Hello fans, and welcome to the first episode I'm posting in 2018. Yes! (Cheering). Yes I'm aware that Sodor High School hasn't been getting alot of episodes lately, but life has a habit of pushing other things into place and stall my work on this series. Believe me, I was hoping to have finished the second season by now and move towards Season 3. Oh well, that's life for you eh? Anyways, this episode is not based on "King of the Railway" and is instead based on the episode "The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor". I felt it was perfect considering in the previous episode that we saw Rosie in an all new look, plus there was the mention of a railfest at Ffarquhar, so I can't have that be mentioned and not show anything. "King of the Railway" adaptations will continue after this episode, and with luck, be ready before we get to the end of February 2018.
Sodor High School: Thomas & Friends Tales
Written by: ThomasZoey3000
Based on the Railway Series by the: Reverand Wilbert and Christopher Awdry
Based on the Television Series by: Britt AllCroft, David Mitton, Hit Entertainment
Episode 35: Too Fast For His Own Good
Based on S21 "The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor"
The following morning, Thomas, Percy and Emily made their way towards the station and yard for Ffarquhar's fifth annual railfest. The railfest featured a gathering of small or lightweight locomotives from around Sodor, and even some from the Mainland. They were quite impressive to look at, from sole survivors to a small gathering of a single class like the Terriers.
"I can't believe they got this one here," said Percy as he looked at one of them, which was called Waddon. "Last I heard, this locomotive was sent off to Montreal Quebec, along with Dominion of Canada, and hasn't returned since. Yet here's the engine."
"How come you know so much about Terriers Percy?" Emily asked curiously.
"It's thanks to our good friend Stepney," Percy explained. "He was named after one of the surviving engines after all. Plus they are great to look at after all."
"I couldn't agree with you more old friend," said a voice.
Percy spun around and saw a young man with blonde hair and wearing a LBSC shirt.
"Stepney!" gasped Thomas. "My goodness, it's been a long time since we last saw you. How have you been?"
"Oh I've been doing fine, though if I can be honest here Thomas, I'm glad to be here at Ffarquhar. It's sort of relaxing."
"But isn't it relaxing on the Bluebell Railway with the engine you were named after?" Percy asked after finally getting over the shock.
"Normally it is, but last year was the railway's 50th anniversary and I was run off my legs with work around the railway, and helping with tours. Here though," he smiled, "I get to stand by my engine and talk about it's history, and on occassion move him along the tracks. But I talk too much, how have you guys been doing?"
"We've been doing great Stepney," Percy answered. "We're almost done with High School, just one more year to go."
"That's good to hear, and I assume you have plans all set for your futures."
"Uh...not really, still working on it."
"Well I'm sure you'll come up with something." Then he finally noticed Emily, "seems one of you has got a girlfriend. So who's the lucky guy that's with this beautiful girl?"
Emily blushed while Thomas' face went red. He quickly looked away. It didn't take long for Stepney to figure it out.
"They're actually only friends," Percy said while Thomas looked away. Then he whispered, "though he won't admit it, I believe Thomas has a crush on Emily and vice versa. Just don't say that in front of him, otherwise he'll kick me with another football."
Stepney chuckled, "you have my word as a fellow steam fan that I won't say anything," he whispered. Then he spoke up, "so, what's your name my dear?"
"It's...it's...it's Emily," Emily said while still blushing.
"Well it's nice to meet you Emily, and I'm sorry for creating a scene here. I didn't assume you two were just friends. I'm Stepney Stroudley by the way," and he extended his hand out to her, to which she shook it back.
"Wait, Stroudley? Isn't that the name of the man who designed this class?"
"Indeed it is, that's why my father said I should be named Stepney. It just makes sense."
Just then, the four teenagers heard some shouting, which was coming from Toby on a nearby road. They looked and saw a fast moving motorbike racing past him at dangerous speeds.
"Speaking of sense, five guesses as to who that is."
The bike rolled into the yard and screeched to a stop, "HERE'S JAMES!" shouted the owner of the bike.
"James," sighed the Sudrian Teenagers.
Sure enough, as he removed his helmet, it was indeed James the Red Haired Boy, "so what do you think? I just got my motorbike license, and got this sweet ride. It's wonderful and better than sitting in a car. Oh and hey Stepney."
Stepney rolled his eyes, he was all too familar with James' haughty attitude.
"I got to get back to my engine anyways, I'll leave you guys to talk."
"But we can still talk," said Emily.
Stepney opened his mouth, but was interupted by James, "there's no one here on Sodor with my speed, my style or my shiny red hair. I truely am a one of a kind, and the most splendid around here."
"Not with James around, you'd be lucky to get a word out before his big mouth starts up again. It was nice meeting you though, and I hope to see more of you guys later." And with that, Stepney walked off back to his locomotive.
