Race Round the World! - ThomasNATION Fanstory [Part 1]
March 11, 2022
It was a bright summer’s day on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was going about his route as per usual as he pulled into Vicarstown. He stopped to drop off his passengers, when he noticed someone on the platform putting up a poster.
“Excuse me,” Thomas asked. “what’s that your putting up?”
“Oh, this?” the man responded. “This is a poster for the rally tryouts.”
“Tryouts? For what?”
“Engines of the World.”
“What? What's that?”
Gordon approached the station, laughing at Thomas. “Thomas, don’t tell me! You’re not actually considering signing up!”
“I dunno, I should get some more information on it first.” Thomas chuckled. "I don't even know what it is."
Just then, a familiar whistle blared through the station. Who was it? None other than the Flying Scotsman!
“Oh no…” Gordon sighed.
“Oh! Hi, Scott!” said Thomas. “Can I call you that?”
“By all means!” Flying Scotsman responded. “Oh, Gordon, I have the most exciting news! I’ve been called to participate in the Engines of the World rally!”
“And here we go…” Gordon groaned.
“Hey, I saw a poster for that over there,” Thomas asked, “and I have to ask - what exactly is Engines of the World?”
“Well, to make it short,” Flying Scotsman explained. “this rally pits engines from all over the globe against each other in six races across every continent in a competition to see who’s the world’s fastest engine.”
“Wow!”
“Let me guess, you want to sign up?” Gordon asked.
“Well, I could give it a go.” Thomas responded.
Gordon was beyond frustrated at this point. “You and your pipe dreams, Thomas. You can’t race among the fastest engines in the world! You’re not built for it!”
“Well…I could think of a solution.” Thomas suggested. “I’ll train endlessly if I have to!”
“I admire your optimism, Thomas,” Flying Scotsman said to the little engine. “but it’ll take a little more than just the average training to take these engines down.”
“Well, it can’t hurt to try.”
“Well, then again, there’s nowhere in the rulebooks that says a tank engine can’t race,” Flying Scotsman added. “so you could have a shot.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Now, I’m going to be at the tryouts on the Mainland tomorrow. I hope to see you there! Especially you, little brother!”
And with that, the Flying Scotsman left. Thomas was absolutely ecstatic! Gordon, not so much.
“You? Try out for the rally?” Gordon teased. “I’d like to see that.”
Thomas simply smirked. “Maybe you will…”
Early the next morning, Thomas, Percy, James and Nia were headed to the Mainland. While Thomas, Nia and Percy were excited for the tryouts, James wasn’t that enthusiastic.
“Tell me again why we had to get up at 4 in the morning, just so you can try out for a rally you won’t even get in?” James moaned.
“I’m just going to have a brief run on the course,” Thomas explained, “and if I don’t get in, we’ll pack it up and go home.”
“Shouldn’t we tell Sir Topham Hatt about this?”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
“Except this is a massive rally across the continents!” James groaned. “I think he should at least know one of us is trying out.”
“Excuse me,” Thomas asked. “what’s that your putting up?”
“Oh, this?” the man responded. “This is a poster for the rally tryouts.”
“Tryouts? For what?”
“Engines of the World.”
“What? What's that?”
Gordon approached the station, laughing at Thomas. “Thomas, don’t tell me! You’re not actually considering signing up!”
“I dunno, I should get some more information on it first.” Thomas chuckled. "I don't even know what it is."
Just then, a familiar whistle blared through the station. Who was it? None other than the Flying Scotsman!
“Oh no…” Gordon sighed.
“Oh! Hi, Scott!” said Thomas. “Can I call you that?”
“By all means!” Flying Scotsman responded. “Oh, Gordon, I have the most exciting news! I’ve been called to participate in the Engines of the World rally!”
“And here we go…” Gordon groaned.
“Hey, I saw a poster for that over there,” Thomas asked, “and I have to ask - what exactly is Engines of the World?”
“Well, to make it short,” Flying Scotsman explained. “this rally pits engines from all over the globe against each other in six races across every continent in a competition to see who’s the world’s fastest engine.”
