This is Halloween

by AaronCottrell97

It's that time of the year once again; Halloween, and this year there is to a Halloween party at Callan. Thomas and Emily are tasked with collecting the supplies for the party, but first they must collect a shipment of iron from the Smelters, where 'Arry and Bert are keen to scare them. But who will really be scared this year?

It was now deep into the Autumn season on Sodor, and a few weeks had passed by since Thomas and Emily visited Arlesburgh and met up with David and Beatrice. It was on that night when they all heard what Emily's navy mentor had been thinking when it came to what else could have been, if he had come to Sodor earlier than he did. This resulted in several astonishing, dramatic and very story-esque scenarios David had been holding onto, and so he ended up spending an all-around special evening with Beatrice, Thomas, Emily and even Lawrence's spiritual likeness in the end. Despite David's inner sensations that he possessed several of Sailor John's traits, such as determination, resourcefulness, ambition, daring and an occasional disregard for the Fat Controller's authority, Lawrence assured his son that he carried those traits for reasons of good will, friendship and the love for his engine and best friend, Emily.

All in all, Thomas, Emily, David and the rest of Sodor had to admit this had been a most remarkable and astounding year, ranging from Percy's crushed spirits, to Thomas' adventures in Italy, Gina's return to Sodor, her ever-amazing two weeks with her perfect Percy, George the Steamroller giving Emily and Gina so much horrendous trouble until he was finally banished, all seven engine couples discovering the Love Tree, Thomas' spell of being a scoundrel after four whole years, the flood at Tidmouth Sheds, Emily and Thomas finding a best friend and fuzzy friend alike, Percy's resourceful idea for the Great Little Railway Show, right up to David's stories as to how else it could have been. This was turning out to be some year indeed, and it wasn't over yet. There was still be the coming winter and snow to look forward to, then another merry Christmas for Thomas and Emily, James and Molly, and to a certain distant degree, Percy and Emily. But before that, Thomas and Emily had something else to experience together.

The weeks passed through October as Thomas and Emily carried on with the other engines through their duties...and now at last, it was Halloween yet again. The time of costumes and sweets, ghosts and goblins, werewolves and witches, and scaring and being scared. Every year, the engines looked forward to this time of year as it meant excitement, imagination, ghost stories, and most notably, the spooks. And for Thomas and Emily, this would be no exception. They'd had their previous shares of Halloween experience before, such as when they both got spooked by 'Arry and Bert at the Ironworks, when Emily made her big splash before she attended the Earl's Halloween Party with Thomas, then when Edward visited the sheds and told his story of the accidental blackspot and the woman's ghost saving her baby. But this year would be a little different. There were indeed spooks to be had, but also plenty of Halloween fun for Thomas and Emily to enjoy together.

Throughout most of the day, the engines worked hard through their jobs, wondering just what this Halloween would bring. Everywhere they went, they saw several houses decorated with carved pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, ghost sheets, toy bats and more. It was clear that the Halloween spirit was being felt by many across Sodor, and it made some of the engines wonder just what would transpire tonight, and with whom it would happen to.

Finally, the time came when things would start to happen. It was now approaching evening, and the daylight was starting to fade. By this time, the Fat Controller had finished putting together certain plans for the evening after a telephone call to the Ironworks, then to Farmer McColl's, regarding two certain engines who would be working a little later after dark. The Fat Controller then sent telephone calls to the stations where Thomas, Emily, Nia and Gordon alike happened to be at, and arranged for them to return Knapford Station once their work was done. This made the four engines start to suspect that there was something else in line for them to take part in.

Once they received word and their work was done, Thomas and Emily were the first to return to Knapford, and settled themselves at Platforms 1 and 2. They had been busy through the day themselves and had both been thinking all day as to what would probably cross their paths once darkness fell and Halloween would be in full true swing. Thomas then looked to Emily with a little smile.

"Hello, Emily. How have you been today?" Thomas asked.

"Happy to be busy today, Thomas," said Emily. "And it's Halloween again. So many houses decked up for the occasion."

"I saw them too, Emily," said Thomas. "Another year, another occasion of costumes, sweets and the occasional spooks."

"Yes, Thomas. That's right," said Emily. "But you see...I've been wondering."

"About what?" Thomas asked.

"Well...every year before, Halloween has played out however it seems to please," said Emily. "Some of the engines can't help but tell ghost stories...I remember when Edward told us that one tale about the accident blackspot...and saving the baby."

"Ooh! That was almost too spooky," said Thomas. "I still can't believe Edward could be as spooky as he sounded...even though we all know he simply made it up."

"I know, Thomas," said Emily. "But I'm wondering particularly how this Halloween will turn out...after everything that has happened this year."

Thomas looked at Emily and began to look back to everything that had happened that year.

"Well, Emily, there is a ring of truth to that. This has been a huge and astounding year in its ways. Percy's crushed spirits, Gina's return with me and all that transpired during her visit, my share of scoundrel's antics, the flood at Tidmouth, you finding your best friend in David, Percy's Railway Show, and of course...David's stories of how else it could have been. It's been a huge year so far...and it's made me wonder too, Emily. Who knows what this Halloween may bring for us? Spooks, thrills, fun, or maybe all of them at once?"

"Hmm. Well, I'd gladly face them with you, Thomas," Emily winked. "Perhaps we'll find out once Gordon and Nia come along, when the Fat Controller can tell us what will happen next."

At that moment, Thomas and Emily heard two more whistles. They looked and saw Nia and Gordon returning to the station too. They huffed in and settled at Platforms 3 and 4.

"Hello, Thomas and Emily," said Nia. "Gordon and I hear the Fat Controller wanted us to gather here."

"Yes, Nia. He did," said Emily.

"And I can only wonder why," said Gordon.

"Well, one thing's for certain," Thomas smirked. "When it gets dark, you fellow engines better watch out. Tonight's Halloween. Who knows who or what could be lurking out there in the dark...in the trees, or even on the line?"

"Hmph! No time for ghost stories, Thomas," Gordon sniffed. "We all know James' story about that 'No. 0 Timothy' engine had no sense to it at all."

At that moment, the Fat Controller came out of his office and saw that all four engines he'd asked for had arrived.

"Good evening, sir," said Thomas. "And happy Halloween."

"We hear you asked for us all to gather here, sir," said Emily. "What for, may we ask?"

"Good evening to you all," said the Fat Controller. "And yes, Thomas and Emily, I did arrange for you all to come here. I have some news for all four of you. You've all worked very well through today, but there is still a little more work to be done tonight, for the spirit of Halloween."

The four engines suddenly smiled eagerly as they looked amongst each other.

"Spirit of Halloween?" Emily asked with a smile. "What is it, sir?"

"This Halloween is going to be something special," said the Fat Controller. "At 9:00 p.m. tonight, there is to be a Halloween Costume Party with so many costumes to see and enjoy, a wide selection of food, drinks and sweets alike, and a bonfire being held at the Callan Campgrounds, right where you camped with the Sodor Rangers, Emily and Nia."

Emily and Nia immediately looked to each other and smiled happily to the sense of memory.

"Really, sir?" Emily asked. "Another campout?"

"Oh, sir!" Nia chirped. "That is a most wonderful idea!"

"And fun too," Emily added.

"Indeed, there is, Emily and Nia," said the Fat Controller. "Which is why I called you all here, so as to give you your share of work for the night. Gordon, you shall wait here with your coaches to take the passengers in their costumes to the Callan Campgrounds for the party."

"Of course, sir," Gordon answered proudly.

"Nia, you shall bring a small load of wood for the bonfire," said the Fat Controller.

"Yes, sir," Nia gleamed. "I'll make sure there's enough wood to last the entire party!"

"Very good, Nia," said the Fat Controller. Then he turned to the signature engine couple.

"Please, sir," said Thomas. "Will Emily and I be part of the Halloween Party?"

"Yes. Please, may we, sir?" Emily asked.

"No need to get ahead of me, Thomas and Emily," said the Fat Controller. "Of course you'll be taking part in the Halloween Party."

"And what will we be doing, sir?" Thomas asked.

"You must both gather the supplies for the Halloween Party," said the Fat Controller. "Thomas, you will bring a load of candy apples, chocolate bars and lollipops. And Emily, you will bring a load of corn for roasting, pumpkins full of seeds for toasting, and a shipment of various flavours of soda pop. Raspberry, apple, lemon, orange, grape, the works."

Thomas and Emily were most delighted to be bringing such delectable loads for Halloween. They had never been given a load like this before and it made them most excited to get started.

"Wow! Thank you, sir," Thomas smiled.

"Oh, yes, sir!" Emily chimed merrily. "Thomas and I will get on it right away."

"Actually, not quite yet," said the Fat Controller, suddenly sounding a little serious. Thomas and Emily's excited dropped a little bit.

"Why, sir?" Thomas asked. "Is there something else?"

The Fat Controller gathered his thoughts and looked to Emily, knowing what he had to tell them both. He spoke empathetically, but steadily too.

"Your enthusiasm is admirable for your jobs to help with the part tonight," he said. "But before that...it so happens that there is other work for you to do first. Work which you two have not done together on this day...for years to count."

Thomas and Emily wondered what this could mean...then suddenly felt a little jump in their hearts which they couldn't ignore. In the midst of the Halloween excitement, some certain memories began trickling into their funnels as they slowly began to figure what this meant, which made them feel a tad uncomfortable and a little troubled.

"Not done together for years..." Thomas pondered nervously. "Sir...are you telling us we have to..."

