The following story was suggested by SMD2905 on Devaintart, and thus was not entirely my idea. Some credit goes to him.
Characters belong to Mattel, Hit Entertainment, Britt Allcroft, and the Awdry Family.
Timothy belongs to Kanetakerfan701.
Thomas's parents belong to me.
I own nothing, apart from Tanya and Howard who are Thomas's parents in my writes.
The Old Mansion
Thomas Billinton was a cheerful, bright, adolescent engine driver on the NWR. He was very cheeky too, with a love of pulling teases and jokes on his co-workers and friends. But among this cheekiness there was also a kindness and a determination to keep those around him close. For beneath all of that laid a deep depression and sadness. Sadness so deep that it was practically hidden.
Not far from the cottage from where Thomas and his family lived, there laid an old mansion that's been standing since the 15th century, and had been abandoned for about 5 years. Whenever you see Thomas walk by it, a feeling of dread would be very prominent in his face. His eyes will look dead, and his voice would be silent whist his head would be looking towards the ground as if he was mourning for someone.
On one particular day, Thomas was walking through the path by the mansion with a bouquet of golden roses sitting in his hands. He leaped over the fence and laid the flowers gently on the doorstep. He then kneeled and smiled sadly as an ominous wind blew around the area.
"Keep out..." a feminine whisper spoke, as tears fell from the E2 driver's eyes.
"I am..." He cooed to no-one nearby. "I am."
He then proceeded to turn heel as his blue eyes continued to shine with sadness. He seemed to be pretty downcast as usual.
Hours passed, and Thomas did his work on the Ffarquhar branch alongside Percy and Toby. At Elsbridge, Thomas sat solemnly on his E2's tank whilst the water filled up inside. Apart from his sisters, Annie and Clarabel, and his passengers, he was alone. The sky was blue and clear and the temperature was nice and warm. It was the kind of day that Thomas loved and dreaded at the same time. Before he became part of Sir Topham Hatt's fleet, he had many days like this in his childhood.
"Of all the things to torture me." He uttered. "Why did it have to be a nice day like this?"
Tears prepared to fall from his eyes once again as a girl with golden hair haunted his thoughts.
"Why... Why can't I just move on?"
The E2 driver was seconds away from sobbing when a pair of feminine voices caught him off guard.
"Thomas..."
"Are you okay?"
Thomas glanced over to see a certain pair of twin burettes. He knew who these were.
"Annie... Clarabel..." The 17 year old uttered softly as he hopped off of his E2's tank. The twin sisters gazed at their older brother worriedly as he stepped towards them. Having the bond he had with them, he could no longer hold his inner-emotions back.
"I... I... I... I can't stop thinking about HER!" Thomas wailed as he finally let all of his tears lose. Being on Sodor for the same number of years as their brother, Annie and Clarabel KNEW who Thomas was referring to. Together they both tenderly wrapped their arms around their brother and brought him into a comforting group hug.
"Hush... Thomas." Annie spoke soothingly.
"Let it all out." Clarabel cooed in unison.
Thomas sobbed for a few moments, unable to hold back a single tear. He had moments like this one quite often whenever he was alone or just with family members and did not try to build it up.
As he then stopped, Annie and Clarabel gazed tenderly at their brother, as they continued to soothe him from his heartache. He didn't want to reveal this side in front of his friends.
As time passed, Thomas carried on with the work on his branchline till everything was done. When he finally arrived back at the sheds the sun had begun to set, and Percy and Toby were already preparing to head back home. They were chatting away whilst Thomas brought his E2 to a stop.
"Well... look who finally showed up." Percy remarked as Thomas stepped out of his E2. "Sir Topham Hatt should write you up for your tardiness, buddy."
Thomas let out a scoff in dismissal.
"Well, it's not my fault that I am." He huffed in reply. "Apparently the ship had to have more than the usual amount of coal requested and there was no-one else to help. So therefore Sir Topham Hatt will understand for he likes a job done right, not fast. That factor falls under reliable and responsible. He'll certainly see that without a doubt."
Percy just continued on to tease.
"Oh, I don't know, bud. He might fire you if you don't arrive back here on time. Besides he's given me quite the job while you were dilly dallying about."
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of job?"
"A special kind." Percy replied proudly. "Toby and I have been talking about it. I've been tasked to help restore the old mansion close to your home."
A chill went down Thomas's spine as he heard the words from Percy's mouth.
"Y-you m-mean the old Stone mansion?" He asked with a shudder as Percy gave him a concerned look.
"Yeah. Are you okay? You're looking a bit pale."
Thomas's lips twitched as his body shuddered.
