Journey Through NW High School

by blackboard26

This is the Sequel to strange journey to NW High School, will the mysterious light water be revealed. Who will they meet that can solves some of the mysteries and open others through out the course of the venture. This is year one

20. A Holiday Visit

Let us find out how the railway is doing while Thomas, Ariel and their friends tend to the holiday Village. Some far away engines will be visiting the Island including a new visitor turned human who inspired the book the Polar Express.

I do not own any part of Thomas the tank engine & Friends they are owned by the following

Thomas the Tank engine & Friends

By the Rev W Awdry.

Developed by Britt Allcroft

Owned by Mattel

Original Characters owned by Pinkninjaprime and blackboard26

A Holiday arrival.

It has been three weeks since and it is finally Christmas Eve Thomas his sister Ariel and their friends School and engine friends had come together and brought a winter attraction to the Island of Sodor. It was the Holiday Village that Thomas and the rest are still taking part in is on its last day, and the end results for the Charitable Cause it was meant for, will help ensure no one will go hungry or be left out in the cold when they face hard times. While all of this was going on, back at the main station at knapford Sir Topham Hat meet up with the required engines to help out on his railway. Even though Thomas and the rest are good worker, but since many of them only work part time it is best to find help from other sources. The engines came from American class engines and one was an inspiration for another popular children's book known as the Polar Express. The Engine was a Pier Marquet engine whose number was 1225, and this was the first time she ever came to the island of Sodor. She had heard about the famous engines from Sodor, so far, she had met up with Stanley who was still an engine. She also met up with Salty Porter and even Philip. But all the other engines appear to be missing their faces and wonders what has happened to the engines and thought the Idea of engines have faces on their smoke boxes were just simply made up. She along with Jackson from the Southern and Norfolk railroad, Nickolas a nickel plate road 716 a very famous engine from Fort Wayne along with his fellow newly restored Nickel Plate railroad engine 517 a Baldwin 2-8-2 tender engine that goes by the name Phoenix. All the engines had lined up and waited for the arrival of the controller, so they can get to work while visiting the Island for a while. Then they stood still and allowed for the controller to step up and greeted the visiting engines who are just as eager to get to work.

Sir Topham Hat. "Greeting to everyone of you to our Island of Sodor, and you all must be the help I have asked for in insisting us during our holiday rush this year."

Jackson. "It is an honor sir, we heard all about this railway, and wanted to see it ourselves and wondered if we could have met up with your special engine sir."

Phoenix. "We wanted to say hello to them sir but then, we see no faces on their smoke boxes sir. Has something happened to them or are they other engines besides the ones we heard so much about?"

STH. "Oh That, well to tell you the truth they all had an experience that made them part from their engine selves. But I do assure you they are the original steam team of my Island, but throughout this past summer they had to learn about becoming human, and that is the main reason the engines appear to be without their actual faces." This gave the new comers a bit of surprise, they all heard about humanized engines since there had been reports since the first to become humanized became war heroes of their American Civil war, and now the act of humanized engines has actually come to the sudrian engines after all. Number 1225 was the first to spoke up.

1225. "When did this happen, and has every engine managed to find their way off the tracks?"

STH. "Since the beginning of summer, Thomas and Rosie was the first to experience this followed by the other engines who usually took on water in several places along branch lines and along the line at Vicarstown. They however are not the only engines who had experienced becoming human, most of our diesels also had become human. Because of this they had managed to either find their place as workers on my railway or attend high School and live on the homestead that Thomas his sister Ariel and Rosie own, until graduation when they make their decision on whether they chose to return to the rails or not either as an engine or as a human worker. Until then they are attending a holiday village, they themselves had taken part of building up since they earned their skills while restoring and building their homes and other structures on the homestead. We will introduce you to them later when they come by to earn their checks for taking part of the village venues." The engines now understand but wanted to find time to talk to Sodor's Famous engines, but now it is the time to be useful and waited for the controller to give out his orders to the visiting engine.

