The cool breeze ran through Chihiro's hair and caressed her cheeks as she leaned against the ship's rails. Beside her, Tree Rex shuddered as that same chilly breeze hit him. The wilikin hummed their songs in the distance as they sailed the ship through vast seas of endless sky and puffy clouds that rained snow down like, well, rain, onto the chain of snow-coated islands below them. Around them, their songs mixed with idle chat from the rest of their crew.

Thumpback regaled tales of past fishing trips to several wilikin children who stowed away onboard and Ermit, who listened with only half an ear as he shot glares at the clouds that passed by. Swarm laid on his back beside Thumpback as he counted the snowflakes that fell from the clouds. Eye shuddered and hopped over to where Eruptor sat on the ground as the wind chills passed by. Cynder, Whirlwind, and Terrafin joined as well while they held their hands and paws out. Not that Eruptor was pleased with this, judging by the scowl he shot Eye.

"Do I look like a campfire to you?" Eruptor scoffed as he crossed his arms. The warm light from his lava veins provided him with an equally-warm glow, and the frown on his face gave it a bit of an angry edge.

"Hush it, Eruptor," Cynder snarled as she glared right back at him. "This ship doesn't have any heating, and it's freezing cold around here!"

Eruptor and Cynder both shot glares at each other, but Chihiro only giggled as she witnessed the whole thing. Seems like things were getting pretty chilly! She'd have to whip up some coats and scarves for everyone soon. For now, she glazed over the masses of peach, pink, and blue skies coated with falling snowflakes that glistened like diamonds in the night. She wasn't sure when they'd find this robot, for all the islands they passed were practically identical, and she did need something to pass the time.

Chihiro hopped up to Tree Rex and leaned against his leg. Chills shot through her body from the cool temperature of his legs, but their fuzzy, mossy textures were pleasant enough that she didn't entirely mind.

"Hey, Tree Rex!" Chihiro called. Tree Rex perked up and leaned down at her with a brow raised, and she giggled as she spun around and sat down. "I've been wondering about something."

"What might that be, Chihiro?" Tree Rex asked as he gently nuzzled her head with his finger.

Chihiro giggled, grasped Tree Rex's finger and swung from it like a tree branch. "Ever since you all came here, I've been meaning to ask" — Chihiro came to a stop and dropped down as she shoved her hands in her pockets — "what really happened during your final battle with that Arkilles dude?" Chihiro coughed into her hand and turned away from Tree Rex's piqued gaze. "Of course, I want to know entirely for historical accuracy reason!" Chihiro chuckled, and that wide grin of hers returned to her face as she turned back and punched the air. "Was that battle really as big and fancy as all the books say?"

Tree Rex himself chuckled in response, but Thumpback jumped in and leaned against Tree Rex before he opened his mouth.

"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to regale you. I do love a good story and all!" Thumpback remarked as he stroked his chin. He cleared his throat, and crossed his legs so Chihiro could climb up on his knee and sit oh-so-attentively, eyes wide and all. "Thanks to our allies within, so to speak, we were able to locate the capital of the Arkeyan empire itself, Arkus. We all traveled long and far to stop him, fighting so many of their forces along the way, and soon we faced with the lowest of the low: Arkilles himself."

§

"We'll see about that!" Arkilles cried! His eyes glowed in tandem with the bright power core that resided in his fist, a piercing glare hot as the oppressive sun itself and held with the fury of a king. "After all, I have the power of the entire Arkeyan Empire in my palm!"

Arkilles swung his mighty fist down on the ground, and the earth splintered underneath the weight of his bearings! The ground cracked and crumbled away; it became broken and torn as those who laid on the ground fled with all the strength they carried in their bodies. The world around turned red, red, so red that it brought to mind blood from the wounds of a slain army, and the pounding screech of their alarms rang in all ears, the true sign of a dying battle.

