The parade had been lovely and watching the adoring crowds below were a sight to behold. Being tugged along at the end as well was a treat too since she still commanded cheers and praise after all the other excitement had passed through. What no one had mentioned is that this was her last parade, and there was only one proper sendoff for a balloon.

She had been filled tighter than last time she had been brought out, and had tugged on her lines that much tighter against the handlers; and she had noted quite a few more on each line as well. But she hadn't paid much mind to it until the end of the parade when the crowd started counting down rather than taking her down the side street to vent her helium. Her eyes perked as they reached zero, than the several taunt points along her body stopped feeling like pinched skin. She immediately floated up at a fast clip, clearing the smaller buildings swiftly.

Not long after she floated above the taller buildings she started to feel the pressure build inside of her. One leg went quickly, a soft 'PFFT' when a seam burst open along her rounded left rump. Everything else held though, for now at least... but with her body creaking and growing more taunt she had to wonder, how long would that last?



So I learned a while back that at the end of the old Macey's parades, they'd just let the balloons go. I admit for most of the balloons I wouldn't care, they don't do anything for me... but there would eventually be a balloon that would. Heaven help me when it's made because I'd flip if they just let it go to pop way up in the atmosphere.