~X~

The plan was set.

"Twilight are all things set?" The voice of the blond came from a small glow near her ears. The spell that Princess Luna had used on the group had been well received as the communication spellset was quite useful. She said it was one of the few spells that she and Celestia had made up together when they were kids. She wondered if the moon princess could teach it to her.

"Everything is set and ready to go on our end...Naruto are you sure this is safe? We mean what we said, about wanting to help, but this..." She wasn't so sure about the safety of one person involved in this plan, and he was right over the other line.

Naruto for his part in the center of town, just sighed before responding.

"This is a far better alternative to having anyone of you guys out here." He said, only to get an angry retort from none other than Applejack.

"The hay it was!" He groaned, before explaining to her AGAIN why this was the beast choice of action.

"I'm pretty sure that the Kyuubi just doesn't care for anything else but me at the moment. If it caught even a glimpse of you guys, I'm almost 80% sure it'd blast you to smithereens."

"...And the other 20%?" Came the small voice of Fluttershy.

"It'd eat you."

"...The Rubbery and Tangy Trixie would like to say that she's a lot more fond of this plan."

"Leave it to Trixie to bring the love into the room."

"...Eeyup."

"Come on guys! We gotta do this so I can finally throw Naruto's 'Welcome To Ponyville' party!"

"Wait a minute, my what?"

"You know what? I think that's the first we've heard of this. Pinkie, I thought you would've had this done and over with by now."

"You see Spike, the author had totally forgotten about it until just now."

"What?"

"We believe that we need to get back to the matter at hand."

Naruto couldn't help but shake his head, as the others spoke in accordance. Even now when things were looking this bad, they all seemed to make him feel like things would turn out okay.

He'd do his best to defend that feeling.

As things were about to go down, did he hear one last voice.

"Naruto...Come back safe, now ya hear?"

"...Yeah Jackie. Then you can yell at me all you want when this is over."

"Naruto! It's coming!" Came the shout of Twilight.

"Alright! We have only one shot at this you guys! Let's do this, and go home!"

"Right!" x 10

He took his lone hand away from his ear, as he looked out into the forest boundary. Eyes watching as the Kyuubi's six tailed form seemed to seep out of the tree line like inky smoke. The emaciated form of the vulpine monstrosity was a shock to those not in the know of its recent change, but they shook away the shock and slight fear, and focused on the task at hand. The fox's 'gaze' zeroed in on him.

The blond was quick to disable to the communication spell, before the fox could roar, lest the others be hit by the roar in stereo with their own hearing over the line. He looked down at the glove as the four lines came to line, and the circle in the center came to life. It was filled with a strange light as the words "Limit Release" ran across the shape's diameter. Feeling the power creep through his body, he closed his eyes as the lines wrote themselves over his body.

They started as thick lines that went down his arm and legs. Reaching his wrist and ankles before spreading out to envelop hand and paws. He could feel as they etched their way to his chest, forming a circle with his spiral in the center. Down the sides of his face lines curved to contours of his eyes, coming down the middle in between the eyes, with his whisker marks being lit up a light neon blue hue. A line drew itself around his hairline, before meeting another line that curved from the other end in the center of his forehead. The two met at the center and formed a circle, before the blond opened his eyes.

His form lit up, as wisp like energy flowed off the lines on his body. He took in all this, and simply took a simple breath. The ground around him gave way, as the energy shot off his form in sparks. It broke apart the floor, as rocks rose and turn to dust under the pressure.

His eyes gaze a half-stare to the large black fox. Next moment he was a blur of movement, as he slammed his foot down into the ground upending a large stone maybe two times his height, before he sent out a kick, sending it sailing towards the Kyuubi. The Unique was quick on the draw, because he continued this action more than once. Each kick, the blonde's mind ran over the nature of the rocks, before he altered the "hardness" of the minerals. Each flying rock broke a part barely a second later, hailing the bijuu with a series of fast moving small bits.

Each rock sent its way obscured more and more vision of the blonde, before it had enough and swung its arm out. The wind pressure released blew back the cloud of dust, but revealed an empty space where the blond once stood. From the side of the 4 story monster fox, the blond whipped out a leg. The symbol on his cloth came to life, as the blond sent a blade of water towards the Kyuubi's position. The blade met a shadowy tendril of a tail, as the Kyuubi's appendage dispersed the liquid. That said, the blond pulled his hand forward before throwing it to the side. The dispersed water reshaped before the Kyuubi's "gaze" before it found contact with its face.

The ball of water slammed into its face with the force of a speeding train, knocking its head backwards at an odd angle. Though this was short lived since it's 'gaze' snapped back to him, as did its head with an audible "click". Mouth opened wide, it let out a barrage of black spheres that aimed high in the sky at the position of the blonde. Naruto saw fit to vacate the airspace and shot off, as the spheres exploded, the Kyuubi quick to follow.

He dove under wild swing from the blackened anomaly that was the Kyuubi. Dodging swiftly, he evaded a series of swipes, punches and bites. When it came to a tail swipe, he jumped over it as he watched it cut through the main office building. The lasting pieces of rumble were crushed under the weight of the tails, and pulverized.

Seeing little reason to stay still, he vanished in a pulse of light and moved about the Kyuubi. Moving faster and faster, images were left in his wake as he slipped in, out and about the Kyuubi's limbs and tails. The streaks of light that followed the blond tracing behind, as he continued to move. The Kyuubi having enough of this display of futile resistance swung its arms out with a screech, sending out a bulk of airwaves that hammered into Naruto and sent him careening into Sugarcube Corner.

Groaning as he looked up at a cupcake themed ceiling, his eyes widen before he dashed off, as the bakery met its end at the hands of a black sphere of destruction. He looked over at the destroyed eating establishment with a grimace, before jumping high into the sky, bearing down on the Kyuubi with the moon at his back.

"You may have taken one of my arms..."

Seeing the blonde coming towards him from the sky multiply into a 25, the fox roared. The blond held a half hand sign in front of with a smirk. He created a water platform that faced the Kyuubi, before each clone and the original shot off of it and impacted the fox with impunity. The Real one coming down last, with a fist cocked back. Said fist was surrounded by a several small orbs of water that orbited the blonde's wrist.

"But that doesn't mean jack-shit! Spiral Fang!"

He unleashed it on the face of the large vulpine entity. The orbs of compressed water rotating as they orbited, burst outwards as the fox met the full force of rushing rapids upon a single concentrated area. The attack knocked it back over its own behind, before pressing it into the ground in an impressive crash.

Watching the fox tossed head over heiny for the second time this morning made the spiky haired blond feel a lot better about himself. Taking this time, he moved. Dashing off into the midst of the destroyed town, and making his way to a specified area. He could hear the heavy movements of the Kyuubi as it got back up and started its way after him. He barely made to the location in front of the Old Oaks Library before the Rokubi no Yoko landed heavily in front of it, destroying ground beneath its feet and slightly uplifting the roots from beneath the library behind him.

He gazed up at the monster fox, as it reached back a fist and shot it forward, only to be stopped inches from his face. Markings, of white spread over its form, as the Kyuubi stood frozen in its tracks. The form of the fox struggled as its body was prevented movement, as white marks spread from four corners of the area. A blurry distortion happened before three unicorns and an alicorn princess appeared at the four positions. The fox followed the lines as they reached from each magic user to the center where its body stood.

