And now the first story that isn't a sequel. One about our very own Master of the Railway!

Enjoy!


"Haunted Hiro"

Starring

EpicLafiteau as Hiro

Jonathan Asiamah as Murdoch

Andrew Homer as James

EnterprisingEngine93 as Edward

and

DarthWill3


Hiro is a black JNR Class D51 steam engine all the way from Japan. Contrary to what the TV series movie said, he wasn't the first engine on Sodor, but ONE of them in the early days. Hiro was the first foreign engine to arrive on Sodor, out of the country and worked on a different region of the island before he broke down and was placed in a siding and forgotten about.

But thanks to Thomas and his friends, Hiro was restored and sent back home. He did come back for several years before returning to his home railway with Kenji. But after the railway modernized, Hiro went back to Sodor as the North Western Railway's Number 51 and works hauling heavy freight trains on the mainline with Henry, Peter, Bear, Patrick, Murdoch, and Hank, along with the occasional passenger train.

One day, Hiro was at Knapford Yards taking on a large supply of coal.

Thomas was nearby taking on water.

"Good morning Thomas my friend." Hiro smiled.

"Good morning Hiro! Busy day ahead?" Thomas asked.

"Indeed. I am collecting a long goods train for the Mainland. Shane will be picking it up at Barrow-In-Furness." Hiro replied.

"Try not to carry too much Hiro! I heard from Iris that those flatbeds have seen better days." Philip said as he rolled past shunting the red express coaches.

"I'll be alright." Hiro smiled. "Well my tender is full. Have a nice day everyone!"

And Hiro puffed away.


Hiro arrived at the container yard. Murdoch was there collecting a heavy goods train himself.

"Oh hello Hiro." Murdoch said. "Iris is taking on fuel. Your train is on track 3."

"Thank you Murdoch." Hiro smiled. "Where is your train heading?"

"Briddlington." Murdoch replied. "And how about you?"

"Barrow-in-Furness." Hiro replied. "Ah one of the nice spots on the Mainland."

"Well I hope the journey's a good one for the Master of the Railway." Murdoch said.

Hiro chuckled. "It usually is Murdoch my friend. The only thing that could ruin this day is dangerous weather or bad coal."

Hiro was coupled up to his train, the workman checked the loads to make sure they were secure, and the gaurd blew his whistle.

Hiro whistled loudly as the mighty engine puffed down the track.


Hiro puffed down the mainline feeling the fresh air across his face. It was a lovely day indeed.

"Nothing like a nice long run to stretch my wheels." he said fondly.

But as Hiro puffed down the line, he had no idea that the signalman was having trouble changing the points to the correct line. Hiro suddenly found himself going over onto the wrong line. He finally realized what was going on when felt like the track looked familiar.

"That's peculiar … why does this line look familiar?" Hiro wondered.

He soon found out why. This line was the same one that led to the very siding he we shunted into all those years ago. He was already heading over the bridge that led straight into the forest.

"Bust my buffers!" Hiro gasped. "How am I back here?! This isn't the right line!"

Hiro came to a stop just before he entered the woods.

"We'd better reverse down the line Hiro." said his driver.

"Yes please! I really don't wanna be here driver." Hiro said. Sad and lonely memories were slowly coming back to him.

But as Hiro tried to reverse, he felt the weight of the container train against him.

"Come on! Come on! I can handle heavy loads like this!" Hiro grunted.

Suddenly something snapped and Hiro came to a stop. Steam billowed from his cylinders.

"What has happened to me?!" cried Hiro.

His driver and fireman checked Hiro and the train over.

"That's torn it." said his driver. "Your safety valve burst."

"And we know why you couldn't move the train! The brakes slipped on on the flatbeds." said the fireman. "Philip and Iris were right."

"Someone's gonna have to take the train and we gotta get you to the Steamworks. I'll go phone for help." said the driver.

Hiro sighed as his driver left and his fireman did his best to release the breaks. The guard kept watch for help.

