A/N: This is my third friendship story, and its events take place during the seventh and eighth seasons.

I would like to clarify that I'm not a Lady-fan (please don't complain! My children love TATMR and some people might favor it a little too), but I accept that she's officially the first female steam engine in the TV show, so I found it unfair not to include her in some way in this story. But I've decided to give her a different role than the one that she has in TATMR, because, in my opinion, a 'magical engine' doesn't fit into the universe created by the Rev Awdry. The idea for her role in this story came to my mind inspired by the fact that she had appeared to Thomas in a dream in *Calling All Engines* to give him advice. I discovered that she could help me to explain some of the mysteries of the Island of Sodor, and I must say that I'm really satisfied with her help.

I want to dedicate this story to my friend AaronCottrell97. This should have been a gift on his birthday, but due to my occupations I couldn't do it on time. But better late than never, right? Aaron, this is my 'late Christmas gift' for you. Hope you like, for you've inspired me to write it. :D

Thanks to Jeremy for helping me as always! :)

HAPPY 2017 EVERYONE!

Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas & Friends. All recognisable characters belong to HiT Entertainment. They are used for entertainment purposes only.

The OC Gabriel Sand belongs to me.

Historical characters: Sir Nigel Gresley (19/06/1876*5/04/1941) and James Stirling (2/10/1835*12/01/1917)

CHAPTER I

A PRAYER TO AN ANGEL

"We'll be honoured by her presence... She'll be the flower of our garden..." -Thomas

"Thomas..." said Edward, "stop laughing, please?" Thomas obeyed, but just for one minute. "Thomas," insisted Edward, "it's too late... We must sleep." Thomas tried to stop laughing by pressing his lips, but without success. Edward got angry. "THOMAS!"

"I'm sorry EdwaHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Oh, dear..." Poor Nº 2 rolled his eyes.

It was late at night and Thomas did not stop laughing. All the engines were already cross with him, although, at first, all of them had been in his favour. All of them had been in his favour except Gordon, of course, since he was the target of Thomas' laugh.

"I'm the fastest engine on Sodor!" Thomas imitated Gordon's voice. "Express coming throuuuuuuugh! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Why don't you go to sleep somewhere else, you silly little tank engine?" suggested Gordon.

"I was about to propose him the same," affirmed Henry.

"We should call the police to arrest him," opined James, "otherwise we won't sleep tonight."

Thomas had reason enough to be excited. In the morning, he had collected a jet engine from Brendam Docks to take it to the airfield. But when he was coupled up to the truck, Cranky's hook accidentally hit the switch of the jet engine causing it to turn on. And Thomas went flying across Sodor in a supersonic speed... That's why he was so excited now. His dream of going as fast as Gordon had come true. And he had actually gone FASTER than Gordon.

"Hi, Gordon! Bye, Gordon! Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Thomas, remembering what he said when he had overtaken Gordon through the main line.

"Knock it off, Thomas! You'll never be as fast as me unless that another miracle like today happens."

"Admit it, Gordon; you had never been so surprised! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Ohhhh…"

At this point, Edward was already about to agree to call the police to arrest Thomas. But since Gordon mentioned 'miracle', it occurred to him to ask for help from heaven. So, Edward took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. "Oh, Angel of the Engines!" he exclaimed. "Please, make Thomas keep silent so we can sleep."

A stony silence seized the Tidmouth Sheds for a few seconds. Everyone was staring at Edward in surprise.

"What's that, Edward?" asked a sweet voice.

"A little prayer, Percy."

"I mean… what 'Angel of the Engines' is."

"Oh… Don't you know that we engines have an angel too?"

"Well… n-no."

"And do the others know it?"

"NO," it was the general answer.

With that, Edward thought perhaps hearing a story might distract Thomas from his bad behaviour. "Then, would all of you like to hear the story of our angel?" he asked.

"YEEESSS!"

"Okay. Pay attention." Edward cleared his throat. "This hap-"

"Hey, Edward!" interrupted Thomas with his cheeky smile. "Could that angel make me faster than Gordon? Hee! Hee!"

Edward frowned at him. His patience was big but not infinite, and this time Thomas had stretched it. "Thomas, do you want to hear a story or… a scolding?"

