The days of June passed, and as July drew near, the island was alive with the feelings and sounds of summer. Percy and Emily had experienced a frightful nightmare each some nights ago, but both managed to move past it with another mother-to-son night at Knapford Sheds. Thomas was still venturing through India with Ashima and Rajiv, the two Indian engines at the Great Railway Show, quickly gaining more experiences to share with Emily when he'd come back again.

During these passing days, however, one engine in particular had been gaining a lot of curiosity and wonder about a certain subject.

Rebecca, the yellow No. 22 engine had been beginning to feel rather curious about a thing or two. Ever since she had come to Sodor, she had been forming friends out of many across the island. She had known about Thomas long before she ever came to Sodor, having heard so many stories about him. She knew a few things about Edward and Henry of course while they worked with Thomas since the beginning. She thought James was indeed splendid in his red coat, she found Percy to be very sweet and cute, just as Emily did, and she found Emily to be absolutely lovely after hearing a few things about her relationship with Thomas.

As for Gordon, Rebecca had been his helping hand with the express ever since she first came to Sodor. Over time, she became very good at managing the express with Gordon, learning how to huff swiftly and smoothly. Rebecca found herself feeling rather fond of Gordon. While he may have been unsure about her after Henry moved to Vicarstown, he came to appreciate her immensely after she helped him over Flying Scotsman's brother banter, and she felt delighted to have such a big, grand friend as him.

What Rebecca was so curious about was Emily's past life when she first came to Sodor. But she had not heard anything of Emily's dramatic and moving story of her journey through darkness, bossiness and meanness because of Gordon and James being so horrid and almost evil toward her. Rebecca did not have the merest inkling of what those three engines had gone through. She only knew a few things about Gordon and James ever since she arrived. She had viewed Gordon as a proud, but still kind engine right from their first interaction after she helped him around Flying Scotsman. But soon, Rebecca would find some light shed upon Gordon in a rather provocative way.

One warm evening, Rebecca had finished her share of the express runs while Gordon was still busy. By now, Rebecca really wanted some company with Emily. After several days of wondering, she was eager to learn more about Emily since she was in love with Thomas of all engines, and hearing more about Gordon and James peaked her interest quite a bit.

Emily was resting in the yards when Rebecca came by to return her coaches. After leaving them in a siding, she approached Emily.

"Good evening, Emily," Rebecca chimed cheerfully.

"Hi, Rebecca," Emily smiled. "How are you?"

"Very lovely, Emily," said Rebecca. "It's such fun to pull the express with Gordon, but it's a delight to see you again. I was actually hoping to see you today."

"Really? What for?" asked Emily.

Now was Rebecca's chance. "Well, I've made several friends here on Sodor...bit I've been wondering for several days now...what is your history here, Emily? Ever since you first came to Sodor?"

Emily heard Rebecca and suddenly felt many memories flicker in her funnel, knowing all that had happened, good and bad alike.

"Oh...well...why do you ask, Rebecca?" she asked.

"I've only heard a few things about you, Emily. I know you're very kind and friendly like me...and smart too, like Nia. And you're in love with Thomas himself! But what about everything else? Everyone knows all of Thomas' stories, from him and storybooks alike...but I'd really like to know what your life was like. I also wonder quite a bit about Gordon and James. What were they like?"

Emily felt some of her most awful memories of what those two engines had done to her. It was all water under the bridge for those three engines now, but to think about them again made her feel it was only right to hold no secrets from Rebecca.

"You want to know about my life...and Gordon and James too?" she asked.

"Yes, please!" Rebecca said pleasantly with a smile. "I'd like to know!"

Emily sighed. She could see Rebecca was so innocent and sunny, she was almost a little bit gullible, but she could see Rebecca really wanted to know.

"Rebecca...are you sure you want to hear all about me, Gordon and James?" Emily asked seriously.

Rebecca's smile faded a little as she heard Emily's serious tone. "Yes. What gives, Emily?"

"I can see there's no fooling you, Rebecca. Now that you've asked, I think it's absolutely necessary to tell you all about me, Gordon and James. But beware. They're not what you think they were."

"What do you mean?" asked Rebecca, sounding a little anxious now.

"Well, let me start from the beginning," said Emily. "I first came here many years ago. When I first met Thomas. I thought he was cute, innocent and even handsome. After introductions, I was sent to collect coaches to start my life here. But the only coaches I could find were Annie and Clarabel. I took them by mistake and everywhere I went, the engines all refused to greet me, including Thomas. When Oliver told me the coaches belonged to Thomas, I immediately went to apologize. After I saved Oliver and Thomas from a collision, I was rewarded with two coaches of my very own. After I apologized to Thomas, he apologized for being so cross and I started my life here, quite happy indeed."

"So you took Thomas' coaches by mistake?" said Rebecca. "And you saved them both? That is quite a start for you, Emily."

"I know," said Emily. "Then came a time when Henry's tubes were leaking, but Thomas and Percy didn't believe him. In fact they left him an entire line of trucks to take! Henry still tried all he could, but he ended up stuck on the line. I came to his rescue and helped him all the way to the docks. I felt so good about myself to help an engine as good-natured as him. Thomas and Percy also gave trouble to Salty, teasing him over the way he spoke. When he told me, I immediately got after Thomas and Percy for their behaviour and they went to apologize at once."

"Oh. Emily," Rebecca breathed. "You are such a sweet and helpful engine to think so dearly about Henry and Salty."

"Thanks, Rebecca," Emily smiled. "That summer when there were a lot of holiday makers on the island, Thomas and I were in need of repairs and maintenance, but we didn't mind. We spent all that time exchanging stories to each other, only to pause when we saw Bulgy come and go after he was put back in business, then temporarily became a mobile vegetable stand."

"Hmm. Well, it sounds like you had a lovely start to Sodor," said Rebecca. "Then what happened?"

Emily suddenly looked sad. "Well...if you could possibly believe it, Rebecca...I actually became a terrible engine, with a very bossy, fussy, rude and mean nature, for four and a half years."

"W-what?" Rebecca gasped. "How can that be?"

