15 - Gathering of Great Westerns

"Tornado? You're back!" Green Arrow found the Peppercorn pulled into Knapford's first platform and excitedly sidled up next to her. "I missed you!"

Tornado smiled at him. "I missed you too Arrow," she said, clearly tired. "I've brought some… well I wouldn't say, friends."

"That's rude I'm right here," Pendennis scoffed from the other side of the station and behind him, Trojan gave a snort of laughter.

"Who'd wanna be friends with a trashy Aussie like you?" The saddle tank teased and Pendennis huffed.

"I'm not Australian and they're not trashy!" He argued annoyed.

"Not saying they are, just you," Trojan said gruffly and Pendennis sulked.

"I was referring to the Twins and Lady," Tornado corrected. "I have no problem with you or Trojan."

"Trojan's a nuisance, you'll soon find many problems with him," Pendennis said and Trojan rolled his eyes.

"I'm only a nuisance if you give me a reason to be," Trojan smirked and Pendennis glared at him.

"The Royal Twins are here?" Arrow suddenly asked. "You managed to convince them to come out of their sheds?"

"Yep, she's a clever one, Tornado," Pendennis beamed. "They wouldn't even move for Sir Nigel or the Duchess."

Green Arrow looked at Tornado, admiration in his gaze

"I'm impressed," he praised her. "That's not an easy thing to do."

Tornado blushed at his words.

"Are you that Green Arrow fella?" Trojan called out and Arrow looked at him.

"I am indeed."

"Heard a lot about you, you make the twins unhappy and that makes me happy so you're alright," Trojan told Arrow, making him very confused.

"I make them unhappy?" He asked.

"Yeah, Truro sings your praises a lot when he visits and it pisses them off knowing that a LNER engine upholds the values of the Great Western Railway," Trojan said with a laugh. "It's well funny."

Trojan glanced at Pendennis.

"Green Arrow rankles your coal too now don't he?" He laughed and Pendennis pulled a face.

"Yes, well," Pendennis glared at Arrow. "He tried to start a conflict between myself and Scotsman when I came back from Australia. I fell for it and made myself look like a fool in front of everyone."

Green Arrow's face paled and he looked away from the glaring Castle class.

"I was hoping you'd forgotten," Arrow ruefully admitted. "I am sorry about my past actions. They were incredibly childish and stupid."

Pendennis simply huffed and looked away from him while Trojan just rolled his eyes. Green Arrow looked down at his buffers guiltily and Tornado gave him an awkward encouraging smile. He wasn't at all proud of his undignified behaviour of the past.

"Ah, Green Arrow!" The Fat Controller greeted the engine. "I see you got Bear's message!"

"Yes sir, I came as quickly as could!" Green Arrow answered. "Is something wrong sir? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, you've been extremely reliable and useful Arrow!" The Fat Controller assured him. "I just wanted to know if James apologised to you for his behaviour."

"He just did sir, right before Bear came to inform me that you wanted to see me, sir," Arrow informed him and the Fat Controller nodded.

"I'm glad to hear that Arrow," he beamed. He then motioned towards Tornado. "The other reason you're here is because Tornado requested your presence."

"You did?" Arrow looked over at the Peppercorn who smiled nervously.

"It's um, about Truro," she said in a low whisper and a cold feeling ran through his boiler.

"Oh," Green Arrow said quietly.

It felt like just yesterday he was speaking to the elder Great Western and confiding in him like a child would a parent. He missed him dearly.

"I have a plan to free him but it's going to rely on you getting close to Mallard," she said. "I don't want you damaged, I don't want a repeat of… what I did in the mine."

Arrow observed Tornado. She was very stressed at the memories of what had happened almost a year ago now.

Tornado had almost fallen down a sinkhole in Ulfstead Mine. He'd risked everything to save her and his boiler had almost exploded from the action of saving her. Understandable, Tornado didn't want to be responsible for hurting Arrow again.

