"Excuse me but are you the Flying Scotsman's brother Gordon?" A voice came from behind him.
Gordon frowned and his mood turned nasty. Another mainland engine about to ask insensitive questions about him being a prototype or his brother. Or maybe just outright insult him.
"Yes, what do you want- oh!" He suddenly stopped himself as he saw who it was. "City of Truro!"
The engine gave a soft laugh as he stopped alongside Gordon. He smiled warmly at the bigger engine.
"Hello Gordon, it's been a long time hasn't it?" Truro said and Gordon blushed embarrassed for his outburst. "It's good to see you on the mainland again."
"Yes it is, I apologise for snapping at you City of Truro," Gordon said still blushing. "I did not mean to be so rude."
"It's quite alright, I understand, we mainland engines can be a bit much," Truro said with a knowing smile. "I'll speak to them about their attitude towards you, it's most disrespectful to speak in such ways to an original Gresley. They should know that."
"I would appreciate that a lot, thank-you," Gordon smiled at the engine.
"I wanted to ask if there was any news on your brother," Truro asked with great concern. "The railways aren't the same without him and his talent for keeping the more arrogant engines in line. A lot of the younger ones are getting too big for their buffers."
When they were younger, Truro and Flying Scotsman had been at each other's buffers constantly. Their bickering and fighting got out of hand at times and many times the two could not be together. But as railways evolved and engines became faster, the two slowly reconciled over the years to become the closest of friends.
Even when the other engines tried to pitt them against the other, they would laugh it off and they would joke about the ridiculousness of their past feuds.
Gordon could see the worry on the City of Truro's face.
"I'm sorry Truro," Gordon said sadly. "I wish there was something but, there's no news on him."
Truro looked absolutely disheartened but did give Gordon a sad smile.
"He always talked about you," Truro said and Gordon was surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes, he always said he was proud to have you as a brother and that you were so lucky to be working on Sodor," Truro explained. "Truth be told, I think Flying Scotsman was jealous of you. Being able to work on Sodor's railway and not have to constantly deal with the other engines here."
"He mentioned it once," Gordon said. "How the mainland was struggling to provide for Steam Engines."
"It's gotten worse over the years," Truro said grumpily. "Maybe that's what he intended when he disappeared, to bring attention to how awful the conditions have gotten for us. He was always cunning like that."
"I heard that his owner was being abusive towards him," Gordon put in and Truro frowned. "Using his fame to earn money for himself rather than the museum and harrassing Scotsman when he acted out."
"I've been hearing those rumours for years now too," Truro said thoughtfully. "He never did mention anything like it however. Though he was starting to get more aggressive with the likes of Green Arrow and Spencer. I wonder."
Truro gazed at the railway ahead of him.
"He did start changing after Pegler died, we all thought he would ease back in himself but clearly not," Truro mused. He looked back at Gordon. "Regardless, I shall speak severely with the engines that have been rude to you and have them put back in their place."
"Thank-you Truro," Gordon said gratefully.
"It was good to see you old friend," Truro smiled brightly at the big blue engine. "I do hope your brother returns to us soon. You have a good trip now my friend."
"Same to you Truro, Goodbye!"
Gordon watched the older engine leave and felt sorry for him. He wished he could reassure Truro as the two engine were thick as theives.
Sadly they were all in the dark about the famous engine.
"The Director was constantly threatening to have Flying Scotsman scrapped I hear?" Spencer said to Blue Peter who glared at him.
"It was cruel," the Duchess snapped back at him. "Have some dignity Spencer. As I recall you were almost scrapped back when you were Silver Link. Scrapping isn't funny or to be taken lightly."
Spencer turned pale at the mention of his old name and the fact he was almost scrapped.
Blue Peter frowned.
"Or did you want to get stuck in that Lagoon again?" He chided and Spencer quickly shut his mouth. "Flying Scotsman is owned by the public anyway, The Director couldn't do anything to scrap Scotsman and he knows it. He was just abusing the poor engine and stealing the money he earned."
