A Pirate's Promiseby Pseudo BronyChaptersStrange New WorldNew FriendsA Friendly Interrogation And An Angry MobThat Night...The Next MorningThe Train RideThe MeetingThe Meeting (Part 2)Strange New WorldSilas groaned as his eyes slowly began to open, though they snapped shut again seconds later as the bright sunlight began to burn. He shielded them this time as he opened them again, spotting his signature fedora only a few feet away. He sat up, a flicker of Observation Haki letting him know he was safe for the moment as he reached over and took the hat before placing it on his head. He stood up and looked around, just now starting to wonder why the hell he was surrounded by trees when he'd just been on his ship... or rather, what was left of it... He was shaken from his thoughts as a low growl came from directly behind him. Another flicker of Observation let him know he was no longer alone - several animals, probably a wolf pack or something, had happened upon him and apparently thought him an easy meal. Silas turned and looked behind him. Well, looks like he was partially right. It certainly looked like a wolf pack... but what sort of wolf was made of sticks and twigs? He didn't have much time to ponder that question as two of them suddenly leaped at him, causing him to jump back. One of the wooden wolves, apparently a bit overeager, jumped again - only for Silas's fist, covered in a protective layer of Armament Haki, to smash it into the ground, where it lay still. The other wolves seemed surprised by this as Silas used Observation again, checking for any additional dangers. Thankfully, the only dangers he found were all in front of him... and charging straight towards him. He smirked, deciding now would be a good time to cut loose a bit. He casually walked through the woods, the wolves having been destroyed rather effortlessly. It was actually kind of pathetic, he thought, what sort of New World island had wildlife that weak? He continued walking in a straight line for a while, reasoning that no matter which way he walked, he would find an exit if he walked far enough. And then he heard a scream. He had a sudden flashback to his crew, and the next thing he knew he was running full-tilt toward the screamer. Twilight grunted as the Manticore slammed against her shield again. Her magic reserves were already running low; the enraged beast would break through any second now. Behind her, Fluttershy was doing her best to patch up Pinkie Pie, who'd been unfortunate enough to be caught by a wild swipe of the Manticore's claws. Rainbow Dash was doing her best outside the dome to try and distract it, but it was ignoring her in favor of the wounded prey. Rarity, meanwhile, had fainted at the sight of Pinkie's blood. They'd journeyed into the Everfree forest in an attempt to find out what had caused an abrupt influx of magic, one that had been sensed by every unicorn in Ponyville. Unfortunately, they'd accidentally disturbed a Manticore's naptime as they'd walked, and not even Fluttershy could calm it down before it began attacking. The Manticore roared as it reared up and brought its claws down on the heavily-cracked barrier, finally breaking through as Twilight nearly collapsed from the magical strain. It reared up again, preparing its claws, as they all stared up in horror. Rainbow Dash began a desperate dive bomb, hoping to reach the beast before it could hurt her friends again... only for a black blur to appear out of nowhere and slam into the Manticore's side, sending it flying into a nearby tree with a roar of pain. Everypony stopped in shock to stare at this newcomer. It stood tall, just slightly under 8 hooves in height, with very little hair that they could see aside from what poked out from under its hat. It also wore what looked like business attire, with a black blazer over a white shirt, black slacks, and a red tie. A fedora covered the only hair they could see atop its head. The Manticore picked itself up and shook its head, dizzy, before refocusing on the newcomer. It roared a challenge... to which this new creature simply smirked. The Manticore darted forwards, raising a paw and bringing it down on this tall creature - only to suddenly fly backwards as the force behind the blow seemingly rebounded back in its face. The ponies gaped as the creature's smirk widened. "Bad kitty." The creature mocked. "I'm not prey for you to play with, and neither are they." The Manticore got up again and rushed once again, this time trying its stinger - only for the creature to reach out and grab hold, catching the attack effortlessly. Everypony's eyes widened as the Manticore struggled and the creature - no, the monster raised its other limb, which suddenly turned obsidian black before he swung, smashing the Manticore into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. The Manticore didn't move, though the sight of its chest rising and falling was enough to reassure them they hadn't just watched a murder... though that didn't mean they were any less intimidated as the creature turned to look at them. Silas looked the horse-like animals over, from the way they'd all defensively circled their fallen friend to the scared-but-determined looks they sent his way. He looked past them at said fallen friend. They were willing to risk their lives to protect her... just like his crew was toward him... And he would be damned if he'd let their efforts be in vain. He darted past them, so quick to their untrained eyes it was like he'd simply teleported to their friend's side, knowing they likely wouldn't let him approach otherwise. The yellow winged one cowered in fear as he looked down at her. He reached up and pulled off his fedora, revealing a shock of blonde hair, before reaching into the hat for a moment. When he pulled his hand back out, a roll of gauze was in his grip. "Something tells me your friend needs this more than I do." He said, kneeling down and beginning to bandage her up on his own. The horse-like things watched as he patched up their friend, probably not sure what to think. They'd just watched him pummel that winged scorpion-lion into the ground, and now he was helping them - Silas had to admit, if he was in their position, he'd probably react the same way. He leaned back after a minute to admire his work. Not quite as good as his ship's doctor could have done, but pretty damn close. This horse-thing would be fine. "Alright, now that your friend isn't going to bleed out on us... mind telling me where we are?" He asked, turning to face them all. Author's Note This is my first story on this site. Please, let me know what you think! I could use the feedback! And just in case I get complaints about how easily he destroyed the wildlife, let me put it this way: regular, everyday animals versus a New World pirate. Who do you think will win? New FriendsSilas walked amid the small crowd of horse-things - ponies, he chided himself. Once they were sure he wasn't going to attack them, they had asked a few questions before Silas suggested heading out of the woods. If another Manticore, as they'd called it, or more Timber Wolves (again, their words, not his) showed up, they'd all want to be within running distance of the exit, right? They were too weak to even consider an enemy in his eyes, but apparently the thought of more animals finding them was enough to convince them that they should leave. The pink one he'd bandaged up - Pinkie Pie, apparently - was currently being carried along by the orange 'pony' with a large stetson hat - Applejack, he remembered. Out of them all, she seemed to be one of the most physically fit, as well as more than willing to volunteer for the job of carrying her friend out. Next up was the blue pegasus with the rainbow-colored mane and tail, Rainbow Dash. Odd name, but at least he had a healthy dose of respect for her - the others seemed to have simply accepted that he wouldn't harm them and moved on, but she continuously sent wary glances his way. She seemed to trust him, but not entirely - a good choice, given the situation. There was also a white unicorn named Rarity, the other unconscious one. If anyone had told Silas they'd seen a unicorn, Silas would have called them insane. Now, however, he was willing to actually consider the possibility before writing them off as crazy. Then there was the yellow pegasus, Fluttershy - quite possibly the most innocent creature Silas had ever seen in his entire life. There were no other words to describe her correctly. And finally, the second unicorn - no, scratch that, 'alicorn' - of the group and the apparent leader, Twilight Sparkle. Extremely brainy, amazingly interested in his origins, and - if what she'd told him about Equestria was true - was able to use magic, and was one of the most accomplished magical beings currently alive. The real kicker was that she referred to herself and her friends as the 'Elements of Harmony', with her acting as the Element of Magic. Silas definitely thought it seemed rather appropriate. Eventually, they reached the edge of the Everfree Forest - as he'd learned the area was called - and found themselves standing on a large hill overlooking a decently-sized town. As they walked, he began thinking back to his crew. How the Marines had taken them completely by surprise... how he hadn't been able to do anything... "Somethin' wrong?" Applejack spoke up, looking concerned as he snapped out of his trance. "No, no, just... thinking." Silas said, glancing around. To his surprise, he found himself standing on the edge of the town; he'd been lost in thought for quite a while. "Well, if you're sure..." Twilight said, turning to smile at him. "Anyway, welcome to Ponyville!" "I'm not quite sure what I expected..." Silas admitted, looking around at the now-barren street that had, seconds ago, been bustling with dozens of ponies. the moment they saw him, however, they dropped everything to get inside and lock their doors. Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. "I thought we'd gotten over doing this after Zecora, but I guess not." She led him to her home as the others left to bring Pinkie Pie to a hospital to get her checked out. Silas was mildly surprised to learn that Twilight's house also doubled as the town library... as well as the fact that the entire thing was a giant castle. Walking inside, the pirate was surprised to see what looked like a bipedal, purple lizard walking down the stairs. Said lizard froze in shock upon seeing him. "Uh... Twilight?" He said. Judging from the voice, he wasn't very old, Silas noted silently. "What is that thing?" Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Silas spoke up first. "I am a human. My name is Jericho T. Silas. Pleasure to meet you." He said politely, taking off his fedora as he gave a small bow. The lizard blinked, startled, before giving a bow of his own, not wanting to be disrespectful. "And my name is Spike." The lizard said, straightening up again. "I'm Twilight's assistant." Silas glanced at the winged unicorn as she led him to a nearby room and told him to wait there while she went and got a few supplies. Silas looked around at all the books as he waited, sitting in a large chair, wondering just how many there were. Isaac would have loved this, he thought to himself, especially the medical books. That guy was always reading... He was snapped out of his thoughts by Twilight's arrival with a quill pen and quite a large pad of paper. "Now then, mister... Silas, was it? Mind telling me a little bit about yourself?" She asked politely, but Silas could practically see the millions of questions she was dying to ask. He sighed; this might take a while... Author's Note Alright, I'd say this story is coming along nicely! Thank you to the ones who have liked the story so far, it means a lot to me! I wanted to try making the chapter a bit longer this time, I felt the first chapter was a bit short. A Friendly Interrogation And An Angry MobIt had been over two hours before Twilight eventually ran out of questions. Once he was sure she was done, Silas began asking a few questions of his own, such as 'how did their magic work' (to which he got such a lengthy and informative response, he started getting a headache) and 'where in the Grand Line were they?' Upon Twilight asking what exactly the Grand Line was, however, Silas began growing worried. Asking for a map, he took it and began looking it over, the feeling of dread in his gut increasing as he stared at the flat paper globe. "I don't recognize anything." "What?" "I just said, I don't recognize any of this. Nothing from any of the Blues, and nothing from Paradise or the New World." "Blues? What're those?" "Well, I think you just confirmed it for me." Silas said, walking away from the map-covered table and towards the chair before collapsing into it, mentally exhausted. "I am no longer anywhere in my world." "W-world?!" "If a place like this existed, then it definitely would have been found and documented by now. And, considering that nobody's knows anything about this place, it would have to mean it's probably anther dimension or something." "Th-then how'd you end up here?!" "That... I don't know." Silas sighed. "Wait... The magic influx!" Twilight suddenly gasped. "The magic what?" The pirate asked, blinking. "Before we went into the Everfree Forest - where we found you - every unicorn for miles around felt a large influx of magic. I was able to triangulate its position using the reports-" "And the position was the Everfree Forest, wasn't it?" Silas asked, catching on. "Exactly. Which means that whatever caused that magic influx was likely what brought you here." "Well, that's definitely a start... I don't suppose you have any clues as to what caused it in the first place?" "Unfortunately, I do not... but I plan to find out!" Twilight declared determinedly. "Good to hear." Silas said, tilting his head as though listening for something. "Though you might want to do something bout the angry mob coming this way." "Angry mob?" She rushed over to a window and looked outside to see a bunch of townsfolk waiting outside. One or two of them actually had torches and pitchforks. "Come out, beast! We know what you did to Pinkie Pie!" One of the mob members yelled angrily. Rolling his eyes, Silas emerged out onto a balcony alongside Twilight. The moment they saw him, they began hurling insults and even a few rocks, though none of the projectiles reached very far. "Calm down, everypony! Silas wasn't the one who injured Pinkie!" She yelled, but her voice was drowned out by the crowd. She continued yelling, trying to be heard, before Silas reached up and removed his hat before reaching in and drawing out a pistol, firing a single shot into the air, the loud sound startling everyone into silence. The pirate calmly put the weapon back inside his hat as he nodded to Twilight. "Now you can talk." She stared at his hat as he put it back on, but then realized what he'd said and turned back to the mob. She began explaining the situation to them as Silas casually turned and walked back inside, deciding to wait for the crowd to leave. Checking with his Observation Haki, he was pleased to see that Twilight's words had actually reached them, and that the angry mob was no longer angry. The lavender alicorn walked back inside as the ponies outside began to disperse, staring at Silas. "What?" The pirate asked jokingly. "I got something in my teeth?" "What was that thing you were holding, and how did it fit inside your hat?" She asked after a moment. "What, this?" He asked, pulling the gun out of his hat again. "It's a pistol. Common weapon in my world." "Weapon?" She asked, her eyes widening. "Yes, weapon - because where I'm from, quite a few people would just as soon kill you as look at you." He said, shoving it back into his fedora. "Therefore, protection is a key component of survival." "How do you do that?!" She demanded, grabbing it from his hands and staring at the empty interior. "What is this thing, magic?!" "Two things. One: don't touch my hat, it's precious to me." He said, snatching back his fedora. "Second: I'm not sure if its magic or not, but that's my Devil Fruit power." "Devil Fruit power?" Twilight asked quizzically, completely confused. "What's a Devil Fruit?" "A special kind of fruit that gives you some sort of power in exchange for your ability to swim. Each ability is unique, and even the weakest of Devil Fruits can give the user a massive advantage over a regular person." "And you ate one, you said?" Twilight had picked up her pad and her quill again and was furiously scribbling things down. "Yes. My specific Devil Fruit is called the Hat-Hat Fruit. I'm able to store things inside a pocket dimension, which I can access by reaching inside any headwear I can find. It's kinda weak compared to quite a few other Devil Fruits, but nobody expects someone to pull a sword out of their hat during a fight, right?" He asked, demonstrating as he pulled out a cutlass. Twilight stared in astonishment as he slid the weapon back inside his fedora and placed it back on his head. "So... any other questions?" He regretted asking as Twilight began another barrage of queries. Author's Note I started writing some actual action into this chapter, but decided to scrap the whole thing for now and rewrite it. Action should come soon, however. Don't worry. Also, what do you think of his Devil Fruit? Like it, don't like it...? Let me know! That Night...Author's Note I think I've got the writing bug, I can't seem to stop writing new chapters. Send help. Anyway, here's a little more backstory to our hero. Let me know what you think of his story. That Night... "Ah, 'Silas the Magician' of the Dreadnought Pirates." "We've been looking for you for quite a while..." "Silas, watch out!" Screams. Blood. Crazed laughter. The faces of his crew - his friends - as they fell, one by one, to Marine forces. The last one to fall turned to look at him as she slowly bled out. "Silas...!" She choked out, blood dripping everywhere. "Promise us... You'll live...!" Silas nodded numbly. A gunshot, and then she was gone. His entire crew was gone. He was all that was left as the Marines closed in. Silas woke with a jolt, pursing his lips as he stared down at his hands. That day... that day was forever burned into his memory. The day his entire crew gave their lives in the name of keeping him safe... just so he could live on. If he hadn't made that promise, he likely would have shot himself by now. That promise was the only thing left giving him a reason to exist. He slowly reached into his fedora and pulled out the only thing that had survived the Dreadnought's destruction: a picture of him and his crew, before he'd been named Captain. He smiled sadly down at it as he inspected the faces of his friends in the moonlight. Malik, the original captain and his childhood companion. Isaac, the Devil-Fruit using doctor with control over chemicals. Anne, the sniper with a temper and a dozen guns on her at all times. Jacob, the narcoleptic chef who somehow never let the food burn while he slept. Ari, the tiger-Zoan shipwright with an appetite to match. Jesse, the navigator who doubled as their swordsman... or rather, their swordswoman. They were the closest thing to a family Silas had ever had. Thinking about them all brought back memories he'd forced himself to forget. Malik had been the first to die, victim of an infection from a Devil Fruit using bounty hunter almost a year before the ambush. The hunter's diseases proved too great for Isaac to defeat, and their captain was lost. Jacob had been the next to go, having suffered a narcolepsy attack mid-fight during the ambush. After him was Ari, the shipwright being flung into the ocean and sinking. Anne fell victim to the curse known as 'no ammo' and was swiftly gunned down. Jesse had been the last to fall, having taken roughly half the ambush force with her before a lucky shot put her down. It was her who'd forced him to promise as her killer lined up the final shot. In the end, Silas had been the last man standing as the Dreadnought began to sink, roughly a hundred guns and swords pointed at him as rage slowly overtook him. The next thing he knew, he'd been sailing away from the wreck of the dreadnought on a Marine ship, the bodies of all the ones he'd slain littering the Dreadnought's deck and