"Go to...the...Ironworks?" Emily asked.

The Fat Controller nodded empathetically. "Yes. I'm afraid so. There is a special shipment of iron that must be taken out to sea before sunset. Which means you must both collect the load of iron from the Ironworks and bring it to Brendam before sundown, then you will make your way to gather the supplies for the party."

Thomas and Emily went quite still and silent as they could feel that particular memory filling them up with a jiggling heart and a sense of hurt. Looking down to their buffers, and looking to each other, they felt a strange slew of emotion and thought. It had been a very, very long time since they had worked together on Halloween...at the Ironworks. Thomas and Emily felt their hearts start to beat harder and more uncomfortably as they thought back to that very night and what 'Arry and Bert had done to them...while Emily was still under Gordon and James' poisonous grip of pain and suffering until Thomas finally found the way and brought her back to who she really was. They were most certainly not expecting to hear this. As useful as they both were, they felt that doing this job again on this very night would be easier said than done.

Emily felt most particularly affected by this sense of memory as she remembered that was shortly after she failed most disgracefully at pulling the express, then Gordon's final blow of insults plunged her into darkness. That Halloween also marked the first time Thomas ever saw her cry, and how he stated he thought she was dead when the tarp fell on her, which made her feel so awful that he thought such a thing. That was a time they still remembered for good, bad and neutral reasons alike.

But less than a minute later, Thomas and Emily's hearts stopped jiggling, and they suddenly felt a new strength awaken. They looked to each other and quickly thought through all the years that had gone by since then, with so very many changes, revelations, evolvements that had come about in their lives, and above all, just how very far they had come over the many years that had transpired, right up to now. That previous event was far, far away in the past, when things were so very different. Thomas and Emily were not the engines they were all those years ago. They were strong-willed, sensible, brave and truly amazing engines. It was in that moment when they realized that this Halloween would not turn out badly. There would certainly be spooks, thrills and things to jump at, but it would all turn out well.

Thomas and Emily finally looked up to the Fat Controller, who had been waiting for them to respond for some time now. He could see a certain strong look in their eyes and wondered what they would say next. Then Thomas made his response, which to the Fat Controller's mild surprise, sounded strong, solid and determined.

"Sir...we're both really useful," said Thomas. "We won't disobey...and yes, this news does reopen certain memories...which are not so happy. The last time Emily and I worked there on Halloween...it was when she was still fighting through her dark days...when 'Arry and Bert spooked us both until that tarpaulin dropped on Emily, and we all foolishly thought it was the Ghost Engine. But that is far, far away in the past...and today is a new and different age for Emily and I. One of strength, bravery, sensibility and shining usefulness, just as it always has been since I brought her back to her true ways. Everything will be alright tonight. I just know it."

Emily then spoke next, just as strongly and sure of herself as Thomas, her sensibility shining and glimmering away through her voice.

"That's right, sir. That was a wretched time to be faced with, especially given how I was still under the grip of pain and suffering. And tonight, we'll be working there again...after so very many years. Years of change, evolvement, discovery, revelations, and absolute wonders. We've come so very far ever since that day. So very many years have gone by and so much has happened in all our lives...as such, we will gladly take the job at the Ironworks tonight, sir. I know 'Arry and Bert are surely waiting for us, but I also know that such a spook will NOT happen again, and even if 'Arry and Bert try it again tonight, it will NOT turn out as it did before."

To all of this, the Fat Controller nodded and gave a smile of pride to Thomas and Emily. He was already so very proud of them even before they left to do the work.

"By my hat, Thomas and Emily," he stated. "I truly do not know what to say to all of this but...very well done for your golden sensibility."

Gordon and Nia had been keeping quiet the whole time and were both almost spellbound by Thomas and Emily's sense of inner strength. Most particularly Gordon, who felt some uncomfortable stirrings of his own to be reminded of those wretched days, but managed to regather himself.

"Oh, my..." Nia said softly. "The wonders that passage of time can do, indeed. Well, I'd best gather the wood for the bonfire. We'll see you at the party, Thomas and Emily."

"You too, Nia," Thomas answered as Nia whistled and set off to do her duty.

"Yes, passage of time does indeed to most amazing wonders," Emily managed to smile. "Wouldn't you agree, Gordon?"

"Truly remarkable, you two," he finally said. "Most admirable on all levels. But in keeping with what Halloween entails, I nonetheless advise you both to be careful, even after managing that iron. Remember; being Halloween, anyone could be out playing tricks on anyone they meet."

"They can't scare us so easily," Thomas smirked. "After all, Halloween is the time of scaring and being scared. I don't fear any of it."

"Come along now, Thomas and Emily," said the Fat Controller. "The iron is waiting, and the shipment cannot be delayed."

"Right away, sir," Thomas said, now ready to go. "Come on, Emily. Halloween calls."

And Thomas set off through the setting sunlight. Emily watched for a moment, then followed suit.

"Indeed, Thomas. This is Halloween. Here I come!"

And Emily blew her whistle and followed Thomas down the line. For them, Halloween had now truly begun.

So Thomas and Emily set off on their way for the Ironworks. They huffed along the line side by side, just like they did the previous time this happened. They both realized this at once and felt solid nerve in their boilers as they were all-too prepared for any sorts of tricks 'Arry and Bert would potentially be up to...and Emily was already piecing her own plan together for some fun she and Thomas could have once they were there.

"I can't believe it's actually happening again, Thomas," Emily said shakily, but excitedly. "It's just that it's been so many years since we were last there together...on Halloween, Thomas."

"Yes, my love," said Thomas. "So much time has gone by...and look at us today. Truly ironclad in love and bravery...you and I, my emerald angel."

"Indeed forever and for always, my cobalt star," Emily spoke. "While the past is what it is, it does not do to dwell on the past needlessly. Because this time, we know exactly what to expect tonight. And if we hear moaning and groaning, we'll know what...and who it really is. And if any tarpaulin falls on me or you, it's no ghost...and I'll know what to do."

Thomas suddenly looked and saw a little smile curving her lips upward. "What do you mean, Emily? Obviously we won't panic. Are you...?"

"Just as we did before, Thomas," Emily smiled thinly. "I ended up scaring 'Arry and Bert as the Ghost Engine...except I was scared too. But this time, if what I think will happen does happen...we're not the ones being scared. Just wait and see."

Thomas then smiled thinly to Emily and winked. They could feel their sense of strength growing even stronger now as they continued on their way. Whatever this Halloween would bring, it would turn out quite delightfully in the end. Just as they had felt before, Thomas and Emily enjoyed feeling brave...and this time, after so many years with so much having happened throughout their lives, they would not be spooked by any tricks 'Arry and Bert could conjure up this time.

Eventually, the moment came. Thomas and Emily arrived at the Ironworks. They looked ahead and looked inside through the gates. As they saw the red-casting lights and sparks showering away from the machinery, they both felt the wave of memory course through their pipes again as they remembered what happened here before. Their hearts rippled and their wheels wobbled a little. But when they looked to each other, they felt even braver than when they were here before. This would not be a big spook for them. If there were to be any spooks tonight, it would befall someone else.

"Well...here we go, Emily," Thomas said steadily. "Into the Ironworks...where they'll be waiting for us."

"Of course they'll be waiting," Emily said lowly. "And we are ready."

They crept slowly through the gates, and right inside the Ironworks. Immediately, Thomas and Emily saw everything around them being donned in the vibrant red light. Just as they did before, they puffed slowly through the jagged steel and twisted scrap on the flatbeds all around them. The air grew hotter and the smoke became thicker, which made those past memories flare up a little again. Even now, the sparks, heat and red light gave Thomas and Emily a few jitters, but despite these flashes of memory, all the years of change, evolvement and sensibility had made its mark as both Thomas and Emily could feel their bravery growing stronger.

Thomas and Emily ventured further in, looking for the load of iron...and they didn't see just who was hidden within the jagged steel and twisted scrap. None other than 'Arry and Bert. Those very diesels themselves, grinning away maliciously as they did before all those years ago. They'd known Thomas and Emily would be coming along, and they had everything all worked out to scare the steam out of them both with all their spooky tricks...at least so they thought.

Thomas and Emily eventually found the Ironworks turntable, and just ahead of it was the shipment they needed to take. Ten flatbeds full of heavy iron, but with Thomas and Emily working together, it could be done. In the midst of the wave of memories and glowing bravery they both felt, Emily couldn't help but coin what they'd said before all those years ago.

"Well, Thomas, since it is Halloween," she remarked. "Like we said all those years ago, imagine being scared of Halloween...or the Smelters Yard."

"Not a chance, Emily," said Thomas. "When it's Halloween, I laugh in the face of danger. Ha-ha-ha!"

"Ha-ha-ha...! Ha-ha-ha...!" came his echo through the Ironworks.

Emily felt her heart jiggle as she felt very sure now that any engines who were here would be drawn to Thomas and her attention...and closer to the plan she was still budding if things went the way she'd secretly hoped.

"Cool!" Thomas exclaimed.

"Cool...! Cool...!"

"You hear that, Emily?"

"Emily...? Emily...?" came the echo.

"Thomas, we can't keep the shipment waiting," she replied. "I say we get going before-"

But Thomas and Emily's conversation was suddenly interrupted by a sudden clattering of scrap piles on a line of flatbeds that suddenly rolled right past them both, making their hearts jump with alert...for 'Arry and Bert had followed them deeper into the Ironworks just as they did all those years ago. They now saw their chance to play their spooky tricks on Thomas and Emily yet again...and so they moaned and groaned spookily through the Ironworks, rolling this way and that.