Thomas' smile faded. The last thing he would want in life is that Edward gets angry with him. "I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I want to hear the story."

"That's better," responded Edward. "Well, as I said, this happened a long time ago, in a village in England called Netherseal. It was a cold Christmas morning, and a little boy named Nigel watched the snow from his bedroom window. He was only 4-years-old, but he was already such a fan of trains that he dreamed of working on the railways when he was older. But besides that, he also dreamed that engines had life as people. And as he watched the snow in this Christmas morning, it happened something very special…"

A few metres above the snow, a cloud of golden dust suddenly began to form. The dust particles moved in such a way that they took the form of a small steam engine, and in front of the engine's smoke-box, it could clearly see a beautiful female human face. Little Nigel was amazed. "Wow!" he exclaimed. Then he approached the window until he almost touched the glass with the tip of his nose. So he could see that the engine was looking at him. "Hello, my sweet Nigel," said the engine with a soft voice.

"Ohhhh…" Nigel could barely believe that the engine had spoken to him. "How do you know my name?" he asked innocently.

"I know all about you," responded the engine, "because I'm an angel."

"Oh! I didn't know that angels had engine's form and woman's face!"

The angel smiled. "In reality, this is just the form I've taken for you to see something concrete. I'm here to tell you that I'll make your dream of seeing living engines come true."

Nigel opened his eyes wide and stayed open-mouthed. "Can you really do that?"

"Yes. But I'll need your help."

"Of course I'll help you! What should I do?"

"First of all, you must grow and become a railway engineer. Then, I'll need you to design engines with a face in front of their smoke-boxes."

"Just like the one you have?"

"Exactly. And then, when the engines are totally built, I'll use the flame of human love to give them live. They'll open their eyes as their boilers begin to bubble."

"Wooow... And will the engines be able to speak with people?"

"Absolutely. And they'll have human feelings, being able to love and feel happiness or sadness according to circumstances."

"That sounds amazing! Thank you for making my dream come true!"

"It's a pleasure, Nigel."

"Oh... but..." Nigel felt a bit sad, "it's still a long time before that happens..."

"Don't worry. Time passes very fast. Just enjoy your childhood now, and you'll see that in the twinkling of an eye you'll already be designing your engines."

Nigel felt happy again. "I'll design big, strong, fast engines, and they'll be very famous."

"I'm sure you will. Well, I must return to heaven. See you, my sweet Nigel."

"Wait, lady! You didn't tell me your name... How should I call you in my prayers?"

The angel looked at him tenderly. "Just call me... Lady."

Nigel smiled. "See you, Lady."

And Lady disappeared in her cloud of golden dust.

As soon as the cloud had dissipated, Nigel ran to find his parents to tell them what had happened. He found them near the fireplace.

"Dad! Mum!" he exclaimed. "When I grow up, I'm going to design engines that speak with people!"

His parents smiled at him. They knew that Nigel loved the engines and wanted to be able to speak with them. "Of course you will, son," said his father. "You'll be an excellent railway engineer," added his mother.

"I know. I just saw the angel who will help me to give them live."

His parents looked at each other in surprise. It is not common that people see angels. His father thought that maybe it was just his infantile imagination, since kids dream about many things, especially at Christmas. But his mother suddenly remembered that he had born so fragile that everyone thought he would not survive, but fortunately, Nigel survived. So, she looked at him tenderly and caressed his cheek. "An angel protected your precious life the day you've born," she said. "Perhaps it was that angel the one you just saw. It wanted you to know that you'll do great things."

Nigel smiled widely and hugged his parents.

Several years later, when Nigel finally became a railway engineer, he designed an engine with a male human face. Some of his workmates thought he was crazy, and they told him that childhood dreams are just childhood dreams and it would never be possible to build a living engine. But Nigel knew that Lady's appearance had not been a dream and that angels do not lie, so he pushed ahead with his project. And when the engine was built and his boiler began to bubble, the engine opened his eyes...

Nigel burst into tears of happiness.

Lady had used the immense love that humans feel for the engines to work this miracle.

All the engines were impressed by the story.

