Chapter 11 - A Tornado Decends
"I thought you'd be up at the castle today Mr Fancy Wheels," James sneered as he came upon Green Arrow sitting in a siding at Edward's station.
"Ms Tornado's taking my place," Arrow said, gazing up at the sky. "It's good for her to be in the public eye again. I don't want her to be in disgrace."
James just snorted.
"Makes a change from you stealing everyone's jobs," James muttered and Arrow glanced at him.
"I don't try to steal jobs," Arrow said earnestly. "It's not my intention to. I apologise if I give off that impression."
James just huffed at him.
"You're just a smaller, weaker version of Gordon and Scotsman. I don't see why an engine like you was preserved," he said snootily and Green Arrow glared at him.
It always rankled him when other engines compared him to the A3 Pacifics or called him a weaker version of them. James had continuously done this and he'd usually mostly ignore the obvious jabs, however, the stress from worrying over Mallard had gotten him to a breaking point.
"At least I don't crash every time I go around a corner," Arrow hissed at the red engine and James looked furious.
"Well, at least my bogey wheels don't derail every other mile!" James fumed and Arrow hissed steam at him in response.
"At least my entire personality is based around the colour of my paint!" Arrow snarled viscously. "And I've seen the way you follow Gordon around like a lost puppy trying to impress and copy him! It's honestly pathetic!"
James' eyes widened in shock and a look of hurt washed across his face immediately making Arrow regret his words.
"I- I'm sorry James that was harsh of me," He apologised. "I didn't mean to be so nasty."
James just glared at him, steam gathering around him in an angry cloud as he released it.
Arrow frowned.
"But that being said, you've been nothing but nasty to me ever since I arrived here," Arrow said. "I haven't done anything to try and antagonise you. Hell, even Gordon treats me with more respect than you do, just what is your problem with me?"
"You think you're a better version of me!" James shouted and Arrow just raised an eyebrow.
"I- no I don't, what are you talking about?" Arrow asked, confused. "I don't think that at all."
"Yes, you do! I've seen the way you looked at me! All snooty and condescending!" James snapped.
"That's was because you did nothing but bully me when I was mute so getting one up on you made it all the sweeter!" Arrow shot back angrily. "You were so horrible to me when I couldn't speak! I couldn't defend myself but you and your friends always found every chance to insult or humiliate me!"
Green Arrow had been shouting louder now, his voice rising and getting even more upset as he began to rile himself up, remembering his first months on Sodor.
"You have no idea the hell all of you put me through! I was so scared and I felt so helpless for months!" He yelled at James who had gone silent. "The only time I got peace was when Edward or Thomas helped me! Why can't you all just leave me alone!"
He was both angry and on the verge of tears as he remembered how unwelcome he had been on Sodor. Months of undealt with emotions bubbling to the surface. He panted and grit his teeth, desperately trying to stop himself from having a meltdown.
James could only sit in silence and feel awkward and be filled with regret.
"What's going on here?" Edward called sternly as he pulled up behind James. "James, you're going to be late with your trucks." He admonished.
James looked away from Arrow and pulled away with his trucks as Edward watched him go completely confused. He glanced over at Green Arrow who was in clear distress.
"Arrow what's wrong?" Edward asked, deeply concerned. "Did James upset you?"
"I- I- no I just…" Arrow stammered before screwing his eyes shut and trying to stop himself from crying. "I don't-"
"It's alright Arrow, I won't judge you for being upset," Edward assured him. "Please tell me what's wrong so I can help."
"I just, I'm so stressed, everything that's happened in the past year… I just, everything came up all at once I don't- I'm sorry-" Arrow stammered quickly. "It wasn't just James, it was… everything everyone did or said. I thought I was over it, but clearly not."
Edward gave Arrow a sympathetic glance.
"I'll give your work to BoCo and Bear and you can have a day off," Edward said kindly. "You're clearly not in any shape to run, dear friend."
Green Arrow looked ready to argue but Edward cut him off.
"No and or buts, I must insist and I won't take no for an answer," Edward said. "I'll ask Henry or Thomas to look after you if they can. You can go to Tidmouth sheds and rest for the rest of the day."
"But the Fat Controller-"
"My driver will phone him and tell him what happened," Edward said with a smile. "You've been through a lot Arrow, you deserve some rest every now and then."
Arrow sniffed as he looked at the old blue engine.
