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The Shareworks - ThomasNATION Fanstory

September 17, 2022

 

It was a tragic day on Sodor. That morning, a fire had broken out at the Dieselworks. Thankfully, no one was hurt and the fire was put out safely, but the Dieselworks were in absolute shambles. As the diesels watched, Den and Dart didn't know what to do.
"So what caused this fire anyway?" asked Dart.
"We don't know for sure," responded Flynn. "but with all the damages to the building, it'll take at least a month to repair."
"A month?!" cried Den. "That can't be right!"
    "What he means is," added Dart, "we can't wait a month. Diesels need repairin' now."
"Sorry to say it, fellas," sighed Flynn, "but all your equipment was destroyed in the fire. Even if you wanted to, you couldn't fix those guys anyhow."
As Flynn left,   Den and Dart were out of ideas. They weren't sure on how to get everyone fixed without their equipment. "Well, now what do we do?" Den asked.
"I don't know, mate," Dart sighed. "I think we need to find someplace else to do our work."
"Somewhere else?" Paxton asked. "Where would we even go?"
"Isn't that the question of the day?" Den remarked.
    "What he means is, we don't know where we can go." Dart added on.
Then, Diesel had an idea. "Wait a minute. What about the Steamworks?"
"The Steamworks?" asked Paxton. "I thought we were banned from there after we tried to take over the place."
"I'm sure Victor won't mind," Dart thought. "after all, I know him, I think he'll understand."

"I don't understand." Victor gasped in shock as Den and Dart pitched him their idea. "Why do you want to move operations here?"
"Believe me, Victor," started Dart, "in any other situation we wouldn't even be asking. But the Dieselworks burned down and we've got no place to repair the diesels!"
"I'm sorry, guys, but I'm already swamped as is! Itā€™s not just the diesels that need repairing, yā€™know.ā€
ā€œPlease, Victor?ā€ Den pleaded. ā€œItā€™s just for one month.ā€
ā€œA month?ā€ Victor gasped. ā€œThatā€™s very serious, but I donā€™t know where to move my business. Besides, Iā€™m not sure I can trust you two in here after what happened a few years back. Iā€™m sorry, boys, but my answer is no.ā€
ā€œThen how about this?ā€ Dart suggested. ā€œWe share the Steamworks.ā€
ā€œShare the Steamworks?ā€ Victor thought. ā€œIā€™m listening.ā€
ā€œWe take one half, you take the other!ā€ Den suggested.
       ā€œWeā€™ll even let you pick what side you want.ā€ added on Dart.
ā€œHmmā€¦ā€ Victor pondered. ā€œLet me consult with Kevin.ā€
Victor shared the idea with Kevin, and he was on board with the idea.
ā€œI donā€™t know, boss,ā€ thought Kevin, ā€œI mean, if theyā€™ve got nowhere to goā€¦ā€
ā€œTrust me, Kevin, I want to help them,ā€ Victor sighed, ā€œbut every square inch of this place is important for repairing the engines.ā€
ā€œWell, what if you take turns in each side?ā€
ā€œHmm. You could be onto something!ā€ Victor smiled as he approached Den and Dart again. ā€œWeā€™re in, but we have just one request.ā€
ā€œName it.ā€ said Dart.
ā€œWe have to take turns on either side. I was thinking an hour on each side so we all get ample time to fix our engines.ā€
Den and Dart thought for a moment, before coming to a conclusion.
ā€œAlright.ā€ ā€œFair enough.ā€
ā€œThen itā€™s settled!ā€ Victor exclaimed warmly. ā€œShall we get started tomorrow?ā€
Den and Dart smiled. They were finally back on track!