"No one could believe it," continued Edward. "The engine began to look from side to side, just like a baby who still can't see the distant things clearly. So Nigel approached him and put a hand on his buffer. His heart pounded as the engine's eyes met his own. 'Hello', said Nigel with a smile. The engine looked into his eyes for some seconds; then he smiled too. 'Hello', he responded. And now everybody cried with emotion. The news spread rapidly throughout the world, and very soon, they began to build engines with human face in all the workshops." Edward smiled at his friends. "So engines are living thanks to an angel and a dreamer little boy who became the famous Sir Nigel Gresley."

"That's the most wonderful story I've ever heard," said Henry.

"It's simply awesome and touching," added Percy. "I was about to cry."

"Edward…" said Gordon, looking at nothing, "have you said… Sir Nigel Gresley?"

Edward smiled. "Yes, Gordon. Your father."

Gordon put on his best smug face. Now he had one more reason to boast. He was one of the "big, strong, fast engines" that his father dreamed to design.

"But why don't all the engines have a life like us, Edward?" asked James.

"That's because not all engineers were interested in designing engines with face," explained Edward. "But there were some of them that decided to experiment with very old engines. They redesigned their smoke-boxes to give them a face, and much to their surprise, those engines also opened their eyes after having their smoke-boxes rebuilt. Lady even made these engines remember their own stories of the past."

"Wow… That's even more impressive," said Henry. "And what about the trucks, coaches, diesel engines and other kind of living machines?"

"They're also alive by human love and Lady's help," responded Edward.

"I wonder if we could see Lady," said Percy.

"She usually appears when an engine is in serious trouble or needs some advice." Edward closed his eyes and smiled. "I've already seen her."

"WHAT?!" exclaimed his friends.

Edward looked at them sweetly. "It was that day in which I suffered an explosion when I was taking a passenger train from the China Clay Works," he said. "I felt so much pain that everything around me turned dark. I thought I was going to faint. But then, in the middle of darkness I could see a golden light… and Lady appeared in there. She encouraged me to take the train back to Knapford."

All the engines were open-mouthed.

"But, Edward..." said Gordon, "why did you never tell us that?"

"Because you have never asked me."

"OH, YOU CHEEKY STEAMER!"

Everyone laughed.

"Speaking of cheeky," said James, "what happened to Thomas?"

Everyone looked at the Nº 1 and saw that he had a blank stare.

Only now Edward noticed that Thomas had been silent since he started to tell his story. "Are you there, Thomas?" he asked.

Thomas blinked a couple of times. "Oh… y-yes," he responded. "I was just thinking… if our angel can give life to any machine with a face, why have the engineers never designed a female steam engine? I really wish to see one."

"Well, I…I don't know…"

"Given that engineers are men, maybe it's easier for them to design male engines," opined Gordon.

"I think Gordon is right," said Henry. "Female engines would have to have certain special characteristics, like a soft voice, for example."

"And many curves just like women," added James. Then he raised his eyebrows. "Hey! Why do you all laugh?! Women have curves!"

"But we are speaking of machines, James," clarified Henry.

"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Percy. "There are female coaches, and diesel engines, and lorries… That means it's not so difficult to design a female machine."

"Good observation, Percy," said Edward. "And considering that, my opinion is that perhaps female steam engines already exist, but they still didn't come to Sodor." Edward looked at Thomas. "So, it's just a matter of waiting and... oh, Thomas... you're looking at nothing again... What are you thinking about now?"

Thomas looked at his mentor. "Could it have been Lady who made my dream come true today?" he asked.

"Which dream?"

"Well... this could make you cross with me again... but... my dream it was to go as fast as Gordon at least for once."

Gordon rolled his eyes.

Much to Thomas' surprise, Edward smiled at him. "It could be, Thomas. Lady could have guided Cranky's hook to turn the jet engine on."

"And how can I thank her?"

"The way to thank heaven for a gift is being humble," responded Edward wisely. "The humble are those who accept their limitations and acknowledge their mistakes, and thus they are worthy of more gifts from heaven."

Thomas felt ashamed. He had not been so humble this night. So he looked at Gordon to apologise. "Gordon..." he said, "I'm sorry for having teased you this night... I was just very excited... I've always admired you for being the fastest engine on Sodor, and I dreamed of being able to go as fast as you in order to know what it feels like."

