Now with most of the winter almost over for the season it will be time to find improvements to the Homestead, for the moment some will venture to find some new source of sustenance in trapping and ice fishing for hare and trout.

I do not own any part of Thomas The Tank Engine and his friends, they are owned by the following.

Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends

By the Rev W Awdry.

Directed by Britt Allcroft

Owned by Mattel.

Other characters by Pinkninjaprime and blackboard26

Prelude to the future.

It was a few of weeks after the Valentine's day dance on the homestead, Thomas and some of the venturous members of the homestead decided to take part in ice fishing on some of the choicest spots on the Island for some fresh trout since they are feeling the need of fresh fish for the homestead. Thomas along with Ariel his sister, Rosie his girlfriend, Gordon, Edward, Oliver, Donald and Douglas along with their high school friends Cassey Tallshally, and David Scott Kirkland are together on this trip. With them is the local game Warden Dex Mantanu, like before helping the young homesteaders with an important fishing expedition on searching for winter trout. After reaching their fishing spot he calls out to the fishing party.

Warden Dex. "Alright everyone, we will begin by drilling a series of holes to help locate where the fish are located before, we set our hooks through the ice." Then Edward and Gordon came over with an ice auger that bore through the ice and with an ice scoop to clear the whole of the ice debris before anyone can locate the fish with the depth finder that the warden had brought along for this trip. "Now that the ice is clear, we can take the probe of this depth finder to help us find how deep the lake is and where the fish are to be found." Then the probe was lowered down to the depths below the ice, they lowered it down until the unit had detected not only how deep the lake was, but to also show how deep the fish are. "Now that we know how deep the fish are along with the size of the lake then we can make our holes around this spot but be careful not to drill too many holes or the ice will collapse and may have do drag someone to shore to make sure they are not endangered of hyperthermia." Then the friends took their time to drill the holes carefully not to make too many or someone will be taking an ice bath. Then everyone took their ice fishing equipment and started to fix them up before loading the bait onto the hooks before lowering them to the hole into the ice. Everyone chatted as they waited for their hooks are taken by the fish below.

Edward. "So, Thomas, what have you and the controller talked about two and a half weeks ago during the dance?"

Thomas. "He wanted to see me about going through the figures from last year so we can start filing up on our taxes. He tells me at this time of year everyone goes through tax season, so they can know how much they have managed to make sure everything here is proper enough before we file them for the year. If everything was well, we can see what kind of an impact our efforts to the homestead and everywhere else on Sodor that can make a difference since we did a lot of building this past year. Not to mention where we are housing lot of our friends who do not have homes of their own beyond the homestead. He along with Rosie and I are going to discuss about what we can do to improve the area if we want to continue living on the homestead, and if we should consider it to be another vacation spot for the Holiday makers to the Island."

Edward. "How have your neighbors felt about your home becoming a holiday spot on the Island of Sodor?"

Thomas. "They have mixed feelings since many of them did not start a homestead to have what they call strangers, to venture to their homesteads, when they themselves wanted to live like the ancients had lived before modernization took part of the land."

Edward. "Who has the most to be concern about the ideas about your homestead Thomas?"

Rosie. "Arnold Mac Von did voice his concerns about the number of people who come to our homestead for a holiday. He is worried that the visitors may venture onto his land believing they can do what ever they wanted without realizing about what kind of a lifestyle any homesteader may have to face, even if confrontation may end up becoming deadly."

Thomas. "By Next week we will talk together in the dinning hall and have a meeting, along with our Neighbor Arnold Mac Von and the humanized tugs who are down by the lagoon area."

Edward. "Well I would like to be part of this too Thomas, if you and Rosie do not mind."

Thomas. "Not at all Edward." As he says this, he had his first bite of the day. "Whoa! Hey, I got a trout!"

Warden Dex came over and marked Thomas's trout first off, the list. "Well done Thomas, good fortune must be on you and your friends."

