7 - Duchess in Red
Green Arrow perked up at the sound of another engine entering the Steamworks.
Finally, a distraction from his boredom. He did so hate being stuck in the works alone and although Victor would talk to him he had grown tired of the small talk the little narrow gauge afforded him.
Oh, he did so hate small talk. It was just an empty conversation with nothing of value in his mind. It was tedious and distracted from the purpose of conversations and got in the way of what he wanted to speak to people about or nice intelligent conversations.
His mind required stimulation, not everyday hollow garbage.
He had never been good at it. It was why he liked Mallard when they had been friends.
Mallard did not care for stupid idle conversations and preferred to be upfront in person despite his double meanings and half-truths he often spoke well and his opinions on things were often thought-provoking. Mallard may have manipulated him and stolen his voice but in the end, Green Arrow had gotten the last laugh. The look on Mallard's face when Arrow had overpowered him and almost trapped him had been glorious.
Mallard had looked terrified of the V2 in that moment, something which almost made up for the many months of being voiceless and bullied by others.
Almost.
Arrow scowled and gave a humph as he remembered what Mallard had done to him, accidentally glaring at the engine that was entering the Steamworks. He quickly dropped the expression and put on a smile for the new engine.
To his surprise, he didn't recognise it at all. It wasn't from the GWR, LMS or the South. In fact, this engine looked completely foreign, not even from the United Kingdom. Its livery was a stunning bright green with golden stripes. His green looked very drab and dull compared to theirs.
"Hello," He greeted the engine as friendly as he could. "Who are you?"
He paused as he realised he had forgotten to introduce himself.
"I'm Green Arrow," he added mentally kicking himself for the horrid greeting.
The engine looked up at him and seemed upset, dried tears were on their cheeks and they looked worried. They did however see Arrow and seemed to brighten up, happy to see a new face.
"Oh hello, don't mind me," she sighed deeply. "I'm just having a moment."
"Oh right," Arrow looked away embarrassed. This engine was dealing with something personal it seemed and he had interrupted her. "I apologise for being rude."
"Rude? You weren't being rude, you were just saying hello," the bright green engine commented. She then introduced herself. "I'm Grey. I'm from Australia."
Green Arrow felt his interest perk up excitedly. He'd never met an engine from Australia before. Well, Pendennis had spent time there but the annoying castle class didn't count.
"Really? Australia! Wow!" Green Arrow was about to pepper the foreign engine with questions but Victor came up to greet the engine instead.
"Hello, my friend! We don't often get foreign engines within our walls! What brings you here?" He greeted Grey enthusiastically.
"I just need my brakes checked," Grey mumbled. "My driver is concerned I might have worn them down."
"Oh, I see, well let's have a look shall we?" Victor smiled brightly at Grey and she seemed to perk up. "Come along!"
Grey looked over at Green Arrow before moving off. She grinned at him, her previous glum expression melting away. Although her eyes still held some fear and anxiety.
"It was nice talking to ya mate! Let's catch up later yeah?" Grey smiled at him and Green Arrow grinned.
"I'd like that a lot!" He exclaimed enthusiastically. "A pleasure to meet you, Grey!"
He watched the green engine leave, noting her change in demeanour as she thought she had left his sight. She looked scared and anxious, Arrow couldn't help but wonder what was troubling the emerald green engine.
A loud bang distracted his thoughts and he jumped slightly, startled as the little mobile crane had come careening around and almost tipped itself, its load of metal plating spilling everywhere.
He honestly didn't know why Victor kept the clumsy thing around.
"Kevin!" He shouted angrily at the crane and scowled at him.
"So- sorry Mr Green Arrow sir!" Kevin apologised profusely.
Green Arrow just gave a tut of displeasure and resumed his train of thought as he stared up at the sky through the skylights in the Steamworks.
Stepney and Fenchurch tried their best to remain pleasant and welcoming to the new arrival. It was common to greet any engine, no matter if they were Steam or Diesel, tender or tank with pleasantries and make them feel welcome to the Bluebell. Captain Baxter had refused to come and greet her with the two Terrier's, not trusting himself to hold his tongue and not be quarrelsome with her.
