The Third Wheel
It was a lovely Spring morning on the Island of Sodor. The sun shined brighter than ever as the flowers were fresh and new. All the engines loved that season as they loved seeing what nature has to offer such as seeing baby animals or seeing the children playing with their kites. Of course, all the engines were very busy, but they all wanted to be really useful for the North Western Railway.
…
One day, at Tidmouth Sheds, three engines were waiting for their boss as he had an important job to give for them. As they waited, one of the engines, who was a blue tank engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, a short stumpy dome, and a short stumpy funnel with the number one on his side plates asked his friends, "What do you think The Fat Controller wants us to do?"
"I don't know, Thomas.", replied a small green saddle tank engine with the number six on his side plates named Percy as he gave a big smile, "I bet it's something very special."
With that response, another engine who was a red medium-sized tender engine with the number five on his tender named James boasted, "I bet it something so special that he thinks that I'm the best engine to…"
However, before he could finish off his sentence, he saw Thomas gave him a raised eyebrow with a small frown of annoyance with Percy gave him a sad look upon his lips and eyes. There, he cleared his throat as he corrected himself, "I mean, I bet it something so special that he thinks that we are the best engines to do the job!"
However, before they could think of what kind of job they would get, they heard a car parking at the side of the sheds. There, they spotted a nice light blue car as they saw a slightly overweight man with a suit and a top hat that covered his bald head had exited from his vehicle. There, he walked towards the three engines with a big smile as he said, "Good morning, Thomas, James, and Percy. Today I have a very special job for you."
"Ooo, what is it, Sir?", asked Percy as he smiled from buffer to buffer as he wanted to know what their important job was.
"I want you three to work together and collect the supplies of decoration from Brendam Docks to Vicarstown Station to get everyone from the Mainland to feel welcome to Sodor. There will be lots of trucks to collect, so that's why given these tasks for you as I know you are really useful. I do want you all to be on your best behaviour."
With that, The Fat Controller left the scene as he hopped into his car and drove off. Before he left, the three engines respond, "Yes, Sir!", exclaimed Thomas.
"Right away, Sir!", added Percy.
"You can count on us, Sir!", added James as the three engines whistled happily as they want off to start the day.
…
At Brendam Dock, where the seagulls flew across the blue sky as the waves crashed the shore, making a satisfying noise, Thomas, James, and Percy arrived as they saw a grey crane looking at them down below as he grunted, "Good thing is that you're here on time. Here are the trucks for you to deliver. Careful, some of the supplies are fragile."
"Cheer up, Cranky!", Thomas giggled as he teased the crabby crane, "It's a lovely day to be happy!"
"Nonsense!", replied Cranky as he turned left as he lowered his crane and placed the last item into one of the Troublesome Trucks.
Once the trucks were loaded, James reversed himself as he went in front of the Troublesome Trucks as they woke up and began to complain, "Hey! You pushed us too hard! You pushed us too hard!"
However, James rolled his eyes as he knew that he was going to do something important as Thomas went in front of him. There, one of the workmen coupled Thomas and James together as he then coupled up James with the Troublesome Trucks. Once they were coupled Percy was about to go in front of Thomas when the small blue tank engine said, "Percy, I think it would be a good idea if you're behind the trucks in case something goes wrong from behind."
Percy felt a bit upset as he didn't want to deal with the Troublesome Trucks alone. He knew that these trucks like to tease him and cause so much problem. However, Percy didn't want to let his best friend down, so he sighed and kept his smile, "Sure, Thomas!"
With that, Percy changed the track as he went behind the Troublesome Trucks as the workman coupled him up to the truck in front of him. Once everything was loaded and they were securely coupled, the workman gave a thumbs up and a smile to give them a sign that they were ready to go. There, three engines tooted their whistles simultaneously as the Troublesome Trucks began to whine about their noises. The engines ignored them as they puffed away from Brendam Docks.
…
As the three friends went past Maron Station, Thomas and James were chatting away as they giggled. The two engines had been together for the past three months and they both enjoyed each other's company. They both teased each other, and they talked about their past experiences. They both enjoyed each other's company. They were glad that they were working together.
However, Percy frowned from seeing his friends were having a good time. Percy had felt like he was always the third wheel whenever he was with Thomas and James. He was Thomas's best friend, but he noticed that whenever James was around or was in the group, Thomas would end up focusing on James more as the two get carried away. This made Percy feel lonely as he didn't like being left out.