"Well, first of all, Rebecca, you must realize, ever since those five years ended, I've been as kind and friendly as ever, and always will be. But for those five years, there were times when I was probably the most disgraceful, despicable engine on the island."

"No, Emily! No!" Rebecca cried. "PLEASE don't say such things about yourself! What in the world brought you to behave like that for those years?"

Emily paused and looked at Rebecca. There was no point in beating about the bush. "Gordon and James."

Rebecca's heart jumped, flipped, pounded, then froze all at once. Both names shocked her deeply, but when she heard the name "Gordon," she could not believe it. Did the engine she work so dearly with...cause Emily to be a bossy boiler? What did he do to her emerald friend?

"G-Gordon? James?" she breathed. "But how?"

"It all started sometime later that same year," said Emily. "I had barely interacted with them at all since my arrival, and they didn't seem very aware of my presence anyway. So one day, I decided to try with Gordon. I said hello and waited to see what he said...and he accused me of utter cheek, whistling disrespectfully to engine of his caliber. He looked at me and called me out on having no dome. He once said, 'Never trust domeless engines. They're not respectable.' I was surprised and insulted."

Rebecca's heart jumped. She knew she herself had no dome and felt rather hurt underneath. Emily went on.

"Later, I saw James at the washdown and hoped I'd have a better chance greeting him. He saw me first and tried hitting on me, calling me a 'fine-looking lady.' He then went on to brag about being handsome and at his finest, with such magnificence. I must admit his red paint is splendid...but he is not handsome in my eyes. To Molly, he certainly is, and I'm very happy she sees him that way now. But when I told him bragging would not help his matter, he was angry too. Then one evening, they started talking aloud about me having no respect or taste for grand and handsome engines. By now, I was getting annoyed. That was the first time I lost my temper. I told them both to stop whinging like spoiled babies and grow up. But then a few weeks later that December, they started calling me an eye-sore, and calling me a steamroller because of my large wheels. Then they mocked me over being too weak to defend myself, calling me a goody-goody steamroller."

Rebecca was appalled and badly shaken by this already. "Gordon said those things to you! Domeless...steamroller wheels! Well I never!"

"That winter, I went to the coaling plant to collect trucks James was bumping about. After he insulted me again and I was on my way, the trucks decided to pay me back since they couldn't do so with James, and they pushed me into a field. Gordon saw where I was and said that was perfect for a steamroller. Out of sight and out of the way. I cried until Donald came and helped me back on the rails. During my weeks of repair, the thoughts and voices of everything Gordon and James did to me were fresh-stuck in my smokebox. When I was repaired, with new silver buffers after my original bronze buffers were broken, I decided I had no choice. I felt that the only way to stop them from bullying me, was to mirror just the same attitude back at them...but in doing so, I hurt so many around me, and made so many feel betrayed by me."

Rebecca began to shake with shock and despair. "E-Emily! No!"

"I know it was wrong, Rebecca. More wrong than anything I ever did, but it's what I thought would help me. As soon as I returned to business, I insulted Gordon and James with their shortcomings. James once ran into a field after his wooden brake blocks caught fire...and Gordon had ran into a ditch when he wanted to avoid pulling a special goods train. That spring, a big storm caused such a mess. Farmer McColl needed me to bring some lumber for his roof to keep his baby calves warm at night. But I was so angrily focused on showing Gordon and James I was better than them, I bossed everyone around me to work faster. Then when I bossed Elizabeth to move a fallen water tower, she refused to listen to that bossy tone and when Thomas came by, I complained to him about Elizabeth. He told me I was a big bossy boiler. He only meant it as a joke, but it hurt me so deeply, and I knew he was right."

"Oh, no! Emily!" Rebecca shuddered. "Was that all because of Gordon and James?!"

"Yes," Emily sighed sadly. "Then, when a Clean Engine Inspection was coming up, I was even more desperate to prove better than Gordon and James. So I was first at the washdown, talking down to Thomas when he came by. After we were all cleaned, James ruined my chances by looking for a sunnier place at the Coaling Plant, and bumping a truck into a lever and pouring coal everywhere, ruining my chance, Gordon's chance and his own. Thomas and Percy won and I left to be cleaned, feeling so sorry for what I said to Thomas. I truly wanted him to win. I only wanted to be deemed cleaner than Gordon and James. But just as I was nearly cleaned, Gordon and James came by and bossed me to hurry up, before Gordon sneezed coal dust all over me. As such, the workmen refused to clean them both while they cleaned me again. I was quite humorously pleased by that...until the next day at the Coaling Plant...when Gordon pushed me right under the chute and covered me in coal all over again, then mocked me about being a goody-goody tell-tale who begs others to fight for me, while I was left there, crying in the coal."

Rebecca could feel her entire boiler shivering and aching with such pain and shock. "I...I...I can't..." she shook.

"And what happened next?" Emily continued. "My biggest failure, and my final plunge into darkness. What Gordon said that day to me...brought me over to the dark side. When the new Mayor was to have Gordon give him a tour of the island, I was left to take the express. Gordon boasted he could cross the island twice before tea time. By now, I was so angry at them both and so desperate to be as good as Gordon, I had no patience. The express was much heavier than I thought, I left the brake coach behind, left Bertie's passengers stranded at Maron Station, bumped my coaches every which way and refused to refill on water when I saw James there first. I ended up running out of water and stuck on the line just before Brendam Docks. James pulled me the rest of the way and teased me over not waiting with the express as a steamroller. But what Gordon said to me was even worse. I believe he had sensed my determination. And he feared it."

Emily decided to pluck up courage and speak those very words. As she did, Rebecca shut her eyes tight, and could see that moment in time when it happened, and she could hear Gordon's voice just as clear as Emily recited it.

"I knew you would fail to pull the express properly, but never did I imagine you would ever fail so spectacularly. Leaving the brake coach, leaving Bertie's passengers stranded and forgetting to fill up with water. You've proven to me today, that I was right all along, not only are you a complete and utter failure, but you're also a disgrace to engines everywhere. You don't deserve to be part of this railway, you're just a weak and pathetic failure!"

