Ticket Trouble

Equestrian Heroes

00

Naruto x ?

00

Story Start

00

Naruto decided to pay a visit to Ponyville since nothing of real importance was going on in Canterlot. After all his guard was only active during the night so he had free reign to enjoy his days provided he balanced his sleep schedule correctly. Currently he was with Twilight, Spike, and Applejack.

The Farm pony had asked their assistance in bringing some apples by car to the farm. Spike was currently in the cart going through the apples.

"Ah thank you guys kindly for helping me out. I bet Big McIntosh I could get all these Apples in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he's gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of granny's girdles."   Applejack explained her reason in inviting them down to the farm.

“What would have happened if you lost?” Naruto couldn’t help but wonder.

Applejack pause as the memory came to her mind.

“An’ what do Ah hafta do if YOU win?” challenged Applejack. Big Macintosh smiled smugly.

“WHEN Ah win,” he said. “Y’all hafta lie ta Granny Smith fer a day.”

“Easy!” Applejack whooped. “That’s all?”

“Nnope.”

“What?” Applejack was taken out of her thoughts of sweet, early victory. She quickly regained her composure. “Okay partner, what’s th’ catch?” she inquired cautiously.

“Ya gotta tell her that ya got knocked up by Narutah,” said Big Mac with a whisper. AJ gulped as her blood ran cold. If Granny knew that someone was fooling around with HER grandchildren, the culprits would be on the alter  within the hour, or six feet under. “What’s th’ matter, Applejack?” said Big Mac playfully. “You ain’t chicken, ain’tcha?” With that, a fire lit up inside Applejack stomach.

“Ah ain’t never been no chicken, an’ Ah’ll never will!” she roared. “Ya got yerself a bet!”

“N-Nothing. Same thing is all. Y’all know how it is.” Applejack lied, badly.

Applejack could not say a convincing lie to save her life, but Naruto figured whatever it was it was too embarrassing for the farm pony to admit.

“We were glad to help, Applejack.  I'm glad the goal is lunchtime. All this hard work is making me hungry." Twilight remarked as she wiped her brow and softly exhaled. She was nowhere near as fit as the two orange ponies. She was about ready to keel over and they hardly broke a sweat.

"I know, right?" said Spike. The others gave him a mean stare.

"Spike, you been in that cart while we worked.” Twilight noted as Spike responded with an apathetic shrug.

"Exactly.” The baby dragon aloofly countered as he merely sat back. “You guys are taking so long, I missed snack-time." At the end of his statement all of their stomachs growled.

"Eh, I guess we better get some food." Twilight laughed nervously.

"Nope. Worm. A-ha!"  Spike said as he went through more apples until he came upon a good looking apple.

"Oh Spike, that looks delicious."  Twilight longingly said as her gaze settled on the red treat. At that moment Twilight’s hope plummeted as Twilight devoured the apple.

"What?" Spike questioned as Naruto shook his head. To Naruto’s shock he then burped out a scroll.

“I…he…what?” Naruto nonsensically babbled in a stupor.

"It's a letter from Princess Celestia."   Twilight explained with giddy.

"What does it say?" Naruto asked as Twilight cleared her voice and began reading.

"Hear ye, hear ye. Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce The Grand Galloping Gala to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle plus one guest." Applejack and Twilight both gasp. "The Grand Galloping Gala!" shouted the two females.

"Woo-hoo!" said Applejack. Spike sticked out his tongue like he was gagging but he then burped out two tickets.

"Look, two tickets."

"Wow, great! I've never been to the gala. Have you, Spike?"  Twilight without a doubt was beyond excited.

"No, and I plan to keep it that way. I don't want any of that girly frilly frou-frou nonsense."  Spike dismissively remarked.

"Hold up. What's this Grand Galloping Gala?" Naruto asked.

"It's a royal party held in Canterlot every year in Canterlot. It's where a bunch of ponies come to attend and only the most famous are ever invited."

“I see…” Naruto still haven’t learned much of politics and the rest of issues that came with the common wealth within canterlot.  “That sounds kind of nice.”

"Nice? It's a heap good more than just nice. I'd love to go." Applejack remarked with a sigh.

"...Land sakes, if I had an apple stand set up, ponies would be chowin' our tasty vittles till the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin' up 'round here. We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big McIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip." Applejack said as in her mind, you see many ponies lined up, then her barn is fixed, Big McIntosh's plow is fixed, and Granny Smith's hip is fixed.

"...Why, I'd give my left leg to go to that gala." Applejack finished her remarks with a sigh.

