Author'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.