Rebecca heard Emily's voice again as she popped her eyes open again. "That was it. It seemed like it was all over for me. I screamed as loud as I could and ran away to hide in my shed, crying until my eyes were red. My life was ruined. All because of Gordon and James, I was living a life of fear, anger, hate and suffering. I had acted desperately to try and stop them, but in doing so, my life was broken, sinking deeper and deeper into darkness."

Rebecca could not stand any of this. This was nothing at all like what she expected to hear. She thought Emily's history would be straightforward with some normal ups and downs, but nothing like this. What shocked her even more was knowing which engines were responsible for all of this. Gordon and James, and she never imagined! She knew James could be conceited and overly proud, and Gordon could be overly proud too...but never for an instant did she suspect them to be so cruel, mean, and...almost evil!

"Emily...Emily the Stirling Single!" she whispered heavily. "My dear emerald friend! How? HOW?!"

"There's a little more for you to hear, Rebecca," said Emily. "But I promise, it has a very, very happy ending."

"Alright!" Rebecca wheeshed urgently. "But...but...what about Thomas? What happened with him during all this?"

Emily sighed. "Well, Rebecca, I may have done many awful things which I felt terrible for, such as laughing at Molly for pulling empty trucks, causing an accident at the Ruined Castle by making Percy go along my line, crashing into Mavis and Toby, and calling Diesel smelly when I had to give Gordon Special Coaches for setting a new record...but of all those things, I felt the absolute worst about the things I did to Thomas. That first year, when it all began, I bossed Thomas on his branch line over going too fast with his passengers and talking to the children for making him late. I bossed him to get his snowplough without telling him it was the Fat Controller's orders, which made him ignore me and get stuck in the snow, and I bragged to him about not needing to be cleaned for the Clean Engine Inspection..."

"What was the worst thing you think you did?" Rebecca asked carefully.

Emily sighed sadly as she remembered what this meant. "The worst thing I think I ever did was treat Thomas unkindly at Knapford Sheds. There was a time one summer when all the steam engines and diesels were constantly fighting, and these sheds were demolished to be rebuilt with another berth."

"I see," said Rebecca. "So, what happened with you and Thomas?"

"The other engines had to find another place to sleep. Thomas had to stay with me, but because of everything Gordon and James did to me, I did not like sharing my shed. Their bullying made me want to be alone so badly, I only ever made Thomas be quiet, like this. 'Be quiet, and go to sleep!' I felt awful after Thomas fell asleep with a sad look on his face. Every night, he told me what happened during the day, and I kept saying those words to him. Then, Thomas started whistling in his sleep as his steam wasn't shut off properly. I wished he would leave even more, but I also wished I was kinder to him. Then one day, all the engines fought so badly, no work had been done, and we were told that holidaymakers would likely not come to Sodor that year. That's when I said the worst thing ever about Thomas. 'Now you will never leave my shed!' As we all slept that night, wondering what would happen, I started to cry in my sleep over saying that to Thomas."

Rebecca was deeply shocked by what she was hearing. Emily went on.

"Thomas spent the whole next day telling as many engines as he could to gather for a meeting about working together and not fighting anymore. He was so tired that day, he didn't come back to my shed that night. I was pleased at first to have the shed to myself...but as I wondered where he could be, I felt very lonely. I missed hearing all about the day. I missed Thomas' company, and I even missed his sleep whistle. I felt so terrible about what I had said to him and I cried so much that night. I felt so sad and a little sick the next day, but I went to the meeting he had planned. By forgetting our steam and diesel differences, we all worked together, much faster and more efficiently. That night, I felt even worse as I didn't get a chance to apologize to him that day. But then...he came back, which made me so happy. He didn't hate me. I cried again and apologized for everything, telling him how I missed him. He told me how tired he was and that he missed me."

"Did you?" said Rebecca. "Well...since you apologized, what did you two do then?"

"He invited to me to watch the stars with him for a while. It was a warm night, and we both felt very peaceful. And that night, when I heard his sleep whistle that time, I felt much better. And so, every night we spent there from that night on, I loved his stories, his company and his sleep whistle, right until the sheds here were rebuilt and I was brought here too."

"Hmm. It sounds like you two made up fairly," said Rebecca.

"But I didn't get any better. In fact, I became worse," said Emily. "One time, the Fat Controller told me to take children to a summer party, while Thomas was sent to collect milk for the ice cream factory. I teased him over being a slowcoach and that he could have taken the children if he wasn't so slow. Angered, he stated how fast he was, and I challenged him to a race to the next signal. He managed to win, but in doing so, going fast ruined the milk and the Fat Controller blamed him...for something I ultimately caused. Then, just before the end of those four and a half years of Gordon and James' villainy against me, I ridiculed Thomas, calling him silly over trying to find a pirate treasure Salty told a tale of, because I didn't want Gordon and James to call me silly too. I was truly so happy when he found that treasure, but I didn't even apologize to him for it, or for his ruined milk delivery."

"Oh, dear!" Rebecca exclaimed. "But...since this is near the end...how did you ever become sweet and kind again, Emily?"

"Well, Thomas was feeling very sad and awful about everything wrong that had happened through those two years. He said something to Mavis about it...and then 'Arry and Bert started taunting Thomas, being petty with him and referring to me in sadistic, unholy ways, which made Thomas so angry, a demon awoke inside of him, and he shunted them both into a blast zone, burying them both in the landslide!"

Rebecca gasped at that as Emily continued.

"That same night, when everyone found out and Thomas angrily told them all about how he did it to defend me, they all turned against me, while he angrily and tearfully tried to defend me. Everything I heard from him and the engines made me rush away past them in tears, all the way to Black Loch. The most beautiful place on Sodor I believe. James had taunted me over the Loch Ness Monster Legend, scaring me to no end of that place, until I learned it was just a family of seals. Thomas and I had our first date there, you know. And it was where I lamented after I ran away from the engines, over everything I did."

Rebecca almost couldn't bare it anymore even as Emily concluded the story.

