Forget Me Not (Stage Close) : Chapter 11

Edward and his crew had found Joy, sitting on the stair steps of the Station Bridge. But after asking her some questions.. They had found out that she had lost her voice.

Joy didn't put up much a fight when she was escorted to Doctor Marcus' House. She was too exhausted and her head hurts again after Edward and his crew had panickly calling Doctor Marcus with 'Doctor'. And Joy was too sadden to care. She doesn't know why but she was fully exhausted both mentally and physically. It seems her cold was catching up on her again.

"Your throat was fine.." Doctor Marcus muttered. But Joy clearly couldn't talk. Either there was a bug that she was catching, or the shock of things were getting into her.

Joy didn't look at Doctor Marcus even once. Doctor Marcus can see that she was still there, not just an empty shell which will be a whole lot scarier and concerning. No, what he saw was, she was thinking. Too sad, too confused, yet, she looked so sure. But the problem of it all was, she wouldn't talk.

"Is there anything wrong with her, Doctor?" Edward asked when Doctor Marcus went out from his house. Joy was still inside on his patient's bed, so it's alright to converse fully.

"Nothing from what I checked.. Her cold was catching up but it's not that bad. It wasn't bad at all, it was just an aftermath after the cold she's having. But I can't say the same about why she wouldn't talk."

"I am sure it is not a tantrum.." Edward supplied.

"And it's not a sickness either. And even if it was from the shock, she wouldn't be thinking that hard either." Doctor Marcus said.

Neither the crew, Edward, or the Doctor spoke, because the moment they went silent, Marie, Stephen, and Bridget run went passed them, with wholeheartedly, asking where Joy was.

"She's inside kids.. But- Hey!" Doctor Marcus yelped when the kids went passed through him through the door. The three children found Joy was sitting on a bed with a very hard look on her face. She was clearly thinking about something, but they couldn't wait to find it out. They (as in Stephen and Marie) couldn't simply let the guilt eating them alive while they are sitting, waiting for Joy to recover. No, they need to apologize now.

And even if their apologize was forgotten when she gets her memory back again, they'll apologize again. They just simply can't let the guilt sit back much longer. They need to let it out, now.

"Joy!"

Joy look up not because she recognized her name. She look up because their shouts broke her focus.

"We're sorry! For everything!" Stephen and Marie said with pure desperate, sincere, and honesty in their voice. It triggers something in her mind, but Joy can't simply recognize it. It made her head hurt but their apology lessened the pain in somewhere somehow.

While Stephen and Marie still ranting off their apologies, Doctor Marcus went inside and in a sadden voice he said, "I think we all appreciate your apologies, Kids. But.. she's.. she can't talk right now.. and you know she doesn't remember any of us right now.."

Bridget sniffled, " We know.. They know.. But.. until when?"

Her half sentenced words means so much to the others, but not to Joy, who was too tired to comprehend things. She yawned slightly but smiled at the three new kids in the room.

"Thank you."

was her only answer before she slipped into a dreamless sleep. Doctor Marcus helped her into a more comfortable position before ushering softly to the three other kids from the room. Joy need her sleep and so are they.

At the next morning, they found an empty bed and Joy was missing.


"You know you need to do this."

"Yes, but those are not the things that are going to release you from my mind."

"I have no clue.."

"So am I, but.. I got to try it.. It's my last day after all. There's nothing for me to lose."

"Even though you could lose their or even his trust?"

That stopped the girl from her mindless tracks in the woods, before she answered with the sweet and innocent smile she has,

"Why worry about the outcome when we haven't done it yet?"

"I do wonder why you suddenly remember me."

"Me neither. But that sleep helps and I finally found my voice. It's time to reveal the truth. Once and for all."


Allie Rodriguez was surprised to found the child she met yesterday, was standing on her front door at 5 a.m in the morning, and telling her to gather everyone who knew about the case and know about Archie Levington, to gather near Dryaw, where the accident happens. The child had told her that she knew the 'culprit' but will only reveal it when everybody was there.

At the Shortest Longest Road.

Just like what the three men said.


When everyone gather around, they were all confused. Some engines had also crowded the place, but some are impatient.

"I have works to do!"

"Who is the child that arrange this? She's wasting our time!"

Allie didn't say anything but just wait patiently for the child to arrive.

