The Inventive Truth

by AaronCottrell97

The "World of Tomorrow" Technology Fair is underway, while Thomas was initially the engine to be worried about new inventions taking over the railway, he soon learns that they have nothing to fear. However, now the all the other members of the Steam Team are worried instead, especially Emily. Among all of the festivities, two crooks are plotting a plan to make themselves rich.

5. Last Day of the Fair

The Technology Fair known as the World of Tomorrow had been running on Sodor for four days now, resulting in various outcomes and opinions from people and engines alike. After Thomas had his chance to see the opening presentations of all the major inventions, Emily had her chance to see them herself following David's explanation of the inventive truth, resulting in her fears of being replaced being resolved once and for all. But now the Fair was due to wrap up in one more day, and before that time would come, something most exciting, urgent and inventive would end up spawning from Ulfstead Castle to a fair deal across the Railway, concerning a chase to get something back, and some of the steam engines of the North Western Railway would soon prove once again that they were all really useful...and everything David had been working towards in secret to deal with Baz, Bernie and Sonny would soon come out in full detail to Emily and the other engines too during this particular chase.

It was very early morning at Vicarstown Station. Only the first rays of sunlight were starting to peek over the horizon. In Vicarstown Sheds, Henry had just woken up, and bore a serious expression. He had been following all the news about the Technology Fair since the beginning, and just the night before, his driver had briefed him on everything David had said through their phone call about Baz, Bernie, Sonny and the establishment that had now been approved by the SPD, which Henry would partake in this very morning, per David's orders.

Henry's driver and fireman soon arrived to get him ready for the day, both bearing a serious look themselves.

"Those two scampering mice can't keep running through the maze," Henry said lowly to himself. "Not with David and I making our way to cut them off."

At that moment, Rosie yawned and woke up, seeing that Henry was already awake.

"What time is it, Henry?" she murmured.

"Not yet sunrise, Rosie," said Henry. "But I have serious work to do at an early start. David has specifically requested that I take his crew along the line today...to search for those three."

Henry had told Rosie about his schedule the night before, and she immediately remembered what Henry was talking about.

"I hope you find those peculiar figures before they do anything distasteful, Henry," said Rosie. "I remember greeting that Sonny character when he first came here...and how rude he was to give me such a vague response."

"Indeed, Rosie," said Henry. "And those two men have no sense at all coming here and posing as cooks under everyone's noses."

Then at that moment, David's voice came shouting from outside the sheds, making Henry and Rosie look up at once.

"Henry! Where is my No. 3 patrol engine? HENRY!"

The shed doors opened and Henry went outside at once. He looked, and there was David waiting in his full naval regalia. Captain's hat, silver and gold medals, cutlass and all. And behind him, all eight members of his crew for the Sea Emperor were standing in a straight group. Henry looked closer and could see all eight crewman wearing a black and white badge with the letter "R," on their shoulders, which was just one of the letters to the abbreviation for David's newfound establishment.

"There you are, Henry," said David. "Bertie gave us all a long, but worthy ride here...and I see you're awake and ready."

"Captain Rider. So you've come," said Henry. "My driver has told me everything...and I am ready for whatever I need to do for Sodor. What is your bidding, Captain?"

David came up to Henry's bufferbeam and gestured to a nearby siding. Henry looked, and as planned, there was indeed a spare Breakdown coach right there, ready to be put to good use. He gave a nod to David, and the navy captain spoke his bidding.

"You will take us all in that Breakdown coach, and we will go at once to search the railway for our fugitives, Baz, Bernie and Sonny. If we find them, whether they have stolen an invention or not, we will catch them off balance and take them into whatever custody I find necessary. As soon as you sight any or all of these fugitives, wherever it may be...you know what to do."

"I hear and obey, Captain," Henry replied.

"O...okay..." Rosie said heavily as she saw David and his crew right now. "Good luck, Henry...and good luck, Captain Rider."

David touched his captain's hat and nodded to Rosie. Henry soon collected the Breakdown coach and six of David's crew got inside at once. Then David and Copper got onboard Henry.

"We're all set now, Rosie," said Henry. "I'll be back later to resume my own work here. But for now, these men need me."

"Very good of you to take us on this patrol, Henry," said David as he leaned out from Henry's cab. "As for that sneaking Sonny and those swines, Baz and Bernie, thinking they can rob the Fair of any of those inventions! They know not of the power of the greatest sailor in the whole of Britain! We'll creep up unnoticed...then BURST upon them!"

And with that firm command, Henry's whistle blew, and he, David and his newfound establishment were off down the line to start their patrol and search out the three fugitives, wherever they would be found.

In Maithwaite Forest, the sun was just starting to rise, and hidden in the deep trees along the line were none other than those three peculiar figures, Baz and Bernie and Sonny. Both men had been biding their time in Maithwaite Forest for the past two days, waiting for the right time to sneak out and get those plans for Ruth's Hover Car hidden in the north tower of Ulfstead Castle, and by now, their plans were just about ready to be put to action.

Baz and Bernie had been huddled in Sonny's cab through the night, and Baz woke up first with a foxy smile. He had everything all worked out, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He looked down and suddenly elbowed Bernie awake.

"What? Oh...it wasn't me," Bernie mumbled sleepily as he woke up.

"Wake up. Wake up!" Baz whispered loudly as he got out of Sonny's cab, came to his front then suddenly stepped roughly on his bufferbeam.

"Huh? What-what?" Sonny uttered as his eyes flickered open. "Baz...Ohh! Baz! W-What do you want?"

"You know fully well what I want!" Baz replied as Bernie came up beside him. "The time has now come, boys. We've hidden here in the shadows for long enough, and I do believe the suspicions are low enough for us to take our chance...and make rich with the plans for that Hover Car."

"Yeah. Uh...rich, right," said Bernie.

"Now...Sonny," Baz emphasized. "Two days since we've taken refuge here...and two days you've had to make your decision. And now, I believe...your time is up. So, out with it! Whom do you serve?"

Then Baz crossed his arms and waited for the response. But through all the talking, planning and persuading over the past two days, Sonny still held firm to his intent not to steal anymore, and instead wanting to be really useful. He shook his head and tried to seem serious as he gave a glare.

"You may think and scheme how you will, Baz...but you have NOT changed my mind by a smidge! All I want is to be really useful and nothing more! I'll have nothing to do with any of your schemes! I'm NOT stealing anything anymore!"

"But stealing things IS really useful," said Bernie, as he had said three nights prior...while Baz hardened his scowl at Sonny.

"Yes, that's right, Bernie," he said quietly. "In spite of your obvious incompetence."

"Oh...uh...thanks. Uh...what's incompetence?" Bernie asked.

Baz was too frustrated to bother answering his posse's most uneducated questions as he paced for a few moments. Then he looked at Sonny again and got right up on his buffer beam, putting both hands on his hips.

"God's Sake, you clanking clot! I am REALLY not enjoying how stubborn and useless you've become! But if we can still use you in any way at all, I suppose this is all worth it. You can't control your own panel without your drivers...which is the two of us. You have no one else after all."

"Yeah. I don't like how useless he is either, Baz," said Bernie. "But if he can help us be rich...I suppose it's all worth it to steal something and be really useful with it."

"Say what you will, Bernie," Sonny glared. "I just hope what I've given you so far is enough to keep you two from tossing me in the pot!"

"Of course it is," said Bernie. "We made a deal with you back on the Mainland to get us here. Didn't we, Baz?"

"You can't trust a thief! You know this as well as I do!" Sonny glowered.

But then, the navy engine suddenly looked frightened when he looked to Baz and saw his glare darkening, and he started cracking his knuckles, clearly planning something else in the spur of the moment. He suddenly smiled thinly to the navy engine.

"Alright, then, Sonny..." he said quietly and cleverly. "I think I see just how you feel...and if this is really how you're taking our plans...I think we can grant you part of your wish."

"What do you mean by that?" Sonny asked suspiciously.

"Perhaps you don't have to help us after all," said Baz. "But we're still bringing you to that castle nonetheless! Perhaps we should find another solution to escape once we have those plans...and leave you for the worst! Come, Bernie! We must be off!"

And before Sonny could say anything else, Baz and Bernie returned to his cab, and soon they were on their way out of Maithwaite Forest and setting off back for the Main Line to slip up to Ulfstead and get those plans. Sonny now felt frightened, not of being scrapped, but what Baz would probably do through by leaving him for the worst...

By this time, Henry was quite a ways away from Vicarstown as he patrolled the line with the Sea Emperor's crew in the Breakdown coach, and David and Copper riding in his cab with his driver and fireman. They soon passed through Crovan's Gate Station and were still keeping an open eye in all directions for any or all of the figures they were after.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Henry said with a sly smile.

They searched onwards and forwards along the line, passing through Kellsthorpe Road Station next, but there was still no trace yet.

"I know those three mice are running around somewhere," said David. "And I'll find them, no doubt about that!"

"They can't be too far if they're on their way to Ulfstead Castle," said Henry.

And they searched even further up the line. David leaned out from Henry's cab and started speaking aloud every few moments.

"Show yourselves, thieves. ...Run and hide all you like. ...You will NOT escape this island, burglars! I hear your breath...I feel your air...Come into the light, where I can get a look at you..."

Further down the line, BoCo had picked up a goods train from Wellsworth and was bringing it along the Main Line towards Maron. He too had heard about the Technology Fair and was considerably intrigued by its aspects, but all the same, he kept on with his work. Then suddenly, he heard a whistle he had never heard before. He looked back and saw Sonny coming along beside him. BoCo was surprised to see an engine like this and didn't know who he was or where he came from. He then looked to the two men inside the cab. They saw BoCo and hastily put their cooks' hats back on and smiled innocently.

"Hmm. Hello there," BoCo greeted to Sonny. But as he did with Rosie, Sonny just grunted insecurely and said nothing as he carried on.

"Hm. What an unusual figure, not to say hello," BoCo stated as he carried on with his work.

