Sir Topham Hatt was thinking as he sat in his office, writing down paperwork and checking the time to know which engine was arriving on time.
According to the police, they had no luck searching for Avril and Kathleen, which worried Sir Topham Hatt.
If they are not on Sodor… could they be in Shining Time?
There could have been hints at where Avril and Kathleen could have gone when Sodor was drained of its magic.
But he cannot do it alone and would get stuck in Shining Time if he were not careful.
To keep himself from being lost in Shining Time, Sir Topham Hatt decided to ask Stephanie if she could take him to Shining Time to search for Avril and Kathleen.
A knock on his office door perked Sir Topham Hatt from his paperwork, and he glanced over, responding, "Enter."
The door opened, and Stephanie stepped in with Notches and Lucy on her shoulders, saying, "Hello, sir! I went to the forest and found a lot of Dust Crystals."
She reached into her bag and took out a Dust Crystal, darker than Gold Dust, which confused Sir Topham Hatt.
"I found Brass Dust!" Stephanie smiled with excitement.
"'Brass Dust?'" Sir Topham Hatt's voice echoed with confusion. "How can you tell if it is Brass Dust?"
Stephanie approached Sir Topham Hatt and said, "You may think it is weird, but I can tell this is Brass Dust because of the smell coming from it other than dirt."
"Really?" Sir Topham Hatt asked, and Stephanie nodded.
"Yeah," Stephanie nodded. "I found that out when I stumbled across a dirt wall of bunched Dust Crystals." She paused, adding, "It was a little overpowering because of all the metal smells."
Sir Topham Hatt smiled a little after Stephanie added as she placed the Crystal Brass Dust away before saying, "Erm, Stephanie?"
"Yes, sir?" Stephanie responded, glancing over at him.
"I have some unfortunate news." Stephanie looked worried after Sir Topham Hatt mentioned the news, turning her body back to him and asking, "What's the bad news?"
"The police did not find Avril or Kathleen," Sir Topham Hatt told Stephanie. "And I was wondering if perhaps they could be on Shining Time. Would you like to help take us to Shining Time?"
"Of course," Stephanie nodded. "I have some friends I want to meet back at Shining Time. They must have been worried about where I could have gone."
"That's perfect," Sir Topham Hatt said, standing up as Stephanie stepped back for him. "But we'll need an engine to take us to Shining Time."
Stephanie nodded and followed Sir Topham Hatt, stepping onto the station, and he went to Tidmouth Sheds with Stephanie, seeing Gordon and Thomas with Cleo and Romeo.
Stephanie had met Romeo during the trip to Sir Topham Hatt's manor but had not talked to him since she was more focused on the ride.
Sir Topham Hatt and Stephanie stepped out of his cab as Stephanie followed him.
Cleo instantly noticed Stephanie and happily exclaimed, "Stephanie!" running over and hugging her with a glomp.
"Oof!" Cleo hugged Stephanie, who was startled but grinned as she accepted it. "Hello, Cleo."
Romeo approached Stephanie, who perked up as he said, "So you're Stephanie Cleo has been talking about."
"Ah, yes," Stephanie blushed a light blue as her ears flicked a little. "I'm Stephanie Allen. I haven't gotten your name since the last time we met."
"I'm Romeo." Romeo pointed at himself with a thumb. "I'm Gordon's engineer."
"And Cleo's my engineer," Thomas added with a smile.
"Pleased to meet you," Stephanie said politely before looking at Lucy and Notches. "This is Notches," she pointed at her cat. "And this is Lucy, my guardian." She pointed to Lucy.
Notches gave a little "meow" as Lucy said, "Hello."
"She's your guardian?" Romeo asked, mentioning Lucy.
"Yeah," Stephanie nodded. "She helps me find where the Zodiac Guardians are, to be specific."
She looked at Sir Topham Hatt and said, blushing a little with sheepishness, "Oh, uh, Sir Topham Hatt wants to say something."
"It's fine, Stephanie." Sir Topham Hatt assured her before turning to the two locomotives. "I must head to Shining Time to search for Avril, Kathleen, and Azazel. But Stephanie and I need someone to help us get back to Shining Time."
"I could take you there, sir," Thomas perked.
"Pah!" Gordon huffed. "Your cab is much too small to fit that many people inside. I think Sir Topham Hatt wants me to take them."
"Excuse me?" Stephanie spoke up before the two started arguing. "Why not both? In case one or the other runs out during the trip."
Gordon and Thomas glanced at each other after Stephanie suggested, as Sir Topham Hatt said, "I think that is a grand plan, Stephanie."
"Sir," Romeo spoke up. "Do you think we could return to Shining Time? It's been a long time since we were there."
"Of course," Sir Topham Hatt nodded. "But be careful."
Stephanie smiled, saying, "You guys can take as long as you want. I'll start refilling the Dust Whistle to make sure."
So Stephanie went to refill the Dust Whistle but did not know that Diesel had overheard everything from the group and went to find Diesel 10.
Meanwhile, Diesel 10 was with the others at the Dieselworks before hearing Diesel's horn and glancing up, seeing him enter.
"Got any news?" Diesel 10 asked as he moved forward with P.T. Boomer on his roof, with Conrad doing his best to fix Pinchy.
"I got plenty," Diesel nodded. "Stephanie and Fat Hatt will return to Shining Time with the other kids."
"Wait, hold on," Conrad spoke as he turned away from what he was doing. "There's a way to return to the real realm?"
"Yes," P.T. Boomer nodded. "Since Lady is the protector of Sodor, she connected the realms to Sodor so everyone, regardless of age or appearance, would come."
"So it is real?" Baz asked.
P.T. Boomer nodded, saying, "I went through the same buffers when chasing after Thomas and then joined the chase with Diesel 10."
"And we crashed too." Diesel 10 nodded before flinching when Conrad hit something sensitive. "Ow! Be careful up there."
"Sorry," Conrad huffed. "Geez, someone banged up your claw."
"It was from that kid, Romeo," Diesel 10 growled. "When I get Pinchy on him, I'll ensure he gets tossed into the ocean."
