Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x Rarity x Twilight x Fluttershy x Applejack x Pinkie Pie x Rainbow Dash x Ditzy x Luna x ? x ?

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For Normal Speech

Inner thoughts, Text read, Italics used to represent characters speaking in different language.

Demonic rage, Demonic characters, Kurama Speak

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Story Start

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A train ride to the Crystal Empire. That was the last thing Naruto expected he would be doing today.

It had been a rather surprising revelation when Celestia had happened upon his breakfast with Trixie and informed them that she had business to attend to and would be leaving for a few days.

His interest piqued Naruto naturally wondered what it was about and low and behold the Sun Diarch would be paying a visit to her niece. Wanting to spend more time in the empire and visit their libraries do to his curiosity of the history and nature of magic used Naruto sent one of his copies with Celestia.

That was how the two found themselves in a private car on the train with two sentries posted on both entrances/exits to the car.

The interior of it looked closer to the modern metallic look of the trains from his past then the more homely looking cars in the rest of the train.

As far as one could see outside there was untouched wilderness filling the scenery. Nothing but mountains in the far background.

When they had arrived all the typical fanfare one would expect was had. Introduction and Greetings. Servants carrying their things to their rooms.

While both Princesses left to have their discussion that left both Guard Captains to well...have guy time.

And one of that was enjoying the food.

This food though was not what the blond was hoping for. The meal which consisted of a few pieces of carrots and broccoli and some parsley that was hardly enough to be salad filling let alone a meal. Didn't help that the portions were hardly filling, then again he always needed more than most.

Well that was a bust. So then came the next manly thing.

Shooting stuff.

"PULL!" Shining Armor shouted.

The device that was situated a few feet from him, glowed with an artificially created magical aura. The mechanism loaded two disks into the launcher, adjusted its angle, and fired them into the air. Shining Armor charged his horn with rose colored mana. He took careful aim as he watched the disks fly through the air. The unicorn stallion then fired two magic energy beams in quick succession, striking both targets and blowing them to dust.

"So...wedding date is growing closer huh?" Shining asked as he moved out of the way as Naruto got readied for the disks. "PULL!"

Having already drawn two shurikens Naruto let them fly as they cleaved the disks in half. "Yeah. Not even my first wedding and I'm still rather nervous about it. I wonder if maybe I'll get over the nerves by the time I get around to marrying the others."

They switched places. "Normally I comment that its uncommon for a stallion to marry more mares then just his alpha unless it was a group wedding, but you've proven to be anypony but the standard...PULL!"

The mechanism launched another two disks into the air. The charged shots once more destroyed the disks.

"That was never something I had to worry about. Out of the group the one who was looking forward the most to us being husband and wife anytime soon was Rarity. Applejack a close second because of family values, but everypony else is rather complacent with how things are."

"To be honest I really can't see myself with more than one mare. Cadance is the love of my life. I mean, everyone knows about Polygany and Polygamy with our whole situation of the mare to stallion ratio for a vast percentage of our nation, but learning about a way of life and embracing it are two different things." A thoughtful expression formed on Shining's face followed by one of slight guilt. "Considering the way Twilight used to be I was rather complacent about the whole issue of her and dating. I feel like a jerk. A small part of me was glad that she didn't display an interest in the opposite sex because I was always worried about her being taken advantage of."

"Big brother instinct combined with your knowledge of Twilight's social immaturity right?"

"And here I thought the guards were grumbling when they were talking about how there seems to be nothing you don't know."

Naruto let out hearty laughter as he forced himself to keep poised. "What can I say? Kage Bunshin. I know it really irritates others that I seem to have an answer for so much, its a common problem I've encountered time and again, but honestly what am I supposed to do? Not better myself? Not use such a useful technique to gain information and knowledge? I've learned so much about so many things and that's just from my herd mates alone. If there is a tool I can learn to make, an useful skill to learn, or even an interesting book to read why not just indulge in it? Becoming the Head of State of a territory forces you to be responsible and consider your decisions and how they influence people. That with the combination of my clones and family genes that bless me with a long life span I have a recipe for someone who will simply continue to grow and adapt over time."

