Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

THIS STORY IS GOING TO BE REWRITTEN DUE TO SOME GRAMMAR ERRORS, REPEATED SCENES, AND IDEAS THAT I STARTED TO WRITE BUT COMPLETELY IGNORED THEM IN THE CHAPTERS.

ALL CHAPTERS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE WORD *REWRITE* WILL BE IN THE CHAPTER TITLES UNTIL ALL OF THEM ARE REPLACED.

ENJOY! ^^

Chapter Text

"Go, James! Go!" Thomas yelled as he quickly pushed Theo across the tracks, clearing the path of empty cars for James to escape.

Looking back, he watched his shining ruby speed past them, heading towards the exit of the Steelworks. Happy that James was able to escape, Thomas smiled. As he moved his eyes to look forward, he gasped. The cars started to lift and topple over, the corner of one of the trucks pressing a button.

As Thomas and Theo slowed down, Thomas felt a heavy piece of metal land on top of his cab, lifting him up off the ground and into the air.

Thomas cried out in shock as he watched himself being lifted, too high above the ground. "Help! Help!" He yelled in fear.

He frantically looked around, but fear gripped his boiler as he felt the magnet begin to move. He whimpered a bit as he was slowly being moved over a huge pot full of burning, hot smelt. "No, no, no, no!" He whimpered as the magnet stopped over the molten metal, the warmth from it starting to make his wheels heat up.

"Don't worry, I'll get you down Thomas!" Theo yelled as he started to push on the cars.

"Oh no, you don't!" Hurricane exclaimed as he was quickly coupled to the experimental engine, before pulling him back, preventing him from moving the cars.

"Let me go!" Theo exclaimed as he tried to move forward, without any luck.

"And make our favorite engine leave? I don't think so." Frankie said as she backed up, blocking Theo's view of the cars. "He just returned to us and now you want him to leave? He promised to help us here at the Steelworks." She said tauntingly, moving her gaze to look up at Thomas, smiling.

"I only agreed as a thank you for taking my goods train to Bridlington's yard! I didn't agree to actually work here without the chance of going home!" Thomas yelled as he slowly swayed over the hot smelt. The panic rose in him as he felt his wheels start to heat up even more.

To him, it felt like his wheels were on fire and he was struggling to hold in a pain-filled whimper as he glared at the two Steelworks' engines.

"But you must stay! It's only fair that you do." Hurricane explained as he was uncoupled from Theo, riding around the works until he faced Thomas.

"Thomas!" A familiar voice yelled out from across the hot building.

The voice was filled with fear and panic as the sounds of puffing began to get louder. Thomas looked over to see the two experimental engines, Merlin and Lexi, and James in the middle, who was racing towards them.

Thomas watched as James moved faster than the other two. He could see the fear, worry, and panic in his ruby's eyes; it made his boiler ache with anxiety, desperately wanting to be with him. He wanted to go back to Sodor with the red tender engine and forget the mess they both put themselves in.

"He's going back to Sodor!" James yelled. "I came here looking for him and I'm not leaving without him!" He shouted as he glared at the steamie and diesel in front of him.

Hurricane and Frankie both looked at each other and smirked, both having the same idea. Looking back up at Thomas, their eyes shimmered with a dark and sinister intention. Just looking at them made Thomas' boiler shiver.

His panic and fear only increased when he saw some of the steelworkers leave Hurricane's and Frankie's cabs and stand near a lever that more than likely controlled the magnet that held him. A great sense of dread filled Thomas' entire body and his eyes widened in fear.

"Alright. You win. You can take him back home with you." Frankie said, eerily calm as she smiled darkly at the red tender engine.

"But only as metal sheets! Do it now!" Hurricane yelled as one of the workers immediately pressed a button. Almost instantly, the magnet's hold on Thomas loosened and dropped him.

"Thomas!" Lexi, Merlin, and Theo cried out in terror as they watched their new friend fall towards the cauldron of molten iron.

Thomas yelled in fear as time seemed to slow down for him. He watched the smelt grow brighter as he neared it, and he felt the heat of it started to melt part of his body. He could feel his paint bubble, and his wheels started to melt just from the heat. The agonizing pain of being burnt shot throughout him, and he could no longer hold in his screams of pain.

As he closed his eyes, he saw memories appearing before him, but fading away as just as quick as they came.

When he first arrived on Sodor in his green livery, to Gordon pulling him along with the Express, getting his branch line, all the friends he met, to him figuring out his feelings for James when he was trapped here.

Opening his eyes, he slowly looked over at the red engine, his eyes filled with anguish, pain, and fear as tears slid down his face. James himself looked back in horror as he saw him, his Thomas, his shinning blue star falling to his death.

Tears fell from his own eyes as he looked at Thomas, both filled with the wanting, the need to be with each other, yet both of them knew, it wouldn't ever happen.

As Thomas closed his eyes, he felt himself land in the smelt. The pain completely overwhelmed him as he felt his body start to melt instantly. Yet before he completely fell in, he heard his ruby's voice yell out one more time before he was completely submerged.

"THOMAS!"

Thomas gasped as he jolted awake from his sleep. In his panic, he backed up and bumped into the buffers of his shed, causing him to fully regain consciousness. Blinking his eyes, he panted hard, but quietly as he looked around. No longer was he in the Steelworks, but home.

Tidmouth Sheds. The place where he knew he was protected from anyone else who dared try and hurt him.

It was about a week since he and James returned from the Mainland, something they both will never forget. Thomas still felt bad about taking James' goods train, but he was tired of him always teasing him, yet it didn't teeter his feelings for him.

It was on their way back to Sodor that they both admitted their feelings towards each other. It was one of Thomas' happiest days when he found out that James felt the same way about him.

And yet, even after that, he still suffered from nightmares about the Steelworks. Each nightmare he had only got worse but this one was the worst one of all.

Panting softly, Thomas slowly puffed forward a bit, back to his original spot, before looking to his left. He saw Emily on the far left, with Percy next to her and Edward, his adopted big brother next to him. Smiling, knowing that they were safe, he looked to the right.

Henry was on the far right, as was Gordon, and finally James, his shining ruby. He stared at James as he slept, listening to his soft breathing, knowing that he too, was safe. He blushed a bit before he looked over at Edward.

He smiled as he stared at his older brother, thinking of the times they had. From Edward teaching him how to shunt cars to playing a game of either chase or hide-n-seek. He was the first friend Thomas made when he first arrived on Sodor. Edward seemed to be the first one who cared for him as well.

He looked up to Edward as a mentor at first, but then, it just felt natural to call him big brother.

Now knowing that everyone was safe, Thomas allowed himself to relax, and he looked down at the ground; but he was so deeply lost in his thoughts, that he didn't hear someone stir before waking up.

"Thomas?" A soft voice whispered next to him.

Thomas jumped a bit before looking over to see Edward looking at him in worry. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it was his older brother.

"Are you alright?" Edward asked quietly, being careful about not waking up the other engines.

"N-no, I'm not. Just… another nightmare about the Steelworks…" Thomas said quietly before looking back down at the ground.

Edward continued to look at his little brother in concern. He knew Thomas has been having problems sleeping since his return, but this one seemed to be worst. The last few nights, Thomas would only whimper and talk quietly as he slept. Yet tonight, he was jolted awake from his sleep.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Edward asked softly.

Thomas bit his lip, but after a minute, he spoke.

"I… I was trapped against the magnet at the Steelworks hanging over the smelt. Theo was trying to free me, but Hurricane pulled him away. James, Lexi, and Merlin came back to try to help me but… one of the workmen there pushed a button and I fell in…" Thomas started but stopped as he started to cry again as the memory of his dream came back.

Thomas closed his eyes and gritted his teeth to stop himself from crying out and waking the other engines. His body trembled as he sobbed quietly to himself.

Edward's eyes filled with sadness as he finished his statement in his head. He shuttered a bit as he imaged seeing Thomas falling into the burning smelt. Quietly, he slowly puffed out of his berth and onto the turntable, waiting for it to spin him around to face Thomas. Once it did, he silently rode off the turntable and into Thomas' berth.

"Thomas…" Edward stated as he slowly came to a halt, his buffers gently pressing against the smaller engine. Thomas sniffed and opened his eyes, looking up at him as fresh tears roll down his cheeks.

"Don't cry Little Brother. You're safe here. No one will ever let any harm come to you again. You have my promise." Edward said gently as he smiled softly.

Thomas smiled a bit as he slowly stopped crying, his eyes now red, irritated by his tears. He gently moved forward to press his buffers against Edward some more before looking back up at him.

"I know Edward. Thank you…" He said softly as he yawned slightly. Edward chuckled at his brother's yawn and smiled.

"Get some sleep Little Brother." Edward said softly as he saw Thomas slowly close his eyes.

Once Thomas was asleep, Edward quietly backed out of his berth before getting on the turntable again. He frowned a bit as he tried to think of something that would help Thomas stop having nightmares. But no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.

He sighed softly, hating that he couldn't think of anything. Backing up into his own berth, Edward gazed at Thomas one last time, before the older tender engine yawned and closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning, everyone was awake and leaving Tidmouth one by one. As Thomas waited for his turn, he looked over at James. James himself was already looking at him and smiling. Thomas smiled back. Though a nagging thought hung in the back of his mind.

'Should I tell him…?'

Thomas looked away from James and sighed. 'Later. We have work to do.'

James felt a little worried as he watched his blue star look away from him, but he didn't have time to ask; it was his turn to leave the sheds.

As he left, he knew he had to ask him what was wrong.

Later, Thomas was working in the docks, shunting empty cars to their needed and correct positions. But as he finished his last line-

"Steady those! They're extremely hot!"

"We know that!"

"Be careful!"

Looking up, Thomas gasped as he saw three lidded metal cauldrons being brought down one by one onto separate flatbeds.

Even though they had lids, Thomas still saw the bright glow of molten smelt inside from the tiny space between the lid and actual caldron.

Thomas shivered.

The hot, burning smelt seared his body as he sank lower and lower. He could no longer scream due to the pain, so he merely clenched his teeth together, and shut his eyes. He wanted to stop sinking, but what could he do? Slowly, he finally felt the smelt touch his face…

Thomas' eyes shot open as the daydream left his mind. Before he could stop himself, he reversed and harshly shoved into empty cars, previously shunted by him.

"Woah, Thomas!" Came a new voice. "What's with the sudden burst of energy?"

Thomas looked up to be met with Cranky. Sighing in relief, He spoke. "C-Cranky… what are those doing here?" He asked, looking over at the caldrons.

Cranky turned his body to see what Thomas meant. "Well, why do you want to know?"

"Just. Tell me, Cranky." Thomas said impatiently, with a hint of anger.

Stunned by Thomas' sudden change of attitude, Cranky stared at him. "Well, they're here from the Mainland to go to the Steamworks. They needed a special type of smelt to make stronger parts for you engines, and right now only the Mainland has it."

Breathing deeply, Thomas closed his eyes. After a moment, he involuntarily started shaking.

Now Cranky normally wouldn't care about another engine's behavior, but Thomas seemed to be… genuinely scared. "Thomas… are you alright?"

"I'm… I'm fine." Thomas huffed, his voice strained. There was anger in his voice, but this time, Cranky heard sadness.

Before he had a chance to ask Thomas what was wrong again, the little tank engine sped away.

'I have to see him, I have to see him, I have to see him!' Thomas chanted desperately in his mind as he raced to the Vicarstown yard. As he went down the line, he tried his best to keep the tears in his eyes at bay.

When he arrived, Thomas frantically looked around the yard, until he spotted him. Nearby, shunting cars full of carrots was the red tender engine.

Thomas swallowed, before racing forwards once more. "James!"

James grumbled as he shunted some cars into a siding. He was quite cross with Sir Topham Hatt for tasking him to shunt. He wanted to pull coaches and not deal with smelly cars. He stopped shunting, however, and backed up onto the other track as he heard a frantic cry from a voice he knew all too well; his shining blue star.

"Thomas?" James asked he watched the small engine racing towards him.

He winced a bit as he heard Thomas' brakes screech, as he stopped just in front of the red tender engine. His eyes widened when he saw tears falling down Thomas' cheeks. Immediately, he knew that something was terribly wrong.

"Thomas? What's wrong?" James asked as he slowly puffed forward a bit, gently pressing his buffers against the younger engine. He noticed how Thomas had his eyes shut tightly and watched as his body shook as he cried.

"E-everything!" The blue tank engine cried. "After we came back from the Mainland, I-I haven't been able to sleep. I keep having nightmares about the Steelworks and… and…" He whimpered as he struggled to talk; instead, his crying increased.

Frowning in worry for his blue star, James started to gently push Thomas into a siding. Thomas' eyes shot open as he felt himself moving and watched as James moved the both of them to the siding away from the tracks, his eyes never leaving the others'.

Keeping their buffers touching, James stared at Thomas' face, his eyes filled with concern and worry.

"It's alright Thomas. Just take a deep breath and calm down. Now then, what's going on?" James asked softly, wanting Thomas to talk about his problems but also not wishing to force him.

Taking a deep breath, Thomas tried to fight the tears that threatened to fall as he started shaking again.

"I-I keep having nightmares about the Steelworks. At first, they weren't so bad, mostly of me never escaping there or you never coming to rescue me. Then they started to get worse, like one where we both ended up trapped there and… one where you left me behind, saying how I wasn't worth it." Thomas whispered, his attitude just as blue as his paintwork.

"Then last night… it seemed to be the worst one I had yet. I-I was attached to the magnet again and hanging over the hot smelt. It felt like my wheels were melting from the heat. Hurricane stopped Theo from moving the cars that toppled onto the control panel and you came rushing back to help me. But then… one of the workers pushed a button and… I fell in." Thomas explained as he closed his eyes, the memories of the nightmare rushing back to him.

"Oh Thomas…" James started as he presses his buffers against Thomas' own a bit more, trying to comfort him. "It was only a nightmare. Nothing more. You're home, you're safe and you have me and the others here with you. I promise." James said thoughtfully as he looked at him with eyes full of love.

Sniffling a bit, Thomas smiled at the tender engine in front of him, trying to blow some tears away from his cheeks. Then he frowned a bit and looked down at their buffers.

"It's gotten so bad James. Just this morning, as I was shunting at the docks, they were unloading cauldrons of hot smelt. Cranky was saying how they're going to be sent to the Steamworks, for its molten iron is stronger than what we have here. It's there so that the workers can use it to make stronger parts for us if any of us break down. But… I panicked so much that I sped off. I didn't want to be there in case I had to pull them. So, I came here to tell you that I'm not alright. I'm tired, I'm scared, and I keep fearing that I'm going to wake up and still be at the Steelworks." Thomas confessed quietly as his gaze never left their buffers.

James frowned a bit as he listened to Thomas' story. He knew that Thomas had been having nightmares because sometimes he was woken up by his whimpers.

But he didn't know it was this bad.

Looking around, he wondered how to cheer his blue engine up. He smiled as he looked down at the smaller engine, gently nudging him, which caused Thomas to look up at him sadly.

"How about when we're done with our work, we go to Henry's forest. Just the two of us. We won't have to worry about the others disturbing us and we can have some alone time. How does that sound?" James suggested, smiling a bit.

Taking a shaky breath, Thomas slowly smiled at his shining ruby. He blushed a bit as he continued to stare at him, but his smile slowly widened.

"I-I would love that James. Thank you." He said softly. His tears had long since stopped, but his eyes were still red from crying.

"Then we better get back to being really useful engines. I don't want Sir Topham Hatt getting cross at either of us, even though I'd rather be pulling my coaches instead of shunting these dirty cars." James said bitterly as he glared at the empty cars, slowly backing up to get onto the other track.

Thomas giggled a bit as he slowly followed James out of the siding, the blush still visible on his cheeks. Moving onto the other track, he watched as his ruby moved across the tracks. He laughed a bit as he heard James grumble to himself as he shunted the cars.

"Oh yeah, before I forget, Sir Topham Hatt wants you to take these trucks to Brendam Docks." James said as he pushed a few cars behind Thomas.

Thomas watched as the workers coupled him up to the trucks that were a mix of oil, coal, and quarry stone.

"Thank you and bye, James. Love you!" Thomas called out as he slowly puffed out of the yard, heading back towards the docks.

James blew his whistle twice as he watches his blue star puffing off, still blushing. He smiled as he watched him leave, until he was out of his sight, even though his worry for him still lingered in his boiler.

"Look at his face. He's almost as red as when that one bee stung him!" One of the empty cars said tauntingly as they and the other cars started to laugh.

"Oh, will you troublesome cars be quiet?!" James exclaimed as he roughly shunted the line of cars in front of him.

He smirked to himself as they finally stopped chattering, only to have his eyes widen as he watched some of them derail and fall onto their side. "Oh no…" He muttered as the cars busted out laughing. He knew he'd be in trouble and that it was only a matter of time until Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

"Good Morning Cranky. Good morning Carly." Henry said, smiling at the two cranes in Brendam Docks as he slowed to a stop next to Cranky.

"Morning…" Cranky huffed as he turns, lowering his hook onto a boat.

"Good Morning Henry!" Carly said happily as she slowly moves to the left, a pallet of boxes attached to her hook.

Salty was slowly moving the flatbed with the cauldrons of burning hot smelt towards Henry. "Morning matey." The diesel chuckled as he slowly stops at the green mixed-traffic tender engine. "This be here yer train for the Steamworks." He smiled as he backed up away from the flatbeds.

"Thank you Salty." Henry smiled as he slowly backs his tender box to the flatbeds.

He stopped a few inches away from the flatbed and waited for one of the dock workers to couple him up to it. Cranky was slowly turning around after lifting a pallet with a lot of metal pipes tied up to it. As he was slowly moving it over the flatbeds, he felt a stretching feeling in the metal rope attached to his hook. Looking at it, he watched as a piece of the hook started to crack.

"Look out!" Cranky cried out as his hook snapped and the pallet of metal pipes dropped.

The workmen, Henry and Salty quickly moved out of the way as the pallet of metal pipes fell. It crashed onto the side of the flatbeds containing the smelt as the pipes scattered across the tracks. The impact of the pallet and pipes caused the flatbed to sway before tipping over. Smelt poured and flowed out of the cauldrons as they hit the ground. Steam rose up as the ground, tracks, and some of the pipes started to melt as a huge puddle of smelt formed.

"Cinders and ashes…" Henry gasped as he looked at the damage as he puffed up to Salty after going around the docks.

"Oh no…" Cranky groaned worriedly, knowing that he caused confusion and delay at the docks as he looked down at the mess he created by accident.

Not far away from the docks, Thomas smiled as he pulled the goods train towards Brendam. A slight blush was still on his cheeks as he remembers what James said.

"James is right, I am safe here." Thomas hummed in satisfaction. "And I can't wait to go to Henry's forest with him." He smiled, the blush becoming a bit darker.

He puffed up the hill the leads towards the docks. A loud 'CRACK' was heard as he made it to the top of the hill. "Huh?" Thomas pondered, wondering what the crack was. Starting to go down the hill, he put on his breaks only to have his eyes widen in fear. His breaks had stopped working.

"On! On! On! On!" The cars laughed as they started to push Thomas down the hill.

"Stop!" Thomas cried out in fear as he tried to make his breaks work. "Help!" He called out as the fireman and driver started to pull down on the brake lever. Thomas panicked as the goods train continued to push him down the tracks at a dangerous speed. He thought about the time when he took Edward's goods train years ago and had the same thing happen to him as it did now. Speeding down the tracks, he noticed a blue tender engine puffing down the tracks next to his. "Edward! Help!" Thomas cried out as he sped past Sodor's number 2 engine.

"Thomas?!" Edward gasped in shock as he watched his brother sped past him. Narrowing his eyes in determination, he sped down the tracks, following him. Panting a bit, he eventually caught up to Thomas.

"I can't stop!" Thomas cried out as he looked at his brothers. His wheels ached from the speed he was traveling as he felt sick to his boiler. "My breaks broke, and the cars keep pushing me!" He yelled out worriedly.

"I'll try to stop you!" Edward panted as his driver slowly climbed onto his running plate. He did this once before when some kids were messing with James' controls, causing him to become a runaway. The number 2 engine panted as he kept himself slightly in front of Thomas but watched as Thomas slowly got in front of him. Edward's wheels ached as he puffed his pistons as fast as he could, trying to catch him as the driver slowly climbed back into Edward's cab.

Both Thomas and Edward could see Brendam Docks coming into view and the tank engine felt a sinking feeling enter his boiler. He whimpered as he continues to try to use his breaks, even though he knew it wouldn't work. Both engines flew into the docks but what they saw in front of them caused their bodies to go cold. In front of them was the huge puddle of smelt, still flaming hot as the steam and heat rose into the air. They also noticed the metals pipes scattered across the tracks, some melting while sitting in the puddle.

Thomas' eyes widen in fear as he stares at the smelt getting closer and closer. The images from his nightmare just last night flashed into his mind. He could hear Frankie's and Hurricane's laughter as he felt the heat of the smelt got closer as he fell from the magnet. He cried out as tears fell from his eyes.

"Thomas!" Edward, Henry, Cranky, Carly, and Salty yelled out in fear as they watched the tank engine heading straight towards the molten smelt puddle.

Edward bit his lip fearfully as he looks at the broken face of Thomas. The tears falling and the look of absolute fear on his face made Edward's boiler ache. Looking ahead of him, he noticed a metal pipe laying across the track he was on. He was about to use his breaks when an idea flew into his funnel. He took a deep breath as he sped down the tracks, slowly passing Thomas as he heads straight towards the pipe.

"Edward!" Henry cried out worriedly, watching as his sapphire sped up towards the metal pipe instead of slowing down.

'Oh Lady, please let this work.' Edward thought as he sped as fast as he could. His driver and fireman jumped out of his cab when he ran into the pipe.

He groaned in pain as he felt his front wheels break and bend upon hitting the pipe at full speed. The pipe rolled under him, causing his wheels to crack and his coupling rods break. He closed his eyes as he felt himself tipping onto his side. Thomas gasped as he watched his brother hit the metal pipe head-on. He was confused about why he did that, and his eyes widen as he watched the number 2 engine start to derail onto his side, straight at him. Thomas closed his eyes as he felt Edward fall onto him, the force causing him to derail on his side as well.

Some of the troublesome cars fell onto their side while the rest just crashed into each other. Thomas groaned as he slowly skidded to a stop, away from smelt. Coughing a bit from the dust, he slowly opened his eyes, only to widen them in fear as he watched his older brother. Henry, Salty, and Cranky also looked on in fear as Edward, laying on his side, slid into the smelt, coming to a stop in the middle.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The loud, agonizing scream left Edward's mouth as he felt the molten steel start to melt his body. He felt his wheels melting like butter as his running plate, boiler, coupling rods started to sink slightly from how much the smelt was melting him. He clenched his eyes shut as he felt the smelt start to burn the right side of his face. Never has he felt so much pain at this intensity in his life before. The water in his boiler bubbled faster from the heat of the smelt that it felt like his entire body was engulfed in flames. His tender box had detached itself from him as it laid near the edge off the smelt puddle, it too was melting as the pile of coal caught on fire from the heat.

Sirens could be heard getting closer, despite Edward's agonizing screams, as the Search and Rescue Team arrived. Belle and Flynn gasped at that sight of their friend slowly being melted alive. Without hesitation, they quickly aimed their water cannons at Edward, and the spilled smelt and started firing water at the scene. Steam quickly rose up and covered the entire area when the smelt was instantly cooling down from the cold water. Cracking and snapping sounds could be heard within the steamed covered area as the melted tracks and Edward was cooled down. Within minutes, Belle and Flynn ceased their water cannons once all the spilled smelt was completely cooled down.

Thomas quickly moved his eyes around as felt Rocky slowly pulling him into an upright position. Worriedly looking around, his eyes widen as a gasp left his mouth. In front of him laid Edward. His beautiful blue livery was scorched and bubbly from the heat of the smelt. His tender box was burnt when the coal had caught on fire and the livery was almost completely black. Cracks covered Edward's body as the hardened smelt encased the parts of Edward covered in a hardened case. His wheels were cracked and broken as half of his funnel was melted. But what made Thomas start to panic was the lack of sound the came from his older brother.

"Edward…" Thomas cried out as tears fell from his eyes. He clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, causing more tears to fall.

"EDWARD!"

Chapter Text

"EDWARD!" Thomas cried out as he tried to get his older brother to make a sound. Any sound that would indicate if he was still alive. He cried in pain as he felt himself being pulled onto a flatbed attached to Porter. "No! I'm not leaving without Edward!" Thomas cried as he glared at them.

The others were shocked at his outburst, never hearing the tank engine act like that but understood why he was like this. Edward was more family to him than a friend and it's hard to see anyone, friend or family, to see those you love hurting.

"You need to get checked out, Thomas." Rocky said in a quiet voice. "Edward will join you at the Steamworks soon."

"Rocky's right Thomas." Porter said, trying to keep reassure Thomas. "They will bring Edward in soon, but you have to go to be repaired."

Thomas clenched his eyes shut as sobs escaped his mouth.

"Listen Thomas, I know Edward is important to you. He's also our friend and we're all hurting at seeing our friend like this." Porter said quietly. "Edward wouldn't want you hurting and would tell you to go to the Steamworks."

Thomas tried to quiet his sobs as he looked over at Edward. The workmen and the Search and Rescue men were busy trying to break the hardened smelt from Edward as quickly as possible. Henry had moved as close as he could, talking to Edward as he too tried to make him create a sound. Thomas moved his eyes up and watched as Cranky was loading the now empty cauldrons onto an empty flatbed attached to Salty. Looking down at the flatbed was on, Thomas sighed quietly.

"Alright." Thomas said quietly. He felt a small tug before Porter started to pull the flatbed towards Sodor's Steamworks. Thomas moved his eyes up as he watched Edward, his friend, and brother, slowly fade from his sight.

Sir Topham Hatt was busy looking over schedules as he sat at his desk. Looking through charts and the map on his desk, He started to move that small, modeled trains around. "That should do it." He smirked to himself as he puts the charts down.

He jumped as the loud ringing from his phone filled the room. Picking it up, he cleared his throat and holds it against his ear. "Hello?" He hummed as continues to move the small, metal trains over the map. His eyes widen as he froze in place. "What? How did this happen?" He asked in a shocked voice. "Make sure they help him and to take him to the Steamworks immediately after he's freed." The Fat Controller said sternly as he hung his phone up. Looking back at the map, he gently picks up the two, blue, metal trains up, the numbers 1 and 2 painted on their side. "Oh, Thomas and Edward." He said quietly, his voice full of sadness.

Putting the trains down, he picks his phone up and dialed one of the signal boxes. "Tell the signalmen to put the tracks from Brendam Docks to Crovan's Gate on standby for an immediate shut down for an emergency transportation." Sir Topham Hatt said determinedly as he hangs up. Picking the phone up again, he calls the station house at Brendam Docks. "Is Henry still there?" He asked, waiting for a reply. "Good, I want him to be the one to transport Edward to the Steamworks." He hummed as he hangs up again. Picking the phone up for the third and final time, he dialed the Steamworks. "Hello, Thomas will be in shortly, but I want you to assemble a team on standby for an emergency that will be the top priority." He said as he hangs up. Sitting in his chair, he rubs his hand over his head, body shaking as everything finally hits him.

The Sodor Search and Rescue Team and the workmen at Brendam Docks worked nonstop, hammering and digging the cooled down smelt away from Edward. Henry stared at him in fear, shock, and sadness. The scene still replying in his mind as Edward's screams echoed nonstop. Oh, how that scream of agony that escaped from his sapphire's mouth made his boiler turned cold.

"Please Edward." Henry pleaded quietly as he puffed as close as he can to him. "Please make some type of noise." He said desperately.

Duck, who brought the breakdown train, Jerome and Judy, continues to stare in shock at his friend. When he was told by a workman at the Quarry to collect Judy and Jerome, he was never expecting to see a scene like this. Even working on the Great Western Railway, he never saw an accident where half an engine had melted in molten smelt.

"Oh, Edward." Duck whispered sadly as he continued to watch the workmen and Search and Rescue work on freeing Sodor's number 2 engine.

"Henry, when Edward is ready to be transported, you are to take him to the Steamworks as quickly as possible. The railway will be on lockdown from here to Crovan's Gate for you." A workman said as he walked up to the huge, green engine.

"Y-Yeah." Henry said in a shaken voice, his eyes not once leaving Edward's body.

"Ted, Matthew, Robert, and Caleb, start putting chains under Edward for Carly can lift him up. Make sure the chains are secured tightly for they won't be sliding along him." A workman said. "Everyone else, start freeing the tracks a bit more for Duck can move Judy and Jerome closer to Cranky. We're going to pass Edward from Carly to Cranky to Judy and Jerome for we won't slide him from the ground."

The workmen agreed as they swiftly got to work. Zackary, the one who gave the orders, looked over at Edward sadly. 'We'll get you to the Steamworks soon. I promise.' He thought before looking at one of the Search and Rescue volunteers. "Go get the biggest tarp you can find. I don't want any other people or engines to see Edward in this state." Zackary demanded as he watched the workmen scurry off.

"The secluded spot is ready and prepared for Edward, boss." Kevin said as she hastily drives over to the Cuban engine.

"Good." Victor hummed softly as he slowly puffs to the corner of the Steamworks. A huge cloth was hanging from the ceiling and tied to the floor. 'Never would I expect a situation like this.' The Cuban engine thought sadly before puffing over to Thomas.

Thomas looked down as he dangles from a crane. He winced a bit as the workman started to take his damaged coupling rods off. His cheeks stained with tears as he cried silently while he closed his eyes. 'It's my fault.' He thought sadly as he opens his eyes a bit. 'Because of me, Edward is hurt and it's all my fault!'

"Thomas?" Victor called softly as he stops in front of him. "I know you are upset about what happened but don't think that this is your fault."

"It is my fault!" Thomas snapped, angry tears falling down his cheeks. His sudden anger caused everyone to jump back before slowly going back to work. "Because of me, Edward is hurt! He's hurt because he saved ME instead of doing his jobs!" The tank engine cried angrily. "Because of me, he's probably…"

"That's enough Thomas." Victor said sternly, causing the tank engine to look at him sadly. "Edward protected you because you are his brother and he loves you." He hummed softly. "I may not know him as long as you or the others have, but I can tell he deeply cares about you and willing to protect you from anything." He said, smiling at the small engine. "I can also tell that he wouldn't want you upset over what happened."

Thomas remained silent as he looked down, rethinking what Victor told him. He knows that Edward loved him and would do anything to protect him, even if it meant risking his life. Taking a deep breath, he sighed quietly before looking at him. "Victor?' He asked quietly.

"What is it, my friend?" Victor asked as he looks up at him.

"W-When Edward is here; may I stay near him?" Thomas asked in a quiet voice.

"Hmm…" Victor hummed in thought. "While you're being repaired, you can but when you're fixed, I'm afraid you can't." Victor said sadly.

"P-Please!" Thomas pleaded. "I won't be in the way and I promise to be quiet!" He begged.

"You still have your jobs to do, Thomas." Victor said softly. "Everyone here will be busy working on repairing him and that it'll take time. I know Edward is your brother, but you also have to do your jobs to be a really useful engine to Sir Topham Hatt." He said sternly before smiling warmly. "I'll allow you to stay some nights after you're repaired, just not every night."

Thomas sighed at Victor's statement but agreed. He knew that if he slacked off on his jobs by being by Edward's side the entire time, he would hear from both him and Sir Topham Hatt. "Alright, Victor." He said softly.