"Hello...are you happy to be here?" 'Arry's voice purred steadily and very lowly, on the line right next to Thomas and Emily. "Ooh...Ooh!"

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Bert's voice followed from another line. "Ooh...! The Ghost Engine is here...coming to get you! Ooh! Ahh..!"

Thomas and Emily could hear the moaning and groaning creeping through the Ironworks, and it was indeed a hard-hitting reminder of the previous incident which brought on such a scare for them both...but after so many years had gone by, and being right back here again, they both knew all too well what the noises were...and that's when they both conjured a plan together. Thomas and Emily looked into each other's eyes and knew what they would do. They wouldn't be spooked out by any cheap tricks from two underhanded diesels. By the look in their eyes, they already knew what to do. They would pretend to be spooked. Emily winked to Thomas...then it started.

"What was that?!" Emily shuddered, pretending to sound frightened, just she was before. "You said there was no such thing as ghosts!"

Thomas winked to her, then gasped dramatically. "Silly make believe you said! Help! Help!"

To 'Arry and Bert, it seemed as though their plan was working just as well as it did all those years ago, much to their sadistic delight...and so they went further and started bumping the flatbeds' buffers, making the loads shudder and quake. Thomas and Emily winked to each other again and gave a yelp of apparent fright as they rushed toward the smelting shed. Once again, they saw ghostly shadows and fizzing sparks.

"Cinders and Ashes!" Emily gasped as she did before, although Thomas knew it was all part of the plan.

Inside, chains clanked and strange shadows danced across the walls. But this time, neither Thomas nor Emily were nervous in any way. As 'Arry and Bert ran along through a line of chains hanging from the ceilings, they rattled slickly through the Ironworks...and Thomas decided to work that in too.

"Something's got me!" he pretended to wail with fright.

Emily rushed to the Ironworks turntable, closely followed by Thomas. He watched as she turned around, pretending to try and escape...but not before a great whoosh of sparks lit up the shed. Secretly, she had been waiting for this to happen.

"Thomas! Thomas!" she wailed, still pretending to feel frightened.

"Emily! It's the Ghost Engine!" he put on dramatically.

"He-he-he! Silly blue piggy and Lady Long-Funnel are scared!" 'Arry sniggered quietly to Bert.

"EXACTLY as they were before!" Bert sniggered back. "Let's get right up there and spook them up close!"

And so they rushed through the Ironworks to make their way right up to both steamies...but little did they know of what would come next.

"Help us! Help us!" Thomas and Emily put on together.

And then, in that moment, something white flailed above Thomas and Emily's heads, making them both look up. Both their hearts jumped with another flash of memory...as a tarpaulin came flailing down from the ceiling. Thomas and Emily watched, and then, for the first time in many, many years since its first occurrence...it draped down all over Emily, covering her from buffers to cab in white, like the Ghost Engine she had been on that very night.

Thomas saw it all happen and just stared for a moment or two, remembering how he had seen this image rushing out of the Ironworks after him, 'Arry and Bert, thinking how he thought the Ghost had got Emily...but then he remembered what Emily had said earlier about her thinking what would happen actually happening...and how she'd know what to do.

"Emily?" he asked closely and coyly. "Was this...part of your...?"

"Shh! Everything's perfect, Thomas!" Emily said lowly under the tarp. "Just leave it to me, and go along with me."

Then Paul leaned out from Emily's cab and gave a gesture to Thomas, who winked in turn. Then Emily reversed further into the Smelters and hid in a cloud of smoke. In that moment, Thomas saw the brilliant side of it all. Emily was covered with a tarp yet again, but this time, she wouldn't cry out in fear and dash off. She would take what 'Arry and Bert had just caused...and she would apply it upon them...just in time too, as they both heard those diesel delinquents coming their way.

"Oh, scaredy engines!" 'Arry and Bert sang as their voices came closer. "Where's that silly blue piggy and Ms. Lady Long Funnel, now?!"

'Arry and Bert were indeed thinking rather malevolently with the tricks they had intended, but in just moments, they would get a most bitter taste of Sudrian karma as they found Thomas, came up alongside him and began teasing.

"There he is! The silly blue piggy!" 'Arry jeered. "Where's your Lady Long Funnel now?!"

"Just as big scaredy engines as last time! Isn't it pathetic, 'Arry?" Bert added. "Absolutely path-"

Then suddenly, against both diesels' expectations, the Ironworks began to howl with another voice. One they were not expecting at all...while Thomas looked ahead and grinned.

"Whooo!" Emily howled strongly from her hiding place, her voice echoing through the Ironworks. "Oo-OO-ooh!"

"Aah!" Thomas went along with Emily's plan. "Oh, my God! The Ghost Engine is about to take me! Don't take me, Mrs. Ghost Engine!"

"Huh?! Bert, what was that?!" 'Arry panicked.

"It's an evil spirit, 'Arry!" Bert shuddered.

Then, as they heard the howl again, they saw a vacant shape slowly appear through the parting smoke several yards again. Thomas grinned impressively for a moment, then put on a scared look again as the shape came closer and closer to 'Arry and Bert. It was big and emerald along the lower edges, and covered in white all over...and it was Emily, donning the Ghost Engine, just as she had planned!

"Whoo-ooh!" Emily howled again. "I'm the Ghost Engine of Lost Souls! And I am he-e-ere...to stop you both being such unhelpful engines!"

"Huh?! What?! What is this?!" 'Arry gasped as his eyes boggled out to the "Ghost Engine."

"What are you?! What ARE you?!" Bert squawked with alarm.

Thomas looked to his emerald ghost as she was inching even closer, now only a few feet from 'Arry and Bert. They wanted to run away, but they were quivering so hard, their wheels seemed stuck to the rails as Emily howled one more time.

"Whoo-OO-ooh! 'E-Phantom', the Ghost Engine of Lost Souls speaks! Beware, 'Arry and Bert! Beware! Beware...beware...!"

'Arry and Bert indeed felt beware as their hearts nearly leapt out of their engines. They trembled and shook all over, goggling and gaping. They looked as though they would faint most pathetically...when at that moment, the "Ghost Engine," stopped moving. Then Paul came down from the cab, followed by Declan. They gave a nod to Thomas, signalling that the plan had worked and they now had to move on. Thomas watched as Paul and Declan took hold of the tarpaulin on their own side, then draped it off...and there was Emily. Thomas could see her again, and she was wearing such a gleeful smile after what she had managed to do...much to 'Arry and Bert's surprise and utter chagrin.

"THAT'S not a Ghost Engine!" 'Arry blurted out.

"It's...it's Lady Long Funnel!" Bert gobbled.

Thomas and Emily looked to 'Arry and Bert as they both puzzled most affrontingly, then fell into a series of stumbling and scatting.

"What? WHAT?! How-what-cha...coul-be-but the-wha...what the...w-w-w...Uhh! WH-A-A-A-AT?!"

"Yes. Yes, it is," Emily stated strongly to the diesel twins. "It's me. Your 'Lady Long Funnel,' as you might say. And it might interest you to know...we weren't scared for one second. We were playing right along with your ploy all the time! I let the tarp fall on me this time!"

"You...you WHAT?!" 'Arry blurted loudly.

"The joke's on you!" Thomas laughed. "We knew you had to be in here plotting the same trick again...after so many years of not learning a single thing since! By my dome, how thick do you diesels get?"

"Alright, Thomas, settle down," said his driver. "The plan worked, and now we must get back to business. That iron needs delivering before the sun sets, and we need to make an important call."

"Indeed, we must," said Emily's driver.

Emily then watched as Paul ran to telephone for the Fat Controller, while 'Arry and Bert were too flustered to leave the scene now. All they could do was stare at Thomas and Emily, unable to comprehend that they had been figured out from the start. It made them both feel so intensely silly, all while Thomas and Emily grinned in triumph at their most comedic comeuppance...and it wasn't long before the four engines saw the Fat Controller arrive. Thomas and Emily could see him looking firm, but he also knew there had been no confusion and delay this time.

"What's happened here, then?" he asked sternly, glimpsing 'Arry and Bert briefly. "I'm sure I know already, but do explain."

"Well...once again, we heard moaning, sir," said Emily, much more confidently this time.

"And groaning," Thomas added with a wink to his angel. "And indeed, my precious emerald...we know who had been trying to spook us tonight...in the exact same manner. Don't we?"

The Fat Controller nodded and slowly turned his narrowing eyes to 'Arry and Bert.

"I know exactly what you two know about this," he remarked sternly. "There's no bother in me asking you anymore."

'Arry and Bert knew they had no choice. Their plan had failed once, now it had failed again, in some ways, even more miserably.

"Fine...it was us, sir," they said together. "And our spook turned on ourselves again...which means we both failed."

The Fat Controller nodded, then folded his arms across his chest.

"Absolutely abominable, you two!" he exclaimed disappointedly. "All these years, and you are still the exact same delinquents that you've been ever since the start, with NO lessons learned whatsoever from your previous shot at this attempt, back when Emily was under such a horrible grasp of pain under Gordon and James! Luckily, Thomas and Emily knew not to run off in panic this time in confusion and delay. Therefore, they shall be taking the iron tonight...but as for you two, for your punishment, you will both be working all night at the Ironworks...WITHOUT any sleep!"

"Oh, no!" 'Arry and Bert complained.

"No fussing about!" snapped the Fat Controller. "Take your tricks with you and get back to work!"