Hiro glanced down the line towards the forest. Bad memories came back from when he was stuck there, broken, rusted, and alone.

"I never thought I'd travel down this line again…" Hiro said softly.

As he stared at the line, more bad memories came back to him.

Breaking down badly…

Being shunted into the siding…

Time passing by as Hiro was all alone and forgotten…

The fear of Spencer finding out about him…

Running away from Spencer as all of his parts the Steam Team brought for him fell off…

The fear of scrap afterwards…

Hiro never wanted to come down this line again. The idea of being forgotten about and being scrapped always shook him to his core.

As Hiro wanted some more, he felt like he saw something in the distance amongst the trees and bushes.

"Hello?" Hiro called.

No response.

Hiro then felt like he heard puffing noises coming from the line leading to the sidings.

"Hello? Is someone there?" Hiro called again.

No one responded again.

Hiro sighed heavily. This forest was bringing out the bad memories in him.


Sir Topham Hatt was about to eat his cream donut when the telephone rang.

"Hiro's broken down?" he asked when he answered it. "I'll send help right away."


Later, help arrived. Peter the heavy goods engine pulled Hiro's train away from him.

"Barrow is already aware of the delay and understand." Peter said. "I'll take this all the way there and then drop these flatbreads off at the works by Crovan's Gate."

"Thank you." Hiro said thankfully.

Eventually, James arrived to take Hiro to the works.

"Never thought you'd be back on this line huh?" James asked.

"I never wanted to venture down the line to begin with." Hiro sighed.

"Well don't worry. Victor will fix you right up." James said. "Come on let's go."

And the red engine took Hiro away. Hiro watched as the track that led to his siding disappeared from view.


Hiro was later at the Steamworks getting repaired. Sir Topham Hatt spoke to him.

"What happened wasn't your fault." he said. "Signalman said that the points were jammed. But he was able to get them fixed before Peter arrived."

"Thank you Sir." Hiro sighed.

"As soon as you're fixed you'll be back to work and being really useful." Sir Topham Hatt said as he left.

"Don't worry Hiro my friend." said Victor as he puffed up to his siding. "We'll have you fixed up in no time."

"Thank you Victor." Hiro said thankfully.

CRASH!

"Ugh Kevin!" Victor groaned.

Kevin had knocked over some boiler tubes.

"Sorry boss!" Kevin called.

Hiro managed a chuckle. "Some things never change." he said.

Sometime later, Murdoch puffed into the Steamworks.

"Murdoch? What are you doing here?" Hiro asked in surprise.

"Routine maintenance Hiro. Nothing bad." Murdoch replied. "I heard you ended up going down the wrong line earlier today."

Hiro sighed. "I did Murdoch… it was the siding I was abandoned at all those years ago…"

Murdoch was taken aback. "Oh. I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright." Hiro politely interrupted. "I didn't go back to the siding itself, I was just in the forest."

"Must be hard for you to go back to that forest." Murdoch said. "Well if you ever want to talk about your experience Hiro we're all willing to listen."

Hiro smiled. "Thank you Murdoch."


The next day Hiro was repaired and back to work. He arrived at Brendam Docks to pick up a load of pipes to take to Suddery.

"Here we go Hiro!" Big Mickey said as he lowered a load onto the flatbeds. "All ready to take down the line."

"Thank you Big Mickey." Hiro smiled.

James then puffed up hauling a train of tankers.

"Nice to see you puffing again Hiro." the red engine said. "Hope you stay out of the forest. We need your strength around here."

Hiro chuckled. "I will James my friend. What happened yesterday was merely an accident caused by unforeseen circumstances."

"Good! I don't wanna strain myself on a train that's too heavy." said James as he puffed away.


Soon Hiro was back puffing down the line towards Suddery. It was another splendid day.

"This is much better than the last run." Hiro mused to himself.

But as he puffed down the line, images began to suddenly come to Hiro. His surroundings suddenly began to change.

"What? What's happening?" Hiro gasped.

