Henry meets the Black 5, Magpie, and Henry Stainer. The Flying Scotsman and those closest to him confront the bleak future.
Henry almost jumped off the rails when he heard the sound of an extremely loud and unfamiliar whistle sound right behind his cab.
"Excuse me but since when does Sodor have a Black 5?" A female voice snapped angrily.
"Magpie don't be rude," he heard a man scold.
A large black engine with coal black livery and red stripes pulled up next to him at Vicarstown. The number 44806 sat on her buffer beam and the engine looked stern and no nonsense.
"I apologise for Magpie's rudeness," a man spoke from her cab. "It's just I wasn't told that one of my family's Black 5's worked on Sodor still."
"Oh I um," Henry blushed, unsure what to say. He never considered himself a true Black 5 as he was built atop a failed Gresley. "I'm not a true Black 5 sir, I was rebuilt into one after being a flawed Gresley prototype."
"I see," the man said.
Magpie snorted.
"You look like a Black Five to me and you don't seem arrogant like those Gresley's," she said haughtily.
"Does Olivia know about you?" The man asked.
"She knows I'm a Black 5 sir but I don't think she knows my history," Henry said with a slight blush. "She wouldn't bother me with Gordon and Flying Scotsman around."
The man looked thoughtful.
"I guess this means I have another brother sir," Magpie said with a smug smile. "I'm Magpie by the way."
"It's nice to meet you Magpie," Henry said despite the fact he was somewhat put off by Magpie's attitude. "I'm Henry."
"How ironic!" Magpie laughed. "This man is Henry Stainer, he's the nephew of the man who designed us."
Henry looked at the man who smiled and waved at him.
"I am very much so," Stainer said with a smile. "I'm afraid that we don't have time to stay and chat today but rest assured my dear engine, I will be keeping a look out for you, Henry."
Henry smiled bemused, confused at what had just happened as Magpie began to pull away.
"See you later brother," Magpie called to him cheerily. "Hopefully you'll meet the rest of us soon."
"Rest of us?" Henry asked bewildered. "What do you mean rest of us?"
Magpie didn't answer, having already disappeared down the line, making her way to Vicarstown bridge.
"What did she mean by that?" Henry wondered to himself.
"There's 18 Black 5's that survived into preservation," his driver Jaxon answered. "I guess that makes you number 19."
"But I'm not a true Black 5," Henry argued. "I don't count at all."
"Stainer seems to think you do, Magpie does as well," Jaxon smiled at him. "They more than anyone would have authority on that."
"I guess," Henry said nervously, looking down at his buffers.
"Shall we go pull the express for Gordon?" Jaxon asked and Henry steeled himself.
"Let's do it," a look of determination spread across the Black 5's face and he smiled to himself.
"Maybe we'll see that funny little diesel that worships Steam Engines today," Jaxon said with a grin.
"I do like Bear," Henry grinned back and they set off with a determined steam in his pistons.
Green Arrow had been knocked unconscious to restore his voice box.
It had unnerved Flying Scotsman and Magpie when they had entered, seeing unconscious engines was always something that was disturbing to others..
It was something not usually done as it was hard to get an engine to consent to being put under.
Victor suspected that Arrow had been in a great deal of pain when Yvonne had removed it which was understandable. It was in a very sensitive and painful place for an engine.
Victor however also suspected it had something to do with Truro revealing to Arrow that it had been Mallard, not Cain that had convinced Yvonne to remove it.
That ungrateful duck! That ungrateful duck! I try to show him genuine friendship and he MUTILATES ME!
Even without his voice box, Green Arrow had shown just how angry he was. Victor had cowered in fear and Truro had wanted to join him; however, he knew that moving without steam could seriously damage an engine and Arrow had suffered enough as it was.
His metal had twisted and shrieked as it moved under the pure willpower of Arrow alone. His wheels had tried to spin, in the process he'd busted several of the wheel clamps wide open.
It had taken Truro almost half an hour to calm the furious engine down to stop him from damaging himself further.
Arrow had calmed but still looked furious.
When I get my buffers on Mallard I'll scrap him myself! How dare he cripple me like this! Me! The only engine who actually bothered to give a shit about his sorry arrogant ass!
He'd been sedated, not wanting to go through the pain of having his voice box messed with and now Truro watched over the now quiet and still engine.
He knew why he had consented to being knocked clean out, Green Arrow had wanted to escape the pain, if only for a little while.
Truro looked over and saw Flying Scotsman sitting silently on the other side of the steamworks.
He was staring at the ground, the crack over his left eye larger than when he'd seen him last. There was no sign of bravado, no joking, no shrugging off the fact he was dying.
Just a silent acceptance.
