"Hey, get back here!" Chihiro cried as the cold, fluffy snow kicked up underneath her feet.

Her hands stretched and grappled after the wheels that floated away right before her eyes. Their glow pulsed and faded as they rounded the corner and disappeared, but the faint streaks glowed against the icy cavern walls! Chihiro rounded the corner and dashed back down, but the wheels flew off faster than ever! The wheels’ light enveloped them and transformed them into miniature shooting stars; it reflected against the walls and snow, coloring them in a rainbow of purples, reds, greens, and yellows…

Which honestly would have been a pretty sight if they weren't getting past Chihiro by the second! The snow kicked up, and the light show faded as she dashed after the wheels. Chihiro leaped forward and swiped at the yellow one.

"Gotcha!" Chihiro cried as her finger hooked into its center.

She beamed as she pulled it down, but it wiggled out of her finger and tailed back after the other wheels! Behind it, Chihiro sputtered as she lost her balance; she fell face-first into the snow, but pushed herself up. She spat fluffy white snow out of her mouth as their light faded from the open halls, growled as her fingers dug into the snow, and sprung back to her feet!

"Get back here!" Chihiro cried as she sprinted back down the halls. "Where do you think you're taking me, anyways?"

Chihiro bolted down the corner and down the halls. The colorful flashes of light that crossed the walls drew her closer and closer to the wheels' presence! She slid down a small, icy hill, and as the snow hit her feet, she lifted her head.

Chihiro found herself in a wide room with glassy ice walls, a snowy ceiling and floor, and several open mouths to halls ahead. In the center of it all, her wheels stood bright as ever! They stood idle for a moment, but the moment they caught sight of her, they bent over. It was almost as if they bowed or nodded? Whatever they did, they immediately stopped and zipped right through the left path! Chihiro jolted up, and dashed right down the path after them!

"Wait for me!"

A faint scream and rumble shook flakes of snow down from the ceiling, but Chihiro barely even noticed the noise, or the chills that came over her head as she buttoned her magic coat tighter. She just bolted after the wheels! The wheels spun and danced in the air right before her eyes, yet they flew out of her grip as she sprinted forward and reached for them. Her fingers barely brushed against their cold, crystal surface before she hit the ground once more, yet she just bounced right up again. She grappled out for the yellow one, but it just zipped away and giggled right at her!

Chihiro's cheeks puffed as she dashed right after it. Around her, the walls grew shinier as the lights glowed brighter. She took another step, and promptly lost her footing as she spun across the floor! She screamed as she finally tumbled over herself and rolled into an icy wall, groaned as she staggered up, and caught her reflection in the—floor?

Chihiro raised a brow as she lifted her head up, where the snowy floors of before was replaced with miles and miles of ice as far as the eye could see! The faint glow of those wheels' shine reflected in the walls above, and floors below as faint flashes that quickly disappeared from the eye, but nonetheless indicated their crossing.

She had to get them! Well, she tried to; the moment she sprung forward, she slipped again and her legs split. Chihiro groaned and stood up once more, her arms held outstretched so she didn't fall. She took a few steps forward and slid right into a wall (owch). She tried to stand up and walk once more, but she tumbled over her own feet, and rolled right back to the beginning of the icy fields! Chihiro groaned as she pulled her head out of the snow that barred the two entryways and shook it off, sighed and frowned as her cold breath flew across the field.

"Didn't I do something like this before?" Chihiro remarked as she tapped her face.

The faintest memory slipped into her mind, and a small smile crossed her face. Yes, she actually did do something like this before! Slam Bam taught her how to skate all the way back when they went to Vindlevale that one time. She vaguely recalled what he taught her back then; hopefully, what she recalled was right.

Chihiro held her arms out as she stood back up, and her shoes transformed into ice skates with a pair of stomps! Her equipment set, Chihiro leaned forward and let the ice take her. The floor screeched underneath her feet as she slid forward. She bent down and strode across the ice while her blades scratched across its surface.

"Now go like this," Chihiro whispered to herself as she slid around a corner and bent down underneath an overhead icicle. Her eyes narrowed as she zipped down the hill and across the field, and she swerved around a large ice formation next. "Then do this…"

A large, icy ramp fell before Chihiro's eyes, but she only pushed further! The ramp came closer and closer, and she took one last stride as she dashed up in the blink of an eye. Flecks of ice and snow sparkled around her like diamonds as she pirouetted in the air, slammed back down and skated off. The faint pulses of yellow, purple, red, and green from ahead grew brighter as she skated forward. She grinned and leaped forward with one last stride! The yellow wheel paused in midair, turned around right as she loomed over it, and she snatched it up in one single grasp.

"AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR WHEEL!"

