When One Realizes He cannot go back…

He Must Not Slack…

In Other Words, One must plant the seeds of a new life…

But Will One Be Able To Sow Such A Thing, Twice?

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Chapter 8: Royal Pain

"The Everfree Forest, you are sure of this?" Celestia asked.

"Yes Princess Celestia. I and Spike found him at the edge of the Everfree Forest while looking for a particular mushroom. He was covered in this strange purple smoke, or fog—we couldn't tell what it was." Twilight confirmed to her.

The details were strange indeed. Celestia brought her hoofs together, thinking in deep thought. If what Naruto said to her was true, he was definitely brought into this world through strange but unique circumstances, and Twilight's information on the event only contributes to it. But this merely made her head hurt; piecing the events together doesn't add up completely.

Celestia only sighed as she looked at Twilight. "Tell me my pupil, what is your reaction towards this individual?"

"Well… he seems nice, but confused at the same time. It's like he was born just recently with the way he acts."

"Yes… I gathered the same idea… He is a rather… strange individual. But he seems to be a nice young gentlepony, despite having some…" Celestia paused for a moment and eyed down at the ground before looking at Twilight once more, "unique features, to put it simply."

Twilight gave a nod towards her teacher. They both stopped talking for a minute or two, as the silence consumed the room. Celestia looked back at Twilight.

"He is staying with you, correct?"

Twilight flinched a little at the sudden question, with a small blush across her face.

"Well… yes, I couldn't just abandon him. He seems to be having all sorts of issues, especially with not knowing where he was, and this amnesiac manner vibe he's giving off. It just screams 'help me.'" Twilight said to Celestia. She gave her a firm nod. But the next question caught Twilight off guard.

"Do you know how long he will be staying?"

"Well… no, he never told me…"

"How long do you want Naruto to stay with you?"

"Until he's gotten his bearings straight and is well enough to take care of his own. But I would rather not abandon him." Twilight replied.

"You do realize that having a young stallion such as him, living in your own house, would not be a healthy matter?"

Twilight tilted her head towards Celestia.

"I don't understand? Plus it's not like he's been here for a long time. It's only been a day or two since he's been here."

"Yes, of course… But I am only being careful of your well-being… There can be… circumstances to where a mare and a stallion could be… out of control, to say it simply."

Twilight immediately blushed at Celestia.

"W-what's gotten into you, your highness? It's nothing like that! Not at all…" She said, with her eyes darted down, and then brought back towards Celestia. "Nothing at all…"

Celestia brought her gaze close towards Twilight's eyes, with Twilight staring right back. Celestia blinked for a moment as she gave a nod.

"Very well… I will trust you with this. But please, as soon as he is well enough, don't let him live here for too long. I am sure it would be only a burden on him and yourself." Twilight blinked once at Celestia's request.

"I… Yes, your majesty. But may I ask for a certain request?" Twilight asked.

Celestia got up from the sitting sofa in the middle of Twilight's question, and motioned her to follow her towards the door.

"What would that be, my pupil?"

"If he is to agree with it, I would like to keep him here until he finds a place to live, or at least be well enough to be on his travels."

Celestia stopped walking and stared at the ceiling for a moment, while sucking her lower lip in thought. She stared back at Twilight.

"You are sure of this, Twilight?" Twilight gives a nod in response. Celestia gave a small sigh as she looked back at her. "Very well, but do not keep him here too long, is all I ask. Also…" She began, "Do keep an eye on him, and send message to me if anything were to go wrong. Understand?"

Twilight gave a firm nod.

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"Whew… made it… God damn that took too long…"

Of all the things for Naruto to experience, it was to be lost for a good half hour. He spent a good majority of it getting lost in town and trying to find his way back, especially since it felt like he took laps around the town twice; which gave him a good sweat. He should've asked Twilight for a map or something, he thought to himself. But eventually, he managed to find his way back to the familiar tree-house of a library, which is Twilight's home.

He could see Spike sitting outside, reading a brown book in his claws, and the gold armored guards were still standing guard outside, so he assumed that Celestia and Twilight were not done talking just yet. Naruto walked towards Spike, and much to his surprise, Spike looked up from his book and waved at him.

"Hey, Naruto, where've you been? The guards told me you went for a walk, but you were gone for a good while!" Spike asked. Naruto merely scratched his head as he could remember what happened back at the farm. It was a lot to explain to Spike, so he decided to just say:

"It's a long story… But in a nutshell, I saved a drowning pony while I was walking around." Naruto said like it was no big deal. To Spike and the guards, it was a pretty big deal as they went wide-eyed. Spike immediately hopped up and smiled, while the guards just went back to their neutral demeanor after the brief shock passed.

"Wow, really? Who did you save?" Spike asked.

"Do you know two ponies named Applejack and Applebloom?" Naruto asked with another question.

"Well, yeah. They're Twilight's friends, and they own Apple Acre Farm. "

So what Naruto heard from Applejack is correct. He mistakenly trespassed into a farm without knowing it. But because of his trespass, he was able to save the little sister of Applejack. That's one way of introducing yourself to someone, Naruto thought. Getting back to Spike on his question, Naruto said:

"I saved Applebloom. This girl… er, pony, named Applejack ran to me and thanked me for saving her."

