"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no-"
"Kevin, calm down! We'll get the part to Gordon somehow."
"How? Kevin's not that fast and you're a narrow gauge engine!" Thomas asked.
Victor looked up at Thomas.
"Thomas... I think it has to be you."
Thomas was about to blurt out in confusion but then thought for a moment.
"It does have to be me, doesn't it... Gordon can get boastful, and a bit mean at times... He does berate me for my size too, but in the end... He's still my friend, and I'm going to save him!" he said triumphantly.
"Good job, Thomas!" cried Kevin, "Very noble indeed!"
Thomas was about to reply when Edward bustled up.
"Hello Victor! I-"
He noticed Thomas being lowered onto the track and frowned.
"Victor, what's Thomas doing? He doesn't appear to be fully repaired and he seems to be going back to work..."
"Thomas is taking Gordon's safety valve to him," Victor explained. He then looked back at the tank engine. "Time is of the essence, Thomas. You must move as quickly as you can!"
"Right, Victor! I will!"
Victor grinned.
"Thomas... you've redeemed yourself from earlier."
Thomas beamed.
"Thanks, Victor."
He was about to leave when Edward whistled urgently.
"Thomas, wait!"
Thomas braked and his brows drew together.
"What is it, Edward?"
Edward smiled.
"Make me proud."
Thomas teared up a little as he began puffing away.
"I will, Edward."
Edward chuckled as Thomas left his sight.
Thomas panted as he raced into Vicarstown Station.
Donald and Douglas were delivering some goods from Knapford to there.
Douglas raised an eyebrow as he noticed the weary tank engine.
"How come urr ye in sic a hurry, Thomas?" the Scottish Twin asked.
"I have to deliver this important part for Gordon at the Railway Show," Thomas explained as rolled alongside the trucks, "He could be in danger!"
"Ye'll ne'er mak' it!" Donald cried, "Th' bridge is aboot tae gang up!"
"I have to get across!" Thomas burst out as he raced past Donald.
"Or ye cuid hauld yer horses fur th' bridge tae gang back doon..." muttered Douglas.
"Let him be dramatic," smirked Donald as the train came to a stop.
Thomas raced out of the station and back into the countryside.
He could soon see the Vicarstown Bridge in the distance.
Thomas gasped as the drawbridge began to go up.
"No! Gordon's in trouble, and I must help him!"
The man that controlled the bridge was shocked as Thomas didn't slow down, and waved his arms in terror.
"Stop, Thomas! Stop!"
Thomas slammed his eyes shut as the gates were smashed to pieces.
The man in charge of the bridge's operation buried his head in his hands.
"What am I going to tell the Fat Controller when he gets back..."
Thomas' wheels rolled onto the bridge just as it began lifting up.
"I can't stop noooooowww!"
Thomas jumped off the bridge in an instant.
His eyes bulged as he could see the Walney Channel below him.
"Cinders and ashes!" he exclaimed, and he shut his eyes agian as he slammed back into the ground.
Thomas wasn't too badly damaged, though certain parts did fall off.
Luckily, his wheels aligned with the track, so he didn't have to be re-railed.
Thomas opened an eye and started to laugh.
"I did it! I did it! I actually did it!"
"What... did you...just do?" Samson asked as he puffed next to Thomas.
"That, my friend, was skill," said Thomas proudly.
Samson snickered.
"Yep. Nothing says skill like being on the wrong track."
"Indeed. Wait, what?"
Connor was taking some passengers to Ulfstead Castle when he observed Thomas coming towards him.
He blasted his whistle to alarm the tank engine.
"Thomas, get off my line! I have to get through!"
Thomas gulped.
"I am on the wrong line!"
He looked at a nearby signalbox.
"Points, points!"
A quick-thinking signalman pulled a lever, switching the points in time.
Thomas swerved out of Connor's way.
The streamlined engine scoffed.
"I thought Thomas was better than that..."
Thomas thought his troubles were over, but Samson puffed next to him again and gasped in alarm.
"Thomas, Sidney's coming too!"
"Sidney?! What's he doing on the Mainland?!"
Sidney attempted to hum a song to remember where his destination was.
"Hmm... This isn't working, is it... Where was I supposed to be going?"
The blue diesel looked around curiously.
"What is this place...?"
He suddenly got a bit of his memory back.
"Oh yeah, I was supposed to go Brendam- ahhhh!"
The signalman changed the points again, just avoiding a collision.
"Phew, that was close!" Sidney panted. He blinked. "Who was that again?"
