A Friend in Need

Equestrian Heroes

00

Naruto x ?

00

Story Start

00

“Thanks for bringing over these supplies on such short notice Twilight.” A week had passed since Naruto went to Canterlot for the week. Training of the recruits was going rather smoothly and he was getting into the swing of things. Though from the looks of things he hit a wall when it came to training his body up to old standards. He found it difficult to gain enough nature chakra to maintain Sage Mode let alone use Chakra mode.

He was wondering if this new pony body of his was missing something important that allowed the transformations possible. It was something of a problem he had noticed long before than as he found himself unable to use his transformation jutsu to turn into something that was human shaped. By the principal of the technique which he had then modified, even for the purpose of pranking should have allowed him to overcome this flaw.

“No problem, I was glad to help.” The Unicorn levitated the various writing supplies. She couldn’t help, but wonder what Naruto was working on. She sure it had something to do with those scroll things from before.

“If you wouldn’t mind setting them on the table.” He said gesturing to the table where he had scrolls and ink bottles at. There was one scroll tightly wrapped and tucked to the side of the corner.

“You spend a lot of time making these scrolls. Are you an artist of sorts?”  After all scrolls weren’t commonly used in Equestria unless it was connected to a historical event or they were being put on displayed for a museum.

“I use them for various things. Like my jutsu for one thing.”

One of the things that Twilight found fascinating about Naruto was his jutsu. It was like a Unicorn’s magic, but without being bond to the rules of magic she was taught. In fact the Unicorn was hoping one day she could ask the orange pony if she could run a few tests on him.

“Can I read them?” she asked  with a hint of curiosity only for Naruto to hastily gather them.

“Nah-uh, sorry, I’m not finished with them yet. These scrolls are very important to me and I don’t want to risk them being damaged.” He said as he set them in a cabinet. He turned to see that she was a bit disappointed.

“Once I’m doing with the scrolls I’d be happy to show you how they work.”

Her face lit up and she smiled. "Thanks Naruto, those techniques of yours are so amazing.” Twilight was determined to figure out his cloning technique. Her potential to read and do assignments would multiply by nearly 400% if she could make a couple copies of herself. She would never have to worry about being late on an assignment or under researching again.

“I could say the same about that magic of yours. I’d love to be able to do techniques without worry about finger cramps. I’m going to take a shower and then I’ll be ready to start teaching you the theory behind Jutsu. Feel free to make yourself at home.” It didn’t really matter anymore Naruto figured. In a world without enemy shinobi, let alone humans showing his new friends a few shinobi techniques they could use for peaceful and benevolent purposes couldn’t hurt. Also considering he was the only individual who could teach anyone the really dangerous techniques made him a bit lax on the decision. After all he had been here for over half a year and it still took him a lot of effort to use the techniques that were second nature to him when he was sixteen. He highly doubted someone was just going to magically reverse engineer the techniques. Upon pausing and thinking, he decided that maybe not have been the best selection of words to put his mind at ease.

Twilight waited for Naruto to get done shower and a good deal of time past. She started to grow anxious and her attention turned back to the scrolls.  She couldn’t help but grow curious about the content of what was within the scrolls. Twilight knew she shouldn’t, but a quick little peek wouldn’t hurt would it?

Carefully Twilight opened the cabinet and brought out a few of the scrolls. After all she was a very curious pony by nature and one of the things she enjoyed was learning. Upon reading the scrolls she realized she didn’t understand its contents at all. “Ok…this might be a little more difficult than I thought.” She thought to herself as she levitated a piece of parchment to take down some notes. Twilight was so lost in the notes she didn’t notice the sound of the running water stopping.

“Twilight…what are you doing?”

Twilight jolted, her loss of concentration caused the ink bottle she was bringing over her spill over the scrolls.

Naruto dashed to the table as he scooped up some of the ruined scrolls. Days to figure out the exchanged rate. Weeks to being able to afford and gather material. Months until he finally felt comfortable enough to use hooves all that time. Naruto couldn’t help but feel both hurt and angry.

Twilight meanwhile wore a look of shock her face.  Her ears were splayed down on her head, and was shaking her head from side to side, tears welling up in her eyes. "I…I’m so sorry Naruto. I…I can replace the material and…and I can help.”

“You’ve done enough. “ it came out much colder than he intended.

“N-Naruto.” The remorse could be heard in her voice.

“I spent months on that and you just go and muck it up.”

“I didn’t mean…”

“What kind of friend would do something like this? Just leave.” He didn’t mean to be so mean, but he was rather upset. The progress he made wasn’t something he could so easily replicate. After all, there was a reason why he had so many scrolls and random theories. They were concepts he planned on revisiting. Naruto winched at the sound of a slammed door and the faint sound of crying in the distance.

“I’m surprised by how harsh you were to that pony.”

