Author's Note: I'm dreadfully sorry I left this! I had plans to update from months but life kept hammering away at me, and that combined with work and school has been horrible, to say the least. My depression has been coming back as well, I haven't been feeling like myself at all, I've had little to no excitement, and I'm also trying to write more so as to distract myself from these feelings. Pardon my rant, but this is just an update on me and where I've been this past month- hopefully you all understand. :)
On a happier note, Yay! Another update! One of my favorite scenes from the original play, also warning for very dark material at the end. Enjoy this darkly beautiful chapter! :)
Outside the Dieselworks, all of the diesels in Diesel 10's posse had congregated in front of the entrance. Paxton, at Diesel 10's orders, called an assembly among the diesels to plan their day of diesel domination. Most importantly, to discuss the day Diesel 10 was to take over the railway. Obviously not all the diesels were in accordance with this-Mavis and Salty especially, even Sidney to an extent, though he didn't have enough courage to tell the other diesels so. Any treason would warrant a punishment from Diesel 10, or worse.
"So, fellow diesels," Sidney started uneasily after the diesels had gathered that morning, "The reason we're meeting is to determine the day the great Diesel 10 takes over. But what do you lot think? When should this so-called royal day be?"
"Wait, is everything all ready first?" Paxton interjected.
"Absolutely," Norman affirmed. "All we have to do is pick the day."
"But what about Diesel 10's closest friends?" Paxton asked again. "Shouldn't their opinions matter the most?"
"Well," Mavis cut in smoothly, "As Diesel 10's lackey, I'm to assume your opinion would matter the most, Paxton." She pointed out, dryly, as if to hide her uneasiness with this whole situation.
"Well-yes- he knows me by face, by name," The teal diesel answered, "But as for his thoughts, I know nothing I'm afraid." He admitted sheepishly. "Hey Sid- you and Diesel 10 are pretty close- what do you think?"
Sidney suddenly became aware of all the diesels' eyes and focus fixed upon him. This made him very uncomfortable. Perhaps this was fate-sure it was something to say any opinion, but what would the diesels think of his actual opinion?
"Well, Pax, Diesel 10 and I are close, you're definitely right about that. But I'm the same as you, my friend- I haven't really asked about this whole 'take-over' ordeal, and he hasn't said much about this at all, either. Anyway, I really believe that you lot should name a time, as I think you all are more inclined to do so than I." He finished, his voice shaking a little.
As if to challenge Sidney's fate, Diesel 10 rolled through the entrance of the Dieselworks, honking loudly.
"Great," Sidney groaned to himself. "Speak of the devil."
"Greetings my fellow diesels!" Diesel 10 tooted. "I decided to sleep in today, my apologies. Hopefully, I haven't delayed anything, my dear diesels."
"Not at all!" Paxton piped up. "If you hadn't arrived, then our good friend Sidney would've taken your place for you! He does know more than the rest of us, after all."
"Don't I know it." The blue diesel thought to himself in a deadpan.
"Well, of course who would be bolder than my dear Sid," the ochre diesel replied with a smile, and Sidney didn't know how to tell whether he was serious or not.
"Now, Paxton, Norman- I need a word with you both- pardon me, dear diesels." Diesel 10 excused hastily, and proceeded out of the way with Paxton and Norman.
"So, Paxton, Norman here has sounded Sidney out last night, and found the prickly blue diesel is so opposed to our plan of domination," He whispered darkly. "And that he actually had the nerve to say he would-quote- 'give up his life' before he'd agree to have his myself take over the railway."
Paxton froze a moment. He did remember talking to Sidney the night before, and how uneasy the blue diesel seemed overtime he mentioned Diesel 10's name. Though the green diesel was too gullible to really decide where his loyalty lay, he eventually came to decision silently.
"Let's go inside, you two," He began. "I need a word." And the three diesels agreed before reversing into the Dieselworks.
...
"I wonder what those three are talking about," Mavis said curiously. But Sidney noticed something.
"Diesel 10 is in an unusually good mood today," He breathed. "And you lot know what that means- he's up to something."
The other diesels were confused.
"How so, matey?" Salty asked with concern.
"You always know he's got some plan that pleases him when he says good morning with such gusto." Sidney replied, matter-of-factly. "I don't think there's an engine under the sun who's worse at hiding his love or hate than Diesel 10. Why, you know his feelings immediately just by looking at his face!"
"Really- and what feeling do you see in his face today?" Mavis queried.
