The Canterlot Library was the only building Nightmare Moon tried to preserve. The gardens had gone almost immediately—much to that animal lover’s dismay—and the rest of the city wasn’t worth her time unless there were rebels hiding in it. The royal palace was mostly undamaged, if only because no enemy had ever reached it, but the library held something of value—knowledge. Nightmare’s powers were formidable, but it was her studies that really gave her an edge. She had learned everything about every town and city in Equestria just by reading the reports they used to send to her sister, which gave her a crushing advantage when somepony decided to rise against her.

The problem with Zebrica, of course, was that few ponies knew much about it, and fewer still took the time to write that knowledge down. Most of the records she found were vague and incomplete legends written by ponies who had obviously taken too much poetic license. All that had changed, now that Shadow Strike was among them. Her reports, though few, were lengthy and detailed and gave the dark mare the information she sought, from geography and social structure to military strength and political trends.

Most importantly, she learned that a powerful spelllcaster was living among them, which made her wonder if they were somehow in contact with the griffons to the north. She knew Twilight’s slave had fled there shortly before the Baltimare assault, which was the biggest reason Nightmare had yet to wipe the griffons out. Griffons and zebras she could handle, but dragons were in another league entirely.

Fortunately, the library held quite a bit of information about dragons, thanks, ironically, to the efforts of Twilight Sparkle. After her mentor’s death, the purple mare had sojourned among the dragons near Zebrica, trying to convince them to fight against Nightmare Moon. It was a desperate and futile move on her part. The dragons wanted nothing to do with the affairs of Equestria, regarding them as pointless and unworthy of their time. Twilight had destroyed all the information she could during the attack on Baltimare, but Nightmare Moon was too fast, and most of the notes had been saved.

The princess was expecting a visit from Shadow Strike, so it didn’t surprise her when a shadowy figure slipped through the broken library window. “Good evening,” the princess said without looking up from her scroll. “Did you find the Nest?”

“No,” Shadow Strike replied as she placed her latest report on a nearby table, “but I did find the pegasus. She’s in league with the griffons, as we suspected.”

“You found the griffon soldiers, but not the Nest?” Nightmare Moon frowned at her student. “That seems a little unusual for you.”

“They were conductin’ a training mission,” Shadow Strike explained. “I may be fast, but I can’t keep up with fliers in those mountains.”

“I see.” Nightmare Moon let out a disappointed sigh. “What do you propose, then, my student? I want to take out that Nest before the griffons decide to attack.”

“Don’t worry,” Shadow said. “I left the pegasus a little message. With any luck, she’ll try and get to Zebrica, and you can interrogate her when she flies through.”

“Oh?” Nightmare Moon was surprised at this course of action. “What makes you think she’ll try to do that?”

“Just a hunch.”

The dark princess scowled. “It’s not right for a student to hide things from her master,” she said.

“Nor the master from her student,” Shadow Strike replied. “Besides, when have I been wrong?”

“That’s beside the point,” Nightmare Moon said as she stepped closer to her student. “I have been patient with you, Shadow, but I grow tired of your secrets. How do you know the pegasus will travel to Zebrica?”

Shadow Strike stared back at her from beneath her Stetson. “The griffons recently received a message from Zebrica, asking them to send aid. They want to make sure Zecora has the protection she needs to finish her potions.”

“How long have you known the zebras were in contact with the griffons?”

“Not long,” Shadow answered. “I was going to tell you during my last visit, but I didn’t have time between assignments.”

Though Shadow’s tone was even, the dark princess sensed something odd about the way she had spoken. “Are you criticizing me?” she asked.

“‘Course not,” Shadow replied. “Just makin’ a statement of fact, your highness.”

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes a little. “I should hope not, my student. I taught you how to survive on nothing, and so far you have failed to locate Zecora or the Griffon’s Nest. I hope you will give me more than that in return.”

“I’ve been doin’ your bidding for seven years,” Shadow Strike replied. “You know just as well as I what I’ve given you.”

Nightmare Moon watched her student carefully as she returned to her table. “You’re dismissed,” she said.

“To do what?”

“Find Zecora and kill her,” the princess replied. “You’ve learned more than enough about the zebras. It’s time to take action.”

“As you wish, your majesty.” Shadow Strike leapt out the window and disappeared into the night.

“Insolent wretch,” Nightmare muttered to herself as she resumed her studying. The mare was certainly skilled, but her attitude grated against her nerves. “It’s a wonder my sister put up with any of them.” Shadow Strike’s skills and record were enough to keep her on the dark mare’s good side for now, but they wouldn’t be for much longer. If not for the dragons, she would have no need of her student, but until she discovered a way to defeat those infernal lizards, she would have to proceed with caution. The fact infuriated her, but she knew that would not be the case for long. Sooner or later, Zebrica and the Nest would fall. Whether or not Shadow Strike was around to see it would be irrelevant.

Shadow Strike weighed her options as she ran through the ice-covered city. She knew her teacher was losing patience, and she knew it was only a matter of time until she would have to produce results, one way or another. She would have to hope her message to Scootaloo produced the results she needed. I won’t let you down, she thought as the white powder billowed behind her. After seven years, I can’t afford to fail now.