Dynamite for the Quarry

by AaronCottrell97

Every few months, Ffarquhar Quarry has a rock blasting to clear rubble, and Percy and Gina are tasked with with delivering the dynamite. But Percy has never carried dynamite before, and he is very nervous about heading up to the quarry again after his nasty accident on the hill. 'Arry and Bert take advantage of Percy's fears and exploit them for their sick sense of humour.

There had been most infatuated stirrings across Sodor over the past two days. The very next morning after George had been banished from Sodor, Thomas and Emily had gone looking for a particular place to enjoy in light of another wave of poetic justice, only to suddenly realize that in one of the Sudrian forests, there had to be a Love Tree waiting for not just the two of them, or Percy and Gina, but for all the other engine couples as well. Thomas and Emily had searched Henry's Forest, the Whistling Woods, then lastly, Maithwaite Forest, where they found such a huge, lushly green and exceptional tree that no other Sudrian Forest seemed to have. Through the word that spread from Percy and Gina to all the other engine couples alike, all seven couples managed to hear about the Love Tree and take their own turns visiting it on their own timely terms.

Then came the moment of ultimate intertwinement that very evening, when all seven couples coming together with Thomas and Emily, James and Molly, Rosie and Stanley, Luke and Millie, Belle and Flynn, Percy and Gina and Gordon and Rebecca. The Fat Controller had been interested to see the Love Tree for himself with the rest of the Hatts, along with David and Beatrice too, and so the cavalcade of engine couples all went to the Love Tree, only for the Fat Controller to remember it had been the very tree where he first met Lady Hatt when they were only children, and so all seven couples stayed there in Maithwaite Forest for quite a while more, feeling so immensely wholesome and united in a way they couldn't recall feeling before.

But inevitably, as the sun set behind the trees and started to bring on the coming dark of night, all the engine couples had to go home again. Rosie and Stanley took Luke and Millie back to the Blue Mountain Quarry and Ulfstead Castle before returning to Vicarstown and the Yards. Belle and Flynn made their way back to the Search and Rescue Centre, and all the rest of the engines had to return to Tidmouth Sheds, with Gordon taking the Hatts and the Riders on their way home again.

It was just after dusk when Gordon brought the Hatts and Riders back to Knapford Station. David and Beatrice made their way out of the station with the rest of the Hatts where Bertie was waiting to take them all home. The Fat Controller stayed behind to check through his office once more, and check the timetable for the next day too. When he went inside, he looked carefully through the timetable until he came to what was scheduled the very next day. And then, just when his eye fell upon something having to do with the Ffarquhar Quarry, the telephone started ringing. When the Fat Controller answered it, it was the Ffarquhar Quarry Manager.

"Hello? Yes...oh! Goodness me...I remember now. This was part of the timetable after all," said the Fat Controller.

Then he listened to what else the Manager had to say...until the Fat Controller suddenly went a little rigid in his chair.

"Excuse me...Percy, you say?" he asked alertly.

Then as the Fat Controller listened a little more, he took a closer look at the timetable and slowly began to nod and think deeply to himself. After the intriguing events that had unfolded over the past two days, the Fat Controller suddenly became rather serious underneath, most particularly as to where Percy had to go the next morning. As it turned out, the Ffarquhar Quarry was in need of a special load of dynamite the very next day. Every few months, Ffarquhar Quarry had rock-blasting procedures to clear away rubble using explosive devices, then the rock and rubble would be whisked away in goods trains to be shipped away from Brendam Docks. It was a dangerous maneuver which required great care at all times. But taking into account the last impression that Ffarquhar had left upon Percy, the Fat Controller knew all too well that this would surely be a steady shift in how the little green engine could be feeling...but perhaps if Gina went right along with him, it would turn out alright in the end.

"Oh, dear. Okay. Well, then. In that matter, Gina shall work right alongside him too. Goodbye."

And the Fat Controller hung up, clearly thinking a select few more things to himself, wondering just how the next day would turn out.

"Hmm...telling him tonight would be much too sudden. Especially after seeing such a marvelous tree...Lady Hatt and my tree when we were children. We'll let the excitement settle first. I'll tell him in the morning."

And with that, the Fat Controller locked his office for the night and drove home.

At Tidmouth Sheds, all the engines, including Gina who buffered up to Percy in his berth again, talked of nothing but the other couples, themselves, each other and the Love Tree alike. It had been a truly amazing day for all fourteen engines alike who were bonded with their other engine through the unity of love and belonging.

"It's been a truly amazing day for all of us, I think," said Thomas after the long talk had ended.

"Amazing is only one of many words to describe today, Thomas," said Emily. "But yes, today shall be a day to remember."

"Si, Thomas and Emily," said Gina. "This has indeed been quite a turnout for all of us."

"And another lovely time to spend with you, Gina," Percy peeped.

"Indeed, Percy," said Thomas. "Goodnight, Steam Team...and goodnight to all the other couples on the rails!"

"Buoana Notte, Thomas," Gina answered.

"Goodnight, everyone," Percy replied as Gina pushed him right into his berth again.

And with a deep sigh of basking content from all the engines, they bade goodnight to each other and all fell asleep together. It had been a most gratifying two days for all the engine couples alike. But with the passing of this most impressive line of events, there would come another experience just for Percy and Gina, which would surround a few remaining wounds Percy still carried even now. He and Gina would be in for quite a rousing experience when it came to what they would have to do tomorrow, and just what it would entail for Percy, surrounding what had befallen his life just over a month ago by this moment in time.

Early the next morning, just as the engines began to wake up so as to start their day, the Fat Controller drove up to the sheds and got out. Some of the engines noticed he was looking down, clearly thinking to himself until he looked up again.

"Good morning, sir," said Thomas.

"Good morning to you all," said the Fat Controller. "Today is an important day for Ffarquhar Quarry, and the Construction Team too. Thomas, I need you to collect Jack and Alfie from the Sodor Construction Company and bring them to the Lead Mines on your Branch Line for a new construction project."

"Wow! I'm right on my way, sir," said Thomas, and he set off at once.

Then as Gina turned around on the turntable and looked with Percy, they saw that the Fat Controller was now looking a little nervous. The other engines looked and waited for someone to speak up. Percy and Gina wondered if anything was wrong...and they thought briefly if there had been a call from Italy.

"What is it, sir?" Percy asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Did...did my controller call and say he needs me back as soon as possible for some yet-to-learn reason?" Gina asked.

The Fat Controller looked up. "No, Percy and Gina. Not at all...although, there is something that may be a little troubling for you, Percy."

"Oh...what is it, sir?" Percy asked.

"I have a job which you have never done before," said the Fat Controller. "Normally, this wouldn't be too relevant for you...but given what has of course happened with you...and Ffarquhar just over a month ago, I need you to be brave today...with Gina right along with you to help."

Percy felt a few troubling flickers start to tweak at his heart, while Gina's eyes pulsed and glittered with strong-listening ears.

"Oh...well, what is it, sir?" Percy asked.

The Fat Controller took a deep breath and spoke everything, while the other engines, especially Percy and Gina found themselves feeling increasingly nervous among themselves in regards to what had happened at Ffarquhar.