"Miss Allie? Everyone's here?"

Allie turned around and sighed in relief at seeing the child. The crowd was getting restless, and Dryaw wasn't exactly a quiet place either.

"Yes, they are here. You're ready?"

Joy took a breath and sighed, "Yes."

Allie smiled assuringly, and lightly caressed her oversized newsboy cap, "The crowd is yours, Dear."

Joy then sat on the fence to attract people's attention, since she was higher than everyone now, except for the engines.

"Joy!" Many shouted in pure relief and concern.

"There you are!"

"Where have you been?!"

"We were so worried!"

Joy didn't say anything, but muster a smile before waving her hand and arm up fully, "Hello!"

When everyone's attention is on her, Joy started, "Must be confusing why a child wanted everyone to gather in one of the busiest road on Sodor, right?

That shut everyone up, and Joy took the que to said, "I know the 'culprit' who is responsible for Archie Levington's accident. It's not a hit and run case. It was actually an accident. And no one realized it because they only have one mindset in their minds. That a car hit him. But as a matter of fact, he was not hit by a car."

"What?!" Duck exclaimed.

"Are you sure, Child?" Edward implied unsurely.

"That is outrages! What proofs do you have?" One of the passerby people who stopped to listen, asked loudly.

"A letter." Joy implied simply.

"A letter?" James quipped in curiously.

"Yes." Joy took out a letter which was the letter from Archie Levington to Allie Rodriguez, that was there at the accident day, "You might think that this stain was blood, so no one ever checked it. But actually, if you smelled it, it smells like..

"Watermelon.." Allie said who was near enough for Joy to let her smelled it.

"Exactly." Joy smiled smugly at her strong proof.

The crowd was quiet, and no one but one person, asked, "What are you trying to say, Child?"

This is the hard part, "He was hit by a crate of watermelons. A horn that Miss Allie and the passerby heard was a mix and overlapped sound of an engine's whistle and a car's horn."

"I.. I donnae t'ink we get it, Las'." Donald said, confused, and so are the others.

Joy take a nervous step to stand on the fence instead of sitting on it and said, "I'll explain it. Just stand right and listen. Especially the cops, so they can close this case, once and for all."

They all stand and listen, while the cops ready to take notes, Joy took a breath in and out before glancing at the No 2 blue tender engine that was a source of comfort for her right now, who smiled slightly when he caught her glancing at him from the corner of her eyes.

"That day, the engine's track over here, wasn't supposed to be occupied until late afternoon. I knew because I checked the file of schedules that belong to that day. But apparently an engine, went through here in a hurry because he was asked to have an extra job that need to be done as quickly as it is, because that engine was asked to deliver his crates of goods fast enough so he can help a woman to get to the hospital as soon as he could, because she was about to deliver a baby, but her husband was away that moment so no one can call for help.

"Now you might be wondering what's the point of it. It is exactly what trigger the accident. The engine, with the pregnant woman inside his cab, went through this very track as a shortcut to get the woman to the hospital first, even though the woman asked him to deliver the goods first so he won't get scold by his boss, but the engine was stubborn enough that he prioritize the pregnant woman first, because that is the right thing to do. He was on his full speed because of the pressure of hearing the woman cries of pain, when suddenly, when he crossed this track, a car went cross from this side to the other side because the gates are open. The engine made a mistake by not paying attention to his surroundings and was on full speed. They both blew their horn and whistle, which is the sound that Miss Allie and the others heard.

"The crash was avoidable because the engine managed to breaks his speed a little. But because of that, he jostled the people in his cab and the crates of goods that he was carrying. One of the crates, fly over to Miss Allie who was having her moment of blindness, stand on the direct hit of the crates full of heavy watermelons, and that would probably killed her from blood loss. Archie saw the crates coming and quickly pushed her aside so she won't be hit by the crate, and the one who died instead was him."

Joy let her explanation sink in to the heads of the people and said again, "I have all the proofs and you all know you can't deny it. In fact, many people in this place, and even some of the cops already know about this side of the story, didn't you?" Joy's sound was almost accusing when she saw several people and even engines, look away from her. But she wasn't done yet, she knew why they hide it and she was about to let it out in the open too.

"But then again.. That day was devastating to many people.. And no one actually was in fault in an accident like this. They hide it, because the engine was almost in a breakdown mentally when he heard he had caused a death of a young boy, and a death of an unborn baby."

