I-I can't look... Arya, tell me, is it a thousand times more awful than the land of the Shadow Ancients? Chronos is just toying with me at this point...
Wow...!
Oh, it's horrible, isn't it? Just give it to me straight, I...I can take it...I think...but just barely...!
Ned! Open your eyes, silly! It's BEAUTIFUL up here!
Up...? WHOAH--!
(Outta the way, you two! You're gawking in the middle of my flight path!)
Sheesh! What's the rush? The dragons here are all zipping through the sky like Otto's flying machines...
Yeah, that Ladybug Dragon back there nearly bowled you over! And at this altitude, I'd hate to see a mid-air collision...
We ARE up pretty high...and moving pretty fast! What could've happened to Dragolandia this time...?
Okay, that's two questions, and I've got a third - who's that black and gold dragon following us?
... ... ...
(S'cuse me, s'cuse me! Coming through! Wow, you two sure like to stand in the way!)
Aaah! Arya, all our time meddling created a society of dragons that don't slow down for anything!
...I'm not sure that's it, exactly - but I've been wrong before!
Hey, that High Priestess Dragon looks pretty composed. Why don't we ask it what's going on?
(You are confused, I gather. Look inward. The answers are inside your heart.)
N-No, we really sorta just want to know what's going on OUTSIDE of our hearts.
(Oh. In that case, you've arrived just in time for the annual Sky City Race. Shall we see how fast we can battle?)
Look, a Wasteland Dragon... Whenever we see these guys, I can't help but feel like disaster is right around the corner.
It's so FESTIVE here, though. Hey, Wasteland Dragon, are you preparing for a catastrophe?
(I'm ALWAYS preparing for a catastrophe...but I can take a little break for the Sky City Race.)
(Not that I'm a contender. The Race's only for dragons who fly...)
(Hey, Wasteland! I thought I told you - you can ride on my back during the big race!)
(Now, let's dispense with the chit-chat - we've got training to do!)
I've got no idea why Chronos sent us here. It seems like things are going pretty well... I mean, at least we're learning about this big race?
Check it out, there's a ton of dragons gathered around that frosty-looking fellow. And people, too!
H-Humans too? You mean...dragons and humans are getting along?
Maybe Dragolandia's history is starting to look up, Ned!
(Hey, you two! Want an autograph? I can slap my clawprint on anything you like!)
(Or don't you recognize last year's Sky City Race champion? Ha, just wait, I'll show you my strength right here, right now!)
Brrr! That haughty champion dragon really chilled me to the bone when it flew by!
Doesn’t look like things are gonna warm up anytime soon - there's a Berry Frost Dragon flying nearby!
Thtat's strange though...if I remember Hogwin's notes, Berry Frost Dragons live deep in snowy forests, not up in cloud cities!
(The straw-maned human is very astute. Unfortunately it is still impossible to return to the forests below.)
W-What...? Hey, that sounds bad--!
(It is not so bad. Venchu of the Pure Wind makes life easier for us all, and entertains us with delightful events. Shall we celebrate?)
(Hey, check out the humans! Think one of 'em wants to ride on my back during the race?)
(You're always askin' me that! Why don't you ask THEM? I hear their kind and our kind've been understanding one another more and more.)
This is amazing! I think we might've stumbled across the first instance of dragon riding in history! Dad's gonna lose his mind!
And all for a grand race! Oooh, I wonder if any of these dragons will let us ride them?
(Look! It's speaking my language! Of course, I gotta see if they're STRONG enough to take a ride on a dragon's back, first!)
Sorry you fell off that Spotty Dragon, Arya... But I have to admit, it was a LITTLE funny.
Yeah, well, it's a good thing the ground here is so soft, and cloudy, and snowy!
Weird - it's like I totally forgot how cold it is way up here. Maybe the festive atmosphere is warming me up!
Or maybe the altitude is getting to you! I'm feeling a little loopy myself...!
No, wait...it's just powder from a Fairy Dust Dragon's wings. It must be all over the city by now, what with all that wing-flapping!
(Gotta keep Sky City happy!)
Oh, wow, a Borealis Dragon! It's so bright and cheery up here, I was wondering when I'd see a reminder of the night sky.
What do you mean? I'm sure Sky City experiences night time just like any other town. But, if they're up in the air all the time...hmm...
Well, our starry friend doesn't have wings, but it sure seems to be making a hasty getaway! Wait up!
(Please, leave my friend alone. Dragons like Borealis make themselves scarce in Sky City.)
Huh? Why's that?
(Never mind, Asteroid. These humans seem kind - let's entertain them with a battle before we report to Nulvind.)
A-Arya... Can you do me a favor, and give me a pinch? I think I might be, uh, dreaming? Or...seeing things?
I think you should believe your eyes, Ned... That's an Ancient Water Dragon standing before us, in Sky City of all places!!
Come on! We've GOT to investigate! I didn't realize the Ancient Water Tribe was even still around!
(Bah! What is happening? The last thing I remember is a flash of blinding light, and now I find myself high above my precious sea!)
(You there, you relentless little humans...I remember you. Are you responsible for spiriting me away? Humans will always be nothing but trouble!)
I have a terrible feeling about this... And not just because an old god wants to beat me up!
Phew! We managed to escape "Weirdra", but what could it be doing here? Maybe it came to see the race?
