"And that's how Arkilles was defeated," Tree Rex explained as he patted Chihiro's head.

Chihiro giggled as Tree Rex lifted his hand, and hummed as she rubbed her chin. "I'm guessing that rift must've been what took you all to Earth," Chihiro remarked as she pulled her wheels from her pocket and levitated them around, "but, that leaves me with one last question."

Tree Rex raised a brow. "And that is?"

"What exactly happened to your portal masters?"

Tree Rex sighed and held his head. "I'm not sure. All I remember was that bright flash of light, and then, nothing. I hadn't seen anything else." A small frown crossed Tree Rex's face. "If I had to guess, at this point they're probably long dead…"

A sparkle of light caught Tree Rex's eyes, and he frowned as he turned back to where Chihiro toyed with her miniature wheel collection! She giggled as they spun in place and bounced in midair, but soon the show ended. They dropped into her lap as she peered up at Tree Rex.

"Say, Chihiro," Tree Rex remarked, "where did you get those wheels?"

"Oh, these?" Chihiro lifted the purple wheel up to her eye and grinned as it shone in the light. "I've been finding them all across Skylands ever since we started running around here!" Chihiro hummed as she turned around the wheel, and its purple color grew even more brilliant in the sunlight. "I don't know why, but it felt like they were calling to me, so I've been keeping them safe!"

Tree Rex grinned. "I'm not surprised," he said as he examined the other wheels that Chihiro held. "Back in our times, our portal masters used these wheels as their symbol!"

"Really?" Chihiro's eyes sparkled with awe, and she lowered the wheel down to her chest.

"Indeed! It was a subtle way for them to show those around just who they were without drawing Arkeyan attention. They had our motto engraved on their crystal, so anyone who saw them would know they were safe." Tree Rex frowned and rubbed his chin. "Now that I think about it, I think they had another purpose too, but I can't quite remember what it was."

"Attention, friends!" cried the wilikin who piloted their ship. "We have now arrived at our destination!"

Another burst of cold flurries came from the side, and covered everyone in thin coats of snow as the ship docked. Everyone shuddered as they shook the snow from their bodies. Yeah, they definitely arrived, for right past them were endless miles of snow and ice as far as the eye can see! Its paths were clean and free of tracks, which allotted them to sparkle bright in the sunlight above. It was a pretty sight, but it wouldn't last for long. They had to get going, after all!

Chihiro waved her hands as everyone else broke away from huddling for warmth or whatever else they did, and crafted magic effigies of all sorts of warm winter clothes! Fluffy hats topped with pom-poms, cozy scarves, and puffy jackets all came to her in a snap, and she donned a few before she passed the remaining pile off to Terrafin.

"Be sure to bundle up, everyone! Don't want anybody catching a cold and all!" Chihiro shouted as she waved back to them. Chihiro grinned as she drummed her gloved fingers against the ship's railing, but her grin faded as Ermit walked up beside her. "Hey, Ermit, by the way" — Chihiro placed her elbows on the railing, and pressed her hands against her face — "where is this giant robot of yours, anyways?"

"Well, last I recall, I parked it at the end of the island," Ermit replied as he scratched his beard. "Sure hope nobody's messed with it since I've been gone."

CRASH!

A massive avalanche poured down in the distance, and everyone leaned over the railing as the sight of something large, gold and blue crept over the horizon—a giant Arkeyan robot! Its squeaking joints echoed as it lifted its arm. It pounded down mountains of snow like they were made of clouds, lifted itself up, and jiggled as if it laughed while the avalanches collapsed below its mighty stature! More importantly, judging by the reaction of Ermit—all wide eyes and tight, cringing teeth—that was definitely his robot!

"Yeah, it definitely wasn't doing that when I left it here!" Ermit cried. "Heck, it didn't even move at all! What's gotten into the thing?" Ermit's ears flattened as he shot an aside glare. "Don't tell me he's behind all this."

Chihiro quirked a brow, but as she scanned over the area, her own eyes fell on something odd. Hung from a wall of ice was a flag of an ice ogre with a mohawk, two large blue eyes, and attire covered in gems for clothing that proudly puffed out his chest. He wasn't just there, either: the ice sculptures and snowmen littered around the area all bore his face, his flags hung from every fixture they could, and even banners strung across snow-covered buildings bore it! That face seemed awfully familiar, too.

"Hey, Rupty!" Chihiro called as she waved Eruptor over. "Come look at this!" Chihiro pointed a finger towards the various ice ogre-themed decorations as Eruptor squeezed himself between Chihiro and Ermit. "Don't those faces seem familiar to you?"

