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Thomas and Skarloey's Grand World Tour: ThomasNATION Fanstory [Part 2]

April 17, 2021

 

The ship carrying Thomas and Skarloey took a couple of days getting from Shanghai to Rio de Janeiro. But soon enough, the two engines finally reached their destination. Thomas looked on in glee.
ā€œSkarloey! Wake up!ā€ he cried to Skarloey, who was fast asleep.
Slowly, Skarloey woke up. ā€œOh, are we here? Is this Brazil?ā€
ā€œYes!ā€ Thomas exclaimed. ā€œWelcome to Rio de Janeiro!ā€
As Thomas was lifted onto the rails, he was greeted by an old friend.
ā€œOla, Thomas!ā€ called out Gabriela. ā€œYou finally made it!ā€
ā€œWell, it was a long journey, and I had to bring a plus one,ā€ explained Thomas.
ā€œReally? Who?ā€ asked Gabriela.
The harborā€™s crane, Cassia, loaded Skarloey onto a flatbed. ā€œThank you, madam!ā€
ā€œMy pleasure, Skarloey!ā€ Cassia called out. ā€œWhat a polite engineā€¦ā€
ā€œOh, a narrow gauge engine!ā€ Gabriela exclaimed. We have a special little railway for you in the Amazon rainforest!ā€
ā€œOoh, a rainforest railway,ā€ Skarloey gasped. ā€œhow exotic! I only work in a railway up in the mountains, so this will be a nice change of scenery.ā€
Then, Raul pulled up next to Thomas. ā€œOla, Thomas! Whoā€™s your little friend there?ā€
ā€œThatā€™s Skarloey.ā€ Thomas explained to Raul. ā€œHeā€™s come to work with me for a while.ā€
ā€œWell, I must inform you that you were meant to be here last week,ā€ Raul said, chastising Thomas. ā€œThis is important work, meu amigo azul. We have no time for you to invite your little chum.ā€
ā€œRaul, thereā€™s a perfectly good explanation,ā€ Thomas tried to explain. ā€œMy ship got called off, and a crane lifted me up, and I nearly derailed in Germany, andā€¦ā€
ā€œOkay, okay, calm down!ā€ Raul said, frantically. ā€œIā€™ll get Fernando on it. But we have some eucalyptus wood that need to be taken up to Manaus. Can you do that?ā€
ā€œSure thing!ā€ Thomas exclaimed. ā€œMaybe on the way to the eucalyptus plant, I can drop Skarloey off at the narrow gauge railway. What do you say, Skarloey?ā€
ā€œOh, that sounds wonderful, Thomas.ā€ Skarloey responded. ā€œI wonder if the engines here are just like the ones at home.ā€
 
Soon, Thomas had dropped off Skarloey at the Amazon narrow gauge railway. As soon as Thomas took off to get to the eucalyptus wood, Skarloey set out to explore.  On his travels, he saw lovely and tall trees, beautiful sparkling rivers and the most exotic creatures an engine could see. Skarloey was so enthralled, he didnā€™t notice a small yellow tank engine pull up next to him.
ā€œIsnā€™t it just amazing?ā€ the engine asked.
ā€œWell, you donā€™t get imagery like this back on Sodor,ā€ Skarloey replied. ā€œthatā€™s for sure.ā€
The yellow engine chuckled. ā€œIā€™m Pedro, by the way.ā€
ā€œIā€™m Skarloey.ā€
Pedro snickered. ā€œSkarloey?ā€
ā€œYes. Thatā€™s Sudric for ā€˜lake by the woods.ā€
ā€œOoh,ā€ Pedro smirked. ā€œlook at you, Mr. Fancy!ā€
Skarloey chuckled at his new friend. ā€œNow, I reckon we should get back to work?ā€
ā€œSurely.ā€ said Pedro. ā€œTrust me, Skarloey, youā€™ll love it here.ā€
 
