Disclaimer: The Kross Kings do not own Naruto or My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Why We Fall

3: Scootaloo

A few days had passed since Pinkie Pie had thrown Naruto and Applejack a welcoming party. The mare was embarrassed and very apologetic by the time Applejack managed to get Big Mac to admit he played a small prank on his sister and the hoof-hand. She'd thrown a 'Great Joke, Sorry Applejack!' party the night it was all cleared up. And, surprisingly, Big Mac had fallen victim to many mysterious pranks. The latest was by far the most outlandish.

"Pinkie Pie, I'm all for your pranks, but isn't that a bit much?" Rainbow Dash asked, pointing at the giant inflated picture of Big Mac's flank that hung from the clock tower. Around the stallion's cutie mark were three words "Big Red Ass" and a tag on the side said, "Won't some pretty pony come kiss it better?"

The pink-coated mare was holding her sides, dying of laughter. Likewise, Applejack took great pleasure in seeing her brother becoming the fool. Rarity was a bit annoyed, since it was a crude prank with a foul word included, but admitted it was a necessity for the horrid prank the red stallion pulled. The party pony calmed herself down and wiped a tear out of her eye.

"B-But it's not me! Even though some of them were really, really good!" Pinkie Pie nodded, she looked at the picture and snickered again. She cleared her throat when Rarity gave her a disdainful look. "I-I mean, not that one, of course it wasn't me, but the rest I wish I'd done. They were all so spontaneous! And everyone, even Big Mac, laughed."

"But, you're prank master supreme," Applejack said. "Ain't ya?"

Pinkie Pie paused and her eyes widened. She got to her hoofs in a second, a determined frown on her face. "I must defend my title, to the Pinkie Cave!"

Her hair turned into a drill and she disappeared underground, a cackle echoing behind her.

"...That's still weird." Rainbow Dash claimed.

"Eyup."

"It's not normal. At all."

The three mares looked up as the two stallions joined them in the square. Big Mac stared at the picture and then looked at Naruto, who was admiring the work with a tilted head.

"...Yer despicable."

"Wha-Mac, that hurts." The orange-coated stallion put a hoof on his chest and pouted at the red male. "To accuse me of doing something so-so-so slanderous to you whose let me into your home, work your farm and eat your food! I would never-!"

"Ah found the negatives, Root."

"...Okay, yeah, it was me." Naruto admitted with a grin. Big Mac glowered while Naruto looked at his flank. "Honestly, though, I don't think I needed to blow it up. That's a lot of canvas to work with as is."

"Ya did what?" Applejack asked, both she and Rarity giving the stallion looks of disbelief. Rarity even looked a tad crestfallen at the news.

"I totally pranked him, Applejack." Naruto beamed and placed his hoof on his chest once more. "It's always been a hobby of mine."

"Nice one, bro." Rainbow Dash said with an offered hoof. Naruto returned the gesture and then looked back at his masterpiece that was slowly but surely being taken down by a few pegasi. A little smile made its way on her face. "You know, Pinkie's going to challenge you now, right?"

"I'd like to see her try! I am the Prank King! I've not been dethroned ever since I was crowned back when I was but a colt!" The stallion said with great pride. He shrugged. "Besides, it's not like she can do anything that'll really ruffle me. We met, like, two days ago."

"Repress," Rarity said. Naruto went stock still.

"Repress."

"I knew Pinkie was the cause of it." The white unicorn giggled as the stallion zoned out for a moment. So, he was a bit uncouth and childish, but no pony was perfect.

Naruto shook himself out of the daze and gave Rarity a small frown, almost a pout. "That's not funny."

"Ah thought it was funny." Big Mac's baritone voice rumbled.

"No one asked you, Mac." Naruto grumbled. He looked back at the clocktower as the clock's face was revealed and blinked. "Huh, look at the time. Isn't it time for Applebloom to head home?"

"...Aw, shoot. Ah knew Ah was forgettin' something." Applejack swore. She looked over at the stand and then at Big Mac, who had been noticed by the mayor.

"Mister Apple!"

"...Root…" Macintosh looked to the hired-hoof, only to find an orange balloon floating in his place, a note taped to the string. Rainbow Dash grabbed it and cleared her throat.