The next morning, Den, Dart and Victor were already up and ready to repair the engines. Their first customer was Edward.
ā€œEdward, my friend! Welcome, welcome!ā€ Victor smiled. ā€œWhatā€™ll it be today?ā€
ā€œIā€™m just here for a checkup today, Victor,ā€ Edward chuckled before seeing Den and Dart on another side of the Steamworks. ā€œWhatā€™s Den and Dart doing here?ā€
ā€œThe Dieselworks burned down.ā€ Victor replied. As he explained, Rusty trundled into the Steamworks.
ā€œHello, Rusty!ā€ Den chirped. ā€œWhatā€™s up today?ā€
ā€œI think thereā€™s something up with my horn.ā€ said Rusty.
ā€œNo worries, mate!ā€ Dart chuckled. ā€œWeā€™ll have you shipshape and seaworthy before you can say-ā€œ
Dart was interrupted by the horn of another diesel. This time, it was Sidney.
ā€œWhatā€™s up, Sidney?ā€ asked Den.
ā€œUhā€¦augh, what was it?ā€ Sidney struggled to remember what was wrong with him. 
Dart couldnā€™t help but notice a bunch of scrapes on his side. ā€œCould it be a new paint job perhaps?ā€
ā€œUhā€¦was it?ā€ Sidney thought some more. ā€œOh! Yes! Thatā€™s it!ā€
ā€œNo problem. Just follow me to the repainting booth, which isā€¦ā€ Den started before noticing that the booth is ā€œā€¦on Victorā€™s side.ā€
ā€œSorry, Sidney. What he means is youā€™ll have to wait another 20 minutes.ā€ Dart explained.
ā€œOh. Alright then.ā€ Sidney sighed as Toby rolled in.
ā€œYou alright, Toby?ā€ asked Victor.
ā€œYeah. Iā€™m just a little worried some of my planks are starting to rot.ā€ Toby explained.
Den chuckled to himself. ā€œHey, Dart. When no original plank remains, is he still Toby? Oh, and what about if the removed planks are restored and reassembled free of the rot? Is he still Toby then?ā€
Dart laughed. ā€œNeither are the real Toby. Both are the real Toby.ā€
Den and Dart tried stifling their laughter at this joke as Diesel rolled in. ā€œAre you two making that Ship of Theseus comparison to Toby again?ā€
ā€œYeah, itā€™s a right laugh.ā€ Den snickered.
ā€œWhatā€™s the matter, Diesel?ā€ Dart asked. 
ā€œMy wheelā€™s driving me crazy, it keeps squeaking.ā€ Diesel groaned. ā€Driver already tried oil. Nothing. Must be a problem with my undercarriage.ā€
ā€œWeā€™d love to help, but the hoist is on Victorā€™s end.ā€ said Den. ā€œYouā€™ll have to wait a few minutes.ā€
Diesel groaned, leaving Dart to think. ā€œHey, Den? Is the Steamworks getting a little crowded to you?ā€
ā€œWhat? No! Surely not!ā€ Den smirked. ā€œItā€™s just a few extra engines. Victor will be fine!ā€

It wasnā€™t just a few extra engines that afternoon. Soon, the Steamworks was flooded with engines! It got so bad that the lines and transfer tables were all blocked.
ā€œThis is ridiculous!ā€ Thomas groaned. ā€œIf I donā€™t get a new funnel, Iā€™m gonna pop!ā€
ā€œNew funnel?ā€ grumbled ā€˜Arry.
ā€œWhat about our valves?ā€ groaned Bert.
ā€œYou and those valves!ā€ moaned Stanley.
Victor, Den and Dart saw the rumpus outside the Steamworks.
ā€œCalderas burbujeantes!ā€ Victor cried. ā€œLook at this mess!ā€
ā€œHow do we calm them down?!ā€ yelled Den, over the clamoring.
ā€œShall we?ā€ suggested Dart. ā€œOn three. One. Two. Three!ā€ Den and Dart blew their horns loudly as Victor whistled, effectively shutting everyone up.
ā€œAlright, alright!ā€ Victor cried. ā€œNow, can everyone tell me what the problem is?ā€
ā€œMy firebox isnā€™t igniting!ā€ whimpered Peter Sam.
ā€œMy cylinder tankā€™s punctured.ā€ Nia sighed.
ā€œMy undercarriage is leaking oil!ā€ cried Mavis.
ā€œOkay! Weā€™ll get to everyone eventually!ā€ Victor shouted over the crowd. ā€œBut weā€™ll need to start by categorising everything. First, who needs something replaced?ā€
Thomas, Henry and James all whistled. ā€œGreat. The three of you, come with me.ā€
ā€œWhat?!ā€ cried ā€˜Arry.
ā€œWe were here first!ā€ moaned Bert. ā€œWhy is that little blue machine on his tiny candy wheels goinā€™ first?!ā€
ā€œAnd, uh, who had checkups with us?ā€ Den asked the crowd, to which only Mavis responded. ā€œGreat.ā€

