Flooding the Shed

by AaronCottrell97

There are heavy rains forecast for Sodor with a considerable flood watch and warning. While much of the island prepares to withstand potential flooding, there aren't enough resources availiable to protect Tidmouth Sheds, and as the Steam Team sleep through the rains, a huge slew of rain sweeps in and floods the shed, trapping and putting the engines in deep, wet trouble.

Another week had gone by on Sodor. One week since Gordon and Rebecca's very first experience of spending a silent evening together. After a fair day's effort of looking after the express, while the other engines fell asleep, Gordon and Rebecca felt a few gentle and silent stirrings ensue between them as they found themselves articulating silent thoughts to each other and decided to flourish in such riveting silence together beside an open field under the stars and crescent moon. It had been a new and truly heartfelt experience for both of them, and they felt most inclined to share it with Thomas once he'd come home from India.

And sure enough, on the seventh afternoon since Gordon and Rebecca's silent evening, Emily had just finished her work and returned to Knapford Station to see the Fat Controller standing there with a smile once again. Emily didn't have to ask to know what he was going to say. The Fat Controller told her right away that Thomas' ferry was due to return within the hour, back from another adventure in India.

When Emily heard this, she smiled immensely and thought a little deeper for a moment. By this time, Thomas had been back to Brazil and India, which meant he'd be on Sodor for several months more until his return to Australia that winter...while also coming back for Christmas. Such a thought made Emily feel most delighted as felt such a long and surely happy time ahead for her and Thomas. She thanked the Fat Controller for the news again, and whistled on her way to Brendam Docks, just in time to see the ferry arrive and dock alongside the line.

Emily watched again as Carly unloaded Thomas and lowered him right down to Emily as they gazed at each other with such smiles to be together yet again. Another adventure and another welcome home to Thomas' eyes to see his beautiful angel right there smiling away at his return.

"Welcome home again, Tommy," Emily gleamed as she pressed her lips right to his cheek and smooched noisily through her welcome home kiss.

"Oh, Emily," Thomas blushed lightly. "Hello, my love...and I'm home again for the rest of summer and all of autumn...and when winter comes by for Australia, I'll be home for Christmas. You and I will NOT miss Christmas again, Emily."

"Oh...oh, Thomas," Emily gleamed and bubbled. "Th...thank you, my love! Now, let's get you back to Sodor's routine, shall we?"

And once again, Thomas and Emily huffed off together down the line together until evening came and all the engines got to welcome him home again, until just after sundown, all the engines returned to Tidmouth Sheds, once again feeling complete and in perfect precision to have Thomas home again. After a fair while of conversation and interaction at the sheds, the engines were eventually ready to call it a night.

"Well, everyone," said Thomas. "It's always an uplift to see you all again, here on Sodor. Especially you, Emily."

"Of course it is, Thomas," said Emily. "And you coming home is always the best uplift for me when you take these adventures...and so are the tales you have to tell us once the time is right."

"That's right," said Thomas. "Maybe someday soon, I'll gather you, Percy and David together again for that. But for now...goodnight, Steam Team!"

And the rest of the Steam Team bade goodnight to Thomas as they backed into their berths, right up to Emily as usual. And as Thomas backed into his berth and shut his eyes, he indeed felt happy to be home again, and he wondered what Percy and Emily would think once they heard his stories this time...and what else had happened on Sodor while he was away. There was plenty for them and the other engines to look forward to...but against all expectations and any inkling of thought these engines were carrying right now, there was to be a certain event that would play out for the Steam Team...and Tidmouth Sheds. Something that had never happened here before and would cause immense disruption, concern, worry, speculation and a sense of confinement for the whole Steam Team...but they would see it through in the end.

For four more days, everything worked out normally. Thomas was back on his Branch Line with Annie and Clarabel and working with goods too along with all the other engines, while also waiting for the prime time to exchange stories with Emily, Percy and David. Everything seemed to be simply perfect and pleasant for all the engines over these four days. But then...after those four days of pleasantries and harmony...everything changed with how Sodor would be operating for a few days.

It all started with when the engines woke up on the fifth morning and started their day's work. There were bleak, greyish-white clouds looming overhead as the engines made their way out of Tidmouth Sheds and started their day's work. They had seen cloudy, grey days before, but for the first time in quite a long time, they all felt a sense of light urgency and even a little discomfort.

"I don't like it," said Thomas' driver. "It looks like a heavy fall will come soon. I hope it doesn't get too heavy and cause a flood."

"Ohh..." said Thomas. "And there's a little nip in the air too...in summer. I don't know what this may bring."

"He's right, Thomas," said Emily. "This looks like it would bring on quite a slew of rain, and I don't know how heavy it might be."

All the other engines had to agree, and when they got their jobs from the Fat Controller, even he seemed nervous and a little distant from the engines. But they still had a railway to run. Throughout the day, the engines couldn't help but keep gazing at the sky. These clouds were big, grey and very layered, almost like columns of thick smoke in the sky, which completely blocked out a great deal of sunlight. Even by the time noon came by with absolute broad daylight, it already felt like the coming dark of evening. On his Branch Line and on the Main Lien alike, Thomas and Emily couldn't help but wonder if there was actually a cyclone coming to Sodor, rather like the one Thomas had to face in Australia. To their mild suspicion, no rain fell all day. But the clouds seemed to sit where they were, slowly but surely getting darker and darker. It was rather unnerving and unsettling, but little did all the engines know just would come about for Sodor...and them.

Eventually, around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, the engines all returned from their day's work, still feeling rather shifty and nervous about the looming storm that they knew would eventually come, but it hadn't rained at all throughout today. Then as the engines all neared the station platforms, they all saw that the Fat Controller and his two assistants were at Platform 1, with a big newspaper headline, as if they had big news to tell all the engines.

"Afternoon to you all," said the Fat Controller. "I...I trust you've all been wondering endlessly about the sky today?"

"All day, sir," said Thomas. "But not a single drop of rain has fallen yet, and I can't help but wonder...what is it going to be?"

"We can't help but wonder it could be a cyclone, sir," said Emily. "Like the one Thomas faced in Australia."

"I couldn't enjoy my mail run all day," Percy added. "Please, sir...what is happening with the weather?"

To this, the Fat Controller looked up with a very serious look in his eyes. Then he opened the newspaper he was holding right up and showed the big headline.

"MASSIVE DELUGE OF RAIN TO PUMMEL SODOR TONIGHT - FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT, EMERGENCY SERVICE IN MOTION. SHELTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

There it was for all the engines to see, and it made them all feel an uncomfortable jump in their hearts as they looked to each other and began whispering speculations. There had not been a considerable flood on Sodor for quite some time, but now that their answers were beginning to come in, they began to wonder just what would happen through the night.

"Oh...oh, no," said Thomas. "A...a flood, sir?"

"A...a true and serious flood threat?" Emily asked.

"This is serious news for all of you," said the Fat Controller. "If you've been gazing up at the sky all day, feeling the sense of panic about the possibilities of a flood, there's a perfect reason. There are heavy, heavy rains forecast for Sodor tonight that could go on in huge, huge swaths of rain. It's forecast to be so heavy, there are now active flood watches and potential warnings to go into place. As such, the entire island is preparing to withstand potential flooding wherever the threat may be the most prominent. I've already got other engines making deliveries of sandbags along the island wherever they're needed. Now as you've all finished your day's work, follow the headline and seek shelter. In Tidmouth Sheds."

All the engines felt their hearts shudder at the thought of a potential flood, but with the pending emergency, they'd have to comply. With a deep sigh to each other, they all set off to seek cover in Tidmouth Sheds...while the rest of the island was kept busy preparing for the big plunge.

Throughout the next few hours, while the Steam Team hunkered down in Tidmouth Sheds, all across the island, so many people and engines made swift and sufficient preparations to help mitigate water levels where needed once the big flooding rains would come. As the sky became greyer and greyer, and a chilly wind steady whipped through the air, ditches were dug all along the roads to help reduce any rising water levels. Workmen shoveled ditches at as many roads as they could. All the work did slow traffic down considerably, and Bertie and Bulgy both had to admit that they didn't like what was sure to come about in a few hours.

"We can't travel in a flood, Bulgy," said Bertie. "We'd surely get stuck and get nowhere at all."

"Hm. Not to mention we can't go anywhere with flooded roads...no better than flooded railways," Bulgy replied gruffly.

Then the foreman waved Bertie and Bulgy onwards so they could make their way home.

Across the rest of the island, preparations carried on. The other engines, including Henry, Rosie, Molly, Paxton, Ryan and others were all making hefty sandbag deliveries wherever they were called to. At the Search and Rescue Centre, countless sandbags were delivered and over the next two hours, workmen lined up all those sandbags along the costal shoreline so Belle, Flynn, Rocky and Butch would all still be able to respond to any emergencies, alongside Harold from the air, and Captain by the water if any person or engine would require their service.

"Goodness me, Flynn! Those clouds look nasty!" Belle worried as she eyed the sky. "Weather this wet and heavily major is only good for helping put out the fires that we fight. You and I, Fiery Flynn."

"Maybe so, Belle," said Flynn. "But there are many other dangers besides fire. We're lucky to have sandbags placed all along this shoreline. I just hope other low-lying areas are lucky too..."

And for some areas across Sodor, Flynn was right. Throughout other low-lying areas of the island that were almost right at sea level, more and more sandbags were being delivered by the other engines and were being placed along different areas to minimize water levels, or at least direct flood-flows away from houses and buildings.

At Arlesburgh, everyone was making preparations too. Many people there, including David, Beatrice and the Sea Emperor's crew all heard about the forecast and were initially nervous until they called for a big shipment of sandbags to lay out through the lower-lying areas of the town. When Henry brought the big load of sandbags to Arlesburgh, David and his crew helped several other workmen place them along the shoreline area. Once they were done there, David then rallied his crew up to place a sandbag wall around his house, just in case. After another two hours, they were done.

"There. That ought to do it," said Beatrice once David's house had a big enough wall around it. "Let's see any floodwater get through that! But, oh, dear! I just hope the engines will be safe enough and not get too flooded up in any way."

Ever since he heard about the flood watches, David had been heart-jumping-worried about Emily and if she'd made it home safe in time, but tried his best to put faith in the fact that she'd at least be safe, no matter what rain or flood would ensue.

"Indeed, Mum. These sandbags will keep us safe enough," he said before he turned to his crew. "Better get under cover yourselves, boys! There's a storm blowing up! A whopper, to speak in the vernacular of the peasantry! Poor Emily, I hope she gets home alright..."

At last, after the other engines had made all their deliveries of sandbags and working equipment wherever they needed to, it was about 9:00 p.m. All the preparations that had to be made were made. All the available sandbags had been bought, ordered and delivered wherever they had to go. It was now the deep breath before the plunge. Tonight, the hammer stroke of water would fall the hardest...but where it would strike was something else entirely.

For the past five hours since they returned to Tidmouth Sheds, the Steam Team were all sitting in their berths in complete silence and stillness, and as they stared grimly out the windows, the weather was now at its most seemingly threatening peak. The clouds were practically black now, almost as if there were a giant volcanic ash cloud blanketing the entire island.

"Oh, dear, oh, dear," said Thomas. "I don't think I've ever been afraid of the rain like this...whatever might come tonight will make Henry's fear of the rain look like a big laugh, I'm sure! I just hope that Tidmouth Sheds will be safe enough..."

"I too hope, with every ounce of steam, that the sheds will be safe," said Percy.

"Well, whatever happens, I'm here for you, Percy," said Emily. "And Thomas...and all of you. I feel frightened too, but I'm here for all of you."

"Well, we'll certainly be safe from any ships running aground and knocking the shed over," said Gordon. "Not like what happened with me, Henry, James and Duck at Brendam, when our shed roof collapsed Cranky."

"And even then, that storm was no flood," said Thomas. "But tonight...there's a flood watch and potential warning...what are we to do?"

None of the engines had any clear answer to this. After a few minutes of eerie silence, Thomas spoke again.

"Well...we'll try to sleep through it...but we should keep our minds open. I know something is going to happen...but I don't know what."

"Don't worry, Thomas," said Emily. "Well, actually, we're all worried...but we'll get through it together. Maybe the sheds will be safe tonight."

And soon enough, the engines fell asleep, keeping their mind active, and holding onto that faint and fading hope that the sheds would indeed be safe. But in the most unfortunate ways possible, the engines were all wrong. Very wrong. For the landmark where Tidmouth Sheds stood was almost right at sea level and not very elevated at all. And even worse, there had been so many orders of so many sandbags to place all about the other low-lying areas of the island, that the market supply for sandbags had been cleaned out completely that very evening. If Tidmouth Sheds was in any danger of a flash flood, it would be completely unguarded and unequipped to be protected by this point.

And then, just an hour or two after the engines slept and tried to bear through the night...that's when it began. It finally began after an entire day of waiting. They could all hear it through their closed eyes and through the crevices of their shed doors. Slowly, but very steadily and surely, it began to rain. Steadily at first, then harder and harder, and harder still. As a matter of fact, it was raining all over the Island of Sodor. The rain fell, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed. But compared to most steady storms from before, this was a very choppy, uneven and unpredictable storm. Over the first three hours, most of the northern patches of Sodor were being hit with light rain, which wouldn't threaten Black Loch, Callan Castle or the Love Tree. The east quadrant of Sodor had more considerable, steady rain, but it wasn't a deluge by any means, which meant it wouldn't put Henry, Rosie or Molly in any serious flooding danger. But around the south area, where the Search and Rescue Centre was located, there was very heavy, thick rain, with raindrops almost as big as grapes...which made it a most fortunate coincidence that the sandbags were all prepared and keeping any rising water levels at enough bay to keep the Centre safe enough.

