The Midnight Train Crossing

The bright sun beat down against Flare's solar panels, filling him with life sustaining energy. It was days like today that he felt like somehow he could be the champion engine of the world, as light and heat were exchanged with in him for speed and strength. It was days like today that he didn't have to worry about what the other engines would do to him. He was bigger than they were, and as long as the skies were clear and bright, perfectly able to defend himself.

He had to resist the urge to close his eyes and just enjoy the smooth motion of the tracks beneath his wheels, the shining warmth, the speed. He was carrying precious cargo, someone he treasured more than he would ever admit out loud.

Blanche gripped Flare's couplers tightly, enjoying the ride. He was going faster than usual, showing off. She grinned, and gently stroked a coupler with one finger. He moved a little faster in response, as if her mere touch sent volts of electricity up his spine. Their relationship was a sweet irony, a friendship that brought unity between the worlds night and day.

Blanche was a sleeper, with large dark eyes. Everything about her was black and silver, like moonbeams mingling in the cool air of a clear night sky. She moved with the dark grace of a sunset, and dressed in black velvet.

Flare liked to imagine that the other engines were jealous as he raced by, with Blanche in tow. He knew they'd get their chance though, next time she wanted a ride, and he wasn't around, or simply wanted a good time.

"Pull in here, okay?" Blanche said, in a sweet voice.
Flare obeyed without question, pulling into the coaches' station. He, for obvious reasons, didn't spend much time here. When engines showed up without permission, it tended to make the coaches fussy. Of course, he knew for the most part that was an act. They were an engine crazy lot for the most part, and enjoyed the attention.
However, if he were to go anywhere near them, it would be a different story. They wanted an engine who could actually get them somewhere, not a solar powered freak who collapsed every evening when the sun set, and turned into a helpless weakling when clouds rolled in. That was alright though, he only wanted one coach anyway. She wasn't his but at least she gave him the time of day.
"Thanks Flare." Blanche made a point of batting her eyes sweetly at him before disappearing into the girl's station.

The other coaches looked up as Blanche entered.
"Hey girl!" one called, "Where have you been?"
"Out," Blanche answered with a smile, tossing her hair, "Where else?"
"With which engine this time?" the coach asked.
"Flare," Blanche answered in a tone that it should have been obvious, "I was running some errands."
"Blanche, why do you hang out with him?" the other coach, Jeanette asked.
She shrugged, "He's sweet, and he'd do anything for me, and he is strong..."
"Yeah during the day," another coach laughed.
Jeanette sighed, "You aren't serious about him are you? I mean...at night he..."
"I know that," Blanche answered, "And you're right, he pulls me around during the day and then I have some fun with the other engines at night."
"Ah, I see..." Jeanette said with a smile, she leaned in closer, "So... speaking of the other engines..."
The other coaches leaned in.
"No, I haven't decided yet," Blanche said, "I'm still testing them all. I want to have my fun before I settle down."
The others nodded in agreement.
"After all," one said, "There's lots of engines to try out before you settle down."
"And even still," Jeanette added, "You gotta test them all out more then once to make sure that you make the right choice."
Blanche nodded, "Exactly, and that's just what I'm gonna do."
"And keep your adoring solar engine for backup transportation..."
Blanche nodded in agreement, "Always. What about you Jennette? You looking at any special engine?" Jennette blushed slightly.

"Well, it is almost race night..."
"Not for like a month!" One of the other coaches, a passenger car named Esmra, teased "You're getting way ahead of yourself girl."
"It's never to soon to plan." Jennette argued.
"Especially for important events like race night!" Blanche agreed, "So, who is it then?"
"Maybe Fuse..." Jennette said in a low voice, hoping nobody would comment. Of course, these hopes were promptly and efficiently crushed.
"Fuse?" Esmra asked loudly. "He's got components to race with, plenty of components."
"So?" Blanche argued, "Electrics are finicky... and besides, I've never known one to turn down a pretty coach."
"And you would know." Jennette teased.
"Well, I haven't been with Fuse." Blanche said in a tone that suggested practicality.