"Oh, well in that case, would you like to-" Twilight began to invite the farm pony until a certain Pegasus crashes onto Twilight full throttle.

"Ugh. Are we talking about The Grand Galloping Gala?" Rainbow Dash questioned as she recovered from the crash.

"Rainbow Dash, you told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples. What were you busy doing, spyin'?" Applejack demanded with a glare.

"No, I was busy napping, and I just happened to hear that you have an extra ticket."

"Yeah, but-" Twilight began to speak until she was cut off.

"YES! This is so awesome. The Wonderbolts perform at The Grand Galloping Gala every year. I can see it now."

A rally is taking place with the Wonderbolts watching.

"...Everyone would be watching the sky. Their eyes riveted on The Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash!" said Rainbow Dash. The audience gasps by the Pegasus's appearance. "I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut." Rainbow Dash performs an awesome performance. The audience cheers for the performance. "Then, I would mesmerize 'em with my Fantastic Filly Flash. And for my grand finale, The Buccaneer Blaze!" The Wonderbolts' mouths drop after seeing the "Buccaneer Blaze". "The ponies would go wild!" Sure enough, the audience did go nuts for this performance. "The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member." Finally, the Wonderbolts put her in as a Wonderbolt.

"...Don't you see, Twilight? This could be my one chance to show 'em my stuff. You gotta take me!"  Rainbow Dash pleaded.

"Hold on just one pony pickin' minute here. I asked for that ticket first."   Applejack challenged with a flare of her nostrils.

"So? That doesn't mean you own it." Rainbow Dash challenged by sending a glare and showing her teeth, but Applejack was not going to sit back and take it.

"Oh, yeah? Well I challenge you to a hoof-wrestle. Winner gets the ticket." Before both of them could try and hoof-wrestle Twilight stops this contest.

"Girls, these are my tickets, I'll decide who gets it, thank you very much. Whoever has the best reason to go should get the ticket, don't you think?"

"Drummin' up business for the farm?"  Applejack asked with a bit of hopefulness.

"A chance to audition for The Wonderbolts?" Rainbow Dash threw in.

"Money t' fix granny's hip."

"Living the dream."

"Oh my, those were all pretty good reasons, aren't they?" Twilight asked herself. Her stomach growls too. "Listen to that, I am starving. I don't know about you, but I can't make important decisions on an empty stomach, so I'll, uh, think about it over lunch and get back to you two, okay?" Twilight darts towards Ponyville.

"Yeah, well I’ll go to. I already know this is a disaster waiting to happen and I don’t want to be a part of it. See you girls later.” Naruto remarked as he chose to do the wise thing and moved far, far away from the conflict.

"Okay." said the two tomboy ponies. They looked at each other and continue their hoof-wrestle.

Just as Naruto began leaving the area he received feedback from a kagebunshin. His clone just informed him of getting his own ticket to the Gala. “Aah crap. I hope Rarity isn’t busy.” Naruto remarked.

“..uh? What?” Naruto remarked as he was brought out of his meditation.

“You need to move darling. I can’t finish the stitching if you’re a statue.”

“I thought you prefer it when I didn’t move so much.” Naruto playfully remarked, remembering how he used to be unable to sit still when Rarity made him something.

“I think I’d prefer it when I didn’t have to continue jostling you awake. By the way you never told me what this suit is for.”

“I got an invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala and considering I didn’t have any fan…” he found himself cut off with a loud cry.

"THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA?"

Naruto was startled slightly and fell back off the standing dish.  “Yeah, I take it you would love to go as well?”

“Oh my goodness you are so lucky. Oh how wonderful it would be to go to the Gala. Everyone clamoring for moi’s attention. In my finest dress all my eyes would be on me. Then everyone would finally know, the most beautiful, most talented, most sophisticated pony in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn. Ah..." Rarity then made a nervous laugh. "...but its all just a silly little fantasy. I mean its not that big of deal.”

“Rarity I’m sorry, if I had a ticket I really would like you to go. I wasn’t given an extra like Twilight, I guess the tickets are rare.”

“Twilight has an extra ticket you say?” Rarity certainly perked up.

‘Ah crap.’ Naruto thought. ‘Sorry Twilight.’ Naruto mentally added.  Moments later Naruto found his suit mended with ridiculous speed.  He figured that he could at least give the Unicorn a heads up.  He began making his way through Sugarcube Corner when he heard an all too familiar voice singing.

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

Hip hip

Hooray

It's the best place for me

For Pinkie...

With decorations like streamers and fairy-lights and pinwheels and piñatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sun-beams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me

'Cause it's the most galarrific superly-terrific gala ever

In the whole galaxy

Wheee!

