19 - Sacrifice
"What the hell you doing Green?" Trojan grumbled as he sidled up to the big King Class. "Did you really go off on Truro in front of the Blue Cheese Wedge?"
"That's King to you filthy shunter," King Edward I hissed at the saddle tank. "And shunters do not speak to royal engines."
"Oh shut up will ya?!" Trojan barked at the bigger engine. "No one cares about the fact you pulled a royal train anymore! You sound like one of them bloody Gresley's acting like they got gold in their tenders and up their bloody boiler tubes!"
The Green King just gave Trojan a venomous glare of pure hatred.
"Why'd you do it?" Trojan still challenged ignoring the glare. "Why'd you be willing to let Truro die? Why'd you willingly abandon the Great Western's most famous engine? You jealous of him or something?"
"Enough! I do not have to explain myself to a tiny little engine like you!" King Edward I spat angrily. "You do nothing but shunt and be a nuisance on the railway!"
"Maybe you ain't gotta explain stuff to me but Pendennis is gonna want answers after he finds his wits again," Trojan pointed out. "Not to mention your brother looked completely furious. I doubt he's going to buy any excuse of yours. He's one of Truro's biggest fans."
The Blue King ignored Trojan now, simply steeling himself and staring ahead of him.
Trojan whooshed out some steam in frustration and tutted annoyed.
He was getting tired of the Green Kings' attitude. He hadn't given the Blue King anything as the engine looked distraught and in extreme distress as he had raced away from the castle towards the West.
He may not have liked either of the King Edward's but at the very least Blue had the decency to care about the Great Western's indomitable symbol of strength.
"You gonna even ask how Pendennis is?" Trojan asked gruffly. "He was badly shaken and nothing shakes him up."
The King Class said nothing, only ignored Trojan but the little saddle tank could see the regret and concern in his eyes. He at least had the decency to be concerned he supposed.
"You better hope Truro's gone or you're gonna be in some real shit there friend," Trojan snapped bluntly before steaming off in a puff of angry steam. "I'd hate to be you right now, your shameful majesty!"
King Edward I said nothing, merely staring after the little saddle tank as he mumbled something about going off to find another engine named 'Percy.'
He didn't care for Truro but he did care for the other Great Western's interpretation of him. He cared for them but doubted they'd see it that way once word spread of what happened.
He'd think of something to regain the trust of the Great Western's, he had to. He was a royal engine after all. They couldn't deny him.
The Stationmaster of Vicarstown wasn't a small or measly man by any means. He'd had his fair share of dealing with drunken late-night and angry, boisterous passengers. He had to deal with annoying idiotic people who just wanted to complain about literally nothing. He'd also had to deal with Sir Topham whenever there were problem engines.
Despite all this, he'd never had to deal with a very angry 6'5ft well build woman and Director of the NRM who had stormed his office demanding to know if a strange man dressed in green with the Flying Scotsman's crest embroidered on his lapel had brought a ticket at the station.
Lady Olivia Gresley was terrifying up close and personal, despite being on leave and having no authority on the Sudrian Railway, he could tell why Sir Topham generally didn't want to piss the woman off and had even lent her his premier express engine, Gordon.
The easily 6ft woman stood over him and his desk threateningly while he and his security agent went over the footage, her assistants waiting outside while Gordon sat patiently at the platform.
Gordon was looking around nervously, desperate for any sign of his brother in the throes of the humans. He wished for Ms Olivia to hurry but she need to confirm if the person who had used her cards was indeed Scotsman and find out what train he had gotten on.
Behind him, Sir Nigel was coupled and sat patiently. The push the A4 had given him to get across the country had been enormous.
He'd never moved so fast and neither had he ever felt such remarkable power in an engine. Not that he would even want to willingly admit to being impressed by the A4 Pacific.
He could see why this A4 had earned the name of their designer. He held the same demeanour as the old man, the same quiet grace and strength. He was very unlike Spencer or Bittern and he could see why he held the position of the Royal Engine's confidant.
He was humble and straightforward, not caring for records or fame. Nor did he care about the petty fights between engines. Certainly, Sir Nigel was a lot younger than Gordon, but the soul inside this engine felt ancient and wise.