"That's a new one. We've officially found an engine Blanche hasn't been with." One of the coaches commented.
"Wasting to much of her time on her Solar Engines." Esmra said with a wink, "But back to Fuse... are you crazy?"
"No..." Jennette whined, "And what's the worst that could happen?"
"Well, Ruby could kill you..." Esmra pointed out. Blanche giggled.
"I ain't afraid of Ruby!"
"She is only a repair car." Jennette said.
"She's our only repair car. I wouldn't suggest stealing her engine." Blanche was about to comment, when suddenly a loud buzzer went off. She smiled at the other coaches.
"Looks like you get to go to work." She said, stretching out comfortably on a cushioned section of the station floor. Esmra rolled her eyes.
"You'll get yours tonight, sleeper." Blanche nodded and yawned.
"Meet me at the diner for dinner before you start your runs tonight? Jennette asked. Blanche nodded, and watched her friends roll out for a day's work.

Flare sighed softly, sitting off on the sidings under an overhanging roof. The weather had changed drastically since that morning. The sun was hidden beside thick dark clouds, it looked as though it were going to rain.
The change had taken him by surprise and he hadn't had a chance to make it to a better shelter. He was conserving energy to convince his frame to take him further down the tracks into some better shelter from the rain, which was sure to come any time now.
A heavy drop of rain spattered against Flare's face. Great. It seemed there was little hope of the sun coming out... and it was getting harder to move.
"Flare?"
Flare raised his head with an effort...

Angelina gave up doing battle with her umbrella and she skated over to the nearly unconscious engine. The cream and cinnamon colored bakery coach shook her head as she regarded him, pushing back her dark hair.
Anbi followed her mother closely, slightly miffed by the fact that her mother no longer seemed to be going home, "Not this again..." She said, just loudly enough so that both Flare and Angelina could hear
Angelina sighed softly at the comment from her daughter and she moved closer to Flare.
Flare held onto the side of the shed tightly for leverage, trying to do his best not to look like a helpless idiot. His head was swimming, like it always did when it rained, letting him know he was fast running out of power
"Come on honey," she said, offering him a hand up.
Flare took her hand, only after looking around to make sure there were no other engines in site. After all, there was something very humiliating about being an engine who needed coaches to help him home... or to the closest shelter. "Thanks..." He mumbled, hardly noticing how far away his own voice sounded. He was sued to it.
She carefully helped him upright, "It's not far to my house... a lot closer then it is to yours."
Flare nodded tiredly, trying very hard not to let Angelina take to much of his weight. He was bigger than her... much bigger. He didn't want to hurt her.
Anbi sighed. "He's not gettin' my bed..." She complained
"He won't Anbi," Angelina's voice sounded a bit strained as she supported the larger engine. Angelina was not a very large coach, she was rather petite.
"Do you need any help mom?" Anbi said, in a slightly different tone.
She nodded, "If you would..."
Anbi grabbed onto one of Flare's arm's, rather abruptly. She was small, but strong, and as an armaments car she had a fair share of armor.
"Thank you," Angelina said with a smile at her daughter.
Anbi nodded, through gritted teeth.

Flare was finding himself leaning more and more on them. The storm clouds were rolling in heavily now, almost completely blocking out even the slightest amount of sun. He stumbled dizzily.
"Nearly there Flare," Angelina soothed, "Hang on, just listen to me..." she kept up a steady stream of conversation.
Flare did his best to keep walking, as Angelina's words joined and flowed into one another. Bang! The was thunder, following by a quick flash of life giving lighting. Flare was able to perk up momentarily.
At that moment Angelina was able to get him moving a bit faster as they neared her home.
Flare silently hoped for another bolt of lightning.
"Just a few more feet now..." Angelina said, "You can make it, no problems. It's not hard at all. Nearly there."

Suddenly a rather large diesel engine, Slick, was blocking the way. He raised an eyebrow at Angelina, "Picking up the trash?"
She smiled sweetly at him, "I have a fresh batch of that cake that you like."
Slick smiled, "ahh, good girl."
"I did not say that you would get any."
"Oh?" Slick asked, giving her a look.
"Yes, and now if you would be so kind as to let us pass..."
Slick rolled his eyes, and stepped out of the way. It was fun to pick on Flare, but it worked better when he was alone. "You need some help carrying him then?" He asked, a slightly malicious look on his face, "You're a bit small to be playing engine."
"I am quite alright thank you, although perhaps my feelings may be hurt, too much for me to cook."
Slick shook his head, and moved to skate off, "Have fun breaking your back then."
Angelina rolled her eyes a bit, the engine wasn't the brightest, she thought as she guided Flare into her house.

