*chapter 3*

meanwhile back at ulfstead castle millie and stephen were listening to the earl shouting down the phone to the police. he sounded very destressed.

'please sir you must get king godred's crown back it is the main attraction of my collection you can't just say you will try your best that's not good enough in fact it's a disgrace to the name of godred himself!' cried the earl.

'look sir robert i understand your feelings for the crown but we can't find it now for all we know the ones who took it could be well off sodor by now' said the policeman.

'but you must get it back i worked very hard to find that crown and i am not losing it again do you hear me' said the earl.

'i'm sorry sir robert but we are trying all we can i'm very sorry good day' said the policeman and the call ended.

the earl was very cross and upset.

'this is a disaster i tell you!' he cried.

and with that he went running to the castle cafe' to make himself a cup of tea and to think of what to do. back outside millie and stephen looked at each other in a concerned way.

'this is just awful stephen the earl is very upset about this' said millie.

'i know millie oh dear i just wish there was something we could do to get the crown back' said stephen.

'i know that stephen but what can we do to get it back' said millie.

'i dont know millie i just dont know' said stephen.

just then there was a narrow gauge whistle and then bertram the old warrior puffed in.

'maybe bertram might have an idea on how we can get the crown back' said stephen.

'i dont think even bertram can help us with this stephen' said millie.

bertram came to a stop and smiled.

'good day you two oh my what ever is the matter' said bertram.

'not very well bertram king godreds crown has been stolen' said stephen.

'oh yes i heard all about that such a tragic thing' said bertram.

'bertram i hope you dont mind me asking but what are you doing here?' said millie.

'why millie my dear the thin controller asked me to bring some extra food for the party and i wanted to see you two as well of course' said bertrum.

millie smiled.

'thank you bertrum thats very kind of you but i dont think there will be a party now' said millie.

'dont say that millie never lose hope' said bertrum.

then stephen spoke up.

'bertrum have you got any ideas on how we can get the crown back' said stephen.

'oh yes stephen my fellow you have asked the right engine i am just full of ideas' said bertrum.

'well what do you propose then' said stephen.

'well my friend stephen sometimes in order to retrieve something of value you must go on a quest to gain it back' said bertrum.

'a quest do you mean go out and get it back yourself' said stephen.

'that's correct stephen my fellow' said bertrum.

stephen frowned.

'but bertrum i cant go on a quest it would be too much work for me' said stephen.

'i dont think thats such a good idea bertrum' said millie.

bertrum chuckled and grinned.

'you two are right it is dangerous but that's what quests are all about really anyway all you need is some help' said bertram.

'do you mean i have to find another engine to help me' said stephen.

'exactly stephen exactly' said bertram.

stephen grinned.

'then that is what i shall do' said stephen.

millie could not believe her ears. stephen puffed off.

'stephen where are you going' said millie.

'i'm going on a quest millie goodbye!' called stephen as he exited the castle.

millie frowned at bertram.

'why are you looking at me like that for' said bertram.

'for putting silly ideas in stephen's head you stupid engine now stephen is going to be in big trouble if the earl finds out he's gone' said millie.

bertram just kept on grinning.

'it's all part of having a quest you know' said bertram.

'all part of having a quest indeed bertram you really are a silly engine at times no wonder duke can't stand you' said millie.

'maybe i am or maybe im not my dear fellow' said bertram.

millie just snorted. stephen puffed along the mainline with a big smile on his face.

'bertram is right the only way im going to get the crown back is if i go on a quest to get it back but i need an engine to help me theres bound to be someone who can' said stephen.

and he made his way. soon stephen arrived at knapford yards. it was very busy. all of the engines were pulling passenger trains hauling goods trains and tank engines were biffing and bashing trucks about.

'goodness me there are engines everywhere but there must be someone who can help me' said stephen.

and he puffed on. soon stephen found edward.

'hello there stephen what are you doing here' said edward.

'hello edward im looking for percy do you know where he is' said stephen.

edward smiled. he liked to be helpful.

'of course i do hes over there shunting trucks' said edward.

'thank you edward' said stephen.

and he made his way over.

'what ever is stephen doing all the way out here' said edward.

he decided to think nothing of it and puffed off. percy was very busy shunting trucks into place. the trucks were singing songs and being rude.

'percy percy green and small, he's no use to use at all, around the yard he will puff and blow, but on the hills he's oh so slow!' sang the trucks.

percy was cross.

'SHUT UP!' bellowed percy giving a truck a mighty biff.

'temper temper' said the trucks.

just then stephen puffed over.

'hello there percy' said stephen.

percy jumped.

'oh stephen its you what are you doing here shouldn't you be at ulfstead castle' said percy.

'percy i need favour from you' said stephen.

percy was confused.

'what sort of favour stephen' said percy.

'i need your help to get king godreds crown back' said stephen.

'what?' said percy.

'we need to go to the mainland in order to find it' said stephen.

percy was shocked.

'WHAT ARE YOU MAD!' cried percy.

'shhhhhh keep it down percy someone will hear us' said stephen.

'sorry stephen but i cant go to the mainland ill get into big trouble with the fat controller' said percy.

stephen sighed.

'look percy if we don't get the crown back the earl is going to cancel the party and you don't want that' said stephen.

percy didn't like the sound of that. he loved parties. he didn't want it to be cancelled.

