28 - Moving Forward

"It's Percy isn't it?" A rough-sounding voice asked him and Percy looked over to the other side of the yard where the voice had come from.

He saw Mavis shunting her own quarry trucks a distance away but his eyes caught on an unfamiliar engine trundling towards him. One who looked remarkably like himself.

"Oh hello!" Percy greeted the strange engine brightly. "Yes, it is Percy!"

"Splendid! It's just grand to see another brother of mine still out and running yer know!" The engine happily stated. "Name's Hywell, but people call me Trojan."

"My name's Percy!" Percy responded automatically but then immediately blushed, realising his stupid mistake. "But you already knew that."

Trojan simply laughed in good humour.

"That's okay," Trojan smiled. "Heard a lot about you from the books and the show. Get mistaken for you all the time at Didcot."

Percy giggled softly. "I hope that's not a bother."

"It is what it is you know?"

Percy looked at the words Great Western on his brother's saddle.

"You're Great Western like the rest of my class," Percy noticed and Trojan smiled.

"Yep, but thankfully not one of them fuddy-duddy ones," he said proudly.

Percy however looked at his buffers. He knew that most of his siblings worked on the Great Western Railway. He'd only ever met a few on the factory floor but he'd never really 'known' any of them.

"I never worked on the Great Western, I was sold before I was even completed to a dockyard near Barrow," he said ruefully. "I was sold to the North Western after they bought a more powerful Pannier tank."

"I know, Duck told me," Trojan smiled and Percy looked up at him very surprised.

"Oh. I didn't think Duck cared to listen when I told him, he seemed disappointed when I told him I wasn't Great Western," Percy looked up at Trojan who smiled at him.

"Duck cares about yer," Trojan assured him. "Only spent a few hours with the guy but he was obviously proud of ya!"

"Really?!"

"Really."

Percy looked embarrassed as Trojan laughed at him.

"I guess I'll have to thank him later," Percy smiled.

"He's a gud un that Duck," Trojan chortled. "Got his wits about him."

There was the blast of a horn and the two saddle tanks looked over and saw Mavis glaring at them.

"I uh, would love to chat but I am working, could I speak to you later?" Percy explained with an apologetic look to Trojan.

"Ah, of course, don't let silly old me get in the way of yer work!" Trojan said understandingly. "At least you're still working, that's more that can be said for a lot of us steam engines, yer know?"

Percy grinned at his brother.

"It's good to finally meet a brother of mine," he declared, his grin widening and he gave Trojan a hearty and cheery whistle. "Talk to you later Trojan!"

"Hywell please," Trojan returned to whistle in kind. "We're brothers."

Both brothers chuckled as they both went their separate ways.

Great Northern shuddered awake with a desperate gasp, his body tense and his entire body in a state of fight or flight. His entire body trembled and was drenched in sweat. There was a dull throbbing pain in his broken leg and he felt drained of energy.

The image of Flying Scotsman's limp and dead body was still fresh in his mind as he desperately tried to calm himself but found himself hyperventilating more and more.

He was vaguely aware that he was crying but his emotions, his senses and everything felt overwhelming as the world blended into a confusing mass of colour and sound.

He didn't know how long he lay there, trembling and in a terrible panic but it felt like an eternity before he felt a hand caress his forehead and another hold his hand while a voice spoke to him, grounding him.

"It's okay, you're safe, Scotsman is alive, this is just a memory," a soothing female voice called to him.

Between his haze of unconsciousness and waking, he grasped onto the voice, the touch of someone else as he had done many times before and slowly and tentatively became aware of what was around him.

He was lying in a bed, his broken leg in a cast and sunlight was streaming through the wide open window that looked out to a grand garden and a pond where the second story of the house looked over.

"North? Are you okay?" The concerned voice of Lady Olivia called to him and he gazed up at her. Her expression was one of worry and a common sight he often woke up to these days as the constant nightmares plagued him.

He managed to calm himself and look away from her regret in his eyes.

"It is just another nightmare, Lady Gresley," he muttered breathlessly. "You need not worry yourself."