Flare was relieved to hear the door of Angelina's house swing open. He was beginning to feel as if he were floating, to tired to even be humiliated. His knees buckled just as he entered her home.
"Oh no you don't," she guided him over to her couch.
Flare fell onto Angelina's coach like a rag doll.
Anbi flexed her arms, relieved that the engine was no longer on top of her.
Angelina sighed a bit as she looked down at him.
Anbi poked his arm curiously. He didn't react, "He's out." She said, matter-of-factly
She nodded, "No sunlight, no power..."
"That sucks." Anbi said nonchalantly, wringing out her now soaked black hair, "I'm going to grab a towel before I rust..."
Angelina smiled at her daughter, "Grab me one too?"
"Yeah... Maybe one for Flare also..." She said, skating quickly over to one of the closets.
"That would be nice..."
No sooner had she said that than Angelina had two towels thrown in her general direction
"Thanks..." she said, picking them up off the ground. She went over and started drying Flare off.

Anbi came over, rubbing the towel against her own frame. "How long do you think it'll be this time?"
"Until the sun comes out, like it always is."
Anbi looked out at the thunderstorm that was raging outside, "looks like we're going to be stuck with him on our coach for awhile." she made a face.
"Well at least it's not your bed..."

"Yeah..." Anbi paused, "Y'know, the other coaches talk about you keeping him here..." She ventured.
"Do they now?"
Anbi nodded, "They can't seem to decide weather he's your engine our Blanche's... but you would never go with an engine like him..."
"of course not Anbi, I'm not looking for any engines..."
"And even if you were Flare's..."
Angelina turned around, "Yes?"
"Well... he's the way he is. Even if you were looking for an engine you wouldn't take him."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, look at him! He can't do anything..."
"That's because the sun's not out..."
"Yeah... but..."
"When he is awake, he is strong and fast, he is kind and very sweet."
"But still... wouldn't you want a real engine?"
"Flare is real engine Anbi."
Anbi shook her head in disagreement.
Angelina sighed, "You will see someday."

"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Can I race this year?"
"Well... I'll think about it."
"You see... that's something that Flare couldn't do. He can't race."
"That's only because the races are at night."
"He's not dependable"
Angelina sighed and pulled a blanket over Flare, "I will not make Flare my engine," she said, "Does that work?"
Anbi sighed and nodded, "Yeah, I guess..."
Angelina smiled and then skated out of the room.

Jennette sat alone at the table in the dining room. She was the first one there, as usual.
"Hey Girl." Esmra plopped down in a seat next to her friend.
"Hey, You're wet..."
"It's raining."
"Yeah, I know, ever heard of an umbrella?"
"Well, it was kinda unexpected...." The was a loud bang of thunder outside, "Lovely weather we're having. And I'll bet you Blanche is still sleeping in the station..."
Jennette jumped at the thunder, "yeah, probably."
"I swear, that girl could sleep through an earthquake..."
She laughed, "Yeah probably."

Blanche burst into the room, soaked despite the umbrella in her hand. "It's nasty out!" She complained.
"You were wrong," Jennette informed Esmra with a smile.
"About?" Blanche asked. She sat down right next to Jennette and began to wring out her hair, getting the other coach wet in the process. Esmra merely smirked
"Ah!" Jennette protested, getting up.
"Oh! Sorry!" Blanche said, blushing, but otherwise not sounding particularly concerned.
"Yeah, sure you are..."
"I am! Sit down." Blanche yawned and rubbed the sleep out her eyes.
"Yeah sure..." she sat down anyway.
"I don't see how you two can stand to be up during the day..."
"We're not sleepers..." Jennette retorted.
"Yeah but..."
Jennette started to answer when Angelina rolled in.
"Your loss." Blanche said softly, before waving at Angelina

"Hello girls," Angelina said rolling over.
"If your enjoying the rain," Esmra teased, "Make sure to sit down next to Blanche."
Angelina laughed and Jennette pouted a bit.
"Nah... I'm dry now." Blanche pointed out
"Yeah, but I'm not."
"Well... I said I was sorry."
Angelina sighed softly.

