Chapter 50:
"Ev'nin' Henry!" Douglas called as the twins entered Knapford. "Feelin' betta' today?"
"Much, thank you Douglas." Henry replied. "If you could help me out of the shed, that'd be greatly appreciated."
"We'll do ye one betta'! Barid! Hop aboard th' big engine!" Donald ordered his driver. Barid Williams did as he was asked and climbed into Henry's cab to start his fire, and Douglas pulled his brother away from the sheds and helped him back to Knapford.
[]
Toby and Henrietta were done working for the night, but they weren't headed to Knapford just yet. They presently were climbing the foot-hills of Mt. Anopha, pointed toward the Quarry.
"Remind me again why this is a good idea?" Henrietta demanded. "After all, I think she's made it clear she wants nothing to do with you!"
"But I want her to join us." Toby replied. "Like we said last night, no one should be alone on Christmas Eve, and she is just as entitled to come down the mountain as we are!"
"Actually Henrietta," Crovan whispered from the back of the cab, "I think Toby has a teeny crush on the diesel." He snickered as he said this, but Henrietta was suddenly appalled at the concept.
As they at last entered the work place, they found it mostly deserted. Few cars scattered the yard, and even fewer workmen were moving about the quarry. Crovan stopped Toby at the Quarry manager's office and went to talk to Jabez Croarie, and the tram and his coach wandered further into the snow-covered mountain.
Toby found the shed in the back, but Mavis wasn't there. He looked around for a moment before finding her, alone in the snow, sitting beside a large hole in the ground, looking into the distance off the mountain. Toby gently clanged his bell as he rolled up beside her. "Mavis."
"Toby, what a surprise." Mavis said somewhat rudely, though not as rude as her tone had often been lately. Her face was blank and she didn't look at him as he stopped, continuing to stare away into the snow.
"I've come to invite you to the Christmas Party down at Knapford Station." Toby declared. "All the engines are going to be there, and lots of people from all over Sodor will-"
"No thank you." Mavis replied, looking down at the pit in front of them. "I don't want to go."
Toby stared for a moment. "Why not?" He asked, utterly confused. Mavis continued to stare into the pit. Toby looked at it too, and suddenly remembered what it was. "This is that mine-shaft Thomas fell into, isn't it?" Mavis nodded. "I tried to pull him out, but he was too heavy for an old engine like me."
"An old Tram like you?" She added, but putting extra emphasis on 'Tram'.
Toby might have been mad over the semi-racist comment, but chose to ignore it. "The view up here is wonderful. I can see Knapford and Tidmouth and the main line and the sea… I can see why you like sitting right here."
"You've been to those places of course." Mavis retorted.
"And you could too!" Toby came back out of his stupor. "Come down right now and meet some more engines! See places like Knapford!"
"I don't want to." Mavis replied. "Maybe seeing the towns would be nice, but not the engines."
Toby concentrated. "Because we're all steamies, right?" He asked, and she looked away. "Because you think we'll all be racist and make comments about you being a diesel?"
Mavis waited a second to respond. "Blackbird came, but you sent him away. The only diesel on your mainline, and you sent him away. How could I not expect you to be racist to me? How could you think I would say I wanted to come tonight?" And with that, she slid backwards into her shed, and looked as far away from Toby as she could. Toby turned himself around to see her, but she defiantly kept from looking at him.
"I'm sorry Mavis." Toby sighed. "I wish you would come."
Crovan Alderich and Jabez Croarie approached Toby and Henrietta, with a much different demeanor. "I'm glad we brought Henrietta, these other workers need a ride down to the party as well!" Crovan laughed, then he saw his engine's face. "I take it she said no?"
"Emphatically." Toby replied, still watching the diesel from a distance.
The other workmen boarded Henrietta, but Jabez walked over to Mavis and spoke to her. Toby tried not to watch, worried the manager might have been scolding her for refusing. Crovan shoveled a bit of coal into Toby's fire and rang the bell to Jabez. "We're leaving, are you coming?" Toby called to them.