"The chains are in place and secured around him." Matthew said, looking at Zachary.

"Good, good." Zachary hummed softly as he watched as some of the workmen stand wearily on top of Edward, finishing where the chains went. "We're ready Carly!" He called out to the yellow crane.

"Alright!" Carly said as she lowers her hook down to the workmen, watching them attach the chains to her double-sided hook.

"When you go to raise him, do it slowly!" Zachary called out as he walks towards the wounded engine. "He might still be stuck in some places."

Carly gulped and took a deep breath. Her motor and wires ached in anticipation as she looks at the engine. She was fond of the Number 2 engine since he and Thomas brought her to Sodor from the Mainland.

Seeing her friend risk himself for Thomas, she never thought she would see something so brave. Biting her lip, she starts slowly raises her hook up. The chains rattled and clanked as they were slowly rose from their positions. Once the chains tightened, no one was prepared for what they heard.

Edward's scream echoed across the docks and was filled with nothing but agonizing pain as he was lifted and pulled from the ground. Everyone that heard it felt their boilers, motors, and hearts ache and shatter from hearing it and covered their ears or tried to think of something else to distract themselves.

"We need to hurry!" A worker yelled as Carly started to swiftly, yet gently move Edward.

Screams of pain continued to emit from Edward as he was slowly passed to Cranky before being held by Judy and Jerome. Jerome gasped in shock and fear as he looks at Edward's face. Very quickly, a long tarp was placed around Edward to block the wind from hitting him.

"Henry, you need to get Edward to the Steamworks fast." Zachary said as he stands in front of the big green engine. "The lines will be closed for you to travel without any delay."

"U-Undrestood." Henry said in a shaken voice. His boiler still ached, and his wheels trembled as Edward's screams of agony continue to play in his mind. Blowing his whistle twice, he starts to puff down the tracks slowly before picking up speed.

"Tell them to close the lines." Zachary told a worker, watching Henry leave with a sad look on his face. "Please make it, Edward."

Gordon smirked as he pulled the Express down the mainline, traveling at fast speeds. The big, blue tender engine always enjoying pulling the Express more than any other job. "Express coming through!" He yelled, blowing his whistle as he speeds down his Hill.

His eyes narrowed as he sees the signal at the signal station was up with the red light glowing. "Now what?" He huffed in annoyance as he slowed down, pulling himself and the Express onto a siding and stopping. "The Express is going to be late!" Gordon huffed in annoyance as he wheeshed steam in anger.

"I'm not sure." Sean, his driver said as he climbs down from Gordon's cab, heading towards the signal house.

A familiar whistle is heard as Gordon huffs impatiently. "Why must the mainline be open to Henry of all engines?" The number four engine grumbled as he watched the green engine speed past him at alarming speeds while pulling Judy and Jerome. A covered figure is being held by the cranes of the breakdown train. As Henry passed, some of the airlifted part of the tarp up. Gordon's eyes widen as he feels his boiler go cold as he sees part of a familiar blue engine from underneath the tarp.

"Gordon!" Sean yelled as he runs towards him as Henry continues to speed down the tracks. "T-There was an a-accident at Brendam docks and E-Edward..." He choked out before crying.

Tears slowly formed in Gordon's eyes as he realized that what Sean said confirmed his fears. His older brother was hidden under the tarp, being taken towards the Steamworks. "I-I need to go!" He yelled in worried. "I need to be with him!"

"Y-You will but we need to finish the Express." Sean said, trying to persuade the big engine.

"Screw the Express!" Gordon cried out in anger. "My FRIEND was injured! I NEED to be there for him!" He growled as tears fell from his eyes.

Sean stared at Gordon with a sad face. "I know you do, Gordon, but You'll only be in the way while Victor works on him. I promise after we are done with the Express, we'll go to the Steamworks." Sean said as he gently rubs Gordon's buffers.

Gordon sighed as he looks down. "Alright..." He huffed solemnly. Waiting till Sean climbed back into his cab, he blows his whistle twice and started to pull the Express again.

Chris, Gordon's fireman, looked at Sean in shock. "I-Is he?" He asked in a scared voice.

"No." Sean sighed before lowering his voice. "But Edward became like this when he knocked Thomas away from spilled molten iron." he whispered, making sure Gordon didn't hear.

Both the driver and fireman of the number 4 engine shivered, fearing how Gordon will react when he finds out two of his friends are at the Steamworks from the same accident.

"Ow ow ow…" Thomas hissed in pain as the workers started to repair his buffers and wheels.

"Everything will be alright, my friend." Victor said in a calming voice as he puffed up to the tank engine. "You will be repaired soon, and you can continue your jobs."

"B-but Edward." Thomas whimpered softly.

"Remember our promise, Thomas." Victor said in a gentle voice. "Even when you're done with your jobs, you can still sleep here, only for some nights."

Thomas opened his mouth to say something but stopped when the sirens turned on.

"Edward is almost here!" A worker yelled as he and the others start to scramble around. They moved Thomas out of the way to clear the tracks to the secluded area they made.

"Our top priority is to repair and help Edward." Victor said in a stern voice. "He has suffered severe injuries earlier today and will need to be worked on as soon as he in place."

Henry's whistle echoed as he slowly puffs into the Steamworks with Judy, Jerome, and the tarp-covered Edward. His cheeks were red as he panted hard as he slowed to a stop. His wheels and pistons ached for he has never moved at those speeds.

Thomas started at Edward's covered body in shock and fear. Tears fell from his eyes as his boiler ached. He wanted to call his brother's name out, just to hear his voice again and for they can go home to Tidmouth Sheds. He opened his mouth but nothing came out as the shock of the sight took a hold of his body

"P-Please be careful with him." Henry panted in worry. "H-He is in a lot of pain and the slightest movements hurt."

"We will be careful of Edward, Henry." Victor said softly as he moved Judy and Jerome into place.

"It's very bad, Victor." Jerome said softly as he and Judy slowly moved Edward to the crane in the Steamworks.

A groan that almost sounded like a gasp is heard from the tarp as Edward was moved onto the other crane. Everyone cringed and felt sick at the sound, imaging the pain the blue tender engine is feeling. Thomas cried as the flashback of this morning's accident played through his head. The echoing of Edward's scream as he slid into the molten smelt that laid on the tracks. His wheels trembled as he tried to get rid of the repeating memory. He jumped as Edward started to scream in pain again as he lowered to the ground a tiny bit.

"Do it gently." Victor called out to a worker working on the Steamwork's crane.

They had lowered Edward's body close enough to the ground, so his badly damaged wheels rested on the ground. Then they started to move the crane sideways to try to get him into a standing position. They had raised and closed the tarps around Edward for they can work on him properly and without any disturbances. Some of the crewmen started to remove the tarp from the injured engine and everyone gasped in shock.

Almost the entire right side of Edward's body had melted or completely gone. The entire side of his boiler melted away, revealing the side of his firebox and boiler itself. His running plate was deformed and melded against the damaged boiler and firebox. His two of his wheels that were melted against him was a blob of blue and silver metal. The nubs and gauges in his cab had been bent and twisted from the heat and smelt as his cab and cab door were ripped off when they pulled him up. What really made him nauseous and shocked was his face.

The right half of his grey face was now bloody, red, and black. Blood trickled down as his eyes were clenched shut. He gritted his teeth in pain and even the skin was blistered and ripped off. A part of his lip was gone, showing a bit more of his teeth. Bloody blisters started to form along his cheek and near his right eye. One of the workmen ran over to a trash can and empty the contents of his stomach. Victor stared at the number 2 engine in disbelieve as his boiler ached at the gruesome sight. All these years after he was built, never has he seen such injuries on another engine.

"Find someone who helps engines with serious injuries on them." Victor told the workmen sternly. "And fast."

One of the workmen nodded and ran off quickly. Sighing, Victor looked back up at Edward with a sad face. Puffing backward a bit and out from behind the curtains, he looks at Kevin.

"I need you to collect some of Edward's spare wheels and bring them over, gently." Victor hummed as he looks at his crane friend.

"Right boss." Kevin whispered, still shaken from seeing Edward as he quickly drives over towards the parts, knocking different parts over.

"H-How is he?" Thomas asked in a timid voice as he and Henry looked at the Cuban engine.

"I'm afraid it's bad, my friends." Victor said softly. "But I promise you, we will have him fixed in no time." He said, trying to reassure the two engines.

Thomas whimpered quietly as he looks down. His buffers and wheels ached from what Edward did to save him, but he didn't care. He just wanted his brother now, to hear his voice and to tell him that everything's alright. He clenched his eyes shut as tears started to fall. Henry looked up at his friend in worry. He too was aching to have his blue lover back with them. He wanted to hear Edward's soft voice again, not that screaming and whimpering he heard earlier. He looked at the curtains that hid Edward from everyone and looks back at Thomas, slowly puffing up to him.

"I-It'll be alright, Thomas." Henry said in a soft voice, his voice shaking as he was still in a state of shock. "Edward will be with us soon. Victor will have him fixed up in no time."

Thomas sniffed and looked down at the green tender engine with a sad, broken voice. With teary eyes, he looks at the curtains as well, longing to see and hear Edward, his brother, soon.

By tea time, everyone on Sodor heard about the accident that involved Edward and Thomas. The news had spread like wildfire when Duck left Brendam Docks and told Oliver when he passed him. News travels quickly on Sodor thanks to the engines, cranes, and vehicles. Everyone went into a state of shock once they heard the news. The ones who were deeply affected are the Steam Team. When they arrived on Sodor, Edward was the very first engine they met. He trained them in the yards and helped them with other jobs. They all looked up to Edward as their mentor and friend.

Gordon rested in Vicarstown Station, looking sad. He can hear his passengers talking about Edward and that made him feel worse. Throughout the years living on Sodor, he always teased the number 2 engine. He called him 'old,' unreliable,' and 'slow.' It took Thomas to make him tell Edward thank you for pushing him up his hill a few months ago, when Edward helped him multiple times before that.

"I feel so sorry for Edward."

"I agree, and I also feel sorry for Thomas for he witnessed it."

This caught Gordon's attention immediately. Thomas witnessed his brother gets injured.

"Edward saved Thomas life by making himself go into that dreadful smelt."

Gordon's eyes widen in horror and shock. Edward risked his own life to make sure Thomas doesn't get hurt? His breathing started to pick up as his mind starts to show images of both Thomas and Edward getting injured with the smelt. He jumped when his conductor blew his whistle and waved his green flag. Gordon blew his whistle twice as he starts to slowly puff down the tracks. A loud whistle blew twice as he sees Percy sadly puffing into the station as well.

"Gordon...did you…" Percy started to say but was cut off by Gordon.

"Yes Percy, I heard." Gordon muttered quietly as he starts to speed down the tracks.

Thomas sighed sadly as he looks at the tarps the covered the area where they were working on Edward. He winced as a workman started to fix his damaged buffers, the stinging feeling spreading across his body. A familiar whistle is heard followed by the screeching sound of breaks.

"Thomas?!"

"James!" Thomas answered the frantic voice of his lover. Tears weld up in his eyes as the red number 5 engine puffed up to him.

"Thomas, are you alright?!" James asked in a worried voice as he pants. When he heard the news, he quickly finished his job and raced to get to the Steamworks as fast as he can. He sees the tears in his blue star's eyes started to fall as he cries.

"It's terrible!" Thomas cried as he clenched his eyes shut. "Edward is hurt because of ME. If I hadn't been so scared, he wouldn't have pushed me and…"

"Stop Thomas." James said quietly as he puffs a bit closer, leaving enough room for the workmen to do their job. "None of this YOUR fault. Edward would've done this no matter what. He's your brother and he would do everything to protect you, even risking his life. Don't ever think this is your fault and I know Edward wouldn't want you to blame yourself either." He said softly. "I may not have a strong bond with him as you do, but I have known him longer and Edward is the kind of engine who would put others first before himself."

Thomas sniffed and slowly looks at James with a sad face. His eyes were red from crying and looks almost broken. "Believe me, Thomas, Edward will be better in no time, you'll see." James said softly with a sad smile on his face.

Thomas sniffed and looked down. "A-Alright James. I believe you." He whispered softly, looking back at his shining ruby was a small smiled.

"Be careful with that load, Kevin." Victor's voice echoed in the Steamworks.

James and Thomas looked over to see Kevin slowly lifting a pallet up. They both cringed when they see the half-melted and broken wheels that belonged to Edward being moved across the workshop. Some sparks flew out of the tarps as they hear the torches being used as the sound of metal hitting the ground. Some of the workmen carried the parts over to a truck that was to be sent to the scrapyard. Thomas shook and clenched his eyes shut, fearing that Edward would be taken to the scrapyard to be melted down.

Chapter Text

Edward groaned softly as he slowly opens his eyes. His body felt heavier than normal and noticed how he was in a pitch-black abyss. Turning his lamp on, he can see the tracks he is on, but the light only reaches three feet in front of him.

"Hello?" He called out into the darkness, his voice echoing loudly as no other sound is heard.

Moving his eyes around, he could tell that he was alone. Even though his fireman and driver weren't in his cab, he could still control his body. Taking a deep breath, he slowly puffs down the tracks. His wheels and pistons ached like they haven't been moved in days.

"Thomas? Henry? Gordon? Sir Topham Hatt?" Edward called out, still only hearing the echoes of his voice as he puffs further into the darkness.

"He's not looking very good, boss," Kevin said in a worried voice, looking up at Edward.

Edward was hanging a few inches off the ground, groaning at the pain the lift was causing him. A train sized gauze covered the right side of his face, covering the severe burns to protect them from getting infected. The entire right side of his body was either melted or just completely gone. His entire boiler had a deep gash, revealing the inside of him. His damaged wheels, buffers, cab door, and the wheels from his tender box were already sent to the scrapyard to be melted down.

"Edward is in severe pain, Kevin," Victor said sadly as he slowly puffs backwards. "But until the engine specialist arrives, we really can't do much to help him, except to do minor repairs."

"But don't we have anything to help him not feel pain?" Kevin asked in confusion as he follows him.

"Only for minor things," Victor sighed.

"Victor?"

Both Kevin and Victor looked over at the tiny tank engine hanging from the ceiling as well. Thomas' eyes were red from crying, but tears no longer fell.

"H-How is he?" Thomas asked in a quiet voice.

"He is hurting, Thomas," Victor hummed as he slowly puffs over to him. "But he will be alright."

"B-But...w-will he have to be s-scrapped...?" Thomas asked in a worried voice, tears starting to flow again.

"Edward is a strong engine, my friend," Victor reassured him. "It will take a lot more than this for him to be scrapped. Besides, I know Sir Topham Hatt won't toss Edward aside."

"I-I know," Thomas sniffled sadly. "I-I just worry that..."

"All engines feel the same way, Thomas," Victor said softly, puffing towards him a bit more. "Every engine fears the same thing. We just need to think about now and push it to the back of our minds," he hummed in a gentle voice. "Edward would not want you to be fearing about that."

Thomas gave a sad smile. "You're right. Edward would do everything to keep my mind from things like that," he said softly.

"That's right, Thomas," Kevin giggled. "Edward doesn't like it when you worry."

"Yes, you're right," Thomas said quietly, smiling a bit. "He would always tell me to smile, or else I would look like James," he giggled softly.

A familiar whistle blew as Henry slowly puffed into the station, a worried look on his face as he looks at Thomas before looking at the white tarp that was up to keep Edward out of sight. Sir Topham Hatt slowly climbed down from Henry's cab and walked over to Thomas. He also had the same worried look as he looks at his number 1 engine.

"Oh Thomas," S.T.H. said softly. "I am so sorry this happened to you. Are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice.

"I am Sir," Thomas said quietly, his gaze moving to the ground. "I'm fine, but Edward..." He whimpered as tears started to fall again.

"Don't worry Thomas," Henry said softly as he slowly puffs towards the small tank engine. "Edward is going to be fine," he said, trying to reassure Thomas and himself.

"Henry is right." S.T.H. smiled as he looks at the two engines. "Edward is a strong engine and he will be repaired, good as new," he said as he as walks over to the tarp on the other side of the Steamworks. "How is he, Victor?"

"I'm afraid not too good, Sir," Victor hummed softly, puffing up to him. "We can only do so much to repair him. We're waiting for a specialist to come to help."

S.T.H. sighed as he walked closer to Edward. The tender engine was lifted a few inches off the rails, being held by a crane. He cringed as he looked at the twisted and melted metal on Edward's entire right side. The wheels were laying on the ground, melted together, and broken into pieces. Huge portions of Edward's boiler were cut away, giving a view on the inside of how the heat started to melt the inside of it and the firebox. His tender box sat in the corner as the workers tried to repair it. S.T.H. frowned worriedly as he looked at the bandages covering the right side of Edward's face.

"When will the specialist arrive?" S.T.H asked quietly as he gently puts his hand on Edward's deformed running plate.

"Tomorrow, Sir," a workman said as he walks out of a small office. "I just got off the phone with her and her ship should arrive sometime around 8 am."

"I see," S.T.H. hummed softly as he keeps his hand on the running plate. "I'll send Gordon to pick her up and to bring her here," he said softly before looking back up at Edward. 'We'll get you fixed up soon, Edward,' S.T.H. thought sadly. 'Just hang in there.'

Edward sighed as he continued to puff down the tracks through the black abyss. It felt like hours has passed since he started, and his wheels started to ache. He gave up calling names out. The only sound he heard was the echo of his voice. Moving his gaze up from the tracks, he spotted a light in the distance.

"Maybe that's the way out!" Edward said happily as he pumped his pistons faster, gaining speed to reach the light.

Edward smiled happily as he sees the light slowly getting bigger as he puffed closer to it. Panting, Edward smiled as he puffed through the light, closing his eyes in relief.  'Please let this take me back home,'  he thought hopefully as he opened his eyes.

Gasping in fear, Edward quickly braked hard, sparks flying off his wheels as he screeched to a stop. Panting hard, he looks around with wide, fearful eyes. His boiler ached as he feels his wheels wobble in fear. He recognized the area easily since Henry's tunnel is behind him and where he came out of, but it wasn't 'Sodor.' The sky glowed in a blood-red color as black clouds floated in the sky. The grass was brown and dead with the trees looking the same. The tracks had splotches of blood and rust as the land was filled with an eerie silence.

Edward gulped quietly as he feels his body become cold despite his firebox burning. Taking deep breaths to calm his breathing, he slowly starts to puff down the tracks with caution. As the K2 engine puffed down the blood-splattered and rusty tracks, he didn't notice the movement as a black mist slowly moved out of Henry's Tunnel. It had glowing red eyes and each movement it made sounded like metal scraping against each other. It stared at Edward with its red eyes, a fanged smile becoming visible in the darkness.

Fog covered the Island of Sodor like an ominous cloud. Gordon sat patiently at Brendam Docks with a single coach coupled up to him. He didn't argue when Sir Topham Hatt asked him to pick up the specialist who would be working on repairing Edward. His fireman and driver stood next to the big engine as they waited for the specialist. Around them, some of the crewmen were busy digging and breaking the tracks and the splattered metal of the smelt that cooled down. Gordon stared at the mess in front of him and felt his pistons shake, seeing bits and pieces of melted and torn metal, some with a familiar blue paint left on them. He clenched his eyes shut as he tries to block out the image and the sounds of the workmen's crew and tools.

"It'll be alright," Gordon's fireman said softly, rubbing his running plate. "We won't be here for much longer."

"I think I see her," Gordon's driver said as all three of them looked at the steps leading up to the ship.

A woman wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, and a white lab coat walked down the steps that were connected to the boat. She has long black hair and sharp green eyes. She walks over to a man with a cart full of bags and pays him before walking over to Gordon's crew. "My name is Maria Maverick. I was summoned to help an engine in a serious manner," she said in a soft tone.

"Welcome to Sodor, Ma'am," Gordon's fireman said as he gently shakes her hand.

"My name is Matt, and this is Nick. We're here to take you to the Steamworks now."

"Thank you," Maria hummed as she walks in front of Gordon, inspecting him. "And what is your name?" She asked with a warm smile.

"Gordon, ma'am," Gordon said softly, a slight smile on his face. Usually, he would be proud and boast about himself but after what happened to Edward, he couldn't bring himself to be like his normal self.

"Strong name for a strong engine," Maria giggled as she rubs her hand on his running plate. "By your built and size, I can see you were built for speed in delivering coaches to their destinations on time."

"You are correct," Gordon smiled, slowly feeling like his normal self from the praising. "I am the fastest engine on the island."

"I am glad to hear that," Maria smiled as she walked towards the coach. "We must make haste so I can work on this injured engine," She hummed as she climbs into the coach after her bags were loaded into it.

"Yes, ma'am," Gordon and his crew said as the two men climbed into Gordon's cab. Blowing his whistle twice, Gordon started to puff slowly before picking up the pace.

Sitting in the coach, Maria opens a file with a copy of Edward's paperwork and blueprints. "So, he's a FR 21/K2 class steam locomotive with the configuration 4-4-0," she hummed to herself as she looked at the file. "He's a tender engine with a 4'8½" gauge," she muttered as she pulls out a pen and his blueprints. "From what they told me, his entire right side is damaged. Boiler completely opened and visible along with the firebox, wheels and coupling rods melted together, face badly burned." She sighed as she leans back in her seat. "This poor engine," she hummed as she looks out of the window. "I have my work cut out for me."

Gordon blew his whistle twice as he slowly puffs into the Steamworks as far as he could. He saw Thomas sitting on the tracks as the workmen inspected him. Thomas smiled as he sees the big blue engine stopping in front of him.

"Hello, Thomas," Gordon smiled as he looked at the small tank engine. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing alright," Thomas hummed softly. "I'm fully repaired and about to get a new coat of paint, but..." He muttered as he sadly glanced at the hanging white tarp.

Gordon looked at the same tarp and felt his boiler fill with dread. He knew that Edward was behind that tarp, hurting and in severe pain. Letting steam out to calm himself, he looks over at Thomas. "Edward will be alright," he said softly. "I brought the specialist and she will help him feel better."

"Hello there," Maria smiled as she walks up to Thomas, the workmen unloading her luggage and bags. "What is your name?"

"T-Thomas, ma'am," Thomas said, a bit startled by her appearance but smiled slightly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Thomas," Maria smiled as she walks around Thomas, inspecting him. "Hmm...an LB&SCR E2 class tank engine, 0-6-T configuration, and a 4'8½" gauge," she muttered before walking around his front again, smiling. "You are a special tank engine," she giggled.

"T-Thank you, ma'am," Thomas giggled softly, blushing a bit from embarrassment.

"Please, call me Maria," Maria smiled. "None of this ma'am business. Same goes for you, Gordon."

"W-What?" Gordon asked, startled as he broke his gaze from the white tarp.

Maria frowned sadly as she notices the two engines have dreaded looks on their faces. Gently rubbing Gordon's running plate, she walks over to Thomas and does the same thing. "Edward means so much to you two, doesn't he?" She asked softly.

"He does..." Thomas muttered sadly, looking down. "He's...he's my big brother. He taught me everything when I first arrived on Sodor and..." He said before tears started to fall.

"Oh Thomas..." Maria said sadly as she climbs onto his running plate. Pulling out her handkerchief, she gently daps his tears away. "I promise you, young one. I will make Edward feel and look like his old self soon. And then you and he can have more adventures."

"P-promise?" Thomas asked in a small voice.

"I promise," Maria smiled as she walks over to the tarp.

"Everything will be alright, Thomas," Gordon said as he puffs up to him slowly. "You'll see," He said softly before backing up, leaving the Steamworks.

"I hope so..." Thomas said softly as the workmen start to scrape his old paint off.

"So, you run the Steamworks?" Maria asked, walking next to Victor as she studies the saddle/pannier engine. She held Edward's file in her hands and a small tool bag hanging around her shoulder.

"I do, Mrs. Maverick," Victor said softly as he slowly puffs next to her. "I have been after working in the Steamworks when I arrived."

"Very impressive," Maria giggled softly before her face went serious. "So, tell me, exactly what happened to the number 2 engine, please," She hummed softly but also in a serious tone.

"From what Henry, the engine who brought Edward here, said, Edward ran into some metal pipes the dropped on the rails at Brendam Docks. Doing so caused him to tip over and derail Thomas, making himself slide into a huge puddle of smelt," Victor said quietly, looking at her.

"Edward is a very brave engine to put his life in danger to protect another," Maria said quietly, looking over at Thomas as the workmen paint the undercoat on him. "I promise I will do everything to make Edward look like his old self."

"I'm glad to hear that," Victor hummed softly, smiling a bit before frowning. "Just, be aware of the damage he has received," He said as the workmen pulled the tarp aside to let the two in.

"My Lady..." Maria gasped in shocked as she walks in, seeing how Edward's face was scrunched in pain, despite the entire right side of his face being bandaged. She slowly walks along his right side, inspecting the severe damage done to him. "I never imagined he was going to be in this terrible shape," she said softly as she walks closer to his side. Climbing onto his running plate, she walks into the massive gaping hole and stands inside his boiler. "Even the firebox wasn't spared," she muttered as she takes her smartphone out, taking pictures of everything. "It's going to be an extremely long process, but he will be fixed," she said as she steps out of his boiler.

Staying on the running plate, she walks over to his front and stands in front of his face. Putting on sterilized gloves, she pulls out a small scalpel and starts to cut the thick bandages. Pulling them off, she frowns as the ones closer to his face were stained red with some yellow and white marks on them. Taking a deep breath, she pulls the last remaining bandages off and stares at his badly burnt face. One of the workmen covers his mouth as he runs over to a trash can, vomiting while Kevin tipped onto his side as he passed out. The entire right side of Edward's face was badly burnt and some of his flesh melted off. His skin, once grey, was a deep red with black scorch marks on his cheek and brow. The flesh was still radiating a lot of heat as the wound was covered in a sticky, bloody substance as it tries to heal itself. The right side of his lips has melted, easily revealing his teeth. Blisters and abscesses covered the wound as his eyes were clenched shut. The smell of burning flesh easily fills the room.

"Someone change that trash bag," Maria called out as she puts a surgical mask on. "Victor, make sure Thomas is in an area where he can't smell this."

Victor didn't say much as he stares at Edward's face in disgust and horror. He didn't see it when Edward was brought in, and he wished he hadn't. Seeing Edward's body made his boiler ache, but seeing his face made him feel very uncomfortable. His nose burned at the smell of Edward's burning flesh, mixed with the small amount of metal. His pistons froze as he stared at Edward as his body shook in fear.

"Victor!" Maria called out, trying to snap him out of it. She knew she should've told him to stay out because she knew this would happen. "Make sure Thomas can't smell any of this."

Victor blinked as he snaps out of his gaze, shaking a bit as he stares at the floor. "O-Of course," he said as he puffed backward slowly.

Maria sighed softly as she looked at Edward's face again. "You've gone through so much to face your friend," She said softly as she examines the damage to his face. Pulling out a pair of gloves from her pocket, she puts them on. "I'm sorry about this, Edward," she said softly as she gently puts her hands on his wound. "But I need to do this."

Edward flinched and groaned in pain as his face scrunched up in agony. Maria felt the heat still radiating off the burned flesh as the healing skin looked more like slime. Looking at him sadly, she slowly pries his eyelids apart. His sclera was a deep red with yellow splotches and there appeared to be some of it missing. Over his cornea was a deep slash-like wound and his pupil was a cloudy white/grey in color with a slight blue hue. Reaching a hand into her pocket, she pulls out a flashlight and turns it on. Using one hand to hold the eyelids open, she holds the flashlight to shine it onto his eye. Seeing the reaction, she sighs as she gently closes it.

"I'm afraid he won't have vision in this eye anymore," Maria sighed softly as she puts her flashlight away.

"Can't you do anything to help him?" A workman asked worriedly.

"I'm afraid the damage is severe," Maria said softly as she takes her gloves off. "His sclera is burned with parts of it missing and a deep slash in his cornea that damaged his iris permanently," she hummed as she hops off his running plate, walking over to her bag. "I'm probably able to save his eye, but not his vision," she said softly as she opens her bag, pulling out her clipboard. "Also, his body needs to be scrapped."

"Scrapped?!" The workman gasped in shock.

"We can't just scrap him!" A workman yelled angrily.

"I didn't say all of him," Maria deadpanned. "I'm talking about his boiler, firebox, funnel, and cab," she hummed softly. "Just putting metal to cover the damaged area will do more harm than good since the heat will be against both new and old metal. The firebox will create more heat on the side with the newer metal since it'll be new."

"But...what about his face?" Kevin asked softly as he was still on his side, looking away from Edward's face after regaining consciousness.

"We'll move it to an enclosed and sterilized area so I can treat the wound easier while the workmen assemble his new body," Maria hummed as she writes notes. "I'm going to need these items if you can kindly get them for me, please," she hummed as she hands one of the workmen a piece of paper and a wad of money. "That should cover all of it."

"W-Where can I even get this stuff?" A workman asked nervously as he takes the list and money.

"There's a shop on the Mainland that has medical stuff for engines. I would've already gotten the stuff if I had known he was in this bad of shape," Maria said softly as she looked at Edward. She hummed in thought before looking at the workman. "Take the fastest engine you can to that place. I want to start working on him tonight when Thomas isn't here," She said firmly.

Edward looked around worriedly as he slowly puffs down the blood and rust-covered tracks. The trees were still black while the ground, sky, sun, and clouds were various shades of red. His boiler ached as the dreadful silence of the land was disturbed by the sounds of his pistons.

"S-Someone has to be here," Edward said nervously to himself as he continued to puff down the tracks.

Looking around, he notices a station that was slowly coming into view. He smiles as he recognizes Knapford Station, besides its crumbling building. But what really made him smile was the familiar shape of Gordon standing proudly in the station.

"Gordon!" Edward said excitedly as he puffs faster towards the huge tender engine. "I am so glad to see you! What happened to Sodor? And what happened to every-." He gasped before forcing himself to break hard.

Coming to a complete stop, he felt his boiler run cold as his body shook in fear. The once brilliant blue livery of Gordon was now faded with rust spots covering him. His wheels are completely rusted with the brilliant yellow 4 completely missing. But what really startled him was the front of Gordon. His face was completely missing with his boiler badly pried open as the front end had exploded. Edward gulped weakly as he notices the blood and parts of Gordon's face stuck to the pieces of metal that were still connected to his boiler. Tears prick Edward's eyes as he starts to hyperventilate. The tears streamed down his face as he swiftly puffs down the tracks, wanting to get away from the destroyed engine.

"Anyone?! Help!" Edward cried out as he continues to race down the tracks of the demented island.

Back at the abandoned station, the sound of clinking metal was heard along with a screech of moving metal. Liquid metal slowly dripped onto the destroyed Gordon, slowly moving him sideways and off the tracks.

A day had passed since Maria arrived on Sodor to help repair Edward. She stood in front of the comatose engine, taking a sip of her hot tea as she studies his face. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the emotions of fear and panic expressed themselves. His lips were moving slightly as a tear starts to slide down his left cheek.

"You poor thing..." Maria said softly, looking up at him sadly. Putting her tea on a box, she gently climbs onto his running plate and gently wipes his tear away with her sleeve. "I will get you fixed. I promise," she hummed softly, gently rubbing his cheek.

"They arrived, Doctor," a workman said softly as he walks up to her.

"Thank you. And call me Maria," Maria hummed as she walks outside.

Slowly backing two flatbeds into the Steamworks, Connor has a concerned and worried look on his face. "I hurried over here once the bridge was open," he said worriedly. "And I heard what happened. Is he..."

