Author's notes: Oh boy. This is probably Smudger's darkest moment. I won't say too much here. Read on.

Smudger's Revenge

(Crovans Gate, 1990)

Rheanes: Were they able to fix him?

Duke: Thankfully, yes. They did fix Master up, and he is working on a railway somewhere on Misty Island.

Rusty: Which railway did he end up on?

Duke: Truth be told, Rusty, I don't know.

Rachel: Oh, really? (Winks at Mr Holden, Miss Ravens and the 6 main.)

Duke: What's going on you lot?

Rachel: Nothing Duke. You were saying about your friends on the Mid Sodor line?

Duke: Oh, of course. (Deep breath, sighs) Well, we lost Duchess in the worse way possible.

William: How, Duke?

Narrator: A tear dipped from Duke's eye as he began.

(Flashback, 1903)

Narrator: Nearly 5 months had passed since Master's sad departure. Even though the engines, drivers and the ponies all carried on like he asked, they all still missed him. Whenever they passed his tender, they would give a whistle in salute and whenever Twilight Dusk or Jewel were working on either Duke or Duchess, they would send a spark of magic up into the air to honour the friend they missed. Smudger on the other buffer didn't miss him. He was glad he was gone.

(Smudger shunting in the yards grinning devilishly)

Smudger: (Quietly) Hhmhmhmhmhmhm.. now with Master out of the way, there's no one to protect his sister. Well, apart from old Dukie, but he's an old push over who doesn't know anything. And Shire Horse is just too weak to stop me. And these ponies and the drivers won't even see it coming till it's all too late.

Narrator: But then his face fell. He remembered the manager.

Smudger: Bother! Manager is much too smart. He can sense dangers as good as a dog! I'll have to make a new plan.

(Smudger roughly shunts his trucks)

Narrator: But little did he know that his chance was going to come sooner than he thought. The Summer months gave no trouble for the engines, ponies or elderly drivers. But come autumn of 1904, the manager had to go on an important business meeting at the Isle of Mann and so a temporary manager had to substitute in his absence and he was not a very good manager at all. He made everyone and everypony work for peanuts, on both day and night shifts which was bit too much for the elder drivers Angus Holden and Elizabeth Ravens. To make matters worse, he neglected to keep an eye on engine maintenance on the railway, and if it wasn't for Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens and the ponies love and care for the engines, the railway's traffic would have grounded to a halt. Even so, the engines arrived back after the day's work completely worn out.

Twilight Dusk: My goodness. This manager obviously has no idea how to run railways properly.

Jewel: I know. Oh you poor darlings you look completely worn out.

Duke: Don't worry. We'll make it through this. In no time, manager will come back and everything will be normal again.

Elizabeth Ravens: I sure hope so. These nonstop hours are very hard on me and Angus.

Angus Holden: Indeed. Me and her getting to old for this.

Narrator: The days and nights wore on and the Mid Sodor Railway's maintenance suffered even worse than before.

Angus Holden: Listen, you cannot run an railway without proper maintenance! Look, rolling stock is suffering badly and these engines are nearly worn out!

Temporary manager: Ah, what you know old timer! You're just the labor, not the manager! When the engines stops running then it's time for scrapping!

Elizabeth Ravens: Why you crook and swindler! When manager comes back and you go away it'll be good riddance to you!

Narrator: And Angus Holden and Elizabeth Ravens stormed out of the office. But where they liked it or not they all had to carry on regardless. Smudger on the other hand found this temporary manager as a chance to implement his plan for sending Duchess packing once and for all. Duchess had been suffering very badly. The ponies and drivers did their best to keep her maintained, but sadly it wasn't enough to save her from Smudger's revenge.

(Duchess arriving late)

Temporary manager: Late again!

Duchess: (Wheezing) Sorry sir. Had to go slowly down. My brakes are getting worn out.

Temporary manager: Oh for the love of pete! This again, that does it if you're gonna keep this up. You're gonna take the next granite train from the mines. I'll have Smudger bank you up the Mountain Road.

Duchess: Yes Sir….

Narrator: Duchess clanked sadly to the sheds. Smudger overheard and he was delighted. His chance for revenge had finally come.

Smudger: (Quietly) Heheheh, perfect. Got her right where I want her…

Narrator: And so he plotted his revenge… he was going to wreck Duchess and to pay Duke out once and for all. The next morning, Duchess felt very dreadful and still had to take her train up to Peel Godred.

Duchess: I don't know if I can. What if I fail? I may get scrapped.

Party Time: Don't you worry. We won't let that happen.

Narrator: So, wheezing, clanking and clunking, Duchess set off to the granite quarry to pick up her trucks. Soon she arrived at the mines and Party Time coupled her up. Soon the guard blew his whistle and waved the green flag.

Party Time: Ready Duchess?

Duchess: Ready as I'll ever be.

Elizabeth Ravens: Alright, here goes nothing.

