//------------------------------// // Reviewing the Past for the Future // Story: Vessel of Harmony // by Ranoa- Walker of Worlds //------------------------------// Twilight's head and horn hurt as her eyes opened. She was still on the hospital floor. Apparently no one had come to wake her after she fell asleep. She stood up and turned her attention to the sleeping boy. She didn't know if those dreams were visions of the future but they did wake something inside her. As Twilight looked down at Naruto in his hospital bed this feeling swelled in her heart. 'Is this what a mother feels like?' She asked herself. This feeling of wanting to give the entire world to the child before her; to protect him from any harm and danger; to make his life the best that she could; to help him achieve his dreams. With a gentle hoof she brushed a few stray hairs away from his face and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry; I will look after you from now on." She said soothingly. It was at that moment Naruto stirred from his sleep. His eyes opened to sight of the lavender hovering over him. "It's… It's you." Twilight was slightly startled at his awakening but her surprise was replace with a genuine smile, "Hi there, my name is Twilight Sparkle." She introduced herself helping the boy to sit up in the bed so he could be a bit more comfortable. "Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." "Well Naruto, how do you feel today?" The boy rubbed his ribs, "A little sore but I think I will be ok." Then he realized something, "My horse! Where is it?" He asked in a panic looking around. Twilight chuckled and walked over to a satchel that rested on one of the chairs, "You mean this?" Twilight asked levitating the surprisingly similar replica of her from the bag. Naruto let out a sigh of relief when he saw his prized possession, then he did a double take, "Wait, how is it floating?" "Magic Naruto," Twilight explained as she brought the toy closer to Naruto, "Where I come from some ponies are capable of magic. With the right amount of study and practice one would be able to do just about anything. For example," The light around Twilight's horn grew brighter as did the aura around the toy pony. Naruto watched in awe as the years of dirt and ware vanished from sight. In a matter of moments the toy alicorn was restored to its original glory. "That was an application of restorative magic. Makes repairing broken vases a snap." Naruto's eyes were wide, amazed at what had just happened. "That was so cool!" "Glad you think so. Of course there are much larger spells and unique abilities. My mentor is able to move the sun and her sister is able to move our moon." This statement only made the boy more excited. "That is so awesome! I wish I could do stuff like that." "Actually Naruto, you can." Twilight stated. This statement only confused the blond boy. "Huh?" "Yesterday Naruto I saw you using a great amount of magic. Magic that is just like mine. It will take some time but if you want I can teach you how to use it." "You mean you want to teach me?" The little boy asked curiously. "Of course, I haven't seen anyone with as much potential as you. I could see you becoming as great as Starswirl the Bearded; and he is known as one of the greatest users of magic in the history of Equestria. That's my home." Twilight explained. "In other words Naruto you could learn to be as strong as me." A new but familiar voice said from the door. Both occupants looked at the entry and saw the kind face of the Hokage. "Gramps!" Naruto cried excitedly. The old ninja chuckled as he came to take a seat on the other side of the bed from where Twilight stood. "So, Princess Twilight, are you serious about taking Naruto as a student?" Hiruzen asked the pony. "Of course I am. I would be honored to teach him." To this Hiruzen nodded. "And you Naruto? I know that this is all very sudden but you are being offered something that will help you become strong." Naruto thought for a minute before looking to the old man, "Can I still be a ninja like you Gramps?" "We will just need to check to see if your magic will permit you to use chakra still; but I see no reason why you can't be a ninja." Twilight wasn't sure what this world's ninja were like but if it was a dream of her potential student she would try not to quell it. "Princess Twilight, may I have a word with you in private?" "Sure," Twilight responded. "Try and get some rest Naruto, we'll be back in a bit." The Hokage told Naruto who dutifully slinked back under the bedsheets. The two grownups proceeded to leave the room and into a private waiting room. "Princess Twilight, you must understand that there are circumstances around Naruto's birth that make him an important figure to the village's future. This new power of his and your desire to teach him makes things more complicated." "How so?" Twilight asked. "For starters, you are an unknown foreign power. Well, your home world is. If Naruto were any other child then certain members of the village council would not be opposed to you teaching him." "What about