22 - Another Perspective
Mallard wasn't sure where he was going or where he was headed. He only had his wits and instincts about him as he travelled beside the tracks. He had no idea where he was but he assumed he was still in the United Kingdom.
The air smelt familiar and springtime was well and truly in the air. Small animals and patches of flowers added colour to the otherwise very green countryside.
He pressed onwards, following his instincts and heading towards the direction that called to him. He was unsure what called to him but he trusted himself. Herbert seemed to as well, no nips or protests and so he took it as a sign of fortune.
"Oi, you!" A loud voice shouted and although he was startled, Mallard did not screamed in offence at the speaker. Instead, he slowly turned to find a small little green saddle tank approaching him, the stoker hanging out of the window glaring in his direction. "Get off the tracks you damn trespasser! It ain't worth risking a damn photo with your life!"
Mallard raised an eyebrow and eyed the man curiously before glaring at him. Why on earth would he want a photo of such an insignificant engine like this one?
"Do I look like one of those idiots?" He demanded. "I clearly have no camera on me."
"It doesn't matter, you're still trespassing on railway property!" The man snarled. "Get out of here! Get lost!"
Mallard almost bit his tongue. How dare this man talk to him as if he was a stray dog. The man had a point however and yelling back at him would not be an excellent way to handle this.
"I understand that but I got lost," Mallard put his most diplomatic voice on. He wanted his lie to sound convincing to this simpleton. "I was in the woods when I lost my way. I searched for landmarks and happened upon these tracks. They're well used so I decided to follow them as they must lead to a station."
The lie rolled off his tongue so easily, so well-spoken that Mallard might have even convinced himself with such words. It scared him how naturally he was able to lie. The stoker didn't look convinced but the little green engine was looking at him curiously. Herbert cawed at him loudly and seemed fascinated by the engine
"You're very well dressed," the engine chirped. "You look like a fox hunter. I like your bird."
Mallard looked at his clothes and frowned as Herbert ruffled his feathers proudly, approving of the little engine's comments.
"I suppose… I do," he agreed.
"Are you a lord of some kind?" He asked and Mallard wanted to say that yes, he was, but that would probably make his mission a little more complicated than it needed to be.
"I am not, I just got lost and I am trying to find the nearest station," Mallard nodded to the engine. "Might I ask for a lift so I may return home? My family must be worried about me."
"Why don't you hitch a ride with me, mister!" The little green engine exclaimed brightly. "We can take you to Ffarquharr!"
"Percy-" his driver sternly warned but he was ignored.
"The station is miles away and he could be hit by Toby or Mavis or Bear," the little green saddle tank argued.
The stoker looked resistant but gave a defeated sigh and motioned for Mallard to step aboard. Mallard gave a small smirk but it was soon wiped off his face when a shovel was thrust into his chest.
He stared at the fireman incredulously while Herbert settled at the back of the cab and seemed to be eyeing the controls of the little engine with great curiosity.
"Don't be lookin' at me like that, this lift ain't free," he growled and Mallard had the mind to snap back at him. "Start shovelling laddie."
Mallard stared blankly at the saddletank's controls. He'd never been on this side of, well, it was entirely bizarre. He knew what having coal shovelled into his firebox felt like but this was entirely different.
The Fireman seemed annoyed and pointed at the bunker where coal was spilling out.
"Take that coal from there into here," the man gruffly ordered with a quick stamp on the lever to open the fire door.
A rush of heat almost knocked him off his feet but he held firm and looked back and forth. Him, a fireman? He thought not-
"You want a lift or not?" The driver snapped at him irritated and Herbert gave an equally irritated caw. Seemed his raven friend had turned against him. He blew on his feathers and Herbert nipped him in response. Mallard just rolled his eyes annoyed.
"Fine," he gritted his teeth and began to shovel the coal into the firebox.
"See, not so hard, a monkey could do it," the Fireman chided him. "I'm Eugene by the way and the driver's, Chance."
Mallard just gave them a nod in response, wholly focused on his task. He knew how important levelling the coal was, making sure no one side was higher than the other. He always hated it when fireman tended to make piles instead of making sure his entire firebox was covered and would often snap at them for doing so.
He found that despite himself, he was enjoying this. Working again made him feel good even if he wasn't in his engine. Working an engine made him feel a bit closer to who he truly was.
"Have you done this before?" Chance asked suddenly. "Haven't seen Percy steam this well in a while. No offence Gene."
Mallard paused, needing to catch his breath. He sighed and looked back at Chance.
"Not for a long time," he lied. Well, technically it wasn't a lie he guessed, but still.
"We can tell," Eugene chuckled and grasped the shovel back. "You're out of it already. Percy's only a little, imagine doing that for a Black 5 or Mallard doing his record run."
Mallard froze and spluttered at the mention of his name but he was ignored.
