The Adventure Begins part 2 chapter 2

*Intermission Ends*

The next day, Thomas and Twilight were back at the yards, shunting. But Thomas had become rather unhappy.

Twilight: What's the matter, Thomas?

Thomas: It's not fair, Twilight. Everyone gets to take passenger trains except me.

Twilight: I'm sure you'll get your turn sometime, Thomas.

Thomas: I sure hope so.

Twilight: I have to go help Annie and Clarabel right now, Thomas. I'll be right back.

As Twilight left, Thomas noticed some more rolling stock on a nearby siding. It contained a small coach and two strange things that Twilight said were called "Cranes".

Thomas: I wonder where those go.

Thomas made his way over to the siding and saw two people asleep nearby in chairs.

Twilight: I'm sure you'll get your turn sometime, Thomas.

Thomas: Wake up, lazy bones!

The two woke up, rather startled.

Jerome: Judy!

Judy: Jerome!

Both: Emergency!

Thomas: No, no. There's no emergency. I was just wondering where these cranes were going.

Annie and Clarabel saw this and gestured for Thomas to come.

Annie: Thomas.

Thomas: Oh, yes, Annie, Clarabel?

Clarabel: Don't disturb those two workers.

Thomas: *to Jerome and Judy* Sorry for disturbing you.

Judy: Disturb us? Emergencies never disturb us, do they Jerome?

Jerome: Never mind, Judy, false alarm.

Thomas went over to Annie, Clarabel and Twilight.

Twilight: You mustn't touch those cars, Thomas. That's the Breakdown Train.

Thomas: But why's it in the yard if it's not meant to be shunted? Doesn't it ever go anywhere?

Clarabel: Only in an emergency.

Annie: Like if a coach or engine is knocked off the rails and needs to get back onto them.

*Jerome and Judy go back to sleep*

Thomas: But why do they sleep on the job?

Twilight: It's been so long since the last emergency, so they found time to take a nap.

Thomas: Oh okay. I won't disturb them.

Just then, James came in with a goods train, braking very hard.

James: *proudly* Tada! You can take my cars away, Thomas. I'm ready for my coaches.

Annie: *Sighs* Oh no.

Clarabel: Here we go again.

Twilight: You're such a show off, James.

James: Maybe I am, but you just wait if Sir Topham Hatt doesn't give me my own branchline.

Thomas: *sniffs* There's that smell again.

Twilight: *sniffs* I smell it too.

James: *nervously waves away the burning smoke*

Later, Thomas was grumbling to the others.

Thomas: I spend my time ordering coaches about ready for you lot to take on long journeys. Why can't I take passenger trains too?

Tabitha: You're far too impatient, darling.

Rarity: Indeed. You'd be sure to leave something behind.

Thomas: I won't leave anything behind, Tabitha, and I won't be impatient, Rarity.

Rarity: Uh... I said the first thing you said, and Tabitha said the 2nd thing.

Thomas: *sheepishly* Uh, I know that.

Sarah: I don't think you guys should judge Thomas like that.

Tabitha: He's not ready, Sarah.

Rarity: He did get dragged by Gordon's express yesterday.

Sarah: That was Gordon's fault, not Thomas's.

Rarity: Still, Thomas should have moved out of the way.

Sarah: Gordon didn't give him enough time to uncouple his engine. How do you expect him to get out of the way if Gordon starts before they get the chance to uncouple?

Tabitha: Fair point, but he did tease Gordon a few days prior. He was bound to get comeuppance sooner or later.

James: *putting his arms around Sarah and Tabitha* Ladies, ladies. No need to argue. I'll glady date both of you. *raises his eyerbows in a cheeky manner*

Sarah: *taking James's arm off of her* In your dreams.

James: Oh come on. It'll be fun.

Tabitha: We would never be interested in a show off like you.

James: Bother. Back to the drawing board.

Next morning, Thomas and Henry were getting ready for work. Henry felt ill, and his engine had a problem with the boiler.

Henry: *groans* I don't feel well.

Fluttershy: Oh, you poor thing. Let me help you back to bed.

Thomas: Henry, is this just because your afraid of the rain?

Fluttershy: Afraid of the rain? But I thought Henry learned his lesson after the tunnel incident.

Twilight: He did, but then he had a close encounter where he was almost struck by lightning in a storm.

Fluttershy: Oh, Henry, why didn't you tell me the night before?