Thumpback himself snarled and glared down Arkilles, his anchor clutched tight in hands worn and calloused from many days at sea. In all his years where he rested on Skylands, he faced many formidable foes—from cloud crabs and sky-orcas, rivaling pirates, and the most massive and most powerful of the Arkeyans' armies—and yet, none of them chilled his heart the way the sight of Arkilles did. His own giant size was completely dwarfed by the massive height of Arkilles's own body, and in that moment, Thumpback wondered: was this what the common felt in the presence of a god? The utter smallness; the shrinking, humbling feeling that brought to light how, in the grand scheme of Skylands' existence, he was little more than yet another speck in existence? That in the presence of Arkilles, whose eyes cracked with lightning, lightning dyed red with the blood of those he crushed underneath his own berth, Thumpback was no more than a minor pest? That even with his powers, Thumpback was no more important than any others who resisted Arkilles's conquest? Thumpback himself had never thought much of it, for even his own status as an Elder Elemental kept him from inflating his own importance. He fought hard to protect Skylands as all his other allies did, for the same reasons they all did: to prevent the Arkeyans' tyranny and to ensure a brighter future for all those they oppressed. But, as Thumpback stood silent, only able to gaze dumbfounded as the lights in Arkilles's eyes grew brighter, he finally came to realize just how daunting a task this was. They were all smaller, and weaker, and iller-equipped compared to Arkilles's might…

"He's preparing a laser blast!" cried one of the magicians beside Thumpback as she thrust out her staff and spun it around. "Get back!"

A sharp wail echoed around the room, a cry like death itself, as bright hot streaks of red lasers fired right down from Arkilles's eyes and burned the room around! The cracks that formed in the ground set ablaze with fire, and melted several of the robot soldiers around, all collateral damage in the grand scheme of Arkilles's ploy to defeat the Elder Elementals! Thumpback himself got pushed out of the way by Brawl as one of these lasers crashed before him; his bones ached as he crashed into a pile of rubble left behind from the earlier battle. Bouncer and Eye swung forward in front of Thumpback as another laser carved through the marble and reduced it to rubble right before Thumpback's eyes, drowning the shouts around in an ocean of screeching, crashing, and calamity. Bouncer and Eye shots streaks of hot light from their own eyes. A pair of reds and one streak of silver intertwined as their lasers shot into the ones Arkilles himself shot, and they both pressed into each other in a battle of lights! The deep reds and cool silvers of their lights pressed against each other, a battle akin to many. A fisherman fighting for a fish's reel as the fish futilely fought for its own freedom; two beings who fought for the insurance of their own survival; leaders who waged wars for the sake of territory, resources, their own kingdoms' survival. What did they all have in common? They all fought furiously, determined, and poignantly for their own sakes, with all their might for the things they dreamed of, they wished for, they desired! The imagery struck Thumpback's mind as he witnessed Bouncer and Eye straining, screaming, as they pushed forward and brightened their own lights. And yet, Arkilles simply shot one more blast and blew them off the surface of the area! Bouncer collapsed on a pile; parts of his chest melted away, and his circuitry exposed as he slammed against a wall and collapsed into a pile of rubble. Tree Rex gasped and lifted Bouncer from the ground, cradling his companion, his dying soldier. Bouncer coughed out sparks and oily quicksilver for blood; the flecks rained down against his broken, twisted chest while he sputtered and failed to make words.

"Augh, my eye!" Eye wailed as Brawl caught him and stroked his top. Eye's wings wrapped around his body, which burned and pulsed with a throbbing red glow. "It burns!"

One of the magicians flew up, winced as she laid her hand on Eye's body, and slowly rubbed away the coarse, burning red of his injuries. The ceiling rumbled, and all three swept away in a massive collision of rubble! Chunks of the ceiling like hellfire from above crashed down and smashed away, blocking off the armies from their enemies and burying all underneath their crushing weight. The end had come, and Thumpback's judgment would come soon! His own body, twisting and aching with pain as he could barely seat himself upright, cried out for mercy, and he himself could only close his eyes and hope that the afterlife would be kind...