"You know, people like to credit the engines, which is fair they deserve it, but us crews don't get our dues as often as we'd like you know?" Chance remarked and Mallard stared at the fire door as it opened and closed.
His mind drifted to Joseph and Thomas, the two who had crewed him on that fateful run. The amount of work the two of them had had to do, to push not only him but themselves… he hadn't gone two miles shovelling coal into this small engine without needing to stop.
"Thank you," he found himself saying and the little engine crew looked at him.
"Ay?" Eugene looked at him confused.
"For showing me this, it's given me a new perspective," Mallard clarified and he gave them a slight nod.
The both of them seemed confused but otherwise acknowledged him.
"No problem."
"Green Peter," the mocking voice called to the Peppercorn and said A2 wheeshed stream in anger. He cast his gaze over to the small diminutive mixed traffic engine that was quietly loitering around Ulfstead Castle.
"Silver-tongued menace!" Blue Peter snarled back and Green Arrow just grinned at him smugly.
"I guess I can be at times," the V2 grinned. "How goes it Green Peter- Actually no, I'd rather not share a name with someone who tried to kill my best friend."
Blue Peter frowned at Green Arrow who was now glaring at him, his eyes full of disgust. Something not really seen in the V2's eyes unless it was for someone he truly disliked.
"I did not try to kill your best friend," Blue Peter retorted angrily.
"You tried to snuff out her soul, you tried to take her away from her friends and family," Green Arrow scolded. "All because you can't let go of the past."
"Saint Mungo is supposed to be here! Not her!" The Peppercorn shouted at her furiously. "He was supposed to be preserved! And he got murdered by that- that monstrous duck!"
Green Arrow stared at Blue Peter. He was angry that this engine was trying to take Tornado away from those who loved her, but, he knew Blue Peter's insane reasoning behind it. It didn't make it any more justified however.
"And what about Tornado's friends and family hmmm?" Arrow pointed out. "She has Gresley's, Stanier's, Bullied's for family and she's famous worldwide now. How do you think the world would react to you if they found out you'd murdered a young engine because you're a selfish prick who can't see anything beyond his smoke deflectors?"
The Peppercorn seemed to freeze in place and fall silent. He'd never thought about it like that.
"It doesn't matter! They're not a part of our history!" He stumbled over his words and Green Arrow narrowed his eyes.
"'They're'? I was only referring to Tornado," Arrow pointed out and Blue Peter inwardly cursed himself. "You trying to play games with the little Great Western too? Treacherous aren't you, not worthy of the name Peppercorn."
"Oh shut up!" Blue Peter snapped. "You know nothing about the Peppercorn family! You're just a goods engine!"
"Well technically I'm an express engine too and a Gresley at that," Arrow reminded him smugly. "No matter what Gordon thinks of me, I too am an express engine and as an express engine of the LNER, I'll have you know that I worked with a lot of Peppercorn's. They didn't like me, but I worked with them! I knew them and I knew that they weren't selfish assholes like you!"
The A2 Peppercorn just glared daggers at the V2 who was smirking at him.
"I have to say, Tornado up holds Peppercorn's legacy more than you and she's never even met the man-"
"Oh just shut up will you! You always talk too much you damn undersized pickle! No wonder Mallard stole your voice box from you! You should have never gotten it back!" Blue Peter suddenly shouted at him.
Slowly, the smirk faded from Green Arrow's face and a very dark expression replaced it. It wasn't angry nor was it malicious. It was stoic and silent, but for some reason, it made the Peppercorn extremely uneasy.
"Whatever you and those Great Western's are planning, I must warn you, Evening Star and Murdoch love Lady of Legend to bits. They've adopted her and if I were you, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near them if they found out you were involved in some heinous happenings that resulted in harm coming to Lady of Legend, If you catch my drift, yes?" Green Arrow advised, his voice even but there was ice and a biting darkness behind it.
"Are you threatening me?" Blue Peter snarled at him but on the inside of his boiler, fear began to creep into his water. Something about Green Arrow was unsettling him and given Arrow's previous reputation on the mainland, it may not have been his smartest plan to piss him off.
"I'm doing no such thing friend," Arrow suddenly piped up cheerfully, a wide grin plastered on his face. "But you're on the Fat Controller's shit list right now. And Gordon's and heaven forbid the ever so famous Flying Scotsman's!"
The V2 was being mockingly dramatic now but Blue Peter ignored him and looked worried. He did not like the abrupt change in demeanour for the smaller Gresley.
Gordon and the bigger engines were not a group he wanted to trifle with, especially since stories told of them being tricky and getting engines they didn't like to be sent away.
To add to that, Scotsman being as famous as he was… a few words to Lady Gresley and he could be finding himself stuck in a shed for several years or worse, turned into an exhibit.
