Author's notes: This one was pretty good. It was a fun little chase episode with some good character interactions. I've taken Fluttershy out due to the fact that 3 in a cab at one time can be a bit cramped up.

The Runaway

Narrator: Percy was soon mend and back in service. But one morning, Thomas woke up feeling ill. The Fat Controller and Princess Celestia had him sent over to Tidmouth Station to see if they could make him better there. The workmen tired hard to make him feel better, but it was no use.

Fat Controller: I'm sorry Thomas, but I'm afraid Edward must take you to the works at Crovans Gate.

Twilight Sparkle: Princess Celestia, Sir Topham Hatt, um, may I… Uh, I mean, should I go with Thomas, Edward Fluttershy and Mr. Hoskins to the Crovans Gate too?

Celestia: I'm sorry Twilight, but I'm afraid that your need here to help out with the branchline.

Twilight Sparkle: Yes Princess Celestia, but what I can I do without an engine?

Fat Controller: Don't worry. We'll have you and Mr. Hawkins work with another engine until Thomas comes back.

Twilight Sparkle: (Sad sigh) Thank you Sir and Princess Celestia (To Thomas) I hope you get well soon. I'm gonna miss you.

Thomas: Same here Twilight.

Narrator: Soon, Edward arrived with Fluttershy and Mr. Hoskins took him to Crovans Gate works. Thomas felt very miserable and sad.

Fluttershy: Oh dear. I hope you get better soon.

Thomas: (Miserably) So do I.

(Victor puffs over)

Victor: Hola mis amigos. What brings you here today?

Thomas: I feel sick Victor.

Victor: Don't worry. We will have you mended in no time.

Thomas: I hope so.

Victor: Thank you Edward, Fluttershy and Mr Hoskins for bringing him over.

Edward: Not a problem Victor.

Mr Hoskins: Happy to help.

Fluttershy: Oh, yes of course. See you later Victor.

(Edward puffs off)

Victor: Nos vemos más tarde.

Narrator: Then the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia went to see Duck.

Fat Controller: I want you to help Percy and Toby whilst Thomas is ill and away at the works. Donald, Douglas and Jinty will help Oliver on the Little Western in your absence.

Celestia: And you'll be working with my faithful student Twilight Sparkle and your old friend Mr. Hawkins.

Narrator: Duck was delighted beyond words.

Duck: Oh thank you sir and malady! I can't wait to see my old friend Mike Montague Hawkins again.

Twilight Sparkle: Yes Princess Celestia and Sir Topham Hatt sir. We'll do Thomas' work very fine.

Mr. Hawkins: Oh thank you Sir. It'll be nice working with Duck again.

Duck: It'll be just like the old days back in Paddington.

Mr. Hawkins: All ship shape!

Duck: And Swindon Fashion!

Mr. Hawkins/Duck: That's right!

Twilight Sparkle: (Chuckles)

Narrator: The three were delighted and set to work at once. Duck knew Percy, Mr. Holden, Applejack, Twilight, Miss Ravens and Pinkie Pie already and it wasn't long before he made friends with Mr. Roberts, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hoskins, Toby, Flora, Daisy, Fancy Pants, Fleur Di Les, Fluttershy, Bertie, Spike and even Terrance the tractor. Percy, who was still cross with Thomas was glad for someone new to talk too, especially his old friend Duck.

Fancy Pants: I say Duck, you sure doing a splendid job here. Just mind you take care of Thomas' coaches Annie and Clarabel and Twilight Sparkle as well.

Fleur Di Les: Yes please do, he's sure to miss them while he's away.

Duck: Will do.

Narrator: Duck was very gentle with the coaches. Annie and Clarabel were very impressed.

Annie: (Sigh) Oh such nice manners Clarabel my dear.

Clarabel: I second that Annie my dear. It really is a pleasure to go out with him.

Duck: Well then, that makes three of us.

Clarabel/Annie: (Giggle)

Narrator: They soon made Duck welcome and he laughed when they told him about the time that he had accidentally left the guard stranded at Knapford station. Twilight grew fond of Duck as well it was nice change, but all the same she still missed Thomas.

Mr. Hawkins: What's the matter Twilight? You look a bit furlong.

Twilight Sparkle: Hmm? Oh it's nothing Mr. Hawkins. Don't get me wrong. I think Duck is a very nice and really useful engine indeed. But all the same, I do miss Thomas.

Duck: Oh don't worry. I understand completely.

