The Twins' Race
Written by Davey Moore
credit to NeverLander852 for the story idea
(Note: the sequence after Donald's second time taking the Kipper/encounter with the trucks is meant to be played out as an animation sequence featuring shots of Donald, Douglas and Henry pulling the train proudly through the night, with shot of their wheels pounding against the rails to follow, so as to cover up any confusion)
Donald and Douglas were racing along from Arlesburgh down to Knapford. The twins had been assigned to heed a heavy goods train to Vicarstown.
"Remember our agreement, Dougie!" Donald called. "The winner gets to heed the front of the train! I reckon I'll beat ye this time!"
"Ye sure aboot that, Donal'?!" Douglas asked, toiling not so far behind.
"Sure as I'll ever be!" Donald remarked, as they inched closer to Knapford Junction.
"Not if I get there first!" Douglas called out.
PEEP-PEEP!
He proceeded to overtake his brother at the last stretch, causing Donald to roll his eyes in around in surprise.
"Ay! Ne fair!" Donald shouted, and raced after as they both approached Knapford Junction.
"Woah!" Percy wailed, braking in surprise as they passed. "Donald! Douglas! Slow down!"
At last, the twins stopped right outside the station beside the goods train, Douglas having arrived right before Donald.
"Ach! Ye beat me again, man!" Donald groaned.
Douglas just laughed.
"Deal's a deal, Donal'! Better luck next time! An' good luck helping me wit dat heavy train!"
"Ach! Ne fair!" Donald snapped. "I was close before ye overtook me at dat last stretch!"
"Nonsense," Douglas calmly assured him. "Besides, he always get te pull de front of de train, Donal', an' observe the lovely scenery all roond! Therefore, tis only fair dat I get to go in front for a change."
"No, ne fair!" Donald argued. "Ye win every race we 'ave, Dougie!"
At last, Douglas lost patience and glared over at his twin.
"Ach! Get over yerself!" he snapped. "We always do what you wanna do and nothing more!"
"Ne true!" Donald denied.
"Yes, it is!"
"Isn't!"
"Is!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
The banter between the twins was so loud that it spread throughout the Junction, and even as far as the station!
Thomas widened his eyes with surprise as he hitched up to Annie and Clarabel and observed the twins arguing, and Gordon groaned as he left the station with the express with the express.
POOP-POOP!
James cringed as he listened to the banter from his own platform, and groaned loudly as Emily backed down beside him, also dismayed.
"That's the third time this week they've been at it!" he grumbled. "It never ends between those two, does it?!"
"No, James," Emily sighed exasperatedly. "It doesn't."
PEEP-PEEP!
"Good morning, you two!" he greeted.
"Isn't!"
"Is!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
Henry was caught by surprise by the sound of the twins arguing, and even his passengers covered their ears as they disembarked the train.
"Oh, dear," he groaned. "What's all the commotion?"
"It's Donald and Douglas again!" Emily explained, sighing with dismay m. "Their constant arguing is spreading bad atmosphere throughout the yard.
"Heh! Couldn't agree more myself!" James scoffed, before whistling and leaving with his goods train.
"Hmm…" Henry thought, before looking over at Emily. "I do agree that those two have been arguing more than usual lately. I think I have a plan to put an end to it."
"You do, Henry?" Emily wondered.
"Yes," Henry replied. "And I think it'll work too. I'm sure I have enough time before my next train."
PEEP-PEEP!
He slowly left the platform, and Emily watched with surprise and waited as Philip shunted her coaches up to her.
"Face it, Donal'," said Douglas rationally. "Yer just all steamed up cuz ye don't get to do what you wanna do!"
"You face it, Dougie!" Donald snapped back. "Ye tricked me in racing ye just so you could win and get to pull the front of the train!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
Henry rolled slowly and silently into sight, before clearing his throat loud enough to get their attention.
"Ahem!"
The twins both stopped arguing and turned their attention towards him with surprise.
"I say, you two," he began. "I think I have an idea to settle your little, erm...fued."
"Oh, do ye, Henry?" Donald wondered, as Douglas widened his eyes with surprise.
"How would you both like to take it in turns with me to pull the Flying Kipper?"
"The Flying Kipper?!" Douglas gasped.
"Go on, Henry," Donald encouraged, intrigued as Douglas listened on with suspicion.
"It's simple," Henry went on. "I figured you two enjoy racing each other and can't come to an agreement about who's faster. So the whole point of the challenge is to see if either of you can beat my record in pulling the Kipper before the end of the week. The winner of the challenge out of the three of us will come our the fastest, strongest engine."