Thomas. "Thanks, Dex!"

Gordon was next to catch a trout. "Ha! Got one for the home team." Then Dex came over to congratulate the former express engine for his catch.

Dex. "You are doing well Gordon." All throughout the morning everyone managed to catch more fish before they have reached their limit before Warden Dex decided to call the rest of the day.

Everyone lined up and seen how many each of the fishing party had their limits. Each one was to catch up to 5 trout, in total the entire party managed to catch up to 50 trout. It was a good day for ice fishing and it also means fresh fish for dinner for the night. Then everyone gathered up their belongings before everyone headed for home.

Warden Dex. "You all have done well this morning, never have I seen so many caught with this many in a group. To anyone else this would seem excessive. For you Thomas and Rosie, I consider this a good thing since you both are willing to present a fresh fish dinner with everyone still on the homestead."

Rosie. "We are also helping our new residents to the homestead, since their humanization, the humanized tugs were unable to learn about survival training. They have yet to develop these skills if they want to learn how to exist under circumstance beyond the normal control.

Warden Dex. "That is most generous from both you and Thomas Rosie, you two really know how to look out for your fellow countryman."

Thomas. "Well we do what we can, for now we just need to return home and prepare these delicious looking fish back for dinner tonight."

Donald. "We will be eating nicely tonight Thomas, thanks to us."

Douglas. "Just call us the outdoor brigade, and we will be true outdoorsman of the Caledonians."

Oliver. "Not the Caledonians, but the Hunting, outdoor club of the Billinton and Vulcan homestead you two."

Edward. "Alright everyone it is time for home, and I am starting to feel a bit hungry after fishing on the ice all morning."

Thomas. "Alright everyone it is time to pack everything up and head for home." Then one by one Thomas, Edward, Gordon, Oliver, Ariel and the twins ready up the snow machines that now numbers up to six, Rosie is riding with Thomas, Dex has his own, the twins are to share one, while Cassey rides back with Edward, While David returns with Gordon to the homestead.

Back on the homestead, Henry began a project to fulfill his new hobby, he is planning of building a new greenhouse that will be used in growing floral arrangements or seasonable greenery for the residents of Sodor. He begins by finding the lumber that he needs to build an 8 by 8 structure, and if he cannot find the right lumber he need to cut the claimed timbers that Thomas always seem to have on hand. By using Thomas's saw mill can make the necessary lumber Henry needs to make his structure with. Emily sees what her boyfriend was looking for and became known to him after addressing Henry as he was checking out the condition of the Lumber mill.

Emily. "Hello Henry, what are you up to now honey?" Henry turned to her and gave her a welcome hello kiss on the lips before he returns his attention to the sawmill.

Henry. "Mm Hello sweet Emily, I am just trying to turn some of the timber into the lumber I need to make a new greenhouse for my hobby."

Emily. "Oh, I get it, the main greenhouse is for our edibles, while yours is to grow the beautiful flowers that can be used around Sodor."

Henry. "Something like that, also I want a place where I can re grow new trees when old ones are blown down from either storms or just to replace after the older one was cut down for any reason."

Emily. "That will be nice, I would like to help out with that too Henry, just let me know if it will be ready."

Henry. "Why you plan of planting something in the greenhouse when it is finished Emily?"

Emily. "You know how much I like flowers Henry, maybe I can learn how to grow them for the stations across Sodor. You know when they plan those decorated station contest when it come back Henry." Henry did believe it would be a nice thought about keeping the stations green and vibrant with the floral arrangements at the station, and it is a consideration about aiding the railway in such a way.

Henry. "You know how to have an eye out for everything, so I believe it would do a world of wonder of what you are proposing." He says as he drew Emily back to him and came together for a warm wonderful kiss before they broke off to let Henry continue fiddling with the sawmill to make sure it is working properly since being quiet before winter came to the Island.

