Nearly four hundred years ago, when Gaya Island was still complete, Shandora had not yet arrived at the Sky Island.
At that time, the North Sea navigator Montblanc Norland, in an attempt to escape a storm, accidentally arrived at Gaya Island, saving the Shandia tribe from the "Tree Heat Disease" and made great contributions to Gaya Island.
He also formed a deep friendship with the great warrior Kalgara of that time.
However, due to the felling of the trees in which the Shandia believed their ancestors' souls resided, a conflict arose between them. By the time Kalgara realized that those trees were the cause of their illness, it was already too late.
Norland's ship had already set sail on the sea.
Kalgara vowed to ring the Golden Grand Clock every day to guide Norland's direction with the sound of the bell.
The Shandia people also forged a dedicated commemorative statue for Norland.
"Because of the sea current, we ended up on the Sky Island. Those Skypieans even took our land. It's been hundreds of years, and we still haven't reclaimed our land, still haven't rung the Golden Bell again..."
The chieftain was still telling the history of the Shandia people, but Yamato's thoughts were elsewhere.
"Norland... Norland... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere.... Where exactly...?"
"It's a North Sea fairy tale, about the great liar Norland. Mother used to read us the storybook."
Maria reminded Yamato, the fairy tale known throughout the North Sea has naturally been found by the Hundred Beasts Pirates, and the children had also heard similar stories.
But this sounded different in the chieftain's ears.
"A great liar? How could Norland be a great liar?"
And when he heard Maria and Yamato briefly summarize the story from the Blue Sea, tears welled up in his eyes.
"Could it be... is this how it is? Because of our ineptitude, we've allowed our benefactor to endure such great injustice...."
...
"Foster Father, should we help them...?"
"Why do that?"
"Because... I feel they are so pitiful, not even able to protect their own home..."
"Yamato, do you understand? Hundreds of years have passed, and those on the Sky Island now also consider it their home. What we're doing would be taking away their home, do you understand that?"
Yamato seemed to have reached a limit in her understanding. Initially, she thought the Shandia people were pitiful, but now things seemed strange again.
"Even for Wano Kuni, we are outsiders too. Even if we can make that country better, we can't cover up that fact. The people might not care, because they can benefit from it.
But for those in power, we are invaders, usurpers, enemies."
"Foster Father... I don't understand..."
"You will understand in the future. Now you must realize that this is a cruel world. Without strength, everything is just empty talk. Only the strong can help the weak as they see fit.
The things you mentioned previously, wanting to help us, require strength. So Yamato, you must learn to become strong, understand?"
Taking this opportunity, he began educating Yamato. She was too naive now, and while she might not remember these words immediately, the seed would gradually influence her.
Before training with Kaidou began, he needed Yamato to develop the desire to become strong on her own accord.
"Understood, I must become strong."
However, in the end, Arceus decided to help the Shandia regain Apayado, but his reasons were not as simple as Yamato's; it wasn't out of seeing them as good people.
Firstly, the Shandia indeed kept something for him for hundreds of years, honoring their promise from long ago, and his recent display of power caused quite a stir, so this was a bit of compensation.
On the other hand, he was interested in the shells of the Sky Island. The various effects of these shells were widely used in daily life and weaponry. With these shells, the primitive Shandia surprisingly DIY-ed themselves handcrafted rocket launchers.
These shells have high strategic value. Helping the Shandia reclaim territory is one aspect; on another, he plans to plant the flag of the Hundred Beasts here.
The flag serves to deter other outsider pirates. Essentially, they wouldn't intervene in the management there, leaving everything to the Shandia to handle themselves, only needing them to supply some shells every period.
Similar to other islands affiliated with Great Pirates, many sovereign states in the New World are structured this way, self-governing while under the protection of other forces.
Already two forces existed there, and he didn't intend to send people in to directly manage, so choosing one good option was the outcome.
Because of these reasons, he chose the Shandia people, but when Mandfeish and the clan chief brought it up, the chieftain refused.
"Why? Grandpa, we're trying to help you."
"Young girl, this is an issue for the Shandia people themselves, you are friends, we can't let friends bleed because of our problems.
Keeping that item was the promise of our ancestors. Your wine, food, and medicines are enough for us, so don't mind about yesterday's matters, after all just a misunderstanding."
He had decided to lead his clan in taking back Apayado after the Hundred Beasts Pirates left, but he didn't want outsiders involved.
"No need to worry about bleeding. If the combat power of the Sky Islanders is at that level, we will have no issue."
At this moment, a Shandia warrior approached the chieftain to quietly relay something, changing his expression again.
For he was told that at the end of the banquet yesterday, the Shandia and the Hundred Beasts had a friendly competition, where Mandfeish single-handedly defeated all the warriors here unarmed.
"What can you gain from this? Do you want the gold of Shandora?"
Though the Shandia haven't advanced much, he didn't believe anyone would fight another's battle for nothing. Gold was the most straightforward thing he could think of, and if he could reclaim Apayado, gold wouldn't matter.
"This is Lord Arceus' intention, as a reward for you upholding the promise of hundreds of years, we desire the shells of Skypiea more than gold.
Thus, after reclaiming Apayado you must gather shells for us each year, and we can bring you necessities while having our flag flown at the Sky Island's entrance."
Mandfeish laid out his terms, which were very easy for the Shandia to fulfill.
"What's the significance of flying the flag?"
"It means here is under our protection. If anyone from the Blue Sea comes to cause trouble, simply contact us, and we will expel those enemies for you. But don't worry, we won't meddle in your internal affairs."
"So, you want to occupy the entire Sky Island?"
Mandfeish had mentioned flying a flag at the entrance of the Sky Island, and the chieftain noticed this issue too.
"You could say that, Apayado will be returned to you, and the Sky Island will be under our control, with you managing it for us."
"Chieftain, don't hesitate, this is the best opportunity to reclaim our homeland. Have you forgotten? Our benefactor has suffered injustice in the Blue Sea for hundreds of years!"
The chieftain was still pondering, but the pro-war faction who had heard the news could not sit still and expressed their willingness to take back their homeland.
To most Shandia, the Skypieans were sworn enemies, so they naturally wouldn't worry about the fate of the Sky Islanders.
Encouraged by his people, the clan chief eventually accepted the Hundred Beasts Pirates' terms, gathering all the adult warriors of the tribe to prepare to reclaim their homeland...