Several gasped, but one tiny voice, reached her ear, "How did you know.."

Joy smiled sadly and said, "It was unexpected for Sir Topham Hatt to help pay for all the funeral needs for Archie Levington. He only knew the boy for a while and vice versa. But the major part was he felt he was responsible for it, and he had told Sir Nic about it. But Sir Nic knew it was not the engine's fault and that day was a day full of pure accident. No one is at fault.

"The cops were explained, and the majority of people knew it, the case was settled peacefully. But none of the engines, Miss Allie, the former street rats, the crew who worked with their engines, knew about this particular accident. They hide it and closed it, in hopping that no one would belittle and blame the frighten engine."

Joy closed her eyes and steadily she said, "The pregnant woman whose baby died that day because of the rough jostling, was Doctor Marcus' wife, who died not long after that."

Doctor Marcus look away, but he didn't deny it.

Joy continued, "The owner of the car that went through was Sir Topham Hatt's son's car. And the engine was… the number 1 engine on Sodor, Thomas the Tank Engine."

The engines and the people who doesn't know the truth, gasped in shocked and surprised. But the people who knew, looked away, while Thomas himself look down.

Joy then speak again before anyone could blame the engine, "The proofs are all in the stains of this letter, a photo and the date of deaths of Doctor Marcus' family, a schedule of engines, and the report from the cops, which has loopholes that when we put in the pieces of truth, it would be a perfect puzzle. And not just that, there were many more clues that I collected throughout the week that I went out and explore.

"Some of you would probably blame Thomas or even Sir Nic or Sir Topham Hatt or the cops for not telling you all. But really. What was the point of you all knowing the truth when the death itself cannot be avoided? It will only arouse some unwanted conflicts and more broken hearts. I only speak this truth because the case cannot be hidden any longer. Many people who doesn't know the truth and who were close with Archie had become restless with the 'unsolved' case, and the people who knew the truth were also becoming restless with the truth that they kept hidden for 10 years already. True to be told that it is alright to keep the truth hidden. But.. turns out, the girl that the engines had adopted had reminded the engines of the boy who died a long time ago. I.. I don't know about this girl, or even if you all accept the truth or not, but I.. I wish.. that I can be useful.. and I hope that.. me and Archie.. can rest in peace.. by.. now…"

By the end of her speech, Joy's world black out and she can feel herself falling downwards only to be grabbed by someone else who was yelling, "Give her some room!" and "Bring her to the hospital! Her life is slipping!", before Joy completely surrender to the darkness of her mind, she heard two voices overlapping each other, but still quite heardable in her confused and tired state,

"Don't go away from me!"

Archie… and..

Ed..ward..


Joy was quickly put on a bed at the hospital room and they quickly put her on with oxygen mask since she was hardly breathing. No one can get in and no one allowed to go in or even get any information of her state. Everyone was restless on that day, and no one, thankfully, blame Thomas or the others for the secretive case. They didn't mind that anymore. But they will only breath in relief when Joy can get up once more. With or without her memory.


The next day was Archie Levington's death anniversary, Allie was getting ready to go to the cemetery when in front of her door.. stood someone that shouldn't even be there..

"Archie?.." No, it wasn't him, but, she looks so alike him.

The girl though, was only smiled, and said, "Partly true though. Come on, Miss Allie. Archie will want you to have this later."


At the cemetery, Sir Topham Hatt was about to walk in when he saw people was huddling outside the gates of the cemetery instead.

"What is going on here?" Sir Topham asked. Sir Robert Norramby smiled at him and just said, "Look inside."

Everyone was quiet, including the only two people on the cemetery, who were Joy and Allie Rodriguez. Joy hasn't been able to retain her memories even after she reveal the truth behind Archie's case, but that was fine by her. She felt like she could start a new anyway, and she will only feel completing her mission if she could deliver this song from Archie to Allie with true feelings from Archie Levington's heart.

Joy stand beside Archie's tombstone and set her guitar while Allie stand in front of her, waiting expectantly but patient.

"Here it goes.." Joy muttered, before clearing her throat and then start strumming her guitar expertly, like Archie would do. Because Archie.. was actually half playing it, along with her.

"Final Letter from Archie Levington to Allie Suzanne Rodriguez."

