"Something is bothering you, Arrow," Truro said as he watched the bigger green engine beside him.

He really was a smaller version of Gresely's famous A1s and A3s. It was uncanny how many traits the engine had to his bigger cousins.

He noticed how when his boiler cooled, the creaks and sounds made were similar and even how Arrow carried himself.

It comforted him in Flying Scotsman's absence

Green Arrow seemed very restless and agitated.

The mixed engine glanced at Truro before giving a deep sigh.

"I am worried about Tornado," he said quietly. "I'm afraid another incident will happen."

"I see," Truro pondered. "I've tried to speak with her but she doesn't respond to me as well as she does with Gordon or Scotsman."

"I had actually been hoping you would have been able to help."

"I have tried," Truro said. "But I feel I am too stern and not as personal with her. I doubt forcing her to talk to me would have any positive results."

"I know, I know," Arrow said. "I guess I have to keep trying, I guess."

"Tornado has a lot of friends. She just needs to realise that." Truro said. "That's not all that's bothering you though."

Green Arrow glanced at Truro. The old man was perceptive and smart. He knew something was wrong with Arrow.

Arrow's expression darkened.

"Mallard," was all Arrow spat with venom.

"Yes, he took your voice," Truro said and a low growling sound came from Arrow. "Do you have any idea why?"

"I don't," Arrow said in a low growl. "I offered him my friendship. I tried to be nice to him because I felt sorry for him. But no, he had to go and use me as a 'test' to see if he could kill Flying Scotsman."

"Stainer says he is doing investigations, but the word is that Mallard may have a part in Cain's operations," Truro said glumly.

Green Arrow looked at Truro confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Mallard is very unpleasant, yes but he's clearly capable of tricking humans as he did with your driver," Truro explained. "What's to say he didn't manipulate Cain while he was younger. His father was director of the museum for a long time after all."

Green Arrow frowned.

It made sense. Richard Dover often left his young son to roam the halls of the museum where Mallard had sat on a plinth.

Mallard could have easily oiled his way into the boy's mind with his words.

When Cain had taken over… a lot of engines that Mallard did not like were suddenly shipped to other branches or suddenly 'put into storage'.

Green Arrow had never cared or noticed, his fury was solely focused on Flying Scotsman at that time. Now that Truro mentioned it.

He'd been blindsided by the A4 who had fed into his hatred of Scotsman, affirming his negative thoughts of the famous engine.

He'd been manipulated.

Green Arrow's face went red with embarrassment and confusion. He'd been an idiot.

"You're a smart engine Green Arrow," Truro said. "But with you distracted by Scotsman, maybe Mallard didn't see much of a threat in you. Until Cain was caught and things started to point to Mallard."

"He tried to silence me," Green Arrow realised. "He knew I would figure things out."

"I always found it quite ridiculous that the excuse of removing your voice box was a 'test run'," Truro said. "I think it was more of Mallard not wanting to admit that he knew you would figure him out and spread rumours in the way that you do."

"Did you- figure this out?" Green Arrow asked.

"No, I'm afraid my mind is not critical in ways like yours is, Olivia came to this conclusion," Truro explained.

Green Arrow frowned.

"Cain had no reason to hate Ms Olivia, he banned her from the museum for no reason when he took the role… even though she was the prime choice to be Scotsman's engineer. Mallard must have been jealous that she chose Scotsman as her ideal engine," Green Arrow theorised. "So she had an idea that Mallard was behind this?"

"Not until very recently, but Yvonne admitting that Mallard was the one who tricked her into removing your voice box was the final clue she needed. Although she's been critical of your actions, Olivia has a deep appreciation of you," Truro said with a smirk. "It also didn't help that someone tried to have Mallard attend the opening of the Sodor branch of the Museum."

"He's trying to get close to Flying Scotsman," Green Arrow said realising. "He's getting desperate to kill him."

Green Arrow stared at his buffers.

"Now that I think about it, Mallard only humoured my friendship to fuel my hatred towards Flying Scotsman," he said quietly. "He always tried to convince me it was better if Scotsman was gone."

He looked ashamed and guilty.

"I never… When I was in that mine with Cain and Scotsman… I couldn't- I didn't want to go through with it…"

"I'm glad that your good nature came through in the end Green Arrow," Truro said with a kind smile. "I didn't know that Mallard was influencing you then, but it was a noticeable change. I hope you can shake free of his influence."

