Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 7

Farm Fiasco

Percy loves pulling the post train, which is more commonly known as the mail train. But it's not the only job he enjoys doing. 

He also enjoys shunting with his best friend, Thomas. 

(Oliver and Toad can be seen as they shunt.)

He likes taking children on trips. 

(Such children seen are Alice and Edwina.)

And he also likes to see the animals on farms across the Island. 

One day, as Percy and Thomas were cheerfully shunting coaches in the Knapford yard, the Fat Controller came over to them. 

"Thomas, I need you to shunt Gordon's coaches to Platform One, then you can work on your Branch Line." 

"Yes, sir," peeped Thomas cheerily. 

(He looks over to Annie and Clarabel before collecting Gordon's Express coaches.) 

Then the Fat Controller turned to Percy. 

"Percy, I need you to take my granddaughter and her friends to Farmer McColl's farm. He is giving them a tour to see the animals to celebrate her birthday." 

Percy was delighted. 

"Yes, sir!" 

Percy collected a coach to collect Bridget Hatt and her friends and soon he reached the platform and she cheered excitedly with her friends as they boarded. 

Gordon huffed just before pulling away with the Express. 

"You may have a special job, but I doubt you will be the highlight of the special. Apparently, Farmer McColl's cows and sheep are more interesting than you, little Percy." 

Percy felt annoyed and tried to ignore what Gordon had said. He shortly puffed out of Knapford as the Fat Controller waved his granddaughter off. 

As Percy travelled down to the farm, he wished he was taken seriously despite being the Small Engine in the Steam Team. 

(He passes James, Edward, Rebecca and Emily along the way.)

He wished that he had an exciting special where he would be interesting to Bridget and her friends. 

(He sees Harold and thinks of racing him, but doesn't.)

As Percy pulled up to the platform, Farmer McColl waved to him. 

"Hello, Percy, feel free to stay and look at the cows. Back soon." 

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," said Percy. 

Bridget and her friends were excited. But each of them wanted to see something different first. 

"I want to see the chickens," said one girl. 

"I want to see the cows," said another. 

"Well, I want to see the lambs!" argued the third. 

"Woah now, girls. Let the birthday girl decide!" soothed Farmer McColl. 

Bridget blushed. 

"Um, can we please see the chickens and their eggs first?" she asked. 

"Of course we can," assured Farmer McColl.

As they went to look at the hens and the eggs, Percy watched the party head off. He felt that Gordon was right. Maybe he wasn't as interesting as farm animals after all. 

He sadly puffed backwards to go and see the cows. 

Meanwhile, Bridget and her friends cooed happily as a hen stood up, revealing a small brown egg. 

"Aww, the baby chick inside will be soooo cute!" said Bridget squeakily. 

"It's likely to hatch today, so you can wait a little if you like," said Farmer McColl. 

The children did wait, eager to see a chick hatch. 

But for Percy, there was trouble. 

He saw that a fence was broken on one side of the track and then he saw that the other fence opposite had been broken too. 

"That's where the cows and sheep are," he cried. 

One of the cows had been mooing so loudly that it had upset a ram on the other side and it rammed the fence until it broke. This scared the cow and it had broken down the other fence. 

Percy knew he must warn Farmer McColl, but he didn't know where the cows and sheep were. He couldn't even hear them. 

Percy also didn't want to spoil Bridget's birthday trip, so he decided to look for the cows and sheep himself. 

He reversed slowly back up the line, but he didn't find the livestock until he arrived at the end of the branch junction. He gasped. 

There were cows and sheep astray on all of the tracks along the main line, including Gordon's Express line. 

"Oh no!" 

Meanwhile, Bridget was happily holding the newly hatched little chick. 

"So fluffy!" 

"Now, what you like to see my lambs?" asked Farmer McColl.

"Yes, please," replied the girls eagerly. 

But- 

"Oh no! My lambs and my cows have escaped!" 

Farmer McColl could see the broken fences and empty fields. 

"We must find them!" 

Percy was still struggling with what to do. He didn't want to leave the animals alone on the main line, but he couldn't stay and not warn Farmer McColl. 

There was worse to come. Percy heard a whistle. 

It was Gordon with the Express! He was hurrying straight towards the sheep and cows. 

"Oh no!" cried Percy. 

Just then, Farmer McColl and Bridget came over the hill and saw what was going on.

"Oh my!" cried Bridget. 

"Oh no!" cried Farmer McColl. 

Percy was scared. He didn't know how to warn Gordon. If he blew his whistle, he'd frighten the animals, but he felt he had no choice. 

He took a deep puff and then blew his special warning whistle that he had perfected many winters ago. 

Gordon heard the whistle. He knew Percy's whistle warning was only used in a dire emergency and he slowed down. As he rounded the bend, he could see Percy and the farm animals in the distance. 

He applied his brakes and stopped in good time. 

But the sheep and cows had been scared by the whistle, and when Gordon approached as well, they all made a beeline to the side of the tracks and back into the field where Farmer McColl, Bridget and her friends had run over. 

"Well done, Percy!" cheered Farmer McColl. 

"You saved these animals...and me," murmured Gordon, "um, thank you, Percy...and sorry for teasing you earlier." 

Percy smiled. 

As Farmer McColl and his dog rounded up the sheep, Bridget ran up to Percy. 

"Well done, Percy," she cheered, "that was the best birthday rescue ever!" 

All of her friends agreed. 

And as they all bounced and cheered for Percy, he knew he was more than just a Small Engine after all! 

(The End!)