Authors note: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to HIT Entertainment. And please excuse my poor english, I'm norwegian and didn't pay too much attention in my english class...

Playing with fire

Chapter 12

"It's the alarm at the quarry…" Mavis said slowly, as the ugly truth sank in. "Oh no… I still have workers there. Skarloey, Rheneas, the Iron-twins, Luke… I hope no one is hurt! I have to go check on them all!"

Some of the other engines decided to follow her, in case she needed help. At least, help was probably needed to clean up if there had been a rockslide or something.

Edward and Toby coupled up to some empty trucks, bringing them along. Gordon thundered off to empty the truckloads of debris after Edward's derailing, then he would come to the quarry afterwards. Diesel 10 didn't need to think about it, he was among the first ones to head for the quarry, his claw might be of some use up there. Thomas, Rosie and Lady looked at each other, then they nodded, they were going too. The narrow-guage engines were friends of them after all. They noticed a deep pink shunter following them. Alex' eyes were wide in horror.

As they passed the wash, they saw a hazard-striped diesel rushing out, still covered in soap. It was Bert, and his expression were displaying a fear none of them had thought he would be able to kindle.

"Arry! He is still up there! He was just going to put some trucks back and then come to the wash… Oh crap, oh crap…" the diesel shunter cried as he joined the group.

Mavis' face went pale. "Diesel… do you know if he left before you, Bert?"

"No, he was still there." Bert shouted, now starting to fear not only for his brother, but also his friend. "Fuck, this is bad!"

Then the group went silent, only the rattling from their wheels, sounds of diesel engines and the puffing of steam could be heard as they thundered towards the quarry. The alarm still echoed over the area, a cloud of dust was starting to clear. Coughing and cursing could be heard as they came closer. The quarry manager ran up to Mavis as she slid to a stop.

"Thank God, you're here Mavis! Two diesels, two narrow-guage engines and a bunch of troublesome trucks is trapped in the rockslide! We've managed to get in contact with some of them, but not all of them replies, they might be unconscious or…. Or…"

"Let's not think the worst…" Mavis muttered. "Come on! Edward, Toby! You two go over there! Diesel 10, start clearing up, putting the rubble into their trucks! Alex, take those trucks over there and pull them away to make some room for the rescue team! Percy, you go get Rocky!"

She kept barking orders, feeling her wheels getting wobbly and weak. Diesel… was he…? Two diesels… it could only mean Arry and Diesel!

She went pale, her eyes rolled back. Then everything went black.

"Lady! Go get some cold water! Mavis has fainted!" Thomas shouted, quickly running over to her. The black quarry diesel was not replying to his attempts on making her respond.

Lady rushed to the water tower, where some quarry workers filled up buckets of water, putting them inside Lady's cab. She hurried back to Mavis, where Thomas' driver splashed it into Mavis' face.

Mavis coughed and spat. Slowly coming back to her senses. "Diesel is in there. Oh God… please don't take him away from me! We've just found each other…"

Lady nudged her. "Come on, let's go to your shed. You shouldn't join the rescue, it will be too hard for you. Let's just stay there and watch. You boyfriend is probably fine, you'll see. Calm down now, and let's wait."

"Easy for you to say! Your boyfriend isn't buried in there!" Mavis snapped.

"I know, I know…" Lady shunted her towards the shed. "We just have to pray that your love and your workers are fine."

"Fine?! FINE?! Can't you see the size of those rocks?!" Mavis shouted, being pushed into the soothing shade of her shed. She broke down and cried hysterical. Lady pushed her buffers, leaning her forehead against Mavis' to comfort her.

"Shhh… they are doing their best to find them. Let's not grieve in advance, hun." Lady whispered. She didn't really know any of the engines buried, but she still felt the angst creeping up on her. To her, all engines had value, and it was painful when someone died. She hoped nobody would meet their demise today.

"I've found one! Get a flatbed ready!" Diesel 10 shouted, making an engine come over with a flatbed. The engine he had found was small, he could easily lift it with the help of his claw.

"It's Luke!" Thomas cried. "Luke! Talk to me!"

The small engine didn't open it's eyes, but his lips moved as if he was trying to say something. The rest of his body was severely damaged, but as an mechanic took a rough overlook, he found that Luke could be repaired.

"Take him to the steamworks!"

Emily chugged off with the flatbed, talking to Luke in a soft, comforting tune.