"That place is one that no-one should go to." The E2 driver said ominously. "For it is haunted by a ghost."
Percy and Toby burst in historical laughter. They didn't exactly believe a word he said.
"Haunted?!" Percy cackled. "That's certainly rich coming from you!"
"Yes!" Toby agreed. "You never believed Percy's story, so why believe in this one."
"Because his story was disgracing my older brother!" Thomas cried out in reply. "Besides, I'm serious here! That ghost within the mansion is real! I was there on the day when she and her parents died!"
"Sure you have." Percy said with a scoff as he and Toby then proceeded to walk away. Thomas meanwhile began to frown as he watched his friends make their way home. A feeling of worry was now overtaking his body.
"I hope that SHE won't let her wrath out on them." He thought. But I'm sorry to say that wouldn't be the case.
The next day, Thomas and Toby ended up having to split some of Percy's jobs while the little green saddle tank driver was assisting with the reconstruction of the old stone mansion. As he sat outside the engine shed that was locked up, Percy began to hear a ghostly whistle coming from within it.
"What was that?" He uttered to himself. As then a masculine scream came from inside. "What the..."
A workman came running out panting in fright as his friends held him by his shoulders. The foreman gazed at him sternly as Percy came dashing over to see what the matter was.
"What happened?" The foreman questioned, whilst the lips of the frightened worker trembled.
"T-there w-was a-a g-glowing g-ghostly t-teenage g-girl." He stammered. "S-she t-tried t-to a-attack m-me."
The brows of the foreman furled. He was just moments away from telling the worker that it was just an illusion when IT came.
"Leave... Leave this place."
"Ah! That's her voice!" The worker yelped. The foreman glanced over at Percy and gave him a concerned look and sigh.
"I don't know what's going on here." He remarked. "But whatever it is, we must get to the bottom of this."
"Yes." Percy replied. "But how?"
Words from the night before answered the boy's question as they rang about in his memory.
"Perhaps it's time that I talk to Thomas." He uttered to himself as the workmen all walked back to their coach. None of them were going to continue on working until something about the ghostly girl could be done.
After he had dropped off the workmen, Percy found Thomas within his favorite café over by Tidmouth. The E2 driver had been working so hard that the controller had granted him a break for the rest of the day, while Timothy filled in his spot at work. As he sipped his expresso, Thomas noticed the look on Percy's face and at how much it was full of question. He swallowed and let off a sigh as he placed his cup back on the table.
"What is it?" He questioned a bit coldly. As Percy plucked up his courage.
"Thomas..." He started. "I'm sorry for not believing you. There is something off about that mansion without a doubt. For a workman got very spooked." The teen then let off a sigh as he prepared to say his next words. "Anyways. Since you seem to know that it's haunted, do you know who's haunting it?"
A silence fell between them while Thomas took yet another sip of his espresso. His sky blue eyes dimmed down as his expression became more clearly solemn. He then placed down his cup and sighed once again as his childhood memories all flooded back into his thoughts.
"I do." He replied as he tried to hold back tears. "I knew her better than anyone. Her name was Lady Stone, and I knew her since childhood."
Percy's eyes widened with wonder and shock as he thought back to the incidents of the mansion.
"What happened to her?" He quizzed. Thomas thought for a moment and sighed as those dreadful memories returned.
"She was murdered, alongside her parents, Burnett and Tasha Stone. I was outside when it happened. And I hated myself for not doing anything to help her. Normally, I wouldn't beat myself up so much when being unable to help a friend, but... but..."
Tears fell from Thomas's eyes as he prepared to sob. His hand clenched on a whistle necklace that was around his neck. As Percy saw all of this it all clicked.
"You fell in love with her, didn't you?"
"Yes." Thomas replied. "And she with me. She gave me this whistle necklace to ensure that I remember that. That we have far more than a bond of childhood. We had a bond of love. One so strong that we were inseparable."
"Makes sense on why you're blaming so heavily on her death."
"Yes, indeed." Thomas replied, still ever so solemn. "But regardless of whether the project is completely canceled or not. I have no doubt that Lady will still continue to haunt the place. And with everything I have just revealed..."
"You might be the only one who Lady would be willing to talk to." Percy finished as Thomas gave a strong nod in reply.
"Exactly." Thomas then said as he finished his espresso and tossed the cup into the trash. "Alright, call Toby and tell him to bring a torch and stuff himself with caffeine. We're heading out to the mansion tonight to deal with Lady's ghost. I'll need to prepare myself mentally so, my apologies if I've seem a tad bit bossy with my request."
"None needed." Percy replied with a smile. "Go and do what you need to prepare yourself for your encounter with Lady. I'll call Toby."
