Strangely, Stephanie did not have another waking nightmare when she woke up in the morning, only for something in black and white to suffocate her face.
"Mhh," Stephanie gently moaned sleepily, reaching over to the black and white object with her hands. "Notches. Why do you have to sleep near my face?"
Notches perked up after feeling Stephanie's hands and gently meowed, saying, "I don't know. It seems like I'm moving in my sleep because of a good dream."
Stephanie chuckled a little as she sat up from where she was lying, gently rubbing Notches' face with her hand as he purred.
"Maybe you were moving in your sleep because I love hearing your purring?" Stephanie gently suggested as Notches had his chin scratched by Stephanie. "It's very soothing for me."
"That c~o~u~l~d be i~t." Notches nodded between purrs.
Stephanie gently smiled after Notches agreed before perking up as she watched Lucy stand up from where she was as she yawned.
"Good morning!" Lucy greeted. "How did you sleep?"
"Better," Stephanie nodded as she looked down at Notches. "Notches' purring did not give me a nightmare… though I woke up with a wall of fur."
Notches snorted a little with a slight smirk after Stephanie joked a little, returning to purring as Stephanie scratched underneath his chin and cheeks.
After scratching Notches for a few minutes, Stephanie gently picked him up from her lap and moved him to the side, pushing the blanket away before standing up.
Notches hopped off the bed as Stephanie adjusted it back to where it was, and Notches stretched out his body from sleeping in a ball.
Stephanie picked Lucy up from the bedside table after Lucy stepped into Stephanie's palm and placed Lucy on the ground as Notches lay on his belly, allowing her to climb onto his back.
Once Lucy was on Notches' back, Stephanie opened the door to allow Notches to step out before closing it to have privacy to change.
Notches started climbing down the stairs with Lucy on his back, holding onto his fur carefully as the family slowly woke up.
Sir Topham Hatt was adjusting the collar of his white long-sleeve button-up shirt as Notches stepped in, giving a little meow to let anyone in the room know he had entered.
He looked down at him as Lucy waved before holding on when Notches hopped onto the table with Gracie.
"Good morning," Lucy greeted. "How was your sleep?"
"I slept pretty well." Sir Topham Hatt nodded, continuing to fidget with his collar as he huffed. "Oh, bother this collar."
Stephanie stepped in time to hear him mumble and went onto her tippy toes, carefully adjusting Sir Topham Hatt's collar as he leaned back a little.
"Thank you, Stephanie." Sir Topham Hatt thanked her as Stephanie adjusted his collar and returned to his normal posture. "It's always the collars that are hard for me."
"You're welcome," Stephanie nodded. "It's the same with socks too, sir. One would not stay up; the other stays down or rubs against your heels."
"Don't forget loose pants going down whenever you walk," Sir Lowham Hatt reminded with a cheeky grin as Sir Topham Hatt blushed a little.
"Bernard!" Sir Topham Hatt huffed embarrassingly as he glared at his younger twin brother as Stephanie giggled. "Don't remind me."
"It was funny!" Sir Lowham Hatt chuckled. "We had a laugh!"
"You did." Sir Topham Hatt rolled his eyes.
Stephanie giggled a little after Sir Topham Hatt told his twin brother before Sir Earnest Hatt walked into the room, asking with a sigh, "Was my dad and my uncle arguing again?"
"Not really," Stephanie responded calmly. "Just some sibling teasing between the two. Nothing serious or anything escalated."
The two Hatt twins looked at Stephanie with puzzled expressions after Stephanie responded to Sir Earnest Hatt's question.
"You can tell that between us?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "I learned a little about listening to people's tones, expressions, and words from Mrs. Richards. A teacher of mine back in Shining Time."
"That's incredible," Sir Topham Hatt remarked as he wore his dress vest.
"We should bring her over to help split the fights between Donald and Douglas," Sir Lowham Hatt chuckled as Sir Topham Hatt glanced at him with an unamused expression.
