Work Text:
Finally. Finally it happened. The Intercontinental Railroad is open, and now all trains will be able to explore this unknown world hidden behind a large tunnel. Selly rode slowly along the tracks and looked around. It looked like other tunnels, although the sound went much slower here, so it was impossible to immediately understand what your interlocutor was saying. Several rails also appeared here, and trains could run almost next to each other.
— Selly! — suddenly someone responded. Selly turned her head and saw Alf.
— Yes?
— What do you think there might be?
Selly thought about it.
— I don't even know. Maybe there will be a big city, new trains. We can assume many different options, but now we need to see everything with our own eyes.
— Selly, — Alf's tone became more serious, — don't you think that it can be dangerous there?
— Huh?
— What if there will be a similar threat that we had? Plus, we don't know where this virus came from. What if it will come back?
Selly considered his words. And it's true, even though Kay destroyed the virus, no one still knows where it came from. And there was a possibility that it could return.
— I don't know, Alf.. I hope nothing like this happens.
Then they rode in silence.
***
Now they are already on another land, in a new city. Everything looked the same as in their home. There was even a fountain. True, the houses were bigger, and they looked.. more mechanical or something? Now there are five other Robot Trains in front of our heroes. There were also ordinary trains, there were quite a few of them.
— Hey! — said the yellow robot train with green eyes. It's funny, but she was almost the same height as Kay, — Welcome to our city. We were waiting for you.
— Waiting for us? — Duck asked, puzzled. To be honest, Selly was surprised too. She didn't expect these strangers to wait for them.
— Oh sure! It was a prophecy or foresight, Maxie doesn't remember exactly! It said that heroes from another world would come, and these heroes turned out to be you!! Right, Genie?
— Yes, Maxie, calm down, — the orange train, apparently Genie, stroked the head of the pink and white train named Maxie, — what Maxie said is true. It really was a prophecy.
— If so, — Selly mused, — then the prophecy was sent for a reason, right?
— Well, in general, yes.. — the yellow train said uncertainly, — We will need your help. But we will explain it to you later, — suddenly her face lit up, — God, we forgot to introduce ourselves! My name is Sharon and I am the leader of this city! This kiddo's name is Jose, — she pointed to the green Robot Train.
— Hey! The fact that I am short doesn’t mean that I am a kid! — he tried to look angry, but it was on the contrary cute.
— These two are called Genie and Maxie, and the one in the hat is called Gary.
— Nice to meet you, — he greeted. Suddenly he looked at Victor and Jeffrey and those understanding smiled at each other. Selly made a note in her head that they probably knew each other.
— Nice to meet you too! — Kay smiled broadly, — my name is Kay and I am the leader of these trains. And their names are Alf, Duck, Selly with her assistant Becky, Jeffrey, Victor and Duke.
Everyone greeted at once, only Duke was silent as usual.
— Um-ahem, — Genie drew attention to herself, — I want to ask a question.. what took you so long to open this Railroad? Did something happen there?
All were quiet at once. Nobody wanted to tell about the case with the virus, because there was no need for unnecessary panic. And everyone could be suspicious of Duke, and this could not be allowed. Selly decided to lie.
— Well... — she nervously fiddled with her hands, — we had... technical problems in several areas... we had to repair everything there and all that stuff... and it took much longer than usual, — Selly hoped that her deception will not be revealed. Others, meanwhile, looked at her in shock, but realized that she was doing it for the good. Selly even felt the surprised look of Duke standing behind her.
— Problems, you say? — Sharon responded, — and what exactly-
— It's all my fault.
Everyone turned to Duke. Our heroes were shocked, especially Selly. She mentally scolded him: "No, Duke, don't do stupid things! Don't you remember how everyone was afraid of you, even after you were cured? Do you want it to be here too?!" Unfortunately, Duke couldn’t read minds, so he stepped forward to the new trains.
— Selly lied. We were delayed because of me.
— What do you... want to say by that? — Jose asked worriedly.
— I contracted the virus, — everyone gasped at once, and Selly tried to stop him.
— Duke! What are you doing?! Stop-
— Selly, let me finish.
— But, — unfortunately Duke didn’t listen to her.
— This virus wanted to take Kay's engine and rule the Train World. Because of it, I did terrible things.. after the first fight with Kay, he lost his memory and abilities. Because of this, it took a long time to recover.
Selly didn't listen further. She didn't need to, because she was a part of this story.
— Kay, — Sharon asked worriedly, — is it true?
— Unfortunately, yes.. we didn't mean to scare you..
— You don’t know where this virus came from? — Genie asked, — Is there a chance it will come back?
— We... don't know... — Jeffrey answered honestly. Everyone fell silent. There was no need to say anything. Everyone pondered this situation. The awkward silence was interrupted by Victor.
— By the way, you said that you need our help. Are you in trouble?
Sharon suddenly woke up.
— Huh? Oh yes, exactly! But for this we must proceed to our tower. Follow me!
Sharon and her friends transformed into trains and drove into one of the tunnels.
— Well, guys, let's follow them! — said Kay. As soon as Duke wanted to transform, he was interrupted by Selly.
— Duke, can I have you for a minute? We need to talk, — her tone was surprisingly serious, — Kay, I hope you don't mind, huh?
— Um... of course not. Just don't linger, okay? — with these words he left. Before Duke had time to say anything, Selly dragged him into a dark corner. When they got there, Selly released him and crossed her arms.
— Duke, what was that?!
— What are you talking about? — honestly, Duke was uncomfortable. It's not every day that you see Selly annoyed or even angry.
— Why did you tell them about this virus? For what?!
— Sooner or later they would have found out anyway.
— Yes, I know, but why didn't you consult either with Kay, or with me, or with anyone?! Now thanks to this, we don't know what they will think of you! What if they... won't let you come here? Or will they try to destroy you? We don't know what they are capable of.
— I'll live somehow. And if they want to destroy me.. you will not leave me?
— Of course not! We will protect you!
— Then what's the problem?
— But Duke, why are you-
— A bitter truth is better than a sweet lie, — with these words, he left the dark corner and headed for the rails. Selly stood upset for a while and also headed for the rails. "I hope nothing bad happens."