The next moment saw a pair of white symbol colored chains thrown around its two arms, before it felt tugs backwards as its arms were pulled in that direction. Spike, Pinkie and Applejack pulled on one chain, while Big Mac, Rainbow and Fluttershy pulled on the other. The combined effort helped to bring the fox falling backwards onto its tails. Each of those holding onto a chain bore glowing marks on their shoulders to their hands, as they held strong against the Kyuubi's bare tugs.

Try as it might, the Kyuubi could barely try and pull its body as the white chains glowed and tightened heavily against its surfaces. The sound of something whirling brought the fox back to focus, on the original purpose of its grandiose hunt. He stood on a platform straight above, as he held an arm up. No emotion could be read from the black entity that had been the Kyuubi, but one could almost sense a presence of anxiety as the blonde loomed overhead.

Above the hand formed an orb of spiraling energy. The blonde's eyes closed as he focused. Forming a normal Rasengan came first, before he allowed it to gain more in size. The orb seemed to gain more power as it doubled in size.

Odama Rasengan

He focused more as another step had to be added, the hardest one to date.

He allowed his magic to flow as his tattered attire lit up. The marks of flowing rivers near the cuffs of his pants glowed bright as a pressurized stream of water flowed into the sphere above. The color of the Odama Rasengan becoming a dark shade, as three horizontal rings formed at the center, lower and upper portions of the orb. He scrunched his eyes even more as the rings glowed a dark blue, before he relaxed. Looking up at the completed technique, he felt a sense of majesty just looking at it. Fierce as a rushing whirlpool, simple in shape and majestic in form. This was...

Suiton:..

The fox's struggle renewed, as it strained its paralyzed body to do as it wanted. Those tugging on the chains felt their feet dig into the ground and slide forward, as the creature's arms budged and twisted. Those powering the seal below it, were dumbfounded as the black fox tried and gained more distance from the ground as it moved to confront the now falling blond. It pull on its left arm with all its might, removing the chains from the hands of Applejack's group, sending them flying backwards. Said arm reached forward to grab at the blond falling towards it. Naruto allowed his mind to clear, as he directed his path. Rolling forward mid-air, he landed on the hand, before twisting around the reaching fingers, and using the thumb as a spring board, launching into the center of the Kyuubi's chest. Wherein lay the core of the bijuu's existence.

"Sōdaina Kyūryū Rasengan!" (Grand Torrent Spiraling Sphere)

He slammed the orb into the center of the bijuu's chest. There was a flash of light, before the area where the bijuu lay spread began to be engulfed by a large sphere of light and rapidly growing torrents of water. Those at the corners of the seal, and by the chains were quick to stop what they were doing, before leaving the area. Meeting up a point and then having both the Twilight and Luna teleport them out. Just in time, as the size of the explosion doubled and the edges of it were encircled by rapidly moving waves of water.

The Kyuubi couldn't help but actually FEEL at that moment. As the outer layers of its shadowy body gave way under the erosion of the rapidly moving magical chakra liquid. Left bare, the water attack started to work on its main body.

A black scene.

Nothing moved, until a crack originated from the center and spreading outward.

It felt the bones that had constructed this body begin to break under the waters, and the skin and flesh it had shave away to little more but the bone beneath. And even that began to crumble.

The cracks spread even farther abruptly, as light began to filter in though them.

Its own skull was all that was left of the skeleton, as it cracked and broke. The singular red eye, fading outing the recessives of the noggin before it broke entirely.

Everything broke, as light took over the screen.

Once the light had died down, the others saw fit to look. The whole area had been pulverized. There being a giant hole where the Kyuubi last was, finding only a cracked circular orb where the once mighty creature stood. They all sighed in relief, before cheering. Hugs being dished out all around, even between Rainbow and Mac who blushed and looked away only to be enveloped in a hug by Pinkie, bringing them back together. Though most were celebrating, two were on the lookout for a certain, blond.

Luna looked over the expanse of the large depression. Her keen eyes picking through all the dark brown to find the body of the Unique laying on the other side. Quickly looking to her side, as the farmer found him too, she teleported the group over. Applejack wasting little time, as she slid down towards the blond, going to her knees as she tried to jostle him. Said laying down blond groaned, much to her relief, before he tried to sit up. Only to fall back down onto his back, as he looked down to her right arm.

Bruised flesh, a little of the fur and skin on it had been shaved off. He could feel the bruising, and if he moved it slightly...Ow.

'Definitely broken.' He thought in a mock-sardonic fashion, before being engulfed in a hug by the farm mare. His body hurt, but he was content to lay there. Exhausted, but otherwise perfectly happy that things were over. Cost him an arm, literally, and a leg, figuratively, but it was well worth it.

"Twas a good effort young one. Much virtue was shown, and little to no lives lost." Luna pitched, though all in the crater knew not to say that in front of Spike. They looked up at the others, as they slid or flew down. They circled the blond, and passed out many pieces of congratulations. They were received with a tired smile, as the blond used Applejack as support to stand. When all was said and done, they turned towards the crack orb, that was seemingly leaking a barely there red vapor.

Time to end this for good.

~X~

~Play: Aimer - Last Stardust~

Watching as the rainbow of lights coalesced around the orb, made the blond feel a kind of way. Seeing these 'Elements of Harmony' in action made him hope that he'd get to study them at a later date.

Hopefully without some looming threat rearing its ugly head over the populace.

It was while the lights were finishing their work that a new light broke out of the cyclone of colors. The beam ended, and in the place of the fox core was something different.

It was a floating, glowing, blue orb. The size of it was probably as tall as the Moon Princess, and just as wide as her height in diameter. Though the most catching thing on it was the fox skeleton that draped itself over the top, with a small, singular blue eye. Two small horns adorn the skull's head.

Those around it just watched it cautiously. None more so than the blond in front of it. Seeing the eye lock onto his own, he stared back. Blue met sapphire for an extended period of time. He sensed, no sort of true emotion from the thing.

Well that wasn't entirely true, he felt something akin to curiosity from the lone eye. He couldn't help but find himself drawn to it, but couldn't explain why.

"Naruto what are you doin'?!" A voiced called out over his thoughts, and snapped him out of his trance. One moment he's standing by the others and the next he was in front of the Vulpine Skeletal Orb. It took all his brain power to think of why he was suddenly in front of it. Yet, something was screaming out at him to move closer.

"What are you?" He whispered, and he noticed the recognition that glinted in the lone eye. A gleam that wasn't there before.

It was all in a matter of a second that the orb shot towards him, and straight into his chest. As if in slow motion, those around, and even the blond himself just watched as the last of the orb disappeared into his navel. Some just stood there mouth gaped, but none more so than the blond himself. He felt nothing. No harmful pains, no burning sensations, anything.

Well that wasn't entirely true. He felt...awfully...slee-.

He blacked out before he could finish the thought.

He awoke to find himself on a lone island. A white island that was barely bigger than maybe 5 meters in diameter. Surrounding it on all sides was large amounts of water. The skyline seemed to be in eternal twilight no matter where he turned.

"Glad to see you're interested in the new looks."

