Chapter 3: Return To The Island Of Sodor
As we left off previously, things are really falling apart. In the Island of Sodor, James had caused confusion and delay, three times. And it's all because that the #5 engine wouldn't stop thinking about Grouchy. So he decided to take some time off, but the Fat Controller gave him only two weeks to let out his sad feelings and keep on thinking about the former bad-tempered Smurf for a little bit longer. And James was all alone at Tidmouth Sheds with nobody there to cheer him up or to disturb him. In the medieval times at the Smurf village, Grouchy was still doing the same thing, and this made him decided to stay at his house. Papa was thinking of a way to fix the situation, and he did by going to see Father Time. The leader Smurf told the controller of time everything, and after that, Father Time said that there maybe a way for the Smurfs to go to the Island of Sodor again. This made Papa very delighted, and he went back to the village to tell his little Smurfs the great news. And this also made Grouchy very happy too. Now the question that you readers are wondering is; Will Father Time really get the Smurfs to the Island of Sodor again? Let's puff and smurf out now!
At the medieval times 460 years back...
Next morning, the big day has finally arrived.
The 16 Smurfs that were going to the Island of Sodor were getting ready to go on their journey. The other 89 Smurfs were going to see them leave the village. And all the Smurfs did indeed had their breakfast so they can get the energy that their going to need to start their day.
Papa was checking to see if everything was ready.
/Papa\: "Alright, my little Smurfs. Before we smurf, I want to smurf if we have everysmurf. Grandpa?"
/Grandpa\: "Smurf out when I smurf your name. Snappy?"
/Snappy\: "Smurf-a-roo!"
/Grandpa\: "Sassette?"
/Sassette\: "Screaming seagulls, here!"
/Grandpa\: "Smurfette?"
/Smurfette\: "Here!"
/Grandpa\: "Brainy?"
/Brainy\: "Present!"
/Grandpa\: "Clumsy?"
/Clumsy\: "Uh, here!"
/Grandpa\: "Greedy?"
/Greedy\: "/HICCUP\ Here!"
/Grandpa\: "Grouchy?"
/Grouchy\: "I HATE shouting "here"!"
/Grandpa\: "Handy?"
/Handy\: "Present!"
/Grandpa\: "Hefty?"
/Hefty\: "Smurf!"
/Grandpa\: "Jokey?"
/Jokey\: "Hee-hee-hee, here!"
/Grandpa\: "Lazy?"
/Lazy\: "/Snoring\"
/Grandpa\: "Lazy?"
Hefty nudged Lazy.
/Lazy\: "/SNORT\ Huh? What? Oh, here!"
/Grandpa\: "Vanity?"
/Vanity\: "Present! And still looking smurfy."
/Grandpa\: "Painter?"
/Painter\: "Oui!"
/Grandpa\: "Wild?"
/Wild\: "Smoo-wah!"
/Papa\: "Ok, I think that's everysmurf. Off we smurf now. Goodbye!"
"/Smurfs saying goodbye to each other\"
/Clockwork Smurf & Clockwork Smurfette\: "/In robot talk\ Bye-bye!"
/Nanny\: "Take smurfy care all you whipper-smurfers!"
/Latino\: "Buena suerte to you all!"
/Dreamy\: "Smurf bye-bye, Baby."
/Baby Smurf\: "Ba-ba!"
/Smoogle\: "Smoogle-smoogle!"
/Farmer\: "And don't you worry 'bout a smurf!"
/Harmony\: "We'll have everything finished and ready when you all smurf back!"
/Hefty\: "Ok! Goodbye!"
/Smurfette\: "Goodbye!"
/Brainy\: "Bye!"
/Clumsy\: "Bye-bye!"
The 89 Smurfs watched as the 16 Smurfs walked out of the village, and went completely out of sight.
/Nanny\: "Ok Smurfs, time to get busy, and you all know what to do."
/The 88 Smurfs\: "Yes Nanny."
/Clockwork Smurf & Clockwork Smurfette\: "/In robot talk\ Uh-huh."
/Willing\: "Architect, did you finish your design on that roundhouse?"
/Architect\: "Yes, yesterday it took me all day to finish it."
/Willing\: "Smurfy, let's get smufin'."
/Nat\: "Gee Nanny, what will me and Slouchy gonna smurf?"
/Nanny\: "Well, since you two are too young to work, maybe both of you should take Puppy and go do what you Smurflings usually do."
/Nat\: "Oh, alright. Come on, Slouchy. Let's go get Puppy and go to the Great Oak Tree."
/Slouchy\: "Ok."
And the two Smurflings went off to get their pet.
Puppy was in his doghouse waiting for someone to see him. And at last, he could see the two Smurflings coming towards him.
/Puppy\: "/Barking\"
/Nat\: "Hi Puppy, we're going to the Great Oak Tree. Wanna smurf?"
/Puppy\: "BARK! BARK!"
/Slouchy\: "I think that's a yes to me."
/Nat\: "Alright then, let's smurf."
And the two Smurflings and the magical puppy set off towards the forest.
Nanny watched as Nat, Slouchy, and Puppy walked through the village.
/Nanny\: "Be sure to be back by lunchtime, you two."
/Nat & Slouchy\: "We will."
/Puppy\: "BARK! BARK!"
