"Coexist?" Celestia asked, her eyes meeting his in a look of curiosity, her smile dropping at the seriousness of Grigori's tone.
The crimson drake nodded. "Yes. The question arises in the worthy of my kind as to whether or not we may exist together. I am not at liberty to explain the reasoning behind their motives, but I am told that coexistence with ponies is imperative. Imperative enough to seek. Ponies, given their value of friendship and tolerance, are... preferable to others. Deep-seated hate stands in the way of progress." Grigori explained, drawing the ire of the rest of the group.
"Why would anyone just up and hate dragons? They're super awesome!" Pinkie argued.
"The reasons are obvious." Grigori replied, snorting a small plume of smoke to prove his point. "I can imagine your past encounters with dragons other than Spike did nothing but harbor ill feelings as well as cause destruction. Am I correct?" his point was proven with the uneasy, but collective nods of the girls.
"But Grigori..." Celestia spoke up "... from what I've heard thus far, you've come to Equestria as a beacon of good. Everything I've heard about from my sister or from Twilight boded a positive opinion of you. If your goal is to have dragons and ponies coexist in harmony, this is definitely a good start." the princess reasoned with a sincere smile. The girls nodded happily in agreement.
"Not anyone would go out of their way to save somepony. Like you did with Zecora." Twilight spoke.
"Or Applebloon an' Babs." Applejack added.
"Or Sweetie Belle and I." came Rarity.
"Or Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"I understand." Grigori assured, albeit halfheartedly. "But I am a dragon. We were made to dominate. Rapacity and power is in our blood. It is not a fact I am particularly proud of." Grigori stated before rising up to a sitting position. "But I can be trusted. I know this. But I am not worthy of being looked to as a hero." Grigori explained.
"There ya go bein' all modest and whatnot. Ya saved all their lives, Sugarcube. Ah still think that's the best we all coulda' hoped fer." Applejack stated. Everyone else nodded in agreement, even Fluttershy, which gradually softened Grigori's expression.
"Perhaps. I suppose so long as you are content, but my intent to be in the good graces of the ponies does not stop there." Grigori stated.
"I would not assume it did. Perhaps when more ponies know of you, and I know they will, you may be open to more options in pleasing my little subjects." Celestia said with a smile before it faded. "But as a princess, it is my duty to protect my subjects from any possible threat. That includes you, if need be."
"You offer one hand and arm the other; a good virtue. I will not disappoint." Grigori stated resolutely.
Nodding, Celestia reared her attention elsewhere. "Indeed. But royal duty beckons, and I must cut this trip short. It has been a privilege to finally meet you, Grigori. And thank you Twilight, for preparing such an occasion. I look forward to weekly reports on Grigori's doings, if you are able. Until then, my little ponies. Be sure to send Spike my regards." and with that, Celestia made her departure.
Now alone with the girls, Grigori stood himself. "I must depart as well." Grigori said, turning tail towards the door. "If any of the group would see me, I will be upon my mountain." and with that, he made towards the door, heading back out.
XXXXX
Back outside, Grigori made his way through Ponyville.
As he walked, greetings from passerbyers were common now, but his mind was focused elsewhere as he stared at the ground, finally stopping atop Ponyville's archway bridge. The princesses are now aware of his intentions, and they even encourage it. But where to go next, the drake has no idea. His apparent occupation in smithing received good praise, but now, it felt pointless. Blacksmithing, he saw as a means to an end, but with no clear end, there is no point in the means. Perhaps this was a foolish idea...
"Excuse me?" the call and sound of the quick trot of hooves drew Grigori's attention as he looked behind him to see a grey earth pony filly, dressed in blue glasses and a pearl necklace.
"Hm?" Grigori murmured, raising a brow.
"I-I'm sorry for bothering you, but do you have a moment?" Silver Spoon said, maintaining a polite, yet somewhat nervous tone.
"Speak. I will listen." Grigori urged. His voice lacked force, and so he was content to see that the filly was not too visibly afraid of him.
"Well, um... my mom... Sterling Silver... she hasn't been getting many customers since... well... you..." Silver Spoon's explanation was timid and nervous, but the message was clear.
"Yes?" Grigori urged again, resting against the side of the bridge. "Have you come to warn me of something, Silver Spoon?"
