Flying Scotsman and Bittern bid farewell and head back to the mainland. Stainer confronts Yvonne and finds out something very worrying. Green Arrow and Tornado finally talk.

"Heyo it's Spence!"

Spencer felt the pressure in his boiler drop as he realised who it was waiting at Ulfstead Castle station for him.

"Hello little brother," he managed to grind out as he came to a halt at the platform. "And it's Spencer, not Spence."

Bittern ignored his older brother's sneer.

"Someone's needs to get that stick out of his axles huh?" Bittern teased with a mischievous grin and Spencer sniffed annoyed.

"I saw Mallard before coming here," Spencer said annoyed and instantly the grin disappeared and Bittern began to scowl.

"Oh," Bittern simply said.

"Yes," Spencer looked away from his brother. "He was acting, weird."

"Weird?"

"He was happy that Flying Scotsman got his rebuild and is coming back to the mainland," Spencer said with a worried look.

Bittern raised his eyebrow, his expression very confused.

"You sure you were talking to Mallard and not Sir Nigel?" Bittern asked. "You are quite old now Silver Link."

"It was definitely Mallard," Spencer said with a completely serious face, ignoring Bittern's facetious act. "I just had an off feeling about the whole thing."

Bittern looked at Spencer curiously before looking at Flying Scotsman sitting ahead of them being admired by onlookers before his big trip back to the mainland with Bittern.

Something wasn't sitting right in his boiler.

"I told Truro," Spencer said. "He's keeping an eye on everything but he's also highly suspicious."

"Surprised that old duck hasn't gotten the cold iron sleep yet, he's been preserved for so long," Bittern huffed. "Maybe he's softening up at his age."

"I highly doubt that," Spencer said with a roll of his eyes. "He tried to kill Scotsman remember."

Bittern scowled angrily.

Oh he remembered. Back when Bittern was young and a fan of his famous cousin, he'd wanted nothing more than to impress the engine who'd been to America and was in a young Bittern's eyes, a pillar of strength.

His illusion had been shattered when Truro had stopped Mallard from attacking and killing he was in his "other" form and in weakened state.

Truth be told, despite everything, being Scotsman's best friend and knowing how childish he could get, he still looked up to the great Flying Scotsman regardless of how childish they both acted.

"I'll make sure that Scotsman is protected," Bittern said quietly. "I won't let anyone hurt him."

"There's a lot of engines promising that," Spencer said with a sigh. "No one ever did that for me when I was sent to the scrapyard."

An awkward silence fell over the two engines.

Bittern had always known that Spencer was bitter towards Flying Scotsman and it did make sense. Scotsman was saved by the public and Pegler, the famous engine that had a speed record.

Silver Link however had been abandoned and lost, no one caring about him until the old Duke and Duchess had bought him.

Had they not done so, he would have been lost to history. He'd come unbelievably close to being scrapped.

Bittern looked at Spencer sympathetically. Out of his siblings, Bittern was probably the only one Spencer really confided in.

His heart went out to his older brother.

"I'm sorry big brother, you can talk to me you know that right? Even if I hang out with Scotsman." Bittern asked.

Spencer smiled at him. Bittern had supported him even through Flying Scotsman and himself had been in a nasty quarrel throughout recent years.

"I know Bittern," Spencer sighed kindly. "Just keep an eye on Mallard, that's all I'm saying. He thinks I'm old and past it, but he often underestimates me."

"Could say the same about Green Arrow, but losing his voice seems to have humbled him," Bittern remarked. "He's acting a lot more like his younger nicer self."

Spencer glanced at the sheds where Green Arrow sat outside in the sunlight, basking in the warm sunshine with his eyes closed.

For once the little green engine seemed content.

"How interesting," Spencer said thoughtfully. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on him."

Bittern's driver returned from speaking to several of the rail tourists on the platform.

"Really to take the Scotsman back to the mainland old boy?" He asked.

"Yes boss, more than ready to assist the elderly old man and his creaky wheels!" Bittern said brightly.

"I heard that!" The Scotsman shouted angrily at them.

"You're 100!" Bittern retorted. "You're a silly old fool!"

