Did Another One, This One Has Also Dark Themes, Don't Read If You Are Not Comfortable With That.

Did another one, this one has also dark themes, don't read if you are not comfortable with that.

Story 2: Learned the hard way.

Learned the hard way.

AnneRogers31

Rating: Mature.

Warning: Abuse, Graphic Description Of Violence, Loss Of Limbs, Emotional Torture, Trauma.

Fandom: Ttte, Gold Dust Adventure Au, Academy Archives.

Relationships: Duke x Bertram/Smudger, Rusty x Duncan.

Characters: Duncan (Ttte), Sir Handel (Ttte), Rusty (Ttte), Bertram/ Smudger (Ttte), Duke (Ttte), Peter Sam (Ttte), Mr. Percival (Ttte), Reginald (Ttte).

Additional Tags: humanised characters, robots, steampunk, canon Characters, original Characters, Au, …

Language: English.

Published: 2021-09-21. Updated: 2021-09-21.

Summary: In the early years Sodor once had a railway called the Mid Sodor Railway, ran by two narrow gauge Engines. One of them was Duke, a well-respected and wise Engine named after the Duke of Sodor, the other was a big troublemaker named Smudger. Duke uses the story of Smudger’s misadventures to make Engines behave on the job. No one realized, not even Duke, that there was more to the story than meets the eye.

Winter had arrived on Sodor and the Sudrian railways were still struggling with making up for lost time due to last autumn’s bad weather. On the Skarloey Railway it was not different. In fact the Engines working there had to be even more careful with the frosty weather making the already tricky environment extra dangerous. It was an understatement when everyone sighed in relief when today’s work was done. Per usual Duncan was complaining. Some of the narrow gauge Engines were gathered in the big living room and all and they were getting quite tired of his banter. It was to no one’s surprise that Sir Handel lost his patience first. “Duncan, in Lady’s name please stop complaining.” Duncan wasn’t fazed by Sir Handel. “Absolutely not! Have you any idea how rough today was for me!?” “Everyone had a hard day Duncan. It is not going to get better either.” Rusty sighed, the diesel really wasn’t in the mood to deal with arguing with his boyfriend. “Oh shut it Rusty!” “Careful youngster, keep talking like that and it might come back to bite you later.” Duke calmly intervened successfully preventing an argument from unleashing. “What do you mean?” Duncan asked dumbfounded. Duke smirked. “You all better sit down. Duke is going to tell a story.” Bertram smiled with a knowing look. Duke and Bertram, both legends in their own right, tasked to work together ever since Bertram was discovered by Toby and deemed fit enough to work on the Skarloey railway. It clicked immediately between the two and a friendship like no one else had seen was forged, it was so strong that the one could predict what the other was about to do. Obediently Duncan, Rusty, Luke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam sat on the comfy cough and sofa’s. Duke sat near the fireplace as every great storyteller would do. Bertram opted to sit in the couch left from the fireplace. “This is a story from long ago, one I’ve told Sir Handel and Peter Sam to make them behave, yet all that happened in it really did happen.” Sir Handel and Peter Sam looked quizzically till they realized which story was about to tell. “Are you going to tell the story of Smudger, Granpuff?” Asked Peter Sam. Duke nodded. “Who is that? I never heard from him before.” Luke asked innocently. Duke started his story and everyone listened.

Long ago, before Sir Handel and Peter Sam were entrusted as my pupils, I used to work on the Mid Sodor Railway with another Engine. His name was Smudger, he was the second engine to arrive on the railway after me, send to help me with the increasing workload. At first I could get along with him, he was eager and well-meaning but a tad to bouncy to my taste. Overtime I learned his true nature. In actuality Smudger was a show-off that was reckless and didn’t heed warning or advice. He derailed often and acted rude after. “Who worries about a few spills.” He would say after he had made a scene. “We do here!” Smudger just laughed but I knew for a fact that he would get what was coming to him. After a day of more confusion and delays the manager finally had enough of Smudger, he would make him useful at last.

