Chapter 283: Departure
Arlia peeked out from behind the tree trunk, carefully observing the two figures below, who were even smaller than her.
Are these the "ill-intentioned humans" the adults talk about? she thought, blinking. They're just as small as the Skypieans...
To Arlia, the legendary humans didn't seem much different from the Skypieans, except they lacked wings on their arms. They were small, almost cute.
As she pondered this, she suddenly smelled something burning. She looked down and realized the two humans were now staring strangely up at her.
"!!"
Startled by being discovered, Arlia quickly ducked back behind the tree. Then she realized why she'd been spotted. The tree she was hiding behind was on fire, crackling merrily.
Back in Shandora, several Lunarians paused their work, looking towards the burning tree at the edge of the forest. After a quick scan with their Observation Haki, they raised their eyebrows.
Arlia saw their looks and glanced at the flames behind her. My fire must have lit the tree...
"..."
She jumped down from the tree, landing in front of the two humans, her curiosity overriding her caution. Now that she was exposed, there was no point in hiding. She puffed out her chest, trying to imitate the adults and look stern.
"Humans! What are you doing here?"
Zoro looked at the figure—taller than him, but with a childish face—and raised an eyebrow. "Just a kid?" He glanced back at the tall figures hauling gold. Same race, different individual.
"How cute," Robin murmured, looking at the little girl with white hair and black wings.
Seeing them silent, Arlia frowned. "Are all humans this rude? Looks like the adults were right. Most humans see us and immediately think of the 100 million Berry reward, reporting us to the World Government." Her brief flicker of positive feeling vanished.
She pouted and started to walk past them towards the ruins.
Just then, panting footsteps approached. Arlia tensed. Ah, waiting for backup?
Several figures appeared.
"Robin-chwan!"
"Mosshead."
A blond man with curly eyebrows, an orange-haired woman, an antlered creature, and a long-nosed man hurried over. They stopped short, staring at the little girl with white hair, black wings, and flames rising behind her.
"Eh? What's with this kid?" the orange-haired woman asked.
The blond man lit a cigarette, glaring at Zoro. "Oi, Mosshead! You didn't kidnap this lovely Lady, did you?!"
"Idiot," Zoro snorted.
"Ah! Look out!" the antlered raccoon-dog screamed, pointing at the flames. "She's on fire!!"
The others finally noticed the flames and rushed forward to help put them out.
But the white-haired girl's eyes turned sharp. The flames behind her intensified, engulfing her entire body. She spread her wide, ink-black wings and rose into the air, looking down at the Straw Hats.
"She's... flying!"
"Must be a Devil Fruit user!"
Ignoring their shocked cries, Arlia flew towards Shandora without a backward glance.
"..." The Straw Hats were left baffled.
Before they could figure out what happened, they noticed the tall figures working with Hajrudin, hauling gold.
"They have the same features as that little girl," Sanji said hesitantly. "Does that mean... they're not Devil Fruit users? And those wings... aren't decorations?" Usopp gaped.
Meanwhile, Arlia landed beside the working Lunarians. "There's a group of people watching us from the forest edge. Is it really okay to let them see us?"
"It doesn't matter. We'll be revealing ourselves to the sea soon anyway," a middle-aged man replied gruffly.
Hajrudin noticed the little girl perched on a pile of gold. "Forest edge? You mean Nico Robin and her group?"
Arlia tilted her head, confused. Hajrudin pointed. "Most of them have connections to the Archangel Pirates. Overall... they're relatively friendly."
"Is that so?" Arlia looked back towards the forest thoughtfully. She knew the Archangel Pirates were Louis's crew. "So... my assumptions were wrong?"
When the others looked back, Arlia had vanished again. They glanced towards the forest once more.
At the edge of the forest.
Arlia landed back in front of the Straw Hats, her hostility gone. "Are you the 'Straw Hat' crew the big guy mentioned?"
On Baal.
Arcordon stood at the edge of the cloud island, using his Observation Haki to survey the island below. More and more children were flying down to explore the forest, but he didn't stop them. They'd never left Baal before. Letting them wander while the adults worked was fine. If they got into trouble, he could reach them instantly.
Just then, Louis landed beside him, folding his snow-white wings.
Arcordon turned, surprised. "You're back already? They only let you stay once every twelve years. Were they willing to let you go so soon?"
"Willing," Louis said after a pause, his expression priceless.
He had just returned home for the first time in twelve years, seen his parents. At first, they were overjoyed, crying tears of happiness. It was a normal family reunion. But after half an hour, they were back to their usual selves, practically glued to each other, subtly hinting about when he might be leaving again.
Arcordon sighed, rubbing his forehead. "They haven't changed a bit..."
"Whatever. At least they haven't given me any younger siblings," Louis said flatly, long used to it.
Arcordon glanced towards the forest, about to say something, but Louis cut him off. "Once the gold is loaded, bring Baal to Terra."
"Fine," Arcordon agreed. "But... what about the Shandians in the forest? I heard them saying the gold is theirs, planning how to take it back..." The discussion hadn't stopped since they arrived. Arcordon didn't want to give up the gold, but he also didn't want conflict.
"Shandians?" Louis frowned. He extended his Haki, locating every Shandian on Upper Yard and in the distant Cloud End village, hearing their angry shouts and frustration.
After a moment, he said, "Bring them to Terra. Make them our people."
With that, Louis spread his wings and vanished.
"Make them our people?" Arcordon repeated, looking down at the forest and the hidden village.
Louis landed lightly on Hajrudin's shoulder back in Shandora. "Let them handle the gold, Hajrudin." He glanced at the pile, which didn't seem much smaller.
"Captain? Are we heading back?"
"Yes." Baal was fine, the tribe was doing well. Louis didn't need to stay. He wanted to get back and push Shiki to start their operation against the World Government.
However, Hajrudin looked around and made an unexpected proposal. "Captain... I want to move this sky island... to Terra." He said it casually, as if discussing moving a pebble.
Louis was internally convinced Hajrudin had gone insane from moving too many islands. He gently reminded him, "Hajrudin, this island is huge. And it's a very long way from Terra..." Even Kaido would take ages to move Upper Yard to the New World. It was a back-breaking task.
But Hajrudin was resolute. He looked up at the sky, clenching his dragon claws. "Captain, I want to challenge myself. My strength and physique aren't improving as quickly anymore. I need a greater trial."
"..." Seeing the determination in his eyes, Louis didn't argue. "Very well. Do as you wish. I'll gather the nearby uninhabited island clouds and give them life. If you falter, they can support the island."
"Thank you," Hajrudin said, bowing his head.
Louis nodded, spread his wings, and flew off. He located the nearby empty clouds and bathed the sky in golden light. The light rained down, merging the clouds, breathing life into them, creating new beings. He gave them the order to assist Hajrudin, then crushed a crystal.
A cross-sea portal opened. After one last look towards Baal, Louis stepped through. Just as the portal closed, the long, resonant chime of a bell echoed through the sky. The Golden Bell... Louis thought. He hadn't seen it. Still, he didn't stop, vanishing completely.
Meanwhile, on Baal.
Arcordon watched a figure fall onto the cloud island, raising an eyebrow. His gaze fixed on the straw hat the boy wore.
Suddenly, the boy sat up, looking around curiously. His eyes landed on Arcordon. He grinned, tipping his hat.
"Whoa! Someone with black wings! First time I've seen that!"
Arcordon stared down at the boy, his expression softening with nostalgia.
The same place.
The same straw hat.
Two similar people.
A faint smile touched Arcordon's lips. "Long time no see... Roger."
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