The next thing Hiro knew, he was in the forest again. And he wasn't moving.

"No. No! No I can't be back here!" Hiro cried.

He then gasped as his paint began to rust away into nothingness.

"No! No It can't be! I'm falling apart!" Hiro screamed.

Vines and branches began to grow around him.

"No! Let me go! Let me go!" Hiro cried. "Please let me go! I don't belong here!"

"Oh don't you Hiro?" came a voice.

Hiro gasped as he looked from side to side.

"After all, really useful engines can move and do the work… not really broken ones… and that's just what you are… a broken engine way past his prime… worth more as SCRAP!"

A mad cackle began to echo around Hiro as he began to pant.

"No please no! I'm not scrap! I'm really useful! I don't belong here! Let me go!" Hiro cried.

He then gasped as something began to come closer towards him.

"No… it's you! How are you here?!" Hiro cried.

"You can't escape my words Hiro… you know I am right…" came the sinister reply.

The laughter echoed again as Hiro shut his eyes and cried out, frightened.

Suddenly everything around Hiro vanished and he was moving again. Very fast.

"Hiro slow down!" shouted his driver.

Hiro gasped as he saw he was coming up to a red signal. And James was coming in the opposite direction. He was taking a passenger train after delivering his tankers.

"HIRO STOP!" James cried.

Hiro's driver shut off steam and applied the brakes. Sparks flew from Hiro's wheels as he skidded to a stop… just in time as James went over the points.

"Watch what you're doing!" James snapped crossly. "I thought the Master of the Railway would know better than to run a red signal!"

"Sorry James!" Hiro called.

"Hiro are you alright?" his driver asked.

"I don't know driver… I just don't know…" Hiro said sadly.


Hiro was later resting at the sheds. Murdoch pulled in beside him.

"Hiro are you alright? James said you almost ran a red signal." he said, concerned.

"No Murdoch, I am not." Hiro sighed. "I don't know how it happened. All of a sudden I am thinking about the siding I was stuck in for so many years…"

Murdoch was surprised. "You are? Is that what distracted you?"

"Yes it was." Hiro muttered. "I was stuck there for so many years, thinking that I would eventually be scrapped if someone found me. And…" Hiro paused. "I then heard something…"

"What did you hear?" Murdoch asked.

"I'm not sure you would believe me if I told you." Hiro sighed. "You see… something else happened during my time in the siding… but I don't really like to talk about it…"

Murdoch frowned. "Hiro if you don't talk about it then you might not feel better any time soon." he said.

"I'll… I'll… think about it…" Hiro said.

"Come on Murdoch we got another train to pull." said Murdoch's driver as he and the fireman climbed into Murdoch's cab.

Murdoch looked at Hiro as he puffed away. "Take care Hiro." he said.

"I'll try…" Hiro sighed.


Murdoch continued with his work as he pulled heavy freight trains up and down the line.

But Hiro was still on his mind.

"He needs help. And I know just the engine to talk to." Murdoch said to himself.

Murdoch pulled into Wellsworth station to drop off part of his train. James was there as well with a passenger train.

"Hello James. How are you doing?" Murdoch asked.

"Better as can be given how Hiro and I almost had a collision." James muttered. "I thought he knew better than to almost run a red signal. Must've been pretty distracted."

Murdoch frowned. "It's been more than that James," he said. "I think Hiro is going through some PTSD."

"Whaddya mean?" Jasme asked.

"Bad memories of his time in that siding seem to be coming back to him." Murdoch replied. "I think it's best for him to talk about it so he'll feel better, but he may not budge."

"Well that is common for many going through some who've had traumatizing experiences."

Both engines looked over to see Edward puff onto the yards' turntable.

"Whether its scrap, war, or something else, it's bound to linger in their memories for some time." Edward said. "Murdoch you're saying that Hiro seems to be going through that?"

"Yes. From his time being stuck in those woods in that siding, all rusty and broken, unable to move." said Murdoch. "But something else that happened during that time. And it made him extra scared."