Edward had always been so kind to him since the day he had arrived on Sodor. He'd been so willing to help him, no matter the issue.
He smiled at the blue engine with deep gratitude.
"You've always been so nice to me Edward," he said, his voice quiet and laced with unshed tears. "Thank you so much."
Edward smiled at him kindly. "It is my pleasure, Green Arrow. Now off you go."
Edward watched as Green Arrow shuffled off slowly, clearly in no rush. The blue engine frowned as Arrow was out of eyesight and stared down at the track to where James had hurriedly disappeared.
He would have to have a stern chat with the red engine.
Thomas looked Mallard up and down. He looked just as snooty and arrogant as he last saw him. He remembered him being unpleasant the last he met them, insulted that Green Arrow was chosen over him to pull a special train.
Still, Thomas could at least be nice. Barely visible behind the large blue engine, he saw the City of Truro looking very miserable and downtrodden. He wasn't even responding to people who came up to talk to him which he knew was odd for such a sociable and friendly engine.
"Hello Mallard," Thomas greeted the big engine brightly. "Hello, Truro! It's nice to see old friends from the mainland!"
Mallard just stared down his nose at Thomas before giving a loud 'humph' and looking away from him. Truro at least attempted a small weak smile.
It was hard to see such a grand and famous engine so quiet and meek.
"Hopefully with the museum branch opening up here, we'll get to see more of each other!" Thomas said pushing his happy-go-lucky personality even more. "You know Duck would be delighted to have more Great Westerns on the island, he idolises you City of Truro."
City of Truro's smile widened slightly.
"Thank you Thomas," He said. "Duck is a wonderful little engine, I'm glad to see him doing so well."
Thomas grinned. "He's also hoping that other Great Westerns come and visit, seeing as Henry has all his siblings interested in coming over."
Truro's interest was suddenly perked. His face creased into one of curiosity.
"The LMS Black 5's accepted Henry?"
"Yes! Isn't that great!?" Thomas chirped excitedly. It didn't escape his attention that Mallard was now glaring at him, but he ignored the big A4. "They don't care about him being a Gresley Prototype, they're just happy to have another sibling join their ranks?"
"Utter Rubbish," Mallard seethed. "I knew the LMS had no standards but to accept something so grotesque as a sibling? How utterly preposterous."
"Now Mallard, that's not very nice," Thomas scolded and Mallard glared at him. "Henry is a wonderful engine and a good friend."
Mallard just snorted and muttered, "Ridiculous."
"Tornado says hi, by the way, she's sorry she couldn't visit. She was always turned away at the gate but she didn't know why," Thomas told Truro. "She's doing fine, she and Green Arrow are mending their friendship."
For the first time, Truro broke into a wide grin.
"Ah that is good to hear," Truro said happily. "I'm glad for both of them."
"Green Arrow sends his apologies too," Thomas said and Mallard listened intently. "He's pulling trains today, our railway is a bit lacking engine power with Gordon on the mainland. So he's pulling the express for him."
"How grand, Green Arrow is doing well for himself," Truro said with a side-eye at Mallard who didn't seem to react. "Please pass my greetings and salutations to dear Arrow."
"Such a shame," Mallard said dismissively. "I would've liked to see Arrow myself. I'm sure he'd have a lot to say to me now that his 'silver tongue' is back."
Truro glared at Mallard but Thomas didn't seem to notice or he did and didn't comment on it.
"Oh no he asked me to give you a message to Mr Mallard," Thomas said, surprising both of the famous engines.
"Oh? What did he say?"
"He told me to wish you a happy build day for today!" Thomas said joyfully and Mallard just stared at him confused.
"What?" The A4 said in a flat tone.
"He said Happy Build Day for today," Thomas repeated and Mallard still stared at him dumbfounded.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Mallard hissed and Thomas looked confused.
"I uh, no, all Arrow told me was to wish you a happy build day… is, is that weird or something?"
Mallard now looked furious.
"My build day is the 3rd of March, today is the 24th of February!" Mallard spat angrily.
"Is that uh? Significant somehow?" Thomas asked, confused.
"February 24th is Flying Scotsman's build date," Mallard snarled venomously.
"Oh," Thomas blushed. "Maybe he became confused? Your build dates are very close after all."
"Enough! Go away you horrid little engine!" Mallard hissed. "I will not fall for Arrow's deceptions or antagonising!"
