"What are you doing here Fleur?" asked Brac as he gently restrained his brother with his magic.

"I'm here from the rebellion down south!" she squeaked. "I'm scouting out the situation in the city!"

Brac stopped his magic and Bric suddenly stumbled forward. "You're with the rebellion? Really?"

"Yes! And I'm really sorry about what I did! I'll repay you! I swear I will!"

Mash stood between them, staring Bric down until he backed away. "I take it you've met before?"

"You could say that. That- That...harlot, stole sixty marcs off'f us!"

"I thought Twilight gave it back!"

"She tried to," said Brac, "but I told her to keep the money. The fact that she tried to give it back was enough."

"Oh." Fleur stared at the floor and ground a hoof into the dust. "Look, I'm really sorry I stole from you. I was going through some stuff so I- You know what, it doesn't matter what I was going through, I have no excuse. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted," said Brac before his brother could refuse it. "If you're with the rebellion I'm sure we can give you a little leeway. Since you've been down south I don't suppose you've been in touch with a group of ponies called Pierre have you?"

"Uh, yeah, the rebellion started with Pierre actually. Well, sort of anyway. Why do you want to know?"

"They were helping us look for somepony. Our brother, who's a pegasus. We haven't heard anything off them for some time and we were starting to worry. I guess now they've been too busy to look."

"Did he look like you two?" the filly said suddenly, after having watched the two brothers warily since their arrival, "except, you know, with wings."

"We are triplets, so yes, we expect so."

"I thought you looked familiar. My sire was a pegasus that looked just like you two."

"You know our brother?" the two ponies said together.

"Only in a 'he was one half of my parentage' kind of way, which is a lot less cozy for pegasi than it is for most ponies. He died back when I was young. Triggered his collar at high altitude and killed himself."

A sort of semi horrified silence filled the room after the filly's very casual revelation. The two brothers slumped to the ground and leaned against each other, their expressions heavy with sorrow. "So that's it then? He's gone?" Bric nodded slowly.

"How would your sire be a pegasus?" Sweetheart asked suspiciously.

The filly pulled her cape to the side, showing her scars. "See the two big scars? Try to imagine a pair of majestic yellow wings originating right where those scars are."

Sweetheart gasped, "That's horrible!"

The filly rolled her eyes, "No, please, tell me more."

"S-sorry."

"Why'd you call him your sire and not your father?" asked Flip.

"Because he got my mother pregnant. That's it. He didn't raise me, or do any of the things a 'father' would do because we're pegasi. Sire's a lot more apt than father."

"Why? Did he abandon you?"

"I'm really not in the mood to tell you all this stuff, so listen up. He's a pegasus, my mom's a pegasus, and technically, I'm a pegasus. Now imagine treating us like we're non-sentient livestock. Or actually, worse than that. Get the picture yet?" Flip nodded. "Good. Now add forced labour, murder, mutilations, shock collars, an unfortunate amount of sexual abuse, and those crappy labour camps to it." The filly grumbled and looked away, "Fucking ignorant plebs."

"So!" Fleur said brightly, unsure what to do in this situation. "Bric, Brac, meet your niece! Filly, meet your uncles!"

"My what!?" "Our what!?" the three ponies said simultaneously.

"If your brother is her sire, that technically means you're related through the whole niece, uncle thing."

"Oh no," the filly said, shaking her head rapidly, "I have less use for uncles than I do for fathers. Nice to meet you and all, but I'm not interested. If you are though, I suggest you go look for the many other nieces and nephews you likely have. Just leave me out of it."

"Oh come on filly, be nice. You were saying you had no family left, well now you do. Besides, you'll like these guys."

"I said I'm not interested Fleur!" The filly jumped off her crate in one bound and ran up the stairs, slamming doors behind her.

"I'm sorry about that," Fleur said quietly. "A few days ago she found out her mother had died in childbirth years ago. She's trying to be all cool about it, but all she's doing is refusing to grieve. I'll go talk to her in a bit."

"What did she mean about other nieces and nephews?" Bric asked in a low voice.

"I'm not going to pretend to know all about it, but your brother was likely part of the breeding program in Whiplash. Chances are he sired more foals than just her. I'm sorry you had to find out this way." Fleur got up and was about to leave when Brac spoke to her.