But then, after another three hours into the choppy, stormy night, right around the west side of the island...where Tidmouth Sheds and Arlesburgh were located, that was when the recipe for disaster was conjured in the sky...and at the most unnecessary window of time, there was a very huge, sudden, and chaotically serious cloudburst. Almost like a giant faucet in the sky, rain began to practically cascade and waterfall right out of the sky. It rained, rained and rained, slowly crawling its way closer and closer inland.

In Tidmouth Sheds, all the engines tried to sleep through the storm. Their eyes were closed, but their minds were full to their funnels with sensations of concern, alertness and hope that the rain wouldn't be too heavy to give them any serious trouble. All their faces didn't carry any sense of a peaceful sleep. All their faces rather carried a look of worry and bracing themselves for any inconvenience that would come along. They could all hear the rain pummeling loudly outside, rather like it did on the night before Emily took the Sodor Rangers camping, and like the night Percy got scared of that storm and rushed to Knapford Sheds with Emily, where they heard David's story about him facing that hurricane. With every second that ticked by, they kept feeling their hearts pounding with worry and a now desperate hope that nothing would happen.

But then...as the shed clock tolled 3:00 a.m. in the morning, something suddenly crept to Thomas' ears...then Emily's ears, then Percy's. They all suddenly felt roused from their sleep, then felt their hearts racing at just what they heard outside.

"What...what?" Emily uttered nervously as she looked at Percy, who was already trembling with worry.

Then as Thomas heard the noise get even louder, his eyes darted to the other four engines.

"Wake up! WAKE UP!" he urged loudly.

James, Nia, Gordon and Rebecca all woke up with a start, one after the other.

Then the engines suddenly heard a slow, but steady increase of noise and battering outside the sheds. It made them all gape and look up with alarm. The cloudburst had crawled its way right over Tidmouth Sheds and the surrounding area. Tidmouth Sheds was now right in the firing line for a flash flood. The engines could hear the rain outside, and it was so loud and so heavy, it sounded like a waterfall was battering and cascading down upon the shed roof. None of the engines could ever recall hearing rain this loud and heavy before, and for the first time in many, many years, they all felt steadily frightened by this particular rainfall.

"Huh?! Oh, no...oh, no! T-T-Thomas!" Emily cried out. "Look! LOOK!"

Thomas heard the urgency in Emily's voice and looked. When he gasped as loudly as he did, all the engines looked to what he and Emily saw...and there it was. Disaster was seeping its way right into the sheds.

"What the-" Thomas exclaimed. "What?! Holy Sh...Cinders and Ashes! Tidmouth Sheds is being FLOODED!"

"Flood? Flood?! Oh, no! Oh, the Damp Indignity!" Gordon exclaimed with alarm.

"Ohh!" Percy shuddered with fright. "More trouble lies right inside with all of us!"

And it did. All seven engines watched in horror as a stream of water slowly, but surely seeped its way through under the shed doors. It was just like a tide coming in, and within minutes, water began to flood the sheds. Centimetre by centimetre, inch by inch, the water kept seeping and flooding its way in, and in the beginning, none of the engines felt anything particular as the water level remained beneath the iron rails for about ten minutes...until the water slowly passed the top mark of the sleepers, then worked its way above the iron bars of the rails, and began to touch all the engines' wheels, making them wet and a little cold.

As soon as this happened, all the engines gave a jump and started panting, hyperventilating, gasping and exclaiming with fright. Rebecca was indeed much alarmed as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and begged not to get washed away by some sudden tidal wave. Gordon felt his wheels begin to feel cold as the water ever-so slowly crept higher and higher. James wheezed with terror over his paintwork, Thomas shut his eyes and tried to shut out all the nervous sounds he heard through the shed...but Percy's squeak of right and Emily's very frightened whimper made it even worse. Slowly and torturously, the water kept creeping higher and higher up the engines' wheels, driving their fears and cries of right more and more. Their hopes were now completely dashed, burned, speared and drowned too. It was so many times worse than any of them feared.

But then, after about fifty minutes of rather suspenseful and frightful worries, whimpers and pants, all the engines suddenly noticed the loud battering and cascading of rain outside steadily subside and become quieter and lighter...until the quiet pattering of rain resumed as the cloud burst had finally dissipated. The engines slowly opened their eyes and looked around, wondering rather dramatically if they were still alive...and of course they were. But now that the very wet disaster had gone by, the damage...and trapping was done. The engines shot a glance to what had just happened...and what they were now stuck in until further notice.

"Oh...no!" all the engines announced together with fright. "Tidmouth Sheds...is...FLOODED!"

And it was. There they were. Rebecca, Gordon, Nia, James, Thomas, Percy and Emily, all trapped inside together as Tidmouth Sheds was now submerged three feet deep in water, just a foot or two below all the engines' cabs. At least their fireboxes couldn't be sloshed, but that did not in any way brush away all the impending fears, speculations and countless questions that were now flooding their minds more than Tidmouth Sheds now was. Nothing like this had ever happened at Tidmouth Sheds before, and it made all the engines realize the very first fact that was crystal clear to them all. Until further notice, they were now withheld in a most watery confinement, and managing any trains, passenger or goods would be too dangerous.

"No! No-no! No!" Thomas blurted out.

"No-no-no-no-no! ...NO!" Emily exclaimed with disappointment, embarrassment and fright.

"The mail! It...it can't go anywhere!" Percy wailed.

"Oh...my Paintwork!" James exclaimed.

"It's...it's a flash flood! This is a disaster!" Nia gaped.

"Oh, our Express!" Gordon and Rebecca moaned together.

"So...this is it," said Thomas. "This is what I knew would happen...I just didn't know what it was...and now it has happened."

Thomas was indeed right beyond any shroud of doubt. Any plans any of the engines might have had were now completely stumped and drowned out. There were now so many questions and wonders flooding all the engines almost as much as the sheds were now flooded. When would they hear any news about this matter? How long would it last? Would they be okay? Was everyone else okay? The questions were more and more numerous.

But mercifully, as it was now approaching 4:00 a.m. at night, the exhaustion and draining sensation of thinking endlessly about all the rest of the island, speculating how long this would remain to be and anxiously awaiting any word from the Fat Controller overwhelmed all the engines even at their most nervous state, and they all found themselves slipping into an exhausted, profound sleep. Their eyelids couldn't stay open any longer, and at last, sleep claimed all seven engines in the sheds. They drifted off to sleep again for the rest of the night, and this time, they all waited and hoped beyond hope that perhaps this was just a very, very vivid nightmare and that they'd all wake up again to see that the sheds were completely dry and floodless. And so they slept on through the flooded night...until the truth would come in just a matter of hours.

---

At last morning came again. All the engines slowly woke up and noticed that it seemed much lighter outside. They looked through the window and saw the clouds were much whiter again. The absolute worst of the storm had blown over, and by the noise outside, the rain was still falling, albeit much, much lighter than the massive deluge they had heard the night before. For a few instants, they thought it was just a nightmare and thought of making a move to look outside...but then they suddenly realized how wet their wheels felt. They looked down and saw that their wheels were still submerged three feet deep, and they remembered at once that the sheds were flooded.

"It wasn't a nightmare," was the first thing that came from Gordon's mouth, and the first thing spoken on the first day of this flood.

"We're all stuck here now," said Thomas. "This has never happened before...maybe there weren't enough sandbags to come here. I should have known!"

"Perhaps the other low-lying areas got a little too prepared," said Emily. "This is such a fright to be faced with!"

And then, at that moment, the engines all heard the whirring sound of rotor blades coming from outside. They wondered at first...then all gasped.

"That's Harold!" Thomas exclaimed. "Maybe he's brought the Fat Controller to tell us what's going to happen!"

The engines all gaped and looked desperately out their shed windows. They were sure they could see Harold gliding toward the sheds and hovering where he was.

"Oh, Glory! Look at this!" they all heard him exclaim. "You're all clear, sir. Rappel away!"

From their windows, Thomas, Emily and Percy could faintly see Harold's door open, then a rescue rope came down. Then the Fat Controller was lowered down, wearing a life vest and a pair of waders. He was lowered right into the water, almost up to his waist, then he came toward the sheds, opening Thomas' door. He walked in, and the first thing he did was gasp, then gape and freeze where he was, all while the engines all stared at him so worriedly, all depending on him and what in the world he had to say about what was going on right now.

"Steam Team? Tidmouth Sheds? Oh, my Gracious!" the Fat Controller exclaimed. "I got the phone call from the Sodor Emergency Network about the lack of sandbags that should have come here...and it's worse than I imagined! Are...are you all alright, Steam Team?"

Thomas was the first to speak to the Fat Controller, very shakily. "We...we're a-alright, sir...but the sheds aren't!"

"Yes...yes, I can see that now," said the Fat Controller. "Well, everyone. I see no point in beating around the bush. I've been in contact with the Emergency Network, the Search and Rescue Centre and the Emergency Service for Sodor's Industry. It's only right for me to tell you all now that our forecast continues to show us that the rain is going to continue for a few days more, but at a much, much lighter precipitation than what happened last night."

"Well...what will the rest of Sodor be doing about this flood, sir?" Thomas asked.

"Well, Thomas...My home was lucky enough not to be flooded, but when I heard the news from the Emergency Network, I called for Harold to fly me here to see what had happened, and by what I've already seen this morning, there are many areas that have been flooded across Sodor...the worst of it having fallen here on the west part of the island. Everyone across Sodor is already making their best efforts to minimize water levels. At canals, the floodgates are being checked, ditches have filled right up, and sandbags have been diverting all the water they can. Whatever storm sewers are not flooded, workmen will be checking on them to see what they can do there, and hopefully, when this rain stops, a whole lot of sunlight and consistently hot, dry weather would work wonders, but we don't know when that will come to be quite yet."

"But what about Tidmouth Sheds, sir?" Percy worried. "It all happened so fast last night, and now we're trapped three feet deep! None of us want to have our fireboxes sloshed and soaked! Then we'd get nowhere."

"I was so scared last night, sir!" Emily gasped. "We all were! We can't be any more flooded than we are now!"

"Well, don't worry about that, Percy and Emily," said the Fat Controller. "I'm sure you were all very scared last night, but the first shroud of hope you can all hold onto is that the worse of this deluge has passed. Tidmouth Sheds will not be any more flooded than it is. So you are all safe enough to stay in here...but until this flood recedes, it is not safe for any of you to leave the sheds and do any work. Until this flood is over, I've put most of the railway on hold, and you are all to quarantine together."

All the engines suddenly felt a pulse in their throats and their eyes all widened at once. They already knew this to be true, but now, by the word of their controller, that knowledge was completely confirmed.

"Sir...do...do you mean...?" Thomas began.

"Yes, Thomas. I do," said the Fat Controller. "You will all have to stay here and refuge in your berths until further notice. This flood has given me, Mr. Percival and Mr. Duncan no choice but to put a majority of the railways on hold while all emergency efforts will be made to get this flood back under control. The Search and Rescue Centre has managed to block off water flows with all the sandbags they placed along their costal range, so they'll all be helping. Harold will be transporting food, goods and equipment to all who need it until this little problem is solved...and as for all of you...stay right where you are, and I will come back whenever I can as soon as I receive updates from the Emergency Network and the Weather Service. I'll see you all later."

And with that, the Fat Controller waded out of the sheds and returned to Harold. The engines heard Harold whirr away and into the distance. And so began their watery confinement together. All the engines' wheels were wet, and they felt a little chilly from the slightly cold water and the anxious jump in their hearts, but at the very least they would be safe.

"Well, everyone...it looks like we're water-bound," Thoma stated to no one in particular. "In other words, we can't get out."

"Oh, the Damp Indignity!" Gordon exclaimed. "Think of all those poor passengers now bound to their own houses, trying to stay dry!"

"I've never faced any flood like this!" Rebecca worried. "Thank goodness we're all here...especially you, Gordon!"

"This flood is absolutely unacceptable!" James exclaimed. "Think about my paintwork!"

"This is no rainforest storm like Thomas and I faced together," Nia worried. "This is a full-out flood!"

"A promise is a promise...no matter what the weather," said Percy. "But...today's weather curbs any promise any engine could make...oh, dear!"

"The rain fell so fast and it fell so hard, that it's completely barred any way out for any of us!" Emily exclaimed.

Most of the engines were frightened, anxious, miserable and agitated all at the same time. Nothing like this had ever happened to any of them, and they didn't know what to do. Nothing like this had ever happened at Tidmouth Sheds, period. No one knew just how long it would be like this and how the rest of the island might have been doing at this very moment. All the engines began talking at once and speculating various ideas to find some way out, but as soon as they conjured these fast-thought out ideas, they quickly realized that those ideas had no strength or merit to the given situation. They talked and they talked and they quarreled and even began to argue amongst each other...until Thomas gave a rather shrill shout that made the other engines stop and look at him.

"QUIET! Now everyone calm down!" Thomas urged. "This is a very new dilemma to be faced with, that's a given. We've never had Tidmouth Sheds be flooded before, true. But with that said, the Fat Controller did say we won't be any more flooded than we are. We'll be safe enough together until the flood recedes. I'm worried too, but we can't let our worries dominate this entire wait! We have to think of something to ease our fears right inside these sheds, and together!"

The other engines knew Thomas was right, but they also knew just as well as him that their fears would not be easily curbed. Their questions, speculations and concerns were so immense and overwhelming that they had to think of something to do in the time being, be it conversation, telling stories, hoping for a visit from any people, or simply anything to start mitigating their fears.

