Molly's Super Ruby

by AaronCottrell97

When Rebecca tells James he could be a comic-book super-engine, he takes her seriously, and Rail Rocket is born. James tries using his new superhero identity to help others in need, but doesn't have as great a success as he hoped for, until he saves Rebecca. When Molly learns of her Ruby's new identity, the two spend the night eagerly indulging in all the superhero friskiness.

Only a few days had gone by since Thomas came back from Italy and shared his story about a not so lucky day with Gina, Lorenzo and Beppe, while Percy and Gina had been exchanging more letters of expression which led to both of them having rather passionate dreams about each other. Now, after just a few days' time, it would soon be another couple's turn to jump in together...in a few super ways at that.

It was a bright sunny day as summer continued on Sodor, and James was huffing along the line with four of his shiny red coaches. As usual, he was much more content with taking coaches than trucks, which made him seem much more open and chipper to those around him. But as always, there was still something missing for the red engine. Once again, he had been thinking a fair deal about Molly and when they'd see each other next. Both engines had been rather busy by themselves, with the last two times they had seen each other being when she helped with the Gymkhana parade and a rather jolly Christmas with James that past winter. Ever since then, James and Molly had been anticipating what they'd be doing next and when, and it was either engine's guess how it would turn out.

Soon, James came along Crovan's Gate Station to pick up more passengers on his way to Vicarstown before he'd be turned around and double back along the Main Line. He looked around the station to see if Molly was there, hoping to work something out with her.

"Hmm. My Shining Sun," James said to himself. "A Gymkhana Parade and a Holly Jolly Christmas...what ever will you and I be doing next? And when?"

"Was someone asking for me?" came a distinctive female voice.

James looked up and there she was. After another hefty window of time, there was Molly with her yellow paintwork shining away just as James said she did. Molly looked right at James and smiled happily, which made James' smile even bigger. Just seeing her lovely, shy presentation was enough to make him forget everything else and just focus on her.

"Hello, Molly," he greeted warmly. "Lovely seeing you again...after too much time yet again."

"Hm-hm! Hello again, Jimmy," Molly tittered. "Yet another while since you and I have had any business together. Whatcha doing?"

"Oh, little old me? Being splendid like the Ruby I am," James answered. "And much more fitting to pull coaches than trucks any day."

"Sure you're being splendid. Only because you're MY Radiant Ruby," Molly replied playfully. "But you should know that goods are just as important as passengers."

"For you to say it, perhaps it's true," James admitted. "But how are you, my Shining Sun?"

"Oh, not too much going on, really," Molly replied, buffering up to James. "Still, I've been fairly busy. And summer is always a lovely time...even more so since the bright sunny weather makes me even more of your Shining Sun than ever. Wouldn't you agree, James?"

"Of course it does," James smiled. "Just as you always shine for me. But even so, Molly, I only wish you and I had more time together. Not to mention after such a holly jolly Christmas with you, it's felt like too much time has gone by. I just wonder what you and I could do next...and when is a more important matter...but above all, making you happy is my super top priority, Molly."

To this, Molly narrowed her eyes and thinned her smile as she buffered up to James, who began to feel little rushes of something else. Molly began sensing another chance for her to get together with her Ruby, and she began rubbing her buffers softly with James'.

"Hmm. More time, you say?" Molly asked softly, batting her eyelashes alluringly. "Well, I agree we should share more time together..."

"If only we weren't as busy as we are," said James. "And yet never too far away."

Molly buffered closer to James and began to purr.

"Well, if we want that to be true, I think you need to be more..." Molly suddenly brushed her lips on James' cheek, then let go. "Flexible."

James stood there, absorbed and ensnared in Molly's inviting spell. His day was beginning to change already. Perhaps there would be a few unexpected surprises coming his way.

"A-a-re you...doing anything later?" he asked, locking his eyes on Molly.

"After a few goods runs of my own...I now have a radiant engagement in mind," Molly answered. "Time...and flexibility will tell."

And Molly reversed from James, gathered a few trucks and blew a kiss to James as she set off for her goods run. James' eyes followed her right until she was out of sight. That's when his guards whistle blew and he had to go on. As he continued on his way, James couldn't shake away the look Molly had on her face just moments ago, and he continued to wonder just how they would meet up next, but both engines had little to no idea as to just how their next meetup would turn out.

Soon, James arrived at Vicarstown Station, where he also saw Rebecca and Rosie side by side on the other side of the platform. James was still thinking about Molly when he suddenly heard some excited chatter from the platform. It so happened that Stephen Hatt was sharing a comic book about his favourite Superhero with Bridget and three schoolmates of theirs. Like many places throughout the world, Sudrian Society enjoyed comic book heroes, and Stephen and Bridget were no exception...but there would soon be a certain exception when it came to super heroes...and railways.

As James whistled into the station, he didn't see yet what the children were doing, but he could hear Stephen, Bridget and the other children chattering excitedly among each other. Being the engine that he was, he assumed they were cheering about him.

"Awesome! It's so cool! Yeah! Hooray!" the children chattered.

James chortled proudly, but still with a sense of dignity and decorum for Stephen and Bridget.

"Why, thank you! Thank you, no, no. It's too much, really. Keep it down. Wouldn't want the other engines getting jealous..."

"They're not cheering for you, James," said Rebecca. "They're cheering at their new comic book."

James heard Rebecca and began to ponder. Then he looked and saw Stephen hold the book up.

"It's the Red Shadow," said Stephen. "He can fly at super-sonic speed, has super-human strength and wears a red super cape!"

"Oh. Does he, now?" James pondered curiously.

"Nobody knows who he is," said Bridget. "In fact, anyone in the station could be a hero in disguise right now."

After hearing what Bridget said, James suddenly began thinking back to his little talk with Molly...and what he had said about her being happy as his "super," top priority. He suddenly felt inspired and intrigued by Stephen's comic and it made him wonder a few things.

"Hm. I wonder if I have super-powers too?" James pondered.

"Who knows, James?" said Rebecca. "Maybe you do!"

James had to go on his way now, but as he set off, he was already envisioning something he had never thought of before.

"Just think...me," said James. "The world's first Super Engine!"

And as James set off out of Vicarstown on his way, he began to daydream right then and there...almost as if he were viewing a comic book himself with four different image frames...

The first frame was a purple sky full of storm clouds, then two images of the Sodor Suspension Bridge, and the last was of James flying through the air with a black super mask over his eyes, yellow lightning streaks painted along his boiler and tender, and a red cape flailing behind him. A rather unusual, but imaginative image in its way. Then lightning struck through the purple sky, striking the Suspension Bridge and breaking it apart in a similar way to how it collapsed right before Stephen and Gordon...just as Rebecca came along the bridge, right toward the wreck ahead!

"Oh, no!" Rebecca cried as she stopped right on the twisted line, hanging over the long drop below. "H-e-e-elp! Ohh! He-e-elp!"

Rebecca's trucks fell away, driving her horror even further...when suddenly, James came flying out through a veil of steam.

"Da-da-da da-a-ah! Never fear! Rail Rocket is here!" he proclaimed as he looked to the bridge. "Holy Buffer Plates! That engine's in trouble! I must save her!"

And James went gliding down toward the bridge, just as Rebecca slipped off!

"Ohh! He-e-e-e-elp!" Rebecca wailed as she plummeted down toward the valley below her...

But suddenly, Rebecca came floating back upward on a veil of steam, with James the Rail Rocket right underneath her, scatting away with his theme song. And before Rebecca knew it, she was lifted right up, back onto the rails and was safe again. She looked up to the Rail Rocket with wonder and awe.

"Ohh! My hero!" she swooned dreamily. But then she gasped and spoke out in a very different voice. "Look out!"

"Huh?"

James suddenly fell out of his heroic daydream and saw he was at Maron Station...and it was Rocky's voice that has called out. And just as James neared the very water tower where Emily and David had fallen drunk that night, he saw there was a load of oil drums right in his way! Rocky hurried to move them out of the way, but in the haste and panic, all the oil drums went flying...and one of them spilled oil all over James' eye line, covering him there from left to right in black, greasy oil, rather like his notable experiences with tar wagons.

"Huh! Uhh!" James groaned lowly to himself, rather disgusted now after such a heroic daydream.

"Oh, dear! Sorry about that," Rocky apologized.

"Sorry?!" James exclaimed. "Just LOOK at my paintwork! It's a mess! Now I'll have to go to the washdown and get cleaned up!"

And James whistled away, feeling most unprofessional now.

"It's not too bad, James," said his driver. "Much better than a spiked water tower. And anyway, your paintwork barely got any oil on it at all. It's mostly along your face. But this should teach you to pay closer attention to what's in front of you."

"Maybe, but still! This is NO image for an engine like ME! And especially not for Molly!" James exclaimed. "She would NEVER approve of seeing me like this!"

