//------------------------------//
// Escape From Canterlot 
// Story: A Reckless Mare 
// by TangyTango 
//------------------------------//

Half-eaten poker chips? No.
Bottle caps? No.
Anon’s Crayola drawing of the American flag? N– yes.

Packing and racking, Reckless has zero tough decisions to make. A majority of it is necessary or deeply sentimental; however, mocking momentos of her past given by Anon remains strewn about. The poker chips in particular, sarcastic prick… she takes a nibble out of them.

—

An old can of hairspray? Good for memories.
Rusted spear bit? Callback!
Spider-Mare plate set? Classy.

Stumbling and fumbling, Anon is a complete and utter mess. Half of his ‘prized possessions’ are either completely useless or literal articles of trash. It is something to witness for the laypony, but Anon thrives in the mire.

—
The platform is absolutely barren, only Reckless and Anon stand upon it, bags at their side, the wind blowing in an out-of-season chill. 

For as much grandeur as Canterlot offers, departing parties are not something commonly hosted. Garrisons come and go across Equestria, with Canterlot as an obvious focal point. Though, typically a few ponies rally around for a sendoff.

While Anon chose to slouch around during his stay in Canterlot, Reckless urgently tried to form people into cohesive groups. Be it through coaching, inspirational talks in horribly broken Ponish, and at one point attempting to host a fitness competition, Reckless labored hard. Her reward for this hard work is absolutely zero ponies giving Reckless a sendoff, apparently she was ‘mean’ to everypony, not that she cares.

“Quiet day, and leave silly castle on golden carriage, what not to like, Anon?” Reckless has a suitcase firmly attached to her flank, a smile on her face, none the wiser to Anon’s despair.

“It’s nicer here, Reck. We got accommodations, bits, all these kind faces. My room was kick-ass!” Anon looks like he just crawled out of a hole, his suitcase has a peculiar smell to it, and his eyes are glossy.

“Your room, not clean, not ‘kick-ass’.” Gesturing down the platform to the small town, Reckless simply speaks. “Ponyville will be good, hardworker ponies there I hear, you enjoy that company, yes? Then you enjoy town, going to be develop like next Fillydelphia I hear.”

“You haven’t even been to Fillydelphia or Ponyville.”

“My point stand, big future in Ponyville.”

Anon doesn’t reply, crossing his arms, one hand pointing towards the carriage flying into the platform, two pegasi at the helm, coming in fast. Very, very fas–

“Duck!” The carriage doesn’t stop, screaming in at an incredible speed. Reckless instantly hits the deck, Anon nearly flings himself off the platform in a panic. 

The carriage skids to a stop on the very edge of the platform, the team of pegasi pant heavily as they narrowly avoid disaster.

“What was that!?” Reckless approaches the carriage, and gives it the up and down. The pegasus duo is uninjured, which prompts her to continue. “What kind of flying school you have? Late is fine, nearly kill us is not. What if Princess here?” Tears begin to form in one of the pegasus’ eyes, her hooves tremble.

“W-We’re sorry miss!” The mare pegasus begins to sniffle, and nearly breaking down as her wingstallion hugs her.

“Jeez, Reckless, you’re such a heartbreaker.” Anon has already clambered into the carriage, and leans off the side.

“I didn’t even push hard, we were at risk of fall!” Reckless sets her bag down, she westles into the lofty seat.

“Were at risk? They’re still the ones flying us to Ponyville.” 

The mare pegasus is no longer at risk of a sobbing fit, her comrade frowns at Anon’s statement. “I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at flight school.” A proud wingtip points to a medallion on his chest.

“Must’ve been a pretty shit flight school.” Anon leans forward, a smirk on his face. “Dude.” Reckless holds back a giggle.

Instead of responding with words like a gentlecolt, Anon and Reckless are given a sudden lurch forward. Without any runway, the carriage is on a direct collision course with the ground below as the pegasi attempt a sudden takeoff.

“IT WAS JUST A PRANK BRO!” Anon screams as the carriage hurtles toward the ground. Reckless can only grab onto the ledge, pinned to the seat by the incredible acceleration.

The carriage begins to curve upwards, and then it slowly levels out. The pegasus duo bank constantly to weave between the many towers. A pulchritudinous and expansive city below them, ponies from the city are no doubt impressed by the acrobatics and somewhat perplexed by the human’s head leaning off the side.

“Oh sweet Celestia…” Anon dry heaves over the railing, trying to stop himself from delivering an aerial bombardment on the ponies below.

“Don’t like height, Anon? Truly are scaredy-cat” Reckless leans over with Anon, and stares down at the waving ponies. 

Anon’s heaving ceased, and he slinks back into the plush seat cradling his stomach. “Just make it end…”