"I want respect because I never had it
I want to be recognizable because I never had it
I want to be appreciated because I never got it
I want to feel love because I never experienced it
I want to figure out who I am because I hate it"
Gordon is a proud engine when pulling the Express, always making sure everything is on time and having the fastest recorded records on Sodor's history. One morning, Gordon was at Knapford Station, Emily walked up to next to him pulling Annie, Clarribel and some of Thomas' Green Trucks, she was working on Thomas' Branch Line, with Thomas away at the Steamworks due to a problem in his boiler.
"Hmph, I guess whilst you are at it Emily, you might as well become a Tank Engine. Tender Engines don't shunt." boasted Gordon.
"You should recognize the hard work everyone does Gordon!" says Emily crossly, she has experience with both pulling the Express and is now working on the Branch Line. Back than, she would have had no idea, but now she is confident that Branch Line engines have it just as hard as Main Line engines.
"Yeah yeah right." Gordon replied, proudly as ever. That moment, the Fat Controller arrived.
"Today, I will be trialing a new engine. Gordon, she will be taking the Express to try out the line, so please show her around the line, I trust in your ability." says the Fat Controller.
"Y.. ye... yes sir!" stuttered Gordon.
"Good. Her name is Rebecca, I think you will get along well." says the Fat Controller and he left. Gordon started to panic.
"Am I going to get replaced?! Scrap?! OH ANYTHING BUT THE SCRAP!" Emily then whistled.
"Please Gordon, we don't know that much yet, besides we do need another big engine to take care of the Express."
"But why?"
"For a number of reasons, you could breakdown, have a bad boiler, broken brakes!"
"Also question, Rebecca... was she the one that arrived when Thomas was traveling?" Gordon asked curiously, just then Toby arrived.
"No Gordon, that whole thing was just something Mattel made to gain money, you still need to see the Engine yourself." Toby explained, the guard then blew his whistle and Gordon ran across the line.
"Pah, besides she will never take my Express line!" says Gordon as he puffed away. During the Express run, Gordon couldn't help but think about this new Engine. A few moments later, Gordon saw a big engine, with a yellow coat of paint that he didn't recognize. Was it the new Engine was all he was wondering, because the new Engine did look about as big as him and Henry. When Gordon arrived at Vicarstown, he saw the new Engine again with the Fat Controller. Gordon then puffed next to them.
"Gordon, I want you to meet Rebecca. She is the new engine." said the Fat Controller.
"Hello Gordon." says Rebecca shyly "Nice to meet you." Gordon took no notice.
"Will she be pulling the Express?" Gordon asked, this made Rebecca upset.
"Gordon! We will give her a test run and when needed she will pull the Express sometimes. Understood?" said the Fat Controller crossly which quieted Gordon "Anyway, Rebecca, I want you to meet up with Emily and she will give you a train."
"Yes sir." Rebecca replied, when she tried to move, her wheels were slipping on the rail, she had a wheel slip, which made her blush out of embarrassment, praying no one took notice. Gordon did and the second he did, he saw the perfect opportunity to still keep the Express.
"Ha! A wheel slip! Ha ha ha!" chuckled Gordon and puffed proudly, before the Fat Controller could say anything. Rebecca then left the station, still blushing as well.
"He had to say it out loud!" said Rebecca to herself, clearly embarrassed about her wheel slip. She then arrived at Thomas' Branch Line, where Emily is shown putting Annie and Clarribel back at the coach shed.
"Hello, I suppose you are Emily." Rebecca asked.
"Yes I am." Emily replied "Its a pleasure to meet you." Rebecca felt relieved, seems like not all the Engines on Sodor will make fun of her over her wheel slip problem "I already have your trucks set up." said Emily pointing to a siding with a long slow train "You need to take them to Brendam Docks right away."
"Understood." said Rebecca, when she had her wheel slip issue again, Emily did notice, but took no issue with it, didn't even try to make fun of her. That is, until Diesel showed up.
"Seriously? A wheel slip? Make sure everything isn't delayed new engine." said Diesel making fun of Rebecca, which made Emily cross.
"Diesel! You don't make fun of engines for issues that they don't have control over!" howled Emily at Diesel, which did make Rebecca feel better as she went away.
"Hope she doesn't cause any 'confusion and delay', that's the last thing we would want." oiled Diesel and went away. Just then, Rebecca coupled up to her trucks, still embarrassed over Diesel.
"I am sorry for Diesel's rude behavior, he is like that." said Emily.
"Its alright... I am kind of used to it." said Rebecca as she was trying to start up and then left the station. Rebecca was going along the Main Line just fine, until she went up Gordon's Hill, the Troublesome Trucks didn't feel particularly threatened by Rebecca, usually trucks would behave with Engines they are used to or when they feel threatened, such as Edward or Oliver, but Rebecca didn't have that, so they could play tricks on her. When she reached up Gordon's Hill, she had to slow down a bit before continuing, but the Trucks took that as an opportunity.
"Go on! Go on! Go on!" cried the Trucks as they pushed Rebecca down the Hill. Rebecca was already a heavy train and with her wheel slip issue, things were looking grim as she went down the hill.
"Please stop!" Rebecca asked politely "I don't want to go any faster!"
"On! On! On!" said the Trucks, giggling all the way. Rebecca had to do something, she tried to brake but she was going too fast! Rebecca was going so fast that she went completely off the rails and crashed violently on a field, with her train falling alongside her. When things finally calmed down, Rebecca felt silly and sad, she was especially scared if she messed up so much that the Fat Controller would make her leave Sodor without giving her a second try. After some time, Emily arrived with Rocky.
"Oh no! Rebecca! Are you okay?!" asked a concerned Emily.
"I... I am alright." said Rebecca, with a sad expression, as Rocky was ready to lift her onto the Flatbed. Whilst Rocky was doing that, James was passing by.
"Ha ha! A wheel slip? Gordon told me about it! Wouldn't want someone like you to pull the Express now would we? You would dishonor all Tender Engines!" said James. Then Gordon passed along.
"Serves you right! Serves you right!" said Gordon. Emily was infuriated with Gordon, James and Diesel today, she wanted a word with them. Rebecca on the other hand felt ill founded and depressed, she hates her wheel slip especially, since it usually prevented her from making any friends. Poor Rebecca had the sad expression all the way to the Steam Works. Will she ever be able to make friends on the Island of Sodor?