"Oh hush you, don't act like you weren't surprised by it as well. Dattebane~"

"I have been staring at a sunset for a while."

He heard voices?

Turning around, the blond had to stop and stare. There stood a pair of people. He didn't think he'd ever see a human again, but here were a pair.

A man and a woman. The woman's red hair was vibrant and long. Just reaching down to below her knees, even as she stood at a good 5'6 in height. Purple eyes that looked at him with a strange warmth, that he didn't understand but felt he had craved. She looked fairly young, and wore a white shirt underneath a long green dress. Finishing off the ensemble was something he never thought he'd see again. Ninja sandals.

"I wonder if he even knows who I am." She said, the voice ringing in his pleasantly for some reason. He decided to focus on the man for the moment. He figure out these feelings later, probably.

The male for his part looked familiar. Blond hair that held smaller soft spikes than his own, with two long bangs that ran down the sides of his angular face. Blue eyes, and slightly feminine features yet still remaining mostly masculine. Wearing a set of blue pants, and long sleeve under a green vest under a long white coat with orange flames licking the bottom. He also wore a headband with the Konoha symbol on the plate, and wore blue ninja sandals as well.

There was this feeling that he'd seen this man before. Somewhere, but he wasn't sure where. Back at his home dimension? Only way it could be considering he was human. There were only so many blonds though, and he only remembered one besides himself who had that shade of hair...!

"Y-You're, the Yondaime Hokage!" He squeaked, mind boggled. This was the guy! This was the last Hokage before Tsunade-baachan!

"Mou! He knows who you re, but not me!" The women pouted, which brought his mind back to focus. He looked at her, and she noticed his gaze before she grinned at him.

"Hehe~ bet you can't guess who I am? ~"

He inspected her from her head to her toes, and was pulling up blanks. So, being who he was, he made a guess.

"Um, you're the Kyuubi?" The Yondaime sweatdropped and facepalmed. The next moment saw the younger blond of the group getting hit over the noggin by the red head's fist.

"Who's the Kyuubi?! Dattebane!" She shouted, her verbal tick sounding out. He winced and let out a small cry, before his mind caught up.

"Dattebane?" He looked to the woman, before him who huffed, before walking up to him with arms at her sides. He flinched back, waiting for the assault that never came.

"I've wanted to hold you for so long, musuko." She wrapped him in her arms, and he felt his heart nearly stop when she finished her sentence. Holding back at arm's length, she gave him a once over, seeing the missing arm she muttered.

"I hope he can fix this. I'm sure that Applejack girl wouldn't mind you having two hands again."

Nevermind the fact that she knew who Applejack even was, she'd just called him her...

He gave her a shocked look. Seeing the look sent her way, she smiled at him.

"Y-You just said..." He couldn't finish his sentence, as she grinned at him, pearly whites on display.

"Exactly as it sounds! Dattebane~!" She pumped a fist, as he noted the verbal tick, before grinning.

"Hehe 'Dattebane', dattebayo~" She grinned once more, and he joined her before they hugged. He let a few tears fall, as he held her close.

"Kaa-chan..."

~X~

Their emotional reunion done, but lasting, he asked the question that had been on his mind since seeing them.

"Kaa-chan, Yondaime...What are you guys doing her? Where ARE we?" He couldn't help but wonder, not with no small amount of fear. Last he checked the Yondaime was dead. He really hoped he hadn't kicked the bucket, with his last stunt with Kyuubi. Kami above, Applejack would find some way to kill him, if he did.

Looking to each other, she nodded towards the blond Hokage of the group. He explained how they had sealed themselves in here, to help him, Naruto, whenever the Kyuubi got loose. That, and they wanted to see their son again. Their son. He'd had another small breakdown, before coming back with a fist to his father's face.

Kushina had never laughed so hard.

~X~

Once everything had calmed down, and father and son had a proper, non-fist related reunion. They explained that they were in his mindscape. The blond was sure that his mindscape hadn't been this pretty, and they agreed. They said that it had changed once the Kyuubi had been defeated, purified and entered him. Which brought up another question.

"Where's the Kyuubi?" He asked, too which they both looked to each other, he was wondering what was so funny before he heard a set of footsteps. Small ones.

-I've never walked like this, whoa!-

Seeing the form of what could only be a small boy, with hair that was far too long that made him trip was the last thing he'd thought he would see in his mindscape. The boy's hair oddly enough, shadow most of his upper face, save for the one blue eye poking out from beneath his locks. He wore what could be considered monk garb that were of black, blue and gold coloration. The main body and pants being a royal blue, with the rope around his waist being gold. The mantle with the hood down was dark blue and black, with gold embroidery around the rim.

The small boy grumbled, before lifting himself off the floor. After dusting himself off, he looked up, revealing his foxy features to the world. Dark hands, feet that crossed as a mix between canine and a human's and two ears on the top of his head. Now that the blond could see him better, he saw that the hair this child had separated into 6 parts. Each of the long strands started out blue, but ended white near the tips. Also strange was a set of small horns on the boy's head.

There was no doubt about it, this was the Kyuubi that had been purified...Something wasn't right though.

-Hello! Nice to finally meet you!-

Hearing the voice in his head was shocking. The child didn't seem to move his lips as he spoke. Telepathy?

-Not Really? It's more complicated than that.-

Shaking his head, the blonde look down at the Rokubi no Kyuubi with a stern expression. The boy seeing this was quick to school his features. Moving forward, the Unique looked the Rokubi in the eyes. Blank blue met contained sapphire. Naruto held the lock for a moment before he sighed, and sat down cross legged. The Rokubi followed suit, as did the blonde's parents. After which the blond told them about his life up until that point.

The early years of neglect by the villagers, the acceptance by the Ichiraku family and Hokage. His academy days, than his ninja ones. All consummating to point of when he came to Equestria. From there he explained his "Second Life", and the way of life he lived with Yahiko. Throughout all the parts, they listened, each sparing all the attention they could give and then some. By the time he finished, all other occupants were looking down. His parents looked between each other, before giving Naruto the true story. The story of Madara Uchiha and his position in the attack on Konoha so many years ago. By the end of it, there was a lot to sort through for both the blond and Rokubi.

Rokubi said that he had no memory of his own. After being blasted by the Element of Harmony he'd explained that his mind was dull, before the blond stepped forward. After which they ended up here. They sat in silence, before all noticed the fading phantoms that were his parents. Looking down they couldn't help but smile sadly at their son.

Quick to get in a few last words, they spoke.

"Our times running thin. Pretty soon, what chakra we left in you will be gone."

"It was fun while it lasted. I got to see my baby again, and to think he's already fallen in love! Yes!" She smiled a big one, hands on her hips. Minato just looked at her with a smile before turning back to his son. Naruto for his part smiled sadly. He would shed no tears when they leave, but he'd enjoy what time he had with them. So he listened as they spoke. The Rokubi for his part just sat, and watched the proceedings.

"Naruto, I can't even begin to tell you how proud of you we've become. There's so much I wish I could say, to make up for all the years you've had no one in your life. I can't change the past, but please live a bright future." Minato's last words were few, but the Hokage knew when he was finished.

His wife on the other hand...