"It's for Truro," Arrow assured her. "Truro is like a big brother to me, I'll gladly risk my life for him as I would for my friend, Tornado."

"You don't understand," Pendennis said gruffly. "Mallard's not just an arrogant prick who'll insult you. He has no Gold Dust. His soul has been replaced by Black Smoke. You risk having your soul ripped out of your engine by being near him."

"City of Truro has been near Mallard for too long!" Arrow snapped back at him. "We need to risk it!"

Pendennis said nothing more while Trojan watched the exchange carefully.

Arrow looked at Tornado.

"I trust you Tornado," he told her.

Tornado gave him a nervous smile.

"Thanks, Arrow."

"You don't have to do this North," Spencer said to North as he sat quietly in his cab out of the way of his crew. "I think it would be upsetting to Scotsman if he found out you'd given your soul for his."

"I promised Sir Gresley to protect him," North said staring out the cab window. "That's what I'm doing."

"Sir Gresley is no longer here, the situation is different," Spencer reminded him. "You are not obligated to uphold promises when the circumstances are different."

"I am aware," North stated his eyes narrowing. "But it does not change the fact that I hurt my little brother, I need to make it up to him."

"Regardless of how traumatising this would be to Scotsman, what about Lady Olivia?" Spencer asked.

North did not speak for the longest while.

He'd seen Olivia grow up, been a father to her and had cherished her more than her own parents ever did. She was a strange young girl who'd never cared for the sensibilities of her parents. She'd always done what she had wanted, even under threats from her father.

He protected her and when she had run away from home as a teenager and never come back, he had been heartbroken. She'd left him a note to say she was going to be alright but he had worried over her.

Her father hadn't even cared. Her mother had shown remorse for how she'd neglected her however and tried to find her but Olivia had left no trail behind her. She'd simply disappeared.

It wasn't until he met her at a Steam Railway meet many years later that he'd see her again. She had been an engineer in training. She'd missed him and her brothers more than anything but she was strong and doing well for herself. She had sworn him to secrecy.

She reminded him of Sir Gresley, only Olivia had a kinder heart for her engines and respected their welfare. Not that Sir Gresley hadn't, Olivia was just more personal in a way he wasn't.

He couldn't have been more proud.

"Lady Olivia will understand," North murmured but Spencer was not convinced in the slightest.

"I don't think she will," Spencer argued. "You should have explained what was going on to her. She won't forgive you for this."

North said nothing for a long while.

"The Duke and Duchess will be suspicious if you're on the mainland for too long," was all he said and Spencer gave a deep sigh.

"You're making a mistake North," Spencer chastised and North just shook his head.

"I've lived almost 100 years with the guilt of what I did to my younger brother Silver Link," Great Northern said bitterly. "I promised myself the first chance I got, to redeem myself, to make it up to him that I would take it. You cannot convince me otherwise."

"The Gresley family will have my smokebox for this," Spencer said bitterly. "I think Scotsman's going to hate me forever."

"I do apologise for dragging you into this Link," North apologised. "But drastic measures call for drastic actions. How bad was City of Truro when you last saw him."

"He was conscious, but he wasn't coherent or aware of anything going on around him," Spencer said quietly. "We don't have very much time left."

"I just hope that it will be enough," North said his expression turning into one of determination.

"Didn't think you would approve of Scotsman and Truro being, you know, together," Spencer muttered. "I know Mallard hates it. Union and a few others disapprove of it too. And don't get me started on the Twin Kings."

"I did not approve at first," North admitted. "But, seeing how much Scotsman has calmed down and become more mature with Truro around made me realise just how good he is for him. He seems, happier, even when he was suffering from illness."

A warm smile appeared on North's face as he reflected on Scotsman's personality change since becoming more acquainted with the Great Western.

"Yes but he's still a ridiculous idiot," Spencer scoffed. "Same with Gordon."

"There are some things you have to accept are part of someone's personality," North smiled fondly. "Scotsman spent most of his early days and months with Gordon, it was bound to be ingrained in him."