"He's alive," Maria hummed softly, looking up at the Streamlined engine. "And thank you for bringing this here so soon," she said, looking up at the teal and grey streamliner.

"Of course. Edward has always been so kind to Caitlin and me, and when we heard about his accident, we..." Connor muttered quietly, feeling sick to his boiler.

"He'll be alright," Maria said softly, gently putting a hand on his coupling rod. "The things you've brought over will help him heal," she reassured him. "Now then, relax and think about your jobs today," she hummed softly as she walks towards the flatbeds.

"Y-Yes ma'am," Connor said softly as he blows his horn slightly, slowly puffing out of the Steamworks.

"Alright, everyone!" Maria called out as she walks over to the tarp-covered area. "The people who are within this tarp will not be leaving!" She said loudly. "Once we start working on Edward, no one, and I mean NO ONE is to enter this area. The entire enclosure has already been sanitized and I do not want the fumes and any other outside things to enter this place until I say so. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am!" The workmen said loudly.

"Victor, I need you to bring the biggest flatbed over here. We're going to need it," Maria hummed softly as she put surgical gloves and mask on.

"I'll get right on it, ma'am," Victor said as he puffs backwards.

"It's Maria..." Maria groaned as she walls into the tarped area.

The workmen that were helping her were wearing lab jackets, blue surgical gloves, and surgical masks as they were starting to slowly take Edward's gauges and levers out of his cab. In the back corner, a huge sterilized tarp laid on the ground with some monitors and huge bags of IV hanging off hooks.

"So...how are we going to do this?" A workman asked as he watched pull out cushion padding.

"We're going to move Edward's face on the tarp I placed on the floor so I can work on him while you guys work on taking his boiler, cab, and everything else on his running plate," Maria hummed as she hangs the padding off of the crane's hook.

"You mean...completely take him apart?!" Another workman gasped in shock, his skin going pale.

"Correct," Maria hummed as she walks over to her bag. "Adding a new sheet of metal to close that hole will cause a lot of problems," She hummed as she pulls out a syringe with a 5-inch-long needle that was a tiny bit thicker than normal needles. "The inside of his boiler hasn't been replaced in years, so it's already used to the heat. Adding a new sheet of metal will cause the piece to heat up faster and would just cause him nothing but pain for years." She said as she fills the syringe with a clear liquid. "Imagine having back pain and no matter what you do, you still feel pain," she hummed as she walked over Edward, climbing onto his running plate. "Now then, I will need three strong workmen next to me while two others remove the bolts that hold his face in place," she says as she slides the needle of the syringe into his cheek at an angle, injecting the liquid into him.

"But...wouldn't that hurt him?" Aden, one of the workmen, asked in concern.

"Not with the numbing sedative I just injected into him," Maria hummed as she jumps off from his running plate. "This sedative is strong enough to knock a human out for a month and a half," she hummed, tossing the syringe away. She grabbed a box and walked over to the crane's hook. Opening up the box, she pulls out a huge padded face mask with straps attached to it. "Alright, this is where it's going to be a bit tricky. When all of the bolts are completely removed, I'm going to need half of you in front of his face and some of you in his boiler behind his face. His face is going to tilt forward and we have to hold him up while those in the back put the straps together so we can move him to the tarp on the floor. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am!" The workmen said as they all got into their assigned places.

Maria hummed softly as she puts the front of the mask over Edward's face. 'We'll get you fixed up soon,' she thought as she watched as two of the workmen slowly removed the bolts that attached his face to his boiler.

Maria knew that the workmen here aren't used to doing this, looking at how pale some of them were getting. But it was essential for them to do this to save Edward's life. She watched how a tiny bit of blood started to trickle out of the holes as she and the workmen gently pressed their hands against the engine's face, making sure it tilted forward a bit.

"Hurry with the straps, now!" Maria yelled as the workmen standing in the engine's boiler swiftly started to attach the straps together.

The workmen were amazed to see how Edward's face was attached to a circular metal "dish" that held his main organs. Once they made sure the straps were put firmly together, the crane started to move towards the tarp. Edward groaned as the straps pressed against his bandages as he was gently laid on his "back." Maria quickly put an engine sized oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, turning the machine on. The workmen watched how she attached two wires with suction like cups on his left cheek and forehead, the heart monitor turning on revealing his heartbeat.

"Alright...I'll start working on cleaning his wounds, you lot start tearing his body apart and start on his new body," Maria hummed as she tightens her face mask, taking the face mask off him. "And send someone to take...his body to the scrap yard..." She muttered, feeling sick for saying it in that manner.

"R-Right..." Aden said quietly before running off to call Sir Topham Hatt.

"Alright, Edward," Maria said softly as she puts on a clean pair of surgical gloves. "Time to start healing you," she hummed as she gently takes the bandages off.

She frowned sadly as she looked at his red, slightly yellow and slightly black skin caused by the liquid smelt. The smell of burning and decaying flesh easily starting to fill the room. Grabbing a scalpel, she starts to cut the dead skin off of him. The burning was slick and sticky from trying to heal itself, causing it to be a slight problem. Using clamps and tweezers, she pulls the cut skin away and puts the pieces in a bucket. Some areas started to bleed again as she quickly cleans the blood away.

Sir Topham Hatt sighed as he sits in his office, holding a small metal train that was painted blue with a yellow 2 on it. "Oh, Edward...I am so sorry this happened to you..." He sighed as he gently puts the train on a map of Sodor.

Since that tragic day a few days ago, everyone and every engine heard about what happened to Edward. Parts of Brendam Docks were still closed off while repairs were being made to the tracks. Henry and Thomas have been too scared to even go to the docks, making him send other engines to do their jobs. For once, he wasn't annoyed at them for being like this since they witnessed the entire thing happen in front of them. That and Edward meant so much to the two engines that he is willing to make them stop working if they start to have mental breakdowns. When Thomas came out of the Steamworks, he only had him do small jobs before sending him back to his sheds.

He jumped a bit when his phone rang and quickly grabs it. "Hello?" He asked, clearing his throat a bit. "An engine? What for?" He asked in concern. After a few minutes, his skin pales as his eyes widen. "I-I see..." He hummed softly, dread overcoming him along with sickness. "Y-Yes, I'll send one over when you're ready," he said as he hangs up. He remained silent as he covers his face with his hands, his body shaking as he tries not to cry.

Edward panted hard as he sped down the tracks of this apocalyptic hell he was in. The deeper he traveled through Sodor, the more horrific scenes befell him. Seeing his friends derailed, their boilers exploded, and their faces are completely gone. The bloodstains that soaked them and the ground itself. The multiple skeletons were scattered everywhere, some he accidentally destroyed from running over them.

He quickly put his breaks on, sparks flying off as he skidded down the tracks before stopping. He stood there, petrified to see the body of his little brother, Thomas, laying on his side, half of his body melted as it laid in the now cold liquid smelt. He screamed in pain as the right side of his body and face started to hurt like it was on fire. Panting in pain, he swiftly starts to puff backward, wanting to get away from the gruesome sight. Tears stung his eyes as he just wanted to be out of this hellish place. He wanted to be home with his friends, his family, just with everyone. Puffing onto a siding with dead trees surrounding it, tears slid down his cheeks as he cries.

"Why am I here...?" Edward cried to himself, his voice echoing in the silent air. "Why was I brought here?!" He screamed in fear and anger. "WHY?!" He screamed, his voice echoing loudly. Not hearing a response, he clenches his eyes shut as he breaks down crying. "Please...I just want to go home..."

Unknown to him, a dark being stood in a distance, watching him. Its long, metal tentacles moving about as scraping metal is heard. Soon, Thomas' destroyed body was dragged closer to the mysterious dark figure. Blood dripped down its body as it absorbed the small tank engine.

The workmen, Victor, and Kevin watched with heavy hearts as another crane slowly placed Edward's scrapped body onto the two flatbeds. It was disturbing to see an engine with half of its boiler gone and a hole where his face should've been. The sound of creaking metal was haunting as part of his damaged body collapsed onto itself. The cab was separated from the destroyed firebox and boiler, the metal warped and melted, just giving off a haunting feeling.

"I feel sick..." Kevin said quietly as he stares at it. "I never felt like this when we turned Gordon into a streamlined engine."

"That was because we didn't remove everything, my friend," Victor said softly, trying to reassure the small crane. "Why don't you go busy yourself somewhere else in the Steamworks."

"R-Right, boss," Kevin said quietly as he quickly drives away from the scene.

A familiar horn blew as he sees BoCo slowly wheeling into the Steamworks. His face became paler as he sees the mangled and deformed scrap metal that was his friend's body. Gulping silently, he slowly moves onto the turntable to be spun around. "I've...came for the s-scrap..." He said quietly, feeling dreadful for even saying that.

"You're all set," Aden said softly as he walks over to him. "That...is everything that needed to be removed," he hummed quietly as he watched the diesel back up to the flatbeds.

Once the flatbeds were coupled up to BoCo, he blew his horn slightly before moving down the tracks. He felt sick. He felt like he was taking his friend to the scrapyard completely. He shivered as he tried not to look backward. Just seeing Edward's destroyed body was like a nightmare, one that he and everyone on Sodor were in. The sky was grey as the smell of rain increased. What a day to be doing this. As he moved down the tracks, he watched how his lover, Duck, was moving on the opposite track, puffing towards him. He, Duck, and Edward have become great friends over the years and he knew how hard this was going to be.

As Duck puffed down the tracks, he noticed BoCo getting closer as he blew his whistle, smiling a bit. However, as BoCo was about to pass him, he slammed his breaks down, hard. Screeching to a halt, the coaches he was pulling bumped into each other as his eyes widened in fear and horror as he saw Edward's destroyed body on the flatbeds. The passengers stuck their heads out to complain but stopped when they saw the scrap metal. Everyone remained silent as BoCo moved past them, speeding up a bit. He didn't want another engine to see Edward's body in this shape, especially Thomas, Henry, or Gordon.

The heart monitor beeped loudly as Maria continued to fix Edward's face. Blood covered her lab coat as she used a clamp to keep Edward's damaged eyes fully opened. The whites of his eyes were yellow with his veins visible while his iris and pupil were a dull grey/very pale blue. Pulling another syringe out, she puts it in to pull in a clear liquid. Putting the bottle down, she leans over Edward's face and slowly slides the needle straight down into Edward's damaged eye. The needle slid easily past his sclera, through his cornea, through his anterior chamber, and into his pupil. She injected half of the liquid into his lenses before pulling the needle out slightly. Then she did the same in the anterior chamber and lastly the cornea. Pulling the needle out completely, she throws it in the trash and gently removes the clamp.

"We'll get you fixed up in no time," Maria said softly, gently petting his left cheek. She hummed softly as she looks behind her, watching the workmen start fixing his body. "Once they're done, we'll put you back together so you can work on being a really useful engine again. And to be back to those who love and cherish you."

Maria hummed softly as she brings out a tub of silver cream. Squeezing some of the silver paste onto her hand she gently applies it to the burned, yet clean, wounds. Edward hissed in pain and groaned as the paste started to clean the wound. Looking at him sadly, Marina continues to apply the cream, making sure every inch of damaged skin was covered in it.

Chapter Text

Beep...beep...beep...beep...beep

Maria sighed softly as she lowered her scalpel knife onto the white tarp she sat on. It’s been at least three months since she started to work on repairing Edward’s face and he almost looked normal. The burns were still healing and still at a slight risk of infection, but isn’t as horrendous as the day he arrived at the Steamworks. The only bandages on him were over and around his right eye. The rest of his skin has healed but were a very light grey color instead of its normal grey. The right side of his lips was repaired and didn’t look like they were completely gone. Despite how bad his face was burned when he came in, his right eyebrow looked normal as well. The oxygen mask still rested over his nose and mouth, pumping oxygen into him as the sensors kept his heart rate in check. Rolling her neck, she hears a few cracks coming from her neck before looking at the set of tracks next to her. Fourteen brand new blue wheels with a silver trim were attached to a brand new underframe. They had to scrap Edward’s entire body for the damage was too great to be repaired and are waiting for his new body to arrive.

“You’ll be repaired soon, Edward.” Maria said softly as she gently pets his undamaged cheek. 

Edward’s face scrunched up in pain and fear in his comatose state. Maria narrowed her eyes a bit as she watched his lips move slightly like he’s talking, but no words were said. The entire time she was working on his face, it was always the same. Something deep in his mind was affecting him, which also caused his heart to race at times. 

Hearing a familiar ‘peep peep’ whistle, Maria smiled to herself. Almost every day this week, multiple engines, vehicles, and people visited the Steamworks, stopping and talking to Edward even though they had stayed on the other side of the curtain. She knew that if they all saw him like this, they would panic and become full of fear. Checking over Edward’s face again, she stands up and walks out from behind the curtain.

“Morning, Thomas.” Maria smiled as she watched the small tank engine slow to a stop close to the tarp.

“Morning, Maria.” Thomas said softly, a small smile on his face. “H-How is Edward?” 

“He still has a bit of way to go I’m afraid.” Maria sighed a bit. “He still needs a lot of repairs done and we are just waiting for some...parts to come in.” She smiled slightly as she gently pats his running plate. 

“O-Oh…” Thomas said softly as he looked down. “Can...Can I see him now, at least?” He asked hopefully.

“I’m afraid he is still asleep, Thomas.” Maria said softly as she looked up at him. “He still has a slight risk of infection and I don’t want to risk bringing any foreign bacteria inside.”

“I see…” Thomas sighed sadly, letting steam out slowly. “When he wakes up, can...can you let me know?”

Maria smiled warmly at the tank engine, enjoying seeing how much Thomas loves Edward. “You will be the first one to know.” She smiled softly before walking back behind the tarp. 

Thomas looked at the tarp sadly, feeling his boiler ache from knowing that Edward is behind it. For the past three months, he’s been having a hard time doing his jobs. From having panic attacks to crying when he’s alone. The memory of what Edward did to save him kept replaying in his mind. He was glad Sir Topham Hatt understood and gave him small, simple jobs, but felt bad that he isn’t being as useful as the others. During these few months, he and Henry have gotten a bit closer, with Henry telling him things about Edward before he was brought to the island. Thomas knew that Henry was also suffering severely since the incident because he watched first hand what happened. It also didn’t help since they are dating and seeing a loved one in so much pain. Taking one last look at the tarp, Thomas blew his whistle sadly before puffing out of the Steamworks.

Maria sighed softly as she walked back over to Edward’s face. His heart rate has increased a bit as the fearful look increased on his face. “I hope your body gets here soon.” She said softly as she gently placed her hand on his uninjured cheek. “You mean a lot to everyone on Sodor and they all love you very much…” She sighed softly as she sat back down in her chair, keeping an eye on him.

Edward panted hard as he slowly stopped on a siding, his wheels aching from puffing all over the distorted island. Everywhere he went, everyone who resided on Sodor was dead. Engines, people, trucks, just...everyone was gone. The drawbridge in Vicarstown was destroyed, leaving Edward stuck on Sodor. No matter what he did, his tender and boiler never ran out of water and coal and his firebox stayed hot. He just wanted to leave this place, be back home, surrounded by his friends, family, and lover. He wanted to be really useful again, an engine that is proud to work on Sodor. 

“YoU’rE nOt APpReCiAtEd.” A voice whispered in the air.

Edward backed up in fear as he heard the faint whispering surround him. After arriving on this destroyed Sodor, his own voice was the only one he heard. “W-Whose there?!” He called out, fear bubbling in his boiler as he looked around worriedly.

“YoU aRe WeAk.” 

Edward started to hyperventilate as he slowly backed away. The voice, though faint, was dark and twisted. As the number 2 engine backed up, his eyes widened as he saw a dark being rushing towards him. He couldn’t tell if it was moving on rails or using legs, but it was moving fast. A dark aura came off of the thing, making Edward freeze in place. His eyes were wide as the figure got closer. A loud, dark, demonic whistle echoed in the air followed by the same voice.

“YoU aRe NoThInG!”

Edward clenched his eyes shut, screaming in fear as he waited for the impact. His coupling rods and pistons rattled as a sharp cold wind blew past him. After a few more seconds, he didn’t feel the thing crash into him as he slowly opened his eyes. He was still on the siding of the distorted version of his home but the figure was nowhere to be seen. His breathing increased as he looked around in fear, not wanting to encounter that thing again. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his breathing as he sped down the tracks, not wanting to wait for that thing to come back.

As Edward sped down on the track, a figure made of shadows silently rested on the tracks. Black and red steam wheeshed out from under its underframe as black and silver wheels appeared. It silently watched Edward speed down the tracks as a dark smile appeared on its face.

“Do NoT tHiNk YoU cAn HiDe FrOm Me, EdWaRd.” The figure talked in a deep demonic voice, showing razor-sharp teeth. “YoU cAn NoT hIdE fRoM wHaT yOu ArE.” He chuckled before laughing loudly.

Maria yawned softly as she rubbed her eyes, looking at her watch. 5:30 am. Staring at the time, she groaned softly as she stood up from the chair she slept in and stretched. Her bones cracked from sleeping in the chair as she walked over to Edward’s face. She frowned sadly as she saw the tear stains on his cheeks with fresh tears falling. Kneeling down next to his face, she pulled out her handkerchief and gently wiped his tears away.

‘I wish I knew what was going on through your mind, Edward.’ Maria thought sadly as she put her handkerchief away.

“Maria,” Robert, one of the Steamworks workers, said as he walked over to her, “I just received a call from Brendam Docks. Everything to rebuild Edward arrived just now.” He smiled as he stood in front of her.

“Good.” Maria sighed in relief. “Go call Sir Topham Hatt to send a strong engine to pick me up. I want to make sure the measurements are right.” She hummed as she walked over to her stuff, grabbing her notebook.

“Yes, ma’am!” Robert said happily as he ran over to the office.

Sir Topham Hatt yawned as he entered his office, looking drained. The last three months have been very stressful to him with Edward still at the Steamworks. He kept having thoughts that Edward might not be able to work again and that scared him. Edward was the first engine he bought to help on his railway and the wisest of all his engines. He helps others and has a heart of gold, especially when he’s being patient with everyone. Sighing softly, he sits in his chair and picks up the small metal train that was painted blue with a yellow 2 on the side. Sighing softly, he gently put the tiny model on the large map of Sodor on his table, on the area where the Steamworks is at.

RRIINNGG

Sir Topham Hatt yelled a bit as he jumped at the sudden sound of his phone ringing, putting his hand over his heart. Staring at the phone, he took a deep breath and answered it.

“Hello?” Sir Topham Hatt asked as he held the phone against his ear. A few seconds had passed as he listened to the voice, a smile slowly forming on his face. “Tell Maria I’ll have an engine pick her up quickly.” He smiled before hanging up. The smile on his face was bright as he looked at the modeled blue engine on his desk. “You’ll be back home at Tidmouth soon, Edward.” He smiled before quickly leaving his office.

Walking onto the platform at Knapford Station, Sir Topham Hatt smiled when he saw Henry pulling into the station. His expression looked exhausted after pulling the Flying Kipper and the lack of sleep he’s been having. Sir Topham Hatt knew he was still suffering from the incident and was worried when Henry kept having panic attacks like Thomas but he could also tell that he was trying to stay strong. Henry sighed softly as he came to a stop at the station, his expression solemn. For the past three months, he rarely had a good night’s rest because his mind kept replaying the crash. Seeing his lover laying in the smelt, screaming in pure agony, and seeing his body sink lower in the molten steel from melting was something he wished he could forget. His eyes had slight bags under them from lack of sleep as he waited for Philip to take his empty trucks. 

“I have an important task for you, Henry.” Sir Topham Hatt smiled as he walked over to the green tender engine.

“What is it, Sir?” Henry asked in a tired voice, looking at the Fat Controller’s happy face.

“I need you to go pick Maria up at the Steamworks and take her to Brendam Docks.” Sir Topham Hatt said as he held up his clipboard.

“Is...is she leaving…?” Henry asked in a quiet voice, fear bubbling in his boiler.

“Heavens no.” Sir Topham Hatt reassured him, smiling at him. “Edward’s parts came from it.” He said softly, tears filling his eyes as the news hit him again.

Henry froze as he stared at the Fat Controller in shock, his eyes wide. Edward’s parts were in. The parts he needed to be fully repaired. Eyes still wide, his face formed a smile as it widened as excitement filled him. After an agonizing three months, he’ll finally have the love of his life back to him. Tears started to fall down his cheeks as adrenaline pumped through his pistons. He let out some steam excitedly and anxiously waited for the station master to blow his whistle.

“Of course, Sir!” Henry said happily, all signs of exhaustion completely gone from his face.

“And be quick about it.” Sir Topham Hatt smiled as he wiped his tears away. “We can’t let Edward wait any longer to get repaired.”

“Right away, Sir!” Henry said excitedly.

Hearing the Station Master blow his whistle, Henry blew his whistle twice before puffing down the tracks. He started off slowly but once he got onto the tracks that lead towards the Steamworks, he instantly picked up speed. The smile on his face never left as he sped down the tracks, his pistons aching in excitement. Seeing the Steamworks up ahead, Henry smiled brightly as he slowed down upon entering the Steamworks. He sees Maria standing near the secluded area that Edward resided in, his boiler aching happily as the turntable starts to turn him around.

“Morning, Maria.” Henry smiled as he slowly spun around on the turntable.

“Good morning, Henry.” Maria smiled warmly as she took a sip of her hot tea. “Are you ready?” She asked as she walked over to him.

“I am.” Henry said softly, the smile on his face still wide. “I’m just...so happy that Edward is closer to returning back to me.” He said softly, blushing a bit. “I-I mean, back with all of us…” He chuckled nervously.

Maria smiled warmly as she gently patted the side of his cab. “You and everyone else will be.” He said softly as she climbed into his cab. “Morning you two.”

“Morning, Mrs. Maverick.” Sam and David smiled as they greeted the engine doctor.

“For the last time, it’s...nevermind…” Maria sighed softly, tired of telling everyone to call her by her first name. “Anyway, I would like to get to the docks as quickly as possible to make sure the measurements are right so I can start repairing Edward.”

“Of course, ma’am.” Henry smiled as he blew his whistle twice before puffing out of the Steamworks.

Henry smiled as he puffed down the tracks towards Brendam, his boiler bubbling in excitement. His smile was wide as he sped along the tracks, whistling happily. Maria smiled warmly as she leaned out of Henry’s cab, looking at the engine with a small smile on her face. She hasn’t seen the green engine this happy when she first saw him at the Steamworks. Back then, his eyes were filled with fear, sadness, and worry when he kept looking at the secluded area where Edward resided. But now, his eyes were full of life, happiness, and excitement. Gently patting the side of his cab, Maria leans against his tender box and pulls out a piece of paper with Edward’s measurements on it.

“I’m sure the measurements will be right.” Sam said softly, watching Maria stare at the measurements on the paper.

“You can never be too sure.” Maria hummed as she put the measurements away, looking at him. “Even if one of the measurements is off, it’ll be another three months for they can rebuild his body to the right shape and size. If anything is off, it could provide discomfort to Edward or worse.” She said firmly.

“Fair enough.” Dave nodded as he kept an eye on the gauges in Henry’s cab. “No one would want that. Especially Henry and Thomas.”

“Those two engines and Sir Topham Hatt treasure Edward a lot, along with a majority of everyone else on the island.” Maria sighed softly, smiling a bit. “It warms me to know that Edward has touched those who view him as a friend.”

“Be careful with that load, Cranky!” Zackary called out to the crane, watching him slowly lower a long platform with something covered by a tarp.

Cranky groaned as the weight of the cargo strained his rope and hook. After the accident three months ago, his entire rope was replaced with brand new steel one that was stronger then his old one. Carly moved back and forth on her tracks, unloading smaller cargo that was also covered in a tarp. The area where the smelt had spilled was cleared up with the tracks having new planks and rails. Cranky finally sighed in relief as he put the large cargo on a long flatbed.

“That’s the last one.” Cranky hummed as he turned his body to look at Carly.

“I wonder what these are?” Carly asked as she moved back over to Cranky. “I mean, I know they’re to help Edward.”

“More than likely parts.” Zackary hummed as he looked at his charts. “Mrs. Maverick will be here soon to inspect them.”

Not long after he said those words, Henry’s whistle echoed through the docks as he slowly puffed towards them. “Morning, everyone!” He said happily as he stopped next to Cranky.

“Good morning, Henry!” Carly smiled as she looked at her friend. “You seem cheerful today.” 

“Oh, I am.” Henry smiled as his crew and Maria climbed out of his cab. 

“He has every right to be happy today.” Sam chuckled softly, patting his engine’s running plate.

“We shall see.” Maria hummed as she walked over to the tarp-covered cargo. “Can you remove all of the tarps, please?” She asked as she pulled out her measuring tape. 

The crew at the docks wasted no time in removing the tarps, Salty and Porter rolling up to also watch. Untying the ropes, the crew members grabbed the sides and corners of the tarps and started to remove them. Henry, Salty, Porter, Carly, and Cranky could only stare at the revealed cargo, getting a haunted feeling from it. On the flatbeds that Carly loaded were parts ranging from a boiler, firebox, controls, and a tender box. What was the most haunting was on the flatbed that Cranky loaded. Even without his face and the beautiful sapphire color he was always painted, they knew that the hollow piece of metal was Edward’s body. The gaping hole where his face would’ve been and the dark grey color of the metal looked like it belongs in the Scrapyard. Henry’s pistons trembled as he shut his eyes, trying to fight the haunting images out of his mind.

Maria hummed softly as she climbed onto the first flatbed, measuring the radius of the hole where Edward’s face will be going. “Good…” She muttered as she started measuring the rest of his body.

Henry watched as she measured everything else, his eyes kept going back to the frame of his lover’s body. He was glad Edward was going to be repaired, but seeing the parts made his boiler ache. He was afraid to know what Edward looked like now after seeing his old body being sent to the scrapyard. It was eerie and haunting all the same, seeing the destroyed and melted iron with the sapphire blue livery scratched and bubbled up from the heat. Henry could only imagine the pain that his sapphire felt on that tragic day. Within these three months, he’s been trying to block Edward’s screams from his mind.

After two hours of measuring every single piece of Edward’s new body, Maria smiled warmly as she jumped off the long flatbed. “Cover it up so we can take it to the Steamworks!” She called out to the workers as she walked back towards Henry.

The three engines and three cranes sighed happily in relief. Their friend/lover is almost repaired and fixed. Henry’s smile beamed in excitement and happiness as he slowly backed up to the flatbeds. His boiler ached from anticipation as it’s getting closer to Edward coming home. 

“I am so glad they didn’t screw up on the measurements.” Maria sighed in relief as she climbed into Henry’s cab. 

“I’ll say.” Dave chuckled softly as he watched her. “Everyone on Sodor is waiting anxiously for Edward to return.”

“It’ll be a while before he fully returns.” Maria hummed as she looked through her charts. 

“What do you mean?” Sam asked softly, worried if Henry heard her or not.

“Since he lost his right eye, he’s going to need therapy to learn how to work on the railway with only half of his vision.” Maria said softly as she looked at them. “Sometimes engines who lost half of their sight can’t work their fullest and cause more accidents.”

“You mean...Edward might not come back to the railway…?” Dave asked in a solemn voice.

“It’s a high possibility.” Maria said softly. “But, it depends on how well his therapy goes.”

“I hope he does.” Sam sighed quietly. “He means a lot on the railway.”

“I know he does.” Maria hummed softly, smiling warmly. “All the engines, vehicles, and people who have visited the Steamworks, I can tell that they all love and cherish Edward.”

Unknown to them, Henry heard every word and felt his boiler ache. He couldn’t bear it if Edward couldn’t work on the railway again. Especially Thomas. He knew that the small tank engine would be devastated to hear how his brother won’t be working on Sir Topham Hatt’s railway. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the thoughts away as he puffed faster down the tracks.

Victor sighed a bit as he looked at the tarp hanging up. It has been a long few months and very stressful. So many people, engines, and vehicles keep stopping by the Steamworks, constantly asking about Edward. He wasn’t annoyed at the fact, for he is happy to see how many hearts Edward had touched through his years on Sodor. What got him down was how he couldn’t give them an answer yet on how he is doing. Since the start of Edward’s long repair, he kept telling everyone that he isn’t sure how Edward was doing and that he will tell them when he does find out, but so far he hasn’t. 

It has been about 30 minutes since the call came in that Henry was on his way with Edward’s parts and that the lines were shut down for the number 3 engine to get here quickly.

Hearing a familiar whistle, Victor backed up on the track and smiled when he saw Henry slowly puffing into the Steamworks.

“Welcome back, Henry.” Viktor smiles as he slowly puffs up to him.

“Thank you.” Henry said softly, panting a bit as he came to a stop. “Here’s everything for Edward.” He said as Maria climbed out of his cab, the workman uncoupling the green engine from the flatbeds. “Can...Can I stay here while they work on him?”

“Henry.” Dave sighed softly, gently patting his cab. “I know you want to stay here but you do have other jobs to do.”

“Well, yes, but…” Henry timidly said, eyeing the tarps worriedly.

“It’s going to be a long while till Edward is ready to be seen by others.” Maria hummed softly, walking up to the green engine as she gently placed her hand on his running plate. “But I promise, when he is repaired and ready for visits, you and Thomas will be the first ones to know.”

“She is right, my friend.” Victor hummed as he looked at him. “It’s going to be a long progress and we will need all the space we need for items if they need them for Edward.”

Henry looked at Victor before looking at Maria, sighing. “...Promise?” He asked softly.

Maria smiled warmly as she pats his running plate. “I promise.” She smiled warmly.

Henry looked at her before looking at the tarp hanging in front of him. Looking down, he watched Maria walk away from the tracks as he slowly puffed up to the hanging tarps. “Edward?” He said softly, hoping to hear a reply but knew he wouldn’t. “I’ll come back later on when you are repaired and I’ll bring Thomas with me. The both of us miss you a lot, along with the others.” He said softly, looking at the tarps with a worried look. “I love you, Edward.” He said as he slowly puffs back onto the turntable.

Maria watched Henry with warm, sad eyes he was turned onto another track, watching him leave the Steamworks. “Alright!” She called out as she looked at the workmen. “We are keeping the tarps up and will use the crane to move the parts behind it. We’ll start with the firebox and work our way to bringing his body last.” She hummed as she stood in front of the grey empty shell that will be Edward’s new body. “It’s going to be a long progress since we are literally rebuilding him from scratch and we have to make sure every bolt, welding, gauges, and assembly is done carefully and precisely.” She stated firmly as she walked towards the tarp. “We will work in teams that way everyone can get plenty of rest. Do you all understand?”

“Yes, ma’am!” The workman stated happily, excited that Edward is closer to being rebuilt.

Maria hummed in thought as she walked back behind the tarps, she walked over to Edward’s face laying on a tarp on the floor. Kneeling down, she gently inspects the healed areas before gently placing her hand on his cheek. She frowned slightly when she saw the pained and scared look on his face.

“We’re almost done, Edward.” Maria said softly, checking his slightly rising heartbeat. “Then you can be away from whatever is going on in your mind.”

Edward sighed heavily as he stayed on a siding, hidden by dead trees. His body trembled as his heart raced in fear and adrenaline. That voice from earlier, it was full of malice and darkness and scared the number 2 engine. The fear he felt when he heard the voice, a voice he hasn’t heard since he was working on his old railway. He thought he buried that voice away, never wanting to hear it again. But it’s back and he was terrified. Edward clenched his eyes shut, praying and hoping that the source of the voice doesn’t find him.

“YoU cAn NeVeR eScApE fRoM mE, eDwArD.”

