Donald's Duck
Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry
Adapted by Rachel Ravens
Takes place between TNSDD & R&S
As arranged, Duck came out of the works the next day.
"I just hope that liar is gone for good," he muttered crossly to himself as he came into the main yards.
But as he was looking for the red coaches for Henry, he heard a tooting noise.
"That's not BoCo…" he realised. He then glanced over to see a familiar black shape arranging the coaches.
"DIESEL!" cried Duck in shock.
"Er… morning, Duck," Diesel said, his voice quivering. "I didn't know you'd be back this early. Er... did you get a new livery...?"
"I don't know why Sir Topham Hatt offered to bring you back!" Duck snarled. "For a while, you ruined the family I built up with Gordon, Henry and James!"
"I… I know," Diesel admitted. "And…"
"Now that I'm back, you can go back to the mainland where you belong!"
"Duck." came a voice. The pannier tank glanced back; there was Henry, waiting for his local at Knapford station. "Diesel's part of the fleet now."
"What?!" Duck exclaimed. "Why? Why did Sir Topham Hatt not only allow Diesel to come back, but purchase him, especially after all he's done!"
"He helped Thomas, Annie and Clarabel out of a serious scrape yesterday," Henry explained, and went on to tell Duck what Thomas had reported.
"He did…" Duck trailed off, secretly impressed. Then he became serious again. "We'll be keeping an eye on you," he said firmly to Diesel. "If you're up to your old tricks, you will be punished!"
Diesel, subsided by Duck's threat, went back to work.
That evening, Duck was still not happy about things, but he did at very least calm down.
"I suggest we work on opposite sides of the yard," Duck sighed, "so we can leave each other alone."
"Fine by me," Diesel said quietly. "Er… should we alternate daily or every few days?"
"Every few days, I suppose," Duck agreed. "That way, we won't lose practise on coaches or trucks."
The other engines were all relieved to see that Diesel and Duck weren't at each other's throats, but knew it would take ages for them to consider the other a 'family' member. With the exception of Thomas, the rest were having trouble considering Diesel part of the 'family' themselves.
A few days later, Duck was arranging another goods train for Donald.
"Still a wee bit shaken, Dook?" asked Donald as he was coupled onto the train.
"Yes," sighed Duck. "I'll admit, Diesel's been very quiet."
"Ah honestly dinnae ken whit tae think o' him." Donald admitted, "He's changed his tune a wee bit, bit Ah dinnae completely trust him."
"My thoughts exactly, Donald," said Duck. "But I do trust Thomas' word on what Diesel did. He's like an engine of contradictions…"
Donald's guard's whistle blew and he pulled out. No sooner than the brake van was clear of the yards, Diesel had come over to get refueled.
"Where are Donald and Douglas going with those trains anyway?" he asked.
"Something about a branch line being restored," Duck admitted. "I don't know too much about it. But… I strongly believe the twins are going to run it once it's complete."
"Are you completely sure about this?" asked Diesel.
Duck blinked at the question as he went to get a goods train ready for James. "Well… almost certain. They have been going down that branch line for at least a few weeks now."
"Didn't you say they were 'utility engines' that go 'as needed'?" Diesel put in. "If that is the case, they won't be able to run that branch line all the time."
The pannier tank engine paused for a moment as he went to get some cattle trucks for the goods train. "Yes, that is the case."
"And I was just purchased a few days ago," Diesel noted. "While we do manage the yards… fine together, given er… circumstances… but you have stepped in for Edward and the Ffarquhar engines before."
Duck then felt the realisation strike him.
"By the Great Western, could that really be true…" Duck was left in awe as he continued his work for the rest of the day.
About a week or so after Duck and Diesel's… surprisingly civil discussion, Sir Topham Hatt came to Tidmouth sheds where everyone - North Western engines or otherwise - were gathered.
"Duck," he said. "Your work in the yards has been very good these past couple of years, and I'm very proud of you."
"Er, thank you sir," Duck said, a bit surprised at being addressed like this.
"Now," Sir Topham Hatt went on. "As I'm sure you are aware, Donald and Douglas have been working hard on restoring the Tidmouth-Arlesburgh branch line. And, you've been doing excellent work in stepping in for Edward and the Ffarquhar engines when they were out of action. So, I think you've earned this multiple times over."