"Percy and Gina...you've both been doing very nicely together and you've come a very long way since your accident, Percy. But as it so happens, I need you to go back to Ffarquhar Quarry for a considerably dangerous job. I need you and Gina to collect empty trucks at Knapford, which are to be loaded with a special shipment of dynamite, then bring them to Ffarquhar Quarry. They have several blasting procedures scheduled today to clear away the rock and have it shipped to Brendam Docks...which means you'll have to take the Ffarquhar Branch Line route again, Percy...after just over an entire month since it...it happened."

All the engines started murmuring amongst each other, while Emily gasped quietly and took a look right at Percy and Gina.

In this moment, when Percy heard what had just reached his ears, something began thudding in his heart. Lightly at first, then harder and harder by the moment. In that instant, he could feel flickers of inner trauma start curling and wrapping around his mind as he felt further flickers of that most unfortunate, cursed day. Up to this very day, it had been just over an entire month since his most traumatic accident at the Ffarquhar Valley where the evil truck careened him off the rails and crashed him right into that cottage which ended up killing that entire family, which had left Percy physically incapacitated for a week, and two weeks more being mentally and psychologically incapacitated to do any work, under the constant care and gentle support of Beatrice and of course, Emily, right until Thomas came back with Gina and spawned Percy the ultimate healing he needed when it was announced that Gina would stay for two entire weeks. Now it seemed that Percy was travelling right back into another mess of troubling memory and conflicted sensations.

As for Gina, she thought back to when Thomas almost got too close to the blasting of that rock at the dig site in Italy and got covered in the cloud of dirt and dust, just a few short days before Thomas made the moment of discovery and uncovered Lorenzo and Beppe. She had seen a few blasting procedures herself throughout her life, but as she knew everything that had befallen Percy and where it happened, she too felt a great sense of hesitation and sheer sympathy for her perfect Percy. She suddenly heard quiet whimpering from Percy as he began to reminisce over what had happened out there just over a month ago.

"Oh...s-s-sir!" he whimpered. "I...I really don't know! I...I've never taken dynamite before! Only Thomas and Ryan have ever touched trucks loaded with something like that...and we all know what happened that day as to how everything unfolded! And...going up Ffarquhar again! I know I can't disobey, sir...but I really don't feel fit to go up there again! Ever! Not after what happened with me and...and the family!"

"I fully understand, Percy," said the Fat Controller. "I know this is a great weight for you to feel again, having to go along the very spot where...where it happened, must be very troubling for you. And it's true you've never had to manage dynamite before. Truth be told, I don't even like the thought of such a humble and gentle engine like you dealing with something so potentially dangerous. But it's what you have to do today, nonetheless, and I assure you, Gina will be with you at all times. You won't be alone."

"Not at all, my Perfect Percy," Gina put in. "I'm here to shield you from all around you if I must."

"Good," said the Fat Controller. "Now, once you deliver the trucks, you must stay with Mavis and help her arrange the trucks for the blasting."

"Si, sir," Gina promised.

"Please be careful, Percy," Emily said strongly. "For me, and for Gina."

"Oh, I certainly will, Emily," said Percy. "The only reason I'm really agreeing to this is because Gina will be right there with me."

"Too right I shall be, Percy," said Gina. "Follow me now...we'll go together."

And with that, Gina and Percy set off down the line for Knapford, while the Fat Controller handed out the rest of the engine's duties. Emily, in particular hoped for the very best in Percy's favour. With Gina right along with him, perhaps he'd be able to get past these last few wounds. Emily then set off for her own day until it would be over that very evening...

Percy and Gina soon arrived at Knapford. Gina's water tank and coal bunker needed filling up, so she set off for the nearby coal chute and water tower to top up. While she did this, Percy looked to the siding next to him, and there he saw them. His empty trucks were coupled behind a brakevan...and just nearby those trucks, he saw several workmen working in complete silence, care and precision as they were loading crate after crate into the various trucks. Percy looked closer at the boxes with a flipping heart. Then he looked even closer and in that moment, he could see just what the workmen were passing to each other and loading into his trucks. Percy could see labels on the crates that read the following.

"WARNING: EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL. KEEP WELL AWAY FROM OPEN FLAMES."

It was in that moment when Percy's boiler spiked with a great sense of danger he could not recall feeling before. Dynamite! The very item that landed Thomas and Ryan into great danger of being blown up together until Thomas shunted those trucks into the old mine and let the dynamite explode down there, only for him to be most unjustly chastised by the Fat Controller, leading to a most outlandish and heated confrontation when Emily overpowered his authority and made him see sense, prompting him to apologize to Thomas and come clean with everything.

"Ahh! Dynamite! Fire and Smoke! Oh, no!" Percy shuddered so much, his driver and fireman almost fell over in his cab.

Unfortunately, right at that moment, the Diesel Twins, 'Arry and Bert oiled into Knapford Station too. They were due to collect scrap and deliver into the Smelters. They had overheard some of Percy's nervousness just now, and having heard all about what had happened with Percy just over a month ago, they were by no means afraid to indulge in very ill-conceived, twisted entertainment.

"Well, well! Look who is crawling around in terror, like a little green caterpillar!" 'Arry jeered. "Ooh, look right here, Bert! Is the little green piggy in the middle scared of going back to the quarry again?"

"Ho-ho! He must be, 'Arry! You'd best be careful out there, little Percy!" Bert added. "Dynamite is very dangerous as we all know. Hit just one little bump and KABOOM! You'll be blown up like a firecracker!"

"Then it'd be off to the Smelters for the little green piggy in the middle!" 'Arry finished off.

Already nervous enough as it was, Percy was even more horrified to hear things like this. Having never managed dynamite before, this was all becoming a whole new shroud of clouded fear and no clear sense of control he could grasp. He suddenly gave a very shrill, high squeal of terror, which made Gina's ears almost pop with shock and she looked back to where the sound came from.

"No! No! Not a chance! I won't take something so dangerous!" Percy panicked. "Someone else should do it! SOMEONE ELSE!"

"Oh, but Percy! The Fat Controller won't like it if you don't do this most explosive job!" 'Arry gloated.

"What would all of them workmen do without all of those firecrackers?" Bert added. "No firecrackers to celebrate with at all?"

Despite the twins' most outrageously warped sense of humour, Percy knew the twins were right. He still had a job to do, and it wouldn't do well if he refused. As Percy moaned and shivered all over, 'Arry and Bert rolled away right past Gina, very pleased with what they had accomplished to put upon Percy. At that moment, Gina suddenly came rushing back, having heard some the commotion.

"Percy! What's the matter? What happened?" she asked. "And who were those diesels I just saw leaving?!"

Percy panted and gasped a little to himself before he looked to Gina and spoke.

"Oh! Those...those are 'Arry and Bert, Gina," Percy shook. "You've never met them before, but they're what you'd consider the pair of bullies on this railway. Years ago, they sandwiched me right between their train, calling me the 'little green piggy in the middle,' then did the very same to James...then just before Emily's kind ways came back to all of us, while Thomas was mourning over her bossy, unkind ways, they referred to her as such nasty names that Thomas actually shunted them right into a blast zone and got them both buried in the rockslide, almost killing them both!"

Gina was stunned over the part about Thomas attacking them both and she could already feel a most disdaining hate for those twins growing within her, but she wouldn't let this seize over Percy in any way. Not after everything he had done to recover, and while she could help him along the way.

