Disclaimer: I don't own any aspects referenced in this story.

Chapter 27

Ups and Downs

Smokey looked ahead as the train started to speed up. The caribou herd was passing swiftly and the mountains were looming ahead. The throttle was pulled back to ensure the train didn't accelerate too much. Smokey had understood his boss' instructions to go slowly through this next bit, and couldn't really blame him. With the tracks ahead, a slow pace would be useful.

Strangely though, the train started moving faster. Smokey moved the throttle back a little, but it didn't seem to be help. If anything, the train continued to accelerate.

"Breaker, breaker. Jack to Old Smokey. Come in, Old Smokey," said a voice.

Smokey looked over at the small, circular pipe leading outside to the front. The pipe had been built a few years back after the last time the engineers had lost control. It had been determined that better communication between the very front and the engine room was needed so that there would be no cases of one group failing to hear the other, should people be at the front. Granted, it meant that the pipe needed to be cleaned every once in a while, but it rarely froze over or broke. The fact that Jack's voice could be heard on the other end meant that it was working at the moment.

Smokey went over to the pipe and switched a small lever underneath it. "This is Smokey. What's up, Jack?" he asked, switching the lever back so that Jack's voice could travel through.

"Glad that this works. The Conductor wanted me to ask you all to slow down immediately. He says we're coming up on some sharp hills and we need to ensure that we're going slowly."

Smokey nodded, switching the lever again. "We're working on that. Will call back with updates, but we'll let you know if we succeed."

Smokey then switched the lever back, ignoring Jack's cries to hurry up. Smokey then went over to the lever, looking up at the cotter pin. The pin seemed to be a little loose. Smokey then pushed the pin pack in and pulled the throttle back.

The throttle immediately came apart, with the pin breaking in half. Smokey looked at the disconnected throttle lever. This was certainly unexpected.

"Steamer, get the key to the cotter pin storage container. The pin broke in half."

Steamer looked over, grabbing the key from his neck. "Really? But the way you were working the throttle, that should be as rare as seeing a jackalope in Antarctica."

"I know, but we can figure this out later. Right now, we need to get a new pin."

Steamer went over to a small rectangular drawer with a keyhole. He leaned down and grimaced. "We might have a problem with that."

Smokey came over. Directly blocking the keyhole was a small amount of black sand. No matter how Steamer tried to fit the key, the sand blocked it completely. Smokey frowned. Now he knew what had broken the cotter pin and jammed the brake lever.

"Right. Steamer, pull the Gulch emergency lever. That'll get the seatbelts and restraints down on the chairs in the passenger cars. The waiters'll take care of the rest. I'll grab the picks and let the group up front know. That should be enough to keep everyone safe." I hope, Smokey thought.

Jack listened to the message, then went over to the Conductor. He had a feeling that the Conductor wouldn't like the news.

"Well, what'd they say?" The Conductor asked.

Jack sighed. "I guess Elsa did see black sand earlier. Apparently, it broke the cotter pin, whatever that is, and is now blocking them from getting a new one. They're using the picks, but it'll take some time to clear up. They've already started preparing the back for what's ahead."

The Conductor nodded. "I shouldn't have let you all come up here," he muttered. He turned to the group. "Quick everyone, make sure you're fully secured to the safety bar."

As Jack made sure that he and Olaf were secured, he noticed that the tracks had started to change. The mist cleared to show the train moving at a forty-five degree angle up the mountain. There were two signs nearby: Danger, 179° Grade and Use Low Gear. Jack did not like the look of those signs, especially the word 'danger'.

"Is there any way we can slow down?" Elsa asked, a concerned expression on her face.

The Conductor was double knotting everyone's ropes. "Well, unfortunately we cannot. I'm not going to sugar-plum it, we're in some serious jelly. Here are the facts as we know them. We are standing completely exposed at the front of the locomotive. The engineers are working through fixing the throttle. The brake lever would be very dangerous to use at this juncture. Thus, the train is accelerating uncontrollably. To top it all off, we are approaching Glacier Gulch."

"Oh, I've actually heard of that place. It has the steepest downhill grade in the world. I've always wanted to see it," Olaf interjected.

The Conductor nodded. "Well, you're about to get a close-up, Olaf. Given all the facts and observations, there is only one thing we can do."

"What's that?" Anna asked, looking nervous.

The Conductor finished with the ropes and moved behind the group, grabbing the rails to protect the people up front. "My main suggestion is that we all hold on…

…TIGHTLY!" he finished as the train reached the top and began its descent.

Jack found himself hanging on for the wildest ride of his life. Olaf hadn't been exaggerating about the downhill grade. The train was going completely vertical. All the way down to the ground. Much more airtime than anything he felt before.