Spencer just gave a small 'hmph' and continued thundering down the rails.

For a long while, the engine, his crew and North did not speak, riding the rails in complete silence.

"You know, as frustrating as she was, I do miss Pretty Polly," North sighed sadly.

"I thought you still hated her," Spencer said surprised.

"I guess, but there aren't very many engines around that have her strong will or personality," North remarked. "I've never met another engine as headstrong as her."

"I dunno, Quicksilver had her moments," Spencer chuckled. "You had to be either brave or stupid to mess with her."

"She only ever got mad when one of the other silvers was having a bad time," North remembered. "Or when her crew couldn't keep up with her. Polly was similar but still quite different. Polly defended everyone and she would not back down, even to a human. Quicksilver would never be one to be so indignant to argue with one of the directors. Polly argued with them constantly."

"I suppose," Spencer mused. The silver engine sighed. "Any word from Silver Fox?"

"She's working on the Bluebell," North informed him. "She's one of their best historians. She misses her siblings dearly but she's very happy."

Spencer beamed.

"I'm happy for her, baby girl deserves all the happiness in the world," he said happily.

"You should visit her," North advised.

"Ah that's the trouble with being a private engine," Spencer said. "I'm very rarely lent out to pull trains at railways. Only for big events like Jubilees."

"That's sad," North said quietly.

"It's better than being scrapped," Spencer pointed out.

"That's true."

"Forgive my lack of tact but did you…" Spencer paused, trying not to sound rude. "Did you, feel, your engine being scrapped?"

North shook his head.

"I was knocked unconscious and sedated until the process was done thankfully," North explained. "There was a risk of the pain or the stress severing my soul from the saved parts of my engine. When I woke up I just felt, empty. Like all my organs were missing. I understand why so many engines never survived the process, it's like a constant weight on your soul. It crushes you. Destroys you."

"But you're still here," Spencer said quietly.

"There were times when I thought I wouldn't make it but," North stared at the floor of the cab. "Somehow I'm still here."

"Please, I'm begging you, Great Northern," Spencer pleaded. "Don't do this, there has to be another way."

North shook his head.

"I've made up my mind," he declared. "You can't convince me otherwise old friend."

Spencer sighed and said nothing, he looked ahead and saw the Vicarstown bridge in the distance, peaking over the tree tops.

He guessed there was no turning back now.

"What a horrible island!" Lady of Legend huffed as she gazed around Sodor.

"Now, now Lady," King Edward the II chided her. "We are guests here, we must be polite."

"Look at all these old engines! It's disgusting!" She said ignoring the Second causing the big green engine before them to glare at her.

"We may not be new builds," the engine said clearly annoyed. "But we work hard every day and prove our worth every day. It doesn't matter how old we are so long as we are useful."

"Quite right Henry," a similar engine standing next to Henry said. "I would have thought that the Great Western prides itself on such values, King Edwards?"

"You are very correct 5025," the Second cut in. "But Lady of Legend is a very unique and special engine."

"Indeed," 5025 said, raising an eyebrow. "It's quite unusual for an engine to be built atop a rusted corpse."

The First blasted steam at the Black 5 in response while the Second looked extremely annoyed.

"How dare you spread those rumours about our precious girl!" The Green King shrieked angrily.

"They aren't rumours if it's true," 5025 snapped staring down at Lady of Legend.

"What does this horrid engine mean by that my Kings?" Lady asked confused and worried.

"Nothing, nothing," the Green King tried to soother her but the Blue King looked concerned. "You are perfect my dear Lady, do not let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Perhaps we shouldn't keep-" the Second began but his brother glared at him. The Blue King quickly shut his mouth and looked away.

"I can't imagine your actions will go over well with Truro," 5025 remarked watching the two King classes fuss over Lady of Legend. "Truro demands all engines of the Great Western show values of their railway. From what I'm seeing you've only taught Lady here to be a spoilt little brat."

