//------------------------------// // A Dragon in the Forest // Story: Of Dragons and Ponies // by Mystic_Knightwolf //------------------------------// 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..."