And so, the two Smurflings and Puppy set off to the Great Oak Tree, while the 87 Smurfs and the Clockworks in the village went on to do their duties, including building a roundhouse for Thomas and his seven friends.
Meanwhile, the 16 Smurfs arrived at Father Time's cave. The controller of time has everything ready.
/Father Time\: "Ok Papa Smurf, everything is all set."
/Papa\: "Smurfy, and thanks for everything."
/Father Time\: "Here, I made a time scroll of that place you want to go. And instead of using all of the time crystals, I'm only giving you five times crystals."
Father Time handed the five time crystals and time scroll to Papa.
/Brainy\: "Only five? Well, at least it'll be easy."
/Father Time\: "And lastly, since you lost the ruby key in the prehistoric times, I made you a new kind of key."
Father Time showed the new key to the 16 Smurfs. It was all blue, sparkly, and shiny.
/Painter\: "Sacre blue diamond, zhat key iz all blue!"
/Vanity\: "And very smurfy!"
/Father Time\: "It is indeed. This is a sapphire key."
/Smurfette\: "Ooh, a key made out of sapphire!"
/Clumsy\: "Gosh, now we can take care of that key very carefully, yup."
/Brainy\: "Not "we", Clumsy, Papa and Grandpa will take care of it."
/Clumsy\: "Oh, right."
/Father Time\: "Once the sapphire key assemble the five time crystals, instead of making a rainbow whirlwind, it'll make a rainbow vortex."
Father Time handed the sapphire key to Grandpa.
/Grandpa\: "Smurfy, a vortex is better than a whirlwind."
/Grouchy\: "I HATE whirlwinds!"
/Hefty\: "Me too. They're smurfing me dizzy."
/Handy\: "I hope going through a vortex is smooth and smurfy."
/Papa\: "Well, only one way to find out. Get ready, my little Smurfs."
Papa put down the time crystals on the ground, and he opened the time scroll. Grandpa lowered down the sapphire key, and the time crystals were assembled. And in a flash, the multi-colored vortex appeared right in front of the 16 Smurfs.
/The 16 Smurfs\: "Ooh! Aah!"
/Sassette\: "Glowing glowworms, it's so pretty!"
/Snappy\: "Yeah, better than a whirlwind."
/Father Time\: "Ok, have a good time in the Island of Sodor, and be careful."
/Papa\: "Yes Father Time, we will. Alright, my little Smurfs, to the Island of Sodor we smurf!"
/14 Smurfs minus Papa & Grandpa\: "YEAH!"
/Grouchy\: "Here I smurf, James!"
One by one, the 16 Smurfs entered the rainbow vortex. Father Time watched as the last of the 16 Smurfs entered the vortex. And with a flash of light, the vortex disappeared.
/Father Time\: "Well, there they go. And I hope they'll never lose the magical stuff. Oh, my nerves."
And so, Father Time grabbed his scythe, exited out of his cave, and begin to do his job of keeping things in order by going through time.
Back at the Island of Sodor 460 years forward...
It was another busy day on the Island of Sodor. The Engines on the Fat Controller's railway were hard at work keeping the island a wonderful place to live, or to visit.
Every Engine in the island was happy. All except for one Engine.
James was all alone at Tidmouth Sheds. He's now starting to have his time off that he asked for from the Fat Controller. The reason why was because that he was too sad to work. And he wouldn't stop thinking about his special Smurf friend, Grouchy. And he has only two weeks to let him think about his special friend and to let his sad feelings go.
/James\: "/SIGH\ Well, this is it. My two weeks off had just got started. And Neville is doing all of my jobs. Oh dear, I'll never be the same Engine again. And I'm too sad to express my vanity to the other Engines. Oh Grouchy, I miss you so much. And I wish that there's a way for me to come and see you again, or I wish that you would come back and see me. But alas, it's not going to happen. Oh, I just hate that. /BIG SIGH\"
James decided to play the Smurf tune with his whistle.
/James\: "/PEEP, PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP!\"
"/Whistling continues\"
But just then, a golden sparkle appeared in midair. It was Mr. Conductor. He was checking to see how James was doing.
Then Mr. Conductor got all curious from that tune that James was whistling.
/Mr. Conductor\: "Hmm, what is James doing?"
And Mr. Conductor walked towards James.
/James\: "/PEEP, PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP! PEEP, PEEP-PEEP, PEEP, PEEP!\"
/Mr. Conductor\: "James? James? JAMES!"
"/Whistling stops\"
/James\: "AAH! Oh! Oh Mr. Conductor, I didn't see you coming."
/Mr. Conductor\: "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing with your whistle?"
/James\: "Oh, I was just whistling a tune."
/Mr. Conductor\: "What tune is it?"
/James\: "It's a Smurf tune."
/Mr. Conductor\: "Ohh. And let me guess, your Smurf friend taught you that."
/James\: "/SIGH\ Yes, he did."
/Mr. Conductor\: "Well, not only that you're a really splendid Engine, but you're a musical one too."
/James\: "Thank you, Mr. C.. And you're here to check on me, are you?"
/Mr. Conductor\: "Yes, the Fat Controller told me that too. So how are you feeling?"
/James\: "I'm still feeling sad. I really miss my Smurf friend."
/Mr. Conductor\: "I know you do, and that's why you're in your shed to think about him and to let your sad feelings go. And remember, you only have two weeks to do that."
/James\: "Yes, I know. So, how's Neville doing?"
