Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I only own my OC: Aurora, Kai and Rose.

Ta-da! Another new chapter! And with it, the end of the Skypiea Arc. I hope you've enjoyed the ride.

Chapter 44

"The great warrior, Calgara… kept screaming, "Relight the light of Shandora!"" the chief began wrapping up his tale. "Even if it is only once… he wanted to send the message to his friend, telling him, "We're still here." However, the bell… never rang again."

A young Wyper sat on the ground, knees hugged to his chest, listening with rapt attention.

"Later, we learned from the North Sea visitors… who came to sky island that… our savior, Noland… was executed because he persisted that our city exists. During the execution, everyone called him a liar. The existence of Shandora and all the legends about it… have since then been denied without exception. However, Calgara never found out about what happened to Noland. He gave his life trying to keep his promise and guarding the land. For generations, our people have been… trying to fulfill Calgara's wish, yet…"

"Um… Chief…" Wyper finally spoke. "When I grow up… I will ring the bell! If I do it, Noland will hear it, right?"

The Chief was taken aback by the question. He bowed his head in response, happy tears beginning to fall. "Yes, of course… because we are so high above ground and so close to heaven. Aren't we… Wyper?"

"Wyper! Wyper! WYPER!" Aisa continued to call. "Let's run away! Or we'll all die! Wyper!"

The warrior chose that time to finally speak. "What rights do you have, Eneru… to take everything away from us?!"

"Shit! S… Shit~~~~~!" Usopp began to wail. "The madness will not end! L… Let's just get out of here!"

"Yahahahahah! The sky is the God's territory! Neither man nor earth should exist here! They all belong on the ground! Hm?" Eneru gazed out onto the horizon, spotting several boats in the White-White Sea. "Is that where the Shandians have been hiding?" His body began to crackle with electricity. "Go back to the Blue Seas! Yahahaha! Witness the power of God! Since your ancestors are from Blue Seas… go back to where you came from! Yahahaha! You are dismissed!" The God sent lightning at where the Shandian village resided, effectively destroying it.

Aurora's eyes widened in rage, the angel jerking against her bonds. "You bastard! How dare you!"

Eneru laughed once more, approaching the angel and taking her chin in his hand. "Yahahaha! Calm yourself, my queen! Enjoy the party!"

"NEVER!" Aurora wanted to kick the God. She wanted to punch him. But the way she was restrained prevented that. So she did the next best thing.

Aurora's head surged forward, the angel biting down hard on the God's nose. Eneru let out a yelp of pain, trying to wrench himself from her grasp. But she didn't let up. If anything, Aurora bit down harder, blood rapidly filling her mouth.

Eneru finally managed to rip himself away, hand pressed against his bloody nostrils. His nose was still intact, the angel unable to actually bite it off. She had managed to cause quite a bit of damage though. His queen was stronger than he thought. She'd managed to tear through skin and muscle, the strength of her bite actually managing to cause a break in his nose. It was now bent at a slight angle.

Aurora spat a mouthful of blood at the God's face. She was rewarded with a punch, the force behind it so hard it rattled her teeth. Her head whipped to the side, harshly smacking against the gold she was trapped against. Nonetheless, the angel smirked, proud of herself.

Eneru glared, forcing himself to walk away. He perched himself back atop the edge of the ship, watching the destruction that was taking place below. He took joy in it. "Yahahaha! The angels are all scurrying around like ants on a hot pan!" the God raised his hand. "Be gone, Skypiea!"

Aurora shrieked in anger when lightning struck in the midst of the parade of boats leaving the sky island. "STOOOOOOOOP!"

"Yahahaha!" Eneru ignored the girl. "This God's shrine no longer serves a purpose… down to Shandora ruin you go!" A large bolt of lightning was directed at the shrine, obliterating it. Eneru looked on in triumph. "The only thing I desire now… is the golden bell!"

"By the way, did you say… something about a golden bell…?"

"Ah! Yes!" Robin answered the warrior's question.

"What bell?" Usopp looked between the two.

Even Gan Fall was curious. "A… bell…?"

"The bell is Eneru's next destination… do you know where it is?"

Usopp threw his hands out. "Hey, hey! Why are we talking about the bell? Shouldn't we be running away?!"

"It's up the stalk." Kai pointed.

"Somewhere near the top… I think." Robin added.

"Let's follow Nami's plan and go back to the ship!" Usopp tried to reason with the group. "Just leave everything to Luffy!"

"The giant stalk penetrated the land…" Robin continued. "Through the center of Shandora. If I remember correctly, the bell was located at the center of the city… so theoretically, the bell should be somewhere further up the stalk."

Eneru paused, gleeful expression fading from his face. He glanced down at the beanstalk. "Why do I hear two "voices"… approaching me?"

Aurora blinked. "What? Two voices?" The angel closed her eyes, concentrating. Eneru was right. She could feel two auras approaching. Two very familiar auras…

The berry-haired girl frowned. Luffy was on his way up, Nami not far behind. She was glad they were all right, but… what were they doing? They should be evacuating, not making their way back to the Maxim. But… Aurora knew Luffy. He wasn't about to back down. Eneru had hurt his friends… and her captain didn't take that lightly.

Eneru began to speak, snapping the angel out of her thoughts. "I am on top of the beanstalk… I'm probably the first person… to ever get all the way up here. Now where is that… golden bell?" The God paused his surveying, gaze landing on an approaching figure.

"Heh… heh… heh… heh… YAAAAAAAAH! Huwaaah!" Luffy burst through the cloud, landing amongst the destroyed shrine. "Guah! Hah… ha… hah… am I on the top yet?!"

"So we meet again… I am surprised that you actually dragged that thing all the way up here…"

Luffy craned his neck. "Ah-ha! I've found you!"

Aurora turned her head in the direction the boy's voice came from, shouting at the top of her lungs. "LUFFY!"

"AURORA!" he called back. "I'M COMING!" The Straw Hat captain began to run once more, gold ball stretched out behind him. "Stop running away and fight me… Eneru!"

The God had had enough. "Be gone…" He waved his hand, lightning striking the beanstalk. It slowly began to topple, taking Luffy with it.

"Wo… waah…!" he lost his grip. "Aaah! Not fair!"

"Yahahah!"

"UWAAAAAH!"

"Wyper! You'll die if you start climbing now! You'll never get to him anyways! He's flying!"

"Move away from the beanstalk!" Usopp warned. "Something's falling down!"

"IYAAAH!" the group barely managed to avoid being crushed, the top of the beanstalk having fallen.

"What is going on up there…?" Robin wondered.

"Nothing good." Kai responded. "Probably Eneru trying to kill Straw Hat."

"Oh no! Luffy?!" Usopp cried. "Anyone see Luffy's corpse anywhere?"

"Oh, for the love of... Calm down, long-nose!" Kai growled, slapping the sniper upside the head.

"Wyper!" Aisa attempted to help the man up. "See? I told you. You can't climb now!"

He pushed the girl off, refusing to listen. "The bell is right above us… I'm so close to fulfilling great Calgara's wish…"

"Didn't you want to fight me?" Eneru taunted. "I'm not going anywhere."

Luffy glared at the God, the boy having barely managed to catch himself. "Damn you!"

"Yahahahah… you stay there. I'll show you something really nice…" Eneru's body dissipated, leaving Aurora alone on the ship.

"Eh?!" Luffy's head was on a swivel. "He disappeared." Bright light emerged from a gaping hole amongst the black clouds. "Huh? What's that?" Realizing the God left, Luffy began the trek back up to the ship, throwing the gold ball up first. "Huaaaah! Heh… Heh… Th…There… I'm up here again. Heh… Heh… Now's my chance… to get on the ship!"

"Wah!"

"Ouch!" Luffy was slammed face-first into the ground, something landing on his back.

"Luffy!" Nami realized just what, or should I say whom, she'd run over.

"Eh?" Luffy twisted his head around. "Nami, how did you get here?"

"I came to get you. Sanji and Usopp got me out of the ship a long time ago."

"Oh, that's great! But Aurora's still up there. We need to…" he trailed off. "Eh? What's that?"

"Oh my…" Aurora watched with dread as a large black ball of cloud descended from above. "The cloud… it changed shape!"

"Oh no…" Nami gasped. "That ball of cloud looks a lot more condensed with electrical energy than normal!"

"Yahahaha… I am absolute in the sky!" Eneru appeared, standing at the edge of the hole the ball of cloud had descended from. "I surprise even myself with my power! With Maxim, all kinds of miracle are possible! Yahahah!"

Sparks of electricity emitted from the cloud, causing Aurora's stomach to churn. "It's landing… on Angel Island! What is he…?!"

"ADVENT OF THUNDER!"

It was like a bomb went off. A burst of lightning, larger than had ever been seen, dispersed in all directions. It wiped out everything in its path, destroying what was once the Angel Island. Aurora felt the breath leave her body. Where her home once was… there was nothing. It was like the sky island had never existed. Eneru had erased every trace of it, right down to the sea cloud it was based on.

"Yahahahah! Hm… what a great view this is. Those eyesores no longer stop the sun from shining through."

Aurora shook, the angel filled with a sense of loss and anger. The Skypieans were alive, adrift in the White-White Sea, but… their home had been destroyed. Her home had been destroyed. Aurora expressed her feelings in the only way she could at that moment.

She let out an inhuman scream.

She screamed to the heavens, lungs burning with the need for air. But she didn't let up. She needed to let her emotions out somehow. So lost in her anguish, the angel didn't even notice the thunder that rumbled overhead. Streaks of lighting dotted the sky… but… something was different. The lightning wasn't the same yellow as what Eneru had produced. It was… white.

The lightning began to creep closer to the Maxim, alarming both Luffy and Nami. The navigator turned to her captain. "Luffy! We have to hurry! Aurora's still up there!"

No sooner did the words leave her mouth, white lightning struck the ship. The two pirates could only watch in horror, thinking Eneru had ended their friend's life. But that was far from the truth.

Aurora's screaming had cut off when the lightning struck. She didn't even realize what was happening until it had hit. The white lightning poured over her, not striking anywhere else on the ship. The strange thing was… she didn't feel pain. She didn't feel anything. The lightning didn't hurt her.

