The first rays of morning light crept through the arched windows of Icemoon's chamber, painting the room in soft hues of gold and pink. She stirred, her silver-blue scales shimmering faintly as she stretched, her wings unfurling and her sharp teeth glinting in a wide yawn. The polar bear rug beneath her was warm from her body heat, and for a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the quiet stillness of the dawn.

But the peace was short-lived. A hesitant knock at the door shattered the calm, and Icemoon's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. A low growl rumbled in her throat as she called out, "No, don't come in! I barely got any sleep last night!" Her voice was sharp, edged with exhaustion and irritation.

There was a pause, and then a timid, familiar voice replied, "O-oh, okay." The sound was soft, almost apologetic, and it made Icemoon freeze. Her growl died in her throat, and her ears pricked forward. "StarFlight?" she asked, her tone shifting from annoyance to surprise.

The dragon on the other side of the door stayed silent, and Icemoon sighed, her irritation melting away. She pushed herself to her feet, her talons clicking against the stone floor as she crossed the room. With a swift motion, she wrenched the door open.

There he was—StarFlight, the NightWing scholar, his dark scales dull in the morning light. His wings were huddled close to his body, as if he were trying to make himself smaller, and his head was bowed, his expression one of nervous uncertainty. His glasses slid down his snout slightly, and he adjusted them with a quick, awkward movement.

"Oh, StarFlight," Icemoon said, her voice softening. Before he could stammer out an apology or explanation, she reached out and grabbed his talon, pulling him into the room. He let out a startled squawk, his wings flapping briefly as he stumbled forward, but Icemoon didn't give him a chance to protest. She wrapped her wings around him in a tight, unexpected embrace, her scales brushing against his.

StarFlight stiffened at first, his mind racing with confusion and embarrassment. But then, slowly, he relaxed, his wings loosening and his head tilting slightly to rest against her shoulder. "I-I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice muffled against her scales. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I just... wanted to check on you."

Icemoon let out a soft sigh, her grip on him tightening for a moment before she pulled back, her eyes meeting his. "You didn't disturb me," she said, her voice gentle. "Well, not really. I'm just... tired. Last night was... complicated." She hesitated, her gaze flickering to the seed basket by her bed, the beads and incense still inside. But she shook her head, pushing the thought of Blister away. "But you're here now, and that's what matters."

StarFlight blinked up at her, his expression a mix of relief and curiosity. "Complicated?" he asked, his voice tentative. "Is everything alright?"

Icemoon offered him a small, reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It will be," she said. "Now that you're here." She stepped back, releasing him from her wings but kept hold of his talon. "Come on. Let's get some breakfast. I think I could use something to wake me up."

StarFlight nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright," he said, his voice steadier now. "But, uh... maybe let me lead the way? I think I remember where the dining hall is."

Icemoon chuckled, the sound light and genuine. "Deal," she said, letting him guide her out of the chamber and into the sunlit corridor. For the first time that morning, the weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter.

SCENEBREAK

Icemoon chuckled, the sound warm and light, as StarFlight recounted the latest antics of their mutual friend, Clay. The two dragons sat in the palace dining hall, the morning sun streaming through the windows and casting a golden glow over the room. StarFlight nibbled on a fish stick, his voice low and amused as he continued the story. "He nearly stuffed that barracuda right up his snout," he murmured, shaking his head with a mixture of exasperation and fondness.

Icemoon thumped her tail against the floor in mirth, her laughter echoing softly in the spacious hall. "Oh, poor, poor Clay," she hummed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She leaned back, savoring the moment of levity. It was a rare thing for her to feel so at ease, and she was grateful for StarFlight's presence. But as her laughter subsided, a question tugged at the back of her mind. She tilted her head, her gaze settling on StarFlight. "But you said cell," she began, her tone shifting to one of curiosity. "Why aren't you guys in your own rooms?"

StarFlight paused mid-bite, his expression faltering slightly. He set the fish stick down on the plate in front of him, his talons fidgeting nervously. "Oh, uh... well," he stammered, his voice hesitant. "It's... complicated."

Icemoon's brow furrowed, her amusement fading as she studied him. "Complicated how?" she pressed, her tone gentle but insistent. "You're guests here, aren't you? Or... are you not?"

StarFlight sighed, his shoulders slumping as he avoided her gaze. "It's not that simple," he admitted. "Queen Coral... she's been... cautious. She doesn't fully trust us yet. Especially after everything that's happened. So, for now, we're being kept in the cells. They're not terrible—they're clean, and we're fed—but... well, they're still cells."

Icemoon's eyes widened, a flicker of anger sparking in her chest. "That's ridiculous," she said, her voice sharp. "You're not prisoners. You've done nothing wrong. If anything, you've helped her." She stood abruptly, her tail lashing behind her. "I'll talk to her. This isn't right."

