They haven't gotten word of other prototypes until about a week later.

That was when Dr. Whooves showed up at the sheds, early in the morning.

"Two other prototypes are to arrive here today for their final test." he explained "And another two shall arrive tomorrow."

"Hmph." was the general reply.

Hey! It was still early!

"And who should we expect?" Stuck-Up asked, taking up the senior role once more.

"Number HS4000, Kestrel, and number B.R. 10100, although he's rumored to have himself called "Fell"."

After the doctor left, the engines immediately began chatting.

Well, not immediately.

""Fell"?!" the express engine snapped, successfully waking up everyone in the shed "What kind of ruddy name is THAT?!"

"Short." CoBo replied surly, once again, regretting that he parked next to the snobbish diesel in the night prior. Aside from his loud snoring and obnoxious sleep-honking, Old Stuck-Up also had the nocturnal cycles of an asthmatic chain-smoker, often waking up the the sound of his own horn going off.

"I don't know what your problem is, Stuck-Up..." Pip yawned, as the workcolts removed the giant cucumbers from her eyes, and began peeling off the facial mask.

"I knew Kestrel..." Derek muttered, still half asleep "She was a very kind engine, with a big heart..."

"Wait, wait, wait, HOLD. ON. A SECOND." Diesel spoke, fully awake after hearing what the Class 17 said "You KNEW Kestrel? As in... The original Kestrel?"

"Yeah." the green engine mumbled "She an I were good friends... Well, more than friends..."

Suddenly, everyone was awake, more awake than ever, as if pure caffeine was injected into their tanks.

"Could you... Repeat that?" Bowler uttered.

"We were more than friends..." the mix-traffic diesel yawned.

"...How so?" Emma asked.

"We were closer... Much closer..." Derek replied, squinting his eyes shut in order the squeeze the sleepiness out of them.

"Heh..." Spamcan chuckled "Well, wha' do ya 'no'... Dere's a playa'..."

"Huh?"

"I can't believe it!" Cromwell was impressed "You had a liaison with Kestrel herself?"

"What?! Oh no! No, no, no! I meant we were close as friends! Almost like siblings!"

The others groaned in disappointment.

Derek chortled.

"What? You guys honestly thought... That me and Kestrel? Hah! I'd be happy if I'd be that lucky!"

Their drivers arrived an hour later.

"Hey guys! What's up?" Rainbow Dash asked, while examining the Iron Twins for any signs of damage or malfunction.

"Two other prototype diesels will arrive today..." Bowler replied, as Trixie dusted him off.

"Really?" Twilight asked, whilst oiling up Diesel's axles "Who?"

"A famed one named Kestrel, who was apparently a..." Bowler's mouth curled into a wicked smile "...Close companion of Derek."

The mares looked up.

"Oh?" Rarity asked, sounding quite amused.

"Indeed." Cromwell smirked "Very close."

Derek began to feel uncomfortable.

"Oh my!" Fluttershy peeped, blushing slightly.

"Well, Ah'll be honest..." Applejack snickered "Ah'm surprised."

"Yeah, you don't strike me as the... Adventurous type." Trixie added.

"Girls, it's a mistake, I'm not really..." the green engine attempted.

"So, what's she like, Derek?" Rainbow asked.

"Well... She's very kind... Caring... "

- You mean, like Fluttershy? - Spike smirked.

Now both engine and mare blushed.

"No, you don't understan--..."

"I bet she's into animals as well..." BoZo snickered.

"An' modellin'..." 'Arry added.

"Guys, come on!" the Class 17 was getting REALLY desperate.

And this went on and on, until every engine left to do their own duty, leaving a madly blushing Derek and an uncomfortable Fluttershy (with an irritated Angel bunny in tow).

The morning passed uneventfully.

So uneventfully, in fact, that everybody was growing suspicious and nervous, as if a disaster was about to happen.

It did.

Spamcan had just finished filling up at the fuel depot (and taking a lengthy sip from a tanker's worth of Vodka), when he began to hear some weird clanking.

It came from the distance, from down the line.

Applejack heard it, too.

