If I could contain time in a bottle, I would use it to spend time with you
It was nighttime at Tidimouth Sheds, almost all the engines were present in their berths, ready for a nights long rest, except for two engines in particular. Thomas was in deep thought, looking around for any signs of Emily and Emily wasn't present in the Sheds. Edward caught on to what Thomas is thinking.
"Thomas, Emily might not sleep here." said Edward "She has sometimes not come here to sleep."
"But that's the thing, why isn't she coming over?" Thomas wondered.
"Who cares?!" puffed Percy "As long as that bossy boiler isn't here I am fine!"
"If I am being honest, same here." huffed Henry.
"You guys don't care do you?!" Thomas shouted out crossly.
"I mean yes!" said James "Why would we care for someone who won't even learn their lesson?"
"Even James of all Engines has learned his lessons." added Gordon "Emily NEVER learns."
"Don't you all think its weird that she just so happens to have a drastic personality change like that?!" cried Thomas crossly.
"Engines can change!" said Percy.
"Why you..." Thomas was able to give a rant on Percy but Edward just whistled in retaliation.
"Can we just sleep?" asked Edward as he went inside his berth. The others followed then they went to sleep, except Thomas, who was still outside and in deep thought.
'Where are you Emily?' Thomas wondered. Emily can be seen at Knapford Sheds crying to herself. With all the bossier Emily has gotten, the more it was taking a toll on her, she would randomly cry at certain intervals or she would wake up in the middle of the night with horrible nightmares, such as how she had one of being completely alone in an empty void, with images playing of how she was acting bossy. Timothy puffed up to her.
"Aw... I'm so sorry Emily." said Timothy "I didn't think you would be broken like this."
"It was you... why here? I was so happy, I just wanted to be with Thomas right now... why?" huffed Emily but just kept crying.
"Like I said, Sodor's sacrifice is necessary to help the smaller Railways and create one whole new Railway from it." replied Timothy "But I understand Emily. So much unnecessary conflict is damaging to one's psyche." there was a long pause then "Which is why I will give you 24 hours to spend with one Engine before you leave." Emily suddenly was able to stop crying.
"Huh what?! Leaving?!" cried out Emily as she was shocked over the news.
"Calm down, no worries. You have to go tomorrow to a smaller Railway." said Timothy "And you get to spend 24 hours with an engine of your choice." Emily wasn't sure how to reply at first "Also as I said, this is an order, 24 hours with that Engine then you leave." Timothy then puffed away. Emily then puffed to Tidimouth Sheds, she knew right away who she wanted to spend her last 24 hours on Sodor with. When she arrived, there was one berth left, right next to the Engine she wants to spend her last 24 hours with. She puffed in it and couldn't help but...
'Thomas... I'm leaving Sodor tomorrow.' said Emily very quietly, she didn't want to say it out loud as to not wake up the other engines 'Yeah... ha ha ha I know! Crazy right? I get to leave and you are here... how did Timothy do it, I guess he set up certain things to go the way they did... isn't that wonderful? I get to see other Railways... but Sodor is my home and you are my home because I...' Emily thought about all her happy times together with Thomas, like that Christmas surprise for Thomas, or the Black Loch with the seals, how happy she was around Thomas, his determination, his wonder, the sheer excitement she has when they race, even when Thomas was cheeky it had an undeniable charm to Emily, she just wanted to say it, but then she remembered all the times she was bossy and hurt her friends, whilst it was for a greater good, she couldn't bear it and suddenly she started to shed tears 'I can't! I just can't say it! I'm sorry that I wasn't strong enough! I can't after everything I have done! I wish I was a Tank Engine like you. I wish I could also be a bus like Bertie. I could be a boat as well... aw, if only I could clone myself 5 times, then I could be at 5 different Railways at once, get to see various cultures, maybe be a private Engine, a Dock side Engine! I might even get to be a private Engine for the world's most famous artist! I would love that! And... all of those 5 versions of me, you would impact all of them. Thank you Thomas... Goodbye.'
The next morning
Thomas woke up and when he looked next to him, he saw Emily.
"Emily!" said Thomas happily "You're here!"
"Of course I would be, just needed a little late night run." The Fat Controller arrived to give the Engines their jobs, the only ones that remained were Thomas and Emily "Sorry to intrude sir." puffed Emily "But can I work with Thomas?"
"There are actually a few jobs you two can do together." said the Fat Controller "First, you two have to help Rosie at the Yards, then you have to take coal trucks around to the stations, there can be no confusion and delay."
"Yes sir!" cried Thomas.
"We'll work even if we breakdown!" echoed Emily. Thomas smiles, he felt relieved, the hardworking, never wanting to give up Emily is indeed still around, maybe she can be saved and there might be a logical explanation. Soon they arrived at the Yards, but there was no sign of Rosie. Rosie was a cheerful chirpy little tank engine, she had a lot of admiration for Thomas, to the point she wanted to be just like him. Emily and Rosie are really good friends, but Rosie does panic whenever she is around Emily, as she hopes Emily doesn't think she is in love with Thomas.
"Where is Rosie?" wondered Thomas.
"Maybe she got a little late..." huffed Emily then she was interrupted by an imitation of Thomas.
"Hi Emily! Nice to meet you! I am Thomas! I am madly in love with..." Thomas noticed the noise was coming from behind him so he shunted the Engine making the noise "Ow Thomas!" it was Rosie. Rosie does try her best to get Thomas and Emily together, but it would end with Thomas interrupting her because he is shy about it.
"Hi Rosie, didn't see you there!" he huffed.
"Oh please, I know you don't want to..." began Rosie.
