THE LORRY OF THE FOREST

Based upon "Scaredy, Scaredy" by Jonathan Trueman and "The Lightning Tree" by Paul Larson

Adapted by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

Halloween had come once again to the Island of Sodor. On the Ffarquhar branch line, Percy was tasked to help out the Pack with mending the roads through Maithwaite forest.

"Oh, on Halloween?" he fretted.

"Is there anything wrong, Percy?" asked Thomas.

"Er… you could say that…" sighed Percy.

"It's about that 'ghost' trick, isn't it?" It wasn't really a question that Toby was asking, more of a statement. One that the engines knew too well. Eight years ago, Percy and Toby pulled a prank on Thomas, but they unfortunately went too far and had deeply scarred the blue tank engine. That nearly destroyed their friendship, and what didn't help was that it had been mere months since Thomas nearly got lost at the lead mines at Toryreck.

"Come now, Percy," soothed Mavis. "Your friendship with Thomas and Toby is as strong as ever."

"I know," said Percy. "But I feel like I should've planned that better…"

"I don't hold any ill will to you anymore, Percy," said Thomas. "Remember that."

"And there's nothing to be afraid of," said Daisy. "All those ghost stories that are told are either folklore or made up."

Percy felt a little better. "Thanks, you four." And with that, he started to puff away.

At Maithwaite forest, the Pack were already setting to work.

"Last year's Halloween was great," said Jack. "I loved that story about the engine who lost their whistle."

"Gets me every time," said Jasmine. "Ooh, I wonder where that story came from."

"Probably came from Donald and Douglas," suggested Buster. "They're always digging up some stories to keep the troublesome bunch in line."

"Just the trucks?" asked Jack, innocently, "Or would it also apply to the likes of a pair of dump trucks I could mention?"

TOOT! TOOT!

"Whoa!" Many of the Pack members jumped, but poor Alex was shaking in his wheels.

"Ha, got you!" laughed Max.

"Oi, that wasn't funny, ye two!" snapped Patrick.

"You're right; it was hilarious!" chortled Monty.

"Why don't you go and pick on someone your own size?" retorted Jack.

"Yeah, try and make yourselves useful," Poppy growled. "Why don't you go and get hit by a tree?"

"Alright, that will do, everyone," said Kelly. "Max and Monty, don't you have some rubble to dispose of?"

"Spoilsport…" the two dump trucks muttered as they rumbled away. Kelly sighed as they watched the twins roll away.

"These two, honestly…" they said to themself.

Soon, it was time for the banksmen's tea and coffee break, and Percy had arrived.

"Hello, everyone," he greeted, still a bit shaken from being given the task.

"Percy, happy Halloween," said Jack. "Great to see you."

"Er, Jack," Alfie said quietly.

"What… oh, sorry, Percy," Jack sighed. "I forgot, you're not really a big fan of this holiday."

"It's alright, Jack," sighed Percy. "I'm glad to have company on this night."

"H-Halloween is l-less scary when you have a f-friend," Alex admitted.

"Indeed it is," said Percy. "I have to admit, there was a time I loved this holiday, but… one thing led to another and…"

"Oh yes, we understand," said Oliver; the construction vehicles subconsciously felt that changing the topic would lighten Percy's mood a bit.

"You know," said David, "I just realized something really odd. There are numbers one through four - that'd be me and my siblings. Then there's a few numbers missing; five to eight, and then there's nine through twelve - Murphy, Nelson, Jack and Alfie - and fourteen to twenty-three, everyone else."

"Well, at least you're doing better than our railway," chuckled Percy. "You just need five more construction vehicles to fill in the gaps. For our railway, there's eleven spaces between twelve and twenty-seven to fill."

Kelly seemed quiet for a moment. "You know," they said, "there is an old story I heard about a number thirteen."

"Oh, what's it about?" asked Jack.

"Well, pin down your brakes, because this is a big one," Kelly said. "Miss Jenny was told about it when she was a little girl…"

Many years ago, there was an old steam lorry that came straight from Foden. They were never given a name… or rather, they didn't live long enough to receive one. They only went by the number painted on their cabin sides - No. 13.

"I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to our crew," said the lorry's new manager.

"Thanks," replied No. 13. They met up with four other vehicles at the time, who warmly welcomed them into their ranks.

"Stick with us," said one. "We'll think of a good name for you."

For a while, the five vehicles were happily working together. Then one day, they were to work in a forest.

"Oh, look!" one of the vehicles cried excitedly. "There's some newly hatched birds!"