By this time, Henry had just passed through Kildane Station and was fairly close to Cronk. David was still looking around and keeping a weather eye...when they suddenly heard an unfamiliar whistle up ahead. David looked up and once, as did Henry, and just around the bend past Cronk Station, their eyes caught sight of what looked like a navy engine...just as Thomas had described to David.

"Henry! Look!" he whispered loudly.

Henry looked up and suddenly hissed with alert. Down the line, Sonny looked ahead and saw Henry, and was suddenly very anxious. Henry was too far away to see the men inside Sonny, but Baz was not happy at all.

"No, no! Back, back, you idiot!" he whispered hastily to Sonny.

Then Sonny reversed and started off back down the line. Henry and David watched him disappear around the bend.

"Who was that?" Henry wondered. "Surely...that had to be..."

"That navy colour! That hard-looking face! It's GOT to be Sonny!" David exclaimed. "And no doubt he has Baz and Bernie with him! Follow him, Henry!"

So Henry picked up speed and went even faster, passing right through Cronk.

By this time, BoCo had just arrived at Maron to deliver his load, when Sonny came reversing swiftly back down the line he came.

"What is going on? You there!" BoCo called.

But Sonny didn't pay any heed. He just rushed right on past and through the station, and on toward the next junction...just as Henry came along Maron and saw BoCo up ahead. David looked out and could see a trail of smoke in the air disappearing just behind BoCo, which gave him an idea.

"Here, Henry. Perhaps he's seen him. He could give us a clue," said David as they came closer. "BoCo! I say, BoCo!"

BoCo looked up and saw Henry and David come up alongside his line.

"Morning, Henry, and David. What are you doing out here with that Breakdown coach?"

"A serious matter is why we're out here," said David. "Did you see a navy blue engine, a tall man and stout man running along here?"

"Hmm...Yes. They passed me by only a few minutes ago," BoCo answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Because they're bad news, BoCo," said Henry. "Those two men are scheming to steal an invention from the Technology Fair at Ulfstead Castle. Did you see where they went from here?"

"Oh...they're thieves, are they?" BoCo frowned. "Well, then. They came rushing back here very quickly, and they went that way...no doubt heading for Ulfstead Castle now."

"Thank you, BoCo," said David. "We'll get them. We'll get them."

And Henry passed through Maron, and came to the junction that would lead to Ulfstead Castle. The points were set and Henry was now heading north for the line that would lead to the castle. But he hadn't gone far up that line before David leaned out of his cab again.

"Stop," he ordered. Henry slowed down and stopped, then looked back.

"What are we doing here, David? Shouldn't we be getting up to the castle and stopping that engine?"

"Hmm...I don't think so, Henry," said David. "This is an undercover maneuver. We're going to wait here and stake out those thieves' plan. Most likely, Sonny will come rushing back along this line and helping those two escape...but he won't be going beyond this point. He'll play right into your buffers. You wait and see."

And so they did. Henry, David and his crew stayed right where they were, and there they would wait...until the time came.

By this time, the rest of the engines were awake and going about their day. Gordon and Rebecca were looking after passengers as usual, James and Nia were taking more goods runs, Percy was taking the mail again, and Thomas had just collected his goods train from Knapford Station, where the Fat Controller told him it was the last day of the Fair and what they would be doing that very night. Thomas was excited to hear this, and was still happy that Emily was feeling much better about the Technology Fair, and she had been having a most enjoyable time seeing all the inventions for herself, and even building on a friendship with Ruth. At that moment, Emily whistled in beside him to start her work.

"Hello, Emily," said Thomas. "So nice to see you feeling much better about the Fair."

But now, I can't believe it's the last day of the World of Tomorrow."

"Hello, Thomas," said Emily. "This whole Fair has been quite something for us all...and now, today is the last day of the Fair."

"Yes, Emily," said Thomas. "The Fat Controller just told me what they'll be doing...and what I'll be doing too."

"Oh? What might that be, Thomas?" asked Emily.

"First, I'll be doing a short goods run on my Branch Line to Elsbridge," said Thomas. "Then I'm taking one more load of food for the Fairgrounds. Today is the last chance everyone will have to admire the inventions, and the Fat Controller says they'll be setting off fireworks tonight for the finale."

"Ooh! I like the sound of that, Thomas," Emily bubbled with a smile.

"Just as well, since we all want it to end on a high note," Thomas added, but then sounded nervous. "That is...if nothing goes wrong to interrupt it all. I really hope nothing goes wrong at the last moment...because I'm getting this weird little feeling."

"What do you mean, Thomas? And what's making you nervous all of a sudden?" Emily asked.

Thomas looked at Emily with a nervous look in his eyes.

"I think we should both keep a little alert, Emily," he said. "Because I have this little feeling that although the Fair is very close to ending, something is going to happen. Baz, Bernie and Sonny haven't been seen for a few days now, and as I told you yesterday, they're sure to be hiding from sight, and waiting to spring out and steal something from that Fair...even if Sonny doesn't want anything to do with it."

Emily sighed heavily, feeling her heart pulse a little nervously too. She had her own suspicions growing a little bit herself.

"You know, Thomas...I think you're right. I've had a little feeling tweaking in my boiler too...and if what you think you saw and heard that night is true, I have a sneaking suspicion that they just might try and do something under all our noses...and make off with one of those inventions. But which one? The Mighty Magnet? The Milkshake Machine? The Metal Man...or Ruth's Hover Car?"

"I don't know, Emily. I don't know," said Thomas. "I say we both keep a sharp eye out in case anything happens. As Sodor's Safety Engine, I know we can rely on you."

"Yes, Thomas. You can indeed," said Emily. "But whatever happens today, I'm just so glad to have seen the inventions while I could, thanks to you and David. I'll be sure to be there tonight once my work is done. Those fireworks would be a most lovely send-off for it all."

"And I look forward to seeing it with you, my love," said Thomas. "Let's get through today...and see what comes of it."

"You're on, Thomas," Emily said with a steady smile.

Then Thomas set off for his Branch Line, while Emily collected her own goods train and set off on her own way. She and Thomas went along side by side for a little while until their lines parted and they went their own ways for the day, whistling goodbye to each other. Emily kept on with her duties, and Thomas soon finished his run to Elsbridge, then collected the food supplies and started making his way for Ulfstead Castle...but a most shocking surprise was only a few steps away for Thomas and Emily, as well as a few others who were destined to get caught up in all the rush and excitement in just a little more matter of time.

Sure enough, Baz, Bernie and Sonny made it back to the castle and looked around. After two days of hiding from everyone else, their goal to swipe those plans was so very close...and much to their scheming favour, no one had arrived yet. Not even Sir Robert and Ruth were anywhere to be seen yet. Perfect for both thieves to slip in and get what they were after...but Sonny, who had been keeping absolutely silent all this time held a frown of disapproval for what these two were about to do.

"Bingo!" Baz whispered as he and Bernie came out. "No one is here yet. Those plans are ours...just as we had planned out...eh, Sonny? Once more...won't you be a cooperative little steamie, and be really useful...just like Bernie said?"

Sonny shot his frown right at Baz.

"I am NOT helping you escape with those plans!" he snapped. "You'll have to find your own way...but you WILL be caught! And when you are, the police will see you both thrown in the dungeons!"

Baz angrily pounded his palm with his fist and tried once more. "Sonny, this is your last chance! Help us, or be left for the worst!"

"I-will-NOT!" Sonny barked. "You are no friends to me now! I am done-done-DONE!"

This made Baz very cross, and let out a strong growl of incense.

"Betrayal! Bernie! Into the castle! We'll get the plans ourselves!"

"Right with you, Baz!" Bernie answered. But before that, Baz turned back to Sonny.

"As for you...!"

Baz suddenly went inside Sonny's cab, who suddenly felt like something was being tied on, and he felt his regulator open. Then Baz came out again.

"What happened? What did you just do to me?!" Sonny asked, looking most worried.

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," Baz said ominously. "Let it teach you to ask favors for those who may get in our way! With me, Bernie!"

Then both men dashed toward the castle, hiding behind tents as they went. Then Sir Robert and Ruth came out of the castle to welcome the first arriving guests. As soon as they had a clear shot, Baz and Bernie dashed through the castle gates, while Sonny waited and worried as to what Baz could have done inside his cab.

Baz and Bernie hastily got inside the tower, then climbed right up the stairs to the top. Baz looked around, and then, right where he saw Sir Robert and Ruth put them a few days ago, there was the crate containing the very thing he had been waiting to take. With Bernie's help, they broke the lid of the crate off, and there inside was a black leather bag, stuffed with the plans for the Hover Car. Almost smelling the fortune already, Baz rubbed his palms together and snickered in triumph.

"Here they are, Bernie!" he snickered. "At last! Just look at them! Once we sell these, these plans will make us rich! Filthy rich! He-he-he! I got what I want! But now...whom to use to get out of here, if not that clanking clot?"

"Uhh...Baz?" said Bernie, pointing out the window. "What about that one?"

Baz looked down from the window...and just outside the castle walls, there was Kenji doing his usual loops with his electric system, as he did on the first night of the Fair. Baz and Bernie immediately remembered seeing him on the very first night of the Fair. At the time, neither of them knew quite yet if and how they would use Kenji, but now they immediately saw a much better chance to escape than using Sonny.

"Oh, this is delicious! This is divine!" Baz snickered with joy. "Looks like you did something even semi-intelligent for once, Bernie. But look! There's the Earl at the platform! And his sunny little inventor friend! Come quickly, Bernie!"

Baz dashed out of the tower, dragging Bernie with him down the stairs. They tore out through the castle gate and hid behind another tent, just as Ruth went walking inside the castle walls again to check on her plans again. She went inside the tower and up the stairs to the top...but when she turned to look in the corner, a most heart-pounding sight met her eyes and she stopped dead in her tracks. The sight of a broken...and empty crate, with no plans!

"Wh...what...wh...where are my plans?! Ohh! Oh, they're gone!" Ruth panicked, then dashed out of the tower and down the stairs again.