"Wow! You must be really something to be saving Applebloom like that." Spike said with a cheerful smile in his face. "Are you like a superhero or something?"

"Um… no, I was just helping out a pony in need, that's all. I'm sure anyone would have done the same thing in my stead…"

As they talked about what had happened with Naruto, the sounds of a door opening made Naruto jerk his head towards that direction. Two figures started to walk out, revealing Celestia and Twilight. The guards stomped their hoofs down as if signaling her arrival. Twilight looked at Naruto with a nervous smile.

"Hey Naruto, been waiting long?" She asked.

"Just took a quick walk is all, getting used to the surroundings and such." Naruto said with a smile. Celestia was about to say something else, until Spike hopped up and down towards the both of them.

"Twilight, Princess Celestia! Naruto saved Applebloom from drowning earlier!" He said with happiness.

Twilight's and Celestia's jaws dropped at the sudden information, as they looked straight at Naruto.

"Naruto did what?" They both said in unison. Naruto gave a small blush in his cheeks as he scratched his head with his hoof.

"Y-Yeah… I guess I saved a drowning pony on an apple farm... Did I forget to mention that with my walk?" Naruto said nervously, pretending to be confused. They still stared at him in disbelief as their facial expressions contorted towards a smile.

"That's wonderful Naruto!" Twilight said with a cheerful smile. Princess Celestia also took a nod towards his heroic behavior.

"It is indeed. You just saved a pony's life after all. I thank you, Naruto." Celestia said.

Naruto couldn't help but blush from the praise he was getting. Celestia turned back towards Twilight and then back at the rest of the group.

"Well then, I guess my claims may have been mistaken. Maybe your arrival was that of a blessing." Celestia said. Naruto raised a brow at that.

"What does that mean?"

"It is nothing… But now I must go. It is getting to about that time for my sister to raise the moon, and I must be back post-haste." As she said this, she spread her wings high, while her guards did the same, and slowly taking flight.

"Farewell Naruto, may you have good luck!" With that, she flies off, along with the guards towards the distant sky, slowly disappearing over time as Spike, Twilight, and Naruto, looked beyond.

Naruto blinked a little, wondering what she meant by her claims being mistaken. But nonetheless, he did know that his actions gave him a good impression towards the Princess. And he knew, that giving a good impression with someone of royalty, was a good start.

"She ran off in a hurry…" Naruto said curiously. "What did she mean by the Moon, though?"

Twilight thought she heard enough of Naruto's oblivious nature, but it seems she was wrong. She looked at Naruto with a dumbfounded look.

"Don't tell me you're not aware how the Sun and Moon works…?" Naruto tilted his head at her question, with a puzzling look.

"It just goes up and down on its own, right?" Naruto answered. Twilight shook her head.

"Princess Celestia is in charge of raising and lowering the sun, while her younger sister, Princess Luna, is in charge of lowering and raising the Moon. It's how the day and night cycles work here."

Naruto stood there, looking at her as if she's crazy. "You can't be serious…"

"I'm very serious." Twilight said as she squinted with one eye.

Naruto looked up into the sky, and said out loud. "There's so much to learn here, than from what I used to know… It's kind of sad…" He said with a frown. "It's even more surprising how it requires two other unicorns just to handle the sun and moon…"

"You mean Alicorns." She said.

"Huh?"

"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are called Alicorns; basically, a mix of a Pegasus and unicorn. They are the only two that exist, and are very powerful."

A mix of two species, he thought. It would explain both the horn and wings that Celestia had. He looked up towards the sun, and then back at her.

"So what did Princess Celestia talk to you about?"

"We only talked about some things on how I found you and what the plan was for you here."

"I see… It's probably none of my business to ask, but, did that princess come off as hostile towards me?" Naruto asked. Twilight raised a brow at him.

"No, I don't think so… Why do you ask?"

"I'm not sure… I think it's…" Naruto began, but then he just closed his mouth. He just shook his head. "Never mind… It's probably just me. Still growing used to things here after all…"

Spike stood in the background, all quiet with his little book. He looked up towards them and shook his head, digging his nose through his book still. While Naruto looked up back towards the sky, Twilight spoke.

"So how are you feeling so far? You've been here for a day or two now, and you saved a pony from drowning… Sounds like you're quite the stallion despite being confused for most of the time." Twilight asked. She was right, Naruto thought. He's made a good amount of progress, and has figured out where he stands, so far. He would need a little more training to further see where he was, but more or less, he just had to get used to things.

Getting used to things… He couldn't repeat that thought enough. Here, in an unknown world, completely unfamiliar to him… and he had to get used to it. There was no chance of going back to his world—or at least, he hoped there was a way—so he didn't have much choice but to adapt, until such a way was possible… But then again, thinking back, his world was always in constant war, always with a lot of conflict. Especially the Akatsuki, whom was always hunting for him…

A miserable life, and yet it's ironic that his death would put him into a world of peace and tranquility, where there's no war, everyone treats him as if one and the same, no glaring looks because he had a demon inside him… It was a paradise.

