Of Dragons and Ponies

Chapters

Arrival
Dragon Meets Dragon
A Dragon in the Forest
The Red Rescuer
Dragon Meets Ponies
Cutie Mark Crusaders Adventurers
Revelation
A Noble Purpose
A Reason
Smithing 101
An Old Acquaintance
The Next Step

Arrival

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 1: Questions

Over the clouded skies of the Everfree Forest, there was a dragon in flight.

His scales were a bright, pristine crimson, and his plated underbelly was a thick, plated tan. Obsidian black claws and talons hung loosely from his form as he flew, his great draconic wings giving loud, audible flaps with each beat.

He was sent by the elders of his kind to befriend ponykind in hopes of shedding light on whether or not dragonkind and ponykind can or cannot coexist with one another. They're feared and hated by all else.

He, as an individual, was to represent the entirety of the dragon species.

'At least, those who would support.' he thought to himself. 'But in order for this to happen, I must start small and gain their trust. But where to start?' just as he asked himself this, his focused orange gaze met a small village just off of the edge of the Everfree, coming over the trees. Even from such a distance away, the crimson drake saw that it was small, but lively and colorful.

'Mmmm, this will suffice as a place to start. Now to take up a nearby residence.' he thought as his eyes wandered away from Ponyville to the Everfree as he flew over, searching for a place to land.

XXXXX

Ever since the great dragon migration roughly a year ago, questions began popping into Spike's head as time went on, some old and some new, and this time, they refused to leave.

Who is he? Where did he come from? Why doesn't he have wings? These questions bounced around in Spike's young mind as he tended to keeping the library in one piece. Twilight, or should we say, Princess Twilight, had taken a visit to Canterlot today to visit the princesses, leaving the drake to watch over the library while she was away. After making sure the library was in tip top condition, with every nook and cranny dusted, every book arranged alphabetically, and the beds organized, Spike flunghimself down on the couch in the main room and let out a long, exhausted sigh, staring up at the ceiling.

The big questions plagued his mind now more than ever, and he has now way of answering them.

"What I'd give to have at least one of them answered." Spike said with a sigh before he pulled himself off of the couch and headed towards the door. Maybe a nice walk and seeing a friend will help him clear his thoughts. "Maybe they know more about dragons." Spike pondered out loud as he stopped just shy of the door, rubbing his chin. He listed off his friends and then pondered whether or not they'd know anything at all about dragons as he made his way out.

XXXXX

"Hmmm. Rarity, no. Cheerilee, no. Lyra, no. Fluttershy... definitely not."

'Is there anyone?!' Spike thought in frustration. As he walked, he came to the conclusion that nopony in Ponyville would know of any dragons... other than himself, of course.

"So that leaves anypony outside of Ponyville, but who..." he muttered quietly as his mind went blank for a second before it hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Zecora!" he blurted out loud, attracting confused glances. Cracking under their gazes, he continued. "She must have the cure! I gotta find her!" and with that, he took off for the Everfree, the nearby ponies shrugging and returning to their business. Spike slowed to a walk, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Phew. That was a close one."

XXXXX

Zecora was busy strolling through the Everfree forest, on her daily routine.

She had a basket clutched in her mouth, filled with various fruits, flowers, and vegetables freshly picked from the vast assortment of vegetation that made up the wild, unruly forest known as the Everfree. She had a cauldron of boiling soup back at her home, and her stomach growled openly at the thought.

"Mmmm, I cannot wait to get home. My mouth is already beginning to drool and foam." Zecora said, her voice muffled by the basket handle she was biting on, saliva threatening to make its way down the handle. With her hunger growing, she quickened her steady pace to a trot, anxious to return to her house. She could smell her still boiling soup from her home as she neared, but as she did, she felt her blood run cold at what was waiting outside of her door, apparently after her food as well.

Standing, pacing, and pawing at her home was a fully grown manticore, its maw drooling as it paced around, looking for a way to get inside to that delicious smelling cauldron of soup.

'This is not good, this is not good! A manticore has arrived in search of food!'(I know. Not a good rhyme.) Zecora panicked in her mind. She looked in her basket for anything that could repel or draw its ire long enough for her to escape danger.

Nothing.

With her heart thumping in her chest at the speed of sound, and her forehead beginning to perspire, the shamare lowered herself to the ground and began to slowly creep away, slowly putting distance between her in the mythical beast. As it continued to paw and groan in hunger, Zecora was almost far enough to make a break for it when the unthinkable happened.

She stepped on an unsuspecting twig, the snapping sound echoing through the area.

She froze.

She shakily looked up to see the manticore facing her, glaring deadly daggers at her, its teeth bared, drool from hunger dripping from its lips. The shamare's heart came to a grinding halt, any color on her face vanishing to a pure white, stricken with crippling fear. The manticore took an imposing step forward, its dramatically massive front paws kicking up considerable dirt with a loud, startling thud. That seemed to be enough to jolt Zecora back to the life as her face regained its color as she took off in the other direction as fast as her legs could carry her, the manticore giving a loud, earth-shaking roar as it gave chase, the primal urge to hunt and kill as strong as ever.

XXXXX

Our drake was busying himself by looking for a suitable place to call his home for the time being.

Every cave or den he managed to find was occupied, too small, or smelled funny, one of them, and making one himself would require a full stomach.

Such he did not have at hand, given the fact he hasn't eaten for days.

However, before he could continue his search any longer, the drake's attention was drawn as his small, but sensitive ears caught the familiar roar of a dragon not far off. He looked in the direction of the sound to see birds flying to get away from the loud noise.

Tilting his head in curiosity, the crimson drake banked towards the source of the sound.

XXXXX

Zecora was running for her life.

As she ran, she cut through brushes, trees, anything to put more distance between her and the manticore, but the beast, driven by hunger, would not give up so easily as it clawed, forced, and made its way through the forest, keeping ground with its prey.

Adrenaline and blood pumped through Zecora's body at a phenomenal rate, pushing, pumping, demanding that she keeps running to get away from danger. She had long dropped and forgotten her fruit basket during the chase for the need to get away. The soup will have to wait. That is, if she ever makes it back at all.

However, fate might not be as forgiving as she came to a dead end; a small clearing at the bottom of a cliff. The shamare desperately tried to climb up the rockface, but it too steep and too slippery to accomplish such a feat.

That left accepting her fate.

Turning with her back against the wall, she saw the manticore approach, the beast slowing down as it saw that its prey is trapped with nowhere to go. With its gaze locked onto its meal, it licked its lips for the meal to come.

Zecora was backed against the wall, nothing or nopony to save herself, and facing a ferocious manticore hellbent on eating her. That left only only one option. Facing upward, she cried out.

"H-help! Please! Anypony!" her cry for help breaches the canopies, carried by the wind, her rhyme dropped in this life and death situation. The manticore, after being put off by its prey's screech for a brief moment, shakes it off and closes in for the kill. There is nowhere to hide. Zecora curls up into a ball against the rockface, shutting her eyes so she won't see the coming end. But its the manticore who's fatally exposed as a monstrous roar echoed from the sky.

They are not alone.

Dragon Meets Dragon

Savior

The manticore and the shamare alike looked up to the sky as the roar rung out.

From the direction of the overhanging sun came the drake, diving in with hindlegs forward, talons extended, headed straight for the beast. Blinded briefly by the sun, the mythical culmination of lion and scorpion had ill time to react as the drake's talons impacted full force, the white hot pain of talons tearing into flesh combined with the impact of the drake's weight on its head was enough to disorient the manticore for a brief moment, covering its face with a massive paw to try to ease the pain as it roared out in agony.

But following its pain came anger as it removed its paw, revealing several long, deep, nasty gashes across its face, letting an angered growl, loud and menacing. The drake roared in turn with full force, landing between it and Zecora, who was frozen on the spot, simply watching it all play out.

The manticore had the clear size and weight advantage, being well over twice the size of the young drake. So the dragon bluffs, rising to two legs, extending his wings, giving the illusion that he's much larger than he really is. He followed the act with a loud roar, making the manticore take a defensive stance, swinging its scorpion tail. With the bluff working, the drake finished it off with a few bouts of fire, taking several steps forward, but keeping out of range of the scorpion tail to keep up the act. All of this put together proved enough to scare the myth creature off as it turned tail and took off back into the forest.

With the danger averted and the threat gone, the drake dropped back to all fours, folding his massive wings against his sides, his thinned slits for pupils widening back to a more tranquil demeanor. He turned to the stricken zebra behind him, who stared back, eyes wide and shaking.

"Are you alright, friend?" came the dragon's low, but tranquil voice as he rested on his belly, his head still held up. Making oneself appear smaller is an effective way to show themselves as no threat. Zecora calmed down, her shaking ceased as she got back up to her hooves.

"Y-yes friend, I am fine. I am very grateful that you heard my cry." Zecora replied, taking a good look at him now that the threat was averted.

The drake stood up as tall as Celestia herself, but his long, slender frame, from head to tail, made him considerably longer in overall length than the princess. Thick, dense muscle was hidden under his scales, mostly in the forequarters, hindquarters, and his long neck. His chest, which Zecora noticed, was cracked in the center of the thick belly plate where his heart should be. Growing curious, Zecora spoke.

"You don't seem like other dragons I've come to see, for they would have all quickly eaten me. If I may ask to make things clear, what is it that brings you here?" Zecora asked, eyeing him. The drake took a brief moment to sum up his thoughts before replying.

"To make friends. What better place to begin than where friendship is... magic?" he replied, referring to the many stories he's heard about Equestria prior to his arrival.

"Ah, I can relate to that claim. But before I press any further, what is your name?" the shamare asked, point a hoof towards him in a conversational manner.

"I am Grigori." the drake replied with a small, respectful bow if the head, making the zebra smile. However, that smile turned into a giggle as the drake's stomach began to growl, and with a vengeance. He still haven't eaten in days.

"Well Grigori, we are both tired and hungry surely. Come with me to my hut. With my soup, I've vegetables to gather and fruit to cut." Zecora said. With Grigori's intents and goals in mind, he accepted her offer.

"Then I shall accompany you. Lead and I will follow." Grigori said, and at that, they were off.

XXXXX

Spike was strolling the Everfree, on the way to Zecora's hut.

Upon arrival, the intoxicating smell of delicious soup filled his nostrils. It already made his mouth water as he stopped at the door, giving a few gentle knocks. The clops of hooves could be heard right before the door opened to reveal Zecora, as striped and happy as ever.

"Ah Spike, it's good to see a friendly face. Come, there's much to discuss, and soup to taste." Zecora urged as she walked back into her hut, Spike eagerly following after.

Minutes later, Spike and Zecora were enjoying soup and conversing when Spike remembered why he came here in the first place.

"Hey Zecora, can I ah... ask you something?" he asked, looking up at her from his soup.

"Of course, Spike. Ask me anything you like." Zecora assured with a smile, looking back at him. Nodding, Spike took a brief moment to decide how he was going to speak his mind to the shamare.

"Do you... by any chance, know about dragons? Other than me?" just as he asked that, Zecora's smile brightened.

"Ah, I befriended one a mere hour ago. Grigori's his name, just so you know. Right now, he's out gathering me supplies. Earlier, he saved me as I was running from a manticore when he heard my cry... for help." Zecora added, breaking the flow of the rhyme at the last part before she got up to add more ingredients to the cauldron. Spike didn't pay it any mind as he was too blown away by her brief story.