"I want to make up to Scotsman," Green Arrow said quietly. "Sir Gresley would be ashamed of me, acting the way I did. He introduced me to Scotsman personally. I could see that Scotsman was his favourite, he adored him."

"Do you think Mallard was jealous of Scotsman being Gresley's favourite?" Truro asked.

"I don't know," Arrow sighed. "I really don't. But I know that Mallard is an entitled spoiled child with a super inflated ego."

"Everyone knows that," Truro said with a roll of his eyes. "It's obvious when you first meet him."

Green Arrow gave an amused snort.

"I know you can't speak about him but pass my regards on to Flying Scotsman when you next see him?" Green Arrow said with a small hopeful smile. "He protected me and watched out for me when I was in peril when he had no reason to. I'd like to repay him for that."

"I can certainly do that for you Green Arrow," Truro said, giving him a kind smile. "For what it's worth, Flying Scotsman worries about you and cares about you deeply."

"I'm just now realising that Truro," Green Arrow said with a warm smile. "It took me a while but I'll get there."

"You were never that good at recognising people's intentions," Truro observed and Green Arrow blushed.

"I know, I'm getting better at it though," Arrow said with a cheeky smile. "Thanks for putting up with me Truro."

"You're intelligent, interesting and clever, I adore our conversations Arrow," Truro assured him. "You've grown a lot in the past year. You're taking responsibility for yourself. I'm proud of you."

Arrow said nothing. He just blushed deeply.

It was nice to be complimented by an engine he looked up to.

"Ah Henry! I was hoping to bump into you today!" Sir Topham said as he waved Henry down at Knapford Station.

Gordon, who was sleeping at the platform, opened an eye lazily and gazed at them curiously.

"Good Afternoon Sir!" Henry greeted the man.

"Mr Stainer tells me you want to get to know some of your class's siblings Henry!" The Fat Controller grinned.

"I um, yes sir, yes I would," Henry said with a hopeful smile. "If that's not too much trouble sir."

"Well it just so happens that a few of your siblings are wanting to meet you," the man said and Henry's eyes lit up.

"Really sir?"

"Yes! I've had several railways contact me trying to arrange trips to Sodor for their Black 5's. I think you made quite an impression on the Lady Magpie," Sir Topham chuckled.

"Wait, Henry has siblings?" Thomas piped up from the other end of the station. "Since when?"

"Why have we never heard of them before?" James demanded.

"I only just found out about them myself," Henry said quietly. "See, I never considered myself a real LMS Black 5, I was rebuilt into one so I thought I didn't count."

"If it makes you feel any better, you have Henry Stainer's blessing," Sir Topham smiled. "Olivia Gresley's too I might add."

Gordon frowned at Sir Topham's words but no one noticed.

"We'll have two LMS Black 5's coming to the opening of the Sodor Branch of the Museum, they'll be carting rail enthusiasts from the mainland in the place of Conner and Caitlin," Sir Topham explained.

Henry beamed proudly.

"Thank-you sir! I can't wait to meet them sir!"

Sir Topham chuckled.

"I knew you'd be happy. Keep up the good work all of you!" He called to his engines as he disappeared into his office.

Thomas rolled up to Henry's side.

"You have siblings! That's so cool!" He said excitedly and Henry blushed at being the centre of attention.

"Huh, I don't see what all the fuss it's," James huffed and Thomas glared at him.

"Why can't you be happy for Henry?" He scolded. "He deserves something nice."

James gave a smile.

"I just hope they don't take attention away from me," he grumbled and Henry laughed.

"Don't be worried James, nothing will take attention away from you if you keep your paint clean," Henry assured the red engine.

James brightened up at that.

"I suppose you're right Henry," he said with a proud puff and a smug grin which made Thomas roll his eyes.

"So how many siblings do you have?" Thomas asked.

"Stainer said I had 18 other siblings."

"18!?" James shouted out in shock. "We'll be invaded! The Island will be taken over by Henry's, how terrible!"

Henry laughed.

"I don't think they'll be able to come here all at once James," he assured the Red Engine. "They're all at different railways."

"Still 18 Henry's," James muttered to himself. "Sounds horrifying."

"Why? I think that would be fun!" Thomas teased.

"You have a weird idea of fun," James said, shooting Thomas a worried look as Henry blew his whistle to leave.

"Congratulations Henry!" Thomas called after him as he and James began immediately arguing over what Henry's siblings would be like.

