At the Heart of it All

Chapter One

A New World brings the chance of a New Life

“Come on Star Dancer! It’s time to get up!” A voice called out from down stairs.

“I’m up Mom! I’m up!” Star Dancer yelled, rolling onto her back and letting out a huge yawn before rubbing her eyes a bit. Afterward, she sat up and scooched over to the end of her bed letting her hind legs drape over the side. It was still pretty early in the morning as the sun was just barely shining in through the window as Star Dancer took another few moments to stretch out her forelegs again.‘Mmm... what time is it?’ She wondered glancing over to the clock on her nightstand with tired eyes. It read 5:21am in bright red blurry numbers. Star Dancer yawned tiredly again before flopping back down on her bed drifting back off to sleep.

“You better not have fallen back asleep Star Dancer!” Her mother yelled back up stairs again.

“No mom,” she yelled, a little grumpiness in her voice. “Just resting my eyes for a second, that’s all.” She then tiredly sat back up and scratched her rump a couple times before hopping out of her bed, landing on shaky hooves. Taking a moment to stifle another yawn with a hoof, Star Dancer then sauntered over to her bedroom window and pushed it open. The warm morning breeze felt good as she sat by the window resting her forelegs on the windowsill, propping her head on a hoof. ‘Finally, twenty one. I can’t believe how time flies!’ she thought to herself looking out the window, watching the sun rise in the early morning sky.

It was once such a peaceful and quiet scene in the morning. But ever since the gateway to Earth had opened up, the peaceful sounds of her town were replaced by the sounds of bustling early morning activity. Vehicles rolling up and down the newly built road, delivering their goods to stores that had dotted up around the city. Humans and equestrians going about their early morning routine, some of them sometimes stopping to chat with and purchase goods from street vendors that had set up shop when the road was built.

Also in the distance, Star Dancer could hear occasional sounds of the local news helicopter buzzing around looking for a story to report on. It was definitely a change of times. Not that she didn’t like it, she actually loved the moment  when she had heard about the connection being made to Earth. And it was then that a feeling began to form in her. A yearning to want to venture into the new land and explore it for herself, and possibly make a new life out of it.

But she knew that her parents would never go for it. They were always so protective of their daughter, and wary of the dangers that may lie on Earth. But the new land is still calling to her, and Star Dancer can no longer resist the urge to see for herself what lies on the other side of the gateway, but today is the day. Today she will confront her parents and tell them that she wants to go explore the new land, and nothing they can say will stop her. Sighing to herself,  Star Dancer started to get up from the window, but stopped when she felt a pair of forelegs wrap around her chest.

“How’s my birthday girl this morning?” her mother whispered, pulling her daughter into warm hug.

Star Dancer smiled and leaned back into her mother nuzzling her cheek. “MMmm... Good Mom, just thinking.”

Star Dancers mother gently squeezed her daughter and kissed her on the head. “What about honey?” She quietly asked, looking down to her daughter.

“Just remembering when I used to sit at the this window as a filly watching the sunrise. It was just so different back then,” she sighed.

“Yeah, times have surely changed honey,” Star Dancer’s mother remarked looking out the window herself. She then returned her gaze to her daughter. “But I thought you liked all the new things happening in our town. Why so glum?”

“I do mom, I really do. But looking out at our home town and seeing all the new things happening get’s me thinking about that place.”

“You mean Earth, don’t you Star Dancer?”

She nodded, leaning forward resting on the windowsill again, and propped her head back on a hoof. “Yes mom, I mean Earth,” she sighed. “Sometimes I wonder how it looks over there you know? Like how do humans live their lives, what do their cities look like? I want to take it all in for myself and see everything there is to see! But...” She trailed off looking down to her hoof as it was tracing circles on the windowsill.

Star Dancers mother frowned letting go of her daughter and slid in next to her by the window. “But me and your father have been standing in your way.”

Star Dancer looked away from her mother letting her ears fall back. “You knew huh?” Her mother nodded.

“Mm hmm, We’ve kinda know it for awhile now honey.”

Star Dancer glanced over to her mother chuckling nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. “How could you tell?”

Her mother crossed her forelegs and leaned back to look back into daughter's room—to the walls, where scattered all about was news clippings of stories of the new land; of the gateway, and also the day it was opened to the public. She then glanced back to her daughter with a smirk raising a hoof. “Call it parental intuition,” she chuckled, watching her daughter press a hoof to her face. “But enough of this moping around honey, it’s your birthday!” She smiled, getting up to leave. “Get yourself ready because me and your father are taking you out to a surprise breakfast for your birthday.”

Star Dancer looked up to her mother, ears perking up as she raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Where to?” She asked, curiosity flowing from her voice.

“Ah,ah,ah! It’s a surprise Star,” her mother said in a sing-song voice, waving her hoof in tune with the first few words. “But please, don’t keep your father waiting Star Dancer, okay?” Her tone getting little stern as she walked through the doorway. “You know he is not one to have much patience.”

“Okay Mom,” Star Dancer chuckled getting up from the window herself then made her way into the bathroom.

Hopping out of the shower a few minutes later, Star Dancer walked over to the mirror and began to regard herself. Her wonderful amber colored coat glistened in the light shining through the window. Her turquoise mane however was disheveled and tangled from her drying it out in a rather hasty, haphazard fashion. Letting out an exasperated sigh as she ran a hoof through her mane, Star Dancer reached up on the counter and picked up her mane brush then began to brush her hair, occasionally wincing in pain when she tugged on a particularly stubborn knot that didn’t want to come out.

When that problem was taken care of, she next went to work preening her wings, sometimes blushing briefly with a  giggle when she touched a particularly ‘sensitive’ spot on her wing sending a tingly feeling through her body. Finishing up, Star Dancer let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, and folded up her wings then returned to her room—walking over to her dresser, and opened it up. She then reached in and grabbed a pair of red colored panties  and slipped them on then pulled her tail out through specifically designed hole till the elastic band wrapped snugly, but not too tightly around her dock, and next went looking for an outfit to wear. “Hmmm... what to wear, what to wear,” she said absentmindedly, swishing a hoof through the drawers while propping her head on another, looking for something.