"Fleur. I know we've only just met her, and if she doesn't want to know us, that's fine, but she's all we have left of our brother. Please, take care of her."

Fleur didn't actually know where the filly had gone, and may have actually left the building for all she knew. So she started small and searched through the house, hoping that the filly wasn't so stupid as to run out into the city at night.

She made her way upstairs after searching the ground floor, and was rewarded with the sight of tear drops half way up. The sound of sniffling emanated from a room at the far end of the landing, and Fleur was about to go in when she stopped, deciding to use some tact instead. "Filly, can I come in?"

"Go 'way Fleur," was the miserable sounding reply.

"Oh. Well, I was only trying to be polite, so, yeah..." She opened the door and entered into a bedroom, catching the filly on the bed as she feverishly rubbed her tears away.

"I said go away Fleur!"

"I know what you said. The thing is though, that I'm not going away. Not until you realise something."

"Realise what?"

"That your mother's gone filly, she's dead."

"Oh! Thank you for the news flash! I never suspected!"

Fleur shook her head, "You're not listening filly. She's dead."

"I know Fleur! Why the fuck do you keep telling me?"

"Because she's gone and she's never coming back."

"I know!" the filly screamed, her voice cracking.

"Then why do you keep acting like it doesn't matter? Like it's all a big mistake. Like she's not really gone." Fleur sat on the bed next to the filly who turned away from her. "She's dead filly."

"Shut up Fleur!"

"She's dead."

"Shut up!"

"And she's never coming back."

"SHUT UP!" The filly lashed out at Fleur, hitting her in the ribs, again and again. Fleur slightly regretted her decision to let the filly do it, but persevered, repeating the same few lines over and over until her own eyes streamed with tears.

"I'm sorry filly. I'm so sorry." The filly kept hitting her, but each blow became weaker and weaker as the filly slowly broke down. Gradually the filly collapsed and Fleur grabbed hold of her, pulling her into a hug as sobs wracked the filly.

"I miss her Fleur, I miss her so much. I-I thought about her almost everyday, for years, and I thought I'd get to see her again, b-but she was already dead. She had been for ages! I- It hurts Fleur, it hurts so much that I never got to say goodbye, or tell her I love her, or have her sing me to sleep one last time."

Fleur gently rocked the filly back and forth, "I know. Believe me I know."

The filly tried to rub her tears away, but gave up. "I haven't seen her in years. I feel so stupid."

"It's not stupid filly, not at all." They stayed there for a while longer, the filly hiccupping with the occasional sob, until Fleur felt the smaller pony try to pull away. Then the filly hit her again.

"I can't believe you did that."

"Sorry filly, but I had to do something to get a reaction out of you. You were just hurting yourself bottling it up and trying to hide it. Badly, I might add. I was younger than you when my parents died, and I did the same. I pretended like it didn't matter, like everything was fine, like they were lost, but were coming back to get me at any point. Like they weren't... dead."

"Did somepony do to you what you did to me?"

Fleur shook her head, "No. You know the park out by the waterworks on the north side of the city?"

"Well, it's the only park in Prance, so yeah."

"Right, yeah, well... My parents used to take me there when they were still alive, and it's still one of my best memories about them. It was just over a year after they died, and things were... fucking awful for me if I'm honest. It was my birthday, and I felt compelled to go there, so I did, and I lay under a tree, nibbling on grass 'cause I hadn't eaten that day, when I saw two ponies playing with their kid. That's when it hit me. My parents were gone, and they were never coming back. I just completely broke down right then and there and must've cried for like an hour after that, but I did kind of feel better for it."

"I guess it must suck to lose both at once." The filly sat next to her and leaned up against Fleur's side, enjoying a comfortable silence for a minute. "You're going to make me talk to them aren't you."

Fleur chuckled, "I'm not going to make you do anything. I will encourage you to though. They just found out their brother's been dead for years, which I'm sure you can appreciate. They would probably like to know what he was like."

"But I hardly know anything about him."

"Doesn't matter. At the very least I'm sure they'd like to get to know you, because of him."

"Urgh, you're making me soft." The filly sat up and rubbed her eyes, "If they think I'm suddenly going to go with them or something they got another thing coming."