"Go on ahead!" Jabez replied. "I'll be driving Mavis down!"
Toby silently cheered for himself. Henrietta seemed unimpressed, but Toby decided not to be bothered by it.
[]
The party had somewhat begun back at the big station. Bertie and Edgar Buses were busy bringing people in from nearby towns, and James and Edward were just unloading the last group from the branch lines. Thomas, Percy, Duck, Henry, Donald and Douglas all sat in the yards, watching as the people mingled about greeting each other and singing carols with the brass band Sir Topham Hatt had hired. Trevor was enjoying as children sat and listened to his stories, with Terrence listening in as well. The Hatt's grandchildren played alongside others on the small ice-pond near the station, with Lady Hatt watching them with eagle eyes. The star of Knapford hung over the whole celebration, shining like the sun. It was a splendid scene for all.
"Ooh, look out!" Duck laughed as he was hit in the tank by a pair of snowballs from a nearby fight.
"I wonder where the drivers got off to?" Henry asked, scanning the crowd.
"The Williams' headed aff t' the M. C. BUNN store iy think?" Donald said. "Neil 'n Elaine ran aff when th' snowballs came flyin', but Bob seems t' be enjoyin' himself!"
"Where is he?" Thomas asked, looking over the crowds. To no one's surprise, he was sighted on the platform, dancing with Chloe Kyndley to the music from the band. "Ugh." Thomas groaned.
"Oh enjoy it Thomas!" Duck laughed. "Maybe one day you'll find a nice female engine to cuddle in the sheds on a cold winter's night!"
"Sure Duck, as soon as I meet a female steamie, we'll see." Thomas retorted, still annoyed at his driver's ridiculous love life. However, he did think Duck made a point. Perhaps one day, he'd find his own Chloe to share a shed with.
"Say, where's Toby?" Henry asked.
"He went up Mt. Anopha right before this party started." Percy replied. "But I don't know what he's doing up there."
"Didn't he say he wanted to bring Mavis down to the party?" Thomas suggested. "He might have gone up the diesel's place."
"Did you say Diesel?" James asked, rolling over to his co-engines with his jobs now done for the night. "We sure showed him, didn't we?"
"Oh sure, cuz you chased him up the branchline." Thomas growled.
"You got your face shoved through a building." Duck added.
"Ok! So you helped." James conceded. "But it was I who pinned him down in the Vicarstown yard, running like a fool back to the mainland."
"Oi, You were only the decoy!" Henry snapped back. "I pinned him down when you went around the front- Gordon brought Hatt and August where I kept him!"
"Soun's like a fight!" Donald laughed.
"Do tell?" Douglas pried.
"Oh it's easy to catch an Engine if you know what you're doing, especially a Diesel." James laughed haughtily.
"Oh don't boost his ego, please." Duck sighed.
[]
"My funnel feels wobbly." Peter Sam complained. "Still doesn't feel right since the accident at the mine."
"Oh, ask Santa Claus for a new one then!" Sir Handel retorted.
"Oh, I haven't asked Santa for presents before. Does he take requests from engines?" Rusty asked, the little engine's far-away glance ever present.
"Oh please, ask Hatt, he'd be more likely to give you a new funnel." Duncan griped. "Now go to sleep, blast it."
"Relax Duncan." Skarloey chastized. "It's Christmas Eve, we can stay up a little while. Didn't engines ever stay up and talk on your old railway?"
"I lived alone on me old railway." Duncan growled. "Now shut up and sleep already."
Needless to say, a newcomer had come to the Skarloey Railway, and one that had a particular bad attitude. He'd arrived only a few days ago, and had spent the time in the works being fitted to work on Sodor, and he had not enjoyed the experience. He was supposed to be a Christmas present to the Skarloey Engines, but he'd become a sort of Christmas nightmare instead. But more on him a different time, let's get back to the party
[]
"That's right!" James laughed loudly. "Diesel's are nothing to Steam Engine's worth!"