Meanwhile, Baz and Bernie managed to sneak a little further away from the castle, and were now hiding behind one of the tents, eying Sonny as he continued to sit where he was. Then Baz looked around to see if the coast was clear...and that's when Thomas came by with the last round of food supplies for the Fair. It was now or never for the two thieves now.

"Come on!" Baz whispered to Bernie. "Let's get out of here!"

And off they snuck in the other direction...towards Kenji's line. At that moment, Thomas was stopping at the platform, still thinking off and on if something would happen or not...and he didn't see yet that Sonny suddenly set off from the station. Slowly at first, then faster and faster...

"Good morning, Thomas," said Sir Robert.

"Good morning, Sir Robert," said Thomas. "I've got the food supplies."

Then in that moment of urgency and inventive chance, Ruth came running in a great panic.

"Sir Robert! The plans for the Hover Car! They've been stolen!"

Thomas heard Ruth and suddenly felt his heart pound with alarm and urgency. His little feelings of something happening had now come true.

"Oh, no!" he gasped.

"But...who would do such a thing?" Sir Robert asked worriedly.

Then Ruth looked ahead and gasped. "Look!"

Thomas looked too...and there was Sonny puffing away down the line, and out of the castle grounds! In that moment, Thomas was even more shocked as he remembered seeing him that night. He knew Sonny to be a shifty, uncertain engine before, but now, it seemed even more urgent.

"Sonny?!" Thomas whistled. "Don't worry, Ruth! I'LL stop him!"

As Sir Robert ran to telephone for the Fat Controller, Thomas raced out of the castle grounds, through the gates and down the hill to stop the runaway engine. Sonny was whipping down the hill at a terrific speed, as was Thomas, quite like Emily and Caitlin did when her brakes failed and Emily saved her.

"I KNEW there was something strange about him!" Thomas huffed, feeling as though his suspicions were fully confirmed all this time.

Sonny soon raced down the last hill where Emily stopped Caitlin, but Thomas was rushing up behind. Foot by foot, yard by yard, he gained on Sonny until he was only a few meters away from catching him. Then suddenly...

"Points!" Thomas called as he switched to the line beside Sonny.

"I'm sorry, Thoma-a-as!" Sonny called with regret and shame.

At that moment, Thomas' driver brought out a rope with a noose tied at the end of it. He lassoed it like a cowboy, and then, just like the inspector did with the rope and crook of the shunter's pole to stop James on runaway, Thomas' driver threw the rope out and looped it around Sonny's buffer.

"There! Got you!" Thomas called as he braked hard to slow Sonny down. Then with a daring but careful jump, Thomas' driver leapt to Sonny's cab and realized he had no driver...and that his regulator was tied on by a knotted rope. He took it off at once, then closed the regulator, applying Sonny's brakes and slowing him down until both engines stopped.

"His regulator was tied on!" Thomas' driver exclaimed as he stepped down.

"I'm so sorry! Baz and Bernie made me do it," said Sonny. "It's because...I wouldn't help them steal the plans!"

"The two cooks? But where are they?" Thomas asked with alarm.

At that instant at Ulfstead Castle, while Ruth and Sir Robert were waiting and worrying over the stolen plans, there came a mighty crackle of electricity...and Kenji came shooting out of the station and off his electric wires like a rocket, crying out in fear and panic, just as the Fat Controller came along in Winston, having heard some of the panic.

"What's going on?!" he asked.

"Those two crooks have STOLEN Ruth's plans!" Sir Robert barked crossly.

"Stolen?! Well, then!" said the Fat Controller. "We'll have to get inventive to stop them! Get me that Metal Man. I'm sure its manual seat can be managed by me!"

"Aaahh!" Kenji yelled as he tore along the line.

And indeed, Baz and Bernie were inside. Baz was villainously clutching Ruth's plans and smirking in triumph, while Bernie just took in the view with a breathless smile of awe.

"Whoa! Help me, Thomas!" Kenji howled as he shot past the two tank engines like a torpedo.

"Baz and Bernie are escaping in Kenji!" Sonny exclaimed.

"I'll stop them!" Thomas declared.

"But he's the fastest engine in the world!"

"Don't worry. I've got an idea," said Thomas as he set off again...

But not far from where Thomas and Sonny were, just a few moments earlier, Emily was huffing up the middle line after passing Maron, having finished her work and now wanted to see how Thomas was doing. That's when she looked ahead and saw Henry on the left line with a Breakdown coach.

"Oh. Hello, Henry," she said curiously. "How are you keeping?"

"Oh! Hello, Emily," said Henry, noticing her at once. "I...I'm alright, thank you. How are you?"

"I'm going to see how Thomas is doing with his last load for the Fair."

And Emily huffed right on by. Henry watched her go on...just as David peeked out from his cab.

"Hmm..." said Henry. "Now something really is going to happen..."

Emily kept going up along the line towards Ulfstead, but she besides wanting to see Thomas, she was also keeping a subtle eye out for any trouble concerning those three.

"Oh...I do hope nothing has happened with any inventions," Emily said to herself. "Thomas should probably be careful...and what was Henry doing with that Breakdown coach, I wonder?"

Then suddenly, she heard a heard a shriek of speed up ahead. Emily looked up at once, and still crying out in fright was Kenji!

"HELP ME!" he shouted.

In that very instant, Emily's heart almost jumped out of her boiler, and her mindset had changed at once. In the fraction of a second that she had, Emily looked and was sure she saw two men grinning away in Kenji's cab, but then she gasped and yelped loudly as Kenji bulleted right past her with such force, that she shook and swayed left and right.

"Who-o-o-a! Wh-wh-wh...What the Hell was that?!" Emily exclaimed. "I've GOT to get up there! Thomas! Thomas!"

And she began racing up the line as fast as she could...while Henry and David kept waiting where they were. Then right out of nowhere, Henry heard shriek of speed, and in that instant, Kenji suddenly shot right past him too!"

"Ahh! Whoa! What was that?!" Henry exclaimed. "That must have been Kenji from the Fair!"

From his cab, David had seen just what happened, and now his time had come. "Emergency, Henry! Get up that line! Now's the time! GO!"

So Henry started with a roar and charged down the line, while David's crew got ready inside their coach.

Meanwhile, Emily was hurrying along the line in a shaky state and a reddening face, feeling her heart racing with worry, shock and fear as to what this could all mean. Then suddenly, as she looked up again, there was Thomas hurrying right towards her!

"Who-o-oa! Look out, Emily!" Thomas cried as he applied the brakes.

"Thomas! Whoa!" Emily cried.

She applied her brakes hard, and just in time, they stopped just before each other's buffers and looked up again. Both engines' eyes were as large as dinner plates, and Thomas had a very strong feeling that Emily had just seen Kenji too.

"Emily! Emily!" Thomas exclaimed. "Did you-"

"Thomas! Thomas!" Emily spoke urgently as she began pushing Thomas back the way he came. "I just saw Kenji fire right past me! What's happening?!"

"Quick version, Ruth's plans have been stolen!" said Thomas. "Those crooks have taken them on Kenji! And you're pushing me the wrong way! I need to get help and...Emily?"

Thomas saw that Emily glanced over to her left and suddenly looked absorbed as she slowed down again and stopped. Thomas looked and saw she had pushed him right back beside Sonny.

"Thomas? What are you doing back here?" asked Sonny. "And who is this lassie?"

"I can't explain everything now, Sonny! I just ran into her!" Thomas urged.

"You there..." Emily said to the new engine. "Are you Sonny?"

"Yes. Yes, I am, lassie," said Sonny. "How did you know?"

"Well, I'm Emily. Thomas told me about you...and about Baz and Bernie!" Emily exclaimed. "Were those them in Kenji?"

"Yes! Baz and Bernie have stolen Ruth's plans for her Hover Car!" Sonny exclaimed.

"And they're likely off to escape Sodor and make off with her plans and get rich!" Thomas panicked. "We HAVE to find a way to stop them! I'm going back to Ulfstead Castle, so I can-"

Before Thomas could finish, Henry suddenly rushed up beside Emily's line, then saw who was on his line.

"There he is! Right in line!" Henry hissed as his driver leaned out and pointed.

"Get that thief, Henry! CHARGE!" he yelled as he ushered Henry even closer, then hastily biffed into Sonny.

"Ow! Ooh!" cried Sonny.

"Stop right there, you thief, you!" Henry wheeshed angrily.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Henry! What are you doing out here?!" Thomas asked urgently. "And just what do you think you're doing to Sonny?!"

Then to Emily's shock, she saw the Breakdown coach's door open, and the whole Sea Emperor's crew came charging out. They swarmed around Sonny while Henry's driver and fireman jumped down and took grip of Sonny's buffers.

"Oi! Wait here! What are you all doing to me?!" Sonny panicked.

"YOU'RE not going anywhere, you filthy, slimy, mangy cur!" snapped Henry's driver.

"Your plan was sound, but quite predictable, Sonny!" snapped Jordan, the Sea Emperor's bosun. "Too predictable to escape red-handed with!"

"Stop it! That's enough!" Emily demanded, who was increasingly alarmed by this surprise. "Crew of the Sea Emperor, WHAT are you all doing here, and WHY are you all being so combative with this engine?!"

Then to Thomas and Emily's surprise, David and Copper stepped down from Henry's cab. Emily recognized David's full naval regalia at once, and when she saw the letter "R," on his crew's shoulders, she felt her heart jump in a particular manner.

"You should not have come here without the Mainland's clearance...Sonny!" David scolded accusingly.

"David!" Thomas exclaimed. "What's going on here?"

"Yes, indeed, what's going on?" Emily asked with growing suspicion. "And why are all your men wearing the letter "R," on their shoulders, I want to know?"

"A...a navy captain?" Sonny noticed, considerably astonished to see such a person. "How do you know my name?"

David glared at Sonny and marched forward.

