A Visiting Frenemy: ThomasNATION Fanstory
March 27, 2021
It was a busy day on Thomasā branch-line. That day, Sir Topham Hatt called for Nia to help out with extra passengers, and as you could probably guess, it was a lot of hard work. But the two did eventually have a break, so they could finally relax in a shed near Knapford.
āYou know, Nia,ā said Thomas, out of breath, āI donāt think Iāve ever appreciated a break more than I have now.ā
āI hear that,ā Nia remarked. āI havenāt worked that hard in years.ā
āIf you can believe it, weāre supposed to get more passengers tomorrow.ā Thomas groaned.
āNipe nguvu...ā Nia sighed. āMay as well enjoy this break whilst it lasts, eh?ā
āTrue,ā Thomas responded.
Then, Percy rolled up next to the shed that Thomas and Nia were having their break. He looked rather excited.
āGuys! Big news!ā Percy clamored as he rushed in.
āWhat is it, Percy?ā Thomas asked. āIs Alicia Botti doing another concert?ā
āNo.ā
āIs the circus in town?ā
āAgain, no.ā
āDid some supernatural anomaly generate a giant energy field, mind-controlling the inhabitants of Suddery, thatās in the exact shape and size of a giant hexagon?ā
Nia and Percy stared at Thomas, confused.
āā¦I mean, Iām just saying hypotheticallyā¦ā
āDonāt be ridiculous, Thomas.ā Nia smirked. āWhatās the actual news, Percy?ā
āWellsworth is hosting a massive race rally across Sodor!ā Percy cried in excitement.
āWow,ā Thomas thought. āI was way off.ā
āWhoās going to be racing?ā asked Nia.
āTheyāre bringing in race cars from all over the globe,ā Percy explained. āThereāll be racers from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Franceā¦but the big headliner is the racer theyāre bringing in from Australia!ā
āReally? Who is it?ā Nia asked.
āHis nameā¦is Ace!ā Percy announced.
āYes!ā Thomas yelled.
āNoā¦ā Nia yelled.
Percy looked at Thomas and Nia in curiosity. āYou two know him?ā
āYeah, we travelled the world with him!ā Thomas explained. āHeck, heās the one who convinced me to see the world to begin with.ā
āBut it was evident that me and him didnāt get along,ā Nia continued. āhe manipulated Thomas into abandoning me in Arizona.ā
āOh.ā
āGive the guy another chance, Nia,ā Thomas convinced his friend. āI talked it out with him when I last visited Australia, and I think heās really changed.ā
Nia was skeptical, but ultimately decided to give Ace the benefit of the doubt. After all, that was three years ago - surely he would have changed in that time!
The next morning, a yellow blur came racing into the road entrance of Knapford, surprising the passengers and buses. The blur drifted to a stop to reveal - who else - Ace.
āYeah!ā Ace cried. āI forgot how nice these roads felt on my wheels!ā
āAce!ā Thomas called out.
āThomas!ā said Ace. āHow ya been, mate? Itās been a while!ā
āI know, long time.ā Thomas reminisced.
Just then, Nia rolled up, immediately noticing Ace. āHey, Ace. Uh, long time, eh?ā
āYeah,ā Ace responded. āhey, about all that business in Arizona, I gotta ask, no hard feelings, right?ā
āNo worries, Ace,ā Nia responded. āWeāre good.ā
Well, not entirely. Nia was still distrusting of Ace, but still wanted to see if he really had redeemed himself.
āAnyway, I gotta get over to Wellsworth,ā Ace said as he left. āthose racers arenāt gonna beat themselves! Great seeinā ya guys again!ā
āYou too, Ace!ā Thomas called out.
āYeah, good seeing you!ā Nia yelled.
This left Thomas confused. āi thought you were concerned about seeing Ace again.ā
āYeah, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt,ā Nia responded. āI mean, itās been three years, maybe he did learn from his mistake.ā
āTrust me,ā Thomas responded. āonce heās done here, youāll forget you even hated that guy.ā
Later, Nia was pulling into Vicarstown with a goods train, pleasantly surprised with her run-in with Ace. Percy was at another platform collecting mail for the nightās run.
āHey, Nia,ā Percy asked, ādid you have any thought on whether or not youāre attending the rally to cheer Ace on?ā
āWell, honestly,ā Nia responded. āI think if he keeps this good behavior up, then maybe.ā
Then, Gordon rolled in, looking a bit grumpier than usual.
āOh, my,ā Nia gasped. āwhatās the matter, Gordon?ā
āItās that Ace fellow, Nia,ā Gordon grumbled. āhe passed me on the way to Kellsthorpe Road, and he said I should leave the express to a stronger engine. Like, whatās that meant to mean?!ā
Nia gasped in disgust. āHe really said that?ā
āI heard it, clear as dayā¦ā Gordon moaned.
