Felt like writing another Starlight Express story, one that's an Alternate ending to the original play. In this ending, Greaseball and CB are punished for their actions and Rusty is rewarded for his good sportsmanship during the race. This may or may not become a series.

Other things to note; Control is an actual controller of the railroad the locos and rolling stock run on, instead of some bratty child playing with toy trains like in the original. Speaking of, the engines and rolling stock in this series are real ones working on a real railroad. instead of toys like in the original.

Without further ado, here's my own take on the ending to Starlight Express.

___________________________________________________________

The past few hours had been hectic for the Engines and Rolling Stock of the Mid-American Railroad. In a final race not only did Rusty win against all the odds, but won the heart of Peal the observation coach. As for his competitors, they weren't doing so great. Electra the Electric engine had stormed off in an angry fit yelling about how he would never return. Greaseball the diesel and CB the red caboose were far worse off. Greaseball had uncoupled pearl to try and get ahead, and if not for Rusty's quick thinking, she would have been in a very bad state indeed. Greaseball than wrangled with Electra with CB, resulting in both him and the caboose to wreck. Both had been put onto flat cars to be taken away.

All the international engines, Poppa, and the cars and coaches came to celebrate Rusty's victory. Just then, control walked over to the celebrating engines, then to Rusty. "What I've seen from you today made me the proudest I've ever been. Not only did you win the race against some tough competitors, but you also gave up your lead at the beginning of the final race to save Pearl. I am very proud of you. Pearl will be going to the repair shop to repair the damage she received during this race, and you... As a reward for your victory and your excellent sportsmanship, you have not only won the trophy for this year's races, but you shall also go the works for a complete overhaul and restoration, and a new coat of paint." Rusty felt the happiest he'd ever been. "Thank you so much control." was all he could say. "Don't think anything else of it, you deserve it after all you've been through this past week." Said Control. "Which is more than I can say for a certain pair of troublemakers." he said sharply, turning towards the wrecked Greaseball and CB.

The diesel and caboose weren't so proud now, they looked very small indeed, Especially with the cold, hateful stares of the other engines and rolling stock. Control walked up to them, red-faced and very, very cross.

"I AM UTTERLY DISGUSTED OF BOTH OF YOUR HORRIBLE BEHAVIOR. WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM YOU TWO THESE PAST FEW DAYS WAS NOTHING SHORT OF ATROCIOUS. GREASEBALL!! I MADE IT ABUNDANDLY CLEAR TO YOU SINCE YOUR FIRST DAY ON MY RAILROAD THAT I WOULD NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS ANYONE, YET YOU AND YOUR LITTLE GANG FELT IT NECESSARY TO TORMENT AND HARRASS POOR RUSTY WHEN HE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU TO DESERVE IT! I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM DUSTIN ABOUT HOW YOU BANGED AND BUMPED DINAH AROUND JUST BECAUSE SHE RIGHTFULLY CALLED YOU OUT ON YOUR ACTIONS! NOT TO MENTION HOW YOU NEARLY WRECKED PEARL JUST SO YOU COULD WIN! I THOUGHT WHEN I GOT YOU YOU WOULD BE A PROPER ENGINE, BUT I WAS WRONG!"

Control took a deep breath before turning to CB.

"AND AS FOR YOU CB, I'VE HEARD FROM ELECTRA'S CARS ABOUT ALL THE CRIMES TO THE RAILS THAT YOU'VE COMMITED! THOSE OTHER RAILROADS MAY HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WITH YOU, BUT DO NO SUCH THING WILL HAPPEN HERE! I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM FLAT-TOP ABOUT YOUR HORRID INSULTS TOWARDS RUSTY AFTER HE LOST THE FIRST FINAL AS A RESULT OF YOUR MEDDLING! CARS THAT DELIBERATELY CAUSES ACCIDENTS AND TREATS ENGINES LIKE GARBAGE ARE NOT FIT TO WORK ON MY RAILROAD!"

Control than stepped back and addressed both of them.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE WORKING ON MY RAILROAD, YOU WILL NOT BE DISCRIMINATORY TOWARDS ANY ENGINE, COACH, TRUCK, OR OTERWISE! AND YOU WILL NOT CAUSE ACCIDENTS JUST TO ENTERTAIN YOUR SICK AND TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR! IF EITHER OF YOU EVERY DISCRIMINATE ANYONE ELSE ON MY RAILROAD OR ELSEWHERE OR CAUSE ANY SORT OF DELIBERATE ACCIDENT ON MY RAILROAD AGAIN, I WILL PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE BOTH TURNED INTO A GENERATOR FOR THE REPAIR SHOP AND A SIGNAL HOUSE AND NEITHER OF YOU WILL EVER RUN ON THE RAILS AGAIN, IS THAT CLEAR?

"Y-y-y-yes Control..." Greaseball and CB shuddered. Neither of them felt high and mighty now.

Control took a minute to breath, and finished.

"You will both be put in the out-of-use sidings behind the repair shop until you both learn to treat everyone equally and to not cause harm to others for fun." he said. "Will you get these atrocious wrecks out of my sight?" he asked Strongbad the heavy goods engine. "With pleasure." he said, before coupling up to the flat cars Greaseball and CB were on, roughly.

"Before you go." Control added "Apologize to the engines and cars you've hurt." he said sternly to Greaseball and CB.

"I'm Sorry..." Greaseball said to Rusty, Pearl, and Dinah. "Yeah, me too..." CB added. the three just gave them cold, hard stares in return. Strongbad began to pull away with the wrecked diesel and caboose. as he was taken away in disgrace, Greaseball looked back to Dinah. "I'm sorry." he repeated to her. "Go away you BASTARD!" snapped Dinah in response. Greaseball just sighed and looked down at his damaged front.

After they were gone, Electra's components looked at Control. "What about us?" Asked Purse. "Electra left us behind." added Joule. Control looked over at the sad trucks. "Don't worry, I'll be speaking to your control, I'll see to it that one of his engines comes to take you back. I will also be speaking to him about Electra's behavior." he said. The components felt a bit better.

After that, Rusty's victory celebration continued until the international engines had to go home. Control spoke severely to the diesels in Greaseball's "Gang" about their behavior and as punishment put them all on back-to-back shifts for a couple months. And that evening Rusty arrived at the repair shop with Pearl. Poppa was at the works too, he had just finished getting an overhaul and was surprised to see Rusty, and with Pearl. Rusty told Poppa the whole story. "I'm glad we'll finally have some peace at last." Said Poppa after hearing of Greaseball and CB's punishment. "But I'm VERY glad you won the race and proved that steam is truly the way to go." He added happily. "Thanks, Poppa." said Rusty. "You were right about calling for the Starlight Express to answer you, he did and helped me to win the race. I'll never question him of his existence again." Poppa's old eyes twinkled "That's my boy." he said softly before he left the repair shop.

Rusty and Pearl looked at each other. "I guess it's just us now for a while." Said Rusty to Pearl. "Indeed, just me and my dream train." Pearl replied. "You bet." Rusty replied. "I'll be your engine of love for these next few weeks, and beyond."

Both coach and engine spent the whole evening enjoying each other's company. Meanwhile, at the back of the repair shop the mangled Greaseball and CB lay, cold, lonely, and miserable. Both wished they hadn't been so horrid, and wondered if they would ever be able to run on the rails again. Only time would tell...