"Who are they?" Stephanie politely asked as she gently scratched Notches' chin as he started purring.
"They are the twin Scottish engines who work on the North Western Railway," Sir Topham Hatt explained.
Stephanie cocked her head curiously while her scratching on Notches' chin slowed a little as Lucy chuckled, saying, "I think you got Stephanie's curiosity."
Sir Topham Hatt glanced back at Stephanie after Lucy told him, as Sir Lowham Hatt said, "She's as curious as a cat!" Then he noticed Notches was glancing over at him and added, "No offense."
Stephanie chuckled after Sir Lowham Hatt corrected himself, and Stephanie picked Notches up and allowed him to sit on her shoulders as he laid down around her neck like a scarf since she was not wearing her sweater.
"So, are there any plans today, Stephanie?" Sir Earnest Hatt asked as they sat down at the table.
"Well," Stephanie began as she politely scooted forward as Lucy hopped onto her arm to climb Notches' back. "I was thinking of visiting Ulfstead Castle to look at the museum."
It was a little ticklish for Stephanie, but she stayed still for Lucy to climb onto Notches' back as Stephanie spoke with the adults.
"All by yourself?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "Your mother, Dowager Hatt, told me that the Ulfstead Castle Museum holds artifacts with Dust Crystals. And since we went through Sodor, I think I know where the places are, but I will get a map to see where I am going."
"Ah, I see." Sir Earnest Hatt nodded.
"It sounds so boring!" Sir Lowham Hatt groaned as Stephanie looked at him with confusion. "Why not try playing with the other kids on the playgrounds around your age?"
"I wish," Stephanie gently nodded as breakfast was served to them. "But I would politely decline. I need to focus on the situation before settling down."
Sir Lowham Hatt looked at Sir Topham Hatt with an unamused expression, and Sir Topham Hatt shrugged a little as Sir Earnest Hatt asked, "Do you want to use one of the engines to help take you places?"
"That might not be a bad idea," Notches responded from around Stephanie's neck.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "That would be a good idea."
Sir Topham Hatt needed to figure out which engine would help take Stephanie around Sodor, but he would ask his partners if they would be kind.
Once breakfast was finished, Sir Topham Hatt took Stephanie with him as she was carrying her bag with the items.
He drove to Tidmouth Shed, where the Steam Team was preparing for their work as Stephanie stood beside him.
They were slightly bigger than she expected when Stephanie was in her locomotive form via Silver Dust, but their appearances intrigued her.
Gordon noticed Stephanie was with Sir Topham Hatt, and Percy asked, "Sir. One question: Who was that new engine?"
"About that-" Toby said before being interrupted by Thomas, "Yes, they kept saying the new steamie looked like me."
"'New engine?'" Sir Topham Hatt asked as Stephanie quietly went, "D'oh!" "What new engine?"
"Ah, sir," Stephanie gently tugged on his arm. "I think they were mentioning me."
The Steam Team looked confused after Stephanie mentioned herself with a hand, but Toby decided to let Stephanie explain it.
"Oh!" Sir Topham Hatt perked up. "Everyone, not to be alarmed by the 'new engine.'" he mentioned to the shy Stephanie as she waved her hand. "Stephanie had figured out a new ability of the Silver Dust that was used on me."
Everyone looked surprised after Stephanie explained as Emily asked, "It was you?"
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "And I'm sorry for confusing everyone."
"It's alright, Steph," Thomas assured with a giggle. "Everyone thought you were another me."
Stephanie blinked after Thomas assured her and asked, pointing at herself, "Am I really that blue?"
The Steam Team giggled after Stephanie asked, including Gordon, but Toby assured them, "It's alright. I think your color looks nice on you, Stephanie."
After Toby commented, Stephanie blushed and said, "Thank you."
Sir Topham Hatt listed to each member of the Steam Team what jobs they should do while Stephanie listened to them.
Unfortunately, they all had little time to show Stephanie around after Sir Topham Hatt gave the jobs to them, so Sir Topham Hatt decided to move on to the next group.
