Ready! Set! Rescue!

Part IV: Amber's Castle Conundrum

Written by Michael White

Amber the Ambulance Van is the newest member of the Sodor Search and Rescue Team, and is still learning her way around.

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HONK-HONK!

"Out of the way!" Amber shouted out to a nearby Bertie, who reacted with surprise and giddily rolled his eyes around.

Siren sounding and strobe-lights flashing, Amber rushed quickly to a level crossing, where Thomas and Toby were waiting with the gates against them.

"Phew!" she sighed with relief as her siren died down, as she came to a stop at the open crossing. "You're good to go, guys!"

She looked across at a dumbfounded Thomas and Toby, and smiled, which slightly turned to a look of confusion.

"Erm, I think you have the right of way, Amber," Thomas expressed, rather confusedly.

"I do?"

"Are you on your way to an emergency?" Toby wondered.

"You'd best get going if you are," Henrietta added, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh," Amber realized.

She chuckled nervously and blushed a slight shade of red, as she sounded up her siren once more and rushed away, much to the surprise of Thomas, Toby and their coaches.

When Amber first arrived on Sodor, she rushed into an emergency where she wasn't needed, instead of waiting at the Rescue Center to be called into action…!

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Amber's siren sounded out as she raced into the DieselWorks, in time to see Belle put out the fire.

"I'm here, Belle! I made it!"

Belle shot her a look of confusion in the midst of all the cheering from the workmen and nearby diesels.

"What exactly are you doing here, Amber? Was this your emergency?"

"I'm quite sure of it! Now please, can you tell me where the injured workmen are? Surely they must be taking refuge from the fire! I'll have 'em at the hospital on the double!"

Before Belle could answer, Den raced in.

HONK-HONK!

"Sorry, but the men are taking refuge in a spot just by the DieselWorks, and they're completely unharmed as it seems."

Dart rolled up beside him.

"What he means is, there HAVE been no casualties from the fire."

"Oh," Amber thought, rather surprised as she went red in the face. "Well, I guess this wasn't my emergency after all."

"Doesn't look like it, Amber," Belle pointed out. "In fact, I do think it's urgent you report back to the Rescue Center right away in case of another emergency where you will be needed!"

"Right," Amber agreed. "Thanks for the tip, Belle! I best be off then! Goodbye!"

She sounded her siren loudly and flashed her strobe lights as she rushed out of the DieselWorks, past a very surprised Butch!

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This little mishap caused a great deal of confusion, but luckily Amber was able to make it to her own emergency all in good time and managed to get Annie's injured passengers to hospital.

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"Phew!" Amber sighed, as she arrived at the scene of emergency. "Sorry, I'm late! You must be Thomas then."

"Well, yes, I am," Thomas confirmed, rather puzzled. "But…who are you?"

"Oh! Yes, well, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Amber! I'm the new emergency van! I was called into action to take your injured passengers to hospital, but I…kinda rushed into the wrong emergency and ended up at the Dieselworks beforehand. Yes, eh, sorry 'bout that."

Thomas chuckled.

"No worries! You're here now, aren't you?"

"Erm…yes, I suppose I am," Amber guessed, as the workmen helped the injured passengers aboard her compartment.

One morning, Amber was waiting anxiously at the Rescue Platform. She looked rather focused as she watched the men walk about the platform.

HONK-HONK!

"Good morning, Amber!" Flynn greeted, as he rolled into view. "What are you up to?"

"I'm waiting ready and on hand, Flynn," Amber confirmed. "I'm being mindful so as not to rush in like I did on my first day on the job. Rather prepare myself for an emergency where I'm actually needed, you know?"

She chuckled nervously, but before Flynn could answer, the alarm bell rang. Men came running out and shouting, as Amber and Flynn watched with astonishment.

"What's the emergency, Flynn?" Amber asked, as the men hopped aboard him.

"Sounds like a shed on fire at Vicarstown," Flynn confirmed.

"Ooh, ooh, Vicarstown!" Amber expressed eagerly, remembering all too well.

"But there are no casualties reported as of yet," Flynn added. "Sorry, Amber."

