Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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The following day the trio of Naruto, Fluttershy, and Rarity were in the park. The latter was extremely excited, having already brought an assortment of dressing blinds and outfits for Fluttershy to wear. Rarity moved the outfits behind the blinds and brought Fluttershy as well.

Naruto stood outside near the blinds, able to hear Rarity dress Fluttershy in various outfits as she offered her opinion on each one. "No, no, no, yes!" She closed the blinds and revealed Fluttershy in a gem-studded outfit. "That is definitely the one. Photo Finish is going to love it. Everypony is going to love it!"

"Oh, I am so excited for you." Fluttershy responded, softly. "Just don't forget us little ponies when you become the most famous designer in all of Equestria."

"Never." Rarity assured.

"Put me down here." A voice commanded near us. We looked to see it was Photo Finish. The ponies carrying her placed her down and she jumped off the platform she was sitting on. She observed Fluttershy's outfit for a moment. "Oh, nonononononono. The model should be in something simple! Something inspired by... the nature!"

"That's just what I was thinking." Rarity responded and rushed over to her cart to look for something else. After, she kicked the cart away, nervously. "Um... give me a moment and I'll, uh, put a little something together."

"Yes... that will not be necessary." Photo Finish replied.

"But... but... how are you going to help me 'shine across Equestria' if I don't design something new for these pictures?"

"I am not going to help you shine across Equestria. I am going to help her shine." She pointed at Fluttershy, surprising the trio. A couple of the ponies that assisted her starting pushing Fluttershy off to somewhere else in the park. "She is my star." She looked at Rarity. "You! Go!"

"Fluttershy…" Naruto spoke softly. "…oh no…that's not good." Considering how sigh shy she was this was not going to end well.

Naruto and Rarity who was now sadden walked over to Fluttershy who was now dressed in a nature-inspiring dress. Rarity had grabbed the outfit she had place on Fluttershy, which was thrown on the floor, and placed it back on her cart full of other dresses while holding her head low.

"Fluttershy…" Naruto called out to her. "I know we said we were going to work on your issues, but I'm pretty sure we're on the same wave length of you not being comfortable with this.

"Y-You're right," she replied with a nod. "A m-model? I can't."

Rarity immediately heard this and added in on the conversation. "Oh, but you must, Fluttershy. Photo Finish wants to make you a star. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I know we were all hoping it would be my lifetime, but nonetheless you can't throw away this chance. You must do this for me. You must. You must! YOU MUST!"

"Come on Rare you know how Shy is. You don't think she'd be okay with this?" He argued.

"B-But its an opportunity of a lifetime. "

"That doesn't mean its one she wants." He further argued.

Suddenly, Photo Finish's voice erupted. "Floottershy! It is time to make... the magics!" Fluttershy looked over between them. Rarity gave her a wide and accepting grin, but Naruto's expression was more concerned.

Fluttershy reluctantly decided to go for it, realizing how much making a good impression with Photo Finish meant to her friend. If it meant helping Rarity maybe she could deal with some discomfort.

Fluttershy turned around and began walking towards Photo Finish. "Oh, wunderbar! You are like a delicate flower. So much more alluring without all those sparkles und feathers." She commented as she walked with Fluttershy.

Rarity sighed sadly as she walked away from the scene. "Rare." Naruto followed after her. "Why?"

"I know this may seem weird to you, but I earnestly believe that this is an amazing opportunity for her. After all you said it yourself its time to help her start facing her fears."

"Yeah, at a steady pace not to throw her to the wolves. Maybe if you showed a bit more thought you would realize that." Upon seeing her hurt reaction and audible gasp Naruto realized he spoke without thinking. "Rare I didn't mean…"

"You spoke what was exactly on your mind. Forgive me if I simply wished for Fluttershy to experience an opportunity when it fell into her lap. Now if you excuse me I have things to do." She stormed off in a huff.

"Shit," Naruto murmured to himself. Well Rarity was going to need time to cool off so he supposed it would be best to go check on Fluttershy.

Speaking of Fluttershy she was still being paraded around by Finish. "Oh, my Floottershy! I neet to show you to everypony immediately!" Photo Finish announced after she was done taking the pictures. "Come now! We have much work to do! We go!" Photo Finish began leading Fluttershy to someplace else.

They arrived at one of the buildings for the fashion industry used for local shows. A show which Photo was going to host to show off Fluttershy.

Fluttershy was being prepared in the dressing room. They pulled a side of her mane up and left the other side alone while giving her different styled bangs. They dressed her in something, of course, green and nature-presenting. One of the dressers tugged at her dress. Another came by and sprayed her mane. Yet another began placing blush on Fluttershy's cheeks, revealing a pink oval on each cheek that matched the color of her mane.

Photo Finish observed this and commented."Too much blush." The pony wiped Fluttershy's face. "Not enuf." The pony placed it on again. "Too much." She removed it. "Not enuf." For the third and last time, she placed the blush. "Perfiect."

Fluttershy began making the sound when somepony is about to sneeze. At first, it started off as if it was going to be very loud, but at the end, she released a very soft and gentle sneeze.

