CHAPTER 8: THE CLUE.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

As the sun rose all over Sodor, all the Sorcerer-Knight Trainees were right on schedule, and had no complications while doing their jobs. As Thomas then drove his E2 into Knapford Station, he saw Henry looking glum.

"Morning, Henry." Thomas greeted. "What's the matter?"

"Morning, Thomas." Henry greeted back. "My engine is not steaming properly. I think it's the coal that I just shoveled in. Something tells me that it's contaminated."

"I see." Thomas replied. "If that's the case, wouldn't the station manager ask for a fresh order?"

"He already has." Henry replied. "But there hasn't been anyone to collect it."

"I can get it." Thomas responded. "Did he say where it is?"

"Yes." Henry replied. "In the grotto siding on the Kirk-Ronan branch. Six trucks to be precise. You won't miss it."

"Right." Thomas replied. "Don't worry Henry. I'll be back with the order of coal very soon."

As Thomas then opened the regulator of his E2, he began to drive his way towards the Kirk-Ronan branch. When he arrived, he had his E2 bang into them to knock the coupling chains onto the hooks. However when he reached the last one, neither chain was on it's hook, so instead of coupling up as it should, the last truck rolled backward towards an old pair of buffers, where it went through a rainbow colored portal. As Thomas then began to make his departure, Bertie saw him, and gave him a greeting as he drove past in his bus.

"Morning Thomas!" Bertie called. "And I see you have five coal trucks!"

"Five?" Thomas quizzed to himself. "Didn't I have six?"

Later, as Thomas then pulled his E2 into a station during one of his passenger runs, he saw his best friend, Percy filling his engine up with water.

"Hey, Percy!" Thomas greeted.

"Oh, hey Thomas." Percy replied. "Bertie tells me that you lost a coal truck today."

"Well yes." Thomas replied. "It all happened in that siding on the Kirk-Ronan branch that's near the little grotto."

"Oh!' Percy exclaimed. "Maybe that's where the magic buffers are!"

"Oh yes!" Thomas exclaimed. "That would actually explain a lot. Percy, could you guard the buffers, as I find Mr. Conductor?" Thomas asked as he then got ready to depart.

"Me?!" Percy exclaimed. "Why me?!"

"Because you're a brave guy, Percy." Thomas replied as he then departed.

Meanwhile over by the big dipper, Mr. Conductor was walking beside the railway line, with his cap in one hand, and his jacket in the other.

(POV: Mr. Conductor.)

As I walked beside the tracks, with the ballast crunching beneath my feet, I felt hopeless and very low of spirits. None of my students have found me yet, and I was growing weaker and weaker by the second.

"Where are you Junior?!" I thought. "When I say that you need to come right away, I mean it."

Suddenly as I exhaled, I heard the clickety-clack of wheels on rails. At first I thought it was Thomas or one of my students, but when I heard the sound of a diesel fueled engine, I instantly knew that I was wrong.

"Hello, Twinkle Toes!" Diesel 10 called through his engine's PA, as I ran. "Remember me? Fat- Hatt won't find any use for you looking like that. And it appears you forgot to bring the sugar, how stupid of you!"

As I then tried to scale up the slope next to me to get away, it ended up being too steep for me, and so I just slid down it. As I then watched in horror the claw of Diesel 10's engine grabbed me and then held me over to the side as Diesel 10 drove his engine onto the viaduct. As Diesel 10 swung his diesel's arm over the waters below, I gasped as I heard the sounds of a creaking and groaning.

"The Big-Dipper is collapsing!" I exclaimed within my thoughts. "Everything I saw in my dream is becoming true! I have to get out of here!" I then said within my thoughts as I began to reach into my messenger bag.

"Alright twinkle toes!" Diesel 10 then declared to me. "I know about the buffers! So you have 10 seconds to tell me where they are or I'll..."

"Drop me into the water?" I asked with a smug look. "Because if so... Well it's already too late for that because I already had cut the right fuel line on the claw for my escape."

"What?!" Was all Diesel 10 could say as his diesel's arm flung me into the air as if it was a catapult. As I then flew across the air, I suddenly found myself landing on something soft.

"Did someone make me a place to land?" I thought to myself as I then looked up and saw four rectangular sails spinning like a pinwheel. "Oh." I remarked as realization then hit me. "I'm at the windmill. Talk about a perfect landing."

As I then looked around I suddenly noticed a suspicious looking bush that was on the windmill's side. As I then moved the leaves out of the way, that is where I found IT.

"So that's where you've been." I said within my thoughts as I then began to read the clue. "Stoke up the magic in the mountain and the engine will sound, Awaken her and the Lady will smile, then watch the swirls that spin so well."

As I then awaited for more, the magic writing that I saw disappeared, never to be seen by me again.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

As Mr. Conductor rested safe and sound at the windmill, Diesel 10 was sulking right under the coal shoot at the yards, as Splatter and Dodge were... Um... interrogating him?

"So uh, boss..." Splatter began.

"How come you let twinkle-toes escape?" Dodge finished.

"Well.." Diesel 10 said nervously. "I did it on purpose, to see if he... COULD escape."

"Pah!" Splatter scoffed. "Liar! Liar!"

"Pants on fire!" Teased Dodge.

"Okay then." Diesel 10 said with a menacing voice. "Play-time's over Splodge."

"Oh Frick!" Splatter and Dodge remarked in unison.

"Now.." Diesel 10 then continued. "I'd like to call today's lesson 'How to Stop Being Stupid''."

And then without any warning, Diesel 10's cybernetic arm sparked again, and hit the coal shoot so hard that coal started to pour out of it. As Gordon, James and Henry laughed at this sight, Diesel 10 just gave an expression of great unamusement beneath the coal dust.

"Great!" He said sarcastically. "Now that's going to ruin my engine's paintwork."

"Uh, oh." Said Splatter and Dodge in unison, know that their boss was now very unhappy.

(To be continued...)