This story was done in collaboration between me, Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and DaveMan1000 (both on and DeviantART) and we own the OCs that are used in the story. Credit to author AaronCottrell97 for a few ideas and character suggestions (especially the duel layout for the story). Everything else belongs to their respective owners:

Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel

The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry

Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami

WARNING: This particular story is rated for fantasy violence and some language.

NOTE: This takes place after the Season 5 chapter "Embers of a New Battle" but is clearly set before "The Alluring Queens"

Title: A Red-Head's Redemption

Opening up in his hotel room, James was currently alone and doing some major thinking. It had been a few hours since Thomas and Emily both woke up from their respective comas, and James was very happy that they were alive. Even then, he couldn't stop thinking about what would have happened if his two friends didn't wake up.

"Thomas... Emily..." James thought to himself. "If anything were to have happened to you two at the hands of Frankie, I... I..."

There was a knock on the door.

"James?" The voice of Molly called. "Are you in? Could I come in?"

"Oh... Sure, Molly." replied James, brooding.

The door opened, and the black-haired girl walked inside, seeing James sitting on the bed in a solemn-looking position. She could tell that her boyfriend was doing some thinking over his outburst earlier on.

"Are you okay?" asked Molly, clearly knowing the answer.

"Molly, the truth is...I'm not okay." answered James. "Frankie almost killed our two friends, and there wasn't anything we could have done to prevent it." He narrowed his eyes. "Not only that, I'm also thinking about what I said while we were at the abandoned factory."

Molly, deciding to listen out, walked over and sat down on the bed. From there, she nodded and allowed James to continue speaking...

"I'm beginning to think that even after all this time, I haven't changed a bit." he went on. "Ever since Gordon and I bullied Emily to such an extreme when we were in Middle School, I've been regretting it ever since we were caught and punished." The red-haired boy looked at Molly. "More importantly, my actions resulted in Emily bullying you the minute you came to the school."

"James..." whispered Molly, listening on.

"And then there was our fight after my duel with Murdoch during Battle City. You tore me down, and I ended up doing the same to you. I still feel horrible over what I said to you."

A flashback ensured.

FLASHBACK

James had defeated Murdoch in a duel, but Molly instead went over to see if he's okay instead of congratulating James for winning.

"Oh come on!" pouted Flashback James. "I'm the one who won, not him! Besides, those were holograms, so they shouldn't hurt at all!"

"Um, James?" Flashback Gordon started. "Maybe you should cool it..."

But Flashback James wouldn't listen and just kept on ranting.

"You're supposed to be paying attention to ME!" he went on. "I was in the top 3 of the San Francisco tournament for crying out loud! Why is it that every time I try to hang with you, you make up some excuse to ditch me? It's not fair!"

"James?" Flashback Henry tried to speak up.

Still, Flashback James didn't stop with his ranting.

"I mean Murdoch's not even that great of a duelist! Why are you always avoiding a chance for us to hang out?"

Unfortunately, by that point, sweet-natured Molly Russell had had enough of James's arrogant and conceited attitude.

"Stop it." she said suddenly.

Flashback James let his sentence hang. "Wha-?"

Molly stood up, turned around, and gave the red-haired boy a very dangerous stare that made him hush up in an instant.

"He's dead." whispered Flashback Gordon and Flashback Henry to each other.

After a moment of silence, Flashback Molly began speaking. And she sounded dead serious too.

"James Hughes!" The black-haired girl said acidly. "You are by far the most arrogant and self-centered boy I have ever met. You brag to everybody thinking that you are the greatest thing since sliced bread even though you're not. You, for instance, back in middle school, bullied Emily to the point she became a bossy brat, which also got her to briefly bully me. Not to mention you even had the nerve to scare Percy and almost caused him to leave Sodor forever! To be honest, I don't care at all for your arrogant nature! Why can't you be a better person like Thomas?"

Flashback James completely flinched upon hearing that. But did Molly stop there? Don't bet on it.

"Ever since we met-" Molly went on. "-I've been wondering to myself what was wrong with you. Why is it that you're always trying to show off and make people think you're the best instead of thinking about other people's feelings? You didn't even show any concern for Murdoch when he got hurt at the end of your duel! I don't like a guy that's arrogant and doesn't care for those around him, James Hughes."

Flashback Gordon and Flashback Henry were both amazed that someone so soft-spoken and nice like Molly could house quite the temper when pushed too far.

"Whoa." muttered Flashback Henry.

"Remind me to never make her mad." Flashback Gordon agreed.

James, having never seen or heard a girl say that to him...well, let's just say he didn't take it (more like the rejection part seemingly) very well to say the least. He began to speak right back.

