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."