Homesick for the Holidays - ThomasNATION Fanstory
December 25, 2023
Normally, through most of the year on Sodor, Nia is always a happy, curious and helpful engine. She would keep going around the island, telling fun jokes and lending a wheel wherever she can. But every December, things tend to change. She would still be helpful, clearing snow and delivering presents, but there would be several instances where she would go to the docks and just...sit there. No one knew why, mostly because she didn't ever talk about it, and it kept baffling her friends, until a week before Christmas.
"She's doing it again." Thomas whispered to Percy.
"Who's doing what?" asked Percy.
"Nia." replied Thomas. "She's sitting at the dock again."
Percy looked over and saw. He noticed something a bit different. "Y'know, I never noticed this before, but she looks a bit sad."
"She's always been sad, Percy." Thomas said. "I don't know why. Maybe we should go over and ask her?"
"She's been doing this for four years," Percy thought, "and we never thought to ask her what's wrong? Are we bad friends?"
"We might be," Thomas sighed. "Come on."
Thomas and Percy chugged over to Nia. She was looking out to the sea. Upon seeing this, Percy was starting to piece it together.
"Hey, Nia," said Thomas, "you doing okay?"
Nia quickly snapped out of her state. "Oh! Thomas! Uh, sorry, I was just...um..."
"Looking out at the sea?" asked Percy.
"Yeah, I'm just reminiscing about that time I sailed all the way from San Fransisco to China. It was a good day, y'know?"
"Oh, that's it?" asked Thomas.
"Yeah."
"Well, that's good, I'm glad nothing's wrong."
"Hold on," Percy interrupted, "are you sure that's it? If you're just here to look back on that, why are you so sad?"
Nia started to look a little bit sadder. "I'm not sure I want to say."
"Come on, Nia," said Percy, "we're your friends. We'll understand."
Nia sighed. There was no way out of it. "Okay, that's not it. It's just...well, this is when me and my old friends would attend the Christmas markets in Dar es Salaam. All the lights, and music, and the most amazing Christmas fair youād ever see."
Thomas realised what was up. "Oh."
"Yeah, it's been so long since I've seen them, and celebrated the holidays with them.
"I'm so sorry, Nia." Thomas said, sympathising with his friend. "I never considered that."
Nia tried brushing this off with a smile. āDonāt be, itās been five years, Iām used to it. Plus, I have new friends over here, so it doesnāt matter.ā
āOkay,ā Percy said as he and Thomas disembarked. āyou sure youāre okay?ā
āYeah. Iām fine. Honest.ā
As Thomas and Percy left, Nia claiming she was fine stuck in their minds, because they couldnāt shake the feeling that she wasnāt.
Thomas and Percy thought on how to help Nia all throughout the day and all throughout the night. By the time the sun rose the next morning, as the two sat at Knapford, they were stumped.
āShe said she doesnāt matter,ā thought Percy, āso maybe we should keep out of this?ā
āPercy, people only say it doesnāt matter when they want someone to get off their backs.ā explained Thomas. āWe canāt let her be alone for Christmas.ā
āBut sheās not alone.ā protested Percy. āAnd what do you want us to do? Weāre only two little engines. We canāt just up and bring her to the Christmas fair.ā
Thomas thought about that last statement. All of a sudden, an idea flew into his funnel. āThen we bring the Christmas fair to her!ā
āBring it to her?ā thought Percy. āYou may actually be onto something.ā
āExactly!ā Thomas proposed. āAfricaās not that long a boat trip. We can get Niaās old friends and bring them here for the holidays.ā
āThat sounds a bit complicated.ā
āI know! I love it too! Uh, you can get someone to cover the mail train, right?ā
Percy was stunned by what Thomas said. āWhat do you mean?ā
āYouāre coming with me.ā Thomas explained.
āā¦pardon?ā
Just then, the stationmasterās whistle blew on Thomasā platform. āOh, thatās the whistle, I gotta go. Weāll discuss this later, yeah?ā
As Thomas left, Percy had a million questions. āNo! Wait! Letās discuss this now!ā He swiftly gave chase to Thomas through his branchline.
āWhatās wrong, buddy?ā asked Thomas. Clearly, he was shocked Percy was chasing him.
āWhat do you mean Iām coming with you?ā asked Percy.
āYou didnāt think I could navigate Africa by myself, did you?ā
āBut youāve been to Australia, and China,ā Percy panicked, āthose are massive countries.ā
āAfricaās not a country, Percy,ā sighed Thomas, āitās an entire continent. I wouldāve gotten totally lost there if it werenāt for Nia. I practically owe her one. And as much as I hate to admit it, I canāt do this alone.ā
Percy thought about this for a second before eventually, he conceded. āSo whenās the next ship to Africa?ā
āLater, at 2:15.ā
āThat doesnāt sound too bad.ā
āAt midnight. That way, Nia doesnāt catch on to what weāre doing.ā
āAh. Got it. But what if she asks where we are?ā
āGood point. Iāll talk to Sir Topham Hatt about thatā¦and all of this later. It may take a lot of convincing, but I think I can get him on our side.ā
And with that, the two kept talking about their mission, their plan finally being in motion.
Against all odds, they managed to get Sir Topham Hattās blessing and they were off to Africa! It was a long trip - it took them a couple nights, even - meaning time was running out for the duo by the time they docked at Dar es Salaam.