"Maybe she wouldn't, James," said his driver. "But it was an accident nonetheless. We'd best look after our passengers first, then find a place to clean you up."

James sighed and continued on his way. Even his shiny red coaches didn't help his mood now, and it wasn't long before James was huffing over the Fenland where Spencer crashed while chasing Hiro, where James tried to rescue Gordon without Toby's help, and where he crashed with the Flying Kipper after seeing Gator. James then looked to his reflection in the water, seeing just what a mess he was.

"Ohh! Just look at me!" he complained.

Indeed, James' face was a mess. But then, as he looked into the clear water, he saw just what that oil spill had done. His paintwork was barely oily at all...and the way the oil had splashed over his eyes made him think back to that very daydream he had of himself, and it made him think very differently right there.

"Oh...just look at me! I look like...the Rail Rocket!" he observed. "That's it! Maybe I am a Super Engine after all! I need to patrol the Railway! Never fear! Rail Rocket is here!"

And James started off with a roar and raced down the line. With the new sensation firing up in his boiler, he couldn't wait to see what he could do as a Super Engine, and probably tell Molly all about it too once he had the chance.

"Rail Rocket...and a Super Ruby! Think of that!" James exclaimed to himself. "Molly WOULD be pleased to have her own Super Ruby! Da-da-da-daah!"

And James continued to bask and glow in building anticipation as he swept right through his passenger duties throughout the afternoon.

Meanwhile, down at the docks, Percy was struggling with ten trucks quite full of coal. Henry could have done it easily, but this was a little too heavy for Percy to manage all by himself. Then Salty rolled along nearby.

"Ahoy there, Percy!" he greeted. "Are you sure you can manage all those heavy coal trucks by yourself?"

"Of course I can!" Percy strained. "I could shunt twice this amount if I wanted too!"

But Percy struggled more and more. It was indeed a little too much to manage by himself, but he still felt the need to be really useful, while Salty looked on without a word.

Meanwhile, Molly was working her way along the line with her own goods runs. She had not forgotten what she and James talked about at Crovan's Gate, and she could only wonder how he was doing at that very moment...when she suddenly heard Rebecca's whistle coming from behind her until she came alongside Molly.

"Hello, Rebecca," she greeted with a smile. "How are you?"

"Hiya, Molly," Rebecca bubbled. "I've just finished with my passengers, now I'm off to collect some steel. Have you seen James at all today?"

"Indeed I have, thank you," said Molly. "It's been a while since we've done anything yet again, but we're hoping to find some time together today if we can."

"Are you?" said Rebecca. "Well, I wonder what that would be like. You see, James came to Vicarstown and saw Stephen sharing his super hero comic with Bridget and their schoolmates. The Red Shadow."

Molly heard the hero's name and suddenly felt her heart flutter with intrigue. She didn't know anything of this yet. Now she did.

"Red Shadow? Hmm. What's he like?" Molly asked.

"He can fly at super-sonic speed, has super human strength and wears a red super cape," said Rebecca. "That's what Stephen told James...and you know...James began to wonder if he has super powers of his own. I said maybe he does...and as his Shining Sun...what do you think?"

Molly listened to Rebecca and suddenly felt a certain glow start to awaken in her boiler. She now had a good feeling her next meetup with James would not quite be the way either of them expected...and it made her smile quite narrowly.

"My Jimmy...super powers...well, it all depends, Rebecca," Molly said a little coyly. "James did say making me happy is his 'super,' top priority...and I told him he should be more...flexible."

"Ooh...well, I hope for you that he is, Molly," Rebecca tittered. "If he does meet with you, I wish you a super time together. Bye, now!"

And Rebecca whistled past Molly and down the line. Molly felt her heart begin fluttering with urgent excitement as she looked to the sky and imagined James soaring through the sky already.

"Wow...a Super Ruby...that would be super indeed," she said softly. "Especially for me. Hm-hm-hm!"

And Molly whistled on her way, even more eager to get her work done and be flexible for James if she could. She could only guess what stories he'd have to tell her once their day would be through. What could James do as a Super Engine? What powers, if any, would they be for him? As she had told James, time and flexibility would tell soon enough.

As for James, he was done with his passengers before he knew it, and was now huffing back along the line. He had not yet had his face cleaned, but he didn't much care about being filthy this time. It was probably the first time he approved of being dirty the way he was. It wasn't a super mask, but it was close enough just the same for him, and it made him think even more about what Molly would think of the prospect.

"There must be something that can bring out my super side," James remarked excitedly. "If I'm really Molly's Super Ruby, I'll have to do something to prove it to her! It's what Rail Rocket would do!"

And so James began piecing his Super Engine aspects together. He was so impressed with his Super Engine look, he began narrating aloud to himself as if he were in a comic book of his own.

"It was a sunny day, and all seemed well, but little did anyone know, that hidden in the shadows, danger was lurking! Thankfully, Rail Rocket was on hand, ready for anyone in need of-"

"Help!" came a young sounding voice further up the line.

"What was that?" James suddenly perked. "Did my super hearing just detect a cry for-"

"Help!" the voice came louder.

"A distress call!" James exclaimed. "Someone's in trouble!"

And sure enough, James looked and saw two children on the neighbouring field full of apple trees, looking at him. James presented himself at once like the Super Engine he proclaimed to be.

"Da-da-da-daah! Never fear! Rail Rocket is here! Where's the trouble? Is it a raging storm? A runaway train? A broken bridge?"

"Our new kite is stuck in the tree!" the boy explained.

Now James was most certainly not expecting to hear something like that. Utterly anticlimactic he thought it was.

"A Kite? Stuck in a tree?"

James looked up and indeed saw the kite in the tree, now feeling steadily underwhelmed. There was nothing super about that to his smokebox. Not even an inch of being super. But having presented himself as the Rail Rocket, he still thought it best to help these children, especially if it meant being super, for himself...and for Molly. And so James conjured up a little super power of his own in that very moment.

"Oh...eh...worry not! Luckily, I have my Super Funnel with me!"

So James huffed right under the branch, took a deep breath and blew a line of smoke into the air. The smoke drifted the kite off the branch and back down to the ground for the children to retrieve.

"Hooray!" the children cheered.

James was pleased to have helped the children. But he wondered if there was more he could do than something as simple as retrieving a kite.

"Now, I must fly! Sodor is calling! Da-da-da-da!"

And James set off again while the children looked on in awe and wonder. But as pleased as James was to have helped those children, he wanted to do something truly heroic and incredible like the Rail Rocket he acclaimed to be. He continued to narrate out loud, trying to keep up his super side.

"Not only does Rail Rocket react to danger! He senses it before it's even become dangerous!"

Then just as his sentence finished, James suddenly heard the jingle of a bell.

"What's that? Did my super hearing just detect a...a distress bell? Someone's in trouble! I must assist them immediately! Da-da-da-daah! Never fear! Rail Rocket is here!"

But when James saw what was making the jingle, he came to a stop at a level crossing, and he was even more underwhelmed. All he saw was a small group of goats being walked across the line by their farmer.

"Goat bells? Oh, come on!"

This was indeed nothing super at all for James. Even rescuing the children's kite was a good deed for him to perform which made them happy. This was laughably neutral and had nothing to it at all. James thought for sure Molly would laugh at something as silly as assuming a goat's bell was a distress bell. James didn't feel super anymore, and it was also his turn to feel inadequate with himself like Emily used to feel every now and then

"So much for Sodor calling!" he mourned shamefully. "There's never a disaster when you need one! I've had it with being a Super Engine! Uhh... I'm going to get cleaned up and return to my old normal life!"

And James huffed slowly and sadly away, feeling quite sorry for himself. He began to think back to a few select past events surrounding him and how they had turned out, such as when he teased Percy over the Scrap Monster and wound him in so much negativity and stress, when he had relentlessly teased Philip and refused to move off the bridge, his awful knack of helping Gordon bully Emily so badly over those four and a half years, and he even had to admit that he talked and complained a few times too many about his paintwork. James began to feel that maybe there was nothing super about him after all. Radiant for Molly, perhaps, but not super as he had been buzzing about only some time ago that very afternoon. What had begun as a rather exciting idea had changed to a rather discouraging one.

Meanwhile, Molly was just about finished her goods runs and on her way back to Crovan's Gate. She hadn't yet heard anything about what happened with James so far, and she was still thinking admirably about what she and James could do next, especially after hearing what Rebecca had told her.

"What would Jimmy do as a Super Engine, I wonder?" she thought coyly to herself. But then Molly looked up and suddenly felt concerned.

