A Close Slide

by AaronCottrell97

Bill and Ben are up to their usual mischievous antics once again, so the Fat Controller sends Thomas and Emily to the Clay Pits to help with the workload. As Safety Engine, Emily is insistant on making sure Bill and Ben follows the rules and work safely, which only irritates the twins and prompts them to be even cheekier to annoy Emily, leading to disasterous consequences.

Only a few days had gone by since Knapford Station hosted an anniversary party of its first opening, which included a busy safety check of the Main Line performed by Emily, followed by a most miraculous incident of bubbling boilers when a bar of soap was dropped into her feed pipe, then she ended up blowing countless bubbles through her funnel during the celebration. This of course raised a new impression for the term "Bubbling Boilers," for the other engines and they still held onto the impression even now. Most of them empathized with Emily and encouraged her to see the brighter side of the matter, while Gordon and James kept joking about the matter whenever they could, citing several silly puns about the expression and teasingly urging Emily to be careful of any bars of soap.

Of course, Emily didn't much approve of some of the engines' approaches on the matter. She still felt like they were making a big fuss over nothing for no reason, even though she wasn't the only one to have had a bubbly experience like this, with Thomas telling her about his own experience with bubbles.

Then one morning, the engines were waking up at Tidmouth Sheds to another day's work ahead of them. Thomas and Emily woke up and looked around the sheds. A quick glance from the others told them just what they were thinking. Rebecca, Nia and Percy all smiled good morning, while Gordon and James exchanged a certain look to each other and grinned to Emily.

"Oh, dear," Thomas thought. "There they go again."

"Well, Emily," said Gordon. "You've certainly been doing an impressive job of not letting your boiler bubble up too much. A few days so far, and not one bubbling boiler!"

"Yes indeed," said James. "Good thing there aren't too many bars of soap for us to worry about!"

"Now, Gordon and James," said Rebecca. "Let's be practical and optimistic about the matter. She still made everyone happy with that little show."

"Alright, Rebecca...but only because YOU told us so," Gordon said suavely to her.

Emily just leaned left and right, shaking her head, while Thomas gave her a wink of assurance. At that moment, the Fat Controller arrived.

"Good morning, sir," said Thomas. "What jobs are in for us today? Are Annie and Clarabel waiting for me?"

"Does the Main Line need my eyes and ears for safety, sir?" Emily asked.

"Well, yes and no," said the Fat Controller. "When it comes to the job I have for you, Thomas, it seems the Clay Pits need your help."

"And what may that be, sir?" Thomas asked.

"Bill, Ben and Timothy have a lot of work to do get done," said the Fat Controller. "But it seems Bill and Ben are getting careless again, making quite a mess of their loads. Therefore, Thomas, you must help them manage the loads of stone that must be taken to Brendam Docks today and through tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," said Thomas. "I don't think they'll give me too much trouble."

"Maybe, maybe not," said the Fat Controller. "But you won't be going alone."

"Oh? Who's coming with me?" Thomas asked. "Percy?"

"No, Thomas. Emily shall go with you," said the Fat Controller.

"Me, sir?" Emily asked. "What shall I be doing?"

"Well, Emily, as we know, Bill and Ben don't always behave at their best," said the Fat Controller. "Especially when Edward isn't there to manage them himself. Therefore, while Thomas works with Bill, Ben and Timothy, you will make sure that as safety engine, everything goes as smoothly as can be, keep an eye out for any hazards in the Clay Pits, and see that those twins don't get up to too much mischief."

Emily suddenly felt a little uncertain. She'd had her share of experience with Bill and Ben, such as when they interrupted that little moment between her and Thomas at the washdown shortly after she came back to her true ways, when they teased her over not having a special delivery of her own, when they splashed her and Percy with mud when she formed her mother's intuition for Percy, and when they embarrassed Thomas and Rosie on Valentine's Day. Now she'd be working right with them for two days. With her new status as No. 12 Safety Engine, and the prospect of them knowing about her 'Bubbling Boilers,' incident, she had a strong feeling this would not be as easy as it sounded. The whole "Bubbling Boilers," subject was growing on her in the wrong way, and she didn't like being reminded of it even now. But as No. 12 Safety Engine, she knew what she had to do.

"Yes, sir," she answered. "I'll do my very best to make sure everything runs smoothly while Thomas and I are there."

"Very good. Just take care, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "If they're in a naughty mood, be sure to handle them as best you can. As our Safety Engine, I know I can always count on you."

"You can indeed, sir," Emily replied.

"And she can count on me to be there for her," said Thomas. "Come on, Emily. Let's see what those twins make of our official Safety Engine."

Emily looked ahead and nodded, then set off on her way, with Thomas following closely behind her...but not before they both heard Gordon and James call out another tease about Emily's bubbling boiler.

"Oh! Emily! Just be sure their drivers don't have any bars of soap handy!" James called.

"Of course, James! Those little demons are bound to make Emily's boiler bubble!" Gordon laughed.

"So don't let your boiler bubble up too much!" Gordon and James said together.

Emily scoffed irritably, but before the Fat Controller could address the big engines, Thomas spoke next.

"What if it's MY turn to bubble up and go riding in the Ulfstead Mine?" he called back to Gordon and James as he and Emily huffed out of sight.

"Ohh!" Gordon and James exclaimed, disappointed that Thomas got the final word.

Thomas and Emily huffed steadily along the line on their way to the Clay Pits, and Emily wasn't the only one wondering. Thomas was wondering too, for he knew just as well as Emily what experience he'd had with those two engines, especially when it came to his close kiss with Emily at the washdown and when Emily wanted a special delivery, and of course mucking up Valentine's Day for him and Rosie.

"Emily...are you sure about this?" Thomas asked. "Of course, really useful engines do as they're told...but Bill and Ben...I don't recall us both working with them. And it's been a few days, and the other engines still talk about your bubbling boiler. With all that talk, isn't it obvious that these two will poke a lot of fun at you for it?"

"I'm sure they will, Thomas," said Emily. "But I'm No. 12 Safety Engine, an engine who does NOT back down to any mischief. Edward did his share of keeping those twins in order...perhaps it's my turn to do the same, like I did with Donald and Douglas that winter."

"Hmm," said Thomas. "Perhaps so, Emily. I'm just afraid they might really wear you out somehow."

"They may be tiresome, but we have work to do with them," said Emily. "And one way or another, we're going to help them."

"What do you mean 'one way or another,' Emily?" Thomas asked.

"What I mean is, we'll help them with the stone, no matter how they behave," said Emily. "They're sure to be a handful, but it's only for two days, and at least we'll have Timothy there to help too."

"That is true," said Thomas. "He certainly knows not to play all day. We'll get through it together, Emily."

"Yes, Thomas. We will," said Emily.

So Thomas and Emily carried on their way. They would soon be proven right that Gordon and James wouldn't be the only ones who teased and joked about the bubble matter. Emily, as well as Thomas, were in for a considerable share of more teasing from Bill and Ben, as well as an unexpected and rather perilous situation to be faced with.

Eventually, Thomas and Emily made their way to the Clay Pits side by side and began to wonder what would be ahead for both of them. The first engine they saw was Timothy, waiting for both of them at the entrance to the Clay Pits.

"Hello, Timothy," Thomas and Emily said together.

"Hello, Thomas and Emily," said Timothy. "I heard you'd both be coming to help us out here. And Emily...such an honour it is that you are Sodor's No. 12 Safety Engine. Has the Fat Controller told you about the work we need your help with?"

"Yes, he has," said Thomas. "And he's also told us that Bill and Ben need some persuasion to work hard."

"Indeed, they do," said Timothy. "They've both been getting a little naughty again, not managing their trucks the best way they can, mostly playing around and-"

Timothy was suddenly cut off by two high whistles. Thomas and Emily looked, and there were Bill and Ben coming up beside Timothy. They stopped and looked at who had come along to help them. Thomas and Emily looked to each other and were all-too ready for the difficulties to begin. Emily was determined to be firm but fair and not get too impatient even with these two acquaintances. But that approach would not be easy to hold onto, because Bill and Ben were trouble from the very beginning. As soon as they looked at Emily and her No. 12, they stared for a few moments, then began chortling and teasing away.

"Ohh! Look who it is, Ben!" Bill announced exuberantly. "Thomas has brought Sodor's newly-named 'Safety Engine,' with him! Long time, no see!"

"And it 'seems' to have taken far too long for Emily to be given something special at last!" Ben added. "The No. 12, is it? Not what I recall seeing on her tender before!"

Thomas and Emily stood no nonsense as they prepared themselves for quite a handful to weather through.

"Yes, you two. I AM Sodor's Safety Engine," said Emily. "It's indeed been a while since we've seen you very much. And yes, it IS special that I have a number now. A very proud and well-earned number at that!"