"Thanks." Thomas said in reply as he then walked away to prepare himself for the night's events.
Time passed and the usual bright cloudless sky has changed to the navy blue of night. Using the front entrance of the mansion Thomas anxiously waited for Percy and Toby, who were to come with him as he ventured inside.
"Leave this place..."
The air was cold, but it wasn't that fact that sent shivers down the E2 driver's spine. It was the feminine whisper that sounded through the breeze that caused him to feel cold.
"Leave..."
"I hope Toby and Percy get here soon." Thomas uttered to himself. Unaware that two certain figures were coming up from behind him. "AHH!"
"Holy cow, Thomas! It's only us!"
"You tell me that when you're facing YOUR childhood lover's ghost, Percy!" Thomas snapped at the saddle tank driver, before slapping the back of his head. "Gosh! You can be such an idiot at times!"
"Says the one who left his guard behind."
"Shut up, Toby!"
"Leave this place now!..."
The three teens all jumped a bit as the whisper of Lady's voice sounded again. Quickly bringing their bickering to a close. Toby, who was skeptical at first hearing the news, was now rethinking his doubts on there being a ghost haunting the mansion. Gripping onto his lantern Toby shined it across the area, as Thomas and Percy held out their best torches.
"She seems to be louder and angrier now." Percy remarked with a bit of fright across his face, while his friends were no different.
"Time that we put an end to this." Thomas declared bravely. "Come on you two. Into the mansion we go."
"Right!" The teens replied in unison as they then followed their friend inside.
The mansion was dark and eerie as Thomas, Percy and Toby stepped upon the hard wood floors. Pictures and portraits seem to watch them with deep suspicion as shapes and shadows moved about. Among them was one that seemed to be of a feminine figure staring coldly at them.
"We're almost to one of their most used rooms." Thomas remarked softly. "If Lady's ghost is anywhere, it's there."
Percy and Toby were just moments away from complying when they stepped on a section of the floors that were more loose than the others. A wind began to howl around them, as strands of their hair flapped. Suddenly the section of where Percy and Toby gave way, and they both screamed as they fell downward.
"PERCY! TOBY! NO!"
"You should not have come here..." Then spoke a certain voice. "Leave now intruder, or forever face a terrible fate."
Thomas turned towards where he was originally walking and his eyes widened as he spotted a golden spectral form of a girl. There was just ONE person who this could be.
"Lady."
"Don't call me by my name, trespasser." Lady warned darkly. "Turn back and leave this place. Don't ever return."
"No chance about that!" Thomas replied as bravely as he could. "I've come too far!"
"So, be it." Lady then finished, as bolts of golden lighting spurred across her hands. "Fulmen gratis!"
"Percute fulgur contra!" Thomas promptly said as some pale blue lighting fired out of his hand and met Lady's.
"Seems you had some training..." Lady then said ominously as then a thick cloud of smoke covered the room. "Not bad for someone who is clearly rusty at his abilities. Although, oddly enough, something seems familiar about your particular lighting, trespasser. Shame that I don't care to find out."
The smoke then lifted as Thomas found himself pinned against the wall and the figure choking him.
"So this is what you become in death?" Thomas then gagged in question as tears started to form in his eyes. "A ruthless monster, who is the complete opposite to the truly sweet and kind lady I knew? Do you truly hate me now all because I've abandoned you? For failing to uphold my promise that I would never leave your side? Is this my punishment for not helping you on that day, Lady?"
As his tears prepared to flow out, a shine of blue emitted from Thomas's irises and caught the figure's attention. Immediately, her grip lessened as a clear voice of shock exited the light covering her lips.
"Thomas..." She spoke as she released her grip completely and stepped back.
The light around her form brightened up for a moment until it all then faded down to a mere glowing aura, revealing a beautiful 17 year old girl with long golden hair. She dashed up to the boy once again, and wrapped her arms tenderly around him.
Tears of disbelief and overwhelming joy formed in Thomas's eyes, as his childhood lover did not cease her loving embrace.
"Oh goodness me. Gosh, you really suffered, haven't you, Thomas?"
"Yes." Thomas replied, unable to hold back his tears. "Many nightmares worth of suffering, Lady. Horrible nightmares I may add."
"Explain your partial paranoia on me." The girl remarked as a solemn smile came across her face. "Ease now, Thomas. I don't blame you or hate you for anything. What happened was not at all your fault, nor do I have a death to give you a reason to truly self blame. I'm alive. I'm alive, Thomas, and now here for you. For I love you."
"I love you too." Thomas complied as he gave out a few sniffles. "And gosh did I miss seeing you."
Thomas gave a few more sniffs, before raising his head. Lady gently wiped away his tears and just continued to smile as she caressed his cheeks.