"Yer on, Henry…!"
"Hush, Donal'!" Douglas snapped, listening on with suspicion and doubt.
"And," Henry added, " to make it interesting, if you both lose to me, you'll have to stop your arguing for good."
"Ach! Don't be silly, Henry!" Douglas reasoned. "De pair of uz know as well as ye that neither of us are fast or strong as ye are to pull such a heavy train."
"What?!" Donald gasped in shock.
"Correction!" Douglas suggested, glaring at Donald so as to keep him quiet. "Ne enough experience wit' de Kipper on our part. Sorry, Henry, but we're gonna 'ave te pass."
"No!" Donald snapped.
"Then I guess I've won already," Henry wondered, smiling as he looked the other way. "Guess that the two of you will have to stop your arguing for good then."
"Nonsense!" Donald protested, his brother widening his eyes and looking over at him with surprise. "We accept yer challeng, Henry! I can beat either of ye two any day!"
"Hush now, Donal'! Back down!" Douglas diffused.
"Never!"
"Then I guess it's a challenge," Henry decided, smiling at them both.
"What?!" Douglas gasped.
"I hereby deem you two participants in a race against me to pull the Flying Kipper!"
"Erm, can we talk aboot dis, Henry?" Douglas insisted.
"Too late now, Douglas," Henry suggested. "You're both already entered."
"Yay!" Donald cheered.
"Oh, brother," Douglas sighed with dismay.
"But don't worry," Henry assured them. "I think I'm going to give you a headstart, but only either of you may accept it. I must head back to my train bound for Vicarstown. Good luck, you two! I'm sure you'll need all that you can find."
PEEP-PEEP!
He proceeded to back down on his train, as the twins watched him with surprise.
As the twins made their way to Vicarstown, Douglas spoke severely to Donald about his decision.
"Dat was a very careless t'ing ye did gettin' uz both involved in dat challenge, Donal'!" Douglas reprimanded. "Ye know Henry's an engine fast an' experienced enough with de Flyin' Kipper to beat either of uz!"
"Nonsense, Dougie!" Donald assured him. "I 'ave it all under control!"
"No!" Douglas disagreed. "I ad all under control til ye spoke up! I'd find it only fitting that ye go first and take de headstart if you're so sure 'boot winnin'!"
"Wit' pleasure!" Donald happily agreed.
Then he sighed and looked away, as Douglas noticed how silent he went from the front of the train.
"Everythin' okey back dere, Donal'? You seem kinda quiet."
"I'm fine, Dougie. Just thinkin' a backup plan te beat dat Henry!"
Douglas chuckled as he proceeded to pull the train, observing the beautiful scenery all around.
But Donald felt dreadfully nervous inside, as as Douglas knew all too well…!
Later that evening, Donald arrived at Brendam Docks to pick up the Kipper, just as Porter had already shunted his wagons and trucks into place.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Good evening, Donald!" the dockyard engine greeted, as he had the train hitched up to Donald's tender. "Say, it's quite a surprise to see you here. What brings you to Brendam Docks?"
Donald grinned.
"Me brother and I are racing against Henry to see who is the fastest and strongest at pulling the Flying Kipper!" he explained. "Us three are sorta competing against one another."
Porter, Salty, Carly and Big Mickey all reacted with surprise, and Cranky gave the Caledonian engine a look of concern as he loaded some more fish crates into his trucks.
"Donald, don't you think it's kind of silly to go up for such a challenge against an engine as experienced with the Kipper as Henry?" he asked.
"He's pulled that train for years!" Porter added.
"Ne worries," Donald laughed. "I always pull the front of the train while Dougie usually gets the back of it. We always make it on time so I'm sure I'll beat him at this one."
"Not against Henry, you won't!" said Cranky doubtfully.
"Nonsense!" Donald assured him. "I'll do just fine and prove that I'm faster and stronger than both me brother and Henry!"
He glared as he heard the trucks giggling from the back of the train, and bumped them hard.
"An' I'll have none of ye all's nonsense, thank ye very much!" he snapped.
"We'll give him nonsense!" one truck whispered, as the rest giggled quietly amongst each other.
No one else heard them as Cranky continued to load the fish crates from the barge into Henry's trucks.
As soon as the train was fully loaded, the porter banged the last door, the guard waved his green flag and blew his whistle, and Donald was ready to go!
"Thank ye, Cranky!" he whistled, as he set off.
"Good luck, Donald!" Cranky called after him, then muttered to himself, "he's gonna need it!"
Donald set off into the night, pulling the train sternly along the Main Line.