"Oh, yes! Even her schneezes are gressful." Photo Finish expressed. "NOW GO!" She began walking with Fluttershy towards the curtains as I trailed behind. "How do you feel? Excited? Overjoyed? Frilled beyond your wildest dreams?"

"N... nervous."

"Nervous? Dun be ridiculous. You're only facing a large crowd of ponies, who will be watching your every move and silently judging you." Photo Finish turned around to work on something else.

Suddenly, music began playing and Photo Finish rushed over to Fluttershy. "Your cue! Now go!" She pushed Fluttershy onto the catwalk. She realized that she was in front of many ponies and looked around. She seemed as if she didn't know what to do. She began walking to the middle of the catwalk, trying to keep herself calm. When she reached the end, she looked at the ponies and released an innocent pose. After, the ponies watching seemed to be giving her positive reviews as they began cheering.

In no time, she was advertised on covers and many other things. Applejack had even placed Fluttershy's image on her buckets of apples, which showed Fluttershy carrying nests of apples. It extended even further with Rainbow Dash flying in the air, having a rope attached to her which depicted another image of Fluttershy advertising for some carrot juice.

Despite looking happy and smiling in the image Naruto felt that Fluttershy was forcing herself to do this for a reason he couldn't understand.

He supposed it didn't matter as Fluttershy had become an instant modelling star overnight after that show. Soon, everypony knew her name, as her pictures started appearing everywhere. She was on the covers of various, newspapers magazines, food and drink products. It was incredible how popular she had become.

Their group was all happy for her success, with the exception of two individuals: Naruto and Rarity. In the latter's case, it was rather clear that she was jealous of her success. The former because he noticed that there seemed to be miscommunication between the two mares, neither willing to tell the other how they felt.

So of course while Naruto was contending with Fluttershy that left Twilight and the others with their hands full with Rarity. Speaking of Rarity, she was still jealous, but was also trying to be happy with her friend and could not tell other said friend the details while being under the infamous Pinkie promise.

"Twilight…ppst Twilight." If not for the fact that Fluttershy's brimmed hat and sunglasses stood out to somepony like Twilight she never would have heard the mare.

"Fluttershy? What's going on?" She asked as the Pegasus led her to the alleyway.

"I need your help." She said, peeking around the corner before ushering Twilight to come forward. "Naruto told me about how you were helping him figure out how to budget his finances. Do you think this will be enough?" She said, bringing up a bag and bringing out a paycheck to show Twilight.

"By the Stars!" Twilight exclaimed upon seeing how much the Pegasus made. "All this for two weeks?"

"W-Well from what I understand it depends on the job and who the model is and all that. Then there's all the endorsements and use of my images, and the fact that this particular show was paying at a rate of twenty-five bits an hour. Because of Photo Finish status she was able to negotiate the price of six thousand bits. For big named models it wouldn't be all that uncommon for them to earn in the ball park of thirty thousand, but because of our location and me being a relatively new face I could only get so much. Most of the money is because of the use of my image so if you combine that with the show and the hourly rate you come out to that check. Would half of that money be enough to help with his situation?"

"With this amount he should be able to pay for all of the building supplies along with the plumbing and other utilities. As for the supplies that will go inside the dojo and lawyer fees and such he still has a ways to go."

"L-Lawyer fees?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, yeah," Twilight responded. "He's going to need a good lawyer to help him through all the legal work and documentation. While there is no country regulation he still has to cover liabilities fees which are always kind of costly. To completely cover everything he's going to need twenty-thousand more bits. " Twilight then realized something. "Is this part of the reason why you haven't quit modeling Fluttershy.

"W-Well partly. I wanted to help Naruto because what he wants to do can help ponies. I don't like the thought of anypony fighting, but everypony should be able to protect themselves or their loves ones. I thought I could earn as much money as I could short of having to sign a binding legal contract seeing as I haven't been asked to signed such a document. At least not yet." The last part she admitted as the concern on her face grew.

"Let me guess Photo Finish wants you to sign a contract?" She asked prompting Fluttershy to nod.

"Two-to-Three year modeling commitment and I just don't know what to do. I just can't up and quit."

Twilight paused, pondering a solution. "Well, what If you didn't have to quit? What if you were fired?"

"H-How? Almost everything I do I got praise for it."

"Quite simple," she said pointing to her horn. "A little magical intervention should be able to do the trick.

It was the day of the Photo Shoot and all attendees were excited to see the models in action. To gaze at the new factions. To become immerse in the culture.

Rarity was of course in attendance and to her surprise she found herself seated next to Naruto. Considering the ticket came from Fluttershy this arrangement was no coincidence.

"Hey." He greeted her.

"Good Afternoon." Rarity politely greeted as she avoided looking him in the face.

The two of them sat in awkward silence as they tried to ignore the tension between them. "I'm sorry!" They both blurted out, unable to contain it anymore.

"Rare I, shouldn't have accused you the way I did. I know you didn't do what you did out of malice."

"Oh darling I am the one who should be apologizing. I let my own desire blind me to how others around me felt and…oh dear I do hope Fluttershy will accept my apology even though I do not deserve."

"Sure she will, why would you think that Rare?"