Upset over this news, Nia groaned in anger. āYou see, Percy? I shouldāve known better than to actually trust that yellow demon!ā
Percy gasped. āNia, calm down. Maybe heās just taking things out of context.ā
āWhat context is there to take it out of?ā Nia asked as she stormed away. āHe has no right insulting Gordon like that!ā
As Nia left, Percy noticed something peculiar about Gordonās express train. āUh, Gordon?ā
āWhat?ā
āDoes your express train look a bitā¦uhā¦longer? Or is that just me?ā
Soon, Nia had to take wood up to Wellsworth to build bleachers for the rally. But she was still too distracted by thinking about Ace, so much so that she wasnāt looking where she was going.
āUh, Nia?ā Rebecca said as she rolled up beside Nia.
āYeah?ā
āUh, you may want to look where youāre going.ā
āWhy?ā
But before Nia could do anything else, she careened into an abandoned siding, crashing into the buffers and derailing.
āUmā¦ā Rebecca continued. āā¦thatās why. You okay?ā
āYeah, Iām fine,ā Nia called out, ābut can you do me a favor and take the rest of this wood to Wellsworth?ā
āAlright.ā Rebecca replied.
As soon as Rebecca left with the wood, Ace darted through the woodland roads beside the siding, briefly stopping to observe the damage.
āWhoa, you alright there, fumbles?ā Ace quipped. āLooks like youāre in quite the muddle there, eh?ā
āNot now, Aceā¦ā Nia sighed.
āHey, look, Iād love to chat, but I gotta continue my time trials,ā said Ace. āHang in there, Nia!ā
As Ace drove away, Nia couldnāt help but feel offended.
āWHAT?! Oh, sure,ā Nia yelled. ājust like you to abandon an engine in need!ā
Ace stopped dead in his tracks and started listening to what Nia was saying.
āI mean, I could just rust here, be abandoned by all my friends,ā Nia continued, ābut just as long as your time trial is finished! I wouldnāt want to get in the way of that!ā
Ace took time to consider what Nia was saying until he drove off.
At Wellsworth, the rally was just about to begin, but something was off with Ace. He looked concerned - almost guilty.
āEverything okay, Ace?ā asked Thomas. āYou look a little down.ā
āIām fine, justā¦ā Ace explained. āā¦have you ever felt like you let someone down when you didnāt mean to?ā
āSometimes.ā Thomas responded. āWhy?ā
āI think I messed up bad, mate.ā Ace continued. āI feel like I was too focused on winning the race that I think I abandoned a friend.ā
āWellā¦ā Thomas thought. āā¦there are more important things in life than just winning races all the time, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is being there for your friends.ā
āWho told you that?ā
āI just learned from natural experiences.ā
Ace smiled. āThanks, mate.ā
āALL RACERS TO THE STARTING LINE!ā the announcer cried. āTHE RACE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!ā
All the racers lines up at the starting line. All, of course, except Ace, who simply drove away from it.
āWhere are you going?ā Thomas asked.
āTo make amends.ā said Ace.
As the sun set on the island, Nia was still derailed, until she began lifting off of the ground.
āWhat in theā¦ā Nia asked before noticing Rocky hoisting her up.
āDonāt worry now, Nia,ā said Rocky. āweāll have you back on the rails before long!ā
āBut, wait, whoā¦ā Nia pondered, confused.
āThomas was told to bring me here.ā Rocky explained.
āBy who?ā
āMe.ā said a familiar voice. Nia looked around to see who it was. It was Ace! āSurprise!ā
āAce?ā asked Nia, confused. āBut why? I donāt understand. I thought you had a race!ā
āI left the circuit to help you,ā said Ace. āit didnāt feel right just leaving you there.ā
āOh, so now you grow a conscience?ā Nia chuckled.
āYeah, yeah.ā Ace rolled his eyes.
But Nia was confused about one more thing. āWait, I have to ask, what was all that with you and Gordon, down near Kellsthorpe?ā
Ace explained everything, about how he was only making a snide remark to Gordon, since he was carrying what he believed to be too many coaches due to the extra passengers, and that he didnāt mean to hurt Gordonās feelings.
āOhā¦ā Nia gasped. āSo you werenāt mocking Gordon, you were just making a joke?ā
āPretty much,ā replied Ace. āI guess I couldāve worded it a little better. So, whaddya say, Nia? No hard feelings?ā
Nia smiled, having understood everything. āYeah, no hard feelings. Samehe na Sahau.ā
Ace paused for a moment. āYeah, I donāt know what that means.ā
āForgive and forget, Ace.ā Thomas chuckled. āNow, I believe you had a race to win?ā
āForget the race,ā said Ace, ābefore I get home, Iām gonna spend the day with you two!ā
Thomas, Nia and Ace simultaneously chuckled, glad to all be friends again.