Duck gasped, glancing back at the other engines. They all whistled in acclimation - BoCo tooted his horn of course, and even Diesel couldn't help but feel a rush of pride for Duck.
"Congratulations, Duck!" cried Thomas; his whistle was the loudest of all. "I knew this would happen at some point!"
"Thank you, sir!" Duck eagerly puffed onto the turntable, but then realised something and backed up. "Er… what's the schedule?"
Sir Topham Hatt quickly outlined the trains for the day, and Duck headed out to find some coaches to take.
Before long, the pannier tank engine was coasting along the branch line with a broad smile on his face. The sun shone brightly on his paintwork.
"So this is what it's like to run a branch line of your own," he said proudly, as the sea breeze blew gently over him, sending his steam in all directions. "I've taken a few passenger trains on the Great Western, but only in a pinch."
"Did ye use tae hae cooches o` yer ain, Dook?" asked Douglas as he came up with another goods train; this one was to help build a shed at the end of the line.
"Sort of," Duck admitted. "There were three coaches I shared with my brothers and sisters back in the day. They're names were Alice, Mirabel and Benjamin. Benjamin is the middle name of my designer, Charles Collett, which is where my brother Collet got his name from."
"'n' whit aboot th' ither twa?" Douglas asked.
"Mirabel and Alice were named after my first driver and firewoman." Duck explained. The pannier tank sighed. "It would be a dream come true if they were on Sodor now."
"Mibbie yin day," smiled Douglas hopefully, "that cuid become a reality."
"I hope you're right, Douglas," said Duck. "I look forward to that potential day."
Later, Duck had made a return trip to Knapford with his train.
"Excellent work, Duck," called Toby as he drew alongside with Henrietta in tow. "How was your first run down the branch line?"
"Wonderful, Toby," smiled Duck. "There's beautiful sandy beaches running along the coast, and there's a harbor down there too. It's just like being on holiday."
"Well, you know what they say," grinned Henrietta, "a change is as good as a rest."
"The only downside," admitted Duck, "is that I don't really have my own coaches to share the beauty with."
"I'm sure you'll be able to find coaches of your own someday," soothed Toby. "You really deserve it."
As the two engines and Henrietta were conversing, they heard the sound of Henry pulling into Knapford with his train.
"Duck, you're here right on time. Well done." He praised.
"Thank you, Henry," smiled the pannier tank engine. Diesel came up a moment later to collect Henry's coaches. He didn't say anything, but the 08 shunter did give a glance of respect toward the tank engine.
"I guess Diesel's got the yard well in buffer," Duck said quietly.
"Well, I guess everyone can be full of surprises," chuckled Henry. "Even Diesel."
Diesel couldn't help but grin at this as he hummed to himself. "Yes… that's a catchy tune…"
Later on, Duck took a goods train down to where the new sheds were being built.
"How's it coming along, Donald?" called Duck as he drew alongside. Like Duck, Donald had a goods train in tow.
"Tis comin' alang weel, Dook." smiled the Scottish engine. "Ah think we shuid be dane wi`in a few days."
"Excellent," grinned Duck.
Donald was right. Within the next few days, the sheds were finally finished. There were four berths set up ready to go.
"Well, that was well worth it," smiled Duck.
"Aye," agreed Douglas with feeling. "Ye dinnae suppose we cuid bade wi' ye 'ere?"
"Go for it!" Duck grinned. "Though there is one berth that will be unused. Ah well, probably a spare one in case we get one of the Midland engines working here, or a visitor."
As the days went by, Duck grew more and more proud of his branch line.
"It's a real accomplishment, Duck," grinned Thomas when the two tank engines met at Knapford. "You've earned this multiple times over."
"Why, yes, it is," Duck replied. "Sir Topham Hatt relies on these branch lines a lot, doesn't he?"
"Of course," Thomas agreed. "They are the most important part of the island. They can get to places the mainline can never reach."
"You're absolutely right," Duck agreed. And when the guard's whistle blew, he took off.
"Thomas," sighed Annie. "I hope you haven't made Duck too boastful."