"Hard to believe that all it takes is 5 years, and something about a person's physical traits grows or lessens. You look so charming now, Thomas."
"Not as much as you." Thomas interjected. "You're looking like a true beautiful young woman now. You'll certainly be the talk of many of the staff. That's for sure."
Lady was just about to state a remark in return, when footsteps from the halls sounded. Without warning she grabbed Thomas's wrist and dashed behind a pillar. Normally, he'd asked questions in a situation like this, but with the fact that Lady casted a delicate spell that was easily broken with the slightest sound or movement he said nothing. The footsteps became louder and louder, as the jangling of small metal pieces sounded about. Suddenly the figure emerged from the darkness, revealing himself to be a man clad in black leather.
"Lady..." He said in a sadistic sing-song tone of voice. "Stone.. Come out, come out wherever you are. I've got a bullet with your name on it you witch! And there's no way you'll be able to dodge it this time!"
As the man stomped about, Lady shuddered greatly. Her fear was very much prominent and small quiet whimpers came from her. Being the lover he was, Thomas brought Lady into a comforting embrace and held on to her as the man who was hunting for her left the mansion through a window.
"He's gone." Lady stated as a sigh of relief exited through her lips. "He's been hoping to finish the job."
"Finish the job?" Thomas quizzed for a moment, as then the horrifying yet infuriating revelation came to his mind. "Wait... Lady. That man. Was he..."
"Yes." Lady replied promptly as tears flowed from her eyes. "That's the one who killed mother and father."
"Curse that sick hearted swine!" Thomas growled as he then did what he could to soothe Lady. "What would cause him to wish to kill a kind man like your father?"
"A completely sick hearted reason." Lady replied as she gripped on her lover's clothes. "A reason of which I'll tell you after we get your friends out of the basement."
"Oh! right!" Thomas exclaimed. Remembering that Percy and Toby fell down to the lower floors. He had been so caught up with his reunion with Lady that he unintentionally forgot about them. Without another word both teens dashed off to find Toby and Percy in the basement below.
In the basement, Percy and Toby were pacing the area, trying to find a way out, until the door swung open.
"Thomas!" Percy cried happily.
"Certainly took you long enough." Toby remarked, whilst the E2 driver walked towards them. The door then slammed shut, scaring the heck out of the two co workers.
"Yikes! We're trapped in here again!"
"Not exactly, Percy." Thomas said reassuringly as Lady walked up to his side. "Toby, Percy, meet Lady Stone, my childhood sweetheart. She was apparently alive here the whole time."
Toby and Percy looked on, amazed as Lady stayed by Thomas's side. From all that he told them, they never expected her to be quite attractive.
"She's... Uh... Quite the looker." Percy remarked, trying to find the right words to say. He didn't want to get on Thomas's bad side in this manner. Lady on the other hand giggled, as Thomas chuckled wryly.
"Don't you worry, Percy." He said kindly. "I understand the point you're trying to make. And as such, trust you and Toby. As long as you both try to keep it from being flirtatious, you're fine on commenting on her beauty. Right, Lady?"
"Absolutely." Lady replied cheerfully. She actually didn't mind comments like that at all. However, she liked them best if they came from her boyfriend. As she then held Thomas's hand, Toby finally found the words to say.
"I'm glad that your lover is alive Thomas." Said the J70 driver. "Although, I still would like to know why we're still stuck down here as well as why Lady pretends to be a ghost and scares the crap out of people."
Lady's smile dropped to a frown. She did secretly have a lot of guilt built up inside of her from scaring away so many.
"I owe that to you both." She stated sadly. "As well as an apology to you and to the others whom I've given such a fright. But even with that said, you must see that I unfortunately had no other way to defend myself from the very horrid man who wishes to kill me."
Percy and Toby fell into complete shock and silence as Lady's words rung about in their ears. Seeing their expressions, as well as the one on Thomas's, Lady decided it was time to bring them all up to speed on her situation.
"Long ago, before I was born, there was a young man named Peter Tobias Boomer. Or P.T. Boomer for short. Pete, as what was originally called by him, was childhood friends with my father, Burnett Stone, and shared a lot of common interests that they did or did not know about. One such interest was their love interest within my mother Tasha. At first, it was just a light competition that had them simply arguing with one another. But then, it got a lot more violent. With the fact that they both studied magic, P.T. Boomer and my father would fire spells at one another. However, when my mother intervened and blocked the finishing shot to protect my father, P.T. Boomer shouted and demanded my Father to continue on with the deathly duel. But seeing how foolish he was, he didn't and took my mother elsewhere to be healed. The news, minus the fact that they were warlocks, spread and soon the school had P.T. Boomer was expelled for good, and his reputation forever ruined. From that day, P.T. Boomer despised my father, mother as well as magic, and vowed to kill them and anyone else they cherish. When I was 12, Boomer turned his vow into reality, killing my mother, father and brother. With only me left to slay. And ever since that day, I've used my magic to defend myself against him, by scaring others away so he wouldn't find where I was."