"We're sorry we began to argue, Thomas," Percy peeped nervously. "But I think we're all thinking...what's going to happen to us?"

"Oh, Percy, I...I just don't know," said Emily. "But for now, it does look hopeless, doesn't it?"

"We have no way of knowing how long this will last," said Nia. "And we don't know how the rest of the island might be doing. And above all, none of our questions will be answered until either the Fat Controller returns with more news...or until these floods recede."

And with that, silence fell upon the flooded sheds. The hours passed from morning to early afternoon. As the engines waited and waited and waited for any change in the water levels, to hear any news from the Fat Controller, or simply for things to start getting better again, they eventually found themselves to start feeling more bored than afraid. Over the hours that passed, Thomas looked around and could see the engines stop cringing and darting their eyes everywhere, and starting to stare blankly around the sheds, uttering sighs and yawns of boredom to each other. Thomas thought of anything he could do to curb the engines' fears. Especially Emily's fears. He knew how she had faced a flood when taking the Rangers to the Campgrounds, but that was only a little flood, and she wasn't even in that flood for one minute. Now they were all stuck in a flooded shed for at least a few days with nothing to do. No goods to deliver, no passengers to look after.

Then suddenly, after a few hours more, it came to Thomas. In the midst of this flood, he suddenly remembered there was something he had not done since his return with Gina from Italy. Given how the last few months had turned out to be, especially with Thomas' fragrant bath with Emily before he went to India, he had not yet exchanged either of his two stories of Brazil or India this time, and he had also not heard anything of what had happened during his absence on those two adventures. He had meant to tell these stories to Emily, Percy and David before...but now as he looked around to the other engines, then Percy and Emily, he suddenly saw an opportunity to start mitigating the engines' concerns and fears. It seemed this time that the ongoing silence was causing suspense and tension among the other engines. Heartfelt silence was golden as he and Emily knew all too well, but this was flooded and fear-mongering silence that needed to be broken. And so, after so many hours that had ticked by in complete silence and stillness, Thomas spoke up.

"Hey...everyone?" Thomas asked. The other engines looked at him, maintaining their bored and slightly nervous expressions.

"Well...look where all the time has gone," said Thomas. "It...it's already early afternoon."

"Yes...Thomas," Emily said at last. "I...I guess this day has gone by very quickly...do...do you have any ideas for any of us?"

Thomas looked Emily right in the eyes, then began looking amongst the other engines.

"Everyone...this is indeed a most outlandish turn of events for all of us...but I think we've been silent for too, to long. I think I have a first solution to help us all feel a little better. Something to pass the time in a more pleasant light."

"Hmm. What would that possibly be?" Gordon asked.

Thomas looked at Gordon, then notably to Emily and Percy with a little curving smile.

"Well," said Thomas. "I've noticed a certain coincidence...it seems that on both adventures I've had so far this year...I've not told either tale to Emily or Percy...or to anyone else yet. Of course, I meant to tell them these tales anyway once the time was right...but I've also not yet heard of what might have happened while I was away...therefore...I think we should..."

Percy and Emily suddenly felt the first wave of warmth and enthusiasm they felt since the flood began.

"Storytime, Thomas?" Percy peeped. "To pass the flooded time? Well...what better way to start off? That's a splendid idea!"

"Oh, Tommy! Of course!" Emily added. "I was beginning to wonder that you and I hadn't talked about something or other yet. I haven't yet heard either story of Brazil or India, Thomas...and we haven't yet told you the two stories about what happened while you were away on both those adventures. Perhaps a little story time can pass the time...at least for today."

All the other engines agreed too. They all hummed and nodded to each other, and to Thomas.

"I think that's an excellent idea, Emily," Rebecca agreed. "A flooded storytime is better than a flooded shed alone."

"And it won't be just be Emily, Percy and David," said Thomas. "But with all the rest of the Steam Team too."

"Indeed it shall be," said Gordon. "A perfectly imperfect time for stories...but I think it shall do us all well."

"Well...it is better than sitting around saying nothing at all," James admitted.

"Of course it is, James," Nia managed to smile. "We can all listen and see what we think. So, Thomas...may we hear your story? What was your adventure in Brazil this time?"

Thomas looked at all the engines, left and right. Although they were all quarantined inside a watery confinement until further notice, he thought that story time would be a relaxing and defusing way to pass the time for all the engines. And so Thomas began.

"Alright, everyone. After waiting for the right time...I guess the perfectly imperfect time had arrived. Here it is. When I was working on the Brazilian Railway this time, I met a pair of engines who'd always done things the same way...so I found out what happened when they tried something different. There's Gustavo the Brazilian Express Engine...and the No. 4 of Brazil too. There's Raul who competed in the Shunting Challenge, and Gabriela the main goods engine of Brazil. But there are also two Forest Engines who I've never seen before."

"Hmm. Forest Engines?" Emily asked. "What are they like?"

Thomas thought about it...then suddenly felt a distant memory wave into him. He hadn't thought of it before, but now he did.

"Well...as a matter of fact, Emily...these two engines are wood-burning engines...rather like the Logging Locos, who could run on wood or oil."

"The Logging Locos?" Emily asked with a stir in her heart. "We haven't mentioned them in ages!"

"Those cheeky, goofy characters?" Gordon stated. "Oh, the Silliness! They're all such peculiar sorts!"

"Maybe so, Gordon. In their own way," said Thomas. "But these Brazilian twins aren't nearly as goofy or silly. If anything, they're quite chipper and cheerful sorts. They run on wood only, and their names are Marcia and Marcio...and this is where my story comes in."

All the engines looked to Thomas and listened as the story truly began.

"It was a very busy day one morning when I passed through the Docks. Gustavo was busy with another express run, Raul just missed me at the points and Gabriela had to take food to market, pick up the iron ore and go to the eucalyptus plantation. I thought I could help by going to the plantation myself, as I'd never seen it before. Gabriela was happy to let me discover the route, and Cassia advised me to fill up on coal first since the eucalyptus foundation is very far to travel to from the Brazilian Harbour."

"Hmm...I hope you didn't run out of coal again like you did with Gustavo, Thomas," said Emily. "Did the Forest Engines have to save you?"

"No, Emily. Rather...I had to help them," said Thomas. "After filling on coal, I was ready to be on my way, and as I made my way up the line to the eucalyptus foundation, it was quiet and secluded...then I saw an area where the trees were leaning inward toward the line, almost as if they were a tunnel. Like an archway. It was amazing, and just as I realized it was the Eucalyptus Railway, I saw two other engines come and whistle along the line beside me and announce the railway right with me. They were Marcia and Marcio. They do everything together...including talking together almost all the time. I almost couldn't tell which one was which."

"Indeed...I'd expect Bash and Dash to do exactly that," said Gordon.

"Well, when I told them I'd come for the eucalyptus trees, they told me I had come to the right place," said Thomas. "The plantation is full of eucalyptus trees, which was handy for them as they are wood-burning engines. I thought they'd run out of wood if they kept using it for fuel...but as long as they keep planting, the eucalyptus railway can keep running. They say people come from all over the world to see them, but they've never been anywhere beyond the Eucalyptus Railway. They've heard about my adventures and they could only imagine what it would be like for them."

"Hmm. Your adventures really do get around, don't they, Thomas?" said Emily.

"Indeed they do," said Thomas. "I trust Marcia and Marcio were daydreaming of riding on rainbows, and huffing through the clouds past backdrops of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and what have you...but in all their lives, since they run on wood, they had never even been to Rio de Janerio, where I took part in the Batucada Band. As such, I wanted them to be happy. So I suggested that I would do their jobs while they did mine. Marcio and Marcia were both ecstatic to get to see more of the railway while they'd take two flatbeds of eucalyptus trees to the Docks."

"I see," said Nia. "Well...what is the Eucalyptus Railway like, Thomas?"

"It was great, just like working on my branch line," said Thomas. "Except the eucalyptus line was shorter. Much, much shorter. When I arrived at the station to look after the passengers, there was a set of buffers right in front of me. As such, I had to manage the passenger train backwards. No trouble for me because I'm a tank engine. As for the Forest Engines, Marcia and Marcio loved seeing the Brazilian Railway for real. They felt it was even better than they imagined...but then there was trouble. They came to a stop right on the line since they had run out of wood...and the only wood they had left to use was the very wood they were pulling together. They used up one flatbed and made it to Rio de Janerio...but then they ran out again...with one other flatbed of wood."

"Oh, dear," said Nia. "I'm very sure what this will mean. What happened then, Thomas?"

"Well, later that day, I returned to the station with the last of the passengers. It was getting late, and Marcia and Marcio should have returned from the docks. I was starting to get worried, so I decided to go and look for them. I returned to the docks and asked Cassia if she had seen the two wood-burning engines. She had not seen them, but the ship was waiting for the flatbeds of eucalyptus wood. Emerson agreed to help me search the railway for the two wood-burning engines, so while I searched the ground, he searched from the air...then he could see them."

"Where were they, Thomas?" Percy asked.

"They were in a siding in the shade," said Thomas. "When I found them, I then noticed their flatbeds were empty. They had to use up all their wood to feed their fires further...until they ran out. It was then when I learned that those wood-burning engines aren't meant to go so far. I hurried back to the eucalyptus plantation and came back with a fresh and larger supply of eucalyptus wood. Instead of two flatbeds, I had three. I should never have swapped jobs with them."

"Maybe you shouldn't have, Thomas," said Emily. "That's two entire flatbeds of eucalyptus trees cost from their shipment."

"Maybe, Emily. But Marcia and Marcio were happy I suggested it," Thomas continued. "They enjoyed their new and 'big,' adventure, and if we hadn't tried something new, they never would have known for sure of that. But in the end, they belong to the Eucalyptus Railway. And before they could go home, they wished to go the rest of the way to the Docks and deliver the wood, so as to be really useful. And so we made it in time. Cassia loaded the wood onto the ship and I was glad to see Marcio and Marcia enjoy a further stretch of adventure...until they were ready to go home, just how they liked it...and that is my tale of Brazil for you all."

All the engines looked at Thomas and slowly smiled pleasantly. They had been picturing everything in their heads and they had really come to feel a little better about the flooded sheds. If they had to be kept in a watery confinement, what better way to do it with each other, and with a storyteller to help pass the time away?

"Well, Thomas...that's quite a nifty little story," said Emily. "It sounds like you certainly know how to make new engines happy, even on the first day you meet them."

"Indeed, Thomas," Nia agreed. "I wonder what it would have been like to meet Marcia and Marcio on our first adventure together."

"Well, Nia, given that rainstorm you and I faced," said Thomas. "I know they wouldn't have had a chance with soaking wet wood. In fact, the more I think about it, Marcia and Marcio are quite like when I met the Experimental Engines on the Mainland. Lexi, Theo and Merlin only ever stayed in their yard, until they helped me save James from the Steelworks and then they stayed there themselves so as to be really useful and help Hurricane and Frankie. Marcia and Marcio had only ever worked on the Eucalyptus Railway, but when they tried a new job on a different railway, they realized they weren't suitable for the job. They were much more useful where they were home."

"Yes...that's a good way to compare it, Thomas," said Emily. "Thank you for that little tale. Now...would you like to hear about what happened while you were away in Brazil?"

"Hmm...I'd like that, Emily," said Thomas. "But I think that since I've held off both opportunities to tell tales twice so far, I think I should tell you my tale of India now, so as you'll all be caught up...then I can fully catch up on whatever two tales I may have to hear."

To this, Emily gave Thomas a steady smile of approval, and Gordon and Rebecca exchanged a gleaming look to their eyes and smiled to each other too.

"Very well, Thomas," said Emily. "What was your tale of India on this visit?"

"Yes, Thomas. How are your friends of India doing?" Rebecca asked.

Thomas looked around to the engines again, then began his second tale of adventure to tell.

"Now...my Indian story, back with Ashima, Rajiv, Shankar, Noor Jehan and Charubala."

"Alright, then," said Emily. "And who has a story to share this time? I remember Rajiv had a story about his crown, and you made a rather trivial mistake last time, Thomas. Who was it about this time?"

"Well...Rajiv and Ashima have their own tales to tell from before, and Noor Jehan is mostly the mother figure on the Indian Railway. But this time, the story I have to share is mostly about Shankar. Shankar's Makeover."

The other engines looked more closely at Thomas. What was he talking about?"

"Makeover, you say?" said Emily.

"What makeover would this be?" Gordon asked. "Are there streamlined diesels out there?"

"A new colour of paint livery like Rosie?" Percy asked.

"Well, hear my story, and you'll find out," said Thomas. "But first...do you think any of you would ever think of...dressing up?"

All the engines looking puzzlingly and inquisitively at Thomas as they wondered just what he could be talking about.

"Excuse me...dressing up?" Emily puzzled with a most pondering smile. "What ever do you mean, Thomas? How can engines dress up? I know you tried to dress up for that Children's Fair, then ended up covered in sticky toffee and getting completely bristled with leaves all over."

"I know, Emily...but these are vibrant and colourful costumes...officially for the sake of another decorated engine competition in its way."

"Oh?" Emily said, perking her smile up. "Like when James and I competed in the Decorated Engine Competition?"

"Ohh, not that old st-"

Before James could finish his last word in his sentence, Emily, Percy, Nia, Rebecca and even Gordon all cleared their throats loudly to correct him. Then they winked to Thomas and let him continue.