Instead, Captain Baxter had decided to spend the rest of her stay with Class 09 and Bluebell as they worked behind the scenes and decided to gang up and bully Camelot. Fenchurch had wanted to join them but he hadn't felt comfortable leaving Stepney alone to greet the big bossy A4 that had come to visit.
As the two Terrier engines had dreaded, the A4 visitor had been Union and not another of the remaining A4s. Spencer was to arrive soon. He too had a pompous attitude, but he at the very least knew not to bad mouth the engines on his host railway. At least, not so maliciously as some of her other siblings.
"I see this place is still a poxy dump," the uptight-looking green A4 sneered, looking down her nose at the two little tank engines who glared at her. "Filled with insignificant little engines."
"We are not insignificant!" Fenchurch snapped angrily. "This railway is one of the most important in the history of steam engines!"
"Exactly, history," Union snapped snootily. "Full of old relics and ridiculous dreams."
Stepney and Fenchurch glanced at each other. In all honesty, they'd rather have Mallard visiting them. Mallard was rude, arrogant and brash, but he wasn't as 'hateful' and venomous as his sister. He had at least some respect for his hosts as opposed to this spoilt and entitled lady of a sister.
Stepney heard Ms Balgair give a sharp intake of air from within his cab.
Silver Fox had never liked her younger sister. Union had always been rude and abrasive to everyone except those she deemed 'worthy' of her attention. As a result, she clung to those of fame and power in her eyes, always grovelling at the likes of them. Engines like Quicksilver, Silver King, Sir Nigel and Great Northern but especially Mallard.
Union always held Mallard in the highest regard. Always wanting to be the best friend of the fastest engine in the world and always looking down on those 'beneath them'.
Unluckily for her, Mallard had always found Union a tiresome and annoying engine and refused to give her the time of day despite her constantly showering him with compliments and praise.
Mallard by all accounts found her 'fake' and 'tiresome' and did not like spending time with her at all from what Silver Fox had seen of their interactions.
It was probably why now, upon seeing Mallard's lifeless shell, the Union had decided to become even more bossy and insufferable to everyone around her, clearly thinking that she was Mallard's replacement.
"Lady Chantelle," Stepney attempted to be diplomatic to the puffed up. "While we are obligated to welcome you and provide for your needs during your stay with us, we won't tolerate disrespect or harassment. I have spoken to Sir Nigel and he is more than happy to replace you if you insist on being antagonistic towards us."
The green A4 looked most displeased and annoyed.
"I will not be talked down to by a silly little engine like you!" Union snapped snootily. "And I did not give you permission to use my name!"
"Oh give over!" Fenchurch barked at her, tired of the A4 Pacific already. "You're not a Great Western, don't act like your name has some kind of magical power like those superstitious, classist idiots!"
"I will not have it spoken by the 'working class engines'!" Union scoffed.
"I see Clun Castle's unpleasantness has rubbed off on you little sister," a voice suddenly called to her and Union immediately glared at the Silver A4 who had started rolling into the yard. "It is most unbecoming. Clun Castle is such a trashy partner, so unfitting for an A4 such as yourself. You could have at least chosen a King to be in a relationship with if you wanted someone from the Great Western!"
"Mind your damn buisness brother!" Union hissed at him but Spencer just rolled his eyes. Of all their siblings that had been preserved, Union was the most uncouth one. She was also the most gullible.
"You know that little Great Western Castle is just using you for clout?" Spencer advised but Chantelle was having none of it. "Like how you were using Mallard for attention. Mallard didn't even like you!"
"Enough of this!" Chantelle shrieked shrilly. "I am going to find the Railway Controller of this dump and get away from you, you silver stain!"
Spencer sighed and watched as the Green A4 stormed of in a furious cloud of steam, blasting the two Terrier's with her steam indignantly. Fenchurch shouted a bunch of expletives at her while Stepney just sat on his platform worried.
"I do apologise," Spencer offered as he turned his attention to the two little tank engines. "She is an engine unbefitting her name. It takes a special kind of personality for even Mallard to want nothing to do with you."
"Yeah, we can tell," Fenchurch blurted out. "Rude, uncouth bi-"
"It's wonderful to see you again Silver Link!" Stepney cheerily cut his brother off.
"Please, it's Spencer now," Spencer corrected. "I haven't been Silver Link for over 50 years. Everyone who knew me by that name is gone."
