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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.
ā€œYou know, Nia,ā€ said Thomas, out of breath, ā€œI donā€™t think Iā€™ve ever appreciated a break more than I have now.ā€
ā€œI hear that,ā€ Nia remarked. ā€œI havenā€™t worked that hard in years.ā€
ā€œIf you can believe it, weā€™re supposed to get more passengers tomorrow.ā€ Thomas groaned.
ā€œNipe nguvu...ā€ Nia sighed. ā€œMay as well enjoy this break whilst it lasts, eh?ā€
ā€œTrue,ā€ Thomas responded.
Then, Percy rolled up next to the shed that Thomas and Nia were having their break. He looked rather excited.
ā€œGuys! Big news!ā€ Percy clamored as he rushed in.
ā€œWhat is it, Percy?ā€ Thomas asked. ā€œIs Alicia Botti doing another concert?ā€
ā€œNo.ā€
ā€œIs the circus in town?ā€
ā€œAgain, no.ā€
ā€œDid some supernatural anomaly generate a giant energy field, mind-controlling the inhabitants of Suddery, thatā€™s in the exact shape and size of a giant hexagon?ā€
Nia and Percy stared at Thomas, confused.
ā€œā€¦I mean, Iā€™m just saying hypotheticallyā€¦ā€
ā€œDonā€™t be ridiculous, Thomas.ā€ Nia smirked. ā€œWhatā€™s the actual news, Percy?ā€
ā€œWellsworth is hosting a massive race rally across Sodor!ā€ Percy cried in excitement.
ā€œWow,ā€ Thomas thought. ā€œI was way off.ā€
ā€œWhoā€™s going to be racing?ā€ asked Nia.
ā€œTheyā€™re bringing in race cars from all over the globe,ā€ Percy explained. ā€œThereā€™ll be racers from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Franceā€¦but the big headliner is the racer theyā€™re bringing in from Australia!ā€
ā€œReally? Who is it?ā€ Nia asked.
ā€œHis nameā€¦is Ace!ā€ Percy announced.
ā€œYes!ā€ Thomas yelled.
ā€œNoā€¦ā€ Nia yelled.
Percy looked at Thomas and Nia in curiosity. ā€œYou two know him?ā€
ā€œYeah, we travelled the world with him!ā€ Thomas explained. ā€œHeck, heā€™s the one who convinced me to see the world to begin with.ā€
ā€œBut it was evident that me and him didnā€™t get along,ā€ Nia continued. ā€œhe manipulated Thomas into abandoning me in Arizona.ā€
ā€œOh.ā€
ā€œGive the guy another chance, Nia,ā€ Thomas convinced his friend. ā€œI talked it out with him when I last visited Australia, and I think heā€™s 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.
ā€œYeah!ā€ Ace cried. ā€œI forgot how nice these roads felt on my wheels!ā€
ā€œAce!ā€ Thomas called out.
ā€œThomas!ā€ said Ace. ā€œHow ya been, mate? Itā€™s been a while!ā€
ā€œI know, long time.ā€ Thomas reminisced.
Just then, Nia rolled up, immediately noticing Ace. ā€œHey, Ace. Uh, long time, eh?ā€
ā€œYeah,ā€ Ace responded. ā€œhey, about all that business in Arizona, I gotta ask, no hard feelings, right?ā€
ā€œNo worries, Ace,ā€ Nia responded. ā€œWeā€™re good.ā€
Well, not entirely. Nia was still distrusting of Ace, but still wanted to see if he really had redeemed himself.
ā€œAnyway, I gotta get over to Wellsworth,ā€ Ace said as he left. ā€œthose racers arenā€™t gonna beat themselves! Great seeinā€™ ya guys again!ā€
ā€œYou too, Ace!ā€ Thomas called out.
ā€œYeah, good seeing you!ā€ Nia yelled.
This left Thomas confused. ā€œi thought you were concerned about seeing Ace again.ā€
ā€œYeah, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt,ā€ Nia responded. ā€œI mean, itā€™s been three years, maybe he did learn from his mistake.ā€
ā€œTrust me,ā€ Thomas responded. ā€œonce heā€™s done here, youā€™ll 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 nightā€™s run.
ā€œHey, Nia,ā€ Percy asked, ā€œdid you have any thought on whether or not youā€™re attending the rally to cheer Ace on?ā€
ā€œWell, honestly,ā€ Nia responded. ā€œI think if he keeps this good behavior up, then maybe.ā€
Then, Gordon rolled in, looking a bit grumpier than usual.
ā€œOh, my,ā€ Nia gasped. ā€œwhatā€™s the matter, Gordon?ā€
ā€œItā€™s that Ace fellow, Nia,ā€ Gordon grumbled. ā€œhe passed me on the way to Kellsthorpe Road, and he said I should leave the express to a stronger engine. Like, whatā€™s that meant to mean?!ā€
Nia gasped in disgust. ā€œHe really said that?ā€
ā€œI heard it, clear as dayā€¦ā€ Gordon moaned.