"Arrow? Oh, no wait I got it wrong, Tornado told me to say that," Thomas said with a confused frown. "She must have thought the Flying Scotsman was still up here at the castle. I'm sorry."
Thomas looked sheepish now. "I've been hanging out with Arrow so much that I forgot. I'm truly sorry Mr Mallard."
Mallard just glared down at the little engine, furious.
"Get out of my sight you little pest!" He snarled and Thomas paled and backed away quickly almost backing straight into the Black 5 Biggin Hill nearby who yelled at him.
"That was unnecessary," Truro remarked angrily. "Thomas is a sweet engine. That was cruel!"
"Nothing but an insect!" Mallard snarled and glared at Truro.
"Such a shame," Biggin Hill called out Mallard. "At the very least 4472 would be a welcome celebrity to have at this opening. Such a shame they had to settle for you."
Mallard glared at her.
"The young upstart, Biggin Hill," he growled.
"Young? Please you overhyped turkey, I'm three years older than you," she laughed and Mallard grew angrier still. Thomas's comments still had him infuriated but the Black 5 before him was enraging him even further.
"Overhyped Turkey!?" He thundered angrily. "I'll have you know that I am the fastest engine in the world!"
"The fastest steam engine," Hillsy corrected. "126mph isn't all that impressive compared to say a Shinkansen or one of those European Trains."
Mallard looked completely and utterly furious but Hillsy ignored him at turned her attention to Truro.
"What are you doing tucked in the corner back there Great Western? You're far more significant than this ridiculous bird," Hillsy smiled sweetly at him.
"It's fine," Truro said quietly, his tone suggesting that it was anything but fine.
Biggin Hill turned her attention to Mallard and she grew angry.
"Is this worthless piece of an exhibit holding you here against your will?" She demanded and Truro immediately paled, not knowing what could occur. He didn't know what Mallard was capable of.
"Ms Hill, please don't cause a fuss," he begged her trying to be diplomatic. "There are members of the public around."
Mallard however grinned. "If you want this little engine back, then bring me Flying Scotsman and I'll happily release him."
Hillsy looked between Mallard and Truro, eyebrow raised.
"Or you'll do what?" She sneered at him.
"Or I'll sever his soul from his engine and turn him into an exhibit," Mallard said without flinching. "I'll do it right now if you want."
Biggin Hill stared at Mallard shocked before looking at Truro who genuinely looked terrified. She then suddenly noticed the clamps and a strange device in his cab. She didn't know what it was but frightened her. Something about it was very wrong. She looked back at Mallard who was now calmly watching her, waiting for her response.
"You wouldn't dare harm such a valuable and famous engine," she hissed disgusted.
"Ms Hill please, just don't do anything brash for once," Truro suddenly begged.
Biggin Hill seemed to realise the gravity of the situation and backed off.
"There you go, what a good girl you are," Mallard said in a falsely sweet voice.
"The other Great Westerns will not stand for this, you monster," Biggin Hill snarled.
"Perhaps not, but if they want Truro back, they'll give me Flying Scotsman, regardless of what it takes," Mallard grinned at her. "Now go away and be a good girl."
Biggin Hill gritted her teeth, obviously angered by Mallard's words but did not want any harm to come to Truro and left without another word.
Mallard just smirked. Truro glared at him.
"You won't get away with this, even if you rip my soul out, it won't change the fact that every engine regardless of their railway will turn against you," Truro spat angrily.
"They won't if they aren't sentient," Mallard said simply.
"What do you mean?" Truro asked.
Mallard said nothing more, leaving Truro staring at him dumbfounded and frightened.
"He has some device in Truro's cab," Biggin Hill told 5025 and Tornado as she returned to them outside the castle. "I don't know what it does but I do not like it. There's something very off about it."
Beside them, Sir Robert, Stainer and the Fat Controller looked at each other very worried.
"What did it look like?" Sir Robert asked and Biggin Hill looked terrified.
"I don't know, it was small, like a small round canister that had a kind of black goo inside it," She said shaken.
"Black goo? You mean like this?" Stainer said as he pulled out a photo of a strange metallic object similar to how Hill had described. All the engines flinched at the photo and immediately felt their wheels wobble slightly.
"Yes, yes like that!" Hill said with a wavering tone, "Now make it go away please!"
"What is that sir?" 5025 demanded as Stainer put his phone away. "What is that awful thing?!"
