6 - The Lamp
Content Warning: Detailed descriptions of an anxiety attack and dealing with ADHD.
"Edward!"
Edward looked back and found Thomas pulling onto the platform next to him at Ulfstead. He had a goods train and seemed very chipper in the mid-afternoon despite it being unusually cold.
"Oh hello Thomas, how are you today?" Edward greeted the tank engine cheerily.
"I'm mighty fine thank you very much my good sir," Thomas explained teasingly. Edward chuckled at the cheeky engine. "I thought I'd take some time out to meet the little engine from Australia that's up here. What are you doing here though Edward? Don't often see you in these parts."
Edward paused. He wasn't sure if Thomas should come along to speak with City of Truro, but Truro had a reputation of being kind to all engines that approached him.
"Green Arrow and Duck wanted me to speak with City of Truro," Edward explained. "They were worried about him."
"Oh?" A concerned look appeared over the tank engine's face. "Is something wrong with City of Truro?"
"He blames himself for Green Arrow's accident," Edward mentioned and Thomas grew even more concerned.
"But it's not his fault," Thomas insisted but Edward gazed at the rails before him.
"I do understand where he's coming from though," he admitted. "Whenever a new engine comes along, I feel responsible for them in a way."
"Like you did with me?" Thomas pointed out. "I still feel sorry for getting you into trouble with the trucks."
Edward chuckled. "It's okay Thomas, it was a very long time ago, but do you understand what I mean?"
"Yeah I do," Thomas agreed and Edward looked thoughtful.
"Maybe bringing you along might help," Edward mused and Thomas looked enthused at the idea.
"Yes! Yes! I could back you up and help give Truro insight!" Thomas exclaimed.
Edward smiled, Thomas had grown up over the many years but there was sometimes when the naïve and childish side of Thomas came out and Edward found himself reminiscing over a better part of his life.
"That would be quite helpful, thank-you Thomas," Edward gratefully said and Thomas beamed.
"Happy to be of use!" He affirmed.
Together the two blue engines made their way to the museum. Visitors greeted them and excitedly crowded around them which made it hard to get into the building but they were both patient and after many hellos and a lot of photos, they managed to make it to the museum.
To their complete surprise, however, City of Truro had been taken off display.
"Stephen, where's Truro?" Edward asked and Stephen frowned.
"He's being returned to York tonight," he explained solemnly. "Bit of a shame really, he's a nice fellow but Lady Olivia's decision is final."
"This is the first time I'm hearing this!" Thomas admitted shocked.
"Apparently this was all planned in the last 48 hours or so, so I'm not surprised," Stephen commented.
Edward looked at the empty space where Truro often sat over looking the entire museum and the grounds of Ulfstead estate.
"Who's going to be replacing him?" Edward asked curiously.
"Don't know, Lady Gresley never said," Stephen answered honestly before going to pick up his carriages with a cheery toot.
Edward and Thomas glanced at each other. Something was going on here.
After inquiring around they found Truro sitting in one of the workshops with the little engine, Lyell.
"Oh! Hello!" Thomas explained brightly as he saw the little engine. The little engine blushed and looked at him shyly.
"Hi," she greeted Thomas shyly. "You're Thomas aren't you?"
"Yes I am!" Thomas exclaimed cheerily. "What's your name?"
"Lyell," the little engine squeaked. "I'm a big fan of yours."
Lyell's face went bright red and she avoided eye contact with Thomas. Thomas just smiled at her.
"It's lovely to meet a fan of mine from Australia, you're a very pretty engine!" Thomas complimented her and Lyell just squeaked and tried to hide from Thomas.
"She's very shy," Truro croaked out from across the room. "The poor dear has never really interacted with engines bigger than her or her siblings."
Thomas and Edward looked over to see Truro sitting on the other side of the sheds, his appearance extremely concerning to the both of them.
"I'll talk to you later, okay Lyell?" Thomas promised the little engine and the little engine went bright red.
"Okay Mr Thomas," she squeaked and watched him leave, still unable to look him the eye the entire time. "I'll probably be at Culdee Fell soon, so don't take too long, I guess."
"I won't," Thomas smiled at her and he and Edward left her to turn their attention towards the famous Great Western.