"Oh," Amber wondered with surprise, then beamed. "Oh, well, that's okay. I'm just glad I didn't rush into this emergency."

She chuckled slightly, then sighed with relief as she watched Belle, Flynn and Butch rush off into action.

"Ah, well," she thought to herself. "This is good practice for learning not to rush in. I guess I'll just wait like everybody else."

She sighed peacefully and shut her eyes, opening it every now and then to watch the station clock ticking.

Amber patiently waited at the station platform a little while longer for her own emergency to be announced. She didn't mind this one bit, as it meant she could rest her wheels a little before setting off to work. Fortunately, it didn't take too long, till at last…

The alarm bell went off, and Amber quickly opened her eyes, alert as she watched the men run and shout.

"What's the emergency?" she asked them aloud.

"Callan Castle!" one workman announced.

"A pair of rock climbers have been injured!" another one confirmed.

"We'll need you for this one, Amber!" another one called out, as they boarded her.

"Yay!" Amber exclaimed.

"See you over at Callan Castle, Amber!" Harold called out to her, as he slowly took out to the sky.

"Likewise, Harold!" Amber called back to him.

She sounded up her siren and flashed her strobe lights as she rushed quickly into action.

"Yahooooo!" she cheered, as she flew along the road that led away from the Rescue Center.

On the way to Callan Castle, Amber felt very pleased with herself!

"I did it!" she expressed excitedly. "I waited ready and on hand! And I was called into the right emergency! Waiting isn't so bad after all!"

Siren sounding and strobe lights flashing, she raced on down the road!

"Castle, here we come!" she shouted. "Yippeeeee!"

She sped steadily on, past a very surprised Gordon.

"Woah!" Gordon wailed, bouncing suddenly up and down on the line.

He looked back with confusion, then pressed on, rather puzzled.

"Make way!" Amber called, as she rushed past Daisy.

"Oh!" the railcar groaned, as Amber flew by.

"I say," she expressed with dismay, looking back.

Amber smiled as she pressed further along.

"I'm certain I'll make it to the castle on time!" she thought to herself. "My timing will be just perfect too!"

Then she had another thought, raising an eyebrow all of a sudden.

"Only…" she thought, coming to a sudden halt, "I can't quite remember what the name was. Hmm…"

She tried harder, grasping for memory what the name of the castle was.

"Think, think, come on, Amber! They told you back at the Rescue Center! What was the name of that castle?"

She shut her eyes and groaned even louder at not having quite remembered.

But no matter how hard Amber tried, she couldn't quite remember the name of her destination!

She opened her eyes and let out a breath of air.

"Ugh! It's hopeless!" she groaned. "How will I ever remember the name of that castle?!"

PEEP-PEEP!

"Hello, Amber!" Thomas greeted, as he came to a stop beside her. "What are you doing out in the middle of the road?"

"I'm on my way to an emergency, Thomas. I'm meant to be taking some injured rock climbers to hospital. But I can't quite remember where it is. A "castle" of some sort, I recall, but…not much else."

She expressed a frown as Thomas suddenly had a thought.

"Oh, I know that Ulfstead Castle is close by. Right up that road and to the right. The only other place I can think of is Callan but…"

"Callan!" Amber remembered. "Oh, yes, yes, yes! That was it!"

Thomas laughed.

"Well, I'm glad you figured it out, Amber. But…do you need help with directions on how to get there?"

"No, thank you, Thomas! It's just like you said! Up that road and to the right! Best be off now! Bye!"

Before Thomas could answer, Amber raced off.

"Wheeeeeeee!"

"Amber, wait! Thomas shouted, then sighed with dismay.

"Up the road and to the right! Up the road and to the right!" Amber chanted. "I'll be there in no time!"

Unfortunately, Amber was so excited that she mixed up what Thomas told her about directions, meaning that she was heading for somewhere other than her destination…

"Never seen a part of the Island like this before!" she thought to herself as she looked all around. "I'm almost there. I'm sure of it!"

She sounded out her siren as her strobe lights continuously flashed, and she began to climb the hill that she remembered Thomas talking about.