"Nah. As if I'd let you out of my sight." Fleur grabbed the filly into a hug and nuzzled the top of her head. "Mine."

"Huh, yeah right. So... isn't this the part where you promise to never leave me and yada-yada-yada?"

Fleur blew out through her nose, "I wish. You weren't wrong about us being at war, and that I could die, or any of us could die, and I only make promises I can keep. Obviously I don't want to die, but what I want doesn't always work."

"At least you get full points for brutal honesty, and some extra credit for accepting your mortality." Fleur laughed. "Seriously though, what am I supposed to do if you do die?"

"Stick with Twilight, she'll take care of you. If she can regrow body parts it wouldn't surprise me to learn she's unkillable at this point."

The filly pouted, "But she's so boooring."

"Up to you. Just... stop treating me like I'm already dead yeah? Kinda rude."

"Fine, I'll upgrade you to dead pony in potentia."

"Much appreciated. Now, go talk to those two ponies down there, or I'll... say mean things about you behind your back."

"Fine..."

Fleur dropped the last sack of potatoes onto the floor of the cellar, cocking an ear to catch a snippet of muffled conversation followed by muted laughter from upstairs, and couldn't help but feel proud of the filly for talking to Bric and Brac.

Mash, Flip, and Nightlight entered behind her, dropping their own loads off just as Sweetheart came down the stairs into the basement, a tray of drinks floating in her magic. Fleur took one and greedily downed half of it before the others had even picked theirs up.

"So," Mash said once he'd had his fill, "are you really planning on blundering around the city, looking for the answers to a mystery you have no hope of solving?"

"Well yeah, I kinda have to, you know? Otherwise it's just going to bug me."

"Is that really worth it?" asked Flip, as she again rubbed her hooves together with nerves. "Sounds dangerous."

"Look, if you want this city to be free, then I have to. The more information we have, the better our chances of success."

"Have you even thought to ask us if we want your rebellion here?" Nightlight growled in question.

"No, actually, I haven't. Thing is though, the opinion of four ponies hiding in a cellar isn't going to sway the opinion of the rebellion over whether we should free this place or not. No offense."

"Some taken," Nightlight huffed sullenly.

"Any pointers on where to begin?" Fleur asked hopefully.

Mash shook his head, "Any and all information is probably somewhere in the castle, which is pretty high on the list of places to never go. So unless you're going to get some soldiers drunk and hope you get lucky, you've got no chance."

"That's it? You can't think of anything else?"

"There's always the Broker," Sweetheart suggested.

"The who?"

Mash groaned. "The Broker. She's a pony that deals in information. Arrived a few years back, and has been nothing but trouble. You want to know something, she can find it out for you, but at a price. Honestly you'd be crazy to go anywhere near her; everything she says is a riddle. Literally. Nothing but trouble that one."

"But she could have what I need to know?"

"She might," Mash admitted.

"At least I'd have something to work with. Where can I find her?"

"In the space between shadows, knowing her mumbo-jumbo crap."

"Twenty-three Park Way," said Sweetheart.

"A pony like that has an address?" Fleur said, sounding surprised.

"Of course. Even mysterious ponies like the broker need somewhere to sleep. Besides, it's not like she's lacking for money."

Fleur conceded the point. "Okay then, guess I'll start with her."

"You can start by coming with me and getting a good night's sleep," said Mash. "You aren't going to be any good to anypony without at least a few hours kip."

Fleur couldn't deny that she was pretty tired, and the filly was probably exhausted after such an emotional day. Then there was a curfew, apparently, so Mash was probably right. "I suppose so." She let Mash lead the way upstairs to where the filly was talking to Bric and Brac, "Hey."

The filly looked at Fleur, and even though her eyes were red and her fur matted with old tears, she was smiling. "You were right Fleur, these guys are pretty cool."

"Told ya. Of course now I feel like a bitch when I say we have to get going back to Mash's place."

"Aww..." She turned back to the two brothers, "I guess that's it then. Sorry I couldn't tell you more about him."

"You've told us more about him than we ever knew," Brac reassured her.

"And it was an honour to meet you too," added Bric.

"And if you ever need help from us-"

"Don't hesitate to ask."

"Thanks." She hugged them individually, squeaking with surprise as they hugged her together.