Neither of them noticed Gordon as he pulled out of the station without a word, an unreadable gaze upon his face.

"Where are we going?" Tornado asked her driver Matthias. "Why are we heading to Henry's forest?"

Her driver simply smiled at her.

"To see an old friend, Ms Tornado," he said and Tornado just huffed.

"That doesn't answer my question," she snapped back.

"It's a surprise," he said simply and Tornado gave a loud irritated sigh.

"Fine then," she snapped, annoyed. "Keep your secrets."

Due to Tornado's constant foul mood these days, they found the Young Iron starting to become snarkier and more bold.

Which was good as Tornado was finally starting to come into her own but that came with issues. She was becoming unruly and rebellious.

Matthias often joked she was coming into her teenage years which wasn't half wrong on his part.

They pulled into a siding by the mainline and Tornado was surprised to see Ryan sitting up a head on the same siding.

"Hello Ryan," she greeted the small tank engine surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello Ms Tornado!" Ryan greeted the bigger engine cheerily. "I brought a friend!"

Tornado raised an eyebrow curiously but then a wide smile stretched across her face when she saw who it was climbing off Ryan's footplate.

"Ms Olivia!" She greeted her first engineer happily. "I missed you!"

Olivia laughed.

"I missed you too dear girl," the woman greeted her kindly. "Edward said you need someone to talk to."

"I um- yes, yes I do, if that's alright with you Ms Olivia," Tornado said with a slight blush in her cheeks.

"Of course sweet Storm Cell," Olivia said as she climbed on to Tornado's running board to sit with her.

Matthias and her fireman went over to Ryan and he left to give them some privacy.

"Henry's forest is quite wonderful isn't it," Olivia remarked as they sat on the siding that overlooked a small valley. "That engine has quite a gentle soul."

Tornado looked out at the valley with Olivia.

"He's always so kind to me," Tornado said quietly.

"Why wouldn't he be? You're a lovely young lady," Olivia said and Tornado looked down at her.

"The other big engines on the mainland didn't think so," she said with a saddened face. "Don't you remember how they bullied me?"

"I remember," Olivia said. "They've eased now as there's new steam engines being built. Lady of Legend had more of a warm welcome than you did."

Tornado pouted. "She has Pendennis and the other Didcot engines to vouch for her, I never had that."

"You have Flying Scotsman, most engines take his word if only to try and seek his approval," Olivia pointed out. "If we had known that he would have vouched for you, we would have introduced the two of you earlier."

Tornado didn't respond. Her mind thought of the Scotsman's current situation.

It honestly freaked her out. She didn't like it. She hated it.

Flying Scotsman was an engine, not a soft squishy human.

"You do not agree with what happened to Scotsman," Olivia stated picking up on Tornado's silence.

"I don't like it Ms Olivia, it disturbs me," Tornado admitted. "I tried to accept it but… I just can't, it's too… I don't know."

Olivia looked up into Tornado's face. She looked distraught.

"It's okay to feel uncomfortable, you can't help a feeling like that," Olivia assured Tornado. "But yelling at Scotsman and telling him you'd never accept him was crossing a line. Scott was deeply hurt by your words Tornado."

"I'm sorry, I freaked out I-" Tornado avoided Olivia's gaze. "I didn't mean to upset him, it was an impulsive reaction."

"I won't force you to apologise but I would like you too," Olivia told her. "I know Gordon has been demanding you apologise for upsetting his brother and that's been causing you to become even more upset but things cannot go on like this."

"I know Ms Olivia, I promise I will apologise but I just don't see Scotsman in that human. But I know it's him, it's hard to explain," Tornado said, fumbling her words.

"Maybe you should try to understand him, reconnect with him," Olivia said with a smile. "You might be pleasantly surprised. He's still that ridiculous green engine, just in a different form."

Tornado looked at Olivia who was looking at her encouragingly.

"Okay Ms Olivia, I'll try for you," Tornado mumbled softly. "And for Scott. I really do want to believe it's him, I miss him so much but it's like, part of my mind can't see that human as Scotsman."

"Over time that will change. The Culdee Fell engines didn't accept Godred at first," Olivia explained.

"But I thought Godred wasn't allowed near his Railway anymore?" Tornado questioned.

"Yes but that was for unrelated reasons," Olivia said nothing more. "Reasons I cannot go into with you Ms Tornado."

"I know, I know, secret gold dust stuff," Tornado said with a sigh.