"Ah!" he sighed with relief. "Now tis is more like it! A big, heavy goods train all to myself. I'm reckon I'll beat Dougie now and win de challenge, with no trouble whatsoever!"
But what Donald didn't know was that the trucks were secretly conspiring against him for bumping them, and had their own little trick ready!
"Pay Donald out! Pay Donald out!" they whispered to one another.
But Donald didn't hear them as he proceeded proudly further along the line, approaching James up ahead.
"Good evening, James!" he whistled. "Nice night for it, isn't it!"
"Heh!" James scoffed quietly, as he passed by with his own goods train. "There's a sight you don't see every evening!"
Next up, Donald saw Thomas coming up the line with Annie and Clarabel.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Keep it up, Donald!" he whistled aloud.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Thanks, Thomas!" Donald whistled back, as he continued along, the trucks and wagons shaking and rattling behind him.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" they groaned.
"Come along now!" Donald demanded. "We mustn't be late!"
The trucks whispered quietly to each other as Donald pressed further on, approaching the first signal on his route up ahead.
"Oh, dear," he gasped. "Dat signal is red! Not the best way to start off a challenge!"
"Nor is this!" the first truck quietly giggled, as the others giggled quietly after him.
"What?" Donald wondered, preparing to pin down his brake.
"Now!" the trucks shouted, and surged quickly forward, taking Donald by surprise.
"Woah!" he wailed. "Stop!"
"On! On! On!" the trucks shouted.
Donald's driver applied the brakes, but couldn't do some in time as Donald passed through the red signal.
"Ahhhhhhh!" he shouted, as Percy approached up ahead with some milk tankers. "Look out, Percy!"
"Donald!" Percy shouted. "Slow down!"
"I caaaaaant!" Donald wailed, before quickly being diverted to a different line.
Percy braked to a halt and looked back at surprise.
"What was that?!"
At that moment, his signal went red, and he sighed in dismay as he looked up at it.
As Donald was diverted to a siding, he still couldn't stop as he approached a set of buffers up ahead.
"De buffers!" he gasped. "Dose will stop me!"
"We don't think so!" one truck chuckled, as they pushed him on.
"Woah!" Douglas wailed, braking hard as he approached the buffers.
But even the buffers weren't enough to stop Donald, as he burst right through them and into a field nearby!
"Ahhhhhhh!" he screamed, suddenly coming to an abrupt halt.
His crew had jumped clear before the crash, but Donald stood dazed and surprised, listening to the noisy, chattering trucks behind him.
The trucks giggled rudely and noisily behind Donald, who sighed with dismay as his driver and fireman felt him all over.
By morning, Douglas had arrived with Rockyto lift Donald and the derailed trucks back onto the rail, and Henry came along to deliver the unhurt trucks.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Well," he wondered. "I guess it didn't go very well for a head start. I am surprised."
Donald glared at Henry as he was lifted onto Rocky's flatbed, while Douglas just sighed and looked the other way with embarrassment.
"You're in luck though," Henry went on. "I have been asked to take a midnight special to the Mainland this evening, and have therefore accepted the offer! I told the Fat Controller that either of you would gladly take the Kipper in my place. So I'm guessing it's your turn now, Douglas!"
He whistled as he pulled the trucks proudly away, and Douglas glared up at his twin as he pulled him aboard Rocky on the way to the SteamWorks.
"I warned ye aboot this, Donal'!" he reprimanded. "How could ye 'ave been so careless an' gotten tis race to a bad start?!"
"'Ey! I didna mean te!" Donald argued. "Those trucks ain't easy to ne handle, Dougie! I thought they'd a known better then to play tricks on uz!"
"Aye!" Douglas agreed. "But ne still, if ye can't keep them under control, ye'd both make uz both look like fools in de end!"
"Nonsense, Dougie! Ye always win a race against me! Ye can beat dat Henry any day!"
"Huh!" Douglas scoffed, watching as James approached up ahead.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Ah!" the red engine taunted. "So the race didn't go off to a very good start now, did it?"
Donald shot him a look of dismay, but Douglas just rolled his eyes and continued on, approaching Gordon up ahead with the express.
POOP-POOP!
"Fancy…competing in a challenge of strength and speed with a train such as the Flying Kipper!" he laughed.
The twins just ignored Gordon as they continued along towards the SteamWorks, though Donald was beginning to wonder whether Douglas could be right about the challenge…
That night, it was Douglas' turn to pull the Flying Kipper. He waited patiently for Cranky to load his trucks.
"Aye, Cranky!" he wondered. "Is tis always so busy every night at de Docks?!"