If Aurora was being honest with herself, while Eneru's lightning did hurt her, it was never to the scale others had suffered. She always survived while they did not. She'd assumed it was because her holy powers were there to heal her, but… maybe it was more than that.

Her thoughts drifted to her fight with Kai in Alabasta. It had ended with him being struck by lightning. Holy lightning, as the fallen angel had called it. Aurora hadn't understood at the time. But now…

'Gan Fall didn't have much information about angels… but he did discover that they had the ability to control an element. What did he call it? Divine Element Manipulation? Is that… is that what this is? Can I… control lightning?' Aurora wondered, watching as the white lightning began to melt the gold binding her. 'Is that why Eneru's lightning never killed me? I had the power to control it… so did that make me less vulnerable? Is that why it doesn't hurt now? Because I've unlocked the power? But… this isn't normal lightning. It feels… pure. Like… it's a product of my holy energy. Does that mean lightning I produce can't hurt me? Is it possible… I could become immune to lightning altogether?'

These questions raced through Aurora's head, distracting the angel to the point that she almost didn't notice she was free. She glanced down when she felt liquid metal dripping from her wrists. She tugged, one of her hands giving way. Closing her eyes, the angel took a step forward and was met with no resistance. The lightning began to fade.

Lavender eyes snapped open, the true angel spreading her wings and soaring straight up into the sky. She paused, taking in a deep breath. It felt good to be able to move once more. There was no worse feeling for an angel than to be unable to fly.

She lowered her gaze, eyes spotting a familiar looking straw hat on the deck of the ship. Surprisingly, it was still intact despite her little light show. The angel swooped down, placing the article back atop her head before exiting the Maxim. It was then she spied her two crewmates among what was left of God's shrine. Aurora descended, landing in front of an awestruck Luffy and a bewildered Nami.

The navigator reacted first, jumping off the waver and drawing the angel into a bone-crushing hug. "You're alright! I was so worried!"

Aurora hugged her back just as tight. "I know… and I'm sorry. But I'm safe now."

"How?" Nami questioned, pulling back but not yet releasing the other girl. "We saw the lightning and thought…"

"I… I think I did that."

"Huh?!"

"You can control lightning?!" Luffy burst in excitedly.

Aurora smirked in amusement at her captain's enthusiasm. "I believe so… but there's no time to explain. We need to get out of here."

"She's right!" Nami agreed, righting the waver. "Luffy, get on! We're leaving! The others are probably already back on the ship by now! We have to go, too!"

"No."

"What do you mean, "no?!" This is…"

"I don't have to save anyone now, but… I still have something to take care of!"

"Luffy, what could you possibly need to do?" Aurora questioned. "You're not still thinking of fighting Eneru, are you?"

"No. The golden bell is here!"

"Gold…? I know gold is important, but we will die if we don't escape now!" Nami told him. "You saw it too, right? Even if you are immune to lightning, he can destroy the entire island and you with it! You already have that huge chunk of gold on your hand! So let's go, or you'll die for sure!"

Luffy huffed. "I don't die that easily…"

"If he does that thing here, you will!" Nami argued.

"You saw it down there, right?"

Aurora blinked in confusion. "Saw what?"

"The Golden City! The Golden City does exist! It wasn't a lie!"

The words struck a chord with Aurora, the angel flashing back to what Cricket had told the crew.

"I'm not searching for the gold… to prove that man's innocence. This, between the man who ruined my life and me… is a duel!"

"The diamond head mister's ancestor… wasn't lying! I have to tell him that Noland wasn't lying, and… the Golden City is here in the sky! If I ring the bell really hard, I'm sure that he'll hear it! Otherwise, he'll keep diving into the sea trying to find this Golden City, and that's dangerous!"

Aurora felt tears begin to stream down her face. "Luffy…"

"I can't let that bastard Eneru get the bell! I have to ring the bell so loud that everyone in the Blue Seas hear it! That's why I am staying here... and ringing the golden bell no matter what!" With those final words, Luffy turned and began to climb what remained of the beanstalk.

"Luffy, wait!" Nami called. "That won't work!"

The Straw Hat captain ignored her, stretching his arm and grabbing hold of the edge of the ship. "Got it… hah…"

Eneru chose that time to reappear, kicking Luffy's hand off.

"Eneru!"

"Yahahahah… I don't recall ever inviting you to be on the ship."

"Guwaah!"

"Luffy!" Nami scurried over to the boy. "I told you that wouldn't have worked!"

"Damn that bastard!"

"Yahaha… did you like the view when the entire island vanished?"

Aurora growled, Nami's hand on her shoulder the only thing keeping her from flying up there and punching the God in the face.

"Girl, if you are thinking of rejoining me… it's too late for you."

"I never would've joined you anyways!" Nami told the man.

Eneru shifted his gaze to Aurora. "And you, my queen? I don't know how you managed to escape like that, but you're still welcome to join."

The true angel glared. "Go to hell!"

"Hah!" Eneru wasn't fazed. "As soon as I find what I want… I will summon another Advent of Thunder… and eradicate Skypiea completely! You and the others below you can do nothing but stare helplessly…"

"The others…?" Nami whispered.

"As I destroy this human country unfitting for the sky… and return everything to how it is supposed to be!"

"I'll never let that happen!" Luffy charged up the stalk once more.

"Luffy, wait!"

Lightning struck what little remained of the top, knocking the boy back down to the shrine.

"Yahahahah… farewell, rubber man… we shall not meet again! Just stay there and quietly wait for your doom! No one can stop it from happening!"

"Oh! I know!" Luffy grabbed the waver. "Nami, let me borrow this."

"Luffy, no!" Aurora called, but it was too late.

Luffy rode the waver back up the beanstalk, but was stopped by a strike of lightning once more. He fell heavily to the cloud below. "Ouch!"

"I will send you guys into the sky, whatever it takes!"

"Damn it! No matter what… heh… for mister and the gorillas… heh… I will… ring the golden bell!"

The girls could only watch. "Luffy…"

"Hey. Hey. In the Golden City… there should be a huge golden bell. Right?"

"Yes, that is what was recorded… in Noland's diary." Robin replied.

Zoro turned to his captain. "Why did you ask?"

"Yeah. Why? Why?" Chopper chimed.

"Heheheh. I just had a very funny idea!"

Kai decided to humor the boy. "Do tell."

"If I ring that bell really hard here… diamond mister and the gorillas will be able to hear it. Right? They will. Right?"

Usopp's jaw dropped. "You mean… Luffy is trying to…"

"Yes." Robin answered. "According to what he said, he probably is…"

"He wants to… ring the bell, too?" Wyper couldn't believe it.

"If he said he is going to do that, then there is no way… that Nami can get him to come down." Zoro pointed out. "His target is… the same as Eneru's after all."

"So, basically… don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon." Kai chimed in. "We're not gonna be able to leave until Straw Hat accomplishes his mission."

"Ah!" Usopp suddenly screamed. "Danger! Something's falling down again!"

"Eh?"

The sniper dove. "Iyaaaa! Everyone dive away!"

Kai face-palmed. "It's just a leaf!"

Aisa stepped closer to the large foliage. "Look, something's written on it! It's a message from Luffy, Nami and Aurora!"

"Eh?!"

"What does it say?"

Robin began to read. "Cut the beanstalk… and make it… fall westward."

"Eh?"

"What good would that do…?!" Usopp ranted. "Uwaaah! Danger, again! Look!"

"Eneru…" Wyper growled.

"That monster…" Gan Fall glared.

Kai tried not to flinch at the sight of the ball of black cloud. "It's even bigger than the previous one…"

"There's no way we can get away from that… we are all doomed!"

"This one is even bigger than the last one! That bastard!" Luffy cursed.

"He's going to destroy the whole country with that thing! That must mean… he found the golden bell!" Aurora realized.

"Eneru said that there are voices under us. That must be the others. I just hope they got my message."

Luffy faced the navigator. "Nami, you're not running away?"

"Aren't you going to ring the bell no matter what?" she shot back.

"Yup! No matter what!"

"Well, Aurora's not strong enough to fly you and you can't control the waver, so I'll have to do it for you. For this plan… I am entrusting… my life to you."

"Okay! Don't worry about it!"

"We have only one chance."

"Nami's right." Aurora agreed. "This is our last shot."

Luffy turned to the angel. "Aurora, you're coming too?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Nami eyed the angel with concern.

"No, but… I'm done running from Eneru."

"They'll use the falling beanstalk as… the bridge to the ship."

"That must be what they're planning to do." Zoro said.

"That is suicide!" Usopp screeched.

"Then you go tell them that." The swordsman retorted.

"I would if I can!"

"Is it suicide or a working solution? We won't know until we try it." Zoro declared.

At that moment, numerous bolts of lightning were shot at the group. They barely managed to escape unscathed.

"Uwah!"

"What now?! Iyah!"

Zoro tossed an unconscious Chopper to Robin. "Find a place to hide! The ruins! Go to the ruins!"

Up above, Eneru laughed with glee. "Yahahahaha… you look just like the little insects that you are. Quickly! Scurry away before you are zapped! Yahaha…"

Zoro slowly began to get up. "Alright then… cut the beanstalk and make it fall toward the ship… we have to do it before Eneru throws that thing at us." He drew his swords. "Right now, the survival of the sky island… rests on Luffy's shoulders!"

"Zoro!" Usopp called to the swordsman, but it fell on deaf ears.

'Chop off the beanstalk… from its west side!' Zoro thought this to himself over and over, dodging lightning to accomplish the task.

Usopp was biting his fingernails. "Ca… Ca… Can he make it? We're counting on you! You are the only one here who can cut that thing!"

"Heh!" Zoro dodged more lightning. "He's making holes everywhere!" The swordsman jumped, managing to make a cut in the beanstalk.

"All right! He did it!" Usopp cheered.

The victory was short lived. Zoro was still in mid-air, so he had no way to dodge. Eneru struck the swordsman down, his body falling heavily into the ruins below.

"Oh no! Zoro!" Usopp held his head in his hands. "Oh crap! Good thing he was able to chop off the beanstalk…"

"It's no good… Look!"

Usopp followed Robin's gaze. "Eh?! It's not falling down?"

"Damn!" Kai cursed. "It wasn't enough!"

"Nola. Nola… Nola. Nola!" Seto attempted to wake the snake. "Hahaha! Still asleep? Wake up! Time to ring the bell!"