"Mm-Mm." Silver Spoon muttered, shaking her head. "My mother's sales have been dropping since you started your... shop, but she's too scared of you to say anything about it."
"Hm... I was afraid of this...." he muttered to himself "Very noble of you to speak on her behalf, young one. If my actions impedes her doings, I will not let my ambitions give pause to your mother's way of life." Grigori declared.
"But that's the thing; why stop what you're good at when you can keep doing something with it?" Silver Spoon asked, her voice nervous, as if she had an idea, but was skeptical of the outcome. But Grigori could read her well.
"What is it you propose?" Grigori asked, looking back to her from over the bridge, his interest piqued.
"M-maybe you could work with us in our business? O-or at least teach me how to forge like you do?" Silver Spoon had the courage to speak, though not with much strength. Her resolve seemed to chip away as she waited for a reply.
But fortunately for he filly, Grigori did not take long. "As a dragon, it is not in my interest to... be part of your family trade. But teaching you to fashion metal as I do makes for an... interesting proposal. One I feel I can accept. If that is your wish, I will grant it." Grigori said, standing back up.
Silver Spoon bubbled up at that. "You'll teach me?" her eyes seemed to brighten a shade, and the dragon paused a moment, somewhat entranced by the sheer happiness behind such large, bright eyes...
... before shaking free from it a moment later "Yes. If you are able, I will teach you to control metal as a dragon would, provided your guardian approves. I will be present in this town tomorrow. If you would learn from me, seek me in my forge and I will allow it. Fare thee well." and with that, Grigori turned tail, spread his wings, and took off into the afternoon sky.
XXXXX
After the girls departed, Twilight was in the library with Spike, reading a book.
"Hey Twilight, you think we could pay Grigori a visit later on?" Spike asked, walking up next to her.
"What for, Spike?" Twilight asked, not looking up from her book as she turned a page.
"Isn't it obvious? Not even a few hours gave us enough time to talk last week, and seeing him on his own turn might make him a little more open to tell us something cool. He could satisfy your report, if you ask him." Spike reasoned, and based on Twilight's pause, he knew he struck a nerve. "So how about it? Maybe tonight?"
XXXXX
Later that day, Grigori landed atop the peak of his mountain, spotting Twilight and Spike. "Greetings." he began as he hopped down to the mouth of the cave where they were. "What brings you to my mountain?"
With nicely hidden excitement, Spike was the first to speak. "We were hoping we could talk more. Maybe know a little more about each other." Spike explained, hopping off of Twilight, approaching him.
"Hmm. Yes, our previous conversations have been cut short by situation." Grigori reasoned before taking flight again, landing atip the mouth of his cave. "Both of you have questions as I am assumed to have the answers. What would you ask of me?" he asked, relaxing in his position.
Figuring he'd get his turn in due time, Spike let Twilight go first. Nodding to him, the princess spoke. "Well, back in the library, you said you could be trusted, and I assume you were able to somehow overcome your instinctive nature." Twilight began.
"True. I can be trusted, and I have done what you claim. But I have overcome my primal nature only through great effort and meditation." he explained, stroking the curiosity of his audience.
"Meditation? What kind?" Twilight was the one to ask, her eyes a bit wider than usual.
"One that teaches a philosophy. An idea, who's teachings entail how a dragon is to overcome their primal nature and embrace an existence without the desire to dominate or control. Few dragons have the will to attempt such a radical change, and even fewer have the spirit to succeed. But I am among that few, which is why I humble myself in your presence." he said, motioning abroad to emphasize. "But this way of life does not tell me to willingly save those in peril. It has only changed my frame of mind to the point I may consider it. Saving Zecora, Rarity, Spike, or the young ones were the choices I made."
"So it's made you a good person?" Twilight wondered.
"Hmmm... yes and no. While it has taught me restraint, discipline, and to a measure, kindness, it was my choice in the end. I am still a dragon of pride and satisfaction." Grigori elaborated for Twilight. Sensing no more curiosity from her, he shifted his attention to the small drake next to her. "With your... surrogate mother's questions sated for the moment, what have you to ask, Spike?" Grigori wondered, tilting his head.
And so the next few hours were spent in conversation between mainly Grigori and Spike. Twilight focused on gathering notes for her first report to the princess, and so that gave the two drakes ample space to talk it up.