The yellow wheel's glow grew bright as it pressed and pushed against her hand, but Chihiro summoned a bag made of magic and whistled as she stuffed it inside. The wheel pushed the bag in every direction as it tried to escape, yet Chihiro just closed it tight and tied it to her pants. One down, three to go!

The red, green, and purple wheels' lights flared like a siren, and she drew in to its call! Chihiro leaned forward and skated forward. The ceiling above her slowly started to rumble; it wasn’t enough to draw her attention at first. That definitely changed when the icicles above broke off and crashed into the floor!

Chihiro gasped, ducked as shattered icicles bits flew above her, and turned her head up as the ceiling's groans sent more icicles crashing down. Chihiro yelped and skidded away just before one could slice her in half. She skated off as the rumbles grew more intense and sent not just ice, but massive mounds of snow crashing down to the ground—and right in front of the way ahead, to boot! She stopped so short that she fell right on her rump as the snow piles blocked the way ahead, but scrambled backwards as the snow shook.

Fanged, snarling faces formed in snow piles’ fluffy white exteriors as legs formed underneath them. They swayed side to side as arms popped out from their sides, and finally, their faces popped out and roared! Chihiro gasped and scrambled back further, but while they roared and stomped, she barely caught the sight of colorful glows floating down the halls. Wait, the wheels—they were escaping!

"Sorry guys, I'd love to play," Chihiro cried as she jumped back to her feet and skated underneath them, "but I've got wheels to catch!"

With one last pirouette, Chihiro leaped away from the ice, and onto soft, fluffy snow. Her skates disappeared and turned back to regular shoes; she panted out fluffy, cold white clouds as she dashed down the halls. Behind her, roars shook the caverns around her and cracked the smaller icicles that hung from the ceiling to bits! Chihiro cast one glance aside as the icicles' fragments rained down, but the sight of large shadows creeping across the wheels turned her back up front.

Those monsters caught up, and she had to hurry! Chihiro tapped her heels together as she ran, and gained a burst of speed. She squealed as she ran with such fury that a flurry of snow kicked up behind her. In front of her, the rest of the wheels glowed as they floated down the halls! She had them in her sights!

"Alright, now's my chance!" Chihiro cried. She leaped forward, and her eyes grew wider as the glows grew closer and brighter. "I've got you—"

PLOP!

"Now?"

A massive blob of snow dropped in front of Chihiro, and leaped from the ground as its impact blew her back into the snow. It snarled as it grew a body and limbs, and glared Chihiro down! Chihiro snarled back right at it as she readied a sphere, but her spheres disappeared into sparkles as furious stomping and growling echoed from behind her. She gulped as she staggered back up, and lifted her head right as the snow monsters she abandoned caught right back up with her! Their growls and snarls sounded all around her as they sharpened their icy claws against the walls.

"All of you guys against one, huh?" Chihiro remarked as she summoned a sword and clutched its handle tight. "I've dealt with worse!"

Chihiro held her sword high as she zeroed in on one monster's kneecaps. One clean blow, and the whole thing would go tumbling down! She cried out as she rushed forward and prepared to cut it down, but her cries joined a chorus at the last moment! Chihiro stopped mid-slice and turned right around, as did the monsters as they lifted their heads to the back of the hall. They all watched dumbfounded as a massive snowball round the corner, bounced off one wall and soared right over their head.

The snowball smashed right into the monster Chihiro prepared to slice down, and blew it to bits as it crashed down on the floor. The snowball exploded in all directions to reveal its true contents: Eruptor, Terrafin, Cynder and Whirlwind! Their heads spun around as they groaned and forced themselves up, but Chihiro just beamed and tossed away her sword.

"Everyone, you're here!" She cried. Chihiro giggled as she bounded forward, tackled Eruptor and Terrafin in a tight hug, and grinned as they shook off their dizziness and sat back up. "What're you doing in that giant snowball, anyways?"

"Well, we were looking for you," Cynder remarked as she flew around and pulled Chihiro away. "Just what were you doing running off like that, anyways?"

"Beats me!" Chihiro shrugged as she peered back up at Cynder. "Those wheels I had just started glowing and flew off into this cave! I've been tailing them, but—"

Chihiro raised her brow as a low sizzle came from below her, and lifted up the bag around her belt—except it was hot to the touch! Chihiro squealed and dropped it. In response, the bag burst into sparkles while the wheel inside sparkled and dashed off! Chihiro gasped, yanked herself out of Cynder's grip, and dashed after it, but scrambled right back as one of the snow monsters jumped right in front of her.

The remaining snow monsters growled as they blocked off the ways ahead. Their icy hands balled into fists while sharp icicle fangs lined their mouths. They snarled as they leaned closer towards Chihiro, Eruptor, Terrafin, Cynder and Whirlwind, yet the five of them only snarled back and readied to fight.

