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Morning on Sodor; Sir Topham Hatt had a big announcement to make at Knapford. Naturally Thomas was there along with James, Godon was at his usual platform getting ready for the express and Percy comes up after his mail delivery. They were however all surprised when Daisy pulled in.
“I have arrived right on time mind you.” Daisy yawns. “Shall we get on with this.” Diasy thinks the meeting is about her as Hatt had requested her presence especially.
Hatt looks at his watch and smiles. “Yes, well I would like you all here to welcome the newest engine… and coach to Sodor.”
Daisy’s nose crinkled as she realized it wasn’t about her.
“As we all know Arlesburg has become quite a hotspot, so to help serve all our guests and the residents; I have acquired an engine from the Other Railway. Please I ask you all to be patient with her as she adjusts to life on Sodor, and more specifically steam engines.” Hatt sighs. “We all understand that diesels from the Other Railway have a ‘difficult’ view about steam engines sometimes.”
“Oh wonderful…” Gordon sighs.
“Really did we need another diesel engine?” James snorts.
“Did you not hear what Sir Topham Hatt said you two?” Percy asks respectfully. “We need to be understanding, accepting, and welcoming, so to change their attitude towards us.”
“Yeah, Percy’s right. Stay positive and openminded and hopefully we can prove to them that what they have been taught about steam engines is false.” Thomas peeps, then Gordon and James realize they indeed needed to change their attitudes.
“I see them coming!” Percy was excited to see the new engine. “I hope they’ll like me; I am an honorary diesel after all.”
“Really Percy…” Thomas giggles remembering when Percy had been ‘best friends’ with Diesel 10.
“Why does any of this concern moi?” Daisy asks, then she sees the new engine as it comes to a stop. “ROSE?!” Daisy’s eyes go wide.
“Oh, Daisy it’s been soooo long, dear sister?” The green BR Class 101 DMU smiles happily.
“I would like you all to meet Rose, Daisy’s sister unit. And their coach Hyacinth.” Hatt presents.
“Oh, just what we needed another Daisy” James says quietly to Gordon.
All of them welcome the new comers, then Hatt calls their attention again.
“Daisy I’m sure you are happy to see your sister again. Please would you show her around Sodor?” Hatt looks pleased.
“Umm yes Sir.” Daisy quietly sighs.
“Oh, thank you all for the warm reception, Hyacinth and I do appreciate it, truly.” Rose warmly smiles. “And Daisy isn’t it SOOO wonderful to be back together? I was so worried when we were separated, and then being withdrawn, thankfully for this gracious Sir Topham Hatt, we are back together.” Rose smiles kindly at Topham Hatt. “I do look forward to my life on this railway, it’s got a wonderful quaint charm.”
“Yes, yes, Rose…” Daisy seems less than impressed. “I suppose we should go and start your tour.” Daisy then wishes her fellow engines a good day and drives up, switches to the line Rose was on, and is coupled up to Hyacinth.
“Well, were off, you all have a splendid day.” Rose smiles pleasantly, and then Daisy drives off with them.
“Wait, she’s going the wrong way?” Thomas looks concerned.
“No Thomas that’s how DMU’s work.” Hatt chuckles. “One engine on each end, eliminates the need to constantly turn the engine around. Although I’ll mostly have them working separately, it is still a wonderful feature. And I’m sure Daisy is glad to have her sister back. Anyways as you all were.” Hatt smiles and they all go back to work.
Daisy had shown Rose around Sodor and they were resting at the shed in Arlesburg, when Diesel comes by.
“Oh, Miss Daisy tell that stinky steamie I brought him his coal.” Diesel sighs and Daisy just rolls her eyes.
“Oh, what a striking Gronk, and a black one at that.” Rose looks at Diesel.
“Uhhhh…” Diesel is caught off guard.
“Oh, this is Diesel…” Daisy introduces. “Diesel this is Rose, my sister… she’s come to live with us on Sodor. Now move along.”
