Warning: Edward is a bit OOC in this chapter, so I'm sorry if this bothers you. He'll back to normal by the end of the chapter!
...
Edward puffed into Brendam Docks, where the docks manager was waiting for him with a long train full of sandbags. Salty noticed Edward enter the docks, and gave him a friendly toot of his horn.
"Ah, good day, matey!" Salty hooted. "It's about time I've seen you come 'round here, me hearty!" He chuckled with usual glee.
"Any day on the Island is a good day, Salty," Edward smiled. "Brendam is one of my favorite places!" He added as he puffed past his friend and over to the docks manager.
"Morning Edward!" The manager greeted.
"Morning sir!" Edward greeted back. "Is my train ready?"
"Yes," the manager said. "However, it is rather long, and quite heavy. So it's been recommended that a back up engine help you with the load. Is that alright?"
"Of course, sir, any help will do. The more the merrier." Edward confirmed with a smile. "Who is the back engine?" He inquired, back up to the front of the train and coupling up.
"Well, he should be-"
A eager honk of a diesel horn entered the dock yard, cutting off the manager. A long, green diesel pulled up along side Edward, with a beaming smile.
"Hello, mate! You must be Edward, correct?" He asked merrily.
A clearly shocked, and disgusted Edward nearly jumped out of his paintwork as he recognized the Diesel.
"I'll be helping you with your train today! Well, we must be on our way, yes? I'd hate for you to be late." He chirruped with pure empathy, not so pure to Edward anyway.
This was the diesel that had been rude to his friends, Duck and Stepney, who made them all feel like utter… scrap. And now…this diesel was…helping him?
No way, Edward thought. No way on earth anyone could be nice after all that.
…
Shockingly enough, Edward made no attempt to cover his mood as he puffed along his branchline with the Diesel at the back.
"So how has your day been, old friend?" The Diesel inquired politely.
"I'm not your 'friend'," Edward snapped, something beyond rare for the old blue engine.
"Oh, alright then," The Diesel acquiesced, as he looked around for something else to talk about. After all, they had a long way to go.
"Well, it sure is a nice day to spend some time outside, eh?" He asked, in hopes that Edward would be brought out of his mood.
"Really?" retorted Edward sharply. "Why don't you spend some time outside the scrapyard? It's perfect for your kind."
The poor Diesel was taken aback by the wise old engine's harsh words. Never had Edward been so rude, except for when Rocky the crane first arrived on the island. "My, it almost seems like you…hate me." He whispered, choosing his words carefully.
"Almost? I thought I made it quite clear," Edward responded irritably.
"And you have…"
"Good."
The two engines rolled along the line quietly for a while, before the Diesel broke the silence.
"Is there something wrong, Edward?" He asked, before mentally slapping himself for asking such an obvious question. "Did I do something to you?"
Edward seethed quietly as the train lingered along the line. The train slowed to a stop as they came to a red signal. "Yes! You were rude to my friends, my controller, and the inspector. Your behavior that day was atrocious, and instead of apologizing for it, you snuck away, as it wasn't any of your concern! When, in fact, you caused this entire railway trouble and grief!" He reprimanded sharply, as he finished his tirade.
Memories of his incident with the inspector's bowler hat flooded back to the Diesel, who seemingly nodded in affirmation. In the past, he was a self-absorbed, pompous, git, to say the least. But he had indeed learned his lesson. He truly was a changed diesel; but how on earth would he get Edward to know it?
"Listen, after this run, can we stop in a siding, and sort this out? Please?" He begged, with nothing but honesty in his voice.
Edward stayed silent for a moment, before reluctantly agreeing to this diesel's request. As the signal went green again, the train made its way down the line once more.
…
That night, Edward rolled over the turntable, into his berth where, luckily, only Thomas and Percy were waiting.
"Good evening, Edward!" The young engines whistled.
"How was your run today, Edward?" Percy asked curiously.
"It was just fine, busy as usual," the wise old engine responded with a fake valiance. He debated his next few words, carefully. Very carefully.
"Listen, I…ran into the Diesel at the docks today," Edward began.
"Really? Did you snub him? Did you ignore him? Did you tell him off for what he said earlier?" Thomas asked eagerly, knowing Edward followed through with their plan.
"Well, he was helping me with my run to my branchline this morning, then I told him what a nuisance he had been before, and he offered to talk to me after our jobs were done," He continued, a bit more bravely.
This made Thomas and Percy raise eyebrows. They glanced at each other before Thomas spoke. "And?"
"He really is a changed diesel!" Edward relented with a quick sigh, at the same time relieved to have gotten that off his boiler. "He may or may not have helped me with my other jobs today as well…"
Thomas and Percy were infuriated on hearing such a statement.
"You what?!" The two engines gasped in horror.
"He's a hard worker, and a very nice one at that!" Edward defended.
"Do you not remember that what he said about the rest of us? Including you?" Percy asked, more hurt than angry this time.
"How could you do this to us, Edward? You sold out!" Thomas shot back.
Edward, for once, didn't know what to say. The Diesel was very kind now, but what he had said to the engines earlier had been so hurtful that for once, neither Thomas or Percy were willing to forgive.
"I need to get my mail trucks," Percy excused himself, quietly. He sounded like he was on the verge of tears, but they are frustrated tears than sad tears. "Excuse me, Edward…"
"I'll come help you, my friend," Thomas followed. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Edward," He apologized, "But I still can't believe you're friends with him now. After everything." And with that, he followed Percy out of Tidmouth, leaving a hurt and conflicted Edward in their wake.
…
Sorry if this chapter is very long. I made it more angsty than I intended…but it'll get a bit more lighthearted from here, I promise! Thank you for reading. :D