PERCY AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Based upon "Percy's Chocolate Crunch" by David Mitton and Brian Trueman

Adapted by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

The summer season was in full swing on Sodor, and sometimes, the weather would get so hot that water shortages would take place across the island. This, in turn, would lead to hosepipe bans in order to conserve water, and this, unfortunately meant that some gardens would end up looking rather sickly and brown.

"Oh no!" cried Percy when he met up with Toby and Henrietta at Dryaw. "Look at those poor flowers."

"I do hate to see them wither like that," sighed Toby. "I can't believe how bad this drought has gotten, and we'd just seen the Kyndleys' front garden."

"I'd say we're overdue for rain," agreed Henrietta.

"This drought's also bad for us," said Percy. "We steam engines thrive on water to run."

"It would mean more work for the diesels for a while," sighed Toby. "But with only six of them on the standard gauge tracks, would that do it?"

"Even spreading them out one per branch line wouldn't be ideal, knowing Daisy's opinions on pulling trucks," said Percy.

Toby and Henrietta couldn't help but chuckle as Percy put on a funny accent on the last bit, but all the same, this was a problem. Sir Topham Hatt knew this, and decided to go up to Barrow on Bear's next train to see what he could do.

"Phew!" panted Bear as he came into the station. "I think I need a rest after that."

"Ya sure you aren't slackin' off there?" smirked a voice.

Bear turned to see an 08 shunter painted in the same colors as Arry and Bert, except she was a girl, and had a much friendlier disposition.

"Heh, hardly, Ali," he chuckled. "I reckon we'll have our work cut out for us if this drought continues."

"Oi sure 'ope this stops soon," said Ali with feeling. "This cannot be good fer the steam engines."

"Or the washdowns either," said a purple 08 with yellow siderods. "Ugh, Lyla accidentally got dust on me when she was shunting some trucks."

"Oh, can it, Prisca," grunted a third 08, painted the same as her sister. "I said I was sorry about ten times already!"

"Excuse me, you three," said Sir Topham Hatt as he stepped down from the train.

"Oh, good day, sir," said Ali. "Wot brings ya all the way up 'ere?"

"It's this drought," said Sir Topham Hatt. "I'm concerned with water shortages on the railway. The engines are keeping up okay for now, but they need help. Could you three come to Sodor to lend a buffer where you can?"

"Of course, sir," said Lyla. "Anything to keep the North Western Railway going."

Sir Topham Hatt nodded gratefully. "I'll arrange it with your controller."


It wasn't long for the request to be put into action. Sir Topham Hatt also decided to split his diesels evenly across the island. BoCo remained on the Brendam branch, Daisy and Bear also remained where they were, Derek was put onto the Kirk Ronan branch, Ali on the Little Western, and Lyla and Prisca helping out where possible. At first, Duck and Donald were rather anxious to have Ali working on the Little Western, especially given that her livery was the same as that of Arry and Bert's.

"Duck, Donald, Oi know you've 'ad bad encounters wi' my triplets," said Ali when they met up at Arlesburgh, "but Oi can assure ya, Oi'm nothin' loike 'em."

Duck was quiet for a moment, his expression mostly unreadable, and Donald couldn't meet Ali's eyes.

"Oi can't tell ya 'ow many times those two creep me out," she went on. "Ya all deserve a chance to be safe an' run trains without that kind of fear." Ali paused. "At times, Oi wish Oi were a steam engine."

The duo's eyes widened in surprise. "Ye dae?" Donald asked.

"Oi've seen countless rail enthusiasts come an' take pictures of all of ya," said Ali. "Not to mention so many stories of ya continuin' wi' yer trains until ya get to yer destination after a breakdown. Yer all very admirable in my eyes."

Duck gave a small smile. "Wow," he said quietly. "Other diesels have become our friends, but I've never heard that kind of praise before."

"Aye," added Donald with feeling. "Ah think we kin git used tae huvin ye aroond."

Ali grinned at Donald's words.


Out on the main line, Pip and Emma were called in to help with the express.

"Don't worry, Gordon, your passengers are in safe buffers," said Pip.