§

"Geez, Thumper, you're way too dramatic!" Swarm shouted as he flew down beside Tree Rex. "Can't you tell a single story without going into all those spiels?" Swarm gestured to where Chihiro nodded off in Thumpback's lap. "You're gonna make Chihiro fall asleep if you keep rambling like that!"

"What?" Chihiro exclaimed as she jolted her head up and whipped around. "No, nope, I totally wasn't sleeping, no, not at all!"

Thumpback's eyes turned a little wider as he pulled himself out of his story and turned to Swarm. "Then how would you put it, Swarm? As I recall, that battle lasted for ages!"

Swarm rubbed his puffed-out chest and smirked. "I'll take care of that!"

§

Rocks poured down from the ceiling as it rumbled, and cracks formed in its intricate marble and metal surface! Swarm winced as he swept two of the magicians, one bearing a shield and another bearing a sword, into his arms just before a particularly large chunk of marble could knock them out. Swarm scoffed as it crumbled to bits before them.

"What am I doing standing around here?" Swarm demanded.

His brilliant eyes shimmered in the little light provided. That same light reflected off his sleek body, and highlighted its muscles in a way that made him look ultra-strong—just as strong as Arkilles seemed, even! Those bright, shiny eyes of his zeroed in on where Arkilles held back his chest and cackled like the supervillain he was, all high, snide, and haughty. It was a disgusting sight, but it wouldn't last for long!

"I've gotta stop him!" Swarm cried as he flew up, and his snarl turned to a wide smile. "Super Swarm, to the rescue!"

"Don't forget about us!" the two magicians cried in tandem as they floated out of Swarm's arms and sat on his shoulders.

A twinkle shone in sword-bearing magician's eye beneath the thick black hair that masked it, and he turned to the shield-bearing magician as that twinkle glowed bright. "You know, Swarm, brother," the sword magician remarked as he drew his sword and raised it to the ceiling, "I think I have the perfect way to get this hardhead's eyes off of us!"

The shield magician perked his brows, and that same twinkle shone in his golden brown eyes. "Why, I think I may have had the same idea, brother!" he remarked as he drew his shield.

The two of them nodded, leaped off of Swarm's shoulders, and zipped across as they flew around each other while trails of light and darkness spiraled behind them. They were so in-sync, it was almost kinda creepy—but then again, that could be said of the eerily connected way that they always held themselves with.

"Swarm, see if you can catch Great King Arkie's attention!" the magicians cried in sync. "We've got an idea!"

"I heard you the first time," Swarm buzzed, yet nonetheless he flitted up to Arkilles and drew his barbed arms. "But I've got just the thing!"

Arkilles continued to cackled as he shot down laser beams, and sent everyone screaming and running for the hills, all while flames burned down from the spots that had been warmed by the lasers! His robotic laugh dripped with pride as he held his hands up, so snide and so full of twisted confidence. Well, not for long!

"Ha! Ha, ha!" Arkilles cackled, and the robotic filter that covered his voice only served to make him sound even more twisted than usual. "I, Arkilles, am all powerful! Nobody can beat my ultra powerful eye lasers of doom!"

"No body, huh?" Swarm remarked as he flew up right in Arkilles's face. "What about no bee?"

Arkilles gasped, growled as he swung his fist, and tried to swat Swarm away! But, the great, mighty Swarm wouldn't go down so easily! He just zipped away and rubbed his chin!

"Huh, that sounded better in my head," Swarm remarked as he zipped away from Arkilles's blows and the crumbling ceiling all at once. A tough task for most, but Swarm wasn't like the rest!

"Argh, stand still, stupid gnat!" Arkilles cried as continued to fruitlessly swat Swarm, who dodged every blow still. "Get out of my sight!"