"You have no idea," Cranky murmured, smiling at him as he loaded the next set of crates into Douglas' truck.
"By the way," he went on. "I heard all about your challenge with Henry. What's your opinion on it?"
"Well," Douglas admitted, "it's just something that me brother Donal' got me into…all because he lost to me in a race and had to go behind while I pulled the front of the train! I'm sure I won't really beat Henry's record."
"Hmm…, at least one of you isn't as optimistic," Cranky remarked.
Douglas took this into consideration as he waited for his trucks to be finished loading.
Nevertheless, Douglas made good time on his journey with the Kipper that night, and even managed to keep the silly trucks under control.
"Hold back! Hold back!" they whispered.
They giggled quietly to each other and attempted to let their brakes on, though Douglas pressed further on, confident so as not to let them get the better of him.
'Come along, ye trucks!" he whistled aloud, smiling confidently as he surged forward. "We must keep time, ye know."
"Shoot!" one truck snapped. "It worked with Donald. Why won't it work with him?"
"Let's try again later!" one whispered.
"Yeah, yeah, let's!" another giggled.
But Douglas took no notice as he continued along on his journey.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
One of the stops on Donald's route was Wellsworth Station. As he stopped at the platform to let the porter unload his trucks, the stationmaster looked at his watch.
"Hmm…" he thought, looking down at his watch before looking up again.
"Almost 10 seconds to quarter after!" he confirmed. "That almost beats Henry's record!"
"Ach! No kiddin'!" Douglas gasped. "Can't say I'm surprised I didnae surpass it! Henry has much more experience wit tis train dan me!"
"Heh! We'll prove so!" one truck whispered, as the rest giggled quietly.
"This is quite an amazing record, Douglas," the stationmaster went on. "You should be proud. None of the other engines were able to match Henry's timing as close."
Douglas smiled, as fish crates were quickly unloaded from his trucks and vans.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
As Douglas continued on through the night, the trucks had their own ideas on how to handle an engine who wasn't used to them!
"I'm ready when you guys are!" the truck at the front whispered.
"Now!" one whispered.
"Now!" another shouted.
And all of a sudden, the trucks took Douglas by surprise and surged forward.
"On! On! On!" they shouted, and giggled and chattered noisily behind him.
Douglas shut his eyes and slipped his brakes on, gradually slowing him down as he made his way down the hill and towards the next signal.
"Ooooooh!" he groaned, slowing down as he came to the red signal up ahead and stopped at it.
He opened his eyes, then sighed with relief.
"Phew! Dat was a near thing!"
He listened to the trucks groan quietly amongst himself from behind him, as Rebecca stormed past through the red signal.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Keep it up, Douglas!" she called.
Douglas whistled back at her, then looked up at his signal as it turned before setting off again.
The trucks knew better than to play tricks on Douglas now, and he was able to finish his journey without a hitch!
The next morning, the twins arrived at Vicarstown Station just as Henry was waiting for his passengers to board the train.
"How did you do last night, Douglas?" he asked.
"Oh, not bad," Douglas admitted. "It was honestly a fun little change ef course, though I'm not certain I did as well as ye on yer first run, Henry!"
Donald shot him a funny look, when at that moment, the stationmaster ran up.
"Good news, Douglas!" he announced. "You have been well and truly on time last night. In fact, you actually tied with Henry for his record of completing the Kipper run in just under an hour's time!"
The three engines gasped with surprise, as Douglas nearly fell back in astonishment.
"I couldna! Henry's much more experienced wit de Kipper than I am!"
"Apparently not," Henry corrected rather flatteringly. "You may have just been lucky last night, Douglas. Delays are prone to happening, but I've nearly just missed a few over the nights when I was able to meet that record."
"Ach! Surely it was nothing, Henry…!" Douglas assured him.
"I do congratulate you, Douglas," Henry went on. "And you were only close to beating my record and winning the challenge. But may I remind you two that tonight is well and indeed my turn to take the Kipper. I have the utmost confidence, though, in the both of you that you'll win this race if you set your minds to it."
"Don't be silly, Henry!" Donald told him. "Surely I've proven I can't beat either of of ye in a race…!"
At that moment, the guard's whistle blew and Henry was ready to set off.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Good luck, you two! May the best engine win" he called out, as he set off with his coaches.
Douglas sighed with dismay as Donald rolled up beside him.
"Are you alright, Dougie?" he asked.
"No," Douglas replied. "I'm sorry, Donal'. I was so close to the winning streak and now I let us both down. Henry's sure to win now."
"Ach! Nonsense!" Donald scoffed. "Ye tried, despite a matter of skepticism, and ye almost made it too. Ye can beat dat Henry!"
