After a first day back at work, Bill and Ben had proven considerably successful. They had kept precisely on schedule with all their deliveries to Brendam Docks and Crovan's Gate alike, and there had been practically no scuffles or quarrels between the two twins aside from a brief tease about the pumpkins they had trouble with some years ago. They had found out quickly that not everyone was keen on their return. Especially not Gordon, James and Diesel. Several other engines were aware of their return and their intent to see a need for change, which of course was met with varying opinions. The most significant progress for both twins so far was seeing Thomas, Emily and David again ever since their close slide. But although the cracks were considerably mended with these three, Emily and especially David still held a very high standard on the twins to adhere to, and before things would truly get better for Bill and Ben, things were unfortunately due to take an unlucky turn and complications would soon get in the way of good progress before luck could bounce back.
The next morning arrived with the sun peeking over the Clay Pit walls. Bill and Ben woke up and looked to each other, briefly thinking back to the steady streak of progress they made the day before. This was only day two, and they knew there was still much to be done before their change would truly show.
"Well...morning, Ben," said Bill. "Looks like it's day two for us."
"Morning, Bill," said Ben. "Day two begins...and just what will happen today, I wonder?"
"Well, we won't find out until we're on the move," said Bill. "Perhaps we ought to meet with the Fat Controller at Knapford again."
"Indeed," agreed Ben. "After all, he did say yesterday that he might have more important work for us today."
"That, he did," said Bill as he suddenly got a little idea. "And if we hurry, perhaps we could do the passengers a little good...and do Thomas and Percy a little favor at that."
Ben knew exactly what Bill meant by this and was suddenly nervous. "I don't know, Bill. I know just what you're thinking...but what would 'he,' say?"
Bill knew who Ben was referring to. "Well, Ben. 'He,' may not approve of it, but we would be doing something useful nonetheless. And it's initiative for us to do so."
"Well, alright, then. Let's get on with it," said Ben.
As soon as Bill and Ben's crews arrived, they set off through the morning light, awaiting what their schedule would consist of today.
When they arrived at Knapford Station, Bill and Ben looked around. They saw the Fat Controller in his office, looking over the timetable, and as Bill's idea had suggested, they saw two sets of four express coaches in two separate sidings. Neither Bill nor Ben could recall fetching coaches very much, as usually Thomas and Percy were the ones to do that. They looked to each other and nodded. They were just making their way toward the coaches, when sure enough, Gordon and Rebecca's whistles came sounding near. Bill and Ben made their move and fetched both sets of coaches, then took them behind the station and along the wall so as to come up behind both engines.
At that moment, Gordon and Rebecca stopped at Platforms One and Two and turned their eyes to where they expected to see their coaches, only to see they weren't there.
"Where are our coaches, Gordon?" Rebecca puzzled.
"Hmm. Thomas and Percy should be bringing them along by now," said Gordon.
Just then, two high whistles sounded through the air behind the two big engines. Gordon suddenly looked back and felt his heart jump uncomfortably. Rebecca could see him starting to frown suspiciously.
"What is it? I hear it. I hear it again," Gordon glowered.
"Hear what again, Gordon?" Rebecca asked.
"Don't you recognize those whistles, Rebecca? It's those little demons, sneaking around the yards, no doubt playing with our coaches!"
"No, we're not," came those two voices from behind. Gordon looked back most indignantly, while Rebecca looked back more curiously.
"Uhh...here, Gordon and Rebecca," Bill said nervously behind Gordon.
"Uh...your coaches are ready," said Ben as he came up behind Rebecca.
And they buffered the coaches up to both express engines and lined up at Platforms Three and Four. Normally, Gordon was impressed to have a tank engine fetch his coaches, but not from Bill and Ben.
"Ho-hum," he sniffed. "Refined engines such as Rebecca I should not have to have our coaches shunted by the likes of you. Thomas and Percy are more fitting to do that than either of you any day."
"Ohh! That's silly, Gordon!" Rebecca exclaimed, still holding her better position on both twins.
"Thank you, Rebecca," said Bill. "We're just doing something useful."
"Yeah! We can be just as useful as anyone at any job, Gordon! Bill and I!" added Ben.
"And what would you two know about it?" Gordon sniffed. "You're just two quarreling tank engine twins interfering with more useful engines throughout the Steam Team."
"Hey! What do you mean 'more useful,' engines?!" Bill asked irritably.
"What I mean is, of course, we shall be expecting you to be keeping a very low profile," said Gordon pompously. "And not pushing yourselves forward in any way."
Rebecca came to Bill and Ben's defense with a wink to them and a teasing smile to Gordon.
"Oh, really, Big G? But don't all engines push themselves 'forward' every minute of every day to be really useful? Even you and I?"
Gordon suddenly found himself in an awkward situation and had to give in.
"Oh...well, I...oh, alright, Rebecca," he said. "But only because you say so, my Golden Queen."
At that moment, the Fat Controller came out of his office, having overheard some of the talk and bicker.
"And speaking of forward," he said solidly. "That's exactly what you should be doing with Rebecca and your passengers, Gordon. With this busy summer, we can't waste a minute."
"Oh, yes. Well, with both of us managing the Express, consider it done, sir," said Gordon.
The Fat Controller raised his eyebrow to Gordon, looked to Bill and Ben, then stood by for the passengers to come.
Before long, Gordon and Rebecca's passengers arrived. As they approached the coaches, Bill and Ben watched as many of the passengers noticed them both and began murmuring amongst each other as they boarded their coaches. Bill and Ben wondered what they could be thinking until eventually, the coaches were all loaded. Gordon and Rebecca's guards blew their whistles, and they both set off. Bill and Ben watched them leave, then turned to the Fat Controller.
"Well, good morning, you two," he said. "I see you're here a bit early."
"Morning, sir," said Bill. "We figured we'd meet you here...and also do Gordon and Rebecca the favor of fetching their coaches."
"As well as a favor to Thomas and Percy, sir," said Ben. "Even if Gordon doesn't care to see any merit in us being just a little useful."
"Well, I applaud your initiative to do well for the passengers," said the Fat Controller. "But never mind Gordon. Right now, we have more important things to talk about. Now...as I told you yesterday evening, I said I might have more work for you today..."
