Not once looking back, Trixie ran and ran, away from the school and from her parents. She galloped down the pathway and into the streets of Canterlot City. A few ponies passing by, noses held up to the sky, stared after her, but she ignored them and didn’t stop running.
It wasn’t long before she began to tire, though; she’d never run so fast ever in her life. Panting, she slowed down to a trot once she was sure she was out of sight of her mother and father, a long way away. It was warm in the light of the midday sun, so she crossed the street to walk beneath the shade of stores and other buildings.
What was she to do now? Her parents were sure to come looking for her, right?
Well, Mother had said herself that she couldn’t be part of the family anymore, so perhaps they wouldn’t consider her their responsibility any longer. But what if they did come for her? Would they take her home? She tried not to imagine the immense beatings she would receive if they did.
Trixie vigorously shook her head. She would not think of them right now. First, she needed to decide where to go next. Where do foals go when they run away? she asked herself.
Running away. She was really running away. She couldn’t believe it. She was basically an orphan now, on the run, searching for a new home...
Home! She knew where to go first. She would head for her house, gather her belongings and whatnot, maybe pack some food for the road, and leave. She would have to hurry, though, in case her mother and father were heading there from the school as well.
New plan in mind, Trixie set off for her home, walking briskly into the city. But before she could get any further, she stopped, realizing she wasn’t exactly sure how to get to her house from here.
This is just great, she thought to herself. I’m running away and I don’t even know which way to go. She swiveled her head around, looking in the direction from which she’d come. Ponies and shops and stores, sometimes carriages strolling down the road. And far off in the distance, although she couldn’t be sure, was the School for Gifted Unicorns. And in the other direction, endless road. Should she go back toward the school, or deeper into town? Or she could head down to the city square. Or up toward Canterlot Castle...
It was hopeless. Maybe she shouldn’t have run. She would almost rather face the wrath of her parents at home than wander helplessly around Canterlot.
But her family didn’t care for her anymore, not if she wouldn’t back down and live a life all planned out for her. They’d made it pretty clear. So Trixie was leaving, and she’d never go back. Not anytime soon, anyway. But now wasn’t the time to think about that; she needed to stay where her hooves were. And right now, they were standing in the middle of a city, lost. She suddenly felt very small, all by herself from now on and up against the world and her parents, struggling to find her own path and live her own life without having to live up to anyone else’s expectations. To be free.
Her head was almost starting to hurt with all these thoughts swirling around, so she plopped herself down, right there, in the middle of the sidewalk. Ponies stared as if she were simply a large insect and stepped cautiously around her, but she didn’t notice. She was lost in her thoughts.
Trying not to panic anymore, Trixie told herself, I need to stay strong. Let’s think of a plan... I could go back to the school and find my way home from there. Remember how we got there this morning? Oh. Well, I should be able to find my way back. It can’t hurt to try, right?
Having somewhat comforted herself and decided what to do, she stood up and marched back toward Magic School, trying to feel brave. But with each step taking her closer, she began to worry. What if she ran into her parents? How could she avoid them if they, too, were headed home now? Well, if they were, they’d have to be there by now. Or maybe they’d went out into the city. Well, Trixie would have to try and avoid her parents. And if she were unlucky enough to bump into them on the way, she’d simply have to make a run for it. She needed to make it home before the end of the day, she decided. She didn’t want to be stuck in the city at night... Where would she sleep? What would she eat?
She shuddered at the thought. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to worry about such things.
By now, Trixie was nearing the school building. She quickly jumped behind a café and peered around the corner. She didn’t see her parents anywhere; they must have left a while ago. What a relief! She continued on her way, then stopped once she stood at the front entrance of the school. Where to go from here?
Trixie decided to head down the path that she was sure carried her near the city square. She knew she lived somewhere in the area. So she turned on her heels and trotted down the pathway.