STH. "Now then each of you have your orders, but I must ask of you number 1225, do you have a preferred name you wish to go by?" Number 1225 did remember what she was known for and wanted a special name to accommodate the holidays and gave it out as suggestion.

1225. "Well sir I was inspired for a children's book also, the book I was famous for was the Polar Express, and because of that I always liked to be Called Holly, I would like it very much if you can call me Holly sir."

STH smiled. "Very well then, Holly it should be. Right everyone, you all know of what to do, the engines who have not undergone this humanization will help you along the way." Then with the sounds of their American loud whistles the engines took off for their destinations across the Island. Some did stop by the Fairgrounds and had manage to peer into the general area in hopes to find any of the engines who were humanized. One who happened to be on the platform taking his break while he and Thomas were resting after another trail ride on the horse drawn sleigh rides. It was Edward decided to see any of the visiting engine the controller mentioned while working at the station one afternoon. He was sitting on a platform bench that he and Thomas had made for this special occasion, and decided to sit down with a cup of hot cocoa from the homestead venue in his hand and a German sweet roll from the German venue that Frieda was occupied in. He just sat down started to nibble on his sweet roll when he noticed Holly who just stopped by and let off some of her passengers and spotted Edward without knowing this was one of the engines who became human with the others. Edward noticed her and was stunned to see another railway celebrity, he remembered another story about an engine who inspired another Child written story about a polar express, Holly could not help but see his expression and could not help but chuckle about it."

Holly. "Hm, hm, hm, like what you see young man? If you would like to take a photo of me, then you better be quick about it before I leave for the next station." Edward was taken it back but decided to apologize about his expression towards her.

Edward. "OH, I am terribly sorry to be rude, I just did not know that the controller was bringing in another railway celebrity, and I am very intrigued about your presence here my friend. And may I ask of your name, that is if you have one?"

Holly. "Usually I am known as 1225, but your controller asked if I would be given a proper name and so I had asked for him to call me Holly. What is your name by the way?"

Edward. "Actually, I happened to be the island's number 2 blue engine Edward, but since my humanization my name is Edward Pettigrew, and I am very honored to meet you Holly I hope you enjoy your stay on the island." Holly was thrilled she had actually met one of the engines who is now human, but before she could say anymore, she heard her guard blow his whistle, to signal to her that it was time to go.

Holly. "Well that is my Guard's whistle I must go now Edward, I hope you and I can chat some more, and Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas as you would say here." Then she rolled away, what she did not know was she left a very good impression on Edward, and Edward wanted to find time to chat with her again but Thomas Showed up and had broken Edward's thought about Holly to turn his attention back for the sleigh rides with Thomas.

Thomas. "Hello, Edward are you ready for another trip down the Sudrian winter wonderland?" he noticed that Edward was distant about something. "Edward!"

Edward was startled by Thomas who broke his concentration on Holly. "WHOA! Ah, Oh. Oh, Thomas it is you."

Thomas. "Well yes. It is time for another trip down the Sudrain Country side on the Sleigh rides and Donald and Douglas are almost here with Scotch and Whiskey, so let us go already." And they did but something was on Edward's mind and Thomas can tell it was something that happened while he was taking his break at the station platform. "Is everything alright Edward, you seemed distracted about something what got you like this old friend?" Then Edward just told him who he just met at the platform before she rolled out of site. Thomas was intrigued but knows it is best to investigate this later since they are still on duty on the Holiday Village payroll until it is finished at the end of the day. "Well maybe we can meet up with them again, if you want why don't we visit them when we pick up our checks at the station later on."

Edward just sighed. "Very well Thomas, after all this is the last day before this village will close for the night and we will be spending Christmas day on the homestead." They agreed and continued until it was time to close for the night.

After the last of the venue of the Christmas Village had closed for the night, that is when the workers of the railway come over to collect their checks from the office when the controller came up to them with a worrisome announcement to tell the friends before they leave for the night.

STH. "Ah I am very glad each and everyone of you are here, we have a problem that we hope you can help us out on."

