Archive of Our Own

Dart had been assigned a new job. A new place to work. A new duty to perform. No longer was he shunting around the works where he first came to life. Now, he was set to work at a gigantic train yard near the bridge to Sodor.

'Just some shunting work,' His old owner had said. 'Nothing you can't handle!'

And Dart couldn't have agreed more. Shunting was what he was best at! With one last goodbye to the factory, he chugged on to his new job. He was going to miss working at that factory, but he looked forward to getting to work in a big wide yard instead. Sure, he and his new driver got a little lost on the way, but they made it there eventually.

As soon as he arrived, however, Dart quickly realised something. Those other diesels were quite a bit bigger than he was. He learnt this the hard way when one left the yard with a train and almost bumped into him.

'OI!' She cried. 'Watch where you're goin', squirt!'

Dart opened his mouth to apologise, but she was already gone. Off to join the other diesels (and occasional steamie) chugging back and forth along the mainlines.

'Hmph, not exactly a pleasant welcome,' Dart remarked to himself. 'Let's hope that's not an omen for what's to come.'

He eased into the yard, where a few scattered trucks and coaches awaited him. Alongside two other diesels shunting away, neither of whom looked any more welcoming than the last one. Dart quickly realised how small he was compared to them. It wasn't by much, but those glares on their faces certainly made them seem like giants. Still, he wasn't one to start a social interaction out of fear or with confrontation.

So, he smiled at these big diesels instead.

'Hello!' He said. 'Nice to meet you all. The name's Dart!'

They just looked at him weirdly, as though saying 'hello' was the strangest thing any engine could do. One of them, however, laughed. Not a pleasant kind of laugh, either. No, of course not. It was the kind of laugh you'd expect to hear from a schoolbully. Dart already knew he didn't like that guy very much.

'You?!' This diesel said, still laughing. 'A little pipsqueak like you is gonna help us? Are you sure we're not the one meant to be helping you?'

Dart wasn't shaken at all. He just gave this big diesel a deadpanned look. First impressions were important, and Mr-Big-Diesel over here had already given a very poor impression indeed.

Another diesel rolled her eyes at him. 'Shut your trap, Roger.'

'No, you shut your trap, Lorene!'

'The shunter's just got here. Let's at least set him to work first.'

Roger groaned. 'Fine, then. Ruin my fun.'

Dart waited patiently for them to finish their 'conversation' so they could actually point him in the right direction. How was he supposed to do any work at all if no one was telling him what he was meant to be doing?

'Ignore him,' Lorene said, finally addressing Dart. 'And just do your work.'

'Which is…?' Dart asked, a slight tone of annoyance seeping in.

'You can start off by shunting Dimwit's train over there.'

Dart flinched so hard he nearly rattled his insides. Lorene spoke mostly with a deadpan, monotone voice. Like she wished she never got out of her shed. But the way she said 'dimwit' carried so much disgust and barely-restrained frustration. It wasn't just the tone either. What an awful thing to call someone.

'Uh, excuse me,' Dart said. 'But who's… Dimwit?'

Roger grunted. 'Just that. A dimwit.'

'Well, that's not especially helpful, is it?'

'Roger,' Lorene said. 'I said, shut up.'

The only response she got to that was a petulant pout. Dart was already starting to wish he was back at the factory, if this was what working in a train yard was like.

'As I was saying,' Lorene said. 'Dimwit needs an engine to shunt his train. He could probably do it himself, but… well, we named him that for a very good reason.'

'Okay, enough of that,' Dart said. 'What's his actual name?'

'Does it matter?' Roger huffed. 'Dimwit's his name, and it fits.'

'Because I doubt the workers would've called him that when it came to assigning him a name. And if I'm going to work with him, I'd like to know his actual name. I'm certainly not calling him that.'

Roger and Lorene looked at him with shock and surprise all over their faces. They were silent, glancing among each other as if waiting for someone to say something.

'Well?' Dart said. 'What's his name?'

'Heh,' Roger said. 'Guess we never bothered to figure it out.'

Dart gave them a look.

'You can't be serious,' He said, before he sighed loudly. 'Just tell me where he is so I can ask him myself.'

'He's a few rails down that way,' Lorene said, 'pointing' with her eyes. 'But believe me, there's no point in asking him. He won't be able to give you an answer. And even if he can, expect to wait five hours for him to get to it.'

She and Roger snickered among themselves, like they were indulging in the world's funniest in-joke. Dart was not in on the joke, but he doubted he would've found it funny even if he did know it.

'Ignore them,' His driver said, quietly.

'I'm trying to,' Dart said. 'Believe me.'

'Let's just find this… Dimwit.'

They spoke with unease clear in their voice as they uttered this unpleasant nickname. It sounded even worse coming from a person. Dart still couldn't believe that they were really using a name like that. And he certainly couldn't believe that the engine would possibly live up to it either. He chugged through the snickering diesels, trying to ignore their incessant laughter, as he travelled the tracks along to where Lorene had been 'pointing'.

