Thomas & Equestria Girls 2:
Adventures From Sodor!
Chapter 31: You Can't Win
Diesel had found another track to switch onto and hurried after his runaway train of Troublesome Trucks after they sprung loose from his coupling atop Gordon's Hill. He finally arrived at Wellsworth Station, only to find half his train completely demolished. Workmen were cleaning up what was left of the big accident. Splintered wooden planks and bits of chassis laid everywhere, along with some of Diesel's goods splattered and squashed along the track. Some even splattered and dented Class 40 and most of his entire front section, primarily his once glistening, silver buffers now dented and bashed.
Wellsworth was in a state of confusion and delay. Some breakdown cranes were called in to lift Class 40 onto a flatbed and brought to the Dieselworks. This took up a lot of space, along with what was left of Diesel's goods train waiting to be picked up. Class 40 was not happy at all. Whoever caused this runaway destroyed his precious buffers. He began seething with rage when he spotted Diesel shunting into his goods train. Diesel tried to not give himself away, but Class 40 could see him clear as day, especially when the cranes dangled him above his tracks.
"YOU!" Class 40 cried. "This was your doing?!"
"It wasn't me!" Diesel protested. "Those silly trucks wouldn't stop misbehaving!"
"Look what you've done to me! My poor buffers will never shine the same way again! I'll have to get them…" He paused, dramatically. "Replaced!"
Diesel smiled, coyly. "Uhh, Oops?"
"No amount of polish and repair can bring out the same silvery sparkle. This is the end of my prime as I know it!"
Diesel didn't want to spend anymore time here than he has. He thought of an excuse to allude Class 40 and his aggressive threats; a rather half-baked, poor attempt to at least.
"You will pay for bringing this accursed calamity upon me, Diesel-"
"Oh, what's that, Mr. Gisborne?! You want me to stop fooling around and get back to work?!" He chuckled, nervously. "No problem, Sir! Always happy to be useful. Off I go!"
He tooted his horn and took off to finish his delivery, leaving Class 40 to wallow in his self-pity as he's lowered onto the flatbed. Class 40 looked around and saw Mr. Gisborne was nowhere in sight. No passengers on either station platform looked even remotely like Director Gisborne. Diesel only needed something to scuttled away from his wrath, which only added to Class 40's frustration.
After dropping off whats left of his goods train, Diesel went to find another job. He couldn't help but think about the Crystal Race again; how his teammates, the Shadowbolts, nearly had him kicked off for disassembling the Wondercolt's downhill karts. His lackluster skills were another added factor for their desire to remove him. He would've been out of the games for sure, but their principal issued they were too late to remove and replace members at this point. The Shadowbolts were stuck with Diesel whether anyone liked it or not.
He was still peeved at his teammates though. But it wasn't his impotent contribution to the Shadowbolts that concerned him. Thomas and the other steamies were a head of the Shadowbolts. Tomorrow's final event will determine the game's winner. Diesel scrambled to think of a clever scheme in order to win. But his last attempt nearly got him permanently kicked off. He had to be extra careful. But how could he beat the Wondercolts? How will Adagio respond if he ends up losing? She surely wouldn't grant him the honor of diesel leader then. No engines brought before her willingly, no bestowed hierarchy status to truly officiate his control over all his like-minded peers. Diesel's still singular motive was to make sure he at least earned what he's been after since the start.
Pulling into Harwick Station, Diesel saw Daisy the Diesel Railcar parked between two station platforms. This perked him up again as he parked along a platform next to her. Upon doing so, Diesel released a puff of black smoke from his exhaust. Some passengers were disembarking when Diesel's emissions began wafting the platform. This made them cough and wave the smoke away.
"I say," A passenger complained, "these confounded stations are just riddled with smog!"
"Honestly!" Another complained. "This has to fall under some kind of health hazard."
Diesel didn't pay much notice to this. He was just happy to speak with his friend Daisy, which was quite the opposite on her end upon noticing him.
"Hello, Daisy!" He greeted, happily.
"Oh," She responded, Apathetically. "Hello, Diesel."
"Isn't this Railway much nicer now with just us diesels working here? Who'd a thought we'd finally get our way, eh?"
"I suppose."
Daisy barely made contact and didn't sound interested in talking to him further. This confused Diesel.
"Um, everything alright, Daisy?"
"Oh, everything was fine until you pulled up."