"Precisely, Bill and Ben," Timothy added. "I'm very glad you're here to help us, Thomas and Emily. The work we have to do is much more important than these twins realize, or will even admit."

"What help could a Safety Engine give us?" Bill asked obstinately. "She'll surely be slowing us down and telling us to 'do it right,' every chance she gets! Even more so than Fergus ever did!"

"We are here to make sure the work gets done, boys. NOT to join you in your games," said Emily. "And you will follow my safety lead."

"Why?" Bill and Ben asked at the same time.

"What?" Emily eyed solidly. Thomas swallowed.

"Why else would the Fat Controller bring you here? We've managed here all well and good without anyone checking on us! So what if we've made messes before? We've always managed in the end without a safety engine getting in the way!"

"We will do exactly as the Fat Controller has instructed," Emily enunciated solidly, making Timothy swallow too. "...And we will get through this work together."

Bill and Ben, for once, had nothing to say, not sure what to say anyway. Thomas just looked to Emily and gave a small smile of approval.

"Well said, and to the point, Emily. We will work together," said Timothy. "I know I'll feel better having you here. Marion will be digging up rocks along the quarry walls, and I'll be taking the first load of stone to Brendam."

"Thank you, Timothy. We'll do our best," said Thomas.

"Ho-ho! 'Thank you, Timothy! We'll do our best'!" Bill and Ben mimicked together.

Emily rolled her eyes and sighed. She could tell that today would certainly be an eventful one in its way.

"Now, Bill and Ben. Let's stop jabbering and be practical," Thomas said solidly as he set off into the Clay Pits to start the work.

"Go on, you two," Emily coaxed.

Bill and Ben sighed stubbornly and followed Thomas in, while Emily went on her way too and Timothy set off to take the first load of stone to Brendam. While Thomas, Bill and Ben went to collect empty trucks to be loaded up, Emily saw Marion digging along one of the walls and loading a line of four trucks full of stone. Emily managed to smile for her good friend.

"Hello, Marion," she greeted.

"Oh! Hello, Emily!" Marion greeted merrily. "Oh! Guess what's in my shovel!"

"Hm-hm! All the stone Thomas and I will be managing with Bill, Ben and Timothy," Emily answered.

"That's right!" Marion beamed. "Oh, Bill and Ben have been a little hasty with their trucks of late, Emily. But as Sodor's Safety Engine, I know you can help us get the work done smoothly and safely."

"Of course, Marion," said Emily. "I just wonder if they'll be willing to listen to Sodor's Safety Engine."

"We'll see," said Marion. "But as long as we get the work done, I'm glad to have your company for it."

"Thank you, Marion," said Emily. "Now, I should go and see how Thomas is handling the loads with those twins."

So while Marion continued digging along the walls, Emily went further into the Clay Pits to see how Thomas was doing. Soon, she found him huffing down the other line with a line of five trucks for Marion to load up. He passed her by and whistled merrily. Emily whistled in turn, then looked to see if the twins were working too, or not.

But when she found them, they weren't exactly working. There was a line of six trucks beside them, and both twins were arguing over who would take them to be loaded up for Thomas to take to Brendam.

"But it's YOUR turn to take the empty trucks back, Bill!" Ben blurted.

"I took them the last time, Ben!" Bill quarreled.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Ahem!" Emily emphasized. This made Bill and Ben stop and look at her.

"Oh, look, Ben! Ms. Safety Engine's being no fun at all! Just like Timothy!" Bill complained.

"Huh! Will you two stop arguing and just take the trucks together?" Emily replied solidly. "We're supposed to work together! And I'm here to keep everything safe, and to make sure you two don't get up to too much trouble!"

Bill and Ben stared at Emily, remembering how Timothy approached them the same way some years ago...then they chortled away.

"Okay, then," said Ben. "Last one to the tunnel takes the trucks!"

Bill and Ben began to race off...but Emily's whistle stopped them.

"Oh, no you don't!" she ordered. "YOU are taking these trucks together! And don't think I'll do it for you! Timothy may have let you race away, but I WON'T!"

Bill and Ben frowned and begrudgingly collected the trucks together.

"Hmph! Spoil sport!" said Bill.

"Ironic. She's no fun for us, yet so much fun for all those children and her bubbling boiler!" Ben added.

"Hey! I didn't ask for that to happen!" Emily reminded sternly. "And Gordon and James have been joking about it too much already!"

Bill and Ben just giggled away as they set off with the empty trucks. Emily sighed and kept patrolling the Clay Pits to make sure everything was safe.

Meanwhile, as Bill and Ben took their load of empty trucks, they began chatting to each other about Emily.

"She seems quite like Timothy, doesn't she, Ben?" Bill suggested.

"Indeed, she does. No help at all, and no fun at all!" Ben replied.

"A safety engine indeed...who blows bubbles for little children!" Bill scoffed sarcastically. "Not what I call a Safety Engine."

"You're right...and perhaps we can make her boiler bubble in more ways than one!" Bill stated cheekily.

"Yes! We'll have her bubbling boiler in a spin!" Ben snickered. "Just like Fergus!"

The work in the Clay Pits continued. Marion loaded the trucks Bill and Ben brought, and sometime later, Emily came back to the main area of the Clay Pits, having found nothing wrong or needing her attention for safety. She saw that Thomas had shunted Marion's loaded trucks into a siding and had now placed his empty trucks beside her to load up. Thomas and Emily were happy to be working together, but just like Fergus felt, they didn't like the way the twins were behaving. Every now and then, the twins stopped working and began bickering to each other, to which Emily would get between them and order them back to work, much to their growing chagrin.

Then, as Emily went to check on Bill and Ben again, that's when the steady line of mischief and annoyances began. She watched as Bill was once again banging his trucks hard. Then he began shunting another truck that was overflowing with stone. When he banged that truck into the others, several stones flew about and scattered on the ground. Emily took immediate notice of this and enforced her input as Safety Engine.

"Bill! Don't be so rough, and do it right!" she ordered.

Bill suddenly remembered how Fergus said that to him and Ben, and he was not fazed or amused by Emily's enforcement.

"Don't interfere!" was all he snapped back.

But Emily had a response to this too. "I will interfere if I find it necessary for getting the work done! Mind how you manage those trucks!"

"Pah! Not fair!" snorted Bill as he edged angrily away with his trucks.

"What's going on over here?" Thomas asked as he rolled up beside Emily.

"Bill was banging his trucks around, and look what he did, Thomas," said Emily.

"I see," said Thomas. "Hmm. I recall them doing that with Fergus when he came here...I wonder what they'll be doing next, but don't worry. I'll be ready, Emily."

Emily saw Thomas wink and felt assured, despite feeling also that those twins had another trick ready for her.

"Thank you, Thomas," said Emily. "You really are a good friend."

Meanwhile, Bill was still fuming about Emily telling him what to do. He soon found Ben and whispered what had just happened between him and Emily. Ben suddenly got a naughty idea himself.

"Did she, now? Most unfair indeed," Ben murmured. "Telling you to do it right, no different than Fergus! Why don't I teach her a little lesson for telling you what to do, Bill?"

"Ooh, delightful idea, Ben," Bill sniggered.

"I'll do it as soon as she's in the right spot," Ben winked...

By this time, Thomas' trucks were now loaded with stone, which meant there were three loads ready to go to Brendam now. Ben crept up behind Marion and listened as she and Thomas talked.

"Good work, Thomas," said Marion. "With Timothy coming back soon, these will make a good delivery for Brendam."

"Yes, they will, Marion," said Thomas. "Perhaps if Bill, Ben and I take them, Emily could have a little break from their teasing. Bill! Ben!"

But as Thomas made ready to couple to his line of trucks, he and Marion suddenly noticed one line of trucks moving away.

"What? What's happening?" Marion asked.

Thomas looked and heard a familiar giggle from the back of those trucks. "Ben! Just what do you think you're doing?"

Ben didn't answer. He just giggled and slipped away with the line of trucks. Thomas sighed exasperatingly and left his own trucks to go after Ben.

Further within the quarry, Emily was keeping an eye out for Bill or Ben, when she came to a set of points to make her way back to Marion and Thomas. She was almost at the points, when a line of trucks suddenly glided right in front of her...and she saw that it was Ben who had pushed his trucks in front of Emily's points, blocking her way. Emily was stuck...and at that moment, Thomas came around the bend and saw just what was going on for himself, and it made him cross.

"Ben! WHAT is the meaning of this?!" Emily demanded.

"Telling my brother what to do when he's just having a little fun," Ben teased. "Perhaps you should think about being less of a fusspot and more as a proper safety engine."

Thomas heard this and hissed angrily as he started coming forward to help Emily, who simmered irritably to Ben.

"Your brother was being careless with his load of stone," she glowered. "Now out of my way!"

But Ben just grinned and rolled away cheekily.

"Ben, you get back here and clear my way!" Emily ordered insistently.

