Thomas was sitting on the lines crooked, waiting for the breakdown train to arrive. His fireman was sitting on his front left buffer. What happened just a few moments ago, continued to play again and again in his head. What the hell did he see? Another person with powers? It wasn't even that what is making Thomas worried, it was the other things he saw. The landscape of Sodor. 'Why did it look like that?' He was really on edge. Burnt-looking grass, black vines... It almost reminded him of the magical railway. That's nearly what it looked like when the magic buffers were down. He started to think about that. 'Could that be...Sodor without the Magic?' His eyes widen at that thought. The magic that runs the entire world for machines to be alive- Could that be Sodor without it?
But the magic was down before. The Island, nor the rest of the world looked like what Thomas had seen. 'Maybe... it's nothing to worry about...' He sure hopes that's what it is.
"Thomas? You're doing ok?"
Thomas looked down at his fireman. He had his head turned, looking up at the engine. "Y-Yeah? Why?"
He sighed, then turned to face Thomas better. "Oh, I don't know... The fact that you crashed into literally nothing, and right now you look very out of it. What's wrong?" The fireman had a really worried look on his face. He's always assigned to this man to be his fire stocker, and he always looks out for him. They're more than just working on a job, it's like they're family. But, Thomas doesn't know how to explain what happened. His fireman already knows about Daniel's existence, and already knows that people with... Abilities exist...
But how could explain what Sodor looked like?
"Lad..." His fireman placed his hand on the metal board, to what the buffers are attached. "You can tell me anything..." He said in a sincere voice. "What happened? You've got in accidents before, and frankly, all the engines have. But they never crashed into nothing."
Thomas took a deep breath. "I... I blacked out."
The fireman nodded. "I know. And You were out of it, for about a minute. I don't know how long it was before you crashed -but- that still doesn't make any sense how you crashed into air."
Thomas looked up at the sky. The night sky. And he got a flashback of the red light behind the clouds. "I... I don't even remember blanking out, but I remember seeing... red behind the clouds." His fireman's eyes narrowed. "Red? Behind the clouds?"
"Sodor... looked deserted. Like, one of those movies if there is some... radiation or something, that causes everyone to leave, and it leaves the area in a dead state?" He saw that the fireman was trying to process what he said. "Ok... So, what you're saying is, you blacked out, and had a dream? A dream, as soon as you fell asleep?"
Then that's when Thomas thought. Most people, can't go into dreamland just after 2 minutes of sleep. You'd have to be in a deep sleep for any dream to start, or at least sleeping soundly. Could it have, been a vision?
"Wait, but still, how did you crash? I still don't understand that. Yeah, ok, you blacked out... But...-"
"In... this 'dream' I had, I was still moving along the tracks. The entire area, as I said, looked dead. There were these... black roots or vines all over the place. They dug up the track, and I ran into it, then crashed. Woke up, crashed in real life." Thomas didn't bother to explain about the kid he saw. "Ok..." His fireman turned back around, putting his hand to his chin. "You crashed in the dream... That resulted in you crashing in real life?"
Thomas could hear the level of confusion in his fireman's voice. "If you don't believe it, I barely even do myself..." Thomas said. Just then, they heard a whistle. Thomas looked up and saw one of his engine friends hauling the breakdown train. A BR Class.. "Thomas? It's you? I heard it was a tank engine, I wasn't expecting it was you! Why did they send you to haul such a long train like this? Was expecting it to be Arthur or something, he's much larger than you."
Thomas just rolled his eyes with a scoff. "Shut up Diesel! Little engines can do big things!"
"Well, clearly not..." Diesel said, blinking.
"Piss off..." Thomas said under his breath.
The fireman hopped down from Thomas, to go help the other crew people set up the breakdown train. He walked over to them. One of them was entering the crane, to turn it to Thomas, and the other waited by Thomas, to put the chains on.
"So, you're Thomas's fireman?" The workman asked. "Hm? Oh, yes I am." The workman had a clipboard, that had a few papers on it.
"Care to explain what happened? We need to document all of the crashes that happen on the North Western."
The fireman arched an eyebrow. "Come again?"
The workman arched an eyebrow. "I said, we need to document the crash. So, I need you to explain what happened."
"When... Did Sodor start doing that?" Thomas could of heard them, he never remembered Sodor ever doing something like that. Now, he was scared to tell the workman what he experienced.
