> The Lost Swordsman
>  by Star Shadow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> I'm a horse...WHAT!?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fighting rocked the Thousand Sunny as the Straw Hat Pirates clashed with a rival crew. The enemy’s ship had been destroyed long ago so the crews were now restricted to the Sunny’s deck. Although each member of the Straw Hats were powerful in their own right, they were outnumbered by a group of slightly less powerful pirates. The fights were spread out all over the deck of the Sunny but the biggest was happening right in the middle of the lawn deck between Monkey D. Luffy and the captain of the Void Pirates, Torane Rikaru. 
Rikaru was a man of over nine feet tall and a member of the Longarm tribe. He had pales skin, long black hair that reached his mid back, and was wearing a completely black outfit that blended in with itself to where no one could tell where one part of his clothing ended and another began. He was apparently a master of haki as he kept dodging each of Luffy’s attack; only dodging. It was starting to make Luffy angry how this guy wouldn’t fight him and instead kept provoking him with a wide grin and comments. 
"What’s a matter Straw Hat!? Can’t you hid little old me” laughed Rikaru as he barely dodged another of Luffy’s punches.
“Stand still!” yelled Luffy.
“Well since you asked so nicely” shrugged Rikaru as he finally stopped moving. When Luffy went to attack him however, the Void captain muttered something under his breath and a colorful circle opened up in his torso. Luffy; unable to stop his rocket attack in time, found both of his stretched out arms stuck in the man’s body and could feel himself being pulled towards his enemy. 
“W-what the hell!” screamed Luffy as he desperately tried to pull himself free. 
Nearby, Roronoa Zoro heard his captain’s yell and when he saw that Luffy was being pulled into the enemy pirate decided to finish his own enemy quickly and help his captain. Unfortunately his opponent was a cloaked man who appeared to be fighting with some sea-stone chains and said man had both of the Santoryu user’s katana wrapped up in those damn chains. Zoro knew that he could cut his way through the chains; training with Mihawk for those two long years had taught him how to cut through plenty of enemies, but after seeing how quickly Luffy was being dragged into the seemingly empty rival captain Zoro had to make a choice. 
It didn’t take him long however as the swordsman released his grip on Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui and dashed towards his captain. Thanks to his speed Zoro was able to reach Luffy just in time and use his monstrous strength to help yank his captain away from the enemy. Unfortunately, Zoro seemed to have used a bit too much strength and once his captain was free, Luffy was sent flying into a nearby wall with his head going through it.
“Ahhhh Sunny!” screamed Franky who, along with the others who’ve seemingly finished up their fights, reached the various guard rails surrounding the lawn deck.
“Zoro you idiot!” yelled Nami.
“What if you killed Luffy!” panicked Usopp.
“Ahhhh, I can’t cure death!” cried Chopper.
“He’s rubber you idiots!” yelled Sanji. Usopp and Chopper released a sigh at being reminded of that. 
“Unless a splintered plank pierced his brain and killed him” stated Robin morbidly in her usual calm demeanor.
“Yohohoho! You’re so dark Robin-san!” laughed Brook.
“Would you idiots just calm down!” yelled Zoro, as he took Wado Ichimonji out of his mouth and re sheathed it. They then all saw Luffy pushing against the wall trying to yank his head out from the hole. “There you see, he’s fi-“ Zoro stopped mid-sentence as he slashed away one sea-stone chain only to be constricted by a number of others. The swordsman looked over and saw the cloaked, chain using enemy that he’d been fighting before smirking at him. “Damn it! You piece of sh-“
“Body slam!” yelled a familiar voice from behind Zoro but when the swordsman turned around to see who had yelled all he saw was black.
Zoro groaned as a splitting head ache coursed through his head. In an attempt to at least calm the quaking in his head the swordsman reached a hand up to his fore head. It was then that Zoro felt something that wasn’t a hand touch his forehead, it was definitely attached to him from what he could feel past his head pain but it wasn’t what was supposed to be his hand. Finally deciding to open his eyes Zoro found himself staring straight at a dark green furred hoof. “Great, I’m a horse now” muttered the green horse. He then sprung up to his back hooves only to fall onto all fours. “What!?” he yelled.
After a few minutes of trying to figure this out with a still pulsing headache the swordspony looked around and saw a nearby pond. Trotting over to it the former man looking over his reflection and saw that he was covered in a dark green coat with his hair and new tail retaining his usual moss green color. His scars were all still there including the one over his left eye as well as his bandanna; which was tied around his left fore hoof, his three sheaths, although they were all empty, and his haramaki was still around his stomach. It was went he looked a little closer in the water though that he saw a familiar white katana laying beneath it.
“At least I still have this” he sighed but when he tried to grab it however he remembered that he didn’t have thumbs anymore. “Damn it” growled Zoro before he breathed in and plunged his head into the water. After only a few seconds of grabbing Wado with his mouth, (looks like his fighting style came in handy) the green maned stallion placed it, with some difficulty back into its sheath. Glancing around once more, Zoro saw that there was a dirt road nearby and decided that that’s where he should go. “The others can come find me when they get here so I might as well find out where the hell I am.” With that the swordspony started his trek down the road to where ever it would lead him. Until he walked right off of the road a few minutes later thinking that it moved somewhere else on him.
- Back with the Straw Hats
All of the Straw Hats; except for Luffy who was still stuck in the wall, stood in shock as their green haired nakama seemingly vanished beneath the enemy captain. Said captain was cackling happily at having gotten one of the infamous Straw Hat Pirates while his cloaked subordinate simply smirked. “W-w-where the hell did Zoro go?” stuttered Usopp.
“What did you do to him you bastards?” asked Franky in a rage after he got over his shock.
“Hololololo!” laughed Rikaru. “I sent him to one of my many different dimensions. For you see I ate the Void-Void Fruit, which allows me to open portals to a huge number of different dimensions and I just sent your friend to one of them. Hololololo!”
“Well now you’re going to bring him back” demanded Sanji. “Unless you want me to broil you alive.”
“Perhaps I could assist you in tenderizing the meat Sanji-san” offered Robin as she bloomed hands all over their remaining enemies; ready to break them at any time, with three hands placed over the mouth of Rikaru to keep him from using his devil fruit ability to summon another void.
“And I could help with the dicing” suggested Brook seriously. “Yohohoho! That would be fun!”
“Alright guys you’re all scaring me a little” stated Nami, freaked out by her friend’s dark suggestions.
“Us too” whimpered a shivering Usopp and Chopper.
They were all interrupted though when Luffy finally freed himself from the wall. “Ouch ouch ouch!” cried Luffy. “Thanks for helping me Zoro but you didn’t have to throw me into a wall.” It was then that the straw hat boy noticed that his first mate was nowhere to be seen. “Hey, where’s Zoro guys?” When all of his nakama pointed at the two restrained enemies then Luffy got made. 
“Where’s my nakama!?”

> Ponyville's New Pony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	In the town of Ponyville everypony could be seen dashing around and setting up decorations for their upcoming “Ponyville Day” celebration; all except for a pair of earth ponies that is. One was an elderly, lime green colored pony with grey hair that was up in a bun; while the other was a young, orange colored filly who had her long blonde mane and tail hair tied into ponytails with red scrunches and freckles doting her face. “My, it’s nice ta see everypony so eager for tomorrow” said the older pony.
“But why does everypony seem extra excited ‘bout this year Granny?” asked the filly.
“That’s cause the Princess herself is comin’ ta Ponyville ta celebrate with us this year, Applejack” answered Granny Smith.
“Really!” gasped the young cowpony. “Why’s she comin’ this year though? She’s hasn’t come around for any of ‘em before.”
“That’s cause this celebration is markin’ the hundredth year anniversary of when Ponyville was founded and since the Princess herself helped our family find it then she’s gonna come an’ celebrate it with us” explained the elderly pony.
Applejack smiled excitedly. “Ah can’t wait for tomorrow then, it’s gonna be so much fun! Can ah do anything ta help out Granny?” asked the filly with eager eyes.
Granny Smith; not wanting to disappoint her granddaughter, scratched her chin with her hoof and gazed around to see how the young filly could help out. She then spotted a young, white coated and purple maned filly who appeared to be elegantly redecorating the town hall. “Why don’t ya go an’ help that filly over there? She’s looks like she could use a hoof with those decorations” suggested the Apple family matriarch.
Applejack glanced over to filly then back to her granny and grinned happily. “Sure thing Granny!” said the young apple excitedly and trotted over to help.
“She’s gonna be a great apple farmer when she’s older. Might even leave ‘er the farm” thought Granny Smith aloud to herself as she slowly trotted off.
Meanwhile, the white coated filly was trying to redecorate Ponyville’s to make it looked much more “fabulous” for the Princess Celestia’s visit. Right now though she was trying to decide on what color streamer to use. “No, no, no, Celestia no!” exclaimed the unicorn as she came across a “horrendous” looking shade of yellow.
“Howdy!” yelled a voice from behind the purple maned filly; which caused her to leap up and squeal, and she turned around to see who it was. “Ya need any help there?” asked the orange earth filly.
Getting over her initial fright of being scolded for “ruining the decorations” the unicorn answered the blond in a dignified manner. “Well unless you have an acute sense of fashion and design;” she said before she looked over the other pony’s untamed hair, sweaty coat, and “too large for her head” stetson a top her head, “which you obviously don’t so I’m afraid that I have nothing for you.”
“Are ya all sayin’ that I ain’t got a good sense of dressin’?” asked Applejack; slightly miffed at how the other filly just assumed things about her.
“Well I apologize if my words have offended you uh. I’m sorry but I haven’t gotten your name” stated the unicorn.
“Name’s Applejack” said the farmer pony holding out a grimy hoof.
The other filly winced at the extended hoof and only proceeded to lightly touch and shake the upper part of the fore hoof; which was the cleanest part, in an awkward greeting. “R-Rarity and again I apologize if my words offended you but you’re not exactly the pic of style and finesse.”
“Well I’d rather be a hard worker who gets her hooves dirty than a prissy filly who is scared of dirt” said Applejack.
Rarity gasped at that. “I am NOT afraid of dirt! I simply believe that intentionally dirtying ones hooves in order to achieve ones dreams is unnecessary.”
Applejack laughed at hearing the other filly’s viewpoint. “Maybe for ah fancy unicorn like yerself but fer us Earth ponies gettin’ dirty is our way a life” stated Applejack.
“Well I suppose that is true” pondered Rarity. “Very well then, if you’re willing to do the work then who am I to deny an earth pony her life’s calling of dirt and labor.”
“Gee thanks” deadpanned Applejack. “Ah’ll try not ta dirty any of yer pretty decorations with ma hooves.”
“I would greatly appreciate that darling” said Rarity.
“Hey you two!” called a deep male’s voice behind the two fillies. When Applejack and Rarity turned around towards the new voice they saw a large, muscular, and scarred, dark green stallion coming towards them. His size alone caused Rarity to slightly whimper in fright but his firm voice and stern stare is what caused Applejack to step backwards. “Can either of you tell me where the hell I am? Everyone I talk to just cowers away” asked the stallion.
“Y-yo-you’re in P-Ponyville” stuttered Applejack.
“And where is that?” asked the stallion.
“Why it’s in Equestria young feller” answered an old voice. Everypony turned to see Granny Smith trotting slowly towards them with a teenage Big Macintosh right behind her. “Now could ya please stop scarin’ the young-uns”? The stallion looked confused for a second then; after glancing back towards the still frightening fillies, turned back towards the older pony. “So where’s Equestria then?”
“What d’ya mean where’s Equestria? Have you been livin’ under a rock fer the last thousands of years?” asked Granny Smith.
“I just woke up in a forest a couple of hours ago” stated the stallion. “You build your roads far away from your town by the way.”
“Far away? But we saw you at the creak right outside of Ponyville” said Mrs. Cup Cake as she trotted by the growing group of ponies with her newlywed husband, Mr. Carrot Cake.
“Then why did it take me hours to get here?” asked the green stallion.
“I honestly haven’t got a clue. You were headed straight towards Ponyville last time we saw you” said Mrs. Cup Cake. “You were even headed right down the forest path.”
“It disappeared on me” said the stallion.
“But we followed that road to get back and it was in great condition” stated Mr. Carrot Cake.
“Maybe yer sense a direction is off” suggested Granny Smith.
The stallion gritted his teeth at that then said. “Look we’re getting off topic is there anyone who can help me get back to my home?”
“‘Fraid that there’s no one in Ponyville who can help ya ta get out of Equestria. Can you think of anypony Big Macintosh?” asked Granny Smith.
“Nnope” said young red stallion.
The Apple matriarch rubbed her chin with her hoof as she thought. “Well maybe you can wait ‘til the Princess comes by tomorrow. If anypony’d be able ta help ya then she’d be it.”
The stallion groaned. “So I’ve got to wait until tomorrow to talk to this princess of yours then. Fine, do any of you know a hotel I can stay at?”
“’Fraid not, but if’n yer willin’ ta put in the work then I’m sure ya could stay at our farm fer the night” offered Granny Smith.
The stallion sighed looked at the old pony. “Fine, I guess working in a field could be good enough exercise.”
“Yer darn tootin’ it is!” hollered Granny Smith. “Now what’s yer name sonny?”
“Roronoa Zoro” answered the stallion, only to received odd stares from the surrounding ponies.
“Now that’s an’ odd name” stated Applejack.
“That we can agree on” said Rarity.
“Eeyup” drawled out Big Mac.
“Why? What’re your names?” asked Zoro.
“Well I’m Mrs. Cup Cake and this is my husband Mr. Carrot Cake” introduced the baker pony.
“Name’s Applejack! The red stallion is ma brother Big Macintosh and the older one is ma Granny Smith” said Applejack.
“And I’m Rarity” stated Rarity, who was still keeping her distance from the slightly less now intimidating strange green stallion.
‘These are some weird ass names’ thought Zoro. ‘I had better come up with a new one to seem less suspicious.”
“Well then ah better take ya back to the farm an’ show ya around” stated Granny Smith as she turned around and slowly lead the new stallion away from the group.
“I hope the princess will be able to help that poor dearie” said Mrs. Cup Cake, as she and her husband started to trot away.
“Of course she will honey pie. She is the princess after all” said Mr. Carrot Cake.
“But what if he has amnesia? Do you think the princess can-“
It was then that the couple was too far away to hear anymore and Rarity decided to use the opportunity to voice her opinion. “I hope that your grandmother will be alright. She seems far too trusting and that pony is very odd.”
“Ah’m sure she’ll be fine. Granny Smith has a good feel fer ponies; she wouldn’t ‘ve been so trustin’ if he was bad. Right Big Mac?” asked Applejack.
“Eeyup” answered Big Mac, before he started to head off.
“Thanks fer caring so much ‘bout ma Granny though Rare” said Applejack gratefully.
“You’re quite welcome. Now’s let’s get this town hall looking fabulous for the Princess, shall we.” With that the two ponies started their work, still wondering about the weird pony who they’d just met.