"You'll always be Silver Link to me big brother," Ms Balgnair called to the large silver engine as she stepped out of Stepney's cab and stood on the platform next to him.
Spencer's eyes lit up with delight as he laid eyes on his little sister.
It was Silver Fox's soul, preserved in a human body, long after her engine had but cut up and scrapped.
"Little Fox," he greeted her, his face softening and his eyes full of adoration. "It's been a long time. I hope you didn't miss me too much?"
Ms Balgnair gave a soft giggle and smiled brightly at Spencer.
"I often visit Sir Nigel, he lets me be his engineer sometimes," Ms Balgnair informed him. "Although I must admit that I don't particularly like being his engineer. It makes me miss being an engine."
"Ah I see, that explains why you always turn down my offers to be my driver," Spencer realised and Ms Balgnair nodded at him.
"It was never anything personal," She said apologetically. "I know that you've felt like I've been avoiding you but I really haven't."
Spencer gazed at Ms Balgnair or Silver Fox as she looked quite sad. She was lying. Spencer knew very well when his little sister was lying to him.
"I honestly thought that it was because of the three of us being overbearing towards you," Spencer admitted and Silver Fox shook her head.
"At first it was," she admitted. "But as the years wore on and I began to miss Mercury and King, I realised that being on the footplate of one of our siblings just made me depressed, always being reminded of them."
Spencer watched, sadness in her gaze as Silver Fox wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Little Fox…" He tried to comfort her but she turned away and turned her attention to Stepney.
An idea flew into his funnel. Flying Scotsman had been Silver Fox's warden during her time at the Top Sheds of Kings Cross. Maybe she could find comfort in him.
"Well, Little Fox, Flying Scotsman is still very much active and around," Spencer suggested. "Why don't you confide in him? He's now very aware of how Gold Dust works and has a human form of his own-"
"I wish everyone would stop bringing him up!" Silver Fox suddenly shouted angrily, whirling on her heel to glare at Spencer.
"I-" Spencer stammered, taken aback by his sister's sudden fury. "I was just trying to be helpful, Little Fox."
"Well you're not!" Silver Fox shouted at him. "And it's Silver Fox! Not Little Fox!"
"I'm sorry!" Spencer called to Silver Fox as she turned heel and stormed away, going back into the station, people standing around on the platform watching on in confusion.
"I didn't mean to offend her, I- I don't really know how I did!" Spencer exclaimed to the two Terrier's who had been watching equally confused.
"We… don't know either," Fenchurch admitted to Spencer.
"I asked if Scotsman was coming here for his anniversary tour and she became very evasive," Stepney added. "We're not entirely sure why. She went to work on Rooster's farm up in Scotland the last few times he came here. I do think she's actively avoiding him."
Spencer looked away from the little Tank engines and stared at the station thoughtfully.
He should talk to Flying Scotsman about it. He frowned.
"I'm sure she has her reasons," was all Spencer contemplatively. "Excuse me."
The two Terriers looked at one another.
"It's going to be one hell of a Gala, I'll tell you that!" Fenchurch muttered to Stepney.
The other Terrier began to pull away as his Orche-coloured brother watched him leave.
It certainly was, Stepney mused to himself quietly.
Duchess of Hamilton was a very proper engine. One who demanded the best from the class's under the mighty Coronations and defended her Sisters down to the frames.
To the LMS, the class you were a part of was your family and your family you protected and loved unconditionally. Even if they were an annoying little sister as the City of Birmingham often was.
So it was often bewildering to her to see how the LNER engines fought between themselves, gossip of their family drama always at the forefront of some stupid event.
That wasn't to say that the LMS classes didn't have drama, it certainly happened of course. But every other week there seemed to be something dramatic going on between the LNER engines.
She secretly loved it, she'd never tell them of course. She was above that and she wanted no part of their ridiculous and constant problems.
She hummed to herself quietly, not minding the people milling about the museum as always they were easy to ignore.
However, Mallard's cold, soulless shell standing next to her across the hall was a little less easy to ignore.
She had never really been friends with Mallard. They didn't really talk, Hamilton finding Mallard's way of talking and his snide ways unsettling. Occasionally they would, Mallard asking if she wished to run again, to see the birds outside and to breathe the fresh air and burn fresh coal.