“Yes Miss Daisy.” Diesel then looks at Rose with a big smile. “Welcome to Sodor Lady Rose, please excuse all the stinky steamies, you’ll get use to the smell.” Diesel laughs and heads out.
“Oh, what a charming fellow.” Rose flirty smiles as Diesel leaves.
“Yes, CHARMING.” Daisy looks perturbed.
“Oh, sister you didn’t tell me you had a Gronk of your own, and a black one, it’s been so long since I’ve seen a black one.” Rose looks at Daisy.
“A Gronk of my… Oh no no no, Rose.” Daisy looks at Diesel leaving. “Diesel isn’t my ANYthing…”
“Really on the Other Railway; all the special and important engines have their own shunter. Gronks are common, although mostly the blue ones, maybe a green… Oh green is such a hideous color on a Gronk, not like you and me of course. We look incredible.” Rose smiles. “I’m so happy to be back together, aren’t you?” Rose looks honestly at her sister. “I think I’m really going to be happy here.”
Daisy looks at her sister and feels a bit guilty. “Yeah, I’m happy that you and Hyacinth are well and safe.”
The next day Daisy brings Rose to the Diesel Works.
“It’s really not much but it works.” Daisy introduces the Works to her sister.
“Well, if it keeps us working and our springs well sprung, there isn’t much more we could ask for.” Rose concurs with her sister and Daisy introduces her to the other diesels in the yard. Then Daisy has to return to Arlesburg while Rose has to wait for the fitters to inspect her. Rose thinks about all the shunting engines in the yard. “Well twins won’t work, plus they are an absolute hideous color.” Rose glances at Arry and Bert. “The blue one is much better looking but has the memory of a fish.” Rose sighs looking at Sidney. “The green one is as thick as the rocks he hauls, very nice, but too stupid.” She sighs as she looks at Paxton. “Oh, and the rusty 07… that needs to be dumped in the ocean, for sure. I’m surprised Sir Topham Hatt keeps such a thing on his railway.” Rose shakes her head. “Looks like the black one will do. I wonder if I can get Sir Topham Hatt to refresh his paint. Then he’d be good and proper for a lady like me.” Rose smiles at Diesel out in the yard.
Diesel sees her smiling at him and he smiles back, with nothing else left to do he decides to go over and keep her company. They sit and talk together until all the inspection is done.
Diesel and Rose had become quick friends, they could relate talking about the good old days on the Other Railway. So, when Hatt came to Rose needing her to pull a couple extra trucks along with her passengers; Diesel more than happily took the job. ‘Anything for my new friend, Lady Rose.’ He’d say happily to her. Diesel then started doing all of Rose’s extras, on top of trying to keep up with his own.
“Where is Diesel?” James huffs impatient at the coal hopper. There was a line up for the coal that morning and the steam engines were all grumpy over Diesel being late.
“I’m coming, I’m coming… hold your horses, your stinky steamers!” Diesel comes with the coal supply, and gives a big yawn.
When Thomas looked at Diesel he could see he looked tired and worn out. “Diesel is everything alright?” Thomas questions.
“I’m fine, perfectly fine. I just had to do something for Lady Rose, and got a little behind. That’s all, I was just helping a friend out.” Diesel snoots and then leaves.
Thomas sighs, it was the typical rude response from Diesel.
STH comes to see his engines at Arlesburg, he was quite pleased with their performance and came to congratulate them. When Daisy leaves Rose has her chance to talk with Hatt.
“Oh, Sir Topham Hatt, I do believe your railway is quite the historic and splendid sight, but…” Rose starts.
“Go on?” Hatt was interested.
“I’ve noticed you have a black Gronk, a diesel shunting engine…” Rose looks innocent.
“Oh, what did Diesel do now?” Hatt sighs pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Oh, he didn’t do anything wrong, has he always been painted black?” Rose continues.
“Yes…” Hatt thinks. “Solid black and not emblemed since I bought him before the BR got to it. Although at the time I had told the other engines he was just on trial." He sighs. "Finally, the BR told me to keep him on Sodor.” Hatt shakes his head.