Naruto sets him apart from every other foal?" Twilight asked a little agitated. She always hated the political plays made by the Canterlot ponies. It was bad enough when she was Celestia's personal student but with her ascension to the title of princess members of the noble class would seek her favor for a bill they were trying to get Celestia to pass. That was why she liked to spend more time in Ponyville than up in Canterlot. Now there were political hoops to jump through here as well. To be honost she realized that she should have expected this. Hiruzen looked conflicted until he nodded to himself, "Princess, what I am about to tell you are counted among the village's highest secrets. I tell you these things in good faith between Equestria and the Hidden Leaf Village as potential allies; and unless I say otherwise not a word of this is to be repeated to anyone, not even Naruto." Twilight indicated that she understood before he continued, "Naruto's parentage, if it were made known, could make him a target to the other Hidden Villages. His father was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Minato made many enemies who would not hesitate to attack Naruto if his existence was known. To hide him he uses his mother's maiden name of Uzumaki." "What happened to his parents sir?" Hiruzen was dreading this topic. "Six years ago a demon attack the village; a giant nine-tailed fox which we call the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Minato fought against the demon, but a being such as the Kyuubi could not be killed by conventional means. So, Minato preformed a sealing technique that bound the demon in the body of a newborn child." Not missing a beat Twilight realized, "Naruto." "Yes. Naruto's parents died stopping the demon. They wished Naruto to be seen as a hero to the village, but that has not always been the case. I have done what I can to ensure that Naruto be able to live life the best I can, but those who know the truth only see him as the demon. The unfinished work of Minato that they wish to see ended." The newfound maternal instincts that Twilight was feeling suddenly kicked into overdrive. She no longer wanted to just teach Naruto. No, she wanted to get him back to Equestria and raise him there. Never to bring him back to the place that wanted to see him dead. In her anger she must have triggered her magic cause when her temper flared a nearby vase shattered. Seeing the sudden protectiveness of the powerful being before him Hiruzen attempted to placate her, "I know Princess, and I do not tolerate such behavior from my villagers. That is why I wish to see Naruto end up with someone who will treat him like any child deserves." "You bet I will. I will take him as my own son and raise him to the best of my own ability." "Good. I was hoping you would say that." At this Hiruzen presented the paper that the clerk had given him earlier, "This is an excerpt from a law that was established when this village was first formed. The law ensured that any clan that was established here was given full rights and protections; including the right to proper guardianship. The Village council is unfortunately biased against Naruto and has made it so that none of the civilian population will adopt him. As for the already established shinobi families, any move on their part to take the boy as one of their own would be seen as an act of aggression." "How would…" "Believe it or not this is not the first case of a demon like the Kyuubi being sealed in a human host. There are eight other demon spirits out there, collectively called the Biju. Hidden Villages seal them within human hosts so that the host can draw upon the chakra, the power, of their tenant. These humans are then called Jinchuriki. So to answer your question, any Shinobi that is seen trying to adopt him would be seen as trying to secure the power of the Fox for their own purpose. "However, now that he has shown a power unique to him and hopefully any future posterity he falls under the protection act; thus allowing him to have someone, or perhaps somepony, to look after him as long as Naruto retains a degree of fealty to the Village." "You mean that I can adopt him?" "You can as long as he promises to become a ninja. I would also like to open up a relationship between the Land of Fire and Equestria, to help appease the more narrow minds of the council." Twilight only had to think for a minute, "I think that once I establish that I have a method home I can find a way to bring somepony who can make those kinds of agreements on behalf of Equestria. Until then, I think that we can consider each other friends." The Hokage and the Princess reached out and shook on the agreement, "Why don't you go tell Naruto the good news and I will work on drawing all the needed paperwork together?" 'For once this will be a batch of paper work that I will do gladly.' Twilight beamed. A part of her was unsure where all this pent up motherly love was coming from but she was getting a new student and a son so she took it all in stride. "I will go tell him the good news."