“Ah ha! She chirped. “This will be perfect!” She smiled, pulling out a green pair of shorts then sat back on her bed and stuck her hind legs into the shorts and pulled them up. She then reached around and tugged on her tail pulling it out through a hole, and flicked it a couple times to get the frazzle out of it. After that was done, Star Dancer returned to her dresser and pulled out a matching green t-shirt with an amber star embroidered on it and slipped it on then stuck her wings out through a couple holes designed for a pegasus.

Closing up her dresser, Star Dancer headed on out of her room, but not before grabbing her saddlebag and a small tablet computer she had picked up at the local Wal-Mart that had popped up recently in her town.

“It’s about time you came down Star Dancer!” her father impatiently huffed, watching her daughter descend the staircase.  “I swear... you mares take forever to get ready.”

“Oh dad... You need to learn to relax and not be so impatient all the time,” she giggled, setting her saddlebag down at the base of the staircase.

“Impatient?” He quickly glanced over to the clock on the wall. “It’s been almost an hour! What took you so long?”

“Girl stuff dad, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Yea honey, and besides, you yourself only just got out of the shower a few minutes ago too. So you have no right to complain yourself really.

Star Dancers father was about to say something, but his voice died in his throat. He instead let out a breath and picked up his saddlebag then slung it over his back. “C'mon you two, we’re going to be late for the train.”

Star Dancers ears shot up and she hopped up to her hooves then darted over to her dad wrapping her forelegs around his neck looking at him excitedly, her eyes almost sparkling.  “Train!? Oh wow! Where are you taking me?”

“Now, now Star Dancer, it’s a surprise,” he chuckled, holding his daughter out at forelegs length, but she kept her gaze fixed on his and he started to feel a little nervous. “Don’t look at me like that. Please!” He begged, he was having a hard time resisting those pretty green eyes of hers. “A little help here Misty?” “He asked, glancing over to his wife.

“Alright now Star Dancer,” her mother began, pulling her off her father. “It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if your dad went and told you, now would it?”

“Alright...” She pouted, letting go and trotted over to get her saddlebag then slip it on. Her father meanwhile let out a sigh of relief.

“Thanks Misty, she almost got me there.”

“Don’t mention it,” she laughed.  “Now lets not waste anymore time.” Her husband nodded and soon the three exited their home and headed for the train station.

****

“So mom, dad, you never told me where we are going,” Star Dancer said, looking out the window at the wide open plains and orchards as the train rolled on down the tracks approaching a small town.  “What is so special that you can’t even tell your own daughter?” She asked, as the train started to pass through the small town eventually coming to a tunnel at the end of it.

“Patience Star Dancer,” her father replied, reading his newspaper. “We’re almost there.”

Star Dancer nodded and pulled out her tablet to mess with it missing the sign at the entrance of the tunnel as they entered it, but as the exited the other side, and to Star Dancers surprise, they were no longer in Equestria. They were now traveling down a railway passing sky high buildings blocking out the sun, criss crossing streets packed with vehicles and the bustling activity of individuals from all walks of life, Equestria and Earth alike. She was totally blown away at the sight in front her.

“Oh wow!” Star Dancer exclaimed, looking wide eyed at the city before her. “Where are we Dad?”

“New York, Star Dancer. Manhattan specifically,” he said, folding up his paper. “Me and your mother decided for your twenty first birthday we would take you on a trip to Earth and take in some of the sights. What do you think?”

Star Dancer smiled brightly leaping forward hugging her father. “You’re the greatest Dad!”

“Woah! Easy there Star,” her father chuckled, wrapping his forelegs around her, patting her on the back. “This was your mother's idea too you know,” he said, holding her out at forelegs length.

Star Dancer turned to her mother, quickly wrapping her forelegs around her “Oh thank you so much Mom! You have no idea how happy this makes me!” she happily said smiling, squeezing her mother.

Her mother smiled returning the embrace and wrapped her wings around her daughter, giving her a nuzzle on the cheek. “Anything to see my little girl smile.”

Eventually the train came to a stop in the station and the doors opened allowing the passengers to depart. Star Dancer and her parents grabbed their belongings, strapped their saddlebags on and headed to the exit stopping at a kiosk along the way to pick up a few tourist pamphlets and a map of Manhattan before making their way out of the station.

“Okay Dad, where to?” Star Dancer asked, stopping just outside of the train station. She then sat down on her haunches and held a hoof up to her eyes to shield them from the sun as she peered around at the city before her. “Dang it, I should've brought a hat. By the way, what's the name of the place?”

“The Astro Lounge,” Star Dancers father replied, while fumbling around for a little bit with his bag trying to get everything sorted, and then pulled out his map to take a look at it. “Well Star Dancer, it doesn’t seem to show where the restaurant is. “Maybe we can ask someone here?”

Misty Star looked over to her husband a little surprised raising an eyebrow, “My husband asking directions and not just blindly bumbling off into the unknown?” She remarked, crossing her forelegs. “Now there’s a first.”

“Hey! I have asked for directions before Misty!” He snapped back displeased.

“Oh you mean like the last vacation we went on as a family, and ended up getting lost somewhere in the Griffin kingdom before you decided to stop and ask directions?”

“Umm... Mom? Dad?”

“Hold on a second Star Dancer,” Her father said, waving a hoof to her. “That’s not fair Misty! I got us back on track now didn’t I?”

“Yes you did. After we wasted like three days wandering around the Griffin Kingdom ticking off the locals.”

“But Dad! This nice man here told me where the restaurant is,” Star Dancer said, tugging on his shirt trying to get his attention.

