thenearshore | Flying Dreams Are One Second From Falling Dreams [closed]

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Flying Dreams Are One Second From Falling Dreams [closed]

Who: Princess Celestia, Trunks, Mai, Reisi, Chikusa, with appearances from Kairi
When: September 18
Where: The skies.
What: Celestia takes the existence of a dream-twisting ayakashi rather personally, and sets into the sky to see it struck down.

"We shall need to venture into the skies to take on this ayakashi," Celestia said to the group, like a general mustering her troops (or, perhaps, a Princess mustering her guard). "To that extent, I will need to grant flight to those of you who need it. I fear I cannot carry all of you on my back, after all."

She was only one pony.

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Slouched over to the side, shoulders hunched and his hands in his pockets, Chikusa glances over everyone that's present. Most of them he knows, even if only in passing. Enough time spent in the Far Shore, and that's what happens. Thus, he feels he can at least state this much.

"Gods can just rapidly teleport to stay airborne..." He knows this because he's seen Shun do it. "If any of their shinki are here, then... They can just call their vessel forms and do things that way."

Trunks crossed his arms, sighing. "Now I wish I'd been able to figure out how Goten does it faster. I'd be able to spare you that energy." Still, no hope for it now. "If it'd be easier, I'm willing to be in vessel-form." Not that he looked happy about it; but whatever way he'd be useful best to help his friend, is what he'd do.

"I would not ask any shinki to take vessel form simply for convenience... and rapid teleporting is a way to stay up, but certainly not the best condition to battle in. I assure you I have magic enough for all who would want it."

The form that magic would take... well. She won't specify unless she's asked.

Kairi turns to Trunks. "I'm not sure how Goten flies either, if anyone else can do it, but I do know that I can borrow his friend today, so I'll keep an eye out if anyone falters." She turns to the sky and cups her hands: "Niiiimbuuuus~~~"

And the fluffy orange cloud appears. Kairi hops right onto it like someone who's ridden it a dozen times, standing up straight and everything. "I can't Rend anything without Hajime, but at least I can do this much."

"I, too, cannot Rend without Kurosaki, but I can do this."

With that, a series of platform-like barriers appear like stepping stones into the sky.

"Though I'd understand perfectly if anyone doesn't trust it to hold..." Even though he thinks himself absolutely capable of maintaining them in most any event.

Mai eyed Kairi as she summoned Nimbus, and wondered why she hadn't thought of that. Oh, well. Too late now; she wasn't about to kick the other girl off her mode of transportation. Besides, there looked like there might be an alternate method, and her arms folded across her chest as she inspected the barriers with great interest.

"That might be useful in the short term. How exactly do they work--do you have to deliberately place them, or would they follow whoever's walking or running across?"

Celestia peered at Kairi with some surprise, not even bothering to hide it. "Goodness, I didn't know any humans could walk on clouds. I thought that was a gift only pegasi had."

In the meanwhile, Reisi regards the lady who had asked about the barriers.

"While I deliberately place them myself, it takes hardly any concentration. It wouldn't be too difficult to do it for myself and perhaps one or two others."

He's absolutely confident in his response, even though he hasn't explained it and couldn't really do so if asked exactly how it works.

Really, all that he's learning best from this meet up is that more people than he would have thought can summon up the ability to be in midair. Chikusa takes in each suggestion, calculating things in his head.

"Then with someone being with Celestia, Kairi with the cloud, and others using those platforms... This should be enough." He glances around at everyone gathered. "...Right?"

"Well, I've learned something about humans today," Celestia said, smiling with unusual lack of reserve. "I thought for certain you would all jump to have wings of your own."

Kairi was about to answer Celestia concerning not all humans being able to ride the cloud, or the fact that she actually isn't even sure what the rules are since it's not her cloud in the first place, but all of that goes out the window.

"Wings? Of my own?"

You have her undivided attention, princess.

Mai gave a polite smile (with hints of amusement at Kairi's sudden interest), though she shook her head at Celestia.

"I'm not going to say I've never been curious about flying...but I'm not sure this would be the time for me to want to learn how. Maybe when we're not preparing to chase after an ayakashi mid-air."

Trunks was examining Reisi's barriers; both practically in terms of touching one physically, as well as with a focused look that meant he was studying them. Then turning back to the other shinki with that same look, trying to figure out how. But only for a few moments, because staring wasn't polite. It might also be something the other could do, but could not remember how, much like Trunks' ability with chi.

