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400 years ago, the seeds to a budding friendship were planted. Through nourishment, that is, with love and caring, with laughter, tears, hardships, trials, and smiles, it grew. It grew into a beautiful flower. 400 years ago, the friendship between a simple botanist and a tribal man grew, and every second these two spent together, this flower grew bigger and bigger. The two men had to go their separate ways, but promised to meet once again one day. The plant did not die or wilt. It only grew bigger and bigger. But one man was sent to the sky–unable to reach his friend ever again. The golden bell was lost. The words 'WE ARE HERE' would never reach their ears for hundreds of years, long after their deaths, no matter how hard they tried.
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The two men did not stop. The man flung up into the sky still sought the golden bell, and would die looking for it. This man's friendship caused a war up in the sky. So much bloodshed for the bell, just to speak to his friend once more, to assure him of their safety. But as this war was going on, the man on land was being executed for his truths. He worried for his dear friend, not knowing where he was, facing crowds of people who wanted him dead. He did not deny the existence of his friend, did not lie too save his own life. His friend did exist, the island of gold was there somewhere. But it was gone, and so was his friend. They would never meet again. The friendship of these two caused a long standing war between two peoples, and shame upon the truth-teller's family. The flower wilted.
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The flower did not die. It simply hid itself in the heart's of those who knew. 400 years later that flower finally bloomed, it's petals shining as bright as gold. 400 years later, this friendship overcame time. It overcame death. This friendship overcame war and hate and screamed itself through the ringing of the bell–'WE ARE HERE'--the bell rang once more for these two. The friendship lasted longer then death itself, reached the hearts, the willing ears of the descendants of the two friends. The friendship of the two men sustained itself through pure love. The bell--'WE ARE HERE'--stopped the war, stopped the hate, made itself louder than any other voice screaming lies and malice--'WE ARE HERE'--the bell rang, made itself known to those far below, and those nearer. The bell rang--'WE ARE HERE'--to announce that the friendship of these two men did not die. It continued to live, through the horror, the lies, the tears, and burst through with the beauty of love. 'WE ARE HERE'--the tribal man finally reached the ears of the sailor once more, after 400 hundred years of waiting.
Again, credit to Sai-chan!
How can you not love that story? To me, Noland is seriously one of the coolest characters in One Piece!