"But I will, no matter what you say," Olivia said pointedly. "Now was it a nightmare? Or was it a memory?"

North looked away from Olivia. The woman was perceptive although, ever since he had been discharged from the hospital and put into her care, he'd had the same recurring memory every night.

"It's the same one, you know it is," he muttered, avoiding Olivia's gaze.

The same memory of Scotsman's 'death', of him laying in his arms with his neck-

North stopped before he could even finish the thought. He shuddered and looked at his broken leg's cast, trying to distract himself. He trembled and felt his breathing quicken and tried his best to stop himself from panicking.

Olivia laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed his hand, grounding him as he turned to focus on her.

"Do you want to try and see Scotsman again?" She asked kindly. "He said he's more than happy to talk to you."

North shook his head.

Shortly after being discharged from the hospital, he had requested to see Flying Scotsman. However, when he had seen the engine from outside the shed he lost his nerve and asked to be taken back to his bed.

He didn't want to confront his brother, he didn't want the memory of him lying there to return again.

"I don't think I can ma'am," North said shakily. "I'll lose my nerve and refuse to go into the sheds again. I apologise."

Olivia didn't look disappointed, only concerned for him.

"It's okay, it'll take time for you to confront this," she smiled at him encouragingly. "I'm happy to be patient with you and help you in any way. Scotsman has been asking for updates about you, he is genuinely worried about you."

He was surprised by Scotsman's concern for him, he hadn't expected his little brother to show any concern for him, especially after he'd been through Mallard's memories.

North had abused the young A4 into insanity, he knew that. Mallard had been right about him. Flying Scotsman had very nearly died because of him, the memory haunting him every time he slept or rested.

"He has no reason to be," North muttered sourly. "Not after how I treated him and Mallard."

Olivia said nothing to that. North knew she'd seen everything the Scotsman had in Mallard's mind. They'd shared memories and North was certain that Scotsman had shared his own memories of his youth with her.

"I'm trying to do better, ma'am," he whispered. "Ever since Thompson got his hands on my engine, ever since I was outcast by the other survivors."

"I know," Olivia finally said after a long while. "Scotsman knows too. I think you'll get there. You just have to keep trying."

North looked at the woman who smiled at him and he gave a nervous smile.

"I am. Thank you, ma'am," he nodded his head slightly to her.

He studied Olivia quietly, she looked happier than usual today. There was an excitable air about her, despite her usually stoic facade mainly masking her expressions.

"You seemed excited ma'am," he remarked and Olivia chuckled.

"You know how to read me don't you?" She chuckled at him. "Uncle Nathan."

North smiled at his 'human' name. It had been so long since she'd called him that when she'd still been a teenager at least.

"Haven't heard someone call me that in a long time," North gave a soft laugh. "I miss it."

"Well soon you might be hearing it more often," Olivia grinned. "If you take up my proposal."

"Proposal ma'am?"

"I already have a year-old son," Olivia explained. "And Oscar and myself work full time and so we'll need someone to look after our son. We'll of course do our best to spend time with him but we could use the extra help. Especially with Flying Scotsman touring for his 100th and our wedding coming up in the next few months."

"You- you want me to look after your son?" North asked. "Even after seeing how I treated Scotsman and Mallard?"

Olivia was silent for the longest time as she stared at the man before her.

"Those are the memories of other people," she finally said after a long while. "My memories are of a man who showed me nothing but love for me and my siblings and was more of a parent to me than my biological ones. Although the memories did shake my perception of you, the fact you gave yourself up to save Scotsman shows me that you're not the same young idiotic person you once were. I trust you."

North stared at his hands before looking up at Olivia.

He'd served her mother long before she was even born, watched her grow, and protected her from her abusive and controlling father.

"I am honoured that you trust me, Lady Olivia," he said quietly. "Even if I can't trust myself."

Olivia nodded.

"I am asking you to look after my son, be my personal assistant of sorts," she explained. "Oscar's equally excited to have you around."

"An assistant?"

"In exchange, we'll give you wages, accommodation, food, anything you need, and a big space for your collection," Olivia smiled. "And, it won't just be baby Scott you'll be looking after."

