The two men embraced for a long while before parting.
Looking at Wiper, Cricket said solemnly:
"I can vouch for Lord Buggy. He has not deceived you. I would even stake my life on it."
Cricket knew well—Buggy had no reason to lie. His ambitions stretched far beyond this small sky island. If Buggy had said it, it was true. Cricket was willing to risk his life to guarantee it.
Hearing such words, Wiper's last trace of doubt vanished.
Once, the Great Warrior Kalgara had trusted Montblanc Noland. Now, he too would trust Noland's descendant. The hero's bloodline would never stake its honor on lies.
Resolved, Wiper strode up to Buggy and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for granting us the return to Apayado. On behalf of the Shandians, I offer our gratitude. I swear—we Shandians will never disrupt the order of Skypiea. We will safeguard this land with our lives. Should enemies invade, we will stand and defend our home. And should you have other commands, we will do our utmost to fulfill them."
It was a vow not only of loyalty but of belonging. To live in Apayado again was enough to make their people whole. That they would also share responsibility and voice in Skypiea's rule was more than they had dared hope.
Buggy smiled.
"Good. Welcome home."
Those words sealed it—the Shandians would return.
Wiper immediately called the chieftain with a den-den mushi, reporting all that had happened. He emphasized most of all Cricket's identity as Noland's descendant, and his pledge to stake his life as proof.
Upon hearing this, the Shandian chief trembled with emotion. The descendant of Noland, the great hero, had come to Skypiea! And he had pledged his very life. There could be no doubt. The chief gathered his people at once and announced:
"Our warriors' vow has been honored. The descendants of Noland and Kalgara are reunited. From this day forth, we will return to Apayado!"
The Shandians erupted with joy. Their ancestors' dream, pursued for four centuries, was at last realized in their generation. Tears and laughter filled the air as they packed their belongings, eager to set foot again in the sacred land of their forefathers.
Meanwhile, in the Golden City, Buggy brought Enel, Wiper, and Cricket to the base of the Golden Bell.
"Today," Buggy declared, "we will ring this bell together."
He had chosen carefully.
Enel would represent the Skypiean people.
Wiper represented the Shandians, whose destiny was tied to this land.
Cricket, Noland's descendant, would strike the bell to finally complete the story of Noland and Kalgara.
With Shiryu, the Four Priests, and the crew as witnesses, the four men pulled the great mallet and struck the bell.
DOOOOONG—
The Golden Bell's majestic toll resounded across Skypiea. Its voice rolled over forests and clouds, and down to the seas below.
Far away, the giant serpent let out a keening cry, tears streaming down its eyes as memories stirred deep within.
To the Skypiean commoners, the sound was strange, a curiosity, nothing more.
But to the Shandians, the bell's song was salvation. Their faces lit with joy. Many wept openly, knowing that this was the sign—the promise of home had come true.
In the Shandian village, the chief listened, tears falling freely.
"Four hundred years of silence… and at last, it rings again. Kalgara, can you hear it? The Light of Shandora tolls once more."
Even on the seas below, on Jaya Island, the sound reached faintly to those below. Cricket's men looked up, startled. Some suspected their leader had at last found the fabled City of Gold. The rest were baffled, dismissing it as nothing more than odd thunder.
That very day, the Shandians returned to Apayado, their sacred homeland, and settled there in peace.
Buggy's crew did not depart immediately. Though Enel had been subdued and the Shandians won over, the island still required order. Buggy remained to stabilize things, reform laws, and ensure lasting peace.
The old laws of "God" were abolished. Skypiea would have no god, nor would Buggy or his men pose as one. With the Four Priests, the Shandians, and Buggy's guidance, a new, fair system of laws was created.
In time, under Buggy's authorization, the Sky Council was formed:
The Four Priests representing the Skypieans.
The Chieftain and Wiper representing the Shandians.
Both sides held equal power, managing Skypiea together. Major decisions would be settled by debate or vote. If deadlocked, Buggy's authority would serve as the final word.
During this time, Enel also handed Buggy the blueprints for the Ark Maxim, which he had once coveted.
Buggy studied the design with satisfaction. He already knew where his journey would lead next. The Glory, his great ship, would be upgraded—rebuilt to fly through the skies. With it, the seas above and below would be within his grasp.
For two months, Buggy and his crew remained on Skypiea, ensuring the new order was stable. Only once balance had taken root did they prepare to depart, with Enel now among their ranks, setting their sights on their next great voyage.