While Henry was at the sawmill, Duck and Nia was looking at everything that Duck wanted to do for a long time. Since Duck himself had the time to find what he is good at, and to his discovery he found his passion in metal works. He and Nia are in the metal shop to cut out some pieces of sheet metal into cutlery for the outdoor club members. They are used in cleaning up their game, when they become successful in their pursuit of fresh meat to the homestead.

Nia. "What are you up to know Duck? Who are these for anyways?"

Duck. "Well you know how much the homestead Hunting club likes to make sure they have the right equipment when they venture out, between hunting and fishing. I find it best if I can make some hunting tools that can help prepare their game for their track back home."

Nia. "And you are planning a series of game dressing tools that can help field dress their game and fish when they bring in their catch for the day."

Duck. "Not just dressing cutlery, but also some other tools that can help them when they plan to camp out again, such as axes for cutting lose timbers into shelters or even into some outdoor structure. I have read on the various types of structures; outdoors people happen to make when they decided to rough it in the great outdoors. It is amazing how anyone can be that resourcefulness and make shelters out of fallen timbers and arrange them into sticks stacked into walls and other things that can protect themselves from the elements. Especially if the chose to or may have no other choice but to provide a shelter for the party involved."

Nia. "I would like to learn how to be an outdoors woman, who knows what could happen if we find ourselves in a situation where you and I have to rely on one another for warmth and comfort while venturing in the woods somewhere." Duck turned to her with that thought in mind knowing it will be an interesting experience what kind of a pair he and Nia would be when needing to face things as a pair.

Duck. "You know when Thomas and his outdoor party return from fishing this morning, I will have to ask warden Dex about how to be just a prepared as Thomas and the others are when they venture into the wilderness."

Nia. "You mean ask him if he can train you and I to become outdoors people along with Thomas and the others am I correct Duck?"

Duck. "Exactly beautiful." Then the two came together and gave each other a kiss on the lips before Duck continues his work on the sheets of metal that he plans of turning into a series of cutlery for the hunting club members.

In the animal barn the horses were finally released back onto the pasture and began grazing the large hay stack that the homesteaders had set up as a meeting place for their horses. Percy, Toby, Mavis, and Polly were there to see the animals finally relieved after being cooped in the barn for too long.

Polly. "There you are, now you are free to roam around in the pasture, now be nice and get along with everyone there you lot."

Percy. "You are really enjoying this aren't you Polly?" He says as he wraps his arms around Polly's waist.

Polly. "I just love to see such happy animals after being cooped up in the animal barn for too long, I know how it feels for being cooped up for too long to be free again."

Toby. "You must have been feeling lonely during your time in the magic Railway Polly. I can imagine not venturing beyond your surroundings without the possibility of becoming discovered by a past adversary. Now I know that will not be a problem anymore."

Polly. "I must admit that it is a hard decision not to venture out of the buffers for a while, after learning about what happened between Thomas and Rosie when they first became human, I thought I could bine my time until hearing how everyone else was attending school too, so I decided that I could at least try the light water for once and when I found out about my humanization, Burnet and I decided to finally have a chance to be educated with the rest of you, while my engine side with Mr. Conductor tends to the controls of my engine side."

Percy. "I am glad that you decided to join us for school Polly, I was not too sure about who I want for a girlfriend until meeting up with you for the first time. I felt blessed that you and I can have such magical moments like that, and I do no mean your gold dust neither." Everyone chuckled on that.

Polly. "That is what I love about you Percy, you are cheeky and sweet at the same time handsome." Then she and Percy came together for a loving kiss on the lips while Toby and Mavis decided to leave to find their time together for a fun time.

In the lounge area of the dining hall James, Jessica his twin sister, her lover Jasper, and James's Girlfriend had gathered around to discuss about what kind of futures they are looking forward to after they graduate after high School ends.

Jessica. "James have you thought about what you wanted to do after school ends for us? Have you given it much thought yet?"

