The Fat Controller sighed as he sipped more of his coffee.
"I see the Great Railway Show didn't go as well as you had hoped?" asked the Thin Controller, who was joining him for breakfast.
"It could've gone better, I'll say that much," the Fat Controller muttered.
"Ah. Has it affected your income at all?"
"There hasn't been any decrease if that's what you mean, but I have been hearing people make queer jokes about my engines..."
"Don't listen to them, Topham. You and your engines did your best. Anyhow, I'm sure it'll pass in a few weeks' time."
"I know. At least, I hope it will..."
He was about to bite into a crumpet when he heard a light tapping at the door.
"Hmm... I wonder who that could be. Excuse me, Peregrine."
"Of course," the Thin Controller replied with a nod.
The Fat Controller opened the door to find the stationmaster in the doorway.
"Oh, hello Callum. What seems to be the matter?"
"Thomas is at the station, sir, with a foreign engine. I'm not sure what he wants; he just asked me to come and get you."
The Fat Controller groaned.
"Bother... My crumpets will have to wait... I'm terribly sorry Peregrine, but I'm afraid our conversation will have to wait."
The Thin Controller collected his coat from the rack.
"It's fine, Topham. I needed to go check on my engines anyway. Cheerio!"
"Cheerio," said his friend as he exited the office.
He stopped in surprise to find Thomas and Ashima on the two tracks closest to his office.
"Thomas? What's all this?" the Fat Controller asked, putting his hands on his hips.
Thomas chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but I have a bit of a problem. You remember Ashima, don't you?"
Ashima smiled nervously as the Fat Controller gazed at her.
"I think I do, yes. Wasn't she the engine you let win the shunting competition?"
Thomas blushed in embarrassment as Ashima giggled.
"Maybe, that's not important. Anyway, Ashima's ship isn't going to be coming for at least a week, so she needs some work to do until then. Is there any job that's available for her?"
The Fat Controller rubbed his chin.
"Hmm, I wasn't exactly expecting another engine..."
Thomas and Ashima glanced at each other anxiously as the Fat Controller snapped his fingers.
"The Harwick Branch Line is rather busy at the moment, and Daisy's being worked off her wheels. Perhaps Ashima could take some passenger services up there, and goods if need be." He glanced at the Indian engine. "Would you like that, Ashima?"
Ashima grinned.
"Oh, that would be delightful, sir! It is an honor to work on your railway."
She noticed Thomas' frown and smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry we can't work together, Thomas."
Thomas chuckled dismissively.
"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other often. Don't worry about it."
"If you say so. When do I leave, sir?"
"Right now would be alright."
"I suppose I'll be off then! Bye, Thomas!"
Ashima whistled and slowly puffed away. Thomas smiled, glad to see his new friend was making the best of her temporary working place.
The sheds at Arlesburgh Yard were quiet. Ryan opened a sleepy eye in the shed. He yawned as both eyes fluttered open to the new day.
"Good morning, Daisy!" he said happily, glancing at his fellow companion.
The diesel railcar glared at Ryan, immediately telling him he was in for a rough morning.
"Does it look like I'll have a good morning, Ryan? Because I won't! I'll be overstuffed with passengers again like I have been throughout the past few days!"
"But... I thought you liked pulling passengers," said Ryan in confusion.
"I do, but I don't want five per seat! Every time that happens I get cramps! Then, everyone just says I'm lazy! Huh! No-one understands what I go through!"
She scowled as she eyed the number of passengers on the station platform.
"I'm just happy this new line's doing so well," Ryan replied optimistically, "I've never seen so many passengers before!"
"Neither have I," muttered Daisy with disapproval, "If the Fat Controller doesn't send another engine to help us, I'll be so tired I'll feel I'm on my roof instead of my wheels!"
"But... you're on your wheels, not your roof," said Ryan, bewildered.
Daisy rolled her eyes.
"Yes, brilliant deduction, Ryan."
