"We will start small. Our first meet is wid de leader of a small gang of t'ieves based here in lowtown. Dey are only small, not a large group, but dey are rising fast in de criminal circles. Best to snap up de talent whilst it is unclaimed, yes?"

Ambrosia followed Hoodlum through the streets of lowtown. This was another part of Canterlot unknown to most, but well known to the Guard, and to all criminals. It looked like any other part of Canterlot, but if one had a sharp eye, it was obvious how it was different. Ambrosia could feel it, and it was tickling something inside her, and she couldn't stop the butterflies in her stomach from flitting around, although with nerves or eagerness she couldn't tell.

"I agree," She said with a nod, "But what am I going to do with thieves?"

"Ah, you must start to dink like a criminal," Hoodlum chuckled, "T'ieves have the best way of getting money for a new player."

"Ah," Ambrosia said, starting to see his point, "Pickpockets, burglars... Money making."

"For now, yes," Hood said with a smile, "It is good. You are picking up on de workings very quickly. De question is, can you negotiate your way around?"

That was what really worried Ambrosia. Could she do this? Could she talk this small criminal fold into working for her? Working with her if need be? She was going to find out soon enough, and it only lent to the tickling of the butterflies. She hated Butterflies. She didn't normally hate butterflies, but right now they were annoying her. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help it.

"We'll see," She replied softly, "Where's the muscle you said you'd take care of?"

"At de moment, away on a job," Hood answered calmly, "But he will join us tomorrow. He is a Zebra of his word, dis, I promise."

"Could have used him by my side right now..." She mumbled to herself softly. But if Hood heard her, he didn't show it, continuing as though nothing was wrong.

"De leader's name is Swift. He is a pegasus, and small for his kind. Do not dink this is something you can use against him. His size is a benefit for his chosen profession. Remember dat. He is arrogant, proud of his skill, and he has a right to be. He is, if rumour serves, very good."

"I'll keep that in mind... Is this the place?"

The pair stopped outside a warehouse. A big building, with a lot of vantage points. Up high were a set of windows, there were holes in the walls in places big enough for an arrow or a bolt to streak through, and the doors appeared to be quite hefty. Hood nodded.

"Yes, dis is de place. Swift is expecting us. I shall simply convey de passcode, and you shall speak."

"Not you?" She asked, a pit of nerves growing in her stomach. Hood shook his head, a look of distaste on his features.

"No. He does not trust me in his abode," He replied, his normally calm face to everything seeming a bit rattled, "He does not trust de darker magicks. Voodoo especially."

"Why not?" She asked, curious. The Shaman had kept the better part of his abilities a secret from Amber, and she wanted to know more, even if it meant pressing him whenever she had the chance.

"Voodoo magick's worst reputations come from the ability to control a pony's actions," He replied, "Voodoo dolls are excellent for dis, and curses and hexes are common as well. Now, if you would stand in de open, I shall speak to de keeper."

Ambrosia just frowned and watched as Hoodlum walked forward, and a hidden slide opened, revealing a pair of eyes. Try as she might, she couldn't hear what was said however.

At the door, Hood was conversing with the Keeper, confident and without a hint of confusion.

"Wonderful weather we're having," The keeper said, peering out at the zebra. Hood smiled and looked at the sky.

"I don't know," He answered, "Looks like brush to me."

The keeper raised a brow, and looked up himself.

"Certainly, but you don't think the changelings care for carrots do you?"

"Only if de dogs search for chocolate," Hood said back with a shrug. There was a pause, then the Keeper laughed.

"Sorry t' keep ya waiting," He said, his whole persona shifting, "Policy yeah? Givvus a sec, I'mma unlock the door."

Hood smiled, not falling for the bait.

"Thirty seconds as de dragon flies," He replied back. The keeper sighed.

"Well... this sucks. reckon you could uh... tell the boys I almost had ya?"

Hood chuckled and nodded.

"Certainly," He said, amused, "You almost had me stumped dere. I have my Employer wid me. She's here to see Swift."

"Yeah mate, gimme a sec, gunna unlock the door."

The plate slid shut and the sound of chains rattled from behind the big doors, then the sound of dead bolts, latches and several standard key locks unlocking reverberated in quick succession and the door opened slightly, the keeper peering out of it.

"Oi, go get ya sheila will ya? Don't wanna stay in the open any longer than I have to."