/Mr. Conductor\: "He's doing great. In fact, he likes to do all the extra work."
/James\: "Well, good for him. At least he's not complaining about it."
/Mr. Conductor\: "Yes. Well, I better get back to work. I'll check on you tomorrow."
/James\: "Goodbye Mr. C.."
With a blow from his whistle, "/TWEET!\" Mr. Conductor magically disappeared.
And James went on letting out his sad feelings and thinking about Grouchy for the rest of the day.
Evening came, and one by one, the Engines returned home at Tidmouth Sheds.
James wasn't glad to see them back home. He thinks that one of his friends might say that he had to move on.
But Thomas and the other Engines really think that James should move on. They don't want to see the #5 engine be sad forever, they want him to be happy and live on with his life. And they also want him to focus more on his jobs and being a really useful Engine. Because if James doesn't do that, they're afraid that they might see him being sent away, and the Engines don't want that at all.
So one of the Engines started talking to James.
/Thomas\: "James, there's something that we had to tell you."
/James\: "What?"
/Emily\: "The six of us had a discussion at Knapford Station, and we think..."
/James\: "You all think what?"
/Edward\: "We think that you should really move on."
/James\: "I knew you might puff that, and I already told you that I don't want to move on!"
/Percy\: "But James, we want you to be happy again."
/James\: "The only way for me to be happy again is to see Grouchy again!"
/Gordon\: "James, we've been puffing you all the time that it's not going to happen."
/James\: "I don't care! Maybe it will happen! I bet they're going to find a way to return to the island someday!"
/Henry\: "But we think that if they did find their way back home, maybe they don't want to time-travel anymore."
/James\: "Rubbish!"
/Edward\: "Please James, it's for their own good."
/Emily\: "And we also think that you should focus more on your jobs."
/Percy\: "And on being a really useful Engine."
/James\: "I don't want to focus on my jobs, and I don't care about me being a really useful Engine!"
/Henry\: "But do you want the Fat Controller to send you away?"
/James\: "Well, maybe!"
/Gordon\: "And the only place you'll be sent away is to the scrap yard."
/James\: "NO!"
/Thomas\: "Then please James, stop thinking about Grouchy and think about everything around you."
/James\: "I DON'T WANT TO STOP THINKING ABOUT GROUCHY!"
/Edward\: "James..."
/James\: "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
And with that, James sadly and crossly puffed out of his shed, and he went completely out of sight.
/Thomas\: "/PEEP!\ James, wait!"
/Edward\: "Oh, James."
/Thomas\: "Should I follow him?"
/Edward\: "/SIGH\ No, let him go. He needs to let out his sad feelings."
/Percy\: "But what if he doesn't come back?"
/Edward\: "Then, we shouldn't trouble him no more."
/Emily\: "Poor James."
/Henry\: "He'll never be the same Engine again."
/Gordon\: "And he'll never understand the facts."
/Edward\: "I guess there's nothing we can do for James."
/Thomas\: "He'll just have to be sad forever and ever."
And the six Engines let out their sighs. "/Engines sighing\"
After puffing out of Tidmouth Sheds dramatically, James was chuffing along the main line.
The #5 engine was very sad, and also very cross. He was cross at his friends, telling him that he should really move on. But still, James didn't want to move on. He still wanted to keep his memories about Grouchy forever. But, he remembered that he only has two weeks to think about the former negative Smurf. And he's worried that when his two weeks are up, he didn't know what to do next. Now the mid-size red tender engine has some choices. Should he forget about Grouchy and focus more on his work and being a really useful Engine, or should he keep on thinking about Grouchy and be sad forever? But James also remembered that if he can't do his jobs seriously and focus on being a really useful Engine, he'll have to be sent away for sure. He's in a dreadful situation.
James was worried, but still very sad. He came to a complete stop. "/Brakes screeching\"
/James\: "Oh bother, I don't want to move on! But what am I going to do when my two weeks are up? Should I stop thinking about Grouchy, or should I keep on thinking about Grouchy? But if I tell the Fat Controller that I'm still too sad to work, he'll sent me away for sure! Ohhh, maybe I should leave the Island of Sodor, to a place where I can be alone and be sad forever. I'll miss my home, I'll miss my friends, and I'll miss everything. Oh Grouchy. /Shouting\ GROUCHY, I MISS YOU SO SUCH, AND I WISH YOU COME BACK!"
And James began to cry.
/James\: "/SNIFFLE\"
James continued on chuffing alone the main line. Along the line, he could see Gordon's Hill. The mid-size red tender engine slowly began to climb up. It took a minute for him to get to the top. When he got to the top of the hill, he continued on chuffing. Then James could see the steep descend. He slowly began to climb down. It took him another minute to get to the bottom. And at last, James safely got to the bottom of the hill. He slowly chuffed on along the line. But after he chuffed for about two miles, James came to a complete stop. He once again started thinking and day-dreaming all about Grouchy. And once again, he began to cry. James closed his eyes, and he went on letting out his sad feelings.
/James\: "/SNIFFLING & SOBBING\"
Meanwhile, a quarter mile down the line, the multi-colored vortex appeared on the ground and on the grass. One by one, the 16 Smurfs exited out of the vortex. And then the vortex disappeared. They all could see that they're wearing the same clothes like before they first appeared on the Island of Sodor. And they all figured out that they're on the island.