There was James huffing along the line with a look of shame and inadequacy...and a noticeable mess along his eyes. Then, as if to add insult to injury, James heard Molly's whistle, which made him feel an uncomfortable twinge of shame hit his heart even harder. He looked up briefly and saw Molly passing along with the last of her goods run. James looked down again, hoping she wouldn't notice him, but her voice still broke the silence.

"Oh, James, what happened?" Molly asked. "Why are you covered in oil? Tell me you didn't run into a line of oil tankers, did you?"

James was in no mood to talk now. Not even with his Shining Sun. Not in the state he was right now.

"Not at all, Molly!" James mourned. "Just my silly daydreaming getting in the way and I ran into Rocky's load of oil drums! And there's nothing super for me to do! There's never a disaster for me to respond to and save the day! I'm going to get cleaned up and return to my old normal life!"

"But James!" Molly called. "What's this all about? Let me help you! Don't talk this way about yourself!"

"Later, Molly! Please!" James insisted. "I'll come by later and tell you!"

And James huffed right on past Molly, leaving her puzzled and disappointed. Not in James, but rather for him.

Eventually, as afternoon slowly became evening, Molly returned to Crovan's Gate, placed her trucks in a siding and slunk into her shed with a heavy sigh. After spending her day thinking and anticipating what she and James could have done when they could, she began to wonder if it wouldn't turn out as well as they had hoped. What was James so downhearted about after a slightly frisky setup between him and Molly? She really wanted to help him and see what this was all about...and despite the way James looked and felt earlier, she still believed he would come for her tonight.

"Oh, dear," Molly sighed. "Well, perhaps I should help him tonight if I can...and see what this is all about. He wouldn't pass up seeing me...my Super Ruby..."

And Molly settled down, feeling considerably underwhelmed herself now, and sorry for James too. She knew his qualities and flaws, but through it all, she didn't like seeing him upset or discontent with himself. The best she could hope for was that she would see James smile again. But even more importantly, just like James narrated to himself from the beginning...all seemed well for most, but little did anyone know that hidden in the shadows, a certain danger would be lurking, and the Rail Rocket really would be on hand, ready for anyone in need of help.

Soon, evening fell and the sun began to set. Most of the engines had done their work and were returning home. Rebecca was still busy as she had gathered her load of steel and was on her way to deliver it. Soon, she whistled along the Coal Hopper. She carried a chipper smile on her face...until she heard Percy call for...

"Help! Runaway coal trucks! I can't stop!"

Rebecca gasped with worry and looked ahead. There was Percy, thundering along the line with the heavy coal trucks pushing behind him. After struggling for an entire day, these trucks were now out of control for Percy, and he had little to no chance of stopping. His brakes couldn't help him now, and he was heading right for a nasty accident.

"Percy!" Rebecca wailed.

Percy wailed back and braved himself for the crash, but at the speed he was going, and with the points switching him away from Rebecca, the high speed sent him right off the rails, while his coal trucks scattered everywhere...then one of them bumped into the hopper. Then the hopper suddenly began to wobble and become unstable...right beside Rebecca!

"Oh, no!" Rebecca cried. She couldn't reverse quickly now. Her heavy train would make it too slow.

But as certain luck would have it, James was not far off from the Coal Hopper. He huffed miserably to the Crosby washdown, where he would finally have his oily, mediocre super mask cleaned away, then he'd be just James again. He was still feeling crippled over what seemed like a lost opportunity, and he didn't know how he'd explain this to Molly or what she'd make of it. It all seemed like a decent chance for him to be heroic, but as it seemed to him, there was nothing to be heroic about. All he knew in the tarrying moments was that he was one disappointed Ruby.

"What's the point of being a Super Engine if they don't even need my-"

"Help!" came a woman's voice.

"Exactly," said James, not realizing the truth yet...until he did. "Any engine could have- Wait! Did I just hear a cry for-"

"HELP!"

James listened and suddenly knew that was no ordinary woman's voice. Rebecca was in trouble, and James felt as though he now had a fair and square opportunity to rush to the rescue and be a true Rail Rocket. Almost like a super instinct, James forgot his misery and saw his chance. A chance he could tell Molly all about once the time came.

"That sounds like Rebecca! She's in trouble! REAL trouble!"

Without waiting another moment, James rushed right through the washdown's shed, powering the doors open as he went.

"Da-da-da-daah!" he sang again and hurried right down the line.

As he rushed to the rescue, James now felt a sense of duty and diligence that he wondered Emily must have felt when she came to the rescue and became No. 12 Safety Engine. Perhaps he could be No. 5 Super Engine the way he saw it. And rather like Emily, for once, James didn't feel too much of a desire to be a hero. He knew what a friendly engine Rebecca was and he could never let her be doomed to trouble or an accident. And depending on how it would turn out, perhaps it would really impress Molly too.

At the Coal Hopper, things were looking quite dire. Percy was derailed, his trucks were scattered everywhere, and the hopper was just about to tip over and give way on top of Rebecca. Percy watched in terror as he was helpless to do anything right now.

"He-e-e-e-e-l-p!" Rebecca squealed with terror as the coal chute began to lose its balance...and that was when Rebecca heard it.

"Never fear! Rail Rocket is here!"

And James came rushing down the line like the Super Engine he was being right there and then. James saw the upset trucks and the tipping coal hopper. It looked risky, but that meant nothing to him. He pushed right through the trucks and brakevan. Then he buffered right up to Rebecca and pushed her out of the way, laughing with triumph...and just in time. Just as James got out of the way, the whole coal hopper collapsed behind him and disappeared in a big, black cloud of coal dust!

When Rebecca felt herself stop moving, she opened her eyes again and saw she was safe...and she saw something else within the cloud of coal dust. It looked and sounded rather like James to her eyes and ears.

"Rail Rocket is here to protect you! And now, if you'll excuse me, I must fly! Sodor is calling!"

Rebecca watched in astonishment and awe as the Rail Rocket went reversing back on his way down the line. Percy wasn't sure, but he thought the shape looked very much like James too. All the same, he goggled and gaped just as Rebecca did until Rail Rocket was out of sight.

"Wow! Rail Rocket!" Percy exclaimed.

Soon, the coal dust settled down and cleared away. Percy and Rebecca looked to each other again, still quite surprised by what had just happened. What seemed like a horrific accident waiting to occur suddenly turned into a mystifying, wondrous rescue by a hero they did not yet know, except for the name.

"Sizzling Sprockets! Who was that masked engine who saved us?" Rebecca gasped. "Rail Rocket?"

"A Super Engine!" Percy squeaked. "Just like a comic book hero! Now it seems we have one on our own!"

"Indeed! We'd best tell the others about THIS, Percy!" Rebecca gasped.

"Oh, yes, Rebecca!" Percy exclaimed. "A Super Engine! Like the Red Shadow Stephen was reading about today. How did we never think of that?"

"I don't know," said Rebecca. "But...I can't help but feel that he looked and sounded rather like...James."

And Rebecca winked to Percy, who chortled and winked back.

"That's right, Percy. Anyone could be a hero in disguise...just like Bridget said to James at Vicarstown!"

"Did she?" Percy peeped. "Well, I'll need some help if we're gonna tell the story to everyone else."

Percy's driver ran to telephone for Emily to bring Rocky to the scene and help Percy and his trucks back on the line. Soon, Emily and Rocky did arrive, and they were both admittedly shocked by the collapsed coal hopper.

"Ohh! What's happened here, then?" Rocky asked.

"Indeed, Rocky," said Emily. "This is quite a sight! The whole hopper has collapsed! Are you and Rebecca alright, Percy?"

Percy winked to Rebecca, who winked back.

"Oh, yes, Emily! We're both okay," said Percy. "And we have quite the story to tell you tonight! A super story at that!"

"Super? About what?" Emily asked.

"Oh, you'll see, Emily! You'll all see!" Rebecca bubbled. "As soon as we both return to the sheds tonight!"

The area was quite a mess, but it was nothing to Rocky as Percy was soon back on track and his coal was arranged too. But the hopper would need serious repair. While Emily took Rocky back to the Rescue Centre, Rebecca carried on with her load of steel while Percy went on his way too.

Meanwhile, back at the Crosby washdown, James was finally having his face and front cleaned off. He felt a little disappointed to have his mask be cleaned away, but now that he had performed a truly heroic deed, it didn't bother him much.

"Da-da-da-daah. The Rail Rocket has prevailed," James stated to himself.

"I'm sorry we had to clean you 'mask,' off, James," said his driver. "But it is for the best. I must say, well done on your rescue!"

"But of course," James replied. "And never mind losing my mask. Molly wouldn't have been too fond of it herself anyway...Oh, goodness me! Molly! Oh, please, sir! I MUST go to her tonight and tell the whole tale! Just think of what she'd make of her having...a Super Ruby!"

"I agree, James," said his driver. "But first, what say we check on the other engines and see if they're saying anything about the Rail Rocket, shall we?"