He took Stephanie to meet Mr. Percival of the Skarloey Railway, and he looked a little like Sir Topham Hatt himself, except he was wearing half-moon glasses and a bowler hat, and he was thin too.
Sir Topham Hatt mentioned Stephanie to Mr. Percival and explained briefly what Stephanie needed to do, although Stephanie glanced around curiously.
Smaller engines were moving around, some noticing Stephanie and looking confused, while others noticed her blue appearance.
"Hello!" One of them, painted in vermilion with the basis of a TR No. 2 Dolgoch, greeted Stephanie as he pulled coaches before coming to a stop. "Are you new here?"
"Yes, I am," Stephanie nodded as she turned to the vermillion-painted steam locomotive. "Who are you?"
"I'm Rheneas," the vermillion-painted steam locomotive smiled. "What brings you here to the Skarloey Railway?"
"Well," Stephanie glanced over at Sir Topham Hatt as he was in the office with Mr. Percival. "Have you heard of how someone saved Sodor?"
"I have," Rheneas nodded. "Her name is Stephanie, from what I can tell from Terence."
"I'm Stephanie," Stephanie responded, pointing at herself.
"You are?" Rheneas asked with a surprised look, and Stephanie nodded.
"Och, this wee blue-hairit girl?" A grumpy Scottish voice huffed.
Stephanie glanced over to see a golden yellow-painted steam locomotive with the basis of a TR No. 6 Douglas appear with coaches.
"Duncan," Rheneas huffed. "Be nice to Stephanie."
"A am nice!" The golden yellow-painted steam locomotive, named 'Duncan,' huffed. "A juist didnae expect tae see another kid usin' Gold Dust. A thoucht she wis older ower from hou Terence explainit it."
Stephanie chuckled after Duncan huffed, and Rheneas apologized as he had a light blush on his cheeks, "Sorry about Duncan. He is just as grumpy as Cranky is."
"A'm richt here, ye know." Duncan huffed as Rheneas glared slightly.
"It's okay," Stephanie assured Rheneas. "And, yes, I am her."
Then Stephanie noticed a ghostly figure in the crowd, standing a little on her tippy toes to have a better look as it waved its hand to get her attention.
"Whit are ye starin' at?" Duncan asked after noticing Stephanie glance away from Rheneas.
"Hmm?" Stephanie glanced back at Duncan. "Sorry! New surroundings."
"American?" Duncan asked as Rheneas heard the conductor whistle and whistle, leaving the station as Stephanie watched.
"Yes." Stephanie nodded as she glanced back at Duncan.
"Makes sense." Duncan nodded before hearing the conductor's whistle. "Nice meetin' ye, thouch."
With that, Duncan left the station as Stephanie watched him, blushing a little from being distracted by seeing the ghost as she looked back and saw it was gone.
"D'oh, Stephanie," Stephanie groaned as she pinched her nose bridge underneath her glasses. "You need to stop letting everything distract you."
Sir Topham Hatt stepped out of Mr. Percival's office as Stephanie glanced at him, asking, "Is there any luck, sir?"
"No luck," Sir Topham Hatt responded, shaking his head. "Let's try another place."
Stephanie nodded and followed Sir Topham Hatt, going from one railway to another, but they entered a curious place called Drayton.
It was much larger than the other places they had been and was beautiful, too, perking Stephanie's curiosity as they went past it.
She can look closer at Drayton when she has someone who can take her across Sodor.
Stephanie and Sir Topham Hatt went on an adventure through Sodor, and whenever he stopped at a station with its conductors, he would step into their offices to converse with them while Stephanie waited outside.
She would sometimes see different ghosts appear from a distance or elsewhere.
If Stephanie was lucky and no one else was around, she would wave her hand and say hello to them, and they would do the same back.
But there were mostly new engines around Sodor, too, as she would sometimes talk to some that stopped by the stations to pick up passengers.
