Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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"Hello? Rarity, hello?" Fluttershy called out to the unicorn as she began searching through the fashionista's shop. Her sign had read "OPEN" so surely her friend was in.

After a bit of searching around she found Rarity who was hard at work on a sewing machine. Sweetie Bell was there as well. "Rarity I've come back with Opalescence."

Rarity took notice of the Pegasus "Fluttershy!" she greeted as she crossed the room. "Forgive me. I was so wrapped up in my work that I forgot you were bringing Opalescence back from her grooming."

"No worries, Rarity." A fold of the blanket on the basket came loose revealing the cat's face in the shade beneath it. "I've left her there in the basket." Opal promptly jumped out with a grumbly meow to show off her spotless coat.

"Ooh, she looks great. I just don't understand how you're able to do it." The designer said as her sister joined her.

Opal was now rubbing her head against Fluttershy's foreleg and purring contentedly.

"You know, I can't get near Opal without getting a swipe from her claws." she commented. Then she got one aimed at her shin with a complimentary snarl to boot. She then turned to face Fluttershy. "Did you use…" Her eyes widened at this. "…the Stare on her?"

"Oh, no! I wouldn't! I couldn't." The very idea had flutstered the Pegasus. Despite her control Fluttershy didn't use such a thing liberally. "I'm just good with animals." She knelt to caress Opal's cheek. "It's my special gift, you know."

Rarity gave a wink. "Well, you should have a picture of Opal as a cutie mark instead of those butterflies."

Just then, Sweetie got an idea and rushed to Opal. "Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh! Oh! Maybe I can be good with animals too!" The cat was clearly not thrilled with this suggestion and took a swipe at her arm, severing several small bits of arm fur. A big nasty smile stitched itself across the fluffy white face. "Or not." She then galloped away as the two mares had a laugh, the stallion giving a groan. Once it died out, Opal made her own stately exit.

Her busy schedule meant Rarity had to cut the moment short. "I'm sorry I can't invite you to stay and chat, Fluttershy." She apologized. "I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew with this order. I've got twenty of these special robes to make tonight. They're due in Trottingham tomorrow morning." Ducking her head briefly to the floor, she turned back around with the edge of a piece of glittering yellow fabric that floated above their faces. "See? I've lined them in this special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?" While she spoke, her younger sister was eyeing the silk with undiluted wonder.

"These are lovely, but twenty?"Fluttershy asked. "By tonight? How will you get it all done?"

"Well, I, uh…"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Sweetie cried out. "Maybe I could…" She lost steam as Rarity glared at her. She began to walk away. "…just…just stand over here and watch."

"I'll manage."

"Well, maybe I should get out of your mane so you can work." the pegasus offered.

Just then the figures of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo barreled in past them.

As they raced along, they greeted Fluttershy and Rarity simultaneously as they passed them by (the designer giving off a weak reply) and stopped dead just in front of their fellow Cutie Mark Crusader, who was looking quite glum.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" they both greeted.

And suddenly Sweetie was all smiles as she greeted them back. "Scootaloo! Apple Bloom!"

"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie gave a salute. "Yep! Cutie mark planning session is a go!"

"Tonight is the night we each try to find our own special talent!" Bloom announced.

"Even if it takes us all night!" the pegasus filly added as Bloom leaned over to her.

"I'm ready. You ready?"

Scootaloo gave a wink. "Very ready."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SLEEPOVER AT RARITY'S!" All three of them cried out. "YAY!"

"Aaand…look what I made us!" Sweetie announced as she donned a red cape with a blue patch that displayed the yellow silhouette of a caped filly. There was enthusiastic approval from her fellow Crusaders.

"What does that patch on your cape mean?"Fluttershy dared to ask as she walked over.

"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" They all answered.

"We're on a crusade!" Scootaloo explained. "A mission!"

"To find our cutie marks!" Bloom added.