The engine did not look well despite his spotless coat and Truro's face held deep exhaustion and a restless fevour. He seemed extremely on edge and very agitated despite his exhausted state.
"You don't look well Truro, is everything alright?" Edward asked concerned. The Great Western gazed at him exhausted.
"Is it really that noticeable?" Truro asked, his voice sounding flat and devoid of emotion.
"You look awful," Thomas cut in bluntly before Edward could answer. "You look like you haven't slept for a month."
Truro gave a weak chuckle.
"Maybe because I haven't," he remarked and Edward and Thomas glanced at each other worried.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Edward offered and Truro just gave a weary sigh.
"I'm afraid not," Truro lamented sadly. "But I thank you for your kindness, Edward and Thomas. I will just be happy to be in Scotsman's company again."
"That's good," Thomas smiled at him encouragingly. "We love having you visit Sodor, City of Truro, you're always welcome here."
"Thank you, Thomas."
"Are you alright with what happened between Green Arrow and Lady of Legend?" Edward asked and Truro gazed down at his buffers silently. "You are not at fault for what happened, do not blame yourself, Truro."
"No matter what you say, Edward, I will always hold myself accountable for those under my guidance," Truro stated firmly. "I think you understand more than anyone here Edward."
Edward glanced at Thomas who looked at him worriedly.
"While I certainly do understand it Truro," Edward admitted. "I have come to learn that the engines I guide do have minds and thoughts of their own. They will do things of their own accord. They're influenced by many things around them, not just those who teach them. To hold yourself to an impossible standard is not a healthy thing."
Truro looked unconvinced despite Edward's passionate plea.
"Perhaps," Truro doubted, "But the young lady was complaining to me of problems beforehand and I dismissed them. If I had addressed them, maybe this would have been avoided and Green Arrow would not be in the works and Lady of Legend in need of a new tender."
"If it's any consolation, Green Arrow is the one who asked me to speak with you," Edward explained. "He and Duck are both very worried for you and have been noticing that you haven't been well these past few months since… ah well, certain events."
Edward paused awkwardly, not wanting to bring up past events in case it may upset Truro. Truro just looked downtrodden.
"I have been missing Flying Scotsman, I will admit," Truro admitted after a moment of reflection.
"Please don't take this the wrong way Truro," Thomas suddenly interrupted the two elder engines. "But Flying Scotsman asked me and several others to keep an eye on you when he left for the mainland. He said he noticed some changes in you back then and was incredibly worried about leaving you here."
"Ah, I see," was all Truro could reply to Thomas' words with.
There was a pregnant pause as the three engines sat in silence.
Eventually, Truro gave a deep sigh and closed his eyes.
"I am truly grateful for your concern, my friends," Truro expressed gratefully. "But the things I am dealing with are extremely personal and I do not trust anyone except those close to me."
Edward and Thomas immediately understood.
"That's okay Truro, just know that there's a lot of us who care about you and want the best for you," Edward assured the engine. "We will miss you when you go back to York."
"Thank you," Truro smiled, this time his smile reached his eyes and his mood seemed to improve at least a little bit.
"Do you know who they're sending to replace you at the museum?" Thomas asked excitedly.
"Well I shouldn't tell you, I know that Lady Gresley wanted it to be a surprise," Truro revealed mysteriously, a little spark of mischief in his eyes.
"Oh go on please!" Thomas begged and Truro gave a small chuckle.
"Well then, if you insist," Truro relented humorously. "He's red and he's older than all of us here."
"Even Stephen?" Thomas joked and Truro gave a frown.
"Alright maybe not older than him," Truro conceded.
"Number 3, Coppernob," Edward acknowledged, his voice sounding distant and quiet.
"Yes indeed!" Truro confirmed. "It is indeed Coppernob of the Furness Railway."
Thomas gave a dramatic gasp.
"Isn't that your old railway Edward?!" the blue tank engine exclaimed enthusiastically. "I've never seen another engine from your railway before!"
Edward however just stared blankly at the wall in front of him.
"Yes," Edward answered shortly. "Yes, it is."
"Edward?" Thomas asked concerned noticing Edwards change in demeanour but Edward quickly shook it off and returned his attention to Truro.
