Holly Jolly Steelworks - ThomasNATION Fanstory
December 24, 2022
It was a week before Christmas, and while the engines of Sodor had all their jobs to do, Thomas and Percy had a special train to take all the way to the Mainland - to the Steelworks. As the two travelled across the Mainland, Percy couldnāt help but have his concerns. He had heard the stories of what happened to Thomas and James and didnāt want the same to happen again to him.
āThomas,ā he asked, āwhy are we even going to the Steelworks? Didnāt they try to kidnap you and James?ā
āThat was a long time ago, Percy.ā chuckled Thomas. āBesides, it was only because they needed extra help.ā
āBut kidnapping?!ā
āYou donāt need to worry, they have Lexi, Theo and Merlin now.ā
āI know that, but how do you know weāll make it out of there alive?ā
Thomas laughed as the two pulled into the Steelworks. āItās been five years, Percy, we have nothing to worry about!ā
āHello?ā a familiar voice called out from inside the Steelworks. āWhoās there?ā
āOh! Hi, guys!ā Thomas cried out. From the shadows emerged Thomasā oldā¦frenemies, I guess, Frankie and Hurricane. Percy gulped in fear.
āOh! Thomas!ā said Frankie. āAnd here I thought you didnāt want to see us again.ā
āYeah, especially all that business five years ago.ā laughed Hurricane. āAgain, weāre really sorry about that.ā
āAh, no hard feelings.ā Thomas smiled. āOh, and this is my best friend Percy.ā
āā¦hi.ā Percy whispered nervously.
āWell, hello, little tank engine!ā chuckled Frankie. āSo, what brings you two round here?ā
āWe need to drop off these extra parts.ā Thomas explained.
āOh, just leave those by the coal hopper,ā suggested Hurricane.
Thomas and Percy took the parts to the hopper and had time to fill up. Percy looked around. Everything looked intimidating and frightening.
āThomas, you really see nothing wrong with this place?ā Percy squirmed.
āā¦youāre right, Percy!ā Thomas agreed.
āReally?ā
āThereās no decorations!ā
Percy was gobsmacked. āWhat? No, thatās-ā
āItās only a week until Christmas, and they have nothing!ā Thomas interrupted as he left the hopper. āIām gonna go talk to them.ā
āThomas! I meant we should get out of here!ā Percy cried out.
āIn that case, weāll leave in a few minutes! I just need to sort this!ā
Thomas went up to Frankie, who was shunting with Theo. āFrankie? Why donāt you have any Christmas decorations?ā
āTo be honest, Thomas,ā Frankie explained, āit never really feels like Christmas around here. All the trees just fall into the molten slag, and the snow always melts.ā
āReally?ā
āWell, they donāt call this the hottest place in town for nothing.ā
āSo youāve never properly celebrated Christmas?ā
āNah. Whatās the point?ā
Thomas felt sympathetic, but Percy wasnāt paying attention, he just wanted to leave. āAlright, weāve made our delivery, letās go!ā
āPercy, calm down, weāre gonna be okay. Sorry, guys, but heās really nervous about this place, so we gotta go.ā And with that, the two began to leave.
āNo worries, Thomas,ā said Theo. āwe understand. Happy Christmas!ā
On their way back to Sodor, Percy was just glad to be out of there, while Thomas was still thinking about Frankie and Hurricane.
āThomas, please never bring me back there again,ā sighed Percy. āIāve never been so scared of a place in my life.ā
āHmm?ā Thomas asked. āSorry, I wasnāt listening, Iām still concerned about those guys. I mean, theyāve never had a proper Christmas. Weāve gotta help them.ā
āI couldnāt agree more!ā chirped Merlin, who had snuck up on the two.
āMerlin!ā Thomas laughed. āAm I glad to see you!ā
āHave you been listening to us this whole time?ā chuckled Percy.
āYes, I have,ā continued Merlin, āand I must say that I love your idea of bringing Christmas to the Steelworks! Me, Theo and Lexi celebrated the holidays all the time in our old hideaway. Iām practically an expert.ā
āYouāre an expert on Christmas parties?ā Thomas gasped. āYou can help us!ā
āWhat are you talking about?ā asked Percy.