"Whoa!" Bernie exclaimed. "You're not going to do what I think you're going to do-"
"What, nah!" Diesel 10 responded. "Only towards steamies and betraying diesels, not humans. I don't think I've ever hurt a human before."
Diesel 10 paused before saying, "But let's follow them to see what that blue-haired girl is planning."
Then he mentioned Diesel with Pinchy, saying, "And you're coming with me in case something goes wrong."
"Why not Splatter or Dodge?" Diesel asked, trying to mask his worried tone.
"Pah," Diesel 10 huffed. "There'll be too many diesels following, and it would lose our element of surprise. So you're coming."
Diesel had a bad feeling in his oil tanks about this plan, but since he wanted to help Diesel 10 get his 'job' back, he decided to go along with it.
Stephanie double-checked everything as she looked at the Dust Whistle around her neck, looking at the elements and the Dusts she collected.
Everything looked fine, but was Stephanie going to return to Shining Time?
Half of her was screaming that it was a bad idea, but the other half wanted to see if her friends were alright and tell them she was okay.
But were they her 'friends?'
Multiple thoughts were going through Stephanie's mind about her choice before she flinched when someone's hand was placed on her shoulder.
She glanced up at Darius, who asked, "Are you alright, Stephanie?"
"I'm fine," Stephanie nodded, lying to him. "Just double-checking."
Darius looked at the Dust Whistle around her neck as she turned around, placing it into her garments. "Let's check everyone to see if they are ready for the journey."
Darius was suspicious when Stephanie changed the subject, but he decided to drop it for later as she walked up to the engines.
There was Thomas at the front along with Cleo, Gordon at the back with Romeo, Spencer, a grand silver engine who is friends with Holly, and the Flying Scotsman, who is friends with Darius.
"Alright," Stephanie nodded as she returned to Thomas. "I think that's everyone. Let's go."
Thomas whistled as the others did the same, and Stephanie climbed into Thomas with the help of Cleo as they began heading towards the buffers.
Stephanie and Cleo looked through Thomas' cab window as they approached the buffers, and Stephanie's bracelet started glowing.
Stephanie looked down at it when it started glowing and became worried, wondering what it would do this time.
The line of steam locomotives suddenly went through the buffers, and it magically opened a portal, allowing the line to go through.
Peeking around the corner was Diesel 10, with Pinchy mended a little from being covered with 'scars.'
After watching the first line go through the magic buffers, he smirked, saying, "Now's our chance!"
So Diesel 10, with Diesel coupled behind him, followed the line through the buffers and entered the magic portal.
When they entered, they instantly saw how crazy everything was and went down on the rails, speeding down quickly.
The ride went wild as the tracks moved upward, downward, and left to right, and everyone held on.
Stephanie held on to Cleo as Sir Topham Hatt held onto the two as the ride continued, gritting her teeth as Notches had his claws out while giving yowls while Lucy held onto Stephanie's hair.
"I forgot how crazy the rails can be!" Romeo called from Gordon's cab.
Stephanie gritted her teeth again as the rails went downward, holding onto the ledge of Thomas' cab window while Cleo and Sir Topham Hatt held onto them both.
Luckily, the ride ended when they exited the crazy ride, but Diesel 10 and Diesel followed behind as Diesel 10's face went from grinning to 'oh crap' after seeing the rails.
Diesel 10 and Diesel went downward on rails as Diesel 10, and Diesel shrieked, speeding down the rails as they went through twists and turns.
Diesel 10's voice went from shrieking to whooping excitedly while Diesel continued screaming from behind.
Since they could not slow down or stop, Diesel 10 continued moving forward, with Diesel following, getting dizzy and motion sick with all the movements and the craziness.
They soon came towards one of the exits and went through it, which was different from what the previous group went through.
They exit the buffers near the Shining Time Station, and Thomas' eyes spin around crazily before stopping after he closes them.
"Never again," moaned the Flying Scotsman, looking a little dizzy from the ride.
Spencer gagged a little from being motion sick, but he did not vomit as he groaned, his cheeks green like the Flying Scotsman's paintwork.
Stephanie gingerly stood up from kneeling on the ground with Cleo in her arm, looking a little dizzy as her ears drooped as Cleo pushed her glasses into place.
Notches were dizzy too with Lucy, as Notches meowed dizzily while Lucy released Stephanie's hair, getting some snapped strands on her fingers.
"That…" Stephanie groaned. "That was the first time I went on a rollercoaster before."
Cleo opened the cab door to allow her and Stephanie to step out, and Stephanie leaned against Thomas' side while Cleo leaned with her.
Notches hopped off with Lucy, with Lucy landing on her feet before going onto her knees, while Notches stumbled before lying on his belly.
"Are you okay?" Darius asked as he gingerly walked over but looked a little dizzy.
"Yeah," Stephanie nodded. "I'm just taking a minute to regain consciousness."
Stephanie blinked a few times to stop her vision from spinning before perking up when she noticed someone missing from the cab.
"Driver?" Thomas spoke, perking a little when he noticed something was off. "Stephanie, is there someone missing?"
"Yes, I can't move," nodded Gordon.
Stephanie removed her arm from around Cleo and peered into the cab, looking confused before seeing something black from the corner of her eye.
She glanced at what was black, thinking it was a lump of coal, but to her surprise, Sir Topham Hatt was gingerly getting up with the help of Thomas' driver and fireman.
And he was the size of a doll compared to her!
After Sir Topham Hatt was up, he noticed Stephanie staring at him with a worried but confused expression and yelped, slipping and falling onto his bottom and tugging Thomas' driver and fireman with him.
Stephanie carefully stepped into Thomas' cab after watching Sir Topham Hatt fall onto his bottom, scooping all three into her palms.
"Are you alright?" Stephanie asked.
"We're fine," Sir Topham Hatt nodded, slightly startled by how small he was compared to Stephanie. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Stephanie nodded, standing up carefully with the precious cargo. "We arrived at Shining Time."
Stephanie stepped out of Thomas' cab with the three in her hands and showed them to Thomas, who instantly became worried.
