The next Monday morning, Diana woke up with total excitement in her eyes. Today was finally the day she goes to high school. Diana went to her mother's room to wake her up. Lady was sleeping with Diana's brother, Simon. Diana gave Lady a light shake. Then Lady opened one eye.

"Come on, Mom. Wake up! I'm already to go to school." said an excited Diana.

"Sweetie, it's 6 AM in the morning." groaned Lady, "Can't you let your mother and brother sleep for a few more minutes?"

This made Diana cross. She decided to wake up her father next. She went into Thomas' room and pulled the covers off of her sleepy father's bed.

"Daddy, please wake up. I want to go to school." Diana whispered into Thomas' ear.

"Honey, Sodor High doesn't start until 7:40." said Thomas. "We still have plenty of time." And Thomas put his pillow over his head. This made Diana even more cross as she went into her room to get dressed.

"It's not fair." she grumbled to herself. "I was homeschooled for 15 years, got to go to Sodor last Saturday, meet my uncles and aunts, be a part of the Little Steamies, wake up for my first day at a public high school, and today, all I get is a mother and a father who are sleepy."

Just then, Diana got an idea. A very cheeky, and naughty idea. She went to her magical closet. Her closet was like a whole other dimension, always filled with stuff. She began rummaging through her closet.

"Jump rope...Old clothes...steam engine wheel...Simon's comic book...huh, so that's where I put my toothbrush...my lucky penny...nope...no...not that either...my old baby blanket...Fuzzy's treat...P.U.! Dad's stinky socks?...my uncle Toby's tuba? How did that get in there?..(toot)...no that's not what I was looking for...uncle Gordon's basketball...a banana peel...uncle Toby's tuba, again?..oh forget it...oh hey, what's inside this box?..(Splut)...what the heck...oh right, Simon's joke box...can't believe I fell for that...(Splut)...alright where did that pie come from?..nevermind...(splash)...whoops...at least I won't be needing a bath...cuckoo clock...(cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo)...quiet your beak...I want to be the one to wake up my parents...ah, finally, my trumpet. Hmmm. What song should I play? I know, my favorite theme song."

And Diana played the engine roll call. That woke up Thomas and Lady. They were still sleepy when Lady went to her bathroom and Thomas went to Diana's room.

Thomas asked his daughter: "Diana, could you keep it down? Simon is still sleeping."

"Put a sock in it dad." said Diana cheekily.

"Gladly." said Thomas, and he put one of his socks into Diana's trumpet. "Now please clean up this mess while I get dressed."

"Alright." sighed Diana. It took a few minutes, but Diana finished cleaning up. Another two minutes passed before Thomas and Diana went to Thomas' engine and went through the magic buffers. Soon, they reached Sodor High. Thomas dropped Diana off.

"I'll be back at the end of the day to pick you up." said Thomas. "Have fun. And please pay attention and don't get into trouble. Also, I heard that two of your teachers are special indeed."

"Ok, Dad. See ya later." said Diana as she waved goodbye to her father. Once Thomas was out of sight, Diana went to the school. "Ok, here we go."

It didn't take her long to find her locker. But as she closed it and started to walk away, she bumped into someone and fell to the floor.

"Ouch! Hey, watch...where you're...going." said Diana as her voice trailed off when she clearly saw who she bumped into.

It was a boy who looked like he was around Diana's age. He has brownish black hair, brown eyes and tan skin. He wore a brown shirt, black pants and a glove over his left hand. He seemed like a handsome and nice sort of kid. The boy reached out the hand that didn't have the glove.

"Sorry about that, kid." the boy apologized. "Here, let me help you up."

And he did. Diana was trying to hide a small blush.

"Thanks. I'm sorry I bumped into you." said Diana.

"It's okay." the kid reassured. "It isn't the first time I bumped into someone. By the way, what's your name, pretty girl?"

"Um, I'm Diana Billington. What's your name?"

"I'm David. David S. Windsor. But you can call me Dave."

"Windsor?!" Diana exclaimed. "My mother told me of someone named Daniel Windsor aka Diesel 10, who fought my father, Thomas."

"Diesel 10 is my father. But I was mainly raised by my mother. Honestly, I really don't want to hurt someone. I just want a friend."

"Well, if it's okay, I would like to be your friend."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Hooray!" cheered David. "You're my very first friend."

They went to their first period class and were greeted by a certain man from Shining Time.

"Hello, class. I'm Mr. Conductor. Mr. C. for short. Now then, on with our first lesson."

Time skip to lunchtime. Diana had her lunchbox and when she saw her friends, the little steamies, she waved to them and went over to them.

"Diana!" exclaimed Freddy, "How are you doing girl?"