'Arry and Bert, abashed, sulked away and back to work for the rest of the night, feeling utter disgrace with their failure and sensation of not having any sleep for the rest of the night. Foiled again, as it were.

"Now, as for you two," the Fat Controller said to Thomas and Emily. "Mr. Dewhurst tells me you were suspecting this to happen...and that you worked those diesels' plan against themselves...including the use of the white tarpaulin?"

Emily tried not to giggle at the prospect and the results.

"We...hm-hm...we did, sir. And we knew not to be afraid this time. What happened here before was one thing, and this is something else entirely...and here we still are, ready to take the iron on its way."

"Yes, sir. Please, sir," said Thomas. "It is Halloween after all, and no harm was done in our little ploy. And no delay either. Wouldn't you agree?"

The Fat Controller looked curiously at Thomas and Emily for a moment or two, then answered with a stern smile.

"Alright, Thomas and Emily. You two are indeed still here. And the clock is ticking too. That iron must hurry if you're to deliver it on time. And since you two didn't run off in a panic, I hope you won't mind having to handle the iron by yourselves this time. I'll be waiting for you at the Docks."

"Oh, we don't mind at all, sir," said Thomas.

"Yes, please, sir!" Emily added.

While the Fat Controller went on his way to the Docks, Thomas and Emily finally made ready with the load of iron. Emily returned to the turntable where their train was waiting, and backed up to the load of iron. Thomas came along next and turned around on the turntable. Then he backed down to Emily, double-heading with her. And with that, they both gave a whistle and finally and set off out of the Ironworks on their way to Brendam Docks.

Thomas and Emily huffed quickly but peacefully along the line with the load of iron as the sun began to set through the sky, both feeling pretty good about how things worked out at the Ironworks. They could see that they had to keep on schedule with the iron. Then they'd be on their way with their Halloween loads for the party. As they huffed along together, Thomas looked back and broke the silence.

"Wow...that was SUCH a ball, Emily! You were a scary Ghost Engine...well done!" he chortled. "That time, it was SO much more fun!"

"He-he-he! Oh..." Emily giggled. "When it's done the right way, Halloween-scaring is great fun, Thomas...and I actually enjoyed playing the Ghost Engine! I really did!

"Well, well, well. What do you know about that?" Thomas stated. "Because one would think that 'Arry and Bert had just seen a ghost. My emerald ghost, Emily. You did beautifully in scaring the oil out of their motors."

"He-he-he!" Emily giggled again. "Just as much fun as scaring Diesel that Christmas as the E-Marley Ghost...all thanks to your fun plan, Thomas."

"And thanks to you partaking in that plan and having that fun with me, Emily," Thomas answered. "Just as we had fun together at the Ironworks tonight."

To this, Emily just smiled as she and Thomas carried on through the setting sunlight, right until they made it to Brendam Docks, just as the sun set over the horizon and the Fat Controller was waiting as Thomas and Emily were just in time. Cranky and Carly got right to unloading the iron from the flatbeds and onto the ship bound for the Mainland.

"Hello again, sir," Thomas said as the Fat Controller came toward him and Emily. "Here on time, and the iron is on its way."

"What a job, Thomas and Emily," said the Fat Controller. "You managed the load of iron on time AND weathered 'Arry and Bert's unwelcome tricks too. That is indeed really useful on your part, and I'm potently proud of both of you so far."

"Thank you, sir," Thomas replied.

"I trust the Halloween Spirit truly begins now," said Emily. "Time for us to gather our loads for the Costume Party."

"Indeed it is, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "Nia has already brought the wood for the fire, and Gordon will be bringing the passengers soon. I see it's getting dark now. You two best be getting on your way to collect your loads for the party. You'll find your trains in Knapford Yards, and as for where to go, the candy apples, corn and pumpkins are all at Farmer McColl's waiting to be picked up. As for the chocolate, lollipops and soda pop, those will be at Elsbridge and Maithwaite Station. Then you may work your way up to the Misty Valley Line and meet us at the Campgrounds. I, meanwhile, need to get ready myself, as to Lady Hatt, Stephen and Bridget."

"Oh. Will they be dressed up too?" Thomas started to clue in.

"Wait and see," said the Fat Controller. "And until then...be careful out there. Who knows what...or who could be out there tonight?"

Thomas could see by the Fat Controller's wink that he was starting to relish the Halloween spirit already and decided to follow through.

"Ghosts and goblins?" Thomas hinted playfully.

"Werewolves and witches?" Emily played along too.

"Pirates and wizards?" the Fat Controller finished with a grin.

"Yes, plenty of wonderers outside tonight...but we're not afraid. Are we, Thomas?" Emily smiled.

"After seeing 'Arry and Bert fall for their own frights, we're not scared at all," said Thomas. "Shall we?"

"Onward, Thomas," Emily whistled.

Then she and Thomas left the flatbeds for Porter to shunt away, while they set off on their way to make their Halloween deliveries.

"Very good, then," the Fat Controller waved. "We'll see you at the bonfire."

So Thomas and Emily set off on their way through the coming night to gather their loads of food, candy and drinks for the Campgrounds. As they went along the line for Knapford Yards, they found themselves thinking again. They were still amused by 'Arry and Bert's comeuppance, and they felt proud that they'd managed not to be spooked. So far. But then Thomas began to wonder if it wouldn't be entirely over.

"Hmm...Emily?" he asked.

"Yes, Thomas?"

"Tonight is going very well so far...but I'm wondering...if the spooks aren't entirely over," said Thomas. "We managed to scare off 'Arry and Bert after they so shamefully tried repeating their spook from all those years ago...but since we're still out working in the dark...do you think there's still a spook out there waiting for us? I mean, scaring and being scared is the tradition of Halloween every year, beyond the costumes and the candy."

Emily pondered what Thomas said.

"Hmm. I can't act like I don't understand what you're suggesting, Thomas, but I don't really think we can be spooked that badly now. What with my sensibility having grown so, so much and to such outstanding levels over all these years, I think whatever we see or hear tonight may have a perfectly sensible explanation...just as I assumed with the Flatbeds of Fear."

"Well, I certainly know you're right on that matter," said Thomas. "It's just that people and engines love to play tricks on Halloween."

"That is true, Thomas," said Emily. "They like t and groan in the dark and in the shadows."

"And jump out and scare you," said Thomas. "Or glow in the dark like Henry once did."

"But I'm fast, as all Stirlings are," said Emily. "No trickster can catch me."

"And I'm stubborn and pungent," said Thomas. "They can't frighten me."

"Indeed, Thomas. Neither of us are afraid," said Emily. "A racing heart doesn't mean being afraid. It can mean being excited."

"Indeed, it can, Emily," said Thomas. "Just as Halloween is supposed to be."

They exchanged a wink to each other and whistled on their way. They soon found their way back to Knapford Station and found their trains waiting for them. Both trains had a brakevan, two trucks and a box van. Thomas and Emily collected both trains and set off through the night for their first stop, Farmer McColl's. On the way there, both engines felt a slight nip in the cool Autumn air as November was right around the corner. In the sky, the stars glittered beautifully, and there were also thin, dark wisps of cloud drifting through the sky like lines of ink. It was indeed an intriguing sight to behold, and it made Thomas and Emily think a little as to what would happen next in the dark.

Eventually, the angel and star arrived at Farmer McColl's. When they stopped at the platform, they could see large baskets of corn, several pumpkins and several crates of candy apples all lined up beside Farmer McColl and a few workmen.

"Evening, Farmer McColl," said Thomas. "And happy Halloween."

"I see your loads are ready to go for Thomas and I, Farmer McColl," said Emily.

"Indeed they are," said Farmer McColl. "Candy apples for your box van, Thomas, and corn and pumpkins for your two trucks, Emily."

"Yes, roasted corn and toasted pumpkin seeds for the bonfire," said Emily.

"And irresistible candy apples," Thomas added as he could smell the sweet, syrupy scent of such a treat.

Farmer McColl and the workmen spent the next several minutes loading the candy apples, corn and pumpkins onto Thomas and Emily's trains, while Thomas and Emily exchanged little glances to each other and the starry sky around them. Then Farmer McColl spoke again.

"There you go, Thomas and Emily. Off you go."

"Thank you, Farmer McColl. Happy Halloween," said Emily.

"Yes, thank you, Farmer McColl," said Thomas.

"My pleasure," said Farmer McColl. "Take care and happy Halloween.

And Thomas and Emily whistled and set off again for Elsbridge to collect the chocolate bars and lollipops. For about ten minutes, not much happened. The rails hummed and the signal lights shone green...but then, a short distance from the station, something did happen. Thomas and Emily suddenly felt a drafty breeze blow through the air. It felt a little cold as they both shivered lightly...then suddenly, Thomas and Emily suddenly heard a rattling noise along the line. It sounded close by and it made their hearts jiggle a little. It sounded as if pebbles were falling around them.

"What? What is that?" Emily asked.

The rattling presently became louder and faster, then Thomas and Emily felt as if something small was landing on them and bouncing off their boilers every which way.

"Ow. What...what's going on?" Emily asked.

"Look out!" Thomas exclaimed as he suddenly went faster.

Emily heard Thomas' urgent tone and went a little faster, coming close to a set of points, but she wondered if it was really worth the mild urgency. Soon the noise stopped and Thomas and Emily felt it necessary to slow back down...until Emily felt one more little thing land on her running plate. In the shine of her headlamp, she could see what it was and stopped. Thomas noticed this and stopped too.