"It started raining pretty suddenly." Blanche commented.
Esmra nodded in agreement, "And y'all know what that means."
Jennette nodded, "Sun's gone..." she said teasingly to Blanche.
Blanche nodded, "Well, I hope it's nice out tomorrow morning. I have some errands to run." Esmra giggled
Angelina frowned a bit.
"Well, I'm sure you can find another engine..." Blanche rolled her eyes, "Who wants to spend their entire morning running around the trainyard shopping?"
Jennette smiled, "For you..." she started teasingly.
Blanche nodded, "Exactly, for me. I don't have to give Flare that."
Angelina sighed, loudly.
"You're lucky." Esmra said, "I wish I had an engine slave... even one like him."
Jennette nodded, "yeah, you don't tell him about what you do at night though, right?"
"He doesn't ask." Blanche said pointedly.
"Well, neither do we, and we certainly hear enough of it." Esmra said, "and besides, if he did ask, would you really tell him..."
Blanche shook her head, "No, probably not."
"My point exactly." Jennette said with a smug look, "Although if he did find out, would that change much?"
"He's hopeless." Esmra said before Blanche could speak. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"
"well..."
Jennette nodded, as if urging Blanche on.

"I think he sorta thinks I'm his coach... I never told him I was but..."
"You've never told him that you weren't either."
"I just let him think what he wants. And if I get free rides out of the deal, all the better!"
"Hear hear!" Jennette agreed.

Angelina sighed and turned away, leaving the younger coaches.
"Where you going?" Esmra called out...
"Over here. I don't want to listen to this," Angelina answered.
"Listen to what?" Blanche asked innocently
"You three making fun of a very nice engine."
"I never said he wasn't very nice..." Blanche argued. Esmra rolled her eyes
"I never said that you didn't, I just don't like to hear you talking about taking advantage of him."
"I wouldn't worry. He likes it."
"But I don't."
Blanche looked confused.
"Blanche, I must tell you, I don't like you leading him on like this."
Blanche sighed, "You know Flare's my friend. I wouldn't hurt him."
"You wouldn't on purpose I'm sure..."
"I'm not hurting him." Blanche said, "he's happy, I'm happy, lets leave it a that."
Angelina sighed, "Fine."

Blanche smiled, "Have you seen him by the way. It's raining."
Esmra giggled.
"Yes. He's on my couch."
"What's he doing there?"
Blanche rolled her eyes, "What do you think?"
"He...didn't make it there before it started to rain."
"Oh no." Blanche sighed, "He's alright though?"
"I suppose so..."
"Something's wrong."
"No, I don't think so, he got a bit wet and of course he's powerless but other then that I think he's fine."
"Nobody saw him then?"
"Slick did."
Blanche sighed. "Wonderful. Flare will be hearing about it in the morning then."

Jennette seemed to find this amusing. "Engine fight?" She questioned.
"Maybe." Blanche said thoughtfully, "It depends on whether or not Slick can get at Flare before he's finished powering up for the morning... he wont touch Flare when he's at full power." She paused distastefully, "I do not like that engine one bit..."
Esmra broke out laughing. "You, not like an engine? That's a new one..."
"That's at all not what you said last night..." Jennette teased
"Well... he is sorta of cute, and all engines are good for some things..."
"More than good." Esmra said knowingly.
Blanche sighed. "Alright, more than good... but that doesn't mean I have to like him."

A bell went off. Blanche stood up, suddenly alert. "And I've got a run to go on..."
"With?"
"Slick." She tossed her hair, and grinned wickedly at her friends. "See ya in the morning." She skated out the door, but not without noticing the exasperated look on Angelina's face.