"It got admissioned about a month ago. We've been realizing that there have been too many unexpected, and delaying crashes that have been going on, so now we document the crashes, so we can fix any problems, that caused the accident in the first place, that way, we can limit other crashes happening in the foreseeable future."
The fireman slowly turned his head back to Thomas, who just looked down. "Uhhh..." The fireman looked back at the workman. "Uh... He hit a branch..."
The workman got out a pen. He was about to write on the paper, but then he stopped. "Wait..." He looked up at the fireman. "A branch?"
"Uh... M-More like a log."
The workman looked ahead of him, at the tracks. "I don't see a log."
"W-Well, I-I grantee you, it was a log. It... It should be here somewhere."
"... Alright..." He wrote something on the paper. "Train crashes into a log..." He talked as he wrote. "Log is nowhere to be seen..."
He looked up from the clipboard. "How do you think the log reached there?" He looked around. "Because I don't see any ruined grass. You know, holes in the ground?"
"O-Oh well, it wasn't from a tree, it was ju-"
"Maybe it was from a flatbed."
The fireman turned his head. "O-Oh?" It was one of the workers. "Ah, Mrs. Taylor!" The lady nodded at him. "John."
"That must be it!" The workman jotted that down. "W-Well we don't know that-" The fireman was trying to say something, but then Mrs. Taylor stopped him. "Listen, Mr...?"
"Um, call me William." The fireman said.
The lady nodded. "Greetings. I'm Sherry Taylor. Chief Director of Department For Transport in England. William..., I'm sure you are well aware of the state of this railway."
William stared at her, then at the workman, John. "Um... Y-Yeah, but accidents happen constantly, all over the world! Why would Sodor... Be any different than them?"
"Because Sodor is the only railway that has running steam engines." Ms. Taylor said. William tried to process that. He couldn't figure out how that would be such a big problem. "And that's an issue because...?"
Ms. Taylor turned around. "You are not modern. You're running off of old technology, which can't break suddenly. Diesel and electric engines can stop way faster, and can start up faster than any steam engine combined." She turned back around. "If... That... thing..." She looked at Thomas. "Was a more modern engine, he probably would have stopped to save themselves from this accident."
William couldn't believe what he was hearing. "A-Are you saying we should scrap all of the steam engines, and replace them with the more modern engines?!"
Thomas gasped. He was listening before, but once he heard the word 'Scrap' it made his wheels tremble.
"Listen, Ma'am, I don't know who you think you are, but you are being ridiculous! This is the Island Of Sodor! Sir Topham Hatt bought this Island to take care of and to save these steam engines. If there was enough space, he'd probably even help all of the engines in America, such as Union Pacific's steam engines. This is a preserved railway, no one else can touch it!" After William's rant was over, Ms. Taylor, only made a smile, but... it was more like a smirk.
"Are you sure it's a preserved railway anymore? This place is getting fewer and fewer tourists every day, and most of the people who take your trains, are people who live here. Look at how many kids use Thomas's branchline to get to school each morning." Ms. Taylor said. "Yeah? So what? It proves that people love it he-" Ms. Taylor put her finger to William's lips. "Shh. Just barely. How many times has Thomas's firebox failed to light?"
One too many times. No one can deny that.
"Look, Thomas is an E2 right? We all know how shit that class of engines were."
"But Thomas is a hybrid!"
"That still has problems," Ms. Taylor said, putting her hands on her hips. "He still runs out of water, and he still has firebox problems! And on top of that, he's only good for shunting."
Thomas felt hurt at that.
"At least he's good at something. Shunting is very important in the train world. And he does it damn good for a tank engine."
"Hmm... Just barely..."
At about that time, they placed Thomas back on the track. The work people started to take the chains off. He felt depressed. Thomas thought he was safe on Sodor. Now there is someone here who'd want him killed?
"You know... The magical engine wouldn't want this."
Ms. Taylor sighed at what William said. "Not this again. There is no such thing as this 'Magic Engine, or 'Magic Buffers' The engines aren't alive because of it, simply because it doesn't exist."
William was getting furious. "Why do you people treat the engines as objects!? They're living just like you and me! Did people treat horses like this back in the western ages?! No!"
Ms. Taylor walked away from him. "Come on John, let's go."