Narrator: When Thomas came back, Annie, Clarabel and Twilight all told him how well Duck had managed. Though Thomas was a bit jealous at first, he was just so pleased to be home again that he soon forgot to be jealous.

Fluttershy: Oh Thomas, I'm so glad that you've come home.

Applejack: I know. Welcome back partner.

Pinkie Pie: Yay! Welcome home Thomas! We should have through a party for you.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh it's great to have you back!

Thomas: It's great to be back Twilight, you too everyone.

Narrator: Unfortunately though, Thomas hadn't forgotten about Percy and the affair with the coal. Percy was careful to keep out of his way and refused to talk to him.

(Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel to Knapford station)

Twilight Sparkle: Oh no Thomas, not this again. Just let this grudge go.

Thomas: No I won't! Percy coal dusted us on purpose!

Mr. Hawkins: Now Thomas, you know as well as I do that it was really that coal trucks fault, the catch on door fell open by accident!

Annie: Mr. Hawkins is right.

Clarabel: So how could it be Percy's fault?!

Narrator: But Thomas took no notice.

Twilight Sparkle: (To herself) Thank goodness Discord isn't here. I know he's reformed and all but if he saw Thomas and Percy quarrelling, he'd be laughing his horns off.

Narrator: Pinkie Pie and Mr. Roberts weren't fairing to well with Percy either.

(Percy pulling stone trucks to Knapford harbour)

Pinkie Pie: Oh come on Percy! Quit this silly rivalry between you and Thomas.

Percy: No I won't! That cheeky Thomas blamed me for coal dusting him! I didn't even mean to. It was stupid coal trucks fault! The catch fell open! I am not at fault!

Mr. Roberts: Well Perhaps if you just explain to him what really happened. Then…

Percy: Already tried it! It didn't work and personally I have nothing to be sorry about! Especially after he laughed at me for crashing into the coal bunker.

Pinkie Pie: Now Percy If just explain that is was all an accident and apologize for laughing then maybe things will turn out alright.

Narrator: But Percy took no notice! The works had left Thomas' hand brake very stiff. It made his brakes seem as if they were hard on when in fact they weren't.

(Thomas stops at the platform, take 1)

Thomas: Alright! Elesbridge station.

Mr. Hawkins: Right. Brakes on and…. Hey …hey …hey! Wait a minute.

Thomas: Whoa whoa… hey! What's going on?

Annie: Oh, dear um Thomas?

Clarabel: We've over ran the platform!

Thomas: Oh good grief!

(Thomas stops at the platform, take 2)

Thomas: Alright. Kanpford Station.

Mr. Hawkins: Right brakes on and… Whoa… stop!

Thomas: Whoa, hey… Oh no!

Annie: Oh no! Thomas, we've over ran the platform again!

Thomas: Oh not again! Ugh! I'm so sorry everyone.

Clarabel: That's alright.

Narrator: As a result, Thomas and his coaches often over ran the platform. Thomas and Twilight found this most embarrassing. Gradually Mr. Hawkins, Twilight Sparkle, Thomas, Annie and Clarabel learned to be extra careful.

(Thomas stops perfectly at Elsbridge)

Thomas: Ah. There. Much better.

Twilight Sparkle: Right on the money.

Annie: Thank goodness for that.

Clarabel: They should really get Thomas' breaks checked.

Narrator: But one day, Mr. Hawkins took ill and Miss Ravens had to take his place. The next morning at the Knapford Junction, Thomas ran round Annie and Clarabel. Whilst Miss Ravens was chatting with the stationmaster on the platform. Twilight Sparkle fastened the coupling. Mr. Hawkins had told Twilight to tell Miss Ravens about Thomas' hand brake, but unluckily she had forgotten. So once she had finished with the coupling, she joined Miss Ravens and the stationmaster on the platform to wait for Henry's train.

Twilight: I'll be right back. I'm going to wait for Henry and Applejack to arrive.

Thomas: Right Twilight!

Narrator: Thomas simmered happily in the distance. He saw Henry slowly approaching.

Thomas: (Thinks to himself) Not long now.

Twilight Sparkle: Hullo Applejack and Mr. Holden.

Applejack: Howdy Twi, Howdy miss Ravens

Mr. Holden: Hullo Twilight, Miss Ravens. Sure is busy now, isn't it?

Miss Ravens: Indeed it is. Mr. Hawkins is ill today so I'm filling In

Applejack: I hope he's alright. Anyway, how's Thomas.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh he's fine except for his hand brake.

Miss Ravens: What's wrong with his hand break?

(Record scratch)

Twilight: Oh no. I almost forgot to tell you about Thomas' hand brake! I hope he hasn't left yet.