Not that Scotsman was likely to do such a thing, after all, Green Arrow was here and he had tried to scrap Scotsman. But he had a feeling it would be different if Tornado or a young engine was harmed… Maybe the rumours about him snuffing out Mallard's soul had been right. He didn't want to find out if they were.
"The Parson's woman wants immortality," Blue Peter suddenly blurted out to Green Arrow, unsure why he was doing so. It was probably the guilt. Maybe desperation to get out of this hole he'd dug himself.
Probably.
The V2 raised an eyebrow and looked pleased with himself.
"That old insane bat? How interesting, what about King whichever number he is Edward? What does he want?" Arrow asked and if he could Blue Peter would have been kicking himself.
He locked his jaw and felt his anger bounce around his smokebox. Oh, how had he just spilled so much to Arrow?! That sneaky engine had played with his emotions and unearthed his guilt.
"You're a manipulative pest!" Blue Peter shouted at him as he reversed away from the sneaky LNER engine which was now grinning at him.
"You'll never get what they promised you, Bluey! If Saint Mungo came back he'd spurn you too for destroying his sister!" Green Arrow just shouted back. "You know that I'm right!"
Blue Peter just glared at him as he retreated out of sight.
But deep in his firebox, he knew, he knew that Green Arrow was right.
"Good evening Ms. Olivia!" Peony practically bounded into the master bedroom with her tablet in hand, her excitement palpable.
She found Lady Olivia curled on her side staring out the window again although this time she seemed more lively than she had the day before but exhaustion was evident on her face. Olivia raised her head to look at Peony, chuckling at her excitement.
"Did you have a good rest?" Peony asked and Olivia gave a tired sigh.
"Unfortunately not, It felt like someone grew extra limbs just to pick fights with my intestines," she groaned wearily as she clutched her stomach. As if in reply, baby Polly moved inside her and Olivia winched in discomfort.
Peony gazed at her mystified. She still didn't really understand how humans made another human by growing one inside of them but it didn't at all look comfortable or pleasant.
Olivia noticed her gaze and chuckled.
"Help me sit up little Peony," she requested, offering a hand to her and Peony nodded, carefully assisting her boss to sit up on her pillows.
When Olivia was settled, sitting upright against the headboard, she went to step away but Olivia grasped her hand and placed it on her stomach so she could feel the baby.
"You've never experienced anything like this, have you little Peony?" Olivia asked and Peony shook her head dumbfounded.
To her surprise, Olivia's stomach was firm, not squishy like she was expecting. It was like a ball of muscle, not fat, Peony realised. Curiously, she felt around, feeling the outline of the baby inside Lady Olivia.
It was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Sure, Dr. Hendrick had explained everything to her, about how humans worked but to see it in person. To experience it was… she couldn't describe the feeling.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Olivia chuckled as she saw the wonder on her face. At that moment, the baby moved and Peony gave a startled yelp and stumbled back, unnerved by the sensation.
Olivia laughed at her and Peony felt her face turn red in embarrassment.
"Oh no Peony, I'm sorry!" Olivia tried to reassure her. "It's okay. It's a little strange isn't it?"
Peony nodded, unsure how to respond. She felt like she had insulted Olivia somehow by being frightened of her and her baby. She tried to focus on something else and glanced up at her boss.
Her eyes were glowing with Gold Dust. Even brighter than yesterday, Peony froze as she stared into them.
Before she could ask, Olivia spoke, the gold dust fading to blue.
"You were very excited when you came in," Olivia thankfully moved the conversation away from what had just happened sensing her unease. "May I ask why you're so happy this evening?"
Peony lit up as she remembered.
"Oh, it was all over social media and news tonight!" She exclaimed excitedly. "About Flying Scotsman!"
"Oh? And what has my ridiculous older brother done now?" Olivia tutted as she rolled her eyes as Peony rushed out of the room in a ball of excitement.
She quickly returned with the newspaper in hand, unfurling it and shoving the front page in Olivia's face.
Olivia stared at it in shocked silence for a long moment before she burst out laughing.
'High-speed romance: City of Truro proposes to the Flying Scotsman!' the headline read.
"They finally did it! Although I am surprised that Truro was the one to propose, Scotsman is the more romantic of the two," Olivia laughed. "I'm so happy for them! About time they did!"
Peony giggled to herself.
"They've been talked about for decades now between engines! They were the worst kept secret!" She exclaimed. "I'm excited it's finally official!"
"I can see that," Olivia observed as Peony practically trembled with excitement. "A little disappointed I didn't get to see it in person but that's alright, as long as I get invited to the wedding."
"Take me with you!" Peony pleaded. "I want to see the wedding too!"
"Of course, dear Peony! I'm sure Scotsman would be happy to see an old friend!" Olivia heartily laughed.
Peony squealed with joy and jumped up and down on the spot before quickly realising her position, blushing and bowing her head.
"I'm sorry, I'm not being proper. I'm just really excited ma'am," she apologised and Olivia waved a hand dismissively at her.