"Hey! Answer me!" Williams snapped. Then, John walked away, after giving him some weird look. William just shook his head. "Ugh... These people..." both of them walked away, heading to the diesel they came on. Then he walked over to Thomas. "Thomas, I- WAIT!" He gasped, then tried to get their attention. "Hey! Come back! You didn't look Thomas over! You need to... haul him...away..." But they were already gone and couldn't hear him.
Thomas caught on. "Fireman... it's alright. The other work people who put me back, said I'm fine. I can just go home on my own."
"Thomas, it's not that! It's because you're exhausted! I didn't want you to do that!"
"Fireman, it's fine. If anything, just take over my controls."
William nodded, then climbed up in Thomas's cab. "Some engine will come and take your train, so don't worry." He said.
It was late at night by now, probably almost 1 am. Thomas was tired, but he figured his fireman was even more exhausted. 'I need to bring him home He thought to himself. 'That's the track I need to take.'
Thomas made a right and continued down the set of lines. "Uh... Thomas? This isn't the way to Tidmouth, this is the way to the mountains."
"Yes, I know," Thomas said. "I'm taking you home."
"B-Bu-"
"No buts fireman. I can take more of a beating than you. You need more rest than me." Thomas said as he chugged down the lines. "A-Are you sure? What about on your trip back!? I wouldn't be here to look after you."
"Then someone should stoke my firebox enough, so I'd be able to have enough heat to get back then, hm?"
"Um..." William grabbed the shovel. "You think you can get from the Narrow gauge all the way back to Tidmouth?" William asked. "I've done it before right? Remember when I had to be on my own a lot when Daniel was here for that week?"
"You and that engine," William said with a chuckle as he shoveled in the coal into the open firebox. "Still somewhat shocked that those buffers act differently now. Engines go in, they come out as a human, humans come back in, they turn back into the engine."
"Yeah," Thomas said. "I find it funny how that's what shocks you, over the fact that Daniel had powers."
"Well, that's still pretty shocking, but the fact that the buffers are back."
"Do... you think others will understand of the buffers' existence now? We barely even told anyone of it yet. Daniel kept on going around blabbering that he's from the buffers." Thomas said, remembering the moments. Williams nodded, as he set down the shovel. "Oh, yep. Still, most didn't believe." He said with a scoff at that.
"I know you miss him," Williams said. "I do..." Thomas responded. "He told me it's best we don't use the buffers because he's worried others might find the existence of our world... jarring." He said, feeling sad. Daniel's side has no living engines. It's Thomas without a face on the smoke box door. That's what is on Daniel's side of the buffers. "That lady would love that huh? Cause since they're not alive, she would have fun tearing them apart."
Williams shook his head. "Looks like she has some joy doing it to one's alive. But, I won't let her. And I know Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't let her either."
"I sure hope so," Thomas spoke.
It was quiet for a while, as Thomas continued to press on. "... Fireman... are we safe?"
Williams listened to Thomas. "... Yes." He said. "Yes, we are. As long as you're on Sodor."
Eventually, Thomas reached the station up at the Mountain, near the narrow gauge lines. Small narrow tracks went all around, usually in the morning, the rail lines are busy and crowded with all of the small engines who work here. But since it was the middle of the night, it was dead silent. The only sound that could be heard, was the sound of the water boiling inside of Thomas. William grabbed his cup, took a bag, and hopped down from Thomas. "So, you sure you're gonna be ok?"
"Fireman, you worry too much! I'm going to be fine."
"Well, after your engine crashes into literal air, it can leave you on edge. Safe travels, alright?"
Thomas peeped his whistle. "Don't worry."
William nodded, then turned around. Thomas stayed, to make sure he went home alright. William's home wasn't too far from the station. He stayed until he couldn't see him anymore. "Ok... He's home." Steam wheesed out of Thomas's pistons, and he steamed off. He went on the loop, then circled back around to head back on the main line.
Thomas was exhausted by now. It took another half an hour to reach back to Tidmouth, and it was now 2:30. Poor Thomas had never felt so tired before. He puffed onto the tunable, very tiredly.
"Thomas?!"
He tiredly looked up and saw his best friend, Percy. A bright green modified GWR No. 1340 Trojan. "Hello, Percy. Still up?" Thomas asked as he spun around on the turntable. "Still up? Of course, I'm still up! I've been worried about you! You were supposed to be back hours ago, what happened? Did Sir Topham Hatt hand a late night service to your branchline?"