"Tsulala!"

Calgara grinned at the reptile. "Come, let's ring the bell again today, Nola. Let's send your favorite bell sound to Noland's ears!"

"Tsulala!" the snake tried to follow, but found her friends were fast leaving her behind. "Tsulala. Tsulala… Tsula? Tsulalalala!"

The dream began to wake Nola in slow degrees, the large snake beginning to move. "Tsulalala! Tsulalala! Tsulalala! Tsulalala!" She opened her eyes, too late to stop from running head first into the beanstalk.

"What the…? What is this? A cloud-quake?" Usopp fought to regain his footing, the ground shaking violently. "Oh! The beanstalk is gonna…"

"No…" Robin disagreed, watching it closely. "It wasn't enough! It only tilted by a little... we need a bigger impact…"

Kai stepped forward, releasing his wings. "I was really hoping to avoid getting struck by lightning again, but I guess I have no choice. Gonna have to go try and blast the stupid thing down."

"No! I'll do it!"

"You can't, Wyper!" Aisa tried to stop the warrior.

"Be quiet." He shushed the girl. "That bell... may only be rung by successors of Calgara's will, like me! That shitty brat has no right to ring it!"

"Ignore him, Robin." Usopp advised. "He's half dead… he can't do anything to us." The sniper turned his attention to the beanstalk. "Zoro already chopped off one of the vines, so… I, Captain Usopp, will use my new "Dance of the Fire Stars" and bombard the beanstalk until it falls! Bare witness to my true power! Attack-"

"Oi, long nose! Wait a minute!" Kai flew after the sniper, hands beginning to glow red with energy.

"You, stop-"

"400 years ago…" Robin cut the Shandian off. "An explorer from the Blue Seas said that he found the Golden City, but… no one believe him. Everyone called him a liar. However, his descendant believes him and has been risking his life to find the city. "If I ring the bell really hard, I can tell him that the Golden City is here in the sky!" Those are the thoughts of the person who you called "shitty brat." Isn't it romantic?" Robin let out a small smile. "He is throwing away his life just so he can… deliver that message…"

Lightning struck mere feet behind the group, but they refused to budge.

"That descendant…" Wyper began to speak. "What is… his name?"

"Montblanc Cricket."

"Then 400 years ago…" Tears streamed down the Shandian's face as he realized what the archeologist was telling him. "The name of that explorer… was is Nolan?"

"Yes."

"Wyper?" Aisa cautiously addressed the man. The girl was unsure what to do. She'd never seen the warrior cry before.

He said nothing, merely reaching a hand out and pushing the girl's cap over her eyes.

"Uwah!"

'Is this your will, too… oh great Calgara?'

"Hyah! Bang! Bang! Boom! Certain Death Fire Star! Super Fire Star! Rubber Band of Doom! Usopp Snipe! Fire Star! Spinning Fire Star!"

"Damn it, long nose! Quit fooling around!" Kai growled, throwing blast after blast of energy at the beanstalk. Unfortunately, neither he nor the sniper appeared to be making any progress.

"Heh… Heh…!" Usopp panted. "Damn! It didn't move at all! Is that really a plant? Fine. This time I'll-"

"Out of the way." Wyper rushed past the sniper, thrusting him back with a hand to the face.

"Uwah!"

"What the hell?!" Kai managed to fly out of the Shandian's path, barely avoiding being knocked from the sky. "What is he doing?"

Wyper jumped, landing on the beanstalk. He pressed his right palm against it, using his dial one last time. "REJECT!"

Usopp nearly choked, not having seen the reject dial in action before. It had torn a giant hole through the stalk. "What the hell was that?!"

Kai watched the Shandian fall to the ruins below. "Idiot! What the hell was he thinking?! Rebound from a blast like that could've killed him!"

Using the reject dial again was a risk… but it had paid off in the end. The hole Wyper had blasted in the beanstalk did its job.

"Oh!"

Usopp ran when the stalk began to tip. "It's coming down!"

"It's tilting…! This is it!"

"Okay! Let's go, Nami!"

The navigator revved the waver. "I've never actually tried turning the jet dial to the highest, so… I'm not actually sure if I can control this."

"I TRUST YOU!"

Nami turned to the angel hovering next to them. "Sure you can keep up?"

Aurora smirked. "I'll try my best!"

"OK!" The waver shot forward, taking off at a breakneck pace. "Here we go! Luffy!"

Aurora flew after the pair, rapidly flapping her wings so as to keep up.

Usopp screamed from down below. "GO! KICK HIS ASS, LUFFY!"

Eneru merely watched in amusement. "Well, well… impatient, aren't they? Why can't they wait for my kingdom come to be completed? So be it, then… I'll just tear you and the island to shreds first!"

The trio balked when they saw what was headed their way.

"THUNDERSTORM!" Eneru was doing everything in his power to keep them at bay. He didn't want anyone, especially Luffy, getting any closer. He directed all lightning strikes at God's island. "Yahahaha! Trying to force yourselves aboard, are you? Such foolish plan will never work!"

Nami had to swerve to avoid being struck. "He is attacking the foundation of the beanstalk directly! If the beanstalk loses its foundation… we won't be able to get high enough, and we won't reach Eneru!"

"And God's island will be destroyed, along with everyone on it!" Aurora added, worried for her friends below.

"Yahahah! Even though you are immune to my lightning, you can't stop me if you can't get here! Go back down there and wait for the Advent of Thunder, rubber man!

"It looks like Eneru is trying his best to avoid fighting you." Nami deduced.

"Of course he is!" Aurora growled. "Luffy's the only one who stands a chance at beating him and that's the last thing he wants!"

"He won't get away that easily!" Luffy declared, determined to take the God down.

"Most of the cloud above the ruin is gone already…! Soon the solid ground will shatter too!"

"Wyper is still over there!" Aisa cried.

"Zoro is too… damn!"

"The ruin…" Robin could only watch in distress as a piece of history was further destroyed.

"It's useless… Eneru… You won't be able to… Heh… Heh… You will never destroy… the great history of Shandora!"

"Wyper!" Aisa called to the emerging figure.

"Under any circumstances, we bravely charge forward and survive! You will never smother the pride of our existence! No matter how many forests you burn… or how many ruins you destroy…"

"Run, Wyper! Or you'll die!"

Robin had to grab the girl. "Stay back."

"The earth of Shandora… will never crumble under your wickedness!"

"Hmm?" Eneru was hardly concerned. "Is that someone's dying words I hear from below?"

"The earth will not fall! God's island can never be bested or destroyed!"

"Wyper! Wyper!"

Kai blocked the young girl, Usopp grabbing the back of her dress at the same time. "Stay back or the vine will fall on you!"

Wyper stared up at the flying ship. "Go get him… brat…"

"I'm coming… ENERU!"

The God's patience was wearing thin. "Will this ever end?"

"GIVE BACK… THE GOLDEN BELL!"

"You're too late, trash. This should be big enough already, so… it is now time for you and Skypiea to vanish into thin air!" The large black ball of cloud descended further. "ADVENT OF THUNDER!"

"Thanks, Nami! I'll take it from here!"

"Eh?" The navigator was confused by Luffy's words. It wasn't until he propelled himself off the waver did she realize the meaning behind his words. "Huh?! Hey, Luffy! The ship is over there!"

Aurora flew under the falling girl, managing to glide them to a safe landing on a nearby cloud. She hurriedly sat up, eyes surveying the sky for her captain. They finally found him. "He's headed for…!"

"No, Lufy!" Nami shouted. "That thing is… a whirlpool of electrical currents and high air pressure! Do you want to die?!"

"Yahahah!" Eneru laughed. "What can you do against such an absolute power, rubber man?"

"UWOOOOH!" Luffy had literally thrown himself into the eye of the storm, not once looking back. "UWOOOOOOH! Gomu Gomu Firework…" He began to spin the arm that had the gold ball attached to it. "GOLDEN PEONY!"

Nami had to shield her eyes against the sudden bright light. "Why is it suddenly emitting light like that?"

"The ball of gold!" Aurora realized. "It's acting as a conductor! Luffy's using it to deplete all the electricity!"

Eneru growled, having come to the same conclusion. "Shit! I have to get rid of him! All of you are going to die now!"

"Hey…"

"Suu?"

"Does God… really exist? If he does…" Conis began to cry. "Will he save us?"

"Suu."

Rose dropped to her knees beside the young girl, holding her hands together in prayer. "I don't know if there is an actual God, but… if there is…"

Conis began to pray as well, wailing to the skies. "PLEASE SAVE THOSE PEOPLE! O GOD! PLEASE SAVE THIS COUNTRY, O GOD!"

"TURN SUNNY NOW!" Luffy's voice rang out in that moment, the ball of cloud suddenly dispersing. It was no more. Blue sky was visible once again. The sun shone brightly.

Nami and Aurora were astonished by this feat. Eneru, meanwhile, was alarmed. The God never thought he could be stopped. And yet… some kid from the Blue Seas was accomplishing what should have been impossible.

"UWOOOOOOH!"

Down below, Usopp began to cry happy tears. "Alright! Luffy! You kick ass!"

Even Wyper was amazed. He began to shout. "RING IT, BRAT! RING IT! RELIGHT THE LIGHT OF SHANDORA!"

"Yes… my young friend…" Gan Fall joined in. "Please let us hear the song of the island!"

Luffy began to wind up his arm for an attack. "Heh heh… Hi again! This time it's my turn to knock you off!"

Eneru glared. "How dare you destroy the Advent of Thunder… you cursed monkey of the Blue Sea! Now you have truly angered God!" His body began to transform, becoming a gigantic being made of pure electricity. "200 million volts… REISHIN!"

"What's that?"

"Want to ring the golden bell, do you? Is it because of the legend of its sound signifying the end of the war? You are pathetic to believe in such nonsense!" Eneru bellowed. "I am the almighty God! You are just a superman-type devil fruit user! You are no match for me, God of the element!"

Luffy took the oncoming lightning head on. "Are you stupid? Didn't I tell you lightning is useless against me? "God" this. "God" that. Blah… blah… blah! A stupid shitty God like you… is better off gone!" Luffy got close enough to deliver a powerful kick, but paid the price for doing so. "AH!"