“Well Sir, maybe you don’t know, but the black ones are quite rare these days, most have been withdrawn or repainted hideous BR green or BR blue. I was just thinking how weathered that poor old Gronk is, it’s rather distracting from how impeccable your railway is. Just look at all those splendid and shining vintage steam engines you run.” Rose looks concerned. “I should think that you might consider refreshing that poor old Gronk’s coat to a fully restored BR Black, to fit into the rest of the railway. It should make him so much less of an eyesore amongst your engines.”
“Humm.” Hatt thinks. “Maybe your right, Diesel’s weathered condition is rather unfit.” Then Hatt leaves considering Diesel’s appearance.
“Yes, only a striking BR Black Gronk is fit for me.” Rose smiles pleased with herself.
Diesel waits at the works with a shining new coat of paint. He had been refreshed inside and out; the detail painter had even added an emblem.
“No no no…” Hatt is displeased with the emblem at first glance. “He’s not a BR engine; he never carried the emblem.” Then takes a closer look at it. “NWR Railways…” He reads. “Oh, and look at the sparkling gold paint for the lion; it’s just like the Lion of Sodor.” He was very pleased with the mock emblem. Then leaves for some other business at the Diesel Works.
“Hey Diesel?” Mavis greets as she comes to the sheds. But Diesel doesn’t respond, he was sleeping. “Diesel?” Again, with no response, so she blows her horn and Diesel startles awake.
“Huh! What! Right away Lady Ros…” Diesel looks around. “Oh… uh hi Mavis.”
“Hello. Are you ok Diesel? You seem kind of tired for someone who just got a refresh.” Mavis is concerned.
“Oh, I’m just fine, nothing a big strong tough Gronk like me can’t handle. Mind your own business.” Diesel snorts and leaves just as Thomas was pulling into the Diesel Works.
“What’s wrong with Diesel?” Mavis questions.
“What isn’t wrong with him?” Thomas chuckles. “But seriously, he’s been running ragged, helping out Rose while still trying to do his own work.”
“It’s not right.” Daisy says coming from the main shed. “Rose is treating him as her own personal shunter and pretending to be his friend.”
“So, she’s not really his friend?” Thomas huffs.
“How horrible, even Diesel doesn’t deserve that.” Mavis adds.
“Right, my sister is totally taking advantage of his desperation for a friend. I knew she was up to no good, Rose has always been up to no good, in order to make herself more important.” Daisy sighs.
“I think we might need an intervention.” Mavis says.
“Yes, and I’ll talk to Sir Topham Hatt about it too.” Thomas nods in agreement.
A few nights later Diesel is escorting Rose to the Diesel Works, they were merrily talking about the good old days. Just as they come to the main shed Mavis and Daisy confront them.
“Rose we know what you are doing.” Daisy huffs as she stops beside her sister.
“You shouldn’t treat Diesel like he belongs to you.” Mavis adds.
“I never…” Rose snubs them.
“Wait wha…?” Diesel still looks exhausted.
“Yes Rose you are being a selfish, social brat.” Daisy snorts at her sister.
“Diesel, don’t you see she’s taking advantage of your friendship?” Mavis says honestly concerned.
“Oh honestly.” Rose starts before Diesel can respond. “I get it, I get it… Dear sister you’ve always been the jealous sort… And you:” Rose looks at Mavis. “You had your chance, all these years and you ignored him or down right had no respect for him… What now that he has a friend you got a problem with that. What does a 04 need with a Gronk anyways, can’t you shunt it yourself?” Rose sneers at Mavis.
“Rose! Don’t be so crass.” Daisy scolds. “Mavis isn’t…”
Then Thomas pulls up. ” Sorry I’m late.” He peeps.
At this point D10, Arry and Bert, come to watch what is going on from the second level.
“As I was saying Rose, this isn’t the Other Railway.” Daisy continues.
“Yes, this is Sodor.” Thomas confirms.
“Diesel, can’t you see she’s using you?” Mavis pleas.
