Translator: PapaSmurf0700
On the deck of the Golden Merry floating in the White Sea, Luffy was busily munching on octopus meat, his face lighting up with joy. "Sanji, this octopus meat is awesome!" he exclaimed with a mouthful, clearly enjoying every bite.
Sanji, flipping a frying pan with a practiced hand, nodded. "Glad you like it, Luffy. It's my first time cooking this kind of meat, so I just gave it a quick fry." As he took a drag from his cigarette, he glanced over the deck where a couple of new faces were mingling with the crew.
Sanji raised an eyebrow and asked the group, "Anything interesting happen out here while I was in the kitchen?"
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At the heart of the struggle between the Shandia tribe and the Sky Islanders is Upper Yard, a unique island made of solid earth, unlike the rest of Skypiea. This land is sacred to both communities; the Angel Island residents view the land with deep reverence, while for the Shandia, it holds even greater significance.
Centuries have passed—400 years to be exact—and Upper Yard has become a shared fixation for both the Sky Islanders and the Shandia. It seemed an impossible divide to bridge, but Gan Fall, the former ruler of Sky Island, extended an olive branch to Wyper, proposing, "Let's live together. The hatred that has lasted for 400 years should stop now."
Wyper was initially resistant. To him and his people, Upper Yard was inherently theirs, and the Sky Islanders were nothing but invaders. Yet, the harsh reality was clear—if the Shandia couldn't eliminate all the Sky Islanders, they could never claim Upper Yard exclusively.
During this time, Bai Ye and his companions shared the poignant story of Noland's death and the centuries of efforts by his descendants to rectify the misunderstanding about Upper Yard. This historical insight moved Wyper, leading to a tentative alliance with Gan Fall on behalf of the Shandia.
A critical condition of this newfound alliance was the Straw Hats' ability to overcome Enel and his priests. This potential collaboration marked a shift from confrontation to negotiation.
In the original story, the Straw Hats clashed with Enel initially over a simple matter of an unpaid entry fee, leading to their ship being commandeered to Upper Yard after a skirmish with the White Berets. Now, forewarned and forearmed with this knowledge, the Straw Hats' approach shifted from reactive to proactive.
With alliances forming with both the Shandia and Sky Islanders led by Gan Fall, the stage was set not just for confrontation but for strategic cooperation. The stage was thus set for Enel's impending defeat, turning the tides of history and potentially healing centuries-old wounds.
Before they could embark on their grand adventure in Skypiea, the Straw Hats had an essential step to take. With excited energy, Luffy stood proudly at the prow of their ship, proclaiming to his crew, "Let's head to Sky Island for an adventure, everyone!" Gan Fall and Wyper had just said their goodbyes, each departing back to their respective responsibilities.
To enter Skypiea from the White Sea, they had to pass through a place known as Heaven's Gate. This gate appeared like a majestic waterfall of clouds. Luffy, ever the spirited and often clueless captain, gazed at the spectacle and exclaimed in wonder, "Ah! Am I already dead?"
At this entrance, they were greeted not by a majestic guardian but by an old woman dressed in purple. Despite her small, wrinkly stature and the displeased look on her face, she too had a pair of white wings—a common trait among the residents of the sky. Bai Ye humorously thought to himself that if all mythical angels looked like her, the ranks of believers might surely thin.
With a crisp click, the old woman took their photo using a Vision Dial and then posed a question, "Are you here for sightseeing, or for war?" This was typically a routine question, not expecting a truthful answer—especially not one confessing intentions of conflict.
However, just as Luffy began to respond impulsively, "I'm here to..." Nami, ever vigilant, delivered a preemptive strike with her "iron fist of love." Her swift intervention was a habitual response to Luffy's lack of filter.
The old woman, momentarily taken aback by this sudden display of crew dynamics, stood puzzled. Her face etched with confusion as she tried to grasp the peculiar behavior of her visitors.
After a tense pause, the elderly gatekeeper processed the crew's earlier antics and clarified the entry fee: "It doesn't matter which reason brings you here, the entrance fee is one billion Extol coins per person, as per our laws."
Bai Ye, prepared for this, pulled out a bag of Bellys. Gan Fall had already explained the currency exchange rate between the Sky Island's Extol and the Blue Sea's Belly.
"There are nine of us, so that's nine hundred thousand Bellys. Is this enough?" he asked, offering the bag to the old woman. His choice to pay was strategic; avoiding the fee would mean being pursued by the White Berets, which would surely spoil their tour of Sky Island.
The old woman accepted the bag, counted the money, then glanced at Chopper, remarking, "Actually, for a pet raccoon, it's only 10,000 Bellys." Chopper, affronted, blurted out, "Who's a pet, you old hag!"
Bai Ye opted to pay the full 900,000 Bellys despite the discount for "pets," joking internally that Chopper wasn't just a pet but an essential member—Luffy's emergency food supply!
Soon after, two giant pincers emerged from the cloud sea below and gripped the Golden Merry firmly. The old woman explained, "Those are Skypiea's Speedy Shrimp. They'll take you up. Safe travels, honored guests."
As the shrimp activated and began their ascent, Luffy couldn't contain his excitement. "Wow, it's moving! This is amazing!! Sky Island, here we come!!" His enthusiastic shouts were infectious, and soon all the Straw Hats were absorbed in the new sights.
Sky Island was unlike anything they'd seen before. The sea of clouds they sailed on was made of what the locals called 'Sea Clouds' formed from the interaction of volcanic seastone particles and water vapor. It was sturdy enough to support ships and abundant with unique marine life.
Ascending further, they encountered 'Island Clouds' - solid cloud formations that mimicked the characteristics of real islands.
When they finally landed on Angel Island, Luffy leaped onto the cloud-ground, laughing joyously, "Wahhahaha, the ground here is made of clouds!" His delight was shared by his crewmates, who also jumped down to explore the fluffy terrain.
Bai Ye, remaining on the deck a moment longer, surveyed the stunning landscape spread before them. "It's really beautiful here," he mused, appreciative of the serene and otherworldly environment of Sky Island.