"You met an actual dragon? One that didn't try to hurt or eat you?" Spike asked, astonished. The shamare simply nodded.

"He should return very soon, being that it it almost noon." Zecora informed before the thuds of footsteps were heard nearing the door. They were heavier and more spaced out than a pony's, so Zecora recognized who it was right away. In through the door came Grigori, a basket full of various fruits and vegetables coiled at the end of his tail, the tip possessing a sharp spade.

"I return with what you asked of me, Zecora." Grigori said as he walked inside. But that was before he took notice of Spike. When the two met gazes, both dragons stopped for a moment, noticing one another. Grigori eyed his fellow dragon up and down, analyzing him. He lacked wings, barely more than a hatchling, but his eyes showed a vast intelligence of someone far beyond their years. Being that he was here with Zecora, he figured out just who he was.

"You must be... Spike." Grigori figured, placing the basket next to Zecora, who proceeded to take and cut them up, deciding to allow the two to get to know one another.

"Y-you know me?" Spike asked, his heart racing, his eyes bright.

"Not personally, mind you. But my elders and I do know of you. A dragon living among ponies is a feat many of our kind strive to achieve." Grigori explained, resting down on his belly, closing the door behind him. "My name, as Zecora may have already told you, is Grigori. I do not doubt you have many questions to ask, and I may be able to answer all of them, but before you ask anything of me, I should tell you that it would be wise to keep whate'er I may tell you to yourself. At least until your fellow ponies are ready to learn of my existence here in the forest." Grigori said, making the younger kin raise an eyebrow in response, so he continued. "I know how the vast majority of ponykind see my race, none positive in any way. Tis best to begin where it is small and manageable. Do you see my reasoning?" Grigori asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, kinda." Spike said, rubbing his chin, letting what Grigori said digest and sink in. "They'll freak on the first encounter, so you start with who you know won't, and then go on from there." Spike finalized, Grigori nodding in response.

"Exactly my point." he said.

"Well since you saved Zecora, I don't see why I can't warm them up for you. The girls are no strangers to the uh... strange." Spike said, failing to come up with a fitting description of their adventures in one word. Grigori simply shrugged.

"Do as you wish. But I would not recommend no more than only your closest of friends. Ones that will not seek me out with hostile intent after hearing of my presence in the Everfree Forest. Until they are ready, I will reside within the confines of the forest. If they venture out here and into danger, I shall lend aid, should it be needed." Grigori offered.

"So you're a guardian angel until further notice. Gotcha." Spike clarified. Grigori gave a brief look at the smaller dragon at the mention of 'guardian angel', but shrugged it off as Zecora walked up to them.

"I do hate to interrupt, but my soup is ready, so come on up." Zecora said. Spike eagerly rushed up, grabbing a bowl while Grigori still had an unsure look.

"It smells delicious, but I do not eat fruits or vegetables, cooked or otherwise." Grigori informed. Zecora grew an understanding smile, nodding.

"I understand, Grigori. There is no need to worry. As you can clearly see, there's just more for Spike and me. I have some gems that could serve as a light snack. Pardon me for a moment, I'll be right back." the shamare said as she went to get Grigori his meal, Spike already voraciously digging into his own. Grigori simply nodded before turning his attention back to Spike.

"Spike, I believe you had questions?" the elder dragon reminded, Spike piping back up as he quickly swallowed his food to speak again.

"Oh, right! So I wanted to ask some stuff about dragons. You know, as a race." Spike explained as Zecora took a seat nearby, beginning to dig into her steaming bowl of her soup.

"Ask away."

A Dragon in the Forest

Messenger

After meeting Grigori, Spike's day became infinitely better.

Walking back to the library, the purple dragon walked with some swagger in his step, greeting those that walked by, a friendly greeting given in return. Of course, questions still bounced about his mind, but with meeting Grigori, he knew they could be answered in time.

Of course, that was until Pinkie Pie bounced into him.

Literally.

As the two tumbled, they created a dust cloud, Spike shrieking in surprise while the hyperactive mare laughed as they did. When the dust settled, Pinkie was on top of him, pinning him on his back.

"Heyyyy Spike! What's got you so excited? You're almost a excited as me!" the infinitely excited mare assessed. Spike, who was almost put into cardiac arrest, just shrugged.

"Uh... uh nothing." Spike got out hesitantly after he caught his breath and found his heart. Everyone knows how Pinkie gets when she's not informed of something big. He remember he almost got replaced with a bag of flour once... so he tried to play dumb. However, his valiant effort was all for naught...

"Oh, come on Spike, I know you better than that. You're never this upbeat without a good reason. You're off to see Rarity?" the pink mare teased, knowing that would get Spike to crack. The purple dragon hardened his gaze at that. Somehow, all of his friends knew how to push all his right buttons. However, he'd be damned if he was gonna let Pinkie get past him this time.

"Alright fine, I just got back from talking with Zecora. But I can't tell anyone. It was a promise." Spike said. Pinkie's smile dropped to a suspicious frown.

"Is it a... Pinkie Promise?!" Pinkie asked, practically pressing her eyes against Spike's at the mention of her patented promise ritual. Spike, after pushing her a safe distance from his face, shook his head.

"Nope." came his simple reply. He had his digits crossed.

"Hmmmmm." Pinkie grew even more suspicious, rubbing her chin. "You sure it's not something I should know about?" the pink mare asked, staring at Spike intently, moving in again, pressing her snout firmly against his, her sky blue eyes boring into his soul. Spike inwardly groaned at her insistence.

"Look, I'll tell you and our friends everything, but it's getting late, so I'll explain everything in the morni-"

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie said, cutting Spike off once she got everything he said before she said her goodbye and hopped off, leaving Spike alone to sigh in relief. Now that the danger and potential drama is averted, it's time to head back to the library.

He's got some explaining to do. It's almost dark out.

XXXXX

After he, Zecora, and Spike conversed for a while longer, lasting into the late evening, Grigori set back out to continue his search of finding a home.

Shortly after flying back out, his gaze caught the evening silhouette of a mountain not far off from Ponyville. At the peak was a massive entrance, presumably made by a full-grown dragon. It made a perfect vantage point allowing a bird's eye view over Ponyville and the Everfree, should he lend aid to any in need. And by the looks of it, it was dormant.

"How is it that I overlooked this location?" Grigori asked himself, mentally facepalming himself before he swooped down, landing at the entrance.

'Twill provide a perfect vantage point, but I fear Spike or his friends will not enjoy the climb. Not unless...' the drake thought, but zoned off once he realized what he had to do, and the amount of effort and moving around it would require.

'This will be long and tedious. But it must wait until tomorrow. I have not slept or eaten in days.' he concluded before walking inside the den. It was essentially a massive dome inside of the mountain, and it was cleared out, courtesy of the previous dragon the resided here, the many scratch marks and gem-shaped indentations in the ground from piles and piles of gemstones and treasures were proof enough. Sighing, the crimson drake took a spot in the center of the cave, resting down on his side, his head in his arms before he closed his eyes and prepared to doze off.

He had a busy day tomorrow.

XXXXX

Meanwhile Spike wasn't having as restful a night as his new draconic companion.

He was currently sitting in the couch in the lobby, sitting through one of Twilight's lectures about staying out past curfew, the purple mare pacing frantically as she did so. And to think she was in such a 'Not right now, Spike' mood when she got back from planning the Grand Galloping Gala with the princesses along with their participation in the annual Running of the Leaves, which was to happen in about a week or two. Spike looked forward to it, but it was a bit of a ways away.

"Spike, I can't believe you could even think about going out into the Everfree without even telling anypony! You know how many dangers are out there! What if something happened to you?! What if Zecora wasn't home to look after you?! You're not thinking!" Spike was snapped out of his bored expression to stare at her incredulously at that exclamation.

"Me not thinking? You're one to talk! You come in all like 'Not right now Spike, I'm busy' from whatever business you had and then stop everything you're doing the split second you hear I was out late. Zecora was home and she did look after me until it was time to head back, and even if she wasn't home, I woulda turned back to Ponyville since I left before noon. And besides, I was out for a good reason." Spike explained, returning to his bored expression, leaning back, crossing his arms. He forgot how much of a pain Twilight could be when she's busy and stressed out.

"And what would that be, mister?" Twilight said, her gaze hardened on Spike.

"Remember when I began looking for anything or anypony that might have anything on dragons a few weeks back?" Spike asked, beginning a new subject in order to try and make Twilight veer off from her distressed state. After a moment of trying to remember, the alicorn slowly nodded. "Well, I finally was able to have them answered. Now before you ask, I ran into Pinkie Pie on the way back. She wouldn't leave until I told her what I was up to, so I agreed to explain everything in the morning once our friends were gathered." Spike finished.

Twilight pursed her bottom lip, rubbing the underside of her muzzle, digesting what Spike had just told her. Zecora was able to answer Spike's questions? Those questions? Either some miracle happened or Zecora knows a lot more than she lets on. Possibly both... but what exactly was her number one assistant up to?

"Spike, what exactly did you and Zecora do? Did she know anything about dragons? Was someone else with you two?" Twilight pressed, her agitation slipping away to slight worry and curiosity as she walked over to have a seat next to her assistant.

"Twilight, just trust me on this. I said I'd explain everything in the morning. But to answer your question, all I did when I got there was talk. Now, let's just get some sleep and wait for the morning, alright? I can imagine you'd be exhausted after tending to your 'royal duties'." Spike uttered mockingly at that last part, curling his claws as he mentioned the last phrase. Twilight smirked and rolled her eyes, but nodded at his suggestion, nonetheless.

"Yeah, you're right. Sleep does sound good right about now." Twilight agreed as she and her assistant got up and made their way to her room for a good night's sleep.

After Twilight took off her royal regalia and placed them securely in her chest under her bed, she donned her blue pajamas, hat included, and climbed into her bed, neatly tucking herself under her covers.

Spike rolled his eyes at how formal Twilight made going to bed night by night before he simply flopped into his basket, not giving half a damn about neatness or formality.

"G'night, Twilight."

"Mmmm, goodnight, Spike."

XXXXX

The next morning in the Golden Oaks Library went by as usual.

At least, Spike thought so, what with him and making breakfast and with Twilight frantically pacing around, making sure the library was in order. Just a typical day; him tired, not being an early-bird in the least, and Twilight quite the opposite.

However, the day didn't pick up until about an hour after breakfast when their friends showed up, courtesy of Pinkie Pie spreading the word to them as soon as opportunity presented itself.

Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash made their entrance, exchanging greetings with Spike and Twilight.

"So whut's this ah hear 'bout ya goin of into the Everfree, Spike?" Applejack started off, her voice laced with genuine concern as the group all sat, facing Spike. The others were much the same in their respective ways.

"Without super vision? Spike dear, you should be more careful..." Spike loved the fact that Rarity cared, but this isn't something really serious.

"Oh, I hope you wasn't hurt... or anything." Fluttershy said, gulping afterwards. Spike assumed she'd be afraid he got a scraped knee. What did mothers call it? A boo boo?