"Well, Percy," said Gina. "I may not know those hoodlums in the least, and I didn't hear everything they said clearly, but it IS clear to me that what they've said threatens to reopen some of your old wounds."

"I...I'm alright, Gina!" Percy almost squawked. "I'm perfectly fine! As long as you're here, I'm fine!"

But Gina knew Percy was clearly worried. Most likely about the dynamite onboard his trucks. Unlike his panic attack that past winter, Percy had much better reason to panic today than he ever did on that winter day. This wasn't just about envisioning Thomas in an avalanche. Dynamite and going back along the scene of tragedy just over a month ago were now part of the equation.

But Gina also knew she had to be his guide. As she let off a gentle hiss of steam, she let it drift along Percy and caress him warmly.

"Shh...Percy, my dear," she soothed. "You'll be alright with me. We'll go nice and slowly, and I'll be right behind you every second of the way. You're safe with me. After all, perhaps another wound you can heal is going back up the quarry line again...and doing so much more safely, of course. Nothing can harm you, Percy. Not with me right here with you today."

Percy looked at Gina and could see her gentle smile and glittering eyes. As frightened as he was by everything in the given moment, he gave a solemn nod.

"Grazie, Gina, my Italian Queen," he peeped strongly. "We're doing this together.

So Percy coupled up to his train of dynamite, while Gina coupled on from behind. As soon as the dynamite was fully loaded inside the van, the guard blew his whistle and got inside the brakevan. When Percy and Gina heard this, they exchanged a strongly focused whistle to each other. Then they set off toward Thomas' Branch Line, taking great, intensive care not to go too fast or too unevenly.

"Thank you so much, Gina," Percy peeped. "Going slow is really helping me...but what about our schedule?"

"Well, Percy," said his driver. "Following rules and regulations and staying safe is more important than being on time. Perhaps this is a considerable example to take note of. But all the same, schedules are important too."

"Whatever we do, we're doing it safely," Gina pledged as she and Percy slowly but steadily carried on.

Going at a slow pace meant it took considerably longer to get to Thomas' Branch Line run which would eventually lead to Ffarquhar. Slowly, but surely, Percy began to feel more relaxed, being able to go slowly and carefully. He didn't feel any bumps, bounces or jostles along the line, and even the trucks were taking care not to try anything stupid, not wanting to mess with dynamite in the least.

But around twenty minutes later, as Percy and Gina steamed a fair way along the Branch Line, they suddenly heard Thomas' whistle. They looked up and saw him pass them by, with his flatbed now empty. It was clear to Percy and Gina that Thomas had already dropped off Jack and Alfie at the Lead Mines...and that going slowly was making them run behind schedule.

"Gina...?" Percy asked nervously. "Should...should we...?"

"We'll see, Percy," said Gina. "Just keep going."

And so they did. Wanting to help Percy feel a safe and sound mind, Gina kept going at a slow pace with Percy, and so he managed to stay considerably calm throughout the journey...until another twenty minutes went by and they finally reached Ffarquhar Station. They passed through the station and slowly began to approach the foot of the hill that would lead to the quarry.

As Percy looked around himself, he began to feel flickers of that fateful day come back to him as he remembered the fog that floated everywhere through here...while he had gone an entire night of no sleep and behind schedule, only to huff right into that trap of the evil truck. His axles began to shake just a little bit and even Gina could sense that Percy was starting to waver and get nervous. Then they both heard a familiar bell ring in the distance. Percy and Gina looked up and there was Toby coming down from the quarry with trucks of stone for the Docks.

"Goodness, Percy and Gina!" he exclaimed. "You'd best get to the quarry as soon as you can! The workmen are waiting."

This made Percy more and more nervous, and even less helpful was what he saw when he looked ahead. There was the steep slope of the hill...not far from the scene of destruction and death just over a month ago. The accident that had, in some ways, changed Percy's life forever. He slowly applied his brakes and went even slower, almost stopping altogether.

Gina called from the back of the train. "Percy? What is it?"

Percy's voice trembled with traumatic flickers of memory. "This...this is it. Gina...this is the hill...not far from where it all happened."

Gina felt her heart begin to pound as she realized she would enter the very area where her perfect Percy had been dealt such a terrible crash, but she was determined to keep him going, all while she'd be right here for him.

"I see...Just keep moving forward, Percy," Gina assured. "The only way to now is forwards. Onwards and forwards..."

Percy felt more and more nervous by the moment, but he couldn't let this stop him. For the sake of the workmen, and for the sake of his Italian Queen. He peeped his whistle again and slowly, he and Gina began to climb the steep slope, feeling the incline push upwards against their wheels. The incline made Percy feel his wheels get heavier, and his trucks felt heavier too, even with Gina pushing behind. Percy began to whimper even more, but he could hear Giana coaxing him forward and further from the back of the train.

"Onwards and forwards, onwards and forwards," Gina kept repeating ever few moments.

And so they kept going up, up, up. About a foot every few seconds, and Percy almost began to feel relieved, but as they got closer and closer to the point where Percy derailed, he suddenly felt a new flicker that sparked another sense of uncertainty and fear. If he was this nervous climbing up the hill, it would surely be even worse to come back down the hill...at a much faster speed...with a fully loaded train of dynamite. Percy could feel his fears growing stronger and stronger by every passing and tarrying moment. Gina could feel the uncertainty sweeping to her at this point, but she held herself together through every moment, knowing she'd have to be here for Percy if anything did end up happening.

They continued onward for a few minutes more, with Percy whimpering a little to himself and Gina coaxing him further with her little chant. But then, in that moment of cruel fate, they suddenly reached the final bend in the line before the waterfall...the bend where the evil truck forced Percy down this very hill. Percy's mind had been feeling more and more warped by every instant leading up to this moment. His eyes were as big as saucers, and he and Gina had just gotten to the stretch of line where that disaster had struck, when Percy suddenly stopped with a big jolt. All the trucks bumped a little behind him, and Gina felt her heart almost skip a beat as she tried to look ahead to Percy.

Percy found himself darting his eyes up, down, left and right in all directions. Memories of being held back, then being jolted off the rails, careening down the hill with no control at all, seeing the cottage and the family right inside...then crashing right into that cottage, rocking the house, tinkling broken glass and killing the entire family flooded Percy's smokebox and boiler like a rushing waterfall beating down from above him. Then as he gasped and heaved frightfully to himself, he could hear the evil truck's psychotic laughter echoing all over the hills.

"You've lost, you useless green puffball! They're all gone!" the evil truck's voice seemed to echo through Percy's almost warped mind.

"I won't stay here! I'll RUN AWAY!" he puffed.

In that instant, Percy suddenly jerked forward with a shriek of terror, dragging Gina and the trucks right along with him. She exclaimed in shock and whistled with alarm as she found herself going faster and faster. Percy's wheels spun like helicopter blades and his puffs were so fast, they sounded like a helicopter too. All he wanted was to get out of this area as soon as he possibly could...but then, less than a minute later, he suddenly hit a fishplate, which was a metal bar bolted into the ends of two rails to join them together in.

When this happened, Percy felt a sudden bump in his wheels, then his trucks full of dynamite as they all bounced one after the other, right until Gina felt the bump too.

