this with three engines.
At the back of the train, Emily looked behind herself. "What was that biff for?" she asked.
"Oh! Sorry aboot that, Emily," said Douglas. "My brother and I were in a bicker just before you arrived. He can annoy me sometimes, and I must have been too occupied aboot him. I promise, I won't biff you like that again."
"Hmm…alright," said Emily. "Anyway, the Fat Controller told me to come down here to help you two with this shipment. I thought it would be fun to see you again after Thomas and I visited you at Arlesburgh."
"Aye, it is fun seeing you again, Emily," said Douglas. "I've only worked with you alone…but now, all three of us are working together…and seeing as we see you as a sister figure…perhaps we can call this the Great Sibling Cavalcade."
"I think that sounds right," said Emily. "So…are you happy that your sister figure is here again?"
"Aye, we are. It's very lovely seeing you again. We canna' do everything on our own. Even the two of us need an extra hand sometimes. You know, thanks for helping, Emily," said Douglas.
"No trouble at all, Donald," said Emily. She hadn't interacted much with Donald and as such, she forgot whose voice belonged to whom.
"Ach, no! I'm Douglas," corrected the No. 10 engine. "Donald's my brother. He's the difficult one."
Emily couldn't help but laugh at Douglas' remark. Her laughing echoed through the pipes…all the way to the front where Donald was.
"Alright, what's so funny?" he called back.
"He tried to make out that it was me who pushed him," said Douglas. "I said, 'you pulled me, more like'! He was proper-sulky all day."
"Really?" Emily chimed before laughing again along with Douglas. Donald was getting more annoyed by the moment hearing stories about his less fortunate days.
"And I'll tell you something else about my brother…did I tell you about the argument we had after we crashed into that hay cart?"
"Yes, Douglas, you have," said Emily. "Remember when Thomas and I helped you at Arlesburgh?"
"Oh. Right," said Douglas. "Well, here's one you haven't heard. You see, after we had a little problem with each other's tenders quite long ago, a Spiteful Brakevan came along and gave me plenty of trouble. Donald stood up for me by bumping the van about to teach him a lesson…but although the van behaved better for me, Donald dinna do so well. The rails were slippery…and that's when Donald reversed into the signal box."
Emily laughed yet again. Douglas felt good that he could amuse his sister figure…until the train suddenly stopped. "Oh!"
"Hey, Donnie! What's goin' on?" Douglas called.
"I'm no' goin' any further!" Donald called, quite faintly from where Douglas was.
"You what?" called Douglas.
"I said, I'm…no'…goin'…any…FURTHER!"
"You what?"
"Oh, brother!"
"Perhaps there's something on the line…like a hay cart!" laughed Emily. "Aye! Or a bull!" replied Douglas. They continued to laugh…until who should come up alongside them?
"Donald!" exclaimed Douglas.
"I want to swap places," insisted Donald.
"What? Why?" asked Douglas.
"I can hear youse two laughin' away - ha-ha-ha - it's no' fair, me bein' stuck out at the front on my own."
"Go on, Douglas, you take the front of the train. Please?" Emily asked sweetly. Douglas heard her kind tone and after his interaction with her at Arlesburgh, he found it only right to respect what she wanted.
"Alright," he sighed. "But only because you asked nicely, Emily."
"I said 'please'!" said Donald.
"You didnae!"
"Well, I was thinking it."
But as Donald and Douglas made their way backwards to switch lines, Toby was coming up behind. Toby had to swerve onto the siding…into a pile of snow. When the snow cleared away, Toby's face had been turned into a snow beard.
"Sorry, Toby, didn't see ya there!" said Donald.
"Ho-ho-ho," muttered Toby sarcastically. Toby's driver carefully dug the snow into a custom Father Christmas beard. "Oh!" smiled Toby.
Donald had stopped the train at Suddery Junction, right on Gordon's express line. Gordon had to stop sharply to avoid a collision. Then he saw what was holding him up, in a similar way to how Thomas and Emily did when they flourished too much in their passion.
"Ohh! Get out of my way! You're holding up the express!" Gordon barked.
"Alright, cool your funnel, big man," said Douglas.
"Oh, the Indignity," moaned Gordon.
Eventually, Douglas got to the front and whistled to get moving again. He, Emily and Donald slowly got moving again. But as they took some time to go fast, it didn't give any engine up ahead any time to reach the line. At the next switch, Henry saw Douglas leading the long train and had to stop quickly too.