"Poor dear Scotsman," Duchess said sadly. "No wonder he was getting so impulsive and indignant. I hope he's okay. The Director put him through a lot."
"From what I hear the board has already removed him and public consensus is getting furious over the stolen funds and the Scotsman being missing for almost half a year now." Blue Peter said with a snide glance at Spencer. "One of Scotsman's crew has resurfaced and announced that he'll only be back when there are more resources for us remaining and protections against scrapping Steam Engines."
"So that's what their game was," Duchess was surprised. "Use Scotsman to implement a laws for protecting Steam Engines."
"I must say, it's a bit cruel to use Scotsman in such a way but also brilliant," Blue Peter said with a smirk. "Use the most famous Steam Engine in the world as a hostage to prove a point. The accident with his valve gear must have been the perfect catalyst to spring it. I wonder if he was in on it."
"It wouldn't surprise me," Spencer pouted. "You all tend to overlook the fact that he's a cunning trickster and a sneak."
"I worry about him though," Duchess said. "Despite his cheek and bravado, he is a kind soul. He always means well."
Duchess looked at Spencer who had a pouty look on his face.
"How is that young one Tornado doing without Scotsman?" Blue Peter asked and Spencer's face turned into a deep frown.
"That little imposter," he growled and the Duchess frowned at him.
"She's a little sweetheart," Duchess argued and Spencer only huffed. "I know most of you older locomotives dislike her but you're all afraid she'll replace you."
"She tried to steal one of your coaches," he said and Duchess gave him a glare.
"After you tried to trick the poor girl," Duchess stated and Spencer paled.
"Yes Spencer, Sutherland saw you trick her and told me," She snapped at him. "She wouldn't have been scrapped if your plan had worked. If anything, Scotsman stepping in to stop her only caused you to be publicly humiliated."
"But I," Spencer was shocked. He thought that he had been guile with his plan to trick Tornado but clearly he had not.
Blue Peter laughed at him.
"Oh I don't know, Scotsman tricking Link into the lagoon was one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen," he laughed and Spencer turned a brilliant red. "No matter how many times they'll clean you, you'll never get that mud out.. No wonder you avoid Scotsman so thoroughly, I would too."
Spencer pouted and glared at the Green Engine who only smirked at him.
"I'll go and see Tornado tomorrow, I'm heading her way," Blue Peter told the Duchess. "And I know that you can't travel anywhere, Duchess."
"Oh would you? That would be wonderful of you Peter!"
"It's my pleasure, my lady," Blue Peter said with a smile and a nasty side eye to Spencer. Spencer glared at him in return.
It was a common thing, fighting over approval of Duchess, the Royal Engine. The only ones who didn't seem to do so were the newer engines who didn't care for the old ways of lords and ladies like Tornado. Flying Scotsman who many saw as the Public's personal engine in a way didn't care for it either.
In that sense the Duchess liked them, as they were truly themselves around her and others and were never two faced 'wheel lickers' as her fireman liked to call them.
"I want you to help look for the Flying Scotsman, Spencer," Duchess said and Spencer looked aghast.
"But Duchess-"
"No buts, he is as every bit as important as I am," she said. "Don't think haven't seen the mess his absence is causing on the railways. All these ridiculous feats and stunts to try and win the public over, to become the 'next famous engine of Britain'. Engines are becoming reckless and causing havoc, it's not proper."
"Shouldn't we let humans deal with this?" Spencer asked and the Duchess scowled at him.
"Their processes are too slow and the Flying Scotsman could be in danger. As much as you dislike him he has a talent for keeping other engines in line," she said. "And I won't have you acting in bad blood towards him. You are both famous engines in your own right."
"Yes Duchess," Spencer said with a heavy sigh. "I will see if his brother knows anything."
"Good."
Tornado was watching the small shunters in the yard do their work. She enjoyed watching them, they were all so quick and efficient at it.
She often felt confused when she watched them though, wondering how they knew exactly what trucks or coaches went where and how they could arrange them in the space they had.