"Pah, Stepney could never understand splendid positions like I do," boasted James. "At least you three get to bask in my greatness."
"Oh will you knock it off James," snapped Thomas. "Keep going about like that, and you're more than likely to get yourself into trouble."
"Ha! I never get into trouble. I've gone fast before Thomas, and I always come out on top. No trouble at all."
"Oh really?" Thomas raised an eyebrow over hearing James' words, "what about the time you had that dirt bike from America with the silly weak brakes?"
James shuddered remembering the ordeal...
James was in Sodor's first ever dirt bike compitation, but he had been practising his braking a little too much before the event. As a result, when the race started, he landed himself in trouble. Going around a third corner, his throttle jammed open and his brakes broke off.
"Help! I can't stop! Help!"
Despite the best efforts of Thomas chasing after him on another dirt bike, James still flew off his bike on a sharp bend and ended up in a farmer's field. He wasn't seriously hurt, but it was enough to drive him away from dirt bikes.
"Yes, I do remember that, but this motorbike has better brakes than that silly old dirt bike, and I've gotten better in driving and riding, so I'll never end up in a situation like that again. Nope, not this splendid red guy. The only red head on Sodor. At least in these areas."
"Oh really?" Thomas asked with his other eyebrow raised. "What about Rosie?"
"Rosie? Rosie's not red, she's got pink hair and wears a purple shirt. Plus, she's not very fast."
"He sure is full of himself today isn't he?" Emily whispered to Percy.
"Indeed he is," he whispered back. "But that's James for you. When he's in an exteremly good mood, like he is now, then he'll go on and on, always telling us so."
"Obviously then you haven't seen Rosie lately," smirked Thomas. "She's got a whole new look to herself, and she's now red."
James gasped. "Red, like me Red? James red? Splendid Red? No you're just pulling my leg Thomas, there's no way Rosie could be red."
A yard foreman came up, "would you mind moving your bike over to the parking lot young man? It's blocking the path for engines that want to move around."
"Fine, I'm going." He pushed his bike out of the yard, then once back in the parking lot, he drove away.
"He's going to be in for a unique surprise the next time he sees Rosie," chuckled Thomas.
"So that's the cheeky side of him that Mrs Brighton was talking about," Emily thought to herself. "I kinda like that...wait, where did that come from?"
As James drove along, he kept thinking about what Thomas said, "Rosie in red? Ha, that's a joke, there's no way young Rosie, the girl with pink hair would ever change her look to something different. I mean, why would she?"
As he came to a set of lights, he stopped next to a girl on another motorbike, only this one looked more American, and it sure sounded like one with the loud engine. What really caught James' attention though was the style of clothes the girl was wearing. Grey shorts with black running shoes, and a number 37 T-Shirt.
"Who on Sodor is this?" he thought to himself.
The girl looked over to James and said, "hello James, good to see you. Opps, green light, got to move." She revved her engine and started off down the road.
"Rosie?!" exclaimed James, who roared after her. The voice was defiently Rosie's.
Rosie didn't go too far as she had to stop at a shop for supplies for the Ulfstead Castle restoration. She removed her helmet, revealing the dark red hair on her head, and no pony tails.
James stopped just behind her, removing his helment while still keeping the shocked look on his face.
"You really have got red hair, and a new look," he said.
Rosie smiled, "yes indeed. I've dyed my hair color from pink to red, which wasn't that hard, then got this attire you see before you. What do you think?"
James' shocked look disappeared and a cross look came to his face, "I'll tell you what I think, you're just being a copycat. You're trying to become another me?"
"What?! No I'm not. For one, I'm a girl and you're a boy. Secondly, my red isn't like yours and I have yellow highlights at the ends. Plus, while you wear No 5 on your shirts, I have 37."
"Plus she's cuter looking than you are," shouted a passer by.
"Oh shut up!" snapped James. He cleared his throat and regained his composure, "what are you doing in town anyways? I thought you'd be back in Knapford."
"Well I have a job in Ulfstead, and for now, I have to get supplies for the job site as requested by my boss."
Rosie stepped off the bike and went inside the shop. She came out less than three minutes later with some supplies, to which she placed them in a back compartment of her bike. "Also, what do you think of my bike? My brother had ordered it for me months ago, and it arrived just this morning. It's alot easier for my job with this rather than taking trains and buses."
"It is nice...wait, which brother are you talking about?"
"Brad of course, George would never do anything this nice. Plus, George is away at Milatary Camp."
"Oh yes that's true." Then an idea came to James' head, "want to race back to Ulfstead? Then we'll see who's the fastest."
"Alright, sounds like fun, but let's try not to break any laws around here. Thomas once told me about trouble he had once with a policeman."
James snorted, "poh, that would never happen to us." He quickly got onto his bike, dawned on his helmet and with a shout of "one, two, three, go!" James was off.