"The Everfree is no place for a squirt like you, Spike. No offense..." Spike looked around the room for something to draw his ire so he didn't have to see their worried gazes. It truly touched him they cared so much, but in truth, he didn't see a trip to the Everfree as something to be worried about. Sure he had more than a few close scrapes in his adventures, but that was what made life exciting.

After they all were done, Spike sighed and began his explanation.

"Guys..." Spike began, groaning out the word, his gaze shifting back and forth between them "... What I'm about to tell you can NOT leave the confines of this room..."

The Red Rescuer

Rescuer

"So let me get this straight: You met this teenage dragon named Grigori, who not only saved Zecora from a manticore, but came to made friends? I don't believe it." Rainbow Dash denied, crossing her arms as she hovered above the ground. She was only one that wasn't blown back enough by Spike's story.

"Rainbow, you're one to talk, considering how jealous you get when someone other than yourself saves the day, and don't even think I can't come up with examples." Spike said, motioning to each of the others, the memory of Mare Do Well all too well remembered. The rainbow-colored mare pouted, glaring over at the wall.

"Let's not veer off the topic here, gals. What'd yur friend say 'bout us, Spike?" Applejack asked, walking up to him.

"Well, he said that I should only tell people that won't go out looking for him with hostile intentions as soon as they learned of him. Thought I might be able to trust you guys with that. He said he won't leave the Everfree until you're ready to see him, and he'll help out if anypony finds themselves in danger out in the Everfree. Other than that, we just talked about dragon stuff for the next few hours." Spike explained.

"Anything about the princesses?" Twilight found herself asking. Spike thought for a moment before shaking his head in reply.

"Wellll looking for him with hostile intentions would be a bad thing, so what about a good thing? Like a party!" Pinkie Pie suggested, her hind legs rising high up in the air at her suggestion of a party.

"NO!" everyone, Spike included, shouted at once shooting down her suggestion before it could become anything more. Pinkie Pie pouted at everyone's disagreement, but it went away with a polite apology from Applejack. After that moment was over and done with, Twilight spoke up again.

"We have to approach this logically. Maybe the princesses know what to do. This is a pretty big thing, after all." Twilight suggested. Spike just groaned at that.

"Really Twilight? You're gonna bring the princesses into all this?" Spike sighed, completely disagreeing that that subject would be big enough to have to involve them in. "This is just another guy coming to Equestria to make friends. Can't you cut a dragon some slack?" Spike reasoned raising his arms for emphasis. It seemed that after their curiosity went away, all that was left was not wanting Grigori to be here.

"Spike, ya barely know 'im. How can we be sure we can trust 'im?" Applejack asked. Spike just gave her a flat look.

"I barely knew you guys when we were out to get Nightmare Moon, and I trusted you. Look how that turned out." Spike retorted.

"But this is different, Spike! Your so called friend is a dragon!" Twilight retorted.

"And Zecora's a zebra. You trust her." came Spike's rebuttal. "Do I have to recite every lesson about friendship? Because I was there to write all of them, just so you know." Spike said. Being a dragon himself, he understood what dragons, especially full-grown, were capable of, and he understood their view of the situation. He himself experienced what a dragon can do first-hand, and prided himself on not allowing himself to lose control again. However, Spike waited his whole life to find another draconic companion that he could come to call a friend, and he wasn't gonna give up this opportunity so easily.

"You're not giving up on this, are you?" Twilight asked flatly, pretty much already knowing the answer. Spike gave her that look that said 'You already know'.

"Ugh, fine. But until we're absolutely sure we can trust him, you're not going out into the Everfree without supervision from one of us." Twilight stated with finality. Spike rolled his eyes, but nodded.

"Well, now that that's over an' done with, ah gotta head back to the farm. Ah'll see ya all later." Applejack said before trotting out of the door.

"I think it's time I headed out too. I got a nap I gotta catch up on. See ya!" Rainbow said before flying out of the window like a blue missile.

"I have to get back to my home to feed breakfast to the animals. I'll... talk to you later then... if that's okay." came Fluttershy's goodbye before she too departed.

"I'd love to stay and talk, but I gotta head back! Got a birthday at Sugarcube Corner today that needs a party! See ya!" Pinkie was next as she hopped out of the window. That left Spike, Twilight, and Rarity.

"I gotta head back to Canterlot to continue with preparations for the Gala. You mind looking after Spike for me, Rarity?" Twilight asked. Spike would've objected if it wasn't a day with Rarity, so he remained quiet as the fashionista nodded with a smile.

"Actually, I'll need Spike today. I received an order by Sapphire Shores in the mail this morning that required gems I didn't have, and I'll need my little Spikey Wikey to help dig them up." Spike grew a big dumb grin at the mention of his nickname. Twilight paid it no mind, chuckling at the sight.

"Alright. I'll see you later then." and with that, the three departed from the library.

XXXXX

Grigori was hard at work throughout the morning and far into the evening.

Heading out before dawn, he made his way to the gem mines along the outskirts of the Everfree, but it wasn't the gems he was after. Along with wide assortment of nearly any gem a dragon could ever want to eat, it also stored certain minerals that would help, essentially, to strengthen a dragon's fire. He would need it for boring through the mountain he resided in to make it accessible to others via a safe path to the top.

A dragon as young and small as he woefully lacked the time, patience, or energy to fully melt a new trail into the rockfaces of the mountain, so he aimed to fill in the gaps of the preset trail and essentially make it safer. In his search, he found a mine cart that would serve him in hoarding enough minerals to do the job. As he made his way out of the gem-illuminated caverns with his cargo in tow, pulled by his tail, the sound of heavy steps caught his ears.

Swiftly flying up and out of plain sight, he saw that it was a manticore, the same one that he had saved Zecora from just yesterday, evident by the long, nasty scars he'd left upon the creature's face, which were healed to leave scars. As the mythical beast returned from wherever it came, it rested at the cave entrance, looking even angrier than it did yesterday. Grigori figured it must be out for him.

However, the vendetta against him will have to wait as he and the manticore alike heard voices. Grigori, whose hearing was considerably more sensitive, distinguished one of the voices as Spike's, but the other sounded feminine and high-class. Focusing his bird of prey-like, he saw Spike with a white unicorn, carrying a minecart full of gems with her magic.

"This will not bode well." Grigori muttered grimly as they neared the mouth of the cave, failing to notice the imminent danger of the manticore before it crept back into the shadows of the cave, preparing to strike. If he attacked early, he could potentially scare Rarity off. Too late, and they might be attacked before he could intervene.

He had to time this right.

XXXXX

Spike and Rarity were making their way to the mine, oblivious to the danger that awaited them.

After their leaving the library, Rarity dropped Sweetie Belle off at Sweet Apple Acres as she'd be gone for the day. Afterwards, she and Spike made their way to the mining area to search for gems. They encountered the diamond dogs on the way, but after their last meeting, they kept their distance, reinforced with Spike snorting fire at them. He still had some distaste for them since they kidnapped Rarity.

Their cart was nearly full, and Rarity had found the perfect place to fill the cart the rest of the way to the top, what with Spike sneaking a gem or two when she wasn't paying attention.

"Oh my, there's a good concentration of gems near the mouth of that cave. Mind digging them out for me, Spike?" Rarity asked politely with that smile she knew Spike oh so loved.

"It would be an honor, milady." Spike replied as he headed over to the mouth of the mine entrance to dig while Rarity followed, using her magic to point out the specific gem locations. As soon as Spike began digging, he heard a growling sound from behind him. Turning to the direction of the mine entrance, he looked long and hard for the source. Not finding it, he shot a small bout of fire into the darkness, not in the least bit prepared for the angered manticore that he unintentionally burned the mane of.

As soon as the beast hopped out of the mine, pawing at its mane to put out the fire, Spike and Rarity tried to run for it, but being that they were out in the open, the manticore, after putting out the fire in its now slightly burned mane, spread its wings and took off, landing in front of the two, rising to its hind legs and raising one of its massive paws to strike.

That was when Grigori decided to intervene.

Swooping down, Grigori completely blindsided the much larger predator with his hind talons, sending it to the ground, kicking up a large, thick cloud of dust in the dry dirt as it landed. As the manticore was confused and disoriented, Grigori landed near Rarity and Spike.

"Grigori!" Spike yelled in excitement and relief before the crimson drake scooped up him and Rarity with his snout onto his back, careful not to harm them with the spikes lining his head and jaw before he sprinted off, just in time as the manticore roared and gave chase after it righted itself from being knocked down.

"The gems!" Rarity cried, reaching out a hoof for the minecart filled with them before she lost sight of it as Grigori cut through the Everfree, the manticore undeterred by the change in terrain as it continued its pursuit.

Grigori was focused on nothing but the terrain ahead of him. Flying was ruled out over the risk of dropping Spike or Rarity while he was being chased, so he instead folded them over his back to protect the two from the low-hanging branches and vegetation as he ran. The precious cargo on his back prevented him from running at full speed, else he'd have already left the manticore literally in the dust. But this wasn't the case as the manticore gained ground since it wasn't risking anything falling off of him in going full speed. But luckily, the razor sharp spade at the end of Grigori's tail kept it at bay as he'd swat at the beast whenever it got too close and biting down on his tail was already an overruled option.

As the chase continued, Rarity clung to Grigori's frame for dear life, screaming while Spike was yelling out in excitement, adrenaline rushing through his being at the shear excitement of being chased by a manticore. He came to realize that over the years that nearly getting eaten or some other danger gave him that certain rush that made him feel alive, though he's smart enough not to intentionally go out looking for it.

Twilight would have a field day if he did.

Rarity felt excitement, anger, confusion, relief, and disappointment along with several others. Excitement from the thrill of such a close call, anger at that accursed manticore for ruining her and Spike's quiet day gem-hunting, confusion that a red dragon came out of nowhere and saved them, relief that this dragon DID save them, and most of all, disappointment that she didn't get the gems she needed. Those gems were for a very special client! Sapphire Shores wasn't a mare to be taken lightly, and now, she might as well cancel the order. Once she gets home, she'll have nothing better to do than pass out on her couch and cry into her pillow.

Grigori expertly weaved through the bushes and trees in the direction he assumed was Ponyville. His assumption was answered when he jumped through the last brush of trees and onto a dirt path. He continued running as there was an agitated and vengeful manticore behind him, but when he reached an open enough area, he saw that the region was covered in hills, littered with appletrees.

Digging one of his front claws into the dirt, he drifted till he was facing the manticore running up, effectively throwing Spike and Rarity off of him. As the two tumbled into the soft grass below, Rarity began to rant about her being thrown off in such a way while Spike instinctively pushed her to safety as the manticore made a beeline for Grigori.

The crimson drake rose up to his hind legs just as the manticore leaped at him with its massive paws, tackling him to the ground, the two tumbling in a mess of scales, teeth, fur, and claws. Using the momentum of the tumbling, Grigori, as soon as he landed on his back with the manticore over him, used his powerful legs to kick the beast off of him, getting back up the moment he was free. But as soon as the manticore was able to get back to its feet, it lunged at Grigori, swiping one of its dramatically massive paws, catching the drake square in the side of the face. Grigori was sent tumbling back once, but that didn't slow him down as he tumbled back onto his feet. However, the manticore still wasn't done with its assault as it had already advanced on Grigori just he'd regained his footing and spun around, its massive scorpion tail swinging into the drake, sending the him flying off his feet into the base of an appletree, tilting it, knocking the apples loose as they rained from the branches. But Grigori was far from done as he quickly rose from his feet and charged at the beast, ducking under the swing of its paw as he tackled the manticore, summoning all the strength at his command and lifted the manticore off of his feet and slamming the flailing beast into the ground before jumping back, avoiding the stinger of its tail. As soon as the manticore was on its feet again, it received a burst of fire as Grigori emptied what little of his reserves he had left. The beast roared out in burning pain before it turned tail and ran off back into the Everfree for the second time.