"As long as you get your jobs done around the house today, I don't mind," she grinned. "Something like this doesn't happen every day! Don't hide your excitement, it's only natural."
"Yes ma'am! Yes, I promise!" Peony beamed at her boss. Technically Dr Hendrick paid her but this was Olivia's house and she was her nursemaid. "I'll make you dinner right away ma'am!"
"Alright little Peony, off you go," Olivia sent her on her way as she picked up the newspaper, Peony had dropped on her bed.
"Thank you, ma'am! You look a lot healthier tonight by the way! I'm glad you got some rest at least," Peony said with a departing smile.
Olivia didn't respond, only giving a thoughtful hum as she read through the article about Scotsman and Truro.
It wasn't until Peony was halfway through chopping up some tomatoes that her mind suddenly realised something.
Had Olivia called Flying Scotsman her 'ridiculous older brother?'
She froze and stared at the sink faucet.
The Gold Dust in her eyes.
Referring to Flying Scotsman as her brother.
Not only that but Olivia had started to refer to her as Little Peony. Something that the A3 Pacific, Pretty Polly had once done.
Peony felt cold. Polly was long gone. She had been scrapped and Polly was said to have been unyielding, even as the cutter's torch tore her apart.
Ms Quicksilver had said that there had been an attempt to bring her back but it had failed horribly. She hadn't elaborated further, only to say that she best not poke her nose in anything or she would be admonished.
She didn't know what to think.
Shaking her head, Peony pushed such thoughts to the back of her mind.
She was overthinking things as usual.
It was nothing.
And if it was, it was none of her business.
"City of Truro! Flying Scotsman! It's good to see you, my old friends!" The booming voice of the Bullied called to them as the crowd was shooed away, allowing the two famous engines to meet with the equally as famous Battle of Britain class, Sir Winston Churchill.
"Winston! A delight as always!" Truro greeted with a wide grin on his face. Winston's bright smile faded as Truro approached him.
"Your soul has been broken and shattered my old friend," Winston sounded heartbroken as he looked at the Great Western. "This is terrible. You are in a terrible state!"
Truro sighed and looked away from the Bullied.
"I know, old friend, I know," Truro lamented sadly. He looked up at Winston hopefully. "But I am holding strong. It will take more to destroy me."
"It looks like it almost did destroy you," Winston commented bitterly. He looked to Flying Scotsman. "What have you been doing to him in York? The poor fellow looks near the end of his tether!"
"Mallard," was all Scotsman said and Winston's expression hardened.
"That bastard," he cursed and to Truro then looked back at Scotsman. "If I didn't know any better I would have thought you stole his soul, being as bright and as strong as you are now."
"Ah yes well, someone finally unlocked his Gold Dust," Truro chuckled with a small smile. "About time. The LNER did always treat Gold Dust as Taboo."
"All our railways did you foolish engine," Winston pointed out with a laugh. "Though, none of them experimented and used it to the extent that those East Coast lads. They had some strange things going on at the LNER. That Gresley was a madman of a designer."
"Speaking of taboo, Truro and I are engaged," Scotsman proudly announced and Winston gave a hearty laugh.
"I heard the celebration from here, about bloody time the both of you pulled your smokeboxes out of your tenders!"
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Scotsman complained. "Were we really that bad at keeping our relationship a secret?"
"Oh, incredibly so," Winston concurred. "I'd say almost everyone knew a few months after someone got back from Australia."
"Pendennis!" Scotsman cried out exasperated. "I knew I was an idiot for trusting him to keep his mouth shut!"
Winston let out a loud boisterous laugh.
"Oh you were, he's a veritable scamp that old boy!" The Bullied chuckled. "Still, I think people would have worked it out regardless, The both of you are very… ah how do I say this? Attention-seeking engines with a thirst for drama!"
"I most certainly am not!" Truro protested and looked to Scotsman for backup. Scotsman immediately looked away from him. "Scotsman tell him!"
"Well… uh," Scotsman mumbled, his cheeks flushing pink.
"Scotsman! Tell him! I am not a drama queen!"
"You're kinda being one now dear," Scotsman admitted quietly and Truro proceeded to blast a jet of steam at him.
"Outrageous!" Truro huffed angrily but the Gresley and Bullied just laughed at him.
"So, what brings the happy couple to Shildon hmm?" Winston asked.
"Well, it's on the way to the Bluebell," Scotsman informed him and Truro breathed a sigh of relief, happy for the change in topic. "I'll be going there to meet with my Aussie friend."
"Ah, that lovely big express engine, yes?" Winston considered. "Torpedo streamlining, beautiful green paint, golden details, quiet the beautiful lady if I do say so myself."
Scotsman laughed. "Yes, well, sorry to disappoint you, you'd have to compete with a Beyer-Garratt for her affection."