"Because I am a horrible friend!" she dramatically wailed only for throat clearing and shimmering eyes result in Rarity wincing and lowering down the tone of her voice. "This whole time I was jealous of her success; bitter for her good fortune instead of being happy for her."

"You could have talked to her about it. "

"There is still things we need to talk about, but I shall wait until the time is appreciate. Until then I do believe it only be proper that we support her." She said as the show kicked off.

Meanwhile back stage. "Do you really think it'll work?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight was also standing backstage, which she managed to gain access to as a friend of Fluttershy, waiting to act her part.

"They love you for being you. So all we have to do is make you not be you."

"Okay. Thank you…" Taking in a deep breath, she walked out to face the cameras and the ponies waiting for her. Once she was out on stage, Twilight moved into action.

Using magic, consisting of levitation and behavioral spells, Twilight did her best to make Fluttershy as unattractive as possible. Ranging from sliding along the floor, trip over and, barking and scratching like a wild animal.

The planned appeared to be working, as the crowd was now starting to boo and hiss at her display.

A smile graced Twilight's face. The plan was working.

"Bravo! I say bravo!" That was Rarity! She was actually cheering for Fluttershy even if this was an opportunity to see her career end. "Such attitude! Such pizzazz! She's invented an entirely new kind of modelling! Bravo!"

"No!" Twilight despaired, as the crowd actually began to cheer and clap for her. They met her in her dressing room, where she looked more distressed than ever.

"This is awful. Just awful! Somehow I've become more popular than ever. Oh, I'm so frustrated I could just kick something!" She did so, but the offending vase merely wobbled without falling.

"I'm so sorry, Fluttershy," Twilight said to her sadly.

"It's okay Twilight you tried your best." She sighed again. "If only Rarity didn't want me to be a model so badly…"

"But Rarity...!" Twilight shoved a hand in her mouth, just as Rarity burst into the dressing room.

"Fluttershy! Are you all right?"

"I'm great!" she said in a strained voice. "I'm a super famous fashion model. Why wouldn't I be great?"

"Out there on the runway," continued Rarity, "everyone was turning on you and... Oh... oh, Fluttershy. It's so awful. I wanted them to."

"You did?!"

Twilight was about to interject with the statement of obvious only for Naruto pop up and ssh her. 'They're having a moment.'

"Because I was jealous!" admitted Rarity. "I wanted all the attention. And instead it was going to you. I even started hoping that you would do something silly so your modelling career would be over. But then, when it started happening, all I could think was how could I want you to fail at something you love so much. After all I knew how you felt about attention, but when you didn't quit and continue to model I figured you finally got over your stage fright."

"Love? Oh, Rarity. I hate being a model." she finally said.

"You do?"

"More than anything."

"Then why did you keep doing it?"

"Well for two reasons. The first was that I was afraid if I quit, you'd be mad at me for not wanting to... "shine all over Equestria"."

"And I thought if I told you how jealous I was of your success, you'd think I was a terrible friend."

" Never!"

"I promise never to keep my feelings in secret again."

"Me too. " Then, they both vowed simultaneously. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

"You were brilliant. Brilliant!" Photo Finish had just arrived on the scene, beside herself with excitement. "I've already got six photo shoots lined up for tomorrow aloon."

"I'm sorry, Photo Finish, but I don't think I'll be able to make any of them," said Fluttershy with a smile.

"Wat?"

Mimicking Finish, both Rarity and Fluttershy said, "We go!" Laughing all the while, the two of them left, leaving only Finish, Naruto and Twilight, who still had her head in the plant pot.

"Vat has just happened?" asked the photographer unsurely.

"So, let me guess that weirdness was you?" He asked as Twilight nodded. The two of them began to exit the area leaving behind the stunned photographer. They exited to find Fluttershy and Rarity was waiting outside for them.

"So dear what is the second reason? You know I hate it when I am kept in suspense." Rarity asked as Fluttershy brought out her paycheck. "By her majesty's grace you made that much in such short time?" she asked, double checking the check.

"Yes and I did so for plans I have in the future." She turned to Naruto. "Half of this I want to invest in your Dojo."

"Shy." He voiced his surprise in a breathy exhale. "You didn't…I mean…I can't…"

She shook her head. "W-Well I want to. During the past few weeks I was busy I was concerned about my animal friends the whole time and that had me thinking, what if something happens that takes me away from a long time? What if they need someone to take care of them and I can't get to them? So I thought of a way I could possibly make a money to hire an assistant with needing. Also if I invest and become your financial partner the money from that could also help supplement my income, that is, if you're okay that?"

The others couldn't help but be surprised at this. While Twilight knew to some extent what Fluttershy had planned she didn't know her whole plan.

Naruto was not willing to accept a simple hand out, but Fluttershy as a financial partner? "Alright, I would be more than happy to accept your proposal, partner." He replied with a smile.

"Dojo?" Rarity asked him, having only hearing about this for the first time now.

"Oh right, my idea for a job." He said as he began to explain to Rarity his plan as they continued on their way home.

Next Chapter: The Princesses Proposal! Estimated time remaining: 50 Hours, 22 Minutes