āIām talking about throwing the Steelworks engines a spectacular Christmas party!ā
āA Christmas party?ā Percy thought. āThatāsā¦not a bad idea.ā
āReally?ā
āYeah, I mean, why not lighten their spirits with a little get-together? Besides, you said they were flooded with constant deliveries, right? Maybe what they need is a day off for a party.ā
āThatās what Iām saying!ā laughed Merlin.
āBesides, Percy knows what heās doing,ā Thomas added on, āhe brought a Christmas party to our friend Reg, heād be great at this!ā
āWell, I know thisāll be a spectacular shindig!ā Merlin chortled. āNow, Iād better get going. The chaps up at Bridlington are probably wondering where I am. Invisibility on!ā
And just like that, Merlin disappeared in a puff of smoke.
āAre you sure everyone at the sheds will be okay with this?ā asked Percy.
āIām sure most of them would be fine,ā thought Thomas, āitās James Iām worried about.ā
Thomas and Percy pitched their idea to the Steam Team that night, and everyone was on board, except for one.
āAre you mad?!ā cried James. āYou want me to help them throw a Christmas party? After all they did to me?ā
āItāll be just one time, James,ā Thomas protested.
āThomas is right, James,ā chimed in Nia. āeveryone deserves to enjoy the holidays.ā
āYou didnāt hear what happened to us in there?ā asked James.
āYes, yes, weāve all heard the storiesā¦ā moaned Gordon.
āCome on, James, just give it a go.ā Percy suggested.
āNo! Weāre not doing it!ā James protested. āThatās final. Iām done talking.ā
Thomas sighed in frustration. āWhy does he always have to be so fussy?ā
āI hate to agree with James here, Thomasā¦ā Emily started.
āHey!ā James interrupted.
āWell, you are being pretty unhelpful.ā Emily continued. āBut whoās going to look after all our jobs? Percyās got the mail, Rebeccaās got the express, and youāve got your branch line.ā
āIāve already talked to Sir Topham Hatt, he said he can leave Edward, Henry and Duck in charge of our jobs.ā
āHmm.ā Emily thought, before finally making her decision. āSorry, James. Looks like youāre outnumbered.ā
James groaned. āFine! But Iām gonna hate every second of it.ā
The next morning, Frankie woke up and prepared to start the dayās work.
āRise and shine, everyone!ā she chirped. āTime to get to work! Now, Lexi, I assume you were wanting to take that first load of steel up to Sussex.ā
āYes, yes, Frankie,ā Lexi mumbled, still half asleep. āIāll get onto it as soon as I figure out what all those lights are forā¦ā
The Steelworks engines glanced over at the lights and were absolutely blown away! The Steam Team had brought them a ton of decorations, presents and a magnificent tree!
āSurprise!ā cried Thomas.
āThomas?!ā gasped Hurricane. āWhatās going on? Whatās with all the decorations?ā
āWe figured since youāve never had a proper Christmas before,ā Percy replied, āweād bring Christmas to you!ā
āWeāve got all sorts of things for you!ā chirped Rebecca. āJust mind keeping them away from that yucky molten stuff youāve got.ā
āNow, you donāt mind us setting everything up, do ya?ā Thomas suggested. āJust to get everything prepared for the party.ā
āParty?ā Frankie gasped. āBut wait, what about our jobs?ā
āYou can put them off for just one day, no problem!ā said Gordon. āBut for now, letās enjoy the party!ā
āBut our deliveries!ā protested Frankie.
āOne day off canāt hurt.ā chuckled Nia.
Once the tree and the decorations were put up, the Steelworks Christmas party was in full swing. The engines were having a good time with the festivities, though something seemed off.
āThomas?ā asked Theo. āWhereās Frankie?ā
āSheās not at the dumping station?ā replied Thomas. This was really odd, so he decided to have a look around. Soon, he found her shunting in the yard.
āOh, hey, Thomas.ā said Frankie.
āFrankie, are you working?ā asked Thomas, confused.
āIām just sorting out some flatbeds to be taken to Bridlington on Tuesday. Iāll be done in a jiffy.ā
āFrankie, donāt worry about that, this is a party!ā Thomas laughed. āCome on, weāre just about to play a game.ā
Thomas and Frankie rolled up to the turntable inside the steelworks, where the game was about to begin. On the turntable was a little flatbed with some steel, topped off with a little bauble on one side.