"I am not a spoiled brat!" Lady of Legend screeched shrilly.

5025 rolled his eyes. "Even in her baby stages, Tornado was nothing like this. An anxious thing, but never this obnoxious."

The Black 5 rounded on the King Edwards, "She hasn't done a hard day's work has she?"

"Enough! I will not tolerate this slander from a filthy LMS middle-class workhorse!" The Green King snapped angrily. "I am a royal engine and you will address me as such!"

"Gordon's pulled a royal train too," Henry pointed out. "He doesn't act entitled. Well, not as bad as you do."

"Gordon's pulled a royal train?" 5025 suddenly asked his brother curiously.

Henry blushed. "I was supposed to do it but I had a little accident so Gordon pulled it instead."

"My, how grand," 5025 smiled at Henry and he blushed even redder. "You certainly have such interesting friends here on Sodor don't you?"

"Enough!" The Green King snapped. 5025 and Henry couldn't help but notice that the Blue King Edward had gone quiet and looked guilty. "We are here to rescue Truro, not deal with this riff-raff! Where is that stupid Peppercorn?"

"Tornado is not stupid!" Henry snapped angrily, immediately stepping in to defend her. "She's a hard-working engine who pulls her weight and is clever and brilliant!"

5025 who had no particular love for Tornado was also looking very annoyed.

"I've seen Tornado haul loads that would break your boiler Great Western," he snapped. "Show some respect!"

"Is that 5025 defending me I hear?" Tornado's voice called out as she appeared in the distance. "Never thought you had it in you, you rusty old fool."

5025 gave an amused snort. "I see Scotsman's wit has rubbed off on you and now become a part of your very being."

"Yeah well, he's kind of loud and annoying about it," Tornado grumbled. "Silly old man."

The Green King looked impatient.

"Well, did you find the nasty little engine?" The Green King huffed.

"I'm just as big as you, you uptight snob," Green Arrow huffed as he pulled up beside Tornado. "Tornado's done me the favour of filling me in so I don't have to talk to you. I know how much you hate Truro's favourite."

The Twin Kings looked disgusted by Green Arrow who simply flashed a grin at them.

"You LNER engines have no tact!" The Green King snorted and Arrow just rolled his eyes.

"Regardless, can we please move on from this?" Tornado asked. "We need to get Truro free as soon as possible."

"I agree," the LMS Black 5 5025 thundered. "Put your ridiculous egos away and focus on what is important."

The Green King looked indignant and about to argue but the Blue King rolled forward with a determined expression across his face.

"For Truro," he declared and the other engines made sounds of agreement while the Green King looked reluctant. He seemed to sigh and said nothing.

His actions caught Pendennis's attention who glared but said nothing.

"He's not responding to the Gold Dust ma'am," the Doctor said quietly as he hovered over Flying Scotsman's limp and lifeless form. "But he's not deteriorating either which is a good sign."

Olivia merely gave an anxious look at the man before turning her attention back to the unconscious Scotsman.

She reached over and placed a hand on his forehead, feeling the skin unnaturally warm under her hand, his skin almost had a golden glow to him. When the Cold Iron Sleep had a grip on him, it turned his skin grey and ice cold however this new strange set of symptoms they had never seen before.

They'd called Sir Robert and any other guardians of the Golden Wells but no one had answers. They'd never seen anything like this before. Maybe it had something to do with Scotsman being an origin of Gold Dust.

"Olivia!"

Olivia looked up as her mother, Lady Jaqueline barged through the doors of Scotsman's private quarters.

"Mother! This is not a good time!" Olivia complained and Jaqueline looked over at Scotsman's unconscious body before turning back to her daughter, ignoring the pressing issue.

"Have you seen North?" Her mother asked, worried. "It's almost midnight and I cannot find him anywhere. I've had the servants search everywhere for him."

Olivia held her mother's gaze for a second before she looked away.