Edward’s eyes shot open as the voice seemed to echo around him, his coupling rods shook in fear as his boiler ached. “J-Just leave me alone!” He yelled out, his voice cracking as he tried to calm down.

“YoU cAn’T gEt RiD oF mE.” The voice chuckled darkly. “i’M aLwAyS hIdDeN iN tHe ShAdOwS oF yOuR mInD.”

“Y-You’re wrong!” Edward yelled fearfully. “I-I got rid of you once before!”

“PoOr, NaIvE eDwArD.” The voice chuckled in a smooth, oily voice. “I oNlY mAdE yOu ThInK tHaT aLl ThIs TiMe.”

“You’re wrong!” Edward screamed as he puffed backward a bit. 

“Am I?” The voice hummed in amusement. “If I wAs TrUlY gOnE, I wOuLdN’t Be HeRe.”

Edward went to yell at the voice again but stopped, the words caught in his mouth. He didn’t want to admit it, but he knew that the source of the voice was always trapped deep within his mind. He froze as hears puffing sounds behind him before a set of buffers pressed against the back of his tender box before feeling his body start to move forward.

“W-What are you doing?!” Edward asked in a panicked voice, trying to apply his breaks.

“We’Re GoInG fOr A lItTlE rIdE.” The voice chuckled as Edward continued to be pushed down the tracks by a large black mass.

Maria hummed softly as she got the carrier straps ready to move Edward’s face. It has nearly been an entire day since they brought the parts back to the Steamworks. Edward’s new tender was already filled with water and coal as it was attached to the main part of his body as the workmen double checked to make sure everything was in place. His firebox, boiler, and smokebox were welded to his running plate and they were slowly lowering the empty shell of his body. The workmen worked nonstop to make sure everything was ready before the day was over.

“Be careful of the shell!” A workman shouted as he and the others guided the worker controlling the crane. “We can’t let anything happen to this!”

The worker in the crane nodded and he slowly lowered the shell over the parts. Maria watched with firm eyes, making sure it is placed correctly and aligned with everything perfectly. If placed and welded a few degrees off, it would do more harm to Edward than anything. She ran a hand through her hair as she watched the shell finally touch the running plate, the workmen taking the measurements and making sure it was aligned. Time seemed to slow as the anticipation of the outcome seemed to take forever. Everyone held their breath as they watched the workman check the shell over.

“...It’s aligned!” A workman shouted out, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

“The four on Edward’s running plate will do the welding!” Maria called out firmly, standing near Edward’s face. “I need a group over here to help me so we can attach his face.

No sooner since she said that, almost all of the workmen within the secluded area went over to her, getting the carrier attached to the crane hook. The ones who were going to help Maria lift Edward’s face up put on sanitized aprons, gloves, and masks on, to make sure the still healing wound wouldn’t get infected. As Maria put on her gloves, she noticed how the fearful look on Edward’s face grew, making it look like he’s living in a nightmare.

“Remember, we have to be gentle with his face and to keep our hands against him to make sure he stays in place.” Maria said as she and the others surrounded Edward’s face. “Alright, on the count of three.” She hummed firmly. “One, two, three.” She said as she and the others lifted Edward’s face up. They took slow, cautious steps closer to the carrier, letting the others put the straps around his face.

Edward was petrified. His eyes were wide and it felt like he had no control over his body. The black mass behind him kept pushing him down the tracks, moving faster and faster. The dead landscape zoomed past them in a black and red blur. He passed by the bodies of his friends and family, watching them dissolve as he went past them. Tears fell down his face as he felt his boiler and face get hot and the feeling of fear and dread consuming him.

“S-Stop!” Edward begged in a broken voice, his pistons pumping as he sped down the tracks.

An echo of the voice chuckling filled the air, getting louder by the second as Edward was forced to pick up speed. Even though the island was dead and deformed, he knew exactly where he was and where he was being forced to go. The place that caused him to be stuck within this distorted version of Sodor. 

Brendam Docks.

Edward felt the shadows of the mass slowly wrapped around his body, the shadows slowly consuming him. The view of the docks started to appear in front of him, followed by a bright glow of a yellow/white light. As he got closer, his eyes widened when he saw the entire area was nothing more than a giant lake of smelt. The same thing that made him decide to save Thomas by making himself go in.

“Please!” Edward begged desperately, tears falling from his cheeks. “STOP!”

“YoU aRe ThE oNe ChOoSiNg To KeEp GoInG.” The voice chuckled deeply, the sound booming over the island. “YoU’rE tHe OnE iN cOnTrOl.” It laughed tauntingly.

“Careful!” Maria called out as she and the others gently guided the carrier and Edward’s face over his body. 

His face kept changing between panic and fear, soft whimpers coming from him. The workmen were worried about never seeing Edward look and sound so scared. Maria was used to it from working on his face, but she knew it had gotten worse. Climbing onto Edward’s running plate, she and the others carefully lifted Edward’s face up, slowly turning him till he was aligned with the opening against his smokebox. The gaping opening was a perfect sphere shape as they slowly moved the back of his face towards it.

“Gently.” Maria hummed as she started to take the straps off, the workmen keeping him up.

With gentle pushes and slight rotations, they finally moved Edward’s face back till it was flush against his smokebox. Some of the workmen wasted no time as they got the bolts and widgets ready, gently placing them in the spots that circled Edward’s face. Taking a step back, Maria and the rest of the workmen smiled as they watched the other two workers. After months of waiting for parts and Maria fixing his face, Edward was fully repaired.

Edward’s eyes widened as they darted to the right, seeing the black mass no longer behind him. HE was making himself speed up. HE was making the choice to head towards the smelt at Brendam Docks. His mind told him to apply his breaks, to stop himself before he splashed into the smelt. But he couldn’t bring himself to apply his breaks. He WANTED this. Tears streamed down his cheeks as his vision began to blur, barely making out the metal pipes that appeared on the tracks.

“UsLeSs.”

“DiSgRaCeFuL.”

Edward yelled in pain as he feels the right side of his body get hotter, feeling his paintwork heat up along with half of his face. Smoke slowly rose up from under him as half of his face felt like it was on fire. The pain traveled through his body quickly, making him go into shock as he felt the right side of his boiler explode. He screams in pain as fire and smoke came out of his damaged boiler, his wheels continuing to pick up speed. He cried out as he felt fire burning through his face, the flames protruding out of his right eye.

“UnReLiAbLe.”

“WoRtHlEsS.”

The words kept echoing in the air as Edward tried to scream in pain, the fire dancing across his boiler and in his right eye socket. He just wanted this pain to end, no matter what it took. Struggling to keep his left eye open, he saw the metal pipes right in front of him before his front wheels slam into them. The pain increased as he felt himself tipped onto his side, black smoke rising off of his body as the ground killed the fire escaping him. Before he knew it, he felt his body slide into the smelt and screamed. With the shock of feeling the instant heat of the smelt, he finally released an agonizing scream. The scream echoed as he felt the burning sensation caused by the smelt, feeling his body start to melt quicker thanks to the damage that was already done to him. The feeling of his paint bubbling from the heat and the hot smelt burning away at his fire-damaged face. His voice cracked from screaming in such agony, calling out for help. The pain started to become numb as his vision slowly faded again to darkness.

“YoU wAnTeD tHiS.” The voice chuckled, the last thing Edward heard before the darkness finally consumed him.

“AHHHHHHH!” Edward screamed as his eyeshot opened, darting around the makeshift ‘room’.

Everyone in the Steamworks jumped from hearing the sudden scream, unsettled by how horrified it sounded. Edward continued to scream until he felt his throat burn and his mouth dry. His eye had shrunk in fear as he continued to look around the ‘room’. His breathing was rapid and quick as he hyperventilated. The heart monitor echoed through the entire building as the sensors on Edward’s face reacted to his heartbeat. Everything in his vision was blurry and the shadows kept creeping in from his peripheral vision as a faint laugh of the voice seemed to echo around him.

“What’s wrong with him?!” A workman yelled over the monitor, his own heart racing from seeing Edward in such a state.

“He isn’t fully awake!” Maria called out as she quickly climbed back up onto his running plate. “Edward, you need to calm down!”

Even with the voice echoing around him and the blurriness of the ‘room’, Edward heard a different voice. It was quiet, barely a whisper, but he could still hear it.

“...-lm down! You need to calm down and wake up, Edward!”

The voice of a female grew louder, replacing the voice that kept taunting him. Still breathing rapid, he constantly blinked as his vision slowly came too. No longer was he on the distorted version of Sodor, nor was he being swallowed by the shadows. Long white tarps hung from the ceiling, encasing him in a makeshift room. The workmen looked at him worriedly as Edward slowly looked around the ‘room’ again. Even though he couldn’t see past the tarps, he can still smell the iron, paint, and smoke that identified the Steamworks. Blinking slowly, he slowly looked down a bit, seeing a woman with black hair and green eyes standing on his running plate. Maria smiled warmly as she saw the confused look on Edward’s face once he calmed down.

“W-Who…” Edward asked softly in a scratchy, dry voice. 

“My name is Maria Maverick, an engine specialist.” Maria said softly, smiling warmly as she gently pets his left cheek. “Do you know who you are?”

“Edward…” Edward said in a tired voice, licking his lips a bit to try to swallow the little amount of saliva in his mouth.

“Do you know where you are?” Maria asked softly, gently inspecting him.

“Sodor’s Steamworks…” Edward muttered softly, his throat feeling like it’s on fire.

“Do you remember what happened?” Maria asked softly, pulling out a squirt bottle filled with water.

“I-I do…” Edward said softly, looking down sadly. “I...slid into s-smelt... to prevent my brother from going into it…”

“Well, you don’t have any type of memory loss which is good.” Maria hummed softly, gently squirting some water into his mouth.

Edward sighed softly, enjoying the cold, refreshing feeling of water in his mouth. Licking his a bit, he watched Maria take the sensors off of his face before climbing off of his running. He winced slightly as he noticed that his body felt heavy and his wheels ached like they haven’t been moved.

“W-What...happened…?” Edward asked softly, noticing how the right side of his vision is black. 

“After what happened at the docks, you were brought here with very heavy damage to the right side of your body.” Maria hummed as she started to put her stuff away, the workmen cleaning up their equipment. “We had to replace everything with brand new parts.” She hummed before smiling warmly. “Well, Edward, we'll go call your friends for they can vis-”

“NO!” Edward screamed as he looked at her, a fearful look on his face. “P-Please...I-I don’t want to see anyone…”

Maria and the other workmen stared at Edward, shocked at his sudden outburst. The workmen were more shocked and confused for they never heard Edward yell ‘no’ about seeing his friends. Maria stared at him, noticed the fear in his eye and the panic look sketched onto his face. Smiling sadly, Maria slowly walked up to him and gently placed her hand on his running plate.

“Alright, Edward.” Maria said softly, gently moving her hand against it. “I promise.”

Chapter Text

Sir Topham Hatt smiled cheerfully as he looked through the work schedules for his engines today. Since the announcement of Edward's parts being brought in and constantly getting updates about him, he was getting excited. He had a special place in his heart for the number 2 engine for he was the first engine he bought to work on his railway years ago after having him on loan. Out of all his engines, Edward was the only one who never argued or tried to get out of doing the jobs he was tasked with. The only issue he could think of was the time Edward let Thomas pull his goods train not long after Thomas arrived. He knew Edward wanted Thomas to have the chance to pull a train, even though he knew Thomas wasn't ready to pull trains at the time. S.T.H also knew that Edward was very loyal and determined, never giving up and helping others when they needed it.

Picking up the metal toy train off his desk, he held it in his hand and stared at the light blue paint coating it, with a yellow number 2 on its side. "You'll be back with your family and friends soon, Edward." He said softly, smiling warmly as he put the train back onto the map, his mind traveling to when he first met Edward.

~~Flashback~~

Sir Topham Hatt smiled as he got out of his car, looking at the sign that said Furness. Smiling to himself, he closed his door and walked towards the controller's office, wanting to talk to him about some of their engines. He had just gotten the rights by the mayor to connect the three railways on Sodor to help the increase of transporting goods and passengers to and from the other towns on the island and even onto the Mainland. He had already had a drawbridge built over the Walney Channel, converted most of the single tracks to double, and had repaired shops made in Croven's Gate. The only problem he faced was the lack of engines. He knew that the coffee pot engines were still working, even hearing how the Master of the Railway was helping before he vanished but knew that he needed strong engines. Walking up to the controller's door, he gently knocks on it and waits.

Not long after knocking, the door opened, and a man walked out. "May I help you?"

S.T.H stared at the slender man in front of him. His hair was a dirty blonde and slicked back and had dark brown eyes. He wore a black dress suit with a white dress shirt under it. His black shoes sparkled from being shined and a pale yellow handkerchief in his breast pocket. "Hello, my name is Topham Hatt, I called a few days ago to ask about loaning some engines from you." He stated firmly, in a business-like manner as he took his top hat off and held his hand out.

"Oh yes, I remember." The man smiled as he took his hand, shaking it. "My name is Ronald Chapman. Please, follow me." He hummed as he closed the door behind him, walking off.

Putting his top hat back on, S.T.H followed the other controller behind him towards a goods yard. Multiple engines were busy shunting or about to pull trains. Ranging from coffee pot engines to different standard gauge engines, he noticed how all of them were painted red.

"As you can see, we have quite a few engines that will be perfect to help you build your railway on Sodor." Ronald smiled as he showed him the engines.

"They all do seem really useful engines." S.T.H smiled as he watched the engines work hard.

Blinking, he turned his head to stare at an engine that was shunting quietly. He was a FR 21/K2 class mix traffic standard gauge engine with a tender attached to him. His configuration seemed to be 4-4-0 and has a total of 14 wheels. He was painted a rich red color with golden stripes on him and on his tender. The letters FR were painted in yellow on his tender and his wheels black as ebony. His focus was on the trucks, but S.T.H. could tell that something was up with him. Though his face looked focused and determined, his eyes read a different story. They seem to be filled with sadness and pain. S.T.H frowned at the engine, wondering why he looked so sad while the other engines seemed to be happy.

"Um, Sir Chapman?" S.T.H asked as he looked at the controller.

"Please, call me Ronald." The controller chuckled softly before looking at him. "What is it?"

"Who is that engine over there?" S.T.H asked, pointing at the engine that he felt drawn to.

"That's Edward. "Ronald hummed as he looked at said engine. "We bought him a few weeks ago from Glasgow, Scotland but is very shy. The builders said that he was a completely different engine before...the accident." He sighed softly.

"Accident?"

"Apparently, the engine they had there, who was Edward's mentor, died in a horrific crash…" Ronald said solemnly before looking at S.T.H.

S.T.H stared at Ronald with wide eyes before looking at Edward. He read about the accident in the papers, but never knew it was that horrendous. He saw the engines as living beings, not just as machinery as some humans do, and hearing about this made him feel sick. It is no wonder Edward has the look of sadness in his eyes. He was probably close to the engine and losing them just made Edward realize how dark the world is at such an early age. Looking down in thought, S.T.H looked up at Ronald with a determined gaze.

"If it's alright with you, I would like Edward to be one of the engines in the loan." S.T.H hummed determinedly.

"Are you sure?" Ronald asked, looking at him in surprise. "He was built only about a month ago and is really shy towards others."

"I'm sure." S.T.H smiled slightly before looking at the engine. "A new scenery where it's a tiny bit calmer would probably help him a lot."

"I see…" Ronald hummed in thought, crossing his arms before smiling. "Very well then." He nodded. "Let's go back to my office and we can start on the paperwork." He chuckled softly before both controllers walked back to the station.

~~End Flashback~~

S.T.H jumped out of his flashback when the phone rang. Sighing a bit in relief from being startled, he answers it. "Hello?...Ah, good morning Maria." He smiled as he greeted the engine specialist. Soon, his smile faded to a frown. "I see...yes, I'll bring over everything in his file...Very well, I'll be there soon. Goodbye." He sighed softly before hanging up.

He was feeling happy that Edward had awoken but now, he felt worried. He never expected Edward to lash out in a panic ring told that his friends could visit him. He knew something was wrong because Edward never rejected the idea of seeing friends. Walking over to a file cabinet, he opened the top drawer and pulled out Edward's entire folder. He stared at it, remembering when Ronald handed him this same file when he fully bought Edward.

~~Flashback~~

S.T.H smiled as he watched Edward and the other Furness engines shunt the goods trucks, Edward being the one to pull the trains. The railway had grown over the past month, now connecting Knapford, Tidmouth, and Elsbridge to Wellsworth and Suddery. It took a week since Edward first arrived on the island to come out of his shell. He was always smiling when he talked to the controller, even to the coffee pot engine, Glenn. His eyes were filled with happiness and admiration instead of sadness when he first met him. Hearing the sound of a car door shutting, S.T.H smiled as he saw Ronald walking towards him.

"Good afternoon, Ronald." S.T.H smiled as he held his hand out.

"Afternoon, Topham." Ronald chuckled as he shook his hand. "Edward looks like he's enjoying himself."

"Indeed, he is." S.T.H smiled slightly, feeling sad. He has grown attached to the mixed traffic engine but knew it was time for him to return to the Furness railway. "I'll go tell him and the others that they're going back to your railway."

"Actually…" Ronald muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh...I don't want Edward back on my railway."

S.T.H stared at the Furness controller in shock. "W-What do you mean?"

"He was just too shy while working." Ronald hummed as he looked at the engine. "Edward would stay to himself and rarely talked to the other engines or workers." He muttered quietly. "I'll put him up for sale for someone ca-"

"I'll buy him." S.T.H. Said instantly, staring at the man. "I'll buy Edward off of you."

"You sure?" Ronald questioned, starting at the Fat Controller.

"I am. He's one of the best engines I have here and has taken a liking to one of my other engines." S.T.H. chuckled softly before looking back at Edward.

"I'm glad you see him as a living being instead of a machine." Ronald smiled warmly as he looked at him.

~~Later~~

Edward rested in Vicarstown Station, watching as the engines from the Furness Railway puffed down the tracks and headed towards the drawbridge over the Walney Channel. His eyes were filled with mixed emotions as he watched some of his fellow engines leave. It's true he was too shy to get to know them, but he was with them since he was bought to work on the Furness Railway. He kept staring at the rails in front of him that he didn't hear another engine stop next to him.

"Are you feeling alright, Edward?" Glynn asked as he looked at his friend, noticing the look on his face.

"I'm not sure, Glynn." Edward hummed softly as he glanced at him. "I feel sad that I won't be returning to the Furness Railway and yet, I'm glad I'm not leaving Sodor."

"It's understandable why you feel like that, Edward." S.T.H smiled as he walked over to his two engines. "The Furness Railway was your home and you moved here where it's still brand new to you." He stated as he gently placed his hand on the engine's buffer. "But I have noticed you smiling a lot more since you arrived."

"Well, Sir, it's because I feel calm and happy here since I left Scotland." Edward said softly, a warm smile on his face. "I don't want to leave Sodor, ever."

"And you won't." Glynn chuckled softly.

"Glynn is right." S.T.H. smiled as he looked at the red tender engine. "Now then, I want you to go to the Steamworks in Crovan's Gate and get repainted."

"Repainted, Sir?" Edward asked in confusion.

"Of course!" S.T.H smiled as he looked up at him. "You are a part of Sodor now as part of my railway. Besides, I think you'll like the color I picked out."

"Alright, Sir." Edward smiled, feeling more relaxed than before.

Blowing his whistle twice, Edward puffed backward down the tracks, heading towards Crovan's Gate.

~~End Flashback~~

S.T.H smiled warmly as he remembered the bright smile on Edward's face when he was repainted to the light blue color. Something changed in Edward that day and he felt ecstatic that he was able to help him. Sighing a bit, he remembered why he grabbed the file before closing the filing cabinet. Once again, something was wrong with Edward and he will do everything he can to bring his engine back to him, to the railway, and more importantly, to his friends. Putting his top hat back on, he tightly held the file in his hand before leaving his office. Knapford station was filled with people, a cool spring breeze flowing through the station. Multiple engines passed through the station, either pulling goods trains, or coaches.

"Morning, Sir!" Thomas said cheerfully, slowing to a stop in the station.

"Oh, uh, morning, Thomas." S.T.H. smiled wearily, looking at the tank engine.

"Is everything alright, Sir?" Thomas asked softly, a concerned look on his face.

"Y-Yes, everything is alright, Thomas." S.T.H chuckled nervously. "Now then, continue doing a good job today, I'll be busy running some errands." He said softly before walking towards his car.

"He seemed a bit jumpy." Annie said softly, looking at the platform.

"I agree." Clarabel agreed with her friend. "Almost like he's hiding something."

"Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't hide anything from anyone." Thomas reassured them, waiting for the guard's whistle. "I'm sure there's a perfect reason why he's like this."

"Maybe, Thomas, but something doesn't seem right." Annie said softly.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Thomas stated, hearing the guard's whistle.

Blowing his whistle twice, he starts to puff down the tracks as his mind wanders to what his coaches said. S.T.H. never acted like that before and it made his boiler ache worriedly. Then, his mind traveled to Edward and he felt his pistons rattle in fear. What if something happened to his brother? No. S.T.H wouldn't hide something like from him. Besides, he knows that Maria is making sure his brother is healthy and useful again. Blowing his whistle twice again, Thomas forced himself to focus on the tracks in front of him, listing off the jobs he was given today.

Maria hummed softly as she jotted notes down, staring at the engine in front of her. Ever since he woke up, he seemed a bit jumpy and his face showing tiredness, fear, and sadness. His body is still a shiny grey color from not being painted yet by his request. From the stories the others told her about Sodor's number 2, she knew that this is the complete opposite of who he is. Sadly, she was expecting something like this, given the faces he kept making while in his coma. In the past, she watched how some of the engines she worked on entered a depressed state like this one before, and that was usually because of something in their past. Putting her pen down, she looked back up at the engine in thought.

Edward sighed softly as he stared at the floor with a drained look. When he was told he was in a coma for three months, he was shocked but didn't really show it. He felt completely drained like he has been pulling heavy trains nonstop for days. Maria's words kept flowing through his mind, how everyone kept stopping by to check up on him and how his entire body was scrapped and replaced with a brand new one. But the problem that really hit the nail in his depressed state was the news about his right eye. After awakening from his nightmarish coma, he was confused about why his right vision was black but now, he knows that he lost it. He can still feel the bandage pressed against his eye, the feeling of the tape against his face irritating him but he didn't care. The sounds of the Steamworks fell deaf onto him, his mind constantly repeating what he's been through that he didn't hear a pair of footsteps heading towards him.

S.T.H. looked up at Edward with a worried look on his face. Seeing his engine with such a foreign look and seeing the lack of paint on his body. Currently, he didn't see his number 2 blue engine, but an engine that wasn't part of his railway. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he held the file tightly in his hands before walking over to Maria. The engine doctor put her thermos down as she watched the controller walk over to her.

"Good morning, Sir." Maria said softly, standing up from her chair. "Thank you for coming down so early." She hummed as she gently took the file from his hands.

"Tell me, what happened to Edward?" He asked in a concerned voice.

Maria hummed in thought before looking back at Edward. Clicking her tongue, she gestures the controller to follow her to the corner of the secluded area. Looking back at Edward worriedly, he turned his head and followed her. When they were far away from the engine and the other workmen, Maria turned around and faced him.

"I'm afraid that his mental health is in the red zone." Maria whispered quietly, opening the files.

"H-His mental health?" S.T.H. asked in concern. "But...he never showed any mental problems when he arrived on Sodor."

"From what everyone has told me, he enjoys talking to his friends, smiling, and giving them some advice." Maria hummed softly, a sad smile on his face. "He sounds like an amazing engine but I'm afraid something from his past is being played in his mind."

"Well…" S.T.H. sighed sadly. "When I went to the Furness Railway years ago to borrow some engines on loan, his owner at the time mentioned that Edward's mentor died in an accident where he was built."

"That's probably it then." Maria muttered to herself as she looked through his files. "For the past three months, his face kept showing fear and sadness, along with whimpering. He's more than likely going back into his depressive state from reliving that moment in his life." She whispered quietly. "...Is there any paperwork on the accident?"

"I'm afraid there isn't." S.T.H. sighed softly as he took his tophat off, wiping his head with his handkerchief. "Ronald said that the people who made Edward gave him any paperwork about the accident."

"I see." Maria sighed softly as she closed the file.

"Please, is there any way we can bring Edward back to his old self?" S.T.H. asked desperately. "Thomas needs him back."

"He's going to need therapy." Maria hummed as she pulled out a notepad and a pen. "Most engines I've helped that were also in a coma usually have this happen. He's also going to need some private training shunting cars and pulling trains with only half his vision."

"I will pay for anything." S.T.H said in a desperate voice. "I just want Edward back with his friends and family."

Maria looked at him before smiling warmly. "I promise I'll help Edward as best as I can."

PEEP PEEP

Edward's eye widened as he quickly wheeled himself backward from being startled, his tender bumping into the buffer beam behind him. His breathing started to speed up as the heart monitor was beeping rapidly. Sparks flew off his wheels as he tried to force himself to move back even more. His gaze was distant and unfocused as he panicked.

"Shit!" Maria yelled as he ran towards the engine. "Make sure Thomas doesn't come back here!" She yelled at S.T.H. as she jumped onto Edward's buffer beam.

S.T.H. quickly ran out of the secluded area, closing the tarp behind him. Looking at the entrance of the Steamworks, he watched as Thomas puffed in, stopping on the turntable. Instantly, S.T.H. ran towards the small tank engine, worried that he might see Edward in this state.

"Hello Victor, Kevin." Thomas smiled brightly as he looked at the two. "Is...is Edward awake yet?" He asked softly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Victor stared at the tank engine with a worried look, not knowing how to answer him. He was there when Edward woke up and heard how he didn't want to see anyone, especially his friends. He knew that something was troubling Edward for him to say that and it worried him. He has seen how upset, scared, and depressed Thomas was while Edward was being rebuilt and he didn't want to see the tank engine go through that again. Every day, Thomas had stopped by, asking the same question for the past three months. Victor knows that Thomas wanted to be with his brother, their bond clearly visible to anyone who looks at them.

"Hello, Thomas." S.T.H. panted as he slowed to a stop. "S-Shouldn't you be doing your jobs?"

"I just finished pulling Annie and Clarabel, Sir." Thomas said softly, looking down. "I just...wanted to check up on Edward…" He muttered sadly.

"Thomas…" S.T.H. sighed softly as he looked back at the secluded area. He blinks when he sees Maria's head sticking out of the tarp, nodding before disappearing back behind him. "...Edward is awake, Thomas."

Thomas' eyes slowly widened, a huge smile appearing on his face. "REALLY?!" He asked excitedly, blowing his whistle three times happily.

"Quiet!" S.T.H. whispered loudly. "Yes, Edward has woken up but is still very weak and tired and needs his rest still."

"Can I still see him?" Thomas asked hopefully, his eyes sparkling.

"Until Mrs. Maverick gives the ok, I'm afraid you can't but you can still talk to him." S.T.H. sighed softly, a sad smile on his face. "But keep it short and don't bombard him with a lot of questions."

"Yes, Sir!" Thomas exclaimed happily, slowly puffing towards the tarp. "...Edward?" He asked softly, his voice full of happiness and excitement.

Maria had put an oxygen mask over Edward's mouth and nose, helping him calm down from his panic attack. His eye was still a bit unfocused but was aware of his surroundings. The doctor hummed softly as she gently massaged his face, helping him calm down. She heard Thomas' voice and knew the tank engine wouldn't leave until he heard Edward's voice. Moving in front of his eye, she snapped her fingers until his focus landed on her.

"Edward, I know you didn't want any of your friends here, but please talk to Thomas." Maria said softly, gently rubbing his cheek. "He's been so upset for the past three months, stopping by every day to check up on you. He won't see you but do talk to him for a little bit." She hummed softly as she gently took his oxygen mask off. "He missed you deeply."

Edward blinked at her before looking at the tarp. "...Hello, Thomas…" He spoke softly, his voice weak and hoarse from not speaking much.

Thomas felt the tears slide down his cheeks as he smiled sadly and happily. He heard it, though soft and quiet, he still heard his voice. Edward's voice. His brother. He didn't bother to try to stop his tears as a sob escaped his mouth.

"I was so scared!" Thomas cried out, though keeping his voice quiet. "I-I thought y-you were gone!"

"I...I'm not going anywhere, Thomas…" Edward spoke softly, slowly glancing at the tarp wall next to him. "I'm...I'm still here…" He muttered, a small smile on his face.

Maria smiled slightly as she watched Edward speak a bit, more of listening to Thomas. She frowned slightly as she continued to see the depressed look on his face, writing it down in her notes. She knew that Edward's thereby would take a while but she felt a pit in her stomach. Sighing a bit, she walked over to the heart monitor and studied the readings. His heart was still beating faster than normal, but it calmed down drastically after his panic attack. Walking over to a chair, she sat down and opened a new page in her notebook. Looking up at Edward, she starts to write down exactly what he needs to do for his therapy and for how long. She wants Edward to move around a bit to get used to having half his vision, followed by shunting. She knew that was going to be the biggest obstacle he would do physically since the yards have multiple tracks connecting to each other. Then to have him practice moving a small train while trying to be aware of his surroundings.

Standing up, Maria put her notepad down as she walked over to Edward. Looking at his face, she could see the depressed look he had disappeared for a bit before returning. Frowning a bit, she gently placed her hand on his buffer beam before leaving the secluded area.

"Oh! Good morning, Maria!" Thomas said happily when she emerged.

"Morning Thomas." Maria hummed softly, smiling warmly as she looked at him. "I know you just arrived but I'm afraid that visiting time is over."

"A-Already?" Thomas whimpered as he looked down. "But...But I don't want to leave him!" He cried, feeling fresh tears forming.

"Thomas…" Edward's voice spoke softly, causing the tank engine to look at the tarp. "Please...listen to her…"

"B-But...but Edward…" Thomas whimpered, puffing a bit closer.

"I'll still be right here, Thomas." Edward hummed quietly. "I just...I just need my rest…"

"He's right, Thomas." Maria said softly as she placed her hand on his buffer. "Edward is still weak and needs plenty of rest. You can visit him again later on after your jobs." She smiled reassuringly.

"...Can I, Sir?" Thomas spoke softly as he looked at the Fat Controller.

"Of course, Thomas." S.T.H. chuckled softly as he walked over to him. "You can visit Edward again only when all of your jobs are completed."

"Thank you, Sir!" Thomas wheeshed happily. Looking at the tarp, he puffed as close as he could get and stared at it. "I'll be back later, Edward." He said softly. "I love you, Big Brother."

"...I love you too, Little Brother." Edward said softly in a tired voice.

Smiling brightly, Thomas blew his whistle twice before puffing backward out of the Steamworks. Edward stared at the tarp, hearing Thomas chuff away before slowly lowering his eyes to the floor. He felt completely alone. He felt some enjoyment and wholeness with Thomas here but now, he felt empty once more. The sounds and voices around him seemed to slowly fade away, leaving him in silence as darkness slowly covers his vision.

'YoU mEaN nOtHiNg To ThEm.' That dark and sinister voice echoed in his mind once more. 'ThEy WaNt YoU dEaD.'

"Edward?" Maria asked as she looked up at him, closing the tarp behind her.

Edward quickly snapped back to reality, his eye regaining focus as he looked down at her. "Y-Yes…?" He asked softly, licking his lips a bit.