"Yes, sir. You did," said Bill.
"And as it happens, there is indeed more work for both of you to manage," said the Fat Controller. "Firstly, there is another load of goods waiting at Wellsworth for you to take to Arlesburgh for Donald and Douglas to manage themselves. Once that delivery is done, you return here for your next little instruction."
"Back to Wellsworth and Arlesburgh, is it? Very well, sir," said Bill.
"We're right on it, sir," said Ben.
"That's good," said the Fat Controller. "But as I said before, I expect you to be on your best presentation at all times. Do not forget that."
Bill and Ben whistled in response and set off on another important job. As they made their way to Wellsworth, they began to wonder about what lay ahead...and about Edward.
"Hmm...Ben?" Bill asked. "I wonder. What do you think Edward will have to say about our current plans?"
"Hmm. I don't know, Bill," said Ben. "All we know right now is that he told Thomas and Emily to see us...but whether he's too busy for us or not, we'll just have to see how it all turns out."
"I also hope the trucks are in a fitting enough mood to behave for us, as they were yesterday," said Bill.
Soon, Bill and Ben arrived at Wellsworth Yards. Once again, they couldn't see Edward anywhere. He was looking after more passengers again, and Bill and Ben looked through the yards and saw two sets of fully loaded trucks waiting for them. But these weren't the same trucks Bill and Ben had managed the day before, and when they saw Bill and Ben coming, the trouble was only beginning.
"Well, look at this," said a truck. "It's those overly cheeky bees buzzing around again after giving Thomas and Emily such a delightful mess."
"Yes. So they are," said another truck. "They seem a quaint sort for us. What say we give them a jig?"
And as Bill and Ben approached the trucks, they started teasing and singing away at once.
"Bill and Ben, the yellow bees,
All their faults they want to appease,
Around the yards, they puff and blow,
But on the hills, they're oh, so slow!"
Bill and Ben did not like this one bit, having been teased by trucks many times before, and they stood no nonsense now.
"Be quiet!" snapped Bill as he gave his trucks a feisty bump like Percy did.
"Donald and Douglas are expecting you and your loads," said Ben. "Now you just come along with us and behave yourselves!"
"YOU tell US to behave?" one of the trucks retorted. "That's a swizz, coming from you two bees who buzz around everyone you can!"
"Even buzzing around us now!" said another truck. "Rebecca is very nice whenever she pulls us, not like either of you!"
"Only because you don't know how to behave for us!" said Bill. "We still know how to biff a truck!"
And with a fierce jolt forward, Bill started taking his trucks on the way, followed closely by Ben, who gave a fierce pull with his trucks too. But as Bill and Ben made their way along the line through Crosby Station, the trucks continued to make a fuss with another silly jig.
"Bill and Ben, cheeky little hens!
Must go back inside their dens!
Playing and fooling all day long,
Useful engines? That's too, too wrong!"
"Oh, shut up!" Bill wheeshed as he biffed his trucks back a little.
"Hmph! Consider them shut," said Bill's leading truck. "Not like you should be shut up in your sheds again!"
"We've BEEN shut up already!" Ben wheeshed as he biffed his trucks back too. "Three weeks of it! In endless shame!"
"Aww, that IS a shame," Ben's leading truck teased cheekily. "And a shame that you can't manage any of us!"
Bill and Ben decided to take no more and blew their whistles loudly and shrilly, making the trucks squeal and cringe to the high noise. This was enough to make them settle at least for some time. But neither Bill, Ben nor the trucks notice the Fat Controller driving along the road, having saw what just happened and pondered curiously.
"Hmm," he hummed to himself as he drove on.
Bill and Ben kept huffing on their way. Even though the trucks had quieted down, the twins still felt glum as they made their way into Arlesburgh. They worked their way through the small village, then glimpsed to the side and saw David's house again.
"Oh, Ben. How ever will he see us in a better light than he does now?" Bill asked.
"David?" asked Ben. "I really don't know, Bill. He's a former soldier, and he thinks how he thinks. That's pretty much the end of it. All we can do is keep moving forward."
Bill sighed as he and Ben carried on. Soon, they found Donald and Douglas waiting for their loads. As it turned out, they too had heard of Bill and Ben's return from Duck and Oliver, and while they waited for the tank engine twins to arrive, they had their own way of seeing the matter.
"Where are those bees with our loads?" Donald said bluntly. "They ought to have been here by now."
"Probably up to their old games again, I be bound," said Douglas. "Nae any different than they were three weeks past after puttin' our dear sister figure in such danger."
"Maybe we're a touch different than you think we are, you two," came Bill's voice. Donald and Douglas looked back and saw Bill and Ben come up alongside.
"Ach, look here, Douggie," said Donald. "It appears the bees have landed."
"Aye, so they have," said Douglas, eying Bill and Ben unpleasantly. "And what are you two doing wandering around the island again?"
"Following the Fat Controller's orders. That's what we're doing," said Bill.
"So it appears. Duck and Oliver spoke of you two," said Donald. "We know what became of Thomas at the Clay Pits, and almost Emily too."
"And such a long time you were shut up in your sheds," Douglas sniffed. "I don't think I or Donnie are keen on your chances to change."
Bill frowned. "Say what you two will, but Ben and I see a need for change and we wish to apply it!"
"Indeed! This is also a little ironic," said Ben. "I would think you two would know what it's like to argue and weave yourselves into trouble."
Douglas scoffed impatiently.
"Well, Bill and Ben! It's true Donnie and I argue now and again," he huffed. "But at least we don't steal trucks and weave engines into blasting zones, putting them in danger of being buried like you did with Thomas and Emily!"
Bill and Ben didn't take kindly to this cold shoulder and felt the urge to retort back; with Donald and Douglas' most significant past misdeed.
"Really? I would think you share a mutual experience yourselves!" Bill retorted. "What about what happened when you had Emily in the Middle, as we might say? Some years ago, she came all the way to Brendam to help you both with that giant shipment to Vicarstown!"
"And what did YOU end up doing when you wouldn't keep your big gobs shut on Gordon's Hill?!" Ben put in. "You blindly launched Scary Jack Frost's snowball and nearly got her killed! All while she was trying to help you out!"
