A Break in the Action
On the Kalos Railway in France things were falling into a routine so far but the fleet knew that ever since news arrived from Sodor about how Brody, Zach, Monica and Churton Hall had successfully completed their other task of getting Edna and her parents to safety which was the intended purpose of their task and with that task done Edward the Blue Engine wouldn't have any excuse not to back Duchess Corrinne up on her plans to reverse Shantal Payne's plans.
The Great Western Engines were finding life difficult without Brody, Zach, Monica and Churton Hall as Norley Hall a Great Western Modified Hall Class locomotive was currently at the docks waiting for Preston, a GWR 5700 Panier Tank to arrange her trucks and she was currently starting across the vast sea.
Preston: (to his Driver) With Monica, Churton Hall, Brody and Zach gone we've all had to cope with the tougher workloads. And it seems that some of us are coping in different ways in these times of uncertantly.
Preston's Driver: What makes you say that?
Preston: Norley Hall is staring at the vast ocean at this moment. (Puffs alongside Norley Hall) Wake up!
Norley Hall: (Surprised) Huh? Oh sorry Preston. I just can't avoid feeling bummed over the safety of Brody and the others.
Preston: Well don't. Notice your thoughts, describe your emotions and let them go.
Norley Hall: Hey I do feel a little relieved. Now what?
Preston: Well I'm no psychologist but might I suggest you pick up a new skill, reach out to a friend, and stick to a routine.
Norley Hall: Thanks Preston. Anyway let's get back to work. It's the last train for the day before return to the sheds for the night.
Norley Hall went to go get her goods train as Preston went to go and arrange the rest of the trucks and put them in their proper sidings.
Later that evening the Great Western Locomotives of the Kalos Railway began to discuss what was going on so far.
Edinburgh Castle: It looks like we're all starting to feel the effects of uncertanty. Regardless we must continue with our duties.
Bryant: Edinburgh Castle's right. No matter what dangers lie ahead, and regardless of the challenges we must be ready for anything because at this point all we have left is each other.
Kalos Starr: And Brody, Monica, Churton Hall and Zach have each other so they've got this.
Edinburough Castle: Just like I'd like to get a shot at taking the Orient Express to prove I can handle it. I mean after all there is a reason I'm the primary passenger locomotive of the Kalos Railway's Great Western section and why my class were the Primary Express Locomotives of the Great Western Railway fleet.
Tyler the Resident GWR 6100 Large prairie Tank spoke up.
Tyler: You're lucky that Duchess Corrinne likes you and we still need you because if we were on the old GWR at the moment you'd be in the sheds for such language.
Edinburogh Castle: Hey Did you forget that our old General Manager was image conscious Tyler? Regardless we've got other issues at the moment.
Tina who was staying with the Great Western Locomotives decided to put her own two cents into the conversation.
Tina: Edinburgh Castle has a point. If Duchess Corrinne gets injured and King Elgar hasn't gotten back into Duchess Corrinne's good books yet and she and Abigail are busy then Edinburgh Castle may have to take the Orient Express himself.
Norley Hall: Yet it sucks that Duchess Corrinne's making Silver, King Elgar and Alolan Line and their siblings suffer because their siblings along with the Sherwood Forester and Edward the North Western Railway's Number 2 undermined her.
Bryant: Speaking of whom where is Elgar?
Meg a GWR 2880 decided to chime in.
Meg: King Elgar's been told to report to the Kalos Railway's main workshops in Paris for an emergency meeting and Duchess Corrinne called the meeting herself. She also told me to tell the lot of you about this and that Silver, Alolan Line and Abigail are also attending.
All the Great Western Engines knew full well that the only time Corrinne would call an emergency meeting of the Orient Express Locomotives was when something serious had happened which prompted them to doze off wondering what would happen.
In the Main Workshops in Paris, King Elgar, Silver Streak, Duchess Corrinne, Alolan Line, and Abigail were all side by side in order of when they were built as they were about to hold court.
Duchess Corrinne: King Elgar, Silver Steak, Alolan Line, Abigail. As you all know I've called this emergency meeting tonight for a reason and I had you tell one engine from the Sections you lead to explain why you'd be here tonight just as I did.
