11 - Mayflower
The incident between the Beyer Garratt and 38 Class, Grey had had a lasting impact on the diesel sheds as they slowly went back to their day after making sure their Steam Engine guest was feeling better.
4201 stayed with her, even when their crews had told them to go to the workshops and have their coupling links seen to.
They stayed diligently at her side even after she had cried all her tears and calmed down. They were a protective presence, even though the other diesels had promised to look out for the bright green steam engine, 4201 stayed at her side diligently just to assure her she was alright.
She had stopped crying a while ago and was now sitting awkwardly, looking at her buffers, an embarrassed look on her face.
"Are you alright?" 4201 asked of her after a while and Grey looked at them.
"I guess," she mumbled as she looked down. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the damaged coupler on their front. "Your coupler is damaged."
"It's no big deal," 4201 exclaimed gruffly. "Think nothing of it."
"You tried to pull Corrie off of me," Grey realised.
"Yeah, but it's no biggie," 4201 dismissed.
"Corrie's the biggest Steam Engine in Australia, are you crazy? She could have crumpled you like tin!"
4201 just gave a chuckle. "I guess I am crazy then. Name's Gold."
Grey stared at the diesel in disbelief but then chuckled herself.
"Grey. The Grey Nurse," 3801 introduced herself to the diesel.
"Shark Lady," Gold commented and Grey just smiled at them, deeply amused. This was the engine that Gold had heard so much about, at least, a little of her.
"I don't bite, promise," Grey giggled, feeling herself gain the energy to be her usual bubbly self again. "At least not too much."
"Good cos I bite back," Gold retorted.
Grey found herself laughing heartily for the first time in many months. She didn't have to be convinced. An engine that had the bolts to take on Corrie was certainly not one to tangle with.
"Any troubles, you come to me and me and the rest of us diesels will have your back," Gold assured Grey and she gave them a grateful smile.
"Thanks, the fact you took on a Beyer Garratt to help me says a lot," Grey admitted. "I don't like asking for help, I think it's weak. But I think… I think I really need it right now."
"Then you've got it, Lady Grey, at the very least from me," Gold vowed to the engine. "As long as you need it."
"That might be a long time," Grey warned, her tone softening and sounding vulnerable. "I don't know how to deal with this. I don't know if I can."
Gold looked at Grey sympathetically.
"I have faith you'll get through it, even if you don't think you will," Gold assured her and Grey looked at them. "There's no rush, take your time and eventually you'll get there and even if you don't, I'm sure there are people who will still stand by you."
Grey stared at them for the longest while before giving them a small smile. She still felt like a murderer, like the accident had been her fault but Gold had stood up for her, they had made her laugh when all she felt was numb.
That at least meant the world to her right now.
"Thank you Gold," she expressed her gratitude in a soft voice. "I really needed this. It's been so long since I felt even a little bit happy."
Gold just looked at her endearingly. They wanted nothing more than for this engine to be happy. She seemed to radiate warmth and joy when she was.
"Happy to help, Lady Grey."
The Flying Scotsman had wanted to get back to the museum long befall nightfall. He wanted to rest before his long trip to Waverly for his birthday.
That was until he had met Chloe, one of the alumni engineers of Tornado's trust and a close friend of Tornado. She had been hoping to meet him to invite him to Darlington to meet the new P2.
Seeing as his Auxiliary Crew wouldn't turn down the chance to take a longer steam with him, they happily accepted. He wanted to get back to Truro but Sir Nigel was there, he would be alright.
Although he did feel guilty, he had been wanting to meet the new young engine with Olivia as his driver after she had excitedly learnt that young Charlie was awake.
But Olivia was an incredibly busy woman. In between currently moving, being a doting mother, getting married and having a second baby, the woman was running a museum.
It was impressive. The woman worked herself hard although Scotsman did worry that Olivia was working herself a bit too hard.
It wasn't his place to speak on the matter but his thoughts uncomfortably drifted to Sir Gresley and how he had worked himself so hard that his heart had given out despite his doctors telling him to ease up on his workload.