Then Hatt steps out of Thomas’ cab. “What is all this confusion and delay I’ve been hearing about?” He looks at Diesel. “Diesel why have you been doing all of Rose’s work? And Rose, when I assign an engine a task, I expect that engine to complete it… Although plenty of my engines are guilty of doing this.” He looks at both Daisy and Thomas then back to Rose.
Thomas and Daisy look a little ashamed.
“I… I… I ahh…” Rose is a little fearful.
“I don’t get it… You always want me to be more helpful; so here I’m helping out a friend… at least Lady Rose will talk to me.” Diesel whines his weaselly way when he’s caught. “Seriously how long did I live in the quarry with you Mavis and you never would talk to me unless to scold me…” Diesel sighs. “I’m not stupid, I know she was using our friendship to get me to do all her extra work.”
“Diesel this isn’t about you, this is about my sister not knowing how to treat other engines.” Daisy growls at Diesel.
“I don’t know how to treat other engines?” Rose says with tears forming in her eyes. “What about you? You just up and left me and Hyacinth, like you stopped loving us… I’m you’re sister.” Rose is crying. “Do you even know what happens to a DMU without its sister?”
“What…?!” Daisy never considered what Rose’s life had been like without her.
“You become a dirty forgotten post engine. Poor Hyacinth wasn’t made for dirty parcels. So of course I wanted to feel special again, to have your own shunter is the most special status on the Other Railway.” Rose continues to cry. “You just left us, like you didn’t even love us anymore.”
Now Daisy starts to cry. “NO no no Rose… Of course, I still love you. You are my sister.”
D10 rolls his eyes and Arry and Bert give a little giggle. Hat starts to rub his forehead he really hadn’t expected this drama. Thomas and Mavis both fidget, feeling awkward.
“Then Why?!” Rose cries.
“Because I couldn’t handle pulling long trains, they wanted us to take more coaches… and…and… I can’t, I don’t know why, I’m too afraid too.” Daisy cries.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rose snuffles.
“I didn’t want to upset you…” Daisy sniffs.
“Ok Ok OK!” Hatt addresses his engines. “Daisy, Rose back to Arlesburg, just spend the next day talking, get it all out of your system and I’ll have some engines to cover for you.” Hatt directs them and they both leave the Diesel Works still crying like sisterly love.
“Wow, never knew any of that about Daisy…” Thomas watches concerned for his friends.
“Hush Thomas.” Hatt looks at all the engines and they all stay quiet. “As for you Diesel, I paid to have you refreshed, so I’m going to show it off. You’re now promoted to Station Pilot of Knappford.”
“But.. but Sir.” Diesel seems scared.
“NO Buts… This will free up Thomas to work more on his branchline and free up some of the other engines to cover other yards.” Hatt looks sternly at Diesel. “Also, since you’ll be the station pilot, you’re to stay at your station, no going up to Arlesburg, and I’ll have the old carriage shed converted for you. So, no more wondering around. Got it?”
“Yes, Sir…” Diesel looks down.
“Maybe this will finally keep you out of trouble.” Hatt huffs. “Ok with that settled, Thomas get me back to Vicarstowne Station I have to make some adjustments to the schedules. “Good night you all, and Diesel just go to Knappford now.” He then gets in with Thomas and they leave.
“Diesel…” Mavis starts.
“Well Mavis, I hope you are happy now.” Diesel then starts to leave. “Good night…” Diesel slips off into the darkness.
Mavis watches him with some concern. This wasn’t exactly how she thought it would go.
“Well, well, well, that was some interesting drama.” D10 smiles. “Sad to lose a another Gronk, but there’s still plenty.”
“Lose him?” Mavis questions.
“Yeah, he’s chained to his station, like all station pilots… It’s his prison until the day comes to scrap him.” D10 laughs. “And what’s even worse is he went from being a servant to a diesel that at least was nice to him, to now being the servant to a bunch of silly steamies. And I doubt they’ll be nice to him at all.” D10 then impersonates Gordon. “Oh, Station Pilot bring me my coaches and don’t be incompetent about it. Sooo hard to find good help these days.” Then D10, Arry and Bert laugh, before receding back from the ledge.