"Actually, I think we can save the explanations for later," Whirlwind remarked as her horn flared with rainbow light. "We've got bigger problems right now!"

"You've got that right!" Terrafin spat as he glared down the gigantic snow monsters before him.

Chihiro chuckled, summoned another sword and rose it to the ceiling. "Skylanders!" she cried as she swung down her sword. "ATTACK!"

"Right!" Eruptor, Terrafin, Cynder, and Whirlwind all called back in tandem.

Eruptor sprung in front of the second snow monster, clapped his hands and sent lava spewing over the cold floors! The lava evaporated the snow and ice below into thin streams of steam, and the snow monsters hooted and squealed as it stumbled back from the lava's hot touch. With it distracted, Eruptor just nodded back to Terrafin, who sprung above Eruptor and socked the monster right in the chest! The monster cried out as it crashed into the floor below and collapsed into a mound of snow.

Terrafin fell down and beamed back at Eruptor, but then, the ground ahead shuddered as the remaining snow leaped up and formed an even larger snow monster! The snow monster yanked its head forward, and roared so hard that it not only blew Eruptor and Terrafin back, but spat icicles right towards them! Eruptor hacked out a storm of fireballs in the heat of the moment. The fireballs slammed into the icicles in the center of the fleet, and they all burst into a massive steam clouds!

Cynder and Whirlwind, meanwhile, slid out of the way as the icicles slipped past them, stabbed the snow monster behind them in the chest, and shot forward as electricity crackled around them. The two of them spun around each other, moving faster and faster as the lightning crackled. As they drew towards the monster, they formed into one big lightning bolt that stabbed the monster right in the chest! The monster groaned and collapsed into snow as Whirlwind and Cynder split apart, and they smirked as they shook snow from their bodies.

Behind them, Chihiro laid her eyes on the snow monster before her, who only wailed as it tried to yank the giant icicles from its chest. It was completely immobilized, only able to squeal as its trembling hands fruitlessly tugged on the icicle that stabbed it.

"Now, how's about we finish this with a bang?" Chihiro asked.

She held a hand out, and a giant cannon made of magic formed beside her! With a giggle, she snapped her fingers, crafted a match, and struck it against the cannon's fuse. She whisked it away as she plugged her ears.

"FIRE!"

The cannon shot out a cannonball with a bang, and the cannonball slammed right through the snow monster with an even louder one! The snow monster screeched as the cannonball shot right through its chest. Its face melted away as it groaned and collapsed into the snow below.

Chihiro chuckled as the cannon vanished beside her. "That was easy," she remarked, and her face fell as she tapped her foot. "A little too easy…"

The ground quaked and rumbled as the snow bounced around it in tandem, and Chihiro only gulped.

"And something tells me it isn't over yet!"

Growls and roars echoed through the halls as snow monsters sprung up from the ground. They were all so massive that they completely blocked the ways around once more! Their very presence was so cold that mist formed around the area, and even the lava Eruptor sent out chilled and turned to icy-cold rock underfoot!

Everyone winced, steadied themselves as they leaped forward, and faced the monsters once more! Terrafin dug through the snow and shot through a row with a massive punch, Cynder dashed through another row, Eruptor and Whirlwind combated a group with both fireballs and stormclouds, and Chihiro even dashed below and cut them down with her sword! The monsters all groaned and collapsed into snow around them. For a moment, Chihiro and the Skylanders all took a breather, but the roars sounded off once more and the monsters leaped back up again!

"There's no stopping these guys!" Eruptor cried. "Every time we knock them down, they just get back up again!"

"Guess there's only one thing we can do!" Chihiro shouted as she backed up.

"And that is?" everyone else asked as they turned to her.

Chihiro gulped, vanquished her sword and down between two monsters' legs.

"BOOK IT!"

With a flick of her hands, a toboggan big enough for five manifested in front of Chihiro, and she quickly jumped on as she snatched the reins.

"Hop on!" Chihiro cried as she turned back to the others.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Eruptor cried as he hopped on.

Terrafin, Cynder, and Whirlwind were quick to follow. All of them clung tight to each other as Chihiro snapped the reins, and she sent the toboggan sliding down the halls! The monsters stampeded behind them, but the five of them just clenched their teeth as they clutched each other tight.

That is, until a large icicle fell from the ceiling and shattered beside them! Chihiro swerved out of the way just in time, but in her haste to escape, she didn't notice the rocky ramp that laid before her. She turned around right as the toboggan hit the ramp, and all five of them flew and screamed as the toboggan jumped off! They all quickly crashed down on the toboggan, groaned as they sat up and clutched each other one more, but screamed as their eyes fell on an icy floor full of pits before them!

