Several weeks had passed since Emily had her little incident of being covered in chocolate syrup, leading to a most romantic and delicious banter between her and Thomas, endorsing in the chocolate syrup together. Now, it was the middle of May, and Thomas would soon be due for his trip to India in June to see Ashima again, and meet Rajiv and the other engines who lived with her. But before that, something quite shocking would happen to David, concerning his ship and the way he had been living since he first came to Sodor.
At Arlesburgh, there are two very fine ships that stand by the pier. One of which is Cap'n Calles' pirate ship from so long ago. It had been hidden for centuries in a cavern just underneath the Harwick Branch Line, until Thomas discovered it and Rocky hauled it out, then Donald and Douglas transferred the ship to the harbour. Ever since then, that ship has been standing tall and proud in Arlesburgh for everyone to see.
And then, there is the Sea Emperor. David Rider's ship, on which he held the title of a captain. Such a beautiful ship it was. It looked quite like Cap'n Calles' ship, only a little bigger, had more sails, and looked more like a galleon. This ship was painted emerald green, with emerald green sails, just like Emily's paintwork. Some people thought it was a little eccentric for David to own a ship like this, let alone make goods deliveries with it, given that he had served in the Navy for six years. But with that said, Sir Robert Norramby owned and lived at Ulfstead Castle, and David was happy to own this ship. Over the years of him being captain, people throughout England and Scotland had come to adore his ship, thinking it brought a unique and friendly image to goods deliveries.
One afternoon at Arlesburgh, Cap'n Calles' ship and the Sea Emperor stood proudly on the water, on opposite sides of the pier. But a group of four men wearing black shirts and gloves were eyeing this beautiful ship with a little grin on their faces. Their names were Bobby, Fred, Alan and Morris. For a few days, they had taken quite a liking to this ship, but not out of admiration. They had something else on their minds.
"Hmm. She's a real beauty, alright," said Bobby. "Such a fine specimen of boating…I wonder what this ship's history is?"
"Why don't you ask the Arlesburgh manager?" suggested Fred. "He might know a thing or two…"
"Ah, yes…" said Alan. "Who knows what this ship is all about…"
Morris merely nodded, and the four men wondered through Arlesburgh until they found the manager and asked him about it. Of course, the Arlesburgh manager was well aware of the Sea Emperor's history ever since David had come to live on Sodor.
"Well, sirs, that ship has quite a significant property about it," he said. "It belongs to David Rider, the son of Emily's first driver, Lawrence. It so happens that David had known about Sailor John during his time in the Navy, and then, after Sailor John had tried to seize control of the HMS Defender David served on, David took control and lured John to a nearby whirlpool, then exposed his actions to the general, which is what got Sailor John kicked out of the Navy, until he stole Cap'n Calles' treasure, landed himself in prison, then escaped and wrecked most horrifying havoc across Sodor until he was stopped for good. For saving the Defender and its crew, the general gave the Sea Emperor to David as a token of tribute. And so David spent a few more years delivering goods between England and Scotland on board that ship until he heard of his father's passing and decided to live here."
"Hmm. Thank you, dear sir," said Bobby as he and the three men left and returned to the pier, looking at that ship even more closely. All four men were now even more intrigued by this ship. They thought its history was much more impressive than Cap'n Calles' ship. While his ship was just a pirate ship that had been lost for centuries, the Sea Emperor had been a gift, a reward, and token to David for stopping Sailor John's schemes within the navy, which eventually and ultimately led to his final defeat at Vicarstown. Not to mention, the Sea Emperor looked quite beautiful too.
"Ooh, that ship must be worth more than Cap'n Calles 16th Century treasure," Bobby smiled. "Terrible temptation."
"And such a history too," said Fred.
"Yes…that David fellow was certainly diligent to receive it…by putting Sailor John out on a rim to get it," inquired Alan.
"You know what I think?" said Morris. "This vessel's history is much more impressive than any pirate ship. Wouldn't be a pleasure for us to enjoy it…for ourselves?"