Douglas sighed and looked the other way, as Donald took a deep breath and smiled at him.
"Tell ye what, man. We both had a go at dis challenge, and neither of uz were able te make it. We can easily back out if ye'd like."
Douglas' eyes widened with surprise as he heard this, and he looked back over at his twin.
"No!" he bellowed, taking his brother by surprise. "I proved de ability to surpass Henry after almost having beat his record. I wouldna want uz to look like fools amongst the other engines otherwise! We are not backin down, Donal'! Not yet!"
Donald beamed.
"Dat's the spirit, Dougie!" he chuckled. "Quick thinking too! We won't let dat Henry get the best of us!"
PEEP-PEEP!
"Thanks, man!" Douglas whistled, as he rolled slowly out of the station.
"By de way," he went on, then looked back at him, grinning. "Once Henry's done his part, yer next in line out of the pair of uz to compete!"
PEEP-PEEP!
"Wit' pleasure!" Donald replied, slowly backing away out of the station.
Later that evening, Henry told the dockside crew all about his competition with the twins as his wagons were being loaded.
"To make it interesting," he explained, "I told them that if neither of them were able to beat my record, they'd have to stop their arguing for good."
Porter chuckled as he backed down from Henry's brake van.
"That'd be a challenge!" he remarked.
"I know," Henry replied. "And so far, neither of them were able to do, though Douglas was rather close…by only a few seconds."
"I'd be surprised if either of those two were able to beat your record, Henry," Cranky put in, as he loaded the last of Henry's fish crates onto the ground. "No else on the Island knows that train better than you do, so getting those two to stop arguing seems like a simple enough challenge for an engine like yourself."
"The challenge is not on me, Cranky," Henry corrected. "It's on them. And so far, I'm surprised to know that Douglas almost beat my record, which seems only fit considering he wins every race against Donald."
Porter and Carly chuckled, as Cranky sighed and lifted his hoist up, watching as Henry took off with the Kipper.
PEEP-PEEP!
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Throughout the night, Henry was able to keep to time as he made deliveries to every station on his route.
"Right on time as usual, Henry!" the stationmaster remarked, as he arrived at Maron. "Well done!"
PEEP-PEEP!
"Thank you, sir!" Henry whistled, as the men began to unload his trucks.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Henry puffed quickly and steadily over Gordon's Hill with the trucks rattling and groaning behind him.
"Come along! Come along!" he whistled.
"Trickety-trock! Trickety-trock! Alright! Alright!" the trucks chanted from behind, knowing better than plot against Henry in retaliation.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Henry made his last stop at Vicarstown all in good time, as the stationmaster was waiting on the platform.
"Hmm…" he thought, looking down at his watch. "Just a quarter after midnight! You've beaten another record by just two minutes, Henry!. But still I must say, Douglas was rather close the night before by only one minute."
"I know," Henry thought, sighing in relaxation, as the men unloaded the last of his trucks, and Rosie prepared to take them away.
Over the next couple of night, each of the three engines took in turns to take the Kipper at least once…
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
PEEP-PEEP!
"T'ank ye, Cranky!" Donald called out, as he left the Docks, with the trucks and wagons rattling steadily behind him.
This time, Donald was able to make consistently good time and keep the silly trucks under control, as he chuffed on steadily through the night.
"Psst! It's Donald again!" one truck whispered.
"Let's get him!" another whispered.
"Yeah, yeah, let's!" another giggled.
However, as the trucks began their silly tricks and pushed forward, Donald was able to pin down his brakes properly and stop them from proceeding any further.
"On! On! On!" the trucks shouted, surging forward as they approached a red signal up ahead.
This time, Donald was able to pin down his brakes and groaned, shutting his eyes as they slowed down until they reached the signal. Donald opened his eyes and sighed with relief, looking up at the red signal.
"Managed to stop dat time!" he assured.
POOP-POOP!
He listened as Gordon thundered past with the express, then waited as his signal turned green, before setting off again.
"Come along, now!" he demanded firmly to the trucks. "No dawdlin'!"
"Oh, alright, alright," one truck sighed with boredom.
"We were pretty close though, weren't we?" another wondered.
Donald ignored them and proudly continued on his journey, as Douglas and Henry proceeded to do on the nights that followed. Each of the three engines chuffed proudly through the night with their deliveries, their wheels pounding quickly and sturdily against the rails.
On the morning after each of the three engines have taken the Kipper at least twice, the twins waited at Vicarstown for their drivers to return, as Henry's passengers boarded the train.
