Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I own MLP.
Twilight peaked out from behind a bookcase, looking around carefully to make sure she wasn't spotted, before ducking back and grabbing a few scrolls, before moving on to the next shelf. Picking one of the scrolls at random, she jumped at the sound of footsteps, quickly ducking around the corner. When she was sure the newcomer was gone, she again grabbed more scrolls and moved on herself. On the one hand, she utterly despised herself for what she was doing. Princess Celestia had already told her to mind her curiosity...but then, she also told her not to lose her curiosity, and the unicorn really wanted to learn about shinobi.
Peaking out from behind the shelf, she noticed Naruto giving some money to what appeared to be the librarian, who in turn handed the blonde what looked like a few ordinary sheets of paper. Turning back, she jumped and yelped as she came face to face with the very first person she had met when first arriving in the elemental nations. Kakashi sighed behind his mask and he quickly picked up several of the scrolls Twilight had dropped upon being startled by him.
"I'm going to assume Naruto already made you aware you need a jonin to accompany you in here, correct?" he asked, putting away the scrolls. Twilight blushed, looking quite sheepish.
"He may have mentioned something along those lines," she admitted, and again, Kakashi sighed.
"You know, Twilight, you're lucky it was me that caught you, and not somebody else, or this would have been a horrible mess," he announced, crossing his arms over his chest. "However, since I do know you, and we are sharing select information between Equestria and Konoha, I see no harm in finding a few simple chakra and jutsu scrolls. But had you grabbed the wrong scroll, you could have grabbed more sensitive information to the workings of the village, the structure of our shinobi system...I'm sure you wouldn't be willing to risk causing an interdimentional, international incident." The unicorn-turned girl blushed even more and looked down at her feet.
"Come on," motioned Kakashi, and the girl slowly followed the Jonin up to the librarian. "Excuse me," he said, getting her attention. "This young lady is here with an envoy here to negotiate a treaty. Might we be able to get some scrolls for an aspiring young Kunoichi?" The librarian smiled brightly to both Kakashi and Twilight, before moving toward a shelf, grabbing a bag and beginning to fill it.
"Of course," she said as she worked. "Just give me a moment or two and I'll have a nice collection set up for you."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Twilight said gratefully, and the old librarian just gave her a knowing look and a smile.
"I was your age once too, young lady," she said. "I recognize that look in your eyes. Let me guess. The rest of your envoy is off doing something else, but you decided to come here because you just love learning so much." Twilight's eyes widened at how the librarian seemed able to look through her, know what she was thinking.
"Yes!" she replied. "I quite literally live in the library back home. I run it." The librarian's face brightened even further.
"Hearing someone so young say that makes me feel a little better about your generation," she laughed, before handing the bag of scrolls to the girl. Placing his hand on her shoulder, Kakashi led the unicorn girl back to the general library, where Naruto was waiting.
"I've been looking all over for you, Twilight," he said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry," she replied sheepishly. "Kakashi got me into the Shinobi section and we got some more scrolls," she lied, and Naruto raised his brow.
"Ok," he announced, pulling out the scrolls he had collected, as well as the papers she had seen him purchase. It was Kakashi's turn to take notice.
"Chakra Paper? Twilight hasn't even used chakra before and you're planning on finding out her affinity?" he asked, thoroughly confusing the young mare. Naruto shook his head.
"I'll need it later," he replied, as though it was obvious. "Chances are this will be my last time in Konoha for a while, so I figured I'd stock up on supplies besides jutsu scrolls. As it happened, the library keeps Chakra paper in stock for shinobi that want to know elemental jutsu, but don't know what their element is. Got it on the cheaper side hear than I would anywhere else." Kakashi gave Naruto a smile and ruffled his golden hair, much to the blonde's annoyance.
"Who'd have thought you'd become such a bargain hunter," he joked, and Naruto swatted the hand away, a large tick mark beginning to show on his forehead. Throwing all the items he himself had collected into his bag, he took Twilight by the hand and began quickly leading her out of the library, the girl beginning to take a look through them. She had scrolls detailing what chakra was, how to access and use it, chakra control exercises, as well as the basic academy jutsu. She also had scrolls on using kunai and shuriken, trap-making, wilderness survival, seduction...wait.
"Seduction?" she asked, a little confused and mildly disgusted. "Why would I get a scroll on Seduction? Who would possibly use anything in here?" Naruto just looked at the human-pony and shrugged, though he soon found his attention turned to a shouting voice.
"PINKIE PIE!" came the shout of Applejack, she, Rainbow Dash and his clone creating a chorus of cries. They hadn't seen the girl since she ran off with Guy and Lee, and the clone Naruto was starting to lose it. Rainbow Dash merely grumbled between shouts. Naruto and Twilight shared a look before heading over to unite with the other group.