bobbing in the water as he left, his hands and clothes caked with blood as he stared straight ahead, tears silently falling from his face as he sailed off towards the closest island. A drop of water landing on the photo made him realize he was crying. Wiping it off, lest it damage the photo, he slid it back into his hat and lay back down. He stared at the ceiling, still crying until he finally fell asleep again. The Next MorningAuthor's Note Alright, just a quick note: I've changed a few details from previous chapters. If you haven't re-read the newly-edited chapters, I advise you do so. It will help solve any sort of confusion. The Next Morning Silas awoke, feeling awfully refreshed for someone who'd just cried himself to sleep... again. Sitting up on his temporary bed, he looked around. Yep, still in Equestria. Apparently it hadn't been just a weird dream. Standing up, he smoothed out his suit and made sure his fedora was with him before closing his eyes and activating his Observation Haki. He sensed two auras in a room not to far away; from their shapes and movements, it was Twilight and her assistant eating breakfast. He pulled an apple out of his hat as he walked into the kitchen. "Heya." He said simply, leaning against the wall as he took a bite of the fruit. "Oh, good morning Silas!" Twilight beamed, surprisingly chipper. Spike nodded in his direction, his mouth full of pancakes... that apparently had daisies in them. Good thing I've got my own food, Silas thought to himself as he took another bite out of his apple. "So... anything going on today I should know about?" He asked, chewing. "Well, yesterday I sent the notes containing my research into you to Princess Celestia, and I got Mayor Mare to agree to a town meeting later today so we can introduce you to everypony!" Twilight stated, growing more and more excited. "Once that's over with, Princess Celestia herself said she wanted to meet with you!" "Who's this 'Princess Celestia'? Next in line to the throne or something?" "Nope, she's one of the leaders of Equestria!" Twilight replied, surprised at herself for not mentioning it sooner. "In fact, I'm actually her personal student!" "One of the leaders? Who're the others?" "There's only one other: Princess Luna, her sister! They rule over the sun and the moon, respectively." "So, if they're the leaders of your entire nation... why are they still called 'Princesses'?" "I asked a while ago; she said that 'Queen Celestia' made it sound too formal. She's worried the title might distance her from her subjects." Silas thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright; so, when does the meet-and-greet begin?" "Three hours from now, in the town square in front of the town hall." Twilight replied without missing a beat. Silas finished off his apple before tossing it into a trashcan. "Well, looks like I've got some time to kill before the meeting then." "You know, I wouldn't mind getting a little more on these Devil Fruits you mentioned..." Twilight said, already raising up the quill and paper. Silas sighed as the barrage of questions began anew. Silas stood on a stage that had been set up in front of the town hall, standing behind a large curtain off to the side. From what he could hear - and sense - the entire town was waiting for the meeting to begin. After a minute, Twilight took to the stage and began talking into a microphone... apparently the technological and magical equivalent of a Den-Den Mushi microphone. She first began by reminding everyone there about the magic influx they'd felt, followed by what happened during their trip into the Everfree. The crowds gasped at the thought of a Manticore harming their 'Princess of Magic' - kind of a stupid title, in Silas's opinion, but he wasn't going to tell anyone that. They gasped again when Twilight mentioned how Silas had saved them all from the Manticore without receiving a scratch, and had helped bandage up Pinkie Pie, likely saving her life in the process. "And so, I'd like to introduce the hero in question... Jericho T. Silas!" She said, waiving him forward. Silas walked out on stage, scanning the crowd and noting how there were quite a few faces he recognized from the angry mob yesterday. They certainly recognized him, but like the rest of the citizens, they stared in wonder as they thought about his exploits. "So... yeah, I'd say Twilight did a good job introducing me... any questions?" Silas decided to ask. At the very least, seeming approachable would make the townsfolk more trusting of him. "Uh, yes, you in the front." "Do you eat ponies?" The foal in questions asked. "No, I do not. As a human, I am omnivorous, but I don't eat ponies. I can also survive completely on a fruit-and-vegetable based diet... which, frankly, I actually prefer. Any other questions?" "Did you really beat a Manticore?" "Yes, I did." Silas said confidently, smirking. "Not much of a challenge, actually. Where I'm from, something like that wouldn't last a day." "Where are you from, anyway?" "A place called the Grand Line. The specific half is known as the New World; if you want to survive there, you've got to be strong... and have quite a few tricks up your sleeves." Silas added, touching the brim of his hat. Several questions later, the crowd's curiosity had been sated. After a few parting words from Twilight, the crowd began to disperse. "Well... I think that went well!" She said happily, turning to the pirate as he watched the ponies go. "Agreed; they didn't run away in fear this time, or form another angry mob. Definitely making progress." He said with a chuckle, though he abruptly had a flashback to the time he acted as a traveling magician to raise the money for his crew's meals. His smile dropped down into an expression of sadness before he hastily wiped it from existence. "Anyway... how long until your princess's meeting?" "Not long. I had Spike run and get the train tickets while we held the meeting." She said, holding up a bundle of tickets. Now we just need to go gather up the rest of the girls!" "But what about the pink one? Isn't she still in the hospital?" "No, a few healing spells and a blood transfusion and she was good as new!" Silas's eyebrows rose at this, but he said nothing as he began following Twilight on her rounds around the town to pick up her friends. The Train RideSilas sat in his own private compartment staring out the window as the train sped across the landscape. He sighed as he watched the trees fly by. The other girls had all been extremely excited when they'd learned they would have to meet with the princess. Silas had been surprised at how the pink one - Pinkie Pie, dammit! - had been happily bouncing around; he couldn't even see scars or anything from her injuries. To say he was impressed was an understatement. Isaac would certainly be interested... Silas thought, before shaking his head to clear away that idea. Thoughts like that weren't going to bring them back. Nothing could bring them back. The rest of the ponies traveling with him were sitting in the car across the aisle; he could actually hear Pinkie cheerily yelling through both doors. Rolling his eyes - it was like she was in a permanent sugar high - he returned to staring at the trees and rocks flying by. The sound of his door opening caused him to turn and look at a pony, who seemed surprised to see him there, though that quickly turned to disgust. "Who, and what, are you?" The pony asked in a snooty tone, turning up her nose. Silas raised an eyebrow. "Jericho T. Silas, call me Silas. Human." He replied flatly, already disliking this newcomer. He could only hope the princesses weren't as pompous as this wealthy brat was. "Can I help you with something?" "I was promised a private car, but lo and behold, here you are taking up my seat!" The pony said, showing off a ticket. "Either leave now, or I will have to conductor show you out." "No." Silas replied with a completely deadpan tone. "Besides, have you even checked the other booths? At the last train station, most of them were completely empty." The pony frowned and continued on in her holier-than-thou tone. "I will have you know that I am of the upper nobility of Canterlot, I hold more privilege than you or anyone else on this train combined!" "Kinda doubt that, actually." "What was that, peasant?!" "Well, for starters, the personal student of Princess Celestia and the Princess of Friendship is standing right behind you." The pony whipped around to find Twilight looking at her with a disappointed frown. "Silas, what's going on here?" She asked, looking past the gaping noble. "She's trying to kick me out of this booth instead of taking one of the free ones." He said simply, shrugging. "Kind of annoying, but at least she isn't threatening to kill me like the nobles back home used to." "K-kill?!" both ponies gasped, staring at him. "Yes. The World Nobles hold so much political power they can do whatever they want, including enslaving random people off the street or just shooting someone for no grovelling enough or wearing a color they don't like. They're so high and mighty they wear special suits so they don't breathe the same air as us 'common folk'." Silas said, turning back to the window. "So, like I said - she's annoying, but I'd take this whiner over them any day of the week." The noble pony, horrified, quietly walked to another booth as Twilight entered Silas's. "I take it... you've had some experiences with them, then?" "In the New World, who hasn't?" Silas sighed. "The government supports them in everything they do, they get away with everything, and if you piss them off or try to attack them, they can call in an Admiral - one of the strongest men in the world - to come and kill you. Whenever I heard a World Noble was in the area, my crew and I cleared out, despite how much we wanted to wipe those smug smirks off their faces." Twilight was stunned. The thought of these 'World Nobles' even existing was a horrifying one, but the entire government backing them up? Unthinkable. Silas chuckled. "Thankfully, I highly doubt we'll find any around here." The rest of the trip went by in silence as Twilight contemplated what her world would be like if