"What does that mean?"
"It means my day is now ruined thanks to your bothersome presence."
A flabbergasted Diesel felt hurt. He didn't understand at first why Daisy was acting all mean towards him specifically. His face became red.
"B-bu-but I don't get it. You said we could be friends if I'm not being bumpy or rude. And I haven't done any of that… eh, not lately at least."
A while back, him and Daisy had a difficult time becoming friends. Ever since they patched up their differences, Diesel was under the assumption that they were both now good friends. But Daisy's boastful insults said otherwise.
"I am a highly sprung diesel railcar. Smooth and clean. You're just a smelly, old, ghastly diesel shunter. Vastly inferior, and dépassé by yours vraiment."
Everything she said struck a chord in the worst ways with each insult thrown at Diesel, despite not understanding half the words she used. Her unapologetic cold shoulder was enough to get the message across.
"Why would I ever be friends with such a dirty, roughhousing, and insignificant little engine like yourself; When being unique and oh so magnifique is all I ever need."
Daisy blew her horn at took off without saying another word. Not even a goodbye. Diesel was absolutely speechless. Most importantly, he was heartbroken. How could Daisy say those things? He knew this must've been Adagio's enchantment, but Diesel still thought somehow that him and Daisy would still be much closer friends when Sodor became theirs. It seemed Daisy didn't think the same. Despite his hurt feelings, Diesel wouldn't let her or any passenger know it.
"Oh yeah?! Well, f-fine! Who needs some stuck-up old railcar as a friend anyways?! I've got plenty of other friends who still respect me!"
Exhausting smoke out of anger, Diesel rode off, leaving a trail of itchy, black smoke to cloud Harwick Station and choke on the passenger's dry coughing.
Arriving at Brendam Docks, Diesel was still sulking about Daisy's harsh insults, and tried not to let it or his former friendship get to him. Cranky the Crane was trying to load cargo into an empty truck, but the two identical diesel shunters, 'Arry & Bert, kept biffing it back and forth to one another. Just when the cargo could be loaded, Bert or 'Arry would push it away and vice versa, nearly knocking the hitched plank over and making it difficult for Cranky to do his job each time.
"Hold still why don't you?!" Cranky said, impatiently.
This only made 'Arry & Bert laugh and chortle at Cranky's frustrated dismay. Diesel saw this going on and tried to chipper up again. The two looked like they were enjoying themselves, which was something Diesel felt he greatly needed right about now. He always felt better about himself after messing around with 'Arry & Bert. And if any engine on this Island would listen to him, it'd be those two. So, Diesel rolled up beside 'Arry, cutting in on the twin's chortling.
"That looks like fun! Pass it off to me next, Bert!"
"You got it, Diesel!" Bert laughed.
Just when Cranky could lower his cargo, Bert pushed the truck away and passed it on to Diesel. He caught the truck and pushed it back to Bert right as the cargo was about to be loaded. This went on and on with Bert passing it onto 'Arry, then back to Bert, then Diesel, then Bert again. Cranky's arm couldn't keep up, which began to anger him even more.
"Diesel!" Cranky complained. "Cut that out!"
"Oh, Cranky," He teased. "Is your head stuck up in the clouds?"
'Arry chuckled. "Good one, Diesel!"
Diesel pushed the truck again, this time hitting Cranky's cargo, which unhitched from his hook and crashed onto the rails and creating a mess. The three diesels laughed and trundled away before Cranky or the Dock Manager could excessively chide their misbehavior.
The three diesels rode side by side through the mainline still laughing over Cranky and the game they played with him. Diesel was having lots of fun now. This was definitely something he needed to clear his head. He kept the streak going by sticking with 'Arry & Bert, who were conducting another idea in their radiators.
"What game do you lads want to play next?" He asked.
"Let's play bump goes the diesel!" Bert suggested.
"Good idea," 'Arry said. "I'll start first."
'Arry tooted his horn and charged straight into Bert. The two diesels laughed as Bert jolted forward rocking back and forth on his chassis.
"My turn!" Diesel announced.
He veered through some points and immediately reversed back into 'Arry, giving him a jolt and a good laugh.