James did think about what he wanted to do after school is over, he is now used to the idea of becoming human. However, he cannot help but wonder what is going on with his engine side and wonders if it was going to do great without him.

James. "I have been thinking about it for some time now, and I believe it will suite me best to become a railway driver on my engine side. If Thomas can find time in his old shell, then so can I. What about you and Jasper Jessica, any plans for when school is out for you?"

Jessica. "Well Jasper and I have talked about it and it would be beneficial if he and I remain on the homestead. That way we can enjoy the benefits of living freely at our own will."

Molly. "That sounds interesting, I do plan of returning to the rails also, that way both James and I can be together even on the railway. Even if we are to travel along with our engine sides to do so."

James. "It is just that we have been engines for so long, I cannot see myself beyond the tracks even if we are in human form. This way I can also do things beyond the tracks when I am considered off from the job and have precious moments with Molly here by my side doing so."

Molly. "You are asking for a good one tonight Mister Hughes, you keep this up and you will find me smiling up to you for a ride cowboy." Everyone in the room can hear the seduction between James and Molly at that moment, James just smiled at that complement and wrapped his arms tighter to her waist gave her a kiss on the side of her neck.

James. "You are just gonna have to wait until I have my fill of diner tonight my lovely yellow sunshine." Then everyone turned to see the tugs come in as they all heard one of them saying.

Shawn. "Has someone announced my name, I can still remember being called Sunshine as my real name?" Everyone laughed when they saw the humanized Tugs by the dining hall entrance.

Jasper. "What has brought you lot into here today?"

Oscar. "We wanted to come to the meeting with Thomas and the other land owners of this area, and had wondered if we can offer some Mariner services to the homestead?'

James. "unfortunately, we all have to wait until they return from their ice fishing trip with his outdoor club. I do hope they bring home a good amount of fish back, after dealing with all they had gathered last year before the snow began to hit. It will be a welcome site to have a fresh fish dinner with everyone here tonight." It was at that moment everyone can hear to sounds of the approaching snow machines that the homesteaders own and on them are the returning outdoor club of the homestead with the fresh catch of fish for everyone on the homestead. "Whoo hoo. You guys did an amazing job on fishing for trout today."

Thomas stopped his machine to allow for Rosie to get off and helped her bring the fresh fish in to be process for dinner and have the extras in the freezer for future use. "You bet James, after gathering enough fresh fish for the homestead, I find it best to get them cleaned up before storing them away for future use." Then Thomas, Edward, Oliver, and Ariel decided to help out and dress the fresh fish by removing the skeletal frame from the inside and placed some fresh herbs with some sea salt inside of the cavity of the fish and enclosed at least 5 trout in a parchment wrap then followed up with a foil wrap that helped sealed up the steam the fish will be cooked with. With the 5 trout in the oven to get it ready for dinner, the rest of the fish are finally in storage and gave Thomas and the other outdoorsmen headed back to their respective homes and changed their clothes before returning back to the dining hall to meet up with everyone there before everyone is to be seated for diner. "So, Oscar, Trent, Shawn, and Zeb what do we owe the privilege with?"

Trent. "As you know we need to find a way to allow for us to be part of your Homestead Thomas only that we are more comfortable working near and maybe in the water with your holiday makers during that part of the season."

Rosie. "What did you have in mind for the meeting?'

Oscar. "Since this lock leads out into the Sudrian Sea, we find it best to regain our sea legs by offering a charter service for the visitors. Especially since we know more about the seaways of the Irish Sea."

Thomas. "That does sound like an Idea but let us wait until the meeting next week along with our neighbor Arnold Mac Von about the Idea you are proposing."

Edward. "We all want to know what we are to accomplish before the start of the new season here on the Island of Sodor, and on the homestead of Thomas and Rosie."

How do we believe the outcome of the Meeting will be, what kind of developments should take place? What does the Neighbors feel about the changes when they happen let us find out next time on the Journey Through Northwestern High School?"