"Hey! James that's not fair, I wasn't ready yet!" She quickly dawned on her helmet, got on her bike and took off.
James smirked as he roared down the roads towards Ulfstead. He truely felt he was in the lead and wasn't going to lose his spot, but he got a shock as Rosie caught up to him. She roared ahead for a short distance, but James opened the throttle even more and sped on past her, taking the lead.
This went on for a while until a set of lights came into view.
"Uh James, you might want to slow down!" Rosie called out.
"Oh come on, I was winning!" grumbled James. He slammed on his brakes. However, the brakes weren't slowing him down quickly, and he continued to speed along. "Come on, stop!" cried James. He continued to skid along, and straight towards a car that was turning towards the town of Ulfstead. In the passenger seat was Henry, who gasped to see James racing towards his mother's car.
"What is that silly boy doing?" cried Mrs Stanier.
James applied the brakes even more, but still skidded over the crosswalk. Finally though, he stopped with a small gap between his bike's front wheels and the car.
"James, be more careful!" snapped Henry as the car turned away.
James backed up slowly towards the crosswalk where he found Rosie waiting for him, "I think there's something wrong with your brakes James. You nearly smashed into Mrs Stanier's car for crying out loud."
"The key word was 'Nearly', I was still able to stop," James boasted. "Besides, there's no need for you to be a sore loser."
"What?! James, I'm not even concerned with this silly race. You could've gotten seriously hurt there, or worse. Motorcycles like ours can't win in fights with cars, and I know because of the shows I used to watch in America. Maybe you should take your bike over to Victor's shop."
"Victor doesn't work on motorbikes Rosie. Besides there's nothing wrong with this bike of mine."
Rosie raised an eyebrow, "James, he works on all sorts of bikes. Now get over there before you really get hurt. Please."
James sighed and gave in. He turned the bike around and headed back to Ffarquhar. Rosie sighed with relief, "why he would ignore good advice is beyond me." Once the light turned green, Rosie set off once more for Ulfstead Castle.
Making his way back to Ffarquhar, James went slowly and carefully along the road. As he stopped for another set of red lights, he managed to slow down to a perfect stop.
"Huh? That's interesting, I didn't skid just then," he said to himself.
Unknown to him, some liquid was dropping down from his bike. He continued on and at each red light, he didn't skid once, but more liquid kept pouring out from under his bike.
When he stopped at Victor's shop, he once again noticed he didn't skid.
"Ha, must've been some water on the road. Yeah that's it. There's nothing wrong with my bike. Now I'll really show Rosie who's the best bike rider around here."
So instead of going inside the shop, he just drove away. But where he had stopped, there was now a puddle of liquid.
Victor stepped outside for a breath of fresh air and noticed the puddle, "odd, where did that come?" He bent down and after poking his fingers into it, he sniffed it, "That's brake fluid. Someone's leaking out here, but who?"
"Who what boss?" asked Kevin.
"Someone is going to run into trouble Kevin, but who I don't know."
After completing her jobs for the day, Rosie was driving back towards the town of Ulfstead. As she got there, she found James waiting on a nearby street, "hello Rosie," he called, "we never did finish our race. Care to pick up where we left off?"
"Did you go to Victor's shop?" Rosie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course I did." He said, though he never did say that he didn't go in.
"Well alright, we can have one more race, but only towards Ffarquhar." She looked at her watch, "if lucky, we can catch some of the steamers at the railfest moving about."
"In that case, try to keep up!" James said as he got onto his bike.
They started once more, but it would've been better if James hadn't done that. For he was leaking brake fluid, which is important to operating a machine like a motorbike, for without it, the brakes don't work well enough or at all. It would soon become a problem for James as they raced down a hill towards Ffarquhar.
"You'll never be able to beat me Rosie!" called James.
Rosie revved her engine to keep up, "we'll see about that James."
As they were nearing the bottom of the hill, a set of traffic lights went red, which meant they had to stop. Rosie applied her brakes and slowed down, but when James tried to stop, he didn't slow down. He soon found out that he couldn't stop, he was out of brake fluid!
"Oh no, I can't stop!" he cried.
Rosie stopped at the lights, but James continued on, dashing through traffic.
"James, what are you doing?" cried Rosie.
"I can't stop! Help me Rosie!"
Once the light changed to green again, Rosie sped up after James. James meanwhile tried to slow himself down by using his feet, but all he did was wear out the bottom of his shoes and nearly fell off his speeding bike.
"Come on! Stop! Stop! Stop!"
He tried reducing speed, but history was repeating itself as he couldn't slow down due to a jammed throttle. All James could do now was hold on for dear life and keep himself from crashing into other people.