The three diesels continued this game straight on through the mainline; sometimes obstructing and blocking other trains that needed to pass. But they only laughed and teased the bigger diesels as they kept on biffing and thumping each other back and forth and delaying other trains. Diesel had forgotten to be upset about anything and kept on having fun with his friends. They began kicking it up a notch by ramming into and pushing one another back far enough to send them gliding down the tracks and coming to a teetering halt. 'Arry was the first to try this on Bert, which immediately exhilarated the two. They kept at it while Diesel waited anxiously for his turn. He hardly paid much notice to their increasing aggression.
'Arry then rammed into Diesel next, who was surprised by the sudden jolt. He pushed Diesel faster and farther, not slowing down or holding back. This made Diesel nervous.
"Oh-Okay, 'Arry!" He laughed, nervously. "That's far enough."
Then there was trouble. Up ahead was a safety barrier with two blinking yellow lights. The tracks behind them were cautioning engines to avoid a line of bumpy and broken tracks with a loose rail that sprung up without anyone's knowledge. Diesel yelled and applied his brakes to try and stop himself. He managed to slow down, but 'Arry kept on pushing and ignoring Diesel's warning. 'Arry even tried increasing his speed when he began slowing down.
"'Arry, stop! Stop!"
But he didn't. 'Arry finally built up enough speed to send Diesel sailing across the track. And before either engine knew, Diesel wobbled over the bumpy tracks, clipped on the loose rail, and came flying off completely. He crashed onto the grass and piled up on some dirt which banked his landing after sliding to a stop. Diesel laid on his side moaning in pain. The near wipe out had nearly dazed him.
'Arry & Bert, on the other hand, were having a good laugh over Diesel's accident. And to Diesel's surprise, they were about to leave him behind, without checking on him or assuring they'll be back with some help. The two almost took off until Diesel got their attention.
"Hey!" He called. "Where do you two think you're going? You have to put me back on the tracks."
"Uh, no, we don't," 'Arry said.
"Yah," Bert agreed. "Besides, 'Arry and I have to get back to work. We've fooled around long enough as is."
"You will do no such thing until you fetch me a crane at once!" Diesel fussed.
"You're not the boss of us," 'Arry argued. "Mr. Gisborne's the one who gives us orders."
"Or his engine too. She can be pretty scary," Bert said. "Along with that pink steamie. That engine's not normal."
"Agreed! You'll just have to wait for someone else to come along. If they come along at all."
"Yah!" Bert chuckled. "'Cause we ain't doing nothing!"
'Arry and Bert laughed and coughed as they took off again, chanting Diesel's signature 'rough and tough' motif all the while. Diesel became frightened. He didn't want to be left alone off the tracks. But the two diesels didn't care how he felt.
"I can't wait that long!" Diesel called, desperately. "Come back! You can't just leave me here! Get back here, now!"
But the two wouldn't listen, and carried on no matter how much Diesel called to them. Why didn't they listen? 'Arry and Bert should've done what he said. But they didn't. They treated Diesel like he was no more than just another engine among their ranks. Diesel was left to lie on the grassy earth, waiting for any diesel to come around and save him. He wondered how long it would take for someone to notice he was gone, or for someone to pass by and spot him in his wreck.
Just then, Mavis came passing by with Rocky the Crane. She was still a bit beat up from the Quarry, but the engineers managed to fix her generator on time to get back to work again. There were still a few bumps and dents visible on her generator, along with some sticky pastry that hasn't been completely washed out yet. Diesel was over the moon when he heard Mavis and Rocky approaching.
"Mavis!" He cried, happily. "Oh, thank heavens! I knew you'd come for me."
But Mavis simply glared as she slowed to get a look at Diesel's predicament.
"Get Rocky to put me back on the tracks quickly."
"This crane isn't for you," She said, harshly. "Those girls derailed a bunch more diesels sent to take Henry to the docks. Now they've gone and snagged another steamie."
"But… but it'll only take a few-" Diesel was interrupted.
"I'm not wasting time on you when there a more important engines needing assistance. Just wait till another crane's available. Assuming those steamies haven't caused more trouble."
Diesel was flabbergasted all over again. Even Mavis wanted nothing to do with him. She expressed no remorse for Diesel even as he frantically tried reaching out for her to help.
"No!" He whimpered. "Wait, Mavis! You're suppose to be helpful. Don't leave me all alone. Please!"