Naruto arrived just in time to catch the end of a conversation. Pinkie Pie had got it in her head that she was going and Rarity was arguing against it.

"Oh, the society, the culture, the glamor! It's where I truly belong, and where I'm destined to meet him."

"Him!" said Pinkie Pie as if she knew whom Rarity was speaking about. "...Who?"

"Him." Rarity said as she went into detail of her own vision.

In Canterlot, the rich folks are in the ballroom talking when they suddenly see Rarity with a dress walk in.

"...I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, "Who is that mysterious mare?" They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville. Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself, and the princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot." You then see a handsome stallion looking at Rarity. "Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. Our courtship would be magnificent. He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say," Yes!" We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is" a giggle escaped her lips "...what I would become upon marrying him, the stallion of my dreams."

"Twilight, I simply cannot believe you would invite Pinkie Pie so she can... party, and prevent me from meeting my true could you? Hmph."  Rarity said as she looked at the Unicorn, disappointed by Twilight's decision even though Twilight did not invite anyone yet.

“Girls, don’t you think you should ask Twilig…” the sound of scampering caught his attention. It was known other than Fluttershy’s bunny angel taking the tickets from Spike.

"Hey!" Spike exclaimed in surprise by the bunny's actions. Angel showed them to Fluttershy who replies with a small gasp.

"Angel, these are perfect."

"Uh, listen guys, I haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to." Twilight finally spoke up.

“You haven’t?” the party and proper pony spoke at once.

"Of course not. She just got them and hasn't decided yet. Don’t you think you girls are pushing her a bit much?”

"Um, excuse me, Twilight. I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be alright, if you haven't given it to someone else-"  Fluttershy softly and indecisively began to ask until being rudely cut off by Rarity.

"You? You want to go to the gala?" Rarity asked, a bit awestruck at this revelation. For all the time she known Fluttershy she had never known her to have an interest in such an event.

"Oh, no. I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of."  Fluttershy stammered with a faint blush.

"...You see, it's not so much The Grand Galloping Gala as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance." The garden shows a huge varirty of wildlife. "The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom... and that's just the flora! Don't get me started on the fauna." Then you see a lot of animals. "There's loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays and pink flamingos!"

"Gee, Fluttershy, it sounds... beautiful?"   Twilight remarked with a sigh. All her friends really wanted to go and she didn’t want to disappoint any of them.

"Wait just a minute."   Rainbow Dash shouted from outside the window.

"Rainbow Dash, were you following us?" Twilight asked in a more nervous tone.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. I couldn't risk a goody-four-shoes like Twilight giving that ticket away to just anybody

"Wait just another minute."   Applejack  interrupted as she entered the scene.

"Applejack, you as well?” Naruto supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised.

"No. I was followin' this one to make sure she didn't try any funny business. Still trying to take mah ticket." said Applejack.

"Your ticket?"  Twilight asked.

"But Twilight's taking me." said Pinkie Pie. The rest of the Mane Six keep arguing.

Naruto sighed, knowing that the next step would be bribes and buttering her up. He remembered hearing about this exact same situation when team ten were trying to curry favor with a shinobi to get an item so they wouldn’t fail the mission.

Placing a hoof on her Naruto disappeared with Twilight in a swirl of leaves before the others could ever react.

“What…what just happened?” Twilight remarked with a loud exclamation as they found themselves in the forest.

“Pretty sure I saved you from practically being eaten alive.” Naruto answered cheekily. “Are you alright?”

“I…I’m fine.” She remarked a bit more subdue.

“The girls are mobbing you huh?”

"Money! Wonderbolts! Party! Prince! Animals! So many reasons, how do I choose?” Twilight remarked as she dipped her head slightly.  “Applejack wants to make enough money to fix up Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash wants to impress the Wonderbolts, Pinkie Pie thinks it'll be a gigantic version of her parties, Rarity wants to get together with some high-class Unicorn, and Fluttershy wants to see the animals in the royal garden. How do I choose? I don’t want to lose any of them if I don’t choose them.”

Naruto chuckled and patted Twilight’s head.

“H-Hey!” Twilight exclaimed a blush adorned her cheeks.

“You silly pony. Do you really think that any of them would end their friendship with you because of that? I know them and they wouldn’t do that.”

“You have so much faith. Aren’t you afraid that one day the ponies you consider friends might stop liking you?”