"Thomas told me everything I need to know about you, even if you don't know MY name or that I belong to it! I'm Captain Rider! And Captain Rider means...me! Henry and I saw you and your thieving friends rushing up to the castle! We knew something was strange about you, and now...well, it looks like this is the end of the line for you! Excellent work, boys. And well done, Henry. We have one of our targets so far. Bind his buffers!"

Copper saluted to David, then while the rest of the Sea Emperor's crew returned to the coach, Copper hastily hitched a chain from Henry's coupling to Sonny's coupling, then Henry started pulling him away.

"You're coming with us, you little sneak!" Copper said severely to Sonny.

"No! WAIT, NO!" Thomas yelled. "Henry, let him go! Sonny, don't struggle! Sonny, listen to me!"

"Thoma-a-a-a-as!" Sonny wailed despairingly.

"Henry, did you not HEAR me?!" Thomas barked.

"Leave him, Thomas. He's not worth your trouble when he conspires with thieves!" Henry replied as he kept hauling Sonny away.

"Henry-" Emily tried to speak, but David stepped in her way, making her stop.

"Uh-uh-uh! Not too close," he checked, holding out his hand.

"David, Sonny is not a threat! He was under Baz and Bernie's grip!" Emily protested.

"He's a shady and unchecked steam terrestrial," David replied bluntly. "And his days of aiding and abetting those two crooks are over. Henry, secure him in the out-of-use siding until we can investigate him further."

And Henry obeyed David's command. "With pleasure."

"You're making a mistake!" Sonny said desperately as Henry took him away.

"Bah! No time for this now!" huffed Thomas. "I HAVE to get my idea running! You talk to David, Emily!"

And Thomas huffed backwards, and off back to the castle.

"You'll have to zip like lighting to catch Kenji, Thomas," David called to him. But then Emily's irritated tone of voice made him look to her.

"Hold it right there, David Rider!" she scolded. "I WILL NOT let this ridiculous insanity slip by! I have just been rekindled with reassurance of our true usefulness, this is supposed to be the last day of the Technology Fair, Thomas just stopped a runaway engine, Kenji just shot right past me, and you're going to explain to me what the MOTHER OF AUNT-BETSY-HELL is going on here!"

And right on cue, David got straight to explaining what he had been keeping secret for some time.

"After Thomas informed me about Sonny and those crooks, an individual enforcement among the Sea Emperor's crew was established. Whenever they're not busy on the harbour, this enforcement is devoted to protecting Sodor's civilians and engines from even the smallest threats. That day, Resourceful Interception of Fierce Lawbreakers Elite was born."

When Emily figured out the abbreviation, she was indeed exasperated and cast a most deadbeat expression.

"R-I-F-L-E...seriously, David!"

"Rifle, yes," David replied.

"What about protecting Sodor from atrocities like Sailor John?!" Emily emphasized.

David's expression hardened. "Sailor John is dead."

"Yes. But Sonny is NOT the atrocity you're looking for!" Emily replied. "Baz and Bernie have stolen Ruth's Hover Car plans! And you just hauled away the only one who can fully explain what those crooks really are."

David looked inward for a moment, realizing his mistake. He then drew a radio and tapped into Phelps and Gallagher's radios.

"Sounds like Baz and Bernie are on the run in Kenji with Ruth's plans. If it's true, I want them located immediately."

David glanced back at Emily for a moment, who maintained her direct stare at him. Then he spoke a little more.

"And inform Henry and my crew that Sonny may yet be of some use to us. Thanks to Emily's golden sensibility, I see a little change in plans."

"Verify, you want to switch targets, over?" Phelps radioed back.

"Trust me, Dan," said David. "THESE are the ones we're looking for. I'll follow their trail as best I can."

David then put the radio in his pocket and looked back to Emily. He saw her smiling already as he tipped his captain's hat to her, and jumped into her cab.

"Thank you, David," she said gallantly. "When this foolishness is stopped...I believe he deserves a second chance."

"Let his explanations be the judge of that later," said David. "At the given moment...we've got a train to catch!"

And off she steamed to reach Ulfstead Castle, turn around, then follow Kenji's path.

Meanwhile, Gordon and Rebecca had stopped at Maron Station, with Gordon trying to forget about all his worries about the inventions, when suddenly, Kenji shot right through like a torpedo!

"Whoa! There's no need to go that fast!" Rebecca exclaimed.

"Huh! That's just showing off!" huffed Gordon.

Meanwhile, Thomas had returned to Ulfstead Castle and had coupled himself up to the Booster Rocket he had saved on the first day of the fair. He had explained everything, and now, Professor Friedrich had it all worked out.

"Fire all burners, professor!" Thomas commanded.

"I give you maximum BOOST!" he declared.

The button pushed, and just like before, the Booster Rocket powered up and once, and sent Thomas screeching down the track at super-sonic speed!

"WHOA!" Thomas roared as he switched to Kenji's line. Then he looked and saw Emily and David coming along the line beside him.

"Emily! Oh, Glory! Look at THAT!" David yelled.

"Thomas! THOMAS!" Emily yelled with pure shock to see him bulleting so fast.

"WHOA, BOY!" Thomas yelled as he shot past Emily.

"Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho!" she almost giggled. "Thomas! Looks like YOU'RE the fastest engine on Sodor today!"

"We've no chance of keeping up with that, Emily," said David. "But we'd best follow his line once you're turned around."

And he and Emily hurried back to the castle.

Meanwhile, in almost no time at all, Thomas went torpedoing right past Maron himself, right past Gordon and Rebecca.

"Whoa! Even Thomas is going faster than us today!" Rebecca exclaimed.

"Oh, the Indignity!" Gordon huffed.

"Quick , you two!" Thomas yelled behind him. "They're getting away with Ruth's plans!"

"Oh, no!" Rebecca exclaimed. "Come on, Gordon! Let's go!"

"Uncouple my coaches!" Gordon commanded.

And Gordon and Rebecca were soon rushing down the line themselves, trying to keep up with Thomas' speed, but without much success at the moment.

Meanwhile, Kenji screeched along the line, but without his electric wires to power him further, he was slowly running out of speed.

"Baz!" Bernie noticed as the speedometer went lower and lower. "We're running out of speed!"

"We'll need to get rid of the passenger coach!" Baz declared. "It's slowing us down! Climb over there, Bernie!"

Bernie did so.

"Now...pull off the hook!"

Bernie pulled and tugged, and sure enough, Kenji was disconnected from his passenger coach...with Bernie still in it.

"Uh...Baz?" he called.

"Oh, dear!" Baz declared sarcastically. "He's gone off on his own...one less to share with!"

And secretly, that was exactly what Baz had in mind all along. To him, Bernie was nothing more than a scapegoat, just like Sonny was to him too...but little did Baz know this would prove to be a huge mistake.

Thomas kept torpedoing along the line with the Booster Rocket, trying to catch up with Kenji. He was just about there, when he saw the passenger coach slowing down and blocking his way.

"Oh, NO!" Thomas cried.

He had no choice but to slow down. The professor reduced the Booster Rocket's engine fuselage and Thomas bumped into Kenji's coach slowly enough to prevent a crash, while Gordon and Rebecca rushed on past.

"Don't worry, Thomas! We'll catch him!" Gordon called.

"Come on, professor!" Thomas urged. "We HAVE to get this coach out of my way!"

"To the next set of points, then, Thomas. Then I give you maximum boost AGAIN!"

Gordon and Rebecca chased after Kenji as he tore further and further along the line.

"Help me!" Kenji cried.

"He's heading for the airport!" Rebecca cried.

"Not if I can help it!" Gordon declared. "POINTS!"

And Gordon switched to the line beside Kenji, but in the speedy chaos and confusion, Kenji was suddenly switched right on the next set of points, and intercepted Gordon in a shower of sparks, sending him bumping and jostling off the rails and derailing. In that instant, Gordon felt sheer disgrace and defeat.

"Oh, NO! He's getting away!" Gordon bellowed.

But even now, Kenji was going slower and slower, sending Baz into more and more impatience and panic.

"What? What's happening?!" Baz exclaimed as he cranked the lever. "Can't you go any faster?!"

"Not without electricity!" Kenji replied.

Then Baz saw Ruth soaring right alongside him in her Hover Car.

"Oh, no," he grumbled. "Not another one!"

Ruth was right beside Kenji, just about ready to catch him, when Baz suddenly smiled when he saw a tunnel up ahead. Ruth had to pull up and out of the way while Kenji shot through.

"He-he-he-he! She won't stop me! I'm the Master Criminal! The Big Cheese! The...oh, no!"

Just as Kenji shout out of the tunnel again, Sir Robert came roaring out of the sky in the Road Plane, and draped the Fair's banner right over Kenji's face and cab windows.

"I can't see! Get off!" Kenji panicked. Neither could Baz. Kenji managed to blow the banner off his face and look ahead. "Oh, no!"

Up ahead, he and Baz looked, and there was the Giant Metal Man, being driven by the Fat Controller.

"Oh, I don't believe this," Baz huffed.

But even with the Giant Metal Man stepping in the way, Kenji shot right past it like it was toy, swiveling the Fat Controller around in circles.

"Hold that! Wait! Stop!" the Fat Controller called as he tried to regain control.

"Ha-ha! So much for modern technology. NOTHING can stop me now!"

But Baz had spoken too soon. Thomas came whistling up alongside Kenji with the Booster Rocket, finally having caught up.

"What about one of the best inventions ever?!" he yelled as he overtook Kenji.

"A Booster Rocket?!" exclaimed Baz.

"No! The No. 1 Engine!" Thomas yelled.

And at the precise perfect moment, Thomas switched away from the Booster Rocket, and onto Kenji's line.

"Thomas! You've come to rescue me!" Kenji smiled.

At the speed he was going, Kenji bumped into Thomas, who then applied his brakes, until at last, all was completely still. Thomas had stopped Kenji, and at that moment, Rebecca came up behind him.

"Phew! Thank you, Thomas!" Kenji gasped gratefully.