āAh, Dar es Salaamā¦ā Thomas breathed in the warm air of Tanzania. āItās good to be back here.ā
āOkay, letās do this.ā Percy smiled. āHow long do we have until Christmas?ā
āOh, thatās easy, we only haveā¦ā Thomas looked over at a local calendar. It was Decemberā¦21st! āā¦four days?!ā
āWhat?ā whimpered Percy. āBut I thought it was gonna be an overnight trip here!ā
āThatās how I remember it!ā
āOh, bust my boiler!ā Percy hyperventilated. āWeāre never going to get back in time to help Nia!ā
āNia?ā asked the crane at the harbor. āYou two know Nia?ā
āYes, Mr. Crane!ā called Percy. āActually, weāre here to help her out.ā
āReally?ā the crane gasped. āHey, arenāt you that tank engine I loaded onto a ship to Rio?ā
āYeah, thatās me.ā chuckled Thomas. āDonāt suppose you can help us out in any way?ā
āPlease, Mr. Crane?ā begged Percy. āWe havenāt got a lot of time.ā
āAnything for a friend in need.ā chuckled the crane. āAnd please, just call me Kobe.ā
āKobe. Right.ā said Thomas. āDo you know where we can find the Christmas fair?ā
āEasy,ā explained Kobe, āitās right next to Tazara Station. Ya canāt miss it.ā
And with that, Thomas and Percy were finally back on track.
Before long, the two had hit Tazara. The fair was massive - the lights and the music were just as beautiful as Nia described.
āOkay, Percy,ā said Thomas, ākeep an eye out for Niaās friends.ā
āHow do you know who to look for?ā asked Percy.
āI met one of them when I first came here. His name was-ā
āThomas?ā asked a familiar face. āIs that really you, my friend?ā
Thomas and Percy looked over to see Niaās friend Kwaku. āOh, hi! How are you, Kwaku?ā
āIām not so bad myself, Thomas.ā chuckled Kwaku.
āExcellent. Anyway, can-ā
āHowās your wheels?ā interrupted Kwaku. āHowās your boiler? How are your pistons? Are the-ā
āAll thatās great, Kwaku,ā Thomas interrupted back impatiently. āSorry, itās just that we donāt have a lot of time.ā
āWe?ā asked Kwaku. āOhh! Whoās your little friend?ā
āHi, Iām Percy.ā saidā¦well, you can probably guess. āYou must be Kwaku. Nia told me all about the letters she sent you.ā
āAh, I always look forward to those letters, Percy.ā Kwaku laughed. āHey, how is Nia?ā
āThatās why weāre here, actually.ā Thomas began. He told him all about how homesick Nia had been every Christmas and their plan to bring the fairs to Sodor.
āWow. Thatāsā¦a very noble idea, Thomas.ā said Kwaku. āNia must mean a lot to you two.ā
āYeah,ā Percy explained. āNiaās one of our best friends. Sheās helped us out with our problems all the time for the five years sheās been on Sodor, itās time we return the favor.ā
āWell, then, that settles it!ā Kwaku chortled. āIām in!ā
āGreat!ā Thomas smiled. āNow, where do we begin?ā
āI might have a few ideasā¦ā thought Kwaku.
As it does every year, Christmas had arrived on Sodor. The Steam Team woke up to a thick blanket of snow, glistening candy-colored lights andā¦a strange invitation.
āWhat do you mean weāre needed at Brendan Docks?ā asked James.
āWhat do you think, James?ā groaned Gordon. āWeāre needed at the docks. Sir Topham Hatt said so.ā
āBut itās Christmas.ā Rebecca pondered. āI mean, I like being useful, donāt get me wrong, but I was looking forward to a day off.ā
āIām sure itās just one little job.ā chuckled Emily. āThen, we can-ā
āUh, guys?ā said James. āAre you seeing this?ā
The Steam Team looked around to see what had happened. Brendam Docks was covered from top to bottom in amazing decorations. The patterns, the lights, the decor, it was a feast for the eyes. And at the center of it all was Thomas and Percy.
āHey, guys!ā Thomas smiled. āMerry Christmas!ā
No one was in more shock than Nia. āWhat? Are you for-whatās going on?ā
āWe felt bad that you couldnāt go to the Christmas fair in Africa,ā Percy explained, āso we brought the fair to you!ā
āYeah. Against my better judgement.ā Cranky groaned, covered in decorations.
āOh, come on, Cranky!ā laughed Carly. āYou look great!ā
āNever said I didnāt,ā said Cranky, smugly, ābut the three of you better not get used to me looking like this.ā
āHold on,ā asked Nia. āWhat do you mean āthe three of you?āā
Then, from out of the shadows, came Kwaku. āMerry Christmas, Nia!ā
Nia was overjoyed to see her old friend. āKwaku?! Is that really you? What are you doing here?ā
āThomas and Percy invited me.ā replied Kwaku. āI must say, your new home is more beautiful than I couldāve imagined!ā
As the two caught up, Salty approached Thomas and Percy. āTwas a very grand quest ya went on, lads. I havenāt seen Nia this happy in ages.ā
āReally?ā beamed Thomas.
āReally.ā chuckled Salty.
āThomas, Percy!ā called Nia. āThis is amazing! I canāt thank you two enough!ā
āAnytime, Nia.ā Thomas smiled as the lot of them enjoyed a very different Christmas, but still a fantastic Christmas.
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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