Author's Note: I finally mustered up enough energy to write a new chapter. I haven't been myself lately, and my interest in this story is kind of growing thin. I am wondering whether this story is either interesting or if it even makes sense, not to mention if it's even nicely written. So I am curious- should I continue with it? Let me know in a review, and enjoy the new update. :)
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Slowly, a weathered, rusted, creaking steamroller drew out carefully from his hiding place. "You ungrateful lot of puffballs and scrap heaps! The nerve of you all, fighting over the Fat Controller's attention, when it should've belonged to me!"
The engines and diesels all shuddered and turned away in disgust at the rusted steamroller. What a hideous sight- the latter was practically falling apart, and his voice made him seem even more hideous.
"Trying to act like you're not scared of me, is that it?" The steamroller continued. "If you aren't trembling because you know who I was, then you're shaking because you now see what I currently am!" He now focused his attention on Diesel 10, who had gained back enough courage to look the steamroller straight in the face. "And I talking to you, pal!" His voice raised furiously.
"Well, well, well...if it isn't George the Ugly Steamroller," Diesel 10 chuckled evilly. "Whatever are you doing here? I thought I- or shall I say, the Fat Controller-had you and Splodge scrapped long ago..."
"Luckily for me, I managed to escape the scrapyards. And, I'm just here to remind you lot of what is rightfully mine," George replied. "And what you promised me, Diesel. This weary, worn out rusted body I have should be yours, not mine!" He bellowed.
"I don't recall promising you a thing, dear fellow," Diesel 10 reminded him flatly. "You tried desperately to be one of my henchmen, and you failed miserably. Not to mention- you were the one who derailed Splodge, my loyal followers. Therefore, the state that you are in is nothing but the heavens punishing you for your evil deed." He finished, satisfied.
Meanwhile, the other engines looked to one another, wondering what to make of this encounter. Thomas himself, was the most conflicted. He had remembered Diesel 10 chasing him, Lady, and Burnett Stone all over Sodor, while he remembered Splatter and Dodge at the scene, he had been chased out of the yard by the ochre diesel before he could see what happened to them. But at last, he broke his silence.
"Well, George, karma does tend to reward the innocent," He spoke, choosing his words carefully. "And Splodge weren't the only people you've tried to destroy-you hate steam engines just as much."
"I've heard from Percy about Splatter and Dodge," Paxton agreed. "What you did them, George, was just...merciless..." He said, fearful that what he just said may be taken the wrong way.
"Why, I even cry just thinking about what happened to my dear Splodge!" Diesel 10, countered, putting on some fake tears of despair.
"Don't forget about what you did to Gordon's train that year," Henry chimed in. "The passengers were furious with him, and the whole thing was your fault!"
George was livid at hearing this. Here he was, on the brink of scrap, and now everyone was turning on him. This wasn't fair. At least, so George thought.
"What! Weren't you all fighting with each other before I arrived, ready to shove each other off the rails, but now that I'm here, you turn your hatred toward me?" He snarled.
He rolled slowly over to the engines. "This is Diesel 10, we're talking about here." The diesel in question simply rolled his eyes at the steamroller's pathetic attempts to gain sympathy. "Thomas, do you not remember what he did to Burnett Stone, you and Lady?! And Edward, Henry; what about the Steamworks that he just ransacked with his new lackeys?!" He focused on Sidney, Norman, and Paxton, next. "And you three- how many times a day do you lot have to listen to Diesel 10's endless complaints and rants? Not to mention, taking his verbal abuse for hours on end, blaming you for all his mistakes!"
The engines didn't respond. George was right, after all. But they couldn't just fold in like that. Stoicism was key in arguments like these. As for Thomas, Henry and Edward, they didn't know whether to trust George or not, considering all that he had done to not only them, but their friends as well.
"Enough of your rants, you hunk of rubbish," Diesel's voice interrupted their thoughts. "Your attempts to gain a pity vote are futile." He said derisively, beginning to back out of the station.
"And exempt you from my rant? Don't move, you devil! It's your turn now!" George barked ferociously, causing the surprised Diesel 10 to stop in his tracks.
"One could only come with a laundry list of things you've done to this island," George said quietly. "Soon enough, your crimes will have piled up so high that they'll come crashing down on that radiator of yours. May conscience eat away at your soul constantly. May you suspect your true friends of being traitors and take the worst traitors as your closest friends. May you never sleep a wink except to dream of a hell full of ugly devils." He spat bitterly. "You disgusting, rusted, rotting, awkward diesel-"
"George-"
"Diesel-"
"What?"
"I wasn't finished. Let me finish my curse on you, you ochre devil!" George snapped.
"Let me do it; I'll begin and end it with 'George'!" Diesel 10 jeered, eliciting amusement from the other engines.
"If the dome fits..." Edward muttered, to no one in particular. Unfortunately for him, George overheard.
"So...first you speak of Diesel 10's so-called 'bitter deeds', and here you are, defending him, and laughing at his cruel humor." George said in a low voice. "You're only doing harm to yourselves...the day will come when this all comes back to haunt you..."