Amber thought she knew where she was going, but she soon found that the journey was taking longer than expected.

"This is strange," she thought. "I thought I'd be there by now. Hopefully the others aren't wondering where I am…"

PEEP-PEEEEEEP!

"Castle, here we come!" Connor called, as he passed by with his coaches.

Amber gasped as he disappeared in the distance.

"Castle…" she thought quietly to herself.

All of a sudden, an excited look widened across her face.

"That's it! I'm almost there! I know I am!"

Amber pressed further on, and soon came into sight of a castle up ahead.

"There it is!" she expressed excitedly! "I made it! Hooray!"

Her siren sounded out loud as she made it to her supposed destination, and raced inside through the castle entrance! Soon enough, she spotted Connor by the castle platform, letting off and picking up passengers.

"Thank you, big engine for leading me here! Wouldn't have thought of it otherwise if you hadn't given me the cue!"

Connor expressed a look of surprise and confusion, as did a trio of three engines Amber had never seen before.

"Oh," Amber thought. "Hello there! My name's Amber. Eh, would either of you happen to know where the emergency is?"

"Emergency?" Milie wondered with confusion. "I don't recall there being an emergency!"

"Surely, the Earl would have told us if there was!" Glynn added.

Amber looked all around the inside of the castle, but she couldn't see Harold nor the injured climbers anywhere in sight.

"Oh," Amber blushed, rather embarrassed. "Err, I must be at the wrong castle then. My apologies."

She chuckled nervously as Millie, Stephen and Glynn all eyed her with surprise.

"Do you need help finding where it is you're going?" Glynn wondered.

"No thanks!" Amber refused. "All it takes is a bit of quick thinking to get myself back on course. Best be off! Bye now!"

She raced out of the castle, siren sounding loudly, much to the surprise of the four friends as they all glanced at one another!

Amber felt very embarrassed at having taken a wrong way that led her to Ulfstead!

"I thought I knew where I was going! I thought I did!" she stressed. "I don't suppose I can find Thomas again now for clarification of directions."

She stopped in the middle of the road and looked all around.

"Oh no," she groaned to herself. "Now I don't even remember the way I came in! I've never been up to these parts of the island before and…"

PEEP-PEEP!

Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of a nearby whistle. It was Luke nearby, picking up passengers from the castlegrounds.

"These passengers enjoyed Ulfstead Castle very much, Millie!" he expressed to the private engine nearby.

"That's great to hear, Luke!" Millie responded. "Where are you taking them to next?"

"To the Blue Mountain Quarry!" said the green engine eagerly.

"Ooh, that should be fun!"

"I'm sure it will be!" Luke chuckled as he set off. "Not that they haven't seen a big enough mountain already when I showed them the Castle Causeway!"

"The Castle Causeway…" Amber thought to herself.

Then she smile brightly.

"That's it!" she expressed. "Surely that little engine will know where I need to go!"

Then she sounded her siren and started up her strobe lights as she followed Luke down to where he turned into a tunnel that led through the Blue Mountain Quarry. She took a road into a tunnel nearby and silenced her siren. She kept her strobe lights flashing as she raced through.

"Wow!" she expressed aloud, her voice echoing as she looked all around.

Her strobe lights shone through the dark tunnel all around as she raced out through the other side and towards the Blue Mountain Quarry.

"By golly!" she gasped, as she took a look around at the rock and hill surrounding the quarry.

She watched with awe and amazement as the little engines whistled and rushed about with their loads.

"Now," she thought, "just to find out who to ask about that castle…woahhhhh!"

HONK-HONK!

"Gahhhhhh!" she screamed.

She'd been caught off guard as a large truck honked and revved out of her way.

"Oh dear! Oh my!" she groaned, as she watched the truck roll out of sight.

She came to a stop just beside the tracks.

"I'm lost again," she ranted to herself. "Oh, dear. Pull yourself together, Amber! You can do this! You followed the little green engine into that tunnel and now you're here in a quarry! But I don't see a castle in sight! Goodness, and the the others are probably wondering where I am! However will I find the castle now?"

PEEP-PEEP!

"Ah!" she cried, but then looked over in surprise at who it was.