Then Bill came along behind Ben and taunted Emily further.

"Ho-hum. What would you know about proper quarry work?" he said innocently. "You're just a bubble-blowing engine ordering proper tank engines around the Clay Pits."

"Hey! What do you mean 'proper,' tank engines?!" came Thomas' voice. Bill and Ben looked up and saw Thomas biff the trucks away from the points, freeing Emily.

"Thomas!" Bill, Ben and Emily exclaimed together.

"NO ONE blocks my angel's way like that!" Thomas hissed to Ben. "And she is NOT just a bubble-blowing engine! How little sense do you two have for our No. 12 Safety Engine?"

"What sense CAN we have if she's just going to tell us everything we're doing wrong, always saying to do it right?" Bill complained.

"Maybe because you ARE doing plenty wrong here and that she needs to make sure you WILL do it right!" Thomas huffed irritably.

"Well, with her blowing bubbles, that's not exactly doing it right either!" Ben snorted immaturely. "I bet she only ended up blowing bubbles at that celebration because she was clumsy!"

"I-was-NOT!" Emily snapped, rather offended now.

"Yes, you were!"

"No, I WASN'T!"

"Yes-you-WERE!"

"Will you two twins STOP being whinging little brats!" Thomas scolded. "We have three loads of stone to deliver together, and I'm NOT managing it alone!"

And Thomas snorted away with the line of trucks, back to where they started. Emily gave Bill and Ben a most disdainful stare, which made them frown and follow Thomas back to Marion. Emily came out of her siding and followed them too, watching as they got ready with their loads. Thomas didn't bother to say another word to either twin as he parked the line of trucks back where it was and collected his own load. Bill and Ben were also too cross to speak to Thomas and begrudgingly decided to take a break from teasing Emily...and conjure more plans if they could.

"Alright, Emily. We're taking these three loads to Brendam...the three of us," Thomas told her with a wink. "For you."

"Thank you, Thomas," Emily sighed. "I'll see you later."

And Thomas set off with his load, followed closely by Bill and Ben, just as Timothy came back from Brendam with his now empty trucks. He saw the look on Thomas' face, and Bill and Ben's faces, and wondered what had happened while he was away. He made his way into the Clay Pits and saw Emily looking considerably tired from what she had been put through so far.

"Hello again, Emily," said Timothy.

"Mmm...hello, Timothy," Emily said lowly.

"I take it things have been quite tiresome with those twins, haven't they?" Timothy empathized.

"I don't know what to make of it, Timothy," said Emily. "I know you weren't with me when I dealt with Donald and Douglas' arguing that winter, and I knew Bill and Ben could be difficult...but even I didn't think they'd be this difficult."

"Hmm...there's still a little more stone to deliver today," said Timothy. "Would you like to take it with Thomas when he gets back? I'll keep an eye on Bill and Ben."

"You're very generous, but I am No. 12 Safety Engine," said Emily. "The Fat Controller told me to make sure the work goes safely with those...ahem...little demons."

"But even Safety Engines need their rest," said Timothy. "Just like taking passengers is your chance to rest, maybe a break from those twins could be your chance to rest today. I've seen their difficult behavior every day. I'm doing it for Thomas and for you. Why not make your way home after your delivery with Thomas today? It'll be a good share of work for today, and the rest can be finished tomorrow."

Emily thought for a moment, considering in her mind. It had been a long and trying day for her to deal with Bill and Ben. She was indeed beginning to feel worn out by what they had dealt her with, but with this offer in mind, perhaps the day wouldn't be entirely bad.

"Hmm. Alright," she answered. "Let's gather your trucks and a few more and have Marion load them up."

And so they did. Emily and Timothy worked together, enjoying the peace and quiet without Bill and Ben as they brought their lines of trucks to Marion, and she got right to loading them up.

Meanwhile, Thomas, Bill and Ben had just delivered their loads at Brendam Docks and were making their way back to the Clay Pits. For the entire journey, they had kept silent, not wanting to speak to each other...until Thomas decided to let out a few words.

"How dare you," he suddenly said, strongly and steadily. "How dare you give Emily so much pester, mischief and naughtiness when she did NOTHING to deserve it! Why do you ALWAYS have to cause nothing but mischief and trouble whenever it's about me, Emily, Rosie, or any engine for that matter?"

"Just messing around a little," said Bill.

"Why all the fuss about a little fun?" Ben asked.

Thomas wheeshed irritably and gathered himself up.

"Like it or not, Emily is keeping an eye on both of you," he lectured. "Maybe you don't like that, but she's doing so nonetheless. As No. 12 Safety Engine, along with the jobs she does, it is also her job to ensure everything goes safety on the island!"

"Telling us to do it right all the time? Not what I call making sure everything is safe!" Bill complained.

"More like getting in the way and slowing us down," Ben added.

"Wha-de-you-RRGH!" Thomas blurted impatiently. "She's making sure you do everything safely! As Safety Engine, THAT is HER job!"

"Well, what's YOUR job, then?" Bill asked.

"Right now, it's to make sure YOU do yours!" Thomas replied. And then there was silence again as they made their way back to the Clay Pits.

Meanwhile, Marion was still loading Emily and Timothy's trucks for the last trip to the Docks for the day. Emily told her too all about her day with Bill and Ben.

"I know, Emily," empathized Marion. "Those twins have given me mischief too, shunting away the trucks and making me drop stones right onto the line. They said Timothy did it, although I knew he didn't."

"No need to remind me, Marion," said Emily. "They banged their trucks about and blocked my way today, just as they did with Fergus...and they're by no means scared of reminding me of my bubble incident...which I only wish the other engines would stop talking about!"

"We heard about it too, Emily," said Marion. "And we assure you, we won't talk about it. That was an honest mistake by your crew that just put on a little show for the children."

Emily managed to smile as Marion resumed her work of loading the stone into the trucks lined up beside her, and eventually, all the trucks were full of stone again, ready to take to Brendam once Thomas returned with Bill and Ben. And sure enough, Emily heard Thomas' whistle. She looked and saw him coming back with Bill and Ben, all of them wearing faces that were full of thought and concealed emotions. Thomas looked and saw the line of trucks loaded with stone and wondered who would be taking them to Brendam.

"Here, Thomas," said Timothy. "Emily and I have gathered the last loads of stone for today. I thought she could join you on this trip to Brendam, then you can make your way home. You've both been such a big help, and I Bill and Ben have, shall we say, done enough...for today."

Thomas looked to Emily, who gave a nod.

"Thank you, Timothy," said Thomas. "We're happy to help you and Marion...although the mischief of these two speaks for itself. Emily should not have been dealt so much tedium! Gratitude of all things!"

Timothy, Emily and Marion all heartily agreed, but Bill and Ben were still in a cheeky mood even now.

"Hmph! As we told Thomas out there, we're just messing around a little!" Bill complained.

"A little?!" Timothy exclaimed. "Emily told us everything you did, and to speak plainly, we are both most disappointed in you!"

"Hmph! Just wait till tomorrow!" Ben goaded.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Timothy asked suspiciously.

"Oh...sorry," said Bill. "He's just speaking out of place. Been a long day. Never mind what he said."

Timothy, Thomas, Emily and Marion all looked right at Bill and Ben for a moment. They did mind what they said, and they still would until the next day. Finally, Emily sighed and turned to Thomas, wanting to leave and put everything behind her for today.

"Come on, Thomas," she beckoned. "We'll take this lot together. I've had enough of tank engine twins for one day!"

Thomas looked to Bill and Ben, then to Emily. "So have I, Emily. Come on."

And Thomas gathered his trucks while Emily gathered hers, and soon they were off for Brendam Docks with their last load for the day. Timothy then looked to Bill and Ben and leaned left and right, shaking his head in disappointment. Bill and Ben could see the daylight was starting to fade and went off on their own to do odd jobs in the quarry until sundown.

As Thomas and Emily huffed along the line with their loads of stone, they felt quite a mixture of feelings stirring in both of them. It had been a most trying day for both of them, having to deal with Bill and Ben for as long as they did, and with the rate of teasing, mischief and annoyances they were dealt.

"You alright, Emily?" Thomas asked. "I know Bill and Ben gave us absolute rubbish today."

"Phh...it's exhausting, Thomas," said Emily. "I knew they were tricksters before, given what few things they've done to us before, but I didn't think I'd put up with such trivial, absurd, and truly childish behaviour like that for a whole day!"

"I'm truly embarrassed by their behaviour, Emily," said Thomas. "You're No. 12 Safety Engine, and they seem to have even less respect and self-discipline to show you now. It's maddening, I know. But personally, I think you still managed remarkably today. We got a good share of work down in the end, and at least we're taking the last trip today without those two...even if there is another day to get through tomorrow."

"Hmm. I suppose, Thomas," said Emily. "And Timothy and Marion are good company. I just wish today could have been easier."

