The Tokyo Connection
Next morning the Steam Locomotives of the Kalos Railway that assigned to pull the Orient Express were still dozing as they needed their strength for the days ahead. They were still thinking about the conversation they had last night regarding their guest but what they didn't know was that their guest had heard every word they were saying even though they were in English but they also didn't know that their guest had been assigned a translator who was fluent in English, French, and Japanese to help communicate.
Sure enough the locomotive in question opened an eye and found themselves inside of a locomotive workshop. At first the locomotive thought they were in Tokyo but then they heard the workmen speaking in a different language or two but one of the languages that was picked up was English. The locomotive in question continued to listen in while observing their surroundings and saw that she had been placed by the side of five other steam locomotives and all of them were big mainline tender engines and they were already conversing before the locomotive nearest to Rayne spoke up and having been in Japan all her life the Japanese Tank Engine had no idea who this engine was. All she knew was that they wore a name plate with the word 'Abigail' On the Smoke Deflector.
The Locomotive in question noticed that their guest was awake and spoke up.
Abigail: Hey guys. Our guest Rayne is awake.
The other engines parked next to Abigail stopped chatting and turned their attention to their guest as the Locomotive now identified as Rayne looked at them stunned.
Rayne: Who are you and how do you know my name?
Abigail: First off it says Rayne on your nameplate. Second is Rayne really your name or are you wearing somebody else's nameplates?
Rayne: I take slight offense to that. Of course, Rayne is my name. As for the name plates you see before you yes these are mine. All the engines on the railway back home have name plates on our smoke deflectors.
Duchess Corrinne: Well that's one less issue at any rate. Anyway we also know your name because your boss sent our boss your file.
Rayne: The Shiba Clan did that? What if it was lost in transit?
Silver: The file wasn't lost in transit. They sent a representative over to access the Johto Railway Files and pull up yours in person and they even had an armed escort bring the information on you.
Rayne: Well that explains that but I have no idea who you guys are.
Elgar: We don't blame you if the situations were reversed and we'd be asking the same questions you are.
Rayne: Okay but why do you have my file?
Alolan Line: Puling the file is a boss to boss thing and we mean no disrespect to you but we just don't like being blindsided.
Duchess Corrinne: I've been blindsided one too many times and it hurts brutally.
Rayne: Okay so if you have the file what do you lot need me for?
Silver: The file only gives us basic information about you class and your previous work history and a general idea of what your class was built to do but need your help because the important stuff isn't in the file.
Rayne: What else do you need? I thought Shiba Clan gave you the information the Belmont Clan needed.
Elgar: They only gave us the basics but they left out the vital information.
Abigail: Basically they didn't tell us what you were like in terms of personality or about yourself as an individual. Shantal Payne tried to leave that information out and tamper with Duchess Corrinne's File hoping to turn everyone against her in an attempt to reverse the positive changes she brought with her during her visit for the year.
Rayne: I know about that and so does the Entire Johto Railway Fleet. Corrinne, your story has gone global and all of your counterparts have banded together to fight Payne Industries.
Duchess Corrinne: I'll believe that when I've seen it.
Rayne: Funny that's what our leader Aiko said considering she's the loudest of us. And when she's not around Akiza's usually the one taking the lead.
Abigail: Who are Aiko and Akiza?
Rayne: Aiko and Akiza are two of the Tender Engines on the Johto Railway's fleet in Japan. Aiko is a Japanese National Railway C51 Pacific, Akiza is a JNR C61 Hudson but she's got an American Style Whistle and she's in charge of the Johto Daylight Express.
Silver: And what are they light in terms of Personality?
Rayne: Aiko is a hard worker but she's cynical towards newcomers because she doesn't know if they're there to help or are there for other reasons. Akiza is loud, vocal and not afraid to get in somebody's face and she's been known to call the Shiba Clan out whenever they make bad decisions that haunt not just the fleet but also the clients they serve. Still Akiza is loyal to those who have earned her friendship and proven themselves worthy.
Abigail: Okay but what of their policies on Bullies or those who support them?
Duchess Corrinne: Abigail has asked a very important question and that alone will tell us a lot.
Rayne: Aiko and Akiza believe the best policy on bullies is the way of how things should've been done in the Samurai era.
Elgar: What do you mean?
Rayne: The Shiba Clan say that back in the Samurai Era if you were caught of a minor offense like stealing they'd take a samurai sword and cut off the offender's hand. If the offender was guilty of a more serious crime they'd cut the offender right in half. If the samurai sword went though a human it was called a one body blade.
Silver: That's a bit much but then again it's not surprising compared to what Nicole says.
Rayne: Who is Nicole and what does she say?