“She ruined my hard work. I didn’t intend to come off as so mean, but I was just so angry.”

“Recreating your progress shouldn’t take that long, should it?”

“It’ll set me back a few months.” Twilight’s distraught face came to his mind. While Naruto was upset he didn’t want his friendship with Twilight to be ruined over it. All he would need is a nice long walk to cool down then he would find and apologize to Twilight.

He trekked within the forest and away from his home. Minutes passed as Naruto tried and fail to come up with an apology to Twilight. He was trying to come up with something sincere beyond a mere I’m sorry, but nothing came to mind. He arrived to the library hoping that Twilight would be willing to listen to him.

Naruto knocked on the door. The door suddenly swung open. “Put’em up!” Naruto literally could not react as the baby dragon attacked him. Despite his gusto Spike’s attacks proved to be quite ineffectual.

“Spike…spike listen.” He tried to reason with the baby dragon.

“You’re going to pay for making Twilight cry.”

“Spike listen I didn’t mean…” the sound of a bite and the sensation of teeth caused Naruto to pause in mid-sentence. With a yelp he swung his limb, sending Spike flying into a bookcase, causing an avalanche of books to fall on them. Naruto hurriedly rushed over and cleared the books.

“You jerk, picking on mares isn’t good enough? You have to attack poor, defenseless baby dragons too?” Spike accused the blond.

‘Defense my foot’ he silently remarked as he glanced at the bite marks.   “I didn’t mean to hurt Twilight, Spike. Just let me explain my side.” He pleaded.

“Alright, but if you try anything funny.”

Naruto rolled his eyes and suppressed a sigh. “Trust me, I won’t.” he said as he explained what happened in detail.

Currently Twilight’s face was buried in the large white poofy pillow of her bed. Tears streamed down her cheeks, dampening her fur and the pillow and bed sheet. The sobbed loudly into the pillow and mumbled to herself, saying things that made the tears come harder. ‘Twilight its Naruto.’ Hearing his voice on the other end drew her attention. Her face left the pillow. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened. I didn’t mean to be so cold or to insinuate you weren’t a real friend. I was wrong for getting so angry and risking our friendship over an accident. Just…please don’t cry anymore and I’m sorry. I’ll go now.”  Naruto left after the apology, wanting to give the Unicorn some space. ‘Damn pony body. Even how my emotions seem to balance is different.’ He thought as he found himself weaving through the forest.  He was about the third of the way home when he heard voices.

His attention was furthered garnered when they got louder.  “I should have known a failure like you wouldn’t have any money.”  Though he didn’t recognize the voice he couldn’t mistake the sound of that crying.

Naruto didn’t know what this stallion’s deal was; all he knew was that he wanted to get her away from Fluttershy. “Get away from her!” Naruto shouted as the russet red Pegasus seemed to register his voice before making a mad dash at him.  Naruto immediately reacted and bucked the crazy pony sending her flying across the field and landing with a thud.

“Fluttershy. Are you okay? Can you move?”

Fluttershy looked at him, tears streaming down her face, she was bleeding a bit from her nose and also had teeth shaped indents in her cheek.

“Who the hell are you? Another pathetic friend of Fluttercry’s?” the lime green Pegasus taunted. Figures a loser like her would hang out with wingless hacks.

Naruto let out an inhuman snarl as the air around him grew hot. For the first time in years his eyes turned into those familiar crimson slips of a feral animal. Ever since his partnership with Kurumu the malevolence that tainted the chakra had essentially vanished, but right now it was Naruto’s very own tranquil fury that fueled the dark transformation. “Leave…NOW!” It took all of his will power to suppress the very urge to kill the pony. Occurring Naruto’s wrath was not something that was necessarily all that difficult, but there were a few things that could set Naruto off to point where he could trigger a mindless mode 2 transformation. Hurting Fluttershy was one of them.

Fluttershy was so gentle and sweet it was inconceivable that anyone would bare her any ill-will. And it was also for her sake that he restrained himself, knowing that the pony would probably be frighten of him for the rest of her life if he gave in to the urge to kill.

The idiot wisely chose to leave. Naruto scooped Fluttershy up and placed her on his back. He made the trek back to her cottage, seeing as it was closer.

Naruto nearly bust down the door when he arrived to the cottage. His arrival startled her animals who immediately readied themselves for a fight. “Guys please…I…I need your help.” He wasn’t sure if they understood him. He was never a person who got along with animals after all. “Fluttershy’s hurt…and…” He had to keep calm for Fluttershy’s sake. To Naruto’s surprise Angel was the first to step forward and suffice to say Naruto wasn’t used to the rabbit showing any other expression besides a grimace.

The rabbit in his opinion came off as a brat, but the fact he seemed to be showing genuine concern for Fluttershy made him rethink his opinion. Slightly. Angel seemed to communicate with the other animals before pulling at Naruto’s leg to lead him somewhere.