He didn't want that to happen to Olivia. She was still young and clever and had her entire life ahead of her. He adored her to bits as he did most of the drivers who had been with him.
He hoped Tornado was alright. She'd been extremely upset when he had told her off for getting in Evening Star's face. He hadn't wanted to get angry with her but Evening Star had been through enough without Tornado being belligerent to her.
"Do you think I should tell Tornado? About who I am? Do you think she'll be mad if I do?" Chloe's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts as he chuffed along the track.
"Hmmm?" He asked, taken aback. He had no idea what she was talking about.
"Oh it… doesn't matter, I'm sorry for bothering you sir," Chloe mumbled and resumed looking at the cab window.
Flying Scotsman frowned. In the early days, Chloe had been Tornado's close friend, supporting her and checking any complaints that Tornado had. No one knew the inner workings of Tornado like her favoured engineer, Chloe. That was until Chloe suddenly, inexplicably moved away, moving to Dorset in the South. She hadn't explained why, only gave Tornado a short and brief farewell.
It had taken some explaining to Tornado that this was something the humans did, moved away and made their lives elsewhere.
Chloe was a sweet young lady. Come to think of it, she had remained a 'sweet young lady' since the 90s when the trust had first started building Tornado. She should have been around 50 these days but still, she looked as if she was in her 20s.
Scotsman frowned but did not raise his suspicions to her or his crew. Maybe, it was what Chloe had meant by, telling her the truth.
"It's no bother Chloe," Scotsman assured her. "Whatever you say will be kept in confidence, I promise."
Chloe hummed to herself softly then shook her head.
"It doesn't matter, I'm sorry for bringing it up. I had a long trip from Dorset, I'm not thinking straight," she explained dismissively before turning her head to look down the track. "We're at the works anyway."
Scotsman frowned. He was extremely annoyed, especially if he thought Chloe was who she said she was.
Regardless, his excitement grew as he came into view of the sheds. He was excited to meet the new P2, well before he had even woken up.
Another new steam engine. A Gresley at that.
He liked to think that Sir Gresley would be proud. One of his giants, ruling the roost, so to speak.
Speaking of roosts.
"Hello, there yer big Shrimp!" A loud boisterous Scottish accent called to him. "How are yer!"
Scotsman rolled his eyes. He didn't even need confirmation to know who this was. Cock O' the North hadn't changed one bit since he had last seen him as his engine.
"Hello Rooster, I see that you are now the Shrimp, not I," Flying Scotsman huffed as he slowed to greet the large tall man dwarfing, Iain the lead engineer next to him.
"Ah can it, yer personality ain't got nothing on me! Yer always be a Shrimp in my eyes!" Rooster, the original P2 Mikado laughed heartily at him.
Scotsman turned his attention to Iain.
"Please tell me that he hasn't taught the Prince of Wales to call me a shrimp," he pleaded.
Iain said nothing, he just turned away from Flying Scotsman and stalked inside clearly annoyed, while the A3 Pacific glared at Rooster before proceeding to wheesh steam at him.
"You are a complete menace! I hate you!" He hissed at Rooster who just howled with laughter.
Ignoring the laughing man, Flying Scotsman made his way into the sheds. Sitting in the middle of the shed was a large, unfinished engine without a boiler and a bored look on his face.
The baby engine looked up at Flying Scotsman as heard the sound of his steam and valve gear clanking and immediately a huge smile appeared on his face.
"Nado!" He greeted him cheerily, with a large toothy grin but then he frowned as Scotsman came closer and he could see him clearly. "Wait, you're not Nado."
Scotsman chuckled deeply.
"Afraid not, dear one," He exclaimed amused. "I am the Flying Scotsman! Maybe you've heard of me?"
"Flying Shrimp!" The engine excitedly shouted and Scotsman groaned, frustrated. This didn't go unnoticed by the baby engine. "You don't like being called Flying Shrimp?"
"I do not," Scotsman answered honestly. "It's rude to call someone names they don't like, even if someone else insists otherwise."
Scotsman shot Rooster a glare as the large man came up beside the two engines. To his surprise, the baby P2 rounded on his human counterpart.