Baz could see Kenji could go no further, and was indeed very cross...and in that moment, there was nothing left to drive him forward, except pure, spiteful desperation. He banged the control panel in frustration, opened the door and tried to take flight on foot. Thomas, Kenji and Rebecca watched as he tried to fun and flee, but not ten paces into his retreat, Baz bumped into a giant metal leg and stopped...then looked up.

"Oh, no you don't!" the Fat Controller boomed, working the Metal Man's hands like claws.

Baz yelled in blatant cowardice and tried to run the other way, only for Ruth to pull up beside him, then Sir Robert too, but Baz kept ditching and going around them.

"Going somewhere?!" Ruth called irritably.

"Stop right THERE!" Sir Robert demanded.

Baz kept running and scurrying around like a mouse, until he stopped again...and saw who else had just arrived.

"Hello, hello, hello," said a policeman ominously, with another one right next to him.

Baz darted his eyes around and saw he was surrounded. The police, Ruth, Sir Robert and Thomas' crew all had him cornered. But even now, in absolute desperation and cowardly spite, Baz tried to wash his hands of any and all responsibility.

"Uh-oh! Wh-I...I don't know what you lot are after me for!" he jested. "I haven't done nothing! It was Bernie what stole the plans! I-I tried to stop him!"

But even as he spoke, Bernie had caught up and came hobbling over, panting and letting out the very evidence the police needed.

"Baz! Baz!" he panted. "Have you still got the stolen plans?"

All Baz could do was face-palm himself at the blatantly obvious stupidity of his posse...while Ruth snatched back her plans.

"I'LL take those," she fumed.

For just a moment more, Sir Robert, the Fat Controller, Thomas and his crew, Kenji, Rebecca and the police all glared at the two fugitives.

"What's everyone lookin' at?" Bernie asked innocently. Then the police came up and took both men by the shoulders.

"I think you two are in a lot of trouble," Thomas remarked as the police escorted both thieves to their car and put handcuffs on their wrists.

"Now, what do we do?" asked Rebecca.

Thomas thought for a moment, then spoke. "I think we should wait a little while. I have a feeling Emily will be coming along...with David too."

The Fat Controller saw Thomas wink to him, and so everyone waited for the time being...

Meanwhile, further back down the line, Emily and David had turned around at Ulfstead Castle, and were following the very line Kenji had shot down, hoping most powerfully that Thomas' plan had worked. They didn't yet know if Thomas had caught their targets, or if the chase was still going.

"My God, I hope Thomas caught those two swines," Emily steamed strongly. "After all this worry of being replaced being settled for me, all this insanity has made my head spin!"

"Mine too, Emily," David admitted, having collected himself a little more. "Furthermore...I may have apprehended Sonny in the name of protecting you and Sodor, but I hope for your sake I'm wrong about him. And I also hope that Booster Rocket came in handy for Thomas."

Just then, Henry came up beside Emily, having put Sonny in the out-of-use siding as ordered by David, and still having David's crew with him.

"Hello again...Henry," Emily said, a little unpleasantly. "Sonny's in the out-of-use siding, I trust? Even though he's NOT a threat to Sodor?"

"Well...yes, Emily, he's there. For now," said Henry. "But I came along because my driver was just informed through a phone call by Phelps and Gallagher about a little change in plans about Sonny. Something David told them, apparently."

"Yes, Henry, I did tell them," said David. "But one thing at a time. We have to catch up with Kenji and see if Thomas succeeded."

"Indeed," said Emily. "We should probably...wait...what's this?"

Emily, David and Henry looked and saw what was up ahead, not far from where Thomas was briefly slowed down on the chase.

"It's Kenji's passenger coach," said Emily. "It's been uncoupled from him."

"Then he must be somewhere nearby," said Henry.

"Indeed, he is," said David. "Pick up the pace, Emily."

"Gladly, David," Emily answered, and she went faster along the line with Henry, closer to their destination...

Further down the line still, Gordon was still sitting in sheer shame and disgrace where he had been derailed. By now, he thought for sure Baz and Bernie had gotten away and flew off with Ruth's all-too precious plans, and he felt for sure that he and the engines would be replaced for what he thought was this failure. As he began imagining what such an outcome would be, he began talking aloud to himself, his voice shuddering very badly.

"Alright, Big G. You must remain calm. This is not your fault! All you have to do is simply explain to the Fat Controller that Kenji has run away. No reason to lose your head. Most importantly, you absolutely, positively must not...panic."

Just then, Emily's voice came sounding close behind him. "Kenji? Kenji, where are you?"

"Kenji? Kenji!" Henry's voice called next.

Then suddenly, Gordon let it all loose. "AAHH! Kenji's gone! Kenji's gone! Kenji's gone!"

"Emily, look!" exclaimed Henry.

"Gordon?" Emily exclaimed as she and Henry rushed over. "What are you doing off the tracks?"

"Oh, Emily! I'm truly so sorry! It's all my fault! I tried to stop him!" Gordon lamented. "I'm just a useless slowcoach!"

"Alright, Gordon. Calm down and tell me slowly," said Emily. "Kenji's gone? Gone where?"

Gordon shuddered tearfully. "He was heading...out...out...for the Airport!"

"But wait..." Emily noticed. "He wasn't running on those electric wires out here..."

"So he surely must have run out of power and stopped," said Henry.

"Of course," said David. "Engines like him need those wires wherever they go. If that's true, Thomas must have surely got him...and our targets!"

"Baz and Bernie! They MUST be stopped now!" Emily barked. "Henry, you stay here with Gordon. I'll take your coach and, ahem...R.I.F.L.E. the rest of the way. I'll be back for you soon enough, Gordon."

So Henry uncoupled from his Breakdown coach, letting Emily couple up. Then she whistled urgently. "Full steam ahead, David!"

David complied at once and opened her regulator. "Onward, Emily! Time to play! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!"

And Emily went as fast as her large emerald wheels would spin. She rushed on through the tunnel, whistling with great urgency and excitement to see what the result would be. Then sure enough, Emily looked ahead and saw quite a gathering, making her gape and breathe deeply. Rebecca, Kenji and Thomas were all lined up on the line beside her, and on the field, the Fat Controller, Sir Robert, Ruth, the Road Plane, the Hover Car, the Metal Man...and the squad car. Everyone looked as Emily stopped beside Thomas and he looked up to her.

"Hello, Thomas," said Emily as she looked at the scene. "Well, my goodness...look what we have here."

"Emily! David! You made it!" he exclaimed. Then he saw the Breakdown coach and frowned a little to David. "Where's Sonny?"

"Not now, Thomas," said David. "First things first."

Then David got down from Emily's cab and snapped his finger. From the Breakdown coach, out came the entire crew of the Sea Emperor wearing their badges as they lined up with David. Everyone gave a curious look to this as David and his crew approached Sir Robert.

"David?" asked the Fat Controller. "What's all this...?"

"Approved by the SPD, Sir Topham. All in good time," said David as he turned to Sir Robert. "Have you got the fugitives?"

Sir Robert pointed discreetly to the squad car and David immediately saw who was inside. He gave a nod to Sir Robert and approached the car. From their seat, Baz and Bernie looked up with a scowl, then suddenly turned fast when they saw the young captain's naval regalia, from the hat to the medals, right to the sword, which David was gripping firmly in its sheath with his left hand. And behind him, the whole crew stared firmly and silently. There were a few moments of suspenseful silence, until...

"What is the meaning of THIS?!" David suddenly barked. No response. "Speak, vermin! Or do you want my bosun to find your tongues with his LASH?!"

To this, Jordan drew the whip from the Sea Emperor, then raised his arm and cracked the whip loudly in the air, making everyone, even Thomas and Emily flinch to the noise.

"What is the meaning of all this thievery?!" David demanded. "This waste?! This self-indulgence?! Where do you get the gall to DO this on the Island of Sodor?!"

Still, there was no answer...and as it turned out, in the midst of all this inanity, Baz in particular had been fairly aware of David's goods delivery days onboard the Sea Emperor, and tried once more to soften the matter in his own favour.

"Cap'n Rider?" he asked, pretending to be surprised.

David said nothing and didn't move a muscle. Not an eyebrow raised or an eye blinked.

"...Oh, by jolly, it's the greatest sailor in the whole of Britain!" Baz jested, pretending to be fascinated. "Oh, by my stars! Captain Rider is looking at us right now! Oh, so many of us admire SO MUCH of what you did with that jolly emerald ship of yours! And if we may be so bold as to drink your gratefulness' very good health-"

"SI-I-ILE-E-ENCE!" David roared as he stepped closer to Baz. "On second thought, keep your forked tongue behind your teeth! I did NOT serve her Majesty's Navy for six years to bandy crooked words with a witless worm. You two just stay where you are...and take in all in...into your poor, pathetic cloth ears."

David then went quiet. All the engines and people waited. Then...it happened.

"You...sneaking...treacherous...overreaching...law-dodging, jumped up, good for nothing SONS-OF-A-BIIIITCH! WHAT KIND OF MEN ARE YOU?! YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH HARDWARE THESE INVENTORS BROUGHT OUT HERE?! YOU JUST ABOUT BLEW MILLIONS OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE'S POUNDS OUT OF YOUR ASS!"

No one quite expected this to happen. Everyone's hearts jumped, then Thomas and Emily slowly smiled bigger and bigger by the second as it went on.

"TREACHERY! BURGLARS! THIEVING SCAPEGOATS!" David roared further.

"Oh, contrary, Cap'n!" Baz suddenly replied, still trying to sound innocent. "There's absolutely no need to shout. It was all Bernie who did it after all!"

David growled as he drew his cutlass and held Baz at sword-point.

"DON'T bother patronizing me! You're MINE, Baz! And I'll have you know that you are the presence of the soldier who flushed out Sailor John, conquered Diesel 10 for the final time, drove George off the island, and have now seized two most heinous fugitives from the law! Mark my words, Baz and Bernie, I AM going to keep Sodor cleansed of even the smallest atrocities that sneak onto its soil, and if my newfound organization of R.I.F.L.E. is the only way, so be it! With this new enforcement's authority, I personally declare you under arrest, and that you be immediately placed in solitary restraint until such time arrives for your fate to be decided by the Court of London!"