"It was found in Flying Scotsman after they took out part of his cab during his rebuild," Stainer said deeply concerned. "It's a lot smaller than the one you were describing. It was only a few inches across but it was enough to cause part of the rebuild team to become ill."
"That thing was in Scotsman this entire time?" Tornado asked horrified.
"No, it wasn't," Stainer said. "We went back and went through all of Scotsman's plans and rebuilds. It was installed sometime during his 2006 rebuild from what we can gather."
"Was that, was that what was making him sick? Was that why he was having nightmares?" Tornado asked frightened. "That tiny little thing?"
"Yes," Sir Robert mused, his expression deep in thought. "It affects Gold Dust, it absorbs it and gains mass. We have no idea where or how Mallard got a hold of this."
"Mallard's known about the Gold Dust for 50 years according to what Olivia told me," Stainer said. "He's had a lot of time to plan this."
"But why would he do this? Why is he after Flying Scotsman?" Tornado said confused.
"Because Flying Scotsman is special," Sir Robert said quietly. "I think Mallard wants it for himself. That or he's prepared to destroy Scotsman so no one else has it. But if he does… the consequences will be dire."
The engines, Stainer and the Fat Controller turned to him but Sir Robert did not answer.
"Is this secret Gold Dust knowledge?" 5025 asked and Sir Robert nodded at him.
5025 looked to Biggin Hill.
"Come along sister, let us go find Henry before you head back to the mainland," 5025 declared but Biggin Hill looked ready to protest.
"But-"
"I'll have no arguments or I'll inform Severn to never let you out of their sights again," 5025 scolded and Biggin Hill began to sulk.
"Yes sir," she said and the two Black 5's went off in a huff.
"Sir?" Tornado asked Sir Robert. "What's going on? Why is Scotsman special?"
There was a very long pause before Sir Robert spoke again.
"Your build brother, the P2 Prince of Wales was completed a year ago," Sir Robert said gazing up at Tornado. Tornado stared down at him confused.
"A year ago but, why haven't the trust debuted him?"
Sir Robert sighed and shook his head.
"Because they have been trying and failing for almost a year now to bind a soul to the engine with Gold Dust and every time it has failed. The new Great Western engine, Lady of Legend did not gain sentience until 10 months after she was finished," he explained grimly. "You, gained sentience after only 2 months which is not abnormal but still quite a long time. Longer than Engines of the past."
Sir Topham and Stainer looked horrified.
"It's happening again," Sir Topham said horrified. "My Grandfather warned me that it was only a matter of time."
"What do you mean sir? What's going on?" Tornado squeaked, now frightened.
"The Golden Wells that produce Gold Dust are running dry again," Sir Robert explained. "We're running out of Gold Dust."
"I've asked you not to harass Green Arrow a few times now," Edward said to James as he found him at Vicarstown yards' water tower. "Why do you insist on bullying him? He's making an effort to better himself. Is it because you're trying to copy Gordon again."
"No it's not because of Gordon!" James immediately snapped but saw Edward's disapproving face and blushed. He sighed and looked away from Edward.
"Then why? Green Arrow didn't have a meltdown for no reason," Edward pressed. "It's very unlike Arrow to be rattled like he was."
"Because all everyone cares about is Green Arrow, or Gordon, or Henry!" James snapped suddenly catching Edward off guard. "I'm not big! I don't have famous siblings, all I have going for me now is that I'm red!"
"That's not true James!" Edward insisted.
"Then why is all my work being giving to Green Arrow or Henry or those new diesels!" James shouted angrily. "For the past few weeks I've only had one train per day, some trains I don't even have any!"
"James…" Edward said concerned. "Are you worried that you're no longer being useful?"
James looked away from Edward and glared at the tracks in front of him.
"I don't mean to take it all out on Arrow Edward," James said quietly. "I'm just… I'm worried that I'm at the end of my usefulness."
"James," Edward looked at his closest companion with a sinking feeling in his boiler. "Why, why didn't you tell me? I thought you could tell me everything."
"I didn't want you to worry about me Edward," James said sadly. "You worry about everyone and I know it stresses you out so I didn't want to burden you with more things."
Edward looked at James sadly.
"It's true James, I do worry about everyone, especially these past few years but, I don't ever want you to feel like you're burdening me," Edward assured the red engine. "You of all engines are the one I trust most, you know that right?"
James widened his eyes in surprised at looked at Edward.
"Really?"
"Yes James, you are never a burden to me," Edward assured James. "I love hearing everything about you, good or bad and I'll do anything to help you. We've been through so much together this past century."