"What's all this?!" he wheeshed. "You're going to make me late!"
"Mind yourself, slowcoach! We are the Great Scottish Trio!" whistled Douglas. Henry sighed impatiently as he watched the pipes glide by. After what felt like too long for Henry, he suddenly saw Emily at the back with Donald.
"Hmm. If these upstarts are annoying you, Emily…" Henry began.
"They're not, Henry," said Emily. "They just wanted a little swap. Donald's idea, but no harm done."
Henry looked at how long the train was. "Donald, what are you up to, putting Emily in the midst of your bickering?"
"Not her business, Henry," Donald replied.
Henry looked at Donald's still somewhat stubborn expression…then sighed. "I'll let you go once," he said.
"Don't you start too like Gordon," retorted Donald. When the train was out of sight, Henry continued on his way, wondering what would happen next with those engines…
"So, Emily, what were youse two talking about? Not that I'm bothered," said Donald as they approached Gordon's Hill.
"Oh, Douglas was telling me some funny stories about…" she stopped short, not wanting to offend Donald. "Well…both of you, actually."
"Well, I'll bet he didn't tell you about the time he broke down, and I had to rescue him!" smirked Donald.
"No, he didn't tell me about that," Emily chimed. She laughed yet again. Douglas heard it this time and only figured that Donald was trying to return the favor. He came to a stop, to Emily and Donald's surprise.
"Now what's the hold up?" she asked annoyingly.
"OK, Donnie, that's enough. We'r swapping back," she heard Douglas say. She remembered when she requested Douglas to take the front, but now he was resenting that request.
"Come on, now. This is getting silly," Emily said sternly as Douglas reversed beside her.
"I'm no' bein' silly," retorted Douglas. "Let's swap back."
"You've always got to have your way!" complained Donald as he reversed back down the hill.
"You've always got to have your own way!" argued Douglas. "You ought to hurry too! I dinna want Emily to go to too much of your trouble!"
Emily felt Donald's support fade and the weight on her buffers increase massively. "Wait! No!" she cried. "I don't think this is a good idea! Please, you two, I can't hold the train!"
Donald heard Emily's struggle in her voice and hurried to reach the front before her strength gave out completely, but Douglas' sibling attitude was getting in the way as he chased his brother up the hill instead of coupling to Emily.
"Don't run away from me when I'm talkin' to you!" he called to Donald. Douglas assumed the flatbeds' brakes would lock on and hold their position, but they didn't. Even worse, Douglas had stopped the train halfway up Gordon's Hill, and poor Emily was left holding all the heavy flatbeds, on her own.
"You never listen to me! You always do what you want!" huffed Douglas.
"Nae true - you never listen to me! You always do what you want!" argued Donald.
"Nae true!"
"It is!"
"No it isn't!"
"Yes it IS!" they kept on arguing, bumping each other back and forth.
And then there was trouble. The heavy flatbeds were too much for Emily and they began to push her back down the hill. "Oh no!" she cried. At first, she thought it wouldn't be that bad.
"Hmm, maybe I can just roll back down until the train is at the bottom. I'll be safe enough," she said to herself. "Then, I'm gonna give those twins a piece of my mind. This is too much." But Emily was wrong as the twins kept arguing.
"You do!" Douglas shouted as he roughly bumped Donald back. The bump was so rough, a piece of coal fell out of Donald's tender and began to roll down the hill…into a giant snowball. It was then that Douglas finally noticed something wasn't right when he noticed the pipes in motion.
"Donnie, are we still moving?" Douglas asked, suddenly worried. "Or is it...?" Then the snowball flew right past the twins.
"Oh no!" they hollered. "The train!" Then they began to rush back down after the snowball.
"Look out, Emily!" whistled Douglas. Emily heard him and looked up…then she gasped. The snowball was coming down, straight for her!
"Oh no, oh no! Oh NOOO!" cried Emily. She cried out again and shut her eyes.
"LOOK OUT!" Donald shouted, but it was too late. Suddenly, Emily felt a rough bump against her tender and she was lurched over, skidding back a few more feet and puffing up a cloud of snow and smoke before stopping altogether.
"Oh NOOO! THE QUEEN!" she heard the twins shout.
Down the hill, the smoke and snow cleared away. Luckily, Emily wasn't hurt, but she was sprawled over in the snow. She herself wasn't too badly off balance, but her tender was completely overturned. She could hear the twins' voices again.
