AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! Sorry for posting this chapter and updating my other stories took so long...there was a lot of personal stuff going on in my life such as my grandmother passing and other stuff I don't want to talk about. Big shoutout to Goldsaddletank for helping with this story and all my other stories. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Ocs belong with both me and Goldsaddletank, Aurora belongs to me, Thomas characters belong to Mattel
"There you two are!"
Aurora groaned as she sat up with a delicate yawn, stretching her limbs like a tree sprawling its wooden limbs heavenward.
Rubbing her eyes wearily, she heard Donald yawning from beneath her, which rumbled through his frames, like the breath of a storybook giant.
Hearing the sound of chuffing, she looked up; her ears instantly folded against her head as she saw Douglas and Duck outside the shed. They looked cross.
Whilst she had expected both of them to show up at some point, she'd hoped she and Donald would have had more time before that happened.
Clearly, fate had had other ideas.
...
Duck looked disappointed at them both, while Douglas looked annoyed with his twin. (Although, Aurora reflected, this was a common occurrence.)
"Morning Duck, Douglas." Aurora purred nervously as she slowly slid down onto Donald's footplate.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were when we woke up and you were gone?" Duck asked severely as he fixed a stern look at his niece/goddaughter. He was so cross, he had forgone his usual polite manner - a rare occurrence for the little Pannier.
"Leaving in the middle of the night when it's snowing, without warm clothing? What the devil were you thinking, Aurora? You could've gotten bloody hypothermia!" Duck had started shaking from anger.
"I'm sorry Duck, but I couldn't sleep since it didn't feel right without Donald there..." Aurora muttered softly, snuggling into the warmth of the blanket Vincent draped over her shoulders.
"...But I wasn't cold at all." She added as she shuffled up to the number 8 engine, feeling a bit stiff.
'I haven't felt cold since that night I escaped that woman's burning house...' She thought to herself. But she kept quiet, as she didn't want to worry them further.
"Well, even so, that doesn't mean you go wandering around at night, during winter mind you, in nothing but your pajamas." Duck scolded. "As I said before, you could've gotten hypothermia, and if you can't feel the cold, you'd be more likely to lose your toes, your feet, your hands, or even die!" He exploded, before glowering at Donald.
"And as for you, Donald, the way you behaved last night was not the Great Western way. Hell, I couldn't-"
"Are ye aright, Duck? Nae like ye tae swear sae much," said Douglas.
"Ach, ye call that swearing, Dougie? That's tame fer us!" Donald boasted.
Not quite a smart thing to say, as Duck hissed at Donald
"Quiet, the both of you, before I lose steam!" Duck snapped impatiently.
"If ye're losing steam, maybe ye should see Victor," said Donald cheekily.
"Not that kind of steam! The metaphorical kind!" Snapped Duck.
"I ken, pal, I was pulling yer wheel," Donald grinned.
"Ye were acting like an arse last night!" Douglas snapped to his twin, as Ian and Evan stepped out of his cab.
Donald cringed and looked at his buffers.
Although he'd normally protest being called an arse, and by his brother no less, he knew he had no excuse for what he had said the night before.
...
Aurora sighed as she climbed onto Duck's footplate under his chin. It was too early to hear them argue; though she couldn't help but let out a small giggle from hearing Duck groaning in annoyance.
Duck growled, and she quickly stifled her laughter - even though she had no idea if Duck was growling at her, or at Donald.
Maybe it was the both of them - he was angry with them both, so perhaps that wasn't entirely impossible.
Snuggling into the blanket, she watched as Ian and Evan worked on cleaning Donald's firebox properly.
Thinking about what Donald told her last night, a small smile appeared on her face as she started to imagine what to put on their Christmas gift.
'It might not be much, but it'll mean a lot to them.' Aurora thought before accepting a cup of hot chocolate from Aden, who had appeared with a spare enamel mug and a flask. "Thank you, Aden."
"You're welcome, my dear." Aden smiled warmly. "We also prepared a bacon roll for you on the way over. Duck was arguing vehemently about it after a predecessor of mine got eggs in his whistle years ago."
Duck wheeshed crossly at the reminder.
"Alright, Cogsworth," teased Aden.
"That sounds delicious." Aurora purred happily as she took a sip of hot chocolate.
She was baffled, though, as to why Aden called his engine "Cogsworth" and asked him.
"Oh, Beauty and the Beast is my daughter's favorite film," he admitted. "I've seen it with my Isla countless times. She relates to Belle, and used to carry a wooden spoon around that she insisted was her butler, named Spoonsworth." He laughed.
