Part two of the "Molly the Yellow Engine" saga kicks off.

ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Remake 17: Molly and the Express

Based on "Molly's Special Special" by Paul Larson

Molly had to spend several weeks at Crovan's Gate. The workmen had to replace some of Molly's worn parts, to avoid the risk of breaking down during her trials.

When her old parts were replaced with new ones, Molly was now painted in a gray undercoat, when the Fat Controller came to see her.

"You need a color before you can officially start work," he said, "black won't be suiting for you, would it?"

"No, sir," agreed Molly. She never liked her black livery, even after the war ended.

"What color paint would you like?"

"Well, sir," Molly decided, "I've always liked the color yellow, and it would be lovely being yellow with red stripes."

The Fat Controller was surprised. He was expecting Molly to choose green or blue like the rest of her class.

"Very well then, Molly," he said, "workmen! Molly shall be painted yellow with red stripes!"

The workmen were also surprised; no engine of the North Western Railway had ever been painted yellow before. Considering Molly's choice, they had just enough cans of yellow paint for her. When the yellow paint dried, new red stripes were painted on Molly, as well as "NWR" on her tender, along with the number 23 on her cab, both in red. Her wheels were also given white trims.

Before Molly could work with David, first she had to do trials on the mainline. On her way to Tidmouth, she had to stop at Knapford Junction. There, she saw Toby with Henrietta and Elsie.

"Toby?" she said, "Is that you?"

"Molly," gasped Toby, "it's been so long since we last met."

"Thirteen years, I believe," said Molly, "it's good to see you again. How did you get here?"

"Well," said Toby, "my line in East Anglia was closing down, and I felt my future was sealed. However, Thomas had gotten into trouble with a policeman because he was running the line to Anopha Quarry without sideplates and cowcatchers. I was bought by the Fat Controller, as well as Henrietta and Elsie, as stationmaster wanted to make them hen-houses."

"That wouldn't do," agreed Molly. She was then cut off by a loud whistle as James pulled in with a stopping passenger train.

"You must be a new arrival," he said to Molly.

"I-I am," Molly stuttered, "my name's Molly."

James looked at Molly scornfully. "And you're painted yellow?" he asked indignantly.

"Yes, why?" said Molly, not quite understanding.

James scowled at Molly. "Yellow is a silly color for an engine!" he snapped, "It's improper, and improper engines can't be useful!"

Molly felt very upset hearing James' remark, but Toby looked at James with a firm look on his face.

"James," he said crossly, "that's not nice making fun of others just because they're painted differently! You wouldn't like it if people made fun of you for being red, would you?"

"At least I can be seen coming," James retorted.

"Not if you run into tar wagons," Toby said cheekily.

"That's not funny!" James snapped, and he fumed away once the guard blew his whistle.

"Don't mind James," Toby said kindly to Molly, "sometimes, he doesn't think before he speaks."

"But is yellow really that silly for me?" Molly said miserably.

"It's not about what color you are," said Toby, "it's about being useful for the Fat Controller, Molly. You wait and see."

Molly soon reached Tidmouth station, and did her best to fake a smile when she saw the Fat Controller.

"I'm glad to see you're in good working order," he said, "your first job is to take a stopping passenger train along the mainline."

"Yes, sir," said Molly, still trying not to show how upset she was.

"Is there something wrong, Molly? You can always tell me."

"No, sir," lied Molly, "I'm fine. I'm just a little anxious to get on with work."

"If you say so," said the Fat Controller.

Percy arranged Molly's coaches, and was surprised when he saw her. Molly was worried that Percy would laugh, but he didn't.

"Your color looks good on you," he said, "it could really brighten someone's mood." Percy's compliment made Molly feel a bit better.

"Oh, my name's Percy, by the way."

"I'm Molly," the yellow Claud Hamilton said.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Percy.

"That red engine James said yellow is an improper color for an engine," Molly said.

Percy laughed. "James will say anything, won't he?" he chuckled, and told her about when James needed a bootlace to mend a hole in his coaches, having heard of it from Henry.

"It's a funny story, Percy," said Molly, "but I still feel put down."