Henry: I was too ashamed that the others would hear and make fun of me for being scared.

Fluttershy: I wouldn't laugh at you Henry. In fact, I think you were very brave in telling the truth. And, another fact is... I'm a little scared of storms too.

Twilight: Glad you both confessed your fears. It shows have brave you are.

Thomas: I'll get your train ready, Henry. Maybe you'll be feeling better by the time it's ready.

Henry: Thank you Thomas. Ahh-CHOO!

Angel: Hops over with a box of tissues.

Henry: Thanks Angel.

Thomas went off to the yards to arrange Henry's coaches. He felt rather cheerful and hummed as he worked.

Edward: What are you so cheerful about today, Thomas?

Thomas: If Henry can't make it, I might get to take his train.

Song Cue: Don't get your hopes up too high, Thomas. For all we know, Henry could just be having an off morning and will be better before his train is due to leave.

Thomas took the train to the platform and wanted to run around front. But Twilight wouldn't let him.

Twilight: Don't be impatient, Thomas.

Thomas waited and waited.

Thomas: Where's Henry? He should be here by now.

The passengers got in, the guard and station master walked up and down, the porter banged the doors, and still Henry didn't come. Thomas grew more and more excited. Sir Topham Hatt came out of his office to see what was the matter.

Sir Topham Hatt: Twilight, has Henry arrived yet?

Twilight: No, sir.

Twilight told him about Henry being ill.

Sir Topham Hatt: Find another engine, then.

Twilight: There's only Thomas, sir.

Sir Topham: Oh. Uh... Thomas, could you take Henry's train today?

Thomas: Yes sir. I will. Jump up, Twilight.

Twilight: Just give me a sec... *Gets pulled into cab ...ond!

Thomas quickly ran his engine round to the front of the train and buffered it up. Edward and Song Cue were on the other platform.

Song Cue: Looks like Thomas is going to go for it.

Edward: I hope he takes care.

Twilight got out of the cab so she could get a quick muffin at the café.

Twilight: Don't be impatient, Thomas. Wait till everything is ready.

But Thomas was far too excited to listen. What happened then, no one knows. Some say they forgot to couple the engine to the train. Others say Thomas pulled the lever by mistake. Some also say Edward's guard blew his whistle and Thomas thought it was for him. Either way, Thomas started without the coaches and Twilight.

Passengers: *exclaim in surprise*

Twilight: *calling* Thomas! Come back!

Thomas: I'm doing it! I'm pulling a passenger train! The others say it's hard to take trains, but I think it's easy.

George and Spike were going by with a goods train and were surprised to see Thomas by himself.

George: Thomas, what are you doing?

Thomas: Can't you see I'm taking a passenger train?

Spike: I think he's lost his marbles.

Then Thomas passed a signal box. Men waved and shouted but he didn't stop.

Thomas: They're waving because they've never seen me taking a train before. It's nice of them to wave. *waves back*

Then he came to a red signal.

Thomas: Bother red signals. We were going so nicely too.

The signalman came out.

Signalman: Hello Thomas. What are you doing here?

Thomas: Don't you see? I'm pulling my very first passenger train.

Signalman: Well, it's either my eyes are playing tricks on me, the coaches are invisible, or they aren't there. And where, might I ask, is Twilight?

Thomas looked back.

Thomas: *surprised* Why bless me! I've left the coaches and Twilight behind! So that's why it was so quiet.

Signalman: You'd better go back and fetch them.

Poor Thomas was so upset, he nearly cried.

Back at the station, all the passengers were telling Sir Topham Hatt what a bad railway it was. But when Thomas came back, they saw how sad he looked and couldn't stay cross.

Thomas: *sadly* I'm really sorry about this.

Twilight: *sternly* I told you to wait until everything was ready.

Thomas: I-I guess I was just excited to see the world. I'm real sorry, Twilight.

Sir Topham: It was your first try, Thomas. Now then, wait for everything to be ready, and try again.

This time, Thomas waited till the coaches were coupled up, the passengers were all on board, and he really pulled the train.

But for a long time afterward, the others would laugh.

Rainbow Dash: *laughing* Hey look! There's Thomas, the guy who wanted to take a train, but forgot the coaches.

Gordon: *laughing* I'm so glad you came to our railway, little Thomas. You always give us something funny to laugh about.

James: *laughing* Maybe he should be Twilight's intern instead of the other way around.

Thomas: *groans in annoyance*

*Intermission*