"Excuse me. Fate? F-fate, you say?" Baz shook.

"Exactly!" David snapped. "And any last thoughts of escape you might have had now are completely decimated...by means of the sword of Rider!"

Baz shuddered and smiled guiltily as he gazed at the sword's edge. Then he suddenly began to beg most cowardly and pathetically.

"But-but...that sword...surely, you wouldn't...you wouldn't do old Baz in now. Would you, lad? Me and my colleague...we won't ever do it again. We'll leave this island forever. We'll do anything you say!"

"Insolent, pathetic coward! You needn't do us ANY favors now!" David barked with fury. "And I DON'T do in fugitives from the law. Such decisions, if necessary, lie fully with the Court of Sodor and London only. You're not worth the stroke of my sword anyway! But one thing I know for certain already! You'll both be chief observers of solitary confinement TOILETS by the time I'M finished with you! Now, get the Hell out of our sight! I'll expect Phelps and Gallagher to strip you both of all your liberties for your most gross offenses and hideously juvenile transgressions!"

And David gave a direct signal to the police, who nodded to David, then started up the car and drove swiftly away, taking Baz and Bernie with them. Thomas, Kenji, Rebecca and Emily all watched from the rails, while Ruth, Sir Robert and the Fat Controller watched until the car was out of sight. In that moment, a great sensation of accomplishment washed over everybody as the silence broke again.

"Well...there we go, then," the Fat Controller said at last. "So this is what you've put together, is it, David? Ambitious...but rather interesting."

"And thank you so very much, Thomas!" Ruth rejoiced. "You all worked together and helped get my plans back!"

"Indeed, they did, Ruth. And now, gentlemen...Victory!" David declared, to which his crew saluted. "With my next mug of ginger beer, I toast to a well-executed operation. As for you, Thomas, Rebecca and Emily, you have done the Railway, as well as the Technology Fair a great service. Kenji is the fastest and sleekest engine in the world visiting from Japan, and Ruth's plans here are worth a fortune of a fortune, and you have saved them both. In appreciation, I think we should gather the whole Steam Team together for the last night of the Fair tonight."

"Oh, of course, David," Thomas smiled from buffer to buffer. "This whole Fair...it BLEW MY MIND!"

"It's blown all our minds in one way or other, that's for sure," said Emily. "Especially mine, going from being so afraid of these new inventions to really enjoying them. And today, oh, by my yellow stripes! I knew David's crew from my first big adventure on the Sea Emperor...but I never imagined they would become something like this. Most interesting to say the least. But for now, we must get things back on track."

"Yes, indeed, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "And as Safety Engine...I think you should lay out suggestions. What do you propose we should do?"

Emily smiled eagerly and spoke up.

"Thomas and Rebecca, you take Kenji back along the line and reconnect him with his coach, then get him back to the Fair. As for me, I'll go fetch Rocky and help Gordon back on track. Then he and Rebecca can return to their passengers."

"Sounds good to me, Emily," said Rebecca. "Gordon must be so worried about what happened, Kenji, but he'll be alright soon enough."

"Thanks, Rebecca, and Emily," said Kenji. "Thomas was a most brave engine to go as fast as me with that Booster Rocket!"

"Well, it may have got him to catch up with you," said Emily. "But it was he who stopped you and showed how really useful we all are."

"That, he did, Emily," said the Fat Controller. "Well done to all of you."

And so, everything was soon being put back in order. Thomas and Rebecca took Kenji back to his coach and coupled him up again, then took him back on his way to Ulfstead Castle, passing by Henry and Gordon, who was still derailed.

"Oh! Thomas! Rebecca! You got Kenji!" Henry exclaimed.

"You caught him! Most gallant of you both! Thank all my brothers you got him!" Gordon gasped. "But what of those thieves?!"

"It's alright, Gordon. We caught the thieves," said Rebecca. "And Emily is coming along to help you back on track. Then you and I are going back for our passengers."

And soon enough, Emily did come along with David in her cab. Gordon and Henry saw her come up the line with Rocky, while still holding onto David's crew in the Breakdown coach, giving them a ride in light of the success of rescuing Ruth's plans.

"Here we go, Gordon," said Emily. "This will put you back to rights. As for you, Henry...you meet with me and Thomas later. There's something else we have to do."

"Hmm. Alright, Emily," said Henry, already sensing what it could be about. David heard Emily too and had a good feeling what it meant himself.

Rocky got straight to helping Gordon back on track again. As soon as he was put back in place, Gordon went back down the line to return to Maron, where he saw Rebecca couple up to her coaches after returning Kenji to Ulfstead, and the two express engines resumed their passenger duties, now full of vigor and excitement as to what had transpired today.

Soon, Thomas came back from Ulfstead and met up with Emily and David again, still with the Breakdown coach. By this time, Thomas and Emily too were full of vigor and excitement with everything that had occurred, and they knew the news was going to spread fast across the island.

"Well! What a truly exciting, urgent and fascinating outcome this was!" Thomas exclaimed. "A high-speed chase with all these inventions to save Ruth's plans from those thieving fiends!"

"Yes, Thomas. Truly shocking, and yet fascinating too," said Emily. "Today is certainly a day to remember in one way or another."

"Yes. This year has been turning out most extravagant events," said Thomas. "And this one is surely the most extravagant of them all...but there's just one more thing we have to do. We need to fetch-"

"Yes, Thomas," Emily said with a nod. "I know just who you're thinking of, and I agree we should-"

Before Emily could finish, Henry's whistle sounded through the air, then and he came up alongside her and Thomas. Emily looked back and suddenly remembered what she had been wanting to do...as did Thomas.

"Henry? What are you doing here?" Thomas asked.

"Hello again, Thomas. Emily told me to meet up with you again," said Henry. "Now that I'm here...what is it we have to do, Emily?"

Emily suddenly stopped, making Thomas and Henry stop too. They looked and could see her forming a serious expression.

"Here's the situation, boys. Baz and Bernie made off with Ruth's plans onboard Kenji, and you and Rebecca managed to stop them just in time, Thomas. Both those thieves are now under custody, and everything is back in order for the Fair and the Railway."

"But...?" Henry worked in.

"But now that everything's back in order..." said Emily, giving a little wink to Thomas. "What about Sonny? What about his side of the story?"

"Sonny? Oh! Sonny! Of course!" David suddenly remembered.

"Yes! We MUST let Sonny tell his side of the story," said Thomas. "Something that you, Henry, and you too, David...initially denied him!"

Henry's face turned a little red with shame, and David's lips tightened.

"Exactly, boys," said Emily. "That's partly why I've been holding onto David's crew for the time being. I told David that Sonny is the only one who can fully explain what those crooks really are, and maybe what he himself wants for his own life right now."

"You're absolutely right, Emily," said Thomas. "So...what are we waiting for? Come right with me now..."

And Emily set off down the line, with Thomas and Henry following and wondering what they would hear from this new navy engine...

At the out-of-use siding, where Gordon and James had idled for weeks and weeks on end for all they did to Emily all those years ago, Sonny sat and idled in the very same spot, lost in embarrassment, resentment and disgrace. He was very unhappy and awfully worried over whether Baz and Bernie were caught or not. Even worse, he wasn't able to explain what was going on thanks to Henry and David's stubborn insistence that he was a threat to Sodor. He felt as though he had no chance of explaining the truth now, and that he would always be shunned and put down by everyone around him. Then he suddenly heard engines approaching from ahead. He looked up and saw Thomas, Emily and Henry come alongside him again. Sonny could see them all looking at him in a particular way, which he didn't know how to take. He also saw the Breakdown coach Emily was now pulling, and some of the Sea Emperor's crew were leaning out the windows looking at him.

"Sonny. There you are," Thomas said eventually. "We-"

"What do you all want?" Sonny asked gloomily. "Fine, it's true. I DID help those crooks at first, but only because I had no other choice, okay?!"

"Hey, hey, slow down, Sonny," Emily said gently. "That's why we're here. We're going to listen to your side of the story now...right, David?"

Sonny then noticed David come down from Emily's cab and come up to him again. This time, he seemed forlorn and a little ashamed, but maintained a practical expression just the same. Sonny looked frightened again, wondering what David would say or do. Then...

"Well? Don't stand there tight-lipped. We're going to talk," David said briefly and to the point, turning to nod to his crew.

"We...we are?" Sonny asked a little nervously.

"Yes, Sonny. Tell us everything," said Thomas. "Tell us all that you know about Baz and Bernie, and how you came to be with them...because I know you did not want any of that to happen, and that all you want is to be really useful...just like I told you of."

"Uh...well...okay," said Sonny. "I...I assure you all...I can explain everything about those two crooks...and just how I came to be the way that I was...until now."

"Okay, Sonny. Tell your story," said Emily. "And reveal the, ahem, inventive truth of yourself."

Sonny looked to Thomas, Emily, and even Henry and David. Then he gave a deep sigh. Now was the time for him to come clean.

"Well, everyone...the truth is this," said Sonny. "I worked most of my life at a coal mine on the Mainland. That's the primary function of my engine class, you see. I was a hard worker, and did well enough in my way. But then one day, while I was working away, those two came along and said they just wanted to look at me. Then suddenly, they knocked out both my driver and fireman and just picked me off! I tried to ask what they did and why, but they kept ordering me not to prod about it."

Thomas and Emily looked to each other and hummed lowly as they took everything in. Sonny went on.

"The only reason I complied with that those thieves did at first is because I felt like I had no other choice. I didn't know if they'd leave me in a siding, crash me or even scrap me! Baz made that threat to me many a time here on Sodor! Then when I got lost on my way to the Dairy, Thomas here told me about being really useful. When I heard that term, I didn't like working for those two beasts anymore. I told them myself I didn't want to steal things anymore, and they tied me regulator on at the castle, which is why I went rushing away for Thomas to save me! So the real fact is...I don't want to be a thief! Not ever again! I believe in what Thomas told me, and I DO want to be really useful! All I need is a second chance, and I can show that's all I ever want to be. There. That's my story and the real truth."

