//------------------------------//
// 6. Douglas & The Monster 
// Story: Agents of S.M.I.L.E: Otherworldly Recruits 
// by LPFanFic 
//------------------------------//


Agents of S.M.I.L.E.
Otherworldly Recruits


6 – Douglas & The Monster

Last night, Donald and Douglas got into quite the feud over the Loch Ness Monster. Donald claimed to have seen it while Douglas felt he only imagined it. Douglas' teasing angered Donald, as he was hoping his bother would believe him, so he could introduce him to the creature herself. But he didn't, and it was because of this Donald continued holding his grudge against Douglas even throughout the next morning.





After a little trip to the Causeway, Donald joined his brother and Lord Callan at Castle Loch, much to both their disliking. Lord Callan assigned them the job of hauling trucks loaded with goods. Donald was coupled to the front and Douglas at the back engine. The Twins puffed down the Mainline with their trucks, but neither engine said a word to each other. Donald was not in the mood to talk after Douglas told him he only imagined seeing Nessie, when in fact the creature Donald met was all too real. What frustrated Donald more other than his teasing what his brother not even giving him a chance or go with him to the Causeway and see for himself.

Douglas knew he had to say something. Despite how ridiculous the whole Loch Ness Monster story sounded, he had to look pass all that in order to level with his brother. Otherwise, their small argument will only get more ridiculous with each passing day. Still chuffing down the line, Douglas made the first move and spoke first.

"You know, Donnie. Aboot last night."

"Hah!" Donald scuffed. "Now ye want me listenin' tae you; after no' even hearin' me out? Sorry, but I'm no' interested anythin' ye have tae say."

Douglas was insulted but continued reaching out to him.

"I was wrong tae make fun ae you. If ye really did see somethin' out there, then who am I tae say you didnae?"

"I did see something, an' it was the Loch Ness Monster. No' that you believe me."

"All I'm sayin' is, maybe ye did see the monster. An' juist because I haven't seen it, doesn't mean you haven't either."

Donald grew slightly intrigued. Douglas did sound sincere at least.

"You really think that, Doogie?"

"Of course," Douglas smiled, warmly. "Its no wonder since that seems tae be the only thing on yer mind. Now let's get a move on."

The Twins approached Gordon's Hill and began climbing the steep grade. Douglas put all his strength into pushing their train up the hill. Donald was all riled up and hauled the train without even feeling any strain despite their red faces. Donald thought about everything his brother said. And even though Douglas did seem to believe him now, Donald still sensed something off.

"Does that mean you'll come with me tae the Causeway?"

"Wein Wheesht!" He chuckled. "Juist 'cause I'm takin' ye word aboot the Monster, that disnae mean I'll take any part in it."

"Then what's the point ae you believin' me if ye wilnae see Nessie for yourself?"

"Sae we can both stop this silly fight and get back tae work."

Finally, Donald had enough of Douglas.

"Ohhh! Sae that's what this all is? You juist want me tae stop takin' aboot Nessie!"

"Donald!"

"Well fine! If ye wilnae believe me, then I'll juist find someone else who will."

"Och, go a head. They'll probably think yer as crazy as I do."

"I should've known you'd still think I was makin' it up. An' tae think I was actually hopin' fer a second there that ye'd come around."

"Oh aye! Because you're no' the one whos needin' tae keep their wheels where the tracks are!"

Donald had more to say as he reached the very tip of Gordon's hill and applied his brakes, stopping in preparation for their journey down to the steep slope.

"Ugh! Well you!"

But then, Donald stopped talking.





A sudden dizziness soon swept over him. His eyes felt heavy, and his words kept stuttering.

"I what?!" Douglas yelled. "Go on, then! Finnish what ye was gonna say! I'm listening."

Donald couldn't respond though. His vision began to blur, his boiler ached an excruciating pain, and his steam hissed an unnerving noise. Douglas pouted after not hearing a response, thinking his brother went back to ignoring him again. He went back to pushing the train, but found the load heavier than it was when both engines were pulling them. Douglas realized then that Donald wasn't pulling the train anymore and remained parked on top of Gordon's Hill.