"Yep, and look." Sweetie then lifted her arm, exposing the inner lining of the cape, a very familiar-looking yellow fabric. "I lined 'em with this special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?"

Rarity's face went slack with a very unpleasant thought, then her eyes contracted to panicked pinpoints and one of them starts twitching on its own.

"Ooooh!" cried out the other two Crusaders.

With a rising moan, Rarity flashed past everypony to reach her sewing machine. She grabbed the edge of the gold silk in her teeth and pulled it free, exposing three rectangular holes where Sweetie cut it out. "Sweetie Belle!" she gasped as the culprit gave a sheepish grin. "What have you done?!" She then let the scrap fall to the floor. "That was the last of the gold silk! Oh, now I'll have to make more!" She gave a shudder. "Oh, I hope I can make more. I'm gonna have to work all night! Which means…" She turned to face the Crusaders. "…sorry, girls. I'm afraid the Crusader sleepover is canceled."

"What?!" her younger sister gasped.

"I just won't have any time to watch you if I want to get these robes delivered on time."

"But…"

"No buts this time. I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle, it's just the way it has to be."

All the Crusaders dropped their heads. "Awww…"

Seeing the disappointment on their faces Fluttershy couldn't help but suggest, "I, uh…I suppose I could take them for the night."

Three little heads bobbed up and aimed huge ingratiating smiles toward Rarity. "I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Oh, it's no problem at all." she insisted. How much trouble could it be?

"Have you met my sister and her friends?" The Crusaders' smiles vanished. "A problem is all it would be."

"Rarity I'm more than capable of taking care of them. At the very least if a medical emergency were to happen I am qualified to handle it." There were smaller smiles from the three now.

"I suppose that's true, and I do have a lot of work to do." Rarity was slowly being convinced to accept the proposal.

"Come on, it'll be fun." The smiles widened.

"I assure you, they're quite a handful." The smiles vanished.

"These sweet little angels?"

The smiles became positively beatific.

"Well…all right." Rarity finally relented.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SLEEPOVER AT FLUTTERSHY'S COTTAGE!" the trio of fillies cried out, eliciting the usual reaction from the others as they zipped out the door. "YAY!"

"So cute." Fluttershy said as she looked warmly after them, and then suddenly panicked. "Wait for me!" She kicked her wings into top gear and flew out, leaving the overworked designer to voice an uneasy moan by herself.

Outdoors…

The Cutie Mark Crusaders galloped through Ponyville, Sweetie having ditched her cape.

"Oh, won't this be ever so fun? We can have a nice little tea party, and braid each others' tails, and sit quietly and color, and tell each other fairy tales, and—"

A short distance ahead, the Crusaders flashed past Twilight Sparkle in a giggling mini-stampede that left her spinning in place. Once she regained her balance and got her eyes re-focused, she found them goofing around at a well. Turning away from the scene, turned back and saw Fluttershy.

"Hello, Fluttershy."

"Oh! Hello, Twilight." Fluttershy greeted in return. "Where are you off to?"

"I'm heading to the Everfree Forest, to Zecora's. I've grown a bit fascinated to learn a bit more about the alchemy she uses."

Fluttershy was suddenly unnerved. "The…th-th-the Everfree Forest? Uh, you'll be careful, won't you?"

"Of course." Twilight answered. "How about you? What are you doing with the girls?"

Rarity has a big order to fill tonight, so I volunteered to take the girls over to my cottage for a sleepover."

"Taking care of those three fillies all by yourself? You sure you can handle it?" The three ducked away.

"What? These sweet little angels?" The three zipped up next to her with ear to ear grins as if they hadn't just desecrated a well. "They'll be no problem at all."

---

Naruto found himself rather bored that evening. With the afternoon training session of the citizens of the town passed he didn't have much to do. Maybe he could go see if any of the mares were busy. Twilight would be off visiting Zecora and Rarity was still diligently working on her dress orders.