"Luke is alive, Mavis." Lady said, trying to cheer up the devastated quarry engine.

Mavis gave a weak smile before she broke down again. "There are still three missing… and one of them means the world to me…"

"I know, I know…" Lady whispered. How would she have reacted if it had been Diesel 10 buried in that rockslide? Would she have broken down or been able to keep cool until she knew if he was ok or not?

She didn't find any answer to that, so she focused on comforting Mavis instead.

"This one is…." Diesel 10 choked out. "… beyond repair… I need… I need a minute."

The big warship backed away, closing his eyes in pain, taking a deep breath to remain calm. It was really hard to keep his composure.

"Arry!" Alex screamed loud and heartbreaking, the pain in her voice was so clear everyone could feel it. "ARRY!"

Diesel 10 took another breath, clearing away the last of the rocks covering the hazard-striped shunter. He swallowed hard as he saw the twisted frame and crushed chassis. The ironworker was bleeding from his mouth, oil seeped from holes in his body. Arry's engine was still running, but had a sick rattling sound that soon escalated. A loud bang made the engine go out. The silence afterwards was painful to everyone gathered around the scene. Alex' hysterical and heartbreaking sobs made it clear to everyone that they had lost a fellow engine today. And even if most of them had feared and disliked the irondiesel when he was alive, it was all forgotten now. Their faces where all marked by the tragedy. Bert was standing like he was frozen, not able to let the truth sink in. His twin was gone. Forever.

"Bert…" Rosie said softly, pushing him away from the scene. It was clearly hard for him and he didn't need to see this. "Let's go to the shed. I know this is hard… I… I…"

A quiver went through the hazard-striped diesel. "NOOOO! Leave me alone!" his scream echoed between the rocks, making everyone look at him in sympathy. He pushed Rosie backwards, wanting to get to his brother. Rosie quickly moved to another track, or else she would have been derailed.

"Tell me this is just a bad dream!" Bert cried as he watched his brother being lifted onto a waiting flatbed.

"Smelters yard!" an railway worker ordered, sounding cold and harsh. It was no way to say it to make it sound nicer.

Rosie closed her eyes, feeling his pain as if it was her own. She had a relationship with both of them long ago, and even if it was over, she still cared for them as her friends. Losing one of the was more painful than she would have expected. She recalled all the fun they had, pushing away the most inappropriate ones, focusing on the jokes and smiled instead. When they had been together, they had never thought about the differences between diesels and steamies, they had just hung out and had fun as fellow engines.

Thomas saw her pain, and felt a sting of jealousy, but forced it away. He wasn't going to hold any grudge against a dead engine! He puffed over to her, putting his buffers against hers to show his sympathy.

"I'm sorry, Rosie." he whispered. "I didn't know him so well, but I can see that you cared for him. If you need to talk about it, I will listen."

"Thanks, Thomas." she smiled through her tears. "Right now it's just too hard… and I think Bert and Alex need someone to lean on more than I do…"

"I don't know how to… I don't know what to say or do to make them feel better." He admitted, looking over at the two shunters following Arry's flatbed out of the quarry.

"You don't have to say or do anything… just be there for them. They shouldn't be alone now." she sobbed, staring at Arry's dead body until the flatbed disappeared around a bend with Bert and Alex right behind.

"Goodbye, Arry." she whispered into the air.

Thomas leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm so sorry…"

"Here is another!" Diesel 10 shouted. He lifted a rock away from a shivering engine. Another rock has prevented the last one to crush the small engine completely. "You ok, little one?"

Skarloey dared to open his eyes, not believing that he was still alive. His back was crushed and he had lost a wheel, but he was able to drag himself forward, away from the rubble.

"Seems like you had an guardian angel today…" Edward stated as the little engine was loaded onto a flatbed to be taken to the steamworks. "You were lucky."

"Luke, Arry and Diesel…?" Skarloey asked, looking around worried.

"Luke is at the steamworks, he is alive." Edwards assured. "We haven't found Diesel yet."

Skarloey looked at him seriously. "And Arry? Why don't you mention him? Oh my God… is he? Is he?!"

"I'm sorry." Edward said, closing his eyes with a pained expression. Then he drove off with Skarloey on the flatbed.

Rosie looked up, happy that another one was saved. Now all they could hope for was that Diesel was still in one piece too.

It took about an hour before they found the black shunter. Diesel 10 stopped digging, now moving away completely. He wasn't able to continue after this. It was too much.