"C'mon, Donald!" He called. "Ye cannae stay up there sulkin' all day!"

But Donald wasn't sulking. Something else was at work. It was then that the black livery on Donald's tender began turning a dark shade of brown that manifested from his tender, and slowly spread all through out the rest of his tender, covering him in a rust like shade that chipped away his paint work to reveal the bare, metal surface that also rusted away with his whole being. Douglas, unable to see from the far back, had enough of Donald himself and strained to get the train over the hill.

"You are unbelievable sometimes, ye know that?!" Douglas complained.

Donald's brakes soon rusted away under the dark shadow as well. With his brakes gone, the weight of a weary Donald slipped a head and carried himself down the hill; In turn dragging the train of trucks and Douglas towards the summit. Douglas felt the tug of the trucks pull him up and saw over the train that the trucks were descending the hill a little too fast.

"Uh, oh-okay, Donald!" He called. "That's enough. I think we're all,"

But before Douglas could say any more, he found himself and the goods train being jerked aggressively to the peak. Douglas didn't know what was going on, until he reached the very top at a very fast hast.

"Donald! What are you doin'? Whahhh!"

Now Douglas was frightened, as he, the goods train, and his brother reach the other side and speed all the way down the long slope of Gordon's hill to the very bottom. The trucks rattled and shook over a screaming Douglas as they thundered along the tracks. But at this rate, Donald wouldn't stop. He kept speeding through the Mainline even after they reached the bottom. His number nine emblem was already gone by the time the dark shadow manifested from his smokebox and was now spreading over to the rest of his boiler.

"Stop, Donnie! Stop!"

But Donald wouldn't stop. His boiler ached to no end and his eyes were close to collapsing. His vision fogged up, and he could barely see what was in front of him or hear the sound of his own wheels rattling down the tracks.

"Ye gonna make us crash! I cannae stop this train on me own!"

The dark shadow tore away all the paint off his entire tender. Donald couldn't keep his eyes open much longer, and was just about to close them over the muffling of Douglas' cries echoing around him. Through all the chaos and commotion, it wasn't long until even Douglas started feeling dizzy. His eyes couldn't stay awake and his boiler was in great pain.

Suddenly, as if by some miracle, the dark shadow stopped tearing away Donald's being, and began repairing the paint and metal surface all over. From his tender to his boiler, to his smokebox and cab roof, followed by his number nine emblem. Just as his eyes shut, everywhere on Donald was now back in shape, including his brakes. Awaking with a hefty exhale, Donald frantically searched and made bare of his surroundings. It was Douglas' turn to have the paint on his tender chip away from the dark shadow as he was close to passing out himself.

There was worse to come. A head of Donald was a round bend that curved to his left. It was just sharp enough for any speeding engine to come off the rails. Panicking, Donald applied his brakes to stop the train. But it was too late, as Donald veered around the bend. Skidding and dangling off the rails, he soon found himself flying off the tracks and crashing with a loud bang onto the small, field of grass. He slid sideways across the dirt, taking a few trucks off with him, until Donald landed with a thud against a forest of trees that stopped him in his place. Luckily no one was hurt, all except Douglas, who continued groaning in pain as the dark shadow continued eating away his being.

"Doogie!" Donald cried, coughing out pieces of earth. "Doogie!"

As minutes went by, Donald began to worry. Douglas didn't say anything or moved even an inch. The shadow spread slower and slower, barely managing to chip away his tender. It was then that the dark shadow finally stopped and repaired Douglas' entire being, as well as waking him from his near comatose state. Snapping back to consciousness, Douglas exhaled and noticed what had happened to him and his train.

Four trucks came off the rails with his brother. Crates of goods spilled and laid everywhere. Only four tucks remained on the tracks and coupled up to Douglas still. Donald was alerted to the hissing steam.

"Douglas?" He said. "Douglas! Are you alright?!

Remembering how this all started, Douglas gritted his teeth in anger. Ignoring him was one thing, but putting the both of them in danger was another. Despite the hazy event, Douglas assumed this was all his brother's doing, as he was the one who dragged them all down the hill to begin with. But why? His brother was more sensible than this. He wouldn't do something this reckless, not if he was trying to prove some point. Douglas soon puffed up towards Donald, lying down flat in the dirt and grass, while pushing his load of trucks.