"What happened to them?" Thomas asked.
"It's normal, Thomas," Sir Topham Hatt said to Thomas, although he was a little perturbed at how massive Thomas was to him at this newfound size. "Most of the people who are born in Sodor are the same size as Mr. Conductor."
"Wait, really?" Stephanie asked as he glanced over at her. "So we're looking for someone your size?"
"Theoretically, yes," Sir Topham Hatt nodded. "But I believe he and the others are with Stacy." He paused after seeing Stephanie's confused expression. "I'll explain on the way to Stacy."
Stephanie nodded as she looked at the others, Darius holding the Flying Scotsman's crew, Holly with Spencer's, and Romeo with Gordon's.
"This is bad." Thomas winced.
"How are we supposed to move without our drivers?" The Flying Scotsman asked.
"I think it's best to stay here with your drivers and firemen," Sir Topham Hatt told the engines. "We'll be back sooner or later after finding Mr. Conductor."
Stephanie allowed Thomas' driver and fireman to step back into Thomas' cab as Sir Topham Hatt stayed.
She placed him on her shoulder, and he was hidden underneath all her blue hair as Notches stood up to get comfortable and placed his head on her other shoulder.
"That means you too, Lucy," Stephanie said as she looked at Lucy after picking her up from the ground.
Lucy nodded and allowed Stephanie to place her into Thomas' cab as Stephanie placed Sir Topham Hatt on her shoulder, just hidden underneath her long hair.
Notches climbed on the other shoulder into Stephanie's hood, and after having her 'passengers,' Stephanie followed Darius, Romeo, and Cleo while the others waited patiently.
Meanwhile, Diesel 10 and Diesel came out of the tunnel somewhere else, and Diesel 10 slowed down, his eyes spinning before closing them as he exclaimed, "That. Was. Awesome!"
Diesel's face behind Diesel 10 was completely green as he was uncoupled from Diesel 10 and stopped a few feet away.
Suddenly, his cheeks puffed up, and the camera switched to Diesel 10 as he heard what sounded like vomiting as he grimaced.
"Oh, that's nasty," Diesel 10 groaned.
Diesel 10's cab door opened as P.T. Boomer stepped out, holding something in his arms before stumbling out and landing on his side out of dizziness.
He carried Conrad, Baz, Bernie, Diesel 10's driver, and Sailor John, who were all dizzy like him.
"Oi!" Sailor John groaned as Baz adjusted his hat into place. "That was one wild… ride…"
His voice trailed off when he noticed something strange with the world, seeing everything look too big.
Everyone slowly noticed, even seeing how much bigger Diesel 10 looked, as a bad feeling sat in their stomachs.
"Alright," Baz said, reassuring the slowly growing panicked group. "Everything is just vertigo. It'll be normal when we'll-"
That was until a crow appeared after it landed in front of the smaller group, and they all flinched, proving that it was all real as it cawed.
That caused Bernie to panic and go underneath P.T. Boomer's jacket with Conrad after he exclaimed, "Oh my god!"
P.T. Boomer sat up after hearing Conrad's "Oh my god!" and glanced over, startling the crow as it took off into the air as he sat up.
"Yeah, back off," P.T. Boomer growled. "I'm not dead yet."
He felt movement underneath his jacket and lifted it slightly, seeing a panicked Conrad and Bernie hugging each other.
"Boomer, what happened?!" Baz exclaimed, shakily standing to his feet. "How are you big?! A-And how is Diesel 10 and Diesel huge?!"
"Everything is big, Baz!" Bernie cried, terrified.
"Yeah, I want to get back home right now!" Conrad nodded.
"We can't go back," P.T. Boomer told them as he pushed himself up, fighting against his dizziness. "We're-"
He paused when he noticed Diesel 10's driver and glanced at Diesel 10, muttering, "Of course."
P.T. Boomer picked everyone up in his arms as Diesel 10 noticed, asking, "Wait, if that's my driver, who's going to drive me?"
"We'll come back to you after finishing some unfinished business," P.T. Boomer told him. "It's best to stay here since everyone will panic about a sentient diesel."
"Good point," Diesel 10 nodded before glancing over from the corner of his eyes. "What about Diesel?"
"The same goes with him, too," P.T. Boomer nodded. "But stay here where no one can see you."
"That's what I can do most of the time." Diesel 10 nodded as P.T. Boomer went to Diesel, glancing at his face before grimacing as he walked past.
P.T. Boomer opened the cab door and looked inside, seeing Diesel's driver looking confused while standing on the control panel.
So he took Diesel's driver with him since he would not be safe being alone at that height, placing them into his jacket's inside pockets near his torso.
It is better than putting them on the outside of his pockets, where everyone would see them.
After adjusting, P.T. Boomer went on his adventure as Diesel 10, and Diesel stayed where they were, deciding to find something he did not take with him.
Meanwhile, Darius, Cleo, and Romeo noticed many changes in Shining Time the last time they were there, seeing that most shops had changed while others stayed the same.
Stephanie looked through Shining Time as she followed the three siblings, wondering where they were going, while Sir Topham Hatt looked from underneath her long hair.
He was glad that Stephanie's hair acted like a curtain for him to hide from the people walking through Shining Time, but he could not see much in front of him.
They soon came across a house a few miles away from the village, and Darius, Romeo, and Cleo walked up to the door as Stephanie waited in the background.
She was unsure if she would step up to the door or what their reaction would be if they saw her.
Darius knocked on the door, and it opened, revealing a man with short jet-black hair, fair skin, a white button-up shirt, a plaid jacket with slacks, and a belt with a red tie.
"Grandpa!" Cleo hugged the stranger's legs as he hugged her and the other kids.
"It's so good to see you all again!" The stranger smiled as he released their hugs. "What happened to you all? The letters were unanswered, and I couldn't call your cell phones."
"We'll explain everything once we get inside," Romeo explained before glancing over at Stephanie, who perked up. "Ah, Grandpa, there's someone we'd like to introduce."
Romeo made the 'come here' mention with his hand towards Stephanie, and she nodded, stepping up to the person as Romeo placed his hand on her back.
