Magic Engine G: ThomasNATION Fanstory
November 28, 2020
It was a calm, crisp morning on Sodor. Gordon was at Knapford Station doing what he does best: lazing around and berating Thomas’ sluggish tendencies with his coaches.
“Come on, Thomas!” Gordon barked, “While we’re young…”
“Alright, Gordon,” Thomas moaned as he collected the Express coaches, “no need to be all fussy. I wouldn’t be in this kerfuffle if you get off your lazy tender and collected them yourself.”
“What did I tell you, Thomas?” Gordon groaned. “Tender engines are not meant to shunt. It wouldn’t be dignified!”
Then, Gordon noticed a workman putting up a poster on the Knapford wall. The poster was advertising some sort of magic show. “Hm. Silly old magicians…”
“Magicians?” Thomas said as he bumped Gordon’s coaches into him. “Is there going to be a magic show?”
“Apparently so,” Gordon said as he glanced at the poster, struggling to read the name. “it seems to be advertising someone named…Ma…Mark…uh…”
“Massimo the Magnificent!” said Sir Topham Hatt, walking towards the two. Thomas couldn’t believe it! He glowed with excitement!
“Really? The Massimo the Magnificent?!” he cried with glee.
“Ah, I see you’re familiar with his works.” said Sir Topham Hatt.
“Oh, am I ever!” Thomas reminisced. “I remember seeing one of his shows in the Italian Colosseum! He’s truly a one-of-a-kind magician!”
Gordon scoffed. “What does he do that any other magician can’t?”
“Oh, Gordon, you don’t even know the half of it!” said Thomas.
“Quite right, Thomas!” Sir Topham Hatt exclaimed. “Now, I need the two of you to go down to the airport and pick up him and his equipment.”
“What?!” Gordon cried.
“Yes, sir!” Thomas exclaimed.
“But sir,” Gordon protested, “I have the Express to run!”
“I’m sure I can fill Rebecca or Henry in for your next train.” Sir Topham Hatt said. “Now hurry along, his plane arrives in twenty minutes.”
“But sir…”
“Now, Gordon…”
And with that, Gordon sulked away to the airport.
Thomas and Gordon rolled into the airport to see the streets crowded with Massimo the Magnificent’s adoring fans.
“Look at this, Gordon!” Thomas exclaimed. “Isn’t it incredible? All these people took time out of their day, just to see Massimo!”
“Don’t these people have anything better to do than gawk at some magician?” Gordon scoffed.
And then, Massimo the Magnificent’s plane touched down. As he stepped out of his plane, he soaked in the adoration of his fans.
“Oh, grazie, my friends!” said Massimo. “I’m so euphoric that my dearest fans have come to witness my arrival!”
Gordon rolled his eyes. “Seems a bit stuck-up to me.”
“Look who's talking!” Thomas rebutted.
Massimo then proceeded to grab an apple from a local fruit stand and threw it in the air. Up went the apple, and down came a bouquet of flowers.
“Per te, amico mio!” he said as he handed the bouquet to a fan.
“Hey, Massimo! Over here!” Thomas cried.
Massimo immediately recognized Thomas. “Ah, there he is! Thomas, mio vecchio amico! It has been so long!”
“It sure has!” Thomas responded. “Oh, Massimo, this is my friend Gordon.”
Massimo examined Gordon, taking in his grand scale. “Oh my, what an exquisite engine! He’ll do perfectly for the show!”
“I’m sorry, the show?” Gordon asked.
“Oh! Are you really going to do that amazing trick?” Thomas asked eagerly.
“Absolutely, friend!” Massimo exclaimed. “I shall see you all tomorrow night!”
And with a puff of smoke, Massimo the Magnificent was gone. Gordon was confused about the examination.
“Uh, what was that about?” Gordon asked.
“Oh, I didn’t mention this,” Thomas explained. “at the end of the show, Massimo takes the largest engine in the audience and levitates him off the rails!”
Gordon was stunned. “WHAT?!”
Thomas chuckled to himself. “I remember back when I saw his show in Italy, and when Lorenzo was lifted up off the rails, his reaction was hilarious!”
He went to look back at Gordon, but he was gone. “…Gordon?”
Gordon headed into Vicarstown Station. He was absolutely appalled by the idea of being lifted off of the rails, and had to find another engine to fill his spot. He noticed Henry at the station, and knew he would be perfect.