North stared at Ms Olivia and then gave her a warm smile. Now he knew why she was so energetic and happy.

"Congratulations ma'am," he grinned widely.

"Oscar doesn't know I'm pregnant again so mum's the word," Olivia whispered to him and North nodded. "We'll have to plan the wedding around it but we did talk about wanting to give little Scott a sibling."

"Of course," North smiled at the woman. She was bursting with joy and happiness.

"I'll give you time to think about the offer but I need an answer by-"

"I accept, Lady Olivia," North declared and Olivia stared at him.

"What?"

North nodded at her.

"I'm trying to do better," he explained. "And where else would I go?"

"You could carve a new life out for yourself instead of being a servant to the family. Do something you love. Maybe work for the museum with the knowledge that no one else would have," Olivia pointed out. "Like Rooster working on his farm. Maybe you could find a job that you love as he did."

"Even if I wanted to I wouldn't," North declared. "I promised myself to serve the Gresley family until I had earned the forgiveness of my brothers."

"That may take a long time," Olivia warned. "Scotsman is compassionate and kind. But his forgiveness is not easy to obtain. That goes even more for Gordon."

North's expression grew determined and he nodded.

"Then so be it," he said firmly and Olivia realised there was no changing his mind. She nodded to him, understandingly.

"Gresley stubbornness," she smiled and North gave a chuckle.

"The very thing," he agreed. "I'm sure your children will have it too."

Olivia gave him a playful poke on the arm.

"That's rude," she chastised. "That's something Scotsman would say."

"We are brothers after all."

"Quite."

Olivia frowned her expression deep in thought.

"What's wrong ma'am?"

"I just feel like I've forgotten something, you know?" She explained worriedly.

"I'm sure you'll remember," North assured her as she stood and went to leave.

She gave him a squeeze of his shoulder and nodded at him.

"I'm sure I will."

"What do you mean you refuse to meet the City of Truro?" King Edward II demanded of Lady of Legend. "We brought you with us so you may be presented to him."

"Presented to him? Like a trophy you mean? I'm not a trophy!" Tydfil snapped angrily. She glared at the larger blue engine who was glaring at her.

"Your behaviour is not appropriate young lady," the Blue King scolded.

"Stop treating me like a child! Maybe instead of showering me with criticism and rude comments about how I look you could actually take me out and teach me how to be a proper engine!" Tydfil screamed at him drawing the attention of other engines nearby.

The Blue King looked around nervously.

"Tydfil you are making us look bad in front of the Sudrian engines!" He hissed but Tydfil just wheeshed steam at him.

"Tydfil!"

"I'm glad I came here!" Tydfil argued. "Because now I can see just how useless I am! All the Steam engines here work and they don't sit around all day as I do! I want to work! I was built to work! Why don't you get that?"

"You were not built for work, you were built for show!" The Blue King said sternly. "You will come back to Didcot with us and you will no longer make a scene or a nuisance of yourself."

"No!" Tydfil pouted like a child. "I refuse!"

"We will have you put on a lorry if we have to girl!" The Blue King warned.

"Well I'm going to speak to the Sudrian Railway Controller and he's going to speak to the people at Didcot," she huffed. "I want to stay here. Away from you and your bossy brother!"

"These Sudrian engines have been poisoning your mind!"

"No, they haven't," Tydfil snapped. "I just realised how terrible you really are now that I've met actual people!"

King Edward II was about to respond when Murdoch rolled up to them, his enormous frame imposing and looming over the King Class.

"Is everything okay?" He asked staring down at the both of them.

"Yes, everything is-" King Edward II explained dismissively but Tydfil cut over him.

"No, it's not, this big mean engine and his brother keeps trying to control everything I do!"

"Tydfil-"

"Ah you must be the young engine Ryan asked people to help if we saw you in trouble," Murdoch smiled pleasantly down at her. "I'm Murdoch."

"Ryan told people about me?" Tydfil asked nervously. She'd gone on several trips with the small purple engine. He was sweet and patient with her and she wanted to stay and work with him rather than be shouted at constantly by the twin Kings.

"Who is this 'Ryan'?" King Edward II demanded but he was ignored.