Truro made his way to his partner's side.
"Scott," Truro whispered softly. The Scotsman glanced at him.
"Is Green Arrow okay?" Scotsman asked his gaze looking over to the silent engine. Truro gave a faint smile, always worried about others but never himself.
"His voice box is being reinstalled. And he was very angry last night after he found out about Mallard. He's just sedated as the process is painful," Truro explained. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I'm glad," Scotsman said, his voice small.
Truro gazed up at the Scotsman. There were very few times he'd seen the bigger engine so quiet and solemn.
Those moments were usually intimate and private, Scotsman often revealing stuff to Truro that he never even told Gordon.
Truro held on to those moments. He cherished them. They were rare and precious as Scott rarely let himself be so vulnerable.
This wasn't one of those times.
"I'm losing the sight in my left eye," Scotsman mumbled suddenly. "I- I can't see you properly."
Truro knew what Scotsman was asking of him and without hesitation moved so he sat buffer to buffer with the engine.
"Is this better?" He asked and the Scotsman gave a small smile.
"Yes, yes thank-you Truro."
The two engines sat in silence for a long time. After a while Flying Scotsman gave a low chuckle.
"It's funny, you know?" He said and Truro watched him curiously. "Mallard, Cain, those damn chairmen of the British Railways, they all tried to have me scrapped. I got close so many times….I guess….my luck finally ran out."
Truro said nothing, he simply stared at Scotsman with a haunted look.
His mind ticked back to the story Victor had told Arrow. Maybe there was a slim chance but Truro knew it was nothing but a fairytale.
"Truro, I'm scared," the Scotsman's voice cracked. He sounded like a frightened child.
Truro looked up and saw the frightened gaze of his lifelong companion. He more than anything wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything would be alright but he knew he couldn't do that.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. They were allies, partners, some might even consider lovers if they went with human terminology. They'd promised to be at each other's side no matter the cost or the struggle.
He'd done all he could to help raise the money for him.
It had all amounted to nothing. Scotsman would still get his rebuild, but he would lose his sentience.
"I know," Truro said, hearing his own voice grow hoarse and choked.
Despite himself, he felt tears sliding down his face.
Flying Scotsman was his everything.
"I don't know what I'll do, once you're gone," Truro admitted weakly. "I lost you for years. I almost went insane. I almost worked myself to death to ignore the pain your absence left."
He looked up at the Pacific who was staring down at him with a sorrowful gaze. Scotsman glanced over at Green Arrow.
"Could you protect Green Arrow for me?" Scotsman asked. "I fear Mallard will be after him once he realises that all his attempts failed to do me in. Mallard will vent his anger on something."
Truro looked over at Green Arrow. A fiery determination grew in his boiler. A promise, a vow to Scotsman je could keep.
"Yes," Truro said, his demeanour growing strong. "Yes I can do that. I vow to uphold your will, no matter the cost."
The Flying Scotsman smiled.
"I know you will, such is the Great Western Way," he said with a slight tease. His sad smile dropped slightly.
"I know you will, but watch out for Gordon and Tornado too," he added. "They are the only family I have left."
Truro rolled forward slightly, pressing their buffers together in a show of affection.
"Of course, anything for you my dearest Scott."
"Good Morning Ms Olivia," Victor greeted the woman kindly as she entered the steamworks. She smiled at him, then focused her eyes on Flying Scotsman and City of Truro who sat facing each other.
She went over to them and found them fast asleep, Truro snoring softly while Scotsman seemed very restless and anxious.
She stepped up to him and placed a comforting hand on his buffer beam, rubbing it gently. She would have climbed on top of him and sat on his running board but her pregnant stomach made that impossible.
The Flying Scotsman stirred at her touch and gazed down at her, his mind groggy and a bit confused.
"Ms Olivia? Where…" he looked up and saw Truro sitting in front of him sleeping. "Oh, I see, I remember now."
"Hello Scotsman, I'm glad to see you and Truro together again," she smiled. "I know the two of you are very close."
The Scotsman said nothing, he simply watched Truro who was still sleeping peacefully in front of him.
Olivia watched him with deep sadness. He hadn't slept well, she could see that. He was agitated and on edge.
"I wanted you to meet my son," she confessed quietly. She looked heartbroken and upset as she gently rubbed his buffer. "I was hoping that he'd find a friend in you, he wouldn't even be here without you and Vincent plotting to get myself and Oscar together."
Olivia closed her eyes and leant against him.
The Scotsman felt her warmth against his cold iron. He wanted to meet Olivia's baby. He didn't want to die. He wanted to watch her baby grow up, as he did with Penny.
"Don't tell anyone but we decided to name him Scott, after you," Olivia said quietly.