That's "Oi'ra", Arya... And according to my notes on the Water Ancients, it presided over storms. Did it come to ruin this sunny weather? But...
Argh! I just can't figure it out!
Ned, it's okay...we'll get to the bottom of it, but only if we understand everything that's going on here. And that means, we need to keep celebrating!
I...I guess. I mean, we haven't even met any of the Wind Ancients yet. I'm sure they'll have some answers.
(The only answer Sky City needs is who's gonna be this year's champion - and I'm here to take out the competition!)
(Did you hear, Witchy? A most unusual dragon has appeared to watch the Sky City Race. I hope it notices me!)
(I did indeed hear as much, Ribbon! A very powerful dragon, not unlike our illustrious Venchu, or darling Haumi!)
(Oh, I do hope it's good news! But it seems as though storm clouds are gathering around Sky City...and just before the race, too!)
Ned? Ned! C'mon - tell me what they're saying!
Well NOW they're upset that we happen to be particularly loud eavesdroppers!
(An omen... I'm certain of it. The appearance of the one called Oi'ra is an omen.)
(Of what, pray tell? I trust your magical knowledge, Spellwork.)
(A cautionary omen. It means that the past will return to haunt us, or teach us a lesson.)
(They're right, you know.)
H-Huh?
N-No! I'm sorry! We didn't mean to eavesdrop again! Argh!
(Hey! Are you the ones asking our citizens about that big water dragon?)
U-Us? Well--
(We cannot allow Sky City to collapse in panic - not with the race about to start, and not any other time, either!)
(You two...come with me, there's someone you should meet!)
(Welcome, welcome! I don't believe we've met! I am Haumi, of the Ancient Wind Tribe - distributor of seeds and progenitor of earthly forests!)
(As I disperse enchanted seeds from above, I do my best to keep Sky City's spirits high, while my partner Venchu works to keep the rest of it high!)
Um-- That's great! Really! But we were just wondering--
(My human friend...our citizens are very diligent. They have faced much hardship over the years. This event allows them to forget their troubles.)
(We will deal with the stranger in our midst...but I must ask you not to disrupt the festivities! ...If you please!)
What an interesting Ancient Dragon. Haumi seemed really friendly, and strong, too!
(Haumi is as powerful as it is kind, but it looks too far into the future, instead of honoring the past.)
Ack! There's that mysterious dragon again!
Hey! You! Quit following us and being intentionally vague!
Aaand it's gone again...
(Just who are you humans yelling at? Watch your tone, or you'll never be allowed to ride a dragon at the race!)
(Sorry I've been sneaking around... It's just, my parent told me about you two, and I thought you'd understand...)
Understand...what exactly?
(Why the Sky City Race is a sham!)
It's NOT a sham! Look at how happy everyone is, human and dragon alike! I haven't seen this many smiles under an Ancient Dragon's rein in...EVER!
A-Arya...? Did you just talk back to that dragon...?
(Excuse us, we're on our way to the starting line! The race is about to start!)
(Fovan! There you are! Have you been skulking around in the shadows of these humans? You know you must do your part to keep Sky City afloat.)
(N-Nulvind...I'm sorry. But after everything that's happened, I cannot stand such celebration. These two knew my parent, Glom! They should understand--)
(We've all seen hardship, Fovan. We know the sacrifices our parents made to bring us this peace. Why Void is feared, and why we turn toward the light...)
(You humans...you met my ancestor as well: Myrkur. I'm not proud of it, but I still hear its voice in my head...)
(I am thankful you do not fear my kind, like so many others, though they have good reason... I cannot show my face at the race, but...)
(Will you do battle with me? It would be a pleasure to stretch my wings.)
Whoa...
Yeah...
I guess there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye... The Shadow Ancients really did everything they could for humanity and...dragon-...anity?
And was it just me, or did you totally understand what Fovan was saying?!
M-Maybe?! I could sense it felt really hurt, and then... Y'know what, Ned? Let's just watch the race for now.
(That's a great idea. Keep your eyes on me, you two! I think I've got it in me to beat the Frostwind Dragon this year!)
(Sorry. I've been weird. It's a weird day for me. Today's the day Venchu's wind finally blew the darkness away, and my parent Glom's work was done.)
(I wanted to see if I could get you two to stop the race, but I didn't expect that Water Ancient to show up, and when even THAT could not disrupt us, well...)
(Forgive me. Maybe it's true - we need a little celebration, a little peace and unity. Perhaps this is a good way to celebrate.)
*Sigh* Fovan, I understand how you feel. I think my friend does, too. Sometimes she has to remind me that, even when you're gloomy...
A good dose of cheer can really put things in perspective!
And I think I know JUST how we can cheer our friend Fovan!
(Humans of great destiny, I see you've been enjoying our festivities. I am glad! Happiness is the greatest strength we possess, with darkness on the horizon...)
(I am glad to see Fovan participating, and even Nulvind... It is a great amount of work, to ensure so many smiles, but I must do what I can.)
(I must keep Sky City airborne until we can return to Dragolandia, and I must keep human and dragon alike in high spirits, despite the fear of the unknown.)
Say, Venchu...if you'd like to take a little break, I think you could use a smile, too...
Okay, okay...we'll have a "fun" battle with the big Divine Ancient Wind dragon, and then we're talking about whether or not you can "speak" dragon!
Fine, fine, fine! But fun first, Ned! Fun first!