Watching his day old adversary run off again, Grigori shifted his attention over to Spike and Rarity, who came out from their hiding place behind the appletree he was knocked into. Flying up and landing in front of them, he spoke.

"Hopefully, the beast will pose no more threat with the coming of its second defeat." Grigori said before looking over to Rarity. "Rarity, I assume. Tis a pleasure to meet a friend of Spike's. He has informed me of his circle of close friends." he said to the fashionista.

"A... pleasure." Rarity greeted back, still in the process of digesting the situation. Grigori then looked back to Spike. "If you and your friends would greet me, seek me out and I shall allow it. I have taken refuge in the overlooking mountain northeast of Ponyville. Zecora will speak for my diligence in that. I have other pressing matters I must attend. Until then, farewell." and with that, Grigori beat his massive wings, taking off back towards the Everfree.

As Spike watched his companion fly off into the sunset sky, Rarity was still having mixed feelings about losing the gems. Once Grigoi's form was out of sight, Spike looked back to the fashionista.

"So Rarity, what now?" Spike asked, walking up to her, his smile fading once he saw her expression. A lot of hard work went into getting those gems, but now it was all for nothing, he guessed. However, Rarity bought herself out of her stupor to look at Spike.

"Well, with our lives saved and with it getting dark, I'm afraid it's best we return to the library. At least we've something to share with the others, right?" Rarity asked in an attempt to brighten the bleak mood of the moment. Spike brightened up as well at that, making Rarity giggle. "Come now, Spike, let's go pickup Sweetie Belle from Applejack first. I'll find a way to thank your friend too." and with that, the two headed to the farm.

They had enough excitement for one day. And they had to come up with a reasonable excuse for the tilted tree and the fight that took place on the Apples' property.

XXXXX

That night, when Rarity was in bed, she stared up at the ceiling of her neat and classy room and sighed.

The weight of losing her precious gems and that contract kept her up. It was nearing two in the morning, and Rarity just couldn't sleep.

"Oh this is going to be a mess tomorrow." the fashionista sighed as she rolled on her side, facing away from her back window, just missing the red form that flew pass it. However, the sound of loud flapping, rattling chains, and loud, metallic thuds definitely caught her attention as she groaned and pulled herself out from under her soft covers to give the noisemaker a piece of her mind. When she finally made it to the window, however, she gasped in utter shock at the sight.

Dropped next to her boutique were three mine carts, all filled past the brim in gems. Rarity stared, at an utter loss for words before she wasted no time at all in rushing out of her room, careful not to wake Sweetie Belle up, downstairs, and out of her house to the carts full of gems. She heard the loud flapping noise and looked up to see the dark red silhouette of Grigori take off back towards the Everfree. The fashionista jumped up and down in glee as she watched Grigori fly off.

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" Rarity exclaimed in a whisper before she used her magic to pull in their bountiful harvest.

She'd definitely have to thank this Grigori character.

Dragon Meets Ponies

Greet

After the next morning had came and went, Twilight returned to Canterlot to see to preparations for the Grand Galloping Gala.

As the princess of magic was watching unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies alike prepare and set up decorations, clipboard in magic, she sighed as she checked off streamers on the list.

"Is there something wrong, Twilight?" came a voice she knew all to well. Turning around, the young alicorn smiled at the sight of her former mentor Princess Celestia, in all her glory as she walked up to her, the guards and ponyfolk bowing their respects as she went by.

"Oh, Princess! I uh... good morning! Uh... nothing's... wrong." Twilight fumbled a bit before she was able to get her message out. The sun goddess only giggled in response.

"Oh Twilight, I've known you long enough to know then something is bothering you. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I hope you know that." Celestia assured with her serene smile to boot. This seemed to disarm Twilight of her insecurities almost instantly. "Come. Let's walk together, Twilight. It has been a while since we just walked and talked." Celestia suggested as she gently took Twilight's clipboard into her own golden magical grip and passed it off to one of the guards, the unicorn quickly catching onto what he was to do. He simply shrugged.

Beats just standing like a statue all day.

As Celestia and Twilight walked, they headed out into the gardens out in front of the castle, the work of ponies not making its way there yet.

"Well?" Celestia urged, but no force of any kind was behind it.

"Well ah, Spike... met this dragon, and... I don't know if we can trust him." Twilight replied nervously, rubbing the back of her head, shifting her gaze so she wouldn't have to look her fellow princess in the eye.

"Twilight," Celestia began in a more motherly tone "... does this have to do with the dragon migration a year ago?" Celestia inquired, her smile fading, but no negativity set in. But it was still enough to make Twilight feel even worse. Her guilty expression said id all. Putting a reassuring hoof on Twilight's shoulder, Celestia spoke again.

"Twilight, I know that the teenage dragons you and your friends encountered were... not very good friends, but are you going to base Spike's new friend off of them? Whatever happened to 'don't judge a book by its cover'?" Celestia reminded, making Twilight feel even worse.

"I know..." Twilight sighed, her head hung low. It never took much at all from Celestia for Twilight to feel down, and now was no exception. However, Celestia was never the type to make anyone feel down on themselves.

"So, what's stopping you from gathering your friends to head out and meet him? I'm sure he'll benefit from it just as much as you." Celestia encouraged with a reassuring smile.

"Oh alright. I guess we can go meet him. Spike was sure eager to this morning." Twilight muttered, her expression brightening from just moments ago.

"Now then, why don't you go ahead and do just that? Luna and I can handle things here." Celestia suggested, making Twilight stare up at her with a incredulous look.

"B-but princess, there's still so much work to do! So many things that still needs organizing!" Twilight exclaimed, thinking the idea of the Royal Sisters doing something like organizing a party preposterous. Celestia only seemed to giggle at that, making the younger alicorn grow a confused look.

"Twilight, now what kind of princesses would Luna and I be if we couldn't handle something as simple as organizing a party?" Celestia asked with a smirk, Twilight forming a sheepish grin as a result. "Go on and greet Spike's friend, Twilight. And I look forward to any reports you have for him." and with that, Celestia turned tail and walked the other way, leaving Twilight with nothing else to do but return to Ponyville.

Charging her horn, she was away in an instant.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Spike was out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

The four of them were currently in the Golden Oaks Library, formulating a plan to get their respective Cutie Marks. The crusaders were pacing back and forth, looking for books, pondering hard at any ideas that they didn't already try. They even had a list that they carried that documented every single idea that they tried and failed at. Spike simply sighed, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He was left with Applejack until Twilight got back, and then Applejack assigned him to watching the Crusaders to make sure they didn't do anything they'd regret. Sadly, they're stubborn as mules when it came to Cutie Marks.

"Ya got any ideas on how ta get our Cutie Marks, Spike?" Applebloom asked, looking up to the drake from her pondering demeanor, her fellow crusaders doing the same with hopeful expressions. Spike supposed he should just go ahead and get his point across.

"I hear that waiting for your Cutie Mark does wonders." Spike said as if it was a brand new idea. The resounding groans and huffs of frustration made the drake chuckle.

"Ugh! Yur jus' like mah sister!" Applebloom exclaimed as the three went back to pondering.

"Well, they often can't stress enough how important patience is. The sooner you take your mind off of it, the sooner it'll stop bothering you." Spike advised. Scootaloo huffed at that, making Spike pinch the bridge of his snout and sigh.

'Why do I even try?' Spike asked himself as he headed over to the window.

"I wonder if I can get Twilight to let me hang out with Grigori." Spike muttered under his breath, oblivious to the three's perked expressions. They seemingly reappeared right in front of him just as he climbed the steps, their eyes as big as saucers.

"Who!?" they all asked at once, the shout so loud and sudden, Spike jumped back, grateful he barely climbed only one stair.

"Jeez, maybe a little warning next time?" Spike said, getting back up.

"Who's Grigori?"

"Is he a dragon?"

"Grigori sounds cool!"

"Is he in the Everfree Forest?"

"Can we go see him?"

"Who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who..." the chain of the word 'who' continued, Spike cracking under the their persistence in no time at all as he found himself against the wall with three eager fillies surrounding him.

"Alright!" he finally snapped, silencing them. "Alright, I'll tell you about him, but gotta Pinkie Promise." Spike instructed, silently thanking the hyperactive mare for coming up with the unbreakable promise. The crusaders huffed and groaned at that. 'I knew they were gonna tell everypony!' Spike exclaimed in his mind, but was assured as they did the Pinkie Promise, but just as they completed it, the pink mare herself came in seemingly out of nowhere, notepad in hoof.

"Promise not to tell about... Grigori." Pinkie muttered to herself before tearing the page and sticking the note atop Applebloom's forehead and hopped out the door before another word was said.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, the fashionista Rarity was hard at work on making her gem-encrusted order.

After a short, healthy breakfast, Rarity saw Sweetie Belle off to school this morning and so that left her with peace and quiet as she worked on encrusting the gems to her wares. But as she did this, her mind wandered back to Spike's new friend Grigori.

'Such a gentledrake, Spike's friend is.' Rarity thought with a contented sigh. She only needed one cart of gems for her client, but for him to not only save her and Spike from certain death, but for him to bring back three full carts of gems? It was simply too much she already owed to him. She didn't even know what to do with the other two cartloads! Perhaps she could return one and offer the other to Spike? Yes, that would do both of them nicely.

She was the Element of Generosity', after all.

She continued thinking about Grigori until she was done with her first outfit out of the set she was to make. Wiping a bead of sweat from her brow at a job well done, she put her supplies and ponequins away for the time being before she headed out.

She had a spa day and such good news to share.

XXXXX

"The usual, please." Rarity told Aloe and Lotus as she and Fluttershy made their way inside the Ponyville Day Spa.

The beauticians smiled as they sped off to set up for Rarity and Fluttershy's custom treatment, leaving Rarity and Fluttershy to their own devices for the time being. Given that, Rarity began to share her thoughts just as they came back to the forefront of her mind.

"Oh! Fluttershy, I simply must inform you what happened just yesterday." Rarity said, sitting next to her weekly spa partner. Fluttershy seemed to pipe up at how upbeat her friend spoke.

"Oh, well what is it?" Fluttershy asked in her soft, timid voice. However, just as she asked, Aloe and Lotus appeared, informing them that their appointment is ready. Smiling, Rarity started into the back room, following the spa sisters.

"Come, darling. I'll tell you everything over our treatment." and with that, Fluttershy eagerly followed after.

XXXXX

Their custom treatment started off with a simple sauna.

"Well after everypony left Twilight's yesterday, me and my little Spikey Wikey went on a little expedition for some gems. Most of the day went by smoothly, save for those barbaric diamond dogs, but after what happened last time, and with Spike by my side, they weren't much trouble." Rarity began.

"Oh, that's good." Fluttershy said, sighing in content as the warm, steaming air finally made it through her coat, feeling her pores open and her skin breathe, Rarity feeling much the same with a similar reaction.

