𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 -𝐩𝐭 𝟏- (𝐀𝐥𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 "𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡")
«How is she here...?»
«Why does she look like that...?»
«Wasn't she scrapped...?»
«What's going on...?»
That kind of thoughts tormented Henrietta's mind, as she stared at the curious blonde wooled coach with strange sheep-like legs.
She knew who she was at the moment she saw her. There was no doubts on it.
-Hannah...- She whispered.
The yellow coach recognized that voice, of course she would! It was her older sister! But still, no words came out of her mouh, just a little gasp as she tried to look back to Henrietta.
An awkward silence filled the air at the Steamworks.
Victor and Kevin approached at the reddish coach surreptitiously, waiting for someone to say something.
-Do you know her dear?- Toby asked in confusion.
After a few seconds, Henrietta finally answered trying to hide her cracking voice.
-O-Of course!- She smiled. -She's my younger sister remembder her?... I've never thought I would be able to see her again after... Well...- The maroon-eyed explained while some tears ran through her furry grey face.
The brown tram engine smiled a bit, feeling kinda nervous and guilty about what happened to his sister in-law a few moments ago though. But he was still so glad to see Henrietta that happy for seeing her sister.
-Yeah... Same here sis...- Added Hannah forcing a smile while a slight growl came out of her throat.
-Are you okay Hannah? Have you gone too fast again?- Henrietta purred while she smiled at her sister.
-Possibly, just like always...Why do you care so much now anyway?- Hannah faked a laugh, trying to not sound mad at her sister, in which she wasn't very successful.
Henrietta answered with another fake laugh, knowing what she really meant.
-Aw Hannah. You and your jokes...-
Victor frowned, noticing something was wrong between the coach sisters. In what seemed to be the only one, as both the young crane and the tram responded with a small laugh.
-Well, there's no need to worry, we'll soon have her fixed up and looking good as new. Better than new.- He said.
-Oh... Thank you... -Hannah answered sof
ting her tone.
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-I'm glad to have you back Henrietta- Toby purred as they both left the Steamworks.
-Me too Toby- She whispered almost unable to hold back her tears.
-I'm sure Hannah has learn a lesson today. And next time she'll want to go a little slower- He smiled.
But no one answered...
Toby waited for his coach to answer, but there was no sound coming from her excepting the sound of her wheels...
-Don't you think so Hennie?- He asked looking (as he could) at her.
Again... No one answered...
-Henrietta? Is everything okay?- The cracking voice of her elderly guard, Lyra, caught the tram's attention.
-Mhm... Everything fine...- The she-coach sobbed.
Toby gasped in worry.
-Are... Are you crying?- He asked.
-No... No... You don't need to worry...- Henrietta said, again, trying to hold back her tears, which was impossible at this point...
-Then why are you like that?- Asked Lyra.
She just looked downtrying to find something convincent to tell them.
-It was Hannah. It's been so long since i didn't see her... And i think i've got a bit emotional... - She smiled.
Toby smiled in relief.
-Oh.. I thought something was wrong...- He said.
-Sorry for worrying you... I know i don't act like this very often...And it can still be a bit strange to you...- She sighed while a slight blush ran across her face.
-Hey, it's okay. I understand how you must feel. I would react the same or worse if I saw my siblings again.- Toby said in a comforting tone. -You missed her so much right?-
She nodded slowly.
-Yes... You don't know how much i did... - The reddish coach answered.
«But still, i will never forgive myself for what happened»
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Meanwhile, back at the Steamworks.
Victor and Kevin were trying to find out what exactly Hannah was. And if it was better to get a vet for her.
-Excuse me for asking but... Could you tell me what made you look like that?- The garnet engine asked.
Hannah looked at him.
-Hmm... I'm not sure...- She answered -I just lost consciousness one day, and when I came back I already looked like this. It was less than 20 years ago, though, I can barely remember...- The yellow coach looked down. She may not remember what changed her. But she remembered perfectly all of that hell she lived the last 4 years.