It was a far off spot, away from the others. Tucked up in a corner, really. A corner that, by the looks of it, was covered in weeds and litter. Dart was really starting to miss the factory now. Talk about being careful what you wished for.

'Looks like we found the engine we're looking for,' His driver said.

Sure enough, out in this corner far away from the others, was another diesel engine. Dart noticed straight away that he was big. One of the biggest engines he had ever met. Which wasn't saying much, but still. That 'Dimwit' was big. And very strong by the looks of it. Perfectly capable of shunting the train himself, Dart thought. How odd that he apparently needed help.

As Dart got closer to 'Dimwit' for a proper greeting, however, he noticed the look on his face. This big diesel wasn't cocky like the others. He wasn't laughing like a schoolbully or leering at him like he thought he was better than everyone. That was a look of apprehension. Dart became worried right away. What could've caused him to make such a face?

As soon as he internally asked himself this question, Dart realised how stupid he was for asking it at all. Perhaps - just maybe - it had something to do with him overhearing the other engines nicknaming him 'Dimwit'. Well, Dart wasn't going to stand for that. He approached 'Dimwit' with a soft and welcoming smile on his face, making sure to keep their distance in case close contact would make the poor thing even more nervous.

'Hello there!' Dart said. 'I'm Dart! What's your name?'

The big diesel flinched and gasped, like he wasn't expecting a conversation to start. His eyes darted back and forth, focusing on just about everything but Dart. And his face was slowly turning red too.

'My… m-my name…?' He stammered. 'You… I-I… m-my name, right. Uh, r-right…'

The poor thing stuttered and stammered for quite some time, wincing multiple times as if totally aware of how silly he looked. His blush grew more and more intense with every stutter.

'This may take awhile…' Dart's driver remarked.

Dart shushed them immediately. 'Give him time!'

'D-DEN!'

The big diesel spluttered this name out so quickly and so suddenly that Dart didn't have enough time to register it. He had been too busy calling out his own driver to notice.

'Can you repeat that?' He asked, as gently as he could.

The big diesel struggled to maintain eye contact for any longer than a few seconds, so he was staring down at a blade of grass when he spoke again.

'D… Den,' He said. 'T-That's, uh, my name. N-Not Dimwit. Den. That's the, uh, name I-I was given when I left the works. So c-call me Den. And not, um, t-that other thing.'

Dart smiled. He was certainly a lot more fond of this guy than the other diesels. An odd first impression, but a lovely one nonetheless.

'In that case,' He said. 'Hello there, Den!'

Den (which was a much better name than 'Dimwit') managed to make eye contact for a few seconds. But only for a few seconds. Then it was back to staring at grass.

'H-Hello, Dart…' He said, in a voice much too quiet for his size.

Dart couldn't help a quiet chuckle. Den was quickly proving to be a very bashful engine indeed. Perhaps the most bashful engine in all of Britain. No problem! Some engines were naturally shyer than others, and Dart could work with that. He glanced at the other diesels; no wonder Den was so nervous to talk.

'So!' Dart said. 'I heard you need some help shunting your train.'

'Uh, r-right,' Den said, his voice still very quiet. 'I, uh, need to have it ready soon. I'll have to leave in a few minutes. But, t-take your time. It's fine. It's not… You don't have to… I'll be…'

A look of frustration flashed upon the big diesel's face. Dart couldn't be certain, but he was sure that Den was getting frustrated with his own inability to put the words together. Poor guy.

'I-I'm sorry!' Den suddenly blurted out, in a much louder voice. 'I-I'm not… You see, I… Words… I tend to… ohhh…'

Dart remained quiet, letting Den try to sort this sentence out on his own. The other diesels laughed loudly when they overheard the conversation. Dart rolled his eyes and ignored them. He hoped Den would be able to do the same, but each mocking laugh only made him trip over his words even more. His face was turning bright red.

'See? We told ya!' Roger said, between snickers. 'So, does the nickname fit, or does it fit?'

Dart glared at him. 'Maybe Den would be able to get through a sentence if you stopped laughing and let him speak!'

'Nah. It wouldn't accomplish much at all.'

'Not unless you like waiting around for a few hours,' Lorene muttered.

Den grimaced. For a supposed 'dimwit', he certainly seemed to understand everything that was being said about him. Dart was sure he was almost about to cry. Especially when the mocking laughter only grew louder.

'OI!' Dart yelled. 'I'm trying to talk to him! So how about you all shut up for a minute?!'

Dart had a much louder voice than his tiny size would have you believe. It left those nasty diesels shocked. They stared at him with their mouths agape, evidently too shocked to say a word. Good, Dart thought, maybe now we can actually get somewhere. He looked back at Den. The big hydraulic diesel seemed absolutely stunned that someone was standing up for him for once.

'So,' Dart said. 'You were saying?'

'I was sa- r-right,' Den said, trying to get himself back into the conversation. 'I'm not… it's hard to… I always… I-I can't…'

It was becoming increasingly obvious that leaving Den to sort out his words on his own simply wasn't working. It was clear to Dart that he was trying to say something but had no idea how. The way he stammered through every half-formed sentence made it sound like he was overthinking every single syllable that spilled from his mouth.