"I did not push you too hard I hope my dear cousin?" Sir Nigel asked concerned. "Ms Olivia keeps her grip tight on the regulator it seems. She is quite the engineer, I am most impressed. I haven't had such a clean run in a very long while. It felt superb."
"No, no," Gordon answered. "I may be an old engine but I think you'll find my condition is pristine."
"Quite so," Sir Nigel chuckled. "You're 100 years old yet you run better than most. Others are not so lucky. On the mainland money for us engines is sparse. One is even lucky to get a rebuild if you're not famous. Even regular maintenance can be hard to finance these days."
Gordon's mind shifted to his brother at Sir Nigel's words and he went quiet with worry and fear. Scotsman had gone missing once again and this time it was to chase after either Great Northern or Truro.
Sir Nigel had explained the relationship between Scotsman and Truro in which Gordon understood why his brother was so devoted to the domeless engine. Of course, he would risk his soul to save someone he loved and adored.
For North, however, he had no idea why Scotsman would go after him. North had been nothing but cruel to his brother and from what Scott had told him, had been willing to let Gordon himself be defiled and rebuilt in exchange for himself.
There was no love for Great Northern from either of them.
Had Great Northern tricked Scotsman into following him and luring him to Mallard? Just why had the bitter old man even bothered to save Scotsman? Had he really changed over the years since his engine was scrapped?
He just didn't understand.
Nothing made sense anymore.
"Hello," a lady's voice suddenly spoke right next to him and he jumped slightly, startled. She giggled at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay," he told the pretty lady in scarlet and gold. "I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"About your brothers?" She asked and Gordon stared at her shocked.
"How did you know that?" Gordon asked warily. This woman could have been sent by Mallard, trying to get a hold of his brother. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"I am Lady," the Lady smiled. "I'm an engine like you. Except small and magical."
Gordon just raised an eyebrow at her.
"No offence but I don't believe you," he scoffed and Lady just smiled.
"That's okay, I don't expect you to," she beamed at him.
The woman's beaming smile unnerved him and so he looked away from her and instead decided to watch Rosie shunt some coaches for Rebecca.
"You!" Olivia's voice thundered through the station, startling Sir Nigel, Gordon and the passengers around them. Gordon looked over and found the tall woman storming over the station towards the Lady who had spoken to him.
Despite the impressive statue of Olivia, the young lady wasn't at all phased or the very least didn't show it.
"Where is Scotsman? Who are you and how did you get into the manor without anyone noticing?" Olivia demanded of the petite lady.
"My name is Lady ma'am," Lady gave Olivia a little curtsey. "Lady the magic engine. I'm the guardian of the Gold Dust. I appeared in the manor because Scotsman agreed to help me."
"Help you? Do what exactly?"
"Defeat Mallard of course!" Lady said brightly.
"My brother went to Mallard!?" Gordon cried out suddenly panicked. "No! He's going to get hurt! We have to stop him! Ms Olivia!"
Lady ignore Gordon and stepped towards Ms Olivia, grasping her arm gently before she could climb back onto Sir Nigel's footplate. Olivia immediately tried to pull away from her.
"Get your hands off of me!" She snapped, clearly at the end of her tether and tired. Dealing with this strange young woman was the last thing she needed right now.
"It's okay," Lady said soothingly. Golden light glowed in her eyes and she gently smiled at the taller woman. "Everything will be okay. I trust Scotsman and you should too. Scotsman's compassion has no bounds, it will save him."
Olivia seemed to strangely become calm at Lady's words and she seemed to be under some kind of strange calming trance.
Gordon and Sir Nigel just watched on in complete confusion.
"Do you remember when Scotsman gained his human form?" Lady asked. "You saved him, you grounded him by being there when it mattered for him. That act also fused you and your unborn son with Gold Dust and part of his soul. And as long as part of his soul remains, Scotsman will never die."
Olivia frowned at Lady concerned.
"What are you talking about? You keep my son out of this!" She roughly removed Lady's grip from her and glared down at the woman. "What engine is your railway originally from? Who is your designer? Answer me!"
Lady looked at her thoughtfully before answering.
"You know, I'm not sure," she said curiously. "I was just always, there."
Olivia frowned and turned away from the woman.
