//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7-Far from Home 
// Story: Thomas and Friends: Secrets of Sodor 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

Izzy was suddenly awakened by a snowflake drifting past her nose. "Hey, that's pretty."

Hitch slowly pushed himself to his feet. "Ow," he groaned. "That's gonna leave a mark." He looked around him. "This sure doesn't look like Kansas anymore."

"Which makes sense, given we were never in Kansas in the first place," Sunny said.

"Figure of speech," Hitch said.

Sunny pointed up. "Look at all those stars! There's virtually no light pollution!"

"And the colour of the sky would suggest it's fairly early in the morning here," Zipp noted. "But the sun was setting when we were in Arlesburgh. If the sun was setting there and the sun is rising here, we're on the other side of the planet!"

Pipp was not too happy. "Urgh! Stupid snow!" she said, kicking it with her boot. "Why does it always have to be unseasonable weather on the other side of a portal? I left all my winter clothing in Falmouth!"

"So, where are we?" Misty asked. "This doesn't look like any place I've ever been before."

"Perhaps more pertinently, how are we going to stay warm?" Hitch asked. "We're not exactly dressed for the weather."

"Thank you!" Pipp said. "The voice of sanity prevails." She took a photo and tried to attach a GeoTag, but her phone beeped at her. "I have no service? But I've got the unlimited plan!"

"Assuming this island has phone service or WiFi at all," Zipp said, "which it probably won't, based on the sky we're somewhere in North America. And North America has its own SIM card systems unlike Europe where mobile networks are standardised."

"So the GeoTag trick won't work," Pipp said, looking defeated. "How are we going to get home?"

"I'm certain we'll find a way home!" Izzy said. "Just follow the yellow brick road!"

"I can't see a yellow brick road," Hitch said.

"I suggest we look around and see if we can find a settlement of some sort," Sunny suggested. "Maybe we can get some clues as to where we are?"

Pipp shrugged. "Perhaps this island has strange eggs on it that produce giant spiders!"

"Don't be silly!" Izzy said. "We're way too far north for that!"

The girls set off into the forest before them, looking around carefully for any obstructions or things that might hinder their journey. Misty seemed fairly chatty. "You know, I've not really had the chance to appreciate snow before. I'd always seen it as the silly soft stuff that inconvenienced people all the time!"

"Huh," Pipp said. "Zipp and I loved to go sledging in the hills around Swanage!"

None of them spotted a mysterious figure hidden in the bushes nearby, who was watching them. She grabbed a radio and began to speak. "We might have trouble," she said. "New arrivals."

"Try to keep them out of the way until the operation is complete," said a voice. "We cannot afford to fail."

"Yes, my lord," the figure replied. "You may have had it easy at the concert, but I can assure you that this time you'll all be leaving this island in plywood boxes."





Back on the Island of Sodor, things had slowed to a crawl. Construction work was going at a snail's pace as engine workers and engines were starting to protest Sir Topham Hatt's actions in other, quite inventive ways. James, for instance, was fully aware of the dangers of going on strike, so he had the bright idea of instead following every safety rule in the book to slow things down.

"Are you sure this will work, James?" Rarity asked.

"Of course it will!" James said. "You can hardly punish somebody for following the rules, can you? Besides, as a splendid engine when have any of my ideas not worked?"

"Well, there's the top hat and the leather bootlace and the incident with the tankers and-"

"Well, apart from those, I have a pretty good track record."

The train pulled into the yard to see the engines from Cornwall driving very erratically.

"Easy with the throttle!" Charles called.

"Apologies, but it's been a while since I was in the driver's seat!" Lady Haven said.

Argyle was, however, having an easier time with Salty. "Nice and smooth into the trucks," he smiled. The engine buffered up extremely smoothly, and the trucks rolled into line very nicely."

"Shall we begin the push?" Salty asked.

"Not yet," Argyle said. "We have to check every tool in the cab is securely held in position before we move, and then we have to switch the portable brewing unit off and then change the settings on the traction motors."

"Is this all really required?" Salty asked.

"It is if the protest is going to work," Argyle said. "Good thing Isaac suggested this!"

Speaking of Isaac, he was looking at some trucks. And standing next to each and every one for several minutes.

"Why are you standing next to trucks for several minutes?" Bellerophon asked.

"Safety rules dictate that each truck must be inspected for at least 3 minutes before it can be moved," Isaac replied. "Just following every rule in the book."

Oliver and Duck were also at work, watching the team at work. They, for some reason, found the whole thing quite amusing.

Goldie checked her phone before getting into Porter's cab. "Messaged them all, straight to voicemail!" she replied. "Should we file a missing persons' report?"

"And no geotagged post for us to follow either," Argyle noted over the radio.

"That would be a good idea," Porter said, "if only the fat hat didn't have the entire island seemingly under his thumb."

Lady Haven suddenly got on the radio. "That's why I decided to bypass the local station and contact Cumbria Police directly with my evidence. That way we avoid any potential local interference."

"Smart move," Argyle noted.