Narrator: Elizabeth Ravens opened the regulator and Duchess clanked and wheezed out of the quarry on her way to Peel Godred. Her tubes were leaking and her side rods ached but kept on going.

Party Time: It's alright Duchess. Only a few more miles and we'll be there.

Elizabeth Ravens: Just try to keep steam up and we'll make it.

Duchess: I'll make it. I'll make it..

Narrator: But she didn't. She was short of steam that she to stop at Arlesdale station to refill on water and coal. This meant that she would need a banker up the mountain road, and unfortunately for them, Smudger was to only engine available.

Elizabeth Ravens: It's no good. We're gonna need a banker to help us up the mountain road.

Narrator: Reluctantly, they went to get Smudger to help them up, but luckily Angus Holden, Zap Apple and Sky Dasher were with him to keep him in check. But Smudger wasn't going to let them ruin his evil plan for revenge. So they coupled up behind the granite train.

Smudger: Heheheheh. Ready Duchess?

Duchess: (Nervously) Yes

Narrator: The guard blew his whistle and Duchess set off nervously with Smudger banking her. Duchess didn't know why, but she felt there was something not right about Smudger. At first they negotiated the two tunnels and sharp bend alright but they neared the tunnel near Ulfstead Road, Smudger began to slacken.

Smudger: (Quietly) Now for my plan.

Narrator: Soon the whole weight of the train with Smudger behind was now straining at her tender coupling.

Elizabeth Ravens: What's going on!

Angus Holden: I don't know. He's not responding!

Sky Dasher: We've tried everything, but he's slowing down!

Narrator: Soon the train stopped near the gradient.

Duchess: What are on earth are you doing?!

Zap Apple: I don't know. The brakes are off, but he's not moving!

Narrator: Duchess felt exasperated. She was not going to be beaten by Smudger's rudeness. She lunged forward. There was a creaking sound.

Zap Apple: Steady Duchess, your straining the coupling!

Narrator: But it was too late! Duchess gave a might lung and the coupling between Smudger and the truck in front snapped. Duchess ran out of control down the slope towards Peel Godred! She was frightened.

Duchess: HELP! HELP!

Trucks: ON! ON! ON!

Narrator: Elizabeth Ravens applied the brakes but it didn't do much to help them stop in time. Sparks were flying as they thundered along the line there was worse to come with a loud crack of metal. Duchess and her runaway trucks ran out of control.

Duchess: Oh no! My brakes have failed!

Party Time: Oh no no no no! Not good, not good, not good! What do we do now?

Duchess: Elizabeth Ravens, set my reverse hard over into reverse whistle a warning for everyone to clear the station! Then you and Party Time can jump clear. There's no time to set the wagon brakes .

Elizabeth Ravens: No, we can't abandon you!

Duchess: I know, but I'd rather you two make it out alive! At least we can try to save people!

Narrator: So reluctantly, Elizabeth Ravens set reverse hard over full steam whistle in a last ditch effort to save the train. King Orry's Bridge station at peel godred loomed ahead. Party Time and Elizabeth Ravens gave their sad goodbyes and quickly jumped clear as poor Duchess sped helplessly on. Passengers and staff heard the whistle and everyone evacuated the station as Duchess rattled into the station thundered through the platform she saw the buffers up ahead Duchess shut her eyes and waited for the crash. She crashed through the buffers, rattled helplessly down the concourse, crashed through the station doors, screeched and shuddered across the road, plowed through a field and the entire train plunged into a hydro dam site. Luckily, thanks to her quick thinking, nobody was hurt. But the trucks were in pieces and poor Duchess laid wrecked and badly damaged. Next day, when Duchess was hauled back to the sheds, Duke took one look and wanted to burst into tears. There was his beloved Duchess, battered, worn out, wrecked and badly damaged. Elizabeth Ravens, Angus Holden, Sky Dasher, Zap Apple and Party Time who were on that train, told them what had happened. But to have seen the aftermath up close in person was the most horrifying site. The temporary manager came to see them…

Temporary Manager: A day ago, this engine's brakes failed and crashed straight through King Orry's bridge station caused much damage to not only herself but to also our station. I say if she can't run properly any more than she's no longer useful to us!

Duke/Shire Horse/drivers/ponies: (Shocked and Angry) WHAT?! HOW DARE YOU!

Duke: She saved peoples lives. If she hadn't whistled a warning, many people at that station would have hurt badly or worse, killed! And you plan to scrap her, you inhuman monster!

Temporary manager: (Roar) THAT IS ENOUGH! IT'S MY DECISION, MY ORDERS! (Calming down slightly) Duke, first thing tonight I'm ordering you to have her ready to be sent to the breakers yard to scrapped and melted down! Good day to you!

Narrator: Duke, Shire Horse, Elizabeth Ravens, Angus Holden and the ponies were all about to shout back but Duchess stopped them.

Twilight Dusk: When manager finds out about this he's going to be furious!

