A/N Respect my trainsona, especially if you're a member of this site, and this story stays up. I got a FanFiction buddy who's really a fan of Erica and she told me I could build a story from the scenes I shared with her and am building into these chapters. I don't tolerate anyone flaming my sona.
One day, Erica met up with Duck after they finished their last jobs. She told him her special interests were shunting with Thomas and hearing her fellow engines tell stories about their lives before she came.
Duck told her, "Once, when Diesel came to the island for the first time, he was wrong to me. He told lies about me and I went to Edward's station in tears. It was an emotional meltdown over the injustice of it because I hate injustice. Driver and Edward comforted me when I got to Edward's station I don't know why it was done, except maybe to separate us. I stayed at Edward's station for awhile and then I came back from there. Then after a while I got my own branch line, which became the Little Western with my cousin Oliver arriving here. Two Great Western engines on one line started everyone calling it that nickname and it stuck. My special interests are regatta, the Great Western Way, sailing and sometimes marine biology. I dream about the sea often."
Erica said, "Edward and Percy are my friends because any friend of Thomas is a friend of mine."
The tank engines then went to their sheds.
When Erica was about to go in her shed, she heard Percy crying with his driver and Thomas comforting him. She asked Thomas, whose buffers were against their friend's what had happened.
Thomas told his "sister", "Diesel 10 scared Percy as he was coming to Knapford Station.".
Erica told her "brother", "I've never seen him yet, but I maybe heard his horn. I've heard horns more than I've seen diesels. Diesel's the only one I've encountered." She gave Percy a sad, sympathetic look, thinking of Diesel bullying her and feeling bad about Percy scared by another diesel. To her, that was enough as her friend had his driver to dry his tears and Thomas's engine hug, combined with any words or comforting sounds from them. He knows I care, she thought. She watched as Percy, finished with his tears and fear, left. However, his face carried evidence of his crying.
With Percy feeling better and heading to his shed to get his sleep for pulling the mail train, Thomas could tell Erica about Diesel 10.
Thomas told his "sister", "Diesel 10 hates steamies, as many diesels do. BoCo, Daisy, Mavis and Phillip don't, for example, but they're the exceptions that prove the rule. He even scared Gordon, likely due to that claw of his called Pinchy and my ally doesn't scare as easily as some. I'm known as a brave little engine."
Erica said, "I know about how some diesels are mean, as you know." She made a sad face and felt her "brother" give her an engine hug.
"I don't like it when you get sad," he said. "Tomorrow, I shall introduce you to my coaches, Annie and Clarabel, in case you're ever needed to pull them. Like if I was ill or damaged and needed to go to the Steamworks. If Percy and Toby were busy, I'd allow you to pull them if that ever was to happen.
Erica said, "The Steamworks made me cry last time I was there, but a kind workman wiped my eyes dry and helped me feel better after that loud noise upset me."
Her "brother" said, "I don't like my friends being sad, but I'm not afraid of crying. I cry when I'm upset, so I may do what I can to comfort and cheer up my crying friends, but my words won't include "Don't cry." as long as the reason's worthy. However much I dislike to see someone feel sad and crying, I know crying makes one feel better. I've got to go now. Cheerio!"
His "sister" said, "Good night." and they went to their sheds.
The next day, once the "siblings" were in steam, it was time for Erica to meet the coaches. Thomas told his "sister" all about them and how he got them.
Erica's "brother" said, "I got my branch line when James had an accident his first day as an official engine of this railway. He had an accident with some Troublesome Trucks and I got the breakdown train. I was just being a Really Useful Engine and I got this branch line for it. My coaches came with my branch line. I remember arriving at my branch line and crying tears of joy because I was happy as can be. They're my friends."
They came to where Annie and Clarabel were. Thomas introduced his "sister" to them and told the coaches she might pull them. She told them she was somewhat different from other engines and told them what those differences were, but she could handle them as long as they were good to her. The coaches said they were the quiet type, down to earth, cared about others' feelings and liked structure. Thomas then was to pull them along the line, so everything was readied and Erica went back to Knapford to shunt.
A/N For Percy's evidence, imagine what you like. Maybe his expression was weary or he had red, puffy eyes. Whatever you believe can be for them. Erica's mostly a Knapford Yards engine, but can work on the branch line if needed. To anyone wondering what kind of engine she is, all I have so far is some kind of US built tank engine.