After I left Vinyls house, it was still dark out with the sparse lampost lighting the cobblestone streets. I blew a burst of fire over my claws, rubbing them together as a cold as fuck breeze forced me to fold my wings tight like a blanket around my shoulders and chest.

Deciding not to sleep on the streets, I meandered around town untill I found a big enough oak with most of it's leaves still green to sleep in. Staring up at the canopy, I wonder how I'd actually sleep up there. "Then again, I have slept in worse places before.... At least I can stare up at the night sky for once....." I shrugged before jumping to reach a low branch, slowly climbing up the trunk of the grand oak testing the strength of each foothold before continuing.

Less than five minutes later I find a nook big enough to stretch out on with a small gap in the leaves showing the brilliant lights of the night sky with the moon near the end of it's path. I chuckled as a tune came to mind, sleep and exhaustion pulling on me.

"Old McDonald had a deformed farm......with a hith hith here.....and a turrets syndrome chicken......"

I awoke to an all to familiar sensation of my head pounding as sounds around me seemed amplified. Rolling into my side and trying to hide away from the source, I let out a yelp as I feel myself falling.

Again.

Letting out a groan mixed with a yawn, I slowly get up and rub my snout freeing my sinuses as my wings come to rest at a half open position, similar in feeling like having your hands in a hoodies pocket. I open my eyes to see the midday sun, a lot of ponies staring at me. A lot of mares staring at me, with hungry, wanting kind of stares. Many red flags pop up as I mentally check the situation I'm in; for one, I'm shirtless and missing my sunglasses. Two, I have dew covering my scales that is reflecting the sunlight in what I'm certain is the classic 'Sexy Romance pose', and lastly and most alarmingly is the not-so-subtle scent of Heat....... After 'Che, the smell stuck in my mind as a precaution.

Playing the cards I'd been dealt, I gave a soft smile- making sure to not show my sharper teeth- and approached the closest mare. "Excuse me Ma'am, but I've seem to lost my shirt," I gave my chest and arms a quick flex, "and spent much of the night getting rather lost. Where may I find a clothing store and something to eat?" The mare, an earth pony with chestnut hair and a dull red coat, just stammers before her face turns many shades lighter and she faints. I take a step back in shock as a very feminine unicorn stallion cat calls, pulling my attention to him.

"Sweetheart, you'll want Rarity for your missing shirt, although you are quite fine without it..... Mhm.... Oh, and Sugarcube Corner for the snack. Although, if you want a meal, give me a call Hun...." He blew a kiss before walking away, a skip in his step.

Turning back to the mares that still were 'watching' me, I wordlessly asked for directions my mind stuck on pause. Following their instructions I decided to go to Raritys first as it was farther from the tree but would put me closer to food. And to hopefully get my mind back in order.

Thankfully nothing else happened as I arrived at the most ironic building. Carousel Boutique, shop and home to Rarity. Was built like a freaking merry go-round. With plaster ponies that had poles through them..... I shook my head before opening the door, a chime overhead signaling my entry.

A song song voice followed the bell from the room behind a pair of Velvet curtains. "Welcome the Carousel Boutique! Where everything is chiqe and magnif......" It paused as the unicorn mare turned her eyes to the dragon in her anteroom. Fear overriding decorum, she let out a shriek before falling onto her fainting couch, foreleg held over her face.
Running after her, a unicorn filly busrt into the room to find her sister passed out on a couch and a nervous looking Dragon staring between her and Rarity.

With a sigh at the situation, Sweetie Bell pulls out a bucket of mop water from the broom closet before tossing its contents at the dramatic mare. Said mare shrieks again and begins to stammer and stutter while glaring at the younger sibling before stomping up the stairs to undo the travesty that was her makeup and mane.

"Sorry about my over dramatic sister, Mister! Normally she's more, well less dramatic but she's been muttering about finding 'her sparkling prince to sweep her away'...... Anyways, I'm Sweetie Bell! What's your name?!" She excitedly asked.

"It's Ripper..... " He responded before stumbling forward as the front door was slammed open by a orange and red blue, stopping in front of the filly.

"Heya Sweetie Bell!"
"What's up Sweetie Bell!" Two distinct voices spoke at the same time, the first having a noticable drawl.

