Agents of S.M.I.L.E.
Otherworldly Recruits
2 – Legend of the Loch Ness Monster
It was a beautiful morning on the Island of Sodor. The trees bloomed a bright green, the sea breeze swirled high into the air, and the early morning skies were painted with golden clouds from the radiant sunlight. The day had not started for some engines yet, so the Island was quiet for the most part. It won't be very long until the Island's railway engines receive their orders from Sir Topham Hatt, the fat controller of the North Western Railway.
There are many railways on Sodor. One of these is the Arlesburgh Branch Line, also known as the Little Western; a coastal railway line operating between Tidmouth Borough and Arlesburgh. The line runs along the ocean coast by sandy beaches and seaside towns until it meets a port where big ships come in at a harbor. It is nicknamed the Little Western because it's decorated in Great Western Railway colours and is worked by Duck and Oliver, two Great Western engines. The Scottish twins, named Donald and Douglas, also work on the Little Western, where they're given various jobs to do. Sometimes they pull coaches on the Mainline, goods trains, plow snow in the winter, or other utility tasks. Engines nine and ten are proud to be working on Sir Topham Hatt's Railway, but often times long for their old home in Scotland. Despite this, the twins are still peppery, proud, practical and able workers, and put in all their efforts to prove to Sir Topham Hatt that they're really useful engines.
That morning at Tidmouth Hault, Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas were sleeping in a shed off on a siding by the station hault. Donald was the first to wake up, along with his brother Douglas. They gazed with half sleepy eyes through the shed's panoramic view at the rising sun and it's calming, warm shine beaming on the Island. Both engines yawned and rolled out to get a drink at one of the water towers. Donald and Douglas had found themselves a turn table and used it to face their sheds tenders first as they rolled back in next to Oliver and Duck, who soon awoke after they arrived and got themselves a drink by the towers next.
"Good morning, everyone!" Duck said, cheerfully.
The three engines said their good mornings. Everyone was excited for today; some more than others, but still ready for the day a head of them.
"Best fill up with as much coal and water as you can. Today's the day we start our summer job switch."
"I'll tell you what, Duck," Oliver yawed, "I haven't got a wink of sleep last night while thinking about what jobs I could be getting."
"It is rather exciting, isn't it? Though I'd never dream of parting with my branchline, having work outside of usual tasks will give us a nice change of pace."
"What about you two?" Oliver asked the twins. "What do you think you'll be doing today?"
"I don't know, Oliver," Douglas yawned. "Probably the usual; haul a goods train, or passengers."
"Carryin' stone, shunt some Troublesome Trucks, haul a goods train," Donald continued.
"That's what I juist said, Donnie."
"Which one?"
"Hauling goods."
"I dinnae hear you say so," Donald said, pompusly.
"Well, I did. Ye see what we're gettin' at? It's all the work we ever dae when we're no' plowin' snow in the winter."
"Come on, now," Oliver chuckled. "This is going to be fun. Surely there must be something you're both looking forward to?"
"Me an' Doggie get different jobs all the time, Oliver," Donald said. "We are excited, true, but I cannae see what makes this event so special."
"Haven't you ever thought about what it would be like to pull coaches down different branchlines, or deliver goods to a far away land, or carry special cargo to a special celebration?"
The two engines looked at each other then repeated in unison.
"Nae really."
Oliver looked downcast. "Oh."
"We've been and done most of all that," Donald said. "There's nothin' else that we dinnae already dae countless times before."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that," Duck commented. "Perhaps Sir Topham Hatt will find a job the both of you haven't done yet this time around."
"I doot it, Duck," Douglas said. "The best he cod' dae is have us work on a different railway. But the jobs would still be the same either way."
"Is true." Donald sighed, "Same old, same old."
"Then again," Douglas mentioned, cheekily, "Even though weel be doing the same work, it would be proper fun tae see Gordon pull waist trucks for once."
Donald chuckled. "Aye. Or have James workin' in the quarry. Now that would be a splendid sight in deed."