Mavis ignored all of Diesel's desperate cries, and oiled pompously past him without a second thought. Diesel watched Mavis and Rocky disappear from his peripheral view. He couldn't do or say anything to make her come back. Diesel was in full panic. The thought of staying derailed beside the line again dug a dreadful pit in his soul. He didn't want to spend another second off the tracks. He had places to be tomorrow, important jobs to get done. But not seeing a single diesel arriving on scene and not listening to his echoing cries worsened his fears as the day came close to an end.
"Somebody! Anybody! HELP!"
Diesel spent all night laying on his side with nothing and nobody to accompany him other than the green mist of negative energy fogging his lonesome surrounding. Nobody seemed to care for Diesel enough to want to stop and help. Bigger diesel engines would come thundering by with their train behind, often not noticing or looking down at the little, derailed diesel with no effort to worry over his predicament. Diesel sat cold and miserable all throughout the night. Nobody was coming for him; nobody even who remotely considered him a useful engine.
At last, the next morning finally came with the dawn of a new day. Dennis arrived with Rocky the Crane to help a demoralized Diesel still laying in a banked wreck. Rocky worked to get him back on track. And soon enough, Diesel's wheels met the rails again. But he was too tired and dispirited to be relieved. Diesel had a lot of time to think about how the diesels on this Island were treating him. It was clear that nobody had gotten behind his self-appointed leadership status. Only Adagio Dazzle can really make it official. But she gave him orders to bring the steam engines to her after winning the Crystal Race. However, despite the last race taking place later today, Diesel had finally lost all patience and had enough of being pushed around and doing her dirty work. He wanted to be in control now more than ever. No diesel was ever going to listen to him if it's not made official. Diesel had to make it so, one way or another.
Diesel arrived at the Dieselworks, still covered in dirty splotches all over the right side of his radiator. But Diesel hardly cared much. He was too busy fuming as he entered the busy junction with gritted teeth and a twitching eye. Many diesels were just finishing up their repairs from the day before. They haven't been receiving too much damage as of late, so it was easier to touch up one diesel then quickly move on to the next. Still, Den & Dart had to work hard to streamline each engine's repairs. They worked on diesels that needed maintenance the most and saved the less severe for last. Which meant a glooming Class 40 had to wait for his new, bulky, yellow and black bufferbeam to be adjusted.
Diesel found Adagio Dazzle approaching him from the same line. The two stopped inches from each other's buffers. But before Diesel could complain, Adagio began to chuckle from inspecting his dirty appearance. This only angered Diesel and made him feel silly.
"It's not funny," He grumbled.
"Oh, gosh!" She said, sarcastically. "Whatever happened to you? It looks like those Girls really dragged you across the plains."
"This wasn't their work." Diesel tried remaining calm but blew it at the end. "It was 'Arry & Bert who did it!"
Adagio gave him no time to finish as she interrupted with another laugh. She found Diesel's miserable looking appearance amusing. But Diesel didn't like being teased.
"Stop laughing at me!" He complained.
"How pathetic," she smiled, tauntingly. "At least you gave me something to laugh at."
"Well I'm glad your happy. Because I'm not!"
"So, what? You want me to put them in a time out or something?"
"What I want you to put upon is me in charge of all diesels, right now!"
Adagio groaned and rolled her eyes at the reminder.
She'd almost forgotten Diesel was still expecting her to put him in charge of every diesel. Adagio had a lot on her plate. Two steam engines have escaped in just under two days, and she was still waiting on any sort of progress down at the Blue Mountain Quarry regarding the Silver Sparkles. But one thing she was confident about was that her rise to power was nearing completion. Even if the Girls haven't been producing much for her to consume, she already gained enough to spellbound every single engine on Sodor. And the batch she received from their rescue was more beneficial than she initially anticipated. She could complete her full-scale invasion right now if she decided. There was no need for Sir Topham Hatt's steam engines or the Girls to be on Sodor anymore, not unless she could spellbind each and everyone one of them to her will as well. An idea, she highly considered.
"I don't care if that Crystal Race ends today," He explained. "I've had it with all these silly diesels treating me like I'm nothing. Make Gisborne give his control to me and make their boss instead already! Please, Adagio. I've done everything you asked."
But Adagio had a confession to make. She already stomped all pretenses with Gerard Gisborne. Now Diesel was next.
"Right. See, about that, I don't have to do anything, because you won't be leading anybody."
Then she casually blew her whistle and reversed back. Diesel thought he didn't hear her right. It too him a second or two to really process what she said. What Adagio joking around? Was this another test? Any answer had to be more acceptable than what he heard.
