This chapter was written up back in 2010 and the edited version you're about to read was completed on February 25th 2016.

Sodor High School: Thomas & Friends Tales

Written by: ThomasZoey3000

Based on the Railway Series by: Rev. W. and Christopher Awdry

Based on the Television series by: Britt AllCroft/David Mitton/Hit Entertainment

Episode 4: Hiro's Heroes

Based on "Hero of the Rails" by "Sharon Miller"

Thomas and Emily made it back to the house just five minutes before Skarloey and Rheneas arrived.

"Do you think we could use these tires for the cart?" asked Emily, showing off the tires they brought over from Victor's shop.

Rheneas took one of the tires, checked the air pressure on them, then checked to see if it bounced on the ground. It bounced quite high and it almost bounced out of the yard.

"Yeah I'd say they'll do just fine," he said.

"Now getting onto the actual cart you want designed," said Skarloey, "we were thinking on something like the old carts you would find in China or Japan." He lowered his backpack and pulled out a sketch he drew up earlier that day. "Is that what you were going for?"

"Yep, that's what we need," said Thomas. "Were you reading our minds Skarloey?"

"Of course not," he chuckled, "it was just a guess. Now you'll have to give us three nights and we'll have this cart completed in no time."

"It only takes you three nights?" asked Emily in surprise.

"Well they are professionals," said Thomas, "plus these two hold a record the fastest amount of time it takes to make something out of whatever they are using."

"Well we do have a knack for doing stuff like this," said Skarloey.

"Say Thomas, do you still have that huge pile of wood in your backyard?" asked Rheneas.

"Yep, help yourselves to whatever is back there."

"Wait, hold on a second," cried Emily, "don't you two want some help? It is a big project after all."

"Not really," said Rheneas, "we can handle it on our own, we've done it plenty of times in the past, so don't worry." And with that, the two of them went to the pile of wood.

"Believe me, I've asked them if they needed help before," whispered Thomas, "they say the same thing all the time."

Skarloey and Rheneas worked hard throughout the weekend. Thomas and Emily went to see Hiro as much as they could, all the while Percy made sure that Spencer didn't find out.

"What is that cheeky Thomas up to?" he kept asking.

"I don't know, Thomas has got a life you know, maybe you should get one."

"I do have a life," snapped Spencer. "I just want to know what kind of stupid scheme he's got cooking up this time. I'm not going to let him make me look like a fool."

"It's not always about you Spencer, but then again, the only person you ever think about is yourself."

Spencer was speechless, "how dare you speak to me like that." And he rode off in a huff, leaving Percy to roll his eyes and sigh in relief.

Spencer looked all around for the two teens, but it was nearly impossible to find them.

Thomas and Emily were able to get away from Spencer's spying eyes for quite a while. They often went to see Hiro after dark, which always brought a smile to his face.

"You two are so kind for helping me out, but I am worried about you. That Spencer you always speak of was around here last night..." both teens looked worried, "don't worry he didn't find me, still I think it might be a good idea if you two stayed away for a while."

"We can't," said Emily, "we can't leave you all alone."

"Emily's right," agreed Thomas, "no matter what the danger, we'll help you out. We won't give up on you, we'll get you to that hospital and reuinte you with your family, then you won't have to be lonely anymore."

"Thank you," smiled Hiro, "you two are such kind souls. I promise I'll return you the favour someday."

"There's no need to do that," smiled Emily, "getting you back to your family is more than enough of a reward for us, isn't that right Thomas?"

"Yes, of course it is," he nodded.

It took more than three nights and a lot of hard work, but at long last, Skarloey and Rheneas had finished building the cart and even painted it in traditional japanese colors.

"Perfect for carrying whatever you need to move," smiled Skarloey.

"Just be careful not to use it on bumpy roads," advised Rheneas, "and don't go too fast with it, otherwise under those conditions, it will break into pieces."

"We'll be careful with it, won't we Thomas?"

"Of course we will," he said, but he was worried.

Later that night, he explained to Emily why he was worried, "how are we going to get Hiro to the hosptial during the week and more importantly, how are we going to keep him from being spotted by Spencer?"

"We'll just have to be very careful as we go along," she sighed. "But maybe it would be a good idea to wait till Next Saturday and take him as the sun is setting."

"That's a good idea and it just might work, but in the meantime we need to make sure that Spencer doesn't go anywhere near Hiro's hiding spot."

"Well we could always ask Percy to help, he could keep an eye out for a while."

"Good thinking Emily, I'll give him a call and see if he can help out."

When Percy got the call, he was more than happy to be of some help, "I'll stand guard all night if you want me to."