> Farm Work
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The barn door burst open and a loud metal banging caused Zoro; who’d been sleeping in a hay pile, to spring to his hooves and unsheathe Wado with his mouth defensively. “Rise an’ shine partner, it’s time ta get ta work!” hollered Applejack as she came into the barn on her brother’s back while banging on a pot that was on his head with a ladle. “An’ put that darn weapon away before ya poke somepony’s eye out.”
Zoro growled at how loud the young Apple was being and sheathed Wado before he glanced out of the open door. “The sun’s barely even out” growled Zoro even louder as he plopped back down into the hay only to have an orange filly pounce on him.
“Well this is how early we get up ta work on the farm. Now get yer lazy flank up so ah can get ya ta work” ordered the filly before she turned to her brother. “Ya’ll can get goin’ Big Mac, ah got it from here.” The red stallion gave his little sister a nod before turning away and heading out to do his morning choirs.
Once her brother had left Applejack turned back towards their guest with an eager smile; which disappeared when she saw the angry scowl on his face. “Get off” Zoro commanded and the little filly instantly bolted off of him.
“Heh, sorry ‘bout that partner. I fergot that you not exactly the “rearin’ ta go” type, but if ya want us ta help ya meet the princess then ya gotta help out here at the farm” said Applejack defiantly once she saw the green stallion lay back down on the hay again.
Zoro groaned, then opened his eyes his at the stern orange filly before him and started to stand up. “Fine, show me what I have to do so I can get back to sleep.”
Applejack shook her head. “Sorry partner, but we do our chores from dawn till the afternoon.”
“Damn it” growled Zoro; which Applejack apparently didn’t hear him say as she was already heading out of the barn. When Zoro stepped out of the barn he saw that the sun was just barely peeking over the mountains and could feel a cold chill in the air. When he arrived here yesterday with the Apple family grandmother he was honestly impressed with how alive and peaceful the farm was compared to his loud and chaotic his life as a member of the Strawhats. Pulling himself out of his thoughts Zoro trotted after the little stetson wearing filly until she stopped at the base of a nearby apple tree.
“Alright partner this here’s called Apple buckin’” said Applejack proudly as she reared her hind legs up and bucked the tree with only a few apples falling from it but all making it into the bucket. “Now since ah’m only filly ah ain’t strong enough ta buck all of the apples off of the tree but let’s see if you can do it.”
Zoro simply grunted in reply and went towards another apple tree; mirroring the orange pony as he lifted up his hind legs and bucked the try with seemingly no effort. A loud thud echoed through the fields as Applejack stared expectantly at the tree’s apples waiting for them to fall, but her eager expression turned to shock as she watched the entire tree uproot and fall over. “Damn” muttered Zoro, glancing only half concerned at the fallen tree. ‘I’m still getting used to this damn horse body’ he thought. “Sorry about that” he said, before lazily trotting over to the tree, squeezing himself underneath it and then lifting it straight back up without even breaking a sweat from the tree’s weight. After making sure that the tree was straight up again and moving the dirt that had been up rooted back into place he turned back to see that the filly still had her jaw on the ground. “What?”
“H-how in the hay did ya manage ta do that?” asked Applejack.
“I’ve been training to become stronger every day since I was a kid” explained Zoro.
“A kid? Don’t ya mean a colt?” asked the confused filly with a raised eyebrow.
‘Right, horses’ thought Zoro, mentally hitting himself at forgetting that. “Yeah, so what’s next?” he said, hoping to change the subject since he didn’t want to reveal anything until he met their “princess”. 
“Well yer obviously to strong fer apple buckin. So let’s try yer hoof at takin’ care of the animals” suggested Applejack.
“Do these one talk too?” asked Zoro.
Applejack laughed. “That there’s pretty funny Zoro! Ya might not have worked on a farm before, but ya know that the animals can’t talk.”
“Right and would you mind not calling me Zoro?” asked the green stallion as the pair reached the pens.
Applejack raised an eyebrow at the request. “But that’s yer name ain’t it?”
“No, I got amnesia and saw that name in a book” answered Zoro, lying through his teeth.
Applejack stared at the stallion with narrowed eyes and for a minute Zoro thought that she hadn’t bought his lie but that thought was ended when the filly smiled at him. “Well that would explain why ya miss spoke earlier and why ya,” Applejack paused for a moment to snicker into her hoof. “Thought the farm animals could talk.
“Excuse me” said a cow who had been standing on the other side of one of the fences.
“Right, sorry ‘bout that. Except fer the cows ‘course” stated a grinning Applejack.
Zoro sweat dropped at how strange this world was. ‘And I live with a rubber man, a talking reindeer, a pant less cyborg and a talking skeleton.’ 
“Alright then, let’s get ya started on gettin’ some eggs from the chickens” said Applejack as she led the stallion over to the coup.
- 5 minutes later
“They wouldn’t give me the eggs” growled a feather covered Zoro.
“Well ya didn’t have ta demand the eggs from ‘em. Ya gotta ask ‘em kindly fer the eggs” scolded Applejack as she brushed off the feathers that Zoro couldn’t reach.
“Well I’m not an animal person so what else do you have to do?” asked Zoro, still a little pissed at how the chicken had pecked and scratched at him. He had to really restrain himself from slicing up those feathered pests with Wado.
“Well there’s always plowin’ the fields. Ah guess ya could try yer hoof at that” stated Applejack as she led the now feather-free stallion to the fields.
When the pair reached the crop field, Zoro immediately went over to the plow and effortlessly flipped it over to examine the blade with a stern eye. 
Applejack looked towards the ground a bit ashamed. “Ah know it’s dull. We’re supposed ta take it into town next week ta get it sharpened. Ah’m sure that you could still.”
The earth pony cut herself off though when she saw that Zoro had already strapped the harness on and was halfway done with his third row, pulling the plow quickly with ease and managing to create perfect rows with the dull blade. When Zoro reached the side that he’d left her on after his fourth row, Zoro saw her shocked face and smirked. ‘This little filly, ugh girl, reminds me of Chopper. Why the hell did I say filly?’ thought the green stallion before he decided to answer her unspoken question. “A blade is only as dull as its master’s mind.”
“Woo wee, that’s some sayin’ partner! Ah’ll have ta remember that one” hollered Applejack.
Zoro smirked. ‘Just like Usopp and Chopper’ he thought before he turned the plow around to start pulling it down the next row. “I can handle the fields for now. You can go do your chores for now and I’ll come find you when I’m done” said the stallion as he started to pull away only to pause when the filly spoke up.
“Actually, since ah’m still too small fer apple buckin’, too weak fer pullin’ the plow, and the critters er still spooked, then all ah got left is ta plant the seed in ta the rows. So ah’m gonna be workin’ with you today” stated Applejack happily, lifting her head up to show a happy grin only to have her oversized stetson fall over her face.