"Me too, Emily," said Thomas. "Just like with your bubbling boiler incident, you're not alone when it comes to today. I had to put up with them too. While I was taking my previous load with them, I asked them why they dared to give you so much trouble, but they kept saying they were just messing around a little. Pathetic excuse for placing my angel and wife figure with so much grief and cheek."

"I couldn't agree more, Thomas," said Emily. "Everything went safely today, per my Safety Engine standards, but it took a lot for me to accomplish today."

"And for that, I'm proud of you, Emily," Thomas assured.

"I know you are, Thomas," Emily managed to smile.

Finally, as the sun set over the sea, Thomas and Emily made their way to Brendam Docks and delivered their last load of stone for the day. Now they could both call in for the evening.

"Whew! Come on, Emily," said Thomas. "Time to go home."

"There's nothing else to do today that'd be better," said Emily as she and Thomas set off together.

By the time they returned to Tidmouth Sheds, dusk had fallen, and Thomas and Emily were now feeling the exhaustion setting in. They turned around to their berths and slumped inside with a deep exhale and slightly bleary eyes from all the effort they had spent with Bill and Ben today. The other engines could see this and knew perfectly well, for they had come to hear what had happened at the Clay Pits too...although Gordon and James still held onto their joking side even now.

"Thomas? Emily? Are you alright?" Percy asked.

"We're alright enough, Percy," said Thomas.

"But today was not the best day for either of us," said Emily.

"I know," James smirked. "It's boiler-ache from those twins' mischief. Any bars of soap that could have contributed to such an ache?"

"It's NOT boiler-ache!" protested Emily. "It's-"

"Of course it is," interrupted Gordon. "Those twins have worn you out today. Perhaps a good washdown would make a world of difference. Just be mindful of soap, of course!"

"Don't be vulgar!" Thomas and Emily said together.

"Indeed, Gordon and James," said Rebecca. "Thomas and Emily have had a most trying day with those little acquaintances."

"And your teasing doesn't help at all," Nia added. "Don't forget, Bill and Ben gave you trouble too, Gordon, when you took that wrong road."

"Hmm. True," said Gordon. "And I still think BoCo saved me when he came along that day."

"Don't be silly, Gordon," said Rebecca. "We know Bill and Ben were just joking."

"Do we?" Gordon murmured to no one in particular.

Soon, the other engines fell asleep, except Thomas and Emily. Their bodies were tired, but their minds were full. It had been a most demanding day for both of them. Especially Emily, but it wasn't over yet. There was still one more day to weather through with managing the loads of stone, and still doing so with Bill and Ben. But there was something else on both engines' mind that they had begun to suspect. Thomas looked and tried to reassure Emily.

"Tough as it was, Emily, there's only one more day with them," he murmured. "We'll both do our very best, just as we did today."

"I should hope so too," said Emily. "But that's not it, really."

"What is it, then?" Thomas asked.

"I...I have a funny feeling that something might happen tomorrow," Emily whispered. "I don't know what...but something is bound to happen. I can't put my buffer on it...but I feel like..."

"So have I, Emily," said Thomas. "Given what Bill and Ben's mischief has brought about on some occasions...I suddenly feel a little afraid that something might happen too."

"Not knowing about it only makes it worse," said Emily. "All because Bill and Ben said to wait until tomorrow...that's all they said..."

Thomas swallowed and felt his heart beat solidly as he huffed to the turntable, turned around and buffered up to Emily until his face touched hers, making her look up. He then leaned in and kissed her lips softly, which made Emily hum and croon quietly until he let go with a glimmer in his eyes.

"I assure you, Emily. I will NEVER let anything bad happen to you," he said. "And I would do ANYTHING to make sure of that. As long as I'm right by you, you're safe, my love. As you always have been and will be with me."

"Yes, Thomas. I know, my love," Emily whispered as she kissed his lips in turn.

Then she shut her eyes as she managed to fall asleep. Thomas managed to fall asleep too as he pressed his face gently to hers and held her through the night.

But at the Clay Pits, in their shed, Bill and Ben had not learned very much from Emily or her Safety Engine antics. Ever since their work was finished today, they were still brooding in how much they disdained being told what to do by her, and they started to gossip and conspire...but they weren't alone, as not everyone at the Clay Pits was asleep yet.

"So much for Safety Engine!" Bill huffed. "She's trying to keep us in her queenly ways!"

"Indeed, she is!" Ben agreed. "Had she left us alone, we'd have been useful! We do things right enough without her! But as I said with Fergus, she's just been telling us to do it right!"

"So...we'll see how she likes it! The next time she tells us to do it right..." said Bill.

"We'll do it wrong," Ben smirked.

"Bill and Ben!" Timothy's voice came out sternly. Bill and Ben looked back with a jump in their hearts. "A word!"

"Never mind us," said Bill. "We mean no harm."

"It's just idle talk, Timothy," said Ben.

Timothy came right beside them in their shed. "Idle talk could get you into deep trouble. What if I were the Fat Controller?"

"We're just tired after the day's work," said Bill. "Such a state puts out of place with speaking clearly."

"Indeed, it does," said Timothy. "That's why I'm waiting you both out tonight. I have no shame in saying you two behaved insultingly outlandishly with Emily today. She'll be watching you both again tomorrow, and I know you're up to something or other. If anything happens to her or Thomas, I'll know who to tell...and who to rightfully blame. Now, get to sleep."

With that, Timothy shut his eyes obstinately and went to sleep. Bill and Ben frowned to him for a moment, then grinned to each other as they fell asleep. As Emily assumed this evening, something would indeed happen...something that not even Bill and Ben would expect, or even intend for that matter.

The next morning, Thomas and Emily woke up with a start and realized what they had to do today. They'd have to return to the Clay Pits and weather through Bill and Ben's potential antics once more. Whatever would happen, they would manage it together. And they still held onto that little sensation that something would probably happen. They still didn't know what it would be, but they looked to each other and nodded.

"Let's go, Emily," said Thomas. "Together."

"Yes, Thomas. Together," said Emily.

And so they did. They huffed through Knapford Station, where they saw David and the Fat Controller on the platform. They slowed down as both men looked to both engines. David had of course heard everything and was not too pleased about the matter.

"I hear those little demons have been giving you most embarrassing trouble, Emily," David remarked. "If anything serious happens, I won't hesitate to take part if I must."

Emily gave a single nod to David as she and Thomas whistled through. The Fat Controller watched them go on their way and had a feeling something would or wouldn't happen sometime today. David then returned to work at Arlesburgh, and wait for whatever would come next...

When Thomas and Emily returned to the Clay Pits, things weren't much better, for Bill and Ben had been conjuring to each other and themselves throughout the night as to what they would do next if Emily enforced safety measures again. Thomas and Emily were just about to start work when the Clay Pits Manager addressed them.

"Thomas and Emily, a word if you please," he said.

"What is it, sir?" Thomas asked.

"Marion has been digging much of the stone for you to help manage here," said the Manager. "But around noon today, the workmen will be blasting rock in the deeper areas of the quarry. We will place red flags where it is unsafe to proceed until the 'All Clear' signal is brought forth, so be very mindful."

Thomas and Emily heard this and felt a sense of weariness as they knew safety was absolute key at times like this.

"Oh, we will, sir," said Thomas. "And...Bill and Ben had better be willing to do the same...unlike they were with Fergus."

The Manager shook his head as he looked to the twins. "Thomas, you'd better hope so. I'm no more pleased with their behaviour yesterday than you both are."

Thomas and Emily agreed, then looked to see Bill and Ben waiting for them. Thomas and Emily decided to see how they would take the news and approached them right away.

"Hmph! Look who's back. Thomas and Ms. 'Do-It-Right'! Bill and Ben said indignantly.

"For your information, Bill and Ben," said Thomas. "We were just talking with the Quarry Manager and they'll be blasting rocks in the deeper parts of the quarry around noon."

"So wait for the 'All Clear' signal," said Emily. "As Fergus told you, so I will tell you too. Do it right, and take care."

This was just what Bill and Ben didn't want to hear, and they had little shame in retorting as they did to Fergus to Emily.

"There she goes again! Just like Fergus!" they snorted crossly. "Why don't you keep your funnel out of our quarry?! You're probably just making this up to order us around!"

"My patience with you two is now on a thread!" Emily warned. "The Fat Controller instructed me to keep an eye on all of you! And that is precisely what I am going to do! If you think for one minute that I would make up a tale about blasting, then your domes must be cracked! I'm here to make sure everything runs safely, and that's my last time telling you both that!"

And Emily steamed off to check the other parts of the quarry that were not blocked off with red flags, while Bill and Ben glared immaturely to Emily's direction. Inside, they were thinking their time had come.

"Shall we, Ben?" Bill whispered.

"Yes. Let's do it...wrong," Ben whispered back as he eyed Marion working away.