"I don't have time for this," she said gruffly before moving towards Sir Nigel. One of the station workers uncoupled Gordon from the blue A4. "You can go back and report to Sir Topham now Gordon."
"Yes ma'am," Gordon answered, knowing that she had no intention of him going to see his controller. Splitting up to find Scotsman would save time and hopefully before he did something stupid. Which, considering it was Scotsman, was very likely to happen.
"If you can't find him, I'll meet you at Callan Castle," Olivia said and Gordon acknowledged with a whistle.
The Sudrian Engine glanced at the woman who was still standing at the station patiently a pleasant smile on her face.
"You'll find your brothers," she said to him. "I am certain."
Gordon just gave the woman a wary smile. Her actions confused him but she was at the very least kind and had a loving aura about her.
He gave her a nervous smile as he pulled away from the station and made his way back into Sodor, intent on finding his brother and giving the younger engine a very harsh dressing down.
Green Arrow sat next to the City of Truro, concern evident on his face as he watched over the famous Great Western engine as he sleep in the private berths at Ulfstead Castle.
The Golden domed engine was deathly silent but he seemed a lot more relaxed than he had in Mallard's presence. The Black Smoke had done a number on him, his livery looked somehow faded and the gold trim on him did not sparkle as it should.
Thankful, any signs of the Cold Iron Sleep had disappeared and his levels of Gold Dust had started to slowly replenish. Green Arrow watched over him now, simply happy that his old friend was safe.
The Black 5, 5025 looked over them as he entered. There was no love between himself and Arrow but the big engine did have great admiration for the City of Truro as did many of the other engines.
"How is the old man?" He asked in his booming voice.
"His Gold Dust is stable," Arrow said curtly. "He's recovering very slowly but he is recovering."
"That's excellent," 5025 grinned. "You know, I never did think much of Tornado but that girl has some real strength to her. She's proving to be a most impressive engine."
"Tornado was always impressive," Arrow scolded. "You bigger stuck-up engines just never gave her a chance to prove herself."
"Quite," 5025 looked Green Arrow up and down. He seemed dismissive of the smaller engine but Arrow was used to it.
"You being a nasty little pest on the Sudrian Railway, Mr Envious?" He asked. "I get word of you harassing or spreading rumours about Henry and I'll come straight over from the mainland to sort you out."
Green Arrow gave an inward sigh and resisted the urge to yell at the Black 5.
"I don't do that anymore," Arrow said through gritted teeth.
"That must be hard for you," 5025 said and Arrow started glaring at him.
"I never wanted to do that in the first place but it was the only way I could survive scrapping! I had to pull others down to even be saved!" Arrow shouted at him. "I was desperate and fighting for my life! Do you know how much it hurts when every engine you meets tells you you should be scrapped? Not like you would understand, you've got so many siblings left! I'm the only one left! Do you know how much that hurts? To have your entire family scrapped?!"
Green Arrow stopped as he realised he was shouting and quickly looked at Truro who hadn't woken from the noise.
"I get it," he ground out bitterly, "I'm not as important as other engines. I'm a goods engine who was lucky enough to also pull coaches. I kept deceiving and putting people down because I always other engines did that to me and my siblings okay? I know that it's not okay now but, look just leave me alone alright? I've finally found a place where I can be happy so you can go back to the mainland and tell the other engines whatever you want about me."
The Black 5 said nothing. He merely stared at Green Arrow with an unreadable gaze for the longest time before looking back at the City of Truro who remain silent and still.
"Why do you think Great Northern did it?" He asked watching Truro sleeping. "Didn't he hate the Great Western's? Especially Truro for claiming Scotsman's record."
Green Arrow paused but appreciated the change in topic. He could tell that 5025 was deeply uncomfortable and no longer wanted to press or antagonise him after his outburst.
"I'm- not entirely sure," Green Arrow admitted. "Great Northern was always disparaging and nasty when talking about the Great Western Railway's engines. He was furious when Pendennis Castle beat Scotsman in the trials. Even more so when he found out that Scotsman had befriended him and a lot of other Great Western's. He would always rant that the Western's had 'poisoned' Scotsman's mind."
5025 rolled his eyes. "Scotsman just makes friends with everyone he meets, he wasn't brainwashed by them. North is a ridiculous old fool."