A small giggle came out of Aurora's mouth at the name, even though she didn't understand the reference. Yet. Her ears perked up as Vincent walked over to her with the bacon roll. She thanked him as she gratefully grabbed it and took a bite. A loud purr erupted from her throat as she ate the breakfast treat, her tail twitching happily.
Duck sighed as he listened to the twins arguing, getting a headache from them. Looking down at Aurora, he wanted to scold her for giving himself, Douglas, BoCo, and Oliver a scare but seeing her look so happy brought a small smile to his face, despite himself.
He still wasn't happy about her risking her life, though.
...
Aurora hummed quietly as she listened to Duck lecture her about leaving without letting one know, but mostly towards Donald for his behavior last night. Said Scottish engine groaned quietly as he looked forward with an annoyed expression. Douglas wasn't help either with him giving his own lecture towards his brother...in a more colorful language.
"I really am sorry I just left the shed without telling anyone, Duck..." Aurora said softly as she leaned against his face, purring softly when she felt him kiss her head.
"I know you are, Ro." Duck said softly as he nuzzled his niece/godchild. "We're just worried for none of us wants to see you taken again." He said thoughtfully, the fear of her never returning entering his boiler once more.
Aurora's ears flattened against her head in guilt as she processed Duck's words. She knew the engines became more worried and protective after she came back from being kidnapped. She wasn't really thinking in the moment last night when she left and didn't think how it would affect the others. Turning onto her side, she gently nuzzled against his cheek.
"I'm sorry..." She apologized quietly.
Duck smiled warmly as he looked down at her. "You're forgiven." He said softly.
"Welcome back, everyone."
Donald flinched as he looked up, seeing Maria standing next to his berth. He knew she was going to look him over today after his meltdown, he just wished it was later on during the day.
"Can it wait till later on in the day?" Donald groaned as he slowly puffed onto the turntable.
"You're getting it done now." Duck said sternly as he looked at his friend. "The sooner you get this done, the sooner you can start your jobs.
Donald groaned as he was slowly spun around till he was able to back up into his berth.
"Cheer up." Ian chuckled as he pats the cab door of the engine. "It isn't that bad."
"You try eating that shit." Donald grumbled before opening his mouth for Maria.
"Thank you." Maria smiled as she started to examine him.
Aurora watched Maria look into Donald's mouth before looking at his eyes, absorbing the way she does it. When she first came to Sodor, Aurora was fascinated on how Maria examined the engines thoroughly, my like Dr. Forest does. She never even knew there were actual engine doctors until she met Maria. Truth be told, Aurora was actually interested in learning how to examine in the engines.
Donald clenched his eyes shut as he felt Maria lift his lip, the cool gel being spread against his gum. "Blegh..." He spat with disgust, baring his teeth and licking his lips like a dog.
"Better?" Douglas asked in a teasing tone, receiving a cold glare from Donald.
"He's all good, you two." Maria waved to Ian and Evan, jumping off of Donald's footplate.
"See Donald, that wasn't so bad." Evan chuckled heartfully.
Donald grumbled under his breath as he once again left his berth, pulling onto the turntable.
"Alright, Ro. Edward is waiting to pick you up." Duck hummed before puffing down the tracks.
Aurora's ears folded back as she nodded her head, feeling sick to her stomach. She knew Edward, Henry, and possibly the others, would feel disappointment towards her actions.
"Can we take the scenic route?" Aurora asked hopefully, not wanting to hear the lecture from Edward so soon.
"Afraid not, Ro." Duck hummed as he puffed down the tracks. "Edward said to bring you back immediately."
"Thought so..." Aurora sighed softly as she nuzzled against Duck's face.
...
"Ro, do you have any idea how worried Duck and the others were this morning?" Edward asked his daughter, staring at her sternly.
"A lot..." Aurora muttered quietly, looking down as she stood in front of him. "I wasn't thinking when I went out to look for Donald."
Edward sighed softly as he closed his eyes, calming his racing heart. When his crew got the phone call this morning that she was missing, it nearly put himself and Henry into a heart attack. Opening his eyes, he looked at Aurora and could see the guilt on her face clearly.
"I can see that you are truly sorry for what you did, but it still doesn't make up for your actions." Edward said softly, watching her flinch.
"I understand and I'm ready for any punishment you give me." Aurora muttered quietly, looking up at him.
Edward bit his lip as he looked at her, easily seeing her body tremble slightly. From the look in her eyes, he noticed that she was thinking about the circus and the 'punishments' she was put through. Taking a deep breath, he started to think.