"'No worries, I'll get her.'" She looked at the Apple siblings and smiled. "Well, aren't you happy I sent him your way, now?"

"...No." Big Mac grumbled and Applejack deadpanned, there was a light coloring to the latter's cheeks. She'd had found it slightly difficult to adjust to another stallion, who wasn't her kin, living in her house and using her family's bath. She always, always walked in at the wrong time. Applejack wanted to blame it all on Granny Smith, who nine times out of ten told her that the bathroom was free, but she was an honest mare and knew that at least one of those ten times it was her own fault for being too accustomed to just the four Apples on the farm.

"Well, since you two seem to be busy, I need to get back to the Boutique. I'm almost finished with my last project of the week and then I can finally fix that dreadful mistake I made," Rarity said with a wave of her hoof. "Ciao!"

"And I've got some napping-er, I mean, cloud cleaning to catch up on. Later, AJ. See ya around, Bra." Rainbow Dash snickered to herself before she flew off.

Naruto hummed as he made his way to the schoolhouse for the colts and fillies that lived in Ponyville. It was the first time he went there, but after asking for some directions from that kind Doctor Hooves, he was on his merry way. Naruto trotted up the road to the schoolhouse with a small smile on his face.

The bell atop the school rang, the foals ran out from the tort-education facility. As parents or family greeted their respective foals, Naruto felt his leg tackled by a yellow missile. He took a step back to recover his balance, but chuckled when he looked down and saw two excited hazel eyes looking up at him.

"Hi, Mister Naruto!" Applebloom greeted him with a smile. "Whatcha doin' here?"

"Hello Applebloom." Naruto smiled back down at the filly while she let go of his leg. "Applejack had to work and Mac got himself in trouble with Mayor Mare."

"Ah always knew the lawn get him someday." Applebloom sighed and shook her head.

"I think you mean 'law'," Naruto said with an amused chuckle.

"Yeah, that!"

"Applebloom, who are you talking to...?" A pretty dark pink Earth pony trailed off when Naruto and Applebloom looked at her.

"Oh! Miss Cheerilee!" Applebloom smiled widely. She trotted up to her teacher with a smile and pointed at the whiskered stallion. "This is Mister Naruto, he's helping us out at Sweet Apple Acres til Rarity lets him leave...though sis says that she probably never will."

"It's once she finishes fixing my bag." Naruto told the filly. He looked up and gave a small smile to the schoolteacher. "Nice to meet you, Miss. Like the little bundle told you, I'm Naruto."

"I, yes, well, it's always nice to see a new face here in Ponyville." The teacher smiled kindly at him. "Thank you for picking up Applebloom. Send my best to the Apples."

"Will do." Naruto nodded. The teacher walked off and he poked Applebloom in her side. "C'mon, let's head home."

"Can Ah ride on your back?" Applebloom asked.

"What, do you want me to go fast again?" Naruto asked with a grin. He'd raced across the fields with the youngest Apple on his back. She thought it was the most thrilling thing in her life.

"Yeah!" The excitable filly jumped up and down.

"Well, if you really want to, I guess we can."

"Yay!" Applebloom cheered as Naruto knelt down to let her jump on his back. Once the yellow filly was situated, Naruto rose to his full height and turned around.

Just before he was about to start his gallop, he paused. Seated off at the side, just under a shaded tree, was a little filly. She was gamboge-coated, fuchsia-maned pegasus, and her wings looked a bit smaller than average. Her head was hung and the look on her face was very familiar.

It was a look that he'd seen plenty of times on his own face when he was a colt.

A look of loneliness.

Naruto looked over his shoulder at Applebloom. "One second, okay? Gotta talk to your teacher."

"Ya ain't gonna ask about my grades, are ya?" The filly asked.

"No," Naruto said slowly. He narrowed his eyes. "...Should I?"

"No!" Applebloom squeaked. "Er, Ah mean, there ain't no reason t' worry about em."

"Well, when you put it that way you have a point. I guess I won't." Applebloom sighed out in relief. His next words, and the small smile he had on his face, made the little filly gulp. "This time."