"Remember Naruto, no woman likes to wait for long! Applejack will be happy with whatever you give her, so be confidant she'll like it. Though that doesn't mean she won't appreciate what you got her though. If anything make it a pairing set, that'll really rattle girls like her!" Hearing all this at the last moment left his cheeks a permanent red, he just knew it.

"Don't forget that we love you! Dattebane~ all parents want their kids to be happy, and I want to know that when you die you left quite the legacy behind! Oh my goodness, he's already grown up so much, wah!" she started sobbing uncontrollably, "Be safe! Don't take too many chances except when they're bound to work out. I better see a ring on that finger whenever I see you again!" Minato by that point held onto his sobbing wife, as she shouted as many kinds of parental tips she could, before the two finally faded.

"We love you Naruto! Dattebane~!" The last few words, and she ended off with that.

Rokubi looked up at the blond, as he just watched the fading particles of light fade.

-Do you miss them? - He said with a tilt of his head. The blonde with the twin tails, just scratched his head. Before shaking his head.

"I don't need to, they're right here," he pointed to his heart, "I'll always have them with me no matter what."

The two just sat there. The blue haired one just looked out into the horizon, eyes slightly dull. The blond looked over to the remnant of a bijuu, before he too sought the eternal horizon.

-Can you tell me about it? So many things I've never seen, I'd like to know it all-

"Hm? What in particular?"

-Everything-

Sometime Later Real World...

Applejack couldn't cover the yawn, as she entered the ward. Meeting with Nurse Redheart at the counter, and going through the familiar motions.

"Nice to see you again Ms. Applejack. Room 009 as usual." The farmer thanked the nurse before heading on to the room. Nurse Redheart merely looked on with sad smile. Dr. Certain Stitch came up behind the nurse, and gave her a raised eyebrow. Seeing his expression, she gave a small shrug.

"She's been coming for over two months. I adore the dedication she has to her coltfriend. I just hope he can get to appreciate it, when he wakes up." she stated with a sigh, to which the doctor just gave her a pat on the shoulder. He knew about which patient she was talking about. One Naruto Uzumaki, weird name for sure, Coma via Magical Concentration wasn't something he had truly dealt with often. Usually it happened with small fillies and colts who'd pulled in more magical energies than normal, mostly from gaining a Cutie Mark. Though this wasn't always the case. Miss Sparkle had been a rare one, as she had been fine even after exhibiting a large discharge way back when.

Seeing the "Unique", as his friends called him, was going through similar pains, but on a much vaster scale. It was almost amazing how the blonde's entire system seemed to be reshaping as he slept. Many of those in the department had wanted to get a good examination on the subject, with permission from the blonde's friends and the princess herself, they'd made leaps and bounds in progress in the magical medical field. Most of the research had been finished a month ago though.

'I wonder when he'll wake up.'

~X~

~Play: Braveshine by Aimer~

As Applejack walked the halls, she couldn't help but let her mind wander.

Two months.

Two months ever since the attack of the Kyuubi. It had been a busy time since everyone came back to find the town destroyed. A large crater in front of Twilight's home, and an bruised and tired group, with one comatose, unknown at the time, Unique. It was surprising to say that anypony who'd been there at the time of the blonde's declaration to the town, when they saw him, had honestly thought he WAS dead. It had been almost heartbreaking to hear Dinky crying about it, but when reassured that the blonde was of the living there were mostly cheers.

They'd done their best to have the blonde rushed to a hospital in Canterlot. After being admitted, and given a thorough check-up, they'd announced that he was comatose.

It hadn't been a pleasant day to be Applejack at that moment. She remembered almost head-butting the doctor but was held back, by her siblings long enough to be told that the blond would eventually wake up. Something about magical condensation something or other. All she knew at the time was that she didn't like how the doctor was eying the Unique laid up in bed, and that she felt relief and another emotion she wasn't sure about. They'd stayed in Canterlot for about one month, during which she'd gotten letters and the like from family members from all over Equestria. Even one from her grand uncle Chili Pepper. All wondering how she was, and if the family was okay.

It'd taken a good amount of time to read, respond and send messages back to them all. Though it had kept her mind busy while they had been examining the blond to help with his affliction. She still wasn't all too fine with the idea of them poking the Unique around while he wasn't capable of denying it, but the others had reassured her that it was for the best. The rest of the month was actually spent going back down to Ponyville to help with the reconstruction. Many businesses were needing to be built back up again, and with the barn, thankfully, still in good shape the farmers had their work cut out for them, with ponies coming to buy lunch and the like. Even then she'd take up some time to go and see the spiky haired blond.

She came out of her thoughts, finding herself in front of the room, and entering without a second thought. She'd say the room was bare. White walls, teal floor tiles and a good open window. The wall was covered in various "Get Well soon" cards from plenty of their friends and even some of the Ponyville residents, like Ms. Cheerliee, Muffins, Dinky and a couple others. The blonde of the hour lay flat on the bed. During the two month stay in hospitals, he'd been transported over to the rebuilt one in Ponyville, much to the irritation of the Canterlot staff. Having the blonde moved back to Ponyville had been a lot more reassuring to Applejack, as it was easier for her to commute to him there and she trusted their own doctors more than any ones in the capital.

No disrespect to the princesses.

To say that nothing had changed since the blond had been asleep, would be a lie. It had happened a little bit after three weeks in that the first major change had come about.

His arm had returned, much to the confusion and utter astonishment of the Canterlot staff. They'd said it had happened over night. One second it's not there and the next morning, BAM, arm. This had been part of the reason the Canterlot staff had been so adamant in not allowing him to leave, though with a little bit of pushing from the political side of things, all went smoothly.

She'd took in the blonde's now longer locks, brushing back a strand. His hair had been one of the first things to grow out, but that was mostly accredited to time. Next had been that the blonde's arms and legs had gone through a sort of, what the doctor call them...Let's just say that they streamlined, for lack of a better word. The blonde's canine feet had gotten smaller, with the heel being mold to the same level as the ball of his paws. His toes had gone from slightly large, to strangely small, but fitting for their new size. The yellow fur on them had stayed and was soft to the touch, with there being a fifth toe compared to his four before. His arms had been another thing. They didn't change nearly as much as his legs had. The transition of his skin from his body to his arms had become a lot smoother, if anything. The fur on the arms had thinned and became smooth. His hands hadn't truly changed much, but the claws on them seemed to have receded. Doctors said they had become retractable.

She sat down in the usual seat by his bedside, and began a sort of common thing she'd been doing since coming here.

"So yeah, Ah kind of left off last time. Real urgent stuff came up, and with Braeburn visiting to start helping with the sales to the town, things had been calming down as of late. The others are fine, what with them finally fixing the roots of the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight's finally going to move back into Ponyville from her old room in Canterlot. Her parents might make it a bit hard, what with the wanton destruction that happened, but I feel things will work themselves out." She began, as was her routine with these visits.

She said how Fluttershy's Cottage was still being repaired, and while the pegasus was staying with Rainbow Dash, she'd go out to look for and check up on some of her animal friends. Rarity had been staying with her sister and their parents in Baltimare, doing a little business here and there. She visited just as often as Twilight did. Pinkie was consistently meeting with them all. She even spent time in Canterlot every now and then.