"Is there anything you'd like us to pass on to anyone before you leave the City of Truro?" Edward asked of Truro.
Truro stared at Edward knowingly for a brief moment before answering.
"Pass my best regards to everyone, especially those on the Little Western," Truro requested. "And to Green Arrow. He's a good close friend of mine. I would say goodbye to everyone but I doubt that we will have the time, Lady Olivia wants to do the swap as fast as possible."
"We can certainly do that!" Thomas affirmed happily. "Was there anything else?"
"Yes, about Lady of Legend," Truro specified. "Look after her. I don't want to hear of anyone harassing her. I think, more than ever, she needs a friend to guide her. I just hope whoever they sent will be good to her. She's very vulnerable right now, I hope the best for her."
"I hope so too," Edward agreed. "We'll do our best, City of Truro."
"Then you have my thanks."
Tangmere, or Rebecca to her friends, sat humming happily to herself as the platforms around her at Vicarstown filled to the brim, jam-packed with people like a bunch of Sardines.
Word had spread quickly about the visiting engines and Rebecca was excited to meet the Australian Express engine. In fact, a lot of engines and their crews had paused work and now sat around the station watching for the foreign engine attentively.
The connection from the mainland pulled into her Platform looking very confused.
"I say what's all this then?" The apple green engine with the number 1306 painted on its cab questioned, looking very confused as she stopped on the platform beside Rebecca's. "There's no royal train about from what I've known."
"Oh no Miss Mayflower, it's a visiting express engine from Australia!" Rebecca explained excitedly.
"Oh, I see!"
"They're here to celebrate Scotsman's 100th build day," Rebecca explained, seeing Mayflower look at her questioningly.
"Ah," Mayflower briefly looked saddened for a brief second but then brightened up again. "That's quite a celebration! I hope he enjoys it."
Rebecca gazed at Mayflower sadly.
"I'm sure you could pass on your regards to Scotsman somehow," she insisted but Mayflower just sighed.
"I could try but he wouldn't receive them anyway. Old Railway drama, you know how it is," Mayflower explained. "It's good to see you anyway Rebecca!"
"You too May!" Rebecca called as Mayflower went to get herself turned around. She felt a little sad for Mayflower but knew better than to poke her nose into another railway's business.
The spectators began to murmur and grow excited as a large head of white steam appeared in the distance. The excitement grew as a brilliant green engine appeared, stunningly contrasting with the grey sky and the brown and beige buildings.
The engines around the station started tittering excitedly as the brilliant emerald green engine pulled into the Platform, although the expression on the engine's face was one of disgruntlement and annoyance.
The Australian engine stopped, her eyes cast down and avoiding everyone's gaze as people crowded around her.
Rebecca gazed at her concerned.
"Are you alright?" She asked concerned. "You seem very distressed."
For a second the large green streamlined engine didn't answer before she looked up and gazed at Rebecca. Her gloomy expression changed to one of curiosity as she looked over Rebecca's strange boiler shape.
"Who me?" the Australian engine asked. "It's nothing, just a few mishaps, don't mind me. I'm Grey."
Rebecca smiled encouragingly at the foreign engine. At the very least she had a positive attitude. Rebecca could appreciate that.
"I'm Tangmere, but you can call me Rebecca," Rebecca introduced herself to the bright green engine. "Your livery looks so bright and colourful! It's amazing!"
"A bit rich coming from a bright yellow engine but I'll take it!" Grey seemed to be softening up now, her demeanour becoming a lot more friendly by the second.
Rebecca laughed at Grey's comment. This engine, despite her previous sullen manner, was a friendly and happy one from what Rebecca could tell.
"I hope Gordon's Hill didn't give you too much trouble on the way here," Rebecca remarked jokingly.
The Australian engine seemed to freeze and her eyes widened in a panic, that friendliness Rebecca had just witnessed was gone in an instant.
"Gord- Gordon's Hill?" Grey repeated, her voice now strained and extremely hoarse. "What, what do you mean Gordon's Hill?"
"Oh that incline near Wellsworth station is called Gordon's Hill because Gordon keeps getting stuck on it," Rebecca explained with a laugh. She hadn't noticed Grey's distress.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Grey suddenly spat, her voice sounding cold and shaky.
