The Flying Scotsman yawned before focusing his eyes on the two engines that had just pulled in front of Ffarquhar station.
Thomas look concerned while the green V2 looked petrified at the sight of him.
From what Scotsman had heard of the bullying going on from the Sudrian engines, it didn't surprise him.
He wanted to be as polite and as non-threatening as possible.
"Hello Thomas, hello Green Arrow," he greeted them kindly with a warm smile. "I hope your trip up here went well."
"It did, thank-you Scotsman!" Thomas said happily.
Green Arrow just looked away and avoided the Flying Scotsman's gaze.
"What are you still doing here though," Thomas asked Scotsman. "I thought you'd have been long gone by now."
"Ah well, my water injector is blocked so I'm stuck here until an engine can shunt me back to the castle," the Scotsman explained. "I've been waiting most of the day but your controller says that everyone's too busy. I don't suppose either of you could?"
"I'm too small to push you," Thomas said with an embarrassed face. "My six small wheels are far too small I'm afraid."
"That's okay Thomas, I'm sure Green Arrow's much stronger than you are," he said with a friendly grin. "He can give me the push I need."
Green Arrow's face went completely pale with shock. He didn't want to go anywhere near that engine let alone touch him.
"Are you sure?" Thomas asked worried. "What if Gordon sees you with him, he's going to blow a valve if he does."
"My brother needs to get over himself and stop seeing the world in black and white," The Scotsman said annoyed. "Things are never so simple and I will personally straighten out any misunderstandings that result from this."
The Scotsman looked sternly at Thomas who realised there was no talking him out of it. He was much like his brother in that respect.
"Is Ms Olivia doing okay? We haven't seen her around that often these days," Thomas asked concerned.
"The sweet lady has been busy Thomas," Scotsman laughed. "She has a museum to run, a baby on the way and a wedding to plan. As much as she'd like, she can't visit you everyday."
Thomas blushed realising he was right.
"I know, I just miss her, she's so nice to us little engines," he gave a shy smile. "Percy and I miss talking to her when she comes to our branchline. Toby misses her too, she's always so fascinated with him. He's one of a kind she says."
"Well I can pass your regards to her when I see her next," Scotsman smiled at him. He watched as Thomas and Green Arrow were uncoupled from each other and the train.
Thomas went around to shunt the coaches of the train and place them in a siding while Green Arrow was placed next to Flying Scotsman.
Green Arrow did not once look up to gaze at the bigger engine and merely sat on the siding staring at the ground desperately wishing to disappear or something, anything.
The bigger engine said nothing, merely content with watching Thomas shunt the coaches and pick up Annie and Carabel who been sitting in the sidings. They chirped happily and began to chatter to Thomas excitedly.
The Scotsman smiled as he watched them.
Unlike Gordon, Scotsman did not oppose shunting his own coaches. It was a lot faster than having to wait an hour for Stephan to push around his personal coach, Lydia.
Lydia had been one of his coaches in America and she'd been restored and given back to him from West Somerset a few months ago. He was protective of her and he didn't allow anyone to shunt her except himself and a few select engines he approved of.
When Gordon had made fun of him shunting his own coaches, Lydia had exploded in fury at his brother, calling him lazy. Gordon had been so taken aback by Lydia and found Duck laughing at him as he watched nearby.
Lydia had been through a lot and was a kind and sweet old lady with a no nonsense attitude. She didn't put up with his nonsense and never held back her disapproval of things he did.
"Well, I'll be off," Thomas beamed at the two Gresley's. "Good luck Flying Scotsman, you too Green Arrow."
"So sorry about your water injector Flying Scotsman," Annie said to him sweetly.
"Yes, I hope it gets fixed dear," Clarabel smiled at him.
"Thank-you ladies, I'm sure this silly old man will be fine," he winked at them and sent them a flutter, proclaiming how handsome and charming Scotsman was. Green Arrow rolled his eyes annoyed.
"Have a good trip back you three little terrors," he teased and Thomas just laughed, pulling away with his tittering coaches who gushed over him.
A shame they didn't get along with Lydia but his own coach was a decisive personality. You liked her or hated her and a lot of the engines hated her and her bold attitude.
Green Arrow had gotten along with her in the past though he seemed to recall. It was strange.
"Lydia does miss you Arrow," the Flying Scotsman said, trying to find a common ground with the smaller Gresley. "She asks about you occasionally, maybe you could take her out one day."
