Author's notes: I think this is the darkest one of the feature length, explaining what happened to Shire Horse and Smudger. Read on and you'll see why.

A Friendship In Flames

(Crovans Gate, 1990)

Skarloey: You mean, you never saw Duchess again?

Duke: (Tear dripping from his eye) No. I had no idea that a scrap thief was going to get her. It's all my fault.

Rusty: Don't blame yourself, Duke. Besides, Duchess would hate to see you this way.

Duke: (Sighs) Your right Rusty.

Narrator: Rachel was quiet for a moment, then she ventured forward.

Rachel: What happened to Smudger and Shire Horse?

Duke: Well, all I can say was that it was the worst accident in Mid Sodor's history.

(Mid Sodor days, 1904)

Narrator: When the manager came back and found out what Smudger had done, he was not happy at all and as a result he took away Smudger's red coat and had him painted green like Pioneer in disgrace. Smudger was cross.

Smudger: How dare he paints me like the enemy.

Zap Apple: Shut it! It's serves you right for wrecking Duchess!

Sky Dasher: I agree. Now, you better behave yourself or your gonna get worser punishments than this mark of shame.

Narrator: Smudger just grunted and went about his work. Later that day, Duke told the manager about what had happened to Duchess and they went to the spot where they hid her. To their horror and surprise, she vanished.

Manager: Oh dear. A scrap thief must have got her.

Narrator: Duke's heart sank. Smudger on the other hand laughed and laughed. Like Pioneer, he became cynical and very rude. Whenever he heard Duke coming in the distance as he approached the passing loop, he rode roughly and often derailed himself because of it 'accidentally on purpose' and he would laugh at Duke as he passed by.

Smudger: Sounds like Dukie's approaching (Charges over the bad track and derails himself)

Sky Dasher: OH FOR PETE SAKE!

Angus Holden: Not again! That second time in a week!

Smudger: Hey Dukie, do I remind you of your damaged, lost girlfriend, you stupid loser! Hahahahaha!

Narrator: Smudger kept it up, day in and day out tormenting Duke non stop by derailing himself whenever they met at the passing loop. Shire Horse, Duke, Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens and the six ponies warned Smudger to knock it off and be careful, but he took absolutely no notice.

Smudger: Listen Dukie, who worries about a few spills?

Duke: We do here.

Narrator: But all Smudger did was laugh.

Twilight Dusk: Oh dear. He's getting worse than ever. If he keeps this up, he's gonna get himself into a heap of trouble.

Sunny: I agree. Because of him, Shire Horse is getting too big for his wheels and he and Smudger are now rivals.

Narrator: And they were right. One day, Shire Horse had had enough of Smudger tormenting Duke.

Shire Horse: You know, it's no wonder why manager made you look like Pioneer. Your nothing but a belligerent bully going around and tormenting Duke like that! Not to mention you've been acting just like Pioneer, being a danger to the rails. You a useless junk heap!

Smudger: (Angry) DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE ME TO THAT USELESS PILE OF JUNK! HE WAS A DISGRACE JUST LIKE DUKIE!

Shire Horse: NO! YOU'RE THE DISGRACE! HERE, IF YOU CAN'T EVEN STAY ON THE RAILS FOR A WHOLE DAY, WHAT USE ARE YOU!?

Duke: Shire Horse, calm down please. You two keep this up and you'll both get into trouble!

Smudger: Oh really you wanna bet! I bet you I can get my goods trains down to Arlesburgh faster than you ever can get your goods trains up to King Orry's Bridge.

Shire Horse: Fine! Your on Smudger! This is for Mistress, Bertram and Duke!

Sunny/Sky Dasher/Zap Apple/Elizabeth Ravens/Angus Holden: Oh my. This is so not going to end well.

Narrator: The next morning, Smudger got to work early. He starting with only a few empties. He picked more and more trucks at each coal mine, granite quarry, slate mine and lead mine along the line until he had a very long train. It was a miracle he even made up the Mountain Road even though Duke was banking him.

Duke: Please, I'm begging you. Don't do this Smudger. You're going to get into serious trouble.

Twilight Dusk: Duke's right. You've got more trucks than you can handle and you're not built to carry this much. Please, just call the bet off.

Smudger: Ah, just shut up and bank! Ah can't wait to wipe the rails with that Shire Horse!

Narrator: At last, Smudger was at King Orry's Station and taking on coal and water. Then it was Shire Horse's turn to collect his trucks full of coal for from the mainland to take to King Orry's Bridge.

Duke: Please don't do it Shire Horse! I appreciate that you want to protect me, but not like this! Please call the bet off.

Sunny: Please don't. You don't have to do this!