Once it reached the ground, it began to slope up into another hill. This one traveled in another forty-five degree angle. Jack soon found himself thrust forward when the train reached the top, then hanging on again as the train went down the second hill.

Jack gave a whoop of joy. This might be a rather unsafe ride, but staying excited would help the others stay calm and not freak out. Besides, the Gulch was actually kinda fun. Felt like some of the rollar coasters that Jack had ridden in in several amusement parks over the years. Only this one was more intense and exciting.

Jack looked around at the others. Olaf was smiling widely, clearly unaware of the danger they were in. Elsa, Anna, and the Conductor were a little more nervous. The Conductor was trying to smile in an attempt to give the same calm and joy that Jack and Olaf were exuding. Anna and Elsa were screaming, though Jack had a feeling it was more a scream of terror rather than enjoyment.

Jack could also hear sounds of hammering, bonks, and whistles coming from the pipe. Jack didn't know what was going on in the engine room, but he was hoping that Smokey and Steamer would get the train fixed soon.

The train then went to the bottom of the second hill and leveled out. Jack breathed a silent sigh of relief, glad that the worst was over. The train immediately went into another downward descent, continuing to gain speed. Jack's stomach went up to his throat. Boy was his timing off.

The train soon leveled out, and the Conductor looked ahead. "I've got good news and bad news. Good news is that's all the hills."

Jack nodded. "What's the bad news?"

"The ice has frozen over the tracks ahead."

Jack looked ahead to see a large, frozen lake. The Conductor was correct, the ice had frozen over the tracks. Jack thought he saw a twinge of black sand where the ice and tracks met before the train zoomed onto the lake.

Smokey's voice echoed through the pipe. "Good news. We got rid of the black sand. We're loading the pin in now."

A second or two later, the train started slowing down. Jack could see scratch marks on the ice. It was a wonder that the ice hadn't cracked under the train's weight.

The Polar Express turned, leaning on one wheel set while being pulled ahead by the cars behind it. The train soon came to a quick stop, with the engine moving down onto all four wheels again.

"Well. That is more like it," the Conductor said. "Is everyone ok?"

Jack nodded, along with everyone else. The Conductor gave a small smile. "Good. Now, let's untie the ropes and get to the top. I don't entirely trust this ice and we should probably get back to the engine."

After untying the ropes, the group made their way up to the roof of the engine. The Conductor pulled back a part of the roof to reveal Smokey and Steamer at the controls. "Now, is everything all running smoothly? No more mishaps?" he asked in a strangely calm voice.

Smokey and Steamer looked at each other. "Well, the sand's gone," Smokey said.

"But one piece got away. We didn't notice it until after we opened the storage compartment. Several pins flew out the window, along with the black sand. It left as quickly as a squirrel on caffeine," Steamer added.

The Conductor rubbed his forehead. "When was this?"

"Around the point we went on the ice lake," Smokey said.

Olaf pointed onto the ice. "I think I see the pins. That weird undertaker has it over there."

Jack looked over. He could see the pins glinting in the moonlight. They were indeed being held by a man standing on the edge of the ice. The man was wearing black clothes and had an extremely pale skin complexion. He was holding a large scythe of black sand in his other hand. Jack frowned. Pitch.

Pitch was staring straight at the Express. He leaned his head back and gave a large, maniacal cackle. "Merry Christmas," he said, throwing the pins straight in the ice.

Immediately, the ice began to crack. Small at first, but growing larger and larger. Water started gushing out. And with the water was something that chilled Jack's heart. Nightmares. Hundreds of them, with more coming out every second. Beings of black sand crawled out as well, climbing onto the horses and brandishing swords of black sand.

It was then that Jack realized how much trouble they were in. The ice over the lake, the mountains surrounding it, beings of black sand. It was all matching Jack's dream. The ice had frozen after that battle long ago, keeping the forces of darkness down. Bunny's machine must have become the Polar Express, which needed to travel to the North Pole to refreeze the ice and power up the force field. Pitch had been trying to stop the Express from making it, but now had used tools from the Express to crack the ice. Ironic when Jack thought about it.

Pitch got up onto a nightmare that appeared beside him. All of the dark, red eyes of the enemy turned to the Polar Express. Pitch grinned triumphantly, holding the reins for his nightmare. He waved his scythe in the air, pointing it at the Express, and started racing forward. All of Pitch's army started breaking free of the cracking ice and followed their master. Jack gripped his staff. It would be a miracle if they all got off the ice.

And now we have finished connecting dots. Now we fully know how Jack's dreams connect to the recent events. As to how they'll do against Pitch, you'll have to find out in the next chapter… right now. As always, please rate and review.