//------------------------------// // Dragon Meets Ponies // Story: Of Dragons and Ponies // by Mystic_Knightwolf //------------------------------// 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 as a subtle joke, but it only made Twilight feel 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! You're 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?"