"Ms Olivia Bittern is bullying me!" He heard Scotsman whine and he just snickered to himself.

Bittern looked over at Spencer.

"Well, you're doing well for yourself big brother, I wish you all the best," he said kindly.

Spencer smiled at the big blue engine.

"Thanks Bittern."

The blue A4 moved off to be coupled to the front of Flying Scotsman.

Spencer watched him go.

He couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that settled in his boiler. It made him queasy and uncomfortable.

He knew Bittern felt it too.

Nothing was ever good when it came to Mallard being nice.

Green Arrow sat contently in the sunshine. It was good, he felt good for once, despite the large hole in his boiler.

He'd been bored of being cooped up in a shed for a long time and had wanted to sit in the sun for a while, even if it was to watch the Flying Scotsman leave.

A great crowd had gathered and a lot of engines had come to watch the Flying Scotsman bid farewell back to his home and to his restoration.

He saw the streamlined engines, Connor and Caitlin, Spencer and Bittern as well as the famous eight Sudrian engines gathered around them, hundreds upon hundreds of people lined the stations and the castle.

He was surprised however to find Tornado not there.

Perhaps he shouldn't have been, Flying Scotsman had said that she was struggling with personal issues and that she would be staying on Sodor so she could deal with them.

She'd started to be bullied again from what Arrow had heard. It made him angry. Regardless of their history, Arrow didn't want Tornado to be hurt. She was still a young child of an engine and he wanted to help her.

Arrow remembered befriending the meek frightened engine barely a year old. She was sweet and barely spoke to anyone, shy and frightened of everything.

It was amazing how much she had grown over the years.

She was still in disgrace from what he had heard for his actions against him but she was also being taken off several workloads as she'd become overwhelmed.

He didn't want her to be in disgrace.

It was his wish to save her. His desire to be forgiven and to forgive.

He looked over as whistles began to erupt from the engines bidding farewell to Flying Scotsman. The Sudrian engines were loudly cheering and sending out a raucous display of support for the famous engine.

Even if he wanted to, Green Arrow couldn't whistle. The enormous hole in his boiler prevented that.

Flying Scotsman and Bittern began to pull out of the station with an escort of half a dozen Sudrian engines to see him to Vicarstown before continuing on his way.

He didn't want to admit it but he would miss the famous engine. He disliked him greatly but the Scotsman had spoken to him nicely and hadn't treated him like some kind of monster.

He sighed and watched as people began to disperse and leave.

A few people would wander by him and say hello but other than that he was left to his own devices, sitting in the sun and feeling the warmth of it on his boiler.

"Green Arrow!" A loud voice called his name.

He hadn't realised he had fallen asleep until a loud shout startled him awake. He looked around confused before he looked down at the Fat Controller and Olivia standing before him.

"Sorry for startling you Arrow," The Fat Controller said with a smile. "But I have fantastic news!"

Green Arrow stared at him but noticed that Tornado was sitting on the track in front of him, some distance away avoiding his gaze.

"You are officially joining the North Western Railway!" Sir Topham said happily. "Which means we will pay for you to have your boiler replaced and any repairs you need."

Green Arrow suddenly smiled in pure joy. It had been such a long time since he'd done so.

"You will still be apart of the NRM's collection," Olivia pointed out. "Which means you will be the first of the Sodor Branch and will be expected to perform duties for us. However Sir Topham is your controller now, you obey him."

Yes Ma'am. Thank-you sir Topham. I am truly grateful. I will serve you well sir.

"You've already proven yourself a stunning and useful addition to my railway, Green Arrow. I am more than pleased to officially sign you on," Sir Topham said with a chuckle.

Olivia smiled up at him.

"Take care of yourself Green Arrow, you are a credit to the Gresley name," she said and Green Arrow felt a feeling of pride.

A Gresley had called him a credit to their name. Certainly Olivia did not go by the Gresley name any more but this, it was the highest honour for a Gresley engine.

Thank-you Ma'am! Thank-you!

"Tornado will return you to your shed now," Olivia said with a smile. "Any troubles and Rebecca will be over in an instant."

He looked over and saw the yellow Spam Can sitting nearby eyeing him suspiciously.