"It sure would. Or have Duck pull the Flying Kipper!" Oliver joined in while chuckling.
"Oh I don't think I'd involve myself with that train again," Duck said. "Not unless I absolutely have to."
"Still got some fish suck doon yer funnel from last time, dae we Duck?" Donald teased, playfully.
"Well I wouldn't say that. But now that you mentioned it, I do seem to spot a bit of hay jammed between your coupling rods there Donald."
"Wha-! Where?!"
"Ha-ha! He made ye look!" Douglas called.
The four engines laughed until Sir Topham Hatt arrived in his blue car and approached the sheds.
Donald, Douglas, Duck and Oliver headed back into the sheds to receive their orders.
"Good morning, everyone. I see you're all up and about for the new day."
"We are, Sir," Oliver said. "And ready to receive our duties."
"Ah, excellent! As I'm sure you all know, today's the day I start handing out different jobs for engines to do for the rest of the summer. Each of you will have more than enough time to receive a job you've always wanted to try, and a chance to show how really useful you are even when working outside your comfort zone."
Donald and Douglas shared a glance, knowing the unlikely hood of that actually happening. Given how they've just about done almost every job they were built too do, there wasn't much in terms of work that they were eager to get, especially on Sodor, whom they've proudly come to call their new home despite some of the tedious work that have. Regardless, Donald and Douglas were still determined to show Sir Topham Hatt that they're still very hard workers.
"It's like I've been saying earlier, Sir," Duck said, proudly, "Any work outside of usual tasks will be a welcomed change for us. Whatever job we're given, we will get it done promptly and on time!"
"Don't say there are only two ways! Don't say there are only two ways!" Oliver repeated to himself.
Duck cleared his throat. "You see, there are only two ways of doing things. The Great Western way, or the wrong way."
Oliver groaned.
"Ah, glad to hear it, Duck! Err… Again." Sir Topham Hatt continued. "Now, let's get started. I've got other engines who are patiently waiting for their assignments for the day, so let's not dilly dally any further and get this show on the rail."
"Yes, Sir!" The four engines repeated happily.
And so, Sir Topham Hatt began giving his orders, starting with giving Duck the job of working at the Dock with Salty. Next, he gave Oliver the job of pulling Duck's Slip Coaches. Duck volunteered to instruct him on the proper way of pulling slip coaches before starting his day at the Brendam Docks, to which Oliver was grateful for. Even though he wouldn't be working with his brakevan Toad, Oliver was eager to carry passengers along the Little western again. And Duck was more than willing to get started at the Docks right after he's done instructing Oliver on the Great Western way of pulling Slip Coaches, an aspect of Duck's assistance Oliver wasn't entity looking forward too. While Sir Topham Hatt gave his orders to Duck and Oliver, Donald and Douglas were whispering to each other.
"There's nae way we've really done everythin' on Sodor, have we Doggie?" Donald asked.
"I'd say so, Donald. Feels like it at least."
"Hmm. But we never really pull any branchline coaches or delivered special guids to a far away land."
"We did dae a similar guids run when Lord Callen's Castle reopened. Remember that?"
"Oh, aye, at the famous Black Loch." Donald exhaled a relaxed sigh. "Now if there be anywhere we can work without feelin' fatigue, that would be a guid place to start."
"I agree, Donnie. Guess there really is somethin' we're lookin' forward tae after all. But let's no' go gettin' a head of ourselves juist yet, eh?"
"Donald & Douglas." Sir Topham Hatt turned his attention to the twins.
"Y-y-yes, Sir," The twins said nervously.
"I have a very special job for the two of you."
"Ye do?" Donald asked.
"Since you've both been well behaved for an entire month, I thought it best to treat you with something I know you'll greatly appreciate. This job will last a little longer than most tasks I've given other engines, and it's sure to keep you both extra busy until I see fit to give you another job."
"It will?" Douglas said. "What kinda job would that be then, Sir?"
"You'll be happy to hear that I've spoken with Lord Callen, and he's agreed to let you both work for him on the Misty Valley Branchline!"
