//------------------------------// // Paint Pots and Queens // Story: Thomas and Friends: The Retold Adventures // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// Thomas and Gordon, as well as their drivers Twilight and Rainbow Dash respectively, headed for home at Tidmouth sheds. It had been a long day, as first Thomas had teased Gordon about falling into a ditch at the start of the week. This had rapidly proven to be mightily ironic, as not long after, Thomas had fallen into a mine and had to be rescued by Gordon with a winch, which was a little embarrassing, but nonetheless a useful experience, as the two engines had made up and formally become allies. “Remember Thomas!” Gordon called. “Together we stand, united we fall. You help me, and I help you.” Rainbow Dash groaned. “Gordon, we heard you the first time,” she said. “And the sixth too,” Twilight added, who was getting tired of Gordon’s constant rambling. “Don;t worry, I’ll remember,” Thomas said. “Buit I hope Sir Toppham Hatt forgives us soon.” As they rolled into Tidmouth yard, they were stunned. Everywhere, decorations and bunting were hung up and on display, and the workmen were busy. Armed with paint pots and paintbrushes, they were repainting the shed and the shed doors. Applejack was lending a hand replacing some tiles on the roof of Tidmouth sheds, whilst Fluttershy had requisitioned the help of some animals to help move some rubble in the yard. Elsewhere, Pinkie Pie was blowing up balloons to be hung from the buildings all around. Just then, a balloon that had far too much air in it flew away from her, and she ran after it, shouting; “Look out everyone! RUNAWAY BALLOON!” Fluttershy shook her head. “I don’t think the balloon is out of control, Pinkie Pie,” she said simply. Meanwhile, two of the workmen were chatting. “People from Land’s End to John O’Groats are going to be visiting for the special occasion!” one of them said. “I know!” the other replied. “My wife runs a bed and breakfast, and they’re totally booked out!” “Besides,” the first said once again, “Sir Toppham Hatt must have his hands full with all this planning.” “Oh please,” the second laughed. “He’s a confident, hardworking planner. I have no doubt he has this all under control.” “What’s all under control?” Twilight asked, hopping off of Thomas’ footplate. “Yes!” Thomas said. “What’s this all about?” “Shh!” said Percy. “Sir Toppham Hatt is about to tell us.” And all fell silent as Sir Toppham Hatt addressed them from a podium, made entirely of giant LEGO bricks. “Ladies, gentlemen, and engines,” he said. “It is my great pleasure and honour to inform you that Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting us in the next few weeks. Now then, on with the preparations!” And with that, he left for his car. Rainbow Dash spoke up after a moment. “Who did all the gems on the banners and bunting?” she asked. “Why, I did, darling,” Rarity said. “Doesn’t it look splendid!” “Just like my shiny red paint!” said James. “We’ve all been polished, and I imagine you will be too!” “It didn’t half take her the afternoon though,” Applejack said. “Ah thought fer a moment that it wouldn’t be done until AFTER the Queen had visited!” “Oh, honestly Applejack, anybody can do fine!” Rarity exclaimed. “When Sir Toppham Hatt asked me to do that part of the decorations, he was asking for fabulous, and fabulous takes time!” “Don’t we all know it,” Rainbow Dash sighed. Their thoughts then turned to who would pull the Royal Train. “It won’t be me,” Edward said sadly. “I’m too old, and I lack the power for these modern coaches that are so heavy.” “I’m in disgrace, so that rules me out,” Gordon sighed. James then spoke up. “He’ll choose me, of course!” he said. “I’m the shiniest engine here!” “You?” Henry asked in surprise. “You haven’t even got the tractive effort for such a train! There’s only one engine he’ll choose, and that’s me!” In a rare surge of vanity more characteristic of James, he then continued. “Of course, I’ll get a new coat of paint in the deal as well.” A few days passed. The rain started to fall, and fog rolled about the island like a mist. Fluttershy moved a tarpaulin on top of Henry’s cab in order to keep warm, and above them a painter was repainting a portion of the overall roof of Knapford station. Suddenly, Henry’s safety valve