Rebecca, surprised by the sudden coldness, looked over at Grey and found the big green engine's pupils had become small, her eyes wide and staring and her frames had begun to tremble. She looked completely terrified.
"Ms Grey, what's wrong?!" Rebecca called to her concerned but the emerald green engine ignored her.
"I should never have come here," Grey trembled, her voice full of panic, "This was a mistake, this was all a mistake, I want Gold, where's Gold, why aren't they here?"
The Green Engine was gasping for air now and ignoring everything around her, as her crew desperately tried to get her uncoupled and away from the station, the engine not responding to anyone's reassurances.
"Grey…" Was all Rebecca could say as the green engines crew managed to finally uncouple her and take her away, as they tried to reassure their engine..
As Grey and her crew disappeared much to the concern of Rebecca and the crowd, Mayflower had finished going around the station to back on to the Wild Nor' Wester's mainland connection.
"What's going on?" The Thompson B1 asked concerned. She suddenly spotted the retreating bright green engine leaving the station. "What a lovely shade of green! Is that the Australian engine?"
Rebecca said nothing, only staring after Grey in worry and confusion.
Tydfil could not tell day from night in the dingy and dusty shed that she had been locked in. The only source of light was the small cracks between the metal panels of the wall and the little vents on the top of the roof that made sure that the entire building wasn't engulfed in smoke.
She'd been here so long that she'd hallucinated silver dust floating around in the air around her and sticking to her boiler. It was bizarre and strange but it made her feel warm so she guessed it wasn't all bad.
The young Great Western engine only knew that she had been here for a few days at least. Over that time she had come to think things over.
She'd almost destroyed Green Arrow. She had almost destroyed another engine and it haunted her.
At first, she had tried to blame it on Sir Topham Hatt, City of Truro, Mrs Parsons or even Green Arrow but the more she thought about it, the more she realised that it had been her fault.
The voice in her smokebox hadn't spoken to her since the accident. Hours after being locked in the shed she had ranted angrily at it, trying to make it reappear but the voice was now silent, perhaps it too felt guilty at being to cause of the accident.
It had tried to get her to move, warn her about the oncoming Green Arrow but then left shortly after, sounding deeply shaken and concerned. It bothered her no more, even when Tydfil demanded that it come back and answer her.
Tydfil sighed and stared at the darkness in front of her.
Maybe she had been too much for everyone. Maybe she wasn't as special as King Edward the first and his brother had insisted. She heard the other engines talk about her, they were all frustrated with her. Even City of Truro, who had shown her kindness and tried to help her.
She could see that in his eyes, the older engine was growing weary of her attitude and was constantly frustrated, always telling her to pay attention and to stop working slowly.
She couldn't help it! Everyone she asked always told her different ways of doing things! From Duck with his by-the-letter process to Ryan just figuring things out along the way, everyone kept saying conflicting things. When she tried to do it Ryan's way, Duck or Truro would criticise her! And whenever she did it 'The Great Western Way' Ryan or Daisy would get annoyed that she was taking too long, get frustrated and do the job themselves.
She was really trying as best as she could, but nothing she did ever seemed to please anyone. They kept giving her different jobs and the second she got used to one she'd have to do another and then have to learn it from scratch again.
It was frustrating.
No one listened to her, no one bothered to even try. It was like she was invisible.
When she did try to explain herself she fumbled her words and sounded like an idiot.
They probably thought she was stupid. She wasn't stupid. Not at all but she knew that she came off as stupid and slow.
She felt completely useless.
She couldn't do a single job, pulling coaches or goods without someone finding an issue with what she did.
She became aware that there were tears slipping down her face. She sniffed and tried to blink them away.
Maybe being here in the shed was better for everyone else around her. That way she wouldn't be in the way and the railway would run smoother.
Maybe the whispers of her being cursed were right. She was bad luck, built atop the corpse of another engine.
The others looked at her with distaste. Some engines giggled behind her back and called her a zombie or an undead engine.
She was an abomination, she wasn't… right.
She didn't know how long she sat there crying and drowning in her sorrows but her depressive state was suddenly interrupted when she heard the sound of an engine approaching the shed.