Duchess: That's enough! I'm glad your defending me but It's no use arguing. (Sigh) It's no used prolonging the inevitable, these thing just happen. Just promise me one thing. Promise me that you will keep the faith.

Duke: (Tear stricken) Yes… Duchess my love…. I will.

Narrator: Later that evening, Twilight Dusk sombrely coupled Duchess up to Duke. Then Twilight Dusk and Elizabeth Ravens climbed aboard Duke, and Duke sombrely took her away. But to Duchess's surprise, she was shunted into an abandoned siding that no one ever knew of.

Duchess: What's going on? Why didn't…

Duke: Duchess, I couldn't go through with scrapping you. It would be wrong of me. After such bravery you implemented yesterday, I'm not going to do it! There is hope for you, my love.

Twilight Dusk: That is why we're going to hide you here until the real manager comes back.

Duchess: Thank you. I'll promise to keep the faith as well.

Narrator: Soon, too soon for Duke, it was time to go. Duke and Duchess kissed each other one last time, then said they're goodbyes. Then Twilight Dusk tore up the approach rails and blocked the cutting with bushes and other kinds of rubbish. Then, fighting the tears, Duke Twilight Dusk and Elizabeth Ravens left.

Duke: Goodbye Duchess. I will always cherish our most fondest memories together for always and always and always.

Duchess: As will I, my dear Duke.

Narrator: Later that night Duke crawled sadly into his shed, broken hearted.

Smudger: (Devilishly) Heh, so how did it feel to lose someone precious to you..

Twilight Dusk: Knock it off Smudger!

Smudger: What? I'm just asking how it feels to loses someone precious to him.

Shire Horse: Your out of line Smudger!

Narrator: Smudger just ignored him and continued on tormenting Duke.

Smudger: Especially when someone takes that precious thing away from you!

Duke: (Angry) What are you talking about!

Smudger: Can't you see it yet Dukie! I DESTROYED DUCHESS! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes it was me!

Narrator: Duke's eyes bulged with rage and so did the ponies and Shire horses!

Duke: WHAT! HOW COULD YOU! How dare you! You've really gone too far, Smudger!

Smudger: An eye for eye Dukey, and revenge takes no prisoners.

Zap Apple: What in tarnation are you talking about?! Revenge?

Smudger: DUKIE AND PIONEER WE'RE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR REAL NUMBER 3!

Sky Dasher: What in the hay?

Smudger: I'm talking about Mistress you stupid Morons. If Duke and Pioneer hadn't bumped those trucks about back in 1888 and then pretend to be sick, Mistress wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself to save me!

Narrator: Duke stopped and went dead silent. That was one accident he wanted to forget and it haunted him up to this very day.

Smudger: And believe me, Pioneer deserved what he got in his end. By golly, ah laughed and laughed when ah saw his charred remains. Oh you should have seen the look on your stupid face Dukey, it was priceless! Hahahahaha! Oh it was just as funny when I dragged that great oaf Great Wonder to the works sheds to be cut up. Oh, seeing him being ripped to pieces was a grand show of shows! Heheheh gosh you should have all heard him screaming in pain as the men bashed him with sludge hammers and tore him apart piece by piece! It was just music to my ears. Hahahahahahaha! Then the greatest show on earth the destruction of Duchess! The very engine that made you cast aside Mistress like some unwanted toy. Fully deserved if you ask me. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Narrator: The others were so shocked but at last, Shire Horse finally found his voice.

Shire Horse: You think that any engine that carries Mistress' number all deserve to be destroyed?! You've hit a new low Smudger!

Smudger: I certainly do you foolish weak engine! You know what Duke and Pioneer did to her! I wanted to make Duke feel the same pain that we went through when they took Mistress from us, so I decided to snub off every single MSR engine that carried Mistress's number! NO ONE DESERVES HER NUMBER AT ALL!

Shire Horse: HOW COULD YOU?! Mistress trusted you as her pupil. Mistress would be ashamed of you Smudger! She would be absolutely ashamed of you!

Smudger: LISTEN TO YOURSELF! YOU'RE NOW ALLYING YOURSELF TO ONE OF MISTRESS MURDERS! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A TRAITOR TO OUR MISTRESS! MISTRESS WOULD BE FURIOUS WITH YOU!

Shire Horse: Fine then. As far as I'm concerned, you're a traitor the MSR! GOOD NIGHT!

Narrator: With that, the ponies and drivers left feeling worried, Shire Horse and Smudger went angrily to sleep and leaving Duke to go sadly to sleep riddle with grief and guilt.

Goodness me. Ok, add it to the list:

Duke: (No. 1) 1880-
Bertram: (No. 2a) 1880-1888
Mistress: (No. 3a) 1880-1889
Pioneer: (No. 4a) 1880-1892
Shire Horse: (No. 5) 1880-
Smudger: (No. 2b) 1888-
Great Wonder: (No. 3b) 1892-1893
Duchess: (No. 3c) 1893-1904
Master: (No. 4b) 1893-1904

The next one is 'A Friendship In Flames'.