Rheneas had just raced down the hill with some stone trucks and stopped just to face her, gazing at her with confusion.

"Oh," Amber thought, then chuckled nervously. "Well, hello. Sorry, didn't mean to shout. Just never been up these parts of the Island before. That's all."

"No worries!" Rheneas chuckled. "It does take a bit of time. I'm Rheneas by the way."

"And I'm Amber," the emergency van beamed. "I'm relatively new here to Sodor though I'm still having to learn my way around as you can see!"

She chuckled nervously, as Rheneas just smiled.

"That's okay. Very nice to meet you, Amber. Now, where is it exactly that you are looking to go?"

"Well," Amber thought hard, "I was supposed to be at a castle for an emergency but I don't seem to recall it by name and now I'm lost. Rather embarrassing, come to think of it."

She blushed a slight shade of red, as Rheneas thought hard.

"Hmm…" he wondered, "well, I do know that there's the old Castle Causeway further down that track over there but…"

A bright idea flew into Amber's mind and she beamed brightly.

"Ah, that's it!" she thought. "I'll just try that then! Thanks, little engine!"

Then she sounded her siren as she soar out of sight!

"Wait!" Rheneas called, then sighed slightly as Peter Sam rolled up alongside.

"I don't suppose she was looking for the castle by Hawin Dooeiy," he expressed to the little green engine.

Peter Sam shot a look of confusion.

Meanwhile, at Callan Castle, Harold had just managed to bring the injured climbers to safety.

Harold landed gently on the ground and his crew aided the climbers out amongst the castlegrounds. Lord Callan expressed a look of deep concern.

"I don't see Amber anywhere in sight," he informed the crew. "It looks as though Harold will have to take these climbers to hospital himself."

"No worries for me!" the helicopter replied eagerly. "I'll get them there on the double!"

His crew wasted no time in helping the climbers back on board and starting up Harold's engine.

"I must say though," Harold expressed with concern, as he took slowly to the sky. "It seems as though Amber may have gotten lost indeed. Hopefully she doesn't land herself in too much trouble!"

And with that, he purred smoothly away, as Lord Callan watched with relief.

At the Causeway, Elizabeth was dropping off supplies for the castle when she heard a rather unusual sound.

"Huh!" she scoffed with slight confusion.

She watched with astonishment as Amber came roaring into sight and stopped right across from her.

"I made it!" she expressed. "This must be the castle I'm looking for. I'm sure of it!"

Then she came to eye to eye with Elizabeth, who raised an eyebrow with confusion.

"Oh," Amber thought, then beamed. "Hello! I'm Amber! I don't suppose you know if where the injured climbers are, do you?"

"No!" Elizabeth expressed, rather perplexed.

"Oh," Amber replied. "And I don't suppose Harold's been here yet either. I know he's always on time for an emergency."

"I've only arrived here ten minutes ago," Elizabeth replied. "I'm only here to drop off supplies, though I think I would have known if there was an emergency or not."

Amber looked all around, wondering if the castle she'd ended up at was REALLY Callan!

"Oh, dear," she expressed. "Maybe I'm not at Callan Castle after all!"

"No, you're not!" Elizabeth bluntly expressed. "This is the Castle Causeway. You know, by Hawin Dooeiy."

"Oh…" Amber thought, rather understanding, then chuckled nervously. "Silly me. Ended up at the wrong place again."

"Well, you're in luck," Elizabeth assured her. "Because I just happen to be heading to Callan next."

Amber's eyes widened with astonishment.

"Come along, dear!" Elizabeth went on, rather soothingly. "Follow me!"

"Yayyyyy! Thank you! Oh, thank you, ermmm…!"

"Elizabeth!" the lorry beamed, as she started along the road with Amber in pursuit.

"Well, thank you, Elizabeth!" Amber expressed. "Means a lot!"

"Think nothing of it!" Elizabeth responded from in front.

"So what is it exactly that you do on this Island, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth thought hard, still rather confused.

"I, erm…, deliver supplies and clear up roads," she responded.

"Wow!" Amber gasped, "that sounds amazing! You must keep yourself very useful then!"