(song : A Partir de Hoy (As of Today) by David Bisbal ft. Sebastian Yatra)

"Siempre hay alguien como tú" (There is always someone like you)

"Que te nubla la razón" (That tells you the reason)

"Pero no quiere escucharte" (But doesn't want to hear you)

"Siempre hay alguien como yo" (There is always someone like me)

"Cuanto más me dicen no" (The more they tell me 'no')

"Más intent enamorarte" (The more I try falling in love with you)

"Tú me obligaste a soltarte" (You forced me to let go)

"Y me tiraste al viento, oh, oh, oh" (And you threw me in the wind)

"Yo me obligaré a olvidarte" (I will force myself to forget you)

"O muero en el intent" (Or I die trying)

"A partir de hoy!" (As of today!)

"Le vendaré los ojos a mi corazón" (I will blindfold my heart)

"No quiero que te mire y vuelva a enamorarse" (I do not want to look at you and fall in love again)

"Y aunque duela extrañarte" (And even if it hurts to miss you)

"A partir de hoy!" (As of today!)

"Del quento que escribimos borraré el final" (From the story we wrote, I will erase the end)

"Para que nada quede de lo que juraste" (So that nothing is left of what you swore)

"Y aunque duela dejarte" (And even if it hurts to leave you)

"Puede que mañana sea tarde" (It may be late tomorrow)

"Y ya no pueda olvidarte" (And I can't forget you anymore)

"Aunque me duela olvidarte" (Even if it hurts me to forget you)

"Sé que voy a dejarte" (I am going to leave you)

"A partir de hoy!" (As of today!)

"Mi vida entera, te prometo, que a partir de hoy" (My life I promise you that, as of today)

"Voy a alejarme y no escribirte como un perdedor" (I'm going to walk away and not write to you like a loser)

"Al fin y al cabo ya no hay nada que contarte" (After all, there's nothing to tell you)

"Yo ya di mi parte y, aún así, no volverás" (I've already given you my part, and even this way you won't return)

"Y aunque sea difícil ya no verte más" (And although it's hard not see you anymore)

"Será por mi bien no saber dónde estás" (It will be for my good not knowing where you are)

"Yo, para tus juegos, ya no estoy" (I no longer feel your kisses)

"A otros brazos yo me voy porque…" (I'm going to someone's else arms, why..)

"A partir de hoy" (As of today)

"Le vendaré los ojos a mi corazón" (I will blindfold my heart)

"No quiero que te mire y vuelva a enamorarse" (I don't want to look at you and fall in love again)

"Y aunque duela extrañarte" (And even is it hurts to miss you)

"A Partir de Hoy!" (As of today!)

"Del quento que escribimos borraré el final" (From the story we wrote, I will erase the end)

"Para que nada quede de lo que juraste" (So that nothing is left of what you swore)

"Y aunque duela dejarte" (Even if it hurts to leave you)

"Puede que mañana sea tarde" (Maybe it's late tomorrow)

"Y ya no pueda olvidarte" (And I can't forget you anymore)

"Aunque me duela olvidarte" (Even if it hurts me to forget you)

"Sé que voy a dejarte" (I know I'm going to leave you)

"A partir de hoy!" (As of today!)

"Aunque me duela olvidarte" (Even if it hurts me to forget you)

"Sé que voy a dejarte" (I know I'm going to leave you)

"A partir de hoy" (As of today)

"Y es que, para ser sincere" (And to be honest)

"Sabes que es mentira" (You know it's a lie)

"Tú siempre estarás conmigo" (You will always be with me)

"Vida de mi vida…" (Light of my life…)

"A partir de hoy" (As of today)

"Le vendaré los ojos a mi corazón" (I will blindfold my heart)

"No quiero que te mire y vuelva a enamorarse" (I do not want to look at you and fall in love again)

"Y aunque duela estrañarte" (And even if it hurts to miss you)

"A Partir de Hoy.." (As of today..)

"Del quento que escribimos, borraré el final" (From the story we wrote, I will erase the end)

"Para que nada quede de lo que juraste" (So that nothing is left of what you swore)

"Y aunque duela dejarte" (Even if it hurts to leave you)

"Puede que mañana sea tarde" (Maybe it's late tomorrow)

"Y ya no pueda olvidarte, eh eh eh…" (And I can't forget you anymore)

With a strum of her guitar, Joy ended the song. No one other than Joy, Archie, and Allie (who has tears in her eyes) knew the meaning of the song, but it was still beautiful, and they all got the feelings that Joy intended. Archie's feelings for Allie. And the fact that she could let go since he's not here anymore….