That lost look in her bright blue eyes...
That silence after saying each sentence...
There was no doubt. Something in her was surely wrong.
Victor wasn't sure if he should ask her what was wrong. His curiosity almost forced him to do it though.
-She looks a lot like a sheep boss! Maybe we can fix her like those animal doctors do with real sheep!- Kevin squeaked while he clumsilly approached to the lime-eyed engine.
Hannah giggled. Kevin wasn't the first one to think she was a sheep.
A bunch of beautiful memories filled the icy-eyed coach's mind. Making her calm down a bit.
-That won't be possible Kevin. We are not vets, and the steamworks are not made for healing animals i'm afraid.- Victor shook his head. While the golden crane looked down, kinda dissapointed.
Then, thanks to his creativity and small knowledge about animals, Kevin ran outside the steamworks, he stayed under a tree for a few minutes, while his driver seemed to be collecting some things.
Hannah and Victor looked at eachother in confusion.
«What is he doing now?» the garnet engine thought whle he tried to understand what the crane wanted to do.
-Perhaps if we put these branches around the broken leg and then bandage it, it might heal more easily. My driver told me he did the same thing when he broke his arm on a mountain ride.- He proposed holding a bunch of branches on his hook.
Victor was amazed. It can actually work! And if it does, could that mean that Hannah was a real animal?
In any case. They should start working on Hannah's broken leg, siding scratches and other wounds.
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-Finally at home. And which makes it better, we're here together. - Toby said with a smile while he laid down, flattering his wheels as much as his pistons allowed him
Again... Silence...Only the sound of crickets chirping outside the shed was heard that night.
The wooden tram engine looked at his partner with curiosity.
-...- Luckilly, the shadow that Henrietta's roof made covered all her face. Hiding her tears and expression of shock.
-Good night Hennie. I love you. - He chuckled innocently after leaning slightly towards his partner's side.
It was around half an hour later that Henrietta managed to fall asleep and try to forget.
But once you remember what torments you...
It will take a while to forget it again...
~Henrietta...~
That was the first thing the reddish coach heard and what made her wake up from her sweet dream.
A ghostly and grisly voice called her from... nowhere?
It was true that her vision was quite blurry as she just woke up... But there was no one else than Toby and herself in the shed.
Henrietta thought it was just her imagination because she was a bit tired... So she closed her eyes again...
~Henrietta...!~ She quickly opened her eyes as the voice intensified it's volume.
She looked at Toby, and tried to call him to ask if he could also hear that voice.
But no sound came out of her throat, no matter how hard she tried to make a sound or even scream his name. She felt like she suddenly became mute.
«What's going on...? Why can't i talk? Is this just a nightmare?? No... No... It can't be... I'm awake. Toby is here. It must be real!... But then...what is happenning to me?!» As more she thought about it, more desperate she felt. But it was impossible not to think about it.
She was hearing voices and couldn't make any sound... Everyone would worry about it and try to find an explanation in that situation.
~All this years... You forgot... All this years... You forgot...~ More voices chanted the same phrase, making the situation even more disturbing.
Henrietta began to pant, terrified and confused. She had not experienced anything like this before.
She didn't know what the voices meant. What did she forgot? A promise? Someone?
She tried to shake herself a bit to wake up her mate.
But she couldn't move...
Even tho she's kinda used to not being able to move, she couldn't believe this was happening.
Her breathing became increasingly, to the point of start hyperventilating.
~You abandoned me... You betrayed me... You condemned me... You made me lose EVERYTHING... ~ The voices grew louder and louder. Making it almost impossible to understand them. Tormenting the poor maroon-eyed coach, who couldn't do anything to stop those voices.
«No...No... Please stop!! I can't handle this! Not again!» She begged in her mind still trying to talk. at least a little bit.
Suddenly, the voices disappeared. And a glowing figure appeared in front of her.
~Sister...~ This voice was different to the others... It was calmer, much calmer.