"Chihiro, Chihiro, turn right!" Eruptor cried as he jabbed his hands at the floor.

Chihiro clenched her teeth as she pulled the toboggan to the right, screamed, and swerved left just before she could fall into another pit! She sighed and wiped the frozen icicles of sweat from her face, but when her eyes popped open, they fell on another pit that came in dangerously close. She screamed and twisted the toboggan to the left; she just barely brushed against the rim of the pit, and sent everyone behind her screaming as they clung to the toboggan for dear life. They all grunted and slammed into Chihiro they regained their seats, and Chihiro herself stopped a bit short as she swerved out of a wall's way!

"Give me that!" Eruptor snipped as he yanked the reins from Chihiro's hands (or at least, yanked them the best he could given his lack of fingers). "I'll handle the steering from here!"

Eruptor pulled the reins away as another pit came in sight, but the toboggan wouldn't even budge despite all the pulling, prodding, and yanking he did. It slid further and further down across the icy floors, kicking up fluffy clouds of mist and snow as it zipped straight for the holes. Eruptor screamed and pulled even more frantically, yet the reins just slipped from his round hands! Eruptor blinked, and he and Chihiro screamed and clung to each other as the toboggan nearly dipped into the pit!

Terrafin burst forward and yanked the reins before it could! The toboggan slipped right and skirted around the pit as Eruptor and Chihiro drew back from each other. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll take things from here," Terrafin grunted as he squeezed himself between Chihiro and Eruptor with the reins held tight in his grip. "You just sit tight!"

Terrafin snarled, his fangs packed tight as his eyes fell on the masses of pits and holes that tightly squeezed together! He hastily yanked the reins this way and that as the toboggan bumped and rattled with every side and tiny hole it hit. In the back, Cynder and Whirlwind both let out jilted screams that vibrated as the back of the toboggan bumped and shuddered with every hole it hit.

Finally, Cynder snarled as she jumped up and pushed Terrafin away. "Who in Skylands taught you how to steer?" Cynder snapped as she flung her tailfin in Terrafin's face, pushing him away as she yanked the reins up. "You're not supposed to run over every hole you can!"

Cynder flicked her tail against as she prepared to make another smart remark, but grunted as the toboggan started to tip over. She flung forward, forced to cling to the front of the toboggan. Terrafin slipped back into his place, and yanked the reins from Cynder as he tilted the toboggan back onto solid ground! The toboggan slid down once more, and Cynder and Terrafin both shot glares at each other.

"And you're supposed to look where you're going!" Terrafin shot back as he fixed his eyes on the path ahead and swerved past another pit. "Just let me take care of this!"

Cynder scoffed as Terrafin slipped past another hole, gasped and yanked the reins away! Terrafin shouted out as she pushed him aside in her attempt to steer away, and Terrafin pushed back before he could slip off the toboggan!

"Hey, watch it!" Terrafin shouted as he pulled back the reins, and barely slid past another hole as he glared down Cynder.

"You nearly drove us right into that hole!" Cynder shouted back as she pulled the reins.

Chihiro, Eruptor, and Whirlwind all cried out as the toboggan slid left, but another yank from Terrafin slid right! The two of them shouted and groaned as the toboggan slipped left and right amid Terrafin and Cynder's squabbling and shouting. Chihiro herself groaned and leaned on Eruptor, her eyes spinning around in her head as the fighting rang in her ears. The screech of the toboggan sledding against the ice was hardly a footnote in her mind as she shook her head, groaned, and lifted herself up to meet with her own reflection in an oncoming wall of ice! Chihiro quickly yanked the reins away from Terrafin and Cynder, veered off, and sighed as the toboggan slipped down the ice.

"From now on," Chihiro panted as she squished herself between Terrafin and Cynder and hung her head, "just let me drive."

The two of them both scoffed. Nonetheless, they shuffled apart and let Chihiro take the reins. The ride itself was quiet as Chihiro steered the toboggan down the cool, icy floors below, which were now thankfully free of pits.

Instead, the crystal clear ice floors dusted themselves with a thin coat of frost that glistened like diamond dust. The walls crystallized, and reflected them in all sorts of shiny pastel colors as they passed by on the toboggan! Clear, crisp, cold wind flew in from small holes and cracks within the walls; it brought not just a pleasant breeze, but a cool chime as well. The whole area sparkled and twinkled while the reflections fragmented and morphed. It was almost like a hall of mirrors at a carnival!

The tension from earlier completely melted away as everyone admired their reflection in the mirrors. Well, everyone save for Eruptor, who sulked as he laid on his back. Poor guy probably got so dizzy from earlier that his stomach was in knots!

