The NWR Stories: Edward and the E2s

by Tankengine389

After the loss of his lover and eldest brother, Thomas had grown quite bitter and hateful towards engines who were bigger than he was. However, little did he know that his mind will be changed when a certain K2 from the FR arrives to Sodor to become the NWR's number 2. Characters are owned by me, Mattel, Hit Entertainment, Britt Allcroft and the Awdry family.

The NWR Stories: Edward and the E2s.

With the ending of the previous story, I would bet that some of you are wondering: "If Thomas hates big engines, then how did he ever become friends with Edward?" Well, allow that question to be answered within the next story that you're about to read. With the tragic loss of Timothy and Lady, Sir Topham Hatt had no choice, but to do some more re shuffling. However, these reshuffles only came to more losses for the engine of the KT&ER and the S&M had too heavy of loads, and had too came to a tragic end. So desperate for an engine, the stout gentleman looked towards an old friend of his which was none other than the very creator of the K2 class, W. F. Pettigrew, who was more than willing to give him one of his engines. Though the majority of his designed class were owned by the director of the Furness railway, W. F. Pettigrew owned a few of the K2s for it was HIS design. The most notable ones of W. F. Pettigrew's handful of K2s were Edwin, Gull, and Edward. Edwin, was the youngest of his class, and usually was a little timid or nervous around boastful types. Gull was the more pompous and arrogant type of engine for he pulled the express, as most are. And Edward was not THE oldest, but did have a career that was going around for almost 20 years, which gave him enough time to become wise and very knowledgeable. Though these three had their differences, they were happy together and cared for one another as good siblings should. On the day where our story takes place, W. F. Pettigrew came to the shed with the news.

"Tomorrow." He began. "I'm going to send one of you to an old friend of mine on Sodor, so he can have another engine to help out with the development of his upcoming railway."

"Upcoming?" Edwin quizzed. "Does that mean that this railway is new?"

"Yes, Edwin." Pettigrew replied. "And since there will be many important jobs to-do, I'll be deciding on Edward to be the engine who goes there."

Edward was shocked. He was not expecting this.

"Really sir?" He quizzed. "Are you absolutely sure that I'm the right fit?"

"Of course you are!" Gull cutted in. "You're the wisest and smartest out of all of us. So please do us a favor, brother and make us proud."

"Words that I can't agree more with, Gull." Pettigrew replied with a smile. "I have no doubt that you are just the engine that the NWR needs, Edward. You already have proven to be a really useful and reliable engine here, and I bet that you will be that as well as there."

Edward managed to crack a confident smile across his face, and felt more sure about the arrangement.

"Well, in that case." He began. "Thank you, sir. And I will be sure to make you all proud." "Good to hear it." Pettigrew replied. "Now, all of you get some sleep. You still need to wake up at the crack of dawn."

As the engines and their designer said good night to one another, the K2s fell asleep as Pettigrew left for his home. Early the next morning, Edward was stoked up and making a nice lot of steam as he then topped off on coal and water. The K2 was feeling very excited for he was to head to a new railway that was being in the process of opening. The journey took sometime, but when he arrived, Edward found a stout gentleman waiting for him on the platform of Knapford.

"Ah, Hello." Sir Topham Hatt greeted warmly. "You must be my new engine. I am Sir Topham Hatt."

"Pleasure to meet you sir." Edward replied. "My name is Edward."

"Good to meet you, Edward." the director replied. "Now please head to the shed. You had a long journey."

Edward nodded, and then began to make his way to the shed, not reckoning a certain blue E2 watching him with great hate and suspicion from behind. As the K2 then backed down into the shed, he found a certain crimson tank engine on the line next to him.

"Hello there." The engine greeted "warmly."

"Hello." Edward replied back. "Who are you?"

"My name's Hunter." He replied. "Who might you be?"

"I'm Edward." The K2 responded back. "And I'm a new engine here."

"Really?" Hunter quizzed. "Well, it's about time that we got a replac.. I-I mean another engine to help out here. For my brother and I have been working alone on this line."

"Really?" Edward quizzed. "Both you and one other worked on this line alone?"

"W-well y-yes of course." Hunter stuttered in reply. "Just me and my little brother. Anyway, don't let my blabber keep you up. You must have had a long journey. Go have a rest."