“What did he do to him?” Luke asked scared. “He turned Smudger’s engine into a generator. He stopped laughing then and for a fact I know he never misbehaved again.” Duke said with a grin. The younger Engines were shocked by Duke’s story. Even Sir Handel and Peter Sam felt uncomfortable though they knew the story well. Bertram was the most shocked out of all. The way Duke just calmly told that story, the smile that never left during that gruesome tale, this was a side of Duke he’d never seen before. “What happened to him after the Mid Sodor closed?” Rusty asked carefully. Duke wondered before shrugging. “I don’t know, the railway was deserted and overgrown when they rescued me. For all I care he is either scrapped or still rotting away behind that shed. It is what he deserved after being so careless.” That struck a nerve with Bertram making him lash out. “AND YOU DIDN’T EVEN CONSIDER TO MAKE SURE HE WAS STILL THERE?!” Luke yelped out of surprise while the others became silent. For the first time in his life Duke was speechless. “DID HE DESERVE TO BE ABANDONED LIKE THAT!? TO BE FORGOTTEN AND DIE ALONE?” Bertram was furious but the power in his voice broke with sadness. Duke realized why Bertram was upset with him. Bertram’s anxiety was getting the best of him, he felt weak and if felt like gravity was going to crush him. With a clang Bertram fell on his knees shaking. “… How could you leave him like that…? …How-w cou-ld you… Leave … M-” Bertram fainted from exhaustion, Sir Handel was barely able to keep his head from colliding with the ground. “He’s out cold. Help me carry him to the couch.” The blue Engine instructed. Carful Peter Sam and Sir Handel laid Bertram on the couch. Duncan hurried to the kitchen to get a wet cloth while Rusty and Luke were on the phone trying to get either hold of Victor or Mr. Percival. Duke felt nailed to the floor. Bertram, the one he considered an equal and loved, had a panic attack because of him. He had hurt him so bad that Bertram had exhausted himself so much and lost consciousness. “What have I done?” Duke gathered the little courage he had left and stepped closer to the couch. Bertram’s face was pulled in one of pain, Duke could see it even with Bertram’s goggles obscuring his eyes. He took them of his head, stroking the clam hairs to sooth the one he secretly loved and hoped everything will be all right. “Victor is coming.” “Mr. Percival too.” Rusty and Luke came back still with worried looks towards Bertram. Duncan came back as well and handed Sir Handel the wet cloth. “Will he be okay?” Luke asked when he saw Bertram twitch when the cloth came in contact with his forehead. “it’s not the first time he gets a panic attack but never out of rage or so far that he completely blacked out.” “Have hope Sir Handel, Victor and Mr. Percival are on their way. They know what to do.” Peter Sam assured, deep down he doubted his own words but tried to lift the others’ mood. “I hope so Peter Sam, until they arrive we have to stay strong for Bertram. Who knows what he is dealing with inside his own head.”

Pain, agonizing hot burning pain, that was all the Engine felt as the workman held him down and used tools to separate his legs from his body. His locomotive was treated the same way, being stripped from its wheels and cab, the connection robot and machine had adding to the already inhumane pain. His screams were muffled by a rag, tears rolled freely down his cheeks splattering silently on the workbench, all sound was drowned out by the clanging of tools on breaking metal. Everything turned black when the blowtorch burned of the rest of his mutilated legs. He was woken up rudely with a bucket of ice cold water being splashed over him. He was in a shed, chained to the wall, his legs missing and the rest of his body broken. Before him stood the manager and some of his man. “Useful at last.” That was the last thing the man said to him before beating him again till he cried himself to sleep. Again there was darkness. Then light, he could see Duke working hard with two other Engines, they were smiling. He smiled to it had been so long since he saw his dear Duke so happy. At dawn the manager and his men came back. The whole process repeated itself until nothing was left but the darkness. Since a long time he felt at piece, numb to everything, he was alone. Abandoned with Duke, he had heard the man leaving him safe in the shed and then Duke’s voice wishing himself goodnight. He too fell asleep wishing goodnight to Duke in his mind. Suddenly there were voices again, happy ones this time, they were being rescued. He was crying from happiness, someone had finally found them, it didn’t last long. Duke was rescued, engine and robot being safely loaded on a flatbed, no one noticed the small opening were he was silently begging them to come rescue him. Duke never looked back at the shed and the men left. He screamed without sound, his throat was damaged a long time ago, he was truly alone now. He gave up, he couldn’t hold on any longer, all the tears were shed. He was ready to let go. Before he closed his eyes he saw a face and faintly heard a concerned voice, he was being carried. “… Duke…?”