"We only need to keep watch until it gets dark," Thomas explained, "then you can go home. There are no lights in that house, so Spencer won't see him. That's not going to be a problem is it?"

"Of course not Thomas, it's no trouble at all, I'd be happy to do that. Hiro's in good hands, trust me."

"I know I can always trust you Percy, just be careful okay? And don't do anything that could get you into trouble."

"I promise you Thomas, I'll be careful."

After talking with Percy, Thomas told Emily that he had agreed and will watch out for Hiro, "he really is a kind friend, giving up a few hours of his busy timetable to help someone out."

"Yeah that's Percy for you," smiled Thomas.

Percy kept a good look out throughout the whole week, all the while Thomas and Emily stayed away as to keep Spencer away from Hiro's hiding spot.

Finally Saturday came, and as the sun was starting to rise for the day, Spencer was riding along in the countryside, "today I'll find out what that cheeky foolish Thomas is up to and put a stop to his plan."

He checked all around Henry's forest and around Gordon's hill. He was now getting closer and closer to the hiding spot.

Percy could see Spencer coming towards the old house, so he got out quickly and got on his bike.

Spencer was still looking for clues when Percy came out of nowhere and blocked his way, "out of my way Percy," snapped Spencer, "I'm looking for clues."

"Look elsewhere," Percy snapped.

"And why's that?"

"Cause all you'll find over there is a big pile of nothing. I know you're trying to make my friend Thomas look stupid, well I'm not going to let that happen."

"Are you challenging me to a race?"

"You better believe it, if I can beat that whirlybird Harold and win, then I can beat you."

"Thomas couldn't beat me in a race on Gordon's hill on a bike like his," he looked down to Percy's bike and snorted, "and judging by the looks of your rubbish heap, you're not going to beat me."

"Is that so? Well then come on Spencer, put up or shut up!" Percy smirked cheekily.

"You're on!"

So Percy and Spencer raced away, getting further and further away from the hideout.

"Whew, that was too close," Hiro sighed quietly to himself.

At last, at around sundown, Thomas and Emily arrived with their bikes and the cart. They also brought some tools to cut up the wood.

"Be careful Thomas," advised Emily. "Those blades can be quite sharp."

"I'm aware of that Emily, but don't worry I'll be careful. You may not believe this, but I'm also one of the best students in shop class."

"I seem to learn a little more about you with each day that passes."

"You two really are cute," smiled Hiro, "are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"No," said Emily quickly and blushing into a shade of red.

"We're just friends," said Thomas was a shocked tone in his voice, "now don't you worry Hiro, we'll have you out of here soon."

Hiro just smiled and no more. In about thirty minutes, the wood was finally cut up and Hiro was free. Thomas and Emily helped Hiro to his feet. He was a little weak, but he tried his best to walk.

"You're doing it," smiled Emily, "despite your legs being crushed for fifteen years."

The two teens helped Hiro to the cart and made sure he was buckled in nice and tight. He felt comfortable sitting on the seats. With the tools sitting on the floor of the cart, the two climbed onto their bikes and started their journey to the hospital.

They rode along on a smooth road and peddled slowly, "how are you feeling Hiro?" asked Thomas.

"I'm feeling great!" he cheered, "thank you Thomas, and you too Emily!"

He laughed in a happy way and cheered happily, Thomas and Emily felt happy to be helping, then all of the sudden, Spencer came out of nowhere and came up beside Thomas' side.

"I don't know what you are planning, but I'm going to stop it now!"

"Can't you learn to leave us alone?!" cried Thomas and started to peddle faster. Emily had to do the same to keep up.

"You won't get away from me!"

"We shouldn't be doing this!" cried Emily, "remember what Skarloey and Rheneas said? They said we can't go at high speeds."

"We'll be fine, as long as we stay on the smooth road."

Spencer looked back to see Hiro sitting in the cart, "you're trying to help a stupid old man? You really are pathetic!"

"The only pathetic one around here is you!" snapped Thomas, who raised his foot out and kicked at Spencer's bike.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Stopping you! Hiro's suffered for too long, he's been away from his family for fifteen years, stuck in an old worn down house, pinned under a pile of wood. We're going to make sure he gets the chance to see his family again, and keep you from sending him to a mental house."

"Too bad that's where he's going, cause he's an old man who has lost his mind."

"The only one who's lost his mind is you!" snapped Emily.

Thomas gave one more kick at Spencer's bike. That finally did it as Spencer went flying off the road and landed in the mud.

"Whoa!" he cried as he splashed into the mud, "yuck! Gross!"