Mallard had always sounded distant and not himself in those moments. Like he was having brief glimmers of his soulful, younger self amid his proclamations of his superiority and boastfulness.
It made her wonder if there was something gentle and kind in that otherwise obnoxious and self-absorbed engine.
Her attention was drawn to an engine approaching them, one that Hamilton had never seen before but was very excited to meet.
The Young Iron, Tornado, was slowly making her way into the Great Hall towards her. Flying Scotsman had obviously sent her, her way after Hamilton had implored to meet his young ward.
The young express engine didn't look very happy though. She looked very sulky and was pouting like a child. Poor dear.
The young Pacific seemed to pause and look over to Mallard, staring at the empty blue engine for a long while, deep in thought.
Hamilton let her think for a little while before she cleared her throat softly and Tornado seemed to break her train of thought and look at her.
"Hello Duchess," Tornado greeted her, her voice sounding downtrodden and sombre.
"Hello, young one," the Duchess of Hamilton smiled warmly at her. "You look quite sad. Is everything okay?"
"I guess," Tornado mumbled before giving a deep sigh. "There's just a lot on my mind, Duchess."
"Oh I don't mind," Lady Hamilton smiled at her kindly. "Please Tornado, call me Hamilton. Saves the confusion between my sisters and myself."
"Oh, okay Lady Hamilton," Tornado exclaimed completely disinterested in their conversation and Hamilton frowned.
"Young Tornado, while I don't mind, please be aware that you are being quite rude, some other engines here may not be as understanding about your lack of interest in them," Hamilton informed the young engine and Tornao immediately became alert and sat up higher on her frames.
"I'm sorry Lady Hamilton I didn't mean to be rude!" The young engine immediately apologised to the red engine.
Lady Hamilton just gave a soft hum of contemplation.
"Tell me what troubles you young one," she inquired and Tornado stared at her.
"No offence but I don't even know you, Lady Hamilton," she pointed out.
"Ah well, you do have a point young one," Hamilton mused. "But forgive me, I couldn't help but notice your attention drawn to Mallard."
Tornado looked over at the large blue that sat silent and lifeless next to the Duchess of Hamilton. Confusion and regret crossed her face.
"Flying Scotsman is upset that Mallard is gone, despite the fact Mallard tried to scrap him several times," Tornado revealed. "I'm struggling to understand. After everything, why does he still have hope for Mallard?"
Hamilton glanced at Mallard's empty shell for a moment before looking back at the Young Iron. She looked quite sad and down on herself.
"Flying Scotsman is a gentle soul," Hamilton explained. "Even to those who he has had issues with. But as I understand it, Scotsman does not entirely blame Mallard for what happened. He blames himself for not actively trying to keep Great Northern away from him, for not realising Mallard was afflicted with black smoke. As I understand, Scotsman himself is the one who severed Mallard's soul from his engine as a last resort. Can you imagine the guilt that would cause someone, young iron?"
Tornado seemed to recognise the weight of what Hamilton was saying and lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Then… why is Scotsman being so unfair to me?" She asked. "I thought he was just lashing out because he was still upset about Mallard."
"Unfair to you? How is he being unfair?"
"He banned me from seeing Evening Star after I was just trying to help her!" She suddenly shouted startling a few of the museum patrons before quickly apologising.
The Duchess of Hamilton gave a soft hum, thinking for a while before turning back to Tornado.
"Did you do anything to upset Evening Star?" She finally asked her.
"I don't think I did- I mean, she did shunt me but-"
"Ah, I see," Hamilton realised. "Evening Star does not like others touching her or being close to her when there is no reason to be. Scotsman may have felt that you were antagonising her and acted accordingly."
"But I wasn't antagonising her!" Tornado complained. "I was just trying to help!"
"I know that Tornado," Hamilton assured the Peppercorn. "By all accounts, you are a helpful and delightful engine willing to help anyone in need."
Tornado seemed to brighten up at Hamilton's words.
"But sometimes, people don't want help, especially from people who they barely know. Imagine if some strange engine came up to you and began telling you what to do or helping you when you didn't want them to, wouldn't you be annoyed at that?" Hamilton explained and Tornado realised what the large red engine was saying.
