A/N: Sorry this took so long everybody, but I'm back now. And I promise, if I ever do cancel this story, I won't just delete it or leave without warning.

Chapter 329: King of the Railway Part 5

Stephen slowly trudged along the main line, his spirits down.

"I guess there's no place on a railway for old engines like you anymore, old girl," he sighed, gently stoking the fire. "I'd better find a museum to put you in."

Before long, he came to a junction. One track went on down the mainline, while the other led towards an abandoned mine. Stephen considered his options for a minute, before setting the points towards the mine.

"No one wanted it either. Might as well be among my own kind."

Thomas drove back to Ulfstead Castle, dejected. Sir Robert Norramby was there waiting for him.

"Ah, Thomas! We're ready for Stephen now, where is he?"

"He left! Says there's no place on a railway for an old engine like his. He said he wanted to be alone."

But Sir Robert chuckled.

"Nonsense! I have the perfect job for him!"

"Really?"

"He's going to be a tour guide for the Ulfstead Railway Museum! He knows more about Sodor history than anyone."

"That's great and all, but we need to find him," James said.

"I have an idea where he might be," Millie piped up. "Whenever he wanted to be alone, he would go for a walk near the old mines by Torrywreck."

"Those are on my branchline!" Thomas shouted excitedly. "I'll go find him!"

Stephen slowly made his way down the old track, pushing aside overgrown branches and brambles as he went. Before long, he reached the old mines. What had once been a busy industrial site was now nothing more than disused track and abandoned tunnels.

"Guess this is the perfect place for us, old girl."

Slowly, he crept onto the old tracks, the rails creaking as he continued. Up ahead he saw an old mineshaft.

"That'll be the perfect place! No one will look for it there."

But danger lay ahead. As his engine entered the tunnel, it bumped against one of the support beams. No sooner had he gone through the entrance did it start to collapse.

"No!"

Stephen jumped out, but it was too late. Before he could escape, the tunnel entrance became blocked with rocks, trapping him with no way out.

"HELP!"

Thomas reached the old mines, but he couldn't find Stephen anywhere.

"Millie said he comes here, where could he be?"

"HELP!"

He was just about to turn around and go back when he heard the cry for help. Following the sound, he cautiously approached the mineshaft.

"Stephen, are you in there?"

"Thomas, is that you? The entrance collapsed behind me, I can't get out!"

"Alright, just stay calm! I'll go and get help!"

"That's all I can do," Stephen muttered sadly to himself, resigning himself to waiting as he tried to remain calm. As he waited, something in the distance caught his eye.

"Eh? What's that?"

Curiously, he approached it, brushing away the dirt to reveal…

"No way, it can't be!"

Thomas soon returned with a rescue team.

"Don't worry Stephen, we'll soon have you out!"

It was a long and arduous process. The ground wasn't firm enough for heavy machinery, so each and every stone had to be moved by hand, and they had to act fast or Stephen would run out of air. It took a very long time, but at last Stephen was free, the paramedics rushing in to make sure he was alright.

"Are you alright, sir?"

"I don't see any physical injuries on him. Check his breathing!"

But Stephen just chuckled.

"I'm better than alright, I found this!"

Everyone gasped when Stephen held up the crown for all to see.

"Godred's crown! Incredible."

"It was here all this time, and we never knew!"

While Stephen was taken to a hospital, the crown was taken back to Ulfstead Castle.

A week later, Stephen was given a clean bill of health and released from Wellsworth Hospital, just in time for the grand reopening of Ulfstead Castle. Sir Robert Norramby stepped up to give a speech.

"For years it's been my dream to restore this old castle to her former glory, and thanks to the help from my children and the North Western Railway, I've done just that. Not only that, but we've finally located King Godred's crown!"

The crowd clapped and cheered as Sir Robert held it high in the air.

"And now, if all of you would make your way to the station with your tickets, my son Stephen will take the first train of the Ulfstead Castle Estate Railway!"

Meanwhile, Gordon was trying to work up the courage to ask Caitlin out.

"Alright Gordon, you can do this! Just walk up to her and ask her on a date. Shouldn't be that hard…"

But before he could do just that, Spencer butted in.

"Ah, Caitlin!" He said grandly. "I was looking for you."

"Hello, Spencer, what brings you here?"

"Well, my contract with The Earl ends this weekend, and I'll be heading back to Boxford soon. But before I leave, I was hoping you'd join me for dinner and a movie?"

Gordon seethed silently in fury, but Caitlin just politely shook her head.

"No thanks. You're a nice guy, but you're not really my type."

Spencer spluttered for a minute, but eventually accepted the response and sulked away. Gordon chuckled, before making his own move.

"Hello, Caitlin."

"Hey, Gordon. Some party, huh?"

"I'll say. Will you be coming to Sodor more often?"

"Oh, for sure! The Earl's made a deal with our employer to run shuttles up here daily."

"That's good. You know, there's this diner in town that makes some good food. Care to join me for a bite sometime?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"That depends, is the answer yes?"

Caitlin smiled, and kissed his cheek.

"Sounds lovely."

Gordon smiled broadly, especially when he caught a look at Spencer's face in the corner.

"Life is good."