All throughout the week, diesels and steam engines worked together in multiple areas of work, although, none of them really enjoyed it. But they knew that they had to keep up the blasted charade for the Fat Controller's sake, the latter of which was still ill, though improving day by day. Or, so they thought.
At last the time came where the Fat Controller was well enough to get out of bed, and see his engines for the first time in weeks. He called all steam engines and diesels down to the yard to hold a congratulatory meeting. He stood on the platform, alongside Lady Hatt, where a photographer was snapping pictures of the eager event. The Fat Controller was looking very pale, but in good spirits. But inside, however, he felt his heart break. If only the news he was about to give them weren't so...depressing...Oh, how could he word this...
"Well, I must say, I'm very proud of all of you," He began, slowly. "You must all keep up this united front..." He trailed off, and his face fell. "I used to worry about what would happen to you lot when I'm gone...but now, I think my soul can depart for heaven peacefully, since my dear engines have made peace here on earth." This made the engines alarmed.
"Please don't say that, sir!" Percy squeaked, horrified. "You're going to be well again, I promise! I'd hate to see you go!" He finished, on the verge of tears.
"Really, sir," Edward cut in. "I'd hate to think you're going...so soon... why, I thought you had almost recovered!" The others all agreed, shouting all sorts of sorrowful concerns of their controller's statement.
Sir Topham Hatt smiled fondly. Oh, how his engines loved him so! It melted his heart.
"Now, now," He said. "I'm sorry for causing alarm, but what I actually meant was that, come the day where I...pass away, I won't have to worry about the bitter rivalry between steam engines and diesel engines. I have no plans of leaving the earth any time soon!" He chuckled, earning a mixture of "Oooh's" and cheers of happiness. "I understand the rivalry will always remain somewhat, but now, that all of you have been getting along so well, it's about time we confront it. Now, Thomas, Den, Dart; Don't simply hide your hatred. Swear your loyalty for each other." He smiled broadly, hoping his engines would be just as excited as he was.
Thomas took a deep breath. "I... swear I have... cleansed my heart of all hate. I guarantee my friendship." He said, through gritted teeth, trying to cringe at his own statement.
"On my honor, I feel the same." Den and Dart chorused, with an equal amount of discomfort.
"Ah-ah-ah-make sure you mean what you say!" The Fat Controller reminded. "Like I've told you all, God, the ultimate King, will uncover your lies and cause you to be the death of each other." He said, with a sterner tone. The engines rolled their eyes, and repeated their statements again.
"On my honor, we swear we... love dear Thomas with all our hearts." Dart spoke, speaking for his best friend.
"And likewise, dear friends..." Thomas swore, warily, before all three engines smiled awkwardly for the photographer.
"The rest of you are not exempt from this—nor are all you, diesels." The Fat Controller continued, turning to his wife. "You have had too many separate factions among you. Steam engines, swear the oath. And please, don't do it for the camera!" He ordered.
"From now on, we forget the hatred we used to feel for you." The steam engines swore, though obvious sarcasm was evident.
"We swear we will never break this promise of friendship." The diesels responded, before all of the neighs involved shared an even more awkward smile for the photographer.
"See? Now that's better!" Sir Topham Hatt commented proudly. "I say, your promises are like medicine to my ailing heart. All we need to put the final touches on this future peace is for Diesel 10 to appear...anyone seen him?"
The steam engines cringed inwardly at the innocent question. Sure, they were able to fake an oath of loyalty to Diesel 10's lackeys, but the 10/10 diesel himself? That was whole other story.
"And just in time, here he comes with Sid and Norm!" Paxton hooted, as the ochre diesel and his cronies slithered into the yard.
"Why, good morning to my lovely controller! You are looking well, sir!" Diesel 10 complimented loudly, so that all the steamies could hear how kind he could be. "And to all my peers, how nice to see you!"
The steam engines couldn't help but groan on the inside.
"Happy indeed, the way we have spent the morning." The Fat Controller replied. "Diesel 10, we have done deeds of charity, turning enmity into peace and hate into love among these mistakenly angry engines." He announced.
"What blessed work, Sir," Diesel 10 crooned. "If there's anyone among this wonderful group who mistakes me for an enemy—if by accident or in anger I have done anything to offend you—I, too, want to join with you in peaceful friendship, for it just kills me to be enemies with you."
"Yeah. Sure." The steamies thought to themselves.
"I want all the engines' love. First, Sir, I want there to be peace between you and me, which I will buy with my obedient service to you." This caused the Fat Controller to put on a fond and proud grin.