"One moment," Hood said politely, trotting back to Ambrosia.

"Dey are expecting you."

Ambrosia swallowed, the butterflies returning as she nodded to Hood and, putting on her best face, strode forth, towards the lair of thieves.

"Thread?"

Gilded Thread cracked open an eye slowly. Before her, on the other side of the bars, was Sky Graphic. Thread yawned slowly and stretched.

"What is it?" She asked, her old blood tail swishing slowly through the air, "How can I help?"

"What does Gild have against Ambrosia?"

Thread shrugged, honestly puzzled.

"I don't know. I was only employed a few days before things went to hell. I don't even know what Gild looks like."

Sky frowned, looking around the jail.

"Who would know?" He asked bluntly. Again, Thread shrugged.

"I don't know. You'd have to ask the girls. But honestly? I don't think any of them even know who Gild is. Well, not till now."

Sky sighed in frustration. He just couldn't get lucky today.

"I spoke to Gild yesterday. He's got something against Ambrosia, that's for damn sure. He didn't like me asking him about Ambrosia's trial, told me to basically mind my own business. Something's up, and I want to know what."

Thread hesitated and shrugged.

"I'm sorry, I'm... I can't help you with that. Did you contact Fleur?"

Sky nodded.

"Yes. Miss De-lis agreed to watch your foals without hesitation. She has taken up temporary residence in your home. She's paying your bills as well, despite us telling her we were taking care of it."

Thread nodded.

"That sounds like Fleur. Look, I'm sorry I can't help you. I really am. You'll have to find somepony else here who might know, or find Bubbles. She'd definitely know. She's been with Ambrosia from the start."

Sky nodded again.

"Alright... thank you anyway miss Thread. Sorry to take up your time."

"It's no problem," She said with a smile, "I have all the time in Equestria."

The warehouse was dingy, dimly lit, and surprisingly clean. Ambrosia had been lead through the place without hesitation from the members of the little band of thieves. After leading her to a flight of stairs hidden under a false trapdoor (Which Ambrosia didn't even see, it looked like part of the floor even to close inspection), her escort informed her she was on her own from there on out, and left her to find her own way down in the darkness.

Her heart thumping in her chest, Ambrosia carefully made her way down the stairs, her caution helping her not to slip on a wet patch of floor. She didn't really give much to thought to how the liquid got there. Thankfully, she got past the leaky pipe before it could drip on her, not noticing the leak anyway.

What she arrived in at the bottom of the stairs was a well lit, comfortable office like room. The furniture was sparse, but obviously expensive. A high backed chair sat with its back to her. She felt a little amusement as she saw a tuft of tail sticking from the side, just from under the mahogany desk, theorizing that Swift has a flair for the dramatic. She noticed on the left wall was a massive, golden framed mirror, and the front (Back? she was facing it anyhow) had a massive picture of Celestia on it, offset from center by a significant amount, also framed in gold.

"I'm saving it for a picture of Luna," Came a crafty voice from in front of Ambrosia, "Once we find a frame worthy of her beauty, that is. Do you know how difficult it is to find a frame of those exact dimensions in Nightsteel?"

The chair slowly turned, revealing a small pegasus, his wings retracting as he stopped using them to turn himself.

"Ambrosia, yes?" He asked, his hooves falling to rest upon his desk, "Hoodlum had spoken of your beauty, but he hardly did you any justice sweet cheeks~"

Ambrosia felt her cheek twitch at the nickname. She hated that nickname. She always had.

"Thank you," She said, instead of admonishing him as she wanted to, "It's gracious of you to invite me into your home."

"Well, helps I have one doesn't it darling?" He asked slyly. Ambrosia forced her anger down and sighed.

"Indeed," She said instead, "That's my ultimate goal at this moment. I'm fighting for my home. After that, I'm not certain."

Swift snorted and turned a little in his chair, facing the western wall.

"What should I care?" He asked indifferently, "What should it matter to me? Another place I can't rob for money? If I combine my little family with, let's face it, you and a Voodoo bastard, I stand to lose more than I gain."

Ambrosia felt her heart drop, but kept up a brave face.

"Except that you would have my resources available to you as well in the long run."

"And what could the owner of a brothel possibly offer me and my ponies?" He asked scornfully, "Hmm? Please, don't make me laugh."

Ambrosia fell quiet. Swift kept going.