'I think I understand,' Dart said. 'You're just not very good at speaking, are you?'

Den looked up at him for a second before staring down at the rails. 'Yes. N-No. I-' He winced. 'I-I'm not.'

Dart gave him a soft smile. It must've been the first genuine smile Den had seen in a long time.

'Well, that's okay with me!' He said. 'Sounds like you just need a little helping buffer. So, you just need those trucks organised for you?'

'Erm, y-yes.'

Dart was happy to do the work. Shunting was his favourite thing to do, after all. It took no time at all to get those trucks (of scrap) lined up and ready to go. Incredibly quickly, actually. As he lined them up, he couldn't help wondering why Den wasn't going it. The big guy should've been great at it, judging by his build.

Unless, of course, the others had him convinced that he couldn't do it.

The more he thought about that 'Dimwit' nickname, the worse his generator felt. What a horrible thing to call another engine, especially an engine who was clearly shy and awkward enough. Oh well, not the time to deal with that.

'There you go!' Dart declared, once he was finished. 'A scrap train, all ready to go!'

'Oh!' Den said. 'Uh, t-thanks. Thank you. It's, um… I… You…'

Dart chuckled. 'Yeah, yeah, I understand you. You appreciate my hard work.'

Den looked rather surprised again. So surprised that he managed to maintain eye contact for more than three seconds this time. You'd think he just watched a crash play out in front of him.

'Are you alright?' Dart asked.

'Y-Yeah,' Den replied, quietly. 'It's just that… I never… no one ever… you actually…' His whole face scrunched up. 'I-I can't… ohh… What I'm trying to say is… I… you…'

As much as he loved the guy, Dart couldn't help but be shocked by just how much Den was struggling with his sentences. It was odd, really. It shouldn't have been so hard for him to make the point he was trying to make. And yet, he was stumbling through his word like he was fighting for his life. Dart wasn't annoyed, of course. Just concerned. Very concerned.

'What I think you're trying to say,' He said, thinking about the half-formed sentences that were thrown at him. 'Is that… you've never met anyone who really tried to understand you before.'

Den frowned the kind of frown that breaks your heart.

'N-No,' He said. 'I haven't.'

Dart gave those other diesels a nasty side-eye. In just a few minutes of talking, he was already starting to figure out what made Den tick. Just a few minutes. Which was evidently a few minutes more than the others were willing to give him. To think that those diesels couldn't spare a minute or two out of their day to even try getting to know the guy.

'Well, you won't have that problem with me,' Dart said. 'You don't seem too hard to figure out. Besides, maybe you're just having trouble with your words because you're nervous around new engines. Or those jerks over there. You might get better at it when you get to know me better.'

Den sighed. 'I probably won't…'

'Ah, even if you don't, I'm sure it won't take me long to understand you. All it takes is a little effort! Nothing wrong with that. Now, are you ready to go?'

'Um, I-I think so…'

Den, slowly, got himself coupled up to the train and crawled his way out of his little corner. The other diesels, despite being roughly the same size if not smaller, seemed to block his way on every bend. They watched him leave with smirks on their faces.

'Hope ya don't get lost this time, Dimwit!' Roger said, absolutely guffawing.

'Don't say that,' Lorene said. 'Now he's going to be late because he'll waste a few hours trying to ask people for directions.'

Den didn't say a word to defend himself. He wouldn't have been able to piece together something even if he tried to. He just left, wincing from every cruel remark that came his way. Dart, somehow, was even more fed up with it than it was before.

'Don't you lot have anything better to do than harass an engine who doesn't deserve it?' He demanded.

'Give it some time,' Roger said. 'Maybe a day or two. And then you'll see how foolish Dimwit really is!'

'You're wasting your time,' Lorene said. 'Just give up on him now. He's a lost cause.'

Dart knew that they were wrong, but he said nothing. It was true that he hadn't been there very long at all. He didn't have much of a wheel to roll on. So, he kept quiet. Besides, it wasn't like Den was there anymore. He could save his rage for when they were mocking Den to his face.

Night arrived. The other diesel shunters popped into their sheds at the end of the yard. Dart had been given his own shed too, which was a lot smaller than the others but perfectly fine for him. He was just about to settle in for the night when he spotted something - or rather, someone - a few tracks down. It was Den, of course. Standing there. Out in the open. In the dark. Looking even more apprehensive than before.

'What's he doing just standing out there on the track?' Dart asked. 'Where's his shed?'

He had a feeling as to what the answer would be, but he was hoping that he was wrong. Alas, he was not.

'He ain't got a shed!' Roger said. 'There wasn't enough and the one you're using isn't big enough for him.'

Dart grimaced. 'You must be joking. He must have a shed, right?'

'Maybe he does,' Lorene said. 'Maybe he doesn't.'

'We won't let 'im have it,' Roger said. 'He ain't good enough for a shed.'

Dart looked at Den. The big diesel was frowning, looking down at the ground with a heartbreaking look on his face. If he looked closely, Dart could see a perfectly empty shed between Lorene and Roger. As if he wasn't disgusted with their treatment of Den already.

