The next morning at Knapford Station, Edward and Henry were consoling a sobbing Lady Hatt on the platform. The Fat Controller had fallen seriously ill with a bout of pneumonia three weeks prior, and while he was still bustling about with his work, the rotund man always seemed to look like he could keel over any minute. This worried his wife, and the other engines, greatly.
"Don't worry, Ma'am, I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt will be better soon," Edward reassured.
"Indeed, Lady Hatt, ma'am; you know him better than we do, and you know you're bound to make him ten times worse with your worrying." Henry reminded softly.
Lady Hatt sniffed, and took a deep breath. "But...what if poor Topham were to die?" She countered, both choking on, and wincing at her words. "What happened to me? Or to you engines? Or to the railway? I couldn't bear that!"
Edward and Henry exchanged worried looks. While their controller wasn't too old in age, and very rarely fell ill, he was prone to having even the smallest illness render him bedridden for weeks at a time. Now, he had a serious illness- what would happen should he...pass on?
"Well, nothing more than Sir Topham Hatt being in a better place, I'd expect..." Edward replied awkwardly.
"And should anything happen to the Fat Controller, you us engines and your family. And we shall always be here if you need comfort," Henry added with a small smile. "Besides, Ma'am, didn't the Fat Controller say he was going to leave an engine in charge of us for the time being? He's done that on many occasions." He asked curiously.
"Yes, Henry; it was Percy, I believe," Edward answered.
Lady Hatt frowned at the two engines. "Well, you two do remember what happened last time Percy was in charge," She began. The two tender engines understood; Percy was a sweet and responsible engine, most of the time, but he definitely was too young to run a railway. Especially after last time. "He mentioned having Diesel 10 watch you lot, while he is ill." Lady Hatt continued.
This made Edward and Henry uneasy. Sure, Diesel 10 had learned his lesson after trying to take over the Steamworks; he and the other diesels were punished severely for it. But, he had seemed to turn over a new leaf recently. Unless there was something they didn't know about- but they still weren't sure about how the other engines would react.
"Has this been confirmed, ma'am?" Edward inquired, carefully.
"It's been decided, though not yet officially announced. But that's what will happen, should anything go awry with my husband." Lady Hatt answered.
Before the two engines could respond, Paxton and Thomas arrived, looking pleased to see Lady Hatt on the platform.
"Good morning, ma'am!" They chorused cheerfully.
"Beg pardon, ma'am, but Paxton and I have news about the Fat Controller." Thomas told her.
"And how is he, Thomas?" The woman inquired.
"He's just fine ma'am, and he's hopeful he''ll recover soon," The little blue engine reassured kindly.
"Pardon ma'am, but he also said that he wants to patch things up between Diesel 10 and his other engines, and between the other diesels as well. He has sent them all to come here this afternoon," Paxton told her.
Here, Lady Hatt exchanged a brief look at Edward and Henry. She now felt the same queasiness that the two engines had felt at her earlier statement regarding Diesel 10.
"I wish I could believe you that all was well, but I'm worried that things can only go downhill from here." She sighed.
Suddenly, a flurry of angry rattling and disgruntled muttering filled the station. In came Diesel 10, accompanied by Sidney the blue diesel and Norman the red diesel. Thomas, Edward, and Henry looked to one another with distaste as they overheard the diesel's rants, while Paxton just sat there awkwardly. As a diesel, he was used to hearing the ochre diesel's rants on steamies.
"They're out to get me, and I won't stand for it!" He bellowed loudly to the diesels behind him. "Which of you two have been complaining to the Fat Hatt that I don't like steamies?! I say, whoever started these rumors must have it in for the fat man..." Lady Hatt turned her head slowly towards Diesel 10, clearly offended. Thomas, Edward and Henry just shot icy cold glares in his direction. Paxton, on the other hand, just hoped that Diesel 10 would realize that he wasn't the only one in the station...did he have to talk so loudly?