"Ohh...alright, I suppose so," said James. "I'd like to see their faces anyway...when they find out who the Super Engine really is...and then Molly, oh my..."

Soon, James' face was cleaned off and he was finally on his way home as darkness descended through the sky...

At Tidmouth Sheds, as the stars shone overhead, Gordon, Nia, Thomas and Emily had settled in their berths already, having had a good day themselves and waiting for the others to return. Thomas gave a loving smile to Emily, who smiled right back and batted her eyelashes to Thomas, but she didn't say anything about what she had seen yet. Then presently, the four engines heard a series of giggles in the distance. They looked up and there were Percy and Rebecca coming back to the sheds, chortling and giggling away to each other.

"Rebecca? What's giving you the giggles?" Gordon asked.

"Indeed. What's all the giggling about, Percy?" Thomas asked.

"You both sound like you've seen or heard something truly funny," said Nia.

Emily didn't say a word, but managed to smile quite gleefully as she was ready to hear the tale.

"Oh, Emily!" Percy gasped. "This is nothing funny! This is super!"

"Super? What are you talking about, Percy?" Thomas asked.

Percy and Rebecca settled in their berths and told the engines the story.

"Hmm...well, everyone," said Rebecca. "When I was at Vicarstown this morning, I saw Stephen sharing his new comic book to Bridget and their schoolmates...the comic book hero is called the Red Shadow, who flies at super-sonic speed, has super human strength and a red super cape."

"Interesting," said Thomas. "Everyone adores comic book heroes from time to time."

"That's when James came along and took a look too," said Rebecca. "He thought if he had super powers himself. I told him maybe he does."

"Did you, now?" said Gordon, raising an eyebrow.

"I highly doubt that," Thomas thought to himself with a unconvinced smirk.

"And so he went off on his own, thinking about heroes, I think," said Rebecca. "Whereas Percy..."

"Oh, yes," said Percy. "I was struggling with ten heavy coal trucks at the Docks. Salty asked if I could manage that much. At the time, I said I could shunt twice as many if I wanted to...although, I think I was quite mistaken now. It was such a heavy load...and then this very evening..."

"I was coming along the line with a long load of steel," said Rebecca. "And I was just passing by the Coal Hopper...when Percy came thundering down the line with his runaway coal trucks!"

"Oh, dear!" Emily exclaimed, remembering bringing Rocky to the scene. "So that's what Rocky and I had to come for. Well, what happened, Percy?"

"I thought I would crash right into Rebecca, Emily," said Percy. "But the points were turned away from her and I derailed on the line beside her...but then my trucks went flying and one of them bashed into the hopper, making it wobble and start to give way...right beside Rebecca!"

Gordon gaped and turned to his Golden Queen. "Merciful Heavens! Rebecca! How did you ever get out unscratched?!"

"Oh! It was scary, Gordon!" Rebecca shuddered. "I thought for sure it would come crashing on me! I wailed for help...and just as it looked like the whole hopper would fall on me...I heard his call, he pushed through Percy's coal trucks, right to me, and I was saved!"

"Saved?" the other engines asked.

"Someone saved you! Who, Rebecca? Who?" Gordon urged.

Rebecca looked out to the nighttime scenery outside the sheds.

"He told us never to fear...he was here to protect us...then he disappeared through the coal dust."

"Who, Rebecca?" the other engines asked.

"He calls himself...Rail Rocket," said Rebecca. "The Super Engine."

All the engines looked amongst each other with awe and wonder, and all spoke at once.

"Rail Rocket?"

"I wonder..." said Thomas.

"Then I was called to the scene with Rocky and helped Percy back on track," said Emily. "He and Rebecca told me I'd hear the whole story...and so we have now."

"Yes, Emily. Rail Rocket saved the day!" Percy declared. "I wish you could have all seen it! Just as that hopper was about to come down on Rebecca, Rail Rocket came soaring onto the scene! And then he burst through the coal and pushed Rebecca to safety!"

Just then, right at that moment, James whistled in and came back to Tidmouth Sheds himself, wondering if the other engines would be talking about what happened earlier that day. He settled on the turntable and he just happened to have heard some of the chatter and began to wonder if he should work it in himself. Perhaps this was his chance. Most heroes were in disguise, but he decided to go a different route.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked casually at first.

"Oh, James! We had our very own Super Engine!" Percy beamed as James turned around. "He was called Rail Rocket!

"Oh? He sounds quite the character," James replied casually as he backed into his berth.

"I wonder who he was," said Nia.

"Who knows? He could be just about anyone," said Rebecca.

James heard Rebecca, remembering what Bridget had said at Vicarstown...and then, just as James settled into his berth, keeping his eye on Rebecca, that's when it came out.

"Da-da-da-daah."

All the engines heard what James just uttered, and for a moment or two, no one said anything...but then Percy and Rebecca felt a tweak in their boilers and they looked right back at James, remembering a few distinct details about the Rail Rocket they caught glimpse of back at the hopper.

"James...w...what did you just say?" Rebecca asked.

James looked to Rebecca. "Da-da-da-daah."

Rebecca felt her wheels jiggle. Percy felt his heart flip, and the other engines all looked directly at James.

"James...a...are...are you...?" Rebecca asked with a bubbling voice.

James looked to all the engines for a moment or two before answering.

"I can see what you're all wondering...and I suppose I must come out with it. Steam Team...I'm the Rail Rocket."

All the engines' hearts jumped and buzzed.

"WHAT?!" Percy squeaked rather loudly. "I KNEW it! I should have known that engines' shape looked familiar!"

"James! Th...that was YOU?" Rebecca blurted.

"YOU'RE Rail Rocket?" Gordon exclaimed. "It's YOU, James?!"

"Impossible!" Nia exclaimed.

"James! James the Super Engine?!" Thomas and Emily exclaimed together.

James beamed with pride, looking at all the engines' mixed faces of awe, surprise and shock all at once.

"Well, it must be hard for you all to believe, but it's true," he said. "I AM the Rail Rocket. I'm the one who saved Rebecca from that hopper."

And James told all the engines his part of the story too, right from Stephen showing him the Red Shadow comic, to his daydream, getting splashed with oil, helping the children retrieve their kite, seeing the goats, feeling unworthy of being a hero, and then saving Rebecca and Percy, but he didn't say anything about Molly. Yet.

"Wow, James! Quite a heroic daydream, I must admit," said Rebecca. "I wondered that the Rail Rocket looked like you...and now...here you are, Rail Rocket!"

"I didn't know oil could make a fair super mask, James," Thomas smirked.

"It was very kind of you to help those children with their kite, James," said Emily.

"And indeed heroic to save my Golden Queen from that hopper!" Gordon added grandly.

"Yes...perhaps this is one time when I really AM a super engine?" James hinted.

"Well, James. Perhaps you are super in your own way," said Thomas. "Saving Rebecca like that was heroic indeed. We all remember when Caitlin's bakes failed when she was coming back from Ulfstead Castle. Luckily, Emily was on hand to save her and be the hero."

"Oh, Thomas," Emily smiled as she saw him wink to her. "That was a special time for me and Caitlin. I'm lucky to have a friend like her."

"Ah, yes," said James. "But I think I've done enough as the Rail Rocket for today. Being a Super Engine is indeed a swift and fast-paced duty to perform. Super Engines must be swift, brave and flexible."

Rebecca suddenly looked up and remembered one other thing, about Molly. She then decided to segue James into something else entirely...for Molly and him.

"Oh...James?" Rebecca hinted.

"Yes, Rebecca?" said James.

"Did you say flexible?" Rebecca asked. "Because that reminds me...after I left Vicarstown...I ran into Molly, and she said she saw you this morning...and I told her about you and Stephen."

James suddenly felt his sensations changing as Rebecca smiled hintingly. He suddenly felt a new sensation kicking into gear.

"I see...well...what did she say, Rebecca?" he asked.

"She says you hoped to have more time with her since your jolly Christmas last year...and that you needed to be more flexible. Now that your work is done today...are you interested?"

All the engines smiled steadily at James, who felt his heart jiggle with a great sense of excitement and opportunity just waiting for him to grab. After yet another wave of time being away from Molly, it seemed so open to him. So James made his decision.

"Uhh...Steam Team...I...I think...I'd better go," he said.

"Go?" the other engines said together, still smiling.

"Da-da-da-daah. No time to explain. Molly is calling," said James as he went right back to the turntable, turned to the Main Line and set off...

---

At Crovan's Gate, Molly was still in her shed. She had been waiting for quite a while for James to come along and visit her, hoping to hear what was going on with him. She remembered how downhearted he looked when he saw her that afternoon, and she wondered if there was anything she could do to help him. Perhaps he'd be feeling better and be in a better mood...and perhaps they could still have a worthy night together.

