Title: Endless Imagination and Challenges
Characters: Rui, Nene, Tsukasa, Emu, KAITO (Wonderland Sekai version), Tsukasa?, Emu?, Nene?
Part 1
Phoenix Wonderland
Wonder Stage
*Applause*
Rui
Thank you for taking the time today to watch this show, brought to you by Wonderlands x Showtime!
*Applause*
Tsukasa
Alright! This regular show went from start to finish without a hitch too!
Rui
Indeed, and it's all thanks to everyone's help.
Tsukasa
What are you talking about? Your safety measures also played a part, didn't they?
Emu
Yeah! And you allllways explain to us thoroughly how a new effect or some amazing thing can be done too!
Nene
Hehe! Surely you could describe "some amazing thing" in another way.
Emu
But, but! Amazing things are amazing! ♪
Wasn't that wooshy-wooooosh~ streeeeetch-thud! we used the other time real amazing too! ☆
Rui
Ahh, you mean the safety rope used for our second promotional ambassador show1, right? I think it was a fine creation too, if I do say so myself.
Tsukasa
Why did she use wooshy-wooooosh to convey that?
Nene
Who knows?
Tsukasa
Well, that aside, Rui's incredibly creative staging is also one of our key selling points!
There isn't anyone else who can come up with fantastic ideas the way you do, is there?
Rui
Hehehe! It's an honour to receive such praise.
But I believe that you can find plenty of people who produce ideas and effects that are both fun and creative if you searched the globe.
I know of two people who fit the bill, at least.
Nene
I might know one of them. It's the director you respect, right?
Rui
Hehe! That's right.
Director
"I try my best to break with conventions and always take on new challenges..."
"But even then, there's one thing I keep in mind at all times."
"And that is to transcend barriers."
"Whether you're rich or poor, smart or foolish, hail from a majority or a minority group, none of that matters."
"Every person laughs, cries, and gets angry in unison,"
Director
"Thus connecting them by the same emotions at the end of the show."
"I want to keep creating shows that can realise that."
"Because I'm certain that there is an entire world out there that we have yet to discover, a wonderful one that is connected to all of humanity!"
Rui
……
Emu
Hey hey, Rui! Who's the second one, then?
Rui
Ahh, that person is a French novelist2. He's said to be the father of science fiction, or sci-fi.
An underground world set in the center of the Earth, adventures that tell of a mysterious submarine and a fabled civilisation, and a travel log of a trip to the moon-3
His literature is rooted in science, and they are written so realistically that there some among his fans who are convinced that they are in fact real.
His works have even been adapted into movies and major theme park attractions4. Those works themselves are quite renowned worldwide, too.
Emu
Ooooh! He sure sounds amazing!
Rui
Even for myself, I came across his works right around the time I realised how fun shows are.
Paired with my interest in science, I'd get engrossed with reading them and come up with my own theories back then.
In particular, the story about humans getting into a cannon projectile to fly to the moon was an absolute favourite of mine.
Tsukasa
Huh... Surely that's not the reason why you're so excessively keen to send me flying, right?
Rui
Huh...?
...That never crossed my mind. I only ever thought of Tsukasa as something to be launched...
Tsukasa
Oi!
Rui
Hehe, I was just kidding.
But I see now. It's not as if I was being conscious of that story...
But I did read the book until its pages became worn and tattered when I was little. So I might have wanted to send Tsukasa to the moon like how that novel's characters did.
Tsukasa
...What is he spouting with such a serious expression?
Nene
Isn't this just the usual?
Emu
Uh huh! ♪
Rui's Room
*Rustling*
Rui
Uhhh... I could've sworn I spotted it somewhere around here some time back...
Ah, here it is. A Trip to the Moon5-
Hehe! I went as far as to rack my brains to figure out how this novel could be adapted for the stage often as a kid.
And the words he's said to have left behind6... I liked them too.
"Everything a man can imagine, other men can make it real"7-
Rui
I found the strength that allowed me to believe in the potential of humans and human imagination in both his novels and those words.
That's why I also enlist the help of my peers when I produce all sorts of shows and effects...
……
Other men can make it real, huh...
(That time, while those words hinted at possibilities, I also saw them as the ones that taught me what loneliness felt like.)
Rui
(But-)
Flashback to the rest of WxS
Rui
(If it's me now-)
Flash of light
Rui
Hm? This is...
Wonderland Sekai
Rui
...Hmm.
I thought I was called over by someone from the Sekai, but it seems like I was mistaken.