Naruto could hear some echoing voices as he starred off into the distance.

"—aruto! Are you there?"

Naruto snapped back to reality as he looked at Twilight. "Huh? Yes? Did you say something?"

"I said are you feeling alright?"

"Oh, yeah… I'm fine… Once I get used to things here, I… I'll be better alright, I think." Twilight looked a little puzzled at Naruto's last response, but she merely shrugged.

"I see… Well, okay then! Do you know how long you'll be in my house for?" She began. "I mean, not that it's any problem and such… But I'm sure my house is pretty boring to you… what with all the books, and me asking you all these questions and such…"

"Oh no no, it's not that, but…" But in a way, she had a point. He couldn't keep staying inside her house forever. It would just be a burden on her, he thought. Taking a moment to 'pretend' that he was stuck in this world, he needed to get his roots under the ground. He looked at Twilight.

"I do need to make some progress if I'm going to be here in Ponyville for a while… since I have nowhere else to go." He began. "There's no point in acting like a lazy bum. I need to get active."

Twilight gave a smile at Naruto. "That's the spirit Naruto! But what do you plan to do?"

"Hmmm…" That was a good question. He didn't know much about the history of this world, he didn't have any money, and he certainly didn't have a home of his own. If he could at least accomplish these three things, he'll be a little better off. He looked at Twilight.

"What does the currency look like here in Equestria?" Twilight tilted her head at Naruto's strange question. "What kind of money does this land use?" He corrected and simplified himself.

"You've never seen the—" Stopping in mid-sentence, she was feeling a little tired of the weird questions, and just decided to answer it without question.

"The money here is called Bits. They're small coins that we use to purchase anything of value. Come inside, I'll show you."

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Sitting on the sofa, he could see a few coins laid out on the coffee table. They were golden and round, with a slightly different colored rim around them. He held one coin with two hoofs, to get a good look at it. He blinked a little. No paper money, but just coins, he thought? He thought it would be a burden if one had to carry a bag full of these.

"There are several different ways of getting bits around here, well, mostly from getting a job around here." Twilight spoke. "I get my bits from running the library here. And maybe a couple of side jobs on the side, for example…"

Naruto gave a firm nod. He needed money, and without money, he was limited to what he could do here. A job is what he needed, for sure. He looked towards Twilight.

"Twilight, I have a request." Naruto spoke up.

"What is it Naruto?"

"I would like to live here for a little longer… until I at least get enough money to get a home of my own. You have treated me with a lot of kindness… or heck, more kindness than I've ever been given back where I come from. I'm not here to abuse your kindness, or, anything, far from it. But with me barely having any possessions of my own, money, or anything else, I am rather lost here. So…"

Naruto sat up from the couch and bowed towards Twilight, which gave her a small startle.

"I ask of you… Please let me stay here. I'll pay you back somehow once I'm all settled in here in town…" Twilight didn't know what to think of Naruto's response. He was definitely appreciative for what she had done for him, which she could see. She waved her hoof towards Naruto.

"H-hey, no need to go that far, Naruto… I just couldn't abandon a pony in need after all… Please, get up." She said. Naruto stood up on all fours, like she said.

"For now, just get some rest for tonight. We can decide on what kind of work we can find for you tomorrow, alright?" She said as Naruto nodded.

"Why not start right now?" Naruto asked. Twilight pointed her hoof towards the window.

"The night has already come." Naruto blinked at her response. Walking towards the window, he could see it was the dead of night, with the moon high in the sky. His mouth agape, he looked back at Twilight.

"But it was just sunny! How did the night come so quick—oh…?" He just realized. Two Princesses control the day and night cycle, so it's possible the day and night cycles come a little more quickly than he's usually used to. But he starts to wonder…

If the sun and moon cycles are controlled by two princesses, does that mean if one is missing, it can be an eternal day or night, he thought? The whole idea was still confusing. Twilight walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

"You'll get used to things around here, I promise Naruto." Naruto couldn't help but smile at her when she said that, and stared back at the window.

"Yeah, you're right. I'll get used to things around here… No matter what…" He said towards the window, and then back at Twilight.

"…Believe it."

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AN: Whew, so that covers the 8th chapter. We can finally get to the real beef of the story itself: Getting Naruto situated in the land of Equestria! What kind of experiences will he hit? What misadventures shall he undertake! Stay tuned for Chapter 9!

Also, I should use this as an opportunity to ask some questions. I do have a few for all of yall. If you don't wish to answer, then it's up to you, since I am merely seeking opinions.

Eventually, the fic will turn into a mature rating, this is without a doubt. However, some would not be comfortable with such a thing, so I ask you viewers: Would you stop reading/be uncomfortable if I were to turn it into a mature fic someday? Mature fics are easier to work with, since it would give me more room for potential in terms of story, but it's not going to be anything extremely gross or anything like that, like two dead bodies having sex or anything as stupidly dark as that… I wouldn't forgive myself for that.

But I would like to hear yall's opinions on the matter.

Do you like the way the story is progressing?

And... One other thing... do you think I'm ignoring Spike too much? lol.

I think that's about all the questions I have. I would really love to hear some feedback on yall's opinions on the matter. Thank you.