CHAPTER 8: THE LOST LADY.

(POV: Thomas.)

A month went by since I was struck by Hunter, and I had speedy recovery. I was on my feet and back home in just a few days and now was 3 weeks in for summer break. However, during this whole time frame, I had Hunter plagued on my mind, and old terrible memories of my former brother who was now a traitor haunting me as I'd tried to sleep one night. These memories haunted me so much, I began to blurt out questions that I wanted to ask Hunter.

"Why?" I would ask myself. "Why are you back? Why are you still on about that? Why won't you accept the love that we tried to give you?"

These questions I so wanted to ask Hunter plagued my mind greatly, for I wondered if I was indeed doing something wrong that only he could see. However, as I was busy questioning whether I was right or Hunter was, I didn't hear a noise until it began louder, and made my lights go out. When I awoke, I found myself in an unknown area.

"Where am I?" I asked myself as I looked around. "This doesn't look like a place on Sodor."

But before I could ask myself another question, a whistle of an engine sounded throughout the place where I was at.

"PPPPPEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPP!"

"A steam engine's whistle?" I thought. "I-it's unfamiliar, but a beautiful tone."

As I then heard the whistle again, I decided to go and follow it. As I continued to hear it, it got louder and louder, until I could go no further. For in front of me stood a cliff edge, and below it a valley of trees and buffalo grass. As I looked at the scenery before me, I noticed a bright golden shine within the distance.

"What's that shine of gold?" I thought out aloud.

"Shining-Time." A familiar voice answered.

As I then turned, I saw a female figure whose identity was concealed by a dark pink cloak with golden accents. Though her actual figure was unfamiliar, her voice was a different story, for this person was no doubt the one I met telepathically.

"So." I began. "I guess it's been a little while since we've spoken to one another?"

"Yes it has." She replied. "But, we really never had done it face to face."

"I know." I responded. "But, why now?"

"Let's just say.." She explained as she walked closer to me. "I've grown a bit fond of you and it would be very impolite if I decided to get to know you better if you haven't really gotten to know me yet."

Then before I can say anything else, the figure removed her hood to reveal a teenage girl the same age as me, whose hair was gold, and eyes that were pink with golden star like specks. And her face had no end of beauty. This girl who I saw before me was very beautiful and angelic, and was almost seeming like a goddess. As she then took a deep breath, I just looked at her, before she properly introduced herself.

"My name is Lady." She said to me as she then frowned. "Thomas, I'm sorry if I haven't told you my name, but,... Um... But, is it still possible that I can be friends with you?"

"Lady... " I chuckled. "Aren't we already friends? You helped me with that one question back during that test, and we had a fun little chat at the end of the school day."

"Oh." Lady said with an embarrassed look. "Um... Sorry."

"Hey it's no big deal." I replied. "I mean, it's your first time right?"

"Yeah. I guess it is." She said as a smile formed within her lips. "Anyway. I placed you in this dream state to just talk with you face to face. For I wanted to get to know you better."

"Well. There's not much." I began. "I'm an engine driver in training on the joint North Western Railway of Sodor, my engine is an E2 tank engine, my family runs the Ffarquhar branchline, which I was rewarded with after I helped my friend James Hughes after his engine crashed."

"Wow. That's amazing." She remarked. "That's certainly heroic. How long ago was it?"

"A few months after me and my family moved from Brighton." I answered. "I was 13 during that time."

(POV: Lady)

As I was about to reply, I felt an unease within Thomas's emotions. As I then looked at him, I saw him frown and shedding a tear from his eye. I didn't know exactly what, but I could tell that there was something bothering him.

"Thomas." I asked. "What's wrong? I sense some unease within you."

"I guess there's no point in hiding it since my tears showed up here." He sighed as he then looked at me, giving his answer. "Right now Lady." He began. "I'm scared, probably terrified even. Before any of my friends came to the island, Hunter, a nobleman heir whom my parents adopted years ago after his birth family died from a blaze, had betrayed us and killed all three of my adopted older siblings. He was about to kill me too, but father and Timothy, my oldest brother, sent Hunter though an unstable realm portal. We thought that was the very last that we'll ever see him, but we were wrong. Weeks ago, Hunter had returned to Sodor. He'd unleashed a scythe mantis on the citizens of the town of Knapford and so the sorcerer Knights were called along with me and the trainees to back them up. We won against the scythe mantis, but Hunter got away. And due to Hunter getting away, I'm now scared no... Terrified of him, not taking my life, but the lives of my friends and family, just so he can make me suffer out of spite, before doing the final blow to me."

As I then took in Thomas's words, I couldn't help but empathize with, for I understood what he's going through. As I stayed silent, some voices from my past echoed through my mind.

"Stop it! Stop it, sister!"

"Never! You little spoiled brat! Mum and dad gave you it! The special railway! I should've been the one to have it! Not you!"

As these painful echoes continued, I embraced Thomas in an attempt to try to comfort him. Though my body was still healing, I still felt my heartbeat, and with it a feeling within that I never knew how far would go when it came to Thomas.

"Listen." I said to the boy in blue that I had within my arms. "I can feel and see you pain. I know how hard it is. Betrayal from a family member especially from a sibling is not an easy thing to deal with. But, even so, no matter if they're legally or genetically part your family, remember that a true family is a group of people who you care about, who also care about you."

"Yeah." He replied. "I was taught that years ago. Which is why I must face Hunter, one on one and defeat him. I won't let him kill another person I care about just out of spite, if I fail, I'll take him with me, and rest knowing that my large family here on Sodor is safe."

"Well." I then said. "In that case, let me help you then."

As I then undid my embrace, I summoned one of many enhancement spells I could give to people. As Thomas saw it he gave a confused look.

"A gem?" He said with a raised eyebrow.

"A gem now." I explained. "But once you wake up, it'll be a little enhancement that will immediately cast itself once you find Hunter. Oh, and don't worry about the portals of his, this spell being casted upon you will stop his portals once he's on Sodor."

"Thank you Lady." He said with a smile as he took the spell. "I mean it."

"Any time." I replied. "As I said before, I like to help good people in need."

"Yeah." He said with a smile. "Anyway, I must get going now."

As I then saw him turn round and walk away, I continued to feel this new feeling within me that made me worry about Thomas, and made me wish for him to not die. As I then figured out what I wanted to say, I called his name once more.

"Thomas."

"Yeah Lady?" He asked me as he turned his head towards me.

"Please, win against Hunter." I pleaded. "Even if it's just driving him back."

"I'll try Lady." He replied to me. "I'll try."

As I then watched the boy make his departure, I felt my heart beat once again, for I hoped that Thomas would win. As I then watched him disappear, I knew that he may be the only one who can even help the conductors in the crisis that is coming their way. The Gold-Dust that they possess, is starting to run out.

(To be continued...)