Olivia and Sir Topham went on their way to speak with other guests as Tornado rolled forward nervously.

He gazed at her as she buffered up but she adamantly avoided his gaze. Without a word she began to push him back into his berth.

Hello Tornado.

He decided to greet her seeing as she wasn't going to say anything.

Are you doing okay?

She paused for a long while and sniffed.

"Not really no," she mumbled nervously.

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get better soon.

Tornado pushed him back into his berth and then backed away from him slightly. She stayed at the entrance to his berth for a long while before suddenly speaking.

"I'm sorry, for, for saying those things about you. I was angry and didn't mean them," she mumbled quietly to him. "I didn't- I didn't want you to get hurt like this."

It's okay Tornado. I want to apologise too, for the things I said about you in front of Clun and Birmingham all those years ago. It was wrong of me. I should have stood up for my friend, but I did not.

Tornado finally looked at him and gave a small smile.

"It's okay, Birmingham and I made up. Clun is still a pest but she leaves me alone now," she said quietly. "I missed you. I missed having you as my friend. Flying Scotsman did not steal my friendship from you. You pushed me away."

Yes. I understand that now. Though if I hadn't acted like I had, you probably wouldn't have gone out and saved Flying Scotsman that night.

"That's true," Tornado said. "Maybe it was a good thing you insulted me."

Green Arrow smiled at her.

You came to see me the other day. Was everything alright?

"I got nervous and I- I ran away like a coward, I didn't want to confront you after everything that happened but then I. Scott made me promise to talk to you, sort things out," Tornado admitted weakly. "I just- I saw the damage you did to yourself when you rescued me and I…I."

Tornado began to cry, burning hot tears streaming down her face.

"I couldn't handle it, I'm sorry," She sniffed through her tears. "I never wanted to see you hurt! You were almost scrapped because of me! I'm sorry!"

Green Arrow watched Tornado sadly.

He wished he had his voice to comfort her. It upset him to see Tornado so sad.

Eventually the young engine managed to calm herself and sit quietly on the rails, her face stained and with a miserable look upon it.

Tornado. I do not hold it against you. You were clearly upset and struggling. And it was my choice to save you from falling down that hole. I don't think I would live with myself if I had let you fall. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to be friends with again, if that's okay? We may have to work on it but I'd like to try.

Tornado seemed too exhausted to speak. She gave him a small smile.

"I'd really like that, I really missed you Arrow," she said quietly. "I hope you get your voice back."

One thing at a time I think Tornado. I'll just be happy to be up and running again.

"Okay Arrow," Tornado's smile brightened and Green Arrow returned it.

"I am really curious as to why you believed removing Green Arrow's voice box was in anyway going to help him?" Henry Stainer demanded of Yvonne.

She was handcuffed to the large table in front of her with prison guards on either side.

Stainer had seen her at the request of Sir Topham Hatt as he tried to find a way to fully repair Green Arrow.

From what Victor could tell, the voice box had been cleanly and expertly cut. Yvonne was a skilled engineer and driver certainly but there was no way she would have had the extreme technical know-how to deal with the more 'biological' parts of an engine.

That knowledge was reserved for engines like Victor or the museum's own 'medical' engines. Several had been called on to assist the Flying Scotsman's new restoration as the engine was a very special case.

"I was told that it would be fine, that it was like a 'mute' button," Yvonne said grimly. "I never meant to permanently damage Green Arrow. I- I- truly wanted to help him. Cain wanted to scrap him, you see."

"And who told you that? Richard Dover?" Stainer asked. "Richard's a fine engineer himself but there was no way he knew the intimate details of an engine's systems."

"No, no, no it was Richard, Richard wanted no part in this, he wanted to make sure Arrow was untouched. He tried to stop me but I didn't listen to him," Yvonne sobbed. "I should have listened to him and not that engine."

"What- do you mean an engine told you how to remove a voice box?" Stainer asked bewildered. "Which one?"

Yvonne sniffed through her tears and then looked Stainer dead in the eyes.

"Mallard."

For updates, art and small short stories from the Young Iron AU, you can find me at tornadoyoungiron on tumblr.