"Then Thomas found me and found out for himself what had happened between me, Gordon and James. I fell into tears and apologized over and over for everything I had done to him and everyone else, thinking I had lost his friendship forever. But I didn't. He pledged he would help me no matter what. He would not leave my side until it was all over...and I told him everything I have just now told you. And at long last...after four and a half years of every sin, insult, action, and misdeed Gordon and James laid upon me...thanks to Thomas' help and love for me...I had returned. The old and real Emily had come back, and she is here to stay forever. And that is when I gave Thomas his very first kiss on the cheek."

Rebecca could not believe what she had heard. Never did she think that Emily had gone through such a life-changing experience for the worst for almost five years before becoming kind and cheerful again...and never did she think that the engine she was working so closely with had been the one responsible for starting it all! Gordon! James may have contributed badly to it, but Gordon was the root start of everything. Everything she had thought about them before was now null and void. They were indeed not what she thought they were. Although Emily's story ended very happily, Rebecca's thoughts dwelled so much on Emily's pain and despair. Gordon and James' villainy upon her. The biggest pound in her heart was hearing everything about Gordon. The engine she had been pulling the express with ever since the start!

"He...he did this..." she whispered shakily. "But how? H...how could he?!"

"Please, Rebecca," said Emily. "I understand it's all very, very shocking for you. But something else you must know...all three of us have moved on ever since then. It was not easy. The next morning after Thomas brought me back to the light and joy that I am, I knew I would not forgive Gordon and James after their simple 'We're sorry, Emily,' that morning. And I never did forgive them for several years...until a few months after Thomas and I shared our first kiss to the lips and our first night of true passion and love. After Thomas had been teasing them one day and I punished him with no kisses for a month, only to go back on that word when he helped me heal my old wounds, Gordon and James saw us both, and finally apologized sincerely to me. Since then, we've been on fair terms with each other. Not exactly happy, but still a fair amount of respect. So, in the end, I am still a very happy engine, and so are they, in their way."

But Rebecca could not help it. While Emily and James' parts of the story were certainly serious, her mind was spiraling out of control with her memories about first meeting Gordon. She suddenly remembered how he was unsure and a little suspicious of her upon her arrival and how he wasn't the most enthusiastic with her over her first time pulling the express, causing confusion without delay. It made her compare in her mind how that initial energy of his could be related to how he first greeted Emily all that time ago. To think that the engine she had some fondness of was actually a villainous monster toward Emily for nearly five years, when she had done nothing whatsoever to deserve it! Not one single solitary thing was justified about all that he had done to her! She did not know Gordon anymore. He was not who she thought he was at all. It made her feel so terrible. She felt extremely betrayed by everything she had heard about her fellow express engine.

"Wait...Rebecca...are...are you alright?" Emily asked.

Rebecca went very pale in the face and began to shake all over. Her buffers were shaking, her axles were shaking and her lips were shaking. She was suddenly transformed by all that she had heard. When she looked up at Emily, big tears suddenly formed in Rebecca's eyes, making Emily jump with shock and feel nervous. She had never seen Rebecca like this before. She looked like she was going to burst.

"Oh, no! No!" Rebecca gasped. "I can't believe it! No! NO!"

And then, sobbing awfully, she suddenly took off, away from Emily. Emily followed her some way behind until she saw Rebecca slip into Knapford Sheds by herself. When Emily saw the tears falling from Rebecca's eyes and trailing down her cheeks, her heart nearly broke. What made her even sadder was seeing Rebecca in the shed by herself. It was an identical mirror to the two nights Emily spent there alone, when Thomas didn't come back, and when Duck took her berth. Rebecca was such a cheerful, happy engine, full of bubbling joy and friendliness, and this was the first time she had ever been this sad, and it made Emily feel deeply troubled. Her driver and fireman were troubled to see this too.

"And we thought she'd be so happy," said her driver, referring to Emily's happy ending to her story. The fireman said nothing.

Emily wanted to comfort Rebecca, caress her and help her, but as she slowly approached the shed, Rebecca suddenly let out another loud sob, and more tears spouted out of her eyes, which made Emily jump back. Emily was conflicted, but with Rebecca this badly shaken, maybe she had to be left alone. So Emily puffed silently and gravely on her way back to Tidmouth Sheds.

"I'm so sorry, Rebecca," she whispered to herself. "My precious yellow friend."

Rebecca continued to shake and cry in distraught and anguish over the sudden truth she never knew about Emily, Gordon and James...

When Emily returned to the sheds, the other engines, except Thomas of course, were there too. She backed into her shed silently and heard a couple of voices.

"Have you seen Rebecca at all, Gordon?" asked Percy. "I thought for sure she'd be with you and the express."

Gordon took a deep breath and sighed. "No sign of her yet, Percy. I am wondering about her a little. Where could she be?"

Emily wanted to tell the other engines what had happened between her and Rebecca, but remembering how sad Rebecca was and how much she needed to be alone right now came first, so she reluctantly said nothing while she and the other engines settled for the night.

In Knapford Sheds, all evening, and on into the night, poor Rebecca, as sad as a child lost in the woods with no mother and father, cried, sobbed, sniffled and hiccuped all alone in Knapford Sheds, her eyes becoming ever-so pink and her cheeks becoming so soaking wet with so many tear trails to count. Just hearing her own sobs made her cry even more, sending even more tears out of her eyes and down her cheeks. Her heart was throbbing and her throat was holding a lump that was too painful to swallow away. And so Rebecca cried and cried until sleep overtook her, tears still leaving her eyes even then...

The next morning, Rebecca woke up and started to cry again as everything Emily told her flickered in her mind again. She knew she had to take the express, but she had a new feeling inside her. This feeling would only last a day or two, but after what she had learned the other day, she wanted nothing more to do with Gordon. She wanted to take the express on her own, making sure she would not see him at all that day.

She huffed hastily and impatiently to Knapford Station. She made sure to let all her passengers board and for all her coaches to be coupled on properly, but as soon a she heard Gordon's voice, she could not hold her position.