"Blast'em all t' th' scrapyard!" Donald cheered.
"Remember Eagle!" Henry shouted.
"Oh c'mon guys." Duck rolled his eyes. "Not all Diesel's are that bad."
"Aren'choo th' one 'oo go'h 'imself run throo' a wall by a Diesel?" Douglas reminded.
"Technically that was the trucks who pushed me through the wall." Duck replied. "And though it was Diesel's plan, I still don't hate him for it. I'm sure there are plenty of Diesels that are perfectly respectable!"
"Indeed there are!" Shouted a voice from the main line, and Toby and Henrietta slowly rolled into the party. The crowd parted to allow room for the tram to stop, and the workers disembarked his old coach as he stopped. "And I'd much prefer you boys to stop this ghastly slander toward Diesel-kind, seeing as how I've brought one down from Mount Anopha."
"You brought Mavis!" Percy exclaimed. "Where is she?"
"Coming shortly, I decided it was best if I hurried here to prevent a misunderstanding, right Thomas?" Toby asked, and Percy and Thomas nodded knowingly.
"Well then. I'd like to see a Diesel try to impress me." James snootily declared, watching the main line as horn tooted nearby.
[]
Bill and Ben were shouting a rousing and rude parody to 'Joy to the World', which the band was now hesitantly playing. Sir Topham Hatt stepped past them, ignoring the various Teenagers and Norramby's that were joining their chorus and moved between the crowd. Various people bid hello, including the likes of old Mrs. Kyndley, Farmer Mccoll, and the Vicar of Ffarquhar. Travis the Butler passed by, carrying a tray of sandwiches as a server. Topham had tried to convince Travis not to play the butler role on Christmas eve, but he had insisted.
Suddenly, a hand fell on his shoulder. Hatt turned to see Tom Tipper the mailman. "Evening Tom." Hatt greeted him.
"Sir." Tom nodded. "Some late mail came in for you just as I was hoping to leave. It said 'Urgent', so I figured it was best to bring it along for you!"
"Why thank you!" Topham smiled. "You're a dutiful Mailman, aren't you!"
"Always! Like when Mr. Jingle asked me to specially deliver an old newspaper to your manor a few mornings ago."
Hatt was taken aback for a moment. He'd forgotten all about the outdated newspaper sitting on his desk, still unread. "Jerry Jingle sent it himself?" Hatt asked.
Tom only smiled and wandered off to find his wife. Sir Topham Hatt looked down at the letter he'd been given, trying to distract himself from the new information. Indeed, it said 'Urgent' on the front, but the name was a shock for the Fat Controller to see.
"Earl Robert Norramby" Topham whispered. "Damn."
[]
Mavis had expected a little flirting, despite her engine-type, from the other engines at the party. She'd expected to hear some snark about being either a female or a Diesel. She'd basically expected the worst. The worst was not what she got.
"Cor." James whispered as she pulled smoothly into the sidings.
"At last we meet!" Henry smiled as she stopped beside him. "The name's Henry, how are you miss?"
"Oh, I- I'm fine." Mavis sheepishly replied. Thomas nodded in hello but was busy talking to the GWR engine beside him- whom she assumed was Duck based on what little she heard of the main line's news.
Jabez hopped from her cab and merged into the crowd, and Mavis looked back up to see Toby, having turned around on a turntable in Knapford yards, approaching her with a kind face. "Well Mavis, what do you think?"
"It's… a lot to take in." She admitted under the curious eyes of nearly every engine around her.
"It's alright Mavis, you're not the first new face we've had recently." Henry reassured her. "Heck, everyone here save myself is technically new to the NWR."
"Oi, I ran the SSR for years!" James snapped. "I've been here for a long time!"
"It's not like any of us are very young." Percy added. "Been around for few years, we all have. How old are you miss?"
Mavis hesitated, but Toby cut in. "It's rude to ask a woman's age Percy!"
"I'm sorry!" Percy replied. "I was just curious!"