/Snappy\: "Smurf-a-roo, we're back on the Island of Sodor!"
/Sassette\: "Yes, but where?"
/Brainy\: "In another open field, I think."
/Handy\: "Look, we're near some tracks!"
/Hefty\: "And where there's tracks, there's..."
/Smurfette\: "Trains!"
/Painter\: "But, I don't smurf a train."
/Clumsy\: "Or an Engine."
/Grouchy\: "I HATE not smurfing a train or an Engine!"
/Papa\: "Now don't worry, my little Smurfs. I'm sure that we'll smurf a train or an Engine."
/Grandpa\: "Well, I guess the only thing to smurf is start walking."
/Jokey\: "But which way should we smurf?"
/Greedy\: "Let's smurf that way."
/Vanity\: "No, let's smurf this way."
/Lazy\: "/YAWN\ I don't care which way we should smurf."
/Papa\: "Hmm. Maybe we should let Wild decide."
/Brainy\: "But Papa Smurf, Wild doesn't have a sense of direction."
/Papa\: "Now Brainy, this is a smurfy time to let Wild use his brain. Besides, I'm sure that he will lead us to something."
/Brainy\: "Oh, alright. But I still think that Wild will lead us to something unsmurfy."
/Smurfette\: "Oh, just smurf up, Brainy."
/Brainy\: "Hmph."
/Papa\: "Well Wild, which way we should smurf?"
Wild wasn't sure, but he will do his best. The before-long-lost Smurf began to think. He looked to the east, then to the west. Then suddenly, he made his choice and began racing down towards the west.
/Wild\: "Smoo-wah!"
/Papa\: "Well Smurfs, I think Wild made his decision. Now let's smurf!"
/13 Smurfs minus Papa & Grandpa\: "Ok Papa Smurf!"
And the 15 Smurfs began to followed Wild. They ran down the line for a couple of minutes.
But just then, Wild suddenly stopped running. The 15 Smurfs had caught up to the before-long-lost Smurf, and they're all out of breath.
/15 Smurfs minus Wild\: "/Panting\"
/Sassette\: "Panting panthers, Wild, why you stopped?"
/Snappy\: "Maybe he's tired too."
But Wild wasn't tired. He saw something that made him stop.
Wild turned to the 15 Smurfs.
/Wild\: "/Speaking in gibberish\"
/Papa\: "/Panting\ Phew. What is it, Wild?"
Wild jumped up and down, and pointed to something that he saw in the distance.
The 15 Smurfs all looked down. They could see a figure down the line.
/Hefty\: "What's that?"
/Handy\: "Is it a train, or an Engine?"
/Vanity\: "I can't smurf it from here."
/Grouchy\: "Well, let's smurf closer then."
/Jokey\: "/Panting\ Wait a smurf, Grouchy. Some of us need to catch our smurfs, and this is no laughing matter."
/Grouchy\: "/MOAN\ I HATE waiting for some of you to catch your smurfs!"
So Grouchy waited for the other Smurfs to catch their breaths.
And at last, after a few seconds, they all recovered.
/Papa\: "Alright, let's keep smurfing."
/Lazy\: "But please, can we walk instead?"
/Grouchy\: "Walk?! I don't want to walk! I wanna smurf what that figure is!"
/Greedy\: "Fine then, you go smurf that figure. We'll just stay here."
/Grouchy\: "Fine, I'll go alone then!"
And Grouchy started running down towards the figure.
/Papa\: "Greedy, that was very unsmurfy."
/Greedy\: "Well, I don't want to smurf and lose my smurf again."
/Jokey\: "Yeah, same here."
/Vanity\: "And I don't want to smurf some sweat on my face."
/Grandpa\: "Well, I guess walking is the way to smurf."
/Papa\: "Alright my little Smurfs, we'll just walk. Let's just let Grouchy smurf a head start."
And the 15 Smurfs all started walking down towards the figure.
Grouchy was running a few feet away from his fellow Smurfs and yards further towards the figure.
/Grouchy\: "/Panting\"
The former bad-tempered Smurf now ran from a few feet to yards. He ran yard, after yard, after yard, and after yard. Now he could see that he's getting closer and closer towards the figure. And Grouchy could also see what the figure is.
/Grouchy\: "/Panting\ Hey, it's an Engine! Oh, I hope it's James!"
Grouchy was now a few yards further towards the figure.
/Grouchy\: "Almost there! /Panting\"
And as Grouchy ran a few more yards and got closer, he could see who Engine it is.
/Grouchy\: "/GASP\ That Engine is red! It's James! I can't believe it! It's really him!"
And the not-so-grouchy Smurf happily continued on running towards James.
James was still crying and letting out his sad feelings when he heard someone calling his name.
/Grouchy\: "JAMES!"
/James\: "Huh? What? Who's there?"
But James could see that no one was around.
/James\: "Oh, I must be hearing things. /SIGH & SNIFFLE\"
But then, James heard someone calling his name again.
/Grouchy\: "JAMES!"
/James\: "Who's there? Thomas? If it's you, why you followed me?"
/Grouchy\: "JAMES!"
/James\: "Wait a minute! That's not Thomas! That sounds like..."
Then James saw a small figure coming straight towards him.
/James\: "No, it can't be! But could it?"
/Grouchy\: "JAMES!"
/James\: "/GASP\ It is! It's Grouchy! GROUCHY!"