'Let him have his shed,' He said. 'Now.'

'We will,' Lorene said. 'Once he proves that he's worth having one.'

'He did all his deliveries on time. What else does he need to do?'

Roger grinned. 'Hey, how about we ask him what he thinks. Hey, Dimwit!'

Den flinched. He had the eyes of a child getting harassed by a gang of bullies on the playground. It made him seem a lot smaller than he actually was.

'W-What?' He stammered.

Lorene and Roger glanced at each other, laughing some mocking laughs under their breaths.

'Tell us!' Roger said. 'What do you think you've done to deserve having a shed?'

Den's eyes went wide. 'Oh, I, uh… I-I… sometimes I… once I… m-maybe… uh, delivered trains- no, no, that's stupid. Uh, I-I…'

His face was turning bright red. Dart had never felt so sorry for someone in his whole life. Being exposed to an interrogation like that must've hurt. No wonder he was so shy.

'Well, there you go,' Lorene said. 'Dimwit himself can't come up with a reason why he deserves to be in the sheds with us.'

'Sheds aren't something you have to earn!' Dart said. 'All engines have the right to have a safe place to sleep. And even if you had to earn it, I think he's proven himself worthy of having a shed tonight. Now let him in.'

'Nah,' Roger said. 'It's not good enough.'

Dart didn't say anything more. He just gave those two diesels a glare and looked back at Den. Who had definitely been listening in.

'Driver,' He said. 'I'm moving.'

His driver understood right away what he wanted and let him go as he pleased. He left the shed and chugged away.

'Now wait!' Roger said. 'Where do you think you're going?'

Dart didn't answer. He just parked himself on the tracks right next to Den. Out there in the open. Den looked at him like he had just seen Flying Scotsman passing by.

'You can't be serious,' Lorene said. 'You're giving up a nice comfortable shed, just to be with him?'

'If it's good enough for him,' Dart said. 'It's good enough for me.'

Roger scoffed. 'You've known him for less than a day.'

'I'm sure that's still more time than any of you have bothered trying to spend with him!'

The other diesels were still left in shock with how loud that little guy could shout. Dart didn't like raising his voice very often, but these jerks were really starting to get on his last nerve.

'Oh well!' Roger said. 'Your loss.'

Dart rolled his eyes. If any of those engines ended up breaking down, he wouldn't be very sympathetic about it. He chose to pretend they didn't exist for the rest of the night for the sake of his happiness. Instead, he focused on Den.

Who was still absolutely shocked.

'I… You… Here…' He said.

'I wasn't going to let you sleep out here on your own,' Dart said. 'I'm staying here, with you.'

'You… y-you didn't…'

'I did. The way they're treating you is totally unacceptable. Sheds are not something an engine has to earn. All engines, even naughty ones, deserve a home to sleep in. Even them. But, if anyone around here had to sleep outside, it wouldn't be you.'

Den didn't say anything word. He was too busy looking so surprised that you'd think he just found out what the meaning of life was. Any sound he did attempt to make came out so short and premature that no one would be able to guess what he was trying to say.

'You're welcome,' Dart said with a gentle smile.

Without another word, or even an attempt at a word, Den smiled too. It was a weak smile. Due to fall apart at the slightest breeze. But a smile nonetheless. And that was how the two diesels slept the night away. Side by side, out in the open.

What was good enough for Den was plenty good enough for Dart.

'You know, Den, I don't think you need my help with this after all.'

It was only the next morning that Dart decided to do something about Den's supposed inability to shunt his own train. After spending so much time in the works, Dart had become quite skilled at being able to tell an engine's capabilities just by looking at them for a few seconds. And he had deduced very early on that Den should've been great, or at least decent, at shunting.

Lorene and Roger were shunting away for some of the bigger engines, paying no attention to Den at all. With just the two of them doing the work, they had to work very hard if they wanted to get all those trains shunted in time. And why work their wheels off when they could get an extra helper? That's what Dart was for, true, but he knew that Den could do it too. So, he decided to help out.

'Erm, uh, a-are you sure?' Den asked.

'More than sure!' Dart said. 'With your build, shunting should be a breeze for you.'

'I… I don't think I can.'

'That's just what those jerks over there want you to think. Give it a real good try. I know you can do it!'

'I-If you insist…'

Dart moved onto another line to give Den plenty of space to shunt the train. Den's movements started off slow, like he was overthinking every single wheel turn. He inched towards the first coach so slowly that his buffers barely collided with those of the coach.

'Look at that!' Dart said. 'You're doing it!'

He could hear Roger and Lorene snickering to themselves a few tracks down and making bets as to how long it would take until 'Dimwit screwed this all up'. As their laughs got louder, Den's frown got bigger.

'Don't listen to them,' Dart said. 'And prove them wrong.'

Den still wasn't so sure, but he tried his hardest anyway. He navigated the busy yards as best he could and made his way to the station. His movements were still slow and very careful. But he made it there nonetheless.

