OK, right, this is the next year, Rusty and Pearl have been an item for almost a year, it's racetime again. Rusty's no longer the sad, pathetic little thing he used to be, he's now polished and painted shiny blue, and his ego's enlarged to match. In all, he's now a very attractive Engine!

Pearl noticed that Rusty's been getting attention from other coaches, and she was afraid she'll lose him- especially as she was no longer quite as pristine and shiny as she used to be! She'd been working hard the past year, on the London-Manchester Express route.

Now it's that time of year again, everyone's trying to negotiate their partners for the races. As the Reigning Champion, Rusty has his title to defend, but he's not worried. Since Electra ran off in a hissy fit last year, he ain't been heard from, and Greaseball's been pulling freight for a year, and, though he's strong, he ain't got the turn of speed he once had! So, Rusty doesn't have much in the way of challengers, the Nationals are about it! All the girls now want a bit of Steam.... Buffy's been flirting constantly with him, Dinah watches him work, gazing wistfully at him from the bridge, Ashley's so desperate for steam she hooked up with Poppa! While Belle was out of town, of course... so Pearl was wary of letting Rusty out of her sight. He was HERS.

Racenight arrived, and the entries lined up, Control was about to close the entries, when the power flickered, a distant humming was heard, smoke billowed, and a shady figure with a gun appeared.... "Elok!!! Nice to see ya, Mate!" called Greaseball, entirely spoiling the effect. Electra came out of the smoke, a little earlier than intended, and rather miffed at his grand entrance being spoiled. However, following him out of the smoke was a beautiful stranger! His partner was a young passenger car, a very advanced design. She had long blue hair, an irridescent pastel skirt, she was shiny and pretty and glittery and new, and Pearl saw her and felt sick.

How could Pearl possibly contend against someone younger, shinier, less useful??? She knew well Rusty's weakness for glitter, and she knew she wasn't looking her best.... one of her fans had broken last week, she needed a polish, and she hadn't had a manicure since a week on friday!!! Pearl glanced at Rusty's face, her worst fears were confirmed. His eyes were glazed over at the sight of so much pastels. Parl looked down at Rusty's mid-blue shiny paint job, yup, they'd look great together! A tear fell from her eye, as she and Rusty moved off. Then she noticed Rusty was heading straight for a buffer... Rusty left Pearl with her friends, while he went to find the beautiful new coach. Pearl started crying her eyes out, while Ashley and Buffy sighed and glanced at her, then at each other...

"Hey, sweetie, what's wrong?"
"C'mon, Pearl, why you crying?"
"You ain't got no reason..."
"Don't cry, tell me why......"

Rusty, meanwhile, went to find this new girl. He found her, standing on her own, looking lost. "Hey, Miss," he said to her. "You're looking lonely... where's Electra?" "Oh, he- he's gone..." said the carriage, her eyes wide at being spoken to by such a good looking steamer. "Well, ya wanna race with the Champion?" He winked at her. "The Champion?" she asked, her pretty eyes wide with admiration. "Ooh, what's a girl to do???Stay loyal to Electra, who I've been with for 9 days now, or couple with this new, shiny steamer? Oh, someone help me make up my mind... ok! Rusty it is!" (she's a simple girl, really) Rusty realised something was missing...
"Hey," he asked over his shoulder, "What's your name?"
"Glitterstar!"

Anyway, Pearl got back together with Electra (despite the fact they clash) to win their heat, Rusty and Glitterstar were very happy together, for a good 4 days, before she got bored and went out with Turnov, whose grey and white was the perfect foil for her multicoloured splendour. Rusty asked Pearl to forgive him, and she took him back, but their relationship was always a little rocky.... Electra returned to his true love, himself. So, everyone lived kinda happily ever after... sorta.... for a good week!!!!