Chapter 1: Confronting Sir Topham Hatt and Gordon
(We see Thomas The Tank Engine outside Sir Topham Hatt's office at Knapford Station as he's talking to the Sodor Museum on the telephone)
Sir Topham Hatt: Is that right? 16th Century? How incredible! Oh, I-I see. Well, I-I can keep it locked up in the safe here overnight. It should be safe in the safe, after all. (Chuckles, cuts to Thomas as he listens, later when he arrives back at the construction site)
Mr. Conductor: (Narrating) Thomas couldn't stop worrying. Would the treasure be safe in Sir Topham Hatt's office overnight? (Thomas comes to a stop outside the shed as a voice calls to him)
Ryan: Hello, Thomas.
Thomas: Oh. Hello, Ryan.
Ryan: Thank you for helping me with the burning dynamite. What you did was so brave. (Drops his smile) I'm sorry if I got you into trouble again.
Thomas: (Sighs) But I'm the one who should be saying sorry. I should have warned you about that bad coal.
Ryan: (Chuckles) Why don't you sleep in the shed tonight, Thomas? There really is plenty of room.
Thomas: (Puffs forward a little bit) That's all right, Ryan. I think I'll spend the night at Knapford just in case.
Ryan: Oh? In case of what?
Mr. Conductor: (Narrating) It's also where I came into the story. (Thomas comes to a stop as a cloud of gold dust begins to form and a man with dark hair in a conductor's uniform appears)
Thomas: Mr. Conductor!
Mr. Conductor: Hello, Thomas. I heard about what's been happening here and wanted to check up on you.
Ryan: (Nervously) Thomas, you-you know this man?
Thomas: It's all right, Ryan. Mr. C.'s a friend of ours.
Mr. Conductor: (Takes a few steps towards Ryan) So you're the new engine Annie and Clarabel have told me about. (Tips his hat as the purple tank engine begins to slowly form a smile) Mr. Conductor at your service, Ryan. I live at a place called Shining Time Station over in the United States. I occasionally come up here and help out when I get an invite from Sir Topham Hatt. (Turns back to Thomas) However, I know how cheeky you can be, but what on earth has been going on with your recent accidents?
Thomas: Well, it's kind of a long story. (His lips only move as Mr. C. narrates until Ryan speaks)
Mr. Conductor: (Narrating) Thomas told Ryan and me all about what's happened from the incident with Gordon's coaches to the accident with the dynamite. Ryan was almost in disbelief.
Ryan: You actually thought Sir Topham Hatt wanted to replace you with me?
Thomas: Yes. I figure he must really want it that way because of how he wouldn't listen to me anymore. First when my friend, Stanley, arrived after I discovered the long-lost town of Great Waterton and now this.
Mr. Conductor: Thomas, Sir Topham Hatt would never replace you. No matter what happens, you're always his number one engine. However, I think I know how to convince him of what you've been through. First, I need to contact Junior and then the 2 of us will go to Knapford Station together. I'll explain once we get back. (Disappears in a cloud of gold dust)
Ryan: Who's Junior?
Thomas: His younger cousin. He can be a bit impulsive, especially since he once stuffed party poppers down my funnel as a prank. (Ryan stifles his laughter, cuts to Knapford Station with Mr. C. and his cousin, Junior, a younger blond-haired man who's wearing a similar Conductor's uniform like his cousin, but without the hat with his open jacket revealing a red beach shirt, reappearing in a cloud of gold)
Junior: Cuz, from what Thomas told you about that pirate treasure, what can you figure about this Sailor John character?
Mr. Conductor: I don't know, Junior. From what I know, this Sailor John must be a crook. Now, do you remember the plan?
Junior: I do, but I sure would rather stuff party poppers down Gordon's funnel like I did with Thomas.
Mr. Conductor: (Puts his hand on Junior's shoulder) Don't even think about it. (Hears Gordon's whistle) Oh, here comes Gordon. Now, remember the plan. (Walks over to Sir Topham Hatt's office as his younger cousin turns away folding his arms and stomping his foot)
Albert: Oh. Hello, Mr. Conductor.
Mr. Conductor: Hello, Albert. How's the wife and baby?
Albert: They're both fine. If you need to see Sir Topham Hatt, he's on the phone with the Museum.
Mr. Conductor: All right, I'll wait, then. (Cuts to Gordon pulling in with Junior's foot still stomping in the foreground)
Gordon: (Sputters) Junior?!
Junior: (Turns around looking stern) Gordon, what's this Cuz and I hear about you getting Thomas into trouble with the coaches?
Gordon: I got Thomas into trouble?
Sir Topham Hatt: (Comes out of his office) Mr. Conductor? Junior? What's the meaning of this?
Mr. Conductor: We want a few words with you and Gordon, sir. We've heard from Thomas about how he was sent to the construction site for the new Harwick Branch Line, along with some certain incidents that took place.
