A few days later, Toby got out of the Steamworks, and was back to work at once. Thomas and Henrietta were happy he was back.

Henrietta: It's so good to see you again, Toby!

Toby: (chuckles) It's good be back, Henrietta.

Meanwhile, The Fat Controller was in his office. He had gotten another sack of letters, and was reading through them.

STH: (sighs) I don't know how many bags I've gotten since Gordon went to London. (realizes something) Wait a minute. Toby just got out of the Steamworks today, and the other engines are all in good working order. Yes! It's time that I revealed to my engines what I'm up to.

A few days later, Thomas was bringing an evening train of passengers to Knapford. He usually didn't stop at Knapford in the evening, but The Fat Controller had asked him to. When he arrived at the station, he saw Percy, Toby, and Henrietta.

Thomas: (whistles) Hello, everyone!

Percy: Hello, Thomas. Are you going to Tidmouth Sheds after this?

Thomas: Yes I am, why? Are you all going there too?

Toby: We sure are, but I wonder why?

Percy: Maybe The Fat Controller is finally going to explain this big plan of his.

Toby: I hope he does. He's been keeping it a secret for about a month now.

Thomas: (gasps) Look over there, everyone! Look!

Seven engines from the Mainland paraded past them. Percy recognized some of them.

Percy: (gasps, whistles) Hello, Jinty! Hello, Pug, Bill, and Ben.

Jinty & Pug: (whistle back) Hello, Percy!

Bill & Ben: (whistle back) Nice to see you again!

Thomas: How do you know those engines, Percy?

Percy: I met them when I went to Barrow-in-Furness. I don't know who the tender engines are though.

Three tender engines followed behind the tank engines.

Eagle: (whistles) Good evening, you three! Don't we all look splendid?

Toby: Very splendid, indeed. But who are all of you?

Eagle: I'd love to introduce myself, but The Fat Controller needs us all together at Tidmouth Sheds.

Thomas: What is this all about?

Thomas' Driver: I don't know, but if this isn't apart of that plan, I don't know what is. Let's go follow them.

When they made it to the Sheds, The Fat Controller was waiting for them.

STH: Ah, Thomas, Percy, Toby, you're just in time for my big announcement.

Thomas: Does this have to do with your big plan, Sir?

STH: (chuckles) Yes, Thomas, it does. Gather around and I'll explain everything to you.

Soon, all the engines were gathered around the turntable, so The Fat Controller could begin.

STH: As you all know, there are books being written about us on the Mainland, but the people who have read the stories don't think we're real.

Percy: (gasps) Is this why you sent us to the Mainland, Sir?!

Gordon: Shhh! Let him finish, Percy.

STH: (chuckles) Yes, Percy it is. Ever since you, Henry, and Gordon went to the Mainland, I've been getting a lot of letters from children who want to see the rest of my engines. You're all in good working order now, so I've decided that it's time I took you all to England to show everyone we're real. (the engines start cheering and whistling very loudly, The Fat Controller holds his ears) Quiet everyone, please! (the cheering and whistling continues) SILENCE! (everyone stops) Thank you. We're leaving the day after tomorrow at 8AM and will be there for five days. Meanwhile, these engines here have kindly come from the Mainland to do your work while we're away. This is Jinty, Pug, Bill, Ben, Reginald, and Neville. (they all whistle as they're introduced) And finally, I'm sure Edward, Henry, and Gordon will be very happy to see him, but this red engine is Eagle!

Edward: Eagle?! As in...?!

Eagle: (chuckles) That's right, Edward! It's me! (whistles)

Henry: Welcome back to Sodor, Eagle!

Gordon: It's been too long.

Eagle: It sure has been. It'll be great to catch up with you three, as well as The Fat Controller soon.

STH: You all can catch up after I've divided you all up. Thomas, you will show Jinty your Branch Line and work. Percy, you will show Bill the harbor and your work. Toby, you will show Ben the Quarry and your work. Duck, you will show Pug the yard and your work. Gordon, James, and Henry, you will all help show Reginald and Neville the Express, Main Line work, and The Flying Kipper. And finally, Edward, you will show Eagle your Branch Line and work. Please, show them our ways of work tomorrow.

Sodor's Engines: Yes, Sir!

Thomas: (thinks for a moment) Wait, Sir? Will Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta be going to England with us?

STH: Yes, Thomas, they will. That's why I want you and Toby to use other coaches with Jinty and Ben.

Annie, Clarabel, & Henrietta: Hooray!