Maria hummed softly as she walked over to her bag, feeling Edward's curious gaze on her. Pulling out a small jar from her bag, she walked over to Edward and climbed onto his buffer beam. "This cream will help hydrate your lips." She said softly, gently smearing the cool and clear gel onto his lips.

"Thank you…" Edward said softly, watching her jump off his buffer beam.

"Now then, are you ready to start your therapy?" Maria asked as she looked up at him.

"I...I think so." Edward spoke quietly, looking down at her. "It...would be nice to move around a bit."

"And you don't have to worry." Maria smiled warmly at him. "I have a secluded area for you to do your therapy for no one else can see you."

"Thank you...for everything you've done for me." Edward whispered, a slight smile on his face.

"You're welcome, Edward." Maria giggled softly. "I'll make sure you're back to being a useful engine."

Useful. The word echoed in his mind as he remembered what the voice said to him. He was anything but useful. Shaking the thoughts out of his mind, he slowly started to feel relaxed but also a tiny bit of pain as he felt a fire being built in his new firebox. He was expecting some pain when he was told his entire body had to be rebuilt from scratch and...it felt satisfying to him. His eye widened a bit as that thought flew through his tunnel and chose to ignore it. Feeling his right eyelid brush against the gauze made him think that he really was useless right now. Closing his eye, he took a deep breath and slowly let some steam out from under him.

"Oh yes, Edward, there are two people here that will also help you." Maria smiled as she started to pack some of her stuff away.

"Who?" Edward asked softly before noticing two figures walking in. Looking at them, he gasped softly. "Aaron...Bradly." He spoke, shocked at seeing his driver and fireman.

The two stared up at their engine happily, glad to see him fully awake and built. Aaron has short black hair and brown eyes, wearing the typical blue work suit that the other engine crews wore. Around his left wrist is a black brace and a small bandage on his cheek. Bradley has shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes, also wearing the same blue suit as Aaron. He has a faint scar on his forehead and is wearing a boot on his right foot.

"We're so glad to see you awake, Edward." Aaron smiled as he walked over to the engine, petting his buffer.

"You gave us such a fright." Bradley chuckled as he copied Aaron's movements.

"I'm...sorry I got you two injured and worrying you…" Edward said softly, looking down at the floor.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Aaron said firmly, though his voice was also gentle. "What you did was the bravest thing I've seen anyone and any engine do."

"Don't ever be sorry about protecting Thomas." Bradley stated as he climbed onto his buffer beam. "We only got a little banged up but we were more worried about you. We care about you a lot and were scared that we lost you."

Edward stared at the two in shock before looking down, letting tears fall a bit. He still felt bad that they got hurt, but more so from hearing how much they cared about him. His crew smiled warmly at him, Aaron gently patting his buffers as Bradly gently wiped his tears away.

"Now then, let's get started on your therapy so you can join the others again." Aaron chuckled softly as he and Bradly headed towards his new cab.

Edward sniffed again as he tried to calm down, feeling his crew and fireman get him ready to start his therapy. He wanted to be with his friends, brother, and lover again, he really did but, he also wanted to stay alone. His mind went through thousands of thoughts before groaning a bit as he felt himself move a bit. His wheels and pistons felt stiff as he slowly puffed down the tracks, the soft 'chuffing' sound echoing in the Steamworks as some of the workmen moved the tarps to the side to allow him to pass. Steam flowed out from under him and out of his funnel as he constantly blinked to get used to the sun's light. The sun reflected off of his pale grey body, the lack of pain making him blend into the background of other metal. Edward closed his eye, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face. He didn't realize how much he missed this warmth as his crew gave him a moment to breathe fresh air. Maria walked next to Victor as he headed over to Edward, making sure he stayed in the secluded area next to the Steamworks.

As Victor stared at Edward, he could faintly see the scars reflect in the sun. He didn't notice them when Edward was inside and was glad that they could only be seen in a certain angle. "You are looking better, my friend." He smiled warmly at him.

Edward went forward a bit, startled from hearing his voice but slowly calmed down. He had spoken to Victor a few times and had a feeling he would help with his therapy. "Thank you, Victor." He said softly, watching how Maria walked in front of him.

"Alright, Edward, for the first hour, we're just going to have you practice moving around the yard to get used to it with half of your vision." Maria hummed as she looked at her clipboard. "Then for two hours, we'll have you practice shunting empty trucks for different purposes. Then you'll have a three hour break before going to shunt trucks that are full." She said before looking up at him. "We'll be doing this for a week and the next week, you will be practicing to pull small trains then go back to shunting till I give you my approval that you are ready."

"Alright but...I-I...I don't want anyone to see me yet…" Edward said softly as he looked down, not ready to face them yet.

"That's why we have this yard blocked and pulling trains when other engines aren't working." Maria smiled warmly as she gently patted his buffer. "Ready to start then?"

"I…" Edward hesitated as he looked at him. "I...I believe so…"

Maria hummed softly as she watched Edward run into Victor again, although gently. Half a month has gone by and it seemed like Edward was getting worse. When they first started his therapy, he was doing exceptionally well but then he had a small panic attack during his break. Since then, he's been bumping trucks hard, panicking on making decisions while pulling a train, and causing some trucks to tip onto their sides. After every failed attempt at his therapy, she noticed the frustrated, panicked, and worried looks on his face as he scolded himself under his breath. It also didn't help that he was forcing himself to stay away, taking small five minute naps. The bags under his eyes were clearly visible as he slowly puffed backward, his gaze to the ground. Both him and Victor were constantly getting small repairs done and Edward always apologizing to the Cuban engine. Sighing a bit, Maria pulled out her notes and started to look over her notes on when they first started.

~~Flashback~~

Maria smiled warmly as she watched Edward slowly shunted the empty trucks in the small yard. She was glad to see him shunting pretty well with only half his vision, not caring he was doing it slowly. She wanted him to start off slowly and eventually increase his speed. Looking at the engine, she noticed how his cheeks were pink, his breathing coming in short pants She expected him to get exhausted quickly from being in a coma for three months. Hearing her timer go off on her phone, she turned it off and walked over to the tired engine.

"It's time for your break, Edward." Maria smiled as she looked up at him.

"B-But...I didn't f-finish shunting all of the t-trucks…" Edward panted tiredly as he looked down at her.

"It's alright." Maria giggled softly. "I wasn't expecting you to finish it right away. This therapy is to help you get in the process of your jobs again. You start off doing as much as you can first and eventually become faster." She hummed softly with a warm smile. "For now, just rest to regain your strength to start with loaded trucks." She said softly as she walked away.

Edward panted softly as he slowly backed into a siding next to the Steamworks. The sun was on the other side, keeping Edward in the shadows of the massive building and cooling him down. He took a deep breath, trying to stop his panting as he felt Aaron and Bradley climbing out of his cabs. His pistons felt sore as his body ached. Getting used to a brand new body was challenging, especially around his boiler. His face felt hotter because of the new metal but he didn't mind. It felt weird moving around again even though everything felt heavier, including his new tender. Closing his eye a bit, he relaxed in the coolness of the shade before looking at his crew.

"You were doing really well, Edward." Aaron smiled as he and his friend looked up at him.

"I guess…" Edward sighed softly, feeling his eyelids get heavy.

"Take a nap." Bradley chuckled softly as he gently pats his buffer. "You deserve it."

"Thank you…" Edward said softly, watching them leave before closing his eye again.

Maria hummed softly as she wrote down his progress in her book, jotting down the date, speed, and trucks he shunted. Pulling out her thermos, she took a sip of her tea as she watched Edward's crew take out their lunchboxes. Hearing her own stomach growl, she pulled out her sandwich and started to eat. About halfway through Edward's resting period, she looked over at the engine and frowned a bit. His face was twisted to one of fear as he slept, his lips moving as he muttered silently. Putting her journal down, she walked over to the engine and inspected him. Soft whimpers escaped his mouth as his breathing picked up in a panicked way. Maria took out a small notepad from her pocket and started to write it down as she heard Aaron and Bradley walking over.

"Is he alright?" Bradley asked worriedly as he glanced up at his friend.

"It appears he's suffering from another nightmare that was plaguing him while he was in a coma." Maria stated as she continued to write in her notepad.

"Can't you help him?" Aaron asked in a concerned voice, going to put his hand on Edward's buffer.

"Don't!" Maria called out but was a few seconds too late.

The moment Aaron's hand touched his buffer, Edward's eyeshot opened as he screamed in terror. Just like when he has awoken from his coma, his eye was glazed over and unfocused as he looked around. His wheels spun backward as he pressed himself against the buffers behind him. Maria dropped her pen and notepad to the ground, climbing onto his buffer beam as she gently rubbed his cheeks. Aaron and Bradley stared up at the engine in shock, never expecting this from the calm and kind engine they worked with. Maria was talking in a calm and soothing voice, gently massaging his cheeks as she stared into his eyes. His breathing started to slow down as his eye fell onto her form, slowly regaining focus. Maria continued to whisper softly as she watched how he came back to his senses.

After a few minutes of silence, Edward took a shaky breath as he looked down while tears slowly slid down his cheeks. "S-Sorry…" He whispered softly, not wanting to look at them.

"It's alright, Edward." Maria said softly, pulling out her handkerchief and gently patting his tears away. "It's alright."

"It was just a nightmare, Edward." Aaron said softly, both him and Bradley putting their hands on his buffer beam.

~~End Flashback~~

Since then, Edward has been showing a decrease in his therapy. Maria started at the engine sadly, watching how he was once again forcing himself to stay awake. She heard Aaron telling Edward that they should call it a day, seeing the sun starting to set. The look of anger and disappointment on his face was clear as day before returning to his normal, sad-looking self. Agreeing with his crew silently, Edward was uncoupled from the small goods train before puffing towards the Steamworks. Grabbing her stuff, Maria climbed onto Victor's buffer beam and rode with him back into the building. The Steamworks was quiet, the sun setting as it cast an orange glow through the glass. The tarp of the secluded area seemed to glow orange as it opened, allowing Edward to puff back into it. Edward's friends still came by and talked to him, but still have yet to see him. Even while his friends were here, she noticed how he wasn't focused on them, only replying with short and simple sentences. His voice always sounded drained and his face constantly showed how upset he was. The workmen kept the secluded area open, knowing that there would be no other visitors coming to visit Edward for the night.

Edward watched with tired eyes as the workmen tended to the dents and scratches on his buffers and buffer beam. He couldn't count the number of times the workmen worked on his repairs but he didn't care. He was just upset at himself, angry that he couldn't do the simple jobs he enjoyed doing. Throughout his years on Sodor, he was known for being hardworking and reliable, always wanting to help his friends with their jobs when asked to. But now, he just felt like he was nothing but junk.

'OlD iRoN.'

Edward winced as the twisted voice spoke in his mind, mimicking Gordon's voice as he said those two words. He grew used to being called that by the number 4 engine but is starting to believe that's what he really is. His model was old and the newer engines are built stronger and faster than he ever was. He saw himself as a waste of space on Sodor's railway, easily naming off the other engines who were perfect in replacing him.

Maria looked at Edward with a concerned face, watching him stare outside in a daze as tears formed in his eye. Since she arrived almost four months ago, she has told stories of how Edward was calm and kind, proud of who he was, and happy working and living on Sodor. The engine in front of her was the complete opposite of what she was told. All she saw was an engine that was broken and looked ready to give up. She knew that the nightmares he was having were the cause of this but knew she can't do anything about it. She can tell him that they were nightmares and nothing else, but something about them was different. They were affecting him deeper in his mind, causing the drastic change in his mental state. Remembering what S.T.H. told her, she pulled out her laptop and turned it on. She typed in the place where Edward was built and looked for an article on the accident that happened so many years ago.

"Accident at Atlas Works...ten human deaths and one engine death…" Maria muttered under her breath, clicking on the article.

"What are you reading?" Aaron asked as he and Bradley walked over to her.

"An article about an accident Edward saw at the place he was built." Maria hummed as her eyes scanned the webpage. "This is probably causing Edward to act like this."

"But why now?" Bradley asked in confusion. "He was never like this before."

"Because he pushed it deep into his mind, but the accident he was just in caused it to resurface." Maria stated as she looked at them. "Sometimes when a person, or in this case an engine, falls into a coma, sometimes the brain will cause past memories to appear, and sadly this memory showed up." She sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "Why he didn't react to it was from years of keeping it away, making him forget."

"But since he was in his coma, he was probably reliving it…" Aaron muttered quietly under his breath, looking at the ground sadly.

"NO!"

The three humans jumped at Edward's yell, looking over at said engine. Edward glared down at the workman, his eye full of anger, disappointment, and worry. The workman quickly backed away from the angered engine, watching as a large amount of steam wheeshed out from under him. Tears were falling down his cheeks as he gritted his teeth. His eye widened when he saw the workman instead of a shadowed mass and looked down, ashamed. He never yelled at humans before and he didn't want to either. He was so lost in his mind that he didn't realize that he was still in the Steamworks. He clenched his eye shut tightly, a quiet sob escaping his mouth as he slowly puffed backward.

"I-I'm sorry…" Edward spoke ever so quietly, looking down as he stopped moving.

Maria, Aaron, and Bradley quickly ran over to him, Maria checking him over as his crew tried to comfort him. He felt sick to his boiler now, the tears flowing more freely as he tried to stop them. He felt Maria try to remove his tears but more continued to fall. The soft voices of his crew provided little comfort as he continued to hate himself. He just wanted this to end, he wanted to go back to Tidmouth, to his friends, to his lover, to his brother. He wanted to be useful to Sir Topham Hatt's railway again, not a useless engine who couldn't even shunt anymore. The voice in his head constantly torments him, telling him things that he's tried to ignore, but knows that the voice is right. He felt tired, drained, useless, and just wanted it to end. He didn't want any others to deal with a useless engine. He didn't want Thomas to have a pathetic brother such as himself.

"I-I...I didn't mean…" Edward choked out, feeling himself finally reaching his breaking point. "I...didn't mean to y-yell…" He sobbed, everything crashing in his mind as he came to terms with what the voice kept telling him.

"It's alright, Edward, honestly." The workman reassured him in a quiet voice, walking up to him. "It's alright. I know you didn't mean it." He spoke softly, gently rubbing his buffers.

After a few minutes, Edward sniffed a bit as he tried to calm his breathing down. His tears were still falling but not as much as they were. He felt empty, the voice in his head louder before as his surroundings felt like a grey blur. Edward's crew and the workman looked at Edward worriedly, never seeing an engine break down in such a hurtful way. Maria hummed softly as she gently massaged his cheeks, knowing it's an area to help an engine calm down without the use of drugs. She isn't as shocked to see his breakdown, having seen plenty before on past engines. She knew this one was a special case for all of Sodor looked up to Edward, seeing him as a mentor, a teacher, and a friend.

"...I really am useless…" Edward muttered under his breath, staring at the ground.

"You are not useless." Aaron said firmly, looking up at him. "You are one of the most hard-working engines on Sodor and everyone cares about you."

"Hard-working…" Edward scoffed, a sad laugh leaving his lips. "I'm anything but that now...I can't even shunt empty trucks anymore…"

"You were in a coma for three months, Edward." Bradley stated, standing next to Aaron. "You had your body completely replaced, of course, it's going to be hard for a bit. That's what the therapy is fo-"

"I'm half blind!" Edward shouted, glaring at him with a broken face. "I've crashed into Victor too many times because I can't SEE!" He sobbed as he clenched his eyes shut. "How can I be useful if I can't see half of the yard…?"

"There are ways to help you learn to adjust." Maria hummed softly, making him look at her. "It just takes time to learn it."

"No…" Edward muttered as he looked down. "I can't learn it...there's no reason why I should…"

"You are Sodor's number 2 engine, one of the first ones who worked on this railway and helps others." Aaron pointed out. "You have thousands of reasons why you should. Sir Topham Hatt wants you back, along with Thomas, Henry, and the others. They all love and miss you deeply."

"Especially Thomas." Bradley said softly, gently patting his buffer. "He's the one suffering the most without you with him, followed by Henry. You play an important role in both of their lives."

"I'm old…" Edward pointed out sadly. "I'm unreliable and will cause nothing but accidents…" He whispered sadly, his voice broken.

"Edward...you're not any of that." Aaron stated, tears falling down his own cheeks at seeing the engine he's worked with for so many tears breaking down. "You're a really useful engine."

"That saying...how someone would sacrifice themselves to help those they love…" Edward whispered sadly. "...I made my sacrifice to protect my brother...I sacrifice my vision...my usefulness...for he can continue to live and to work on this railway…"

"Edward...you didn't sacrifice anything." Bradley cried as he placed his forehead against his buffer beam. "You protected Thomas and you both are still here. You are still useful and loved."

'DiSgRaCeFuL.'

'DiSgUsTiNg.'

'DeSpIcAbLe.'

The dark and twisted versions of Gordon's James', and even Henry's voices echoed in his mind, adding pain and guilt in his heart as he felt himself fall deeper into the darkness of his mind. He knows the shadowy figure that's drowning him in darkness and he wanted to break free, but couldn't find the will to fight against it anymore. Gordon's words from years ago, about how he should be preserved, echoed within his mind once again. No. He wasn't worth being preserved. Edward slowly looked out of the Steamwork's main entrance, watching how the sky was turning dark and faint stars slowly becoming visible. He didn't want anyone to see him, especially in his useless state.

"I can't anymore…" Edward muttered, causing everyone to look at him worriedly and fearful. "...I can't be useful again…" He stated, his voice sounding completely broken. "I want to go where no one will find me...where I can be forgotten…"

"We're not doing that!" Aaron cried as he looked at him. "We're not going to abandon you somewhere and let you rust away!"

"...Alright."

Edward's crew and the workmen stared at Maria in shock, a look of disbelief in their eyes as they watched her climb down Edward's buffer beam. Her face was emotionless as she walked towards his cab, the steam swirling around her as she walked through it. Bradley glared at her, tears flowing down his cheeks as he walked over to her, tightly grabbing her arm.

"The hell is wrong with you!?" Bradley cried as he glared at him. "You were brought here to help him. Not to abandon him somewhere!"

"I am helping him." Maria said calmly, being quiet for Edward won't hear them. "What's happening to Edward now is a storm that is affecting him mentally. Whatever is going on in his mind, he's trying to fight against it but is losing to whatever it is. Him going to a place where he won't feel confined will help prepare him for the battle of his mind and heart." She hummed as she turned to look at him. "He needs this the most, more so than constantly being told what's real and isn't real." She said as she watched Aaron walk over as well. "The battle Edward is facing is just getting started and he's going to need a calm and quiet area to help him. I've seen something like this before and trust me, it will help him."

"...Please bring him back." Aaron said quietly, gently making Bradley let go of her arm.

Maria looked at Edward before sighing a bit. "He will be back, either as himself or a different version of himself. That part of Edward will be determined on who wins."

Aaron and Bradley stared at her, tears falling as they nodded. Maria walked over towards her stuff, grabbing her back with some clothes, a few water bottles, and snacks. She grabbed a duffle bag as well and carried it back over to Edward's cab. Tossing the bags in, she climbed up as well and started to shovel more coal in Edward's firebox. More steam wheesed out from out of him like a thick cloud of steam flowed out of his funnel. Edward watched as the workmen cleared the tracks before slowly moving. The soft 'chuffing' sound once again echoing within the Steamworks as he silently left. The moon's early rays reflected off of his paintless body, blending him against the scenery as he silently puffed down the tracks. Edward stared down at the tracks, his eye full of sadness as he stared up at the starry sky as he puffed further away from Steamworks in the dark of night.

Chapter Text

The full moon shone brightly over the Island of Sodor, casting a silver blanket across the land. The stars sparkled against the midnight blue sky, parts of the milky way slightly visible. Owls hooted and bats screeched as they started their nightly hunts. On a strip of railroads, alone engine silently puffed along the tracks. His pale grey body reflecting the moon's rays as a bandage gauze pressed against his right eye. His left eye was downcast, staring at the rails as his wheels moved him along the tracks.

Edward sighed silently as he slowly raised his gaze to the sky, looking at the stars. Before, he would enjoy looking at the stars, especially with both Henry and Thomas. He would tell Thomas stories about the stars and constellations, while with Henry, it was special. They confessed their love to each other in Henry's Forest, under the night sky and full moon. The moon and stars always brought him happiness, but now, they only brought him sorrow and dread. Closing his eye, he let out a shaky breath before opening them again, staring at the tracks again.

Maria looked out of his cab, staring at him with a sad look on her face. It is true that she's dealt with engines who went into depression due to traumatic events and accidents, but Edward's case was different. She didn't just see a depressed engine, she saw an engine that was mentally broken, ready to give up. From the stories she was told about Sodor's number 2, he was an engine who was wise, always happy to help his friends, an engine who never gave up when the stacks were against him. From the time his coupling rod broke as he pulled a passenger train, to the race he had with Spencer from pulling a goods train, not once had he given up on proving his usefulness. The pictures of him that she was shown to, she could see how happy he was working and living on Sodor. The engine she was riding in now was different, almost like a lost soul. She gently pats his cab door as she watches the scenery. The land around her moved in a slow blur, the outlines barely visible against the illuminated ground.

Hearing the sound of an engine's whistle, Edward quickly sped up and moved onto a siding. Turning his lamp off, he didn't bother to release any steam yet. The dull grey engine watched as a familiar green tender engine sped past the siding, the smell of fish emitting from the goods train the engine pulled. Edward watched his lover pull the Flying Kipper past him. His boiler ached and his heart yelled at him, begging him to call out Henry's name. He closed his eyes as he remained silent. The dark voices in his mind telling him that Henry only sees him as a bother. Blinking tears back, Edward took a deep breath before turning his lamp back on. Hearing no other engines coming along the tracks, he slowly pulled out of the siding and back onto the mainline. Edward's gaze went back to the tracks as he slowly puffed down the tracks, his steam looking silver in the moon's light. The quietness and stillness of the night were soothing, reminding him of how he truly is alone.

The ride down the tracks seemed to take forever before Edward slowly raised his eyes and came to a stop. Maria looked out of his cab and noticed he stopped at a small junction. To the left was an old side track that went over an old bridge and into the woods. Straight forward was still the mainline to and from Knapford. Looking back at Edward, she watched how Sodor's number 2 just sat there, more than likely looking down the side track. As Edward stared down to the left, he let his mind wander when Thomas told him about this place years ago. A sad smile came to his face as he remembered exactly why Thomas told him about this. This set of tracks leads towards the area where Thomas first found Hiro, completely broken, and forgotten by people who cared about him. He knows no other engine uses these tracks, given how rusted and bumpy they are. A perfect place for him to live the rest of his life.

"Maria...can, can you switch tracks for me, please...?" Edward asked in a soft, sad voice.

"Of course." Maria nodded, her voice soft as well as she climbed out of his cab.

Edward watched how she walked over to the switch, pulling it towards the right. He heard the switches being moved and felt the engine doctor climb back into his cab. Without blowing his whistle, Edward slowly puffed down the side track, the tracks making him bounce slightly. The tracks felt so foreign to Edward, yet also comforting as he thinks about being alone here. After Henry, Gordon, and James were brought to Sodor, he felt alone since Glynn was left on a siding. He was constantly teased by them, mostly by Gordon and James, on how he's old and useless. Henry would sometimes join them, but Edward knew he was just following them to not be teased as much. When Thomas first arrived, he felt complete again when he was tasked to show him how to work in the yard. He felt a strong bond being formed between them the more he trained them. He watched much Thomas has grown since his first arrival, from all the friends he made to the adventures he had.

Letting his mind wander, Edward slowly found himself on different tracks, the environment around him nothing but a grey blur. Hearing a familiar whistle next to him, Edward looked over and smiled slightly at the tank engine. Thomas smiled brightly as he puffed next to him, his green livery slowly fading to the beautiful blue color that he wears proudly as a bright light seemed to surround him. Hearing his giggle, Edward watched as Thomas puffed past him happily. Soon, the other engines who reside on this Island started to pass him as well on the two tracks that laid on each side of him, all of them also having the same light. Gordon, James, Henry, Duck, Emily, Donald, Douglas, BoCo, every engine he has ever met puffed past him. Every single one of those engines he has helped, either by helping with pulling trains, or giving them wisdom when they are feeling down. The slight smile on his face turned into a sad smile as he slowed to a stop. He watched how his friends moved further away from him, the light slowly fading from view. Soon, Edward was left in the darkness, the light that belonged to his friends, lover, and brother, gone from his sight, but he didn't mind. He taught and helped the others as much as he could so that he didn't have any more ways to help them.

Feeling something pointed scratching across his face, the scenery faded around him as he found himself back in reality. He was slowly puffing into the woods where Hiro was found, branches and bushes slowly scratching his face and pale grey body. The silver rays of the moon barely showed through the branches, casting small patches of light to shine through. The woods are dark with the small patches of moonlight being the only light source Edward has to comfort him. Slowly coming to a stop, Edward felt the tall grass brush against his undercarriage and the bushes resting against his wheels and coupling rods. The sounds of crickets were faint, and the sounds of an owl was far in the distance. The isolation was something foreign to Edward, but he didn't mind. He wanted to be forgotten, faded from everyone's mind so he couldn't bother anyone again.

Maria slowly climbed out of his cab, turning a flashlight on. Looking around the woods, she noticed how the sky was barely visible through the branches and trees. A perfect place to hide given that everyone rarely even rides these old tracks. Walking towards his front, Maria shines her flashlight at his face, avoiding his eyes. Small scratches decorated his face as he stared off into the distance in trance. A piece of medical tape that kept the bandage over his right eye was torn off a bit, a corner of the bandage sticking up. She was about to climb onto his running plate to fix it before he looked down at her.

"Please...just leave me." Edward said softly as he lowered his gaze to the tracks.

"Are you sure?" Maria asked as she looked up at him, her hand on his buffer beam.

"I am." Edward sighed softly. "I'm old, unless, and unreliable. I can't do simple jobs anymore with only half my vision." He muttered quietly. "I have nothing left to give to anyone anymore."

"What about Thomas?" Maria hummed softly, still looking up at him.

"I've taught him everything I know." Edward muttered, a sad smile on his face. "Besides, he has someone he loves and two other siblings who will watch over him." He whispered, holding tears back. "I just...I just want to remain here for good..."

Maria stared up at the sad engine, a frown on her face. "Alright, Edward. I'll leave you here." She said softly.

Gently patting his running plate, she walked over to his cab and grabbed her bag. Edward listened as Maria's footsteps slowly started to fade away into the woods. Not long after, Edward was left alone in the dark forest, slightly regretful on asking her to leave. Sighing a bit, Edward slowly looked around as he got adjusted to the darkness. He could barely make out the outlines of the trees and bushes, small patches of moonlight visible between the branches. A shiver went through his boiler as a cool breeze came through the forest. He was glad his firebox was still burning brilliantly but knew that it was only a matter of time till it went out.

"Well, Gordon...looks like you were right." Edward whispered softly, a sad smile etched onto his face. "I am old and unreliable." He sighed softly. "I should've gone to the Smelter's yard years ago...I'm not meant to be preserved." He choked out, trying hard to hold his tears in.

Not far away from him and hidden in the bushes, Maria watched him sadly. Pulling out her phone, she looked at the time before looking up at the slightly visible sky.

"9:45." Maria hummed softly before looking back at the tender engine. "Well, Edward, you have ten hours to figure out who you truly are. Will you stay true to yourself, or will you listen to the voice within your mind?"

Edward sighed softly as he finally let his tears fall, glad that no one was around him anymore. Throughout his life here on Sodor, Edward has rarely cried when others were around. The only time he did was when Henry had that terrible accident years ago with the Flying Kipper, and when Thomas was being held at the Steelworks. Other than those two incidents, he never cried at anything else. Looking up, he could barely see the stars shining in the dark sky, the branches of the trees constantly moving to block them out. Yawning a bit, Edward tried to force himself to stay awake, too afraid to sleep knowing that he would hear the voice that torments him. Struggling to keep his eyes open, Edward soon found himself surrounded by darkness as he slowly fell to sleep. as he eventually fell asleep.

"Your biggest trial is about to begin, Edward." Maria hummed softly as she pulled out her thermos, pouring herself some tea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darkness.

That was the one thing Edward prayed that he would never see as he slept. Before, he didn't mind that he would find himself asleep when he is surrounded by darkness. Now, it was something that he feared deeply. He kept telling his mind to play memories of when he was happy before he fell asleep, but he could tell that it didn't listen to him. Looking around the dark void, he noticed a set of tracks that he was resting on, leading further into the darkness. He wanted to travel down the tracks, praying it'll lead somewhere with light but he remained still. His boiler ached with anticipation as he puffed forward slightly before stopping.

"YoU aRe PaThEtIc."

"Please...not now..." Edward whimpered as he closed his eye tightly.

That damn voice. Edward feared hearing that voice since it started plaguing his mind every single day at almost every hour. Before it was faint and distorted, but now, it's louder and almost clearer. Since that terrible memory he had of being on a destroyed Sodor, his friends all dead, that voice never stopped echoing in his mind. Each torment, each voice it mocked his friends caused his boiler to ache as fear slowly engulfed him. His pistons trembled as he slowly puffed backward, desperately trying to flee the voice that haunts him.

"Please, just...just go away..." Edward begged as he opened his eye, staring out into the darkness.

"HaHaHaHa." That distorted voice chuckled, that dark laughter seeming to echo loudly. "It Is IrOnIc, WaNtInG mE tO 'dIsApPeAr' LiKe YoU dId So MaNy YeArS aGo."

"Because you don't belong here!" Edward cried as he felt himself backing into a buffer. "You don't..."

"FoR yEaRs YoU kEeP sAyInG tHaT, aNd YeT, i'M sTiLl HeRe."

"Y-You're wrong!" Edward stuttered as more tears fell. "Y-You...You never belonged here..."

"YoU sHoUlD kNoW bY nOw EdWaRd-"

Soon, the sound of another engine puffing echoed in the abyss. Like the voice, it sounded distorted as Edward looked in front of him. Very faintly, he could see an outline of an engine slowly puffing. Out of the darkness, and straight towards him. Edward tried to back up, fear etched onto his face as he felt the buffers preventing him from moving. Red steam flowed out of the darkness as the strange engine slowly emerged from the darkness. Its model resembled that of a FR 21/K2 class tender steam engine. Its dark green livery and black lining have patches of rust covering its body. Red steam flowed out from its undercarriage and funnel. The numbers 3927 were painted on its tender in gold paint but looked faded from age. Edward struggled to hold back tears as he slowly looked into the other engine's eyes, more like looking at a mirror.

"You can never escape from yourself." The engine spoke in Edward's voice, though his voice was firm and angry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thomas gasped softly as he jolted awake, panting hard. Gulping, he pants softly as he looks around Tidmouth sheds. The moon shone brightly over the sheds as the tank engine tried to slow his breathing. The light post in front of the turntable cast a golden glow as he looked at the others. Emily, Percy, and James slept soundly to his left while Gordon was the only one on the right. Between him and Gordon were two empty berths, one for Henry and one empty. The empty one right next to Thomas hasn't been opened in over three and a half months. After what happened to Edward and Thomas was able to leave the Steamworks, he asked for that specific berth to stay locked up until Edward was home. When he heard that Edward woke up half a month ago, he was ecstatic. He finally had his brother back but yet, he didn't. Edward wouldn't let Thomas, or any of the others, look at him. He was sad that he couldn't see him, but he was overcome with relief and happiness when he heard Edward's voice. But now, he felt abandoned by his older brother, being told how Edward didn't want anyone to visit him for the last few weeks. Thomas felt tears forming in his eyes as he clenched his eyes shut. He bit his lip as he held back a whimper, not wanting to wake the others up.