Thomas and Emily said no more as they continued on, "Spencer won't stay in there forever," groaned Thomas, "we need to take a shortcut."

"What shortcut?"

"We'll take the one that comes before Henry's forest."

"Are you serious, the roads there are bumpy, the cart won't last that long!"

"It won't need too, it just needs to last long enough to make it to the hosptial. I hate to let Skarloey and Rheneas' good work go to waste, but it might be the only way to help. Trust me, Emily."

"I trust you."

They turned down a crossroad and went into Henry's forest.

They peddled on along the bumpy roads, but at a slow pace.

"We can make it," said Emily, "as long as we don't speed up."

"You might need to," said Hiro, looking back, "that boy Spencer is on our tails again and by the look on his face, he's really mad!"

Spencer was indeed mad, his helmet was now cracked and his bike was all muddy. "You'll pay for that stupid little stunt!" he cried, "I mean it too, you'll both pay and that old man will go away forever!"

"You know the risk Emily, trust me," said Thomas.

"I trust you."

"So do I!" called Hiro, "do it, you two!"

So Thomas and Emily brought their speed up, Hiro held on tight as the cart bounced up and down over all the bumps.

"You better slow down fools!" snapped Spencer, "I'm the fastest teenager around, no one can beat me in a race!"

"Except me!" cried another voice, it was Gordon riding on his bike. "I'll race you to the Maithwaite racetrack Slowpoke Spencer, I'll win!"

Spencer didn't like being called a slow poke, "oh no you won't! I will win, since I am the Duke and Duchess' son, a true winner!"

Gordon raced away in another direction, and Spencer followed him.

"Whew, that was too close," sighed Thomas.

Then there was trouble. They could hear some faint creaking noises coming from behind them. Just as Skarloey and Rheneas had said, the cart couldn't last under that kind of torture and was now falling apart.

"We can't give up," cried Thomas, "keep peddling Emily!"

"I will," then she called to Hiro, "keep holding on back there!"

"I'm holding on my friends!" he cried.

But the faster they went, the more times the cart bounced and the more it bounced, the more it fell apart. Despite this, the two teenagers were not willing to give up. They had come this far, and nothing was going to stop them. At last, the hospital could seen in plain view.

"Let's hope those wheels can hold on for a bit longer," said Thomas to Emily, "if they break off, then we won't be able to continue on!"

Emily nodded and looked back with a worried look, "oh please stay on."

It took a lot of determination and a lot of luck, but at last they made it to the hospital, just as the wheels broke off.

"I can't believe we made it," sighed Thomas, "I'm worn out."

"Our work isn't done yet," said Emily, "now we need to get Hiro inside."

The two teens helped Hiro out of the cart and helped him inside. No sooner had they gotten inside then Spencer showed up with some doctors, all looking serious.

"Silly Gordon," he sniffed, "he might have beaten me in that race, but I was still able to get away from him and now I'm going to make sure that you three go away for a long time."

"Spencer, you are an idiot," groaned Thomas.

The doctors were about to get a hold of the three, when they heard a yell; "Stop right there!"

They all looked to find Gordon with Sir Topham Hatt, "I just happen to run into him," said Gordon, "and told him all about Spencer's little game."

"You just wait till your parents find out," snapped Sir Topham Hatt, "you didn't do the job they asked you to do and now you're saying these fibs about these three."

"Okay maybe Thomas and that girl..."

"My name is Emily!" she snapped angerily.

"Whatever, anyways as I was going to say, they're not crazy, but that old man is. He's been lost for fifteen years and he's been telling fibs to these two, he should be locked away forever."

"I don't think so," said Sir Topham Hatt, then he looked over to the man. "You wouldn't happen to be Mr. Hiro, one of the finest teachers to have taught the students in the Sodor High School?"

"That would be me," Hiro nodded.

"He's not crazy," said Sir Topham Hatt, "he has been missing for fifteen years, we all thought he was dead until now."

"He's a legend in our school," added Gordon.

"We most recently found him in the ruins of an old house," said Thomas, "after our race with Spencer on Gordon's hill."

"Why is it called Gordon's hill anyways?" asked Emily.

"I can answer that," said Sir Topham Hatt, "it was because Gordon once got stuck on that hill while he was riding his first bike, around the age of four, am I right?"

Gordon went a deep shade of red, but nodded his head.

"Anyways," continued Thomas, "the two of us, plus our friends Skarloey, Rheneas and Percy have all worked together to try and help Hiro get to the hospital, and our plans were nearly blown away by Mr. Show off here."

"You have some nerve calling me by that name!" snapped Spencer.