"Hah… Did you forget that… I have another weapon?!" Eneru taunted, having slipped his hand behind the boy and stabbing him with his staff turned trident.

"LUFFY!"

"Yahaha! How unfortunate, rubber man! You are stuck there for good!"

"Ow! Hot! Hot! Hot!"

"What an irony that your own right arm is causing the trident to thrust deeper into your body!"

"Uwaaaaah!" Luffy continued to cry out in pain.

"The only way out of that is to fall all the way down! It is commendable that you got up here, but this is as far as you may go! This country is inevitably doomed! For I will just make another Advent of Thunder!"

"Luffy!" Aurora cried out, unable to sit by and watch. She spread her wings and took flight, ignoring Nami's calls for her to come back. She had to do something! 'I can't let him continue to destroy my home! I can't let him hurt anymore of my friends! I know I can't stop him… but I have to try!'

With that thought, Aurora sped past the God, coming to float just above his head. She focused on gathering all the holy energy she had, preparing to direct it at the God in one large blast. But… that was far from what was actually happening.

Eneru became distracted by the sound of thunder rumbling overhead. He looked up, spying the angel whom had managed to sneak past. Her arms and wings were stretched to the heavens above, yellow glow encasing her body. Streaks of white began to dot the sky.

Aurora's eyes slowly opened, the orbs bathed in the yellow glow of her holy power. She gazed disdainfully down at the God. "This ends now!"

The angel thrust her hands forward, expecting holy energy to appear. Instead, white lightning rocketed past her form, striking the God dead on. He cried out in pain, surprise etched upon his face. It made no sense! How could she command lightning? How could it hurt him?! The God shifted, Aurora's attack drawing his attention away from Luffy and causing him to unwittingly withdraw the trident a few scant inches.

The boy managed to wrench himself free. "Guaah!"

The lightning caught Aurora off guard, the angel abruptly ending her attack. It was then she began to waver, the second use of holy lightning draining her exponentially. She began to plummet from the sky, barely managing to steer herself back onto the cloud Nami occupied. She landed heavily, the navigator scurrying to check on her.

Eneru recovered long enough to watch Luffy drop. "So you choose to fall to your doom… Yahahahaha!"

Nami flung herself to the edge of the cloud. "Luffy!"

"NAMI! AURORA! I'M GOING BACK UP!" Luffy yelled, the boy having managed to grab hold of the cloud. "UWAAAH!"

"W… What?!" Eneru was stunned.

"You're going down! You stupid big-ear freak! Gomu Gomu… BAZOOKA!" Luffy's arm snapped back to its original shape, the force behind it propelling him back towards the God. He began to spin the arm that was encased in the golden ball. "GOMU GOMU...!"

"Want to try again?" Eneru continued to taunt the boy.

"I will make the bell… ring again no matter what!"

"Yahahaha! Dream on scum! I'll be sure to pierce through your heart this time!"

Luffy flung his arm forward. "GOLD PISTOL!"

Eneru slowly became more and more alarmed the closer it got. 'It's fast!'

The ball of gold struck the God hard, knocking him off the top of his ship and destroying his larger form.

"UWWOOAAH!" Luffy's punch continued to send the God backward.

"How sad you must be if you come back to Jaya… and none of us are there to greet you!"

"Just wait a little more… I will ring the bell, and… tell you that we are still here!"

"Brat…!"

"Luffy…" Aisa breathed.

"We must light… the light of Shandora!"

"It's been 400 years… please… end the war for us…"

"Tsula…? Tsula?"

"Yes. Sooner or later, the song of the island… will play again!"

"Go! Luffy!"

"Usopp, keep it down or you'll shatter my eardrums!" Sanji griped, the cook finally having woken.

"Hah… hahah." Chopper let out a small laugh.

"Ugh…" Zoro had regained consciousness as well, the swordsman forcing himself up.

"On the Jaya Island of the Grand Line, I found a grand city of gold. The Golden City does exist!"

"There has also never been anyone who could prove… that sky island and the Golden City do not exist! Our pursuits are truly… "romantic!""

"RING!" Luffy sent the God into the ancient bell, accomplishing exactly what he'd set out to do. 'Hey, diamond-head mister! Do you hear it? The Golden City is here! For the whole 400 years… the Golden City… has always been here in the sky!'

Aurora smiled, tears running down her face once more. "He did it…"

"Ring… RING! Do you hear it?! Diamond-head mister?! Big monkeys? The Golden City… does exist!"

"He did it!" Usopp wailed.

"What a beautiful sound…" Robin breathed.

"Wow! How nice! What's that sound? What's that sound?" Chopper joined in.

Kai said nothing, merely smirking.

Tears began to fall from Gan Fall's eyes. "I knew it… I knew this day would come… I knew it would…"

"…So this is what Noland heard back then…" a smile crossed Sanji's face.

"Suu!"

Conis was in awe. "This is… the earth… it is singing…"

"Suu!

Rose felt her eyes begin to well with tears. "It's finally over…"

"Do you hear it? Montblanc Noland… I'm sorry to be a little late." Wyper apologized. "I only hope your descendant can hear this…"

"Tsula~~~~ Tsula~~~~~~!" Nola began to cry, having not heard the bell for a very long time. It was a welcome sound for the snake. "TSULALALALALALA!"

"Boss… is that…"

"Ah… There is no doubt about it…" Cricket grinned. "Romantic… isn't it…?"

"In the sky…" Masira's jaw dropped.

"I'm getting on edge with excitement!" Shoujou admitted.

"The sound of bell came from the sky… I see. So there is a reason why those "giants" always appear only… when the "millennium cumulonimbus" appears…" Cricket began to piece it together. "When the sunlight is blocked by people standing high in the sky… the shadows cast on the fog below will be very big… big enough for people to mistake them as giants in the fog…"

Masira caught on. "Oh… so those giants were actually… shadows of people living in the sky?"

"However difficult it is to believe… the sound of the bell from the sky is undeniable proof. If the sound of the bell comes from the sky… the Golden City must truly exist and is just floating in the sky… Noland… my ancestor… he was not a liar! The sound is… the proof he sent us from the sky." Cricket's grin grew wider when a large shadow of Luffy appeared. "Hey… kid… so the Golden City… is all the way up there, huh? Thanks for telling us….! U…"

"Boss…?!"

"Is something wrong? Are you okay? Boss?"

Cricket didn't even try to fight the tears. "I'm glad… you guys are alive and kicking up there. I was worried…"

"Look! Over there! It's God's… airship!"

"Look! It's God!"

The ship and Eneru both fell into the White-White Sea, disappearing under the clouds.

"They sank!"

"God Eneru… sank with the ship!"

The sound of the bell… the proof of the ancient city's once prosperous past… the light of Shandora… it is also the declaration of truce… the song of the island. Though 400 years late, it is also… the sound of a promise kept. No matter how long the journey of the floating island is… the memories of those in the past… are never forgotten. Using the sound of the bell as a medium of message… blessing and hope is spread… to the corners of the world.

"It rang…"

Nami smiled. "Yup."

"Think they… heard it…?"

Aurora removed the hat from her head, placing it back atop Luffy's. The angel then proceeded to lie next to the boy, gazing at the blue skies above. She reached over and grasped his hand. "I'm sure they did."

Luffy glanced over at the girl before rummaging around in his pocket. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot…" He pulled something out. "Thought you might want this back."

Aurora gasped. "My necklace! Where did you…?"

"It fell off of Eneru when I was fighting him. I recognized it as yours."

The angel smiled, taking the proffered necklace and lightly squeezing Luffy's hand. "Thank you… for everything."

"We will… always be here!"

"Aisa… were you worried? About your treasure?"

The young girl began to cry at the sight of Laki. "That's not important, you silly…" She threw herself at the woman. "Laki!"

Kamakiri, Braham and Genbo stood hidden amongst the forest, watching the scene fondly.

"It's okay. I'm fine."

"No. No!" Chopper fretted. "I have to patch you up or…"

"Instead of worrying about me…" Zoro gestured to the Shandian warrior nearby. "You should… take a look at him."

"Eh? You mean that person over there?" Chopper went to inspect Wyper. "Wow. You're right. He's wounded really badly! His bone is in pieces here!"

"Hey… isn't he one of the raiders?" Sanji recognized the man. "Why are we helping him?"

"Hm… I don't quite understand what he is about, but… I know that… he's at least an honorable warrior…" Zoro acknowledged.

"What are you saying? You pity him?"

"Sort of…"

"Besides, he's her holiness' friend. She'd be upset if we didn't help." Kai butted in.

Chopper looked up when a figure approached. Aisa had come back to check on Wyper. "Can you help him… civet cat?"

"I'm a reindeer! See these?! I have horns!" Chopper took offense. "Don't worry though. He'll be okay!"

"Where are Nami and Aurora? Are they safe? They're with Luffy, so they're probably okay…"

"What about Conis? I wonder where she is…"

"So what happened… with the golden bell?" Sanji asked the sniper.

"It probably fell down…" he answered.

"It's too bad that we couldn't take Eneru's golden ship and… the golden city is just a empty shell now, too…" Sanji mused. "We are still stuck being penniless pirates."

"I want one of those dials a lot more than gold, though." Usopp chimed. "Since you can't find those in the Blue Seas."

"Is that wise? Leaving Wyper to those people from the Blue Seas…" Kamakiri questioned.

"It'll be fine." Laki reassured him. "Aisa trusts them. We should, too. And besides… if Aurora hadn't brought them back with her…" She trailed off, the implications hanging heavily in the air.

"All right then…" Kamakiri didn't fight her on it. "We have something else to take care of. Gather up everyone who can still move. We'll send the priests to exile on a desert cloud."

"Great idea!"

"Now that Eneru is gone, they are just random thugs…"

"Hey!"

"Aaaah!" Sanji leapt to his feet, eye taking on a heart shape at the sight of three familiar women. "Nami! Aurora! Conis!"

"Luffy!"

Aurora flew slightly ahead of the group, the angel landing gently on the ground. Sanji went to throw himself at her when he was intercepted. She squeaked when she was accosted by a certain sniper and reindeer. The two hugged her tightly, bawling their eyes out and expressing their happiness over her safe return. The angel smiled softly, patting them on the head.

"I'm so glad you are all safe!" Conis wailed. "I was so worried, but… I couldn't do a thing…"

"Suu!"