"Oh," she mumbled. "I guess I was just being rude and bossy to her."
"Perhaps," Hamilton hesitated. "I wasn't there so I don't know what happened. But I do know Evening Star. She is quite lovely company. She has her ways and they're quite endearing, I adore her very much. Such a shame she was bullied into being mute."
"I should go and apologise to her," Tornado muttered and Hamilton gave another soft hum.
"Most probably, but you best hurry though," Hamilton warned. "She's off to Sodor later tonight with Blue Peter."
Tornado started scowling at the mention of Blue Peter.
"You don't like your cousin now do you?" The Coronation observed.
"He's an asshole!" Tornado seethed and Hamilton tutted.
"Language young lady!" She admonished and Tornado frowned.
"He is though! He keeps making fun of me!"
"That is not an excuse to use bad language in the Great Hall," Hamilton huffed and Tornado blushed.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'm just, upset at Blue Peter. He was so nice to me but then all of a sudden, he just started being nasty to me. He left me in the middle of a busy junction when I was first out of the shed and I didn't know-"
Tornado paused and looked away from Hamilton. The large LMS Coronation simply waited patiently for Tornado to collect her thoughts.
"I don't know what I did wrong, did I upset him somehow?" Tornado asked looking back and Lady Hamilton but then stopped. "I'm sorry, I just met you, I shouldn't dump this on someone I just met."
"Oh, it's perfectly fine Young Tornado!" Hamilton assured the young engine. "But if I may, some advice to your problem concerning Blue Peter."
"Um, yes please Lady Hamilton," Tornado enthused. She had wanted answers for Blue Peter's actions for so long.
"I would suggest that you look into Blue Peter's history, you might find your answers there," Hamilton advised and Tornado gazed at her thoughtfully.
"I-I'll look into it," Tornado smiled at the Coronation and Hamilton beamed.
"I hope you find the answers you're looking for," the red engine finished.
"I hope so too."
Rebecca was coming back from Barrow-in-Furness when she met Gordon who had pulled in with the evening run of the express.
He was looking a lot chirper and pleased.
"Pulling the express again?" Rebecca asked pointedly and Gordon grinned.
"As I should," he beamed. "And I didn't get stuck on my hill, unlike that ridiculous Australian engine!"
Rebecca pursed her lips and a worried look appeared on her face.
"I met her earlier today and she didn't look okay," Rebecca told him concerned. "When she pulled in this morning, she was very distressed, she was very nice but... She had a panic attack when I mentioned the hill. She looked completely terrified."
"Probably not used to the snow," Gordon tried to blow off dismissively but Rebecca didn't look convinced. "They don't have snow in Australia. It's all desert isn't it?"
"Gordon," Rebecca frowned. "She had a panic attack, it's not something that should be dismissed. Something really got to her."
Gordon gave a deep sigh and looked at his buffers guiltily. The fact he had left Grey on that incline had been playing at him all day. He'd been angry and furious at the Australian engine, yes, but it hadn't been an excuse to just leave her there while she was stuck.
She'd probably thrown those insults at him under duress. She didn't seem like the type of engine to just be truly malicious out of nowhere.
"I may have… left her while she was stuck on my hill," he admitted and Rebecca stared at him in shock.
"Gordon! How could you!"
"She was rude and uncouth!"
"That's just how some Australians are!" Rebecca scolded. "Don't you remember how different Pendennis Castle was when he came back?"
Gordon frowned. Pendennis had acted extremely differently when he had first arrived back. Even now, some of that brash upfront attitude Pendennis had came through especially when he was with his friend Trojan.
Gordon closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
"There I go again with my stupid ego," Gordon cursed himself. His pride often got in the way of his good intentions and interactions with others. Now it had hurt an engine he had barely known, not even for a day.
"You should apologise!" Rebecca insisted and Gordon gazed at Rebecca reflectively.
"Yes, I should," he agreed.
"You need to stop picking on people!" Rebecca scolded. "Especially engines you barely know. Don't you remember how rude you were to me when I first came here?"
Gordon heaved a great sigh and looked away from the Bullied Spamcan.
"I know," he explained contemplatively. "But for the longest time, the express was the only thing that made me feel like I was worth something. I- I find it hard to let go of something that for the longest time, was my entire identity."