"Whut in tarnation is that?" she muttered to herself.

"I dunno" the goods engine replied "Bu' i' soun's li--..."

Before he could finish, the source of the noise showed up in the yard. And Spamcan's jaw dropped in mid-sentence.

Into the yard rolled an engine, an engine of most peculiar design, one that probably only Dr. Seuss can define.

His body was normal, shaped like tube like the rest of the big ones, tall and curved on the top, like the barrel of shotguns.

But instead of a sharp, snub nose in front of his two cab, he had long, boxy ends with no curves or bends.

His wheels were skewed up, with "Bo" bogies on both sides, and eight large wheels in the middle, connected by thick, bright red traction rod fiddles, with counterweights on each wheel, to replace the jackshaft - this engine was of completely unordinary craft!

He clanked into the yard, bonnets rattling on his sides, and as all stared and gaped like a mime, the dark green loco smiled... And I should probably stop the rhyme.

It was a diesel engine - They could tell from the smell...

As it passed the fuel depot, the Class 46 and cowmare got a good look at it.

"Wha' th' FU' izzat?" mumbled Spamcan.

"Ah was hopin' yah could tell, Sugs..." Applejack replied, still staring after the engine, the number 10100 painted in white on his sides.

It did had the general shape of a large diesel locomotive, but it's "hoods" in front of his cabs were angular. Boxy, even, with large ventilation grills on their sides. He had two small bogies on each end, and eight larger wheels in the middle, set in an outer frame, connected by red traction rods with counterweights.

It rattled furiously, and every wheel-turn came with a chiming "clank!". Rolling towards the platform, it left a waft of diesel smoke, and when it stopped, it's hiss was sharper than any of the other diesels'.

He looked friendly, though, and despite everyone's immediate reaction upon seeing the machination (namely, throwing WTF bombs all over the place), it kept on smiling.

"Hello!" he called out, to no one in particular "I'm Fell!"

Diesel actually reversed a bit, when he heard the machine speak. It had a square face, and his front lamps were basically secured lanterns above his buffer plate.

"WHAT the FUCK is that?" he murmured.

"Weeell... It looks like a diesel, it sounds like a diesel..." Pinkie Pie pondered loudly "...And it smells like a diesel, too!" she added, cheekily "Logical conclusion: It's a diesel."

Before Diesel could retort, the mare's own engine did:

"Rubbish! It doesn't looks like any diesel I've ever seen." Steamie grumbled.

"It's obviously a prototype design!" Twilight replied, rolling her eyes "See? He's number 10100! We've been waiting for him!"

"You may have..." Diesel replied, shuddering "I didn't..."

Dr. Whooves walked up to the engine, returning the friendly smile.

"Welcome!" he said "You're 10100, right?"

"Indeed." the engine replied cheerily "But call me Fell!"

"That's a rather... Odd name..."

"Hm. Beats having a bunch of numbers for a name."

They agreed on that.

Fell's first job was to take a train of empty trucks and a workman carriage to the nearby mines at Pyker's Peak.

Steamie and Diesel collected the trucks, but Fell had to shunt the carriage. All eyes were on him, as he passed the switches. No one thought it would be possible for him. Especially with that wheel setup.

Once finished, the train was shunted next to the freight platform, and Diesel parked beside it.

Fell carefully reversed, was coupled up, and rolled off, honking his rather quiet horn.

"Thank you!" he called back as he sped up, the clanking of his wheels turning into a continuous rattle.

As he disappeared into the distance, everyone began talking.

"The Hell was that?" A workcolt asked.

"I dunno." his friend replied "It looked like an engine to me."

"Vaguely." the stallion grunted "I've never seen any engine like that."

"Well, up until a year ago, we haven't seen any engine that we work with right now."

The workpony thought for a moment.

"True." he replied, finally "But it's still weird."

"I have a good idea why that engine remained a prototype." Bowler growled.

"Oh?" Spamcan asked. The passenger engine stopped to fill up with diesel oil, and almost instantly began chatting with the gruff goods engine - which was highly unusual.

"I have never seen such a ridiculous design." the uppity locomotive went on "And a stupid name to boot, too!"

