Since Thomas has been to England and became the royal engine. He felt most popular when he returned to sodor he felt his recognition well played out. He also matured himself while still being cheeky every other occasion he still feels the most part of the railway. He never brags about his branch line since his big world tour and he took it from the heart which was a big change from him. This gave the engines a sigh of relief including Percy and Toby who were finally taking a chance thinking about themselves a bit. The engines were very glad to see him home too but that was all about to change.
One afternoon Thomas was bringing home some passengers when kiefer came into the yards.
Hello Thomas, said kiefer. Hello kiefer how are you and Livia doing on my branch line.
It's actually pretty going so nicely that Livia has been having the time of her life now that she finally has a home.
Thomas smiled at this. Livia is a beauty engine kinda like Rosie but much more appreciate it he said. Kiefer agreed.
I don't suppose you might leave the branch line one day would you, Thomas. Thomas was silent for a few minutes but he did answer saying who knows kiefer maybe you could take the branch line for me.
And with that he puffed away leaving Kiefer speechless.
That night Thomas puffed into the sheds after a long hard day's work. Percy was glad to see his friend but Toby however had some news for Thomas.
Thomas this may be a little hard to explain but when you were on your London request I think I had made some choices here and there but tonight is my last night here on the branch line.
Thomas was surprised he didn't know that Toby was leaving.
You're leaving sodor gasping Thomas.
No chuckled Toby, I will be moving in with Stephen and Glynn at Ulfstead castle. I will be taking passengers from the branch line to the castle. I am making this change because I am starting to get old Thomas and the quarry is taking a heavy toll on me to work, especially the trucks. So assigned me light duties until you got home and now i am making the move but don't worry me and Percy will still talk on the branch line and you can talk to me as well while i am doing the new job.
Thomas could not believe his boiler, his friend is moving away from the branch line Thomas knew Toby for years ever since he was brought to his branch line. He was glad Toby was giving light jobs but he is now starting to realize that change is sometimes a good thing.
Well i don't know what to say Toby but i still remember about that rude policeman but do you still remember what happened to him.
Toby smiled. The police chief found him out and he was removed off the branch line, presumably fired for an anti-law he was making up.
Thomas was relieved about the policeman fired and he now understood why Toby is leaving so he took a deep breath and smiled.
If you want to make the move Toby you should do it, said Thomas. We will talk to you as soon as you get here to and from the castle. I am hoping for a brighter future ahead for you.
Toby did not see this coming but since Thomas get back home he still noticed his maturity is getting kicked in his funnel. Thanks, Thomas, you too as well replied Toby.
Percy however was moved by Thomas's statement now he was on the branch line for years as well but he started to realize that gator was the one to make him see sense. But then he had to get something off his mind and confess to his friends
Toby's not the one that's leaving, said Percy, both engines stared at the little green engine. It was Percy's turn to make the move.
Like Toby, I was making some new changes for me as well Thomas. It's time for me to move on and i will be working at the harbor, but i will carried the mail and helping porter and salty to deliver goods but you know what else ever since your big world adventures tour Thomas i started to learn about new journeys i have coming and when i see the opportunity that i have. I take it no exception on my buffers but I think gator taught me more than what I thought. He taught me to experience change myself and I am starting to learn that I have been on your branch line more than Toby and I'm putting my pistons moving.
Percy, why didn't you tell us, said Thomas.
I started to believe that you would not get the idea of leaving the branch line like Toby so I decided to keep it a secret until tonight Thomas. I didn't know how you reacted but sometimes changes can be good if you pick the right place. Thomas stood speechless now Percy is leaving the branch line along with Toby. We will still talk to you Thomas everyday. But if I was staying here after you came back it would be a living misery of how the quarry trucks and taking care of your branch line would be for us.
Percy's got a point, replied Toby. If we were here when you came back and doing most of the work I would not be in the same condition nor would Percy if we ever had that chance.
Thomas completely understood.
Well i can now see how you have been on the branch line and can't continue but you know kiefer and Livia had done spectacular on my branch. So I understood even though it may take a few days for me to process everything but I am looking forward to seeing how everything is going for both of you.