"Aww," said No. 13. "They're so cute. They look so safe up in that tree."

"It will protect them from predators," another vehicle replied. "However, there's one important thing to remember – never stand under a tree when it's struck by lightning."

"Why's that?" asked No. 13.

"Well, if lightning hits a tree," said the other vehicle, "it's possible a ground change will spread out from the tree in all directions. And you could potentially get crushed by one."

No. 13 shuddered. "Ugh… I wouldn't want that. But at least it's sunny today. There'll be no lightning."

Unfortunately, No. 13 was not quite correct. Later that day, rain had started to pelt down in the forest.

"Everyone, let's head back to the yards!" called the manager. "It'll be too dangerous to continue our work."

The vehicles all filed out… all that was, except one.

"Oh no!" cried No. 13. "I'll go back and check."

"Wait!" called another vehicle. "You need to stay here! You're too young to go out by yourself!"

They didn't listen though, and rushed all the way back. Their friend was revving their engine, caught in some mud.

"No. 13!" cried their friend. "Get out of here, it's not safe!"

Suddenly, there was a crack of lightning from the sky, and it hit one of the trees, leaving a deep scar in it. Unfortunately, that same tree happened to be the one near where the other vehicle was stuck.

"No!" No. 13 cried. They zipped forwards, struggling to push their friend. "Come on, try and start up!"

The other vehicle revved their engine once more. Thanks to No. 13's help, they were able to push their way out of the mud.

"Okay, driver," said the other vehicle. "Get a cable to No. 13 so we can…"

CRACK!

The tree finally gave away, and landed with a thud. A horrifying crunch was heard shortly after…

When the rain had stopped the next morning, the vehicles returned to the site of the lightning tree. It was cut up and moved to the side so that the damage could be assessed. What the vehicles could see was the crushed remains of a Foden steam lorry with the number thirteen on its cabin. Mysteriously, one of its headlights was missing.

The four other vehicles mourned the loss of their young friend, as did their manager. No. 13 was lost far too young…

"That's a sad story," wept Nigel. Some of the other Pack members were also saddened by the tale; Isobella seemed especially upset, as if a bad memory had come back to her.

"There's more to it," said Kelly. "Exactly one year after No. 13's accident, the missing headlamp suddenly turned up at the very site of the crash. Someone was driving by when they saw the headlamp, wondering where it came from. Curious, they picked it up, put it on the back of their loader and drove off." They paused dramatically.

"Go on," urged Buster.

"Suddenly, unknown to the driver, they heard a howling noise. The driver picked up speed and drove faster and faster. Thankfully, the driver got to their house before the unidentified noise could catch up."

"What was it?" asked Nelson.

"The driver thought that they'd heard the old-fashioned horn of a lorry, but couldn't see any other vehicles out in the dark," explained Kelly. "Some folks suggested that it was the ghost of a steam lorry chasing after them for stealing its headlamp. I'd say that the driver was lucky, for legend has it that No. 13 haunts Maithwaite forest, looking for another vehicle to steal their headlamp from."

Percy bit his lip at the mention of a haunted spirit.

"Oh," groaned Kelly. "Sorry, Percy. I got caught in the moment." They sighed. "Don't worry, I can assure you that the ghost is made up."

"That was a really good story, Kelly," said Jack. "Well, apart from No. 13's accident."

"I'm glad it was made up," shuddered Alfie. "I would not want to come across No. 13's ghost…"

Just then, the vehicles heard the foreman calling out. "Alright, everyone! Break's over!"

"You all heard the foreman, everyone," said Kelly. "Back to work!"

The Pack all rushed off, and Percy went to get some trucks. However, what they didn't realize was that Kelly, Patrick, Isobella and Ned all hung back a bit longer, giving each other knowing glances.

It wasn't long before Jack and Alfie were loading up some of Percy's trucks.

"That lorry sounded really brave," said Alfie. "Pity they didn't exist."

"Well, maybe it's a blessing in disguise," Jack told him. "I mean, being crushed by a tree? That sounds brutal."

"I have to agree," shuddered Percy. "Fallen trees do a lot of damage. Poor Henry had his forest nearly destroyed several years ago."

"I remember hearing about that," said Alfie. "Henry was devastated when that happened."

Before any of them could say something else, Max and Monty came rumbling past.

"Oooh! Look out! It's No. 13's ghost!" laughed Max.

"Scaredy, scaredy!" remarked Monty. Percy and Alfie jumped in fright.

