The next day came, and Edward left the shed really early to avoid any unwanted attention. Sadly, he could still remember Gordon's harsh comment from the previous night, and his hysterical outburst. Edward knew it wasn't like him, and he knew that Gordon was just teasing, but to Edward, he has had enough of all the teasing, and he was going to stick with what he said about not helping Gordon up his hill any more.

As Edward pulled into Knapford with a train of trucks, he could see two unfamiliar faces in front of him. They looked like twin, large tender engines. One was painted in green, and the other was painted in blue.

The twin engines looked at Edward and smirked cunningly.

"Say, Nathan, what do you see here?" The green engine asked.

"Looks like an old heap of scrap iron." The blue engine replied.

"Surprised this oldie hasn't been preserved."

"Well said Nigel – or maybe he should be chucked into the smelters yard."

And the two engines laughed together. Edward tried his best to ignore their comments towards him, but he couldn't ignore it from two engines in front of him. He looked down and just steamed away, desperate to get away from the nightmare.

Edward already had a lot on his mind from last night's meltdown, and now he was being insulted by two new engines he hasn't seen before. Edward just sped off as fast as he could towards Wellsworth, hoping that his fate will twist when he gets there.

As Edward puffed towards Wellsworth, Gordon was coming by, approaching Knapford to get his Express. He saw Edward puff by and desperately tried to keep up with him, "Edward. Edward!"

Edward refused to make eye contact with the big, blue engine, and carried on towards Wellsworth, Gordon just tried to keep up.

"Edward! Look! I'm sorry!" Gordon tried to apologise, "I am sorry!"

Edward still refused to utter a word, and sped off towards Wellsworth as fast as her could. Gordon juts sighed sadly, and stopped, and began heading towards Knapford.

Thomas was there, shunting Gordon's coaches into place. As he pulled up the platform, and watched Gordon pull in, they also saw the two engines Edward saw earlier.

"Um, hello?" Thomas greeted, trying to be friendly.

"Oh look at that Nathan, it's a toy tank engine." Nigel laughed.

"And look next to him Nigel, a A3 from the dead." Nathan chuckled.

Thomas and Gordon were speechless at how brash and rude the two engines were. Gordon just grumbled annoyingly.

"And who are you?" Gordon dared to ask.

"Ha! I am Nigel." Nigel introduced, "And this is my twin Nathan."

"Yeah, we're here to replace you." Nathan laughed.

Thomas and Gordon just glared, they didn't think they were funny at all. Soon, the Fat Controller walked up, and saw Nigel and Nathan waiting.

"Ah, Thomas, Gordon, I see you've met the new engines Nigel and Nathan." He boomed, "They will be helping out on Sodor for a few weeks. I have a surprise in store and they will be helping out wherever necessary until the surprise is over."

"Oh no..." Gordon grumbled to himself, as he puffed off with the Express.

Thomas just went silent as he went past the twin engines, who just stared with smirks on their faces, intimidating the small tank engine. And Thomas rushed off to find Annie and Clarabel.

Meanwhile, Gordon was speeding down the Main Line, and was beginning to approach his hill. He began to speed up, hoping to not get stuck on his hill – as he remembered vividly what Edward said the night before.

But soon, Gordon began to feel the strain of the heavy coaches behind him, and he began to slow down, and slower – and slower.

"No! Come on! Come on!" Gordon grunted, as he slowed down to snail pace. He tried pulling his coaches and grumbled as he came to a halt, "No! I'm stuck again!"

And he was. Gordon just sighed sadly, not able to do anything more but hope and wait.

At Wellsworth, Edward slowly rolled into the station with his five trucks of spare engine parts. As he rested at the platform, the stationmaster ran up to him.

"Edward, Gordon's stuck on his hill...again."

"Not again..." Edward huffed, "I told him – I warned him! If he wants help, he'll have to ask another engine!" And with an uncharacteristic huff, Edward puffed away with his trucks, he felt a suddenly jolt hold him back, but pushed through it, and steamed ahead.

The stationmaster tried to signal him down to stop, as other workmen tried to stop Edward, but he refused to listen, and made his way to the Steamworks.

As Gordon waited impatiently on his hill, he heard two whistles behind him. It didn't sound like Edward. As he looked behind him, he saw Nigel and Nathan pulling a long train of trucks. They looked up in shock to see Gordon blocking their line.

"Oh come on!" Nigel complained.

"Now we gotta wait for fat-face to move!" Nathan yelled.

"It's not my fault!" Gordon huffed, "I'm waiting for a banker engine!"

Nigel tried to push Gordon himself. He pushed as hard as he could. Nathan began to push his twin behind him, but with the weight of their trucks behind them, none of the engines were going anywhere.

"Oh the indignity..." Gordon sighed sadly. Nigel and Nathan just grumbled as they waited impatiently.

Meanwhile, over at the Steamworks, Edward slowly rolled into the works, he looked around, and saw Anastasia was still suspended above the Steamworks. Kevin was trying to keep her company, by looks of it, trying to keep her entertained.