"You tricked me into being mean to someone! That's- that's mean!" The Prince of Wales shouted at him and Rooster looked surprised.
"Very attentive this one ay?" He remarked. "Alright lad, yer got me! I was trying ter get yer to bully old Scot 'ere."
The baby engine looked proud of himself. Flying Scotsman chuckled to himself. He could see that the baby engine already had a grand personality and a sharp mind.
"I'm Charlie!" The P2 introduced himself to Scotsman happily. "Hello!"
"Oh my goodness how lively you already are Charlie! Clever too!" Scotsman exclaimed with a wink and the P2 beamed proudly. "Are you keeping well?"
"Well Mr Flying Scotsman, I miss Tornado," Charlie explained glumly. "I feel lonely without her."
The baby engine looked dejected and down and the Scotsman looked upon him sadly.
"It's okay to feel that way, Charlie. Everyone feels the same way once in a while, there's nothing wrong with being lonely. It means you love Tornado enough to do so," Scotsman assured the engine. "Tornado won't be going away forever, she'll come and go, she's a busy girl. And other engines will come to visit you while you're here."
Charlie looked thoughtful but then bit his lip. "I suppose."
"Cheer up laddie!" Rooster called to him. "Once you're out and about on the rails, you'll be surrounded by all sorts of engines!"
Scotsman gave a hum of agreement.
"That's right Charlie, you'll be a fine addition to the Gresley family," Scotsman assured him. "This is only temporary, okay?"
Charlie seemed to brighten slightly although he still had a look of loneliness in his eyes.
"Thanks, Mr Scotsman! Thank-you Mr Rooster!" He thanked them and Scotsman and Rooster glanced at each other with a smile.
"I have some bad news," Iain suddenly cut in as he approached them. "It's Tornado. Another one of her Stays has cracked."
"Oh no! Not another one!" Chloe examined, as Scotsman looked alarmed. "I thought she was supposed to be overhauled by now!"
Iain gave a frustrated sigh.
"Yes she was, but between Tornado's bullheadedness and some complications in Germany we, unfortunately, have not been able to," Iain explained gruffly. "She's being towed back here and we'll do what we can but she needs to go into overhaul after the Bluebell. If she can even go, that is."
Chloe looked distraught, as did Scotsman but no one looked as hurt as Charlie did.
"Tornado is hurt? Will she be alright? Is she okay? Please, Mr Iain, tell me that Tornado will be okay, I don't want Tornado to be hurt-"
"Easy Charlie, easy!" Iain quickly assured the now scared-looking baby engine. "Tornado will be okay, I promise."
"Really? You promise?"
"Yes Charlie," Iain quickly assured Charlie with a gentle pat of his buffer. "Tornado is our pride and joy, much like you are. We will do everything in our power to help both of you."
Charlie seemed to relax and Rooster quickly took to calming the great engine as Iain took Chloe aside to speak with her.
Scotsman watched them, his suspicions raised but said nothing more.
The morning sun rose over Edward's branch line as a few sleepy railyard workers stumbled around with their morning coffee. It was mainly the firelighters and the night shift clocking off for the night ready to sleep the day away.
To their surprise, a large 9f and a diminutive V2 were running turns down the branch line the V2 happily chatting to his bigger companion as they travelled, the brisk cool air nipping at them.
Green Arrow was doing his best to reassure Evening Star that Sodor was a good place, at least better than the mainland.
"You'll have Murdoch to keep you company," Arrow assured her. "From what I've heard from Boco and Edward, Murdoch's really excited to have you on the island."
'I've never met Murdoch. What if he doesn't like me? What if he's mean to me like my other siblings?''
"Then I'll put him in his place!" Arrow crowed victoriously and Evening Star gave a small giggle.
'Don't be silly Arrow, you can't take on one of my siblings!'
"Maybe not, but Murdoch doesn't seem the type to bully someone. He's actually very quiet and likes to keep to himself and his few friends," Arrow explained. "He's a bit like you in a way. If anything I think he would stand up for you more than anything,"
Evening Star stared at the horizon as they crested the hill. The pink clouds and the smell of spring made her feel relaxed and tranquil. Something she had been missing from her days working behind the museum or being locked in the stuffy Great Hall.