The grandpa perked up after seeing Stephanie stand before him as she nervously fidgeted with her hands.
"Grandpa," Darius spoke. "This is Stephanie, and," Stephanie moved her hair back to show Sir Topham Hatt, who perked before repositioning himself while the other held onto Stephanie's hood. "Sir Topham Hatt."
"What happened to him?" The grandpa asked. "He was my height when I arrived in Sodor."
"That's because people from Sodor are the same height as Mr. Conductor in the real realm," Stephanie explained. "That's why he's at this height."
Sir Topham Hatt silently nodded after Stephanie explained as he said, "Why don't you all come inside and explain everything?"
So they entered as Stephanie stepped inside with them, starting to feel more nervous as she was inside the house, which was a little homey and different.
Very different from the one she-
Stephanie forced the thoughts out of her mind as they sat down and started to explain what happened, and she sat down, listening to the conversation.
She allowed Sir Topham Hatt to climb from her shoulder and into her left palm as Notches climbed onto her shoulders, curled around her neck, and laid down.
When they mentioned Stephanie's Dust Whistle, Stephanie showed the whistle to Grandpa Schemer or Mr. Schemer, as he would ask Stephanie to call him.
Schemer felt confused about the Dust Whistle when Stephanie showed it to him before looking surprised when Stephanie showed him the Zodiac Pocket Watch, which was the second gift that was given to her.
She wishes to use it to show Mr. Schemer what powers it has, but she does not want to get on Mr. Schemer's bad side or accidentally wreck the place.
After explaining everything, Mr. Schemer said, "From what I'm hearing, you helped everyone by using Gold Dust after the island's magic was drained?"
"Exactly," Stephanie nodded while holding Sir Topham Hatt before saying. "And I must fight off these Nightmares to save Sodor and its people."
"And these things are dangerous to anyone?" Mr. Schemer asked.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "I'm the only one who can banish these Nightmares away too."
"Really?" Mr. Schemer asked as he stood up with a cup of coffee. "I don't believe in that-"
He accidentally tipped over something, and Stephanie took this chance to use the ability, managing to grab the item with her strings before putting it back into place.
"Now I believe it." Mr. Schemer sighed as the strings disappeared once the item was placed. "Why does that always happen?"
Stephanie chuckled as Cleo said, "Grandpa doesn't believe in much of Sodor's magic or what we told him, but he'll warm up after learning more about it."
"I hope so," Stephanie nodded. "But I didn't know he was your grandpa."
"Let me guess," Romeo sighed. "You've heard stories about what he did."
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "A lot of people around here talk a lot about him, and I can tell he has a lot to handle."
"I'm right here." Mr. Schemer blushed as he returned with another cup of coffee.
Stephanie chuckled after Mr. Schemer told them as he asked, "How did you all get here, though?"
"Thomas, Gordon, Spencer, and the Flying Scotsman helped us get here," Darius explained.
"And I'm searching for someone," Sir Topham Hatt said. "Have you seen a man with jet-black hair, light blue eyes, and a blue uniform?"
Stephanie perked up after Sir Topham Hatt asked, and Mr. Schemer said, "I don't think so. I haven't seen anyone look like that."
Sir Topham Hatt looked worried and added, "But I did see some people wearing blue uniforms, if you were wondering."
"Really?" Stephanie asked as everyone perked up. "Who are they?"
"I don't know much about them. Shining Time Station was on the verge of closing," Mr. Schemer explained. "Stacy took small people wearing blue uniforms to her house, and I haven't heard from them since."
"That must be Mr. Conductor!" Sir Topham Hatt perked up.
"Do you know where Stacy is, Grandpa?" Romeo asked.
"She lives a few miles from where I am," Mr. Schemer explained. "I could bargain for a taxi to take us to Stacy's house."
Stephanie's bracelet suddenly glowed, and she flinched, looking at it as it flashed a light gold.
"Erm, Stephanie?" Sir Topham Hatt spoke after looking at the bracelet. "What's happening to your bracelet?"
"I think it's going to do the same thing again." Stephanie worriedly responded.
Just as she said that line, the bracelet suddenly tugged Stephanie forward, and Sir Topham Hatt instantly grabbed Stephanie's thumb from her left hand.
She yelped in startlement as it went toward Darius, magically connecting his wrist with hers like a gigantic bracelet for the two.
It did the same to the others as Mr. Schemer was startled, asking, "What's happening?!"
"I think my bracelet is acting up again!" Stephanie exclaimed as the yellow color brightened. "Be careful-"
Stephanie's sentence was cut off when they disappeared into thin air, leaving only Mr. Schemer's cup as it landed on the ground with a dull clunk.
P.T. Boomer was driving on his motorcycle through Shining Time, heading towards Muffler Mountain, where he knew where most of the secrets were.
He wore his motorcycle helmet and goggles as he sped down the empty road, heading toward the mountains.
No steam locomotives were puffing down the line as he crossed the empty railroad crossings before finally appearing at Muffler Mountain.
He parked his motorcycle somewhere safe where thugs would not find it and hopped off, taking his goggles off as he looked at the mountains.
They looked so different from when he attempted to blast the mountains to get to Burnett a long time ago.
…But all that changed when-
"Hey, Boomer!" P.T. Boomer flinched from his thoughts as he opened his jacket, looking at his passengers. "Why did you stop?"
"Yeah, I can't see!" nodded Conrad.
"We just stopped at Muffler Mountain," P.T. Boomer huffed. "There are a few things Burnett left behind, and I want to find them."
They looked at the mountain and looked uneasy but stayed silent as P.T. Boomer closed his jacket and started heading to Muffler Mountain.
There were signs of destruction from him as he climbed up the mountain path, but they were slowly being refilled with dirt and rocks after he stopped blasting.
P.T. Boomer soon reached the top of one of the peaks and glanced around, knowing there had to be something he could find to enter the mountain.
He continued walking down the path before accidentally slipping and tumbling down the steep trail and landing bottom-first on the ground.