Mavis and Lady looked up as Toby came chugging towards the shed. Lady quickly moved out of the way, so Toby could talk to Mavis in private.

"Tell me, Toby!" Mavis begged.

Toby closed his eyes and sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, Mavis… really, I am!"

"NOOO!" Mavis broke down, crying hysterically. "This isn't fair!"

Toby pushed her buffers, trying to comfort her and soothe her pain.

Lady puffed away, leaving the two alone. She drove up to Diesel 10, not having to say a word. He put his claw extension around her like an arm, hugging her. Then she released her tears, letting the flow free. Diesel 10 moved his claw, wiping away her tears. He looked devastated too, he had lost two good friends today.

The other engines who wasn't helping out left the quarry. They all knew that even if the two diesels hadn't been mommy's best boys, Sodor would never be the same without them.

The Fat Controlled gathered them all at the steamworks the next day for a debriefing, going through the events that led to the tragedy, letting everyone ask questions and talk about it.

Arry and Diesel had been sent to the smelters yard, but nobody wanted to finish the task. Sir Topham Hatt didn't want to force anyone to break the two diesels up and throw them in the pit, so he had asked an engine from the mainland to do it instead. Secretly, he had visited the scarp yard and removed a small part from each of them, keeping it as a reminder of two useful engines. He used to do that everytime a engine was scrapped. They were more than engines to him, they were friends and family, and he kept small reminders of them all at his office, in a small box. He used to open that box now and then and remember the past engines, it often caused him to cry.

Arry and Diesel had caused him a lot of frustration and dismay throughout the years, but he knew he would still miss their mischievous antics. The two shunters had sure had a lot of personality, his railway would never be the same again. He slipped his hand into his pocket, squeezing their parts lightly, feeling tears sting his eyes.

"We're gathered here today to honor two very useful engines. We all grieve the tragic loss of Diesel and Arry…" his voice broke, he wasn't able to continue.

Sir Topham Hatt tried to keep his composure, but just wasn't able to finish his speech to the engines. He sat down on a crate, hiding his face in his hands.

The engines looked at each other, not knowing how to react. It was hard to see the Fat Controller break down, it added to their own pain. Everyone was wearing black ribbons to honor the two deceased diesels.

Then a mild female voice broke the silence. Lady chugged forward with her eyes closed, singing a slow, soothing song about losing someone dear.

The other engines closed their eyes, letting her song fill them, crying silently.

"Let us remember them as the good engines they were." Lady finished, retreating as her song was over.

"Good?" James choked out, he was sad, but wasn't really able to come up with anything good to say about the two lost engines. "They were mea…"

"… really useful engines!" Edward cut him off and finished the sentence before the red engine was able to dishonor their memory.

"Yes, that was what I was going to say." James realized what he had almost done and blushed.

"They were…." Percy thought hard to come up with something nice. "… strong and hardworking. Diesel even held the record for shunting most trucks in one day."

Mavis smiled through tears. The loss of her boyfriend was tearing her apart, it felt good to hear someone say something nice about him. She knew he hadn't always been the nicest himself. "They had a heart of gold, even though they hid it well. If you get to knew them, they were actually very sweet."

Rosie also wanted to say something, but the first thing popping into her mind was completely inappropriate. Instead she complimented Arry's humor and jokes.

Thomas smiled sad. "Diesel and I had a couple of run-ins, but he has also helped me out a lot. I appreciate that. And I remember when he and Diesel were covered in that smelly cheese. And also how Arry scared me and Emily on Halloween."

Emily chuckled between the sobs by the memory. "Arry and Bert had hid themselves in the scrapyard and acted like ghosts. They scared the steam out of us!"

Bert looked up, a brief smile ran across his face. "But then you got covered by that tarpaulin and freaked us out completely. I seriously thought our last day had come!"

Alex, standing in front of Bert, leaned her forehead onto his smiling through tears. She appreciated to hear positive and fun things about her late boyfriend as not many had spoken good of him when he was alive. She were saddened by the fact that he had to die before anyone had something good to say about him.

"Arry was a fantastic boyfriend." she sobbed. "Protective, passionate and loyal. I'll never forget him."

Bert nudged her buffers to soothe her as she broke down again. "He was an awesome brother. He was able to cheer me up and make me work hard even if the work was horrible, he managed to trail my mind off to other things so we would stay sane."