Donald and Douglas instantly felt their hearts sting as Emily's yells of anger rang in their ears again. This made them very cross, and Douglas suddenly rushed toward Ben, bumping him harshly.
"Do NOT talk to me of Emily in the Middle!" Douglas hissed with a spark leaping from his funnel. "We know its scathing impression, and even today we feel it on a few occasions! But Donnie and I have LONG-SINCE made our amends to Emily and we strongly uphold our brotherly connection with her!"
Bill and notably Ben were quite intimidated by Douglas' sudden motion, but they completely sympathized with Douglas' position nonetheless. Ben gave a slow nod to Douglas and answered quietly.
"And Bill and I know the scathing impression our close slide left upon us. And yesterday, we've already made some amends to Thomas and Emily, by meeting with them again and mending a few of the cracks, just as you did for her with that Christmas Tree and singing 'Silent Night,' for her."
"So perhaps we can uphold a few better ways ourselves, somewhat like you do," Bill added.
Donald and Douglas looked to each other and felt their hearts pulse with a heartfelt glimmer as they remembered that lovely gift they set up for Emily, which earned Douglas his very first kiss from her. He slowly backed away from Ben and nodded with dignity.
"Hmm. There is a ring of truth to that," he said solemnly. "And a touch of comparison too. Perhaps you do have a ray of hope after all."
"But Douggie and I are big engine twins," said Donald. "You two are tank engine twins. Only time will tell if your hope proves to be true."
"And perhaps time will tell if you can all move on from this little dispute," came another voice.
All four twins looked and saw David standing there with his arms crossed, having heard everything.
"Oh...hello, David," said Douglas. "I assume you've heard these two have been-"
"I think I've heard enough from yesterday to know their intentions," said David. "And now that they've arrived, you should get a move on, Donald and Douglas. It's time you managed this load."
"Aye, it be indeed, laddie," said Donald. "Let's get to it, Douggie."
"Aye, Donnie," said Douglas.
And Donald and Douglas huffed off with their loads without another word. Bill and Ben watched them leave and were slightly hurt by the little spat they had just exchanged with two other brothers who periodically argued themselves, except Donald and Douglas knew how to keep their arguing in check, more so than Bill and Ben at the very least. But Bill and Ben also found a sense of relatability with Donald and Douglas as they shared the sense of impression and intent to do better.
After a few moments, Bill and Ben looked to David again. He looked quite serious and even a little discontent having heard the little riff, but Bill spoke up in response to David's stance.
"Captain Rider, I know you don't think we're ready to be truly useful. And it's clear that Donald and Douglas have a few doubts too."
"But Bill and I have been working hard ever since our return yesterday!" Ben added. "I don't know why you don't see our endless efforts and-"
"Boys!" David cut in, making Bill and Ben hold still. "Your skills and efforts have never been in question. It is your maturity. Many on the island have argued this before, but Sir Topham Hatt has made his decision. May you see a need for change, and act upon it...Bill and Ben."
And David turned and went back to his work. It was then that Bill and Ben remembered they had to return to Knapford to see the Fat Controller for their next job. As they made their way out of Arlesburgh, they knew David was right. Much like Lawrence told David on the night he, Thomas, Emily and Beatrice imagined how else it could have been, it wasn't Bill and Ben's abilities that would determine what they could be. It would be their maturity and their choices. But even with well-intended choices in mind, the given complications weren't over yet, as Bill and Ben would unfortunately find out.
At Knapford Station, the Fat Controller was waiting at the platform for Bill and Ben. He just drew his watch to check the time when he heard both whistles approaching. He looked and saw Bill and Ben stop side by side.
"Well. There you are again," said the Fat Controller.
"Both our loads are with Donald and Douglas and well under way," said Bill. "Although our trucks weren't too well-behaved this time."
"Apparently not," said the Fat Controller. "I saw you along the line with your load."
"You...you did, sir?" asked Ben.
"Yes. And it seemed you had a little scuffle to get them to behave," said the Fat Controller.
"They tease and sing at us, sir," said Bill. "But we figured not to let them have their fun. We put them to rights, even if they weren't happy."
"Donald and Douglas weren't perfectly happy to see us again either," said Ben. "And...they had a little dispute with us about our plans to change."
The Fat Controller looked up at once, hoping nothing problematic occurred. "Dispute? And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Bill and Ben told the Fat Controller everything about what Donald and Douglas said until David cut in on the scene.
"Well, now. Hmm. That is something," the Fat Controller pondered. "Perhaps Donald and Douglas could provide an example of how you two can argue less than you tend to."
"Well, any change at all is a step up for both of us," said Bill. "Even if David still keeps a stern eye on our progress."
"Indeed. But now, back to business, Bill and Ben," said the Fat Controller. "It's time for your next instruction, and it looks like you'll be working to help one of the big engines now."
Suddenly, Bill and Ben felt nervous and vulnerable.
"Big engine, sir?" Bill worried. "Oh...please don't be Gordon or James. They're bound to see only the worst of us."
"It's neither of them, you two," said the Fat Controller. "It's Henry. With the ongoing passenger runs, he's had to help Gordon and Rebecca with a few passenger runs himself. As such, he needs some extra wheels to get his goods train to Vicarstown so he can take it to the Mainland this afternoon. The goods train is right here in the yards for both of you to take on its way. It's heavy, so be careful."
"Yes, sir," answered Bill and Ben.
And the Fat Controller returned to his office. Bill and Ben were relieved not to have to work with Gordon or James, but they knew Henry didn't think too highly about either of them. As they pondered these thoughts, they huffed through the yards and soon found Henry's goods train. Eight trucks heftily loaded with large crates, but as Bill and Ben made their approach, they were in for more trouble than they bargained for. These trucks were in no less of a hurry to cause trouble than those Bill and Ben took to Arlesburgh. If anything, they had more trouble in mind.
"Oh, not you two again!" fussed one of the trucks. "The buzzing bees, Bill and Ben!"
"Come on, you fussy lot!" Bill snapped. "Henry is expecting you in time for his run to the Mainland, and we want no trouble from you!"
"And what good can you little bees do?" the trucks teased. "You're too small to pull all of us! What with all our piling crates!"