Green Arrow did nothing but stare at the ground. He didn't want to be here, he wanted to leave.
He'd take the Sudrian Engines bullying over being so close to the Scotsman and his bizarre ghost engine abilities. He didn't care for having Scotsman vouch for him, even though that would place him high on the ranks of the mainland engines.
"I don't hold anything against you, you know," the Scotsman said kindly. "I don't blame you for what you did. It must have been difficult to be the centre of attention and then be abandoned for a silly old fool like me. I'm sorry that it was my fault. You didn't deserve that at all."
The Flying Scotsman gave a small snort.
"Look at it this way, at least you didn't get a rebuild that made your condition worse than ever," he joked.
Green Arrow did nothing.
He wouldn't have replied even if he could.
"Did you know Coldstreamer?" Scotsman asked suddenly.
Green Arrow suddenly looked at Scotsman confused. Why was he bringing up his sister?
"She was my best friend, the closest friend I ever had," Scotsman said quietly. "It broke my heart when I found out she'd been scrapped."
Green Arrow was about to hiss steam at Scotsman angrily thinking he was being mocked but then he saw just how distraught and saddened Scotsman looked. Arrow watched him carefully now.
"I promised myself I would save her class, to protect her siblings but you were the only one left," the Scotsman looked at Arrow. "It's why I suggested the Museum loan you out, I didn't expect you to come to the North West. I know the other engines gossip about me wanting to hurt you but I want you to hear it from me that I want nothing of the sort."
Green Arrow stared at Scotsman. Arrow was smart and clever, he knew when someone was lying to him, he knew when he was trying to be had.
He didn't see any of that in Scotsman. He only saw a genuine compassion in his face.
He wanted to say thank-you. He wanted to speak for the first time in ages. But he couldn't.
He looked away from the Scotsman and stared down at his running board. He suddenly caught sight of his lamps.
…His lamps…
He suddenly began flicking it on and off again catching the Scotsman's attention.
He hoped that Scotsman would understand.
Said engine watched his lamps intently as Arrow kept flicking it on and off seemingly at random.
The Flying Scotsman's face darkened as Arrow finally stopped after a few minutes.
"I see," he said in a low deep growl, his face turning into a deep frown.
Sir Topham stared at the strange diesel somewhat bewildered.
"Er, may I ask why you have a claw installed on you?" He asked.
"For scrapping!" The diesel gleeful cheered.
Edward and Boco glanced at each other, extremely worried.
"He means he used to work ina scrapyard sir," Parker said with a slight dip of his head. "Name's Parker sir but people call me Boomer. Used to work with dynamite in the Quarries down South. The big wigs sent me and my engine here to help ye out."
"Ah yes, I was expecting a Hymek," Sir Topham said sternly.
"There was a Hymek called Bear we saw, said he was headed here but the paperwork said a Warship," Boomer said with a shrug. "I don't mind the work sir. I'm just glad to be on your legendary railway."
Sir Topham immediately brightened up at Boomer's compliment.
"Ah yes well, we like to keep busy on the North Western and be sure that you keep the work up. I don't want to have to send you back right away now," He warned and Boomer simply gave him a greasy smile.
"Of course not sir," he said.
"Can you tell me if the rumours are true?" The diesel suddenly asked. "That the sneaky little weasel Green Arrow is here? It's quite the gossip on the mainland let me tell you!"
"I can confirm that Green Arrow does work here," Sir Topham said taken aback by the Diesel's attitude. "And what might be your name?"
"Oh I'm nothing special, just Diesel 10, don't need a name just happy to start pinching some scrap sir!" The Diesel laughed.
"Well I can see how enthusiastic you certainly are!" Sir Topham said with a smile. "Of you go, don't let me down!"
Diesel 10 just laughed as Boomer hung out of his cab and saluted Sir Topham in an almost mocking way.
Boco and Edward rolled up to him.
"Sir are you sure about letting those two… um… people roam around unattended," Boco asked.
"They could be after Flying Scotsman," Edward added worried. Sir Topham said nothing, only surveying the engines with an unreadable gaze.
"Come along Edward, back to Wellsworth," was all their controller said as he climbed into Edward's cab.
The diesel and steam engine glanced at each other worried before Edward moved off to start the journey back to Wellsworth.
"You all need to stop harassing Green Arrow," the Flying Scotsman demanded as the engines gathered at Tidmouth sheds. "He has suffered enough and his actions against me are not excuses to treat him like some kind of lesser engine."
