Emily had recently returned to Knapford Sheds for the night after a busy day working the Black Loch Special on the Misty Valley Branch Line. She enjoyed seeing the family of Seals that inhabited the Loch. She couldn't believe she originally thought they were monsters! This got her thinking. James had told her about the supposed monster, and she hadn't heard another engine mention it. She wondered if he had tried to trick her or even try to get out of doing the run by convincing people that it was dangerous.
"I'll talk to him about it tomorrow" she whispered to herself before going to sleep. Early the next day she met James at the Water Tower.
"Hello Emily" the red engine said "I heard from Thomas that you met the Black Loch 'Monster'. I never would have thought it would be family of Seals."
"That's what I want to talk to you about James. Your the only engine I've heard mention this monster. I want to know did you make it up to to try and scare me?" Emily accused.
"Why would I do that?" James replied, offended at the accusation.
"I'm still rather new here and don't know much about most of Sodor and you didn't like the run. Now did you make the monster up? Did you try and scare or trick me?" She said, raising her voice slightly.
"Well.. I, um yes. Uh no! Well not exactly. I heard Donald and Douglas, the Scottish Twins, mention something about a monster in a loch while I was at the Coaling Plant a few days ago. I later heard a workman mention something about strange creatures in Black Loch and thought it was the same. I wasn't trying to trick or scare you Emily, sorry." He apologised.
"I wonder what monster they were talking about..." Emily said.
"They were likely referring to the Loch Ness Monster, Emily." Edward, who had come to fill up on water, replied.
"Of course! That makes sense." Emily exclaimed.
But James was confused. "What's the Loch Ness Monster?" He asked.
"The Loch Ness Monster, James" Edward explained "is ,well, a monster that supposedly lives in Loch Ness in Scotland. If I'm correct it's in the Highlands so it's not far from where the Twins used to work. It's nothing to worry about though, it's only a myth the Scottish believe in. There's no such thing as monsters."
"Your right about the Highlands, Edward." Came the voice of one of the Scottish Twins.
"Aye, but not about Nessy. She's as real as my funnel!" Came the near identical voice of the second.
"Oh really" Edward said scepticaly "Do you have any evidence for your claim?"
"Aye, we do" Donald said "We saw her with our own eyes! One day, years ago when we were still in Scotland, we were resting peacefully after a hard day's work right next to the Loch when we saw something large slowly swimming across it's length. After a few minutes, with a great splash, Nessy herself appeared from the Depths of Loch Ness."
"Aye, she was a sight to behold!" Douglas continued. "Scaly skin, a mouth that could eat an engine and her size! She must of been at least the length of the Sodor Suspension Bridge. She looked at us both for what felt like hours, she was so close we could feel her breath on our boilers! And then... She left."
James whispered a "wow" while Edward couldn't think what to say "Um... yes... Well... I suppose it could be tr-"
"What nonsense!" Emily declared. "That story is fake. For one thing I used to work in Scotland so I know the rails don't go right next to the Loch."
The twins burst out laughing. "Your a smart lass Emily" Donald laughed "Aye, we made that story up. Can't believe we managed to fool you of all engines Edward."
"I expected you two to be more mature" Edward said sternly "Not like Bill and Ben. Making up stories about monsters..."
"You know us Edward, we love a good joke" Donald replied, still laughing.
"Aye, and he said we made up the story not the Monster" Douglas explained "Like I said she's as real as my funnel. Oh and Emily be watchful on your new route. Nessy might decide to take a holiday in Black Loch and then there will be a Black Loch Monster." The twins steamed away still laughing.
"I hope 'she' doesn't" James huffed, not impressed by the Twins joke.
"She won't James. The Loch Ness, Black Loch and any other monster is a myth. Probably. I hope."