For some time, Marion was kept busy filling trucks up with rocks...until suddenly, just as she was about to finish loading the last truck, they suddenly rolled away, and Marion's rocks blocked the line.

"Oh! Who did that?" she asked. Then she heard Bill and Ben giggling away.

"Not me! It must have been Thomas. Or maybe Emily!" Bill and Ben said one after the other.

"No, I did not!" Emily retorted as she came huffing up to the small pile of rocks, having seen what they had just done.

"I know, Emily," said Marion. "It was Bill or Ben. They're not being very helpful today, it seems. Even with you and Thomas around, they just aren't pulling their weight."

"Indeed," said Emily. "I can see they're being no help at all, just like Timothy said!"

"Hmph! Well, you're no fun at all, Emily!" Bill complained.

"No more so than Timothy!" Ben added.

"I am so fun!" Emily replied. "But what you're doing is NOT fun in the least! Your mischief and my patience with it is NOT indefinite!"

"Hmph! Stubborn lady, ain't she, Ben?" said Bill.

Emily scoffed irritably and carried on to help Thomas and Timothy. But before long, Marion ended up overloading whatever trucks she was filling, just as she did before when Bill and Ben cited that Timothy was no help at all. At the moment, Thomas and Timothy were busy shunting the loaded trucks about and Emily was keeping an open eye and ear for any announcements about the upcoming blasting...and once again, Bill and Ben were not interested in helping Marion.

"Bill! Ben! Could somebody please help me here?" Marion asked. "These trucks are full, in fact they're very full, in fact, they might be getting too full! They're overflowing! I can't do everything by myself! You're supposed to be helping me!"

"Alright, Marion," said Bill. "And you know who's not helping you at all?"

"Of course! We both do!" said Ben. "It's too bad Emily can't be as much help, what with her always keeping her eye on us and nothing more!"

"I heard that!" Emily hissed and let off steam to Bill and Ben's remarks. She was now getting most irritated. "You know too well that I'm here to ensure safety and precision. Otherwise, you two would get far too out of hand to manage."

To this, Bill and Ben suddenly became even cheekier, and started conjuring up petty comments about Emily's No. 12 that made no sense whatsoever, or just to annoy her nonetheless.

"You really don't stop, do you, Emily!" Bill complained. "The number of times you've been telling us what to do is indeed numerous...like your number!"

"No. 12, they say?" said Ben. "So unoriginal. They only took Thomas and Edward's numbers and strung them together! It probably fits perfectly just the same. The No. 1 for Thomas, of course, and the No. 2 for Edward...always being the spoil sport like he is!"

"Indeed, they did, Bill!" said Ben. "Ms. Big-Wheels here seems to be ordering us about like Edward!"

Emily didn't like any of what she was hearing from Bill and Ben. Not one bit. She refused to back down to their teasing.

"You two ought to be careful," she said sternly. "I've seen how you behaved with us before, and I also recall you behaving quite similarly to this when Fergus came to keep you both in order! You would do well NOT to get into such mischief that you do! I've been keeping everything going safely here since yesterday, by making sure you two don't cause too much trouble!"

At that moment, Thomas and Timothy were coming along the main area of the Clay Pits and could hear the fuss going on between Emily and the twins. When Thomas heard the growing irritation in her voice, he decided he had to look into it himself. Timothy followed him up to Emily as the quarrel began to increase.

"Thomas, Timothy, Marion and I have all been working very hard!" Emily continued strongly. "And while the stone has certainly been delivered nicely so far, neither of you seem to care in the least how important it is to pull your own weight! Whatever lessons you were taught about behaving well, you seem to let go shortly after every escapade you've caused! How hard is it to just do it right, as Fergus says?!"

"Bah!" Bill huffed. "First Fergus, now YOU, Emily! Everything's 'do it right' around here!"

"Indeed! 'Do it right' this! 'Do it right' that! We're fed up with it!" Ben complained rudely. "We ought to just run off with our trucks ourselves!"

"Bill and Ben!" Timothy reprimanded. "I will NOT have that nonsense happen here! Not after your idle talk last night! This is getting silly!"

"I'm not being silly! You are!" Bill urged.

"UHH! You are BOTH being silly and arguably idiotic!" Emily wheeshed. "When there's work to be done and safety to be sure of, all you two ever think about is endless, endless mischief!"

Bill and Ben were getting rather frustrated with Emily's safety antics and reminders, even though it was part of her safety engine stature and it was the most sensible thing to do. They had been kept in line mostly by Edward, and it seemed that Emily carried a similar sense of control that he did, except coming from her, Bill and Ben felt more like they were being told off by a pretentious school teacher...and that's when they decided to carry out their plan.

"Endless mischief, you say, do you, emerald?" Bill smirked sobbingly.

"Well, if that's what you thought before...perhaps we should prove it?" Ben added.

Thomas, Emily, Timothy and Marion all felt their hearts jump for a moment. Then it happened. Bill and Ben smirked at Emily for a moment or two...then looked to each other and whistled. They suddenly started slipping away, right up to Marion. They suddenly took her overflowing trucks away and began racing further into the Clay Pits, with rocks scattering every which way, abandoning the work they had to do. This was the last thing Emily was expecting to see happen, and her patience was now fully withered upon these twins. Even Thomas lost all his patience with their antics, understanding just how Emily felt. She knew she'd have to go after them...but she didn't know just what this would lead into...as it was almost noon by this point.

"Bill-and-Ben!" Emily hissed as she gave chase in their direction. "That's NOT a good idea! Come back here, you little demons!"

"After them!" Thomas urged as he gave chase with Emily. Timothy followed some of the way too.

"Bill and Ben! Get back here and finish your work, or the shipment will get delayed!" Emily demanded.

It seemed to Bill and Ben she was ordering them a lot, although it was the most sensible thing for her to do as Safety Engine, and especially for mischievous tank engines like them.

"Bill and Ben, did you hear me?!" Emily called after them.

"I think they hear you, Emily, but they're not listening!" Thomas whistled.

And indeed, Bill and Ben weren't listening to Emily or Thomas. They were right in the midst of their naughty plan to really annoy Thomas and Emily all they could...but what they didn't know, was just what was going on at that moment further within the Clay Pit walls. Neither twin took Emily's warning about the blasting to heart...nor that the blasting procedure was due to go underway in the upper canyon walls any moment now. Soon, Thomas and Emily caught up with Bill and Ben, chasing them wherever they had to.

"Bill and Ben! I've had quite enough of this nonsense!" Emily demanded. "The Fat Controller WILL hear about this!"

"Come back here, you two! STOP!" Thomas wheeshed angrily as he followed closely behind Emily.

"This is an outrage! NEVER have I seen such naughtiness from either of you!" Timothy shouted out to the twins.

"We may be naughty engines, but we still know how to run away from bossy boilers!" Bill and Ben snorted.

And they took off even faster...right past the red flags that marked the unsafe track!

"NO!" Timothy cried as he screeched to a halt.

But it was no use. In all the speed, chasing and confusion, Thomas, Emily, Bill and Ben had now landed themselves right below the blasting zone above the wall cliffs...right as the scheduled time arrived. In that moment of fate, the explosives were detonated...and when the workmen looked and saw just who was down there...it was too late. In that instant, all the engines heard a loud boom through the air that seemed to shake the rails and the quarry walls every which way. Bill, Ben, Thomas and Emily looked up in horror and saw a massive burst of rocks and dust several dozen yards ahead coming from above. Rocks suddenly came cascading down the quarry walls in all directions.

"Run for your lives!" Bill and Ben squawked as they went as fast as they could and darted right past the falling rockslide like rabbits.

"Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, Noooo! Aah!" Emily wailed as she took off as fast as her large wheels would turn. "Help! Help me-e-e!"

"Emily, quick! Get out of here!" Thomas barked with fright.

Thomas took off faster too, racing behind Emily. They were both in danger of a landslide and they knew they had to get out of there. Emily made a rush along the line to escape the blasting zone with Thomas hurrying right behind her. In the seconds that were uttered in this disaster, Thomas felt as though he were back in Italy rescuing Gina from the rockslide outside the mines and rushed her back to safety. But this time, it was down to him to save Emily from a potentially wretched accident.

Thomas and Emily gaped with fright and could see the rocks falling closer and closer to the line ahead of them, and with great speed and precision, they just managed to slip past the falling rock face before it crashed to the ground right behind them!

There was less than a second of relief before suddenly, another blaring buzz sounded through the air, and another blast suddenly ensued, sending another boom through the air and a giant ball of smoke and flaring light from the cliffs above Emily...and a massive cascade of rocks suddenly began careening down toward her! Thomas watched it all plummeting down with a banging heart in his boiler, as it was all bound to crush Emily if she didn't escape. It was in that instant, with almost less than a second to act, that Thomas made a very fast decision. A choice of sacrifice and effort he would make to save his angel, wife and safety engine.

