The island of sodor is a magical place, There are hills and cliffs to climb, there are faces and places that are old and new, there are railways and roads, and a place where engines can live in peace. Today there is special news for the island; a brand new search and rescue center. Even though the drivers never told the engines, what it was, everyone knew it was important. Harold had his pilot Spitfire were carrying a climber in Harold's harness.
"Well done Harold! Well done Spitfire!" shouted Thomas, "You two saved the climber!"
As Harold was setting the climber down he said: "Mission accomplished Spitfire, No one is hurt and everybody is safe. Great to see you, Twilight and Spike again, Thomas!"
"Great job Harold! Bravo Spitfire!" boomed Sir Topham Hatt.
"Thank you sir." said Spitfire as she landed Harold, "you know it was kind of a tight squeeze from the valley, and we are having a lot of rescues lately."
"That's why," added Sir Topham Hatt, "Sodor needs a search and rescue center; a special space, and a proper place to help people and engines who are in trouble and need help." "Your helipad will be over there Harold." said Sir Topham Hatt pointing to an unfinished helipad.
"That is terrific Sir." said Harold.
"We can't wait for the big moment, Sir." said Spitfire.
"Rocky, your new shed will be over there." Said Sir Topham Hatt pointing to where a shed was just starting to be built.
"I never had my own shed before." said Rocky, "It's such an honor Sir."
"And Captain, you will have a safe mooring and a boat house."
"Can't wait sir," said a boat, "I am ready, raring and roaring to be really useful."
"And is this where the rescue center building where the rest of the rescuers will be, Sir?" asked Thomas.
"That's correct Thomas." said Sir Topham Hatt, "the center building will be right here in the middle or as I like to say the center of the Sodor search and rescue center. It will be a spectacular building, made from the strongest wood of all."
"Is the rescue center building going to be made out of Australian Buloke?" asked Twilight.
"No Twilight, the wood we are using is stronger than that of Australian Buloke trees, Jobi wood. It will arrive today at Brendam docks."
Everyone gasped. They heard about the Jobi wood. They knew it was special but they had little info.
"First Thomas, Twilight and Spike," said Sir Topham Hatt, "You must take the climber back to knapford station so he can be taken to a hospital, then you three must hurry to Brendam docks to help out Percy and Pinkie Pie. There is so much to be done."
And Sir Topham Hatt was right there was so much to do; along with building the buildings, new tracks have to be placed. The whole steam team and the mane 8 were helping out with the building. Henry and Fluttershy, and Edward and Applejack are in charge of heaving the rails and rods, James and Rarity and Emily and Starlight Glimmer are shoving the bricks and mortar that were needed for building the platforms and stationhouse, Toby and Sunset Shimmer and Gordon and Rainbow Dash were going to the Sodor Slate Quarry to pick up some slate, and Thomas and Twilight and Spike were with Percy and Pinkie Pie by Brendam docks; they saw a huge ship that was loaded and piled with logs.
"That must be the Jobi wood we heard so much about." guessed Thomas.
"I guess so. It's so beautiful." said Twilight.
"I wonder if it is as strong as they say." said Pinkie.
"I wonder who will take the logs to the rescue center." said Percy.
"I hope we each get a load." said Spike, "That way we can share the important job."
"That's thoughtful Spike." said Thomas.
"You certainly are little bro" said Twilight who gave Spike a hug.
"Thanks Thomas. Thanks big sis." said Spike.
"Alright let's go." said Pinkie Pie.
And after Thomas and Percy blew whistles they went off.
Later in the afternoon everyone was gathered at Brendam Docks; they wanted to watch Cranky unload the V.I.C. (very important cargo) the Jobi Wood onto the flatbeds.
"This Jobi wood might be new to you but it grows from Starswirl's and my country in Japan, Thomas." said Hiro. "It is so strong that no wind no matter how much it huffs and puffs will blow the Jobi trees down. And it can never be broken by any storm."
"Indeed, it is very special and incredibly rare." added Stygian who was working with Starswirl and Hiro. "It's rare because people used the Jobi wood for houses, fishing rods and pretty much anything."
"Wow!" gasped Spike, "Is Japan the only place where Jobi trees can be found?"