XXXXX

After the refreshing sauna to start off, their treatment continued with the mudbath.

"Our day was going just perfect until an angry manticore decided to rear its uncouth mug." Rarity continued, shuddering at the memory of its drooling maw and its nasty scars.

"Oh my, what happened?" Fluttershy asked, her interest piqued, but having a certain fear begin to sink in at the thought of Rarity and Spike in danger.

"Oh my darling, you wouldn't believe who came in to save us." Rarity said, Grigori still fresh in her mind.

"Oh, who?" Fluttershy asked, looking over to her, as if she could see through the cucumbers over her eyes.

"Spike's handsome friend Grigori." the fashionista answered with a longing sigh.

"H-handsome?" it never struck Fluttershy as a monstrous, fire-breathing dragon as handsome, but the thought of a dragon capable of fighting a manticore conflicted her notion, so the timid mare found herself asking, "W-what's he like if he's um... handsome?"

"Well, for starters, he's such an ample size, about as tall as Celestia, give or take an inch or two. His crimson scales are so smooth and pristine, untouched by whatever nature had to throw his way, his body is so muscular, but slender, and that voice. Oh, his voice is so deep and tranquil. It has such an alluring vibe to it, and the way he speaks..." Rarity got lost in her own words, letting her imagination run wild, "... if he was a pony, he'd sweep me off my hooves."

"But what about Spike?" Fluttershy pointed out.

"Who's to say Spike can't become such a dragon when he grows older?" Rarity asked, a grin tugging at the edges of her lips.

"Oh, of course..." Fluttershy muttered, but thought back to Rarity's day. "What about the rest of your day?"

"Oh, right. Thank you for reminding me, darling." Rarity said as she continued her story, describing in vivid detail the chase, Grigori's victorious battle with the beast, and his offer to greet him at his new home.

"Before he flew off, he offered to let us and our friends greet him at his new home. He says it was the one that was occupied by that dragon you stood up to all those months ago. After he left, Spike and I headed to pickup Sweetie Belle and return Spike to Twilight. But last night, he made me so happy!"

XXXXX

Following their mud bath was their massage.

As Rarity and Fluttershy were relaxed on their massage tables, Aloe tended to Rarity, giving her the rapid hoof treatment while Lotus gave Fluttershy the soft back rub.

"So what did he to to make you so happy?" Fluttershy continued their conversation.

"Well, after I got Spike home and got to bed, Grigori decided to stop by for a visit," Rarity began, giggling at Fluttershy's alerted expression. "Not like that, darling. After stopping by, he left not only one but three carts filled to the brim with crystals! All I really needed was one. I had planned on returning one and giving another to Spike. I'm sure he'd love that." Rarity informed.

"Oh, I'm sure Spike would love them." Fluttershy assured, her smile returning. Nodding in agreement, Rarity now focused on enjoying the rest of their treatment, Fluttershy doing much the same.

XXXXX

"Ow! What was that for?!"

It was it's usual day at Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples would be busy abblebucking, tending to the farm animals, and on occasion, dealing with Rainbow Dash as she tended to pick these lands as a favorable place to nap.

Today was such a day.

"Well mah apologies, Rainbow, but Mac and ah were callin' ya fer five minutes. Figured gettin' ya outta the tree would finally wake ya up. An' besides, ya shouldn't sleep in these here trees without askin' one of us first." Applejack retorted as she went over to the pegasus to help her up. "Either way, yer okay, sugarcube?" the farm pony asked, extending a hoof, which Rainbow reluctantly took.

"Yeah, whatever." the rainbow-colored mare muttered, pulling herself up with Applejack's aid. "So whatcha wake me up for anyway?" Rainbow asked, floating up, crossing her forehooves.

"Well, Twilight wanted us all to meet up at Zecora's to meet this uh... Grigori fellow." Applejack informed, Rainbow raising an eye in confusion. "Ya know, Spike's new dragon friend?" Applejack informed, waving her hoof in effort to reeducate her rival about Spike's draconic companion.

"Ohhhh... him. Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go! Race ya!" Rainbow challenged before dropping to the ground and bolting off for the Everfree.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Applejack called after, giving immediate chase.

XXXXX

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all currently at Zecora's home, conversing, waiting for Applejack and Rainbow Dash to arrive.

"So Zecora, when was the last time you spoke with Grigori?" Spike asked, the others stopping their conversation to listen in. The shamare herself was busy filling her saddlebags with food for the trip; a simple mix of certain flowers and fruits. She looked over to Spike after receiving the question.

"He visited just this morning, my dears. He wishes for Spike and I to introduce him to you, so no need to fear." Zecora assured, remembering Grigori's stop this morning.

XXXXX

(This Morning)

Zecora was busy putting together a potion when the audible clawsteps of Grigori were heard approaching her door, followed by three gentle knocks.

Putting her potion and ingredients to the side, the shamare walked over to the door, opening it with a kind smile.

"Hello again, Grigori. What do I owe my savior, this morning?" Zecora asked, taking a few steps back, motioning him inside.

"I come to ask a favor of you. If you decline, there is no harm done." Grigori offered, walking in, resting on his side in an open area of Zecora's home, curling his tail up to his body.

"Anything for a friend. It's a quick, but strong bond that we mend." Zecora said, facing him, listening to what he has to ask of her.

"Very well. Yesterday, after I saved Rarity and Spike, I gave the offer for him and his friends to greet me. If they do have the intention to do so, they will likely come to you. What I ask of you is that you give the offer to lead them to me. My whereabouts for the day would be the encaved mountain just within view of Ponyville. I have been working lately to make it less dangerous. I assume you know of its location?" Grigori asked, Zecora nodded in response, making Grigori draw a brief smile. "I see my trust in you is not misplaced. Until then, I shall see you soon." Grigori said, getting up, making for the door, Zecora waving as he was making his leave, the drake, waving the blade of his tail in response before closing the door with it behind him.

XXXXX

"... As of late, he's been working to make the trip to him safe. I will take you all there, so we had best depart before it gets late." Zecora suggested as she finished filling her saddlebags. "I've noticed that not all of you are here. Where is Applejack and Rainbow Dash, my dears?" just after she asked that, the bickering of the two mares in question about who won what could be heard.

Bursting in through the door came Applejack and Rainbow Dash, throwing arguments back and forth about who won the race to Zecora's home.

"AJ, I'm telling you, I won fair and square!"

"Only because you used yur wings when you knew you were losin'!"

"Ha, you're just mad because I left you in the dust!"

"Whuuutever." Applejack said, deciding to end the argument before she turned to the others. "Howdy, y'all. So exactly whut're as doin' again, Twi?" Applejack asked, turning to the princess.

"We were just about to head out. To Grigori's home, no doubt." Zecora cut in.

XXXXX

The trip to the mountain itself was almost no problem, save for Fluttershy jumping and shrieking at every sound that didn't come from the group.

However, the actual trip up the mountain itself was met with no problem at all. The mountain path was for the most part smooth, the cracks and gaps in the trail from their last journey up the mountain were all filled up or melted down, making the trip overall go without a hitch. Even the 'hop, a skip, and a jump' gap Fluttershy had trouble with last time was bridged by rock that was melted into place. Twilight, being ever the perceptive one, addressed it, but Zecora explained Grigori going out of his way to make the trip safe for them, to which all of them were thankful for, especially Rainbow since she had to constantly get Fluttershy to stay on the trail and not fly off back to Ponyville.

"Come on, Fluttershy! Mare up! Stop being such a filly! At least see him before you go around judging! Besides, we're just about there! And you still owe me for when I went with you on that boring butterfly migration again." Rainbow urged, straining to keep Fluttershy from flying off. Fluttershy continually tried to take off whenever she heard sounds coming from the mountain peak, but she was hastily stopped by Rainbow Dash each and every time.

As they made it to the mouth, the cave, they each poked their heads in around the side to see the cave unoccupied, save for an empty mine cart resting on its side.

"S-s-see? H-he's gone! We shouldn't be here when he gets back." Fluttershy tried, but Rainbow remained adamant on the situation, her hoof firmly pressed on Fluttershy's tail stopping Fluttershy indefinitely. Seeing that she can't just make a run for it, the shy pegasus sighed and fell in with the others, but Applejack placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder as they walked walked.

"Don't worry Sugercube. If he tries somethin' ta hurt us, ah grantee ya he'll regret it." Applejack assured, brightening Fluttershy's mood a bit. Spike winced inwardly at that. If this entire thing went south, it's game over for him and Grigori alike, mostly for the latter of whom. Speaking of Grigori, however...

Loud, heavy flapping was heard from outside the mouth of the cave, quickly getting louder and closer. The mares stood firm and on guard, Fluttershy shrieking and hiding behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash, Rarity checking her mane, and Spike and Zecora looking towards the entrance as they knew who it was.

Grigori flew down to the mouth of his home, pulling up and gently landing at the mouth with a light, resounding thud. Standing in all his glory, his gaze caught Spike and Zecora. Walking into his home, he spoke up.

"Greetings Spike, Zecora. I trust these are your friends?"

Cutie Mark Crusaders Adventurers

Speak

"Greetings Spike, Zecora. I trust these are your friends?" Grigori asked, gesturing to the Mane 6. Smiling, Spike walked up to the elder drake, leaning against his forelimb.

"Hey Grigori. Yeah, these are my friends; Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, you know Rarity, and Fluttershy." Spike listed, motioning to each of them respectively. Zecora and Rarity were the only ones to greet him, and the others remained on guard, save for Fluttershy, who trembled behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Grigori frowned at that.

"I mean no harm, I assure. A pity, considering the enemies you all braved and defeated, compared to a simple drake such as myself." Grigori said, turning tail, beginning to pace, but the calling of his name was what stopped him. He looked back to see Twilight taking a small step forward. It deftly struck Grigori that she was an alicorn, but not either of the royal sisters he's been informed of...

"Yes?" the crimson drake responded, his orange gaze shifting over to her.

"We're... we're sorry about our... negative introduction. We just thought that you were..." Twilight began, but her sentence died as she failed to come up with a description before Pinkie Pie filled in the blank for her.

"One of those giant, meanie monster dragons!" Pinkie finished for Twilight, making the alicorn wince visibly at the description.

"Understandable, I suppose. Some dragons do not take kindly to certain species. But then again, certain species do not take kindly to dragons." now it was Applejack's turn to feel bad. The farmpony rubbed the back of her neck before she spoke.

"Look uh... Grigori. We're real sorry fur the comment. Ah didn't mean it ta threaten." Applejack assured.

"Forgiven. Besides..." he said as he began pacing again "... my intent upon coming to Equestria is to make friends. What better place to begin than where friendship is magic? Or so I've heard." he said, muttering the last part.

"If you want to make friends, why not throw a party?!" Pinkie popped up, balanced atop Grigori's head, craning her neck downward to look at him from an inverted position.

"I cannot." came his reply, not as surprised as much as he felt he should at her current placement.

"Awwww, why not?" Pinkie pouted, hopping down from his head.

"At the current moment, I cannot allow anyone other than yourselves to know of my existence, else there'd be mass panic. I will not roam any farther than the Everfree Forest, that much I assume Spike has told you." he explained.

