Lady's eyes glared into the diesel's soul like daggers. Lily, on the other hand, was too shocked to do or say anything.
"You...ugly devil," She began, her voice literally wobbling with rage, surprising her young driver. "For God's sake, get out of here and leave us alone! You have made the happy world into a hell, not just for me, but for all people and engines alike! I know you enjoy looking at your awful deeds, so go! Follow those engines, and take a look at that example of your butcheries!" She spoke bitterly, and looking like she could explode any minute.
"Shame on you, you deformed, metal thug!" She hissed. "Oh God, who made this wonderful man, revenge his death! Oh earth, which soaks up his blood, revenge his death! Either send lightning to strike this diesel dead or let the earth open wide and devour him, as it does this good man's blood." She cried, tears running down her face.
At last, Lily, spoke up. "Lady, please- you're not in a state to being saying all this. Please, let's just-"
"My dear Lady, you don't know the rules of charity." Diesel 10 cut in, smoothly, as if to mock the fuchsia engine. "When faced with bad, you're supposed to turn it into good, and when you are cursed, you're supposed to convert them into blessings- it's not like you to being saying such, now is it?" Here, he smiled shadily.
"Even the vilest of engines, human, wild animals, have more conscience than you'll ever have in your rotten fuel tank." Lily shot back, shocked at her word choice and tone of voice. She, like Lady, couldn't keep this stoic face any longer.
"An animal? That's a new one," The evil diesel smirked. "It's isn't my fault, dear lady. Neither my driver, nor your worthy Sir Topham Hatt, have taught me anything about conscience."
Isn't that the truth? Lily thought quietly.
"It's even stranger to see Lady so angry." He observed. "Divine, magical engine, and you too, my dear Lily- please, give me a chance to prove in detail that I'm innocent of these accidents you accuse me of."
Lady and Lily could hardly believe what they were hearing. Diesel 10 was the one who admitted he had done these evils, it was so obvious that he didn't even have to explain it- and now he was...innocent...? No way.
"Let's say I didn't kill Burnett Stone," He began. "And let's say that I never crashed Lady the first time, either." The pink engine just scoffed.
"You might as well just say Burnett is not dead." Lady spat. "He is dead, and you killed him, you devilish engine!"
"I did not kill Burnett Stone." the diesel spoke, calmly and flatly.
"Then he must be alive then...?" Lady challenged.
"No, he is dead. It was the Fat Controller who killed him..." Diesel 10, answered, still calm. For Lily, this did it.
"Just give a rest, would you?" The woman blurted out. "You're lying. Hundreds of people saw you ram the train that day. And we all know it was you who crashed Lady as well- and I'm positive you would have crashed her again if Thomas hadn't destroyed the bridge."
"You misunderstand, woman," Diesel 10 retorted sharply. "Steam engines are agitators. They provoked me, and my fellow diesels. I'm willing to bet if you were a diesel engine yourself, you would have tried destroyed them as well."
"No, I wouldn't have." Lily shot back, growing more and more livid. "The only thing that 'provoked' you was your own corruption, Diesel! Not even a diesel would've had the heart to destroy a fellow engine!"
"Now, now, Lily," Lady interrupted, having been silent for a while. "You must rise in order to fall. Trust me, deep in my boiler I know that Diesel will be haunted for this wicked deed; just you wait. My dear Burnett is in heaven now, where he will never go." She finished, glaring at the diesel across from her. The latter just smiled rudely at her.
"I just hope he thanks me, for getting there," He spoke frivolously. "He's better suited to be there than here."
"And you're not suited for any place except the scrapyards," Lily muttered under her breath.
"Not just the scrapyards..."
"Then where else?"
"The Magic Railroad." The diesel finished abruptly.
...
After some shocked silence, Lady spoke, quietly. "There's no magic to any railroad where you appear." But the diesel just chuckled.
"Lady, or ladies, let's stop this, rapid-fire argument and move more slowly. Do you two not think it's possible that the Fat Controller, who runs this railway, is responsible for all of this. Knowing the kind of diesel I am, and giving me another chance to wreck havoc on the innocent- is he not also responsible for, not just Burnett Stone's untimely passing, but that of many passengers as well?" He inquired innocently, like that of a television pundit.
"You are the one responsible diesel, and you know it." Lily replied bitterly from her engine's cab.
"You and your steamies caused me to do what I did," Diesel 10 corrected. "You want the truth, yes? Well, I was jealous of you lot. And Lady's magic. So the only way to control my envy was to be rid of what was causing it! Is that so bad?"
Lady and Lily were silent.
"Strange, wanting to take revenge on the another engine who admires you all." He murmured, his voice directed at Lady this time.
"Of course she wants revenge, Diesel, you killed her driver!" Lily argued crossly.
"I only did it for the better, dear Lily." Diesel 10 justified softly, the same stupid, evil smirk on his face.
