Chapter 1: True And The Special Letter

One morning, True, Bartleby, Grizelda, and Zee were hanging out at True and Bartleby's house. True and Bartleby were telling Zee and Grizelda about the former two's trip to the Island of Sodor a while back.

"And then Ryan pulled the lever and Thomas fell through a trapdoor!" Bartleby was saying. "And Thomas looked so funny when he came back up soaking wet!"

"Yeah, it was kind of funny." True said. "But not to him."

"Right." said Bartleby. "And then we all went down this neat elevator and we saw their headquarters! It was so awesome! It was like we were on the set of a real crime movie!"

"Interesting." said Zee.

"How were they even able to do that?" asked Grizelda. "I mean, did they build everything themselves?"

"Not really." said True. "While we were searching for the chest, I asked Thomas about it, and he said that they just had the crew come and build it all. Everything was paid for using funds from the actual program. But they got permission from Sir Topham Hatt first."

"Nice." said Zee. "Say, I would like to meet these engines myself some time."

"Me too." said Grizelda.

"Perhaps we can arrange that." said True.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and when True answered, she was greeted by a figure that looked very similar to the Rainbow King's guards, except he was more average height, just a foot taller than True. Plus, he just wore a red sun helmet that had the word "Mail" painted on the front in yellow all-caps lettering and red boots. Another unique characteristic was that this guard had a brown messenger bag. This made it clear that this was a mail carrier.

"Oh, hi, Mr. Mailman." True said with a smile.

"Hey, True." said Mr. Mailman. "I've gotta letter for you and Bartleby."

Mr. Mailman reached into his bag and took out a blue envelope, which he handed to True. True thanked him and he tipped his helmet and went on his way, then she went back inside the house.

"Who's the letter from?" asked Bartleby.

True looked at the return address and gasped with surprise.

"It's from Thomas!" she said.

"What does it say?" asked Zee.

"There's only one way to find out." said True.

True opened the envelope and extracted a folded-up piece of paper. When she unfolded it, this is what it said:

"Dear True and Bartleby,

My friends and I really liked having you two visit the Island of Sodor, and ever since then, we've been wondering if you two would be coming again at some point, and believe it or not, last night I had a dream that you and Bartleby came back to visit us again. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I do remember seeing you and Bartleby on our Island again. When I told the others about my dream, they told me that I should write this letter to invite you guys back to Sodor for another visit. I hope this letter reaches you safely, and please respond if you can.

Your friend,

Thomas.

P.S. If you do decide to come visit us again, feel free to bring some friends of yours with you. The more, the merrier!"

True and Bartleby were surprised as they skimmed over the letter.

"Wow." said Bartleby. "Who would've thought a dream would cause someone to want us to visit them again?"

"I know, right?" replied True. "Well, do you think we should go visit Thomas again?"

"Of course." came Bartleby's reply. "I loved it last time."

"Well, let's go, in that case." said True.

"Hey, can I come too?" asked Grizelda.

"Of course, Grizelda." said True. "You can come too, Zee."

But Zee wasn't so sure.

"But what about the Wishes in the Wishing Tree?" he asked. "Somebody needs to look after them."

"He's gotta point." said Bartleby.

True thought about this for quite a minute.

"Maybe you could ask Ecks to look after them." she said.

"Yeah, that could work." said Zee. "I'll go do that. I'll be back soon."

"And I'll go get myself ready." said Grizelda. "Come on, Frookie!"

With that, Grizelda left with her precious puppy, Frookie, while Zee went to the Rainbow Castle to speak with his older brother, Ecks, the recently-appointed Prime Minister of the Rainbow Kingdom. He went up to the door to his quarters and knocked on it.

"Come in." said a voice from inside.

Zee opened the door and went inside the room.

"Oh, hey, Zee." said Ecks. "What can I do for you?"

Zee explained, then asked Ecks if he could watch over the Wishing Tree while he was gone.

"Yeah, I can do that." said Ecks.

"Thanks, brother." smiled Zee.

"No worries." replied Ecks.

Zee then went up to his home in the Wishing Tree and packed a suitcase. Back at True's and Bartleby's house, True called Thomas on her Face Bubble. Thomas was very pleased to see True.

