"This is great Luffy! Celestia must know what to do." Twilight said.
"Well what are we waiting for LET'S GO!" Luffy was excited that he could finally meet up with the countries ruler, but his hopes were doused when Twilight reminded him that the meeting was tomorrow. "Aw but I wanna go now! I can't stay here forever, I need to reunite with my friends!"
"Listen Luffy If I were separated from my friends I'd be feeling the same way, but right now the best thing you can do is be patient. Please just wait for 1 more day? That's all I'm asking." Twilight reasoned with him.
Luffy thought it over and decided it was for the best. "Fine but where am I supposed to sleep until then?"
"Oh oh I know I know!" Pinky spoke up. "You could stay here at Sugarcube Corner. You wouldn't even have to walk, I mean unless you count walking up the steps to your room, and I'm sure the Cakes wouldn't mind 1 night!" She later came to regret that statement as she had to use all her bits when Luffy got up in the middle of the night and ate everything in the store. She ended up getting her mane munched on when she tried to wake Luffy, who mistook it for cotten candy in his groggy state. Regardless she remained in good spirits, and easily forgave him though she made him Pinky Promise to pay her back for everything be ate.
Later that night Luffy was having a nightmare. He saw Kuma separating his crew. "No! NO! STOP IT! LEAVE THEM ALONE!" He grew desperate and found himself someplace new.
This next dream was even worse than the other. He was in darkness and saw an vision of his brother Ace who had a gaping hole in his chest. "Luffy.. I'm sorry..I couldn't keep..my promise."
"Wha-what?! ACE NO!" Luffy shrieked.
"Is thou having troubles facing thine demons Straw Hat?" A voiced questioned. The visage of Ace melted into the darkness, which in turn was replaced by white. Before Luffy was a magnificent dark blue mare, her mane and tail flowing and looked as the night sky on her chest and flank were black blotches with a moon on them. The most peculiar thing Luffy noted was she had both wings and a horn, just like his friend Twilight.
Luffy mistaking her for an assailant grew angry. "Grrr! What did you do to Ace Moon Jerk?!" He assumed a fighting stance and attempted to charge, only to be help in place by an blue field.
"Calm yourself Straw Hat!" I did nothing to your brother. He was not even your brother, he was an shadow formed by your mind, a nightmare. As Princess Of the Moon it is my duty to guard the dreams of ponies. I sensed an terrible nightmare from you, which is why you are seeing me."
Luffy struggled slightly before stopping and letting his aggression lower, in response the blue mare dropped her magic. He examined her for a moment before getting a grin on his face. "Whoa you're some moon princess? Awesome! I didn't know there was more than one princess."
"Yes of course Straw Hat. There are multible princesses each with their own role to fulfill. In face I believe you have already met one of them."
"Really who?"
"Who is the only pony you met that looks as I do?" Luna questioned while brandishing her wings and horn.
Luffy tried thinking, examining her wings and horn, it was incredibly difficult for someone as simple as him, but he eventually put 2 and 2 together. "You mean Twilight? But she doesn't do anything but read!"
"Her role as princess is not yet known to her, but one does not become a princess for reasons so simple. What it is, is up to her to find. I'm glad to have spoken with you, I've heard many of your deeds, and your heart is kind. Compared to most of the humans I have seen in your world, but I have overstepped my boundaries, we were not to meet until tomorrow, I must leave and guard other dreams. Goodbye Straw Hat."
"Wait! How did you know I'm a human? Who are you?"
The Moon Princess gave a small smile and said "Luna."
With that she dissapeared and Luffy awoke in the morning in a cold sweat.
There wasn't any time (or food for that matter.) for breakfast, as Luffy had to be at the castle early. In fact thanks to an combination of Luffy's sleep eating, and nightmare they were almost going to miss the train to Canterlot. Pinky was freaking out. "Oh man oh man we are gonna be late we gotta go!" Luffy barley had enough time to put on his outfit from Rarity before getting dragged out. It was an black jacket vest with grey fur lining and a hoodie, in addition to black blue shorts.
"Hold on Pinky I think I know how to get us there." Luffy said with a cheeky grin on his face.
Meanwhile at the train station the rest of the Mane 6 were wondering what was taking Luffy and Pinky. "Where are they? It shouldn't take this long, we're going to miss the train!" Asked Rainbow Dash, who was pacing in annoyance.
"Just give them some time Rainbow, I'm sure they are on their way." Twilight tried to ressure her friend.
"Yeah right, I bet they are taking a nice little...stroll? Do you guys her something?" Asked Rainbow.
"Hey she is right y'all, I hear it too!" Applejack said.
"What?" Twilight said, confused.
"Look! In the sky!" Fluttershy squeaked.
Rainbow put her arm over her head. "Is that?"
"YAAAHHOOOO!" Luffy shrieked with joy. Pinky on the other hand wasn't having quite as much fun. Even a party pony like her had limits.
[/hr]
"Are you sure this is safe Luffy?" Pinky asked while gripping Luffy's back. Luffy had decided to slingshot himselfand Pinky to the train station to cut down time, and had stretched his hooves to the roof of a nearby building.
"Ah don't worry Pinky, it'll be fun, now hold on! 'Gomu Gomu no Rocket!'
"I.. thought.. you.. said.. this.. was.. safe!" Pinky shrieked.
"I know, isn't this fun? Hey look there is the station!" Luffy immediately stretched his legs, wrapped them around a nearby pole, and launched him and Pinky to it.