Swarm giggled as he leaped right above Arkilles's fist and did a split right on top of it. He chuckled as he pressed his hands down on its surface, and stood upside-down.

"Alright, you asked!"

With another laugh, Swarm spun around and completely dissolved into a swarm of buzzing bees! The bees all buzzed even louder as they turned their sharp as knives stingers right on Arkilles, who only gulped as he drew back.

"Uh oh," was all Arkilles said.

The bees sprung forward and jabbed their stingers into Arkilles's metal body! His metal dented and caved underneath the stingers' might. Arkilles himself only fruitlessly flailed his arms and ran around in circles!

"Noooooooooooooooo! Not bees! Anything but bees!" Arkilles wailed like a terrified child. "I'm allergic to bees!"

Swarm's own bee swarm just buzzed with laughter as they jabbed away. Bright bursts of golden light and smoky shadows cackled as they flew right past him! Swarm gasped; his swarm drew away and formed into a vague shape of his own body as they transformed back into him. Swarm panted as he buzzed in place, and before him, Arkilles reeled and held his head. Arkilles's armor was cracked in some placed, lined with bumps in the others… Swarm really did a number on him!

Arkilles groaned as he lifted his head, his eyes so cracked that red light seeped through the cracks, and he growled once more as he glared at Swarm. "You'll pay for that!" Arkilles cried as the red light that came from his cracked eyes glowed even brighter. "Once I fry you with my ultra-powerful eye lasers of doom, you'll be nothing more than a grilled bug!"

Arkilles screamed as his cracked eyes glowed like suns. Just before he could fire, a bright yellow laser shot right into his left eye and completely cracked it! Arkilles's screams came not from anger, but pain as he held the injured side of his head. Above him, the shield magician hovered and chuckled as he drew back a glowing shield.

"Your turn, brother!" the shield magician shouted as he waved to Arkilles's other side.

"Gladly, brother!" the sword magician shouted back. He grinned as he drew his sword up, and with a couple slashes, ripples of darkness shot through the air and shattered Arkilles's other eye!

"AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! MY EYES!" Arkilles wailed as he shielded his broken eyes with his massive, mechanical fists!

The magicians both cackled as they gazed upon Arkilles, left so helpless as he covered his eyes—but while they laughed in the air, Arkilles snatched them and yanked them back to him! Their eyes popped out of their heads as Arklilles' massive head gazed upon them, and they both squirmed as they tried to escape his grip. Arkilles squeezed them tighter and they could only scream!

"How about we play a game of pop the magicians, huh?" Arkilles remarked as he squeezed them!

Swarm gasped and leaped into action! "Oh no you don't, Arkilles!" Swarm cried as his body glowed with a bright power. "Time for me to bring the sting!"

As Swarm called out, the bright, golden light enveloped his body, and he grew twice his already-gigantic size! With his new height, he completely towered over Arkilles, who now looked very nervous indeed. Quicksilver oil crept down Arkilles's head as he released the magicians, and he only gulped as he came in Swarm's presence.

"Oh no, not the almighty Swarm!"

Swarm let out a haughty laugh that shook the room around, and with a single slice from Swarm's barbs, Arkilles got cut in half! Arkilles's mechanical wails resounded around the room as he exploded in a fury of flame, while everyone cheered as they surrounded Swarm!

"Swarm, you're our hero!" they all cried at once!

§

Swarm clasped his fists and shook them in the air. "Thank you, thank you!" Swarm cried.

Chihiro's eyes sparkled as Swarm basked in his imaginary glory. But, Thumpback and Eye both sighed as they shot him glares—and though Brawl didn't have a face, the way he crossed his arms was enough to show his displeasure.

Swarm grinned as he lowered his fists, tilted his head and twitched his antenna as he gazed back at the others. "Wait, what's with that look, guys?"

"That isn't how we defeated Arkilles and you know it, Swarm," Eye remarked as he plopped back on top of Brawl and crossed his wings.