Percy gave Thomas a knowing smile. Thank you Thomas. I am sure we will get to talk soon. We are still best friends to the end. Thomas smiled at the thought we are Percy we still are. and with that Toby and Percy went to sleep while Thomas on the other hand decided to stay awake a little longer to think about what to do for himself towards the future.
The next day Toby was assigned with his newest job to the castle, while Percy took some goods towards the branch line. Thomas was taking some passengers from the branch line to Knapford station. When he saw sir Topham hatt.
Hello Thomas, I heard that Toby had moved out of the branch line. He said Toby knows how to make the right move and precisely that Kiefer and Livia have been doing fine as well.
Thomas was still upset that Toby left and Percy left soon but he put on a brave face.
I got it from Toby last night and i am glad for him as well as Percy on the other hand. It's just been going through my smokebox lately but I think I can continue my branch line for a long time, said Thomas.
Sir Topham hatt rather puzzled, just looked at Thomas and said this to him. It may be a while before you start making your own decision but I think it's time for you to head on. Thomas puffed away feeling more silent than ever.
Annie and clarabel notice this too but said nothing.
When Thomas came to the branch line after he dropped off his passengers he sat nearby for a drink at the water tower when Kiefer arrived. He could tell that Thomas was silent throughout the day and he wanted to say something but it would just lead into a decision making he knew it would change him. Kiefer just whistled and puffed away with his train. Later Thomas was traveling home on the branch line he was pulling cars filled with fruits and vegetables towards ffarquhar . Thomas was keen to have a nice earned night's rest when he saw Livia down the line feeling puffed up in her smoke-box. Usually Thomas would help but he was still making the decision on what to do about his branch line after Percy and Toby left. So he stuck with his duties and carried on leaving Livia confused and worried about his friend but then she got an idea and hurried off to tell someone Thomas knows. Late that night Thomas couldn't sleep, he was thinking about his world adventures so much that he kept thinking about his decision on what his fate would be on his branch line he usually was honest about it as well but he thought concentrate would be the only thing but then suddenly he heard a whistle it was Percy who came to talk to Thomas.
hello Thomas said Percy Livia told me about what happen so i thought i could help about what made you so silent all throughout the day. Thomas could not take the whole thing anymore and decided to confess with his friend.
I have been over stressed by not talking about it even though my jobs were delivered on time but I kinda got my feelings to worry about it through my boiler as well. I just thought if I kept my mouth shut then somebody would not notice, said Thomas sheepishly .
Percy looked starstruck but decided to put on a brave face and spoke kindly to Thomas.
I have known you since I was brought to your branch line many years ago. You were scared about having inner thoughts about us leaving which made you uncertain and confused but put on a brave face to all of us but you didn't have the courage to speak up to all of us that night which made you deeply glum, said percy.
Thomas knew his friend was right.
We had so many memories, Thomas and usually I would say I feel like your best friend. Sure we may argue at times we're not proud of but friendship still grows from the pistons and we learn from our mistakes said Percy wisely. You remember about the coal incident.
Thomas vaguely remembered that.
The whole argument lasted a few days until Thomas had a drip tank in his boiler which he felt bad for boasting that day.
Then there was the time that Henry didn't feel well and we played a joke on him to take many freight cars but it backfired badly when Emily found out so did sir topham hatt continued Percy.
Thomas forgot about Emily, she was the love of his life and remembered that day when Emily had a serious stern talk with Thomas about making fun of Henry and salty put together and told him to not judge a book by its cover and he regretted it ever since. That conversation left Thomas rethinking about his teasing through the years with the engines after that incident, especially with Emily around.
Finally said Percy do you remember our little adventures over the years while we had fun. Thomas did especially the games they played over the years hide and peep, pushing cars around and being with his friend he enjoyed that most of all.
Most of the things you mentioned Percy are very memorable, said Thomas. But there are some that we are not proud of at all and subjects too to get our points across and end either in a good or embarrassing way.
Then Thomas saw Kiefer and Livia with Mavis and Rosie along with nia and Walt who both were taking over Percy's work and Toby's Thomas decided one last time through his buffer and he made the final choice. I guess I need a change to get a permanent job over the branch line duties.