Fluttershy was usually at home so he could go visit her first. Arriving at her cottage took little to no time. "Hey shy you in?" He asked after ringing her doorbell. Seconds later Fluttershy answered, her mane looking a bit disheveled.

"O-Oh Naruto what brings you by?" she said, brushing a strand of her mane from her face.

"No reason, just wanting to see how my favorite butterfly marked mare is doing…" He said leaning on the doorframe.

"I'm gonna get my mark first!"

Upon hearing Scootalo's voice from inside Naruto was momentarily confused.

"I'm sorry, were you expecting company?" he asked.

"Aah…well…" she slowly responded as she tried to explain the situations.

"Nuh-uh!"

"I am!"

"Girls…o-okay now, settle." She gently called out back inside to no avail.

"Oh no…the terror trio." Naruto said as he gave Fluttershy a sympathetic glance. "How'd Rare conned you into babysitting duty?"

"W-Well." She invited him in and began explaining the details of what happened.

As that was going on the fillies proceeded to turn Fluttershy's home into a fun house. Among things leaping into the basket Angel was using as a bed, its owner waking up and jumping clear as Scootaloo entered first, who briefly knocked herself cockeyed upon landing.

"I'm staying up all night!" the pegasus filly said as the others jumped on in time.

"Me too!" Apple Bloom agreed.

"Me three!" Sweetie added.

"Uh, I know you're excited, but…" Fluttershy was cut off upon noticing that the basket was now empty; the Crusaders had quickly departed. "Girls…"

Naruto took notice of Fluttershy trying to get the girls under control and was struggling a great deal. Fluttershy's rather shy personality against the three excitable girls was essentially going to be a disaster so he intervened.

"Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootalo!" He firmly called their names, his voice reverberated around the house.

"Naruto!"

"Big Bro!"

Naruto found himself mobbed by two of the precocious fillies while the third one looked on trying to act like she was too cool for hugs, but deep down really wanted one.

"Now I know you three are excited, but I think you owe a certain somepony thanks for why this sleep over of yours was able to continue."

"Thank you miss Fluttershy." The trio said as Flutershy beamed.

"It was no trouble girls," now that she had their attention she could finally try and decide an activity for the evening. "How about a nice, quiet little tea party to start this evening off?"

"Or…" Scootaloo looked out the window. "…we could go adventuring in the Everfree Forest!"

"Yeah!" her fellow Crusaders agreed. They made a beeline for the door, but Naruto blocked them from reaching the door.

"The forest is no places for young ponies." He said as he looked down upon the three with a stern gaze. "…under any circumstances."

"But Naruto you're big and strong now and hardly afraid of nothin' in there. Can't ya just beat up any monster in there now?" Apple Bloom reasoned.

"But you could go with us and we could catch those creatures." Sweetie suggested. "We could be…um…creature catchers!"

"YAAAY! CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CREATURE CATCHERS!" the three chorused, the usual effect they had occurring in the cottage.

Scootaloo then flipped an empty basket onto her head, then grabbed a rug and wrapped it around herself and Bloom while standing on the latter's shoulders. Somehow, Scootaloo's eyes glowed beneath the basket's shade as the "creature" tottered forward.

The little pegasus gave a growl. "I am a dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest!"

Sweetie flipped her eyes one way and another for a few seconds before catching on to the game. She then advanced slowly. "Halt, dangerous creature of the Everfree Forest! I am Sweetie Belle, the creature catcher, and I'm here to catch you!"

"You can never catch me! I am far too powerful and dangerous!"

"You cannot run from me!"

The "creature" growled and fled across the room, with a laughing Sweetie in hot pursuit. A moment later, the unicorn filly was the one trying to get away.

Fluttershy watched the spectacle with visible fear that her house would not be standing at the end of this game. "Um…oh, maybe that's not such a…uh, now, girls, how about we do some nice coloring…" Sweetie bounced off her as the "creature" passed by. "…oh!"