> Meeting the Princess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After several hours of hard field work; which even Zoro had to admit was a decent work out, Granny Smith, Applejack and Zoro were trotting to town to hopefully get today’s apple sales over with before the celebration was supposed to start. “Thank ya again partner” said Granny Smith as she sat in the apple cart that Zoro was pulling. “With ma old age, Applejack bein’ too small, an’ Big Mac needin’ ta stay behind at the farm ta prepare fer the Princess ta show up, we didn’t expect ta be able ta sell today.”
“And yer not even breakin’ a sweat doin’ it! That’s amazin’ Zoro!” praised Applejack as she hopped around him which was begging to tick him off. During their hours of working together Zoro and Applejack started to become close and while Zoro didn’t hate child he still hated their annoying little questions and idolizing.
“I told you not to call me that” growled Zoro in a harsher tone that he’d intended to; which caused the filly’s ears to go do and look towards the ground ashamed. Zoro sighed. ‘Why do I have to be so damn soft around kids?’ he thought, before he placed his hoof on top of her stetson. “Sorry, I just don’t like using a name that’s not mine.”
Applejack looked back up at him; the ashamed look now gone, and asked. “But how do ya know that it ain’t yer real name?”
“Because it’s so different from everypony else’s” he stated before his eyes widened at what he said. ‘Why the hell did I say everypony? It’s just like earlier when I said filly instead of girl. Being a damn horse must be going to my head.’
When the trio reached the town they saw that everypony was running around frantically. “What the hay’s goin’ on ‘round here?” asked Granny Smith to a passing pegasus.
“The princess is arriving earlier than we planned today” answered the winged stallion before he flew away. 
“Great, I won’t have wait much longer to get home then” stated Zoro with a smirk.
So ah guess that you’ll be leavin’ already then?” asked Applejack sadly from beside the green stallion
Zoro’s smirk transformed into a deep scowl upon seeing that. ‘Damn it’ he growled to himself. ‘Why do kids have to be so damn emotional all the damn time?’ “Well it may take your princess a week or two to fix my amnesia, so I’ll probably have to sta-“said the swordsman before the little filly hopped onto his back.
“Yeehaw!” hollered Applejack from atop an angry Zoro. “This is gonna be just like havin’ another big brother in the family!”
Zoro cringed, as what the filly said gave him a flash back of when he’d been dragged into that family when he and the other Strawhats were stuck at Water 7 without a ship (episode 318). 
“I’m not agreeing to that” he muttered before Granny Smith spoke up.
“Giddy up partner! We gotta get ta sellin’ our apples before the princess gets here” ordered the apple matriarch.
Once the Apples and Zoro reached the selling spot the swordsman unstrapped himself from the harness and began trotting away. “Hey where ya goin’ Zoro?” asked Applejack as she helped her granny to set up the cart.
“I want to see if I can meet up with this princess of yours before the parade” answered the stallion without looking back.
- 2 hours later
Luckily enough there were many ponies who were hungry from hurried Ponyville Day Celebration so the Apples had been able to sell their entire cart right before the parade started. Now, everypony who wasn’t a part of it could be found cheering from the sidelines as the various floats that they’d made to celebrate the town’s grand celebration pass by them. “Check it out Granny, there’s the Princess!” yelled Applejack as she saw the royal chariot being pulled down the road by an escort of gold armor clad royal guard ponies and Equestria’s majestic and benevolent ruler waving gracefully to her subjects. “Ah don’t see Zoro with her though. Maybe he didn’t make it in time ta talk with her” wondered the young Apple.
“Ah doubt that they’d let him walk with the Princess in the parade so maybe he went back ta the farm. The parade is supposed ta go there anyways” suggested Granny Smith before she noticed that the floats had passed and everypony was heading down the road with them, only instead of heading down the path to Sweet Apple Acres the parade was apparently going down a road that Granny Smith recognized right away and gasped.
“What’s ah matter Granny?” asked Applejack.
“Those fools are headed down a path my pa closed down years ago. It cut the travel time ta the Acres in half but the cliffs surroundin’ it are unstable” explained the Apple matriarch worriedly.
“WHAT!?” screamed Applejack. “We gotta hurry and warn ‘em then.” The two then took off; or rather Applejack did because of Granny Smith’s hip, hoping to stop the parade before anypony was hurt by cliff collapsing.
- Meanwhile on top of one of the said cliffs.
“How the hell did I end up here?” wondered Zoro aloud before he heard cheering coming from below him. Looking down, Zoro saw that there was a huge gathering of ponies on the cliff side below him cheering at group of floats that was making its way down the road that ran along the cliff. “That must be there parade. Damn disappearing roads, I missed my chance to talk to this princess of their before this whole celebration started.”
Zoro was about to just turn around and head back to where he thought that the town was supposed to be when the group below him suddenly became louder in their cheering. Turning back to see what all the noise was about Zoro saw that there was white and gold chariot being pulled by golden armored ponies of all different races. What drew the swordsman’s attention though was the tall, pure white coated with a multi colored mane that flowed in an inexistent breeze, unicorn and pegasus mix who was waving to the cheering crowd with one of her gold shoed hooves. “Finally” sighed Zoro in an aggravated relief. “If that’s not the princess then ero-cook’s not a perverted ass-hole.”
Before he could start to head towards his target; and hopefully ticket home, Zoro was stopped when he felt a suddenly violent rumbling coming from lower on the cliff. That was when he saw that the loud cheering and stamping of numerous hooves on the cliff’s ridges had caused a rock slide to start and barrel down towards the unsuspecting residents of Ponyville. “Shit” grunted Zoro before he launched himself down the cliff side to save the ponies below. ‘I’ve got to cut these damn rocks down before they can crush anypony’ he thought; not even noticing his speech slip up, as he unsheathed Wado with his mouth. “Sanbyakurokuju Pound Ho (360 Pound Cannon)” yelled Zoro as he unleashed his attack on the rock slide effectively reducing many of the larger boulders to smaller ones.
Everypony quickly turned and looked up towards where a large explosion was heard to see a dark green stallion running alongside a rockslide and slashing many of the rocks to near harmless size with a blade. “Get outta here everypony! RUN!” yelled Applejack who’d just arrived to see everypony watching the dangerous rockslide with awe instead of fear. With that wakeup call all of the parade’s spectators and participants ran or flew to get out of the way of the disastrous event. All except for a certain purple maned filly who found herself to terrified to move. Luckily for her however Applejack was able to spot her pure white coat and when the cowpony reached her new friend from yesterday she squeezed herself underneath her and lifted the other filly on to back before making a run for safety. “Get a move on Sugarcube!”
Meanwhile the royal guards panicked when they saw half of the cliff coming towards them and their ruler. “Get the princess out of here quickly” yelled one of the unicorn guards to the pegasi who’ve been pulling the chariot since they landed before taking off in a run himself with the other unicorn. Celestia however hadn’t been ready for her guards’ sudden take off into the air; as she’d been focusing her magic to keep a particularly large boulder that was rolling apparently unnoticed behind the rockslide, and when the pegasi suddenly lurked the chariot forward the alicorn lost her balance and collided head first onto the ground below, knocking her unconscious.
Zoro meanwhile had managed to cut down the rockslide to a decent enough size to where even if there were still any ponies beneath him that they wouldn’t die at least. When he stopped running and resheathed Wado however a massive boulder rolled right past him, using what was left of the former smaller disaster as something of a ramp to launch itself into the air. “At least there aren’t anymore-“ It was then that Zoro saw Equestria’s ruler; who was also his only known chance to get back to his world, lying unconscious at the bottom of the ravine and right in the path of the now flying boulder. “Why the hell isn’t that surprising!” roared Zoro as he raced down the cliff at his top speed.
“Where’s the princess!?” yelled one of the pegasus guards when he looked back to check on their princess once they were a safe distance away. Their panicked questioning was silenced when a loud crash was heard back in the direction of the cliff. “Oh hay” groaned the guard as he, the other guards and the Ponyville residents raced off to see if their ruler was still at the cliff and hopefully still in one; none flat, piece.
- Back at the ravine
Celestia groaned from the pain pulsing through her head and opened her eyes to see what had happened. When she did however, all see saw was dark green and rock. “You awake?” asked a strained and deep male’s voice. It was then Celestia noticed that the dark green she’d seen before was actually a large earth stallion’s coat and when she gazed further up she saw to stern eyes gazing down at her.
“Y-yes I am” she answered, lifting her head to get a better view of their apparent situation. What she saw was nothing that she’d ever seen in her thousand-plus years of life. The boulder; which she’d remember being rather large from afar, was actually massive up close as is the entire cliff itself had rolled itself into a ball just to tumble down on them. This isn’t what surprised her however; what did caused the ruler of Equestria to go nearly slack jawed was the fact that this one stallion was holding the boulder on his back and what’s even more amazing is that he only seems to be slightly fatigued by this. She’s never seen any earth pony, unicorn, pegasus, or even alicorn come close to being able to lift even a fifth of this amount of weight for even a second.
“Hey! Quit day dreaming damn it!” yelled the mysterious stallion, effectively breaking the alicorn out of her awe struck daze.
“Oh, I apologize for my inconsiderate behavior. Especially as it appears as though you have saved my life” said Celestia gratefully.
“That’s great and all but can you help me get this damn rock off my back!” roared the stallion.
Celestia was taken aback by this stranger’s brash behavior towards her and rather foul choice of words. She was just about to scold him too until she remembered his predicament and glanced at the boulder again. “I am afraid that even I may only be able to keep this elevated for a short while” she stated, rather saddened by the fact that she wouldn’t be able to be of much more help to her subject.
“That’s fine just do it” groaned the stallion as the weight had finally started to take its toll on him. Celestia nodded before focusing her magic and lifting the boulder slightly off of him. In the split second after she did the green earth pony unsheathed his strange weapon and said. “Ittoryu Iai: Shi Shishi Sonson” (One Sword Style Draw and Resheath Technique: Lion’s Song of Death). 
The next thing that Celestia knew the entire boulder split in half and fell to the ground around them with a loud crash. This time the Equestrian princess did let her jaw hang open in surprise before she shook it off and turned towards the mysterious green stallion about to ask him several questions only to see him lying on the ground unable to move. “Are you alright Mr.-I apologize but I never got your name” stated the alicorn with a worried stare at her seemingly injured savior.
“Firstly; of course I’m not alright that damn boulder landed on my spine!” roared the stallion, only to groan and start to shakingly stand up on his hoof. “Secondly, my name is- He paused suddenly realizing that he’d never thought of a name. “Pirate Hunter, no that won’t fit with the names I’ve heard so far they may not even have pirates in this world. Moss Head, ero-cook would really get a laugh out of that if they came to get me. I remember seeing my three katana tattooed on the sides of my hind legs so maybe Santoryu? No, I doubt that they know what that means. What about Three Sword, no, Three Blade, Triple Blade, Tri-Blade. I’ll go with that one.’ “Name’s Tri-Blade” he finally answered after about a minute of awkward silence on Celestia’s part.
“That is a rather unique name and to get a name so close to your cutie mark is quite rare. I am Princess Celestia, it is a pleasure to meet you Tri-Blade” said Celestia in her usual kind demeanor, extending her hoof to shake her savior’s only to have another awkward silence pass when the stallion didn’t move.
“As much as I want to shake your hoof, or kiss it, or whatever the hell you’re supposed to do to royalty I was holding that boulder for a while waiting for you to wake up so I can’t exactly move right now” explained Zoro, putting no tact into what he says no matter who he’s talking to as usual.
Celestia was taken aback by his brashness again only to giggle at the stern face and glare that he was trying to maintain. “Very well then. Allow me to fly you to the hospital for treatment” said Celestia, levitating the grumpy stallion onto her back.
Zoro really wasn’t thrilled about having to be carried by anyone but his aching back caused him to just scowl instead. “Fine, as long as they don’t put any of those damned bandages on me. Those things are constricting as hell” growled the swordsman.
Celestia giggled again at the stallion stubborn and slightly childish request. “Well it depends on whether or not the doctors request that you be placed in them. If you must be then I will not stop them from doing so” stated Celestia, before her eyes narrowed slightly. “We will also have to do something about that language of yours. Those words you are using do not sound to be particularly appropriate so I would prefer that you not use them around my little ponies.” With that Equestrian ruler took in flight back towards Ponyville, careful not to damage her cargo on the way.