Rebecca gazed at the big blue Pacific understandingly.
"Maybe you should tell Grey that when you apologise?" She suggested. "From what little we reacted, Grey seemed very friendly and open, even while distressed."
Gordon gave a sigh of regret.
"Well, this is my last train for the day, I should probably go and find her," he declared determined to find her. "Do you know where she is now?"
"She went to the Steamworks last I heard, they were worried about her wearing down her brakes," Rebecca explained and Gordon's brow furrowed in concern.
"Wearing down her brakes?"
"She was so anxious that she was half applying them a lot of the time during her express run according to the stationmaster," Rebecca frowned.
"She was applying them while running?!" Gordon was alarmed. The Express was too long a distance to be even applying the brakes even slightly for a part of the way let alone most of the way.
Rebecca hummed thoughtfully. "I'll be honest, I don't think Scotsman will be pleased to hear that you abandoned his Australian friend."
Gordon didn't hear her however, he was already racing down the line, racing off to find the foreign engine.
There was the rattling and clanging of metal as the P2 Prince of Wales shook his frames in protest, his face screwed up tight and an enormous pouty face across his smokebox door. Tools that had been lying on the flat surfaces of his half-built engine flew everywhere and scattered over the floor of the workshop.
The sound of dropping tools and the squeaking of him manipulating his frame brought the head engineer, Iain, running, a large man at his heels, fearing some kind of accident had happened.
Instead, he found a lot of the volunteers all standing clear of their half-finished engine and looking deeply annoyed at said engine who was sitting in the middle of the workshop with a huge pout on his face.
"What happened?" Iain asked deeply concerned. "Is everyone alright?"
"I want Tornado!" The P2 suddenly shouted angrily. "Where is Tornado? I want her! I want her now!"
"Charlie-," Iain began as he looked to one of the technicians.
"Tornado's been gone for over a day, he's never been apart from her for that long. He started throwing a tantrum when we told him she might not be back for the next month," the technician explained.
"I want my big sister!" Charlie shouted impertinently. "I want her NOW!"
"She needs to be out so she can make money to get you up and running," Iain tried to explain but the P2 refused to listen, instead turning his nose up at him and them huffing indignantly.
"I don't care! I want 'Nado!" The baby engine blubbered.
Iain was about to speak when the larger man who had been following him suddenly stepped forward and approached the baby engine currently throwing a tantrum.
"Hey now big fella, do yer think that Tornado would be proud of yer screamin' and carryin' on like you are now?" The man called to him and Charlie sniffed and looked down at the man.
His expression was a mix of confusion, anger and sadness.
"I uh, I uh, who are you?!" The large unfinished P2 demanded annoyed that he wasn't Tornado.
"Well little lad, I'm the original P2, Cock O' the North. The engine you're based on," the man introduced himself and Charlie eyed the man up and down critically.
He was extremely tall, taller than any other human he'd ever seen before. He towered at least a foot over Iain who himself was already quite a large man.
"You're not an engine!" Charlie argued rudely. "You're just a man!"
The man gave a chuckle and waved his hands dismissively.
"So I am, how strange," he exclaimed jokingly. "Yer know I came all the way from Scotland to see my little brother only te see 'im throwin' a tantrum. I thought P2s were brave engines, fearless and strong!"
Charlie looked away from the man. He didn't feel fearless and strong. He was frightened, he wanted Tornado. Tornado kept him safe from the spooky things outside his shed.
"I don't feel brave or strong," Charlie whimpered. "Nado is the strong, brave one. She keeps the scary things away from me."
The man, Cock O' the North, chuckled and patted his buffer beam reassuringly. .
"No my lad, you're a strong boy! Just think how proud Tornado would be once she 'ears that yer managed to stay in the shed all by yourself for a whole month! Don' yer want to impress yer big sister?"
Charlie seemed to brighten slightly at the man's words. He did want to impress his big sister. If he impressed his big sister then maybe she would take him on one of her trips into the outside world.
"Do you think 'Nado will take me on a trip outside of the shed if I impress her Mr Cock 'O the North?" Charlie asked the man and the man nodded to him.
"Most certainly baby Charlie," he smiled at the young engine. "You can call me Rooster little Shrimp."