"I think he had a fight with Scotsman and ran away," she said quietly. It wasn't entirely untrue, North had literally knocked Scotsman out from what Gordon had told her. "I don't know where but, knowing North, he probably had his reasons."

Lady Jaqueline looked like she wanted to argue but she could tell that her daughter was exhausted.

"I'm just… worried about him," Lady Jaqueline said hesitantly. "Your father doesn't care about him but, well North's been part of the family longer than your father ever has. I promised my father that I would protect our legacy, our engines. The directors of the LNER had nowhere to send him after his engine was scrapped. They put him in my care on the promise that one day they would rebuild his engine but… they never did."

Lady Jaqueline looked saddened and upset.

"North is technically my brother I guess. My father made us both in a way," She mused quietly. "He wasn't human but… he was still my brother. The advice he gave was always good advice."

"Then why didn't you heed his warning when he told you how awful our father was and that Sir Gresley would never approve of this, cheating meathead who thinks nothing about his next lay?" Olivia said coldly. "You really think that behaviour is acceptable to our family? To the Gresley name? We're an honourable family, not a bunch of school dropouts who have nothing better to do than to be a bunch of degenerates?! It's disgusting! How dare you disgrace the Gresley name!"

Lady Jaqueline seemed to flinch at her words, she looked upset and like she wanted to argue but Olivia knew that she couldn't.

"He's wasting our family's hard-earned fortune. We're supposed to value hard work and integrity like our Grandfather's engines!" Olivia snapped. "North told me everything. I've been in contact with 'Uncle Nathan' for many years now. He told me every single thing he could get on Roman. He just couldn't do anything because he technically 'doesn't exist."

Lasy Jaqueline gave a tired sigh.

"I know, I know sweetheart-"

"I'm not your sweetheart!" Olivia snapped angrily. "Not when I barely ever saw you! Not when you constantly abandoned your children to be drunken idiots at parties with other rich people!"

A tense silence hung over the room, as Olivia turned away from her mother and focus her attention on Flying Scotsman.

"I'm sorry mother," Olivia shamefully said, "I just don't have good memories of you or father."

Lady Jaqueline nodded slightly.

"I know. North always tried to get me to see what I was doing wrong but I always ignored him. That was until you ran away from home," she said sadly. "I'm sorry, Olivia. I truly do regret the way I treated you when you were younger. I can't speak for your father though. He is still furious that you disobeyed his wishes."

"I'm your daughter, not some servant," Olivia said bitterly. She sighed and tried to force herself to calm down. "I heard that he won't sign the divorce papers."

Lady Jaqueline sighed and looked away frustrated. "It's been going on for years now." She said agitatedly.

"Well, Gordy asked me to bring a solution and I did," Olivia smiled.

"Did he now?"

"It'll take time but, I think it'll fix a lot of problems, I trust Gordon, he's good with dealing with family matters," Olivia said with a smile. "As for North… the engines won't tell me. He's gone and Oscar found Scotsman passed out in the sheds. Something clearly happened that caused him to fall unconscious."

She watched over the unconscious man, his face was motionless but she could see that he was still tense and in distress.

Lady Jaqueline stepped forward. "Olivia, I know this won't compensate for neglecting you but I've been in contact with your brothers and I spoke to your fiancé, we spoke about the inheritance of the family and well, since you're the only one upholding my father's name and legacy. We decided that you should be the next Matriarch of the family if you decide to reclaim the Gresley name."

Olivia looked up at her mother surprised. Her mother gave her an encouraging smile.

"What about father? He won't agree to that," Olivia pointed out.

"Our marriage was an arranged one and seeing as our marriage is up in the air, my lawyers have decided to negotiate a way to transfer power to our children," Lady Jaqueline said with a coy smile. "Roman will get nothing."

Olivia nodded quietly, smiling slightly.

"Let's focus on finding North and rescuing one of my engines for now mother," Olivia stated and Lady Jaqueline nodded.

"Of course Lady Olivia."

"Flying Scotsman?"