Elgar: You haven't mentioned myself or Silver by our full titles since returning Corrinne and that was due to our siblings helping Edward block your plans to try and bring positive change.
Silver: Which we know now was due to his Driver and Fireman's niece and her parents being under Arcanon's watch.
Alolan Line: But now that they're free Edward has no excuse to undermine you and he and the locomotives that blocked your plans have seen what you suffered through just because you simply told the truth.
Corrinne: Well it's good to see we're making progress but that's not why I called you lot and why I'm holding this conference at this hour even though I do apologize for doing so.
Abigail: The hour is unimportant Corrinne. Any news?
Corrinne: The Kalos Controller just told me that we discovered that we're running low on coal. Once we run out we're stuck till we can find more.
Elgar: Than that means we'll all shut down and the clients will start to distrust us.
The Fleet shivered at that before Alolan Line spoke.
Alolan Line: How much time do we have?
Corrinne: I'm guessing one maybe two more days. After that we'll all be suck having to rely on wood chipping or something and our enemies could take advantage.
Silver: And that would mean we'd be cut up and sent for scrap if we lose all of our clients and the passengers lose faith and confidence in us.
Abigail: Pretty much but I'm guessing there's more to it.
Corrinne: Unfortunately there is. The Kalos Controller also had a note sent from his buddy in japan. He's asking for help for one of his Steam Engines.
Elgar: What kind of help?
Corrinne: Namely help fixing his steam engine and in a place to stay where the steam locomotive will feel safe.
Silver: And let me guess the Kalos Controller said yes. So who is the locomotive and when do we meet them?
Corrinne: The Locomotive is Rayne a Japanese National Railway C12 Tank Engine.
Alolan Line: I thought Japanese Steam Locomotives ran on three-foot six-inch gauge so how is one here?
Corrinne: That's because Rayne is from the Johto Railway in Japan.
Abigail: Isn't that the only railway in Japan that uses Standard Gauge Japanese Locomotives with only two of the engines being Diesels and the rest of the fleet being Steam Locomotives?
Elgar: And that's also the railway that's been making headlines for being responsible for putting the lorry companies that worked for Lord Arcanon out of business.
Silver: Not to mention being personally responsible for putting the Yakuza gangs that did business with Arcanon behind bars.
Alolan Line: And Arcanon had half of the Lorry Companies that hated steam engines in Japan on his payroll by supplying them with technology and getting them competent drivers.
Corrinne: All of which is true and Rayne was the one who helped my Counterpart Aiko out. Unfortunately Arcanon found out and launched an attack on the Johto Railway which crippled the Branchline fleet and did a number on the Johto Railway's workshops.
Abigail: And let me guess the Johto Controller sent Rayne here knowing we'd fix her and take her in as protection right? So why the heck are we here?
Corrinne: Pretty much and we're here to decide which one of us gets to take her into our section of the Kalos Railway.
Alolan Line: I've got enough Tank Engines on my section as it is from the London Brighton and South Coast Railway and the E Tanks aren't gonna be happy with another outsider. They barely tolerate Laurel and Ezekiel as it is.
Silver: And they're usually here in the Workshops. I could consider having Rayne in my section considering we need another goods engine or two.
Corrinne: True and I could use another Branchline Engine in the LMS section of the Kalos Railway not to mention that as Aiko's counterpart I could get Rayne to open up.
Elgar: Count me out then. Nothing personal but the Great Western Railway's Standardization Policy means that Rayne won't fit in. We may have made an exception for Tina but she's a Swindon Built Locomotive and frankly we need her. So what of you Abigail?
Abigail: As you know I'm a BR Standard design and we BR Standards can freely move about the Kalos Railway so it wouldn't make a difference if she was assigned to me.
Corrinne: Then it's settled. We'll sleep on the subject until we come up with a plan tomorrow.
The others agreed as they dozed off hoping to come up with a suitable plan for their Japanese guest Rayne and they hoped that it would get her to talk.
Author's Note: Thanks for the visitors that have been checking out my story so far but please leave some reviews? Thank you that is all. Oh and Rayne is going to be a character found in a Thomas Fanfiction Story soon enough. Which story you ask? Well check in with ThomasZoey3000. I'm sure he's got answers. Thank you that is all.