Chihiro shrugged as she peered back down at him, lifted up her head and grinned as her reflection slipped from mirror to mirror. As she passed by one, brighter, richer flashes of color burst in the mirrors! Red and greens, some purple and yellows too, and they were far brighter and clearer than what the mirrors offered! Chihiro gasped as a twinkling sound hit her ears, and turned her head around to find those wheels hovering right beside her.

"There you are!" Chihiro cried.

She leaned forward and snapped for them, but the wheels just spun around and zipped off right before her eyes. The wheels twinkled and left behind a trail of sparkles as they rounded the corner.

Chihiro scoffed and tossed the reins in Terrafin's arms. "Actually, you take the reins, Fin!" Chihiro cried as she leaped off the toboggan and smacked her feet together. "I'm getting those wheels!"

Chihiro's shoes glowed as she hit the ground, and a magic snowboard formed right underneath her feet! The icy floors glowed cyan as Chihiro leaned forward and skated down the way, the faint flashes of red and green light her guide as she pursued them down the halls. The wheels came just a bit closer in view, enough that Chihiro could catch glimpses and slivers of their crystal amid the light, so she leaned in and prepared to jump!

But, as she pressed forward, her legs bent over a little too quickly and she fell over her own feet! A nasty chill hit her bones, and sharp twinges of pain fell over her body as she crashed face-first into the floor. She tumbled over and rolled down the hall! Her arms numbed from the cold as the ice slammed against her body. She screamed as the world around her spun, dizzying, spiraling, and darkening aside from the flashes of color. She slammed into a wall, rolled off the left while the world grew darkest—but something yanked her by her back and pulled her into a smooth, strong grip!

"You alright, Chi?" Terrafin asked.

Chihiro shook her head. Though the world around her still blurred and danced, she barely made out Terrafin's face! Chihiro weakly nodded, her head still spinning too badly to talk. She crawled over to a reddish blur that she guessed was Eruptor and leaned against him.

The warmth from his body unfroze her numb, cold body, and her head finally cleared enough to catch a glimpse of the path. Except, something was wrong—the lights, they were completely gone! Did the wheels finally shake them? Well, that wasn't much of a concern to Chihiro, for a massive icy ramp formed in the stretch ahead!

Terrafin grunted as he tried to steer away, but he cane in so fast, and so soon, that he didn't get a chance! The toboggan dashed up the ramp, leaped up as everyone onboard screamed, and dipped down as it crashed like a comet towards a thin, icy floor! The toboggan came in so fast that it completely smashed through the floor; its body reduced to sparkly, crystalline shards as the toboggan vanished in puffs of sparkles, and painted those shards in shades of blue.

With the toboggan gone, Chihiro, Terrafin, Eruptor, Cynder, and Whirlwind could only scream and tumble down into the dark abyss below! The screams echoed, ruminating around the chamber as they sank into the realms below…

And as they disappeared, only silence rang.

§

Tree Rex, Thumpback, Eye-Brawl, and Swarm all gasped as Noodles leaped down before them, their eyes wide as they fluttered open and shut. This Noodles being finally shown himself at last, with his icy blue eyes fixed on them! His green skin and tall, black mohawk tinged with patches of frost; snow covered the dark blue, amber-encrusted sash and gloves he wore; it was notably absent from his black snow pants and blue boots, however. He grinned a grin that showed all his sharp, white fangs as he crossed his arms, but that was far from the most notable thing about him.

No, it was that he, he, he was… Small!

When they heard word of this awful being known as Noodles, they expected a giant, a titan even—but he was no bigger than the average cyclops! With him being so diminutive in size, his haughtiness seemed hardly threatening as he glared down Tree Rex and uncrossed his arms.

"Well, well, look what we have here!" Noodles cried as he hopped down from his cliffside position and glared down the quartet. "Some intruders poking around where they don't belong!"

Noodles leaped down from the cliff and grinned as he crossed his arms. He barely even reached their ankles, yet he still carried himself with an air of confidence as he stood them down. He was either very full of himself, very dumb, or maybe just a little bit of both.

"You may have been able to get past my defenses, but there's no way you'll get my robot! Noodles, the great and powerful evil ice lord—" Noodles paused mid-rant and turned around with a frown. "Wait, what's with those looks?"

Tree Rex, Thumpback, Eye-Brawl, and Swarm all blinked as they faced down Noodles, and Swarm burst into utter, hapless laughter! He slapped his knees, clutched his chest, and wiped away his tears with a grin.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's just," Swarm cackled. "You're just this little guy, and you're acting like you can beat us?" Swarm cleared his throat and smirked. "I mean, there's four of us, and we're all way bigger and more powerful than you are! There's no way!"

Eye and Tree Rex both reluctantly nodded.

"That's kind of a haughty way of putting it, but it's true," Eye remarked.