“Friends. Real friends will respect your decisions. They will never betray you intentionally and will be willing to listen to you. You have to talk with them Twilight and make them understand that you understand their reasons for wanting to go and why you made the decision you eventually have to make.” Naruto shushined them to the Library.  The two of them talked and tried to figure out the best response to give the girls.   “I’ll go gather the others and you can make them understand your feelings on the matter. Trust me Twilight, be honest would hurt them less in the long run then stringing them along.”

“You’re…okay.” Twilight nodded. She was still a bit nervous, but if she didn’t speak her mind she could lose her new friends. The ponies were gathered asked to be quiet until Twilight was done speaking.

“Applejack I understand your reasons for wanting to go. Your reasons for the Gala are the most noble. Naruto and I talked about it a bit, and we’re both willing to help you fix up the Sweet Apple Acres free of charge whenever we can. I hate to lose our friendship or something like money.

Rarity I understand your reasons for wanting to go. For all those of high class who are nice ponies like Celestia there are just as many that aren’t noble.  I know your heart is set on meeting a special somepony of your specifications, but do you really want to meet him in a superficial way or do you want him to like you for you. I hate for our friendship to end over something like that.

Fluttershy while I think you’re idea is beautiful I can already tell you that the ponies attending my not be so welcoming to your idea. I would hate for you to be hurt when those attending the Gala wouldn’t be interesting in your animals.”

Naruto stepped forward and began speaking. “Rainbow and Pinkie, sense I know both of you a bit more I think I should say the last part. The gala is no way suited for your interests. I know just how…wild you two can be and I can assure you partying or showing off in the way you’re thinking would definitely get you guys thrown out. I’m not the most formal pony, I can admit that, but I’ve dealt with people of noble like class and trust me, ponies like us and our antics would not be welcomed.” Naruto finished with a wry grin.

Twilight stepped forward, thanking Naruto before speaking again. “I know how important it is for all of you and I decided, no matter the reasons I can choose just one of you. I want you all to be happy, but if I choose one of you it’d be the same as saying I favor one of you over the other and I don’t want to do that.” Twilight found herself sniffling, almost moved to tears. Thinking of how easily the other ponies accepted and cared for her without a thought moved her the tears at the thought of losing them over something as simple as a party.

   "Yaaaargh! I can't decide, I just can't decide. It's important to all of you and I just can't stand to disappoint any of you, and giving me gifts and doing me favors won't make any difference, because you're all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can't, I just can't!" said Twilight.

"Twa’light, sugar, ah didn't mean to put so much pressure on ya, and if it helps, ah don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. ah won't feel bad, ah promise." Applejack remarked.

"Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful."  Fluttershy stated, almost moved to tears herself.

"And me too. It's no fun upsetting your friends."  Pinkie Pie as she deflated slightly.

"Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did."  Rarity couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

"Yes! That means the ticket is mine. Ha ha, I got the ticket, I got the ticket"- Rainbow Dash gloated until the others shot her a mean glare. "...you know, I haven't perfected my signature moves for The Wonderbolts anyway. I don't need that ticket either." She ended sheepishly.

"We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we couldn't see how un-gun-ho we were making you." said Applejack.

"We're sorry, Twilight." The ponies apologized.

"Spike, take down a note." She told the baby dragon who groaned; finally having caught up to ponies. Curse his short legs.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala."

"What?!" the other ponies incredulous cried out.

"If my friends can't all go, I don't wanna go either." Twilight decisively decided.

"Twa’light, you don't have to do that

"Nope. I've made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now." Spike breathed his magic fire on the scroll and it disappeared.

"Now you won't get to go to the gala either."  Fluttershy noted.

"It's okay girls. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me, so I would rather not go at all."

“Couldn’t you have just ask for more?” Naruto asked, cocking his head as Twilight’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, Spike looked like he was going to vomit.

"Hgh... hgh... urk... urk..." Spike grunted before he exhaled a letter.

"A letter from the princess? That was fast." Twilight remarked.

"My faithful student Twilight,

Why didn't you just say so in the first place?" Spike said as he read the letter.

“You know, we really should have thought about this. Would have saved a lot of time and headaches.” Naruto remarked with a sigh.

"And look, seven tickets to The Grand Galloping Gala." The ponies gasp. "Now we can all go." said Twilight. Her stomach rumbles louder than ever which makes her laugh. She never did get that meal.

0000

Chapter End

000

I was going to go with more romantic Twizuki (Naruto x Twilight) overtones this chapter, but decided to spread it out more in the following chapters.  It’s a bit early for a lot of the ideas and concepts I normally come up with and trying to come up with ideas of what I wanted to do.

Though if you guys want to give ideas of moments feel free to give them.