=Fracture 8=

-Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8LcZ8KEEHo-
>Hoofington was a step up from the Mild West.
>At least a small step.
>And at least on the outside.
>On the inside it was the same as always.
>Big sights, loud noises, and enough action that you were always sated.
>The year since that botched train job had been a blur.
>Red was asserting more control, pushing more and making more choices.
>That was part of the reason you came to Hoofington, there was always something going on here.
>Your days were spent in a dazed sleep as you prepared for the midnight hours, where you truly were able to come alive.
>The nights in Hoofington can only be described as "Blissful anarchy."
>A man can walk from his bed and straight into the Grand Galloping Gala for low-lifes like himself.
>From party to backroom to dumpster and back again, the Hoofington life was one you could get behind each and every night.
>And as for money...
>You had graduated from theft to something a bit more...intense.
>Your boots land on the pegasus underneath you and your fang shaped knives dig into his neck.
>A bit more satisfying.
>You drag the corpse off to the side and knock on the wall, drawing the attention of another down the hall.
>His face contorts to shock and agony as you grab his snout and drag your knife across his neck.
>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.

>:Well! That was fun!:
>*That it was*
>You kneel down and rifle through the guards pockets.
>Hmm...couple bits, a watch, slip of paper with some phone number on it.
>:Bunch of crap:
>You rise back to your feet and start to rummage through the apartment proper, there had to be something worth stealing in here.
>+Bedrooms+
>You kick in doors and delve into the dresser drawers of the ex-owner of this home.
>"Autopilot" kicks in and the others speak up.
>:Grab that jewelry:
>+The bits+
>*More corpses*
>This is how it went when you did this now.
>It was like this frighteningly more often now, the others pushing you further and further back into your own brain.
>+Necklace+
>You pocket the valuables and throw any that are bigger into a bag.
>Floodlights from the buildings across the street snap on and fill the room with light that rivals the sun.
>You shield your eyes as you stand and ready yourself.
>Three knocks come from the front door before you hear it shatter, the sound of hooves not far behind it.
>"Royal guard! Everyone freeze!" they call from the living room.
>+They tailed us+
>*Or they were here before we got here*
>You twist your head around and watch as the guards start to surround you.
>You spy the window.
>:This is where the fun begins!:

-Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpavSXoAPC0-
>You grab a chair just as the guards catch sight of you and send it sailing through the window, you following after it.
>"After him!" one of the guards calls.
>You run across the roof and slide over dish antennas and run through hanging laundry as the guards chase after you.
>+Distance+
>Agreed.
>A thick wire connected this building to the one across the street, running for about two hundred feet.
>It'd do.
>You unhook your knives and cross them over the top of the wire, jumping off and sliding down.
>Bolts of magic whiz past you as the guards reach the edge of the roof behind you.
>Pegusi are in the air in moments, circling you as you slide down.
>:They're expecting us to ride this out:
>+Drop+
>You slide your knives off the wire and drop to the roof below, rolling in to the fall and breaking into a run.
>You run along a parallel angle from the wire towards the edge of the roof.
>+Alley+
>Your lungs burn as you jump off the roof towards the opposing wall and kick off to catch the fire escape.
>You drop and grab your way down to the ground and land with a THUMP!
>+They'll be here in moments, head out the back+
>You're about to turn and run when a commanding voice stops you. "Anon."
>You growl and look back at him over your shoulder.
"Armor."

>Shining Armor takes a few steps towards you. "You look...well."
>You don't know the half of it...
"I feel...well."
>Everyone knew that was a lie, you were covered in scrapes and cuts in that alley.
>"It's been a while."
>You snort.
"Couple of years."
>"Where did you go? After that day in Ponyville?"
>You snap your head around and glare at him as the memories start rushing back.
"Away."
>Shining eyes you as if trying to dig out more information that you weren't planning to share before walking closer.
>"I'll assume you're curious about how we found you?"
>You glance up at the pegusi taking position along the rooftops.
>Shining approaches you from the side. "The drink you had at that club earlier was magically tagged. We tracked you."
>You spit a bit of the possibly contaminated saliva out.
"Clever."
>You glare down at your old friend.
"So why go through all this trouble, were those guys up there friends of yours?"
>Shining glances at the now surrounded penthouse. "Yes, I saw that. We'll talk about that later."
>No you won't.
>"But...I need your help, Anon."
>:Whoa:
>*Wait*
>+What?+

"Excuse me?"
>Armor beckons you down to his level and whispers into your ear.
>"Communications have ceased from Trottingham...It's been two weeks and all we've had are some frightened refugees in Dappleshore and Stalliongrad."
>You lean back a bit. No communications? What could that mean?
"What do the refugees say?"
>Shining glances both ways. "They spoke about walking corpses." he whispers.
>Corpses?
>+Hmmm...+
>You pull away. 
"What do you want me to do about it?"
>Shining sighs. "I need you to go and investigate, possibly attempt to fix whatever's wrong."	
>...He wants you to help him?
>After not helping with the dragons?
>You feel Red muscle through as you snort and walk down the alley.
"Not interested."

>You walk the streets at late night back to your place.
>Okay, technically not "your" place, it belonged to some son of a city councilmen who you were helping with some "self discovery".
>Kid had potential, at least in the sack.
>You step through the door into the apartment and find it dark.
"Lace? You in?"
>You drop your knives on the counter and make for the living room.
"You're not gonna believe who tracked me dow-"
>The living room is empty.
"...Lace?"
>You walk through the room and find a small note on the table.
>:...Huh?:
>You grab the note.
>"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."
>That...
>You crunch the paper in your hand.
>*THAT LITTLE*

>You flip the table over and the couch soon after, stampeding around the room.
>THAT STUPID LITTL-
>*-E SHIT THINGKS HE CAN-*
>-REPLACE US SO EASY THAT LIKE THAT!? A-
>*TER THE TIME WE PUT IN!?*
>You drop your ass onto the floor and run your hand through your hair.
"Might as well just DO Shining's stupid job now!"
>Not like there was any other reason to stay here...
>:How far to Trottingham?:
>+Three days by train+
>...Fuck it.
>You jump to your feet and make for the door, grabbing your knives on the way out.
>You could hit up some stores, grab some gear, and be there in the week.
>You head back out into the cold night and head for the nearest train station.
>As you pass the alley by the apartment, you could have noticed the white mane of your now ex, Royal Lace.
>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.