Bellamy's eyes flew open at the sound of a bell ringing, his mind filled with confusion, the rage and realization. With a grunt, he picked himself up off his bed inside his room before storming out onto the deck, where his crew were staring up at the sky, their attention glued to the sound of a ringing bell.
"I don't believe it." Bellamy grunted, his gaze turning to the sky. The constant ringing of the bell was like a sick laughter to him, telling him that he was wrong and that Straw Hat was right. "That little bastard!" he growled as he took a few steps forward before falling to one knee, gaining a few of the crew's attention.
"Bellamy!" Muret yelled in panic when she saw Bellamy struggling to stand. "You can't push yourself! Your injury hasn't fully healed!"
"Screw my injury!" he snapped as he got to his feet. "Listen up!" he yelled, getting everyone's attention. "We're heading back into town to squeeze every bit of information of Sky Island out of these people! And when we've got everything, we're gonna head to the sky ourselves! UNDERSTOOD?!"
Cricket and the Saruyama Alliance were overflowing with joy at the sound of the bell ringing across the sky.
"They did it!" Masira yelled with a grin.
"My heart's all a pitter-patter at that sound!" Shojo laughed before they all noticed Cricket crying his eyes out. "Hey, Old Timer! What's wrong?!"
"I'm...I'm just happy...that those guys are alive!" he sobbed, leaving the others to smile at him.
Nojiko's eyes fluttered open at the sound of a bell ringing, her mind a little hazy.
'What happened?' she thought as she took in her surroundings. 'This looks like the Going Merry's cabin.' She then looked down at herself and noticed that she was covered in bandages. 'Why am I...?' And then it came back to her. God Enel, Sanji and Usopp being taken out, two twin goat people attacking, Luffy showing up with that giant snake, the goat twins attacking...attacking her. Her eyes screwed shut at that last memory. She had been completely overwhelmed in that fight. They tossed her around like a ragdoll before she was engulfed in an explosion. She carefully got up off the little futon on the floor before making her way towards the door. She opened it to see a few familiar faces celebrating on deck. Valerie was cheering while avoiding a cheering lovestruck Sanji, Usopp was lying on the deck with happy tears in his eyes, and Alvida was simply smiling out at Upper Yard. There was another, a young girl with wings on her back like Conis, who was also staring at Upper Yard in awe alongside Nami.
"Hey guys." Nojiko muttered weakly, though it got their attention. "What'd I miss?"
"NOJIKO!" Nami cried in relief as she ran over to her sister.
"NOJIKO-CHWAN~" Sanji yelled as his body twirled over to her, hearts in his eyes. "I'm so happy you're alright! Are you hurt?! Do you need anything?! A meal?! My love?!"
"How about giving her some space?" Alvida asked after bashing his head with her mace.
"Thanks Alvida." Nojiko smiled before hearing the bell ring again. "But, what's that sound?"
"That has to be the Golden Bell!" Usopp cheered from where he lay on the deck. "Luffy did it!"
"Luffy..." Aisa whispered to herself.
"By the way, who's the kid?" Nojiko asked.
"I'm not a kid! I'm a Shandian Warrior!" Aisa yelled while stamping her foot.
"It's a long story." Nami sighed before brightening up. "Still, things are finally looking up."
"Come on, you guys!" Usopp yelled as he jumped up. "We need to find the others and start celebrating!" The other's all agreed as they began to follow Usopp, all except for Nojiko.
"What's wrong?" Nami asked her sister, who was staring down at the wooden deck.
"I'm..." she muttered before forcing a smile and looking up at them. "I'm gonna take it easy for a bit. My body still hurts." She then started pushing them towards the rails. "Go on ahead of me. I'll catch up later."
"You sure?" Nami asked.
"I'm sure." she insisted. "I'll gather up some tangerines to add to the party we're sure to throw." The others all looked at each other before running off onto Upper Yard, leaving Nojiko alone on the ship.
The bell finally stopped ringing after a few minutes, leaving both Luffy and Wiper to sit on the island cloud.
"Finally," Wiper said after a few moments of silence. His eyes began to betray his hardened expression as he looked to the sky. "After 400 years, he Fire of Shandora has finally bet lit once again. Blue Sea Dweller." Luffy looked over at Wiper, who looked him in the eyes as he said, "Thanks to you, my people finally have their land back."
"No worries." Luffy smiled. "Truth is, Enel was a bastard, so I just wanted to kick his ass."
"About that. What was that technique you used on Enel earlier?" Wiper asked. "I saw it for a moment when you were attacking Enel, but I'm sure I saw that your hands had turned black."
"Oh, that? That was Busoshoku Haki!" Luffy laughed.
"Busoshoku...Haki?" Wiper said in confusion.
"I'll explain later. Right now, we both have our friends to return to." Luffy grinned.
The Skypieans and Shandorians had both met up near Angel Island before each side glared at the other. Wiper and Luffy were the last to join before Luffy went to his gathered friends, and Wiper to stand before his comrades. Speaking for the Shandians, Wiper made it very clear that the belonged to them, just as it belonged to their ancestors, and that the Skypieans leave. Captain McKinley, speaking for the Skypieans, tried to calm Wiper down, claiming that none of them wanted to start another war.