Eruptor tapped his hand against his chin, and his lava burned brighter as his brows raised. "They do!" Eruptor cried as he waved his hand towards the statues. "It's that Noodles guy!"

"Knew it!" Chihiro cried. "Something tells me that robot going wild with these around is no coincidence" — Chihiro heaved a foot over the ship's railing — "I'd better go—"

"Wait a second!" Ermit cried as he pulled Chihiro back by her jacket. Chihiro yelped as Ermit pulled her back to his side, and he only scoffed as he gestured back to the various flags and statues. "Just who is this Noodles guy, anyways?"

"Noodles was one of Kaos's cronies back in the day. He and his ice ogres trapped an island in an eternal winter before, and we nearly got frozen alive trying to stop him!" Chihiro's eyes tensed, and she leaped onto the ship's railing once more. "Something tells me he's up to something here too!" With a grunt, Chihiro leaped right off the side of the ship and flipped down onto the land below! Snow burst from the ground and cascaded back down as she landed, but she only scoffed. "Whatever it is, we're gonna stop it, ‘cause I have a sneaking suspicion it's nothing good!"

Chihiro leaped out of the ground and manifested snowshoes onto her shoes with a snap of her fingers, and prepared to run forward, but a bright glow from her pocket stopped her! Chihiro whipped around right as this pocket glow shuddered and rumbled, and gasped as her wheels burst out from her pocket! They hovered right before her as their glow became even brighter, almost enchanting, and zipped right off before her eyes.

"Actually, change of plans!" Chihiro cried as she tailed them towards a large, icy cavern entrance. "The rest of you, take care of Noodles! I've gotta see where these wheels are going!"

"Chi, wait up!" Terrafin cried as he shuffled past the others and dashed down the ship's drawbridge with only a moment of pause taken to fix his scarf.

Eruptor, Cynder and Whirlwind all tailed after her, and the others only paused and peered over the deck as they dashed closer to the caverns.

§

Tree Rex frowned as he stepped off the ship, and ahead of him, Chihiro and the Skylanders slowly disappeared into the distance.

"Well," Tree Rex remarked as he drew his hands away from the rails, "I suppose that finding this Noodles being is our job now."

"That's your job, you mean!" Ermit scoffed as he strode off and huddled beside a few barrels. "I'm not running around in all that snow, and especially not when there's evil ice ogres about!" Ermit grinned as one of the barrels heated up, and held his hands closer to its warmth. "I'm staying here where it's nice and safe!"

Tree Rex sighed, shook his head while Ermit cowered, and stomped his way down the drawbridge. Eye-Brawl and Thumpback leaped off the boat and tossed snow off the ground, Swarm flew off and hovered down below them, and they all crossed the snowy land with a single nod. They were completely silent with stoic frowns to match as they passed by the masses of snow, ice, and frost-covered mountains and buildings, all sights that seemingly blended together…

But then, Tree Rex hit something cool and slick and slid off!

"Whoa-whoa-whoa!" Tree Rex cried as he slid across the slick flooring and smashed right into the side of a marble building! The building cracked behind him as Tree Rex's head spun, and he groaned as he pushed it up.

Before him, the endless slopes and slicks of ice and snow made way some. They traded off in favor of carefully-crafted marble buildings colored in sleek, pearly shades of blues and whites; all of them melded with the warmth of shiny gold. Large pagodas and homes shimmered while the snow dusted their roofs like glitter, and tall pillars with all sorts of carvings depicting events long past stood beside these buildings. The floors were made of a strong tile, shimmered with light in rainbow colors, and the snow glistened against their light like pastel jewels. It was a perfect light show in the day! Even those statues of that strange Noodles being glistened amid the shine of the sun, and radiated as if they were made of crystal or diamonds rather than ice. Winter chills burst through crystal windchimes and sent pleasant tunes through the air.

For such a cold place, the sight of it warmed Tree Rex's heart! He stood up and marveled in its beauty. He hadn't seen a place quite as beautiful as this since he last went to the free magicians' Northern Base while they plotted an attack on the Arkeyans' Winter Stronghold. In fact, the sights around here felt just like it with their crystalline aesthetics and bright shine!

"Boss, you alright?" Swarm asked as he flew in and crossed his arms. "You took a pretty nasty slip there!" Swarm paused, and his eyes grew and shrank as he smirked. "In fact, you could almost say it was" — Swarm snapped his fingers — "hard as ice!"

The wind spun past Swarm, and his antenna sunk at the lack of reception. "Geez, tough crowd."

