The ascent was long and grueling, but neither of them faltered. Even with the winds growing fierce and the air thinning, Enel soared upward with resolve forged in steel, and Tatsumaki floated beside him, encased in an aura of green psychic energy. It had been hours since they left the Blue Sea, but finally, the familiar cloudscape of the White Sea shimmered into view.
Enel let out a quiet breath as the first floating islands came into sight.
"So this is the Sky Island," Tatsumaki muttered, eyes scanning the world above the world. Even she, with all her power and pride, couldn't hide the awe in her voice. White, fluffy clouds formed the sea, roads of solid sky-puff trailed across the archipelago of floating isles, and strange creatures floated on clouds. It was like nothing she'd ever seen. "You weren't lying after all."
"Of course not," Enel replied, allowing a smirk to curl across his lips. "Welcome to Skypiea."
They landed briefly on a small platform to rest. As Enel stood overlooking the familiar horizon, his mind buzzed with memories—both from this life and the previous. But there was no time to linger in nostalgia. Their goal was simple: find the City of Shandora, recover the gold, and descend with their prize. No distractions.
After regaining their energy, the two took to the skies again. With Tatsumaki's flight abilities and Enel's wings, they zipped between islands at incredible speed. Before long, they found it.
Upper Yard.
Tatsumaki gasped. Below them lay a massive stretch of green—the only patch of fertile land in a world of clouds. Towering trees, lush foliage, and running rivers stood out starkly against the white landscape.
"That... That's dirt," she said, eyes wide.
Enel nodded, his expression calm. "Vearth. Soil from the Blue Sea, launched into the sky centuries ago by the Knock Up Stream. It's sacred here."
She turned to him, eyebrows raised.
"The Skypieans have always valued things from the Blue Sea," Enel explained. "But the most valuable of all is this—soil. Real, fertile soil. It can grow crops and sustain life, unlike most clouds. That's why it became a religious relic."
He gestured to the land below.
"When Upper Yard first arrived here, it caused a war. The Shandians—those who lived there—wanted to reclaim their home. But to the Skypieans, it was a holy gift from the heavens. Dirt was worth more than gold."
Tatsumaki blinked, silent for a moment. Then she chuckled. "I guess it makes sense. People don't always chase what's shiny. They chase what's rare. What they need."
"Exactly," Enel said. "Human nature doesn't just prize intrinsic value. It craves scarcity. Down on Jaya, dirt is worthless. But gold? Priceless. Up here, gold is plentiful—but Vearth is the rarest treasure."
She folded her arms. "Life's weird."
He grinned. "That it is."
Continuing their flight, they finally reached the outskirts of the ancient city—Shandora.
It was still majestic.
The ruins were vast, coated in moss and cloud-dust, but gleaming beneath it all was what they had come for—gold. Gold columns, gold bricks, gold carvings lining the walls and archways. Statues, sun disks, even the stairs were gilded in places. Treasure of an entire civilization, so vast it was used as infrastructure, was resting above the clouds.
Tatsumaki let out a low whistle. "Okay. I take it back. This is the most gold I've ever seen."
Even Enel, who had once seen this place many times before, felt a pang of awe. The sunlight glinted off the treasure, casting long shadows and shimmering reflections over the ruins. It was like staring at a dream.
Disregarding this for a moment, Enel instructed they flew higher, searching for the heart of it all—the Golden Bell.
Nestled atop a skyward spire, the massive bell stood silent, as grand and proud as ever. Symbols from an age long gone were etched into its surface, and ropes of pure gold made into its pillars. It had not been rung for centuries, the ropes of vine testament to that.
Enel flew closer, his heart pounding. He reached out and struck it with a fist of focused lightning.
GOOOONG.
The deep, resonant sound echoed across the White Sea, shaking the clouds and singing across the sky. Birds scattered, waves rippled through the cloud ocean, and down below—on Jaya—people froze.
The sound reached the Blue Sea.
In a small village nestled in the dense forests of Jaya, an old man lifted his head, eyes filling with tears. A descendant of Montblanc Noland, he had grown up with the shame and ridicule of being the heir to a supposed liar. But now, the sound of the bell proved it all. His ancestor had spoken the truth. The City of Gold had existed. And it still did.
On Jaya, people gathered, looking toward the sky. As the resonance shook their hearts, the words of the man they deemed a dullard in a long line of fools resonated their minds even more.
Back in the Sky, Enel turned to Tatsumaki. "The bell rings not just for us. It rings for others—for their ancestors. For those who waited centuries to hear the truth."
Tatsumaki said nothing for a moment. Then, softly, "That was... really something."
Enel smiled. "Now. Can you carry the pillars?"
She examined the massive golden columns that supported the bell. "They're slightly heavy, but I can manage."
"What about the bell itself?" she asked, casting a glance at the masterpiece.
Enel's face grew solemn. "No. The bell is more than just priceless metal. It's a symbol. A monument. It's tied to the history of this place. Even that of Jaya. And there—" he pointed to the side of the bell, "—is this."
She looked closely.
Written in Poneglyph script, beneath a golden inscription, was a message left by none other than Gol D. Roger. She couldn't tell what it said, but she would recognize that name anywhere.
Tatsumaki inhaled slowly. "So you want to leave it."
"Yes," Enel said. "Some things are too important to sell."
She nodded. "Alright. I'll take the pillars. And... I'll place the bell in the center of Shandora. Where everyone can see it."
He looked at her, a touch surprised by her gentleness.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't get sentimental on me. If we leave it here without support, Nika knows where it'll land."
But she flew off without another word, carrying the bell with care.
As they passed over the populated regions of the Sky Islands, the people noticed them.
Gasps erupted, then cheers. Many still remembered Enel. They waved at him and he was still grateful that he was sent back to before the original became a tyrant.
One brave Skypiean flew up on a waver. "Enel-sama! You rang the bell! We—we hadn't done it yet. We've been trying to negotiate peace with the Shandians, but time escaped us!"
Enel nodded, waving back before speaking to them all. "The bell is a promise kept. Not just mine—but your ancestors'. I'm leaving the bell in your care. Protect it. Let it inspire you to live better lives than we once did."
The people bowed in gratefulness as Tatsumaki flew overhead, golden pillars orbiting her like moons.
With their task complete, they descended back toward the outskirts of Skypiea, where a small village welcomed them with open arms. Enel and Tatsumaki ate, drank, and rested under the stars.
Later, as they floated toward their departure point, Tatsumaki glanced sideways.
"You know... for a first day as a pirate, that was a lot."
Enel chuckled. "Yeah. I'd say the same."
They rose once more into the sky, their goals aligning, their bond deepening.
The sky had given them gold.
Now it was time to carve a future from it.