"Ahh, that's an extra good wheeze, my dear Morris," said Bobby. "David doesn't live anywhere near here. He lives all the way up at Ffarquhar, on the outskirts…where he's nowhere near his ship. Perhaps we could pinch it under his nose! He'll be up in the green neighbourhood, while his ship remains unguarded…"
"Soon, it'll be ours!" they laughed together as they left the pier to concoct their plan. But unawares to them, Skiff the Railboat had heard everything and was now quite worried. He remembered when David and Jock helped him place buoys along the water line to mark any potential territory of sharks, and he thought perhaps he should warn David.
"Sailor John used me to steal Cap'n Calles' ship…I can't let them take David's ship too!" he said to himself.
David, meanwhile was resting in his living room at his Ffarquhar home. As he sat in his velvet armchair, staring into the flames, he thought to himself about how much he had been enjoying his life on Sodor. Indeed, he had grown to love it much more than his life at sea, having so many adventures and interactions with his father's engine. But then in that moment, he started to wonder to himself. He had not been back on the Sea Emperor ever since he first moved to Sodor. He wondered if he would ever sail in it again, and be captain somehow. Although he had enjoyed his settlement on Sodor, he thought a little about the next time he'd probably take the position of a captain again.
"Maybe one day…I'll sail on her again," he said to himself. "Just when…and for what reason, I wonder?"
All throughout the next day, Skiff was kept busy with his rail boat tours for the children as usual. But while the children enjoyed the ride, chattering away to each other, Skiff couldn't help but remember seeing those four men wearing black and what they had said about the Sea Emperor. He really wondered if he should tell David and what would happen if those men really did try to steal the ship. Before Skiff knew it, his tour was over and the children were on their way back home.
"Good day today, Skiff. Time for you to rest," said Captain Joe.
But as Skiff rested in his little shed, he saw the four men again, clamored together and clearly planning something. Skiff watched and listened very carefully.
"We'll do it tonight," Bobby hissed. "The only thing that's holding that ship in place is the anchor. We just have to hoist it."
"Anchors aweigh, and she's ours!" Fred cackled.
"OURS!" they all said at once.
Skiff gasped. As the four thieves walked away to hide until nightfall, he felt even more frightened. He simply had to warn David about this matter. But, as luck would have it, just a few minutes after the four thieves had gone away, David came walking along the line, gazing at the sea.
"Oh! David! David!" Skiff called.
David turned to Skiff's voice and ran over. "What is it, Skiff? You seem worried. Is Captain Joe alright?"
"Oh, David! It's not about him. It's your ship! The Sea Emperor!" Skiff worried. "I've seen four men wearing black, eyeing your ship rather frequently yesterday and today. I'm not sure what they're up to, but I don't think it's anything good. I even heard them say they're out to steal it!"
David suddenly gasped and his heart pounded. "My SHIP!"
He got on Skiff and rode him down to the pier at once to check on his beloved ship. To his relief, it was still there, exactly as it had been since the start. But hearing Skiff's news suddenly made him much more alert about his ship. In the time he had lived on Sodor, he rarely, if ever, thought much about the Sea Emperor since he terminated his contract of goods deliveries at sea. He had decided only to sail the Sea Emperor for indulgence and amusement. But now, with the mention of thieves festering in his head, he thought that perhaps he should be a little more cautious.
"Hmm. Thanks for telling me, Skiff. Those men sound most pathetic to do such a thing! Perhaps I should keep watch here tonight, just to be absolutely sure. And hopefully, my former crew members haven't forgotten about this ship either. They've been living right here in Arlesburgh themselves, and I haven't seen any of them since. I do know I'm gonna need some help though, just in case…"
That evening, Thomas and Emily had finished their work for the day and had just returned to Knapford Station, when they saw David come by the platform, wearing his naval cutlass, and his hands shaking nervously.
"David, are you okay?" asked Emily.
David looked up. "Goodness me, Emily. Why didn't I think of it more often?" And he told her all about Skiff, the Sea Emperor, the four thieves and their little plan that Skiff had overheard.