Rose drew the girl into her arms, stroking her hair. "There, there…"

"Oh Conis, were you really that worried about me~~!" Sanji fawned.

Usopp finally pulled away from Aurora, sending the cook a bland look. "Stop acting crazy."

"Is that food?" Zoro spied the large bag just behind them. "Where did you get it?"

"We found the priests' storage on our way here." Nami replied. "Or… more like Aurora knew where it was." She glanced at the angel, who was cradling a still emotional Chopper in her arms.

"There is still a lot more too!" Luffy crowed, cramming what food he had into his mouth.

"How did you get down from up there?" Usopp asked. "I know Aurora's not strong enough to carry you…"

"I used Gomu Gomu Balloon!"

"Hey, Conis." Zoro noticed someone was missing. "Where's your father?"

"Ah…" she bowed her head. "He… um… he… tried to protect me and Miss Rose… and Eneru…"

Aurora gently put Chopper down, heading over and gathering her friend and mother in her arms. No more needed to be said. She knew what Conis was getting at.

"You mean…"

"Conis…" Sanji felt terrible for the girl.

"Conis…"

Even Luffy was remorseful. "Conis…"

The boys all whipped around when they realized one of the voices that had spoken didn't belong to any of them. "Hey, it's you we're talking about here!"

Pagaya sweatdropped. "I'm sorry! I am still alive!"

Conis threw herself at the man. "Father!"

Rose drew her daughter closer, smiling at the scene before them. She knew all too well what Conis was feeling. To have someone you love ripped away from you, only to be reunited again…

Aurora leaned into her mother's form, taking comfort in the familiar warmth. It'd been so long since she'd seen her. With being kidnapped by Eneru and then leaving Skypiea...

The angel had missed her.

"You fell down to White Sea?"

"Yes. My apologies."

"Father!" Conis continued to wail.

"I thought I was going to keep falling down, but… luckily… I was saved." Pagaya told the pirates. "People who were escaping to Cloud's End are coming back to White-White Sea using cloud dials. But since Angel Island… is completely destroyed… everyone is coming to God's Island."

"Oh! God…!"

Gan Fall knelt before the man. "No. Do not call me that. I am no God. Save your strength. Don't talk." He glanced around. "You have all been imprisoned here for the past 6 years? I… I am sorry…" He apologized. "Fortunately, now it is all over! Everyone can return home!"

"But… God, I saw it. Our home, Angel Island, was destroyed! The Shandian's home was too! Is the war really over?"

"Chief… will the 400 years of anguish really just simply go away like this?"

"Well…" the old man began. "The God's militia is destroyed, so…"

"God can never be defeated! I'll come back someday…" Eneru panted. "I will not allow anything in this world to stand in my way! You little specks of trash! Yahahahah… only I am worthy for this… the land endless like in a dream…" He gazed up at the night sky, catching sight of the moon. "Go, Maxim! To the land that glows in the darkened sky… the endless land!"

Usopp yawned. "Is it nighttime already…?"

"What now?" Zoro asked.

"Back to the ship?"

"Nami! How can you say that?"

Nami was confused. "Huh? Why?"

Luffy planted his hands on his hips. "Usopp! How could she say that?"

The sniper shook his head. "She is inhuman!"

"What are you talking about?!"

Wyper woke in slow degrees. "Where am I…?"

"You are in the ruin of Shandora…" came the answer from Gan Fall.

"Gan Fall!"

"You! You are also from Skypiea!"

Conis gently placed a hand on Wyper's chest. "No! You can't move yet!"

"Calm down. Don't try to push it with your wounds."

"Chief!" the warrior turned to the man. "Where's the golden bell? We still have to guard it from…"

"Take it easy, Wyper. Just listen… in the past… the warriors had their reason for war. For our generations, the sky is our home."

"Chief!"

"Listen, Wyper… the earth… had never rejected anyone. It was us, who rejected each other." The Chief began to draw back the curtain blocking Wyper's view.

"Yes…" Gan Fall agreed. "Right now… among us… there is not one person… who desires… the continuation of war."

Aurora suddenly appeared next to the warrior, wrapped in a long shawl. "Take a look, Wyper. It's finally over."

The Shandian did as told and was amazed by what he saw. Skypieans and Shandians alike were partying well into the night before a large bonfire. Even Nola, the large snake, joined in.

"PARTY~~~!" Luffy cheered, the Straw Hat pirates also amongst the group. There was much laughter, dancing, drinking, music, and so on. Everyone was letting loose and having a good time. And why not? Eneru was gone… the war was over…peace had finally fallen upon the land.

Aurora could honestly say this was the happiest she'd been in a long time.

The 400 year long war of Skypiea has finally ended. Everyone in the country celebrated for days without end.

A shadowy figure snuck through the ruins of Shandora, creeping past sleeping Skypieans and Shandians. "Psst. Nami! Wake everyone up."

The navigator groggily rubbed her eyes. "Hmm…? What for?"

Luffy grinned. "Let's steal all the gold and run away…! Shh!"

Nami instantly woke at the mention of treasure. "Eh?! Gold?! Really!"

"Stupid! Don't talk so loud!"

"You're the one who is loud!"

"Be quiet!" Usopp suddenly woke. "I can't sleep with all this noise!"

"Ouch!" Chopper cried out when the sniper hit him. "That hurts!"

"Is it morning already?"

"Shut up! Both of you are too loud!"

"Nami, good morning~~! Huh? It's still night time!"

"What the heck?!"

"Usopp hit me!"

The outburst from the crew woke everyone in the vicinity. "Those citizens of Blue Sea sure party a lot…"

Aurora peered out from behind the curtain that separated Wyper's bed from where the party had been. She shook her head in amusement at her friend's antics. 'Some things never change…'

"Can't you tell that brat to pipe down?!"

The angel let the curtain fall back in place, taking up her place next to Wyper once more. "That would just rile him up again. Besides…" She listened for the sound of fighting and found it was fading. "I think they're done."

"…Why aren't you out there with them? You didn't even join the party."

"Parties have never really been my thing." The angel admitted. "And… I needed some time by myself… to think."

Wyper cracked his eyes open at this, curiosity taking over. "Think…? About what?"

"I… I'm not sure… I'm going to go with them… when they leave…"

The Shandian bolted upright at this, instantly regretting it. "Guh!"

Aurora gently pushed him back down. "Take it easy! You'll reopen your wounds!"

"What… What do you mean you're not going with them? Thought they were your friends."

"They are, but…" Aurora heaved a sigh. "When I first left Skypiea, it was to get away from Eneru. Now that he's gone… I no longer have to run. I can stay. My life can go back to normal."

Wyper snorted, the action causing him to wince in slight pain. "You're far from normal, princess."

The angel sent him a withering glare. "Princess? Really? We're back to that nickname?"

"Not my fault the old man treats you like you're his. Besides, it seemed fitting at the time. He was God and you were his little protégé. Practically royalty by those standards."

Aurora rolled her eyes. "Hardly. But… you're right about one thing."

"Hm?"

"Gan Fall never said it outright… but I was his protégé. He didn't just take me under his wing because of what I am. Well… that certainly played a part, if I'm being honest. Anyway… he mentored me because he hoped to have me succeed him one day… as God."

Wyper grunted in response. "I always wondered…"

"That's why… I think it's best if I stay. Gan Fall's not getting any younger… and I doubt he wants to resume his duties as God. He should be allowed to retire in peace."

"And what makes you think the people want another God?" Wyper asked condescendingly.

"I'm not sure they do… but I want to be here in case they might."

"…And your friends? The Blue Sea people? I doubt they're gonna let you go that easily. Especially after what I saw. What are you gonna do?"

"…I don't know."

"Chief! We found the golden bell!"

"Oh?!"

"It's hanging on the fallen beanstalk…! Now everyone's getting ready to pull it back up!"

"Really? Gather as many men as you can and head to the beach!" the Chief ordered.

Robin perked up at that, the archeologist having heard every word. 'The golden bell…? Finally, the stone tablet of Shandora that bears the "historical text"… is within my reach… I almost gave up on it, too…"

"Again!"

"One… two… three!"

"Uwoooh!"

"Put in more effort!"

"Woah!"

"Grr! We don't have enough men for this!" Braham growled. "This is the pride of our ancestors… we must recover it no matter what…"

"That's right!"

"Summon all your strength!"

"Everyone, put in more effort! Come on!"

Several members from God's old militia heard their struggles and began to make their way over to help. Aurora watched the scene fondly, glad to see Skypieans and Shandians working together for the first time. The future for their country was bright indeed.

"Everyone, pull!"

"Wahahahahahaha!"

"You look pretty excited, Usopp!" Zoro commented on the sniper's good mood. "How was trading?"

"It was a big success! Check out all these dials!" he gestured to the large bag draped across his back. "With so many different dials, "Usopp's Factory" will be better than ever! Hey Zoro! Want me to upgrade you sword into a "scent sword"?"

"Heh." The swordsman sweatdropped. "No thanks…"

"I can also upgrade Nami's Clima Tact! Even my hammer can… heheheh… This is awesome! Wahaha…" Usopp looked around the ruins. "By the way, where's Luffy and the others?"

"I don't know about Robin… and Aurora said something about wanting to see the old man… but the others are still inside."

"Heh, that snake sure is a heavy sleeper…"

"That's probably because it's been dancing so much… I don't know why it was so excited though…" Zoro relayed. "Nonetheless, they should get out of there soon. If the snake wakes up, it will be… problematic."

"But… this snake looks so harmless…"

"Idiot!" Zoro chided. "You sound like you have no idea how vicious that thing is!"

"But… this snake looks so harmless…"

"You're just saying that because you haven't seen it when it is awake. If you have, you won't be standing there so carefree…"

"But… this snake looks so harmless…"

The swordsman was getting irritated. "Are you listening to me, Usopp…?"

"This snake looks so harmless…"

The sniper began to laugh. "Haha! It's a tone dial!"

"Shut that shit off!" Zoro roared.

"See?! Lots of treasure!" Luffy held up a gold necklace.

"Wow… this is authentic stuff!" Sanji held up a golden cross. "What has this snake been eating… or who?"

"See?! See?!" Luffy's head was on a swivel.

