Chapter 9: Blue Mountain Quarry and the Skarloey Railway

Hey everyone! BlueTornado3275 here with another chapter of TAFAJ. This is going to be the fourth last chapter of this story. I have already given the names for my next three chapters. Also I would like to say to Aurora's Dream I love your theories. They're funny and they've helped me at times. Thank you very much. But now enough of that. Let's enjoy the next chapter shall we?

The moon was high in the air. I was sitting on the terrace on the roof of the hotel. I couldn't sleep. My mind was still in overdrive about what Mr. C had told me. The highest point of Sodor. It sounded like the Skarloey Railway Mountains. But I felt as if I was forgetting something…

I felt two hands go around my waist. I was tempted to turn around and punch it again but I knew who it was this time. So I didn't.

"Couldn't sleep Matt?"

"Apparently you couldn't ether. I woke up to see that you weren't in bed. I guessed that you were still trying to work out the Sodor Prophecy. So I came up here and here you are." I sighed.

"For someone who I met about a week ago you sure do know me very well." He laughed. I looked up to the sky. I needed some more air.

"I'm going to go for a walk. I'll see you in the morning." I pulled his arms off my waist and walked back inside. I went downstairs, grabbed my bike and rode off into the night.

…

My bike lamp lit up the road well. I was riding along the road to who knows where. I was getting enough air now. As I rode up to a crossing, the gates closed. I stopped and watched as Percy pulled up with the mail train.

"Hello Amber! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Nah. I had trouble sleeping. Mind if I come with you? I can keep you company."

"Sure. Hop in."

Percy and I puffed around the island delivering the mail. It was pleasant being the only engine on the rails. We made good time and got to Knapford by dawn. Percy said goodbye and he puffed away to get some sleep. I sat on a bench on the platform. My eyes were heavy and I soon drifted off to sleep myself.

…

"Wake you sleepy bones! We'll never get to the Blue Mountain Quarry if you sleep like that!" I jolted awake. Thomas was sitting there while Matt was shaking me to wake me up. I yawned loudly and wondered over to Thomas and sat on the seat inside. I must have dozed off again because I couldn't remember anything after that.

…

There was a loud whistle and I jolted awake again. I slapped myself to stay awake. I looked out the window and saw that we were at the Blue Mountain Quarry. I sighed. Thomas pulled up to the special turntable and stopped. Four engines rolled up to greet us. I recognized all of them. There was Skarloey, Peter Sam, Duncan and…

I rubbed my eyes. Surly I was seeing things. I looked again. Nope. He was real. It was Duke. I thought that he had disappeared again because I hadn't seen him since forever. Skarloey spoke first.

"Hello Thomas. What brings you here? You haven't been assigned here today have you?" Thomas shook his head.

"No I haven't. I just brought someone here looking for your help." I jumped off his footplate and onto the rough ground. Skarloey smiled.

"Amber I presume?" I looked at Thomas.

"How does everyone know my name? Didn't you just tell the others at Tidmouth?" Thomas laughed.

"Word gets around pretty fast on the island. One engine tells another something and it spreads like wildfire."

"Ah." I turned back to Skarloey.

"Yeah. I'm Amber. I'm here because you little engines go pretty far up the mountains. I'm looking for the highest point of Sodor. Ring any bells?" Duncan scoffed.

"Of course we go up really high. We go were other engines can't. Why do you want to go all the way up there?"

"I'm looking for something. A special place." Peter Sam piped up.

"The highest place here is Skarloey Station. But that's far away from here." Duke spluttered.

"Far away? I can take you up there now if you want. I have nothing to do." Sir Handle who was passing by called out.

"Wrong Grandpuff. You need to take your train over to Crovan's Gate. You're going the wrong way to go to Skarloey Station." Duke gave Sir Handle a death glare and he quickly left and rushed into a tunnel. Duke puffed proudly.

"Hop in Amber. I will take you to Skarloey Station now." Skarloey sighed.

"Duke. Take Luke with you. He can help you if you burst a valve again." Duke sighed. I jumped in and we headed up to the upper terrace to go to the railway. Luke, who was watching from the closest tunnel quickly raced out to catch up with Duke.