āYou know, Nia,ā said Thomas, out of breath, āI donāt think Iāve ever appreciated a break more than I have now.ā
āI hear that,ā Nia remarked. āI havenāt worked that hard in years.ā
āIf you can believe it, weāre supposed to get more passengers tomorrow.ā Thomas groaned.
āNipe nguvu...ā Nia sighed. āMay as well enjoy this break whilst it lasts, eh?ā
āTrue,ā Thomas responded.
Then, Percy rolled up next to the shed that Thomas and Nia were having their break. He looked rather excited.
āGuys! Big news!ā Percy clamored as he rushed in.
āWhat is it, Percy?ā Thomas asked. āIs Alicia Botti doing another concert?ā
āNo.ā
āIs the circus in town?ā
āAgain, no.ā
āDid some supernatural anomaly generate a giant energy field, mind-controlling the inhabitants of Suddery, thatās in the exact shape and size of a giant hexagon?ā
Nia and Percy stared at Thomas, confused.
āā¦I mean, Iām just saying hypotheticallyā¦ā
āDonāt be ridiculous, Thomas.ā Nia smirked. āWhatās the actual news, Percy?ā
āWellsworth is hosting a massive race rally across Sodor!ā Percy cried in excitement.
āWow,ā Thomas thought. āI was way off.ā
āWhoās going to be racing?ā asked Nia.
āTheyāre bringing in race cars from all over the globe,ā Percy explained. āThereāll be racers from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Franceā¦but the big headliner is the racer theyāre bringing in from Australia!ā
āReally? Who is it?ā Nia asked.
āHis nameā¦is Ace!ā Percy announced.
āYes!ā Thomas yelled.
āNoā¦ā Nia yelled.
Percy looked at Thomas and Nia in curiosity. āYou two know him?ā
āYeah, we travelled the world with him!ā Thomas explained. āHeck, heās the one who convinced me to see the world to begin with.ā
āBut it was evident that me and him didnāt get along,ā Nia continued. āhe manipulated Thomas into abandoning me in Arizona.ā
āOh.ā
āGive the guy another chance, Nia,ā Thomas convinced his friend. āI talked it out with him when I last visited Australia, and I think heās really changed.ā
Nia was skeptical, but ultimately decided to give Ace the benefit of the doubt. After all, that was three years ago - surely he would have changed in that time!
The next morning, a yellow blur came racing into the road entrance of Knapford, surprising the passengers and buses. The blur drifted to a stop to reveal - who else - Ace.
āYeah!ā Ace cried. āI forgot how nice these roads felt on my wheels!ā
āAce!ā Thomas called out.
āThomas!ā said Ace. āHow ya been, mate? Itās been a while!ā
āI know, long time.ā Thomas reminisced.
Just then, Nia rolled up, immediately noticing Ace. āHey, Ace. Uh, long time, eh?ā
āYeah,ā Ace responded. āhey, about all that business in Arizona, I gotta ask, no hard feelings, right?ā
āNo worries, Ace,ā Nia responded. āWeāre good.ā
Well, not entirely. Nia was still distrusting of Ace, but still wanted to see if he really had redeemed himself.
āAnyway, I gotta get over to Wellsworth,ā Ace said as he left. āthose racers arenāt gonna beat themselves! Great seeinā ya guys again!ā
āYou too, Ace!ā Thomas called out.
āYeah, good seeing you!ā Nia yelled.
This left Thomas confused. āi thought you were concerned about seeing Ace again.ā
āYeah, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt,ā Nia responded. āI mean, itās been three years, maybe he did learn from his mistake.ā
āTrust me,ā Thomas responded. āonce heās done here, youāll forget you even hated that guy.ā
Later, Nia was pulling into Vicarstown with a goods train, pleasantly surprised with her run-in with Ace. Percy was at another platform collecting mail for the nightās run.
āHey, Nia,ā Percy asked, ādid you have any thought on whether or not youāre attending the rally to cheer Ace on?ā
āWell, honestly,ā Nia responded. āI think if he keeps this good behavior up, then maybe.ā
Then, Gordon rolled in, looking a bit grumpier than usual.
āOh, my,ā Nia gasped. āwhatās the matter, Gordon?ā
āItās that Ace fellow, Nia,ā Gordon grumbled. āhe passed me on the way to Kellsthorpe Road, and he said I should leave the express to a stronger engine. Like, whatās that meant to mean?!ā
Nia gasped in disgust. āHe really said that?ā
āI heard it, clear as dayā¦ā Gordon moaned.