nobility had the same privileges as these 'World Nobles' and Celestia and Luna were supporting them. The thought was a scary one. Author's Note Sorry for the long pauses between chapters - got college classes and homework to do. Those of you in college know how it is. Anyway, the next chapter should be up within a week or two if I can find the time and energy. The MeetingSilas walked through the streets of Canterlot, the 'Elements of Harmony' forming a circle around him as they headed toward a giant castle in the distance. Sure, he got weird looks every now and then from the locals - scratch that, every few seconds - but he frankly didn't care - partially because of his general apathy, but also because of the knowledge that none of the 'upper-class' ponies (like the one from the train) would do anything that might potentially upset the Princess of Friendship or one of her friends. As they walked, he causally glanced around at the stores and building they passed. Each one looked fancy beyond belief; that, plus the way they looked at him and the other tourists, reminded him quite a bit of the nobles from his hometown. He still remembered the shock of watching a noble order the execution of a homeless man simply for leaning on the noble's fence. The noble had justified it as 'making sure his property stayed clean'. Silas was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by someone calling his name. Looking down, he saw Twilight looking up at him. "You alright?" "Yeah." He said, pushing the memories away. "Sorry for making you worry." It was only now that he looked up and realized just how close they were to the castle; apparently he'd been following them on autopilot for quite a while. Scratch that, her for a while; the other Elements had apparently all scattered to look around as As they got closer, a series of guards - clad in what looked to be fairly weak armor, Silas noted - stepped forward to block their path. However, they quickly stepped aside and saluted once they realized who they were about to block. "Friend of yours, princess?" One of the guards asked, glancing up at Silas, who simply looked back with a bored expression. "Correct, lieutenant." Twilight said, nodding. "Thank you for your concern." The guards waved them through, allowing them to enter the Canterlot castle. It didn't take them long to reach a giant set of double doors. Two unicorn guards on either side used their magic to open it, revealing what appeared to be a throne room inside. Walking inside, Silas's gaze was immediately drawn to the tall alicorn standing on a small dais, right in front of a throne. Twilight bowed respectfully, Silas doing the same after a second. "No need to bow, Jericho T. Silas." She said in a kind tone. "You are not one of my little ponies, thus I have no hold over you." "I still think it is best to show respect when meeting someone for the first time." Silas said in return, lifting his head. "Well said." Celestia replied, smiling. She turned to look at her former student. "I have looked over your reports, Twilight. They were quite.. enlightening." "Thank you, princess. But... why did you call us all here?" "In your reports, Twilight, you said that Silas here commonly fought against a group known as the 'Marines.' I decided to call Silas here today to ask some questions of my own." "You've heard of the Marines before?" Silas asked, tilting his head. Celestia nodded. "Yes. Many years ago - before you were even born, Twilight - a human arrived in Canterlot. He claimed he was a member of a group called the Marines, who would fight against evil and injustice. Initially we believed him and trusted him... until he stopped a simple robbery." "W-what happened?" "He stopped the thief, then killed him before our eyes, simply saying that 'all evil must be purged from this innocent world.' The royal guard and I confronted him and demanded that he leave. He complied, and simply vanished without a trace." "Unfortunately, that's an accurate representation of most of the Marines I've met. High-and-mighty, and willing to kill even little children in the name of justice." Silas said, frowning. Celestia frowned as well, nodding. "Then it seems we are indeed talking about the same group." "Still..." Silas mused. "Given that I haven't heard of Equestria before arriving here, not to mention that if only one Marine arrived here instead of a whole platoon, that the Marines might not know of this place either. Count your lucky stars, because the World Government would love to get their hands on a place like this." "World Government? The Marine did mention a 'World Government', but never elaborated..." "The Marines are often viewed as the attack dogs of the World Government, a coalition formed of over 170 nations and islands to 'help protect the world'. So far, they have managed to do some good and save quite a few people... but some pirates - all of whom the World Governmet displays as the worst criminals imaginable - have actually done more good for the people than the World Government ever did. For example, a warlord once tried to manipulate the citizens of a country to turn against each other, so he could kill the royal family and claim the throne during the civil war. His defeat was credited to a member of the Marines, according to the papers, but that country's royal family refuted those claims and let the people know that the real hero was a rookie pirate who'd befriended the princess. But the World Government chose to cover up that fact and take the credit instead." "So, pirates are the true peacekeepers of your world?" "No. far from it; most pirates would happily watch the world burn if into meant they got treasure." "...your world is truly harsh, isn't it?" "You have no idea." Silas said. After a few more moments of silence, he spoke again. "So, was that all you wanted to talk to me about? Or are there other things to discuss?" "There is." Celestia fixed Silas with a serious glare. "I need your absolute assurance that you will never intentionally harm my little ponies." Silas was silent for a moment before he stood tall, placed his fedora over his heart, and spoke. "You have my word as the Captain of the Dreadnought Pirates that I will never intentionally bring harm to your subjects, outside of self-defence should they attack." After a moment of hesitation, he reached into his hat and pulled out an oddly-shaped fruit. "And as a sign of trust, I will give you this. Do whatever you like with it." He held the Devil Fruit out for Celestia to take. Author's Note Hey, I finally got a cover image to stick! Good for me! Anyway, I know the meeting wasn't the best thing I'd ever written, but I didn't have much of an idea about what to write. Also my computer is a piece of junk and won't stay connected to the internet for more than ten minutes at a time before refusing to connect for the rest of the day. Anyway, yes, Silas is offering Celestia a Devil Fruit. It will come into play later on. I intend for it to be a very powerful one, and I already have one idea (that is, Mythical Zoan). If you want to suggest a potential power for this Fruit, please, send me a message! If I like the idea I might just pick it! The Meeting (Part 2)Celestia stared in surprise, as did Twilight. "Is... is that-" Twilight began. "A Devil Fruit?" Silas asked, arm still outstretched. "Yes." The Fruit itself looked like a large lime, colored a light shade of brown and covered with small black swirls. Everyone present could tell that, despite its lackluster appearance, this object contained power... and lots of it. "This Devil Fruit I only found a short time before arriving here." Silas explained, looking down at it. "In the nearest town I was able to find a book listing known Devil Fruits. This specific one is a Paramecia-class known as the Earth-Earth Fruit, and allows the user to assimilate with and control dirt through touch. In other words, if someone eats this Devil Fruit, they can control the very ground they walk on, even to the extent of manipulating entire islands." The Princesses' eyes bugged out upon hearing this; one bite and they could control the earth itself? This went beyond mere Alicorn magic. "If... If it's so powerful, why haven't you eaten it?" Twilight finally managed to ask. "I already ate a Devil Fruit; nothing can handle possessing two Devil Fruits at once without exploding." Silas replied calmly, still offering it to the celestial alicorn. "Therefore, I can't eat it." Celestia finally got her brain working enough to light her horn and take the Devil Fruit in her magical grasp. Her horn flashed as she summoned a small chest and placed the Fruit inside before magically locking it and teleporting it into the royal vault - guarded by several platoons of soldiers at all times and a series of locks. It was nigh-impenetrable. "Now then..." Silas said, adjusting his fedora. "Was there anything else you wanted to speak to me about?" Celestia shook her head after a split second of hesitation. "No, that is all. Thank you for your time, Silas... and your show of trust towards us." Silas smiled and tipped his hat brim towards her before turning and leaving, Twilight at his side. After a minute, she sent a messenger to summon Shining Armor. When he finally arrived, he snapped to attention. "Captain Shining Armor, I will need you to send out troops to create an outpost near the Everfree Forest... If more humans like Silas appear and have less-than-pure intentions, then we will need ample time to prepare." Celestia turned her gaze to the doors Silas had just left through. "He has shown no ill intent, but he is clearly a powerful fighter. If the stories he has told of his home are true, we would be hard-pressed to stand against his enemies." Author's Note Sorry it took so long to update; my only excuses are life and apathy. Life for kicking the crap out of me, and apathy due to monotonous college. I'm also sorry that the chapter seems to short, but I didn't have a whole lot of inspiration for this one... I mostly wanted to let the fans know this story isn't dead, and that the plot-relevant Devil Fruit has been decided. Just a warning: might take a while before I update again.