"But we don't have buffers," said Emma. "Well, not on our fronts, at least."

"It's just an expression, Em," chuckled Pip.

"You two be careful out there," said Gordon. "The ground may have gotten dry enough to start fires."

"Understood," said Emma. "See you later."

The high speed train raced away, and Percy came bustling from the Ffarquhar branch line to pick up another train. He was covered in coal dust, and looked rather unhappy.

"Messing around with the trucks again?" grunted Gordon.

"Hey, it's not my fault!" snapped Percy. "Due to these water shortages, we're only allowed one washdown daily! What's the point of a washdown if we're going to get dirty anyway?"

"Well," chuckled Emily as she puffed in, "from what I hear, Gordon and James do it to feel important."

"And to get more people to notice me," James chimed in with a smirk. "If people were to see my paint if it's dirty, they may not want to come back to the railway."

"Last I checked," said Diesel as he arranged the red coaches for James, "weren't you spotless and still got turned down by Alicia Botti?"

Gordon, Percy and even Emily had a laugh at that, while James just scowled with a mixture of resentment and embarrassment.


Percy's next job was to bring a rake of empties to the quarry.

"I'm glad Lyla's helping us out," said the green tank engine. "Diesel's sisters have really been an asset to us since they were assigned to Barrow. I'm surprised at how well Duck is taking to Ali's presence on the Little Western."

"Well, Sir Topham Hatt did give him, Oliver and the twins an advance reminder that just because she's painted the same livery as Arry and Bert," said the driver, "it does not mean that she's like them."

"You're telling me," said Percy. "How she's Arry and Bert's triplet is quite the mystery."

"Ah, so the 08 sisters are visiting us, are they?" said a voice from above.

"That's right, Harold," confirmed Percy, braking to a stop to take on coal at Toryreck. "Sir Topham Hatt's reorganized things so that we reduce our water consumption until the drought has passed."

"That's good to know," said Harold. "I'll keep my eyes out for any potential rain clouds, though a drought like this usually results in a storm, so just be mindful of that."

Harold flew in closer to pick up some medical supplies. Unfortunately, the ground was so dry, dust flew up everywhere.

"Ugh… not again!" cried the green tank engine, who was looking more black than green.

"Oh dear. Sorry about that, Percy old chap!"

"It's alright…" sighed Percy. "I've suffered worse incidents than this…"


It wasn't long before Percy continued his trip to the quarry, but he was still rather upset as the trucks wouldn't stop singing at and taunting him.

"Clickety-clack! Don't look back! Dirty Percy's on our track!"

"Shut up!" snapped Percy. "It's bad enough having to put up with your jokes on a good day!"


Eventually, he got to the quarry and found Mavis shunting.

"Right on the dot, Percy… whoa!" she gasped. "What's happened to you?"

"Harold, that's all I'll say," muttered the tank engine. "Sorry, Mavis, I've just had a bit of a trying day."

"It's alright," said the quarry diesel. "Trucks will be trucks. But keep at it, Percy. Soon the drought will pass and the island will be back to normal."

All the same, Percy's encounter with Mavis did make him feel a bit better. He started making his way back down the branch line when he found Lyla on a siding at Hackenbeck.

"Lyla!" he called. "What's happened?"

"I got a stupid oil leak," she grunted. "I can't take the sugar to the chocolate factory now."

"Don't worry, Lyla," said Percy. "I'll cover for you."

"Oh, you would," smiled Lyla. "Thanks, Percy. You're an awesome friend. The wagons are on that siding over there." The purple diesel shunter was referring to a few box vans with a logo for Mr. Jolly's chocolate factory on their sides.

Percy carefully buffered up to them and whistled goodbye to Lyla as he headed on his way. Unfortunately, Percy hadn't taken into account as to whereabouts on the branch line Lyla had her oil leak…


The journey from Hackenbeck to Maithwaite was downhill, roughly around the same area where Thomas had his accident with Annie and Clarabel.

"Okay, driver," said Percy, "we have to slow down a bit and pin down the brakes."

The driver did so, but Percy soon found that he wasn't slowing down.

"What in the Great Railway?!" cried Percy. "Whoa!"

