Later, that same night in Canterlot Palace...
In Sombra's room, the place looked to be empty. The books lined the shelves, all in order. The bed was neatly made. Even the desk was tidy, with the seat pushed in. Only a single candle with a flame flickering gave any sign of activity. Suddenly, the quiet was broken as one of the bookshelves started to revolve, revealing a passageway behind. Out of this hole in the wall walked none other than Sombra, who stopped after exiting the passage. Behind him was Garble, who stopped midway out the passage.
Sombra turned to Garble and said "The guards did quite well, finding that mare on the same day I had them look for her. And my "spy spell" confirms that she's down in the dungeon right now."
Garble leaned on the wall, looking smug, and said "All right! Point for us. But, what now? How do we get her to go into that cave for us?"
Sombra gave an evil grin and said "Easy. All we have to do is work some persuasion and give her the proper incentive."
Just then, there was knock at the door. Sombra turned in surprise. The secret door to his lair was still open. He couldn't have anyone finding out about his work. Reacting by instinct, Sombra lit his horn. A black aura enveloped the revolving bookshelf, and it started to close.
Garble was still standing in the doorway as it closed. "OUCH!" he said as the door closed.
Sombra said "Keep quiet and don't move!"
With that, sombra walked to the door. He lit his horn, opening the door. When he opened the door, he was met with the sight of Solaris. Solaris looked to be angry. Sombra remembered how his spell had revealed to him that the Prince had been with Celestia the whole day. And the guards had mentioned how they met him while arresting the mare. But Sombra hadn't expected to see him so soon.
With the tone of anger, Solaris said "Sombra, we need to talk ,now!"
Sombra calmly replied "Your Highness, of course. How may I help you?"
Solaris said "The guards just arrested a mare in the lower class section of the city, on your orders. What is the meaning of this?"
As Sombra expected, it was about Celestia. He said "One of my duties is to keep peace in Canterlot. The mare was a known repeat offender. And today was her worst crime yet."
Solaris asked "And just what was that crime?"
Sombra said "Kidnapping royalty. You were found near her when she was arrested, of course."
Solaris took a look of surprise. He said "I was never kidnapped! I snuck out of the palace! She was innocent!"
Sombra grew a look of concern and said "Oh, dear! I wish I had known that sooner."
Solaris became confused and asked "What do you mean?"
Sombra plainly said "Unfortunately, she has already been sentenced."
Solaris grew concerned and asked "To what?"
Sombra said "To permanent exile. She has already been banished to parts unknown, outside of Equestria. I don't think she could be found now."
Solaris gave a look of shock, then a scowl. He yelled "How could you do such a thing so rashly. And, without even informing the Royal Family. Only We have the authority to deal such punishments. You have made a most grave error, Sombra. You ruined a young mare's life."
With that, Solaris turned away and ran away through the halls, visibly upset. Sombra could only smirk to himself about how brilliant a performance he had just given. Sombra closed his door. Moments later, the revolving bookshelf swung open. Garble walked out, rubbing a sore spot on his head. He walked over to Sombra.
Still feeling sore, Garble said "So, how did it go with ol' princey?"
Still smirking, Sombra replied "He took it better than I expected."
Sombra walked over to his bed and lit his horn. A large trunk magically slid out from under. It was time for the next phase of his plan.
______________________________________________________________________________
Later, in the Palace Dungeon...
In one of the cells, in the dungeon, Celestia sat bound to the wall by a chain and shackle around her neck. An anti-magic ring had been placed on her horn, so she couldn't even use magic. She counted herself lucky that the guards didn't take her robe or discover her wings. She didn't need that making it worse. And she was especially glad that they didn't her mother's amulet. At least she still had that. But it didn't make being in jail any better.
As she sat, alone, in her large open cell, she took in her surroundings. Celestia noted how the only source of light was the moonlight coming in through the barred window, high up on the wall. The cell itself was rather large. A couple corners were so dark, she couldn't even see them. But Celestia also had a lot on her mind at this time.
She was still trying to grasp the fact that she had just spent the whole day with Prince Solaris. She had heard what he was like and that he could be a gentlecolt. But she had never imagined that she, herself of all ponies, would get to spent some honest one-on-one time with him. And he was even nicer than she could have imagined. Down right charming and good hearted even. Nopony had ever stood up for her when she was trouble like that before. And, even if he had lied about his name, he still spoke so open and honestly about his feelings. She found that both nice and respectable. Celestia had to admit to herself that she might actually like Solaris.
Celestia was broken from her train of thought by the sound of a squawk. She looked up to see, none other than Philomena, sitting in the prison window. Celestia's face instantly lit up. She felt happier already, just by seeing her best friend.
Celestia exclaimed "Philomena! It's you! Oh, I'm so glad to see you."
Philomena leapt through the window and hovered down too Celestia, landing in front of her. The phoenix smiled at her pony friend, but it was easy to tell she was tired.