"Oh dear!" gasped Emily. "All this time and we never thought about the Sea Emperor's position? If Sailor John could steal Cap'n Calles' ship with Skiff…what could four thieves do with your ship?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to see that come to be, Emily," said David. "But…could you come with me to Arlesburgh for the night? I'd like to keep watch and see if what Skiff said is true."
"Of course, David," said Emily. "Given the dream I had where I first met you, I'd be most happy to help keep your ship safe. Such a beautiful ship too."
"Thanks, Emily," David smiled as he got on board.
When David and Emily arrived at Arlesburgh, they found an outdoor shed. The same one Thomas and Emily slept in when they came to lend Donald and Douglas some company, and when Emily first met Skiff. Just then, Donald and Douglas came by and stopped when they saw Emily and David.
"Ah. What are you two doing here?" asked Donald. Emily and David told them all about what Skiff had seen and heard.
"Oh dear. That bonnie ship must be protected!" said Douglas. "What say we stay here too? Just in case something happens? Then we can get help faster."
"Good idea, Douglas," said Emily.
"I'm the one who's keeping watch," said David. "I just need you three to be ready if anything happens."
"Aye," Donald and Douglas promised. Jock stepped down from Douglas and gave David a pair of binoculars to use in case anyone came around.
So for the next couple of hours, Donald, Douglas, Emily and David all kept watch, waiting for any signs of bad activity at the pier, but there was none. Gradually, Donald and Douglas fell asleep, while David stayed wide awake, almost performing sentry duty, standing completely still and silent, straining to see or hear anything so he could leap into action. By the time the sun set and the stars had appeared in the sky, David broke the silence.
"What if I've been living at the wrong place?" he thought out loud as he sat down on Emily's running plate. "Either my ship is perfectly safe…or I've been some damn fool to not be close enough to it. What if I'm a useless captain for that?"
By now, Emily was too sleepy to keep watch. "That's not…true…David," she yawned as her eyes flickered shut. "Sweet dreams, boys."
But David stayed awake, sitting on Emily's running plate and remaining silent, listening for any sign of sound or movement that could prove suspicious, but there was none. After what felt like another two hours, David's head began to nod off. His eyelids slowly became heavier. He tried as hard as he could to fight sleep off, but finally, he had to give in, and he fell asleep. But less than a minute later, suddenly, David heard a loud clang and a splash in the distance. He sat up and felt fully alert.
"Hello?" he asked. He cautiously looked to Donald, then Douglas who were both still asleep. Then David turned around to face Emily, who snored softly and whispered a little in her dreams.
"Zzz…Oh, Thomas, my dear…"
David quietly got off of Emily's running plate, then walked hastily down through the village to investigate, his hand clutching on his sword, ready to draw. Then just as the pier came into view, a chorus of distant shouts reached his ears. "Captain! Captain Rider!"
David looked through a pair of binoculars and to his surprise, he could see his former crew members, eight in all, clamored around the pier, gesturing out to sea in panic.
"Captain Rider! They've taken the ship! Thieves! They've taken the Emperor!"
David turned his view to the right, and could see the Sea Emperor several yards away from its usual spot…and on deck, he saw two of the thieves meddling with the sails and ship's wheel.
"Rash, boys. Too rash," David groaned. "Those are, without doubt, the most pathetic thieves I've yet to encounter." He ran back to the shed and suddenly let loose with quite a racket. "DONALD! DOUGLAS! EMILY! THIEVES! THIEVES ON MY SHIP! MUTINY!"
Emily burst awake and whistled with alarm. "Oh, no! The Sea Emperor! I'll get help, David!" And off she dashed, away from Arlesburgh to find some of the engines.
"I'll call the Search and Rescue Centre and get Captain here at once!" shouted Jock as he ran for the nearest telephone. In less than five minutes, he ran back to Douglas.
"We're bringing more help ourselves, Douggie!" said Jock as the two brothers sped off themselves.