"This is your fault, Douggie! Emily is bound to let us have it!" Then Emily could have sworn she heard Thomas' voice echo faintly through her smokebox.
"Stop them, Emily!" it said.
"Hmm…yes…I will," she thought. Presently, as her driver and fireman rose out of the snow, she heard the twins rushing up and glared at them both. Douglas was feeling frightened now, and in his fear, he tried to save face…like Thomas tried after upsetting Gordon's express. Emily had hoped they'd get straight to helping her, but instead, all she got was more quarreling between them.
"It wasnae my fault!" Douglas protested nervously to his sister figure.
"Yes it was!" argued Donald.
"It wasnae!"
"It was!"
"It wasnae!"
"It WAS!"
"It wasnae!"
"IT WAS!" They argued more and more angrily to each other.
Although Emily knew Thomas was only afraid whenever he said "It wasn't my fault," the twins were only trying to blame each other. Now she knew how the Fat Controller must have felt. The twins sounded like they were only trying to excuse their silliness. As they kept arguing back and forth, Emily looked at them both, then heard Thomas' voice in her head again. Then she decided she had taken enough.
"Stop them, Emily!" Thomas' voice faintly shouted. "Scold them! NOW!"
"Actually, I won't give them a piece of my mind," she thought. "I'm gonna scold them…I'm gonna blast those…dumb, silly, trouble-making brats!"
After the trouble they had caused for some other engines, then herself, Emily could see they needed a bit of a shock to learn a lesson, and to help her. If being harsh and firm was the only way to stop this nonsense now, so be it. She blew her whistle loudly, then unleashed her discipline.
"FOR GOODNESS SAKES, you two! I was trying to help you OUT! You IDIOTS! You…you FOOLS! ARGH, YO-OU IMBECILES!" she yelled, her eyes burning with pent-up annoyance as she remembered confronting the Fat Controller on punishing Thomas for saving Ryan.
"Uh-oh," thought Donald and Douglas, both shocked and stunned silent. They now knew they had gone too far.
Emily went on, panting with anger. "I offer to help you two with this lot, and THIS is how you thank me…by hurling me off the rails?! Well, I am TIRED of being stuck in the middle!"
"Heavens, Emily. We dinna mean to make you mad," murmured Douglas before resuming his gape, his eyes larger than his buffers. Donald, for once said nothing.
Emily scowled at the twins. As she spoke a little more, Douglas looked away from her and nearly cried. He felt as though he unintentionally broke the promise he made to her when she and Thomas helped them at Arlesburgh. Donald looked at his brother for a second, then back at Emily, understanding her point perfectly.
Emily hissed, "If YOU would just stop arguing for one minute, you'd see it's ME that needs some help now!"
Donald knew she was right, and Douglas knew they would have gotten straight to helping her if they didn't argue. For almost a minute, just like Emily scolded them of, no one said a thing. Donald and Douglas had three strikes against them now. One, they didn't know when Emily would forgive and forget after what they put her through, even without intention. Two, how to get help without any further bickering so they could help their sister back onto the rails. And thirdly, and what scared them most of all…although Thomas had learned to vanquish his demon, the twins did not know this yet. They were frightened that Thomas would become so angry, he'd be the Devil of the Railway if he found out.
In that minute of silence, both twins thought they heard Thomas' voice growling through their minds. So did Emily.
"Donald, Douglas! If it's the LAST thing I do, I'll…I'll GET you for this!" the voice echoed through them.
Emily's driver was deeply shocked by Emily's sudden spat, just like the twins. But considering that Donald and Douglas finally got some sense knocked into them, he smiled impressively. "Hmm…good girl, Emily," he said quietly. Emily almost smiled from the praise, but she turned back to the twins upon hearing their feeble and meek tones as they spoke.
"We are nae decent brothers…" moaned Donald.
"And this is nae the Great Sibling Cavalcade," added Douglas.
"…It's a disaster," they said together.
"I am so sorry, Emily," Douglas sighed deeply. "I thought the brakes on them flatbeds would hold steady on the hill…but we will both huff our hardest to help you."
"I should hope so too," Emily replied, holding her glare. "Don't expect me to work with YOU again anytime soon, and with this behaviour of yours, likely never again. I'd die first!"
"Please, don't that way, Emily. I will go and fetch Harvey with all haste," Donald said shamefully.