“Wow!”
“Let me guess, you want to sign up?” Gordon asked.
“Well, I could give it a go.” Thomas responded.
Gordon was beyond frustrated at this point. “You and your pipe dreams, Thomas. You can’t race among the fastest engines in the world! You’re not built for it!”
“Well…I could think of a solution.” Thomas suggested. “I’ll train endlessly if I have to!”
“I admire your optimism, Thomas,” Flying Scotsman said to the little engine. “but it’ll take a little more than just the average training to take these engines down.”
“Well, it can’t hurt to try.”
“Well, then again, there’s nowhere in the rulebooks that says a tank engine can’t race,” Flying Scotsman added. “so you could have a shot.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Now, I’m going to be at the tryouts on the Mainland tomorrow. I hope to see you there! Especially you, little brother!”
And with that, the Flying Scotsman left. Thomas was absolutely ecstatic! Gordon, not so much.
“You? Try out for the rally?” Gordon teased. “I’d like to see that.”
Thomas simply smirked. “Maybe you will…”
Early the next morning, Thomas, Percy, James and Nia were headed to the Mainland. While Thomas, Nia and Percy were excited for the tryouts, James wasn’t that enthusiastic.
“Tell me again why we had to get up at 4 in the morning, just so you can try out for a rally you won’t even get in?” James moaned.
“I’m just going to have a brief run on the course,” Thomas explained, “and if I don’t get in, we’ll pack it up and go home.”
“Shouldn’t we tell Sir Topham Hatt about this?”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
“Except this is a massive rally across the continents!” James groaned. “I think he should at least know one of us is trying out.”
"We'll be okay, James," said Nia. "it's just a quick run-through."
Soon, the four engines arrived at the course. Thomas had a good look at the best engines the Mainland had to offer. Sleek, streamlined engines and lightning-fast electric engines filled the course. Thomas was now more excited than ever…if a little nervous. An announcer approached the three.
“Morning, lads!” he said. “You here to watch the tryouts?”
“Actually, we’re here to sign up our friend!” Percy announced, proudly as Thomas puffed forward. “This…is Thomas.”
“Wait, the blue one? But…he’s a tank engine.”
“I know, but I want to give it a shot regardless!” Thomas said proudly.
The announcer eventually obliged and signed Thomas up for tryouts. “Now, the rules are simple, if you manage to be among the top three, you’re in the rally.”
As the contenders made their way through the course, a familiar face spotted Thomas’ eye.
“Oh, you’ve got to be joking me!” Spencer chortled. “Don’t tell me you’re actually trying out!”
“Yes, I am, Spencer,” Thomas chuckled. “and I can’t wait to see the look on your face when I win this rally!”
“You honestly think you can win this rally? You're just a slow, silly, weak, little toy tank engine. Well…good luck getting in.”
Spencer chuffed off, leaving Thomas feeling a little embarrassed.
“Hey, don’t let that guy get to you,” a small electric engine said to Thomas. “I’m honestly just curious to see how this’ll go!”
“Thanks…uh…sorry, who are you?”
“Oh, right, I’m David.” the engine introduced himself.
“David, right.”
The racers competed on, and before long, the tally was down to Spencer, David and Connor. Last up, it was Thomas’ time to race.
“And last on the course, is a little blue tank engine all the way from Tidmouth, Sodor, please welcome, Thomas!” the announcer cried.
As Thomas entered the course, the bigger, faster engines laughed at him, but none louder than Spencer.
“Notice that Thomas is the only tank engine competing here today,” the announcer continued. “but will he be the last? Our judges say ‘probably’, but I, for one, am certainly intrigued.”
Thomas was ready to begin. He was extremely nervous, his wheels were even shaking. But he had to do this.
“Morning, lads!” he said. “You here to watch the tryouts?”
“Actually, we’re here to sign up our friend!” Percy announced, proudly as Thomas puffed forward. “This…is Thomas.”
“Wait, the blue one? But…he’s a tank engine.”
