Even before she heard the voice, Astrid could feel something watching her.

Her skin prickled uncomfortably as she walked home, and she pulled her jacket tighter around her to keep warm. High above her, the sky was dark with clouds. She glanced behind her, but still she couldn't see anyone. A shiver ran though her.

And then she heard it – a whisper, quiet and low, in her ear.

"Hello," said the voice. It was a man's, deep and scratchy and menacing. "I see you're alone."

Astrid whirled around, eyes wide. "Who's there?" she demanded, gaze flitting around. She still couldn't see anyone, until – there! – a flicker of movement caught her eye. A dark shape, just a silhouette, of something small and winged and reptilian.

"Do not fear," said the voice. "My name is Drago. I'm here to make a deal with you."

Astrid's face paled. "Oh, no," she muttered. She covered her ears in an attempt to block him out and sprinted down the street, trying to outrun the dragon. This couldn't be happening – not to her! She glanced back over her shoulder, but the dragon was still right behind her, no matter how fast she ran. She should have known – it had been far too peaceful lately. Nearly a week had passed since the last attack. She never imagined that she would be the next dragonized one.

She turned around a building and found herself cornered in an alleyway. The dark silhouette flapped towards her; it looked innocent, but she knew what it did. Her back was against the wall now, and before she could come up with a plan to get away, the dragon settled on her wrist and dissolved into her bracelet. It began to glow, and Astrid's vision darkened.

"Tell me," came Drago's voice in her head again, "what do you desire most of all?"

Don't respond! her thoughts shrieked, but against her will, the words escaped. "To know the identity of Night Fury."

"Then I can give you that... just as long as you do something for me." Astrid shook her head, trying to free herself from Drago's words, but she knew he was taking control. "Take the miraculouses of Night Fury and Deadly Nadder and bring them to me."

Never! she thought furiously, but she heard herself say, darkly, "I will." She tried to fight the control – she was the one who defeated Drago's puppets, she couldn't become one herself! – but she had no power over herself anymore. The darkness from her bracelet spread until it covered her whole body. It was a familiar feeling, but this time when the magic cleared, she was not the Deadly Nadder. She was something else entirely.

"Welcome, Flightmare," said Drago in her mind. "Now, find the miraculouses."

No, no, no, she thought with horror.

"Yes, Drago," she said aloud.

For the first time that Night could remember, the Deadly Nadder was late.

He had seen the newest dragonized one through the window of his house. Usually, by the time he had transformed and made it down to the streets, Nadder was already there waiting for him. If not, she would be right behind him. But this time... It had been nearly twenty minutes since Night had transformed, and there was still no Nadder in sight.

He had been trailing the dragonized one for quite some time, which was strange in itself. Usually the villains were quick to face him and Nadder, eager to fight, to try to snatch their miraculouses. But this one seemed to be running away. He still hadn't seen it entirely; he had only caught glimpses of it between buildings. It had no wings, he noted with relief, and it was glowing a bright blue all over. He could see the staff it carried, but he had yet to discover what it did.

Night caught sight of the dragonized one again, and put on an extra burst of speed to catch up with it. In a moment he was facing it, ready for battle.

It was hard to make out any of the dragonized one's features, as its neon glow was almost blinding. Night could just barely make out the sight of a dark mask around its – no, her – eyes, which were bright blue like the rest of her. She had blonde hair, pulled behind her in a tight braid, and her expression seemed almost anguished. She took a step towards him, almost hesitantly.

"Alright, I know the deal," Night said, staying where he was but watching her warily in case she moved. "You want my miraculous, I want to defeat you, blah blah blah. We can skip the whole thing if you just surrender now – it'd be a lot easier for both of us."

"No," said the dragonized one, but there didn't seem to be a lot of conviction in her voice.

"I thought you'd say that," Night went on, still squinting at her. "Oh well. I guess I'll just have to - " He broke off, his mouth hanging open ever so slightly as all at once he realized who the dragonized one was.

Oh, no.

It was Astrid.

For a second he could only stare. He took a slight step backwards, anything he was going to say forgotten. I can't fight Astrid, he thought with horror.

In the long moment that he hesitated, she made her move. She twirled her staff around and aimed it at him. A blast shot out towards him, looking more like glowing mist than fire or light, and it twirled around him. He tried to take a step forward and found that he was completely, utterly frozen.

Helpless, he was unable to do anything but watch as the dragonized Astrid pulled her staff closer to her and took off, perhaps to attack a city which was now undefended. No matter how he struggled, how he strained, he couldn't move his body whatsoever. He cursed himself for hesitating – this wouldn't have happened if he had just done what he was supposed to do! All he could do now was hope that it would wear off quickly, and hope that the dragonized one wouldn't attack anyone else while Night was stuck here.

Oh, Nadder, he thought desperately, where are you?