"I think I understand perfectly on what you're saying, Molly." James said slowly, trying to sound as calm as possible yet with hints of anger. "What you're saying is that you have ALWAYS DESPISED ME!" His calmness was immediately replaced with great anger, frightening Flashback Molly a bit. "All this time you've been lying to me, making me THINK you cared about me when all along you were feeding me false hopes to make me think that one day we'd be a couple, only to rip my heart out and crush my dreams just to satisfy your sadistic fantasies!"

"James?!" Flashback Henry, Flashback Gordon, and even Flashback Murdoch all gasped.

"James?" Flashback Molly added, all of her own anger was gone in an instant.

Unfortunately, James, with angry tears, still didn't stop there.

"I can't believe I wasted nearly five years trying to get a selfish, heartbreaking witch like you to notice me!" he continued, causing Flashback Molly to fearfully back up into a wall. "If you never intended on being my girlfriend at all, then you should have at least have the decency to just come out and say so instead of waiting to break my heart! If you want nothing to do with me, then I want nothing to do with you! I hate you, Molly Russell! Do you hear me?! I HATE YOU! I never want to see or talk to you ever again!"

With that said, Flashback James walked away in a terrible mood. Flashback Molly, meanwhile, slowly slumped down onto the ground as she felt her heart break.

"James..." The black-haired girl whispered, while starting to tear up.

Flashback Gordon, Flashback Henry, and Flashback Murdoch each approached the devastated Molly. They felt terrible for what they had just witnessed Flashback James said to her.

"Are you okay, Molly?" asked Flashback Henry.

He never got an answer, as poor Flashback Molly finally broke down to cry.

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended, and Molly didn't know what to say. She knew that while James could be vain and arrogant, when he regrets doing something wrong he 'really' regrets it.

"True, you guys have been saying that I have been getting better in trying to change my ways-" continued James. "-but the point I'm making is that my attitude just hasn't been improving all that much. I'm still just a conniving, sneaky, and overall terrible person, and my recent outburst over wanting Frankie dead is proof of that."

"James Hughes, you're none of those things!" argued Molly. "I mean, sure you've occasionally done stupid things and said some insensitive things, but that doesn't mean you haven't been trying to make amends for any of your past actions!"

"How can you be so sure, though?" James wondered. "I mean, one example of how I showed I wasn't improving is back when we were in the Duel Monsters spirit world, Thomas used a combination of 'Breaker the Magical Warrior' and 'Berserker Soul' to viciously attack Diesel to the point of death, and I ended up saying that he deserved it—which resulted in you slapping me."

A flashback ensured.

FLASHBACK

Atop the speeding train, Flashback Thomas (possessed) was viciously attacking Flashback Diesel with 'Breaker the Magical Warrior' over a 'joke' Flashback Diesel made about Emily being trapped inside a card and tearing it up.

"He's going to kill him!" cried Flashback Stanley.

"Serves Diesel right if you ask me." snorted Flashback James uncaringly. "Look at all the trouble he's caused us."

"How dare you, James?!" screamed an angry Flashback Molly, sounding and looking absolutely disgusted by Flashback James' statement of the situation. "Diesel may be a bully, but even he doesn't deserve to die at the hands of one of us!"

"But, he tried to kill Mavis!" protested Flashback James, thinking back to the San Francisco tournament. "Not only that, but he's put us through nothing but trouble for years since he moved to the Island of Sodor! I seriously believe Diesel DESERVES his fate!"

That comment caused the usually calm and shy black-haired girl to slap her red-haired boyfriend across the face.

"What'd you do that for?" asked Flashback James hurtfully, reeling back and holding onto his hurting cheek. "I was only pointing out a fact."

"James, Diesel is still a human being!" snapped Flashback Toby, agreeing with Flashback Molly on her statement. "Even though he's done a ton of rotten things to us in the past..."

"...even he doesn't deserve something like this!" finished Flashback Stanley.

END FLASHBACK

The flashback came to an end.

"Of course, we can't forget my other occasional insensitive comments." James went on. "Such as..."

"James, please just stop it!" begged Molly. "I'll admit that while you have had several moments of insensitivity, you've also had plenty of moments where you selflessly put your life on the line and stood up for us all - like when you dueled Vampire Lady to stop her from capturing Thomas!"

A flashback commenced.

FLASHBACK

Flashback Vampire Lady had defeated Flashback James and faded away to leave him and his friends to share one last moment together before the red-haired boy passed away.

"JAMES!" shrieked Flashback Molly, running towards her fallen boyfriend.

"James!" came from Flashback Gordon and Flashback Henry, both running over.

The group ran towards the fatally wounded red-haired boy.

"You've got to hang in there!" ranted Flashback Molly, holding James in her arms. "I can't live without you! I love you!"

Flashback James opened his eyes weakly and looked towards Flashback Thomas.

"T-Thomas..." he groaned.

Flashback Thomas approached and held his red-haired friend in his arms.