"What happened?" Naruto asked. "Where is Pinkie?" His clone just looked sheepish, before flashing the peace sign and vanishing in a cloud of smoke. As the real Naruto received the memories, all he could do is move to the nearest building and begin slamming his head into the wall hard enough to actually start forming spider-web cracks at the point of impact.
"I can't," *Bam "Believe," *Bam "She ran off with," *Bam "Those two!" He turned around and the girls all looked at his very red forehead. Again, placing his hands in the cross shaped seal, twenty new clones popped into existence. "I don't know why my clone didn't already do this, but whatever. All of you, fan out. I want Pinkie Pie found as soon as possible."
"Right!" Shouted his clones in unison, before taking to the rooftops and scattering across the village. Naruto palmed his face. "By the time this day is over, I'm going to need an aspirin, or at the very least some Sake-spiked ramen. Come on. We should meet up with Spike, Rarity, and Fluttershy and regroup. Hopefully we'll find her before the Princesses decide to come join us."
"We'd find her a lot faster if I could fly," Rainbow Dash sulked, which gave Naruto an idea. It wasn't a very sound idea, but it was worth a shot.
"But Twilight can use magic without her horn," he said. "Why should you need your wings to fly here?" Rainbow Dash shook her head.
"Come on, Naruto, that's ridiculous. I can't fly without wings, right Twilight?" She was waiting for confirmation, but instead...
"Well...Naruto does raise a valid point," the unicorn said. "Back in Equestria, You need a horn to use magic. You need to be a Unicorn, or an Alicorn. But here, the same rules don't seem to apply. I can use my magic just fine, by focusing through my hands instead. It stands to reason you might be able to have some other way to make you fly. Try making yourself feel like you normally do, flying with the wind at your wings." Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and let it out.
"Ok girls...and guy... stand back." Closing her eyes, she tried her best to picture looking down at Ponyville from above, gliding through the air at high speeds. The others had to take an actual step back, as the air around the pegasus pony began to swirl and blow, and the three, as well as the others in the area that had stopped to check out the display, looked on in shock as Dash began to be picked up off the ground. Cracking one eye open just a tad, Rainbow Dash looked down to see she had managed to pull up almost three feet.
"Hey!" She exclaimed. "I'm doing it! I'm actually doing-" Her cheering didn't last, as she suddenly rocketed to the side, slamming into a wall, causing the others to cringe, before she pushed herself off, only forcing herself to zip across the road and collide head first into the library, sliding down and landing on her ass. Naruto and the girls rushed to her side, but Rainbow Dash had already shaken off the crash, being used to them by this point, and forced them back.
"I'm fine, she said. "You just worry about meeting up with the others. I'll find Pinkie." With a burst of wind, she left the three choking in a cloud of dust as the human-pegasus climbed higher and higher for a better view of the village. Once she got the hang of it, she found that it wasn't any more difficult than moving through the air back home. Though it wasn't quite as effortless, Rainbow Dash already starting to feel a bit winded. From her position in the air, she took a look around, her eyes managing to catch a moving dust cloud, circling the perimeter of the village. She just hoped Pinkie was still with the two nut jobs as she reversed her ascent and began to fly down and cut them off.
Rarity was still locked in a heated battle for the ability to buy the shirt, though luckily they had eased off on the stretching, Naruto having pointed it out to the two, and trying to play mediator between the Ninja and the Designer. Spike stood behind Fluttershy, who was trying not to watch the fight between her friend and the new girl.
"Naruto," growled Ino. "Tell the new girl to let go." Turning to Rarity, Naruto saw her give him a look that promised pain and suffering if he even opened his mouth. Turning back to Ino, the blonde boy just shrugged.
"Sorry Ino, but after today, I'll only be seeing one of you two on a regular basis, so..." Creating two more clones, the first clone had the new two remove Ino's hands from the sleeve of the shirt, allowing Rarity to take hold of the shirt fully. Deciding to be childish for a moment, the human-unicorn stuck her tongue out, infuriating Ino. Turning around, the group began to leave Ino, but not before the girl got in a few choice words.
"Fine, take it. You'll look hideous in in anyway." Rarity faltered for a moment, but refused to look back at the platinum blonde. However, Ino saw the quick flinch from the designer, and decided to press on. "But that's no surprise. Wearing that dress for shopping? On a day like today? You have no sense of fashion, do you?" That did it. Rarity froze and Naruto saw every muscle on her clench with her fists, and her right eye began to twitch.
"I knew this wasn't going to end well," sighed Naruto as Rarity snapped around, the fires of hell blazing in her eyes.