David rushed the rest of the way, down to the pier and gathered his crew members together. The ship was just a little too far for them to jump aboard, so until help arrived, all they could do was wait and worry. With each minute that passed by, the Sea Emperor bobbed up and down in the waves, moving slightly further from the pier, making David worry even more. He had captained this ship for several years now, and would he lose it? Would he be able to save it? He had never thought anything of this sort would happen to his ship since he devoted so much time and care to Emily. Suddenly, a strong wind suddenly blew through the air. The waves began to roil and churn, making the Sea Emperor move more unusually, and making the thieves meddle with the sails even more.
Soon, Captain came tearing through the water, toward Arlesburgh. By now, the Sea Emperor had managed to drift several dozen yards further from the pier with the wind and waves. David watched urgently as Captain came closer to the pier.
"Bring him around! BRING HIM AROUND!" David roared.
Soon, Captain made it to the edge of the pier, just before the rails, and David and his crew ran down to him and got onboard. Captain then sped off toward the Sea Emperor. Three of the thieves saw this and scrambled down back to the deck and hid inside the captain's cabin, while Bobby had a club in his hand, ready to use. Captain's crew threw a strong rope up toward the Sea Emperor's deck and managed to loop it to one of the tack lines. Being trained in boot camp for the Navy, David was a strong, sturdy man. He climbed the rope, up to the deck, not noticing Fred seek cover behind one of the crates. David could see the anchor had been hoisted, which was likely the noise he had heard so the thieves could steal it. But he had a crew to get onboard. He then threw down the rope ladder which the ship always had for his crew to climb on and off the ship. His crew all came aboard and they could now work to save it.
"We have to stop the ship from drifting any further!" panicked one of the crew members. "The wind keeps blowing on those sails!"
Being back on his ship after quite a long time, David felt like a captain again and gave the orders. "Secure all sails! Tie them down, men!"
Six of the crew members rushed up the rigging lines and began working feverishly to fold up the sails again and stop the ship from moving too much with the wind. Soon, all the sails were reefed down and secured.
"All eight of you, get down below, and run out the sweeps!" David ordered. "If you find any of the thieves, bring them on deck!"
"Aye, sir!" the crew answered as they scrambled below decks.
They all worked hard to prepare very long paddles that were sometimes used to move the ship very slowly in case there was no wind. Very, very slowly the Sea Emperor drifted slightly closer back to the pier. With the waves pushing the ship closer, it wasn't much hard word, but with the waves crashing and rolling back out to sea, it was extremely difficult to keep the ship still enough to secure it again. David was now worried about saving his ship and catching the thieves too. But then, a few whistles split the air. David looked out to the pier to see Thomas and Emily there, and down by the line Skiff would ride into the sea, two more engines.
"Thomas! Emily, Gordon, Rebecca! What are you all doing here?" he called.
"Rescuing your ship, of course!" they all whistled together.
Thomas had a chain coupled to his front while Emily coupled behind him. His driver managed to throw the chain down to the Sea Emperor's deck, where the crew fastened it tight. Gordon's driver threw another chain from his coupling which managed to hook to the rudder of the ship. Rebecca coupled behind Gordon, then all four engines huffed and puffed, heaved and hauled with every ounce of steam they had, and ever-so slowly, they huffed backwards, slowly pulling the ship back to its rightful spot beside the pier. Although the ship's flotation allowed it to move backwards with the engines, it was a very slow, and very, very heavy job. All the engines' wheels slipped a few times, but kept hauling with all their might possible until the Sea Emperor was back in its original spot.
"Drop anchor, boys!" David ordered. The crew lowered the anchor and let it splash back into the water. Now the Sea Emperor couldn't go anywhere.
All the engines cheered with victory and David felt much better…until he remembered who else was on board. Fred suddenly tried to dash away, off the ship, but tripped over the crate. David turned around fast and spotted him.
"AHA!" he shouted. His first mate, Copper ran over and grabbed Fred, holding him still.
"So YOU'RE one of the crooks behind all this! Who are you, and are there any more of you thieves on board? SPEAK!" David demanded.