"George, we're getting a bit fed up of these rants," Henry intervened. "We'd hate to have you test our patience..." He said, before regretting what he just said.
"SHAME ON YOU LOT!" The steamroller bellowed loudly, making the others (excluding Diesel 10) jump off the rails in fright. "It is is me who's already run out of patience with you all!"
"You got what you deserved, George! Have some respect!" Edward shot back.
"What I deserve is to be treated equally, just as you all! But apparently that's too much to ask!" George retorted.
"It's no use fighting with him, Edward. he's crazy, just as he always was." Henry said bitterly. Here, George paused a moment, and made his way over to the green engine. With a sudden wheesh, he sprayed dirty, black oil, all over Henry's face, just as he done accidentally to the Fat Controller when the latter had asked him for a ride.
"Impertinent puffball!" He yelled. "You steamies always like to act so high and mighty; listen up! You have to rise high in order to fall!" He ranted angrily.
"Good advice, indeed, puffballs!" Diesel 10 chortled, agreeing with George for once. "Your driver should take notes, Henry!" He reminded lightly.
"It means just as much to us as it does to you, Diesel!" Thomas replied, annoyed.
"Yes, of course, dear Thomas; and much more so. But I was born to be that high. And stay in the sky, like an eagle, which builds its nest at the top of a high tree, I play in the wind and am not afraid to look at the sun." He smiled, darkly.
"You're building that nest out of everyone else," George shot back. "Everyone else is the twigs and straw used to make that bird nest. IF you ask me, you turn the sun into a giant shadow."
"George," Paxton called softly, getting the steamroller's attention. "Just stop with all this arguing. If you can't be nice, can you at least be sorry for what you've done?"
"What's this about being nice or sorry?!" George rounded on the group of engines. "You all aren't nice-you only care about your own kind! You only apologize when it's one of your won that's in trouble! You all don't know the slightest things about loyalty!"
"George, I was just saying that-"
"Paxton! Young, kind-hearted Paxton!" George complimented the teal diesel as he rolled over to him slowly. "I wish only good things for you, dear Paxton! Such a kind and good diesel such as yourself shall never be be a true victim of my rants." He said softly, with an unreadable tone of voice. Paxton didn't know what exactly George was thinking at this point, but Diesel 10 sure did. The diesel rolled slowly forward, in order to hear George and Paxton's conversation.
"Paxton, you need to watch out for that Diesel 10. He's like a dog-when it seems that he likes you, he's actually about to bite- and when he bites, the pain lasts forever. Please, Paxton- don't fall victim to his betrayal-it will happen."
Diesel 10 knew exactly what was going on here. George was trying to mess up his plans- he was not going to let that happen.
"What did he just say, Paxton?" He inquired innocently, but staring at Paxton as if he could knock him off the rails any minute.
Poor Paxton trembled. He knew better than to lie to the leader of the diesels, and oh Lord! If he did lie...he'd cease to exist. Diesel 10 would make sure of it.
"He...said nothing...important, Diesel 10...sir," The teal diesel replied nervously. George was shellshocked. Not to mention, furious. He felt betrayed.
"What!" He snapped. "I give you compliments, and yet, you ignore my kind advice and try to please that devil I'm warning you about?" He asked, in complete disbelief. "Oh, just remember this another day, when he sells you out and sends you to scrapyards. Then you'll say I was a prophet!" He turned his attention to all of the engines this time. "Here me out, you tin kettles- Diesel 10 will come to hate everyone here, as you will come to hate him back—and God will come to hate you all." And with that, he back out of the station, and rolled away in a huff, leaving all the other engines gobsmacked.
"I'm kind of afraid now, what if everything he said comes true?" Henry asked Edward, quietly.
"I don't know, Henry. I'm just as scared as you are," Edward replied. "Though I do understand why the Sir Topham Hatt scrapped him, now."
"To be honest, Edward, I can't blame him," Thomas countered softly. "If I had been sent to the scrapyards, I'd be full of hate myself." And the other engines agreed silently.
...
Suddenly, Edward remembered something. "Oh, it's already almost noon! We better get started with the rest of our work for today. Come on, no more time to waste, everyone. With that, the engines drew out of Knapford to continue on with their jobs. Diesel 10, Sidney, and Norman, however, stayed in the station.
"Are you going to take care of this thing now?" Diesel 10 asked his cronies, bluntly.
"We are," Norman answered for the two diesels. "As soon as we get the chance, we'll head off to the Dieselworks."
"Excellent," Diesel 10 murmured in response. "But do get rid of him fast, you two. Diesel has a sharp wit-he'll talk you out of the job whenever he can."
"Don't worry, sir," Sidney replied. "We act with our deeds, not our words. We'll get it done."
Diesel 10 smiled evilly at his companions. "Perfect! Now, go get the job done tonight!"
"Of course, Diesel 10, sir!"
And the three diesels drew out from the station, eager to enact Phase I of their evil plan.