CHAPTER 11: THE WORKSHOP.
(POV: Thomas)
I didn't know how long that I was out for, but when I began to regain consciousness, I found myself in one of the rooms of the Crovan's Gate Hospital, with a familiar face next to me.
"Hey brother." I greeted Timothy.
"Oh thank goodness you're alright, little brother." Timothy sighed in reply. "Thomas, please do me a favor and quit throwing yourself in the hospital. This was the second time this year."
"Second time?!" I exclaimed. "Wait so that means I..."
"Yes it does." Timothy finished, knowing just what I was going to ask. "You defeated Hunter. But unfortunately he escaped. But my goodness I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks Timothy." I chuckled in reply. "Knowing that my friends and family are safe, is a good enough victory for me."
As I then saw my brother smile, I could tell that he was truly indeed proud and very happy of me. Hunter was indeed frightening for me, for I had many horrible memories of his abuse on us, having a full list of reasons why I greatly hate and feel scared around him, with that day when he killed my three adoptive siblings at the very top. Being able to fight Hunter head on with no hesitation or freezing in fear was a very big thing for me. As I then was about to say another word to Timothy, the door to my room opened and I saw a surprise visitor.
"Um... Your highness?!" I exclaimed in surprise as I saw Proteus visiting me. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to thank you for driving off the misuser, Thomas." He replied with a smile. "From what I heard, you certainly had the tough fight.
"Yeah, I did." I remarked. "It wasn't easy. But, if it weren't for Lady's help, I'd.."
"Lady?!" Proteus interrupted as he then gasped with shock.
"Uh yeah." I said with some confusion. "Ever since the start of the previous school year, I've known of her existence. She helped me out with an answer on a quiz telepathically"
"Telepathically?!" Timothy gasped in surprise. "There's magic like that?!"
"Yeah." I replied. "She mentioned that to me at the time when we met and on the night and recently she also gave me a special buff that can disrupt portals so I can fight Hunter."
As I then looked at Proteus, I could tell that he was deep in thought about something. The prince had always been a bit solemn, however, there was something about him this time that seemed to brighten his mood just by slightly.
"When was this?" He then asked me, obviously wanting more details about when Lady gave me the buff.
"It was the night before last." I began as I gave my answer. "She brought me into a dream state so she can talk with to me face to face. I think it all happened on a mountain that's not on sodor. There was a valley and I think a town known as shining time."
"I see." He then said as he gave a sigh. "Thank you for telling me this. I must be off"
"Your highness!" I then exclaimed, now filled with even more questions.
"Yes Thomas?" He then responded as he stopped and looked at me.
"Why are you so set on knowing about Lady?" I asked. "Does she mean anything significant to you?"
"Thomas!" Timothy injected as he looked disappointed with me. "Now's not the time too..."
"It's fine Timothy." The prince then cutted in. "I believe he deserves an answer, considering that she was the one who helped him."
As I then sat silently, waiting for what Proteus had to say, the words of his answer were a shock to me.
"You see, Thomas." He began. "The reason for why I'm so keen on knowing Lady's possible whereabouts, is because her name is one that I haven't heard for quite some time. The name of my middle sister to be precise."
"Oh my." I gasped as my jaw dropped in disbelief. "What exactly happened to her?
"Strea." He sighed as he began. "The eldest sibling of ours, was jealous of Lady being the one to be heir of the crown."
"She was jealous of that?!" I exclaimed.
"Yes." Proteus replied. "And to be frank, I don't blame her for feeling that way, since the eldest is supposed to be the one to have the throne. But Still..." He continued. "It still haven't given her the right to poison Liza, and chase Lady in her engine in attempt to murder her. To simply summarize the whole story, Lady had her engine go too fast and crashed, before vanishing."
Proteus then sighed solemnly as he then gave the last portion of the story.
"Our mother did try to look for her, but, with Liza dying, she had no choice but to take her elsewhere, in hopes of finding a cure. And so we haven't seen them since."
As I then took in this new information, I realized what Lady meant by, when she said about knowing my pain. She went through something similar with her older sister. As I then wrapped this new revelation round my head, another question came into my mind.
"Your highness.." I began. "Was Strea always evil?"
"No she wasn't." Proteus replied. "I don't know what happened, but something within her must have corrupted her in some form or way. Before my teenage years, Strea was like any good older sibling."
"I see." I replied, wondering what it would exactly take to make a good person bad.
"Anyway..." Proteus then began. "I must get going. Please rest as much as you need Thomas. For me and my father may need your assistance again."