P.T. Boomer winced slightly in pain as he sat up, already feeling his arthritis returning to him from his lower hips.
"Be careful, will you?!" Baz exclaimed from his jacket's inside pockets as P.T. Boomer sighed.
"Hey, I'm not your bus!" P.T. Boomer frowned, poked Baz, and he stopped talking. "So just-"
P.T. Boomer stopped after seeing something from the corner of his eye as he slowly sat up, seeing it looked like something hidden underneath vines.
He got to his feet and walked over to where he saw it, rubbing his arthritis as it slowly ebbed away before stopping in front of the vines.
P.T. Boomer reached over to the vines and pushed them to the side, seeing a long, rocky tunnel within Muffler Mountain.
"Burnett, you sly genius!" P.T. Boomer quietly remarked.
He stepped into the tunnel as the vines recovered the entrance, slowly walking into the darkness but being careful.
P.T. Boomer continued walking further into the darkness as he used his hands to help him walk through it before entering a room.
He stopped walking after entering a large room and reached into his other pockets, taking out a flashlight before turning it on.
It was a workshop with cobwebs on each corner, and it looked like it had been forgotten.
"I finally found it," P.T. Boomer smiled. "It took me long enough to find it, hmm, Burnett?"
His smile faded a little after mentioning Burnett as he walked over to the table and looked around the workshop's table.
P.T. Boomer did not see much except for some paper scraps of Lady's design that were left around the place.
"Excuse me?" Of course, he forgot about his passengers. "What's going on out there?"
P.T. Boomer placed the items and allowed them to step out of his pockets, seeing some of the things and the workshop.
"Where are we?" Sailor John asked.
"We're in Burnett's workshop," P.T. Boomer explained as he uncrumpled the scrapped blueprints Burnett sketched. "I knew it was still here after all these years."
The group looked around at the workshop from the table as P.T. Boomer found lamps, using the lighter to light them as they still had oil.
"It looks a little deserted," Bernie remarked.
"Burnett passed away long ago," P.T. Boomer somewhat coldly responded. "He left a lot behind after his granddaughter took the pedestal for being Lady's engineer."
Everyone can tell by the tone in P.T. Boomer's voice that he was cold about it, but they heard a hint of regret in his voice but decided not to point it out or tease it.
P.T. Boomer saw something lying facedown on one of the shelves and reached over to it, flipping it back up, and it was a picture of them when they were younger.
The picture had Tasha, Burnett, and P.T. Boomer as kids, with Lady in the middle, smiling as they took their photo.
A picture that was supposed to be a memory of their friendship… but it had all faded.
P.T. Boomer stared at the picture for a while before sighing and opening his jacket as he placed the photograph into his secret pocket, deciding to take it with him.
"Hey, Boomer?" P.T. Boomer perked up after hearing Conrad's voice and glanced over, noticing he was staring at something. "What's that over there?"
P.T. Boomer glanced at what Conrad was staring at but could not see it as he glanced around at the general area.
"Where?" P.T. Boomer asked. "I don't see it."
"Well, pick me up then!" Conrad exclaimed. "I'll show you where it is."
P.T. Boomer wrapped his hand around Conrad and picked him up from the workshop's table, walking over to where he saw it and instructing, "Forward. Forward. Okay, stop. Left. Your other left. Down. A little bit up, there!"
Conrad reached up to a brick that was somewhat poking out from the wall and pushed against it, pausing when it would not push in.
"Do you want me to-?" "I got it!" Conrad huffed as he attempted to push the brick into place as P.T. Boomer waited.
After a few struggles, Conrad sighed, saying, "Yes, I need help."
P.T. Boomer placed Conrad on his shoulder and pushed the brick into place, hearing what sounded like a click.
Suddenly, a secret brick door opened next to P.T. Boomer, revealing another hallway within Muffler Mountain.
"That's new," Conrad remarked as P.T. Boomer poked his head in, looking around before stepping back.
He turned to the others and picked them up, allowing them to either take his shoulders or his outside pockets, still slightly irritated that he was their 'bus.'
P.T. Boomer is not paid enough for this.
After everyone had their 'seats,' P.T. Boomer picked up one of the lanterns and started walking down the hallway, heading further into Muffler Mountain.
A woman with short jet-black hair, fair skin, and wearing a red uniform with black high heels was sitting worriedly in her seat, thinking about what she could do.
Earlier, she was trying to help Mr. Conductor and his family remember who they were as their memories were slowly fading, and she was worried they might permanently forget who they were and who she was.
She sighed as she placed a hand on her cheek, believing that nothing would help her situation, even if-
The woman gasped and looked at the pile after a flash of color appeared.
"Ow!" voices exclaimed as their arms were in front of them, showing what looked like a gigantic bracelet wrapped around all their wrists.
Mr. Schemer, Stephanie, Notches, Romeo, Darius, and Cleo were trying to get up, but they were having trouble with Mr. Schemer on their backs.
Notches scrambled off when they landed on the ground after appearing near the house's ceiling.
Even Sir Topham Hatt collapsed on his side when they all landed, but he was safe from danger as he moved back just in time.
"Ow, your leg is in my stomach!" Romeo exclaimed.
"Sorry!" Stephanie exclaimed.
"Piggybank, you're grabbing my tie!" Mr. Schemer exclaimed when he tried to get up, but Cleo had a hold of his tie.
"Sorry, Grandpa," Cleo apologized.
The woman stood up from her seat and walked over to the group, kneeling to help them up as the gigantic bracelet magically unwrapped itself from their wrists and returned to Stephanie's wrist.
"Are you all alright?" She asked.
"Stacy?" Cleo asked as Stacy asked, "What happened to you? How did you all get into my house?"
"Gosh, darn bracelet!" Stephanie hissed angrily at her bracelet after everyone got up. "Sometimes, I wonder if you picked me just to play around with me!"
She perked as she glanced at Stacy upside down and perked as she flipped onto her front, not noticing Sir Topham Hatt was getting up a few feet away from where they were, saying, "Ah, sorry, sorry, ma'am! Crazy magic bracelet."
