‘What time is it?’
‘What’s with all the speed bumps?’
‘Why-‘ Cyro’s thoughts were cut short as she was thrown out of bed. She cringed and sat up shakily due to the rattling of the train. “Ow.”

Cyro yawned and then stopped when she noticed something, the air was cooler than usual. She blew a breath out watching it become something like white smoke. She stared for a minute before doing it again. ‘That means it’s colder than usual.’ She thought to herself. Then something clicked in her mind. Last night Vera had informed them that they’d reach the middle of the lake, which held a giant glacier, sometime last night.

Cyro turned onto her hands and knees, not trusting her balance, and crawled toward the window. She stood up very slowly, griping the wall, and opened the window. A cold wind came in and caressed Cyro’s face. She looked out to see the unmistakable form of ice, and despite the constant jiggling of the train, she could tell they were going upwards. Cyro stayed in the window enjoying the wind when the train gave a particularly large jump and she hit her head on the top window-sill.

“Ow-chi!’ She exclaimed, rubbing her head. The intercom then came on.

“G-g-g-good-d-d-d m-m-m-morning-g-g p-p-passengers-s-s-s-s! P-P-pleas-s-se c-c-come d-d-dow-w-wn-n t-to th-the b-b-breakf-fast-t c-car!” Vera said the shakiness of the train making her stutter.

Cyro sighed and tried to walk to her bed. She made it about three steps before she toppled over hit her head for the third time. She pulled herself up and sat on her bed before putting on her boots. She had just pulled on her coat when there was a knock on her door.

“H-hi D-Danny!” Cyro greeted as she opened the door.

“M-m-m-m-morn-n-ing C-C-Cy-y.” came Danny’s reply. She was wearing what looked like winter clothes and had her wings wrapped around her as well.

“Y-you-u o-o-kay-y?”

Danny gave a jerky nod and moved so Cyro could get out. “L-l-let-t-s-s-s-s g-g-go-o.”

The two girls made it to the breakfast car, of course not without almost falling a few times, and settled at a table with Auralyn, Philon, a quite Flower, and under the table Dunce wrapped in a blanket nibbling on some plain pancakes. Cyro froze the legs of the chairs and table to the floor, so they’d at least have some stability.

“I-i-it’s-s t-to b-b-bad-d R-Ren-n-n h-h-had-d t-to-o-o l-lea-a-v-e-e.” Auralyn said, trying to make conversation, “H-h-he-e w-wo-oul-ld-d o-o-of-f b-b-be-en-n n-n-ni-ce-e-e t-t-to-o t-t-tal-lk-k t-t-to-o.”

Vera finally arrived, walking more confidently than the contestants had. The only other thing was she looked utterly exhausted.

“S-Sorry for the m-minor t-technical d-difficult-ty! T-There was a s-sabotage of the t-train's stab-bilizers lat-te l-ast n-nig-ht! T-the w-wires w-were c-ut and t-tangled. T-the t-tech cr-rew i-is f-fixing-g i-it b-but o-one m-major c-cord w-was s-s-tolen! T-The r-replacm-ment w-was t-too!”

“G-g-g-g-great-t-t-t.” Stuttered Danny.

“S-Sorry ag-gain!” Vera said leaving. Everyone started to talk as soon as she left.

“W-well-l-l I-I-I d-do-o-o s-say-y-y, t-t-this i-is-s q-qui-te-e t-t-the p-pre-d-dica-a-m-ment.” Philon said, almost falling off the table, but was saved by Auralyn’s bag of dirt.

“Y-y-ye-a-ah-h-h, f-f-f-fantast-tic-c.” Danny said sarcastically.

Cyro just nodded, since her mouth was full of bacon. She swallowed before saying, “Y-you-u k-k-know-w t-the-e s-s-shak-i-ing-g i-i-is-s-s s-s-sor-t-t o-o-of-f-f f-fun-n w-when-n y-y-you-u g-g-get-t u-use-e t-t-to-o i-i-it-t.”

“Y-you p-proba-bly-y d-did-d i-it-t.”

Cyro turned around, with a piece of bacon sticking out of her mouth, to see the residential monster snake, Rainbox.

“W-w-why-y w-w-would-d I-I-I d-do-o t-th-at-t?” She asked taking the bacon out.

“Y-you j-j-just-t s-s-sa-id-d y-you l-l-like-ed t-th-is-s-s-s b-b-boun-cin-g-g.”

“T-t-that-t d-doesn’-n’t m-mean-n I-I-I d-did-d i-i-it-t! I-I-I h-h-have n-n-no-o t-tech-nic-al-l k-kn-ow-w h-how-w.”

“W-we’ll-l-l s-s-s-see-s-s.” Rainbox hissed, before slithering off.