"How DARE you make such a claim!" she practically screeched. She got right in Ino's face and the girl began to sweat. "I'll have you know, I know more about fashion then you could ever imagine. Though trying to pass off those rags you're wearing as clothing would take quite the imagination." Now her hands began to glow with magic, much like Twilight's when she used magic as a human.
"Let's see if we can't improve your wardrobe." Fabric and ribbons began flying from all over the store, quickly wrapping around Ino tightly, engulfing her whole body, constricting her. Fluttershy let out a small 'eep' and ducked behind the Naruto clone, who didn't blame the pegasus-girl in the slightest. He began to back away because the unicorn-turned-human was actually starting to scare him.
"MMMMMMMmmm!" Ino tried to scream, but the fabric tightly wrapped around her mouth let only muffled sounds escape. Rarity looked over her work and adopted a mock thinking-pose.
"Oh dear, you're right," she said. "It doesn't go with your eyes at all. I guess we'll just have to cover those up." Ino's eyes widened as more fabric began moving around her head, wrapping the rest of her, aside from the nose. Rarity wasn't that cruel. When she was finished, Ino looked like a squirming mummy, wrapped in the finest fabrics and ribbons. "There," Rarity smiled sickeningly sweetly. "You look absolutely fabulous." Turning, she walked away with her head held high.
"That...was creepy," Naruto said as they left the store, having paid for the Rarity's 'inspiration.' Blushing, but not truly shaken, Rarity let out a little 'Hmph.'
"Serves her right, insulting my Fashion Sense," she said, though her face did begin to soften. "Though perhaps I did go overboard just a tad."
"A tad?" Naruto asked, giving Rarity a questioning look. He was prevented from saying more when he looked up to see several more clones leaping over buildings, and a multi-colored streak going across the sky. "Is Rainbow Dash flying without wings?" Spike and the girls, who also watched the pegasus-girl shoot overhead, nodded dumbly. "We should probably go find the others and find out what's going on."
Ino felt someone unwrapping her head. When her eyes readjusted to the light, she saw her pineapple-haired Nara teammate. "Shikamaru, good, get me out of here," she demanded, the Nara giving her a once over, knowing she couldn't have done this to herself.
"And what will you do if I do?" he asked, bored.
"We'll find the bitch that did this to me and kick her ass!" Shrieked the blonde. Shikamaru sighed, knowing she'd drag him into all of this. Standing up, he began to walk away. "What the hell are you doing, you Lazy-ass!?" Shouted Ino. "Get back here and untie me!" Shikamaru just whistled as he walked away, pretending not to have heard the still-bound girl. "SHIKAMARU NARA!"
"Well, it sounds like you all have had quite the day," Celestia said, having hearing the stories of the four ponies that were actually around. After meeting up with the Princesses at the Hokage Tower, and retrieving Konohamaru, group made their way up to the top of the Hokage Monument, looking out over the village as the sun began to set. It was a bit surreal to the royal sisters that it wasn't them controlling the shift from Day to Night. Really, the only thing that truly acted on its own in Equestria was the Everfree Forest.
The Ponies and Spike all nodded, while Naruto just sat on the ground, an ice-pack on his head, nursing the massive headache the day had been. That wasn't to say it hadn't been fun. He enjoyed the company of the ponies. They were almost always rather uplifting to be around. It was actually a rather enjoyable experience rooming at the library. Twilight was more often than not out with the other ponies, leaving the place plenty quiet for he and his clones to read. Besides that, he got to explore the town, hang out more with the girls. In particular, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack, who more often than not helped him sic the Cutie Mark Crusaders after Konohamaru. But the day had just been one mess after another, and combined with his clones, his head was pounding.
"I hope Dash and Pinkie get back here soon, so we can go back to Equestria and I can just go to bed," he said. No sooner did the words leave his mouth than an eruption of sand swirled behind them, drawing there attention, revealing Gaara, as well as the two missing pony girls.
"Woo Hoo!" shouted Pinkie Pie. "Again! Again!" Gaara rubbed his temples.
"I swear, Uzumaki, this one is related to you." Naruto would have responded, but he and the ponies were too preoccupied with gawking at the pink-haired pony-girl. Or more specifically, what she was wearing. Applejack looked at Rarity, watching the now slightly green girl swallow with some difficulty.
"Uh, Rarity? You Ok?" she asked.
"Fine," squeaked Rarity. "I just...I just threw up in my mouth a little bit..." Gone were the clothes that Pinkie Pie had been wearing, now replaced with the ungodly horror of a green spandex body-suit identical to Lee and Guy's.
"Pinkie Pie, what are you wearing?" asked Twilight asked, trying not to laugh at how ridiculous Pinkie looked. She didn't seem to notice as she smiled an tugged at the material hugging her skin.