Strange New WorldSilas groaned as his eyes slowly began to open, though they snapped shut again seconds later as the bright sunlight began to burn. He shielded them this time as he opened them again, spotting his signature fedora only a few feet away. He sat up, a flicker of Observation Haki letting him know he was safe for the moment as he reached over and took the hat before placing it on his head. He stood up and looked around, just now starting to wonder why the hell he was surrounded by trees when he'd just been on his ship... or rather, what was left of it... He was shaken from his thoughts as a low growl came from directly behind him. Another flicker of Observation let him know he was no longer alone - several animals, probably a wolf pack or something, had happened upon him and apparently thought him an easy meal. Silas turned and looked behind him. Well, looks like he was partially right. It certainly looked like a wolf pack... but what sort of wolf was made of sticks and twigs? He didn't have much time to ponder that question as two of them suddenly leaped at him, causing him to jump back. One of the wooden wolves, apparently a bit overeager, jumped again - only for Silas's fist, covered in a protective layer of Armament Haki, to smash it into the ground, where it lay still. The other wolves seemed surprised by this as Silas used Observation again, checking for any additional dangers. Thankfully, the only dangers he found were all in front of him... and charging straight towards him. He smirked, deciding now would be a good time to cut loose a bit. He casually walked through the woods, the wolves having been destroyed rather effortlessly. It was actually kind of pathetic, he thought, what sort of New World island had wildlife that weak? He continued walking in a straight line for a while, reasoning that no matter which way he walked, he would find an exit if he walked far enough. And then he heard a scream. He had a sudden flashback to his crew, and the next thing he knew he was running full-tilt toward the screamer. Twilight grunted as the Manticore slammed against her shield again. Her magic reserves were already running low; the enraged beast would break through any second now. Behind her, Fluttershy was doing her best to patch up Pinkie Pie, who'd been unfortunate enough to be caught by a wild swipe of the Manticore's claws. Rainbow Dash was doing her best outside the dome to try and distract it, but it was ignoring her in favor of the wounded prey. Rarity, meanwhile, had fainted at the sight of Pinkie's blood. They'd journeyed into the Everfree forest in an attempt to find out what had caused an abrupt influx of magic, one that had been sensed by every unicorn in Ponyville. Unfortunately, they'd accidentally disturbed a Manticore's naptime as they'd walked, and not even Fluttershy could calm it down before it began attacking. The Manticore roared as it reared up and brought its claws down on the heavily-cracked barrier, finally breaking through as Twilight nearly collapsed from the magical strain. It reared up again, preparing its claws, as they all stared up in horror. Rainbow Dash began a desperate dive bomb, hoping to reach the beast before it could hurt her friends again... only for a black blur to appear out of nowhere and slam into the Manticore's side, sending it flying into a nearby tree with a roar of pain. Everypony stopped in shock to stare at this newcomer. It stood tall, just slightly under 8 hooves in height, with very little hair that they could see aside from what poked out from under its hat. It also wore what looked like business attire, with a black blazer over a white shirt, black slacks, and a red tie. A fedora covered the only hair they could see atop its head. The Manticore picked itself up and shook its head, dizzy, before refocusing on the newcomer. It roared a challenge... to which this new creature simply smirked. The Manticore darted forwards, raising a paw and bringing it down on this tall creature - only to suddenly fly backwards as the force behind the blow seemingly rebounded back in its face. The ponies gaped as the creature's smirk widened. "Bad kitty." The creature mocked. "I'm not prey for you to play with, and neither are they." The Manticore got up again and rushed once again, this time trying its stinger - only for the creature to reach out and grab hold, catching the attack effortlessly. Everypony's eyes widened as the Manticore struggled and the creature - no, the monster raised its other limb, which suddenly turned obsidian black before he swung, smashing the Manticore into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. The Manticore didn't move, though the sight of its chest rising and falling was enough to reassure them they hadn't just watched a murder... though that didn't mean they were any less intimidated as the creature turned to look at them. Silas looked the horse-like animals over, from the way they'd all defensively circled their fallen friend to the scared-but-determined looks they sent his way. He looked past them at said fallen friend. They were willing to risk their lives to protect her... just like his crew was toward him... And he would be damned if he'd let their efforts be in vain. He darted past them, so quick to their untrained eyes it was like he'd simply teleported to their friend's side, knowing they likely wouldn't let him approach otherwise. The yellow winged one cowered in fear as he looked down at her. He reached up and pulled off his fedora, revealing a shock of blonde hair, before reaching into the hat for a moment. When he pulled his hand back out, a roll of gauze was in his grip. "Something tells me your friend needs this more than I do." He said, kneeling down and beginning to bandage her up on his own. The horse-like things watched as he patched up their friend, probably not sure what to think. They'd just watched him pummel that winged scorpion-lion into the ground, and now he was helping them - Silas had to admit, if he was in their position, he'd probably react the same way. He leaned back after a minute to admire his work. Not quite as good as his ship's doctor could have done, but pretty damn close. This horse-thing would be fine. "Alright, now that your friend isn't going to bleed out on us... mind telling me where we are?" He asked, turning to face them all. Author's Note This is my first story on this site. Please, let me know what you think! I could use the feedback! And just in case I get complaints about how easily he destroyed the wildlife, let me put it this way: regular, everyday animals versus a New World pirate. Who do you think will win?
New FriendsSilas walked amid the small crowd of horse-things - ponies, he chided himself. Once they were sure he wasn't going to attack them, they had asked a few questions before Silas suggested heading out of the woods. If another Manticore, as they'd called it, or more Timber Wolves (again, their words, not his) showed up, they'd all want to be within running distance of the exit, right? They were too weak to even consider an enemy in his eyes, but apparently the thought of more animals finding them was enough to convince them that they should leave. The pink one he'd bandaged up - Pinkie Pie, apparently - was currently being carried along by the orange 'pony' with a large stetson hat - Applejack, he remembered. Out of them all, she seemed to be one of the most physically fit, as well as more than willing to volunteer for the job of carrying her friend out. Next up was the blue pegasus with the rainbow-colored mane and tail, Rainbow Dash. Odd name, but at least he had a healthy dose of respect for her - the others seemed to have simply accepted that he wouldn't harm them and moved on, but she continuously sent wary glances his way. She seemed to trust him, but not entirely - a good choice, given the situation. There was also a white unicorn named Rarity, the other unconscious one. If anyone had told Silas they'd seen a unicorn, Silas would have called them insane. Now, however, he was willing to actually consider the possibility before writing them off as crazy. Then there was the yellow pegasus, Fluttershy - quite possibly the most innocent creature Silas had ever seen in his entire life. There were no other words to describe her correctly. And finally, the second unicorn - no, scratch that, 'alicorn' - of the group and the apparent leader, Twilight Sparkle. Extremely brainy, amazingly interested in his origins, and - if what she'd told him about Equestria was true - was able to use magic, and was one of the most accomplished magical beings currently alive. The real kicker was that she referred to herself and her friends as the 'Elements of Harmony', with her acting as the Element of Magic. Silas definitely thought it seemed rather appropriate. Eventually, they reached the edge of the Everfree Forest - as he'd learned the area was called - and found themselves standing on a large hill overlooking a decently-sized town. As they walked, he began thinking back to his crew. How the Marines had taken them completely by surprise... how he hadn't been able to do anything... "Somethin' wrong?" Applejack spoke up, looking concerned as he snapped out of his trance. "No, no, just... thinking." Silas said, glancing around. To his surprise, he found himself standing on the edge of the town; he'd been lost in thought for quite a while. "Well, if you're sure..." Twilight said, turning to smile at him. "Anyway, welcome to Ponyville!" "I'm not quite sure what I expected..." Silas admitted, looking around at the now-barren street that had, seconds ago, been bustling with dozens of ponies. the moment they saw him, however, they dropped everything to get inside and lock their doors. Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. "I thought we'd gotten over doing this after Zecora, but I guess not." She led him to her home as the others left to bring Pinkie Pie to a hospital to get her checked out. Silas was mildly surprised to learn that Twilight's house also doubled as the town library... as well as the fact that the entire thing was a giant castle. Walking inside, the pirate was surprised to see what looked like a bipedal, purple lizard walking down the stairs. Said lizard froze in shock upon seeing him. "Uh... Twilight?" He said. Judging from the voice, he wasn't very old, Silas noted silently. "What is that thing?" Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Silas spoke up first. "I am a human. My name is Jericho T. Silas. Pleasure to meet you." He said politely, taking off his fedora as he gave a small bow. The lizard blinked, startled, before giving a bow of his own, not wanting to be disrespectful. "And my name is Spike." The lizard said, straightening up again. "I'm Twilight's assistant." Silas glanced at the winged unicorn as she led him to a nearby room and told him to wait there while she went and got a few supplies. Silas looked around at all the books as he waited, sitting in a large chair, wondering just how many there were. Isaac would have loved this, he thought to himself, especially the medical books. That guy was always reading... He was snapped out of his thoughts by Twilight's arrival with a quill pen and quite a large pad of paper. "Now then, mister... Silas, was it? Mind telling me a little bit about yourself?" She asked politely, but Silas could practically see the millions of questions she was dying to ask. He sighed; this might take a while... Author's Note Alright, I'd say this story is coming along nicely! Thank you to the ones who have liked the story so far, it means a lot to me! I wanted to try making the chapter a bit longer this time, I felt the first chapter was a bit short.