"At our size, being threatened by something so small is like having a kitten hiss at us," Tree Rex remarked. He cleared his throat, and his eyes narrowed. "But, that's of no matter right now!" Tree Rex shoved a finger right in Noodles' face and snarled. "Give that ghost his home back and leave this place! You have no business tearing it apart this way!"

Swarm, Thumpback and Eye-Brawl all nodded in tandem. Noodles only gulped as he stepped back. It seemed as though it finally clicked for a moment how unevenly matched they were as his legs started to tremble, but then, he grinned!

"It's true, you guys are pretty big," Noodles remarked as he turned around, "but, Noodles has a robot that's even bigger than you guys!" Noodles dashed off with a grin. "Once Noodles gets in it, you'll all be flatter than icecakes!"

"He's running away!" the ghost cried. "Quickly, before he gets in the robot!"

Noodles cackled as he dashed up the ramp across the mountains, and Tree Rex only snarled as he bolted off. Thumpback and Brawl sprung forward behind him while Swarm and Eye flew on both sides. All their eyes fixed tight on Noodles and sent chills down his spine. He turned back around as their pounding footsteps shook the area, screamed as he turned forward, and frantically whistled!

"Snowballs cannons, start!" Noodles cried as he dashed ahead.

While Noodles fled the scene, parts of the icy wall beside them all shuddered and completely vanished. Gigantic cannons made of ice popped from their vacancies, hovered above the path, and shuddered as they fired off rounds of massive snowballs—all of which had their sights set on Tree Rex, Thumpback, Eye-Brawl, and Swarm!

They all gasped and ducked as the snowballs sprung forward, and bolted down underneath their massive onslaught of snow. The cannons swiveled around and shot down below. The five of them all sprung back, flattened themselves against the walls as a row of snowballs shot forward, and bounced off the wall as another one hurtled straight for them. They ducked under another blast, leaped above a second, and practically twisted themselves into pretzels as a third came!

One snowball smacked Swarm right in the face, and he snarled as he wiped it off. "That's it!" Swarm cried as thunderclouds formed around his barbs, "I've had enough of this!" Swarm thrust his arms forward and set his electrically-charged barbs on the cannons ahead. "I didn't come here to play dodgeball!"

Swarm slid backwards as barbs shot off from his arms and slammed right through the snowballs. The snowballs exploded into snow as the barbs sliced clean through them, and they slammed into the cannons! The cannons frizzed and sparked as the electricity fried their insides, and puffs of smoke popped out of their bellows as they slunk down!

"I spy an opportunity!" Eye cried as he zipped forward.

Eye glowed with a light so bright that he looked little more than a glowing orb with wings, flew back as a massive laser came from his center and completely obliterated the cannons. Their fried remains crashed down onto the icy path below and rolled down the mountain. Eye turned around and hummed, but cried out as something shot him in the back! Eye hurtled right into Brawl's arms, his body sore and chilly and as he moaned.

Beside him, Thumpback withdrew his anchor and frowned. At the end of the rope, another snowball cannon gleefully fired snowballs away with all sorts of gusto. Thumpback charged ahead as the snowballs flew, and swung his anchor forward! The snowballs broke to bits under the might of his anchor's metal, but the anchor slammed into the cannon's base and wrapped tight around it. With one pull from Thumpback, the anchor yanked the cannon off the mountain's side and released.

The anchor slid back into Thumpback's hands as the cannon bounced off the side of the mountain. Thumpback sprung forward once more with everyone tailed close behind him. Just above the horizons, his eyes fell on Noodles, who hastily skated up the side of an icy bowl…

And leaped right up to where the robot sat idle! Thumpback's eyes popped up at the very sight, and he quickly turned back to the others.

"He's almost there!" Thumpback cried as he hit the top and leaped into the ice bowl. "We have to" — Thumpback's legs skittered and tapped against the sleek ice, and he screamed as he slid down the side — "HURRY!"

Thumpback screamed as he slid and slipped across the ice bowl. His arms held out as he tried to steady himself, but to no use! He rolled around the bowl, slid across it and leaped right onto the other side!

"Thumpback!" Tree Rex cried as he bolted forward, "Don't worry, I'll get" — Tree Rex slipped forward and fell on his chest — "YOUUUUUUUUUU!"

Tree Rex's screams quickly joined Thumpback's as they both spun in large circles around the rim of the ice bowl.

The ghost only floated onto a snowy platform and winced. "Calm down, everyone!" the ghost cried, though even his loudest voice was barely a whisper over the winds. "Just stand up and bend down! You should stop then!"

Thumpback and Tree Rex didn't even hear him! They continued to scream and slide around the ice bowl, and the ghost sighed as he shook his head.

"Well, I tried to tell them."