Rainbow Dash was another thing. That pegasus seemed to be around the farm pretty often as of late. Always seemed to be helping out from time to time, especially when Big Mac seemed to be out in the fields. Applejack had been getting a suspicious vibe from the visits, but she had no real proof as of yet. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been having fun basically living together what with Scootaloo's home being one of the few still in need of repair.

"Yeah, that's basically all that's been going on. Nothing really fancy like when the Princess's came to visit ya when you moved here. Man did that cause a ruckus." She chuckled at the memory, before sighing as she got.

"Hope you wake up soon Naruto. Ah'll come and see ya tomorrow. Might be a little late, we gotta harvest the apples sooner or later, fer more bakin'. On the bright side, there's going to be plenty of treats fer ya when ya wake up." She made it to the door.

"See ya later, Sugarcube."

~X~

He'd awoken sometime during the middle of the night. Eyes blurry from the moonlight coming through the window, he felt like somebody had turned his body into lead and then had it processed through the rigorous method of hitting it with a hammer.

"Ooooaaahahh~" He groaned, as he slowly turned his head from side to side. Eyes surveying the room, understanding he was in a hospital room just made him groan even more, though the wall of cards had been a nice touch. His eyes moved to the flowing drapes of the open window, where he had a good look into the still being constructed Ponyville. Hearing no real construction going on, he assumed it was that late. Feeling the wind from the open window was nice, but...

"I REALLY hate hospital beds." So with that he got up.

Feeling the muscles in his body resist was one thing. Sluggishly getting to his feet, he was quick to steady himself on the bed. His eyes traveling down to his feet, he was surprised. His feet reminded him of the Rokubi's own, save for the fact that his were a Wolf/Human mix to the Rokubi's Fox/Human ones. Gold in color, they bore real sharp nails at the end that looked like they could tear through the tile beneath his feet with ease.

"Gonna have to get used to this again." He snorted. Getting use to one's old feet? Hilarious.

The balance issue would take some time, but he was able to walk enough that he could shimmy out the window of the hospital room. Feeling weaker than ever, he knew the trip to the Sweet Apple Acres was going to be a painful one. He'd been quick to switch out of the hospital garbs, when he found his tattered, patched up jumpsuit. Though that had presented a brand new problem.

"Is it just me or did I get taller?" The outfit felt tighter on him now, and he couldn't help but grimace as he turned. From both the pain in his joints and limbs, and also the restriction he felt in the suit creases. He sighed, before making a useful rope out of the sheets he had.

~X~

Ugh. So much walking after being down for so long. He hoped this weakness would pass soon.

He finally finished coming up the path to the Apples' home, and couldn't be happier. He was quick to try and open the door, but found it locked. Knowing that he didn't want to wake anyone up at the moment, he decided that he would have to sleep outside for the night. Screw the hospital bed, he never wanted to be back in one again. Besides...

He already had the perfect idea of where he could sleep.

~X~

Finding the old tree with the "flower" had been easy. Getting up it would be hard, but with patience, perseverance and a good application of tree walking he was up in the branches and well on his way to sleep. Reaching into his pockets, the dimensional hole that sat in the pants' portion of the clothing he pulled out a shining blue stone. Clear and translucent, dark blue in coloration this was what he'd gone into the forest for.

Aqua Sapphire. Not unlike a Fire Ruby, but far more difficult to find. Seeing as they had to be found in places of high magical intensity, high pressure underwater and specific creatures. Crystal Mice.

Holding it up, he ran a little energy through the limb holding the gem, and felt a strangle pulse go up his arm before the item began to shine a soft blue hue. Small waves coming off it, before he stopped and put it away.

With that done, he set in for a long sleep.

~X~

When he awoke the next morning, it was to voices from down below. High up into the tree as he was, no one would truly notice him. Tucking his tails behind him, he looked down and noticed the sextet of the Apples along with Scootaloo as well as a newcomer. Flexing his right ear, he listened in on the conversation down below.

"It's been a few months and the doctor says that he'll wake up at any time." That was Jackie, if he ever heard her.

"That's that there Naruto feller, yall been going on about? Still haven't seen 'im yet, but if he's anything like what you guys tell me, I reckon we'll get along just fine." The newcomer spoke. So he knew the Apples enough to be here? Relation maybe?

"Braeburn, it's gonna be fine. Ah'm sure the two o' ya will get along just as good as a house on fire." Big Mac always kicking in with wise words. This Braeburn guy sounded like an okay dude from what he could hear up here. Though that would have be until he met him. Hearing a weird "whoosh", he watched as the flying form of Rainbow Dash land in the clearing with the others.

"Rainbow Dash!" Came the excited squeal of the smaller orange pegasus, as her role model landed. The prism haired flyer was quick to rub the younger girl's head, before turning to the others. She gave a wave to the others, greeting them in kind.

"What's up guys? Been awhile since I've seen you I know." She started, with a scratch to the back of the head.

"No problem. Things have been sort of crazy with the weird weather going on lately. Besides yer here today, and that's all that matters." Mac said, smiling at the blue pegasus, who just grinned with red cheeks. He could see Granny Smith's subtly raised eyebrow, and he had one too. So this was happening...Okay then, he'd grill Mac on this later. Right now he had to make himself known. He was about to jump down, before he heard an even better opportunity.

"Yeah well, it's going to be good to have the entire gang here for some lunch. Twilight and Spike are gonna be back today, finally moving back in, and Rarity's back to oversee the rebuilding for Carousel Boutique. We'll meet here in a couple hours. So with that let's get to work!" Rainbow announced, to everyone's amusement and delight.

"Finally! Me and Spike haven't had any time to really hang since last week! I wonder if he got any new moves while they've been in Canterlot. Though he might not have the time. He said that he's been doing work with Twilight for the princesses, and they've been swamped. Hopefully, he's had some downtime since then." Exclaimed Scootaloo, much to the amusement of the adults around her. One more rub on the head from Rainbow had the group moving forward.

"I'm so sure it is squirt." Rainbow said, a hint of teasing in her voice, as Scootaloo felt her cheeks glow red. She was quick to run ahead, with a confused Apple Bloom running after her.

"Wait Scoots, what she talkin' 'bout?!" Shouted the youngest Apple sibling.

"Nothing! That's all it'll ever be!"

Seeing this most of the adults continued after the two. Most debating on who does what today, and Rainbow suspiciously saying that she'll seed the fields after Big Mac was done plowing them.

They'd never heard Granny laugh so much before. Leaving a confused Braeburn, suspicious Applejack and beat red blushing duo of pegasus and earth pony. As they moved Applejack couldn't help but stop and look back at the tree, before moving towards it. Noticing her lack of a friend near Rainbow called out.

"Hey AJ, you coming or what? We need to get those chores done before the others show up! Especially so we can watch Braeburn crash and burn with flirting with Fluttershy!"

"Hey! That's not even close to the truth! I just find her wings real nicely taken care of!" The now red-faced earth pony said.

"Who are you trying to convince?"

Applejack chuckled before she looked back to the tree with a good eye, and shouted back.

"Ah'll catch up with yall in a moment. Ah wouldn't want to miss seeing Braeburn get tongue-tied again!" To which Rainbow gave a thumbs up, and laughed all the way back to the group, were an embarrassed Braeburn held his face in his hands. Waving them off, she looked back to the tree with a smile.