Soon, Thomas found himself puffing through the Amazon rainforest with his eucalyptus load.  He then noticed Skarloey, pulling a couple of flatbeds of engine parts. They were clanking away, making a fantastic rhythm.
ā€œI say, Thomas,ā€ Skarloey told his friend. ā€œIā€™ve never heard such a marvelous symphony.ā€
ā€œAh, it sounds to me like youā€™re performing a little batucada!ā€ said Thomas. ā€œMaybe you could lead the next Carnival show.ā€
ā€œHeh, imagine me.ā€ Skarloey pondered. ā€œLeading the biggest party in South America!ā€
Then, Skarloey noticed Marcia and Marcio in the distance, having a chat. He curiously pulled in closer to hear what they were saying.
ā€œSo, I finally got my old, rusty wheels replaced,ā€ Marcia told Marcio. ā€œArenā€™t they just splendid?ā€
ā€œSplendid wheels?ā€ Marcio laughed to Marcia. ā€œRodas do rolo compressor, more like!ā€
Skarloey chuckled, as the conversation reminded him of Sir Handel, who would often brag about his splendid wheels. After reminiscing for a little while, Skarloey continued with his work.
 
Soon enough, Skarloey found himself in a station in Rio de Janeiro. He noticed Thomas and Gustavo at the station, but Gustavo seemed a little bit down.
ā€œWhatā€™s the matter, Gustavo?ā€ Thomas asked. ā€œYou seem a little down.ā€
ā€œI know, amigo, but I have this one grumpy tourist who keeps complaining and complaining, non-stop!ā€ Gustavo vented. ā€œHe even had the gall to say I wasnā€™t capable of doing my job!ā€
Skarloey listened closely to Gustavoā€™s rant. He started to remember when Duncan had a similar conundrum with a grumpy passenger.
ā€œOh dear, Gustavo.ā€ said Thomas, sympathising with his large friend. ā€œMaybe you could find some more coaches, so he isnā€™t so cramped in there.ā€
ā€œI have an idea!ā€ Skarloey chimed in. ā€œI have a passenger like that back on my railway. He always finds something to complain about, so my advice is to just ignore him.ā€
ā€œHmmā€¦ā€ Gustavo thought. ā€œIā€™ll try.ā€
Soon, Gustavo disembarked, as the tourist continued groaning. Skarloey wanted to feel satisfied, but for some reason, he couldnā€™t.
 
That evening, Skarloey was headed to his shed where he encountered Gabriela and Raul talking.
ā€œIā€™m telling you, Raul.ā€ Gabriela complained, ā€œI really need a new funnel. One thatā€™s moreā€¦compact and special.ā€
ā€œWell, why not one of those Giesl ejectors?ā€ Raul suggested. ā€œThose things are especially unique.ā€
ā€œI guess, but what if one isnā€™t available?ā€
ā€œWhat, do you want us to attach a pipe to your smokebox?ā€ Raul laughed.
Skarloey soon remembered when Peter Sam went through the same problem before getting his special funnel. He then started to feel sad, alone, and above all, homesick.
 
That night, Thomas pulled into a shed next to Skarloeyā€™s. He was laughing away at the dayā€™s event.
ā€œWhoo! What a day!ā€ he chuckled to himself. ā€œI love working on the Brazilian railway!ā€
ā€œYeah, yeahā€¦ā€ Skarloey said, sadly.
Thomas noticed Skarloey looking rather down. ā€œSkarloey, are you okay?ā€
ā€œYes, Iā€™m all fine, Iā€™m justā€¦ā€ Skarloey paused. ā€œā€¦low on water.ā€
Thomas saw through Skarloeyā€™s fib. ā€œSkarloey, be honest with me. Whatā€™s really the matter?ā€
Skarloey sighed. There was no way of avoiding the truth, so he had to come out and say it. ā€œI want to go home.ā€
ā€œWhat?ā€
ā€œDonā€™t get me wrong, now, I like it here and all,ā€ Skarloey vented to Thomas, ā€œbut I miss working at the quarry, and the wharf, and all of my friends!ā€
ā€œI understand.ā€ Thomas sighed. ā€œIf you want, I can arrange for a ship to take us home tomorrow.ā€
Skarloey sighed. ā€œYou donā€™t need to do that, Thomas. I mean, you have work to do here.ā€
ā€œI know,ā€ Thomas said. ā€œbut if youā€™re unsatisfied here, then I guess I donā€™t mind calling it off.ā€
Skarloey smiled at Thomas. ā€œThank you, Thomas.ā€
ā€œMy pleasure, Skarloey.ā€
 