Suddenly, to the two engines' surprise, a foreign whistle blew from nearby.
"Who is that?" Ryan asked curiously.
"How should I know?" Daisy snapped, "Do I look like an encyclopedia to you?"
Ryan looked down at his buffers.
"I never said you would..."
Daisy sniffed, just as a brightly-painted engine puffed up to the shed.
"Um... excuse me?" she asked politely, "This is Arlesburgh, isn't it?"
Daisy and Ryan exchanged a look.
"Yes," Ryan finally said slowly, "It is."
The engine sighed with relief.
"Oh, thank goodness for that! When I first came here, I got lost trying to find the Mainland!"
Seeing the two confused, the engine chuckled.
"It's a long story. I can tell you later if you'd like."
Ryan smiled.
"I'd like-"
"What I want to know is what you're doing here," Daisy interjected, "All you're doing right now is taking up space!"
The engine looked hurt.
"I'm truly sorry," she said apologetically, "I suppose I should've been more clear about my objective. I'm here to work with you for a week, I believe. My name is Ashima, by the way."
Daisy's eyes narrowed.
"Well, find some coaches and get to Arlesburgh Junction then. At least I get a rest..."
Daisy yawned and slammed her eyes shut. Ashima frowned and slowly backed away to the yard. Ryan glanced at her apologetically before glaring at Daisy.
"You could've been nicer to her, you know. She's only a newcomer."
Daisy opened an eye.
"Does it look like I care? You know I'm cranky when I'm tired. Shut up now."
Ryan rolled his eyes.
Ashima eyed a couple red coaches that were sitting on a siding.
"Hopefully these will do," she said as a shunter coupled her up.
Quickly, Ashima pulled into the station. The passengers' jaws dropped as she came to a halt.
"Who's this?" one man asked, "I haven't ever seen such an engine before."
"She looks Indian," observed an Indian woman, "I recall seeing those types of engines before on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway."
"Wherever she's from, she's very well-decorated. I'd argue even more so than Daisy."
"I agree; there's simply no contest."
Ashima blushed modestly as the passengers boarded the train.
"Thank you," she said.
The guard blew his whistle and Ashima puffed away.
The sheds were quite close to the station, so Daisy had overheard everything. She swiftly grew green with envy. Being in the same shed, Ryan had also overheard what the passengers had said and grew concerned for his friend.
"Are you alright, Daisy?"
Daisy just scowled.
"I can't believe this! She pulls into our station once and already she's seen as more beautiful than me?! Me?! What rubbish!"
"She does have a lot of colors, though," Ryan observed, "She has plenty of bright green, white, and orange patterns scattered over her paint. Not to mention her pink and blue livery."
"Since when are you so knowledgeable about colors? Besides, I have my makeup, which is obviously much better than whatever she has!"
"Well, Daisy, I..."
Ryan broke off as he observed that Daisy didn't reply.
"Daisy...?"
Daisy lowered her brow competitively.
"You're on..."
"...on what?"
"Stop ruining my moments, Ryan."
Ashima puffed happily along the Harwick line, observing every sight she saw.
"It certainly is pretty here," she said to herself, "It's not like back home, but a chance of pace is always pleasant."
In the back of her mind, however, she still thought about Daisy and how rude she had been. She frowned as the memory came back to her.
"I hope she doesn't turn out like Vinnie..." she said to herself, shuddering at the thought.
The passengers greatly enjoyed the ride too.
"She doesn't complain at all, unlike Daisy."
"Indeed, Daisy often makes us late by complaining about pulling goods trains when Ryan isn't available, but this engine knows what she's doing."
Ashima smiled at the praise, though grew even more worried about Daisy.
"Hopefully, she doesn't take this too personally... I'm only going to be here for a week anyway."
At the junction, Mike blew his whistle impatiently, surveying the North Western line.
"What are you doing just sitting there, Mike?" Frank asked bitterly as he pulled next to him with some supplies, "The rest of us are working our buffers off and you're sitting around trying to look fancy!"