Whenever Molly stopped at each station, she gotten some unwanted attention from the passengers.

"That's a Claud Hamilton," a passenger said.

"But she's painted in yellow!" protested another.

"Whoever made Sir Topham Hatt send for a silly engine like her?" grumbled a third. They didn't know their comments made Molly feel very hurt, and worse than ever. Comments from Gordon, Henry and James were no better that evening.

"That Molly isn't even a proper engine if she's yellow!" said Henry.

"I think it matches her personality entirely!" said Gordon, "A yellow coward!"

"Can't you give her a chance?" groaned Percy, "She could show you up one day!"

"Even if she's improper?" snorted James, "That'll be the day!"

Molly felt worse than ever, and could barely sleep that night. Percy was awoken by her sobs, and Percy almost wanted to cry himself. He wanted to help Molly, but wasn't sure how.

Molly barely spoke to anybody after that evening. Karen and Dave felt sad for their engine and friend. They would still love Molly, even if she was painted pink or purple, but they didn't say so.

A few days later, Gordon wasn't feeling that morning. He was having trouble starting up.

"I can't tell what the problem is," said the fireman, "he could have to go to the works."

Edward and Molly were still in the sheds, and the latter was still upset, but watched anxiously as the men worked on Gordon.

"Never you mind, Molly," said Edward kindly, "those big engines sometimes don't know what they're talking about when it comes to new engines. Karma always hits them if you know what I mean."

"Who's going to take the express then?" Molly asked for the first time in a few days.

Edward was surprised, but said with a worried tone, "I don't know for sure. I'm too old for mainline expresses these days."

Karen ran up to Molly. "Gordon's regulator is jammed and he won't be going anywhere for a while yet," she told her engine. The Fat Controller was also in the sheds, and he was worried.

"Then I wonder where we can find another engine?" he said, "Henry and James have their jobs for the day, the tank engines aren't strong enough, Edward can't manage alone, and David is too far away."

"Can't Molly take the express then?" Edward asked. Molly felt cold wheels.

"Do you think I can?" she whispered.

"If it means proving them wrong, then yes," Edward said encouragingly, "I know you can do it, and so does Percy."

Molly smiled for the first time in a few days.

"Very well, Molly," said the Fat Controller, "please hurry! The express can't be kept waiting!"

Molly set off for the station, leaving Gordon shocked at what he just heard.

"What?!" he spluttered furiously, "Leaving HER with the express?! The indignity of it all!"

Molly backed onto the waiting express coaches, and buffered up to them very gently. Some of the passengers gave her suspicious looks, then went aboard the coaches.

The guard's whistle blew, and Molly set off smoothly as she could.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry," she called to the coaches.

"You're doing good, you're doing good," said the coaches.

Molly raced along the Sodor countryside. Her siderods felt like they weren't there at all, and she charged up Gordon's hill, determined not to let the hill beat her.

"I can do it, I can do it!" she puffed as she reached the top and coasted down the other side. To Molly, it felt like the old days once more.

Molly reached Crovan's Gate safely and on time, where Peter Sam was waiting to take passengers along the Skarloey Railway. The passengers were no longer annoyed about her color; they were pleased with Molly and thanked her for getting them to their stop on time.

The Fat Controller was pleased too.

"Well, Molly," he said, "I am most pleased with you. You helped out after an awkward situation, and you proven yourself despite a few... erm, rude words toward you."

Molly knew what the Fat Controller meant. Earlier, the Fat Controller scolded Gordon for his rudeness against Molly just because of her color, and also mentioned that Molly, too, was an LNER engine. That left Gordon in shock, and a lot to think about.

"Thank you, sir," Molly said, blushing slightly.

"You did grand, old girl," smiled Karen, patting the side of her cab. Molly beamed happily. She proven that even if she wasn't in a color her class would be in, she could still be a really useful engine.

Afterward, Gordon had not once said an ill word about Molly, but she still had trouble with Henry and James, but that's another story.

I felt it was a bit weak, and didn't resemble the original episode that much. I mean, it is my favorite season 9 episode, but I probably could have done better. Not sure if the title fits the story at all. :P Maybe "The Engine in Yellow"?