Hey Guys, sorry for the wait. Personally I almost lost interest in continuing because nobody was reviewing. I would like to thank PrincessofDreams123 for the nice review and giving me the drive I need to continue the story. I thrive for your reviews, it keeps me writing! Now on to the story.

Chapter Two

In a small forested area, some deer were drinking from a pond when a small blue portal opened up nearby. Started, they deer ran away to a different part of the forest as Cullen, still screaming, landed in the pond in a big splash. Soaked, he climbed out of the pond onto dry land in a state of utter confusion.

"Uhg...where am I?" He paused and looked around at the surrounding area. He saw birds up in the trees chirping happily, attending a nest high above him. The leaves were a rich green that almost seemed perfect. It felt as if he were back in New Hampshire again. "Wherever this is, I am nowhere near Nevada" he thought. He pulled out his wet smartphone and realized that it stopped working due to the water. "Damn it! Oh well, It won't help me out anyways". He threw it out into the pond as far as he could, making a big splash in the center. "I need to find out where I am". Cullen scanned the area and decided to head out of the forest. As he walked along an open grassy area, he processed the situation at hand. How was this possible? One second we was in Nevada, the next he is in a random forest in who-knows-where. As he thought about it, how would he be able to return? The crystal had shattered before the portal had formed, so it was impossible to use it. Cullen made his way through the forest, feeling as lost as ever. "I wonder if I was sent to another dimension" he thought. "If so, I really hope I wasn't sent to a place where animals randomly break into song" he shivered at the thought, knowing he wouldn't last 10 seconds if he found himself in such a situation. It was then that Cullen thought he was hearing the faint sound of a steam locomotive.

"I must be hearing things..." The sound then became louder, the stack talk was becoming more recognizable. Upon realizing that he was not going crazy and it was real, he started to run to the source of the sound. While running, he heard the sound of the locomotive's stack talk become slower and slower. "Must be stopping for something" Cullen thought as he was got closer. He peered through a bust and there in front of him was a blue tender engine with a small goods train. His jaw dropped when he recognized the engine. It was a 4-4-0 and seemed to be of early design. On the tender were the initials N. W. R. and underneath that a #2. The engine had stopped at a water column and the fireman was on the tender watching the water level as the driver stood beside the engine. They were having a conversation with one another but Cullen was too far away to hear the words they were saying. The shape looked familiar but it took a second for it to finally hit him. "Wait a minute, is that…Edward? That means..." Cullen realized as he scanned the area, but before he could come to his conclusion his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"Excuse me lad, are you lost?"

Cullen turned and noticed the driver. He appeared to be in his late 20s and sported a blue uniform that was covered in soot. He had brown hair that was a mess and sported a mustache. He looked concerned and at first, Cullen didn't know what to say. After several seconds of staring, Cullen finally replied, "I have no idea. My name's Cullen, who are you?"

"My name is Charlie Sand, and this is my fireman Sidney Hever". Charlie looked to be 30 years of age and had the same uniform as Sidney. He had black hair and was several inches shorter than Charlie. Sidney climbed down and Cullen formally exchanged handshakes with them.

"And this..." Sidney said as he lead Cullen to the front of the locomotive "…Is our engine, Edward". There looking down at him, was Edward. "Hello! Nice to meet you". Cullen paused for a moment before responding "Hello..Nice to meet you too" Cullen replied. The sight of a talking steam locomotive was very weird and it made Cullen feel awkward. "Sorry, I'm not used to talking engines. Where I'm from, locomotives don't talk." Edward seemed surprised. "Really? Where are you from?" Cullen contemplated on wherever or not to tell them, and decided to wait. "Believe me, that's a long story" he responded. At that point the water started to overflow on top of the tender. Realizing this, Sidney stopped the flow of the water and turned the column away. "So where's the nearest town?" Cullen asked. "I'm... New to the area and I'm lost."

"There's one not far from here" replied Sidney. "Its three miles east through the forest, but I'm pretty sure…" He was cut short by Charlie. "How about you ride with us to Tidmouth?" chimed in Charlie. "I'm sure Edward wouldn't mind another person on the footplate, would you Edward?"

"Not at all Sir" Edward replied. "How about it?" He asked Cullen.

Cullen was speechless for a moment, here he was being presented the opportunity to ride in the cab of Edward, something that he never thought possible. How could he pass up such an opportunity?

"Really? That would be great!" He replied excitedly. "Splendid! Now just to warn you, you will get quite dirty from the soot" Sidney informed Cullen. He chuckled before he replied. "I don't mind, I have ridden on the footplate of steam locomotives before and I really enjoy it." They climbed into Edwards cab and the two railway men got into their respective spots in the cab. After Sidney checked the water level and feeding two shovelfuls of coal into the firebox, Charlie sounded off Edwards whistle and opened the regulator. Soon enough they were moving, on the way to Tidmouth.

Along the way, Cullen watched with amazement as he saw the scenery of Sodor. It was truly beautiful here, with the small towns that he saw while passing through stations to the breathtaking views of the countryside. He had never seen a place that looked so… perfect. "Pinch me, I must be dreaming" He said to himself. Suddenly he felt a pinch in his arm. He looked to see Sidney grinning. "You asked for it, I couldn't resist". They laughed together for a minute before Sidney paused and grabbed his shovel. "Hey Cullen, how would you like to feed Edwards fire?" He asked. Cullen smiled from ear to ear. "I would be honored". He had done this once before back at the Nevada Northern but it was only for a little bit and the engine was going slow. Here he was traveling at a faster speed and the swaying of Edward and his tender was more noticeable. Cullen opened the firebox door and started shoveling coal into the fire. One thing that he remembered from his experience at the Nevada Northern was that he had to get the coal to the back of the firebox. He made a wall of coal with a pit in the center of the firebox and was careful not to drop any coal onto the footplate. Sidney were impressed. Even Charles looked over and could see how well Cullen was doing. After shoveling 12 scoops of coal into the fire, Cullen was exhausted and gave the shovel back to Sidney.

"Well well well Cullen that was pretty good firing, and not a single lump of coal was missed!" Cullen gleamed. "It was nothing, honestly. I just pretty much copied what you did. I mean I have done it once before but that was only 3 shovels of coal. This was my first time really firing an engine." Cullen did have to admit, he was proud that he did so well. "That is impressive for a beginner" Charlie said. "Once we pull into Tidmouth, we should find the Fat Controller and discuss the possibility of employing you as fireman on the North Western".

Cullen was speechless. "I really was that good?" They both nodded. Cullen couldn't believe it. "Me? Working on Sir Topham Hatt's railway? This just keeps getting better and better!" He pictured himself in their blue uniform, working on the engines. The idea of it just made him excited. "I'd love to work for the railway, it's something I have dreamed of doing!" He leaned out the cab window. "Hey Edward, did you hear that? I'll be getting a job on the railway!"

"That's fantastic news Cullen!" Edward called back.

Cullen swore that this was the happiest moment of his life.