Bertram slowly woke up, a light was shining in his eyes, Victor was looking down on him with a lamp in his hand. The doctor quickly turned off the small light. “Hello my friend, it’s good to see you finally awake.” Bertram looked confused at the doctor then a headache hit him hard and he remembered what happened. “Are you in pain?” Victor asked. Bertram nodded. “My head hurts… I feel so tired.” “You had a panic attack, a big one, you exhausted yourself so much that you collapsed.” Victor explained. “Can I get some water please? My throat feels awfully dry.” Victor nodded and motioned someone out of Bertram’s view to get something to drink. “Who else is here?” “Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Duke and Mr. Percival.” Victor answered, he read Bertram’s mind and added. “Luke, Rusty and Duncan went to sleep. I convinced them you would be okay and that they best gave you some space once you woke up.” Bertram gave a silence oh. Peter Sam approached the doctor and his patient with a glass of water in his hand. “Thank you Peter Sam. Could you help me get Bertram sit up?” Peter Sam nodded. Together they supported Bertram till he was in a comfortable upright position to drink. Eager Bertram took a few sips, water never tasted that good before. The glass was handed back and put aside. “Oh Bertram, I’m so happy you are awake again.” Peter Sam said hesitant to hug. Bertram petted his arm to say that he was okay and allowed the younger Engine to hug him. Meanwhile Bertram scanned the room. He saw Sir Handel next to Mr. Percival who were standing besides Duke. Duke looked miserable, hunched over with his head resting on his hands, he was crying. “Duke…” At the mention of his name Duke looked up directly towards Bertram. Seeing his beloved awake Duke immediately walked towards him and crouched on his knees. Duke took Bertram’s hand and started tearing up again. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. I didn’t realize my past actions were wrong until now. I-I left a young Engine to die alone and did nothing to help him, I used him to lecture others. I’m not worthy to be here and have you as my friend.” “It’s okay, you couldn’t know I was going to react the way I did…” Bertram stroked Dukes hair, he truly forgave him but the issue of the abandoned Engine still bothered him. The two Engines hugged, love and forgiveness had overcome all again. “Now that you are feeling better Bertram, I would like to discuss something with you all.” Mr. Percival spoke up. “It came to my attention that there might still be an Engine somewhere on the Mid Sodor Railway. I want a rescue operation to be organised first thing tomorrow. That Engine has suffered long enough.” “We’ll do it sir!” Sir Handel and Peter Sam immediately volunteered. “I come as well, that Engine might need direct reparations before we can even move him.” Victor added. “Are you youngsters sure? The rails will be badly damaged from disuse. It is going to be a dangerous journey.” Duke warned. “We will be fine Duke. We still know the way.” Sir Handel assured. “And we will be careful.” Peter Sam added. “Then it is settled. Tomorrow at six o’clock you three journey with a rescue crew to the Mid Sodor Railway. Bertram, you have the day off tomorrow to recover a little more.” “Thank you sir.” Mr. Percival smiled. “Now it is time we all go to rest. Goodnight my Engines.” Mr. Percival and Victor left. Peter Sam and Sir Handel followed their controller’s example and head straight to bed after wishing goodnight to Duke and Bertram. “Let’s go sleep as well.” Duke suggested squeezing Bertram’s hand. Bertram only nodded and followed Duke to the hallway. Their rooms were opposite of each other. Duke paused before his door. “Bertram?” “Yes Du-” Bertram couldn’t finish, Duke surprised him with a kiss on the lips. It was tender, both Engines felt their cheeks heat up and had to let out some steam to cool down. Neither of them wanted to break the kiss but their fire still needed air so they had to part after some time. “I’m sorry I upset you today. I make everything right between us. I love you Bertram.” Bertram was breathless,

today was full of surprises. “I love you to Duke… Are we a couple now?” “Only if you want me to.” Bertram hugged Duke in a strong embrace the latter grateful returned. “Of course I want you.” “Sleep well my dear.” Bertram and Duke went to their respective rooms. Bertram felt a lot better after Duke’s love confession. “You look happy.” “I am Reginald.” Reginald, the ghost that is rumoured to haunt the bridge, a living Engine with amazing powers in actuality. “I came to check on you, I sensed you were in distress earlier.” Bertram’s smile faltered. “… I had a panic attack earlier… One that caused me to faint…” “Really what happened?” Bertram told the whole story and his dream. He hadn’t told the others about it but Reginald had helped him earlier with these dreams that were more than just dreams, they were his memories. “It still bothers me Reginald, that Engine. I felt all his pain. Why did this happen in the first place?” Reginald looked Bertram serious in the eyes, a hint of sympathy and sadness twinkling in them as well. “My friend, deep down you already know that answer.” Bertram didn’t want to belief it but he no longer could deny the truth. “… I am Smudger.”