James went as red as his paintwork.
"I guess we have," James said with a small smile.
Edward returned the smile.
"How about, we talk to the Fat Controller and he can make sure to organise more trains for you?" Edward suggested and James seemed to approve.
"That sounds splendid."
"Just like you."
It shouldn't have been able for James to turn as red as he did at Edward's comment.
"I think you'll find this shed is for Gresley and Flying Scotsman line engines only," Pretty Polly sneered at Great Northern as he rolled up to the sheds.
"I am a Gresley!" He snapped angrily at his sister. "I am his most important A3!"
"No you aren't, you're one of those ghastly new Thompson engines," Silver Fox hissed.
North glared at the A4 Pacific who glared right back. She was being nasty to him in the same way he had when she first arrived. He looked over and saw the Scotsman hadn't returned.
"Where is Scotsman! I demand to see him!" North shouted.
"He's in Edinburgh and even if he weren't he wouldn't want to deal with an ugly thing like you!" Polly snarled. "We don't like you Thompson's!"
"Yes, you've come here to steal our jobs, haven't you awful engine!" Silver Fox said with a sneer.
North glared at the A4 knowing that she was just parroting his own insults towards her when she had first arrived.
"Don't you give Silver Fox that look," Polly scolded him. "An ugly engine like you should be grateful to even be in her presence."
Great Northern hissed steamed at Polly and glared at her.
"I'm your older brother!" He shouted at her. "I am Great Northern! That is my berth! Let me pass!"
"No, you are a Thompson A1/1, you just have Great Northern's name and piss poor attitude!" Polly snapped at him. "That berth belongs to one of the A4s now. I can't remember the name but I'm sure it's a bird name."
"Bittern," Silver Fox said. "He was sleeping out in the cold so Silver King asked the Scotsman if he could arrange something. He said he could use it as Great Northern didn't need it anymore."
North looked utterly furious.
"4472, that no-good brother of mine," He snarled and Polly glared at him angrily.
"If you'd actually treated Scotsman with respect or actually cared about him maybe he would have fought to defend you harder," She said coldly.
"He sold me out for that ghastly prototype Gordon!" North snarled and Polly humphed at him.
"Considering how you've been acting maybe it would've been better if Gordon replaced you," she said. "Gordon's a really reliable express engine on his little island. He impressed his owner so much that he wanted another one of us but didn't buy another because of the bullying you initiated on him. He didn't want drama on his little island."
"Who's Gordon?" Silver Fox asked but was ignored.
North glared at Polly.
"Our other siblings will not stand for this!"
"Considering most of them recognise Scotsman as our representative I don't think you'll get far. Especially considering the LNER Directors consider Scotsman's opinion highly valued, unlike you," Polly said with a sneer. "Now go away or I'll call the yard manager to evict you."
North glared at Polly indignantly. He was reluctant to leave but he saw Silver Fox also ready to back up his sister with a venomous stare. He began to steam away with an indignant huff.
"So who's Gordon?" He heard Fox ask Polly as he departed the yards.
North ignored them and made his way across London. He knew exactly who to turn to and he was sure that they would back him up.
He passed the young A4 engine Bittern who smiled at him and greeted him kindly and with a cheery whistle. North just shot him a nasty glare and wheeshed steam at him.
"Filthy Thompson Engine!" Bittern yelled back at him. North had the mind to backtrack and scold the young engine but thought better of it and raced onwards. He was determined to prove his mouthy younger sister wrong.
He slowed as he came to another yard, this time the berths were mostly filled with A4s and a few A3s who all turned their attention to him as he entered. He hadn't realised that most of them were glaring at him he was so caught up in his anger.
A large Silver A4 moved to block his way.
"What are you doing here, little Thompson?" The A4 Pacific growled, looking down at him. "This yard is exclusively for Sir Gresley's Pacific Engines."
"I am one of Sir Gresley's engines, Silver King," he snapped and suddenly laughter erupted from the berths behind the A4. "I am Great Northern. His first Pacific!"
Silver King looked him up and down with an amused smirk.
"Ah you must be the engine that upset my little sister," he said. "Silver Fox is our precious baby sister you know. We dislike it when she's upset. If it wasn't for Flying Scotsman looking after her for us, we'd all think that you A3 Pacifics were an indignant lot."
North suddenly felt very vulnerable as he saw the other two Silver Jubilee A4s approach him and start sizing him up.