"Help! He-e-e-l-lp!" Emily cried out in terror as she shook all over.

"EMILY!" Thomas roared as he bulleted up behind her and power-shunted her faster than he ever shunted.

"Faster! Faster, Emily!" he yelled. "Don't look back! Keep running! KEEP RUNNING!"

Thomas raced with Emily through the canyon until Emily managed to leave Thomas' push and race ahead and away...and as she did, that's when it happened. Thomas' driver and fireman jumped clear...while the entire rockslide came battering down on Thomas. Some small rocks, then bigger rocks bumped and banged strongly against his boiler as it slowed him down, then he was stopped right where he was by the cascading rocks. He shouted in pain as he saw Emily disappear around the bend before his view was smothered away by the landslide that buried him deeper and deeper, until a few moments later, the rocks stopped falling, and all went still.

Emily kept racing and whistling away down the line and out of the quarry walls again. But she never stopped rushing, and she didn't look back until she made it back to the entrance of the Clay Pits. She came to a stop and panted hard with adrenaline and sheer relief to have made it out unharmed.

"We made it! We made it, Thomas!" she panted, until she looked and saw she was alone. "We...Thomas!"

Emily suddenly rushed to the wye line that connected to the two tunnel entrances and turned around. Then she doubled back the way she escaped.

"Thomas! Thomas?" she called. "Thomas, answer me!"

Emily kept trailing back along the line toward the scene of the blasting, hoping to find Thomas. Then she came right back around the bend, then came to a sudden stop and gasped with a strong wheeze of shock. There was the massive pile of rocks that had cascaded down her way...and she couldn't see Thomas anywhere. Emily shuddered at the pile of rocks as she could only imagine just how badly banged up he must have been now!

"Thomas...! Thomas, speak to me!" Emily wailed. "Are you alright?! Can you hear me?! Thomas!"

"Ahh...Aahh!" came a most pain-driven cry from under the rocks. "Emily! Are you alright?!"

"Thomas! I'm here, Thomas!" Emily exclaimed. "I'm alright! Are you?"

"I don't know!" Thomas' voice croaked under the rocks. "That was a very close slide...for you...and for me...OW! Please get help!"

Before Emily could dash off, she suddenly heard those two delinquents coming along the line beside her, closely followed by Timothy, Marion and many workmen. They all stared bogglingly at the wreck of rocks that their share of naughtiness had brought upon Thomas and Emily...but despite the severity of the situation, as shocked and abolished as Bill and Ben were, even now they still carried a tiny hint of cheekiness.

"Uh-oh. Twubble," Bill said cheekily and in an innocently mocking manner.

That was finally it for Emily. The last straw. The dome that fit. She slowly turned her eyes right to the twins and began panting angrily.

"You...! You...IDIOTS! You...you FOOLS! AAGH, YO-OU IMBECILES!" she yelled angrily. "YOU CRUSHED HIM UP! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU BOTH TO THE END! This is all just a GAME to you, isn't it?! Well, when it comes to YOUR sorts of games, I am TIRED of playing! You're just a couple of silly, ridiculous CHILDREN!"

Much like Donald and Douglas, Bill and Ben just goggled and gaped to Emily's wrath and unleashing.

"This time, you've REALLY DONE IT, Bill and Ben!" Emily spat. "You're lucky Thomas didn't get destroyed like he almost did to 'Arry and Bert for my sake!"

Bill and Ben had to admit they didn't mean for things to go this far...but they still weren't fully up to accepting their responsibility even now.

"But you are NOT lucky that I don't tell the Fat Controller all about this!" Emily snapped further. "Timothy and Marion, keep an eye on these demons! If they try anything else, you have my permission to escort them to their shed!"

And Emily rushed away in such a hiss of anger. Timothy looked back, then turned his angry glare to Bill and Ben, who were no longer thinking cheekily as they realized once again what they had done, just like they did with Fergus the Traction Engine. They had a feeling of where this could go, but neither of them quite knew exactly what would come next.

Emily rushed all the way back to Knapford Station, where she saw the Fat Controller and David at the platform again. They were both wondering how everything was going at the Clay Pits until they looked up and saw Emily's urgent look as she came to a swift stop and a hiss of steam.

"Emily? What are you doing here? Where's Thomas?" the Fat Controller asked.

Emily panted a little from her fast journey and from what had transpired at the Clay Pits just now, until she spoke up.

"Sir, and David!" she said strongly. "Thomas is in trouble! He just saved me from something you would not believe. You - would - not - BELIEVE!"

And Emily explained everything to the Fat Controller and David right from the start, from when she and Thomas first came to the Clay Pits, to all of Bill and Ben's rude teasing, to their mischief...and then the very danger they put her in, to which Thomas took the danger for her. Then Emily finished and waited. The Fat Controller's eyes glittered crossly and he began pacing the platform with his fingers fidgeting together endlessly. David went very quiet and began looking narrowly beyond the shed in the direction Emily came from. His eyes too were glittering with a sense of fury as he envisioned just what it must have been like for Emily to go through such a fright.

"Outrage! Sabotage!" the Fat Controller suddenly roared. "Those tricky, sneaking, embarrassing rapscallions! Well, I NEVER, EVER DID!"

"THEY thought they could deceive YOU, MY Safety Engine, Emily?!" David barked with a slithering growl. "THIS is some sordid scheme hatched between that miscalculated blasting procedure and those miserable stone-trading tank engine twins! Those sniveling cowards with their tricky games, naughty antics and dangerous mischief! My grudge upon Donald and Douglas was indeed misguided...but those bickering, scampering yellow puffballs...Perhaps it is time I paid THEM a visit!"

"Indeed, David! We must find them at ONCE!" boomed the Fat Controller as they both got onboard Emily.

"We'll need the Breakdown Train too!" Emily added as she rushed through the yards, fetched a flatbed to carry Thomas on, then alerted Judy and Jerome with a loud whistle.

"Emily! What's the matter?" Judy asked with alert.

"Judy! Jerome! Engine in trouble!" Emily urged as she coupled up to them both. "It's Thomas at the Clay Pits!"

"There's no time to lose!" Jerome declared as Emily raced off with the Breakdown Train to help Thomas after his most heroic rescue...

At the scene of disaster, Bill and Ben were still being held where they were by Timothy and Marion, while the workmen did their best to dig and shift some of the rock to dig Thomas out. Timothy held a glare of sheer disapproval to Bill and Ben for what they had done, until they heard Emily's whistle. She came back with the Breakdown Train, and David and the Fat Controller were right in her cab.

"Now we're in trouble," Bill and Ben thought frightfully.

David and the Fat Controller gave one look to Bill and Ben.

"We shall deal with you. Later," the Fat Controller stated briefly and bluntly, his voice shaking with boiling outrage.

For now, Thomas' dig-out had to come first, so Emily, David, the Fat Controller and the other three tank engines watched and waited for some time as Thomas was slowly dug out. It was a long and hard job, and Bill and Ben silently and swiftly brought empty trucks to help clear away the mess, and this time, no one worked harder than Emily to get Thomas out of the wreck. She kept whisking to and from the rockslide with load after load of rocks and stone, until at last, the digging was done...and when Emily came back to see her cobalt hero...everyone could now see the extent of damage Thomas had been dealt.

"Oh...oh...Thomas!" Emily shuddered awfully when she saw the damage for herself. "My Thomas! My beautiful Thomas!"

What Emily and everyone else saw was rather like how she saw him when Rocky hauled him out of Calles' Cavern after he was sent to work on the Harwick Branch Line. He was absolutely covered in dust and stones, his boiler had several dents to count, his side rods were twisted out of place, his funnel was badly cracked out of place, and much like Emily's big tumble, it was now Thomas' turn to be dealt a black eye, which hurt very bad to open. The only difference from his Harwick accident was that his number wasn't covered up in disgrace. This time, Thomas was sitting in the aftermath of a most heroic rescue, even if it had left him badly injured.

Thomas' good eye wearily looked around until he looked to Emily and saw she was truly alright like she said she was.

"Uhh...E-Emily...Sir? David...did...did Emily tell you...?" Thomas groaned painfully, trying to open his black eye, only to groan harder.

"Wow..." David gaped. "You're a true warrior, Thomas. Emily told us everything...and...Thomas, all the thanks in the world are not enough!"

"My greatest and purest congratulations, Thomas," said the Fat Controller. "A most honourable piece of work on your part. You were very brave to take on that landslide and save Emily, our Safety Engine. You are really useful and most loyal and heroic too."

"Th-th...thank you, s-sir," Thomas wheezed through his battered form. "A-anything to ensure my emerald angel and w-wife is safe."

"Ohh...Thomas! Tommy!" Emily gasped. "At the risk of sounding fairy-tale clichéd...you probably saved my life!"

