The Golden Bell

Today was destined to be anything but peaceful on Sky Island. The island's residents were all very interested in the decrees issued by their new "God" today.

Although many of the systems were things they had never heard of, overall, they were policies that benefited the people.

For a time, they wondered whether they were dreaming. If it was a dream, they hoped they would never wake up.

But many others felt that "God" had merely said those things offhand and surely had some ulterior purpose.

In private, countless Sky Island residents were heatedly discussing the decrees and plans "God" had announced today, and had formed many different opinions of this new God.

After everyone else left.

Lott looked at Wyper before him and said, "I know Upper Yard is your ancestral land. Many of you must be unhappy about my opening it up."

Hearing Lott's words, Wyper lowered his head. That was clearly what he was thinking.

"But you've been fighting over it all these years and have sacrificed a great deal. Upper Yard is huge, big enough for all of you to live on."

"I'll also bring more islands up here to expand Sky Island's territory. When that happens, everyone will have more choices."

At this point, the chief spoke. "Understood, God. We know what to do."

In truth, all these years of war had already left them utterly exhausted, and they had never intended to make Upper Yard their private property.

They were simply a little unwilling to accept it, unwilling to share their ancestral land with those angels.

Of course, Lott understood what the Shandians were thinking. Prejudice in people's hearts was a mountain that could not be moved, no matter what one did.

He could only let time dissolve the divide between the two peoples.

Then he dropped another bombshell. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to Shandora!"

"What?! Shandora? You mean that Shandora?" Wyper's eyes widened, unable to believe what Lott had said.

The chief was also somewhat stunned.

Lott nodded. "The very Shandora you're thinking of. The city of gold, once the most prosperous city."

"What!?"

Even Enel, standing nearby, wore a look of disbelief. He had searched for Shandora too, but had found no clues all these years.

Early the next morning.

"Was God serious when he said he'd take us to Shandora today?" Wyper looked at Kuro before him. This was already the seventh time he had asked, afraid that he had misheard last night.

Kuro nodded. "Of course he was. We'll wait a little longer, then set off."

To see the Shandora they had yearned for, the Shandian party had already been waiting outside the shrine for a long time.

Yet they had not seen "God" Lott since arriving that morning. Though they felt resentful, none dared say anything. They could only wait quietly where they were.

"Sorry! Sorry for keeping everyone waiting."

Just as the chief could no longer hold back and was about to ask where "God" had gone, "God's" voice came from the distance.

Everyone looked over and saw an enormous golden bell, complete with its base, flying toward the shrine.

Enel was shocked at the sight of the enormous golden bell. "Is that... the Golden Bell?"

The warrior Wyper, the Shandian chief, and Gan Fall were equally dumbstruck.

That was clearly the Golden Bell they had searched so desperately for.

Supporting the Golden Bell, Lott slowly set it down in the shrine's plaza. Its immense weight compressed the Island Cloud a considerable distance.

"I trust this is no stranger to you Shandians?" Lott came to the center of the plaza and addressed the dumbfounded Shandians.

The Shandian chief looked at the Golden Bell, tears streaming down his face. "This... this is the Golden Bell we protected. I'm sorry, great warrior Kalgara. We failed to find it all these years."

Wyper, Laki, and the others also had reddened eyes.

Lott flicked the pebble in his hand at the Golden Bell.

Dong~

A tremendous peal rang out through the clouds.

Far away in their tribal settlement, the Shandians froze for a long moment upon hearing the bell, then all began sobbing uncontrollably.

Some embraced one another, while others collapsed to their knees.

"How many years has it been? Sob..."

"After so many years, the bell is ringing again."

"Th-this... is this the Golden Bell we Shandians protected?"

"What a beautiful sound."

"Is the war finally over?"

On Angel Island, the many angels naturally heard the bell as well. They stopped their work and looked toward the shrine.

"What's that sound? It's so lovely."

"Where is that coming from? What a beautiful sound."

"Is God doing something?"

"Could this be Sky Island's song?"

Jaya Island, in the Blue Sea.

A soaking-wet, chestnut-headed man sat on the shore, wringing out his dripping clothes as he tilted his head up toward the sky.

The chestnut-headed man was named Mont Blanc Cricket, a man with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Though he spoke resentfully of Noland, his actions were truly worthy of admiration.

He dove again and again, trying to find the City of Gold so that the man who had been called a great liar for hundreds of years could finally have his name cleared.

"Th-this is... the Golden Bell? Could the City of Gold I've been searching for have been in the sky all along, rather than on the seabed?"

He listened carefully to the bell, confirming that he was not hearing things.

"Noland, you weren't a liar. You weren't a liar. The City of Gold really exists. It just went up into the sky."

As he spoke, Cricket could no longer contain himself. The grown man covered his face and wept his heart out.

"Boss?"

"Boss!"

Two apes ran over just then.

"Boss, congratulations! The City of Gold really does exist. Your ancestor wasn't a liar."

Cricket said, "At last, my search of so many years has finally come to an end. You won't have to keep diving with me anymore. Thank you for all your hard work over the years."

"Boss, are you trying to send us away?" one of the apes asked.

Cricket looked at his two followers, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. Without these two ape followers keeping him company all these years, he might not have been able to keep going.

"Yes. You have your own lives. I can't selfishly keep you tied to my side like this."

"Go on. Live your own lives. You no longer have to sink into this endless sea with me."

With that, Cricket waved at his two followers.

One of them hurriedly dropped to his knees. "Boss, are you abandoning me?"

For a moment, Cricket was at a loss. "Of course not. I just don't want you to spend your human lives-no! Your ape lives trapped by my side."

The other ape hurriedly knelt as well and said, "Boss, we don't have any family to begin with. After all these years, you've long since become family to us. Please don't send us away!"

Cricket looked at his two brothers, sobbing so hard he could barely speak. "All right, all right! From now on, we're family."