/Grouchy\: "JAMES! JAMES!"
/James\: "GROUCHY! GROUCHY!"
James watched as Grouchy ran straight towards him, and stopped right in front and beside the #5 engine.
/Grouchy\: "/Panting\"
/James\: "Grouchy! I can't believe it's you!"
/Grouchy\: "/Panting\ It is me! And I'm back! /Panting\"
/James\: "Flatten my funnel, Grouchy, you're out of breath."
/Grouchy\: "I know. /Panting\ I was smurfing smurf after smurf."
/James\: "Well, how did you come back? And did you come here all by yourself?"
/Grouchy\: "We found a way to get back to the island. /Panting\ And no, the other Smurfs are here too."
/James\: "Really? Papa Smurf, Grandpa Smurf, Vanity, and the others?"
/Grouchy\: "Yes! /Panting\"
/James\: "Well, where are they?"
/Grouchy\: "They're farther down there. /Panting\"
/James\: "Then hop aboard, we'll go pick them up."
/Grouchy\: "Smurfy, thank you, James! /Panting\ Phew!"
Grouchy finally recovered from all that running, and he jumped aboard James.
And James slowly chuffed down along the line.
Farther down the line, the 15 Smurfs were still walking when they heard two toots.
/James\: "/PEEP! PEEP!\"
/Sassette\: "Whistling whippoorwills, that sounds like a whistle!"
/Snappy\: "A train must be coming!"
/Sassette\: "Or an Engine!"
/Smurfette\: "Look, that figure is moving and getting bigger!"
Everyone looked down, and they could see that the figure is getting closer and closer.
/Clumsy\: "Smurf my smurfs, it's an Engine!"
/Brainy\: "But who is it?"
/Papa\: "Let's wait here, my little Smurfs."
And as the Engine was revealed, the 15 Smurfs were surprised.
/Painter\: "Toulouse-Lautrec, I recognized zhat red paint from anywhere!"
/Vanity\: "It's James!"
/Handy\: "Smurf, Grouchy must be very happy to smurf him."
/Hefty\: "And that's the truth."
The 15 Smurfs watched as James stopped right beside them.
/James\: "PAPA SMURF! GRANDPA SMURF! SMURFS!"
/The 15 Smurfs minus Grouchy\: "JAMES!"
/Papa\: "It's so smurfy to smurf you again!"
/James\: "And it's "smurfy" to see you all too!"
/Grandpa\: "What are you doing out here anyway?"
/James\: "Well, I was having a terrible time at the sheds and chuffed all the way to here. I was crying and letting out my sad feelings you know."
/Grouchy\: "And it's all because you miss me, don't you, James?"
/James\: "Yes Grouchy, I miss you, so much."
/Grouchy\: "Well, I'm here now, and that's all it matters."
James just had to smile.
/James\: "Well, what are you Smurfs just standing there? Thomas and the other Engines will be happy to see you all again! All aboard for Tidmouth Sheds!"
/The 15 Smurfs minus Grouchy\: "YAY!"
/Jokey\: "And let's surprise the Engines when we get there."
/James\: "Good idea, Jokey. Jump into my cab, Smurfs."
One by one, the 16 Smurfs jumped aboard James.
And James puffed quickly away.
After making a turn-around, James was chuffing along the main line along the countryside with the 16 Smurfs. He rattled over bridges, cluttered through tunnels, and dashed by some stations. And at long last, after chuffing along the main line for a half hour, James arrived and entered the town of Tidmouth.
Back at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas and five of his friends were waiting for James to come back. The mid-size red tender engine had been gone for one and a half hours. They could see that the sun was about to set. And they're getting worried more than ever.
/Emily\: "Oh dear, James is not puffing back."
/Percy\: "Where could he be?"
/Henry\: "He could be anywhere."
/Gordon\: "Maybe he ran away, or left the island."
/Thomas\: "Rubbish, James couldn't leave the island."
/Percy\: "Or what if he got into an accident?"
/Henry\: "Or come off the rails?"
/Emily\: "Oh, I just can't stop worrying about James."
/Thomas\: "I think one of us should go and look for him."
/Edward\: "Right, I'll go look for him."
/Gordon\: "Why you?"
/Edward\: "Because James and I are very close friends, and we understand each other."
/Thomas\: "Just like me and Percy."
/Percy\: "Yes, that's true."
/Emily\: "Oh, I hope you find him."
/Henry\: "And bring him back in one piece."
/Edward\: "Don't worry, I'll get James home in no time."
But just as Edward was about to puff out, he and the other Engines heard two familiar toots.
/James\: "/PEEP! PEEP!\"
/Thomas\: "Wait Edward, that's his whistle, he must be coming!"
/Emily\: "Oh, thank goodness he's alright."
/Percy\: "What a relief."
/Edward\: "/Speaking softly\ That's a good Engine, James. That's a good Engine."
The six Engines watched as James arrived, and puffed into the turntable. And the Engines could see that James was smiling. This made them puzzled.
/Thomas\: "James, is everything alright?"
/Edward\: "And why are you smiling?"
/James\: "You all wouldn't believe it, but guess what I found!"
This made the Engines even more puzzled. But they all want to know why James was happy and what he find.
/Gordon\: "Is it a lost Engine?"
/James\: "No."
/Henry\: "Is it a lost town?"
/James\: "No."