Thomas, Emily, Henry, David and the Sea Emperor's crew all looked among themselves and each other, considering in their minds everything Sonny had said. As Thomas and Emily looked at the new engine again, they immediately thought of Skiff and sympathized with Sonny right away. Then Emily slowly came forward into the siding, and softly buffered to Sonny. He looked up and saw her smiling gently.

"E-Emily...I assure you, I wanted nothing to do with those men at all," Sonny said shakily. "They used me and-"

"Shh...Sonny," Emily consoled kindly. "You're not the only one who's been used just as means to an end. Believe me, I know someone who shares all your feelings."

"Yes, Sonny. Skiff the Railboat," said Thomas. "He was used by a villain called Sailor John, only as a means to get Cap'n Calles' treasure, and that boat never wanted any of that. As such, just as he was given another chance to be useful, so can you, Sonny."

"Yeah. That's right, Thomas," said Sonny. "I could be a really useful engine. All I need is a second chance and nothing more. Being really useful is what I want to be from now on."

"Well, I think that can be done, Sonny," said Emily. "Just as Skiff got his second chance as a Railboat for children, with a little luck and a second chance, you might be able to work usefully here too."

"Thank you, Emily," Sonny smiled. "You're a most kind and gentle soul."

"Aww, ho-ho. It's nothing, Sonny," Emily giggled sweetly.

Then Thomas and Emily turned to David and Henry, who had been keeping very quiet and had listened to everything. They tried their best not to show it, but by now, they felt very, very silly over what they had initially done to Sonny. Thomas then came up to David and shot a thin smile and low eyebrows.

"You believe Sonny now?" Thomas eyed.

David took one look at his crew, then back to Sonny, then nodded with notable honesty. "Mm-hm."

"Well...that's more like it," Emily said with a light smile.

Then David came forward and touched Sonny's buffer beam.

"Begging your pardon, Sonny. We didn't know any of this until now. We never wish to give the wrong impression to those who are misused. And I certainly don't like disappointing my best friend Emily in any situation."

"No, indeed," Henry added. "We were merely upholding our duty to protect and serve Sodor. But in your case, a mere misunderstanding, Sonny. All's well that ends well."

"Well...I probably might have expected to be caught anyway," said Sonny. "But all I want now is to be really useful, just as Thomas told me."

David gave a deep sigh. "Very well, Sonny. If that is your true wish...I accept."

When Thomas and Emily heard this, they suddenly gave a happy squeal to each other.

"A new life awaits you, Sonny!" Thomas rejoiced.

"Hooray!" Emily giggled. "Come on, Thomas. Let Sonny see me dance for him, and his second chance."

"Gladly, my emerald cupcake," Thomas chuckled gleefully.

Sonny looked up and watched as Emily leaned left and right, dancing happily and singing softly for his favoured second chance. A smile upped the corners of Sonny's mouth as he saw Emily dancing together. Then David stepped forward and spoke next, pointing down the line.

"Alright, Sonny. You're free to go. My crew will find two workmen to take care of you until we arrange for your own driver and fireman. Word of navy advice, keep your pistons out of trouble. And NEVER be misused by any fugitives again!"

Sonny could now see David's pride and dignity coming through, and he gave a nod of assurance.

"Aye, Captain Rider," he promised. "I shall keep out of trouble as best I can."

From that moment on, the day resumed its progress. Two workmen came by and took Sonny off on their own to take care of him for the time being, Emily took David and his crew back home to Arlesburgh, while Thomas and Henry returned to their work, and so the Railway was working like clockwork again. And through the hours that passed throughout the day, the news of the big chase for Ruth's stolen plans spread to all the rest of the island. James, Percy and Nia soon heard the news from the other engines and could not believe what they were hearing.

"Whoa! They saved Ruth's plans with a Booster Rocket?!" Percy had exclaimed. "So they showed we're all really useful after all!"

"Absolutely amazing to save that Kenji from such a high-speed chase!" Nia gasped. "Astounding beyond all accounts!"

"Oh, if only I were riding that Booster Rocket!" James exclaimed. "Then I would have been the REAL Rail Rocket! Da-da-da-daah!"

Besides the engines, countless people across the island heard the news too, and they were soon talking about just how amazing the engines were to have done something so fast and so brave to save the day. At the Sudrian Police Department, Baz and Bernie were incarcerated, interrogated and within hours, they were both charged on multiple offenses to eventually stand trial for once the time came. When David heard this news from the SPD Chief, he made it a point at once to make Baz and Bernie's approach and pending fate known to everyone on Sodor. In the time that passed, David wrote an official article concerning these matters and sent it to the Sodor Times Newspaper to be published in the next print that would come.

At last, evening was settling in on the island. Thomas and Emily were the first to return to Knapford Station, still feeling most buzzed and excited by all that had happened today. Never did they think that they would have been using those inventions to catch those two thieves and stop them in a most inventive way. Then they looked to the platform and saw David and Beatrice coming into the station. Emily looked closer and could see David glance up at her with a solemn expression, and Beatrice was bearing a most stunned look in her eyes. Emily had a strong sense that David had come forth and told his mother heard everything, and that she was still trying very hard to process everything at once.

Thomas could see this in Beatrice's expression too and spoke carefully. "Hello, Beatrice. Did you hear all about today's events?"

Beatrice looked up at Thomas with her legs trembling a little. When she spoke, she sounded shocked, stunned, and happy all at the same time.

"T-Thomas...Emily...I have heard e-everything! I know my son to be an ambitious person in the way he thinks and sorts things out...but never did I think he would create such an ambitious, and yet...such a resourceful system dedicated to keeping Sodor safe, as approved by the Sudrian Police Department. I...I have almost no words at the moment except for...Wowsers!"

Emily couldn't help but smile. "Perhaps you're right, Beatrice. David certainly has a way of addressing situations like this, and...well...Wowsers."

At that moment, Thomas and Emily heard the whistles of the rest of the Steam Team coming toward the station. Gordon, James, Percy, Nia and Rebecca all came in toward the station, having completed their work, and even now, they were still buzzing with all that had happened today, and the news that had been spreading so very, very fast. Thomas and Emily looked around and could see the other engines bearing expressions carrying so many different feelings. Then the Fat Controller came out of his office.

"Good evening, sir," said Thomas. "All our work is done now...and it is the last day of the Fair...what are we all to do now?"

"Well, Thomas, before we do anything else, I have some things to say," said the Fat Controller. "Today has been a most outlandish, and wacky day to say the least, but such a marvelous outcome from it all! I've been talking with Ruth and Sir Robert throughout today, and there's something she'd like to tell you when you see her next, and to Thomas, Rebecca and Emily, I can't congratulate you enough on your efforts to stop those thieves getting away...and as I can see here right now, it looks like David and Beatrice here have something to show us."

Thomas saw the Fat Controller wink to Beatrice, who winked back to him.

"They do?" Thomas asked. "What is it?"

David nodded to Beatrice, who came forward, hiding one of her hands behind her back.

"Thomas, Emily and the rest of the Steam Team," she said. "After his ambitious drives to help stop those thieves getting away with Ruth's plans, and after further progress throughout today, my resourceful son has made part of this evening's newspaper headline, for all of us to hear now."

The Steam Team all held their breath with steady smiles as Beatrice drew out her hidden hand and showed the latest from the Sodor Times Newspaper. There for all to see was a large headline that read:

"CROOKS BAZ AND BERNIE STOPPED COLD BY THOMAS, REBECCA, EMILY AND NEWFOUND ORGANIZATION BY CAPTAIN DAVID RIDER."

All the engines, especially Thomas and Emily started murmuring quietly to each other about who took part in this event and who had heard it for themselves.

"Wow! There we are, Thomas!" Emily gleamed. "Our names in the newspaper again!"

"Just like you were when you became No. 12, Emily!" Thomas smiled.

"Wow! My name too! That is lovely!" Rebecca chimed.

"But that's only part of it," said Beatrice. "On a brief, but more serious note, David has also wrote his own article about those two unsavory thieves...and the Sodor Times agreed that what he says deserves to be known by all on Sodor, and the Mainland too. Here it is."

Then everyone listened as Beatrice unfolded the newspaper and read David's article aloud for all to hear...while David readied himself for his turn.

"The former occupants of the steam engine Sonny, Baz and Bernie are under arrest,
and awaiting their trial on the Mainland on multiple charges of infiltration, theft,
disturbance and attempted havoc against vast stretches of the North Western Railway,
and proving themselves as-"

Then Beatrice let David speak next as he voiced the rest of the article.

"As a most embarrassing example of Her Royal Majesty's people of the United Kingdom.
Baz and Bernie are also deemed guilty of sympathizing with the ways of Sodor's past
enemies, of harbouring schemes, and above all, of fraternizing with Sailor John's
thieving ways.

Signed and Witnessed by me,
David Rider

Captain of the HMS Sea Emperor, Emily's best friend, and newfound Commander of R.I.F.L.E.
(Resourceful Interception of Fierce Lawbreakers Elite)

Long Live the Queen."

And with that, the words had been spoken. Thomas, Emily, the Fat Controller and the rest of the Steam Team looked at David and Beatrice for a several moments to count.

"Only one thing to say, David," Emily said at last. "Well done. Well done indeed. It seems that in spite of a small error on Sonny's part, your newfound establishment has proven successful in protecting us all...just as you promised to the Admiral."

David looked up at Emily with a single nod.

"Thank you, Emily. And for the rest of you, you have nothing to worry. Those two thieving mice will be dealt with in due course. Their cells are being guarded by the same soldiers who guarded Sailor John's cell at all times, until the day comes for them to stand trial and face their judgement. But for now...we have a Technology Fair to say goodbye to. As I suggested to Thomas earlier today, I propose we all go there and see the Fair bow out with the fireworks they set off!"