What do you mean? said Percy curiously
i am giving the branch line to a new engine said Thomas
that made the engines shocked Mavis who knew Thomas for years finally spoke up. Why don't you like being over here with your coaches? Gasped Mavis.
I have replied, Thomas, since the world adventures. It left a huge decision within my buffer beam to continue the branch line but I felt like it needed to come to an end at some point and I feel that's where I choose Kiefer and Livia to take over my branch line. He looked over to the two engines. I apologize to you Livia and Kiefer for not talking to you, said Thomas sadly, I was so uncertain of what the future would hold. Apology accepted, said Livia. We were so worried that we made the decision worse for you. I am glad you made up your mind but now who will lead as a successor .
That I can answer right away, said a voice. It was Sir Topham hatt. Sir gasped Thomas.
I heard everything Thomas, he said. You put a lot of thought over my words correctly and must say I have given you words quite well of being a useful engine. Your branchline will be kept under the success of you. But I think you would like this. How would you like to be a part of the mainline?
Thomas gasped he never got this opportunity before he usually would be taken a special or be on the branch line or in the shunting yards but this was all he ever wanted.
Sir it would be an honor to be on the mainline.
Excellent, said Sir Topham hatt. But before we do that you will not go back to tidmouth sheds. I have arranged for you to sleep with another engine that you are most certain of. Thomas knows Percy for sure but sir topham hatt shook his head. The engine is waiting for you at knapford sheds tomorrow and it's a surprise for you that this shed is permitted for both you and the surprise engine .You will leave first thing tomorrow for your big change. Thank you sir, said Thomas happily. And with that sir topham hatt left leaving Thomas to look at the engines then and before and in the future knowing and hopefully he had made the right choice.
Well nia this is it said Thomas a whole new chapter ahead of me starts tomorrow.
Nia had something for Thomas that she wanted to discuss. You know Thomas, I have been thinking about your adventures. I know you first met me by being a friend at the end of our first adventure and knowing I would not have a home but then you brought me here and i am grateful to have a home and like you i never show my love feelings for anyone even if I showed to you of who i was looking for but i met someone in my life. And the engine right behind me is the one for my life. Said Nia happily. Thomas looked at walt.
You took a page off our book, did you said Thomas cheekily . No chuckled walt. But for who I am is what makes me who I am. We took it from the start a few weeks later after she arrived on sodor. I may not be the best animal lover but when it comes to respect. I will always have her back no matter what. Nia giggled at that which made Thomas gasp with excitement. Well congratulations then said Thomas.
Both smiled at each other as they looked at the big blue engine.
Well I know it will be best to get some sleep. I'm off and Thomas if anything is bothering you please don't hesitate to ask and with that percy went back to the harbors while Kiefer and Livia joined Thomas into a peaceful sleep.
Thanks, Livia said Thomas sometimes i need a deep friend to help me through this.
Anytime you just need a little bit of sorts throughout the smokebox, replied Livia. Both engines went to sleep happily.
The next couple of days Thomas was cheerful taking passengers and freight down the line but deeply the final days of the branch line were going to be more mature to his buffers then any day on sodor. Then the great day came. Thomas was finished with his work on the branch line on his final day to seek the mainline. All of ffarquhar branch line engines came to see him off.
Take care, Thomas said kiefer. We'll miss you, added livia.
Don't worry I will come back if I am needed here, replied Thomas.
He looked around one last time knowing this will be his last train for a while. Mavis and rosie were there too; they gave Thomas a farewell and a speech on how they first met him. This made Thomas almost cry but he composed himself quickly.
Thanks Rosie and Mavis you are the perfect engine friend and sibling i can ask for. Rosie started to blush as a sibling comment. Mavis as well for the friend she had. Well this is it. Off to a new chapter of my life on sodor.
With that Thomas puffed away leaving a chorus of whistles from kiefer, Livia, Mavis and Rosie. Thomas was going to miss his branchline but he is looking forward to the mainline route as well. Like always a change can be good for many reasons and I am glad I made this decision, said Thomas as he puffed through the sunset.