Henrietta looked up to her, seeing Hannah on that pale-white shiny figure in front of her...
«Hannah...?» She thought in confusion while her breathing slowly came back to normal.
~Henrietta... It is your fault...~ The glowing Hannah said as she sat near her sister.
The reddish coach shook her head checking if she had heard correctly.
~It is your fault...~ Hannah repeated.
~No one deserves such a callous traitor...capable of abandoning her loved ones to go flirt with a stranger...~ She whispered.
Henrietta couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did her sister really think that about her?
Hannah could be impulsive and impatient. But she would never lie to her own sister.
So it must be true...
~Have that in mind... You're the worst sister anyone could have... I HATE YOU! and I will never forgive you for this!~ Hannah hissed as she got up and ran away, dissapearing in the shadows of the night.
At that point, again, it was impossible to the reddish to hide her feelings, she didn't even try, just closed her eyes and started crying all that she couldn't since she saw Hannah.
At least, she wasn't mute anymore...
But those creepy voices returned, calling her name in unison.
~Henrietta... Henrietta... ~
This time.. They sounded much deeper than before.
Suddenly, all those voices became one, one that the reddish coach knew perfectly.
-Henrietta!- Toby exclaimed in worry and fear, seeing that she didn't answer.
When she finally came to her senses, she responded with a simple gasp. Unable to process what had just happened.
-Hennie what happened?! Are you okay?? You're shaking too much.- He asked.
-She hates me...She hates me!!- The maroon-eyed coach cried. She was sure what she saw on that nightmare was true. And Hannah actually thinks that about her.
-What? Who hates you? - Toby was getting more and more confused with every word his mate said. If the poor guy was already bad at noticing the feelings of others even with explanations, without them he didn't have the slightest idea of what to say or do.
-I... I don't understand what do you mean- He said.
-Hannah! She will never forgive what i did to her...- Henrietta flattered her wheels while she looked down.
-Hannah? Oh i knew something was wrong between you two...- Toby sighed. «Okay, okay, you must help her this time... What was that... What does she always say when you are nervous... » He tried to remember.
-It's okay. It's okay dear, just breath and calm down, you can do this. -
At the moment he knew that wasn't what he was meant to say.
-Huh?- Henrietta looked at him, kinda confused, but at least she wasn't crying anymore.
-Ah! Wait no! I-I mean... You don't need to worry!- He squeaked red with shame. -Oh dear Lady... How ridiculous... I'm the worst emotional support...- he sighed again. -Sorry darling. I just wanted to help... It looks like you are much better than me in that...-
Henrietta stared at him for a few seconds. Then she suddenly started laughing. Like if she forgot all what happened in the last 5 minutes.
-What is it now?- Asked Toby.
-Nothing nothing. It was... It was just so funny and cute how you tried to confort me- She giggled.
He smiled too when he saw her looking good again.
-Awh, no no, you are the cute one, specially when you smile- The tram engine giggled as he rubbed his side against her affectionately.
-I'm so sorry i didn't told you before... It was all so sudden that I wasn't able to process so many emotions at once...- Said Henrietta.
-Hey, it's fine, you don't need to tell me right now if you don't want to.- He purred while he closed his eyes.
She nodded slowly. She wanted to tell him, he needs to have some context if something like this happens again...
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-And... Ta-Da!!- Kevin squeaked while he took little leaps of emotion. -How do you feel?? Better??-
Hannah looked at her broken hoof, now surrounded by sticks and carefully bandaged.
-Yeah... Yeah, sort of. But i can't move it, and it still hurts...- She answered.
The garnet engine looked at the little golden crane. He could be amazing at healing engines. But it looks like Kevin is much better at healing animals.
-Ah don't worry. That's normal. The pain won't disappear inmediatly. And i think it's better to you not to move your leg. You need to rest. -He explained.
-I agree on that, the best way to heal an injury, both in animals and engines, is resting- Said Victor.
Hannah nodded while she placed her healthy hooves under her bright-golden thicc wool. Giving her a loaf-like shape.