Upset over this news, Nia groaned in anger. ā€œYou see, Percy? I shouldā€™ve known better than to actually trust that yellow demon!ā€
Percy gasped. ā€œNia, calm down. Maybe heā€™s just taking things out of context.ā€
ā€œWhat context is there to take it out of?ā€ Nia asked as she stormed away. ā€œHe has no right insulting Gordon like that!ā€
As Nia left, Percy noticed something peculiar about Gordonā€™s express train. ā€œUh, Gordon?ā€
ā€œWhat?ā€
ā€œDoes 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 wasnā€™t looking where she was going.
ā€œUh, Nia?ā€ Rebecca said as she rolled up beside Nia.
ā€œYeah?ā€
ā€œUh, you may want to look where youā€™re going.ā€
ā€œWhy?ā€
But before Nia could do anything else, she careened into an abandoned siding, crashing into the buffers and derailing.
ā€œUmā€¦ā€ Rebecca continued. ā€œā€¦thatā€™s why. You okay?ā€
ā€œYeah, Iā€™m fine,ā€ Nia called out, ā€œbut can you do me a favor and take the rest of this wood to Wellsworth?ā€
ā€œAlright.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.
ā€œWhoa, you alright there, fumbles?ā€ Ace quipped. ā€œLooks like youā€™re in quite the muddle there, eh?ā€
ā€œNot now, Aceā€¦ā€ Nia sighed.
ā€œHey, look, Iā€™d love to chat, but I gotta continue my time trials,ā€ said Ace. ā€œHang in there, Nia!ā€
As Ace drove away, Nia couldnā€™t help but feel offended.
ā€œWHAT?! Oh, sure,ā€ Nia yelled. ā€œjust like you to abandon an engine in need!ā€
Ace stopped dead in his tracks and started listening to what Nia was saying.
ā€œI mean, I could just rust here, be abandoned by all my friends,ā€ Nia continued, ā€œbut just as long as your time trial is finished! I wouldnā€™t 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.
ā€œEverything okay, Ace?ā€ asked Thomas. ā€œYou look a little down.ā€
ā€œIā€™m fine, justā€¦ā€ Ace explained. ā€œā€¦have you ever felt like you let someone down when you didnā€™t mean to?ā€
ā€œSometimes.ā€ Thomas responded. ā€œWhy?ā€
ā€œI think I messed up bad, mate.ā€ Ace continued. ā€œI feel like I was too focused on winning the race that I think I abandoned a friend.ā€
ā€œWellā€¦ā€ Thomas thought. ā€œā€¦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€
ā€œWho told you that?ā€
ā€œI just learned from natural experiences.ā€
Ace smiled. ā€œThanks, mate.ā€
ā€œALL RACERS TO THE STARTING LINE!ā€ the announcer cried. ā€œTHE 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.
ā€œWhere are you going?ā€ Thomas asked.
ā€œTo make amends.ā€ said Ace.
 
As the sun set on the island, Nia was still derailed, until she began lifting off of the ground.
ā€œWhat in theā€¦ā€ Nia asked before noticing Rocky hoisting her up.
ā€œDonā€™t worry now, Nia,ā€ said Rocky. ā€œweā€™ll have you back on the rails before long!ā€
ā€œBut, wait, whoā€¦ā€ Nia pondered, confused.
ā€œThomas was told to bring me here.ā€ Rocky explained.
ā€œBy who?ā€
ā€œMe.ā€ said a familiar voice. Nia looked around to see who it was. It was Ace! ā€œSurprise!ā€
ā€œAce?ā€ asked Nia, confused. ā€œBut why? I donā€™t understand. I thought you had a race!ā€
ā€œI left the circuit to help you,ā€ said Ace. ā€œit didnā€™t feel right just leaving you there.ā€
ā€œOh, so now you grow a conscience?ā€ Nia chuckled.
ā€œYeah, yeah.ā€ Ace rolled his eyes.
But Nia was confused about one more thing. ā€œWait, 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 didnā€™t mean to hurt Gordonā€™s feelings.
ā€œOhā€¦ā€ Nia gasped. ā€œSo you werenā€™t mocking Gordon, you were just making a joke?ā€
ā€œPretty much,ā€ replied Ace. ā€œI guess I couldā€™ve worded it a little better. So, whaddya say, Nia? No hard feelings?ā€
Nia smiled, having understood everything. ā€œYeah, no hard feelings. Samehe na Sahau.ā€
Ace paused for a moment. ā€œYeah, I donā€™t know what that means.ā€
ā€œForgive and forget, Ace.ā€ Thomas chuckled. ā€œNow, I believe you had a race to win?ā€
ā€œForget the race,ā€ said Ace, ā€œbefore I get home, Iā€™m gonna spend the day with you two!ā€
Thomas, Nia and Ace simultaneously chuckled, glad to all be friends again.

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