She sniffed rapidly and shook herself, trying the stop her tears and hide them from whoever it was, was approaching her.
They were a big engine and from the sounds, it sounded like Pendennis Castle. She didn't want Pendennis Castle to see her like this. He'd make fun of her and tell Trojan and the Kings. They'd all laugh at her and think her even stupider.
Someone fumbled loudly with the doors and Tydfil winched at how loud it sounded after days of nothing but the occasion birds perching on the tin roof of her shed.
It was too loud, too loud!
Light flooded her dark shed and she gave a yelp of pain as the sudden change in lighting hurt her eyes and caused her pain.
"Don't worry dear, I'm not an angel, although I do suppose you could call me your saviour of sorts!" A loud female voice called out to her, her an awful cackle, the owner clearly laughing at her own… joke?
Tydfil scowled. Whoever this was, Tydfil immediately didn't like them. As her eyes adjusted to the light she glared at the engine in front of her.
It was indeed a castle-class locomotive, however, it wasn't Pendennis Castle. It was one of his siblings.
Tydfil frowned at the engine that was sitting there, a clearly fake grin plastered all over her dumb face. Her first impression of this engine was not a good one.
She felt superficial and a self-important engine. Her coat was incredibly glossy and clean and she obviously thought of herself very highly and funny if her laughing at her own joke was anything to go by.
"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Tydfil asked the engine flatly. "Because jokes are supposed to be funny and that wasn't. That was awful."
The engine before her still grinned at her but there was a coldness in her eyes now as she stared at Lady of Legend. Tydfil shifted uncomfortably on her frames. She didn't like that look in this engine's eyes.
"My aren't you… just… charming," the engine greeted her, still keeping that unnerving smile making Tydfil feel very uncomfortable.
"I'm just honest," Tydfil answered. She couldn't help but be honest. It was just how she was. Not being honest made her feel bad.
"Being honest all the time is not very likeable little miss Lady," the Castle winked at her and Tydfil felt even more uncomfortable. "And everyone wants to be liked don't you know?"
"I'd rather be honest with no friends than a lying attention whore," Tydfil snapped extremely annoyed. This engine was really starting to get on her nerves.
Said engine had dropped the creepy grin and was now pouting at her indignantly.
"We've started off on the wrong track," the Castle reaffirmed. "I am called Clun Castle, I'm here to replace the old curmudgeon, City of Truro as your new mentor!"
Tydfil raised her eyebrow at the engine quizzically and frowned.
This engine? She didn't seem at all appropriate to teach anyone or anything. She seemed to be too self-obsessed to teach anything other than a class on how to be a jackass to everyone.
"Okay, sure," Tydfil accepted, annoyed. It wasn't like she had much say in the matter anyway and she doubted that this, Clun Castle, would make any difference to her.
They would just send any other engine to mentor her until they finally realise how useless or cursed she was.
"Grand!" Clun Castle exclaimed with a sickeningly sweet voice. "First of all, none of those old traditions nonsense! My name is Meredith but you can call me Mary!"
Tydfil frowned.
"But I only just met you!" Tydfil scoffed. "Why would you tell me your name? That's not the Great Western Way!"
"I said none of those old traditions dear Lady! Now tell me your name!" Clun Castle asked but Tydfil glared at the engine.
When she had been given her true name upon her first firing, she had been told the weight of it. That if nothing else, her true name was powerful and it could be used against her in the wrong buffers.
If she lost her true name, no one would want to be her crew. She would be cursed and abandoned and Tydfil did not want that.
"No," she snapped. "I may not like or understand the Great Western Way but names are important. They hold power. I'm not giving to someone I barely know!"
Clun Castle gave a frustrated sigh and glared at Lady of Legend. She was quickly getting frustrated with the stubborn young engine.
"That's okay, we can work on it," Clun Castle conceded reluctantly. She looked Lady of Legend over, surveying the young engine carefully and with a calculative gaze.
Tydfil just glared at Clun Castle. She wanted this annoying demanding engine to go away. She was a Saint Class, she technically ranked higher than a Castle Class despite being so young.
"You have no tender," Clun Castle pointed out. "It must be in repair because of your foolishness."
"Don't rub it in!" Tydfil snapped angrily. "It was horrible!"