"Thomas...that was nothing to worry about," Emily observed.

"What was it, Emily?" Thomas asked, coming back beside her.

Emily leaned downward a little, shining her headlamp on the evidence. When Thomas saw what it was, he sighed.

"They were acorns. The wind knocked them out of the trees," she observed.

"Or a goblin did," Thomas replied, trying to enunciate a little Halloween spook.

"Or a Ghost Engine did," came a familiar voice from up ahead.

Thomas and Emily's hearts jumped and they looked up at once to a familiar whistle. They both saw a bright glow of green up ahead. Their hearts jiggled at first until they recognized seeing it once before a few years ago. They could see it was definitely an engine as it huffed along the line until they saw who it was.

"Oh. Hello, Henry," said Thomas. "I didn't expect you to be out this way at this time."

"Henry? Are you donning your glowing green paint again?" Emily asked.

"Well, I heard tell that you two are making your way to the Costume Party at the Campgrounds," said Henry. "And as for the paint...well, it is Halloween after all. I thought it best to take the chance for tonight."

"I see," said Thomas. "If you were out to give us a spook, I don't think it would have worked."

"Well, not as well as it did the first time when I came back to Tidmouth Sheds like this," Henry replied. "You all thought I was a Ghost Engine."

"And 'Arry and Bert thought that about me tonight, Henry," Emily smiled.

"What do you mean, Emily?" Henry asked.

Thomas and Emily told him about their visit to the Ironworks and how they got the jump on 'Arry and Bert.

"Most impressive, Emily," Henry grinned. "I would have loved to see it myself. And I think you were brave to take on that tarpaulin again and use it for fun!"

"Thanks, Henry," Emily smiled. "And they're being punished with all-night work and no sleep tonight."

"Serves them right, I'd say," Henry replied with a stifled laugh. "Now, I'd best return to Vicarstown, and you two best be getting on your way to the Costume Party."

"We shall, Henry. Happy Halloween," Thomas whistled.

"Thank you. And happy Halloween to both of you too," Henry whistled back as they went on their ways again.

Thomas and Emily soon made their way to Elsbridge Station, and there, Thomas could see waiting workmen and large crates that smelled of chocolate and something sweet alike. Emily could smell them too.

"Those'll be the chocolate bars and lollipops, Emily," Thomas observed.

"They certainly smell sweet, Thomas," said Emily. "Just like all the Christmassy smells our trains carried when you could feel Christmas in the air."

"Indeed they do, Emily," Thomas smiled as the workmen got right to loading Thomas' two trucks with his loads.

About fifteen minutes later, Thomas' trucks were loaded with the chocolate bars and lollipops. There was only Emily's load of soda left to collect, then they'd be ready to head to the Campgrounds. The two of them set off again with a whistle together.

"Hmm," Thomas observed. "Not very many spooks out tonight, are there, Emily? What do you think?"

"There doesn't seem to be, Thomas," she replied. "Other than 'Arry and Bert's failed attempt and Henry's glowing presentation, which did give us a little jitter, I still don't think there's anything out there to really give us a jump-spook. But then again, those do come at the most unexpected times."

"Exactly," said Thomas. "I'm beginning to wonder if one might be coming our way or not."

As soon as Thomas' sentence ended, the silence around them began to fade...with the hoot of an owl. Thomas and Emily looked up, trying to see if they could see the owl anywhere, but they couldn't in the darkness around them. But a minute or two later, they heard the owl hoot again, then again and again. It was almost as if the owl were following them through the night. Thomas began to wonder a little as he began to feel a little shiver in his wheels. Maybe it was the cold playing tricks on him, his Halloween senses getting out of hand or something else, but Thomas began to feel uneasy again.

"Emily..." Thomas spoke, trying not to sound jittery. "Is my imagination getting the better of me...or is that owl following us?"

"I'm sure there are just plenty of owls out tonight, Thomas," said Emily. "And they're nothing to be afraid of. Remember our night of midnight wonders some years ago, and you and I saw the brown owl in Henry's forest?"

"I do, Emily. I do," said Thomas. "But being Halloween...I just wonder..."

Emily didn't know how to answer this one and kept on her way with Thomas. It wasn't long before they arrived at Maithwaite Station, to pick up their last load for the party. Thomas and Emily stopped side by side, and on Emily's platform, she looked, and there were several crates of glass bottles, with different-colored liquid in the various bottles. And in all the bottles, there were tiny, frothy bubbles floating around every which way. The workmen got straight to work loading Emily's box van.

"Hmm. Are those them, Emily?" Thomas asked.

"That's it, Thomas. The soda pop," said Emily. "A rather interesting load to carry, soda pop. Not something found in your everyday goods train."

"No, it isn't," Thomas agreed. "But there is a certain appeal to it for some people. No questioning that."

"Now, I'll have to be careful not to go too roughly with this load, Thomas," said Emily. "As you know, soda pop can easily pop open if it's shaken too much, hence the name soda pop, just like how champagne pops open in the same way."

"Hmm. Right," said Thomas. "In that case, we'll have to be mindful...just in case there really is anyone out there waiting to scare us. After so little activity so far...I'm starting to wonder."

"Please don't feed on the idea, Thomas," said Emily. "At least not too much. I don't want anything to go wrong tonight, especially when the Campground are expecting everything to arrive in one piece."

"I know, Emily," said Thomas. "But I still think there's a spook out there waiting to get us. Otherwise, it wouldn't exactly be Halloween."

"Hmm..." Emily pondered. "I just don't want to go derailing off course by some big shock out of nowhere."

Soon, Emily's box van was full with soda pop, and the last door was shut tight. Their trips of picking up loads were done.

"There we go, Thomas," said Emily. "We have all our loads. Now, let's get to the Campgrounds. They're bound to start the Costume Party soon, and they'll need all the food, candy and drinks they can get."

"Indeed they will, Emily," said Thomas. "Let's push northward and get to the Misty Valley Line, for Halloween."

So Thomas and Emily whistled again and set off through the night, now bound for their destination. But that's when things began to change considerably. Thomas and Emily began to see and hear things in the dark again, like they did at the Ironworks. As their eyes trailed this way and that, Emily suddenly caught the silhouette of an owl swoop overhead. She looked up fast, but lost sight of the owl. Then Thomas heard sudden rustling from the bushes beside the line.

"What's that?" he asked quietly.

"Hm. Probably just a cat or a fox," Emily suggested.

Then the owls started hooting again, and the bushes began rustling louder, almost as if they were moving on their own. Thomas and Emily looked around again as it seemed the railway was coming alive with animals and maybe people rustling about in the dark, probably up to playing Halloween jokes on the most unsuspecting.

"Emily...I...I'm getting a funny feeling about all this," Thomas shivered lightly.

"It...it's probably nothing, Thomas," Emily replied, starting to breathe a little heavier. "It's just Halloween after all...I...I'm sure."

The rustling, hoots and animal calls in the night kept going. Thomas' heart began to jiggle ahead as he had a strong feeling there really would be a spook up ahead for him and Emily, while she kept assuring herself there was a sensible explanation to it all.

Then they both came to the Hackenback tunnel. As they came closer, Emily suddenly noticed Thomas slowing down, which made her slow down too. When she looked to Thomas, she could see a little glimmer of jitteriness in his eyes.

"What is it, Thomas?" Emily asked.

"I...I don't know why, Emily," said Thomas. "But with all this noise all around us...I feel like we're about to get a proper spook...in that tunnel."

Emily felt her heart pulse unsurely, but she fought hard to hold onto sensibility.

"Oh, Thomas. Be sensible. There's nothing to worry about in tunnels."

"I know. But I just have this feeling that...something's watching us," said Thomas. "Out here...and maybe in there."

"Come on, Thomas," said Emily. "We're going in together."

Thomas took a deep breath and proceeded his way in, with Emily right beside him. They huffed slowly inside the tunnel and into the darkness. The noise seemed to settle around them compared to all the outside noise. But when they were just about halfway through the tunnel...that's when it suddenly happened. There came a chittering, squeaking sound from above their heads. Then when they heard what sounded like the fast flutter of wings, Thomas and Emily stopped at once, and stood very still. There was a chittering, squeaking voice coming from the tunnel ceiling. Emily knew what animals sounded like that and felt her heart rush urgently. She began to pant.

"Wh-wh...what's that, Thomas?" she whispered quickly. "M-Mice? Rats?"

Thomas' eyes trailed around with his heart racing...then his eyes upwards, then popped.

"Emily..." he uttered plainly, and alertly too. "Those are not mice."

Emily saw how Thomas' eyes seemed glued to the ceiling...and when she looked up, what she saw was completely against any expectation she might have had. There, right above their heads, there were dozens if not hundreds of eyes staring down at them both, glittering and blinking away while the chittering and squeaking sound continued, then became a little louder and more frantic. To Thomas and Emily, this meant only one thing. Bats! Thomas and Emily gave one quick look to each other, and then...

Suddenly, from the other side of the tunnel from outside, there came the great roar of an engine, and a loud hiss of steam, followed by two steady shouts of alert that became louder and louder...until countless bats came flying and scattering out of the tunnel in all directions, then Thomas and Emily came charging out through the tunnel, still giving a shout of adrenaline and urgency.

They then watched all the bats skitter away through the air. Their fast flight and chirping in the night sounded rather eerie indeed, and by now, both engines had to admit that perhaps the sensation of Halloween spooks was starting to get hold of them.

"I...I was not expecting that, Emily," Thomas panted. "All those bats, staring at us...that was freaky."