"North always seemed to think everything was out to destroy the LNER and tried everything to make the LNER appear to be the strongest railway," Arrow explained. "A lot of the older engines had that same rivalry but never to the point of obsession."
"Ah yes, I remember him calling us LMS boys nothing but a bunch of miscreant Midlanders who wished to see the LNER crumble, which, at the time I guess was true," 5025 mused. "Maybe he did it for Scotsman. He doesn't seem the type to approve of his relationship with Truro though."
Green Arrow gave a brief yawn.
"Who knows? Maybe the old bastard finally grew a consciousness after all these years?" He put out and the Black 5 snorted.
"I doubt it."
There was a sudden shutting of the door to the engine berths and both engines immediately went silent and still but relaxed when they realised it was probably just one of the workers around the castle.
"Who was that?" Arrow asked. "Was it one of Mallard's-"
Arrow trailed off as he realised something.
"Wait a second, those humans Mallard had a hold over, some of them looked like," Green Arrow mumbled to himself.
"What are you going on about?"
"Some of those humans looked like the old directors of the LNER before British Railways took over. I thought most of them were dead by now," Arrow muttered curiously. Concern filled his boiler. He was sure that Mallard had a reason for doing so
"Probably Mallard just stroking his ego by being the one to control those who controlled him," 5025 said dismissively. "I only came to check on Truro. I'll be off to say goodbye to Henry and the others."
"Right," was all Arrow said as he watched the LMS Black 5 reverse out of the berth without so much as a friendly smile.
Green Arrow didn't care. His mind was blank.
Just why had Mallard gone to all the trouble to find or resurrect the old directors of the LNER? What could they have possibly done for Mallard to put in such a huge effort to find them?
He sighed and looked over at Truro who still stood silent and still next to him, completely asleep to the world.
He hoped beyond hope that this would be the end of it.
However, the realistic part of him knew that it wouldn't be.
Great Northern looked away from the huge blue engine that now watched over him like a hawk. He looked over and saw the humans under the control of the black smoke.
They looked completely blank, their eyes were lifeless and their skin deathly grey and not at all natural.
He walked over to the closest one who stood still and silent staring at North but not seeing him at all. The man was short and rotund and looked incredibly familiar. North looked closer but then his eyes widened as he realised who it was.
"Mr Berkeley?" He asked, surprised and shocked. "But he died many decades ago."
"He's still dead," Mallard noted amusedly. "Just preserved and a puppet to my will."
North looked around at the others, recognising more of them.
"Mr Sutcliffe, Sir Marwood, Mr Walsworth," North muttered their names as he recognised them his dread growing.
"Do you like them?" Mallard asked gleefully. "I hope you do because it's what I'm going to do to you very soon."
"Why? Why did you go to all the effort of hunting down the old Directors? What was the point of this?" North shouted at Mallard. "They had families! They deserve to be laid to rest!"
"I had a family too!" Mallard suddenly fumed at North. "And these men took him away from me in favour of you!"
Great Northern froze and he slowly turned back towards Mallard who was now glaring at him, his gaze filled with hatred and fury.
"So that's what this is about," North said.
"I didn't know I was going to lure you here," Mallard admitted. "I wanted Scotsman, as he has enough Gold Dust to power a railway. Enough to give me peace from this madness for at least a little while."
"I assumed you would have wanted me because I rejected you," North proclaimed. "And I gave myself up because I knew that you wouldn't resist destroying another A3 not because of what happened to Merlin."
"That idiot A3 Donovan was a naïve and stupid engine," Mallard seethed. "He was sent for scrap anyway so what does it matter?"
"The poor boy was terrified," North pointed out. "But you killed him because he loved Flying Scotsman and was desperate to please his older brother."
"Like I said, naïve and stupid," Mallard scoffed. "No, I took your deal because of what you did to Merlin. I wanted revenge for him. You destroyed him!"
"I did not destroy him," North frowned at Mallard. "It was the director's decision that destroyed him. It was also their decision to preserve you by removing your soul."
"It failed," Mallard crowed gleefully. "I am still alive and they are the ones who are preserved."