"I'm Fred, and I know nothing of any thieves!" he retorted rudely. "Your ship must have a faulty anchor!"
David narrowed his eyes and spoke more quietly. "You have just tried to steal a soldier's ship. The soldier who stopped Sailor John from causing any further damage to the Navy. Alright, Fred. You can either explain yourself then disperse back to your home, or you may walk the plank, swim to the rails and have Phelps and Gallagher pick you up and straighten you out."
Fred was very angry that the thievery didn't succeed. He began protesting childishly, whining that he and the other thieves wouldn't get to sail this ship. Like any soldier, David stood no hint of nonsense with misbehaving people. Not even the slightest suggestion of dishonesty could get past him. He suddenly got an idea to try and make Fred talk, by hinting to an old, but frightful punishment provided onboard ships way back when.
"HOW ABOUT I GIVE YOU THE LASH BEFORE YOU WALK THE PLANK, EH?!" he roared, seizing Fred by the shoulder, who yelped with shock and fright. All the engines, even Gordon jumped at David's sudden outburst.
David then turned to his bosun. "Jordan, fetch the lash. It's in the cabin."
"Aye, Captain!" Jordan grunted as he and another crew member named Cecco bolted into the Sea Emperor's cabin.
But then, all of a sudden, a loud thud came from the cabin, followed by a grunt of pain from Jordan, and then an unfamiliar laugh. David stopped where he was and stared suspiciously at the cabin. He and the rest of his crew clamoured around the entrance. Thomas and Emily stared at the ship's deck, watching the scene.
"What was that? What was THAT?!" he demanded. Just then, Cecco came rushing out with fear.
"Jordan's knocked out! Hit over the head!" he panicked. "The cabin's as black as a pit, but there's something terrible in there; the one you heard laughing away! It must be one of the other thieves! Maybe all of them!"
Fred sniggered quietly to himself.
"Cecco…go back, and fetch me out that doodle-doo!" David ordered.
"Aye, sir! I'll go!" Cecco answered as he marched inside again.
But no sooner had he gotten inside, when everyone heard another thud, a groan from Cecco and another laugh. The other crew members stepped back several paces and corralled together, starting to get frightened.
"Barnacles and Bunyans!" David barked. "Will no one fetch me out that doodle-doo?!"
"Wait until Cecco comes out!" Copper urged.
"Bobby's too quick and clever for all of you," Fred snickered very quietly to himself. But David happened to overhear him and walked right over to him.
"Did I hear you slip the doodle-doo's identity, Fred?!" he asked suspiciously.
"NO, you fiend!" snapped Fred.
"Well, my sword thinks you did!" David snapped back, drawing his naval cutlass, and making Emily's eyes widen as David continued. "Have it be advisable, Fred, to humor the sword? You sneak onto my ship, try to steal it! Mutiny! Fred is the ringleader!"
David then ran to the crate Fred had hidden behind, opened it and threw a life vest to Fred. "Put it on! Jump now and swim for it, or my sword flies!"
Fred, pale with fright, put on the life vest, ran across the deck and jumped off, sending a splash into the air. David watched as he swam to the rails and sat down, soaking wet before being grabbed by Gordon's driver. David shook his head, then turned to the rest of the crew, pointing his sword left and right to them all. As it had been a long time since any of them were on this ship, David wanted absolute honesty and clarity from his crew again.
"Did any other gentlemen suggest MUTINY?!" he demanded, his sword pointing to the last crew member on the right.
"No, captain!" he panicked. David suddenly turned his sword to the far left crew member, who only squeaked, "No!" Emily couldn't help but giggle quietly at that.
"…So be it!" David barked impatiently. "I'LL go in, and fetch out the doodle-doo myself!"
So David grabbed one of the ship's lanterns and walked inside. Everyone waited for a thud, groan and laugh once more…but then, David came striding out with suspicion and surprise on his face.
"Someone…put out the light!" he blurted.
"Someone?! Where's Cecco?" urged Copper.
"He's knocked out cold, right with Jordan."
"Poor Cecco! It's Rider's fault!" shouted another crew member.