“Y-you-u c-c-can-n-n s-s-s-show-w-w h-h-her-r, C-C-C-Cy.” Said Danny trying to eat a bite of pancakes.

“Y-y-you b-b-bet-t I-I-I w-w-will-l. D-d-do-o-o y-y-you w-w-want-t t-t-to-o h-h-help-p u-u-u-us-s, F-F-Flow-e-er-r?”

“N-n-no-o t-t-tha-n-nk-k y-y-you-u.” Flower said, shakily getting up and putting her dirty plastic container in the dirty dishes tub. She than left like some of the other people were.

“W-w-w-what-t-t s-s-shou-ld-d w-w-w-we-e d-d-do-o-o f-f-fir-st-t-t?” Auralyn asked.

“W-w-we-e n-n-ne-ed-d t-t-to s-s-sp-l-lit-t u-u-u-up-p. I-I-I’ll-l-l g-g-go w-w-wit-h-h D-D-Dan-ny-y, a-a-and-d y-y-you-u a-a-and-d P-P-Phil-l-l c-c-can-n p-p-pa-ir-r u-u-up-p.”

“P-P-Ph-i-il-l-o-o-on-n, p-p-p-ple-e-ea-a-se-e-e, M-M-Miss-s-s-s C-C-Cy-r-r-ro-o-o-o.”

“A-a-al-r-r-rig-g-ght-t.” Cyro sighed. “W-w-we’ll g-g-go-o t-t-to-o t-t-the-e c-c-co-on-n-tr-r-ol-l r-r-ro-om-m, a-a-and-d y-y-you g-g-go-o t-t-to t-t-the c-ca-a-bin-n a-a-are-a-a.”

Auralyn nodded and then left with Philon and her baggy of dirt following them.  

“L-l-let-t’s-s g-g-get-t s-s-sta-rte-ed-d.”

“Y-y-y-yea-h-h-h. T-t-t-the-e-e s-s-s-soo-ner-r-r t-t-t-the-e-e b-b-b-bet-ter-r-r.” Agreed Danny.
BCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCE

“A-a-a-are-e y-y-you p-p-pos-i-it-tive-e y-y-you’re-e o-o-o-okay-y?” Cyro asked Danny as they walked towards the control room.

“Y-y-yes-s I-I’m-m f-f-fine! Q-q-qui-it-t a-a-ask-king!” Danny yelled, her temper and aura flaring slightly.

“A-a-alr-rig-ght-t, I-I-I g-get-t i-i-it-t.”

“S-s-s-sor-r-r-ry. I-I-I d-d-do-o-n’t-t-t l-l-l-lik-e-e t-t-t-the-e c-c-c-co-l-ld-d.”

“T-t-then-n l-l-let-t’s-s g-g-get t-t-th-is-s o-o-over-r w-w-w-with s-s-so-o y-y-you c-c-c-can-n w-w-warm-m u-u-u-up-p.”

They reached the control room to find a few workers trying to fix the problem. Cyro tapped the main worker in charge to get his attention.

“H-h-hel-lo-o-o, m-m-may-y w-w-w-we-e t-t-take-e a-a-a l-l-lo-ok a-a-at-t t-t-the c-c-cri-me-e s-s-s-ce-an-n?”

“W-w-we-ll-l w-w-we-e h-h-ha-ve-e s-s-sor-t-t o-o-of-f s-s-sta-arte-ed-d f-f-fix-ing-g t-t-th-i-ings-s-s-s. B-b-but-t y-y-you c-c-can-n t-t-ta-ke-e a-a-a l-l-lo-ok a-a-at-t t-t-the-e p-p-pic-ctures-s w-w-we-e t-t-to-ok-k.” He answered.

“T-t-tha-nk y-y-you.”

Danny and Cyro walked over and started to look at the pictures.

“C-c-can-n w-w-w-we r-r-r-rea-lly e-e-ex-a-a-m-min-e-e t-t-the-se-e h-h-h-her-e?” Danny asked.

Cyro shook her head, trying to find any sort of clue.

“C-c-c-can-n w-w-w-we t-t-t-ta-ke-e t-t-t-the-se-e t-t-to-o l-l-l-lo-ok a-a-a-at-t?”

The main guy nodded and after they left, Cyro and Danny made a detour to the storage closet.

“W-w-w-why-y a-a-a-are-e w-w-w-we-e h-h-h-he-re?” Wondered Danny.

“T-t-to l-l-lo-ok f-f-f-for-r c-c-c-clues-s-s-s.” Cyro answered opening the door.

The storage room was small with a lot of shelves lining the walls. On all of the shelves were multi-sized boxes all labeled as some sort of spare part.

“T-t-t-this m-m-mu-st-t o-o-of b-b-be-en w-w-wher-e t-t-t-the-e p-p-pa-re w-was-s.” Cyro said pointing to a broken metal box. ‘I wonder who could bre-‘ but her thought was cut short by Danny.