"Tha's e'zac'ly wha' all th' soddy steamies sai', when WE firs' came ou' o' th' wor'shops." Spamcan grunted "He's jus' an' earlier desing, prob'bly discar'ed 'cause th' standard diesel locos li'e you an' me were aroun' th' corner."

"Your point?" Bowler yawned.

Spamcan glared.

"We STOLE his chance t' becom' a useful par' o' th' railway, dooming 'im t' be jus' anothe' forgott'n design."

"Hey! That's not true!" the Class 40 replied hastily, although even he sounded uncertain of his words "He was discarded because they didn't find him useful enough to multiply."

"True." the freight locomotive agreed.

"And besides, WE didn't asked to be built!" Bowler scoffed "It's just that we were more successful!"

""Success" is subjec'iv'." Spamcan murmured, as Applejack climbed back into his cab "'Twas th' humans who buil' us, thei' decis'on. WE shoul' be gra'eful, no' prideful!"

"I'm grateful!" the green diesel snapped.

"Tha' may be." his Rail Blue college replied, leaving the depot "Bu' you'r' still prideful!"

"I wonder where they're going to send HIM." Pinkie Pie pondered.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"Well, the previous two diesels were located at Canterlot Central after their trials."

"...So you think the Princesses are collecting a prestige fleet?" Diesel asked.

"A what?" the two ponies asked back.

"A prestige fleet is temporal set of locomotives, collected by a station master or yard manager, sometimes following the orders of higher-ups, who wants to show off." the Class 08 explained "Basically, they collect famous engines into their yards or stations, just to make the place all the more special."

The mares exchanged bemused looks.

"Of course, the sets are only temporary..." Diesel went on "But this ridiculous habit continued, from the very early years of British Railways, to the final days of British Rail."

"So WHY WOULDN'T it pop up here?" Twilight asked, sarcastically "I can't believe the princesses would stoop so low!"

"Eh... It's a mostly harmless habit." the shunter muttered "After all, they couldn't disobey company orders, so they had to send the engines away, eventually."

"I have feeling that it'll be different in this case." Twilight replied, darkly.

"Is that so bad?"

They all looked to the side.

Derpy had joined them.

"I meant that the princesses are making Canterlot's fleet out of special, prototype engines, just to show off!" she hissed.

"Is that so bad?" the mailmare repeated "I mean, Canterlot doesn't have it's own fleet yet... And it IS the High Office of the railway, not to mention Equestria's capital."

"Well, yeah..." Twilight muttered, sounding less certain "But still..."

"Well, it isn't called a "prestige fleet" for nothing." Diesel pondered.

"But that new engine is pretty weird!" Steamie spoke up.

- Weird? - the bubbly pony asked back.

"Yes, he's unlike any engine I've seen before." the tank engine replied.

"He's clearly an older type of diesel. - the shunter added "An usual design. He wasn't mass produced, so there's only one of him."

"Why is he weird, though?" Derpy asked "He seems like a normal engine to me."

"He's not like any engine I've ever seen." Steamie declared "He's different."

"Is that so bad?"

They looked up. The gray pegasus' question didn't sounded so cheery this time. It sounded glum.

"Is it so bad to be different?" she asked flatly.

The two engines and their drivers looked down awkwardly.

"I guess... I guess not." Steamie muttered.

"Good." Diesel spoke up, surprising the others "Because you're very different yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"...Oh, let's not beat around the bush, and face the facts, Steamie!" Diesel grunted "You'll NEVER be a part of the Other Railway."

The others were shocked. Steamie especially.

"...What?! But I..."

"You never WERE part of it." the Class 08 continued "You were sent by some cheap-ass local workshop that made generic knock-off engines to be introduced as "new characters" on that wretched island!"

He practically spat the last two words.

"The only reason you're here now is because you sticked around, back in Barrow-in-Furness, and nicked one of the pre-ordered teleport devices Derek has bought for all of us."

The tank engine gasped.

"H-How did you...?"