All the crew began to clamor around David, pointing and shouting at him, until two more whistles split the air and stopped the fuss.
"Quit your wheeshing!" It was Donald and Douglas, right behind Thomas and Emily. "We be bringin' help to all of ye!"
And out of Douglas' cab came the Chief of Police, and none other than Sodor's two best detectives, Phelps and Gallagher.
"Sirs! Hello again!" Thomas exclaimed proudly.
Phelps and Gallagher touched their hats in response. Then they rode with the chief on Captain to the Sea Emperor and came aboard, where the crew members took turns explaining what had happened, right up to when Phelps and Gallagher arrived.
"Right. Definitely a thievery of sorts," said the chief.
"Now that you're here, chief, I have a notion," said David as he gestured to Phelps and Gallagher. "Send THEM inside, and let them fight the doodle-doo! If they catch him, so much the better. And if he catches them, we're none the worse."
"Save the Emperor!" the two detectives declared as they rushed into the cabin together.
Everyone watched and waited. This time, there were no thuds, groans or laughs. A few seconds of shouts and scuffling ensued…and then, as Phelps and Gallagher shoved their way out, out came the "doodle-doo." Not just one, but three more thieves. Bobby, Alan and Morris. They all fell on their faces on the deck of the ship. David drew his naval cutlass and pointed it right down to Bobby.
"On your feet," he ordered. Bobby slowly got to his feet while David seized him to keep him still and Gallagher and the chief had their pistols drawn on Alan and Morris.
"Phelps, call for a police van, and get your cuffs ready," ordered the chief.
Soon, the police van arrived, and David and the police escorted the remaining three thieves right to it, along with Fred.
"Come on, sirs. We were just curious. It's such a pretty ship," protested Alan.
David glared at the thieves. "Being overly curious not enough to excuse a man of an act of thievery of my ship, on which I am captain."
"Though it seems enough to condemn him," Bobby said neutrally as he was placed inside the police van.
"Indeed," was all David said before the doors shut.
And so, the four thieves were taken away to be imprisoned for their crime with no chance of escape, thanks to the much tighter and stronger security at the Sudrian Prison ever since Sailor John's defeat. The Sea Emperor had been saved from stranger tides.
"Thank you, sirs," David said to Phelps, Gallagher and the chief. "What would I have done without you?"
"It is our pleasure, sir," said Phelps. "Goodnight to you all now."
While Donald and Douglas escorted the detectives and the Chief back to the SPD, David told Copper to check on Jordan and Cecco. Eventually, Copper carried both men out and gently placed them on the floor of the deck.
"Well, David," he said. "Jordan and Cecco have had quite a strike to the head…but nothing severe. Have them walk around when they come to. They'll be alright."
"Alright. Good work, Copper," David smiled. He looked up and saw Emily looking down to the deck from the pier.
"David! Thank goodness your ship is saved!" she whistled. "And these people…are they your crew? From your delivering days?"
"Oh, of course. Introductions," David said to himself. "Yes, Emily. This is my crew. You could call them the Sea Team, as it were. Copper, my first mate."
Copper took a deep bow to Emily, who giggled in return.
David gestured to the two unconscious men. "Jordan, my bosun. Cecco, my lookout. Don't worry. They'll be alright."
"I hope so," said Emily.
"And Gabbin, Jeff, Steve, Milo, and Adam are all my rigging men, who hoist and maintain the sails," finished David.
"Hello, Emily!" they all said together.
"Hello, shipmates!" Emily whistled. And everyone laughed. It had been quite a perilous night for David and his ship, but through it all, he managed to save his ship, reunite with his crew and have some of the engines help him too.
The next afternoon, Emily had finished her work for the day and decided to go up to Ffarquhar Station in the hopes of visiting David. She wondered how he was doing after such a shocking chain of events. But when she got there, she was most surprised. Donald was at the platform with a few flatbeds and trucks. And on the platform, all of David's household items, furniture, kitchen supplies, and everything else was being loaded onto Donald's train by several workmen. Then Emily saw David approach the platform with two large suitcases.