"O...okay...this is getting a little too jumpy," Emily panted. "Even I have to say the Halloween spell is getting a little too clingy for both of us. We'd better get to the Campgrounds as soon as we can, Thomas."

"I agree, Emily," said Thomas. "We've been out here in the dark for a fair while now. Perhaps the light of the bonfire will help ease the constitution."

So they set off again, trying their best to stay calm, but then as they kept huffing on their way through the night, a light mist began to drift in around them. This certainly didn't help the situation for Thomas or Emily, and it made them both wonder if there really was a big, frightful spook nearby, waiting to jump out at them and give them quite a fright. In the sense of uncertainty, Thomas couldn't help but think about what Edward said about an owl's hoot bringing a mist, and given all the owls he and Emily heard tonight, he began to wonder if this mist was indeed answering the owl's hoots...to which the mist was connected to the legend of ghosts as Edward told Henry. Of course Thomas and Emily knew there was no such thing as ghosts, but their imagination was indeed beginning to get the better of them.

Then suddenly, through the cold night breeze, Thomas and Emily suddenly something the sound of footsteps along the line. Their hearts jumped and they looked around.

"Emily? What was that?" Thomas asked. "I hope it was just an animal."

"I-I don't know, Thomas," Emily shook lightly. "It sounded big. Uhh...probably just a-"

But then they heard it. Something that now had their imagination running very far and their hearts began jumping quite frightfully. Somewhere nearby, there was a whooshing, creeping growl somewhere in the dark. Thomas and Emily could hear it creeping through the air and now, even Emily was starting to feel scared. They couldn't distinguish if it was an animal...or a person following them and feeding on the Halloween creeps. Thomas and Emily kept looking to each other, not knowing wha to do now.

"I hear growling," Thomas shook, his speech very quick. "Ghosts wail, werewolves howl, and witches cackle...Do goblins growl?"

"I...I don't know, Thomas!" Emily panted, trying not to panic. "No such thing as goblins anyway! Who could that be?"

"Maybe not who, Emily!" Thomas exclaimed. "What could it be? Someone pretending to be a goblin? A werewolf? A pirate?!"

"Please, don't feed on it, Thomas! I'm don't want to be scared!" Emily shuddered.

Suddenly, the growling and whooshing stopped, and dead silence ensued. This somehow made Thomas and Emily feel even more frightened. Thomas felt his heart pounding with uncertainty and eerie wonder, as did Emily. She tried to stay calm and figure it must be an engine or person playing practical jokes, but even she had to admit that the spooks of Halloween were creeping up to her heart.

"Oh...oh, dear," she breathed heavily. "Please...there must be a sensible explanation. There has to be!"

Then suddenly, in the midst of brief silence, that's when it was suddenly broken by a rustle of leaves, and a black silhouette in the dark jumping right beside Emily.

"BOO!" the silhouette yelled.

"AAAAAHHH!"

Thomas and Emily's hearts nearly jump out of their mouths as they both squealed with fright and took off at once, speeding down the line, away from the silhouette. Behind them, they could hear distant and fast footsteps following. The footsteps were soon out of hearing range, but Thomas and Emily were too scared to look back.

"Help! Help!" Emily squealed. "He's after me!"

"Something's running after us!" Thomas panted. "Fire and Smoke! What can it be?!"

Thomas and Emily rushed onward, panting and exclaiming with fright, and because they were in such a tizzy of fear and adrenaline, they both missed the red signal and suddenly veered into two separate sidings. Thomas and Emily slammed on their brakes and stopped beside each other, just in time before hitting the buffers, both panting with fright and pounding hearts.

"Wh...what was that?!" Thomas trembled.

"A pirate!" Emily squawked.

And sure enough, a few moments later, Thomas and Emily heard the footsteps coming back. Thomas looked to Emily and braced hard for whoever it could be. Emily gathered the courage to keep her eyes open and see the silhouette come back right beside her. Emily gazed as hard as she could, trying to make out who it was.

"Whoever you are, go back whence you came!" she ordered bravely. "Leave us alone, you abominable-!"

Then the silhouette stepped into Emily's headlamp light...and there was indeed a pirate right there...Pirate David Rider! Thomas opened one eye, then gasped as he stared with Emily. They could both see David's full costume right there. Along with his naval cutlass, He had a big, wide hat with purple and black feathers tufted all around the rim, a red pirate sash worn around his waist, a gold pirate medallion around his neck and a rather impressive cast-iron hook worn over his left hand.

"Har-har-har-har, and a Yo-ho-ho-ho!" David laughed as a pirate would. "Ships at the bottom of the deep blue sea! Singing a 'Yo-ho-ho and a hidey-ho!' Looks like I've got me a pair of scaredy engines for me treasure trove!"

Thomas and Emily stared at who was right there in front of them for several moments, thinking back to the initial panic attack they had been dealt. In the midst of feeling jittery, heart-pounded and then rather scared in the dark of Halloween...this was who it was? Thomas and Emily then frowned to each other and themselves over their little spook.

"Excuse me," Emily said finally. "But who's a scaredy engine?"

"Well, you should have seen yourselves out there, mates," David grinned heartily. "Anyone'd think you'd seen Davy Jones' favorite Halloween crook...'Captain Rider Hook'! Did I really scare you two that much? Are you alright?"

"Of course we're alright, but I think you'll find we squealed and almost ran for our lives, David!" Emily exclaimed.

"We could have lost some of our loads in the darkness and confusion," Thomas added. "We have a Halloween Party to deliver our loads to, and you jump out in the dark and make us jump out of our wheels?"

"Don't be mad because I know how to enjoy Halloween," said David. "No harm done, and to be fair, I've had my share of being scared on this night of the year too, like everyone does. Besides, I knew it'd be best to follow you and let the Halloween spirit live on once the fright washed over."

Thomas and Emily looked to each other, then to David again, who bore an almost comedic shrug. Then, as if right on cue, Thomas and Emily suddenly felt the fright wash away from their minds, then they saw the funny side of it all and finally came to realize it was all just their imagination, and simply because they were afraid. With that, they fell to laughing.

"Pfft...! Ha...ha-ha-ha-ha!" Emily laughed with a wheeze. "Good trick out there, David! As is Halloween tradition! You really got us with that jump!"

"Emily's quite right. You gave us a right good scare there, Captain Rider," Thomas smirked.

"Of course I did, matey!" David gruffed heartily. "I be the bravest pirate onboard me Sea Emperor! Aye, she's a beauty!"

"And you look simply remarkable, Captain," Emily smiled impressively. "I adore your costume there, David. The feathers and the hook..."

"Oh, yes, David!" Thomas added. "You look marvelous for a pirate."

David nodded and stayed in his pirate character.

"Aye, Emily and Thomas. If I were truly Captain James Hook, I'd be proud for children to be born with this. Some pirates may even say a hook is worth a score of hands, for combing the hair and other homely uses...but Peter Pan threw me hand to a crocodile who happened to be passing by, and that croc liked the taste of me hand so much, he's followed me ever since. From land to land, from sea to sea, he follows the ship, licking his lips for the rest of me!"

"In a way, it is a sort of compliment," Thomas said cheekily, going along with David's recital.

David looked at Thomas with a playfully unimpressed glower.

"Well, I want NO such compliments!" he suddenly barked. "I want Peter Pan, who first gave the brute his taste for me! That croc would have got me long ere this, Thomas, me hearty. He could have crept upon me unawares...but by some lucky chance, he swallowed a clock!"

"A clock!" Thomas exclaimed.

"Aye, a clock!" David answered. "And it goes on, 'tick-tock, tick,' within him, so before he can reach me, I hear the tick and bolt!"

"Someday, that clock will run down and then he'll get you!" Thomas recited.

"Aye! That's the fear that haunts me!" David concluded.

"Alright, David, I think we get the picture," Emily reminded, trying not to giggle. "Indeed, you've a most impressive costume, David."

"Thank you, Emily," said David. "Even I love pirates in moderation...the proper pirates, of course. Now...putting my little spook upon you two aside, I'm eager to take part in the Costume Party myself at the Campgrounds. Mum and I have been making ready for it too, and she said she'd be riding on Gordon's train to the Campgrounds. How have you too been keeping the spooks yourselves?"

"Oh, David, we've had quite an evening so far," said Emily. "Thomas and I had to collect iron from the Ironworks again, just like we did years ago when 'Arry and Bert scared us both, until I scared them as the ghost engine. Only this time, we played out through their spookiness...and when the tarp fell on me this time...I applied it, and has so much more fun scaring them."

"Really?" David asked. "How did you do it?"

"I howled and 'oohed' away like the Ghost Engine," Emily chimed cheerfully. "Telling them to stop being so unhelpful, and to beware me, the Ghost Engine of Lost Souls as they head her speak."

"Hmm...haunting...but most impressive ability to spook a diesel, best friend," David winked to Emily.

"Thanks, Davey," Emily blushed softly.

"We both had a blast," said Thomas. "And for their punishment, they've been deprived of sleep for the rest of the night."

David smiled to this, then climbed on Emily's running plate, petting her cheek.

"Well, I must say I'm proud of you, Emily," he said. "They deserved another spook like that...and you were just the ghost engine to do it."

Then he trailed his fingers along her cheek to tickle her.

"Oh...he-he-he, David," Emily tittered. "Yes, it all went very nicely."

"Then after that, we delivered the iron to Brendam," said Thomas. "And then we were sent on our way to gather the supplies for the Costume Party."

