I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and to the late great Britt Allcroft, this story is purely for entertainment and never profit.

Episode 50: Percy's Predicament, Original Airdate: November 26th, 1986

It was a clear starry night on the Island of Sodor. In the Billinton household in the village of Ffarquhar, Thomas was putting Lucy to bed. As he had promised, he was going to tell her the story of how Daisy became the hard worker she is today.

"Alright Lucy" said Thomas, "you ready for daddy's story?".

"Story daddy" said Lucy excitedly.

"Right" Thomas said as he brought up his story chair, "you comfortable Lucy sweetie?".

"Comfy daddy" Lucy replied to her father.

"Alright then" said Thomas as he began his story, "this story began the dad before me and mommy came back to the railway".

(Story Begins)

Daisy, the diesel railcar drivers work in the countryside was full of surprise. She was frightened of bulls and cows, and she remained very lazy and stubborn, for example, she still refused to take the milk whenever she came to the station in the morning. This of course infuriated Percy, Toby and Burnett to no end. They had tried to tell Sir Topham Hatt several times, however they had always unfortunately tried to bring up their case when he was too busy.

One day, Toby brought Henrietta to the yard at Elsbridge station, where they saw Percy grumbly shunting trucks in his Avonside SS saddle tank. They then both saw why, the milk van was left by the shed again, no thanks to a certain lazy engine driver.

"Hello Percy" said Toby as he and Henrietta hopped down from his C53 tram.

"Hello Toby, Henrietta" greeted Percy sulkily.

"I see that Daisy's left the milk again," said Toby.

"I'll have to make a special journey with it I suppose" said Percy, "anyone would think I had nothing to do".

"I wouldn't say that" said Burnett as he came into the station in Lady's GWR 116 tank engine, "if it wasn't for that family of bastards crashing Thomas' E2 in the stationmasters house, then that lazy cow wouldn't have to the island".

"Language please Burnett" said Toby, reminding him that Henrietta was with them.

"Sorry Toby" replied Burnett.

"I sure can't wait until Thomas and Lady come back" said Percy, "then Daisy will sod off back to where she came from".

"Well, if you both want to know" said Burnett, "Thomas and Lady are coming home tomorrow".

"Really?" said Percy.

"That's right" said Burnett, "Thomas called me yesterday, saying that the works called him and informed him that his E2 had been repaired, and he can pick it up tomorrow".

"Well thank God for thank" said Percy, "but what about the milk?".

Percy, Toby and Burnett all thought for a moment before Toby finally spoke.

"Tell you what Percy" he said, "I'll take the milk, you fetch my trucks from the quarry?".

"That actually sounds like a good idea" replied Percy.

Both Burnett and the stationmaster agreed with Percy and Toby. Toby then hopped back into his trams cab and went back to collect the milk, Percy meanwhile headed off to Anopha Quarry to collect the trucks. He arrived there half an hour later and began arranging his engines trucks and ordering the workmen about.

"Hurry along" he said to them.

The workmen however grumbled to each other, Percy had never worked there before and so they weren't use to him.

"This is Toby's place" said one.

"Percy's got no right to poke his engines funnel in here and push us about," said another.

"I've got an idea" said a third workman.

"What is it?" his two colleagues asked.

He whispered his idea to them, and they then passed the word among their fellow workmen.

"Pay Percy out, pay Percy out" they whispered to each other.

"Come along" said Percy, "no nonsense",

"Oh we'll give him nonsense alright" snickered the workmen to each other.

It was fortunate for them that Percy didn't hear them as he was too busy arranging his train. He gathered 4 7-plank trucks together and pushed the brake van behind them, once all that was done, he brought his engine to the front of the train and coupled up, then he was off. The trucks followed so smoothly that Percy thought that they were under his control, how wrong he was.

A while later, he was puffing back to the junction at Elsbridge when he saw a green sign with white letters written on it. The sign read "ALL TRAINS STOP TO PIN DOWN BREAKS".

"Breaks guard please" called Percy to the guard in the van as he whistled.

The guard went to pin the breaks on the trucks so that it could slow down as it went down the hill, but unbeknownst to him, the vans breaks weren't working properly. As he pulled the lever, he found that it was stiff.

"Oh dead" said the guard in fright.

There was worst to come. As Percy's saddle tank began to descend the hill, the trucks surged forward.

"HELP, HELP" called Percy in horror.

The man on duty at the level crossing heard Percy's frantic whistle, rushed to warn traffic with his red flag. But he was too late to switch Percy's engine to the runaway siding, at the same time a slow-moving cockerel that was passing by the rails lost his tailfeathers.

"Ba-gawk?!" he shrieked in fright.

"Sorry Mr Cockerel" called Percy from his cab.

Frantically trying to get his saddle tank to grip the rails, Percy slipped into the yards at Elsbridge. His eyes widened in horror when he saw what was in front of him.

"LOOK OUT" he called before jumping clear.

In Elsbridge yard was a shed where workmen shape rough stone brought down from Anopha Quarry. The stone was then loaded into trucks, a train of such trucks were in the siding being pulled by Burnett who was currently having a conversation with the stationmaster.