"Thank you."

As more stuff got moved, a helicopter touched down and some people got out, carrying all sort of strange tools.

"All work on the railway is to cease immediately!" he said. "The scene up ahead is a valuable archeological site, and as such we will require your help to survey it properly."

"That will, at least, give us something to do whilst the police investigate," Goldie said to herself.





Ryan skidded to a very rough stop in the platform before blasting his whistle. "Get in quickly please!" he shouted, before the doors began to open and close.

The passengers took to grumbling. "Where does he think he is? King's Cross!"

"This level of rough running is simply unnaceptable!" said another. "I shall complain in official capacity!"

Ryan looked over. "Alright, Karen!" he said. "The manager's not here, by the way!"

More passengers got on, and once the whistle was blown Ryan pulled away with such sudden acceleration that the line was seemingly shaking. The line wasn't used to such a large and powerful tank engine, and the coaches noticed this.

"This is simply awful!" Annie complained.

"Agreed!" Clarabel added. "This conditions are awful! I wish we could have Thomas back!"

"Well, tough, because you're working with me!" Ryan snorted. "I've sped this line up to no end, and made things so much more reliable overall. No late trains thanks to delays!"

He rattled into the junction, and waited for Gordon to pull in with a long, heavy train.

"Hello Ryan," Gordon said. "Bouncing your passengers around like peas in a frying pan again?"

"Been taking the slow route?" Ryan quipped in response. "I'll have you know that A3s were much faster than that climbing out of the Cross. Perhaps some of those innovations should be fitted to you- it'd speed things up no end!"

Gordon spluttered. "Why, you little-"

Just then, the whistle blew, and Ryan pulled away at such speed it looked like a rocket taking off.

Gordon sighed. "I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Thomas and his work ethic. This new engine is much more powerful, but he's very conceited and rude."

"It's not a good image for the line," Rainbow Dash admitted, as she leaned out of the cab. "But there's not a huge amount we can do apart from continue working. And we'll be held here for a bit if this signal is anything to go by."





At Knapford, Ryan rolled in with the train, smiling. "Right on time!" he said. "Want to run well? Go Great Northern!"

The passengers did not seem to share the same sense of optimism. "I need to be able to get to work with my head straight!" one passenger said. "If my head is like the inside of a cement mixer, I'll be unable to focus!"

"Your head looks fine to me, sunshine!" Ryan quipped, as he backed away from the coaches.

"You'd never get this sort of lip from Thomas," said another passenger. "I'm getting tired of this situation. I'm going to Sir Topham Hatt to file a formal complaint with him, and see if he can get Thomas reinstated on his branch line!"

She pushed open the office door. Sir Topham Hatt looked up from his table. "How may I help you?" he asked.

"These circumstances are simply appalling!" the passnger complained. "Not only does Ryan ride roughly on the rails and accelerate far too quickly, he is also rude to the passengers! He dismissed a passenger's concerns about having a headache from the rough running, and not only that he goes too fast or too slow!"

"I can see why going to slow is a problem, but why is getting somewhere quickly such a problem?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.

"If it means getting there feeling like you've been through a washing machine it most certainly is!" the passenger continued. "The standards have simply gone downhill since I began commuting with the North Western, and if they don't go back to how they used to be I shall switch to the bus! Reinstate Thomas or else!"

Sir Topham Hatt sighed. "Ryan is new to the railway. He's still learning how we do things around here, just as Thomas had to when he was here. I still remember the days when he was yard pilot like it was yesterday." He looked around. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have documents to stack in new orders."

The passenger nodded. "You hd better heed the warning, or else you might see custom dry up." She then slammed the door.

Sir Topham Hatt glanced down to his display as a message rolled in. He clicked on it.

The face of Opaline appeared on the monitor. "Greetings, Emperor. I trust all is going well on Sodor?"

"It is, Your Majesty," the Emperor replied. The plan is proceeding to plan as we intended. The meddling kids are out of the way, and their parents are none the wiser- perfect for our plan to proceed."

"I received news the archeology team arrived," Opaline smiled. "Make sure to put them to good use, will you?"

"Of course. We shall find what we are looking for and report back."

"And what of the engines?"

"Well, after they saw what happened to Thomas they aren't prepared to challenge me. They all do exactly as ordered, precisely when I want them to. Why didn't the original embrace the level of power his position gives him?"

"Not our concern," Opaline said. "What matters is that we recover what we need in order for the plan to commence, and then we shall have power beyond our greatest dreams!" She began laughing.

The Emperor joined in, before abruptly stopping and noticing Opaline looking at him, thoroughly nonplussed. "Is something the matter?"

Opaline rolled her eyes. "If you're going to do an evil laugh alongside me, at least do it in synch." Her face changed. "Oh, and Topham? Keep a close eye on Boomer. I'm concerned. As you probably know he has history with Argyle's wife, and that might jeopardize the operation. Ensure he doesn't do anything idiotic, will you?"

The Emperor nodded. "Your will be done, Opaline."