"I'm not a baby!" Charlie pouted and Rooster laughed. "What's a shrimp?!"
"Then why were yer just throwing a tantrum hmm?" He queried and Charlie's cheeks grew red with embarrassment.
Charlie didn't have a comeback for that and chose to ignore it and instead ask the man something else to distract him.
"What's a shrimp?" he asked again.
"Have yer ever heard or seen an engine called the Flying Scotsman?"
"I've only seen pictures of him," Charlie explained. "He's Tornado's mentor."
"Aye, that be a shrimp laddie," Rooster insisted much to the chagrin of Iain.
"No, no, Flying Scotsman is not a shrimp-" He tried to interject but Charlie had already clung to the idea that Rooster had given him.
"The Flying Shrimp!" Charlie squealed and Rooster burst out laughing as Iain put his face in his hands exasperated.
"You can't teach Charlie to call Scotsman names!" Iain argued but Rooster just smirked at him.
"I can and I will," Rooster boomed loudly. "Charlie here is supposed to carry on my legacy and I'll see to that how I please thank you very much!"
Iain frowned and glared at Rooster but the large man didn't care as his attention turned to Charlie, the baby engine now smitten with him.
"I told you bringing Rooster in too early to meet Charlie was a mistake!" one of the other volunteers pointed out to Iain and he just shook his head in despair.
Tydfil had managed to avoid any other engines when she had been put back on trains. She had a stern talking to by Sir Topham Hatt which had made her feel awful.
Clun Castle had praised her though, giving her courage to do her jobs. Maybe the castle class wasn't so bad as her first impression. She was at the very least nice to her and wasn't giving her criticism every other second.
As she made her way down Edward's branch line to Brendam Docks, she passed the site of the accident. The displaced ballast had been replaced and the shrapnel that had been ripped from Green Arrow was now gone.
She looked around nervously as she felt Victoria and Neil almost pause, making extremely sure that she would pass the site with no issues. She bit her lip as anxiety began to creep into her boiler but she otherwise passed the spot in the track without incident.
"Everything all good?" Victoria asked the engine and Tydfil glanced back at the tracks.
"Ye-yes all good!" Tydfil stammered unsure not convincing her driver or her fireman.
"Tydfil," Victoria pressured and Tydfil gave a little whimper.
"I'm still nervous about my accident, okay," she explained in a quiet voice.
"It's alright Tyfil," Victoria soothed the engine. "Over time it will pass and you'll be alright."
Tydfil said nothing, she just chuffed along silently. She didn't really have anything to say. She knew her driver was right of course but it's didn't make the anxiety pass.
She was afraid the voice would come back but it hadn't spoken since warning her away from Clun Castle.
Eventually, Tydfil arrived at Brendam Docks, the dockyards awash with engines bustling about and going about their business. She had hoped that the docks would be quiet but this was the busiest she'd even seen them.
She looked down and tried not to make eye contact with any other engines that where shuffling about their jobs. So much so that she didn't look where she was going and gently bumped into the buffers of another engine.
She turned white and looked up at the engine apologising profusely.
"I'm sorry- sorry!" She stammered. She didn't want to be in trouble again. She didn't want to be locked away in a shed.
The engine in question was an LMS tank engine in deep maroon with gold lining. He had a kind face and a pointed nose and he didn't look at all like he minded.
"It's okay miss! No trouble at all!" The engine smiled at her. "We are super busy today, there's not much room to get around!"
Tydfil looked at him. She wanted to be snarky but refrained from doing so. This little tank engine at least seemed nice, despite the fact he stunk of fish.
"Oh! Ms Tydfil! It's good to see you again!" A loud voice boomed and both engines looked over to see the huge imposing frame of Murdoch towering over them as he waited for his long goods train. "I see you've met Arthur!"
Tydfil looked back at the little Ivatt tank engine who grinned at her.
"Yep that's me, Arthur at your service ma'am," Arthur introduced himself cheerily.
"Hello, Arthur," Tydfil greeted him unsure. "Sir Topham sent to the docks but… I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing here."
"Oh, that's alright! You can wait here while your crew radios the foreman!" Murdoch explained. "It's nice to have a new face around here, it gets annoying having to listen to Cranky be, well cranky."