Gordon was so touched by this revelation from Thomas that he smiled at him with affection. "It's alright, Thomas," he responded. "Glad to know that nothing bad happened to you. I don't know what would become of me without my ally."

Thomas blushed and smiled back. "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course. And now I want that our angel makes your other dream come true as well."

"What other dream?"

"To see a female steam engine. We all want to see one indeed."

"Oh..."

"Make a prayer, Thomas," suggested Henry. "Ask Lady to send us a female steam engine."

"Good idea, Henry," said Edward. "Come on, Thomas. Make a prayer on behalf of all of us."

"What? On behalf of all? B-but... why me?"

"Because the prayer of a humble soul comes faster to heaven." Edward winked at him.

Thomas felt he could not refuse. After having made Edward cross due to his bad behaviour, now he would do anything to please him. "Okay," he said. "But how should I do it?"

"Just say what your heart dictates. Lady will understand you."

Thomas was encouraged by Edward's words and smile. So he looked up at the sky and began to pray.

"Oh, Angel of the Engines," he said, "first of all, I want to thank you for having helped the engineers to give us life… and for having made a dream of mine come true today. On the other hand, I would like to ask you something on behalf of my friends... You know, we all want to see a female steam engine... If they exist, please send at least one of them to the Island of Sodor... And if they don't exist; please inspire engineers to design one... We'll be very happy to have a female steam engine on our island... We'll be honoured by her presence... She'll be the flower of our garden... I thank you on behalf of my friends for having heard me."

Not knowing what else to say, Thomas looked at his mentor.

Edward smiled at him. "Amen," he said.

"AMEN," added the other engines.

A gentle breeze caressed Tidmouth Sheds at that moment, and the engines thought that this was proof that their prayer had reached heaven.

"Well," said Henry happily, "I think that after this beautiful conversation we'll all sleep like babies."

"You're right, Henry," said Percy. "We can already sleep now, right Thomas?"

"Yes, Percy... I won't bother you all anymore. Good night everyone."

"GOOD NIGHT!" exclaimed the other engines.

Everyone closed the eyes, except Thomas who stayed looking at Edward...

Thomas felt more fondness than ever for his kind mentor. He knew that Edward, because of his age, got tired faster than the other engines and needed to sleep earlier in the evening. But this night, Edward made the sacrifice of staying awake telling a story and clarifying queries until late, and all this in order to try to distract him from his bad behaviour... Thomas felt that he would not be able to sleep without first apologising to him. "Edward..." whispered Thomas.

As it was expected, Edward opened his eyes just like a father who awakens from his deepest sleep at the call of his son. "Yes?" he responded.

"I-I made you cross because of my behaviour... I went too far this time… Forgive me… please?"

"Oh…" Edward smiled tenderly. "It's alright," he soothed with his reassuring voice. "Sleep easy, my little one. Sweet dreams."

Thomas smiled back. Every time Edward called him 'my little one' he felt comfortable and protected. And forgiven too. "Thank you, dad," he responded happily.

And both of them closed their eyes.

But the silence in the sheds lasted just a few seconds. It was abruptly interrupted by one engine who had been thoughtful for the last few minutes. It was James...

"That's why I say that a female steam engine must have many CURVES," asserted the Nº 5, "so that she may look different from the other female machines which are totally SQUARE. Just think of how we could distinguish her from Mavis, Annie, Clarabel, Daisy, Elizab-"

"James..."

"Yes, Gordon?"

"Are you going to let us sleep or should we call the police to arrest you?"

"Oh... sorry."

At last, the engines could sleep like babies.

From a cloud, far above the Tidmouth Sheds, an angel was watching them...

"I've heard your prayer, my beloved ones," said Lady softly. "Soon you'll see a female steam engine. And don't you worry, James... She'll have so gorgeous curves that she'll leave you speechless... As for you, Edward, you'll have a prize for being such an excellent father to Thomas... You'll be the first engine on Sodor on feeling romantic love... One day, you'll know a female steam engine who will be a sunshine for you, and you'll be her sky where she'll feel secure." Lady smiled. "Good night, my beloved ones... Sweet dreams."

And Lady disappeared in her cloud of golden dust.