“Hang on Star Dancer,” he replied shrugging her off and returning to his argument with his wife.

“Do your parents normally argue like this when asking for directions?” A young man asked leaning down to Star Dancer.

Star Dancer pressed a hoof to her face and nodded. “Unfortunately ...” She groaned.

Misty Star glanced over to her daughter for a brief second when she seen her waving goodbye to the man. “Star Dancer, who was that you were talking to?”

“His name was John, and he just told me where the restaurant is.”

“Alright! Now we are getting somewhere.” Star Dancers father said. He then pulled out his map and showed it to Star Dancer. “Okay Star, show me where we need to go.” Star Dancer nodded and walked back over to her father sitting down beside him and looked over the map.

“Right here dad,” She said, pointing to the location on the map.

“Looks like its a few blocks away. What time is it by the way?”

Star Dancer dug into her bag—pulling out her tablet and turned it on.“A little after eight Dad.” she replied stuffing her tablet back into her bag. “So we got plenty of time to get there before they stop serving breakfast.”

Smiling her father nodded folding up his map and stuck it back into his saddlebag. “Alright Kiddo–”

“Dad! I’m not a kid anymore!” Star Dancer whined, interrupting her father.

“Yeah, I know,” he chuckled, ruffling her mane. “But in my eyes you’ll always be my little filly.”

“Yeah, yeah. Jeez Dad, lets just go!”

Smirking, Star Dancers father shook his head and followed his excited daughter down the street with his wife. Walking down the street, the three ponies began to take in the sights of the big city as they made their way to the restaurant.

“So where are we at the moment?” Star Dancer asked, looking across the street at the park.

Pulling the map back out, Star Dancers father took a moment to look at it. “Looks like the Upper East Side Star Dancer, and that park over there,” he said pointing to it. “Is called Central Park.”

“Want to go walk through it? She asked glancing back to it briefly.

“Maybe later Star Dancer. For now, let’s head to that restaurant. I am anxious to try some of the food they serve on this world.”

“Ok Dad,” she nodded, walking back over to him.

****

Arriving at their destination the three ponies stepped inside and were greeted by a familiar scene. The place must have been recently renovated to welcome Equestrians as pictures of locations ranging from Canterlot to Cloudsdale were displayed on the walls. Some of the seating in the building was  also built  specifically to accommodate ponies more comfortably. Even Equestrians themselves were working for the place.

“It feels like a home away from home.” Star Dancer remarked walking up to the front counter with her parents. A sign was posted letting the three know an attendant will seat them.

“Greetings! And welcome to The Astro Lounge!” A mint green unicorn cheerfully said walking up to them. “How can I hel–”

“Lyra? Is that you?” Star Dancers mother quickly said interrupting her.

“Misty Star! Well whaddaya know! It’s be what? Five years now?”

“About that,” she smiled, walking up to give her a hug.

“And hows the family doing?” Lyra asked.

“Doing good Lyra, just taking the birthday girl out for her special day.”

“Awesome! Well where is the little lady at?”

Misty Star smiled and held out a hoof motioning for her daughter. “Come over and say hello Star Dancer.”

She smiled and walked up waving a hoof. “Hello Lyra! long time no see!”

“Hiya Star!” She smiled walking over to the amber mare. “Boy, look at how you have grown! Lastime I saw you, you were just a filly! You had not even gotten your Cutie mark yet.” She looked down to Star Dancers hip and saw the two stars swirling together on her shorts.

“Cutie mark? What is that?” Star Dancer asked raising an eyebrow?”

“Oh, I’m sorry... I meant Mana mark.” She sighed. “Hanging out on earth has cause me to pick up some of that brony lingo. By the way... Where’s your father at?”

“Right here you crazy mare.” He chuckled walking up to her, giving her a quick hug.

“Dusty Trail! You knucklehead! It’s good to see you again!” She smiled, giving him a  quick peck on the cheek. “How’s my favorite earth pony doing?”

“Doing good thanks,” He smiled. “So Lyra, what brings you here?”

“Oh, just taking a part time job here. It’s pretty nice as it lets me meet the people of this world.”

“I bet you’re the popular type with them brony fans aren’t you?”

“Hehe, yeah. Sometimes I even give a shake of my rump just to tease the older ones.”

“Eww... You’re weird Lyra!” Star Dancer giggled.

Lyra smirked and pulled Star Dancer away from her parents for a moment. “Nah... Actually some of them are quite handsome Star Dancer.”

“H-have you ever wanted to you know...  Date any of them?” Star Dancer asked, looking at Lyra a little curious.

“Why the sudden curiosity Star Dancer? Looking to find a special someone?” Lyra chuckled, nudging Star Dancer with an elbow while waggling her eyebrows.

“M-me? N-no! I mean... That would be weird,” she shyly responded looking away. A little blush appearing on her cheeks.

“Still haven’t let that flower blossom yet eh Star Dancer?” she didn’t reply. Well not verbally, but the apparent growth in her blush was answer enough. “Don’t worry Star, you’ll find someone eventually.” She patted her on the shoulder. “Come on, lets get you guys seated so you can get a bite to eat.”

Returning her to her parents, Lyra then led the three to a nice booth and passed them out some menus.

“Ok guys, What would like to drink? We got soda, orange juice, milk, coffee and ice tea.”

“Can I have a glass of chocolate milk please?” Star Dancer asked, Lyra smiled and scribbled it down on her notepad.

“And what would you two like?” She asked looking at Star Dancers parents.

“Coffee please.” dusty Trail replied, looking over the menu.

“And I’ll take a glass of orange juice please,” Misty Star said.

“Okay, I’ll be right back!” She quickly shot off to get their drinks.

“So Sweety, what did Lyra pull you aside and talk to you about?”

“Oh nothing Mom,” She absentmindedly replied waving a hoof in the air. “Just some girl talk.”