“I know, but I want to give it a shot regardless!” Thomas said proudly.
The announcer eventually obliged and signed Thomas up for tryouts. “Now, the rules are simple, if you manage to be among the top three, you’re in the rally.”
As the contenders made their way through the course, a familiar face spotted Thomas’ eye.
“Oh, you’ve got to be joking me!” Spencer chortled. “Don’t tell me you’re actually trying out!”
“Yes, I am, Spencer,” Thomas chuckled. “and I can’t wait to see the look on your face when I win this rally!”
“You honestly think you can win this rally? You're just a slow, silly, weak, little toy tank engine. Well…good luck getting in.”
Spencer chuffed off, leaving Thomas feeling a little embarrassed.
“Hey, don’t let that guy get to you,” a small electric engine said to Thomas. “I’m honestly just curious to see how this’ll go!”
“Thanks…uh…sorry, who are you?”
“Oh, right, I’m David.” the engine introduced himself.
“David, right.”
The racers competed on, and before long, the tally was down to Spencer, David and Connor. Last up, it was Thomas’ time to race.
“And last on the course, is a little blue tank engine all the way from Tidmouth, Sodor, please welcome, Thomas!” the announcer cried.
As Thomas entered the course, the bigger, faster engines laughed at him, but none louder than Spencer.
“Notice that Thomas is the only tank engine competing here today,” the announcer continued. “but will he be the last? Our judges say ‘probably’, but I, for one, am certainly intrigued.”
Thomas was ready to begin. He was extremely nervous, his wheels were even shaking. But he had to do this.
"You've got this, Thomas!" cheered Percy.
“And he’s off!” the announcer cried as Thomas began.
If you can believe it, Thomas did really well! He was a little slippery on the corners, but his speed, stealth and agility were unlike anything a tank engine had ever done before! As he crossed the finish line, the engines that once laughed and jeered at him were now murmuring curiously and even cheering a little…except Spencer, of course.
“So…how’d I do?” Thomas asked the announcer.
The announcer looked over his scoreboard. “Your final time is one minute and forty two seconds. Fourth place.”
“That’s good, right?” asked Nia.
“I’m afraid not.” the announcer said. “See, only the first three make it in. Sorry, Thomas. It was close, but ya didn’t make the cut.”
Thomas frowned, disappointed in himself. But deep down, he knew it was a silly dream to begin with. "Come on, guys. Let's go."
The next day, Thomas was still disappointed about not making it into the rally as he pulled Annie and Clarabel along his branch line.
“Go on, Thomas!” chirped Annie.
“Tell us, how did the tryouts go?” asked Clarabel.
“I didn’t make it in.” Thomas responded. “I wasn’t fast enough.”
“Oh, dear,” sighed Annie. “I’m so sorry, Thomas.”
“If you ask me,” Clarabel chimed in, “I don’t know what you were thinking. I mean, you aren’t nearly fast enough to take on the fastest engines in the world!”
Suddenly, the announcer from the rally rolled up in a handcar. “Excuse me! Uh, Thomas, was it?”
“...yeah?”
“I have a further development on the results.” the announcer said. “It turns out our second place champion, David, had been taking an illegal fuel. And intake of illegal fuel is cause for elimination.”
“But wait,” Thomas thought. “if he’s out, then that means…”
“Welcome to the rally!” the announcer smiled.
Thomas gasped as Annie and Clarabel whooped in joy. “Hooray! Huzzah! It’s a miracle!”
That night, at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas was telling everyone the good news.
“I don’t believe it…” Gordon gasped in astonishment.
“This is incredible!” cried Rebecca. “Just imagine, showing everyone on the island…wait, no, everyone in the world that you’re the fastest engine!”
“There must’ve been some sort of mistake!” James cried. “I understand that Thomas is a fast engine…but fast enough for the Engines of the World rally? I just don’t buy it!”
“You’re right, James,” Gordon said, snapping out of his shock. “he’ll never be ready.”
“Not without the proper training!” Percy said as he left the shed. “Come on, Thomas. We only have two days to train, and we’re not wasting a second.”
