Equestrian Heroes
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Naruto x ?
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Story Start
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It had been a lot for Rarity to take in at first, but then she remembered the memories she had with the blond and decided to trust and accept him. Well at first it was difficult to believe until he showed her some of his jutsu. Admittedly it had hurt a little bit to know Twilight had been told before her, but she understood his reasons.

His scenario though, she couldn’t help but note that it reminded her of quite a few of her romance novels. One in particular was that of a heart broken warrior or something similar.

Learning and hearing that Naruto had a family was the real major bombshell that was going to take her a while to adjust. All and all learning of Hinata had made her decision to try and move on a bit easier. Hearing the reasoning behind his reason to hold off on dating for as long as he had out of his love and devotion to his first wife had struck a chord with Rarity. The romantic side of her approves of the devotion and was touched by his commitment. She wanted to think that she was willing to continue supporting Fluttershy and Naruto without question, but she knew she would be lying to herself. She wanted to say to herself that her action’s last night made her felt like she wasn’t worthy and that she didn’t put enough thought into Naruto’s feelings or how the kiss would have influenced him, but she couldn’t just let it go.

Even if he didn’t show it the dream he had of his first wife indicated he was lonely. He was hurting and she wanted to help him. This wasn’t just some fantasy to indulge in. This was somepony she cared about greatly and she wanted to help him.

It looked like she had some reflecting on to do. While she still wanted to help Fluttershy, she decided that she would also be honest with her friend and if the opportunity presented itself that she would also be willing to make her own move as well.

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By the time Naruto arrived to the farm that evening he was expecting to be greeted by the whole Apple family, but sure enough it was only Applejack. She was wearing a cotton jacket zipped up to just below her cleavage area giving a gaze to the black tank top she wore underneath and a pair of blue jeans that looked to be in new condition. Surprisingly enough she had her hair braided into a single long braid and forewent her Stetson hat. “You look great AJ.”

“Thank ya kindly Naruto. Ah admit ya caught me off guard with your sudden proposal. Then again whenever a stallion goes on the market in Ponyville it becomes the talk of the town.”

“Yeah well, I’m doing this for more than just mere talk. You ready to go?” He asked, extending out his hand.

Applejack took his hand. “Ah’right, so what’d have in mind?”

“I found this nice little area through a path near the Everfree. I’ve already checked it out and been through the area a few times and no dangerous creatures have made any dwellings along the path. It leads to a patch of land that grows plants with some rather delicious fruit. I figure a nice hike would be a nice way to work up enough of an appetite for desert.”

“Ah suppose that’s a nice idea. A bit more thought than just up and going ta an eatery or somethin’.”

With that they were off. Naruto lead the mare along a path he had traveled many times.

Completely enveloped by the trees, the cool glow of the night and the light of the moon bled through the thicket with ease, entrancing the mare with an almost overwhelming peace. The light from Luna’s Moon bathed plants in a beautiful glow that brought the vibrant greens to light.

“Ah swear it’s crazy nuff you made the Everfree your stomping grounds when ya were training, but now ya take casual strolls along it as well.”

“What can I say,” He paused, glancing back at Applejack before mimicking her accent. “Ah just love me some danger.”

Applejack snorted at his little attempt at a joke. “Now ah know yall ain’t poken fun a the way ah talk.”

“Course not sugar.” A slug to his shoulder caused Naruto to bust out laughing, ”Alright, alright I’ll stop.

“If ya’ll wasn’t considered like kin ah would have bucked you for that.”

“Ooh kinky.” Naruto remarked, turning away and closing his eyes, concentrating as hard as he could not to laugh.

Applejack’s face flushed red as she realized what she said. “That’s not what ah meant and ya know it.”

Naruto couldn’t help but roar with laughter. No wonder the others teased him so much. While he did indeed teased Dash here or there, it was more of a matter of paying her back for always flustering him, but now that he was making strides to flip the script, it made these interactions so much easier.

Eventually forest soon gave out to cliff side. The two cantered carefully alongside the face of the ridge, following the now narrow trail, as it shifted its direction back and forth. As they descended, Applejack's lungs were beginning to fill with the genuine, welcoming scent of the forest pines.

“So, Naruto,” She began, “How much farther we travelin’?”

“Not too much farther.” He mumbled as he continued to gaze ahead.

Applejack could see that he was distracted. “Ya alright there pardner?”

“Sorry, just thinking of things. It’ll all make sense when we get there.” He said as they finally got to the end of the path leading into more forest land.

