A/N: *wanders back in behind a shield, just in case*

So... we're going to ignore how long it's been, right? Right.

Anyways, welcome back! We have some interesting stuff coming up. More notes at the end of the chapter, as always! On with the show!

A couple of weeks later, Shaina carefully leaned against the outside corner of Tidmouth sheds. Winter had started to tighten its grip over the island, and the whole of the North Western Railway fleet was starting their yearly complaints, Thomas in particular. He knew what the change in seasons meant.

As Shaina was lost in thought, a loud sneeze brought her back to the present. She cocked her head as a second sneeze came right on the heels of the first one, followed by a chorus of "Bless You"s. Glancing around the corner, she could see most of the engines still there, including a very miserable-looking Henry. She curiously watched as Dan and Ray clambered all over the green engine, soothing him and checking him over.

"Winter's coming," she heard Dan sigh. "Winter weather always messes with you, doesn't it, old boy?"

"Yes," Henry muttered in a stuffed-up tone.

"C'mon now," Ray sighed. "We'll let you stay here for a bit, and then we'll ask the Fat Controller to get an engine to tow you to the Works for a cleanout and a wash. Usually helps, right?"

"I suppose," Henry sighed, looking as if he was feeling quite sorry for himself.

Shaina carefully stepped around the corner, glancing over to Dan. "I can keep an eye on him for a bit if you'd like."

Dan looked up, a bit surprised, but nodded.

"Probably be easier. Ray and I can get things settled and come back as soon as we can." He looked up to Henry. "That sound good to you?"

Henry didn't argue since he was a bit too miserable to really oppose, so everyone took that as agreement.

Shaina waited with Henry as the sheds cleared, sitting on his buffer beam. "Will you be alright?"

"Yeah," Henry replied. "My workings get messed up every so often. Even a rebuild can't cure everything."

Shaina nodded and leaned back against his frame. Oh, how well she knew that! When you had troubles from birth, nothing short of a miracle could even dream of completely curing someone.

She was just starting to half-doze off when she heard someone approaching the shed. She sat up just in time to notice a man with a white beard entering. He wore a normal workman's uniform, save for the coat underneath. The coat was like the man she had met in Wellsworth not long after she arrived on the island, except it had golden lines on the chest and red patches on the collar and cuffs. He looked up to see Henry, who stirred.

"Hello, Sir."

"Hello, Henry," the man smiled up at him, and Shaina noted the man's American accent. He scrambled up onto the engine's buffer beam opposite Shaina. He noticed Shaina and nodded to her. "Hello there. Excuse me for saying, but you look like someone who enjoys a good story."

"I can't deny that," Shaina smiled back.

"I don't suppose you'd mind hearing one, would you?"

"I can't say that I'd oppose."

The man leaned back and began spinning a tale so strange that even Shaina herself was having a hard time believing it...

A long time ago, railroads as we know them today didn't exist, as shocking as it is. Back then, most people traveled on horseback or in a wagon of some kind. It wasn't until the early 1800s that a steam locomotive was first created. Various steam engines cropped up here and there over the next 20 or so years, but nothing that really stuck around for too long.

However, the world abruptly turned upside down in 1829. A series of challenges would be held to determine what type of steam engine would be used on a nearly-completed railroad. These would come to be known as the Rainhill Trials.

One of the men who entered the competition was a man named George Stephenson. George wasn't a stranger to steam engines, as he had built them before. He and his son, Robert, designed and built an engine for this competition that they named The Rocket, which ended up being the only engine out of the ten entered to complete the trials, making it the winner.

But not many people know the other story. You see, the day before Rocket began its journey to Rainhill, George and Robert heard noises coming from the workshop. They went to investigate for any intruders but instead found their engine different than how they left him. It had a face! The eyes moved, and the mouth opened and spoke. After a few tests and examinations, George and Robert were forced to believe the impossible. Rocket was alive!

Of course, news spread like wildfire when they reached Rainhill, as well as the magic. Many people complained and said that having Rocket alive would give him an unfair advantage. They weren't complaining for long, though. On the first day of the trials, it turned out that Novelty, Perseverance, and Sans Pareil were also alive.

George Stephenson became a very important man after that. He was eventually named the "Father of Railways and Living Engines." Nearly any engine he or Robert designed came alive as well. Ever since Rocket came to life until his dying breath, Mr. Stephenson swore that he didn't have any part in creating them with sentience. Of course, no one really believed him.

Steam engines only exploded in popularity from there, with railways popping up in droves. Living engines, especially, were prized possessions of any railroad. They were given the best treatment of any engines, and you would often find them on passenger services or express goods. Having a living engine in a railroad's possession was a sign of their prosperity and success.

