Ace the Racing Car had just performed an amazing stunt. At first, he was meant to jump twenty-five double-decker buses, but instead, he jumped over Thomas, Tamika, Shane, Aubrey and Aiden. Thomas was worried Ace wouldn't make it when he saw a baby kangaroo hopping nearby, but Ace had managed to overcome his fear of animals and completed the stunt without any accidents.

"Woohoo!" Ace shouted excitedly and everyone cheered.

"Ace, you did it," Thomas called, "and you didn't get scared when the joey showed up! You're amazing!"

Ace felt very pleased with himself. "I'm not scared of animals at all now and it's all thanks to you, Thomas." Ace raced around in excitement, but he jumped when another frog landed on his roof. Still, he couldn't help laughing as its feet were tickly.

"Well done, Ace!"

Ace looked to see two of the double-decker busses who were supposed to be there for the show. "Chuck, Chelsea, what happened to you guys?"

"I'm sorry, Ace," sighed Chuck. "When I heard what you were going to do, I was scared, especially after what happened when you saw that kangaroo before. What if something went wrong and you crashed into us?"

"When he told the others, they were frightened too," said Chelsea. "Nothing anyone said or did would make them leave the Garage for the show."

"Well…I suppose I understand," replied Ace. "You're not the only ones where scared of something."

Chelsea chuckled. "Yes, we noticed." And they all laughed.

After the show was over, Thomas was resting when Ace rolled up. "Thanks again for your help, Thomas. I couldn't have done it without ya, mate."

Thomas smiled. "You're welcome, Ace. You were great."

"Thanks." Ace paused for a moment. "Say…about what happened back in North America, I'm…I'm sorry I tricked you and that other engine."

Thomas gasped. "Oh, Ace, I was so excited about your stunt that I completely forgot."

"Yeah, well, something happened after you left. I was on a ship bound for China when a man asked me if I had seen you. I told him everything I knew, and he was not happy. He said he was your Controller, Sir Topham Hatt.

"When we got to China, he told my Racing Manager about what happened, and he wasn't pleased either. They told me what I did was wrong and that after the rally, I would be punished.

"After the last race in Europe, I went back home and I stayed in my Garage for several days, thinking about what I did with no one speaking to me. I had never felt so low."

"I'm sorry, Ace," said Thomas sadly. "Sir Topham Hatt was cross with me too. He said I shouldn't have left Sodor without telling him first. I wanted to be just like you, free and easy, but…that's just not who I am."

"I see that now, mate. I guess my style just isn't for everyone and I wasn't being a good friend to you. Doing what you did for that other engine shows how much you care for others and if that's what makes you feel good, I understand."

Then, the Show Director arrived. "Come along, Ace. You've a big day tomorrow."

"Well, see ya 'round, Thomas." And Ace raced off.

"See you later, Ace!" Thomas called and made his way to the shed.

The next day, Ace was off performing more stunts and stopping for photographs from fans.

"Come on, Ace," said his Racing Manager. "We're going to be late for our next show."

"What's the hurry?" asked Ace. "Listen to those fans. They love me."

When Ace finally left, he starting to run late. Then, his engine spluttered for a moment. "What now?" the Manager groaned.

"I think I'm running low on fuel," replied Ace.

The manager sighed. "Okay, we'll stop, but we must be quick."

Ace picked up speed as much as he could. He was nearing the railway when he heard a familiar whistle. "G'day, Thomas!" he called.

"Hullo, Ace. Are you off to another show?"

"Too right! My fans just can't get enough of me." Then, Ace grinned. "Wanna race?"

"Oh, you're on!" laughed Thomas and he started going faster.

Then there was trouble.

Ahead, the road and the railway crossed a gorge beside each other. Ace just got ahead when he heard a terrible clanking noise. "Woah!" Thomas cried.

Aced braked hard, making a one-eighty as he did so. Thomas had come off the rails and had stopped near the edge of the gorge. "Thomas! are you alright?"

"I think so!"

Suddenly, there was a rumble and a crumble. The edge of the gorge sank, and some dirt and rocks tumbled into the water.

"What are you doing, Ace?" asked the Manager. "The next show starts soon. You're going to be late."

"But…Thomas is in trouble," Ace protested.

"Oh, he'll be fine. Another engine will help him soon."

Then, Ace heard another crumble and Thomas sank even more. "Cinders and ashes!"

"Ace, we have to go," said the Manager sternly.

Ace didn't know what to do. He looked to his Manager, then to Thomas and back again. "…No! I can't do it! Thomas is in trouble! He needs help now!" Ace raced away in a different direction."

"Ace! what are you doing?!" the Manager called.

"Rescuing my friend."

Shane had just reached a station when Ace zoomed in. "Woah! what's the hurry, mate?"

"It's Thomas!" Ace cried. "He's in trouble. He's on the edge of gorge and it's crumbling.

Aubrey gasped. "Go, Shane!"

"There's no time to loose!" Aiden called.

Shane was determined. "Right! show me the way!"

Thomas groaned as the ground sank again. He tried not to shudder in case he made things worse.

Then, he heard Ace's horn followed by Shane's whistle. "Hang in there, Thomo!" called Shane. "Don't move!"

Shane was attached to Thomas' trucks and pulled hard. The ground crumbed once more. "Hurry!" cried Thomas.

"Go, Shane!" called Ace.

At last, Shane managed to pull Thomas to safety…just in time. When Thomas' wheels were clear, the loose section of the gorge fell away completely.

Thomas panted with relief. "Thank you, Shane."

"Don't thank me;" chuckled Shane, "thank Ace. He's the one who told me you were in trouble. I say he's the real hero."

Thomas agreed. "Thank you, Ace. If it wasn't for you, who knows what would've happened."

"You'd be crushed and crumpled at the bottom of that gorge, that's what," replied Ace. "Besides, I…I couldn't just let my friend get hurt."

Thomas was surprised. "We're…friends?"

"O'course we are."

The news of the rescue soon spread, and everyone cheered for Ace. "Well done, Ace," the Show Director declared. "Yesterday, you proved that you not only have great speed, but determination as well. You put your own needs aside to help someone in trouble and acted quickly to prevent a troublesome situation from becoming much worse. You really are one of the finest racing cars in all of Australia."

"And Really Useful too!" called Thomas.

The engines whistled, cars, buses and lorries honked, and everyone cheered. Ace was so happy, he couldn't say anything, but deep down in his engine, what made him happiest what that he now understood what Thomas meant by helping others. It didn't only make others happy, but it made him happy too and that made him feel greater than he ever had before; almost as great as gaining a new friend in Thomas the Tank Engine.