It came during the night of February the 25th. A dream Thomas didn't expect. He was in London Victoria, completely alone. No engines, no people, just him.

"Strange," he thought. "Why am I back in Victoria?"

"I brought you here."

The engine was a J1 class. One had been his first crush, and she broke his heart. Thomas glared at her.

"What do you want from me? Wasn't that rejection enough?"

"I am not a J1, Thomas. This is just my current form," said the J1.

"What? I don't get it."

"My name is Lady. Weren't you told about me before?"

"I'm afraid no. What exactly are you?"

"Are you sure you don't know? Didn't your partner tell you? Anything about a goddess or something?"

"Well…"

"Whatever. I'll bring him here," said Lady.

Some seconds later, Conan landed on top of Thomas. It seemed to be a hard drop.

"What the…?"

"Hi," said the engine.

As all was cleared up, the J1 explained why she had brought them over.

"You see, I am in danger, and need you to help me."

"Why should I help an engine from my old railway?" scoffed Thomas. "Both of you bullied and beat me. I say die for all I care."

"Perhaps," said Lady, "this will convince you."

A bright golden light began surrounding her. She then turned into a 2-4-0 well tank.

"Is this a form you are comfortable with?" she asked. "There are no engines like this from your old railway."

"I guess so."

"Then let me explain what is happening," said Lady. "But I won't have much time. He is getting closer."

"Who? And why can't you simply blink him out of existence?" asked Thomas.

"My power is currently low," said Lady. "Has been since most of it got stolen."

"Who exactly?" asked Conan.

"You already know. Just think," said Lady. "Who was the one who sabotaged the railway?"

"Boomer! But… How did Boomer steal your power?"

"He had a connection to me. That's how he entered my realm. That's all you need to know. If you do as I say next, however, you can help me get some of my power back. Are you two willing?" she asked.

"No. I don't want to die. My partner's gonna be a dad, I have more important things to do. I just got new coaches on Monday, and without me, my branch line, the most importantest part of the railway, can't run."

"Thomas… you may want to reconsider your answer…"

"I don't have time to worry about other matters," interrupted Thomas. Then, a goods van hit him.

"Where did this van come from?" he asked.

"I threw it. This is serious, Thomas," snarled Lady. "Go to Cregwir. And know that there are more duos like you on this railway. Some you may not expect."

And with that, both woke up, Conan in bed with his wife, and Thomas at Ffarquhar.

"Well that was an unusual dream," snorted Thomas. "Honestly, why me? I don't have time to help return power to some mystical locomotive who only exists in my dreams: I have a branch line to run."

Thunder cracked overheard. Thomas ignored it and immediately went to collect his two coaches. He'd named them Annie and Clarabel and had grown attached to them, but the two didn't entirely get along.

"Morning, ladies," he called, buffering up to them.

"It's too early. It's only 6.30am!" grumbled Annie. "Let me sleep a little more."

"Our first train leaves at 7," said Thomas. "We dawdle around any longer, we'll be late. Now come along, come along."

Time passed by. Thomas felt like two hours had gone by, but no passengers appeared. By the time Conan and Jewelie had come down to the station, it somehow was still 6.30am.

"How exactly is it possible for the time to stay the same?" asked Thomas.

"Lady?" suggested Conan.

"Oh, come on!" grumbled Thomas. "Surely, you aren't taking a dream seriously?!"

A small paper appeared on a window. Jewelie unfolded the paper, and on it, she read, "Two hours of wasted time. I can't hold time back much longer. Go to Cregwir! Ps, there shall be no trains today."

"Looks like we have our answer," said Conan. "Off to Cregwir we go. Coming Jewelie?"

"Do you really think it's that locomotive who calls herself a goddess?" scoffed Thomas. "Honestly, just a prank somebody's pulling on us."

Lightning fell on top of Thomas, giving the E2 a nasty shock. He was charred when the lighting stopped.

"Ow… Ouch… ok… I get it… this is no joke. Fine, let's go to Cregwir."

Afterwards, the group departed, they collected a truck and tanker, which were filled up with coal and water for the long journey, as well as a brake van. Then they set off for Cregwir.

As Lady said, time stood still until they reached Killdane. The trio had a small discussion regarding how exactly did that work. It seemed there couldn't be an explanation outside of the supernatural.

"But… Does it only affect Sodor, or what?" asked Jewelie.

"A good question," admitted Conan.

At around 7.30am, they reached Cregwir. The voyage should have taken at least two hours, and they should have arrived at around 9 am. Then again, Lady had mentioned she'd stopped time. It would certainly explain why no other engines were seen on their travels. The truck, tanker, and brake van, broke their silence.

"Gee, that was a long journey for nothing," said the truck. "What was the point of all that?"