At last, the twin's drivers walked out of the office, Douglas' driver holding a piece of paper as they walked towards them.
"It seems…" he began, "like de both of ye 'ave come second and third place behind Henry; Douglas behind him by four seconds and Donal' toilin' behind by five."
"Aye! That's almost an achievement!" Douglas exclaimed.
"Oh, bother," Donald groaned with dismay.
"Cheer up, Donal'!" his driver soothed. "Ye were pretty close!"
"Aye!" Donald agreed, then looked over at his brother.
"Ah well," he sighed. "We only know what dat means, don't we, Dougie?"
"Aye!" Douglas agreed. "Dat either one of uz has one more chance te beat Henry or else we'll have to stop our wee banter fer good!"
"Ach! Tis is bettin' te impossible on uz! We cannae agree on certain tings!"
"Aye!" Douglas sighed dully.
"You should take de final round, Dougie!" Douglas suggested. "Ye was closer to de winnin' streak dan I was."
"Nope, sorry, Donal', but tonight is your turn to take the Kipper, fair and square!"
"Ach! Ne fair!" Donald snapped. "I cannae beat neither of ye! I know dat now!"
"Well, ye shoulda' thought 'o dat before ye entered uz, Donal'," Douglas replied smugly. "Besides, five seconds behind is best pavin' way for another record, so maybe you should give it a go!"
"Ach! I cannae do that, man! I'd let us both down!"
"Ye cannae and ye can!" Douglas encouraged, rather emphasising.
"Cannae!"
"Can!'
"Cannae!'
"Can!"
"Cannae!"
"Can!"
Henry watched the banter back and forth with interest, then took a deep breath and whistled loudly enough so as to get their attention.
"If you're both so uncertain about who should take the Flying Kipper on the last round," he suggested, "then why not both of you take it?"
"Ach! Don't be silly, Henry!" Douglas remarked. "It doesn't take two tender engines to pull de train…even though Donal' and I are only a third short of your size."
"Exactly," Henry beamed, "so altogether, you'd both be at least a third larger than me, meaning…"
He thought for a moment, smiling as he prepared to finish his sentence.
"…you'd both be able to have the train delivered in just a quarter time."
"That's ne a good idea, Henry!" Donald suggested. "Neither me or me brother could agree o'er de last train we pulled! I'm bettin' more on Dougie since he is in second place."
"It's ne me turn, Donal'!" Douglas hastily retorted.
At that moment, the guard's whistle blew and Henry was ready to go.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Suit yourselves," he told them, as he slowly exited the station, looking back. "But you better come to an agreement before the end of the day, or else you'll both lose to me."
The twins took a moment to think about this, as they watched Henry disappear in the distance.
"Well, Donal'," Douglas wondered, looking over at his twin, "are ye prepared for uz to stop our arguing for good?"
"Never!" Donald snapped, taking Douglas by surprise, then sighed and settled down.
"I mean…" he thought, "I tink we should both give it our all for our last round. We might end up beating Henry's record if we make it fast enough."
"Fine wit' me," Douglas agreed, then smiled smugly at his twin. "Only under one condition."
"What's that?"
"That I get de front of de train."
"Ach! That cannae happen!" Donald protested. "Yer much better at handling dose noisy trucks dan me, Dougie!"
"Nonsense, Donal'! Ye dinnae do too bad on yer last round. Ye can manage dose trucks just as well as I can!"
"Cannae!" Donald argued.
"Can!" Douglas argued back.
"Cannae!"
"Can!"
"Cannae!"
"Can!"
POOP-POOP!
"Oh, the idignity!" Gordon groaned, as he arrived at the station in time to hear the twins arguing back and forth.
By nightfall, Donald was well on time at Brendam Docks, waiting as Porter had his trucks and wagons in place, as Cranky unloaded the fish crates from the ship.
"So," the crane snidely remarked, "you're still trying to beat Henry's record, are you?"
"Aye!" Donald responded. "Pretty close to it too. Though, apparently, me brother Douglas backed out at our last chance to triumph cuz I wouldn't let 'im 'ave de front of de train!"
"I see," Cranky observed, proceeding to unloaded the next set of crates onto the ground.
"I musta say," Donald went on, "he did leave me to me own devices in a time where I needed it the most…even though he nearly beat Henry by only a few seconds! It was very self-centered an' cowardly of 'im, I tell ye."
Douglas arrived at the Docks in time to hear his brother's statement, whistling loudly.
PEEP-PEEP!
"I beg ye pardon, Donal'."
"Dougie!" Donald gasped, nearly speechless. "Eh, erm, what are ye doin' here?"