The sound of soft, yet rushing water cascaded through the trees and her mind. The area around the path had grown wider, the tree become more spread out and apart. A small stream had met with the path, and the two ponies found themselves following the side of it.

“At last.”

They had arrived to a rather indistinct area. The only notable area was a small pathway of earth leading to a single solitary tree with huge fruit about the size of one’s head. The fruit looked like it had the coloring of blackberries but were about roughly the shape of an orange. Unfortunately the fruit were so high up and the size of the tree so large Applejack couldn’t see how it was possible to get the fruit.

The height of the three was easily twice as high as the farm house with the width of the tree about the half of one of the walls. “Now how ya suppose we get them?”

“Watch carefully,” he replied, hardly giving her any time to process his words. With that he took off at the tree with a running start. Applejack was about to cry out, wondering what the hell he was going to do running at the tree like that at full speed only for him to start scaling up it.

The mare found herself temporarily unable to form a cohesive thought as she was trying to process what she just witnessed. Easily he had plucked one of the fruit and dropped down to the ground like the height was nothing.

“I’ll heat the water from the river to kill the germs then cool it.” He casually commented until Applejack found the ability to speak.
“Now just wait a damn minute. How’d ya do that? If this is some kind of prank ahm not amused.” The mare crossed her arms as an angry heated look settled on Naruto.

“Trust me AJ it’s no joke.” He said as he proceeded to use some jutsu to carve out a small crater and fill it with water. “I’m not a normal pony. I wasn’t born a pony. I used to be a human being and my people had these abilities. These abilities are what you’re witnessing right now.” He said as the water filled the crater, he promptly used a fire jutsu to begin heating the water.

“There’s just…ah can’t…ya, ya not pulling mah leg are ya?” She asked as Naruto shook his head. Placing his hand on the ground, wood began to sprout as it crafted into a chair. He could tell from her expression she was still in a bit of shock.

“It’s still me AJ. I’m still the Naruto you know. Nothing’s changed.”

“Oh trust me, something definitely changed.” She said as she eyed the chair created for a good minute before deciding to sit down. “Who…who else knows?”

“Princess Celestia, Twilight, and Rarity.” He answered.

“Ah see. If…if you’re supposed to be this human thingy how'd ya end up as a stallion?”

“That’s something even I don’t know. All I know is one day I woke up in the body of a stallion. For a good while now I was…well the simplest terms to put is a spirit. I had already lived through my first life, but I gained enough power that my spirit could affect the living world. Chakra, unlike other energies, is deeply intertwined between the realms, whether it be living or dead. All I know for sure is that this is a real flesh and blood body and it carries the traits I had from my original body. Hell it could be my original body regenerated. For every way I could question it there could be answer. It makes a bit more since once I explain things a bit more.”
Enjoying the sweetness of the fruit along with some ale Naruto had sealed away he began discussing more about himself. The hours of the night ebbed away as once more he went through his story.

Konoha. His Parents. Being a Shinobi. Team seven. The Fourth Ninja War. While it would have been quick and easy to just gather everyone together and tell them, it just seemed too cheap and impersonal to do so, like he was in a big hurry to throw it all out there instead of going through the process of his close ones and answering any questions they might have.

So much time had passed that Naruto couldn’t recall the moment when they had both settled back into the blankets he had unsealed. They were sat within a large and smooth wooden box he had constructed with a fire nearby. AJ rested her head on Naruto’s shoulder; it was going on 2 a.m. as they continued their discussion.

That’s right; he had started the fire because it had gotten cold.

“Ah had to admit, this isn’t exactly what ah thought was going to happen when ya invited me out here.”

“I felt like you needed to be told the truth AJ. Especially since you’re one of the mares I feel like I can have a future with.” He admitted as Applejack looked up at him with surprise.

She didn’t say a word and for a moment Naruto was alarmed he had been too forward when the mare silenced him with a sudden deep kiss. She wrapped an arm around him and deepening the kiss for a few seconds before breaking it.

“I…wow…” he breathed out, breathless from the kiss.

“A-Ah,” Her cheeks continued to flush. “W-Well ah’m not one to beat around the bush. Ah always kind of thought ya were nice and dependable. Never put much thought into datin’, but ahm willing to at least give it a try if you’re willin’.”

A smile formed on Naruto’s face. “Yeah, I would like that. I just need to continue sorting through my other prospects before I officially put myself on the market.”

Applejack nodded, hoping that she’ll at least have a fair chance and decided to merely enjoy the rest of this date.

Next Chapter: Rarity and Fluttershy's Confessions! Estimated time remaining: 51 Hours, 60 Minutes