She gave a wistful sigh and smiled to herself.
"Everything okay Venus?" Arrow asked concerned and Evening Star simply gave him a shake of confirmation to which he smiled at. "Good, I'm glad, old friend."
It had been too long, the two of them apart. Ever since Cain had forced them apart and left Evening Star on her own, Arrow had dearly missed the young engine.
'I thought you replaced me with Tornado for a while there.'
Evening Star suddenly asked out of nowhere and Arrow frowned.
"I'm sorry if it looked that way but I really wasn't," Arrow apologised. "Tornado was being bullied and she needed a friend. I just wanted to help her."
'I heard she burst your boiler. I was mad at her. She didn't have the best first impression either.'
"You met Tornado?" Arrow asked surprised.
'She came up to me and was pushy, she wanted to help me but she got in my face!'
"Oh Tornado you silly girl," Arrow lamented. "She can be a bit much, I admit. But she's a sweet girl, she means well."
'I shunted her and she seemed to be in pain, Scotsman stepped in before it escalated. He stopped Tornado from seeing me but she did anyway and apologised. I still don't know how to feel about her though.'
Arrow wheeshed steam at the mention of Scotsman but said nothing more on the matter.
"Tornado is only a young engine, give her a chance, you might like her Venus," was all Arrow could advise the 9F. "And if you don't then that's okay too, so long as you don't try to sabotage my friendship with her."
Evening Star gave a snort of mirth.
'That is rich coming from you.'
"Listen, I'm trying to change myself," Arrow insisted. "I'm not… that person anymore. At least, I hope I'm not. Mallard's not around to gaslit me anymore at least."
Evening Star gave a wheesh of distaste.
'That over hyped gaudy slimy toaster,' She sneered and Arrow chuckled.
"I'll have you know I intimidated that toaster into submission," he puffed up proudly. "Don't underestimate the Arrow!"
Evening Star laughed for the first time in many, many years and Arrow smiled.
"I missed you, Venus, I wondered if I was going to see you again," he admitted sadly, Evening Star just gave him a playful jolt to the back of his tender and he gave a startled yelp.
'I'm here now silly little Arrow.'
Green Arrow gave a chuckle.
"So you are, Lady Star," he praised and Evening Star blushed and looked at her buffers embarrassed. It was always embarrassing when Arrow called her a Lady. She wasn't a lady, she was a grimy beastly workhorse.
"Good morning Arrow!" A voice called to them as they pulled into Wellsworth. "Oh! Good morning to your companion too!"
They looked over to find Edward at the station and Bear in the yard next to it.
"Hello Edward, Hello Bear!" Green Arrow happily greeted them. "This is my friend, Evening Star!"
"Evening Star?!" Bear suddenly squeaked. "As in the famous Evening Star? It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Star!"
Evening Star was taken aback by the enthusiastic diesel. She didn't like diesels, they were the reason why she was put into preservation out of the works. But this one seemed excitable and genuinely enthusiastic.
"Bear can be very enthusiastic. He loves steam engines you see," Edward explained seeing the doubt on Evening Star's face. "He means well though."
"Yes he does," Arrow confirmed and Evening Star gave Bear a small shy smile.
The diesels seemed surprisingly nice instead of being rude or outright ignoring her.
"I hope you enjoy your stay on Sodor Evening Star," Edward chimed as he began to pull away with some trucks with an enthusiastic peep.
"I best get going," Bear added as he watched Edward leave. "I have shunting that needs to be done. May I come by later and meet you properly?"
Evening Star found herself stunned. She had barely been on Sodor a few hours and yet she'd received such a positive welcome so far.
'I guess so.'
"You may, just be aware that Evening Star has boundaries and she does not like them crossed," Arrow attested and Evening Star confirmed with a stern look at Bear.
"I understand," Bear chirped happily. "I'll see you later Arrow and Ms Star!"
The Diesel happily trundled off, following Edward and humming a cheery tune as he did so.
"See Venus, I told you you'd be alright," Arrow exalted and Evening Star had to admit, Arrow had been right.