For the next two days, Thomas and Percy have been training non-stop. The plan was simple: Percy would shunt a truck down a long stretch of track as hard as he could while Thomas raced against it. Sounds easy, right? Well, not exactly.
If you can believe it, Thomas did really well! He was a little slippery on the corners, but his speed, stealth and agility were unlike anything a tank engine had ever done before! As he crossed the finish line, the engines that once laughed and jeered at him were now murmuring curiously and even cheering a little…except Spencer, of course.
“So…how’d I do?” Thomas asked the announcer.
The announcer looked over his scoreboard. “Your final time is one minute and forty two seconds. Fourth place.”
“That’s good, right?” asked Nia.
“I’m afraid not.” the announcer said. “See, only the first three make it in. Sorry, Thomas. It was close, but ya didn’t make the cut.”
Thomas frowned, disappointed in himself. But deep down, he knew it was a silly dream to begin with. "Come on, guys. Let's go."
The next day, Thomas was still disappointed about not making it into the rally as he pulled Annie and Clarabel along his branch line.
“Go on, Thomas!” chirped Annie.
“Tell us, how did the tryouts go?” asked Clarabel.
“I didn’t make it in.” Thomas responded. “I wasn’t fast enough.”
“Oh, dear,” sighed Annie. “I’m so sorry, Thomas.”
“If you ask me,” Clarabel chimed in, “I don’t know what you were thinking. I mean, you aren’t nearly fast enough to take on the fastest engines in the world!”
Suddenly, the announcer from the rally rolled up in a handcar. “Excuse me! Uh, Thomas, was it?”
“...yeah?”
“I have a further development on the results.” the announcer said. “It turns out our second place champion, David, had been taking an illegal fuel. And intake of illegal fuel is cause for elimination.”
“But wait,” Thomas thought. “if he’s out, then that means…”
“Welcome to the rally!” the announcer smiled.
Thomas gasped as Annie and Clarabel whooped in joy. “Hooray! Huzzah! It’s a miracle!”
That night, at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas was telling everyone the good news.
“I don’t believe it…” Gordon gasped in astonishment.
“This is incredible!” cried Rebecca. “Just imagine, showing everyone on the island…wait, no, everyone in the world that you’re the fastest engine!”
“There must’ve been some sort of mistake!” James cried. “I understand that Thomas is a fast engine…but fast enough for the Engines of the World rally? I just don’t buy it!”
“You’re right, James,” Gordon said, snapping out of his shock. “he’ll never be ready.”
“Not without the proper training!” Percy said as he left the shed. “Come on, Thomas. We only have two days to train, and we’re not wasting a second.”
For the next two days, Thomas and Percy have been training non-stop. The plan was simple: Percy would shunt a truck down a long stretch of track as hard as he could while Thomas raced against it. Sounds easy, right? Well, not exactly.
"The goal is to look for a window in between tracks," Percy suggested. "one that allows you to overtake the truck."
As hard as he tried, he kept just barely losing. As a result, the two turned to other methods of enhancing speed, one of which started at the Steamworks.
“We have two suggestions to enhance your speed,” Victor suggested, “we either give you a complete streamlined overhaul, or we give you some of Henry’s old special coal.”
“What’s the special coal gonna do?” asked Thomas.
“This coal is much lighter than your usual coal,” explained Kevin, “making you a lot more aerodynamic, ergo allowing for more speed!”
“Oh, good point, Kevin!” said Percy. “What do you think, Thomas?”
“I think I’ll take the special coal for now,” said Thomas, “I’ll save the streamlining as a last resort.”
Soon, Thomas was filled with the special coal, and Kevin was right! Thomas was much faster now, but still not enough to beat the truck. But Thomas never gave up. Coal clump after coal clump, adjustment after adjustment, Thomas kept pushing and pushing until at long last, he finally beat the truck. “YES!”
As Thomas rushed around in joy, Percy looked on in pride. “He’s ready.”