“Henry!” he cried. “Am I glad to see you!”
“Oh, hello, Gordon!” said Henry. “What’s the matter?”
“I was just wondering,” Gordon answered, “if you wanted to take part in tomorrow’s magic show.”
“Me?” Henry asked curiously. “Why me?”
“Well, Massimo the Magnificent loves to lift the biggest engine in the show off the rails as his grand finale, and I thought what bigger engine is there than you?”
Henry was conflicted. “I don’t know whether or not to be honored or insulted by that comment.”
“Please, Henry?” Gordon pleaded.
Henry hesitated, but soon agreed. “Fine, but you owe me for this.”
As Henry disembarked, Gordon was relieved to not be part of the show anymore.
The next day, Massimo was busy setting up the stage for his grand performance with the help of Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas.
“Up a little…okay, now right…” he said as a workman was arranging the curtain backdrop until finally getting it right. “Ah, tremendo!”
Just then, Gordon rolled up. “Hey, Mr. Massimo, sir, you say you need the biggest engine to lift for your finale?”
“Quite right, Gordon.”
“Well, I found an even bigger engine that’ll really fit the bill.”
“Really?”
“Yes. His name is Henry, and he’s one of the strongest engines I know. He’d be perfect for your show!”
“Wait, Henry?” Thomas chimed in. “I thought he had an accident up at Maithwaite. He’s away at the Steamworks right now”
“...you’re kidding.” Gordon said in disbelief. “Well, surely there has to be another engine, uh, Rebecca?”
“She’s running the express for tonight.” Sir Topham Hatt responded.
“Uh, James?”
“On the mainland.”
“Emily?”
“Up at Black Loch.”
“Murdoch?!”
“I have no idea where he is nowadays.”
“Oh, the indignity…”
“Come on, Gordon,” said Thomas, “give it a go!”
“Thomas, I told you,” Gordon argued back. “I can’t take part of this show, it wouldn’t…”
“Wouldn’t be dignified, I know,” Thomas finished. “but a little bit of silliness never hurt anyone. And besides, no one will judge you for it. In fact, I bet they’d find it cool that you took place in such an amazing show anyway. So, come on, Gordon, just let down your guard for one night.”
Gordon sighed, regretfully conceding. “Alright. I guess you do make a good point. How bad can it be?”
“Very bad…” Gordon groaned as he was dressed in clown makeup on the night of the show. Massimo admired the blue engine.
“Ah, tremendous makeover, Gordon!” he cried out. “Now, places, please! Once the curtain rises, we will shine like the stars of the cosmos!”
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” the announcer cried. “PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE ITALIAN WONDER, MASSIMO THE MAGNIFICENT!”
“Showtime!” said Massimo as he bounded onto the stage.
The majority of the show went spectacularly. Over the course of the show, Massimo had sawed volunteers in half, pulled all sorts of strange creatures out of his hat, levitated parts of the set, and several other tricks that even impressed Gordon a little. But then, the time came for the finale.
“And, for my last trick, I will do what the Sudrian folk previously thought to be impossible!” cried Massimo. “I…will levitate…AN ENGINE!”
The crowd cheered as the curtain behind Massimo raised to reveal an intensely embarrassed Gordon. “Miei cari amici, you may know old Gordon as the titan of the Sodor railroads! But not even the heaviest of the heavy is too much for the power of Massimo il Magnifico!”
Gordon groaned, but then saw his colleagues in the crowd, cheering him on.
“You’re doing great, Gordon!” Thomas cried from the crowds.
“And…ABRACADABRA!”
Gordon shut his eyes. He was a tad nervous to see what was happening. The crowd gasped in amazement.
“Apri gli occhi, figliolo...” said Massimo.
“...what?”
“Your eyes, Gordon, open your eyes.”
Gordon slowly opened his eyes, and to his amazement, he was floating! The crowd erupted into uproarious cheers, particularly from the engines.
“Woo-hoo! Go, Gordon!” the engines cried. As Gordon was lifted back onto the rails, his face filled with pride.
“See, what did I tell you?” Thomas asked. “A little bit of silliness isn’t the end of the world.”
Gordon grinned, knowing Thomas was right. He would still take himself mighty seriously, but he wouldn’t be afraid to be a bit goofy here and there.