The next day, the engines were showing the visiting engines their work. Edward and Eagle were having fun catching up with each other.

Eagle: So The Fat Controller retired and was replaced with his son?

Edward: Yes, and recently, the former Fat Controller hasn't been feeling so well.

Eagle: I hope he's ok. What ever happened to Clive, Neil, and Matthew?

Edward: They were sent to India a few years before James and Thomas arrived. the former Fat Controller wasn't doing so wall financially and couldn't keep them in service.

Eagle: It'd be terrible if they were scrapped. Who's that Traction-engine over there?

Edward: That's Trevor. I convinced the Vicar of Wellsworth to save him from being scrapped. (they both stop by his field) Hello, Trevor.

Trevor: Hello, Edward. Who's this?

Eagle: I'm Eagle. I used to work here on the North Western Railway when it was first being built. I was on rent from the Mainland, and went back to it after helping build the railway here.

Edward: He's come back along with a few other engines to help take over our work while we go to England.

Trevor: Wow! That sounds like fun.

Edward: We're leaving from Elsbridge tomorrow at 8AM, if you want to come say bye to us.

Trevor: I'll ask the Vicar, but I'm sure he'll say yes.

Meanwhile, Thomas was showing Jinty his Branch Line.

Thomas: You're doing great, Jinty!

Jinty: Thanks. This is a very nice Branch Line you've got here. You and the others are sure to have fun in England though.

Thomas: You're telling me. I can just imagine all the fans that'll be wanting to see us and to get an autograph from our crews or The Fat Controller.

When they stopped at one of the shunting yards, they could see Bertie. He looked unhappy.

Thomas: Hello, Bertie. What's the matter?

Bertie: (sighs) Hello, Thomas. I heard about you and the other engines going to England.

Thomas: I know! Isn't it exciting?

Bertie: It sounds very exciting, but I just wish me, Terrence, Trevor, and Harold could go with you all. Aren't we all important on Sodor too?

Thomas: Oh, I'm sorry you can't come with us, Bertie, but at least you'll get to say bye to us. We're leaving from Elsbridge tomorrow at 8AM.

Bertie: I'll be there then! Thanks for cheering me up, Thomas!

Jinty: Hey, Thomas? Can you and Bertie tell me how you both met?

Thomas: We've got some time before our next train, so sure. It all started when I accidentally sprayed Bertie with snow one winter.

Bertie: (laughs) I was very angry at you for that, but then I thought you had finally got your comeuppance when you crashed into that snow drift, and I had to take your passengers. I still wanted to pay you out though.

Thomas: So the very next spring, Bertie met me at a junction and challenged me to a race. It was very close, but I beat him. You should've seen it. I rushed through the tunnel and stopped just an inch from the buffers. Like this!

But Thomas was too close to the buffers, and he went too fast. He crashed through the buffers and fence, slid down the hill screaming, and crashed through a brick wall. His Driver and Fireman jumped clear before Thomas slid down the hill, so no one was hurt, but Thomas' front was badly damaged. Bertie and Jinty were shocked.

Jinty: Oh, my! Thomas! Are you okay?!

Thomas: (groans) No! Not really!

Percy brought Judy and Jerome to lift Thomas onto Toby's flatbed. The Fat Controller was very cross.

STH: Honestly, Thomas! What on earth were you thinking?

Thomas: (sighs) I'm really sorry, Sir.

STH: The men at the Steamworks will try to repair you as fast as they can, but if they can't before tomorrow, we'll have to go to England without you.

Thomas: Yes, Sir.

I really wanted this to be the final chapter, but I guess not. The next will definitely be the last one though. So now the engines know why The Fat Controller sent Percy and Henry to the Mainland. Gordon wasn't supposed to go, but it really helped his plan. Reginald is the same tender engine from Gordon Goes Foreign in case some of you don't know and are wondering. In case you're also wondering, Gordon and Duck made amends with him, but I didn't know how to include it without it feeling forced in. Neville is a TVS character who I decided to reference in this story. I'm not sure if he's going to be bought by the railway in my timeline or not though. Bill and Ben working on Sodor while the engines are away will come into play in Main Line Engines. As for Eagle, he's based on Thomas1Edward2Henry3's take on The Red Engine from The Three Railway Engines. Here's a link to his series if you want to know how he handles him: /watch?v=VAKDPFyohrs&list=PL5Blw8fLtRo3ExNK2vLd2cisQVuL0bumI&index=1. With all of that said though, I'll see you all in the final chapter for real this time.