"Quit it, you two!" snapped Jack. "We are trying to work!"

"Yeah, well, so are we," retorted Max.

"We're bringing this dirt for Percy's trucks," added Monty. "Foreman's orders."

"At least do it without bringing up 'ghosts'," huffed Jack. "Honestly, these two…"

"Heh, that's what I said regarding Max and Monty," chuckled a nearby Kelly.

Later, Max and Monty were being given another order by the foreman.

"Take these loads to the tip in the forest," he said. "And be careful, it's very dark."

"Heh, we'll be careful, sir," chuckled Max. The foreman eyed the dump trucks darkly, and they subsided.

As Max and Monty drove deeper into the forest, they did so slowly and nervously. Secretly, despite their teasing of Percy and Alfie, the dump truck brothers had been rather unsettled by Kelly's story about No. 13. What if they'd actually come across its ghost and tried stealing one of their headlamps?

"Oh, come now!" Max grunted. "That's just silly. Ghosts aren't real."

"Yeah," Monty agreed. "Just stuff and nonsense. Kelly was pulling our wheels; they always do that."

However, as they spoke, the duo heard a noise.

"What's that?" asked Max.

"An owl," said Monty. "I hope…" They drove a bit further when they heard another sound.

"And that?"

"Probably Jet, Miss Jenny's dog." Though this time, Monty was wrong; it was actually a fox.

The two dump trucks reached their destination and began dumping their loads. Then suddenly, they heard a loud tooting noise.

"Wh-what's that?" gulped Monty. Then, the duo saw a single headlamp through the trees.

"It's No. 13's ghost!" gasped Max. "Run for it!"

Once their dumpers were empty, they raced away as fast as their wheels could carry them.

"It's after us!" cried Monty.

The rest of the Pack was getting ready to go home for the night.

"My Jet will probably be curled up on my bed waiting for me," Miss Jenny chuckled.

"Aww, that must be an adorable sight," cooed Murphy. "You must take a photo and show us one day."

At that moment, Max and Monty came rushing in, screaming their radiators off.

"It's No. 13's ghost!" wailed Max.

"But it's just a story Kelly made up," said Alfie, surprised at how uncharacteristic it was for Max and Monty to be terrified.

"If it's made up, then what's that?!" cried Monty as the horn grew closer.

"I know that horn anywhere," Percy grinned.

"Hello, everyone," smiled Mavis. "Mr. Croarie sent me with some more trucks."

Max and Monty both went red with embarrassment while everyone else had a good laugh – even Percy and Alfie.

"It's always good to see you, honey," Percy smiled.

"I might sleep at Ffarquhar with the rest of you tonight," Mavis said. "I think having company might help."

Percy smiled warmly at his girlfriend.

At the yards, the Pack settled in for the night. Most of them had gone to sleep, but Ned, Patrick, Kelly and Isobella were still up.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that story being retold tonight," Kelly said to Isobella.

"It's okay," she replied. "I don't think the others are ready to know if the story is true just yet. Especially Jack, Alfie and Poppy. Two of them are so young, and Alfie is a real empath at heart."

"Aye, but the other Pack members aren't silly," noted Patrick. "David did realize a gap in our number order."

"Still, No. 13's sacrifice shouldn't ever be forgotten," Ned pointed out. "It was important to at least tell them what happened."

"But what about that bit with the ghost?" asked Isobella. "Did that really happen? Or did you make it up?"

"Mr. Packard told me that bit," said Kelly. "I… honestly can't say if it is true or false."

Back at Maithwaite forest, the sound of a lorry's horn could be heard, and the ghostly shape of a steam lorry appeared from the mist, bearing the number thirteen on its cabin.

"Don't worry, my dear friends," the spirit spoke. "I won't let any harm come to you from this forest."

THE END

Author's Comments

The final story of Series 6-7 Redux Part 1 is finally here! And it's a Halloween-themed story... in March. Scaredy, Scaredy (Percy's Scary Tale) was one of the weaker Pack episodes, mostly due to the ending; I mean, how could Max and Monty have confused Thomas' whistle for a horn? They may be brutes, but they're not stupid. This was why we changed it up to involve Mavis instead as it felt more believable. Aside from that, the episode is... fine. The Lightning Tree, however, is a really flawed episode and the worst of the released Pack episodes. Let's just say that there's no way a tree that needed felling would be saved. So once again, Rachel and I have taken some isolated ideas and made them into one solid story.

Series 6-7 Redux Part 2 will resume with a rewrite of Toby Had a Little Lamb!