It all happened so fast.
They'd reached the base of the mountain when the Shadow Dragons appeared. Now Spike and Sapphire huddled together in the shelter of a shallow cave in the mountain wall, watching the dragons cross this way and that across the night sky. At first the two young dragons feared that the dark dragons had come in search of vengeance against them. Spike and Sapphire couldn't have been certain that the Shadow Dragons hadn't seen them, but if they had, they paid the two no mind.
It had all happened so fast Spike still couldn't believe what he was seeing. A few more minutes of watching did nothing to numb the disbelief. There weren't just five of them on a hit and run mission this time. The Shadow Dragons were out in force.
"Spike," Sapphire whispered, clutching her boyfriend tightly. "What's going on?"
The fact there was no visible resistance brought Spike a chill that had nothing to with being next to an ice dragon. "I have no idea. But Celestia needs to know about this."
Spike took out his quill and a piece of parchment, scribbled down what he'd seen and sent the letter on its way in a puff of flame that, for just an instant, lit the cave with a jade glow. Mere seconds had passed when Spike's stomach rumbled, forcing him to spit out another piece of parchment. His heart seemed to drop to his feet when he read it. It was the same letter he'd just sent.
"What the," Spike wondered out loud.
"What is it?" Sapphire asked.
It took a few moments for Spike to form the proper words. "I think I've just been return mailed!"
Sapphire peered over Spike's shoulder to get a look at the letter. "What do you mean?"
"The letter couldn't make it to its intended recipient. Something must be blocking my link with Celestia. Which means," Spike paused at a sudden tingling in his spine, "something bad might have happened to her."
Sapphire kept her eyes on the sky, regarding the scores of dragons flying about. "Can't be a coincidence, what with all the Shadow Dragons out there."
"That's what worries me."
Spike seemed to lose himself in his skyward gaze, wondering what they should do. Two teenage dragons in the middle of Equestria would stick out like a busted hoof, especially if the Shadow Dragons were looking for them, but a nagging sense of worry made Spike want to fly towards Ponyville as quickly as possible to check on his friends. Worry also pulled in the direction of Canterlot, to make sure Celestia was okay, and of course to see how Rarity was holding up with her expected foal. Spike also couldn't help but wonder what was going on in the Dragonlands now that the Shadow Dragons had occupied Equestria.
"Hey," Sapphire's voice came softly and she put a palm gently on Spike's arm, bringing him away from his inner three way tug-of-war. "It'll be okay. I'm sure Princess Celestia's safe."
Doubt gnawed at the pit of Spike's stomach. He'd never been return mailed before. Whatever had caused it had to be something serious. "I don't know. I hope you're right."
Sapphire kissed him in the cheek and cuddled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. From her shivering, Spike guessed she needed the comfort as much as he did. Sapphire's presence, her touch, the soft rhythm of her breathing all helped wash away the anxiety and, before Spike could stop it, he drifted asleep snuggled next to his love.
***
Princess Celestia layed down in the corner of her cell, the only one in the maximum-security room designed for the most dangerous of criminals. Celestia closely watched the Shadow Dragon assigned to guard her, studying his movements as he patrolled the room, noting the manner in which the sentry moved with brisk, confident strides; his posture tall and rigid. All of it was information she could use if she had the opportunity to escape.
That was wishful thinking, Celestia knew. Even if she could find a way to get past the sentry without her alicorn powers, the magic seal on her cell was another matter. Her nerves still tingled from the nasty shock she received the last-and only-time she touched the door. The guard had a good laugh out of it. Veroth placed the spell to prevent an escape, and it covered the outside of the cell door as well as the ceiling, walls and floors, making it impossible for anypony to dig their way in for a rescue attempt.
While her subjects might try to bust her out, even if they managed to incapacitate the guard, her only hope was that one of them would be powerful enough to counter the spell. The only other way the spell would be reversed would be if Veroth somehow perished, and given that the other dragons were unable to physically destroy him during the Dragon Wars, Celestia knew that was beyond hope.
Celestia lifted her head to find an unusual sight. It looked like the guard was fighting to keep his eyes open. He shook his head wildly to clear out whatever he perceived had afflicted him. Yet he began to nod. His eyes glazed over, he finally gave in, closed his eyes and slumped down to the floor. A loud, rhythmic snore came from the fallen dragon.
There was a brief flash of darkness and Princess Luna materialized in the room. Celestia regarded her sister for a few silent moments, then found herself unable to suppress a rueful chuckle, knowing that her sister was responsible for the dragon's sudden nap. "Locked up in my own dungeon. What irony."
Luna gave Celestia a look of concern. "Sister, what has happened? Dark dragons are overrunning Equestria! Why have you allowed this? And what is that ring on your horn?"
Celestia lifted a hoof to stifle her sister."One question at a time, please. It's a null-ring. It nullifies the wearer's magic, no matter how powerful it might be. The leader of those dragons placed it on me. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse: turn my country over to them, or watch it be destroyed."
