//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15: A Dragon in Human's Clothing 
// Story: A Dragon's Soft Spot 
// by Mister E-Nonymous 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 15: A Dragon in Human's Clothing






Aaron and Smolder were waiting in the living room of Aaron's home. Smolder had her arms crossed, frustrated that she has to wait for Aaron's aunt to return with some proper human clothing.

"How long do we have to wait for your aunt to get back?" Smolder asked.

"She should be home any time now," Aaron said. Just then, the front door opened.

"Hey, kids," Marissa said. "Alright, Smolder, I got you some clothes and some essentials."

"Essentials?" Smolder asked, raising an eyebrow. "What essentials?"

"Well, it's human girl stuff," Marissa said. "And as for the clothing, I manage to get you some clothing that's based on your personality." She then looked towards Aaron. "I do hope that it's just her world that's real."

"Why?" Smolder asked.

"Well, let's just say I don't want to come home with half the population turned to dust," Marissa said. "I'm sure you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I watched those Marvel Movies," Smolder said. "Although, the magic of Equestria was bleeping out the swear words. I'm guessing it's because the magic doesn't want any repetition of those human adult words."

"So, you haven't heard those swear words?" Marissa asked. 

"Oh, we know them," Smolder replied. "We're just not allowed to say them." Marissa then closed the door leaving Aaron in the living room. He then turned on the TV and started watching a short via Disney+.

As soon as the short finished, the door opened. Marissa walked out and said, "Aaron, say hello... to the human Smolder." She then revealed Smolder, in human form. She had a rose beige skin with purple hair with two streaks of blonde hair on the sides over her ears. Her hair styled similar to the Linda cut hairstyle, but with some tufts of hair coming from both sides. She was wearing a purple shirt with an orange jacket with yellow sleeves, blue jeans with some tears, and purple shoes with white soles.

"Whoa," Aaron said. "Dang, Smolder, you look good."

"Thanks," Smolder said. "Although... is it natural for humans to have purple hair?"

"Not usually," Marissa said. "Usually when you see someone with purple hair, it's when someone dyes their hair."

"Just like Mayor Mare does," Aaron said.

"Mayor Mare dyes her mane?" Smolder asked.

"You don't remember that one episode?" Aaron said. "The Crusaders and the Foal Free Press?"

Smolder then went wide eyed and said, "Ohhhh, that episode. Now I remember it."

"You've let her watch the show?" Marissa asked. "Isn't that a little... dangerous?"

"The time has passed since the series finale," Aaron answered.

"Really?" Marissa asked. "Okay. Well, we won't have to worry about them knowing too much about their future." She then said, "So, who's hungry?"

"I could eat," Smolder said. "What are we having?"

"We'll all be heading out for brunch," Marissa said. "And after we're done, we'll get Smolder here some more clothing."

"Why do I need more clothing?" Smolder asked.

"Not everyone wears the same clothes everyday," Aaron said. "Only in cartoons." He then thought of something. "Although, the human versions of Twilight and her friends do wear the same clothes in some of their specials and shorts. But that's a query for another time."

Then the three of them headed out of there. Smolder was then surprised at the outside world. She then said, "Whoa. This place is... Whoa!"

"You'll get used to it," Aaron said. "C'mon. Let's get going."

"Now, Smolder," Marissa said. "While we're out in public, you cannot go into your dragon form."

"Right, if people see a dragon, they'll be very surprised at something they don't understand," Smolder said. She then shivered. "Is it usually this cold?"

"How are you already cold?" Aaron asked. "You're wearing a jacket."

"I have no idea," Smolder said.

"C'mon, you two," Marissa said. "We got to go." Marissa then headed over towards an elevator which Aaron and Smolder followed. Smolder was confused.

"What is this room?" Smolder asked. She then saw the doors close. "What? Hey, let me out!"

"Relax!" Aaron said. "It's just an elevator. It's a room that can move from one floor to another by just pushing one of the buttons on that panel." He pointed at the buttons and Smolder saw the buttons. She saw that one button was glowing. The glowing button had the number 1 on it. As Aaron pointed out the buttons, the room elevator started moving.

"Whoa," Smolder said, holding onto Aaron. She held onto him as the elevator made it to the first floor. Then the doors opened up, and Smolder ran out of the elevator.

"Is she claustrophobic?" Marissa asked.

"No, Gallus the griffon is claustrophobic. "She just hasn't been in an elevator before."

"Really?" Marissa asked. "They don't have elevators in Equestria?"

"She wouldn't need to use them," Aaron said. "She could fly as a dragon."

"Oh, yeah," Marissa said. "Well, we're gonna have to get Smolder used to riding elevators."

"Smolder, you and I got stuck in a Ferris Wheel in Equestria," Aaron said. "An elevator is almost like that."

Smolder then thought about it. She then said, "I... guess that makes sense." She then sighed. "But we never had anything like that in Equestria." Then Marissa started walking towards a Ford Expedition. Smolder was surprised and said, "Whoa! That's a big car!"

"Yeah," Marissa said. "As soon as we moved into that hotel room, we went to a car dealership to get a bigger car for my fashion line. It's also good for loading big stuff."

"Wow," Smolder said.

"Now let's go," Marissa said. She then pulled out her keys and unlocked the car. "Now, let's get you into the car. Aaron, you mind helping Smolder with the car?"

"This is gonna be a long day," Aaron said.





Aaron, Smolder and Marissa arrived at an IHOP. Smolder looked at the building in confusion.

"What kind of restaurant is this?" Smolder asked.

"It's more of a breakfast place," Aaron said. "Although, it did start serving burgers."

"Welcome to IHOP, the International House of Pancakes," Marissa said. "It doesn't just sell pancakes. It also has waffles, french toast, and omelettes."

"What's an omelette?" Smolder asked.

