A Silver Lining In Every Cloud 1

Diesel had just reached the Ffarquar branch.

“Daisy! Mavis!” He called as he came into Toryreck.

“Diesel. What’s the update?" Daisy asked. “Has Norman Spencer decided to bring our friends back?”

“No.” He replied. “I’d better get ready for plan B. Do you have the tankers ready?”

“Yes. They are behind the station.”

Before Diesel could get them, another horn sounded in the air.

“Uh oh.” Cried Mavis. “It’s Delphine!”

“Mavis, I’ll talk to my sister. You tag along with Diesel, just in case.”

“Right Daisy. Just as soon as I get these out the way.” Mavis agreed.

Diesel got the tankers and Mavis put her trucks in the siding out of the way. There was no time for the Class 08 to be turned around. When the shunters left, Delphine arrived.

“Daisy.” She said. “What’s Diesel doing with Mavis?”

Daisy started to feel uncomfortable. “Well, Delphine, we had a bad lot of milk today.” Daisy lied. “Apparently… a few of the cows was sick when they were being milked and Diesel kindly offered to take the bad lot away.”

“And Mavis?”

“She saw that Diesel needed help and decided to lend a buffer. She isn’t due back at the quarry for an hour or 2.” The last part about Mavis was true. She had plenty of time before she was due back.

“Fair enough. Now Daisy, we must keep on top of the schedule. If we don’t… goodness knows what Mr. Spencer would do to us.”

Daisy understood. Unlike the predecessor controllers of the NWR, Norman Spencer was known for being stubborn. She stood deep in thought for a moment.

“Daisy?” Asked Delphine. “You ok?”

“Oh… I miss my friends.” Daisy explained. “While steam engines might not mean a lot to you, the ones here were some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. Ask any of the original diesel fleet, Mavis or Geoff and they will tell you the same thing, even though some of us got off on the wrong buffer of each other.”

“Don’t worry. They might pay a visit to see you sometime.” Delphine said warmly. “I’d like to meet the rest of your friends for myself.”

Daisy smiled. She knew that Delphine got along well with Henry, James, Peter and Alice already, and she started to tell Delphine about all her other steam engine friends. Daisy also noticed that Delphine was listening with interest and was asking questions about their personalities and other things. Maybe, Daisy thought, that some diesels might stay on once the railway was restored back to normal.

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Heh, just a little something I threw in here. Delphine isn't a character going to be in any episodes of STMY, (Unless WildNorWester decides otherwise) but she was just a random diesel I came up with that was Daisy's sister. However, she is free to use with my permission.