The Competition

Stephen was shooting down the track, with wind wiping his face. He was now flying by his competition, leaving them in the dust.
"I knew it" he said happily "I'm the faster". But then, Stephen started to go over some bumpy track. "Whoa, too bumpy" he said shakily. But then, he hit a big bump, and flew off the track. He landed on his side, and saw that the other engines where puffing away from him, laughing. "Oh no, I've crashed" he said sadly.

Then Robert walked up; he looked upset. "I knew you wouldn't win the contest. You're worthless, completely of no use to us. I guess we can still cut you up for parts" he said sadly, and then he turned and walked away.

"Wait, sir, I know I can still be useful. Please give me another chance" cried Stephen. But Robert kept on walking. "Please sir, just one more chance. Please, Please, PLEASE" cried Stephen.

Stephen's eyes flew open with a jolt. He was panting heavily, and he was completely shocked. He looked around to see where he was. Small houses and a few shops were all along the street he was on. There was still one light in the room of the hotel where Robert and George were staying. Then, he started to remember.

He remembered being loaded onto a trailer attached to four horses, being tied down, and beginning his trip to Rainhill. He looked at himself from the front and behind. His tender was still attached, but it didn't have any water or coal in it. His funnel wasn't attached; this was in case he had to go under bridges. He was still in one piece, and still upright.

"Oh, it was just a dream. A very, very bad dream" he said silently. Stephen had been having dreams like this ever since he had first set out to Rainhill. The fear of losing or letting Robert and George down was starting to get to him.

"I just need to go back to sleep and try to get enough rest" he said silently. So he closed his eyes and slowly began to fall asleep.

The next day, Stephen was once again on his way to Rainhill. The road that they were taking was very bumpy. In fact, all the roads were bumpy. It was because of this that people where pushing for railways to become more advanced. If railways became the preferred mode of travel, then passengers would be able to enjoy a smooth ride.

As Stephen thought about the competition ahead, he heard a voice from behind him. "Bad dream last night" asked the voice.

Stephen looked back, and there sitting on his tender was Robert. "How did you" began Stephen. Robert chuckled "I heard you muttering in you sleep". And then he said softly that only Stephen could hear him. "Oh no, please sir, give me another chance, please" he said with a slight smile. "Oh, you heard that" said Stephen, a little embarrassed.

"Yep, and you were screaming at one point to. Nearly woke dad up" said Robert. Now Stephen was even more embarrassed. Even though he couldn't see Stephen's face, Robert knew what he was thinking. "It's alright Stephen, your just nervous. You have a lot on your shoulder. But you are the panicle of modern engineering. No matter what you're facing, you will be able to fly by them all" he said with a warm smile. Stephen also gave a small smile. "Thank you sir, I know you're right" he said happily. So Stephen looked at the road ahead, ready for anything that came his way.

One Week Later

Stephen was full of both excitement and nerves when his trip to Rainhill was complete. As he passed the sign saying "Rainhill", he couldn't help but look around. There were shops and houses and much more. Stephen wished he had more eyes, so he could see everything around him.

But while he was looking at all the buildings of the town, the people of the town where looking at him. Whenever he passed a group of people, they would stop and look at him. Some just looked at him, others were whispering. As he passed a group of teenagers, one said "What is that thing. Is it what they said was going to be in the competition"; he sounded interested.

Soon Stephen had left the major part of the town, and was now in a smaller area, where there weren't many houses. It was then, that Stephen was a small rail yard close by. It had many tracks and a shed that could accommodate ten engines. "So this is where it's all happening" said Stephen excitedly.

Soon the flatbed that Stephen was on was arranged so that the tracks on the flatbed would meet a ramp that Stephen would roll down onto the rails. Robert had already reattached Stephen's funnel, and was now helping to get Stephen off the flatbed. He and a few workmen where pushing from the front, while some others where in charge of the back.

"On the count of three. One, two, THREE" screamed Robert. He and the workmen pushed and pulled. Stephen slowly began to roll back towards the ramp. Soon, his tender was on the ramp, and now the workmen were making shure he didn't slide down too fast. "Don't worry Stephen, you'll be on rails in no time" said Robert.

And not a few moments after he said this, all of Stephen's wheels were off the ramp. "Few, done" said a workmen sitting down on the ramp. "Not yet" said Robert "we need to push Stephen to the sheds". The workman gave a small groan as he got back up to resume his position.

The workmen and Robert soon had pushed Stephen to the sheds. But because Stephen was facing away from it, he couldn't see the engines in there currently. However, Robert could. However, Stephen saw him grinning "what is it sir" he asked. "Those engines don't look like they could last five minutes on a real railway" he said smiling. Stephen couldn't wait to see the engines, and he didn't have to wait long.

Soon Stephen was inside the shed in his own spot. "Well that's it. We have to go check into our hotel. Have a good time" said Robert to Stephen, and then he and the workmen walked away.

After they left, Stephen looked around the shed. And there, two his left, he saw two other steam engines. They both looked very different from Stephen. One was bronze colored, had four wheels, but no pistons. He also had a coal holder at his back, and an L shaped pipe behind it. Stephen could only guess that was his funnel.

The other engine looked a little like Stephen though. He was green and had four wheels. He had pistons to, but his were vertical. A connecting rod was attached to both wheels so they could all be powered. Strangely, his funnel was at the back of his boiler. He also had a tender similar to Stephens.

Right now they were talking; they didn't even notice he was there. So Stephen decided to introduce himself.

"Hello there" he said with a smile. The two engines stopped talking and looked at Stephen. "Oh hello there, who are you" asked the green engine. "I'm Stephen, I'm here to participate in the competition" he said happily.

"Well of course, we all are" said the bronze engine snootily. Stephen felt a little hurt, but he let it slide. "So, what are your names" he asked with a smile. "I'm Sans Pareil" said the green engine smiling "but you can just call me Pareil, everyone does".

The bronze engine gave a snooty look and said "My name is Novelty. And I am the engine that is going to win the competition" he said with a weird smile.

Stephen was confused "how are you so shure. I or Pareil could win it". Novelty laughed "what, you win the competition. Don't bother saying it. You can't win, you don't show it. You look so strange, and bulgy. Pareil is somewhat presentable, but then you have to look at me. I'm all shiny and sleek. No pistons here, and I don't have a large funnel, unlike some engines" he said looking at Pareil and Stephen.

Now Stephen was very cross. "Well you'll just have to wait. The trials aren't for another two weeks, and there are still seven more engines to arrive. Any one of them could beat you, or it could be one of us" he said sternly.

"He's right, don't count your chickens before they hatch" said Pareil. Novelty just snorted, and decided to get some sleep.

While he did, Stephen and Pareil began talking. They were both wondering about the other engines that were going to arrive.