Author's notes: I really like this story. Master is not my favourite OC, but he is very good, I must say. I think atsf and I can give Britt Alcroft a run for her money in terms of character development for both our own characters and the TVS characters.

Master The Wise Engine

(Crovens Gate, 1990)

Peter Sam: (Chuckles) I thought so. You had a crush on her, didn't you Granpuff.

Duke: Uh... well... heh, yes. I did.

Skarloey: Peter Sam...

Peter Sam: I'm only playing, Skarloey. I understand what it's like to have a crush on a girl, and I know what positive outcomes it can bring. (Smiles at Rachel.)

Rachel: (Giggles) Oh Sammy.

Sir Handel: So, how did Master go on his trials, Granpuff?

Duke: He did pretty well too. In fact...

(Mid Sodor, 1893)

Narrator: One of the new engines that came along with Duchess was called Master. He was an open minded engine and was quite social and whenever Duchess got a little too overzealous he was always there to put her back in her place. But he was also did not stand for any tomfoolery, especially if it went too far. The manager came to see him.

Manager: Your work on with Shire horse has been good, you've proven your money's worth. Now then, I want you, Marie Ravens and Jewel to take some trucks up to the mines at Casy-n-Hawin and help Zap Apple, Sky Dasher, James Holden and Smudger with the mine traffic.

Marie Ravens: Yes Sir!

Jewel: Yes sir. You can count us!

Master: Yes Sir! I'm on my way.

Narrator: So he went to the yards collected his trucks and was his way to the mines. He was willing to oblige to the managers orders, but he wasn't too keen about working with Smudger. Duke, Shire Horse and the other ponies had warned Master about Smudger and his bad behaviour, and Master prepared himself for the worst.

Master: (To himself) I'll have to be very diligent when working with Smudger. I won't tolerate his rudeness.

Narrator: And Master was right to do so. When he arrived, he saw Smudger hastily bashing a train of trucks into a siding, much to the annoyance of Sky Dasher, Zap Apple and James Holden.

Master: (Plainly) Good morning. I am Master, and I take your Sky Dasher, Zap Apple, James Holden and you must be Smudger.

James Holden: That's correct. Nice to meet you.

Sky Dasher: Pleasure to meet you Master.

Zap Apple: Same here …

Narrator: Smudger didn't say a word. He just stared a mighty stare at Master before answering.

Smudger: Yeah, that's ma name, don't y'all go wearin' it out. Now, what do ya'll want?!

Narrator: He had a very deep drawl that did not sound friendly one bit. Master could sense trouble immediately after seeing him shunt the trucks roughly when he came into the mining yards.

Master: (Strictly) The manager has sent me here to help you with the lead traffic… when you're working with me, you have to work by the rulebook!

Smudger: PAH! I don't need any help from y'all. I can do this job just fine ma self!

Master: You have no say in this matter! The manager has sent me here to help you and that's that.

Smudger: Listen rookie, ah know how to handle all this shuntin' here. Ah've done it since ah first arrived!

Master: (Sigh gravely) I really got my work cut out for me.

Narrator: And Master was right. Master did not like the way Smudger was behaving one bit. Smudger roughly bashed and bumped his trucks hard, went fast around sharp bends nearly derailing himself and spilling some of his loads as he went about his work.

(Smudger bashing trucks hard)

Smudger: Hurry along y'all. I've got me some lead to take down and I ain't got all day so get along you little freight cars!

James Holden: Whoa! Steady old boy. Steady!

Zap Apple: Easy Smudger. Slow down!

Sky Dasher: Whoa! Careful with the trucks.

Narrator: But Smudger took no notice and just laughed.

Smudger: Oh put a piece of coal in it, all three of y'all! Ah know how to shunt trucks. Besides, ah'm getting my work done.

Master: (Cross and strict) That's not the way to shunt trucks in this mine Smudger. You are going too fast around those bends. You nearly spilled the lead from those trucks and nearly derailed yourself! Your carelessness is causing a bad effect of the efficiency of this mining yard!

Smudger: (Annoyed and cross) Oh great, you again! Quit interferin'! Ah've worked here longer than you (Gnashing his teeth) and you're sister Duchess have (Stops gnashing teeth) so ah don't need any rust buckets to tell me how shunt freight cars in this little old mining yard. I haven't had a derailment at all, so mind ya own business!

Narrator: Jewel, Marie Ravens and Master were cross!

Master: RUST BUCKET! DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME AND MY SISTER RUST BUCKETS!

Jewel: Master and Duchess are not rust buckets!

Marie Ravens: Now that was very uncalled for Smudger! You apologise!

Narrator: But Smudger just puffed away laughing rudely. Smudger kept on in his same rude and rough way. To make matters worse, he began to show off. Later on, Smudger had to take a load of lead down to the port and arrive by tea time.

Smudger: I'll show you how fast we Yankee's can shunt freight cars about this little old mine.