"Come back, dangerous creature…" Fluttershy ended up sitting on her haunches and chewing her lower lip. She then jumped onto and off a table. "…so I can catch you!"

With a single movement Naruto nabbed Sweetie Belle out of air whom let out a yelp. Then using his two fingers he flipped off the monster's head to which Scootalo gave out a very dramatic death cry. "Girls!" Setting Sweetie down he made sure he had their attention. "I may be, but you three aren't. The creatures in there are both numerous and dangerous. Its not simply a matter of beating them up as there are many cunning predators that catch their prey with means other than might. Just know that these creatures are dangerous and you need to treat them as such." Knowing their attention span Naruto knew he had to draw their attention to something else. "I know, how about we see if your cutie mark talents is painting." Naruto was already silently bemoaning the loss of his sealing ink, but he was pretty sure the fillies would blow off any offers of how to make seals.

"CUTIEMARK CRUSADER ARTIST MASTERS!"

Half an hour passed and predictably the CMC grew bored and antsy when their marks didn't pop up. During that time Fluttershy was able to quickly whip up some sandwiches to feed the crusaders, but that only helped fueled the empty bellies to continue their rampage.

Scootaloo started jumping on the cushions in Angel's basket, Sweetie climbed on a cabinet, and Apple bloom popped up from a corner.

"Okay, now what can we do?" Scootalo asked as Apple bloom galloped across the room and into the fireplace.

"Ooh!" the earth pony Crusader popped her head out—upside down, covered in soot. "How about Cutie Mark Crusader coal miners?" The other two emerged next to her.

"Yeah!"

"No!" Fluttershy decisively said.

"Awww…" They filed sullenly past her.

"I mean, it's time for bed, don't you think? Aren't you excited to get all toasty and warm in your snuggly-wuggly wittle beds?

"Snuggly-wuggly?" Apple Bloom retorted. "But we have more crusading to do!"

"We've got plans!" Scootaloo added.

Sweetie laid their Crusader capes by their bags. "And capes!" she finished.

"That's just going to have to wait until the morning. Come on you three, up the stairs, get your night gowns ready, get washed up, and ready to bed. Don't dwaddle, its not going to take you all night to wash either." With his statements Naruto cut off any potential argument as the crusaders continued heading glumly up the stairs.

The crusaders were taking residence in Fluttershy's guest room for the night. They had gotten washed up and dressed in their night gowns without much incident which was surprising. After bidding the girls good night the two went downstairs and got comfortable on the couch.

"Well that was exhausting, forgot what it felt like to have to take care of multiple kids." Naruto chuckled as Fluttershy poured him a cup of tea.

"You were really good with them. You had no trouble getting them to listen to you. I'm not sure how I would have handled it if it was just me." Fluttershy said as she poured her own cup of tea.

"Its bit daunting for everypony at first Shy. You just have to know when to be firm and when to put your hoof down." He explained as he took the first sip of his tea. The pleasant aroma and cinnamon taste was new. "You know my experiences. Basically I was using my 'dad' voice. My first born was quite the hellraiser so I had practice using it a lot. Now those three up their aren't bad, just really really really energetic. I do admit I miss having a little one, something to look forward to the future."

"Oh my…oh…yes." Fluttershy found herself pulling at the collar of her shirt. When did it suddenly get so hot in here?

The Cutie Mark Crusaders of course were still wide awake. "How are we gonna find our special talent in our sleep?" Apple Bloom complained.

"We could always do more Crusading in the morning?" Sweetie Belle suggested. "Right Scootalo? Scootalo!?" She turned to see that the last of their trio's focus was out of the window.

"YOU! YEAH YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"

Scootalo was in the midst of setting up a means for the CMC to sneak out to continue crusading when she caught sight of someone riffling through Fluttershy's chicken coop. The pursuing noise had startled the hens awake and was causing a frenzy of sorts.

The commotion caused Naruto and Fluttershy to break apart, flustered by the sudden noise. "Oh no, the girls!" The two of them shot up the stairs to found that the spare bedroom was empty and followed the noise of flustered hens.