"Will do your highness." I then replied as I watched Proteus head out the door, looking much happier than earlier.
(POV: Proteus)
After I left Thomas's hospital room, I went to the siding that was nearby the little grotto that's over on the Kirk-Ronan Branchline to further my search for my long lost sister. Though it may seem to be ridiculous to the normal person to check over a very old pair of buffers, I can assure you that the buffers within this particular siding were not your average ones that stop an engine from crashing.
"A mountain off sodor that oversees a valley." I thought as I remembered what Thomas had told me. "I know which place he's referring too, and so, with this information I now have, maybe, I'll finally find Lady."
As I then took a deep breath and blew into my whistle of Gold-Dust, I disappeared from Sodor and entered into the hidden railway that was just through the Buffers that were before me. As I looked about, I grew worried as I saw the trees begin to have their leaves fall and shrivel away.
"Oh dear." I thought. "It appears that it's beginning to die. I'd have to find Lady and fast."
As I then made it to the exit, and landed gently on the soils of Muffle Mountain, I suddenly felt a slight twinge in my spine.
"She's close!" I thought as I suddenly heard another sign of my sister's whereabouts
"PPPPPPPPPEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!"
"That whistle!" I exclaimed within my thoughts, for I KNEW who's engine it belonged to.
As I then hiked down the trail, I listened for the cry of the engine's whistle. I was determined to find the source of the whistle cry, for if I could find it, I'll find HER. As I then found a cave entrance, I pulled out my special lamp, and turned it on as I then stepped inside. The cave's path was dark and long, as water dripped from the stalactites on the ceiling. As I suddenly got to the end of the path, I gasped, for a tank engine stood in front of me. The engine had 4 wheels, an open back cab with a short bunker; dark pink paint work with golden stripes, and the name Lady painted in a cursive gold lettering on the side tanks. As I then smiled at this engine, I knew who'd it belonged to.
"So." I sighed as I thought aloud. "This is where you've been."
"PPPPPPPPPEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!"
"... Proteus..." Whispered a familiar female voice. "... You're here..."
"Sister." I sighed knowingly because I had found her at long last.
"HEY!" An unfamiliar male voice then shouted from behind me. "State your business here right now!"
As I then saw the 50 year old man that was behind me, I was about to explain, when Lady stuck up for me.
"... Burnett..." She whispered through the wind. "... My brother..."
"Oh goodness me!" Burnett then exclaimed as he looked back at me. "I didn't realize you're Lady's brother."
"No apologies needed." I replied. "Are you protecting her?"
"Why yes I am." He replied. "On your mother's request in fact. Now, allow me to take you to her."
"Thank you." I replied as I then followed Burnett.
(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)
As the Prince then followed the protector to a pair of doors, Burnett unlocked them with a key and gestured to the room on the other side as Proteus then entered. The room before him wasn't too big, but wasn't tiny either. The counters that stood within the far corners had many flowers, including some golden roses, amongst some blue and red. However, the biggest thing that stood out within this particular room was the table in the very center that had a glass coffin upon it. As Proteus tried to see through it, Burnett grabbed a cloth, and walked towards the center of the room.
"My apologies if her coffin isn't clean." He said as he began to clear the dust off from the top. "It often collects dust very quickly."
"No worries." Proteus replied kindly. "As long as her skin isn't pierced, then I'm happy."
"Well good to hear." Burnett replied as he then finished cleaning the top off. "There, all dusted off."
As Proteus then looked into the coffin, his eyes widened with wonder. Inside the coffin, laid a teenage girl who was about the same age as Thomas, whose long and well kept hair was a golden shade of blonde, and wore a dark pink dress with golden accents. As Proteus then smiled, he knew who this was.
"Lady." Proteus said as he processed the girl he saw within his brain. "She's gotten very beautiful since I last saw her."
"Indeed." Burnett agreed with a solemn look. "But unfortunately, I don't think she'll wake any time soon."
"I understand." Proteus replied, as he understood the situation. "And I appreciate everything that you've done for her so far Burnett. Please, keep it up. I'll be checking on her soon, along with our Father."
"Will do." Burnett replied with a determined look. "And I'll let you and King Allcroft know if her condition changes."
"Right." Proteus replied. "Thank you Burnett."
As Proteus then disappeared in a cloud of Gold-Dust, he couldn't wait to tell his father the exciting news. The magicborn prince had found his long lost sister, and though she was in a coma, he was joyed to see her still alive, nevertheless. However, as the magicborn prince was having his spirits raised, he still did not reckon a crisis that was to come very soon.
THE END.
Lady will awaken in the Lost Lady arc.