Flare was acutely aware of the wonderful feel of sunlight on his face, even before he was aware of where he was. He could hear footsteps nearby, soft talking, though the words and his thoughts were still a blur. He didn't try to move.
Even in his half comatose state he knew it would still be awhile before his body and higher mind functions were back in full working order. He just lay still, and concentrated on the soft warmth that was growing within him.
His first coherent thought was that he was not outside. The sun was coming in through a window, it's energizing effects slowed by the lack of direct exposure.
Memories of the previous evening came flooding back to him in patchy waves. It had rained and Angelina... of course Angelina had taken care of it. That was about all he could remember.
He shot up quickly. Usually he waited until he was at least half charged before even attempting to move, but he wanted to know exactly where he was. Angelina's house.
A slight but persistent feeling of embarrassment filled him as he sunk back down, knowing full well he would have to get some more sun before attempting to move again.

Angelina rolled into her living room, pulling her robe tighter around her. The sun was coming in full blast this morning and she wanted to make sure that Flare was alright. She yawned a bit and pushed back her hair.
Flare opened his eyes, still waiting for his full power to come back. He smiled sleepily at Angelina, and struggled into a sitting position
She smiled at him and skated over to the window, pulling the curtains aside and opening the window to let the sunlight come streaming in. The strong golden beams landed directly on Flare's frame.
Flare smiled at her. That was much better. He could nearly feel the energy rushing through him. "So... thanks..." he said, suddenly feeling a bit shy
She nodded, and shrugged off his thanks.
"Did I miss anything interesting over the night?" Flare was feeling better now, but he still wasn't sure he trusted himself to stand quite yet. He found that it was best to try and cover any weakness with conversation
"No." she said shortly, in a tone that rather conveyed the opposite.
Flare gave her a doubtful look, "It doesn't sound it..."
"Is it that obvious?"

Flare smiled a bit at her, then nodded, "What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"About as far as..." Flare trailed off, trying to see if he could remember anything at all, "You helped me home from the shed... and Anbi was complaining at first and... there was lighting..." He shrugged, trying to piece together his patchy memories of the night before, "And... I don't know what else"
She nodded approvingly, "Well after we got you settled I ran over to the diner..."
Flare found himself blushing again... he hated how he did that. It certainly wasn't very enginely. "And..." He urged, in a tone of voice that didn't match the look on his face
"Oh, usual coach gossip. I'm sorry I brought it up."
"About me" He guessed, "I've only caught bits of it really but..."
She skated over to him, "Listen honey, just ignore them..."
Flare sighed, "I know, I ought to..." He said, in a tone that conveyed absolutely no certainty
She smiled warmly, "Lets get you out into the sun..."
"Yeah.." Flare agreed. In a way he wanted to know what the coaches had said... somehow knowing how the coaches hated him was grimly interesting.

"I've got to power up quickly... I'm supposed to be picking Blanche up early." His face took on a dreamy look at the mention of her name
Angelina got an odd expression, but she nodded and smiled, "What does she have you doing now?"
Flare grimaced a bit, "Shopping." He got up, a bit shakily. To his own surprise, he stayed up
"You're taking her shopping?" She asked, a bit distracted with making sure that Flare stayed on his wheels.
"And maybe to breakfast depending on if we can get there early enough so that nobody sees us." He said, trying not to sound bitter about this part. At least he would be with her
"I see..." she said with a frown.
Flare made for the door, feeling dizzy as he left the window's glow behind him
Angelina followed close behind, making sure he made it safely to the door and out onto the porch.
Flare shakily made his way out the door and then just stood there in the sun. He angled his solar panels to catch the warm life-giving sunlight, drinking it in almost greedily. Deep inside his frame he felt power being generated and his engine whirring into motion.
He looked back at Angelina and smiled, "Thank you..."
"Ah," she said, shrugging the thanks off.

"I'm going to go..." he said feeling powerful again.
"Are you sure? I mean, maybe you should wait a few minutes..." she said.
He shook his head, "I'm fine," he hesitated, "Can I... get you anything?" he made a bit of a face, "While I'm out shopping?"
She shook her head, "Well if you're going to go then move it."
He smiled and rolled down the tracks at an easy pace, letting himself fully charge before he picked up speed.