Philomena said "Glad I finally found you. I've been ease-dropping on the guards and searching every cell with in window all evening. It must be almost midnight by now."
Celestia replied "I know. I'm sure I've been here for hours by now. Thank you for coming coming to find me."
Philomena grew an annoyed expression, and said "Your welcome. But you shouldn't have gotten so careless. You were so distracted by "Mr. Princey", that you didn't notice we were being surrounded. Do you know how dizzy I got after Silver Sword knocked me into that window?"
Celestia replied "I'm sorry Philomena. But I don't think there will be much chance of me seeing the Prince again. He suppose to marry a mare of nobility, remember."
With that, Philomena leapt off the ground and onto Celestia's head. She spread her wings out and started to glow. A red-hot beam of heat shot out her wings and at the lock on the shackles, The shackle around Celestia's neck fell off. Philomena then shot a smaller beam at the horn ring, knocking it off. The bird leapt off of mare to let her stand. Celestia stood to her hooves and shook her entire body, trying to get feeling back in it.
Celestia stood straight up and looked down at Philomena. "Well, Philomena, looks like it's back too the streets for us."
"Oh, it doesn't have too be like that!" a voice rang out from the darkness.
Celestia and Philomena both looked in surprise. They turned to one of the large cell's corner, shrouded in darkness, where the voice came from. They looked into the corner and just barely made out what seemed to be the form of a pony.
Cautious, Celestia asked aloud "Who's there? Who are you?"
Out of the shadows, step somepony. It was a unicorn stallion with a gray coat, and a dark-gray mane & tail. He wore a black robe that covered much of his body. And he looked to be rather old.
The old stallion looked at Celestia and said "My name is Flintheart, but you call me Flint. And like you, I am but a humble beggar. But together, perhaps we can be something more."
The old stallion had a stoic look of his face. Celestia didn't know what to make of this. But, then again, the Palace Dungeon isn't exactly where you would expect to meet normal ponies. Besides, she was curious about what he just said.
Celestia asked "What do you mean?"
Old Flint replied "I mean that, somewhere in Equestria, there is a special cave. A cave filled with treasures, beyond your wildest dreams."
Celestia and Philomena looked at each other. Now this sounded interesting. At least worth listening too. They nodded to each other.
Celestia turned to Flint and said "We're listening."
Old Flint continued "It is a cave that holds the treasure of many centuries, built up. And I know both where to find, and how to get there. And, for some help, I might be willing to split it even with you. It'd be more than enough for, say, the dowry for a prince."
At hearing this, Celestia's ears perked. Could such a treasure really help her be with Solaris. It seemed farfetched to her. At the very least, any kind of treasure certainly improve her and Philomena's living conditions.
Celestia answered "Ok, you've peeked our interest. But if you know where this treasure is, why would you share it with me? What do you need my help for?"
The old stallion shrewdly replied "Look at me, I'm old! I need somepony young, with a strong set of legs, to fetch it for me. And I can think of no kind of pony better for the job than a young alicorn."
Celestia gasped at hearing this. This old stallion somehow knew she was an alicorn. But she didn't know how that could be. Celestia had never told anypony at all her secret.
Shocked, Celestia asked "Wait! How do you know I'm an alicorn? Tell me!"
The old stallion chuckled and said "Hm, Hm, Hm...Things are not always what they appear to be. Sometimes, their more than they seem, including you. With magic, might, and flight at your disposal, getting the treasure would be easy you. So, are you in?"
Still feeling skeptical, Celestia said "I might be. But there's one problem. We're stuck in this dungeon. It's magically protected against certain spells, so we can't even teleport away. How are we going to get out?"
Flint gave a smirk and replied "Like I said, Things aren't always what seem."
With that, Flint walked over to the corner of the cell furthest from the door. He lift his hoof and pressed it on one of the stone on the wall. A "click" could be heard. Then, a large bunch of stones on the wall started moving together, They swung into the wall like a door on hinges. Through the hole in the wall, Celestia could make out a set of stairs. It was a secret passage out of the prison.
Flint looked back at Celestia and asked "So, do we have a deal?"
Celestia and Philomena looked at each other. They knew it was better than staying in prison. The two nodded to each other. Philomena hopped up onto Celestia's back. And they looked at Flint together.
Celestia said, with a confident look "We're in! Lead the way!"
Flint replied "Then please, ladies first."
Still a little reluctant, Celestia walked over to the passage. She lit her horn for a light, then looked down the secret stairs. She didn't fully know what she had just signed on to, but she was ready for anything. Celestia, with Philomena on her back, stated down the tunnel.
Flint was right behind her. Before following, he gave himself and evil smile. His eyes glowed green, with purple haze. His deception was working so far...
"Flint" then went down the passage, behind Celestia. As he did, the secret door closed behind him. Who knows what would come next.