Lee's Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Stories

Arthur's Nightmare

On a lonesome, eerie night on Sodor, Arthur was working steadily through his duties that would lead to Henry taking the magnificent Flying Kipper.
"There's something strange happening lately..." sighed Mr. Addison, the lead Fishmonger on Arthur's Branchline. The dark, dank surroundings around Arthur's Branchline made the night even more strange that it actually was.
"Come on, lad!" said Arthur's driver. "Let's be as quick as we can! I want to get home!"
"Me too!" agreed hid fireman.
"We can't rush though..." replied Arthur. "Mr. Addison and his men aren't finished yet...we've got to wait!"
"Almost there!" called Mr. Addison. "The Bream are superb is I must say so!"
"Beautiful Bream..." muttered Arthur to himself. Bream was most certainly his favourite fish of all and by his Branchline was the biggest supply of Bream in the Seas. When it came into the crates, Arthur just loved the smell and couldn't possibly understand why anyone could hate fish, especially someone like Thomas.
"Were done!" shouted Mr. Addison as he and his men had completed their loading duties.
"Oh good!" smiled Arthur's driver. "Come along, lad! Off we go!" he then commanded. Arthur then tooted his whistle and began his procession of beautiful Bream. However, as the train carried along the Branchline there was a deep, pounding horn noise. Infact, there were two sounding in unison, except these horns had never been heard before. Something strange was happening...

As Arthur whistled along his way he noticed that all the engines appeared to be slightly nervous for some reason. Something very strange was happening and no-one could quite work out why.
"Everyone's on tenterhooks..." said Arthur's fireman.
"I don't know why..." added the driver. As they carried on slowly, Arthur began to become more and more wary of what was around him. Eerie looking trees spooked him somewhat.
"Ooh!" he cried as the trees branches swung in the night breeze. Then, the hooting of Owls and rustling of bushes spooked him even more. Arthur began to become even more scared than ever. "What's happening?" he asked to his crew.
"Nothing..." they replied. Arthur couldn't quite believe them and it was only made worse when at a crossing he thought he saw a Crimson Diesel pass by. No Crimson Diesels live on Sodor, that was a fact, so why was Arthur seeing one now?
"Well done..." whispered the Diesel. "They are almost here..." he added before the two horns from earlier were heard once more. Arthur's crew heard them this time and they began to wonder aswell.
"Something is really not right..." said the driver.
"I can only agree..." sighed the fireman as Arthur was nearing the Docks. He could see Henry eagerly waiting as his Flying Kipper trucks were loaded up, but as Arthur got even nearer, he thought he saw the Crimson Diesel once again.
"Almost there..." it whispered before vanishing altogether. Arthur didn't dare speak and only did once again when Henry began to speak to him.
"You took your time!" he joked. "The Kipper can't wait much longer!"
"The Bream is b...b..beautiful..." replied Arthur who was smiling widely.
"Good..." said Henry. "Beautiful Bream always sells at Market!" he added as the men loaded up the Kipper. Arthur was soon told to leave and make his way, and on leaving he was flagged down by the Night Guard.
"I've got orders from Sir Topham Hatt!" he declared. "You've got to go to the Smelters, Arthur! Some trucks are being saved! We are running out! You must go straight away!"
"Can't anyone else do it?" asked Arthur's driver. "We're worn out!"
"It won't take too long..." replied the Night Guard. Arthur soon set off for the Smelters and as he left, the two horns were heard once again, but why?

As the night got darker and the eeriness intensified, Arthur soldiered on to the Smelters. He, like his crew didn't want to go there. The burning cauldron of hot metal and shards of long gone engines still remain there and for anyone, train or person can still find it very spooky indeed. His wheels chugged hardly against the track and his whistled loudly to let them know he was approaching. Arthur wanted to finish at quickly as possible and as the wide doors opened, Arthur was amazed at the bright red glow that the Smelters gave off.
"I don't like it..." he said to himself.
"Trust us lad, we don't either..." comforted his driver.
"I take it you must be Arthur!" boomed a voice from a distance.
"Yes..." replied the fireman as his voice echoed loudly.
"Well, come on in then!" boomed the voice once more. Arthur complied and then saw that there was a man, presumably the Manager on the gantry leading to his office.
"What do you need us to do exactly?" asked Arthur's driver.
"Take these trucks, coaches and engine shells back to the workshops...they are being restored!" replied the man. "I take it you'll do the duty, so I'm off for a break!" he added before leaving from sight. Arthur and his crew then looked for the trucks, coaches and engine shells, but couldn't find a thing.
"Was he having us on?" asked the fireman.
"No, not at all..." hissed a voice.
"Oh dear..." muttered Arthur. "It's 'Arry..."
"Indeed..." smiled 'Arry. "...and not forgetting Bert aswell..." he added as the pair snaked into place.
"Why are we here?" asked Arthur's driver.
"Good reasons..." replied Bert. "Except there aren't coming from me, or 'Arry..."
"Then who are they coming from?" asked Arthur.
"Us!" greased some voices from afar. Then came the horns, the ones Arthur and his crew had heard earlier. Soon, into view came two more Diesels. They were the same kind as 'Arry and Bert but they were a deep blue colour with the hazard stripes all around them.
"Arthur, say hello to our Sisters..." began 'Arry as the two Diesels stopped beside their Brothers. "...Blanche and Bess..."
"Why hello..." sneered Blanche who had a very distinctive pointed noise and a scowled expression.
"Nice to scrap you..." gruffed Bess who had a beauty spot on her cheek and a more wrinkled face.
"Scrap me?" said a shocked Arthur.
"Oh indeed!" smiled Blanche. "Come along Bess! We've got work to do!" Arthur was beyond scared now and all he and his crew could do was panic.
"Sorry boy, but we've got to go!" said his driver before he and the fireman left from sight.
"Don't leave me!" cried Arthur, but it was no use. Without a crew he couldn't move and soon Blanche and Bess had buffered upto him.
"Scrapping an honourable engine..." smiled Bess. "How wonderful..."
"You're not going to scrap me!" pleaded Arthur.
"Are you sure?" asked Blanche.
"No!" replied a terrified Arthur as he was led further into the cavernous Smelters. Doors slammed shut and then all fell silent. For Arthur's crew, they simply couldn't stop them...

Over the next few days, a search was sent out for Arthur but with no luck. The Smelters were cleared but still no Arthur was to be found. Even Blanche and Bess weren't to be seen and when asked, 'Arry and Bert pretended as if they didn't know them.
"What happened?" asked the Fat Controller to Arthur's crew.
"We can't be certain..." replied the driver.
"But all we know is that he's gone..." added the fireman. As they then looked out on another search with no results, the future of Arthur was compromised but all everyone could do was hope. Throughout Sodor, engines looked on in horror as the Crimson Diesel loomed over them.
"It is almost here!" it whispered to everyone, but what did it mean? And what does it mean for the safety and future of Sodor?