Diesel 10 was a troubled engine, that much was for certain. Though he rarely acted out, when he did, he acted out spectacularly. It was because of this that many other engines feared him, especially the steam engines, who often thought of him as an evil monster.

One night, after cleaning up the debris from yet another derailment, Diesel 10 was heading home to the Dieselworks. He decided to take the track that went behind Tidmouth sheds so as to avoid attracting unwanted attention on the mainline. Now normally, he wouldn't be bothered to listen in to whatever rubbish the steam engines were talking about, but this time, the subject being discussed caught his attention.

They were talking about him.

"Why does the Fat Controller even keep that clawed monstrosity around? I say, it'd be better for all of us if he sent that horrid diesel away for good!" Gordon said rather loudly.

"Are you talking about…Diesel 10?" Emily said shakily.

"Of course, I'm talking about Diesel 10! Who else on this island has a great, hideous claw?!" said Gordon.

"You know that claw looks a bit like an oversized pooper scooper," Thomas said, giggling. This was followed by laughter from the other engines.

"It'd suit him well to have to scoop out a giant litter box with that," Henry remarked.

"Why are you so sullen, Percy?" Emily asked.

"I just don't think it's very nice to be saying rude things behind someone's back, even if it is Diesel 10," Percy said, frowning.

"Oh, come now, Percy! It's Diesel 10 we're talking about here! Surely you can't be sympathizing with him," said Gordon.

"He tricked you, remember?" said Thomas.

"Well…he did, but—" Percy started.

"Diesel 10 is a bad engine through and through. I don't think he should be sent away, I think he should be scrapped!" said James.

"He's right," Henry added, "I don't think he has an ounce of good in him."

"Diesel 10 is rotten to the core," said Emily.

Having heard all of that, Diesel 10 rushed off, not caring that he had just made himself visible to the steam engines. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

Rotten to the core!

Not an ounce of good in him!

Ought to be scrapped!

The words stung him like rusty needles. Diesel 10 could hear the whistles from behind him and sped up. Now he had an angry pack of steam engines on his tail.

"Well, speak of the devil!" Emily said crossly.

"Snooping on our sheds, disgraceful!" Gordon scoffed.

"Get back here you dirty, devious diesel!" Thomas shouted.

Diesel 10 was diverted into a siding that dead ended. There he stopped, no longer able to maintain his composure. His bawling sobs echoed for miles, thus giving away his location to anyone in the vicinity.

"There he is!" Emily said as she and the rest of the steam engines approached. They were very cross, and they didn't seem to care that Diesel 10 was genuinely upset.

"What were you doing, snooping by our sheds?!" Gordon demanded.

"You were going to smash the walls with that claw, weren't you?! Wait 'til the Fat Controller hears about this!" said Thomas.

"Guys—" Percy started.

"Maybe he'll finally have you sent away for good! Sodor would be much better off without you!" said James.

"Guys, he's crying—" Percy started.

"Good!" Gordon boomed. "He deserves it!"

"Who's crying now, Diesel 10?!" Emily sneered.

"Crocodile tears," James snorted.

"Come on, let's leave him to wallow," said Gordon.

At that, the steam engines headed back to Tidmouth sheds, leaving Diesel 10 by himself.

The next morning, the engines at Tidmouth sheds were having their fires lit as the Fat Controller was telling them their jobs for the day. All seemed normal until an airhorn sounded.

"Not him again," Gordon groaned.

James was about to make another rude remark, but he and everyone else fell silent when they saw the warship approach, holding a large piece of old piping that had been broken off on one end, leaving a sharp point.

They had all expected them to attack them, or even crush the Fat Controller. However, no one saw what happened next.

Diesel 10 glared at all of them. His face had visible tear stains, and he was breathing heavily. "This is your fault," he hissed. "You did this to me!"

Suddenly, his claw swung upwards. The Fat Controller jumped clear of him, and the steam engines braced for impact, but Diesel 10 didn't strike them. With a sudden, downwards swing, he drove the piece of piping straight into his own forehead. The Fat controller, his guards, the steam engines, and their crews, all stared in shock. The screeching of tearing metal was the only sound heard as the piping went deep into Diesel 10's inner workings. His eyes rolled back, and his claw fell to the ground, hanging limply at his side.

For a few tense moments, a heavy silence hung in the air, only to be broken by shocked gasps and the sound of retching as Henry spewed up water and ash.

The Fat Controller shook himself off, regaining his own composure. "Well! Is he still with us?!" he demanded.

His guards quickly trotted over to Diesel 10, giving him a good once-over. "Just barely, sir." The first guard replied.

"Edward! Take him to the Dieselworks immediately!" the Fat Controller ordered as he stepped into the old engine's cab.

Edward didn't need to be told twice. Without a word he was coupled to Diesel 10. He gave the others a harsh look before he started off. The Fat Controller leaned out of Edward's cab, glaring at the others. "You lot will remain here until I return!" he ordered.

The remaining steam engines gulped as Edward picked up speed and disappeared from sight. For the most part, they stayed silent, save for Percy, who was quietly crying. None of them had expected Diesel 10 to do that.

Hours later, Edward returned; a sullen look on his face. The Fat Controller stepped out and stormed towards the sheds with a look of anger and disgust on his face. The engines in the sheds exchanged glances, knowing they were in deep trouble.

"Never in my life have I been so utterly disappointed and frankly, disgusted by your actions!" The Fat Controller boomed. The tone and volume of his voice startled them all. "I am deeply ashamed of all of you! Edward told me how badly you've been treating Diesel 10 lately, but I never expected you to take it this far! Tormenting him to the point of trying to take his own life! You've brought shame upon this railway." The Fat Controller's voice was low and severe.

The engines were silent as the rotund man continued: "You should know by now that words can hurt just as bad as anything. Because of your cruel words, one of my engines is barely clinging to life. I will uphold my father's promise to never scrap an engine on this railway, but do not think you will be getting away with this! Every one of you who was involved in this will be punished severely!"

The engines once again exchanged glances, gulping.

"Gordon!" The Fat Controller boomed. "I will not have a bully pulling the express! Consider yourself permanently on freight duty."

"But, sir-!" Gordon protested.

"But NOTHING!" the Fat Controller snapped. "There are other engines just as capable of pulling the express, and if by some miracle, Diesel 10 recovers, he will be taking your place!"

At that, everyone gasped.

"James," The Fat Controller said, almost growling, causing the red engine to inch backwards. "You are to go straight to the Steamworks! I've arranged for the workmen to give you a fresh coat of dull grey paint."

James sputtered in response, not believing what he was hearing. The Fat Controller continued: "Your red paint is a privilege which has now been revoked! Now, to the Steamworks!" he ordered.

"Y…Yes, sir…" James mumbled as he slowly steamed away.

"Henry and Emily, you two are to remain in your sheds until I say you can come out. I want you to think long and hard about what you did." The Fat Controller said sternly, before turning to Thomas.

"Thomas the Tank Engine!"

Thomas cringed as the Fat Controller stormed right up to him. He knew he was in worse trouble than he'd ever been in before.

"I am incredibly disappointed in you. You of all engines should know better! I am hereby stripping you of your branchline and putting you on shunting duties!" The Fat Controller said in a deadly serious voice.

Thomas gasped. "But what about Annie and Clarabel?" he said.

"Diesel and Paxton can handle them just fine," the Fat Controller said dismissively. "Now, to the shunting yards with you, NOW!"

Thomas flinched before steaming off. No one had ever seen the Fat Controller this upset before, and no one wanted to upset him further. The gravity of what had happened was only starting to sink in, though, as the wounds were still fresh and the shock had not yet worn off.