"Uhh…Only if he manages to FIND Harvey," said Emily's fireman, rolling his eyes.
"And I will stay with Emily…I think I need a word with her," said Douglas as he began to realize his own mistake. The twins backed up to the last switch so Donald could go on his way.
Emily's driver was almost as cross at the twins as she was. "Wait till the Fat Controller hears about this!" he exclaimed.
"Ha! Well, Donald and Douglas, now you know what tough love is like, don't you?" called her fireman.
While waiting for Donald to come back with Harvey, Douglas came back to Emily to socialize properly with her…but not before she had more to let out. She didn't shout anymore, but still showed her venomous displeasure for her brother's behaviour.
"You…" she seethed, shaking with anger in the snow. "Just a year and a half ago, you made a promise to me, while Thomas and I were working with you at Arlesburgh that although you two are full of tricks, you would never try anything rash on me, and I believed you." Her eyes watered up fresh tears, not of sadness, but of anger and pain. "Why? Why did you LIE to me?!"
Douglas expected her to accuse him of that and he felt terrible. "…I didnae lie," he murmured as he began to tear up a little too. "I wasnae trying to get you derailed…I never meant for this to happen. Neither did Donnie."
"It still happened, regardless," Emily whimpered, trying desperately not sob or to let her tears fall. "You may be a quarrelsome brother to Donald…but seeing as you think of me as a Scotswoman, you're also MY brother!"
"…We appreciated your help greatly, Emily," Douglas explained. "It's just that Donnie and I can't stand it when we tell tales aboot each other to other engines."
"I don't care about what you can stand for or not," Emily replied. Her tears retreated back into her eyes and gone. At least she managed to resist sobbing. "Are you at least going to treat me like an actual engine from now on?" she asked suspiciously.
"Aye, we certainly shall, on my honour, or may I be scrapped. And…I think I now know why this all went wrong, lassie," said Douglas. "I should have thought aboot it back at the docks…Donnie and I usually double-head, rather than work as front and back-engines. You were stuck in the middle."
"Oh, of course. Talk the obvious first," Emily sniffed. "You childish windbags! Why don't you get to the point? And why didn't you give me that chance before?!"
"You didnae say anything aboot wanting to be at the front…listen, Emily," implored Douglas, swallowing hard. "I think the best way for you to get on with us is…ladies first. You take the front from now on, while Donnie and I push behind. It'd be wise if you don't come between us when we argue, Emily. I understand being stuck in the middle is no fun at all. If you must work with us, make sure you get to the very front or, if you can't, the very back. Better yet, tell the Fat Controller to let someone else help us. You dinna deserve any of this."
Emily suddenly realized Thomas was right. She should have known the risks, like he told her of. She scowled again when she heard Donald's whistle behind Douglas. Douglas then reversed again with his brother to the next line to the left.
"So, you muckle nuisance, screechin and a noise," Emily mimicked. "Did you actually bring help, or did you just argue with another engine?!"
"Yes. Help is here!" said a jolly voice beside her. Emily looked, and suddenly remembered when a branch blocked her line on this very hill.
"Harvey!" she exclaimed happily. "It's you!"
Harvey beamed. "I heard what happened, Emily. I'm here to look after you, and make sure you find your way safely back on track. Excellent job scolding the twins by the way. Even the Fat Controller will be surprised."
Donald and Douglas watched as Harvey hauled the shifted flatbed back into place while some workmen dug the snow out from under Emily and her tender. Then Harvey's hook was attached to Emily. He carefully maneuvered her back onto the line. Lastly, he switched to her line and his hook was hitched onto her tender. He realigned it perfectly and soon, she was completely back on track.
"There you are, Emily," said Harvey. "Good as new. Now you're not stuck in gear, like I once was."
Emily felt better. "Thank you, Harvey," she said. "At least I look like a snow-engine again for Thomas to enjoy." At that moment, Toby, James and Gordon passed by, slowing down as they passed a workman with a red flag.
"Oh, what's happened here, then?" asked Toby as he passed by.
"Oh, come on!" James complained, sounding very annoyed. "What's the hold up?"
Then Gordon saw what the holdup was and why Emily was in a snowy mess. "Oh, it's these silly engines blocking the line again!" He accused. "Some of my passengers were cross at me because of you two! And whatever you did to poor Emily, Thomas WILL hear about it, and so will the Fat Controller, you blasted Caledonian Engines!"
