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Last Year
Another one of the first Starlight related things I ever wrote - back in 2001. It's not the best thing I've ever written but hey...
Just a short little doodle.
A young steam engine sat alone on the old bridge watching the sun set. The sky was a rainbow of reds and pinks. He tried to ignore the activity below. If he was quiet and still hopefully they wouldn't notice him yet.
"Rusty?" a voice called.
He turned to see a familiar figure climbing up onto the bridge. He smiled and shifted position so she could get up next to him.
"You look nice tonight Pearl," he said.
She smiled and played with her pigtails. "Thanks Rusty," she said, "Belle did my hair tonight." She sat down next to him.
"Ready for the race tonight?" he asked, "It should be a great show."
"Why don't you enter?" she asked, "I mean you're old enough."
"Yeah but you're not," he answered, "And I couldn't possibly race without you."
"Aww that's sweet," Pearl said, "You're cute Rusty."
He grinned back and stuck out his tongue.
"Rusty!" a voice called.
Rusty sank lower and pressed lower to the bridge.
"I know you and Pearl are up there," the voice said, "Now get down here!"
Rusty sighed, stood up, leaned over the edge and looked down to see an older steam engine.
"Now," the engine said.
"Yessir," Rusty said climbing down to the ramp, then rolling down.
"Go find Belle," the engine said, "She's waiting for you."
"Yes Poppa," Rusty said half-heartedly chugging out.
Pearl slowly climbed down off the old bridge and skated off slowly, keeping out of the way of the engines and cars setting up for the race.
Rusty ducked down and pulled the tarp over himself, vanishing from sight. He felt like an idiot but it was the only thing he could do.
"Rusty what are you doing?" Pearl asked
"Shh," he hissed, "You haven't seen me!"
"But..." she started, "Oh alright."
Greaseball and his gang skated over. Pearl saw them coming and pulled out a string. Quickly she wound it around her fingers and looked down at it, completely absorbed in her game.
"Hey coach," Greaseball said, "Seen a steam engine around here?"
"You mean Poppa?" she asked innocently, "I think he's over by the station."
"No," Greaseball answered impatiently, "Come on!" he called to his gang, "This way!"
Pearl watched them leave. He left her alone; a little coach was no interest to him.
"They're gone," she said.
"You sure?" his muffled voice asked.
She dutifully looked around, "Positive."
He emerged from the tarp, "Thanks."
"Why are you hiding?" she asked.
"Because he can't boss me around if he can't *find* me," Rusty answered.
"Why's he bossing you around?" she asked.
"Because he can," he sighed, "I'm gonna run while I can. I'll see you later."
"See ya," she said.
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