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=Fracture 8=
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>Hoofington was a step up from the Mild West.
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>At least a small step.
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>And at least on the outside.
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>On the inside it was the same as always.
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>Big sights, loud noises, and enough action that you were always sated.
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>The year since that botched train job had been a blur.
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>Red was asserting more control, pushing more and making more choices.
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>That was part of the reason you came to Hoofington, there was always something going on here.
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>Your days were spent in a dazed sleep as you prepared for the midnight hours, where you truly were able to come alive.
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>The nights in Hoofington can only be described as "Blissful anarchy."
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>A man can walk from his bed and straight into the Grand Galloping Gala for low-lifes like himself.
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>From party to backroom to dumpster and back again, the Hoofington life was one you could get behind each and every night.
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>And as for money...
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>You had graduated from theft to something a bit more...intense.
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>Your boots land on the pegasus underneath you and your fang shaped knives dig into his neck.
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>A bit more satisfying.
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>You drag the corpse off to the side and knock on the wall, drawing the attention of another down the hall.
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>His face contorts to shock and agony as you grab his snout and drag your knife across his neck.
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>The penthouse apartment stays quiet as you sneak through, dispatching sentries, servants, and anyone important until eventually you were the only living being in the blood soaked apartment.
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>:Well! That was fun!:
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>*That it was*
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>You kneel down and rifle through the guards pockets.
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>Hmm...couple bits, a watch, slip of paper with some phone number on it.
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>:Bunch of crap:
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>You rise back to your feet and start to rummage through the apartment proper, there had to be something worth stealing in here.
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>+Bedrooms+
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>You kick in doors and delve into the dresser drawers of the ex-owner of this home.
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>"Autopilot" kicks in and the others speak up.
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>:Grab that jewelry:
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>+The bits+
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>*More corpses*
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>This is how it went when you did this now.
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>It was like this frighteningly more often now, the others pushing you further and further back into your own brain.
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>+Necklace+
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>You pocket the valuables and throw any that are bigger into a bag.
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>Floodlights from the buildings across the street snap on and fill the room with light that rivals the sun.
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>You shield your eyes as you stand and ready yourself.
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>Three knocks come from the front door before you hear it shatter, the sound of hooves not far behind it.
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>"Royal guard! Everyone freeze!" they call from the living room.
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>+They tailed us+
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>*Or they were here before we got here*
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>You twist your head around and watch as the guards start to surround you.
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>You spy the window.
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>:This is where the fun begins!:
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>You grab a chair just as the guards catch sight of you and send it sailing through the window, you following after it.
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>"After him!" one of the guards calls.
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>You run across the roof and slide over dish antennas and run through hanging laundry as the guards chase after you.
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>+Distance+
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>Agreed.
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>A thick wire connected this building to the one across the street, running for about two hundred feet.
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>It'd do.
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>You unhook your knives and cross them over the top of the wire, jumping off and sliding down.
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>Bolts of magic whiz past you as the guards reach the edge of the roof behind you.
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>Pegusi are in the air in moments, circling you as you slide down.
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>:They're expecting us to ride this out:
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>+Drop+
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>You slide your knives off the wire and drop to the roof below, rolling in to the fall and breaking into a run.
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>You run along a parallel angle from the wire towards the edge of the roof.
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>+Alley+
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>Your lungs burn as you jump off the roof towards the opposing wall and kick off to catch the fire escape.
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>You drop and grab your way down to the ground and land with a THUMP!
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>+They'll be here in moments, head out the back+
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>You're about to turn and run when a commanding voice stops you. "Anon."
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>You growl and look back at him over your shoulder.
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"Armor."
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>Shining Armor takes a few steps towards you. "You look...well."
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>You don't know the half of it...
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"I feel...well."
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>Everyone knew that was a lie, you were covered in scrapes and cuts in that alley.
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>"It's been a while."
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>You snort.
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"Couple of years."
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>"Where did you go? After that day in Ponyville?"
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>You snap your head around and glare at him as the memories start rushing back.
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"Away."
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>Shining eyes you as if trying to dig out more information that you weren't planning to share before walking closer.
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>"I'll assume you're curious about how we found you?"
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>You glance up at the pegusi taking position along the rooftops.
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>Shining approaches you from the side. "The drink you had at that club earlier was magically tagged. We tracked you."
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>You spit a bit of the possibly contaminated saliva out.
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"Clever."
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>You glare down at your old friend.
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"So why go through all this trouble, were those guys up there friends of yours?"
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>Shining glances at the now surrounded penthouse. "Yes, I saw that. We'll talk about that later."
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>No you won't.
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>"But...I need your help, Anon."
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>:Whoa:
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>*Wait*
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>+What?+
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"Excuse me?"
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>Armor beckons you down to his level and whispers into your ear.
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>"Communications have ceased from Trottingham...It's been two weeks and all we've had are some frightened refugees in Dappleshore and Stalliongrad."
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>You lean back a bit. No communications? What could that mean?
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"What do the refugees say?"
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>Shining glances both ways. "They spoke about walking corpses." he whispers.
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>Corpses?
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>+Hmmm...+
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>You pull away.
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"What do you want me to do about it?"
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>Shining sighs. "I need you to go and investigate, possibly attempt to fix whatever's wrong."
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>...He wants you to help him?
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>After not helping with the dragons?
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>You feel Red muscle through as you snort and walk down the alley.
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"Not interested."
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>You walk the streets at late night back to your place.
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>Okay, technically not "your" place, it belonged to some son of a city councilmen who you were helping with some "self discovery".
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>Kid had potential, at least in the sack.
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>You step through the door into the apartment and find it dark.
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"Lace? You in?"
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>You drop your knives on the counter and make for the living room.
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"You're not gonna believe who tracked me dow-"
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>The living room is empty.
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"...Lace?"
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>You walk through the room and find a small note on the table.
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>:...Huh?:
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>You grab the note.
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>"Anon, it's not working out. I know what you do at night and where you go. I know about the things you used to do. You were great to be around in doses, but you're just...not what I need right now. Have a nice life. -Royal Lace."
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>That...
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>You crunch the paper in your hand.
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>*THAT LITTLE*
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>You flip the table over and the couch soon after, stampeding around the room.
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>THAT STUPID LITTL-
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>*-E SHIT THINGKS HE CAN-*
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>-REPLACE US SO EASY THAT LIKE THAT!? A-
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>*TER THE TIME WE PUT IN!?*
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>You drop your ass onto the floor and run your hand through your hair.
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"Might as well just DO Shining's stupid job now!"
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>Not like there was any other reason to stay here...
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>:How far to Trottingham?:
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>+Three days by train+
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>...Fuck it.
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>You jump to your feet and make for the door, grabbing your knives on the way out.
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>You could hit up some stores, grab some gear, and be there in the week.
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>You head back out into the cold night and head for the nearest train station.
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>As you pass the alley by the apartment, you could have noticed the white mane of your now ex, Royal Lace.
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>And once again, had you been paying attention, you could have noticed the flash of emerald fire from the alley followed by the sound of clopping hooves.
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