"This is awkward considering what female dragons do," Aaron said. "But, omelettes are eggs similar to a folded pancake with choices of meat, cheese and vegetables."

"Huh, sounds good," Smolder said.

"Seriously?" Aaron and Marissa asked, confused.

"Dragons do eat eggs," Smolder said. "Not dragon eggs, but we do eat eggs."

Aaron thought of something and asked, "Phoenix eggs?"

"Nooo..." Smolder said. "Garble's friends just wanna smash them. They try, they always get punished." She then snickered. "You saw what happened to them in that one episode."

"Dragon Quest," Aaron said. "Classic." Then the three of them headed on into IHOP. A waitress then escorted the three of them to an open booth. They were then handed their menus.

"Alright, mind if I get everybody's drinks?" the waitress asked.

"Apple juice," Aaron said.

"Warm tea," Marissa said.

Smolder was thinking of what drink to get. She then shrugged and said, "I'll take some apple juice as well."

"Okay," the waitress said. "Two apple juices and one warm tea. I'll be back with your drinks while you look up what you wanna order." She then walked away.

Smolder then looked over at the syrup selection and got confused. She then asked, "They serve different types of syrup?"

"Yeah," Aaron said. "They have old fashioned, blueberry, butter pecan and strawberry flavor."

"Meh," Smolder said. "I'll just skip on the blueberry."

"Why?" Marissa asked.

"I have a strange allergy to blueberries," Smolder said. She then looked around to see if anyone was listening in. She then leaned in, making the other two lean in, and she silently whispered, "If I eat too many of them, my scales turn blue for a certain amount of time depending on how much I eat." They all then went back to their normal sitting positions.

"Well, no blueberries for you," Marissa said. "Who knows what would happen to you in your... current form." Smolder then nodded in agreement. Let's see what's on the menu."





Aaron, Smolder and Marissa arrived back at the hotel room with bags of clothing. Smolder was confused about why there was so much clothing for her.

"Is it necessary for me to have all these clothes?" Smolder asked. "I don't usually wear stuff like this."

"That's when you're a dragon," Marissa said. "Plus, Aaron and I have seen you in that cute dress of yours." Smolder then blushed at that comment.

"I... I should... put these... away," Smolder said. She then headed towards Aaron's room.

"Are you sure it's okay for her to be sleeping in the same room with you?" Marissa asked.

"She helped me out when I was in Equestria," Aaron said. "Plus, there's another bed in there for her to use."

"Well, alright," Marissa said. "As long as you two don't do anything... mature. After all you're 13 and she's..." She then thought about something. She then called out, "Smolder, how old are you?"

"Thirteen!" Smolder answered from the room.

"Wow," Marissa said.

"Glad when I was a dragon I didn't go through the molt," Aaron said. "Spike sure did look uncomfortable during his molt."

Smolder then came out of the bedroom to grab more bags, saying, "Don't forget the random fire bursts and the uncontrollable volume shifts." She then thought of something. "Say, how long have you two been living in this hotel resort anyway?"

"It's been two weeks," Marissa answered.

"Two weeks?" Smolder asked. "Then why isn't Aaron in school?"

"I had to finish school early back in Chicago," Aaron said. "I got some good grades when I was getting ready to move."

"Alright, Smolder," Marissa said. "Whenever it's just us, you'll be okay to be in your dragon form, but if someone else is around, you have to be human at all times."

Smolder groaned and said, "Fine." She then changed back into her dragon form, the clothes she wore disappeared as she transformed. She then breathed out in relief. "That feels so much better. Much warmer."

"How are you warmer in dragon form?" Marissa asked.

"She's a fire breathing dragon, aunt Marissa," Aaron said.

"Speaking of which, I don't want you blowing fire anywhere in this hotel room," Marissa said.

Smolder sighed and said, "Fine. No fire breathing in the hotel." She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

"We wouldn't want you two starting unnecessary fires," Marissa said.

"Or letting the people see something that isn't from here," Aaron said. "I'm starting to feel like Jake Long."

"Well, I'm just glad you're okay," Marissa said. "And I can't believe that you've brought someone home with you from there."

"Actually, she was the one who brought me home," Aaron said. "I was unconscious."

"You slipped on something and bumped your head?" Marissa asked.

"You can say that," Aaron said.

"Why don't you and Smolder go get yourselves bathed?" Marissa asked. "Individually of course. Then we'll go out for a movie."

"Alright," Aaron said. Then he headed to his room, seeing Smolder putting some of the purchased clothing that was for her into the lower dresser drawer attached to the entertainment center. "Hey, Smolder."

Smolder smiled at Aaron, and then she thought of something. She then silently asked, "Did you tell her about... you know... Ragnarok?"

"No," Aaron said. "If she knew about Ragnarok and what he'd tried to do to me, she'd never let me out of her sight again."

"I... guess that makes sense," Smolder said. "But, usually dragons aren't all that concerned about certain feelings. But me... ever since I went to the School of Friendship..."

"You've become a good friend to those around you," Aaron said.

Smolder smiled and said, "Yeah." She then started sniffing herself. "Whoa. Guess I need to get a shower."

"You go ahead and get in," Aaron said. "We're going out for dinner and a movie. You, me and aunt Marissa."

"Alright," Smolder said. She then changed into her human form and sniffed herself. "Hoo. Hopefully when I take a shower, the smell will be gone in both forms of mine."

"Don't forget to close the bathroom doors," Aaron said. "I'll be waiting."

"I've put in some necessary bathing products in the bathroom for you, Smolder," Marissa called out. "Also, bring in some of your new clothing to put on after you finish."

"Okay, Marissa," Smolder said. She then grabbed some of her new clothes to wear and she headed into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her. Aaron then opened up the doors of the entertainment center and turned on the TV.