Joy swiped the stray tear from her eyes before a strong wind went passed her while gently swirl around Allie, and then around Joy as an embrace, the wind whispers, "Thank you.." before it was gone again, back to the sky where it belongs.

Finally, after 10 years, Archie Levington's wandering memory has finally rest in peace..

And with him finally leaving Joy's mind, Joy's memories come in full force. Her head was overload with information and added to the adventure that she's having around the finally solved case…

It was too much.

Finally after her head and mind was in peace once again after a week, Joy Western black out once again. Only this time, she knew she will be back with her family.


Two days after that, Joy had finally retained her full memories, along with the memories when she has an amnesia. Now, she was sitting on one of the station bench while Allie Rodriguez comb her hair and tied it into two long pig/ponytails at the low sides of her head and each framed her face side by side making her look more younger than before.

"Wait… and .. Done! You look beautiful, Joy. If I say so myself." Allie smirked at her work, and Joy look surprised at her new hairstyle. She had asked Allie to teach her some easy new hairstyle since the one she was used to keep hurting her still injured head. And besides, Joy wanted to start a new, with a fresh look (according to Allie herself, who was overjoyed to help Joy who she thought as her little sister already). Allie finished tying her hair with two white pom pom hair bands which was a gift from Archie. Joy had tried to refused, but Allie assured her that Archie would want her to have it, and she does to. Besides, Archie wants her to start a new life and not keep tying herself to an unchanged past. She loves Archie, but as Archie had said in his song, it was time to move on.

A whistle was heard from Gordon, "All aboard!" the station master said.

"Well that's my train. Have a good day, Joy, and don't forget me. I'll try to keep visiting whenever I could, okay?" Allie said while packing her things back into her suitcase and peck a kiss on Joy's forehead as a goodbye for now.

"Okay. Thank you again, Miss Allie. It's lovely." Joy refers to her new hair ties and looks, with two new long pig/ponytails and a slight messy tuft hair. Joy also obtained a new clothing from Sir Nic (She stills calls him that), which was Archie's clothes which was still new since Archie never had a chance to wear it. A blue black newsboy coat, a white button up shirt, a black trousers, socks, and shoes, along with an oversized blue black newsboy cap on her head.

Allie smiled at the very innocent child and said in reply, "Your welcome. Goodbye for now." she waved then went into the coach.

"Goodbye! And have a safe trip!" Joy waved back with a smile on her face.

When she can no longer see Allie, Joy dropped her hand and sighed. It has been so much going on the island, that it still leave Joy tuckered out. But at least everything was settled. No one hates Thomas and they forgive him. Edward and Stephen reconcile with the misunderstandings, and it proved that the engines still loves him and his sister. Sir Robert can finally record a choir song from an overdue Green Fields Orphanage children, who finally gets to go home that morning. Before they left, Marie apologize again to Joy before left with a smile on her face directed to Joy.

All the island finally know the truth and no one hold a grudge to anybody, and the case was finally closed. Everything finally at peace again, Joy has her memory back and she'll only need to wait for a while for her head wound to stop hurting again. All in all, it was a perfect day for Joy.

"Ehm.. hey.."

Joy who has sit back on the station bench to enjoy the breeze, opened her eyes again to look up and see Stephen Hatt looking down at her with a nervous look on his face.

"Hi." Joy replied.

Stephen looked uncomfortable, but he quickly swallow his pride and said, "I'm really sorry for what I did, and.. for what happened to you in this past week. It was all my fault.."

Joy shook her head and smiled, "I forgive you, and besides, it was not all your fault. I'm the one to be blame to go into the woods alone at night and rainy day. Besides, no one knew what the outcome will be, and I'm pretty happy with the solved case."

"Still, I'm sorry, and.. you'll make a pretty good detective with that skill of yours." Stephen complimented shyly.

Joy didn't notice his shyness and just smiled more, "Naw, I just said what I saw. I think it was a very good luck for me when I found Doctor Marcus' wife photo on the desk. If I missed that one clue, it will never be solved."