My heart, it is to precious aaahh! 💙💛💙💛😍 beautiful couple swift❤️

AAAAAAAAAAH Finally! Since I have been working on my couples’ images (with @robotic-railways help and mimicking the esthetic of the others) I finally get to Edward and Annabelle Lee! I am so happy! Look at Eddie! LOOK AT HIM! He is adorable! Now- he needs a full body! XD I am so happy how this turned out! 

Yep, I’m definitely a Halloween person 🤷‍♀️🎃

October can’t come soon enough

Let’s Get to the Basics

I love to draw-

I love to write-

I missed it so much…

Now, I am getting a creative kick again! Not sure how it is but I do feel motivated again! But I need a bit of help. I have no idea where to start, in terms of art for my AU. So, I have a challenge for you:

Send me drawing requests/writing prompts! Before you run off to my ask box, here are some rules to keep things from getting chaotic:

Please reserve no more than 3 questions per ask. Don’t give me a list. It would overwhelm me a bit.

If you ask for a canon character - it will be of my interpretation and AU. Please, understand this.

You may send your OCs but have them interact with my cast/OCs. If you want just your OC to be drawn (as a request. If you are wanting something bigger, we will have to talk about pricing), ask @thequeenofthomasandfriendsocs . But make sure you are respectful and provide the proper refs.

Some questions may be answered in three ways: Draw, Write, Skit. Skit is basically having the Character interact with a statement or question. Its not the same as Writing. Make sure if you want Writing, aka a writing prompt, make sure you mention it. Draw/Skit may be interchanged depending on mood/time. Skits can also start RPs but, the intent must be clear from the start. I also may not be interested in a RP based on mood or schedule.

If you are not the owner, do not ask for someone else’s OC/Character design to be involved, UNLESS you have permission. I do not like stepping on toes and disrupting the waters.

This also goes for art styles. I worked hard to get where I am now. Do not ask me to copy someone’s style for you. It seems rude by doing so. Also, its plagiarizing.

I am NOT keen/willing to share NSFW drawings/writings/skits. We may be horny for humanized locomotives but I have the right to say no to these types of requests. Also, Annabelle Lee is not available for any kind of heavy skin showing. It’s against her character and I will not have her in that predicament.

No character mention for a question, especially with the challenge memes, I will pick the character best fit for it. If you want a character to answer a question, make sure you put in their name.

Drawings and writings may take a while and I may not go in order of submission. I have a full time job and have to pay bills.

Characters you may ask:

Cannon: 

Steam Team 1-12

Mavis, Diesel 10, Diesel, Philip, BoCo

Alistair (the Flying Scotsman), Spencer, Flynn

Victor, Kevin, Den, Dart

OCs:

Annabelle Lee, Ginger Snap, Frank - The S160 Trio

Tammy, Chuck, Eustace - Old American Friends

Goliath, Jacob, Tanner, Clog - Ex Gangsters

Cyro Flint - @hunted-au, @ttte-x-fandoms-story-blog

Grandma Ethel, Sir Stephen Topham Hatt, Alex Rushen - Important Humans

Brandon, Clyde, Bonnie, Marissa - FR 4-4-0s

Veronica, Dexter, Paul, Jamie, Edgar - Coffee Pot Fleet

I may make a few exceptions here or there but these guys are the core. And yes, there are quite a few OCs too!

And, yes, you may even ask for me! Please refer to me as Admin or Admin Swift(y). Its just so I know you are talking to me. Keep in mind: I maybe a open book, but I have the right to not answer questions that make me uncomfortable (looking at you bots). So, chose your questions wisely.

Be creative with your questions and don’t be too vague. Also, I am not on the “up coming” trends/slang stuff. I am a bit of a Boomer in that regard. So, forgive me if you ask for something that I don’t understand. I’ll try. I do work a lot so it’s hard to keep up with current tends and memes.

This will be a continuous thing - there is no time limit of the sort! I just want to announce that I want to come back and fight my stress, anxiety and depression with art. I am also not just gonna rely on asks either - I’ll draw and sketch as I please and get to writing my stories as well. Don’t feel like you are pressured to do so. I’m not begging for asks nor for attention. This place is my safe haven - I want to enjoy it. And I want to enjoy it with you.

14 for admin!

Ooh boy, to be short a lot. I listen to 70’s, 80’s, 90’s music. Some pop music from this era. Most electronic music. I recently discovered I like metal and hard rock. Irish rock totally gets me in a party mood and movie soundtracks for drawing and writing.

Hope this answers enough your question 😅

Yep

REBLOG IF YOU ARE HELLA BORED AND WOULDN’T MIND SOME CURIOUS ANONS.