A Friendly Interrogation And An Angry MobIt had been over two hours before Twilight eventually ran out of questions. Once he was sure she was done, Silas began asking a few questions of his own, such as 'how did their magic work' (to which he got such a lengthy and informative response, he started getting a headache) and 'where in the Grand Line were they?' Upon Twilight asking what exactly the Grand Line was, however, Silas began growing worried. Asking for a map, he took it and began looking it over, the feeling of dread in his gut increasing as he stared at the flat paper globe. "I don't recognize anything." "What?" "I just said, I don't recognize any of this. Nothing from any of the Blues, and nothing from Paradise or the New World." "Blues? What're those?" "Well, I think you just confirmed it for me." Silas said, walking away from the map-covered table and towards the chair before collapsing into it, mentally exhausted. "I am no longer anywhere in my world." "W-world?!" "If a place like this existed, then it definitely would have been found and documented by now. And, considering that nobody's knows anything about this place, it would have to mean it's probably anther dimension or something." "Th-then how'd you end up here?!" "That... I don't know." Silas sighed. "Wait... The magic influx!" Twilight suddenly gasped. "The magic what?" The pirate asked, blinking. "Before we went into the Everfree Forest - where we found you - every unicorn for miles around felt a large influx of magic. I was able to triangulate its position using the reports-" "And the position was the Everfree Forest, wasn't it?" Silas asked, catching on. "Exactly. Which means that whatever caused that magic influx was likely what brought you here." "Well, that's definitely a start... I don't suppose you have any clues as to what caused it in the first place?" "Unfortunately, I do not... but I plan to find out!" Twilight declared determinedly. "Good to hear." Silas said, tilting his head as though listening for something. "Though you might want to do something bout the angry mob coming this way." "Angry mob?" She rushed over to a window and looked outside to see a bunch of townsfolk waiting outside. One or two of them actually had torches and pitchforks. "Come out, beast! We know what you did to Pinkie Pie!" One of the mob members yelled angrily. Rolling his eyes, Silas emerged out onto a balcony alongside Twilight. The moment they saw him, they began hurling insults and even a few rocks, though none of the projectiles reached very far. "Calm down, everypony! Silas wasn't the one who injured Pinkie!" She yelled, but her voice was drowned out by the crowd. She continued yelling, trying to be heard, before Silas reached up and removed his hat before reaching in and drawing out a pistol, firing a single shot into the air, the loud sound startling everyone into silence. The pirate calmly put the weapon back inside his hat as he nodded to Twilight. "Now you can talk." She stared at his hat as he put it back on, but then realized what he'd said and turned back to the mob. She began explaining the situation to them as Silas casually turned and walked back inside, deciding to wait for the crowd to leave. Checking with his Observation Haki, he was pleased to see that Twilight's words had actually reached them, and that the angry mob was no longer angry. The lavender alicorn walked back inside as the ponies outside began to disperse, staring at Silas. "What?" The pirate asked jokingly. "I got something in my teeth?" "What was that thing you were holding, and how did it fit inside your hat?" She asked after a moment. "What, this?" He asked, pulling the gun out of his hat again. "It's a pistol. Common weapon in my world." "Weapon?" She asked, her eyes widening. "Yes, weapon - because where I'm from, quite a few people would just as soon kill you as look at you." He said, shoving it back into his fedora. "Therefore, protection is a key component of survival." "How do you do that?!" She demanded, grabbing it from his hands and staring at the empty interior. "What is this thing, magic?!" "Two things. One: don't touch my hat, it's precious to me." He said, snatching back his fedora. "Second: I'm not sure if its magic or not, but that's my Devil Fruit power." "Devil Fruit power?" Twilight asked quizzically, completely confused. "What's a Devil Fruit?" "A special kind of fruit that gives you some sort of power in exchange for your ability to swim. Each ability is unique, and even the weakest of Devil Fruits can give the user a massive advantage over a regular person." "And you ate one, you said?" Twilight had picked up her pad and her quill again and was furiously scribbling things down. "Yes. My specific Devil Fruit is called the Hat-Hat Fruit. I'm able to store things inside a pocket dimension, which I can access by reaching inside any headwear I can find. It's kinda weak compared to quite a few other Devil Fruits, but nobody expects someone to pull a sword out of their hat during a fight, right?" He asked, demonstrating as he pulled out a cutlass. Twilight stared in astonishment as he slid the weapon back inside his fedora and placed it back on his head. "So... any other questions?" He regretted asking as Twilight began another barrage of queries. Author's Note I started writing some actual action into this chapter, but decided to scrap the whole thing for now and rewrite it. Action should come soon, however. Don't worry. Also, what do you think of his Devil Fruit? Like it, don't like it...? Let me know!
That Night...Author's Note I think I've got the writing bug, I can't seem to stop writing new chapters. Send help. Anyway, here's a little more backstory to our hero. Let me know what you think of his story. That Night... "Ah, 'Silas the Magician' of the Dreadnought Pirates." "We've been looking for you for quite a while..." "Silas, watch out!" Screams. Blood. Crazed laughter. The faces of his crew - his friends - as they fell, one by one, to Marine forces. The last one to fall turned to look at him as she slowly bled out. "Silas...!" She choked out, blood dripping everywhere. "Promise us... You'll live...!" Silas nodded numbly. A gunshot, and then she was gone. His entire crew was gone. He was all that was left as the Marines closed in. Silas woke with a jolt, pursing his lips as he stared down at his hands. That day... that day was forever burned into his memory. The day his entire crew gave their lives in the name of keeping him safe... just so he could live on. If he hadn't made that promise, he likely would have shot himself by now. That promise was the only thing left giving him a reason to exist. He slowly reached into his fedora and pulled out the only thing that had survived the Dreadnought's destruction: a picture of him and his crew, before he'd been named Captain. He smiled sadly down at it as he inspected the faces of his friends in the moonlight. Malik, the original captain and his childhood companion. Isaac, the Devil-Fruit using doctor with control over chemicals. Anne, the sniper with a temper and a dozen guns on her at all times. Jacob, the narcoleptic chef who somehow never let the food burn while he slept. Ari, the tiger-Zoan shipwright with an appetite to match. Jesse, the navigator who doubled as their swordsman... or rather, their swordswoman. They were the closest thing to a family Silas had ever had. Thinking about them all brought back memories he'd forced himself to forget. Malik had been the first to die, victim of an infection from a Devil Fruit using bounty hunter almost a year before the ambush. The hunter's diseases proved too great for Isaac to defeat, and their captain was lost. Jacob had been the next to go, having suffered a narcolepsy attack mid-fight during the ambush. After him was Ari, the shipwright being flung into the ocean and sinking. Anne fell victim to the curse known as 'no ammo' and was swiftly gunned down. Jesse had been the last to fall, having taken roughly half the ambush force with her before a lucky shot put her down. It was her who'd forced him to promise as her killer lined up the final shot. In the end, Silas had been the last man standing as the Dreadnought began to sink, roughly a hundred guns and swords pointed at him as rage slowly overtook him. The next thing he knew, he'd been sailing away from the wreck of the dreadnought on a Marine ship, the bodies of all the ones he'd slain littering the Dreadnought's deck and bobbing in the water as he left, his hands and clothes caked with blood as he stared straight ahead, tears silently falling from his face as he sailed off towards the closest island. A drop of water landing on the photo made him realize he was crying. Wiping it off, lest it damage the photo, he slid it back into his hat and lay back down. He stared at the ceiling, still crying until he finally fell asleep again.
