Luke just stared at his newfound companion.

He knew that he wanted to help Smudger somehow, but, how could he? He himself was meant to be kept hidden. How could he help someone who had been buried here, in a crypt of debris and despair and desolation?

It was quite ironic, Luke mused wryly, that he should be talking to a stranger about conquering his inner demons and making amends with his past; when he himself was sinking deeper and deeper into the depths of guilt and depression.

"Do you want to know what I think?" He asked innocently, attempting to push the morose thoughts from his funnel for the time being.

"What, kid?" Smudger asked, with a small growl evident in his tone. He didn't want to talk to Luke- true, he was nice enough- but, he had long since given up on ever getting out of this damned tomb he had created for himself.

He had been locked in here for so long; why bother leaving? He knew the railway was closed, and he had no doubt he won't be welcomed anywhere else. He was old, and clearly in need of a good overhaul.

"I know we've both done wrong in our lives, but you've more than paid for it, and I think that you deserve a second chance at working again." Luke continued, disrupting Smudger's thoughts.

"But I'm too old for work..." The older engine attempted to argue.

"I know friends much older than you, Smudger, and they still work today." Luke challenged cheekily, clearly keen to keep trying.

But then, Smudger watched as his face morphed back into a solemn, almost philosophical expression. "You have no excuse for what you did, all those years ago, but you have a chance to make things right, Smudger- a chance to repair bridges with Duke, and maybe even befriend him. I can't make it up with the yellow engine, because he's gone. The loss of an engine's life is unforgivable, whatever the cause; and no matter how many times I say sorry, or declare I've learned a lesson in patience, it doesn't take away the fact that I caused an innocent engine's death. Please, Smudger- I know you can make amends with Duke."

"Man, I never thought about it like that." The old engine admitted. "You're right. I should patch things up. But what if he doesn't want to talk to me?"

But much to his amusement, his new friend just raised an eyebrow at him. "I came out to talk to you personally; to help you find a second chance."

"Why? I'm stuck in this run down shed on a line time has forgotten about! I've no friends to celebrate the season with and my crew can't visit because they're dead. Besides, they often complained about how annoying I was. What you see in me I've no idea." He sighed sadly, before adding defiantly, "Besides from us screwing up the rest of our lives with mistakes."

This new obstacle made Luke think for a moment; before an idea hit him in the smokebox.

"I know- I'll help you get out of here! You can stay with me and my friends Owen and Merrick at the Blue Mountain Quarry! You'll love it!"

Unbeknownst to Luke, hearing this statement made his crew alarmed.

"Luke, I know you want to help him, but this is a bit too much to be done in one night." Richard warned him. "We'll be here for a while getting him out, and you told Owen that you would be back before midnight."

"I know I did say that; but I'm sure he'll understand when I explain. He's my best friend." Luke insisted stubbornly, and so that was that. They agreed to try their best, although secretly they felt their engine's plans would fall through- even Smudger himself agreed that this was too much.

"I really do appreciate the effort you're making for me, Luke, but be realistic. You're never going to get me out of here- especially in this weather."

But his companion was determined to save the old engine from being alone again during the Christmas season. And so, 'Operation Rescue' commenced.

...

"Really? How could he possibly be in need of help this late?" Edward asked in astonishment, blinking owlishly at the stationmaster.

"Well, he says it's important, and a Really Useful Engine won't turn down a call for help." The stationmaster answered, watching as the old engine drew his eyebrows into a rare frown.

"Very well." Edward conceded wearily. "I'll do my best."

The Wellsworth Stationmaster watched Edward slowly chuff out of the station; his snow plough cutting through the white barricades on the tracks; heading towards Arlesburgh.

...

When he arrived, he found his dear old friend, Duck the Great Western Engine, talking to Rex, the little green engine of the Arlesdale Railway; which was affectionately nicknamed the 'Small Railway' due to the size of its tracks and engines.

"Hello, Duck!" Edward whistled, startling Duck and Rex out of their conversation at once.