"Neat, huh? I got it from Lee and Guy. It's my Super Awesome Ninja Suit." When she announced that, a trumpet fanfare seemed to play from nowhere and confetti dropped. Naruto's head zipped all around, trying to find the source of the sound effects and paper shreds, but could find nothing.
"As your friend, Pinkie, please take that hideous outfit off," Rarity said, and Pinkie, instead of arguing, just nodded her head.
"Okie Dokie Lokie!" she replied, giving her friend a mock salute and pulling off the spandex. But this left a different problem in it's wake. The fact that the girl was wearing absolutely nothing beneath...no clothes, no bra, no panties. While the ponies were for the most part indifferent, only wearing clothes on certain occasions, Naruto had a much larger reaction. He quickly covered Konohamaru's eyes, but couldn't stop himself from staring, his nose bleeding a bit. Pinkie noticed this and grew concerned. "Hey, Naruto, are you ok?" Shaking his head, Naruto took his gaze a way quickly, forcing himself not to stare at Pinkie's...oddly sexy human form, her perky breasts bouncing more than she normally did.
"I'm fine, Kinky-I mean...Pinkie," he replied, slipping on his own words. "Just please, put something on. I don't care if it's the spandex or what, but please." Pinkie looked confused, before reaching behind her back and pulling out the clothes she had arrived in. At this point, Naruto stopped questioning it. If Twilight and Rarity could use magic...if Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy could fly...why couldn't Pinkie Pie defy the laws of reality here too. "So Gaara, you gonna come with us?" he asked as a way to change the subject. The Kazekage was silent for a moment before replying.
"Yes," he replied simply in his monotone. Celestia smiled at how delighted her sister looked at the declaration.
"You can stay at the palace with us," the Princess of the Sun announced. "Having one of you in Canterlot and one in Ponyville will better allow Luna and I to learn more about the Nations and your politics." Gaara nodded, seeing the reason behind both the lie and the telling of the lie. She lied so Naruto wouldn't become aware that he was being shipped off to protect him. But the lie itself was actually a very sound idea. Suna/Konoha and Equestria were allies now, and the sharing of information was part of the treaty.
"Can we get going already?" asked Naruto, rubbing his temples. Celestia had to stifle a laugh at the boy, who hadn't quite gotten used to the antics of her student and her friends.
"Twilight, if you would..." she said, and Twilight nodded, clasping her hands together, calling upon her magic to summon the portal home. A mist condensed in the air, beginning to swirl into the vortex between the Nations and Equestria. The princesses were the first to pass through, followed by Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Applejack and Spike were next, followed by Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Naruto and Konohamaru went through, before finally Twilight leapt through, closing the door behind her.
"Ah, Horn...Hooves...bags of clothes...all is right with the world," sighed Rarity, fixing her mane just a bit. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and both Princesses gave their wings a few flaps, apparently agreeing with the unicorn's sentiment. Applejack yawned slightly, before beginning to walk away.
"Well, ah had a mighty good time today, but ah think it's time fer me tah hit the hay," she said, tipping her hat to the Princesses, who nodded.
"I should go home as well," said Rarity. "I need to get these clothes home. I have an idea for a brand new line of clothing."
"How you holding up, Gaara?" asked Naruto, now looking over the newly transformed Unicorn. The Kaekage had a tan coat to match the color of his sand, and a red messy mane and tail, the kanji for 'Wind' on his flank, his status as Kazekage apparently recognized as his Cutie Mark. Beneath his mop of a mane, a horn sprung up, displacing the hair enough so that the 'love' tattoo adorning his forehead. Though he couldn't see it, a blush was quick to adorn the face of Princess Luna as she and her sister examined the new unicorn.
"It's going to be an adjustment, but I'll manage," he replied.
"Perhaps we should leave for the palace, sister," Luna suggested. "Allow Gaara the chance to settle in." Celestia smiled and nodded, getting in her chariot.
"I'll be waiting for your next report, Twilight," she said, as her chariot took off, Twilight waving.
"Bye Princess!" she shouted.
"I hope to see you around, Uzumaki." Gaara announced, joining Luna in her chariot, much to the Moon Princess's enjoyment.
"You know it," Naruto replied, as the two took off after Celestia. Saying goodbye to each other, the rest of the ponies decided to call it a day. By the time they got back to the Library, Spike was ready to sleep, plopping down in his basket. Konohamaru followed suit by sliding into his sleeping bag. But Twilight wasn't ready to sleep just yet. She pulled out her scrolls and began reading. She was determined to learn shadow clones, and here was her start. Naruto had no idea what he was getting into making Twilight Sparkle his unofficial student.