"Oh, give him a break," said Thomas. "He's earned this fair and square. I think he'll be fine."
"If you say so," sighed Clarabel.
That night, in the sheds, Duck was still talking endlessly about his newfound responsibilities.
"You don't understand, Donald," he was saying, "how much Sir Topham Hatt relies on me."
"Och, aye," Donald muttered sleepily. Douglas on the other buffer listened with interest.
"I'm Great Western and…"
"Quack, quack, quack."
"What?!' Duck exclaimed in shock.
"Ye heard." Donald grunted. "Quack, quack ye go, syne ye'd an egg laid. Now wheesht, 'n' let an engine sleep."
"Quack yourself," said Duck indignantly.
"Wid ye twa stoap arguing?" Douglas interrupted. "We've a busy day th'morra."
"Sorry, Douglas/Douggie." muttered the other two.
The twins went to sleep, but Duck stayed awake a bit longer. "I'll ask driver in the morning." he yawned, he had an idea of how to pay Donald back.
The next day, he saw his crew when he got ready for work and went out on his first passenger run of the day.
"He says I quack as if I'd laid an egg," he explained. "Let's pay him out."
"Quack, do you," said the fireman. "Hmm… I know!" he whispered something to Duck and the driver.
"Just right," laughed the driver.
"Let's do it tonight." chuckled Duck.
For the rest of the day, Duck worked efficiently as he always did, taking passengers and goods along the branch line.
That night, Duck waited for both twins to be asleep, and then his crew popped something into Donald's water tank.
"We've done it," laughed the driver.
"They won't hurt her, will they?" asked Duck anxiously.
"Bless you, no," said the fireman. "They're both kind men. She'll come to no harm."
The next morning, Duck bustled away before Donald or Douglas could wake up.
"Guid mornin'... Huh?" Douglas gasped. "Dook, where'd ye gang?"
"Mibbie he helped Percy 'n' Thomas wi' th' mail." Donald suggested. "Tis getting claise tae th' summer rush efter a'."
Just then, Donald and Douglas' crews arrived.
"Let's git tae wirk." said Donald's driver. Then he glanced at Donald's water tank. "Losh sakes! Tis wide open."
"Ah definitely closed it lest nicht," the fireman shrugged. Just then, they were greeted by a soft quacking.
"A Dooklin'!" exclaimed the driver.
"Dinnae be silly." laughed Donald. "Thir's na ducking in…" just then, the small white figure hopped over and landed on his bufferbeam. "Ah staun corrected."
"Hullo, wee yin," Douglas greeted. "Howfur did ye git 'ere?"
The duckling just let out a few friendly quacks.
"Na doot at a' who's behind this," chuckled Donald in realisation, and Douglas laughed too, upon realising what transpired, and both explained to their crews what had happened in the shed.
Donald's driver then got out his sandwich. "Urr ye hungert, wee duckling?"
The duckling looked eagerly at the sandwich, and Donald's driver offered her some of it.
"Ah will tak' that as a yes." said Donald's fireman, and shared some of his own sandwich with her too.
The duckling then leaped up into Donald's tender.
"Yi'll waant a ride dae ye?" Chuckled Donald. "Weel... A'richt. How kin ah say na tae a face lik' that?"
Donald puffed away with his crew and the little duckling in tow. She was quacking at intervals as they travelled.
Eventually, Donald came across Duck.
"Hello, Donald," said Duck, casually enough. "How are things this morning?" He then heard the soft quacking. "Found a new friend, did ya?" he laughed.
"Very funny, Dook." laughed Donald. The duckling nuzzled on Donald's bufferbeam, and Donald couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through his boiler. "She's very sweet, ah will gie her that."
"We may as well call her 'Donald's Duck' at this rate." chuckled Duck.
"Mibbie sae." Donald said quietly. The duckling hopped back into Donald's tender. "C'moan, mah wee quackeroo." he said with a small smile.
Donald came to another station and met up with Douglas.
"Sae, how's mah wee duckling niece gaun, Donnie?" Douglas chuckled.
"Dinnae be silly," grunted Donald. "Engines cannae be parents."
"Nae really," Douglas admitted, "bit th' spirit is still thare under th' richt conditions."
