Thomas and the Magic Railroad 2: Lily's Return

Thomas and the Magic Railroad 2: Lily's Return (part 5)

Lily's POV

I may have escaped Diesel 10 for now, but the danger is not over yet, I still had to get to Mr. Conductor, before Diesel 10 found us again. "Thomas, where's Mr. Conductor? I need to find him quickly!" I said, "Why, Lily?" Thomas asked confused. It was now my turn to tell Thomas my railroad story. I then explained to Thomas how I found the metallic purple conductor's whistle, and how it sent me to Sodor when I blew on it. I told him about Diesel 10's conversation with Splatter and Dodge and why Diesel 10 is chasing me. Thomas was astonished, and I couldn't blame him. I mean, one day I'm just a normal girl, the next I'm a magical conductor! After letting it sink in, Thomas finally spoke, "The last time I saw Mr. Conductor, he was at Tidmouth sheds!" "Then that's where we gotta go!" Thomas peeped in agreement and quickly whooshed towards the sheds.

Burnett Stone's POV

I had found Mr. Conductor, and Junior, but I still couldn't find Lily. Just then, I heard a whistle blowing, it coming from the back of the sheds. Just then, out popped Thomas, who was red in the face and out of breath. "Thomas!" I said as I ran up to the tuckered out engine. "What happened?!" Mr. Conductor and Junior came over wanting the same answer. Thomas smiled as he looked back at his cab and said, "You can come out now!" Just then, who should step out of Thomas's cab but Lily herself. 