"Ah damn," Winston sighed. "Still, you can't blame this old fool for trying now can you?"
"I think you'll find she can and she will," Scotsman smirked. "She's a strong-willed engine, the best express engine in Australia, or so she says."
"Lovely, we have something in common," Winston smirked and Scotsman pulled a face at him. He moved on quickly though.
"I have a favour to ask Winnie," Scotsman asked, his voice taking on a serious tone. He looked to Truro who he could see seemed exhausted and tired. "Truro's not been well and needs to be near an engine with a strong presence of Gold Dust. I'll be away at the Bluebell and Truro will be alone if he is left at York. I thought that-"
"Being around the Southern Railway's Gold Warden will help him? Certainly, I will do anything I can for my oldest and dearest friend," Winston proclaimed and Scotsman smiled.
He looked to Truro who gazed back at Scotsman with a thankful and adoring gaze.
"Thank you, Winnie, old friend," Truro murmured. "Without my Golden Soul, I haven't been able to teach this idiot how to use Gold Dust."
Scotsman looked away embarrassed. He felt very inadequate compared to the other wardens. Like a human child trying to learn to walk for the first time. Sir Nigel had not been of any help and Olivia was just as clueless about this stuff as he was, so she couldn't help him either. It felt like navigating the tracks blindfolded with his brakes on.
"Ah I see," Winston gazed upon Scotsman. "I can certainly give you advice and answer any questions, but ultimately you need to trust yourself Scotsman. How you use Gold Dust is personal, there's no one single way that's correct. You'll know what to do if you need to use it. Trust yourself."
"Trust myself…" Scotsman repeated to himself quietly. "I've always found that hard, you know."
Winston gave him a sympathetic gaze.
"You'll be fine, Flying Scotsman. You wouldn't have a Golden Soul if you weren't worthy of such an honour," he assured the doubtful Gresley Pacific.
Scotsman gave an uncertain smile to the Bullied and looked back at his beloved Truro.
"I believe in you dearest Scotsman, you will be fine and you are more than worthy of your precious Gold Soul," Truro asserted and Scotsman felt his mood lift.
The way Truro looked at him and professed his belief, made him feel like he was worth it. That he was truly worth being the most famous engine in the world.
"Thank you Truro," he breathed out quietly. "One day, I may believe that."
"I'll remind you every day until you do, you ridiculous engine," Truro vowed and Scotsman chuckled.
"I don't doubt that for a second."
"Tornado, this is unwise," Chloe warned the Peppercorn and said engine glared at her. "Your firebox has quick welds, they're temporary fixes and it's too risky to have you do heavy work. If they fail it could result in something serious."
"Not telling me who you were was unwise!" Tornado snapped back petulantly and Chloe flinched at the comeback.
Chloe looked over to Ms Balgair who stood quietly beside her. She was strangely silent as she looked between the Peppercorn and her newly found sister.
"Silver Fox please help me out," Chloe urged and Tornado lit up at that. Ms. Balgair seemed to shrink away.
"Silver Fox? You mean like, Scotsman's cousin?" She asked and focused her attention on the tall thin lady next to Chloe. Her frames began to vibrate excitedly. "Scotsman always tells me stories of how wonderful you were! It's an honour to meet you, Ms. Silver Fox!"
The woman blushed and turned away from her, embarrassed.
"I didn't think he would have remembered me," she muttered with a shy glance at the Peppercorn.
Chloe's face turned to one of concern as she gazed at her.
"Fox, of course, he would," she assured him then she frowned. "Is this why you keep avoiding him? Because you're afraid that he won't remember you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Tornado quickly apologised seeing Ms Balgair's reaction. Ms Balgair shook her head and turned back to the Peppercorn.
"It's alright Tornado, I guess, I guess I'm scared that Flying Scotsman will reject me, because I'm human now, I'm not his little baby sister anymore," she admitted quietly.
"Of course you are! Besides, word has it that Scotsman has his own human form!" Chloe exclaimed before suddenly clapping her hand to her mouth. "Oh I'm not, I'm supposed to talk about that, I promised Ms. Gresley I would keep quiet about it."
"You went to see Ms Gresley? Is that why you left for the North? I thought you went to see Tornado?" Ms Balgair questioned and it was Chloe's turn to look embarrassed.
Tornado watched the two quietly, her mind turning over thoughts. Thoughts of herself rejecting Scotsman and calling him a fake because he was no longer in his engine.
"I- well, I heard Blue Peter was no longer on the mainland," Chloe admitted. "So I went to see Ms Gresley to ask if it was safe for me to return to Darlington. To work with Tornado again."
"Is- is that why you left my Trust? Because of Blue Peter?" Tornado asked suddenly.
Chloe turned back to look at the young Peppercorn. She held Tornado's gaze for the longest time and despite her best efforts tears welled and slipped down her face.
