Archive of Our Own ^beta

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“ Frankie, what has gotten into you? Why are you trapping me here?’ Thomas cried, as he looked at Lexi and Theo for help, but they were just as confused as he was. “ Because, Thomas, we need you to work for us. We can’t handle all this work by ourselves. And you agreed to help us, right?’ Frankie replied. “ Frankie, I need to get back to Sodor! Back to my branch line and my coaches, I have to get back to James and Percy!’ Thomas cried. “ Well, you might want to start making new friends, because you’re never leaving. Come along, Hurricane’ Frankie replied, as they puffed away. “ Thomas? Are you alright?’ Theo cautiously asked. “ Theo.. I don’t mean to be rude, but can you and Lexi leave me alone for a few minutes? I need to think about what just happened’ Thomas asked. “ Of course, Thomas. Come on, Theo’ Lexi replied, as they puffed away, leaving Thomas alone in the dark shed. “ What have I done?’ Thomas murmured.

“ Have you guys seen Thomas? He isn’t back from the mainland yet’ James asked, as they all glanced at the red engine. “ Since when did you care about Thomas?’ Spencer asked. “ Because, Spence, Thomas and I have gotten somewhat close, we care about each other. I gotta go find him’ James replied, as he quickly puffed him away, as Spencer curiously watched him leave. “ He’s up to something. And I’m not going to let my cousin take the fall for it’ Spencer replied. “ Spencer, I’ve known James longer than you have. He and Thomas may not see eye to eye, but James isn’t as vain as you think he is. You’re worried about Thomas, we all are’ Emily replied. “ Guys! I think something happened to Thomas! The dock manager said he was supposed to come back from the mainland a hour ago, but he never got on the boat. I need to get on that boat’ James replied. “ James, are you insane?! What about Sir Topham Hat?’ Percy asked. “ He’ll understand, Percy. Maybe not, but I’m not losing Thomas to those mainland engines’ James replied. “ James, did something happen between you and Thomas the night before he left?’ Emily asked. “ We may have kissed, okay? He was rambling and to shut him up, I kissed him. And that’s why I need to find him, to figure out where this takes us’ James replied. “ James, if you’re serious about this, none of us are going to stop you. Go bring Thomas home’ Spencer replied, as James smiled at the sliver engine. “ I will. But, please don’t tell Sir Topham, yet. Promise me’ James replied. “ Okay, engine’s honor. Now, go’ Spencer replied, as James quickly raced off to the docks. Cranky! Is the ship still afloat?’ James asked. “ It is. Climb aboard, James’ Cranky replied, as Cranky slowly lifted the red engine onto the ship. “ Be careful, James’ Cranky replied. “ I will. Just gotta bring Thomas home safe’ James replied.

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That night, as Thomas was sleeping, all he could think about was Sodor and his friends. He couldn’t imagine how worried they were, and how worried Sir Topham Hat was. He needed to find a way home, and soon. But he didn’t know if that would ever happen. “ Thomas?’ Merlin whispered. “ Yes, Merlin?’ Thomas whispered. “ You want to play a game?’ Merlin asked. “ Not really, Merlin. I’m trying to sleep here’ Thomas replied. “ Right, sorry’ Merlin replied. “ It’s alright, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m just frustrated’ Thomas replied. “ I get it, you want to go home. I promise you’ll find a way home, Thomas’ Merlin replied. “ But how, Merlin?! How?! Frankie and Hurricane are never gonna let me go, so I might as well get used to it’ Thomas replied, as Merlin’s heart broke for his friend. “ Thomas… I know you’re worried, but I promise you’ll get back to Sodor. What’s Sodor like, if you don’t mind me asking?’ Merlin asked. “ It’s amazing, it’s a great place to call home. You, Lexi, and Theo would really like it. I hope one day you get to visit. You would love my best friend, Percy. He’s really funny and smart, and loves to play hide and seek. I really miss him, and James’ Thomas replied. “ Who’s James? Is he another one of your best friends?’ Merlin asked. “ I think he’s more then that, actually’ Thomas replied.
( Flashback)
Thomas’s eyes widened as James pulled away. “ James…. Did we just kiss?’ Thomas asked. “ Yeah, I think we just did. Thomas, I’m sorry. I-‘ James replied, as their lips reconnected for another kiss. “ I actually quite enjoyed kissing you’ Thomas replied. “ Great, now stop talking’ James replied, as he guided his lips back to his.
( Flashback ends).
“ So, he’s your boyfriend?’ Merlin asked. “ I was going to ask him to be my boyfriend before I left, but I never got the chance to before I left, and I regret it’ Thomas replied. “ You’ll get your chance, Thomas. I’m going to get some sleep now, and you should too’ Merlin replied, as he dozed off, as Thomas’s eyes shut. “ I love you, James’ Thomas muttered.

