Chapter 3 - Keep Calm and Push On

Soon after Tod was given his new paint and name, Sir Topham Hatt was quick to pay him a visit at the Steam Works, closely examining and smiling in appeasement.

"You're a fine engine, Tod. If you want, I can have you work on my railway," Sir Topham offered.

"That sounds nice. Will I get to meet new people?" Tod asked with excitement.

"Of course. And since you two have grown so close, I will be putting Henry in charge of watching you for a little while. Do you think you can handle him, Henry?"

The said green engine blushed and smiled, "C-Certainly, Sir! I'll take care of Tod as if he were one of my own."

"I'm glad to hear it. First, I would like you to show him around Knapford Station, show him how to assist the larger engines with their coaches. When you're done for the day, bring him back here," Sir Topham instructed.


Once Tod's new driver and fireman arrived and rekindled his firebox, Henry did as he was told and took Tod to Knapford. James was nowhere to be seen, but a rather annoyed Gordon was still waiting.

"Ok, I know Sir Topham said you needed to go to the Steam Works immediately, but couldn't you have at least come back so-!" Gordon ranted on in aggravation, but suddenly paused when he noticed the shockingly familiar engine with Henry. "Who on Earth is that?"

"Gordon, I'd like you to meet the railway's newest engine and my newest friend: Tod," Henry explained and then smirked at the said red engine, "Tod, this is Gordon, an old friend of mine—he can be very loud at times, but he truly has a big heart."

"Hey!" Gordon whined in embarrassment, and Tod couldn't help but chuckle.

"Nice to meet you, Gordon," Tod greeted jokingly, to which the said blue engine huffed.

"Hello, there. I'm James, the most useful and good-looking engine on Sodor," James boasted as he puffed in, "I didn't catch your name, though."

"It's Tod."

"Tod, hm—how simple yet humble."

"Speaking of which, we should really get to work. Follow me, Tod," Henry gently instructed and led Tod, where he showed him how to buffer up with Gordon's express coaches and waiting for a worker to couple them together.

"Just keep calm and push on. When you feel the invigorating heat in your firebox, you won't want to stop." Tod listened closely to Henry's words, as steam puffed and his wheels turned as he pushed the coaches forward.

It took more effort than he expected, but Tod eventually pushed them into the station and behind Gordon. In fact, he was so careful, Gordon could barely feel him buffer up; though, Gordon decided not to say aloud that he was impressed and remained silent.

Soon, Gordon's coaches were hooked to him and a workman blew his whistle, to which the said blue engine didn't waste time in moving on with his express.

"Keep working, Little Tod, and you just might be half as grand as me—I'm kidding, of course!" Gordon laughed hardily as he left, and his attempts to put the young engine down were successful. But Henry quickly noticed his hurt expression, and he wasn't going to let it stay.

"Don't listen to him. He's as vain as James—nearly," Henry began.

"I can hear you, you know!" James called in offense, but Henry ignored him.

"The size and strength of the engine isn't what always matters—it's the size and strength of their heart that counts."

"But…I am a little engine, like Gordon said," Tod sorrowfully protested.

"Who cares what Gordon said? You should never let anyone or their hurtful words get to you because they're wrong. I know what's really inside you, and I see nothing but greatness." Tod looked up at Henry in surprise, but felt a little better nonetheless.

"You really believe that?"

"I sure do. Now, c'mon. We've got more work to do."

With that, Henry chuffed forward with Tod not behind, and the latter was truly amazed. He had barely known Henry for a day and a half, yet he treats him like his own family.

Perhaps I shouldn't be so doubtful, Tod thought with a small smile.


Tod worked hard alongside Henry for many hours, even passed sunset until Henry decided it was time to call it a day and get a refill at the water tower. But as the two sat and waited for Tod to get his fill, something kept rattling around in his mind that made him blush.

"Ya know, Henry—you didn't have to say all that cheesy stuff, or stand up for me, for that matter," Tod admitted dryly, breaking the awkward silence.

"Why wouldn't I? I would never let my friends get bullied," Henry argued.

Tod's eyes widened slightly, "We're friends?"

"If you want to be, yes."

"Well, I guess I owe you that much since you did rescue me—which reminds me, I never really thanked you for that, did I?"

"No, but there's no need. Seeing you happy is satisfactory enough for me, honest."

Tod's blush grew darker, as he let out a small chuckle, "You're so corny, Henry."

"I get that a lot," Henry pointed out flatly, "We should really get you back to the Steam Works, though."

With that, the teacher and student headed back to the Steam Works as night fell, and Victor was already waiting for them.

"How was your first day of work?" Victor questioned in curiosity.

"It was pretty exhausting, but exciting, too," Tod replied with a tired sigh.

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, go ahead and get some sleep."

"You don't have to tell me twice. Goodnight, Henry," the E2 engine yawned while his driver and fireman hopped out of his cab, and he groggily puffed back into his ward.

"Goodnight, Tod," Henry softly called back.

"Uh, Victor, we have something to report," Tod driver began nervously.

"Ok. Henry, if you don't mind…" The said green engine quickly caught Victor's hint to leave, and so he wished them all a goodnight and headed out towards Tidmouth Sheds.

"Victor, it's Tod, he…" the driver went on, but failed to find the right words without sounding unsettling.

"He has to ability to move on his own," the fireman finally answered, to which Victor's eyes widened in shock.

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, the first time we started him up and he jolted forward—that wasn't us," the fireman explained.

"And we would leave the controls alone for an hour at a time while he was working today, but he moved about, shunting and pulling coaches—almost as if he didn't need us," the driver added.

"Does he know about this?"

"No," they both answered.

"I see," Victor simply replied, but he didn't let his fear show itself on his face, "I'll look into it, but I assure you that there's nothing to worry about, and it's not your fault."

Still a little afraid, the two men reluctantly left to go home for the night, and Victor was left alone to ponder a very important matter. If Tod is discovering his true potential this soon, then there's no telling how fast he will find out what else he can do.

And if he realized his abilities, all hope would be lost for him and the friends he has made.

"Victor?" Kelly's tiny voice broke the quiet night air, as she rolled up to her boss with a groggy yet concerned look on her face.

"I'm sorry if we woke you, Kelly."

"It's fine. But is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure—can you keep a close eye on Tod for me?"

"Sure thing, Boss."


The air was cold and crisp, the sky clear and glittered with stars, and the moon was in its new and pitch black phase, creating a intense eerie feeling over the empty Diesel Works—well, it was empty.

Three engines let out steam as they rolled into the quiet and dim building, and they began their search for a very precious object that their master demanded of.

"You really think it's still going to be here?" a high-pitched and scratchy voice asked.

"Where else would it be, Dumbass?" came a deeper voice.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe shoved up your-!"

"Shut it, you two!" the frontward most engine snapped, effortlessly silencing the others, "We're not here to bicker, we're here to find the only remnant of one of Thomas' greatest enemies."

Unbeknownst to the leader, the other two engines were silently mocking him, mouthing his words with their tongue sticking out in annoyance.

"Fine. But if we don't find it, you're gonna be the one to tell her," the smaller-voiced engine pointed out.

"That's right," the deeper-voiced engine added.

"I don't think we'll have to worry about that," the leader protested in a sinister tone, as his eyes lit up bright purple and he worked to pull out an elongated metal object from a pile of scrap. As a purple aura kept its grasp on the object, he was careful to pull it out without breaking it.

Once it was freed, the rusted metal crane and large claw at the end floated in front of his grinning face.

"And when Diesel Ten comes back, there'll be no way we can lose."


Things aren't always what they seem, because someone from the past certainly wasn't gone for good.

Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!