That night, Thomas had arrived at the starting point of the first race. The site was absolutely massive, with colorful tents and humongous bleachers. It was something that Thomas had never seen before.
“Ah! Thomas! Over here!” called Flying Scotsman, who was talking to two other engines.
“Scott! Hi!” Thomas said as he approached the three engines. “Who are these guys?”
“Thomas, this is Ernesto, the Mexican candidate…”
“Hola!” said Ernesto.
“...and that’s Andwele from Tanzania.”
“Ninafurahi kukutana nawe.” said Andwele.
“Hello. I’m Thomas!”
“Eh? This is the tank engine that’s racing alongside us?” said another racer, Huang of China.
“Yeah, Huang.” Ernesto chuckled. “…hey, I just realized! You’re that engine who travelled all the way around the world, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, I am, Ernesto!” Thomas laughed.
Just then, a smug shadow crept towards the racers. “Pah! He wasn’t racing across the world, however…was he?” scoffed Spencer.
“Leave him alone, Spencer…” groaned Flying Scotsman. “at least give him a chance.”
“Si, Spencer,” Ernesto added in. “we’ve yet to see him in action.”
“Well, I have.” Spencer chuckled as he left.
“ATTENTION ALL RACERS,” the announcer cried over the PA system. “PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR SHEDS IMMEDIATELY. OUR FIRST RACE FROM LONDON TO PARIS COMMENCES AT 10:00 SHARP.”
As the other engines left for their shed, Ernesto noticed that Thomas was looking demotivated from what Spencer had said.
“No le hagas caso, amigo.” he said. “AĆŗn no conoce todo su potencial.”
“Eh? Sorry, my Spanish isn’t all that good.”
“Right, I was saying Spencer has yet to see your full potential.”
“Oh, right. Thanks, Ernesto.”
And with that, the two left for their sheds, anticipating the following race.
“WELCOME, FANS OF SPEED! WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, TO THE 7TH ANNUAL ENGINES OF THE WORLD RALLY!” cried the announcer as the racers made their way to the starting line. “What say we take a look at some of these contenders?
First we have the lean, mean, racing machine, give it up for Leonid of Russia!
“We have two suggestions to enhance your speed,” Victor suggested, “we either give you a complete streamlined overhaul, or we give you some of Henry’s old special coal.”
“What’s the special coal gonna do?” asked Thomas.
“This coal is much lighter than your usual coal,” explained Kevin, “making you a lot more aerodynamic, ergo allowing for more speed!”
“Oh, good point, Kevin!” said Percy. “What do you think, Thomas?”
“I think I’ll take the special coal for now,” said Thomas, “I’ll save the streamlining as a last resort.”
Soon, Thomas was filled with the special coal, and Kevin was right! Thomas was much faster now, but still not enough to beat the truck. But Thomas never gave up. Coal clump after coal clump, adjustment after adjustment, Thomas kept pushing and pushing until at long last, he finally beat the truck. “YES!”
As Thomas rushed around in joy, Percy looked on in pride. “He’s ready.”
That night, Thomas had arrived at the starting point of the first race. The site was absolutely massive, with colorful tents and humongous bleachers. It was something that Thomas had never seen before.
“Ah! Thomas! Over here!” called Flying Scotsman, who was talking to two other engines.
“Scott! Hi!” Thomas said as he approached the three engines. “Who are these guys?”
“Thomas, this is Ernesto, the Mexican candidate…”
“Hola!” said Ernesto.
“...and that’s Andwele from Tanzania.”
“Ninafurahi kukutana nawe.” said Andwele.
“Hello. I’m Thomas!”
“Eh? This is the tank engine that’s racing alongside us?” said another racer, Huang of China.
“Yeah, Huang.” Ernesto chuckled. “…hey, I just realized! You’re that engine who travelled all the way around the world, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, I am, Ernesto!” Thomas laughed.
Just then, a smug shadow crept towards the racers. “Pah! He wasn’t racing across the world, however…was he?” scoffed Spencer.
“Leave him alone, Spencer…” groaned Flying Scotsman. “at least give him a chance.”