"So that explains your hostility when the workmen here were trying to restore the place!" Percy exclaimed as Lady simply nodded.
"It does indeed. However, I'm afraid that our troubles are only beginning. For not only does Boomer wish to kill me, but he also wants to find an artifact that he can use to destroy this island with a simple wave of his hand. If he isn't dealt with, he'll destroy us all. And only my father knew where it was, thus why I've kept his journal with me at all times, so I can find it before Boomer does. Trouble is, I haven't been able to read it, due to the high possibility of being caught. And now the stakes are even higher, since the insane cold-blooded killer knows I'm alive!"
"What?!"
"It's true, sadly." Thomas sighed in confirmation. "Lady and I both saw him not long after our reunion. Luckily, he didn't see us, but still. The fact that he knows that she's alive is still unsettling."
"So what do we do?" Percy asked in desperation.
"We'll form a plan." Thomas replied firmly. "But for now, we're going to head back to our homes to get some sleep. Lady will come with me, for she's already welcomed and warmed up to my family."
"Right." Percy chirped in reply. "I suppose that can work."
"No argument here." Toby chimed in. Agreeing to Percy's reply. A smile came across Lady's lips as she took the replies in.
"I'm pleased to hear it." She stated with gratitude. "Alright. I've kept you both here long enough. It's time that you both got home."
The Sorceress snapped her fingers, and the door that led to the way out swung open. As she and her boyfriend watched the other two walk away, Lady grasped Thomas's hand and began to nuzzle him on the cheek.
"I'm going to have to go invisible." She started softly. "I don't want Boomer seeing me."
"Alright." The E2 driver replied. "Just be sure to stay close to me, Okay?"
Lady gave a nod, and promptly activated her invisibility sigil.
"I'll talk to you telepathically while I'm like this. I hope it won't be a bother."
"Nah, it won't" Thomas replied through the telepathy. "Anyways, can't wait to see the stunned looks on the faces of my family."
"Eheheheheh! How cheeky of you to say, Thomas. Although, I can't help but agree."
"Darn straight."
With a laugh shared between them, the two teens walked carefully out of the basement's exit and onto the Billinton cottage.
The wind howled as the clouds threatened to drop a downpour on them. A light emitted from a cluster of windows whilst Thomas stepped onto the porch. With a twist of his wrist he opened the door and let himself and Lady in. Tanya, who heard the sound of the door opening, rushed over as her husband, Howard, and her eldest son Timothy, and twin daughters, Annie and Clarabel followed not far behind. Expressions of relief were written all over their faces as they spotted Thomas at the door.
"Thomas!" Tanya cried. "Where have you been?! We were so worried about you!"
"Sorry, Mum." Thomas replied shamefully. "But I had my reasons for not telling you. For it was that personal."
"I see." Tanya acknowledged calmly. "However, you could at least let us know if you're going to be gone for hours on end."
"I'll keep note of that." The E2 driver replied understandably. Knowing that his mother would freak out if he didn't. "Anyways..." He went on with a sigh. "We might have to double check the guest room for tonight."
Tanya and the other Billintons raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Why?"
The mother's answer was shortly answered as Lady undid her invisibility sigil, revealing her current appearance. Tanya, Howard, Timothy, Annie and Clarabel all gasped as their eyes laid upon her.
"Hello again, Billintons." Lady said with a sweet yet slightly nervous tone. "It's nice to see you all again."
Tanya stepped towards the girl, and cracked a smile between her lips as she gazed at her motherly.
"Lady.." She uttered. "Oh my gosh. You're alive."
"Yeah." Lady complied sadly. "I ended up running as my mum and dad were shot."
Tanya's expression and voice did not change as she heard Lady's words.
"Don't blame yourself." She said tenderly. "Burnett and Tasha would be happy to know that you still have a chance to live your life and to live it with Thomas. I certainly am. You've been nothing but wonderful to my son throughout your childhood and to find out that the one girl whom he truly loved is still alive and before me is something I'm overjoyed to know. You're always welcome here, Lady. Always."
A small smile formed upon Lady's face. A feeling of relief swept through inside. She was glad that Tanya still accepted her even after the number of years since she was thought to be dead. She came up closer, and Tanya hugged her in a very motherly fashion. Lady might become her daughter in law one day. She had to be like this for Thomas's sake.