"Oh look, trucks need to be shunted! Excuse me!" interrupted Thomas as he began to shunt the freight cars and began to put them in order. Despite the speed, Thomas shunted them carefully, as he remembered the accident that caused dozens of workmen to die, so he made a vow to never let that happen again. Rosie just giggled and went to continue her work. Suddenly, James whistled.
"Thomas! Get me my coaches!" shouted James. This made Thomas cross, after what the Team said about Emily, behind her back nonetheless, Thomas just wanted to pay them back somehow. An idea flew through Thomas' funnel. Thomas noticed some fish trucks that most likely need to be taken to Vicarstown, so he shunted them alongside James' coaches "Hurry up Thomas!" whistled James.
"Hurry up yourself!" replied Thomas as he brought over James' coaches with the trucks of Fish. Emily spotted Thomas shunting the trucks and coaches to James and she immediately sprung into action. Soon James was coupled up to the coaches with the smelly trucks "Hope you can get rid of the smell." said Thomas but before he could leave, Emily puffed right next to him.
"Thomas, what are you doing?" Emily asked.
"Just teaching him a lesson." replied Thomas.
"You're acting like a child." retorted Emily.
"No I'm not! They have it coming!"
"That's an excuse! Look Thomas, petty revenge like this is not the way to do things, especially now of all times. Sodor might close down sooner or later! We promised that we would work hard, for the sake of the Railway nonetheless! The Thomas I know would be working harder than ever before! Yes you are cheeky and nothing will change that, I acknowledge it, but even you have to admit that this is uncalled for and childish!" Thomas thought about it, he wanted to get back at James for what they all keep saying about Emily, calling her bossy, a know it all, mean hearted, when he knows deep down that it's all a lie, but she was right.
"I'm sorry." said Thomas, so he took away the fish trucks from James and put them at a siding. James was thankfully still able to leave on time.
Sometime later
Thomas and Emily were eventually done with their work.
"Hey Emily. If you aren't sleeping at Tidimouth Sheds tonight, can I sleep with you?" Thomas asked. Emily was sad, as she remembered that her day with Thomas is almost over and has to leave Sodor. She wants to tell him the truth, but for some reason, she couldn't.
"Actually Thomas, I am moving out permanently." said Emily. Thomas had this weird feeling, it was indescribable but it was some form of sadness.
"Well, what's happening?"
"I will be working somewhere else, not exactly a very close place if I may add." It was vague, but Thomas got the message, he can't visit her as much anymore.
"Oh... I understand." Thomas and Emily looked sad.
"Funny right?" asked Emily.
"Yeah." then both started to giggle a little.
"I hope we get to see each other again..." said Emily.
"I mean you'll still be around..." replied Thomas.
"Sure I guess, but you get to have cooler Engines like Molly." Emily still wanted to redeem herself for how she acted towards Molly, but assumed its better not, since Molly did laugh at her for working with Whiff.
"Molly is cute and so is Rosie, but they aren't you... none of them can replace you, Emily." Emily then spotted Timothy "Whenever you are there... you bring an atmosphere to everything, I feel so at peace... I don't think I can live without it again..."
"To be honest Thomas, I love your company too... I was spoiled when we first to slept together..."
"It's alright Emily... but you weren't like that afterwards..."
"Thomas, I am so happy to have you as my friend."
"And I am so happy too Emily..." the both of them thought this was perfect, just the two of them alone, they wanted it to last longer. A voice kept appearing in their heads, but they didn't know what it was. Emily wanted to continue to talk to Thomas but she knew that she had to go and her 24 hours are up.
"I'm sorry Thomas, but its rather late and we have to go our separate ways."
"Alright... I'll miss you Emily..."
"I'll miss you too Thomas..." soon both puffed their separate ways. Emily went to Timothy and both started to puff away.
"Your 24 hours are up." said Timothy.
"I know." replied Emily.
"Said goodbye to one Engine?"
"Yes." Emily looked sad when she said that.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Thomas is alive so that you will see him again." said Timothy just to get Emily's sympathy.
"I will wait to see the answer." said Emily having a hard time containing her sadness. What was weird to Emily is of how casual Timothy was going along the line, from what can Emily think of, the only Engines who should be awake by now would be Thomas, Percy, Edward, Gordon and Henry, but Timothy was moving so casually like he doesn't care what may happen next.
'Something's wrong. I know it. Timothy would have been more secretive. We are on the Main Line, it's too exposed, but he is so casual about it, so why? Wait! I have an idea... this could be my one chance at redemption... thank you Thomas, for inspiring me. If I act now, I may be able to get some attention from Thomas.'
"Emily? Timothy?" they heard a voice, an easily recognizable one. It was Thomas! Emily felt her heart sink and her plan was being erased from existence. Why was Thomas present was out of the question, all her instincts could think was 'I have to get Thomas out of here!', her emotions came raining down like a land slide.
"GET OUT OF HERE THOMAS! TIMOTHY WILL KILL YOU!" Emily screamed for Thomas. Thomas was taken aback, he felt so many emotions and thought processes for Emily. That yell felt like a tortured soul trying to protect the last bit of her happiness. Timothy on the other hand laughed.
"I won! I won! I won!' Timothy said in thought 'This whole thing was a part of my plan. I knew that you were going to try to find the truth, that is why I was casually passing and showing around Emily's sadness! I couldn't actually send her to another Railway, but I can send her to the Steelworks, all that talk was me bluffing! You all fell for my plan! Thomas, you were certainly one of the most difficult opponents I had to fight, but the thing about you and Emily, you focus so much on others that you ignore yourselves, that is why you lost!'
"As I said Emily," began Timothy "Thomas amounts to nothing more, than a lamb to the slaughter."
To be continued