//------------------------------//
// Little Western 
// Story: Thomas and Friends: The Retold Adventures 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

Douglas and Bon-Bon returned to Tidmouth shed just in time to see Flying Scotsman and Spitfire take their enthusiasts home to the mainland. Sir Toppham Hatt stepped forward to deliver a speech.

"Flying Scotsman, Spitfire," he said, "I would like to thank you for visiting the North Western Railway and for helping us out. Send my thanks to the National Railway Museum for their superb and stellar work, and tell everybody that, not matter what may happen in the rest of Britain, or indeed the rest of the world, steam locomotives will always have a home here, and will always be hard at work. This island shall always welcome those who wish to see proper engines hard at work, doing what they were built to do."

There was a great chorus of whistles and cheers as Flying Scotsman pulled away, sounding his whistle. As he pulled away, the station sounded to strains of 'Will ye No' come Back Again?', led, as you'd probably expect, by Donald, Douglas, Lyra and Bon-Bon.

The coast was clear, and once Sir Toppham Hatt was out of earshot, Douglas began to tell his tale. He left no detail out, and when he had finished, the others agreed something must be done for both Oliver and Scootaloo.

"I fear," Douglas said gravely, "some diesel may creep onto our railway and see him there, lackin' steam, and drag him away without any way to whistle!"

"Not to mention the social services are probably chasing Scootaloo," Bon-Bon added. "If we can't get her to a new family, she'll be sent straight back to that orphanage in the West Country."

"Obviously," said James, "Oliver will not be safe until Sir Toppham Hatt knows of him and can take appropriate action."

"And of course Scootaloo will need some protection," Rarity added. "I've heard all sorts of horror stories about the foster care system back on the mainland, and I wouldn't wish such a fate on my worst enemy!"

"I would suggest Douglas tell him," Gordon sighed. "He was the one who rescued them, and so is the best placed to explain the situation."

"Ye wanna me ta speak to Sir Toppham Hatt?" Douglas asked. "He'd think me the interfering sort! You remember how badly he reacted to the Depastution a few months back!"

"Do you mean Deputation?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It took us ages to try and figure out what Percy was talking about."

"What's going on?" asked the voice of Sir Toppham Hatt, as he walked back onto the platform. He had a hand over his ear. "What's all the noise? I can barely hear my mother on the telephone!"

Duck, who had arrived with some coaches from Arlesburgh, and had heard the entire conversation, chose to break the awkward silence. "Begging your pardon sir, but we do need another engine, and another engine would be the proper way to do things. After all, there's the Great Western way and-"

"Yes, yes, thank you Duck," Sir Toppham Hatt said quickly. "That is why I have chosen to keep D7101 in service on the Island."

The faces of all the engines and their crews fell. Their faces showed such dismay that Sir Toppham Hatt had difficulty with his own. "Is something the matter?"

"Sir," said Gordon sadly, "we had rather hoped for a proper engine. A steam engine."

"They," Sir Toppham Hatt told him, "are rare indeed. And unless one escapes here, there is little hope of acquiring one in the current climate."

"But sir!" Douglas said. "One has escaped."

"And his driver too!" Bon-Bon added.

"Yes indeed," Sir Toppham Hatt smiled. "And thanks to you two, Oliver is now at Crovan's Gate works being mended." He looked behind him. "Mr Shutter! Mrs Allgood! Would you kindly come forward?"

Two other people then came forward, one of them the previously discussed Mr Shutter, still dressed in a boilersuit and with a face covered in soot. The other person, a woman, had orange skin and cream hair, and was wearing a green collared shirt and khaki pants, topped off with brown boots.

"Hello mates!" called Mr Shutter. "I imagine you chaps know me from the works!"

"I run the tea shop here," the woman, presumably Mrs Allgood, added. "It's a nice change from wrestling crocodiles in Australia, let me tell you!"

"Mr Shutter found Scootaloo on Oliver's footplate, and she explained all that had happened. Would you mind coming forward?" Sir Toppham Hatt asked.

Scootaloo then appeared, looking as dishevelled and messy as yesterday, the others looking over in shock and gasping. "Good grief!" Rarity exclaimed. "Just look at her!"

Apple Bloom was so stunned at the sight that she couldn't say a word. 

So Mrs Allgood broke the silence instead. "Scootaloo, or would you prefer Lucy?"

"Scootaloo," the girl replied. "I never knew my parents, and the name never suited me anyway."

Mrs Allgood continued. "I heard your story and it touched me greatly. Me and my husband have always wanted to be parents, but sadly I cannot have children."

"And?"

"What we're saying," said Mr Shutter, "is we'd like to adopt you as our daughter, if that's what you want."

It took Scootaloo a second to process the words. Then she sprinted across the platform and took him in a tackle hug. "How could I say no? Yes, yes, and yes again!"

The engines whistled, and their crews cheered. Sir Toppham Hatt then spoke up. "When Oliver is fixed, I'm offering you the position of his driver. Would you like to take it?"

Scootaloo, still wrapped in a hug with her by now parents, nodded happily. "This is the best day of my life," she whispered, her face in a smile.

"And it's only gonna get better," Mrs Allgood added.

Once they had broken from the hug, Rarity walked over. "Scootaloo," she said, "I must say that your clothes are not in the best shape. I hereby offer to make you some new ones."

"I don't have any money," Scootaloo replied.

"Oh, nonsense, nonsense!" the fashionista replied. "I would do it for nothing. Besides, I think Sweetie Belle would love to meet you!"

"On that note," Apple Bloom added, "Ah'd love ta be yer friend. There's one big school on the island, in Knapford, and me and Sweetie Belle go there. So you'd be welcome there too!"

Douglas smiled as he saw the scene in front of him. "We have brought happiness," he said, "and probably made things better too."

"Indeed," said Sir Toppham Hatt. "Oliver, Isabel, and Toad are exactly what we need for the Arlesburgh branch line, and Toad has already asked to be your brake van."

"I'd hoped for that," Douglas smiled, "and he and I will do brawly together."

"Floreat Vapor!" shouted Stepney, who had shuffled into the platform nearby.

"FLOREAT VAPOR!" everybody echoed.



D7101 returned to service on the Island a few days later. Henry and Fluttershy put in a good word for him, and the others commended him too. His natural politeness, and the friendliness of his driver, Shining Armour, certainly helped to endear him to the Islanders, and he cuts a fine figure in British Railways two tone green with late crest. The other engines teased him at first because of his engine noise, and said he sounds like a bear. However, the name sort of stuck, although his real name is Atherton. He prefers Bear though, as he feels it suits him better. "Having a name," he says, "means you truly belong."

Oliver, Isabel, and Toad were soon restored to British Railways livery; lined green for Oliver, and deep maroon for Isabel. Toad was painted grey. Not long after, three more Auto-coaches were purchased. Two, named Alice and Mirabel, were given to Duck. The third, Dulcie, joined Oliver and Isabel. The two engines, supplemented by Stepney, as well as their drivers Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle, run a superb service and keep the Arlesburgh line running. It became known as the 'Little Western' eventually, and the name stuck.

Meanwhile, those three girls have become very close indeed, and have formed a group. They call themselves the Cumbrian Mountain Crusaders, or CMC for short. I wonder if it will ever catch on?