Time passed, and Lady had eventually gone to bed along with everyone else. Everything was quiet. The only sounds that she even heard was the gentle breeze of the wind and the usual night song of owls and crickets. Suddenly, she awoke from the blackness of her vision and felt restless.
"Time for a walk I suppose." She uttered to herself. Unaware of what she was about to see.
She slid out of her bed and stepped towards the door. But the moment as she reached for the doorknob a certain crimson substance oozed from the bottom. Hoping it was not what she thought it was, Lady turned the knob and threw open the door. The sight that laid before her was mortifying to say the least.
"No... no... no... no! It can't..."
Her eyes then landed on a certain 17 year old whilst bullets of a familiar caliber laid around him.
"NO!"
"LADY! WAKE UP! YOU'RE HAVING A NIGHTMARE!"
Lady's eyes shot open for a second time. Thomas was next to her by her bed. Seeing that her lover was still alive, Lady exhaled in relief.
"Thomas... Oh gosh... I-it was terrible. You, and your family were..." She was not given enough time to say the next few words, for Thomas had begun to embrace her.
"It won't happen, Lady." He cooed. "I'm not going to let Boomer kill us as he did your parents. Everything will be alright. Okay?"
Lady was still unsure, but regardless, Thomas's words had calmed her down quite a bit so she simply nodded into reply.
"Mind if I sleep here?" Thomas then quizzed. Making Lady all shocked in surprise.
"No. N-not a-at a-all." She stammered. She never had Thomas lay next to her in bed at all during their relationship.
With a silent shuffle and scuffle within the sheets and covers, Thomas slid next to Lady and gently wrapped his arm from behind as she snuggled like a kitten.
"I'm glad that we're together once again." Lady uttered softly.
"I'm just glad to have you back." Thomas replied tenderly as they then gradually fell asleep.
The next morning, Thomas awoke at his usual time to practice his swordcraft with Timothy as he did so, Lady sat in a seat, watching trying to pay as much attention as she could while searching through her father's journal. As she did so, she noticed Annie and Clarabel stepping next to her, joining in on watching the brothers.
"Thomas has certainly improved." The golden haired teen remarked. The twins smiled broadly, knowing just how far their brother came with his swordcraft.
"He's won quite a few annual tournaments." One remarked. "Even beating the champion in one of them."
"Not to mention his successful use of dual-wielding." Added the other. "Thomas has been able to wield two at the same time with such great reaction."
"Sounds really impressive." Lady commented, as she turned to the next page. She was really amazed at how proficient Thomas was now.
With a clash of wood, and a swing, Thomas and Timothy entered into a blade lock. For a few moments a contest of strength played out. Both brothers put all the weight and muscle into their swords as they can. Trying to push the other one out. Suddenly, a cheeky smirk came across Thomas's face and he began to lower. Then with Timothy's expression of sheer surprise. Thomas jumped and kicked the sword out of his hand. Then before he could pick it up, Thomas dashed forward and halted the wooden blade mere centimeters from Timothy's neck.
"And off goes your head." Thomas stated nonchalantly. "I've won again, Timothy."
"How cheeky of you to say." Timothy remarked in reply. "Oh just you wait, little brother. I'll get back at you."
Thomas chuckled wryly as he took in his brother's comment.
"We'll see, Timothy. We'll see."
Lady giggled as she stood up from her chair. She honestly found the banter between the brothers to be funny.
"Typical Thomas." She giggled, as she then walked to her boyfriend with her father's journal in hand. "Anyway, sweetie, can we have a spot where you and I can talk in private? I have um... err... a sensitive topic in mind."
Thomas, of course knew exactly what Lady meant, for he was so far the only one in his family that knew about Boomer and the artifact that he was after. But Timothy on the other hand thought it was something else. A particular topic that might be very uncomfortable for couples to talk about in public.
"Oh, ho ho!" He chortled. "Is my little brother finally getting down with his girl?"
"N-not on your life!" Thomas stammered. His and Lady's faces had massive tints of red. "B-besides, that topic is not the only sensitive topic that couples may have! Sometimes, the topic might be far more personal."
"Just like that one." Timothy stated as he continued to tease. "Whelp, whatever topic it is, hope you two have fun."
"We'll try." Lady replied and she and Thomas walked away to do their own thing.
As some may probably guess at this point, Thomas was indeed on a day off as so did his friends. Sir Topham Hatt, made the schedule like this on purpose so that the teens can all have a chance to be teens and not be under so much pressure. As they hid out in his room, Lady showed Thomas a particular page.