"Thank you, everyone. And no, James. It is NOT that story again," said Thomas. "So...when I was in India, the engines were all set to wear amazing costumes for a really exciting competition. It was the end of another busy day on the Indian Railway. The day before the competition, and Shankar was finishing his shunting. He has an interesting formula of dancing a little shimmy, then shunting two trucks down one line, then two other trucks on the other line. The trucks call it the 'Spectacular Shankar Shimmy.' Quirky, isn't it?"

"Hmm. It sounds quirky," said Emily. "But what about my little shimmy, Tommy?"

Thomas looked and saw Emily doing a little shimmy in her dance, making the water beneath her ripple a little.

"Hm-hm! Yes, Emily. Your shimmy and dance is so much lovelier," said Thomas. "Even in the water. Anyway, that evening, Ashima and I were ready to turn in for the night. Especially Rajiv. He was stating how he needed an early night and wanted to look his absolute best for the fancy costume contest the next day. I couldn't wait either. I asked what his costume would be, and who he thought would win."

"Isn't it obvious that he'd say he would win?" Percy asked. "What with him going on endlessly about his crown?"

"Not quite, Percy," said Thomas. "Rajiv did have the wisdom to admit that winning is not important, but he was still confident enough to say he had a good chance, between me and him."

"Oh! What about Ashima?" Emily asked. "I remember how I wondered why she wasn't in the Decorated Engine Competition. I thought she'd easily win, and she told me just because we're well-painted doesn't mean we can't do anything else."

"Well, Emily...Ashima's theme for this competition was flower power. Her goal was to be the most colourful engine in India...as she always is."

"Well, yes. She is very colourful," said Emily. "And she is stunning in her own ways."

"But never as stunning as you, Emily," said Thomas. "You and I know that without any doubt."

"I know, Thomas...I really do know," Emily smiled assuredly. "So...what about Rajiv, you, Noor Jehan...and Shankar?"

"Rajiv said his decorations would be fit for a king," said Thomas. "When Ashima asked me what my costume would be, I couldn't decide yet. Noor Jehan didn't come back to the sheds until after we fell asleep...but when I saw Shankar returning to his own shed. I asked what his costume would be...but he had no interest in taking part. Every year, the other engines would ask him, and every year he said no."

"Oh? Why not?" Emily asked. "Why wouldn't he take part?"

"Well, Emily...Shankar isn't very comfortable with audiences. He can't stand the idea of an entire audience staring away at him...although Rajiv can't think of anything better. But Shankar was perfectly happy shunting coal trucks as he did every day every year."

"Hmm...you did say the story is about Shankar's Makeover, Thomas," said Nia. "I trust you talked him into it in the end?"

"Well, here's what happened," said Thomas. "We went to sleep soon enough, but later that night, under a bright full moon, while Rajiv and Ashima were asleep, I couldn't help but insist and coax Shankar to give the fancy costume contest a chance, even for once. Shankar restated that he had said no, just as Charubala came by and saw that the two of us weren't asleep yet...and to that, I worked in that Shankar wanted to ask if he could enter the contest this year. Shankar was still insistent, but I was sure he was just nervous."

"Hmm...so you spoke for him...but not for him at the same time, did you?" Emily pondered. "And what exactly happened then?"

"Well, Charubala thought it was a wonderful idea, and with Shankar still wanting to shunt the coal trucks, she said he could do both if he pleased. He then tried to put on that he didn't have any decorations for a costume. To that, I promised I'd help him sort it out. In the end, Charubala decided to add him to the list of competitors. And with that, we were off to bed along with Ashima and Rajiv. But Shankar was still nervous. Even as I began to snore, I could hear him worrying about not being made for life in the spotlight."

"Well, Thomas. I can understand what he means by that," said Emily. "As I found out with my 'GNR,' livery on my tender, and my own No. 1 like my Stirling siblings, fame isn't for everyone. But then again, I actually am famous in my own ways for Sodor, and you, of course."

"Yes, Emily," Thomas smiled. "As I came to learn, it turns out that Shankar had a nightmare of being placed on a stage with crimson curtains behind him, and Rajiv announcing that he'd be singing live. I nudged him into place, and he began to sing to us all...and he trailed off immediately, making the whole audience boo and jeer at him...until he woke up and saw it was morning. He insisted again that he couldn't take part and had to tell Charubala...but he was too late."

"Too late?" Nia asked. "What do you mean?"

"Did he still end up with a makeover, Thomas?" Emily asked.

"Well, I told him he had overslept and had to catch up on shunting all those coal trucks before he could put on his costume. I won't give it away yet, but right now, I'll say that he saw some vibrant, brightly coloured feathers."

"Feathers?" Rebecca asked. "Do you mean to say...he dressed up like a bird?"

"Hold on, don't get ahead of the story," said Thomas. "Shankar was of course terrified by the prospect, although I told him it was just a bit of fun, and that there was nothing to worry about...and with that, I made my way to the competition, and I was dressed up, along with the other engines."

"Oh! What was your costume, Thomas?" Emily asked. "And what did the others look like?"

Thomas blushed a little bashfully as he remembered those costumes, including his own, but he managed to buck up and tell everything.

"Well...I wore an elephant trunk and ears," said Thomas. "And Trusty Trunky was right there to compliment it herself with a loud trumpet. Rajiv was decked up with glimmering decorations along his crown, decorative lining and such festive tapestries along his cab and over his boiler. Noor Jehan was dressed in bright purple butterfly wings and face paint...and Ashima...by my coupling rods, she looked absolutely stunning with her flower power! She had two orange flowers painted on her cheeks, a pink flower painted on her forehead, and endless flower chains around her face, around her funnel and around her dome...and even flower chains along the sides of her boiler! Flowers, flowers, flowers and more flowers!"

"Wow! She loves flowers as much as I do," Emily smiled admirably. "She must have surely won that competition, and if she didn't, I'd be very surprised, and even sorry for her."

"Don't be, Emily," said Thomas. "We were all having fun. Everyone else was excited to put on their costumes. Well, almost everyone."

"Shankar still wasn't sure, was he?" said Percy.

"No, Percy. He wasn't," said Thomas. "We all gathered together and soon, everyone was looking at us, taking photographs and there were three judges taking a close look at all of us, deciding who would be the winner. I still wondered where Shankar could be...until I saw bits of his costume poking behind a truck in the distance. I rushed over...and there was Shankar's Makeover. A large, red beak, golden-red feathers around his face, purple, blue and yellow eagle-like wings, and endless colourful folds of feathers on both sides of him. I thought he looked amazing, but he still didn't want to do it. He thought he looked ridiculous."

"Of course he would, dressing up like a bird," James smirked.

"Well, at least he didn't look like 'James the Red-Nosed Engine," Thomas replied. "Buzz-buzz-buzz."

"Hmph!" James retorted and stood down.

"Anyway," Thomas continued. "I told Shankar once again that he was just nervous, and that he should at least be there for the judging. The judge congratulated us all for participating. He says that the costumes get better and better every year. It had been a very tough contest, but the winner had to be announced...and the winner of the costume competition...was Shankar!"

Percy gasped first. Then Emily, Nia, James and Rebecca gasped too.

"Ohh! Shankar?" Gordon exclaimed.

"Yes, his makeover had won," said Thomas. "Charubala always believed he could do it. But then...everyone began chanting for him to do the 'Shankar Shimmy,' in all those decorations. As nervous and anxious as he was, he gave in and did so...until his costume fell apart, and there he was."

"Oh, dear...so what happened?" Emily asked.

"Well, he felt quite bad and blurted out for himself that he never wanted to enter it anyway. Despite Rajiv's assurance that he'd won, Shankar didn't care about winning. All he wants is to be really useful. Charubala then said he didn't have to enter if he didn't want to...which meant I had to come forth with my part in that tale. I thought he'd come to like it...but I'm not gonna win all my assumptions. Not everyone likes winning the spotlight, and that is perfectly fine. After I said sorry, Shankar could go back to his shunting duties...and he concluded the whole competition with a proper 'Shankar Shimmy,' for all of us to see."

"Oh. So it turned out nicely in the end," said Percy. "Shankar won his makeover...and he got to do his shimmy for you all."

"He did, Percy. He did," said Thomas. "Now...those are my two tales of adventure for this year so far. What did you think?"

The other engines looked to each other and thought. This had been yet another fun little experience, and under the flooded circumstances, they had found themselves to really enjoy it. They all looked to Thomas with a smile.

"Well...those are both interesting stories, Thomas," said Emily. "I'm pleased to hear that Ashima looked so lovely. She really is a great engine, like I said she is."

"Indeed, she is, Emily," said Thomas.

"Thank you, Thomas," said Percy. "Those were indeed fun little stories, and perfect to help raise our spirits even a little in the midst of our flooded shed."

The other engines agreed too, and Thomas simply smiled to them all for a few more minutes of silence...until he perked up again.

"So...those are my tales," said Thomas. "Now...what about what happened here while I was gone? Does anyone have any tales to share with me?"

Emily immediately spoke up. "I...I do, Thomas. Rather, I heard my own little tale from Donald and Douglas."

"Oh? You spent an evening with your brother figures, did you?" said Thomas. "Well, what was it like, and what did they tell you?"

"Well, Thomas," said Emily. "I already told the other engines once I got home that evening, but perhaps I can tell you to pass more time."

"I'd love that, Emily," said Thomas. "Please tell your story...and Donald and Douglas' too."

"Alright, then," said Emily. "It was about a week and a few days before you came back home...and it was a very damp and rainy day. I was kept busy with passenger duties all day, but without you to accompany me, I felt quite miserable, both because of your absence, and because of the rain. Until you came back, I would have to rely on Percy for company...and two others that night. Donald and Douglas of course."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that you went through that wet and dreary day, Emily," said Thomas. "This is of course a much bigger situation for all of us...but we're all here together. So what did you do that day?"

Emily went on.

"Well, my crew were very wet as the wind kept blowing the rain on them and into my cab. When I got back from passenger duties for the day, I thought I was ready to return here, but the Fat Controller told me I had one more goods run to take to Arlesburgh West for the Small Railway. I wasn't too content to do it, but I knew it was still so I could be really useful. I made my delivery in good time, and to my relief and my crews' relief, the rain stopped by then. At least I would be dry when I got back here. But when I got to the Arlesburgh turntable, it was out of order. Its motor had busted and it meant I would have to go home backwards...and very slowly, since I'm a tender engine."

"So...where do Donald and Douglas come in?" Thomas asked.

"Right now," said Emily. "Donald came by with a tarpaulin-covered flatbed, and Douglas came too. They had brought a new motor to install for the turntable and hopefully give me a fast way home...but then I noticed they were wearing tarpaulins over their tenders, right up to their cabs. They told me they were using the tarpaulins to keep their crew dry, but they're not entirely fool-proof ways to keep dry...which Donald had come to find out for himself, many, many years ago."

"Oh? And what would that be?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know if you've heard this or not, Thomas," said Emily. "But a story about Donald and the Lost Tarpaulin...does that sound familiar?"

Thomas searched his mind to the farthest memories he could ring up in his smokebox...then he slowly smiled and gave Emily a little nod.

"Yes...yes, Emily," he said. "I do remember that all-too well. There's no need to tell me that story again. I came to hear all about it...shortly before they had their little incident with that hay cart."

"Indeed," said Gordon. "When Emily came back, she told us everything, and we immediately remembered...well, most of us did. Nia and Rebecca had to hear a little more about it later on before you came back, Thomas."

"Well, either way, I found it to be a notable little story to hear from my two favourite brother figures on Sodor," said Emily.

"Well, I'm glad they could make you feel better, Emily," said Thomas. "But...did you make it home quickly?"

"Well, Thomas," said Emily. "By the time they finished their story, I checked on the turntable, and it still wasn't fixed. To that, Donald and Douglas suggested that I use the Harwick turntable and go home from there. They said I deserved to be warm and dry with the other engines, and that was enough to make me smile again...until I came back and heard from the Fat Controller that you'd be coming home in just over a week. And that is the first little tale of Sodor, during your Brazilian journey with the Forest Engines. What do you think, Thomas?"

Thomas thought for a moment, then smiled to Emily. "That sounds very nice, Emily. Donald and Douglas are such good brothers to you."

Emily smiled and blew Thomas a kiss, giving him a little giggle of agreement.

"So...that's one tale," said Thomas. "Then I came back and had a most fragrant bath with Emily...and then I left for India again where I had the little experience I've told you all about today. But what else happened while I was away. Do any of you have any stories to share?"

Emily, Percy, Nia and James thought to themselves...but In that moment, Gordon and Rebecca looked to each other and felt the first deep stirring they had felt since the flood began. They could now regain a sense of wholesomeness and peace even as they were trapped in their Tidmouth Flood. They both looked in Thomas' direction and spoke.

"Yes..." Rebecca's voice said very gently and surely. "Gordon and I...had a little...experience together."

Thomas noticed how soft and gentle Rebecca's voice came out and immediately looked in her direction. So did all the other engines.

"Experience?" said Emily. "I haven't heard this either."

"Not me," Percy added.

"Nor me," Nia added.

"Nor I," James concluded.

"None of us have heard this story," said Emily. "What did you and Gordon do, Rebecca?"

Rebecca looked to Gordon and gave him such a deep, wholesome smile. Gordon returned the smile then spoke next.

"Well...it was about two weeks after you left for Brazil, Thomas," he said. "And...we've both been inclined to tell you just what we did. Not under the current circumstances, of course, but perhaps there's no other time to tell you than right now."

"Well...what happened between you two?" Thomas asked. "We'd all like to know."

Rebecca and Gordon gave one more smile of peaceful joy to each other, then came out with the story.

"Thomas...I...I trust that you and Emily know all about what is louder than words...how silence is golden?"

