A/N Percy was focused on a bunch in this episode, so I decided he should tell it.

Hey, it's me, Percy. This is the story of my deputation back in Donald and Douglas's first winter on Sodor.

Snow came early to the Island of Sodor. It was heavier than usual. Most engine hate snow. Donald and Douglas were used to it. Coupled back to back with a van between their tenders and a snowplow on their fronts, they set to work.

They puffed backwards and forwards patrolling the line. Generally, the snow slipped away easily, but sometimes they found deeper drifts.

Presently they came to a drift which was larger than most. They charged it, and were just backing for another try, when...

"Help! Help!"

"Losh sakes, Donald, it's Henry! Don't worry yourself, Henry. Wait a while. We'll have you out!

Henry was very grateful. He saw all was not well.

The twins were looking glum. They told him Sir Topham Hatt was making a decision. "He'll send us away for sure."

"It's a shame!" I said. My friend Henry told me about the twins and his being discovered by them in that drift.

"A lot of nonsense about a broken signalbox," grumbled Gordon.

"That spiteful brake-van too," put in James. "Good riddance. That's what I say."

The twins were splendid in the snow," added Henry. "It isn't fair." We all agreed that Something Must Be Done, but none knew what.

I decided to talk to Edward about it. "What you need," said Edward, "is a deputation." He explained what that was. Even then, Edward was old and wise, able to handle big words better than many of the rest of us engines.

Percy ran back quickly. "Edward say we need a depotstation."

"Of course," said Gordon, "the question is..."

"...what is a desperation?" asked Henry.

"It's when engines tell Sir Topham Hatt something's wrong," said Percy.

"Did you say 'tell Sir Topham Hatt'? '' asked Duck thoughtfully. There was a long silence.

"I propose," said Gordon, "that Percy be our-hum-disputation. We all had trouble saying the word Edward said, but Sir Topham Hatt knew the word, just like Edward.

"Me?" I squeaked. "I can't". I'm a more timid engine than some and that showed in this case, but my friend Henry assured me I could.

"Rubbish, Percy," said Henry. "It's easy."

"That's settled then," said Gordon.

My poor self wished it wasn't.

"Hello, Percy!" It's nice to be back."

I jumped, "Er, y-y-yes, sir, please, sir." I was feeling timid, which he saw.

"You look nervous, Percy. What's the matter?"

"Please, sir, they've made a desperation, sir. To speak to you, sir. I don't like it, sir."

Sir Topham Hatt pondered. "Do you mean a deputation, Percy?"

"Yes, sir, please, sir. It's Donald and Douglas. They say, sir, that if you send them away, sir, well, they'll be turned into scrap, sir. That would be dreadful, sir. Please, sir, don't send them away."

"Thank you, Percy. That will do."

Later, Sir Topham Hatt spoke to us engines. "I had a deputation. I understand your feelings, and I've given a lot of thought to the matter."

He paused impressively. "Donald and Douglas, I hear that your work in the snow was good. You shall have a new coat of paint."

The twins were surprised. "Thank ye, sir."

"But your names will be painted on you. We'll have no more 'mistakes.'"

"Thank ye, sir. Does this mean both of us...?"

Sir Topham Hatt smiled. "It means-"

But the rest of his speech was in a delighted chorus of cheers and whistles. The twins were to stay. Us engines were so happy about that.

A/N Respect my Thomasverse.