What a nice way to fill some gaps in the RWS. Great job✨
The Prince And The Pauper
Everyone got on well with Flying Scotsman except Henry. Henry was jealous. Despite his struggles, he wasn't nearly as respected as the Flying Scotsman. Henry pulled passengers and heavy goods and had to survive a complete rebuild. In his eyes, the Flying Scotsman hasn't done nearly enough to be respected as much as he has.
"Tenders are marks of distinction," he complained. "Everybody knows that. Why's he got two?"
Even though he knows why Flying Scotsman is famous, it still doesn't explain why he's the only engine to have two tenders. In his eyes, he can't acknowledge Flying Scotsman's celebrity status.
"I never boast, but I always work hard enough for two. I deserve another tender for that."
"Henry," Duck asked innocently, "would you like my tenders?"
"Yours!" exclaimed Henry. "What have you got to do with tenders?"
"All right," said Duck. "The deal's off. I'm only a tank engine, so I don't really understand tenders. Perhaps James might..."
"I'm sorry I was rude," said Henry hastily. "How many tenders have you, and when could I have them?"
"Six, and you can have them this evening."
"Six lovely tenders," chortled Henry. "What a splendid sight I'll be!" That'll show the others the sort of engine I am!"
Meanwhile, word had gone round, and the others waited where they could get a good view. Henry was cheered to the echo when he came, but he wasn't a splendid sight. He had six tenders, true, but they were very old and very dirty. All were filled with boiler sludge!
"Ha ha ha ha ha," laughed the engines. To make matters worse, the Flying Scotsman was laughing at him as well. Instead of looking down on him, he laughs at Henry as if he was a peer. Henry had made a big mistake.
"How do you fancy your six tenders, Henry?" asked Duck. But Henry was so embarrassed, that he said nothing. He simply slinks out of the siding with the trucks of boiler sludge until he was able to uncouple from the train.
"Oh dear! I was so silly to pull such dirty objects. Especially in front of the Flying Scotsman!" Henry wailed. "To think the Prince of the steam engines saw me in such a state. It's bad enough that I was made of stolen plans, but to see me pull something so vulgar? Why that's just despicable!"
Henry continued to moan and groan about his plight. Unbeknownst to him, his regulator malfunctions.
"Bother!" Henry complained. "Whatever will happen next? Now they'll laugh at me again. I'm a 'failed engine'!"
His driver starts to send Henry down the line in reverse. He reached a signal box and stopped, not realizing that two diesels have broken down on the other line.
"My goodness," Henry gasped. "What happened here?"
7170 groans, "Spamcan here has broken down. Sir Topham Hatt had asked me to help, but I broke down too. Can you help us, Henry?"
Henry tries to say no, but his driver intervenes. "Moving two 'dead' diesels and their trains? That's no joke for a 'failed' engine. D'you think you can do it?"
"I'll have a good try," Henry says sighing. He gently buffered up to the train. So, with 7101 growling in front, and Henry gamely puffing in the middle, the long cavalcade set out.
When he got to the next station, he was shocked to see the Flying Scotsman waiting. "Well done!" he exclaimed.
Henry can't help but blush as he's uncoupled from the train and tries to roll into a siding.
"You know, I never quite caught your name. But what you did today really showed those diesels a thing or two."
Henry stares in shock. The Flying Scotsman is actually talking with him. Despite his embarrassing situation not even a few hours ago, Flying Scotsman was willing to speak to him with respect. Perhaps he was wrong about judging the Flying Scotsman.
"I-I'm Henry," he says stuttering.
The Flying Scotsman takes in the sight of Henry. "How on earth did an LMS Stanier Class 5 end up on Sodor?"
Henry is left speechless. He wasn't aware of the horrific nature the Mainland possessed regarding the treatment of engines. Therefore, he had no idea of the significance this interaction will be.
"I wasn't originally built to be one," Henry explains. "I had a horrible crash in 1935. Instead of trying to repairing me, I was sent to Crewe. Because Sir Topham Hatt had connections to William Stainer, he had me rebuilt with this design."
If he could nod, the Flying Scotsman would do so as a means to acknowledge what Henry is saying. "So what was your original design if your controller had deemed it unreliable?"
Henry takes a breath saying, "I was made from stolen plans. They were supposed to be a prototype for the GNR Gresley A1."
Flying Scotsman's "jaw" drops. "You? You were supposed to our predecessor?"
Henry can see that the Flying Scotsman's taken aback. "No. The plans were deemed a failure as my firebox was too small. It wasn't until after I was built that they realized their mistake."
"My goodness!" the Flying Scotsman gasps. This is a lot to take in. "To think if your plans weren't originally rejected, you would've been our predecessor. Why you're even older than my brother, Gordon. How on earth did you survive?"
"Not that long after I was built, I was pawned off to Sir Topham Hatt. He needed a heavy goods engine for cheap and got me instead. I was given chance after chance to prove my worth despite my small firebox."
The Flying Scotsman whistles with joy. "Cheers! You really are an enterprising engine. Keep up the good work."
He rolls out of the station and into the night as Henry watches on in amazement. The Flying Scotsman had acknowledged his worth and determination.
"For an engine of his status, he actually has taste. Finally, someone can see how useful I am!" Henry beamed. No more angsting over his failed design. Henry is THE enterprising engine. And he hopes to stay that way in the Flying Scotsman's eyes.
AN: Thank you @klein-sodor-bahn for requesting this one shot.
Tagging: @nelllia, @gordon208, and @glitterking599.
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