Disclaimer: Theodore Tugboat belongs to Classic Media. However, the characters I create in this are mine and my own. I do not seek profit in the creation of this story but to bring enjoyment to other TT fans.

Theodore and Emily were coming towards the edge of the harbor where Blandford buoy resided. Theodore tried to guess what their surprise could even be. "Was it new headlights?" Theodore thought, "Or super strong tow ropes!" He swayed back and forth as he went while Emily calmly floated along behind. She was puzzled on what could possibly come by cargo ship all the way from the other side of the continent. Normally when the tugboats received anything new, they would pick it up from the shipyards instead.

"Emily?" Theodore called to her, turning around and going backwards to face her.

"Yes Theodore?" She asked, watching him where he was going in case he was about to bump into anything.

"Do you have any idea what you think we could be getting? Maybe special bumpers?" He did his best to stay in a straight line while going backwards. Emily looked thoughtful for a moment. "No," She said slowly. "I don't think its special bumpers."

The young harbor tug turned back around and floated along side of her. He looked a little confused. "What do you think it is?" He asked. Theodore was curious about what Emily thought it would be. The ocean tug was going to say something but then looked up and saw the cargo ship. "We're about to find out." She replied with a smile. Theodore looked up too and put on his 'Welcome to the Big Harbor' smile. He and Emily blew their whistles in greeting.

The big cargo ship blew his horn to answer back. "Hello there!" He called slowly coming to a stop in front of Blandford.

"Hello," Emily called back. "My name is Emily and this is Theodore."

Theodore tooted happily at the ship. "Hi!"

"My name is Hudson," He answered and glanced back behind him. "And this nervous wreck of a tugboat behind me is Bonnie." He gestured with a chuckle. A loud whistle sounded behind Hudson and a voice protested. "I'm not nervous! I just feel shivers up and down my keel!" Hudson just chuckled some more.

Now the ocean tug and the harbor tug looked at each other. Then huge smiles spread across their faces. "That's our surprise!" They thought excitedly. Theodore raced to the back of Hudson and came upon a girl tugboat wearing a grey cloche hat with a light blue ribbon tied around it. "Hi! I'm Theodore!" He said, beaming at her. Bonnie however, was rather startled by the boy's sudden appearance. "Whoa! Down boy!" She said, backing up but was still tied to Hudson's stern so she could not really go anywhere. Emily came around the back to meet the new tugboat. "And I'm Emily." She smiled kindly but inside she was just as thrilled as Theodore was. Bonnie regained her composure a little and a small polite smile crept across her face. "Hello," She started a little shaky. "As Hudson said, I'm Bonnie and I transferred here from Prince Rupert Harbor."

Theodore calmed down a little and backed up a bit to give her room. "Wow, all the way from there? Which way did you and Hudson get here?" He asked. Both the Bonnie and the cargo ship shivered. "The Arctic."

Hudson continued. "It's dangerous up there. I won't go back that way and I won't recommend it to anyone either. Ship, barge or tugboat."

Emily and Theodore looked at each other in confusion again and then back at the new tugboat and the ship. It was then they noticed that they looked like they have both been through a bit of a storm of sorts. "What happened up there?" The female ocean tug asked. She and Theodore wanted to know what happened during their trip. But just then, a sharp whistle was heard in the distance. All three tugboats turned to see who it was. Bonnie tried to see but she could only peer around Hudson.

It was Pearl the pilot boat. She floated up to the big ship looking a little irritated. In all the excitement of receiving a new tugboat, they were going to be late. "What are you two doing?" She called. However, the senior pilot saw why both tugboats were at the back of the ship. "Bonnie I presume?" Pearl asked, floating closer to get a better look at the new tug.

Bonnie watched Pearl carefully. She can tell the pilot boat carried an air of authority. By then she had her composure back and looked straight back at her. "Yes ma'am." She said calmly and averted her eyes down in respect. Theodore stared back at their pilot boat in surprise. "You knew that we were getting a helping hand?" He asked. Bonnie shot a look of puzzlement at the harbor tug. "Last time I checked pilots were one of the first boats to know about receiving new help and such."

Emily explained about how the tugboats were told that they would be getting a surprise from the west coast but no other hint was given. "Except that it was something that would help us in the Big Harbor." Theodore added, looking sheepish now. Bonnie stared at both Theodore and Emily. She did not know how to respond to that. At least not at first anyway. "Well I'm sorry. But my former boss failed to don me with a big bow on my mast before I left." She said at last. Both tugs and Hudson had a good laugh. Even Bonnie let out a small laugh.

Pearl interrupted. "Come along you two. We've got to bring this ship in before it gets too late."

Emily and Theodore turned away from Bonnie to start buttoning on their towropes. Since Emily was the 'Tug in Charge', she would be in the front while Theodore was in the back. Bonnie was about to button on her spare towrope to help with the pushing but Pearl stopped her. "Bonnie I'll need you to check in with the Dispatcher to see if he has any jobs for you." She said. "And possibly get checked at the repair dock as well." The senior pilot noticed the scuffle marks on Bonnie.

The female harbor tugboat looked at Pearl, then at Hudson, then at her new coworkers. "You sure you don't need help bringing in Hudson?" She asked. Bonnie felt uneasy leaving her friend behind to go in the harbor by herself. She did not even know where The Great Ocean Tug and Salvage Company dock was. "Yes I'm sure." Pearl replied.

"Well, ok but where is The Great Ocean Tug and Salvage Company dock? I'm bound to get lost in there looking for it." Pearl sighed. "When you enter the harbor, look to your left. You'll see a sign with the name on it and the Dispatcher wears the company symbol flag."

Bonnie unbuttoned herself from the cargo ship and revved up her engine. "Thank you, um…" She never got the pilot's name.

"Pearl."

"Thank you Pearl." She smiled and blew her whistle. "See you guys later!" She called and off she went to meet her new boss. "Bye!" Theodore and Emily called as they tooted their whistles.

"Don't get lost in there!" Hudson called, blowing his horn as she left.

"I won't!" She shouted. "At least I hope I won't." Bonnie thought, swaying a bit back and forth a little nervously as she went to enter the Big Harbor for the first time.

-End-

Bah! I wanted to wait a few more days but I'm just really eager. I'll try to have the third chapter up at some point in a few days.

So anyway how do you like it so far?