"Is that true?" Chihiro asked as she tilted her own head.

Swarm's eyes grew wider, and a soft blush came over his face as he chuckled and scratched his head. "Er, well, I, may have embellished the details just a little bit."

Tree Rex, Eye, and Thumpback all sighed and shook their heads.

Chihiro just turned her gaze back up to Tree Rex and Eye-Brawl. "So, if that wasn't how you defeated Arkilles, then, how did you?"

Tree Rex cleared his massive throat and sat down. "Ah yes, I remember it quite well," Tree Rex remarked. He rubbed his throat and a small nod came to him. "Well, you see, it actually happened a little something like this…"

§

"Augh!" cried the magicians' leader as she crashed into a pile of rocky rubble! She stood back up and swayed from side to side as she bared her staff, but alas, she could only collapse despite her show of determination.

Around her, the other magicians all writhed in pain and laid still on the floor. Their bodies were grave with injury as they heaved shallow breaths with all the might they had. They all fought their hardest, yet it still wasn't enough!

Above them, Arkilles cackled as he brushed away their combined attack like it was little more than a fly. Though his eyes were rid of their glass, they still shone bright as morning stars while they trained on the weakened magicians! His cackles filled the room with dread as he lifted his fist, and his massive cape fluttered in the wind as he turned it down.

"I'll give you credit, you did fight pretty hard," Arkilles remarked as he twisted his fist around and let out low chuckles, "but it wasn't hard enough!" Arkilles raised his fist as it glowed, shot it down and pointed towards the injured free magicians. "Minions, finish them!"

The sound of clunking metal and shuffling feet echoed from the halls as masses of Arkeyan robots poured out from the halls, all armed with glowing rifles that were pointed right at the magicians! They were charged and ready, and there was no way the magicians could fight back with them in such a weakened state! They could only groan as they lifted their heads and faced their laser-borne death.

"Say hello to your precious Ancients for me, stage magicians!"

The rifles shrieked as they charged further, their glow pulsing and fading with every cycle, and the magicians just stood silent still. A few of them held their heads or turned away; some pounded their fists against the ground. It was like all hope had been lost, and yet, a tiny pair of feet dashed through the wreckage and screamed.

"Leave them alone!" cried a young voice as a burst of magic shot from the crowds!

This tiny little ball of magic ricocheted off the robots' head and disappeared in a flash, but it was enough that the robots lowered their weapons and craned their heads around in confusion. Though they scanned the battlefields below, nothing could be seen save for one tiny little child with their pale skin, torn clothes, scarred and scratched up body, and soft, sky blue hair! Their silver eyes were puffy and filled with tears as they flung their arms in front of their fellow magicians. Though their legs trembled so hard that it seemed like they would collapse, they still stood tall in front of the opposition.

"Le, leave," the child sputtered between sniffles and sobs. They lowered their head for a moment as they wiped away their tears, but they still turned to the Arkeyans and faced them nonetheless. "LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!"

"Varonis, what, what are you doing?" demanded one of the magicians between sputters and coughs. His dark hair fluttered over his face, but between its strands, worry cleared showed in his brown eyes. "Get out of here! Those things will kill you!"

"No! I'm not gonna do that, Vaayu!" Varonic cried as they turned back to the portal master. "I'm not leaving you behind! You told me that as free magicians, it's our duty to protect Skylands and all inside it from the Arkeyans' evil, even if it means we die!" Varonis turned back to the Arkeyans, and a hint of courage shone in their teary, swollen eyes as they faced the masses of Arkeyan armies once more. "SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO!"

Arkilles only chuckled as he glanced down at Varonis, and a hint of amusement shone in his broken eyes. "My, my, the kid thinks they can play the hero! Give them a round of applause!" Arkilles cackled as he clapped his hands.

The robots all turned to each other, shrugged and dropped their weapons as they clapped alongside Arkilles.