"And you're both a mite smaller than Percy, and he couldn't hold us on the hill!" more trucks chattered. "We want another engine to struggle up the hill all night!"
"All night, alright, you can puff and blow!
But on that hill, you're still too slow! Ha-ha!"
"S-S-SLOW YOURSELF!" Bill and Ben stuttered angrily as Bill banged the trucks hard.
"Temper-temper," giggled the trucks, making Bill simmer angrily as he conjured an idea.
"Ben, I have a notion with these 'heavy' trucks," he said. "You take four, I'll take these four. Maybe then they can't pull their little tricks."
"Point well taken. Just be careful, as the Fat Controller said," said Ben.
And so they did. Bill went ahead with four trucks and Ben followed alongside with the other four. The trucks were still chattering and laughing away behind them, but Bill and Ben decided to make best of the situation as Percy once did with the coal trucks who surprised him on the hill with that chase. But the complications were still in fair motion.
Soon they passed through the Three-Track Level Crossing, and Bill and Ben suddenly remembered they had a previous accident here, back when Rebecca was still new to Sodor and trying to figure out what she could do best alongside Belle, Marion, Harvey and Daisy.
"Oh, dear, Bill," Ben said lowly. "This won't do...I can feel that last accident we had here flickering back to me..."
"Don't let it get to you, Ben," Bill lowly said back. "We can't afford any setbacks."
But the trucks heard Bill and Ben and immediately saw a chance for trouble at the right place at the right time, and started making a plan.
Bill and Ben eventually passed through Wellsworth again, then a few minutes afterwards, they looked ahead and felt a little daunting sense in their boilers. There was Gordon's Hill, and the trucks began to chortle and snicker quietly to each other. Bill and Ben began to feel nervous as they approached the hill.
Then suddenly, Emily whistled from behind and came along the third line beside Ben. She was taking a goods train of her own to Brendam Docks. She saw Bill and Ben and looked curiously at them both.
"Hey, Bill and Ben. What's on with you?" she asked.
"Just bringing Henry's load to Vicarstown for him," Bill and Ben answered.
"Yes, I see. Just be sure not to stop on this hill," advised Emily. "Otherwise, it won't be easy to get started again."
And Emily huffed on past Bill and Ben. They watched as she approached the hill. Then just for fun, Emily began to cite the "Little Engine," rally as she climbed Gordon's Hill.
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can," she huffed. As she went higher, she began to slow down until the very tip-top. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I...think...I...can. I...thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could!"
And with a gleeful whistle and giggle, Emily carried on down the other side, on her way to Brendam. Bill and Ben looked to each other and thought maybe they could speak aloud themselves up the hill, like Rebecca did with her trucks on this hill.
"Come on, Ben. It's worth a try for us," said Bill.
"No reason why not," Ben agreed.
So as Bill and Ben started their climb, they started to cite their own call.
"We think we can, we think we can, we think-"
But while Bill and Ben chanted away, the trucks most unfortunately chose this moment to enact their troublesome plan. Halfway up the hill, they suddenly pulled back and slowed Bill and Ben down quite a bit.
"Rrgh! No, you don't!" Bill strained. "Not now, you noisy lot!"
"Hold back! Hold back!" the trucks giggled.
"GRR, UP!" ordered Ben.
But the trucks just laughed as Bill and Ben struggled on up the hill. They felt themselves going slower, and their wheels grinded harder to keep moving.
"We...think...we...can!" Bill and Ben struggled hard. But the trucks delivered the most unhelpful blow to those words.
"No you can't! No you can't! No you can't! Too slow! More power! Here all night! Tomorrow too!"
"Hell's teeth, BE QUIET!" Bill and Ben steamed angrily and loudly.
Their wheels started to hurt, and the trucks' constant pulling back strained the coupling.
"Oh, dear! Don't let them get away, Bill!" Ben warned.
Bill didn't answer as he strained hard to reach the top. Then there was trouble. Bill and Ben were just about to hit the top of the hill when the trucks held back as hard as they ever could. Bill and Ben's faces reddened, and their wheels began to slip as they struggled. Then in that instant, Bill lost his temper and decided not to take any more. He pumped his pistons and got ready to yank forward.
"Bill! No!" Ben warned.
But it was too late. Bill yanked forward against the trucks...and the coupling broke! Ben instinctively and quite unintentionally yanked forward himself to stop Bill, and his coupling broke too. Bill and Ben dashed forward a little, then suddenly realized.
"What the...I don't feel the weight! What happened?!" they said at the same time.
They looked back, and the trucks suddenly became runaways! "Surprise, surprise! Catch us if you can!"
"Oh, NO!" cried Bill and Ben as the trucks sailed back down the hill and around the bend.
"No, no, no, no!" Bill panicked. "What do we do, what do we DO?!"
"Don't just stand there! DO something!" Ben panicked.
"YOU do something!" Bill retorted. "You broke away from your trucks!"
"YOU broke away from your trucks FIRST!" argued Ben.
"ENOUGH of this!" shouted Bill's driver. "This was not on the schedule. Now, we've got two runaway trains!"
"If we don't dash, those trucks are bound to roll back into the Three-Track Level Crossing and break the fence!" added Ben's driver.
"Then we'll just have to stop them, won't we?" Bill suggested.
"The chase is on!" Ben whistled.
And the two tank engine twins reversed with terrific speed back down the hill, with their drivers looking back for them.
"We ain't afraid of a few runaway trucks," said Bill.
"And they WON'T knock us off track!" Ben huffed as they raced back down the hill.
Meanwhile, the trucks were rushing and rolling back along the line in a gleeful chorus of laughing as they disappeared around the bend of Gordon's Hill and shot back through Wellsworth Station, taking Philip by quite a surprise.
"Whoa! Good Heavens!" he exclaimed. "What's going on?"
Bill and Ben came rushing through the station next at a tremendous rate. "Hi, Philip! Bye, Philip!"
The trucks shot on through Crosby Station, with Bill and Ben still a fair distance behind. Then as they approached the Three-Track Level Crossing, Bertie suddenly honked from the road and stopped at once.
"Whoa! Look out!" he called. "Runaway train!"