"An excellent idea, David," said the Fat Controller. "In light of our successful rescue of Ruth's plans, we will all gather at Ulfstead Castle for the last night of the Technology Fair!"

Despite some of the engines feeling last little flickers of being afraid to be replaced, they ultimately agreed to attend in light of Thomas, Rebecca and Emily's valiant chase and catch of those crooks, wondering to themselves if this would indeed prove they were really useful, as they hoped so hard to be true regarding this Fair. Thomas and Emily looked at each other and felt a warm tingle in their boilers.

"The fireworks, Emily...are you excited?" Thomas asked.

"Ooh...as excited as you are, Thomas," she giggled. "Think of them making us both glow with pride and usefulness...oh, Thomas..."

And so, when night fell, Ulfstead Castle had one last gathering at the platforms. Almost the whole Steam Team was gathered together to see the last few festivities before the Fair would wrap up. Thomas, Percy, Emily and Nia were lined up together, and behind Nia were James and Rebecca. Gordon had yet to arrive, still thinking a little vainly about being replaced even now. Even Sonny came along behind Thomas, having been given a new driver and fireman. The spotlights danced around the giant wheel, the Metal Man was giving one last dance on the stage, Stephen had just finished one more passenger run and was returning to the castle, and Ruth and the Fat Controller were on the platform.

"I can't believe it's the last night of the Fair," said Thomas. "We'll miss you when you've gone, Ruth."

"Don't worry, Thomas," said Ruth. "I've talked to the Earl and Sir Topham, and I'm gonna stay here right on Sodor and continue my work!"

"Oh, that's great!" Thomas gasped.

"So, are you going to be making more things out of technology, Ruth?" Percy asked, pronouncing the word properly now.

"Yes, Percy. I am."

At that moment, Gordon came huffing into the grounds behind Percy, as invited. He came alongside Sonny, shooting a discontent glare to the new engine at once.

"What are YOU doing here? You're the engine that helped steal Ruth's plans!" he huffed crossly.

"But I didn't...I mean...but, I," Sonny struggled.

"He didn't mean to do anything wrong, Gordon," Thomas cut in. "We should give him a second chance."

"You are absolutely right, Thomas," said the Fat Controller. "Sonny, I think you could be a very useful engine on my railway."

"So...you're going to keep him on Sodor, but replace us with all these infernal inventions?!" Gordon asked indignantly.

"What are you talking about, Gordon?" the Fat Controller exclaimed with a smile. "I'd never replace my engines! Steam engines are one of the most impressive inventions of all time! And you have proved once again, that you are all really useful!"

And at that moment, the End-of-the-Fair fireworks whistled, flashed and crackled across the sky, and all the engines cheered with great joy and jubilation, marking the final moments of the Technology Fair known as the World of Tomorrow. And so it was concluded at last. After Thomas and Emily's reassurances had shone through first, the whole Steam Team now knew they would never be replaced on the North Western Railway. That was one factor that would remain the same for always, and this was indeed a most triumphant time for the Island of Sodor.

"Once really useful engines, always really useful engines," said the Fat Controller. "Bear it well, Steam Team. And bear it well, all other engines on the Island of Sodor."

"We will, sir," the entire Steam Team said at once and cheered once more altogether.

And soon afterwards, everything began to power down and close up for the Fair. The fireworks stopped launching, the Metal Man stopped dancing, and the stage started to be taken down again, and all the passengers were soon making ready to go home. Rebecca's coaches were soon loaded with guests and Gordon helped her bring them home through the night, while the other engines went on their way back to Tidmouth Sheds. But as Emily made her way back with Thomas, she secretly began to realize that since the Fair was over, things would return to normal...but for her and Thomas, there was yet another major time of the year coming soon. Something they had held dearly every year for quite some time now, but this year, this upcoming occasion would be the most spectacular and definitive of its sort yet.

At last, all the engines were back in Tidmouth Sheds, and by now, a powerful sense of accomplishment and settlement was shining strongly in all their boilers, and Thomas could feel it from all the engines as he saw their steady smiles. They all felt freshly rejuvenated with the fact that they would never be replaced.

"So...that was the World of Tomorrow, everyone," Thomas said aloud.

"Now that you all know we'll never be replaced...what did you all think?" Emily asked.

The engines looked to each other and thought about it for a few moments. Then gradually, smiles began to form on all their faces as they thought back to what the Fair was truly on about, and they all answered to Thomas and Emily. They talked about electric engines. They talked about Mighty Magnets, Milkshake Machines, Metal Men, Hover Cars, Road Planes, Booster Rockets and more...but as fascinating as they all decided it all was in its way, through it all, they all had to agree that between themselves, steam engines were the most impressive invention of all time, and as the Fat Controller had spoken to be true, they were all really useful.

And so at last, one by one, the engines fell asleep with smiles of pleasant content on their faces. All that is, except for Thomas and Emily. Thomas continued to look at the night sky, thinking about all that had transpired during this Fair from the fear-filled start to the exciting action-packed wrap-up. It was yet another major spectacle for the railway to look back on with this particular year.

Then in the midst of serene silence of the night, Thomas gradually heard Emily sigh softly. He looked and saw her staring at the night sky herself...but as she looked at Thomas, his heart began beating stronger. In that moment, he could tell by the little glimmer in the very center of her eyes that she was thinking about something else, and she was not ready to sleep at all. She had something to talk with him about, and he began to get a sense of what she could be thinking.

"Emily..." he whispered. "You...you look most especially peaceful...and steadily happy..."

"Yes, Thomas...I am," she whispered. "Do you know why?"

"Hmm...I could guess a few things," said Thomas. "But I'd like to hear it from you..."

Emily's smile deepened. "Well, in that case...I think we should go somewhere private...we have something most potent to talk about. You and I, and no one else..."

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

Emily didn't answer at first, and her smile grew bigger. Thomas watched as she slowly crept out of her berth and onto the turntable. She turned around to Thomas' berth, and slowly came forward. Thomas looked closely and saw the little glimmer dancing in the center of her eyes, and he soon felt a sense of what she was feeling.

"Come with me, Thomas," she whispered.

And within moments, Thomas and Emily were huffing away from Tidmouth Sheds buffer to buffer and through the night. When they arrived at Knapford Station, they stopped together at Platform One, under the gently shining ceiling lights. Now they could talk together with nothing to disturb them. Thomas looked into Emily's eyes and felt a little more of what she could be thinking of.

"So, Emily...what is it that you and I have to talk about?" he asked.

"Thomas...we've all seen the Technology Fair from start to finish," said Emily. "You saw the inventions, then David brought forth the truth so I could enjoy the inventions, and we saved Ruth's plans from a most daring and astonishing chase...and now it's all done."

"Yes, Emily. It is," said Thomas.

"And so...now that the Technology Fair is over, we can all go back to our daily schedule," said Emily. "But for you and me...there is something much bigger for us both to get ready for."

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

Emily came closer, pressing her cheeks softly to his. "Thomas...I've once again noticed...do you know what day is coming up soon?"

Thomas pondered to himself. "Hmm...I think I know, Emily...and you know too. After all, it is summer."

"That's right, Thomas," Emily whispered. "In just a few days more...it will mark the day you and I came together in love with our first true kiss."

Thomas immediately realized this was true and he smiled dearly as he kissed Emily on her beautifully soft cheek, earning a light blush from her.

"Oh, Emily. Of course..." he whispered. "It'll be our anniversary again...and what shall you and I do once the day comes?"

Emily took a deep breath and sighed strongly, but happily.

"I don't know, Thomas. There are so many ideas buzzing in my funnel now, and I don't know which ones we should do."

"Why not, Emily?" said Thomas. "I remember leading up to our first anniversary, we went to he Whistling Woods and saw all the rose colours...then when the day came, you had your blue undercoat and I got covered in strawberry jam...then that very night, I gave you all those flower chains of all the roses, and what a steamy night we shared together."

"Yes, Thomas. I will always remember that time. So magical for us both," said Emily. "But that was our first anniversary. And now that I've had time to think about it...I can't believe what I've noticed. Do you have any idea which anniversary this year will be for us both?"

Thomas went silent and thought carefully and precisely as he counted the years in his head that had gone by since he and Emily truly came together in love...until suddenly, when he noticed his count was correct, he went very, very still and seemed almost frozen. Emily could tell already he had figured out what number this year was for them both. Then very slowly, Thomas looked up and right into Emily's eyes. He could see she was starting to tremble all over and her breathing became shaky, but immensely happy just the same.

"Oh...oh, my God...my God, Emily...Yes!" Thomas said heavily and smiling from buffer to buffer. "I...I can't believe it! It's...it's our..."

"Yes, Thomas!" Emily gushed with joy. "That's why I'm trembling with so much joy! And so should you!"

And indeed, Thomas did begin to tremble with joy right along with Emily as he pressed his cheeks to hers, rubbed his nose with her nose, then kissed her cheeks a few times over, earning such bubbly giggles from her lovely lips.

"Oh...oh, Emily! I love you, My beautiful emerald angel! This is it! In just a few days, the day will come, and the entire Island of Sodor will come to know this milestone!"

"Yes, they will, Thomas, my handsome cobalt star, Tommy!" Emily beamed. "THIS will be an anniversary to REMEMBER!"

And indeed it would be. The next few days would play out a little differently for Thomas and Emily, as the other engines would soon take notice of, and soon enough, this most significant milestone of Thomas and Emily's relationship would be picked up on by the rest of Sodor, eventually leading to a most spectacular day indeed for the No. 1 Blue Tank Engine and the No. 12 Safety Engine of the Island of Sodor.

---

Just like "World of Tomorrow", this finale was pretty damn wacky, and that's why I like "Marvellous Machinery" as a whole. Yes, R.I.F.L.E is based on G.U.N from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and I imagine we'll probably get more use of this new organization in the future. But as the ending revealed, the next story will focus on a very special anniversary for Thomas and Emily, and it's also going to be our 220th story, meaning it's going to be huge. Until then, tell us what you thought of this finale, and as always, stay safe.