...Oh? There's something over there...
*Footsteps*
Rui
This is...a shining ball? Is this a prop used by Kaito and the others for a show?
I'll just pick it up for now and bring it to-
Flash of light
Rui
...! This is-?!
???
Rui
Is this...the Sekai?
(For now, that shining ball is probably the reason behind this irregularity, but still.)
...I've never been here before. But it's giving me a strange sense of deja vu...
Rather than the place itself, it might be the objects around here and the designs that are familiar to me.
Well, panicking isn't going to get me anywhere, so I'll take some time now to think...
???
One...! Two...! One...! Two...!
Rui
Hmm... Sounds like someone's here...
*Footsteps*
Rui
Huh...? They are...
Part 2
???
???
One...! Two...!
???
One~! ☆ Two~! ☆
???
One... Two... Sigh, I'm beat.
???
Ah! Hey! Don't you slack off now! We can't go to the moon if we don't get this over to the fort!
???
Even if you say so...
Projectiles that are big enough for people to board and all that are ridiculous... There's no way three people can transport something like this.
???
But we already made it this far! There's only a little bit more to go, you know ♪
Rui
Those people are Tsukasa, Emu, and Nene without a doubt...
...But they are really small. They've shrunken down to the size of my palm, I think?
Tsukasa?
Hm? Is someone there? If you're free, could you help us...
Tsukasa?
Whu-?! GAHHHHHH! I-It's a giant?! This is bad! Everyone, play dead! Play dead NOWWWW!
Emu?
Wooooow~! This is my first time seeing a giant! Hi there!
Nene?
Is this really the time to be casually greeting it?! It's not the time for playing dead either! If we don't run now we'll get eaten!
Rui
Hehe, don't worry. I won't eat you all or anything. More importantly, I was wondering if I could have a short chat with you all.
Rui
...So basically, the three of you want to go to the moon using the cannon projectile you're transporting, correct?
Tsukasa?
Yeah, that's right! A challenge most glorious, don't you agree?
Rui
Hehe, indeed it is.
(And thanks to them, I now know the reason behind this deja vu.)
(The buildings and objects here were depicted in that sci-fi novel I read.)
(The questions of "what kind of place is this" and "how do I return to the original Sekai" remain, though...)
Our meeting here must be the work of fate. Do you mind if I help you all out with your most glorious challenge?
Tsukasa?
Ohh! Will you really?!
Emu?
Yaaay! The giant's now our friend! ♪
Nene?
What... But...
Rui
It'll be completed quicker with my help. Plus, I think you can safely enjoy the trip to the moon that way.
Nene?
Safely... That's certainly super important...
Tsukasa?
It's decided, then! The four of us will make this a sure success!
Emu?, Nene?, & Rui
Yeah!
*Emu? drags something along*
*Emu? and Nene? bump into each other*
Rui
-Well then, are you all ready now?
Tsukasa?
Yeah, this is perfect! You really helped us out in so many ways!
Rui
...It's because you all trusted me so readily and prepared everything according to my instructions.
(The three of you never change even in a mysterious place like this...)
Tsukasa?
Hey, there's something I want to ask you...
Rui
What is it?
Tsukasa?
I'm sure that this challenge will be a success thanks to you. So...
Wouldn't you like to join us for our next challenge after this too?
Rui
……!
Emu?
Yeah! Let's go together! ♪ We can probably achieve loads and loads of amazing stuff that way! ☆
Nene?
Same here... Thanks to your help, the cannon now has a really safe layout too.
Rui
……
Thank you, everyone.
But I have to apologise. I cannot accept that request.
Emu?
Whaaat?! Why not?
Rui
Because I already have teammates I treasure.
You three are...very similar to them, but I must return to them after all.
Tsukasa?
Is that so...
Heh...!
Fuhahahahaha!!!
The fact that they resemble us must mean that they are the best teammates you've got!
Rui
Why, that goes without saying!
Tsukasa?
Alright, then! O nameless friend! End this off by lighting the cannon's fuse for us!
Rui
Sure, leave it to me.
Tsukasa?
Alright! Now then you two, hop on board the projectile!
Emu? & Nene?
Yeah!
Rui
Okay then, here goes...!
*Pouring*
Rui
Are you listening? If anything unexpected happens, follow the manual-
Nene?'s Voice
Yeah, I know. I'm good at moving buttons and levers like these in a fixed order.
Emu?'s Voice
I've practised my greetings for lunarians we might meet to aaabsolute perfection too! ♪
Tsukasa?'s Voice
Yeah! Leave the rest here to us!