"Well, besides Rarity being extra dramatic about him entering the shop? Nothing much!" She smiled as the other two turned to notice the six foot tall dragon standing over them. Ripper gave a small wave, expecting to run if they began to show fear, was instead given a look over by both the yellow earth pony with red mane holding a large bowl and a orange pegasus with a purple mane.

"Hey, a dragon that's not Spike....." The orange filly remarked.

"Of course it ain't Spike, Scootaloo! This guys too tall.... And his snouts shaped dif'rent..." The earth pony countered.

"Hey! It's not nice to make fun of somepony because they look different Applebloom!" Sweetie chided her friend.

Ripper harump'd as it seemed everyone who he met would mislabel him as a dragon, and he'd be hard pressed to fix it. His wings twitched in agitation as hunger pushed his patience thinner, the movement causing Scootaloo to stare at them in a mix of wonder and jealously at his rather large wingspan compared to her miniscule own wings. After a minute, Ripper turned his attention from hearing a blow dryer upstairs to the pegasus filly.

"It's rude to stare at others you know...." He dryly commented, curious about her interest in him.

"Sorry..... It's just that you have such huge wings! And I thought Rainbow Dashs were cool!" She exclaimed before catching herself and coughing into her hoof. "I mean, Dash is still the fastest and most coolest pony.... But you don't seem lame either....."

Ripper rolled his eyes, focusing on the three as a group. "Well, I believe proper introductions are in order. I am Ripper Shadowclaw. And who might you all be?" He asked, leaning against the door frame as Sweetie Bell took the lead.
"I'm Sweetie Bell, and this is Scootaloo and Applebloom! " She pointed her hoof at each if her friends. "And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!!!" All three shouted as they gave a three way high five, their volume causing Ripper to rub his ear.

"I'll take a guess and say that is some kind of club?" Ripper asked, sitting down on the floor with his back against the couch, as it seemed Rarity would be taking forever to even come back down stairs.

Applebloom smiled, "Well, yea! Although it's only tha three of us in it. But we spend our free time together trying different stuff to get our cutie marks, and we always have fun..... Or at least Ah do.!" She lightly blushed, her bow wiggling atop her head.

"Yea, untill we get covered in tree sap... . That stuff takes days to get out of my fur and mane!" Sweetie Bell gave a small grimace as the other two chuckled.

Ripper smiled and crossed his legs, getting comfortable. "Then I'd say you three definitely will get your marks. It may not be this week, but it will happen. Took me a while to figure out what I'm good at! And I am still learning."

Scootaloo perked up, her wings buzzing in excitement. "Say, what are you good at? I mean you don't have a Cutie Mark, but I think Twilight told us Dragons don't get one ....."

Ripper shrugged, "As far as I know i don't get a mark..... But I'm good at Drawing, can play the guitar, I'm pretty good with a Bow and arrow! I'd say I have some skills in flying..... Oh, and recently I was a Blacksmiths apprentice! But something came up and I left........" He trailed off, his mind focusing on the memory of Rikoche being choked by his claws, ready to eat her.

The three fillies looked to each other before nodding, group hugging the Dragon as one, causing Ripper to pop out if the depressive mood and smile.

"Thanks Girls, Hey, want to here a funny story to make up for me making everything sad?" He asked, receiving a collective of yes'. "Okay! This one's about a brick Mason that had to write a note for work.......

Dear Sir, I write this note to you to tell you of me plight
and at the time of writing, I am not a pretty sight;
me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray
and I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.....

"And that was why he couldn't go to work." I finished the story, having tapped on my legs to a beat as I sang the classic Irish folk song. Three sets of laughter met my ears as I picked up on an audible snort from he hallway. "So I guess that's something else I'm good at, story telling! And I'm happy to have all four of ya as my first audience" I smirk as I hear a soft gasp from Rarity as Applebloom tilted her head confused.

"But there's only me, Scoots and Sweetie Bell!" She spoke, pointing a hoof at each of them.

"That's because our last guest had stayed hidden in the hall shortly after I started the story." I explained as Rarity stepped into the anteroom, a questioning look on her face.

"Forgive me for eavesdropping, I did not want to interrupt your tale....." She elegantly spoke, as her makeup and mane were rescued from it's drowning and she felt whole again. "But I must ask, how did you notice? I was certain I came downstairs quietly."

I raised my eyebrow (or whatever it is now) and stood up, stretching my stiff legs and wings. "Miss, I'm a dragon..... My senses are much more acute than yours." I gave a friendly smirk, tapping my snout with a claw. "And I smelled your perfume once you opened the door."