"Oh no," Clun Castle gave a laugh. "You damaged Green Arrow, I would consider that quite amusing."
Tydfil stared at the Castle Class in disbelief. Why did she find an engine being damaged amusing? Warnings began flashing in Tydfil's mind.
"Amusing?" Tydfil asked.
"I'm quite glad no one was scrapped of course," Clun Castle insisted. "But Green Arrow is nothing but an annoyance."
Tydfil had never even met Green Arrow properly aside from passing him a few times on the rails before the crash. She wondered what he thought of her before the crash.
From what Tydfil had heard, Green Arrow was one of the hardest workers on the entire Sudrian railway, not an annoyance. Not well-liked but he was respected for his work.
"You can have my tender for now," Clun Castle offered, drawing Tydfil's attention from her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"You have no tender and I am offering mine until you get repaired," Clun Castle offered again and Tydfil stared at her confused.
"But then you wouldn't have a tender," she pointed out.
"Consider it myself being charitable!" Clun Castle insisted. "A mark of my friendship, as it were."
Tydfil was about to snap back that Clun Castle was not her friend. But she thought better of it. This was an extremely generous offer, she shouldn't be nasty about it.
'Don't accept this, you can't trust her.'
Tydfil froze and her eyes widened as she heard the accursed voice in her smokebox once again.
Tydfil frowned and pushed the voice away. Now it wanted to talk after being silent for so long?
It was too late for that.
For the first time, Lady of Legend smiled at Clun Castle. She did not trust or like this engine in the slightest, but offering her own tender was clearly a sign that she meant well, wasn't it?
"Thank you, Clun Castle," Tydfil smiled at her.
"Please, it's Meredith or just Mary!" Clun Castle exclaimed cheerily.
Tydfil stared at the Castle Class warily. Despite her better judgement she decided to accept and listen to this self-absorbed engine.
"Alright then, Meredith."
"My, I knew that Australia had some handsome diesels but I never expected them to be quite this handsome," Boco exclaimed flustered as the large Australian diesel came into view pulling a long train.
"Oi, enough of that!" The green and gold engine retorted gruffly. "Yer ain't so bad yourself mate."
Boco just smiled at the larger diesel.
"Boco," he introduced himself and Gold laughed.
"Really?" Gold laughed heartily at the other diesel. "They really went out and called you Boco huh?"
The green diesel chuckled. "It was a joke among friends that got out of hand, but I don't mind it."
"That's fair enough," Gold smiled. "Name's Gold."
"A pleasure to meet you dear Gold," Boco greeted the engine pleasantly. "I do hope that you're enjoying Sodor so far."
"It's great it's just cold," Gold muttered. "All the time. Never had to deal with snow before either."
"You'll get used to it," Boco assured the diesel.
"I bloody hope not!" Gold huffed indignantly but they looked at Boco. "No offence."
"None taken," Boco smiled. "Your companion didn't seem particularly fond of the snow either."
"Grey? What's she doing?"
"She's pulling the express today, I met her when she was stuck on Gordon's Hill," Boco explained and Gold stared at him in shock.
"She was put on the express by herself?!" He asked quite shocked. "She was stuck on a hill?! You have an incline here named Gordon's Hill?!"
Boco was taken aback by the Diesel's flood of questions and sudden aggressiveness.
"It would appear so," Boco confirmed and Gold frowned and looked angered. "I don't understand what seems to be the problem."
"Grey was involved in a fatal accident a long time ago," Gold explained. "Some rail enthusiasts caused her to stall on an incline, her sand messed up the signals and let an engine on a track that should have been clear but Grey was still on it. The other engine crashed into the back of hers killing several people. She's never forgiven herself ever since."
"Oh my goodness how terrible! No wonder the poor lass was so desperate to get off of Gordon's Hill!" Boco gasped, appalled at what he had just learnt.
Gold narrowed their eyes.
"That incline isn't called Gordon's Hill is it?" Gold demanded.
"It is, it's named after Gordon because he kept getting stuck on it," Boco explained. "I understand why she was so upset now. In addition to Gordon leaving her there."
"He did WHAT?!" The green and gold diesel was furious now. "He left her there?!"
