Firmament slowly descended before Luffy and Sabo. The enormous dragon head gently nuzzled Luffy's cheek, its eyes brimming with tears of gratitude and apology.
"I'm sorry..." Firmament whispered in the ancient dragon tongue. "I nearly hurt everyone..."
Luffy reached out and stroked Firmament's scales, smiling warmly. "It's okay. Everyone knows that wasn't the real you. Everything's all right now."
Firmament gently lowered its massive head close to Luffy, tears in its eyes sparkling like diamonds. In an ancient, deep dragon tongue, it whispered, "Brave boy, thank you for saving my soul. I nearly became a sinner who destroyed what I was meant to protect..."
Luffy stroked Firmament's smooth silver-white scales and smiled warmly. "Everyone knows that wasn't the real you. What matters is that you've come back now."
Sabo watched the heartwarming scene, and warmth rose within him as well. His dark experience in the Void Dimension had made him deeply understand the pain of being twisted, and seeing Firmament regain its freedom felt like witnessing his own redemption.
Thunderous cheers came from the distance. Gan Fall rode over at full gallop on his warhorse, followed by every Skypiean and Shandia warrior who could still move. When they saw Firmament's scales restored to their original silver-white and its eyes clear blue once more, many were moved to tears.
"Firmament! My old friend!" Gan Fall leaped down from his horse and spread his arms around the dragon's head. "I knew you were still in there. I knew the real you would never leave us!"
An elderly Shandia warrior trembled as he fell to his knees. "Guardian god... our guardian god has returned... For four hundred years, you have protected us. Even in the darkest hour, you never truly left..."
The children of Skypiea gathered around Firmament, their little hands stroking its