'Hey look, Mommy!' A little girl said, pointing at him. 'They've got a new engine working here!'

Den didn't have the heart to tell her that he had been working around this station for a while, and just never felt brave enough to show himself to the passengers. Still, in no time at all, he had the coaches perfectly lined up for another big diesel to take.

'Thank you!' They said. 'Uh, whoever you are!'

As this big diesel drove away, Den lingered in the station for much longer than a shunter typically would. He needed a moment to just sit there and comprehend that he just did that. Living proof right there that he shunted a line of coaches perfectly without screwing it up once, aside from it being a little late. Stunned at his own work, he reversed back into the yards.

'I told you you could do it!' Dart said.

His voice came so abruptly and enthusiastically that Den jumped. He couldn't remember the last time he heard someone praise him with such unadulterated admiration.

'Yeah…' He said, quietly. 'I guess I did.'

'Now,' Dart said. 'Let's see if we can't get these yards all sorted out!'

Den actually gave him a small smile before they set off to work. Both engines could shunt trucks and sort out yards quick enough on their own, but together? They sorted it all out in record time. Every now and then, Dart would look over to see how Den was faring. Each time he did, the smile on that engine grew bigger and bigger. And it made his smile grow too.

With them working as team, they got the work done in an astounding time. It must've been the cleanest those yards had been in years. Dart was a little exhausted by the end of it, but Den was still chugging strong.

'See?' Dart said. 'You're a pro at shunting! And those guys over there said you couldn't do it.'

'I did,' Den said, sounding a bit more confident this time. 'I-I really did.'

Dart was delighted to see Den smiling more and more. Imagine that. He had only been here a day, and he was already seeing Den make fantastic progress! That thought brought pride, and it also brought frustration. It had taken a mere day for Den to start coming out of his shell and prove his capabilities. And yet, the other engines just gave him a cruel nickname and left it at that.

A day. A single day. That was all it took to start making some progress. The other diesels hadn't even tried to work with him.

The good moment was ruined by the sound of a tremendous crash. Den and Dart immediately looked at where the sound had come from. And what they saw was Roger and Lorene, who managed to bang their trains together and break a few trucks in the process.

'Oh, good going, idiot,' Lorene said. 'Nice job watching where you were going.'

'Oi, don't blame this on me!' Roger said. 'This ain't your train!'

Dart just rolled his eyes. How on earth anything got shunted around here when the only competent shunter wasn't allowed to mystified him. He expected for Den to be as quiet as always. So imagine his surprise when Den spoke up.

'That wasn't very clever of you,' He said, out loud and very bluntly.

A mangled chuckle escaped from Dart's lips, despite his attempts at holding it in. He certainly hadn't expected a remark so blunt and sudden. No sugar-coating. No stammering. Just a short, to the point, snarky remark. Apparently, Den either overthought every single word like he'd be scrapped if he said the wrong thing, or blurted out the most delightfully blunt comment possible. At least when he felt a little more confident with himself.

'SHUT UP, DIMWIT!' Roger snapped. 'Nobody asked you for your opinion!'

Den flinched. Like that, his confidence vanished. Dart noticed straight away - that engine wore his emotions on his buffers. Well, Dart wasn't just going to sit there and say nothing, was he?

'Uh, what he meant to say was,' He said. 'Is that you both should've been watching where you were going.'

'Y-Yeah,' Den said. 'That.'

Lorene scoffed. 'Yeah, I'm sure. Definitely didn't just make another dumb remark.'

Den frowned, but spoke up again nonetheless.

'Well, uh, y-you're the one who crashed your train,' He said. 'Not me, so, um…'

Dart chuckled again. Now the guy was starting to stand up for himself too! He wasn't very good at it, but a start was a start.

'Never mind them,' Dart said. 'Just leave them to clean up their own mess.'

Den let out a small laugh. What an absolutely delightful sound.

Many days passed, as time often does. Dart spent all his free time trying to get to know Den a little better. If one day was enough to bring about fantastic progress, then imagine what a couple months could accomplish. A couple weeks passed by, and the two diesels were getting along beautifully.

The more and more Dart chatted with Den, the more and more he noticed his new friend getting a bit more confident. He spoke up more. Stood up for himself. Took great pride in his ability to shunt. There was just one more thing Dart wanted to take care of. For those couple weeks, they had been sleeping outside every night. It had been nice, of course, to stare up at the night sky and count the stars. But when the summer ended, autumn would be coming. And those nights would be much too cold to spend outside all the time.

So, Dart made a decision.

'Let Den sleep in his shed tonight.'

Despite his tiny size, he had a mighty presence. He glared at Lorene and Roger, all tucked up in their sheds. He still couldn't believe it. What a horrible thing to do, stopping an engine from resting in his shed at night.

'Oh goody,' Lorene muttered. 'This again.'

'Tell us why we should!' Roger said.

Den stood right behind Dart. As expected, he wasn't especially well-hidden. But it was the only way he could feel comfortable enough to join in on this confrontation.

'We've been over this,' Dart said. 'It's not a privilege you have to earn. It's something every engine should have. Even engines like you.'

