Chapter 1: Roary Arrives

A.N. A character from TUGS makes a cameo in this chapter. I'd tell you who, but that would spoil all the fun.

One bright and sunny day, Roary was doing practice laps around Silverhatch Racetrack, as usual.

"What a beautiful day to be doing practice laps!" said Roary.

Soon, Roary was finishing up, and just as he was about to go into the garage, Mr. Carburettor came to see him.

"Ah, Roary." said Mr. Carburettor. "Just the car I wanted to see."

"What's up, Mr. Carburettor?" asked Roary.

"I've just gotten a telegram from my good friend Sir Topham Hatt." said Mr. Carburettor. "He's heard about you and would like to meet you in person."

"Cool." said Roary. "Where does he live?"

"He lives on the Island of Sodor." said Mr. Carburettor.

"Where's that?" asked Roary.

"It's off the coast of the England." said Mr. Carburettor.

"Is that far?" asked Roary.

"Very far. In fact, it's on the other side of the world." said Mr. Carburettor.

Roary's eyes widened with wonder.

"Whoa!" said Roary. "And how am I supposed to get there?"

"I have made arrangements for you to take a boat." said Mr. Carburettor.

Just then, Big Chris came out.

"Loada's on his way to pick Roary up." said Big Chris.

"That's good!" said Mr. Carburettor, who then turned to Roary. "Do you promise you'll make a good impression ofr Sir Topham Hatt?"

"Oh, yes!" said Roary enthusiastically.

"Oh, thank you, Roary!" said Mr. Carburettor. "Thank you!"

Just then, Loada arrived.

"Ready to go, Roary?" asked Loada.

Roary looked back and saw Maxi, Cici, Drifter, Tin Top, Big Chris, Marsha, and Plugger all looking at him.

"Not yet." said Roary. "I wanna say goodbye to my friends."

"Okie-dokie then." said Loada. "We'll leave when you're ready."

Roary then went inside the garage and spoke.

"Goodbye, everyone." said Roary. "I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll be back."

"Before you go, Roary, we have something for you." said Tin Top.

"What is it?" asked Roary.

Big Chris then gave Roary a box that was wrapped in red paper and had a silver bow on top.

"A present?" asked Roary. "But my birthday's already passed over."

"Just open it." Cici giggled.

Roary did so, and when he did, he found an i-Pad.

"Wow!" said Roary. "An i-Pad!"

"Yeah." said Big Chris. "We all pitched in."

"It's even got FaceTime on it." said Drifter. "So that way, you can call us."

"We were gonna wait 'til Christmas, but we thought we'd give it to you now." said Big Chris.

Roary smiled.

"Thanks, guys." said Roary.

Just then, they heard Loada's horn.

"Well, it's time for me to go." said Roary. "Bye!"

"Au revoir, Roary!" said Cici. "And bon voyage!"

"Sayonara, Roary!" said Drifter.

"Arrivederci!" said Maxi.

"Good bye!" said Big Chris, Marsha, Plugger, and Tin Top.

"Bye!" Roary said as he wheeled up Loada's ramp.

As soon as Roary was loaded on, Loada set off, but Big Chris suddenly remembered something. He ran back into the garage, and came out with Roary's lucky teddy. He then jumped onto Plugger.

"Follow Loada!" said Big Chris.

"No need to race, Plugger's on the case." said Plugger.

Plugger then took off and tried to catch up to Loada, but it was too late. He was long gone.

"Rats!" said Big Chris.

"Oh well, we tried." said Plugger.

Meanwhile, Loada had made it to the pier, where a large yellow and black tugboat wearing a blue and white sailor cap, round yellow tinted glasses,and had a red, white, and blue funnel with the number "6" on it was waiting with a small cargo barge. Its hull bore the name "Hercules". Roary gasped when he saw him.

"Whoa!" said Roary. "That's a big boat!"

Hercules laughed.

"I'm on ocean tugboat." he said. "That means I can travel across the ocean."

"Cool!" said Roary.

Roary was then loaded onto the barge, which was big enough for him to fit perfectly. Once he was on board, workers tied him down with strong cables to make sure he stayed in place on the voyage.

"Ready to go, little fella?" Hercules asked his passenger.

"Yup!" said Roary.

With that, Hercules departed, and Roary smiled. He enjoyed feeling the salty sea air on his chassis, but he gagged at the taste when some splashed on him. He also took his front left wing and put it in the water and watching it make little waves.

"This has to be the coolest thing ever!" said Roary.

Eventually, they arrived at Brendam Docks on Sodor, where a large hammerhead crane unloaded him from the barge and onto a flatbed car, to which he was tied down by dock workers.

"Well, here I am!" said Roary. "The Island of Sodor!"

Just then, Roary heard a whistle, which meant an engine was near, and when he got a good look of the engine, he found it was a blue tank engine with the number "1" on its sides along with 6 blue small wheels, a short stumpy dome, and a short stumpy funnel. Roary gasped when he recognized who it was.

"Oh my gosh!" said Roary. "You're Thomas The Tank Engine, my favorite character!"

"Indeed I am." said Thomas. "And you are?"

"Roary the Racing Car!" said Roary. "I'm your Number 1 Fan! I watch your show all the time!"

Thomas chuckled.

"Oh, a fanboy, I see." said Thomas. "So, what brings you here?"

"Well, I was told that someone named Sir Topham Hatt wanted to meet me in person." said Roary. "Do you know him?"

"Yeah." said Thomas. "He's my boss."

"Cool!" said Roary. "Where can I find him?"

"In his office at Knapford Station." said Thomas. "I can take you there if you'd like."

"That'd be great!" said Roary.

With that, Thomas coupled up to the flatbed and set off for Knapford.

"I can't believe it!" Roary said to himself. "I'm getting a ride from my favorite character of all time!"