The shunters at her yard would often peep happily at her while they merely scowled at the other big engines.
Said big engines were mean to the little ones and she really didn't understand why. They were just trying to do their jobs. If they didn't they'd have to shunt themselves and Tornado would be one to admit that she didn't even know where to start.
It all looked so confusing to her.
She remembered that Flying Scotsman often had to shunt his own coaches on his travels. He even did it here on the mainland sometimes, especially on Rail Tours at little railways that couldn't afford a specialised shunting engine or sometimes it was just quicker for him to do so.
The other big engines scoffed at him when he did it but he just called them lazy and useless which often sent them packing.
Maybe she should ask him to teach her when he came back. She didn't want to ask the little ones as they were always so rushed and busy.
Tornado felt a pang of sadness and her mood went sullen. It had been 6 months.
She missed her big brother.
She missed Gordon too.
And she even missed the tiny tank engine and his little coaches.
She sighed deeply.
"Cheer up Ms Tornado," one of the shunters, a little Saddle Tank named Beau, told her. "You don't look as pretty when you sulk."
Tornado gave a small giggle.
"Thank-you Beau," she gave him a small smile. "I was just thinking about my brother."
Beau's expression turned to one of sympathy.
"He'll turn up one day," Beau assured her. "That engine's been through heck and has always bounced back. You'll see."
Tornado felt a little better at his words.
"I suppose he does have an supernatural ability of being very irritating and super stubborn," she mused quietly and Beau gave a small giggle.
"Keep away from the express engines filthy shunter," a loud voice suddenly snapped at Beau and he cowered and reversed away from Tornado in fear.
"How dare you!" Tornado snapped angrily at the large green engine that had rolled up beside her. She saw the nameplate of Blue Peter on it but didn't care that it was one of the 'dignified' engines. "That was so rude! He was only trying to cheer me up!"
"It's just a filthy little saddle tank," Blue Peter said dismissively but Tornado still glared at him. "It has no busy speaking to us unless spoken to."
Tornado hissed steam at him in response.
"He's just trying to be nice and do his job. If he didn't we'd have to shunt our own coaches and I don't think you'd even know how," she snapped angrily.
Beau gave a nervous smile at her words but immediately disappeared with a squeak when Blue Peter glared at him.
Blue Peter then turned his attention to her and stared her down. She didn't waver, only glared angrily at him.
"The Duchess wants to know how you're doing," he said with a dismissive tone. "I couldn't care less about you but she's the Royal Engine. She thinks you're cute or something."
"I was doing fine until you came here," Tornado snapped angrily. "Leave me alone."
"Sure, I'll tell her you're just peachy," Blue Peter snapped at her before huffing off in a cloud of steam. "I do respect you though Ms Tornado, you'd be a wonderful replacement for the Flying Scotsman."
Tornado glared after the big green arrogant engine after he moved off quickly, not letting her respond to him.
The other engines had become a lot more brazen and direct with their bullying now that Flying Scotsman was no longer around. More insistent that she replace him and forget about him.
It made her sad but the little shunters often cheered her up and supported her and the Scotsman despite Scotsman not thinking much of little engines.
Flying Scotsman wasn't overly nice to the smaller engines but he did treat them with more respect and didn't outright insult or belittle them like the others.
The smaller engines did play still tricks on him though and he took it well unlike the others. He would often trick them back if they managed to get one up on him. His tricks were fun and harmless and it was a right of passage for new engines on his lines to try and pull one over on him.
You weren't considered part of the team until you had managed to trick the Scotsman or be tricked by him. Something that Tornado herself had found out after he'd tricked her into pulling a long line of goods vans hidden behind a coach.
The shunters and pilots had laughed at her for weeks.
Tornado knew that the shunters and pilots missed the Scotsman's tricks and humour. They saw him as a tough big brother and someone to look up to.
They told her that Flying Scotsman would come back, that she could have his support and company once again.
As the days went on, she was beginning to believe it less and less.