Thomas and Emily looked to each other with a deep stir in their hearts. Did Thomas' ally explore the wonders of silent evenings with no words needing to be uttered?

"Yes...I do know that, Rebecca," he smiled. "Emily and i both know it all too well...and they're truly beautiful times to spend together. Did you and Gordon...?"

"Yes, Thomas...we came together in absolute, but pure and sacred silence," said Gordon.

To this, the other engines perked with interest and listened even closer.

"I...I didn't even know this," said Emily. "Two weeks after Thomas left...the more I think about it...I noticed you two didn't say a word all evening."

"No, Emily. We didn't," said Rebecca. "For some reason, Gordon and I found ourselves only focusing one each other, and we didn't fully know why this was happening. We were both forming some inner thoughts, but we weren't sure how to articulate them."

"Yes," said Gordon. "Then we thought that perhaps once the other engines were asleep...then that silence would allow us to make our thoughts clearer. So after James, Nia, Percy and Emily fell asleep...that's when we had all the silence we needed."

Thomas and Emily swallowed to themselves and looked at each other. Percy, Nia and James all listened closer as Gordon and Rebecca waited for some form of response.

"So...what did you two do?" Emily asked.

"Yes...what did our two express engines do in complete silence?" Thomas asked.

Gordon and Rebecca both took a deep breath and gathered their thoughts together.

"Well...the night was very dark and quiet. There was a thin crescent moon overhead, and countless stars everywhere," said Rebecca.

"For a few minutes," said Gordon. "We both thought back to our day's work with the express. While not at all like the high-stress express we managed together, it was still a hefty effort for us both that day. It made us both remember the rewards we give each other for such hard work...and as Rebecca smiled to me, we both began to feel a stirring that we could do something that didn't require any words to be spoken."

This made all the engines feel a little shimmer in their hearts. It was such a special thing to hear something about Rebecca and especially Gordon that could be as sacred and peacefully special as this.

"So...what happened then?" Thomas asked.

"Well...I think that Gordon's mind drifted away from anything else he might have been thinking...and only thinking about me," said Rebecca.

"Indeed, I was," said Gordon. "We both took chances to admire each other's appearances...and it made us both feel even better just to be there together."

"We felt as though we wanted to say something," said Rebecca. "But with each minutes of silence that ticked by, we felt more and more that the silence was more intriguing than any words we ever could have spoken...and that's when Gordon looked and saw you four still asleep, James, Nia, Percy and Emily."

Those four engines looked to each other, then to the two express engines.

"Then what did you two do...while we were all asleep?" Emily asked.

"I saw Gordon approach the turntable and turn right around until he faced me. Now we could see each other's faces completely," said Rebecca.

"Yes...such a special night that was," said Gordon. "It was just her and I...my Golden Queen and her Big G, right there together...until I backed onto the turntable again and turned to the Main Line. Rebecca then followed me, buffered up, and we set off into the night...until we came to a big open filed, lightly illuminated by all those stars. We've exchanged rather fiery nights together in the most stirring ways you can imagine...but that night, we both knew it was to be a night of silent appreciation for all around us."

"Oh...yes," Rebecca whispered. "While the crescent moon wasn't much light, the stars were...so very many stars that night...and Gordon and I found ourselves buffering together, right until our buffers pressed all the way in. And that's when we noticed that there were two little things that weren't exactly silent."

"What do you mean, Rebecca?" Thomas asked.

"Were there crickets? Frogs? Owls?" Emily asked.

"Crickets...everywhere in the field," said Rebecca. "We just began hearing them all around us..."

"Then about ten minutes later, we felt as though our minds turned off and we just kept listening," said Gordon.

"And finally...that's when I made the move," Rebecca smiled. "And we both flourished in the silent serenity together in such loving kisses to each other. Gordon was such a pure gentleman for me that night."

Gordon smiled too. "And my Golden Queen Rebecca is the most perfect lady I could ever found the perfect silence with."

"But then, after we let go together and kept staring into each other's gleaming eyes...that's when we heard it," said Rebecca.

"H...heard what, Rebecca?" Thomas breathed.

"An owl," the two express engines answered together.

The other five engines breathed deeply as they almost heard an owl hoot in their smokeboxes.

"We looked up and just saw its silhouette glide over us," said Gordon. "And that was the one little nurture she and I needed to make the night of silence satisfaction even better."

"And so we continued to kiss," Rebecca said softly. "Right there together under the stars for quite a while more, until we let go once more...and we heard the owl hoot once again. That was our perfect cue to kiss much more gently, holding each other so warmly and closely, until finally, we silently decided to go home. We felt as if even then we could talk. We could even laugh out loud...but we were both shadows as we returned to Tidmouth Sheds."

"And when we returned," said Gordon. "We saw that James, Nia, Percy and Emily were all still asleep. That told us that none of them woke up and began wondering where we were all that time."

"But now...we do know where you were," said Emily. "And...my goodness, Gordon...I didn't think you and Rebecca would have shared in what Thomas and I share together."

"I agree, Gordon," said Thomas. "It seems that you really do have a most impressive and genuine side of being a gentleman toward Rebecca."

Gordon didn't know exactly how to answer Thomas. All he did was give a nod.

"He is, Thomas. Very much so for me," said Rebecca. "I then returned to my berth and after giving Gordon one more smile for such a lovely night of silence, I was soon sound asleep."

"I continued to gaze at Rebecca for a little while more, feeling absolute assurance and serenity within me," said Gordon. "And when I fell asleep myself, we both had to agree to ourselves and each other that we had never known just what that sort of silence can really feel like. And I must admit, in the midst of that intriguing silence the two of us shared that night, if there was any statement that could be made, we both knew just what it would be."

"And what is that, Gordon?" Thomas asked.

Gordon and Rebecca looked to each other, then spoke in absolute perfect unison. "Oh, the Satisfaction."

To this, the other five engines all felt their hearts beat warmly and purely to such a riveting, beautiful little story to hear from their two fellow express engines. Especially Thomas and Emily. They knew how far Gordon and Rebecca had come over the years, and now they had reached another lovely milestone together, which made the cobalt and emerald both quite proud of their two big friends.

"My goodness...thank you, Gordon and Rebecca," Thomas said purely. "That is such a lovely story to hear."

"In every meaning of those words," said Emily. "That is truly amazing and you should both be very proud."

"We both are," Gordon and Rebecca murmured together.

"Well, then," said Thomas. "It now seems that I am fully caught up with everything that has happened here on my travels...and you're both caught up with my tales too."

"Indeed we are, Thomas," said Emily. "And I think you've done us all a great service in the midst of this flood disaster."

"You have indeed, Thomas," said Percy. "None of us feel as frightened now, and as long as we're safe...well, we're safe enough."

"Yes, we are, Percy," said Thomas.

The other engines agreed just the same. Their wheels would continue to feel wet and a little cold for an unknown period of time further, but being safe and wet was much better than being flooded further. The rain continued to fall lightly, but now that the cloudburst and heavy deluge had now passed, the water levels wouldn't rise any further than they had when it all started.

For a few hours more, the engines fell silent, thinking to themselves about what to do the next day, until Thomas finally looked outside and saw it was dark again. The sun had gone down and it was the end of a rather flooded first day. Thomas took this as a first sign as he cleared his throat and watched as they engines all looked at him. When he gestured his eyes a little outwards, they engines looked and saw that the day had come to an end...albeit a flooded and wet, wet day.

"Well...I see it's getting dark out there now," said Thomas, breaking the silence. "It looks like we've made it through together for the first day. We've been inside for an entire day now...in a little pool of our own."

"Yes, Thomas...we have, so it would seem," said Gordon. "But engines don't swim, Thomas. Percy and Henry's past experiences go to show that to be very true. And we're meant to have wash-downs, not get submerged in pools."

"That is very true, everyone," Emily agreed. "We've all made it through our first day of this flood, and I think we've all managed to calm down considerably since this whole mess began...but the rain is still pouring on, even if it is much lighter."

"Indeed it is," said Percy. "And we're all still stuck in here until we receive an update from the Fat Controller."

"And who knows when this will all end?" James added. "It makes me wonder...about Molly...my poor Shining Sun. She wouldn't be shining very much in this weather."

"Well, I'm sure if Molly was at risk, James, the Fat Controller would have told us. Sometimes no news is good news," said Nia.

"Yes, well. That is all very true," said Thomas. "As soon as we receive another visit from him, perhaps some of our questions can be answered. But now, we might as well get some sleep...and pass many hours more together. I guarantee you all, this will end well. So...goodnight, everyone."

The other engines weren't sure if they could be very chipper tonight, but nonetheless they all bade goodnight to Thomas and fell asleep side by side. But Thomas looked ahead of Percy and saw Emily looking at him.

"You guarantee it, do you?" she said quietly.

"I don't know, Emily," Thomas sighed. "What else could I have said? I don't want us to keep worrying. I'm just happy you're alright."

"Oh, well...thank you, Thomas," Emily replied. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. Goodnight now."

"Goodnight, Emily," said Thomas.

And so, all the Steam Team fell asleep in their flooded sheds, feeling much calmer and safer than how this dilemma started out just around twenty-four hours ago. But it wasn't over yet. The rain continued to fall lightly outside and would continue to rain until the rain was done...until such a time would come along and start to bring on better weather to recede this most unexpected and outlandish flood...

---

Meanwhile at Arlesburgh, the water levels had become alarmingly higher than what they usually were. Cap'n Calles' ship and the Sea Emperor had both been risen by several dozen meters from the deluge, but with the help of the sandbags placed along the shoreline, these water levels wouldn't get any higher. Most of Arlesburgh was safe enough as the town kept elevating up with each level further inland, but everyone here felt worried about the rest of the island...and with what roads that weren't flooded, there was a late-night newspaper-delivery car on its way for Arlesburgh after being considerably delayed by the weather and road maintenance to clear a path to his destination.

Meanwhile, in their now sandbag-walled home, David and Beatrice were safe and secure. By this time, they were both very, very thankful that they acted when they did the day before and had all those sandbags brought to Arlesburgh. They also had plenty of food and plenty of firewood for the fireplace to stay warm and dry, and the sandbags had indeed protected the house from any floodwaters, and of course it was much further inland and at a more elevated position than the rest of Arlesburgh.

But even with food, warmth and dryness to keep him and his mother safe, David couldn't stop wondering about Emily and how she would be doing at this very moment. Ever since he and Beatrice had heard the slamming deluge the night before, he had wondered endlessly as to how the other engines and especially Emily had managed...and if they were by any chance trapped somewhere, be it on the rails or in a flooded shed.

David had mostly kept quiet and solitude as he was too nervous to talk much to Beatrice, and she didn't want to trouble him too much more than he was...until they heard a knock at their door. David answered the door and saw there was a newspaper delivery man right there, holding out a bundled newspaper to David.

"Hello there, David," said the delivery man. "Even with this recent deluge, the news must flow on. And I thought that perhaps you should have this, as will the rest of Arlesburgh."

"Hm. Thank you," said David as the delivery man left.

David walked back inside to the living room and Beatrice saw the newspaper at once.

"Oh, David!" she said urgently, standing up from the sofa. "Is it anything about all that rain?"

David opened the newspaper, looked, then froze. There, in big black printing, it was all there for him to see with his own eyes. He slowly turned around so that Beatrice could see...and she froze right where she was too before she slowly walked over to David and began to read with him.

"TIDMOUTH SHEDS FLOODED THREE FEET DEEP - STEAM TEAM CONFINED INSIDE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."

When David read that headline and skimmed the story, he felt his heart jump and ache rather strongly for a moment or two. As he shut his eyes and imagined Emily whimpering and shivering with fear, cold and uncertainty, he felt absolutely awful that his inner fears had slightly come true. He couldn't believe that she was now withheld inside a flooded Tidmouth Sheds along with the rest of the engines. But then as he read a little closer, he gathered himself together and thought a little more clearly. He could see little mentions and sentences about how the sheds would be no more flooded than they were, and that the rain was due to stop soon. He finally lowered the newspaper and looked to his mother.

"David..." Beatrice began softly. "Is...is everything okay?"

David turned and held his mother's cheek...then gave her a little curving smile.

"Well..." he said finally. "I had a feeling this big downfall of rain would prove something disastrous...but it's not entirely bad for Emily. At least they're all safe...and at least the sheds won't be any more flooded than they are...but how long will they have to wait? I can't give up on her, Mum."

"I know you won't, David," Beatrice said gently. "But look here. It says down below that there are no available roads to get to Tidmouth. It's too flooded down that way. There's no way any car or train could get us there. I'm sorry, son, but it seems that visiting Emily now could be impossible."

"Hmm...wait a minute! Maybe not, Mum!" David exclaimed. "I've got an idea."

David dashed over to the telephone and quickly turned the dial. When David started talking, Beatrice could tell he had called the Search and Rescue Centre. David spoke a little about the flood at Tidmouth Sheds and about the engines trapped there...then Beatrice's heart jumped when he mentioned Harold. About a minute later, David's eyes lowered a little and he nodded a little disappointedly, but then seemed to perk a little again. Finally, he thanked the Rescue Centre, then hung up. When he looked to Beatrice again, he seemed secretly excited and enthusiastic about something or other. He had made a certain arrangement, then whispered it to Beatrice. She listened, then suddenly gave a little gasp and a big smile to her son.

"We'll do it the day after tomorrow," said David. "That's when Harold can be available...for us."

"Alright, David," said Beatrice. "It's the least we can do...for Emily and the others."