"And thank you too Fleur," said Bric, "for helping us to meet her."

"Oh, well, you know, any time. If I happen to find any more of your long lost relatives I'll send them your way."

"Please do."

They released the filly and she wandered over to Fleur, leaning against her. "Carry me?"

"Why ever would I do that?"

"Because it's late, I'm tired, and I've had an emotionally exhausting day and still sort of feel like crying. And you're pretty."

"I'm pretty?"

"Yep. And pretty ponies always help small ponies when they ask."

Fleur chuckled, "Do they now? I guess I can't argue with that." She picked the filly up in her magic and draped her along her back, the filly wrapping her legs around Fleur's neck. They said their final goodbyes to Bric and Brac, and left, the filly dozing off before they were half way down the street.

"Wakey wakey Fleur!"

"Gruugh..." Something wet landed on the end of Fleur's nose, and she cracked an eye open to see the filly holding a glass of water over her head.

"Guess what I'm going to do if you don't wake up in the next ten seconds."

"Do I really need to guess?" Fleur mumbled sleepily.

"I never said it'd be hard to guess. Ten. Nine. Eight..." The filly kept counting down until she reached one, and started to pour the water, squawking in surprise as a pink aura caught hold of it and held it above the both of them. "Hey! Magic's cheating!"

"Bite me." This time it was Fleur's turn to squawk in surprise as the filly's teeth clamped onto the end of her horn, disrupting Fleur's magic and dumping the water over both of them. Fleur jerked as the cold water shocked her into action, and she sat up, knocking the filly flying off the side of the bed to land on the floor with a bone rattling thud. "Shit! Are you alright?"

"This whole thing went a lot better in my head," the filly moaned a few seconds later from her position on the floor. "Ow."

"Hey, you're lucky I didn't just stab you with my horn."

"Yay..."

"Are we really going to find the Broker?" the filly asked between mouthfuls of the sloppy porridge Mash had made for breakfast. Fleur stirred hers listlessly, fervently wishing they'd been able to stay at Sapphire's and Velvet's again.

"You know about her?"

"Sure, everypony knows about her."

"Well I don't. Mash said she arrived a few years ago, when I wasn't here."

"Okay, I'll change that to most ponies that have lived in Prance for the last four years know about her."

"What do you know about her?"

"Only rumours, like nopony's ever seen her because she wraps herself in shadows, and that everything she says is a riddle. Or was it a rhyme?" The filly shrugged, "Probably both. And that her services are fucking expensive."

"How so?"

"Heck if I know, but she must be good at her job, so I guess her prices reflect it. Wait... are we going to have to pay her? 'Cause we ain't got that much."

"I hadn't even thought of that. Lets find her first, and maybe we can come to an agreement or something."

"It better not come to an 'or something' situation. We haven't got a lot of 'or something's' on us."

"Look, let's just find her first and worry about the details later."

"You're the boss." The filly lifted her bowl, pouring the sludge down her gullet before smacking her lips with satisfaction. "You gonna eat that?" she asked as she noticed Fleur was more interested in playing with her food than eating it.

Fleur slid the bowl over to her, "Knock yourself out." She went to the bar, where Mash was evenly distributing the dirt around with a grimy cloth. "I don't suppose you've considered any plans for dropping everything and coming with us?"

"Uh... nope. You're welcome to stay here while you're in Prance, but everything else you do is your business entirely. I already think you're making a mistake trying to find the Broker." He stopped wiping the bar and looked at her, his one good eye piercing deep into hers. "If you bring trouble down on us, or Prance, doing all this, I'll bloody hang you myself."

"Duly noted. If things get a bit too hot I'll find somewhere else to stay." Mash nodded at her and resumed his 'cleaning.' She walked to the door and was about to leave when she realised she was on her own. "Come on filly!"

"Eating!"

"You can eat faster than that!" There was no comeback, hopefully because the filly had her mouth full, and not because she was choking or something. A moment later the bowl clattered on the table and the filly scampered over to her.

"Happy now?" The filly had a porridge stain all around her mouth.

"Immensely. Um... you got a little something on your... everything."

The filly wiped the corner of her mouth, "Did I get it?"

"Not quite." She waited for the filly to finish cleaning herself up before saying goodbye to Mash. "If we don't come back it was probably because you were right."