"Impudent Scallywags." Duke muttered under his breath.

…

"Whoa! Look at the view!" Luke was smiling at the view. He hadn't been out of the quarry in a long time. He was enjoying the view. I was smiling too. I had seen the Skarloey Railway on TV but it was breath taking in real HD. We had left Thomas and Matt back at the quarry to do some odd jobs. We were passing Glennock station on the way up and I looked around. I saw all the mountains poking up into the clouds. Duke was enjoying the run up the mountain again.

We reached Rheneas Station twenty minutes later. We were about to go down the shortcut when we were stopped by a sign. Apparently the rails had buckled in the heat. Duke sighed.

"Looks like we need to take the long way round. It'll take longer but we'll make it." I looked down the track.

"You can go round. I'll walk down here. I should make it before you do. I need to stretch my legs."

"Ok. Be careful Amber! Oh! I know! Race you to Skarloey Station!" Luke backed up to the station and took off like a rocket. Duke smiled.

"I can put him on a different rail if you want. He can have some fun on his own." I nodded.

After Duke puffed off to follow Luke I wondered down the line to Skarloey Station. I found the broken rail and walked past it. On the way I pulled the Gold Dust Cocoon out of my shirt. It was sparkling now. I smiled.

"Don't worry Lady. I'll bring you back."

'Thank you Amber. I appreciate what you are doing for me.' I stopped. I looked around. There wasn't anyone around. Where was the voice coming from?

'I am Lady. I am talking to you telepathically to you. I have grown stronger every time you crossed paths with another Sodor Engine. Now I have enough strength to talk to you. But only you alone.' I smiled.

"Ok then. It's a pleasure to meet you Lady. Well technically not meet but talk to you!" I heard Lady laugh.

'You're funny Amber. I cannot wait to meet you face to face.'

"Yeah, about that. Do you happen to know where the highest point of Sodor is?" Lady was silent for a moment.

'To tell you the truth, I don't know. I've never been there.' I sighed. There goes that idea.

"Well Mr. C told me to go to the highest point of Sodor to resurrect you. He didn't tell me where it is though." Lady must have smiled because the Gold Dust Cocoon glowed a bit.

'If Mr. Conductor is involved I know he's made the right choice. I feel as if something big is going to go down if we are both involved in this scenario.' I smiled weakly.

"Yeah. And I'm in the middle of it."

'Don't worry Amber. Now that I have enough strength I can protect you for a short amount of time.' I heard Lady yawn.

'Only downside of me talking to you or using my magic to create a shield is that it makes me tired. I'm going to have a nap but I will talk to you soon Amber'

The Gold Dust Cocoon's sparkle faded away and turned back into the so called amber. I sighed. I heard a whistle from the end of the line and I looked up. I saw Luke and Duke waiting for me. I ran up to them.

"I tried to veer Luke off track but it didn't work. He was one step ahead of me." I laughed. Luke was shouting about how he'd won. I jumped into Duke and we continued to Skarloey Station.

…

We pulled up to Skarloey Station and I jumped off. Luke and Duke waited patiently for me to go to the lookout. I headed up the track to find the shrine. After about five minutes I reached the lookout. The view was amazing. I looked out to the valleys and other mountains. I turned around to see if I could see a shine of some sort.

Nothing but trees and rocks.

I contemplated the prophecy. I had to find the highest point of Sodor. This was the highest I could go, so where was the shrine?

I turned to look out into the valley again. As I did I noticed it out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look at it. There over in the valley was a taller mountain.

"What! There is a taller mountain on Sodor? But… Aww shoot!" I kicked the ground with frustration. And that was how I stubbed my toe.

…

Duke seemed puzzled that I was walking back with a grumpy mood and a limp.

"Are you alright? You seem to have a limp."

"No I'm not ok! I didn't find what I was looking for, there is a taller mountain on the left and I stubbed my freaking toe!" Luke laughed.

"Someone's not happy!" After that he was trying to work out why I slapped him. Duke still seemed puzzled.

"Of course our mountain isn't the tallest. We wouldn't be able to climb it if it was. What are you looking for anyway?" I decided to tell Duke my predicament. He would probably know about the Sodor Prophecy because he's as old as the island itself. I told him the whole story. Once I finished he nodded wisely.