"He said you were a new engine that had never gotten the chance to work on a real railway," Murdoch explained and Lady of Legend looked down at her buffers and blushed.

"I asked him not to tell anyone," Tydfil explained nervously. "I didn't want to get him into trouble."

"Ryan's a good engine, Miss Tydfil, he has your best interests in mind," Murdoch explained. "He's a helpful engine, he only acted because he felt you were in danger."

"Oh!" Tydfil was surprised. No one had ever done that for her before. "Well, I do feel isolated when I'm on show or locked in a shed at Didcot."

Tydfil admitted to the bigger engine. She grew nervous as King Edward II edged closer to her, his face furious but she looked away from him.

"I um, I want to work, I never get the chance to, do you think I'd be allowed to work here?" She asked Murdoch shyly, edging away from the big blue King Class.

"Certainly not!" The Blue King argued and tried to block her way to Murdoch. The huge 9F wasn't one to incite conflict but he knew when someone needed help. He barged into the Blue King and pushed him away from Tydfil as she gave a frightened yelp from being startled by the large orange engine's movement."

"You're frightening the young lady," Murdoch warned the King Class. "On Sodor, we don't take kindly to those who try to control others, regardless of their perceived rank."

"Lady of Legend is more important than any of you working class engines!" King Edward II shouted. "City of Truro and Lode Star will hear about this!"

Murdoch frowned. He didn't know who they were in relation to this young engine but he couldn't condone the big blue engine ordering the poor young engine around while she was clearly distressed.

"I suggest you leave," Murdoch said coldly. "The young engine clearly does not want you here."

He didn't want an argument so he made himself appear as big as possible to try and intimidate the King Class off.

King Edward II frowned as he surveyed the large 9F with a critical gaze.

"You know, I'm surprised that you're defending a young engine when you and your siblings allowed such abuse to happen to Evening Star," he said coldly and Murdoch's expression immediately turned into one of anger. Despite his expression, Murdoch remained calm and collected, however.

"That is not relevant to this young engine," he said smoothly, not allowing any emotion in his voice to show knowing that the blue engine was trying to start an argument or make him look bad in front of Tydfil. "Now you will leave."

King Edward II glared at the mighty engine with a sour look before relenting and reversing away.

Tydfil looked up at the big orange engine. He was grand and one of the largest engines she'd ever seen.

"Are you alright young one?" Murdoch asked.

"I'm fine," Tydfil smiled up at him. "I guess I've never really argued with the King's before. They always treated me like a princess that I never really saw how little I knew about a railway until coming here and meeting all these engines. I don't think they like me being rebellious and speaking my mind."

"From what Ryan told me, you seem like a princess who was locked in a tower and never knew what the real world was," Murdoch thoughtfully concluded. "He said you had trouble with basic consist etiquette."

Tydfil's face flushed red with embarrassment. She didn't like failing and being reminded of it.

"I told Ryan not to tell anyone!" she said flustered. "How dare he tell my secrets to other peasant engines!"

"Ryan does tend to get a bit excited and spill the beans on things," Murdoch mused, ignoring the 'peasant engine' comment. "However he only told me when he was getting really worried about you. He said he saw a big green engine yelling at you when you were crying. After that, you refused to let him take you out and teach you things."

Tydfil looked away. King Edward I had yelled at her when he'd seen her with Ryan. He'd forced her to stop seeing the little purple tank engine, prompting her to yell at Ryan and be rude to him to which Ryan had been confused by.

She didn't want to, however, Ryan was kind and sweet and she wanted to be his friend but she couldn't disappoint the Kings. They showered her with praise and told her she was a special engine.

But she wanted to be Ryan's friend.

"I- I- want to be Ryan's friend but- I'm not allowed to talk to-"

"Miss Tydfil, while you are a young engine who may need supervision on a railway, you should not be controlled on who you should speak to," Murdoch explained kindly.

"But I'm a high-class engine! I'm not supposed to talk to shunters!"

"Ryan is not a shunter and he's not a peasant either," Murdoch said sternly. "He willingly went out of his way to help you and you speak of him in such a rude way? I thought he was your friend."