"Hah! Take care of yourselves out there."

They stepped out into the crisp morning air, Fleur breathing deeply before choking on the smell of the lower city. "Do you even know where we're going?" the filly asked.

"Twenty-three Park way." Fleur stepped into motion, the filly falling in beside her.

"Really? That's a nice part of town. Well, for lower city standards anyway. Shouldn't she be all secretive, working through intermediaries to maintain her secret identity?"

"Who's to say she isn't?"

"Fair point, but wouldn't the ponies in charge want to arrest her? Stop her doing whatever it is she's doing?"

"Perhaps. Or perhaps they're the ones that use her most. Besides, the nice thing about knowing lots of secrets is that you have plenty of blackmail material. Nopony would really want to touch her in case all those little secrets suddenly become public knowledge."

"This looks totally unremarkable," was the filly's opinion of the house they stopped in front of. The only thing really unusual was the heavily curtained windows, but seeing as how it was still morning, not unexpected.

"What were you expecting? A portal to the 'realm of shadows' or something?" Fleur snorted, "Come on, get real."

"Whatever." The filly stood there, waiting expectantly. "So... do we just knock?"

"Nay! We doth ring the bell of mysteries, and hope yon Broker doth harken to its chiming tones!"

"Shut up Fleur." Fleur snorted into laughter before stepping up to the door and knocking. A second later the door creaked open, even though there was nopony there to have opened it. "You can't tell me that's not creepy," the filly squeaked.

Fleur entered and looked behind the door, taking note of the string on the latch going up through the ceiling, the spring to pull the door open, and the sign saying 'Please close the door behind you. Thank you.' "Ooh, so creepy. So very, very creepy." Beyond the door was a short hallway lit by candlelight, and another door.

Fleur pushed it open, to find a room that was bare apart from the desk in the middle, and the high backed chair that was occupied by a pony swathed in black hooded robes. "So," the robed pony said, "Who at this hour has come rapping, with a tap-tap-tapping at my door?" The pony's voice was heavily accented, but not with any accent Fleur had encountered in Mareitania.

"I'm Fleur, and this is the filly-"

"The filly you say? But why are you named this way? To be a pony without a name is usually of much shame, but you I feel, take pride in not saying what is real."

The filly narrowed her eyes, "My name is my business, and no pony else's."

The pony waved a hoof languidly, "Your anger you do not need, I am sorry, but curiosity is my creed. Put it behind you and let us see, what business you have for me."

"You are the Broker aren't you?" Fleur asked. The rhyming and accent was causing her suspicions to scream at her.

"Yes, that is I, and you have sought me why?"

Fleur tilted her head and her horn flashed, knocking the hood of the robe back, revealing a zebra a bit younger than herself, her mane curling down to cover half of the left of her blue eyes. "For starters I'm damn curious as to what a zebra's doing in Mareitania."

The zebra scrabbled hurriedly to pull her hood back up. "I is me, but what is this? How could you see what others miss?"

"You sound like a zebra, and you rhyme like some zebras do, which I know is totally unnecessary by the way. Those were pretty much my only clues."

"But how do you know what I am so? Mareitanian knowledge of my kind is low."

"Eh, you see a few zebras in Equestria, no big deal."

"Equestrians you are? What reason have you to come here from so far?"

"Actually I'm originally a Mareitanian, but escaped to Equestria when I was..." Fleur paused, realising that not only was she about to tell her story to not only a complete stranger, but an information broker, whom probably didn't need to know. "Never mind. Perhaps I ought to ask why a zebra is an information broker in a place like this?"

"You deny me your story, but expect mine? Excuse me if about that I want to whine," the zebra huffed.

"Well that rhyme was a little stilted," the filly muttered.

The zebra shrugged, "I do not claim to be a master. If I were I could likely rhyme better and faster."

"Why rhyme at all?"

The zebra smiled cheekily, "As others here think of me a freak, rhyming what I say adds to my mystique." The zebra sat back and pursed her lips, "If you wish to know why I am here, it is a tale most queer."

"Please."

"Very well. I came with two others across the sea, to see what here there be, for many countries there are upon the map, but with Mareitania mapmakers must have had a nap. The space is empty for all to see, and so my lady sent three to learn why that be."