"Okay, then. If you insist." Edward replied, as he began to close his eyes. "I don't know if I should believe it or not." The K2 then thought to himself. "But I think that Hunter might be hiding something."

As Edward then fell asleep, little did he realize how right that his suspicions were. The next morning, Edward had to take a train of workmen to one of the parts of the mainline that were still being constructed. As the K2 then stopped by the station platform, he felt a bump from behind.

"OW!" He exclaimed. "Not so hard! You could damage me or the coaches."

"PAH!" A certain blue E2 replied from behind the coaches. "You're just wary of your quote on quote paintwork or buffers! Just like the rest of them! Now IF you'll excuse me, I have to arrange a train for Hunter. Good day!"

As the E2 then backed away, and went to find Hunter's train, Edward couldn't help but notice something.

"Normally, I would have a stern and serious talk with engines who act like that." He thought. "But, there's something different about this one. Something really off. Something that's leaning towards a great frustration and sadness."

As the guard's whistle then blew, Edward began to have the urge and need to help the engine of whom he just met. After dropping the workmen off at their place of work, Edward chuffed back to the yards to pick up some materials for them to work with. On his way back, he met Hunter at a red signal.

"Hello, Edward." Crimson E2 greeted the K2.

"Hello, Hunter." Edward greeted back. "Do you know who the station pilot is, back at Knapford?"

"Yes." Hunter then replied with a tone that was very irritated. "My pesky rude excuse of a little brother, Thomas. He's got a hatred for bigger engines, and never likes being near one."

"Really?" Edward quizzed with suspicion.

"Just take my word for it." Hunter replied. As his signal then dropped.

"I think HE's the one with the hatred around here." Edward thought, as then his signal dropped.

Back at Knapford, Edward arrived at the yards to find Thomas finished shunting his train. As the K2 then backed down onto it, he decided to try to start a conversation with the blue E2.

"Thomas." He began. "Is everything okay?"

Thomas just hissed steam crossly.

"Why would YOU care?!"

"Because, I think there's something bugging you." Edward replied.

"Oh." Thomas then replied sarcastically. "And what makes you think that I won't push you under a coal hopper or crash you through a pair of buffers?"

"Because, I think that you're not a bad engine, Thomas." Edward replied. "I heard a hint of sadness within your voice when you spoke to me earlier today, and I just want to help."

Thomas just scowled darkly and hissed even more steam as he looked away from Edward.

"IF you wanted to help me." He then began. "Then you would not believe everything that Hunter says."

As Thomas then chuffed off with a huff, Edward began to feel more sorry for the E2 for he was truly indeed a sad engine. As the K2 then left with his train in tow, he began to try to think of ways to help the E2. As the day went on, Thomas began to think about Edward's words towards him in their second encounter as he shunted throughout the yard.

"He wants to help me?!" He thought. "How can an engine like HIM be so kind and forgiving even after the way I acted towards him?! Let alone not order me about! I just don't get it! Doesn't he want to dominate the railway?! Doesn't he want to replace little engines like me?! None of this makes sense! Why does HE have to be so much like HIM?!"

As Thomas then began to form tears within his eyes, the thoughts of his oldest brother, Timothy came into his mind as echoes of his kind words returned to him.

"Why does Edward have to be so much like my eldest brother?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!"

No matter how much Thomas thought, he just could not find the answer to his question. Later, at the shed, Edward backed into his spot to find Sir Topham Hatt there, waiting for him.

"Evening Edward." The Controller greeted the K2.

"Evening Sir." Edward replied. "What brings you here?"

"Well." Began the controller. "I came here to let you know that tomorrow you'll be repainted into a livery of the NWR and be our official number 2."

Edward was delighted.

"Thank you sir." He replied back. "I can't wait."

As Edward then happily fell asleep, he did not know that Hunter was glaring quite darkly at him.

"So the fat man rejects me again." He muttered to himself. "I'll soon fix THIS alright."

The next day, Edward stayed behind at the shed to be repainted. As the workmen began their work, the K2 noticed Thomas shunting nearby with a sad look across his face. He wanted to go and say something to him, but what was another story, for he did not know what to say. As he then watched the E2 chuff away to do some more shunting within the yards, Edward felt more sorry for him than ever. A few hours later, the job was done and Edward was now in a bright coat of blue with red stripes. As the K2 then was stoked up, Sir Topham Hatt came to see him.

"Greetings Edward. How do you like your new coat of paint?"