Applebloom laughed nervously and let out a sigh once the stallion pulled his attention off of her. She'd dodged a flying mud pie just now.

Naruto trotted over to Cheerilee with a slightly relieved, slightly paranoid Applebloom in tow. The schoolteacher heard the clop of his hooves and turned towards him, slightly surprised.

"Oh! Mr. Naruto," she said with a smile. Her eyes wandered to the filly on his back. "Did Applebloom forget something?"

"Ah ain't that forgetful, Miss Cheerilee!" Applebloom protested with a pout.

"Oh really?" A dubious brow rose on the mare's face. "Then do you mind telling me what happened to your homework for today?"

"...Ah'll just be quiet." Applebloom mumbled while Cheerilee smiled in amusement.

Naruto missed their byplay, too busy with reliving some unpleasant memories at seeing the distraught filly. He looked at the schoolteacher and asked, "Is everything okay with that pegasus filly?"

"You mean Scootaloo?" Cheerilee asked as she followed his line of sight. She let out a breath and a small frown replaced the smile that was on her face. "Her foal-sitter hasn't shown up at all. Once everyone's gone, I'm going to take her home. Nothing to worry about."

"This doesn't sound like anything new." Naruto frowned, which made Cheerilee grimace.

"Well, I can't say this is the first time it's happened."

I was afraid you'd say that. "...I could take her home," Naruto said. The teacher and the filly on his back gave him surprised looks. "It'll save you some time, and really, I've got nothing better to do."

Cheerilee shook her head. "Oh, I couldn't do that. It's my job as her teacher to do so."

The whiskered stallion couldn't help but think of his own teacher back in school. A smile graced his face. "Heh, it's no trouble. Even teachers need a break every once in awhile."

Cheerilee bit her bottom lip. "I don't know."

Nudging her shoulder with his, he said, "C'mon, she and Applebloom can hang out while I watch them."

"Well, frienship is magic." Cheerilee mumbled to herself. She finally nodded after a moment of thought. "Let me just get her address for you so you can leave her parents a note."

"Much obliged." Naruto nodded gratefully. He got a small jab in the shoulder and looked back at the filly using him as a ride.

"What?" He asked.

"This ain't one of Granny Smith's dramas, Romeo." Applebloom whispered with a small smile on her face.

"...How do you even know who-?" Naruto asked her, but shook his head. "Forget I asked. I don't want to know."

"And here it is." Cheerilee said, the address written down on a piece of paper. "Let's go talk to Scootaloo."

The trio made their way over to the pegasus, who looked up at their arrival, confused.

"Hello, Scootaloo." The teacher said with a big smile.

"Hi, Miss Cheerilee," the filly, Scootaloo, said softly. With a hoof gestured towards Naruto, Cheerilee continued.

"Scootaloo, this is Mr. Naruto," she said. The teacher smiled as her eyes drifted to the passenger on the stallion's back. "And you know Applebloom from class, of course."

"Hi Scootaloo!" Applebloom waved from Naruto's back.

"Hi Applebloom." Scootaloo waved back shyly and looked at the big orange stallion curiously. "I've never seen you before."

The stallion chuckled and gave her a small smile. "Yes, I've been getting that a lot lately."

"Mr. Naruto works on Sweet Apple Acres with the rest of Applebloom's family. He's been kind enough to offer to take you along with him and Applebloom. That sounds fun, right?" Cheerilee asked. The filly blinked and slowly nodded.

"I guess so." The filly muttered.

"C'mon, we'll get some ice cream on the way." Naruto promised. His words brought a small smile to Scootaloo's face and made Applebloom cheer.

"Yes! And before dinner, too!"

"Just don't tell Applejack or Mac," Naruto said to the filly on his back.

"Please, like ah would." Applebloom scoffed. She'd sooner tell them about her poor grades than tell them she got treated to ice cream before dinner.

"Can we get triple chocolate fudge?" Scootaloo asked quietly. Naruto glanced down at her and scoffed. Her eyes fell, but then shot back up when he spoke.

"Please, we're getting quadruple chocolate fudge dipped in hot chocolate syrup."

"...Mister, you might be new in town, but we speak the same language." Scootaloo smiled at the grinning stallion.