Henry. "And what would that be sir?" Then they all heard some unfamiliar whistle they have never heard before and stopping at the platform is the Southern and western engine that stopped by the platform along with the Nickel plate railroad engines and the Pier Marquette engine as they all rolled to a stop and out of the cabs are the new humanized engines. From the Southern engine was human Jackson, aged 25 with dusty brown hair and hunter green and gold clothing, the Nickel plate engine number 718 Nickolas and his counterpart Phoenix, Nickolas was aged 20 with black hair and was heavily built along with Phoenix at the age of 21 but was sandy blond and tied into a pony tail. Holly was the last and she was the only teenager of the group. She came down as a 16-year-old with hair that was golden like the sun and had hints of red streaks as she wore a blue jean overalls and black long-sleeved shirt and over coat to help shield her from the elements. Everyone was surprised about the new engines becoming human and wondered which lines and water towers they found the time to fill up on their tenders for water. "OH, hello everyone, I am sorry that this had happened, but I am curious where did any of you managed to refill up on your tender before your humanization began?"

Jackson. "I refilled mine up just as I reached Vicarstown, I had asked the pilot there which tower I was to avoid preventing my humanization, and when I did it seemed normal at first that is until coming close to Maron Station and well this is what you see before everyone tonight."

Nickolas. "That happed to us on your branch line Edward, then after refilling up on the water tower that turned you into human, then after stopping at Welsworth that is when we became human."

Holly. "I just completed a run on the little western and on the way back at this particular water tower, I had taken water from that one and as you can see, I am now needing a place to stay since I am the youngest of the bunch and cannot return until I reach legal age to return to the rails."

Phoenix. "The rest of us will be fine since the three of us are already legal age to drive down the line and become trained to drive our engine selves. Holly on the other hand is the only one who needs to attend school before she could be acknowledged about traveling down the rails as a driver or engine."

Thomas. "What timing, since you are about our age Holly, you will be given a chance to gain an education, while waiting the chance to travel down the rails again. It will be up to you if you wish to return to your engine side and remove a light crystal that may be embedded in you lamp. But once it is removed your chances of becoming human again will be gone. Now it is the time to learn more about the world we call home, and hopes what you have learned could bring new light of our brothermen and how to preserve the issue of steam to the rest of the world who wondered why the age of steam had faded away while learning all that took place since then."

Edward. "Holly do you have any plans where you plan to stay, we may have one or two rooms left at the Dormers, would you like to stay there, or do you plan to stay at the International House?" Holly thought about this, she was looking forward of speaking to the humanized engines and now she has her chance to meet up with them and learn all about them since she arrived on the Island.

Holly. "I would like that very much Edward, that is everyone else does not mind my presence on the homestead, and it will be some time to adjust to my life beyond my engine self."

Rosie. "Does this mean she herself will be here on the Island while her engine self will return to the states after the holiday season is over sir?"

STH. "It makes no sense of keeping an engine separated from their respective railway, but Holly will be here to attend High school with you while the owner of the engine wants to make sure the engine will be kept in good condition. After the Holiday are over the engine will return to the states while it was agreed that Holly will remain to attend high school while her owners sent copies of her paperwork and transferred that to the record keepers of the Island and had registered her as and American born transfer student for the Northwestern High School, is now named Holly but Holly Mikata."

Holly. "I will be most appreciated if someone could help me around the Island of Sodor during my stay here." Then Edward Stepped up.

Edward. "Miss. Holly Mikata, I will be most honored to be your guide around our Island during our holiday break from Highschool." Holly was joyed when he asked her that question, while the others could not help but noticed the growing relations between Holly and Edward but decided to let them find out for themselves if this is where their lives are heading now, they are meeting with each other on good terms.

Holly "I would like that very much Edward, can I tag along with you to the homestead and everyone can show me around when we get there."

Thomas. "Of Course, we all came in our respective vehicles we usually drive around, we just have more than enough to make sure we have to transport our animals to and from the homestead and the Holiday Village we just finished in."