“With Lyra, theres no telling what kinda ‘girl talk’ she was on about” Dusty Trail chuckled, running his hoof down the menu scanning the items on it.

“Oh hush you!” Misty Star giggled, hitting him on the shoulder playfully. “She’s not that bad.”

“Pfft...  Okay.” He looked up from his menu and looked at his daughter. “Well... What did she talk to you about Star?”

Star Dancer’s eyes shrunk and she blushed furiously. She began to speak, but only managed to stumble over her words. “Umm... Well you see... Uhh... It wasn’t really... Umm... Her that had asked a question. It was Uhh...” she trailed off chuckling nervously rubbing her foreleg.

Misty Star, looking at her daughter expression and bashfulness, knew exactly where she was going with this. So, she decided to stop her daughter before she embarrassed herself. “I think thats enough prying Dear, have you decided what you wanted to eat?”

Looking to his wife, Dusty Trail raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of topic. But he relented and nodded. “Yep, this meal here.” He pointed to a selection on the menu. “Scrambled eggs with bacon and hashbrowns,” he said licking his lips.

“Really Dusty? Scrambled eggs and bacon?”

“Yeah so? I like eggs and bacon.”

“We’ve come to a new world with all kinds of exotic foods and you order something you can get just as easily back home.”

“Actually Misty, the food here on Earth is pretty much the same as back home. They just eat more meat than we do,” Lyra said walking up to the table. “Here are your drinks by the way.” She set the tray on the table and pulled out her notepad scribbling down Dusty Trail’s choice. “Are you two ready to order too?”

“Yes, Lyra,” Star Dancer said closing up her menu. “Can I have the pancake breakfast with sausage and potato fries please?”

“Sure thing!” She happily replied scribbling it down. “And you Misty Star?”

“I’ll take this omelet with a side of hashbrowns please. No meat is on it right?”

Lyra looked at the menu item and shook her head. “No Misty, there is no meat on that one. It’s a vegetarian omelet. It has eggs, green and red peppers, celery, american cheese and onions.”

“Ohh, sounds pretty good! I’ll take that then,” she smiled and passed the menu to Lyra.

“Alright! I’ll be back as soon as your food is ready, should take about ten to fifteen minutes.” Lyra scooped up the menus and walked off back into the kitchen.

“So Dad, after we’re done here what's next on the list of things to do?”

“Well Star Dancer, how about we do a little sight seeing? I was thinking we’d take a ferry to Liberty Island and check out the Statue of Liberty. Then we can swing on over to Ellis Island and see the new Equestrian Immigration center. The humans have renovated and reopened the building and island as a gateway point for immigrants of Equestria wanting to come live on Earth. After that we can head on down Broadway and see Times Square. Sound good to you?”

“Oh it sounds awesome! I can’t wait to see it!” She excitedly said, tapping her hooves together.

“Well that’s good Sweety, we figured you would like to see it. Seeing as how you’ve been so interested in Earth ever since the gateway opened.”

“It shows doesn’t it?” Star Dancer chuckled.

Dusty Trail held up a hoof. “Just a tad,” he replied with a smirk. “Oh! Here comes our food!” He smiled, rubbing his hooves together.

Lyra smiled as she walked up levitating the tray holding their food, and gently set it down on the table. “Breakfast is served!” She said, passing the food around to the three. “If there’s anything else you need don’t hesitate for a second to give me a call.” She then walked off tending to some other customers.

“Boy, this stuff smells good!” Dusty Trail said, reaching for his utensils. He was surprised to see that the restaurant had gone the length to get custom made utensils that had a ring and cup attached to it. This allowed a pony to slip their hoof into it and hold it properly. And not wasting anymore time, he promptly slipped on a fork and went to work gobbling up his food. Misty Star however was not impressed with his manners and promptly glared at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that Misty?”

“Really Dusty... Show some manners! We are in a public place you know! Imagine how these people would think about you seeing a you like a slob!” She snapped. She then  held a hoof out to Star Dancer.  Think about how your daugh...” She trailed off, her hoof dropping to the table with a *thud* as she turned to look at her daughter—who had now just noticed her mother looking at her. She then looked up from her food with a piece of mushed pancake still hanging from her mouth.

“What?” She innocently asked, slurping it up quickly with her tongue afterward.

“Nevermind...” Her mother replied, holding her head in her hooves. “Sometimes I wonder if the non-sentient ponies of this world have better table manners then you two.”

“Mahff table manners are perfffectly  fffine Misty,” he mumbled with a mouth full of food, some particles flying out as he spoke.

She looked at him rather disapprovingly furrowing her brow, while one of her ears twitched irritably. “Yeah... I can tell... Your daughter seems to have learned from the best.”

“Well she is daddy's little girl!” He smiled.

Misty Star rolled her eyes. “Forget it...” She sighed, shaking her head. “How do I put up with you two?”

“Because you love us Mom!” Star Dancer cheered, throwing a hoof up into the air, accidently flinging a piece of sausage that was on her fork across the room. “Oops...” She blushed chuckling nervously, lowering her hoof. “My fault.”

Misty Star rested her head in her hooves then began rubbing her temples. ‘Celestia save me...’

After the three finished eating their breakfast, and opting to have some dessert. They said their goodbyes to Lyra and headed back out into the city. Their bellies full for a days trip sightseeing.

“So how do we get to Liberty Island Dad?”

“Hang on a second Star Dancer, let me check.” Dusty Trail reached around to his saddlebag and pulled out his map again and took a moment to look over it. “Well it seems we need to get to a place called Battery Park,” he said, returning to his map for a second. “And in order to get there we have to take the One train to South Ferry station.” He then folded the map back up and stuck it in his bag. “So lets hail a cab seeing as the station we need to board the train is rather far away.”