'What's that supposed to mean?!' Roger demanded.

'Maybe that's how things worked wherever you came from,' Lorene said. 'But it isn't how it works around here. You earn the right. And Dimwit simply hasn't.'

Den gritted his teeth. 'Well, i-if I haven't earned that right, then…? Uh, if you…? How come you two…? Even though you…'

Dart's generated ached for his new friend. Den was clearly trying to make some point, but had no idea how to word it. Overthinking. The exact problem Dart had identified by day two. He listened carefully to those half-formed sentences, the words that Den managed to get out before his anxiety told him that he was saying it completely wrong.

'UGH, this is why you haven't earned the right to your own shed, Dimwit!' Roger said. 'If you can't even put a sentence together, then you're totally hopeless.'

Den's face scrunched up. 'You… you're always… you don't…'

Dart could hear distress mounting in his voice along with frustration. It sounded like Den was getting impatient with himself for struggling so much, a problem that hadn't gone away at all over the past couple weeks. If only Dart could figure out what point he was trying to make, he-

He gasped. Just like that, he understood exactly what Den was trying to say.

'What he means is,' He said. 'It doesn't make much sense that he doesn't have the right to have a shed, when you two keep crashing into each other, delaying trains, and acting like a couple of jerks for no reason!'

At first, Den was stunned, just like Roger and Lorene were. Then, he smiled. It started off small but quickly grew into the biggest smile he had ever smiled.

'Y-Yes!' He said. 'That's what I mean. That's what I mean!'

That was the happiest Den had sounded since Dart arrived. Probably the happiest he had ever sounded in his life. And all because someone finally figured out what he was trying to say.

'And I think he makes a good point,' Dart said. 'You two are the troublemakers around here, and yet you still get sheds. Den, meanwhile, works harder than the both of you combined, and you leave him outside at night! Now, I still think all engines deserve a safe, warm place to sleep. But, if I had to decide which one of us doesn't deserve a place-'

'It shouldn't be me!' Den declared. 'And I-I mean it!'

The two jerk diesels were left speechless, their jaws on the floor. Never had they imagined that 'Dimwit' could stand up for himself like that! Roger spluttered out a bunch of syllables that made Den's stammering sound coherent before he huffed loudly.

'HMPH!' He said. 'You're still just a Dimwit. You don't-'

'Roger, shush,' Lorene said. 'You want him and the squirt raising a stink about this? Just let them in before we get in trouble with our controller.'

'But-'

'Shut it, Roger. I don't want to hear it.'

Roger kept his mouth shut and pouted like a bratty child. Mission accomplished. Dart didn't even have to tell Den that they were heading off to the turntable. They both chugged backwards at the same time, as if in perfect sync.

'I can't believe!' Roger said as they left. 'We got talked to by a… by a… by a dimwit and his pipsqueak saviour!'

'I said, shut it,' Lorene muttered. 'This is awful enough without having to hear you complain about it the whole time.'

Dart let Den go first on the turntable. After all that hard work, the guy deserved it. He deserved the world, really, but a go on the turntable was a good start.

'I told you we could get you into that shed yet,' Dart said with a wink. 'That's the thing with bullies. For most of 'em, all you have to do is stand up to them, and they back down like cowards!'

'Y-Yeah,' Den said, chuckling. 'They really did.'

The smile on his face must've been one of the best things Dart had ever seen. Not just because it was lovely to see that bashful engine happy. It was because that smile was the end result of Den coming out of his shell, teaching those bullies what for, and finally finding a friend.

'Oh!' He said, as though suddenly remembering something. 'About what you did. It was… I really… I-I've never had someone do something like that for me before, and I, um…'

Dart smiled too. 'What you mean is, you're thankful that I helped you out.'

'Yeah. That.'

'You're welcome, Den.'

Just a couple more months passed, and the two diesels received news that would forever change their lives. The man running the railway approached them with a letter in hand. They were just about to get to work shunting the yard when they saw him approaching. Dart put on his best smile. Den was quite surprised to see the controller approaching and failed to hide his apprehension.

'Hello, Sir!' Dart greeted. 'What job are you giving us today?'

'Not a job in this yard, Dart,' The controller said. 'You're going to Sodor!'

Dart was stunned. Absolutely stunned.

'Sodor, Sir?' He asked. 'I'm actually getting to go to… Sodor?'

'That's right!' The controller said. 'The haven itself!"

Sodor had a reputation of sorts on the mainland. Partially for having the most accident-prone railway in the world located on it, but mostly because it was seen as a haven for engines. Not just steamies, but also for diesels who were sure to be replaced with more 'modern' diesels too. A place where oddballs and lonely engines took refuge.

To say the least, getting to work on Sodor permanently was something most engines in the UK dreamed of, hoping that they would be part of the lucky few to work there.

'You're to help out at the new dieselworks,' The controller said. 'Apparently, the place where all the engines were repaired got a little overrun, so they found an old abandoned quarry building and turned it into a works just for diesels! They'll need an engine to help shunt around the place. I told Sir Topham Hatt that I had a very skilled shunter who would be perfect for the job, and now… you're heading to Sodor!'

