//------------------------------// // Goodbye Canterlot // Story: A Competition in Mortality // by forestpip //------------------------------// The stopping of the train slammed Flower against the back of the crate. She opened her eyes as Autumn cracked open the lid. Flower followed clumsily. Together they waited for the door to open and when no one was looking, took off for the castle. “How are we going to get in?’ Autumn asked, eying a nearby guard. “Did your video games not teach you how to get into your own castle?” Flower scoffed, clearly unamused. “No, just how to break into someone else’s castle.” Autumn responded, oblivious to her sister’s tone. “If Twilight can break into our library, we can get into our own castle.” Flower snapped, crouching low. “How much exploring have you done?” “Less than I should have.” Autumn replied, looking sheepish. “Okay then, follow me.” Flower said, running straight into a bush. Autumn reluctantly followed, only to find her sister gone. She ducked her head into the bush to find a rock had been hastily moved aside. A gaping hole was where it used to be. She stretched her neck, sticking her head in. Two hooves reached up and grabbed her head, pulling her in, the shoving her down a slide backwards. “Aaaaah!” Autumn screamed, desperately trying to stop the pull of gravity. She landed on the ground with a thud, before promptly being collided with. “Don’t you know how slides work?” Flower asked, standing up and shaking the dirt off her back leg. “Yes, I do. You let someone slide down on their own!” Why do we even have a slide?” Autumn questioned, a scowl on her face. “I got bored” Flower simply answered. “You can’t just build a slide without asking me!” Autumn argued, wings opening in anger. “What was I supposed to do, wait 500 years for Nightmare Moon returned and ask her? ‘Hey, I know you’re busy trying to take over Equestria, but what do you think of a slide into the case one of us can’t get in for one reason? We could even add some new paintings to hide the entrances of the tunnels into the castle! Wouldn’t that be lovely! We could bring back those tacky tapestries you loved so much!’” Flower said in a mocking tone, chuckling slightly. “That would be really funny. Wait, that was a 500 hundred-year-old slide? Isn’t that a safety hazard?” Autumn replied, laughing a little. “The tapestries weren’t tacky. They were beautiful.” “You there, stop in the name of Celestia!” A guard yelled. By order of the princess, you must come with me.” “Oh yeah, there are guards down here too.” Flower said, looking down. “You remember that now? Really?” Autumn asked, still laughing. “I don’t want to ask again, follow me.” The guard said, leading them forward. Reluctantly, they both followed the guard out of the tunnels and into the castle itself. He led them through several hallways, causing Flower to be more and more perplexed. “This isn’t the way to the dungeon.” Flower noted out loud, glancing at the passing doors. “Of course it isn’t princess.” The guard replied, a large smile on his face. Flower and Autumn stopped in their tracks. “How did you know?” Autumn asked, eyes wide in surprise. “Princess Cadence sent a letter informing the guards of your noble mission to understand. your subjects and make Equestria a better place for more than just the nobility. Thank you for not forgetting the lower citizens of your country.” The guard said, bowing. “What kind of princesses would we be if we didn’t think about all of our subjects. Flower replied. May we get the money we need now?” “Yes, yes, this way.” the guard said, flustered. Autumn and Flower each grabbed 60 bits for their coin bags and packed small items for their new home into their saddlebags. “Can’t I bring one of my consoles?” Autumn whined. “No. You can only bring what you need. besides, all that gaming is no good for you!” Flower replied, stamping her hoof. “I do need these games! They’ve helped us so far!” Autumn argued, holding the games close to her chest. I said no! I’m not paying for the extra baggage fee.” Flower responded, walking away to finish her own packing. It was hard for Flower to choose between her books. She couldn’t pack all of them. It’ll all be worth it for Twilight, she thought, closing her saddle bags. Everything will sort itself out.