"I've tried my best, but I had failed to win..." mumbled Flashback James weakly. "I...just wanted to prove how sorry I am for what I did to Emily all those years ago... And for betraying your trust..."

"James..." Flashback Thomas whispered, just as tears came to his eyes.

"I'm so sorry about what Gordon and I did to her back in Middle School." apologized Flashback James sadly. "I don't know why we did such a stupid thing back then, but..." He closed his eyes for a moment. "Maybe this is for the best..."

"No, don't say that!" protested Flashback Thomas, trying his hardest to resist crying. "You don't deserve this fate, James Hughes!"

This surprised Flashback James. "Wait..." he peeped. "Does this mean...you... you finally forgive me?"

"Yes, James, I forgive both you and Gordon." confirmed Flashback Thomas, blinking through his tears. "I should have forgiven you long ago instead of harboring that hidden grudge, but I was just so angry for what you and Gordon both had done to Emily, and the events it eventually lead to... But now, after seeing all that you've done to try and redeem yourself, I'm finally ready to make peace with you both..."

Flashback James smiled weakly at his blue-haired friend. At least he would be able to die knowing that he was truly forgiven.

"Let me die with you, James!" begged Flashback Molly through her own tears. "We have to be together!"

"No, Molly..." refused Flashback James, shaking his head weakly. "You were caught up in all of this, meaning you don't deserve a fate like this. Besides, Thomas needs all the support he can get..."

He started to fade away into particles of light.

"James!" peeped Flashback Molly, sobbing hard. "James..."

"Thomas... you've really grown into a fine young man..." Flashback James weakly admitted, not losing the smile on his face. "Now, go! Go forth, and save Emily from the Court of Darkness... I know you can... can... do..."

The red-haired boy never got to finish his sentence... because he had finally faded away, never to be seen again...

END FLASHBACK

The flashback came to an end.

"Although you did lose to Vampire Lady, and, in the process, lose your life, you've proven to us during that duel that you were truly sorry for hurting Emily so badly." continued Molly. "That's a definite sign of you manning up and taking responsibility for what you did."

"It is?" peeped James.

"Positive!" The black-haired girl nodded, before taking her boyfriend's hands and putting them into her own. "And we also can't forget the time where you saved me from one of Marik's Rare Hunters. That's something I will never, ever forget."

James said nothing in response.

"No matter what you say about how you're not making any progress in changing for the better, you've actually done far more good than you know. And we all know you'll continue to make improvements to your attitude, and I'll continue to stand by your side as you do so."

"I would really like to believe that, Molly." James said, still sounding unconvinced. "But how would I manage to keep my arrogance and pride from taking me over again?"

Molly immediately knew the answer to that. "Hmm... Ah ha!" she began, looking plenty wise. "How about something like this?"

With that said, Molly Russell leaned close and kissed James Hughes on the lips, catching him off-guard briefly. Very quickly, the red-haired boy enjoyed the kiss from his girlfriend. When the kiss ended, James seemed to smile from seeing how bold Molly was behaving at the moment.

"When did you learn to become THAT brave?" James joked a bit.

"I've been spending some time around you and your friends, after all." Molly winked cheekily. "You guys have been helping me with my self-confidence, after all."

With that said, the black-haired girl sat up and started to leave the room.

"Hey!" called James, and causing Molly to turn around. "Thanks for visiting; I really needed that pep talk at this time."

"Anytime, Jimmy." smiled Molly.

James blushed in embarrassment. "M-Molly! D-Don't call me that! Jimmy's a wimpy-sounding name!"

"Aww, but 'I' happen to like it." Molly giggled, before pouting playfully. "And you like it when I'm playful, don't you?"

"Heh... That's a good point." chuckled James. He then grew slightly somber. "Anyway, I mean it when I said I needed that pep talk... I seriously hope that Thomas and Emily both make it."

"So do I, James..." agreed Molly. "So do I."

With that said, Molly turned and left the room, leaving James alone for a little while longer. Soon, a knock on the door ensued before opening up and revealing both Gordon and Henry.

"You alright now, James?" asked Henry.

"I sure am." smiled James, pleased to see his two best friends again. "It's all thanks to a little pep talk from my wonderful girlfriend in Molly."

"That's a big relief." said Gordon, relieved. "When we got back to the hotel, you didn't even come with us to get a bite to eat. But it's nice to see you're feeling like your old self again."

"In fact, why don't we celebrate that with a movie?" suggested Henry.

"I'll make the popcorn!" offered James.

"And I'll pick the movie!" added Gordon.

Yup... Despite Thomas and Emily's condition, there was still at least hope for not only them but also hope for James Hughes.

End Scene

There hasn't been too many "JamesxMolly" moments in this series, and so DaveMan1000 suggested this deleted scene (which he helped write up). Either way, this is the last deleted scene before the end of 2019... See you all in 2020!