"Secret stuff that Green Arrow insists on digging his mitts into," Olivia huffed annoyed. "He's become quite the pest for Sir Robert."

"He doesn't mean any harm Ms Olivia," Tornado explained. "He is just curious about things and doesn't let them go until he's learnt everything about them. He's always been like that. When we were friends, he was obsessed with learning about miniature engines like the Arlesdale ones. He used to convince his crew to go out and see them when he had spare time. It was very endearing."

Olivia stared out at the valley, watching as a flock of ravens started riding the winds.

"Have you and Green Arrow made up?"

"Yes but we're not really friends again," Tornado said sadly. "You told me to stay away from him so I haven't really talked to him apart from saying hello."

Olivia gave a thoughtful hum.

"I know you regret your actions that caused Arrow to burst his boiler but I think it's cruel to ban you from seeing your friend. You may see him whenever you please as long as Arrow wants your company," she said and Tornado's eyes lit up.

"Thank-you ma'am! I can't explain how much I've missed Arrow!" Tornado said happily.

Olivia gave a soft chuckle.

"Can't have my little storm cell sad now can I?" She beamed. "Speaking of which, the trust has fired your build brother up for the first time."

Tornado looked amazed.

"Really!? He's sentient?" She asked happily.

"Not yet," Ms Olivia said and Tornado's face fell. "They're still running tests on him and he hasn't woken up yet. But they say in the next 6 months he'll be awake."

"Oh," Tornado looked away from her sadly.

"But, still when the event happens the Trust have reconsidered your absence," Olivia said stroking her smoke box. "I hope you get along well with him."

"I hope so too," Tornado sighed quietly. "Sooo… when do I get to meet your baby? Tiny humans are the cutest."

Olivia chuckled. "He's only a few weeks old Tornado. You'll meet him, just be patient."

"I have no patience!" Tornado shouted. "I've waited so long already!"

"And you complain when Scotsman calls you a small puff," Olivia said, rolling her eyes at Tornado's childish behaviour.

"I am not a small puff!" Tornado shouted even louder, angry at the hated nickname.

Olivia only laughed at her for that.

"What on Earth were you thinking?" Great Northern snapped at Flying Scotsman. "Racing a speed boat? You could have hurt your passengers or your crew!"

"My crew said it was fine!" The Flying Scotsman argued. "And the man and his boat wanted to race me! He was practising for a race or something."

"Such ridiculous behaviour!" North snapped angrily. "You make the LNER look like reckless fools!"

The Flying Scotsman blasted steam at his older brother.

"It was a bit of fun! Something you'd never understand!" He snapped at him.

Great Northern looked utterly offended at Scotsman's actions.

"How dare you be so insolent with me!" He snapped angrily. "You will watch your tone with me 4472!"

"It's Flying Scotsman!" The Scotsman snapped right back at him. "And I'm sick of you constantly criticising and belittling me! Why can't you just let me do my job in peace!"

"Because you only got the job because you're Gresley's favourite!" Northern roared in the Flying Scotsman's face.

The Flying Scotsman stared at his elder brother in shock.

"I knew it," he said quietly. "You are jealous of me."

Great Northern glared at Flying Scotsman.

"The Flying Scotsman was promised to me, not you, 4472," North said in a deadly quiet voice.

"Maybe if you had reached Sir Gresley's expectations, he would have kept his promise," the Scotsman spat angrily.

"If I had it my way you would be scrapped!" North retorted coldly.

He immediately regretted it when he heard jeering from his other siblings.

"I knew it! I knew Great Northern only tried to please Gresley!" He heard Hermit jeer behind him.

Several of their other siblings joined in on their jeering and mocking of Flying Scotsman who looked deeply hurt.

"You'll be the first of us to be scrapped!" He heard someone yell and the engine numbered 4472 eyes began to water.

He quickly backed out of the shared roundhouse, the shouts and cheers echoing in his ears.

"4472 wait!" Great Northern called but the retreating engine did not hear him. "I'm sorry."

Flying Scotsman made a beeline for Sir Gresley's personal workshop as he always used to do when the other's picked on him.

He stopped when Gordon was sold to a Railway Scotsman had never heard of before.

A little Island off the coast of the mainland from what Sir Gresley had told him.

The Scotsman was jealous, it sounded nicer than the current hellhole he lived in.

He entered the workshop, all the engineers were slowly packing up for the night.