"It's lovely, sir." The K2 replied. "I very much prefer this blue over my furness red."

"Good to hear." The stout gentleman replied. "Now, there's a shipment of ballast and rails that needs to be picked up from the harbor on the double. I need you to collect it."

"Right away sir!" Edward replied, as he then puffed out of his shed.

When he arrived at the harbor, Edward backed down on to his train and was coupled up. As the guard blew his whistle, Edward rolled forward and began to haul the long train. However, before he was out of the harbor, the K2 did not see the trouble that lay upon the rails before him.

"BANG!" Went the object as it was ran over.

"OW!" Edward exclaimed as he then felt a pain near his wheels. "That hurt!"

As the K2 was then about to ask his driver and fireman to stop and have them inspect what had happened, the K2 found himself gradually picking up more and more speed as he then began to grow even more worried.

"Driver! Fireman?"

No reply came back, for Edward's crew had fallen out of his cab during the small explosion near his wheels. As Edward went down the line his speed picked up more and more until he was a runaway.

"HELP!" He screamed. It was the only thing he could do. The guard's brakevan could do nothing against the weight of the trucks.

As Edward then whizzed by Knapford station, Thomas saw him and had a look of horror and shock across his face.

..."NO! Not this again!"...

Memories of the accident of his eldest brother came back into his smokebox.

…. "NO! Not again! Not Again!"...

Thomas thought back to when Edward had been kind to him and stated that he wanted to help him.

… "Some bigger engines are nasty, but Edward is not! He's been kind to me, and I have not accepted it at all! I can't have THIS happen to me again! Not again!"...

The E2 then gritted his teeth and his driver and fireman stepped into his cab, knowing what their engine wanted to do.

…..."Never again, will I fail another engine!"...

And then, with his boiler filled with a great amount of determination and steam, Thomas darted out of the yards like a jack-rabbit and after Edward and his train. Meanwhile, on the mainline, Edward was trying to think of an alternate way to slow down.

"Hold back!" He said to the trucks. "Hold back!"

"We're trying!" one of the trucks replied. "But there's too much weight!"

"Are you trying to say that I'm fat?!" Edward quizzed with a raised eyebrow as the trucks then said nothing. "Typical." Edward sighed as he then rolled his eyes.

….. "PEEP! PEEP!"... Sounded a familiar whistle.

"EDWARD!" Called a familiar voice.

Edward looked over and gasped as he then spotted a certain blue E2.

"Thomas!" The K2 cried with relief.

"Hang on!" Thomas replied. "I'm going to try to buffer up in front!"

As Thomas then picked up speed, his driver and fireman looked worriedly at his gauges.

"Just let it go, Thomas." Said his driver. "You won't be fast enough."

"No!" Thomas said back. "I must help Edward. I must!"

Then without warning, Thomas began to go faster and faster.

"No way!" Exclaimed his driver. "He's going beyond his top speed."

As Thomas then went faster and faster, he caught up with Edward and began to overtake him. As the E2 then passed the next signal box, he whistled to the signalman.

"Switch me to Edward's line! Quickly!"

The signalman did just that, and Thomas was sent on to the same line as Edward. Now with his plan being placed into action, Thomas began to slow down as Edward's buffers then touched his. Knowing that he had no time to waste, Thomas's fireman quickly scrambled into Edward's cab, and began to shut off steam.

"It's all up to you now!" Edward said to the E2 as they continued to thunder down the line. "You are the only one with working brakes!"

Thomas nodded, and then began to apply his brakes as hard as he could as his driver turned the handle. The sound was so loud that it was heard from miles away. As the unfinished site then came into view, Thomas knew that he had to work even harder, for there were some workmen who wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time. The E2 closed his eyes and gritted his teeth with a great pressure as his brakes screeched. The sound of his brakes continued until Thomas felt them stop. As the two engines then opened their eyes, they had found themselves a few yards away from where the track ended.

"Well done, Thomas!" Edward exclaimed. "You stopped us!"

"I did. Didn't I?"

The E2 was exhausted but cheerful nevertheless, for he had helped Edward. After the workmen had the ballast and rails unloaded, Thomas's crew inspected him and Edward over. Due to his brakes being on for so long, Thomas had wheel flats, as Edward's brakes were completely destroyed. Seeing that both of them were out of commission, Hunter had to be the one to bring Thomas and Edward back to the shed and he did not like it one bit as he then shunted them in their spots.