A couple of minutes later and the foal had yet another decision to make: to turn left into the shopping district (she knew that was where it led because she could hear many voices and see bustling stores lining the streets), or continue straight on? After a moment’s hesitation, she kept going straight ahead. She had a feeling the neighbourhoods were that way.
After making a few more turns (one in the wrong direction, she soon discovered, when she found herself in the wrong neighbourhood), she eventually came down a street she thought she recognized. She spotted a familiar house as she passed by, and saw some ponies she knew from around the place (she carefully avoided them in case they were to come and question her being by herself).
Finally, after what seemed like hours and hours of walking and walking (but was probably just about thirty minutes or so), Trixie pulled up to her house. She heaved a great sigh of relief, gladly stepped up to the front door, and almost knocked when she remembered her parents could be in there. Immediately she drew her hoof back and dashed around to the side of the house, trying to keep quiet as she leaned back against the wall. Her heart was thumping in her ears.
Why did she have to be so nervous around her own family? Surely that wasn’t normal. And she didn’t even know for certain if they were home. She should check if they were.
Trixie slowly stood up on her hind legs and cautiously peered in through the window above her. She was just tall enough that only the top of her head could be seen.
The fine silk curtains hung inside were slightly in the way, but Trixie could see enough to tell that the living room was empty. She turned and tried to look to the kitchen, and although she couldn’t see much, she knew nopony was there either. But just to make sure, she pressed her ear into the glass. She heard nothing. The coast was clear.
Trixie took in a deep breath. Was she really about to break into her house? But, well, it was her house, so it wouldn’t really be breaking in. It was now or never.
At last, Trixie mustered up the courage to thrust her hoof to the plate-glass window. It bounced right off, leaving her with a purple bruise.
Argh! She shook her hoof until most of the pain faded. What a stupid idea. Of course she couldn’t break in. She needed to find some way to sneak in.
Trixie scampered around the house to the backdoor, remembering that her parents usually kept a spare key somewhere in the back. She looked around at the little, sunny yellow flowers, the cool green grass, the one rock over by the wall. Oh, right! She got down onto her knees and lifted up the rock sitting in the grass. Pressed into the dirt was a little metal key. She grabbed it. Then she went back over to the front door, inserted and turned the key in the keyhole as quietly as possible, and twisted the doorknob all the way before slowly opening the door.
All the lights seemed to be off. Good. But even if nopony was currently home, she’d have to hurry, in case Mother and Father arrived while she was inside.
Trixie dashed into the house, closing the door behind her. She ran up the stairs to her bedroom, stopping in the doorway.
This would be her last time being in her room, she realized now. She’d never get to sleep in her own bed again, underneath her own roof, with all of her toys and books and things. And the longer she looked over all of her belongings and furniture, the more her heart dropped in her chest.
Well, she’d just have to deal with it. It would be fine. Running away was basically like moving, she decided.
First, Trixie began to scrounge for her most treasured possessions—a ratty old stuffed breezie she’d named “Bee-Bee”, a little pink pillow and a small blanket for sleeping with, and a favourite book. She tucked everything into her saddle bag and struggled it onto her back. Then, she lined up the remaining pillows on her little bed in what she thought looked like the shape of a foal and threw the blanket over top. If she stood far back enough, the whole set-up resembled herself sleeping in bed. Perfect.
Next, Trixie galloped quickly but quietly downstairs and into the kitchen. If she was going to be living on the streets for a day or more, she’d obviously need to pack provisions. So fast-forward a few minutes and two apples, a wheat sandwich she’d quickly thrown together, and some water had joined the contents of her saddlebag. She didn’t worry about packing too much in case her parents would notice missing food. She wouldn’t be home by the time they came, so it wasn’t like they could punish her.
All packed and ready to go, Trixie ran out of the house, down the steps, and shut the door. Then, stepping back, she tipped her head up to take one last look at the place before she left.
She might have stayed like that for just a minute longer, but when Trixie suddenly heard a pair of hooves clip-clopping their way over in the distance, she turned tail and ran in the other direction.