New in Town

The road to Grand Amble Station was not a pleasant one. Moonrose found herself constantly pushed around in the suddenly busy street. To make matters worse, it was raining and Moonrose didn't have enough money to hail a cab. Bummer, she had a killer taxi whistle. Just as Moonrose thought matters couldn't get any worse, the station appeared, only a block away from her. thank Celestia Moonrose thought, as she galloped with all her might towards the majestic building. Right outside of the doors, Moonrose felt a gust of hot air from under her hooves. She was standing on top of a grate that covered the subway. At least now she was dry. Moonrose rushed through the big, glass, doors desperate to get out of the city.

As Moonrose walked toward the reception desk, she took notice of the station around her. Grand Amble Station was well, grand. It had a huge, overarching, dome- like roof painted green with golden constellations across it. In the middle of the main room, there was a four- sided clock on which read 1:35 . It had taken her more than an hour and a half to reach the station? It had seemed a lot shorter. A pony next to her caught Moonrose's eye. It was a young filly, with light periwinkle fur and a messy, dark blue mane with lighter highlights in it. The young filly looked back at Moonrose with  scared, green eyes. It took a second for Moonrose to realize that she was looking at reflection of herself. She took a hoof and ran it through her mane, trying to smooth it out the tiniest bit. After shaking her mane out a bit, she got only to purchase her ticket. Guilt flowed through her as she thought of her family. Her sweet little brother, her deceased mother, and, most of all, her broken- minded father. How could've she been selfish? To leave her brother alone with that shell of a father... Stop it, stop it right now she scolded herself you don't have enough bits to take Shadey yet, and dad is always worse when you're around No really, it was for the best. Shade would come after Moonrose had gathered enough to support the both of them.

"NEXT" the mare at the ticket booth screamed, jolting Moonrose out of her thoughts. The mare had pink fur, an obviously bleached mane, and blue eyes.  "where to kid?" she asked as she snapped her gum.

"umm..." Moonrose hesitated. Not knowing where to go, and accounting the amount of bit she had, Moonrose asked "what's the farthest, cheapest ticket you've got?"

"That would be Ponyville." came the annoyed response "12 bits" Moonrose handed her the bits."Ok one Ponyville ticket comin right- hey wait a sec," Moonrose gulped, now what?

"How old are ya?" the mare asked suspiciously

"T-thirteen, why?" all Moonrose could think was **please* don't let there be an age requirement!*

"Sorry kid, but you need an adult companion." the ticket master explained as she handed Moonrose back her bits.

"but, b-b-but" Moonrose could barely breath. It was almost 3am, no WAY she could get home in time to keep suspicions down. In fact, she was willing to bet that the doorman had already told security that she had gone.

suddenly, a hoof was place on her shoulder

"She's with me ma'am" said the stallion. He gave her look that said go with it.

"Alright then mister, whatever." the mare said scooping up the bits and handed Moonrose a minor's ticket. As the mare got the adult's ticket, Moonrose got a good look at the stallion who had helped her. He had light blue fur, with a slightly darker mane. His mane was styled back in a wind- blown fashion and his bright green eyes had creases underneath, from stress no doubt. The mare at the booth handed him his ticket and yelled "NEXT!"

"Thank you mister.. uh.." Moonrose stuttered, not knowing his name.

"I'm Soarin" he said

"I'm Moonrose"

"Nice to meet you kid. Where ya from?" he had a medium- low voice, with a slight Manehatten accent.

"The Broncos."

"Pretty far from home then huh?" He said with a sly grin "something tells me that you're not suppose to be here." Moonrose blushed, how had he read her so well?

"Bingo, don't worry kid, I won't tell."

Moonrose scratched the back of her head, "Heh... yeah I kinda wanted this to be a solo trip, thanks again for covering me."

"Hey no sweat, I'm heading to Ponyville to, I just lost my comrades." Soarin didn't seem fazed at all. The Moonrose talked to him, the more chill he seemed. Moonrose couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him somewhere. From a loudspeaker up above, a garbled voice rang out. The words made absolutely no sense

"What?!? That either said 'train to ponyville, track 24' or 'pain do many still, pack bentley for'" Soarin said with a completely straight face. Moonrose giggled.

"I think we should go to track 24 and find out."