"He's fine." Mavis reassured. "I was built last year."
The Scots spluttered in unison and Percy laughed. Mavis felt her face growing hot, wishing they would all stop staring at her.
"Las' year- tha's wen ta 'ole o' Scotland star'd building Diesel's e'reywhere." Donald mumbled distastefully.
"Diesel's have certainly topped steam in terms of production recently." Toby added.
"Gotten weird 'uns too." Donald agreed. "Like tha' 'un tha' go' Eagle- wi'f th' claw!"
"A claw you say- Do you know anything about Diesel's like that Mavis?" Thomas asked.
Mavis scoffed. "What? I'm supposed to know everything about Diesel's just because I'm one?"
"Easy- I didn't mean that. I was just wondering!"
"It's alright Mavis." Toby calmly told her. "No need to be defensive."
Mavis scoffed again and honked her horn. People nearby moved as she backed away suddenly.
"Wait!" James called. "Come back!"
"Forget it James." Toby sighed, watching Mavis scoot backwards down the main line. "She's a stubborn girl. I pushed her too hard to come tonight."
"Wha'd ye do tha' fer?" Donald demanded.
"'F she waz uncomfortable, why'd ye bring 'er?" Douglas agreed.
Toby sighed and looked down. The other engines rolled their eyes but James had to butt in, as always. "Well that's what you get, you think you're so smart Toby. It's a shame too, she was rather pretty."
[]
Mavis rolled slowly backwards, trying to find the Ffarquhar junction. She wanted to get away from the other engines, but fate had other plans for her. A loud whistle rang out behind her, and she skidded to a halt. She looked around, but there wasn't a crossing nor siding to scoot onto, and she knew she was on the wrong track.
She raced ahead, but she would never be faster than the Express engine. "Look out!" Gordon cried, slowing to meet her pace. Their buffers touched for moment and she revved on, Gordon following behind her.
"Hurry up you!" He demanded. "I've already been delayed in Vicarstown, and I'm not missing much more of the party!"
"Oh you aren't missing much up there- its a drol." Mavis replied, pushing every ounce of strength she had into staying ahead of him.
"A female…" Gordon whispered, surprised, then cleared his throat. "And where were you going?"
"What does it matter, steamie?" Mavis retorted, angry she was being forced back to where she didn't want to be. "You all think you're better than me, despite Diesel-kind being revolutionary."
"Did I say I was better than you?" Gordon demanded.
Mavis slowed again as she thought, and Gordon biffed her by mistake again. "Easy, speedy." Mavis snapped. "Let's just get back to the station and I'll be out of your way.
[]
Topham had only one person on his mind, but it wasn't who you might think. No, he wasn't searching for his tormentor Jerry, but instead his old friend whom he desperately needed to speak to.
Sidney Heaver sat atop his engine's buffer beam inside the station, laughing as they watched a drunken signal man scare off several women in his attempts to flirt. Hatt approached them on the platform and Sidney slid off of Edward. "Hello Topham."
"Enjoying the party Sidney?" He asked the old driver.
"It's quite a show, much better than last year's." Sidney remarked. "But you didn't come searching for me jut to ask if I liked the party, now did you?"
"Perceptive as always Sidney." Hatt smiled. "Edward, will you excuse us? You can go join the others on the sidings if you wish."
"Oh I'd just as soon stay over here sir, seeing as how James is over there." Edward laughed. "But you can go ahead."
Sidney patted Edward's footplate and walked with The Fat Controller to the outside of the station, away from the party. "Out here?" Sidney asked as Hatt led him away.
"I don't want overheard by certain relatives, if you understand." Topham replied, and Sidney understood in an instant.
"The Norrambys. You're talking about Rob."
"Exactly. I've received another of his ridiculous letters!" Topham whispered sharply. "He's working on the Bluebell Railway right now and says he's found another source."
"Another source? I thought we'd established that the portal in Kirk Ronan was the only source!"