“Okay I’ll get one!” Star Dancer happily replied, quickly dashing off to the curb and stood up on her hind legs to flail her forelegs attempting to get a cabs attention. The effect worked, and soon after a yellow van with a ‘taxi’ light  rolled up to them and the side door slid open.

“Where to?” The cab driver politely asked.

“Battery Park sir,” Dusty Trail replied ushering his family into the cab. The driver smiled and nodded flipping his meter on as Dusty Trail closed the door, and soon after they sped off to their destination.

“So how are you liking Earth so far?” The driver asked.

“Oh it’s been a wonderful experience so far,” Star Dancer replied, shifting in her seat finding  it surprisingly easy to sit up comfortably and allow her hind legs to dangle over the edge. “We are going to go see your Statue of Liberty, and then Ellis Island.”

“I’m guessing you three are going to take the ferry out to Liberty Island then?” The three ponies nodded. “Well I just came from Battery Park, and the ferry had just departed. So you’ll have a little wait a little bit till it comes back. Shouldn’t be too long though.”

“That’s alright,” Dusty Trail replied, shifting in his seat to get comfortable. “We planned to go sightseeing for most of the day, so we’ll just check out the park until it arrives.”

“Then how would you like if I took a slight detour down Times Square on the way?”

“Oh cool! Can we please Mom? Dad?”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” Misty Star replied.

“We won’t miss the ferry will we?”

“No, it’s pretty much on the way to Battery Park anyway. Plus we can avoid some of the side streets. They can be rather packed this time of the morning.”

“Okay then,” Dusty smiled. “Take us down Times Square.”

The cab driver nodded with a smile and clicked on his turn signal turning onto the next street.

****

“Here we are guys,” the cab driver said as they turned off the side street and pulled on to Broadway.

“Oh my Celestia! Look at this place! It’s incredible!” Star Dancer was overtaken in awe. She had never seen a place so alien, so artificial. Everywhere she looked was technology. Billboards as long as buildings flashing neon lights. Huge signs displaying advertisements ranging from beverages to clothing were strewn about. People and equestrians alike were going about their day to day business shopping, mingling, and some taking photos. She could barely contain her excitement as they traveled down the street. She wanted to see more!

“You should see this place at night,” the driver said turning off Broadway heading to Battery Park. “It’s almost magical when all the lights are lit up.” Star Dancer looked at him a smile forming on her face.

“You humans have such a wonderful world! I wonder what it would be like to live here.” Star Dancer remarked,  while look up tapping her chin.

Misty Star enjoying the sights herself, shivered when she heard what her daughter just said. A cold feeling shooting down her spine, rocking her to her very core. She turned to look at her husband, who had a similar look upon his face. She leaned up to him holding a hoof up to her mouth. “You don’t think she really means that do you?” She whispered, looking back over to Star Dancer.

Dusty glanced over to his daughter taking notice of her excitement as she continued to peer out the window, and then returned to look at Misty and gave her a nod. “She’s been like this for awhile now Misty. You know as well as I do that she has wanted to come over here ever since the gateway was opened a couple years ago.”

“Yeah I know...” She sighed looking down, rubbing her hooves together. “It just makes me nervous every time I hear it. I don’t want to see her getting hurt.”

Dusty smiled sitting up, and wrapped a foreleg around his wife pulling her close. “You know Misty, there comes a time when you have to start letting go. Because if you hold onto her too tight, you’re going to smother her, and Star Dancer will eventually have to start looking out for herself.” He gave her a gentle squeeze with his foreleg. “Because although it really hurts, the biggest thrill is seeing her fly all by herself.”

Misty Star smiled, leaning in giving her husband a kiss. “You always know how to make me feel better don’t you Dusty?” She whispered breaking from the kiss and leaned on him resting her foreleg on his chest and nuzzled his cheek.

“You guys are missing out on this...” Star Dancer trailed off looking back on her parents. “Why are you two being so mushy all a sudden?” She asked looking at her parents as the two held each other tightly.

“Oh no reason Sweety,” Misty Star replied sitting up and looking back out the window. “Now what is it you wanted to show me?”

Star Dancer raised an eyebrow at her mother’s sudden change of demeanor, but she just shook it off and shrugged. “Over here mom, check out these signs! They’re amazing!”

Sliding over to sit with her daughter, Misty Star marveled in the sights herself all the while Dusty Trail had pulled out a piece of paper from his saddlebag and started reading over it, occasionally looking up at his daughter with a smile on his face.

“Here we are guys, Battery Park,” The driver said pulling up to the curb. “And it looks like we arrived just in time too.” He pointed out to the bay at the ferry as it was approaching the dock.

“Sweet!” Star Dancer chirped hopping out of the cab, followed shortly after by Misty Star then Dusty Trail after he paid the cab driver their fare.

Once they got into the park the three made their way down the sidewalk towards the pier where the ferry docked, but stopped along the way and leaned up on the railing to look out over the bay while they waited for the ferry.

“Hey Dad, can I have some change for that binocular looking thing?” Star Dancer asked, looking over to him.  “I want to look out at the Statue of Liberty.”

Dusty Trail nodded and reached around grabbing his saddlebag then fumbled around for a moment inside it before pulling out a couple coins. “Here you go Star.” He hoofed her the coins and she smiled hopping off the railing and trotted over to the device a little ways away then stood up on her hind legs and draped her forelegs over the stand and popped the coins in.

“Oh what a view!” She remarked, looking out over the bay at the ships passing by, but sadly as she turned to look at the statue the image became all blurry. “Bah! I can’t see anything, it’s all blurry! What the heck is wrong with this thing?” She leaned back for a moment  rubbing her eyes then leaned back in squinting, but the image still didn’t get any better. “I think it’s broken,” she sighed looking down, kicking at the ground.