Swarm and Eye-Brawl both cast worried glances at each other as the reached the rim of the bowl. Swarm hovered in the air and zipped down to the bowl.

"You take care of that Noodles guy!" Swarm shouted as he dashed down. "I'll get everyone else!"

"Aye-aye!" Eye cried as he zipped off.

Swarm buzzed as he floated down and grappled for Thumpback's hand right as Thumpback slid underfoot. Thumpback quickly jumped back up as Tree Rex crashed into him, and yanked Swarm down by the foot! Swarm screamed as both he and Tree Rex slid across one end of the ice bowl, leaped up the rim, and slid back across as they fell back down.

Brawl gently tapped his foot against the ice, slid down, and held his hands behind his back as he skated across the bowl! He carried himself with grace as he glided across the ice—but planted face-first into the ice as Swarm and Tree Rex crashed into him. They all screamed as one blow from Thumpback slammed into them all, pushing them across the bowl and right onto the snow! They all groaned and spit out snow as they staggered up. Their bodies remained covered in burns and throbbing red spots from all the slipping and sliding they did against the harsh cold of the ice.

"Is everyone alright?" the ghost asked as he floated before Tree Rex.

"Maybe," Tree Rex panted back as he shook snow off of his head.

"I don't think I'm made for ice skating," Swarm remarked as his eyes spun around in his head.

"This reminds me of when I caught the two-faced ballerinafish in the middle of a storm," Thumpback groaned. "No, this was much worse."

They all groaned as they finally collapsed back onto the floor, but their pain was forgotten as a snow-covered Eye crashed right before them. Brawl gasped and swept Eye up in his arms, and a firm cackle echoed from across the way. All eyes turned to the end of the platform.

There, Noodles grinned as he climbed into the chest of the robot and disappeared as the door closed behind him! The robot's eyes flashed bright as the robot heaved itself up, and those cackles grew louder and more booming, enough to send snow flying all across the area! Though Tree Rex, Thumpback, Eye-Brawl, Swarm, and ghost clung to the ground in some attempt to avoid flying off, Noodles hardly cared!

"Now you're really in for it!" Noodles cried, his voice amplified and robotic thanks to the robot's filters. "You're all gonna get crushed!"

"We'll see about that!" Tree Rex cried as he leaped to his feet.

Thumpback and Swarm popped up beside Tree Rex and snarled. Brawl popped Eye onto his head and stormed up. Tree Rex cast a glance back and squeezed his fist. The ghost flitted away and winced, but a smile from Tree Rex eased his fears enough to take sanctuary down in the ice bowl.

"Everyone, get into the robot suit dismantle formation!" Tree Rex cried as he turned his attention to the robot.

"Right!" Thumpback, Swarm and Eye-Brawl cried back.

Tree Rex cried out as he charged forward, and bright light and churning green smoke alike swirled at the tip of his solar cannon. Beside him, Swarm and Eye flew off while Thumpback and Brawl charged at the robot's eyes! They all screamed as they leaped forward and prepared to fight…

But Noodles just sighed, and smashed his fists down onto a pair of snowy cliffs that flanked their sides! The cliffs rumbled as their icy halves smashed off. They crashed into the ground, which trembled as their shattered remains crashed down below in an icy avalanche!

Brawl, Thumpback, and Tree Rex stopped mid-strike, turned around, and charged out of the way as the first avalanche stormed through! It coated the ground below in a thick mass of ice, and the second avalanche stormed through as it swept them up in its grasp before they even noticed! They all groaned and popped their heads out of the snow as the second avalanche settled, but leaped into the air as Noodles slammed his fist onto the ground!

They all screamed as they flew forward. As the robot's hand flew above them, Tree Rex latched onto its finger and flipped himself onto the hand's base! He cried out as he stormed up the robot's arm, flung out his solar cannon, and sent blasts of thick green smog and bright sunlight right across its chest. The robot cried out as it flailed its arm and tossed him back to the ground, but it didn't dislodge the searing bursts Tree Rex planted in its chest any.

Swarm grinned as he hovered in front of the robot, held out all three of his stingers, and sent out a barrage of barbs that slammed right into the bursts, detonating them! Swarm flew away and cackled as the bursts exploded into bright green lights and smog, but the robot only cried out and stumbled backwards. As the robot did, a bright laser shot out from its head and slammed into an icy cliff!

A part of the cliff crashed down onto the ground and fell aside as the rest of it crumbled, but Eye-Brawl and Thumpback just perked up. The two of them dashed up to the ice chunk, grunted as they lifted it up, and flung it straight into the robot's chest. The robot screamed and reeled back as the ice shattered and dented its already burning chest, but it quickly regained its balance and leaned forward.

"You think messing with Noodles' robot is funny, huh?" Noodles cried as he flailed his arms. "Well, Noodles'll show you funny!"