"This all started because of this tree and a critter who was too cocky. Though in retrospect, he might have had good reason to be...hmm," She took up a thinking face, hand raised to her chin, as she put her back to the tree. Seeing this the blond couldn't help himself, as he dropped down silently behind her. He idly noticed that she was wearing his necklace, before he leaned back against the bark.

"Well, well, well," He saw her freeze and her ears perk, to which he just smiled, "if I knew I had that kind of impression, Jackie we could just call it natural confidence." He was sure he saw her trembling before turning around and locking eyes with him.

He saw the slap coming before it happened, but knew that it was warranted.

*SMACK!*

His cheek red, he still smiled at her, even as he saw the tear falling down the sides of her face, before she hugged him with all her might. He returned said hug, with his own and they stayed like that for a moment.

"Ya idjit! I was so worried when ya…ya just fell like that!" He could hear her words muffled through his clothes, but understood all the same. Resting his head on top of hers, before he breathed in her scent. Apples and bake goods. Good ol' Jackie.

Once calmed, they stood back from one another, arm's distance apart. The Unique grinning at the farmer, who blushed, but didn't let go. She looked over the blond, seeing now moving features of the aim of her affections, before she noticed something.

"Wait a minute..." She said as she detached, and held a hand from her height to the former-ninja's before looking at him in disbelief.

"You got taller than me!" Her exclamation caused him to look at her, before realizing that he had to now look down a bit to catch her eyes. They locked gazes for a moment.

"Don't..." He let out a smirk.

"You..." He let out a few chuckles, before he laughed. She was quick to start poking him in the chest. This action did little to bother him, before he had her in his arms again, and twirled her around once. She was quick to ignore the blush on her face growing, before she laughed along with him.

"I'm home, Applejack!"

"Welcome back, Naruto."

~X~

Seeing those gathered out at the table from his place in the kitchen, set his prankster spirits running on high. No one besides AJ knew he was up yet. He'd had to make a quick trip upstairs to change into a pair of orange sweats, and a long sleeve white shirt, before coming downstairs. Seeing all of them have fun and be merry was all the setup he needed.

He walked out casually the others too caught up in their merrymaking to notice the blonde, before he sat down in a space in between Spike and Fluttershy. Quick to capitalize on their still ignorant senses, he raised a cup full of juice before calling for a toast.

"A Toast! To my recovery!" He shouted, much to the joy of those around. Raising his cup up high, he watched them closely.

"A Toast!" x 12. Cheers were had before they all started to drink. He smirked before he counted down in his head, as they finally caught up with themselves. Applejack was doing her very best to not start chortling, as the slow realization settled in.

'Three, Two...One!" he ticked his fingers, before the wide open eyes of all those present settled on him.

Cue Massive spit-take.

He never knew that watching a group wide choke could be so hilarious!

"Naruto!" x 11 plus a confused "huh?" from Braeburn. The blonde of the day just grinned at them.

The gathering was quick to turn into a party, with the blonde's revealed presence.

~X~

One Month Later...

"A festival?" Came the group question, as they looked at the flyer in Pinkie's hands. They all sat at the round tables of the week ago rebuilt Sugarcube Corner, as they all eyed the flyer in the pinkette's hands.

"Yup!"

In the span of a month and a week, things had finally started to tone down. Most of the buildings around town had been rebuilt, with the help and assistance of the princesses, plus a newly awakened Unique, things had gone back to some sort of idea of normalcy. Though the main office building was still being finished, as were a few other businesses like Quills & Sofas, or the musical Amphitheatre. Most of the group was taking some time off for the day to relax with friends, as they main group sat around with Spike and Crusaders close by on a bench listening in.

"What's it say? Hmm, 'Come see the festival of the century. Enjoy a special night on the town, as we light up the night. Rides, booths and prizes.' Who the hay are the Flim Flam Brothers?" stated Applejack, as she finished reading the paper, the blonde besides her just shrugged as the group listened to Pinkie talk.

"Come on! It's a great idea, we can all enjoy a nice night on the town. Who cares about who's throwing it? Come on, food, drinks, prizes! Atmosphere!" She waved her hands wildly in the air before tipping over backwards. They all thought it through for a moment, before basically agreeing to it.

~X~

The night sky was lit up, as the festival was in full swing. Lights, banners, decorations and sounds rang out as ponies moved about through the booths. Children were playing, running around with cotton candy, masks and balloons. The group could even see Ms. Hooves walking around with her daughters, and Carrot Top. Overall there were a fair amount of contraptions on display that toggled the group's curiosity and wonder.

"Come on! I want to see how they set up the food! Ooh, ooh, ooh do you think they have a dunk seat?! Ohmigosh, I can't wait to see it, just might explode!" Was all that they heard, before the pink one practically vibrated before disappearing into the crowds of pony citizens. They all just shook their heads as the group separated off to go do their own things.

Twilight and Rarity were quick to go and inspect booths, and look after Pinkie. The librarian never having gone to a fair before and taking all the sights before her with awe. Rarity followed along because she knew Twilight would be the easiest one to be around in a festival setting, plus two ponies to help reign in a Pinkie were better than one.

Rainbow Dash had gone off in some direction or another with Big Mac going off into another one. Naruto was quick to take a good look at where they went. He saw a strange sight of Rainbow Dash flying far above in the clouds, her shadow moving across the opposite way where she normally went. Strangely in the same way of Big Mac's choice of direction. The blonde couldn't help but shake his head, the ears situated on top of his head in the short mop that was now his hair. Having cut it after a while of dealing with it during town build up.

"Oh dear, I hope they're fine. Oh my," Fluttershy was quick to wonder. The pegasus being taken in by the fish games.

"I wonder if they got any gems around here. Hey Naruto you wann-Whoa Scoots hold on!" Spike started, before being dragged off by the crusaders. Scootaloo in the lead with his hand in her own.

"No time Spike! We gotta go find the best prize in this fair and win it!" The orange pegasus said, as she dragged the young dragon off into the fair. Following closely behind them, were Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, both of whom were just looking around at all the sights as they ran.

"And then there were two." Naruto commented as he and Applejack, stood as the two left behind. Looking to one another, they just blushed a bit before the male blond gestured ahead a quick motion of his head. With that they walked onward into the fairgrounds.

~X~

~Play: Haven't Had Enough by Marianas Trench

The festival was in full throttle and both blonds were just overwhelmed by the numerous attractions. Every now and then they'd catch sight of the others before they disappeared, but they continued on before Applejack found the first game of the night for them to play.

"So the key of the game is just to knock back as many of the targets with the star, huh?" The blonde said, with an amused smile, as he tossed the toy shuriken up and down in the palm of his hand.

"Youse got that right sir! With a few bits you get five throwing stars. You gotta take five shots and you get what you win!" The boothman said, as the blond surveyed the several levels of prizes. The first three levels were basic plastic toys, the next level held some pretty good looking stuffed animals and playing cards. On the fifth level though the blond saw large stuffed animals the size of a child and fireworks. On the sixth level were only two objects, a music box and a mask that seemed strangely shaped like a fox. In front of each prize was a bull's eye. Each being smaller the farther up in level you went. All around them were others trying and failing to get any of the higher level prizes.