And with that, as the night came further and further upon Sodor, David decided to call it a night and turn in with Beatrice. They went upstairs, changed into their nightwear and as David went to bed, Beatrice came him and hugged him goodnight with a loving smile for what he had just put together. David watched admirably as she walked out of his room. Then as David looked out his window and fell asleep in the safety of his home, he smiled and basked in the little plan he had just made for himself, his mother and the engines, which would come to be in just a little less than two days now...

The night eventually passed, and day came again. Another day of deep, deep flooding across Sodor as the rain hadn't stopped yet. In Tidmouth Sheds, all seven engines woke up again in the flooded sheds, feeling their wheels still submerged and a little cold from the ever-lingering pool of water that continued to sit right in the sheds. They also noticed the rain was still very quiet outside, they looked through their shed windows and could see the rain was even lighter than the day before. The flooding may have not gotten any worse, but it wasn't getting any better quite yet.

"Well...good morning, everyone...so starts another flooded, indoor day. At least the water level hasn't risen any further," said Thomas.

"Oh, dear...It's damp, but at least it's level," Emily sighed as she looked down and saw the three-foot deep water again.

"And it's still raining. Even when it stops, any flooded areas will still take a long time to clear away," said Nia.

"If only we could plunge through those waters and let the water lap our wheels," said Percy. "Like I did with the Vicar's Sunday School children."

"These are serious floods, Percy," said Emily. "Much deeper than the flood I faced as 'Excellent Emily,' and with the Sodor Rangers."

"She's right, Percy," said Rebecca. "It would be too dangerous to try anything in floods this immense. We just have to wait."

"And keep our passengers waiting," Gordon replied. "No thanks to this most wretched deluge!"

"And no one will be able to see my paintwork!" James exclaimed.

Emily sighed, then spoke again. "So...what do we do today? We've told all the stories we can about adventure and what happened while Thomas was away. I don't really feel like there's much else to tell..."

The other engines looked amongst each other. They had indeed caught up on both sides about what had happened, and until night would come again, they didn't yet know what they could do. Silence fell over the sheds again as the engines began to think about what they could do when stuck in a flooded shed. But today would turn out to be a more simple day for them all. While stories weren't part of the plan today, something else would befall them. A little sense of company that would provide some gentle pleasures and a sense of peace and surety.

The light rain and silence continued on into early afternoon again. Only a few little words were uttered between the engines as they wondered what to do...but then, after a few hours of silence and wondering what to do, that's when the engines heard something from outside. They thought they heard a few splashes and rushes of water from outside the sheds. This made all the engines stop thinking and look out through the windows. But since the windows were so high, there was no way of knowing what could be out there.

"What could that be?" Thomas asked.

"Who knows?" said Percy. "Probably fish coming to play hide and seek along and around my wheels."

"I don't think so, Percy," said Emily. "Fish wouldn't come this far inland for a flood. There's no way. I know it's near impossible, but if it were the seals from Black Loch, that would have been amazing...but they're home is Black Loch and they must be happy there just the same."

Then, just as Thomas was about to say something else to guess what it could be, he suddenly heard it.

"Quack...quack-quack-quack!" came the sound from outside.

Thomas and Emily's eyes widened and they looked to each other, not saying a word. The other engines heard it too and felt a little rush in their hearts. Then presently, the engines thought they could hear more quacking from outside. Then suddenly, there was a rush of water and a splash right outside Thomas' shed door. He looked just in time to see a pair of webbed feet kick up from under the water inside his berth...then right near him, up came a duck with brown, speckled feathers. Suddenly, he heard a few more splashes from outside his shed door. Then up came a drake duck, with a bottle-green head, and then...four yellow baby ducklings!

Thomas gasped, which made the two ducks quack one or twice...then the four ducklings began chirping away.

"Look, Emily...look everyone," Thomas breathed shakily with a beaming smile.

Emily looked and gasped, then nearly squealed with adoration. "Oh...bless my paint! A...a family of ducks!"

All the engines looked in Thomas' direction and suddenly flew out of all their inner thoughts and felt a rush of delight bask in all of them.

"Oh...my goodness, Thomas! Aww, they're so adorable," Nia smiled. "They look just like those ducks in the turntable well on the morning Emily took the Sodor Rangers camping."

"Now it looks like we have a little company from Mother Nature," said Rebecca. "Such darling little things, aren't they?"

"Admittedly...yes," said Gordon. "Well, this is certainly a little change for the better. Such weather is only fitting for ducks."

Then the ducks began swimming lightly past Thomas, then Percy, then toward Emily.

"Look, everyone," said Thomas. "There's the mother. The one with brown, speckled feathers. And the grey one with the green head...that must be the father."

"And look!" Percy peeped happily. "Four little baby ducklings! Ooh...SO cute!"

"Ooh, are you all looking for a place to swim?" Emily cooed cutely to the ducks. "You're all coming in to see us all. So cute and fluffy you all are! Ho-ho! Yes, you are!"

Thomas felt his heart jump and jiggle with delight when he heard Emily's cute little butter-up voice as she pandered to the duck family, all while they kept quacking and chirping away. Seeing Emily this bubbly and this adorably happy was a huge uplift for him to see in the midst of this water confinement. Then, the ducks came swimming back toward him. The drake stopped and looked up to Thomas. Then almost without warning, the drake suddenly flew upward from the water and onto Thomas' running plate. He stepped around in circles for a moment, then sat and nestled right down on Thomas' running plate, fluffing up his feathers and just sitting there.

"Oh, Thomas. Looks like you're making a little friend," said Nia. "That drake seems to like you."

"He does, Nia," said Thomas. "What about Emily?"

When he and the other engines looked, they saw that Emily smiling down to the the mother duck and her babies swimming up toward her...until the mother duck hopped and flapped her way out of the water, then onto Emily's running plate. To this, Emily smiled from buffer to buffer as she watched the mother duck waddle in circles for a moment, then nestle right down on Emily's running plate, fluffing up her feathers just as the drake did with Thomas.

"Oh...by my funnel, Emily...you've made a little friend too!" Thomas chortled.

"I have, Thomas," Emily smiled. "Isn't she a lovely little duck...yes, you are, Mrs. Duck. Aww..."

"They are so cute from a reasonable distance," James couldn't help but smile.

"Aww...well, aren't you just the fluffiest, most petite little thing?" Emily giggled so bubbly. "Ohh...oh, I could almost kiss her!"

And so Emily smooched her lips and blew a little kiss to the duck, who turned her head to one side, then quacked thank you to Emily as she flew down and swam back to her ducklings.

Over the course of about three hours, the ducks gently swam and webbed their feet through the water, quacking to each other every now and then, and the duckling kept chirping away too. Every few minutes, the mother duck and the drake rose up from the water, flapped their wings, then gave a little shake of their tail feathers. Such a sight made all the engines chuckle and chortle to each other as this proved to be a little uplift in the midst of all the waiting and speculation. The duck family continued to hang about Thomas and Emily alike whenever they pleased and kept swimming slowly through the flooded sheds every now and again, until at last the drake duck gave a quack to the mother and the ducklings and they all swam steadily back to Thomas' shed doors, then dunked underwater, and out the other side as they swam for home.

It was now quite late in the afternoon, and the engines began talking lightly amongst each other as they just began to wonder how they would feel when this flood would be over.

"Well, I know my passengers will be most immensely happy to see me again. And Rebecca too," said Gordon.

"Indeed they shall be, Gordon," said Rebecca. "And I know I'll be truly happy when I can pull the express with you again."

"I'll be glad to take all the mail I can once we're let out again," Percy added.

"Annie and Clarabel will be immensely happy to see me again," said Thomas.

"And just what will I be doing, I wonder?" James remarked. "I know my paintwork might need some rubbing down after sitting in a damp, dank shed."

"And surely the animals at the Animal Park might be missing me," Nia added.

"I'd give anything to be useful again," said Emily. "To be running along the line again with you, Thomas, and when I see David again...I..."

Emily slowly began to trail off and sound much more alert. "Tell...him...we...wait...wait a minute...oh, no! D-David!"

In that moment, something suddenly thudded in Emily's boiler. Something she had not come to think about before due to being faced with all the peril, speculation and constant dedication to merely passing the time and waiting the flood out. In all that kerfuffle and uncertainty she had been facing with all the other engines...Where was David? And Beatrice? Were they safe? Did they manage to avoid the flood? Did they somehow get swept away in the open without warning? A whole new slew of worry, questions and fears began hitting Emily like the deluge that Tidmouth Sheds had been pummelled with. She began to turn red in the face and shudder with fright. This made the water around her begin to ripple quite steadily.

"Emily? What's wrong?" Thomas asked. "Is it David?"

"Oh...no! Oh, no! No! No! No-no! He must have gotten flooded too! David! David!" Emily wailed.

"Oh, dear, oh, dear," said Thomas. "Why didn't we see it before?"

"Oh, no! Oh, no!" Emily panicked. "I didn't even think about it earlier! All thanks to the flash flood when this all began, I didn't think to ask the Fat Controller! Oh, my goodness, David and Beatrice could be anywhere! Anything could have happened to them in this weather! Submerged in a flooded house? Stuck with no food, supplies or sandbags?! Are they safe? Are they sound?"

Emily then began to pant and hyperventilate, which made the other engines feel nervous and start worrying again, but Thomas knew that was the last thing they needed. He was suddenly worried too, but he couldn't let that win Emily over. He leaned over toward her direction and spoke gently and soothingly.

"Don't worry, Emily," said Thomas. "It's going to be alright. David is the best soldier and sailor the Navy will ever see. If he can flush Sailor John out of the Navy with a whirlpool, climb back to safety from a waterfall, defeat Diesel 10 and get George banished for all that he did to you and Gina, he's sure to have easily done something to counter the flood. Perhaps he got lucky and shielded his house with sandbags."

"I...I know that, Thomas," Emily panicked. "But I...I just can't believe I didn't think of it...until I was too late!"

"Shh, Emily. Shhh..." Thomas assured. "David and Beatrice are going to be alright. I understand it may not feel that way to you, but I promise, David will be okay. He's a smart person, and he would never pass up the chance to stay safe. I'm sure he's worried about you and would do anything to pay you a visit, even in this very flood. He certainly is diligent enough to do so. I think you can sleep tonight, assured enough that he's alive and safe at the very least."

Thomas' words gave Emily reassurance and she began to think clearly again...perhaps there was something else that made her think and feel the way she did. She sighed deeply and confided to Thomas.

"Oh...oh...maybe you're right, Thomas. I let my fears get a little hold of me," said Emily. "You know...it may be because we have no way to get around and if anything did happen, we're hopeless to do anything until the flood passes."

This made all the engines' hearts stir and they all looked to each other, agreeing through and through with that Thomas had just said. They all had to agree that they felt a little cooped up by now with little else to do besides talk and spread conversation.

"That is a very sound point, Emily," said Thomas. "But the flood still holds us at bay."

"But wait...not just David and Beatrice," said Percy. "I know this isn't right to think...but it's giving me that feeling...what if a few people have disappeared because of this flood? I...I don't know what to think..."

"You're right, Percy. None of us do," said Thomas. "But we CAN'T let our worries dominate us. We'll see what happens tomorrow, okay, Emily?"

"Hmm...okay, Thomas," said Emily. "Thank you. I...I just really want my fears to be settled and answered if they can..."

"I'm sure they will be, Emily," said Thomas. "And perhaps the Fat Controller will come back with more news soon too."

And so for the rest of the afternoon, on until the evening, the engines fell back to talking gently amongst themselves, although Emily stayed a little quiet and she found herself thinking endlessly about David now, hoping he and Beatrice hadn't disappeared. At last, darkness came again and the engines bade goodnight and fell asleep again. They had now gotten through their second day of a flooded Tidmouth Sheds, with a little family of ducks to keep them company for a fair amount of time...but now Emily had a little newfound fear that had been held back for a while, which she hoped could be settled for the better.

And as fortunate fate would have it, her fears would indeed be settled, all thanks to the deal David had made with the Search and Rescue Centre and Harold. In the warmth and dryness of their protected home, David and Beatrice now had it all worked out for the next day.

"So. He'll be here tomorrow to land nearby and pick us up, is that right, David?" Beatrice asked him in the living room.

"Indeed, he shall be, Mum," said David. "And I think I know what to tell all the engines, depending on what they might be feeling right now..."

And David and Beatrice went to sleep that night with a sense of enthusiasm and pride. What they had in mind the next day would prove to be another helpful ray of hope for all the engines, and an encouraging upgrade to how they all felt. Especially Emily...

---

The next day was more steady, but light rainfall. This time, when the engines woke up, they were once again unsure of what to do throughout a third day of being stuck in the sheds and waiting out an unpredictable flood. After bidding a less than enthusiastic good morning to each other, they all remained silent for a few hours, thinking once again over what would happen. Their first day focused on story-telling, and their second day consisted of a visit from Mother Nature, followed by Emily's sudden spurt in fears and uncertainties surround her navy mentor and his mother. While the other engines quietly talked throughout the morning hours and on toward noon, Emily continued to think and worry a little about David and Beatrice, and she hoped for the very best that they hadn't been harmed in any way by the storm. But she also began to wonder if maybe she was just letting the confinement and lack of activity get to her and that it was making her mind wander too much.

Finally, around 1:00 p.m. that afternoon, Emily couldn't stay silent anymore. She looked up and waited for the engines to pause in their quiet talking.

"What is it, Emily?" Thomas asked. "I told you, David and Beatrice are bound to be alright."

"Yes, Emily," said Rebecca. "David is a very resourceful person. I'm sure he knows how to negotiate floods."