"David? What are you doing?" she asked. "All your belongings…You're not leaving, are you?"
"Of course not, Emily," said David.
"Then why are you loading all your stuff onto Donald's train here?" asked Emily.
David sighed. He knew he had to tell her. "I'm relocating to Arlesburgh, Emily."
"Why, David?" asked Emily.
"It's my response to what happened last night. It's best for the ship I worked so hard, for so long to achieve. I love Ffarquhar, but now, after yesterday's events, I've come to realize how vulnerable my prized ship must be. Never has anyone tried to steal it, and to think I never thought of such a thing over the course of time I've lived here. Therefore, to ensure it doesn't happen again, I am moving right to the edge of Arlesburgh, where I'll still have a patch of green. But I'll be much closer to my ship. Besides, I'll also be closer to Tidmouth and Knapford, where I see you ever-so often, Emily."
Emily had listened and thought for a minute or two. "Hmm. Well, I'll miss dropping you off right here, where it's lush and green, David…but yes, you will be closer to Knapford. And closer to the sea…such a lovely place after all."
"That's right," said David. He climbed onto her running plate and hugged her face. "Thank you so much, Emily. For bringing help to save my ship."
"Oh, you're welcome, David," Emily smiled sweetly. "I know Duck once imagined himself sailing to faraway lands…if only I could ride that very ship."
"Well, my ship is emerald green, just like you. It'd be a nice match to see you riding it.. And with any luck, one day, maybe you shall," said David.
"I hope so," said Emily. "So, what do you think you'll do, living at Arlesburgh, David?"
"I think I can also find a chance to so some simple work around here. I'm a very rich person after everything I've done in the Navy, but that doesn't mean I should wallow around doing nothing. I can protect the Sea Emperor, and Cap'n Calles' ship too. I can watch over the town and help the people there. I could offer services working at the harbour if necessary. Maybe give Captain Joe a rest sometimes and work with Skiff, keep watch in the lighthouse, or what have you. In fact, my whole crew could pitch in and offer service there. They can be my ship crew and Arlesburgh crew too."
"Wow," Emily breathed.
Then Donald's whistle blew. "Everything's ready, David. You ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," David joked. "Thank you, Donald. Well, Emily…see you on the seaside." And he kissed her cheek and waved to her.
And so it was arranged. Donald moved all of David's household items, furniture, bed, belongings, and every last valuable from Ffarquhar, up to his new property in Arlesburgh, where he found a house almost exactly like the one at Ffarquhar. This new house was on a large green field just across the line from the town, where David could see the ocean and his beloved ship. After the transfer and move-in was completely finished, Emily came by to visit David's new house. She thought it was the perfect place to be for David. Maybe better than Ffarquhar. Then she saw David rush out of the house, talking very fast about all the little details, how it looked nicer and how he loved being closer to the sea now. He was talking so fast, Emily couldn't catch much of what he said, until he finished it all off.
"Whoo! Ha-ha-ha-ha! I love it, I love it, I love it, I LOVE it!" he cheered as he jumped up and sat on her running plate again.
"Welcome home, David," Emily smiled. "You're with your ship now, and with many more people around you."
"Thanks, Emily," David smiled back as he playfully tickled her cheek, making her giggle.
So as it turned out, David was quite happy. He still had a lush green property and a wonderful house, but he was now at the foot of the seaside, surrounded by many people and engines alike. He was much closer to the Sea Emperor so he could keep a more watchful eye on it, and he was closer to the two main stations on the Main Line for him to watch the other engines, and be a little closer to Emily and the other engines, which pleased him very much. Very much indeed.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I wasn't planning for this to be posted on Paddy's Day, but it was intended to be a surprise story regardless, and it's something that I thought would've been the best way for David to move away from Ffarquhar, since I never really thought it suited him, and because it'll give him something to do rather than appearing to do nothing but wander around the island like he has done in previous stories. So yeah, tell us what you thought of this story and we'll see you with the next story. Also, wash your hands!