Kai grabbed him by the neck. "Stop doing that before you hurt yourself, Straw Hat! Just focus on grabbing more stuff." The angel ventured further into the snake's belly, grabbing items along the way.

Nami nuzzled a large crown. "This is fantastic!"

"So pretty!" Chopper held up an ingot. "It's the same as the one we saw in the monkey's house!"

"WE GOT IT!"

"Hurray!"

"So that is the golden bell?!"

"It is marvelous!"

"Move it over here. The beanstalk isn't very stable!"

Aurora watched as the men dragged the bell back onto land. Gan Fall was next to her, the two sitting atop the trunk of a fallen tree.

"It looks even more majestic up close… too bad one of the pillars broke off…"

"Look! Over there…" someone pointed. "The poneglyphs…"

"It's the tablet that our ancestors… sacrificed themselves and the city to protect…!"

"There seem to be some writings on it, Chief…"

The old man stepped closer. "I canot decipher the language on it, but… that is not important because…"

"Before the heart of truth there is no need for words." A voice rang out. "We are the recorders of history. Exisitng in harmony with the sound of the great bell."

The Chief turned to look at Robin with wide eyes. "W… Where did you learn of those words?"

"I found them written on a rock in the Shandora ruin… it also said that you are the warriors of Shandora, protectors of the text." The archeologist moved through the crowed, coming to a stop before the poneglyph.

"Can you… really decipher… that ancient language…?!"

"Hm… the "ancient weapon" with the powers so strong that… it was name after the God… "Poseidon"?"

The Shandians gaped. "An ancient weapon! We have such a thing here…?"

'Another weapon named after a God. It's just like the pluton of Alabasta? All these dangerous things are still waiting to be uncovered…? This is not something I wish to learn about…' the archeologist thought, turning to walk away. "What a waste of effort…"

"Hey, wait! There're some words on the side. Did you see it?"

"Oh?" Robin paused, looking over her should to where the man pointed. What she read made her gasp. "We came here, found the text, and followed its guidance. –Gol D. Roger"

Aurora leaned forward at that. "The Pirate King?"

"So he also came to the sky island…" Robin deduced. "Furthermore, he also knew this ancient language…?!"

"Roger, you said?" Gan Fall spoke for the first time.

Robin glanced at the old man. "Do you know him?"

"20 years ago, there was such a guest on sky island. He said that he was a pirate of the Blue Sea. Can he be the same person who carved that message?"

"It can't be a coincidence…" Aurora said.

"So that means the pirate king… already found the text 20 years ago. Those carvings are the proof…" Robin hummed. "Come to think of it, there are two types of poneglyph stone. Stones with information and stones that show the locations of the others. This tone… is a stone with information. Hm… We came here, found the text, and followed its guidance. Followed its guidance…" Robin froze. "…Can it be… that the "true" historical text is actually...!"

"…"

"Chief of Shandora, this piece of historical text… has already served its purpose."

The man wasn't sure what she meant. "…Served its purpose?"

"Yes. There are several poneglyphs that hold information scattered throughout the world. I'm sure that by connecting them and reading them they'll become a document that fills in the "blank history" for the first time. Connecting them will complete a text, the real poneglyph, which doesn't yet exist. I'm certain that the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had delivered this document to its destination."

"In other words, we… no longer…" The Chief began to cry. "We no longer… need to… fight…? So… the wishes of our ancestors… have long been fulfilled…?!" He fell to his knees.

"Chief!"

"That is correct…" Robin smiled softly. 'This also means that I must follow the guidance given by the poneglyphs I have read so far… to the ending point of the Grand Line… to Raftel!"

"Miss History expert… I heard that your party also desires gold. Since in the Blue Sea, gold is more valuable than land… I cannot give you the bell itself, but how about this broken pillar…?" the Chief offered.

"Yeah! That is a great idea, Chief!"

"Take that as a symbol of our gratitude!"

"Really?" Robin couldn't believe her ears. "Everyone will be thrilled!"

"Ok! Let's carry this to the Blue Sea people's ship!"

"This is a thank you present for defeating Eneru!"

"Push hard, everyone! It's heavy!"

"To the savior of this country!"

"I think it's better to wrap it up in cloth!"

"That's still not feasible…"

Aurora shook her head in amusement. 'If only they knew how much gold they've already collected…'

"Miss…" Gan Fall addressed Robin. "That boy wearing the straw hat… he remind me of Roger. Are they related? Or are my senses getting dull with age?"

"His name is Monkey D. Luffy. I think he is an interesting person."

"D…" Gan Fall seemed to know something they did not. "I see. They have the same initial… is that why they are so similar…? Hahahaha…"

"Perhaps…" Robin drolled. "Or perhaps the connection between them is another "lost history"…"

"So… we may never know." Aurora smirked.

"Perhaps…" Robin turned to leave. "Come along, Miss Angel. The others are likely waiting."

Aurora hopped down from the fallen tree trunk. "About that…" She sidled up next to the woman. "Robin… I have a favor to ask you…"

"Robin and Aurora are so slow…"

"This place is deserted! Where are the raiders and the angels?" Luffy couldn't find anyone.

"It's better this way because we don't have to worry about getting caught."

"Yeah! We won't be able to run fast carrying all this gold!"

"Nami and Conis are already waiting for us on the ship, by the way."

Zoro got ready to move. "Hey, let's go back to the ship now and leave without those two!"

"You bastard! We can't do that!" Usopp got in the swordsman's face.

"No way in hell I'm leaving Nico behind!" Kai declared.

"Stupid!" Luffy chimed in.

"Green-hair bastard!" Sanji was next.

"Bastard green-hair!" Chopper mimicked the cook.

Zoro launched himself at the five. "I'll teach you not to cuss at me!"

"Stupid!" Luffy chorused, grin on his face as he joined the fighting.

"When you get lost after taking 3 steps into a jungle, how would you like it if we don't wait for you?!" Sanji retorted, fists flying solely at the swordsman.

"You all are idiots!" Kai sneered, flying from out of the middle of the fight.

Usopp popped up from his spot on the ground. "Hey! I see Robin!"

"Hey! Robin! Hurry up!" Luffy called. "We stole their gold! We need to hurry up and leave!"

"Dimwit! Why did you blurt it out! Don't you see all those people behind her?!" Sanji pointed.

"Told you we should've left without her." Zoro griped. It was then the swordsman noticed someone was missing. More specifically, a certain berry-haired angel. "Hey! Where's Aurora?"

"She went on ahead to the ship!" Robin called back.

Kai frowned, his powers tingling. The archeologist's words had been tinged with darkness. That only meant one thing… she was lying. 'So… where did her holiness get to then?'

"This isn't good! They have a huge cannon with them!" Usopp wailed.

Chopper's eyes popped out of his head. "Iyaaaah! So many people and a huge cannon!"

Luffy flashed his sack of gold. "Let's go back to the ship! We can't stay here much longer! Look at all of these! We're super rich now! This sack is filled with treasure!"

Kai punched the boy. "Would you pipe down?! We're trying to take the gold without them knowing!"

"Hm? Hey. Hey. It seems that they are leaving already!"

"Hey, wait! Wait! Stop right there!"

"Shit!" Sanji cursed. "We've been found out!"

"Run away!" Luffy shouted, making way towards where their ship was.

"In my case, that means "fly away"!" Kai spread his wings, taking off into the forest and leaving the others in the dust.

"Hey! All of you, wait!"

"Wait, you say?! Are you trying to command us?" Usopp yelled back.

"Yeah! Tell them who we are, Usopp!" Luffy cheered the sniper on.

"We took a gamble with our lives to reach sky island… we fought hard to find this Golden City… so we won't leave empty-handed! We will take all this gold as our loot!"

"Robin!" Sanji called to the woman. "Hurry up! Don't get caught by them!"

"Caught by them? But we're just trying to give them our thank you gift…"

"Hey! Don't you want this gold as a gift from us?!"

Robin glanced back at the men. "Hahaha… it seems that they don't want it anymore."

"EEH?! BUT WHY?!"

The archeologist giggled, sprinting after her crewmates.

"RUN AWAY~~~~~~~!" Luffy continued to crow.

"PLEASE WAIT!"

Aurora flew down from above, the angel having been hiding amongst the clouds. She watched her friends disappear further into the distance. It pained her not to say goodbye… but this was for the best. She was needed here.

"Heeeeh…?! Why did they just leave the island like that?"

"Yeah… we didn't even have the chance to present our gift…"

"I wonder why…" the Chief was just as perplexed. "Don't they know how grateful we are for their help…?"

"Pieh!"

"I guess I will never understand the minds of those youths…" Gan Fall murmured.

Aurora smiled softly. "I do… but that's a story for another time. Now…" she turned to the two old men. "I believe we had some business to take care of."

The Chief nodded. "The girl is right. With Eneru gone, Skypiea needs new leadership. Gan Fall?"

"I am the Knight of the Sky… I am bothing but a neutral henchman…" he turned to the other man. "Chief of Shandora, I believe that you are more suited to lead. After all, your people were the ruler of this land before the war."

"Nonsense… such ideas are only suited for the time of war… beacasue the land does not "belong" to anyone. The warriors of Shandora are mere guardians of the land, not rulers." He faced Gan Fall. "But you… you were the "God." For the country, Skypiea, and the city, Shandora… only you deserve to rule them. You were the only one more concerned about the well-being of this land… than the outcome of the war."

"That's not entirely true." Aurora interjected. "I was just as concerned for the land and its people. And anyone with half a brain knows Gan Fall was preparing me to take over the role of "God." Perhaps it's time we let him retire… and I take his place. I know I'm young, but… Gan Fall taught me everything I need to know. This would be a good way to start anew."

"No!" Gan Fall rebuffed her offer. "After everything you've been through… we could not possibly ask that. It is a heavy burden to bare for one so young."

"But-!"

"Gan Fall is right." The Chief agreed. "Wyper told us of the tragedy that befell you, young Aurora. We do not wish to put you in such a position of power, given the bad memories it may bring. You deserve to enjoy your life… without having to concern yourself with the well being of others. You deserve to be selfish for once."

Her eyes softened. "Chief…"

He turned his attention back to Gan Fall. "You chose to passively protect this country by becoming the "Knight of the Sky," but now… please become God once again. Actively and directly bring hope to this wounded country."

"We feel the same way, Gan Fall!"