Shire Horse: No. That's where your wrong. I'm doing this for you, for Mistress and for Bertram!

Narrator: And he clanked off with a long train of trucks.

Sky Dasher/Zap Apple/Angus Holden: (Smudger's cab) Famous last words.

Party Time/Sunny/Elizabeth Ravens: (Shire Horse's cab) Famous last words.

Twilight Dusk/Jewel/Duke: Famous last words.

Narrator: At last, Shire Horse reached the port and his trucks were soon loaded. At both stations, their guards blew their whistles and the two engines started off with an almighty jerk. The two engines raced down the line. Shire Horse was thundering down the line. His wheels pounded the rails.

Sunny: Oh dear. Please stop. Slow down!

Party Time: We don't want to cause a crash which can hurt people.

Shire Horse: Pah! I'm gonna teach that Smudger some manners once and for all!

(The other end of the line)

Sky Dasher: Whoa Smudger, whoa! Take it easy!

Zap Apple: Yeah. Ya almost fell off the mountain road.

Smudger: Pah! Put a piece of coal in it. Ah'm gonna wipe the rails with that engine, safety or not.

Narrator: Every wise engine knows as well as every wise pony or person knows that you must heed safety rules and obey signals to prevent a collision with another train. The ponies and drivers fought for control but Smudger and Shire Horse refused to listen.

(Smudger's cab)

Angus Holden: Steady Smudger! Steady!

(Shire Horse's cab)

Elizabeth Ravens: Steady Shire Horse! Steady!

Shire Horse: I'VE GOT A BET TO WIN SO SHUT UP!

Narrator: And he sped on. At the works station, Twilight Dusk and Jewel were just servicing Duke up when Smudger blasted passed at a very dangerous speed. Duke, Twilight Dusk and Jewel were horrified.

Duke/Twilight Dusk/Jewel: Great Sodor!/Eqeustria! He'll colloid with Shire Horse at that pace.

Narrator: And they were right. Smudger and Shire Horse were soon rushing towards the passing loop and both saw to they're horrors that they were racing toward each other like comets!

Shire Horse/Smudger: HORRORS! DRIVER! BRAKES!

Narrator: Both Elizabeth Ravens and Angus Holden applied the brakes and set their reversers hard over and full steam but it was no use. The brakes couldn't hold them nothing could stop them in time.

Sky Dasher/Zap Apple/Angus Holden/Sunny/Party Time/Elizabeth Ravens: JUMP FOR IT!

Narrator: The 4 ponies and the two drivers jumped clear as the two engines and they're goods trains sped on. Soon, Smudger and Shire Horse met in a terrible head on crash. Steam and flames started up with an almighty BANG! as they're boilers exploded!

(Smudger and Shire Horse smash into each other!)

Smudger/Shire Horse: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Narrator: Luckily, Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens and the 4 ponies jumped clear from their engines before the crash so they weren't hurt. They ran back to the works station to get Twilight Dusk, Duke and Jewel along with the breakdown train. Duke sadly coupled on and clanked to the scene of disaster. When they arrived, the scene was an awful sight. The trucks were piled in a smashed heap from both sides and there in-front of the wrecked trucks were the charred remains of Smudger and Shire Horse. Miraculously, Smudger somehow survived his accident but he was completely damaged beyond repair, but Shire Horse didn't make it. Duke just gave sigh and a grave look as they cleared the mess.

Duke: I warned you two to be careful but you took no notice.

Narrator: When Duke brought Smudger back to the sheds on a flat truck the manager was waiting for him.

Smudger: Oh please Sir... Don't scrap me. Please. I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again. Please fix me...

Manager: You've really done it this time Smudger. This is the last straw. You are no longer any use to our railway, but I do plan to make you useful at last.

Narrator: And he was right. The next morning, Smudger was converted from his former glory as engine to a steam generator to ventilate Alresburgh Sheds never to move under his own steam ever again. As for Shire Horse, they took him to Arlesdale work sheds and took him to pieces and used what parts they could salvage off him to mend Duke, for he was now the only engine on the line. Since then, only two of the ponies could work there: Twilight Dusk and Sunny. The rest worked at the repairshops at Arlesdale works sheds and worked with the engines of the Sodor & Mainland Railway and Wellsworth and Suddery Railway. Angus Holden and Elizabeth Ravens told they're children James Holden and Marie Ravens what had happened and although they were saddened, they knew that manager knew that both engines had it coming to them.

Marie Ravens: Petty though. Smudger and Shire Horse did learn their lessons.

James Holden: Just a shame that they had to learn it the hard way.

Ok. Put it on the list again.

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

With Duke being the only one in operation, what's going to happen now? Find out in part 11.