> The Deal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Come on Granny, we’re never gonna be able ta see Zo-Tri-Blade if ya don’t hurry!” hollered Applejack as she guided her elder through the large group of ponies that crowded the hospital’s entrance. After word had spread of the princess’s rescue by the town’s newest pony seemingly everypony in Ponyville along with a few paparazzi ponies swarmed the hospital’s front entrance to hopefully get a glimpse of the two. Luckily for them though Celestia’s guards had managed to reach the establishment right after their ruler had and formed a blockade to keep the crowd out.
When Applejack and Granny Smith finally managed to reach the entrance they found themselves blocked off from entering just like everypony else. “Now why won’t ya let us in?” asked the orange filly.
“Only hospital faculty, injured ponies or family members are allowed in at this time” stated one of the royal guards.
“But we’re Tri-Blade’s friends. He’s been livin’ an’ workin’ at our farm since he got here” explained Applejack sadly at the thought of not being able to see her new friend.
The guard stared unaffected by the filly’s saddened gaze as he started to restate his orders. “I’m sorry but only immediate family members ca-“
“Let them through” ordered a familiar deep voice.
The guard ponies glanced back towards the voice to see their ruler coming out of the hospital beside the dark green stallion who’d saved her and once Celestia nodded in answer to the guards’ silent stares they stood down as instructed, allowing the orange and lime green ponies to pass. Applejack leapt into the air as soon as she reached the pair and wrapped Zoro into a hug before she bonked him on the head with her hoof. “Now just what were you thinkin’ puttin’ yerself in danger like that? I mean, I’m glad that ya saved the princess an everythin’ but ya coulda been killed doin’ it” reprimanded the Apple filly before she remembered whose presence she was in and bowed before the princess. “Ah’m mighty sorry ‘bout that yer highness. Ah shoulda noticed you before started yellin’ at him.”
Celestia giggled at the young filly’s criticizing and apologizing before she said. “It’s quite alright young one. Your concern is understandable and I would do the same if one of my loved ones had done the same.”
Applejack lifted her head up to smile gratefully at the princess only for her oversized stetson to drop over her face again. When she lifted it back up though whatever she was going to say was lost when she saw the look that Zoro had in his eyes, a look of resolve and determination. “So ah guess that the two of you had yer talk then?” asked the filly.
“Yeah and we managed to cut a deal but.” Zoro paused for a moment to; not really looking forward to saddening the orange colored pony. ‘Damn kids’ growled the swordspony mentally before he shook his head slightly and answered. “I’m going to have to live in Canterlot until the Princess can figure out how to solve my problem.”
“Really, how come?” asked Applejack.
- Flashback
Celestia stared at towards the hospital room that; after nearly ten minutes of arguing, finally went silent and waiting with a calm patience for somepony to exit it. Finally the door opened and the earth mare doctor; who’d entered the room right before the shouting started, trotted out with a frustrated red face. “Your friend will be fine your highness but he refuses to wear any restraints what so ever that would restrain his movements. Even though I explained to him numerous times that he wouldn’t have to wear them for very long and well. I’d like to speak freely for a moment if you’d allow me to your highness.”
“Please go right ahead” said Celestia.
"Your friend is outrageously frustrating and beyond any kind of stubbornness I’ve ever seen. I would honestly watch yourself around someone who’s so, disobedient” stated the doctor, growling slightly at the last work.
Celestia couldn’t help but giggle at what the doctor had just told her. “Well he does seem to be a little rough around the edges now doesn’t he? There’s no need for concern however doctor I plan on finding some way to keep a cushion between each other” said the Equestrian ruler as she trotted into Tri-Blade’s room. As some as she entered and shut the door with her magic Celestia’s kind stare turned to a stern one. “Now then, would you mind telling me where you’re from?”
“How do you know I’m not from here?” asked Zoro, not even bothering to open his eyes and look at the princess.
“You use words and terms that are uncommon of anywhere I know of, have demonstrated a masterful amount of skill with a sword of unfamiliar design, have strength beyond any pony I’ve ever met in my thousand plus years of life and your magical essence is different than anything in Equestria” listed off the alicorn before taking a breath and narrowing her gaze. “So who are you and where have you come from? Answer truthfully or I will take it as a threat to my subjects and lock you away into the depths Tartarus myself” threatened Celestia now using her royal voice to hopefully intimidate the stranger enough to make him tell the truth. She truthfully didn’t like using the royal voice but she was willing to take any and all measures to ensure the safety of her little ponies.
She was thoroughly surprised however when Zoro simply opened his non scared eye to stare at the princess with no reaction towards her act what so ever. “Look Princess I’m not here to hurt anyone unless I have to. The only reason I even saved your ass was because your subjects told me that you could help me to get home” stated the swordsman before he chuckled. “By the way, that was a poor as excuse for intimidation. If you really want to scare someone into working with you then you’re to need a lot more than a loud voice. Something like.” Zoro then stepped down off of his hospital bed without even showing any sign of his slight former fatigue and took a crouched stance while glaring back up towards the ruler, pushing out some of his massive killer intent to top his example off.
Celestia’s breath caught in her throat and she took a step backwards into the door from the sight before her. From where she was watching she couldn’t even recognize the green stallion any more as he now seemed to have been replaced by a predator from the darkest depths of the Everfree Forest. From beneath the shadow given off by his in place black bandana that covered his eyes shown a lone eye that was filled with so much feral danger that it sent a sweat of raw fear down the powerful alicorn ruler’s face. 
Just as it had formed however the paralyzing demonstration that Zoro had brought disappeared once he stop back up and the shadow disappeared from over his eyes. “If I wanted to hurt your ponies then I would’ve let that rockslide crush you all and then I would’ve cut the survivors to shreds” stated the green stallion.
With the feral creature replaced with the familiar earth pony Celestia was able to breath easily once again. “And I’m extremely grateful for your non-violent approach. I apologize if my rash conclusions have caused you to distrust me.”
“It’s fine, you were only looking to protect your friends. I’ve done the same thing more times than I can remember” said Zoro.
“Well then now that we’re on friendly terms once again I must ask for you to explain your situation to me if I’m to help you” said Celestia as she used her magic to pull a chair up for herself while Zoro plopped back down onto his bed.
“Just don’t ask a bunch of annoying questions” said the swordsman as he began his story telling his story.
To say that Celestia’s mind was sent over the moon enough to be seen by Luna by the end of her accomplice’s story would’ve been a sever understatement. Not only was he a wanted member of an infamous pirate crew, but the world that he lived in and the friends whom he’d lived within it with was beyond anything that she or anyone in Equestria could’ve ever possibly imagined and she would’ve actually listed him off as crazy if it wasn’t for the look of raw truth that lay in his eyes. “W-well that certainly is an interesting story” said Celestia with a still processing mind. “I can’t say that I’m particularly unfamiliar with other dimensions but I’ve never created a portal to one myself and the only pony who has is long since passed.”
“Damn it” growled Zoro. “Well did whoever was able to make the portals leave any books behind or something?”
“Oh Starswirl left many of his notes and various other writings behind. Unfortunately there are a great many of them and it will take a rather long time to look through them all and with my royal duties to attend to it could take several years” stated Celestia.
Zoro gritted his teeth so hard at the news that the alicorn thought that they might break. “God damn it!” yelled Zoro, as he knocked a hole in a nearby wall with a single hoof punch. Celestia was taken aback by this outburst of rage and violence but simply decided to let him vent and pay for any damages later. She didn’t have to wait for long however as Zoro seemed to meditate for a while with his hoof still through the wall and managed to feign a calm after a moment. “It’s not like I have any other choice but what the hell am I supposed to do while I’m waiting for you to get me home?”
“Well that actually brings me to an arrangement I hope you’ll consider. I wish to request that you become my guardian during your time here in Equestria” stated Celestia.
“Why the hell would you need a guardian you have an entire group of guards and aren’t you supposed to be this place’s strongest being or something?” asked Zoro.
“Well as you saw from today’s events even I’m vulnerable to danger ever now and then so I wish for you to become my personal guard until your fated day to leave comes” explained Celestia.
Zoro thought about it for a second. “Well it’s not like I haven’t baby sat before” he thought aloud to himself with a shiver going up his spine once again from his adventure at Water 7.
“Excuse me?” asked Celestia, wanting to see if what she’d heard about this highly intimidating stallion actually babysitting was true.
Zoro choked a bit when he realized that he’d thought aloud and that the princess might’ve heard him. “Nothing” grunted Zoro. “As long as I get a place to stay and some of whatever the hell this world’s money is then I’ll do it.”
“Very well” agreed Celestia. “You may have a room at the castle and a reasonable amount of access to the royal funds.”
“Fine” agreed Zoro as he and Celestia did an awkward; at least it was for Zoro, hoof shake to seal their deal.
“By the way, should I call you Zoro or Tri-Blade?” asked Celestia.
“Just stick to Tri-Blade” answered Zoro. “I’ll stick out less that way.”
- Back to the present 
“So you’re gonna be the Princess’s bodyguard!?” asked Applejack excitedly while everypony else who’d heard was slack jawed.
"Yeah, so I’ll be going back to Canterlot with her” answered Zoro.
“Well, you’ll come an’ visit us at least right?” asked the filly with a now slightly down look.
‘Damn sad kids’ thought Zoro before he pushed down on the cowpony’s stetson as he had many times already today. “I’ll come by whenever I’m not busy” stated Zoro.
“Well ya have ta promise me that it’ll be at least once a month” said Applejack, gazing back up with determined eyes.
“I can’t just-“ Zoro started to say before nudge from behind caused him to look back towards Celestia who nodded at him with her usual graceful smile. “Fine” he agreed although he also had another reason for coming back. ‘Those idiots had better come to get me soon. I don’t want to be trapped in this nauseatingly colorful world for longer than I have to.’ “On one condition Applejack” he said suddenly.
“Sure anythin’” said Applejack, happy that she’d still get to see her new friend without having to worry about his busy new schedule getting in the way.
“I need you to keep an eye out for anyon-anypony that seems weird to you” said Zoro.
“An’ what do ya mean by weird?” asked Applejack.
“They’ll probably act just like I did when you first met me” explained Zoro before he remembered one important detail. “Except they’ll be a lot louder and obnoxious about it.”
With that Applejack leapt up to hug the green stallion again. “Ah promise!” yelled the filly despite her being right next to the other pony’s ear.
“Right like that” groaned Zoro as his right ear pulsed from the obnoxiously loud promise. He then turned to the Apple family matriarch after the orange pony released him. “Thanks for letting me stay at your place” he said, not used to thanking people for things.
“Not a problem partner. Feel free ta stay at the farm whenever ya come an’ visit us. We could always use the extra hooves on the fields” said Granny Smith, which caused everypony around to chuckle at the old pony’s reasoning. “Course, just havin’ ya come an’ visit will be nice too.” And with that the newly named Tri-Blade and Princess Celestia headed towards the alicorn’s chariot with the royal guards close behind.

> Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The flight to Canterlot was slightly irritating to Zoro as Celestia asked him questions about his other life the entire way there. “So you and your crew mates actually stood against your world’s ruling power in order to save a friend?” asked Celestia in surprise at hearing about Enies Lobby.
Zoro grinned at hearing her surprise. “When Luffy’s your captain then he’ll turn the entire world upside down to save a nakama if he has to” stated the green haired stallion.
Celestia smiled at hearing the amount of respect that Zoro had for his captain and crew. “So I take it that you and Nico Robin are on good terms now?”
Zoro had to think about his answer to her question for a moment as he and Robin had a pretty quiet relationship. “Yeah we get along pretty well” he answered. “She doesn’t really irritate the hell out of me anymore and we have a pretty good understanding now.”
“Well I’m glad that you have such strong friendships with them especially with a former enemy. Equestria thrives on the friendships made throughout a pony’s life so if you’re going to live her while I figure out how to send you home then you’ll need to make friends while you’re here” stated Celestia before she smiled. “That shouldn’t be too difficult for you though seeing as how you’ve already managed to become friends with the Apple family.”
With that the chariot landed in the castle’s courtyard with Celestia and Zoro stepping off of it to let the guards put it away. While the alicorn began giving the tour however Zoro’s mind was stuck on what the ruler said about having to make friends. ‘Luffy and the others were always the ones to make all of the damn friends though. This world is going to be a big pain in the ass for me.’
“Are you alright?” asked Celestia when she heard her guest growl slightly beside her.
“Yeah” muttered Zoro, not bothering to hide his scowl.
Celestia’s gaze softened as she made the connection between her new bodyguard’s current attitude. “There’s no need to worry Tri-blade friends are very easy to make here. In fact most of your friendships may be formed by others rather than you having to form them yourself” said the alicorn. The ruler let a smile cross her face as she watched her words take their intended effect on the large earth pony, if his shoulders untensing and release of a held breath were anything to go by. It was then that a thought struck the Equestrian ruler that a nice walk through the royal garden could help her new guardian relax; it always helped her whenever she’s had a particularly stressful day.
While Zoro appeared to be deep in thought; so deep that he wasn’t noticing where they were going but not enough to where he didn’t follow her, Celestia made her way through the halls and to the garden that lay behind the castle. When the two reached the garden though Celestia heard some familiar voices nearby. “Go long Twily!” called a young stallion’s voice.
A disc came flying out of a nearby bush with a small purple unicorn filly chasing after it. Celestia managed to catch the disc with her magic but the filly ended up running straight into Zoro’s leg. “Ow” groaned the unicorn as she looked up to see what she’d ran into only to eep and shrink down under the stern glare of a towering green earth pony. Celestia noticed the glare though and secretly nudged Zoro while handing the filly back her disk using her magic.
“Did you get it Twilight?” asked a young mare’s voice as a pink alicorn mare and a white unicorn stallion came trotting around the bush that the filly had run out of. “Oh, Aunt Celestia!” called the young alicorn when she noticed the ruler. “I didn’t think that you’d be coming home so soon. I’m sorry for having friends over without your permission.”
Celestia smiled. “It’s alright Cadance, friends of yours are allowed here at any time. Especially since one of them happens to be my new student and a guard. Your name is Shining Armor correct?” asked the princess to the stallion. 
“Oh uh yes ma’am, I mean your majesty” stuttered the unicorn in nervousness before he did an awkward mix of a bow and salute.
Celestia couldn’t help but giggle at the new guard’s display and trotted over to him before she placed one of her golden shoed hooves on his shoulder. “You don’t have to be so nervous around me Shining, after all you are you are such great friends with my niece” stated the older alicorn as she smirked teasingly when she saw Cadance and Shining’s faces redden at that.
“U-um h-hi m-my name is um Twilight Sparkle” squeaked a quiet voice from behind the trio. Turning around they saw Twilight trying desperately not to pass out beneath the stare of the towering earth pony. Celestia’s smile dropped when she Zoro just standing there over the filly. She then nudged him with the disk that was still in her magic and gave him a look that said ‘be nice’ when he looked at her.
Zoro sighed. “Name’s Tri-blade” introduced the green haired pony in a half assed fashion before he grabbed the disk from the air with his mouth and placed it on the ground next to the small unicorn. “This is yours right?”
“O-oh yes it is thank you Tri-blade” said Twilight as she grabbed the disk with her magic.
“Aunt Cely, who’s he?” asked Cadance. 
“That’s Tri-blade. He saved my life in Ponyville so I offered him the position of being my personal bodyguard. He’s going to be staying at the castle with us from now on” explained Celestia.
“Shining! What’s going on over there?” called an older male’s voice.
“Oh, nothing dad we’ll be right there!” called the unicorn before he turned back to elegant ruler. “We’re having a picnic nearby, would you like to join us your majesty?”
Celestia was about to politely decline as she still needed to finish the tour when her niece spoke up. “We have cake” stated Cadance in a sing song voice with a smirk on her face when she save her aunt’s ears twitch. 
“Would you like to stay and eat some lunch with them Tri-blade?” asked Celestia towards her guest before she saw him playing catch with Twilight. The trio watched the pair for a minute before Zoro noticed them and stopped dead while still being able to catch the disk in his mouth
"What?” growled Zoro, trying to turn his embarrassment into anger at being caught playing with the filly.
“Oh nothing, we were just going to have some lunch. Would you like to join us?” asked Celestia. Zoro was about to decline out of anger, due to the look the teasing look the Equestrian ruler was giving him, but then his stomach let out a loud growl. “It would appear so” stated the white alicorn as she and the others all began towards where the picnic was.
During the short walk Celestia slowed down to beside Zoro and when she was close enough for him to hear she whispered, “I told you that making friends here would be easier than you thought, especially with the little ones apparently. You wouldn’t happen to have any of your own back home, would you?”
Zoro nearly choked on his own tongue at hearing the ruler’s question. “N-no way!” shouted Zoro before he quieted down when everypony ahead turned to look at him. He waited for them to turn back before he continued. “Kids are a big enough pain in the ass when they aren’t mine so why would I ever want some” growled the green stallion at the thought of having kids hounding around and bugging him for things twenty-four seven. He got enough of a headache from that during his day with those orphans and their mom at Water 7.
“That’s a shame” stated Celestia. “Given the way you were with Applejack and Twilight I think that you’d make a great father.”
‘Again with that’ thought Zoro as he remembered when Robin had caught him at Water 7 with those babies and told him that “it suited him”. He was taken out of his thoughts when he felt a hoof on his shoulder and saw that Celestia was telling him to sit. Zoro glanced over at the three smiling faces of the new grayish colored mare, light blue stallion, and baby purple and green dragon along with the smiles of Twilight, Cadance, Shining, and Celestia. ‘This world’s going to be a pain in the ass’ thought Zoro as he sat down to eat with his new ‘friends’.
- Three hours later
It had been a long day and a big headache for Zoro as he followed Celestia down one of the castle’s many hallways to where she said his room would be. After two hours of eating strange pony foods and getting bombarded with annoying questions from the Twilight’s family and Cadance; whom Zoro had discovered had the special talent of love ‘how cheesy’ Zoro had thought after she’d told him. Celestia said goodbye to the five ponies and dragon and spent the last hour showing Zoro around her home. 
As the duo was about to enter into another wing of the castle which was separated by two large doors that had a sun painted on them, Zoro heard a horrified girlish gasp nearby. Turning he saw a white stallion that had a neatly combed blonde mane and wearing a white tuxedo that had a very small red spot on the right breast of his coat. “Look what you’ve done you animal!” the preppy stallion squealed. 
“I-I’m so sorry Prince Blueblood” half panicked half groaned an earth mare who was trying to stand up from the ground. Given the ladder had fallen only to be propped up by the opposite wall and the paint can and brush that was on the ground, Zoro could only assume that the apparently painter pony who’d been detailing some of the castle’s wall paper had fallen down and hurt herself.
“Well you should be this tuxedo was very expensive and you’re going to replace it” ordered the uptight sounding prince.
“B-but I can’t pay for something that expensive” said the terrified mare. “I barely make enough for my supplies and young ones as it is.”
“We then you’ll just have to get some extra work now won’t you and I’m sure that there are some things that your colts and fillies can do without for a while” scoffed Blueblood. “Perhaps they can even help you, I’m sure that-“
“Hey!” shouted Zoro as he approached the stallion. “What’s your problem you prissy little pri-“
“Tri-blade” called Celestia as she trotted towards the pair to try and separate them.
“Who is this, this commoner Auntie? I demand that you punish him for speaking to me in such a way” said Blueblood.
“I don’t care if you are her nephew! You don’t treat any of your subjects like that!” growled Zoro in anger at how much this prince reminded him of the Celestial Dragons.
Celestia sighed before she turned her head towards the still cowering mare. “You maybe go. I’ll pay for my nephew’s suit and your spilt supplies, I’ll even see to it that you get a bonus for your hard work” said the eternal ruler.
“T-thank you your highness” exclaimed the pony happily before she picked up her supplies and dashed away.
“Return to your quarters and change Blueblood, I’ll speak to him later” stated Celestia. Blueblood let a cocky smile grace his face before he turned away and began trotting off. “You must understand that my land doesn’t freely allow violence as much as yours does so please only use it if it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Fine, I’ll restrain myself” muttered Zoro, before he trotted towards Blueblood in a quickened pace. “Oi!” 
The prince turned towards the shout. “Coming to apologi-“ the white stallion was silenced when he received a forehead to his face that broke his nose.
Celestia stared in shock at what she’d just seen and was about to reprimand Zoro when he passed her saying. “Starting now” with that said the green stallion entered the Sun wing of the castle ignoring the nasally, squealing Blueblood as he held his nose. 
The Equestrian ruler stared after the stallion as he disappeared behind the large sun doors and thought to herself. ‘Having him around with certainly be interesting. I just hope that it won’t be too much for this world.

> Six years
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Damn it” growled a deep voice in frustration. “That’s another book that doesn’t have any useful shit.” This stallion was none other than Roronoa Zoro, or Tri-blade as he’s gone by for the last six years. 
During his time here Zoro learned a lot about this world and its history including the tragic banishing of Celestia’s sister that happened over nine hundred and ninety-six years ago, as well as, meeting a large variety of different ponies, most of which were far too eager to befriend their ruler’s first ever actual bodyguard and while it annoyed Zoro at first he couldn’t help but start to become fond of this world’s inhabitants. Of course, this didn’t mean that he’d forgotten about his nakama and where his old world which is why even after six whole years of reading book after book; a task that was far more suited for someone who actually enjoyed doing it like Robin and Twilight, he still didn’t want to give up returning to his world.
“Tri-blade?” called an elegant voice from library’s doorway.
“Celestia what’re you doing here? It’s still too early for you to be awake and walking around” stated Zoro, he’d been here the whole night but despite being tired his senses were still sharp as ever so he still knew what time it was.
Celestia giggled at her bodyguard’s over protective nature. “Relax Tri-blade, I’ve walked the halls just fine for over nine-hundred years before having you around. You don’t have to be on your guard all the time” she told him.
“Force of habit” stated Zoro holding the book that he’d just finished looking through in his mouth so he could put it away. “Back home I always had to stay alert for threats to my crew. Marines, other pirates, bounty hunters, sea kings, even the weather could hurt them and it was my duty as first mate to make sure that didn’t happen.”
“Well as you’ve seen over the past years Equestria is a very peaceful land without any real enemies since they were all defeated long ago by myself and.” Celestia stopped mid-sentence at the heart breaking thought of her sister.
Zoro noticed the alicorn’s distressed gaze and decided to try and change the subject. ‘This damn world is making me too soft-hearted’ thought Zoro with a slight anger. “Well that still doesn’t mean that you should let your guard down. Peace never lasts forever” said Zoro before he yawned loudly.
The green stallion’s yawn broke Celestia out of her daze before she let a rare scowl appear on her face. “Have you been staying up all night again?”
“Yeah, but nothing some naps can’t fix” answered Zoro as he grabbed another book from one of the library’s many shelves only to have it yanked out of his mouth by some magic.
“You need to get a proper rest Tri-blade and I won’t allow you to read another book until you do” stated Celestia with a firm ruler’s tone.
Zoro growled, even he couldn’t get Celestia to back down when she used her authoritative stance and as much as he wanted to try he was way too exhausted for it. “Fine, I’ll get a full sleep tonight” muttered Zoro.
“No, you’re going to get a full rest today. I’m giving you the day off to relax” said Celestia defiantly.
“Not gonna happen” Zoro said back. “You have too many meetings today and I’m not going to let you go unguarded.”
“The palace guards can handle it Tri-blade. You need a day off” argued Celestia.
“You haven’t taken a day off in over a thousand years so I don’t see why I have to!” shouted Zoro
“You’re not immortal” stated Celestia, managing to hold in her frustration at the stallion’s stubbornness.
“I’m not taking the day off besides,” said Zoro, stopping to gaze at a nearby clock. “it’s time for you to raise the sun so it looks like well don’t have any more time to argue.”
Celestia allowed herself a small pout; a few years ago she would never have allowed herself to get so angry or act so childishly around one of her subjects but over these past six years she’s found herself growing fond of her bodyguard a type of fondness that she hasn’t felt around somepony else since her sister’s banishment. Somepony that she can act herself around and not have to hold her royal demeanor all of the time. That’s why when she saw her friend’s cocky smirk at finding a distraction to keep her from trying to convince him to sleep she let herself pout without a care for her royal image. 
After a minute she finally sighed and began to lead Zoro out of the library towards the balcony where she normally performed her celestial duties. Along the way she decided to speak to the swordspony about a topic that’s been bothering her for a while now. “Are you certain that you still wish to return home Tri-blade?” asked the alicorn.
“What kind of question is that?” asked Zoro with a narrowed glance to his companion.
Celestia allowed her gaze to drop down to the floor as the two walked. “Well it’s been six years since you’ve arrived here and we’ve already searched through the royal library without any success.”
“That doesn’t mean I should stop trying. My nakama need me and I have a dream to see through too. I can’t just throw all of that away because a few years have passed” said Zoro with conviction in his voice.
As the duo reached the double glass doors that lead out to Celestia’s sun/moon balcony they stopped. “And would you truly be alright with leaving everypony here behind? The Apples? Ponyville? The Sparkle family? The guards whom you’ve helped to train? Cadance? M-“ Celestia stopped herself short at the last part trying not to seem needy or give him the wrong idea. ‘Of course, would it even be the wrong idea? I would miss him’ she thought to herself as she felt her heart ache, ‘greatly.’ “Just please, for everypony who cares about you, think it over.”
With that Celestia turned and went out onto the balcony to perform her eternal duty with Zoro watching her and thinking hard about what she’d said. ‘I can’t stay here damn it. What about Luffy and the others? No, it’s been too damn long and it’ll probably take even longer to get back. They’ve all probably moved on with their lives by now. I can’t just abandon Kuina though and I still have to return Wado to Koshiro-sensei, but there’s no guarantee that I’ll ever return. Damn it!’ Zoro thought in a hopeless anger before his crew flashed into his head and he sighed sadly. “There no guarantee that I’ll ever see any of them again.”
“Hmm, did you say something Tri-blade?” asked Celestia, looking away from her task for a second to see her bodyguard with a depressed scowl.
“No, don’t worry about it and raise the sun already” said Zoro, trying to hide his pain behind his usual forceful and blunt tone.
When the alicorn ruler turned around and continued with her task Zoro returned to his thoughts. ‘If I stay here though, what will I have to look forward to? There’s no other swordsmen to defeat, no enemies to fight, and no nakama to protect. But there are the Apples, Twilight and her family, everyone in Ponyville and Canterlot that I’ve me, Cadance, and’ Zoro stopped to look at the princess who took this time to finish raising the sun to look back and him. Seeing that he was seemingly coming out of his depression Celestia allowed a gentle smile to grace her lips, unaware that the way the sun was positioned behind her gave her a breath taking glow that only a ruler of eternal beauty such as her could make look so natural.
Even Zoro couldn’t help but find himself entranced by the sight of the alicorn gazing over her shoulder at him with kind eyes, a caring smile, and a seemingly natural and flawless glow. It didn’t last long however as the green stallion quickly regained his senses and tried to look as if he hadn’t been staring at her and didn’t have a blush of embarrassment on his face. ‘And her’ he thought, finally finishing off his longstanding thoughts.’
“Shall we?” asked Celestia when she returned to Zoro’s side. She’d managed to catch his staring at her, despite his attempts to hide it, and couldn’t help but hide a blush of her own at being admired by a stallion of his “special” qualities.
“Whatever, let’s just hurry up and get this boring sh-“ his sentence was stopped midway by Celestia’s glare, “stuff over with.”
As the duo walked away from the balcony towards the throne room to begin another day of repetitive meetings and complaints from the Equestria’s residents a familiar pink alicorn stood peering around a nearby corner. “Love isn’t so cheesy anymore now is it Tri-blade” giggled Cadance.
“Did you seriously just use your magic to set her majesty and Tri-blade up?” asked a stallion’s voice from behind the love alicorn.
Said alicorn yelped before she spun around and saw that it was only her love interest, Shining Armor. Thanks to Tri-blade’s disciplined training of the castle guard Shining has come a long way from being a clumsy new recruit and is actually now the youngest member of the guard to ever become the captain. “You know that my magic can only bring out the love of everypony. If it’s not already there then there is nothing that I can do” explained Cadance.
Shining raised an eyebrow at that. “So what you’re saying is that what just happened was natural?”
“Of course, you know that I’d never just force two ponies together like that” said the alicorn with a smile.
Shining returned the smile and said. “And that’s why I love you.”
“W-what!?” asked Cadance in surprise at what she just heard.
“AH-I-I-I’m mean that’s why I like you” panicked Shining with a massive blush on his face, hoping that he’s be able to cover his slip up.
“Y-yeah of course that’s what you said” stuttered Cadance with an equally large blush. “A-And I like you too Shining.”
An awkward silence passed between the two before Shining spoke. “W-well I have to get to a guard meeting.”
“And Aunt Cely wanted to see me before her first meeting” said Cadance.
Another awkward silence passed between the ponies before the both yelled “BYE!” and ran away in different directions.
> The Life He Never Imagined
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“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.