"Couldna let ye have all the glory for yeself, Donal'!"
Donald raised an eyebrow at Douglas, who just sighed, as Cranky grinned and turned around for the next load.
"Oh, alright, man," Douglas admitted. "I came to help ye compete in de final round, whether I get de front of de train or not."
Donald beamed at his brother, who grinned right back at him and chuckled.
"An' besides, yer headlamp looks just a teeny bit brighter dan me own!" he joked.
Donald laughed along with his brother at this, then sighed and smiled.
"Knowin' that me own brother came to help me has already brightened me up. Therefore, I find it only fit that ye take de lead dis time, Dougie."
"Are you sure, Donal'?"
"Aye!" Donald replied. "An' quickly too. We've no time to lose if we're gonna make it on time and beat Henry!"
"Right, man!" Douglas agreed
He whistled loudly as he rolled further up, then backed down onto the next track and in front of Donald and the train.
"Okay, Donal'," he suggested. "If we're gonna make it anywhere on time and avoid making ourselves look bad, ye must listen te everything I say."
"What?" Donald inquired
"Just trust me on dis, man!" Douglas encouraged. "I'm de one in second place, remember?"
"Fine," Donald sighed.
They waited as Cranky unloaded the last of their trucks and their trucks and vans were full, before the guard's whistle blew and they were ready to go.
PEEP-PEEP!
PEEP-PEEP!
"Ready, Donal'?"
"Ready when you are, Dougie!"
"Good den! Off we go!"
The cavalcade set off from Brendam Docks into the night, as Salty and Porter honked and whistled after them.
Making their way into the night, both the twins made steady time as Douglas' lamp shone brightly against the track.
"Everything okay back der, Donal'?"
"Aye!" Donald called back. "Just managin' to keep these silly trucks under control!"
He chuckled quietly, though the trucks didn't find this very funny and began whispering amongst themselves.
"That's no way to speak," one whispered.
"We'll get even," another whispered, as the rest of them chuckled quietly.
The twins were unaware that the trucks were planning another one of their tricks, but their friends nevertheless remained encouraging of them as they passed.
"Well done, Donald and Douglas!" Thomas whistled, as he passed with Annie and Clarabel. "Keep up the good work!"
"Thank ye, Thomas!" they both called as they passed.
Up ahead, the twins saw Emily pulling her own passenger train through the night.
"Wow!" she marveled as she saw them. "I didn't know it could take both of you to pull the Kipper!"
"We're both in dis together, Emily!" Douglas admitted.
"It's our last chance to beat Henry!" Donald added.
PEEP-PEEP!
"Keep it up, you two!" Emily encouraged, as she passed by and disappeared in the distance.
"Thanks for helpin' me, Dougie!" Donald called from behind. "I honestly don't know how I'd manage otherwise…being just two seconds behind ye and all."
"Ach! It's my pleasure, man," Douglas told him kindly, before looking up ahead. "Though I must warn ye though, we are approaching a red signal. Ye might wanna pin your brakes."
"Will do!" Donald agreed.
Both twins attempted to pin down their brakes, though the trucks began to surge forward.
"On! On! On!" they shouted.
"No!" Donald wailed. "Not again!"
"Donal', what's going on?!" Douglas gasped, as they surged right through the red signal.
"These trucks are pushing us! They're pushing ussssss!"
"Well, get 'em to stop!"
"I caaaaan't!"
"Come on, man," Douglas groaned, shutting his eyes and applying his brakes harder. "Just try a little harder."
"I'm…doin' everything I can, Dougie!" Donald groaned, applying his brakes harder against the surging trucks. "I can't get them to stop!"
"On! On! Faster! Faster!" the trucks chanted.
The twins groaned and wailed all the way down the line, approaching James at a set of points up ahead.
"Look out, James!" Douglas shouted.
"Gah!" James gasped, reacting with surprise and backing down onto the other track as the cavalcade approached.
"WOAAAAAH!" the twins wailed.
They gradually slowed the train down by applying their brakes, as James backed his trucks down onto the other track.
The train came to an abrupt halt, as trucks and wagons shook and rattled, to a point where one of the wagons tipped over.
CRASH!
Fish spilled out all over the line and even over James!
"Uh oh," Donald gasped.
James spit the fish from his mouth with disgust, then glared over at the twins.
"Donald, Douglas, whatever are you two playing at now?!"
"Sorry, James," Douglas apologized. "These trucks pushed us beyond our control."
"Heh!" James scoffed, looking the other way as he continued to spit out fish from his mouth.
At last, Harvey arrived to load the fish back into the empty wagon, and the twins were ready to go again.