That was when they spot the crusaders in the backyard. Hastily they made their way to the fillies.

"Fluttershy, your chickens are on the loose!" Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah I saw some creep messing around in it." Scootalo added.

Apple Bloom then addressed the window. "Don't worry, Fluttershy!" She then gave a salute. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders will handle this!"

"Cutie Mark Crusader chicken herders!" Sweetie Bell cheered as all three raced off. "Yaaaaay!"

"No…I don't think that's a…come back!" Fluttershy stuttered. At the fenced-off chicken yard, the fillies were chasing the birds back and forth. "Please…" Fluttershy took off from the window and landed in the yard. "Come on, girls, the chickens are fine…oh…girls…" One of the chickens roosted on her head and another on his horn; this move, coupled with Sweetie's lunge toward it, finally made the animal caretaker blow her cool. "Girls!"

All three stopped in their tracks, Scootaloo and one chicken peeking out from beneath the ramp that leads to the coop entrance.

This also got the chickens to drop to the ground, much to the stallion's mild surprise, then Fluttershy gently nudged several back toward the coop. "Come on…" The little birds stopped on the ramp. "…in you go…" Upon receiving a chorus of uncooperative cackling that annoyed her considerably, she leaned in with her eyes wide open, giving the poultry a good view of a surprisingly intense gaze.

The chickens gave frightened little squawks as they slowly back up the ramp while the Crusades watched, dumbstruck.

Fluttershy gave them a final one-eyed dose to persuade them to enter the coop, where three briefly got stuck abreast in the entrance before popping in. After they have done so, she resumed her usual sweet demeanor. "There's some good chickens." She then turned to the Crusaders. "Okay. You three. Isn't it about time you got into bed?"

"But…" they began to protest.

"Listen to Fluttershy," He urged them. "If there's some chicken thief going around I'll look into it. You three need to be worrying about sleep." The Crusaders dropped their heads sadly, getting a little smile from Fluttershy in return. While she hated that the CMC were sad as long as they were safe she was relieved. "I'm going to look into this thief business, are you going to be okay with the girls?"

"Yes," Fluttershy with a nod. "Be careful."

Naruto leaned in and pressed his lips against hers for a brief kiss which made the mare's heart flutter slightly. "Don't worry, it'll take more than a poultry thief even on my worse day." He said as he began looking for any clues to find this elusive poultry thief.

---

Back at the bedroom…

The light was out, and the Crusaders were tucked back in and Fluttershy was on her way out.

"So, no more crusading for tonight, all right?" she said.

"Yes, Fluttershy!"Scootaloo replied.

"We promise, Fluttershy!" Sweetie.

"Good night, Fluttershy!" Apple Bloom added. They then closed their eyes.

"Okay. Good night." She then exited the room.

Checking down the poultry thief wasn't all that difficult. Just some dumb kid from one of the other farms. Apparently it was for a dare or something to nab one of Fluttershy's hens and return it before the Pegasus was none the wiser.

Just as he arrived back he was nearly barreled over by a panicked Fluttershy. "Thank goodness you're back. It's horrible…too quiet…went to check…on the girls…gone."

"Shit," was the only thing Naruto found himself able to say. He took a minute to take a few calming breaths so he could think. He began looking around the property for clues of where the girls could have gone.

"Oh, no!" There were tracks leading off the property as well as a scrap of cloth on a post, which could only come from a Cutie Mark Crusader's cape judging by the golden silk. "They must have gone looking for my missing chicken!"

Naruto groaned, "She's not missing though." He had brought attention to the hen under his arm who began to make noise.

"Elizabeak! But I don't understand…"

"It was part of a prank by some foals. To steal one of your hens for a little while. Look, ignore that for now. We need to find those girls." He said as he let the chicken drop from his arm. "…and those tracks lead to one path which leads to one place."