"I figured that might be the case." Naruto chuckled.

"Well, it sounds like you three are going to have a lot of fun!" Cheerilee tittered. She smiled at Scootaloo. "I hope you have a nice evening, Scootaloo."

"Thanks, Miss Cheerilee," Scootaloo said with a small smile. She looked back up at the orange stallion when he leaned down once more.

"Hop on," he said. "There's no time to waste, we have ice cream to eat!"

"Aw, yeah!" Scootaloo cheered as she hopped onto the whiskered stallion's back and sat down behind Applebloom. The stallion got back to his feet and reared back on his hind legs with a whinny. The fillies laughed, it felt like they were in one of the early morning's oldie shows.

"Hi-ho, Mister Naruto, away!" Applebloom cheered before they shot off down the hill with the stallion's thundering gallop.

Cheerilee waited until they were far out of sight and then she fanned her face with her hoof. Celestia save her, that stallion was very good with foals and he wasn't too bad on the eyes, either. With those two features going for him, it was no wonder that he was the current buzz of the town's gossip.

Naruto watched Applebloom and Scootaloo roll across the floor of the Apples' living room, playfully wrestling with each other, from where he was seated on the couch beside the amused Granny Smith. After being treated to two scoops of ice-cream each, and getting a healthy third scoop for himself, the two fillies became filled to the brim with energy and hadn't stopped for a break in hours. During their play, Naruto watched Scootaloo come out of her funk little by little and each laugh made him smile.

"AJ's gon' tan yer hide, sonny." Granny Smith chuckled and lifted a hoof before Applebloom rolled into her leg. The yellow filly shook off her daze and then charged at the pegasus with a war cry.

"How I was supposed to know foals react like this to sugar?" Naruto said, a completely innocent look in his eyes. It was ruined by the smile that threatened to spread across his face. "I still have much to learn."

"Oh, yer good, but Applejack can sniff out a lie like a worm can avoid a rotten apple in an orchard." The wise pony warned. The stallion shrugged.

"I like to live dangerously," Naruto said with a wave of his hoof. He stuck his tail out and curled it to catch the thrown pegasus filly that nearly shot through the window. Blue eyes glanced at the gamboge filly. "I don't know what the rules are at your house, but here, we have hooves on the ground during roughhousing."

"Sorry, bro!" The sugar-powered filly apologized before she pushed off of Naruto's tail and leapt at Applebloom. "Beware the Super Power Peg!"

Naruto shook his head in bemusement. Foals were always a handful, hyperactive or not. He almost got up when the two rolled into the kitchen and a large crash followed.

He then laughed when two simultaneous voices called out: "We're okay!"

"Applebloom, y'all better keep yer playtime out of mah kitchen!" Granny Smith warned her youngest granddaughter. The two fillies raced out of the kitchen like their flanks had caught fire and then stood across from each other.

"That game's getting boring. What should we do now?" Applebloom asked.

"Uhh...Oh! Hide-n-Seek?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Naw, we played that when we got home." The two began to pace back and forth. Naruto watched them in disbelief when they settled on tag. That was pretty much what they were doing before they stopped.

"Ah love foals, they're always so ready to be active," Granny Smith said with a smile. She slowly got up and made her way to the kitchen. "Soup'll be on in a few, Naruto."

"I'll let the fillies know -" Crash. "...and make sure they didn't break anything," Naruto said thoughtfully ask the two fillies ran out from the room they had rushed into moments before.

"What in tarnation is goin' on?! Why are these fillies bouncin' 'round like they're possessed!" Applejack asked as she entered with a flustered Big Mac and a pair of pegasi. One was a fuchsia maned stallion with green eyes and a mustard-yellow coat, and the other was a white-maned mare with a light red coat.

"Mom! Dad!" Scootaloo said as she ran up to the pegasi, now known to be her parents. Both winged ponies greeted her with a smile and a hug.

"Hello sweetie. We saw the note at home and came by to pick you up," Her mother said as she nuzzled her filly's cheek.

"Aww, do I have to go?" The little pegasus whined, her head slouched. "Can't I stay a little longer…?"