Elizabeth was starting to get a little weary.

"Yes," she huffily responded. "It helps to keep me on. We must hurry, Amber! There's no time to waste!"

"Oh, yes, yes. I know," Amber responded, as she hurried it along behind the slow, steady vintage lorry.

"So how much longer before we get there then?" she went on.

"Not long," Elizabeth responded, rolling her eyes slightly.

"By golly, this is an embarrassing situation," Amber went on, much to Elizabeth's surprise. "But I'm relatively new here after all and this isn't the first time I've lost my way."

Then she thought hard before chuckling.

"Why, come to think of it, I've only ended up at two different castles today."

Elizabeth managed a slight slight grin as she rolled sturdily along.

"Why," Amber went on. "I don't believe you've heard about what happened the first time I came to the Island. Rather funny story, actually. It all started when I journeyed to Sodor from the Mainland."

Elizabeth let out a breath of exasperation as Amber went on.

"I crossed the bridge that took me to Sodor. I ended up first at this funny little station called Vicarstown…"

Amber went on chatting to Elizabeth the whole way to Callan Castle. The old vintage lorry found her to be quite the chatterbox!

At long last, they arrived at their destination, where Lord Callan park was waiting eagerly for them!

"But at least Thomas' injured passengers to hospital all in good time," Amber finished soothingly, as they stopped by the castle. "And that's what matters most."

"Shh! We're here, Amber," Elizabeth huffed at her. "Look sharp! Here comes Lord Callan!"

Amber gasped loudly.

"We made it!" she expressed aloud.

"Quiet!" hissed Elizabeth, as Lord Callan approached.

"Ah, Elizabeth. You made it. And with the supplies all in good time too!"

Elizabeth beamed, as Lord Callan turned to face Amber.

"Now, you must be…"

"Amber!" the emergency van expressed. "I'm here to take the injured rock climbers to hospital."

"Well, I'm sorry, Amber, but Harold has already taken them."

"Oh," Amber thought, as Elizabeth expressed a look of sorrow. "So…the emergency's been tended to then."

"Yes, I'm afraid," Lord Callan replied.

Amber frowned.

"Oh my," she expressed. "I've gone all over the Island to different places, thinking I've ended up at the right castle. Turns out…I don't know where I'm going and I'm still learning my way around."

She sighed sadly, as Lord Callan eyed her long and hard. Elizabeth just beamed.

"It's alright, Amber. All you had to do was ask. I would have gladly showed you the way!"

"I know, Elizabeth, and I appreciate you doing so. But now, I don't know how to get back to the Rescue Center."

Just then, they heard a hovering overhead.

"Harold!" Amber exclaimed. "Perhaps he might know the way back!"

"Why don't you ask?" Elizabeth suggested. " I wish I could be of assistance but I've got far too much to do with dropping off these supplies."

"No worries!" Amber assured her, then sounded her siren aloud. "Yoo-hoo! Harold! Over here!"

"Ah! Amber! There you are!" the helicopter called out, as he soar into view. "just dropped off those injured climbers to hospital. Where have you been all this time?"

Amber blushed slightly.

"Oh, Harold, it was just embarrassing! I raced all over the Island to all the wrong places and I have no idea where I was going…!"

"Oh," Harold thought, listening carefully.

"…but thankfully Elizabeth showed me the way here. However, I have no idea how to get back to the Rescue Center from here. Please, Harold, will you show me the way?"

"Certainly!" the helicopter replied. "Follow my lead!"

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Harold!" Amber expressed.

She sounded and flashed her strobe lights as she followed Harold away from the castlegrounds!

"Thanks, Elizabeth!" she called.

Elizabeth smiled as the emergency van raced away and out of sight.

Amber followed Harold along the path that led back to the Rescue Center! She was now feeling very pleased with herself!

"Elizabeth was right!" she said. "Sometimes it does help to seek clarification for directions! I'll be back at the Search and Rescue Center in no time!"

Siren still sounding and strobe lights still flashing, Amber raced on down the road as Harold hovered steadily ahead of her.

