Chapter Text
There was a brief moment when the old engine blinks once, twice before a gentle sigh.
How long had she been waiting on the side as she breathed in shakily. How many years has it been...
The old manager watched quietly before he gently knocked the rusted edges of the engine.
"Still in there, Old Lady?" He mused as the Engine glanced down.
"Still alright... still here... I've not left yet. I'm still surprised you haven't released me to the Doncaster workshop to fall with our former home."
"...Couldn't do that to you old girl, not when you should of had a chance to walk, and run... and finally run free. Yet when you did... they never treated you right."
The old engine wheezed softly. Her frame rattled as another young engine rushed past the nearby track. It was fascinating to see the young ones run past where her own children ran. Up and down the line towards the Scottish front. Link... Quick... King and Fox... And then her younger little ones... Oh how she adored them all, proud of their stance to the world...
Only 6 now... out of them all... She sighed, frame sagging. Maybe she would see the kids again who would visit the scrapyard. They often told her about their studies and all the engines they saw on their walks. Maybe she would reminisce about when...
The manager hummed gently, catching her attention once more.
"Do you want a wash to help you...? It has been a bit colder"
"No, thank you." She spoke quick, "The others deserve this... let this old lady spend her time in solitude..." She commented in response. She may be older... but she was still a Gresley, a prototype but still a proud engine and there were far too many other engines and units that required more care. The manager nods before looking away and returning to his duties.
It was often he would visited the engine of what was formerly Hush Hush... Once meant to be scrapped after her refurbishment... yet somehow... she remained. She was still here when her children gathered to meet their end... how Link watched his siblings disappear before he too vanished from her sight.
Of course, the manager would inform her of local news. About her nephew, The Flying Scotsman and her newest niece; Tornado... Of anything steam,. How old Talyllyn would still be steaming and be a head of steam restoration and hertitage... Old Furness 20 who kept moving along... All the new engines showing up... especially that Prince of Wales P2 engine... one day he would wake up and enter the everchanging world.
But... if she could have a wish? A selfish one, she would add... but a little wish before she would meet her maker?
She would love to see her children once more... To run along them one last time...
But that would be wishful thinking.
She paused when she heard the chatter and the footsteps of younger generations approaching.
"Auntie! Auntie!" They called out. She only greeted with them a smile.
"Can we have a story?" Their faces were warm, full of life in this yard as they grouped around the old engine, seeking stories from a time long passed in their time. She hummed to herself, as if thinking.
"Oh I don't know... have you all done your homework?" She laughed at the chorus of complaints as they took out their books and pencils. Gathering around the yard's sight as the old manager kept watch over the kids.
"Well I guess to help pass the time... I could indulge... After all... I never finished that story of when Link was still on his training wheels..."
As she began her story to the sounds of pencil scribbles... it only reminder her of her creator's pencil as he sketched what would be the A4s... How she knew of that lone unpainted engine A1 sibling who would only be able to watch the stars when allowed...
She knew he had been shipped off somewhere... though she hoped he continued to press on... At least... one of the prototypes should... But... Old things like them... wouldn't get to see too much... See the end of the fruits of labour they helped set in motion... She looks down to the curious eyes watching her before only smiling.
Only time would tell.