Arkilles scowled and screeched so hard it nearly blew everyone off their feet. "I DIDN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY, YOU BUFFOONS! TAKE UP YOUR ARMS!"

The robots all whirred and beeped as they scrambled to yank their weapons from the floors. They cocked their rifles and pointed them all out once more. Their weaponry fully charged once more, and with a single pull of the trigger, anyone in the line of fire would be toast!

"Now, minions," Arkilles cried as he pointed to the magicians, "show them what we do to heroes around here!"

"YES SIR!" The robots all chimed as they readied their weaponry. "Three, two, one…"

Varonis only gulped as their arms joined their legs in shuddering with fury, but they still stood tall and waved their hands as the robots prepared to fire. Bursts of cyan magic sparkled and shone from their palms, yet disappeared just as quickly as they appeared! All that was left was for them to stand still, and face the robots as their guns' barrels shuddered with light.

"FIRE!" the robots cried!

Varonic screamed and prepared to cast a shield as laser bursts came straight for them, their eyes screwed shut as they surely prepared for the end. Just before the laser came, a gigantic purple shield sprung between them and the robots! The robots' laser blows slammed into the shield and reflected back at them, tearing them to bits as they exploded upon contact.

Varonis's eyes fluttered open as shadows cast above them, and something lifted them from the floor. They finally lifted their head, gasped and grinned as Ninjini lifted them into her palms—she came to save them all! More than her, the other seven Elder Elementals flanked her from behind, all with smiles on their faces and weapons clasped tight!

"Are you alright, Varonis?" Ninjini asked.

Varonis furiously nodded, but their grin fell as their eyes drifted down to where the other magicians laid sprawled against the floor. Arkilles's haughty laughter drained the color from his face, and Ninjini lowered her hand as she let Varonis tend back to their fellow magicians.

"Well, well, look who's here!" Arkilles remarked. "Come to save the day again, Minor Elementals?"

"More than that, Arkilles!" Tree Rex bellowed as he pounded his fists together. "Your reign of terror ends now! We're not going to let you bring any more harm to Skylands!"

"My, such confidence!" Arkilles called as he waved his glowing fist around. "But, I wonder—will you still act so high and mighty when you face my CONQUERTRONS?"

The entire world rumbled around them as the halls below smashed to bits, and out from their rubble came massive, humanoid machines! They were taller than buildings and towers, and their eyes glowed with a menacing yellow light as they flanked Arkilles on each end. They leaned down and put themselves in fighting positions; with a single snap of Arkilles's fingers, they were off like rockets!

"Their legs are their weak spots!" Ninjini cried. "Aim for those!"

Ninjini summoned her wishblades as she burst forward, tossed them out and zapped them with purple magic bolts! A bright purple glow surrounded the wishblades as they zipped around on their own and sliced the first few Conquertrons' legs in half. The Conquertrons themselves just flew into the air and crashed back down! Just before they hit the ground, an anchor's chain wrapped around them and swung them around.

In the center of the storm, sweat poured down Thumpback's body as he strained and swung his anchor around; finally, he released and sent them crashing back into the rest! The pile of Conquertrons twitched and strained as they rested on the ground and sent clouds of dust floating around. A burst of flames shot forward and set them alight. Strained, screeching beeps and whirs came from them as the flames ate away, and they all exploded to bits with one single laser blast!

Smoke and fire covered the room while Arkilles broke into a coughing fit, and under the smoke's cover, the Elder Elementals all charged forward! Crusher nodded and swerved away from the rest of the group as they burst through the smoke, a bright glow of light around their bodies as their signal. They all stood tall as Arkilles fanned the smoke from his face, and growled as his eyes fell on them!

Arkilles lurched forward and went to stomp Tree Rex, but Tree Rex just ran aside and disappeared in a murky, shadowy smoke that burst from his solar cannon! Arkilles gasped, pounded his foot around, and dented the floors as he sought out Tree Rex, but he just couldn't find Tree Rex in spite of Tree Rex's laughter!