"Go away!"

The little scarlet engine looked mournfully down at the whimpering man. She went to wrap him up in a glow of Gold Dust but it was shrugged away, Scotsman's command of the Gold Dust was almost as strong as her own if not stronger.

"I wish to speak with you, you found me, dear Scotsman," Lady tried to comfort him but Scotsman just drew in a shaky breath and tried to shrink away from her.

"I don't want to talk to anyone, I'm tired of this!" Scotsman snapped. "I'm tired of being sick, I'm tired of being lied to and I hate having these stupid flashbacks into my upsetting memories!"

Scotsman uncurled himself from his ball and glared up at the like Scarlet and Gold engine.

"Leave me alone!" He shouted at her. "Bring North back to me!"

"I can't bring him back if he's determined to do something," the little engine said mournfully. "Gold Dust is like an engine's willpower and Great Northern does have a great deal of it. He spent most of his life waiting to try and make things right to you, his little brother. I don't think anyone will convince him not to do this and I cannot force him to go against his will."

Scotsman shook his head and sniffed angrily.

"What about Mallard? Couldn't you at least stop the humans from defiling his engine with Black Smoke?" Scotsman snapped angrily. "Couldn't you save his soul or something to prevent this insanity? Why didn't you talk to me before! Why now are you talking to me!"

Scotsman was yelling now, he was so furious. The little engine didn't look phased however, she sat there quietly watching him as he raged, waiting for him to calm down.

"I couldn't talk to you because Black Smoke was preventing me from fully appearing to you," Lady explained. "There was a small vial that someone slipped into your engine during your last rebuild. It took all my strength to save you from that evil man."

"Cain? You were the one who saved me from Cain?" Scotsman asked. "Then, then that wasn't Pegler's Ghost I saw in my dreams?"

Lady didn't say anything confirming his suspiscons.

"That gave me hope," Scotsman declared his voice wavering. "I missed him. He was my only friend for the longest time! When everything was going wrong he was there to help me!"

Tears slipped down Scotsman's face and Lady watched him sadly.

"Was the Sir Gresley I saw a fake too? Was it you manipulating me?!" Scotsman rounded on Lady.

"I needed something deep and personal to try and reach you, to break through the veil of Black Smoke," Lady confirmed. "It was extremely deceptive and wrong of me. I am truly sorry."

Scotsman shook his head angrily. "I don't care what you want, just leave me alone."

"I need your help to save the sentience of engines, we are at risk of losing our sapience," Lady urged. "Please, I would not invade you personal thoughts and do such things without there being a dire reason to do so. I cannot deal with the monster that was once Mallard alone."

"Maybe it's for the better," Scotsman said coldly. "Maybe once we're all gone the humans can go about there lives without us constantly being an issue for them."

"Flying Scotsman please," Lady argued. "This is not the reason I chose you to be my champion."

"Then you should have chosen someone else then," Scotsman said coldly.

"No, I know I made the right choice," Lady's expression grew determined as she gazed at him.

Scotosman just glared at her confused and annoyed now. He was growing tired of these riddles and tricks, this nonsense with Golden Dust. He sighed looked down at the Scarlet and Gold engine.

"Then enlighten me," he said clearly fed up. "Why me? Why not Gordon? Or North or even Green Arrow while your at it?"

"When most people think of a Steam Engine, the first thing they usually think of is you," Lady said with a confident smile. "Because when children see you they are intimidated, delighted and enthralled. There is nothing on earth quite like a Steam Engine and no one embodies the Age of Steam quite like you do. You are kind hearted, you are willing to save others, even if you feel they have wronged you and unlike your siblings, you had to learn your confidence and your place. You embody both the joy and hardships of steam engines and you are not arrogant nor are you consumed by pride like many of your contemporaries."

Flying Scotsman looked up at Lady who was gazing at him with admiration in her gaze.

"I'm just an idiot who kept getting lucky," He said bitterly. "I'm not as special as you think I am."