Then as the trucks came around the corner toward the crossing, some of the crates bumped and jostled out of the trucks and onto the tracks. The trucks hit those crates and immediately jostled out of control, getting caught between the rails and sleepers while two or three more trucks overturned and lurched upward, and finally came to a messy stop some way before the crossing gates. The trucks were now secure, albeit out of place and in quite a mess.
"Golly, what happened there?!" Bertie exclaimed.
At that moment, Bill and Ben arrived and stopped right before their now derailed goods train.
"Oh, no! Oh, no!" Bill exclaimed. "Henry is not going to like this! Nor will the Fat Controller!"
"And worse still, we're back where we were some years ago with this VERY mess!" Ben huffed.
"It's only lucky the trucks stopped before they could hit the gate," said Bill's driver. "We must get this mess back on track!"
Ben's driver ran to phone for Harvey to come to the scene at once. Then he rang the Fat Controller and told him what had happened, to which the Fat Controller immediately said he was on his way.
It wasn't long before Harvey arrived with some workmen and saw the mess Bill and Ben's trucks made.
"Oh, dear, you two. Looks like you let your trucks run away on you again," said Harvey. "But no fuss. I'll put this mess to rights."
Harvey got right to work clearing the mess, while the workmen stood by with yellow flags to warn any coming engines to slow down. But Bill and Ben now found themselves in a flustered tizzy. After a consistently good day's progress the day before, they had now weaved themselves into an accident, only on their second day back at work, and given their need to maintain a useful streak at all times, this seemed like a most harmful error for them both, and as such, they found themselves a little lost and confused, which made them start arguing cheekily again.
By this time, Rebecca was coming back along the line, with Gordon close behind her after their current passenger run had been taken care of. Then Rebecca looked up and saw the workman waving the yellow flag.
"Oh, dear. Slow down, Gordon," Rebecca called.
"Slow down? Why, Rebecca?" Gordon called back.
Before Rebecca could answer, that was when she heard the distinct sound of Bill and Ben arguing amongst their derailed trucks.
"This is your fault!" Bill chittered cheekily.
"This is WHAT?!" Ben retorted. "I did warn you!"
"Well, I didn't hear you!" Bill argued before they looked and saw who was coming along.
"Hi, Rebecca," they said together with low spirit.
"Hello, you two...again," said Rebecca as she eyed the predicament. "Oh, dear. Another mess. Hope you can get it cleared up soon with Harvey's help."
"We certainly hope so, Rebecca!" Bill called as Rebecca passed on by. But then Gordon stopped and gazed at the mess, looking most unimpressed.
"Now, look what you've done!" he wheeshed. "What will the Fat Controller say?"
"Well, just let us tell you, Gordon, this WASN'T one of our games!" Bill protested. "These trucks here tricked us!"
"But it never would have happened if Bill had listened to my warning!" Ben complained.
"I didn't hear you!" Bill argued again. "And those trucks broke away from me!"
"Only because you were too impatient to pull them up properly!" Ben argued back.
"No, I wasn't!" Bill argued before he and Ben then had a little bicker exchange.
"You were! I wasn't! You WERE! I wasn't! YOU WERE! I WASN'T! YOU WERE!"
Suddenly, before Bill or Ben could utter another bicker, Gordon let loose with an absolute roaring voice, making Bill, Ben and Harvey freeze where they were.
"STOW IT! THE BOTH OF YOU! THAT'S AN ORDER! UNDERSTAND?!"
Everyone stopped right where they were and looked at Gordon. Bill and Ben's eyes were big and round, Harvey just gaped, and the workmen all looked stunned. After a few moments, the awkward silence wore on Gordon and he turned slightly red in the face with a guilty smile.
"...Sorry," he jittered to the workmen. "I just thought with these two engines' position in doubt, I'd throw in my word for consideration. Sorry."
And he sheepishly carried on, while Bill and Ben watched him leave. Then at that moment, the Fat Controller's car sped onto the scene and stopped beside Bertie. Bill and Ben's eyes darted right to him as he came out of the car in a flustered hurry.
"Bill and Ben! What's going on here?!" he demanded. "And what is Henry's goods train doing scattered all over the tracks?!"
Bill and Ben cringed awfully as they heard the Fat Controller's demanding tone. They dreaded the thought of being pulled back to where they started, but decided to buck up and explain as best they could.
"We're truly sorry, sir," said Bill. "Ben and I decided to take four trucks each, but see, these trucks had some tricks of their own."
"And just as we were at the top of Gordon's Hill, we tried rushing forward," said Ben. "And the couplings broke, so they became runaway trains."
"But we got right to it and rushed to stop them," said Bill. "Although it's clear they stopped themselves with those crates."
"So, this was no game, sir," said Ben. "This was by all accounts, an accident, never intended...although I trust you're going to send us back to our sheds now."
The Fat Controller looked sternly at the scene, and he could see that most of the trucks were back in order thanks to Harvey's work, clearly thinking while Bill and Ben waited nervously. Then the Fat Controller spoke again.
"Actually...no, I won't."
Bill and Ben looked intently to the Fat Controller as he went on.
"I can certainly see you've caused some confusion and delay, right in the same spot as I might recall. However, I can also see you rushed right away to fix the problem with Harvey getting this lot back in order. As such, for your efforts to remedy this issue, it makes no sense to me to put you back in your sheds. And I am thankful to have a plausible explanation as to why this little issue occurred, and for that, you may carry on with this load. But a word of caution."
"Yes, sir?" Bill and Ben asked as the Fat Controller came right up to them both, sternly pointing with his finger for added emphasis.
"You'd better watch your step, Bill and Ben. Those trucks were getting wise to you. I expect you now to have no more trouble after this mess."
"We promise sir," said Bill and Ben.
With that, the Fat Controller gave a single nod, returned to his car and drove away. Not long after, Harvey had rearranged the trucks and their loads, and Bill and Ben could now carry on. When they returned to Gordon's Hill, they managed to haul up and over much more easily and on their way. By now, the trucks were glad to have their fill of mischief and didn't do anything more for the rest of the trip, but they would not stop chortling and giggling to each other over the surprise they had indeed put upon Bill and Ben.
"That was brilliant, wasn't it, boys?" said a truck.
"Such a pretty surprise that was!" said another one.
