Terribly sorry I haven't been active! (Embarassingly enough- I might've locked myself out of my own account -_- then forgot the password o_o then forgot I even had an account until recently... *sigh* embarrassing, I'm aware)

But here's an update on Much Ado about Engines! I should be getting around to Diesel X again as well, my apologies for deserting it!

...

Just then, a party of familiar whistles filled the castle grounds. "Oh, here they come!" Caitlin whistled excitedly. Her friends did the same, grinning broadly as Stephen, Gordon, Percy and all the other engines.

"Hello, Sir Robert!" Stephen greeted warmly. "I know you weren't expecting so many us- hopefully you've got room for us all?" He flashed an apologetic smile. "After all, sir, I know how much you love parties! I figured I'd bring the party to you this time!" A chorus of whistles behind him went off in agreement.

"Oh my dear Stephen- you are never trouble to this castle!" Sir Robert replied, patting The Rocket's side. "It's comforting when trouble departs. But when you leave, you take happiness with you and leave sorrow in its place- it's been quite lonely without you here, my friend." He whispered.

A familiar, French-accented "Ahem!" quickly retorted, "I've been here too, sir! What about me?"

"Sorry, Millie! Of course when you're around, my day gets even brighter!" chuckled the nobleman. "After all," he continued, addressing the rest of the engines this time, "The more the merrier!"

"You really are your own kind, Sir Robert," Stephen chuckled softly, as he entered the grounds, the other engines following suit, before he stopped.

"And..I don't think we've met before- who are you, my dear engine?" He addressed Molly, who simply blushed shyly at the kind greeting. Caitlin and Toby shared cheeky, knowing glances at this. "Does she belong to your fleet, Sir Robert?"

"No, unfortunately, Sir Topham has claimed her first," Sir Robert laughed, patting Molly's buffer. "I could never own such a sweet, reliable engine such as she."

Another "Ahem!" from a French narrow gauge engine interrupted their exchange.

"Sorry, Millie!" Sir Robert called out, laughing nervously. "I haven't forgotten you, Millie, I promise!"

"Pah- an engine of that hideous color could never be a prominent member of Sir Topham Hatt's fleet." Gordon butted in, pompously. The yellow tender engine looked dejected at this.

"Now, Gordon," Toby answered, sternly. "It's hardly right of you to be so rude- especially to one of your fellow engines! You apologize immediately."

"I'm sure I can spot a useful engine when I see one," the blue engine replied snootily. "Tell me, Toby- when's the last you've even heard of Moly leaving her mark on Sodor?"

"Still talking, Gordon? We stopped listening ages ago," Caitlin slid in, wryly, much to the amusement of the engines around her. Even Sir Robert let out a giggle at the feeling of drama unfolding.

"Still around, Caitlin? I thought you left Sodor ages ago," Gordon answered monotonously.

"And why leave and miss an opportunity to watch the proud and strong Gordon meet his match?" The streamline engine quipped.

"Thankfully, I don't need a match- no one could match me."

"Finding a match for you would not only be hard, but unfortunate." Caitlin muttered.

Meanwhile, the other engines were enjoying this, quiet snickers and whispers filling the air. Molly especially- serves Gordon right for insulting her like that! And the only one to properly put Gordon in his place was Caitlin these days.

"Keep talking like that, dear Caitlin- you'll never find a match either!" Gordon mocked. "We all reach the scrapyard one day!"

"I suppose scrapping you won't make you look any worse, right?" The magenta enging muttered darkly, to a chorus of cheeky "oohs" from the other engines (and Sir Robert, too, who let out a snicker behind a fist).

The blue engine, taken aback, was silent. "That's it, I'm done." He spoke at last, preparing to puff out of the grounds.

"Leaving when you're about to lose- nothing's changed, eh, Gordon?" Caitlin jeered after him, causing the blue engine to stop literally dead in his tracks, and the still tittering engines to increase their mirth even further.

"Consider yourself the loser of this round, Gordon!" Thomas laughed.

"The proud, strong Gordon- losing to a girl in a screaming match?" James chimed in.

"Just you wait." Gordon sulked as he continued towards the castle exit.

"Hey, wait up, Gordon!" Stephen called. "Sir Robert has invited you all to stay here at the castle for the night. He knows we've traveled a lot and you lot can head back home to Tidmouth in the morning." Gordon rolled his eyes, and groaned. He had just been embarrased- no- obliterated verbally by Caitlin, and now he had to spend a whole night here, too? Oh, the indignity!

"I'll let down the gates, come along, everyone! The fun is just starting!" Sir Robert cheered, as he and the cavalcade head into the main court of the castle to begin the celebrations.

Except for Gordon, who dragged himself in moodily, accompanied by James and Henry, the latter of which whispered to their blue friend teasingly.