AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello everyone and happy December! I finally started on a new Christmas story which will be about Aurora's first Christmas ever! I'm going to try to have this story fully completed by Christmas day so cheers XD I would like to give a huge thanks to my online sister, Goldsaddletank for helping me come up with the ideas for the chapters and for helping to edit them as well! She also typed up some of her ideas into the chapters as well so please praise her as well!
Also, there are some events that will be mentioned in this story and I PROMISE all of you that I will type them up for either Life Beyond the Big Top or for side stories in general so do not fret!
DISCLAIMER: Thomas and Friends belong to Mattel(Booooo) while Aurora belongs to me. All of the NGE drivers and firemen belong to Goldsaddletank while the SGE drivers and firemen belong to me as well
Enjoy!~
Aurora hummed happily as she sat at her vanity, looking into the mirror as she brushed her long, golden hair, now thick and glossy after such a long period of neglect.
Bandages were wrapped around her arms due to the wounds she received from her journey back to Sodor, but, fortunately for her, they were healing nicely. She wore jean capris and a simple blue t-shirt, much to her distaste, for she felt confined in anything that had sleeves or long pants, but she did promise her fathers that she would wear them.
Putting her brush down, Aurora swept her hair into a ponytail and picked up a hair tie; which was a rich, apple green color with small strands of emerald green ribbon hanging down with tiny bells attached at the tips. On the vanity counter were matching red and white hair ties.
Fixing the green one in place, Aurora shook her head and smiled when she heard the bells' soft jingle sound. Doing the same with the red and white hair tie, Aurora put on a silver chain necklace with red, green, and silver bells on it.
"Perfect!" Aurora purred to herself as she jogged out of her room and down the stairs.
Grabbing her cloak, she tied the ribbons around her neck and quickly left through the door. Locking the door behind her, Aurora inhaled deeply before opening her eyes, happily looking around. The entire island had a thick layer of frost covering everything, almost making it look like snow.
Looking over at Tidmouth, her smile grew upon seeing her family. All the engines looked like they were slowly waking up, steam flowing out of their berths thanks to their crews starting up their fireboxes. Stepping onto the rails in front of her door, she felt her foot slide against the metal before looking down.
"Hmm…" Aurora hummed in thought as she pushed her body forward, sliding along the metal rail. Purring loudly, she took a few steps back before running forward, jumping onto the rail, and sliding forward. "Weeee!" She exclaimed happily as she slid towards the shed.
The engines and their crew smiled warmly upon seeing their daughter/sister having fun, despite what she had just gone through.
"Having fun this morning, Ro?" Edward asked, watching his daughter slide onto the roundtable.
"Very much so!" Aurora purred as she slid up to Percy's berth. "Morning!"
"Good morning, Aurora!" Percy beamed happily, watching as she jumped onto his footplate before blushing from the kiss she planted on his cheek.
"You seem to be in a good mood this morning." Emily smiled once she received a kiss from her sister after she jumped onto her footplate.
"That's because I slept extremely well!" Aurora purred happily before jumping onto James' footplate. "I feel relaxed and happy." She giggled happily before kissing his cheek.
"We're glad to hear that." James smiled before kissing her head.
"Very glad." Thomas smiled as he watched her jump onto his footplate. He chuckled softly when he received his kiss before watching her jump onto Gordon's footplate.
"We're just glad you're back with us." Gordon hummed, kissing her head after she kissed his cheek.
"So am I, Gordon." Aurora purred loudly as she nuzzled him before jumping onto Edward's footplate.
Edward smiled warmly as he nuzzled his daughter, kissing her head affectionately. "I love you, Ro."
Aurora purred loudly as she kissed his cheek. "I love you too, dad." She smiled brightly before jumping onto Henry's footplate. "Did you pull the Flying Kipper last night?"
"I did." Henry chuckled tiredly before kissing her head.
Aurora smiled brightly as she kissed his cheek, sitting down on his footplate before stretching. She looked at the paper chain garland decorating the inside Tidmouth Sheds, though a green garland for the outside of the sheds, along with some handmade decorations from children, was still in boxes next to Henry's berth.
Hearing steam wheeshing loudly, Aurora looked over to see an excited Thomas.
"I can't believe it's December already!" Thomas exclaimed.
"I know, this year has gone by quickly," remarked Edward. "It'll be Christmas before we know it."
"Which means we'll all be worked off our wheels again!" Groaned James.
"Oh, do be quiet, James, you're sounding as bad as Duncan!" Huffed Percy.
"I feel bad for the SKR lot," giggled Thomas.
"We have Gordon, remember?" Edward winked at them, and he and the others began laughing.
"Hmph!"
Well, except for Gordon.
The engines were waiting for Sir Topham Hatt to arrive and give them their jobs for today. He was running late, however.