"Here it is." She remarked. "I've found the precise artifact that I was referring to. It's called Perditor-Mundi and according to these notes within my father's journal, it's damage is devastating."
"A good reason to be wary." Thomas remarked. "Does it say where it was sealed away?"
Lady nodded.
"It does indeed, however, that's where our problem lies. The statue that locks the very door is made purposely heavy, and thus would need a good amount of strength to move or break it. Even with the combined effort of you, Percy, Toby and me would not make a single dent in it. We'll need two more who are well built to deal with it."
"Good thing I know two guys who might do the job." Thomas remarked cheerfully. "Let me call Percy and Toby, and then we'll search for the two guys I know. Knowing them, I'd say that they're on their way to Knapford by now.
And indeed they were. By the time Thomas, Lady, Percy and Toby arrived at the station, they found Gordon and James by the café, eating their "Brunch". The two guys glanced in slight annoyance as they saw the boys from Ffarqhar.
"Okay, Thomas." Gordon grunted. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to ask for some help." The E2 driver replied. "Concerning a... um... er... ghost."
Gordon scoffed and proceeded to drink his tea.
"Well, suit yourself." He replied. "I'm not going to deal with any... OOF!"
"Act rude again, and I'll use my lighting on top of that action." Lady warned darkly as she spoke to Gordon through her telepathy.
"What?! Who is..."
"That'll be Lady." Thomas replied. "She's the so-called ghost of the old Stone mansion, and is being hunted by the very same man who took the lives of her parents while also searching for an artifact that could destroy the island if misused."
Gordon shuddered. Though normally he won't believe such stories, the fact that Lady, who was invisible and used a telepathic link to communicate, punched him in the groin was enough to get him to believe in her situation.
"Alright." He sighed. "What must I do?"
"Actually.." Stated Percy. "It's you and James. We need you both to help us move the statue that's keeping the very vault of the artifact locked."
"Fair enough." Gordon replied. He chugged the last of his tea and shoved the final bite of his sandwich down his throat, before stepping out of his chair. "Com'on James." He said to his friend after swallowing his food. James huffed indignantly.
"Me?!" He spluttered. "Me?! Help them?! And in a dusty old mansion?! I'll have you know that I've..."
"You can have Emily fix your hair later." Gordon interjected. "Don't you dare prove your girlfriend wrong about your true self, James."
James's expression fell, and he gave a solemn nod.
"Alright." He sighed as he stood up. "Friends first, appearance later."
"Good boy." Gordon remarked, to the dyed red head. "Okay Thomas, lead the way."
"Sure thing." Thomas replied and began to head out with the rest of the gang.
When they arrived at the mansion, James and Gordon began to shudder. They found the whole appearance of the mansion along with the cold air to be quite bone chilling.
"BOO!" Went Percy. He along with Thomas, Toby and Lady all laughed seeing the two big engine drivers jump. James and Gordon on the other hand, frowned in displeasure.
"Really, Percy?! Really?!"
"Hey! You had it coming after calling me dirty Percy the other day, James."
"That's enough!" Toby then interjected whilst trying to hold in a snigger. "We have more desperate matters on our hands. And not much time." He then turned towards Thomas who pointed to his left. "Lady.." He began. "Do you know where the vault is located?"
"Yes." She replied. "Just give me a moment."
A certain golden light shined and the girl suddenly became visible. Gordon and James looked on with some amazement but not before Thomas shot them with the darkest of looks.
"Emily's always going to be MY girl." James clarified. "My reaction was just me being stunned at her appearance. No flirts in mind."
"Good..." Thomas replied threateningly. "But as for you, Gordon, if I hear just ONE flirt towards Lady out of your mouth, I'll break your neck before you can say Fat Controller."
"R-right." Gordon stammered. He gulped due how serious Thomas's threat sounded. He didn't want to get Thomas on his bad side, that was for sure.
Stepping inside was no different for James and Gordon, for it felt like someone was watching them. They both tried to keep their cool, but with the fact that the shadows loved to play tricks, one of them was bound to freak out.
"AHH! THE PICTURE'S EYES JUST MOVED!"
"That was just the shadows, James." Lady sighed in exasperation. "I've rearranged some of the decorations of this place so it would seem precisely that way."
"Oh..." James sighed with relief. "Oh... Looks like there was no need to be scared then."
He then chuckled nervously at the fact.
"Me being scared of pictures, fancy that!" He began to walk forward, with Thomas, Lady Percy and Toby all looking nervously for they knew exactly where he was going towards.
"Uh, James!" Percy cried out. "Watch where you step, you're to hit the..."
"AHHHH!"
"Trap door..."
Thomas, Lady and Toby all facepalmed seeing that they had to once again head towards the basement.