As James carefully puffed off the boat, he looked around. He didn’t see Thomas anywhere. Where was he? “ Thomas? Thomas?’ James called. “ Are you looking for Thomas?’ An engine asked. “ Aah! Who are you?’ James replied, as he glanced in confusion at the strange engines. “ I’m Lexi, and this is Theo. We’re experimental engines’ Lexi replied. “ Experimental what?’ James asked. “ Experimental engines’ Lexi replied. “ Cool. Uh, have you guys seen Thomas? Can you take me to him?’ James asked. “ Yes, we can, but just beware of Frankie and Hurricane. Follow us’ Lexi replied, as they puffed away. “ Who’s Frankie and Hurricane?’ James asked. “ We’ll tell you on the way, James’ Theo replied.

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“ So, where exactly did you say Thomas was?’ James asked, as he puffed behind the experimental engines, just wanting to find Thomas and bring him back to Sodor. “ On the mainland. Frankie and Hurricane are keeping him there’ Theo replied, and James’s blood boiled. “ What do they want with Thomas?’ James replied. “ They want Thomas to work for them, they’re practically controlling him’ Theo replied, as James scoffed. “ They can’t ask someone else? They’re holding the love of my life captive, and if we don’t get to him in time, who knows what they’ll make him do?’ James cried. “ Y- You love Thomas?’ Lexi asked. “ It’s possible, yes. I’ve loved Thomas since he first came to Sodor. I wasn’t very nice to him, but he was the only one who saw through my tough guy facade and broke my walls down, and we fell in love. I wanted to tell him how I felt about him the night before he left, but I never got the chance to’ James replied. “ Well, now you will have a chance. We’ll find Thomas’ Lexi replied, as James smiled. At least he could trust Lexi and Theo.
“ Morning, Thomas. Do you want to play hide and seek?’ Merlin asked. “ Isn’t it hard to play and seek? You’re invisible, you can’t see anything’ Thomas retorted, as he quickly regretted it. “ Merlin, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I’m just stressed, and I took it out on you’ Thomas replied. “ It’s alright, Thomas. You’re thinking about James, aren’t you?’ Merlin asked, as Thomas nodded. “ I’ve never been in love before, Thomas, but I can tell you’re in love with James. So, tell me, what it’s like?’ Merlin asked. “ Love? It’s the greatest feeling in the world, it makes you float on air and makes you feel like you’re on cloud 9, like you can accomplish anything when you have the person or train you love by your side. I really hope you do get to fall in love one day, Merlin’ Thomas replied. “ Thomas!’ Frankie shouted, as Thomas groaned. “ Frankie’ Thomas replied, as he plastered on a fake smile. “ I have the first task for you. I need you to pull these 10 loads of freight cars’ Frankie replied, as Thomas gulped. 10? His wheels weren’t strong enough for 10 loads of cars, but he knew he needed to please Frankie. “ Well? What are you waiting for? Go!’ Frankie ordered, as Thomas gulped and buffered up to the freight cars, and soon, he was off. “ Be careful, Thomas!’ Merlin called. “ James, I really wish you were right now’ Thomas muttered.
“ Any sign of Thomas?’ James asked. “ No. Frankie and Hurricane are pretty good when it comes to covering their tracks. Merlin probably knows where-‘ Lexi replied. “ Oh, hello, Lexi and Theo. I see you’ve brought a friend with you. Hello, friend, I am Beresford’ Beresford replied. “ H- Hello’ James stammered, surprised. He wasn’t used to seeing a friendly crane, and Cranky was hardly friendly. “ This is James, he’s Thomas’s friend. Beresford, have you seen Thomas? We’re looking for him’ Lexi asked.

