Date: Retracted
Time recorded: 7:00 P.M.
Location: The Island of Sodor
Subject: Can beings other than humans feel the emotion of love?
Abstract:
The final answer; yes, a resounding yes.
The island of Sodor, the only British island providence that still uses trains as their main for transport. It's famous for them. And probably why they haven't imbraced modern technology.
I was talking to one of the oldest engines here when we stumbled into the topic of romance.
For clarity, I'm not a scientist. Never wanted to be. Although, I do have an interest in this ongoing question.
So when he told me this tale, I was interested. I always thought these talking trains with faces had more emotions then we originally thought.
So, I would like to share this story with you. If you need a double check, just head on over to ask the little blue tank engine we all know so well.
Rosie was shunting trucks in the shunting yards with Thomas. It was a glorious sunny day, shining down on the engines, their paint shimmering.
Rosie backed up in front of a truck, in front of a switching line. The small blue tank engine was on the opposite track, grinning widely at his companion, reading himself for the truck.
"Here it comes Thomas!" Rosie backed up, and shunted the truck across the track. Thomas backed up, and caught the truck, laughing happily. Rosie laughed along, and they continued to play in the shunting yards.
Time skip
It was evening, and Thomas and Rosie where leaving the shunting yards.
"I had a lot of fun with you today, Thomas. " Rosie spoke, looking at him. "I had fun with you as well." Thomas replied, smiling.
They both chattered until nearing Tidmoth sheds, Thomas's destination.
Thomas looked away from Rosie, and spoke slowly, almost nervous. "Hey, I'm pulling a special tomorrow, and, since I need a back engine, i was wondering, would you like to be my back engine?"
Rosie was surprised. Thomas had never asked her this before. She shook off the shock and beamed, her cheeks turning a slight pink. She giggled.
"It's a date."
Thomas stopped chuffing. His cheeks turned red. He was surprised at her exact response, and a little embarrassed, even.
Rosie stopped. She looked back to him.
Thomas stuttered a sentence out.
"Uh, Y-Yeah. Sure. I-I know what you meant."
Rosie's blush turned red. Why... Was he cute when nervous?
She chuckled nervously, trying to defuse the moment. Thomas started to chuckle nervously as well, feeling a little pressure ease off.
The two were silent for a moment. Rosie started to puff away.
"See you then."
"Yeah. See you."
...
Edward was settling into his two engine shed, ready for a good night's rest.
Rosie backed up into the sheds, a smile stuck on her face.
"Had a good day I presume?"
Rosie looked over to the tired Edward. He smiled gently, being polite as he always was.
Rosie's smile turned small. "Well yeah. but something bigger happened today Edward."
"Really? What happened?" Edward asked, slightly curious.
"Out of all the engines he knows, out of Anybody he could have asked! Thomas asked me to help him pull his special tomorrow!" Rosie exclaimed, full of happiness.
"Well, congrats. Thomas usually asks Percy, so asking a different engine must be big deal. " Edward noted. "Though, I am curious. Why are you so chipper about it?"
Rosie felt red come to her cheeks, though she didn't know why.
"Well, Thomas makes me feel more happy than any other friend I know. Every time I'm with him, it... just feels right. My wheels jitter and my axles ache when I hear his voice, or see his face. I feel as if a thousand butterflies are loose in my firebox when I think of him. He feels like... More than a friend to me. I just... Can't pinpoint this feeling."
Edward knew what this feeling Rosie described was, but he just couldn't name it.
"Hmmm... That is interesting Rosie." Edward answered, thinking. Rosie glanced at Edward, then up to what was now the night sky, littered with stars.
They were silent for a moment.
"You know, something seemed off to me."
Edward looked over to Rosie. She still had her eyes on the sky.
"I said to Thomas that "it's a date," you know, that saying. But Thomas, he got... Nervous because of that. I have no idea why."
Edward stayed silent. This was peculiar.
...
Thomas couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about her. he glanced around the sheds. He gazed down, and bit his lip. He had to get his thoughts out to someone.
Thomas whispered loudly.
"Gordon. Gordon!"
Gordon's eyes wearily opened, directing themselves to the blue tank engine.
"What Thomas? I'm trying to sleep..."
"I need to talk with you about... Something." Thomas spoke hesitantly.
"Like what exactly?" Gordon said, starting to settle back into a sleep.
"Well... I can't stop thinking about Rosie. I need somebody to help."
Gordon was fully awake at that statement. Was the "special friend" tease getting to him? Did he actually harbor feelings?
Gordon sighed.
The only workman that was there that night turned the turntable to him. Gordon started forward.
"Come along little Thomas,"
Thomas looked at him, surprised.
"Let's talk about it."