Narrator: He then steamed away and bumped 2 empty trucks into one another roughly, shunted towards the mine shaft, much to the annoyance of Master. Then 2 more, then another 2, then another 2, and another 2, until finally he had an enormous train of 10 trucks.

Smudger: Heh… Nothin' to it. Just a little old walk in the park… and we got these here push over freight cars all arranged scotch free and in record time (To James Holden, Zap Apple and Sky Dasher) eh guys?

Narrator: But James Holden, Sky Dasher and Zap Apple felt mighty giddy.

James Holden: (Feeling sick) Ooohhh…. Except my stomach, back and neck…ugh… oh coo blimey… I think I'm gonna be sick….

Zap Apple: (Feeling sick) Ooooh. That makes 2 of us…

Sky Dasher: (Feeling sick) Ooohh. And me 3….

Master: That's no way to treat your trucks in this mining yard. Keep bumping them like that and they'll pay you out! And that's too many trucks for you to handle!

Smudger: PAH HAHAHAHA! Ah can handle these here freight cars! Ah told y'all before and ah'll tell y'all again: I don't need your help Master, so my your own dang blasted business.

Narrator: And he steamed smugly away to water and coal whilst the miners went to fill his trucks up with lead.

Master: (Darkly and quietly) Famous last words Smudger…

Narrator: Marie Ravens, Jewel and Master could see that Smudger wasn't going to listen so they just set about their work. Master collected his lead and set off back to Arlesburgh. A few hours later, Smudger went to collect his trucks and became even more careless and cockier than ever.

Smudger: I'll show that bossy old Master and them ponies too!

James Holden: Mind your manners! Your just asking for trouble…

Sky Dasher: That's right. You're just glutting for punishment.

Zap Apple: Yeah, you better mind yourself! Now then, we'd better collect the brakevan…

Smudger: The heck with that. I ain't got no time to collect any ol' rickety old caboose! That Master's done gone and delayed us already! We've gotta go!

Sky Dasher: Don't you push it. We're getting that brake van!

Narrator: So Smudger, grumbling like anything, went to collect it. Soon, the guards whistle blew and Smudger started with a tremendously rough and rude jerk! Smudger rocked and rolled out of the mine with his ten fully loaded lead trucks clattering and banging behind him.

Zap Apple: Be careful Smudger!

Narrator: But Smudger wasn't being careful and was in hurry. At first, the trucks behaved well but Smudger bumped them so crossly that they were going to pay him out. Presently, they reached the woods where the line climbed. Smudger tore up the hill fiercely!

Sky Dasher: Easy boy. Easy. It's steep here!

Narrator: But Smudger didn't listen. As reached to the top, the trucks' chance had come.

Trucks: ON! ON! ON!

Narrator: They surged forward and pushed Smudger on! Smudger fought hard but they still forced him on and on! More trouble lay ahead. Just ahead, there was a stretch where the hot sun had bent the rails on the track… at last, Smudger's trucks grew tired.

Smudger: Haha! I'm winning.

Sky Dasher/James Holden/Zap Apple: LOOK OUT SMUDGER!

Narrator: But it was too late! With a lurch, a bump and loud clang, Smudger laid dazed and surprised off the rails.

Sky Dasher: Well you've done it now! We won't be getting any further today….

Smudger: Ah, rats!

Narrator: So Zap Apple and James Holden checked to see if Smudger was hurt whilst Sky Dasher went to get help. At Alresburgh, Master, Jewel and Marie Ravens had reached the station safely and were resting before the next train when Sky Dasher flew up.

Jewel: Hello, Sky Dasher. You look as if you've been flying a marathon.

Master: Anything the matter?

Sky Dasher: There's been a derailment up the line. Smudger's come off the rails at a bad section of track. We need you guys to get the breakdown the train on the double.

Narrator: Fortunately, Smudger hadn't hurt himself at all and the trucks were still on the rails.

Master: I think it would have been better to take my advice instead of going about it the wrong way.

Narrator: Smudger pretended he hadn't heard. Master pulled the trucks away and down the port. He lost no time and made to the port earlier than ever.

Manager: Good job Master. You made up more than enough lost time than I thought you would. Well done.

Narrator: Soon, Smudger was craned to the rails and was taken back to the sheds by Duchess.

Manager: Good Job Duchess You may go and have a rest. You deserve it.

Narrator: He turned to Smudger.

Manager: I am disappointed in you Smudger. Fancy taking too many trucks at a time and letting them runaway. I am very disappointed. You will go to of the sheds until you are wanted again. (To Duchess) As a reward, I will give you and your brother Master an upgrade when I can afford it.

Duchess/Master: Oh sir. Thank you sir.

Narrator: Smudger was furious and he spent the rest of the day wondering how to pay Duchess and Master out!

Wonder what will happen next. Find out in chapter 8, 'The Master's Last Bow'