"I never wanted to leave you, Ms. Tornado," Chloe croaked weakly, tears in her voice. "But, Dr. Hendrick and the others became concerned when they found out that Blue Peter was trying to find a way to bring Saint Mungo back. They thought if he found out I was an A1 Peppercorn… that he would do something… desperate."
Tornado lowered his eyes to the ground and sniffed quietly. Blue Peter had done more than threaten her life. He had taken one of her favourite people away, someone who had been their friend since she had gained sentience.
"I… I missed you so much, Ms. Chloe," Tornado muttered numbly. "Did Ms Olivia say you could come back?"
"Well, she says I can so long as the Trust agrees," Chloe smiled slightly. It faded however and she looked away. "As long as you want me back."
Tornado stared at Chloe for a long while before responding.
"The human thing is still weird to me," she admitted. "But, I guess with time I could accept it. I missed you, the human thing aside, I want you back."
Chloe nodded and then looked at Ms Balgair.
"Little steps Ms Tornado," she nodded to her. "We'll get there. I think you will too sweetheart."
Ms Balgair looked unsure but nodded nonetheless. She smiled at Chloe and stepped closer to her. Tornado suspected something between the two but thought it rude to ask and brushed over it.
"Okay," Tornado smiled. She then looked across the yard to find 3801, the Australian engine sitting a distance away, her crew running around and preparing her for her tour. "I want to help Ms Grey. She's trying to hide it but she's scared. She doesn't want to pull her train alone."
Chloe frowned at her and crossed her arms, still unapproving of Tornado pulling a train.
"Tornado," there was a tone of warning in her voice.
"Scotsman told me that she was in a fatal accident once, a long time ago, she never recovered from it," Tornado insisted. "That was why Gold was with her because she was afraid to travel alone. I know I'm not supposed to pull heavy trains but… imagine being alone halfway across the world without your friend, Ms. Chloe."
Chloe held her arms crossed but Tornado could see it in her eyes that she was faltering.
"Ms. Chloe please," Tornado begged. "We can work together again, even if you can't go back to Darlington with me. At least just this once we can pull a train again."
Finally, Chloe seemed defeated and shook her head.
"Alright Tornado," Chloe conceded. "I'll talk to Keaton, then we can get you ready for the track."
"Thank you! Thank you, Ms. Chloe!" Tornado exclaimed excitedly but then paused. "Thank you, Ms. Kestrel."
Chloe blushed and then beamed at the young Peppercorn.
"My pleasure, little sister."
Edward had seriously considered not going to meet Green Arrow at Ulfstead Castle that night. As the workday wore on he found his nerves rising and the temptation to back down was ever-increasing.
However, he wasn't one to go back on his word and he knew that Green Arrow would seek him out and drag him back with him. Edward smiled to himself as he reflected on the young V2.
He was rough around the edges, he could certainly be crude and he did seem to revel in drama but he could see a good soul in that engine. One who wanted to be recognised for his work, one who despised being alone. He could relate to that.
"The engine of the hour," said engine greeted him as he patiently waited near the castle. "Good evening Mr. Seagull."
Edward bit back his smile and gazed at the larger green engine nervously. Arrow seemed to notice his unease and frowned.
"The sooner you confront Coppernob, the better you'll be," he advised and Edward gave an exhale of defeat.
"Will it though?" Edward was doubtful. "He's been like this for 200 years."
"Well, at the very least he'll know how you feel and understand why you won't take his, pardon my French, shit anymore," Arrow explained. "He can't keep wearing you down like this. It shows and everyone's noticing. Even Gordon and you know how thick he is."
Edward sighed and gazed at Arrow. Arrow was that friend who told you the truth, even if it was painful to hear it and he was grateful for that.
"I appreciate your bluntness Arrow," the old Furness smiled. "It's what I need right now."
"Yeah well, not everyone appreciates it," the V2 tutted. "Made it hard to make friends."
"Well, I do," Edward smiled. "I always knew there is a good friend in you. One who always means the best and wants others to succeed."
"Great," Green Arrow seemed impatient to get moving. "Shall we do this before you coward out?"
"Yes, yes of course," Edward agreed. Arrow was right, the sooner they got this over with, the sooner Edward could put his mind at ease. "Let's go, shall we?"
Edward pushed forward towards the museum as Arrow trailed closely behind him. The red engine slowly came into view and Edward felt his courage rise. It was time to end this.
Said red engine immediately noticed them approaching and a scowl appeared on his face, clearly ready to rant and lay into Edward.
"It has been almost a century since I have last seen you!" Coppernob sneered at him menacingly and Edward stopped, Arrow gently bumping into the back of his tender.
The V2 picked up on the immediate hostility and began scowling back, steam hissing from him, ready to lay into the old red engine if need be.
"I see you've picked up some bad company, number 38," Coppernob sneered at him and Edward's face frowned.