"Actually, everyone," said Emily. "It's not so much about me worrying about David now...it's more about how I didn't inquire to his position earlier...when the Fat Controller came and told us all about our predicament."

"Maybe so, Emily, but we all got scared by the flood," said Thomas. "It's very hard to think clearly at times like this. We forget a few things and it can indeed bring on greater concerns, but you must trust in my words, Emily. David will be okay."

"Y...yes, Emily," said Percy. "He's diligent and brave. He may yet find some way to visit you."

"Of course he would, Percy," said Gordon. "He braved hurricanes through the Navy, in so far as we've come to know overtime."

"Yes...you're all right," said Emily. "And he braved those hurricanes far out on the ocean...if only he could visit me and show that he really is alright..."

And Emily sighed, unsure of how to feel whether it be assured or worried. But then, only five minutes later, the engines could hear the distant sound of whirring rotor blades outside again. They all went quiet and listened as it came closer and closer. They all knew it had to be Harold.

"Harold's coming back," said Thomas. "Maybe he's brought the Fat Controller with more news...maybe good news..."

The other engines began to wonder what he could have to tell them this time...but Emily's debonair and line of thought were focused somewhere else.

Thomas looked and saw her staring very intently out her shed window. The other engines looked and saw this too. Emily looked as closely as she could through her shed windows, and she could see Harold swoop in and hover low outside her berth. Then almost without warning, she squealed with absolute relief and joy. All the engines wondered just what this was about...for Emily saw Harold's door open, then a rescue rope dropped down to the water-covered ground, and David came rappelling down that rope. He splashed into the three-foot deep water, then Beatrice made her way down the rope with his helping hand. With that, David waved to Harold as he flew away. Then he and Beatrice waded their way to the sheds. David stretched himself a little, then pushed Emily's berth door open with great effort and magnitude, for the weight of the water was pushing back on him a little.

All the engines looked when they saw Emily's shed door opening, but they were all quite surprised to see David and Beatrice come inside instead of the Fat Controller. David and Beatrice stopped where they were and looked everywhere at the shallow pool that Tidmouth Sheds had now become for the next little while. Both David and Beatrice had to conclude that they had never expected anything like this to ever happen. Then David's eyes fell upon his engine. Emily was boggling her eyes and gaping with a bigger and bigger smile. And then, before any engine could say anything, Emily gave a big squeal of joy.

"Oh...Oh, David!" Emily wailed happily. "You're...you're alright!"

David smiled and waded toward Emily. He climbed right onto her running plate and gave her lovely face a hug, then a kiss on her nose. Emily tittered so happily as David stepped down again and smiled to her, along with Beatrice as she gave Emily a nod of assurance.

"Hello, Emily...it seems to me you and the Steam Team are all water-bound," said David. "I read all about it in the paper that came by two nights ago."

"I see...well, THIS is a huge uplift for me!" Emily exclaimed with a big smile. "Oh, David, I'm SO glad you and Beatrice are safe! I was almost afraid you might have disappeared! Even Percy began to feel like a few others had disappeared. How are you and Beatrice? Are you safe? Are you sound? Are you whole? Are you well?"

"Are we well? Are we whole? Are we safe? Are we sound?" Beatrice exclaimed, almost smiling with amusement.

David smiled to his mother, then smiled to Emily as he waded toward her again.

"No one's disappeared, Emily. Everyone's just hiding from the rain," he said. "In fact, I was one of a fair few across Sodor lucky enough to put sandbags all around my house and keep any water from touching my claim of land and house, but it seems not everywhere was quick enough to prepare...and the weather was too unpredictable just the same. At least we're out of the rain, and out of the flood...but I can only guess how you're all feeling. The answer would be too obvious."

"Of course it is, David!" Gordon exclaimed. "We may be safe enough, but for the railway, THIS...this is a disaster!"

"Not really an all-out disaster for you seven engines. It's only heavy rain, thunder and lightning," David assured.

"But David...we all can't help but wonder," Percy quivered. "I know this is very silly to ask, David. But some of us can't help but feel the sensation of asking...what if it never ends? We know it will end, but not knowing when it will makes all feel that way!"

"Hm-hm-hm! It will, Percy," said David. "Storms come and go, and so do floods. They're truly amazing works of nature, actually."

"They...are?" Emily, Thomas and Percy all asked at once, almost frowning.

"Is THAT some sort of nautical joke?" Gordon huffed.

David shook his head, then clapped his hands twice to make all the engines look at him. He then told his own little story...about what floods really did for good and bad cause. David explained to them all that while floods indeed proved to be disruptive and fear-raising, they could also provide a major spurt in growth for so much nature and plant-life all across Sodor. Such huge amounts of water were sure to sustain any wilting plants, old, dried out trees, droopy flowers and many other benefits. This made the engines feel a sense of intrigue again as it made them all wonder just how the green fields and trees would all look once they came out again...and for Thomas, Emily, Gordon, Rebecca and James, it made them wonder a thing or two for themselves.

"Wow...that's all quite interesting, David," said Emily. "You know...now that you've told us about the wonders that floods can do for nature, I can only wonder how Henry's Forest would look after all this rain. At least there were no fierce winds to really damage it. And the Whistling Woods are sure to benefit from a major swath of water to feed off...and even the Love Tree in Maithwaite Forest! Ohh...think of how it would look!"

In the midst of worrying, speculating and waiting, this was enough to make all the engines slowly smile with assurance and hope. Thomas and Emily smiled dearly to each other, as did Gordon and Rebecca, and James simply closed his eyes, thinking about Molly again. He too began to feel a sense of reassurance that she'd be safe enough. It seemed that with each passing day, there was a different thing to make it a little better for all the engines, and it made them all begin to wonder what the little good feature would be the next day.

"Well...thank you for telling us this story, David," said Thomas. "It is very true that Sodor will surely look very lush and green with so many flowers all over in very direction to be seen!"

"They will indeed, Thomas," said Beatrice. "And I'm so happy to see you all here together. You're all safe in here. As soon as David read the paper that you were all trapped in here, he called the Search and Rescue Centre and arranged for Harold to fly us here today."

"I did, Emily," said David. "I was immensely worried and shocked to hear what had happened here, but know that you were at least safe was enough for me to articulate clearly and form a plan that I knew Harold could help us with."

"Well, I'm so very happy to see you, David. Especially after we all got trapped in here," said Emily.

David then smiled as he and Beatrice came up on Emily's running plate and sat down with her, baring her company for a fair amount of time and simply talking with her, while the other engines began talking to each other again, this time with much less boredom and worry. Each day seemed to be better than the last, and it made them all wonder more and more how much better things would surely get one day.

Eventually, after about four hours of much happier company for Emily, the engines slowly, but surely heard Harold flying in from the sky, then start hovering from outside the sheds again. David looked up and knew his visit was over. He and Beatrice looked to each other, then to all the engines.

"Well, everyone," said David. "This has been a most social and humble little visit, and I wish I could stay longer, but I still have a home to look after. So until these floods recede, stay together and stay dry!"

"As dry as we can anyway," Gordon murmured to no one in particular.

Then David jumped down from Emily's running plate, splashing into the water and wading his way out of the sheds. Emily watched through the window as a rescue rope was lowered from Harold's door and David strongly climbed right back up the rope and into Harold before he flew off and away from the sheds again. Soon, Harold was out of sight and on his way. Thomas then looked to Emily.

"Well, Emily," said Thomas. "That was quite an uplift in the midst of our flooded sheds. Now we know that David, Beatrice and most of Arlesburgh for that matter are alright. And he's right. Who knows what Sodor will look like once this flood passes?"

"I know, Thomas," said Emily. "And that was a very lovely visit. I'm so happy David and Beatrice are alright...but I still wish we could be out of these sheds again. The rain has been getting lighter and lighter, but when will it clear up and give us a chance?"

"Don't worry, Emily," said Thomas. "As soon as the Fat Controller hears an update on the oncoming weather, he'll come and tell us right away."

"Oh, I do hope so," said Percy. "It's not very much fun sitting here in our own plunge...like my own when I slid past that board. At least this summer weather makes the water not so cold like I was when they finally hauled me out of the sea."

"Well, maybe he'll come along tomorrow, with more news. The best we can do is wait and hope with faith," said Thomas.

After that, the engines were calm and content enough for the rest of the afternoon, on into the evening until they bade goodnight again and fell asleep, just beginning to feel a little restless with the waiting and speculation they still had. As for Emily, she managed to sleep much more peacefully than before, in spite of the water lapping her wheels along with the other engines. David and Beatrice were okay, and all the engines knew that they'd be okay too...once the time came.

All through the next day, the engines woke up, bade good morning, thought what to talk about or potentially do, and found themselves simply talking out the flood and how things seemed to be getting better. They talked about how it started out, up until it seemed to start getting better.

"It all started quite frightfully," said Thomas. "The big deluge hit and we all thought something truly terrible would happen...and in some ways, it did."

"No doubts there, Thomas," said Emily. "When I saw all this water seeping in and we had nowhere to go...ohh!"

"I wasn't too scared," said Percy. "Shocking, of course, but at least I know what this is like after my experiences with deep water."

The engines continued to idle and talk quietly, until that afternoon, when they heard Harold hovering outside again. Immediately, the engines stopped talking and looked through their windows to see what it was this time. Emily wondered if David had come back again, but as she looked out her window, as did Thomas through his window, they saw the Fat Controller being lowered down, wearing a life vest and a pair of waders again.

"It's the Fat Controller, everyone," said Thomas. "And it looks like he has some news for us again."

All the engines watched intently as Thomas' berth doors were slowly opened, and they saw the Fat Controller come inside again. When they all looked to the Fat Controller, they noticed he was almost smiling and seemed to have a jump of enthusiasm in his eyes. He looked to all the engines from left to right, then spoke.

"Well...hello to you all," he said. "Three days of a constant flood here at Tidmouth Sheds. I'll have you all know that everyone across Sodor has been doing everything to help counter the flood wherever they can. Now...how have you all been doing?"

The engines all took turns telling the Fat Controller just what they had been doing in the flooded sheds, from exchanging stories between Thomas, Emily and the other engines, to their little visit with the duck family, to Emily's spurt of fear for David and Beatrice, to their little visit to the sheds the day before, all the way up to the present moment. The Fat Controller listened to everything and was considerably impressed by all that he had heard.

"I see," he said. "Well, it sounds like you've all managed fairly well together with this flood...which is why I've come here today."

This made all the engines look at each other as they felt a particular buzz in their engines. Why did the Fat Controller come, and what news did he have for them all?

"Excuse me, sir," said James. "I don't wish to get off topic...but please, is Molly alright? I've been wondering a little about her. Please?"

The Fat Controller sighed, then answered. "Yes, James. She's alright. Crovan's Gate didn't get flooded. Now, as I was saying..."

"Sir...you say you came because we've managed fairly well here," said Thomas. "Do you have...news?"

"In fact, I do, Thomas. I have wonderful news for you all," the Fat Controller smiled. "I've been in contact with the Sodor Emergency Team for the past three days, keeping up to date with the current forecast there has been. All over Sodor, work has been done to help manage the water levels...but just this afternoon, Emergency Network called me again. They've updated the weather forecast ahead of us...and it looks like the beginning of the end of this little hazard."

Now the engines could feel their adrenaline beginning to rush and bubble strongly in their boilers. What could this be all about?

"What do you mean, sir?" Thomas asked.

"Sir...is...is the rain going to...?" Emily began.

The Fat Controller raised his hand, then paused impressively. Then...

"The rain is due to finally stop tonight," he said at last.

All the engines felt their hearts pulse, then stop for a moment. Then they all gasped and managed to smile. After three days of constant rain, starting off very heavy, the lightening up by the day, it would finally stop. This was indeed the beginning of the end of such a hassling hazard.

"Wow! That's a good first step!" Thomas smiled.

"Amazing, sir!" Emily gasped. "At last, the water levels won't rise at all now!"

"Fantastical!" Rebecca and Gordon exclaimed together.

"But even more fantastical...is the weather to follow," the Fat Controller smiled. "From tonight onwards, the weather will be completely clear, rainless...and very, very hot and dry! As far as the forecast can tell, we are due for at least four straight days of constant dry, clear, crisp and very, very sunny weather! Perfect for receding these flood waters and bringing the levels right back down again...then you'll all be fit to get back to work, and we'll be able to run the railway properly again! The flood will be gone before you all know it!"

And the Fat Controller left with a laugh and a smile as he returned to Harold and flew off again. To this, all the engines were very relieved and suddenly felt very triumphant to hear this news. Finally, they had a clear vision of when this little chaos would finally subside, and so many of their fears were now put to rest. But within minutes, their sense of triumph was short-lived as they suddenly clicked in that there were still four long days of waiting ahead of them. It had been four straight days of confinement, wet, dampness and constantly stressed minds. By this time, all the engines were feeling rather impatient to wait out constantly after having their wheels constantly soaked and feeling a little chilly.

"This is all wonderful news...but four more days to wait?!" Gordon huffed. "We're only halfway through this flood!"

"Oh, dear...just thinking about it makes me just want to rush out!" Rebecca almost complained.

"Now, Gordon. Don't get impatient now," said Thomas. "We might all feel a little impatient, but the weather is now getting better. Think about it. With every hot day that passes by now, the water levels will go down, and our wheels will be free of their submerged state! It might go by faster than we think too."

"Maybe, Thomas. We can only hope," said Emily. "But yes. This is such special news for all of us!"