“I-I-I t-t-t-think-k I-I-I f-f-f-fou-nd-d s-s-s-some-e-t-t-t-thi-mg-g.” Danny picked up something that was blue and somewhat oval like. “I-i-i-it l-l-l-lo-oks-s-s l-l-l-li-ke a-a-a s-s-s-sca-ale-e.”

“M-m-m-might b-b-be o-o-one o-o-of G-G-Gu-ile’s-s. D-d-don’t-t k-k-know.  L-l-l-lets-s l-l-lo-ok f-f-for m-m-more c-c-c-clues-s.”

They looked around a bit more before Cyro found a small patch of dark blue fur. “M-m-may-be S-S-S-Sher-iti w-w-was-s h-h-he-re t-t-too-o. L-l-let’s-s g-g-ge b-b-ba-ck t-t-to t-t-the c-c-ca-bins-s a-a-and s-s-see w-w-wh-at A-A-Aura-a-a-a-l-lyn h-h-has f-f-fou-nd.”
BCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCEBCE

After meeting back up with Auralyn and Philon everyone took up residence in Auralyns room to pool all of the clues together.

“L-l-let’s-s-s s-s-see-e, w-w-we h-h-ha-ve s-s-some w-w-wi-re c-c-cut-ters f-f-found b-b-by D-D-Dans r-r-room, t-t-the s-s-sc-ale a-a-and f-f-fur w-w-we f-f-fo-und. A-a-al-l-so s-s-some-e s-s-so-rt o-o-of s-s-sil-ver f-f-fur f-f-found-d b-b-by F-F-Flo-wers-s d-d-do-or.” Cyro listed off as she examined the clues.

“H-h-hey, t-t-t-tak-ke a-a-a-a l-l-lo-ok a-a-a-at t-t-t-this-s!” Auralyn exclaimed, handing one of the pictures to Cyro. “I-i-it l-l-looks l-l-like-e t-t-the s-s-side h-h-has b-b-be-en s-s-sc-a-atched-d.”

The picture was of a machine. In it were three scratch marks going from left to right.

“T-t-thes-se l-l-look k-k-kind o-o-of s-s-sha-low-w.”

“M-m-m-may-be-e-e G-G-G-Gui-le-e o-o-or-r D-D-Dan-n?” Suggested Danny.

“I-I-I d-d-“ Cyro was cut short by her stomach growling.

“P-p-per-haps w-w-we s-s-sho-uld g-g-get s-s-some-thing-g t-t-to e-ea-t?” Auralyn said, heading to the door.

“Y-y-you’ll-l-l h-h-ha-ve t-t-t-to f-f-for-give m-m-m-me-e l-l-la-di-es-s. I-I-I h-h-ha-ve s-s-so-me-thi-ng I-I-I f-f-fo-und I-I-I w-w-wa-nt t-t-to l-l-l-look a-a-at-t.” Philon apologized before hopping towards his room.

“B-b-ye P-P-P-Phil-on!” Cried Auralyn.

“Y-y-yeah, b-b-bye P-P-P-Phil!”

“P-P-P-Phil-on, p-p-p-plea-se M-M-Mi-ss C-C-C-Cyro!”

The girls made it to the diner car and sat down at their table from that mourning.

“S-s-so-o-o, w-w-who-o w-w-wants t-t-to p-p-play g-g-guess w-w-what’s i-i-in-n t-t-the p-p-pl-asti-c c-c-contain-ers?” Cyro asked.

A little ways off Rainbox was looking out the window. “W-w-what’s-s-s t-t-that?”

“W-w-what a-a-are y-y-you t-t-talk-ing a-a-ab-out?” Sneered Dan.

“Y-y-yeah. I-I-I d-d-don’t s-s-see a-a-any-thing.” Cyro said looking out the window.

“O-o-oh, y-y-you w-w-will-l-l.”

“W-w-wha-AHHHHHHHH!!!” Cyro screamed as Rainbow threw her out the window.

“C-C-CYRO!!!” Cried Danny and Auralyn.

“W-w-why’d-d y-y-you d-d-do t-t-th-at?!” Danny growled the temperature instantly rising and her hair started to smoke.

Meanwhile Cyro had finally stopped rolling on the glacier. She gritted her teeth and lifted herself onto her knees. Cyro opened her eyes and they started to glow white. Ice suddenly incased trains wheels, instantly halting it and causing everyone inside to fall forward, backward, or on to someone.

Cyro, with her eyes still aglow, walked back to the train. She entered through the caboose and fast walked through the cars leading to the diner car. She slid the door open with a slam.

“You!” Cyro, who’s eyes stopped glowing, stated pointing at Rainbox. “You did it!”