"Your bracelet is magic too?!" Mr. Schemer exclaimed after Stephanie mentioned the bracelet around her wrist.
"Yeah," Stephanie nodded sheepishly as Notches walked over with Sir Topham Hatt on his back. "Are you okay, sir?"
"I'm fine," Sir Topham Hatt nodded, hopping off Notches' back and onto her palm when she moved her hand down to him.
He turned to Stacy as he asked, "Where's Mr. Conductor?"
"He's in the guest bedroom with the others," Stacy responded. "How did you do? What's-?"
"Let me explain, Stacy." Mr. Schemer gently pulled her back as Stephanie carried Sir Topham Hatt. "The room is down the hallway to the right."
Stephanie nodded as she walked through the hallway, and Stacy stayed behind to listen to the family and Mr. Schemer.
She walked through the house while Notches followed behind before turning to the right, where the door to the room was.
Stephanie opened the door and looked inside, seeing four people lying on one gigantic bed compared to them.
Their skin looked pale from the light's shine, and they looked asleep but were sweating as Stephanie walked over, placing Sir Topham Hatt down on the bed.
"Is that bad?" Stephanie asked as Notches hopped onto the bed.
Sir Topham Hatt did not respond as he looked at their condition, feeling their pulse and watching them twitch slightly in their sleep.
"No, it isn't," Sir Topham Hatt responded after being silent, looking worried about the conductors. "They're slowly losing their consciousness."
"Is there a way to reverse this?" Stephanie asked.
Sir Topham Hatt paused after Stephanie asked, his face looking weary, and Stephanie could tell he did not know if there was something reversible.
Stephanie's bracelet suddenly glowed, and she perked up, looking at it, seeing it shimmering gold before fading.
"Wait," Stephanie said as Sir Topham Hatt glanced at her. "What if Gold Dust could help?"
"You think Gold Dust can help?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.
"It was shimmering gold when it took us here," Stephanie responded as she removed the Dust Whistle from her garments. "I think it was trying to tell us there is a way."
Stephanie looked at the symbol, which was gold, before standing up to her height and whispering, "Please let this work."
She took a breath and blew the Dust Whistle, watching as Gold Dust came from it and hovered over the conductors, sprinkling Gold Dust on them.
As the Gold Dust was sprinkled on them, their skin color slowly shifted to its original pigment as they perked up and waited anxiously.
Slowly, they started shifting in their sleep before awakening, some looking confused while others yawned.
Then they noticed the Gold Dust cloud over them as they sat up, glancing over to see Stephanie with Notches and Sir Topham Hatt.
"Hello, sir," the youngest conductor greeted. "How long have we been asleep?"
"Far too long, Junior," Sir Topham Hatt softly chuckled.
Stacy entered the room after conversing and saw that the conductors were moving and finally awake as she knelt at their height.
"Mr. Conductor?" They all glanced over at Stacy as she started to cry in happiness.
"It's okay, Stacy," the first Mr. Conductor assured. "We're all fine now thanks to…?"
He paused as he mentioned Stephanie with a hand, and she softly responded, although with some tears, "Stephanie."
"Stephanie," the first conductor finished before they were all scooped up by Stacy, and she hugged them all as Sir Topham Hatt moved to the side.
The conductors thanked Stacy for her help in taking care of them and thanked Stephanie for her help, as Stephanie was trying not to be overwhelmed by the emotions.
Her bracelet may have some benefits for helping people in need.
P.T. Boomer was still walking through the rocky hallway, still using the lamp to guide his way while everyone was riding on his shoulders or in his pockets.
How long was this hallway?
P.T. Boomer soon entered a somewhat larger hallway, and this time it had what looked like carved marble statues down the line on both sides of the hallway.
Each resembles a god, a goddess, or a constellation from Greece, the Aztecs, or different mythologies that came from books.
What were all these marble statues doing here?
P.T. Boomer walked past the marble statues as he entered another hallway, this time with painted pictures of what looked like ancient beings.
Their hair was jet-black, starlight white, or reddish-yellow like the sun.
Who are these beings?
As P.T. Boomer exits the hallway and enters a much larger space, the lantern in his hand shines on a massive mural before him.
The mural was carved out of stone and resembled humans with pointy ears, each holding a star that looked like it had fallen from the sky.
P.T. Boomer followed the mural as it showed more of the story, but parts were left out since most of it cracked from age.
One of the murals showed three beings banishing what looked like a gigantic monster with sharp claws and a monstrous appearance, but the face was cracked and missing.
But the smaller creatures around it looked almost like the Nightmares roaming Sodor, causing destruction.
P.T. Boomer glanced away from the mural and continued walking down the hallway, soon entering another spacious room and noticing he had entered what looked like a throne room.
The chairs were gigantic for giants to sit on, and they had symbols on the top, one with a sun, one with a star, and the other with a moon.
P.T. Boomer inspected the gigantic throne room, seeing that there were tapestries, but they were all worn out of color and had ripped from age.
A sudden shine in the background perked P.T. Boomer's attention, and he glanced over, seeing something hidden underneath one of the ripped tapestries.
P.T. Boomer walked down and carefully kneeled, removing the tapestry from the object and seeing it look like an amulet.
The amulet was connected to a snapped necklace and had an ocean blue gemstone cut in a hexagonal column attached to it with a silver band as the gemstone was lightly glowing.
Who left this necklace behind?
P.T. Boomer stood up after picking up the necklace and was about to put it into one of his pockets when it suddenly shone and wrapped around his ring finger.
He instantly panicked as he dropped the lantern as it clattered, trying to remove the ring, but it stuck to his finger whenever he tried to get it off.
It was silver and had the same gemstone, except it had magically transformed into a round-cut gemstone.
"Magic." P.T. Boomer muttered, now stuck with a ring stuck to him.
Suddenly, the room started shifting as P.T. Boomer perked, watching as a brick fell from the ceiling and crashed onto the ground.
P.T. Boomer scrambled to his feet and was about to leave when the ring glowed, transporting him and the others to the workshop.
P.T. Boomer looked at the door as it was magically sealed up, and the door closed, indicating that the entrance they walked through had disappeared.