"Your lady?" Fleur asked, "Who's that?"

"My lady and mistress is she. One of the Council of Elders my lady be."

"Council of Elders?" the filly asked.

"The ruling body of the zebras in Zebrica," Fleur told her. "Made up of the heads of the different tribes." The zebra nodded in confirmation. "How did you even get here?"

"Travel over the sea to Equestria we did, then upon a train to here we hid." Her face fell, "But what we found was not good, and does not work as it should. Pegasi suffer and unicorns quake, a fetid hole, this country, the Dukes' did make."

"You got that right," the filly agreed. "Why not leave then?"

"Others try and others fail, with punishments enough to turn my stripes pale. I am last here, and here I'll stay, until found there is an easier way."

"And your companions?" enquired Fleur.

The zebra looked down and rubbed at a patch on her desk. "The Duke's tender mercies they suffered and more, now they reside beyond death's door."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Fleur couldn't help but wonder what the zebras interest in Mareitania could be. Was it purely academic? Mareitania was about as far from Zebrica as you could imagine, and the zebras probably knew less about this place than most. Perhaps this zebra was telling the truth.

"Why become the Broker then?" the filly asked while Fleur was thinking.

"A mistress of secrets and shadows I be, to seek for others what they cannot see. Ponies here want knowledge they need, what better task for one of my creed? After all, everypony knows, from the lowest slum to the highest tower, that knowledge, is power."

"Are you a Night Maiden?" Fleur asked in surprise.

The zebra smiled widely, "Of Night Maidens you know? Please, tell me how so?"

"You're like the zebras little army of spies, assassins, and highly skilled warriors. Or so I've been told anyway. I always thought an organisation like that would be more secret."

"Heard of events with us involved have you?"

"Well, no..."

"The re-evaluate what you think of us to be true." Fleur had to give her that one.

"What's your name?" the filly asked.

"In native tongue is Mtafuta Ukweli, a mouthful I agree, so you may call me Seeker for the time that be. Now you know that I am here, and why, but your own story is still shy."

"I'm sure you've heard of the rebellion down south?" Seeker nodded, "We're part of that. We're in Prance to scout it out for the future, but the situation with the soldiers here is wrong. I was hoping you might know what's happening? The thing is, we can't pay."

Seeker waved her off, "For friends new there is no fee, but please, tell not anypony about me."

"We promise not to tell a single pony here of you being a zebra."

Seeker smiled gratefully, "My appreciation you have, for me to be caught would not be a laugh."

"Hey! Rhyme something with orange!"

Seeker rolled her eyes theatrically, "To force a rhyme with orange, surely afterwards my throat would need a lozenge."

The filly's expression grew sceptical, "Alright, I'll give you that one..."

"So do you know anything about what the soldiers are up to?" Fleur asked, hoping to keep things on track.

"Sadly no knowledge of the soldiers has come to me, I only know things that are plain to see."

"Such as?"

"A giant trap this city is, it's true, but I know not exactly for who."

The filly snorted a laugh, "A giant trap? How is this city a trap?"

"One way out, and one way in, without that your options are thin. And now that rebels have come here too, I rather suspect this trap is for you."

Fleur paced back and forth, her head down and her brow creased as she thought. Was what Seeker suggesting true? Was this all an elaborate trap for her and the filly. No... not just them. Maybe it was meant to be a trap for all of them, but only her and the filly fell into it. Even so it seemed implausible because they could have sent anypony in the rebellion to scout Prance. Unless whoever had set up this trap had predicted they'd come themselves...

The food shortage could be to draw them in, and the soldiers were there to do whatever they did as well as add an extra reason to explore Prance to search for a reason why they were there. Then there was the hunters that Mash said were lurking in the city. They were the only thing that led any credence to the idea since they wouldn't turn up for just anypony.

Then there was the simple fact that Fleur was from Prance and had a personal interest in the place, and they probably knew that, but were expecting more than just her and the filly to come.

"What do we do Fleur?" the filly asked, her voice laden with worry. "Should we leave Prance?" It was the sensible thing to do, but they'd have to go through the drainage tunnel to get out, and if they were being watched then that would lead the soldiers straight to the Resistance. Of course that was assuming they didn't know about the Resistance already.