"You think that's why he was distracted?" James asked, interested.

"That was what he told me." Murdoch replied. He looked over at Edward. "You think you can talk to him? One wise engine to another?"

Edward was silent for a moment. "Well, usually it's not in my nature to pry into anyone else's privacy." he said. "But if it effects Hiro's work, then we'll talk to him. But we shouldn't confront him roughly. It'll push him away."

"Well you're one of the wisest engines on Sodor." Murdoch said.

"Just as long as he doesn't cause a near accident again." James snorted. "I swear these close calls are no good for my splendid red paintwork."

James puffed away as Edward and Murdoch rolled their eyes.


Throughout the week, Hiro mainly kept to himself, but did acknowledge the presence of those around him. But it seemed as though he was distracted sometimes.

Hiro was backing down to pick up his train at Knapford Yards when he accidentally bumped the whole train into Philip.

"Whoa watch it! Don't bump the shutter!" Philip yelled.

"Oh! Sorry Phillip my friend!" Hiro apologized.

Another day, Hiro was getting ready to leave Knapford with a passenger train, he failed to hear the guard blow his whistle.

"Hiro? Hiro it's time to go!" his driver called. "We're gonna be late!"

"What? Oh! Sorry driver!" Hiro apologized. "Right let us go."

And he puffed away.

But one of the hardest moments was when Hiro was on his way to Vicarstown Station one day. But he was still thinking about his past stuck broken in the siding… that he didn't see a passenger train up ahead on his track.

But Rosie did.

"Hiro look out! STOP!" she shouted.

Hiro looked up and gasped. He applied his brakes but it was too late. He bumped into the back of the coaches, sending them jolting forwards and into the blue tender engine coupled up to it.

"Oy! Watch it back there!" the engine shouted, annoyed.

"I am so sorry!" Hiro said, ashamed and guilty. "I didn't mean to. I guess I was… distracted…"

The engine grunted. "Sounds like it." he said.

"Alright Crovan calm down." Rosie soothed, puffing up to the engine. "Look no one was in the coaches and I'm sure Hiro didn't mean to do it."

"Yes I suppose that is true…" Crovan muttered.

Hiro was embarrassed. "Oh why can't I stop thinking about that horrendous time in my life…?" he moaned.


The next day, Sir Topham Hatt came to see Hiro at the sheds.

"Hiro it's clear that you haven't been yourself these past few days." he boomed. "Is something wrong?"

"Just… hard memories I suppose sir…" Hiro sighed sadly. "I don't know why all of a sudden they're coming back to me…"

"Perhaps some time away from work will help clear your smokebox." Sir Topham Hatt suggested. "Rest for the day Hiro. Peter, Bear, Patrick, and Hank can split your work amongst themselves."

"Thank you sir… and I'm sorry if I have let you down sir…" Hiro said sadly.

The Fat Controller smiled. "You have not let me down Hiro. If one of my engines is going through some rough experiences, it is good to let them rest it out until their heads are clear. I will be back later if you want to talk about it."

Hiro smiled a bit. "Thank you sir…"

And Sir Topham Hatt drove away.

Hiro was resting in the sheds, trying to get his mind off his past as he slept. But no matter how hard he tried, the black tender engine still found the memories ram into him faster than the time Toad was "busy going backwards" years ago.

"Don't think about the woods… don't think about the woods… don't think about the woods…" he muttered to himself.

"Hiro?"

Hiro spluttered awake. He looked and was surprised to see James in the berth to his left and Edward in the berth. Murdoch reversed into the berth next to James.

"What are you three doing here?" Hiro asked, surprised.

"Hiro we need to talk and you're not puffing out of this." James said sternly.

"James is right. Hiro you haven't been yourself recently." said Murdoch. "We're all worried about you."

"This is an invention?" Hiro asked. "I've never really had one. Not even in my old home."

"First time for everything. Even for the Master of the Railway." James said.