"Thomas?"

Thomas' eyes shot open as he looked to his left, seeing his shining ruby looking at him in concern.

"Are you alright?" James asked softly, staring at his brilliant sapphire.

"I'm not." Thomas whispered softly, his voice cracking as he struggled to hold back a sob. "Edward not being here hurts!" He whispered loudly. "He won't let me see him and he stopped talking to me...why?" He sobbed quietly. "Why is he abandoning me? Did I make him upset? Does he hate me for causing this to happen to him...?"

"That's enough, Thomas." James whispered firmly, causing the tank engine to stare at him sadly. "You know very well that Edward isn't mad at you, yet alone to ever abandon you."

"But why did he stop talking to us?" Thomas cried softly, his breathing coming in short pants as the tears flowed down his cheeks.

"He's just exhausted after his therapy lessons and is just resting." James reassured him. "Edward is not an engine who would just straight up ignore anyone, especially to you."

"He is tired of me..." Thomas cried as he clenched his eyes shut. "I go to the Steamworks every day just to talk to him...I caused him to stop talking to me..."

Thomas gasped softly as he felt a set of buffers pressing against his own as he opened his eyes wide. James had puffed onto the turntable till he was facing Thomas and pressed their buffers together. Soft chuffing sounds echoed in the sheds as James gently moved his lover deeper into the berth. Thomas soon felt himself being pressed against the set of buffers at the back of his berth and James. Tears continued to fall as he looked up at James, trying to quiet his small hiccups and calm his breathing.

"Edward would NEVER be tired of you, love." James spoke softly in a gentle voice. "He loves you deeply for you are his little brother. When you first arrived on Sodor years ago, I could see the bond forming between you both. Edward would do anything for you, even let you pull your first goods train when he knew you weren't ready for it. He plays games with you and, hell, he even made Gordon less of a boastful bossy boiler." He said, causing Thomas to choke out a soft giggle. "I may have known Edward longer than you, but I don't have the bond like what you two have. I do know what the bond feels like since I view Hiro as my older brother, and he sees me as his little brother. I know the pain you are feeling and the fear that is gripping your heart. I truly do, for I have nightmares that Hiro would just abandon me." He whispered, feeling his own eyes water a bit. "Even though Hiro and Edward are different, they both formed a strong bond with us for they truly care about us. I mean, even Gordon and Rosie see Edward as a big brother and you as a little brother."

"It just hurts..." Thomas cried as he gently pressed himself closer to James.

"I know it does, love." James whispered softly. "Hiro and I formed our bond not long after you found him, and I started to spend time with him. Those few nights, I had nightmares that I would lose the only engine I saw as a sibling, and Spencer didn't help that matter either. When I heard about how he chased you and Hiro down the tracks and Hiro was falling to pieces, I was about to lose it." He whispered, causing Thomas to look up at him. "I thought I lost Hiro that day and that he was going to be scrapped. I felt broken and alone."

"You...you didn't look at it..." Thomas muttered quietly as he looked down.

"Even though I didn't look at it on the outside, I was feeling it on the inside." James muttered quietly, gently nudging Thomas till he looked into his eyes. "Even though the fear is plaguing your mind with thoughts of Edward abandoning and hating you, just don't ever forget all the amazing things you and Edward have done together." He said softly, a small smile on his face. "Trust me, Thomas, Edward will be back with us soon. Just give him a little bit more time."

Thomas sniffed a bit as he stared at their buffers before looking up at him. "I...I trust you." He whispered, fresh tears falling once again as a tiny smile appeared on his face.

"Let's get some sleep, love." James whispered softly as he started to backup.

"W-Wait..." Thomas called out softly, stopping the splendid red engine. "Can...Can you stay here with me tonight...?" He asked softly, looking down.

James smiled warmly at his sapphire before puffing closer to him, their buffers once again pressing against each other.

"Of course, I will." James hummed in a soothing voice.

A tiny blush appeared on Thomas' tear-stained cheeks as he closed his eyes. Yawning a bit, James slowly felt his eyes close as both engines soon fell asleep. Unknown to them, Gordon has been awake and been listening to their talk.

A soft sigh escaped his mouth as he stared down at the tracks, his heart filled with dread and ache. James' words hit him hard, and it made him realize a lot of things. Edward has put up with his crap for years but always considered Gordon as a good friend, even as a brother. All the cruel things he ever said to Sodor's number 2 came rushing into his mind, making his eyes water. All the names he called him, like useless, old iron, and unreliable, everything he wanted to take back, but his damn pride always got in the way. He might not show it, but Gordon felt broken when he saw Edward's body that day. Seeing his mangled and deform body under that tarp as Henry sped past him, he felt something inside of him shattered. Edward has always been strong, even proving him wrong by the hard tasks he never gave up on unlike himself. He gave up trying to pull that goods train up his hill years ago after giving a half-ass try. Then calling Edward weak and unreliable when he came to help him up his hill. Choking back a sob, he forced himself to hold his tears back as he silently puffed out of his berth. Moving onto the turntable, he looked up at the night sky, looking at the moon and stars as he waited to be rotated. When the turntable stopped, Gordon took a shaky breath as he puffed down the tracks to try to clear his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"W-Why are you even here?" Edward asked in a scared voice. "I...I sealed you away!"

"Hahahaha..." Edward's inner self chuckled darkly, a dark smile appearing on his face. "You might've sealed me away years ago, but you never got rid of me. And that accident you caused helped me to escape."

"I didn't cause it!" Edward yelled, trying to stand up for himself.

"Then who was the one who made you decide to crash into the smelt, hm?" The inner version asked slyly, the smirk never leaving his face.

Edward opened his mouth to retort but closed it. HE was the one who decided to hit the metal pipes, causing him to slide into the smelt. Edward averted his eyes downward, avoiding the look of his inner self. He was right and that's what scared him. He never wanted this side of himself to ever appear again, but now, he was here because of him. The self he never wanted the others to find out, especially Thomas.

"I wonder, would the others still like you if they knew who you truly are?" The inner self teased as he puffed closer to Edward.

"NO!" Edward screamed eyes wide in fear. "Please...no...don't..." he cried as he begged.

"And why shouldn't I reveal myself? Afraid of them knowing how you're a killer."

"I...I'm not a killer..." Edward cried as he clenched his eyes shut. "I didn't kill him..."

"Oh didn't you?" His inner self chuckled.

The sounds of screams echoed around him, causing his eyes to open. Only for him to regret it. No longer was he in the dark but in a familiar yard. The screams and yells of the workmen as they scrambled about the goods yard at Atlas Works in Glasgow. They carried buckets of water and hoses as they tried to put out the massive fire in front of Edward. He wanted to move but his wheels were frozen. His eyes wide as his face was frozen in a petrified state. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared at the fire, his eyes focused on the silhouette of an LSWR 0298 Class tank engine. Black smoke rose from the still engine, the crackling of fire drowning the screams that echoed around. The engine's face was completely charred as it screamed in pain. The fire casted the engine in a dark shadow as the empty eye sockets stared directly into Edward's eye.

Edward stared in horror as the memory played in front of him. The screams, the fire, that face, everything Edward forced himself to forget. His eye widened as tears streamed down his cheeks, his mouth opened from a mute scream as he felt frozen. He didn't mean for him to die, he never wanted him to die. Edward clenched his eye tightly as he finally forced himself to look away from the scene in front of him. Tears continued to fall as loud sobs escaped his mouth.

"You see, Edward, this is who you truly are." His inner voice chuckled as he appeared on Edward's left side. "An engine who doesn't listen to others. An engine who is better than the rest!"

"No!" Edward cried as he glared at him. "I am nothing like that!"

"Is that so?" The inner voice chuckled as red steam surrounded them.

Edward closed his eye as the Steam swirled around him, the heat radiating from it burning a bit. When the heat resided, he slowly opened his eye and looked around. He was still in the yard but there was no fire, no screams, and no burning engine. In front of him was an engine that looked identical to himself. His livery was dark green with black lining on its boiler and tender box. The number 3927 was painted on the side as the engine moved onto a side track. His face had a smug look to it as it harshly rammed itself into a line of empty trucks.

"You were the newest design at this place." His inner self chuckled as Edward looked down. "You were stronger and faster than the other weak engines here."

"Edward."

Edward's eyes went wide as he heard the old and familiar voice. Watching the scene in front of him, he saw the same tank engine that was on fire but this time, he looked normal. His livery was the same dark green color but had gold lining instead of black. On its side in gold paint was AW295 with a black outline. Edward felt a wave of sadness as he watched the other engine puff closer to his past self, already knowing what would happen.

"What do you want, old timer?" Past Edward huffed in annoyance as he stared at the engine.

"You must be a bit gentler when shunting trucks." The engine softly as he slowly stopped next to him. "Otherwise, they'll become troublesome."

"Please." Past Edward scoffed in annoyance. "Like I need advice from an engine who is weak compared to me." He huffed as he puffed forward. "I'm the latest design at this place and the most reliable since I am able to pull more than you ever could."

The other engine sighed as he slowly puffed after him. "Your design might be stronger than mine and yes, you can pull longer trains, but all engines are reliable. No matter when they were created."

"Save it, gramps." Past Edward huffed as he pulled the small goods train. "Just be preserved like every other old engine."

"I don't know why you put up with him, Bane." An engine identical to the other one hummed as he stopped next to him.

Bane sighed softly before a small smile appeared on his face. "He's just being boastful for he was just made." He chuckled softly as he puffed down the tracks. "Just like all new engines, they're like that until they gain more experience and life wears them down. Just be patient with him, brother."

"I was so cruel to him..." Edward muttered quietly as he looked down.

"You had every right to be!" His inner self sneered, causing Edward to reverse a bit. "He was old and useless. You were the top of the line at this place!"

"I wasn't!" Edward snapped back, glaring at him. "Bane was right when he said all engines are reliable."

"Face it, Edward." His inner self growled lowly at him. "You had your chance to prove that you were the best and blew it. Hell, you even killed him and what did you do, seal me away!"

Edward wanted to argue back but the words wouldn't come out. Was his inner self right? Did he really kill Bane to get him out of the way? Edward fought those thoughts in his mind, desperately trying to get rid of them. For years, he kept convincing himself that what he did was an accident but now, he's starting to doubt himself. As he fought his mind, he didn't notice how his inner self had a dark smirk on his face, or the small black whip-like smoke rising from the ground and slowly weaving through his wheels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gordon let out a shaky breath as he slowly puffed down the tracks, his face downcasted to the tracks. A cool breeze blew across the island, causing a shiver to go through his funnel but he didn't care. For the past few months, he's only been thinking about Edward. Sure, he always teased him but he saw Edward as his older brother. Edward still treated him fairly and kindly, even after everything he's done and said to him. Gordon hated himself for always being cruel towards Edward. His own damn pride and him being boastful about how 'grand' he is. Gritting his teeth, Gordon took a deep breath before opening his eyes, looking up at the night sky. He slowed to a stop and continued to stare at the stars. Not often did he do this, always complaining how he needed his sleep, but he always saw Edward staring up at them. He thought Edward was weird when he saw him, but now, he could see why Edward, and now Thomas, would stare at the stars.

The way they twinkled in the massive midnight blue sea, the light of the moon reflecting across the land, and the slightly visible Milky Way, made the sky look like a painting. The colorful night was breathtaking. Being the Express engine, Gordon never really bothered to stargaze with his two brothers, but now, he deeply regrets it. All of the times he could've hung out with Edward, spending time and learning things from the engine he saw as a big brother. He always thought Edward was old, weak, and too small to be a tender engine. Feeling his coupling rods shake, Gordon slowed to a stop on the Mainline and struggled to keep his tears back.

"Gordon?"

Gordon immediately lowered his eyes to stare at the engine facing him on the second track. On the track next to him is an NYC J-3a Hudson streamline lined engine that was a teal blue color with an aquamarine stripe design going horizontal on his body and yellow lining. The light under his face glowed brightly as his face held a look of concern. Gordon stared at his streamlined lover, the moon's light easily reflecting the tears in his eyes. Connor could see how Gordon's lips trembled slightly as he held back a sob. He knew that he was like this about Edward, knowing how distant he's been when others visited him in the Steamworks. Hell, even he noticed it when he and Caitlin stopped by earlier today. Even though Gordon is boastful and rarely showed his true feelings, Connor could see past that wall. Behind his boastful and prideful wall, Connor could see his lover brokenhearted and worried about Sodor's number 2. He could see how Edward treated Gordon as a younger brother just like he does with Thomas.

"What are you doing out so late?" Connor asked softly as he continued to stare at him.

"I-I...I couldn't sleep..." Gordon muttered as he looked down, pressing his lips together as the tears slowly started to fall.

Connor felt his boiler ache as he watched his lover slowly break down. It was very rare that Gordon ever cried, the first time he saw him cry was when he found out about Edward's accident. Looking down at the tracks, he was glad Gordon stopped two feet away from the track switch. Puffing forward a bit, he slowly moved onto the switch before turning onto the track Gordon was on. He kept puffing closer till his skirt pressed against Gordon's buffers. Gordon clenched his eyes as he finally let himself cry, gently pressing his buffers closer to him.

"It's alright, Gordon." Connor hummed softly. "Edward will be alright."

"What if he's not?!" Gordon growled as he glared at him, his face more broken instead of angry. "He was doing better when he woke up but now, he doesn't even want us to visit him!" He yelled out a sob as he clenched his eyes shut. "He was doing well...he talked to us even though we couldn't see him...but he...but he doesn't even want us around..." He sobbed quietly as he looked at Connor with a broken face. "What if he-"

"Enough, Gordon." Connor said in a firm yet gentle voice, causing Gordon to be quiet. "Edward is not going to be scrapped and he does want you around."

"But why di-"

"You have to imagine what Edward is going through, love." Connor spoke softly to him. "I may not know him as long as you have, but I do know that he loves and cares about you just as much as he does with Thomas and Rosie." He hummed calmly. "Right now, Edward is just hurting and possibly in pain to the point he doesn't want to bother you or the others."

"But he doesn't bother us!" Gordon cried as he looked down. "He never did..."

"But to Edward, he thinks he is." Connor said softly, gently pressing his skirt closer to Gordon's buffers. "Trust me, love. Edward will be back at Tidmouth sheds before you know it."

"I hope you're right..." Gordon muttered, sniffing a bit. "Tidmouth...Tidmouth just hasn't been the same without him..."

"I know it hasn't, love." Connor spoke softly before gently pushing Gordon backwards.

"W-Where...?" Gordon asked quietly in confusion.

"Come on, we're going to Ulfstead." Connor hummed softly as he continued to gently push him. "Rosie will also be there."

"...Thank you, love..." Gordon muttered softly, letting Connor push him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Henry sighed softly as he puffed down the tracks, pulling the Flying Kipper. Lately, he hasn't been feeling well and it wasn't because of a boiler ache. For the last few months, his mind has mostly been on Edward and how he mostly wanted to be alone. It hurt him and he knew it hurt the others as well, mostly Thomas. Every night for the last few weeks, he woke up to Thomas' crying, hearing him say how it's his fault that Edward doesn't want anyone to visit. He felt terrible that Thomas was torturing himself in that way. He knew how close he and Edward were, seeing the brotherly bond grow very much. Just like how he and Percy have a brotherly bond, along with James and Hiro. Upon entering his forest, Henry glanced up at the night sky through the branches and looked at the stars. This forest was very special to him, and not just from helping bring new trees to be planted. This place holds a special place in his heart for it was his forest that he expressed his real feelings to Edward.

~~Flashback~~

The moon shone brightly against the night sky, the stars glistening like glitter. Crickets chirped their music as cicadas sang across the dark forest. A soft breeze was blown across the island as the leaves rustled a bit. Resting on the tracks, Henry and Edward happily gazed up at the beautiful night sky, a comforting silence surrounding them. Edward smiled warmly as he stared at the stars, too focused to notice Henry's expression. Henry looked over at Edward, a soft blush coating his cheeks as he stared at him. His beautiful sapphire livery seemed to glow in the moon's light, a faint silver gloss seeming to be covering him. The way his eyes reflected the sparkling stars made his boiler ache in anticipation. For years, Henry has formed a crush on Sodor's number 2 engine, eventually falling in love with him. He was nervous to tell him, especially after how he used to treat Edward back in the day when it was just him, Edward, Gordon, James, and Thomas. He treated Edward poorly in the past when he was just trying to fit in with Gordon and James. He hated it but he also didn't want to be teased constantly by Gordon. Eventually, he formed a strong friendship with Edward that eventually turned into love. He asked Edward to join him here, wanting to express his feelings but was scared. His mind kept saying how Edward had no interest in him, an engine who is a worrier and an engine who teased the smaller engine. For years, he kept his feelings hidden, only for Thomas and Percy to figure it out.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Henry." Edward hummed softly, catching Henry's attention. "It's beautiful being here at night." He smiled warmly as he looked at him.

"Y-You're welcome." Henry smiled nervously, the blush growing deeper. "...Edward?" He asked softly, his pistons quivering as he tried to calm himself down.

"Yes?" Edward asked in confusion. "What is it?"

"I...uhh...w-well, I-I..." Henry hesitated, the ache in his boiler increasing as he tried to find the words.

"Is everything alright?" Edward asked in concern, worried about his friend.

"Y-Yes, everything's a-alright." Henry chuckled nervously. "Uhh...w-wait here a bit, I'm going to turn around." He smiled nervously as he puffed away, his facing showing a look of worry.

Edward blinked in confusion as he watched Henry puff down the tracks. He's never seen Henry this nervous before and it worried him. He knew Henry is a worrier, especially after he hid in his tunnel years ago, but he never stuttered like that. Listening to Henry's words, he didn't move from his place on the tracks as he stared up at the sky again. In all honesty, he was nervous being here with just Henry. For the past few years, he felt strange around the green engine, feeling his heart racing whenever he was near him, the way his cheeks burned whenever he saw him, and the way his pistons shutter when he was close to him. At first, he was confused until saw Thomas' and James' relationship grew after he returned from the Steelworks. At that moment, he knew he fell for Sodor's number 3 engine, and he was nervous about it. He didn't know how Henry would react if he told him his feelings and decided to keep it to himself. Even if Henry didn't feel the same towards him, Edward was satisfied that Henry considered him a friend. And, whoever Henry did choose, he would support it either way for he didn't want Henry to suffer from loneliness. That thought itself made Edward's eyes tear up, but he quickly blinked them away, not wanting Henry to see when he came back. After a few minutes, Edward felt his heart race when he saw Henry puff towards him, on the same track he was one. He noticed the nervous look on his face but ignored it and smiled warmly at him.

"Welcome back." Edward chuckled softly, the blush slightly visible on his cheeks.

"Thank you." Henry chuckled nervously as he looked at him.

Henry felt his heart race as he stared at Edward's face, feeling his blush burn some more. Edward's face seemed to glow under the moon's light, his eyes reflecting the twinkling stars. On his way back here after turning around, he was convincing himself to tell Edward how he felt, only for him to freeze up again. The warm smile Edward always seemed to have was comforting to see. Gulping quietly, Henry took a deep breath before exhaling softly. He needed to tell Edward how he felt, even though he was scared that Edward wouldn't feel the same way towards him.

"Edward..." Henry gulped nervously. "I...I have something to tell you..." He muttered nervously as he looked everywhere besides Edward's face.

"What is it?" Edward asked softly, his boiler aching nervously.

"I-I...well...F-For the last few years I...I..." Henry stuttered as he tried to force himself to continue. "Lately...well, I..." He took a deep breath as he stared down at the tracks. "I l-love you, Edward..." He muttered quietly, the words flowing out of him now. "For the past few years, I've had a crush on you and it grew to the point that I love you. You...you are an engine that always showed patience with me, either when I was worrying over nothing or way back before Thomas even arrived on Sodor. You are an amazing engine who is filled with kindness, unselfishness, caring, and very thoughtful. Everything about you I love, and I wished I treated you better back in the day. I...I don't even know how you're still friends with me after calling you unreliable and old iron before..." He sighed sadly. "I...I understand if you don't feel the same towards me and...I'll always be your friend. I just...I just needed to tell you how I felt..."

Edward stared at Henry with slightly wide eyes, his mouth opened a bit as his cheeks burned. He felt the same as him? Edward felt his cheeks burn as he stared at Henry, feeling tears filling his eyes. Smiling warmly at him, he slowly puffed closer towards him till he pressed his buffers against his. Henry looked at him in shock, his cheeks burning a soft pink when he felt their buffers pressed together.

"Honestly, Henry...I feel the same way..." Edward spoke softly as he looked away, cheeks red. "For the past few years, I also fell in love with you but was nervous and scared that you wouldn't feel the same towards me." He hummed softly, the smile still on his face.

Henry stared at Edward in shock before smiling warmly at him. Henry puffed forward a bit, pressing against Edward's buffers some more. The two engines stared at each other with a loving gaze, a smile on both of their faces. The moon's light seemed to glow brighter as it shone down on the two, casting them in silver light.

"Finally!"

Henry and Edward moved back a bit, hearing the familiar young voices of the two tank engines they love. Looking back at each other, a small giggle left their mouths as they pressed their buffers against each other again.

"Brothers." Henry and Edward chuckled softly as they heard Thomas and Percy trying to cheer quietly.

~~End Flashback~~

Henry clenched his eyes shut as he felt the hot tears streamed down his cheeks. That night was one of the happiest moments of his life and nothing could ever replace it. He wanted his sapphire back with him, he wanted him back at Tidmouth with the others. Hell, he just wanted Edward back to everyone on this island. Edward is an engine that everyone, both humans and engines, knew very well and his accident was hard for them. Seeing his accident firsthand made Henry feel like his world shattered. The agonizing scream Edward let out from the pain and seeing him slowly melt was a nightmare that still haunts him. When he heard Edward woke up, he never felt as happy as he did that day. He was so close to being with Edward again, only for things to go downhill. Refusing to let anyone see him hurt but Henry was alright with just hearing his voice. And yet, after he started his therapy, he started to refuse everyone to even come near him. That wasn't the Edward he knew and loved, and it scared him. Edward was an engine who always liked having others visit him. His smile, his laughter, it drew everyone towards the FR 21/K2 class engine.

"Please, Edward..." Henry whispered softly, his voice quivering as he cried silently. "Please come back to us, Edward. All of us miss and love you...we want you back, love." He pleaded quietly as he puffed towards Vicarstown with the Flying Kipper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward stared down at the tracks, the small black wisps of darkness coiling around his wheels. He didn't mean to kill Bane, did he? For decades, he kept telling himself that it was an accident but now, he was starting to doubt himself. He knew his inner self wasn't lying for he WAS him back then. HE was boastful towards the other engines there, and treated Bane worse, just like Gordon did when they first met. He was no different than Gordon but worse towards Bane. The only thing the tank engine did was try to mentor him, showing him how to work on the railway but all he did was brag and show off.

"I...I didn't..." Edward struggled to say, finding the words difficult to say.

"See Edward, even you know that you are a murder." His inner self taunted, his dark smile growing. "We WERE strong. We WERE the best. We WERE the number one engine at this dump!"

Edward didn't say anything as he looked away from his inner self, the small black wisps of darkness slowly slithering up to his running plate.

"But YOU had to go and ruin it!" His inner self growled, causing Edward to move backwards in fear. "Ever since that damn day, YOU kept pushing me further back in your mind, locking me up and replacing me with this fake disguise YOU created!" He growled, glaring at him. "We could've been the best engine on Sodor where we would always be number one, but you gave that up just because you were SCARED!"

"I...wasn't scared." Edward muttered quietly as he looked down. "I was only doing what Bane taught me..."

"I was only doing what Bane taught me." His inner self mocked before growling at him. "Because of that, every single engine that arrived on Sodor only saw you as a weak, useless ENGINE!" He yelled, red steam wheeshing out from under him.

Edward closed his eyes and coughed as the red steam surrounded him, the smell of burning coal entering his nose. He felt his eye start to burn from the steam and constantly blinked till he was able to open it. No longer was he at the Atlas Works yard but back in the black void. The tracks were no longer in front of him but found himself on a turntable. The black wisps continued to slowly slither up his body, covering his running plate and buffer beam in darkness. He felt his body grow cold as he looked around the darkness, his pistons trembling in fear.

"UnReLiAbLe."

"OlD iRoN."

"DiSpIcAbLe."

"UsElEsS."

"RuSt BuCkEt."

"ToO oLd."

"ToO sLoW."

The distorted voices of his friends, brother, and lover echoed around him, constantly repeating the words they all called him throughout his years on Sodor. Edward clenched his eye shut, desperately trying to block out the voices as he felt himself slowly being rotated. The words he ignored for years, always being fazed whenever he was called any of those things. The same words he always said to Bane before he killed him. Tears stung his eyes as they slowly trailed down his cheeks.

"Every single one of them doesn't care about you." His inner self sneered. "These are the words they always call you behind your back. They say they care about you but in reality, they don't!" He growled as he slowly puffed around Edward.

Edward slowly opened his eye, only for him to widen it as he saw multiple tracks completely surrounding him. On every single track were the engines he cared about deeply. Gordon, Henry, Thomas, James, Duck, BoCo, everyone. They were all glaring at him, hatred filling their eyes as Edward could only stare at him.

"You are nothing more than pieces of old scrap." 'Gordon' huffed distastefully. "You're not even worth being preserved. You better just take yourself to the Smelter's Yard."

"I don't know how I could ever love you." 'Henry' growled as he wheeshed steam at him. "You are nothing but a useless and weak engine."

"You honestly think I considered you a brother?" 'Thomas' teased sinisterly. "You are nothing but a bossy boiler who thinks you're the best."

Edward remained silent as he listened to the engines he cared for deeply, the tears not once stopping. Their words made his heartache and his boiler feeling cold. Was this how they saw him? Did he actually mean anything to them? Still spinning around, the words his 'friends' kept saying to him felt truer. He really was useless and only made for scrap. His wheels and underframe felt cold as the black wisps slowly slithered up his boiler and chin. His inner self smirked darkly as his coupling rods slowly detached from his wheels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria stared up at Edward's face, a worried look clearly visible. The tears that fell down his cheeks not once stopping and the whispers that escaped his mouth. The medical tape keeping the gauze around his right eye had peeled a bit, the soft material soaked from his tears. She knew Edward was in the middle of his fight and knew that he had to face it alone. Maria sighed softly as she slowly climbed onto his buffer beam, walking over to his face as she gently dried his tears away.

"You have to fight this, Edward." Maria hummed softly as she jumped back to the ground. "You're the only one who can." She spoke as she started to walk away. The sound of chuffing stopped her as she turned her head. "It's still a bit too early for you to interfere."

...

"I see." Maria softly laughed a bit as she turned around. "You can go now, but still wait till the time is right."

...

The sound of puffing echoed in the night air as Maria looked at Edward. Looking up at the sky, she pulled out her watch and looked at the time. "You have till sunrise, Edward. Which one will you choose?" She pondered softly as she walked over to her bag.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They never loved you and they never will." His inner voice hummed softly as he immediately appeared next to Edward. "They don't want to be anywhere near a weak engine."

Edward cried silently as he slowly opened his eye. The forms of his friends, his lover, and his brother continued to glare at him, slowly rotating to look at them. The dark wisps grew thicker as they completely covered his tender. His boiler felt cold, and his heart slowly felt empty. The tears were slowing to a stop as his emotions started to fade away.

"You are pointless to them. An engine with no purpose and no usefulness anywhere." His inner self hummed softly as he puffed forward, feeling Edward's eye follow him. "The form you took after arriving in Sodor is weak. That form isn't you, but I am the real you."

"You...You are my true self..." Edward muttered quietly, his gaze set on his buffers.

Around him, fire shot up around, covering the engines he saw as his friends and family. They continued to glare at him as the fire started to engulf them. A few tears fell down his cheeks as Edward watched them with a broken face. The way their bodies seemed to melt and bend from the heat, the skin on their faces blistering and bubbling. Edward wanted to cry out to them, wanting to save them but his body didn't move, and his mind was enjoying the sight. HE was stronger than they'll ever be. HE suffered more than any of them, but HE kept on puffing. He wanted them to burn, to prove that he was better than them. The dark wisps continued to slither across his body, everything covered in darkness as they slowly crept onto his face. He felt numb but he didn't mind. Slowly looking up, he watched as his inner self started to change. Its coupling rods were detached from its wheels, morphed into strange metallic claws. Its eyes were all black with red irises glowing sinisterly. Blood trickled down its cheeks and mouth as its teeth grew sharp and deadly. The right side of its face was badly burned, the blisters on the skin popping and bubbling. Edward cried out in pain as he felt his entire right side start to burn again, feeling his face heat up and boil.

"LeT mE tAkE cOnTrOl OnCe AgAiN, eDwArD." His inner self growled as its boiler started to break apart, flaming parts of metal protruding out as wisps of darkness surround it. "GiVe YoUrSeLf To Me, AnD i'Ll ShOw ThEm ThAt We ArE tHe BeSt!"

Edward screamed in pain as the right side of his boiler exploded, flames shooting out of him. The pain was unbearable as he felt his body start to melt in fire and darkness. Flames shot out of his right eye, the bandage completely gone as the right side of his face started to melt. He just wanted this pain to go away, he just wanted to feel nothing. The wisps of darkness crawled over his face, only his left eye still visible against the darkness and flames.

"Edward."

Edward's eye widened as he heard the soft voice echoing around him, a tiny speck of light forming above him. His inner self looked around in confusion from hearing the voice as well. Soon, the speck of light grew brighter, casting a golden glow down on him. His inner self roared in pain as it slowly dissolved in the light. The burning and melting forms of his friends, lover, and brother dissolved as well as the darkness that was engulfing him disappeared. Edward closed his eye as the light grew brighter, the pain that he felt long gone as a warm and calming feeling covered him. Eventually, the glowing light soon disappeared as Edward slowly opened his eye. Blinking constantly, he slowly opened his eye fully only to gasp. His eye went wide, and his mouth opened a bit as he looked around in shock. No longer was he in the dark void with fire surrounding him along with his inner self.

He was now resting on a set of tracks, in the middle of a huge field with emerald, green grass. Tall mountains surrounded him far in the distance with the sky, a magnificent light blue and white fluffy clouds decorated the sky. Colorful flowers were scattered across the field as rainbow swirls seemed to dance across the warm gentle breeze. The sun was a beautiful gold color and it made Edward feel warm and safe. Never has he seen such a beautiful place in his entire life. Even on Sodor, there wasn't a place as magnificent as this.

"Hello, Edward."

Edward immediately looked in front of him, seeing an engine he's never seen before but deeply knew. She was small in size, smaller than Thomas and Percy but very wise. Her four red-violet wheels glistened in the sun, the same with her red-violet livery. Her coupling rods, lamp, smokebox, dome, and the base and top of her funnel were a beautiful gold color with gold lining on her body. Her face was warm as a gentle smile appeared as she looked at Edward. Even though her name was painted in fancy gold letters, he already knew this beautiful engine's name.

"Lady..." Edward gasped softly as he looked at her, feeling out of place. "Where...Where am I?"

"You are in my home, Edward." Lady smiled warmly at him.

"I...I shouldn't be here..." Edward muttered quietly as he looked down. "I've done terrible things in my past and this darkness I have within myself..."

"You haven't done anything wrong, Edward." Lady spoke softly as she puffed a bit closer to him. "All of my children have a right to be here, whether they have darkness or light within their hearts."

"I killed another engine..." Edward muttered quietly as fresh tears began to fall. "He died because of me..."