Sir Topham Hatt: (Rolls his eyes and shakes his head) Don't tell me he's still making excuses. (He and Gordon jump when Junior stomps his foot)
Junior: Excuses, my foot, you big fat jerk!
Gordon: But he delayed the express during the accident here at Knapford!
Mr. Conductor: But didn't you think you had a part of it, too, Gordon? Thomas told me of how you called him a "silly little tank engine" and commented how tender engines don't shunt.
Junior: Yeah, and we thought you were over that years ago.
Mr. Conductor: As for you, sir, Thomas also said that you practically wouldn't let him explain how he found the pirate ship in the cavern, only for you to selfishly give Rocky the credit for it instead. (As the Conductors talk to Sir Topham Hatt and Gordon, Spencer pulls up alongside the big blue engine with a smirk, which he then drops as he can't help but overhear the conversation, then Molly and Neville back into Platforms 3 and 4 with local passenger trains, with Murdoch pulling in with a freight train behind them on Platform 5 and all 3 of them do the same thing, as with the passengers, workmen and stationmaster)
Sir Topham Hatt: (Widens his eyes) What?
Mr. Conductor: And on top of that, Thomas was only trying to shunt the dynamite to prevent Ryan and the others from being blown up. Sure, he didn't mention the bad coal, but he had a change of heart and was only trying to save him, not hurt him. But you just had to jump to conclusions thinking it's the other way around and send him to his shed for the rest of the afternoon.
Sir Topham Hatt: But why didn't he say something?
Junior: Well, maybe it's because you were so busy snapping at him making "excuses," you didn't take the time to listen!
Mr. Conductor: I know you can be strict and meticulous, sir, but haven't you ever thought that you sometimes take your strictness a little too far? Since when is saving lives confusion and delay? Last I checked, safety comes first.
Junior: Indeed, Cuz. Let's review some past events, shall we, sir? Remember when Diesel first came here and told lies about Duck? You knew Duck was innocent, but had to figure out a way to prove it.
Sir Topham Hatt: Well, yes, but-
Junior: Then, there's that time when Percy was made a middle engine by 'Arry and Bert and was loaded onto the Tipper's Loading Ramp at the coaling plant. I thought you learned something when Henry explained that he shunted Percy onto it, even though he never knew he was there the whole time.
Mr. Conductor: And what about the time when Luke was discovered at the Blue Mountain Quarry and Diesel almost sent him packing before Victor revealed the truth? You said that it's always important to find out what really happened because what really happened is what really matters. Yet, you refused to listen to Thomas when he found the pirate ship and selfishly gave Rocky the credit for it and when he tried to save a lot of lives from the dynamite, including Ryan's, a punishment was a fine way to thank him.
Sir Topham Hatt: But I didn't know, honest! I just didn't know!
Junior: Now, who's making excuses? Think back to when Thomas found Great Waterton, you all made him feel neglected after you accused him of breaking down the tower. When he was trying to take care of all the rubble, he just disappeared! Luckily, Stanley was able to find him. As I recall, all of you felt bad for making him feel unwanted after Stanley's arrival, but it seems you 2 are doing it again! I warn both you and Gordon, sir, that if either, I repeat, either of you treat Thomas any further, he may just end up leaving Sodor again. This time, forever. Now, I'd think about that if I were you. I'd think about that real hard!
Mr. Conductor: We'll let you deal with Gordon in your own way, sir, but as far as Thomas, I think you should consider going to Harwick and give him a good apology. And show him he's still your number 1. (They both take a couple steps back and disappear in a cloud of gold dust leaving Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt with guilty looks on their faces, they then notice the other engines looking crossly at them)
Gordon: Spencer?
Sir Topham Hatt: Molly? Neville? Murdoch? What are you-
Murdoch: We've heard everything and saw it, sir.
Spencer: You and I may have our differences, but I'm very disappointed in you, Gordon. When Thomas and Hiro helped me with the construction of the Duke and Duchess's summerhouse, I learned that he wasn't such a silly little tank engine, unlike you, Mr. "Tender Engines Don't Shunt."
Molly: Indeed, Spencer. I remember when I first came to Sodor, Thomas showed me that pulling empty freight cars is as important as any other job, especially the Express.
Neville: I know what you mean, Molly. When rumors were spread about me being friendly with 'Arry and Bert when they were actually teasing me, Thomas was able to come help me when I almost crashed off a bridge under repair. (The signals change, Molly and Neville's guards blow their whistles, then Murdoch puffs out with his goods train, followed by Neville, Molly, and Spencer)
Gordon: Oh, the indignity. What have I done?
Sir Topham Hatt: No, Gordon. What have we done?
A/N: I've been seeing some fanfics and art about how Sir Topham Hatt treated Thomas in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, so I thought about making my own take on it. In the next chapter, we'll see Sailor John being chased by Thomas, along with Mr. C. and Junior, and attempt to save the treasure. Hopefully, Sir Topham Hatt will also apologize to his number 1 engine.