“The fiends,” Luna growled. “Fear not, dear sister. I will get you out of here.”
“No, don't!” Celestia yelled as Luna prepared a lock picking spell. The warning went unheeded, and a burst of energy shot from the cell and struck Luna, blasting her against the wall.
Luna rose to her feet and shook her head to clear the pain. “A magic trap,” she mused. “Clever.”
Celestia had hoped somepony powerful enough would come to her aid, and there was nopony more powerful than the Princess of the Night. If anypony could break the spell, it was her.
“Can you dispel it?” Celestia asked.
Luna nodded. “I shall try.”
Stiffening her legs to anchor herself, Luna squeezed her eyes shut and a dark-colored energy surrounded her horn. The aura intensified as Luna gnashed her teeth, sweat beginning to form on her brow. She lowered her stance, steeling herself as the energy she gathered stole the very light from the room. When visibility returned, the magic had vanished from Luna's horn. She huffed and puffed, gazing with disbelief at the cell door.
“I cannot remove the spell. My power is not enough.” It wasn't the panting that hung Luna's mouth open, but the utter shock. All her power, and it was not enough to undo the seal. “What manner of fiend are we up against?”
“Do recall the stories our parents told us of the Dragon Wars?”
“Indeed,” Luna replied. “What of it?”
“It seems the Veroth that leads these dragons is the same Veroth that led the Shadow Dragons during the Dragon Wars.”
“My stars,” Luna whispered. Her eyes glinted with silent fear for a moment, and then her face hardened with resolve.
“Will the Griffons or the Minotaurs lend us their aid?” Celestia asked, though she feared she already knew the answer.
Luna shook her head. “They are cowards. All of them.”
Sighing through her nose, Celestia let her gaze droop to the floor. “I see.”
Luna glared and turned for the room's only door. “Allies or no allies, it is my duty as Princess of the Night to defend my country. I don't care of their leader is Veroth or not, I shall settle this myself.”
“No, my sister, you'll fare no better than I, and as you can see for yourself I did not fare well. You cannot let them know of your presence. If they have another null ring and use it on you, Equestria will be completely at their mercy.”
“What shall I do, then?” Luna asked, shrugging.
“You must disguise yourself. More importantly, make sure they hold true to their promise that they won't harm anypony, though I have my doubts that they will. The dragons are surely looking for you as well, and until they've found you, I doubt they'd make such a risky move.”
Luna tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.“What makes you think that?”
“Because they fear you and I, fear our powers as alicorns. They won't break their promise as long as they anticipate a reprisal from you. Which is why I know they must be searching for you, too. You cannot let them do to you what they've done to me. If that happens, there will be nopony left who can oppose them.”
“What's more important,” Celestia continued, “is that, as my sister, when I am unable to perform my duties as ruler of Equestria, control of this country is placed in your hooves.”
All that power, all that responsibility, in her hooves? Luna held her hoof to her mouth in silent wonder. What if she failed Equestria? What if she let everypony down? All eyes would be on her now, and she could already feel the weight of each of them on her shoulders. After her stint as Nightmare Moon, did she even deserve to lead Equestria?
Celestia's voice pulled Luna's thoughts back to reality. “Please, my sister. I know this must be a terrible burden on you, but you are Equestria's final hope.”
Long seconds of silence ticked by.
“Can I count on you to find a way to defeat them?” Celestia prodded.
Luna wiped the moisture from her face, shut her glistening eyes and nodded. “Of course.”
A quick flash lit the room and Luna's form regressed into a pony of average height. Her flowing, starry mane became inconspicuous pale blue hair and her wings vanished from her body. By all accounts, she now resembled an ordinary unicorn.
The transformation was purely cosmetic, however. Celestia and Luna both knew that, unlike the last time Luna was in this form, she still had complete control over the full extent of her power. It was a disguise that would allow her to both hide from the dragons and protect her country if need be.
“How's this?” Luna asked her sister.
Celestia smiled and nodded in response, then her eyes shifted to the guard, who began to stir.
“Go!” Celestia whispered. “I know I can count on you.”
Nodding her head in return, Luna vanished from the room in a quick flash. Once she was gone, the guard rose to his feet, cupping the side of his head in one of his hands.
“What happened?” he mumbled to himself.
“You fell asleep,” Celestia answered bitterly. “Maybe you should go tell Veroth to send a dragon more competent.”
The dragon glared at her for a few seconds. He let out a low, rumbling snort and resumed his patrol. “Smart mouth,” he grumbled.
Though Celestia had every faith in her sister, she neglected to mention her other ace-in-the-hole. It was to bestow Luna the motivation and confidence she needed to lead Equestria through this crisis. If Celestia's ace-in-the-hole did show up, the Shadow Dragons would be sorry they ever stepped foot in Equestria.
Very sorry indeed.