Dart beamed. He never thought that he would ever get the privilege of living on Sodor! Diesels engines typically assumed that they wouldn't get the opportunity like steamies would, but exceptions could be made.

'Hear that, Den?' He said. 'Off to work in Sodor!'

Den, however, wasn't so happy with the news. His good mood from working with Dart was sunk completely. He stared at the ground and frowned.

'What's wrong, Den?' Dart asked.

'I… I-I'm glad you're going to Sodor,' Den replied. 'Really, I-I am! But, well, you're going to Sodor, but, um, I… I…'

He couldn't finish the sentence. Luckily, he didn't have to. Dart understood his point and frowned too.

'What you mean is,' He said. 'I'm going to Sodor, but you're not. And you really don't want to be separated from me, because I'm the only engine you feel comfortable around.'

'Yeah…' Den murmured. 'That's what I mean…'

Dart could hardly believe his own blindness. Of course that's why Den was upset! Over the months they had been working together, they had already become the best of friends. And, whether they realised it or not, Den depended on Dart. He needed another engine who really got him, and was patient with him when he was struggling to speak. All that wonderful progress he had made was only because of Dart. If Dart were to leave him, especially with Lorene and Roger…

He almost declared, right then and there, that he wasn't going to Sodor after all. Not if it meant he had to leave his best friend behind. But he stopped himself before he could even open his mouth. It would never work. Once an engine was purchased, there was no going back. Besides, there was a much better solution to this. One that would ensure that they would stay together and Den wouldn't have to deal with the bullying ever again.

'Well, we're not separating!' Dart said. 'Not now, not ever.'

'B-But we have to,' Den said. 'If you want to go to Sodor…'

'What I mean is, I'm not leaving you behind. I'm taking you with me!'

Den's jaw dropped. 'You're… you're what?!'

'You heard me. Think about it, Den. You don't get any respect around here. But Sodor is a welcoming place. Sure, there's probably some jerks there too, but most of the engines will be glad to see you there. You'll get to make some real friends instead of just me. And, we'll be able to keep working together!'

Den, as expected, was very apprehensive regarding this idea. He stammered and stuttered even more so than usual at the thought.

The controller shrugged. 'Well, I suppose I could make that work. I've been meaning to get a couple new engines anyway. Besides, Den is certainly at his most efficient when he's with you, Dart. Looks like it might be for the best if he goes with you.'

'B-But, Sir Topham!' Den said. 'He… he won't… surely he wouldn't… he only asked for one… he won't…'

'You've heard the stories, haven't you?' Dart said. 'Remember the story about the Scottish twins? He only asked for one engine, but they both came along. And he let them both stay! So who's to say he wouldn't do the same for us?'

'H-He might not do it again…'

'There's only one way to find out!'

It had been settled. Dart wasn't going to Sodor on his own. He was taking Den with him.

Neither Den nor Dart could make a guess as to what Sir Topham was thinking when he first met them at the new dieselworks. If they could read his mind, they may have heard something along the lines of… alright, we're doing this again.

Dart gave the man a bright smile. He had heard many a great story about Sir Topham, and how he was regarded as one of the nicest (if rather firm) controllers in the world. The man who literally got scammed into buying a wreck and had unexpected migrant engines show up without a warning, and still welcomed them into his locomotive family. Den, of course, couldn't manage a smile. He frowned the whole way through and couldn't look the man in the eye.

'So,' Sir Topham said. 'I see you brought along a friend, Dart.'

Den winced but stayed quiet. He had no idea what to say, and even if he did, there was no way he'd be able to put the words together thanks to how nervous he was. Not once was he convinced that this plan was going to work, and he was especially unconvinced now.

'That's right, Sir!' Dart said. 'This is my partner, Den. We've been working together for a while now, and we're like two coaches in a train! We can't be separated for too long, you see.'

'I… see,' Sir Topham said.

Dart couldn't hear any hint of anger or frustration in that man's voice. Just a befuddled curiosity, as if he was thinking, let's see what the deal is THIS time. Dart kept the story of the Scottish twins at the front of his mind as the conversation continued.

'Den's a very hard worker,' He said. 'Great at shunting trucks and pulling trains! But he… had a rough start in life. The other diesels where he used to work would always make fun of him. I couldn't leave him to stay with them. Besides, I'm the only engine who really understands him.'

'Is that so?' Sir Topham asked. 'Do you mind explaining in what way?'

'You see, Sir, Den is actually a very smart engine. But he… isn't very good at talking. All because of that, the other diesels saw it fit to give him a nasty nickname and treat him poorly. In fact, they didn't even let Den sleep in a shed until I helped him confront them!'

Sir Topham's eyes widened, and he looked at Den. The big diesel shuddered and went stiff when he accidentally locked eyes with him.

'Well then, Den,' Sir Topham said. 'Let's hear about your side of the story.'

Den's face went pale. He looked over to Dart with a pleading look in his eyes, but Dart couldn't say a word. This was Den's chance to talk, after all.