The next day on the Amazon railway, Skarloey was still feeling really homesick. He was travelling behind Pedro through the stormy weather, who eventually noticed his frown.
ā€œSkarloey, my friend,ā€ Pedro said. ā€œWhatā€™s the matter?ā€
ā€œNothing, really,ā€ Skarloey responded. ā€œIā€™m just a bit homesick.ā€
ā€œAh.ā€ Pedro thought. ā€œDonā€™t worry, amigo, these feelings are fully normal when youā€™re far from home!ā€
As Pedro and Skarloey spoke, neither of them noticed that they were coming up to an old wood bridge.
ā€œThank you for understanding, Pedro.ā€ Skarloey said with a smile.
But before Pedro could respondā€¦
CRACK! The bridge suddenly collapsed. The rushing waters swept away Skarloeyā€™s flatbeds as he slipped down. He nearly got sucked up by the waves, when suddenlyā€¦
ā€œHOLD ON, SKARLOEY!ā€ Pedro cried, as his driver connected a chain from his coupling hook to Skarloeyā€™s.
Pedro started to pull Skarloey away from the rapids. He pulled with all his might, to seemingly no avail. ā€œIā€™m slipping, Skarloey!ā€
ā€œKeep on heaving, Pedro! Use your sandbox!ā€ Skarloey cried out.
Pedro applied his sandbox, but he couldnā€™t quite grip onto the rails. Then, Skarloey noticed a giant, horrifying flash flood headed his way. ā€œHURRY, PEDRO! THEREā€™S A FLOOD COMING!ā€
Pedro pulled harder and harder, but eventually, he finally gripped onto the sand and pulled Skarloey to safety as the flash flood swept the remains of the bridge away. Thomas soon arrived at the scene of the flood.
ā€œSkarloey!ā€ Thomas cried out, puffing up to Skarloey. ā€œAre you okay?ā€
ā€œYes, Thomas. Iā€™m just glad to be safe and sound, thanks to Pedro.ā€ Skarloey said.
ā€œThatā€™s a relief,ā€ Thomas sighed. ā€œNow, come on. The ship back to Sodor leaves in an hour.ā€
 
A few days later, Thomas and Skarloey arrived back on Sodor. Cranky slowly lifted Skarloey onto a flatbed, as he was when he left.
ā€œThank you, Cranky!ā€ Skarloey cried out to the large crane.
ā€œThat certainly was an adventure, wasnā€™t it?ā€ asked Thomas.
ā€œIndeed it was, Thomas,ā€ Skarloey replied, ā€œbut as the saying goes, there is no place like home.ā€
ā€œSpeaking of,ā€ Thomas thought, ā€œwe should get back to the quarry!ā€
And off the two went, back to the Blue Mountain Quarry. Once they arrived, Skarloey noticed all of his narrow gauge friends gathered at the turntable.
ā€œThere he is!ā€ cried Sir Handel.
The narrow gauge engines all cheered and whooped for joy at Skarloeyā€™s return.
ā€œGuys, whatā€™s all this?ā€ Skarloey asked.
ā€œItā€™s a welcome home party, for you!ā€ said Rheneas. ā€œWe all missed you while you were travelling the globe, so this was the least we could do.ā€
ā€œReally?ā€
ā€œYeah!ā€ Peter Sam chimed in. ā€œIt was very last minute, however. We didnā€™t realise you two were coming home early.ā€
ā€œYeah, well, Skarloey got a little bit homesick,ā€ Thomas explained, ā€œso we decided to call it off.ā€
Duncan scoffed. ā€œOh, with all the time you were away, seeing all the sights of Brazil and China, I just assumed you didnā€™t want anything to do with us!ā€
ā€œPay no mind to him, Skarloey,ā€ Rusty chuckled. ā€œheā€™s just all whiny because he missed you so much.ā€
Duncan sighed in defeat. ā€œItā€™s true. I did.ā€
ā€œI missed you too, Duncan,ā€ Skarloey said with a smile. ā€œI missed all of you.ā€
ā€œWe missed you too, Skarloey.ā€ said Sir Handel.
And even though he got a chance to see the world, Skarloey was happy to be back home where he belonged.

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