"It wasn't too hard to figure out." Diesel replied "You're just a stowaway. A dead weight. The only reason we tolerate you is because you managed to get yourself introduced to Princesses as one of us."

Steamie couldn't say a word.

"Did you HONESTLY thought that we had accepted you?" the shunter sniffed "Don't fool yourself. I've told you plenty of times before: NO ENGINE should be THIS chirpy and live. You're as unrealistic of an engine as one can get! No self-respecting diesel would even bother wasting his time on you."

He snarled.

"In other words, you were just perfect for Sodor."

Again, that word. Like the name of a particularly disgusting disease or disturbing mental illness. He said as if he was trying to spit it out, get rid of it, and even it's taste.

"Unarguably, you became MUCH MORE tolerable, but that may be because we're in this pastel-colored joke of a world..."

"Joke of a world?!" Pinkie snapped.

"...Which has enough influence to even you out..."

"E-Even him out?" Twilight uttered. She didn't understand.

"Or because you've found someone who's EVEN MORE INFANTILE than you are." the shunter growled, shooting a glare at Pinkie Pie.

The others were lost for words.

With rattle, Diesel's motor roared to life, with two small plumes of thick, sooty exhaust fumes, and then rolled off, taking the speechless Twilight Sparkle with himself.

Reduced to tears, Pinkie slumped down onto the floorboard of Steamie's cab. Derpy was instantly beside her, giving her a reassuring hug, while sharing her sorrow.

Steamie was also crying.

But what Diesel, or any of the ponies didn't notice, was the sickeningly wide smile his mouth curled up into, as the shunter charged away.

"Is it true?" Fluttershy asked. Derek looked away.

"It is." Stuck-Up replied flatly.

All the engines were staring at the ground, not wanting to meet the gaze of their equine and griffon caretakers.

"As much as he had changed..." Pip began "We still can't consider him to be one of us..."

"But... But why?"

They didn't reply...

"It's because he's a steam engine. Right?"

They all looked up, horrified.

Spike stared at them with utmost contempt.

"He can't be one you, after all, he's not a diesel." he hissed.

- Spike, what are you...?

"I KNOW what I'm talking about, Twilight!" the dragon snapped "I've heard them talking before. I heard HOW they talked about steam engines. I don't need to know any more."

The mares looked up, staring at the diesels with perplexity.

Diesel frowned.

"You always need to know more, you prejudicial little git."

Spike's eyes widened.

"We didn't exclude Steamie because he's a steam engine." Bowler replied "And it's quite offensive that you think we're THIS biased."

"We're no' th' freakin' AXE grou', Spike!" Bert added.

The ponies and the griffon were puzzled.

"AXE group?" Trixie asked.

"The Axe Action Squad." CoBo explained "A extremist group composed of shunned businessmen and renegade diesels, bent on fully completing the work of the Beeching Axe, by wiping out every last steam engine on the world. They've all been arrested, but it's rumored that some members may still be at large."

The mares gasped.

"Yeah. Nat th' noicest folks." Diesel 10 growled "An' don't ya DARE associate US with THEM."

"But then... Why isn't Steamy a part of the clan?" Twilight asked.

There was a long pause.

"Two reasons." said Diesel.

"One: We're all experienced engines..." Stuck-Up explained "Trained by the hardships of life."

"We've known each other for a long time." Emma added "We've learned to trust each other, to some extent, and tolerate one another, up to certain levels.

"Steamie is too young, inexperienced, and too ruddy nice to be a member of the Other Railway."

They all jumped a little.

They haven't heard a single word from the Breakfather for a very long time. The old diesel, turned brakevan, turned diesel again had few words to spare for them.

"He's simply not aged enough to be one of us." he went on "BoZo's part steam engine, and he was accepted as soon as we found out about him."

"Ye'h, Oi still remembe' th' day..." Bert mused. This time, 'Arry didn't told him to shut up.

"The point is..." Derek spoke up, gaining the attention of the others. He sounded much more serious than ever, and his lisp seemed to have disappeared "...Steamie's yet to become a "true" engine in our league. He's been built in the same manner all the other generic tank engines were, in order to fuel the saccharine corruption of the Island of Sodor. He'll have to peal that sickening sugar-coat off from himself, if he ever wants to become one us."