> Back with the Straw Hats
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Back with the other Straw Hats
It’s been almost two hours since Zoro disappeared from the Thousand Sunny thanks to Rikaru’s surprise attack with his Void-Void devil fruit. Now, the heavily beaten enemy captain sat tied to a chair in the Sunny’s kitchen with the remaining Straw Hats surrounding him and his first mate, who was tied to another chair nearby with his own Kairoseki chains. “WHERE’S ZORO!?” yelled Luffy for the hundredth time in the last hour.
“Holololo!” laughed Rikaru. “And just why would I tell you Straw Hat? So you can go and rescue your precious nakama?”
“YES! NOW WHERE’S ZORO!?” yelled the rubber captain before his head was smacked by the crew’s navigator.
“He’s obviously not going to tell us anything by just asking him Luffy. We need to try something else if he’s going to spill where he sent Zoro” stated Nami.
“Perhaps I may be of some assistance Nami-san” said Robin, who’d been quietly sitting in the kitchen’s corner watching her nakama.
“You think you can get him to crack Robin?” asked Nami.
Robin nodded with her usual smile. “My years in Baroque Works taught me how to be very persuasive when I need to be.”
“Then get it done Robin!” cheered Nami at her best friend’s offer.
“It won’t take long everyone, I promise, but I would prefer it if you would all wait outside for me” stated Robin.
“But I wanna watch!” whined Luffy as he was dragged out by Nami.
“Good luck Robin!” yelled Nami.
“Please don’t kill them Robin. I can’t cure that yet” said Chopper.
“Give ‘em hell Nico Robin!” cheered Franky.
“You’re so beautiful when you’re dangerous Robin-chwan!” praised Sanji as he span out after the crew, closing the door behind him.
Robin gave a slight wave to her departing nakama before kind smile turned to a malicious one. “Now then Torane-san” she said turning back to the Void fruit user. “Shall we get started?” she asked, crossing her arms.
- Outside
The entire Straw Hat Crew other than Luffy; who was grinning, were paling and nervously gulping at the sounds of screaming coming from the kitchen along with a few loud cracks ever now and then.
“Wow, I really do not envy them” stated Nami.
“R-r-r-ro-rob-b-b-b-in s-s-su-sure i-is sc-sc-scar-r-r-ry” trembled Usopp.
“Why’re you so scared Usopp? What’s happening?” asked Chopper, whose ears were being covered by Sanji.
“Nothing Chopper” answered Sanji calmly.
“Yohohoho! It sounds like Robin-san is having some fun!” laughed Brooke.
It was then that the screaming stopped and Robin emerged from the kitchen. “Did you find out where Zoro-bro is Nico Robin?” asked Franky.
Robin smiled. “Indeed I did Franky-san” she replied before turning to re-enter the kitchen with the others behind her. 
When the crew entered the kitchen most of them paled further at sight of their archeologist’s handy work. Sitting in the chair was a broken and bloodied Rikaru who had both of his legs twisted up at angles they should never be at, his right arm was easily dislodged with from his socket, and his collar bone was sticking out from his neck. The sight was enough for Usopp to run outside holding his mouth and the others to be left frozen in shock.
“Ahhhh! Robin, I told you not to kill him!” screamed Chopper, who’d entered the kitchen after Usopp ran out. “Someone call a doctor!”
“YOU ARE A DOCTOR, YOU LITTLE SH-“screamed Rikaru before he froze under Robin’s icy glare from what he was about to call her innocent nakama.
The archaeologist then turned to her nakama and smiled again. “I’m sorry Chopper-san, it would appear as though I allowed myself to get carried away. Could you please examine him before he bleeds out?”
“Oh right” said Chopper as he raced out of the kitchen to his infirmary then back with some supplies. After examining Rikaru for a few minutes Chopper finished and turned to his nakama. “These injuries won’t kill him but he needs to be placed in a full body cast if he ever wants to be able to use his limbs again.”
Hearing a nearby shudder Nami turned towards Rikaru’s chain wielding companion to find him pale, sweating, cowering, and probably traumatized from witnessing Robin’s special methods. “There’s no time for that right now Chopper.”
“WHAT!?” screamed Rikaru.
“SHUT UP!” screamed Nami as she punched the enemy captain’s head. “We’ll have Chopper fix you up AFTER we come back with Zoro.”
“Yeah, now where is he!?” yelled Luffy.
“I can track which dimension I sent him to and send you there as well to find him” said the void user in a panic of being hurt again.
“Yosh! Let’s go find Zoro guys!” cheered Luffy.
Rikaru’s abdomen, clothes and all, slowly became a deep black color and expanded to the edges of the ropes that restrained him.
“That portal’s kind of small” examined Usopp, who’d reentered the room a minute ago.
“Yeah I don’t think I’ll be able to fit through that” stated Franky. “You guys can go on ahead. I’ll stay here and make sure that these two don’t try to trap you guys in there or anything.”
“You should stay too Brooke. There’s no telling how the people of this world will react to seeing a talking skeleton” said Nami.
“I understand Nami-san, but before you go may I see your panties?” asked the musician before his head was kicked clean off of his shoulders by the navigator.
“Idiots” muttered Nami as she climbed through the portal behind Luffy who leapt through.
“Wait for me Nami-swan” yelled Sanji as the chef dived after her.
“W-w-wait! My ‘afraid of going to mystery dimensions’ disease is acting up” panicked Usopp as Robin’s hana hands pushed him to and into the portal.
Chopper was the next to go but he could help but be afraid of the dark, colorless portal that had just consumed his friends. He then felt familiar arms wrap themselves around him and lift him off of the group. “Don’t be afraid Chopper-kun. We’ll enter together” calmed Robin as the reindeer gratefully held on to her arms. She then turned to her remaining two nakama and smiled. “We promise to not take too long” she said as a pair of her hana hands helped place Brooke’s head back onto his body. “I’m sure that Zoro-san couldn’t have gotten into much trouble in only two hours.” With that she turned and gracefully climbed through the portal with Chopper cradled in her arms waving good bye to the cyborg and skeleton before dark cover the pair.

