History Main / JourneyToTheSky

[[caption-width-right:242:And he later has to climb beyond the tower's top to reach Kamisama's Lookout.]]

At one point during a work's story, either as part of its central plot or as a StoryArc, a character wishes to reach the sky. Not in a spiritual sense when the character dies (that would be TheJourneyThroughDeath), but in a physical sense while the character is still alive. They wish to reach there for a specific purpose, be it to find a PlotCoupon, to find something or someone who might help them in the adventure, or it's mere curiosity. So the story shows the character undetaking a trip to the sky. They may do it by climbing a ladder or beanstalk, or reaching the highest floor of a building or tower (in this case, the clouds have to be seen around or beneath the floor's height, to ensure it is within the domain of the sky). As a last resort, the character might need to build something (such as a tower or a flying vehicle). The objective is the same regardless of the means.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'': Link has to climb to the top of the Veil Falls to find a tornado that takes him to the Cloud Tops. There, he has to traverse through a maze-like area (and hovering from one part to another with mini-tornadoes in the process) to find another big tornado and reach the Palace of Winds, where the last PlotCoupon (the Wind Element) can be found.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' centers around Felonius Gru, the VillainProtagonist, who wishes to buy a spacecraft in order to reach the moon and shrink it so it can be grabbed. This was derived from two experiences: His rival Vector having stolen the pyramid of Giza in a similar fashion and making him jealous, and more importantly, [[FreudianExcuse his frustrated dream of becoming an astronaut and reaching the moon due to his lack of support from his mother]].[[note]]He believes that succeeding at his EvilPlan will finally impress her.[[/note]] After many struggles, including stealing Vector's shrinking ray and funding the construction of a spacecraft, he succeeds, but at the cost of losing the trust of his adopted daughters (whom he promised to see during a ballet event) and the need to rescue them from a revenge-seeking Vector.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'': Space Zone takes it further. To get there, Mario has to reach the top of a tall plateau in the overworld map and enter a level where he uses a hovering Hippo bubble to travel upward (and gather coins in the process) until he reaches outer space. This procedure has to be repeated whenever he wants to return there.

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'': The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, also known as the Aerial Garden of Vanity, is the largest floating vessel owned by Semiranis, being her (and the Red Faction's) base of operations, and is located very high in the skies. After the main characters (Ruler, Sieg, and the Yggdmillenia faction) defeat Jack the Ripper and all that remains is their strongest enemies, they prepare to storm the Gardens by piloting large airplanes from a local airport and head to their fated destination (though Rider of Black uses his hippogriff instead). The anime version's episode is even called "Soar Through The Sky".

* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'': In II'' and ''V'', this is the end result of reaching the top of the Yggdrasil Labyrinth (''I'' and ''III'' revolves around going downward instead, ''IV'' is about simply ''reaching'' the Yggdrasil and ''Nexus'' is about traveling around it to access it at the end).

* In ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey II'' and ''V'', this is the end result of reaching the top of the Yggdrail Labyrinth (''I'' and ''III'' revolves around going downward instead, ''IV'' is about simply ''reaching'' the Yggdrasil and ''Nexus'' is about traveling around it to access it at the end). In ''II'', the highest stratum is the Forbidden Wood, a sacred forest where the Overlord (the then-defeated BigBad) encased his deadliest creations; it takes cues from the biblical Eden, and there are floating islands one can reach by using warp points. In ''V'', the highest stratum is the Empyreal Bridge, which takes the player's character party to the realm of outer space, well beyond the atmosphere of the planet.

* ''Fanfic/TheTriforceTrilogy'': This is a plot point retained in ''Breath of the Wild'', from [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild the source material of the same name]] (albeit adjusted to the context and tone of the fanfic). Medoh is the only Divine Beast that Link cannot physically reach on his own, as he's incapable of flight. As a result, Teba is one of the only companions that Link absolutely needs in order to infiltrate Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Thankfully, he quickly earns Teba's trust, partly because [[spoiler: they bond as fathers who are determined to create a better world for their children]].

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'': The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, also known as the Aerial Garden of Vanity, is the largest floating vessel owned by Semiranis, being her (and the Red Faction's) base of operations, and is located very high in the skies. After the main characters (Ruler, Sieg, and the Yggdmillenia faction) defeat Jack the Ripper and all that remains is their strongest enemies, they prepare to storm the Gardens by piloting large airplanes from a local airport and head to their fated destination (thougn Rider of Black uses his hippogriff instead). The anime version's episode is even called "Soar Through The Sky".

* In Myth/ClassicalMythology, Bellerophon attempted to fly to Mount Olympus on Pegasus, but his mount was stung by a gadfly, causing Bellerophon to fall into a thorn bush and [[EyeScream lose his eyesight as a result]].
* In Myth/MandeMythology, Ndomayiri fashioned an iron chain which he climbed up to the sky. In those days there was no moon, so Ndomayiri crafted one from iron. When the crescent moon appears, he is heating it up. When the full moon appears, it means he has finished his work. Unfortunately for mankind, the chain to heaven broke after Ndomayiri’s ascent and death came into the world.
* In Myth/SererMythology, the Mbos tree once grew until it reached heaven. Roog was displeased by this intrusion and cut off its head, demanding it stay closer to earth. The tree was ashamed and intertwined its branches so nobody could climb it. The first humans took refuge under it.

** ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS'': At the start of the final regular level, Yoshi has to use a rocket to fly upward in order to reach King Bowser's Castle, which is suspended in the skies. During the flight, Yoshi has to avoid clashing against the moons (some colored gren, others orange) as well as the Rocket Guys. Clashing against either will destroy Yoshi's Rocket and kill him instantly. Interestingly, this gameplay is also present in a preceding level, but in that case Yoshi was piloting the rocket to go ''back'' up, after having extensively descended through the fortress (and he went down again anyway after a FreeFallFight against the fortress's boss).

** In the present time, after a series of critical events in the last two chapters, culminating with [[spoiler:Marie's abduction]], Alto and his friends resolve to travel to the moon by navigating through one of Yggradil's roots to [[spoiler:kill Mother Qualia for good]]; during their journey, they face strong opposition from the angelic army at key points, which requires defeating them in battle so the characters can finally reach their destination.

* ''VideoGame/StellaGlow'': 1000 years before the events of the game, [[spoiler:Elcrest, Xeno, Dr. Veronica and the witches of that era]] climbed the Yggdrasil to reach the moon in order to meet Mother Qualia, as they aimed to kill her and save humanity. Unbeknownst to them, after reaching the moon, their enemy manifested herself as a little girl who corrupted [[spoiler:Xeno after he put himself in Elcrest's place to save him]]. At his request, the others retreated by returning to Earth, but [[spoiler:Elcrest ended up dying anyway due to his wounds, and wouldn't return to life until 985 years later as Alto, the game's protagonist]]. In the present time, after a series of critical events in the last numbered chapter, Alto and his friends resolve to travel to the moon to [[spoiler:kill Mother Qualia for good]].

* ''Fanfic/TheTriforceTrilogy'': This is a plot point retained in ''Breath of the Wild'', from [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild the source material of the same name]] (albeit adjusted to the context and tone of the fanfic). Medoh is the only Divine Beast that Link cannot physically reach on his own, as he's incapable of flight. As a result, Teba is one of the only companions that Link absolutely needs in order to infiltrate Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Thankfully, he quickly earns Teba's trust, partly because [[spoiler: they bond as fathers who are determined to create a better world for their children.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' centers around Felonius Gru, the VillainProtagonist, who wishes to buy a spacecraft in order to reach the moon and shrink it so it can be grabbed. This was derived from two experiences: His rival Vector having stolen the pyramid of Giza in a similar fashion and making him jealous, and more importantly, [[FreudianExcuse his frustrated dream of becoming an astronaut and reaching the moon due to his lack of support from his mother]][[note]]he believes that succeeding at his EvilPlan will finally impress her[[/note]]. After many struggles, including stealing Vector's shrinking ray and funding the construction of a spacecraft, he succeeds, but at the cost of losing the trust of his adopted daughters (whom he promised to see during a ballet event) and the need to rescue them from a revenge-seeking Vector.

* ''Webcomic/Pompspomps'': This is the premise of the chapter "Space-goers", which also combines WackyRacing with InASingleBound. Two Pomps compete to see who reaches higher after the first jump; one of them gains momentum by stomping on the other, and then flutters its legs to gain even more. The Pomp reaches outer space, and realizes too late that it's unable to breath there. Some time later, a baby Pomp plans to do the big leap as well, but now having a space helmet at hand.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* ''Fanfic/TheTriforceTrilogy'': This is a plot point retained in ''Breath of the Wild'', from [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild the source material of the same name]] (albeit adjusted to the context and tone of the fanfic). Medoh is the only Divine Beast that Link cannot physically reach on his own, as he's incapable of flight. As a result, Teba is one of the only companions that Link absolutely needs in order to infiltrate Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Thankfully, he quickly earns Teba's trust, partly because [[spoiler: they bond as fathers who are determined to create a better world for their children.]]
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At one point during a work's story, either as part of its central plot or as a StoryArc, a character wishes to reach to the sky. Not in a spiritual sense when the character dies (that would be TheJourneyThroughDeath), but in a physical sense while the character is still alive. They wish to reach there for a specific purpose, be it to find a PlotCoupon, to find something or someone who might help them in the adventure, or it's mere curiosity. So the story shows the character undetaking a trip to the sky. They may do it by climbing a ladder or beanstalk, or reaching the highest floor of a building or tower (in this case, the clouds have to be seen around or beneath the floor's height, to ensure it is within the domain of the sky). As a last resort, the character might need to build something (such as a tower or a flying vehicle). The objective is the same regardless of the means.

* ''Literature/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'': Originally, the plan of the members of the Gun Club was to merely shoot a large bullet to the moon for the sake of experimentation, but then a Frenchman suggested to them the idea of building a ''hollow'' projectile so they could launch themselves to the revered satellite. [[spoiler:The voyagers manage to execute the launch, but don't actually manage to land on the moon as they end up stuck in decaying orbit and land back in the Pacific]]. This concept is revisited in the book's first sequel (''Around the Moon''), and inspired the idea of InterplanetaryVoyage in fiction [[{{Defictionalization}} and eventually real life]].

Compare ClimbingClimax. SisterTrope to TheJourneyThroughDeath (for cases when the character dies and manifests themself afterwards as a soul aiming to either come back to life or reach the angelic sky to rest peacefully) and StairwayToHeaven (when the character's soul walks upstairs to reach the spirit realm); both of them, especially the latter, are often combined with EndingByAscending.