“Thank you so much your highness” thanked a Canterlot unicorn noble as he left the throne room. The pony sitting on the throne groaned and stood up to try and stretched out its back muscles.
‘How the hell did Celestia actually manage to put up with this crap for over a thousand years?’ wondered the one eyed earth pony as he cracked his neck. Roronoa Zoro had been stuck in this world for ten years now, although for him they actually went by pretty quickly due to a few reasons. After finally giving up on finding a way back to his own world and nakama; since even if he went back after all this time his friends would probably have finished their adventures and moved on with their lives or died by now, Zoro gave into the idea of living in this world eventually gaining friends and even a family. Yes, after spending the past ten years serving as her bodyguard and the last half of those years as her “friend”, Zoro a.k.a Tri-blade the once highly feared “Pirate Hunter” and first mate of the Strawhat Pirates actually married Equestria’s eternal alicorn ruler, Celestia, earlier that year. Unfortunately for the former pirate swordsman it meant that he had more responsibilities in this world, including subbing for his wife in open court while she’s off at Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration.
Looking at the nearby clock Zoro saw that it was a few hours before the sun was set to rise. “Good, I have enough time to train” said Zoro as he trotted out of the throne room towards his training room.
- Time skip
“Honestly your majesty, you’ve lived in this castle for ten years and still manage to get yourself lost” laughed the castle’s head maid, Adelaide.
Zoro felt a vein pop on his head in annoyance before he quickly calmed himself to speak. “I can’t help that this castle is so big” he said through gritted teeth. Ever since he came under Celestia’s supervision, Zoro has had to reframe from letting his old anger and behavior out around the sensitive ponies of this world.
“Well remember that the Summer Sun Celebration starts in an hour so try not to miss it. Many of the castle’s staff will be celebrating in the garden and we’d loved to have you there with us” stated Adelaide as she started to walk away once they’d reached Zoro’s training room door.
“Yeah yeah” grumbled Zoro, still not used to the unconditional friendship of this world.
- Two hours later
The green colored stallion grunted as he heaved the boulder, that had been once his back for his push-ups, off of his back after his final set and glanced up at the clock. His eyes widened in alarm when he saw what time it was. “What the hell!” he yelled. “Celestia was supposed to have raised the sun an hour ago.”
Zoro turned when a hoof frantically knocked on the door. “Your highness, Princess Celestia has disappeared from Ponyville!” shouted a guard’s voice.
The one-eyed pony bolted to the door and covered the guard’s mouth with a hoof. “Quiet down you idiot! Do you really want to panic the entire castle!?” growled Zoro. After the guard shook his head and mumbled a “no sir” the larger pony put his hoof back down. “Get me a chariot and our fastest guards. I want to be in Ponyville as fast as possible” ordered Zoro, and the guard took off down the hall while the swordspony headed towards the chariot platform.
- Another time skip
After having to be shown to the chariot platform by Adelaide, Zoro and four Pegasus guards were flying to Ponyville as quickly as they could to rescue the Princess. ‘The sun rose about a half hour ago but that still doesn’t mean I can rest easy’ thought Zoro intensely. When the chariot reached the small pony town however they could hear the sound of pony’s partying rather than panicking. ‘What the hell is going on down there’ the green stallion thought before he leapt from the chariot midair without notifying his pilots.
Zoro landed hooves first on the ground below with an intimidating crash and stood up to see everypony who’d been partying a second ago staring at him. As soon as those ponies realized who’d caused the frightening interruption they bowed their heads to him. ‘I’m still not used to this damn worshipping. Why can’t they just fear me like all of those weaklings back home’ thought the swordspony with a grimace before he stood up. “Where’s the Princess!? Why aren’t you all looking for her!?” he demanded. (Hey, he hadn’t gone completely soft during his time here).
“I’m right here my love” answered Celestia’s voice from behind him. Zoro turned to see her walking towards him through the crowd of slowly standing up ponies with a dark blue alicorn beside her. “And I’m perfectly fine. Even more so than before, now that I finally have my sister back” she said before wrapping a leg around the alicorn next to her.