While the trucks joked and giggled amongst each other, Bill and Ben didn't say a word for the rest of the trip as they carried on with a lump of disappointment sitting in their throats.
At last, they made their way to Vicarstown Station. Up ahead, Rosie and Henry were waiting for the goods train to arrive, but no thanks to the trucks' little game, the delivery was a fair while late.
"Where is my special goods train?" Henry grumbled. "It was supposed to arrive here for quite a time now!"
"Perhaps something happened to delay it, Henry," said Rosie. "At least it wasn't a delayed passenger run."
Then Rosie and Henry heard those two whistles. Then they heard the trucks giggling and laughing in their silly way as Bill and Ben came along side by side. Rosie looked curiously at Bill and Ben, having not seen them for a long while herself.
"Well, well. If it isn't Bill and Ben again," she inquired. "A little unusual to see you two out and about again."
"We figured you'd say that. But we're on a need for change, Rosie," said Bill.
"Despite ongoing complications, we want only to do better," said Ben.
But Henry was not happy to see these two engines at all. Especially after being delayed of his work.
"Huh! You two are late!" he hissed. "Rosie and I heard about your little return, but it's not looking really useful with you falling behind! And those trucks are making a racket!"
"Well, we've been doing our best, Henry. They've been joking and teasing us since the start," Bill said hastily.
"And they dangerously broke loose of us on Gordon's Hill. That's why we're late," Ben added. "But we retrieved them right after the accident."
"Huh! You're the only danger on the rails, Bill and Ben!" Henry simmered angrily. "Now stop jabbering and let Rosie manage those trucks for me to take on their way!"
"Goodness sake, Henry. You don't have to be so grumpy," Rosie frowned lightly.
"Indeed, you don't," said Bill.
"Quiet, youngsters," Henry hissed impatiently. "I never asked you to be the engines managing my train in the first place."
"That's true, you didn't," Bill replied.
"The Fat Controller told us to manage it," finished Ben.
Then he and Bill were uncoupled and they huffed stubbornly away. All Henry could think was, "Shut up."
Rosie then sorted the trucks into eight again and found a brakevan for Henry. His guards whistle blew, and Henry was now on his way to the Mainland.
As for Bill and Ben, they huffed all the way back to Knapford Station as the afternoon was now getting late. When they returned, they saw the Fat Controller waiting for them at the platform once again.
"Report?" he inquired.
"It's all done, sir. Henry has his train and is off to the Mainland now," said Bill. "But as we expected, he wasn't too keen to see us either."
"Naturally a little late after that little runaway, but we made it nonetheless," said Ben.
"Yes, so you did," said the Fat Controller. "Good of you to make it the rest of the way with no further trouble. But after your considerable start yesterday, today didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped. As I told you earlier, you two ought to watch your step if you expect to keep working back up again."
"Indeed, yes, sir," said Bill. "So what's next for us?"
"Now that you've managed Henry's load, not much is left," said the Fat Controller. "The only thing left for you is more stone and clay to manage up at the Pits to deliver to Brendam tomorrow. As for what else you may be doing tomorrow, I need to give it a little thought. Off you go, now."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," said Bill and Ben.
Then soon after Bill and Ben were on their way, Emily came back from her Brendam delivery. She saw Bill and Ben pass her by and approached the platform.
"Hello, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "Very good timing with your delivery to Brendam."
"Thank you, sir," said Emily. "I've been wondering. How have Bill and Ben been keeping? I saw them managing a load for Henry earlier today just before Gordon's Hill."
"Hmm," said the Fat Controller. "Well, perhaps I can tell you what I found out."
So Emily listened while the Fat Controller told her what happened...
Meanwhile, as they made their way back to the Clay Pits, Bill and Ben were thinking to themselves. There had been one good day, and now a day with a few errors put in their way, and it made them wonder just how the next day would play out, until they returned to the Clay Pits and told Timothy and Marion all about their day.
"Well. Sounds like there a few complications. Not too much of a surprise," said Marion when she and Timothy heard everything. "Not every day goes absolutely perfectly."
"It is good that you ran right for those runaway trucks, Bill and Ben," said Timothy. "Although, Henry doesn't sound too convinced, and you two ought to be more careful with those trucks."
"We know," said Bill. "And speaking of trucks..."
"The Fat Controller said there's more stone and clay to organize for tomorrow," Ben finished.
"Indeed, there is," said Marion. "I've done plenty of digging, and Timothy could really use your help to organize more trucks for tomorrow."
"We'll get right on it, Marion," said the twins.
So Bill and Ben huffed through the Clay Pits and soon found some empty trucks waiting for them. Then they got right to work with their trucks. They bustled about for quite a while, pushing and pulling them into place, loading them with stone and clay again, while also forming another little plan between each other once their work was done.
On the Mainland, Henry had made his delivery to Bridlington Goods Yards and was nearly set to return to Sodor. He was still unhappy over seeing Bill and Ben again after so long, and like Gordon and James, he too was most unconvinced they could change for the better.
"Why must they be out and about again?" he asked vainly. "Giving Thomas and Emily all that trouble at the Clay Pits, then a close slide gets them locked up for three weeks, and they're still derailing their trains and arguing! And delaying my train indeed!"
"Come now, Henry," said his driver. "Any changes they make won't come quickly. And you of course know of their past heroism at the quarry and at the Clay Pits."
"Yes, yes. I do," Henry sighed. "But I don't see what good having them back at work will do."
And Henry whistled on his way out of Bridlington and on his way back to Sodor.
Later that evening, after much bustling here, there and everywhere through the Clay Pits, just as the sun set and night began to fall, Bill and Ben had finished their share of work at last. Four more trains of six trucks were now lined up by the Clay Pit entrance, ready to manage the next morning. Now Bill and Ben had only themselves and their thoughts to mingle with for the time being, as well as their little plan.
"Good job, Bill and Ben," their drivers said at last. "No more trucks or passengers today. Just we four."
"Hmm...yes, sir," Bill and Ben replied. "But, see...we've both been thinking."
"Thinking? About what?" asked Bill's driver.
Bill and Ben looked to each other, then sighed.
"I think Ben and I need a more fitting place to think a few things over," said Bill. "And talk some things over too."