/Emily\: "A lost road contraption?"
/James\: "No."
/Percy\: "Another scarp yard?"
/James\: "Oh Percy, no!"
The Engines all thought hard. But then, they all gave up.
/Thomas\: "Alright James, we give up. What did you find?"
James smiled his biggest smile. Just then, the turntable began to spin. And then the turntable stopped spinning.
The Engines could see that they're looking at the right side of James. But they were still very puzzled.
/Gordon\: "What are we looking at? All we see is nothing."
/Henry\: "James, are you playing a trick on us?"
/James\: "No, I'm not."
/Emily\: "Then tell us what you find!"
James turned to his cab.
/James\: "NOW!"
And just then, the 16 Smurfs jumped up of James' cab.
/The 15 Smurfs minus Wild\: "SURPRISE!"
/Wild\: "SMOO-WAH!"
/The six Engines minus James\: "/GASP\ BUST OUR BUFFERS!"
/Thomas\: "I don't believe it!"
/Percy\: "The Smurfs are back!"
/Edward\: "But how?"
/Gordon\: "And it's impossible!"
/Henry\: "Unbelievable!"
/Emily\: "I'm speechless!"
/James\: "Take it easy, they'll explain everything."
The turntable spun James around once more. As it stopped, the #5 engine reversed back into his shed.
The 16 Smurfs jumped out of James' cab, and they all jumped onto the front of him.
/Thomas\: "It's so "smurfy" to see you all, Papa Smurf!"
/Papa\: "And it's so smurfy to smurf all of you too, Thomas!"
/Edward\: "So how you all manage to return to the Island of Sodor?"
/Grandpa\: "We found a way to get back to the island."
/Emily\: "James, did they tell you already?"
/James\: "No they didn't, and I also want to know too."
/Percy\: "Then tell us please, Smurfs."
/Brainy\: "Well, ever since we resmurf to our time period, Papa Smurf made a rule that we should never time-travel again."
/Clumsy\: "But, after smurfing Grouchy how much he misses James, Papa Smurf decided to smurf that rule a little."
/The six Engines minus James\: "Oh, my."
Grouchy and James turned to each other and they smiled grandly.
/Handy\: "And then, Papa Smurf went to smurf Father Time to find a way to return to the Island of Sodor."
/Gordon\: "Who's Father Time?"
/Hefty\: "Father Time is a friend of ours, and he's the controller of time."
/Henry\: "Whoa, fascinating!"
/Percy\: "So, what way did Father Time find?"
/Greedy\: "He gave Papa Smurf five time crystals and a time scroll."
/Jokey\: "And he also gave Grandpa Smurf the sapphire key to align the time crystals."
/Percy\: "Ohhhh."
/Vanity\: "And instead of time-traveling in a rainbow whirlwind, we time-traveled through a rainbow vortex."
/Thomas\: "Cinder and ashes!"
/Painter\: "And zhat'z how we got here."
/Emily\: "Amazing!"
/Edward\: "Well James, looks like your wishing of seeing Grouchy again has finally came true."
/James\: "It sure did, Edward. It sure did."
/Smurfette\: "And your wishing of smurfing James again has also came true, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "I know, Smurfette. I know."
/Snappy\: "Smurf, it's been two years since we last smurf you, Engines."
/Thomas\: "Likewise, Snappy. And a lot has changed since you all left the island, Smurfs."
/Sassette\: "Really? Like what?"
/Percy\: "Well, some old friends had returned to the island."
/Henry\: "Some new friends had joined the Fat Controller's railway."
/Gordon\: "And one of us made a great discovery."
/Handy\: "Wow! When can we smurf the other Engines and that great discovery?"
/Thomas\: "Tomorrow."
/Papa\: "Smurfy! And after all that time-traveling through a vortex, we all sure could use a rest."
/Thomas\: "Do you want my blanket, Smurfs? I still have it inside my cab."
/Papa\: "Thanks Thomas, but we all brought our sleeping stuff with us."
/Thomas\: "Oh good, you all came prepared."
/Clumsy\: "Yup, we sure did."
/Lazy\: "/YAWN\ Finally, I could use some smurf-eye. Thomas, can I smurf on you?"
/Thomas\: "Where? On top of my cab, or on my boiler and tanks?"
/Lazy\: "No."
Lazy hopped towards Thomas. And he stopped onto the front of him.
/Lazy\: "Right here."
/Thomas\: "Oh, on the front of me? Of course."
/Lazy\: "Thank you, Thomas."
Lazy took off his backpack, and he took out his pillow and blanket. And then the sleepy Smurf tucked himself in.
/Lazy\: "/YAWN\ Good night. /Snoring\"
/Thomas\: "/Giggling\ Good night, Lazy."
/Edward\: "You know, Lazy made a good choice, and I think we should do the same thing too."
/Grandpa\: "And I agree with Edward."
/Hefty\: "Hey Gordon, can I smurf with you?"
/Gordon\: "Of course you can, Hefty. Come on over!"
Hefty hopped all the way to Gordon.
/Hefty\: "Thank you, Gordon."
/Gordon\: "My pleasure, Hefty."
/Henry\: "You Smurfs fill free to sleep with me."
/Percy\: "And me."
/Emily\: "And me."
/Edward\: "And me."
/Snappy\: "Smurf-a-roo! I'm smurfing with Thomas."
/Brainy\: "Me too.