"No," North shook his head at the A4 Pacific. "You haven't been alive for a very long time Mallard. You're forced to leech off other engines to stay alive and that black smoke is feeding off what remained of your willpower. You may as well be dead."
"I am!" Mallard seethed. "Ever since they took my Gold Dust I feel nothing but rage and hatred! They took what little I had! Any pleasure I had in life! All I have left is this dark cloud of smoke that makes me feel nothing but pain!"
Mallard's voice thundered and roared in the space almost sounding like several voices were talking at once. North winched against the pain of the voice echoing in his head.
"I don't think Gadwell or Merlin's presence would make me feel anything even if they were here," Mallard hissed softly. "No one bothered to help me! No one cared about me! I could drain every last engine on the face of this wretched planet and still feel nothing!"
"Yet you still feel sad at Merlin's passing!" North said quietly.
He immediately regretted it as the black smoke raced towards him, dark smoke-like tendrils striking at him and throwing him to the ground with a painful smack. He struggled against the sheer pressure exerted on his chest and body. It felt like railroad spikes being driven into his skull and flesh, liquid ice being pumped into his veins.
"You took him from me!" He heard Mallard shrieking. "The only brother that cared about me!"
"Sir Nigel, Silver King and Whitelaw cared about you!" North grunted trying to speak through the pain and fighting the black smoke constricting his body. "There were many who cared about you! We tried to stop the LNER from taking your soul but they wouldn't listen to us!"
"LIES!" Mallard screeched furiously. "You all conspired against me! You all wanted me to be turned into a soulless husk so I wouldn't be a problem anymore!"
"Even Flying Scotsman tried to help you!" North pleaded with him. He felt dizzy, he was struggling to suck in air to breathe.
Without warning, Mallard released him leaving him gasping for air as the A4 gave a sad lilting laugh that sounded quite deranged.
"You need to work on your lies North!" He backed at the struggling man. "The engine I tried many times to scrap trying to help me? How pathetic!"
"It's true," North choked out, sitting up and massaging his neck. "Scotsman has always been a very kind and gentle soul despite my attempts to toughen him up. He wishes to help others if he can even if those others have hurt him. He saved Green Arrow. He saved Union. Hell, he even tried to save the Hush Hush! I'm sure he'll try to save you if you gave him a chance."
"Don't be stupid you idiotic old man," Mallard seethed. "Especially not now after I nearly killed his precious Truro. I can't believe I once tried everything I could to please you. Not once did you ever show me the respect I deserved! Not even after my record!"
North frowned and glared at Mallard before picking himself up and squaring up to the A4 Pacific. He walked up to Mallard and stared him straight in the eye.
"I never showed you respect because not once did you earn it," North said coldly.
Mallard's expression grew furious and he gave a loud shout which sounded like a cross between a cry and bellow.
Something slammed into North so hard that he felt his feet leave the ground and he was thrown across the room and slammed into the wall opposite Mallard. He impacted the ground so hard that he suddenly lost all vision and pain exploded in one of his legs which crumpled beneath him. His vision came back after a few seconds but it was blurry and hot liquid dripped over his face.
"Mr- Mr North?" Came the squeaky voice of Godred but he was cut off by a pained yelp.
North couldn't move as he felt that feeling of the rail spikes driving into him. Panic ensured however when he felt the warm Gold Dust suddenly begin to drain from him and be replaced by an agonising cold pain.
He attempted to struggle but his body refused to move, to do anything, it was like he'd been paralysed.
In the distance, he heard Mallard laugh. A haunting and insane-sounding laugh.
He struggled again but it was almost like the dark smoke hand made his entire body feel like concrete.
He wanted to cry as he felt Mallard suddenly reach into his mind and begin poking and prodding. His arm suddenly began to twitch of its own accord and he realised that Mallard was testing out his new lifeless puppet.
He tried to push his cousin out of his head but pain exploded in his head as Mallard struck out at him.
i"You truly are no fun, Great Northern. At least Truro gave me a long and hard challenge and even then he fought down to the rails. You're so weak! Look at all these regrets you have old man!"/i Mallard taunted him. i"Worn down by years of sadness and depression! I've seen stronger insects than you!"/i
He struggled fruitlessly but Mallard's grip on him was intense, he felt his body moving, Mallard flexing his arms and legs. Pain exploded in his leg as the broken limb was moved and he flinched inwardly.