"Oh, good evening, Edward!" Duck greeted politely, surprised at his friend's sudden entrance. "What brings you to this side of the Branchline? You should be at Tidmouth Sheds!" He added, shivering as a blast of cold air struck his boiler.

"I know, but I was doing some… 'overtime', for lack of a better word up at Wellsworth, and then I got a message requesting assistance."

"Well, as far as I know, there's no one in peril here." Rex told him, looking just as puzzled as the two NWR engines felt. "Bert and Mike are safe in our shed; and I'm fine."

"I'm aware. The message came from the old Mid Sodor Railway. Your line has connections with it- that's why I'm here." Edward explained patiently, watching as realisation and fresh confusion suddenly hit Rex like a ton of bricks.

"Well, that makes some sense… but why from the MSR? It's been closed since '47! And what is my help required for?"

"It was requested that you bring a breakdown crane, a flatbed, and some extra men with shovels, if there is any to be had."

"That can be managed." Rex evaluated, after a short period of thought. "I'm not sure about the men; most will have gone home by now; but I'll do my best." And with that, he began to move away to collect the equipment Edward had mentioned.

"Do be careful, Rex!" Duck called anxiously as his friend chuffed away. "Driver says the snow will come on shortly, and it's to be a very bad blizzard!"

"I'll be careful, Duck- don't worry!" Rex whistled into the night. Then, he disappeared from view.

In addition to the worry of his little friend possibly getting stuck in the snow on a night like this, Duck's concern grew tenfold when he observed Edward shivering from the cold winds. What made it worse were that his cheeks were red tinged with a hint of blue.

"You're staying in the sheds with me and the twins tonight, and that's not up for discussion or negotiation." The pannier warned his friend.

For once, Edward didn't argue. He was freezing to the bolts and he no longer cared about getting back to Tidmouth. "W... would the...there b...be any...ro... room?" He asked between shivers.

"Of course there is- Oliver's in the Steamworks and he's not due to be released until morning." Duck informed. "Now come on- I'm not having you freezing outside."

"With that, the two engines limped back to the sheds where the Scottish twins were sleeping.

...

Meanwhile, Rex had a very hard time seeing where he was going. The blizzard Duck had warned him about had indeed unleashed in a white wrath upon the whole of Sodor; starting shortly after they left the yard. So now, poor Rex stumbled along the line, trying to see through the blizzard surrounding them.

"When we get back, we need to remember to tell Duck he could become a meteorologist!" He joked, bravely trying to lift his driver's spirits.

"Where do we leave all this?" His driver asked.

"I don't know- Edward never said," Answered Rex. "But we can't go on all night. If we try, we'll get stuck. If we don't see anything at the next siding, we'll turn back!" It was proving difficult to see, and he couldn't let his poor driver freeze to death out in the middle of nowhere; But, on the other buffer, he hoped they would something soon. He would never forgive himself if he was forced to turn back.

….

Then, in the distance, he thought he saw a light. It wasn't very bright, but it nonetheless shone through the blizzard, and then, as he watched, it went out again.

'Hmm. It must have just been my imagination,' decided Rex to himself; just as he saw the light suddenly flicker back on again, continuously blinking in the snowstorm; like an ominous, luminous eye.

"Driver, I think I see a light over there. But I can't see it very well." Rex spoke up, looking at the line ahead. His driver looked forwards; and realised that, yes, there was a light shining far ahead of them, blinking… and that was when he suddenly realised something.

"Wait a moment; this is where we need to be!" The driver realised, looking back at his engine; despite the fact they couldn't see each other's faces at the moment.

"What do you mean, man?" Rex demanded.

"Well, my grandfather learned Morse Code whilst he served in the army; which he taught me every time I visited him with my parents. That's an SOS signal! It must be the chap Edward was talking about! We need to stop!" And he put on Rex's brakes, so that he could slow the little green engine down.