So the engines continued to wait and wonder through the rest of the afternoon, while the last remnants of rain kept falling outside...until sure enough, as evening slowly fell, the engines suddenly noticed complete silence fall outside the sheds. They all went very still and thought...then they realized, just as the Fat Controller had assured them of, it had finally stopped raining. This was the first touch of healing for Tidmouth Sheds to bask in with the engines as they all began to smile. Then, just about an hour later, the engines all felt a steady, white glow beam its way through the windows. Emily looked out her window, and there was the moon, right in the sky as the clouds had finally cleared away. The engines all knew for sure that when they got out, it would be a true wave of victory for them all. They all managed to fall asleep under the gentle lunar light, feeling even better about everything. It didn't matter so much to them now that they had to wait. Things would only get better and better now, just as they slowly did over these past four days.

And the next day, something wonderful happened. When the engines felt morning stirring them awake, they all woke up and looked down once again. They were still submerged three feet in the water, but there was a magnificent sunrise outside for all of them to gaze upon until it slowly turned into daybreak and brought on the full regalia of the summer sun beaming hot and bright down upon the whole island. Now the engines didn't feel any fear now.

"There it is, everyone!" Thomas announced. "Our saving sun for the next four days! Hot, dry, and crisp!"

"Oh, it looks so amazing after all that rain!" Rebecca gleamed.

"If only I could be out there now...for my paintwork!" James begged.

"The mail will have a lot of catching up to do!" Percy chortled to himself. "I'll be enjoying quite the run with that!"

"The passengers will all be cheering for me and you, Rebecca!" Gordon smiled.

"In just three more days after this...it will be over!" Emily smiled in turn.

"Then we can all get back to being really useful again!" said Nia.

In spite of the growing eagerness to get out of the sheds and the growing efforts to hold their patience together, the hot, bright sunlight filled all the engines with a soaring hope and assurance that their rewards for braving through this flood would be truly wonderful, however it would all turn out.

After several hours to count through the day, as the sun began to set again, the engines suddenly noticed something different about the sheds. As they looked around, they felt as though the sheds weren't so deep with all that water. It seemed as if the water level had gone down by a few inches, all thanks to the sun's crisp heat ever-constant through the whole day.

"Uh...Thomas," said Emily. "I...I think the water is going down...it somehow doesn't seem so full in here."

"You're right, Emily," said Thomas. "That sun is our ever-present friend for three more days!"

"And so it shall be," said Percy. "With each day that goes by, it will get lower and lower...and then..."

"It will be over. We'll all be free again!" said Thomas.

And as night fell again, the engines all fell asleep, feeling even better this time than any of the four nights before. And so for the next three days, the engines continued to idle in Tidmouth Sheds, talking much more confidently and thinking about what they'd all be doing next once the flood was over for sure. With each hour that shone the broad daylight overhead, the sun shone hotly, brightly and strongly outside, and over the hours of each day, the engines all found themselves feeling a little better, and with every evening that came, they all looked together and noticed that the water levels were seemingly getting lower and lower.

By the third evening, the engines were all feeling so absolutely buzzed by what would probably happen the next day, they forgot to look at the sheds and see what the water level was now. All they did was finally yawn in sequence and feel the last spell of sleep they would feel for the flood's duration.

"Goodnight, everyone," Thomas had said. "See you all tomorrow!"

"Goodnight, Thomas," Emily smiled. "We'll all see each other tomorrow!"

And at last, the engines all fell asleep together in Tidmouth Sheds for what was very sure to be their final night being confined by a watery barrier for them all. The end was now only hours away, and the whole railway would finally return to normal...with a one more little surprise for all the engines.

And then, at last, after eight constant days of idling, quarantine, threading patience and constant, endless speculation, it was now the ninth morning. The sun rose again, bringing such a magnificent purplish orange gleam into the coming light. Thomas, Emily, Percy, Nia, James, Gordon and Rebecca all slowly woke up together with a yawn, looking amongst themselves and each other.

"Mmm...good morning, Emily...good morning, everyone," Thomas yawned as he leaned upward and stretched.

"Ohh...good morning, Thomas. Good morning everyone," Emily yawned and stretched too as she leaned upward a little.

All the other engines greeted good morning to each other, then all smiled immensely at the truly beautiful sunrise slowly becoming brighter and brighter in the sky. But then, they all suddenly noticed something very different after the eight days they had spent in here. They didn't know exactly what it was at first, but then they noticed that their wheels all felt rather free, lighter...and rather dry. As soon as the engines all realized this, they suddenly began to feel rushes in their hearts. A very fast and powerful rush of wrath began coursing through all their boilers. Was the flood over? Would they return to work today?

"My wheels...they...they feel light...and dry," said Emily.

"Our wheels...they're dry...they're dry! This is it, everyone!" Thomas exclaimed. "Today's the day! The sun is shining, the sheds are dry, and we are getting out of-HUH?! The sheds are dry...THE SHEDS ARE DRY!"

To what Thomas just uttered, the other engines gaped, then darted their eyes everywhere. Indeed, after eight days of being submerged in flood waters, rendering all the engines confined to where they were...the flood waters had now finally receded.

Then she shed doors opened as all the engines' crews came back to bring them all back to business. The engines all shuddered so comfortably as they felt their fireboxes being started up again, and their steam well and truly warming them up and travelling through their boilers. Finally after eight days of flooding, the engines all began to inch their ways toward their berth entrances.

They all felt a little stiff, but then they stared outside t everything. The broad sunlight was revealing that the entire flood surrounding Tidmouth Sheds had receded completely. They could clearly see the rails everywhere, shimmering and shining in the bright sunshine high above and there was not a single cloud in sight, and by Sodor, was it nice and hot! After four straight days of such dry, crisp and hot, sunny weather, the Great Tidmouth Flood as it were, was now officially over. As Thomas and Emily had stared at the beginning, all the engines had made it through together, and they had now seen the other side of the tunnel!

"The North Western Railway...it...it's untouched!" Thomas gasped. "It's all safe! It's all come back alright!"

"Beautiful! Wow! Amazing! Remarkable!" Emily whistled with joy.

"Never! Never...have I been so glad to see the light of day!" Gordon exclaimed. "NEVER has the air smelled so sweet!"

"Never have I felt such bright and warm light from the sun...just like my bright and warm yellow paint!" Rebecca gleamed.

"Oh! Uh! Oh, what a MERCY that was not a hurricane!" James gasped. "But now, we're all free again!"

"Indeed, James! We're all set to be useful again, my friends!" Nia whistled.

"We held together, Thomas! And we were all there for each other, Emily! Despite everything!" Percy whistled.

"Well, right this way, everyone!" Thomas declared as he got on the turntable. "It's time we all went back to Knapford Station! We still have a railway to run!"

Thomas then set off with a whistle of leadership, and shortly afterward, the entire Steam Team was following closely behind him, with Emily right beside him. And so there they were. The floods had completely subsided and the engines were all finally freed from their watery confinement, and all the engines were immensely ecstatic to finally get back to work. Less than five minutes later, the whole Steam Team arrived at Knapford Station, and the Fat Controller was there waiting for them. Just beyond the station, the engines all saw four other engines. Henry, Edward, Philip and Molly.

When the engines saw the first three engines, they were very happy to see familiar faces again, as Henry, Edward and Philip all whistled and smiled right back, and when James saw Molly, he gave a beaming look in his eyes, and Molly's eyes glimmered with such relief and joy to see that her Radiant Ruby had made it through, and James was just as delighted himself to see his Shining Sun truly shining again.

"A very good morning to you, sir," Thomas said to the Fat Controller. "The flood is now over!"

"Eight days...and now we're all out again!" Emily whistled.

"You were all stuck in Tidmouth Sheds, so we hear!" Henry exclaimed. "Are you all alright?"

"We are now, Henry," said Emily. "And we could not be more abuzz!"

"James! My Radiant Ruby!" Molly gasped. "I was so worried for you! Were you alright?"

"Well...I am now, now that I see you're alright!" James gasped. "Thank goodness you saw it through, Molly!"

"Well...Sir Topham Hatt decided to bring me here to reassure you, James," said Molly. "I didn't get flooded in any way. None of us did."

"That's right, James. Philip and I didn't get any flooding, but it was very wet," Edward added. "And we were of course worried for all of you."

"And that storm was very noisy!" said Philip. "Even my chattering couldn't be heard over that deluge!"

All the engine laughed lightly, then turned to the Fat Controller.

"So, sir...what is our work for today, now that we're all out again?" Gordon asked.

"Good morning, and welcome back, all of you," said the Fat Controller. "It is such a delight to be back on the railway again, and here we all are together. The flood is now over, and it's time we all got back to work indeed...but there is also something truly special I've decided to put together for all of you to take part in."

"All of us, sir?" Thomas asked. "What do you mean?"

The Fat Controller clapped his hands once and spoke broadly and surely.

"Thomas, Emily, Nia, James, Percy, Gordon, and Rebecca. You have all been held up in Tidmouth Sheds for a flood that lasted eight days. You have all been such good engines to stay put and wait it all out through everything that happened. Now that the flood is over, for my first new order for work on the railway, there is something else I've decided for you all. You have all been so very patient and so very brave to have endured this flood."

"You really think so, sir?" said Thomas.

"Of course you all are!" said the Fat Controller. "Never has Tidmouth Sheds ever been flooded with all the engines inside, but you all made it through. And as such, I have a little celebration for us to help put together when the day arrives."

"A celebration?" Thomas asked. "What celebration, sir?"

"Well, Thomas. This is why I've brought Henry, Edward and Philip all here. I've been thinking for the past few days since I told you all about the rain stopping. Given how this disaster was all about a massive flood that held you all in the sheds for eight days, I thought that perhaps we could help put together a beach-themed funfair at Tidmouth Town Square. With the passing of such wet, flood-like weather that put us all on hold for the past eight days, the best resolution and amends we can all make to ourselves and for each other is something hot, sunny and beach-like. Perhaps, say...with spinning rides, giant buckets and spades, and ice cream stands...and a lot of balloons and passengers."

"Wow! Thank you, sir!" said Thomas. "We'd all be very proud to take part in such a celebration!"

"Indeed you should be," said the Fat Controller. "It will take a couple of days to get everything together, but the pinnacle of this celebration shall be...a Sand Sculpture!"

"A Sand Sculpture?" Emily asked. "Of what, sir?"

"You'll all find out soon enough," said the Fat Controller. "I've been talking with the Sir Robert and the Mayor of Sodor, and they have both agreed to help put this funfair together, and once we can get to work on it all, you shall all be working together. As soon as everything is ready, I'll come for you and you shall all work together to bring this funfair to life!"

To this, all the engines cheered and whistled together for almost a whole minutes. And with that, the Fat Controller put the engines back to work for the day. Gordon and Rebecca were soon back on the express run together with all their passengers singing their praises all the way. Thomas was soon back with Annie and Clarabel, who were both ecstatic to see him again after such a disruptive flood. James took goods to Crovan's Gate with Molly, Percy was soon back with the mail train for the day, and Nia, Henry, Edward and Philip all got to their own work...and Emily was due to make a little delivery to Arlesburgh again...which made her ecstatically happy to be able to visit David if she had the chance. As soon as the other engines were on their way down the line, she let it out.

"Hello again, Sodor! We're all back at work! Grease my emerald wheels! This flood...is...OVER! Whe-hee!" Emily squealed happily.

Then she rushed out of the yards, right on her way to Arlesburgh to make her deliver and see the very person she wanted to see now after such a perilous and stressful time all the engines had to endure.

As Emily rushed and hummed along the line, she found herself beginning to sing her little song that she always sang with Thomas whenever they shared very touching times together, except this time, Emily sang out loud and with a lovely chirp in her voice as she blew her whistle a little to her song. She was so happy, puffing at such a speed, and so busy singing, that Emily made her way to Arlesburgh in less than twenty minutes and could see everything looking absolutely fine now that the flood had gone.

She made her delivery in good time, then puffed happily down the Arlesburgh line. Then as she began to sing her little song again, she looked ahead and saw David's house, and she whistled and squealed with such joy as she saw David come out of his house and start walking down the porch steps.

David heard that squeal and whistle, then looked up and smiled big. There was Emily huffing merrily along the line in the restored freedom of the rails after the floods had gone. Emily whistled ecstatically when she saw David and she stopped right there with a smile and a cheerful chortle. David ran down, jumped right up onto her running plate and hugged her face dearly, nuzzling her cheek with his while Emily closed her eyes and hummed happily, simply delighted to be really useful again, and back with her navy mentor she loved so much.

As for the Fat Controller's plan, arrangements were already being made. In just a few days, there would be a beach-themed funfair and a Sand Sculpture unveiling at Tidmouth Town Square for all the engines to participate in. For many of the engines, this would be a fun activity and event to participate in, especially after having to face such a perilous and confining flood together. Each engine would have a different job, possibly working in pairs for this funfair.

But as for Emily, now that the flood was over and she could think much more clearly about normal aspects of Sudrian life, and a few other certain things, there was to be a certain subject that she would soon explore. One that she had never fully considered before in her life...something about best friends...and who her's could possibly be. In just a few days, by the time the day for the Sand Sculpture would come to be, certain worries were ahead of the beautiful emerald angel, but after being helped out of a tricky situation, she would be in for a sense of reassurance from several engines...and a certain other who would imply very heartfeltly and purely to the situation.

---

I wanna say the sheds getting flooded with the engines inside is a somewhat fairly original concept, apart from the "Wet Wheels" magazine story, but yeah, this is something I've had in mind for sometime now, and as alluded to at the end, this story is setting for "Emily's Best Friend", which is of course coming up next as we finally start Series 24 properly. So, until next time, tell us what you thought of this story and as always, stay safe.