"I disagree," Lady said with a smile. "I hope one day you'll realise why people fought to save you. Will you at the very least help me save City of Truro and Great Northern?"

Scotsman frowned. He was still deeply upset that the little engine had been manipulating him with the memories of those close to him but he needed to save Truro. He needed to save Great Northern. If this little engine could help him do that then it had to count for something.

He drew in a deep breath and centred himself.

"Very well," he admitted quietly. "But this does not make what you did to me right. If I help you then you don't ever use people from my past ever again."

Lady gave him a reassuring smile.

"I promise to not do such horrendous things to the memories of your loved ones," Lady promised and Scotsman gave a slight smile.

"Good."

Godred tried to pull himself from the grip of the grey faced almost stone-looking humans, their eyes blank and lifeless, their souls felt cold and made of ice. It felt like they were made from the Black Smoke that he sometimes saw being exhausted out of the funnels of engines.

Their grip was inhumanely strong and their skin felt as cold as steel as he tried to writhe himself away from them but it was no use.

Oh how he should have heeded Sir Robert and Mr Richard's warnings and not gone snooping around were that new big engine had made it's dominion.

He felt himself thrown to the floor before the large blue engine that appeared almost jet black in the cool dim lights of the closed Sodor museum. Beside the engine, he saw the dim golden glow of City of Truro, the engine who he'd constantly fought with and annoyed.

The engine looked dead, Truro's eyes were completely white save for the faded grey pupils and there were deep cracks running down his face. He stumbled away frightened at the sight of the Great Western Engine with it's soul almost completely gone.

He did however notice that it wasn't severed, the soul holding on with a vice-like grip to it's engine. It was still glowing, the firebox was refusing to give up it's heat.

"Aren't you pleased?" The strangely shaped blue engine suddenly spoke, it's voice full of menace and a cold ire. "I was under the impression that you did not like City of Truro."

"I um, I wasn't expecting him to be so, uh," Godred flailed with his hands.

"Dead?" Mallard questioned and Godred inwardly flinched at the word.

"Yeah, dead I guess," Godred admitted refusing to look at the City class engine.

He did not like City of Truro one bit. He thought the engine a stuffy and old-fashioned stubborn old fool who demanded things be done to the letter. But he never wished death upon the engine. That was a bit too much even for him.

Godred looked at the ground, the big blue engine was staring him down, making him feel helpless and small.

"I understand you've got ambitions, little Mountain engine," the big engine drawled and Godred felt a lump in his throat.

"You could say that," he said nervously.

"Then let me offer you a deal," Mallard said. Godred looked up but the big streamlined engine's face was stoic and betrayed no emotion.

"A deal?" He asked trying not to show he was afraid.

"I'll make sure to have the Culdee Railway rebuild your little engine in exchange for your cooperation," the engine said and everything in Godred's body told him to not take this deal no matter what.

"My cooperation?"

"You know what Scotsman's human form looks like do you not? If he was to come here, you could confirm to me if it was him or not, yes?"

Godred stared at his feet for a little while, not sure if he should tell the truth or lie. He didn't like Scotsman either but he was the first engine who had succeeded in becoming human for many decades. He felt a strange kinship with him, even if he disliked him greatly.

"Let me make this easier for you then," Mallard declared.

Suddenly one of the men grabbed Godred from behind the neck and placed a canister of Black Smoke against his head.

Godred screamed as if felt like frozen knives were being thrust into his skull and into his brain. It was so painful that he began crying, he felt his very soul feel like it was being torn from his body.

He was let go and dropped to the ground by the man after what seemed like an eternity. He choked and trembled in the cold ground his entire body wracked with pain and terror.

"You'll confirm Scotsman's appearance to me or I'll do to you what I did to Truro," Mallard's voice thundered above him.

Godred heard himself deliriously agree to do whatever Mallard wanted and plead for mercy before he was grabbed and unceremoniously dragged away, his entire world going black as he passed out.

~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.