Mike glared at the grumpy diesel.
"I'm waiting for that blasted Daisy with her passengers. She always nags me for being late, but when she's late, suddenly it's alright? Double standards, I say!"
"Well, you are late a lot," smirked Frank.
"And you're just the one who does odd jobs," snapped Mike.
Just then, Ashima pulled into the junction, gasping when she saw the Arlesdale Railway engines.
"Goodness, you two are so small!"
"Yes, we are..." Mike muttered, "Don't wear it out- Oh wait, you did just by mentioning it..."
Ashima winced.
"I'm sorry..."
Frank sniffed and glanced at the foreign engine.
"Who are you exactly...? We expected Daisy."
"Oh, I'm taking her first run. Apparently's she tired."
Mike rolled his eyes.
"Typical... I can't stand that diesel."
"Me or Daisy?!" Frank gasped.
Mike smirked.
"I could say... both of you."
Ashima raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"About Frank? Well, he's done so many things that annoy me that I could go on for hours. First, he whines about not being the center of attention-"
"No, about Daisy!"
"Oh. I had a complete list of the annoying things Frank does in my mind but alas, that'll have to wait until tonight..."
Frank slowly rolled away, trying not to sob.
"Is he alright?" Ashima asked worriedly.
"Oh, he will be. It's all in good fun... for me anyway."
Mike grunted.
"Anyway, Daisy's a nuisance. I heard she was transferred from some other part of the railway, and I can't imagine how they put up with her for so long. She wants everything just so and wears silly makeup for some reason. What'll happen when it rains? Well, I'll laugh in her face when it's covered in smeared color, that's what!"
Ashima frowned.
"It seems you have strong feelings."
"Oh, I have plenty. I'd tell you all about them but I have to leave."
"Good..." muttered Ashima under her breath.
"What'd you say?"
"Nothing...!"
Mike whistled and began puffing away. Ashima was deep in thought as she went to turn around.
"Hmm... I wonder..."
At last, Ashima's run was complete, and she puffed back to Arlesburgh for further instructions. Ryan had left to take a goods train to the harbour, but Daisy was still preparing for her first run of the morning. I'm sorry to say that her mood had not improved. She glared at Ashima as she came to a halt.
"I see you're already done with your first job..."
"Well, yes, I like to work quickly. What do I have to do next?"
Daisy yawned.
"Don't ask me, I'm not the one in charge. If I was, things would be a lot different around here."
"Oh... but there's nobody around here," Ashima observed.
Daisy smirked slyly.
"Maybe nobody wants to see your ugly face."
She chuckled at her own jab as she rolled away.
Ashima winced, trying not to be affected by the insult. All the same, she couldn't help but feel sorry for herself.
"I don't drive people away... Do I?
Meanwhile, Daisy pulled into the station, smiling at her waiting passengers.
"All aboard!" she said loudly.
The passengers glared at her.
"Such a shame that nice Indian engine can't be here all the time."
"Yes, she's never this loud."
Daisy's smile instantly turned into a scowl.
The rest of the day passed with few notable events. As the moon shone that night, Ryan backed into his berth after a long day of work. He sighed with exhaustion as his fire was beginning to be put out. The tank engine glanced at Daisy, who was filling up on fuel.
"What are you doing, Daisy?" he asked innocently, "You don't have any more runs for tonight."
Daisy scoffed.
"I don't believe it's any of your business, but I shall explain nonetheless. I'm going to the Dieselworks."
"For a routine maintenance check?" Ryan pondered, "I thought that wasn't for another week."
"Never you mind. Tell 'Ashima' she can have my berth for the night. I'll probably be there for a while."
"What? But-"
Daisy blasted her horn and she scurried away before Ryan could finish. The tank engine sighed.
"She never tells me anything..."
"Alright, pull 'im up again!"
Norman snorted as the hoist lifted him up into the air.
