Life is an Unwritten Book

Later that afternoon, the skies cleared and Ponyville was left in a series of puddles.  The sun was bright and warm but the weather stayed pleasant, and so Written Script left with Amalthea to go to the government offices of the mayor of Ponyville.  It was a small building and rather stark, filled only with whatever was necessary.  A few ponies worked at desks, filling out and stamping various pieces of paperwork.  Written Script took note of that and walked over to the unicorn at the reception desk.

“Excuse me, I was wondering if you had any forms for residency?” Written Script asked.

The mare nodded.  “Are you looking for a new home or do you have someone moving in with me?”

“Someone is now living with me,” Written Script said.  “I just need the paperwork to allow her to live here.”

“Certainly,” the mare replied.  She handed Written Script a piece of paper from a nearby tray and a pen.  “Either you or the pony you now have with you fill this out and bring it back here.  The spaces you need to fill are marked by stars.”

“Thank you,” Written Script said, and took it over to where Amalthea was waiting by a small wooden counter.

“It doesn’t require a former place of residency,” Amalthea noted.

“That makes it easy for you, since you just appeared out of thin air.  Afterwards, though, you’ll need it if ever we moved to a different city, and so you can get an ID card and get a job if you wanted one.”

“I think I’ll like it here in Ponyville,” Amalthea said as she took the pen from Written Script.  “It’s a nice quiet place and it seems like there’s plenty of ponies here to talk to.  Is there anything else we’re doing here besides the residency?”

“I can apply for a writer’s grant here,” Written Script told her.  “I have a note from my publisher saying I’m eligible and fill out a form.  They stamp the form, send it off to Canterlot, and in a week or two I start getting checks from the government.”

“I could pick up a job to help out with the bills,” Amalthea said as she filled out the form as necessary.  “I could learn almost anything I wanted to given the time and teaching.”

Written Script walked over to the receptionist and picked up the paperwork for a writer’s grant before returning to the counter with the paper and another pen.  “I don’t doubt that,” he said as he began filling out the papers.  “Plus, it’d keep you from getting bored.”

“True,” Amalthea nodded in agreement.  “It’d be nice to meet some of the ponies around here, too.  Then, in the evening, it could just be me and you.”

Written Script smiled at the thought.

After their papers were turned in, Amalthea walked over to a nearby wall and stood for a picture.  There was a bright flash and the picture soon was sent off to another pony, who began looking over the residency papers and the photo.  The receptionist told them Amalthea’s residency papers were approved and her ID card would be sent off within the next day or two to Written Script’s home.

Afterwards, Written Script and Amalthea headed off to the market.  Amalthea ‘ooh’ed and ‘ahh’ed her way through the stalls selling fresh farm produce and dairy products, fresh baked bread, handmade items, and decorative trinkets, taking an interest in every item as she passed by as though she was seeing it for the first time.  Aside from picking up the things they needed for the house, Written Script bought a pair of saddlebags for Amalthea, colored a deep pink with white accents, and a small heart-shaped pendant for her.  Amalthea giggled with giddy delight at the gift and wore it proudly on her as they continued looking around.  Written bought a few more pencils to keep his restocked and a few more pads of paper for his typewriter before finally heading home and dropping all the stuff off.

“I feel so lucky!” Amalthea exclaimed as they were putting their groceries away.  “Of all the places I could have appeared and of all the ponies that could have made me appear, I find myself in a quiet town with friendly ponies and in the company of a gentleman.”

“Well, in terms of writing,” Written Script replied, “I believe things should be nurtured.  Any idea can become a beautiful one if nurtured correctly.”

Amalthea chuckled.  “And a poetic gentleman, at that.”

“There are some who aren’t as nice,” Written Script said.  “I’ve known the shopkeepers in the market for years and they’re a friendly bunch, but every town has its bullies.”

“Then so long as I’ve got you, I’ll know who to talk to.”

Written Script laughed.  “I guess so.  Now, is there anything else you want to see?”

“Well, I did see a library in the center of town.  And there was that one bakery that looked like a cupcake.  Perhaps we could go there sometime?”

“The bakery is Sugarcube Corner, and we could head by there any time to find ourselves an extra baked treat for home.  The library, though, may need your ID card to check out books, so we’ll wait until tomorrow for that one.”

“Fine by me,” Amalthea said.  “Oh, and I picked up a listing of events from one of the stalls while we were there.  Everything from plays to concerts is on that list.  A small classical group is coming through in a few days.  Do you think we could go?”

“Where is it at?”

“It says on the listing it will be a free-to-attend concert on the hillside just outside Ponyville.”

“Of course I’ll take you,” Written Script said happily.  “You just have to be careful sometimes; some of those advertise things in Canterlot as well as Ponyville, so that’s a long weekend away.”

“Canterlot is that city on the mountain, isn’t it?”

“That is Canterlot Castle, but it marks where the city itself is, too; the city’s just hidden behind the other mountain in front of it.”

“That sounds romantic…”  Amalthea’s voice trailed off and sighed.  Then, Written saw her ears perk up and her violet eyes grow big and bright.  “We should take a long weekend in Canterlot sometime, just so I could see it!  You could show me around the sites and we could spend a nice long romantic weekend there!”

“I actually will be attending a signing for a fellow writer up in Canterlot,” Written Script said.  “Maybe we could go a few days early and spend that extra time just seeing the sights?”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful!”

“We’ll need to stop by Rarity’s boutique before we go,” Written Script said.  “The ponies in Canterlot are high-society, so we’ll need to get you a dress and me a tux and cufflinks before we go so we look decent while we’re up there.”

“Perhaps I should wait to find a job until after we come back?”

“No, no, you can find one beforehand.  I’ll help you with job scouting, then tell the employer that you’re heading with me in a few weeks on business to Canterlot.  They’ll accept it fine.  Besides, if you want a job and a job would give you something to do and make you happy, then I’ll help you with that first.”

Amalthea giggled and blushed as Written Script took one of her hooves in his own.  “You’re already treating me like a proper lady.”

“Well, you called me a gentleman,” Written Script said, dropping his voice a little low.  “And your name is Lady Amalthea, after all.”

Amalthea giggled and hopped away before trotting off to the bedroom.  Written Script followed her to find Amalthea lying down on the bed, her white fur catching the sun’s rays coming through the window and making her glow like an angel.  Written Script laid down with her and their lips touched as Written lost himself in his angel’s hooves.