My First Adventures
A.N. Thanks to a headcanon from my sister, RSlikestoread, we now both have a theory that engines only come to life after they've been built and their whistle has been blown :)
…
Day: December 23, 1907
I met my creator here. He's kind…
39 year old William smiled and slowly backed away from the engine he had finished constructing only hours ago.
He put his hands together and pursed his lips together in hopefulness.
"I have spent countless weeks on you, little engine…" William whispered as he stepped closer to him, placing a gentle hand upon his cheek. "So much so, that I have lost track, of how many actual months have gone by."
"I feel as though I've gone a little short by you, however." William confessed to the still unresponsive engine. "For you are a bit smaller than all of the other engines in your class. I hope you can see past that either way, and be really useful still." William stepped away from the engine, and stared at him for a little while longer.
After a moment, he put a finger to the corner of his mouth, and smiled. "Ah, though I believe it is time for you to wake up, now." He said, before moving forwards and into the small engine's cab.
It took him a moment to get the fire in his firebox running, but when he did, he reached for a certain control, and pulled it twice.
A high pitched whistle rang through the small workshop, and echoed for a few moments. When it was done, William stepped out of the engine's cab, and quickly ran back to the front of his engine.
His engine…
William smiled at that thought and chuckled.
After a moment, steam started to float out from under the grey engine's wheels, and his eyes started twitching. After a second, they opened.
William smiled but remained silent, letting the engine do what seemed right to him.
Said engine blinked his eyes a few times, and looked around in uncertainty. "A-ah…" A small whimper left his mouth as he took in his new surroundings.
"Hello."
The small engine gasped in surprise, and looked in front him. There was a man standing there; he was tall, thin, and pale. He had red hair and blue eyes, and was smiling.
It took him a few moments to find his voice, but he returned the greeting. "H-Hello…"
"Aha…" William laughed softly. "A shy one, are you? That's quite alright."
The engine slowly smiled as well. "Oh… right…"
"Forgive me." William gasped in realisation as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed. "My name is William. William Rohan Barlette. I am the one who built you."
The engine gasped softly as his eyes lit up and a small smile crossed his face. "Really..? You are?"
"Yes, indeed." William confirmed, smiling up at the engine. "And do you know who you are, young one?"
The engine bit his lip. "N-no… is that a… bad thing?"
"Not at all." William reassured his engine. It was becoming more natural to think that, even if only the second time. "You just woke up for the first time. Of course you wouldn't know who you are, just yet."
"Oh… that's a good thing then, right?"
"Indeed." The man smiled. "And it's alright if you don't know now. We can think of something else for the moment, anyhow. Like… what colour would you like to be?"
"Colour…?" The engine asked. "What's that…?"
"Colour is…" William struggled to explain. "Colour is, well-… colour." William smiled. "The different shades of pigment that you see all around you. Like my eyes and hair."
"Oh… I- I see now." The small engine smiled.
"Good, good. So, little engine." William smiled, while clapping his hands together. "Now that you understand what colours are, which one would you like to be?"
The engine - who still had not decided on a name - stared at the man in wonder. "You're... you're eyes..."
"Pardon?"
"You're eyes." He said louder. "I want to be... the- the colour of your eyes. But... maybe a shade lighter?"
"Hm…" William mulled over the thought. "A shade lighter than my eyes would be… baby blue, then. Consider it done."
"Oh… thank you so much!"
William smiled once more. He was about to reply, until the door to his workshop opened. Quickly, he turned around and chuckled upon seeing the new arrival. "Hello Tanner. Do you need something?"
"Yes." The man known as Tanner said. "I- oh! I see he's awake."
"Precisely. Only a while ago, in fact." William said. "We'll introduce you in a moment. Now, what do you need?"
"My wife told me that Agni wants a certain type of toy for Christmas."
The small engine listened carefully – though only two words stuck out between the rest.
Toy, and Christmas.
Toy… Christmas… toy… mas…
"Tho…mas?"
William turned away from Tanner when he heard the small engine speak. "Pardon, little one?"