"Bother that Thomas... Yet another incident I'm in..."
"It isn't fun for us either, you know," said Dart hoarsely, rolling up underneath him, "Hearing you groan and grumble isn't really helping either."
"There's not much else I can do," protested Norman. Just then, a loud horn echoed through the Dieselworks.
"Huh. I haven't heard that horn in a while," said Dart.
"Dart, would you mind seeing who it is while I attend to Norman here?" Den asked slowly.
"Oh, sure, Den."
Dart raised an eyebrow as Daisy rolled onto the turntable.
"Daisy! It's not time for your maintenance check yet; you're off by a few days."
"I'm not here for that," Daisy replied, "I have stiff competition on my branch line now."
"It isn't really your branch line, though," Den said, "You and Ryan share it, don't you?"
"Maybe, but I'm the true spectacle!" Her smug smirk turned into a frown. "That could all change soon, however. A new engine's arrived and everyone thinks she's more beautiful than me!"
Den didn't really follow.
"And...?"
"And I want you two to make me look nicer than I already do."
"Uh... Daisy, the Dieselworks is for repairing diesel locomotives. It's not really for your... er..."
"He's trying to say the Dieselworks doesn't have mascara," Dart said, "Or blush. Or whatever else you have on your face. Honestly, I never really understood your habits."
Daisy scowled.
"I didn't come here to get bombarded with insults from the ignorant!"
Den and Dart looked at each other helplessly. At last, Daisy lost patience.
"Well, start moving and find some! I need to look my best so my passengers will accept me again!"
Den and Dart glanced at each other again.
"Alright, give us a minute," Dart suggested, "Maybe we'll find some in the back."
"Why would you have mascara of all things in the back?" Norman asked from up on the hoist.
Dart glared up at him.
"Shhh!"
Daisy smirked with satisfaction as Den rolled onto the lowering turntable.
"Hey, wait! What about me?" Norman complained.
"You'll get your turn," scoffed Dart as the turntable rose back up, "Just stay up there and you'll be alright."
Norman grunted.
"I can't believe you're putting makeup over my important repairs..."
Den and Dart scurried away, not even listening to him.
Soon, they had scurried beside the building. When they were out of earshot of anyone, Den looked curiously down at Dart.
"Do you have something up your air intake, Dart? I see the look in your eye."
Dart smirked.
"Indeed I do, Den! What kind of fool thinks a place that repairs locomotives would know anything about applying makeup? Maybe at the Washdown, but not here! Yet she has the nerve to call us ignorant!"
"I see. So, what's your plan then?"
Dart snickered.
"It'll be a doozy! Let's..."
Dart quickly explained the joke, and Den readily agreed, not too fond of Daisy himself.
Minutes flew by, and Daisy was beginning to grow restless.
"Ugh, where are they?! must've found some by now!"
Norman gave her a dirty look.
"I've been stuck up here for a few weeks myself, so shut up and start being grateful you're still in working order."
"Well, that's just no way to speak to a lady!"
"A lady? That's a new one."
Daisy scoffed as Den and Dart rolled alongside her, one on each side.
"What took you two so long...?" she snapped.
Dart gritted his teeth, though he attempted to hide it.
"We don't have a lot of mascara, but we did find a little! Just enough for you! Didn't we, Den?"
Den smiled nervously.
"Right. We did. Heh, heh..."
Norman raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Daisy smirked.
"Good."
A workman glanced at Dart.
"What do you expect from us?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"I've never done this sort of thing before!"
"Oh dizzy diesels, just act like you're painting an engine's paintwork," Dart replied hastily.
The workman shrugged.
"I don't think you're one to really talk as an 'expert', but I need my check so..."
Daisy beamed proudly as the job began going underway.
At last, the task was completed. Daisy blinked, showing off her new look.
"Ta da! Look at me!"
Den and Dart snickered at each other.
Daisy raised an eyebrow.
"What? I look fabulous! Oh, my passengers are going to love this!"