"It wasnae me! It was my…brother..." said the twins.
"It was both of us," said Douglas, taking note of what Emily said.
"Aye, Douggie, it was." At last, Donald and Douglas could agree on something.
"It DOESN'T end here!" Gordon called behind himself.
"Mates, let's hear it for Emily! The strongest-willed engine on Sodor!" cheered Harvey. The workmen and Emily's driver and fireman cheered too and some jumped up and down.
"Yes! Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" some shouted.
After Harvey left, Emily made her way back down the track until she found a switch to get to the front of the train. She was feeling a little surprised at herself for scolding the twins so harshly.
"Wow," she smiled, beaming with excitement. "Where did THAT come from? I've haven't felt this strong since I overpowered the Fat Controller for Thomas' wrongful punishment. That felt good!"
Her driver stepped down and walked up to her front. "Well, Emily, you even took me by surprise, but I'm proud of you. It was clear those twins were not going to cooperate unless you scolded them. Who else would have if you were the only engine out here who could?" He climbed onto her running plate and patted her smokebox.
"You were like a mother with two arguing sons, or a sister amongst two arguing brothers, and I mean that in a good way," her driver continued as he gently touched her cheek. "I think you have the same strength Edward has with Bill and Ben. He's the only one who can keep them in order. Maybe you're the one to keep these two in order."
"So the lesson is…if two companions argue too much, let yourself be heard, and when necessary, be firm about it," said Emily.
"I couldn't have put it better myself, girl," said her driver.
Emily thought about it for a moment, then smiled more. She really did have a strong will, just like Thomas believed she did.
"Thank you, sir," she said to her driver. At that moment, Douglas came reversing on the line beside her. He backed up some ways behind her to let her swap to his line and he could take her line. Once she did that, Douglas coupled to the train so he could pull it back past the points so Emily wouldn't need to go over the hill.
"Where's Donald?" asked Emily.
"Turning around on a wye line. He wants to tell you something…" said Douglas. A minute or two later, Donald came up to Emily.
"It was both of us," said Donald. "And I'm sorry, Emily."
"No, I'm sorry," said Douglas.
"I'M sorry!" insisted Donald.
"Nae true! I'm sorry! Nae, Me! ME!" They started again. Even Donald's driver had taken enough. "Ahh, shut up!" he groused.
At first, Emily thought about scolding the twins again, but suddenly she had a different idea. Maybe if she tried to flirt with the twins, they'd stop arguing long enough for her to make it to the front of the train. Seducing Thomas was one thing, but she really wanted to see how her Scottish brothers would react to her seductive side.
"Hmm…" she thought to herself, smiling deviously. "Scolding was pretty harsh…Maybe I should try something far more dreadful…Here goes." She whistled again. Donald jumped with fright and shut his eyes.
"Oh dear! Please, Emily don't be angry! Go ahead and take the front, we-"
"Of course I'm not angry," he heard her say, in a much different voice than he expected. When Donald looked at Emily, she didn't look angry. She looked inviting, and very, very seductive. Her eyes twinkled in the sunlight and her smile looked alluring and naughty.
"Would you do me a…favor?" she asked smoothly, batting her eyelashes. Donald made a big smile, feeling very nervous and jittery. Douglas didn't know what to think, but felt just as nervous.
"Well, go on, pull this train back for me," Emily said, looking at him for a moment.
"A-aye," Douglas said awkwardly as he began to slowly pull the heavy shipment back, straining even more than Emily did. He didn't have the hill to help push him down.
Emily then buffered up to Donald. "As for you…my cheeks are cold in this winter weather…would you keep them warm…plee-ease?" she purred. Then to give him a hint, she licked her lips.
Donald tried to resist her temptation, to no avail. "Hmph. Yer seduction will nae work on engines like…" But Emily came closer and licked her lips again, batting her eyelashes at Donald and purring sexily. Donald went deep red and began to shudder and shake all over.
"We-w...ooh-hoo-hoo! Ooh-ah! Fire and Smoke!" he hooted. He reversed a little, but Emily followed him, still trying to allure him.
Douglas could see some of what was going on and was most surprised. "Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "The lassie's got quite the ability!"
"Ooh, do you like my wheels, big brother? I think you do…" Emily teased as she followed Donald. "Come here and keep your lovely sister cozy."