> The Straw Hats Arrive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“-fy! -uffy! Luffy! WAKE UP YOU IDIOT!” roared a familiar woman’s voice as Luffy was awoken by someone stepping on his head. The rubber captain groaned and opened his eyes to see a clear blue sky and trees above him. That much was normal but when Luffy saw an angry looking tan horse with an orange mane, a log pose strapped to her right fore hoof, and wings on her back glaring at him from above.
“YOSH! MEAT!” yelled Luffy as he sprung up and tried to take a bite out of the animal only for it to bash his head into the ground with its right front hoof.
"Don’t try to eat me you idiot!” yelled the orange maned mare.
“What!” roared a nearby blue stallion who had a familiar blonde mane and backwards curly eyebrow. “You tried to eat Nami-swan you Straw Hat bastard!”
“Fufufufu. Perhaps Luffy-san has suffered brain damage from his impact with that tree” wondered a deep purple coated and black maned mare who had a pair of sunglasses on her forehead that were held in place by a horn.
“Well he shouldn’t have shot himself through the portal so quickly” scolded Nami as she smushed her captain’s head further into the ground under her hoof. Said idiot had come out as a red coated and black maned stallion with his trade mark hat still on his head.
“Isn’t anyone freaked out that we’re all horses now!?” yelled a yellow coated and black maned stallion with their marksman’s hat on, goggles around his neck, and a pair of wings on his back.
“I believe we’re ponies Usopp-san” stated the purple mare.
"How can you be so calm about this Robin?” panicked Usopp.
“How come I didn’t changed?” asked Chopper who’d managed to keep his cute little reindeer appearance.
“Perhaps there aren’t any humans in this world so the portal re shaped our appearances to match this world’s inhabitants” theorized Robin.
“You’re so smart Robin-chwan!” praised the blue pony with hearts in his eyes.
“Shut up Sanji!” yelled Nami before she turned back to her best friend. “So you’re saying that the people who live in this world are all ponies?”
“Perhaps the dominant species yes” answered Robin.
Nami groaned at the news. “Let’s just hurry up and find that green haired idiot so we can head home before this place gives me a head ache.”
“Are you guys sure that the portal won’t close before we find him?” asked Usopp, looking over his shoulder at the black hole that floated next to a nearby pond. 
“I’m sure it’s fine Usopp” said Nami as she began trotting off towards a nearby dirt path with this others following her. “Now come on, he’d only been here for two hours so he couldn’t have gotten too far.”
“Especially with moss head’s sense of direction” stated Sanji.
“MEAT!” shouted Luffy, who’d just awoken from his unconsciousness and sprang towards Usopp.
“Ahhhh!” screamed Usopp as he ran away from his captain towards his friends. “No Luffy, don’t eat me please! I don’t taste good!”
- Meanwhile, at a nearby woodland cottage.
A beautiful melodic humming was heard as a familiar yellow pegasus was watering her flower bed. The pink maned pegasus still couldn’t believe how much had changed and everypony’s lives had improved ever since Twilight, sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle came to Ponyville ten years ago. She made best friends, discovered how to be brave (well a little more than before at least), and even rediscovered her past fillyhood friendship with, her beloved marefriend of three years and wife of the past year, Rainbow Dash. Speaking of the rainbow maned mare, Fluttershy was currently excitedly awaiting her return from her Wonderbolts track meet in Cloudsdale so they could go to the castle together and join their friends for their monthly dinner party. Of course, it’s not as if she hasn’t seen any of her friends in the past month this was just a little tradition that they came up with so they would never drift apart if they all suddenly became super busy.
A loud crash suddenly sounded right behind Fluttershy, effectively scaring her into hiding in a nearby pond where some of her fish friends were living. She tried to apologize to them but then found that she could breathe so she shot back up to the surface and into a settling dust cloud. The yellow mare sunk into the water as far as she could while still being able to breath in hopes of hiding from whatever caused the crash when she heard a voice. “Yes! I managed to cut a whole two minutes off my traveling time between here and Cloudsdale!” cheered the voice. “Who’s the fastest pony in Equestria? This mare right here is who!”
“Um, Rainbow” whispered Fluttershy between coughs from the still clearing dust.
“Uh huh, that’s right! Who’s the greatest!?” celebrated the rainbow mare, still not noticing her wife’s presence.
“Dashie?” called Fluttershy.
“I wonder where Shy is? She has to see how much cooler her wife has gotten since we saw each other last time. Shy! Where are you!” called Rainbow Dash.
“I’m right here Dashie” answered Fluttershy softly as she place a hoof on her, turned around, special somepony’s shoulder making the other pegasus jump.
“Hey, easy there Shy” said Rainbow Dash turning around and taking off her Wonderbolts issue goggles. “Sneaking up on somepony like that could give them a heart attack you know. I mean not me obviously, but anypony less awesome would’ve probably passed out.”
“I’m sorry” whispered Fluttershy, hiding behind her mane in shame.
“Aww, don’t worry about it Shy” calmed Rainbow as she pressed a kiss to her wife’s forehead. “Like I said it was me this time and I’m too awesome to scare so there’s no reason to apologize.” Seeing the shy pony nod caused Rainbow to chuckle. “Hey, I saw Rarity’s train coming in from Manehattan so why don’t we head over to the station after I change out of my uniform and meet her when she gets off?”
“Ok” agreed Fluttershy as she began coming out from behind her mane.
“Cool” said Rainbow as she gave her wife a quick nuzzle before heading into their cottage. She still missed living in her cloud mansion but was glad that she was able to give it to Scootaloo rather than have to buck it apart. She chuckled at the memory of how ecstatic the little orange filly was when her hero gave her old home to her. ‘She might be as old as Rainbow was ten years ago but she hasn’t changed at all since her fillyhood’ thought the cyan pegasus before she shut the door to the cottage behind her.
Fluttershy sighed happily and smiled at the mare she’d managed to end up with when she heard distant voices behind her and turned towards her backyard’s trail into the nearby forest where they were coming from. “This is so boring Nami!” whined a loud male voice.
“Shut up you idiot! We’ve only been walking for a few minutes so quit whining!” yelled a mare’s voice.
“Fufufu!” Perhaps Luffy-san is simply hungry” suggested a tall purple mare as she stepped out of the forest beside a red stallion with a straw hat on, a tanned mare with an orange mane, a yellow stallion with a sun cap on his head, a light blue stallion with his bang covering up one of his eyes and a backwards curly eyebrow over his revealed eye, and a short, adorable.
“REINDEER!” gasped Fluttershy as she flew herself over to the group and wrapped it up in her hooves. “Oh he’s so adorable! I’ve never seen a reindeer who’s able to walk on their back two legs before and look at that helmet it looks so cute on your tiny head!”
“Fluttershy, what’s going on I heard you scream!?” yelled Rainbow as she shot out of the cottage to see her wife surrounded by some weird looking ponies. “Hey, get away from her!” yelled Rainbow, who then flew down between her yellow mare and the strangers.
“Ahhhh, a wild animal!” screamed the goggle wearing stallion.
“Yosh, finally meat!” cheered the red stallion as he tried to bit Rainbow before he was smacked into the ground by the tanned pegasus beside him.
“You idiot! These guys might know where Zoro is!” scolded the orange maned mare before she turned to Rainbow and Fluttershy, who was still hugging a struggling Chopper. “Have either of you seen a large ma-I mean, stallion with light green hair and a scar across his left eye come through here?”
“He also carries a white sheathed sword and has a large scar across his chest as well as two on his back ankles” continued Robin.
“Plus he’s an irritable idiot with no sense of direction” calmly added Sanji.
Rainbow narrowed her eyes. ‘Why would these six be looking for Tri-blade?’ she wondered before she suddenly remembered something. ‘Wait a second? Are these his crewmates he told us about?’
- Flashback, five years ago.
The Mane Six, Spike, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Luna were all gathered in the throne room of Canterlot Castle awaiting Celestia and Tri-blade who’d called them there for an important meeting. “Aunt Luna, do you have any idea why we’re here?” asked Cadance, a little concerned that the news might be about something dangerous.
“I’m afraid that I’ve been kept in the dark as well” answered Luna.
“Ah’m sure it’s fine” calmed Applejack. “There was nothin’ in their letter sayin’ otherwise.”
“Applejack’s right” agreed Twilight, walking up to the group. “We’ve received plenty of urgent letters from Princess Celestia in the past and this didn’t seem to be like them.”
It was then that the room’s large doors opened and the ponies that they’d been waiting for walked in. “Thank you for coming everypony. It’s wonderful to see you all” said Celestia with a smile.
“So what’s going on Princess? Is Chrysalis back? What about Sombra? Now that Tri-blade’s not away on a negotiation Tirek shouldn’t be a problem if he broke out of Tartarus again” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Calm down Rainbow before you give me a head ache” growled Zoro.
“Well somepony’s grumpy today” stated Rarity.
Celestia giggled and nuzzled the stallion next to her. “I apologize everypony but Tri-blade was kept up late last night by a certain cranky foal.”
“But don’t you two have a foal sitter to watch her at night?” asked Shining Armor.
“We did but unfortunately she only calms down around us and Luna” answered Celestia.
“That’s not why we asked you all to come here though” stated Zoro, getting a little annoyed that they were getting off subject.
“So what is your purpose for this meeting then?” asked Luna.
“I’ve been hiding a secret from all of you ever since we’ve met” Zoro bluntly said.
Pinkie gasped. “A secret! I love secrets! Are we starting a secret club!? Can I go first!? My first name’s actually Pinkamena! I really don’t like lemons. I’m banned in four cities.”
“Pinkie this ain’t a” Applejack started then stopped. “Wait, yer banned in four cities?”
“We can talk about that later darling” said Rarity pointing a hoof at Tri-blade. “It appears as if he’s about to gain that head ache he mentioned earlier.”
“So what’s the secret?” asked Twilight.
Zoro sighed. “I’m not actually from the same world as you all. In fact, I’m not even a pony. My real name is Roronoa Zoro, I’m a swordsman and the first mate of a pirate crew.”
Rainbow laughed. “You’re kidding right?”
“Um, Rainbow, I don’t think he is” whispered Fluttershy.
“I’m not joking” stated Zoro, bracing himself for the long story/migraine inducing story.
- Two hours later
“And when I woke up I was in some forest next to a pond and was a horse instead of a human” finished Zoro. He really didn’t want to tell anypony his past but Celestia was insistent about him at least telling the ponies who were closest to him.
To say everypony was shocked was an understatement and if it hadn’t been for the detail and unwavering in his voice as he spoke they wouldn’t have believed him. Luna was the first to recover and speak. “Well that was certainly a story but not unbelievable. I always thought you were rather odd to be a pony of Equestria considering you don’t have many emotions other than anger. Not to mention that you’re the only pony I’ve ever met who hasn’t sung once” stated the night princess.
“And I’m never going to” growled Zoro. “EVER.”
- Present
Rainbow was brought out of her thoughts by the new group of ponies fighting with and yelling at each other while the dark purple unicorn and Fluttershy watched the small reindeer dance around blushing. ‘They’re defiantly weird enough to be from Zoro’s world. I better take them to Twilight before I say anything though’ concluded Rainbow Dash. She might still be hot blooded and prideful but being a captain of the Wonderbolts certainly helped Rainbow Dash to think clearer when she needed to. “Hey everypony!” she called to the group causing them to quiet down. “I think I have a pretty good idea of who you’re looking for but I’m gonna have to take you to our Princess first.”
“Princess-chwan!” shouted the dark blue stallion with hearts in his eyes and a look on his face that made Rainbow cringe. 
‘Yeah, he’s definitely not from Equestria’ thought Rainbow before she started leading the new obnoxious group of ponies towards Ponyville, or more specifically, her friend’s crystal castle. ‘I just hope Twilight will be able to figure this out.’

> Meeting the Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the group trotted through Ponyville; the new arrivals somewhat awkwardly, Rainbow couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the antics of Zoro’s possible crew mates as the orange maned mare yelled at the red and yellow stallions to hurry up since they were awing at everything and everypony, the blue stallion seemed to be off in his own thoughts muttering “princess” every now and again, while the purple mare simply giggled at her friends’ antics. But the cyan mare’s biggest eye roll came from hearing her wife continue to gush over the small deer who was walking next to her. ‘How in Equestria did Tri-blade manage to put up with these guys?’ wondered Rainbow. She was then drawn out of her thoughts by a loud crash and some pony screaming. Turning around, she saw that the straw hat wearing pony had apparently broken Golden Harvest’s booth and the tan mare was currently yelling at him again.

Rainbow groaned. ‘I really need somepony to distract me from these crazy ponies’ she thought tiredly.

“Well howdy there Rainbow!” called the familiar country accent of her best friend.

“Thank Celestia you’re here AJ” whined Rainbow as she flew over to the apple bucking pony.

“And what about me Rainbow” pouted another familiar posh, if whiney voice.

“Yeah, it’s nice to see you to Rarity” the pegasus half-flankely to the fashionista causing her to narrow her eyes. “Anyways AJ, you have to save me from these crazy ponies.”

“Sorry Rainbow, but ah kinda got mah hooves full at the moment” stated the Apple farmer.

It was then that Rainbow noticed the enormous amount of baggage that the earth pony was currently towing on a cart. She then glanced over to Rarity to see that the unicorn was only carrying a purse and glared at her.

“What?” asked Rarity when she noticed Rainbow’s stare.

“Shouldn’t you, you know, help AJ out by carrying some of your stuff?” asked the rainbow mare.

“Nonsense” answered Rarity as she trotted to the earth pony and nuzzled her. “Applejack here insisted on taking care of all of my luggage. She simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Sure she did” said Rainbow, not believing the unicorn for a minute.

“Actually Rainbow, ah did insist” said Applejack simply. “Ah know how stressful Rare’s fashion shows can be so ah always offer ta let her put up her hooves as much as she can whenever she gets home. In fact, ah even offered ta let her ride up on the cart while ah pulled her ta Twilight’s.”

“And of course I simply had to refuse that request” stated Rarity. “I couldn’t bare the thought of Applejack having to slave herself away at my expense.”

It was Applejack’s turn to nuzzle the unicorn. “Ah shucks Sugarcube, you wouldn’t have added on any extra weight and ya know it.”

“That’s so sweet of you to say darling but you mustn’t betray your honest nature at my expense. The sweets I allowed myself to indulge in during my stay in Manehattan are so obvious on my once beautiful figure that I’m surprised you didn’t mistake me for a marshmallow when you saw me” stated Rarity dramatically, as usual.

“Nonsense Rares, why yer just as perfect as the day ah met ya. Maybe even more so now” said Applejack with a reassuring grin.

“Awww” swooned Rarity nuzzling her wife again. “You always know exactly what to say darling.”

Applejack smiled and kissed the unicorn’s forehead. “It’s easy with you around.”

Rainbow smirked and rolled her eyes away from the couple. ‘I still can’t believe that those two used to hate each other’s guts and now you can’t keep them apart’ she thought laughing slightly at the last part.

“And just what’re you laughin’ at Rainbow?” asked Applejack suddenly, causing the rainbow maned mare jump a little.

“And would you be so kind as to introduce use to your new friends?” asked Rarity, glancing at the new comers who were still causing a racket to the ponies around them.

“Oh right” facehoofed Rainbow at how easily she let herself get distracted. ‘And I’m supposed to be a wonderbolt captain for Luna’s sake.’ “I was just on my way to Twilight’s castle with them actually.”

“Oi, what’re you guys talking about!?” asked/yelled the head of the straw hat wearing pony that was stretched over to them from where his body was.

“AHHH!” screamed everypony around who saw it, except for Fluttershy who fainted from it.

A purple flash suddenly appeared beside the group and Princess Twilight Sparkle showed up on high alert. “Is everypony alright? I head a scre-“ the alicorn stopped mid-sentence, frozen from the shock of seeing a widely grinning earth pony with his head actually stretched out from his body. Then, before any pony could react, the possibly smartest pony in Equestria suddenly passed out from brain overload.

- Sometime later

“Ugh, what happened?” groaned Twilight as she groggily opened her eyes to see that she was back in her bedroom at the castle. “Was that all a dream?” The sound of a hoof knocking at her door drew the alicorn’s attention. “Come in!”

The door was slowly pushed open and a white furred alicorn filly who had a long mane of different shades of green and bright pink eyes entered the room.; said filly’s eyes instantly widened in joy at seeing the purple alicorn. “Aunt Twilight!” exclaimed the small alicorn as she leapt onto the bed to hug the Princess of Friendship.

“Kuina? What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Canterlot?” asked the purple alicorn in surprise.

“Aunt Luna brought me here with her because there was something important she needed to see” explained the filly. “She asked me to come up and wake you.”

“Oh, alright let’s go” said Twilight, now curious about what was so important that Luna had to come all the way from Canterlot to see it.

When the duo entered the castle’s throne/map room they found the rest of the elements, Luna, and the mysterious group of ponies who Twilight had seen before she had fainted. “It’s good ta see ya up on yer hooves sugarcube” said Applejack at seeing her friend enter the room.

“Sooo, what’s going on here?” asked Twilight, cautiously staring at the widely grinning red stallion who’d caused her to faint in the first place.

“We’ve come from another world in order to retrieve a friend of ours” explained the purple unicorn who had a pair of sunglasses on her forehead.

“Wait a second. Are you talking about Tri-blade?” asked Twilight, quickly putting together the situation.