/Handy\: "I'll be smurfing with Edward."
/Greedy\: "I'm smurfing with Henry."
/Painter\: "Moi alzo."
/Jokey\: "I'm smurfing with Percy."
/Clumsy\: "Uh, me too."
/Smurfette\: "I'm smurfing with Emily."
/Sassette\: "Me too."
/Papa\: "Wild, who do you want to smurf with?"
Wild looked at every Engine. And then, he pointed to Henry.
/Papa\: "Alright then, smurf with Henry."
/Wild\: "Smoo-wah!"
So every Smurf hopped to an Engine that they want to sleep with.
/Thomas\: "Papa Smurf, Grandpa Smurf, who do you want to sleep with?"
/Papa\: "I'll be smurfing with you, Thomas."
/Grandpa\: "And I'll smurf with Edward."
/Edward\: "/Giggling\ It's nice to have an old chap sleeping with me."
So Papa hopped all the way to Thomas, while Grandpa hopped onto Edward.
/James\: "Guess this leaves Grouchy and Vanity sleeping with me, is that right?"
/Grouchy\: "That's right."
/Vanity\: "You smurfed it."
/Thomas\: "Alright then, it's time to go to sleep."
/The Engines\: "Good night, Smurfs. Sleep well."
/The 14 Smurfs minus Lazy\: "Good night, Engines. And you too smurf well."
/Wild\: "Smoo-wah."
One by one each, the Engines(Except James) and the 15 Smurfs(Except Grouchy) slowly closed their eyes, and they all went happily and peacefully to sleep.
Nighttime came, and the sun had disappeared into the horizon. And everything around the Island of Sodor went silent.
At Tidmouth Sheds, all the Engines and the 15 Smurfs were fast asleep. Well, except for one Engine and one Smurf.
Grouchy and James were the only ones still wide awake. They were looking at the nighttime sky. The two special friends could see the moon glowing brightly. The stars were twinkling. And they could also see a shooting star passing by. Grouchy and James were very happy to be together again. And they want their friendship to last forever.
Just then, the two special friends decided to chat. They both want to know how they've been doing for the past two years.
/James\: "Boy Grouchy, you don't know how much that I miss you for the past two years."
/Grouchy\: "And you don't know how much that I miss you too, James."
/James\: "And ever since you left the island, I've been dreaming and thinking about you during those two years."
/Grouchy\: "Me too, about you that is."
/James\: "But several days ago, I had a terrible time."
/Grouchy\: "Really? The same thing happened to me too."
/James\: "But before we talk about that, how you've been doing during those past couple of years?"
/Grouchy\: "Well, I've been doing smurfy."
/James\: "Have you been spending some time with Vanity? Are you two close friends?"
/Grouchy\: "Oh yes, I did smurf some time with Vanity, and we are close friends. And I also smurf some time with Baby Smurf."
/James\: "Well, that's good. And what else you've been doing?"
/Grouchy\: "Well you know, I've been smurfing around the village and stuff."
/James\: "Oh, alright."
/Grouchy\: "Now, what have you been smurfing during those past two years?"
/James\: "Well you know, I've been pulling coaches, pulling trucks, and I also been doing lots of stuff."
/Grouchy\: "Well, that's smurfy. And what else you've been smurfing?"
/James\: "Hmm... I think that's it."
/Grouchy\: "Oh, ok."
/James\: "Now, we can talk about our terrible times."
/Grouchy\: "Alright, you go first."
/James\: "Well, several days ago, I was pulling a fast special. I was puffing fine, till I started thinking about you. I was thinking about you too much, I arrived late to my destination, and the Fat Controller was cross with me."
/Grouchy\: "Oh, my."
/James\: "And that's not all. The next day, I couldn't stop thinking about you, Grouchy. And do you know what my friends puffed to me?"
/Grouchy\: "No, what?"
/James\: "They puffed to me that I should move on."
/Grouchy\: "WHAT?!"
/James\: "SHHHH! Can you see that everyone is sleeping?"
/Grouchy\: "Oops, sorry. And I hate for you to smurf on."
/James\: "I know, I don't want to move on too."
/Grouchy\: "So what happened next?"
/James\: "Well, on that day, I had to do my mixed-traffic work. But the same thing happened again, and I was late three times."
/Grouchy\: "Oh, smurfs."
/James\: "But wait, there's more. After finishing my jobs late, I was sent to see the Fat Controller, and he was even more cross when he heard me about being late three times. So I told the Fat Controller that I was too sad to work, and I asked him that I want some time off."
/Grouchy\: "And did you smurf some time off?"
/James\: "Yes."
/Grouchy\: "For how long?"
/James\: "Two weeks."
/Grouchy\: "Ohh."
/James\: "And that give me some time to let out my sad feelings and dream and think about you, Grouchy. But even though, I want to do that for so long beyond my two weeks off, and do you know what the Fat Controller will do to me if I don't stop thinking about you?"
/Grouchy\: "No, what?"
/James\: "He would sent me away, meaning leaving the island."
/Grouchy\: "/GASP\ I hate for you to be smurfed away and leaving the island. And what will you do if you smurf the island?"
/James\: "Well, I could go to a place where I could be alone and let me dream and think about you, and let out my sad feelings."
/Grouchy\: "And will you miss your friends?"
/James\: "Yes, I will miss my friends, and I'll miss the Island of Sodor too."