Tree Rex just chuckled and laid a hand on Swarm's shoulder while Swarm scoffed,. "Ah, don't mind me, Swarm," Tree Rex said as he turned Swarm around and gestured towards the area. "I was just thinking, this place seemed almost familiar…"

"Hello?"

Tree Rex smiled and inhaled the cold air, but amid their howls, he was sure he heard something like a soft voice, almost? He turned his head aside, but couldn't seem to find anything! He must have just been hearing things.

"Hello?"

Wait, no he wasn't! Tree Rex turned right, yet still couldn't find any source for that strange, soft voice!

"Did you hear something, Swarm?"

Swarm's antenna perked up as he turned back to Tree Rex. "Now that you mention it, it almost sounded like someone was calling for me!"

"Tree Rex, Swarm!" cried a pair of voices in the distance!

Tree Rex and Swarm both turned around. Thumpback and Eye-Brawl slid in behind them, and with much more elegance than Tree Rex himself did to boot!

"There you two are!" Eye remarked. "Eye was wondering when I'd spot you!"

"Ah, don't mind us," Tree Rex remarked as he scratched at his horns, "we were just admiring the scenery."

Eye chuckled. "Ah, don't mind that. More importantly!" Eye popped off of Brawl, and fluttered down between Swarm and Tree Rex's legs. "Who's this ghastly little ghost that's lingering around you?"

Wait, a ghost? Tree Rex hadn't seen any ghosts when he came in here! A bone-chilling breeze whipped around his legs, and he peered down with a shudder. Sure enough, a thin, blue ghost with a gear planted firm on their chest flickered in and out of existence with every blink as he floated between Tree Rex and Swarm! Tree Rex wanted to ask this ghost just when they got here, but the ghost completely ignored Tree Rex as he floated up to Eye and grinned.

"You're the first one to actually notice my presence," the ghost said as he clasped his hands. "Thank you. Everyone else just ignores me."

The thick blue mist that wrapped around the ghost thinned a little as he turned around and sighed, and Tree Rex himself bowed his head as the ghost flickered once more. The poor thing, just the sight of him seemed so lonely. Tree Rex scooped the ghost into his hands, and grinned as he held the ghost up to his eyes. A soft gasp came from the ghost, but his initial shock softened as he sat down.

"Who might you be, little ghost?" Tree Rex asked. "You don't seem very fit for the weather around here!"

"I could say the same of you," the ghost chuckled back, and a twinkle shone in his blank white eyes before he turned around. "But, you are right. I'm not quite accustomed to this weather. Normally I'd brave it out in the robot I call my home…"

Another crash sounded in the distance, and all eyes turned to where that robot suit smashed off a glacial cliff! Cold white smoke burst from it as it slid down and disappeared into the clouds below, but the robot only cackled as it pumped its fist in the air. Tree Rex couldn't help but wince at the sight, yet the ghost only sighed below him.

"But then, that awful Noodles stormed my home and kicked me out! That's not even the worst of it. Ever since he took over that robot, he's spent all their time making a mess of this island! All this wanton destruction's left the island in disarray." The ghost curled up into a ball as he leaned against Tree Rex's fingers. "I can't even stop it, either. They won't listen to a word I say!"

"Well lucky for you, you've got help!" Tree Rex chimed in.

The ghost gasped and perked up his head, and Tree Rex only winked in response.

"See, we came here to stop that Noodles guy, too!" Swarm added as he leaned against Tree Rex's shoulder and winked. "Once we're through with him, he won't ever think of touching your robot again!"

"Really?" the ghost asked.

Nods came from all around, and normally, any average being would be ecstatic to hear it! However, the ghost didn't seem quite as happy. Rather, he frowned, and his body phased in and out; his hands pressed together as he peered back up at Tree Rex.

"Are you sure? Those ice ogres placed a lot of obstacles along the way." The ghost drummed his ghastly fingers against his face, which disappeared and reappeared with every phase. "It was a miracle that I managed to get here unscathed!"

"Don't worry about it, buddy!" Thumpback shouted as he rubbed the ghost's head. He grinned as he adjusted his anchor's position on his shoulder, spun around and strode off. "Whatever they have in store for us, I'm sure it'll be nothing!"

Thumpback whistled, grunted as he slammed into something cold and icy, and stumbled back! He shook his head and sent water droplets out his blowhole that quickly froze into icy chips, lifted his head and grimaced. His dour look met with his reflection as it shone in the icy object he slammed into.

"Okay, I stand corrected."