Maybe Sodor would be alright after all.
"I don't need supervision, Clun Castle," Tydfil insisted annoyed as Clun Castle followed her closely behind.
"You used to call me Mary," Was all Clun Castle responded with and Tydfil glared back at her. "I hope you'll do it again soon, dear."
"I'm not Maindy Hall! I will not do things that she did! Stop trying to change me!" Tydfil snapped back at her. Clun Castle just hummed at her.
"So stubborn," Clun put forward mysteriously and Tydfil just glared at her. What?
"What do you mean?" Tydfil demanded but she was ignored as Blue Peter came across them looking extremely annoyed, not pleased to be pulling trucks.
"Trucks, Lord Blue?" Clun Castle teased him and Blue Peter glared at her before wheeshing a huge cloud of steam in her and Tydfil's direction.
"You're so rude!" Tydfil hissed at the Peppercorn but Clun Castle just laughed.
"Oh don't mind him, he's always been a grumpy old man!" Clun Castle jeered and Blue Peter just scowled at her annoyed. "How goes the quest to bring back old Mungo?"
Blue Peter froze up, his eyes widened in horror as he suddenly rounded on her.
"Don't you dare bring that up to me! Mind your own damn business!" He snarled at the Castle class who just gave him a sly smile.
"But Lord Blue! I'm just trying to help! We have the same goal after all!" Clun Castle suggested with a knowing glance at Tydfil. Blue Peter frowned and Tydfil rolled her eyes annoyed.
"What are you talking about? Coppernob will catch you out, nothing escapes him, you know that," Blue Peter pointed out gruffly. "And don't call me Lord Blue!"
"Better him than Truro around," Clun Castle exclaimed dismissively. "He's such a poor example of the Great Western Way, he had no business being the girls' mentor!"
Tydfil frowned. As much as she was upset at Truro's strict regime of work, he was still kind and nice to her. He at least made the effort to try and help her understand why things were the way they were in the Great Western.
She felt guilty for not being able to learn that well from him. She could see that he was legitimately trying. Unlike the sour old hag that was Clun Castle who only seemed pushy, full of herself and annoying.
Tydfil huffed and went off to do her duties, leaving Clun Castle and Blue Peter behind.
"I don't care about your stupid in fighting," Blue Peter snapped at Clun Castle annoyed. "Unless you have something of actual interest to me, clear off."
Blue Peter began to move off but Clun Castle just gave a low chuckle in her smokebox.
"We have a solid theory on what you were working on, Blue Peter," she goaded him. "We just need to test it. And we have the perfect test subject. I do hope you'll come and see it. Maybe it will solve your little Tornado problem yes?"
Blue Peter stopped and looked back at her. He couldn't help but be intrigued. Was Clun Castle really insisting that they had found a way to bring back the souls of dead engines? Was it actually possible? Could he finally bring Saint Mungo back using Tornado?
"What do you mean?" He hesitantly inquired but Clun Castle just gave him a smug smile.
"You'll see," she snidely claimed before setting off to follow Lady of Legend leaving Blue Peter to sit there, completely dumbfounded, mulling over her words.
Mayflower had never had the pleasure of meeting the newest LNER legacy engine, Tornado. She'd only ever seen her from a distance or brief greetings at galas. More often than not she would be quickly shooed away from her by a Gresley or another engine with a stern warning to keep her distance from Tornado.
Tornado seemed oblivious to the other engines keeping Mayflower and her brother away from her. Even Flying Scotsman l, who had the decency to greet her when he saw her and afford her some pleasantries and basic respect had pushed her away from Tornado.
It made her sad. Mayflower only wanted to be Tornado's friend but the other engines saw fit to keep her away.
Now she had the rare opportunity to finally have some time alone with the young engine. There had been no other engines available to take Tornado back to Darlington and so Mayflower had been called upon.
Problems with her firebox, the engineers had said. The poor thing.
She rolled into the yards of the NRM, thankful that no other old LNER engines like Sir Nigel or Scotsman were around.