They both heard the frantic whistling and a splintering crash, they then raced outside to see a shocking sight. The brake van was in smithereens and Percy's Avonside Saddle Tank was perched on the trucks, Burnett noticed that Percy was on the ground clutching his arm.

"Percy" called Burnett as he raced over to see if he was okay, "are out alright?".

"Not particularly" groaned Percy in pain, "my engine crashed, and I think that my arm is broken",

"I'll call for help," said the stationmaster.

A while later, Toby arrived with the breakdown train to help clear away the mess, Daisy also helped to, much to Percy, Toby and Burnetts amazement. The emergency services also arrived where the paramedics explained Percy's arm, luckily it was only sprained and not broken. Sir Topham Hatt soon arrived on the scene and surveyed everything.

"I'm truly sorry Sir" said Percy sadly, "I never meant for this crash to happen".

"It wasn't your fault Percy" said Sir Topham Hatt kindly, it was thanks to the brake van's breaks being faulty. Which is why I've sent it for repairs".

"What about the guard who operated it" asked Toby, "has he been fired?".

"I wouldn't even dream of it" said Sir Topham Hatt, "it faulty breaks were why out of his control".

"Thank God for that," said Toby.

"But we must now try" Sir Topham Hatt then said sternly, "to run the branch line with only Toby and Daisy. This accident has put us in an awkward predicament".

Sir Topham Hatt then walked up to Daisy and looked at her sternly, Daisy looked nervously at him. He had obviously found out about her refusal to take the milk, his words only confirmed her fears.

"My engine drivers work hard" he said to her sternly, "they do not tell lies and do their work without fuss, I send lazy drivers like you away".

Daisy looked down at her feet, she was ashamed of her actions. However, what Sir Topham Hatt said next made her head go up.

"However," he said, "Toby says you worked hard after Percy's accident. So you shall have another chance".

"Thank you Sir" said Daisy eagerly, "I will work hard Sir. Toby says he'll help me to do so".

"Excellent" said Sir Topham Hatt, "what Toby doesn't know about branch line problems isn't worth knowing. Our Toby's an experienced engine driver".

Sir Topham Hatt then turned and walked back to his car so that he could return to his office at Knapford Station. As he left, Daisy came up to Percy, Toby and Burnett.

"Excuse me guys" she said softly.

"What do you want Daisy?" asked Percy, "because if its you wanting to help. You've done enough".

"Percy" said Toby softly, "let her speak".

"Alright then" said Percy before speaking sternly to Daisy, "this had better be worth it".

"Okay" said Daisy as she began, "I know that I've been lazy bitch since I arrived on the Borth Western Railway. But I promise that it won't happen ever again, I promise the three of you that I won't be that kind of engine driver ever again and to prove it, I'll shall take the milk van to the diary tomorrow morning".

Percy, Toby and Burnett all looked at Daisy with impressed looks. She was obviously very sorry for what had happened, but she had also said that she was going to make up for it though, it was a promise that she was also going to keep.

Toby and Burnett both stood up and head back to help the workmen to clear away the mess and to rescue Percy's saddle tank, as Percy stoop up himself Daisy suddenly planted a huge kiss on his lips. Percy was deeply surprised by this but allowed Daisy to kiss him, she then broke away and smiled at him.

"Hope you liked it" she said with a smile.

Daisy then went back to helping Toby and Burnett help the workmen, leaving a smiling Percy behind. Next day Thomas and Lady came back, and Percy's saddle tank was set to be mended. Annie and Clarabel were delighted to see their older brother again that he took them for a run in their coaches. All five drivers are now good friends, with Percy and Daisy had begun dating after Thomas and Lady returned. As she promised, Daisy even takes the milk from time to time, and Toby has taught Daisy a great deal. She shooed a cow off the line all by herself the other day, that shows you doesn't it?

(Story Ends)

"And ever since then Daisy has continued to be a hard worker on the North Western Railway" said Thomas as he finished his story.

He looked down to see that Lucy had fallen fast asleep. Smiling at his sleeping daughter, Thomas gently kissed her on the forehead before turning out her light and leaving her bedroom. He then went downstairs to watch Falling Skies with his father.

"Alright dad" he said as he entered the sitting room and sat down next to Howard on the couch, "what do you thinks going to happen this season of Falling Skies?".

"Maybe those aliens who landed last season are going to ally themselves with humanity" Howard suggested.

"Well I guess we're going to have to find out for ourselves" said Thomas.

"Oh that we will Thomas" replied Howard as he turned on the television.

And done. This chapter only took me a week and I must say I'm pleased with how it turned out. Just to inform you all that process on this fanfic might be a bit slow for a while, its not out of laziness I assure you all. The reason is because I'm writing an animated series for DC Comics, the company that published Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Flash. Its going to be titled Sorcerers. Its going to feature everything including sorcerers/sorceresses, wizards, witches, elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins, trolls, faeries, dark elves, half-elves, satyrs, leprechauns, halflings, centaurs, drakes (dragon-men), glutts (slug-men), dragons, unicorns and sea serpents. But anyway, please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.