"Well, I guess you're still pretty good at it."

"My guardians will never allow me to become a police officer after what happened though."

They both fell into a comfortable silence with smiles on their face, before Joy asked again, "Do you.. really fine by now? About my guardians?"

"Hm? Yeah, they are your guardians after all, especially Edward. And besides, the lack of time to watch over me and my sister doesn't mean that they don't love us anymore, so I'm cool with that. I'm more worried about what you think actually."

"What do you mean?" Joy asked in confusion.

"They are technically your parents. Your family. Your main family even. Do you.. I don't know.. feel angry with me for wanting your main family's love instead of giving them to you? I will be pretty irritate if someone wants to own my father and mother."

Joy seems to ponder on it, but she smiles again and said, "Naw, They adopted me. And I don't think less of them because of that. Besides, there's pretty much unlimited love to come around. Love are not limited, so we all can share. I'm more worried about what you said that I took your grandfather away from you though. You know it's not my intention."

Stephen smiled, "No. It's the same like what I said with the engines. Besides, you said it yourselfs. There's a whole lot more love to come around, so we can all share it."

"Thank you."

"And thank you too."

Stephen look ahead while Joy closed her eyes again, enjoying the breeze. A hint of smile were on their face, and all is forgiven.

"Stephen! When will you confess that you actually like her?"

At that, Joy and Stephen look at the source of the voice before seeing Bridget was on the bike with Mark. Julius, Jason, and Catherine was on their own bikes. And all were smirking to their way.

"Bridget!"

"Run!" Bridget laughed while Mark pedals his bike as fast as he could. The rest of the gang following with laughs of their own. But it was not a mean laugh, it was more of a fun one, which is why Stephen half-heartedly chased after his sister with a blush on his face.

Joy was stunned, but she blushed as well when she heard the engines around laughed slightly at that.

"Well, won't you look at that? Apparently Stephen has a crush on our little Joy." James teased with no ill-meaning.

Joy's face turned even more redder when she heard the engines laughed some more. But she immediately went into her reinforcement.

"Edward!" she called.

Edward who was just arrived at the station, look confused when he felt his charge buried her face into his cheek, hiding her face from the others.

"What's wrong Joy?" he asked.

Henry answered it for him, "It seems Stephen Hatt has a crush on our Joy here, Edward. And with her new looks, I think Stephen was even more flustered."

"No, he's not." come a muffled voice of his young charge. Edward smiled. He had known about this for a long time now. He had seen it in Stephen's face when he looked at Joy. His jealousy had come from his buried feelings from Joy and the thought that Joy would probably won't like him back when she spent so much time more with the Jason boy. But all in all, everything was alright again now. His young charge is safe and had reconcile with the others, including Stephen.

Edward nuzzled Joy's face to coaxed her out of her hiding, "Come now, Dear. I'm pretty sure they were just teasing. And besides, you are really a sweet girl, so it's no wonder that someone will like you."

Joy looked to the other engines before she blushed again at Edward's words, "I don't understand.." she admitted.

Edward chuckled before he nuzzled her again, "You will someday, Child. When you're older. Now, why don't you come with me to the Blue Mountain Quarry? I'm sure the others have missed you already after your last visit."

Joy brightens up at that and quickly nodded, "Yes! I love too!" she then hopped on to his cab, while Edward blow his whistle as a sign that he will be moving now.

He was finally in peace and relief again. So much has happened in the island, and Joy was the main part of it. But at least she was safe and in peace again, and that's what that matters.

Besides, Duck had probably make Joy promised to stay out of trouble for a month or so before giving them another near firebox attack again.

All and all, everything was perfect.

And having his little girl safe in his cab was probably the best thing Edward could've asked for.


A.N : The case was finally and officially over! YAY (Doing Kermit's flailing arms) Anyway, that doesn't mean this story was finished. I have so much more to plan on Joy Western here, and the next chapter should probably take place in winter. After so much of heavy chapters for this case, I'm pretty sure everyone (and myself) wants a break from some case chapters, so the next one will probably just a light reading chapter before I come back with more cases for our little bundle of Joy here. And did someone predict the outcome of this story? I had actually have so many endings for this chapter in my head, but some feels so depressing, so I eventually used this one. Hope you enjoy it! And hope everyone has a wonderful and healthy day! See you in the next chapter!