//------------------------------//
// I Hate Suits 
// Story: A Bleeding Heart, Painful Past 
// by Redwolf15 
//------------------------------//


I Hate Suits




"Would you stop fidgeting? Honestly, you're squirming around like a child," Rarity tsks.

"I can't help it, I've been standing still for an hour and a half! Couldn't you just take my measurements and use one of those dummies?" I ask as she measures my left arm.

"Unfortunately for you, no." She says nearly sticking a needle through my arm. "You have a much bigger build than most, and there is no mannequin that I have with your size. Now hold still, I'm almost done."

'Oh the disadvantages of being big.'

'Shut up.' 	

"There, done." I let my arms drop to my sides and give a satisfied sigh as I'm finally allowed to let them rest. 

"Thank you, but I really don't see why I need a suit." I say to Rarity as I stretch

"Because you will be presented to royalty and you can not be seen in such drags. No offense to Big Macintosh," She explains trying not to sound rude to her friend's brother.

"Right, well anyway, how much?"

"What? Oh no I couldn't possibly allow you to pay. You saved our lives. You saved Twilight's life. It's the least I can do for a friend." I pause as she mentions that word. Friend, I know all too well what that is, it's just been so long since I've had one. One I can trust.

"Well, thank you Rarity. That's very kind of you." I take her generosity to heart. "When might my clothing be ready?"

"No worries darling, I should have an everyday pair for you in two days. The suit within the week. Is there anything you specific you would like?"

"No, not really. Just make sure things aren't flashy. If there's one thing I hate, it's attention." She looks at me in a queer way. 

"You know, minus the werewolf part, you are the strangest man I've known." 

"That coming from a girl with a horn on her head." I counter.

"I don't know what it was like where you came from, but here it is completely normal." She bites her lower lip and avoids eye contact, like she has something on her mind. "Riff, what was normal back where you came from?"

"Well, what wasn't normal was me for starters. Why do you ask? Do you have something on your mind?"

"Well, it's just that I me Flutershy at the party, and she seemed rather... off. She's never been the most sociable or outgoing, but something was different about her. I asked what it was but she refused to say anything. Do you have anything to do with that?" I look at the purple haired woman for a good long time with a sadness. Those memories, that story, it'll haunt me forever.

"Yes Rarity, I told her a story. I told her my story. Why I don't trust others, why I feel like such a loner. I told her why and I made her promise to not tell."

"May I hear this story too? You want to make a change in your life don't you? Then getting your friends to help you is the first step." 

'There she goes again, calling us her friend. Truth be told Riff, I wouldn't mind having her or any of the others as our friends. But I don't feel like I can trust them, not after her. I kept quiet about it but I did not approve of you telling the other girl, and I don't think you should tell this one too.'

"I'm sorry Rarity, but I don't feel comfortable telling anyone else. I only told Fluttershy not because I felt I could trust her to keep a secret, but because I felt that someone so delicate was the only one who could understand. And because I felt as though I had to explain for my actions the other day."

"Fluttershy does hate violence out of the most out of us, I suppose it would make sense. But Riff, if you ever feel like opening up you can talk to us, all of us." I can see the sympathy in her eyes, the honesty of her words. She really does wish to be my friend, doesn't she?

"Thank you Rarity, I'll keep that in mind." I open the door to exit her boutique. "I'll drop by in a day or two to pick up my clothing." I close the door behind me, more so slamming than closing actually. I grit my teeth together.

'She didn't tell her, and she made no mention of you either. Why do you blame her?'

'Why are you even caring? I thought you didn't trust them!'

'I don't.' Fenrir replies sternly. 'But you made the decision to tell her. You made her promise to not tell and she has kept that promise. So I'll ask again, why do you blame her?'

'I don't know old friend, I don't know. Maybe I'd just like to blame someone else instead of myself for once in my miserable life. To not be conscious that these are my burdens that I have to carry.' 

'Then stop bitching about it and move on! You said it yourself, we can have a new life here, a fresh start! But how can we have that if you continue to bring your old pains with you? You have to learn to let things go. We've been together since birth, you've helped me fight my demons, and when you asked for my help I gladly gave it to you. But now is different, now it's my turn to help you.'

'Aye, you're right. I need to drop it, I need to move past it. Forgive and forget as they say.'

'That a boy. Now, let's get out of this doom and gloom and see what fun there is to be had around here, eh?' I chuckle. I could do with something exciting, may as well check things out.

I get the odd greeting from a person ever now and again while walking through the town. The people in here are far more different than they are back home, much kinder and non-judgmental. I pass though the grocery district where most shopping is done. I note how there is a lack of meat produce around, and by 'lack of', I mean there is none at all. Fenrir mentions that we'd have to get our own meat the old fashioned way, which suits me fine. 

We find the bakery where Pinkie Pie works at and, apparently, lives. I've known the girl for under 24 hours ad somehow, that goes unsurprising. Pinkie Pie re-introduced me to the people who own and run the place, I most certainly do not remember them, let alone anyone else, from that party. They're very pleasant people and gave me a cupcake for free. 

I enjoy the delicious cupcake as I stroll around town longer. Feeling the warmth of the sun over head, a simple breeze, fresh air. I inhale deeply, savoring the atmosphere. 

'Feels like paradise.'

'Dude, seriously?'

'What? It does!'

'That's just it, you probably just jinxed it.'

'Ah, stop being such a worry wart and enjoy things.'

'It's amazing how your personality does a flip-flop after a cupcake.' I imaginarily shrug to him as we enjoy a light laugh together. But now I'm worrying about what he said, could I have really 'jinxed' it? Could now everything just blow up in my face?

Well, what have I to actually worry about? No one knows my identity, no one knows what I am, and no one can harm me. 

"Riff? That you?" I look around to see who called to me, yet no one appeared. "Up here." I look up to see a rainbow haired girl poke her head out from over a cloud. 

"Rainbow Dash? Are you sitting on a cloud?" She flies down and lands in front so we may talk face to face.

"Technically I was sleeping on that cloud. So, what you up to?" 

"Not much really. Just exploring the town." 

"And how you liking it?" 

"Fine, just fine."

"Just fine?" She pushes.

"Well, a lit different, a lot different actually, than what I'm used to." She stares at me for an awkward amount of time.

"You know, I still owe you for that sucker punch you gave me." I cringe a little recalling that event.

"Yeah, I suppose you do. Anything in mind?"

"Well, I could just wail you one of my own, but seeing as though you single handedly took down a dragon I don't see how fair that would be for me. But there is one other thing..."

"And that might be?" I ask not liking where this may be going. 

"There's a new stunt that I've been trying, but I'm missing a key component. Leverage to be more precise, some one who has muscle. And the only one around here with enough of that is Applejack's brother, Big Macintosh, and unfortunately he works, like, a lot. So I've been trying to do it on my own, and it hasn't been going over too well, even when I try using substitutes like boulders and sandbags. So I suppose that's where you come in."

"Well, what do I have to do?" She gives me wry smile, one that shows how much she'll enjoy torturing me.

"Sorry, but that'll be a secret until tomorrow when I get everything set up." She unfolds her wings and takes off, leaving a trail of rainbow and giddy laughter. 

'... Man, you are so screwed.'

"Yup."