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“ Beresford, we’re really running out of time here, and we really need to find Thomas. Please, where is he?’ James pleaded. “ Would you like to play a game?’ Beresford replied, as James was beginning to grow frustrated. He just wanted to find Thomas and go home, he didn’t want to play any games.
Meanwhile, back on Sodor, the engines were starting to get worried about where Thomas and James were, especially Spencer. He hoped his cousin and James weren’t in trouble. “ It’s been 3 weeks, where are my cousin and James?’ Spencer asked. “ Spence.. I’m sure Thomas and James are making their way back to Sodor right now, they’ll be- Uh oh’ Emily replied, as Sir Topham Hat pulled up. “ Good morning, my fellow engines. Have you seen Thomas and James? Annie and Clarabel have been without a train for weeks, and James was supposed to pull a load of freight cars for me’ Sir Topham Hat replied, as the engines hesitated. “ Sir.. I have something to tell you’ Spencer weakly replied, as he nervously puffed forward. “ What ever is the matter, Spencer?’ Sir Topham Hat asked, as he looked at the sliver engine. “ Sir, Thomas and James are trapped on the mainland, and we don’t know where they are or when they’re coming home. We didn’t want to tell you because we were afraid of what you were going to say, Sir’ Spencer replied. “ Oh dear. This is not good at all. I must send out Harold and the search and rescue team at once. The rest of you, look around the island for any signs of Thomas and James’ Sir Topham Hat replied, as he quickly drove off. “ You heard him, Steam Team. It’s time to look’ Emily replied, as they all puffed away.
“ Frankie wasn’t kidding with all these freight cars. I really hope there is a rest stop somewhere, cause I’m about to lose some steam. I really wish James was here. James, if you can hear me, I-‘ Thomas replied. “ Did you say James?’ Theo asked. “ Theo! Where have you been?’ Thomas asked. “ Looking for you. Thomas, James is here’ Theo replied. “ What?!’ Thomas replied. “ No, he can’t be here, he can’t’ Thomas replied. “ Thomas, I thought this is what you wanted’ Theo replied. “ Of course it is, Theo, but I don’t want Frankie and Hurricane coming after him’ Thomas replied. “ Oh, yeah..’ Theo replied, as Thomas sighed. He didn’t want Frankie and Hurricane going after his love, he didn’t need James getting hurt because of him. “ I need to get to James before they do’ Thomas murmured.

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“ Thomas? Are you here? Thomas!’ James called. “ Oh, hello there. You must be James. Are you looking for Thomas?’ Merlin asked, as James looked around, wondering who the voice belonged to. “ Who said that?’ James replied. “ I did. I’m Merlin, or as most people call me-‘ Merlin replied. “ You’re invisible!’ James cried. “ The invisible engine. You must be James, Thomas speaks very highly of you. You’re here to find him, aren’t you? I’m afraid you just missed him’ Merlin replied. “ Then I’ll wait till he comes back’ James firmly replied. “ You seem very confident, James’ Merlin replied. “ I am’ James smugly replied. “ So, tell me, how long have you and Thomas been friends?’ Merlin asked. “ Since the day he first came to Sodor. We weren’t friends at first though, it took me a long time to warm up to him before I fell for him, then something changed between us, and we kissed. I thought that meant we were a couple now, but before I had the chance to ask-‘ James replied. “ He ended up here. Well, James, I hope you and Thomas are able to be happy after all of this is over’ Merlin replied. “ So do I’ James replied. “ James?’ Thomas replied, as James turned around and his eyes lit up. “ Thomas, you’re okay!’ James replied. “ Oh, James, I missed you so much, I can’t believe you came to rescue me’ Thomas replied. “ I’ll always save you, Thomas’ James softly replied. “ Well, isn’t this touching? Thomas’s train in shining armor is here, too bad he’s never leaving. Let’s have a little fun, shall we, James?’ Frankie replied.
“ Spencer! Any sign of Thomas or James anywhere?’ Emily asked, as the sliver engine shook his head. “ No. I don’t know where they are, Emily. I really hope nothing happened to them. What if something happened to them? Emily, I-‘ Spencer replied. “ Spence, I’m sure Thomas and James are trying their best to get off the Mainland, okay? They’ll be home soon’ Emily replied, as Spencer nodded, at a loss for words right now. “ Sir, any luck on finding Thomas and James?’ Spencer asked. “ Unfortunately not, Spencer, but we’re not giving up, Harold is flying through the skies looking for them, and you engines keep looking too’ Sir Topham Hat replied. “ Of course, sir’ Spencer replied, as Sir Topham Hat drove off. “ Where are they, Emily?’ Spencer murmured. “ I don’t know, Spencer’ Emily murmured.