"Look, you're a pretty enough mare and all," He said, turning back to face her, a smug grin on his face, "But unless you can give me good reason, then my ponies are staying here, under me. If that's all you can offer, you can leave now."

Ambrosia felt her heart break and she sighed. She nodded gently to the little pegasus, and turned to leave.

"Figures. I told Hood it's useless."

Ambrosia tried to ignore him, walking away towards the doorway.

"Nothing but the owner of a big house full of two bit whores."

Ambrosia stopped, half a hooffall away from the doorway and, try as she might, she felt something in her crack.

"Just a bunch of small minded mares that didn't have enough talent to anythin' but get fucked their whooole lives~"

Ambrosia would never be truly able to describe what came over her in that little office. Something inside her snapped that day, and another side of her was brought to the surface. A side that even she didn't know she had. A cold fury settled over her and she turned back around slowly, a deathly calm betraying the rage within her. Swift sat at his desk, a smug look on his face.

"Two bit whores you said..." She said quietly. He nodded.

"Yeah, tha's right."

"Fucked their whole lives..." She said again. His grin widened and he sat back in his chair.

"Right on the money."

She started slowly walking towards him again, her hips swaying behind her. Swift might have talked big, but he was still a stallion. All stallions had to answer to their carnal nature, it was just a matter of willpower. And by the look of it, Swift didn't have much.

"I've been called a lot in my time..." She said calmly, staring at the little stallion, "And I have to admit... I've earned almost every single name."

"That so love?" He asked, watching her approach him still with the smarmy grin on his face. Ambrosia nodded slowly.

"Oh yes..." She sneered, "Want to hear a couple of them?"

"Sure~" He smirked back at her. His smirk faltered as she got closer, then walked around the desk, grabbed his chair and turned it to face her, the fury burning in her eyes as his smile dropped and he cringed back.

"I've been called bitch, lover, child, mother, I've been called a sinner, and a saint. And you know what?"

She leaned closer to him, glaring at him with a look that could freeze molten magma, and seemed to freeze him up pretty good too.

"I'm not ashamed of any of them," She continued, her voice deathly calm, "Now you listen to me. I am going to get my home back. And you are going to help me. Because if you don't, I'm going to dedicate my immediate future to making yours a living hell, do you understand me?"

The small set stallion quivered under her furious gaze and nodded quickly. Very quickly. Ambrosia humphed and stood straight, brushing a piece of imaginary dirt from her shoulder.

"And I will start by demanding a gift to show loyalty," She drawled, "You can choose either that chair, or your desk. Take your pick."

His eyes widened and he looked at his desk, then at the chair he was seated in.

"But..." He stammered, "W-Without the desk, there's no point in having the chair!"

"Perhaps," She responded blankly.

"A-a-and without the chair," He continued blubbering, "Th-there's no need for the desk!"

"Oh, what an excellent suggestion!" She said with a delighted gasp, "You're right, both the chair and the desk would look splendid in the Star. I'll need some of your delightful rapscallions to handle it for me. You will look after that won't you dear?"

Swift spluttered and fought to find words to voice his displeasure for the mare's demands, but every time he went to speak, he remembered her furious glare and, eventually, gulped, sighed in defeat and nodded, running his hoof once more over the desk.

"Yes... of course Ambrosia," He mumbled despondently, "As you wish..."

You can imagine Hoodlum's surprise when Ambrosia walked out of the warehouse, head held high and followed by three large stallions, hauling with them a mahogany desk and a stunning burgundy chair on wheels.

"I.... do not want to know how you got dis, do I?" he asked, more than a little surprised. Ambrosia smirked at him, batting his nose with her tail as she walked by.

"Perhaps... but will you come with me, or are you going to stare at me all day? Come now, we have lots more to do!"

Hood watched the mare in genuine disbelief, his eyes drawn eventually to her swaying rump and tail and rolled his eyes.

"I had better watch out..." He said with a small smile, "Or she won't need me anymore."

Author's Note

Due to the irritating event of needing to do some serious catchup on my work, I've posted this chapter a week early, so don't expect another update for at least two weeks. I need to catch up with this 3D modelling stuff, it's hard work. Well, not really. I just really need to force myself to do it, so I'm going to spend at least a week working on this. This is the last chapter I've written so far, so it might take a little while to write up the next chapter. Two weeks, three absolute tops, I promise.