‘Boy it’s such a nice day out here today,’ Alex thought to himself, leaning on the railing while looking out over the bay. Everything was just so different from his old home back in Nebraska. He was so used to open fields and sprawling plains, but ever since his family decided to move to New York, the simpleness of his hometown was replaced by the artificial feeling of technology; of concrete and steel. Sighing to himself, Alex glanced around at his surroundings taking notice of an individual with greenish blue colored hair wearing what looked to be a pair of green shorts that had a pair of stars swirling on it with a matching t-shirt struggling with some binoculars.‘Well I guess I can be helpful at least,’ he thought pushing back from the railing and walked over to the person.

But as he got closer, he slowed his approach and noticed the individual was not a person, but an equestrian, a pony to be specific standing up on it’s hind legs with it’s greenish blue tail twitching irritably. ‘So this is what they look like up close,’ he thought,as he continued closing in on the pony struggling with the binoculars. It then leaned back from the eyepiece to rub its eyes and Alex marveled at how easily it went about reaching up with it’s front forelegs to rub at its eyes while keeping itself balanced on it’s hind legs. It seemed almost human. He then took a few minutes to look over the pony and noticed a set of amber colored wings tucked snugly against its sides. ‘Wings? That’s pretty cool. I wonder if it can fly.’

He was broken from his thoughts when the pony leaned forward to take another look through the binoculars, but then leaned back letting out a sigh kicking at the ground. And then to his utter amazement, it spoke in a language he could understand. He then walked up and reached for the focus knob. “It’s not broken, you just have to turn the knob at the top.”

The amber colored pony jumped back losing it’s balance as Alex reached over it to turn the knob a bit. “OW!” The pony yelped after falling back onto it’s rump with a *thud*.

“Are you alright?” He asked a little concerned, leaning down to the pony. He didn’t intentionally want to injure it after all.

“Yeah... I’m okay, you just startled me thats all,” the pony mumbled, rubbing it’s sore rump.

“Here, let me give you a hand.” He smiled extending a hand down to the pony. It looked up to him and hesitated for a moment then shakely held out a hoof. He took it and pulled the pony  up, but didn’t let go right away. Instead, he held on marveling again at the softness of its furry appendage; it feltincredibly soft, and warm. The hoof or what he thought should have been one, was equally covered in the soft amber colored fur except for a small portion of nail exposed at the front. But strangely enough, that too was amber in color and freshly manicured to boot! The underside of it’s hoof was another story altogether. As to the best of his knowledge it kinda resembled the skin (or footpad one might call it,) of a cat here on Earth.

The pony looked at Alex a little nervously tugging back with its foreleg. “Umm... Can I have my hoof back please?”

Alex immediately let go chuckling nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. “Heh... Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” the pony began nervously darting its eyes back and forth while rubbing the back of its neck too. It was an awkward scene to say the least. “Thanks by the way,” the pony finally uttered breaking the tension and then began brushing itself off. “My name is Star Dancer by the way, what’s yours?” The pony asked looking back up to him.

He froze when the pony finally turned to look at him, and took a few minutes to study the features of it’s face. The fact that it resembled a pony was apparent as he took notice of it’s muzzle, and snout as well as its ears, and the way they twitched occasionally as if they were tuning into a sound he couldn’t hear himself. But then he also noticed the human aspect as well, when he looked into its oversized green eyes and seen the curiosity flowing from them as they too were trying to read his own making him feel a little uneasy.

“Helloooo! Equestria to whoever you are,” The pony said waving it’s hoof in front of his face.

Alex shook his head a couple times. “Oh... Eh, sorry. I kinda zoned out there,” he chuckled. “My n-name is Alexander, but you can call me Alex,” He replied.

 “Well, it’s nice to meet you Alex.”

“Same here. But to be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever talked to an Equestrian.” He scratched his head and chuckled nervously. “So pardon me if I ask a stupid question, but are you a girl or boy?”

“I’m a girl silly.” She giggled, “but I guess the voice wasn’t proof enough was it?”

“Sorry, but it’s not like I talk your kind everyday. I mean you gotta admit, a talking pony is a lot to take in for the first time.”

 Star Dancer looked at him crossing her forelegs and tilted her head sideways with a smirk while raising an eyebrow. “You know I could say the same thing about you human.”

Alex laughed crossing his arms. “You know you’re absolutely right,” he said and looked away. “I never thought of it that way.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she laughed, waving a hoof “I was only teasing you.” He looked back at her, a smile tugging on his lips. “So you were saying that if I turn this knob here.” She pointed at the knob just above the eyepiece. “It will bring the statue into focus?”

Alex nodded and walked up to the binoculars. “Yup, go ahead and give her a look and I’ll adjust the focus for you.”

“Alright.” Star Dancer again rested her forelegs on the binocular stand and peered through the eyepiece, “Uhh... It’s still all blurry.”

“Is this any better?” Alex reacher over her greenish blue forelock and twisted the knob.

“Oh yes, that’s much better now. I can see the statute clearly. Thank you!”

“It’s such a pretty view isn’t it Dusty?”

“Sure is Misty, I can see why Star Dancer like this place so much.” Dusty Trail replied briefly glancing over to his daughter, and then back out over the bay. Then it struck him, and he quickly snapped his attention back over to his daughter again. “Who is that?”

“Who is who Dusty?” Misty Star asked.

He stuck his hoof out pointing to his daughter. “That is who I am talking about.” Misty Star looked over to her daughter squinting her eyes.

“I don’t know, but I’m going over there right now to find out.” She then hopped off the railing and quickly trotted over to the two. “What are you doing with my daughter!” Misty yelled, startling the two by the binoculars making Star Dancer again lose her balance and fall backwards.

“Don’t worry, I got you Star Dancer,” Alex said, quickly catching her before she hit the ground again.

“Get your hands off my daughter!” Dusty Trail yelled galloping over to them. “What do you think you're doing!” He snapped, skidding to a halt in front of Alex, poking him in the chest with a hoof.