"It's awfully frosty today," Henry remarked fretfully.
"Pah, a bit of frost won't stop us!" Puffed Gordon.
"I'd like to hear you say that next time you're on your hill," said Edward.
"Besides, I was thinking about Sir Topham Hatt," said Henry, biting his lip. "Frost is terrible for the roads, what if something happened to him?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine, Henry," Edward said kindly to his lover.
Aurora was humming softly as she sat on Henry's footplate, twirling her hair between her fingers as the bells in her hair tie jingled. "He's not let anything else stop him," she remarked. "Like the bull who chased him when he went out to lunch with his mother."
"True," said Thomas. "But the cold's no joke. Take it from me."
"You better remember your snowplow, Thomas, or you wouldn't need to tell us that." Emily chided good-naturedly. Thomas scowled as the others started laughing - even Gordon started snickering.
"Morning, engines!"
Aurora felt Henry relax with relief as Sir Topham Hatt walked towards them, blowing on his fingers.
"Sorry I'm late," he said sheepishly. "I lost my gloves and had to defrost my poor car. It took longer than I anticipated, that's why I was late."
"We're just glad that's all it was, sir." Said Henry, relieved.
"Thank you, Henry." Smiled S.T.H, warmly. "Now, seeing as it's going to be very busy leading up to Christmas, you'll have an increased workload - Henry, there will be more fish, so the Scottish Twins will rotate taking extra trains alongside your own."
"Thank you, Sir," said Henry.
"Edward, you're to oversee a big order of China Clay, and ensure the twins behave themselves."
"No problem, Sir," Edward replied graciously.
"Thomas and Percy, you'll be doing your usual on the branch, but with more runs. Toby will assist where he can, as Quarry work is slowing for the year."
The two acknowledged their agreement to this statement.
"Gordon, you'll be the same with the Express," he continued. "But…"
"But, Sir?" Asked Gordon.
"You will also run special trains to Ulfstead Castle every Sunday up to Christmas as part of the Advent Sunday celebrations." The Fat Controller finished.
Gordon beamed proudly as the other engines whistled and whooped for their friend.
"Emily, you're on safety patrol."
"Yes, Sir!"
"James, you have coal runs to make, especially to the stations and to the Skarloey Railway."
James was NOT happy about the extra coal runs, but he wasn't going to start an argument, so he just gritted his teeth and muttered "Yes, Sir," very sulkily.
"Perfect!" Said S.T.H, satisfied. "Now, I must go and ''- he saw Aurora and paused. "I don't have anywhere in particular for you to go just now, so you may go where you like." He said kindly. "Though Mr. Pervical tells me they're asking after you up in the Hills, so I suggest you head there at some point."
Aurora nodded in agreement, despite not liking being told what to do. She looked over at a still-beaming Gordon and cleared her throat.
"You think Gordon is more excited about the special trains or the fact he'll see Connor more often?" Aurora asked quietly, though loud enough as a sly smirk appeared on her face.
Gordon's face instantly turned red as he sputtered, trying to defend himself but failing.
"Come along, we have a lot to do today," said Edward, as he chuffed out of the shed. "I better make sure those two don't bring the island down in a blaze of"-
"Thank you, Edward, we know what they're capable of!" Interrupted Gordon, but he was relieved at the change of subject.
The other engines followed suit, chuffing along the tracks to where they needed to be.
….
Aurora decided to stay with Henry, and enjoyed the feeling of the cold wind blowing through her hair as Henry bustled along.
"This is great!" She exclaimed. As Henry flew across the line, Aurora wondered what she could give her family for Christmas.
"Even though I don't understand the concept of this holiday, I do want to get something for father, dad, and others…what do you even get for an engine?!" Aurora thought with a groan, easily catching Henry's attention.
"Everything alright?" Henry asked in a concerned voice.
"Yeah, I just don't like being told where to go." Aurora lied as leaned her head back, looking at him with sparkling eyes. "But I don't mind it this time because I can see how Smudger's doing since this will also be his first Christmas!"
Henry chuckled softly as he looked back at the track. "I'm sure you both will have a great Christmas."
"I hope so." Aurora purred as she stood up, kissing his cheek.
"Do be careful." Henry worriedly said, feeling her walk towards his cab.
"I will." Aurora reassured him, sliding her hand along his boiler as she walked towards his cab.
Even though people warned her how their boilers and fireboxes get extremely hot, Aurora was always fascinated by how she was never burnt or felt any pain.
Pushing that thought to the side, she poked her head into his cab and looked at the two humans she first accepted as her friends.
"Hi~" Aurora purred as she looked at them.
"Hi yourself." Sam chuckled as he gently petted her head.
"Do engines get waxed when they get a wash down and repainted?" Aurora asked as she looked at the two.
