Author's notes: Hello, everyone! It's been a long time but I thought it'll be nice to write something that my toddler son is into: Thomas the Tank Engine. This story is inspired by The Adventure Begins special and I was surprisingly impressed by the storytelling and the sweet interactions between Thomas and Edward. I swear they act like father and son to me and it made me think about the Troublesome Trucks scene...and how it could go horribly wrong. This is the end result and I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine, The Adventure Begins and anything related to the franchise and the Railway Series by Rev. Wilbert Awdry. All I have is my imagination which is poured into this story.

Other Notes: Based on The Adventure Begins special and has some plot divergence while trying to keep true to the essence of the original storyline. Therefore there will be spoilers if you haven't seen it yet. Told mainly from Edward's perspective and may contain traces of OOC.

The Adventure Begins: A Harsh Lesson Learned

Chapter One: Edward's Premonition

It was night time at Tidmouth Sheds and the engines were done for the day. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James and their newest resident Thomas were in their berths, sharing their stories for the day. There was laughter ringing in the night air courtesy of Gordon and James due to the most highlighted story of the day: Thomas' disastrous mishap of his first train ride. James was the one who narrated it all since he was the one who saw Thomas looking excited and thinking that he was pulling the passenger train when there was nothing coupled to him. Adding to the humiliation, James had also witnessed the stern telling off by the Fat Controller to Thomas and how he initially struggled to pull the coaches before he got going. The story was exceedingly humorous to Gordon who laughed the loudest and hardest. Henry stifled his giggles while Edward cracked a smile and made soft chuckles. He knew how over-excited and impetuous his young charge would be when he had the opportunity to prove himself to be a Really Useful engine. He glanced at the berth next to him and he stopped chuckling. Thomas didn't look amused at all and glaring half heartedly at Gordon and James who were still laughing.

'Poor Thomas...he must be taking it harder than I thought...' Edward thought sympathetically.

"Ho Ho Ho ha ha ha! Oh Thomas, I'm glad you came to work on our railway. You always give us something funny to laugh about!" Gordon chuckled with a condescending smile.

"Now the Fat Controller will not let me pull trains again..." Thomas sighed sadly before brightening up slightly, "But I want to go places and do things! I want to-"

"See the world!" Gordon and James finished his sentence before bursting into peals of laughter once more.

Edward's firebox dimmed upon seeing the bright sparkle disappear from Thomas' face. Sadness was unbecoming of him...he quickly glanced at Henry who was also looking at Thomas with concern. If anything, he also looked guilty for laughing at the young engine earlier. Edward wished there was some way to cheer Thomas up and he had an idea...maybe it wouldn't hurt to grant him one chance to see the world. He did have a job tomorrow personally assigned by the Fat Controller, which was to a deliver a goods train to Maron...yes, it could work...

"Don't be sad, Thomas," Edward said soothingly, "If you really want to go out, why don't you take my goods train tomorrow? I can take over in the yard if you like."

Edward smiled upon seeing the excitement brighten up the young engine's face. At the corner of his eye, he thought he saw more worry cloud over Henry's face. But he didn't think much of it since Henry was a worrier by nature.

"Really? Would you do that, Edward? For me?" Thomas asked in wonder.

"Yes, Thomas...I would," and Edward meant it. He would do anything for the sweet smile to return on that youthful face. He yawned, feeling very sleepy indeed, "Now let's get some sleep, okay?"

Edward closed his eyes and sighed.

"Oh Edward, I wish it was morning..."

The older engine smiled upon hearing the excited whisper. Then he risked to peek one sleepy eye open and found Thomas asleep with a smile on his face.

"Good night, Thomas...it's going to be a big day for you tomorrow..." Edward whispered to the young engine fondly. He noticed that Henry was still awake and still looking worried...and even more so, "What's the matter, Henry? Are you having boiler aches again?"

"Oh no, Edward, I'm fine, really. I'm just...I'm just worried about you and Thomas...you know how the Fat Controller is particular about assigning jobs to us. He chose that job for you for a reason...you could get into trouble because you didn't ask his permission to allow Thomas to take over."

"I appreciate your thoughts, Henry. It's just a simple goods train and I think Thomas will-"

"No, you don't understand. I saw the goods train assigned to you before I came back to the sheds," Henry's face looked scared, "It has Troublesome Trucks!"

At once, Edward felt a terrible feeling in the pits of his firebox. The Troublesome Trucks were only to be handled by experienced and strong engines...they were mischievous and a danger to other engines who didn't know how to properly handle them. He himself was one of the few that the Troublesome Trucks listened and obeyed...