Above them all, a massive block of ice completely block off the way ahead! It was so tall that it stretched well into the clouds and past the heavens, and it seemed perfectly solid. Thumpback's collision hadn't even put a dent in it, and just its presence seemed to chill the area around.

Tree Rex frowned, backed up and leaned in as he charged forward—but the ice completely chilled him to the bone the moment he hit it! A cold, numbing feeling rattled his bones as he stumbled backwards while the world around him turned blurry and spun in circles, and something pulled him back to his feet as his vision cleared. Eye and Swarm both frowned and raised their brows at Tree Rex, and Tree Rex himself just giggled.

"Well, it was worth a shot," Tree Rex remarked.

"Brute force doesn't seem to be the answer to this problem," Eye remarked as he flew off and glared at the ice block. "Perhaps we need to put a little heat on it!"

Eye flew back, and with a slight tilt of his round body, a gigantic laser burst from his corner and seared into the block! Its bright, silvery blue light burned and reflected in the block itself, and white smoke drifted off from the laser's body as it disappeared amid the cool skies. Surely, something of that intensity would work, right? The laser reflected back as it zapped Eye into Brawl's arms. All eyes turned to the block then to find that, aside of a few thin wisps of smoke that blew off of its surface, the ice block was perfectly untouched! Not a single sign of damage rested on its surface, and it sparkled like a pristine diamond still. It probably would've been pretty if it hadn't blocked their way, but for now, it was a nuisance.

"What're we gonna do now, boss?" Swarm asked as he turned to Tree Rex.

Tree Rex just sighed and crossed his arms as he racked his brain. Normally, he would've called upon Hot Head's flames to melt it down, or on Ninjini to levitate the block out of their way, but neither of them were here at the moment. A faint recollection of the battle that separated them flitted into Tree Rex's mind, but he shook his head and dispelled the thought. His main priority was on this ice block for now, but how to move it? Even with all four of them on deck, it seemed far too heavy for them to just lift and toss away! Surely, there had to be some other way out?

"When did these crystals get here?" asked the ghost, his voice still faint as ever.

Tree Rex tilted his head, and turned back to one of those chilly pagodas. There, the ghost fiddled with a massive, laser-spewing crystal that planted in the pagoda’s heart. The laser it cast was bright and solid, enough that one burst completely melted the ice around the pillar it shot at, and revealed clear stone underneath! Tree Rex skimmed across the area, where a few other crystals of similar power and stature laid, and his eyes turned back to the block.

Tree Rex grinned as he pounded a fist into his hand. "There's your answer!" Tree Rex cried as he manned the crystal. "Move all these crystals so that they're facing the block, stat!"

Swarm, Eye-Brawl, and Thumpback all nodded, dashed across the land, and grunted as they heaved and pushed the crystals around! The crystals' lasers all locked on a single spot in the heart of the block, and Tree Rex himself grinned as he twisted his own and joined in. Their combined laser blast heated the bottom of the crystal into a clear, lightless white, but it still wasn't enough to melt it. Tree Rex joined up with the others and nodded.

"Just what are you planning?" the ghost asked as he floated up to Tree Rex and placed a hand to his face.

Tree Rex grinned. "You'll see!"

Tree Rex thrust out his solar cannon. Beside him, Swarm placed his arm barbs together, Eye popped off of Brawl's top, and Thumpback yanked his jaw wide open. Tree Rex closed his eyes, and the thought of warm, bubbling, bright light came to mind as his blood heated and broiled within his body. A warm feeling mixed with a sharp, shrieking sound came from around him, and he yanked his eyes open to find a world tinted blue!

"Fire!" Tree Rex cried.

The screech of fast light came from all around as that bright, blue light turned white, and completely masked Tree Rex's vision, but the massive smash that followed showed him all he needed to know! His vision cleared, and a massive hole formed right in the center of the ice block's lower half as green light faded from his solar cannon! With its foundation damaged, the block itself teetered left, and smashed a hole in the side of the bridge as it fell right over!

"That's the power of the Light Element for you," Tree Rex remarked as he crossed his arms, and a soft round of applause echoed from below.

"Bravo, bravo!" the ghost cheered.

Just then, a loud horn sounded off, and sent the ghost fritzing in and out of existence! The horn sounds grew even louder, so loud that everyone covered their ears just to avoid the noise, but, though their ears were covered, their eyes were wide open!

They saw something round and white rumbling in from the distance. It was so far away it couldn't quite be discerned, but the bumpy texture it showed as it came closer kind of looked like… Snow? The white orbs came to a screeching halt right at the beginning of the broken bridge; sure enough, they were giant snowballs, or so it seemed. They shuddered as they came in for a stop. Out from the snowballs' tops popped smaller snowballs with angry faces made of coal, carrots, and silver and blue armor over their heads. These weren't any ordinary snowballs—they were snowwarriors!