"That he's not angry with anyone here. If he were, he would have shown it." Sidney replied.
"Hmm, hopefully he isn't," Salty mused. "You know how stoic he can be at times."
Just then, Diesel 10 had returned outside with Paxton and Norman, wearing an unreadable expression.
"Tell me, all of you, what punishment should an engine deserve who conspires to kill me with witchcraft and who has already wracked my frames with black magic?"
The diesels looked beyond puzzled by the absurd question, and silence fell amongst the group. After about a minute or two, Sidney broke the silence.
"Well, since we're all diesels, and all very close, I would say that such an engine should be scrapped." He said, as if there could only be one answer to such a question.
"Then, see the evidence of their evil with your own eyes!" Diesel 10 shouted, and he rolled over to the turntable, and spun around, revealing badly scratched paintwork, much to the shock of the other diesels. Who could do such a thing? How could this happen? They thought.
"Look how I've been bewitched!" Diesel 10 moaned and groaned dramatically. "See how my paint has become like a battered dumpster? This is the work of that Lady! The monstrous witch of an engine, who is in league with that blasted steam engines. They have used Lady's witchcraft to harm me!"
The other diesels murmured quietly. Maybe Diesel 10 was right. Lady was a mysterious engine after all. She had very rarely been seen in these recent years, the last being when poor Burnett Stone was still alive. Even so, the magenta engine only appeared through a secret railway, and seem to hide her abilities from the other engines, except for Thomas. Perhaps, she was really was in cahoots with the steamies! Sidney, on the other hand, wasn't so sure.
"If they have done this thing, Diesel 10-"
"IF!?"
...
There was deadly silence. Not even a pin drop could be heard.
Diesel 10 was in a state of pure shock- An unreadable, yet frozen, look bloomed over the ochre diesel's face, almost like a man who had watched someone slap his mother. Sidney couldn't decipher this look either, but whatever he was feeling, he knew he had slipped up. Diesel 10 was clearly offended by this innocuous objection. Nonetheless, the blue diesel stood bravely, trying to figure out what superior was thinking.
"You... lover of those damned steam kettles... you're talking to me of "ifs"...?" Diesel 10 finally spoke, in a hushed tone, the expression of shock and anger now spreading into his tone of voice. At last, he sharply changed countenance and nothing pure, white, rage bloomed across his face.
"You're a traitor!" He bellowed. "SCRAP HIM! I swear by the dear Reverend's soul-I won't sleep until I see this diesel dead!. Arry! Bert! Make sure it gets done...and the rest of you lot who love me...come with me." He finished, in the same hushed voice as before.
Sidney didn't know what to do, or what to say. All he knew, was that things had gone from bad to worse. He didn't even mean to offend his master- it was just an objection! His fears were increased when slowly, all of the diesels in the yard- including Mavis and Salty- moved away from Sidney and towards Diesel 10, looking at the blue diesel with a look of silent contempt. And with a huff, Diesel 10 rolled into the Dieselworks, the other diesels following close behind like a loyal pack of puppies.
Sidney was all alone. With despair he spoke out loud, sullenly, "I pity Sodor, but not myself. I was too foolish. I might have prevented this. Mavis dreamed the boar devoured her, and I laughed and refused to comfort her. His eyes widened as he remembered something. "Oh George, George, your heavy curse has now landed on poor Sidney's miserable radiator!"
Arry and Bert's oiling up behind him interrupted his thoughts. "Hurry up- Diesel 10 wants to go to sleep." Arry jeered.
"Make your confession short. He's eager to see your ripped up frame." Bert added evilly. The twins' engineers stepped down from their diesels, bearing...gum scrapers...?
Sidney, knowing his fate, glared towards the entrance doors of the Dieselworks defiantly. "Oh bloody Diesel 10! Miserable Sodor, I foresee for you the most frightening time you have ever experienced! Come, lead me to the block! Bring him my frame! Those who smile at it will soon be dead themselves!"
A deafening scream filled the Sodor air, as the drivers used their gum scrapers to rip Sidney's face right off- some remnants of the face still stuck on the frame. Then, after coupling to Sidney's full frame. Arry and Bert both pulled, until poor Sidney was ripped in half- they had overheard the idea from Oliver a while back, and were more than glad to put it to good use.
And a blue destroyed frame and half-ripped face lay in the centre of the Dieselworks, waiting to be fully scrapped the next morning.