Fluttershy gave a hard swallow and let her ears droop, her eyes contract, and her body shiver. Her shivering stopped when Naruto reached out and grabbed her hand. "Let's go." He gently urged her to which Fluttershy nodded and stopped her shivering.

"Those girls have really done it this time! They've really bitten off more than they can chew…" Fluttershy stopped for a bit. "…oh, just like me. I never should have offered to watch them."

"Don't beat yourself over this shy. You were trying to help a friend and prevent three little fillies from being disappointed. It's a learning experience, these things take time. Right now don't worry about things like fault and blame; we need to focus all of our priority into saving the CMC."

---

Further in the forest the Cutie Mark Crusaders, continued their search for the missing chicken and chicken thief. Sweetie Belle was in the lead, Apple Bloom following, and Scootaloo bringing up the rear.

"Here, chick-chick-chick-chick-chick!" Apple Bloom called, then squawked.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked.

"Callin' for the chicken."

"That is not how you call a chicken."

"Oh, and you know how to call a chicken."

"I know that's not the way."

"Then show me." At this point, Sweetie had gone ahead.

"I don't have to show you!"

"You're just chicken."

"Am not!"

"Oh, wait! Now I know how to call a chicken!" Apple Bloom then said the following in singsong SCOOTA-LOO-OO! SCOOT- SCOOTA-LOO-OO!"

The two stopped in front of a pitch-dark cavern, inside which quite a few glowing eyes opened due to Bloom's "call".

"That's so funny I forgot to laugh!" the little Pegasus snarked.

"You also forgot how to call a chicken." Apple Bloom said as she blew a raspberry.

"Why, you..."

"Come on, guys." Sweetie called, a branch above her creaking in the wind. We're not gonna catch that theif or get our cutie marks by arguing. She walked off just before it could seem to grab her.

"Maybe that's our special talent! Arguing!" Apple Bloom said.

"Is not!" Scootalo countered.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!" Apple Bloom turned and lifted up her gown. "Anything yet?"

"Nope."

"Horse apples!!" The two Crusaders laughed in the wind, and then carried on, Bloom continuing her call.

---

Meanwhile Fluttershy was doing everything not to let nerves do her in, despite Naruto being at her side. "Girls?" She gave a gulp. "Girls?"

"There's only so far their bodies would have been able to carry them. Just keep a listen for any weird noises."

Just then, he stepped on a fallen branch, the snapping sound causing Fluttershy to yelp and back up.

"What was that?"

"Just a branch."

At the path they were going, they could see Twilight's silhouette framed against the night sky. "Twilight? Is that you?"

A hopeful little smile played across both their faces as they reached the inky figure and stopped. Fluttershy spoke. "Oh, Twilight, it is you! Thank goodness you're here. I need your help." Just then, the clouds drifted away from the moon so that its light shone full. "The girls are out here somewhere and I'm afraid that they're—" She cut herself off once enough of the moonlight had illuminated the unicorn's figure. As it turned out, she had been talking to a "statue" made of solid rock and happened to be in Twilight's likeness. Her terrified gasp caught Naruto's attention and he gave a short yelp upon seeing the statue. "What's happened to you?"

"Oh kami." Naruto murmured as he ran his hand across the chek of the statue. "I should have…" Naruto's body began to tremble with anger. "FUCK!" He let out a roar and shattered the base of a nearby tree with a punch causing it to tumble over. The heat radiating off him not only scared Fluttershy to the point her lungs were paralyzed it was driving away all matter of animals that inhabited the area.

For a few seconds Naruto struggled to regain his composure. "I swear to you Twi, we'll get out of here." He promised to the statue.

Fluttershy was able to collect her breath once Naruto began to calm down. This was the work of a stone gazer. A cockatrice seemed to be the likely culprit. They needed to find the girls and they needed to find them now.

---

Back with the Crusaders.

As the group continued their journey Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had resumed arguing on the subject on whether or not arguing is their special talent.