"What the hell was all that?!" Sailor John exclaimed.
Stephanie and Stacy, carrying the Conductors on their shoulders with Sir Topham Hatt, Darius, Mr. Schemer, Romeo, and Cleo, were returning to Thomas and the others when Stephanie stopped walking.
She heard what sounded like someone… calling her?
"Stephanie?" Notches spoke as he turned to her. "What's wrong?"
Stephanie turned to the others and caught up with them, saying, "Guys, I need to go see someone."
"Be careful, Stephanie," Romeo warned. "It's almost midnight."
Stephanie nodded and walked through the darkness as everyone reached Shining Time Station, where Thomas and the others had fallen asleep.
"Thomas," Cleo said, climbing onto Thomas' buffers and gently patting his cheeks. "Wake up, Thomas."
Thomas lightly snorted awake after Cleo gently patted his cheeks, groggily opening his eyes as Romeo did the same with Gordon and the others with the Flying Scotsman and Spencer.
"Did you find him?" Thomas asked before yawning.
"Yes," Cleo nodded, mentioning Mr. Schemer and Stacy, carrying the Conductors with her, including Sir Topham Hatt. "And we found Mr. Conductor too!"
"Mr. Conductors." C. Junior pointed out as Mr. Conductor, the third, rolled his eyes.
Suddenly, a light shone on them as they squirted, causing them to turn around to see what was shining at them.
They saw a male teenager with short jet-black hair, round glasses, and brown eyes wearing a gray uniform with a black tie.
Everyone instantly froze like a deer in headlights, and the teenager looked shocked as he held his phone in his hand, using it like a flashlight.
"Uh," C. Junior was the first to speak as everyone looked at each other worriedly. "Meow?"
Instantly, the teenager panicked and screamed, causing everyone to do the same as he scrambled backward, dropping his phone while stuttering and pointing.
"Jackson?!" a voice exclaimed as a woman appeared, holding a flashlight. "What's-?"
She instantly stopped talking after looking at them, and her mind went back to what she had seen and looked at, gasping as she stood up to her full height.
She has long graying hair tied back into a bun with two braids, fair skin, light brown eyes, round glasses, and brown nineteenth-century-style clothes.
"D-Don't panic!" Cleo fretted, glancing over at Thomas. "He's our friend!"
They scrambled back as the woman helped the teenager named 'Jackson' up before bumping into someone behind them.
"Easy, easy!" Gold strings suddenly appeared, strung up as Stephanie was using both hands. "Calm down!"
She paused after seeing the two people and asked, "Jackson? Ms. Richards?"
They perked up after seeing Stephanie, and Jackson exclaimed, "Where were you?! You didn't call. You didn't let me know. You didn't write a note. You-"
He paused as he pieced together the strings wrapped around them and exclaimed, "How are you doing this?!"
"I'll explain after you two calm down," Stephanie told them as she loosened the strings around them, allowing them to get back on the ground. "Most people here, including steamies, are from Sodor."
They instantly looked back at Stephanie as Ms. Richards asked, "You were on Sodor?!"
"Yes," Stephanie nodded. "Just like the books!"
"And it's real?!" Ms. Richards asked.
"Yes," Stephanie nodded, mentioning the steam locomotives as they glanced over. "They and their drivers and firemen, including Sir Topham Hatt, came from Sodor."
The steam locomotives smiled as they flinched as Stephanie gently took their hands, Jackson with the right and Ms. Richards with the left.
"It's okay," Stephanie assured them. "I'm alright. Sir Topham Hatt and the others cared for me when I went to Sodor."
"But," Jackson started. "You were gone for two months, and this entire time, you were staying on Sodor?!"
"Yes," Stephanie nodded with a chuckle, releasing Jackson's hand and showing him her phone. "My crappy phone does not connect easily to the Wi-Fi since your parents shut it down."
"What?!" Jackson exclaimed, taking the piece of crap phone from Stephanie and looking at it. "They gave you this phone the whole time?!"
"Stephanie." The two flinched after hearing Gordon's voice as Thomas asked, "What do you mean by that?"
After realizing that many of her secrets had been revealed, Stephanie winced and muttered, glancing at the camera, "I'm in big trouble."
"How did you manage to get this stuck?!" Conrad and the others were trying to get the ring off P.T. Boomer's hand after returning to where they left Diesel 10, but they were having no luck getting it off.
"I don't know!" P.T. Boomer exclaimed. "It just suddenly got onto my finger!" He paused with a slight wince and added, "Though, I think you should stop. It's starting to hurt."
So they stopped after P.T. Boomer mentioned it, proving that he is stuck with a ring around his finger and has no luck getting it off.
"Well, ye got yourself some jewelry." Sailor John mentioned, and P.T. Boomer looked unamused.
As they got close to where Diesel and Diesel 10 were, they stopped when they heard what sounded like a voice speaking.
"Wow!" the voice exclaimed, sounding impressed. "How is this possible? It's fantastic!"
P.T. Boomer felt worried after hearing the voice and stepped out from where he was, seeing a person looking at Diesel 10, who was staring back at her with confusion.
From behind, she was wearing a long black trench coat, short graying hair in two ponytails, and a single strand poked out from the top.
She was also wearing blue jeans with long jet-black boots, inspecting Diesel 10's face by gently pushing back his lips to look at his teeth, as he has semi-sharp canines.
"Hey!" P.T. Boomer exclaimed, startling the person as she glanced over, wearing round glasses and golden eyes. "What are you doing with him?"
She perked up when P.T. Boomer stepped out from where he was and instantly rushed over to him, startling him as she asked, "You know this diesel? Where did you come from? Are there others like him? Why is the other one sick? How are these people-"
"Slow down," P.T. Boomer spoke, grabbing her face and gently pushing back. "First, who are you? Second, what were you doing with Diesel 10?"
He removed his hand to let her speak, and she said, "I was just looking at him! And my name is Dominique Ember! But I prefer being called 'Ember.'"
"Alright, Ember," P.T. Boomer sighed as Diesel 10 looked confused with Diesel. "Don't do that again to a diesel, okay?"