The duckling bobbed her head at Douglas and flapped her wings eagerly.
"She's sae cute," Douglas grinned, "Ye shuid be lucky, Donnie." Donald couldn't help but smile too.
Donald eventually came to Tidmouth Hault, where he saw Algy. The duckling quacked to signal the train to stop.
"Heard about your little duckling," laughed Algy. "Now that was a good prank Duck pulled on you."
"Ah see tis spread a' ower th' island." Donald remarked. "Is thare a'body wha does nae ken?"
The duckling then caught sight of something nearby. She then flew off to check it out.
"Hey, wee quackaroo, come back!" cried Donald. "A'm sorry if that remark wis tae hard on ye. Please, dinnae gang!"
"It's okay, Donald," said Algy. "Look, there's a pond down there. She just probably wanted a swim."
"Och... That mak's sense." Donald realised. "It wid be better fur her tae swim thare than in mah water tank." he managed a small smile. "Hae a guid swim, wee quackaroo. Ah will see ye later."
"Duck wis lucky this prank worked oot fine." Donald noted as he left. "Bit... It wid be nice tae git th' upper buffer…"
Donald's crew laughed, and quickly set to work that night when Duck and Douglas were asleep.
The next morning, Duck, Donald and Douglas all woke up to the sound of Duck's crew laughing hysterically.
"Wh-what?" asked Duck. "Is there some paint that shouldn't be there?"
"Look at this!" The driver showed him what he found. "It's a nestbox with an egg in it, under your bunker."
"H-how did that get there?" Duck asked in shock.
"Weel, weel, weel, yer dinae say," said Donald, opening his sleepy eyes. "D'ye mind what Ah said, Dook? Ye must ha' laid it in this night, all unbeknownst!"
Then Duck laughed too. "You win, Donald. It'd take a clever engine to get the better of you."
Just then, the three engines noticed the egg was cracking.
"Losh sakes!" exclaimed Douglas. "Tis hatchin'! Wis that pairt o` yer plan, Donnie?"
"Na…" Donald admitted.
The egg popped open a few moments later, and out popped a duckling. He started to dry out his feathers.
"Well, by the Great Western!" Duck exclaimed. "Now we have two ducklings on the branch line."
"Whit a surprise," Donald admitted, and the three engines burst out laughing. "Ah jalouse this duckling haes pranked us baith, Dook."
The other duckling that Duck 'hatched' joined up with the first duckling at Tidmouth Hault.
"I guess you could say they get along 'swimmingly,'" Duck joked as the two ducklings started playing and swimming in the pond nearby. Donald couldn't help but chuckle.
Suddenly, both ducklings came out and started to supervise the passengers and luggage being boarded onto the two trains, quacking orders to the porters.
"They're varr smart tae." Donald admitted. "Ye ken, Dook, we have nae named thae dooklings yit."
"Oh," Duck realised. "You're right. Okay. I'll name my one… Dallas." He smiled at the name choice.
"Nae bad." smiled Donald. "'n' ah will name mah yin... Dilly."
"That's a cute one," Duck grinned. "Dallas and Dilly."
The station master agreed, and Dallas and Dilly maintained the station very nicely between them, making sure that the porters got the luggage onto the trains, and begging the crews and passengers for sandwiches. Though they are known by their proper names, Dilly was always known to everyone as 'Donald's Duck.'
"Ah love yer, mah wee quackaroo…"
The End
I didn't realise how much fun I'd have with this one. This has such a funny yet adorable plot in the series, I can't help but love it.
The start of the story helps to establish that Diesel is now the official station pilot, meaning Duck is free to go down the branch line. There's a bit of tension between them, but it shows that Diesel is slowly winning Duck over, something more akin to the likes of STEY/MY.
I also tossed in the song "Donald's Duck" in my DA version, which is a very sweet and upbeat song to fit with the tone of the episode. And, plot twist, the egg that Donald's crew found hatched into a duckling too. Now there's two ducklings on the branch line.
Alice, Benjamin and Mirabel are Duck's slippies we see him pull in Season 18 onwards. Benjamin is named after Duck's designer's middle name, and Mirabel and Alice are how they are just as slip coaches. Alice is transgender female-to-male, her name will eventually be Alistair.