"Slow down, Percy! Careful!" she urged. "What's going on here?!"

Her sentence was scarcely completed when in these few instants, a loud explosion suddenly split through the air. In his ever-increasing fright and desperation, Percy's mind suddenly started screaming at him that for sure, the dynamite in his trucks had been primed somehow and were now all fit to explode. Percy braked hard in desperation until he stopped, making all the trucks bump behind him, and Gina was tugged along too. And that is when she heard Percy begin screaming in absolute terror.

"AHH! IT'S ALL BLOWING UP! I'M SURE TO BE SCRAPPED NOW! IT'S ALL BLOWING UP!" Percy shrieked into the hills all around him, squeezing his eyes shut.

In that instant, Gina shot a look at the trucks, seeing that nothing happened, then as she heard Percy start to break down into scathing tears, giving himself up for lost, she began to feel frightened too, but not about the dynamite. As she heard Percy begin to sob, her voice nearly broke too.

"Percy! No! Percy, don't give in! Not now!" Gina cried out. "You're NOT being scrapped! Look around you! We're alright! PLEASE!"

Percy heard Gina's almost desperate voice and popped his eyes open again. He saw he was still on the line and absolutely nothing had happened. A hint of relief swept through him, but he still felt too shaky to describe in words. He looked back and spoke very shakily too.

"They...they didn't go off, Gina?" he peeped. "None of our dynamite went off, blowing us both to Sudrian Kingdom Come?"

"No, Percy. Never," said Gina.

"But...but that explosion," said Percy. "Didn't you hear it? I thought that bump in the tracks had made the dynamite spark up and explode!"

In this moment, Gina suddenly understood perfectly. She had her suspicions before, but as they were perfectly confirmed, she now knew this is what Percy must have been so afraid of. She went from desperate and urgent to calm and compelling in that very moment.

"Oh, Percy...my dear, precious Percy," she assured steadily. "Everything is alright for the two of us. That explosion came from the quarry. And a mere bump doesn't do anything to dynamite. It can't explode on its own. They don't have a detonator attached. I've seen how they do it in Italy, and the fuse can't be activated without a detonator. We're perfectly safe in that matter, just as long as we don't take on poor coal and spark up our funnels."

As he took in all of Gina's words, Percy now realized he was safe all along ever since the start of the day. But he also felt exceedingly silly to have entered another panic attack like he did that previous winter over thinking Thomas got trapped by an avalanche. Although dynamite was indeed dangerous stuff, to think that he and Gina had been safe all this time and he had panicked so severely bad over almost nothing made him feel intensity mortified with himself.

"Oh...my...God!" he exclaimed steadily at first, then finished off loudly. "I've been traumatized and triggered by panicking again...all because of 'ARRY AND BERT!"

Gina suddenly thought back to Knapford and wondered if there was something else to all of this.

"Percy...do tell. Just what did 'Arry and Bert say to you while I was filling my boiler and coal bunker?"

Percy heard Gina's question and suddenly smelled an opportunity, for him and Gina...which perhaps they could do together.

"Alright, Gina," said Percy. "When I saw the dynamite being loaded into our trucks, I felt very frightened to be managing something s dangerous...but then 'Arry and Bert came along and teased me by suggesting that even one tiny bump would make all the dynamite blow up, and I'd be blown up like a firecracker! No one told me just how dynamite works until you did just now...but to think that I've had to panic so terribly AGAIN, and almost lose my mind all over again like I did with my tragic accident...BECASUE OF 'ARRY AND BERT! THEY made me think all of this rubbish and because of that, we've ended up needlessly late! They've made an IDIOT of me again, and they've done on PURPOSE!"

Gina had listened to everything Percy said, and as she felt everything start to come together, she was just as incensed and furious to hear such things put upon Percy as he himself was. She immediately began hatching a plan to get back at 'Arry and Bert. Now that she knew just why Percy had been behaving the way he was, she would not let this slip by, no more than she let Thomas' hints of cheekiness and overconfidence slip during his visit in Italy.

"So that's it, is it?" she stated. "Well, Percy, you are NO idiot, and never will be. You are my Perfect Percy, and I promise you this. Whatever we may do, we are getting back at those oily tin boxes for SURE! You and I, one way or a blinking other. We've ended up late all because THEY set you up to be so traumatized all over again in the FIRST PLACE! HMPH!"

"Well, come on, then, Gina!" Percy huffed crossly. "We're surely very late at this point, and it's NOT our fault!"

With that, Percy and Gina set off again on their way, both fuming terribly now. 'Arry and Bert had once again gone too far with their own antics and just like when Thomas crashed them both into the rockslide, and when Gordon and James were finally found out by the Fat Controller and punished for al they had done to Emily, 'Arry and Bert would not get away with what they did. Not now, not ever.

Percy and Gina continued fumingly along the line, grumbling irritably to themselves and each other about what they would probably do to 'Arry and Bert when they next met, until at last they arrived at Ffarquhar Quarry to make their delivery...albeit very, very late. Mavis was idling on the line next to Percy and Gina as they made their way into the quarry and stopped. Gina was uncoupled from the brakevan and switched to the line beside Percy.

"Hello, Mavis," said Percy. "We're truly sorry to be late."

"Ciao, Mavis," Gina whistled from the back.

"Hello again, Percy," Mavis greeted. "So nice to see you up here again since your accident...and Gina! Delighted to see you here again after all those years ago on your last visit...but what took you both so long? You should have arrived over an hour ago, and you were supposed to be helping me with these trucks."

Percy and Gina were still fuming intensely over what 'Arry and Bert did, and so they told Mavis everything, leaving out no details. Mavis listened attentively at first, feeling sorry for Percy indeed, but as she heard even more of just what had resulted with Percy back down the line with Gina, she was suddenly just as disgusted as Percy and Gina were over 'Arry and Bert's most inexcusable sense of humour.

"So that's their little game, is it?" Mavis remarked in a scolding tone. "Those crab-pots look after themselves alright, don't they? They make sure THEY'RE being really useful with the scrap, but they don't think about what their words ultimately bring upon engines like you, Percy! I always knew those twins were selfish PIGS! Such a LIE for them to plague you both with!"

"Indeed, Mavis! Indeed! And now, we've got half a mind to give those oily tin boxes a piece of our minds!" Percy hissed.

"We'll show them! We're up do SOMETHING about what they did to my Percy!" Gina added. "And then THEY'LL be sorry!"

"Wait, wait-wait-wait," Mavis insisted steadily. "Percy, Gina, I know you're both incensed, just as I am. But Percy, you know full well what happened when Thomas lashed out at 'Arry and Bert, and when Emily lashed out at Diesel. We simply can't afford another engine retaliating at such magnitude. Especially not you, Percy. Not after everything that has happened with you over this long course of time."

As angry as Percy was at 'Arry and Bert, and as much as he was bent on getting even, nevertheless, he knew Mavis was right.

"As much as I want to refuse your words...you do have a perfectly sound point, Mavis," Percy sighed very reluctantly.

Gina nodded and hissed a little steam with reluctant agreement. After all, she was still only a temporary guest on Sodor, and she knew just as well as anyone would, that doing something too extreme would surely risk having her sent back to Italy sooner than she meant to. She only had two full days left with Percy after today, but even then, she didn't wish to have those precious days deducted from her pleasure. Or Percy's for that matter.