"So how do you plan on making friends in Equestria if you just stay all cooped up in this old forest?" Pinkie asked, Rising to her forehooves, balancing on them.

"Until there is a way I can introduce myself without causing mass panic, there is naught I can do." Grigori said.

"Aw, don't sweat it, Grigori, ah'm sur somethin'll come up in time." Applejack said in an assuring tone. Grigori simple shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps. If there is aught important enough that you require my aid in, I will honor your request. But remember that my boundaries are the confines of the Everfree." Grigori said before heading towards the mouth of the cave "And you can keep the gems I left for you, Rarity." and with that, he took off into the afternoon sky. After he was out of sight, Spike turned to Twilight.

"So Twilight, does this mean I can go visit Grigori?" Twilight just face-hoofed at that.

XXXXX

The next day, life in Ponyville went as usual.

The Mane 6 and Spike kept quiet about Grigori, and since business in the Everfree was not a common occurrence, they haven't talked to Grigori since they greeted him. Rarity finished her fashion line for Sapphire Shores and gave one very grateful Spike two kartloads of gems. Spike himself visited Grigori in his free time, with Twilight ungrounding him, and he spends much of it telling Grigori about his friends, and in exchange, Grigori proudly shared common knowledge about dragonkind.

Other than that, the day was rather uneventful.

That is, until this afternoon when school for the colts and fillies let out.

"So whaddya think we should do next to earn our Cutie Marks?" Scootaloo asked her fellow Crusaders as she, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and now Babs Seed walked out of the building.

"Hmmm, ah don't know. Ah can't putt nothin' off the top o' mah head. Anythin'?" Applebloom asked, looking to the others.

"Well come to think of it, we already did just about everything possible in Ponyville." Sweetie Belle said, rubbing her chin with her hoof.

"Well how 'bout outside of Ponyville? I bet there's a whole lotta stuff ta do out in the Everfree." Babs suggested. The others grew iffy and unsure looks, making Babs frown.

"Uh, ah don't know, Babs. Applejack would get pretty mad if she found out we were out in the Everfree without askin' first." Applebloom reasoned.

"Yeah, same here with Rarity." Sweetie Belle added. Scootaloo simply nodded in agreement.

"Oh c'mon, girls! We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders! What's stopped is in the past? It's the four of us together, and it's not like we'll be on our own out there. I'm sure Zecora's got our backs. So how 'bout it?" Babs asked, the others growing pondering looks. Scootaloo was the first to be swayed.

"Don't see why not. What the hay?" at that, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged looks before shrugging and nodding their heads in agreement, swayed as well.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, in the Everfree itself, Zecora was gathering some more ingredients, accompanied by Grigori and Spike, who was perched upon his back.

"You know, aside from us meeting, these past few days has been.. kinda bland." Spike commented, pulling an apple from the basket on Grigori's back, inspecting it before taking a large bite.

"Fear not, Spike. I am sure that something of interest will draw our ire in due time. Have patience." Grigori assured, ducking his head as he walked under a low-hanging branch.

"I know." Spike sighed, slouching against the base of one of Grigori's wings. "I just wish for something exciting to happen, ya know?"

"I understand. I've shared the same feelings when I was of your age as we-" Grigori began, but cut cut himself off as he stopped in his tracks, his ears raised, looking around, having heard something. Zecora stopped as well, looking back to the elder drake in concern.

"Grigori, are you okay? You suddenly cut off what you were going to say." Zecora pointed out, looking around herself.

"I heard something off into the distance. It sounds of wolves followed by... screaming!" Grigori refused to waste another second before he grabbed Spike and the basket with his tail and set them on the ground before shifting his gaze upwards, lowering his body. His wings spread as much as they could, given their size and the crowded confines of the trees, but he still deemed his goal as doable. In one swift motion, he jumped as high as he could, the aid of the wings combined with the momentum aided by his shear weight proved enough to breach the canopy of the overhanging branches, leveling out and taking flight in the direction of the disturbance before gravity allowed him to descend.

Wasting no time, Spike grabbed the basket next to him and hopped onto Zecora's back as she followed at a gallop, confident that whatever trouble it was, Grigori was more than able to take care of it on his own.

XXXXX

(Moments Ago)

"C'mon, Babs, let's head back. Ah'm not sure if it's that safe anymore." Applebloom said, cautiously looking around.

"I-I agree, Babs. M-maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Sweetie Bells added, staying close to Applebloom as they continued walking. Scootaloo remained silent. If she was as afraid as her fellow Crusaders, she didn't want to show it. Babs simply huffed.

"Oh c'mon, you fillies! Stop bein' a buncha little foals and... what was that?" Babs cut herself off as she jerked her head up to look around as rustling was heard. The original Crusaders shrieked at the sound and clung together, visibly shaking. Rather than being afraid, Babs looked in the direction of the approaching noise with a raised eyebrow, expecting it to be a rabbit or a fox, essentially, not a threat. However, Babs was to be sorely mistaken as a fowl odor hit the nostrils of the Crusaders.

"Uh-oh..." sounded Applebloom, now more afraid than before.

"Uh-oh what?" Babs asked, looking back towards her cousin, her fearless bravado quickly faltering as her voice began shaking. Applebloom had ill time to answer as forms appearing to be entirely made of vines and branches burst forth from the cover of the bushes. The forms were that of large timberwolves, each of them easily several times the size of each of the fillies. Their bright yellow eyes glowed with the need to eat and the intent to hunt. Deep, menacing growls filled the area, paralyzing the fillies, Babs included, with fear.

"Applebloom, y-you didn't tell me that there were timberwolves out here!" Babs exclaimed as the four of them began backing up from the pack of hunters.

"Ah didn't think I'd need to! Ya shoulda knew the Everfree was dangerous!" Applebloom shot back as they quickly found themselves cornered with danger closing in. With their meal backed against the wall and having no where to go, the timberwolf at the front of the pack threw his head up howl in victory, the others following suite before reaffirming their attention back onto their prey. With their backs against the wall and with nowhere to turn, they did the next best thing.

They screamed.

XXXXX

Grigori, with the gift of flight, was able to reach them within moments.

He, Spike, and Zecora were not far from her hut when they were gathering essentials, and the Crusaders were roaming a part of the forest not too deep so they wouldn't get lost.

Pulling his wings in, Grigori dove for the source of the howls and screams, his several thousand pound body breaching the canopy again with ease, his dragon hide not receiving so much as a single scratch as he effortlessly snapped branches and leaves that were unlucky enough to be in the way of his descent. He hit the ground with a crash of splintering wood, having landed on one very unfortunate timberwolf. He did not give himself a moment to professionally stick the landing as he turned to the rest of the pack, who were just snapping out of their shock. They lowered their bodies defensively, backing up, growling at the larger predator. Grigori assumed a defensive stance in front of the Crusaders, who were stricken on the spot, and waved his tail threateningly, followed by predatory growls and snarls of his own. To finish off the act, smoke and flames erupted out of his nostrils, small enough to not cause a forest fire, but enough to get the point across.

If there was one thing a timberwolf knew in life, it was to stay away from fire at all costs, and seeing this bigger, stronger creature generate it from its snout, they turned tail and fled as quickly as they came, tripping over each other in their rush to get away.

'It seems they are smart enough to know what fire is.' Grigori thought before standing back up straight and shifting his gaze over to the Crusaders, who, rather than scared now, looked at him in curiosity. Grigori tilted his head in thought, thinking back to the ponies Spike has told him about. A quick glance at their blank flanks told him exactly who they were.

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders, correct?" Grigori figured, the specific pony title not exactly feeling comfortable as it rolled off of his draconic tongue. Almost immediately, their expressions perked up as they figured out who he was.

"Yur Grigori!" Applebloom explained as she and her comrades were about to assault him with questions, but before the first interrogative was uttered, Spike and Zecora had arrived. Hopping off of Zecora's back, Spike walked up to the Crusaders, keeping them silent under his scrutinizing gaze.

"You remember what I said, right?" he asked, looking over them.

"Yeah yeah, don't tell anypony. We get it." Scootaloo sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Not a soul." Grigori reaffirmed, walking up next to them. "But getting back to more pressing matters, what possessed you four to venture out into the Everfree without a guardian?" the drake asked, lowering his head to their level, emphasizing the seriousness o the subject. Upon being asked that, the Crusaders all lowered their ears in shame, but then grew glares, all aimed at Babs.

"Alright, alright, I get it! I dropped the ball on this one! I messed up, okay?" the city filly snapped defensively. Satisfied that credit was taken where credit was due, they looked around, trying to avoid the disappointed gazes of Spike and Zecora. They looked back to Grigori, who rose back to his height, now looking more imposing than moments ago.

"Come now, the four of you. Ponyville awaits." Grigori said, before motioning down the trail for them. With hung heads, the four began their walk back to the safety of Ponyville, Spike, Zecora, and Grigori following closely behind.

XXXXX

Featherweight is known for many things around Ponyville.

He's nice, quiet, and is distinctively skinny for his age, but one thing that truly stands out is his naivety, being that it led to the turmoil that ensued when the Crusaders worked for the Foal Free Press. He never had bad intentions, but it was still safe to say he still had some fault in it.

He was currently walking about the outskirts of Ponyville, camera draped around his neck, looking for new, juicy material for this week's paper. The day for him, as well as for most of the ponies in Ponyville, was slow and uneventful, and today was his last day to get something interesting onto the paper before they were printed. But lady luck would be in his favor today as something caught his ire.

From the direction of the Everfree, the Crusaders emerged from the thick vegetation, accompanied by Spike, uh... Zecora, was it? And a dragon. Wait...

A dragon?!

Featherweight dove behind some bushes SWAT style, camera at the ready. He zoomed in to get the group in the frame along with the background of the Everfree forest. But following the flash, Spike looked in his direction, and he ducked back in the bushes just in time. He was a safe distance of about fifty yards, so he wager he wasn't heard, but h waited a few moments after he had heard the Crusaders say their goodbyes in unison before very slowly and carefully looking back out to see them and Spike heading off back towards Ponyville. With the coast clear, Featherweight emerged from the bushes, hoof-pumping in victory at his new headline for the Foal Free Press before scampering off into the town.

Revelation

School in Ponyville the next day came by as usual for the colts and fillies.

Cheerilee taught her class, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were bored out of their minds, Featherweight had his mind on the Foal Free Press today, and the Crusaders had a new topic to talk about today, the topic today not about earning their cutie marks.

"That's all for today, students. Class dismissed! And don't forget to pick up this week's papers! I'm sure the Foal Free Press will give you something really interesting this week!" Cheerilee urged to her students before they took their leave, some of them grabbing papers from the stack next to her desk before they made their way out, save for the Crusaders, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon, none of whom interested due their history with the Foal Free Press.

Walking away from the school the Crusaders headed on their way to their clubhouse, passing through town, seeing Featherweight and Rumble tugging a wagonload of newspapers, but paid them no mind.

"So what next to earn out Cutie Marks?" Applebloom asked her fellow crusaders.

XXXXX

Spike flopped down on the couch in the main room of the library, his feather duster falling out of his grip as his arm draped off of the edge.

The library was cleaned, the books reshelved and reordered, and Spike done for the day.