"Yes," Boco confirmed. "It's very out of character for Gordon, I must say. He's usually so helpful and kind to others despite his bluster."
Gold wasn't listening however, the Australian diesel looked absolutely livid.
"I'm going to find this Gordon and tell him how it is!" They declared furiously.
Without another word, the foreign diesel stormed off furiously, determined to track down and find Gordon. Boco watched them as they stormed off.
"Oh dear," he mumbled to himself. He hoped everything would be alright.
Evening Star opened her eyes to the sound of someone waving a paper at her excitedly. She'd been resting peacefully, waiting for her coat to dry as the water still ran down her boiler from her crew cleaning it. Harley was humming to himself as he cleaned out her firebox and touched up her cab.
She did hate being cleaned. She would much rather be covered in filth and grim as a testament to how hard she worked however the museum wanted her spotless on the occasion she was to be put on display.
She didn't want to be on display, she wanted to work. She didn't want to flounce around like that show engine Tornado. She more than anything wanted to get herself dirty, working in a mine or a factory.
"A new job Ms Venus!" Merrick called to her happily. "You'll like this one."
Evening Star frowned at him.
"Don't be so quick to judge now," her driver chided her. "It's a working contract on Sodor. You'll be pulled slate trucks, stone trains and metal trains."
Evening Star perked up and sat on her frames higher.
Stone Trains? Big long heavy steel trains? How delightful!
'This is wonderful Mr Merrick! I can prove myself at long last!'
Merrick chuckled.
"I knew that would make you happy," he smiled warmly at the large engine. "You start as soon as possible."
Evening Star practically vibrated with glee she was so pleased.
"I've spoken to Lady Olivia and Mr Stainer and they want you on Sodor as soon as possible," Merrick explained but then frowned. "They do however want you to pick up another engine on your way there."
Evening Star frowned, sank down on her frame and humphed very annoyed.
She didn't want to deal with another engine, she wanted to get on with her work.
'Which engine is it?'
"Blue Peter."
Evening Star gave a tut and looked unhappy.
"You know Blue Peter wouldn't try anything with you," Merrick assured her. "He's at the very least respectful."
That might have been true but he was still grumpy and annoying.
Merrick gave her a reassuring pat on the buffer.
"You'll be fine old girl, nothing you can't handle," he assured her.
'I know but… he's still annoying. These Peppercorns won't leave me alone.'
"You do seem to be attracting them as of late," Merrick remarked and Evening Star sighed. "Just think of all the work you'll be doing once you get to the island, alright?"
'Alright.'
As the weather grew warmer, Mallard found himself being able to go fishing down at the lake for food. Even though he didn't really need to eat to sustain his energy, he did find the eating improved his mood. It also meant he could spend time down by the lake with the ducks and any excuse to spend more time with his ducks was always a good time.
Less of a good time was fighting the flock of ravens that hung around and tried to steal his fish. They were clever, they would distract him or even try to open the locks on the esky he'd found and try to snatch fish out of it.
Feeding them a particularly large catch would satisfy them enough to leave him alone, at least for a short time before they would go back to arguing with him and each other over the fish.
His constant Raven companion, Herbert, stayed by his side and did not join the rest of his flock knowing that Mallard would give him a fish of his own, even if it was just a small one.
"Here," Mallard offered a fish to Herbert but the raven was not at all interested in the still-alive fish flopping around directly in front of his beak. The Raven was looking into the forest, his attention unbreakable, even when Mallard practically impaled the fish on his beak.
Mallard frowned.
It was not like a raven to ignore food, especially fresh food directly in its face. To that matter, the other ravens were usually raucous and loud were unnaturally quiet. In fact all other birds in the area had gone still and quiet as an unnatural silence fell over the forest.
Herbert huddled closer to Mallard, almost hiding in his long brown hair. It was unusual for the normal brave bird to seek comfort from him.
Something was extremely off, the hairs on the back of Mallard's head stood on end and he was very uneasy. Mallard didn't know how long he stood there, frozen in fear of some unnatural occurrence happening but he seemed to snap out of it when Herbet suddenly nipped his ear.
"Stop that!" He snapped at the bird annoyed. "How many times do I have to tell you?!"
Herbert ignored him and instead flew off in the direction of the old disused railway tracks.