'okay then stephen ill do it but on one condition' said percy.

stephen looked at percy.

'and that would be?' said stephen.

'when we come back to sodor if the fat controller asks where i have been tell him that i got lost while taking the mail and that you found and saved me' said percy.

stephen laughed.

'very well then percy but im not promising anything though' said stephen.

percy smiled.

'thanks stephen okay we will go tonight after i take the mail' said percy.

'see you then percy' said stephen.

and he puffed away.

'your going to be in big trouble you silly engine' said the trucks.

'tell anyone and i'll give you lot the biffing of your lives' percy snarled.

the trucks shut up after that. just then devious diesel rolled over.

'who were you talking to percy?' said diesel.

'none of your business get lost diesel' said percy.

'it is too my business you stupid steamie hey trucks who was percy talking to' said diesel.

the trucks said nothing.

'hello i asked you a question!' said diesel.

'say the magic words then' giggled a truck.

'tell me NOW!' cried diesel.

'no we won't you oily monster' said the trucks.

percy smirked.

'ha nice try diesel' said percy.

'that does it percy tell me who you were talking to or i'll biff you off the rails!' said diesel.

just then thomas puffed over cross that diesel was threatening percy.

'stop harassing percy diesel' said thomas.

'not a chance thomas i heard him talking to someone and he is refusing to me who' said diesel.

'he was probably just talking to himself diesel percy does that now leave him alone' said thomas.

'no i won't' said diesel.

'leave him alone!' cried thomas.

diesel growled crossly.

'this isn't over percy i will find out just you wait and see' said diesel.

and he rolled away. thomas turned to percy.

'stupid diesel are you alright percy' said thomas.

'i'm fine thomas thank you' said percy.

thomas smiled at his friend.

'see you later then percy i'm off to get annie and clarabel bye' said thomas.

'see you later then thomas' said percy.

and thomas puffed off. percy sighed deeply.

'phew bust my buffers that was a close one honestly why does everyone always get me to do things' said percy.

and he went back to shunting. later that evening stephen was sitting on a siding waiting for percy.

'where are you percy you promised to meet me here' said stephen.

he was starting to thing that percy chickened out at the last minute. just then there was a little and then a certain green tank engine puffed up.

'percy where have you been?' said stephen.

'sorry i'm late stephen i had some complications along the way the mail run took longer then expected not to mention that diesel was following me trying to provoke me into telling who i was talking to' said percy.

'you didn't tell him did you' said stephen.

'of course i didn't i just told him to get lost and to stop butting into other engines business' said percy.

stephen smiled.

'good tactic percy bother diesel so shall we make our leave' said stephen.

'good idea let's go before mr. oily comes along' said percy.

so percy coupled up behind stephen and they set off. soon percy and stephen arrived at the vicarstown bridge with their lamps glowing brightly.

'ready for this then percy' said stephen.

'as ready as i will ever be stephen bust my buffers this is stupid' said percy.

stephen smiled.

'don't worry percy we will be fine' said stephen.

percy went bold.

'okay then stephen lets go' said percy.

and with that the two engines crossed the bridge to the mainland. soon percy found a siding for them to go on.

'let's sleep here stephen' said percy.

'very well then percy we will continue the quest tomorrow' said stephen.

and with that they puffed into the siding and went to sleep. the next morning at tidmouth sheds the engines all woke up very late.

'cinders and ashes I've overslept!' cried thomas.

'bubbling boilers i'm going to be late for my train of pipes!' cried henry.

'oh man the fat controller will paint me blue for sure if i don't collect my coal trucks!' cried james.

'good scotland i'm going to be late to take the children to school!' panicked emily.

gordon was cross.

'oh the indignity i'm going to be late for the express this is all your fault percy for not waking us all up!' snorted gordon.

but percy didn't reply.

'did you hear me percy?!' cried gordon.

there was still no reply.

'percy gordon is talking to you!' snapped james.

'um guys?' said emily.

'what is it now emily?' said edward.

'percy isn't here' said emily.

the engines all looked at percy's empty birth and gasped.

'WHAAAAAAAAAAT!' cried the engines.

'fizzling fireboxes where is he' said thomas.

'oh for goodness sakes no wonder why we overslept!' said gordon.

more trouble was to follow. just then the fat controller arrived on duck. he was very cross. thomas gulped.

'uh oh we are in for it now' said thomas.

'what on earth are you all doing still in the sheds you are all causing confusion and delay you should of been going to work 15 minutes ago!' said the fat controller.

'15 MINUTES!' thundered gordon.

'we are very sorry sir but percy usually blows his whistle to wake us all up but he's not here sir!' said thomas.

the fat controller stared at the empty birth and his eyes almost popped out.

'oh my goodness where is he he's supposed to be taking the milk train today oh bother i'll have to get charlie to do it!' said the fat controller.

'oh no not the purple jokester on wheels anybody but him' moaned james.

'right the rest of you off to work please in the meantime i need to find out where that silly engine is this will not do at all' said the fat controller.

'yes sir!' said the engines.

the fat controller sighed.

'this just isn't a good morning for you isn't it sir' said duck.

'no duck it isn't i just don't know what that green engine is up to sometimes' said the fat controller.