"But he tried to get you scrapped!" James argued. "We don't approve of that here."
For his place on the turntable, the Scotsman scowled at the red engine making him flinch slightly.
"I am aware! But there is more to his presence on than you know," the Flying Scotsman said annoyed. "In any case, I don't like people doing horrid things under my name. It makes me look like a villain, which I am not. So please, just leave the engine alone, he's suffering enough as it is. I'm not asking you to befriend him, just stop attacking him and let him do his work in peace."
The engines glanced at each other then back at Scotsman who looked furious.
"I agree with Flying Scotsman," Edward spoke up. "I've watched all of you pick on that engine who can't even defend himself, it's very undignified and cruel. He can't even speak up and defend himself."
A lot of the engines looked guilty except for Gordon.
"You expect me to forgive an engine for trying to scrap my brother?" Gordon seethed angrily.
Flying Scotsman looked at him cooly.
"You haven't even forgiven me for hiding away so no Gordon, I don't expect you to forgive anyone," Scotsman suddenly snapped coldly catching Gordon off guard.
An awkward silence fell over the sheds as the two brothers stared at each other, their expressions unreadable.
"Spencer and I have been keeping an eye on him," Rebecca interrupted, trying to ease the tension. "From what we've seen Green Arrow tries to avoid other engines as much as he can. He's keeping to himself and has been well behaved."
"He's currently the best engine I have working on the railway," Sir Topham piped up as he made his way to the turntable with his two assistants. "And so I'm ordering you all to stop this bullying of him. It's unbecoming of the North Western Railway. I don't want our mainland guests to go back and start complaining about how nasty my engines are."
"Yes sir," the engines chirped in unison.
He turned to Flying Scotsman with a smile.
"I'm glad you're here Flying Scotsman, I have some news for you!" He said proudly.
"Oh?" The Flying Scotsman raised an eyebrow.
"I got a call from Penny, she says that they've almost raised enough to give you a proper rebuild. There's only roughly $500,000 remaining to raise," Sir Topham said with a cheery smile.
Whistles filled the air but Sir Topham Hatt waved them down.
"I hadn't finished!" He hushed them, before turning back to the Scotsman. "Since your presence on the Railway has been such a boost for us, Sir Robert and I will donate the remaining money between ourselves."
The Flying Scotsman's face lit up tears welled up in his eyes.
"Really sir?!" He cried out with pure happiness he hadn't felt in such a long time. "You'll do that for this ridiculous old man?"
Sir Topham laughed heartily.
"Of course," he smiled proudly. "It's what Pegler would have wanted."
"Thank-you! Thank-you sir! I can't-" the Scotsman choked up, tears of happiness sliding down his face. "I don't- I don't know what to say. Thank-you so much sir!"
Gordon, despite Scotsman's little snap at him grinned proudly at his younger brother, prouder and happier for him than he had in such a long while.
Around them the engines whistled and cheered, their celebrations ringing arounds the yards.
A distance away, Green Arrow stared at the group of gathered engines, a sinking feeling in his boiler.
His boiler ticket was said to expire in the next year. Maybe, if he was lucky and a good enough worker, Sir Topham would also see fit to have Green Arrow restored.
Truth be told, the past few months of working had worn him down. He hadn't been in the best shape when he started here but… it was better than being locked in a shed again.
Either way, Arrow was not optimistic about his chances, even when Flying Scotsman had promised to help him with his current issues.
He knew Olivia and Scotsman had a plan but… he was doubtful it would work.
"Ayo it's the piece 'o scrap!" A voice suddenly called out behind him.
He was startled and looked over to see a diesel with weathered yellow paint and a claw that hung over it's cab.
Green Arrow's eyes widened in horror.
…Not him….Not now…
"Ah I see you know what I'm here for," Diesel 10 laughed. A man Arrow recognised as PT Boomer stuck his head out of the cab and waved at him, a dark and creepy grin on his face.
Green Arrow began to panic.
He had no driver, no fireman, no crew. He was stuck he couldn't get away.
He couldn't even scream for help.
All he could do was sit there like a sitting duck.
Diesel 10 just laughed at him.
"Aww the lil' pickle is scared," he taunted. "Don't worry, I'll be catching up with ya later scrap iron!"
The Diesel roared with laughter and shot off with a manic cackle.
Green Arrow could only sit on his siding, completely and utterly terrified for his life, his wheels shaking violently, tears of fear ran down his face and his entire frame trembling in complete fear as the engines cheered and celebrated in the distance.