"Ah. The Sodor Prophecy. I haven't heard about that in years. I also happen to know where the highest point of Sodor is. His grace told me."

"Really! And you didn't tell me!"

"I didn't know you were trying to fulfill the prophecy." I sighed.

"Ok. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's at the top of that mountain." I pointed to the mountain in the distance.

"Yes. It's over there." I groaned.

"I suppose I'll need to get some training and climbing gear to climb it then."

"Or you could go by the Culdee Fell Railway to get to the top."

I slapped my forehead. That's what I was remember this morning!

"Of course! I forgot about the Culldee Fell Railway! I was trying to think of mountains this morning. I felt as if I was forgetting something." Duke smiled.

"Shall we head back to the quarry to get you there?"

…

I instantly smelt something that didn't belong in the quarry as we pulled in. it smelt oily.

"Hold up Duke. Wait here." We stopped on the upper terrace. I jumped out of Duke and walked to the edge. Sure enough guess who was sitting at the bottom of the quarry? The oily pirate himself still covered in river goop. Diesel 10 looked up and saw me way up on the upper terrace. He grinned.

"There you are! Get down here so I can catch you!" I grinned. I could have some fun with this.

"But it's nice up here. I have the wind in my face and the weather is great! Why would I want to go down there?"

"So you can tell me where the Lost Engine is."

"I can assure you that she's fine and well."

"So you do know where she is! I knew it! Let's have a chat!"

"We are right now." Diesel 10 growled. He knew I could go on like this all day. He couldn't climb up here so I was safe.

"Fine. You win. I'll get you tomorrow. Mark my words!" He reversed to leave…

And crashed into a train that was going across the crossroad.

"Oh. Diesel 10, you need to watch where you're going. You caused and accident just now!" Diesel 10 didn't even need to turn to look to see who it was.

"I am going to kill you one day Ryan. What are you even doing here?"

I was told to come and collect some rocks for the Arlesburgh Harbor Beach watchtower. Why do you ask?" Diesel 10 sighed.

…

Once Diesel 10 was gone the little engines were back in action. I stood next to Duke as Thomas and Matt rounded a corner. He stopped on the turntable and Matt jumped out.

"Did you find it?"

"No. We were on the wrong mountain. We need to go to the Culdee Fell Railway to get to it."

"The Culldee Fell Railway? I'd forgotten about that place!" Thomas looked at the sky. It was almost dusk.

"I suggest that I take you two back to the hotel. It's almost night." I looked up and sighed.

"Another sleepless night coming up. We better head back now." I turned to the Skarloey Railway engines.

"Thank you for your help today. I'm one step closer to ending my quest now. I hope that I'll see you again."

As we were leaving all the little engines whistled after us.

"Goodbye Amber!"

…

"Culdee Fell huh. I haven't heard about that place in years."

Matt and I were back at the hotel. I was sitting at the table with a noodle hanging out of my mouth. I slurped it up and swallowed.

"Yeah nether have I. I haven't read Mountain Engines in ages." He nodded.

I pulled some Pocky that I had picked up on the way home. I stuck on in my mouth with the other end poking out.

"Maybe we should go there first thing in the… Hey!" Matt had lunged forward and bit the other end. And because I had already eaten half of it already, he ended up kissing me. I jumped back with fright.

"Whoa! Really?"

"What? We've kissed before."

"I know but… a little warning next time." I blushed bright red. He laughed. As I turned away from him the calendar came into my eyesight. I glanced at the date today and I almost fell off my chair.

"Crap. It's the twenty-seventh of January! We have five days till school starts again! We have to get home soon."

"What!? My plane is on the thirty-first! Mum will kill me if I miss it!" we looked at each other. We didn't have long left to resurrect Lady. If we missed the first day back to school, we would be in deep trouble.

And Finish! That's it for the Skarloey Railway until Amber. You also may be thinking "Blue T. Didn't Amber have three months for her trip?" I realize that but it seemed like too much time to give her. If I gave her that much time I'd have to do a bunch more chapters. I only have three chapters to go so hold onto your hats everyone! Next up: Culdee Fell Railway! See you then!