"Just because I don't know how to flatter and act nice, or smile in their faces and, as soon as their backs are turned, spread rumors about them, now I admit that; people have to think I'm the enemy. ALL THE TIME! Can't this diesel live and do no harm to anyone without being taken advantage of by a bunch of slick, sneaky lowlifes like the Fat Man's steam kettles?" He barked to no one in particular. At least so he thought. Lady Hatt, who now couldn't take anymore of this vulgarity, had a station assistant take her inside for peace and quiet. The other engines stayed put.
"And who are you referring to, Diesel?" Edward retorted.
"Why, you lot, of course," The diesel shot back. "You're all a lot of dishonest hunks of scrap, aren't you?! When did I ever do you all any harm?" He yelled.
Thomas, Edward, and Henry stayed silent. If the three engines had bet a dime on all the 'harm' that Diesel 10 had inflicted on them, this whole railway would have been plated in gold by now.
"I'm willing to bet that the Fat Controller can't get a minute's rest without you all bothering him with your outrageous complaints." Diesel 10 spat bitterly.
"You're wrong, Diesel," Thomas piped up angrily. "Sir Topham Hatt himself noticed your hatred toward everyone and everything. No one had to point it out to him—it's obvious. The Steamworks, Lady, everything."
"He asked us to see him." Henry added, "He wanted to find out the reasons for your devious deeds, so he could do something about it."
Diesel 10, if he could, felt like he would vomit on hearing Lady's name. Nonetheless, he was eager to win this argument, so he carried on.
"Well, I can't tell what's going on. Sodor has become such a nasty place these days that now little wrens have settled where eagles used to roost. Since every peasant has been made into a nobleman, many noblemen have been dragged down to the level of peasants."
The other engines raised eyebrows at this odd analogy, before Edward broke the silence. "Did the Fat Controller not give you what you wanted?" He questioned. "You diesels asked for a new diesel works, and you got it- why be so ungrateful? We even helped you repair it!"
"Indeed you did," The diesel replied. "But we were also punished right after-something we wouldn't have been had you and your group of tin kettles not snitched on us...Oh, and I'll bet you'll also deny you were responsible for Diesel getting shut up in the Dieselworks!"
"We may, but that's because-" Thomas began.
"May?! May, Thomas?!" Diesel 10 spluttered. "Everybody knows you may. You may do a lot more than that; you steamies may help yourselves to get much more special treatment, like the spoiled steam engines you already are, and then deny this as well, claiming you earned them by hard work. What can't you do? You could even—"
"Even what?" Thomas cut off, furiously.
"Even what?" Diesel 10 repeated, mocking Thomas's voice, before chuckling, causing Sidney and Norman behind him to also laugh.
"I've had enough of this!" Edward barked, making everyone else nearly jump out of their frames. Very rarely, did the blue engine lose his temper, even with Diesel 10 of all engines. "We've have suffered from you and your bitterness towards steam engines for too long. I personally will tell Sir Topham Hatt about it this time. I would rather be scrapped if it meant I could escape your scorn and constant harassment." He finished, scornfully. Thomas, Henry and Paxton were shocked at Edward's tone- this was the same Edward who had saved Trevor the traction engine from scrap, and now he was nearly wishing himself to the scrapyards. They couldn't believe it!
"Threatening to tattle on me again, huh?" Diesel 10 scoffed. "Go ahead, and don't spare a single detail. Listen up, steamies. I too have had enough. I have no problem saying what I said to you in front of the Fat Hatt himself! And if it means I'll be sent to the Mainland, so be it. I think it's time for me to speak the truth."
Meanwhile, a newer voice was whispering:
"You, devilish Diesel 10,
I remember these deeds too well. You killed Burnett Stone, and several others, at Callan
I was the scapegoat, the packhorse, the messenger of your wicked deeds; I risked my own reputation for yours.
You were a devious villain then, and you still are.
May God take revenge on him!
Hurry to the scrapyards, then, and leave Sodor alone, you demon! Only in the scrapyard can you find your peace.
You, the diesel who ripped the joy out of an island so pure, so innocent, so, perfect...
I can no longer hold my tongue."
...
Who is this mysterious engine? Found out soon! Hope you all enjoyed this update!