"She could clean up Arlesburgh Sheds, Edward." Duck smiled as he puffed up a bit more, easily seeing the conflict on Edward's face. "I think that would suffice."
"I agree." Edward hummed softly, very grateful for his friend. "That is a fine punishment."
"Cleaning how?" Aurora asked as she looked at her uncle.
"Picking up any trash and scrap metal, carefully and only what you can lift safely, cleaning the windows, simple things like that." Duck hummed thoughtfully.
"Alright, I'll clean up the sheds." Aurora said softly, a small smile on her face, her ears pricked. "Can I keep anything I find that's interesting?"
"Well, I can't think what you might find, but so long as it's not missing from the railway or its staff, you may." Duck smiled, with a little flutter in his boiler seeing her so excited.
"Yes!" Aurora exclaimed happily, her tail swaying from side to side. 'I might find some more ideas for the other's Christmas gifts...I need to get to Richard so we can continue working on the shields as soon as I have a moment...'
"Thank you." Edward mouthed, smiling at his friend.
Duck winked at his friend before looking back at Aurora. "Do you need to go back home first?" He asked.
"No, I'm ready." Aurora purred as she jumped onto Edward's footplate, kissing his cheek. "I'll see you later, Dad."
"Take care, Ro." Edward smiled, kissing her head and watching her head towards Duck. "But don't think you're getting out of a lecture later."
Aurora winced, knowing that Henry would be a tad harsher than Edward, but she didn't mind too much - that was how she knew that they truly cared for her which made her happy.
Jumping back onto Duck's footplate, she waved at Edward as Duck puffed off. Yawning, Aurora slowly sat down and laid against his cheek for a little nap.
Duck did not disturb her from her sleep until they arrived.
...
Later, Aurora panted as she wiped her forehead, looking at the mess she made outside of Arlesburgh Sheds; small pieces of scrap metal, trash, lumps of coal, and miscellaneous items, all organized in neat piles.
Aurora knew from speaking to Rusty that if Lexi found any similar items cleaning out station cupboards and helping the maintenance crew clear out sheds, she'd make similar piles for Rusty to deal with.
Scrap metal was put in one truck for Victor to see if anything was worth salvaging for reuse; even if it was for different purposes from what it had been originally intended for.
Anything useful was saved, and either used at the Steamworks or sold to private buyers, like Richard Wilson, for crafting items out of, or repairing things. Anything unusable was sent for melting down at Crock's Scrapyard, which Edward took there often (though Percy sometimes covered these runs if he was at a loose end)
Rubbish, of course, was either binned or things like paper and old, oily rags were saved for helping the fire lighter light the engines' fires in the mornings.
Other items (like stray uniform buttons) were put into a separate pile for her to sort out later and see if anything was worth taking home with her, or finding out if anyone had lost property.
...
There were a few pieces of metal that were rusted and jagged.
Aurora knew that Duck wouldn't like it if she had cut herself.
As the Great Western Railway was very keen on Health and Safety, from introducing Automatic Train Control in 1906, to being awarded Safeguarding on Rail Scheme Accreditation in 2022 to help protect vulnerable people in stations (all of which Aurora had learned about from various lectures of Duck's) it made sense the engines of this railway were a little safety conscious - and Duck was definitely safety conscious.
Aurora shivered as she remembered being cut by rusted metal, and days laying in a hospital due to tetanus; suffering from lockjaw, seizures, muscle spasms, and a faster heartbeat, among other things.
It turned out that when she'd been examined at the hospital after escaping the circus, she'd received a number of jabs, but not her tetanus one; that error had nearly cost her life.
She had yet to forget the look on James's face when he realized he caused said cut.
He still hadn't forgiven himself for what she'd suffered, even though she didn't hold him at fault for what happened.
Although she had gotten a jab since, Aurora decided to play it safe and look for some gloves before going any further.
Looking around the building, she tied her handkerchief around her nose and mouth as she used a broom to knock down old cobwebs, coal dust, and regular dust off the walls and windows.
Coughing, Aurora closed her eyes as she used the broom to wipe a thick layer of dust off an old shelf.
She felt the broom hit something before something smacked her square atop her head before landing on the ground with an echoing thud.
"Fuck!" Aurora hissed painfully as she dropped the broom, pressing her hands against her now-throbbing head.
Putting pressure on the throbbing pain, Aurora slowly opened her eyes and looked at the ground to see the object that hit her.
Despite the pain she was in, her ears perked as she knelt on the ground, looking at the object. Her eyes sparkled as she gently lifted it up, weighing it in her hand.
"Perfect." She said resolutely.