Living engines even hold records and were at some of the most notable events in history! Both engines at Promontory, Utah, for the Golden Spike ceremony were living, as well as their replicas now. A living engine first tested George Westinghouse's air brakes. The first engine to haul the world-famous Orient Express was a living engine. It was a living engine that first went 100 miles an hour, and one of Gresley's living A4s, an engine called Mallard, holds the steam speed record to this day.

Towards the mid-1900s, however, things started to change. Living engines started to see strange newcomers. These boxy engines were called 'diesels,' and they were very rude to many steam engines. Not to mention the electric engines, who were nicer than the diesels but still rude. Even more confusing was a sharp decline in the treatment of steam engines. Repairs were shoddily completed, they were pulled off of important trains, and some were even left in their sheds for months at a time.

Despite this, the living steam engines were sure that it wouldn't be long until these diesels and electrics would be phased out and life would return to normal.

"Of course, we all know what happened next. Beeching came around and his Axe hit steam hard. The cutter's torch didn't spare any mercy for living engines. Nearly all were scrapped, and Sodor became a haven for those desperate enough to escape." The man paused and smiled, his eyes sparkling. "But that's not the whole story…"

Back in the early 1860s, a wealthy man whose name was lost to time wanted to build a tank engine as a present for his new wife. He designed it in the current Victorian style, adding in details that he knew she would adore. There was no expense too great. The engine was painted in a deep magenta, which was the woman's favorite color. Real gold was applied to her funnel, dome, side rods, lamps, and other places, and her buffers were painted gold to match.

Both the man and his wife were there when the tank engine was first fired up. What neither of them was expecting was the engine coming to life. And what they expected even less was that engine becoming a female! All living engines up to that point were male. Never before had a female engine been seen. To honor this momentous occasion, they decided to name her Lady since she was the first one among enginekind.

No one's sure what happened after that, but there's a legend that's been whispered from engine to engine ever since. It's said that Lady soon discovered that she could make some kind of golden dust with magical powers. When her owners discovered this, they were mystified. Word was quick to spread about this magical golden dust and, fearful for Lady's life, her owners sent her to America for safekeeping. It would be the last time they ever saw her.

From there, Lady was never seen again. It's known that she made it to America, but nothing else. People searched for her, and many claimed to see her, but none claimed to actually speak to her. Some people claimed to have portions of Lady's golden dust. However, nearly all of them were found to be fakes without magic powers. Pictures of her surfaced every once in a long while, though most were lost to time.

Some say, while in America, she met a man that offered an exchange. A railroad all her own and protection in exchange for a portion of her golden dust to be given to him and his descendants. Now, despite being somewhat young for an engine, Lady was wise. She requested to see the railroad before accepting his bargain, to which he agreed.

The entrance to this railroad that the man showed her was hidden high in a mountain somewhere in southeastern Pennsylvania. When Lady first entered it, she saw it as a tunnel of thorns and vines. But, as she traveled along the line, the thorns melted away to reveal a beautiful meadow with a shed and places to refuel.

After taking it all in, Lady gracefully thanked the man but asked for time to consider. She went to leave the railroad, but she was shoved back as if she had hit an invisible wall! The engine was more surprised than hurt, but she insisted the man tell her what was happening immediately! No one knew. It wouldn't be until much later when the man's sons learned that the railroad was meant to bond with the first engine to run on its rails.

This is where Lady lived on. She remained on the Magic Railroad for the rest of her life and unable to leave, save for one day every ten years, protected and safe. Well, until...

The spell was broken as two whistles sounded in the distance. Shaina looked over to where the man was, but he had vanished, leaving only a golden tinge to the air.

Sure enough, here came Donald and Douglas.

"Losh sakes, Douggie! Tak' a look a' puir Henri!"

"Aye, Donnie. We're haur tae tak' ye tae th' works, Henri."

Dan climbed down from Donald's cab. "You can come with us if you want, Shaina. C'mon up into the cab."

Donald and Douglas got turned around and, coupling up to Henry, pulled him out of the shed and off to Crovan's Gate. As they headed off, Dan and Shaina talked about nothing in particular, though they tended to avoid topics like sick engines. Shaina almost asked Dan about the disappearing man, but thought better of it and didn't.

As Donald and Douglas pulled into the Steamworks, Miranda came over. "Hey, Shaina! Did you bring me some pie?"

"Nope! Even better!" Shaina laughed. "I brought you a Henry!"

"You're right!" Miranda called back, chuckling. "That is better."

Henry rolled his eyes at the two women as he was shuffled back to a corner of the Works. This was going to be a long day...

A/N: A little bit of worldbuilding and a disappearing man...

Next time, winter fully hits the Island and someone gets an extra large slice of humble pie...