Tydfil looked at her buffers. She felt bad for calling Ryan such things but if she didn't uphold her image then the King Class's would criticise her and take away her coaches.

"But if I'm seen with other engines they'll take my coaches away," she muttered.

Murdoch looked down at her thoughtfully.

"Tell you what Ms Tydfil, why don't we talk to the controller of your railway to let you stay on Sodor for a while and learn how we steam engines work? Does that sound good to you?" He asked and Tydfil's eyes lit up with delight.

"Oh yes, I'd like that Mr Murdoch!"

Tydfil's face fell as she realised something, however.

"The King Class's will never let me however, They'll just petition this City of Truro guy to keep me in their care," She pouted.

"Well, why don't you talk to the City of Truro yourself without those big engines to talk over you? From what I've heard from Duck, Truro is very reasonable and kind if a little stern," Murdoch suggested and Tydfil's eyes lit up again.

"Yes, yes I could do that!" She said excitedly. "Thank you, Mr Murdoch!"

Murdoch smiled at the young engine.

"I'm happy to help Ms Tydfil," he beamed at her.

Happy that the young engine was now content and had a plan he moved to continue his duties but he stopped when the young engine suddenly asked another question.

"Who's Evening Star?"

Murdoch paused and gazed at the young iron before him. He stared at her for a long while, regret deep in his eyes before answering.

"An engine who was failed by everyone around her," was all he said and before Tydfil could say anything more, he left without another word.

Tydfil had hoped to sneak into Ulfstead Castle unnoticed by the King Twins or Pendennis Castle. Ryan had gone with her to distract any engines that might stop her.

Distracting Pendennis had been easy enough, the express engine was happily entertaining himself with the company of the Pannier Tank Tydfil had met and pulled that horrible train with and so Ryan quickly joined them enthusiastic about meeting the famous engine. There was also a diesel with them that shook with an exciting air to him, clearly excited to meet the famous Great Western Engine.

Tydfil's driver commented it was strange to see a diesel of all engines be excited about steam engines. Tydfil didn't care for it. She thought it was stupid but she was quickly hushed by her driver, telling her to be careful not to hurt someone's feelings.

"Hello there," a voice suddenly called to her and she squeaked, startled. The owner of the voice chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you!"

She looked over and saw a strange-looking yellow engine with a… wooden boiler?

"Why are you made of wood? Isn't that dangerous?" She asked and the engine burst out laughing. "Are you that old?"

"I'm an engine so old that they used wood to help make boilers young lady," he teased. "An aged old wine barrel that's me!"

"That's stupid," Tydfil said with a pout.

"Maybe but you know what they say about wine, the older it is the better it is!" He laughed but she just stared at him confused. "Name's Stephen. Do you have a name young lady?"

"My name is Tydfil," she said looking down at him. She thought him ugly, small and slow but didn't mention it, her thoughts drifting to Murdoch's words about Ryan.

"A special name! Like the birthplace of the Steam Engine! How charming!" The old engine exclaimed. "What brings you to the castle?"

"I came to see the City of Truro," Tydfil told him and Stephen looked at her curiously.

"I see, well unfortunately he's not here, he's at Crovan's Gate getting his wheels repaired," Stephen informed her.

"Oh," Tydfil had taken great care in avoiding the other Great Westerns in order to get to the castle only to find out that the engine she wanted to see was not even there.

"Would you like to meet some of the other famous engines here instead?" He suggested upon seeing her disappointment.

"Famous Engines?"

"Well there's me of course," Stephen said with a laugh. "There's Pendennis Castle, Green Arrow and of course, the world-famous Flying Scotsman!"

"Flying Scotsman!?" Tydfil cried out in surprise.

Of course, she had heard of Flying Scotsman. Pendennis spoke of him constantly, either to berate his longest-standing rival or to laugh at him as a friend. It was strange, she couldn't tell if Pendennis hated or liked the engine.

The Twin King's also spoke of him, the Blue King with reverence and an admirable tone however the Green King only spoke of him in harsh and reproachful ways.

She didn't know what to make of him.