"Uh… come again?"
She stopped in her place and stared back at a confused Diesel droning closer to meet her.
"I thought you were going to make me head diesel?"
"Don't you see? I lied. I was never going to give you control. Engines and people alike are to adore me! That's how it was always going to be."
Diesel could hardly get his words out he was so flabbergasted by this massive drop in weight.
"But… Bu-but-I-"
"Did you honestly think I'd let you command these dimwitted machines when you yourself are barley competent for such an undertaking?" She chuckled, pompously, "Talk about blind ambition."
A series of emotions flushed through Diesel's cooling system. Anger, betrayal, frustration, exhaustion, absolute shock. Everything he'd been building upon came crashing down on top of him. Diesel couldn't believe it. Adagio was only using him this whole time. But why? What could she have possibly gained from doing all this? Did she even really need the escaped steamies back on Sodor? He felt his generator was about to combust.
"You… you… used to me? How could you! I was going to have it all! We could've ruled them together! You said so! Why! Why did you put me though all that silly nonsense!"
But Adagio simply cackled in her sinister laugh. Diesel was extra confused, but still impatient.
"All I needed was someone foolish enough to keep minor distractions at bay. And you were the most willing. Besides, this was much more amusing. Believing some complete stranger with magical abilities will grant something so extraordinary you'd go the extra mile just to achieve absolutely nothing in the end."
Diesel was completely speechless. After everything he did to meet her demands, in the end, he was never going to get the respect and control he'd been putting up so much just to achieve. Diesel bared the meanest glare he'd ever given anyone or anything in his life.
"Aww! Now don't give me that. I did mean what I said earlier. You do have that to take pride in. Which is why I'll say once again with upmost sincerity," Adagio Dazzle smirked with a condescending tone, "Thank you, Diesel, for giving me something to laugh at."
And on that, Adagio blew her whistle again and began backing up towards the main Dieselworks building.
Diesel stayed parked in place, straining from all the anger building up inside him. Things began rising to a boiling point. His face was red with rage and embarrassment. He was nothing but another lacky to her and her conquest. This indeed made him feel foolish. Is he really going to get nothing from this? One thing he promised himself while lying on the grass over night was to claim what he's been hunting for. And he had no intentions of leaving this empty handed.
Adagio continued puffing backwards feeling proud of herself. But she was completely cut off guard when Diesel came prowling towards and ramming straight into her buffers, giving her an unexpected jolt. Diesel panted a heavy breath.
"I did not look like a fool in front of thousands of people, to almost get kicked from the Shadowbolts, and for those silly steamies to think they're better than me just to have some make believe magic user take away what's rightfully mine!"
Before she could do anything, Diesel charged in for another bash, and kept at with each outcry.
"Now, GIVE! ME! WHAT'S MINE!"
She moved back just before Diesel could finish his last bash. He opened his eyes and saw a scowling Adagio with her pure red lantern glowing in a blinding light. Then two diesel locomotives pulled up next to her, both looking just as mean and intimidating. Diesel chuckled, sheepishly, but became surprised when more began gathering around him and Adagio. From all directions, many diesels converged onto the two engines. They were headed straight to or made their way towards a now nervous Diesel. He looked around and gasped at all the diesels closing in slowly with malicious intent, glaring right at him with their green, glowing eyes, eerily similar to Adagio's still radiating the brightest.
They were all being ordered to put an end to Diesel's defiance, one he himself and Adagio inflicted on Mavis and other nonconforming engines when they too showed signs of resilience.
Sensing his odds weren't great, Diesel gave one last nervous grin before frantically reversing backwards in a cloud of black smoke. Several diesel locomotives tried to block his escape by buffing their buffers over his line. But Diesel managed to quickly dodge each barricade before trapping him, and scuttled away from the Dieselworks unscathed but not out of the clear.
Adagio Dazzle continued scowling as her red lantern glistened to its blinding core. The two diesels beside her, Deltic and Spluts, began charging after Diesel with more trailing past her. Every engine at the Dieselworks and all over Sodor took off in single files to chase after, and inflict Diesel with every ounce of negative influence to re-indoctrinate him among the Siren's ever-growing, hate-fueled army.