“You’ve been too kind, friends!” Massimo cried as he made his exit. “Arrivederci!”
“Come on, Thomas!” Gordon barked, “While we’re young…”
“Alright, Gordon,” Thomas moaned as he collected the Express coaches, “no need to be all fussy. I wouldn’t be in this kerfuffle if you get off your lazy tender and collected them yourself.”
“What did I tell you, Thomas?” Gordon groaned. “Tender engines are not meant to shunt. It wouldn’t be dignified!”
Then, Gordon noticed a workman putting up a poster on the Knapford wall. The poster was advertising some sort of magic show. “Hm. Silly old magicians…”
“Magicians?” Thomas said as he bumped Gordon’s coaches into him. “Is there going to be a magic show?”
“Apparently so,” Gordon said as he glanced at the poster, struggling to read the name. “it seems to be advertising someone named…Ma…Mark…uh…”
“Massimo the Magnificent!” said Sir Topham Hatt, walking towards the two. Thomas couldn’t believe it! He glowed with excitement!
“Really? The Massimo the Magnificent?!” he cried with glee.
“Ah, I see you’re familiar with his works.” said Sir Topham Hatt.
“Oh, am I ever!” Thomas reminisced. “I remember seeing one of his shows in the Italian Colosseum! He’s truly a one-of-a-kind magician!”
Gordon scoffed. “What does he do that any other magician can’t?”
“Oh, Gordon, you don’t even know the half of it!” said Thomas.
“Quite right, Thomas!” Sir Topham Hatt exclaimed. “Now, I need the two of you to go down to the airport and pick up him and his equipment.”
“What?!” Gordon cried.
“Yes, sir!” Thomas exclaimed.
“But sir,” Gordon protested, “I have the Express to run!”
“I’m sure I can fill Rebecca or Henry in for your next train.” Sir Topham Hatt said. “Now hurry along, his plane arrives in twenty minutes.”
“But sir…”
“Now, Gordon…”
And with that, Gordon sulked away to the airport.
Thomas and Gordon rolled into the airport to see the streets crowded with Massimo the Magnificent’s adoring fans.
“Look at this, Gordon!” Thomas exclaimed. “Isn’t it incredible? All these people took time out of their day, just to see Massimo!”
“Don’t these people have anything better to do than gawk at some magician?” Gordon scoffed.
And then, Massimo the Magnificent’s plane touched down. As he stepped out of his plane, he soaked in the adoration of his fans.
“Oh, grazie, my friends!” said Massimo. “I’m so euphoric that my dearest fans have come to witness my arrival!”
Gordon rolled his eyes. “Seems a bit stuck-up to me.”
“Look who's talking!” Thomas rebutted.
Massimo then proceeded to grab an apple from a local fruit stand and threw it in the air. Up went the apple, and down came a bouquet of flowers.
“Per te, amico mio!” he said as he handed the bouquet to a fan.
“Hey, Massimo! Over here!” Thomas cried.
Massimo immediately recognized Thomas. “Ah, there he is! Thomas, mio vecchio amico! It has been so long!”
“It sure has!” Thomas responded. “Oh, Massimo, this is my friend Gordon.”
Massimo examined Gordon, taking in his grand scale. “Oh my, what an exquisite engine! He’ll do perfectly for the show!”
“I’m sorry, the show?” Gordon asked.
“Oh! Are you really going to do that amazing trick?” Thomas asked eagerly.
“Absolutely, friend!” Massimo exclaimed. “I shall see you all tomorrow night!”
And with a puff of smoke, Massimo the Magnificent was gone. Gordon was confused about the examination.
“Uh, what was that about?” Gordon asked.
“Oh, I didn’t mention this,” Thomas explained. “at the end of the show, Massimo takes the largest engine in the audience and levitates him off the rails!”
Gordon was stunned. “WHAT?!”
Thomas chuckled to himself. “I remember back when I saw his show in Italy, and when Lorenzo was lifted up off the rails, his reaction was hilarious!”
He went to look back at Gordon, but he was gone. “…Gordon?”
Gordon headed into Vicarstown Station. He was absolutely appalled by the idea of being lifted off of the rails, and had to find another engine to fill his spot. He noticed Henry at the station, and knew he would be perfect.
“Henry!” he cried. “Am I glad to see you!”