"That's what my grandfather thought too, but he was helped by that American, whom Robert claims had his own source back in the states. Now the crazy codger has gone from searching for the origin of the sentient vehicles to these apparent 'Sources.'"
"The Bluebell Railway is far too obscure and small right now. Why isn't he searching on the GWR? Or LNER?"
"Like I would know. But it gets worse, he thinks he's being followed."
"By who?"
"...It's impossible. I fully believe he's gone crazy from this research."
Sidney stared. "Who is following Robert?"
There was a tense pause.
"He thinks he's seeing Pete, everywhere."
Sidney stared even harder, unable to comprehend what he'd heard. "Boomer?"
Gordon's whistle rang out at the station, and Hatt turned to look back at the party. "Look, we'll have to discuss this later. Gordon's arrived and I know he's bringing a few special guests, and Harold will be here soon with Santa. Please don't mention this to anyone else."
"I always liked Robert, a bit of a funny character." Sidney recalled. "I'll keep it to me'self." Hatt nodded and began to walk away, but Sidney stopped him. "Wait, I just remembered- Edward has something he wants to talk about!"
"Alright, but it'd better be quick." Hatt replied. He walked back out to the platform, where Edward was greeting the last Express passengers. Topham noticed Mavis and Gordon talking at the head of the train, but he ignored their conversation as he moved to where he was requested. "Edward, how do you do?"
"Good evening sir!" Edward replied. "Can I ask something of you?"
"That's what I'm here for it seems, after what Percy was asking about this morning."
Edward tilted his head. "Percy asked… The Deputation?"
"Oh is that what he was trying to say?" Hatt laughed. "He stumbled over the word a bit, but I got the point. You're also asking for the twins to be kept on the line I assume."
"Y-yes sir." Edward was confused. "I'm sorry- I thought Percy made it clear he was terrified of asking you!"
"Oh he was." Topham replied. "But he did indeed ask, and I must say, it cleared my mind on the matter. In fact, since all my engines are here…"
Sir Topham Hatt directed Gordon and Mavis around the platforms, despite some slight protest from Mavis, and called the engines to attention. "Excuse me, if I could have your attention?" The crowds quieted and the band finished their song, and Bill and Ben laughed off their latest rude parody as the Fat Controller waited. "Thank you- I think. I'd like to say- It has come to my attention that people have begun to disagree with the way I'm running my railway."
"You can say that again." called a disgruntled voice from the crowd, to some slight murmuring agreement.
Hatt waved it off. "I understand that there are those who want things differently- including my own engines. It has come to my attention that there is some confusion as to the way I've acquired some of them, but it's time I be frank with the passengers and visitors of my railway. I've done nothing illegal, I've made precautions after every incident, and I know how to continue to run my business without the opinions and reports of others." He looked to Donald and Douglas, who were hanging onto his every word literally for dear life. "Two of my engines, as alive as I am, have approached me, asking me to keep these new twin engines, despite their unusual circumstances regarding how they arrived. I take orders from no-one, but in the case of their Deputation, I will be taking their advice. If my passengers disagree with this, I ask them to keep their voices out of the paper."
"Wait Sir, does th's mean-" Donald began.
"We're stayin'?" Douglas asked.
"Yes."
A chorus of whistles and many cheers erupted through the crowd. Hatt looked around and realized something he hadn't before. There were people who didn't like the railway. There were people like Jerry Jingle who disagreed with his system. But there were others- a sort of Silent Majority, who had never been concerned by his methods, and also thought Jerry Jingle was nothing more than an overexcited reporter who was ready to report anything different to make a bit of fame.
Then a buzzing noise filled the ears of every party-goer, and all eyes looked up to see Harold the Helicopter descending slowly to the yards. Percy rolled his eyes at the sight of him, but the children cheered and laughed as the noisy machine landed in a designated spot beside the tracks and let his single passenger off- the jolly present-bearer himself, Santa Claus. But the old saint was too familiar to be the legend himself, and Sidney laughed at the sight of him. "You bailed your brother out for this?"
