Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 4

What's the Use of Feeling Blue?

(Based on an idea by serena-harper) 

At the Vicarstown Bridge, a special mixed traffic engine was crossing from the Mainland to the Island of Sodor. The engine wasn't Edward. And it wasn't James. It wasn't even a boy engine. It was a female engine with turquoise paintwork, with pale blue highlights and yellow stripes. Her name was Diana. 

Diana was visiting Sodor to help with the goods work as James had to have a new boiler fitted. She normally works on the Mainland and is always happy to help other engines. She is very friendly, and is also a very strong engine. 

Diana arrived at Knapford Station where the Fat Controller was waiting to give her orders. Thomas and Gordon were at Knapford too. They were surprised to see another mixed traffic engine on Sodor. 

(Thomas has Annie and Clarabel, Emily can be seen passing through the station and passengers on the platforms include the Small Controller and some children.) 

"Welcome to Sodor, Diana!" boomed the Fat Controller. 

"Thank you, sir." replied Diana cheerfully. 

"Diana, your first job is to take a goods train to Wellsworth. Edward will take charge of the train from there. Then you can go to Brendam and take some pipes up to Vicarstown." said the Fat Controller. 

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." replied Diana happily. 

Diana was a wise engine. She knew how to handle trucks. She slipped quietly behind them, gave them a push and they bumped into each other. 

"What's happening? Ooh! Ow!" groaned the trucks. 

Once she shunted them together, Diana was on her way and the trucks were behaving. 

Henry was impressed. 

"You shunt trucks as wisely and as well as Edward does." he whistled. 

"Edward sounds like a sensible engine." smiled Diana. 

"He is. You two would make good friends." said Henry. 

"I hope so." said Diana. 

Soon Diana arrived at Wellsworth to deliver her trucks to Edward. Edward was surprised to see another mixed traffic engine too. She looked a lot like Edward except that her turquoise paintwork was a lot brighter than his blue paint. 

"Hello, Edward. I'm Diana. I was told to give you these trucks." 

Edward stammered. He suddenly felt shy around this strong and wise engine who looked similar to him. 

"Uh, th-thank you." he said hurriedly. And he raced off to change tracks. 

Diana was puzzled at Edward's shyness but soon left to collect her train of pipes from the Docks. The trucks had also seen how shy Edward had become and saw a chance to play tricks. 

Edward soon coupled up to the trucks, but his face was red after seeing Diana. 

He passed the Steamworks. James was there, still having his paintwork repaired. 

"You look redder than my paintwork, Edward." said James. "Are you tired out from pulling those heavy trucks?" 

"No." said Edward embarrassedly. "I was just-" 

"He was acting all shy around the pretty new engine, Diana." sang the trucks cheekily. 

"Ho, ho. Is that so?" teased James. "Does Edward feel shy around the new engine?" 

Edward was now feeling even more embarrassed and he sped away, but he was cross with the trucks for teasing him, and so he gave them a bump. This made the trucks cross too. They decided to pay Edward out. 

When they came towards a signal, Edward was ready to put his brakes on, but the trucks saw their chance. 

"On! On! ON!" they yelled, and pushed Edward past the signal and into a siding. 

Edward hit the buffers so hard, he broke through the buffers and came off the rails. 

"Oh no!" he groaned. 

When the Fat Controller heard the news, he checked his timetable. 

"There are no engines available, but when Diana finishes her delivery to Vicarstown, I'll send her to fetch Rocky." he said. 

Diana was enjoying herself at the Docks. Mavis was there delivering stone trucks. 

(Cranky and Carly can be seen.)

"And then I had to tell her to put the flowers back where they came from, and we helped Thomas and Edward be Really Useful again." smiled Mavis. 

"Edward was acting very shy when I said hello." said Diana. 

"Maybe he was shy to be friends with you. You do look alike, and you're a pretty engine." smiled Mavis. "Anyway, I've got to go. Rusty's waiting for some of these trucks up in the Hills." 

Diana was now blushing too. But when she arrived at Vicarstown and the Stationmaster told her what had happened to Edward, she became serious. 

"Just send me to the Rescue Centre!" she said determinedly. 

Meanwhile, Edward had fallen asleep waiting for help. He was dreaming of meeting Diana again and what he would say to her when they next met. 

"I...I...want to be your friend." he was saying. 

"Wake up, Edward! We're here!" called a voice. 

It was Diana. 

Edward woke with a start. It was evening now. Diana arrived with Rocky. 

"Hello, Edward." called Rocky. "You look a bit red." 

Edward was blushing again. So was Diana. 

"Look, Edward. I noticed you have been a bit shy around me today." she said kindly. "But being shy only makes you lose chances to do things. Such as making friends. I would like to be your friend if you want to be my friend too." 

Edward smiled. Like himself, Diana was a very wise engine. 

"I would like to be your friend very much, Diana." he said. 

Diana was very pleased. 

A few days passed. Edward and Diana worked well together with the goods traffic on the main line. And they became even more friendly towards each other. And neither of them were blushing nor feeling shy anymore. 

But when James came back to work, it was time for Diana to go home to the Mainland. 

"I hope I see you again soon, Diana." whistled Edward a little sadly. 

"Me too, Edward. My new friend." smiled Diana. 

The two new friends whistled to each other, as Diana crossed the Vicarstown Bridge. Edward hoped very much that they would meet each other again. 

(The End!)