"I'm doing just fine." replied Diana as she took a seat with her friends. "In fact, I feel great. I met one of the coolest boys in school."

"Oh really? Who is it?" asked Noah.

Diana looked around a bit until she saw who she met earlier. "There he is now." she said pointing at David. The little steamies were horrified.

"Diana, do you not who that is?!" whisper shouted Laura.

"That is David Windsor." said Austin.

"I know, I bumped into him earlier today." said Diana. "Maybe we could all be friends."

"But he is Diesel 10's son." protested Abigail. "You know that his father and your father are usually at each other's throats."

"I don't think that's fair. Judging other people by their heritage." said Diana.

"Here he comes now." said Jefferson.

David saw Diana and came over to her table. There he met the little steamies.

"Hello." said David trying to be friendly.

"H-H-H-Hello. Please don't hurt me." begged Grace who was shaking in fear.

David was surprised.

"Why in heaven's name would I want to hurt you, Grace?" he asked.

"Well. Because we know that your father is Diesel 10." whispered Freddy.

"Oh, I can easily understand that." said David. "But Diana seems to trust me, and she is the daughter of Thomas."

"Yeah. Please give him a chance." said Diana.

The little steamies thought for a few seconds. They didn't trust David, but they didn't want to make their friend Diana upset.

"Alright. I guess you can join the group." sighed Laura.

"Woohoo!" cheered David making a triumphant fist.

"But please, no funny business." said Jefferson, still cautious.

"Of course not." reassured David. "Any friends of Diana are friends of mine. Cross my heart."

It tool a little while before the little steamies fully trust David. After lunch they went saw that they had the same class for 6th period and they all went to the classroom together. They saw their teacher.

"Hi class. I am Mr. Conductor Junior. Mr. C.'s cousin. Now are we ready to have fun?"

"Yes we are!" exclaimed the students.

"Great! Now open your books to chapter 1..."

After Junior Conductor's class the students were about to leave the classroom, when some bullies tripped Grace making her cry a bit.

"Ha ha ha. What's the matter, Gracey?" The lead bully asked in a taunting tone, "Had a nice trip. We'll see you next fall."

"Hey, leave her alone!" said Diana, glaring at the bullies.

"And who are you supposed to be?" one of the bullies asked.

"I should ask you the same thing." said Diana.

"I am Wallace. Now move it, punk."

"Hey, how about a little respect for the daughter of Thomas, Diana." demanded David.

"Wait! She's a princess?" Wallace asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Yes. And you are bullying one of her best friends." said David. So if you know what's good for you, you better move it."

"Fine. That crybaby isn't worth it anyway." said the lead bully, then he whispered to himself: "Besides, I think I found a better target."

After the bullies left, David helped her up and that made the little steamies more trustful of David. They had a small talk in the hall.

"Thanks for standing up to those meanies." said Grace.

"Ah, it was nothing." said David. "If that can't get you to trust me, I doubt anything will."

"Still, that took a lot of guts." said Jefferson. "Maybe you aren't so bad after all."

"So, do you still want to be in the group?" asked Abigail.

"That's all I am asking for." said David.

"Then, welcome to the little steamies, David." said Freddy.

"Come on. Let's go or we will be late for our 7th period class." said Austin, pointing to the clock.

And the little steamies went their separate ways. At the end of seventh period, it was time for the little steamies to go home. Diana went to her locker to get her stuff, when she saw a sign on her locker door reading 'Warning. You asked for it. Splut enclosed'

"Asked for what?" Diana asked to herself. "And what is a splut?"

She soon got her answer when a spring loaded Pie splattered all over her face.

"What!" she shouted, baffled. Then she saw Wallace and his three cronies who were cackling and crackling with laughter.

"How do you like the pie, Princess? I hope you like banana cream." laughed Wallace.

"Yeah. Yeah. Ha Ha. Very funny." said Diana, trying not to pay attention to the bullies.

"Just wait till I tell the whole school that I pranked the princess of Sodor! You are going to be a disgrace to your father." chuckled Wallace.

"No! Please. Don't tell the school I am a princess." begged Diana, starting to get worried.

"Just wait till I tell Principle Fat Hatt." said Wallace. "You're going to get into trouble."

"Hey, leave her alone." said David. "Why are you doing this? Bullying Grace wasn't enough? And now you are picking on Diana! She didn't even do anything to you."

"I know." said Wallace. "I just think bullying is fun. And didn't the teacher call you Windsor during our roll call?"

"Yes. It's because my father is Diesel 10. Why do you ask?"

"Because what I would like to know is why you are sticking up for her?"

"It's because she is my friend." said David.