"Couldn't leave him in jail, plus I knew he'd like a job like this." Topham admitted.
Lowham Hatt, disguised as Santa, drew out a large back of Candy-canes and passed them to every attendant of the party, including all of the engines.
The Fat Controller felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find a special passenger from the Express, the disgraced Charlie Sand. "Hello Sir." He quietly said, unsure if he was even welcome.
Hatt looked him over for a moment, then extended his hand. "There's no better driver for the express." Topham conceded. "We both lost our tempers that night, but I think it's time we put that in the past and make up as old friends should."
"I'm glad you feel the same Topham." Charlie sighed, shaking the Fat Controller's hand. Sidney embraced his fellow driver and they wandered off to join the Sand Family- however still missing their daughter- and went off into the crowd.
[]
The brass band was loudly playing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' as the party continued into the night, and a few of the engines began to give in. Mavis had left shortly after Sir Topham Hatt's speech, and Edward had turned in shortly after, staying in the Tidmouth side-shed for the night.
"It's been a night for me lads." Duck decided. "I'm headed back to Tidmouth, care to join me Henry?"
"I'll stay out a little longer, Goodnight Duck." Henry replied.
"Christmas is a day off for all of us, right?" James asked.
"What would we be doing on the rails without drivers and signalmen anyway?" Thomas laughed. "Of course James- and Hatt will be bringing gifts around I've been told!"
"Sounds lovely- a day off." Percy sighed.
"That's all I've had for the past month!" Gordon whined. "But at least you gents will be in the sheds as well."
"Glad t' be ov serv'se." Donald laughed.
They paused for a moment to watch children taking turns on Santa-Lowham's lap asking for presents, till Toby broke the silence.
"But you know what still bothers me?" Toby asked.
"The inevitability of Death?" Henry replied, dead-beat.
"Godred- no!" Toby chuckled. "It does seem a little racist, having no diesels on the main line."
"Oh not this again." James groaned. "Always you and the racism, eh Toby?"
"It comes with my kind i'm afraid." Toby snapped. "But am I wrong to say that a diesel in the yards or on the main line would be very useful? And with Hatt taking suggestions now-"
"Don't you dare Toby." Henry snapped.
"Aft'a wut we've seen in Scotland, trust us t' say ye don' want that fer Sodur." Douglas agreed.
"Not all Diesels are bad!" Gordon declared. "Mavis is a respectable girl, after what I've seen of her tonight."
"Ooh i'd like to see more of her if you get what I'm saying." James snickered.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear that." Thomas shut his eyes in denial.
"No, I don't get it." Percy replied.
"You lucky, innocent little engine." said Thomas.
"Shut up James." Toby stated. "I'm serious."
"'N we're serious too." Donald said, with Douglas nodding beside him. "Diesel's on Sodur could ruin e'rething ye've got 'ere-"
"N' by tha' we mean a Steamie Safe-'aven." Douglas finished.
Toby sighed. "Alright. Alright, I'm going home." Toby left Henrietta with Annie and Clarabel in the yards and rolled away.
The other engines continued to chat till the party died off, each wishing a Merry Christmas before slowly returning, with what little steam they had left after the night, to their sheds for the night. Snow fell softly across the island, and children listened for sleigh bells and hoofbeats as they fell asleep.
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(Ok, so when I said I was going to post this on the 23rd, what I meant was that was what I WANTED to happen, but celebrations of my own have clogged up my usual time for writing. So here's this half-arsed promise. Imma post the last chapter of the season- Sodor's Christmas Morning- sometime before the new year. That's where, as I said, I'll reply to review questions and wrap up one last storyline before I go on hiatus for about the whole of January. I'll have a new chapter out by at least Valentine's, and it'll all be fun from there on out!
Again, this chapter sort of bounced all over the place and I'm sorry about that, but I needed to finish out a lot of plotlines so that's what I've got. I hope you enjoyed regardless and despite the delay.
Merry Christmas -HunterCreeper712