"Don't ya want to win one fer ya goirl ova there?" The boothman with the, in his opinion, awesome orange red mustache gestured secretly over to Applejack off in the corner. The farm girl was looking over a set of food options from a nearby stall. The blond blushed, before he gave the booth guy a challenging smirk, before he placed down a few bits.

"You're on." He said, before he picked up the shuriken on the counter. Feeling the weight in his hands, his eyes narrowed as he focused. Taking aim he threw the first star with great precision at a bull's eye for one of the large stuffed animals, hitting back the target that couldn't be more than 5 in. wide. The boothman looked at the target, before he smiled nervously. Two more repeats of said stunt, had brought a small crowd to watch as the blond knocked down his third prize. Kids would cheer, and adult egged him on to aim for the highest targets. Applejack had come back over with food, only to see the blond focused and surrounded by the crowd. She smirked as the blond set his sights to the highest ones.

"Hold on there sir, wouldn't you like to make it more worth your while?" The nervous looking red haired unicorn of a boothman stated, catching the blonde's attention. With a quick push of the handle underneath the counter the 2 inch targets for the sixth level began to move. The blond raised an eyebrow at the Fairman who was quick to explain.

"For the sake of challenge! How would you like to take a shot at the moving targets, hit one and get the prize. Hit both and I'll return you bits, with interest."

Giving the thought a once over, he shrugged, before looking back at the targets. Focused, he tossed one at the moving top and found it miss the target by a few inches, causing the audience behind him to "oooh" with the slated miss. The unicorn running the booth let out a breath in relief, before he focused back on the blonde who was smirking.

"So say that I hit both targets with one star, it still counts right?" The confidence oozed from the spiky headed one. Flam was quick to sweat, but nodded his head anyway. He was quick to move the lever, the targets moving faster in accordance.

Naruto for his part looked on, before he cleared his mind. The world seemed to come to a slow, as the blonde took aim and released the throwing star with precision at the two posts around the prizes. The wooden star bounced off the wooden post from the right and sliced across the targets' centers knocking both down, before the star bounced back off the right post and the blond caught it. Right before he casually throw the star at booth guy's hat and leaving it right there by his horn. Looking down from his hat, to the smirking blond with the gaping crowd behind him, Flam gulped audibly.

"Now about those prizes and my money." The blond said, to the booth's horror.

~X~

"Darn good shootin' there Tex. Haha, did you see the face of that guy? Priceless!" Applejack couldn't help but comment, much to the Unique's own shit-eating grin. Patting a fanny pack that bore his symbol, before focusing back on Applejack. Being handed a fluffy caked item, he tossed it into his mouth as they moved forward, leaving behind a sobbing stallion.

"So what's next?" He asked.

~X~

Applejack couldn't help but feel the growing smirk, as she watched the blond miss with every shot from the toy gun.

"Nah man, nah! This is some bullshit!" The blond raged, as he missed once more with the wood rifle before he set the thing down and took some steadying breaths. Looking at Applejack's expression, the blonde pointed a finger at her.

"Not. A. Word." He grumbled, as she shook her head in amusement. Moving to the front of the booth, she put down her own set of bits, before picking up the shooting implement. Watching from the sidelines, the Unique only felt his mouth fall open with each repeated shot. Seeing her quickly and surely bare down the rifle and shot down any of the moving bull's eyes as the points at the bottom right of the booth went up and up. Seeing her points start to reach past the 100 mark, and remembering his own meagre 20, he stared agape.

If there was one thing the blonde would admit that day, it would be this.

A confident Applejack was one damn sexy looking mare.

With a flourish she spun and put the gun back into its place, before walking past a stone frozen Naruto. Idly closing his mouth as she passed him. The short haired blond doing nothing but staring at the score of 999 on the board.

~X~

The two continued on, enjoying more and more of the fair attractions. Even now they could see and catch glimpses of their friends. Most notably now was them seeing Spike sitting there on a bench, before being approached by a food bearing Scootaloo. The two shared in a box of donuts, before the drake was quick to give Scootaloo a surprise peck on the cheek, before blushing and looking away. The pegasus seemed to freeze up for a moment before turning full on red, and then proceeding to hold hands with the drake leaving them both a blushing mess.

The two blonds spying from behind a corner, couldn't help but blush as they looked at each other, before going on their way. The distance between them small enough to have them tapping knuckles every now and then as they walked. The two looked at each other from the side, so close to holding hands before-

"Come one, come all, a test of strength and bonds to best ya! Can you get the bell to ring or shall you wallow in your weak selves!" The sound of a shouting boothpony left them rattled and had the two of pull their hands back with a burning going across their cheeks, Naruto looking up away and AJ looking to the side.

Both turned their attention, to the shouting boothman and the trying and failing pairs at the dual set of hammers. The attraction was being run by a very familiar looking pony with red hair but no moustache, as he tipped his hat off to the leaving couple.

"Nice try sir and madam, maybe next time, you will in-sync! You two! Yeah, you two blonds, how would you like to give this one a try. Test out your strength and see if you can do it!" Flim shouted to the two once he noticed them. He smirked, as he got on his "game face".

The two blonds were quick to walk over, and listen to Flim as he explained the double bell. The idea was that they had to be able to hit the plank at the bottom in perfect synchronization, was the apparent bid. Flim could help but watch as the two challenged each other in front of him with a grin. Ah simple, simple ponies. Never knowing a scam when they saw one. This was an old attraction him and his brother had found. The thing reacted to true, real-deal sync between two ponies. The very idea that there would be any pair so in sync that they'd-

*DING/DING*

He felt his mouth drop open as the two blondes' bells rung in unison. The bells at the top releasing an amazing chime and sending out purple and blue waves of bell shapes. All those stopped to watch, as did the two blondes below as they put down the mallets. Eyes transfixed, Applejack never noticed Naruto looked at her. The Unique found his eyes transfixed on the profile of his blond farm friend. Seeing her emerald eyes twinkle when they captured the lights sent out by the bells up top, just re-ignited that flame inside him. Understanding more and more of why he found her so beautiful.

Applejack let out a small gasp as Naruto's hand found its way around her own, face heating up, but the smile that got there stayed. So there they sat, two blondes holding hands and smiling like no tomorrow. Never noticing the group of some of their friends hunched up in a corner eying them with knowing expressions.

~X~

They'd found themselves venturing throughout the rest of the festival with eagerness. Whether it be dunking Pinkie...

"Pinkie, what are you doing in there?"

"Hehe, you see! There's a funny story about that!"

...playing more booth games, or just eating more fun food. By the time all was said and done, they and a good portion of the town found themselves by a bit in the central square.

"We'd like to thank all the ponies who came out for the festival today! To finish off the festivities we'll be setting off our state-of-the-art fireworks! Set it off brother!" Flim said, as Flam was on standby with the firework in the tubing.

"On it brother!" With that said, Flam set fire to string on the outside of the tube. With this done, everyone retreated to a safe distance, before the fireworks shot off into the sky. The bursts of lights in various colors and shapes exploded across the sky. Those down below in the square watched in awe as the lights came out.