The Next MorningAuthor's Note Alright, just a quick note: I've changed a few details from previous chapters. If you haven't re-read the newly-edited chapters, I advise you do so. It will help solve any sort of confusion. The Next Morning Silas awoke, feeling awfully refreshed for someone who'd just cried himself to sleep... again. Sitting up on his temporary bed, he looked around. Yep, still in Equestria. Apparently it hadn't been just a weird dream. Standing up, he smoothed out his suit and made sure his fedora was with him before closing his eyes and activating his Observation Haki. He sensed two auras in a room not to far away; from their shapes and movements, it was Twilight and her assistant eating breakfast. He pulled an apple out of his hat as he walked into the kitchen. "Heya." He said simply, leaning against the wall as he took a bite of the fruit. "Oh, good morning Silas!" Twilight beamed, surprisingly chipper. Spike nodded in his direction, his mouth full of pancakes... that apparently had daisies in them. Good thing I've got my own food, Silas thought to himself as he took another bite out of his apple. "So... anything going on today I should know about?" He asked, chewing. "Well, yesterday I sent the notes containing my research into you to Princess Celestia, and I got Mayor Mare to agree to a town meeting later today so we can introduce you to everypony!" Twilight stated, growing more and more excited. "Once that's over with, Princess Celestia herself said she wanted to meet with you!" "Who's this 'Princess Celestia'? Next in line to the throne or something?" "Nope, she's one of the leaders of Equestria!" Twilight replied, surprised at herself for not mentioning it sooner. "In fact, I'm actually her personal student!" "One of the leaders? Who're the others?" "There's only one other: Princess Luna, her sister! They rule over the sun and the moon, respectively." "So, if they're the leaders of your entire nation... why are they still called 'Princesses'?" "I asked a while ago; she said that 'Queen Celestia' made it sound too formal. She's worried the title might distance her from her subjects." Silas thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright; so, when does the meet-and-greet begin?" "Three hours from now, in the town square in front of the town hall." Twilight replied without missing a beat. Silas finished off his apple before tossing it into a trashcan. "Well, looks like I've got some time to kill before the meeting then." "You know, I wouldn't mind getting a little more on these Devil Fruits you mentioned..." Twilight said, already raising up the quill and paper. Silas sighed as the barrage of questions began anew. Silas stood on a stage that had been set up in front of the town hall, standing behind a large curtain off to the side. From what he could hear - and sense - the entire town was waiting for the meeting to begin. After a minute, Twilight took to the stage and began talking into a microphone... apparently the technological and magical equivalent of a Den-Den Mushi microphone. She first began by reminding everyone there about the magic influx they'd felt, followed by what happened during their trip into the Everfree. The crowds gasped at the thought of a Manticore harming their 'Princess of Magic' - kind of a stupid title, in Silas's opinion, but he wasn't going to tell anyone that. They gasped again when Twilight mentioned how Silas had saved them all from the Manticore without receiving a scratch, and had helped bandage up Pinkie Pie, likely saving her life in the process. "And so, I'd like to introduce the hero in question... Jericho T. Silas!" She said, waiving him forward. Silas walked out on stage, scanning the crowd and noting how there were quite a few faces he recognized from the angry mob yesterday. They certainly recognized him, but like the rest of the citizens, they stared in wonder as they thought about his exploits. "So... yeah, I'd say Twilight did a good job introducing me... any questions?" Silas decided to ask. At the very least, seeming approachable would make the townsfolk more trusting of him. "Uh, yes, you in the front." "Do you eat ponies?" The foal in questions asked. "No, I do not. As a human, I am omnivorous, but I don't eat ponies. I can also survive completely on a fruit-and-vegetable based diet... which, frankly, I actually prefer. Any other questions?" "Did you really beat a Manticore?" "Yes, I did." Silas said confidently, smirking. "Not much of a challenge, actually. Where I'm from, something like that wouldn't last a day." "Where are you from, anyway?" "A place called the Grand Line. The specific half is known as the New World; if you want to survive there, you've got to be strong... and have quite a few tricks up your sleeves." Silas added, touching the brim of his hat. Several questions later, the crowd's curiosity had been sated. After a few parting words from Twilight, the crowd began to disperse. "Well... I think that went well!" She said happily, turning to the pirate as he watched the ponies go. "Agreed; they didn't run away in fear this time, or form another angry mob. Definitely making progress." He said with a chuckle, though he abruptly had a flashback to the time he acted as a traveling magician to raise the money for his crew's meals. His smile dropped down into an expression of sadness before he hastily wiped it from existence. "Anyway... how long until your princess's meeting?" "Not long. I had Spike run and get the train tickets while we held the meeting." She said, holding up a bundle of tickets. Now we just need to go gather up the rest of the girls!" "But what about the pink one? Isn't she still in the hospital?" "No, a few healing spells and a blood transfusion and she was good as new!" Silas's eyebrows rose at this, but he said nothing as he began following Twilight on her rounds around the town to pick up her friends.
The Train RideSilas sat in his own private compartment staring out the window as the train sped across the landscape. He sighed as he watched the trees fly by. The other girls had all been extremely excited when they'd learned they would have to meet with the princess. Silas had been surprised at how the pink one - Pinkie Pie, dammit! - had been happily bouncing around; he couldn't even see scars or anything from her injuries. To say he was impressed was an understatement. Isaac would certainly be interested... Silas thought, before shaking his head to clear away that idea. Thoughts like that weren't going to bring them back. Nothing could bring them back. The rest of the ponies traveling with him were sitting in the car across the aisle; he could actually hear Pinkie cheerily yelling through both doors. Rolling his eyes - it was like she was in a permanent sugar high - he returned to staring at the trees and rocks flying by. The sound of his door opening caused him to turn and look at a pony, who seemed surprised to see him there, though that quickly turned to disgust. "Who, and what, are you?" The pony asked in a snooty tone, turning up her nose. Silas raised an eyebrow. "Jericho T. Silas, call me Silas. Human." He replied flatly, already disliking this newcomer. He could only hope the princesses weren't as pompous as this wealthy brat was. "Can I help you with something?" "I was promised a private car, but lo and behold, here you are taking up my seat!" The pony said, showing off a ticket. "Either leave now, or I will have to conductor show you out." "No." Silas replied with a completely deadpan tone. "Besides, have you even checked the other booths? At the last train station, most of them were completely empty." The pony frowned and continued on in her holier-than-thou tone. "I will have you know that I am of the upper nobility of Canterlot, I hold more privilege than you or anyone else on this train combined!" "Kinda doubt that, actually." "What was that, peasant?!" "Well, for starters, the personal student of Princess Celestia and the Princess of Friendship is standing right behind you." The pony whipped around to find Twilight looking at her with a disappointed frown. "Silas, what's going on here?" She asked, looking past the gaping noble. "She's trying to kick me out of this booth instead of taking one of the free ones." He said simply, shrugging. "Kind of annoying, but at least she isn't threatening to kill me like the nobles back home used to." "K-kill?!" both ponies gasped, staring at him. "Yes. The World Nobles hold so much political power they can do whatever they want, including enslaving random people off the street or just shooting someone for no grovelling enough or wearing a color they don't like. They're so high and mighty they wear special suits so they don't breathe the same air as us 'common folk'." Silas said, turning back to the window. "So, like I said - she's annoying, but I'd take this whiner over them any day of the week." The noble pony, horrified, quietly walked to another booth as Twilight entered Silas's. "I take it... you've had some experiences with them, then?" "In the New World, who hasn't?" Silas sighed. "The government supports them in everything they do, they get away with everything, and if you piss them off or try to attack them, they can call in an Admiral - one of the strongest men in the world - to come and kill you. Whenever I heard a World Noble was in the area, my crew and I cleared out, despite how much we wanted to wipe those smug smirks off their faces." Twilight was stunned. The thought of these 'World Nobles' even existing was a horrifying one, but the entire government backing them up? Unthinkable. Silas chuckled. "Thankfully, I highly doubt we'll find any around here." The rest of the trip went by in silence as Twilight contemplated what her world would be like if nobility had the same privileges as these 'World Nobles' and Celestia and Luna were supporting them. The thought was a scary one. Author's Note Sorry for the long pauses between chapters - got college classes and homework to do. Those of you in college know how it is. Anyway, the next chapter should be up within a week or two if I can find the time and energy.