PEEP-PEEP!
PEEP-PEEP!
"Thank ye, Harvey!" they both called, as they continued along with the train.
"I'm sorry, Dougie," Donald sighed. "I shoulda kept these trucks more under control."
"Ach, ye couldna helped it, man," Douglas sympathized. "I must say, though, it doesne look we're gonna beat Henry's record this time."
"Oh, it doesne matter if we win or lose," Donald admitted, Douglas listening on with surprise. "Cuz even though arguing is part of who we are, it can easily be avoided if we can agree more te certain things!"
"Aye! Statement well said, Donal'!"
The twins continued on into the night side-by-side, determined to finish their delivery all in good time.
Next morning, Henry arrived at Knapford Station with his passenger train, just in time to catch the twins as they prepared to set off with their own heavy goods train.
"Well, you two," he began, "I heard the Kipper was well and truly on time last night."
"Aye," Donald sighed glumly. "But yet neither of uz was able to beat yer record, Henry, so I guess we…"
"Say no more, Donald," Henry cut off, beaming as they both looked over at him with surprise. "I took the night to think it over, and I think I'm going to let you both off the hook since Douglas did tie with me at some point."
"No need, Henry," Douglas assured him. "Me and Donal' have already made up our quarrel for good.
"Oh," Henry wondered, raising an eyebrow as James listened with surprise from nearby.
"Well," the green engine chuckled. "I congratulate you both on doing so then. Good luck now."
PEEP-PEEP!
PEEP-PEEP!
"Thank ye, Henry!" they both called, before moving forward with their goods train.
The twins set off with a goods train bound for Arlesburgh, Donald in front and Douglas behind.
"I've been thinkin' 'boot it, Donal'," Douglas told his twin. "An' I don't think our journeys would be nearly as adventurous without ye taking de front of de train an' leadin' uz on our way."
"Aye! Thanks, Dougie! I'm sorry I got de pair of uz involved in such a silly challenge. Perhaps it's best we stop our fighting for good."
"No, man," Douglas insisted. "I'm sorry. De chain o' events wouldna never happened if I didn't tease ye in de first place."
"I'm sorry!" Donald insisted.
"No, I am!" Douglas argued back.
"I am!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
James groaned with annoyance as he listened to the fight back and forth from Knapford, as Thomas and Henry chuckled to each other.
"Some things just don't change between those two, do they?" Thomas noted to Henry.
"Not in the slightest," Henry chuckled back, whistling loudly as he set off with his train back for Vicarstown, listening with amusement at the twins' banter as he passed them.
"I'm sorry!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
And so Set 3 continues with…probably the longest story I've written in quite a while. In all fairness, there was quite a lot of story to tell here, and I enjoyed the dynamics I've expanded upon here: making Donald and Douglas seem distinct in a way while elaborating on their usual banter from the TV series, while Henry stars alongside them in a role I never thought I'd give him but I did: blending his friendly, easygoing persona with perhaps some of the cockiness he retained in the early RWS stories/Classic Series. I've left the Scottish twins to the sidelines last set while having them appear more prominently the set before at a point and I wanted to see more of them in the CGI series, so giving them the storyline I have here was a real doozy! Thanks again to NeverLander852 for the story idea. I hope you all enjoyed this Donald and Douglas outing. They'll be taking a bit of a backseat as the set continues, though they may pop in supporting roles in some places. Feel free to leave your thought on this story, and as always, stay tuned for…
Diesel's Tall Tales - Diesel is cross with James and Duck respectively for treating him in a condescending way, and schemes to spread rumors and turn the two at odds. However, he gets more than he bargains for when the trucks decide to instigate the scheme even further and circulate the rumors around him, resulting in a clash between three engines who aren't necessarily the best of friends!
The Trouble With Twins (by NeverLander852) - Max and Monty cause havoc all over the Island up to the Clay Pits, and Bill and Ben are blamed for it. Timothy sets out to solve the mystery and prove the China Clay twins' innocence.
Emily Takes Care - Emily takes Annie and Clarabel out while Thomas is on his quarry run, but the coaches don't entirely trust her and are harsh on her with every mistake she makes.
Peace At Last - Murdoch is transferred to Vicarstown to help out with the goods duties, however he is immediately unsettled by the loud, noisy environment, and finds himself constantly late with his trains attempting to seek the peace and quiet of the countryside.
Put Upon Peter Sam - Peter Sam is always keen to help other engines in a state of bother, however his generous nature is exploited when Rheneas is in need of repairs and other engines bribe him into doing their work as well as his own.