“Whoa dude, calm down!” Alex hastily replied standing up, taking a few steps back. He also took notice that even though Dusty Trail was standing on all fours, he was still as tall as him.  “I was only showing her how to adjust the focus on the binoculars there thats all,” He calmly replied hold up his hands.

Misty Star  leaned down to her daughter. “Are you alright?” She asked, a bit of concern in her voice.

“Yeah Mom, I’m alright, but you two need to lighten up! I mean, he was only showing me how to focus the thing.”

“Oh, was that all?” She looked up to Alex and saw Dusty Trail was staring him down. “Honey, you can relax, she’s alright. All this guy was doing was showing her how to operate the focus.”

Dusty Trail took a step back and nodded then returned to Alex. “I’m sorry Sir, I was just looking out for my daughter. My name is Dusty Trail by the way, and this fine mare here.” He raised a hoof to Misty. “Is my wife Misty Star. And I see you’ve already met my daughter Star Dancer already.”

Alex let out a breath and let his hands fall to his sides. “Perfectly understandable Dusty. My name is Alexander, but you can call me Alex if you like.”

“Nice to meet you Alex.” He held out a hoof.

“The pleasure is all mine.” He took his hoof and shook it. “So, what are you doing in our fine city today?”

“Just taking our daughter out on her 21st birthday for a little sightseeing,” Dusty Trail replied.

“That’s cool.” He then turned to look out at the bay and saw the ferry had docked. “You guys going to go see the Statue of Liberty?”

Dusty Trail nodded. “Why yes, yes we are. We were just waiting for the ferry to arrive.”

Well it just docked, but you better hurry up, it tends to fill up fast.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” Dusty Trail then turned and walked back to his wife and daughter. “Ready to go girls? The ferry is here.”

“Ready and willing Dad!” Star Dancer then hopped to her hooves and trotted off to the ferry.

“Have fun guys!” Alex said waving goodbye.

“Goodbye Alex, and thanks for helping my daughter out.” Misty Star said with a smile following her husband to the ferry.

After they were out of sight, Alex leaned onto the railing and stared out into the bay thinking to himself. ‘Talking ponies... Who would’ve thought.’

****

“Now arriving on Liberty Island. All passengers please wait till the ferry has come to a complete stop before disembarking,” A voice announced as the ferry pulled up alongside the dock, and a second later some of the crew hopped off tying the ferry to the dock afterwards pulling a ramp up for the passengers.

“Well that didn’t take long,” Star Dancer remarked, looking at her tablet. By now it was reaching noontime and people and equestrians alike were crowding around the monument taking pictures, some were looking out over the bay while lounging on the railing or benches provided, and some had even stopped to grab a bite to eat at the concession stands.

“Come over here you two,” Dusty Trail asked, pulling a camera out from his saddlebag. “I want to get a picture of you two in front of the monument.”

“But then you won’t be in the picture Dad.”

“Well I didn’t bring a stand, so who will take the picture then?”

“Why don’t you ask someone here? I’m sure there is someone who wouldn’t mind snapping a picture for you.”

Dusty Trail nodded. “Alright, I’ll be right back.” He then spun around and began looking through the crowd of tourists. After a few minutes of searching, he spotted a lone white unicorn with a curly purple mane wearing a pretty red dress with what look like a few diamonds emblazoned on each side of it. She was leaning on the railing while holding a camera with her telekinesis, snapping a few pictures of the city on the opposite side of the bay.

“Excuse me Ma’am, but could I trouble you to take a picture of me and my family?”

She hopped down off the railing and stuffed her camera back into her saddlebag then spun around to face Dusty Trail. “Why sure darling, it would be my pleasure. Where are they at?”

Dusty Trail smiled and pointed behind him to the two pegasi standing by a plaque reading it. “Them fine mares over there Ma’am.”

The white unicorn smiled. “Well let’s not keep them waiting shall we darling?”

Dusty Trail nodded and hoofed her the camera then returned to his family by the plaque. “Hey, I found someone to take a picture for us.”

“Oh? Who?” Misty Star asked. Dusty Trail smiled and pointed to the white unicorn trotting up to them holding her husbands camera with her mana. “You know I have this feeling that I know that mare from somewhere.”

“Really?” He glanced over to her for a second, then back to Misty Star scratching his head. “I’m drawing a blank here Misty.”

“Did you even bother to ask for her name?”

Dusty Trail looked away chuckling nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess it kinda slipped my mind.”

Misty Star pressed a hoof to her face. “You knucklehead.” She then walked over to the unicorn. “Hello Ma’am, my name is Misty Star, and it’s nice to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you Misty Star, my name is Rarity.”

“Rarity!? As in the famous equestrian fashion designer Rarity?”

“The very same one darling.”

“What brings someone like you over to Earth?”

“Oh, I’ve been invited to a fashion show here in Manhattan, but it’ not until tomorrow so I thought I’d take in the sights, and who knows, maybe I’ll get some inspiration for some new designs. but enough about me.” She beckoned the three with her hoof. “Stand over by that miniature statue of Liberty and I’ll snap a picture of you three in front of it.”

Misty smiled and nodded, then went back over to her family and corralled them around the statue, Star Dancer sitting on her haunches in front of it, Dusty Trail sitting to the left of her with his foreleg draped over her back, and finally Misty sitting to the right of her daughter with her one wing draped over Dusty and Star Dancer. *Click* Rarity lowered the camera from her view and levitated it back over to Dusty.

“You three looked simply marvelous!” She smiled.

“Thanks Rarity.” Misty smiled.

“It was my-” Suddenly she was cut off by a sudden *CRASH!* Snapping her head around to look when she heard the sound, she spotted three silhouettes slipping through the crowd. “How did I get talked into bringing them,” she groaned, pressing a hoof to her face.

“Problems Rarity?” Star Dancer asked.