“Si, Spencer,” Ernesto added in. “we’ve yet to see him in action.”
“Well, I have.” Spencer chuckled as he left.
“ATTENTION ALL RACERS,” the announcer cried over the PA system. “PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR SHEDS IMMEDIATELY. OUR FIRST RACE FROM LONDON TO PARIS COMMENCES AT 10:00 SHARP.”
As the other engines left for their shed, Ernesto noticed that Thomas was looking demotivated from what Spencer had said.
“No le hagas caso, amigo.” he said. “AĆŗn no conoce todo su potencial.”
“Eh? Sorry, my Spanish isn’t all that good.”
“Right, I was saying Spencer has yet to see your full potential.”
“Oh, right. Thanks, Ernesto.”
And with that, the two left for their sheds, anticipating the following race.
“WELCOME, FANS OF SPEED! WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, TO THE 7TH ANNUAL ENGINES OF THE WORLD RALLY!” cried the announcer as the racers made their way to the starting line. “What say we take a look at some of these contenders?
First we have the lean, mean, racing machine, give it up for Leonid of Russia!
She’s the two-time champion who’s as sleek as she is speedy, let’s hear it for Abigail of America!
A newcomer to our racing field, but still willing to break the records, it’s Spencer of England!And coming in along side him comes the red-hot inferno himself, let's hear it for Andwele of Tanzania!
Another newcomer on our track today, give it up for Binita of India!
As the contenders reached the starting line, Thomas was pepping himself up.
“Alright, Thomas, head in the game, head in the game…” he whispered to himself. Before long, he was flared up and ready to race.
“Hey, Thomas?” said Spencer.
“Yeah?”
“No pressure, eh? It’s only a couple million people watching you fail around the world.”
Thomas felt all his confidence fly out of his funnel, leaving behind nothing but fear.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our track leads through the English Channel tunnel, past beautiful Versailles and finishing just by the Eiffel Tower.” called the announcer. “And it appears the race is about to begin…”
The whistle blew and the race was on! Throughout the race, Thomas took several twists and turns to overtake a bunch of racers before heading through the tunnel. Once in France, Thomas encountered a massive issue: it was raining. As a result, Thomas kept slipping on the corners, allowing the other racers to overtake him. He tried to catch up, only managing to overtake Leonid and Huang. He tried to catch up to first place, but before he could even try…
The fiery fiesta on wheels, here comes Ernesto of Mexico!
And finally, we have a first here at the Engines of the World rally, we have a tank engine racing among our all-stars. Let’s give a warm welcome to Thomas of Sodor!”As the contenders reached the starting line, Thomas was pepping himself up.
“Alright, Thomas, head in the game, head in the game…” he whispered to himself. Before long, he was flared up and ready to race.
“Hey, Thomas?” said Spencer.
“Yeah?”
“No pressure, eh? It’s only a couple million people watching you fail around the world.”
Thomas felt all his confidence fly out of his funnel, leaving behind nothing but fear.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our track leads through the English Channel tunnel, past beautiful Versailles and finishing just by the Eiffel Tower.” called the announcer. “And it appears the race is about to begin…”
The whistle blew and the race was on! Throughout the race, Thomas took several twists and turns to overtake a bunch of racers before heading through the tunnel. Once in France, Thomas encountered a massive issue: it was raining. As a result, Thomas kept slipping on the corners, allowing the other racers to overtake him. He tried to catch up, only managing to overtake Leonid and Huang. He tried to catch up to first place, but before he could even try…
“And the winner is Spencer of England!” the announcer cried as Spencer slid past the finish line. “In second and third place, we have Ren of Japan and Etienne of France!”
As Thomas finally crossed the finish line, he noticed that he only reached 14th place. Thomas was out of breath and couldn't help but feel a bit let down. “Well...at least I've got the other races...right?”
As Thomas finally crossed the finish line, he noticed that he only reached 14th place. Thomas was out of breath and couldn't help but feel a bit let down. “Well...at least I've got the other races...right?”
To be continued...
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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