After getting James out from the basement, the 6 teens were once again heading towards the vault. As they walked a strain on all of their muscles began to be felt causing them all to wince in pain.
"Argh!" Hissed Percy. "Why do I suddenly ache?"
"We're nearing a spot with a high concentration of mana." Lady winced in reply. "Mana of this amount can spur up your muscles making them ache. And to even experience this amount now means we're reaching towards something that is emitting it, meaning..."
"We're nearing the artifact." Thomas finished in pain. "Okay, if we're going to stop Boomer we're going to have to suck it up and reach the thing before he does."
Percy, James, and Gordon all groaned, while Toby nodded in acknowledgement. The three weren't sure at how much longer they could last.
The next steps were all slow and tedious for everyone was aching from the high amount of mana. What was actually minutes felt like hours. Eventually a circular metal door with a statue of a dog in front of it came into view as they walked heavily towards it. Lady carefully inspected it as she recalled what she read in her father's journal.
"According to my father's journal, this statue was of his dog, Zeus, who loved bones as his favorite treat. To some it may seem irrelevant information, but I on the other hand know that my father liked to be cryptic on certain things and give out really helpful secret tips and hints."
Her eyes then widened as she then spotted a particular floor tile with a bone engraved into it.
"Ah-ha! There it is! Everyone, help me move this to the tile over there."
They all nodded and placed their hands onto the side of the statue. With a long grunting and groaning, the teens pushed the statue onto the tile that Lady found. As it turns out the tile was actually a pressure plate that only accepted the weight of the statue. Gears started to sound and the metal door swung open. They all stepped inside and gasped as they saw a glowing emerald skull upon the pedestal.
"The Perditor-Mundi..." Thomas uttered softly.
"And to think that my father was storing it here this whole time." Lady remarked, recalling all the moments when she was down in this particular level of her home but to find nothing unusual there.
The golden haired teen was moments away from making some significantly stronger magical defenses around the Perditor-Mundi when some troubling footsteps were heard from behind.
"Ah... so you finally show yourself after all this time, Lady? Dang this must be my lucky day!"
A chill went down Lady's spine as she saw the person before her.
"P.T. Boomer." She shuddered while Thomas scowled darkly.
"Leave Lady alone, Boomer!" He barked. "You already made Lady suffer enough."
Boomer just scoffed.
"Move it twerp!" He ordered and pointed his gun at the teen. "Move or you'll die."
"Suit yourself mister." Thomas replied nonchalantly and whispered a bunch of spell-words.
A bolt of blue lightning shot out of his hand and stunned the psychopathic man to the floor. James, Percy, Gordon and Toby all stood in shock while Lady smiled proudly at her lover.
"Nice work, love." She commented as Thomas smiled back at her.
"Thanks, Lady." He said. "Now let's finish with increasing the security and defenses for this thing, and get Boomer out of here."
And everyone agreed.
2 years later...
The incident of what happened at the mansion 7 years prior was revealed to the public along with Lady being the only survivor. So instead of turning it into a tourist attraction, Sir Topham Hatt had it restored for Lady to claim it as part of her inheritance of becoming of legal age. With this along with her father's engine being found and restored, she now works along with her friends Percy and Toby and her now officially titled fiancé, Thomas on the Ffarquhar branch. However on this particular day of focus, that was to change, or Thomas's title anyway.
"Lady Stone, do you take Thomas Billinton as your wedded Husband?"
Lady glanced at the priest and smiled as the sun's rays caused her golden hair to shine.
"I do."
"Thomas Billinton, do you take Lady Stone as your wedded Wife?"
Thomas's blue eyes gleamed with absolute certainty as he looked over at the priest.
"I do."
The priest then closed his book and smiled as he gazed at the couple.
"It is done. You may kiss the bride."
Thomas held nothing back as he kissed the love of his life. As did Lady for that was how they were. After the main event, they celebrated with their friends and had a massive blast before heading off for home. Night fell, and the two were spending it together within the same bed.
"Today was certainly fun." Thomas remarked. "Wasn't it?"
"It was indeed." Lady complied. Blushing a bit for the actions that they were doing. "I just hope Boomer doesn't break out."
Thomas's expression became stern and serious as he pulled Lady closer to him to comfort her.
"He won't." He firmly stated. "And IF he does, I will not let him harm you nor our children. He's completely wrong about fulfilling his horrible goal and shouldn't even be allowed to."
A smile cracked between Lady's lips whilst tears of joy began to flow from her eyes.
"I'm glad." She sighed. "Oh gosh I love you so much."
"I love you too." Thomas replied, before kissing his lover once again.
THE END.