From here on out, this story will be rated T for murder. I hate for it to be so morbid, but that's what makes a good story sometimes, I suppose. Well, I hope you enjoy it! :D
...
Diesel grumbled miserably as a crept into the Smelter's Yards late that night. The black diesel was asleep when his engineer had gotten the impromptu message that he had to take trucks of scrap to the site. On top of that, Diesel had been getting a good night's sleep lately at all, for he had been plagued by weird nightmares for the past week or so.
Arry and Bert noticed their compatriot crawl dully into the yard, and noticed his long face. Not that they weren't used to it...
"Oi- Diesel, what are you doing here, mate? It's half past midnight!" Arry called.
"And why do you look so depressed? Talk, Diesel," Bert added, in a rare showing of sympathy.
Diesel sighed. "Ah, I had a miserable night. It was strange; I've been having these dark and terrifying dreams, dreams that I swear, I wouldn't spend another night like that if it guaranteed me a five lightyears of extra existence."
The twins were surprised. "What were ya' dreamin' about?" Arry inquired curiously. Diesel took a deep breath before recalling his morbid nightmare.
"I thought I had been kicked off Sodor by the Fat Controller again, and was on a ship to the Mainland with Diesel 10. Looking toward to leaving wretched Sodor, we reminisced about the countless troubles we had caused for the Fat Hatt and his steam engines.
As the boat docked at the Mainland docks, it started lurching heavily, and Diesel 10 almost rolled right off! I managed to couple up super quickly to keep him from falling, but he knocked me overboard into the crashing waves..."
Arry and Bert were awestruck.
"Oh, how painful it was to drown. I didn't even know engines could- until that dream...The sound of the rushing water was terrible, and so were the sights. As I sank to the bottom of the ocean, I saw a thousand shipwrecks, a thousand engines whom fish had gnawed to the bone, huge anchors, chunks of gold, heaps of pearls, and precious jewels—all scattered on the bottom of the sea."
"So... you had time as you were dying to look around?" Bert asked, puzzled.
"Well, I thought I was dying!" Diesel blurted out. "But the terrible water always held me back. It wouldn't let my soul find its way to air but smothered it inside my frames. My fuel tank wanted so badly to...to... vomit, up my spirit that it almost burst!" Here, Diesel sounded pained. Something rare, at least for Arry and Bert. They were so used to the stoic, inhumane and rude Diesel, and now, he almost seemed...terrified and scared. Like he was pleading for help and had nowhere else to turn. It was strange, indeed.
"And, didn't you wake up during this terrible dream?" Arry asked, appalled.
"Oh, no, my dream went on even after I died. In fact, the real nightmare had only just begun! I entered the Gates of Hell; and was greeted by the Grim Reaper himself! He pointed at me with his scythe at my fuel tank, and yelled, "What terrible punishment can this dark realm devise for the despicable, devious, Diesel?" And he vanished!
Then a ghost like a truck spattered in blood rolled by, and shrieked, "Diesel has finally arrived—lying, cowardly Diesel, who had bumped me in the yards so fiercely that I was smashed to pieces and scrapped. Grab him, avenging spirits, and torment him!" With that, a legion of ugly demons surrounded me and howled so loudly next to me that I woke up trembling, and for a long time, thought I was still in hell."
Arry and Bert were now shuddering at this horrid nightmare. They could never imagine going through such torment!
"Well, I don't blame ya' for being scared, Diesel. It scares me just to hear you talk about it!" Arry breathed.
"Oh, Arry-Bert- the bad things I've done are finally taking their toll on me... I did them for what? Thinking I could feel better about myself—and look how it rewards me."
Feeling beyond despondent, Diesel lifted his eyes to the ceiling of the Smelters. "Oh God, if my prayers don't satisfy you, and you have to avenge the wrongs I've done, at least punish me alone! Please spare my fellow diesels! I'm sorry! Arry, Bert- please, stay with me for a while? I'm feeling really low, and I need to sleep."
Arry and Bert were shocked. Diesel had a heart? They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"We'll stay Diesel!" They chorused dutifully. "Good night, Diesel!" They called, before retiring to the back of the Smelters for a good night sleep of their own, which, considering what they had just heard, would be hard to achieve.
However, as they headed back, they were surprised to find Sidney and Norman entering the yard, which confused them to no end; and annoying them, even more so.
"What do you two want?" Arry snapped. "It's almost one in the morning!"
"And how did you get in here? We blocked the entrance!" Bert added, exasperated.
"We want to speak with Diesel, and we got here on our wheels, same as you." Norman answered, just as bluntly.
"You mean that's it? Can't it wait?" Bert shot back.
"We came on notice from the Fat Controller- say no more." Sidney retorted.
Arry and Bert were silent for a moment. Then they looked to one another and sighed. "Well, alright," Arry relented. "But make it quick, got it?"
"Got it." Sidney and Norman chorused. Still feeling uneasy, but determined to get a good night's rest, the twin diesels slunk off for some sleep.
...
"So, what; should we just pour the sugar in his tank while he's asleep?" Sidney asked his companion.
"No. When he wakes up, or else Diesel 10 would say we did it like cowards." Norman responded.
"What- just look at him. He'll never wake up till the Apocalypse!" Sidney whined, before shuddering briefly at his word choice. "Now that I say it, Norm- all this morbid talk is making feel a bit...guilty."