-Do you need anything else?- He asked tenderly
-Don't worry, i'm fine.- She answered while placing her head on the floor as much as she could.
Victor nodded.
-If you need something, you just have to call us.- He said.
She nodded back.
-And since when do you know that much about medicine buddy?- The lime-eyed engine asked Kevin, in a whisper to not disturb Hannah's dreams.
The young crane just shrugged while he let out a little giggle.
The golden she-coach gazed at the two engines leaving that place, heading towards their sheds. Then, when she didn't see them anymore, she looked at the sky. A beautiful, starry night sky.
-We used to watch the stars together when we were newbuilts...- Hannah whispered to herself, while those shining spots were reflected in her bright blue eyes. -I hope someday she will forgive me...- She sighed.
-I'm sure she will Hannah. But you don't need to worry about that now. Tomorrow will be another day, and you two will be able to talk a bit more calmly- Her guard said while she patted her siding.
Hannah closed her eyes, right before a storm of memories invaded her mind once again...
But one in specific caught her attention.
~Hannah? Irene told me you were at the Steamworks, Are you okay?? What happened?!~ A much younger version of her sister was in front of her in that dream.
«Oh... Now I remember this... Heh. My first speed incident. How could i forget it? »
~Yeah, i'm fine sis. Just a bit sore hehe. But it was fun!~ The child-like Hannah giggled.
The reddish one frowned really upset.
~Don't you dare to worry me again like this!!~ She squeaked.
~Okay okaaay... Sorry Hennie i will be more careful next time. But just because i don't want to see you like this.~ The smile in her face... That was something everyone on their old railway agreed was characteristic of her. Maybe because she was very young and unexperienced, maybe because of her enthusiasm and optimism, she was always happy and full of energy. Unlike her older sisters, who were much more calm and a little shy.
But now... Where was that smile?
Another memory hit her right after asking that to herself.
~Where are we going Hannah? Is this really safe? I can't see!~ Said a little blue and yellow tram engine. He was wearing a white lily on one of his windows, and a blindfold was covering his eyes.
«Could... Could it be...» Hannah thought.
~Calm down Gorath. We're almost there.~ The Hannah of that memory still seemed to be the same happy and cheerful coach of the last memory.
But this time it was different...
When the driver made the tram engine stop, they all were in a beautiful lily field.
Both the driver and the fireman got out of Gorath's cabine to remove the blindfold.
He gasped while tears filled his bright golden eyes.
~It was Hannah's idea...~ Said his driver between sobs.
~You didn't think I was going to let you go without taking you where you always wanted to go, did you?~ She said.
~A lily field... Those flowers are my favourites...Oh thank you thank you THANK YOU!!! You're the best Hannah!!~ Gorath cried pure joy tears while he shaked backwards and forwards.
He was going to be sended to the scrapyard in a few days...Hannah thought he deserved to be happy just one last time.
Tears started to silently run out of Hannah's closed eyes. Right before the worst of all the memories hit her.
~Why does it have to hurt so much?! What is happening to me Oisin?! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!~ Another version of herself, a bit older this time, cried while visible blood came out of her eyes, nose and mouth.
Next to her, a copper-brown he-coach with pale cream spots around its sides, was trying to comfort her through all the pain she was feeling.
~Shh shh... It will worth it sweet lemon. It's okay.~ He said tenderly after giving her a comforting lick on her cheek.
~Please... Please just stay with me! If i will die don't want to do it alone!~ She cried again.
~You won't die Hannah, trust me, you won't die.~ Oisin giggled.
~But you will stay...will you?~ She sobbed before coughing more and more blood.
~I will sweetie, till the end of our lives, we will be together.~ He said.
«Oh Oisin... My love... If only the brakes on that engine hadn't failed that day...» Hannah sinked her face on her chest fur to hide her sobs.
That was surely going to be a long night for the sisters...
𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝...
(AU inspo creds: @steam-beasts <3)