"Okay, I spy something blue, and very big-"

"It's me." Anastasia grumbled, "And the next one is just a guess, me."

"Wow! You're really good at this game-"

"It's been the same answer the past 3 days!" Anastasia huffed.

"Anastasia!" Victor scolded, "Calm down! I know it's been a long wait, but I am sure you're new parts will be here any day now."

"You said that yesterday – and the day before that, AND the day before that!"

Edward chuckled a bit, "Oh dear Ana, not going well?"

"What do you think Eddie?" Anastasia asked, rhetorically, "I'm getting so bored up here and my wheels are now so number – I can't even feel my coupling rods!"

"Oh! Edward!" Victor chuckled, "You brought the spare parts?"

"Five full trucks." Edward beamed, "Maybe Anastasia's parts are inside."

"Oh please!" Anastasia pleaded.

"Um, Edward?"

Edward's eye flashed open, and he looked towards his caller, looking at Angel, "What is it?"

"Did you say...five?" Angel asked.

"Yes. I counted five trucks at Wellsworth."

"...I can only count four."

"What?!"

Everyone in the Steamworks looked in shock. Indeed, there were four trucks. Edward was horrified, "B-But I counted five! I'm sure I did!"

"Now we're missing another load of spare parts..." Victor sighed, "This shortage is starting to get ridiculous."

Edward just sighed sadly, "I'm so sorry Victor..." he apologised, "I must've left it behind or something...so much for a good day..."

Victor didn't care about the missing parts, he looked at Edward worriedly, "Edward, my friend, whatever is wrong?"

Before Edward could explain, Angel rolled up, "Um, Edward? I've just been told that...the Fat Controller wants to see you."

"Me?" Edward questioned, "Whatever for?"

"Something to do with Gordon-"

"And I told Gordon if he gets stuck he can help himself up-"

"And those new engines...there's uproar with the Express passengers, and workmen complaining about the lateness of their trucks."

Edward was speechless, he wasn't sure on what happened.

"...Edward, were you told to push Gordon up his hill?" Victor asked, eyeing the blue engine.

Edward gulped, "Yes...I was."

"Why didn't you push him?"

"...H-He..."

"Edward, you need to see the Fat Controller, NOW." Angel spoke up.

Edward sighed nervously and slowly left the works. He didn't feel that good any more – so much for a better day. This day has been horrible.

Slowly, Edward made his way towards Knapford. He was very nervous about what the Fat Controller will say to him, he has caused a lot of confusion and delay, all because he refused to push Gordon up the hill.

As Edward slowly pulled up to Knapford, Thomas approached with Annie and Clarabel, ready for his break. Thomas saw Edward's worried face, and saw the Fat Controller walk up to him, and listened carefully.

"Edward, I am aware of this recent confusion and delay that has been caused by your refusal to help Gordon up his hill." The Fat Controller boomed, "It has caused confusion and delay, and you know I don't like that at all."

"Yes sir..." Edward muttered sadly, "I-I am so sorry sir, I didn't mean to cause this delay sir...I-I was just-"

"Please, Edward, I am not interested in the reasons right now. But I am aware that you've not been feeling...so well over the last few days."

Edward just sighed sadly. Thomas just watched his mentor sadly, slowly steaming over.

"Besides, I have a very special job for you Edward." The Fat Controller boomed, smiling, Edward just blinked curiously, "I have got a V.I.E. – a Very Important Engine – arriving at Brendam Docks, and I would like you to greet them and make them feel welcome."

"Oh?" Edward wondered, smiling a little, "Okay sir, right away sir."

"Can I go with Edward sir?" Thomas beamed excitedly, "Please?"

The Fat Controller chuckled, "Of course Thomas. Just as long as you behave."

Edward chuckled as Thomas blushed, "Come on Thomas, the V.I.E. will be waiting."

And soon, Edward and Thomas chuffed down the rails towards Brendam Docks. As they made their way towards the Docks, they began to wonder who the V.I.E. could be.

"I wonder if it's a famous engine!" Thomas chirped excitedly.

"I don't think the Fat Controller would send me of all engine's to greet them if they were famous." Edward chuckled.

"Aww, Edward! Don't feel so low on yourself! There must be a special reason!"

"I don't know...maybe it's just so I don't cause any more trouble."

Soon, Thomas and Edward entered Brendam Docks. They were greeted by Salty and Porter as they entered.

"Hey Edward! Heard you're greeting the V.I.E. Here." Porter chuckled.

"Ahoy! You'll be amazed by what you see!" Salty agreed.

Edward was more confused than ever. Thomas just whistled excitedly, "Come on Edward! I can't wait!"

Edward kept up with the younger engine, and looked up at Cranky and Carly, as they were helping the V.I.E. from the ship, onto the rails. And as they got closer, Edward gasped at the sight of the engine. He froze. And gazed.

And Edward could not believe what he could see...