Norman stared at his blue compatriot. "You're afraid to do it, aren't you?" He inquired, carefully.
"No- not for killing Diesel per se," Sidney began. "But the fact that I'll have to live with this forever, is kind of changing my mind."
"You said you're okay with doing this..." Norman replied, annoyed.
"I'm okay with...letting him live..." Sidney trailed off.
At last, Norman lost patience. "Fine- I'll go back to Diesel 10 and tell him myself," He replied evenly, backing out of the yard.
"Please! Wait! Just wait a minute." Sidney pleaded quickly. "I'm hoping this mood will pass. It usually only lasts about twenty seconds."
And the two diesels sat in awkward silence, waiting for Sidney to cut this holy act.
"Are you okay now?" Norman asked, breaking the silence.
"A bit better, but I am still feeling the pangs of conscience." His accomplice replied, sadly.
"Just remember, the reward we get, when this is over," Norman reminded, smiling softly.
"Yay, Diesel dies! I forgot the reward," Sidney replied, sarcastically. "Nothing much for us, eh? It still doesn't fix my conscience, Norm!" He burst out, feeling exhausted.
"And when Diesel 10 gives us our reward, that conscience will be gone in a minute!" Norman muttered.
"It won't..."
"Think of it this way," Norman reasoned. "Conscience makes one a coward, and in deeds such as this, you can't have remorse; you just can't, Sid. You need to just do it without thinking about it; it goes quickly, you won't even notice it!"
This made Sidney change his mind a little bit. Maybe this was for a greater cause-maybes this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"You know, you're right, Norm...shall we get to work?" He smiled bravely.
"Of course, my friend," The red diesel replied, smiling himself. "Let's start with-"
"No! He's waking up!"
Diesel, now roused by the diesels' chatter, was shocked to find his companions in the yards. "Norm? Sid? What are you two doing here?" He asked in alarm.
"You two are scaring me..." Diesel winced, trembling at their beady eyes. "Your eyes look threatening. Who sent you here? Why are you here?" He asked nervously, before realizing what was happening.
"...you're...here to...scrap me, aren't you...?" He asked, his voice shaking dangerously.
"That's right," Sidney and Norman chirruped sinisterly, still inching toward Diesel, ready to pounce any minute.
"Scrapping me...your friend...without telling me..." Diesel replied, appalled and feeling very sick. "Besides, why? What did I ever do to you?!" He barked, regaining control over his nerves.
"You didn't offend us; you offended the Fat Controller," Norman answered.
"Well, you know the Fat Controller, he'll give me another chance, just like he always has!" Diesel countered.
"Not this time," Sidney joined in. "Prepare your final plea, my friend..."
"You can't do this to me!" Diesel shouted angrily, now backing up to get away from them. "You can't just get rid of me like this! The Fat Controller would never approve it!"
"What we do, we do under the Sir Topham Hatt's orders," Norman snapped.
"Wrong!" Diesel yelled. "Sir Topham Hatt may not like us diesels, but he would never- NEVER-seek to hurt one of his engines so savagely like this!"
"You came to Sodor to follow his instructions-something you've never done since you first days here!" Sidney protested. "You've done nothing but harass steam engines from dawn till dusk!"
"How dare you tell us about the Fat Controller's rules when you have broken them so savagely yourself?" Norman reprimanded.
"The Fat Controller had it coming! He treats us diesels just as harshly as I treat steamies! It was good conscience, and I had every right to do so!" Diesel shot back. "Besides- what will Diesel 10 say make of this?" He asked innocently, hoping to spark some guilt.
"You're mistaken. Diesel 10 hates you." Sidney replied, his words cutting into Diesel's radiator like a knife.
"It's Diesel 10 who sent us here to scrap you." Norman added, with a twisted smile.
Diesel now felt dizzy, like he could faint any moment. Diesel 10 had felt so sorry for him- he had even promised to defend him on his behalf- and what was happening now...?
"But-but-but..." Diesel tried to reason, but he didn't get to finish, for Norman and Sidney were now charging straight towards him at full speed, and he was racing backwards as quickly as possible.
As the three reached a fork in the track, Sidney stopped quickly. Conscience and guilt had consumed him once more.
"Sid?! What are you doing?" Norman cried, still charging after Diesel.
"I want nothing to do with this, Norm!" Sidney shouted nobly, before bolting out of the Smelter's Yard as quickly as he could before Norman could bring him back.
Behind Diesel, the metal jaw of the Smelter's oven opened quickly, and now, Diesel knew what was coming for him.
His nightmare was coming true.
With a howling scream, Diesel, unable to stop himself in time, entered the thousand-degree Smelters oven, where he would be melted in no time flat. The jaw of the oven door shut quickly with a deafening bang.
Norman, pleased with his work, stop in front of the door, and listened for moment. Diesel's wailing seemed to fill the air like a banshee howl, lingering like a ghost. Very fitting for the moment, indeed. After the ghostly shrieks had passed, the red diesel hurried out of the yard, eager to report back to Diesel 10 about the murder that just took place. As he hurried up the line, he ran into Sidney, and scolded him for his cowardice, but not for long. The deed had been done, after all.
But nothing more was seen or heard from Diesel after that.