"Yes. And as of right now, we're making our way to the Costume party at the Callan Campgrounds," said Emily. "Where you, me and Nia camped with the Rangers, David."

"I know, Emily," said David. "And there's no more fitting place to have a Halloween party than right there. So, what are your loads?"

"They're all perfect for Halloween, David," said Thomas. "I'm taking the chocolate bars, lollipops and candy apples."

David nodded to what Thomas said, then suddenly looked up. "T-Thomas...if my ears serve me proper, did you say...candy apples?"

"Oh. Do you like candy apples, David?" Emily asked.

"Yes! Yes!" David exclaimed excitedly. "Oh, glorious candy apples! Drizzled in thick, treacly sugar syrup and what have you...SUCH an amazing mixture! I wouldn't miss them for a barrel of ginger beer!"

"Say, I've never seen you pass up ginger beer, David," said Emily. "As for my load, I'm bringing corn for roasting, pumpkins full of seeds for toasting...and various flavours of soda pop...what do you think?"

"Interesting," David nodded, then looked to Emily's box van. "Speaking of which...I did see you rush off after my little jump-scare for you two...perhaps I'd better check your box van and be sure none of the bottles popped open."

Emily suddenly remembered and agreed. "Hmm. Maybe you should."

Thomas and Emily stayed put as David carefully opened Emily's box van, drew a flashlight and took a close look at all the bottles, while Thomas and Emily waited, thinking about who or what they would see at the party. After about five minutes, David came back to Emily's running plate. She looked and he gave nod of assurance.

"All in one piece?" Emily asked.

"Indeed, they are...a little surprising," said David. "Must be Halloween luck, I suppose. It's a good thing they aren't champagne, otherwise, they would have spewed all over the place."

"Maybe, David," said Thomas. "And speaking of which, I trust we shouldn't be hanging about here for too long."

David checked his pocket watch.

"Indeed you're right, Thomas. We've got an hour before 9:00 p.m. and they can't start the party without your loads. We'd best get on the move again."

"Why don't you ride with us, David?" Emily offered. "Thomas and I have all the food, candy and drinks for the party, and surely Beatrice will be wondering where you are...does she know you were out here...waiting for us?"

David tried not to smile sheepishly. "I...told her I'd be striding around, keeping an open eye for you two, which I accomplished."

"Well, as long as she knows, that's alright for her," said Emily. "Now, shall we begin the Costume Party...Captain Rider Hook?"

"Delighted to come aboard, Emily, me lady," David obliged, tipping his pirate hat to Emily as he got in her cab.

At last, Thomas and Emily worked their way out of the siding they had rushed into and continued on their way to the Callan Campgrounds, feeling much calmer and peaceful about everything around them in the dark of Halloween night.

By the time they were ten minutes into their final stretch of the journey, they were just coasting along the line as contently as they would any other clear, starry night together. Now and then, they saw some eyes flashing among the trees. And once again, they heard mysterious hoots, rustles, chirps and calls in the night. But this time, with David bearing them company, Thomas and Emily now knew it was nothing to be afraid of. Even on Halloween. It was indeed a dark night as the thin, inky clouds drifted in and among the stars, and although the railway looked dark and wide with eyes blinking in the bushes and within the trees from left and right of Thomas and Emily's path, they just kept huffing onwards and forwards...

"Strange," said Thomas. "Just some time ago, we were trailing along the line, hearing the owls and rustles in the trees and bushes, and feeling so on edge and even frightened...but now...it's somehow so peaceful."

"You're right, Thomas," Emily smiled contently. "What do you think, David?"

"Well, it may be Halloween, but even in the midst of all the spooks, Halloween night is no different than any other night. It's the same creatures that wander through the night as always...and given all the legends of Halloween spooks, maybe my jump-scare didn't just scare you...but maybe scared others off?"

"Like...the ghosts and goblins?" Thomas played in, seeing where David was going.

"Werewolves and witches?" Emily added.

"Pirates and wizards?" David finished.

"That's exactly what the Fat Controller played into before we started our supply run," said Thomas.

"Did he, now?" said David. "Hmm. Nothing wrong with embellishing the Halloween Spirit when you can. This party is going to be lovely."

At last, Thomas, Emily and David made their way toward the line where the Main Line connected with the Peel Godred Line, which later connected with the Misty Valley Line, that would lead them through Kirk Machan, then through Misty Valley to the Callan Campgrounds where the party was due to take place. Soon, they soon made their way to Callan Station, where Gordon was standing by for the passengers to return.

"Hello, Gordon!" Thomas whistled. "How are Nia and the passengers?"

"Down the line to the scene of the party," Gordon replied as Thomas and Emily went on by.

Then as they came out of Misty Valley, they came to a set of points where the lines singled out to one line, and would eventually lead them to the Campgrounds.

"You go ahead, Emily," said Thomas as he stopped before the points. "My emerald first."

"Mmm. Thank you, Tommy," Emily smiled.

As soon as she went ahead, Thomas followed behind her. That's when Emily and David saw the distant light of a fire.

"I think we're almost there," Emily said excitedly.

Thomas looked ahead and could see the light too. "I hope we're on time."

"And...we are," said David.

His watch read 9:00 p.m. just as Thomas and Emily came around the last bend, and there it was. Nia was already there with a truck full of firewood. A large bonfire was blazing away at the same spot the Rangers had their campfire, and everyone was gathered for the party. Everyone then saw Thomas and Emily and looked up. Among the various costumes, Thomas and Emily could see super hero costumes, ghosts, vampires, cowboys, wizards, and more. Then Thomas and Emily saw Stephen and Bridget dressed as a knight and princess, which made Emily smile to them both. Then David saw Beatrice dressed as a witch, with the black robe, hat and the broomstick.

Then Thomas and Emily looked once more, and there was the Fat Controller, dressed as a clown.

"Thomas! Emily! You made it," Nia chimed merrily.

"There you are, Thomas and Emily," he said. "Just in time. How have you both been getting on with Halloween?"

"Hmm...Besides gathering our loads for the party, we were busy scaring away the ghosts," said Thomas, clearing his throat to Emily. "...Ahem...so the party would be safe for the children in their splendid costumes. There were plenty of little obstacles they put in our path."

Emily tooted her whistle lightly and decided to work it into their experience that night.

"Yes, sir...the ghosts tried scaring us by knocking acorns out of the trees around us. I think they put a spell on Henry's paint, quite like his glowing paint, then they sent a whole bunch of bats to hide above us in the tunnel, but we scared them all off...and we picked up a pirate who wished to bear us company on the way too...after he gave us quite a good jump in the night."

David got down from Emily's cab, looking to Beatrice and passing her a wink. Beatrice shook her head with an inquiring smile, then David withdrew his hat and made a bow to the Fat Controller.

"But a thousand pardons, matey, I wonder if you're in on our little joke," David stated with a little nod.

"Hmm...Did you scare away all the real ghosts?" the Fat Controller asked, winking to Thomas.

"Yes, sir," said Thomas.

"Excellent," said Beatrice. "I'm certainly happy to endorse in tonight's festivities myself, as is my son. A most dashing costume he has."

"Very good, Thomas and Emily," said Lady Hatt, who was dressed as a ballerina. "With the ghosts warded away, then it will be safe to party."

"Everything is here and ready for all of you to enjoy," Emily announced as everyone looked to her load.

"Ah, roasted corn. A delicacy!" said the Fat Controller.

"All the pumpkins with all the seeds to toast up," Emily added.

"And..." said David as he opened her box van, showing all the bottles.

"Soda pop!" many children cheered.

"Indeed. All the soda pop you could drink," Emily said cheerfully to the children.

"And from Thomas," said Bob as he stepped down from his cab. "Chocolate bars...lollipops...and..."

Everyone watched as he opened Thomas' box van.

"Candy apples!" David exclaimed.

And all the children cheered and all the guests said thank you to Thomas and Emily. They settled where they were right with Nia and watched as their crews worked to unload the food, candy and drinks and arrange giving out shares to the guests and children alike, and so the party began. The bonfire blazed away through the duration of the Costume Party, and everything was brought together for everyone to enjoy. Candy apples, chocolate bars, lollipops, roasted corn, toasted pumpkin seeds and soda pop, all flavoured between raspberry, apple, lemon, orange, grape, the works. Some people sat around the fire roasting corn, some sat under the trees with a lollipop or chocolate, and as Thomas and Emily stood on the line beside the fire, they thoroughly enjoyed all the Halloween cheer that was being spread among the guests and children.

"Isn't it lovely, Thomas?" Emily beamed. "They're all so happy, aren't they?"

"Seeing children happy is one of the happiest things I could ever see, Emily," said Tomas. "Especially when you're happy."

Emily blushed to Thomas' sweet words.

"So, Thomas and Emily. What was it like out there tonight?" Nia asked. "How did you two manage the Ironworks?"

While the party continued, Thomas and Emily told Nia all about their Halloween adventures this evening, all while she listened, utterly intrigued and enthralled. She gaped, smiled and gasped alike to all the different highlights Thomas and Emily had to tell her.

Once Thomas and Emily finished their tale, they looked to the fire and could see Beatrice and David sitting together. Emily caught eye of two apple cores beside David, telling her that he'd been taking keen indulgence in the candy apples, eating two whole apples within the first hour, and when Emily looked to him again, he was biting into a third. Then Emily saw Beatrice turn to her and wink. Emily wondered what she would do. Then she tapped David on the shoulder, making him look.

"Hey. Who was that? A ghost?" he joked.