"Hiro." Edward said firmly but gently. "I understand that not everyone likes to talk about the hardships of their past. But I think that it's best that you do. We know your story about how you ended up in that siding in the woods. But you did mention that something else happened during your time there."

Hiro sighed. "Yes… something did happen one day…" he admitted. "But… I wasn't sure if you all would believe me if I told you…"

"Hiro we're your friends." Murdoch said gently. "You can tell us."

"You won't feel better until you do." Edward said. "And we're ready to listen."

"Even you James?" Hiro asked.

"I'm kinda interested to hear a story about the Master of the Railway." James replied.

Hiro chuckled a little. "Alright." he said before taking a deep breath. "As you know, I was one of the first engines on Sodor like Edward and James here. I was one of the strongest around, but I worked for a private express business."

"So you were like Spencer but more nicer and wiser." surmised James.

"Pretty much yes my friend." Hiro said. He sighed sadly. "And then came the day I broke down. Eagle shunted me into a siding out of the way as the Steamworks was crowded with engines, coaches, and trucks. So I was placed in a siding out of the way in a small forest. But because of the progress of the railway going up, everyone was so busy and I was forgotten about."

"We're sorry that happened Hiro." Edward said sadly. "Had we known about you more we would've done something."

"And it's a pity that Eagle, Wallace, the Sodor & Mainland, and Wellsworth & Suddery engines had already left for other railways since a handful of them knew about you." added James.

"Yes…" muttered Hiro. "I stayed in that siding for so many years up until Thomas found me.. But by then I had rusted parts that were slowly falling off of me. And weeds and branches were growing around me. And then… one day… I got a visitor."

"Like… from an animal? Like a deer?" asked James.

"No…" Hiro murmured, gulping. "It was… him…"


Flashback:

Hiro sat in his siding looking around the woods in the dead of night. He sighed heavily.

"Another day… another night… and another day with no parts… not from here or my old home…" Hiro said sadly.

He glanced up at the moon. The stars twinkled around it.

"Still… I cannot give up hope…" Hiro said, managing a smile. "Maybe someday I will be fixed after all…"

"Is that what you think?"

Hiro was surprised.

"Hello? Who said that?" he asked, looking around.

"You honestly think that the railway will want to fix an old out of date relic like you?"

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Hiro demanded.

Suddenly he heard puffing noises. Hiro looked ahead and gasped.

Puffing towards him was a large tender engine. He was blue with red stripes, with six large driving wheels, a short funnel and dome, and a five-digit number painted on the side of his cab and tender.

"Who are you?" Hiro asked.

"Who I am doesn't matter… but I do know about you, 'Master of the Railway'…" the engine smirked.

"You know me?" Hiro asked. "Have you come to bring me to the works?"

The engine chuckled. "On the contrary… I've seen you work on this island… you had a nice life… and then it all went down the hill when you broke down…" he smirked.

Hiro sighed. "Yes… that is true…" he admitted before smiling. "But I know my parts are coming! Sir Topham Hatt will eventually remember! I just know it!"

The engine laughed mockingly.

"What's so funny?" Hiro asked, confused.

"You honestly think Sir Topham Hatt cares about old, useless engines like you?" the engine said rudely. "Have you even seen yourself? You're old, rusty, and falling apart day by day. Honestly it's amazing how you're even still standing. Yet it's still sad and pathetic how you think help will come for you. The moment the Fat Controller sees you, he won't care about what title you once held. He'll just see you as scrap that must be melted down at the smelters, no use at all."

Hiro was hesitant to believe this strange engine. "H-How would you know that?" he asked.

The engine's face fell into a longing one, hints of anger.

"I once worked on this railway… I was one of the best engines Sodor had ever had, the pride of the North Western Railway…" He scowled. "But Sir Topham Hatt never cared about me… he saw me as useless because I was an old design… no longer important… no longer needed… so I was sent away… I was basically scrap to him…" He smirked. "Just like you…"

"No… no… no that's not true…" Hiro said, not wanting to believe it. "I know Sir Topham hatt would never do that. I can be useful!"