Even so, the little green engines were still heavily bent on giving those diesels a taste of their own medicine. A taste they would not forget in any way. Gina suddenly felt a new thought come to mind as she eyed the dynamite trucks, then looked among the sheer, rocky quarry walls. Percy caught glimpse of this and began to wonder what Gina could be up to.

"What is it, Gina?" he asked.

Gina remained silent as her eyelashes narrowed pointedly and her smile curved in a very slick manner. She gave one look to Percy, then gave him a single wink before turning her attention to Mavis again.

"I say, Mavis?" said Gina. "Are 'Arry and Bert scheduled to visit the quarry today, by any chance?"

"Yes, they are, Gina," said Mavis. "They're due to collect some of the rocks that have already been blasted here, and take them to the Docks this afternoon."

"Perfect..." Gina purred.

"What's perfect, Gina?" Percy asked. "What are you thinking?"

"I have just the twosome to balance everything out with those oily tin boxes, Percy," said Gina. "Mavis...if I may?"

Mavis hummed to herself then listened with Percy as Gina explained exactly what she had in mind. It took several minutes, and with every passing moment, Percy found himself becoming more and more surprised, but also fascinatingly eager to put this ambitious, but clever plan to action. He was so surprised by everything he was hearing, he couldn't speak. By the time Gina finished, even Mavis didn't know what to think for a few moments. She looked down to her buffers and thought to herself, while Percy and Gina waited and exchanged a few glances to each other.

Then Mavis looked up again. "Hmm...Impressive, Gina. And ingenious too. Perhaps this could work nicely...just let me bring this forth to the Quarry Manager."

Mavis rolled away to find the manager, while Percy and Gina waited and wondered. Ten minutes later, Mavis came back with a bubbling smile.

"He agrees," she answered.

Percy and Gina smiled to each other and couldn't help but chortle to each other too.

"Thank you, Mavis," Percy peeped.

"Grazie above all, Mavis," said Gina. "What shall we do now, then?"

"It's settled," said Mavis. "Percy and Gina...let's get to these trucks and sorting them all about. We must make up for lost time, after all. And make up for other things that surely imply. And 'Arry and Bert are in for a little surprise themselves today."

Percy and Gina looked to each other and felt a bubbling enthusiasm in their boilers. They winked to each other, then peeped their whistles to Mavis. With that, all three engines got to work, whisking away separate trucks of dynamite and distributing them amongst the quarry grounds for the workmen to manage for the scheduled blasting procedures.

What was very fortunate and favouring for Percy, Gina and Mavis too, was that all of Percy and Gina's trucks had been shaken for the better, ever since the evil truck's crime against Percy and Sudrian Society, as it were. They still remembered what had happened just over a month ago themselves, and as such, they were perfectly sensible, knowing perfectly well not to pull any tricks or trouble on Percy in the very least. And so, for the next few hours after the dynamite had been taken care of, Percy and Gina helped Mavis to arrange the empty trucks, bringing them to the workmen to load with all the stone that would eventually be taken to Brendam Docks.

At last, later that afternoon, and after waiting and wondering what would happen, Percy and Gina's chance had come. They had just finished arranging another load of stone, when they heard two diesel horns sound through the air. They stopped right where and looked to Mavis. She gave a wink and a little chuckle of approval.

"Here they come now," she whispered to Percy and Gina. "Everything is set."

Percy and Gina winked to Mavis and doubled back toward the quarry entrance. At that moment 'Arry and Bert oiled their way into the quarry to collect their train, both of them on the same track. They both looked up and saw Percy again, all-too ready to keep teasing him yet again. They rolled up right alongside Percy and Gina and broke the silence again.

"There he is! The little green piggy in the middle himself!" 'Arry smirked. "You made it all the way in one piece, I see!"

"More like the little green caterpillar, just like Thomas said!" Bert added. "Crawling quickly away from all the scary dynamite loads all around him! It's a wonder you managed to make it here in one piece, little Pip...or, rather, Pip-Squeak!"

Percy felt a twinge of great retaliation in his boiler as he flashed a red face to 'Arry and Bert. Gina simmered most angrily when she heard this, but as the diesels rolled past her, Percy quietly reminded her of what they were doing.

"Stick to the plan, Gina," he whispered. "They don't suspect a thing...not one little bit of a thing."

Gina winked to Percy as they backed up again to find somewhere to eavesdrop what would happen next, where the foreman soon joined them and waited himself. 'Arry and Bert continued through the quarry and soon saw Mavis along the line, watching them neutrally as they got ready to collect their load of stone.

"Hello there, pretty," 'Arry eyed to Mavis.

"Oh, yes. Hello there, Miss Mavis," Bert oiled.

"Hmph! Riff-raff," Mavis uttered to herself, not bothering to look at either diesel.

'Arry and Bert soon found their stone train and started gloating away again about Percy.

"Did you see his face back at Knapford?" 'Arry gloated. "And such a lucky thing we warned him, Bert! Perhaps if the little green piggy knew earlier just how dynamite truly works, he wouldn't have let out his little piglet squeal! Such a crack-up that was!"

"He's just a silly little steamie!" Bert gloated. "WE'RE not scared of a few dynamite rolls! He'd make a lovey firecracker, that caterpillar would!"

"Would you two stop being a pair of crab-pots?!" Mavis scolded from the distance. "Get on with your work and don't cause more confusion and delay!"

"Alright, alright! No need to let off YOUR exhaust, Mavis," 'Arry stated rudely.

"Grrr! On with it!" ordered Mavis.

'Arry and Bert just laughed as they coupled up to their stone train and double-headed together. Then they set off back down the quarry line. But there was one little thing they failed to notice as they kept basking in their delight against Percy. With the exception of Percy, Gina, Mavis and themselves, the quarry was completely clear of all the workmen, and 'Arry and Bert also failed to notice that the quarry had fallen steadily quiet. Percy and Gina watched and waited from behind the quarry wall for 'Arry and Bert to come back.

"Shh...here they come, Gina," Percy whispered.

He and Gina looked and saw 'Arry and Bert come around the bend with their load of stone, still snickering and jeering to each other about Percy. But as soon as the twins just began to pass where Percy and Gina were watching from, Gina gave a small hiss of steam, to which the foreman tipped his hat and winked. He then gave the order to his men through his walkie-talkie.

"All clear, mates. Fire away," he ordered.

At that moment, 'Arry and Bert were rolling steadily along the line, still snickering and gloating to each other. They were just a few more yards ahead, when suddenly, right out of nowhere, with no warning at all...

BOOM! A massive explosion was heard just further up the line. 'Arry and Bert's hearts almost popped out of their motors as they looked to where the noise came from, just a little behind them. They turned their eyes back as far as they could reach, and saw tons of smoke and dozens of rocks flying high into the air. Before either diesel could squeal and wail in enormous fright, it happened again. BOOM! More smoke and rocks were seen flying from another distant part of the quarry. Then another boom, and another! The blasting had started up all over again, and 'Arry and Bert found themselves flooding back to the memory of when Thomas pushed them right into the blasting zone in his very first demonic rage. In these instants of time, 'Arry and Bert felt for sure they were right back in the firing line.