"Always proud...to serve my emerald queen," Thoma smiled weakly before he coughed a cloud of dust from his throat.

David, Emily and the Fat Controller smiled to Thomas. But then, they all turned onto Bill and Ben. Emily, David and the Fat Controller had a great lot to say to these little demons before they'd be finished. Now that the Fat Controller had seen what Bill and Ben had put upon Thomas, he was not happy.

"Emily has told us everything! YOU have behaved BADLY, Bill and Ben!" the Fat Controller scolded with fury. "Do YOU have anything to say for yourselves?!"

"Uh...w-w-...I, uh..." Bill and Ben stuttered hesitantly and hastily. David strode up to them both.

"WHAT KIND OF ENGINES ARE YOU?! HUH?!" he barked. "...That would steal trucks from the engines who work with you...and draw them both, one of them MY engine, right into harm's way? Have you no shame? Truly sickening, you both are! We must follow example with example. We ought to let the Island show their disgust for these two...machines!"

Bill began to protest frightfully and cheekily. "No, Davey! Please, Davey, it was a moment's silliness-"

"QUIET!" David lashed. "Whatever Sir Topham Hatt decides upon you, the punishment will fit the crime!"

"If I may interject, Captain Rider," said Timothy, making David look right to him. "I should bear partial responsibility for Bill and Ben's behaviour."

David strode up to the oil-burning tank engine. "You?"

"Where on Earth are you coming at, Timothy?" the Fat Controller asked sternly.

Emily turned her eyes to Timothy too.

"Last night, I overheard them say they would do things the wrong way," Timothy explained, briefly glimpsing to Emily. "And just today, I overheard them goading Thomas and Emily with rumors and idle threats about running off with their trucks. I admit I should have dealt with them more firmly than I did."

The Fat Controller blinked and turned to David, who took a deep breath in and sighed as he answered.

"...Very well, Timothy, you shall make your amends...by leading them yourself to their prison!"

"Precisely, David. Absolutely abolishing, Bill and Ben! This time, you've both gone TOO far!" the Fat Controller thundered. "Putting Thomas AND Emily, our official Safety Engine in danger like this! MOST atrocious and sickening, to put it mildly! Thomas is the hero today for saving his angel and wife figure, and Sodor's Safety Engine...but as for YOU TWO, you leave me with NO choice but to chain you both up in your shed immediately! I must be a controller that naughty engines fear and respect, and that useful engines trust and look up to! Or the whole railway would end up a big JOKE!"

"For God's Sake, not so loud, Sir Topham," said Bill's driver.

"The quarry manager and the rest of the workmen will hear!" said Ben's driver.

"LET them hear! Let the WHOLE Island know!" the Fat Controller bellowed, pointing to Bill and Ben. "THESE are NOT useful engines! THESE are a couple of CROOKS! You, Timothy, are to escort these two crooks back to their shed immediately! YOU two sneaks are to STAY there until further notice, you are NOT to sneak out at any given time, and you are NOT to be operated in any way, shape or form until further notice! Hopefully THAT will teach you both a lesson you WILL NOT forget! EVER! AM I UNDERSTOOD?!"

"Yes, sir," Timothy answered.

"Y-y-yes...s-s-sir..." Bill and Ben trembled quietly.

They both had to admit they had never been referred to as crooks before. Not even by the Fat Controller, or any controller for that matter. Just like Gordon and James, they weren't cheeky and proud now. They were tiny and powerless.

"Before you're allowed out of your shed again," the Fat Controller continued. "I want you both to think about what it means to be trustworthy, disciplined, honest, mature, responsible and reliable engines!"

"Yes, sir," answered Bill meekly.

"I should hope so too!" the Fat Controller hissed. "It's time for you to GROW UP! In the meantime, Timothy, I'm afraid you and Marion will be immensely busy for a while. Until these two crooks are put back in their place, it's high time we reinvest in truly responsible, reliable and really useful engines like you and Marion for the Quarry and Clay Pits! Not these bickering CLOWNS!"

"Sir," Ben tried to insist, to no avail. "If you'd just give us another chance-"

"You've HAD too many chances!" the Fat Controller cut in. "It's bad enough you put Thomas out of service for a time, but what's worse...neither of you have learnt a single lesson and bothered to keep it before!"

"I should have learned my lesson with Donald and Douglas!" David hissed. "This WHOLE 'arguing-twin-engine' trope is a TOTAL waste of time! Come on, Bill and Ben. We're taking you back to your sheds for immediate incarceration!"

Even now, Ben was still in a slightly cheeky mood. "Hmph! It's always about us being naughty, isn't it?!"

"Stop that cheekiness!" David demanded. "There will be NO childish tank engines on Sir Topham Hatt's Railway!"

"Well, maybe we don't like being part of a railway that has us always getting into trouble...!" Bill whined.

"With all these RULES upon US!" Ben finished even whinier.

"Like it or not, you ARE part of this railway!" David barked angrily. "And until you start acting like trustworthy, disciplined, honest, mature, responsible and reliable engines, you can just get USED to staying in your shed EVERY DAY AND NIGHT!"

And David whipped around with a flail of his coat, marched to Emily's cab and got back onboard. Then the Fat Controller delivered a final blow to the matter.

"David is quite right! Donald and Douglas know how to mostly keep their arguments in check, but you two have been arguing and causing trouble in the same way for too many years with NO changes whatsoever! And after what you've just brought upon Thomas and Emily, it's the last straw and TOO MUCH to manage anymore! Because I'm FORMULATING, okay?! I'm taking in information, I'm processing! I'm eyeing the goods deliveries, I'm looking after the passengers, I make sure the 'work before play,' rule is intact, David and I are keeping up to date on Emily the Safety Engine's progress, and I'm keeping the railway from turning into a complete LAUGHING-STOCK! HOW DO I DO IT?! By weathering the circumstances, boys! Because I'm SIR TOPHAM HATT! Not 'Mr. So-So,' or 'Mr. Mediocre Lad.' SIR-BERTRAM-TOPHAM-HATT!"

Thomas, Emily, Bill, Ben, Timothy, the workmen and David all looked at the Fat Controller and held their breath and stood still for a few moments, taking it all in, until one of them spoke.

"Exceptionally accurate statement, sir...if I may say so, sir," said Emily's driver.

The Fat Controller's exterior presentation ebbed away and he loosened himself up. "...You may, Mr. Dewhurst. You may."

This made Thomas, Emily and Timothy all smile, while Bill and Ben remained shamefully silent.

"Now...back to business. As for you, Thomas," said the Fat Controller. "For pure nerve and outstanding courage in saving Emily, you've earned a very special repair job from Victor and Kevin. Take him to the Steamworks, Emily, please."

"With all haste and safety, sir," said Emily.

While Timothy took Bill and Ben away in disgrace, Thomas was taken on his way to the Steamworks. For the whole journey, despite his battered, weary and injured form, he held a smile of pride and belonging. He certainly hurt in several places, but in the end, it mattered not to him, for just like the red roses he gave Emily whenever he could, his love for her was stronger than any pain. Emily felt her heart jiggling and racing as she took Thomas on their way, not of fear, but relief, surprise, shock and above all, gratitude and love for what her star had done to see to it that she was saved. Emily knew Thomas would do anything for her, but this was her first time experiencing a rescue of this magnitude from her star himself.

Emily brought Thomas right to the Steamworks, where Victor and Kevin were utterly gobsmacked to see him so smashed up, but they were immensely proud of his bravery nonetheless. Thomas was lowered down from the Breakdown Train's flatbed, then hooked onto the Steamworks hauling system and lifted a little off the ground so the repairs could begin.

"I never thought I would hear of a rescue of such bravery and nerve as this," said Victor. "This truly is a glorious day, my friend."

"Victor? Will Thomas be alright?" Emily asked.

"Of course he will, my friend," said Victor. "He's quite battered and dented up, and there won't be any Branch Line runs for a few days. But with an extra crew working through the nights, Thomas is sure to be back in order in less than a week. Keep a stiff upper lip, Emily. They all come in with a whimper, but leave with a grin."

"Thank you, Victor," said Emily. "I think I'll stay here a little while nonetheless, just until Thomas feels enough at home here as long as he needs to be."

"Of course you may bear him company," said Victor. "He more than deserves it after such valiant service to his queen."

So while the workmen looked Thomas over, cleaned him off a little and checked over what needed to be done, Emily stayed right with Thomas, still astonished by what he had done just to protect her. She knew of course that Thomas would do anything to defend her, but she couldn't recall something like this happening to either of them before.

"Oh, Thomas..." Emily said at last. "Thomas...I know we've both had dangerous situations befall us all over the years...but no one's ever saved me from something like that before...and of course, that someone who saves me is you, Tommy."

"Oh. Uhh..." Thomas groaned through his battered state, but still smiled. "It was nothing, Emily. It's no trouble for me if it means keeping my angel and wife safe and happy. So what if I can't be on my Branch Line for a while? As long as it means knowing I saved you, I'm more than happy."