While they journeyed to Vicarstown Station, the Troublesome Truck looked at Percy's depressed look as the truck made a nasty grin. There, he whispered to the truck behind as he whispered in a chant, "Percy is always The Third Wheel! His friendship must be not real."
With that, the truck behind him chuckled as she then whispered to the next truck as it spread very quickly. Once all the Troublesome Trucks heard what the truck that was in front of Percy has said, they all chuckled nastily as they chanted loudly for Percy to hear, "Percy is always The Third Wheel! His friendship must be not real."
As they continued the same chant, Percy heard what the trucks have said as he cried while trying not to cry, "That's not true! I'm never The Third Wheel!"
"Is that so?", said one of the Troublesome Trucks as she spoke in a teasing matter.
"Then why does Thomas like to spend time with James more?", asked another truck as his grin grew huge with his eyes narrowed.
"He spends just as much time as with me!", Percy replied as he tried to defend himself.
"Oh! Percy is denying that the fact he is the Third Wheel!", mocked another truck as all the trucks began to laugh and started to chant the same words that they did before.
Percy tried to ignore the chant, but the more he kept hearing the chants from the horrid trucks, the more he got irritated and upset. He knew that they always have a way to make an engine's life a miserable one as their only pleasure was to cause trouble. Percy wanted them to be quiet, but he knew that his attempt would be all in vain. With that, he shut his eyes tightly as he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Enough!"
With that, he shunted the trucks too hard as they began to whine and complain. This cause James and Thomas to be shunted as well as James complained, "Percy! Watch what you're doing! You could have broken the supplies!"
"Be careful, Percy!", added Thomas as he and James were unaware of the situation.
"Plus, this is no time to play games!", shouted James as he looked behind him and gave the poor small green saddle tank engine a harsh glare.
Percy wanted to explain to his friends the situation, but he knew that they were too cross with him. With that, Percy bit his tongue as he began to sob quietly as the trucks continued their chant in their whisper tone of matter. For the whole journey, Percy felt terrible and alone as the trucks wouldn't stop bullying and harassing him as he witnessed Thomas and James were having the time of their life.
…
That evening, Percy was in Tidmouth Sheds all alone with the cricket noises were his only company. He was sent back to Tidmouth Sheds as James and Thomas told The Fat Controller what had happened. Percy felt like the victim for not standing up for himself and allow the Troublesome Trucks to win. With that, tears escaped from his eyes as he began to cry. He knew he had the worst day ever as he knew that not only that he got in trouble, but the fact is that he knew that he was The Third Wheel.
As he sobbed, he heard a cheerful whistle that sounded familiar, "Good evening, Percy!", exclaimed a yellow large tender engine with the number twenty-two on her tender, "How was your day?"
However, when she got into the turntable, she spotted Percy crying his heart out, if he had a heart as he didn't answer her question. This made Rebecca whooshed her steam sadly as her firebox dimmed. Usually, Percy would look forward to hanging out with her and talk about their days. Rebecca knew that something was wrong with him. With that, she decided to go inside Thomas's berth so she can talk to him and find out what made Percy feel that way.
Once the turntable was moved, she reversed into Thomas's berth as she began to soothe, "Shh. There, there, Percy. It's alright. You can tell me anything."
When Percy heard a gentle voice from Rebecca, he slowly opened his eyes as he sniffed hardly to try to get rid of the remaining tears in his eyes, "No Rebecca. Today I had the worst day ever."
"Oh, how come?", asked Rebecca as she gave him a concerned look with a small frown.
Just hearing Rebecca's caring tone made him feel safe and secure as he knew that Rebecca was one of those few engines that would do anything to make someone feel happy again, and she was also the type to listen to someone's problem and would give them the best solution to prevent any more issue or any conflict to occur. There, Percy took three deep breaths as Rebecca encouraged him to do so he can talk about his problem without stuttering or feeling like crying again. Once Percy had calmed himself down, he then began to explain what had happened that day from how he was told to be behind the Troublesome Trucks to how they started to taunt them and that he wanted to teach them a lesson, which got him into deep trouble.
After he finished his story, Rebecca understood as she said, "I see. You do feel like a Third Wheel. I also believe there might be a little misunderstanding between you, Thomas, and James."
Percy was puzzled by that, "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that even though you have been blamed for something you didn't do, I think there is a miscommunication with you, Thomas, and James. Plus, you know you have the power to speak out. I suggest that when they come back, you talk to them about your problem. A wise friend once told me, if you never talk about your problem, things will never be resolved."