"Shunting!" He grumbled. "How degrading for a splendid engine like me!"

"Degrading would be a massive understatement, Hunter." Said a familiar voice.

Hunter jumped with surprise.

"Sir!" He exclaimed. "I-I didn't see you there."

"Of course you didn't." The Stout gentleman replied. "And soon you'll never see me again."

Hunter raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean." Explained Sir Topham Hatt. "Is that YOU, Hunter are now in not just trouble with me, but the law! For you had caused Edward to nearly have his crash!"

Hunter scoffed, as the two blue engines just looked on in shock.
"Preposterous! I would do no such thing!"

"Really?" Asked the Fat Controller sarcastically. "And how would you explain the box of rail detonators and bag of gunpowder being thrown out of your cab?"

Hunter stammered, as he heard that. He tried to deny it, but Sir Topham Hatt was having none of it. As Thomas looked on worriedly, he had a slight sinking feeling within his boiler.

"Sir.." Thomas then asked timidly. "Was Edward the only victim Hunter had?"

"No, Thomas." The controller replied solemnly. "In fact I believe that Hunter was responsible for many deaths that happened to the engines who worked here before Edward arrived. Including your eldest brother, Timothy."

Thomas's eyes widened with shock, as Edward too gasped. Both of them are in disbelief. As Hunter then heard this, he looked timidly towards Thomas, and began to look really nervous.

"T-Thomas. It's not like what you think. I…"

"You what, Hunter?" Thomas then asked in a dark tone. "You wanted Timothy to be gone?! Is that it?!"
"No! That is not it at all!" Hunter replied back. "I just…"

Thomas scowled darkly as his teeth gritted beneath his lips.

"SHUT IT YOU KILLER! YOU MURDERED TIMOTHY OUR OLDEST BROTHER! HOW COULD YOU?! I HATE YOU, HUNTER! I HATE YOU!"

Sir Topham Hatt and Edward just stood frozen with shock. Never once in their life had they heard an engine's voice be filled with such anger and wrath as Thomas's had in that very moment. It was very clear that Thomas was very angry. As Thomas scowled, Hunter found his true words, and began to sneer evilly.

"Alright then." He then said slyly. "Since I can't seem to pretend that I had no murderous intent, I guess I might as well let the truth out. Yes! I had indeed killed Timothy, along with the engines of the S&M and the KT&ER. All of them were weak, puny and useless and so they are nothing but good for scrap."

As Hunter then began to laugh manically, Thomas filled with even more rage.

"Good for scrap? HOW COULD YOU?!"

"How could I?" Hunter quizzed. "How could Sir Topham Hatt pick a bratty impatient, clumsy shunter, and a rusty odd teapot with a ridiculous wheel configuration as his numbers one and two?! He should have picked me! A proper and truly reliable engine!"

"Proper and reliable?!" Edward then exclaimed. "YOU are dangerous, and so murderous! I KNEW that you were hiding, something Hunter! And now that I know what it is, I can see how truly twisted you are."

"I agree, Edward." Said Sir Topham Hatt. "Hunter! Since YOU took the lives of your colleagues for petty reasons, I am banishing YOU from Sodor!"

Hunter stopped laughing as he then looked towards his now former director.

"Do what you wish, Sir. But do take heed that even with my banishment, I will carefully plot and set my revenge on the NWR into motion. Once I do, you and your family would wish that the number one was given to me."

As Hunter then chuffed out of the shed and down the mainline, Edward and Sir Topham Hatt looked back to see that Thomas had a tear coming from his eye.

"Was I too harsh?" He asked worriedly.

"No, Thomas." Edward replied, trying to soothe him. "I kind of sensed that there was something dark about him ever since I first arrived, and his moment of revealing his true colors kind of proved it."

As Thomas then took in Edward's words, he managed to crack a smile to show that he was more sure and okay with letting his emotions lose. Though he was still shocked that one of his own kind had killed his eldest brother, Thomas was glad to have Edward as a friend, for it showed him that not all tender engines are bad as he thought. Thanks to his bond with Edward, the E2 was now more than willing to be a little more friendly whenever he sees a bigger engine. However, it wasn't to say that not every engine was nice as Edward. But that's a story for another time.

THE END.

To Be Continued in Three's Troubles.