Diesel raced past the billboard sign for the Dieselworks. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, his anxiety kicked up a notch when right in front of him were rows and rows of diesel engines thundering towards him. A near army of many sizes, shapes, and diesel classes raced straight towards him with more trailing behind one another and joining the pack. Diesel screamed and frantically picked up speed. He tried hurrying his wheels fast back as far away as possible. But there were too many diesels to count and too many were already catching up. Plenty of diesels he knew where apart of this pack. Sidney, Norman, Mavis, 'Arry, Bert, all maliciously in hot pursuit. Diesel was too afraid to gaze back at this frightening sight.
Soon someone managed to catch up and bump into Diesel with a jolt. Diesel saw who it was, leaving him stunned beyond words. Only one escaped his horrified mouth.
"Paxton?!"
"All! Hail! Adagio!" Was all he announced.
Her spell has even reached Paxton. This surprised Diesel the most. Paxton gave another bump and sent him flying back. But Diesel stayed on track, now struggling to escape another former friend and the growing number of diesel engines looking to give him an impactful push while chanting to Paxton's preach. He didn't know how long he could keep this up for. How long will it be before he runs out of places to hide or fuel to get away? There was no way he was falling under her spell just as far as everyone he knew has. So, Diesel kept racing away, desperately hoping to find somewhere to hide.
Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle and Spike arrived at a coal hopper with three empty trucks and one filled with coal. It was close to a siding that led into a branch line covered and blocked by trees and foliage that darkened the path. They lined their empty trucks underneath the chute. Twilight then used her telekinetic magic to wrap the chain in a purple, sparkly aura and yanked it down. Both anticipated for something, even a just a few drops. But nothing came out. Only a cloud of powder was all it coughed up.
"Still nothing," She sighed, irritably.
"Maybe the Twins already scavenged this one?" Spike assumed.
"Possibly. Let's try looking for one more hopper before regrouping with everyone."
She tooted her whistle and took off again. Spike rode behind their trucks to keep a look out for any unwelcomed surprises that could pop up out of nowhere. Twilight did the same as she busily surveyed her surroundings. Looking ahead, she saw Devious Diesel charging towards her faster than she could apply her brakes.
Twilight gasped. "It's Diesel!"
Spike was horrified. "Uh-oh! What are we gonna do?"
A red-faced Diesel was huffing and puffing on his last fumes. Twilight determinedly readied herself and began backing away. But Diesel quickly caught up and nearly bashed into her buffers before stopping in place himself.
"Twilight! Twilight! Oh, thank goodness! Twilight!" He whimpered. "You have to help me!"
Twilight was beyond confused. "Help you? What are you talking about-"
Reverberating air horns echoed close by, startling Twilight and Spike and frightening Diesel the most.
"Ahh!" He screamed. "Here they come!"
Without warning, Diesel biffed his buffers into Twilight's and began pushing her and Spike, much to their annoyance.
"Wait, Diesel!"
They crossed over points that took them into the willow covered branch line not far from the coal hopper. The three of them rolled in as far as possible before coming to a stop. Twilight and Spike were in need of answers.
"What did you do that for?!" She fussed.
He hushed her immediately, as droning engine sounds came creeping in. Twilight gasped when a few diesel silhouettes parked on the other side behind the thickets. Her and Spike did as Diesel told and kept their mouths shut. They stood there for a while, sitting almost straight across from potential danger, cut off only by a thick batch of trees blocking them from being seen. One asked if they should check the siding, but another insisted that it didn't go anywhere. All three remained silent on the shaded branch line. Twilight looked to Diesel with his eyes shut tight and not making a peep. Seeing him in such a distressed state only added to her confusion. Was he being chased by them? What did he do to warrant that? Finally, the diesels honked their horns and took off.
"I think they're gone now," Twilight whispered.
Diesel slowly opened his eyes to check then breathed a sigh of relieve. But this didn't alleviate Twilight and Spike's pressing and suspicious questions to his sudden shift in change.
"Phew! Heh, that was close."
"What in the world has gotten into you?" Twilight inquired.
Now that he had space to vent, Diesel blew black smoke from his exhaust in anger and grumbled.
"Dohh! That silly Siren was using me this whole time! She promised to make me the lead diesel, but she only needed me to do her dirty work."
Twilight was unimpressed.
"Really? That's why you've been harassing our friends back home? So that you can become some head diesel honcho?"
"What did you expect from someone who feeds on negativity and uses it to control people?" Spike added.
"Never mind that! That's why I'm asking you and your friends to get rid of her!"