Sitting in the middle of the yard looking glum and down on herself was the A1 Peppercorn, Tornado, her blue livery looking quite the opposite to her mood all glossed up and incredibly polished.
"Hello, Lady Tornado!" Mayflower greeted the Peppercorn as politely as she could.
Tornado, not recognising her voice looked up and stared at her confused.
"Hello?" She asked uncertainly. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mayflower ma'am," the engine seemed to curtsey to her as she would for royalty. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Tornado stared at her confused but then managed a small smile.
"I've never seen an engine like you up close before," she observed, her previous glum demeanour replaced by one of curiosity. "I've been to all kinds of LNER meets but your class never came up to me."
"It's not my brother's or my place to approach engines of such pedigree ma'am," Mayflower explained quietly. "At least not without reason. I was asked to take you to Darlington. I was the only engine that was free, I apologise."
"There's no need to apologise," Tornado insisted. To be honest the overly courteousness of this engine was unnerving her. "I'd rather not be put on a lorry."
"Understandable ma'am!" Mayflower agreed brightly.
Tornado did not speak further and returned to her gloomy state and sat, staring at her buffers. She was preoccupied with something, Mayflower could tell, and so she kept quiet, not wanting to disturb the young engine.
She wanted to talk to her though, to cheer her up. The Peppercorn seemed sad. But Mayflower knew that if she did she would speak out of turn, Sir Nigel would lambast her for speaking to a Peppercorn so flippantly.
She was a Thompson engine, she knew her place among the others.
Eventually, she was given the all-clear to back down on to Tornado and take her on the rails back to her trust. Mayflower did so without a word which got the Peppercorn's attention.
"You don't talk much," Tornado noted and Mayflower gave a soft hum.
"I speak when spoken to," Mayflower answered. "I apologise if I am being rude, Lady Tornado by not speaking to you. My class isn't as high class as yours."
Tornado frowned. That sounded more like something that would happen in the Great Western, not the LNER.
She would have to ask Scotsman about it later. But for now, other things to precedence.
"Um, Ms Mayflower do you know anything about Blue Peter?" Tornado suddenly asked out of the blue and Mayflower was surprised.
"He's on Sodor right now, if that's what you're asking," Mayflower informed Tornado.
"No, no I mean, did you know him before? Like during the days of the LNER?" Tornado clarified.
Mayflower was silent for a time.
"No Lady Tornado, I apologise," she finally relented. "Myself and my class were banned from even speaking to the Gresley or Peppercorn express engines. I wouldn't have any idea about Blue Peter during the days of the LNER."
"You were banned from speaking to the express engines?" Tornado asked, appalled. She'd heard of this happening with little shunters but never a big engine like Mayflower.
"Yes ma'am, we spoke to them only if we were spoken to," Mayflower explained. "We engines of Thompson did not speak out of turn and if we did, we were bullied and harassed even by the little engines. Even today they still keep us in line."
"What- what about the directors? Didn't they stop it?!" Tornado asked flabbergasted.
"They hated Thompson, they always turned a blind eye to it. I never approached you because I knew Sir Nigel would have me placed in a shed at those galas," Mayflower explained. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be telling you this, Sir Nigel will get mad at me and punish me. I'm sorry."
Mayflower sounded terrified and Tornado was appalled.
"No, no, I'm glad you told me this Mayflower, thank you," Tornado assured the Thompson B1.
It seems that Scotsman's and Sir Nigel's accounts of the past had some holes in them. Tornado glared at the back of Mayflower's tender as she reflected on her new found knowledge.
First Green Arrow had kept his friendship with Evening Star's from her and now the 'high class' LNER engines had been colluding to keep other engines from her.
Tornado was beginning to realise that she had been naive, that things were not what they seemed. The other engines had been treating her like a sheltered child, keeping ugly truths from her.
It pissed her off and she wanted to do something about it. She mulled over her options as the trees whizzed by.
Damn her faulty firebox and its stays.
It wouldn't stop her from finding the truth.
"Sir Robert keeps asking for you to go to Ulfstead Castle," James called to Edward as he found him at Wellsworth station. "Why won't you go up there these days?"