"Hm? Oh, no... don't you remember I had a job?"
"Yeah, but... Why did it take so long...?"
"I... well, I ran into a small problem." The turn table finished turning, and Thomas blew out some steam and reversed into his birth in the sheds, next to Percy. "A problem?" Percy asked. "Yes." Thomas stopped, and the shed doors closed.
Percy looked down. "Where's your fireman?"
"I brought him home," Thomas replied. Percy gasped. "How did you come back?"
Thomas rolled his eyes. "You do know we engines can do stuff without them, right?"
"I'd never go anywhere without my fireman," Percy said. "Well, if you put your mind to it you can..." Thomas said. "Remember when you crashed into the station master's house?"
Thomas just looked at him annoyed. "Ugh, don't bring that up! I was newly built and didn't know to work my controls that greatly yet!" Thomas said. Percy just looked down.
Thomas sighed. "Sorry... Just.. goodnight."
Thomas closes his eyes.
Thomas had a hard time trying to fall asleep. He kept getting awakened by the sounds outside, such as the wind and the owls making sounds. He turned his eyes and saw that Percy and all the other engines were still asleep. He was on edge. The vision of Sodor looking over thrown with black vines and the red light behind the clouds played over and over in his mind. He felt anxious. He felt as if what he saw, was the end of Sodor. 'Maybe what I saw... is a vision...'
Then he thought of Ms. Taylor. 'The vision... what I had, it's meant for the future of us steam engines...' He thought. He thought about the black vines. That's probably what could happen to Sodor if all of the steam engines were killed. The old Sodor would be gone and overthrown with the new one.
'This... This is too much... I should have told Percy..." He thought. But then he realized Percy would be traumatized. From both things. Percy is a little bit of an overthinker, and a little behind all the engines maturity-wise. If Thomas were to tell him about what he saw, Percy would be horrified. And if he would also tell him the risk that steam locomotives are in again, he'll be completely destroyed in his thoughts. 'I won't tell him. At least, not until I'm sure all of this is connected.'
'I need some sleep... I have Annie and Clarabel to take in the morning..' He shut his eyes.
Eventually, he fell asleep.
But then he got awoken to the wind. "Arggg..." He groaned. He got slightly startled. He figured it was nothing, and tried to go back to sleep, he looked to the right at him, at Percy, then shut his eyes. But then his eyes quickly shot open when he realized Percy wasn't there. "H-Huh?"
In fact, none of the engines were inside the sheds. Thomas's first thought was to look in front of him, at the crack of the door. "What? It's still dark. I'm sure all of the engines couldn't have had night jobs at once..."
Thomas looked up at the clock. It was 2:30 am.
He arched his eyebrow. "What? It was around that time when I went to sleep? I only slept for a couple of minutes?"
Thomas looked around. "Wait... How could all the engines clear out in such a short time?"
The wind was blowing loudly outside. "W-What? Is that a storm?" Just then, a red light flashed and lit up underneath all of the shed doors. Thomas got scared. "Oh... No..."
He didn't want to believe it. But it was happening again.
He didn't want to move, but he had to see what the hell was happening. He still had some heat left, and he puffed forward, up to the door. He stopped. 'What.. am I going to see?' He blew steam out. 'I can't do this..'
'...But I have to see what it is...'
He pushed into the door, opening it.
His eyes widen.
It was the same thing as before. Tidmouth was covered in vines. The sheds on the outside looked like it was abandon for years. "What... W-What is happening?!" Thomas yelled out. "Guys!? Percy!? Anyone there?! Hello?"
Not a single peep of a train whistle could be heard. "No... No... this isn't real! This can't be real! What is happening to me?!" Thomas yelled. "Anyone there?!" Thomas shouted out. His eyes were darting all over, but he couldn't see anyone or any engine.
But then... He saw.
"W-What?" Thomas said. The kid was standing a few feet from him. Both their eyes met. Thomas started to pressure rise more steam into him and was about to reverse back into the sheds. "Wait!" The kid yelled out.
Thomas stopped, and the excess steam blew out from his pistons.
"...Why?" Thomas asked. "...Who are you?"
The kid looked at him. "I'm...-"
There was a blood-curdling screech, that sent shivers down Thomas's axels. Even the kid got started from it. "What is that?!" Thomas yelled. Thomas looked at them. "Please! Tell me what's happening!"