"Yes. About today's progress, and what might happen next," said Ben. "And we think maybe the place to be would be...the quayside at Arlesburgh."
Their drivers pondered and looked to each other for a moment or two. Then they looked to their engines.
"Hmm. Very well," said Bill's driver. "Perhaps we can do that."
"As long as you two don't argue and stir up the seaside, as you did with your accident today," added Ben's driver.
And with that, Bill and Ben set off out of the Clay Pits and into the night...
At Tidmouth Sheds, most of the other engines were settled in their berths after their day's work. Gordon and Rebecca felt the need to tell the others about Bill and Ben, while Thomas was wondering about them yet, and where Emily was. Just then, the engines heard her whistle and she came right to the turntable, turned to her berth and backed inside.
"Hello, Emily," said Thomas. "Have you had a good day?"
"I did, thank you, Thomas," said Emily. "How about all of you?"
"Well enough, I suppose," said James. "Although it would be better without Bill and Ben having their chance of more trouble."
"That's quite fitting of you to say, James," said Gordon. "Because they already did get into trouble today. Rebecca and I saw it ourselves."
This made the other engines look to Gordon. Thomas was suddenly worried for Bill and Ben, but Emily could tell a little where Gordon was coming from.
"Is that so, Gordon?" she said. "Well, it so happens I have a little to tell about them myself. But firstly, when did you see them, and what happened?"
"We saw them twice today, Emily," said Rebecca. "The first time, oddly enough, they fetched our coaches at Knapford. They said they wanted to do Thomas and Percy a favor...although Big G here thinks otherwise."
"And why wouldn't I, Rebecca?" Gordon remarked. "Neither you nor I should have to have them fetching our coaches. You and Percy do a divine job at that, Thomas."
"Even though tender engines DO shunt?" sniffed Thomas.
"And what about me, Gordon, when I fetched your coaches shortly after my arrival here?" Nia put in with a stern smile.
"Yes, Nia. You do it nicely too," sighed Gordon. "But fancy Bill and Ben touching our coaches? I don't think so!"
"Gordon, did it not occur to you that they're only trying to be helpful?" Percy remarked.
"If they want to be helpful, then I would suggest to them to do their best NOT to get in our way," Gordon replied.
"Huh!" Emily huffed. "Well, when and what was the second time?"
"Later, when Gordon and I came back from our express run, I saw them at the Three-Track Level Crossing," said Rebecca. "Their trucks were bustled up in a mess and they were both arguing again over whose fault it was. I didn't think they'd land themselves back in the same spot as they did before, and frankly, I don't know how it happened."
"Hmm. It's their arguing that's done that," said Gordon. "No question there."
"Well, I will admit, they were both arguing the same way they always have," said Rebecca. "Just like all twins are bound to do. It does make me wonder. Do you reckon they know they ought to be more careful not just with their trucks, but their quarreling too?"
"Not a clue, I shouldn't think. Far too juvenile," Gordon remarked.
"It wasn't arguing that had them lose their trucks, you know," said Emily. "I passed them by shortly before the hill. I could see their trucks and I did tell them to be careful, although it clearly didn't work out. And the Fat Controller told me at Knapford that those trucks were up to their tricks again like they always are, and they broke away at the top of the hill."
"Just like they broke away from me," Percy remembered.
"And furthermore, Bill and Ben rushed right back down to retrieve them," Emily continued. "So you see, Gordon, that wasn't just one of their silly games again. They got Harvey to help them right away."
Gordon just looked away, while Thomas was fairly impressed by what he heard.
"Well. This is something we can all take to heart. Bill and Ben got right to addressing their accident...even if they did argue about it too."
"Yes. They apparently still do. And that wasn't their only argument," said Emily. "The Fat Controller also told me that they took another load to Arlesburgh this morning, and they had a little run-in with Donald and Douglas about their own past experiences with arguing...including my accident with them and that snowball...and it made Bill and Ben wonder if they can make their amends and uphold in better ways, like Donald and Douglas do."
All the engines pondered this with notable interest, even Gordon and James, but they still held to their position that Bill and Ben wouldn't change very much.
"Hmm. That is interesting," said Thomas. "Bill and Ben must have a fair chance at doing that indeed."
"Well, I wish I could talk more about it," said Percy. "But I have to take the mail train soon."
Percy's sentence was just about complete, when all the engines most unexpectedly heard those two high whistles. They all went still and heard two engines coming close. Then they saw the headlamps shining in the distance. And then...there were Bill and Ben huffing along right past. All seven engines' eyes followed the twins' path. Neither Bill nor Ben looked at the sheds or any of the engines. They just huffed right through and were gone again.
"Silly things, daring to wander near our shed like that," Gordon and James thought to themselves.
"Where could they be going?" Rebecca asked.
"Well," said Emily. "I wonder what they could be up to..."
Suddenly, Percy got an idea. He had not seen Bill and Ben himself for a long time, and with a little smile, he approached the turntable.
"Percy?" Thomas and Emily pondered.
"I think...I'd better go take the mail now," Percy peeped with a little wink to Thomas and Emily. "Goodnight, everyone."
"Alright, Percy. Goodnight," said Thomas and Emily.
"Goodnight," Gordon and James said neutrally, still not seeing any merit to Bill and Ben's efforts.
"Night-night, Percy," Nia and Rebecca chimed kindly.
And with a peep of his whistle, Percy set off into the night himself. He now had a little more than the mail in his mind. He had his little idea to put forward first while he had the time.
Meanwhile, as the stars glimmered overhead, Bill and Ben made their way along the line until they came to Arlesburgh, huffed quietly through the village lines, then settled down at the quayside where Duck and Percy watched the boats, as did Thomas and Emily after her first time working with Whiff, and where Percy and Gina spend a night together on her two-week visit to Sodor. Just like all those occasions, for Bill and Ben, the air was warm, and the sea calm. But they weren't here to look at boats like the Regatta. They were here to think and discuss. For a few minutes, not a word was spoken between the tank engine twins, and not a sound was heard...until another whistle peeped someway behind them.
Bill and Ben looked back with a little start in their hearts. "Hello? Who's there?"
The huffing came closer...until Percy came up alongside them on the third line.