"Stay in denial all you want!" the engine mocked. "Your days are up Hiro… once Sir Topham Hatt sees you he'll sell you for scrap. The Master of the Railway will be no more. He wants really useful engines, not really broken ones. They can fix you all they want, but that won't change a thing. You're beyond repair, nothing more than a piece of scrap tangled in the weeds. You're second rate Hiro. And that's all you'll ever be. Don't want to face the scrapper's torch? It's better that you stay here and rot away."

Hiro looked down sadly. "No… I don't believe you…"

"Oh but you should!" the engine snapped, making Hiro jump. "We old engines are out of date relics in Sir Topham Hatt and his engines' eyes. Don't bother having hope Hiro. They'll see you scrapped the second they find you… and you'll never run on any railway ever again… mark my words! Bye bye 'Master of the Railway'!"

The engine laughed maniacally as he let out a large cloud of steam, blinding Hiro's vision. When it cleared, the engine was gone.

Hiro didn't know what to say. He felt his hope shatter. Was what the engine said true? Would Sir Topham Hatt really scrap him if he was found? Hiro didn't want to think about it… but the engine's words circled in his mind. And they would for a very long time… up until he was discovered by another blue engine, but one who was smaller… and kinder than that engine.

A familiar blue tank engine with the number 1 on his tanks.


Present:

Murdoch, Edward, and James stared at Hiro in shock.

"Bust my buffers…" breathed Edward.

"That… is quite a strange encounter…." said Murdoch.

"Well I think it's rude that that engine just left you there to rot! As if that wasn't bad enough. You didn't deserve that!" James said crossly.

"Hiro?" Edward asked softly. "What that engine said, wherever he came from… is that where you got the idea that Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't want a broken engine like you? That you would be scrapped right away if he even laid his eyes on you?"

"Yes." Hiro nodded sadly. "I don't usually let rude engines' words get to me like that… but because of the state of condition I was in… and given how long I was stuck in that siding… and the world was changing day by day… including the railway… I thought all hope truly was gone… that I would be scrapped the moment I was found."

Everyone gave Hiro sympathetic looks.

"Hiro… we're so sorry that happened to you." Murdoch said softly. "All those years in that siding feeling your hope shatter… and then that engine made you feel worse."

"No wonder you felt so traumatized when you went back to that line." James said sadly.

"It's true… all those memories of loneliness and despair came back to me." Hiro said. "And those engine's words haunted me for a while. Until Thomas and the rest of the Steam Team tried to fix me, and then when Victor, Kevin, and the others did as well."

"And you know what Hiro? We're happy that you're back up and running again." Murdoch said with a smile. "You're a strong, wise, friendly engine. And you work hard."

"You're basically a good friend to all of us." said James. "You take no nonsense from no one. And you're always willing to help out a friend in need."

"None of us regret helping you Hiro. And neither does Sir Topham Hatt. Whatever that engine said was just a load of rubbish." Edward added kindly. "You are a really useful engine Hiro. Master of the Railway. Never forget that."

Hiro smiled widely for the first time in a while. "Thank you my friends. I am happy to be in great working order every day being really useful. And I am happy that I have a place to call home on Sodor, a sanctuary to all locomotives."

"Sorry if I sounded harsh with you earlier the other day Hiro." James said with a slight wince.

"It's alright James my friend." Hiro said kindly.

"By the way, who was that engine who spoke to you?" asked Murdoch. "It does seem weird that he knew where you were and where to find you."

Hiro thought for a minute. "I didn't get a name… but I do remember his number." said Hiro. "It was written on the sides of his tender and cab. It was… 98462."

Edward gasped loudly. James looked at Hiro in shock. Murdoch was taken aback.

"Hiro… what did you say his number was?" Edward asked, not sure if he heard right.

"Uh… 98462." Hiro repeated, confused. "Why? Do you know him?"