"Oh, hey, True!" he said. "How's it going?"

"Fine." said True. "How're things on Sodor?"

"Good, good." said Thomas. "Did you get my letter?"

"Yup." said True. "And I think you'll be happy to hear that we're accepting your invitation."

Thomas smiled.

"You're right." said Thomas. "I am happy to hear that! When do you think you'll be here?"

"We're planning to leave soon." said True.

"Great." said Thomas. "Where can I meet you?"

"Same place as last time?" asked True.

"You mean the Search And Rescue Center?" Thomas replied. "Done."

"Great." said True. "We'll see you there."

"Likewise." said Thomas.

True bid good-by to Thomas and ended the call. She then told Bartleby where they were going to meet Thomas.

"Perfect." said Bartleby.

True and Bartleby then each packed a suitcase with spare pajamas, clothes, their toothbrush and toothpaste, and other essentials. Just as they were finishing up, Grizelda arrived, followed by Zee.

"Perfect timing, you two." said True.

"Thanks." said Grizelda. "So, how are we gonna get to Sodor?"

True face-palmed.

"Oh, shoot." she said. "We never came up with that."

"Don't worry." said Bartleby. "I know just the thing. Follow me."

Bartleby led them outside to a large shed. Needless to say, everyone, especially True, was very surprised, mostly because she had never seen that shed before.

"How did this get here?" she asked.

"Plot convenience." Bartleby quipped.

"Oh, of course." replied True.

Bartleby then went inside the shed and came back out pushing a large object covered by a large sheet.

"What's that?" asked Zee.

"So glad you asked." said Bartleby.

Bartleby then pulled off the sheet and revealed something neither True, Zee, nor Grizelda had seen before. In front of them was some kind of helicopter. But this was no ordinary copter, because at the front the craft were two seats that each had a set of pedals, one for a pilot and one for a copilot, and in the back was a bomber-style bench seat. It also featured a hemispheric windshield and landing gear arranged in a "tricycle" arrangement.

"Wow!" True gasped. "Where did you get this, Bee?"

"I made it." said Bartleby.

True, Zee, and Grizelda were all astonished.

"You built this all by yourself?" Zee asked.

"Yup." Bartleby replied.

"Nice." said True. "How did you build it?"

"Well, I made the fuselage, rotor post, landing gear, and tail boom out of wood." said Bartleby. "The windshield's made of fiberglass."

"And the wheels?" Zee asked.

"Those actually came from an old car that was sold for scrap." Bartleby replied.

"What did you do with the fourth wheel?" asked True.

"I still haven't decided yet." said Bartleby. "But one thing's for sure, the fella who sold the car offered a very good price for them. I paid cash."

"That's very impressive." said Zee. "What're you gonna call it?"

"I'm gonna call it The Pedal-opter." said Bartleby.

"Nice name." said True.

"Thanks." said Bartleby. "I thought of it myself."

Just then, True noticed that the sun was starting to go down.

"Well, I think it's time we turned in." she announced. "We all want to make sure we get enough rest before we set off on our trip tomorrow."

Everyone agreed and went to bed. The next morning, everyone in Rainbow City came to bid farewell to our four friends. A banner had been erected that read "Bon Voyage!", and a large crowd had gathered.

"Goodbye, True, Bartleby, Grizelda, and Zee!" said the Rainbow King. "I hope you have a nice trip! And don't worry, Grizelda, Frookie is in good hands!"

"Thanks, Your Majesty!" said Grizelda with a curtsey.

"Godspeed, brother." Ecks said to Zee as they shook hands.

"Thanks, Ecks." Zee smiled before climbing into the bench seat next to Grizelda.

"Goodbye, everyone!" True said with a wave. "We'll send you all a postcard from the Island of Sodor!"

True then took her seat next to Bartleby, who was wearing an aviator hat.

"Nice hat, Bee." she smiled.

"Thanks, True." said Bartleby as he began working the pedals. "I figured it would be appropriate."

True herself started pedaling and in no time, the quartet was airborne.

"Look out, Island of Sodor!" said True. "Here we come!"

End of Chapter 1