"Hmm...just what could he have gotten up to today with that oil spill, and thinking he isn't super?" she said to herself. "And where is he anyway?"

Just as Molly's sentence finished, she heard the distant sound of an engine outside. She went very still and waited as it came closer and closer, waiting for any familiar sign or sound...until she heard that whistle, which made her face begin to turn a little pink.

"James?" she called softly.

She heard his whistle again, and saw a headlamp shining from outside her shed's doors. She heard the huffing stop for a few moments...then she saw the light seem brighter, and her shed doors suddenly opened right up. Molly looked through the beaming light, and there was James, perfectly clean, and beaming from buffer to buffer, looking ready for something quite significant. Molly was initially surprised to see James in a much better mood than she had seen before, but she already began to feel reassured that things had indeed worked out.

"Well, hello there, my Shining Sun," James said smoothly. "Is the night still young?"

Molly could tell James meant business and would not leave without it and she began to feel a tiny bit jittery.

"H-hello...James? Last I saw you, you were covered in oil along your face and sounding quite disappointed with yourself, saying there's nothing super about you. But now you're so...frisky. Did everything turn out in the end?"

James buffered up to Molly as the shed doors closed behind him.

"Well...yes, my dear...but I have more business than just a good turnout in the end today...I have business with you tonight."

Molly's heart jiggled and she tried not to blush. "Ooh...do you, Jimmy? Why, may I ask?"

"Well...firstly, I thought perhaps you had a radiant engagement in mind, and that we deserve more time together...that is, if I were more...flexible."

Molly blushed shyly and began to thin her smile. "I...I did say that."

"And so, here I am," said James. "And I have quite a deal to tell you, Molly. I do hope it will please you."

"Do you?" said Molly. "Well, I remember seeing you looking rather upset with yourself, and I've been waiting here for a fair while for you to come. I was ready to help you in case you were still feeling low...but seeing your smile now...what do you have to tell me? Anything super, like you said your priorities for me are?"

"In fact, I do, Molly," said James. "I may have looked a little low earlier today...but now, I think I'm ready to tell you everything from the start."

"Very well, then," said Molly. "Tell me, Jimmy. What happened with my Ruby today to bring him here to Crovan's Gate...back to his Shining Sun?"

James gathered his words, then began. "Have you ever seen a comic book hero before, Molly?"

"Mmm...no, James. I'm certainly aware of such books, as many others are, but I don't believe any of us ever paid much heed to them."

"I thought not," said James. "But that's exactly why I'm here. After you and I spoke right at this station about sharing more time together...when it comes to super heroes, we had one of our own on Sodor, though nobody knew who it was...until just recently."

Molly looked at James and blinked once. "James...what did...?"

"Hear me out, Molly. You won't regret it," James winked. "Everything started right after our little talk. I wished we could have more time together and as I said before, making you happy is my super top priority...to which to suggested I be more flexible. Then I made it to Vicarstown. There I saw Rebecca and Rosie...and that's also when I saw Stephen, Bridget and some schoolmates of theirs all gathered together, cheering about something or someone. Admittedly, I put on that they must have been cheering for me, but Rebecca said they were cheering at their new comic book."

Molly perked up as she remembered talking to Rebecca, and decided to play her way into James' tale.

"I see, James. What was the comic called?" she asked with a little smile.

"The Red Shadow," said James. "Stephen says he can fly at super-sonic speed, has super human strength and wears a red super cape. Being red, of course, it made me think if I may have super powers of my own. Rebecca suggested that perhaps I do. Bridget even said anyone could be a hero in disguise, and the mere thought fascinated me...me being the first Super Engine!"

"Hmm...I see," said Molly. "And what did you do then?"

"Well, I had a little daydream," said James. "I was flying through a stormy purple sky, and I was my own Super Engine indeed...the Rail Rocket. A black super mask over my eyes, yellow lightning streaks painted on both sides of my boiler and tender, and a fancy red super cape flailing behind my cab! That's when I saw lightning strike the Suspension Bridge and the track gave way as Rebecca came along, too late to stop! I heard her call for help and I rushed to the rescue as she fell to the valley below! Luckily, I was there to elevate her on a giant cushion of steam and place her back on track!"

Molly stood there, enthralled and absorbed. She was most certainly not expecting to hear something like this. Now she really needed to hear just what had happened throughout the day with her Ruby.

"Wow...my James...a Super Engine!" she gasped. "I don't think I've ever heard anything like that before! What happened next, James?"

"Rebecca was swept off her wheels," said James. "She swooned that I was her hero...until she called for me to look out...in Rocky's voice!"

"Rocky? Did something happen then?" Molly asked, almost getting ahead of James as it were.

"Indeed, it did, Molly," said James. "I saw where I really was. I was hurrying through Maron Station...and just as I was approaching the very water tower where David and Emily fell drunk together, there happened to be a load of oil drums right in front of me! Rocky tried to clear the way, but the oil drums flew everywhere...and one of them splashed across my eyes. Then...well, you probably saw me earlier and suspected it."

Molly thought back to when she briefly saw James in that mess and could feel a few things coming together.

"I see...so that's why you looked a little messy earlier," she pondered. "Well, focusing on everything that happened with you...if I may, James, that slick of oil was your super mask, I trust?"

James looked away a little embarrassingly, then continued.

"I didn't think anything like that at first. I knew I had to get to the washdown and clean off. I thought I looked abysmal and most unsightly...until I was crossing the Fenland and looked into the water...and just like you said, the oil spill looked almost exactly like a super mask. That's when I began to feel that I really was the Rail Rocket! Someone who needed to watch out for trouble and patrol the railway. I remembered talking to you first thing today, and I felt as though I would have quite a deal to tell you when my day was out."

"And so that's what you're doing right now, Jimmy," said Molly. "What then?"

"Well, as I heard it from the other engines tonight," said James. "Percy was struggling with very heavy coal trucks at Brendam Docks. Salty asked if he could manage it on his own, which Percy said he could, but it was still too much for him. As for me, well, I got through my passenger duties quick as a flash and was soon hurrying along the line, patrolling the Railway just as I had declared."

"And? What came about for you, James?" Molly asked.

"Well, I felt that to impress you on this matter, I would need super powers of my own and be sure to help someone. I began narrating aloud to myself, how it was a sunny day and how nobody knew what trouble was around the corner...and that's when I heard the call for help. I rushed to the apple orchard and found two children. I presented myself as the Rail Rocket and asked what the trouble was, be it a raging storm, a runaway train or a broken bridge."

"And?" said Molly.

"Those children had their new kite stuck in the tree," said James. "Most underwhelming after my presentation...but I still saw fit to help them...with the help of my super funnel! I blew smoke to the branch and drifted the kite right down to the ground again. It felt good to have helped those children, but as the Rail Rocket, I felt as thought I had to carry on. Sodor was calling!"

"Oh, was it?" Molly asked. "What happened then, James?"

"I began narrating again how I sense trouble before it becomes trouble," said James. "And that's when I heard jingling bells. It sounded like a distress bell to me, but when I found the sound...they were just goat bells. A herd of goats crossing the line. So much for Sodor calling. Even rescuing the kite was a good deed to perform which made those children happy. Thinking that goat bells were a distress bell...that's when I felt heinously silly! There didn't seem to be a disaster when I needed one. And I decided to clean up and return to my old normal life."

Molly suddenly began to figure a few things out. "James...is that why I saw you so downhearted earlier today?"

James suddenly looked a little low again as he buffered up to Molly.

"It's not just feeling silly that hit me, Molly," he said feebly. "I was trying to be heroic and impressive in big and powerful ways, but instead, they were through a simple and then completely meaningless manner. That's what made me feel not so super...and it made me think back to a select few events concerning me...such as when I teased Percy so relentlessly over the Scrap Monster which wound him into so much negativity and stress, then when I atrociously teased Philip and refused to move off that bridge. Not to mention my knack of helping Gordon hurt Emily so badly over that awful four and a half years...and I'm starting to finally realize just how many times I've called out my paintwork, even when there is no reason at all to do so."

"Hmm...and I found out Emily's story and left you," Molly sighed lowly. "And hearing of Percy's perils turned me even further away from you."

"Yes, Molly," James sighed. "And just as I said when I was left in the out of use siding after Percy's accident...I had failed you...until we finally came back together. Even to be reminded of those awful times turned my super engine idea into a rather discouraging one."

"Oh, dear, James," Molly sighed as she buffered a little closer to James. "That must have felt awful indeed. Is that when you saw me passing by afterwards?"

"Yes, Molly," James sighed. "Now you know why I was covered in oil, and I sounded quite terrible...but I did fulfill my assurance to see you later, and here I am."