"Hey Flare..." an oily voice called.
Flare sighed and didn't stop.
"Moving a bit slow this morning are we?" the owner of the voice, the diesel engine, Slick, asked, pulling up.
"That's only because I don't feel like going very fast," Flare answered.
"Yeah sure..." Slick said.
Flare sighed softly and sped up slightly, "Go away I'm busy..."
"Making up for lost time?" Slick said, "After all, it rained yesterday..."
Flare gritted his teeth but didn't respond. There was no point in arguing about something that was true.
"I was busy last night..." Slick taunted.
"Good for you..." Flare answered.
"Yeah, some of us can work in the dark y'know."
"More work for you then."

Slick paused while he processed that, giving Flare a few minutes to get further away. The diesel engine shot forward. "Don't you want to know what I was busy doing?"
"Not particularly..." Flare answered.
"I took the sleepers out," Slick smiled, "That Blanche... wow."
Flare hit his brakes and rounded on the diesel, "Shut up." Then he kept going.
Slick followed, "I mean I've gone out with a lot of coaches, but that Blanche, she's a whole new type of coach, man I'm tellin' you."
"I said shut up..." Flare mumbled.
"I'm thinkin' about taking her out, privately..."
Over my dead body, Flare thought, she wouldn't go with you anyway.
"She seemed very willing, if ya know what I mean..." Slick said with a wink.
That was it. Something in Flare snapped. He growled and stood up to his full height, two long inches taller then Slick. He advanced slowly.
Slick paled a bit and backed away, he could see now that Flare was powered up fully. Not a good time to start a fight.
"Take It Back," Flare ordered, giving Slick a bit of a shove.
Slick barely kept his balance, "Easy Flare...I was just teasin'..."
Flare growled and Slick turned and ran.

If Flare had been thinking properly he probably would have let Slick go, but the diesel had insulted Blanche and Flare wasn't about to let him get away with that.
He shifted his solar panels and felt power surge through him as he accelerated, closing the distance between him and Slick.
His eyes focused on the retreating figure of the diesel engine, completely ignoring the logical part of his brain which told him that he should not be following these tracks.
Slick shot forward into a long dark tunnel and Flare skidded to a stop just outside. Now he remembered, this tunnel was too long for him to manage. He never made it all the way through without a serious power loss.
"Whassamatter?" Slick taunted from just inside, "Too dark for ya solar boy?"
Flare shifted and growled.
"I'm right here, come and get me..."
Flare growled and turned around, "Not worth my time..." he mumbled.
"Yeah, but Blanche is sure worth mine!" Slick called.
Something inside Flare snapped again and he raced after Slick, heedless of the warnings his mind was shouting out. He barreled into the tunnel and continued the chase.

Far too soon he felt himself losing power.
He was half way through the tunnel when his knees gave out. He was to far into it to go back, and still not far enough to see the light at the end. Dizzy exhaustion accentuated the swirling pattern of grays and blacks before his eyes, until they were racing through his mind like a hellish tempts. Slick's cruel laughter suddenly seemed demonic, and his scarcely illuminated face seemed ghostly. Flare couldn't get up, or even call out for help. There was no escape from the nightmare.
He thought he felt something like a swift kick in his stomach, and maybe heard himself grunt in pained response, but he couldn't tell. He didn't know what was happening anymore. In a few minutes, the blackness overtook him completely.

Flare's eyes fluttered open to the site of bright sunlight, shining benevolently down on him. He was right outside the tunnel... the horrible one he never crossed. The main question was how had he gotten here? He got up quickly, his entire body protesting at the movement, and not only because of lack of power. He was soar all over, and when he looked down at himself he found several dents in his otherwise smooth frame. Nothing serious, but certainly uncomfortable.
According to the sun, which was far too high in the sky, it was around noon. It was late, very late. Usually Blanche was just going to sleep at noon. He started to get up, but his power was excruciatingly low compared to what it should have been.

"What the..." He started to mutter under his breath, but soon all confusion was cleared up. One of his three shining black solar panels was busted horribly, cracked and misshapen.
Flare hit the tracks with an angry grunt, luckily for his hand and any other trains that might be traveling down these rails not making much of an impact. This wasn't good. He knew he wouldn't be able to power up fully with one of his panel's out of commission.