A request fic for HyunaLeo96.

...

After the events of the Great Railway Show, Thomas was very tired, and so he and Ashima made their way to Tidmouth Sheds.

"Gosh, that was fun!" Thomas said sleepily to his new friend.

"Agreed, Thomas, my friend!" Ashima said giddily. "I do not recall having so much drama and action happening in one day before- but today was fun. Dhanyavaad!

"Sorry?"

"I was thanking you in Hindi," Explained Ashima. "You were nice enough to let me win the Shunting Challenge- and I did hear that it meant a lot to you to go."

"Yes," Thomas agreed. "It did."

Soon, the pair reached the sheds, where Edward was waitng.

"Ah, Thomas- welcome back!" He greeted warmly. "And welcome to Tidmouth Sheds, Miss Ashima," He greeted politely, causing the Indian engine to blush. "How did the Railway Show go?"

"Well, Henry, Gordon and Spencer didn't do as well as they hoped." Thomas sighed, and he explaiened about Gordon breaking down, and Henry coming in 5th place in the contest of strength. "James and Emily didn't win their event, either."

"Oh dear," Said Edward sympathetically, making a mental note to be supportive and sympathetic to them later, should they mention their failures.

"But...I was made a winner of the shunting contest!" the little tank engine added, causing Edward to perk up.

"Oh, well done Thomas!" Edward said proudly. "I'm proud of you- but what do you mean that were made a winner?" He asked curiously.

At this question, Thomas looked down. Technically, he hadn't won the Shunting Challenge at all- Ashima had. He had been Sodor's last hope on winning something at the Railway Show, and he didn't even win it!

"Thomas let me win the shunting challenge." Ashima explained. "I was...surprised, really. We had got off on a rough patch before, and he really wanted to go to the Railway Show. Yet, even when he could have won, he let me take the victory. He was then made a second winner for his sportsmanship."

Thomas looked down at his buffers with shame- now Edward would know he had been unkind to Ashima before, and that he hadn't actually won the Shunting Challenge officially.

"Thomas, look at me, please," Edward requested kindly. Thomas did so, reluctantly, and he saw his mentor giving him a warm and soft smile.

"I am very proud of you, Thomas- you made amends with Ashima and was generous enough to give up your chance of winning for a friend. I heard that you wanted to go to the Railway Show very badly, and got yourself damaged in the process. But you did very well, from what I've heard from the Fat Controller." He smiled.

"...thank you, Edward," Thomas smiled. "You were the one who taught me to make sacrifices for friends. Why, you risked getting into trouble from the Fat Controller to let me pull a goods train I wasn't able to handle...just so I could see the world. I had never been able to repay you for your kindness that day."

"Consider that debt forgotten," Edward replied. "Just the fact that you gave up your desire to win for Ashima is more than enough."

"I really do appreciate what you've done for me, Thomas. I don't know how to repay you." Ashima answered.

"I do," Thomas smiled, "Just extend acts of kindness to someone who needs it- someone who just needs a little boost," He said, looking to Edward meaningfully.

The old engine smiled.

Ashima chatted to Thomas and her new friend Edward about whatever topics came to mind, during which she found Edward had once mentored Thomas.

If Thomas had given up a lifetime opportunity for a friend in need, Edward had taught him well on what friendship really meant.