They all agree to go up!! After all, this looks very promising. Those among them who are capable of flight may try to scout ahead, but will find themselves unable to advance, so taking the stairs it is.
As they ascend, plenty of memories play out in the clouds around them (click to expand!) A group of people rides across the sea on a four-winged dragon (portrayed in a dragon-dance-like manner) until they reach an archipelago (shown by the shadow of a map overlaid over the scene). They're met by others already onsite, including a little girl, and explore their destination, enjoying the glowing beauty of the place. One man steps forward and looks up at the sky, as if reminiscing the flight on the dragon's back.
A man is being pursued by a woman who seems like an overeager fan rather than a threat, but she is suddenly abducted by someone dressed up to resemble a machine. The man pursues them to a racing ring, where the "robot" challenges him to a race. They compete, pursued by a fierce light being reflected onto the scene, and eventually the hero is victorious, his robotic adversary crashing into a closing gate. The freed woman embraces him in relief and gratitude.
Knights try to stand their ground against black dragons (again portrayed by large puppets maneuvered by multiple actors), but fall under their size, strength, and sheer numbers - until suddenly, reinforcements arrive: Three white dragons, one of them as large as the black dragons' leader. The people who arrived with them stand with their allies to face the enemy, the large white dragon's rider distinguished by his cat-like ears and tail.
Three children run towards a big tree in the distance, playfully racing each other. One of them falls back, and the girl in the lead seems to hold back so the boy doing his best to overtake her can reach the tree (again a play of shadows, being increased in size as the children approach it) first. Once all of them have made it, they rest and talk in the tree's cooling shadow.
A dragon (again portrayed by a large puppet) gives shelter to ghosts draped in white sheets, but it appears to be dying. A swordsman rallies the mournful spirits under his command, and they proceed to protect people in danger of being robbed or otherwise assaulted by scaring away the would-be assailants.
A robed and masked person flings throwing knifes at a boy - only to have them intercepted by metal chains wielded by a woman who immediately proceeds to counterattack, swiftly evading all further missiles and giving the masked figure a hefty beating that culminates in them being flung away and forced to retreat.
A group of girls delightedly watch docile animals bathing in a pond with steam rising up from it... and one of them gets so drowsy from the peaceful sight that she ends up toppling into the hot spring and relaxing with the creatures, much to the others' amusement (albeit there is some concern mixed in).
Portrayed by a light-projected shadow image, a gargantuan tree looms on top of a rocky island. Instead of a crown full of leaves, its enormous branches support what looks like a second island in the sky: A mass of rock and soil, populated by regularly-sized trees that, in combination, do create the illusion of a lush crown. After a moment, an image of a symbol is overlaid: A highly stylised flying fairy with a tail.
A man in white chases after a man in black, with a projection of a cycling sun and moon showing the relentlessness of his pursuit. Eventually, he is able to confront him, and a swordfight breaks out. Both fighters are skilled, but eventually, the pursuer gets the upper hand and puts the apparent fugitive under arrest. Xingchen tells the others that the scene strongly resembles something he experienced (in the pursuer's role).
Hijikata (and possibly others) will call out and wave to the people putting on these plays for them - will they react? If anyone capable of flight attempts to land among them and/or touch them, what will happen?
Additionally, Wendy will take a bite out of those clouds - her Sky Dragon Slayer abilities allow her to process elements of the sky and, if applicable, make their powers her own. Will she find anything notable about these clouds?
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As they ascend, plenty of memories play out in the clouds around them (click to expand!)
A group of people rides across the sea on a four-winged dragon (portrayed in a dragon-dance-like manner) until they reach an archipelago (shown by the shadow of a map overlaid over the scene). They're met by others already onsite, including a little girl, and explore their destination, enjoying the glowing beauty of the place. One man steps forward and looks up at the sky, as if reminiscing the flight on the dragon's back.
A man is being pursued by a woman who seems like an overeager fan rather than a threat, but she is suddenly abducted by someone dressed up to resemble a machine. The man pursues them to a racing ring, where the "robot" challenges him to a race. They compete, pursued by a fierce light being reflected onto the scene, and eventually the hero is victorious, his robotic adversary crashing into a closing gate. The freed woman embraces him in relief and gratitude.
Knights try to stand their ground against black dragons (again portrayed by large puppets maneuvered by multiple actors), but fall under their size, strength, and sheer numbers - until suddenly, reinforcements arrive: Three white dragons, one of them as large as the black dragons' leader. The people who arrived with them stand with their allies to face the enemy, the large white dragon's rider distinguished by his cat-like ears and tail.
Three children run towards a big tree in the distance, playfully racing each other. One of them falls back, and the girl in the lead seems to hold back so the boy doing his best to overtake her can reach the tree (again a play of shadows, being increased in size as the children approach it) first. Once all of them have made it, they rest and talk in the tree's cooling shadow.
A dragon (again portrayed by a large puppet) gives shelter to ghosts draped in white sheets, but it appears to be dying. A swordsman rallies the mournful spirits under his command, and they proceed to protect people in danger of being robbed or otherwise assaulted by scaring away the would-be assailants.
A robed and masked person flings throwing knifes at a boy - only to have them intercepted by metal chains wielded by a woman who immediately proceeds to counterattack, swiftly evading all further missiles and giving the masked figure a hefty beating that culminates in them being flung away and forced to retreat.
A group of girls delightedly watch docile animals bathing in a pond with steam rising up from it... and one of them gets so drowsy from the peaceful sight that she ends up toppling into the hot spring and relaxing with the creatures, much to the others' amusement (albeit there is some concern mixed in).
Portrayed by a light-projected shadow image, a gargantuan tree looms on top of a rocky island. Instead of a crown full of leaves, its enormous branches support what looks like a second island in the sky: A mass of rock and soil, populated by regularly-sized trees that, in combination, do create the illusion of a lush crown. After a moment, an image of a symbol is overlaid: A highly stylised flying fairy with a tail.
A man in white chases after a man in black, with a projection of a cycling sun and moon showing the relentlessness of his pursuit. Eventually, he is able to confront him, and a swordfight breaks out. Both fighters are skilled, but eventually, the pursuer gets the upper hand and puts the apparent fugitive under arrest. Xingchen tells the others that the scene strongly resembles something he experienced (in the pursuer's role).
Hijikata (and possibly others) will call out and wave to the people putting on these plays for them - will they react? If anyone capable of flight attempts to land among them and/or touch them, what will happen?
Additionally, Wendy will take a bite out of those clouds - her Sky Dragon Slayer abilities allow her to process elements of the sky and, if applicable, make their powers her own. Will she find anything notable about these clouds?