She seemed to blush before shaking her head, and motioning to the CMC. "Anyways, I believe Mister Ripper came here for some outfit and not to foal sit you three. But thank you for keeping my guest entertained while I was busy....." Her last words were heavy with intent as she gave Sweetie Bell a hard look, to whick the unicorn filly chuckled and gave her sister a cute smile and batted her eyes.

Scootaloo took the hint and hopped up, stretching her legs similar to a cat. "Yea! That was actually a not lame story! I don't even know if Dash can tell one like that....." She mused, opening the door with her friends in tow.

"Yea! Maybe ya can tell one my mah sister, she's been kinda grumpy these last few days with Granny not feelin too good and Big Mac got a twinge in his back...."

I smiled and held my fist out to them. "It was my pleasure! I owe you three big for helping me, so tell ya what. Next time I'm free, I'll spend the day with ya how ever you want to. Deal?" I asked, prepared for the upcoming shout as all three had wide grins shouting "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Dragon friendship finders!"

Me and Rarity chuckled at the sight as they left, the chime above the door ringing. "Now come along Darling, I will need your measurements before I make you anything..." She turned and walked through the velvet curtains, her magic pulling my hand behind her forcing me to stumble forward untill I caught my balance.

"Uh, to be honest, I'm not sure what I actually want. Mostly just something to cover my chest while keeping my arms and wings free..... Oh, and kinda warm too, cold weather doesn't make me too happy...." I rambled as she led me along having me stand on a podium with a full length mirror showing my near black and gold self looking back.

Using gentle nudges of her magic, Rarity had me hold my arms out to the side, her measuring tape quickly moving from limb to torso to neck and around. "Well, considering your size, I'm afraid I don't have anything pre made for a dragon. Most of my customers are ponies with the passing griffon ......" She looked me over, possibly running the numbers in her head before the gave a small smile, her eyes lighting up. "Aha!! How about a modified vest? No sleeves means unrestricted limb movement, and if I use the pegasus varient with the wing holes I can make it work!" She squeed and trotted off to a wall of fabrics, pulling roll after roll off the shelf before stopping with a roll of dark blue that seemed to shift to purple- like the Night sky right after dusk. "Here we are! I believe this is the absolute best color for it, you have a bit of a night sky theme in your coloration, so why not build upon it!"

I sat down watching the seamstress work, the details she put into her work impressing me. I'm no tailor mind you, but even I can see the pride stitched into the material that was quickly becoming a vest. As she was finishing, the thought occurred to me that I left my pay back on the Enterprise- along with all my other stuff. And I really dislike taking handouts if I can advoid it.

"Aaaand Done! One custom vest for you, Free of charge!" Her price tag pulling me from my thoughts.

"What..... I can't take it for free, like you said it's custom made- a special order. I don't have bits on me but I can pay you back....." I offered, standing up as she ignored my bargaining, slipping the vest over my wings and arms and inspecting the fit.

"Oh nonsense! It's the least I can do for you watching the CMC while I was..... Indisposed. By the way, how did you get those three to sit still and pay attention to you?" She asked, satisfied with the vest and taking a step to the side of the mirror giving me a full look of the vest.

"Honestly? Kids just like me so much... I guess I'm entertaining or something. It's not really something I've focused on." I explained moving my wings and arms to get a feel of wearing the vest. Overall? It's great, and my magic color changing pants seemed to agree -having turned to a dull grey color. "And thanks a bunch Rarity. You really have earned me as a customer. I definitely will come back when I want something else!" I gave her a smile before stepping down from the platform.

Rarity smiled and walked me out to the anteroom. "Anything for a friend in need! If you're feeling hungry, My friend Pinkie works at the local bakery down the street, and Twilight works in the Golden Oaks Library in the center of town if you want to pass the time!" I thanked her and left the Carousel Boutique, my stomach voicing the next stops priority.

Smirking I start to stroll down the street, admiring my new vest and the reduced chill I felt because of it.

Author's Note

Wholly freaking crap! The absolute longest chapter yet, and only 300 words was the original chapter!!!!

I apologise for dropping this so long ago, but life bullied me through college, and now I'm close to joining the Army.

My point is I'll try to work on this dusty idea for a while more.

Thanks for reading, and if you spot something wrong let me know! (Almost no editing and written scene to scene)