"No. First we need to get a warning to Mash about all this, tell him to get himself and the others away from that house and the tunnel." But that returned them straight back to the problem where they led the soldiers to the Resistance. "I hate to ask Seeker, but could you deliver a message to Sour Mash at the Prancing Pony inn?"

"A simple task, that I see, but sadly it is not for free. If you wish the message delivered to he, you must have something to trade with me."

"You want to get out of Mareitania don't you?" Seeker nodded vigorously. "Well we have supply ships from Equestria that come to Neigh Orleans. If I promise you passage on one of those ships, would that be enough."

"Too much for sure, it seems not fair to me, in fact it seems like robbery."

"You're good at spying and stuff right?" the filly asked, almost bouncing with enthusiasm. "We could probably use your help with the rebellion!"

"Now the price is too low, so it cannot be, unless more you have to offer me?"

"You'd get to see a free Mareitania," Fleur told her, "but if you're talking about money I'm sure we could work something out."

"A free Mareitania I'd like to see, so the perhaps the price is fair indeed. But much to ask you have of me, so if I agree we'll have to see..."

"Oh come on!" the filly burst out, "That was your worst rhyme yet!"

Fleur ignored it, "Uh, if that means you need time to think it over then sure, we got time, but we still need that message delivered."

"And deliver it I shall, just wait and see, but you may want to write it down for ponies often fail to understand me." Seeker pulled a sheet of paper, a quill, and ink out of her desk and placed them before Fleur, grinning sheepishly. Fleur scribbled away and hoped that Mash could actually read, otherwise this was a total waste of effort.

Mash, it's Fleur, and I really hope you can read because I have bad news. We found the Broker, and while she didn't know what the soldiers are up to, she thinks the entire city has been set up as a trap for me and my friends in the rebellion, and the tunnel you're using to smuggle food in is an important part of that trap.

You need to get Flip, Sweetheart, and Nightlight away from that tunnel as soon as possible, and stay away. You should also warn Sapphire and Velvet as well.

I'm really sorry about this. We never meant to put any of you in danger. Please, keep them and yourself safe.

Fleur

Fleur let the ink dry before folding it and passing it to Seeker who tucked it into her robes. "You will get that to him, won't you?"

"Deliver I shall the message you wrote, or by the sun goddess herself be I smote. Now, if the victim of this trap is you, perhaps it best you leave here too."

"Right, of course. Thank you Seeker."

"The pleasure is mine I'm sure. Now not to be rude, but please show yourself the door."

"Gotcha. Come on filly." They left the building, closing the door behind them, and walked out into the street, randomly choosing a direction towards somewhere they hadn't already been.

The filly looked up to Fleur, an expression on her face that seemed all to similar to hope. "What we going to do now then?"

"Run and hide like scared children probably," Fleur answered glumly.

"What? Fleur! We have to get out of here! Let's just go to the drain thingy in the upper city and get out through there."

Fleur shook her head sadly. "If we're being watched then they might go after the resistance if we try to get out. We'll wait for Seeker to deliver the message and give Mash some time to get the others to safety before trying to get out that way."

"Are you kidding me?" the filly spat. "We're putting our necks on the line for them? We owe them for helping us out, sure, but we don't owe them that much!"

Fleur suddenly found herself coming into conflict with herself of all ponies. The scrappy street pony that Fleur used to be was very much in agreement with the filly, while the more mature and altruistic part of her was telling her to not be such an ass. Apparently her mature side didn't use mature language. Eventually both sides agreed on a compromise.

"These ponies did what they could to help others when they didn't have to, at considerable risk to themselves. They don't deserve us throwing them to the wolves. We'll give them a week to sort themselves out, but then we're out of here. Both of us know the city pretty well so I think we can manage to stay hidden for a week."

The filly stared at Fleur incredulously, her mouth hanging open slightly. "You're insane, you know that?"

"Possibly, now come on. We're going to have to reacquaint ourselves with living rough."

The filly sighed and rolled her eyes before kicking at a pebble, "Yippee."

Author's Notes:

Since I messed up posting the last chapter so spectacularly, have another.

Yes I put a zebra in the story. No, I'm not one hundred percent sure why myself. Seemed like a fun idea at the time.