"Well…" Dave hummed softly as he thought. "The soap we use to wash them does have wax in it."
"Damn it…" Aurora groaned as she leaned over the cab door dejectedly. "There goes that idea…"
"Why did you want to know?" Sam asked as he checked Henry's gauges.
"I'm trying to think of a gift idea for the engines." Aurora sighed as she looked at them. "But I can't think of anything."
"It's hard to get them things." Dave chuckled softly. "Maybe someone on the NGR will have an idea?"
"Maybe…" Aurora sighed as she walked on Henry's footplate once again, sitting down in front of his face.
Henry hummed softly before gently kissing her head. He couldn't hear what they were talking about, but he noticed how dejected she looked when she came back to her usual spot. Blowing his whistle twice, he sped up a bit more, smiling as he watched how the excitement appeared on her face once more.
"It's too fucking cold to be doing anything!" Duncan grumbled as he, Smudger, and Duke rested at Crovan's Gate.
"It's not that cold, Duncan." Cameron reassured his engine. "You worked in Scotland, remember?"
"Aye, but unlike Donald and Douglas, I was inside a factory for most of the winter!" Duncan snapped back.
"It is just a bit cold." Smudger said softly, letting out a weary wheesh of steam.
"See, even he agrees." Duncan huffed bitterly.
"I didn't say it was too cold to work, dumbass." Smudger huffed angrily as he glared at him. "For the record, I'm happy to go out, seeing as I couldn't go out before!"
"Fuck off!" Duncan growled as he glared back. "You'll be as keen as the Kerr cousins next, and I'm nae wantin' tae be around when that happens!"
Duke sighed wearily as the two younger engines started to argue with each other. This has been a normal occurrence between the two, but looking closely, one could see the smirks and smiles on their faces. They may sound pissed off, but they're just arguing for the joy of it. They liked to argue, often in jest, or at least not too seriously.
But it's still too early to even listen to it. He was just glad there weren't many people so early this morning.
"You two arguing would not suit his Grace!" Duke groaned exhaustedly. "And neither would that language! Goodness knows what"-
"Granpuff!" a voice shouted, interrupting mid-lecture.
Duke looked over at the NWR, only to have something warm and gold fill his vision. He chuckled softly as he heard her loud purrs and felt her nuzzling his face.
"Good morning, Auro." Duke happily said as he nuzzled her back, kissing her head. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well." Aurora purred loudly as she kissed his cheek.
"I'll see you tonight, Ro!" Henry called out before puffing down the tracks.
"Bye, father!" Aurora waved before sitting on Duke's footplate. "Those two arguing already?" She asked as she looked at the two engines.
"As you can see…" Duke sighed before blowing his whistle. "Alright, you two. That's enough."
Tell that to him!" Smudger and Duncan growled, only to smile when they saw Aurora. "Morning Oreo." Duncan grinned
"Hi, Aura!" Said Smudger.
"Morning." Aurora purred as she walked over to them, kissing their cheeks. "What was the argument about this time?"
"On if it's too cold to work." Isabel laughed as she patted Smudger's cab. "Alright, Smudge, it's time to get you to Ulfstead Castle."
"Ulfstead?" Aurora asked as she looked at him. "Why are you going to Ulfstead?"
"Sir Robert Norramby asked if I could help them decorate the castle for the next few days." Smudger smiled as he waited for his crew to enter his cab. "They've got a lot on this month, like the Advent services, a big Christmas Dinner, and the Mistletoe Market. There's rumors of a ball as well near New Year."
"That's great!" Aurora purred happily as she hugged his face happily. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Thanks." Smudger chuckled softly while nuzzling her. "I am excited to see a castle for the first time!" He excitedly exclaimed.
"Oh! Harold, can I ask you something?" Aurora asked as she jogged over to Duke's driver.
"Of course." Harold smiled before petting her head gently. "What is it?"
"What would be a good Christmas gift for engines?" Aurora asked quietly, making sure the three engines didn't hear her.
"Hmmm…" Harold hummed as he thought. "...I'm not sure honestly. Sorry, Auro." He apologized, feeling bad when her ears flattened. "It's not an easy thing, but I'm sure you'll think of something." He said kindly.
"Thanks though…" Aurora sighed as she walked along the frost-covered ground.
"What kind of decorations will you be helping with, Smudger?" Dylan asked while checking Duncan's bunker.
"Bringing the typical Christmas decorations and stuff like that." Smudger replied, before adding, in a thoughtful tone. "I think there was something about shields as well?"
"Shields?" Duncan huffed. "Don't they already have plenty of those?"
"Beats me, I haven't seen it," Smudger answered dryly.
Aurora hummed softly as she walked on the rail Duke was resting on, the conversation being muffled in her ears. "Shields…" She thought as she stopped walking, looking at the wooden beams under her.