"Aah! She's gettin' sensual! Help! HELP!" wailed Donald.
"Ooh…If you keep my cheeks warm, I'd be happy to…let us say, light your fire," Emily swooned sexily.
Donald suddenly picked up speed, trying to escape his sister figure's unusual behaviour. "Emily! No! Stop! Get away! Keep back!" he panicked.
"Come here, Donald. I just wanna cuddle…" Emily purred.
At that point, Donald chickened out and reversed as fast as he could with Emily chasing after him. Donald was so nervous, he reversed right up Gordon's Hill and out of sight. Emily stopped where she was, satisfied that her plan worked.
"Hey, EMILY!" Douglas called loudly from behind her. "Your switch is clear! You can come back and get to the front now!"
Emily heard Douglas and whistled back before she reversed back down the track. By the time she returned to the switch, she backed up to the front and coupled up.
"Uh…Emily," Douglas said, trying to break the awkward silence. "Exactly what were you doing with Donnie?"
"I...uh…I'll tell you some other time," said Emily. "Just help me like I demanded you to," she added sternly.
"Hmm…anyway," said Douglas. "Let's try to move forward until I'm at the switch so Donald can be in front of me." At least with Douglas, Emily could move the train easier until Douglas lined up with the switch.
At that moment, Donald reversing down the hill, once again turned round. He was about to pass by Emily when she moaned in his direction again, going, "Ooh!" Donald finally shot away to be with Douglas, blowing off steam and clouding Emily in it. When the steam cleared away, Emily suddenly noticed, her face was very warm now from the steam. Donald did keep her cheeks warm after all.
"I suppose that'll do," Emily smiled smoothly. At last, the train was on the move again. Emily was happy to finally get some peace from her rebellious brothers. Donald and Douglas remained completely silent and solemn for quite a while. They didn't dare question Emily's alluring behaviour. All they knew was that Emily was friendly, but could be very firm if necessary. As they huffed along in shame and embarrassment, they both sulked.
"Aw, come on, Douglas," said his driver. "Just cause neither of you are up front, that's no reason to be a sorehead. If it weren't for Emily, I don't think either of you would have learnt a good lesson."
"Now, I've truly got the best engine ever…right, Emily?" said her driver. Emily smiled, then performed her usual funny face. "Ugh…" she said, going cross-eyed.
"Ha-ha! Isn't she something, mate?" said her driver to her fireman.
Finally as evening set in, the train reached Vicarstown Station. Emily whistled to greet Thomas as he left the platform and he whistled back. He could see she was spotted with snow, and was wearing a very faint, simple smile. It grew a little when she heard her star's voice.
"Hello, Emily!" said Thomas. "How are you getting on with Donald and Douglas?"
"Fine now," Emily answered proudly, and wearily. "And next time, I know NEVER to come between two brothers when they're arguing," she concluded, giving Thomas a stern, superior smile. Thomas chuckled as he passed by his snow angel.
"Tell me about it tonight," he called.
"Oh, I will, Tommy," Emily answered. "See you at Knapford Sheds!"
As Thomas left the station, he saw the twins pushing behind. He could hear them talking about something as he passed by them.
"This never would have happened if we had both been at the back," said Donald shamefully.
"Aye, we should have been together at the back in the first place," added Douglas.
Thomas wondered what they meant as he heard them bickering to themselves. Although they whistled to each other, the twins were too busy arguing to notice Thomas.
"Agreed."
"Aye."
"That's that then."
"Aye, that's that."
"That's what I said."
"So did I."
"I said it first though."
"No, I said it first."
"Yes, I did!"
"No, you didnae. I said it first!"
Emily heard the arguing through the pipes, but she didn't mind as much now. Being at the front, she didn't have to worry about being derailed again. She also knew they'd receive their comeuppance.
Yes, it's no surprise that this is my favourite Season 21 episode, an episode about Emily and the Scottish Twins, that's something I've been dreaming off ever since Donald and Douglas returned, and god did I adore it. And it's also my 50th story overall! Fifty stories! Jesus, never at all did I think I'd ever reach this many stories. An seeing as it's such a milestone, it's gonna be a multi-chapter story, the last one for awhile. The next chapter will also be a lot darker than this one. Not quite as dark as *The Demon Awakens*, but still dark regardless. So give us your thoughts on the episode and what you thought of this chapter and we'll see you very soon with the next chapter, probably tomorrow.