The MeetingSilas walked through the streets of Canterlot, the 'Elements of Harmony' forming a circle around him as they headed toward a giant castle in the distance. Sure, he got weird looks every now and then from the locals - scratch that, every few seconds - but he frankly didn't care - partially because of his general apathy, but also because of the knowledge that none of the 'upper-class' ponies (like the one from the train) would do anything that might potentially upset the Princess of Friendship or one of her friends. As they walked, he causally glanced around at the stores and building they passed. Each one looked fancy beyond belief; that, plus the way they looked at him and the other tourists, reminded him quite a bit of the nobles from his hometown. He still remembered the shock of watching a noble order the execution of a homeless man simply for leaning on the noble's fence. The noble had justified it as 'making sure his property stayed clean'. Silas was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by someone calling his name. Looking down, he saw Twilight looking up at him. "You alright?" "Yeah." He said, pushing the memories away. "Sorry for making you worry." It was only now that he looked up and realized just how close they were to the castle; apparently he'd been following them on autopilot for quite a while. Scratch that, her for a while; the other Elements had apparently all scattered to look around as As they got closer, a series of guards - clad in what looked to be fairly weak armor, Silas noted - stepped forward to block their path. However, they quickly stepped aside and saluted once they realized who they were about to block. "Friend of yours, princess?" One of the guards asked, glancing up at Silas, who simply looked back with a bored expression. "Correct, lieutenant." Twilight said, nodding. "Thank you for your concern." The guards waved them through, allowing them to enter the Canterlot castle. It didn't take them long to reach a giant set of double doors. Two unicorn guards on either side used their magic to open it, revealing what appeared to be a throne room inside. Walking inside, Silas's gaze was immediately drawn to the tall alicorn standing on a small dais, right in front of a throne. Twilight bowed respectfully, Silas doing the same after a second. "No need to bow, Jericho T. Silas." She said in a kind tone. "You are not one of my little ponies, thus I have no hold over you." "I still think it is best to show respect when meeting someone for the first time." Silas said in return, lifting his head. "Well said." Celestia replied, smiling. She turned to look at her former student. "I have looked over your reports, Twilight. They were quite.. enlightening." "Thank you, princess. But... why did you call us all here?" "In your reports, Twilight, you said that Silas here commonly fought against a group known as the 'Marines.' I decided to call Silas here today to ask some questions of my own." "You've heard of the Marines before?" Silas asked, tilting his head. Celestia nodded. "Yes. Many years ago - before you were even born, Twilight - a human arrived in Canterlot. He claimed he was a member of a group called the Marines, who would fight against evil and injustice. Initially we believed him and trusted him... until he stopped a simple robbery." "W-what happened?" "He stopped the thief, then killed him before our eyes, simply saying that 'all evil must be purged from this innocent world.' The royal guard and I confronted him and demanded that he leave. He complied, and simply vanished without a trace." "Unfortunately, that's an accurate representation of most of the Marines I've met. High-and-mighty, and willing to kill even little children in the name of justice." Silas said, frowning. Celestia frowned as well, nodding. "Then it seems we are indeed talking about the same group." "Still..." Silas mused. "Given that I haven't heard of Equestria before arriving here, not to mention that if only one Marine arrived here instead of a whole platoon, that the Marines might not know of this place either. Count your lucky stars, because the World Government would love to get their hands on a place like this." "World Government? The Marine did mention a 'World Government', but never elaborated..." "The Marines are often viewed as the attack dogs of the World Government, a coalition formed of over 170 nations and islands to 'help protect the world'. So far, they have managed to do some good and save quite a few people... but some pirates - all of whom the World Governmet displays as the worst criminals imaginable - have actually done more good for the people than the World Government ever did. For example, a warlord once tried to manipulate the citizens of a country to turn against each other, so he could kill the royal family and claim the throne during the civil war. His defeat was credited to a member of the Marines, according to the papers, but that country's royal family refuted those claims and let the people know that the real hero was a rookie pirate who'd befriended the princess. But the World Government chose to cover up that fact and take the credit instead." "So, pirates are the true peacekeepers of your world?" "No. far from it; most pirates would happily watch the world burn if into meant they got treasure." "...your world is truly harsh, isn't it?" "You have no idea." Silas said. After a few more moments of silence, he spoke again. "So, was that all you wanted to talk to me about? Or are there other things to discuss?" "There is." Celestia fixed Silas with a serious glare. "I need your absolute assurance that you will never intentionally harm my little ponies." Silas was silent for a moment before he stood tall, placed his fedora over his heart, and spoke. "You have my word as the Captain of the Dreadnought Pirates that I will never intentionally bring harm to your subjects, outside of self-defence should they attack." After a moment of hesitation, he reached into his hat and pulled out an oddly-shaped fruit. "And as a sign of trust, I will give you this. Do whatever you like with it." He held the Devil Fruit out for Celestia to take. Author's Note Hey, I finally got a cover image to stick! Good for me! Anyway, I know the meeting wasn't the best thing I'd ever written, but I didn't have much of an idea about what to write. Also my computer is a piece of junk and won't stay connected to the internet for more than ten minutes at a time before refusing to connect for the rest of the day. Anyway, yes, Silas is offering Celestia a Devil Fruit. It will come into play later on. I intend for it to be a very powerful one, and I already have one idea (that is, Mythical Zoan). If you want to suggest a potential power for this Fruit, please, send me a message! If I like the idea I might just pick it!
The Meeting (Part 2)Celestia stared in surprise, as did Twilight. "Is... is that-" Twilight began. "A Devil Fruit?" Silas asked, arm still outstretched. "Yes." The Fruit itself looked like a large lime, colored a light shade of brown and covered with small black swirls. Everyone present could tell that, despite its lackluster appearance, this object contained power... and lots of it. "This Devil Fruit I only found a short time before arriving here." Silas explained, looking down at it. "In the nearest town I was able to find a book listing known Devil Fruits. This specific one is a Paramecia-class known as the Earth-Earth Fruit, and allows the user to assimilate with and control dirt through touch. In other words, if someone eats this Devil Fruit, they can control the very ground they walk on, even to the extent of manipulating entire islands." The Princesses' eyes bugged out upon hearing this; one bite and they could control the earth itself? This went beyond mere Alicorn magic. "If... If it's so powerful, why haven't you eaten it?" Twilight finally managed to ask. "I already ate a Devil Fruit; nothing can handle possessing two Devil Fruits at once without exploding." Silas replied calmly, still offering it to the celestial alicorn. "Therefore, I can't eat it." Celestia finally got her brain working enough to light her horn and take the Devil Fruit in her magical grasp. Her horn flashed as she summoned a small chest and placed the Fruit inside before magically locking it and teleporting it into the royal vault - guarded by several platoons of soldiers at all times and a series of locks. It was nigh-impenetrable. "Now then..." Silas said, adjusting his fedora. "Was there anything else you wanted to speak to me about?" Celestia shook her head after a split second of hesitation. "No, that is all. Thank you for your time, Silas... and your show of trust towards us." Silas smiled and tipped his hat brim towards her before turning and leaving, Twilight at his side. After a minute, she sent a messenger to summon Shining Armor. When he finally arrived, he snapped to attention. "Captain Shining Armor, I will need you to send out troops to create an outpost near the Everfree Forest... If more humans like Silas appear and have less-than-pure intentions, then we will need ample time to prepare." Celestia turned her gaze to the doors Silas had just left through. "He has shown no ill intent, but he is clearly a powerful fighter. If the stories he has told of his home are true, we would be hard-pressed to stand against his enemies." Author's Note Sorry it took so long to update; my only excuses are life and apathy. Life for kicking the crap out of me, and apathy due to monotonous college. I'm also sorry that the chapter seems to short, but I didn't have a whole lot of inspiration for this one... I mostly wanted to let the fans know this story isn't dead, and that the plot-relevant Devil Fruit has been decided. Just a warning: might take a while before I update again.