"And... The other reason?" Rarity asked.

Diesel's expression darkened.

"Due to the unfortunate consequences of Steamie's... Initiation..."

The other shot a glance at him. Not one of anger or disdain, but one of pity. Diesel's voice was full or regret.

"...He's too unstable." he explained "Trusting him could endanger all of us."

"We woul' nevah 'no', when 'e'll go off." 'Arry continued "'E's a threa'..."

"Which brings us to the next problem..."

The ponies, the dragon, and the griffon present tensed up.

"His driver."

They deadpanned.

"What's wrong with Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash snapped.

"There's a very good reason why she was selected to be Steamie's driver." the shunter elaborated "She sticks out from among you, doesn't she?"

"Yes, but..."

"The same way Steamie does from us..."

"Well, not the same way..." Twilight began.

"But... She IS strange, sometimes." Applejack muttered.

"And random. One second, she's here, the next, she's somewhere else." Rainbow Dash added "Even I can't do that."

"It always feels like she knows more than us..." Twilight thought out loud, sounding quite irritated by this fact.

"It always feels like..." Rarity mused "That she has... Ulterior motives."

"She can be quite scary, too..." Fluttershy put in, quietly.

"And... There are those rumors..." Spike began, but the others glared at him.

"The rumors are utter bullshit." Gilda declared "But still... I've never seen someone... So... So..."

"Chirpy?" Diesel asked.

"Yes."

"So, you see our point." said BoZo "We feel that Steamie couldn't be trusted, even though he's been improving while in this world, and I think we can attribute that to Pinkie Pie."

"But even you girls could tell..." Bowler began "...That we... Our personality has rubbed of on you."

The mares and the griffon exchanged looks.

"Now... How can you tell, that Steamie's hasn't rubbed of... On Pinkie Pie?"

They couldn't reply to that.

It was late in the afternoon.

The other engines have left, leaving Derek and Fluttershy behind. The two of them... Just stayed silent. Angel bunny, Derek's self-claimed mechanic, would've done something to break up the silence, but felt he shouldn't.

Finally, the mare couldn't bare it anymore.

"Isn't there anything we could do?"

The sun was setting.

"No. This is something that only time can fix."

She turned away from him.

She knew it wasn't true, but he didn't felt like the Derek she knew...

Suddenly, a light horn broke the silence.

They all looked up.

As the sun ducked deeper and deeper behind the horizon, everything was coated in a bright, golden orange light.

And still, the two amber headlights shone trough the yard like beacons.

Derek looked up, and his engine skipped a beat.

There she was.

Rolling down the rails with almost no sound made in process, nothing but a gentle purr.

The only thing brighter than her headlamps was her gentle smile.

"Will she... Remember me... After all these years?" Derek thought to himself, sick with worry.

Then, the engine noticed him.

And all was right in the world.

Her smile brightened, as she rolled towards him - as it turned out, they were on the same tracks.

She stopped before him, her eyes still blinking with disbelief.

He held his breath.

"Derek? Is that you?"

The gentle voice finally lifted the weight of his metaphoric chest.

"Hello, Kestrel." he smiled "Welcome to Equestria."

If possible, the engine's smile grew even larger, as she gently rolled forward, until their buffers finally touched.

"It's good to see you again, Derek." she whispered.

"Likewise." the Class 17 replied.

Fluttershy was touched.

She had never, in her life, seen such intimate, but pure relationship between to friends.

She felt a tap on her back.

Turning around, he saw an old griffon, wearing an even older Eagleland National Rail uniform. He smiled at her.

"Let's leave these two." he spoke gently, motioning towards the two engines "They've got a lot of catching up to do."

Fluttershy nodded, and trotted off with the aged avian, Angel riding her back.

Unbeknown to them, there was someone else who DID observe the two friends. And them. And the yard as a whole.

He parked on a nearby hill, the blinding white headlamps illuminating his featureless face. He stared. And contemplated.

Finally, with a roar, he slipped away, without anyone noticing him.

He'll come back.