A/N: Okay, another update for LTL2! So, I hope you enjoy! I'm aware a lot of people wanted to read this, so I came up with a way to include it 😊 Next chapter will have how Skarloey found out….

Also, I noticed someone asking about the next part in the trilogy in the guest reviews And, yes, I am still going ahead with it; I just want to finish this first, and then once it's wrapped up, I'll be starting it. The title for this story will be 'Loyalty to Luke Three: On the Other Side of the Mountain.' That much I can confirm.

It will contain slight variations from the movie; and for some reason, I'm looking forward to tackling how Rusty explains why he suggested to Thomas that Luke was a mountain goat… :D

In his youth, Skarloey had been impatient, energetic, self-centred and, of course, hot tempered. He hated things not going his way; which had often resulted in him gaining his comeuppance in the end.

Rheneas, having always been the more sensible of the duo, could only laugh at Skarloey getting his 'just desserts' and counsel him to settle down.

This, combined with Mr. Bobby's kind influence, getting a new cab and wheels; combined with aging and experience, especially during the financial decline on the railway, caused Skarloey to mellow into a kind, patient and wise engine, who became a good friend and mentor to all he met.

Despite Rheneas' best efforts, however, Skarloey was still prone to occasionally losing his temper, over 150 years later.

….

Skarloey's fierce temper was what Rheneas witnessed one morning when he found Skarloey fuming at Peter Sam and Sir Handel. Rheneas didn't really know why; and when he tried to ask, Skarloey merely glared at him before telling him- in Welsh, no less- to push off.

This left Rheneas feeling hurt- so he just called Skarloey names that he called him the last time that had a major falling out; shortly after Skarloey got his new cab. Unfortunately, this had been an unwise decision on Rheneas' part, for his brother just got crosser.

In the end, Rheneas ignored him, and went about his work pulling stone trains to the crunching shed when Rusty pulled up.

"Gee, what's gotten into Skarloey today?" He asked quietly, looking over to Skarloey. "It's not like him to start the day so het up."

"I have no idea, Rusty," the old engine replied, wearily. "And why are you here? You should be working with Owen!" he added snappishly.

"His winch suddenly jammed." Rusty replied in a deadpan.

Sure enough, Rheneas saw Owen, wincing miserably; his platforms were stuck halfway on the incline; both contained trucks- some empty, some full. Rheneas wheeshed miserably on realizing that he had no reason to quarrel with Rusty.

"I'm sorry, Rusty. I don't understand what's going on today. Skarloey's lost his temper with Peter Sam and Sir Handel, and I have no idea why."

"It's not like either of you to fight, either." The little diesel observed, looking over their friends with concern. "I couldn't help but hear you two; that sounded nasty."

"Oh, believe me, boyo- we butted buffers every other day in our youth." Rheneas replied dismissively, "We'll probably straighten things out in a day or two."

Rusty was about to ask what would happen if this came to the contrary, when Duncan pulled up alongside them, banging the trucks crossly. "Ach, as if the noise here wasnae bad enough roon' here- noo we hae tae deal wi' Skarloey shouting his smokebox off at them!" He glared at the trio.

"Do you know he's so cross, Duncan?" Asked Rusty, frowning.

"All I could mak oot o' it, Rusty, was that it was something aboot a gun." Duncan replied dryly. "I dinna ken much else, so dinna even think o' asking."

"Hmph, perhaps Peter Sam decided to off Sir Handel," Muttered Rheneas darkly, causing Duncan to chuckle.

"Dinna think so; but didnae expect such black humour from ye, Rheneas." The Scottish engine commented wryly, raising an eyebrow,

Rheneas just snorted moodily.

Rusty was worried for Rheneas. Not only that; but the last thing Luke needed was the disorder things were in this morning. No one seemed to be on a united front right now.

"Well, how about you go and work with Owen once he's repaired?" He suggested to Rheneas. "It might give you a breath of fresh air."

"Aye; and leave the rest o' us here!"

"Duncan? Shush."

The Scot just grumbled.

"And I'll take over the crunching shed runs; just till things settle down." He finished, looking at Rheneas hopefully. "Then we can settle things down later in the shed, if not sooner."

"… you know, that's actually a pretty wise idea. Thank you, Rusty," Sighed Rheneas in relief. "I could do with not glaring daggers at Skarloey for an hour or two."

"Happy to help," replied Rusty. "Owen's winch should be repaired by now; but take the loads easy, okay? He might need an inspection later; but for now, from what I've been told, he'll be alright so long as he takes things easy. So, monitor working pace up there."

Rheneas agreed and whistled in departure; before setting off for the tunnel that would take him up to the Upper Terrace.

It was about then when Rusty made two observations; one, he saw that Duncan had suddenly adopted a downcast expression. He looked so unusually woebegone and forlorn that the little diesel felt sorry for his best friend and he wanted to cheer him up; except he didn't know how to go about that right now.

The second observation he noted was that he caught Skarloey mentioning something about Luke and a gun being shot, before Peter Sam and Sir Handel were sent back to work by a still glowering Skarloey.

Rusty decided to carry on Rheneas' duties and keep an eye on his friends at the same time. God, it was another of those precarious, provocative days… Rusty hated those. He was just thankful he could keep multiple conflicts in mind and work around them to the best of his ability.

But what in blazes was going on?

It wasn't even 10 o' clock yet, and yet, everyone in the quarry seemed to have fallen out with one another once again.

The little diesel let out a groan, before carrying on with Rheneas' jobs; after first alerting Mr. Bailey to what he had done.