"The only bad company here is you, old iron," Edward retorted, giving the Old Furness engine a hard stare. "You sit on your plinth, like you always have, ordering others about when you haven't moved your wheels by yourself in centuries."
Coppernob gazed at Edward up and down, surveying the engine with a critical eye.
"You have a responsibility to the Furness, number 38," the red engine scolded. "It is the railway that built you, are you not grateful to them? You have no business giving others advice when you don't even do the bare minimum for the Railway that-"
"Why would I give my efforts for a railway that never appreciated me? For a railway that constantly overworked me and you, you!" Edward suddenly snapped at Coppernob. "You always demeaned me! Nothing I ever did would please you! I tried my hardest- no we ALL tried our hardest to impress you but all you ever did was criticise or throw snide comments our way! And you always wondered why the Neddies and Sharpies played tricks on you! We were tired of a bossy engine sat in his glasshouse who dictated our work, the railway code to us when he never moved an inch in decades!"
Edward glared harder at Coppernob the more he spoke, his voice getting louder and louder as he progressively got angrier and angrier. Coppernob, to his credit, was listening and his face was stoic and unreadable.
"I was so happy when I was sold to the North Western Railway," Edward finally admitted. "I was one of their first engines, I was proud to lay the foundations for this island's mainline and I promised myself that I would never be like you, that I would never treat other engines the way you did, so yes, I never had any intention to visit you up here and no, I have no intention to promote a railway that not once showed appreciation to me and no longer exists. My responsibility is the railway I helped build, the engines I helped over the years and it is NOT to uphold the rules of a railway that has been gone so long that all that remains are relics!"
Edward suddenly let out a huge amount of steam from his valves, filling the entire exhibit with steam he was so angry. He shook his frames, which were trembling to what was the engine equivalent to adrenaline if one could compare him to a human.
"I am Edward of the North Western Railway and I have been for over 100 years, I will not be looked down upon as some old relic from a railway that no longer exists!" Edward shouted his declaration at the top of his voice.
Green Arrow was taken aback, he hadn't known Edward all that long but he had never seen Edward even slightly angry. Annoyed and irritated yes, but never actually angry.
Edward let out a blast of steam, ready to steam away before giving a soft snort.
"I'll ask you to kindly refrain from insulting the engines here, steam, diesel or electric," He told Coppernob sternly. "I don't care what you say about me, but you do not antagonise the engines of imy/i railway, Coppernob. You do not upset them and you do not demean them, understand?"
Coppernob said nothing, his gaze firm and steady even with Edward unleashing hell upon him. Edward just gave an uncharacteristic sneer and looked away.
"If you've nothing to say to me then I'll be leaving," The Larger Seagull declared, moving to reverse out of the museum.
"Number 25 has been in restoration for over 20 years," Coppernob finally spoke, his voice showing no hint of emotion but in his eyes… There was a deep hurt in them. "I would- Number 20 and Fluff are desperate to help them. I would like to imagine that an engine such as you could be able to help them. 25 does not deserve to be in disrepair. If you won't talk to me then at least speak to 20. She has been trying to ask for your help for many years."
Edward paused and surveyed the old red engine. He finally relented.
"I'll see what I can do, as long as it's 20 and not you," Edward finally said. "I'm done letting you dictate my life, Coppernob. Kindly leave the Sudrian engines alone or you will be hearing from me again."
Edward averted his gaze and said nothing more, Arrow and himself leaving the old Furness engine to listen to the soft beats of the two engines retreating into the evening as the orange-red glow of the sunset bathed the grounds of the castle in an eerie foreboding light.
The words of that small menace weighed heavily on his mind. He'd left Green Arrow, his pride not allowing him to show his discomfort while he travelled across the island. The more he tried to push the thoughts from his mind, the more they returned with a vengeance.
He was unwilling to go back to the sheds with the Great Westerns, knowing that the Castle would be insufferable and the King would only get on his nerves. He asked his crew to leave him in an old shed near the Steamworks just outside of Vicarstown.
He did not want anything to do with them anymore. Especially as he began to question his own thoughts. His crusade to bring back Saint Mungo over the years had separated him from King George, his fight with Tornado had lost him his place in the Royal Engine's Court and it had exiled him to this backward Island on the west coast of the UK, where it appeared that every engine hated him.
They all loved Tornado, the young Peppercorn, his cousin. The cousin that he had tried to kill, the cousin that had finally snapped at him for the first time a few weeks ago.
Green Arrow's words rang in his smokebox, if Saint Mungo was alive, if he had come back… he wasn't sure that Mungo would like him all that much if he found out that he'd destroyed his new sister.
He could see it in the young Great Western's eyes, every time she was reminded that her frames, her boiler had come from another engine. That she was actually built on the corpse of a dead engine. It haunted her. It destroyed her.