Sure enough, as they drew to a gradual halt, they both saw a small and very unfamiliar pea green narrow-gauge engine huddled in a siding with his crew. The trio were shivering fit to burst; but they all smiled bravely upon seeing Rex.

"Help has arrived!" Rex announced grandly to the unknown engine. It took a fair amount of manoeuvring to get the flatbed and breakdown crane into position, considering the gauge differences; but Rex was determined to carry out his duty, and soon, they had everything arranged in a way that would somewhat benefit the engines in their bizarre rescue mission.

"Would you like some assistance?" Rex asked the strange engine helpfully.

"Thank you for your help." The engine answered, in a soft Irish accent. He was quiet, but polite and kindly. "But I can take it from here. I'm rescuing another engine." He explained.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Rex asked warily. Even though he would rather be in a warm, cosy shed dealing with Mike's snoring, he didn't like the idea of leaving the little engine, who very small indeed, to rescue another engine on his own.

"No thank you, I'll be fine!" The engine answered back. Rex had to admit, for a very small engine, he didn't sound at all frightened by the responsibilities he had in recusing this engine.

"Well, if you're sure. Merry Christmas!" Rex called reluctantly, deciding to head off for home now before the blizzard got any worse. His poor driver needed a warm bed, after all.

Merry Christmas to you, too!" The strange engine responded in kind.

...

As he watched the engine leave, Luke felt that he could now get on with rescuing Smudger. So he doubled back up the line rapidly.

Once he reached the shed, he called out enthusiastically "Smudger, I'm back!" punctuated by a joyful peep on his whistle; completely forgetting the events of the gunshot.

"Welcome home, honey." Smudger replied sarcastically.

"Pardon?" Luke asked, blinking in surprise. He could hear Geoffrey sniggering in his cab; but he paid him no heed.

"Nothing, it's just a joke. I'm, uh, aiming to keep the humour up." Smudger explained awkwardly.

"Well, if you're quite finished, we'll get started on this rescue operation." Richard stated wryly, fixing Smudger with a look of 'cross me again and I'll finish you' which made Smudger gulp in fear before he piped down again.

…..

To initiate the rescue, they attached the roof of the shed onto the breakdown crane. Fortunately, the roof had all but rusted and rotted away, and so it was easy enough to shift, very carefully. They did this in two stages, as the roof had begun giving way down the middle. Then, having shifted the roof aside, they cautiously fixed chains round Smudger. They knew this was dangerous, as Smudger was very old and rusty; not to mention probably very stiff and awkward to move after all these years; but they were determined.

They got him out of the shed, albeit with great difficulty; as it was a very, very small space.

"Hey, watch it, pal!" Snapped Smudger, furiously, as he was accidentally bumped against the shed wall.

"Sorry!" Called Luke and Geoffrey in chorus.

At last, with Smudger finally out of his prison, he was lowered onto the flatbed with great care.

...

Once Smudger was secured with chains to the flatbed, Luke set off for home once more, feeling very pleased with himself and his crew.

"We did it!" He cheered. "We rescued Smudger!"

"We sure did, old boy, and it feels great!" Geoffrey replied with a triumphant chuckle; who elated at the rescue they just pulled off as Luke was.

This was when Richard suddenly realised that they were heading straight for trouble.

"Geoffrey, apply the brakes, or we'll hit that snowdrift!" he shouted, pointing in front of them. With a loud gasp and muffled cursing, Geoffrey slammed the brakes down full force, but they wouldn't budge.

"The brakes have failed!" He cried.

"Too late!" Luke yelped; just as he collided into the snowdrift that had gathered right in front of them (and that they had remained ignorant about until this point.)

"Great, now we're stuck." Richard deadpanned.

"Oi, enough of the pessimism, Shovel Man," Replied Geoffrey, shoving his friend into the snowy night. "Get digging."

"I am definitely striking you off my Christmas card list as of next year." Richard muttered darkly; his shovel clutched in pale, tightened knuckles.