"I... need a raise if this is what I have to deal with on a regular basis," the signalman gasped as he fainted.
Thomas' face was pale as Samson pulled up behind him.
"So what brings you to the Mainland, Thomas?" the cabless tank engine asked curiously.
"Can't talk now, Samson!" Thomas replied, gaining some color back, "I must get to the Railway Show, quickly!"
Samson sighed as Thomas sped up.
"How come nobody ever explains their business to me..."
Philip beamed as he noticed Gordon and Duck coming towards him.
"Excusez-moi?"
Philip looked over and noticed Axel puffing up next to him.
"Yes, stranger?"
"Why are you here, little one?" Axel asked, "Are you for the shunting competition?"
"Nonsense! I'm pulling the flag for Sodor!" Philip said proudly.
"Hmm... impair," Axel muttered, "No other country brought a flag carrier."
"Oh... How come nobody else brought one?"
"Rather unnecessary," the Belgian engine replied, "I guess your controller likes you."
Philip grinned.
"The Fat Controller likes me?! Wow!"
"'The Fat Controller'? Sounds disrespectful..." Axel muttered.
Philip noticed Gordon again and honked his horn.
"Oh hey, Shooting Star!"
Axel chuckled and puffed away.
"Yes, Philip?" asked Gordon as the boxcab scurried up to him.
"I know the way to the Great Race! Just follow me!"
Gordon smiled.
"I'll be happy to."
Philip grinned, and was backing over a criss-cross track when a loud, American whistle caught him off guard.
"Huh? Who's there?"
"Look up, shrimp..."
Philip did so and noticed Vinnie looking down at him.
He smiled nervously as Vinnie's face contorted into a furious scowl.
"Sorry, didn't see you there, heh heh heh..."
"Yeah? Well, you better where you're going, shortie, or you may end up being recycled!"
"Well that's not very nice, is it?" Philip asked.
Vinnie gritted his teeth and slowly puffed closer to him, to the point where he was nearly touching him.
Philip gulped in terror.
"P-p-please don't h-hurt me..."
Vinnie smirked with satisfaction.
"That's what I thought..."
"Oh, leave him alone," Gordon said angrily, "He did nothing to you to begin with."
"What business is this of yours?" Vinnie snapped.
"It's our business," Duck replied, "He's a Sudrian, just like us, and we don't leave anyone behind."
"Well, that explains why you all are so pathetic..." Vinnie snickered.
Gordon blew his whistle loudly.
"We'll find a source of authority if you don't leave, and you may end up being disqualified."
Vinnie showed worry for half a second; he wanted to win the strength competition, and decided it wasn't worth it.
Philip backed up, and Vinnie rolled his eyes.
He glared at the boxcab.
"You're lucky, shrimp, to have others bail you out... Next time I won't be so easy on you..."
Vinnie cackled as he slowly chuffed away.
A short silence fell upon the Sudrians, until Philip finally broke it.
"I wanted to stand up for myself..." he pouted.
"Philip, you're small, and he's gigantic," Duck replied, "He could ram into you quite easily."
"Quite right, Duck," agreed Gordon, "I'm proud you showed such bravery, but in future, make sure to handle it better."
Philip sighed.
"Alright... I will..."
From a nearby siding, Diesel snickered.
"Heh heh heh, look Paxton. Philip just got bullied. It's so funny!"
"Diesel!"
"What?"
Thomas gasped as he entered the main yard.
"Goodness me! So many engines! This place is even bigger than I thought it would be! How am I going to find Gordon here?"
Raul glared at Thomas as he puffed alongside him.
"Are you registered to be here?" he snapped.
Thomas lowered his brow.
"Well, no, I'm not, but I-"
Raul groaned.
"Oh, of course. You were desperate to come so you decided to sneak in to take part! Huh! What a disgrace..."
"What? No! That's not why I'm here at all!"
"Don't lie to me," the Brazilian tank engine replied, "I had my suspicions the second I laid my eyes on you, and it seems they were justified."
Thomas scoffed as Raul steamed crossly away.
"Silly little engine... Doesn't know what he's talking about... Now, where could Gordon be?"
He noticed a blue, streamlined engine up ahead.
Thomas squinted.
"Doesn't look much like Gordon, but I don't want to take any risks. Might as well be sure."
He whistled urgently as he came closer.
"Gordon! I have your-"
But when Thomas puffed alongside the German DB Class 10 engine, he realized it was a female.
"Oh... you're not Gordon."
The German engine scowled.
"Do I look like a Gordon to you? My name is Frieda!"