"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" cried the snowwarrior in the center as sticks emerged from its snowy face and formed angry eyebrows over their shiny coal eyes. "All intruders will face our mighty, chilly wrath!" The snowwarrior shuffled to the smaller snowwarrior on its left and flailed around. "Ready the arms!"

"Understood, captain!" the snowwarrior cried as it shuffled back around.

Tree Rex raised a brow, but Swarm only cackled beside him.

"Oh how scary, they sent out a bunch of snowpeople!" Swarm chuckled as he pointed at the snowwarriors and waved his fingers around. "What'cha gonna do, pelt us with snowballs?"

The snowwarriors' stick arms sunk back into their bodies, and out from them came sleek, silver cannons! The cannons loaded back with a single click. The stick eyebrows the snowwarriors held transformed into miniature logs.

"FIREEEEEEEE!" cried the head snowwarrior.

Right as it shouted this, an entire barrage of snowballs flew out and headed straight for the Elder Elementals—but with how hard these snowballs were, it was like they got pelted with gigantic chunks of hail or ice instead! Tree Rex grunted as several of the snowballs hit his chest, and he flung his arms in front of his aching torso. Beside him, Thumpback grunted as he fell on his back. Thumpback tried to push himself up, but another snowball smacked him right in the snout and knocked him back down.

Eye-Brawl wasn't much better. Eye hit the skies as he flitted away in a panic from the mass of snowballs that came his way. Brawl just squeaked and cowered with his hands over his nonexistent head!

Swarm wove between the waves of snowballs and clenched his teeth. "Me and my big mouth!" Swarm cried. He narrowly ducked under another assault of snowballs, yet one still pelted him right in the face.

He grunted and held his sore face as the snow slid right off. "You might be pretty good at hitting a big target, but how about a smaller one?" Swarm cried as he pounded his arms together. "Better yet, what about an entire swarm of them?"

The snowwarriors all paused for a moment as they turned around, leaned back and squeaked as Swarm disappeared into an entire swarm of angry, buzzing bees! The bees' buzzing turned high and screechy as they swarmed and dashed around the snowwarriors' heads, and the snowwarriors themselves could only flail their cannons to little avail. One shot off a couple snowballs, but the bees zipped out of the way and dashed off. The snowwarriors all frowned and turned back around as the sound of soft, slow buzzing sounded beside them, but the moment their eyes fell on the swarm of bees behind them, they screamed! The bees took the shape of Swarm once more, and in the snowwarriors’ moment of fright, he reformed and laid his barbs' sights right on them!

"Prepare to buzz!" Swarm cried as thundering stormclouds wrapped around his barbs!

Swarm jumped back right as the barbs fired, split in three, and sniped off the heads of each snowwarrior! Snow, tattered hats, and coal lumps tossed in the air and thunked against the ground as the snowwariors' bodies liberated themselves of their cannons arms, and stood still as ice. The bodies shuddered for a moment as they rocked back and forth, and out from them popped three wide-eyed, teeth-chattering ice ogres!

"They're tougher than we thought!" the ogres cried as they leaped out of their snowy bodies and dashed between Swarm's legs. "We've gotta warn Commander Noodles!"

"Hey, I didn't say you could buzz off!" Swarm cried as he zipped after them.

Tree Rex, Eye-Brawl, Thumpback, and the ghost all dashed right after Swarm. The snow tracked underneath their feet as they dashed down the cold marble of the path below them. They all panted as their eyes fell just above Swarm's shoulder, where one could faintly spot that trio of ice ogres dashing right towards another snowy island that acted as the foot of small, snow-covered mountains.

Behind them, the Elder Elementals and the ghost charged forward, but then, the ogres hit the snow and stomped their feet! A shriek came from above as shadows cast themselves on the segment of path that stood between the ogres and the Elder Elementals, and down over it came massive hunks of ice! The ice blocks crashed down in sequence and completely barred the way ahead off, their ice so thick and cold that it completely chilled through. Mist came from underneath the blocks’ solid white bodies as the Elder Elementals backed off, and the faint laughter and footsteps of ice ogres echoed in the skies.

Swarm's lip twitched slightly. His wings buzzed like a cicada's as he smashed his barbs into the ice's surface like a chisel—but, that wasn't quite a bright idea. His eyes turned wide as his barb snapped in half, and he screamed as he yanked his hand back from the unbroken block.