The Flying Scotsman was touched. Gresley's granddaughter had decided to name her child after him. The highest honour one could earn.
"Thank-you Ms Olivia," The Scotsman murmured softly. "I am honoured. Truly, I am."
Olivia smiled sadly and looked up into his face.
The crack in his face plate had grown and begun to splinter. His left eye was losing its colour indicating he was losing his sight. He'd had trouble with his eyes before but this was different.
"Please tell me you can fix this Ms Olivia?" He asked desperately. "I don't want to die."
"We have a plan to save you, but it's not foolproof, it may end up killing you quicker," she explained. "It's a stab in the dark but if you're willing to cooperate it may work."
The Flying Scotsman was silent, he stared at Olivia. He was unsure.
"I-I need details, Ms Olivia," he said nervously.
"Tell me what do you know about Gold Dust?"
"It's used to give engines sentience, it's something that gives them the willpower to work far better than they would as a machine," The Scotsman said and Olivia nodded.
"Yes, although we're not 100% sure how it works, it has been used to save engines from the cold iron sleep before," she said and the Scotsman looked curious.
"You can actually save me?" He asked, hope in his voice.
"Yes, however there are issues," Olivia said, her expression stern. "The process is flawed and almost all of the engines who have gone through it, have not survived."
The Scotsman looked at the ground contemplatively. He then looked up at Truro and then at Green Arrow who was still and silent.
Arrow had been attacked because of him. Because Mallard had wanted to kill him. He wanted to rectify that. He wanted to stay with Truro and Gordon.
He wanted to see Tornado grow older and wiser.
"I'll try it Ms Olivia," Scotsman said determinedly. "I have things to live for. I have people who need me."
Olivia smiled as a voice called out behind her.
"That's good, because you'll need those things if you have any hope of surviving," the voice called, low, gravelled and harsh.
The Scotsman looked over and saw a man in rough oiled heavy clothing, greasy, tattered hair and a gaunt expression on his face approaching them.
The man was scowling at him.
"This that Famous Flying Scotsman fella? He doesn't look like much to me," the man said and the Scotsman glared at him. "He just looks like a more conceited version of Gordon."
"How dare you!" The Scotsman rebuffed angrily, waking Truro with his shouts.
"Easy," Ms Olivia warned Scotsman trying to calm him. "This man is going to help you, you need to be nice."
"Nice?! He just insulted me!" The Scotsman hissed angrily. "Who does he think he is anyway?"
"Name's Godred," the man said with a frown. "I'm the only one who survived the process to my knowledge. I've seen so many try and fail. Your fame will not make the process any easier, Scooter."
"Scotsman!" He growled, correcting him. Usually he ignored such a comment but this human had been nothing but demeaning and nasty.
Wait….human?
"Survived the process? But you're not an engine, you're human!" The Scotsman snapped and Godred smiled at him.
"I was an engine once," he smiled. "A rather good one too. Until I was careless and fell off a mountain."
"So the story is true," Truro said, looking down at Godred curiously. "How fascinating. But my concern remains that Scott will not be able to return to his engine after whatever happened to you."
"It's a little hard to return to an engine when there's nothing left of your engine left old man," Godred snapped and Truro coldly. "I was scrap metal, nothing near the end. I am grateful that I got a second chance!"
Truro shut his mouth at Godred's words hearing the venom in them.
Olivia refocused her attention on Flying Scotsman.
"It's true we don't know how to put an engine's soul back into its engine, but at the very least it will give us time to save you," she said kindly. "The process is dangerous but you will be alive. You will still be able to spend time with Truro, Gordon and Tornado as a human."
"I-I want to stay, I don't want to fade into nothing, Ms Olivia," Scotsman said but Godred scoffed.
"You do not sound so sure," he pointed out. Godred turned to Ms Olivia. "This is why it will fail."
"What do you mean?" Olivia frowned.
"The Gold Dust relies on an engine's willpower, it's resolve, anything less and it will reject an engine, Scooter here is indecisive and the cracks in his face are caused by a lack of will," Godred scowled. "Why do you think so many died to the Cold Sleep before they were scrapped? They lost the will to live, they were afraid and terrified. The Gold Dust may work on him, but the form it gives him will be broken and ill."
Godred climbed atop the Scotsman's running board and glared at him. Scotsman glared back.
"Some engines were granted their human form but they died soon after because it was frail and weak," he said. "You won't last a week."
"Shut up!" Flying Scotsman shouted angrily at Godred trying to shake him from his running board. "I will not take these insults from some filthy degenerate human engine thing! Get off of me!"
"You'll take them from me if you want any chance of surviving!" Godred snarled back unflinching.