"Please," Conis begged, her pet Suu held in her arms. "Haven't enough people died today?" Both sides argued and bickered, leaving the Straw Hats to watch from the side.
"Should we interfere?" Valerie asked.
"We only fought because Enel dragged us into that stupid Survival Game." Zoro stated. "This here is none of our concern."
"If I may." Gan Fall spoke up, getting their attention. "400 years ago, Upper Yard was shot into the sky by the Knock Up Stream. The ruling God at that time claimed it for himself, banishing the inhabitants to live amongst the clouds." Some of the Shandorians glared at him for bringing up their shameful past. "That was a mistake brought upon by the Skypieans greed. Yes, our people have loved and treasured anything and everything that came up from the world of the Blue Sea, but those were tiny little things that were easily replaced. But Upper Yard was different, for it came with inhabitants. We had no right to force them from their home back then, just as we have no right to keep them from their home now." Everyone was silent as he spoke his words. They could feel the weight behind them as he continued on. "My friends. Let us do what should've been long ago." He then turned to the Shandians, his arms spread out. "People of Shandora," he said in a loud voice before dropping to his knees and placed his forehead to the cloud below him. "Forgive us. Upper Yard is yours again." The Shandians didn't know what shocked them more. Gan Fall bowing to them, or the Skypieans following his example and bowing as well, asking them for forgiveness. The Chief of the Shandians, who had travelled with his fellow Shandians, kept a neutral look despite the joy that was filling his heart. Wiper, however, was visibly scowling at Gan Fall. He had wanted to slaughter the Skypieans right then and there, his anger at them all filling his heart. He blinked when he felt a pair of eyes on him and turned to see Luffy staring at him, his eyes shadowed by the rim of his hat. There was no malice in them, but he had finally begun to understand his warning.
-Flashback-
"I'll explain later. Right now, we both have our friends to return to." Luffy grinned.
"Not yet." Wiper said as he stood up on the cloud and cast a hateful glare out towards Angel Island. "Not until I've ensured that our land stays ours for good!"
"Let it go." Luffy said, his back turned to Wiper.
"What?" Wiper asked, his glare now at Luffy. "Do you have any idea what the Skypieans did to my ancestors? Do you know of the shame we've had to bear for losing our land?!" He was close to lunging at Luffy, ready to attack him at a moment's notice.
"And how is any of that their fault?" Luffy asked while pointing out towards Angel Island. "None of them were alive 400 years ago. Why attack those that weren't responsible?"
"What are you saying?! That I should just let them go free?! And what if they try and take our land again! Should I just stand aside and let it happen?!" Wiper ranted.
"That's not what I'm saying." Luffy said, his eyes now hardening into a glare. "I'm saying that you shouldn't let your anger at what happened then decide your actions now. Trust me when I say that I've seen another who let that happened. He let a grudge consume him until nothing but a monster was left." Wiper released his clenched fist, but his scowl remained. "You haven't fallen there yet, and you're a good guy. I don't want to you be another one of those monsters." Neither of them said anything for a few moments before Luffy turned and jumped off the cloud, leaving Wiper to his own thoughts.
-Flashback Ends-
Wiper still stared down at Gan Fall and the Skypieans before looking towards Upper Yard.
"Fine." he grunted. "But, I'm still watching you Skypieans." Without another word, Wiper took off for Upper Yard.
"It seems he's still holding onto his anger for us." Gan Fall said sadly.
"Actually," the Shandian Chief smiled as he watched Wiper speed off. "This is actually Wiper being calm compared to the other meetings."
Wiper was by himself inside the ancient ruins that was once his ancestors home. Even though it was crumbling and covered in vines and moss, it was still the most beautiful thing to him. He had spent hours wandering the ruins well into the night, yet he still had much to search.
"Great Warrior Calgara. After 400 long years, we've finally reclaimed our land." he said as he gazed at the land around him.
"Yes, we have." Wiper turned to see Laki walking towards him before sitting next to him. "It's strange. I always thought we'd be fighting forever."
"No. I was determined to end this war." Wiper smirked. "Still, I'm actually a little disappointed." Laki turned to him in confusion before he said, "That Blue Sea Dweller with the straw hat did most of the damage to Enel. I just finished him with the Reject Dial."
"Well, either way, we've finally won." Laki smiled before standing back up. "Now come on. We're missing the party."
"Party? What party?" he asked her. Five minutes of dial skating later, and Wiper got his answer. The Straw Hats, Skypieans, and Shandorians were all singing, dancing, and laughing together around a massive bonfire. Drums were being beaten, but not to fight to. Some were even dancing on top of Nola's head, who merely swayed back and forth to the beat of the song. And dancing in the center, as if giving off the energy to party to everyone in the area, were the Straw Hat Pirates.
"Wh-What is all this?!" Wiper asked, gobsmacked at the sight before him.
"This," Laki began, a single tear falling down her cheek. "...is the true end to the war."
A/N: And now comes the party. Hope I got a good 'Wise Luffy' earlier in that flashback.