The robot screeched as its eyes glowed brighter, and massive lasers shot out from its eyes as they carved into the icy platform below! Thick cracks formed as entire chunks of the ice collapsed underfoot and crashed to bits. White smoke leaped up from the cliff and coated the rest in a thick fog.

Swarm, Eye-Brawl, and Thumpback all jumped back as a massive crack formed underneath them and sent part of the platform crashing down. As the platform fell, Tree Rex slipped down and went falling with it! His hand latched onto the side of the cliff at the last minute, but it was so cold and slick that he could barely keep his grip. He gulped as his eyes fell on the shattered ice miles underneath him, grunted as he swung up, and grappled for the cliff with his other hand.

"Boss!" Swarm cried. He fell to his knees, and strained as he tried to pull Tree Rex up, but he could barely yank Tree Rex up even with all his might!

Thumpback and Eye-Brawl lined up behind Swarm and pulled along with him. The three of them all grunted as they pulled Tree Rex back onto the platform, and Tree Rex groaned as staggered up. The four of them smiled as Tree Rex stood to full height when a massive shriek sounded from aside. They turned around, screamed as a laser crashed below their feet, and they shot into the cliff behind!

A crack sounded behind them as they popped off of the cliff and collapsed onto the ground. They all groaned as they laid cold and sprawled. Though they tried to push themselves up, the weariness of battle and the chills of the area around sapped all their strength. They could only lay on the ground. The most they could force themselves to do was glare at Noodles while he loomed over them.

"That's what you get for trying to challenge the great evil ice lord!" Noodles boomed. "Now, let's get this over with!"

Noodles' eyes flashed with brighter light as shrieks came from their panels. Their lights grew brighter and warmer as he charged up another laser blast! Noodles cackled as the Elder Elementals glared him down…

Save for Thumpback, who just staggered up and dashed in front of the others!

"Wait, don't do it!" Thumpback cried as he flung his arms in front of the others, limbs still trembling from their injuries but standing nonetheless. "It's not a good idea, I'm telling you!"

"Huh? Says who?" Noodles shot back as his eyes' light glowed even brighter. "Give one good reason why Noodles shouldn't just wipe you off the face of this glacier!"

"Because" — Thumpback placed a hand on his chest — "as a member of Captain Frightbeard's crew, I know where the treasure he buried here is!"

"Treasure?" The light in the robot's face faded completely, but a sparkle still shone as it clapped its hands. "Noodles likes treasure! What kind of treasure is it?"

Thumpback smiled and cleared his throat. "Why, a bounty with only the finest treasures you could dream of!" Thumpback proclaimed. "Rare jewels, mountains of gold as far as the eye can see, ancient artifacts and weapons… It had practically anything you could ever imagine! In fact…"

Eye-Brawl, Swarm, and Tree Rex raised their brows and frowned as Thumpback continued on his spiel, but Noodles was absolutely enamored! He bounced up and down and clapped his hands together with every word Thumpback spoke, as if just the very notion made his heart do flips in his chest. Of course, with Noodles being in the robot still, this also caused the entire valley to shake, and nearly knocked everyone else off their feet, but Noodles paid it no mind as Thumpback continued to ramble.

"And that's just the things I remembered!" Thumpback proclaimed as he crossed his arms. "For all I know, there could be much more out there!"

"Where is it, where is it?" Noodles begged. "Noodles wants to know where the treasure is!"

"Oh, I'll tell you —" Thumpback released his crossed arms — "but, only if you beats me in a fishing contest!" Thumpback placed a hand on his chest. "And, if I win, you'll give us that robot!"

Noodles hummed and placed a hand on his robotic chin. Finally the robot slunk over and fell inactive as Noodles dashed back out of its chest! Noodles paused to hop over a crack in the fields as he scurried over, leaped up and grabbed Thumpback's hand.

"It's a deal!" Noodles cried as he furiously shook the hand, dashed over to the ice bowl and slid down. "Noodles is going to prepare now!"

Tree Rex, Swarm and Eye-Brawl frowned as Noodles cheered and disappeared down the bowl. Their strength returned just long enough for them to claw their way out of the snow and crowd around Thumpback, who only hummed as he crossed his arms.

"Hey Thumps, is there really treasure buried here?" Swarm whispered as he flitted up to Thumpback's earhole.

The cool, calm look that Thumpback held faded into a frown, and he only shook his head. "Actually, no. I was just bluffing to buy us time."

Everyone else's eyes popped open, but Thumpback only smiled as he held his anchor.

"But don't worry. I'm sure I'm going to win this. I didn't spend all those years fishing for nothing, after all."

They all frowned as they followed Thumpback back down into the ice bowl... And then, screamed as they slipped and went sliding once more!