Edward. "That is correct, and I be most honored to escort you to the homestead of Thomas's and Rosie's." Then while Holly made her way to the other platform to join up with Edward, Thomas, and the others before her fellow American humanized engines had to find a place where they can rest for the night since they have no place at the sheds where humans can rest while the engine forms rest for the night.

While on the way home, in Thomas's Tacoma Edward and Holly was talking up a storm about their backgrounds and how Holly was able to be an inspiration for a holiday story while she herself was intrigued at how many adventures he and the other engines had before their humanization.

Edward. "I had to admit that I was taken when I first saw you at the Holiday village earlier, and I am very sorry about your humanization, I am sure this was a very much of a surprise to you when you found out."

Holly. "Don't be sorry Edward, you are not to blame about this besides I have always wanted to meet up with the engines of Sodor and get some advice when young children ask you questions about thing you know that were not true in some book."

Edward. "Actually, we get asked questions on what was on our minds during the actual event that were recorded and researched by the Reverend, we just take things one day at a time. Don't worry they like to believe we are like super heroes or something we were just engines like every other engine working up and down our lines. It does die away in time, and even if they start to ask again, it is best to ask in return where they heard of such a rumor if they asked such questions of such matter."

Holly. "Thank you, Edward, and by the way I happen to be one of your biggest fans back in the states when the show called Shining time Station was aired in the United stated back in the mid to late 80s."

Edward. "What was that show about, not too many people who live in Great Britain ever asked about Shining time station, only those from the states ever asked if we ever meet up with this Mr. Conductor that Polly ever told us about."

Holly. "It is a long story Edward, but I will tell you later, if you like you and I can spend some time after whatever it is, we are about to have when we get there."

Edward. "We are just heading for home, and after placing the animals and equipment away that is when we gather around the dinning hall and have our dinner for the evening before the night is over."

Rosie. "One thing you will notice about yourself Holly is that you will experience human feelings and we can help you while you adjust to living with us for a while alright?"

Holly. "Thank you, Rosie, I appreciate everything you and your friends are doing for me while I stay here on the Island of Sodor." As the friends returned to the Homestead there to greet them were the other humanized engine among them were two red clothed human engines Jessica and Jasper who turned to see who had joined up with the returning friends and greeted a former friend from the states and Holly in return came to see the two humanized engines she remembered when they visited her railway years ago. "Jessica and Jasper, I have not seen the two of you since the year 1998, how have the two of you been since?"

Jasper. "As you can see, we have also been humanized and now we are spending our time here on the homestead with her twin brother James Hughes and attend Northwestern High School in the Process."

Jessica. "Also, we are enjoying life beyond the tracks, how long do you plan of staying here on the Island after since your engine side is still owned by Pier Marquette?"

Holly. "Now that will be a good question wouldn't it, I will not know until I finish School, and that will not happen until school resumes after the holidays am I right?"

James. "That is correct, and we are also enjoyed our last day of the Holiday Village and tomorrow it will be Christmas Morning, if we known you were about to join us, we would definitely get you something Holly."

Then everyone showed Holly around the homestead, first she was shown the main house on the property which was Thomas's and Rosie's then to the Guests cabin where the Gresley teens and Rebecca were staying in, then she was shown where Henry, and Emily stay, and was also shown where the Dormers where and finally she was shown where Edward Bo Co, and the China Clay Twins rest for the night and warns her about how mischievous the twins can be. Afterwards wards she was shown every thing else was located on the homestead before everyone decided to make dinner in the hall and everyone managed to come to the dining hall and started to gather around the table to make grace and hopes the last day of the Village will go without a hitch and hopes everything will go as planned according to the community councils. Then everyone said their grace and chatted through the meal and before long they were off to bed, but Holly asked Edward if it was alright if she returned to the hunters' cabin with him. Edward wanted to make sure she was alright about sleeping in the hunter's cabin while the twins Bill and Ben tends to stir up some trouble now and then.

Holly. "I have seen worse trouble than what Bill and Ben have been able to make now and then."