Thomas cringed, realizing Frieda clearly had a bad temper.
"I'm sorry, it's just-"
"All you males are the same! You can't tell the difference between anyone! We females are superior in every way!"
"What-"
"There you go again! Interrupting my very important speech that will change the world!" Frieda cried, "The revolution will come, I tell you!"
Thomas was about to retort when Gina chuffed on the other side of him.
"Oh cara, mi dispiace," she panted as she came to a halt, "She can get worked up sometimes. Move along, Frieda!"
Frieda scoffed and puffed away.
"Fine. I have to get to my event anyway."
Thomas looked at Gina.
"Thanks. She got annoying really quickly. Does she really think like that?"
Gina chuckled wryly.
"Oh, that's just the way she's wired. Now tell me. What are you doing here? I vaguely recognize you."
Thomas suddenly gasped.
"Gordon!"
The tank engine raced away.
Gina scoffed.
"Rude..."
Henry gulped as the announcer began introducing the event.
"I'm now not sure I can do this..." he said to himself.
He looked over at Vinnie, who looked especially confident.
"I wish I could be like him... At least he's sure of himself."
A whistle blew and the engines began pulling.
Vinnie snickered as he looked at the already struggling Henry.
"See you at the finish line, shrimp!" he chortled.
"His insults are so repetitive..." muttered Henry.
"Go Henry!" cried Philip, "Win for Sodor! Pull harder, Henry! Do it for Sodor!"
Henry's cheeks went red as the coupling strained.
"This is starting to hurt..." he groaned.
He noticed Frieda overtaking him and he gasped.
"No! I can't be last! I can't be!"
Henry wasn't the only one worried about their position.
Frieda gasped as she noticed Shane and Vinnie ahead of her.
"Males! Ugh, they can't beat me! That's despicable!"
"But they can!" chuckled Hiro as he passed her.
Frieda seethed angrily.
"The revolution will still come! It will! Heed my warnings, you... males!"
"H-E-N-R-Y! Goooo Henry!" Philip cheered from the sideline.
"Shut your mouth!" Vinnie scowled, which quieted Philip immediately.
Henry panted heavier and heavier as his wheels attempted to grip the track.
The crowd suddenly went wild.
Henry raised an eyebrow.
"What just happened?"
Frieda glared at Henry.
"Oh, look! A male doesn't know what's going on! Typisch!"
"Will you stop being so rude?" Henry snapped, "It's getting irritating. I just asked a simple question."
Frieda gasped.
"Did you just order me about? You have no power over me, male! I am a strong, independent female engine!"
Hiro laughed.
"Don't worry about her, Henry. Vinnie's about to win the competition."
Henry's face fell.
"Oh... That doesn't lift my mood very much."
Vinnie smirked smugly as he passed over the line.
"And Vinnie's the winner! He may not be the kindest engine, but he's certainly one of the strongest!" the announcer exclaimed.
"I did it, obviously... I knew I would." he said smugly as Shane puffed next to him.
"Good race, mate," he said, "You did well."
"Of course I did," Vinnie replied, "You're not too bad yourself."
Shane was rather surprised at the "compliment".
"T-thanks!"
"Yeah, whatever. I still won, and that's all that matters. Now buzz off!"
Shane sighed.
"Of course..."
Hiro arrived next, then Frieda, and finally...
"Ohhh..." groaned the big green engine as he puffed next to Vinnie, "I really am weak!"
Vinnie burst into laughter.
"See? I told you I would win, and you would lose, and you foolishly tried to prove me wrong! How hilarious is that? Very, in fact!"
Henry sighed as Vinnie chortled away.
"I failed Sodor..."
Hiro and Shane looked to each other with concern.
"Oh, don't feel too bad," Shane said, "I didn't win either, you know."
"I know, but you're clearly much stronger than I am," Henry sighed, "I mean, you came in second place."
"Henry, just because you lost doesn't mean you are weak," Hiro encouraged, "You can appreciate your strengths, and accept your weaknesses. Just remember to keep on puffing."
Henry grinned at Hiro and Shane.
"Thanks, you two. I feel better now. Maybe this wasn't too bad after all."
"That's what friends are for, mate." replied Shane.
Henry chortled.
"Indeed."
Behind Philip, Diesel simply scoffed.
"See, Paxton? The Fat Controller clearly made a wrong decision choosing Henry."
"Choosing you would've been even worse, Diesel," Paxton smirked, "Then you'd still be at the starting line."
"I'm really starting to regret taking you here."