"Oh really? If your father is Diesel 10, why aren't you beating her up?" asked Wallace.

"Because, as Dave said, he is my friend." said Diana. "In fact, he is a part of my friend's group, The little steamies."

"Those dorks!" Wallace exclaimed in disbelief. "I can't believe it."

"Better believe it." said David. "And do you know what's under this glove?"

"No. And I don't care." said Wallace.

"Well you better watch your tongue." threatened David. "Or else I will show you why I'm Diesel 10's son, by looks alone. Got it?"

Now Wallace was starting to get intimidated by David.

"Yes, David." squeaked Wallace.

"Good. Now get out of here before I tell the principle what happened!" threatened David.

The bullies left. Diana was still in shock.

"Thanks, Dave." she said. "But I was sure I had it under control."

"Sorry. I guess I am a bit, overprotective. So to speak. I also have a bad temper when my friends or I am getting bullied."

"It's fine. Just, please talk to the trusted adults before taking matters into your own hands." said Diana.

"Okay. Also, I have a mechanical hand under this glove." said David. "That's the dead giveaway that I am Diesel 10's son."

"I see. Well see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow."

And Diana and David went their separate ways. Diana soon found Thomas.

"Dad!" she called.

"Hi, sweetie." said Thomas. "How was your first day in Tidmouth High?"

"It was great. I saw Mr. Conductor and Junior. And I got to hang out with my friends."

"Well that's great, Diana." said Thomas. "I am happy that you hanged out with your friends."

"That's not all, I made a new friend, and he is a member of the little steamies." said Diana.

"Really? Who is it?" asked Thomas.

"His name is David Windsor." said Diana. This was a shock to Thomas.

"Windsor?! Did he hurt you? Is he Diesel 10's son?"

"Yes. But, Dad, I don't think it's right to judge other people by their heritage."

"Still, I am not going to trust a kid who is a child to my arch nemesis and the one who almost destroyed my wife." said Thomas. "What were you thinking letting him into your group? What if he decides to hurt you?"

"But David stood to some bullies who were trying to expose me. Besides, are you judging my new friend the same way you felt threatened by Stanley replacing you when he was in charge of the preparations of restoring great waterton in 2008? Or the time you thought Ryan was going to replace you in 2015 when you got in trouble with Principle Hatt and he gave Ryan your branchline?"

"Alright alright. I get it. But those were totally different. And besides, I realized my errors and I made friends with them." protested Thomas.

"Please. Just trust me." begged Diana. Please. He promised no funny business."

Thomas thought for a minute. He didn't trust Diana's new friend, he knew Lady would be furious if she heard that Diana is a pal to the child of Diesel 10. But he also didn't want to end up like he did back in 2008 and 2015. He eventually and reluctantly agreed.

"Alright. I guess I will allow this." sighed Thomas. "BUT, I am going to inform Lady about this, immediately and I am meeting him this Saturday."

"Thanks, Dad. You won't regret it." Diana promised, hugging her father.

"I hope so." said Thomas. "Come on, Diana, let's go back to the Magic Railroad."

And so Thomas and Diana went back to the castle. There, in the living room, sat Diana playing chess with Simon.

"I win. I win." said Simon, pumping his fist in victory.

"Good match. Good match. You are learning well, Simon." said Lady. Then she saw her husband and her daughter walking in. "Oh hi, honey. Hi, Diana."

"Hi, dear." said Thomas giving his wife and son a hug.

"Now tell me, Diana, how was your first day at high school?" Lady asked.

"It was great mom." said Diana. "I had lunch with my friends, and I saw Mr. C. and Junior."

"That's great." said Lady. "What else happened?"

"Well, she also made friends with a boy named David Windsor, and he joined the little steamies." informed Thomas.

"Windsor?!" asked Simon grasping Lady's hand. "You told us that was Diesel 10's last name?"

"Yes. Is he Diesel 10's son?" asked Lady.

"Yes." said Thomas.

"I want you to stay here, where you are safe." said Lady, in a demanding tone.

"No. No." said Diana. "David was really nice. And he stopped some bullies from getting me into trouble."

"Please, Polly. At least give it a chance." said Thomas. "It's like Diana said, 'We can't judge a person by his heritage."

Lady thought. She too was reluctant, but she knew her husband was right. She didn't want to be unfair.

"Alright. But the second he hurts you, it's back to the castle with you."

"Thanks mom." said Diana. "I can't wait for tomorrow."

And Diana went to her room, thinking about tomorrow. Her only concern was her parents meeting David. She hoped that they could trust him the way she and her friends trusted him. And with that, she read one of her nine favorite books, "Thomas the Tank Engine".