"Owch! Owch owch owch!" Swarm wailed as he rubbed his broken barb, his eyes welled with small tears. He winced as he leaned the broken barb against the ice blocks before him, and breathed a sigh of relief as the chill numbed his wound.

"Looks like we're not getting through there anytime soon," Thumpback said as he rubbed his massive chins. "Guess we'll have to go back."

"Or we could take the other way?" the ghost suggested.

All eyes turned down to him, and the ghost just smiled as he pushed open part of the path's railing like it was a gate's door. As the door slid open, a path of shiny silver stretched out before him, and he floated over and ushered for the Elder Elementals to come.

Tree Rex frowned as he peered down the path ahead. "That might work for you, but I think it's a little small for us," Tree Rex remarked as he scratched his horns.

The ghost hummed as he examined the bridge below, sighed and floated back over to Tree Rex's side. "Well, I suppose you're right there," he admitted.

Thumpback continued to rub his chin as his tiny eyes fixed on the gigantic ice blocks that blocked the way off. A low, rumbling hum came from him, the same kind of hum he always made if something caught his eye. Perhaps he had an idea?

"Swarm, can you scout the tops of these blocks for any gaps?" Thumpback asked.

"Odd request, but sure!" Swarm replied. His wings flitted a bit, and he zipped up and away. "If you need an eye in the skies, leave it to me!"

Swarm buzzed above the blocks and hummed as he zipped from block to block, nodded and zipped back to Thumpback. "There's a few!" Swarm replied as he landed back down and held out his hands. "They're about this big, and there's one between each of those blocks—"

"Perfect."

Thumpback smiled, whipped out his anchor and spun it around like a lasso! Snow from the clouds whipped around his anchor and chilled it. Thick, dark clouds seeped out from his claws next, and sank into the anchor itself until it grew so cold that frost formed around its metal.

"Drop anchor!" Thumpback cried as he tossed the anchor above the blocks.

The anchor soared over and landed just across the blocks. Thumpback turned back and winked as he gripped its chain tighter. His feet planted against the side of the ice blocks, and he hiked up the side of the ice block like it was a mountain! As he finally reached the top, he sat down on the side and waved back down.

"How about a little hike, fellas?"

Tree Rex and Brawl just chuckled, but beside him, Swarm and Eye shrugged as they flew back up in the air.

"Well, personally, eye'd prefer a little flight," Eye remarked as he swept around the blocks and flitted off. "We'll see you on the other side!"

Tree Rex swept the ghost off of the path and placed the ghost on his shoulder. "Hang on, little buddy!" Tree Rex remarked.

Tree Rex approached the anchor, gently lifted its chain off the side of the ice block, and shuddered as its cold seeped into his own body. He winced a little, but gripped the anchor tight, and held it tighter as he slammed into the block below him and hiked up. Funny, beings always talked about climbing trees, and now a tree was climbing! Tree Rex couldn't help but chuckle at the irony as he reached the top, beamed and waved down at Brawl.

Brawl took no notice to Tree Rex, for he held a hand to his nonexistent face as he stood beside the chain. Tree Rex knelt down as he pressed a hand down on the icy-cool chain, turned back to Brawl and craned his head up. Brawl lifted himself up, gripped onto the chain and hastily skittered up the block. His feet skidded a little on the ice, and Brawl yipped as he clung to Tree Rex while he crawled onto the top.

Thumpback chuckled as he yanked his iced-over anchor from the other side, and with its body in his hands, the ice melted away and revealed the anchor's normal self! Thumpback leaped across the blocks and hupped with Tree Rex and Brawl close behind. All three of them flipped over and landed at the very end of the path! Snow leaped up from underneath their feet and coated their arms, and Eye flew over and popped back on Brawl's head while they brushed off their arms!

"Good news, guys!" Swarm proclaimed as he buzzed in front of them and waved. "Scouted the place out, and it looks like it's abandoned!" Swarm turned up and gestured to the robot, which lurched over the mountaintops ahead. "That robot's down too!"

"That's great news!" Tree Rex proclaimed. He grinned, and his smile made its way to the ghost as well while Tree Rex turned to him. "We'll be able to get your home back in no time!"

"Thank goodness!" The ghost proclaimed. A chill rushed through his body, and he shuddered as he phased in and out, "I'm getting tired of all this cold and snow."

"That's what you think!"

The ground rumbled below Tree Rex's feet and unsteadied him a little, so he leaned against the ice block behind him and snarled as he lifted his head. Up above him, a quartet of large, white snowballs rolled around the rim of a large bowl of ice, spun forward and slammed down in front of him! The balls shuddered as their heads popped up. They revealed the faces of very angry snowwarriors, and ones much bigger than the last batch to boot. They matched Tree Rex in size, and that was saying something!