Silver: Nicole is one of my old pals from the LNER. As for what she says she says that human bullies and all their relatives need to be beaten down into the ground like they used to do back in the day.
Duchess Corrinne: And that right there is the main reason why I respect her so much for her views. And you wonder why I usually ask for her when I need to borrow an engine to help with the Passenger traffic in my section.
Rayne: Sounds to me like Akiza, Aiko, and Nicole would get along well.
Elgar: That's one less concern at any rate so if you don't mind me asking this what happened?
Rayne: Well it's a long story.
Alolan Line: We got time. It's still early and Gideon has yet to fetch our coaches by now.
Rayne: As you already know the Johto Railway was responsible for running a lorry company out of business because they worked for Lord Arcanon. What you do not know is that we also took on a Yakuza Street Gang and helped put them and the lorry company behind bars.
Abigail, Alolan Line, Duchess Corrinne, Silver, and King Elgar were surprised as they knew that a Yakuza Street Gang had been taken down and put behind bars but they didn't know that the Johto Railway was responsible for their fall and the two cases were connected.
Silver: So what does this have to do with you?
Rayne: Unfortunately some of the Diesels that work on the companies that were once folded into the Japanese National Railway found out the Johto Railway was responsible for the fall and the ones that despise steam engines somehow managed to make sure that Lord Arcanon's Minions found out and that's where our troubles began.
Duchess Corrinne: Why do I get the feeling that Shauntal Payne is involved?
Rayne: One of the companies that served as a client to the Lorry Company we ran out of business was the Japanese Branch of Payne Industries and the branch chief told the company CEO about what happened and how the Johto Railway was responsible.
Alolan Line: That would explain why all the Steam Engines in the United Kingdom suffered hard in the last year and why we got word about why the Japanese Steam Locomotives all got attacked.
Silver: And why the diesels who despise Steam Engines in both Japan and the United Kingdom were worse than before in terms of attitude and insults.
Rayne: I'm afraid so and it gets much worse. Lord Arcanon personally led the attack that wrecked the Johto Railway's branchline section and wrecked the sheds that myself and the Johto Railway Branchline engines shared and our goods clients were getting frightened. If it wasn't for the contract we won for transporting dangerous chemicals then we would've been sunk.
Duchess Corrinne: But from what Sheena Fox said she mentioned that her father told her that client is so worried about something blowing up that he wouldn't let steam engines take it so I'm guessing that the only way to have won the contract was to ask for help from one of Gervase's siblings who burn oil.
Rayne: Actually, we won the contract because of Daichi and before you ask who Daichi is he's a Diesel. A JNR DD51 to be precise and he was built by the Johto Railway's workshops for the line itself. The Shiba clan taught him to respect his elders and he was raised among steam engines for his entire life so he respect us and he learns from us but he's got ideas that he's willing to bring to the table.
King Elgar: Sounds like a mainline Japanese version of Alana.
Rayne: I don't know who Alana is but I'm guessing she's a well mannered Diesel if you're comparing her to Daichi.
King Elgar: She is but please continue.
Rayne continued her story about how Daichi saved the Johto Railway and how he had earned the trust and confidence of the fleet and in turn was the reason for why Rayne was able to escape retaliation from the Yakuza gang and get to the safety of the Kalos Railway even though she was heavily damaged in the process of the escape which in turn lead up to the events we're in now.
Rayne: And that's pretty much the story.
Duchess Corrinne: I'm gonna speak from the bottom of my heart and say that you're a brave locomotive to have survived that and so are your friends.
Rayne: Considering our controller comes from a family of Samurais it's a given.
Duchess Corrinne: But first there is still the matter of the fact that the Shiba Clan's workshops are still being fixed and the gang could've followed you here. And we're still debating on what to do with you.
Rayne: If it's all the same I think I would be best served if I move from place to place. Provided I don't run into any more truck companies because I was attacked for putting one out of business who is to say that if I interfere in the affairs of another they won't have Arcanon come after me?
Abigail: We don't but I do know this if you don't face your fear then you've already lost the battle before it even starts.
Rayne: You're right. I forgot the first lesson the Shiba Clan was taught. If one goes into battle prepared to die then they'll survive but if one goes into battle hoping to live surely they shall not. Perhaps I can follow you and your team for a bit Abigail. My boss said I'm gonna be here for a while so it's best that I get into shape and see the line. Besides if I'm exploring the line then whoever is watching won't know where I'm at.
Silver: We were considering having the Kalos Controller place you in one of our sections but you bring up a good point. Let's get back to action.
The fleet agreed as they prepared for the day's events that were to follow.
Sorry I'm late but with these crazy times ahead things have gotten shaky and unstable. Still Hopefully this gives some of you who enjoy ThomasZoey3000's the Railroad Stories something to tide you over. Regardless please read and review?