"Yes, James. Here you are," said Molly. "So that was your low point of the day...but what happened next to bring your smile back?"

James seemed better now. He smiled impressively and raised his eyebrows to Molly.

"Well...here's where it all turns...super!" he stated. "This very evening, Rebecca was taking her train of steel on her way when she stopped by the Coal Hopper...and she heard a cry for help herself. Percy's coal trucks were now a runaway train, pushing him along the line at a terrifying speed! It was near certain he would have crashed into Rebecca...when the points turned him away from her and detailed him, while his trucks flew everywhere, and one of them bashed into the hopper, which made it wobble and start to tip...right over Rebecca!"

Molly gasped. "Oh, dear! That sounds horrifying! What happened then?"

"Well, as heroic luck would have it, I was at the Crosby washdown, not far from the hopper," said James. "I would then have my super mask removed, and then I'd just be James again. I still felt bad over what seemed like a lost opportunity, and I don't know how I would have brought this forth to you...had I not gotten my chance to be...Rail Rocket!"

"Uh-huh?" said Molly. "Then what?"

"I was asking myself what was the point of being a Super Engine if no one needed my help...which is exactly what I heard a woman's voice calling me for. I thought I was only hearing things until the voice called again...and I knew that was no ordinary woman's voice. Rebecca's voice! In that instant, I finally saw a true chance to rush to the rescue! Rebecca was in real trouble, and so I didn't wait to be washed. I thundered right through the shed and raced down the line!"

"Here we go!" Molly gleamed. "Rail Rocket to the Rescue! What was it like, James?"

"Between you and me, Molly...I think I can understand a little how Emily must have felt when she came to the rescue and became our No. 12 Safety Engine. I thought that perhaps I could be the No. 5 Super Engine as I see...and for once, I didn't just feel like being a hero. I certainly did feel that sense, but I also knew that Rebecca is such a friendly, sunny engine, quite like you, Molly, and I would never let her be doomed to trouble or an accident. No more than I would let you be in danger, my Shining Sun."

"Oh, James," Molly blushed lightly.

"Anyway, there I was, racing and soaring to the rescue, and when I saw the coal hopper and the messy scene ahead, it was almost exactly like a real comic book hero's story! There were coal trucks scattered everywhere! Percy was derailed and unable to help Rebecca! The Coal Hopper was tipping away dramatically, due to sustain masses of damage, there were throngs of screams for help from poor Rebecca! And just when all hope seemed lost...Rail Rocket saved the day! 'Da-da-da-daah! Never fear! Rail Rocket is here!' I pushed right through the coal trucks and shunted Rebecca right out of the way as the whole hopper came crashing down behind me, billowing a thick cloud of coal dust!"

Molly didn't know what to say to any of this. She knew James had his moments of being really useful, and even amazing from time to time, but nothing like this. She just goggled and gaped, leaning left and right and shaking her head in surprise and astonishment.

"Whoa...by my funnel and buffers!" she breathed strongly.

"Rebecca was safe," said James. "I told her and Percy Rail Rocket was here to protect them. Then I had to fly. Sodor was calling. I went back to the washdown, and I had to remove my oily mask...but it's of no consequence. I didn't think you'd be too fond of it anyway."

Molly smiled cutely and batted her eyelashes to James.

"Well, you were right to think that, James...but I understand. You had to chase a little super dream...and now that I've heard just what you did today...I'm very glad you did follow that dream."

"Thank you, Molly," said James. "Today has been quite super indeed. By the time I was cleaned, it was getting dark, and I was most eager to come and tell you everything. But first, I went to Tidmouth Sheds to see if the others were talking about the supposed Rail Rocket."

"Mm-hm. And were they?" Molly asked.

"Well, Rocky and Emily came by the hopper to help Percy back on track, and once he and Rebecca returned to the sheds, they told Gordon, Nia, Thomas and Emily everything they could, right up to when the Rail Rocket saved Rebecca...and that's when I came along. I just happened to hear some of the chatter. Percy said we had a Super Engine called Rail Rocket."

"And what did you say to that?" Molly asked.

"Well...I said Rail Rocket sounds quite the character. Nia wondered who it could have been, and Rebecca said he could be just about anyone...and so it was...until they all heard it, quiet, but precise."

"What's that, James?" Molly asked.

James leaned in toward Molly until their faces were softly touching. Molly looked straight into his eyes, just as he did. And then...

"Da-da-da-daah."

Molly held her breath and stared at James for a few moments, just as the other engines did. Her eyes glimmered and her lips curled upward into a steady smile, gazing into James' eyes, while he smiled too, waiting for her to react.

"James...my Radiant Ruby. Did...did they learn...who their hero was today?" Molly said at last.

"While most, if not, all heroes are in disguise...I'm an engine, not a comic book hero," said James. "And so...they know now. I'm the Rail Rocket."

"And? How did they take to it?" Molly asked.

"They were all staggered," said James. "They all had something to say."

"Really?" said Molly. "And what did they think of having you as the Super Engine?"

"Thomas never knew you could use oil as a super mask," said James. "Emily said it was very kind of me to retrieve the kite, and Gordon was most grateful that I saved his Golden Queen. Then Thomas actually compared it to when Caitlin's brakes failed and Emily saved her after she felt like she wasn't as amazing as Caitlin. Emily was on hand to save the day and be the hero."

"Indeed, she was," said Molly. "Whereas today, it seems you wanted to be like a comic book hero, James. Even though you don't have any real comic superpowers, you did help everyone who was in trouble by using the power you've always had...a power no one has ever said you have...but you always have it for me."

"What power is that, Molly?" James asked.

"The power of kindness," Molly said gently. "Firefighters, like Belle and Flynn, police officers like Phelps and Gallagher, and the Emergency Services like Harold, Rocky, Butch and Captain, are the heroes who live amongst us and help us whenever we're in trouble. Remember, it only takes kindness to be someone else's hero. Maybe you're not the same engine with others, but as always, your kindness for me never dwindles, James."

James felt his heart stir when he heard Molly call him kind. He had to admit he didn't see himself as such an engine very often, but to hear it come from Molly meant so very much to him.

"Molly...do...do you really mean that? Do you really believe I have the power of kindness? Enough to save my fellow engines?"

"Couldn't miss it if I tried," Molly said silkily.

"Wow...thank you, Molly," James smiled purely. "And with that...that is my story of being the Super Engine. What did you think, Molly?"

"Oh...wow, James...I am surprised, astonished and very impressed with all that you've done today...but you know...it so happens that I have my own little story to tell...about how I might have intertwined with your story myself."

James suddenly perked up and looked eagerly to Molly.

"You? When? And how, Molly?" he asked.

Molly leaned in and gave James a kiss on his cheek, smooching sweetly as she did, and making James jump and blush to her lovely lips.

"Well, Jimmy...as it so happens...after you and I talked here earlier, while I was working through the day...I actually found out about the Red Shadow myself. I knew it all along."

"What? How did you know, Molly?" James asked.

"Well, while I was busy with my goods today, Rebecca passed me by and asked me if I had seen you today. When I said yes, she then told me about what you saw and heard from Stephen and Bridget at Vicarstown...about the Red Shadow...then how you wondered if you had super powers of your own."

James looked curiously at Molly. "I see. And what else did she say?"

"Well...when I heard Rebecca, I felt something start to awaken in me. I had a very good feeling that our next meetup together would not quite be the way we'd expect. I told Rebecca about you being more flexible...and all she told me was that she wishes us a super time together, and off she went. I could almost see you soaring through the sky in that moment...and it made me even more eager to get my work done. I wondered what stories you'd have to tell me once the day was through."

James smiled widely. He had no idea that Molly had been budding these super thoughts for this long, and it made him feel even more frisky underneath.

"I couldn't stop wondering about it," said Molly. "Even as evening closed in and I was coming back here, I was still admiring what you and I could do next. And even after seeing you look so disappointed and sorry for yourself, I still wondered if things would turn out...and now I know it has turned out quite super."

"Super and flexible, I'd say," said James. "That's what I said super engines should be. Being a Super Engine is a swift and fast-paced duty, where one must be swift, brave and flexible...and that's when Rebecca told me she saw you...and she asked if I were interested in...well...here we are."

To this, Molly smiled again and leaned in, touching her cheeks to James' and cuddling him softly right there. As James felt her soft, warm skin resting with his, he felt a shiver through his boiler and he melted right into her loving caress.

"Yes...here we are, James," said Molly. "And now the super story has been told...my Radiant Ruby..."

Then James moved away from Molly's face. She looked up and saw his expression became melancholy and a little serious, as if he were depending on her.

"James? What is it?" Molly asked gently.