"AHH! THEM FIRECRACKERS ARE GOING OFF!" 'Arry shrieked. "LOOK OUT, BERT! THEY'RE LOOSE!"

"THEY'LL TEAR US ALL APART!" Bert wailed. "GO BACK! GO BACK!"

And with that, both diesels suddenly jolted into reverse, sliding and almost skidding along the line, screaming their motors out as a couple more explosions sounded through the air. 'Arry and Bert reversed even further, until one of the points were turned, and they bumped rather hard into a set of buffers. As the explosions suddenly stopped, they both took a very deep breath...then let off such a loud belch of exhaust...which to some others would have sounded like something else not quite expected.

Immediately thereafter, what followed for 'Arry and Bert's ears was a chorus of squealing laughter. Percy, Gina and Mavis all came alongside the two diesels, all laughing at them in absolute hysteria. It was then when 'Arry and Bert realized it had all been a big, brilliant setup.

"Heeeeeh! Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" Mavis guffawed. "HAH...Ha-ha-ha-ha! I've never...! Never in my...Whoo-hoo-hoo-ha-HA-HAH!"

Percy and Gina were both laughing so hard, their faces were bright red and their voices were starting to wheeze...until the twins spoke again.

"You...YOU did this?! YOU?!" 'Arry almost shrieked in anger, surging forward by a yard or two with Bert.

"And NONE of you bothered to tell us anything?!" Bert demanded.

This made the other three engines stop laughing. Now they were glaring at 'Arry and Bert with sheer distaste. Percy was the first to speak up, and this time, he was not so meek and panicky. He was strong and loud now.

"HOW do you IDIOTS like it! WELL?! HOW do you like it?!" Percy cracked. "It serves you perfectly right for such a twisted sense of humour! YOU made me late and re-live what happened with me and that family just over a month ago!"

"So?!" 'Arry remarked, most affronted and dishonest. "YOU were too scared to be really useful with your load today! Coming here an hour late as it is!"

"If you were truly useful, you wouldn't have chickened out the way you did!" Bert added. "You're just a worthless, steaming lump of scrap iron!"

That was it. Something snapped...not in Percy's boiler, but in Gina's boiler. With what she had just heard with her own ears, she seethed with more anger and annoyance than she ever felt with Thomas when he misbehaved with her in Italy. In that instant, she didn't care what she would say, or do at this moment. Percy had been traumatized enough by these two diesels as it was already, and she seized the very chance she had at this very moment.

Just before Percy could snap and spill out a mass of words in his offended sense of mind, Gina spoke right as his mouth opened.

"The Diesel Twins! 'Arry...and...BERT!" she barked with her pressure chambers steaming off wildly and her face turning bright red.

Then she charged with all her might, straight at 'Arry. She caught him with her buffers like a sledge-hammer banging an iron spike into newly-built railways. 'Arry gave a sudden exclaim of shock and recoil as he bounced back a few feet, bumping Bert right behind him and giving them both another scare. Then Gina suddenly spilled out quite a slew of Italian wrath.

"Iron 'ARRY and Iron BERT! Oaf arroganti, deboli, senza spina dorsale e succhiatori di carburante! Dovreste essere ROTTAMATI E RINNUNCIATI entrambi! NESSUNO lo mancherebbe MAI per un singolo ISTANTE sporco! Ora...togli i tuoi culi grassi, grassi e oleosi dalla nostra vista ADESSO!"

Neither 'Arry nor Bert had ever heard anything like what Gina had just uttered. Neither of them had the faintest of faint clues of what Gina might have just said, but something in their motors made them realize that they would do well to not even try to find out what on Earth her words meant. Without a single word more, they fell silent, merely gathered their trucks and left right away for the Docks, while Mavis, Percy and Gina watched them roll out of sight.

Mavis was indeed a little shocked to see Gina's sudden Italian spat come right out of nowhere, but Percy was most immensely surprised that Gina actually went as far as she did. Although it worked in good favours both for themselves and the blasting procedures that needed to be done, Percy couldn't believe that Gina had gone all out with this little plan.

"Gina...by my whistle, Gina!" he gasped. "You...you really went all out with your little plan...I...I almost didn't think we'd do it all the way."

Gina looked proud of herself, and a little surprised herself as she looked to Percy.

"Well, my Perfect Percy...after what those scrap piles said and did to you today, I would NOT let them get away with tormenting my precious prince without giving them a proper piece of the Italian Queen's mind! They should consider themselves extremely lucky that I couldn't risk attacking them any further than I already did. And surely the Fat Controller will hear the news and give them the punishment they deserve."

"And so that's exactly what will befall them," said Mavis. "It appears your little plan worked, Gina...and the workmen got their work done too."

"Grazie, Mavis, for helping us both in this little plight," said Gina. "It's such a good thing this dynamite was for the quarry, wasn't it, Percy?"

"Indeed," Percy agreed. Then he felt a little curious. "Hmm...Gina? What you said sounded noticeably...Italian. What exactly did you say to them that made them go quiet and not even question what you said?"

Gina suddenly narrowed her eyes and gave Percy a stern smile.

"Mm-mm-mm, Percy. I admire your curiosity, but what I said is far too strong and vulgar for someone as precious and innocent as you to hear. Now. We still have a little more work to do here. Don't we, Mavis?"

"Hm-hm!" Mavis giggled. "You're absolutely right, Gina. I'll expect Thomas to be coming along soon to collect some of the stone himself."

And with that, Percy and Gina continued to work in the quarry with Mavis, feeling much better about things. They both felt a little shaky in their boilers, still thinking just what had happened with 'Arry and Bert. They deserved every instant of peril that had been struck into their boilers, and Percy and Gina couldn't help but wonder what would befall them next with the word spreading across Sodor, then to the Fat Controller.

Eventually, Percy and Gina heard Thomas' whistle. They looked up and saw him coming along with more empty trucks to take some of the loaded trucks back to the Docks. When he looked up and saw Percy, Gina and Mavis, the little creases in their expressions told him something big had happened here. He also had a little story to share himself, given what had happened with Jack and the rest of the Pack. Then Percy spoke first.

"Hello, Thomas. How've you been all day?"

"Alright, I think," said Thomas. "I've actually got a little story to share with you. A few surprises were in store for the Construction Pack. I hear that Darcy's been digging tunnels for a new road to the new visitor's park, as you heard the Fat Controller say this morning. But after I dropped off Jack and Alfie, Max and Monty were teasing Darcy about tunnel-digging, calling her a mole about it...then they decided to work faster and go past the safety flags...and for the first time in a very, very long time, it was someone else's turn to fall into that mine. Monty landed himself in deep trouble...literally."

"What do you mean literally, Thomas?" Percy asked.

"He collapsed right into the old Lead Mine, just like I went past the danger sign," said Thomas. "But Monty landed much deeper than I ever did all those years ago. Belle brought Rocky along, but even Rocky couldn't reach in that deep. Luckily, Darcy tunneled her way to Monty and got him out safely."

"Mamma Mia!" Gina exclaimed. "Even in Italy, those trucks didn't land into any mines like that...not like you, Thomas, discovering Lorenzo and Beppe."

"Thank you, Gina," said Thomas.