"I'm asking the same question here," huffed Thomas. "I don't see anything unusual here: just the station and sidings."

Thunder rolled again, as a warning.

"Where exactly are we supposed to go?" Conan questioned. As if answering, one of the buffers began to glow.

"Full steam ahead, then."

As they went into the siding, the glow became more intense, and bright colours formed around it. Thomas shut his eyes. But strangely, he didn't feel anything when he hit the buffers! Did he hit the buffers? The E2 slowly opened his eyes, only to find he was no longer in Cregwir: instead, he was running along a track that was surrounded by thick vegetation.

"What the…?"

"Now you've seen what you must help me protect. The source of Sentients, and my home. Welcome to the Magic Railway."

As Thomas came to a stop in what looked like a cave, Lady materialised before him.

"I've brought you here to convince you to aid me. I'm guessing it worked," she said.

"Well, it did," said Thomas.

"Before I guide you to the next step in your mission, I shall answer any questions you may have."

"Which is your true form?" asked Conan.

"You cannot comprehend it. If you were to see me as I truly am, I would destroy you. That's what happened to the mother of Dionysus, if you heard that story before."

"Uh huh… why me? I'm just an 0-6-0! What makes me enough to…OW!"

Lady gave him a hard bump.

"Don't you dare question my judgement!" she roared. "I've been watching you. Remember when you charged Boomer? Not to mention you went into action right away when James derailed. I have seen your kind soul, and despite your many flaws, you are brave."

Thomas tried to say something else, but Lady talked again.

"Do you not have any further questions? Are you done?"

"I still don't see why I should help you," snorted Thoma, ignoring Lady's increasing anger as he spoke. "I can't leave behind my branch line: it's the most important part of the railway, it couldn't exist without it. I have a timetable to keep to, and can't disappoint…"

"DO YOU WANT ME TO STRIKE YOU WITH LIGHTING AGAIN?!" Lady shouted. Thomas just laughed.

"You're funny. Even you know lightning never strikes the same place twice!"

A lightning bolt struck Thomas again, this time, it would char him black.

"Will you stop your nonsense?! We are dealing with a serious situation!" Lady scolded. Thomas gave a cough.

"Anybody got butter?" he asked groggily. "I think I'm toast!" And with that, he passed out.

"So what exactly can we do to help?" asked Conan. "I mean, Boomer somehow made himself immortal: we can't exactly kill him."

"Not only that," put in Jewelie, "he just vanished when we surrounded him. We don't know where he is!"

"He's not the main threat at the moment," Lady answered. "Right now, the main threat is a British man who was working with some Germans. His name is Wyatt Quartmurph, a fisherman who got kicked out of the Navy. You may already know him."

Conan and Jewelie thought, unsure if they actually did.

"Return to Ffarquhar for now. I'll know when he's close. Take the first track to the left…" she paused, seeing that Thomas was still unconscious. Lady gave a sigh. "Fine, leave this to me." She bumped the E2 again. At once, he woke up.

"Huh? Wha…who's there?"

"Me. Now, go. Remember, first track to the left. You don't want to end up in Japan, or like the last guy"

"What last guy?" asked Thomas.

"Never you mind, just go!"

Thomas rolled his eyes as Lady reversed out of his way. He then steamed onto the first track to the left.

The E2 woke up to find himself back at Ffarquhar. His fire was out and there wasn't any steam. He looked at a clock: it read 6:30.

"How can time not have passed?" he asked.

"What're you talking about?" asked TKE #3. "The sun's up, right? That means time has passed."

"Oh, uh, it's nothing," said Thomas slowly.

The firelighter soon came and lit Thomas' fire. As Conan arrived along with the fireman, Thomas couldn't help but wonder: how was he supposed to help?

As the hours went by, nothing really happened, not at first. It was a slow day, and all trains were running to their normal schedule. However, Thomas couldn't help but notice something off: every time he arrived at Knapford, Henry was never seen.

"That's odd: whatever happened to Henry?" he asked in the afternoon. Annie huffed.

"Wherever he went, he could've taken me with him," she scoffed.

"Annie, we can't abandon our passengers here!" scolded Clarabel.

"It surprises me a composite could actually be responsible. Especially since you're at the rear of it all," snorted Annie.

"Without me, you wouldn't be able to go anywhere!" growled Clarabel.

"I could, if I could be returned to proper service as an express coach," said Annie.

"Knock it off!" shouted Thomas. "Neither of you could move without me anyway: after all, you both need an engine to move. Clarabel, do your driving controls work when you don't have an engine attached?"

"No, I'm afraid not," admitted Clarabel.

"Humph! So much for me needing you to move me!" snorted Annie. At that moment, Dante came into the second platform with a stopping train.