"Yes, Molly...I am your Radiant Ruby," he said gently. "But once more, I'm remembering how bad I felt earlier today, how I didn't feel super...but I must know...what do YOU think, Molly? It's all well for the other engines to believe in the Rail Rocket or not, but I must know what you think...could I not only be your Radiant Ruby...but your Super Ruby too? Or am I just an old, normal engine like I thought earlier today? What is your answer? Please?"

Molly heard what James asked and felt a deep stir in her boiler. She remembered seeing James look rather disappointed with himself that afternoon, and she thought deeply to herself while James waited. She thought back to certain times between her and her ruby, and she knew everything they had gone through, both together and separately. After what felt like a long time of silence, she looked up and blinked slowly. Then her answer came out very gently and genuinely.

"Well...I'm very glad you asked me those questions, James," she said softly. "I do have quite an answer ready for you. You are an overly proud engine most of the time...you're very proud of your red paint, you love coaches much more than trucks, and you can even be impulsive and a little selfish at times...but through all we've been through together, there is one thing that makes you not just a Radiant Ruby...but a Super Ruby too. Something you've already done for me many years ago."

"Yes, my love?" James whispered.

Molly touched her nose to James' and her eyes nearly watered with tears of peace and harmony.

"After you shared your whole story to Thomas and Emily about how you and I started off together, then broke up, and you tried all that you could to win me back...then came that day...when you saved me from that horrible crash when my brakes failed. In spite of all my rebuke and refusal to open up to you again, you still wanted the best for me. You didn't care how much I turned away from you. You still came to my rescue and sacrificed yourself for me, letting me hurry safely onwards, while you let those tar wagons smash into you. There was only one engine who came to my rescue that day, who determined that I would make it through safely...and that engine who saved me was you, James. Therefore, in my heart...you ARE truly my Radiant Super Ruby."

To this, James smiled and his eyes shimmered too as he gazed into Molly's amazing eyes. He leaned in and very gently kissed her ever soft and warm cheek. Molly gasped and shuddered to James' kiss, blushing very happily as she felt his lips trail and pamper her lovely, warm skin until he softly let go and never turned his gaze away from her.

"Molly, my Shining Sun...Sodor only knows what my life would be like if I never met you...I love you more than anything I will ever know in this world."

"Ohh...oh, James," Molly cooed happily. "I love you too, just the same, right to my heart's core...my Radiant Super Ruby."

And in that moment...that's when James remembered the very thing he and Molly had agreed to in the first place. She had a radiant engagement in mind when they first saw each other at Crovan's Gate. He took a steady look at Molly's smiling face, her lovely, creamy cheeks, her amazing yellow paintwork and her all-around beautiful and even alluring body as he could feel all his original sensations really kicking in now. It was the perfect opportunity after the day was done. James decided to go for it and he smiled very deeply, which Molly noticed right away.

"James...?" she asked steadily. "What are you doing?"

"The time has come, Molly," James said in a suggestive manner. "As you said...you had a radiant engagement in mind once we were through...and you did say time and flexibility would tell. Like you told me, Molly. We DO need to be more...flexible."

Molly then began to smile deeply as she felt everything creeping into her boiler now. After spending an entire day of speculating, and now having heard everything about her Ruby's day, it was finally time for things to get super between them.

"I did say all of that, Jimmy," she purred lowly. "And now that we're here right now...after all that has transpired today...I think it's time you and I be our own...super-lovers."

"I'd adore that with every molecule of steam in my boiler," James beamed. "Do you think my powers will suffice your quenches tonight?"

"Well, my Super Ruby..." Molly swooned. "If there is one other power you potentially should lace on me...just let it be super...just like Rail Rocket."

"I'm YOUR Super Ruby Molly," said James. "My powers work the best on you above all engines...I just wonder if maybe you'd like to be...my Super Sun?"

In that instant, Molly's boiler tickled all over with squeaking, bubbling delight to hear that name, and she immediately welcomed it in, trying very hard not to blush or shudder.

"Ooh...Ooh! Jimmy, my Radiant Super Engine...are you saying that I might be a Super Engine too...or even better...a Super Temptress?"

James gasped and could see it all coming together. "M-Molly...I...I...I-"

"Shh...shh...come here, Jimmy. Where's my Radiant Super Ruby?" Molly asked smoothly.

"All set, my Super Sun. Da-da-da-daah," James sang softly, but steadily as he leaned in and just started to pucker up to his temptress.

"Rrr..." Molly growled seductively, rolled her R's slowly and sexily. "Showtime, Jimmy...let's be each other's heroes...as Super Lovers."

"Hm-hm-hm...Rail Rocket shall not fail his Super Sun," James purred.

"Take me, James. I've always loved how you want to please me above all else...and now your super chance has come. Make love to me...like my Super Ruby!"

"The Rail Rocket shall indeed sweep you off your wheels...my Super Sun!" James announced romantically.

So James began his super move. He buffered right up to Molly and began kissing her lips quite strongly, smothering her cheeks with his as he slowly pushed her right to the back of her shed. Molly wrapped her lips right with James' lips, moaning and groaning to the warm and bubbly sensation rising rapidly in her boiler.

"Mmm...Hmm...Mhm...J-James..." Molly moaned. "It's yours...my yellow, shiny body is all yours...ooh..."

James heard Molly's crooning voice and suddenly felt Molly's lips pull his even deeper into their kiss. James began to groan too as their lips began tugging and competing together for dominance, lust and fervor all at the same time. James felt his buffers rubbing with Molly's buffers and felt his heart jiggle. Molly felt her heart jiggling too as she wanted even more. So she opened their mouth and let her tongue meet James', catching him quite off guard at first, but then he melted right into the bulging euphoria. With that, their tongues collided together and started writhing and caressing each other in a most steamy French-kiss. James focused solely on Molly's warm, wet tongue and how it tickled his rather vigorously. Molly's tongue tickled too as she began chortling and huffing through their closed mouths and feeling her face blushing relentlessly.

Their French kiss went on for almost eight minutes before they finally came apart and gasped immensely to retrieve their air. James and Molly opened their eyes and felt as though they were seeing stars for a few moments before they saw each other more clearly and felt themselves coming back to their senses. It was indeed like a super spell that had taken them both...and they wanted even more to follow.

"I know my James' kisses quite well, but now? He-he-he! You've got your own super style, don't you, Rail Rocket?" Molly teased.

"Oh, yes," James panted. "Yes, I do indeed, Super Sun. It is my great pleasure to-Mhm!"

Molly suddenly buffered up and pressed her lips to James' cheek and kissed it very strongly, smooching her lips so loudly, as if she were sucking on a frozen ice lolly, making James heave and groan with buzzing delight.

"Ahh! M-Molly! Fire and Smoke! Ohh! You're beyond super, my love! Ohh!" James exclaimed strongly.

But this was only the beginning. Molly then let pressed her lips in further and began sucking on his cheek. James groaned loudly again as he felt his cheek tense up to Molly's luscious lips. Then Molly began to rub her buffers to James' again just to tease him even further. The sensation of Molly's sucking lips and rubbing buffers put such momentum and excited drive to James' boiler, it made his wheels wobble and quiver to the point of collapsing beneath him. He didn't know if it was his frame holding him together or the super powers he thought he carried for his Super Sun.

"Ooh...aren't you a fun, dashing Super Engine, Jimmy?" Molly cooed sweetly as she briefly let to. "Aren't you gonna give me a blanket of...super steam?"

Before James could answer, Molly went right back to his face and started kissing his cheeks wildly, leaving three or four kisses on his face every second. James was caught quite off guard and jumped strongly.

"Ahh! Molly! Molly! I love you!" he squawked and shuddered. "You're by all accounts a super kisser!"

"Oh, this? This is only a taste of my super love!" Molly gleamed. "Ooh...do you enjoy that, Jimmy?"

"Hah! Ahh! Molly!" James heaved. "YES!"

Molly's eyes glittered and she purred seductively. "Mmm...very good, Jimmy...because we're about to get to the main event..."

"W...what? What?" he asked abruptly and rather shakily.

Molly tittered and giggled with delight, kissing everywhere she could reach on James' face. Then she went even further, reaching her tongue out and started licking and lapping over his face wherever she pleased. James wheezed and blew his whistle to this.

"Agh! Mo-o-l-l-y-y-y!" James wailed. "Whoa! You're Ultra-Super! Colossal! Stupendous!"

Molly didn't say a word and pushed into James, pressing her tongue and lips deeply into his face as she softly pushed him back the other way until his tender touched the shed doors. Then Molly began dancing left and right as Emily did with Thomas, trailing her tounge up, down and along James' face as she started to hum and coo through her super spells. James felt his face blushing more profusely than ever as he felt Molly's lips and tounge power-kiss and writhe to his cheeks, which brought on a near-explosive force building up in James' boiler. He felt himself becoming rather hot in his firebox and his boiler was bubbling more fiercely than he could recall in a very long time.