At Ffarquhar, Stepney was talking with Thomas, Emily and Percy about a daring escape, "So there I was, stuck in that rundown building, with no way out thanks to those bullies and with the wrecking ball heading straight for the building. Luckily, I remembered what I had been told by my magician friend, there's always a way out, you just need to know where to find it. I soon found it thanks to a door leading into the cellar. I got in there and followed a tunnel out of the building, just in the nick of time."
"Whoa," gasped Emily, "that was amazing."
"Please tell me those bullies didn't escape," said Percy.
Stepney smirked, "they ran away, but when I reported them to the police, they were found within less than an hour. They served time in prison for endangering my life, and last I heard, they were forced to work for Network rail as punishment."
"Serves them right," grumbled Thomas.
"As for me," Stepney went on, "I was invited as a guest of honor in the magician's show, and take a wild guess which act I performed in."
"The escape trick?" Thomas and Emily asked in unison, which surprised them.
"Wow, and you guys know what the other is thinking," smirked Stepney. "But yes, that was it excatly."
Percy was in awe, and was about to say so, when Stepney's father called out, "Stepney, do you hear a strange sound?"
"What sort of sound Dad?" he asked.
"Like a loud motorbike sound."
Stepney did his best to listen, but it was hard to hear anything with so many steamers and diesels around. Finally though, he could hear it and so could the other teenagers. Stepney climbed up and stood on top of his father's engine's water tanks.
"What do you see Son?"
"I see two motorbikes racing towards Ffarquhar, and from the looks of one of them, I think it's out of control."
Then, they all heard screaming, which sounded like, "it's James!" gasped Thomas. "I think he's the one on the out of control bike."
"Well he better stop soon, or he'll have an accident," said Emily with a worried tone in her voice.
By now, Rosie was able to catch up, but there was nothing she could do to help. James screamed even louder as he was heading for Ffarquhar station. He tried to turn away, but discovered he couldn't turn away. Murphy's law had come to bite James in the rear end. Now all he could do was shut his eyes and brace for impact.
CRASH! The noise echoed around, followed by loud cries of pain. Without wasting a second, Thomas, Emily and Percy raced to help while Stepney phoned for an Ambulance.
Within an hour, James was in Ffarquhar hospital and what a sorry sight he was. He had cuts and bruises, his left arm was broken and he had a big cast on his left leg. He layed in the hospital bed all alone, until a doctor walked in with Rosie, Thomas, Emily and Percy.
"James, what happened?" Emily asked in shock.
"My brakes failed, then my throttle stuck, and finally I lost any chance of turning away from the station. How bad is the damage to the building?"
"Well let's put it this way, your dent is enough to have killed someone. Namely yourself," said Thomas. "James, you could've died hitting the building at those speeds, you're not a steam engine."
"I know," James groaned.
"Why didn't you just jump off when your brakes started to fail?" Rosie asked.
"Uh...I didn't think on doing that."
Rosie smacked her forehead, "you would've ended up with minor cuts and bruises if you did. Yet look at you know, all banged up and lucky to be alive James."
"Yeah that's true, and thanks for trying to help."
"No problem, but what I can't understand is why your brakes failed. You went to Victor's shop to get them fixed after all."
James looked nervous at that moment, and Emily quickly noticed this, "you did go into the shop and got your bike fixed, right?"
"Well I...er...I did go there, but I didn't go in," he admitted, feeling rather foolish about the incident. "I noticed my bike wasn't skidding, so I thought I splashed over water at the set of lights."
"James, the road's were bone dry," said Rosie firmly.
Thomas got out his mobile phone and texted Victor. Moments later, he got a message, "seems he found brake fluid near his shop, and I'm assuming it's where you had stopped James."
"Er...yeah, probably."
Emily sighed unhappily, "honestly James, it would've been better if you had gone into the shop and got your brakes seen to right then and there, then you wouldn't have had this problem."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Guess I'm right?"
"Okay, you're completely right. I shoud've gone in, and I'm sorry for not listening to Rosie's advice. I should've known another red-head would have good advice."
"It's okay James, I'm just glad you're okay, though I can't say the same for your bike," said Rosie.
"Oh gosh my bike," groaned James. "Mom and Dad are gonna kill me when they learn of this."
"Well they're waiting outside now James, so you better be ready with your statement for them," said Thomas. "Come on guys, let's go and leave James with his family."
The others nodded and left the room. But Rosie stopped in the doorway and looked back to James, "you know James, for a while there, you did prove one thing."
"What's that?"
"You really were the fastest red head on Sodor."
James would've smirked, had it not been for his current state. And needless to say, when his parents did learn of why he lost control, he wasn't smirking then. As punishment for being reckless, he had to give up his license for a full year, and would not be allowed anywhere near motorbikes for the same time limit. Maybe next time, James will listen to advice and use his common sense. That is, if pride doesn't get to him first.