"If it's you, we dig it!"

"Yeah!"

"Gan Fall!"

"Please come back to us!"

"God!"

The old man heaved a sigh. "It seems that I will not be returning to my garden of pumpkins anytime soon…"

White Sea, Skypiea Lower Level…

"Gold! Gold! Gold! We got gold!"

"We're rich!" Luffy crowed. "What should we buy? How about a giant statue? A super awesome one…"

"Idiot!" Usopp chided. "That's a waste. We should buy cannons!"

"Nami~~~!" Sanji swooned. "May I buy a refrigerator that has locks on it? Please?"

"Oh! Me too! Me too! I want to buy something too!" Chopper chimed. "I want some medical books."

"I want rum." Zoro threw in.

"I can get with that!" Kai agreed with the swordsman.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Quiet down…" Nami pinched Chopper's cheeks. "We will talk about our spending after we are back in Blue Seas. Though nobody is going to waste my money on trash. Okay?!"

"I want books…"

"Everyone, please look to the front!" Conis called from the waver. "We are almost at the exit."

"I can see it already." Pagaya added.

"The Cloud's End… so we are getting down from there, eh?"

Luffy draped himself across the figurehead despondently. "Awww… we are leaving already?"

"Yeah. I am feeling… a little bit nostalgic already." Sanji said.

"Yes. Time to say goodbye to this White Sea…" Zoro murmured.

"Sky Island was fun, but it was kind of scary…" Chopper admitted.

"Yeah!" Usopp agreed. "Aurora, how did you manage to live in a place like this?" The sniper turned when he got no response. "Aurora? Where is she?"

"Huh?" Nami looked around the deck. "Did she go down below?"

Zoro eyed the navigator strangely. "How could you not know? She got back here before we did."

Nami shook her head. "No, she didn't! I thought she came onboard with you guys!"

"No, Robin said-" Usopp cut himself off, head whipping in the archeologist's direction. Everyone else followed his example.

The woman merely blinked. "Miss Angel knew if you found out the truth, it'd be harder for you to leave."

"WHAT TRUTH?!"

Kai caught on quickly. "She's staying… isn't she?"

The crew turned to him. "WHAT?!"

Robin nodded. "Yes. She feels obligated to stay here and help her people rebuild. She was sorry she didn't say goodbye… but it would've made it that much harder for her to let us go."

Luffy caught sight of the approaching tunnel. "Wait! Turn the ship around! We have to go back!"

"We can't!" Nami told him. "It's too late! We're almost at the end!"

"Don't just stand there like an idiot!" Sanji got in Kai's face. "Fly back there and get her!"

"Oh, hell no! I'm not forcing her to do something she doesn't want to! I'd like to live a little bit longer, thank you very much!"

"Aurora, come back!" Usopp and Chopper wailed, the two boys hanging over the ship's railing.

Zoro growled. "Would you all cut it out?! If she wants to stay here, let her! We don't need her!" The words tasted like ash in his mouth.

Sanji got in his face. "What did you say, you shitty swordsman?!"

"AURORA!" Luffy yelled at the top of his lungs. "COME BACK!"

Conis watched the scene sadly. "I'm so sorry! We wanted to tell you, but we made a promise!"

"It's not your fault, Conis~~~!" Sanji fawned.

Kai punched the cook. "Knock it off!"

Damn you, Aurora!" Nami cursed. "How can you just leave without saying anything?!"

Pagaya saw they were already entering the tunnel. "Excuse me! You must put away your sail immediately!"

"No! We have to go back!" Luffy wasn't ready to give up on Aurora.

Usopp wiped away his tears, realizing they had to accept the inevitable. The true angel wasn't coming. "Hey! Everyone do as the man said! We may fly down really fast!"

Zoro moved into action. "Ok!"

"Move all the gold inside the cabin!"

"Choh~~~! Choh~~! Choh~~!"

"Huh?"

"Cho-guh!" Something barreled through the air, crash landing atop Luffy.

"Wh… What the hell?" Usopp could only gape.

"He's saying, "Don't forget me here…"" Chopper translated for the south bird.

"Choh Choh!"

Nami sweatdropped. "Oh yeah… we took him along with us on our way up…" She glanced at her log pose. "Alright Captain, it looks like the post has locked on to the next island…"

Luffy temporarily shoved down his sorrow, excitement rising with the prospect of a new journey. "Okay. This is the start of a brand new adventure! Alright, crew… let's… GO BACK TO BLUE SEAS!"

"YEAH!"

"Everyone, be careful!" Conis called. "You are going to start falling soon!"

"Did she say, "fall?""

At that exact moment, the Going Merry reached the end of the White Sea, the vessel shooting out into mid-air. Everyone froze, their bodies becoming airborne as the ship began to fall.

Conis and Pagaya waved. "Good luck!"

All that could be heard was the sound of their screams.

Conis pulled out a small whistle. "Here goes… the Sky Island Special… Balloon Octopus Whistle!" She blew.

A large octopus abruptly burst from the clouds, latching onto the ship.

"Oh my god! Giant octopus!"

Zoro began to draw his swords. "A monster?!"

The crew was suddenly slammed to the deck, the Merry no longer falling.

"Hm…?" Luffy looked up. "Ah… Look! Look! This is so cool!"

"Eh?!"

"It's an "Octopalloon!""

"We slowed down quite a bit…"

"Wow! This is so fun!"

"What the hell?"

"I… was sure that we were goners, too…"

"Mm?" Kai turned, catching a sound on the wind. "Do you hear that?"

The others listened closely. Smiles stretched across their faces at the familiar sound.

"Ring it!"

"Send the song all the way to the savior of our country!"

"Hope that they safely return to Blue Seas!"

"Luffy!" Aisa shouted. "Come back soon!"

"Come back soon!"

"Thank you!"

Aurora smiled sadly, tears streaming down her face. "Yes… please come back… someday…"

Everytime I look at the sky… I think of that "fairy-land"… hiding in the clouds. 10,000 meters above the ground… the beautiful song of the bell resonates endlessly… it rings today. It will ring for the days to come. That golden bell of that lost land will forever sing of…

"Wooohooo~~~! This is so fun!"

"Ah… I feel so happy!"

The pride… of its people…

Jaya, Grand Line, Blue Sea…

"We are stopping?"

"Yes, we are." Cricket replied. "There is no doubt that the Golden City is up in the sky. It is foolish to search for it under the sea."

"Boss…"

"Boss…"

"I appreciated the assistance that you guys lend me all this time. Thank you for giving your youth for the dream of an old man like me…"

"Boss… don't say that…!" the brothers cried.

Cricker snapped the book containing the tale of Noland shut. "Hey kids… for our next dream… what will it be?"

"Oh!"

"Yeah!"

"We'll stay behind you all the way, boss!"

Skypiea, City of Shandora…

"AURORA!"

The call echoed throughout the ruins of the ancient city, the owner of the voice fruitlessly searching for said angel. Rose had been at this for hours, morning having turned to mid-day. Her daughter had disappeared shortly after the ringing of the bell that was meant as a goodbye to her friends. The Skypiean had asked countless others if they'd seen the girl, but none had.

Where was she?

"AURORA!"

"Pieh!"

Rose jumped back when Pierre landed in front of her, Gan Fall riding atop his trusty companion. "Gan Fall! Did you find her?"

The newly reinstated God nodded. "Yes. Hop on. I will take you to her."

Rose did as instructed, Pierre taking to the skies once more. The group traveled further into the city, far beyond where the other residents had set up camp. It was no wonder Rose hadn't found her daughter. Searching this far by foot would've taken ages.

The Skypiean peered out from behind Gan Fall, eyes landing on a large figure several feet ahead. It was the snake guardian of Shandora… and it wasn't alone. The closer they got, the more Rose could make out another figure. Situated atop one of the taller buildings in the ruins was Aurora. She sat with her legs hanging over the edge, the snake's head propped in her lap while she pet it. The scene was somewhat comical, given how easily the reptile's head dwarfed the angel herself. But Aurora didn't seem to mind. She absentmindedly ran her hand over the creature's scaly hide, eyes glazed in thought.

"Aurora!"

Life came back to the angel's eyes, head whipping towards the sound of her mother's voice. "What?"

Pierre landed on the rooftop, Gan Fall and Rose sliding off his back. Aurora gently nudged her companion off, the snake slithering away to sleep elsewhere. Rose dashed towards her daughter, tugging her into her arms. "I was so worried! You've been missing for hours!"

"Have I?" Aurora gazed at the sun high up in the sky. "I guess so…"

"Dear…" Rose gently cupped her daughter's face. "What's wrong?

"Nothing! I just… wanted some time to myself, that's all…"

Rose pursed her lips. "I know we haven't seen each other in years, but I can still tell when you're lying to me."

"What?" Aurora began to laugh nervously. "I'm not-"

"Sweetheart… it's written all over your face. Tell me what's wrong. Is it your friends?"

"…I just miss them." The angel admitted.

Rose sighed, fond smile dotting her lips. "I wondered. Sweetheart… if you miss them so much, why don't you just go and rejoin them?"

Aurora pulled away from her mother. "I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Because… I'm needed here! I only left Skypiea because of Eneru, and now he's gone! I want to stay and help rebuild. I want to help make Skypiea a better place. I… I want to stay with you. This is my home. It's where I belong."

"Not anymore." Gan Fall chose that moment to speak. The God stepped forward. "Perhaps this was your home once, but you managed to find a new one… with them."

"But…"

"Sweetheart…" Rose gently turned her daughter's face back towards her. "Gan Fall's right. I saw the way you interacted with those Blue Sea people. Anyone with eyes could see how much you care about them, and how much they care about you in return." The berry-haired woman took the angel's hands in her own. "Aurora… all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. And being with that group of pirates is the happiest I've ever seen you! You should go to them."

"Mom…" Tears began to fall from the girl's eyes.

"I know some part of you feels obligated to stay here and help… but we don't need it." Gan Fall told her.

"What?! But-"

"Skypiea hasn't been your responsibility for a long time." Rose spoke gently. "It was never really your responsibility to begin with."

"But… Gan Fall was training me… so I could take over…"

"Yes, that is true." The old man admitted. "But I see now I was being selfish. You are a true angel, Aurora. You don't belong in one place. You are meant to be out in the world, making it a better place. That's why angels were created. And there's no better place for you to do that than with that group of pirates."

