​The sky above the jagged peaks was supposed to be clear, but with the crew constantly touching the buttons, standard aviation logic went completely out the window. ​Clover had the flight perfectly under control, navigating the sky with her signature smug :3 face. As the official pilot, she worked incredibly hard to get them safely to the destination. But the basket was packed to the brim with chaos. Giddy stood right by the burner, her spiral eyes spinning in pure delight as she cranked the heat past the safety limits, letting out a dizzy laugh. ​"We are officially setting a record for the highest scout expedition in history!" Minty declared, leaning over the edge. Minty wasn't looking at the horizon; she was aggressively flashing a bright blue passport at a passing seagull to prove her legal jurisdiction. "According to the trail guide, the sky is just an extension of the path. Shortcut authorized!" ​"You authorized a death trap," Puck groaned from the darkest corner, clamping his hands tightly around the wicker frame. His star-patterned wizard hat pinned down by the wind, his anxious mouth twitched. "My magic tracker is going haywire. If we hit one more updraft, I am turning this balloon into a giant toad." ​"Nonsense, friend! Safety is my middle name!" Barnaby shouted, standing in a rigid stance with his camo medic helmet gleaming. "As official combat medic, I am fully prepared!" ​Naturally, that was the exact moment things went entirely wrong. A sudden gale slammed the balloon. Barnaby immediately lost his footing, tripped over a stray rope, and kicked the main fuel line entirely loose. The burner sputtered and died. ​"Uh oh," Giddy giggled, pointing a blue finger downward. "The ground is getting really big, really fast!" ​"Barnaby!" Puck shrieked as the balloon entered a terrifying dive. Puck tried to cast a slow-fall spell, but terror caused the magic to backfire, shooting harmless neon green stars into the sky instead. ​Minty, refusing to accept defeat, held her passport higher. "Stop! This crash is unpermitted!" ​The balloon clipped the top of a tall palm tree with a loud CRUNCH. The basket ripped away, sending the crew tumbling into a spectacular synchronization of bounces, slides, and faceplants directly into the warm beach sand. Barnaby rolled like a bowling ball, while Puck slid on his stomach like an angry purple penguin across the shore. ​Clover shook the sand out of her monochromatic white hair, her expression instantly flipping to a deep, worried frown. She looked at her ruined balloon, holding her hands tightly behind her back in pure anxiety. ​"I am the pilot, and you all completely ruined my flight!" Clover cried, trying to salvage the mission. ​"Do not fear!" Minty smirked, completely unfazed as she brushed sand off her uniform. "The shortcut to the peak starts now!" ​Clover groaned, pulling her bronze goggles down over her face. If she ever wanted to fix her ship and get off this beach, she was going to have to climb this entire mountain with them.