"No one upsets our little sister!" Silver Link snarled coldly at him, her eyes glaring into the back of his boiler. "You have some nerve to show your face to us after making Fox cry and insulting our class!"
"You'd better have a good reason for coming here Great Northern," Quicksilver added, as she stared at him with a hard glare. "You're not well-liked here."
"One of your siblings has taken my berth," North complained but Silver King just laughed at him.
"That's Flying Scotsman's decision not ours. He runs the Flying Scotsman line and he's doing us a favour," King said. "Little Bittern is a big fan of Scotsman and there were no more sheds to go around here, so I asked him to put him up until the LNER could figure out a solution."
"This is undignified! He can't just hand out sheds that are already occupied!" North snapped and Quicksilver snorted.
"If Scotsman could order you to be rebuilt, then why wouldn't he be able to organise his sheds as he is so pleased," She said with a smirk. "Sounds like your luck ran out North."
"Oh North's been bullying Scotsman since he was a new engine," one of the A3s, Colorado, piped up. "I'm surprised it took this long for Scotsman to finally stop taking his awful behaviour."
"I wasn't bullying 4472! I was trying to help him! I wanted him to be the best he could be! I wanted him to be stronger!" North angrily snapped trying to defend himself.
Colorado just raised an eyebrow.
"You still won't even refer to him by his name, just his number," he observed. "That's incredibly demeaning. It's been decades North, most of us have moved on."
"Yes, it's no way to treat a younger sibling," Quicksilver said backing Colorado up. "You're the oldest Pacific on the railway, you should have taken responsibility for your young sibling. The way he speaks of you makes it sound like you despised his very existence."
"You really should know better Great Northern. Why didn't you see that all your actions were doing more harm than good?" Silver King demanded.
North for the first time in a long while was speechless.
He truly thought that his comments pushed 4472 into becoming a stronger and more powerful engine.
Was he wrong?
Had he just hurt Scotsman to the point that 4472 now felt as if he had always hated him?
"I don't… I don't hate 4472- Flying Scotsman," North mumbled to himself. "I was trying to help him. I wanted to help him."
"The path to hell is paved with good intentions, as the humans say," Silver King said with a brief sympathetic smile. "Now, I must ask you to leave as all the sheds here are taken."
North gazed at the Silver King, and then at his other two siblings. Silver Link looked furious with him while Quicksilver was staring at him with an annoyed look on her face. He very clearly wasn't welcome here.
Without another word he left the sheds, the eldest three silver jubilee engines glaring into the back of his tender as he did so.
"What a sad, pathetic little engine," he heard one of them say as he departed. He didn't know which one, but he was very certain that it was Silver Link.
He slinked off to find a shed, but he could find none.
The A4s and A3s stationed around other yards sneered at him or apologetically told him that their yard was full even when in some cases it was not.
His crew, exhausted for the night and fed up with trying to find a berth for their engine, eventually just left him in a siding with some trucks.
The trucks giggled, jeered and teased him all night, making it almost impossible for him to sleep.
Occasionally a V2 would rocket by with a freight express or a fish train and wake him what little sleep he managed to obtain, a few of them like Green Arrow or Alexandra would laugh at him or tease him when they saw him.
North sighed and stared up at the night sky, exhausted and saddened.
He genuinely thought that he was helping 4472. He had tried to mimic Sir Gresley's tough love and no nonsense attitude towards him.
He'd promised Sir Gresley to protect 4472, even at the cost of his own soul.
Whereas Gordon, himself and Banbury had failed, 4472 had been a success. A desperate attempt to create an engine that could produce more Gold Dust in the wake of the wells starting to dry up.
There was talk that future generations of trains wouldn't have souls. Something that deeply frightened him and his designers. They had said that maybe, 100 years in the future, engines wouldn't even need drivers or the willpower souls gave them.
Just soulless mass produced things.
4472, Banbury and himself had been an attempt to stop that. There hadn't been another success after 4472. That A4 Pacific, 4498 had showed promise, but ultimately failed.
The LNER's Golden Well was running dry. At the very least, 4472's presence made it stable for now.
North sighed sadly to himself and looked at his buffers, He was supposed to protect 4472, not drive him away.
He wondered if the other railways were facing the same problem as he slipped into a restless anxious sleep.
~For updates, extra lore or to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me on tumblr at tornadoyoungiron or on twitter as BakunawaArt.