“Oh, hello, Gordon!” said Henry. “What’s the matter?”
“I was just wondering,” Gordon answered, “if you wanted to take part in tomorrow’s magic show.”
“Me?” Henry asked curiously. “Why me?”
“Well, Massimo the Magnificent loves to lift the biggest engine in the show off the rails as his grand finale, and I thought what bigger engine is there than you?”
Henry was conflicted. “I don’t know whether or not to be honored or insulted by that comment.”
“Please, Henry?” Gordon pleaded.
Henry hesitated, but soon agreed. “Fine, but you owe me for this.”
As Henry disembarked, Gordon was relieved to not be part of the show anymore.
The next day, Massimo was busy setting up the stage for his grand performance with the help of Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas.
“Up a little…okay, now right…” he said as a workman was arranging the curtain backdrop until finally getting it right. “Ah, tremendo!”
Just then, Gordon rolled up. “Hey, Mr. Massimo, sir, you say you need the biggest engine to lift for your finale?”
“Quite right, Gordon.”
“Well, I found an even bigger engine that’ll really fit the bill.”
“Really?”
“Yes. His name is Henry, and he’s one of the strongest engines I know. He’d be perfect for your show!”
“Wait, Henry?” Thomas chimed in. “I thought he had an accident up at Maithwaite. He’s away at the Steamworks right now”
“...you’re kidding.” Gordon said in disbelief. “Well, surely there has to be another engine, uh, Rebecca?”
“She’s running the express for tonight.” Sir Topham Hatt responded.
“Uh, James?”
“On the mainland.”
“Emily?”
“Up at Black Loch.”
“Murdoch?!”
“I have no idea where he is nowadays.”
“Oh, the indignity…”
“Come on, Gordon,” said Thomas, “give it a go!”
“Thomas, I told you,” Gordon argued back. “I can’t take part of this show, it wouldn’t…”
“Wouldn’t be dignified, I know,” Thomas finished. “but a little bit of silliness never hurt anyone. And besides, no one will judge you for it. In fact, I bet they’d find it cool that you took place in such an amazing show anyway. So, come on, Gordon, just let down your guard for one night.”
Gordon sighed, regretfully conceding. “Alright. I guess you do make a good point. How bad can it be?”
“Very bad…” Gordon groaned as he was dressed in clown makeup on the night of the show. Massimo admired the blue engine.
“Ah, tremendous makeover, Gordon!” he cried out. “Now, places, please! Once the curtain rises, we will shine like the stars of the cosmos!”
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” the announcer cried. “PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE ITALIAN WONDER, MASSIMO THE MAGNIFICENT!”
“Showtime!” said Massimo as he bounded onto the stage.
The majority of the show went spectacularly. Over the course of the show, Massimo had sawed volunteers in half, pulled all sorts of strange creatures out of his hat, levitated parts of the set, and several other tricks that even impressed Gordon a little. But then, the time came for the finale.
“And, for my last trick, I will do what the Sudrian folk previously thought to be impossible!” cried Massimo. “I…will levitate…AN ENGINE!”
The crowd cheered as the curtain behind Massimo raised to reveal an intensely embarrassed Gordon. “Miei cari amici, you may know old Gordon as the titan of the Sodor railroads! But not even the heaviest of the heavy is too much for the power of Massimo il Magnifico!”
Gordon groaned, but then saw his colleagues in the crowd, cheering him on.
“You’re doing great, Gordon!” Thomas cried from the crowds.
“And…ABRACADABRA!”
Gordon shut his eyes. He was a tad nervous to see what was happening. The crowd gasped in amazement.
“Apri gli occhi, figliolo...” said Massimo.
“...what?”
“Your eyes, Gordon, open your eyes.”
Gordon slowly opened his eyes, and to his amazement, he was floating! The crowd erupted into uproarious cheers, particularly from the engines.
“Woo-hoo! Go, Gordon!” the engines cried. As Gordon was lifted back onto the rails, his face filled with pride.
“See, what did I tell you?” Thomas asked. “A little bit of silliness isn’t the end of the world.”
Gordon grinned, knowing Thomas was right. He would still take himself mighty seriously, but he wouldn’t be afraid to be a bit goofy here and there.
“You’ve been too kind, friends!” Massimo cried as he made his exit. “Arrivederci!”
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
0 comments