“Nothing I can’t handle dear.” She then quickly trotted off in the direction the commotion was coming from. Afterwards Star Dancer and her parents slipped off into the opposite direction exploring Liberty Island as the went.

****

“What do you mean Ellis Island is closed?” Dusty voiced in a displeased tone

“Sorry sir, but renovations for Ellis Island are not completed yet.”

Dusty kicked at the dirt and spun around walking back to his family head hung low.

“What’s the matter dad?” Star Dancer asked.

“Sorry Star, but Ellis Island is closed for renovations still.”

“That’s okay dad,” she replied holding a hoof to her mouth stifling a yawn, afterward pulling out her tablet to check the time. “Why don’t we head back home? It’s getting pretty late and I am getting a little sleepy.” Again she held her hoof up to her mouth to stifle yet another yawn.

“Never thought I’d hear you say those words first Star Dancer,” her father chuckled. “Come on you two, Let’s head on home.”

The trip home was indeed quiet most of the way as Star Dancer slept during the ferry ride and subsequent taxi ride, even missing the lights of Times Square as they passed through it. But as they boarded the train Star Dancer stopped at the platform and turned around briefly to stare back of into the city, to the lights glowing in the distance, and thought to herself ‘I now know what this feeling is inside me, and it’s time to move forward with my life.’

Misty Star stepped onto the train and tossed her bag on the seat then looked back out and saw her daughter staring off into the distance looking at the lights of the city as they glowed in a neon light, and knew inside her daughter had made her choice. She then walked forward—slowly slipping in next to her daughter and reaching out with her foreleg to pull her daughter close wrapping a wing around her. Star Dancer smiled resting her head on her mother's shoulder and let out another yawn as the two sat there in silence for the next few minutes.

“The train will be leaving soon you two.” Dusty whispered, quietly walking up them. Misty Star craned her head back holding a hoof up to her mouth.

“Shh...” She pointed down to Star Dancer who had fallen back asleep and was quietly snoring into her mother’s chest. Misty then looked back down at her daughter brushing at her mane to push some hair out of her face. “Just give us a few more minutes ok Dusty?” He smiled and nodded then trotted back off to the train leaving the two alone for a few more minutes. “Come on honey,” Misty whispered rubbing her daughters shoulder. “We got to get going, the train will be leaving soon.”

“MMmm... Whaa? Oh! I’m sorry,” she yawned, sitting up to stretch. “I must have nodded off there for a moment.”

“It’s okay honey,” her mother smiled, standing up “Let’s go home.” Star Dancer nodded and followed her mother onto the train, and shortly after the Train whistle blew and it pulled on out of the station.

“So how did you like your birthday present Star Dancer?” Dusty asked getting comfortable in his seat.

“I loved it dad! Thank you two so very much for doing this for me.”

“Well we’ve got one more gift for you Star.”

“Oh? What is it dad?” Her father smiled hold out a hoof.

“Hang on a second let me find it.” He then pulled his bag around and went fumbling around inside it eventually pulling out a piece of paper, and passed it to Star Dancer. “Happy Birthday Star Dancer,” His daughter looked at him perplexed raising an eyebrow as she took the paper and began reading it.

“Is this what I think it is?” She asked looking back up to her father with bit of excitement. He nodded.

“Yes Star Dancer, it’s the application for your green card.” He stopped and looked over to his wife and the two held hooves and looked at their daughter.

“We’ve decided that if we can’t stop you, we might as well help you out in anyway that we can.”

Star Dancer smiled her eyes tearing up and lunged forward wrapping a foreleg around each her parents necks. “Thank you two so much for this. I can’t even begin to express how happy I am that you're giving me this chance.”

“Well Star, let’s wait till we get home, and then we can get you ready for this.”

“Alright dad,” She then sat back in her seat now too excited to fall asleep and went to looking out the window as the train entered the tunnel bound for Equestria.

****

A few weeks later the three were standing outside the building containing the Equestrian gateway leading to Ellis Island and the the newly constructed Equestrian immigration center.

“Ok Star Dancer you ready for this?” Her father asked standing beside her.

“Ready as I’ll ever be dad.” She shivered involuntarily shaking off some early morning jitters.

Her father then reached into his pack and pulled out a laptop and hoofed it to his daughter. “Me and your mother got this for you.”

“Oh awesome dad!” She took the laptop and stuffed it into her saddle bag.

“We also found you a place to stay on Earth just outside of Manhattan, and we’ve paid up three months rent for you too.” Her mother said walking up next to Star Dancer.

“I’ve managed to get you a job at The Astro Lounge Star Dancer,” Lyra added, walking up. “My boss there is a close friend of mine and said it would be no problem having a geosus like yourself on the team.”

“Thanks Lyra, I think I will like working there.”

“Take this too Star Dancer.” Her father then hoofed her a small pouch and a phone.”

“Please call us when you arrive and get settled in,” her mother added.

“Alright mom, I’ll do that.” She then looked at the pouch. “What’s this?” She opened it up and inside was about twenty five hundred dollars in US currency.

“We figured you may need some money to buy some stuff for your new place,” her mother smiled. Star Dancer hopped forward hugging her mother.

“Thanks mom!”

“Well we can’t have you living in an empty place now can we?” Her dad chuckled.

“Also Star Dancer, me and your mother went and got internet access, and found out through Lyra that the humans use this thing called Skype to keep in contact with one another.”

Star Dancer nodded. “Yup, I know all about it, and I’ll make sure to chat with you at least once a week alright.”  She then walked over giving her mother a hug then her father. “Guess this is it.” She let out a breath and turned, slowly walked toward the building.

“Safe travels Star Dancer!” Lyra said, waving goodbye.

“Take care of yourself honey, we love you and wish you the best of luck.”

“Thanks mom and dad, I love you too!” Star Dancer then turned around and disappeared into the building starting onto the path to her new life.