They soon came to Arlesdale Railway, and Sir Topham Hatt went to the office to talk to Mr. Fergus Duncan.
Stephanie waited outside politely, noticing the smaller engines moving around, which perked her attention.
They looked cute, but Stephanie was unsure if they wanted to be called cute in the first place.
One of the locomotives painted in blue with the basis of an R&ER No. 3 River Irt noticed Stephanie waiting outside the office and staring at him.
He went up to the blue-haired girl and whistled as she approached him.
"Hello," he greeted. "What's your name?"
"I'm Stephanie," Stephanie responded.
"You're Stephanie?" the miniature blue engine asked.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "I suppose Terence told you?"
"No," he chuckled. "Thomas did. There are no farms around the Arlesdale Railway for Terence to tell us."
"Ah, right." Stephanie blushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"It's alright," the miniature blue engine chuckled. "My name is Bert."
"And I'm Rex," a miniature green engine with the basis of an R&ER No. 7 River Esk responded.
Stephanie looked over at the miniature red engine with the basis of an R&ER No. 9 River Mite on a turntable and asked, "Who is that one?"
"That's Mike," Rex responded. "He doesn't like children making fun of him."
"Of course, I don't like it, Rex," Mike huffed from the turntable as it stopped. "I don't like how children call me 'cute' and 'how adorable' we are!"
Stephanie blushed a little after Mike huffed as he approached the two and muttered, "I was thinking about that, but I'm sorry if it seemed like that."
Mike perked up after Stephanie apologized, and Bert responded, "Don't worry about it, Stephanie. Mike is just usually cranky."
"Like Cranky himself?" Stephanie joked a little.
"Yes, like Cranky," chuckled Bert.
Mike blushed a little after Stephanie mentioned Cranky before noticing something glowing around Stephanie's wrist.
"Hey, what's that glowing?" Mike mentioned.
Stephanie looked at Mike with confusion and asked, "What's glowing?"
"That thing around your wrist," Bert mentioned. "How is that glowing?"
Stephanie looked at her wrist and noticed her bracelet was glowing before tugging her sleeve over it, saying, "Ah, it's just the sunlight. Nothing to-whoa!"
The bracelet suddenly started tugging Stephanie forward, and she exclaimed out of surprise as she stumbled.
Notches hopped off Stephanie's hood with Lucy on his back, dragging her heels to the ground to stop herself as the three engines watched.
Bert went backward as Stephanie continued to be tugged forward and suggested, "Try taking the bracelet off!"
Stephanie reached over to the bracelet to take it off or summon it into something to hold, but it tugged her harder, and she yelped again, getting off the station as she stumbled.
Luckily, she did not get hurt when she stumbled off the station but landed on her feet before being tugged again.
Then there was trouble!
One of the miniature engines, with a light gray livery and a diesel with the basis of an R&ER Perkins, was pushing a truck in front of him when he accidentally went in Stephanie's direction.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed as he hit his brakes to slow down. "Watch out!"
Stephanie winced worryingly after the truck appeared, and the bracelet transformed into a cuff, wrapping around Stephanie's wrist before lifting her into the sky.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Stephanie winced before landing back on the ground and being dragged forward.
Rex continued moving backward before switching tracks into Stephanie's path when she tumbled onto the tracks.
He slowed to catch Stephanie as she returned, dragging her shoes across the wood.
"Be careful!" Stephanie exclaimed. "I don't want to accidentally hurt you."
"Don't worry!" Rex smirked. "Little engines can do-" he was cut off in his sentence when Stephanie went into his face stomach-first, and the next thing they all saw, Stephanie and Rex, with his driver, disappeared into thin air.
"Rex?!" all the miniature engines exclaimed.
The office door opened, and Mr. Fergus Duncan and Sir Topham Hatt stepped out, asking, "What's going on?"
All the engines glanced over at him as Bert winced, glancing over at Mike, whose face mirrored his expression.
How would they tell Mr. Fergus Duncan that Rex disappeared into thin air?!