Stephen laughed. "Of course! I shouldn't even have asked, everyone always wants to see the Flying Scotsman!"

Tydfil gazed at the little yellow engine, who had quickly assumed her desire to meet the Flying Scotsman and began to roll away towards the castle interior, happily babbling away to himself.

Tydfil felt frustrated but said nothing.

She didn't want to meet this Scotsman, but the decision had clearly been made for her.

The old engine seemed happy, like many of the people who had helped bring her into existence. They happily told her stories about other Saint Class's and strangely enough, other Hall Class's.

Olton Hall sprang to mind. The little old wooden engine reminded her of Olton Hall she realised. She smiled to herself. She liked Olton Hall whenever he came to visit. He would always treat her well and called her sister despite her being a Saint class.

"Well, are you coming?" Stephen suddenly called to her and she looked up to find the little engine near the entrance to the castle. He was smiling at her encouragingly and Tydfil quickly closed the gap between them.

"Who builds a railway inside a castle?" Tydfil muttered to herself.

"Why I do!" A loud voice suddenly came from right next to her and she shrieked, frightened by the sudden appearance of a well-dressed man in a purple vest at her side.

"Terribly sorry my dear lady!" The man humbly apologised to her. "I did not mean to startle you!"

"I would hope not you nasty little thing!" Tydfil hissed steam at the man. "Sneaking up on a lady like that!"

"Again my deepest apologies Lady, I am Sir Robert Norramby, the Earl of Sodor!" The man introduced himself with a flamboyant wave and Tydfil immediately regretted yelling at him.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you, sir!" Tydfil hastily apologised profusely.

Sir Robert waved her off dismissively. "It's okay! You're Didcot's Saint Project aren't you?"

"Yes I am," Tydfil said proudly. "I'm a new build just like that Tornado girl, but better!"

"Not exactly, you weren't built from scratch like Tornado but you are very special nonetheless!" The Earl explained.

Tydfil stared at him confused.

"What do you mean-" she demanded but was cut off as a large green engine approached them from within one of the engine berths, his coat gleaming and he looked almost brand new. He looked bigger than a King Class from the front on but he didn't have as many wheels.

He was like Tornado only he seemed sleeker and his smoke deflectors framed his face in a much more fitting way.

'Here he is!" Sir Robert raised his arms in greeting to the engine that had just emerged. "The man of the hour!"

"Hello, hello!" The engine greeted them, his voice was deep, had a practised showman cadence and was very posh sounding. He had a noble-looking face, old but compassionate eyes and very thick eyebrows. "Yes, it's me, no need to whistle or applaud."

The engine stopped before them and eyed Tydfil curiously.

"May I ask who you are young one?" He asked of her. The tone of his voice suggested that he already knew and was humouring her. She frowned slightly.

"Tydfil," Lady of Legend remarked. "Why are your eyebrows so thick? They're like half your face."

Stephen looked bamboozled while Scotsman approached Tydfil and glared down at her, his expression stoic. She matched his expression with her own, unfaltering under the big green engine's gaze.

Then the engine burst out laughing.

"I like you!" He proclaimed excitedly. "It's nice to see someone be themselves when they meet me for once. None of these false niceties!"

The engine grinned at her widely.

"I'm the Flying Scotsman," he introduced himself. "I pleasure to meet you, young-"

The Scotsman suddenly stopped and he suddenly stared at Saint class blankly, as if something unnatural had taken over him. His eyes flashed with gold for a second and Tydfil suddenly felt herself being examined in a very strange way.

As quickly as the strange occurrence happened it stopped, and Scotsman seemed to shake himself out of it, blinking rapidly, his eyes unfocused.

"That uh- sorry-" Scotsman stammered confused, his eyes refocusing on Tydfil and staring at her strangely.

"That was- why do you have two souls?" The Scotsman muttered. He was staring at her, a strange look on his face like he was seeing right through her.

Tydfil had had enough. She hadn't come here for pleasantries with engines she did not care for.

"Look, I just came here to talk to the City of Truro, I'm not here to be a part of some weird castle thing going on up here," she explained. "It was nice to meet you but right now I want some time to myself."