Applejack seeing this immediately warned everypony to move. *SMASH* Like a bullet Luffy and Pinky smashed into the floor, causing minor damage. While Pinky was kissing the ground Luffy was laughing maniacally, while Rainbow had him by the shirt. "Just what in the hay were you thinking?!"
"Hahaha! Well we were gonna be late so I used my devil fruit to get here faster. Hahaha!"
"How can you laugh at the fact that you almost died?" Rainbow asked confused.
"Because it was so much fun!" Luffy responded.
"For you maybe! But not me!" Pinky shouted.
"Sorry, but you said we were gonna be late."
"He certainly knows how to make an entrance." Rarity whispered to Fluttershy.
"Oi what are you guys doing Standing around for? We have to go." Luffy said, leaving everypony flabbergasted.
The journey to the Castle was a long one. It took Pinky an while to get over her flying experience. Luffy ate nearly everything on the train, and peppered Twilight with questions about Princesses and Alicorns. When they arrived in Canterlot Luffy had to be restrained to keep him from running off. Regardless they made it to the Castle intact. "Whoa this place is huge!" Luffy said, in awe of the sheer size.
"Indeed it is." Came a voice from above. Celestia herself had came out personally to greet Luffy and company. And landed in front of the Castle doors.
"Gasp! Princess Celestia!" Said Twilight. She and her friends immediately bowed before her. All except for Luffy. "Luffy!" She said to get his attention. "You're supposed to bow."
In a completely casual tone Luffy responded. "Nah I'm good."
Twilight was shocked by this. "Luffy! It's customary to bow to royalty, you can't just-" She stopped upon seeing Celestia gesture for her to stand.
"Twilight it's fine. There is no need for formality. If he doesn't want to bow, then I won't force him. Now come along inside, I have things to tell, and things to ask. You too Staw Hat Luffy."
"First things first." Celestia asked Luffy in a sterner tone than normal. "How did you actually get here?"
"I was just sent flying here by some bear-jerk."
"Bear Jerk?" Questioned Celestia. "Do you mean a man named Bartholomew Kuma?"
"I already told you he seeing me and my crew flying!" Luffy said raising his voice.
"I suppose that explains how you got past the fog that surrounds Equestria and it's neighbouring countries."
"Fog?" Asked Luffy. "What fog?"
"Yes fog. It is an spell I cast that when enetered, reverses a navigators sense of direction so they stray away from these lands. Though I suppose when you are flying out of control, you can't really be tricked into going the other way." Celestia said with a giggle.
Twilight spoke up at this. "Fog? Why is there fog surrounding these countries?"
"I guess I owe you some answers don't I?" Celestia let out a sigh. Twilight, Equestria and it's neighboring countries are all part of one massive planet. To the farthest reaches past borders of these lands are an race called humans. The stories behind them have an truth to them, although not completely so. I have seen the things that go on in the world, the pirates, the tyrannical World Government who would force powerful countries to be their allies. I didn't want an fate like that for these lands, so I created an powerful spell to hide us from the rest of the world.
Twilight protested. "But there is so much we don't know! This changes everything we thought we knew. We can't just hide ourselves in fear."
"Twilight I understand the way you feel, really I do, but the World Government is far too powerfull. They have hundreds of powerful allies backing them up, and they by themselves are terrifyingly strong. I have seen the world, and continue to see it now, and it is no different than it was 1000 years ago. I will NOT see my Kingdom turned into an instrument of war. Maybe someday things will be different, but right now someday isn't here."
Twilight attempted to protest further, but realized nothing she said would change Celestia's view. Her friends tried to find words but found only silence. "But what about Luffy? Why is he a pony? Why isn't he like the humans you described?
"The magic in these lands are unique. The natural magic twists and contorts human form into a that of an pony. Humans are not built to handle magical energy, so the land turns them into an form that can. As for Luffy I will admit that not every human is like those in the World Government, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them that aren't. I've seen many of his feats either through either through scrying on the world, or through newspapers I 'borrow' from paper carrying birds who get too close to the fog wall. He is nothing like them."
"So all I have to do is go outside the fog and I'll be normal again? That's great! All I need now is a ship, and I can reunite with my crew at Shabody Archipelago!"
"Wait you don't have to leave yet! Twilight said. "If you are an human then there is so much to learn. About your culture, what your life is like. So many things I'd like to test and find out about your species. All without interactions with the bad ones." She said while throwing a pleading glance to Celestia at that last line.
"Ah can't believe there is one huge world out there that we didn't know about." Applejack said dumbfounded.
"Yeah well I can't believe they don't know about the glory of Rainbow Dash!" Said a certain cyan pegasus, earning a glare from everypony else.
"Sorry but I can't my crew is waiting for me, and I need to meet up with them."
"Actually" Spoke Celestia. "Your crew is nowhere near the Archipelago. They are on seperate islands, and it would take months, if not longer to get back. If you want you could always stay here until they return, then I could teleport you right at the Archipelago."
"You can do that?" Asked Luffy in amazement.
"Of course, my magical range is wide enough to influence the Sun itself. Teleporting somepony a few thousand miles away is child's play."
"That's so cool! I guess I could stay until they get back in that case. Besides with that much time, who knows how many adventures I could have here until then!" This prompted an frown from Celestia.
"Listen" She said in an strict voice. "I know you aren't a bad person at heart. But I also know you have an extream reckless streak. In a peaceful land such as this I can't afford that. If your recklessness ends up causing serious damage or otherwise I will be forced to take action. Don't mistake my hospitality for freedom to do as you please, you have to be careful and think things through.
"Ok." Was Luffy's response.
"Good. Now that is settled there IS one other problem I have to address."