"Hmph!" Percy huffed. "Serves Monty right for all the rubbish he and Max gave the rest of the Pack all these years, and what they've done to you too, Thomas, dumping their waste right on the line, only to be caught by the police the same night!"

"Perhaps," said Thomas. "But it seems that they've finally turned over a few new leaves after Darcy saved Monty. They seem to be much more fair-minded than how they started out by this point. Anyway, how have you and Gina been today?"

"Oh...oh, Thomas!" Percy gasped. "You'll never believe what happened with Gina and I...and 'Arry and Bert!"

Before Thomas could ask frantically what Percy meant, he and Gina went right into the details of what happened from start to finish. Thomas listened with interest at first, then sheer anger for those diesel twins, suddenly looking deeply troubled over Percy's little reminisce on the Ffarquhar line, and then truly spellbound to hear just what Gina had done for him all throughout today. By the time Percy and Gina worked up to the present moment, Thomas was gaping with a big smile and little glimpses to Gina for everything he had heard.

"Cinders and ASHES!" he exclaimed, utterly staggered. "YOU are one tough lady, Gina! Perfect for Percy!"

"Indeed I am, Thomas," Gina nodded.

"Most extraordinary!" Thomas exclaimed. "Now, I must get back on my way with this lot. I'll be sure to tell the Fat Controller, so as to allow him to put those two tins of filth to rights!"

And Thomas set off back down the quarry line with his trucks, while Percy and Gina continued to work away together for a little while longer with Mavis. But before the day would be through for these two, Percy had yet one more obstacle to overcome. In the midst of victory he and Gina had achieved with Mavis' help, Percy wasn't thinking about what they still had to do...until the moment would come.

At last, the moment did come. The foreman saw there was just one final load of stone to be taken to the Docks, and he told Percy and Gina it was time for them to leave and take that train with them. When Percy heard this, he quietly took the front of the train while Gina buffered up from behind. But when Percy didn't start making his way out of the quarry, Gina began to wonder if something else was wrong.

"Percy, my dear...what is it?" she asked. "We've gotten back at 'Arry and Bert now...are their words still hurting you?"

Percy looked back, his heart starting to pound again and his voice shaking.

"N-no, Gina...not...not anymore...I...I've just realized only now...that we have to go back down that very hill...where my tragedy occurred. I was nervous about going up before, but now, we'll be going down that very hill. After we sorted 'Arry and Bert out, I was so caught up in our little victory...I didn't remember about that hill! We have to go back down that very hill again! Right along where my crash took place!"

"Percy..." Gina began, but Percy kept talking and starting to panic.

"If there's any other way, Gina, I say we take it. I know we aren't taking dynamite now, but that stretch of line has been embedded in my mind as the scene of tragedy and ruin! I can't face it much longer with that image in my head and what if-"

"Percy! ...Percy, listen to me," said Gina. "You've come a long way in the past several weeks with Beatrice and Emily...and with me ever since I first returned with Thomas. As I have been since my return, I'm right here with you. We are going the way we came...together. As I said before, we can only go forward now. Forward to healing every last wound you may have had about that place. Now come with me, my precious."

Percy took Gina's words in again. Despite the conflict that was creeping back into his heart, he could once again also feel that sense of assurance and ironclad vow that Gina always gave him when it came to their bond together.

"I...I don't want to go, Gina..." he peeped. "But I know we have to...just never let go of me."

"Never," Gina replied. "Not now, not ever, my Perfect Percy. Now...let us go together."

So with a deep breath and a heavy sigh, Percy and Gina set off out of the quarry, both preparing themselves for the inevitable that would befall them both. But in the end, they would make it out the other side. Percy knew he had come a long way, and he was in no hurry to let that progress slip now. As long as Gina was with him, he would go forward, no matter what.

And so eventually, the two green engines came back right along that very stretch of the waterfall. Once again, Percy cast his eyes every which way, remembering just how everything had gone down just over a month ago, and he remembered how he careened down this very hill and into that cottage. But then, cruel coincidence had it that he looked down the valley right at the moment he did. He saw the long line of cottages down beneath him...and right where it all happened, Percy could see a vacant square clearing where that cottage once stood. That was too much for Percy to ignore. In that instant, he stopped again with quite a jolt, to which Gina suddenly heard him begin to whimper and hyperventilate with traumatic flashbacks. But as she had promised, Gina was right there with him, and she would not let this part of the railway plague at Percy's mind anymore.

"G-Gina...there it is again!" he hyperventilated through his coming tears. "The-the-the...the family's cottage! Where it-it-it...h-h-HAPPENED! Gina! Help! Gina, help me! Please! PLEASE! Gina-a-a-a!"

And Percy's tears began to fall as he began to shake most troublingly. This was Gina's chance to get him through the final push that he needed.

"Percy! No!" she urged again. "Percy, don't give in! Not now!"

The trucks didn't dare to pull any tricks at all, still knowing fully well that killing that family was never part of any plans they ever had or would continue to have again. They may have been silly and loud every now and then, but they would never do anything as dark and twisted as what befell them that fateful day just over a month ago. Then Percy began to feel himself being pushed along the line very gently. He looked back and heard Gina's voice again, speaking much softer now.

"I'm here, my love. There is no danger now...onwards and forwards, onwards and forwards..." she spoke softly, but steadily.

As Percy looked around and saw himself rolling along smoothly, he managed to gather himself together and stop his tears. Gina was right. There was no danger now as the trucks didn't even make so much as a single sound toward the engines or each other. Then Percy felt himself huffing along again, not being pushed so much by Gina now, which made her beam and smile with such pride and accomplishment.

Soon, Percy and Gina passed the very spot where he had derailed, and so they descended further down the line, toward the steep part of the hill. As Percy looked down and saw the sense of height, he inhaled, then exhaled strongly as he and Gina gently applied their brakes so as not to slide down too fast. And before he knew it, Percy found himself approaching the bottom of the slope. At last, Percy began to feel more and more relaxed until they finally reached the very bottom and puffed right through Ffarquhar and back on their way to their destination.

"I...I don't believe it," Percy breathed. "I...I made it through...with you, Gina! Thank you!"

"Oh, Percy, my love," Gina smiled. "It is my infinite pleasure to have seen you through today...and these very moments. Only you and I."

"We...we did it," Percy breathed as he and Gina huffed faster down the line. "We did it...!"

Percy and Gina then glided the rest of the way down the line, going swiftly and efficiently now as they could feel the sense of accomplishment drawing nearer and nearer. They made one more big effort, and at last, tired but triumphant after a long, tiring day, they made their way to the Docks. They whistled together on their way in and Cranky, Carly and Big Mickey all looked down and were pleased to see them arrive at last.

"Hello, both of you!" Carly called down to Percy and Gina.

"We've been wondering where you were," Cranky put in.

"But it looks like you've made it in good time," Big Mickey concluded.

"Yes...very good time for me especially," Percy gazed, almost lost in his own mind. "All thanks to Gina."

"Si, everyone," said Gina. "We braved through the Ffarquhar Valley line, right where Percy had that terrible accident...and we made it through together."

"Ohh! Most lovely to hear, Chuck," Carly smiled. "You alright now, Percy?"

"With Gina...never better, Carly," Percy smiled as he looked back, to which Gina gave a little peep on her whistle.