To James' surprise, the Seagull threw him a dirty look, hissed steam and looked elsewhere completely ignoring the red engine's statement.
"Did I say something wrong?" James asked befuddled. He genuinely had no idea why Edward, calm, gentle, logical Edward was suddenly acting petulant.
Edward gave a deep sigh and cast his eyes down to his buffers.
"No, no it's not you Edward, I'd just rather not visit the castle lately," Edward answered, his face still glum a look of disappointment.
"Is it because of Coppernob?" James asked concerned and Edward looked at the red class 28 surprised.
"I've never mentioned an aversion to Coppernob before," Edward pointed out confused.
"No, but when number 20 came to visit those years ago, you didn't act like yourself," James insinuated. "When you don't act like yourself, even Gordon notices and you know how thick he can be."
Edward chuckled and gave James a kind smile. "I'm that predictable am I?"
"Just a little," James smirked. He dropped the smirk and a rare look of concern appeared across his face. "You can talk to me about anything, you know that right Edward? I want to be here for you."
Edward gave a soft chuckle and looked at James endearingly. He could always rely on the red engine, he knew that but at the same time, James wouldn't understand his problems with the Furness and their dogmatic ways.
"I know that James, thank you," Edward assured him. "You should hurry and get done with those trucks, there's a thunderstorm rolling in tonight, wouldn't want to get caught in it now would you?"
James frowned slightly. Edward was dodging the issue as he usually did when it came to things like this.
"Edward," James beseeched the blue engine but Edward just smiled at him and grinned.
"I'll see you later James, one is never complacent when they have a branch line to run!" Edward cheerfully chorused as he moved off and out of Wellsworth with a happy peep of his whistle.
James frowned as he stared after him annoyed. He hated when Edward did this. He knew Edward always thought himself the unflappable rock of the North Western Railway, a pillar of strength to those who needed an ear or some comfort.
Edward cared too much about others and not enough about himself was his problem.
James huffed and released a frustrated puff of steam, scaring some of the patrons on the platform. He didn't even notice when the stationmaster yelled at him, quickly departing, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Edward and his conundrum.
For being kidnapped and held against his will, the accommodation was surprisingly nice. North found himself in a relatively decent-sized apartment with boarded up windows to prevent him from escaping and only one entrance and exit that was guarded by Mrs Parsons goons.
Since there was no natural light he wasn't sure how many days or nights had passed but it had to have been less than a week. Not much time had to have been passed at all.
There was a bed, toilet, basic supplies and functions but all this time his mind wandered to Olivia. He worried for her, he wanted nothing to hurt her or her family. He would do anything to prevent that from happening.
He looked up from the tiny desk where he had sat reading an old volume of a Charles Dickens story, something he would never ordinarily do but in the past few days it had been his only companion and now he had memorised the blasted thing from cover to cover.
The locks to the door were being opened and after some hassle, Ms Parsons wandered into the room, a fake smile upon her face. North just frowned at her, annoyed as the woman leant over the table to loom over him.
He did not falter, not giving the woman any satisfaction of intimidating him.
"I'm trying to accommodate you, dearest Great Northern," she implored but he just narrowed his eyes and glared at her.
"You want to mess with things you don't understand," North growled at her. "Gold Dust is not a toy for anyone to just play with."
"I am not just anyone, I am the wife of the previous Great Western's Golden Ward!" Ms Parsons declared but North was unimpressed.
"The City of Truro and Mr Corbyn hold that title, not you," North sneered. He was fed up with this arrogant woman. She was insignificant, a money grubbing and glory seeking woman who had no business in taking over her husband's affairs and estate.
Ms Parson stood up and crossed her arms, clearly furious with North's lack of cooperation.
"I can hurt you, you know," she warned and North just looked to the door.
"You mean your men can," he clarified. "Regardless Ms Parsons, I swore to protect the Gold Dust as my designer charged me with 100 years ago and I will not defy his wishes now. I would rather die than break my vows to Sir Gresley."
Ms Parsons glared at him before giving a shout of frustration and kicking him in the shin. It hurt but North refused to flinch, not giving this woman any sign of her winning.