"I'm sure they will," chuckled Norman sarcastically.
Daisy rolled her eyes.
"You just don't understand true beauty, Norman."
She honked her horn and began reversing out of the Dieselworks. The three diesels couldn't contain it anymore and they all exploded into laughter.
"I must admit," Norman said, trying to calm himself down, "You two did a great job, but not in the way she thought...!"
"I know.
Daisy slowly made her way back to the Harwick Branch Line; she wanted everyone to see how she looked.
"Might as well show it off to everyone I meet," she chuckled, "I'm sure they'll be impressed..."
At Crovan's Gate Station, Peter Sam and Arthur were exchanging passengers when Daisy bustled up.
"Oh, hello you two!" she smirked as she came to a halt, "Like my new look? I got it at the Dieselworks."
Peter Sam and Arthur glanced at each other, then back at Daisy. Peter Sam began to giggle.
"Yes, that's very clear!"
Daisy scowled.
"What's so funny, Peter Sam?"
"Your 'new look' makes you look like you got it at the Waste Dump!"
Daisy shuddered at the thought.
"I'm not that desperate. How dare you compare me to that awful place!"
"Daisy, have you actually looked at yourself?" Arthur asked, trying not to laugh.
Daisy rolled her eyes.
"I don't need to yet. I just know it's perfect by how it feels!"
At this, Peter Sam chortled loudly.
"That's low standards for you!"
Arthur didn't want to be rude, but he couldn't help himself laughing too. Daisy growled with anger as she started off again.
"Silly engines... No taste at all..."
Next, Daisy approached Cronk, where Diesel was dropping off a few trucks for his slow goods. He glanced at Daisy's face as she passed and immediately snickered.
"Daisy, what have you done to yourself?"
"I've simply made myself beautiful."
"More like horrid!"
Diesel laughed at his own quip, but Daisy didn't.
"How incredibly immature of that engine... What is with everyone today...? I don't look that bad... or bad at all! There has to be someone who appreciates this..."
Knapford was as busy as ever, with trains rumbling in and out of the station.
Philip was finishing his shunting of some coaches when he noticed a strange sight coming into the junction.
"What's that?" he wondered aloud.
Donald, who was backing down onto them, chuckled.
"Ah believe it's Daisy, Philip."
"Oh. But... what's on her face?" Philip asked.
Daisy came to a halt and smirked to all the engines that were there.
"Look at me now! I'm so much better than that blasted Ashima!"
The engines took one look at Daisy and immediately broke down into laughter.
"Even I look nicer than that, and I'm covered in rubbish!" said Scruff.
Daisy's face flushed with anger.
"That's it, I need answers now!"
The laughter stopped as everyone saw the fire in Daisy's eyes.
"Why is everyone laughing at me today?! First Peter Sam and Arthur, then Diesel, now you lot! Beauty is not to be laughed at! It should be taken seriously!"
"It's hard to do so when you have paint all over your face!" Charlie snickered as he pulled up alongside Donald, "I'd say this was a joke, but you're not clever enough."
"What?! Paint?! What nonsense! Den and Dart didn't use paint! The workmen used the mascara like I told them to!"
"Urr ye sure aboot that?" Donald asked as a workman picked up a mirror and held it to Daisy's face.
Daisy's face turned pale as she saw herself in the mirror. For the first time, she saw what she really looked like.
"It... it is paint!" she stuttered, "B-b-b-but... I... I look..."
"Hideous?" offered Scruff.
"Stupid?" said Charlie.
"No... no, no, no, no... It can't be!"
"Och, 'ere we go..." Donald murmured.
"I can't be hideous! I can't be! Why?! Why did they use paint instead of mascara?! Did..."
The thought pounced on Daisy like a leopard.
"...did they do it on purpose...?!"
"Of course they did. You know how Dart likes his jokes," chuckled Scruff, "It really took you this long to realize this?"
"A joke?!" Daisy fumed, "Who in their right mind would consider this a joke?!"