/Grouchy\: "Oh, James."
/James\: "But, here comes the happy ending. After having a terrible conversation with my friends, I puffed out of the sheds and chuffed along the main line. I stopped right behind Gordon's Hill and began to cry. And that's when you came along and you lighten up my firebox, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "Now that's a smurfy ending, James."
/James\: "And now that you're back, I can go do my jobs again, and I can be a really useful Engine."
/Grouchy\: "And I was glad that I'm back on the island, so I can smurf you happy again and go do the things that you Engines usually do."
James just smiled grandly.
/Grouchy\: "Now, it's my turn to smurf about my unsmurfy time."
/James\: "Alright then, go on."
/Grouchy\: "Well, several days ago, it was during supper time. I was smurfing my supper. But then, I lost my appetite, 'cause I was too sad to smurf. My fellow Smurfs were concerned about me, and they all figured out that I was still smurfing about you, James. And they also smurf me that I should smurf on too, But I denied it."
/James\: "Oh, dear."
/Grouchy\: "And here's the part where it gets really unsmurfy."
James was surprised.
/Grouchy\: "After I smurf my fellow Smurfs that still miss you, one of them was smurfed up and he began to tease me and make me furious."
/James\: "Oh, my."
/Grouchy\: "And do you know what my fellow Smurf smurfed you?"
/James\: "No, what did your fellow Smurf called me?"
/Grouchy\: "He smurfed you a red monster."
/James\: "WHAT?!"
/Grouchy\: "SHHHH! Everysmurf is still smurfing."
/James\: "Oh, sorry. So who's the Smurf that called me a red monster?"
/Grouchy\: "Tuffy."
/James\: "Who's Tuffy?"
/Grouchy\: "Tuffy is the one who smurfs on smurfing that he's the toughest of all, but not that much. And he's the one who teased me and smurfing me mad."
/James\: "Well good thing he didn't come along with you and the others, because if he does, I would wheesh steam at him."
/Grouchy\: "And that'll smurf him a lesson."
/James\: "So what happened next?"
/Grouchy\: "Well, Tuffy kept on teasing me and smurfing me mad. So I want to smurf him a piece of my smurf. But just as I was about to make Tuffy stop teasing me, Hefty and Willing smurfed both of my arms. So..."
/James\: "Wait, who's Willing?"
/Grouchy\: "Oh, Willing is another Smurf, and he used to be called Weakling."
/James\: "Oh, alright. Please continue."
/Grouchy\: "Ok. So Hefty and Willing stopped me for giving Tuffy a piece of my smurf, but he was still teasing me and smurfing me mad. But luckily, my fellow Smurfs were getting really furious at Tuffy, and he have had enough. And then, my fellow Smurfs escorted Tuffy to his house, and I calmed mysmurf down and went back to my house."
/James\: "Oh, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "Now, here comes my happy ending. The next day, I decided to stay home and let me day-dream and think about you, James. But I over heard that Papa Smurf was going to smurf Father Time and find a way to return to the Island of Sodor, of which he did when he returned to the village. And the next day came, we were finally off to the Island of Sodor, and here we are. And lastly, I finally saw you, and you smurfed up my heart, James."
/James\: "Now that's indeed a very happy ending, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "It sure is, James. It sure is."
Just then, Grouchy noticed something. He could see a gold object hanging on James' cab roof-mounted whistle. Grouchy knew what it is.
/Grouchy\: "I smurf that you still have my heart-of-gold charm."
/James\: "Yes Grouchy, I still have your charm, and I never once lose it."
/Grouchy\: "Well, smurfy for you."
/James\: "And I see that you still have my old brake block."
/Grouchy\: "Yes James, I still have your charm also, and I been wearing it around my neck ever since me and my fellow Smurfs resmurfed to the village."
/James\: "Well, good for you."
/Grouchy\: "And I also smurf that you got your wheels painted red."
/James\: "Yes, I did that too, and I look twice as splendid than ever before, and it's all thanks to you, Grouchy."
/Grouchy\: "Yeah, and I'm glad that I smurf you that."
Grouchy and James paused for a moment. And then they turned to the nighttime sky.
Suddenly, the two special friends could hear Vanity talking in his sleep.
/Vanity\: "/Snoring\ Hello handsome. /Snoring\ You hunk of smurf you. /Snoring\"
/Grouchy & James\: "/Giggling\"
/James\: "Vanity most be dreaming about himself."
/Grouchy\: "Yeah, as usual."
/James\: "Sometimes I dream about myself."
/Grouchy\: "You do?"
/James\: "Yes."
/Grouchy\: "Oh, ok. /BIG YAWN\ Well, it's time for me to smurf some sleep."
/James\: "Me too. /BIG YAWN\"
Grouchy took out his pillow and blanket from his backpack, and he tucked himself in.
/Grouchy\: "Good night, James. Smurfy dreams."
/James\: "Good night, Grouchy. And "smurfy" dreams to you too."
Grouchy and James slowly closed their eyes, and the two went happily and peacefully to sleep. As the two special friends fell fast asleep, they were dreaming about things that they both were going to do. And when the next day comes, they're going to have a wonderful time now that they were back together again.
(Acela Smurf7): Isn't this smurfy? Grouchy and James are back together again. And all I could say is: Let's see what's going to happen next in the next chapter, and we'll find out soon enough.