Lily's POV

I peaked out of Thomas's cab, looking left, right, and listening for Diesel 10. There was no sign of him so I stepped completely out of the cab. Then I noticed why Thomas wanted me to step out. I grinned and yelled "Grandpa!" I charged towards him and gave him a great big bear hug, to which he returned. "Lily, I'm so glad you're safe!" Grandpa let go and put both of his hands on my shoulders while still on his knees from the hug. "Lily, what are you doing out here? Diesel 10 is-" Before Grandpa could say anything more, I replied, "I know Diesel 10 here, and that he's looking for the new conductor." I turned to Mr. C and said, "Mr. Conductor, we need to talk, and quickly. I'm not sure if we lost Diesel 10 completely!" Mr. C took me a few steps away from the others and said, "What's going on, Lily?" That was when I held up the purple whistle, Mr. Conductor was shocked to say the least. I stood there silently for a moment before continuing, "I know it sounds crazy...but I think..." I hesitated before finishing my train of thought, "I think that I'm the new conductor that Diesel 10 is after." I told Mr. C, Junior and Grandpa about the whistle, the gold dust, and Diesel 10 chasing me almost all of the way here. It took a moment or two for Mr. C to regain his composure, but he finally speaks, "Lily, let me get this strait. The whistle appeared to you, you used the whistle, and it sent you to Sodor by using it?" The conductor sounded as if he was lecturing me rather than believing me. But I kept a strait face on and nodded. The conductor stood up with a stern face, but instantly whipped it away with the swish of a hat and laughed whole heartedly. "Haha! It is you!" Mr. C hugged me and said, "Thank goodness Diesel 10 didn't get you!" I smiled, the Conductor would have done this much sooner even if I wasn't the new conductor. He was just expressing how happy he was right now. "But, Mr. C, what does me being a conductor actually mean?" I asked as Mr. Conductor smiled again and said, "It means, that you will be assisting me and Junior in protecting all of Sodor, the people and engines who live here,  and the Magic Railroad! Should you choose to accept the offer, of course." I was in awe, I would get to help protect the engines of Sodor. Just the thought of it got me excited to the max. But just as I was about to speak, I felt an all-too familiar shiver going down my spine. Suddenly, Thomas pulled up and said, "Lily, my wheels are wobbling! I don't think Diesel 10 is very far behind us!" Just then, we heard Diesel 10's devious cackle coming from behind the sheds. Diesel 10 slowly comes out from behind the sheds with his smug grin plastered on his face. Diesel had no idea that my Grandpa had secretly hidden Lady inside the sheds. Everyone else gasped and tried to form a human protective circle around me. Not that it would do much good, but I appreciated their efforts. Diesel 10 quickly began to circle us, like how a shark circles its prey. Diesel 10's claw clanked and sparks flew from it, signaling everyone to stay where he could see them. "I'd teleport us all out of this mess, but I left my whistle on the turntable over there!" Mr. C whispered. "So did I!" Junior replied. Diesel 10 glared at Mr. Conductor, and then down at me; his almost glowing, ferocious eyes lock on their target. Diesel 10 declared in a very frustrated voice "You and your puffball pal aren't going anywhere, Sparkle Shorts!" "Did he just call me "Sparkle shorts"?!" I whispered to myself. Mr. C just leaned in and whispered, "You'll get used to it," Thomas whooshed close to me and whispered, "I guess that's his annoying nickname he choose for you, Lily," Diesel 10 snapped his claw inches away from Thomas's face and said, "Keep out of this, Puffball!" I growled at Diesel 10 slightly, I did not like how he was treating everyone. Just then, Diesel 10 clanked his claw twice high in the air. At the sound of their boss's claw, Splatter and Dodge came rumbling in. "Splodge, help me round up the group!" The twin diesels were hesitant, they didn't like being Diesel 10's evil henchmen. But fearful of the claw, they did as they were told. Splatter and Dodge looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "we're sorry," Splatter whispered, "Sorry, kid," Dodge whispered. As we stuck together within the circle of diesels, Mr. Conductor put his hand in his pocket and suddenly his eyes widened. He moved his head just enough to look into his pocket and secretly smiled. Inside of his pocket was a tiny pinch of gold dust. Mr. C assumed that some gold dust fell in his pocket when Lady came over to visit. Mr. Conductor tapped my shoulder. I turned my head slightly and watched him pour the tiny amount of gold dust into my new, purple whistle. Mr. C whispered in my ear so that Diesel 10 wouldn't hear, "There's just enough gold dust for one teleportation," I smiled at the conductor sincerely, happy that we had a little bit of magic on our side. But even if we could get out of this diesel circle, Diesel would still be after me, or he may go after the two main conductors! Somehow I just had to get out of here and lead Diesel 10 away from us. The question was how? Diesel 10 stopped circling us as he gave out another command, "Splodge, let the Twinkle Toes twins, Burnett, and the puffball go," Surprised at his request, the diesel twins allowed the gang to pass. I tried to sneak away with them, but Diesel 10 banged his claw just inches behind me and said, "Not YOU Sparkle Shorts. You're to stay right where you are until I specifically tell ya to move! Got that?!" I didn't nod nor did I reply, I just stood there silently. Diesel 10 smirked widely, knowing that I wasn't going anywhere. He turned his attention to Burnett and Mr. Conductor. I looked behind me, Thomas was standing on the sidelines, watching me worriedly. It was then that I came up with a plan of my own. I hand signaled for Thomas to drive around Splatter and Dodge. A confused Thomas, no knowing what else to do, chuffed very slowly around Splatter and Dodge. The grown ups didn't know what to do. I overheard Diesel 10 say that if they ever wanna see me again, they needed to trade me for the lost engine: Lady. They didn't say yes, nor did they say no. They couldn't let Diesel 10 have Lady in his clutches, but now I was in his clutches; and I did not like it. Meanwhile, a determined Thomas followed my hand signals. Splatter and Dodge noticed me trying to escape, but feeling like they should help, they said nothing. While Diesel 10 wasn't looking, Splatter moved just enough for me to pass through. I looked at Splatter and Dodge and smiled. They weren't completely bad, they were just afraid of what Diesel 10 would do to them. I sneaked my way over to Thomas and whispered for him to race away quickly. "What about the others?" Thomas whispered, "Don't worry," I said, "I've got a plan!" Thomas's wheels spun as he drove away quickly. Diesel 10 looked up and saw Thomas puffing away and said, "Get back here, puffball! I'm not done with you yet!" Then I mischievously poked my head out of Thomas's cab and yelled, "But I am!" I hid back in the cab as I heard Diesel 10 growl but he soon smiled. He cackled loudly, his echoed laugh spreading across the sheds' field, from top to bottom.  He sped off to catch Thomas and me. Apparently running from Diesel 10 only made him more eager to chase on.