Edward gave Hiro a stern expression. "I did know him… or at least used to." he said. "98462 came to this island on trial in 1922, alongside Henry and Crovan. Back then, Crovan went by his number, 87546. And 98462 was known as Alfred. And was painted LNER apple green with black and white stripes and a number 3 written on his cab and front bufferbeam. And he had the letters LNER on his tender. And let me tell you this Hiro… he was a really nasty engine."

"From what the engines told me he was a real piece of work that would make Devious Diesel or even an extra arrogant Spencer look like saints," added James.

Hiro was surprised. "Are you serious? What did he do?" he asked.

"He worked hard but could sometimes be reckless while he was showing off." Edward replied. "And he was very rude to all of us, especially me, Henry, Gordon, and even Thomas. Seems like Alfred's heritage and name went straight to his smokebox. 87546 was just as bad."


Flashback, 1922:

Henry was puffing down the line slowly with a passenger train when Alfred sped by with his own.

"Out of the way you useless green slug! More important engines have the right of way! Not a failed engine like you!" Alfred mocked.

"Bug off you big green weasel!" Henry barked back.

In the yards, 87546 puffed into platform 5 and saw Thomas shunting Edward's coaches.

"Hurry up and fetch my coaches you slow little engine!" he ordered.

"I have enough work to do already!" Thomas said crossly. "Either be patient or get them yourself!"

"Pah! Tender engines don't shunt!" 87546 retorted, sniffing at the mere thought.


Present:

"After he got into an accident with some fright cars, The Fat Director had his name nullified to his number and painted him sky blue with red stripes." Edward said.


1923:

Gordon was at platform 1 with the express when 98462 pulled up next to him.

"Try not to go too fast or you'll derail and look like an even bigger disgrace than you already are!" 98462 mocked.

"Oh bugger off you brute!" Gordon snapped back.

Gordon puffed away after the guard blew his whistle.

"At least I didn't have my LNER heritage taken away from me! I chose to be painted this way!" Gordon snarled.

98462 snarled.


1924:

Edward, Gordon, Henry, Eagle, 98462, and 87456 were all in the sheds.

"The driver won't choose you again little Edward." mocked 98462.

"Yeah! He wants strong engines like us!" said 87546.

"They do have a point." admitted Henry.

"We are the pride of the line after all." said Gordon,

Edward looked down sadly as Eagle scowled at them.

Some time later, Edward was hauling a freight train as 98462 whizzed by.

"Slow and out of date old iron! Sir Topham Hatt will eventually come to his senses and have you withdrawn from service!" he called, laughing.


Present:

"Bust my buffers… he did sound like a bad engine." Hiro said, shocked.

"I had heard the stories." Murdoch said. "Weren't they both sent away for their bad behavior?"

"87546 was in 1925, a little while before James came to Sodor. He was sent to the Mainland. His behavior was pretty much the same until it improved over time and he became a changed engine with the name Crovan." said Edward. He sighed. "But Alfred… well… before both those events, he was in a terrible accident caused by his own arrogance."

Images of 98462 pulling a train and going too fast, crashing into another train, fire and debris everywhere, flashed through Edward's head.

"I won't go into too much detail but it was pretty grim." Edward said. "The accident destroyed Alfred and he was sent for scrap."

"I see…" Hiro said.

"Hold on, how did you see Alfred in the forest if he was destroyed back in 1925?" Murdoch suddenly asked.

There was a long silence.

"I… don't know…" Hiro finally replied.

"Maybe it was all in your head?" suggested James.

"Or maybe it was his ghost." Edward said, his eyes narrowed.

"A ghost? You're joking, right Edward?" Murdoch asked.

"Well I had never met Alfred until I saw him in my siding." Hiro said. "So… perhaps I did."

"I dunno Hiro, are you sure you weren't seeing things back then?" James asked.

"I know what I saw James." Hiro said firmly. "It was all too real for me."

"So is Alfred's ghost on the island?" Murdoch asked.