"Goodness no Spike." replied Starswirl, "Hiro the Pillars and I believe that even though it's rare, there are only one or maybe two islands where the Jobi trees grow tall and strong."
"That's correct." said Sir Topham Hatt, "That's why whoever is the most really useful by the end of the day, will bring the Jobi logs to the search and rescue center."
That made the engines and drivers giddy and stutter. They all wanted to be the most really useful and pull the jobi logs.
"Alright now don't delay, puff away." boomed Sir Topham Hatt, "You all have jobs to do and at the end of the day, choosing who pulls the jobi logs I'll decide for you."
The engines and their drivers puffed out of the docks to do their own jobs; except for Thomas, Twilight and Spike; Thomas had to be coupled up to a flatbed of bricks. Thomas and Spike couldn't take their eyes off of the Jobi logs. They wanted to be the most really useful so they and Twilight can pull the Jobi log flatbeds. Diesel and Trixie came up.
"I hope Sir Topham Hatt chooses me, Twi and Spike." said Thomas, "Of course our friends and us try hard to be a really useful crew."
"What about us Thomas?" Diesel asked, "Trixie and I are really useful too."
"Indeed the great and powerful Trixie agrees with Diesel."
Twilight, Thomas and Spike were surprised.
"Well I guess you two are really useful." said Thomas trying to be polite.
"We'll just see by the end of the day, won't we?' said Spike in a cheeky manner, "Although, I think Thomas, Twilight and I have a good chance."
And Thomas steamed away. Diesel and Trixie were cross.
"Those guys think diesels are dirty and steamies are special." complained Trixie.
"Well we'll show them that we are just as useful as they are." said Diesel, then he had an idea, "I know, we will shunt these logs to the rescue center."
"Great idea Diesel," said Trixie. "Then Sir Topham Hatt and maybe even Celestia will see just how special we are."
So with a biff and a bash and a heave and a huff, Diesel and Trixie left the docks with the precious Jobi logs.
Diesel rattled along the rails. The Jobi logs jittered on the flatbeds. Diesel and Trixie were very happy.
"Diesels are not really useful the steamies will say," said Diesel.
"But we will show them all that they are wrong by the end of the day." finished Trixie.
Meanwhile Thomas was shunting. Twilight went to get a snack for herself and Spike.
"We will be the most useful, we will be the best one." Thomas puffed.
"We will huff and puff till the job is well done." finished Spike.
Then they heard a horn, and gasped at what they saw.
"Cinders and Ashes." gasped Thomas, "Diesel and Trixie have the Jobi wood."
"They weren't supposed to take them." Spike said.
"Stop, Diesel, Stop, Trixie!" called Thomas and Spike.
Diesel and Trixie saw and heard Thomas and Spike but they didn't want to stop. They just wanted to get the Jobi logs to the search and rescue center as fast as possible. This made Thomas and Spike worried.
"Diesel and Trixie are going too fast." said Thomas.
"Something could happen to the Jobi logs," said Spike. "We have to stop them Thomas, we can't wait for Twilight."
As soon as Twilight came back, she could see that Thomas was steaming away.
"Thomas! Spike!" called Twilight, "Where are you two going?"
"Sorry Twi!" shouted Thomas, "But this is an emergency!"
"Tell Sir Topham Hatt and Celestia that we are going after Diesel and Trixie!" called Spike, "They have the Jobi logs!"
And with that Thomas steamed away.
Thomas and Spike chased Diesel and Trixie.
"Stop, Diesel Stop, Trixie!" called Thomas and Spike.
But Diesel and Trixie didn't stop. They just sped on. Thomas and Spike were trying to catch up to them.
"We can get in front of Diesel after we pass this junction, Thomas!" said Spike.
But Diesel and Trixie heard Spike.
"No he won't, Spike!" said Diesel. And he and Trixie raced ahead, past the signal box JUST before the signal was set at danger. But Thomas and Spike had to stop, and they did.
"Now we'll never catch Diesel and Trixie!" groaned Thomas.
"We have to!" said Spike.
Just then the signal turned green and Thomas started again. Diesel raced up the hill. Thomas was far behind.