“Did what?”

“Sabotaged the train!”

Rainbox laughed, “And how do you know that?”

“One: You automatically accused me this mourning of doing it. Two: We found clues ‘connecting’ almost everyone to the crime except you. Three: We found scatch marks consistent with your monster arm. And four:…”Cyro suddenly glared coldly at Rainbox. “You just tried to throw me off the train!”

“HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!! So you found a few clues. It doesn’t mean I did it.” Rainbox laughed closing up on Cyro.

Cyro’s hand glowed blue and before anyone knew what was happening, Rainbox’s neck was pinned to the ceiling by and ice hook.

“Admit it!” Cyro ordered though clenched teeth.  

Rainbox broke the ice holding her and attacked Cyro, throwing her out the window. The she ripped of the door leading outside off it’s hinges and went after Cyro.

“No! Not the train!” Cried Vera, who had come to see what all the ruckus was about.

Cyro had caught herself when Rainbox came out. She glared and pulled out her transforming staff and changed it into a lance.

“So it’s a fight you want, huh? Well then so be it.” Rainbox sneered as she took a fighting stance.

“Please don’t kill anyone!” Vera shouted.

“Will do, Miss Vera!”

“I’ll try!”

Rainbox lunged at Cyro, who dodged and stabbed her lance at Rainbow trying to knock her off  balance.

‘You forget, we’re in my element.” Cyro said as she made a hand jester and incased most of Rainbox in ice.

“Is that the best you’ve got?!” Rainbox roared as she broke out of the ice and swiped at Cyro with her monster arm.
Cyro dodged and landed in a squat. Rainbox whipped around trying to knock Cyro with her tail. Cyro launched herself into the air by using her lance as a catapult. While flying the air, Cyro saw something swim under the ice.

‘Uh-oh.’ She thought.

As soon as Cyro landed, Rainbox started to charge but stopped paused when the glacier started to shake. Out from beneath the ice burst one of the sea monsters but this one was different. Instead of the normal monsters that were blue, this one was bright green with red accents and eyes. It roared showing off its neat rows of shiny white fangs.

“We’re on top of a glacier, how can that be here?!” Asked Danny.

“I’ve heard that there are water tunnels though the glacier. And that the sea monsters that can stand the cold have different properties than the regular ones!” Vera explained to everyone.

The sea monster lunged at Rainbox but missed then turned on Cyro. Cyro launched herself into air again and then changed her lance into a sword. A she descended she rammed the sword into the monsters head. She then ran most of the length of it dragging the sword though its skin. When she reached the water she jumped on some ice to propel her into the air. She then turned and flung the blood from her sword changing it into shards, causing them to fly into the dying monster. Cyro landed just as the sea monster took its last breath.

“Forget about me?”

Cyro was then flung backwards by Rainbox’s tail. She slid on the ice and stopped with her weapon just out of reach, Rainbox slithered over.

“You should really keep an eye on your surroundings.”

Cyro gritted her teeth. “So should you.” She then moved her arm sideways and an ice slab came out and hit Rainbox. Cyro then flipped up and grabbed her weapon. She changed it back into a lance and held it with both hands. Just as Rainbox was getting her bearings, Cyro raised her lance into an upright position creating a giant ice spear with Rainbox trapped inside. Cyro spun her lance and stabbed the air stopping half an inch away from Rainbox’s face.

“Now, admit you did it!” Cyro ordered.

Rainbox grimaced, “Fine, I did it! There, happy?”

“Yes.” Cyro transformed her weapon back to its staff form and walked back to the train.

“So, what about the missing part?” Danny asked.

“I have a theory. Miss Vera could we see a picture of the part?”

“Sure.” Nodded Vera, she took out a piece of paper from her pocket and showed it to everyone. “So, have you seen it?”

“Um…I think I can help with that.” Philon said.

Cyro, Philon, Danny, Auralyn and Vera walked to Philons room to find the missing part sitting on his desk.

“How’d you know it was here?” Auralyn asked.

“I had a suspicion when Phil said he something to do than join us for lunch.”

“Philon, please.”

“I figured Rainbox would stash the spare part in here, ‘cause Philon had never seen anything like it before.”

“And would want to study it!” Finished Danny, who caught on.”

“Exactly.”

“Thank you for finding it, Cyro.” Thanked Vera.

“Hey! Rainbox has escaped.” Announced Flower from the doorway.

Everyone ran back to the diner car and out the broken door to see the ice spear broken, part of the sea monster missing and no Rainbox in site.

“Well, I guess she’s gone now.” Stated Cyro.

“Yeah.” Danny and Auralyn said at the same time.

“Thank you again, Cyro. I’ll get this to the technicians.” Vera said. “Do you think you can unfreeze the train now?”

“Heehee, sure.”