Another adaptation as requested by tate310.

You guys know that you can make requests from me, right?

Thomas, Percy and the Dragon

Friendly Rivalry

Friendship is a term used to describe a bond between two people that aren't related by blood or by kinship, yet still treat each other entirely like brothers. Friendship is one of the most underrated treasures in life, often being overlooked in favour of the glamour of romance, or the satisfaction of vengeance. Still, friendship should never be overlooked as a valuable moral asset that you should count as a blessing in your everyday life. There are people who love you and need you every day in your life.

Even if sometimes, they get up your smokestack a bit.

Thomas the Tank Engine sighed in vexation as he rolled out of the shunting yards of Tidmouth to collect his coaches. His best friend, Percy the Small Engine, was being a bit more of a frenemy as of late. It had only been two months since the Woolly Bear Incident, but Percy always held a mental scoreboard as if they were scratches on his boiler. Over the past few days, Percy had been all over Thomas' case about the time the blue engine had foolishly fallen for his ghostly trick, among other noodle incidents from Thomas' first days on Sodor. And quite frankly, the head engine of the Ffarquhar branch line team was wearing thin on tolerance for humiliation.

It was just so unfortunate that Toby had decided to be a cheeky troll and offered to take the mail for Percy tonight, freeing up space in the Ffarquhar Sheds for the green saddle tank to snuggle into.

"Hey Thomas, do you know what?"

Thomas moaned in sleepy annoyance as he opened one heavy eyelid.

"What?"

"Are you dreaming of the time you thought I was a ghost?"

"One, I am not dreaming of that. Two, I didn't really think it was a ghost – I knew it was you the whole time. And three, it's 2:00 am," grumbled the blue engine, glancing up to the clock inside the shed.

But Percy wasn't finished yet.

"Hope the guard leaves the light on for you tonight," grinned the small saddle tank.

"Why? I quite like the dark," said Thomas in a half-stupor.

"Oh really?" smiled Percy with a mischievous wink, "I always thought you were afraid of it. I wonder why…"

Thomas didn't want to continue arguing at this point, nor did he want to wake up Daisy, who was sleeping in the third berth alongside them, so he just tuned out Percy's yapping and went back to sleep at once.

As Thomas was being oiled up the following afternoon, the Fat Controller arrived with special news, and in hindsight Thomas was glad that he was the only one in Ffarquhar Sheds at that moment.

"Good afternoon, Thomas!"

"Good afternoon sir!"

"I've given your branch line duties for the evening over to Toby as I would like you to go to Brendam Harbour now to collect an unusual delivery."

"What sort of delivery?" perked up Thomas with curiosity.

"Ah, you'll need to wait and see," grinned the Fat Controller as he walked back to his car.

Thomas rolled his eyes with an exasperated laugh. As of late, practically everyone wanted to troll him.