"Well, us to same capacity," Charlie replied.
"Mibbie 'twas tae teach ye a lesson," Donald suggested.
"A lesson?!" She looked at herself in the mirror and shuddered at the sight. "No, no, no, no! I look awful! I can't let anyone see me!"
She gasped when she saw that everyone was grinning at her. The diesel railcar shut her eyes tightly.
"No, stop! Don't look at me! I look even worse than that Indian engine now! What if the passengers hate my looks forever? What if I'm sent away? What if I get turned into scrap?! Nooooo!" Daisy wailed as she ran through the station.
"What a drama queen..." muttered Charlie.
At Harwick, Ryan slowly shunted some trucks into a siding. He looked up as he noticed Ashima pulling into the station.
"Is everything alright, Ashima?" he asked, noticing her forlorn expression.
Ashima glanced at Ryan and attempted to smile.
"Well... uh..."
"You can't lie to me. Just tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help!"
Ashima sighed.
"I'm not sure... It's not really something an engine like you goes through, but... Answer this honestly. Am I ugly?"
Ryan was taken aback by Ashima's question.
"Ugly?! How on earth can you say that? You're one of the best-painted engines I know!"
"It's just... I've been thinking about what Daisy said."
Ryan's eyebrows shot up instantly.
"What did she say?"
Ashima was surprised by Ryan's determination.
"Well... she essentially said I was ugly. Everyone says otherwise, but it's possible she's the only one seeing the truth."
Ryan groaned.
"Oh, why does she have to act like this... I'll talk to her."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, she seems to be very stubborn."
"I can handle it," said the purple engine as he puffed away.
He secretly gulped when he was out of Ashima's sight.
"I hope..."
Meanwhile, at another part of the yard, Daisy was being cleaned after her escapade.
Water splashed onto her face, and the paint began to run.
"Mind my eyes," the diesel huffed.
A workman grunted.
"The Fat Controller demanded you to be presentable for your passengers; otherwise we wouldn't bother doing this. Serves you right."
"Huh! Well good for you, you're doing it..."
The workman sighed and continued his work. An urgent whistle caught Daisy off guard as Ryan pulled up next to her.
"Daisy, Daisy!" he panted as he came to a halt.
Daisy glared at him.
"What is so important that you have to interrupt me being cleaned? You know this is the only time of day I feel at peace!"
Ryan suddenly got nervous.
"It's just... I... uh..."
"Spit it out if you have anything to say, or I'll tune you out."
"Ashima's upset," Ryan blurted out, "M-maybe you should uh... talk to her? She's in the shed now, I... think."
Daisy rolled her eyes.
"I don't see how that in any way would benefit me, but I'm bored, so... I suppose I will."
Ryan grinned gratefully.
"Thank you-"
"But if this isn't worth anything, I'll give you a piece of my mind later!"
Ryan gulped as Daisy honked her horn and scurried away.
It didn't take very long for Daisy to find sat in a siding, looking out towards the direction of the sea. Hearing a diesel engine, she looked curiously at Daisy as she backed into the berth next to her.
"Oh, hello Daisy."
Daisy scoffed.
"Hello..." she muttered bitterly.
Ashima looked closely at her and noticed some paint that hadn't been washed off yet.
"Why is there paint on your face?" she asked.
Daisy's face flushed.
"I... uh... I smashed into a flatbed of paint...?"
"I haven't a single one of those on this line since I came here."
"Alright, alright... I was trying to look prettier, but those idiots at the Dieselworks didn't use proper equipment; they used paint! It's disgraceful!"
Ashima giggled.
"Why would you want to look better?"
Daisy scowled.
"Because you're threatening my chances with the passengers, and everyone else for that matter!"
Ashima was shocked.
"Me? Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh, knock off the act. I know you're not naive. You know exactly what I mean. Everyone says you're so beautiful and then I try and prove myself, but then they say I'm not as pretty as you!"
Ashima winced.