"Dante, have you seen Henry?" asked Thomas.

"Why should I care?" huffed Dante. "I'm stuck on slow trains all day. Honestly, I should be speeding down the line and…"

"Blah blah blah blah blah!" interrupted Thomas. "Your talk of speeding down the line is getting really old. Take my advice: shut up and accept your current position. Maybe then you'll get your turns on express trains back."

"Sure. As if all the disrespect my partner…"

"Hey!" Thomas shouted. "You say one bad thing about Conan, I'll rip you a new one! And I don't care what the Fat Director says about violence."

"I wasn't referring to Conan, idiot," snarled Dante.

"Well who else would have a bond then? Huh?" asked Thomas. "Edward's partner committed suicide, I already know about Emily. Aside from that, I don't think any other engines on this Island have bonds. Not for free anyway."

"Clearly you don't know every engine on this island then," said Dante smugly.

"I know more than you ever did, you've only been here for, uh, two years I think. I've been here for ten."

"Oh Dante, take me with you!" begged Annie. "I can't stand going so slowly on this tiny branch line!"

"TINY?! Take that back!" shouted Thomas.

"Alright, enough arguing!" shouted the stationmaster. "This is a railway, not a political debate. Please keep things professional around the passengers."

All went silent, save for the chatter of passengers.

The E2 was still wondering about Henry's whereabouts as he travelled along the line, unable to shake off a feeling.

"Could Lady have done something to make Henry disappear?" he asked Conan.

"I doubt it," said Conan. "She's strict, but not a jerk."

"Then where on Earth could Henry have gone?" Thomas asked.

"I'll ring Jewelie at Tidmouth when we return to Ffarquhar," Conan promised.

He had to stop at Dryaw loop to wait for TKE #2 to arrive with a stone train. The Coffee Pot came racing in, sliding at a rapid pace, with brakes screeching as sparks flew underneath her wheels. She came to a stop in the other line of the loop.

"You ok, #2?" asked Thomas.

"It's my brakes," answered TKE #2. "They're weak, not meant for heavy trains like this."

"Yes, weak brakes are indeed troublesome," said Thomas, as he steamed into the station platform.

"I'll get new ones soon as possible, hope," said TKE #2. "Same with #3. Somehow, though, I doubt that'll come to fruition: board seems to think you can handle everything on your own."

Thomas gulped: as much as he liked the idea of having the branch line all to himself, the Coffee Pots were still his friends. It wouldn't do to have them be taken out of service.

"Rather out of service than you spilling dirty water all over me," snorted Annie.

"Thomas, you really gotta get that coach enrolled into manners school," snorted TKE #2.

When they got to Ffarquhar, Conan made good on his promise and telephoned Jewelie. While waiting for the call to finish, TKE #3 puffed alongside.

"I get you like to be punctual," he said, "but shouldn't you take on more coal and water before starting your next journey?"

"I'm waiting for my driver," said Thomas the Tank Engine. "I haven't seen Henry all day and he's calling his wife at Tidmouth to find out why."

"It still surprises me Sir Topham was able to get her into that position against the board," remarked TKE #3. "Considering how reluctant they were to return Edward to service, you'd think they'd put up a much better fight."

"Old board," replied Thomas. "But considering the fact society currently doesn't see women as people, the fact the old board didn't put up a fight is indeed surprising."

"I'm guessing making her shedmaster was one issue Sir Topham proved to be too stubborn for the board to convince him otherwise on," said TKE #3. At that moment, Conan came out of the station building.

"Henry's had an accident and is at Vickers for repairs," he told Thomas. "He should be back soon."

"You gonna take your drink now?" asked TKE #3.

"And what about you, #3? What're you doing here?" retorted Thomas.

"Waiting for the milk van to be loaded so I can take it down to Elsbridge. That and contemplating my future. It's funny: a fourth coffee pot had been ordered a while back, but I've not seen them since 1919. I wonder what happened to them?"

"Hard to say," replied Thomas. "Maybe they weren't needed after all."

TKE #3 gave a sigh.

"Considering what happened to TKE #1, I have a feeling we won't know," he said.

Soon, it was time for the next train to Tidmouth. As Thomas reversed into the bay platform, he couldn't help but wonder whether or not Lady was behind Henry's accident or if it was all coincidence. On one hand, Lady didn't seem to be the nicest of engines. On the other hand, he didn't see how causing the accident was supposed to convince him to help her.

As he departed, little did Thomas know he wasn't the only one on the know. Someone else had heard a strange noise at Cregwir and gone to investigate. There was nothing there, but he had a feeling he knew what it was.

"The Magic Railway is here, I can feel it! Oh boy, I'm close to my goal at last!"