"Rebecca? Where were you last night? You didn't come back to the sheds," she heard Gordon say as he came up beside her. His wheels had scarcely stopped turning when the guards whistle blew and she took off with a start without a word.

Rebecca hurried as fast as she could along the line to Maron Station where her passengers were let off. She knew not to leave too early, but was also hoping Gordon wouldn't catch up with her. Luckily, more passengers came by to board so they wouldn't miss their trains. But then Rebecca heard Gordon's whistle coming from behind her.

"Rebecca? Whatever are you doing?" he called after her.

As soon as the last passenger boarded, Rebecca dashed off. The guard was so surprised, he had to make a jump for it as the brake coach tore away from the platform.

"Rebecca! Watch out!" called Gordon.

Rebecca huffed so fast and so hastily between each station she came to, she bounced her passengers about like peas in a frying pan. This was not how the passengers remembered her, except on her first day when she caused confusion without delay. While she made sure to wait for all her passengers to hold to their schedule at each station this time, she wanted to be as far away from Gordon as she could get. But in doing so, she was giving her passengers a ride too bumpy and too bouncy to be of good service.

When Rebecca returned to Knapford Station, the Fat Controller was waiting there, tapping his foot. Rebecca's passengers left the platform and crowded the Fat Controller, spending the next several minutes, telling him what a rough and uncomfortable journey they all had. Rebecca grew worried as the passengers left and the Fat Controller turned to her.

"I don't know how they did things with you on the Mainland, Rebecca, but as you saw just now, there have been complaints," he said sternly. "Passengers are not like goods trains! You must go smoothly and carefully!"

"Oh, dear. I'm sorry, sir. I'll do my best tomorrow."

"I should hope so too," the Fat Controller replied.

That night, Rebecca returned to Tidmouth Sheds with the other engines, not saying a word...until Gordon came back and backed in beside her. He was now unsure of why Rebecca was behaving the way she did.

"Rebecca, what were you doing out there?" he asked. "Your passengers all complained to the Fat Controller. You were going too fast with your coaches. I trust you don't want to cause confusion without delay again, like your first-"

What Gordon heard next was most unexpected. "Be quiet!" Rebecca hissed at him. "And go to sleep!"

And she reversed stubbornly right inside her shed. Gordon was most surprised. He had never seen or heard Rebecca sound...annoyed, impatient and...almost bossy. Emily was almost more surprised than Gordon, to hear what she once said to Thomas at Knapford Sheds.

"What the...Rebecca!" she exclaimed, affronted. "Why...What are you...?"

"It doesn't matter!" she heard Rebecca retort.

The next day, things were no better. The weather had changed with a miserable turn, with grey, gloomy clouds Once again not saying anything to Gordon as she set off with her share of the express, Rebecca still couldn't put her buffer on it. Gordon was always the engine she was the most certain of. Now she was not certain at all. Not in the least. She didn't know what to think of him, or how to compare her initial thoughts to what Emily had told her about him. It was all such a big tizzy for her to puzzle over. This was it. Rebecca had been working with the engine she felt she knew, but now she felt terrible, sensing that Gordon was terrible. It all seemed very clear and very vague at the same time. This time, she made sure not to be so rough with her coaches, so no complaints would come today.

Gordon, meanwhile had been thinking about a few things himself as he took his share of the express. He recalled how Rebecca was behaving the other day and how she rebuked him that evening. He knew something was up, but he didn't know what. With the thoughts he had been holding in the back of his smokebox, maybe he had to tell her something. But the way in which he would end up doing so, he could not see coming...yet.

"Perhaps I should see what's going on this evening," he said. "She's such a good help with the express. I must find out what's happening."

Eventually, as Rebecca finished her last run of passengers that early evening, it began to rain very hard. Like Henry once felt, Rebecca did not like the rain. Although she didn't think to hide in a tunnel, she didn't like being out in the wet. In the water, in the rain. But above everything, she did not like her mind festering over everything she had learned about Gordon. She just had to be with Emily again. So she took off on her way back.

When she arrived at Tidmouth Sheds, Rebecca saw Emily already in her berth. The other engines had not yet returned. Rebecca wanted to be right beside Emily after what she had heard two nights ago. She turned right around to Percy's berth and back in beside Emily.

"Rebecca?" asked Emily. "What are you doing in Percy's berth? He'll need it when he comes back."

"Oh! Emily!" she gasped. "I'll of course let Percy take his berth when he comes back, but for now, I can't be on the other side of the shed after what I heard about you, Gordon and James!"

"I know it's difficult for an engine like you to hear things like that, Rebecca," said Emily. "It's a very emotionally pulling and tense story...but quite honestly, I am most astounded that you rebuked Gordon the same way I wrongly rebuked Thomas at Knapford Sheds! And from what little I heard, you were impatient with your express run too, like I was when I tried to be as good as Gordon!"

"I want nothing more to do with him, Emily!" Rebecca heaved. "He's not an express engine to me now! He's a monster! James may have done a lot of bad to you too, but it's Gordon's fault for starting the entire war for you to begin with!"

"You know that is not true, Rebecca," said Emily. "You and Gordon have been working together with the express very well since you first came here. He's never been a monster to you and he never will!"

"He was a monster to you!" Rebecca replied. "Just...just...how DARE he do such things to you!"

"It's one of the most defining parts of my life, Rebecca, I know, but today, it's not that big a deal anymore," said Emily. "It's all over now and we've all moved on."

"I haven't!" Rebecca exclaimed. "I...I just never imagined that Gordon was the start of it all! I know James contributed very nastily to it, but...Gordon! My word!"

"You know, Rebecca," said Emily. "To forgive Gordon and James, I had to forgive myself first. That was the wound Thomas helped me to heal...and James actually proved himself very useful and diligent over the years. You see, he had a budding relationship with Molly during that mess. They were doing fairly well together until she learned the truth and she left James after he had lied to her about me and how he didn't save me from Gordon. He tried everything he could over the years, trying to win her back with his usefulness, but she kept refusing...until he saved her from a terrible accident and sacrificed himself to the accident so she stayed safe. When she saw how much he loved her despite everything, she finally forgave him, and all his efforts over those years were rewarded with her rejuvenated love for him. That's when I figured he truly moved on as I did. You must forgive Gordon if you want to heal this wound."