"Are all these skills useful or are they just things you learn for fun?"

"A little of both." Naruto admitted as he thought back to a few weeks ago.

---

"Alright I think I got it." Naruto said as he stood back from the front door. Dressed in a pair of overalls he was a bit greased up and smelled musty along with having disheveled hair, all signs of the amount of work he put into fixing up the library.

For some time Twilight had simply lived in the library as is. Not being a carpenter seeing to the condition of her home was outside of the magical user's field of expertise.

Twilight looked around as she searched nearly every inch of the establishment. The ceiling was devoid of thinned out paint patches and cracks. The wooden floors no longer creaked. Every rough patch on the wall had been smoothed out.

The lack of creaks and groans would no longer plague her. No longer would they startle her after a late night of studying or would she have to incessantly remembered to get them fixed.

A warmth filled her heart at just how cozy the atmosphere was. This was different from when Spike cleaned things or how she plotted out a rearrangement.

The fresh coat of paint on things and the restored furniture gave it a brand new feel. "Why?" When Naruto said he was going to be doing some touching up while Twilight would be in Canterlot for her scheduled therapy session she hadn't expect to come home to this.

"Isn't it obvious Twilight? This library...which holds your memories of your closest bonds in Ponyville. The place you live with Spike and Nyx. This place shouldn't be just a building for living. The shelter that keeps you warm and safe during those cool nights. The site in which there will be many more memories to come. It should reflect what its been all this time. Your home." Naruto was nearly knocked off his feet at the force Twilight proceeded to unleash via bear hug.

One didn't need to keep verbally telling the one they cared about they loved them in poetry or endless sonnets. Simple actions and gestures were always just as good if not better to emphasize your care for someone else.

---

"I guess trying to find out a way to repay you is going to be more difficult then I thought."

"Repay me?" Naruto was confused by the sudden utterance. "Repay for what exactly?"

"You know what the most afraid I've ever been is? Besides the wedding incident?"

"Can't say that I would know.

"It was the day Princess Celestia sent Twilight to live in Ponyville. My little sister, moving away to a strange town full of strange ponies. Anything could've happened. What if she was foalnapped? What if they tried to use her to get to Celestia What if she didn't make any friends? I felt helpless. It was the first time I couldn't be there for her, and it scared me."

He looked back up and when he did there was a faint smile on his lips. "A few days later after the incident of the Summer Sun Celebration I began going through the mail when I noticed I got a letter from her. As if I knew what it would say word for word, from comments of how she wouldn't like it to wanting to come back home I hesitated in opening it. But in I had to do it. If Twilight was trouble and if a moment of hesitation would have made the difference I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself.

I read it, and instead she starts writing about how she ran into this stallion and he introduced her to some of the nicest ponies she ever met. Ponies that would become her life long friends. One that showed her there were those who she could count on and would like her for her. You have no idea how relieved I was to hear that."

There was a moment's pause while he met the blond's gaze. "So, I guess I wanted to do something to say thank you. Thank you for making friends with my sister. For being there for her and for keeping her safe. And thank you for making her happy."

Naruto mulled over these next few words."Your sister is special Shining! There will always be those who see Celestia's student or the Element of Magic. To me she's just Twilight. All the good and the bad and if she were any other way she wouldn't be her. She's a wonderful mare and that's what brought us together. So don't feel as if you're indebted to me. It was only a matter of time until Twilight found the right ponies." A calming silence soon filled the field.

This of course was not the only important discussion going on in the empire.

---

"So how is Auntie Luna?" The two rulers were in Cadance's yet to be fully stocked private study. It was rather sparse lacking the warmth of a decorated room. Not that Cadance didn't appreciate all the heart shaped furniture and all, but there was only so much red, pink, and white one could take.