"Over here, man!"

Douglas was glad to see Donald wasn't badly banged, a few scuffs and mounds of dirt stuck between his wheels, but he was furious none the less. Donald was surprised at first to see his brother appear not so relieved, but angry.

"What be that then, Donnie?" He said, pulling up close to Donald. "Yah nearly took me doun with ye this time."

Then Donald remembered how this accident occurred and scoffed in response to his brother's typical nagging behavior.

"What are ye on aboot now?"

"Ye weren't lookin where you're goin' is what am sayin'. You've gone and thrown yourself off the line again."

James the Red Engines had just passed by to see the damage, as well as their bickering, before taking off again to find a new job.

"Me eyes started gettin' fuzzy," Donald explaned. "I cod see the bend ahead a me. Is not my fault. You should've applied the brakes to stop me."

"You didnae even try tae stop yourself," Douglas said. "Is as If ye be wantin' tae go off the tracks."

Donald gasped. "Is no'."

"Is."

"Is No'."

"Is!"

"IS NO'!"

"IS!"

"IS NO'!"

"IS!"

"Fellas, fella!" called a voice. "Let's settle down a little, eh?"

It was Rocky, along with Harvey the crane engine who came rolling up next to their train. The Twins were relieved to see them arriving on time.

"Don't you worry," Rocky assured. "We'll have you both out of this mess and get Donald straight to the Steamworks."





After a while, the mess was all cleared and the trucks were now back on the rails. Rocky was in the process of lifting Donald onto his flatbed when the two twins went off on their bickering again.

"Toch you tae accuse me ae causin' this accident," Donald remarked. "When it was you who didnae stop me from comin' off the tracks tae begin with!"

"I didnae see you stop yourself from when we were speedin' doun the hill, now did you?"

"I told you! I felt this grievin' pain all over me. I wasnae in control of me actions a moment there!"

"An' the next thing ye know, you'll be seeing monsters in the Castle lakes."

"Ach, there ye go again! Never believin' anything I says. It's a wonder if what I'm sayin' right now is even true tae ye at all."

"Och, wein wheesht! If ye weren't so puffed up in ye funnel over this Loch Ness Monster, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Rocky successfully loaded Donald and his tender onto his flatbed.

"We wouldn't be in this mess if you'd juist listen tae me and see Nessie for yourself! Juist take one look doun at the Causeway. That's all I asked. But yous think it's more important tae be right."

"Nae true! Tis you who always have tae be right aboot everythin'."

"All ready, Harvey!" Rocky called.

"Aye," Donald snooted. "Get me away from my 'Nae Monster' brother. He can manage this lot without me."

Douglas shot him a nasty glare. Rocky and Harvey could sense their tension all too well.

"Em, not to worry, Donald," Harvey said. "Victor will have you cleaned and fixed up before the days end. Eh, you know, on top of everyone else who've been flying off the rails lately."

"When are ye gonna put all this Monster business behind ye, Donnie?" Douglas asked, in frustration. "I've had aboot enough of it already."

"Sae have I," He sighed, dejectedly.

Douglas raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"I trusted you, Douglas," Donald said, sincerely. "I thought we could tell each other anythin', that you'd at least hear me out. That's what a brother should dae. But ye couldn't even dae that! An' is all I wanted. Some brother you are."

Douglas was utterly shocked. "Wha-? Hey! Wait a minute!"

Sulking to himself, Donald shied away from Douglas as Harvey and Rocky carried him down the line and towards the Steamworks. Douglas watch until the train was no longer in sight.

He sighed unhappily. Donald must be serious after all if he just went and said all that to him. How could he say that? Douglas wanted to be mad, but also couldn't help but see some truth in his words, as well as Oliver's, both of which rifled through his thoughts. He haden't been the nicest to Donald since telling his story of the Loch Ness Monster. But how could he believe as something as outlandish as actually seeing it out in the wild? Regardless, Donald is his brother, and while telling each other everything isn't something they do often outside of how their day went, he still should've considered Donald's claims if only ease the worries he might have over what he really saw. Brothers are always there for each other, but Douglas hasn't really been very reliable in that sense.