"Oh dear," said the driver. "I think it's Lyla's oil leak!"

As Percy continued to slip on the oily rails, he could see the chocolate factory straight ahead and blew his whistle to alert anyone who could be inside.

"Get clear!" he shouted.

The head worker signaled for everyone to rush outside, not bothering to check if the machines were switched off, and Percy's driver, fireman and guard also jumped clear from the train.

The road crunched when Percy's wheels left the rails, and he crashed straight through the wall. The building was on a downward slope, and the weight of the train meant he kept going. A lot of gurgling sounds were heard and the windows were splashed in mostly brown and white.

"Yuck!" cried Percy as he came out of the other side of the building. "I've never been this dirty!"

The poor green engine was covered from funnel to footplate in sticky, gooey chocolate.

Quickly, Percy's driver went to call for help, while the fireman and guard made sure that no one had been hurt in the accident. Thanks to Percy's warning, that was not the case.


Thomas came as soon as he could with Judy and Jerome in tow.

"Cinders and ashes!" cried Thomas. "How in Brighton's name did this happen?!"

"Oily rails," grunted Percy from underneath the chocolate.

"First a barber shop, then a stationmaster's house, and now this!" said Judy. "Whatever will you tank engines run into next?"

"Maybe a crossing gate," suggested Jerome.

"I think you'll be at the Steamworks for a while," sighed Thomas.

"Just my luck!" groaned Percy.


It wasn't long before Percy was loaded onto a flatbed and Thomas was taking him to the Steamworks. James was the first engine that they'd encountered on their way. He was greatly amused by the sight of Percy covered in chocolate.

"Dear, oh dear, Percy!" the red engine laughed. "First you get covered in jam, then squashed fruit, then treacle, and now chocolate. Whatever next, porridge? Take my advice; engines don't need food. Just stick with coal and water."

Percy was not amused by James' remark, and nor was Thomas.

"We all get into scrapes, James!" he scolded. "I'm surprised you weren't the one who got covered in jam, considering what happened to your brakes when Percy took your fruit vans."

James fumed at Thomas' jab before the blue tank engine continued on his way.


Thomas and Percy soon arrived at Crovan's Gate, where the little engines looked up with curiosity.

"Oh, Percy!" gasped Peter Sam. "You do look good enough to eat."

"Pudding Percy!" laughed Sir Handel.

"Choc ice on wheels," added Flyer.

"That's enough from you lot," scolded Skarloey. "Percy looks as if he's been worked off his wheels."

"He saved all the chocolate factory workers too," added Thomas, and he then explained about what had happened. That made the little engines stop their joking.

"Indeed he was very brave today," said another voice, and there was Sir Topham Hatt. "Percy, for saving the chocolate factory workers, you shall get your washdown."

"Oh, sir!" Percy said with a bright smile.

"And a brand new coat of paint once you've been repaired."

"And don't worry about the branch line or your mail runs, Percy," said Thomas. "We'll all cover for you."

Thomas was as good as his word. Having Lyla on the branch for a while did greatly help out in Percy's absence, though Harold was also right about a storm coming to the island following the drought. But that will have to wait until next time.

THE END


Author's Comments

For the third episode of Series 6-7 Redux, here's this adaptation of Percy's Chocolate Crunch! This was always one of my personal favorites out of series six, and the accident at the end makes me laugh just for how silly it is. Percy's silliest accidents always seem to involve food in some way, don't they? Rachel and I have also established three pilot shunters for Barrow; Ali (full name Hailey), Lyla and Prisca (full name Priscilla). All three of them are based upon extremely obscure characters in the franchise. Ali is Arry and Bert's triplet that made an appearance in the "Diesel Catching" game from the 2006 TV Plug and Play video game Right on Time, and she's the white sheep of them. Lyla and Prisca are the two 08s that made one-off illustration appearances in Escape and Not the Ticket, respectively, albeit painted purple (and yes, an 08, numbered 08447, was painted in that livery).

Upcoming stories:

- Dunkin' Duncan

- Twin Trouble

- The Fogman

- Jack Jumps In

- A Friend in Need