"Mmm," Emily hummed sweetly, blushing happily to Thomas' words. "I've said it many times, Thomas, and I will never stop. You're the absolute sweetest engine I've ever met. I wish you an efficient and speedy repair, Tommy...my handsome cobalt hero."

Then Emily closed her eyes, leaned in and pressed her big, luscious lips right to Thomas' lips, and planted a massive, wet kiss, smooching her lips noisily and humming away until her lips popped off with a happy exclaim.

"Mmm...Mm-hmm...Mmm...Ah!"

When she let go, she had left a big, lovely lip-mark on Thomas' lips, all while he had blushed near mahogany and felt as though his head was swimming. Emily wasn't sure, but to her view, it looked like Thomas' pupils turned into heart shapes as he rolled them in circles.

"Ooh...Emily...my sexy angel..." he said in near ecstasy.

"Bye-bye, Tommy. I'll see you soon...my cobalt hero," Emily swooned sweetly as she left the Steamworks.

And so Thomas' repairs ensued through the evening, through the night and throughout the rest of time it took to repair him. When Emily returned to Tidmouth Sheds that very night, all the engines had heard everything and were all astonished to hear the news too.

"Amazing, Emily! Astonishing! Remarkable!" Rebecca squealed.

"Unbelievable! Fantastical!" Nia exclaimed.

"Thomas, my best friend rescues the best mother on Sodor!" Percy peeped gleefully.

Even Gordon and James had to admit this was a truly astonishing wave of news.

"Quite like I rescued Molly...and got her back after so long," James said admirably.

"Yes. Most impressive," said Gordon. "Most frightful situation to befall you Emily, but a most impressive rescue, nonetheless."

"A close slide, to put it mildly," said Emily. "We can all be endlessly proud of Thomas. So...v...very proud...Ohh..."

Emily trailed off and yawned, for she was so tired and happy, that she fell asleep at once. In the meantime, the Fat Controller and David still maintained a serious and scathing debonair over the matter as they wasted no efforts in spreading the word of what happened at the Clay Pits to the rest of Sodor.

The very next day, at Knapford Station and in Arlesburgh alike, the Fat Controller and David spread the word, bearing photographs of Bill and Ben, and speaking the same words in their own locations to the groups of people they saw.

"These engines are crooks, delinquents and peace disturbers! Two engines caught stealing trucks from Thomas and Emily, and luring them right into a blasting zone, placing our Safety Engine at most undue risk, leading to a successful, but heavily injured rescue on Thomas' account! Make sure you speak your honest and uncompromised thoughts about the matter, and teach these delinquent twins their lesson! Any individual going easy on them will be implicated in cheek and mischief consistent with Bill and Ben's!"

And so, as the day passed, many people in Arlesburgh, at Knapford and the rest of the island spread the word and spent the passing hours thinking deeply and honestly about all they had heard about what happened between Bill, Ben, Thomas and Emily with that close slide. Many sent letters to the Fat Controller, describing their thoughts and opinions about the matter. There were several different feelings and words conveyed through such opinions, but they all agreed on the same line of thought that Bill and Ben had gone much too far with what they had brought upon Emily, and especially Thomas. By the time evening set in, several people gathered at Knapford Station and in Arlesburgh to express a few words to the Fat Controller and David alike about the matter.

"What sort of atrocious engines are these twins?! Treating Emily with such heinous, childish, nonfactual idiocy?!" some said.

"Those are the WORST tank engines I've ever read about in ANY storybook of Thomas!" others said angrily.

"If they can't learn a lesson for the better, I will NEVER ride on any passenger trains they pull ever again!" a few others stated.

"They should give up! Be preserved! Taken out of service!" a small few shouted, to which, David and the Fat Controller drew their lines.

"Enough! ENOUGH, I SAY!" they ordered at Knapford and in Arlesburgh alike, making everyone go quiet and listen. "...I think the lesson is well taken. From this day forth, the next engine messing about in the Clay Pits at such magnitude shall be dashed within their shed, likewise to Bill and Ben!"

The days continued to pass. Thomas' repairs went onwards and forwards, and Emily continued to bask and glow in such gratitude and shining appreciation and fervor for her star rescuing her. Eventually, a few days later, as Victor had assured, Thomas was fully repaired and back in working order, with all his dents, scratches, cracks and parts repaired and reassembled perfectly. But to Thomas, waiting through his repair meant nothing. What made him happy was that he had saved Emily from such an accident himself.

"Good as new, Thomas," Victor said as he was lowered down to the line again. "Better than new, I'd say."

"Thank you, Victor," said Thomas. "I'm just so very happy to have rescued Emily. A close slide for her, but a heroic rescue too."

And just as Thomas finished those words, he heard Emily's whistle. He looked up and there she was, smiling widely to seeing her star out and about again. To see him back in working order after such a painful and broken state before was almost as lovely as seeing a rainbow, which is just what Thomas felt about seeing Emily again himself.

"Hello, Tommy," Emily smiled sweetly. "You're back on track again...and back with your sweet, happy angel!"

"I am, Emily," Thomas beamed as he came forward and kissed her lips strongly and purely.

Thomas and Emily then made their way to Knapford Station to start their day together again. There, they saw the Fat Controller.

"Well, Thomas. It's very good that you're back in business," he remarked. "Everyone heard about your heroic rescue for Emily at the Clay Pits."

"Yes, sir," said Thomas. "I know they did. What did the other engines think, Emily?"

"They were all astounded, Thomas," said Emily. "And Bill and Ben won't be giving anyone any trouble for quite some time, I figure?"

"You're quite right, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "David and I made sure everyone knew and had a say in the matter, and they all agree it was too far for them both...which actually brings me to something quite notable to tell you."

"Oh? What's that, sir?" Thomas asked.

"Well, since you're back in business again, Thomas," said the Fat Controller. "I think it's a good time to tell you both about something else I've done. Particularly for you, Emily."

"Me, sir?" Emily asked. "What is it?"

"Well, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "While Thomas was being repaired, after David and I spread the word and received many people's input on the recent events, I've been checking through my archives and records of the North Western Railway Code. And in light of what happened a few days ago, I thought it best to add something new."

"What's that, sir?" Emily asked.

"Well, given what you were put through when Thomas rescued you...I've added a small extension to the Emerald Law, Emily."

Emily looked right at the Fat Controller and blinked once. "Hmm...Clause 12-B, Title 6, Article 4, Section 39 of the Railway Code. The Emerald Law. What is it now, sir?"

"It is now Clause 12-B, Title 6, Article 4, Section 39...and Paragraph 5," said the Fat Controller. "Such paragraph states, and I quote: 'Anyone who attempts to put, or accidentally puts Emily the No. 12 Safety Engine at risk in any way, shape or form shall be enforced to conform with what it means to be a responsible, reliable engine'. Unquote."

Thomas and Emily looked to each other and bore a steady smile. This was indeed a relevant and meaningful thing to hear after what they had both been through.

"I see, sir," said Thomas. "A very useful and fair input for my Emerald's law, to say the least. Don't you agree, Emily?"

"Oh, of course I agree, Thomas," said Emily. "And thank you, sir. It seems that something very good came to my law as it were, from what Bill and Ben did...even though they are most naughty tank engines indeed."

"Well, as I've said, we can always count on you, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "You really are a tip-top safety engine."

"And she's my tip-top angel and wife figure," Thomas added as he blew a kiss to Emily.

"Hm-hm! Thomas," she giggled and blew a kiss to him in turn.

And so Thomas and Emily carried on with their day, feeling a fair deal better about things now that everything had been put in order...and at the Clay Pits, Bill and Ben were in their sheds, and there they would stay until further notice, cold, lonely and miserable, wishing now that they hadn't been so intensely naughty and reckless. They both thought David and the Fat Controller said quite enough, and they remained completely silent and still for the first time in a very, very long time...while Thomas and Emily would carry on after a most heroic rescue from a close slide.

---

And if anybody wants to complain about how long it's taken to upload this story after the last one, or how I need to have these stories done by a certain time, you can kindly shut up because we've been very busy with other things, and we aren't able to devote every single second to working on these stories, you guys just have to put up with it and have patience; I know a lot of you are patient with us, but we still get comments complaining about how it takes to upload this stuff, and you know well who you are. Fortunately, we have a few other stories that should hopefully come along relatively soon, so look forward to them, and again, you can't do anything about it except just be patient. Now, sure, this story is basically just a rewritten "Bill, Ben and Fergus" from Series 7, but still, I wanted a story where Thomas saves Emily from a landslide and gets caught in it himself, and the whole Bill and Ben plot came up after that, but at least it gave us a chance to use Timothy, since the show itself barely ever did anything with him. Let us know what you thought about this story and we'll see you next time. Stay safe.