The Scotsman seemed to shake himself out of the strange trance he had been in and gazed at her apologetically.

"I apologise for that, I don't know what came over me," the Scotsman said with a nervous glance at Sir Robert. "But I am very personal with Truro. If you would like, I could pass on a message to him."

"I would rather explain my situation in person to him," Tydfil stated. "I do not want others to put words in my mouth, especially not the Twin King's!"

The Flying Scotsman's expression softened and he smiled at her kindly.

"Of course, Tydfil," he acknowledged. "I will however let Truro know that you wish to see him."

"Thank you."

Without even saying goodbye to the famous engine, Tydfil reversed and went on her way, going to collect Ryan as she departed.

"What a strange engine," she heard Stephen remark as she left.

"Is there any reason Blue Peter insists on hanging around Darlington Works in his off time?" Iain asked as he saw the large Peppercorn on a siding near the workshop.

"I think he wants to talk to Tornado," Matthias said gruffly. "He tried to apologise to her earlier in the week. Tornado just got angry and called out his behaviour towards her."

Iain frowned.

"He began being a right ass to her for no reason when she was a few months old," he noted. "After being so kind to her when she was new. He's never once explained why or even moved to apologise."

"Maybe he was doing it because of peer pressure," Matthias suggested. "I've seen how high cliquey and 'political' these engines can get with each other."

Iain shrugged. "Tornado seems to be doing well for herself now."

"She has Flying Scotsman and Sir Nigel's favour, a high honour for a young engine," Matthias mused. "Although they're both kind and accepting engines. They'd protect anyone in need if they could."

The A2 Peppercorn seemed to notice them looking at him and immediately looked away.

"He seems nervous," Matthias pointed out.

Iain suddenly looked despondent and concerned.

"Blue Peter's a nervous engine, but he usually hides it," Iain explained. "He's very picky about his engineers and fireman. He often refuses to even budge for a new crew until he's sure they understand how he works. He doesn't let just anyone drive him since his accident."

"Accident?"

"An inexperienced crew was set to drive him for a railtour, they didn't know his controls properly and he suffered a catastrophic wheel slip," the chief engineer explained. "Ripped his valve gear and cylinders to shreds."

"How terrible!" Matthias exclaimed. He glanced back at the A2 who was watching the nearby road. "No wonder he's so anxious."

Iain sighed. "It still doesn't explain why he rejected Tornado only a few months after her awakening."

"Have you tried asking him?"

"Yes, but he just insults her and calls her an impostor," Iain said frustrated, running his hands through his hair. "At some point, we just gave up trying to figure it out and kept him away from Tornado as much as we could."

"Well, Tornado seems to have grown a studier boiler as it were," Matthias remarked. "The girl's quite capable of giving an engine an earful."

"Of course, she is," Iain laughed. "She's a teenager now."

It was almost sundown when Bittern returned from his Shildon trip and made for the Sodor Museum. He almost didn't spot his brother's tender in a heavy foliaged siding near Kellsthorpe on his way back to the Duke's estate.

"Sir Nigel?!" He exclaimed incredulously. "What are you doing here?!"

His voice seemed to wake the A4 up as he gave a jolt and glanced back at him.

"Oh!" He cried out startled, his eyes darting around before seeing Bittern looking at him concerned and confused.

Sir Nigel was the personal engine to the Gresley family, ranked highest among the remaining LNER engines.

Why on Earth was he on some random siding many counties away from the family estate?

"Bittern!" He called out to his elder brother as soon as he saw him. "I may have been forgotten in the mess of other happenings."

"Forgotten? How could-"

Bittern suddenly noticed the birds roosting on top of his boiler and felt immediately uncomfortable due to his phobia of the blasted animals.

"How long have you been here?! What happened?!"

Sir Nigel gave an exhausted sigh.

"It's… a long story."

When you forgot your family's prized engine in a siding. Oops.

Almost at the end, only a few loose ends to tie up now.

~For updates, extra lore or to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me on tornadoyoungiron tumblr

There is also a Tumblr where you can directly ask the characters of this story at Ask Young Iron