"I remember spending a whole day searching for Diesel and the special coaches…" Emily whispered. "I was so mad at him! But when he told me why he had stolen them, I felt bad… and wow, you should have seen his face when he saw his new engine! He was so exited!"

"Diesel could sure be a handful, but he was also goodhearted. He came to save me after I got stuck in the old quarry." Percy added. "I know he tricked me there in the first place, but he came to rescue me after all."

Mavis just closed her eyes, remembering her short relationship with Diesel. "He was a complex engine, but he was an awesome boyfriend. If you were able to crack open that hard shell of his, he revealed a sweet personality."

The other engines nodded in agreement. They had all had their run ins with the two diesels, but they had also had a lot of fun.

"I remember Arry and Bert playing that middle-engine trick on me…" James said. "I didn't think it was funny then, but I laugh of it now."

Percy giggled, a tear rolled down his cheek. "They did that to me too. I was pushed to the coal tipper by mistake! I was upset then, but laugh when I think of it now. I also remember when I scared them with my new whistle. You should have seen their faces."

Bert smiled sadly, he knew that he wouldn't be able to play tricks on anyone anymore. It didn't feel right, they had been two about it… he just couldn't continue without Arry. He would also ask Sir Topham Hatt to get another job than the smelters. He didn't want to work there with all the memories and knowing that his brother had met his demise there… Maybe he could work full time at the docks or the shunting yards instead?

"He used to call me "Mr. Special Steam." Henry smiled sadly. "I kind of miss him teasing me for using special coal. I'd given away my coal box, just to have him back and be bugged by him again… and Diesel too…"

"I already miss them…" Emily said, blinking away tears.

Sir Topham Hatt walked over to Bert, placing his hands on his side, not sure if it was to comfort the hazard-striped ironworker or himself. He sniffled as he hugged the shunter, Bert closing his eyes by the sudden affection. "Your brother was one of a kind, Bert. I want you to know that I've loved you both ever since you were tiny, tumbling, clumsy babies trundling around in the baby-yard, trying to imitate the older engines by shunting toy trucks. You two were so cute… I wasn't old back then, and I remember how I used to sneak out to pick up one of you, bringing you back to my room to sleep with you or Arry in my bed like a teddy or precious toy, I even let you two borrow my pacifier. Oh, how mom used to scold me for that telling me it was unhygienic. But I ignored her, still sharing it with you two. We grew up together. I want you to know, Bert, that I never stopped having a soft spot for you two when you grew up, but I got so many duties and so much work, I couldn't spend so much time with each engine anymore. But you both still have a big place in my heart."

Then he walked over to Alex, comforting her too. "I know you cared a lot for Arry, Alex… you heard what I said to Bert. He was special to me too."

Mavis sobbed as it was her turn to get hugged by the Fat Controller. "I miss him so badly, Sir…"

"Me too, Mavis… Diesel could sure be a handful, but I couldn't help growing fond of him anyway. That was why I kept bringing him back even if he messed things up. He snuck into my heart with his pranks and oily charisma. He was the first diesel engine I bought… and despite his deviousness, I never regretted it."

Sir Topham Hatt climbed in to the crate, looking at them all.

"We all feel the loss of Arry and Diesel… it's indescribable… almost unbearable." He said. "Even if it seems impossible, life will go on. But we will always carry them in our hearts. They will never be forgotten."

With those words, he climbed down, walking away from them all, his body was tired and his steps were heavier than usual. He looked like he was 20 years older, and he felt like it too. His hand was locked around the tiny pieces of Arry and Diesel which he still kept in his pocket. He wasn't ready to put them in the box yet… he still wanted to hold on to them a little longer before putting them in the box among the others. The pain of losing them was still too fresh. There was no engines who could replace them. All his engines were special to him. Every time he lost one, it was agony.

The other engines stared after Sir Topham Hatt as he walked away.

Sodor would never be the same, but life would go on. New engines would come, some would go.

Life would go on. They had to hold on to that thought.

The end.

Sorry for ending the story this way, but I ran out of steam on this story, not sure how to continue as it developed in a way I hadn't planned (nothing wrong in that, but my original ending didn't fit anymore.)... so it had to be like this. This story has nothing to do with my other stories though, so if you're confused by reading the story where Alex is dying while Arry lives (Iron Heart), that's the explaination. Please review, that will make my day. ;-)