"Well none of us have seen him." Edward said. "So I'm not sure." He then smiled. "I don't think we have anything to worry about. But more importantly, how do you feel Hiro?"

Hiro was silent before he smiled. "I feel much better. Edward, Murdoch, James, thank you very much for listening to me." he said thankfully.

The trio smiled.

"It's the least we can do Hiro." Murdoch said.

"After all, we can't have the Master of the Railway distracted from his work and be down in the dumps now can we?" smirked James.

Hiro was back to his old self. He didn't let his past time stuck broken down in the woods come back to haunt and deter him again. The engines were happy that Hiro was back to normal. And he had Murdoch, Edward, and James to thank for, giving him compassion, a small nudge in the right direction, and listening to him. No more traumatizing memories came to Hiro's mind. He really was back to being the Master of the Railway.


A week later, Hiro puffed into Vicarstown Station. He spotted a familiar blue tender engine. He saw the number 87546 on his tender. His eyes widened as he puffed up next to him.

"Hello. You're Crovan, correct?" Hiro asked.

The custom-built engine looked to his left at Hiro.

"Yes I am. And you're Hiro. The Master of the Railway." Crovan said.

"Listen, about what happened last week; I'm sorry for what happened." Hiro apologized. "I wasn't myself. Some bad memories had come back to my mind."

Crovan managed a smile. "It's alright. Bad memories are never pleasant. Especially when they come back to haunt you." he said.

"Indeed. And you know Crovan, Edward had mentioned to me about how you and another engine behaved when you first came to Sodor." Hiro added.

Crovan winced. "Yes I didn't have a good attitude when I was first built. While Alfred did influence me it was my choice in how I acted. But after I was sent to the Mainland, I had a chance to change my behavior." he said.

"I'm glad you did." Hiro said. "If only your former friend had himself… otherwise he might be alive today… and his spirit might not be haunting the rails…"

Crovan blinked. "Uh… I'm sorry… what?" he asked.

Hiro sighed and explained his story once more.

Crovan was surprised by the story but was sympathetic when it came to Hiro slowly losing hope after years of being abandoned and broken, and his apparent encounter with Alfred's ghost fueling his trauma.

"I'm sorry you had gone through all of that Hiro." Crovan said. "And if that really was Alfred haunting you out of spite and maliciousness, then I'm extra sorry." He then smiled. "But I wouldn't even listen to him. From what I've heard you are really useful and wise."

"Thank you Crovan." Hiro smiled. He paused for a moment. "Though I do hope that if it truly was Alfred's ghost, he won't come back."

"I doubt it. If he hasn't been seen in a really long time, I think he truly is staying dead and we'll be alright." Crovan said.

Hiro cheered up. "I suppose you're right." he said.

Unbeknownst to the two engines, in the center berth of Vicarstown Sheds, sat a large green LNER B12 engine, watching them with a wicked smirk on his face.

"I'm afraid you're wrong, old friend. I may be dead, but I'm not finished with what Sodor just yet…" Alfred said with a devilish grin. "I will return… and none of you engines or people will be ready for it.

Alfred then laughed maniacally as he disappeared into thin air.


CAST

(In Order of Appearance)

Hiro - EpicLafiteau

Thomas - JakerBraker123

Philip - EnterprisingEngine93

Murdoch - Jonathan Asiamah

Sir Topham Hatt - GreatNate8345

Peter - David Moyle

James - Andrew Homer

Victor - NWR58

Kevin - EnterprisingEngine93

Big Mickey - Kanefan701

Alfred/98462 - DarthWill3

Edward - EnterprisingEngine93

Rosie - RosietheCutie1995

Crovan/87546 - Thomas1Edward2Henry3

Henry - Thomas1Edward2Henry3

Gordon - Thomad1Edward2Henry3

Other voices by me

Peter created by WildNorWester

Alfred created by Richard Jordan

Crovan created by Thomas1Edward2Henry3


See you soon in the final story on Halloween!