"I...I...how can I, Emily?" asked Rebecca. "I thought he was a big, proud, but also kind engine when I came here. He was so good to me...but after learning your history, and what they did...I...I don't know! I just don't want anything to do with him! Nothing! And even worse...he never told me any of this! If he had done that, maybe I would have had a clearer image of him! Probably not as pleasant, but at least honest! He kept this secret from me!"

"Rebecca..." Emily pleaded lightly. "He must have been nervous to tell you. Maybe you should let him tell you himself. You only heard my side of the story. The best thing for you would to be to hear his side too. He will not lie to an engine as friendly and kind as you."

Rebecca still could not understand how Emily could possibly move past such a traumatic experience, and for Gordon and James to be forgiven for such hideous misdeeds. Such horrific events that caused Emily to so many awful things she never wished to do, and yet it was all water under the bridge. But how? Rebecca thought for sure that bullying like this was not worthy of any forgiveness of any sort. Rebecca opened her mouth to speak again...when she suddenly heard a familiar whistle. Rebecca looked...and there was Gordon. Rebecca couldn't run away right now.

"Emily? Rebecca?" he said as the rain kept pouring down.

When she saw Gordon, something immediately sparked inside Rebecca. A flare that no one ever imagined she would show. She had heard the whole story about the three engines in that dramatic tale, and for just a few moments on this day, Rebecca was a completely different engine as she stared right through the big blue engine. She was suddenly ready. Ready to face him...ready to fight.

"Is it true?! Did you try to destroy her joy?!" she yelled above the rain.

"Do not speak to me of such events! I know their despair and ruin!" Gordon hissed shakily as he began to reverse off the turntable and back down the line, feeling deeply troubled by what he and James did to Emily all those years ago.

Rebecca huffed out of her berth, into the rain just as the turntable lined up for her. "Stop! …STOP!" she screamed.

Gordon kept reversing away from the shed while Rebecca got on the turntable. As soon as it lined up with Gordon, she dashed for it and bumped right into him. The sudden movement jolted Gordon back a yard or two. Emily gasped at what she saw.

"Did you do it?! Did you create the mean and bossy Emily?!" Rebecca demanded.

Gordon tried to reverse away again in the hopes of avoiding an unpleasant fight that neither she, nor he deserved, but Rebecca did not miss any chances and chased right after him.

"Spite Emily, would you?! TAKE THAT!" And she gave Gordon another vicious bump, pushing him a few more yards away. "FIGHT BACK, YOU COWARD! FIGHT BACK!" she shrieked.

"Rebecca, don't! No!" Emily cried.

Rebecca took no notice. Gordon kept reversing away, not wanting to get involved himself. Rebecca yelled with fury and kept bumping Gordon as much as she could. Through it all, Gordon did not fight back, feeling such memories flood back into him. After James had felt Molly's betrayal and departure when she learned the truth, it was Rebecca's turn now. She continued to push and shove Gordon away from the sheds in anger and frustration...until they approached the trap-points that had saved them both from a collision. And there, just like Rebecca's runaway experience, that powerful spring popped into action and jolted Gordon's wheels off the rails, sending him bumping and skidding between the rails and sleepers for a few yards until he stopped altogether.

Gordon gazed at Rebecca's flaming eyes as she bared her teeth at him. Then she let off steam as she finally managed to settle down.

Before long, Edward was called to the scene with Judy and Jerome, who lifted Gordon back into place. Gordon said nothing as he kept his gaze on Rebecca, who still stared hard into his eyes. When Edward left to return Judy and Jerome to their siding and return to Wellsworth himself, Rebecca finally broke the silence between Gordon and herself.

"Tell me the truth!" she ordered.

As the rain slowly let up a little, it all came flooding back to Gordon as he looked at Rebecca. Every little thing he and James had done to Emily, he had to come clean with for the engine who had helped him so much with the express. He had hoped to tell her eventually so she wouldn't have the wrong impression. But now under the circumstances now, it seemed her impressions were badly shaken. He had to tell her today.

"Yes..." he said miserably. "I really did cause Emily's joy to be destroyed over those four and a half years. James played a part in it too...but I take full responsibility for starting it from the beginning. It was the biggest mistake, and the most evil act I ever committed on Sodor or not. Truly and from the bottom of my heart, down to my wheels, Rebecca...I really did hope to tell you about it someday. I did want you to hear the story through and through...so you wouldn't have the wrong impression. I'm sure you would have viewed me as an unusual and unappealing engine anyway...but like any bad deed, the barrier of telling the truth is sometimes hard to break through, and I didn't know how and when to tell you."

"Well, after what Emily divulged to me two nights ago, I spent the entire night in Knapford Sheds, crying my soul out...after learning what you did!"

Gordon suddenly remembered her absence. "Rebecca...is that why you didn't come back to the sheds that night? Because Emily shared her story with you?"

"Yes!" Rebecca hissed. "James' actions were certainly bad, but I'm only focused on everything YOU did alone!"

"And what did Emily tell you?" asked Gordon.

"She told me enough!" Rebecca hissed angrily. "She told me YOU called her unrespectable for having no dome! YOU called her a steamroller over her large wheels! YOU said she was perfect out of sight and out of the way! YOU sneezed on her after she failed the Clean Engine Inspection, then pushed her under the coal chute, taunting her over being a goody-goody telltale who begs others to fight for her! Then you boasted that you could cross the island twice before tea time, making her lose all patience and leave the brake coach, strand Bertie's passengers, bump her coaches too hard and refuse to fill on water! AND she told me the exact words you said to her that very same day!"

And Rebecca bravely spoke those very words too. That was the first time Gordon ever heard those words spoken back to him. In a way, something broke inside him. Nothing in his boiler, pipes or firebox. But something broke. Hearing those words spoken back to him made him realize he should have told Rebecca sooner. Even if she may have been shaken anyway, if he had come out clean earlier, this probably would not have happened. It was then that he decided to confide a few things in his new friend.