"We're almost there Trixie," said Diesel. "And soon they'll all know, that steamies are the ones who puff too slow."
But there was trouble ahead; the track that goes over the sea isn't finished. Diesel's wheels slipped.
"Stop, Diesel! Stop!" begged Thomas and Spike.
"Um we are going faster than we should, Diesel," said Trixie who was starting to get nervous, "The great and powerful Trixie suggests that we stop."
But Diesel didn't stop. He went over the hill and then down to the cliffs and the sea. When Diesel saw the half finished track now he wanted to stop; but it was too late, even though Trixie applied the brakes, the logs were pulling them to the edge of the cliff. Diesel wasn't smiling now; he was scared.
"Help! Help!" cried Diesel and Trixie. But there was no one around. Then the first coupling snapped and the first flatbed of Jobi wood tumbled into the sea below.
"Oh no! Help!" cried Diesel and Trixie again, and then the next flatbed of Jobi wood fell into the sea.
Now Diesel and Trixie were one flatbed away from the cliff; and then the last flatbed of logs sank into the sea.
"Oh No!" said Diesel who was now half on and half off the edge of the cliff. Trixie tried very hard to keep Diesel on the track. Then Thomas and Spike arrived. They were scared and clueless on what to do next.
"What should we do, Diesel?" asked Thomas.
"Do you have any suggestions Trixie?" asked Spike.
Diesel and Trixie didn't know, they were too scared; but Thomas and Spike made a decision.
"Thomas will tow you to safety, Diesel." said Spike.
"But please try to be calm and stay still," said Thomas. "If you struggle we'll all fall into the water."
Diesel and Trixie did stop and Spike quickly coupled up Diesel to Thomas. Then Thomas who was puffing hard pulled as hard as he could. Then little by little, Thomas and Spike pulled Diesel and Trixie to safety.
"You and Trixie are safe, Diesel. Hooray!" cheered Spike and Thomas.
"Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, Spike." said Trixie.
"I'm sorry the logs fell into the sea." apologized Diesel.
"No, Diesel. Spike and I should apologize to you and Trixie." said Thomas, "We are sorry we teased you two about how you won't be the most really useful."
"We just wanted to bring the Jobi logs to the rescue center." said Spike.
"It's alright, Thomas and Spike." said Diesel. "I just hope Sir Topham Hatt and Celestia will forgive us."
"It's Twilight we are worrying about." said Spike, "we ran off without her and didn't do our jobs."
"Let's just hope for the best." said Trixie.
That night at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas and Spike told their friends all about the rescue.
"We couldn't save the logs." finished Thomas, "Spike and I feel guilty."
"But, Thomas," chirped Percy, "you two are the heroes of the search and rescue center."
"But Thomas and I ran off without Twilight. Now she will be disappointed with us."
"I'm not disappointed, Spike." said Twilight, "In fact I'm proud of you and Thomas. You two saved Diesel and Trixie."
"Thanks, Twilight. Thanks, Percy." said Thomas, "we will all try our very best to make sure the rescue center will be the best ever. Spike and I did what we thought was right."
"And you were right Thomas." said a voice. It was Sir Topham Hatt and Princess Celestia. "We heard all about it from Twilight and we are very pleased with you both. You rescued Diesel and Trixie from the edge of the cliff. You went on your instinct without being asked or told what to do."
"You both did the best thing, the right thing, and that makes you two the most really useful crew." praised Celestia.
The engines whistled and the girls cheered with pride for Thomas and Spike who were the most really useful.
"Diesel and Trixie lost the Jobi wood." sighed Sir Topham Hatt, "and that is very bad; and I am very cross. The search and rescue center will have to be delayed."
"Now we need to find new Jobi logs." said Celestia, "And that would take time to find it and transport more from Japan."
"But you and Spike, Thomas, have a special reward." continued Sir Topham Hatt, "you two can visit the search and rescue center on the mainland in England."
"Thank you, Sir!" beamed Thomas and Spike. They were so honored that they thought they could burst.
"Let's get some sleep." said Twilight, "we have other jobs to do tomorrow."
Everyone agreed with Twilight and they all went happily to sleep.