"All to do now is just rela-" there was a thud at his door. "Son of a dragon." Spike mumbled as he peeled himself from the couch to go check the door. Opening it, he found Derpy flying away with saddlebags full of rolled up newspapers. Looking down, he saw the one that was thrown at his door. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the title of the article.

"The Foal Free Press? Hm, they never had anything good enough to send to homes." Spike said, picking up. Cutting the rubber band and tossing it aside, he unrolled the newspaper and read the headlining article. But as soon as he saw the picture, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

The next thing he knew, he was out of the door, on his way to the CMC headquarters, a.k.a. the treehouse, newspaper in arm.

XXXXX

The very last thing the crusaders were expecting was a fuming purple drake bursting in the door with a rolled up newspaper.

Sweetie Belle, ever the naive one, bounced up to him, completely disregarding the drake's current state.

"Hi Spike! What's going on?" the unicorn filly asked, her fellow crusaders giving her bewildered looks from the relative safety of a few feet.

"Explain this!" Spike demanded as he flipped oven the newspaper, showing them the front page headlining photo of Them, Zecora, and Grigori coming out of the Everfree. Upon seeing and digesting the sight of the said photo, the four crusaders exchanged glances.

"Uh-oh." was all that was said between them before they bolted back towards town, Spike following after, yelling out to them to explain themselves.

XXXXX

Arriving back in Ponyville, the four, plus Spike, all looked around with horrified looks to see the populace visibly enjoying the new read of the week, seemingly everypony having a newspaper to read, or peeping over to somepony who's in possession of one, regardless of what they were doing before their eyes landed on the new, interesting read.

"They're everywhere!" Sweetie Belle panicked, much in the dramatic fashion of her sister.

"Grigori's not gonna like this, not one bit." Scootaloo mumbled, staring at the ground, shaking her head.

Getting another look from a nearby copy that Roseluck was reading before the latter of whom could utter a question to the filly about her being in it, Sweetie Belle ran back to her friends.

"Hold on, guys. We couldn't have purposely got that picture taken." Sweetie Belle stated, looking between them. Spike, who still had his copy of the newspaper, had finally caught back up to them.

"Huh?" he asked, utterly confused. Sweetie Belle took the paper and unfurled it, laying it out on the ground for all of them to see.

"See how it was taken? None of us could've known that we were being filmed. Did any of you know?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking to face the others, who all shook their heads no.

"So if you four didn't take the picture, then who did?" Spike asked.

"I think I have a good idea who it might be." Scootaloo figured before walking off, her fellow crusaders following after with Spike in tow.

"Hey, there's Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" one of the mares, Lyra, pointed out, and once that happened, everypony tore their eyes away from the read and saw Spike and the crusaders.

"But before we do that... RUN!" and like that, they were away with a good portion of the town running after them, asking questions regarding the news.

XXXXX

Celestia sat upon a nicely fluffed cushion in her workroom in the Castle's tallest tower, writing in a simple parchment when the door to her room opened, revealing none other than Twilight Sparkle. Setting the pen down, Celestia smiled at her fellow alicorn.

"Twilight, there you are. I was just thinking about you." Celestia greeted, getting up and walking over to her.

"Y-you have?" Twilight's expression seemed to brighten at that.

Celestia nodded. "Did you greet Spike's new friend yet?" she asked.

"Oh, yes! He goes by the name of Grigori. The mares and I met him in his cave just outside of Ponyville. As it turned out, he seemed really nice. A bit stone-faced and no-nonsense, but really nice. He told us that he refuses to leave the Everfree Forest unless there's an emergency, out of fear of causing the town panic. We all want to get the town to know him, but we don't know what to do." Twilight explained their small predicament, causing her and Celestia to ponder a solution.

"Well, I don't see why he could not just enter Ponyville. From what I gathered, Ponyville is no stranger to the unusual." Celestia pointed out.

"He seemed really adamant on staying until he's needed, though. I don't think he'd be convinced even if we told him. He might even already know." Twilight explained.

"I'm assuming he started with Ponyville because of that very reason. What do you think, Luna?" Celestia figured, looking behind her to the seemingly empty space behind her, her smirk growing. A moment later, a dark bluish mist seeped out from the floor, manifesting and taking form, Luna standing before her a moment later, a sheepish smile on her face.

"My apologies, dear sister. But I simply could not resist." Celestia only giggled at that.

"No need for apologies, Luna. However, I would like your opinion on this." Celestia said as she motioned her sister to follow her. Together, the two alicorns walked, discussing.

"Well, I suppose he chose Ponyville above all else because of the fact that Ponyville gets no small dosage of danger. Combating danger and saving the lives of our precious subjects would put him in good light, I am certain." Luna figured. "He would not be concerned, not so much as first appearance, but reputation. I would choose Ponyville as a first for that same reason if I were him. Tis easy to figure out since it borders the Everfree Forest, and all know if the creatures that live within." Luna explained.

"I must agree. One of us could offer some words of encouragement. How about you, Luna? You seem genuinely interested in him, and you are an expert on the unknown and mysterious more so than myself. I wager you'll make a very valuable friend as well." Celestia suggested, causing the younger sister to stare back at her with a raised eyebrow before focusing forward again, pondering the idea.

"I suppose. It would prove an... interesting encounter. I will think upon it." Luna said with a nod, causing Celestia to cast a smile of approval. With that, Luna looked back to Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle, where exactly does this Grigori live? I will exchange words with him tonight."

"At the peak of the mountain closest to Ponyville. It's actually within sight of the town." Twilight replied.

"Very well. I will go and prepare for my departure. I leave at nightfall." Luna stated before leaving the room.

XXXXX

That night, Luna made her way to Ponyville.

With all of Equestria asleep during the night, Luna often had much free time to herself, save for when she volunteered to take a load off of her elder sister as she worked and listened to her subjects during the day, and in that free time, Luna often went out on her own to explore modern day Equestria.

But tonight, rather than a journey, she was on a quest.

As she flew above the streets and homes of Ponyville, a landmark caught her eye. A mountain, silhouetted against the cast light of the full moon, stood out to her. Having found her target, the princess of the night flew in towards her destination.

Teleportation was far more effective than flight, especially since an alicorn's magic was near infinite, but there is much pleasure to be taken in flight, whether be pegasi, griffons, or alicorns. The wind through her feathers was already reason enough, aside from other reasons.

As she landed at the mouth of the mountain, she ignited her horn to provide light for the blackness of the cave. Satisfied, she made her way inside. Nothing but the clops of her slippers and her steady breathing could be heard as each sound she made echoed throughout the interior of the cavern. What first caught her eye was the dull, but noticeable shine of the apparent hoard of gems at the far end of the cave. A few mine carts rested nearby, presumably how Grigori was able to carry them back here. Speaking of whom...

Luna turned around, facing the entrance at the sound of loud wingbeats, and moments later, Grigori landed before her, the fresh kill of a deer clutched in his jaws. Luna herself didn't even wince.

"Princess Luna." Grigori addressed after putting down his kill with a deep bow of the head.

"A pleasure. You must be Grigori. Twilight Sparkle has told my sister and I about you." Luna spoke, walking up to him.

"What does your fellow alicorn say of me?" the drake asked before grabbing his fresh kill again and carrying it into the cave.

"She says you are nice. Stone-faced, but nice all the same. She tells me that you refuse to leave the confines of the forest unless for a dire emergency." Luna explained.

Grigori nodded at that "She speaks truth. I would not like to cause harm to the land of friendship for any reason." Grigori clarified before lightly breathing fire onto the carcass, singing away the fur and cooking the meat. "I will take an opportunity when it presents itself."

"You do not have to wait for an opportunity to present yourself. At least, in Ponyville. The inhabitants are... resilient to the mysterious and unknown. They live right along the edge of the Everfree Forest." Luna rebutted.

"I assumed as much after thought, but you could never be too cautious, especially if you are a dragon if any kind. Whether it is your order or request for me to make myself known to Ponyville, I will honor it." Grigori stated before digging into his meal, ripping off a sizable quantity of meat from the flank. Luna simply chuckled.

"It is no trouble, Grigori. I am to simply tell you that there is no trouble with Ponyville. They might even take a liking to you. But if you wish to wait before your introduction, I will not pester you on it. I believe Spike and the former element bearers are more than capable of that."

Grigori gave her a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"I will be looking forward to your introduction, and I will be informing Twilight of our agreement, and I will have her and her friends pester you until you do." Luna explained, a smirk growing as his bemused expression.

"You do not give choice in this matter, do you?" Grigori asked with a raised eyebrow.

"If I did, would there be any progress?" Luna shot back, her smirk still there.

"True words spoken. Very well. Expect my arrival to Ponyville following the afternoon, when all are aware." Grigori stated before returning to his meal.

Satisfied, Luna turned to leave. "I expect nothing less." and with that, she took flight off into the night, leaving Grigori to dig into his meal.

Much would happen tomorrow, this he could already guess.

A Noble Purpose

Purpose

The following afternoon of the next day, the Mane 6, along with a good portion of Ponyville's occupants, were waiting in town Square.

All manor of party decorations were set up in honor of Grigori's arrival, courtesy of Pinkie Pie, who named this occasion Grigori's Welcoming Party. The townsfolk, though already expecting Grigori in all his draconic glory via yesterday's newspaper, were still anxious from the photo of Grigori standing with Spike, Zecora, and the crusaders, all of whom he simply towered over. Even then, having a new visitor to Ponyville always had its excitement.

Twilight was standing atop the stage in front of city hall overlooking the crowd, looking over a clipboard, checking off occupants and party supplies. With the only thing left unchecked being Grigori and Spike, Twilight looked about the skies for the missing dragons. That was, up until Pinkie's announcement drew the attention of her and the crowd.

"They're coming they're coming they're coming!" Pinkie Pie practically screamed from the balcony of town hall, hopping up and down, pointing a hoof in the direction where she saw the drakes approach from the direction of the Everfree, silhouetted by the sun. The townsfolk followed her lead and looked onto the direction of the Everfree, some immediately pointing out the silhouette in the sky and more following as Spike and Grigori drew closer. The crowd was now rife with chatter, and as Grigori and Spike became visible from the glare of the sun, hoots and cheers began to sound from the crowd.

XXXXX

"Is all this the doing of Pinkie Pie?" Grigori asked, noticing the extensive party decorations set up about town square as flew withing the boundaries of the town.

"Yeah. What better way to get everypony in one place than a welcoming party?" Spike asked as he rode on the back of Grigori's neck, using the larger drake's main horns as handles. "Alright, now let's circle around a bit for the crowd to get a good look at you." Spike suggested as he tilted Grigori's head slightly to the right. In kind, Grigori began banking in that direction, circling clockwise around town square. He could pick up the collective chatter, 'ooh's and 'awe's of the ponies as he circled the area. After completing one full fly-around, he flew in to land, heading for the stage. Pulling his wings up, he slowed his descent and beat his wings once to stop his momentum, landing on the stage with a good thud.

By now, the crowd quieted down to gentle chattering as Grigori lowered his head to allow Spike to hop off and walk towards Twilight. With Spike and Grigori accounted for, Twilight checked them off on the list and nodded to Mayor Mare, who smiled and walked up to the microphone. After calling for the crowd's silence and clearing her voice, she began speaking.