"What happened all of those years ago was an accident, my child." Lady hummed softly as she gently pressed her buffers against him. "You have been holding onto that thought for many years and slowly hurt yourself in the process of sealing it away."

"You weren't there, Lady..." Edward sighed softly as he gently puffed backward a bit. "I killed Bane all those years ago..." He muttered as he closed his eyes, crying silently.

"But you didn't kill me, Edward."

Edward's eyes shot open as he heard the familiar male voice, in front of him was no longer Lady, but a familiar LSWR 0298 Class tank engine. His livery is a dark green color with gold lining and the gold-colored letters and numbers AW295 on the sides of his boiler. Edward froze on the spot, staring at the new engine in shock as tears flowed down his cheeks. He wanted to get away from him, he didn't want him to see what he had become.

"B-Bane..." Edward whispered quietly, his body in shock from seeing his mentor.

"Hello, Edward." Bane chuckled softly as he looked at him.

"B-Bane...I-I'm...I'm..." Edward tried to talk, only to cry instead. "I-I'm sorry, Bane!" He sobbed as he broke down crying. "I'm sorry for treating you so badly. I'm sorry for always giving you a hard time..." He sobbed loudly. "It's...It's my fault you died because I was stupid and useless!"

Bane stared at Edward sadly, knowing all too well that he was suffering greatly. Since his death, he's been following Edward, making sure he was doing alright. He was happy to see all the friends he made throughout his years on Sodor, but knew he was suffering. For years, he watched how Edward struggled to keep his memories of the Atlas Works at bay. Looking at the broken, grey engine in front of him, Bane frowned as he puffed closer to him. Edward slowly opened his eyes as he felt a pair of buffers being pressed against his. Bane smiled sadly at him as he pressed his buffers closer to his. Edward felt fresh tears fall as he pressed his buffers closer, crying softly. Bane knew Edward needed this and he didn't mind, he was just happy to see that Edward didn't lose his heart in the darkness. Edward remained still, still crying for a few minutes before he eventually felt himself calm down a bit. Sniffing a bit, he puffed backward a tiny bit before looking at Bane.

"What happened back then wasn't your fault, Edward." Bane hummed softly as he smiled warmly. "It was an accident."

"But I-"

"You didn't cause my death." Bane reassured him. "Let me show you what really happened that day." He hummed softly as he wheeshed out a lot of steam.

Edward closed his eyes from the steam, his vision completely engulfed in steam. The sounds of engines and machines echoed around him as the steam slowly faded. Opening his eyes, Edward noticed how he was back at the Atlas Works yard, seeing himself shunting some empty trucks harshly. Edward felt his boiler ache as he knew exactly which day this way. He wanted to puff out of there, not wanting to watch the accident again. He was about to move when Bane appeared on the tracks next to him.

"Keep watch, Edward." Bane said softly as he looked at him. "And you will see that this accident wasn't your fault."

Edward wanted to argue with him but held his tongue, remembering how he treated him before. Gulping quietly, he watched his past self with sad eyes. Past Edward huffed in annoyance as he bashed the empty trucks, ignoring the grunts and complaints they were giving him.

"Oh, shut up." Past Edward huffed in annoyance as he bashed some more onto a siding. "Just stay in the siding and stop being troublesome to useful engines like myself." He grumbled as he went to collect some empty trucks.

"Treating them like that won't get you far, Edward." Past Bane chuckled softly as he puffed up to him. "Treating trucks like that will only make them more troublesome."

"Shut it, old-timer." Past Edward huffed as he pulled a train of empty trucks. "I'm stronger than you'll ever be and can easily deal with them."

Past Bane sighed softly as he followed the young engine. He knew that trouble would follow him, just like all of the other new engines that were built here. Past Bane chuckled softly as he watched the younger tender engine grumble. Watching the younger engine reminded him of when he was first made, acting the same way about being a newer model engine. Chuckling to himself, he puffed backward towards a train of empty trucks. As he was about to be coupled, he heard faint screaming and looked in front of him. His eyes widen when he sees a runaway train moving fast down the line, heading towards where Past Edward was moving backwards. Looking closer at the runaway train, his boiler turned cold when he noticed that the runaway had two tanks filled with gas. His breathing picked up as he started to puff towards Past Edward.

"Edward, move!" Past Bane called out in a panic.

"I am moving!" Past Edward huffed as he continued to puff backward, not seeing the runaway behind him getting closer.

Past Bane bit his lip as he puffed faster towards the tender engine, fear gripping at his boiler. Without thinking, he roughly bashed into Past Edward's buffers, pushing him onto a siding forcefully.

"What the hell is your problem, old ti-" Past Edward didn't finish as his eyes widened.

Like in slow motion, Edward and Past Edward watched in horror as the runaway train crashed into Past Bane head-on, the two tanks exploding. The explosion caused a loud ringing sound in the air followed by the sounds of screams and fire. Past Edward stared at the accident with wide, frightened eyes, his mind frozen as he stared in shock. Past Bane screamed in pain as the fire easily engulfed him, burning him. Past Edward felt frozen at the spot, watching how the fire was burning his mentor's face, his body slowly heating even more. He wanted to yell, to scream, hell, to even move Past Bane out of the fire but was scared. He felt trapped, hazily watching as workmen tried desperately to put out the fire. Edward watched in horror as the scene replayed in front of him, causing him to shut his eyes tightly.

"It...It was my fault you died..." Edward cried as he kept his eyes shut. "Because I didn't move when you told me, and you ended up getting hurt instead..."

"It wasn't your fault, Edward." Bane hummed softly. "I made the choice to protect you over my safety."

"But why?" Edward cried as he looked at him. "I treated you terribly!"

"Because I care about you, Edward." Bane smiled warmly as he looked at him. "I saw you as a son, and I would do anything to protect you. Just like you did with Thomas."

"Thomas!"

Edward blinked and noticed that his surroundings changed once again, showing Brendam Docks. The smell of molten smelt filled his nose as he looked ahead. In front of him was a large pile of spilled smelt on the tracks at the docks. Henry, Salty, Porter, and Cranky had a look of fear on their faces as they looked down the tracks. Following their gazes, Edward watched how his past self chased after Thomas, heading towards metal pipes laying across the tracks. The horrified look on Thomas' face was branded into his mind, tears falling down his cheeks from seeing him so scared.

"Edward!" Henry cried out worriedly, watching his sapphire sped up towards the metal pipe instead of slowing down.

The day of his accident was a blur to Edward, even though he remembered what happened. Yet this part of his memory seemed fuzzy to him, not really remembering doing this for Thomas. He winced as he watched how his past self slammed into the metal pipes, watching how he started to tip over. Tears fell down his face as his past self-tipped over, falling against Thomas as both engines derailed. He was relieved when Thomas laid on his side, away from the smelt and watched how his past self skidded into the smelt. Hearing his own screams was mortifying to him, not remembering that scream at all. He heard the sirens grow louder as he watched the Search and Rescue Team arrive at the docks. The horrified looks on their faces as they raced to spray water onto the smelt and his body. The amount of steam that rose up covered his vision, encasing him in a cloud of white. The cracking sounds of metal breaking from the hot and cold temperatures echoed around him as the steam began to clear.

"Edward..." He heard Thomas' small voice against the noise. "EDWARD!"

Edward felt his boiler ache and his heart drop when he heard Thomas' broken voice. Watching his accident completely, he felt sick to his boiler. The way the others screamed his name, hoping to receive a reply but was only met with silence. Steam once again surrounded him as the scenery began to fade, slowly transforming into Lady's home once again. Tears stained his cheeks as the warmth of the sun coated him like a blanket. His body trembled as he watched Bane puffed up to him.

"You see, Edward when you care about someone deeply, you would do everything you can to protect them." Bane smiled warmly at him. "What you did to save Thomas wasn't any different to how I protected you all those years ago." He hummed softly, watching how tears streamed once again down Edward's cheeks. "We are willing to sacrifice ourselves to protect those we love. That is the way of life in this world. We live, we grow old, and we die. Animals, humans, and engines do everything to make sure we live for as long as we can. It's those who have a pure heart full of caring and kindness who are willing to pay the ultimate price if it means seeing someone they love to live on."

"I wished I treated you better..." Edward whispered quietly as he looked at him sadly. "To act as the son, you should've deserved."

"I wouldn't change anything about you, Edward." Bane chuckled softly, smiling warmly at him.

"But...I don't know what to do..." Edward muttered softly. "Do I continue to hide my true self or just be who I am?"

"It depends, Edward." Bane said softly, only for Edward's inner self to appear on his left with his Sodor self appearing on his right.

Edward stared at the two selves in shock, looking at them. His inner self looked normal, but still had the smug look on his face. His Sodor self was a brilliant light blue color with red lining with a warm smile on his face. Edward looked between the two before looking at Bane in confusion.

"It's a question you've been unknowingly questioning for a long period of time." Bane hummed softly. "Who are you?"

Edward stared at him before looking at his two selves, deep in thought. Who really is him? The self he was when he was first created, or the self when he arrived on Sodor. Was he an engine that was prideful and boastful? Or an engine who was caring and kind. He knew his inner self was his true self and his Sodor self was the self he made to hide from his past. Either way, both of them were him. Closing his eyes, Edward remained deep in thought as he thought about the question.

Who am I?

The question kept repeating within his mind, making him think deeper within himself. Bane watched Edward as he thought about the question. It was a question that only Edward could answer truthfully. A few minutes had gone by before Edward opened his eyes, looking at him. Soon, a warm smile appeared on his face as he looked at the two selves.

"I have my answer, Bane." Edward said softly, smiling warmly at his mentor.

Both of Edward's selves smiled warmly at him, the two of them slowly dissolving into the rainbow swirls that dance in the wind. Bane smiled warmly as he too started to dissolve into the swirls, puffing closer to him. Edward smiled as tears began to fall down his cheeks again, moving forward till his buffers pressed against his.

"I am very proud of you, Edward." Bane said softly as he looked at him. "And nothing will ever change that."

"Thank you, Bane." Edward cried softly. "Thank you for everything, Father."

Bane's eyes widened a bit before he chuckled softly. "Take care, son."

Edward cried silently but smiled as he watched Bane completely dissolve into the rainbow swirls. They dance around Edward before dancing over the fields, blending in with the others. Edward watched the swirls with a sad smile on his face, the tears still falling as he heard the soft puffing of an engine getting closer to him. Blinking the tears away, he looked down at Lady, seeing the soft smile on her face.

"I'm ready, Lady." Edward said softly, the warm smile never leaving his face.

Lady smiled warmly at the tender engine before puffing closer to him, pressing her buffers against his. "If you ever need guidance, I will be here to help you, along with Bane."

"Thank you, Lady." Edward said softly to her, pressing his buffers against her's.

Lady smiled up at Edward as she blew her whistle loudly. The high pitch sound echoed across her home as golden color dust started to surround Edward. Sodor's number 2 engine smiled at Lady before closing his eyes, feeling the gold dust surrounding him. He felt warmth engulfing him from the gold dust, feeling relaxed and comforted as the sounds of birds chirping surrounded him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Edward opened his eye, he immediately shut it from the blinding light. The sounds of birds chirping echoed around him as he slowly blinked his eye opened. Through the gaps of the trees and branches, the light of the rising sun shone brightly on his face. The smell of the morning dew filled his eyes as a yawn escaped his mouth. His eye burned and felt dry but he didn't care. Hearing soft footsteps on the grass, he watched as Maria walked in front of him, carrying a thermos. Maria hummed softly as she stood in front of Edward, taking a sip of her tea.

"Tell me, Edward." Maria hummed softly as she looked up at him. "Did you figure out who you are?"

Edward blinked at her in confusion, his mind a bit hazy before remembering what happened. Looking at the golden light of the sun poking through the trees, Edward smiled before looking down at him.

"I have." Edward hummed softly, the smile never leaving his face.

Maria watched how the sun's rising rays reflected off of Edward's face, watching how the medical tape and gauze fell off his face. Only in the sun's light can a faint scar be seen over his right eye. Unlike his left eye, his right eye was a dull grey/pale blue color, showing that he no longer has vision in that eye. Looking at him, Maria smiled as she lowered her thermos down.

"Very well then, Edward." Maria hummed softly, smiling at him as she walked over to her bag.

Chapter Text

Gordon groaned softly as he slowly opened his eyes, slowly looking around. The sky was still dark with the stars sparkling while the horizon was slightly bright. Yawning a bit, Gordon looked over at the streamlined engine next to him and smiled slightly. Soft snores escaped Connor’s mouth as he slept, his face relaxed and content. Looking down at his lover’s skirt, he winced a bit as he looked at the dents caused by his buffers. Even though Connor didn’t show it, Gordon knew that it must’ve been painful. Sighing quietly, Gordon looked down at his buffers as he started to think about Edward. Clenching his eyes shut, he struggled to hold back tears as he remembered how poorly he treated him. When he first arrived on Sodor, he immediately made fun of Edward given his size and the jobs he did. He always looked down on the older engine, feeling superior over him but secretly, was jealous of him. After everything Gordon did to Edward, the number 2 engine would always help him, smile at him, and just be a good friend to him. The day Edward said that he saw Gordon as a brother, Sodor’s number 4 engine was speechless. 

“Gordon?”

Gordon moved forward a bit, startled by the voice of his streamlined lover. He didn’t know how long he was crying but felt the air chill his cheeks before being warmed by fresh tears. Gordon slowly moved back to his original spot before looking at his lover. Connor frowned sadly when he saw the broken look on Gordon’s face. He knew Gordon was suffering just as much as Thomas, even though he tried to hide it. Behind his boastful and prideful face, everyone could see and hear the sadness in his heart. A sad silence surrounded the two engines, the soft cries coming from Sodor’s number 4 engine.

“I don’t know what to do, Connor…” Gordon muttered sadly, casting his gaze to the ground. “I...I feel so useless.” He sighed softly. “I can’t even cheer up my little brother as Edward could…”

“Gordon,” Connor stated, looking at his lover with a soft smile. “You DO cheer Thomas up.”

“But it’s not the same as Edward!” Gordon huffed, fighting the tears back once more. 

“You’re right, it’s not the same as Edward.” Connor hummed, watching Gordon open his mouth before continuing. “Because you’re not Edward. You’re Gordon, Sodor’s number 4 engine.” He said firmly, watch Gordon close his mouth. “Thomas needs YOU while Edward is at the Steamworks. With Edward where he is, Thomas needs someone who is strong for both him and Edward. He needs both of his brothers, not just one.”

Gordon stared at the streamlined engines with slightly wide eyes, small tears slowly sliding down his cheeks. Closing his eyes, he took a shaky breath before looking at him. “Thank you, Connor.” He whispered, a slight smile appearing on his face.

“You’re welcome.” Connor smiled warmly as he looked at him.

A comfortable silence fell over the two engines as they waited for their drivers and firemen. They made small talk, trying to distract Gordon from the doubtful thoughts that kept entering his mind as they waited for their drivers and firemen. A few minutes passed before their crew showed up, starting their fireboxes up to get them ready for the day. The warmth of the fire was welcoming to Gordon after last night and this morning, even though Connor was the one who helped him. Looking at the streamlined engine, Gordon watched how the morning sun’s rays reflected off of his teal and grey paintwork. The orange/pinkish light made his face shine as he talked to his driver. Gordon felt his face burn slightly as he stared at the engine he loved, Connor’s words echoing in his mind.

“Connor when you go to the Steamworks, can you…can you…” Gordon muttered as he looked down, wheeshing steam out.

“I’ll tell Edward that you miss him if I see him.” Connor spoke softly, the warm smile on his face.

Gordon gave a small smile back to him before blowing his whistle twice. Taking a deep breath, he slowly started to puff down the tracks. His boiler ached as he tried to think of ways to help Thomas where he doesn’t sound boastful. Connor watched his lover leave before sighing softly. He knows that Gordon is deeply affected by everything that has happened the past few months and knows he’s holding a lot of it in. Sure he released some of that pent-up emotions last night but not all of it. As Connor waited while his driver and fireman checked him over for more dents, his eyes trailed over to the rising sun, blinking in the process. 

‘They need you Edward.’ Connor thought as he looked down the tracks again. ‘They love you so much.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James yawned as he slowly opened his eyes, the morning sun reflecting off his brilliant red livery. Looking around, his eyes locked onto Thomas’s face as a sad smile appeared on his face. Tear stains were still slightly visible on his cheeks, evidence of him crying throughout the night. Despite getting very little sleep, James greatly accepts it as he was helping his sapphire all night. An ache rippled through James' boiler as he remembers Thomas talking about his insecurities, his anxiety at the thought that Edward will no longer be around. He knew the pain that Thomas is feeling, even though his sibling relationship with Hiro is relatively new. The nightmares he had of Hiro being sent for scrap plagued his mind constantly to the point he has lost days’ worth of sleep. Hearing faint puffing sounds, James watched as Gordon backed up into his berth, eyes slightly red from the evidence of crying. James was about to talk to Gordon before he noticed his sapphire slowly waking up.

“Morning, Thomas.” James said softly, gently pressing his buffers against the tank engine’s buffers.

“Nghh...morning, James.” Thomas yawned as he slowly opened his eyes.

James frowned sadly as he saw the drained look on his sapphire’s face. His eyes were red from crying as he barely kept them open. The look of defeat etched his face and it was foreign to the red engine. He was used to seeing the cheeky, happy, mesmerized face of Thomas that seeing him like this made him sick. He grew used to him being sad since Edward’s accident but with the older engine not wanting to see anyone, he knew Thomas was taking it harder. When Thomas first arrived, he was put with Edward to learn how to shunt and how to work in the yard. James never saw two engines so happy with each other, especially when they saw each other as brothers. The day where Thomas called Edward brother, it shocked him and everyone else. Yet Edward was the only one who had a loving and proud look on his face. The two were inseparable and it hurt whenever one was away from the other. When Thomas was trapped in the Steelworks, James recalls how worried Edward was. Constantly letting out steam and pacing back and forth in her berth, the look of fear is something James never forgot. Sure he went off to find Thomas, wanting to be called a hero, but he mostly wanted to for Edward’s sake. James knew Hiro would be the same way if James went missing and he doesn’t want anyone to feel like that again.

“Hey.” James said softly, causing Thomas to look up at him. “Everything will be alright. You’ll see.”

“How?” Thomas muttered quietly, sniffling a bit as tears threatened to slide down his cheeks again. “E-Edward doesn’t want to see any of us...not even his own family…” He croaked out as he forced himself not to cry.

“Edward is probably just going through some things and he doesn’t want you to worry about him more.” James hummed, gently pressing his buffers against his.”

“But he’s-”

“I know he’s making you worry even more, along with the others. If there’s one thing I know about Edward ever since I first met him, is that he never does anything without a reason.” James stated firmly, yet softly to comfort his sapphire. “Edward is a strong engine who puts up with a lot of things, even the bullshit myself, Gordon, and even Henry did years ago. Edward is not the type of engine who enjoys making others sad. Hell, I look up to him as my mentor. He has helped me so many times, especially when I became a runaway after those kids messed with my breaks. He pushed himself beyond his limits just to help stop me. Sure, I kept making fun of him but it didn’t stop my views of Edward.. Believe me, love, Edward will be fine and will return to us soon for he is a strong and really useful engine.”

Thomas stared up at his ruby, eyes widen as he listened to James’ speech. Never before has he heard James talk about his oldest brother like that and it made his heart flutter. He never knew that his ruby thought of Edward in that aspect. Staring into his eyes, Thomas could see the determination, seriousness, and even the worry that swirled within them. Gently pressing his buffers against his ruby’s, Thomas closed his eyes as he felt James’ lips against his. It was soft, gentle, and quick, but he could feel the love radiating from him.

“I-I...I believe you, James.” Thomas said softly, smiling a bit as he stared up at him. 

James smiled back as he slowly puffed back onto the turntable, waiting to be rotated to go back to his berth. Gordon watched James with a small smile on his face, glad to see him being understanding to Thomas. He watched how much James has grown since he first arrived on Sodor, even though some of his old habits haven’t faded away yet. Frowning a bit, he looked down at the ground and let out some steam. He knew it was his fault when James was acting his worst years ago, making himself become the ‘leader’ between him, James, and Henry, always teasing Edward and Thomas. Gordon clenched his eyes shut as he tried to slow his rapid breathing. He treated his friends like they were below him, always wanting to prove a point that he was superior to everyone. He made James and Henry act like him for a while and he ignored the hurt that flashed through Edward’s and Thomas’ eyes countless times. He was in disbelief when Edward told that he viewed him as a younger brother, despite everything he’s done to him. His boiler ached, even more, when Thomas agreed that he saw him as an older brother. The two engines he always teased, telling them how he’s better than them, accepting him for who he is. Seeing the smiles on their faces, he felt his heart clenched as the tears fell down his cheeks that day. After apologizing to them for everything he’s done, he still teased them to this day.

“Gordon?”

Gordon backed up in his berth a bit, hearing the soft voice before looking at the green engine next to him. “Yes, Henry, what is it?” He asked, trying to sound like his normal self.

Gordon could see the slight bags under Henry’s eyes, his face looking drained with a look of worry etched across his face. Gordon could tell that Henry was another engine suffering the most since he knew Edward the longest. Gordon felt bad for he damaged the close friendship the two older engines had when he was boasting how he and Henry are more important engines and he’s hated himself constantly for that. Seeing the sadden look appear on his friend’s face, Henry puffed a bit further out of his berth to look at him.

“Are you alright?” Henry asked in his soft, tired voice.

“No, Henry, I’m not…” Gordon sighed as he looked down. “I’m just...thinking about a lot of things that’s happened.”

“We all are.” Henry whispered softly, watching how the other engines have a drained look on his face. “Tidmouth Sheds hasn’t felt the same in a while.” He spoke softly, his eyes staring at the berth that’s been shut for the last few months.

“...I don’t want to lose him.” Gordon admitted as he looked at his ‘half brother’. “Neither Edward nor Thomas. I’ve done so much to hurt them that…that I can’t afford to lose my family without giving them a chance to show that I’m sorry.”

“They already forgive you, Gordon.” Henry stated, giving him a small smile. “They love you, even with all of your teasing. Nothing would ever stop them from caring about you.” He said softly before looking at Thomas. “Thomas needs you more now while Edward…is still recovering. He needs his brother to be with him.”

Gordon stared at his friend, eyes widening a bit. Hearing Henry speak those words made him see how much Edward had an effect on him, despite treating him terribly. The way Edward can influence engines, making them see what really matters in life, made Gordon feel worse. All the signs, all of the lectures Edward has given him were more, and he just pushed them aside. Looking down, Gordon looked back over at Thomas, watching him talk with James, Percy, and Emily as they waited for Sir Topham Hatt to arrive.

“You’re right, Henry. Both you and Connor.” Gordon spoke softly, a small smile appearing on his face. “He does need me as much as he needs Edward. I’m not like him, but he’s still my little brother.”

Henry smiled slightly before looking at the turntable, wishing to see Edward’s beautiful blue livery shining in the sun again. When Henry first arrived on Sodor, he was already crushing on Sodor’s number 2 engine. Edward was the first engine who was kind to him and understanding whenever he had boiler aches. When he was first built, other engines, even his creators, always looked down at him, calling him useless and weak due to his design. No matter how hard he tried, Henry kept breaking down, mostly due to his small firebox. When Sir Topham Hatt unintentionally bought him, Henry could tell that the Fat Controller didn’t want a “broken” engine but was stuck with him during the motive power crisis. Henry always dreamt that he should just find a way to kill himself, knowing that no one would ever look at him differently. Until he was introduced to Edward not long after arriving on Sodor.

Henry was expecting Edward to make fun of him, telling him that he is nothing but a broken prototype to an A1 Pacific, but he was wrong. Edward always smiled at him, always welcoming him and offering to help him. Henry couldn’t believe that an engine would be nice to him and offered to help him. He was used to being teased, spoken down to by other engines and people but Edward was different. He was kind, gentle, and really understanding when Henry complained to him about his boiler aches. He started to develop feelings for the light blue engine but was too scared to tell him. . Edward was the only one who treated him right until Gordon arrived. Henry doesn’t know why he started to hang around Gordon, let alone act like him, but it’s something that he’s always regretted. He started to treat Edward terribly, the only engine who showed him compassion and he threw it back at him. All the teasing, telling him that he was old and useless is something that he keeps within his heart, reminding him of how he became an engine just like the ones who teased him. Whether or not it was because his body design was stolen blueprints of Gordon’s or that they had the same strength, he decided to ignore his first friend.

After his accident with the Flying Kipper years ago when he was sent to Crewe, Henry spent a lot of time there, thinking about the choices he made. Each thought made him hate himself even more. It was also during this time that he realized that he had fallen for Sodor’s number 2 engine, but was scared of being teased by Gordon and especially, Edward. He wasn’t sure if Edward was gay and he didn’t want to loose what little friendship he had with him, if there was even a friendship anymore. He saw the ways where Edward did his hardest to prove to everyone that he wasn’t old, from the time he chased and stopped James from being a runaway to the time he was showing all of them that he can pull heavy coaches. However, it was during that day that made him fall for Edward. Hearing how Edward’s sanding gear failed during that terrible storm, the crankpin breaking which caused his coupling rod to literally bend and tear his running plate over his wheels, Edward still managed to complete his job. Henry could remember seeing the pain etched onto his face, but the way Edward showed determination was something Henry couldn’t get over. Not once did he hear Edward complain about the pain, making Henry see that Edward is a strong engine that outshines Gordon. 

Hearing a car coming to a stop, Henry blinks back into reality as he looks over at the blue car that belonged to Sir Topham Hatt. The other engines immediately stopped talking as they looked at him as well, eyes filled with sadness and worry. S.T.H stopped walking and stared at the closed berth with sadness etched on his face. The last few months had been horrible to him with Edward stuck at the Steamworks. He noticed a huge change in atmosphere when the news of Edward’s accident traveled across the island. Engines stopping on the tracks, their faces full of shock and disbelief, everything felt like it came to an abrupt stop. Edward was the first tender steam engine he had bought and played a very important role on Sodor. Edward became a mentor to all of his engines, providing them with wisdom and helping them when they needed it. From the times he helped Gordon up his hill to training Thomas in Knapford’s goods yard. Taking a deep breath, S.T.H held up his clipboard before looking at his engines.

“Morning engines.” S.T.H greeted as he nodded to them.

“Morning.” The engines replied in a quiet voice.

“Now then, Gordon, you are to pull the Expr-”

“Sir?” Thomas’ voice filled the air surrounding the sheds. “How’s Edward?”

Silence once again filled the atmosphere of Tidmouth Sheds as the other engines looked down sadly. S.T.H looked at Thomas sadly before walking over to him, gently patting his buffer beam. He knows how much Edward means towards the tank engine, especially when Edward declared Thomas as his little brother. Their relationship almost reminded him of his brother and sister. 

“I’m afraid Dr. Maverik hasn’t given me any updates for him yet.” S.T.H hummed softly, feeling sorry for the small tank engine.

“Oh…” Thomas muttered quietly, looking down at the tracks sadly.

“Can we go visit him at least?” Percy asked hopefully.

“I’m sorry but…they said they don’t want visitors there today for they will be very busy later on.”

“Isn’t there something we can do?” Emily asked quietly. “I mean…” She trailed off, looking down as well.

“I understand that all of you want to visit Edward, but under all of these circumstances from his last update I’m afraid there isn’t much I can do.” S.T.H sighed softly as he looked at his engines.

“We understand, Sir.” Gordon hummed softly, feeling the others’ eyes land on him. “We won’t disturb Edward until we get the ok from your or Dr. Maverick.”

Thomas stared at his brother in shock, used to his outbursts of wanting to visit Edward no matter what. Looking at Sodor’s number 4 engine, Thomas can see the dark circles that rested under his eyes as faint tear stains were visible on his cheeks. The proud engine Thomas knew for years looked drain and exhausted, something he wasn’t used to seeing. He was used to him being boastful, claiming how he’s the best at pulling the Express, but not like this. Looking down at his buffers, Thomas realized that he didn’t realize how much Edward’s accident affected Gordon, his other older brother. Gordon knew Edward longer than him, and yet, he thought he wasn’t as affected as himself and Henry, but he was wrong. The day both he and Edward told Gordon that they thought of him as a brother, he kept boasting, saying how he’s the older brother just due to him being the biggest. Seeing him now, Thomas understood that Gordon truly loves them. S.T.H’s voice was muffled to Thomas as the tank engine kept staring at Gordon, watching how he looked at S.T.H as he gave the jobs out. 

“-omas...Thomas.” 

Thomas blinked back into reality as he looked to his right, looking at his best friend. “What?” He asked in a confused voice.

“Are you alright?” Percy asked quietly as he looked at him worriedly.

“In truth Percy, I’m not entirely sure.” Thomas sighed softly.

“It’ll be ok, love.” James hummed softly before slowly puffing towards the turntable.

“He’s right, which is saying something.” Emily teased a bit, earning a loud “Oi!” from the red tender engine. 

Thomas giggled softly from hearing James’ annoying voice, feeling a bit better thanks to his friends. Watching as they left for their jobs, Thomas noticed how Gordon has yet to move. His face looked solemn and seemed to be deep in thought. Biting his lip a bit, Thomas puffed onto the turntable and waited till he was in facing Gordon’s berth. Taking a deep breath, he slowly puffed towards the big tender engine.

“Gordon?” Thomas asked quietly as he looked up at his brother.

Gordon flinched a bit, being startled by his young brother’s voice. Blinking a bit, he stared at the face of the small tank engine. “Yes, Thomas?” He asked softly, his normal boastful voice reduced to be soft and quiet.

“Are...are you alright?” Thomas asked quietly, too nervous to ask him.

“Truthfully Thomas, I’m not.” Gordon admitted quietly, watching Thomas’ eyes widen a bit. “Since all of this happened, I’ve just been thinking how much of a terrible brother I have been.”

“But you’re not.” Thomas protested as he gently puffed a bit closer.

“I have been.” Gordon stated his tone a bit stern. “All I’ve done is tease Edward and look down at you. Even after his accident, I kept trying to act like it never affected me but it does deeply. All of these years that I’ve known Edward, I’ve treated him like he was always useless. Even after he told me that he sees me as a younger brother, I still treated him badly, calling him slow, old, useless, unreliable…” He choked out tears starting to fall again. “And I tried to be him to replace him in trying to make you feel better but I failed at that as well!” He cried as he looked down. “I haven’t treated you like you were my brother while Edward’s been at the Steamworks. I’m sorry…”

Thomas stared up at his big brother, his own tears falling as he watched the bigger engine cry. Gordon never showed this side of him before and knew that he was being honest. Sniffing a bit, Thomas slowly puffed closer to the tender engine, gently pressing his buffers against his. Gordon opened his eyes and looked down at Thomas, noticing the tears falling down his own face. The two engines didn’t say a word as they stared at each other, gently pushing their buffers together.

“You were just being you, Gordon.” Thomas choked out as he stared at him. “Neither Edward or I wanted you to change who you are. We both love you just the same and I know Edward doesn’t want you to feel like this.” He cried as he clenched his eyes shut. 

“Oh, Thomas…” Gordon muttered quietly as he closed his eyes. “I love you so much, little brother.”

“I love you too, big brother.” Thomas cried as he looked up at him again.