The twins gasped excitedly, "The Misty Valley Branchline!"
Duck and Oliver also repeated what they said in shock.
"Yes, that's what I believe I said."
"Do you really mean it, Sir?!" Donald said.
Sir Topham Hatt smiled, "Why of course I do, Donald. Working on Misty Valley under Lord Callan's guidance is a great honor, and I can't think of anyone more fit to undertake this responsibility than two of my hardest working engines."
Donald and Douglas grinned as Sir Topham Hatt continued.
"You'll be in charge of running the line near his estate at Castle Loch. And Lord Callen will be keeping you both working hard whenever I'm not around to oversee how you're holding up."
"Did ye hear that, Doggie!"
"I sure did, Donnie!"
"We're goin' to be workin' at Castle Loch!" Both said in unison.
Sir Topham Hatt chuckled. "Alright, now. Settle down you two. I'm glad you're all eager, but this is still a very big responsibility, which means you'll both have to work just as hard as usual to keep things running smoothly and on time."
"Of course, Sir," Donald said, excitedly. "This is exactly what me an' me brother needed."
"Workin' at Castle Loch will feel like bein' back home again," Douglas also said.
"And it's exactly why I thought it suited you best, Donald and Douglas. That being said, make sure you listen to Lord Callan and see to it that Misty Valley is running safely. So, I expect the two of you to be on your best behavior."
"We will, Sir!" They said.
"Very good. Now, you all have your task for the day. Duck and Oliver, check back with me as soon as you've finished your own jobs."
Both engines agreed. Then Sir Topham Hatt walked off to his car while waving back at the four engines.
"Have a good day, now!"
The engines blew their whistles until Sir Topham Hatt was no longer in the yards.
The engines waited for their fireboxes to be filled and burning enough steam before they could take off. In the meantime, Duck and Oliver had a few questions about Castle Loch, and why Donald and Douglas were happy to be working there despite some rumors surrounding the estate. Seeing how the Twins now had something exciting to do for the summer event, however, Duck and Oliver were happy for Donald and Douglas.
"Looks like you both found a job to get excited for after all," Oliver said.
"Aye, Oliver," Douglas said. "That's wha' me and Donnie have juist been sayin' to each other."
"We've delivered guids to Lord Callan's Castle once before," Donald said. "But now he's lettin' us run the branchline!"
"This will be really excitin'!"
"I'm surprised you're both eager to go back to Callan Castle considering the accident you ran into last time," Duck said.
"Ye mean the landslide?" Donald boasted. "That wee accident was nothin'. It was juist in the wrang place at the wrang time."
"What about… the Loch Ness Monster?" Oliver asked, ominously. "Didn't you two see it on your way to the Castle?"
"Och, there was no actual monster, Oliver," Douglas said. "It was juist Harvey and the Brakedown Crane emerging from all the mist that we saw."
"Ye thought there was an actual monster for a second though, dinnae ye Douglas," Donald teased.
"No, I dinnae. I knew it was really Harvey all along."
Donald chuckled. "Sure, ye did."
"But, I did."
"Dinnae."
"I did!"
"Dinnae!"
"I did!"
"Dinnae!"
"Well, dinna act like ye dinnae thought Nessie was real either, Donnie."
"Yer oot the windae, Douglas? A'd know a monster when ah see one. An' A'd never make such a silly mistake."
"Ye were the first one to point it out when we saw Harvey an' the crane on the causeway."
"Ye screamed first, more like. Luckily I was there to protect ye while ye weres wailing."
"I din-" Douglas was getting fumed. "You did nae such thing!"
"I did though."
"Dinnae."
"I did."
"Dinnae!"
"I did!"
Confused, Duck and Oliver looked at each other before speaking up.
"So, did you see an actual monster or not?" Oliver asked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Oliver," Duck said, snickering a little. "There's no such thing as monsters. It's just like Douglas said; The monster they saw at Castle Loch was only a silly silhouette."
"Aye," Donald said, then thought of something cheeky. "The real monster is still lurkin' in the depths of Black Loch somewhere, waitin' to gobble up the first engine she finds puffin' down the old causeway."