'Uh, w-well, y-you see, Sir,' Den said, unable to maintain eye contact once again. 'I… I'm not… I- Uh, I need Dart. B-Because-! I…' He winced. 'Ooh, what I mean is…'

Dart didn't like it one bit. It reminded him too much of when he first met Den, when the big diesel was even more awkward. Sir Topham had a rather stunned look on his face. Without turning his head, he looked at Dart. It was a subtle expression, but it seemed to say 'wow, you were not exaggerating'.

'Okay, okay, that's enough,' Sir Topham said, gently. 'I think I get the point.'

'Uh, if I may, Sir,' Dart said. 'What he means is, he needs me to, well, do just this! I'm the only engine who can understand what he's trying to say. So when he's having a hard time, I can explain it for him.'

'Yeah,' Den said, quietly. 'That.'

Sir Topham turned around, seemingly deep in thought about this. Dart didn't like not being able to read his expression. He could read faces very well, but not so much body language. Engines didn't really have body language, after all. With each second of silence that passed, his confidence in this plan was starting to crumble. He looked over at Den. The poor thing was about ready to run off back 'home'.

'Look, Sir,' Dart said, chugging forward just a little. 'I know you only asked for one engine, but you have to understand. I can't leave Den behind! I-I can't leave him to be tormented by those mean diesels back on the mainland. Without me, he… he can't… he needs me! He won't- You have to-!'

For the first time since he first came to life, Dart found himself unable to put the words together. And at such an important time too! He didn't realise how emotionally invested he was in this until he couldn't hold it back anymore. He stopped himself. And took a deep breath. Long enough to, hopefully, get his words together. If only he knew what to say.

Den slowly moved forward.

'Uh, w-what he means is,' He said in a low voice. 'We're a team. And we stay together.'

Dart was stunned. Absolutely stunned. In a good way! He gave his friend a big smile. Den smiled back, albeit a sheepish smile buried underneath a lot of blushing.

'Exactly!' Dart said. 'So if you don't let Den stay on Sodor with me, well, I might just chug all the way back to the mainland with him instead!'

'Y-Yeah!' Den said.

Sir Topham turned back around. And he was smiling.

'Your arguments are very convincing,' He said. 'But I can assure you that I don't need to be told. I've already made up my mind.'

'Y-You have?' Dart said. 'Well, don't just leave us in suspense! Tell us.'

'Truth be told, while I was debating with myself over whether or not I should keep you both… I knew the very second that I saw you two together that I was gaining two diesel engines today instead of just one.'

'Does that mean…?' Den asked. 'I can stay?'

'Of course! This is hardly the first time I ordered one engine but ended up with two.'

This news was so glorious, so amazing, so exciting, that neither Dart nor Den knew how to react to it. Their minds could hardly process it. But soon, Dart's generator was sparking with life more than ever before.

'Did you hear that, Den?' He said. 'We can stay together! We're going to be working on Sodor - as a team!'

Den couldn't speak. He was too happy to say a word! All he could do was smile harder than he ever had and laugh so loudly and triumphantly all of Vicarstown could hear it. He was so happy, in fact, that he was starting to tear up.

'Now, now, don't get too excited,' Sir Topham said with a small chuckle. 'There may be days where I'll have to send you on separate jobs, on different parts of the island. Temporarily, of course.'

'That's fine by us, Sir!' Dart said. 'As long as we can come back together, that's all we care about!'

Den and Dart continued to cheer. They didn't know what part excited them the most - being able to work on Sodor, or staying together. Both, perhaps. Dart had never seen Den look so happy, and he was looking forward to seeing that big smile on his face much more often from now on. No more Lorene and Roger. Now, they were on Sodor. A place where misfit engines, like socially-anxious diesels, could live happily without the world world trying to tear him down.

He was much happier for Den than he was for himself, that was for sure.

'I told you Sir Topham Hatt would let us stay together!' He said.

'Y-You did…' Den said, still smiling like never before. 'I… I-I didn't think… snfff… I thought for sure…'

Dart chuckled. 'What he means is, he's happy to be here and will gladly work as hard as he can for you, Sir.'

Sir Topham laughed. 'If you want to fit in with the Sodor engines, here's a piece of advice. When you talk to me, you call me 'Sir'. But when you talk about me with your fellow engines? You just call me 'the Fat Controller'. That's what all the other engines call me!'

Dart was quite surprised to hear that Sir Topham - oops, the Fat Controller - was not only aware of this nickname, but actually seemed quite fond of it. Oh well, he'd be sure to learn the ways of Sodor soon. And he'd also be sure that Den would learn the ways too.

There they were. Den and Dart. In the safe haven that was the Island of Sodor. Once a team, always a team.

Meanwhile, in a certain railway yard in a certain part of the mainland, two certain diesels were struggling to keep up with all the work they had to do.

'Stupid Dimwit!' Roger snapped. 'He just had to take his sorry buffers away from here, didn't he? Stupid engine… now we're stuck trying to do all his work!'

'Please,' Lorene said, sighed loudly. 'Just shut up.'

THE END