Aurora didn't know what to say.

"Besides…" Rose chimed in. "Being a pirate is in your blood!"

The angel's head whipped around so fast, she was surprised she didn't snap her neck. "What?!"

Rose held back a laugh. "It's true. Akihiko, your father… he was a pirate."

Aurora's eyes softened at the mention of her late father. "You never told me that. Actually… you never told me much of anything about dad."

"I know… and I'm sorry. Just thinking about him was painful. I loved your father so much… and when I lost him…" Rose trailed off. "I'm sorry I never said anything. When I finally worked up the courage, I just… I didn't know where to start."

"It's okay. I could tell it was a sensitive topic. Angel powers, remember?"

"Still…"

Aurora suddenly smirked. "So… I'm the daughter of a pirate? I just got 10 times more interesting."

Rose barked out a laugh. "Sweetheart! Being an angel already made you interesting enough!"

"Not to mention, that said angel ended up becoming a pirate herself." Gan Fall quipped. "That was surely not what the Gods intended when they blessed you with your powers."

Aurora shrugged. "What can I say? It's in my blood."

"Which is why you need to go." Rose quickly changed the subject. "You were meant to live a life out on the open seas, not stuck up here in the skies. You are bigger than Skypiea, Aurora. You have so much to offer the world. It's… it's time to let go. For you… and for me."

"Mom…"

"Your mother is right." Gan Fall agreed. "Though you will be missed terribly... by both of us… your place is beyond this land."

The angel glanced between the two. "You're sure?"

"Positive." Rose nodded. "It's time for you to go."

"But before you do…" Gan Fall turned on his heel, walking back over to Pierre. It was then that Aurora noticed something strapped to the bird's side. The object was covered with a cloth, so the angel was unable to see what it was. The God walked back over, holding the object out to the girl.

Aurora had to admit her curiousity was peaked. She removed the cloth, eyes widening at the sight before her. "This is…!"

"Eneru's staff." The God finished. "It was fished out of the White-White Sea after his fall."

"Wh… Why would you give me this?! After everything he did to me…!"

"I wanted it to serve as a reminder."

Aurora was beginning to see red. "A reminder?!"

"Not in the way you think, sweetheart!" Rose attempted to placate her daughter.

"I want you to take his staff… as a reminder of how strong you are."

Aurora began to deflate at those words. "Wait… what?"

"All of Skypiea now knows how much you endured at his hands. The torture you suffered." Tears began to well in the old man's eyes. "Despite it all, you survived. You never gave up. You willingly put yourself in harm's way to protect others. Aurora… you are stronger than most of us could ever hope to be." He brandished the staff. "That's why I want you to take this. So you may remember all you did for Skypiea. Take this staff… make it your own… use it for good."

The angel hesitated, remembering all the harm that staff had inflicted upon her. But… it wasn't the staff that had done the damage. It had been the person wielding it. The staff had been used for evil, but now… she could change that. Aurora closed a hand around the golden object, the metal cool against her skin. She lifted it, propping one end against the rooftop. The staff was lighter than she was expecting considering its height. Eneru had been much taller than the average human and his staff clearly reflected that. The opposing end easily towered over her head. But… something about wielding it… just felt… right.

Aurora smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome… now go. You're needed elsewhere."

The angel released her wings, turning and preparing to take off. She paused though, realizing there was one last thing she needed to do. Aurora pivoted on her heel, throwing her arms around Gan Fall in one final embrace.

The God was momentarily stunned by the action.

Aurora held tight, ignoring the bite of his armor digging into her skin. "Thank you… for everything." She released the man, turning to her mother. She embraced the older woman. "I'm sorry… sorry we didn't have more time."

"Me too." Rose hugged the girl tightly. "But this is for the best." She pulled back, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I'm so proud of who you've become. Take care, dear. I love you… always."

The angel fought back tears. "I love you too."

Stepping from the warm embrace of her mother's arms, Aurora spread her wings and took flight. She dared not look back, for she knew it would make her goodbye that much harder. She only looked forward… to Cloud's End.

It was time to rejoin her friends.

"Oi, what's with you people?" Kai grumbled, the melancholy atmosphere getting on his nerves. "It's been hours already. You're still not over her holiness leaving?"

Nami, Sanji, Usopp and Chopper glanced at the fallen angel with tears in their eyes. "We miss her…!"

Kai rubbed a hand over his face at their moans. "Oh, for the love of…"

Zoro cracked an eye open, the swordsman having been attempting to take a nap. "This is like Vivi all over again. Just suck it up! Aurora made her choice. We need to respect that."

"Bastard!" Nami growled. "How can you not care?!"

"I never said I didn't care! There's just no point in dwelling on it!"

"That's just as bad!" Sanji had risen at this point, kicking the swordsman upside the head.

He reacted accordingly. "You wanna go?!"

"Bring it!"

The two men began to scuffle, Nami not even trying to intervene. She was still too upset over Aurora. She merely stayed draped over the deck's upper railing, Usopp and Chopper right alongside her. They began to moan once more. "We miss her…!"

Kai growled in frustration, plopping down on the steps next to Robin. "I give up! Your turn, Nico."

The woman eyed the rest of the crew. "I think it's best to just give them time. The pain will go away eventually."

"Not soon enough!"

Up on the ship's figurehead, Luffy remained unaware of what was happening behind him. The boy lay despondently on Merry's head, for once not enjoying his usual seat. How could he? He'd just lost a crewmate. Aurora had been there since the beginning. She'd been one of the first people he'd recruited. They'd gone on so many adventures together. They'd had each other's back through thick and thin. And now… she was gone. She left without a word.

A lone white feather drifted through the air, landing delicately upon Luffy's nose. He scrunched up his face, blowing the offending plume away. Mere seconds later, another one took its place. Luffy grabbed the feather, twisting his head skyward to find where it had come from. What he saw made him grin widely.

Kai's brow furrowed when the boy suddenly popped up, stretching his arm towards the skies. "Uh… what's Straw Hat doing?"

The fallen angel's question got the rest of the crew's attention, their gazes all landing on their captain. Luffy had begun to laugh merrily, outstretched arm going taut as if he had grabbed something. He began to reel the appendage back in, grin growing so wide it appeared as if his face would split.

Nami frowned. "What's got him in such a good mood all of a sudden? Thought he was upset about Aurora."

"Yeah." Usopp wondered the same thing. "Hey, Luffy! What the hell are you so happy about?! We just lost Aurora! You should be sad!"

"Why would I be sad when she's right here?!"

Zoro sweatdropped. "Oh, great. He's lost it."

Robin took note of the peculiar expression on her companion's face. "Kai? What is it?"

The fallen angel's eyes slowly began to widen at the presence of a familiar aura. "You gotta be shittin' me…"

His odd remark had the others turning to look at him. At that exact moment, Luffy let out a triumphant laugh, drawing the crew's attention back in his direction. What happened next appeared as if it was in slow motion. The end of Luffy's arm came into view, a pale hand clasped in his. An arm followed the hand, the appendage attached to a female's body. Attached to said body was a very familiar pair of white wings and a face they recognized all too well.

Aurora came face to face with her captain, the angel smiling softly in response to his excited grin. The rest of the crew gaped, unable to belive their eyes. And then… the spell was broken.

The force from Luffy reeling her in caused the angel to crash directly into the boy. He wrapped his rubbery body around her, the two pirates going rolling across the deck. Zoro and Sanji, who'd ceased their fighting, were unable to dodge and got tangled up with the pair. The foursome came to an abrupt stop when they crashed into the mast, the boys having taken the brunt of the blow. The cook and swordsman laid off to either side in a daze. The Straw Hat captain and angel were propped up against the mast.

Luffy cackled merrily, his every limb twined around Aurora's body in a bone-crushing hug. The true angel couldn't help but join in, the boy's laughter infectious. He drew her closer. "You came back!"

Aurora attempted to stifle her giggles so she could respond, but the moment was interrupted. Luffy was ripped off of her, Sanji helping the angel to stand. "That's not how you treat a lady!" The cook turned to her with hearts in his eye. "My angel! You've returned!" He went to hug her but was abruptly shoved away.

Zoro glared at the blonde. "Jeez, give her some room to breathe!" The swordsman turned to her. "So… you changed your mind."

Aurora smiled, sensing the hidden meaning behind his words. She draped her arms around the swordsman's shoulders, burying her face in his neck. "It's good to see you too, Zoro."

The green-haired teen had gone stiff in her hold, not used to such affection. He could feel his face burning in response. His stomach churned. He became very aware of how her body fitted against his. Why did he only react like this when it came to the angel? What the hell was wrong with him?!

The swordsman didn't have to suffer for much longer. He was unceremoniously shoved to the ground, a trio of individuals taking his place. Nami, Usopp and Chopper clung to the girl, wailing loudly in her ear.

"Aurora!"

"You came back!"

"We missed you!"

The angel tried to wrap her arms around the three. "There, there. It's okay. No need to be upset."

Nami glared through her tears. "No need to be upset?! You left without a word! We thought we'd never see you again!"

"Yeah!" Chopper agreed, the reindeer burying his face in her neck as he blubbered loudly.

"How could you do that to us?!" Usopp caterwauled. "You're so cruel!"

"I'm sorry!" Aurora apologized. "I thought I was doing the right thing by staying, but I realized I was wrong. My place is here with all of you. This is where I'm meant to be."

Nami sniffled. "So you're staying? You won't try to leave us again?"

"No."

"Good!" the navigator declared. "Because if you pull a stunt like that again, I'll drag you back to the ship by your h-h-hair!" She broke down at the end of her threat, burying her fact in the angel's chest.

Aurora squeaked when Luffy jumped on her back, wrapping his limbs around the four. He laughed joyfully. "Aurora's staying!"

"Luffy! Too much weight! Gah!" The angel tipped over, taking the others with her. They landed in a heap on the deck, groaning in pain from the fall.

Luffy burst out laughing once more, hardly fazed by his landing. The others soon joined in, happiness descending upon the Going Merry once more.

Kai rolled his eyes, smirking in amusement. "What a bunch of crazy idiots."

Robin mirrored his expression. "Perhaps…"

The Straw Hat pirates were whole once more.