Duck didn't react much, but Oliver shivered from boiler to dome.
"B-but, there's just one thing that doesn't make sense," Oliver pondered. "What would the Loch Ness Monster be doing on Sodor? Doesn't it live in Scotland?"
"It does in deed, Oliver. Further proof that the monster is nae on this Island," Douglas argued.
"Scotland's no' that far away, Lad," Donald said. "Maybe the muckle beast swarm its way here somehow."
Douglas laughed. "Awa' n bile yer heid, Donald. We already know there's really nae monsters at the Castle's lake."
"What else do you two know about the Monster?" Oliver asked, intrigued.
"Well, seeing how we're still on this silly topic," Duck said. "Seems right to tell us more about our good friend Nessie."
"Oh, aye," Douglas said. "Juist because we're from Scotland means we know everythin' about the Loch Ness Monster, is that it?"
Duck and Oliver shared a glance, blinked, then stared back at the Twins. The Twins do the same, before Douglas lets out an annoyed scoff.
"Legend tells of a sea creature with glowin', immense eyes, a long neck, and dark gray scales thick enough tae brace the deepest depths and coldest of weathers. It swims faster than a speedin' train, eats more fish than an engine can burn through its coal an' water, and it's size towers even the biggest ships ye can find!" Douglas continued. "Many pictures have been taken of the creature swimming by the lakes of Loch Ness by the Scottish Highlands, only for the public to find out they were all fake photographs. The reason bein' for those fake photos, is because nobody has ever laid eyes on the creature. But, some may say, should you stand before the monster itself, there be no escapin' from its mighty wrath!"
"Is Nessie really that dangerous?" Oliver asked.
"Nonsense, Oliver," Douglas chuckled. "I only made some of that up. I doot a monster like Nessie can be that dangerous."
"Tell that tae the old lighthouse keepers who had their own run in with the monster," Donald said.
"What? What dae ye mean, Donald?"
"And what happened to the Lighthouse Keepers?" Oliver asked.
"Oh, bother," Duck rolled his eyes and smirked.
The twins went on with Donald joining in and telling the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, albeit a little exaggerated from their perspectives.
"Tis was a fateful night when two keepers were minding a remote lighthouse. Their job was to make sure ships from far out into the foggy ocean were kept safe from crashin' intae rocks and islands by alertin' them with the tower's bright light and a boomin' fog horn. Then, a strange howl similar tae their fog horn came from nowhere and grew louder and louder the closer it go'. And then, a creature with a long neck emerged from beneath he blanket of waters and swam towards the tower, attracted to the same anguished cry of the fog horn!"
Oliver gasped. "What did the monster do?"
"They tore doon the buildin', o' course! After they shut off the fog horn, Nessie was furious, thinkin' she had finally found another of her kind when really is was juist a man-made apparatus. Sae, she crumbled the building under her own weight out of anger while cryin' the same lonely howl that brought her tae the tower tae begin with. Luckily, the two Fog Men were no' hurt. But, the damaged left behind had the Keepers and many who passed the story on askin' the same question; what could've caused that tower tae take a tummel like it did? The obvious answer bein'; the Loch Ness Monster!"
The engines shivered. But despite the chilling story, they mostly didn't buy into it, and had a lot more questions than before.
"Hold on just a second," Duck challenged. "I thought nobody has ever seen the monster with their own eyes?"
"They dinnae see the monster," Donald said. "All they heard were a loud, lonely cry, and two piercing eyes brighter than the lighthouse they stood in."
"Och, c'moan, Donald," Douglas said. "Now yer juist haverin' at this point."
"I'm no' haverin', Douglas! How could a tower just crummel underneath them like that then; with glowing eyes and a shrieking cry no less?"
"It was probably a tornado of some kind. The buildin' was old anyways. Any wee storm could've knocked that tower down no bother."
"Plus, the story has been passed down a lot," Duck imputed. "It's very likely that some people added their own spin to it as time went on."