With this cannon you made for us, we can fly as high and far as we wish!
Nothing's impossible for us!
Rui
……!
*Cannon fires*
Rui
Yes... Yes, indeed!
If it's us... We'll put on shows even if it's on the moon we're talking about!
Rui
Mnh... This is...
KAITO
Welcome back, Rui.
Rui
Ah... Kaito...
KAITO
Are you alright? You were in a fragment of feelings' Sekai separate from here just now.
Rui
A fragment of feelings'...Sekai?
KAITO
It's a Sekai born momentarily from a portion of someone's feelings.
Did you see any mysterious objects here by any chance, Rui?
Rui
Ahh, I understand now... So that shining ball I tried to pick up was actually the fragment of feelings that you mentioned?
KAITO
That sounds about right. This rarely happens, so you could say you were lucky in a way.
Rui
...Do you know who the owner of that fragment of feelings is, Kaito?
KAITO
Nope. I didn't come in contact with that fragment, you see...
If you know what feelings shaped that Sekai, then you might be able to figure out who its owner is as well, though...
Rui
I see...
Feelings that shaped that Sekai...
Tsukasa?'s Voice
With this cannon you made for us, we can fly as high and far as we wish!8
Nothing's impossible for us!
Rui
……
KAITO
...Hehe. Looks like you have an idea who it is based on your expression.
Rui
Yeah.
They allowed me to experience something very, very valuable.
KAITO
Really now? That's great!
Rui
("Everything a man can imagine, other men can make it real"-)
(If it's now... If I'm with Tsukasa, Emu, and Nene, then I can believe in those words as well.)
Ahh...! The effects I want to create are rushing forth one after another!
Heheheh!
Notes
- This is talking about the Revival My Dream/Showtime Ruler event. The rope was demonstrated first in Episode 6 of the event and it stretches as the person falls to absorb the impact. Emu was the one equipped with it at the time, and if I had to guess, the sound effects she uses to describe it are woosh = falling, stretch = the rope stretching, thud = the user landing. This barely makes any sense to Tsukasa and Nene of course lol (Return to text)
- This and the following descriptions on his works are the most blatant Jules Verne references you could ask for without a copyright strike. (Return to text)
- The first 2 are Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas respectively. For most of the Jules Verne-related references, I try to follow the same wording used on the Wiki pages for his works (e.g. Center of the Earth instead of Earth’s core which I prefer personally).
For the last reference, it is both From the Earth to the Moon AND its sequel Around the Moon. As Rui will show later, his copy of this book actually consists of both the novels together, which is how the Japanese translations of the two novels were published in reality. From the Earth to the Moon discusses the process of getting the characters to the moon, while Around the Moon is the one that details the same characters’ adventures following that. (Return to text)
- The movies are pretty expected, but bro has a whole Wiki Category dedicated to the rides (Return to text)
- As mentioned in note 3, this is Rui’s copy of the moon novel: 月世界旅行 (literally “Moon World Trip”). This is the exact title used for the Japanese publication of both books. This name is also shared with the Japanese name of the movie adaptation, known in English as A Trip to the Moon along with the most horrifying moon in existence as an article picture. (Return to text)
- This wording is deliberate because it is actually a myth lmao (Return to text)
- Since this was originally in French (and then translated to Japanese in that manner), I just asked a French-speaking friend of mine to translate the original French quote instead lol so shoutout Reddu you hon hon baguette speaker thank you for this. A direct translation of the Japanese quote
人間が想像できることは、人間が必ず実現できるwould be: Whatever humans can imagine, humans can definitely bring to life (Return to text)
- Since this is a callback to the last thing Tsukasa? said earlier, I wanted to just copy that line for this part. But the voice and the text are strangely different from the previous copy. The earlier line says
お前が作ってくれたこの大砲ならば、 オレ達はどこまでも高く、遠くへ飛んでいける！but in this line, the text (and Tsukasa?) saysお前が作ってくれたこの大砲は、どこまでもどこまでも 高く、遠くへ飛んでいく！, most notably the omission of “we” (オレ達), and also directly translated this line can mean “The cannon you made flies as high and far as possible”. I don’t know if this is just meant to show that Rui is misremembering the line (also weird because the next line is a copy with no changes) or it’s just a mistake on the writers’ part since it’s been over 4 years since this card was released and it still exists in-game, but I will stick to copying the previous part just for consistency’s sake. (Return to text)