Mavis felt even more horrible, she just wanted to help Diesel. She wanted to be a good friend, even if Diesel was one of the most ‘difficult’ engines on Sodor to be friends with.
Diesel was working on clearing some coaches from Knappford when Sir Topham Hatt comes from the offices with a couple of well dress guests.
“Oh, look you have an original black one.” The lady looks at Diesel.
“Oh yes, those are becoming rarer sight on the mainland, as common as Gronks are.” The gentleman chuckles.
“Well, he is an original black one, although his emblem is custom for Sodor.” Hatt thumbs his collar and looks pleased.
They observe the lion and then they move on. Diesel had gotten quite a few positive comments about his new look. He might have found being Station Pilot horribly boring and the steamies could make it insufferable, but the appreciation of his new look was welcomed. He had come to enjoy people commenting about his paint. He might’ve been miserable but at least he looked good doing it.
It was now towards the end of the day, Diesel and his crew are waiting for the last trains to come in before being done for the day. However, one of the ground crew had a special event and was leaving early. Her new husband had come with a big bouquet of roses for her. She takes them and sniffs them, then sets them down on Diesel’s buffer. They hug and kiss much to Diesel’s displeasure before talking about having to hurry to catch their plane. In their haste she leaves the roses behind.
“Eh, do you think they gonna’ be back for these?” Diesel’s driver notices the roses.
“Nah, they got a plane to catch.” The groundsman says. “Ya know she been talking all week about their honeymoon. They are not going to risk missing that plane.”
“Do you want them?” Diesel’s driver asks. “I don’t got anyone to give ‘em to.”
“Nah, my wife can’t stand roses.” The groundsman shakes his head.
Diesel looks over to the station; Emily, Nia, and Mavis were all over there chatting, probably about the day's work. He had noticed that Mavis hadn’t smiled much after that night. She had only been concerned about him… He sighs. “Can you give them to that black diesel engine over there?” Diesel asks the men.
Nia had just finished asking Mavis about her wheels, when a man with a bouquet of roses comes up to the three engines. They all stop their chatter and look at the man perplexed.
“Uh Miss Mavis these are for yo…” He starts to give Mavis the roses when Mavis’ driver pops out her window and interrupts him.
“Don’t be strange, she’s an engine you looney.” Mavis driver yells at him.
“They's not from me, I’m married… to a woman.” The man with the roses snorts. “These are from a friend who thought she could use a little color to brighten up her life.” He gives Mavis the roses. “Ya know she works in a rocky hole in the ground all day, every day. Maybe you should be considerate of your engine, like the engine who sent me to give her these.” The groundsman thumbs his nose and bids them all a good day.
Mavis’ driver stops and thinks about her as the groundsman leaves.
“Oh, look Mavis got flowers from a secret admirer.” Emily giggles.
“Oh, how special, I wonder who they are from?” Nia smiles.
“Uh… why would someone give me flowers?” Mavis looks perplexed.
“Well sometimes humans give flowers for a special event, or sometimes to congratulate someone for an accomplishment, or as an apology…” Emily is thinking.
“Or as a sign of appreciation or love.” Nia finishes and both her and Emily give a giddy little laugh.
Mavis gracefully starts to flush.
“Oh, Mavis you are turning as red as those roses.” Emily calms down and gives her a supportive smile.
“Ok girl.” Mavis’ driver picks up the flowers. “We can put these in your shed. They will probably dry out, but you can enjoy them while they last.” He sighs and gets back in her cab.
“I uh, have to go now…” Mavis studders. “See you all later.” Mavis then drives off back to the quarry, with a content smile.
Emily and Nia smile and wish her well. Then wonder who sent her the flowers. Just then Diesel pulls into the station and they both look at him.
"What are you to gawking at?" Diesel sneers rudely at them. "Silly stinky steamies."
"Nahh, No way..." Both Emily and Nia agree.