"And peace with you, Thomas, my friend, if you ever felt any grudge against me; and with you, Edward, Henry, Gordon- with all of you. In fact, I want to get along with everyone who has frowned on me without good cause—steamies, diesels, humans, everyone. There is not an face on Sodor with whom I'm at odds- I thank God for my humbleness." He finished, with the photographer snapping photos left and right at this meek yet haughty speech of friendship. The other diesels, hooted and tooted their horns at the leader's eloquent confession, while the steam engines just glared.
"He'll say just about anything for the papers," Gordon muttered to James, darkly. "The indignity..."
At last Lady Hatt spoke up, and smiled broadly at Diesel 10. "I declare that today shall always be remembered as a holy day." She spoke with great confidence, something her engines rarely got to see. "If only all struggles ended this well!" She sighed happily.
"One more thing, sir, madam," Mavis spoke up from behind Paxton. "Please pardon Diesel, as well; it's not like him to be late to things like these, but you know Diesel..." She pardoned, earning weak laughs from the all other engines.
"Why, Mavis? Have I offered you all my deepest friendship only to be flouted in front of Sir Topham Hatt? Who doesn't know that Diesel has been scrapped?" He countered abruptly.
This caused even greater alarm than before. They all started speaking in frantic hushed tones, while some let out gasps in fright.
"Who doesn't know he's scrapped? Who says he is?" Thomas retorted, shocked, causing some muttering amongst the steam engines. As much as Diesel tormented them all, and they hated it-Diesel was...dead?!
"Oh! What a terrible world this is!" exclaimed Lady Hatt, who, about to faint, was escorted inside by a stationmaster before she lose consciousness.
"Is Diesel...dead?" inquired Sir Topham Hatt, cautiously. "But, I just sent him out of the sheds last night- to do some errands for me-how could this happen?" He asked quickly and worriedly.
"Well," replied Diesel 10, solemnly. "The poor engine was scrapped by your order, which was then carried out. Surely, you were too ill and feverish to remember such a thing- but you did command it, Sir. If this frightens you so, you should have the engines who delivered it meet a similar fate- but, as I said, dear controller, this was by your orders, and this is your railway, correct?"
"Correct...it is," replied Sir Topham Hatt, sharply. "Now, I may not remember a thing I said in my illness, but I would never scrap a dear engine of mine- no matter how troublesome," He gasped for breath during his beginning tirade, worrying some engines.
"Sir..." Edward warned.
"He was only to blame for a few deeds he had done on Sodor!" But his punishment...do go out like this... was bitter death. And by the way- not an engine in the yard ever defended poor Diesel from these deeds- and now, you blame me for his death?" He spluttered, growing more sorrowful and angry by the minute.
"Who, whenever I was in a rage at Diesel, told me to reconsider? Who talked about their friendship with him? Who talked about him at all, except when it was to complain about him?" All the engines were silent.
"What about the time he helped build a weatherproof roof for the schoolchildren? What about when he helped rebuild Tidmouth Sheds? Or when he helped Whiff clean his Waste Dump?" At last, the Fat Controller broke down, all the while gasping for breath, as the stress was becoming too much...
"...All these good things...and not one of you...plead for his life...Oh, poor Diesel!" He cried, before stopping abruptly, clenching his heart, and dropping to the ground seconds later with a loud thud.
The engines all screamed with alarm, with a few going to get help. The photographer had been snapping pictures of the dramatic scene before Thomas's driver had him ushered out by the stationmaster.
...
Nothing much could be done, however. Despite over forty minutes of CPR, the Fat Controller could not be saved, sending his engines into a whirlwind of despair.
All of the engines decided it was best to set off for home, with Edward shunting an inconsolable Percy back to Tidmouth, while the others, though tearful, attempted to hold in their sobs, for their dear controller was gone- just as he said he would be, moments earlier.
"You lot, see? This is what happens when you act rashly," Diesel 10 said aloud, solemnly. "Did you notice how the steam engines' guilty looks? Or how they turned pale when they heard about Diesel's death? Oh, I'm willing to bet that they continually urged the fat man to do it." He said, to Sidney, Norman, and Paxton this time. "Don't worry-God will revenge it. But come, my friends, will you come with me to the Dieselworks to 'comfort' the...more remorseful diesels...?" He inquired sinisterly to his minions.
The three diesels conceded to this, and set off for the Dieselworks, while all of Sodor had a dark cloud hanging over them all.
...
I'm sorry for such dark material! But on the other hand, this play is really depressing. :( Anyway, I hope you liked the update!