Sir Topham Hatt sat in his car, smiling fondly at his two engines as he wiped his own tears away. Seeing those two being so caring towards each other, he can see the brotherly love they have for one another. Sighing a bit, he backed his car up and started to drive down the road. He knew that the two of them needed Edward back, but he didn’t have the heart to tell them the news about Edward he received yesterday. He felt like he let everyone down when he was told that Edward left to find a place for him to rot away, let alone that Maria was allowing him to do so. Yet he also knew that he couldn’t tell Edward what to do despite owning him. No, he shook his head at the word ‘owned’ for he saw Edward more than a piece of property. He looked at him as a son and a friend, not just a machine that was only built to pull trains. All of his engines are special than what other railways saw in their engines. The engines of Sodor have hearts, capable of feeling love, anger, sadness, everything that makes them ‘real’. Edward is an example of how much the engines care about him. Blinking back tears, S.T.H silently drives down the road, heading towards the Steamworks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connor took a deep breath before slowly puffing into the Steamworks to have his skirt repaired. Looking around the shop, he noticed how everything was quiet and almost seemed empty. He jumped back when a loud ‘bang’ echoed within the Steams works as he slowly puffs forward. Looking around, his eyes widen a bit as he looked at Victor. Dents covered his buffer beams and running plate, his face wincing a bit as he was being repaired.

“Victor?” Connor asked as he slowly puffed up to him. “What happened?”

“Hm? Oh, hello my friend.” Victor greeted with a warm smile. “It’s nothing to worry about. What can I help you with?”

“Uh...my skirt needs to be repaired but I can come back later…” Connor trailed off, watching the workers.

“Nonsense, my friend.” Victor chuckled softly. “You need it more.”

“But your buff-”

“Connor, my friend, I will be alright.” Victor hummed as he watched some of the workers walk over to the Streamlined engine. “These are only dents that are easily repairable.”

“A-Alright.” Connor said with an uncertain voice as he looked around some more. “Umm...where’s Kevin and Edward?” He asked softly, looking at the white hanging tarp that was now opened.

“Kevin is...busy at the moment, my friend.” Victor said softly as he looked at him. “Busy moving stuff around in the side yard.”

“What about Edward?” Connor asked worriedly. “I have a message for him from Gordon.”

“He’s…” Victor hummed hesitantly. “He’s…

“Victor, I must speak with Dr. Maverick immediately.”

Victor and Connor looked over, seeing S.T.H walking over towards them at a quick pace, both engines noticing the tear stains on his cheeks.

“Sir, Dr. Maverik is busy right now, Sir.” Victor hesitantly stated as he looked at him.

“I need to speak to her now, Victor.” S.T.H said in a firm voice. “Please tell me where she-”

“I’m right here.” Maria hummed as she walked into the Steamworks from the side yard. “You wanted to speak to me?”

“Yes.” S.T.H nodded as he looked at her. “Privately.”

Maria stared at him before nodding, gesturing him to follow her towards the white tarp. Clearing his throat, S.T.H followed the engine specialist over to the white tarp, watching her close it behind him. Everyone in the Steamworks looked over at the hanging tarp, one question filling their minds. What are they talking about? Connor stared at the hanging tarp before watching the workmen go back to repairing his skirt. Both engines rest in awkward silence, Connor wondering why Victor avoided talking about Edward. Taking a deep breath, Connor gently exhaled before looking at the Cuban engine.

“Can, can you at least tell Edward something for me, please?” Connor asked quietly as he stared at him.

“I can.” Victor agreed quietly, looking away from the tarp to look at the streamlined engine.

“Tell him that Gordon misses him and that he doesn’t know what to do without him.” Connor spoke softly. “He believes it’s his fault that Edward doesn’t want to see anyone because of him teasing Edward by calling him useless. He tries to act like him to help Thomas but is angry at himself because he isn’t like Edward.”

Victor stared up at him, feeling sorry for Gordon. When Gordon came in here a few weeks ago, he could remember the begging in his voice as he tried to get Edward to see him. Gordon sounded so broken that day that it hurt Victor’s heart to hear the strong engine cry in a pleading voice. Looking towards the entrance to the side yard, he looked back at Connor and gave him a small smile. “Alright, I’ll go tell Edward when I see him.”

“Thank you, Victor.” Connor hummed softly, a small smile appearing on his face as he watched the workmen fix his skirt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day seemed to go by slowly as Thomas worked on his branch line, his eyes mostly staying on the tracks. Annie and Clarabel were worried about their friend since he arrived that morning. He seemed to be quieter than he has been since Edward’s accident and it concerned them. He was slowly going back to his old self but now, it seemed like he withdraw some again.

“Thomas, is everything alright?” Clarabel asked her friends softly.  

“I guess so.” Thomas sighed softly as he puffed down the tracks. “Just...a lot of things happened this morning is all.”

“Did something happen?” Annie asked in concern.

“No, but...Gordon opened up to me, saying how he was a terrible big brother to me and Edward and how he hates himself for being like that.” Thomas muttered quietly. “I told him that he wasn’t but...I don’t think he’s convinced.” He sighed sadly.

“He’s still trying to cope with everything that happened, Thomas.” Clarabel reassured him softly. “It happened so suddenly that he had to instantly play the role of a big brother to you when he never had the experience. Everything is still new to him and he just doesn’t know how to be a big brother yet.”

“Clarabel is right. He’s trying hard to be someone else instead of himself.” Annie chimed in. “He needs your help more than you need his.” 

Thomas listened to their words and thought them over, casting his gaze back onto the tracks. Looking back up, he felt the warmth of the sun cover his face as he remembers what he and Edward talked about months before his accident.

~~Flashback~~

Edward chuckled softly as he listened to Thomas talk about his day. His smile was bright as he talked quickly, too happy to talk about one thing at a time. His blue paint shined brightly in the sun as he constantly sped past Edward, only to back up to be next to him again.  

“-then I met up with Percy at Knapford!” Thomas giggled as he happily chatted away. “We then started to play hide-n-seek in the yard, which caused Gordon to get annoyed at us, which caused Philip to join in by saying how he’s faster than Gordon, WHICH then brings me and Percy laughing, WHICH then caused Gordon to-”

“Your day seems pretty fun already, Thomas.” Edward chuckled softly as he looked at the tank engine.

“It was.” Thomas giggled as he puffed next to him. “So, where are we going?”

“To talk to Gordon.” Edward hummed softly as he looked down the track.

“Oh…”  Thomas hummed in thought. “...Do I have to apologize to him?” 

Edward looked over at his younger brother and gave him a warm smile. “No Thomas, you don’t.” He reassured him. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to tell him.”

“Oh…” Thomas muttered softly before his eyes widen. “OH! You’re going to tell him that?!” He asked excitedly, his eyes sparkling.

Edward laughed softly as he looked at his younger brother. “Yes, Thomas. That.” He chuckled quietly.

Thomas giggled as he happily puffed next to his brother, humming softly. Edward smiled warmly at him before looking back at the tracks. The sun felt warm on his face as the warm spring breeze blew against them. Edward always loved the spring weather on Sodor, the fresh scent of flowers very welcoming across the island. Seeing animals waking up from long hibernations to the sounds of birds returning from the south. Just hearing the sounds of Sodor coming ‘alive’ always gave him a pleasant feeling of how precious life is. He felt his cheeks burn softly as he remembers how he and Henry always travel at night together during the spring. Seeing the moon’s light over the new flowers across the fields always seemed relaxing to the blue tender engine, especially since he shares his nights with the engine he loves. It was during one of those nights when Henry confessed to him, sounding completely nervous. Truth be told, Edward had a crush on Henry since he first met him but was always too scared to tell him. The night he confessed, Edward knew what Henry was trying to say and was shocked and happy at the same time.

“Someone’s thinking about a certain green tender engine~” Thomas’ teasing voice brought Edward back to reality. 

Edward blushed a dark red before looking at Thomas. “Just thinking about the nights Henry and I always travel during this time of year.” He smiled sheepishly, causing his younger brother to smile even brighter.

“Sure you were.” Thomas giggled as he puffed a bit further ahead of him.

Chuckling softly, Edward slowly puffed a bit more to catch up to the tank engine. The two continued to talk about their days as they traveled to Knapford station. They knew Gordon will be resting on a side track near the station, getting some sleep before he has to pull the Express once again. Seeing Knapford Station coming into sight, both engines notice the big blue engine resting on his favorite siding. Thomas smiled as he sped over to the bigger engine, Edward slowly puffing behind him. Gordon had just closed his eyes, ready to rest his pistons and sleep till he is coupled to the Express again. As he felt himself relax, he jolted awake when he heard a familiar loud ‘ Peep Peep’ echoing around him before glaring at the small engine.

“Hi lazy bones!” Thomas greeted cheerfully as he stopped in front of him.

“What do you want, Thomas?” Gordon groaned as he looked annoyed. “Didn’t you already bother me enough earlier today?”

“Nope!” Thomas smiled cheerfully as Edward slowed to a stop next to him. “We actually wanted to talk to you about something~”

“Talk about what?” Gordon huffed in annoyance. “Can’t you see that I am trying to rest?”

“It’s actually important, Gordon.” Edward hummed softly, a warm smile on his face. 

“I’m pretty sure whatever you both have to say isn’t important.” Gordon grumbled tiredly. “But what is it?”

“Well…” Edward started off as he looked around a bit. “You know how I adopted Thomas as my little brother?”

“I do.” Gordon hummed in thought. “What of it?”

“You see Gordon, Thomas and I had deci-”

“You’re my new big brother!” Thomas excitedly said as he cut Edward off.

Gordon stared at Thomas with a blank expression, his mind slowly processing what the tank engine had just said. Big brother? 

“...Huh?” Gordon asked as he continued to stare at Thomas before looking at Edward.

“You see, Gordon, I see you more as a younger brother to me, despite how much you tease me.” Edward said softly, looking at the number 4 engine.

“And I see you as an older brother as well!” Thomas smiled brightly. “Even though you’re boastful, ignorant, proud, and love to tease Edward and me.” He said happily as he looked at him.

Gordon kept glancing at both engines as he listened to what they said. Seeing him as a younger/older brother despite everything he’s done to them. All the teasing he did towards the two, mostly at Edward, and they see him as a sibling. Gordon felt his boiler ache as he continued to look at them, not sure what emotion he should display. Edward smiled warmly as he sees the confused and shocked expression cover Gordon’s face. He could tell that this affected Gordon deeply, proving that he does have a big heart and that he truly does care. Thomas smiled brightly as he puffed closer to Gordon, pressing their buffers together. Gordon blinked back into reality before looking down at the tank engine.

“We love and care about you, big brother.” Thomas said sincerely, the smile on his face getting brighter.

“...Why?” Gordon asked quietly, looking at Edward.

“You’ve been our friend for so many years, Gordon.” Edward chuckled softly as he looked at him. “Even though you’ve teased us constantly, we have seen you acting concerned and worried about us a lot as well.”

Gordon stared at Edward, unaware of tears that slowly trailed down his cheeks. “...Thank you, Thomas, Edward.” He said softly, letting the tears fall freely as he looked at his two new brothers. “Wait….does that mean…?”

“It does.” Edward chuckled softly.

“The Flying Scottsman is also our brother now!” Thomas giggled happily as he pressed his buffers against Gordon’s even more.

“Oh, the indignity…” Gordon groaned in annoyance, the tears no longer flowing down his cheeks.

~~End Flashback~~

“You’re right.” Thomas hummed softly, a slight smile appearing on his face as he looked up at the bright blue sky. “He does need my help.” He said as he picked up speed.

Annie and Clarabel smiled warmly as they heard his cheerful voice once more. The two coaches deeply care about Thomas, along with the others for they always treat them right. They knew how much Edward’s accident affected everyone, including them. He was always very kind to them, and gentle when he moved them around the yard years ago. They never saw Thomas so broken before Edward’s accident that it startled them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the day seemed to go by in a fast, slow blur. Some of the jobs the engines did seemed to go by fast while others seemed to go by slow. All day, the engines had felt…strange. Like, something unnatural happened that they missed. The air was heavy with anticipation as the engines continued their jobs, feeling jumpy and off. They couldn’t tell if it was a bad feeling or something that just changed. Gordon felt a chill travel through his boiler as he pulled the Express towards Knapford. The setting sun was a bright orange with purple, yellow, and light blue blurs decorated the evening sky. This is the time of day that Gordon loves deeply, but only told three engines about it. Thomas had figured it out, along with Edward but he was the one who told Connor. A small smile appeared on his face as he thought about the times he and Connor took evening rides on the tracks during this time of day. Taking a deep breath, Gordon closed his eyes as he tried to let his mind relax. He’s seen Edward do this a few times and always teased him about it, but he could see how relaxed Edward gets. Opening his eyes a bit, he slowly lowered them down to the tracks. Thinking about Edward has made him feel sick to his boiler.

“Edward…” Gordon muttered to himself before looking at the evening sky. “I’m...I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to you.” He whispered as he felt his tears slide down his cheeks. “Ever since I’ve arrived on Sodor, I've always teased you, calling you old, useless, unreliable, and yet...you still consider me a friend and a brother.” He cried silently. “Why did this have to happen to you?” He sniffed before closing his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Gordon opened his eyes wide as he heard Edward’s voice. Blinking in confusion, he noticed how the even sky was now a bright blue color instead. The summer breeze felt cold to him as he looked to his left. Puffing next to him were two slightly transparent engines, ones that he knows so well. The first one was of himself while the second one was Edward, his brother. Edward had an annoyed look while his past self had that ignorant and teasing look on his face.

“You know, breaking down all the time.” Gordon heard his past voice speak, the tone of it full of teasing.

“I haven’t broken down in ages.” Edward huffed in annoyance as he glared down the tracks. 

“Really.” Gordon watched as he blew his whistle twice.

Gordon slowed his speed down as he watched his and Edward’s past selves puffed down the tracks, the scene slowly fading away to reveal the evening sky once again. He continued to reduce speed until he came to a complete stop, staring down the tracks. He could hear his driver and fireman asking him why he stopped, the sounds of the passengers complaining but he didn’t care. He just continued to stare down the tracks before slowly closing his eyes. He struggled to hold back his sobs but he kept choking them out. There were so many things he wanted to say to Edward, but he probably won’t get the chance. The day Edward stopped seeing anyone was a day that Gordon felt like he lost a part of himself. He always looked up to Edward, despite always talking down to him. He admired how Edward was always calm, seeming to always make everyone smile, and being so wise. Sniffing a bit, Gordon slowly opened his eyes before looking at the setting sun. He didn’t care how blinding it was, he was more focused on the color. A bright orange surrounded the sun, slowly changing to yellow, a lighter orange and some red. Slowly moving his eyes along the sky, he watched how the colors slowly fade to pink, purple, and eventually a dark blue. Sighing a bit, Gordon tried to ignore the sickening feeling in his boiler as he started to puff down the tracks. 

Every turn of his wheels felt heavy to him, his pistols aching with each puff he did but he didn’t care. Deep in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the puffing sounds of another engine puffing up to him. Connor slowed his speed down to look at his lover, frowning in worry. Tears continued to slowly trail down Gordon’s cheeks, his eyes red as he stared down at the tracks. Connor could tell that Gordon had broken down, the evidence clearly on his face. He wanted to help Gordon so much but he didn’t know what to do exactly. Blowing his whistle slightly, Connor watched as Gordon flinched a bit before their eyes finally met. No words were said as Connor gave him a small reassuring smile. Gordon stared back at the streamlined engine with a startled look. Seeing the sunset’s colors reflecting off  his face made Gordon smile slightly, the smile full of sadness and happiness. Neither engine spoke as the two puff next to each other, feeling a slight calmness come over them as the sun continued to set. Being beside Connor, felt a sense of calmness come over him, a different kind of calmness that he wasn’t used to. Normally, he would feel loved and happy, but now, this made him feel calm and relaxed. Something he hasn’t felt since Edward’s accident. 

“...Thank you, Connor…” Gordon whispered as he continued to stare at his lover.

Connor knew what Gordon meant and gave him a warm smile. “You’re welcome, love.” He said softly, the two continuing to puff towards Knapford Station.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nighttime has covered the island, the full moon casting a silvery light across the land. Nocturnal animals scurried along the forests’ floors, finding food or shelter for the night. Most of the engines were resting in their sheds, though some of them were busy doing their nightly jobs. At Tidmouth Sheds, the Steam Team were relaxing in their berths, all of them filled with different emotions. Thomas bit his lip as he looked at his older brother, his face a mix of emotions. Gordon sighed silently in his berth as he stared down at the tracks. James and Henry looked at their friend worriedly, knowing that something happened to Sodor’s number 4 engine. Taking a deep breath, Emily silently exhaled before looking at Gordon.

“Gordon, are you alright?” Emily asked softly as she and the others looked at him.

Gordon stayed silent before wheeshing out some steam. “No Emily, I’m not..” He admittedly softly. “Ever since his accident, I’ve been nothing but a mess.”

“We all have, Gordon.” Percy spoke quietly. “Everyone was affected by it.”

“But you don’t know what I am going through.” Gordon grumbled quietly. “Edward sees me as a brother, as his friend but for years, all I did was tease and belittle him.”

“But...Edward doesn’t mind for he knows that you’re just being you.” Thomas said as he puffed forward a bit. 

“You don’t get it, Thomas!” Gordon shouted, causing everyone to jump back a bit. “A brother DOESN’T do that to their own brother! All the years of calling him useless and unreliable, he shouldn’t even see me as a friend, yet alone a brother!” He choked out. “It hurts too much…” He cried out. “I didn’t even want to be his friend when I first met him because I didn’t want to feel the pain again. Mine and Flying Scotsman’s brothers and sisters have all been scrapped, just leaving us two and Spencer. You don’t know what it feels like to lose your sibling but I do. And now, I’m losing another brother…” 

The others looked at Gordon sadly, tears threatening to fall. They didn’t know Gordon was feeling this much pain or that he was holding this in. They knew Gordon as being boastful, prideful, and strong, but now, they see who he really is. An engine that deeply cares for everyone he holds dear too. Hearing him cry was haunting and seemed to echo around the sheds. Feeling his own tears fall, Thomas slowly puffed onto the turntable and waited till it faced Gordon. Slowly puffing up to him, Thomas gently pressed his buffers against his as much as he could. Sniffing and blinking tears away, Gordon looked down at Thomas and stared into his teary eyes. Thomas looked back up to him, his body trembling a bit as the tears continued to fall.

“You’re not the only one, Gordon.” Thomas cried as he continued to look at him. “Before I came to Sodor, I was the only one left. My brothers and sisters were scrapped and I was left alone. I didn’t have anyone else like how you had Flying Scotsman with you.” He choked out. “When I arrived here, I too was scared to get close to anyone because I didn’t want to be left alone again. When Edward told me that he wanted to adopt me as his brother, I was excited.” He cried, a small smile appearing on his face. “I wouldn’t be alone again for Edward is always with me. Then I started allowing everyone else into my heart and now, I’m never alone. You’re our friend Gordon and we love you. We see you as our brother for you treat us like a brother would, but you also showed that you cared about us deeply. Even though I was mostly affected by Edward’s accident, and it took me months to become even a little normal, I know that Edward still loves and cares about us a lot even when he doesn’t want to see us. He’s still here with us and I know that he still loves us.”

Gordon closed his eyes as he cried, pressing his buffers against Thomas’ as well. The other engines watched the two cry with sad smiles, their own tears falling. They could see how much love between the two and knew that it needed to come out. Their cries echoed around them, but in a soothing way. It wasn’t a cry of despair, but a cry that two brothers needed to let out. Minutes have gone by before both Thomas slowly backed away from Gordon a tiny bit. Tears no longer fell but the tear stains were still easily noticeable. The two stared at each other but warm smiles appeared on their faces. Sniffing a bit, Thomas slowly backed onto the turntable again and waited for it to face his berth. Gordon watched as Thomas backed up into his berth, watching how the tank engine smiled at James. For a few moments, the engines were in a comfortable silence, the night breeze welcoming to them. A blue car slowly drove across the gravel, catching the attention of the engines. S.T.H sighed as he climbed out of his car, holding a clipboard as he looked at it worriedly. 

“Is everything alright, Sir?” Percy asked in concern as he and the others looked at him.

“Not really, Percy.” S.T.H sighed as he walked over to him. “Tomorrow is going to be really busy and Henry will need a back engine to help him with a heavy goods train going to the Mainland.”

“I’m sure it’s not that hard to find a back engine, Sir.” Henry said softly, a warm smile on his face.

“All engines will be busy tomorrow and the goods train needs to be on the Mainland by tea time tomorrow.” S.T.H hummed as he looked at him. “I’ll probably have to call another railway to see if we can borrow an engine from them…”  

“I can help him, Sir.”

The engines and S.T.H instantly looked at the turntable, looking at the turntable where the voice came from. Slowly puffing up to them is a FR 21/K2 tender engine, the steam looking like clouds surrounding him. The moon’s silvery light glowed against the engine’s bright blue livery, making him glow. The right side of his face is a lighter grey color with his right eye looking like the silvery moon. A bright yellow number 2 is painted on the side of his tender as he slowly puffed onto the turntable. A slight warm smile rested on his face as he looked at the others with a tired look.

“Hello, everyone.” The engine spoke softly, his voice sounding drained and tired.

The Steam Team and S.T.H stared at the engine with wide eyes, shocked to see him after so many months. The way the moon’s light surrounded him almost made him seem angelic in a way, the glow outlining his frame. Thomas’ eyes widened even more as he stared at the blue tender engine, tears slowly glistening in his eyes. He felt his heart racing and his breathing increase as he stared at his older brother. The blue-ish/grey color of his right eye seemed haunting, yet amazing in a way. He slowly puffed forward a few inches, his eyes never leaving his.

“E-Edward…” Thomas whispered as he stared at him.

Edward looked over at him as the turntable slowly rotated him to face the young engine. “Hi, little brother.” He said softly, tears slowly forming in his eyes.

“EDWARD!” Thomas cried out as he puffed towards him, gently bashing his buffers against his as he cried.

Edward smiled sadly as he looked down at the tank engine, his own tears falling as he pushed his buffers back. “I’m so sorry I worried you, Thomas.” He said softly, gently kissing his nose. “I’m sorry…”

“Edward!” The other engines cried out happily after coming out of their shocked state.

Tears fell from Percy’s and Henry’s eyes as they and the others puffed as close to the turntable as possible. Edward looked around them, the small smile never leaving his face as he looked at him. He didn’t mind the questions they kept asking him, his focus mostly on Thomas, his emerald, and his other brother. Henry looked at him with a broken, yet happy, face, tears streaming down as he stared at his sapphire. Gordon only stared at him with wide eyes, tears also falling. His mouth kept opening and closing, trying to find the correct words to say to his older brother. Thomas sniffed and cried a bit louder as he kept his buffers pressed against Edward’s, his eyes closed as he let tears fall.

“Alright, everyone. Give him some space.” Maria hummed as she climbed out of Edward’s cab.

The other engines slowly backed away a few inches, all of them looking at Thomas. The tank engine sniffed as he opened his eyes, looking down at the train specialist. He watched as Maria gave him a warm smile as she gently pets his buffers. “Thank you…” He whispered, trying hard not to cry. 

“I promised you that I would bring him back to you.” Maria smiled as she gently climbed onto his buffer beam, wiping his tears away.

Edward smiled as he watched Maria try to comfort Thomas, seeing him laugh and smile a bit more as he talked to her. Hearing the gravel being stepped on, Edward looked down and saw S.T.H walking over to him. “Sir...I’m terribly sorry for causing so much confusion and de-”

“I don’t care about that, Edward.” S.T.H said softly, smiling warmly as he gently put his hand on Edward’s buffer beam. “All that matters is that you’re back with us once again. You are a special engine who is important to everyone on Sodor.” He hummed, still smiling up at him. “All of us are just happy that you’re home once again.

Edward stared down at him before a slight smile appeared on his face once more. “Thank you, Sir.”

“I will come back in the morning to check up on you, Edward.” Maria smiled as she looked at him. “I want to do another lookover before you start working.”

“Thank you, Maria.” Edward smiled tiredly as he looked over at her.

“You’re welcome.” Maria smiled before looking at the Fat Controller. “Do you mind giving me a lift to a hotel in Knapford?”

“Not at all, Mrs. Maverick.” S.T.H smiled as both humans walked towards his car.

“Don’t forget, Edward.” Maria called out before climbing into the blue car.

“Don’t forget what?” Emily asked as she looked at her friend.

Edward watched the blue car leave, a solemn look visible on his face. Sighing a bit, Edward wheesed out some steam before looking back at his friends. They all had a worried and confused look on their faces as they waited for his response. Gulping quietly, Edward bit his bottom lip before looking up at the night sky.

“...To talk about why I didn’t want to see anyone.” Edward said softly before returning his gaze to his friends, brothers, and lover. “To tell you something that I should’ve done years ago.”

“Tell us what?” Henry asked worriedly as he puffed a bit closer. 

Edward bit his lip before looking away. “To tell you about my life before I came to Sodor.” He hummed before looking at him. “The engine I used to be.”

The look on Edward’s face was foreign to the others, the mixture of determination and fear was something they had never seen before. Taking a deep breath, Edward sighed softly before looking down at the tracks.

“Years ago when I was first built, I was nothing but a jerk to everyone around me.” Edward said softly, too scared to see the looks on their faces. “I was boastful, always teasing the other engines and proving that I was better for them. One engine was the only one who mentored me on that Railway but I was always an ass to him. Doing my jobs the quick way which always caused confusion and delay, purposely bumping into the other engines to push them out of my way, I was surprised they kept me there for as long as they did.” He chuckled dryly. “ But, it all changed one day because of me.” He muttered quietly. “The day was like every single day, me being the one who always messed up in the yards. I had just finished shunting a goods train and was waiting in the middle of the tracks just to annoy the other engines.” He took a deep breath, tears slowly filling his eyes. “There was a runaway train on the tracks I was on. The others were telling me to move but I wouldn’t budge. My mentor bashed into me, pushing me onto a siding. I was about to yell at him when…when it happened…” He muttered, his tears slowly falling down his cheeks. “I just stayed there, yelling at him when the runaway train hit him head on.” He said as he closed his. “All I did was stare and watch as a massive fire formed around him.”

The other engines stared at him in shock, their eyes wide and mouth opened. They watched as Edward’s frame shook a bit as he silently cried. They wanted to talk to him, but we’re afraid incase he had more to add.     

“All of the other engines were trying to help but I didn’t. I just stayed there and watched him burn. The screams he made and the pain etched onto his face was the last thing I saw before the fire claimed him.” Edward choked out, tears streaming down his cheeks. “After that day, I just shut down. Not bothering to talk to anyone, just doing the jobs I was assigned to.” He took a shaky breath before continuing. “When the Furness Railway bought me, I stayed the same and kept myself isolated from the others. I was scared to get close to anyone for I didn’t want to lose them…” He muttered quietly. “It was Glynn who helped me learn how to open up and to allow others into my heart.” He said before looking at them.

“…Why did you stop us from seeing you?” James asked quietly, knowing that was the question everyone was thinking of.

Edward stared at him before looking down. “…While I was in my coma, I found myself in a dark and twisted version of Sodor…” He muttered quietly. “All around me was death. The plants, the animals, the people…and, all of you.” He whispered as he clenched his eyes shut. “All around me were bodies of everyone I knew and loved…Gordon, Henry, Thomas…everyone…leaving me alone in this place. While I was trapped there, something was following me till they gain control of my body and made me ride towards a pile of smelt. But…it’s voice told me that I was the one doing it, that I was the one who was pushing myself towards the smelt faster.” He took a shaky breath as he tried to calm himself down. “When…when I hit the smelt, that’s when I woke up and found out that my accident left me blind in my right eye…”

“…Is that why it looks like that?” Gordon asked softly, staring at Edward’s moon-like eye.

“Yes Gordon…it is…” Edward muttered quietly. “When I found that out, I was scared and was constantly thinking that I wasn’t useful anymore. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this when you visited, which is why I stayed behind the tarp.”

“…Was it us that caused you to not have any visitors anymore…?” Thomas asked sadly, looking up at him with teary eyes.

“Of course it wasn’t, Thomas.” Edward reassured him softly. “It was my choice alone. When I started to train myself on doing simple jobs with half of my vision, I started to have nightmares that made me doubt myself. I didn’t want anyone to see me as a failure so I asked that no one visit me.” He sighed quietly. “Last night…I made the choice of going somewhere to be abandoned, somewhere where I can be forgotten.”

“Why?” Percy asked quietly, tears falling down his cheeks. “We still love you and we don’t care if you're half blind!” He cried. 

“I know, Percy, but in my mind, I was somewhere dark.” Edward said softly. “I’m away, my past self was trying to take control of me once again and for a moment, I was willing to let him. If it wasn’t for Lady, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Lady was here?” Thomas asked softly.

“She was.” Edward spoke softly. “She helped me find my way through the darkness, her and my mentor.” He said softly, a small smile on his face. “My mentor helped realize that I’m still useful, and I then accepted my past self and my newer self as a part of me. For years I blocked my old self out, never wanting anyone to see that side of me again but…I learned to accept him for he is still a part of me.” 

“Does...that mean you’re alright?” Henry asked quietly as he looked at him.

“Not fully, Henry.” Edward sighed softly. “Maria said that it’ll take time but….as long as I have help and support from you and the others, it’s the start of the healing process for my mental health.” He hummed quietly, a slight smile on his face.

“Is that why Maria wanted you to tell us all of this?” James asked in confusion.

“It is, James.” Edward agreed quietly. “Tell all of you what happened is the beginning step of my mental recovery.”

“I’m just glad you’re home…” Thomas cried as he gently pressed his buffers against his. “I miss you so much, big brother…”

“I missed you too, little brother.” Edward said softly, gently kissing his cheek.

“...Welcome home, big brother.” Gordon whispered as tears began to fall.

Edward looked over at Gordon, tears starting to fall. Smiling a bit more, Edward choked out a small laugh. “I’m glad to be home, little brother.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun shone brightly across the Island of Sodor, the crisp winter air blowing through the empty trees. All across the island, people were busy shoveling snow off of roads and sidewalks, while others were busy putting beautiful Christmas decorations up. The engines were busy bringing wood, coal, and Christmas trees all over the island, all of them enjoying this time of year. Edward had a warm smile on his face as he pulled a train of scrap towards the scrap yard. The light grey color that coated the entire right side of his face seemed to glow in the sun’s light, his milky grey eye glowing like the moon as well. His pistons pumped quickly as he raced down the tracks. Snow flying up from the snowplow attached to his bufferbeam. Sighing in content, Edward closed his eyes as he enjoyed the winter air, the smell of snow and smoke heavy in the air. Winter was always his favorite season while living on Sodor for many years. 

“Edward! Edward!”

Edward chuckled as he heard his youngest brother racing towards him on his right side. After a few months of practice, he’s learned to memorize everyone’s whistles and puffin sounds whenever they come up his right side. “Hello, Thomas.”

“Can we play hide-n-seek later on?” Thomas asked hopefully as he puffed next to him.

“I don’t see why not.” Edward chuckled as he looked at him.

Thomas smiled brightly as he sped past the tender engine, laughing as he pulled his train of coal trucks. Edward smiled warmly as he watched him, happy to hear his laugh. His smile faltered a bit as he remembers seeing Thomas and the other engines sped past him in his dream, leaving him behind. Wheeshing out some steam, he pushed that thought out of his mind as he sped after Thomas. He knew that he and the others would never leave him behind. Looking up at the sky, he smiled brightly as he closed his eyes. 

“Thank you, Lady, father.” Edward thought before speeding after Thomas. “Not too fast, Thomas.” He chuckled softly, easily catching up to the tank engine.