...
" I just can't wrap my head around it! Why must i feel this way about her?"
Gordon and Thomas were Slowly chugging along the silent main line, Thomas telling Gordon all about his thoughts.
"Well, you're in love Thomas. There's no way around it." He stated bluntly.
Thomas scoffed nervously. " No, no. I'm not... In love with Rosie! N-no engines have ever fell in love before!"
Gordon groaned in frustration. " Oh come on Thomas! You and I have been around enough people to know what the emotion of love looks like! And just because this has never happened before doesn't mean it's never going to happen!"
Thomas sighed heavily.
"I.. don't know Gordon. I just don't know how this would go over with Rosie. Especially after the Valentine's incident."
Gordon sighed. "I understand. Oh, and, I'm sorry that my special friend tease made you uncomfortable."
Thomas blinked in surprise.
"uh, thanks."
The two had a moment of silence, just looking up to the night sky.
"It really is astonishing."
Thomas glanced over to Gordon, the big blue engine's eyes still stuck on the sky.
"You may be the first engine to have fallen in love with another engine. And, if by some crazy miracle, Rosie has fallen for you, then you two would be the first couple."
Thomas blushed red with embarrassment at Gordon's words. Gordon glanced at Thomas with a smirk.
"Do not worry, little Thomas.
You may have more of a chance than you think."
...
It was a splendid afternoon on Sodor as Edward chuffed into Knapford, waiting for his next job. Gordon was on the opposite platform, dropping off and picking up passengers.
"Hello Gordon." Edward greeted.
"Hello Edward." He replied.
"How have you been today?" Edward looked toward Gordon.
"I've been alright. There has been one group of passengers though who have been obscenely obnoxious to one of their friends."
Before Edward could ask, the group of 6 walked out of one of the coaches. Though Edward couldn't see them at first, he did hear them. Gordon glanced back at the situation.
"Can you guys just drop this? He's never going to see me as more than a friend."
the girl who was talking was a brunette, sporting a white shirt, with blue flower print.
her other friends kept bugging.
"oh come on, Perchinthany! we all know fully well that he likes you a lot, so why don't you take the chance?"
Perchinthany sighed, turning from her friends.
" I don't know guys, you all know that i'm too darn shy to even give hints to him!"
One of her friends, a brunette, sighed, but smiled.
"i trust that you will one day."
one of her red-haired friends decided to speak. "Or he will."
she leaned over to the nearest stranger, which happened to be Gordon.
"i mean, any guy would fall head over heels for her! you agree with me, right man?"
Gordon inhaled. why did these questions always have to be asked to him?
he exhaled, and answered.
"well, yeah."
Perchinthany and her friends turned to the big blue engine in shock.
"i mean, if he's been your friend for this long, no doubt he's been thinking about you that way. it's kind of the nature of guys you know."
They all were silent for a moment, before one of her friends spoke.
"Boi, this talking train just gave us better insight on boys than any magazine we've ever read!"
"Well, it's a good thing that he isn't wrong."
the group turned, to see a blonde haired boy, holding a bouquet of orange tulips.
Perchinthany gasped.
"Timothy?"
The boy blushed.
"sorry i didn't tell you sooner."
Perchinthany's eyes widened.
"you- you mean-"
"yes, i do Perchinthany."
the smile on her face was the biggest one she had ever smiled.
"oh, tom!"
she ran up to Timothy, and engulfed him in a loving hug.
he hugged her back, still holding the flowers.
Perchinthany's friends were either awwing or cheering slightly.
then, unexpectedly, Thomas kissed Perchinthany.
her friends bellowed with cheers at that point, and "OMG's".
Gordon glanced away, and smiled smug, rolling his eyes.
after the moment, Thomas stared at his newly found girlfriend.
"now, who want's to eat the best dang ice cream this island has to offer?"
Perchinthany beamed.
"I do!"
they both ran off the platform, to the main roads. her friends trailed behind.
"hey! we're coming with you too!"
Gordon sighed heavily. he directed his words to Edward, who was still taking in the situation.
"First Love, huh? Amazing how deeply people can feel for another person."
At that moment, Edward knew. He knew what Rosie was feeling.
He beamed.
"Love. That's it!" Edward started to puff away. "Gordon you're a genius!"
"Well, yes I-
wait, what?"
Rosie was taking a good's train down the main line when Edward quickly puffed up beside her.
"Rosie! I know what it is?"
Rosie gasped. "you mean, this feeling that i have for Thomas?"
"Yes! it's Love Rosie, love! i can't believe i didn't think of it!"
Rosie's eyes widened. it all made sense.
'That's why everyone was teasing the way they did..'
"Thank you, Edward."