"I'm willing to go with whatever's easier. If we have wings, we might have to worry about how to compensate for balance and extra limbs." It wasn't a 'no' though.

"That may be true," Celestia allowed, not particularly finding any value about arguing over the magic of it all. "Ponies normally do not, but you all are humans and could potentially react differently. If you are satisfied with the magic platforms and the... cloud?"

Why was it yellow. That was a little weird.

The barrier is perfectly solid and feels quite sturdy for having literally appeared out of thin air. Even given a thorough investigation, there's no clear indication of exactly how Reisi creates them.

Glancing up at the sky with a determined expression, "In any case, we should make haste if we don't want it to escape."

He begins setting out two additional paths to his own for whoever else wishes to use them. They're laid out in an orderly fashion, each platform an equal distance away from the last. The paths don't cross as to avoid confusing one's path with another, but they are close enough for the group to spot one another.

"Flying for the first time seems troublesome." So that's Chikusa's verdict on the matter. That sounds like a whole lot of effort into learning something on the fly, for a dangerous situation, for a skill they might not ever need again.

....Ah. But wait. His mouth quirks to the side slightly. "...Actually... To spare room for the platforms... I'll go with you, Celestia..."

So that leaves whoever else wants to follow Reisi.

"Could... I have wings too? You know, just in case?" She smiles brightly. It sounded so cool! She had no idea what Celestia was offering, only that there was the practical side of potentially falling off of Nimbus, but also WINGS!

"If it's not too much trouble, of course. I know you needed help with something important to have so many of us here, Princess."

"Easily done, and yes. We'd best hurry."

The spell of winged flight was actually not easily done by most standards, requiring an amount of effort and focus and power greater than most unicorns could muster, and even the skilled could struggle with. Celestia was, of course, Celestia; she made it look easy, as she lowered her head to point her horn to Kairi. The golden magic that shot out surrounded her in a brilliant flare, and when it subsided, revealed Kairi's newest addition: a pair of brilliant butterfly wings, translucent and radiant.

Why was he not surprised? Not that they weren't pretty, but Trunks was kind of glad he'd opted for the platforms now. Then again, none of their methods were exactly stealthy, so sneaking up on the ayakashi was likely out of the question.

"Ready when you are." A nod of thanks to Reisi, before he's taking one set of platforms. Definitely appreciating that the other had set them out in such a way they were close enough to be in contact, but not interfere with each other.

Well, if she's the one saying to hurry.... Hopefully Celestia won't mind if Chikusa just goes straight over to her. He's already announced his attention, after all. Hopefully that means she's expecting the way he's going to try and carefully get onto her back.

Not "careful" because he's being considerate, but careful because he doesn't want to get his legs tangled up in wings. So much wing.

This is one of the best things to happen to Kairi in her whole memory, as far as she's concerned.

"I know this is important to you and your followers Celestia, but I'm so excited!" She practices fluttering the wings a little directly above Nimbus and then moves forward a little while Nimbus tracks underneath of her. "Come on everyone, last one up there's a rotten egg!"

And she for one is moving onward so as not to be a rotten egg.

Mai had opened her mouth to question if Kairi was still going to be using Nimbus with her wings, when...she watched the young woman take off, Nimbus close at her heels. Ah. Well, that answered that question.

"Right behind you, Trunks." Mai called to her shinki before taking another set of platforms. Her steps were cautious at first until she got used to sensation of walking on them. Once she felt sturdy enough, however, she took off in a light job in order to reach where they needed to go as quickly as possible. All the while, keeping an eye on her footing. Especially the higher up she got.

Celestia offered Chikusa a little help with her magic, the better to get him situated. Once he was comfortable -- physically, she figured 'emotionally' was a lost cause in this circumstance -- she spread her wings wide, then took to the sky.

Shortly after reminding them of their haste, Reisi himself takes to a path of platforms. Newer platforms appear out of nothing to extend their paths in an orderly fashion and lead them into the sky. Though as they proceed, the platforms from earlier disappear over time.

The disappearance of the platforms behind them was concerning, even if it made sense. Still, Trunks had committed to this and so had Mai--so had they all really. He'd just have to trust in his fellow shinki and gods.

"So, details or tips to spot the ayakashi?" Called as a general question. Albeit he hoped Celestia would answer, since this was primarily her organizing. "Reisi, if you want to take point since they're your platforms, I can bring up the rear with Mai in the middle." Also thinking strategically, but open to negotiation.

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