Tree Rex's lip twitched; he gently scooped the ghost off of his shoulder, and placed the ghost down on the ground, far away from where the conflict resided. The ghost winced as he floated backwards, but Tree Rex himself quickly lifted his head.

"Let us take care of these guys," Tree Rex whispered, and he forced a smile before he snarled and turned back to the snowwarriors.

"You're not getting anywhere near our commander!" the head snowwarrior cried as it rocked back and forth with such fury that its head nearly popped off of its body. It hopped around, and its stick arms flailed as all its fellow snowwarriors turned to face it.

"Warriors!"

The snowwarriors all hopped around their commander and saluted, but their commander just hopped back around. It turned its stick arms onto Tree Rex, Swarm, Thumpback, and Eye-Brawl!

"To arms!"

The snowwarriors cried out in affirmation, and their arms rescinded back into their bodies before they popped out with weapons made of snow right in their hands! Their axes, staffs, and swords glistened in the light as the snowwarriors screamed to the heavens and hopped ahead. With a single swing, they sent a flurry of snow Tree Rex's way. Tree Rex yanked out his solar cannon and sent a wave of solar energy that melted their snow blasts the moment they hit, but the snowwarriors and their weapons still remained! Their snow shone bright as ever as they leaped for Tree Rex, but Thumpback wrapped his anchor around them before they could strike, and tossed them back. They grunted as they slammed against the icy stone of the mountains before them, yet their snowy bodies didn't break a bit!

"For beings made of snow, these guys are tough as rock!" Tree Rex cried.

"You bet we are!" one snowwarrior proclaimed as they brandished their ax. "Commander Noodles didn't make us his personal guard for nothing!"

That one snowwarrior screamed as they hopped forward and slung their ax at Thumpback; Thumpback brandished his anchor in turn. The ax clanged as it flew back, but the snowwarrior yanked it out of the air and slashed again! Thumpback clutched his anchor in his arms and chilled it with just a touch, until it turned to a solid icy sheet over a heart of metal. It was so icy-cold that frost formed in places over its ice. It was a temperature so chilling that it would have been painful to the touch for most, but with Thumpback's thick layers of blubber, the anchor became his perfect shield!

He threw it up, blocking another blow from the ax, yanked the anchor by its frosty chain and swung it around. The snowwarrior hopped away from Thumpback's blow as it tossed the ax right towards Thumpback, who pulled his anchor back and blocked off the ax just in time. The ax flew backwards and hit the snowwarrior right in the head; if not for the helmet it wore, which froze to such a point that the ax bounced off, its head probably would've split right open! The snowwarrior's coal mouth formed a frown as the ax landed back in its hands; it screamed as it hopped towards Thumpback with the ax raised!

Thumpback yanked his anchor back. The barnacles on his arms glowed with a bright shine, one that spread to his anchor and melted away all its ice and frost in a steaming puddle at his feet! A shout from above lifted his attention back to the oncoming snowwarrior. Thumpback tossed his anchor into the center of the puddle and whipped it around! A swirling, furious whirlpool that bubbled and cackled at his feet formed as he spun, and Thumpback grunted as he spun his anchor further. The snowwarrior lunged for him, but Thumpback stepped back right as the snowwarrior lost its air, and grinned as the snowwarrior fell in and screamed!

The snowwarrior flailed its arms, its ax liberated from its hands as it spun in circles within the whirlpool's grip. Thumpback yanked out his anchor, tossed the helpless snowwarrior in the air, and slashed it to bits as he swung his anchor around. Its ax and armor became scratched and broken while parts of the snow around its body exploded in puffy patches, and one last swing tossed it into the fray! Thumpback smiled as the anchor flew backwards and landed in his hands, but ducked aside a large ax made of pure snow flew overhead. He lifted his head, winced and ran off as another barrage of snowy axes flew off from the distance!

In the center of the fray, Tree Rex grunted and smacked away another barrage of snowy axes! Before him, a snowwarrior cackled as it whipped out another round of axes and tossed them away. Tree Rex whipped out his solar cannon and shot a bright flare of light right towards them! The snowwarrior screamed, hit the deck as the light blast shot right for it, and lifted its head with a grunt. The light blast crashed into a small cliff behind it, but the snowwarrior was more concerned with its axes—or what was left of them, anyways! The light completely melted the axes, and all that was left was Tree Rex. Tree Rex pounded the ground in the snowwarrior's moment of stupor, and shot a shock wave towards the snowwarrior, who screamed and spun around as the shock wave ran through it! Tree Rex charged forward as the snowwarrior sputtered and spun around, smacked it away, but turned around as the sound of sputtering caught his ears.