"A goblin?" Thomas asked.

"A werewolf?" Emily asked.

"A witch?" Nia asked.

Beatrice turned to Nia and winked, then she turned to David. "Indeed, it was, David. A very fine witch tonight."

David smiled playfully and hugged his mother, while Thomas and Emily continued to enjoy all the harmony and Halloween cheer that continued through the night. This would be one Halloween they would not forget.

At last, a few hours later, after much feasting, candy-collecting and a whole lot of splendid variety with so very many costumes, the party was done, and everyone was ready to go home. The Fat Controller arranged for all the passengers to be rode home with Gordon through the night, and he told Thomas, Emily and Nia take their empty loads back to the yards, then call it a night.

"Most excellent work tonight, Thomas and Emily," he praised. "You have indeed brought this Halloween to vivid life for all our guests. Well done to both of you."

"Thank you, sir," Thomas and Emily smiled together.

"Well, it looks like Halloween is ready to close out," said Beatrice. "This was a fun night, and you both did so wonderfully, Thomas and Emily."

"Thank you, Beatrice," said Thomas. "I must say this Halloween had some scares, but it was ultimately a load of fun too."

"Indeed, it was, Thomas," Emily agreed.

"I certainly enjoyed it tonight," said David, briefly removing his hook hand before he got on Emily's running plate. "Thank you for riding me here, Emily. I had a whole lot of fun with you two tonight."

"So did we. Thank you, David, for spreading the Halloween spirit...in your nautical ways," Emily answered with a wink.

David smiled as he hugged her face, then kissed her cheek before he stepped down and went on his way with Beatrice.

"Goodnight, Emily," they waved as they joined the rest of the guests on their way back to Gordon's coaches so as to make their way home.

"Happy Halloween, David and Beatrice," Emily smiled in turn.

And with that, Thomas and Emily went on their way home, back to Knapford, where they left their empty trains in the sidings, then turned to each other.

"Wait here, Emily. I'll be back," said Thomas.

He set off in the direction of Tidmouth Sheds while Emily waited. When he came back, he was facing the other side, then buffered up to her and smiled.

"It's been a big night. Shall we?" he asked, looking toward Knapford Sheds.

"Yes, Tommy," Emily whispered at once.

Within moments, Thomas and Emily were nestled in Knapford Sheds together, touching each other's faces together and cuddling softly, feeling it best to be in their own private company after such an eventful night. For a fair while into the night, Thomas and Emily enjoyed the quiet time they had after such a fun Halloween full of spooks, fun, wonders and a most excellent party to finish it all off. It was surely the best Halloween they'd ever spent together in its ways.

"Wow, Emily," said Thomas. "This has been a most impressive Halloween this year. I am truly impressed with how it all turned out."

"Mmm...yes, Thomas. Indeed it has been impressive," Emily answered softly. "I love how it all worked out...especially given what happened from start to finish. Reliving an old troubling memory, but it turned out so much better for you and I this time, then partaking in the Costume Party by bringing all the food, candy and drinks it needed...and still enjoying the thrills, imagination, and yes, even the scares of Halloween. It all has such an appeal of its own, and I'm glad to have spent it all with you."

"I know I wouldn't want to share in the scares with anyone else but you, Emily," Thomas replied. "We may have had our scares, but we went through them together, and that's why I love Halloween all the more with you."

"Hm-hm. Thank you, Thomas," Emily smiled sweetly.

Then she got one more idea for the night. A chance for her and Thomas to exchange their own Halloween joy now that their work was done.

"Well, my love...the night isn't quite over, you know," she whispered.

Thomas looked up, already sensing where she was going. "Y...yes, Emily?"

"This has been a most delightful Halloween for both of us, Thomas," Emily said softly. "But before we end it...what say we have ourselves a few...Halloween treats of our own?"

Thomas heard Emily's inviting tone and felt his heart jiggle. "Oh...oh, E-Emily...I'd..."

Emily purred sweetly as she buffered up nice and slowly to Thomas and batted her eyelashes right to him.

"Let your beautiful, sweet Halloween witch give you such magical kisses," she fluted very sweetly.

Thomas heard how soft and smoothly Emily talked and felt his heart tickle immensely as she leaned in and pressed her wanting lips to his cheek and softly kissed his love spot over and over, cooing so softly to the smooching sounds her lips made against his cheek.

"Mmm...Ah...Mmm...Ah, oh, Thomas...T-Thomas..." Emily crooned with such bubbling love. "Happy Halloween...Mmm...Ah..."

"Ooh...E-Emily..." Thomas shivered and moaned to her amazing lips as they explored and cuddled every inch of his cheek she pleased to delight.

"Come on, Tommy. Give me a cute little giggle," Emily teased sweetly as she began to gently tickle his with a series of soft little nibbles.

"Oh...! Oh, that tickles, Emily!" Thomas chortled and shook.

"Smile for Emily, Tommy," Emily giggled and almost squealed happily. "Tickle-tickle-tickle...Ohh...he-he-he-he!"

Thomas lurched and groaned to Emily's tickle-banter, feeling every instant she pleased his cheeks and chin. Then she leaned in and started tickling Thomas' chin, making him squirm and laugh even harder, which made her giggle in turn as she nibbled and kissed his chin too.

"E-Emily! You're tickling me! Oh!" he shook harder.

Emily tittered and withdrew her lips for a moment, then breathed in a sweet, fresh breath of air, then sighed happily, giving Thomas a flow of soothing warm breath flow over his face. Thomas smiled at her for a moment until Emily leaned in again and pressed her lips to his, softly pushing him further into the shed.

"Mmm...Mmhmm...Emily..." Thomas moaned through her lips as he felt himself toward the back.

"Oh, Tommy, I love you," Emily bubbled softly. "For Halloween...please let me give you some...sugar syrup...like a candy apple."

Thomas' heart jumped as he felt heard these words, then felt Emily slip her tongue into his mouth and start dancing her tongue wherever she pleased. This made them both groan deeper into their kiss as Emily almost felt passionately driven inside, making her whimper and croon so happily, which only made both their hearts flutter and tickle even more until Emily brought her tongue out and licked her lips lusciously.

"Trick or treat, Tommy?" she invited smoothly. "What shall it be?"

"Ohh...ohh...I gladly accept both...from you," Thomas replied.

Emily waited for him to make the move, then he leaned in, reaching out his tongue, then started licking her cheek up, down and every way he could, which made her squirm and giggle strongly.

"Oh-oh-oh-OH! Thomas...T-T...Thoma-a-as!" Emily squealed. "Ohh...that t...tickles!"

"Oh, Emily...Emily...you're sweeter than any lollipop, chocolate or candy apple," Thomas whispered. "You're my emerald candy, my love..."

"Ooh, Tommy," Emily cooed sweetly. "You're very sweet too. Sweeter than any lollipop chocolate or candy apple yourself...my sweet little Tommy. Time for my little trick now."

Then she leaned in and started licking Thomas' cheek too, surprising him with some sudden nibbles right on his lips every few moments, which made Thomas' eyes bulge, then see stars as he saw her twinkling eyes and heard her truly blissful sounds of love and euphoria. Thomas took advantage and leaned to the left, so as to kiss, nibble and tease her cheeks however he pleased, which made Emily jump and coo even louder. This went on between them for several minutes more, kissing, nibbling, licking and losing themselves deeper and deeper into their spells, until just like every time they showered each other in such love, Emily could feel her steam trickling and tickling through her body, making her so warm inside, and making her shake and coo very happily.

"Oh, Emily...my beautiful emerald witch...please let off steam," Thomas begged softly. "Please? I love you, Emily..."

"Yes...yes, Tommy...ooh...thank you, Thomas...!" Emily quivered blissfully. "Ohh...so lovely and warm...Ohh...T-T...Thomas! Ahh...Aah..."

And as Emily quivered and squealed softly, her steam swirled nice and softly through the shed, gently encircling her and Thomas in a soft, warm hug in their Halloween embrace.

"Uhh...E-Emily...you were so incredible...so beautiful...my Halloween angel..."

"Ooh...hooh...that was amazing..." Emily sighed sexily and sleepily. "Time for a French-kiss...I love you, my smoochie-coochie Tommy..."

"Ohh...Ohh! I love you too...Emily!" Thomas squealed quietly to such an overwhelmingly adorable nickname she'd uttered with Percy on their night of motherly therapy.

And so they came together and French-kissed happily and softly, letting their tongues come together and dance warmly within their deepening kiss for a few minutes more, cooing, humming and moaning together, muffling the words, "I love you," through their pressed lips a few times over, until they softly let go with a lovely long smooch before they exchanged a sleepy, happy yawn together.

"I love you, Emily. Today was so special," Thomas smiled. "Happy Halloween, my beautiful emerald witch."

"Special it is, my pretty!" Emily smiled with a witch-like voice. "I love you too, Thomas...and Happy Halloween handsome cobalt prince."

And so Thomas and Emily shared a finishing kiss together, then fell sound asleep right there in Knapford Sheds, truly delighted and full of joy to have had such a fun Halloween together. It was indeed a wonderful way to spend the occasion together, although there is no such thing as ghosts. In the midst of all the fun, spooks and thrills of Halloween, some things are still make believe.

---

Been about two years since we last did a Halloween story. I don't really do anything for Halloween these days, but still, hopefully you guys enjoy whatever it is you do to celebrate this night of witches, werewolves, devils, what have you. Hopefully the next story will come along soon enough, and until then, tell us what you thought of this story. Stay safe.