There aren't many ponies in the world who can boast almost universal fame. In fact, very few could. Naturally, the Princesses of Equestria, Princesses Luna, Celestia and Twilight Sparkle, could boast this. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza could almost boast this. But Royalty almost guaranteed a lack of anonymity. Even Prince Blueblood was well known, so it wasn't exactly a challenge to be famous when you were or were related to Royalty.

But when one was a criminal, it was hard to gain fame. And rightly so. No criminal truly wants fame. No true criminal, in any case. Or, so Ambrosia believed. To be famous was to be known, and to be known was a criminal's worst nightmare. So, Ambrosia had decided it best to work from the shadows. She'd been operating her little band of thieves for just past a week since she hired Zubari, and her coffers were growing, as were her informants. With Hood's seeming endless expertise, and Zubari's imposing figure, she'd gained more than a few new allies. Despite this, she still hadn't managed to get much larger. Although whether this was from a lack of trying, bad luck, or simply nopony willing to help her was unknown.

Well, almost unknown.

"I can't just go around, parading my face for everypony to see," She complained to Zubari one night, as she was looking over a report from Swift. As good as his little group was, his skills concerning writing a report were severely lacking and it was highly disorganised. With her was, as always, both Hoodlum and Zubari. Although Hood had started to wonder whether or not Ambrosia wanted to call him Hood or Zukra, since she seemed to use either one liberally as she felt necessary, but mostly switching to his true name when she was upset with him.

"No, you can't," Zubari answered, "that's a quick way to get yourself found out."

Hood kept quiet. Ambrosia groaned.

"I need something to keep me safe, a name to help conceal me, and something that disguises me. I don't know what I'm doing with this. I can't just shade my face with a hat all the time."

"That's true."

"I know it's true, Zubari, you aren't helping," She grumbled at him, "It's an open conversation here, help me out."

"I'm not sure Amber," the bounty hunter replied, "I'm not generally in the criminal game. And even then, I'm only here till you get the star back. No longer."

"I know," She said with a roll of her eyes, "Again, not helping. I've been doing this for just shy of a month now, I need to do this now, it's already overdue."

She groaned again and let her head hit the table.

"This is so stressful," She muttered, "I thought I could handle this. I take care of a Bordello for Celestia's sake, why can't I do this?"

"A bordello is much different from a criminal syndicate," Zubari said offhand, "Micromanagement to the extreme is required, since you are managing a lot more ponies on a lot more areas. Plus, it's illegal, which makes it even harder."

"Thanks," She said flatly, "For nothing. You really didn't just make me more stressed. Really."

"If I may, Ambrosia," Hood finally spoke up, "Dere is a performance coming to Canterlot soon. Within the week, in fact. De performer is well known through Equestria."

"What are you getting at, Hoodlum," She asked archly. Hood shrugged.

"I'm suggesting you take a day off," He said nonchalantly, "Go and see dis show, refresh yourself. Afterwards, you can return to work."

"I shouldn't rest," She replied quickly, almost angrily, "Not when my girls are counting on me to get things done."

"You will do dem no good if you burn out now," He replied sternly, "Your usefulness to dem will cease, and dat we cannot have. Go, see dis show. Let yourself become whole again, and den you will be more capable of getting your charges out of deir prison."

She looked at him harshly, but Hood stood tall. Then, Ambrosia looked to Zubari, who shrugged and nodded.

He has a point

That was the vibe she got from Zubari. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Fine, I'll go to the stupid show. When can I get the tickets?"

"Dey are already purchased," Hood replied, a little smugly, "Dey are for the top row seats in da theater. Three tickets for de three of us."

"Good to see you listen to something," She shot back venomously. Hood simply shrugged.

"Of course. I listen more den you tink."

"Don't push your luck Zukra," She responded irritably. Hood winced and shot a glare at Zubari, who merely smirked back.

"Did you have to say my name out loud?" He grumbled to the bigger zebra, who shrugged and pretended to think about this for a moment as Ambrosia got back to work.

"Yes~" Zubari answered smugly.

~*~

The theater was enormous. The pure size alone of the theater was awe inspiring to the average pony. But... Ambrosia was not an average pony. In fact, she seemed a little tense as she entered, Zubari and Hoodlum following behind her. The floor beneath their hooves was thick carpet of almost velvety consistency. Ambrosia couldn't help but think how much it would help making ponies purchase things in the Star, which made her stress further considering her predicament.

"I shouldn't be here..." She grumbled, barely audible, "I should be back planning. My girls need me."

"And dis is de best option to help dem at dis point," Hood said back softly, "Trust me, you will dink much clearer after de show."

"Don't push your luck Zukra," She growled and he flinched, shooting a glare at Zubari, who just smirked smugly. The trio were showed to their seats, up in top seats, VIP box. Of course, they weren't the best seats. Those were reserved for the Princesses, of which two seemed to be present. White coat, and multihued mane, Celestia's imposing figure absorbed a lot of space. Next to her, dwarfed by her size, the newest Princess of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle. The seats were amazing, covered in velvet with cushy hoof rests in case you sat in strange positions. The stage, all the way down, was massive. Ambrosia lifted a brow as she sat down and looked down at the stage.

"So, this performer," She said, "He works on his own you said?"

"Yes Ambrosia," Hood replied, "I don't know about his work, so asking would be useless."

"You'd best hope so," She said archly, "I assumed you knew, given how insistent you were."

"Trust him on this one," Zubari said with a small smile, "I've seen him before. His name's Prosopeio, and he's quite the performance, no matter his stage."

"I hope so," Ambrosia sighed, "I'm only here because you told me it would help. If you're wrong..."

A sudden spotlight fell upon the stage, the closed curtain hiding whomever was behind it. A well dressed stallion walked out from the left side of stage and approached a microphone that raised from a hidden platform. He cleared his throat a time or two before looking over the sea of ponies that made up the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlecolts," He began, "It is my esteemed pleasure to welcome two of our Princesses to our humble theatre, Princesses Celestia and Twilight Sparkle!"

There was a moment as the audience burst into rapt applause, twisting to see their monarchs, who waved, one a bit more sheepishly than the other.

"And now," He drew the crowd's attention back to him, "Without further ado, I give you your performer for the evening, who needs no introduction, The masked performer, Prosopeio the Masked!"

Author's Note

Yeah, I know, it's a horrible cliffhanger. I'm sorry. But I need time to work on this next part.