Edward. "Really when did you ever encounter such Mischievous little terrors in your life Holly?'

Holly. "Back in Michigan where I use to work for the Pier Marquette railroad, a pair of mischievous boys who use to snuck into the railway yards and use to spray graffiti all over the sheds until that is one night when the manager wanted to find the culprits who was creating vandalism on the railroad sheds. After they made their rounds and thought the yards were clear of the mischief makers, that is when they came over the fence when they thought the area was clear of the men. Was about to create mayhem that is when I had to ask my driver who was working late that night to blow my whistle as if he was testing it before letting me rest for the night. When he pulled my cord to blow my whistle and got the attention of the manager and startled with the two boys that took them by surprised and caught up with the vandals before they managed to escape and were escorted to juvenile detention until their parents had to spring them out before they were punished for their bad behavior."

Edward. "Wow that was clever of you Holly, and if you like you and I can share a wonderful Christmas together with my friends on the homestead sweet heart."

Holly was surprised on what Edward just said. "Sweet heart we just met and already you have called me Sweet heart."

Edward. "Well for a while after witnessing my friends experiencing what love is to them, it really makes me wonder if there would be anyone out there for some one like me to have and to hold whether it is forever or not, I just wanted to find that someone special and so far that someone I find in is you Holly."

Holly. "Edward why don't we work on it and find out in time, we just met, and it is best to know one another one day at a time."

Edward. "I suppose, anyways welcome to Sodor Holly Mikato, and I would like to take this time to get to know you better as we go through high School together." Holly smiled knowing she has a good friend in Edward and hopes to find more friends as she goes through high School with them.

Holly. "Thank you, Edward, and who knows what the future may have in store for us." Edward just smiled knowing that he and Holly will find joy in each other in time.

The next morning it was Christmas day, and everyone was up and decided to open up their gifts to everyone in the dining hall where everyone gathered for their Christmas Breakfast and Holly was asked to be a secret Santa since she is new to the Island and the homestead and handed the presents to the homesteaders as each one got a present from their friends and shown what they had been given to them as a gift. From Thomas, everyone got an ornament that looks like them when they were still engines. From Rosie she handed them some home made candies for them to take back to their homes for the night, Emily managed to make some blankets for the each of the homes, and everyone got their gifts to their friends, and lastly everyone decided to give their new guest and friend a welcome gift. Gifts with a wardrobe of clothing and some home decors to remind her of her home back into the states. And she was so overwhelmed about her welcome to the Island of sodor all she could do is sing a song to make a special Holiday for everyone.

Holly. "Oh, there is no place like home for the Holidays, no matter where ever you may roam-

When you long for sunshine of a friendly gaze,

For the holidays – you can't beat home sweet home.

I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was heading for

Pennsylvania some homemade pumpkin pie;

From Pennsylvania folk are traveling down to Dixie's sunny shore;

From Atlantic to Pacific –

Gee, the traffic is terrific!

Oh, There's no place like home for the holidays.

Cause no matter how far away you roam-

If you want to be happy in a million ways,

For the Holidays – you can't beat home, sweet home."

Thomas and Edward. "I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was heading for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie;"

Holly. "From Pennsylvania folks are traveling down to Dixie's sunny Shore;"

Rosie and Emily. "From Atlantic to Pacific-

Gee the traffic is terrific!"

Everyone. "Oh, there is no place like home for the holidays,

Cause no matter how far away you roam-

If you want to be happy in a million ways,

For the holidays – you cannot beat home, sweet home!

For the holidays – you cannot beat home, sweet home!

Everyone was having a good time on this very festive Holiday on the Island of Sodor and now they are about to share it with their new friend Holly. The everyone gathered around the fireplace and faced our way to say.

Thomas. "From the bottom of our hearts here on the Island of Sodor to everyone in the world."

The human engines from Sodor. "HAVE A HAPPY OR MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!"

We had a wonderful time during our visit to the Island of sodor, what new ventures they will encounter during the new year's celebration find out next time on the Journey through Northwestern high School.