Before long, Percy and Gina left Brendam Docks and set off back along the Main Line. It had been a most immense day for both of them. It was hard to believe that all in this one day, Percy had taken dynamite for the first time in his life, ended up scared once again by 'Arry and Bert, relived some of his past traumas of his tragic accident and even managed to get fair and square with those two wretched diesels, all with Gina right there beside him all the time. This had turned out to be a most memorable visit with the Italian Queen thus far, and neither of them had ever suspected it to turn out like this. It had been yet another glorious day for them both in the end, and there was just one more pleasant surprise for them to find out this evening.

At last, as evening began to close in, Percy and Gina saw Knapford Station in the distance. They looked to each other and gave a smile of surety and a sense of being really useful. Then as they came closer, they noticed that 'Arry and Bert were at Platforms 1 and 2, clearly waiting for something, or rather, someone. They looked up to Percy and Gina and didn't hesitate to glare once more, but neither of them made any remark. Percy and Gina didn't return any expression, just watching their faces, until the two green engines neared the points beyond the platforms. It was then that 'Arry and Bert heard a door open rather hastily, and out came the Fat Controller, right from his office, slamming the door behind him and striding right up to the two Diesel Twins.

"IRON 'ARRY AND IRON BERT!" he boomed so that his voice echoed a little through the class roof and metal beams of the station ceiling.

'Arry and Bert both shut their eyes tight, but inevitably, they had to look at the Fat Controller when he was talking to them. Percy and Gina went still and listened to everything that tumbled out of the Fat Controller's mouth.

"Thomas has told me everything concerning what you did to Percy this morning, and I am absolutely DISGUSTED! It is VERY clear to me that after all these years, you've learned little to NOTHING of value, taking little to NO heed to responsibility, reliability or being really useful! With the exceptions of the occasional useful shrouds you've come to show, you have both done nothing else except cause sheer trouble for the engines! Most particularly Thomas, Emily and Percy! And what you did today is a MOST insensitive thing for ANY engine to put upon Percy! Scaring him beyond reason with your little dynamite tale, causing him to be an hour late and shut down on the Ffarquhar Line, thinking all about that poor family which he ended up crashing into...all while you give NO sense of dignity at ALL about such a matter! Broken record that I am, I will NOT allow bullying in the very blinking LEAST on MY railway! Therefore, as punishment for your actions, and for your absolute refusal to any empathy for what Percy had befallen and had to go through with that accident, you are both to be locked back in your sheds at the Dieselworks for at LEAST three weeks to think about what you did, as unlikely as it may be! Now GET OUT of my sight and give the railway some peace!"

"Mmm...yes, sir," groaned 'Arry and Bert as they rolled away in disgrace and defeat.

Percy and Gina had heard everything just now, and couldn't agree more with what the Fat Controller had just said. The two of them smirked superiorly to the twins as they passed right by without another word and down the line, not to be seen again for the next three weeks.

Then just as the two green engines made their way toward the station, Thomas and Emily came into the station too, facing Percy and Gina alike. Thomas had told Emily everything too, who was smiling from buffer to buffer.

"Hello, Percy," Emily chimed. "Thomas told me something most remarkable and staggering...about you, Gina! And Mavis, and 'Arry and Bert!"

"Did you now?" Gina beamed proudly.

"Of course," said Emily. "I can't believe what those vicious hoodlums said to you, Percy! Truly outrageous...but a most fitting punishment for them too! Staggering, of course, but brilliant!"

"Emily is right. Staggering indeed, but well-conceived with the Quarry Manager," said Thomas. "Much more fitting than what I did...for Emily, of course."

"Well...you did it under most grave circumstances that surrounded me, Thomas," Emily confided. "But that's all behind us now. Today is for Percy and Gina, and such a turnout you two seem to have had!"

"Indeed, Emily. That is all very true," said the Fat Controller.

Percy and Gina looked up and saw him looking less cross and more proud now that 'Arry and Bert had gone.

"Well done, Percy and Gina," he said with a tip of his hat. "You've both done a most remarkable job all throughout today helping Mavis, in spite of your little delay for the quarry. I can't blame you for how you must have felt out there, Percy, and despite your little panic over the dynamite, following the rules and regulations and staying safe is more important than being on time...and after all, you got to the quarry in the end...and you both taught 'Arry and Bert a lesson too! The Quarry Manager told me all about it."

"Yes...thank you, sir," said Percy. "And...Gina has been such a marvel for me today, forming her plan with Mavis...and she helped me past the scene of my accident. We did it together...and after just over a month's time, I think I'll be able to warm up to the Ffarquhar line again."

Thomas and Emily gasped, and the Fat Controller raised an eyebrow to this, smiling steadily.

"My goodness, Percy...she did?" Emily asked.

"She really did, Emily," Percy peeped. "It's been a little over an entire month since I went back up that way, alone or not...it was truly scary to do again as I felt everything flooding back to me, but both times, Gina was there for me...and...I don't think I would be where I am right now without her!"

"Oh...Gina!" Thomas gasped. "You...you've truly helped my best friend in the ways only you can muster. Thank you!"

"You're all truly welcome, Thomas, Emily...and my Perfect Percy," Gina smiled.

"Well...that is most impressive, Percy," said the Fat Controller. "Then it's very well done for you, Gina."

"Grazie, sir," said Gina. "I am truly delighted to have been with Percy through everything today."

"Thank you, Emily," Percy peeped proudly. "I'm just happy that the day is finished, and we're all here together."

"Yes. We all are," Thomas smiled. "A fitting reward for all of us, I think."

"Indeed. Me, my Tommy, and my baby Percy," Emily smiled as she blew a kiss to Thomas, then to Percy.

"And me and my Perfect Percy," Gina smiled in turn, blowing a kiss to Percy.

"Yes. Me, my emerald angel, and my best friend," said Thomas before he blew a kiss to Emily.

"And me, my Italian Queen...and my mother Emily," Percy peeped cutely as he blew a kiss to Gina, then to Emily.

The two couples then shared a little laugh together at the station, enjoying each other's smiling faces at the end of a busy day. And so came the end of another most heavy-handed day for Percy and Gina too. This had been a considerably troubling day for Percy, having to relive several swathing waves of recollection, trauma and most scathing predicaments that befell him just over a month ago, but with Gina right there with him and never leaving his side through it all, Percy had managed to get past that very stretch of line where it all went down. Now Percy finally felt compelled to work safely along the Ffarquhar Line again.

It had been twelve days now since Gina came back for her two-week visit to Sodor with Percy, and during this passage of time, there had been indeed most memorable experiences for the two of them so far, but now there were only two full days left for her and Percy to spend together. It would soon be over and she'd have to go back to Italy again. But before that, there would be just a few more things for her and Percy to do to settle all their desires together.

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Based on the magazine story of the same name, with some inspiration from the NWR Tales adaptation, taking place during the events of "Deep Trouble", this is the penultimate Percy and Gina story before Gina leaves in the next story, which is sure to be bittersweet, as well as sensual, easily the most passionate Percy and Gina will be together for sometime. Also, in regards to what Gina said to 'Aryy and Bert in Italian, it is indeed strong and vulgar, but I'm leaving that for you to discover yourselves. Until next time, tell us what you thought of this story, and we'll see you all with the next story. Stay safe.