Chapter 1 - Where We Begin
Thomas loved Sodor. There were so many possibilities for an engine, but the world wasn't always as happy as Sodor. Eventually the world was caught up in war for the second time, and this is where our story starts.
Air raid sirens could be heard all throughout Tidmouth. People were frantically clearing the streets and turning off lights.
The seven engines sat in the sheds waiting anxiously.
"Who do you think, Germans or Italians?" James asked.
"Does it matter?" Emily asked.
"Not if they lose." Thomas butted in. He looked over to his best friend to see him shaking on the verge of tears. "It's going to be okay Percy."
Edward smiled, seeing Thomas step up into an adult's shoes touched his heart.
"How are you not... scared Edward?" Percy sobbed.
"I'm petrified Percy. I've just had a lot of practice keeping it in."
The sound of propellers could be heard faintly. Slowly getting louder and louder, until they started to fade.
"Thank go-"
"Wait!" Gordon hissed.
There was silence...
They looked out the small gap in the shed doors, and were suddenly blinded by an intense yellow light. The boom was deafening and the ground shook violently beneath them. When the shaking stopped they opened their eyes. Tidmouth station was gone, and most of the shops and buildings around it.
"Dear god..." Edward gasped.
Percy continued to sob for a while before falling asleep.
"I don't know how he does it." Gordon contemplated aloud. "I can't sleep during war time."
"Neither can I." Emily said.
"Where's Henry?" James asked concerned.
"Vicarstown." Gordon yawned.
"War is awful." Thomas said as he shut his eyes, trying to go to sleep.
The next day, Percy grabbed some empty trucks and followed Edward who had gotten the breakdown train. They puffed into Wellsworth and it was completely destroyed. Bent rails, scorched grass, and rubble everywhere.
"Well we better get started." Edward said as the crew started to hook the breakdown train to the larger rocks.
Percy waited as the men worked, but then he heard a faint voice. "... Help..."
"Who said that." Percy shivered as he looked around. Then he saw a small hand sliding between the rubble next to him.
"SURVIVOR HERE!" He yelled as he whistle loudly. All of the workmen immediately scrambled over to the hand sticking out of the rubble. They all used their bare strength to lift the rubble, to reveal a small boy. He was missing an arm and both legs.
"You're going to be okay son." One of the workmen said as he held the boys only remaining hand. Percy watched on in utter shock as men scrambled to run the child to the hospital, which wasn't far down the road. It was only then Percy noticed all of the blood and corpses either crushed by rubble or scorched by the explosion.
"I thought bringing you here was a bad idea." Edward muttered.
Percy gulped. "How many?" He asked voice cracking under his emotions.
"5 adults and 6 children so far, and we've only searched three houses."
Percy tried to hold in his emotions, but it eventually got the better of him.
"Poor Percy..." Edward sighed as Percy rushed away into the distance.
"When can we get our colours back Sir?" James whined.
"When I'm certain you're not going to get bombed James, we've already had this argument." Sir Topham explained as he locked his office.
"Stop whinging James. Come on, we've got work to do." Thomas chuckled. Then they saw Percy fly past the station crying his eyes out.
"I wonder what's wrong with him?" James muttered as Thomas sped after his friend.
Thomas found Percy in the shed crying. He opened one eye to see who it was and then shut it again.
"What's wrong Perce?"
"... all of the dead people Thomas. So many bodies."
"The war's almost over Percy, things are going to get better."
"How do you know that, you just trying to trick me into being happy."
'Bugger!' Thomas thought.
"You're right, I don't know. I'm just worried about you Percy." Thomas sighed. Percy's sobbing stopped, and he looked up at his best friend.
"Really?"
"Yes really, you're my best friend Percy."
Percy smiled at his best friend as they looked each other in the eyes.
"What are you two doing?" Both engines jumped as they looked over to Emily.
"God, you scared me Emily." Thomas gasped.
"You okay Percy?" Emily asked.
"...I'm fine..." Percy muttered from inside the shed.
Thomas saw a small flash and a cloud of smoke in the distance, then the ground shook violently.
"What on earth was that!" Thomas shouted.
"Whatever it is it isn't good."