“Tri-blade?” asked the yellow stallion.

“Our friend’s name is Zoro” stated Chopper.

“Then you must be the Straw Hat Pirates right!? You’re Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and Robin right!? Where’s the big robot guy and talking skeleton though? I really wanted to meet them. Can you bring them here? Oh, I should through a party for you g-”

The pink party pony was silenced by Applejack’s hoof. “Now settle down there Pinkie Pie. Yer gonna run ‘em all ragged with those questions ah yers.”

“Oi, where’s Zoro!” shouted the Luffy

“Who’s Zoro?” asked Kuina.

“We’ll explain it to you later” answered Fluttershy softly.

“He’s a green haired idiot with no sense of direction” stated Sanji, trying to figure out how to smoke with his hooves.

“And why would you care about where he is?” asked Luna, glaring at the group of other worlders.

“So we can take him back with us of course” answered Nami obviously.

“AND JUST WHO DOTH THOU THINK THOU IST TO COME FOR HIM AFTER TWENTY YEARS AS IF IT WERE NOTHING!” shouted Luna in anger using her royal voice. The princess of night then noticed that she’d scared her niece and knelt down beside the filly to drape a forehoof over her body in comfort. “I am sorry, little one.”

“Wait, Twenty years!?” asked Usopp.

“But he’s only been gone for two hours” stated Nami.

“Perhaps there is a time difference between our worlds” theorized Robin calmly.

“Which means that six minutes in your world is an entire year in ours” finished Twilight.

“Fufufu, it’s so refreshing to have another intellectual around” laughed Robin and Twilight joined her.

“Are you saying/sayin’ we aren’t/ain’t smart!” exclaimed the SH Pirates, Applejack, and RD.

“You must admit that compared to Twilight our level of intelligence is somewhat lacking darling” said Rarity.

“Ah guess, but ah ain’t dumb” stated Applejack.

“Anyways, it’s obvious that you guys know about him so where is he?” asked Nami.

“He’s on a vacation with Princess Celestia” answered Rainbow.

“And who’s Princess Celestia?” asked the navigator.

“And why’s marimo on vacation with a princess!” asked/shouted Sanji.

“She’s the co-ruler of Equestria and Zoro’s wife” answered Twilight.

“And they’re this little filly’s parents” stated Pinkie Pie, pulling Kuina out of Luna’s grip to lock her in a clutch of her own.

 “ZORO’S MARRIED/HAS A KID!” the SH, except for Robin who’s eyes simply widened, shouted depending on which one surprised them more.

“My papa’s Zoro?” asked Kuina, confused at the situation.

“I’ll explain everything to you myself on the way back to Canterlot little one” said Luna.

“Look, I’ll answer all of your questions but Tri-blade and Celestia won’t return from their vacation for another week so I’m afraid that you’ll have to wait until then to talk to him” stated Twilight. “Now you’re all welcome to stay here in my castle until he returns but you’ll have to learn how to act in our world.”

“One of us should tell Franky and Brooke” said Nami.

Robin shook her head. “We wouldn’t be able to Nami-san. If what Twilight-san and I have hypothesized is true then anyone or message that we send would arrive with Franky and Brooke at the same time we would return with Zoro.”

“Wait, how do you know my name?” asked the purple alicorn.

“Pinkie Pie told us already” answered Luffy.

“After she scared the hell out of us with those hidden confetti cannons she has around this place” stated Nami, still pissed at the incident.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for us to wait with Luna and Kuina then here for Zoro?” asked Usopp. “I mean, they’ll probably go straight home to see their daughter after their vacation is over.”

“Nnope, Ponyville’s actually on their way back to Canterlot so they promised ta stop by fer Tri-blade’s yearly visit” explained Applejack.

“And I have duties in Canterlot to attend to so I cannot wait here for their return” stated Luna.

“Can I stay here with them Aunt Luna?” asked Kuina.

“But I promised Tia and your father that I would watch over your wellbeing until their return” said Luna.

“I can watch her until Tri-blade and Princess Celestia come by for their visit for you Luna” offered Twilight. “You no doubt have a full agenda with Celestia gone and it’ll be nice to be able to spend some time with Kuina. Plus this place is definitely big enough to house everypony for a week.”

“I suppose that would be sufficient enough for Tri-blade” stated Luna. “Just promise me that you will all keep a close eye on her. The ferocity of Tri-blade’s protectiveness would cause even the monsters of the Everfree to cower in fear.”

“We won’t let you down Princess” saluted Rainbow, as the others agreed with her.

“Very well” agreed Luna. “Then I shall see you all in a week’s time.”

With that the Princess of the Moon left Twilight’s crystal castle, leaving behind the two groups in the large room. “Well then, if you will all excuse us Applejack and I shall return to our abode for some much needed R&R” said Rarity, before Pinkie sped over to the unicorn and clutched the fashionista’s face between her hooves.

“NO WAY!” shouted the party pony. “We just made a bunch of new friends so we have to”

“PARTY!” cheered Pinkie and Luffy together with seemingly every cannon in the castle going off at once, causing everypony in the room to wonder just what havoc these two will be able to cause together.

- Meanwhile in Las Pegasus

Zoro groaned at the head ache that had suddenly spiked his brain. “I told you not to drink so quickly” laughed Celestia, down at her husband who was currently face down at their table. “The shakes here are known for being the coldest in Equestria with an infamy for giving head aches to those who attempt to chug them.”

“It’s not that” groaned Zoro.

“Oh, then what’s wrong?” asked the alicorn as she sipped from her own sweet treat.

“I just have a bad feeling about something. My head hasn’t hurt this much since I came to Equestria” explained Zoro, finally lifting his head from the table to look his wife in the eyes.

“Well if anything was wrong then my sister would send somepony to get us so just try to relax. Alright? We are supposed to be one vacation after all” stated Celestia.

“Starting to wonder if we should tell them that too” grumbled Zoro as he glared at the gathering of fans and paparazzi who practically surrounded their table.

Celestia giggled again and faced the crowd. “Alright everypony I think that’s enough pictures for now. Tri-blade would like very much to relax so if you could please give us some space I would be very grateful. And with a wave of responses from the crowd the surrounding ponies all dispersed giving the couple some time to themselves.

“Finally,” grunted Zoro as he went back to his drink.

“Now, now, they were kind enough to leave us be so there’s no need to be grumpy now” giggled Celestia.

“Don’t call me grumpy” growled Zoro as he downed his drink only to slam his face on the table again.

“Brain freeze?” asked the alicorn with a smirk.

“Shut up” muttered the green stallion, which caused his wife to laugh once more.
> Day 1 - Long Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh dear” gasped Rarity, looking at the state of Twilight’s kitchen.

“You got that right” exclaimed Rainbow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kitchen this messed up.”

“What about that time I made my super ultra-mega surprise party cake!?” asked Pinkie.

“Well yeah, but that was that was because you made a cake full of party decorations blow up all over the kitchen” stated Rainbow.

“How exactly was that supposed ta work again Pinkie?” asked Applejack. “Ah mean it kinda just got bits ah cake everywhere.”

“Well that was just a test” answered Pinkie. “My new recipe is going to decorate the entire room while sending a hoof full of cake into every ponies’ mouths.”

Fluttershy put her hoof on the party pony’s shoulder. “Well it certainly is thoughtful Pinkie, but maybe you should keep non-edible things out of your cakes from now on. Somepony could choke or- “

“Or everypony at the party could spend the next week getting pieces of cake and confetti out of their fur and wings” grumbled Rainbow Dash.

“Girls could we please focus on them” interrupted Twilight, turning everyponies’ attention back to the kitchen.

Sanji stood at the kitchen trying to make some eggs without losing his balance at taking one of his forehooves off of the stove. The others weren’t having as much luck at trying to eat the food that had managed to make it to the table. Luffy was fine, having raided the pantry for anything that wasn’t healthy and was currently face first in his food. Nami and Usopp were trying in vain to pick anything up in their hooves; not wanting to eat “savagely” like their captain, and continuingly dropping their food on the floor. Robin and Chopper on the other hand weren’t having much trouble though as Robin had managed to pick up levitation rather quickly and was quietly snacking on a sandwich and some tea; while Chopper was eating as he always did. Kuina listening intently to the purple pony and deer as they told her of their adventures.

“Want us ta teach them how ta do things like ponies?” asked Applejack, watching as the blue stallion lost his balance and fell face first onto the kitchen’s floor.

“Exactly,” confirmed Twilight before her stomach growled and she blushed. “but first I really need to get something to eat. They kind of cleaned out my kitchen.” A large bag of bits then floated in front of the alicorn and she looked to the alabaster unicorn beside her who was giving her a generous smile. “Go ahead and take it darling I insist” instructed Rarity.

“But Rarity where did you get this much money?” asked Twilight, looking into the bag shocked at the sight before her.

“It’s the extra profit I received from my latest fashion tour. It’s not as if I’m desperate for bits now that my fashion line is the largest in Equestria after all and what kind of pony would I be if I didn’t share it with the ponies who helped make it all possible after all” explained Rarity.

Twilight was dumb struck at her friend as she answered. “Uh, wow Rarity, thank you so- “

Rarity then began pushing her friend away from the kitchen and towards the front door. “You’re very welcome dear, now no time for dawdling, we have much to do today and you sounded as if you’re starving so just leave everything to us.”

“Alright, as long as you girls are positive that you’ll be fine without me” said Twilight.

“No worries Twilight. We’ve handled way tougher jobs than this” reassured Rainbow Dash as the others nodded confidently behind her.

Twilight smiled back at her friends and nodded. “Right. Thank you and I’ll try to not take too long” stated Twilight as she left the castle.

Turning back to the kitchen and other world ponies Rarity glanced at her friends and stood confidently. “Alright girls, let’s teach these ponies so well that everypony else will think that they’ve been here for years.”

“Yeah!” cheered the others as they entered the kitchen.

- Meanwhile in Rainbow Falls

Celestia sighed in relief as the spa pony masseuse worked out a large knot in her back while she enjoyed sight of the beautiful falls from the spa’s outdoor relaxation area. “Isn’t this wonderful Tri-blade? The spas in Canterlot have nothing on the view and aesthetic of this place.”

“If you say so” grunted Zoro as he continued his pushups, causing his wife to sigh.

“Please dear, we’re at a spa. Can’t you at least try to relax and enjoy yourself?” asked Celestia.

“This is how I relax; besides I have hot rocks on my back, isn’t that enough?” asked Zoro.

“No” replied Celestia before she teleported her husband onto the massage table beside her and held him down with her magic while a pair masseuse began working on him. “Now relax properly. We promised Luna and Kuina we would” stated Celestia.

Zoro groaned, knowing that there was no arguing with Celestia when she was serious, plus he hated disappointing his daughter. “Fine” grumbled Zoro, finally relaxing under the practiced hooves of the professionals.

Celestia smiled triumphantly before she released her magical hold on her husband and resumed relaxing under her own treatment; giggling a minute later when she heard the familiar snores of the green stallion beside her.

- Back in Ponyville

“I’m ba-ahhh! What happened here!” shouted Twilight as she looked around the wreak that was her foyer.

“Ah Twilight!” exclaimed Rarity, her mane in an extreme state of disorder as she rushed to the unicorn and clung to her in a panic. “Thank Celestia you’re back! These ponies are impossible to work with and everypony else is exhausted!”

The alicorn princess could see pretty plainly from her view at the door that her friend wasn’t exaggerating. Nami and Usopp were struggling to get a hang of their wings, repeatedly crashing into things, each other, and on occasion a frustrated Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy was laying unconscious on the floor with Chopper working over her trying to make sure that she was alright. The most likely cause of which being the two Robins who were currently trying to look for supplies to help the doctor. Meanwhile, Luffy was swinging back and forth from the ceiling decorations using his new-found ability to grab things with his hoof and laughing up a storm with Pinkie who was on his back and Kuina who was flying beside them.

“Woo-hoo!” cheered Pinkie Pie. “Come on up Rarity this is such a blast!”

“You’re not helping Pinkie!” screamed Rarity, before she collapsed on the floor at Twilight hooves. “The only one having any luck is Applejack and that’s because she and Sanji are just cooking together.”

Another crash pulled Twilight’s attention away from her friend as she looked to see that another one of the hall’s vases had been broken by an out of control Usopp. “Oh boy,” groaned Twilight. “This is going to be a long day” she stated as the alicorn closed the door behind her with her magic.