"Where are you, you overgrown twig?" Arkilles demanded as he continued to stomp. "I demand you show yourself this instant!"

Though Arkilles fixed on Tree Rex, Crusher was the one he really should've worried about! Crusher sneaked out of the shadows with his hammer clutched tight in his hands. He leaped up and slammed his hammer right into the back of Arkilles's leg! Arkilles wailed as he fell to his knees; his hands pressed against the floor as he pushed himself up, and a bright glow from below caught his attention!

He snarled as his eyes fell on Eye's glowing eye, swung his hand and grappled for Eye—but Eye popped off and zapped Arkilles right in the face! Arkilles reeled backwards and slammed into the wall, but Eye just floated back as Ninjini zipped ahead of him. Ninjini shouted out as she slammed a magic orb into Arkilles's chest and knocked him aside, and Arkilles growled as he leaned up to his feet. Sparks flew from the injured wiring in his leg, but he hardly cared as he raised a glowing fist and shot a storm of lasers right at her!

Ninjini chuckled and teleported away, but the lasers phased right through the cloud of smoke she left behind and blew up a part of the ceiling! Arkilles clenched his fist as rocks and marble crumbled down, and a POP from the side showed Ninjini's return. She giggled and waved at Arkilles as she hovered next to a wall, but Arkilles screamed as he slung a punch at her—except it never landed! She disappeared at just the right moment, and he just lodged his glowing fist into the wall. Arkilles grunted as he tried to yank it out, and Ninjini teleported back onto the ground.

"Tree Rex, Swarm, now!" Ninjini cried.

"On it, Jeannie!" Swarm cried in the distance,

The sound of buzzing resounded across the floor as Swarm zipped forward with Tree Rex hanging from his arms! Swarm grunted as he zipped past another portion of crumbling ceiling, and snarled as his eyes fell on Arkilles. He swung his arms back and forth, and...

"Jump for it, boss!"

With a grunt, Swarm tossed Tree Rex right for Arkilles! Arkilles turned around as Tree Rex's screams hit the air, and just in time for Tree Rex to punch his head clean off! Arkilles's head spun across the fields and slammed right into the wall. Without a head to guide it, the body slunk backwards and severed itself from its glowing, dislodged fist as it collapsed on the ground!

A low, decidedly unrobotic groan echoed from within the hollow body as a red and gold glow came from it, and it slowly shrunk down until it was no bigger than an average human. A pop of red and gold sparkles came and unveiled Arkilles once more—the true Arkilles. His snow white skin was covered in bruises and bloody cuts, his hair was disheveled and his clothing was tattered. His kingly image was torn to shreds, and all that remained was a sad, sad shell of a man.

The Elder Elementals all snarled as they surrounded Arkilles with weapons raised, but Arkilles only gritted his teeth and pounded his bloody, bruised fist into the floor! Arkilles glared up at Tree Rex. Despite his eyes both being bruised, he still found it in him to muster a look of defiance in his blood red eyes.

"I, I, I—" Arkilles croaked before he hacked out blood and collapsed on the floor!

Tree Rex only held up a glowing solar cannon and snarled as Arkilles coughed and hacked.

"Your reign ends here, Arkilles," was all Tree Rex said as he prepared to fire…

When a shriek and a bright flash of light caught his attention!

All eyes turned around to where the Fist of Arkus laid lodged in the wall, except it grew unstable! Sparks flew from its interior, and it glowed with a harsh light akin to the sun itself. Massive winds whipped around the interior as the light glowed bright, and it expanded in a full on rift! Arkilles was forgotten in all the Elder Elementals' minds as they scrambled for something to cling to, but it was too late. The winds whipped them right off the ground, and in that instant, a bright flash of light drowned out everything else as they got sucked in…

§

"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.