"Hello Flying Scotsman," one of them greeted him. "Have you come in for a tune up?"

"No sir, just somewhere to sleep for the night."

"As you wish Flying Scotsman," the engineer went on his way while Scotsman backed himself into the very back corner, hidden from view in the shadows.

As the workers left for the day, the workshop became lonely.

It was the first time since Gordon had left that he had slept here.

A cold vice-like feeling coiled around his boiler as he suddenly felt he couldn't hold his tears back any longer.

He missed Gordon.

There was no one else. No one else he could talk to. No one would listen.

He hoped Gordon was happy. That he had made friends on his little island.

Would Gordon even remember him?

Would anyone?

He didn't know how long he had sat crying but sometime during the night he had fallen asleep.

The morning sun was shining through the windows in the roof of the workshop, waking him from his uneasy sleep.

He sat there for a few minutes and then realised that the cold vice-like feeling was still there.

He still felt as lonely as he ever had.

He gave a shaky breath as he felt tears burn down his face.

He didn't even hear someone begin to open the workshop.

"Flying Scotsman," he suddenly heard a voice at his side.

The Flying Scotsman looked over and saw Sir Gresley standing there, looking up at him, the same stoic look that was always on his face staring at him.

"Sir," he croaked weakly as tears fell down his face.

There was a long pause as Gresley gazed up at his prized engine.

"Your crew informed me of what happened," he said finally. "I have disciplined several engines including Great Northern."

The Flying Scotsman said nothing. He just stared at the ground hopelessly.

"You are clearly not in a good shape to run today," Gresley stated observing Scotsman. "I will have Sunstar replace you for this day's lines."

"I'm sorry sir," Flying Scotsman apologised hoarsely. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. And I'm sorry for racing that boat."

Gresley waved his hand dismissively.

"No harm done," he said. "Besides, the publicity may be good for business."

"Publicity?"

"A few upstarts want to race my prized engine against a speed boat and a plane," he said. "If you win it would be good for the LNER. And another step towards that elusive 100mph."

The Scotsman stared at the ground.

He didn't know if he could go 100mph. It seemed impossible right now. Almost anything did.

Great Northern's words had affected him more than he liked to admit. Not to mention Gordon's absence was weighing heavily upon him.

"Regardless, I want you to stay here today," Gresley informed him. "Having you in person will make it easier for us to use reference for our new design."

"New design sir?"

"Essentially a mixed traffic version of your own class," he explained. "Smaller, but just as strong."

The Flying Scotsman felt a little bit happier at his designer's words.

At least he could be useful today.

That was something.

"I'll be happy to help sir."

"Thank-you Flying Scotsman."

…

find lady

The Flying Scotsman almost choked as he awoke from the memory replaying in his dreams. He laid confused in his bed, the strange feeling of a warm, soft, fleshy body still very alien to him.

He lay still staring up at the canopy of his four poster bed as the glow of moonlight shone through his window.

He could feel that his face was wet from tears that had obviously fallen during his sleep.

The memories weren't as horrifying as the nightmares that often plagued him in the past, but they were just as unsettling to him.

He found them becoming more and more vivid and realistic every time they appeared. He was also becoming more aware of them. Like he was watching the events from a different perspective, like he could almost reach out and touch Sir Gresley before him.

He didn't want to remember his youth. He didn't want to remember how awful his siblings had been to him, particularly Great Northern.

North had done nothing but made him feel terrible, constantly belittle and insult him when he didn't approve of 4472.

He'd never even given him the courtesy to refer to him as Flying Scotsman. Only 4472.

It had taken years but Scotsman had suppressed the memories of his nasty siblings, locking them away.

Great Northern was a joke now. A failed prototype that his siblings had considered worse than Gordon and in his last years mocked even worse than they had Gordon or himself.

The final nail in the coffin for him being designated a station pilot while 4472 grew even more famous and gained a new lease of life while North had been sent to the scrapyard.

The Scotsman frowned and closed his eyes.

Why was he remembering North all of a sudden? Why now? Why 50 years after he was scrapped?

Was it the gold dust? Was it warping his mind and making him relive through his memories? Was this some kind of test?

And there was that voice again, telling him to find a lady of some kind.

The Scotsman gave an exhausted sigh and rolled onto his side.

He closed his eyes and pleaded for a sleep with no more journey's through memory lane.

For updates, to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me on tumblr at tornadoyoungiron or on twitter as BakunawaArt.