A memory came to her mind…
….
"It's beautiful!" Aurora happily said as she gently lifted a small wooden statue of a cat from a shoebox lined with old newspapers.
"I'm glad you like it." Richard smiled as he pets her head, before shyly adding "I actually carved it myself..."
"You did?" Aurora asked as she looked at him, both of them walking towards Luke.
"Yep." Richard chuckled softly. "It's a side hobby I do. You see, I wasn't really any good at the academic side of school, so I poured my heart into craftwork when I was younger- making and fixing furniture, knick knacks, statues, you name it."
"All from wood?' Aurora asked, tilting her head.
"He does metalwork as well, and can fix music boxes." Added Geoffrey fondly, leaping out of Luke's cab. "He helps us with DIY projects at home, gifted my wife and I with a clock for our wedding and made wooden trains for our kids with their names on them when they were born. They all still sit in pride of place." He clapped Richard's shoulder as the younger man turned as red as Skarloey's paintwork.
"Can you show me one day? How to make things out of wood?" Aurora asked.
"Of course." Richard smiled warmly. "Just tell me when you're ready to learn."
"Ok!" Aurora purred loudly before running towards Luke, holding the cat statue close to her.
….
Aurora continued to silently stare at the wooden beams as the flashback played in her head while the word shield kept ringing in her ears.
Shields.
Wood.
Shields.
Wood.
"...I GOT IT!" Aurora yelled loudly, causing everyone and all three engines to jump.
"... what the fuckin' hell, Ro?!" Duncan yelled, startled.
Aurora ignored him as she swiftly ran over to Smudger, causing the olive green engine to move backward again. Aurora quickly jumped onto his footplate and placed her hands on his cheeks, smushing his face.
"I need to go to Ulfstead immediately. I need to ask Richard something VERY important!" Aurora exclaimed excitedly while staring into his eyes.
Smudger blinked as he stared into her sapphire pools, his lips pursed from her smushing his face. "Uhhh…otea." He said in a muffled voice.
"Thank you!" Aurora as she kissed his nose hard, spinning around and happily sitting on his footplate. "Lead the way, please!"
Smudger moved his jaw around while trying to get feeling back into his lips. Isabel and Frances laughed wholeheartedly as they prepared Smudger to travel.
"Come on, old boy. Let's get to Ulfstead." Frances smiled as she shoveled some coal onto his firebox.
"I'm going, I'm going…" Smudger muttered as he puffed down the tracks, but a small smile on his face formed from seeing his best friend and sister so happy.
…
"Richard!" Aurora called out as she jumped off Smudger's footplate, running towards him. Luke was talking with Millie and Stephen. His crew, Geoffrey Heron and Richard Wilson, were standing close by.
"Hm?" Richard hummed as he looked away from Luke, only to feel himself being dragged away from Luke.
"Hi Luke! Bye Luke! I'm borrowing Richard for a second!" Aurora called out while continuing to drag Richard.
"What the hell?" Richard muttered.
"H-Hi, Ro…?" Luke asked in confusion, looking over at Smudger who had the same confused look.
"Oi, what's going on?" Geoffrey exclaimed, but he got no answer. "Well, guess we'll have to wait."
Luke wasn't happy, as he knew Rheneas would have words about tardiness, but he knew he couldn't leave his friend behind. Not that he could manage that so easily anyway - he needed a fireman.
….
Aurora dragged a confused Richard over to a tree and looked at him.
"Aurora, I hoped you of all people-"
"I need you to help me make 50 wooden shields by Christmas Eve." She pleaded, her eyes sparkling.
"50?" Richard asked, confused. "That's a short time frame to get 50 of them made…"
"I'll help you make them, but I really do need your help…" Aurora begged as she looked at him with a pleading look.
Richard bit his lip as he looked away, deep in thought. Sighing, a small smile appeared on his face before looking at her. "Alright, but we'll be up quite late when we start on them," he warned.
"That's fine!" Aurora nodded excitedly, eyes sparkling as metaphoric stars surrounded her. "I will do my best in making them as well!" She smiled brightly before hugging him tightly. "Thank you!" She purred as she kissed his cheek, before running off.
Richard blinked a few times in confusion before chuckling softly. "You are something else."
As much as he didn't appreciate being grabbed by the wrist like that, he decided he'll let the matter be this time, as she was usually good at maintaining boundaries and she had seemed excited for whatever reason she had for being excited.
….
Aurora happily ran over to a tree next to the castle, cloak flying behind her, before quickly sitting on the cold winter ground and dumping the contents of her backpack on the ground. She grabbed a pencil and her small sketchbook before flipping it open to a blank page.
She started to sketch a shield design in it as her smile grew wider. "This will be a great gift for them!" Aurora exclaimed as she happily continued to draw.