Ms Parson turned and stormed out of the room but she suddenly froze. A vicious smile suddenly appeared on her face and North became uneasy.
"What about Olivia? You care about her, don't you?" Ms Parsons taunted and North felt a chill run through him. "Raised her since she was an itty bitty little girl."
"You leave Olivia out of this," North shouted at her furiously. "She's nothing to do with you!"
"We'll see," Ms Parson smirked, pleased that she had finally gotten the rise she wanted out of Great Northern.
Without another word, the old woman left leaving North cursing himself angrily.
Edward found himself resting in a siding off Kellsthorpe station, shaded under a large oak tree, another of Henry's favourites. From where he sat he had a good view of the Castle and the museum adjacent.
He could almost make out the fuzzy red shape through the frosted glass windows, that was Coppernob sitting on his plinth, probably judging others as he usually did despite not doing any work himself in a hundred years.
This was the closest he wanted to get to Coppernob. Any closer and the old boiler could probably smell him not doing a 'proper job'. Nothing he did was ever good enough for the fussy old man. Coppernob would probably lay into him for ignoring 20 or refusing to participate in the Furness Railway meets.
But the Furness Railway wasn't him anymore. Even when he devoted himself to them, it still hadn't been enough.
Nothing was ever enough for Coppernob.
He sighed to himself and gazed at the ground dejected. He supposed he would have to tell the others eventually. Someone was bound to confront him as James had.
"Why are you hiding in a tree?" A strange voice suddenly asked and Edward's boiler almost jumped off its frames from being startled.
"Oh goodness me!" He yelped as he quickly tried to regain his composure. He looked over and saw that young Great Western engine rolling up to him a glum look on her face. "You startled me my dear engine!"
The engine, Lady of Legend rolled to a stop and gazed at him curiously.
"Sorry," she muttered, then repeated her question. "Why are you hiding under this oak tree?"
Edward looked back up at the museum and started at the faint red smear that presented itself on the frosted glass of the museum.
"Avoiding a fussy old engine and his overbearing ways," Edward finally retorted and Lady of Legend raised an eyebrow.
"But you're a fussy old engine," she pointed out and Edward gave a humorous chortle.
"I suppose I am," Edward smiled at her. "But there are engines that are even older than me, believe it or not."
"Like the coffeepot?" Lady of Legend asked.
"Alright, maybe not quite that old. But still rather old as it were."
Lady of Legend just stared at him, unsure of what to say.
"I'm Edward by the way," Edward introduced himself. "I don't think we've actually met in person."
"Tydfil," Lady of Legend introduced herself.
"A lovely name for a lovely engine," Edward charmed but Tydfil didn't seem happy or pleased. She still had an air of gloom about her and Edward noticed this immediately. "Whatever is the matter?"
"The other Great Westerns keep putting pressure on me and trying to make me be someone who I am not," Tydfil huffed annoyed. "No matter what I do, it never pleases them."
Lady above, Edward knew that feeling all too well.
"Well, I suppose that's why we're both under this oak tree then," Edward sighed and Tydfil looked up at him surprised.
"But, you're like a 100," she remarked and Edward chuckled.
"If I may, Tydfil, some advice from this old iron horse," Edward suggested and the young engine was looking at him with a renewed interest. "I spent too much of my early days working myself into rust for others who never appreciated my work nor did anything I tried to do pleased them. There was always more criticism and objections no matter what."
Tydfil stared at him intently, seeming desperate to hear from the old engine.
"The best way to deal with it is accepting that you're not going to achieve the lofty impossible goals of someone who is a perfectionist. And to be honest, someone like that isn't worth your time. You are enough and don't let anyone tell you otherwise," Edward smiled, seeing the young engine's enthusiasm. "Find people and engines that are going to be grateful for your triumphs and mourn your losses with you. People that you can call friends, not just colleagues and you'll find yourself in a place you can call home."
Tydfil stared at Edward for the longest while, not saying a thing. Then her face softened and she smiled a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
"Thank you, Edward," she said softly. "I really need to hear that."
Edward smiled back at her.
"I'm glad to hear that Tydfil."