The problems in the Steamworks were only just beginning. The funnel supply was on Den and Dartā€™s side of the Steamworks, so Thomas had to wait for them to switch sides. But then, Kevin had an idea.
ā€œHang on, boss.ā€ Kevin thought. ā€œThe switching rule only applies to you, Den and Dart. What about me?ā€
ā€œYes!ā€ Victor grinned. ā€œYou could get supplies to and from each side!ā€
Kevin quickly went away to get a new funnel for Thomas. And then there was trouble. 
Upon getting a funnel, one of Kevinā€™s cables came loose, leading to him dropping the funnel. ā€œNo!ā€
But the problems were only starting from there. Den ran over the funnel, leading to him derailing into two barrels. One of the barrels rolled over to the slightly raised hoist, spilling all over the tracks, while the other spilled all over James. The tracks became so slippery that Victor slid right into the hoist and knocked Mavis onto the ground. ā€œMavis! Are you okay?ā€
ā€œI think my undercarriage just fell out!ā€ Mavis winced.
Victor looked all around at the damages. He couldnā€™t believe what happened. ā€œMy beautiful Steamworks! Weā€™ve ruined everything!ā€
ā€œNo, Victor. This wasnā€™t your fault.ā€ Den sighed. ā€œItā€™s ours.ā€
ā€œWhat did I do?ā€ asked Dart.
ā€œNo, it was all our faults.ā€ said Victor. ā€œWe were so concerned with sticking to our own sides that everything became so cluttered and messy.ā€
ā€œSo what do we do now?ā€ asked Dart.
ā€œOnly thing we can do.ā€ suggested Den. ā€œWe need to learn to work as a team and share our spaces.ā€
ā€œHow do you know thatā€™ll work?ā€ asked Dart.
ā€œI donā€™t,ā€ sighed Den. ā€œbut it canā€™t be any worse than whatā€™s just happened.ā€

Soon, the three engines were back at work fixing the engines, working as a unit to get the job done. And yā€™know what? It was actually paying off! Soon enough, everyone that was blocking the lines was fixed up to the point where two weeks later, they didnā€™t have anyone to fix.
ā€œStill no one, boss?ā€ asked Kevin.
  ā€œI donā€™t think anyoneā€™s even broken down.ā€ Den said.
ā€œWhat he means is,ā€ Dart started, ā€œweā€™ve repaired everyone on Sodor.ā€
ā€œDonā€™t be so sure,ā€ chuckled Victor, ā€œhere comes someone now.ā€
Den and Dart quickly noticed the engine coming into the Steamworks. It was Flynn!
ā€œDen, Dart, great news!ā€ Flynn smiled, ā€œThe Dieselworks is all fixed up.ā€
ā€œAlready?ā€ asked Den.
ā€œWhat he means is, itā€™s only been two weeks.ā€ Dart thought. ā€œI thought you said it would take a month.ā€
ā€œThe team were ahead of schedule.ā€ Flynn explained.
ā€œI guess this means we wonā€™t be working together again.ā€ Victor said.
ā€œYeah,ā€ replied Den, ā€œbut that doesnā€™t mean we canā€™t still visit each other.ā€
ā€œAnd besides,ā€ Dart added, ā€œthis last two weeks were pretty fun!ā€
Victor chuckled as Den and Dart left, ready to return to their work.

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