She arched a confused brow. "You-I, what?"
"You know, shoot her with rainbow lasers, sprinkle her with sparkling glitter, sing some hippy-dippy kumbaya song, I don't care! Just make sure she's gone so those silly diesels will obey me instead."
Twilight shot him with a judgmental glare.
"Diesel," she spoke, rationally, "getting rid of the Siren won't make anyone obey you. That's no way to establish any kind of leadership. It's more like a dictatorship if anything."
"I'll say," Spike commented.
"Oh, please. What would some frilly, magic girl know about any of that?"
Twilight looked downcast. "A lot more than I would've liked to before coming here."
Diesel himself raised a questionable brow, along with Spike, worrying about his owner. Twilight thought about the things she overcame and struggled with during her stay.
"Then again, maybe I did know what I could've done all along. I found the footing I needed to step up my game, but I was too busy trying to solve everyone else's problem that I almost forgot to solve my own and... lead by example."
She rifled through all the encouraging words and advice her friends would pass down to her during this whole trip. She thought about Sunset Shimmer's enduring support, Spike's belief in her and all their friends, Edward's unwavering optimism, and most importantly, every one of her friends standing beside her through thick and thin, following Twilight and Sunset's own encouragement, belief, and hope in accomplishing what they've all set out and succeeded in doing. It was then Twilight began to see the answers all clearly now. Leadership wasn't something to master for herself. It was something she could share and pass onto others. Looking back on what each of her friends had already accomplished because of her help, perhaps she already did.
Knowing this, Twilight Sparkle stared back at Diesel with more assurance in herself than ever before.
"If there's one thing I'll always take away from this adventure, its that a true leader doesn't force others to bow before her, but by inspiring them to stand with her, so they can follow in footsteps, and leave behind their own mark."
It was there, taking in Twilight's eye-opening affirmation, that everything about what she said began to open up a new perspective to Diesel, one he never knew possible or bothered to consider at all. Lead by example? Was cheating in a charity event, forcing dominance on other engines, and demanding ever diesel do as he said not the way to lead by example? Suddenly, her advice started to make sense to Diesel, even if he didn't know fully why yet. But looking back on all his decision, it was clear as day that he was far from Twilight Sparkle's ideals.
"So, trying to win a charity run in order to banish my friends from their home so a magical Siren can enable you to boss around a couple of diesels doesn't exactly fall under the same umbrella."
"Oh… I see."
Having been told this, Diesel became guilt ridden and saddened by his actions. All he wanted was for people to listen and respect him. Many engines aren't always nice to Diesel, so he saw no point in being nice to them. The only way he saw to change that, was to put himself above them. But that wasn't the answer either. And now plenty of people were either hurt or in danger because of him. And all this time, Diesel thought he didn't care that much about anyone's well-being; when doing so would've given him a lot more respect.
Then, sadly but surly, Diesel reversed out of the branchline and back on the mainline. Twilight followed cautiously as she met with Diesel, who had moved out of the way to clear a path for her and Spike.
"Go," He offered, dejectedly. "Before anyone spots you."
Twilight and Spike were surprised. Instead of trying to fight or turn them over, Diesel was allowing them to escape.
"I don't like this, Twilight," Spike said. "He could still be under her spell."
"It's okay, Spike," She assured, calmly. "I think he means well this time. Diesel, I do hope you find it in you to do what's right in light of this. Please, don't bring my friends back just to send them away. That would just be awful."
A troubled Diesel looked back at her upon hearing this, and listened to Twilight's harsh but kind attempt to alleviate his qualms.
"But if being a leader is really what you want, then your approach needs to change. If you still can't reach it, then you're the one who needs to change."
Twilight Sparkle blew her whistle and chuffed away with Spike and their trucks of coal. Diesel waited until the two were completely gone, then exhaled a downcast sigh. Was Twilight Sparkle right? Maybe he wasn't cut out to be what he wanted.
Now he didn't know what to do or what he wanted anymore. He certainly couldn't stay on Sodor anymore what with Adagio and the diesel all hunting him down now. His only other option was to head back to Crystal Prep Academy, and get himself ready for the Crystal Race's final event. But with no need to bring Thomas and his friends back home, what was the point? Diesel honked his horn and left to find the Magic Buffers anyways, droning off in a slow, dejected pace with a doubt filled, remorseful state of mind.
To Be Continued.