A snowwarrior that wielded a staff smirked and pointed its staff's head right towards Eye-Brawl. Eye and Brawl both popped off and glared it down! The snowwarrior gulped as Eye flew around and glared at its back. Chills went down its already-quite-chilly spine as it hopped between both Brawl and Eye, but it smacked its staff's base against the ground as stick eyebrows emerged from its face!

"You're not the only one who can split yourself up, you know!" the snowwarrior cried as its body glistened like a diamond.

A shining rainbow of magic burst from its snowy body, and the body flickered as it split into a whole ring of snowwarriors! The bodies all shone their brightest as they solidified and plopped down on the snow. They all cackled in tandem as they hopped closer around Eye and Brawl, until the two of them stood back to back. Now, they stood caught in the middle of a circle of snowy soldiers, and their staffs pointed towards Eye and Brawl at every angle.

Brawl winced and twiddled his fingers, but Eye just scoffed and held himself high.

"And you're not the only one who can call for backup, either!" Eye cried. He lowered his body, and his wings flapped as furiously as they could. "ARISE, MY LITTLE BROTHERS!"

The snowwarriors all gasped and hopped away as the ground below them rumbled and popped, but a whole swarm of tiny, flying eyeballs burst from the ground and slammed right into the snowwarriors! The effigies all grunted and vanished in puffs of light as the real snowwarrior smacked the eyeballs away with its staff.

"Back, back!" the snowwarrior cried as it tossed away the miniature eyeballs. "Stay away from me, you weird, slimy things!" A shadow cast over the snowwarrior. It peered up and gulped as Brawl knelt down to face it. "Oh no."

The snowwarrior went flying with a flick of Brawl's finger! Brawl wiped his hands as the snowwarrior flew into the distance, but flung his arms across his chest as Swarm zipped past. Swarm flew with such speed that he kicked up snow in both Eye and Brawl's faces, yet slowed himself just a minute as he waved back with a wary grin.

"Sorry 'bout that! I've got a little something on my tail!" Swarm cried.

His eyes popped open as a cry hit the airs, and he dodged out of the way as a bomb made of snow soared right for him! Swarm slipped away as the bomb hit the ground and exploded in a massive, spiky ice formation, and scoffed as he turned back to the snowwarrior who tossed it. The snowwarrior shouted out as it whipped out even more icy bombs, but Swarm just turned tail and flew off.

"Get back here!" the snowwarrior panted as it hopped after Swarm, lobbing bombs the entire way. "These bombs aren't infinite, you know!"

Swarm swerved out of the way of one bomb, corkscrewed away from another, and zipped right up the side of a cliff as he drew inches from smashing right into it! The bomb that trailed him there slammed into the side of the cliff and bounced right back for the snowwarrior, who screamed and turned around as the bomb flew right for it. Just as it hopped off, the bomb exploded by its base and tossed the snowwarrior away!

Swarm grinned and seated himself back on the snow. He held a hand over his eyes, a shield from the harsh light of the snow that allowed him to gaze over the snowwarrior. Swarm smirked as the snowwarrior crashed into the pile of its fallen comrades, lifted his hand and placed it on his hip. In front of him, the snowwarriors all groaned as they collapsed in the heaps of snow. The snow around their own bodies rejoined the heaps around, and left tired, exhausted ice ogres in its wake! The ice ogres craned their heads up, and closed their eyes as the snows' chills rendered them unconscious.

Behind them, Tree Rex just smiled and lifted the ghost back from the ground. "That should be taken care of," Tree Rex said as he placed the ghost back on his shoulder. A small chill like a cool breeze brushed against his shoulder as the ghost laid down, but it was more pleasant compared to the bone-chilling colds that brushed around Tree Rex, so he just smiled. "We'll get your robot back in no time!"

"What's this about getting back a robot?" cried a booming voice from above.

Tree Rex lifted his head, and gasped as his eyes fell on the top of a large, icy cliff! Ice and snow fell down from the cliff and crashed into the ground as a figure leaped onto the ground. The figure cackled and stepped into the light, but as it did, Tree Rex gasped. That face, those clothes, that hair! It all matched those statues and banners he saw plastered across the island, so there was no doubt about it.

The one who stood in front of him now, with a smirk on his face and a cackle bubbling from his mouth, was none other than Noodles!