"Sorry, Scoots, it's almost dinner time. And it's a school day tomorrow." Her father told her. He looked away from the frowning filly to smile at Naruto, who'd risen from his seat when the door opened. "Thank you for picking her up, sir. I'm Scooter and this is my wife, Rosie-lou."

"Just Naruto, please. And it's no problem. I was just doing what any neighborly pony would've done," Naruto said with a wave of his hoof. He put his hoof down and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "But you might want to have a word with your sitter."

"Oh, we will, trust me." Scooter frowned. He was obviously not pleased with the sitter blowing them off.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Rosie-lou said with a brilliant smile before she looked at her downtrodden daughter. "Say goodbye to your friend and Mr. Naruto, Scootaloo."

"Bye Applebloom. Bye Bro." Scootaloo sadly bid them farewell as she followed her parents towards the gate of the farm.

"See ya at school tomorrow!" Applebloom waved happily from the doorstep before she sped back into the house.

"Good-bye, Scootaloo." Naruto smiled gently before he closed the door and turned around. Just in time to have two green eyes glower at him.

"So, d'ya mind explainin' why this place looks like it was hit by a twister?" Applejack asked the hired-hoof. Naruto blinked and then shrugged.

"Foals and sugar don't mix well, who knew?"

Big Mac chuckled, but a pointed look from his sister made him shut his mouth. Didn't do anything to the small smile that was on his face though. Applejack rubbed her face and groaned.

"Well, Ah hope yer happy," she said. "She's gunna be up all night now, she's wound up more than a toy at the dollar store."

"Nah, she'll crash after dinner." Naruto brushed off.

"An' if she doesn't?" Applejack countered with narrowed eyes.

"...Oh, look at that, Scootaloo forgot her bag. I'll just go take this to her real quick. Soup should be on soon, later!" Naruto quickly grabbed the pegasus' discarded saddlebag and rushed out the door. Applejack was left speechless and Big Mac let out another chuckle.

"...Did he jus'-?"

"Eeyup."

"...Ah'm gunna tan his hi-" There was a crash from down the hall and the two elder Apple siblings shared a look before the stetson wearing mare galloped towards the bedrooms. "Applebloom, y'all best not be gettin' in my room!"

"Oh, you didn't have to bring that," Rosie-lou said to the stallion that caught up to them and gave her daughter her bag. The gamboge filly had the bag slung over her back.

"I'm sure she's got homework, so I think she might need it." The young stallion and the parents chuckled when Scootaloo whined.

"Aw, Bro, don't tell them that." The filly pouted up at the orange stallion.

"Sorry, Squirt-aloo," Naruto said, ruffling her mane with a hoof. "Welcome to the way of the world."

The filly glowered at him. "That name better not stick!"

"Meh, it's a work in progress." Naruto teased her. "Maybe I'll just call you 'Shrimp'."

"Not cool, Bro." Scootaloo grumbled, but a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. The parents shared a smile at the interaction before Rosie-lou led Scootaloo on. Scooter lingered for a moment and looked at the younger stallion.

"Thank you again for all you've done, Mr. Naruto." The pegasus stallion nodded with a small smile. "Really, you don't know how much it means to us that someone was looking out for Scootaloo."

"Just Naruto, please. And like I said before, it was no problem. Scootaloo's a good foal." Naruto smiled at the father, who returned it. The orange stallion then frowned slightly. "If I may, sir, why did you need a sitter in the first place?"

"Well," Scooter began apologetically. "Raising a filly isn't easy when bills pile up. We both have demanding jobs at the weather plant so we aren't always home. Tonight was one such case. Our usual sitter's been starting this habit of hers for quite a while." Scooter hung his head. "I don't know who to turn to. All of our family is in Cloudsdale and...well, it's complicated."

"I won't pry. I know when secrets should remain secret, especially family issues." Naruto smiled in understanding. He hummed in thought. "If you want, I could watch her. No cost necessary."

"But what about the Apples?" Scooter asked. "We wouldn't want to impose."

"I really don't mind, honest. The Apples are ahead of their usual schedule with the extra hoof so they've been letting me just explore the town...which I did in, like, a day…" He gave his fellow stallion a sheepish smile. "I've been a little bored lately. Something like a filly to watch would make my days a bit faster."