If anything, to prove which of the two were right, perhaps a quick visit to the Causeway would provide some justification to their claims. Either Douglas was right and he sees no monster, or does and Donald ends up being right all along. As much as the thought of admitting Donald being right pained him, Douglas knew he had to do something to make up for the way he treated his brother. Getting an idea, Douglas blew his whistle and took off to deliver what remains of his goods train.





After finishing his delivery, Douglas made his way towards the Castle Loch Causeway. He rode through the forests of thick pine trees until finally reaching the Causeway itself. The water looked thick but bright with its cyan shade. How could one see anything in these waters?

Blowing his whistle, Douglas puffed slowly down the Causeway. But after blowing his whistle, the Causeway began to rumble a little. Douglas stopped in his tracks and nervously stared at the line a head of him. All was quiet again after the rumbling stopped.

He chuckled nervously. "M-maybe this isn't such a good idea. How could Donnie even make it across this path if its this unstable?"

But Douglas knew he couldn't face his brother again if he didn't take a look around. Blowing his whistle again, Douglas continued puffing down the Causeway, this time reaching the center. He tried looking everywhere for the Loch Ness Monster. He looked to his left, right, and peered deep within the lakes itself. But Douglas saw nothing. The rails rattled beneath him, and another rumble shook some stone off the path and into the water.

"Well!" He exasperated. "Looks like there's nae monster here! Better head back an' tell…"

A deep, echoing, unearthly wail startled Douglas in his wake. The sound was almost deafening, making the Causeway rattle and shake even faster over the blaring cry.

"D-Donald?" He stuttered.

Douglas looked out into the river on his left. The river rippled and splashed faster and faster. He was anxiously fixated on the moving, cerulean water obstructing the depths below. Douglas didn't know what to expect, but secretly hoped it was anything but a monster. Suddenly, two immense, glowing red eyes swam towards him at a hasty paste.

"Wha-wha-wha-what is that?!" Douglas cried.

Splashing out from the water was a creature of unspeakable proportions. Their long neck emerged with showers of water dripping from its head and neck, and their shadow overcasting much of Douglas' shocked face. It had a smooth head, a round, curved muzzle, and a thin neck. Much like his brother, Douglas was drenched in water, but couldn't care less over the sight he baffled to comprehended to no avail. Douglas had finally met his brother's new monster friend, the Loch Ness Monster, or Cale as he was first known. The plesiosaurus like creature cried out a relaxing call and stared admirably at Douglas.

"I… I don't believe it!" Douglas exclaimed. "It's Real! It really is real!"

Cale couldn't read his name plate or see his number ten emblem from where he's at. He assumed, because both are strikingly similar in shape, that this engine was his new friend Donald. Cale also saw that the Engine looked more unnerved than comfortable in his presence.

Confused, Cale leaned closer to Douglas in an attempt to lick him. But as the creature's head approached him, Douglas immediately took off back down the direction he came, all while screaming in horror as he reversed back towards the shore. Cale kept following Douglas, swimming along the Causeway with his head still moving closer to him. The engine leaving made Cale upset, who called out in an anxious cry the further away Douglas got. He didn't try to stop him though, as he was more worried about why this Donald lookalike was so afraid of him. Finally, still screaming in terror, Douglas made it back to the shores and away from the monster, who couldn't reach him anymore from the river.

Douglas kept chuffing backwards in a hurry until he looked to see the Monster's head still floating above the tracks leading to the Causeway. And to his confusion, the Monster didn't look frightening, but quite sad. Douglas applied his brakes and came to a halt. He stared at the monster, looking with downcast eyes at the tracks. He couldn't catch up to them from here, and this made him sad. What made Cale sadder still was seeing Douglas, mistaken for Donald, running away in fear when he believed they were becoming friends. Now he seemed to want nothing to do with him anymore.