"Percy!" Bill and Ben whispered with surprise. "Such a long time, it's been!"
"Hello, Bill and Ben," Percy whispered. "It's been a very long time indeed...three weeks for you at least...and you two have been trying to make a better image for yourself for two days now."
"Yes," said Bill. "I trust you know everything so far."
"Yes. No need to tell me," said Percy. "As for me being here, we all saw you pass Tidmouth Sheds. I have to take the mail soon, but I came early to talk a little. Yesterday went quite well for you both...although I hear today was another matter."
Bill sighed. "You're right, Percy. It was another matter. Today didn't turn out perfectly according to plan or schedule."
"Complications arose, ensued, were overcome in the end," said Ben. "Gordon wouldn't thank us for fetching his and Rebecca's coaches, we had a little spat with Donald and Douglas, our trucks ran away on us, giving us repeat that accident Rebecca saw, and Gordon took too much charge on us about it for just a moment. Quite a few hiccups compared to a strong streak yesterday."
"And it's making us wonder how much longer the complications will last," said Bill. "We started off quite well yesterday, but today garnered us a few errors."
"Well, at least we got right on it and remedied them as best we could," said Ben. "But then we fell right back to arguing again while Harvey cleared that mess."
"Hmm," Percy hummed. "Well, the other engines and I were talking at Tidmouth Sheds about you today. Gordon and James are still cynical about it, but Nia, Rebecca, Thomas and Emily seem to have a sense of faith in you, and I too believe you can make better of yourselves."
"Do you really mean that, Percy?" Bill and Ben asked.
"Of course. You're little engines too, like me," Percy said with a little smile. "I think you just need to test your spirit a little more, like I had to do a great deal of after my spirits were crushed by that horrific crash into that cottage."
"Ohh...Percy," Bill shook to that memory. "You know that better than either of us ever will."
"But what spirits can we test?" Ben asked. "No one ever shunned or distrusted you after that tragedy, like some shun and distrust us."
"Because that's what it was in my position. A tragedy," said Percy. "Your position is an unfortunate complication, but there are engines and people who have faith in your efforts. The important thing is to keep that in mind and shrug off what other opposing voices may say."
"Well...thank you, Percy," said Bill. "We'll try to keep that in good mind."
"I'm sure you will," said Percy. "Now, I have to take the mail train. You two have a good night."
And Percy set off out of Arlesburgh to manage his mail run. Bill and Ben watched him leave, then looked back to each other, thinking deeper now.
"Well...with unfortunate complications, now where does our need for change go?" Bill asked. "We still argue as we always have before, our accident today being living proof of it."
"...Well, that's a bit of a tricky question, Bill," Ben said carefully. "I think I'm realizing...Although we do wish to change for the better, perhaps there are a select few things about you and I...that can't be changed? Such as our quarrels. I don't think that can ever disappear. At best, we can only mitigate them, like Donald and Douglas."
"Oh, dear. Maybe so," said Bill. "And as we told David, being tank engine twins, that's what we're bound to be. If not, then what are we, if not Bill and Ben?"
"...Indeed, Bill," said Ben. "If we're not that sort of engine, who are we? Nobody..."
Both twins pondered this thought themselves and each other. It was quite true by all accounts. Without being cheeky and quarrelsome, Bill and Ben were quite literally not Bill and Ben. While some changes were most important to be made, there were a select few changes that could not be made in their entirety.
"I'm...I'm almost frightened to suggest this, Bill..." said Ben. "But after today's errors...maybe things are due to get worse...before they truly get better?"
Bill sighed shakily with a deep expression.
"Well, I'd say things already have been worse when we triggered that close slide for Thomas and Emily. Whatever happens, we must stay strong. That's the best we can do for now, brother..."
And then there was silence. Bill and Ben continued to stare out at the quay together, thinking deeper and deeper. But in the midst of all their thinking, even when Percy was there with them, there was one other's presence they were completely oblivious to since the start. David had been watching Bill and Ben from afar the whole time. He and Beatrice had also heard the news about their day already, and like everyone else, David had his thoughts running everywhere about both twins as he sighed and looked to the dark night sky.
"Father, I am lost. Bill and Ben have a solid reputation of mischief and trouble, and only two days after their return, it starts creeping back. How can the island accept their efforts?"
"David?" came Beatrice's voice as she came beside him and held his shoulder. "What are you doing out here?"
"I was seeking counsel from father...about them," David answered.
"Hmm. What is his answer?" Beatrice asked.
"Silent as the stars," David answered. "Father would not-"
"David, my dear son," Beatrice crooned as she caressed his shoulder. "You want so much to walk the path you expect for yourself. Perhaps Bill and Ben don't want to walk their former path of mischief so much anymore."
David turned curiously to his mother. "What? How do you...?"
"I can see them down there, just as easily as you can," Beatrice smiled as she kissed David's cheek. "Give it time and see. For now, you and I should be in bed."
And Beatrice turned and walked back to their house. David took one more glance to Bill and Ben and walked back himself, wondering just what the next day would bring. Eventually, Bill and Ben began to get tired, so they had to leave Arlesburgh and make their way home.
After a silent journey through the night, the twins were both back in their sheds at the Clay Pits. Timothy and Marion were already asleep.
"Ohh...it's a vague and uncertain path ahead, Ben," said Bill. "Just how long will the complications linger on?"
"Hopefully not too much longer," said Ben. "And hopefully, they won't get too unfavourable for us. We'll just have to make the best of what comes tomorrow."
"We'll certainly try," said Bill. "Night, Ben."
"Night, Bill," said Ben.
And both tank engine twins settled for the night and went to sleep, knowing very little of what lay ahead of them next.
Okay, so this ended up being split into two parts as well, so there will be one more chapter than originally planned. Well, at least we're getting somewhere. Again, Hnorris1 my response to Reginald, the LMS Patriot, or Green Arrow appearing in these stories is very unlikely because I see no reason to use those characters. Also, David Brennan please stop telling me that Bill and Ben have to stay cheeky, I heard you every other time you brought it up and I didn't respond to it then because it should've been obvious enough that of course Bill and Ben are not going to lose their cheekiness regardless of how this story ends. Anyway, tell us what you thought of this chapter, and as always, stay safe.