triggered, and this threw a cloud of steam and smoke into the air. The painter couldn’t see, and the ladder collapsed beneath him, causing him to fall onto the tarpaulin below. The paint pot flew through the air and landed on Henry’s dome, smearing his boiler in white paint. Fluttershy looked out of the cab. “My goodness!” she cried. “Are you alright?” “I am,” the painter replied. “But Henry’s gone and ruined my paint! Thanks a lot!” Fluttershy gave him The Stare, and then went to Henry. “I know you didn’t mean it Henry,” she said, “but you aren’t exactly presentable right now. I’ll repaint you and-” “There’s no time!” said the voice of Sir Toppham Hatt. “Henry, you look like an iced cake, and that will not be acceptable for the Royal Train. I shall have to make other arrangements.” He then walked out of the station, and off toward the yard. Henry sighed. “Oh, the indignity,” he sighed. “THAT’S MY LINE!” shouted a voice. Sir Toppham Hatt arrived in the yard to see Thomas and Gordon, alongside Rainbow Dash and Twilight, looking anxious. “Please sir,” they all said at once. “One at a time,” Sir Toppham Hatt said. “Yes, Gordon?” “May Thomas have his branch line again?” the big engine said. “He’s genuinely sorry over what he did,” Rainbow Dash added. Sir Toppham Hatt thought for a moment. “Both of you, Thomas and Gordon, have behaved poorly in recent days. However, not only have both of you worked hard and taken your punishments without complaint, you are clearly sorry and deserve a treat, apart from my forgiveness.” He paused. “Edward and Applejack shall go ahead to clear the line. Thomas and Twilight, I want you to care for the coaches. Do a good job!” “We won’t let you down sir,” Twilight replied. That just left Gordon. “Gordon and Rainbow Dash,” Sir Toppham Hatt said, “you are to work the special train.” Gordon beamed from buffer to buffer. Rainbow Dash’s face lit up like a firework’s display. “This...is...so...AWESOME!” she cried, punching the air as she did so. The great day arrived at last, and all the engines and their drivers worked hard, bringing passengers to and from the mainland to the station. Thomas and Twilight shorted out their coaches in the yard, and the place was a hive of activity. Just then, Edward and Applejack raced into the station. “Peep peep peep!” Edward called. “The Queen is here!” “Please welcome Her Majesty!” Applejack said, stepping off the footplate. Her entire family was with her, as her Granny Smith, as well as her mother and father, had helped with the catering for the occasion, meaning that every conceivable apple related treat was on offer. A young girl with red hair and yellow skin ran over to Applejack. “Ah’m so so excited!” she cried, looking like she would burst with excitement. “Aren’t ya too?” Applejack laughed. “Settle down, sugarcube,” she said, rubbing the girl’s hair. Just then, a chime whistle echoed through the station, and all looked in the direction of the sound. It was Gordon, who rolled into the station with the magnificence of one of his LNER brethren out on the East Coast Main Line. His brass work gleamed, his paint shone, and attached to the side of his smokebox were the Royal Coats of Arms, a lion rampant and a unicorn. He came to a smooth stop right in front of the red carpet, and the door was opened by an official guard of the Queen. Sir Toppham Hatt bowed in front of her. “Welcome, your Majesty,” he said. The Queen thanked him for a smooth run, and asked to see all the engines. Just then, Percy and Toby could keep quiet no longer. “Peep peep!” they both whistled. “Shhh!!” hissed Henry and James. But Toby and Percy didn’t care. “Three cheers for the Queen!” they called. And then the station echoed to the sound of whistles and cheers from the public. Once the visit was over, the Queen spoke personally to Thomas and Twilight, who had fetched her coaches, then to Edward and Applejack, for clearing the way for her, and finally to Gordon and Rainbow Dash, who took her home. “God save our Gracious Queen, Long live our Noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her Victorious, Happy and Glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!” As the last strains of the National Anthem sounded, no engine or person felt prouder than those who lived on the Island of Sodor, or who worked for the North Western Railway.