"Well, you are perfectly right about all of that, Rebecca. Everything Emily said to you is true. There is no lie in that story. Honest, true and solid."

"It is?" asked Rebecca.

"Indeed," said Gordon. "But...Rebecca?"

"Yes, Gordon?" she said, beginning to soften and calm down.

"Emily may have told you everything about what James and I did to her...but there is something that only I can share with you...and clearly...I want to share with you."

"And what is that, Gordon?"

"My own...little demons and faults," said Gordon. "The more I think about it, I truly did make a huge mistake in rebuking Emily first thing when she only said hello. I will confess, I had little to no remorse or regret over what I said and did to Emily. After she became so bossy after her winter accident, as she tried to make us stop, it made me angered in turn, which made me keep bullying her. But I never exactly considered them mistakes...until slowly, but surely, Thomas' demon began to show itself."

"Really?" asked Rebecca. "When was that?"

"When Thomas wanted to help Molly by giving her covered empty trucks with decorative lights, the wind blew them away and Percy, Emily and I saw it was not a special. After Molly dashed away, I looked to Thomas. I saw darkness. I'd sensed it building in him. I'd seen a touch of it in that moment. He shouted to all of us about laughing at Molly first thing, and I cannot recall him shouting like that before. But then, the day came when Thomas' demon awoke for the first time and when James and I heard the news of what he did to 'Arry and Bert, it was beyond what I ever imagined. That night, when Emily stopped to rest after running away from the engines, James and I mocked her again...and I saw the darkness escape her too. I did not see it coming. She shrieked to both of us how we were the meanest, most insensitive engines ever and she hated us. Even I was left speechless. I had never seen such rage from her in my life."

"Were you scared?" asked Rebecca.

"Indeed I was...but it only became more frightful. Thomas came by and demanded where Emily was. James and I told him what she had said. Thomas slowly, but surely figured it all out right there. He knew it was James and I who had done everything to change Emily. The way he demanded us where she was scared me even further. I never imagined my ally could be so scary, angry and even violent. But even then, my fears were not over. The next morning when Thomas and Emily came back with the Fat Controller, I was worried. And when Emily called us out, I knew it was the end of the line. She divulged everything she had told Thomas to all the other engines. She had defeated us at long last."

Rebecca began to feel bad about her sudden fight with Gordon as she just stood there, enthralled and so deep in what Gordon was saying.

"Thomas had already turned her heart back, for the best that ever could be," murmured Gordon. "As the Fat Controller approached James and I, it suddenly clicked in me that not only had James and I nearly turned Emily into a monster, but that I had brought destruction, pain and anger, and nearly the end of everything Thomas loved because of what I had turned Emily into, and in that moment of pure peril, the Fat Controller had never sounded so furious!"

As Gordon recited some of the Fat Controller's words, Rebecca shut her eyes again and could see it all in her head...

"I am utterly disgusted by your abysmal behaviour...you have the inexcusable cheek to disobey my orders once again and cause Emily to suffer unimaginable pain and suffering for so many years...you actually have the sick, twisted sense of humor to enjoy constantly harassing poor Emily, when she did nothing to deserve it...if you two ever disobey my orders again and if you two ever bully anyone on this magnitude again, then I will lock both of you up in the shed and you will never be let out ever again! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!"

Rebecca heard Gordon's voice again and opened her eyes.

"Those roaring, echoing words rang clear through my ears. And I was left with shame…and its consequence. Donald and Douglas were ordered to take James and I to the out of use siding until further notice. And the last things I saw...from Emily, a look of pure hatred for everything I had put her through. And from Thomas...the eyes of a vengeful tank engine, full of anger and betrayal, whose ally had failed him."

Rebecca had listened to everything and was suddenly seeing Gordon as yet another different engine. First Emily's perspective, now Gordon's too. The rain suddenly stopped and the clouds slowly began to part.

"The weeks passed," Gordon went on. "James and I idled there with our control panels boarded up until we'd be released. Only once was I let out of the out of use siding to give Thomas a letter from the Mainland Smelters Yards, about his only sister Emma being scrapped, along with the rest of his brothers. Hearing that news broke me even further. And when we were let out of the out of use siding, we had not changed much in our overly proud ways, but we DID learn not to bully at such magnitude ever again. It took an incredibly long time for everything to be resolved between the three of us. Several years passed ever since Emily returned to her joyful self. And in that time, James and I both did their best to atone for all the wrongs we placed upon her, and prove how sorry we truly were. James did exactly that for Molly for several years, although she didn't come back to him until the very end when he saved her from a nasty accident."

"I know. Emily told me that just before you came to the sheds tonight," said Rebecca.

"Good. Very good. And so, James got his reward for all his efforts of redemption, by reclaiming Molly's love. However..."

"Yes, Gordon?"

"Well...even now...I still don't feel worthy of the forgiveness I've been given. You see, there was one time a few years ago when I was waiting for my coaches and Thomas said I should fetch them myself. I bragged I was too big for shunting, calling Thomas a silly little tank engine. He tried to pay me back by taking my coaches, only to derail them when Emily bumped into them. The Fat Controller had sent him away to help build the Harwick Branch Line while I felt victorious...but Thomas suffered grave injustice from the Fat Controller because of that. If only I didn't tease him, he wouldn't have taken my coaches and gone through such undeserving ill treatment. After Emily confronted the Fat Controller and set everything clear, he apologized to Thomas, made up with him...and cracked down on me by sending me to the Smelters to watch the scrap melt down until my express run tonight. It was such a frightful sight for me, but I likely deserved it for what I had caused upon Thomas."

"Oh...G-Gordon..." Rebecca whispered.

"Then when I competed in the Great Railway Show, as the streamlined Shooting Star...I was too impatient to wait for my safety valve, as Victor and Thomas found out. Thomas jumped Vicarstown Bridge to bring it to me, but I still didn't listen, and my safety valve burst. Sometime after we returned, Thomas and Emily had a very bad fight about an accident he had with her, which made them briefly break up. I inquired as to what was going on, and overheard Thomas lamenting him bringing my safety valve and that he stayed put he wouldn't have met Ashima and Emily wouldn't have gotten worried over losing him. After hearing Emily's side of the story, I arranged for Edward and Percy to meet Thomas and Emily and help them come back together. And they did."

