Now before I start this chapter, I have something to say about it. In this story, Aisha is assigned to work with Thomas while Bloom is away visiting her mortal parents in Gardenia.

The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 1

Episode 14: Thomas and Bertie's Great Race

One day, Thomas and Aisha were waiting at the junction, when a bus arrived.

"Hello!" said Thomas. "Who are you?"

"I'm Bertie, who are you?"

"I'm Thomas, and this is my good friend, Aisha. I run this branch line.

"So you're Thomas, eh? I remember now, you got stuck in the snow. I took your passengers and Terence the tractor pulled you out. I've come to help you with your passengers today."

"Help me?" said Thomas. "Aisha and I can go faster than you."

"You can't," said Bertie.

"I can!" huffed Thomas.

"I'll race you," said Bertie.

Aisha and Bertie's driver agreed to the race going ahead.

The stationmaster said, "Are you ready? Go!"

Thomas never could go fast at first, and Bertie drew in front.

"Why don't you go fast? Why don't you go fast?" called Annie and Clarabel.

"Wait and see! wait and see!" hissed Thomas.

"He's a long way ahead," they wailed, but Thomas didn't mind. He and Aisha remembered the level crossing.

There was Bertie fuming at the gates while they sailed gaily through. "Goodbye, Bertie!" called Thomas.

After that the road left the railway, so they couldn't see Bertie. Then they had to stop at the station to let off passengers.

"Peep, pip, peep! Quickly, please!" called Thomas, and off they went again.

"Come along! Come along!" sang Thomas.

"We're coming along! We're coming along!" sang Annie and Clarabel.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" panted Thomas. Then he looked ahead.

There was Bertie, tooting triumphantly on his horn.

"Oh, deary me! Oh, deary me!" groaned Thomas.

"Steady, Thomas," said Aisha. "We'll beat Bertie yet."

"We'll beat Bertie yet! we'll beat Bertie yet!" echoed Annie and Clarabel.

"We'll do it! We'll do it!" panted Thomas. "Oh, bother, there's a station."

Then they heard Bertie. "Goodbye, Thomas! You and Aisha must be tired. Sorry I can't stop, we buses have to work, you know. Goodbye!"

"Oh, dear," thought Thomas. "We've lost."

"Don't worry, Thomas," said Aisha. "I have an idea on how we're going to beat Bertie and win the race."

While Thomas was having his drink and listening to Aisha's plan, he felt better. The signal dropped. "Hurrah, we're off! Hurrah, we're off!" puffed Thomas.

As they crossed the bridge, they heard an impatient "honk, honk". There was Bertie waiting at the traffic lights. He started with a roar, and chased on after Thomas and Aisha again.

Now Thomas reached his full speed. Bertie tried hard, but Thomas was too fast. Whistling triumphantly, he plunged into the tunnel, leaving Bertie toiling far behind.

"We've done it! We've done it!" panted Thomas.

"We've done it, hooray! We've done it, hooray!" chanted Aisha, Annie and Clarabel as they whooshed into the last station.

Everyone was there to celebrate Thomas and Aisha's victory. But they gave Bertie a big welcome too.

"Well done, you two," said Bertie. "That was fun, but to beat you over that hill, I should have to grow wings and be an airplane."

They now keep each other very busy. They often talk about their race. But Bertie's passengers don't like being bounced like peas in a frying pan. And Sir Topham Hatt has warned both Thomas and Aisha not to race at dangerous speeds.

So although, between you and me, they would like to have another race, I don't think they ever will. Do you?

The End