Naruto and Applejack could only stare up at the sky, as the lights glowed and burst. The fireworks leaving hues on their faces as they went high up into the sky. All the while this was going on, the farm mare turned her head away from the display to look at the blonde beside her, his eyes enraptured in the fireworks above. She smiled at his expression of childish enjoyment before she blushed. Remembering what Spike had done with Scootaloo earlier, she could...maybe do it...herself?

It would just be on the cheek anyway, so with her mind made up, she moved in.

Naruto found his eyes etched onto the sight of the bright lights above, the shapes and colors all the more amazing by the sheer size of it all. He was quick to see a fairly large one that was going up, and turned to Applejack to bring her attention to it, only to receive his greatest, and most pleasant, shock of the night.

Feeling their lips on each other's, sent a spark of electricity down their spines, causing both to look to the other in shock. The male of the two looked on, before closing his eyes and pressing forward, Applejack following soon after. That exact moment found the sky lit up with the image of a large flower, each petal a different set of colors, surrounded by smaller ones of various sizes.

Separating from one another, they looked to one another with bright smile even as the display of explosions ended.

"Thank you and goodnight!"

~X~

Naruto looked up from his place on his bed. Eyes trailing the ceiling, as his mind went back to that moment over and over again. He couldn't get the grin off his face, mind in a euphoric state, before he heard the telltale signs of someone, or more somepony at his door.

Not that he had to guess who.

"You know Jackie, with how often you come in here, ponies could get strange ideas." He said, as he closed his eyes. Hearing the sounds of hooves against floorboard, before he felt the shift of the mattress beneath him. He splayed his arms out on the bed, before he found his left arm occupied by the head of Jackie. Both of them just sat there looking up at the ceiling, Applejack's head on his bicep before moved a hand down on the bed and let it comb through her untied hair.

Seconds. Minutes. They weren't sure how long they stayed that way, before they looked to one another.

"So, what are we at this point?" The question wasn't surprising. Though considering everything they'd gone through by this point, the Unique felt he had the perfect answer. Moving his head forwards towards her own, he pressed his lips to hers in a chaste kiss, before pulling back. The red face of Applejack met him, though she was fighting hard to not let the smile get to her lips.

"Couldn't think of any words, huh?"

"I'm more of a man of action, so speak."

For all of a moment they just looked at each other, before they laughed. They laughed at the past they shared, the games, the jokes, the challenges, all of it. They laughed at the past that pushed them together and they laughed at the way they danced around their feelings up to this point. They didn't laugh when they got to the memory of the fight they had, deciding to just stare at one another.

"..."

"..."

"...Ah'm sorry." The farmer was the first to say it, but Naruto wasn't far behind.

"I am as well." Though seeing Applejack fix him with a stern stare, he set in for the apology. The apology was strongly worded for sure. She apologized for letting herself get ahead and being riled up by Trixie with the others. Sorry for not talking things out, instead of shouting at him. She went on to say that she hated how she basically made little of his past that she didn't know about. Sorry that she was angry at him for having his own secrets. Sorry that she had basically demanded him of them, when she really didn't deserve to have them told to her. This was where he stopped her, with his own apology.

He was sorry that he didn't try and support her when he knew she was dealing with more than Trixie's taunts. Sorry that he wasn't more understanding, and didn't try and sit down with her about this. Sorry he insulted her. Sorry that he said that she didn't deserve a look into the real him. Sorry that he pushed her away and hurt her the way he did.

By the time all was said and done, they both just embraced and stayed like that for a moment before Naruto remembered something. Extending his tail and reaching over and into a draw, by pulling on the handle, he retrieved a set of items.

"After we had separated, I had a lot of thinking to do. I saw fit that to apologize I needed a present." He started, to her surprise.

"Yall didn't need to do that Sugarcube." She said, but he just smiled at her, before presenting to her a pair of earrings. Gold was the metal used to hold the blue gems that sat in its case. The blue crystal glowed slightly, and etched with the symbol of a spiral on the front, with light that filtered through the grooves coming out in slight flickers. Bring her hands up to them, she sent him a questioning look. He grinned, before parting down the collar of shirt to reveal a gold choker, with the same blue gem, but in the shape of a familiar looking set of three apples.

"Thought you might like a matching set." He quipped, as he saw her start to tear up before embracing him more tightly this time. He accepted both the hug and kiss he received after that with as much passion as he was given.

~X~

"I honestly can't thank you enough for this Rarity." And he meant it, as he twisted and turned in the mirror marveling at his new outfit. Rarity waved off his thanks good-naturedly, eyes watching and observing as the Unique moved about in his new clothes.

Dark blue cargo pants that cut off at the middle shins, adorned with an orange bar on all four pockets that decorated the two pants' legs in total. Following up on that was short sleeve orange shirt, the material being thin, and slightly tight around the blonde's upper body. Underneath which was a white tank top. Over that the Unique wore a blue coat with long sleeves and a hood. This was bordered by dark blue, with orange strings around the neck portion, and on the back in orange was his spiral with a pair of Yahiko's own insignia surrounding it on both sides. Last, but not least, were the pair of ninja sandals he'd been able to convince the shoemaker to make with the blonde's memory of the footwear helping with the development.

Rarity had also given him an orange sleeveless vest for those days when the blonde's coat would be hot for. It holding the same set of symbols on the back as his coat did. Or just for a change of pace, since the blond was sure to apply some of his water symbols to both pieces of clothing.

"Honestly, don't you know it's rude to leave a lady waiting Naruto?" This comment caused him to freeze, before he was dashing out the Boutique with his thanks yelled along the way. Once outside, he found the waiting form of Applejack giving him a raised eyebrow, before smiling.

"Lookin' mighty fancy there Naruto. Thinkin' you might be tryin' to impress me or somethin'." She said in jest, one eye closed. He gave her a smile, before moving to her side as they began their walk down the street.

"Oh you never know, when I'm going to have to look my best for you, Sugarcube." He whispered the last bit into her ear, causing her to blush up a storm, before speeding up. He matched her the whole way, before getting a head of her to look at her flushed face, before quickly stealing a kiss and running back to the orchard. He let out a laugh, as she chased after him, gold and sapphire earrings clinking in the wind. The sun glinting off his own gold choker.

~Main Story FIN~

Author's Note:

And that's a wrap Ladies and Gentlemen! Finishing off at a whopping 120k+ word count, we've come to the end of the Main Storyline!

*Applause*

Thank you, thank you! It's been an awesome trip going through this story with all of you. With time, I hope more people come to enjoy this fic I wrote. Starting off as a small idea that should have ended without all this extra stuff. It took a mind of its own, and added all the extra details. From character interactions and pairings, to lore built for this world of its own, and leading details for other stories.

You wouldn't believe all the ways I could have had some of these scenes play out. Like it not even funny when I say that the ending scene could have been hilariously comical, and just as sort of sad.

But I'm a happy ends sort of guy, so don't really expect that from me!

Naruto & Applejack status: In a Relationship 3

The way all you wanted it to be.

Good stuff. Now after this I do have a few "Epilogue:" chapter ideas planned out for certain episodes. Fun little bits of what their life is like after the end of the main plot, and stuff. So any chapter after this will be titled as such.

Have fun, and keep an eye out for me. Who knows what I'll do next. Probably a Naruto (Changling) x Derpy Story, heaven knows what could be going through my mind at the moment.

So yah, ciao~

~NRK OUT~