"Hey now!" The crane called but he was ignored.
"Oh um, thank you!" Tydfil was surprised at how helpful the huge engine and the little tank engine were. She had met Murdoch before after he had defended her from King Edward II but since then she hadn't seen the engine.
She cast her eyes down as her crew were preoccupied and the other two engines began to talk.
"You seem weirdly happy today Murdoch," Arthur frowned at him.
"I just found out my sister's coming to work here so of course, I am!"
"Ah lucky you! I wish my brothers would come over to visit me from the Isle of Wight but it's far and it is what it is you know?"
"Yeah, I know-"
"Why are you being so nice to me!?" Tydfil suddenly shouted at the two engines who glanced back at her surprised.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Arthur asked confused with a glance at Murdoch.
"I caused a serious accident! I'm a hazard on the railway!" Lady of Legend shouted.
Arthur gazed at the young engine sympathetically.
"We… we've all had minor accidents or mishaps, Ms Tydfil," he assured her. "I used to have the cleanest record of any engine. I was always anxious about spoiling my spotless record but then…"
"Arthur here slammed into the back of a train," Murdoch cut in. "It wasn't his fault but he looked like a right goose."
"I felt like one too," Arthur muttered. "But what I'm trying to say is, we won't judge you for having an accident. We won't make fun of you for it either."
"And if anyone does you can come to me and I'll sort them out for you!" Murdoch offered and Tydfil couldn't help but give a small smile at the huge 9f's enthusiasm. She looked at both of the engines who were giving her encouraging looks. She did feel slightly better.
"Thank you," she smiled at them. "I feel a little better."
Arthur beamed, delighted.
"Welcome to the team Ms Tydfil!" He announced happily.
Maybe things would be alright after all, Tydfil thought to herself.
Gordon was racing towards the Steamworks as fast as he could. He had to make amends with the Australian Pacific.
She seemed a lovely engine if a bit, blunt and uncouth. He also didn't want the Fat Controller to chastise him and order him to apologise to Grey.
He knew what he had done wrong. He wanted to fix things before the man ordered him to. Show him that he'd seen the error of his ways and not given the Controller a problem to deal with.
As he rounded a bend he was shocked to find the large green and gold diesel speeding towards him, a furious expression on his face.
"YOU!" The Australian diesel thundered as he squared up to Gordon. "I want a word with you, you flashy cunt!"
Gordon screamed in shock as he tried to brake, Gold showed no fear as he charged right at him barely managing to stop as Gordon himself came to a halt, only a few feet between them.
"What are you doing? Are you insane!" Gordon shouted furiously at him but Gold was having none of it, instead closing the gap between them and slamming hard into Gordon making him jump back down the line slightly.
"Do you have any idea how many years of trauma Grey went through you, careless idiot!" Gold shouted at him furiously. "Do you have any idea how broken she was after her accident? After what happened to her?!"
"Accident?! What accident?" Gordon spluttered completely confused. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Gold fumed, and glared at the big blue engine, surveying him with a critical eye. Gold seemed to realise that Gordon had no idea what he was referring to and backed off.
"Tell me Big Blue, you ever lost some of your passengers in an accident?" The diesel asked and Gordon puffed himself up proudly on his frames.
"I am pleased to say that I have not," the blue Pacific exclaimed proudly.
Gold narrowed his eyes. "And what if you had hmm? Do you think you'd ever forgive yourself even if it wasn't your fault?"
Gordon stopped and his proud smile immediately faded, realising what Gold was saying.
"Oh," Gordon looked ashamed of himself as the diesel glared at him.
"Follow me," Gold snapped. "It's important you understand."
Gordon didn't protest, following the diesel as he backed down the line, Gold's glare never once moving from Gordon's face as he stared into his very soul.
Just when you thought Mallard was the worst A4 of them, devouring the souls of other engines and kidnapping them, here comes Union who wants to speak to the Railway Controller right now if you please you, peasant.
Also for clarification:
Mercury = Quicksilver
King = Silver King
There are too many Kings up in here.
For updates, extra lore or to ask questions or discuss the fic, you can find me on tornadoyoungiron tumblr
There is also a Tumblr where you can directly ask the characters of this story at Ask Young Iron