"Wonderful!" said Rebecca. "You arranged that plan for them to come back together? You helped them knit the tears from their fight?"

"Yes," said Gordon. "Thomas had me to thank for saving their relationship from being split in two. He came to see me, he thanked me...and then...after all these years, he forgave me for everything I had put Emily through. I was free. The riff between me and him over Emily was finally over. But...even now, I still feel as though...I'm not worthy of such forgiveness. What I did to Emily will always be embedded in my memory...and for me to not tell you sooner...perhaps I don't deserve to be forgiven. I'm so sorry, Rebecca."

Rebecca and Gordon stared at each other, not saying a word. Rebecca had absorbed every last word Gordon had spoken. She had now heard his side too. Gordon had shed some light on the whole matter. There was no more mystery. It was all clear for Rebecca to see. What she heard Gordon say about himself, she never imagined. She never thought that an engine who had caused so many faults to Emily actually confided in her over his own inner faults, coming out perfectly honest about them all. That was a trait she had never seen in any engine, friendly or devious. And to hear such words from Gordon made something within her stir.

After what felt like twenty minutes, Rebecca finally spoke. "You know, Gordon...I...I must admit something. What I had learned about you, James and Emily two nights ago has made me look at you in quite a different light. You're not the engine I thought you were when I first came here to join the Steam Team."

Gordon felt ashamed.

"But with that said..." Rebecca continued, making Gordon look up. "I think you were very, very brave and very honest to confide in me over your personal shortcomings. Many engines who cause trouble on purpose never admit their villainy and faults. You're the first engine I've ever known to ever do that. No one has ever spoken so much about themselves in such detail and such a story to tell. I had no idea of what you and James did to Emily...but I also had no idea you could be so truthful...and provocative in such moving ways. Therefore for you to be this honest and true to me...I believe you do deserve full forgiveness. I think you really do see and accept your flaws deep down."

Gordon did not know what to say as he stared into Rebecca's friendly eyes.

"...You do?" asked Gordon. "Do you mean that?"

"Every word, Gordon," said Rebecca. "You're a good engine to feel this way and to speak about these matters in the way you just did."

She slowly smiled at him with a quiet, small giggle. Then she did something that Gordon was not expecting at all. She buffered to Gordon, then gently touched her adorable little nose to Gordon's and just stood there for a few moments.

Gordon remained silent as he stared at Rebecca's friendly smile and felt her nose on his. It felt very peaceful and safe. After such a dramatic encounter at Tidmouth Sheds before, it was a complete transformation. When Rebecca reversed slightly, they just held a simple smile of understanding to each other for a few minutes more. Rebecca's image of Gordon was different, and probably in a better way than it had started out.

Emily was still at Tidmouth Sheds as the clouds slowly parted and the stars appeared in the sky, when presently, she heard cheerful voices down the line. She recognized the voices as Gordon and Rebecca. She remembered how intense the situation as before and took a look.

"You go on, Rebecca. You take the turntable first," said Gordon.

"Hm-hm! Yes, of course, Gordon," Rebecca giggled as she reversed into her berth beside him. Emily could see the polar opposite of how the encounter started out and wondered.

"Well, what happened out there? Both of you are suddenly quite chipper."

Rebecca had such a dear smile on her face. She looked to Gordon and winked. They told Emily everything that had happened out there. It took quite a while for them to explain everything...and neither Gordon, nor Rebecca included their brief banter at the end, but by the time everything was explained, Emily had a dear smile too.

"Well!" she said. "That sounds very pleasant for both of you. That sounds very good."

"I understand now, Emily," said Rebecca. "Now I see how it's all in the past. Gordon is a wonderful engine to come out the way he did with me."

"I will say this, Emily," said Gordon. "Rebecca is a very fine engine indeed. She may be a little shy, but she is not afraid to stand up for herself, or her friends. A most admirable and very grand trait if I must say. You're an inspiration to us all, Rebecca, seeing the best in all of us."

Rebecca smiled. "Yes. I think you're a very fine engine for the Steam Team. Not to mention, I thoroughly enjoy pulling the express with you, and I look forward to even more of it with you for every day that shall come. Goodnight, Gordon."

And with a comfy sigh, Rebecca fell fast asleep. Soon, the other engines returned and settled down too from their day's work.

After all the engines were asleep, Gordon saw a little chance, and took a look at Rebecca's sleeping form. He knew what Emily, Molly and Nia all looked like, within the steam ladies who slept here. As he looked at Rebecca, he found himself feeling fond of her appearance. She was quite big, like him. She had an interesting frame with her sides making her look quite unique. Her bright yellow paintwork reminded him of Molly, only Rebecca was a much brighter yellow. He looked along her top, right up to her front and her adorable face. She looked quite pretty as she stood in her berth, fast asleep.

Her face had adorable little curves that formed her smile, such an adorable little nose, and her little pointy eyelashes made her seem as innocent as she let on. As she breathed softly and peacefully in her sleep, Gordon wondered just what else she could do with him. She had been doing such a fine job with the express, and Gordon recalled giving much more pleasant experiences than before she came here. Perhaps she was the boost for him to see more joy in life.

"She is quite an engine. Really useful with the express," Gordon murmured quietly to himself. "Not to mention, very high spirits. Much better shown from her than a tank engine. Sleep well, Rebecca."

And as Gordon shut his eyes too, Rebecca took a little breath and hummed happily in her sleep. "Mmm..."

Dear God this was long, but worth it overall since this is the beginning of Gordon and Rebecca's eventual relationship, and it was crucial that Rebecca knew about Gordon's dark past. Thankfully the next story won't be nearly as long as this was. Speaking of next story, it's another magazine adaptation, so look forward to it, and until then tell us what you thought of this story. Stay safe everyone.