"Oh dear... I suppose you're insecure about your looks?"
This brought Daisy over the edge.
"Insecure? Insecure? I'm very secure, thank you! I know my paintwork is stunning! It's just you come in and suddenly everyone thinks my face is hilarious!"
"Well, it is rather humorous how you have paint on yourself," Ashima smirked.
"Don't be snide," huffed Daisy, "Wasn't my fault anyway."
"You won't have to worry about me being a threat for much longer."
"That... that sounds oddly ominous."
"I'll only be here for a week at the most, is what I mean. After that, I go back home in India. Then, things will go back to normal."
Daisy just sniffed.
"You know," Ashima said slowly, "I don't understand why you'd want to change yourself. You already look lovely in my humble opinion."
Daisy looked up in surprise.
"Really? You think so?"
"Of course! It's certainly unique."
"Oh... well... thank you," said Daisy, a bit unsure of herself, "You... don't look that bad yourself."
Ashima grinned.
"I have to collect some passengers from the harbour," she said, as she began puffing away, "See you later, Daisy!"
"See you..."
She was about to close her eyes for a quick snooze when guilt struck her.
"After all that I had said, she was still so patient with me! Maybe I shouldn't have said those things to her... I wonder if..."
"Ashima, wait!" she cried loudly.
Ashima braked and looked back curiously.
"Yes?"
Daisy bit her lip nervously.
"Uh... never mind."
The Indian engine raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she chuffed away. Ryan had been watching the whole conversation and was most disappointed. He slowly chuffed beside the shed and glared at Daisy.
"Why didn't you apologize to her? You had it right there!"
Daisy glared back.
"I was going to," she said defensively, "But... I lost my nerve. alright? I'm not used to apologizing to someone that isn't Toby."
Ryan sighed.
"I should've seen this coming..."
"You aren't good at making a plan, are you?"
Ryan chuckled.
"Perhaps I'm not...!"
He then became serious again.
"We'll have to get you to do it, though. You wouldn't want her to go back home and think you didn't like her."
Daisy gasped, not thinking of that. Ryan seized his chance.
"You can try again tonight."
A determined look crossed the railcar's face.
"Good idea... for once."
"You really need to give me more credit."
"Maybe... but I won't."
Stars twinkled in the sky as Ashima backed into the siding next to the shed. She sighed, looking up at the night sky.
"Homesick?"
She glanced over in surprise to find Daisy backing into her berth.
"Perhaps a little," Ashima admitted, "I know I'll be going back there soon, but it feels strange and a little scary to be so far away from it for so long."
"I know you feel."
Ashima raised an eyebrow.
"You do?"
"Oh, yes. You've probably heard I worked on another branch line before coming to work here."
"Yes, I heard it from Mike."
Daisy lowered her eyelids.
"Oh, that must've been a fun conversation...! Point being, I used to work on the Ffarquhar Branch Line. Sometimes I still miss it."
"Ah."
Daisy glanced at Ashima, who seemed a lot more cheerful with some company.
"Look, it's not easy to say this as I don't do it often but... I'm sorry."
Ashima was surprised.
"R-really?"
Daisy sighed.
"Yes... I could probably say what I did wrong and all that, but I don't want to be awake all night. So... can you forgive me?"
Ashima smiled.
"Of course I can. I'd rather not hold a grudge."
Daisy smiled too.
"We'll work well together."
The two engines chuckled as a shooting star flew across the night sky.
Author's Note: Writing this was really fun. Patient yet a little snide Ashima versus egotistical Daisy, with poor Ryan in the middle of it all. This was a strange idea to work with but I think it worked out alright. Oh, and yes, this was the sequel I was referring to at the end of the rewrite. It's not a full special per say; it's a Railway Series-esque set of stories that revolve around events of the Great Race. Mostly after, but there are still some surprises to be had...! I'll give you a little hint to get y'all excited: The next installment's about Vinnie. Fill in the blanks yourself... ;)