"Tho…mas…" The engine repeated, almost just as slowly. "Thomas… is- is that a name?" He asked shyly.
William smiled. "It is indeed." He nodded. "Thomas… is that what you want for a name?"
"Yes… yes, please!" He smiled shakily.
"Well then." Tanner laughed. "Thomas, is it then? I'm Tanner! Tanner Maxwell."
"Hi…"
"Anyway, to get the pleasantries out of the way," William started, though laughed upon seeing Tanner's face. "I'm just joking! Anyways, I'd suggest giving Agni a toy rocking horse. She always seemed to love horses. That might be just the thing."
"Hm… yes!" Tanner smiled. "Honestly, William. I know you have no interest in romance or anything of the sort, but sometimes, I swear you know more about my family than I do!"
William chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment. Right now, I have more important things to attend to." He smiled, gesturing to the engine now known as Thomas.
"Ah, I see." Tanner smiled. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Hopefully I'll see you around, little Thomas!" He waved, before leaving.
When the door shut, a cold breeze swept into the room, and Thomas shivered. "That's… cold."
"Well, it's winter now, little Thomas." William explained, as he walked to his engine, and sat atop his buffer beam. Thomas gasped at the new pressure, but listened, nonetheless. "Winter is the coldest of all seasons."
"There's more than one?" Thomas asked curiously.
"Oh yes. Four, in fact." William nodded. "Summer, which is considered the warmest season. A time for fun at the beach, ice-cream – a cold, delicious confection – and," He laughed. "The immense need for shade. It is after all, the warmest season."
"And the other three?"
William went on to explain the three remaining seasons: spring, fall, and winter.
Each sounded wonderful to Thomas. From the many flowers of spring, to the fiery colours of fall, to the bitter cold, yet beautiful scenery of winter.
"Oh… I love everything you've told me…" Thomas gasped. "But… I think my favourite – is winter."
William laughed. "My favourite is fall. I find it oddly relaxing. Though winter is a close second."
Thomas smiled. "That's good to hear." He said. "So… now what?"
"I'd say it's high time we get you painted." William suggested, hopping down and looking at his engine.
"Painted?"
"Yes. We get you painted, in the colours you want." William smiled. "I think, we'll go with baby blue for your overall colour, like you wanted. But we'll add onto it, with white lining, and… perhaps your name painted on your sides in gold cursive letters?"
"O-oh!" Thomas gasped. "Yes! I'd like that!"
William nodded. "Very good. We best be off then."
"Are you sure I'm ready?" Thomas asked fearfully.
"Yes." William said confidently. "I will be with you, so you needn't worry so much." He smiled. Then he got on his coat, before stepping into Thomas' cab. Gently and slowly, he placed coal into Thomas' firebox. After a few moments, it was sizzling.
"Comfortable?" William asked, anxiously waiting for Thomas' answer.
"Yes." Thomas smiled. "I feel warm."
"Good." William smiled. Quickly, he stepped away from Thomas, and made his way to the workshop doors, before pushing them open. A cold breeze blew in, but Thomas didn't mind- he still felt warm.
William then got back into Thomas' cab. "When you're ready, Thomas." He prompted the small engine.
Thomas sighed, before he slowly spun his wheels, and started to move forward. Thomas was a little scared at first, but soon, he was puffing out of the workshop and down the rails happily, giggling as he rolled down the tracks.
"That's a good boy!" William laughed.
As they moved down the tracks, Thomas became lost in thought.
William… his name is William. And he's my creator… he's been so kind to me. Thomas smiled. He's told me of colours and seasons… all are amazing. And I'm about to go get painted. All of this is moving so quickly…
"Thomas, we're here!"
Almost immediately, Thomas stopped, putting on his brakes. "Oh! We are?" He asked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Where's here?"
"The Steamworks."
Thomas gasped as he stared at a large building. It was big, very big. "Is this… where I'll get my colours?" He asked shyly.
William laughed at Thomas' choice of words. "How adorable. But yes! This is where you'll get your colours. Shall we go in?"