StarFlight's head snapped up, his eyes wide with alarm. "No, wait—Icemoon, don't," he said quickly, reaching out a talon to stop her. "It's... it's fine, really. We're okay. And causing a scene might just make things worse. Queen Coral is... well, she's not exactly the most forgiving dragon. If she thinks we're trying to undermine her authority, it could backfire."

Icemoon hesitated, her talons clenched at her sides. She wanted to argue, to storm into Queen Coral's throne room and demand better treatment for her friends. But StarFlight's pleading gaze gave her pause. She let out a frustrated sigh and sat back down, her wings drooping. "This isn't fair," she muttered, her voice tinged with bitterness. "You don't deserve to be treated like criminals."

StarFlight offered her a small, grateful smile. "I know," he said softly. "But we'll figure it out. We always do. For now, let's just... enjoy breakfast, okay? Clay's barracuda mishap aside, things could be worse."

Icemoon couldn't help but smile at that, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Alright," she relented, picking up a fish stick of her own. "But if things don't change soon, I'm not staying quiet about it. You're my friends, and I won't let anyone treat you like this."

StarFlight's smile widened, and he nodded. "I know you won't," he said, his voice warm with appreciation. "And that means a lot."

The two dragons fell into a comfortable silence, the tension easing as they focused on their meal. But even as Icemoon laughed at another of StarFlight's stories, her mind was already working, plotting how she could convince Queen Coral to see reason. Her friends deserved better, and she was determined to make sure they got it.

SCENEBREAK

Later, after breakfast, StarFlight led Icemoon through the winding corridors of the SeaWing palace, down a set of stairs that grew darker and damper the further they descended. The air grew cooler, carrying the faint scent of salt and seaweed, and the walls were lined with glowing pearls that cast a soft, bluish light. Icemoon's talons clicked against the stone floor as they approached a row of barred cells, their iron gates stark against the dim surroundings.

The first to notice Icemoon was Sunny. The small SandWing's golden scales seemed to brighten the moment her eyes landed on the IceWing-NightWing hybrid. "You're here!" Sunny exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. She bolted forward, her wings fluttering with excitement as she reached through the bars of the cell. Before Icemoon could react, Sunny had wrapped her talons around her in a tight, enthusiastic hug.

Icemoon stiffened for a moment, surprised by the sudden embrace, but then she relaxed, a soft smile spreading across her snout. She returned the hug, her wings brushing against Sunny's. "Of course I'm here," she said, her voice warm. "I couldn't stay away, could I?"

Sunny pulled back, her eyes shining with happiness. "I missed you," she said, her tone sincere. "It's been so weird being stuck down here without you. But now that you're here, it feels like things might actually be okay."

Behind Sunny, the other Dragonets of Destiny gathered at the bars of the cell, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity. Clay's large, friendly face peered out, his usual good-natured smile in place. Tsunami stood tall and regal, her SeaWing scales glinting in the dim light, though her eyes softened as they met Icemoon's. Glory lounged lazily against the back wall of the cell, her RainWing scales shifting to a warm, welcoming yellow as she gave Icemoon a nod of acknowledgment.

"Hey, Icemoon," Clay said, his voice cheerful despite their circumstances. "Glad you could visit. It's been a bit boring down here, to be honest."

Tsunami rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of a smile on her snout. "Speak for yourself, Clay. Some of us have been using this time to plan our next move." She turned her attention to Icemoon, her gaze sharp but not unkind. "So, what's the situation up there? Has Queen Coral said anything about letting us out?"

Icemoon sighed, her smile fading slightly. "Not yet," she admitted. "But I'm working on it. I'll talk to her again. She can't keep you locked up forever—not when you've done nothing wrong."

Glory, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice smooth and calm. "Don't stress yourself too much, Icemoon. We've been through worse. If Queen Coral wants to play games, we'll just have to outsmart her."

Icemoon nodded, though the weight of their situation still pressed heavily on her. She glanced around at the cell, her heart aching at the sight of her friends confined to such a small, damp space. "I'll do whatever it takes to get you out of here," she said firmly. "You have my word."

Sunny beamed up at her, her optimism undimmed. "We know you will," she said. "And in the meantime, we'll just have to keep each other company. Right, guys?"

The other dragonets nodded, their spirits lifting at Sunny's words. Clay chuckled, Tsunami smirked, and Glory's scales shifted to a brighter shade of yellow. Even StarFlight, who had been hovering nervously at Icemoon's side, managed a small smile.

Icemoon felt a surge of determination as she looked at her friends. They were strong, resilient, and united—and with their combined efforts, she knew they would find a way to overcome this challenge. For now, though, she was just glad to be with them, even if it was through the cold, unyielding bars of a cell.