Knowing that something strange was going on, Mallard packed up his catch and slung it over his shoulder before following the bird who was looking at him pointedly, obviously waiting for him.
He trudged over and followed Herbert as the bird flew off, leading him deeper into the forest along the old railway tracks and past the signal box he had made his home as the evening wore on and the forest grew dark.
It wasn't until it was almost pitch black that he suddenly shook himself awake, almost like he had been in a trance. He gazed around him, the few remaining slivers of sunlight piercing through the trees giving the forest a strange energetic atmosphere.
He looked back from where he had come from and was met with a wall of thick scrub and dense trees.
He frowned annoyed as Herbert flew to him and perched on his arm.
"You've gotten us lost you silly bird!" He scolded, annoyed. Herbert bowed his head guiltily.
Mallard just tutted and looked around, trying to get his bearings, but it was almost as if they had reappeared in an entirely different forest. Nothing looked even remotely like the forest around Mallard's signal box. The types of trees were different and the terrain was all wrong.
"Where is this place?" Mallard muttered utterly confused. "What the hell happened-"
He stopped suddenly as a glimmer of gold caught his gaze among the trees. A golden orb was weaving to and fro through the treeline almost lazily.
Mallard felt drawn to it. He started to follow the light, Herbert making clicking and warbling sounds in his ear, almost as if he was trying to tell Mallard something.
After stumbling through the woods for a while, a small wooden shed wrapped in vines and moss, a tree lay fallen on it, all it's windows without glass.
The golden orb flew into the shed and disappeared out of sight.
Mallard frowned.
In the past few months, he had searched the area around the lake endlessly. There were only a few villages and the edges of a large sheep farm from what he could tell. The old railway tracks lead to nowhere, having been ripped up at the edge of a paddock on both ends. There had been no sign of the railway ending with a little shed like this.
So he really had been teleported somewhere else. He frowned and looked to his bird companion, but the raven was quiet now, staring at the shed with intense curiosity.
Mallard was a big man, he was confident that could take on any danger that might appear to them.
With a forceful kick and managed to break the old and rusted bolt, the wood almost disintegrating under the stress of his kicks. It was less opening a door and more kicking a hole where the door once stood.
The last remaining light of the day cast the entire area in shades of blue and purple but it was still enough to see a large yellow shape looming in the shed infront of them.
Cautiously, Mallard approached, his expression taunt with confusion. He placed a hand on the yellow object and suddenly there was the loud click of a lamp and the shed revealed it's secrets.
Before Mallard and his raven sat a very old and dusty narrow gauge engine. It was a yellow-orange, saddle tank with red lining and a large lamp strapped to the front of it's funnel. The engine was long dead, it's smokebox door blank, no sign of a face on it.
"An engine," Mallard muttered to himself. Herbert sneezed from the dust.
Mallard looked around but found nothing more of interest, other than cans of old engine oil and miscellaneous tools and parts.
He sighed disappointedly. There was no sign of the golden orb he had followed and there was nothing of real use to him to be found in the shed.
"How disappointing," Mallard muttered and made to leave.
He stopped and stared at the engine's lamp.
Well, there was at least one thing that could be of use to him he guessed. He did need a lamp should he need to go out at night or have any chance of finding his way out of this strange forest.
With some difficulty, he managed to use a few of the tools lying around the shed to remove the old lamp from the bracket wrapped around the engine's funnel.
As soon as the lamp came free, Mallard found himself falling through the air before he landed on the ground with a thud, the lamp still in his hands.
He dropped it and scrambled away from it terrified as Herbert began shrieking and cawing madly.
There were a few tense moments as Mallard stared at the Lamp, his breathing laboured and still in shock. He looked up and suddenly bolted to stand, his eyes staring wide open at the sky.
It was daylight. He was back at his signal box.
"What-"
His thoughts were interrupted as the rest of Herbert's flock suddenly came flying towards the screeching and screaming in delight at the sight of him and Herbert.
As the ravens became a loud raucous party, all gathered around Herbert, Mallard looked to the bag still strapped to him and full of the fish he had 'just' caught.
The fish were still completely fresh.
Boco and Gold seeing each other = Immediate flirting.
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