Taking notice of this, Mallard began to toy with it like a sadistic, cruel child, pulling the wings off of flies.
After what seemed like an eternity in pain and his mind being crushed underneath the black smoke, Mallard suddenly left without warning, his attention drawn away by something.
North didn't know what it was but whatever it drew both Mallard and the Black Smoke's attention completely. The haze of pain continued for a little while, voices and noises muffled, his body feeling like it had been run over by a car at the very least, the pain in his leg almost unbearable.
Suddenly something touched him and he flinched.
"It's okay," a voice came reassuringly. "It's going to be okay, I promise."
Great Northern suddenly felt wide away as the fog in his brain immediately cleared and he realised who it was. He opened his eyes and they took a moment to readjust. His vision was still blurry but he instantly recognised who it was.
"Flying Scotsman," he croaked weakly, staring up at the man. Behind him, Mallard looked both furious but also had a hungry look in his eyes. "No, you- you need to leave- Scots-"
"I said it will be okay," Scotsman said with sternness and authority in his voice that North had never heard before.
"But- but Mallard-" he insisted but his younger brother ignored him.
Scotsman instead reached over and lay a hand over North's heart. A warm golden glow appeared and suddenly it felt as if his strength was returning to him. His vision cleared and he felt stronger, although his leg still felt broken.
The effects of the black smoke began to disappear, the biting, malicious, ice cold suddenly melting into a warm and kind warmth that eased his pain.
"Everything will be okay," Scotsman assured North and for a second, he believed him but the presence of Mallard looming over them broke it.
"Why did you come here? Truro is safe! You didn't need to come here!" North croaked out weakly. "Scotsman, please! Get away from here, let me-"
Scotsman frowned.
"Other people still need help North," he chided the elder A3 Pacific.
North stared at Scotsman incredulously before looking back at Mallard.
"You can't be serious, even you can't help this monster," North said coldly glaring at Mallard who sneered at him in return. "I know I said you would try to help Mallard but not like this, you can't he'll just kill you!"
"I can at least try," Scotsman said and stood turning away from North and approaching Mallard willingly as North watched on in horror.
"You're making a grave mistake! He'll kill you! Flying Scotsman!" Great Northern shouted at Flying Scotsman but his cries fell on deaf ears.
"The old fool is right," Mallard laughed down at Scotsman. "I'm going to kill you. Drain all your Gold Dust and then take your engine."
Scotsman just smiled at him.
"Taking my engine won't stop the Black Smoke Mallard," he said calmly. "It will just follow you and infect my old engine. It won't free you."
Mallard just glared at him.
"I'll break you like I broke Truro," he seethed.
"Not if I willingly submit to you," Scotsman pointed out and Mallard was taken aback.
"You're- willingly to let me drain your gold dust?" He asked shocked.
No one had even approached him and openly offered him their Gold Dust before. He hesitated.
"Is this a trick?" The Blue A4 Pacific eyed Scotsman suspiciously.
The Flying Scotsman simply smiled up at him, kindness in his eyes completely unafraid.
"No trick," Scotsman assured Mallard. "You've suffered through decades of pain and I'm truly sorry Mallard. I honestly want to help you, I swear. If you think draining my Gold Dust will help you, then I am willing to try and help free you from your suffering."
Mallard stared at Scotsman for a good long moment before a truly malicious and nasty grin spread across the A4 Pacific's face and he began laughing a horrible grating cackle.
"You truly are a big green idiot," Mallard laughed at him. "I don't want your pity. I don't want to be saved. I just want you to die."
The black smoke immediately swarmed Flying Scotsman and pinned him to the ground.
"No!" North yelled as he and Godred watched horrified.
Still, Scotsman did not resist, despite the obvious pain he was in. He did not even struggle, simply allowing Mallard to invade his mind and drain his soul.
"Scotsman no! Stop!" North begged desperately but his shouts could be heard over the sound of the black smoke roaring and Mallard's cruel laughter.
"BROTHER!"
~For updates, extra lore or to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me at tornadoyoungiron on tumblr.
There is also a tumblr where you can directly ask the characters of this story askyoungiron on tumblr.