"Yes," she nodded. "But how are they alive? Is there more like him?"
P.T. Boomer groaned as Bernie said, "Yes, there's an island for them."
"Really?!" she perked with interest. "So it isn't a legend after all!"
'Well, there goes 'trying to keep it a secret.'' P.T. Boomer sighed as Baz glared at Bernie.
"And that's what happened." Stephanie shrugged with a sheepish smile. "And why I barely talked about them."
Stephanie explained how she was kicked out of her 'foster' parents' house before Jackson returned home after graduating high school.
She went to Shining Time Station because it was the only place standing and empty for her to make a home out of, and she accidentally got herself sent to Sodor when she entered.
"But," Thomas paused. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Yes, including me out of all people?" Jackson asked as Ms. Richards nodded.
"I couldn't call because they handed me that phone," Stephanie explained. "And I was worried they would come to the library to fetch me." She gripped her blue jeans, which perked Sir Topham Hatt's attention. "So, I went to Shining Time Station because it's the only place they would not find me."
"Honey," Ms. Richard gently cupped Stephanie's face as she perked. "It's okay. You were afraid of meeting them again."
Stephanie softly smiled after Ms. Richard assured her, and Stephanie said with a soft smile, "But Sodor is my home now."
"Wait, what?" everyone asked.
Stephanie smiled softly as she repeated, "I want to stay at Sodor. The people there are much better, and I feel safe staying there."
Sirens suddenly went through the air, and everyone jolted as Stephanie exclaimed, "Except that!"
Stephanie gently pushed Jackson towards Thomas as he instantly put his heels into the ground, shouting, "Wait, wait, wait, wait! What are you doing?!"
"You need to get into Thomas' cab!" Stephanie exclaimed. "There's no time to explain!"
As Stephanie took out her Dust Whistle, Jackson climbed into Thomas' cab and helped Ms. Richard and Cleo into Thomas' cab.
But she stopped whistling as she said, "Oh, wait! There's no water or coal around and no one to help me!"
So Stephanie took out her Zodiac Pocket Watch and opened it, looking at the time as the arms pointed at the Taurus Zodiac and the other three Zodiacs.
Stephanie tapped the top and soon transformed into her minotaur form from the Chinese Zodiac, startling both Jackson and Ms. Richards when she transformed.
Even Thomas was surprised when she transformed before watching her push his buffers with her might, managing to push both Thomas, Gordon, Spencer, and the Flying Scotsman with everyone on board.
The sirens were getting closer, so Stephanie pushed more with all her might, heading back toward the magic buffers as she picked up speed.
"Stephanie!" Gordon exclaimed. "Slow down! Tender engines will crash if-"
But the sentence stopped when Stephanie pushed everyone through the magic buffers and followed behind, only for her bracelet around her wrist to glow.
The bracelet suddenly yanked her upward in the magic tunnel, releasing Thomas' buffers as they descended the magic railroad.
"OH, MMMMMOOOOO!" Stephanie shrieked and mooed simultaneously as everyone exclaimed, "STEPHANIE!"
Meanwhile, P.T. Boomer was pinching his nose bridge while Ember was playing a game called '20 Questions,' as she asked, 'How did Diesel 10 get Pinchy?', 'How many diesels roam around Sodor?' and 'How small can children be?'
Thankfully, the questions were all stopped when the sound of sirens went through the air, and everyone perked up as Ember exclaimed, "Crap, the fuzz!"
"Quick, do you know how to drive a diesel?" P.T. Boomer asked.
"Yes, and no," Ember responded. "I've read a book about diesels but never driven one."
"Don't worry," Diesel 10's driver said. "Let me instruct you how to drive Diesel 10."
Ember and P.T. Boomer climbed into Diesel 10's cab, and Ember listened to Diesel 10's driver instructing her how to start Diesel 10 and move backward.
Diesel had been cleaned from his 'accident' with the help of Ember when she stumbled upon them and was worried when he heard what sounded like sirens before being startled when Diesel 10 went backward.
"That's it," Diesel 10 muttered. "Keep moving backward."
They picked up speed a little and were about to head to the same tunnel, but then there was trouble!
Diesel instead went on the other rails, and since they were uncoupled, it caused Diesel to move back freely while Diesel 10 heard Diesel's shriek and glanced over.
"Diesel!" Diesel 10 exclaimed but went through the tunnel as Diesel watched.
Luckily, he slowed down as his power was not turned on… but went down a hill as Diesel continued shrieking.
Unfortunately, P.T. Boomer's ring glowed when they entered the magic tunnel, which surprised him.
He was suddenly teleported outside Diesel 10's cab and into the air of the magic tunnel, screaming as he tried grabbing Pinchy, and it shot up to grab him, but his finger slipped as it missed him by inches.
"Boomer!" Diesel 10 exclaimed as they went downward.
P.T. Boomer tried grabbing onto one of the rails, but they went through his hand as he soared upward instead of downward.
Suddenly, a loud voice was heading towards him, and he looked, hearing it get closer and closer.
"MMMMMMOOOOOOO!" P.T. Boomer was suddenly face-planted by something large and fluffy, causing him to exclaim as he was twirled around by what sounded like a cow.
He snapped something off, and in a flash, it transformed back into the same child he met with the others when they were chased.
"Stephanie?!" P.T. Boomer exclaimed as they held hands with their right hands while Stephanie shoved something into her blue jeans pocket. "What are you doing here?!"
"I'll ask you the same!" Stephanie exclaimed as she gripped his arm with her hand, and he did the same as they were twirling around. "But whatever you do, don't let go!"
"I'm not!" P.T. Boomer responded as they went through the magic tunnel, the railroad tracks, and through clouds, getting a little dizzy from spinning around. "Whatever you do, don't-!"
They were suddenly heading towards an exit blocked off with wooden planks, and Stephanie flinched as P.T. Boomer instantly wrapped his arms around her and yelled, "PANIC!"
And P.T. Boomer crashed through the wooden planks, shielding Stephanie with his body, before vanishing from the magical tunnel.