Being the mare of love didn't mean she ate chocolate hearts all-day and was love obsessed. "She is doing quite well. She sends her regards and wishes you well. Now dear, it is not like you to avoid facing your problems head on." Celestia's face was a mix of both worry and sad. Cadance was the closest thing she had to family during Luna's banishment. "When Luna told me about your persistent anxieties manifesting every night I knew this was not something I could ignore."

Cadance's expression became troubled at Celestia revealing the true purpose behind this visit. "Auntie I'm so sorry! You should be resting and recovering your strength, but because I could not keep my feelings in check now you and Aunt Luna are..." Cadance found herself promptly silenced as Celestia rose her wing and placed it against the mouth of the mare whose apologies were just spilling out. The pink Alicorn couldn't help but look at her aunt indignantly as a result of the action.

"You need not apologize. You are many things Cadance. Determined. Brave. Loving. In your youth you displayed a maturity rare for many and I would never dismiss the state of your feelings as anything but genuine anguish or issues."

"What were the point of those lessons and experiences if I lack the ability to control my emotions?" She lets out a hurt sighed, "How can I ever hope to be a good ruler?"

"Cadance, do you not think I ever feel negative feelings? That I do not become sad or disappointed? That I do not experience anger or hurt?" She asked as she ran her fingers through her niece's multi-colored hair in a soothing move much to Cadance's embarrassment. Celestia hadn't done this in years. "Never feel shame of experiencing your emotions Cadance. After all how else would we connect to our subjects and others if we do not let ourselves feel?"

"Its not only that Auntie. Its just, I knew it was not going to be easy. I mean the Crystal Ponies are used to an atmosphere of a thousand years ago. They are trying to adjust to everything and the more modern democratic processes is something they have to get used to, but I didn't believe so many of them would question my conviction or that some of them would think me useless."

"That is simply the reality we live in. There will always be doubters and neighsayers. That does not change the fact that the crystal ponies at large love you. What makes you different, worthy of being a ruler is the fact that you care about your subjects, Cadance. That's more than one could say for most rulers," Celestia smiled, nuzzling her niece. "And just because you want to do things differently then what your subjects are used to makes you anything but useless."

"I know what you say is true Auntie, but I find myself still worrying. You've always been able to rule things so smoothly."

"Oh Cadance," Shook her head and let out a warm and gentle laugh, "Trust me I have ponies within the councils of our government itself questioning my ability to rule. Quite honestly I've lost track of all the complaints I have gotten from nobles complaining their tax rates are too high to ponies damning me from not granting them riches from the royal treasury to even ponies accusing me of being a tyrant because I refuse to make them Alicorns like myself. When you have been around as long as I have being deemed such terms as 'useless' is essentially neutral in the long catalog of insults I have experienced over the years."

Cadance found herself taken aback by that. The idea that somepony could be so bold let alone anypony could think of her aunt in such a way. "Auntie, how do you handle it all?"

Celestia smiled. "Accepting that no matter how hard you try or how much you want to, it is simply impossible to have all your subjects love and respect you. Everypony is their own unique individual so they will always find fault or praise differently. I regret not being more detailed or cautious when I was seeing to it that an understanding of ruling etiquette was more gray then what I indicated during our lessons."

"I think I understand what you are trying to tell me auntie. That sometimes I will have to take the fact that some of my subjects may not love me in stride, but not to let it impede in my duty as a ruler by following my responsibilities to my subjects."

"Indeed. I hope my words have assuaged you of your anxieties."

"Yeah, I think I am going to be okay." Cadance took the opportunity to nuzzle into the crook of her aunt's neck. "Hey, auntie?"

"Yes?"

"Could you stay here for a few more days? I feel like I could still need your help growing comfortable in my role."

"Of course," Celestia smiled.

Celestia's wisdom had put Cadance's mind at ease. She was going to be okay. And with that Cadance decided it was time to pay her aunt back for all the love and kindness she had given her over the years.

By opening her aunt's eyes to who was obviously her soul mate. Now if Pinkie would hurry up and get here they could begin operation Sunstorm.

Next Chapter: Mama Twilight Goes Ham! Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 36 Minutes