"Oh dear...I already promised Thomas he could take my goods train..."

"What are you going to do, Edward?"

Henry was right to be worried but a promise was a promise. He couldn't let Thomas down.

"I guess I'll need to warn Thomas about them. Once he sets his mind to something, there's no stopping him. I'll bear the responsibility should anything goes wrong because it was my suggestion to begin with."

"Well, I hope that everything will be fine, Edward..." Henry replied with uncertainty.

Edward was unsure too, "I do hope so, Henry...I do hope so..."

Edward and Henry eventually dozed off with their fellow engines but the older blue mixed traffic engine's sleep was not entirely peaceful throughout the night...

Early the next morning, Edward followed Thomas into the shunting yard. Henry's warning haunted his dreams and the terrible feeling in his firebox hadn't abated, therefore waking him up wary and worried. He felt it was a premonition...and it grew stronger with each minute Thomas nearing the goods train. But the young tank engine was far too excited about his new job to notice his mentor's anxiety.

"Is it these ones? Is it those? Which trucks are they, Edward?" Thomas asked as he examined the various trucks parked in the yard. His young face was smiling wide with optimism as he turned another track that would lead him to his goods train.

"Those trucks, Thomas. But wait! I need to tell you something impor-" but Edward was interrupted.

"I know, I know! I have to be coupled up before I go. You don't have to tell me. I've learned my lesson," Thomas said reassuringly with a hint of impatience as he reversed back to the goods train. He didn't notice the devious glares of the Troublesome Trucks directed at him.

In his impatience to be coupled up, Thomas bumped lightly into the head Troublesome Truck, creating a shockwave down the train. The Troublesome Trucks were not happy about it as they shouted their pitchy chants "Oi, give it a rest! Give it a rest!" Edward gasped with growing fear. With that little action, Thomas had inadvertently stoked the blaze of their mischief. But finally, Thomas was coupled up...

"Troublesome Trucks can play tricks on you, Thomas!" Edward exclaimed his warning worriedly, hoping that his young charge would heed his words, "It's not the same as in the yard; they'll push you off the rails you're not careful!"

"Don't be silly!" Thomas laughed as he tooted his whistle to sound his departure. He had shunted them before in the yard so surely they'd be no problem when he pulled them, "You worry too much, Edward, like Henry!"

Edward watched Thomas initially struggling to pull the goods train. The Troublesome trucks were reversing in the opposite direction and applied their brakes while giggling maniacally. But the young tank engine proved to be very tenacious as he grunted and puffed as hard as he could. Much to the shock of the Troublesome Trucks, he managed to break through with sheer force and pull them forward, now creating the necessary momentum to start his journey. Thomas smiled briefly at his accomplishment before straining more of his strength to pull the train...eventually he chuffed away from the shunting yard with Edward following closely behind. He didn't like how the Troublesome Trucks cackled in anger...they were already planning their revenge on Thomas. The mixed traffic engine gasped woefully when he was forced to stop at the end of the siding.

"Thomas, be careful!" Edward shouted desperately while watching his young friend disappear down the track away from the yard, "Oh dear...I really hope he knows what he's doing..."

Even his driver shared his strong concern, "I don't like this, Edward. Something tells me that this isn't going to end well..."

"Sir Topham Hatt isn't going to be happy about this...he's going to be so cross..." his fireman frowned, shaking his head.

Getting punished by the Fat Controller was the last thing on Edward's worry-frenzied mind...he just prayed and hoped that Thomas would be alright.

Edward tried to take his mind off his charge and the Troublesome Trucks as he continued Thomas' jobs in the shunting yard. Even though he was very efficient and gentle with the trucks and coaches, he still couldn't shake off the terrible feeling in his firebox and his crew's concerns about Thomas. He kept on sighing with a downcast look on his face as he worked. He also kept on looking up, hoping and praying to see Thomas come back with a cheerful smile on his face. But as the hours passed, there was no sign of the sky blue tank engine...and this made Edward more and more despondent...

"Oh Thomas...if something terrible were to happen to you...I'll never forgive myself..." Edward sighed, his worried face taking on a sad edge, "What have I done?"

An uncomfortable silence was his answer and his driver and fireman could only pat the sides of his cab in a vain attempt to soothe his intense worry...

To be continued...

Author's notes: I hope this will keep you interested in the story and I am aiming to upload a chapter each week since I'm really on the roll of writing it :D Reviews are welcome and hope to see you soon! Kudos to you all, my dears!