"Aye," Douglas chuckled, "Juist like Donnie did not a moment ago."
Donald was agitated while Douglas and eventually Duck continued laughing.
"Well, that was still a pretty fun story though, Donald," Oliver said, trying to cheer him up.
"In deed it was," Duck said. "And as fun as this was, it's about time we start getting to work. Oliver, let's fetch you those Slip Coaches."
The two engines then left the shed. Douglas followed after until he noticed Donald wasn't by his side. He stopped and revered back into the sheds to find Donald still in his spot and looking rather disparaged.
"What's gotten you doon, Donnie?" Douglas asked. "Yer no' upset about the story, are ye?"
"Why did ye say I made up, Douglas?"
"Because that's what it is, Donald. It's juist a fun silly fairy tale to share with friends. I dinnae mean tae say it was all yer doin' if that's what's upsettin' ye."
"But what if it is real, Douglas? Stories have to come from somewhere. Only somethin' as big a legend as the Loch Ness Monster could've conducted such a tale."
"Actually, tis really easy tae make somethin' up. Juist ask Salty. How many stories has that ol' sea shanty told that turned out tae be false, eh?"
Donald didn't answer. He looked back at his brother away with downcast eyes. Douglas could see he was upset and began feeling bad for his brother. He truly believed the old legend could be real.
"Ah, Donnie. I'm sorry for teasin' ye before. But, there really is nae monster. There wasn't before we thought we seen one and there isn't one out in the lake now."
But this only upsetted Donald more. He had hoped his brother would've at least supported him. Douglas tried changing the subject, seeing his reassurance was doing no such thing.
"How aboot we forget all this nonsense and heed on doon to Castle Loch. Maybe our first job from Lord Callan will cheer ye up."
Donald tried to chipper up again and allowed a warm smile.
"I'd like that very much, actually."
"That's more like it! Now, let's go an' make the best of our new summer!"
Blowing their deep-toned whistles, the Twins left the sheds at Tidmouth Hault and set off to Callan Castle.
On their way to the Castle, Donald and Douglas puffed along the coast of Misty Valley's Black Loch Lake. The line they chuffed down was riddled with old, mossy, and bushy pine trees planted above a slope beside the railway track and lake. They passed by a few old folly towers also situated near the river and points that led into a thick pathway of trees. Some canoes and washed up junk laid along the rocky shores by the tracks. The blackish cyan lake itself was dark, silent, tranquil, and shined in the sunlight. Not even the bustling wind could barely ripple the water, nor was there any sign of fish occupying the empty depths below.
Soon, the twins could see none other than Lord Callan's Castle In the far distance across the lake.
"We're almost there, Donnie," Douglas called. "Wilnae be long now."
Keeping up with his brother, Donald then applied his brakes and came to an immediate stop upon hearing a strange, soothing cry. He listened intently for the noise again, and heard an echoing howl that sent a flock of birds resting in the trees to fly away. Douglas heard his brother coming to a halt and does the same, reversing back towards Donald to check up on him.
"Did ye hear that, Douglas?" He asked, frantically looking around.
"Hear what, Donald?"
"That noise."
"Ye mean the birds?"
"No! No' the birds! That strange noise juist now. It sounded almost like a whale."
"A whale?!" Douglas snickered. "Donald! There wouldnae be a whale all the way out in these watters. Is probably the wind, an' that silly story playin' tricks on ye."
But Donald wasn't so sure though. "I know what I heard, Douglas. An' it sounded more than juist a whale. Ah think it might be,"
"Alright, alright. Maybe it is the monster after all, eh?" Douglas teased with a light chuckle. "Now c'moan, we dinna want tae be late for work. Sir Topham Hatt is countin' on us to be on our best behavior."
Donald was a bit cross over Douglas' teasing. He could've sworn he heard the same cry again right as Douglas blew his deep-toned whistle upon setting off down the tracks. Donald looked down at the now rippling waters washing up on the rocky shores. Mixed between nervousness and curiosity, he blew his whistle and took off to catch up with Douglas.
To Be Continued.