Cale, struck with sadness, slowly leaned away from the tracks while wailing in a miserable cry. Douglas was surprised, but still muddled. This monster wasn't really that scary, especially seeing how broken up it looked after he ran away from them. And the soothing cries, which sounded more like actual crying, tugged at Douglas' boiler in a strange sense. Almost like he felt sorry for them. There weren't any teeth shown out to grab him during the 'escape', so they probably weren't out to eat him. Now that he was comprehending and taking in all the absurdity, Douglas was now starting to understand Donald's new monster friend.

If the Loch Ness Monster is what Donald claimed to be, then they really are a friendly. And if they're friendly, perhaps he could be friends with them too.

Just as Cale was about to dive back into the river and swim sadly away, he heard a deep-toned whistle and sounds of chuffing growing closer and closer to him. Emerging their head out from the water, Cale saw Douglas puffing back down the Causeway. He stopped just in the middle and anxiously gazed at his head peaking halfway in the water. Tilting his head, Cale then emerged fully from the river and examined Douglas' appearance.

"Um. H-Hello there, uh… Nessie," Douglas greeted, nervously.

Why was he introducing himself again? Cale looked and noticed his tender had a different pattern different to how Donald bared his number. It was then he realized this must be his brother Douglas. Cale's face suddenly turned red in embarrassed by the mix up.

"Um, everythin' alright there?" Douglas asked.

With that out of the way, Cale was now happy to have met Douglas after all the stories Donald told him. He arched his long next down closer to Douglas' face. Douglas prepared for the worst as he mumbled to himself.

"Please don't eat me! Please don't eat me! Please don't eat me!"

Instead of eating him, Cale came up and gave Douglas a lick on the face just as he does with Donald. Douglas frantically panicked at first until Cale finished and stared amusingly at him. He leaned back a little to meet Douglas eye to eye and made a quite echoing noise.

"Aw. You're no' such a bad monster after all, are you?" Remembering his fight with Donald, Douglas sighed dejectedly. "Donald Was right. Ohh… what have I done? He was countin' on me this whole time, an' I kept on shunnin' him out."

Sensing his dismay, Cale leaned in and rubbed his nose against' Douglas' face for comfort. Douglas felt strangely more relaxed and comfortable now. The Creature seems to know pretty well how an engine is feeling and try to respond the best they can.

"Thank you, Nessie. I guess Donald was also right in sayin' how friendly ye are. You sure know how tae warm up this engine's boiler."

Douglas now had a lot of questions. If this really is the Loch Ness Monster, then this was the golden opportunity to learn more about the legend itself. But not before getting to know the friendly creature first. Cale leaned back after he finished cozying Douglas and cried a soft, soothing call.

"Ah, that's right. You probably know a lot aboot me brother Donald I bet."

Cale then let out an echoing call that almost mimicked laughing. Douglas didn't know what he was doing until he caught on the basic pattern and deduced how similar it sounded to laughing.

"Hey!" Douglas smirked. "Are yous laughin' at me?"

He quickly remembered that Donald told him all about the two of them, including quite possibly some of the more embarrassing incidences. Cale made another noise that sounded happy. Douglas let out a small chuckle.

"I imagine me brother has shared a story or two that he found funny. But, is it true you can understand us?"

Cale nodded.

"Amazing!" Douglas pondered for a bit before speaking. "You know, I also head from a certain brother ae mine that you like stories?"

Cale nodded again, this time trying to crease his lips in a way to make a smile, which only mad Douglas chuckle after seeing it not turn out as great.

"Well then, dae I have a story or two aboot me and Donald for you!"

Intrigued, Cale leaned his neck down closer to Douglas who began telling some funny tales about him and Donald. An hour seemed to pass as Douglas found himself enjoying his little talk with this wondrous sea creature.

"He tired tae make it out that it was me who pushed him. I said 'you pulled me more like'. He was proper sulky all day!"

Cale echoed a sound to mimic laughter. Douglas himself laughed along with him.

"An' I'll tell you somethin' else aboot me brother."

As weird as this all was, Douglas was now making a new friend in the form of a legendary sea creature from another world, one that shares the same friendship with his brother Donald. The two continued laughing as Douglas went on telling Cale more stories about the two of them from his perspective, as well as little details Donald must've left out to avoid looking silly in front of Nessie.





To Be Continued.