"There's was no better engine driver than Burnett," Lady said quietly, on the verge of tears.
"There's one more who could have loved you more than he," Diesel 10 piped up, overhearing her.
"Who?"
"Myself."
A wad of saliva found its way into Diesel 10's left eye, and the diesel shuddered to himself.
"Spitting on me...now that's not something your grandfather taught you, I'm sure." He said to a red faced Lily, who was was staring daggers into the ochre diesel's face. Even Lady seemed surprised by this act.
"Get out of here...now." Lily said, through gritted teeth.
"Lily..." Lady interjected.
But Lily herself had come prepared. Angrily, she leapt back into her engine's cab and came back out holding...sugar?
Here, the diesel froze. He remembered Mr. Conductor threatening him with the same action the night he destroyed Tidmouth Sheds- he knew he had crossed the line. But how could he keep his plan going without being...ruined, in the process.
"Go ahead. Do it," The diesel oiled softly and earnestly. "It was me who killed Burnett Stone, and crashed Lady, and took over the Steamworks, and did everything vile! Though it was your lifestyle, your treatment, your everything, that made me act." With that he shut his eyes, waiting for the fuel in his tank to be soured with the sugar.
Lily sat there a moment, wondering what to do next. Sure, this was the diesel, simply the spawn of Satan. He killed her grandfather, and many others. He had crashed Lady and almost harmed several engines. But here, he seemed to have a heart. It seemed genuine. But the young woman wasn't so sure. Nonetheless, she lowered her arms holding the bag of sugar, and walking over to the cab, threw the bag on the floor, before walking around to Lady's front.
Lady, on the other hand, watched her new driver carefully. She too did not know what to say, or believe. However, this was the same diesel that nearly had sent her to scrapyards years ago. But while she wanted Diesel 10 to pay for what he had done to her and precious owner, she didn't want to see him cease to exist; at least, not in this fashion.
"I'd like to think all engines have some hope," Lady told Diesel 10, breaking her silence.
"And you two will forgive me?" The latter asked.
Lady's eyes drifted to Lily, who had not budged from her stance, before speaking again. "I'll take your apology, but don't assume I'm giving you anything in return." She answered, sternly.
Diesel 10 changed countenance, now looking much more grateful at the thought of a second chance being given. In his mind, however, he was much more pleased that the magical engine and her driver had bought his yarn.
"Please leave it to me to make it up to you," He replied, graciously. "I have more reason to mourn than you do. My actions were indeed vile or sickening, now that I repaint it all- Please, come to the Dieselworks with me! That way you can see for yourself how much I've changed. After I have visited poor Burnett Stone at his grave, I'll hurry over to have you meet my fellow diesels, they'll tell you how much I've changed. For various reasons that must remain secret- please do this for me. Please?" Diesel 10 finished, hoping that Lady would accept.
Both Lady and Lily looked at each other. This was out of the ordinary. It wasn't anything like Diesel 10 to offer a visit to a steam engine- let alone, Lady, of all engines! After some thought, Lily walked over to Diesel 10.
"We'll do it," Lily managed a small, but not forced, smile. "I'm just happy to see you've been regretting what you've done."
"Farewell, then, Diesel," Lady said quietly, as Lily made her way back into Lady's cab. Lily could tell, deep down, that Lady was starting to have doubts about her own decision. Lily felt this feeling hit her as well, but still, she managed to shoot this down. Maybe Diesel 10 was indeed changed- it had been years since these accidents, in he was well taught a lesson for them.
"Farewell ladies," Diesel 10 responded, kindly, as the pink engine set off for Muffle Mountain once more.
...
No sooner than Lady was out of sight, Diesel 10 set off along the line once more, chortling to himself. His plan had worked-again! He felt about ten times more intelligent. It really did take an evil diesel to be this clever...
"Has any engine ever won another over, in this state of mind?" He asked himself, still laughing softly. "And has a plan like this ever worked, as I've done it? I, who killed Lady's driver and his passengers, managed to win the little engine, and her Lily Stone, over when their hatred for me was strongest, while they're cursing, sobbing their eyes out!" Here he let out a hearty, evil, chuckle, before he stopped, to look at the sky in thought.
"Do they not know what I had done? Not only did I kill Mr. Stone, and many others, but I crashed her, literally robbed the Fat Hatt's engines of their property, and wrecked it! Have they not gotten word of such vile deeds? Rubbish! Now Lady sees me, as a good, decent old Diesel..."
He continued along the line until he passed by a rain puddle. Diesel 10 marveled at the reflection- he was very proud of himself at this point. And prouder shall he continue to become- after all, this was just the beginning of his devious deed.
"Come out, beautiful sun—until I've a mirror to admire my reflection in, I'll watch my shadow as I stroll along." And with that, he set off for along the line, formulating new steps to the plan that would cost so many lives.