āThe game is just a simple round of truth or dare!ā smiled Rebecca. āIf the side of the steel that has the bauble points at youā¦well, you know the rest.ā
The turntable span round and round, until it pointed at Nia.
āAlright, Nia,ā chuckled Percy, ātruth or dare?ā
āā¦umā¦dare!ā
āOkay, I dare you to lift yourself up with the magnet!ā
āEasy.ā Nia went under a magnet, which slowly lowered down and picked her up. āTa-da!ā
The Steam Team laughed at Niaās little stunt. The turntable span around again until it landed on Hurricane.
āOkay, Hurricane,ā asked Nia, ātruth or dare?ā
āTruth! 100% truth!ā
āI got one,ā smirked James, āout of me and Thomas, whoās your favorite?ā
āNot this againā¦ā groaned Thomas and Gordon.
āAw, donāt put me on the spot like that!ā laughed Hurricane. As he tried to think, Emily noticed something else missing.
āUh, Thomas?ā she asked. āTruth or dare?ā
āUmā¦truth.ā
āWhereād Frankie go now?ā
Frankie was back shunting those same flatbeds again. Thomas and Percy came out to see what was up.
āFrankie!ā Thomas sighed. āWe talked about this, why are you still shunting?ā
āBecause these flatbeds are due in Bridlington in three days.ā Frankie groaned. āAnd Iām miles off from getting it ready.ā
āPlease, Frankie, take a break!ā muttered Thomas. āYou can sort them out tomorrow, now can you please have some fun?ā
āNot when thereās work left to be done!ā argued Frankie. She raced off with the flatbeds, with Thomas and Percy following.
āFrankie! Please!ā pleaded Percy. āJust a little break!ā
Then there was trouble. One of the baubles fell off the wreaths and landed right in front of Thomas. Unfortunately, he didnāt see where he was going and swiftly derailed.
āThomas!ā cried Percy.
Then, there was even more trouble. Thomas crashed right into a truck full of molten slag, which tipped right over. The molten slag melted Thomasā buffer, Frankieās wheel, the flatbeds of steel, and even the Christmas tree, right to the ground. The other engines came out to see the commotion.
āWhat happened?ā gasped Rebecca.
Frankie was absolutely furious. āThomas, you imbecile! Why would you do that?!ā
āIt was an accident!ā
āLikely story!ā scoffed Frankie. āThereās still hundreds of jobs left to be done and all you could think about is playing silly party games!ā
āFrankie, Iām sorry,ā Thomas pleaded, āI was just trying to make sure everyone was having fun.ā
Nia thought for a second. āThomas, maybe shunting and sorting her deliveries is just her way of having fun.ā
āReally?ā
āYes,ā added Merlin. āshe absolutely loves it. Sorting out all the flatbeds, keeping everything orderly and tidy. Thatās the kind of thing that makes her happy.ā
āI had no idea.ā Thomas thought. āWow, do I feel like an idiot now. Frankie, Iām sorry for trying to force you to join the party.ā
āItās fine, Thomas,ā sighed Frankie.
Just then, a little diesel rolled into the Steelworks hauling fresh decorations and a new tree. āHereās those decorations you ordered, Merlin!ā
The other engines glanced at Merlin. āWhat? A Christmas party at the Steelworks? Accidents are bound to happen, itās important to have a backup plan.ā
Soon, the party was back in action, but with a little twist. While Merlin, Lexi and Hurricane were enjoying the games with Thomas, James Percy, Rebecca and Nia, the deliveries were still being sorted by Frankie, Theo, James, Gordon and Emily.
āYour turn, Nia!ā laughed Thomas, ātruth or dare?ā
āTruth.ā
āOkay, I got one,ā said Hurricane, āwhat do you miss most about your home?ā
āI mostly miss some of my friends. I still write them letters.ā
Just then, the other engines raced in. Frankie, in particular, was particularly excited. āGreat news, everyone! Weāve sorted all the deliveries for the day! We can join the party!ā
āReally?ā said Rebecca. āThatās great news! Come on, join our game.ā
As the turntable span around, Thomas looked at Frankie. āSo, what do you think? Was this a good Christmas party or what?ā
āIt was incredible.ā Frankie smiled. āWe should do this every year.ā
Thomas smiled warmly, happy to help his friends. After all, everyone deserves to be happy on Christmas.
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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