"Good afternoon, citizens of Ponyville. Thank you all for coming on this fine Saturday afternoon to spend time celebrating the arrival of our new friend. From what Spike and Twilight Sparkle told me, their new friend Grigori has come to Equestria to make friends, and I say what better place for him to start than where friendship is magic? So I say we give him the best welcoming party we've got! Who's with me?" at that, the crowd of ponies erupted in cheers.

Seeing the excitement of the crowd, Grigori looked over to the group, tilting his head in slight confusion. "All of this... for a single person?"

Pinkie reappeared by some arcane means on the drake's head, balancing on all four of her hooves as she leaned down to press her forehead against his "Yep! All for you! Now let's PARTY!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up from his head at least ten feet in the air as confetti shot up from the stage, earning another uproar from the crowd of excited ponies.

XXXXX

Pinkie Pie's parties were always fun, no matter what they celebrated, from birthday parties to after-birthday parties to even love for oxygen parties, hosting plants and what they offered. Welcoming parties were just as special.

And Grigori was the hype.

Everypony, whether it be foal, stallion, or mare, essentially crowded around him to bombard him at point blank with questions. Spike and the others tried to hold them off, but it was impossible as the entire town crowded around him.

"Do you dig up gems?" a yellow filly would ask.

"What's being a dragon like?" a mint-colored mare would ask.

"Can you breathe fire?" one small, cream-colored colt asked.

Grigori was locked in place with nowhere to go, as a result. He tried backing up, but the ponies surrounded him, Spike standing at the back of the crowd atop Twilight, shrugging his shoulders as Grigori's gaze rested upon him. He looked to the others for advice, but all he got were apologetic and encouraging looks, so he did the next best thing he could do and answered their onslaught of questions.

"Yes, I do." he said in reply to Peachie Pie.

"Being a large, fire-breathing reptile." he replied to the minty mare.

"Abundant amounts." after he had answered that one question from Pipsqueak, the little colt began to chant; 'Breathe fire!'. Soon enough, the entire crowd began chanting, even Spike and the others, save for Fluttershy, of course.

"Breathe fire! Breathe fire! Breathe fire! Breathe fire!..." there was little to none Grigori could do, so to quiet them, he rose to his hind legs, rearing his head back, chest expanding as he took in all the air his powerful lungs would allow. With this, the ponies quieted down and gave him the much-needed space, looking on in anticipation and excitement. When he deemed the ponies far enough away, a good twenty feet, he released.

An all-powerful jet of flame erupted from Grigori's mouth, firing upward into the sky, darkening the nearby area with its shear brightness. He flamed for about ten seconds before stopping, the nearby area regaining its brightness as Grigori dropped back to all fours, holding his maw open, venting profuse amounts of steam, catching his lost breath as well. He could breathe for much longer, but he stopped short so he still had fuel left.

The ponies were in awe to say the least, sets upon sets of wide, colorful eyes staring back at him. Mouths were agape, and the entire town square was silent. Grigori began to falter, thinking he may have done something wrong, like scaring them, but he looked over to Spike, who had his claw held up, three of his four digits extended. He dropped one... then another... and then...

The town came back to the life as yells, cheers, hoots, and whistles erupted once more about the crowd. Grigori felt the soft rumbling of hooves against the ground, what he assumes how ponies applaud. Grigori let a smirk of accomplishment appear upon his face.

'Perhaps living amongst ponies will not be as difficult as I thought.' Grigori thought. If breathing fire earned him naught but praise, then he was more than confident that he could befriend them.

'Then again, what else would one expect from a dragon?' he thought.

XXXXX

After the moment of glory died down, the party continued without a hitch.

Grigori spent the time being introduced to the populace, many with open arms, some more than a little shy at first. For the most part, the town's opinion on him was positive. Lyra seemed fascinated at the very sight of him, asking countless questions about draconic culture and the like. Roseluck was ecstatic at Grigori admitting his favored flower was the rose. Cheerilee gave a hearty greeting while also helping keep the hyperactive colts and fillies at bay with a well-placed lecture, of which he was thankful for. He was then approached by a pink filly, who attempted a proposal, of which he said he would take into consideration before she was pulled back by her father, Filthy Rich, who greeted him as well.

After greeting all who were eager to meet him, Grigori proceeded on with the party games. There was little else in a party that interested him other than the games, of which, he won against the ponies without effort, such as apple bobbing, pumpkin launching, and hay bale tossing.

There were also a large bowl of gems at the snack table for him and Spike that they wolfed down, but after Grigori got his fill of festivities and the party began to die down into the late evening, he settled next to the stage with Spike leaning against him.

"Had fun?" the little drake asked, looking up to him with a smirk.

Grigori cast him a brief glance before looking back out to the town, watching as ponies sad their goodbyes before heading to their homes. "I did, in fact. More than I would come to think." Spike grinned at that, elbowing him in the side.

"See? Ponies aren't so bad." Spike told him.

"There was never any doubt." Grigori replied, making Spike give a content nod.

"So what's the plan?" Spike asked, looking back up to him.

"Pardon?" Grigori asked, looking down to him, confused.

"You know, now that everypony knows who you are? I mean, it won't take long for all of Equestria to know about you. I mean, there's no reason in coming all this way if you were just gonna go for Ponyville." Spike reasoned.

Grigori looked back up, pondering the thought. He saw fit not to share his goals with Spike just yet, however. "Well, a positive reputation here should prove enough to others that I am no threat. Perhaps I may even greet the royal sisters." Grigori explained.

"Though that's some plan, I'm talking about short term. Something immediate, like a job." Spike clarified.

"... I've no need for one." Grigori told him. The Everfree already provides abundant food and his cave is already a sufficient home.

"I mean one that could help you be a little more well-known. Something that'll make everyone think better of you, you know? Like gem-hunting or bodyguarding. I mean, as far as I know, dragons are good at that kind of stuff." the purple drake reasoned.

"I see your reasoning, but finding gemstones for ponies would likely make me out as a source of riches to most. And as far as being a hired guardian, I would be made out to the highest bidder, both ending negatively for me and others. If I were to have an... occupation, it would be one that benefits all with some equal measure of fraternity." Grigori explained. "Not to mention it would be one that does not take up too much of my time. I've much more to do than focusing entirely on one singular purpose."

Just as he said that, they noticed Big Mac walking by, pulling a kart holding an old, rusted plow. The thing was probably harder to pull in soft soil than itself in a kart over the even dirt of the Ponyville streets.

Just them, a lightbulb clicked into the minds of both dragons as they shared a glance.

XXXXX

A week flew by, and the town was busy.

Grigori was on his way towards the Golden Oak Library, but he after landing in town, he decided to walk the rest of the way to see the fruits of his recent labor.

As he passed by townsfolk, he received happy and friendly greetings, now as per usual, which he returned in kind with simple waving.

"Hey Grigori!" the thick southern accent of Applejack caught his attention as he looked over his shoulder to see the farmpony trot up to his side as he walked.

"Hello, Applejack." came his simple greeting.

"Howdy, Grig. Ah'm guessin' you're off to the library again? How ya been doin' with your new job?" Applejack asked, starting up conversation.

"Yes, and I am met well with orders and requests. The populace seems to take great pleasure in whate'er I may craft for them." the drake replied, focusing his attention forward again.

"Ah can't say ah blame 'em. After all, that new plow ya made for mah brother cuts through the fields like a hot knife through butter. Ah ain't never seen a plow workin' as good as that. What's your secret?" Applejack asked, leaning in, curious.

"There is no secret to my methods. What a pony can craft with wet clay, I can craft just as easy with molten metal." Grigori explained. "Drakes are naturally resistant to heat." he added. "But blacksmithing aside, my reputation is growing. In a positive way, I might add."

Applejack grinned at that. "Oh, ah see." she said, growing a casual look, looking off into the streets. "So any mares in town ya have your eye on?"

The shear bluntness and directness of the question almost made the crimson drake trip. "What do you mean by that?" he half asked, half demanded, and that only made the farmpony chuckle.

"Oh c'mon, ya didn't see all the friendly looks some of the mares gave ya? I thought ya might be more experienced in that." Applejack said.

"I am a dragon, Applejack. Us dragons are experienced in the necessary skills in life, such as hunting, gathering, and our natural abilities. I am ill-experienced in love and friendship." Grigori clarified.

"Aww, don't sweat it, Grigori!" Applejack assured, giving him a nice, hard pat on the shoulder, which he barely felt. "You'll have that special someone in time!" Applejack made sure to say 'someone' instead of 'somepony', just in case.

"As you say." Grigori concluded, focusing ahead again. "We are here." Grigori announced, but took notice of the golden chariot and the two solar guards waiting just outside of the Golden Oaks Library. Tilting his head in curiosity, Grigori walked in to see what was up, Applejack following right behind. As Grigori approached, the guards restraightened their postures, feeling apparent unease at the large drake's presence. Seeing this, Applejack stepped up to ease the tension.

"Howdy, you two. Ah take it the princess is in the library?" Applejack asked, looking between them.

The guard on the right seemed to ease up first, so he spoke up. "Yes, Miss Apple. The princess is awaiting you and your friend." the guard explained, motioning with his spear towards Grigori, who narrowed his gaze at the guard at the gesture, making him quiver slightly. Picking up on the unintentional threat, the guardpony hastily straightened his spear again, but if one looked closely, they could see that his forelimb was shaking.

Applejack seemed to not notice or nit care as she brightened up again. "Well, ah suggest we don't keep 'er waitin'. C'mon, Grigori." Applejack said as she opened the door, Grigori following her in, ducking his head as he entered. As soon as the doors closed behind him, both guards breathed a long sigh of relief.

XXXXX

Walking inside, Applejack and Grigori noticed the princess and the rest of the mares gathered in a circle, the princess and Rarity being the ones to lay down on cushions.

Applejack walked up, joining the circle as she greeted the group. Celestia, after catching an eyeful of the drake, turned her gaze to Twilight. "So Twilight, is this Grigori?" the princess asked, standing up from her cushion. The nod from the fellow princess have the sun goddess incentive to walk over to the drake, who stayed right where he was. But even though he was standing in the presence of the very all-powerful goddess that raises and sets the sun that gave all life, he felt an off sense of comfort in her.

"Hello, Grigori." she began. "Twilight and her friends have told me a lot about you. And I must say; I'm impressed."

Grigori nodded respectfully at the compliment. "I aim for nothing less. Tis truly an honor to see you in all of your glory." Grigori replied.

"The honor is all mine." Celestia's smile broadened. "I hear you've come to Equestria to make friends. If so, I'll gladly be yours." Celestia stated, offering a foreleg to shake.

Grigori accepted the offer without the slightest hesitation. "Thank you, princess of the sun." he shook once before letting her go. "But compliments, honor, and friendship aside, there is aught I've to discuss with you, if it is no bother." Grigori told her, his ultimate goal still fresh in his mind.

Celestia gave a simple nod. "Then let's discuss over a hot cup of tea." Celestia suggested before heading back over to the girls to rejoin the circle, picking up her cup of tea. She motioned him over, and so Grigori walked in to sit across from her, laying down in sphinx position between Twilight and Applejack.

With all comfortable, Celestia spoke up again. "So what is it you want to talk to me about?"

With no regrets, Grigori gave his answer. "I came to Equestria to see whether or not our kinds may coexist."

A Reason

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Smithing 101

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An Old Acquaintance

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The Next Step

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