Suddenly something clicked in his smokebox. Something that everyone had been telling him, something he should have realised long ago.
Saint Mungo was a kind and soft soul. If he had found out that he had been brought back, yet his return had cost the life of his sister… it would have destroyed him.
Mungo would have hated him, loathed him and he would have been in despair. Blue Peter had been wrong this entire time, he had been selfish. He had been cruel. He had been like those monsters that tormented that poor young engine, trying to bring back Maindy Hall at the cost of a frightened young engine.
"I was wrong," he croaked to no one in particular. "I'm sorry Tornado."
He doubted that Tornado would forgive him. He doubted that her friends and her family would forgive him.
The sound of an engine hurrying towards him snapped him out of his reflection and he looked up, unaware that there were fallen tears on his face. He shook himself slightly to try and get rid of them but it did nothing.
Out of the blue, the young Great Western came barrelling towards him at speed and his tears were forgotten as he stared at her alarmed.
"Stop! You need to stop!" He shouted at her but the engine's eyes were squeezed shut in fear.
Thinking quickly, he shook his brakes loose and braced for impact, at least the young engine wouldn't have a solid object to hit.
She appeared to have heard him, her wheels grinding the rails as she sped towards him, it wasn't enough to completely stop but it was enough to slow her down enough that barging into the Peppercorn only slammed him back into the buffer stops behind him and not through the back of the shed.
Blue Peter locked his brakes back on to stop Lady of Legend from pushing him back and derailing him but still her wheels spun wildly in place, her regulator still wide open.
"Can you shut off your regulator?" Blue Peter asked her and the young engine whimpered in response.
"I don't- I can't- I don't have my crew!" She wailed back at him and his expression hardened.
"Can you try to do it yourself?" He asked and Lady of Legend mumbled incoherently, terrified. She was panicked and scared beyond reason.
"Concentrate on your regulator," he told her quickly, attempting to try and get her to focus. "Imagine that it's closed."
"I can't!" She wailed desperately. "I don't know how!"
"Yes, you can, just try," Blue Peter insisted as he could feel her pushing slowly start to move his tender off of the tracks. "Please, you're going to derail me or your boiler will explode if you don't shut off your regulator!"
Suddenly a serene expression appeared over Lady of Legend's face, like something else had taken over her. Slowly the pressure against Blue Peter's buffers eased and the young engine's wheels slowly stopped spinning and she came to a rest.
A moment of silence passed between the two.
"Are you okay, Lady of Legend?" Blue Peter finally asked.
The young engine didn't look at him, instead, she was staring at his buffers, still very shaken. Eventually, she looked up at him.
"Please, please don't send me back to Clun Castle and the King Edwards," she pleaded desperately. "They're going to hurt me, they're going to take my soul!"
"I- I won't," Blue Peter assured the young engine. At least maybe he could try and help this young engine. Maybe it would make him feel somewhat better. "I'm sorry if I made you feel scared in the past, I don't… I was wrong."
Better late than never, Blue Peter thought to himself.
Lady of Legend smiled at him.
"Thanks," the young engine mumbled. "Sorry for almost crashing into you. I should go back to Ms Star."
She awkwardly looked at her buffers.
"I don't have a crew though, so I guess I'll have to wait here."
"Quite," was all Blue Peter could think to say as an awkward silence descended over them.
"I knew you would chicken out you coward! Green Arrow was right, it was a pleasure watching him rip into you!" The cackling voice of Clun Castle suddenly broke the uneasy silence. "So glad that I decided to follow you around. You've been so entertaining! And you led me straight to my prize!"
The two engines' eyes widened in fear as the Castle Class emerged from a siding near Blue Peter's shed.
"Mr Blue Peter please!" Lady of Legend begged but before the Peppercorn could respond, Clun Castle had grabbed the young engine's tender and started dragging the terrified young engine away. "Blue Peter! Help!"
"Lady of Legend! No!"
The Peppercorn could only watch as the two Great Western engines disappeared into the foreboding fog.
Green Arrow is that friend who's going to tell you the truth, no matter how much it's going to hurt you. If you're being a dipshit or an idiot he's going to tell you and he's going to tell it to your face. He's one of the best friends you can have but he's a hard sell because most people don't like hearing the truth.
On Edward: I made his number 38, the youngest of the Larger Seagulls. He worked on the Furness for a number of years before being bought by the North Western to help build the mainline. Hence he's not listed on the Furness Railway register nor does he have an LMS number from the merger. I know others have their own story for him in their stories, but I kind of wanted something a little different to him.
I do think Coppernob cares about Edward, he just really has a poor way of showing it and never really considers Edward's pov. Most of his unpleasant attitude comes from Coppernob thinking that Edward abandoned 20, 25 and Fluff, the only other preserved Furness engines. There's so little of their history left that Coppernob is desperate for anything that remains and it makes him blind to the obvious or reason.