Narrator: At that moment, Thomas felt his wheels suddenly move He tried to stop but he couldn't without Miss Ravens or Twilight Sparkle. He tried to whistle a warning but he couldn't do that either. The guard shouted from the platform the platform.

Guard: HEY! YOUR TRAIN!

Miss Ravens: Oh don't worry. He's right there just moving off… (Record scratch) HOLY SWEET FISH'N' CHIPS! THOMAS!

Narrator: The ponies, the guard and Miss Ravens were all left stranded on the platform with the passenger staring as Thomas, Annie and Clarabel gathered speed uncontrollably out of the station.

Applejack: Oh No! Thomas is running on his own! And ah have to get back to Henry…

Narrator: But luckily, Shining Armor was on Henry's train.

Shining Armor: Don't worry. I'll take over Henry, you go help Twilight to help Thomas. Now go! Go! Before he wrecks himself.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh thank you so much B.B.B.F.F. I owe you one.

Miss Ravens: (Panicking) Alright! Alright already! Just shake a leg and get a move on!

Twilight Sparkle: Alright girls let's go and try and catch him.

Mr. Holden: Right. You girls head for Dryaw to see if you can stop him there! I'll inform the signalmen, stationmasters, Spitfire and air base commander!

Narrator: And so miss Ravens and 2 ponies ran off to Dryawed station. The empty coaches shrieked as they violently rounded the curve.

Annie: (Frightened) STOP! STOP!

Clarabel: (Frightened) SLOW DOWN! SLOW DOWN!

Narrator: But Thomas with plenty of steam kept on going.

Thomas: (Frightened) I CAN'T! I CAN'T! SORRY GIRLS!

Narrator: The signalman at the junction was quickly informed by Mr. Holden about what had happened and sent a message down the line.

Signalman: STOP THE RUNAWAY!

Narrator: At Dryaw station near the airfield, the ponies and Miss Ravens were met by Spitfire and the rest of the Wonderbolts whom all agreed on a plan. Harold stood there on standby ready for an emergency. But Thomas was still going much too fast to put the plan into action.

Spitfire: Quick Miss Ravens, Twilight and Applejack, get aboard Harold.

Narrator: Together they all took off into the sky. Trying to beat Thomas to Troyreck station.

Harold: I must get there in time I must!

Spitfire: Alright everyone and everypony, stay in formation! Keep your eyes peeled.

Soarin/Fleet Foot/Rapidfire/Harold/Miss Ravens/Twilight Sparkle/Applejack: Copy that Spitfire!

Harold: Captain! I see him! He's down below!

Spitfire: Copy that. We're in luck. He's slowing down and we're nearing Troyreck. Once we get there, land near the station and Miss Ravens, I'll need you to climb on to help me stop him. You take the footplate handbrake and I'll take Clarabel's brake!

Miss Ravens: Copy that!

Narrator: Down below Thomas was tiring.

Thomas: I need to stop I need to stop!

Narrator: Annie and Clarabel held back as best as they could on the hill, but they couldn't do much without a guard. As they neared Troyreck station, Thomas saw Harold and the Wonderbolts land and Miss Ravens and Spitfire running/flying towards the platform where they stood waiting. This time, Thomas entered the platform slowly enough for Spitfire and Miss Ravens to act. Running/flying beside the train, Spitfire and Miss Ravens judged they're moments. They jumped and scrambled into Clarabel and Thomas' cab, then they put Clarabel's and Thomas' brakes hard on. At last with a sigh of relief, Thomas stopped . He, Miss Ravens, Spitfire, Twilight and the rest of ponies were very relieved. Then Miss Ravens, Twilight and Applejack thanked Harold and the Wonderbolts.

Spitfire: Hey no problem. Glad to help you guys.

Harold: Think nothing of it. Glad to be of service anytime.

Narrator: Miss Ravens and the ponies all mopped their brows.

Twilight Sparkle: Whew! That was a close one. You okay Thomas

Thomas: (Panting) Yeah just a little winded.

Miss Ravens: Don't worry. We'll give you a nice drink of water and then you'll feel better.

Applejack: Woohhoo boy. That was a mighty close save there Thomas.

Miss Ravens: Whew! Indeed it was. We're gonna have to do something about your brakes Thomas. We must never let this happen again.

Narrator: Wearily, Thomas agreed with them.

And the next one is... hold on. What is the next one? Ah, 'Better Late Then Never'. Well, that story might be 'late' due to the fact that I have other work to do. See you then.