He placed Fluttershy on the bed as the animals soon returned with medical supplies. It would have been impossible not to pick up some first aid considering the people in his life. Naruto got right to work, disinfecting her wounds and wrapping them up with bandages.

"Sorry, but this needs to be tight." Fluttershy's eyes teared up a bit.  He looked at her, and brought his hoove to her head and gave a gentle rub.

“I…I understand.”

“This shouldn’t have happened.” He softly muttered himself. What would inspire someone to do such a thing?

“I-t’s okay. Y-You saved me from that bully w-who was trying to m-mug me.” Maybe it was because how safe she was now or perhaps how vunerable she was and felt the need to be close to someone. Whatever the reason Fluttershy hugged Naruto, startling the blond quite a bit.  She blushed a bit and whispered into his ear. "You're my hero."

For as long as Naruto remembered he considered Fluttershy like a little sister. He never had a sibling and as a result interpreted the feeling of always wanting to protect Fluttershy as a big brother thing, but at that moment he realized something.  Fluttershy reminded him of his wife. That sweet and gentle nature along with the drive to help those around her except for one thing.

Fluttershy never had someone to inspire her to seek courage and grow. She never had someone to stop her from going the wrong way. Yes, she had friends, that much were true, but she didn’t have someone to give her the confidence to grow.

“Will you…will you be okay?” he asked as her hold on him tighten.

“Can you…can you please stay?” Right now Fluttershy really needed a friend. Naruto’s warmth and presence took her mind off the awful memories of her fillyhood that was resurfacing. Some time had passed and before she knew it Fluttershy began to drift off.  The sound of his heart beat and his warmth put her at ease enough for her to go to sleep.

"Fluttershy... Time to wake up Fluttershy." As she started to stir, she was clearly relaxed and didn't realize that she had fallen asleep. "Wha...What happened? Did I fall asleep?" She asked while looking up at him sleepily.

“Its morning.”  He said as Fluttershy softly gasped.

“Oh my. Did I keep you here all night? I’m so so so sorry. I didn’t mean.”  Before she could continue her endless stream of apologies Naruto cut her off.

“Its ok. I already fed your animals.” Which in itself was a pain of the ass. How the hell was anyone supposed to be able to twelve the difference between twelve types of seeds that looked alike. “Breakfast is downstairs and I contacted Rarity and she’ll be here soon.”

“Thank you…” After ensuring that Fluttershy was indeed fine Naruto left back to his own cottage.

“Naruto!”

To his surprise Twilight was coming towards him wearing a saddle with scrolls sticking out of them. “Twilight.” The two paused, their eyes met as an awkward silence occurred between them.

“I’m sorry.” Both of them spoke.

“I…I didn’t mean to be so harsh with you.”

“No its my fault. You asked me not to bother your scrolls and I didn’t listen. I don’t blame you for being mad.”

“Still, its just some silly pieces of parchments.”

“Actually…that’s what I’m here about.” With a dazzling smile Twilight’s horn glowed as she levitated some of the scrolls. “Check it out.” She insisted as Naruto grabbed one of the scrolls and opened it.

“I…what…how?” Naruto asked in awe. The hand writing was far too neat to be his, but all the sealing code matched up perfectly.

“I remembered all the content of scrolls down to the very detail. So I copied them and recreated them from scratch. Also…” she levitated the rest of the scrolls. Naruto grabbed one and opened it. His eyes skimmed over and he gasped in awe.

“That…the solution…how?”

“W-Well…your magic…your chakra kind of reminded me of how unicorns channel their magic. So I did some research and see if those gates you mentioned matched anything in Unicorn biology. I wrote up some notes and made theories based off your biology and a Unicorn’s biology and adjusted the notes to match. Did I…did I do okay?”

“Okay?” he shouted. In his happiness Naruto galloped over and hugged Twilight. “You’re freaking amazing Twilight.” He was such an idiot. Why didn’t he account for the biological differences? Since he didn’t have magic he supposed the idea never occurred to him.

“Y-You’re welcome.” Twilight Sparkle was stunned by the display. She wasn’t used to such affectionate displays by anyone who wasn’t family or the Princess. Especially not members of the opposite gender and as such she couldn’t help but blush.

Regaining his senses Naruto brought the hug and looked a bit bashful. “S-Sorry…got carried away. Twilight, think that maybe we can work on jutsu theory when you have time?”

A bright smile formed on Twilight’s face. “I’d like that.”

Dear Princess Celestia,

    I learned two important lessons today. One about respecting other’s property. If you’re not careful accidents can happen and you can end of destroying something very valuable to someone. Also a true is always willing to apologize and to let bygone be bygones. This incident taught me that an argument or emotional outburst cannot sever the bonds of true friends.