"...If you're really sure-" Scooter started.

"Believe me, I'm sure." Naruto chuckled. He nodded back towards the Apple's house. "Besides, I might've pranked them one too many times today by letting their sister get hopped up on sugar."

"...So you're using us as an excuse to escape?" Scooter asked with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Well, when you put it like that, I sound like a terrible pony."

Scooter just laughed and nodded towards his wife and filly. "C'mon, you can eat with us tonight as thanks."

"Oh, no, I wouldn't want to intrude-"

"Please, I insist."

"...Okay. But if your wife asks, you talked me into it after a long debate."

"Agreed."

"Man, that was a fantastic pasta, Rosie-Lou." Naruto sighed as he sat back and rubbed his full stomach. "I think it's possibly the best meal I've had during my whole stay here in Ponyville."

"Don't say that to Granny Smith, she might become heartbroken." Rosie-lou said as she gathered up the dishes. Naruto picked his plate up with his tail, a feat that impressed the three pegasi, and carried it to the kitchen. "Just place that on the counter, I'll get it."

"If you say so." Naruto shrugged before he returned to the table and sat down with Scooter and Scootaloo. He looked at the stallion of the house. "Would you like to broach the subject or should I?"

"Broach the wha?" Scootaloo asked quizzically. Her father and their guest chuckled.

"He means to ask if I wanted to bring up a topic," Scooter informed his filly with a smile. A hoof gently poked the small pegasus in the head. "Something you would understand if you stopped reading all of those comic books."

"Whoa, hey, now, don't start ragging on comic books." Naruto warned playfully. He put a hoof on his chest. "I'll have you know that I learned how to be as awesome as I am with those wondrous works of art and literature!"

"...This deal is starting to look worse the more time we spend together." Scooter drawled playfully.

"What deal, dear?" Rosie-lou asked as she looked over at the table.

"Well, while you and Scootaloo were preparing dinner, Naruto and I've been talking," Scooter began. He glanced at the other stallion, who gestured for him to continue. With a nod, Scooter looked at his daughter. "And, while some kinks may need to be worked out, we've come to an agreement. Scootaloo, meet your new foal-sitter."

Scootaloo looked stunned, her eyes wide until she smiled brightly. "That... is... awesome!"

"See? Told you she'd be all over it." Naruto chuckled. He leaned over to the father and stage-whispered. "All I had to do was bribe her with ice cream."

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Scooter chuckled. He looked at his amused wife and arched a brow. She tilted her head in thought and then nodded.

"Foals these days, give them sugar and they'd eat out of your hoof." Rosie-Lou tittered. She set the last dish in the cleaning rack and then joined the others at the table. "So, Miste-Er, Naruto, when do you think you'll need to head back?"

The mother mare's eyes drifted to her chattering daughter, who'd ensnared her father with a story about her day, before they met the whiskered stallion's amused blue.

"Well, that really depends on Applejack and her ability to take a joke." At the mother's confused look, Naruto elaborated. "I sort of left her and Big Mack to deal with the sugar-crazed Applebloom."

"...I'll get a pillow and blanket for you to borrow." Rosie-lou decided with a small laugh as she left the room. Naruto furrowed his brow.

"No, that's not necessary. I couldn-"

"Trust me, son, an Apple doesn't forgive and forget so easily." Scooter said as he put a hoof on Naruto's shoulder. "You'll be staying here a while. For your own sake."

"Sleepover, yay!" Scootaloo cheered with her hooves in the air. She darted around the table and grabbed Naruto's hoof to pull him out of the room, chattering a mile a minute. Scooter shook his head in amusement.

Things were starting to turn around for his little filly.

E4E: So, Scoots has got some background from the last fic, we made up her parents too.

Bonesboy15: ...Well, technically we didn't make them up, we just gave them names and features. They already exist, just not in a physical form. That's just the philosophical aspect of it all...or is that the theoretical physics?

E4E: Oh mighty Alicorn Faust, please do not smite us...with your followers.

Bonesboy15: We have cookies...of defense! Fear the cookie ninjas, fear them!

Before we may be destroyed, help us out.

Review!