"Silence Spencer," boomed Sir Topham Hatt, "you're in enough trouble as it is. Now doctors, can you please help Mr. Hiro?"

"At once sir," they all said.

The doctors took him to the emergency room, but not before he looked back over to Thomas and Emily and winked at them.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Thomas and Emily both smiled at Hiro as they watched him go into the emergency room, "you two should be proud of yourserves," smiled Sir Topham Hatt, "helping Mr. Hiro like that."

"We're always glad to help," smiled Thomas.

"Always," agreed Emily.

Sir Topham Hatt smiled and thanked the two teens for all they did and asked them to thank Percy, Skarloey and Rheneas. Gordon also got a thank you, but when he looked to Spencer, he got a different response; "now I'm going to take you to your parents, they would like to have a few words with you about not doing what you were told to do!"

"Oh bummer!" he groaned.

Spencer sulked sadly as he and Sir Topham Hatt left. Gordon smirked, "now that's a sight to see, seeing that boastful Spencer being taken down a peg or two."

"More like five pegs," chuckled Thomas, and Emily giggled in agreement

A little later, Thomas and Emily returned to the hospital to see how Hiro was doing. They found him in a room of his own and resting happily.

"How are you feeling Hiro?" asked Thomas.

"Very well thank you, I never thought this day would come."

Then there came another knock on the door, "come in!" called Hiro, the door opened and a young woman came walking in. Hiro recongized her at once "hello Yoshida."

"Hi dad," she smiled with a few small tears in her years, "I missed you alot."

"And I missed you too sweetie."

"It's good to see my dear husband," said another female voice.

Hiro's smile grew even bigger, "Koyuki, it's so wonderful to see you again. For every day I couldn't see you, it felt like my heart was in cold storage."

"Hiro, I'm happy to see you haven't lost your touch in poetry."

"Hi dad," called a male voice, "it's good to see you come back after all these years."

"It's good to see you again too my son. It's good to see all of you again, I have missed you." He then looked to his wife, "now honey, didn't you tell me that there was another member of the family?"

"Yes there is. Oh Sakura, will you come in please?"

The sound of footsteps was heard and moments later, a fourteen year old teenage girl came walking into the room. She had long brown hair and had a sakura flower in her hair, "hello daddy," she said sweetly.

"Hello there Sakura, it's nice to finally meet you."

"So dad," said Yuji, "when do you think you'll be coming home?"

"Not for a while, but don't worry, that won't be too long according to the doctors. Surprising, none of my bones are broken, it's just that my legs and arms are a little weak." His attention then moved to the two teens, "now my dear family, I would like to introduce you to the two teenagers who saved me;Thomas and Emily."

Hiro's family all thanked Thomas and Emily for all they have done, "well it's like we always say, we're glad to help a friend in need."

"And I am grateful that you two came to help," said Hiro, "I don't know how I'll be able to repay you two for all you have done."

"You don't need to repay us," said Emily, "we're just glad to see you all together again." Thomas nodded in agreement.

"And we're glad to be together again, you will all hold a special place in our hearts." Hiro's family nodded in agreemnt, "but I have to ask, what happened to Spencer?"

"He was punished by his parents, and now he has to do twice as much work on his parent's new house." Thomas chuckled, "I don't think we'll need to worry about him for a while."

Hiro smiled and laughed a little more. Koyuki then spoke to the teens,"for many years, we had believed that Hiro was dead, until you found him and brought him here. You're all heroes, thank you so much."

"Your welcome," said Thomas and Emily in unison.

"Well we hope to see around Hiro," said Emily, "if you need us again, just give us a call."

"I know that my friends. Thank you again."

Thomas and Emily bowed to the Japanese family, then left the room. Once outside, they got on their bikes and headed off for Ffarquhar.

They soon returned to their town and found Percy waiting outside of an arcade.

"Did we do good?" he asked.

"We sure did," smiled Thomas, "Hiro is back with his family and Spencer is getting a lesson he won't forget."

"Is this normal for you lot all the time?" asked Emily.

"Yep," nodded Thomas and Percy together.

"Though there are times when life is anything but normal," chuckled Percy. He then looked to Thomas, "now why don't we hang out for a bit, you owe me a rematch at air hockey remember?"

"I haven't forgotten Percy," chuckled Thomas, "just you wait, I'll win."

"You wish Thomas, I will win!" And they raced into the arcade.

"This might take a while to get used to," thought Emily to herself, "but I'm sure I can learn to adjust to it with a bit of time. At least I have good friends to help me along the way."

With that thought in her mind, she ran inside the arcade to play some of the games with her good friends; Thomas and Percy.