Finally, Sweetie had enough of this. "Girls!" she cried out. "Our special talent is not arguing! Besides, what would the cutie mark of somepony whose talent is arguing even look like?"

"Girls? Girls?"

"Bloom! Sweetie! Scootalo!"

"Fluttershy? Naruto!" The mentioned pegasus landed in front of them.

"Enough is enough! You three trouble makers back to the cottage now."

"Fluttershy, Naruto, what—", Bloom began before the Crusaders were forced to step back.

"Girls, we have to leave the forest at once."

"But we haven't found the chicken yet or the thief." Sweetie pointed out.

"There's no time for that. There's a cockatrice on the loose!

"A cocka-what now?"

"A cockatrice! It's a frightening creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a snake. Now come on!"

"The head of a chicken and the body of a snake?", Sweetie parroted as she and the other Crusaders passed a gasping Fluttershy with a smile.

"That doesn't sound scary, that sounds silly." Scootaloo remarked.

"Why, if I ever saw one of them cocka-thingies face to face, I'd laugh at how silly it was!" Apple Bloom said.

"This is no laughing matter girls. The creature's gaze can be deadly and before you know it you'll be turned into a stone statue. Trapped in a stone shell as the only thing you can do is waste away to nothing."

The three fillies mouths dropped in horror.

"I-I don't think I want to be an investigator anymore." Sweetie Bell whimpered.

Suddenly movement caught Naruto's attention. Of all the times to have left Critias at home. Either way the blond kept sure to always have at least one kunai on him to which he sent flying. Out from the bush the creature revealed itself.

Its head was that of a chicken, but attached to a long, winged, snakelike body with a pair of chicken legs near the front end to allow for running movement. The orbs of the creature were beady and red as fire and its beak was filled with deadly pointed teeth, let off a raucous screech.

"GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!" Now ordered as the creature dropped to ground. Naruto covered them as the creature shot forward. With a wide sweep his kick sent the creature back as it tried to hit Naruto with its gaze, but the blond easily dodged it.

Try as it might Naruto proved too quick for its petrification spell. Suddenly the creature took off in the direction of Fluttershy and the others in search of easier prey. "No you don't you beast!"

The quartet of runners found themselves running as fast as their legs could take them. Coming across the petrified Twilight had brought their sprint to a crushing halt as the Crusaders began to panic. Fluttershy did her best to console them, but that didn't last long as the Cockatrice dropped down.

"Girls!" Fluttershy called. "Behind me, now!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders fell in before the caterwauling creature got within claw's reach of Fluttershy. Risking a backward glance to make sure they were following orders, she inadvertently turned her eye toward the front.

The creature was in mid leap as Naruto shot out and jammed his hand into the creature, two of his fingers puncturing its body. It hissed out in pain and breathed out a fume Naruto was unfortunate enough to inhale and expose his right eye too.

Naruto collapsed to one knee as he struggled to yell, but his lungs felt like they were paralyzed and on fire. The breath of the Cockatrice was a breathing ground for deadly venoms and his body was currently trying to fight off venoms that would have killed most others on exposure.

That was when Fluttershy felt it. That fury. Just like last time. "You!" her voice laced with anger as she began to stare that the creature. "How dare you!"

The cockatrice backed up as she looked it straight on. This was a boldness it was not used to dealing with. "Turning others to stone. Poisoning others with your breath. How can you be so cruel? Now I know why I have the 'stare' and its for beings like you."
The Cockatrice quickly decided to change targets. "You will return my friend to normal and seize your torment in these lands. Now!"

Before the Cockatrice could land its deadly gaze Fluttershy hit him with the stare. The creature found itself suddenly found itself assaulted by powerful magic. Its mind being assaulted by the images of each and every victim it had haunted down. The misery. The Pain. The Terror. The loss of life, everything that it had every caused was now tearing away at the creature's psyche as it was forced to deal with the misery of his victims as his mind fought to comprehend everything it was receiving and then it happened, its mind had snapped.