"Molly...Molly! I-I...I can't hold together! I...I'm gonna super-burst!"

"Yes! Yes! Blanket me in your Super-Steam, James! Please-please-PELASE?" Molly wailed happily as she kissed and sucked on his cheek once more.

"WHOO! WHOO!" James howled and wheeshed. "Rail Rocket is...HE-E-E-R-R-E-E!"

And rather like in his daydream, James issued a massive blanket of steam from his wheels that was so dense and so thick, that Molly almost felt it push against her. If only it could levitate her as James did with Rebecca in that daydream, but the dense steam cloud she felt now was more than enough for her as she squealed with over-bubbling delight and bliss as she now felt so enjoyably warm in her shed with her Super Ruby.

James' steam didn't fade for nearly twenty seconds, quite like Merlin's clouds of steam...but even as the steam still lingered, James saw Molly's face smiling and glowing through the steam. Once the cloud cleared away, Molly spoke again.

"Now...it seems like I really do have super powers of my own...super lips, and my super tongue...is the Rail Rocket impressed with his Super Temptress?"

James panted and heaved very hard from all the drive and intense ecstasy-like euphoria Molly had driven him to, but he managed to get the words out.

"Huh...ohh...M-M-Molly! That was...SUPER! You certainly do have heroics. The most spectacular romantic heroics I could have ever wanted to share with you. I love you, Molly."

"Oh, thank you, James," Molly gleamed. "You're a Super Engine...and you're super sweet too...right to me, your Shining Super Sun. I love you too, James."

James smiled to the love of his life for a few moments...until he suddenly saw his chance. They had shared in this night together, then Molly shared her spells with her Super Ruby. Now it was the Rail Rocket's turn to spew his spells out to his Super Sun.

"Well, my beautiful, sexy Molly," James said smoothly. "I am beyond impressed and beyond enthralled by all your super abilities...but what about MY super spells of love? You've given me a super-impression. Now for your super reward. Time for Rail Rocket to come to the Romantic Rescue! Here he comes, Molly the Super Sun!"

Molly blushed all over as she narrowed her eyes and purred again. "Come right in, Rail Rocket! Take me for sure! Da-da-da-daah!"

That was all James needed. He buffered right up to Molly and pressed his lips to her cheek, kissing her with every second that passed and bringing on such warm and jumpy sensations to her cheek as she felt her skin tense up delightfully.

"Oh! Ohh! J-James! James! Hooh! You're quite the super charmer tonight!" Molly giggled and jittered.

James was enjoying every instant he felt as he kissed Molly's perfect, warm cheeks, watching her blush from pink to red and constantly hearing her sweet, shy little voice riveting his ears every moment too. But then he made it much better for them both. James suddenly pressed his lips deeper into her cheek and began sucking and nibbling her right there, pinching her soft, almost fluffy skin just as she liked.

"What-oh-oh-ohh! J-J-James!" Molly moaned. "Yes...yes...ooh, that's the spot..."

Molly's sweet, soothing voice was making James' boiler tingle and shudder relentlessly as he sucked and nibbled her cheek for a while longer, feeling his lips tingle so warmly and so comfortably to Molly's creamy, sweet skin. This went on for several minutes until he let go and pressed his lips right to her other cheek, sucking and nibbling her there just as purely.

"Yes-yes-yes...yes, yes!" Molly whimpered softly. "Ohh, James...you ARE super! Ohh! Oohhh!"

"Oh, Molly...I love you...I love you, Molly," James uttered shakily as he reached his tongue out and started licking away at her sweet skin.

To this, Molly gasped strongly and rolled her eyes right back into her head as James kept driving her crazier and crazier. Her wonderfully sweet skin made James melt in and lick her other cheek, kissing the very tips of her cheeks as he did, which made Molly begin to feel her boiler, cylinders and steam ports all start tingling and tickling with her steam as it trickled and crept all through her body and made her shudder quite vividly to all that James was doing.

"Ahh...good boy, Jimmy...I-I-I can't hold it in...I...I'm almost there...!" Molly whimpered. "I-I'm gonna super-burst! Oh! Oh, yes!"

"Oh? You are?" James pondered sweetly. "Oh, Molly. Please let off steam. Blanket me in your super steam...I know you can."

And James kept sucking and licking Molly's cheek all he could, softly kissing and nibbling her a little too. Molly then felt a tremendous pressure building up in her boiler and she knew she couldn't hold together much longer, and James knew it too, which was just what he wanted to happen...until James softly licked right over her lips and sucked on her chin.

"Ohh...J-James! Jimmy!" Molly groaned. "H-Here it comes! Aahh! Ji-i-m-m-y-y-y!"

Molly wailed and cried out happily as James licked and sucked on her cheek once more...and that was just what he needed to do. Molly tensed up once more as she kept wailing...then with quite a shout of heroism, she let off quite a spur of steam almost like Merlin could too. Her steam engulfed most of the shed and James gave a shout of heroism too.

"Oh, Molly! My Super Sun!" he yelled as he let off steam right with her.

"Ohh! Jimmy! Yes! YES!" Molly wailed with joy.

And as her steam intertwined with James' steam, the Super Ruby and Super Sun buffered right back up together and started French-kissing right there in their own steam room as it were, making them both lose their minds in such a manner they could not recall before. James could feel Molly's tongue dancing and writhing over his, and as he heard her hum, groan and pant through their locked lips, it made his eyes roll right back into his head. Their lips were so soft, gentle and yet so powerful and lustful as they wrestled and worshipped each other endlessly, all while they refused to pull away, breathing in as heavily through their noses as they could.

At last, after about two hours since this super night of super lust began, right to this moment, James and Molly softly smooched once more and let go of each other's lips as their steam cloud gently faded away, and they could now feel everything winding down in the best way there could be. Both engines felt themselves settling down and letting their afterglow bask and glow so warmly and purely in their boilers. Both engines felt their heads becoming very light and a little dizzy after all they had done together, but much like they did on their jolly Christmas together, this was the feeling they loved to bask in beyond all else every time their climactic peak of exchanging their lust and fervor was satisfied and quenched for the better. This was no ordinary night they had spent together. For both engines in all ways possible, this was indeed a super night.

"Ohh...James...my Radiant Super Ruby..." Molly whispered wistfully. "I had such a super time. Absolutely amazing...I can hardly believe it..."

James looked wearily and dizzyingly, but happily to Molly. "Neither can I, Molly. I had a super time too, all thanks to you...unbelieveable."

"Yes, Jimmy. Yes. And it seems we were both right," Molly gleamed. "You really are a Super Engine. MY Super Ruby."

James' eyes shone with a touched heart. "Do you really mean that, Molly?"

"Yes. Yes, my love," Molly gleamed more. "You were super and incredible by all accounts. And...am I really your Super Sun?"

James smiled even more. "Of course you are, Molly. You always have been. You're MY Super Shining Sun, and I love you to my heart for it."

"And I love you too, right to my heart for being MY Super Radiant Ruby," Molly cooed.

She and James then leaned in and shared a soft and gentle kiss to the lips, feeling so very warm, comfortable and happy for a few minutes more, until they softly let go and now felt overwhelmingly sleepy, which brought their barriers right down to the perfect level for them both. They wouldn't leave each other tonight. This night was for them to share together until morning.

"Ohh...Oh...Sweet and super dreams, James, my Radiant Super Ruby," Molly crooned. "I love you so much."

"Ohh...Sweet and super dreams to you, Molly...my Super Shining Sun," James replied through a yawn. "I love you too...so very much."

And so James and Molly fell asleep right there in her shed as the Radiant Super Ruby and the Super Shining Sun. It had been a rather proud and super day for James, and not just of him going on about his red paintwork. Rather, he had indeed been a Super Engine in his own way, helping those who needed help and making a rather heroic rescue for Percy and Rebecca indeed. And after another long window of time for him to wait, he and Molly had shared a truly super night together which neither of them would stop thinking about any time soon. Rail Rocket was indeed on Sodor for Molly, and whenever they'd find the time again, she'd be calling for him. Her very own Super Ruby.

---

And so we've finally covered James' final starring episode of the original canon, and I really liked it, especially satisfying after how awful "Apology Impossible" was, so James ended on a high note for me. And of course, there was no way we weren't going to adapt it, and this is the result. May have taken longer than intended, but there wasn't much we could've done about that, but at least in that time I managed to get fully vaccinated, so that's a plus. Also, yes, I have seen the All Engines Go reboot and it was as dreadful as I anticipated as soon as we first saw teasers for it months ago, and no way in hell are we covering it for these stories. Anyway, the next story will be another Annual story adaptation, more accurately a combination of three different Annual stories, so look forward to that when it arrives. Until then, tell us what you thought of this story, and as always, stay safe.