"you're welcome Rosie." he replied back.
but, the turned silent, thinking.
"Now what?" Rosie said to herself.
"...Maybe you should tell him when you both pull that special later today."
Rosie looked over to Edward. Her mentor and friend was giving her some advice.
should she take it?
she pondered it.
after a while, she finally answered.
"...Yes. Yes, I will."
Edward smiled with pride. Rosie smiled back and chuffed on ahead.
"Thanks again, Eddie!"
Edward felt really good about himself. He just help what might be the first ever engine couple.
It was evening, and Thomas was waiting for Rosie at (insert station name here, i can't think of a specific one.).
He was remembering what Gordon had told him.
"Thomas, i think you'll just have to tell her. it's clear, you can't harbor it forever. besides, i know she's going to love you back."
Thomas exhaled shakily. He was going to do it.
Rosie pulled up behind the special. At first, she didn't say anything, trying to put a script of what she was going to say together in her mind.
Now, it was the time to speak.
"Hey, Thomas."
Thomas blinked. she was here. He gulped.
"Hey, Rosie."
They turned silent, only waiting for the sound of the conductor's whistle.
The whistle blew, and Thomas and Rosie whistled. Their journey has begun.
For the most part, the engines were silent, not knowing what to say.
But as they were puffing up a hill, they found the courage to speak up.
"Thomas-"
"Rosie-"
they both talked at the same time, making them silent again.
Finally, Rosie spoke first.
"Thomas, do you remember the Valentine's incident a few months back?"
Thomas gulped. he was nervous. was she going to enforce their friendship?
"Yeah?"
"Well.. um.. i may have lied to you."
Thomas was taken aback. "Really? about what?"
Rosie sighed, as they starting going down the hill.
"At the station... You said i was just a friend to you, and i agreed..."
"Oh..." Thomas's voice sounded in defeat, thinking that it really was the end of this conversation.
"But, i don't agree." Rosie replied calmly, but nervous.
Thomas grew puzzled. He knew Rosie doesn't hate him. She idolized him when she first arrived on Sodor.
Thomas came to a realization.
'wait. does she...?
Rosie inhaled. this was it. "Thomas... I... think i'm in love. with you."
Thomas was shocked.
His lingering silence made Rosie feel discouraged, and humiliated. she was starting to grow embarrassed looking down to the ground, when Thomas finally had the courage to speak up.
"you know Rosie... I lied to you too."
she blinked, and looked up in surprise.
Thomas glanced back at her, then forward, starting to blush.
"The teases... were not lies."
Rosie realized what he meant.
"when i said i only thought of you as a friend, i was wrong. i'm..."
The words were there, but was he really strong enough?
Yes, yes he was.
"I'm in love with you too Rosie."
Now it was Rosie's turn to be shocked. she never knew he had these feelings too.
She was overjoyed. She cracked a huge grin, with some blush still on her cheeks.
Thomas couldn't help but smile too.
Then, they both giggled happily.
With that, they reached the main express station where their special was being dropped off.
they were unhooked from the flat, and both chuffed into a small shunting yards.
"i'm going to get some water." Rosie told Thomas, chuffing to the water tower. Thomas didn't saying anything back, he just watched her.
Then, he had a cheeky idea.
Rosie just finished getting a drink, when Thomas unexpectedly pulled up in front of her.
"Thomas?"
Thomas didn't respond. He pressed his buffers to hers, their faces closer than any time before.
he softly pressed his lips to hers, kissing her.
With anything that could have happened today, this, Rosie didn't even think of.
He did mean it.
He departed, leaving Rosie's face as red as her paint. Thomas was also red in the face, smiling meekly.
Rosie couldn't respond for a moment. When see finally did, she squeed happily.
Thomas beamed at his partner's happiness.
Rosie unexpectedly kissed Thomas again, more passionately. He was a little surprised, but returned it nonetheless. They stayed there for a minute or two.
They finally departed, relief washing over the couple.
Thomas chuckled, backing up to let Rosie through.
"So, i guess we're together now?"
Rosie was still blushing from the encounter. she started forward.
"Yeah. Something like that."
and so, after interviewing those witness to this incredible feat, and even the couple themselves, i can safely say once and for all: Engines can feel the emotion of love.
Whether they inherited this emotion, or they learned from mankind is still up for debate.
Talking more to these engines made me realize how much they've grown, and how expressive they actually are.
In the words of Sodor's number 4 engine Gordon,
"This world we live in, will never cease to amaze me, especially about ourselves."
So, that was long.
the original reason i started this account, was because I wanted to write a Thomas x Rosie fanfic. and finally, after 4 years, i actually sat down and wrote this thing. Yeah. hope you enjoyed, and I'll write you later!