(Note: Well, I did it guys. Adventures Of Gordon is complete, and on schedule too regarding my summer time slot. I've just been so busy staring college and all that I hadn't the time to get back to the Henry story during the January period so I got back to it and My Written Episodes fanfic as soon as the semester ended. Adventures Of Toby was a bit behind schedule too as I had that one planned for the spring and this one for the summer, but luckily I had these both completed on schedule. sigh Anyway, enjoy the final chapter and epilogue to Adventures Of Gordon!)
(Knapford Station. Scene zooms in on Sir Topham Hatt and the Queen standing before the crowd, the engines continuously pulling in. Gordon arrives at the platform with the Royal Train; Edward, with James and Henry on the next track by the platform standing in between are all lined up on the next three tracks respectively. Thomas is lined up next to Gordon with Annie and Clarabel in front on Edward; on the other side, Percy is lined up in front of James while Toby and Henrietta are lined up in front of Henry. All seven engines and three coaches are wearing flags on their and Gordon is especially wearing the Royal Arms on his front)
The next morning, the engines were all called back to Knapford to lead the Queen out on a parade back to Crovan's Gate. They soon arrived at the station, buffer to buffer, as the crowd waited for them anxiously. Sir Topham Hatt stood before them on the podium, ready to make his important announcement.
Annie: It's good to have you back, Thomas.
Clarabel: We truly missed you.
Thomas: It's good to be back, Annie and Clarabel. We'd better pay close attention to Sir Topham Hatt. He looks like he has something to say.
Topham: Ahem, good morning, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, engines and coaches…I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has enjoyed her visit tremendously…in honor, of course, of her legendary coronation. (clears his throat, as the crowd stares in amazement) And now, I believe Her Majesty would like to say a few words. (stands down as the Queen takes center stage)
Queen: Good morning, Sodor. The Royal Family sends you our thanks for all the outstanding achievement you've all made with making my visit to this Island one I will never forget. I would especially like to thank all of Sir Topham Hatt's engines; big or small, fast or slow, you're all a credit to this extraordinary railway as far as I'm concerned. (clears her throat, while she reads from a piece of parchment) To Henry and James, it's a shame I've never got to see through either of you, but I understand you were both possibly in consideration for my escort, and even though that never came into fruition, I also take it that you two take it on occasion to pull such big and important trains, like the express. (Henry and James look at each other with pride) I acknowledge both of you for your effort and participation to make your controller proud…ahem…as well as myself, of course. (takes a deep breath, before continuing to read from the parchment) To Percy and Toby, in all similarity to your fellow bigger engines in terms of enthusiasm and support, I was more than pleased to hear you two lead the chorus of cheers and whistles in my honor. (Percy and Toby exchange looks of gratitude) I acknowledge you both, as well as Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta…(all three coaches widen their eyes, as the Queen continues)…for your especial kindness to even take the initiatitive and bring my very own guests here in my honor. (reads furthers along her parchment) And to Edward, for whom I'd start giving my most special thanks, you played an important part in my visit to Knapford; seeing you make way for my arrival just from looking out the window made path for the fun times I've had over my visit, and it came to show just how much of an old-fashioned but useful and reliable engine you really are. I acknowledge you for allowing my memories of this visit to be ones I'd want to relive as long as I'm going through my yearly reign. (Edward smiles as the Queen continues reading) And penultimate special thanks to Thomas The Tank Engine, Sodor's #1 engine; I've heard many tales of you, Thomas, about how good you are shunting and sorting your own trucks and coaches, but today, it seems as though your dear controller has decided to give back what's very important to you above all other jobs: your own branch line. (Thomas gasps in surprise and looks at Sir Topham Hatt, who just beams back at him) I acknowledge you, Thomas, for your special participation in this occasion to fetch the Royal Train for my very special visit. (The Queen reads on through the last words on her parchment) And finally, I give my greatest thanks to Gordon The Big Engine, Sodor's biggest and fastest engine who took the initiative in giving me a wonderful ride aboard the Royal Train. Today, your worthy Sir Topham Hatt has agreed to give you back the job you enjoy very much and are very well known for being able to pull: the express. (Gordon smiles with pride at Sir Topham Hatt, who beams back at him as well) I acknowledge you, Gordon, for being the most important participant in the occasion of my honorary visit. (places down her parchment and speaks across to everyone) And so I thank every last resident on Sodor as well as it's engines for making my visit to this Island most memorable. Your controller here is absolutely proud of you all.
Topham: (standing up on the podium beside the Queen) Ah, but I certainly couldn't have done it without any of my engines, especially Gordon or Thomas who took the chance very well to redeem themselves from a silly accident. You've surely earned back the positions you've both held most dearly over the years, and that's why I'm proud to allow you two to lead the parade in Her Majesty's honor.
Thomas
And Yes, sir. (whistle loudly, the other engines doing so after
Gordon: them)
Queen: (as she walks towards the Royal Train coach) Splendid. Carry on then. All of you. (enters aboard the train, followed by Sir Topham Hatt, his family and many other passengers)
As the passengers boarded the train, Thomas still had a slight concern of his own.
Thomas: Gordon, you know after both us getting our respective jobs back and all, I was just wondering: does that still make us allies?
Gordon: Oh, Thomas, how could you ask such a preposterous question? Of course it does. After all, you help me and I help you, remember? That's how the circle of friendship goes around, no matter how puffed up in the smokebox one engine can get at times.
Thomas: (chuckles) Thank you, Gordon. I believe that's all I needed. (listens as the guard's whistle blows)
Topham: (leaning his head out the window) Full steam ahead!
Thomas: (chuckles) Full steam ahead, Gordon. Buffer to buffer; side-by-side.
Gordon: Royal Train Coming Through!
(All seven engines leave the station to form the parade, Reprise of We Can Only We now titled United We Stand, Together We Fall starts up, in the same style as Be Who You Are And You'll Go Far)
Thomas: We can only be we
We do our bests when we work as a team
And now we are who we are once again
We'll be the best team that we can
Gordon: I don't need to be faster, bigger, stronger
Thomas: I don't need more than six small wheels
Both: We don't need to be taller or be longer
Being allies has it's own appeal
(Song shifts in C major as the chorus starts, and the parade shifts to the countryside)
All: Buffer to buffer,
United We Stand, - Together We Fall
Glynn: (as the parade passes his siding, chuckling) Very useful. All hail the queen!
(Bertie rolls off the bridge along the road beside the parade to join the song)
All: Chuff close together
United We Stand, - Together We Fall
(Terrence rolls into the parade on Together We Fall and he and Bertie follow it from both sides)
All: We don't need to be faster, bigger, stronger
We don't need more than six small wheels
We don't need to be taller or be longer
Being allies has it's own appeal
(Song shifts back into the chorus up to Dd major as the parade reaches Crovan's Gate)
All: Buffer to buffer,
United We Stand, - Together We Fall
Chuff close together
United We Stand, - Together We Fall
(End of song holds out into final still, resulting in a photograph being taken and zooming in of the parade, before shifting to end credits. Reprises of Slow To Start and Shunting, Hauling occur throughout a slideshow of RWS illustrations)
(Note: as you all might know, Adventures Of Edward will probably be my next entry in the miniseries of follow-ups I've pictured to The Adventure Begins. But I do hope you're all aware that writing these sorts of fanfics takes much faith in it's source material, so that's why it helps me to read the books and take inspiration from them, instead of only watching the TV series and structuring it out again one-by-one. Anyway, for now I'll be working on my next entry in My Written Episodes fanfic: Henrietta Helps Out, and I'll be putting up a preview in it of what to expect for fall and winter, so till then, peace out)