Just hearing the wise words from the large yellow tender engine made Percy feel a bit better. He knew that Rebecca was right, but he started to doubt himself. How could she be so sure that it would work? He knew that he didn't have the confidence to explain his problem to his friends. He knew how to comfort others, but he felt so unsure that Rebecca could tell how he's thinking by his facial expression, "Don't doubt yourself, Percy. I know it will work. Plus, it will be good to do it tonight as Gordon has to do The Midnight Express while Nia and Rebecca are in the Mainland. I do believe in you. I'll leave you alone so you can chat with them for privacy."
This made Percy feel better as he gave her a gentle smile, "Thanks, Rebecca. You helped me a lot."
"You're welcome.", she replied in a kind tone, "That's what friends do."
…
Not long after, Rebecca hid inside the berth as he heard two familiar whistles nearby. Percy also heard the whistle as he began to feel funny in his firebox as his wheels began to wobble. There, he saw his best friend, Thomas, going to the turntable first as he reversed himself inside his berth with James catching up to go inside his berth. Once the two engines were settled, Percy looked at them for a moment with pure silence as nothing was happening between them. He knew it was the right time to talk to them, "Uhh… excuse me, Thomas? James?"
When his friends heard their names being called, they turned their attention towards him as they looked at him with a neutral face as Percy gulped. He didn't want to make himself look like a fool, yet he wanted to explain how he felt whenever they around them. There, he took a deep breath and said, "Listen. About the Troublesome Trucks incident… well… I only bumped into them too hard because they kept teasing me about being… well… umm…"
As Percy began to stutter, Thomas and James knew that there's more he has to say and they felt sorry for him, "About what, Percy?", asked Thomas in a concerned tone as he tried to soothe him.
With that, Percy began to struggle as he felt like he had a lump in his throat. He wanted to explain everything, but he feared that Thomas and James would laugh at him or be annoyed with him. However, when he remembered Rebecca's wise words, he took a deep breath and finished his sentence off, "They called me The Third Wheel, and I'll admit, I feel like one whenever I'm around you. You two are my friends, but when I'm with you, you seem like you have forgotten me like I was a piece of scrap. This happened ever since we became friends, and when you two got together, I feel like our friendship had fallen apart. Just me buffering at the Troublesome Trucks and you two got mad at me, I thought you guys hate me. I'm sorry I had caused a problem."
Just hearing his heartfelt apology and his true feelings made both Thomas and James's eyes go wide as they knew that it was a fact as they had been carried away and always accidentally left Percy behind. There, the two engines looked at each other, then back to Percy as Thomas sighed, "And we are sorry that left you behind. We didn't mean to get carried away. We care about you Percy and I did say the only reason why I wanted you to behind those Troublesome Trucks so they would behave. I didn't expect to hurt your feelings, Percy."
"And I'm sorry that I got you into trouble and got mad at you. I just didn't want us to get into trouble. I know that you're such a good friend as you care about us as we care about you. I just wanted to let you know that you can always tell us how you feel so we can sort it out."
With that, Percy's eyes went wide in surprise as he didn't expect this to go easy with the conversation. Judging by their looks, he knew that they were being genuine as they horrible for leaving him behind sometimes. There, Percy gave them a gentle smile as he said, "Well, at least there are moments when we are together as one."
"Let's make a promise that nobody gets left behind.", said Thomas in a kind tone as he looked at Percy with a gentle smile.
"Or forgotten.", added James as the engines looked at each other happily as their friendship was mended.
Just hearing their conversation had ended well had made Rebecca smiled from buffer to buffer as she whispered, "Way a go, Percy. Way a go."
…
Ever since that conversation, their friendship had grown stronger as they were like the good old days. They were inseparable despite they have some rivalries once a while. Whenever Percy feels left out or any of his friends, they would let others know how they feel so things can be solved. Percy, Thomas, and James all agreed is that friendship was solid as a rock or more like, solid as hard metal steel.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! I'm back! I'm so sorry that I haven't written any fanfictions for over a month as I was busy in real life! However, since I'm not busy now, I'm free to write more fanfictions as I enjoy writing fanfictions with a burning passion, so do expect more fanfictions to come!
I would also like to note that I will NOT take any requests, especially inappropriate ones as I feel uncomfortable with them. Please do understand and respect that.
Also, I wrote this fanfiction as in my AU, and most people do this that Percy seemed to be a Third Wheel whenever he's with Thomas and James! Of course, it doesn't happen all the time and their friendship is very strong!
Again, I'm back and do expect more to come and I'm looking forward to it! Thank you for being patient and bless you all!
Anyways… I hope you guys enjoyed it!