Soon enough, the pair arrived back at the Search and Rescue Center where the rest of the team were waiting for them.

Harold landed down at his helipad as Amber soar into view for slowing down and shut it off or strobe light, the sound of a siren slowly dying down.

"Sorry I'm back so late," she expressed. "Lost my way on the way to Callan Castle and went off course. Had no idea what I was going, really."

"Oh," Flynn thought with surprise. "How did you manage to find your way back then?"

"Thankfully, Harold helped me out!" Amber replied. "Showed up in the nick of time just as made it to my destination, though. By then, the injured climbers had already been taken to hospital."

She expressed a slight frown, but Belle just beamed at her.

"No worries, Amber," she soothed. "We all make mistakes at times."

" I know," Amber admitted. "And I'm sorry, Harold, but you have to take those climbers to hospital for me. Would've done it meself if I'd haven't been so proud."

"Don't worry, chap! All in the line of duty!" The helicopter replied.

"Guess I am still learning my way around the Island. Wouldn't hurt to ask for directions in future until I'm of myself! Should've done it earlier when I was asking Thomas where to go."

"Well, you can always ask for help from us, Amber," Belle assured her.

Amber smiled.

"I shall accept help in the future whenever I need it from now on!" she vowed.

The other rescue vehicles beamed at her. Just then, The alarm bell rang and men came out shouting as Rocky looked amongst them.

"What's the verdict, Rocky?" Flynn wondered.

"Building on fire at Arlesburgh West, sounds like," the crane confirmed. "Few workers have been injured from the sound of it."

"That's all the way on the other side of the island for me!" Captain claimed. "I'm not going to be able to make it to harbor on time!"

"Sounds like a job for me!" Amber exclaimed, then she had a thought.

"Though I…don't quite know the way there myself."

She turned to Harold and Butch.

"Do…either of you happen to know the way?"

"I can lead there!" said Butch eagerly. "I need to clear the rubble away anyway."

"Thank you, Butch!" Amber exclaimed with relief.

She sounded up her siren and flashed her strobe lights as she raced alongside him into action.

"Ready and raring to rescue!" Flynn called out, as he ventured after the pair.

Harold took the sky and the four friends set off for the emergency!

Amber the Ambulance Van is still learning her way around. But luckily, she has her friends beside her whenever she needs help!

Part IV of Ready! Set! Rescue! and newcomer Amber takes the spotlight again. This time she's trying to learn from the mistakes in her debut by paying more attention so as not rush in. However, the lesson she learns here is one of asking for help since she struggles with finding directions to where she needs to be. Amber has been really fun to write for in this DVD and I hope to further develop her in further stories, maybe exploring different aspects of her excitable personality. The supporting cast was fun to utilize here too: the Ulfstead crew (minus Stephen) make their speaking role debut at Ulfstead, and will get their own little adventure sometime towards the end of this set. Elizabeth was also fun to square off against Amber towards the end and their brief dynamic worked well here. My last two stories for this DVD will see two characters I've never written for in the spotlight before. As always, be sure to leave thoughts and as usual, stay tuned for...

Trevor And Flynn - Trevor often tries to find a way to help Flynn with fighting fires when he passes by despite Flynn clearly thinking the old traction engine has little use in a situation like that; however, when Belle derails on the way to a fire, Flynn may end up needing Trevor's help after all when he starts to run out of water.

Not-So-Smooth Sailing - While out on patrol, Captain sees a dark cloud looming towards Arlesburgh West. He warns everyone about the upcoming storm, but when poor Skiff gets caught in a storm, it's up to Captain to brave the waves and rescue the little railboat!

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The Wrath Of Bulstrode - Bulstrode is brought to work at Norramby to help out with the fish deliveries. However, Saul's cautious nature makes him increasingly impatient, causing the two to clash at each other's throats!

Sleep Deprivation - Percy finds himself constantly having to get up early after taking the mail so late, and denies his friends' assistance in taking the pressure off of him to give him a rest

Thieves! (based on Stop, Thief! by Christopher Awdry) - Thomas is informed that the stationmaster's house had been robbed, and comes across the thieves in the valley, ready to pursuit them!