Upset over this news, Nia groaned in anger. āYou see, Percy? I shouldāve known better than to actually trust that yellow demon!ā
Percy gasped. āNia, calm down. Maybe heās just taking things out of context.ā
āWhat context is there to take it out of?ā Nia asked as she stormed away. āHe has no right insulting Gordon like that!ā
As Nia left, Percy noticed something peculiar about Gordonās express train. āUh, Gordon?ā
āWhat?ā
āDoes your express train look a bitā¦uhā¦longer? Or is that just me?ā
Soon, Nia had to take wood up to Wellsworth to build bleachers for the rally. But she was still too distracted by thinking about Ace, so much so that she wasnāt looking where she was going.
āUh, Nia?ā Rebecca said as she rolled up beside Nia.
āYeah?ā
āUh, you may want to look where youāre going.ā
āWhy?ā
But before Nia could do anything else, she careened into an abandoned siding, crashing into the buffers and derailing.
āUmā¦ā Rebecca continued. āā¦thatās why. You okay?ā
āYeah, Iām fine,ā Nia called out, ābut can you do me a favor and take the rest of this wood to Wellsworth?ā
āAlright.ā Rebecca replied.
As soon as Rebecca left with the wood, Ace darted through the woodland roads beside the siding, briefly stopping to observe the damage.
āWhoa, you alright there, fumbles?ā Ace quipped. āLooks like youāre in quite the muddle there, eh?ā
āNot now, Aceā¦ā Nia sighed.
āHey, look, Iād love to chat, but I gotta continue my time trials,ā said Ace. āHang in there, Nia!ā
As Ace drove away, Nia couldnāt help but feel offended.
āWHAT?! Oh, sure,ā Nia yelled. ājust like you to abandon an engine in need!ā
Ace stopped dead in his tracks and started listening to what Nia was saying.
āI mean, I could just rust here, be abandoned by all my friends,ā Nia continued, ābut just as long as your time trial is finished! I wouldnāt want to get in the way of that!ā
Ace took time to consider what Nia was saying until he drove off.
At Wellsworth, the rally was just about to begin, but something was off with Ace. He looked concerned - almost guilty.
āEverything okay, Ace?ā asked Thomas. āYou look a little down.ā
āIām fine, justā¦ā Ace explained. āā¦have you ever felt like you let someone down when you didnāt mean to?ā
āSometimes.ā Thomas responded. āWhy?ā
āI think I messed up bad, mate.ā Ace continued. āI feel like I was too focused on winning the race that I think I abandoned a friend.ā
āWellā¦ā Thomas thought. āā¦there are more important things in life than just winning races all the time, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is being there for your friends.ā
āWho told you that?ā
āI just learned from natural experiences.ā
Ace smiled. āThanks, mate.ā
āALL RACERS TO THE STARTING LINE!ā the announcer cried. āTHE RACE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!ā
All the racers lines up at the starting line. All, of course, except Ace, who simply drove away from it.
āWhere are you going?ā Thomas asked.
āTo make amends.ā said Ace.
As the sun set on the island, Nia was still derailed, until she began lifting off of the ground.
āWhat in theā¦ā Nia asked before noticing Rocky hoisting her up.
āDonāt worry now, Nia,ā said Rocky. āweāll have you back on the rails before long!ā
āBut, wait, whoā¦ā Nia pondered, confused.
āThomas was told to bring me here.ā Rocky explained.
āBy who?ā
āMe.ā said a familiar voice. Nia looked around to see who it was. It was Ace! āSurprise!ā
āAce?ā asked Nia, confused. āBut why? I donāt understand. I thought you had a race!ā
āI left the circuit to help you,ā said Ace. āit didnāt feel right just leaving you there.ā
āOh, so now you grow a conscience?ā Nia chuckled.
āYeah, yeah.ā Ace rolled his eyes.
But Nia was confused about one more thing. āWait, I have to ask, what was all that with you and Gordon, down near Kellsthorpe?ā
Ace explained everything, about how he was only making a snide remark to Gordon, since he was carrying what he believed to be too many coaches due to the extra passengers, and that he didnāt mean to hurt Gordonās feelings.
āOhā¦ā Nia gasped. āSo you werenāt mocking Gordon, you were just making a joke?ā
āPretty much,ā replied Ace. āI guess I couldāve worded it a little better. So, whaddya say, Nia? No hard feelings?ā
Nia smiled, having understood everything. āYeah, no hard feelings. Samehe na Sahau.ā
Ace paused for a moment. āYeah, I donāt know what that means.ā
āForgive and forget, Ace.ā Thomas chuckled. āNow, I believe you had a race to win?ā
āForget the race,ā said Ace, ābefore I get home, Iām gonna spend the day with you two!ā
Thomas, Nia and Ace simultaneously chuckled, glad to all be friends again.
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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