"Godred that's enough," Olivia snapped at the man. "Get down from there now!"
Godred looked down at her and turned back to Scotsman who looked furious.
"Some words of advice, Scotsman," he said. "Hold on to those you hold dearest, they will ground you even in the worst of the agony you will feel from this. The Gold Dust will test you, it will put you through pain you thought wasn't possible, if you survive it, your friends and family will be the ones to carry you through. Your flimsy fame is nothing to the test you will encounter."
"I'll prove you wrong," Scotsman hissed, there were tears in his eyes, the hurt deep in his voice. "I'll survive this and I'll teach you to underestimate me."
"That's what all the others said," Godred said impassively. "But I'll be glad to be proven wrong."
Godred hopped down from the Scotsman running board and ignored the furious look on Olivia as the Scotsman glared at the retreating man.
Truro sat silently in a complete stunned silence while Olivia went over to comfort the Scotsman.
Scotsman instead just sat fuming, anger building up in his boiler along with a new fierce determination.
This 'human' had unsettled him.
But he wasn't going to let him get the best of him.
This Godred obviously thought him vain and shallow with nothing to live for.
It infuriated him.
He heard Olivia talking to him but he ignored her and stared at Truro.
Truro was looking at him with concern.
"Scott?" He asked very concerned.
"I'll survive this," he declared. "For you Truro. For Gordon and for Tornado. I swear I won't let that 'nasty' little thing gloat about me being another failure. I'll survive this, I promise."
"You see that you do," Truro said. "Or I will be VERY angry. You will regret dying, I will be that angry with you.
Scotsman just gave him a determined smile in return.
"Yes my dear Truro."
"Hello brother," Flying Scotsman called out to Gordon as he entered the Steamworks. "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon after our good-bye."
Gordon bit his lip nervously. There was no bravado, no dismissive tone from his brother. Just an air of acceptance.
He almost wished Scotsman would tease him, make light of the situation but he did not. He just sat there expectantly looking at his older brother.
"Scott…" Gordon spoke his voice harsh and gravelled from crying. "I- I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," the Scotsman said quietly. "I know how difficult it is for you to express your feelings. But I know that you're devastated as I am."
"Yes, yes I am," Gordon choked out tears falling down his face.
Scotsman rarely saw Gordon cry if ever.
"Sit with me for a while, at least until you have to take me to Ulfstead Castle," Scotsman said quietly. "Please Gordon. You too Tornado."
Tornado seemed to jump nervously, not expecting to be called out by the Scotsman. She peaked out from behind Gordon.
She'd been petrified of seeing Flying Scotsman with the Cold Iron Sleep. Gordon had explained to her how a lot of his other siblings had fallen to the same illness.
It scared her, how he had described it. How in some cases, the face completely cracked like a fragile china plate and literally fell off the engine's smoke box while they were still sentient.
She gave a small whimper and froze in place as Gordon took up a place beside his brother, his face solemn and sad.
Tornado avoided looking at Scotsman's face as she approached him. She didn't want to look at him.
"Tornado, look at me please," The Flying Scotsman said.
"No," she muttered.
"Tornado please."
"I don't want to," she said, her voice a small whine as tears began to stream down her face.
"Tornado, please, for me?" Scotsman asked kindly. "I know it's hard for you but I just want you to look at me."
Tornado sniffed.
"Okay," she said quietly, before nervously glancing at him.
Her eyes instantly went to the large crack over his left eye and she let out a frightened cry before without warning suddenly rolling forward and bumping into Scotsman with a hard jolt.
She burst into tears and pressed hard against Scotsman's buffers, almost as if she was trying to hold on to the famous engine, trying to desperately keep him with her.
The Scotsman held firm and spoke to her calmly and reassuringly as Gordon watched on, trying not to cry himself.
Tornado wailed and cried, Scotsman patiently waiting for her to calm, letting her cry and express her sorrow.
Eventually she calmed and simply sobbed.
"Young Iron," Scotsman called to her affectionately. She looked up at him. "Promise me that you'll look after yourself."
"Yes, yes I will, I promise," she sniffed sadly. "I promise, just please promise me you'll stay. You'll try your hardest to stay with us."
The Flying Scotsman gave her a sad but reassuring smile and pushed back against her buffers.
"I have too much to live for to give up without a fight," he said gazing into Tornado's tear filled eyes before looking at Gordon. "I will fight to stay with you and I will win, no matter what."
Gordon gave an approving gaze.
"See that you do, little brother," he said with a booming voice and the Flying Scotsman smiled.
"Oh there's fight in this old man yet, you can count on it, Big Brother."
For updates, art and small short stories from the Young Iron AU, you can find me at tornadoyoungiron tumblr.