“Well what in the hay (he had to find a replacement for Hell) happened? I get done with my training and then hear that you’re missing” asked Zoro before his he realized something that his wife had said. “Wait, your sister?”
Celestia giggled and nodded. “Tri-blade, this is my little sister Princess Luna. Luna, this is my husband Tri-blade.”
There was a short silence before both ponies’ eyes widened and they shouted almost in unison. “Luna!?/Husband!?”
“I thought that she was evil and trapped on the moon!? How did she escape!?” yelled the one eyed stallion.
“When did you get married sister? No wait, why did you get married!?” asked the younger alicorn.
“Relax you two” calmed Celestia. “I’ll explain everything to the both of you on our fly back to the castle.” She then walked towards Zoro and gently nuzzled him. “I’m so happy to know that you’d be so worried about me as to come all this way.”
Zoro blushed at the contact and looked away in embarrassment. “Well did you really expect me to just sit on my flank and let somepony else rescue you.”
“Ain’t that what happened anyway” joked a familiar country voice. Zoro turned to see Applejack, Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, (the last three he’d met during his yearly trips to Ponyville to see the Apple family) trotting towards him. When the farm pony reached swordspony she heartily wrapped him in a hug. “It’s great ta see ya again Tri. How’ve ya been getting along?”
“Indeed, you simply must share with us the details of your no doubt glamorous married life with Celestia herself” swooned Rarity.
“Blah, no one wants to hear about their married life Rarity” gagged Rainbow. “I want to hear about how much weight Tri-blade’s gotten to.”
“I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE WEDDING PARTY!” screamed Pinkie before she started asking questions so fast no pony could keep up.
“Um, maybe we shouldn’t ask them so many things at once” whispered Fluttershy.
“Alright settle down everypony, let them breath” said Twilight. “Let’s just enjoy the party before they have to head back to Canterlot.”
“Wait, you aren’t coming back with us Twilight?” asked Zoro.
“After Twilight made friends with these five and discovered the Elements of Harmony she didn’t want to leave. So I made a decree that she’s going to stay here in Ponyville studying the magic of friendship and report to me her findings” explained Celestia.
‘Elements of Harmony? Magic of friendship?’ wondered Zoro before he shook his head to clear him head and sighed. ‘I’ve been in this world for ten years and still believe all of this mushy shit.’ He then felt somepony lean on his shoulder and looked to see Celestia resting her head on him with a content look in her eyes (Zoro was always much bigger than the normal ponies of Equestria and after ten years he’s grown to be around Celestia’s size). He then glanced his apparent sister in law, Luna, who appeared to be feeling a little self-conscious but happy none the less. Then to Twilight and her new found friends, who were laughing and celebrating together.
‘Even though they’re all so different they’re having such a great time’ thought Zoro with a grin before it disappeared. ‘Just like Luffy and the others. Damn it, I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to fulfill my duty as first mate guys.’ He then glanced back at Wado Ichimonji which was still holstered on his haramaki. ‘Or keep my promise to you Kuina.’
“If what you told me of your friends is true then I’m sure they’ve won their battles and are living happily” said Celestia suddenly, shocking Zoro out of his thoughts.
“How did you?” Zoro started to ask.
“I would be a terrible ruler if I’d never learned to read my subjects” laughed Celestia. “I’m sorry that this isn’t the life you imagined for yourself Tri-blade. So if you want we could always look through the library again once we return to the castle.”
Zoro saw the sadness in her eyes and looked around to make sure no pony was watching before he quickly nuzzled her back. “It’s fine” he stated. “Sure this isn’t the life I thought I would have but it’s mine now and you’re right about the others too. They would never just throw their dreams away or lose a fight because I went missing, especially Luffy. Even if we found the spell there wouldn’t be any reason for me to head back there so I might as well stay here.”
Celestia laughed to herself. “With me?”
Zoro choked in embarrassment. “Y-yeah sure” he replied with a blush coloring his dark green face. Celestia sighed in relief and lifted her head in order to address some ponies who were approaching her and her family. ‘I wondered what those idiots are doing right now though’ wondered Zoro as he looked off into the clear blue sky over head.