A slave to the command imprinted on its mind the creature undid its magical spell before its mind concocted a prison befitting of the creature.

A creature now eternally paralyzed like the prisons it used to create.

Fluttershy turned to the trio of fillies. "Are you girls all right? I was so worried." Fluttershy was suppressing her urge to break down then and there. Even for something like that Cockatrice the thought of enforcing her will on another always made her feel sick to her stomach, but it was for a good cause.

"Yeah, fine." Scootaloo answered.

"Thanks to that Stare of yours." Sweetie Belle added.

"You're like the queen of Stares! You're the…" Apple Bloom was joined in by the other two Crusaders. "Stare Master!" They then backed off.

"We're sorry we snuck out of the house and into the forest."

"Yeah. We'll listen to you from now on."

"We mean it this time." Scootaloo finished.

"Better late than never I guess." Seeing Naruto hobble over Fluttershy rushed to his side.

"Oh my Celestia, Naruto, are you going to be okay?"

"I'm going to need Anti-venom." Naruto clutched his sides. He felt like he was going to throw up.

Twilight began to stir. "W-Where am I? What's going on?" Confused and rather dazed.

They needed to get out of there and now. Neither Naruto and Twilight were in any condition to deal with anymore creature attacks. "Everyone follow me. We're going to Zecora's hut for medical treatment. Girls, you stick close to me." That one decisive command from Fluttershy was all the CMC needed to hear.

The following morning everypony had made it back to Fluttershy's cottage as Zecora was gracious enough to let them all stay over as she attended to Naruto's wound. Because of her temporary state of petrification Twilight's magic was going to be funky in a matter of speaking and because of how deadly Cockatrice venom was, Naruto would be feeling its effect for quite a while.

Sitting on a bench Twilight and Fluttershy conversed while Naruto was overseeing one of the crusaders latest and craziest idea for a cutie mark.

"This is gonna make quite a letter to the Princess. I was wrong about you. When it really matter you really stood up Fluttershy."

"Well the experience thought me something. Dealing with kids is a whole different experience then caring for animals. One day I'll be ready, but as far as dealing with the Crusaders I've learned to becareful about biting off more than I could chew."

"Speaking of Rarity." The fashionista made her appearance.

"Did you finish all those outfits?" Fluttershy asked.

Rarity gave a sigh of relief. "Just delivered them. "I have to admit, if you hadn't come along, I might not have." As she approached them, she hugged Fluttershy briefly. "Thanks again."

"Won't you stay for some tea?"

"I really must get back to the shop and clean up." She then turned to face the yard. "Girls, get your things. Time to go." The other two mares gave a shared smile, which was broken by urgency of Rarity's next words. As it was, the Crusaders were still playing. "Girls! Girls! Time…oh…girls! Your things!" Then with rising impatience. "Girls…it's time to…girls!"

Fluttershy stepped up. "Allow me." She proceeded to clear her throat. "Girls…"

They instantly fell quiet and fell in, one by one. "Yes, Fluttershy." Apple Bloom said.

"You called?" Scootaloo.

"Go and get your things. Rarity is here to see you home."

"Of course, Fluttershy!" said Sweetie Belle. "Right away!" And they all zip off, leaving one very puzzled white unicorn in their wake.

"H…how did you…how did you do that?" she asked.

Fluttershy just tipped a wink over her shoulder and got a big smile from Twilight. "I guess I'm just as good with kids as I am with animals."

"That's one way to look at it." Naruto said as he joined the conversation. "Hey Rare, I see you finally finished your orders."

Rarity let out an audible gasp. "By the heavens, darling what happened." She said as she ran her hand along his bandaged face.

"Well it all started with my brilliant master plan to woo Fluttershy yesterday evening…"

Next Chapter: Date Night Ditzy! (**) Estimated time remaining: 44 Hours, 55 Minutes