A Jeweler in the Rough, A Legends of Equestria Story (Working Title)

Book 01: Rediscovery and Rebirth

Chapter 03: The First Step

The pair returns to the humble bookstore and after taking turns washing up Pen makes for his room only to be stopped by Band.

“Hey, Pen?” she asks.

“Yeah?” he replies looking over his shoulder.

“Can I…see your room?” she pleads softly.

“Why? It’s just a normal room,” he notes.

“Just…please,” she sighs.

“Very well, but I know you will take note of one thing,” Pen remarks.

“And that is?” Band asks, cocking her head.

The historian merely smiles and says, “You’ll see.”

They enter Pen’s room, very Spartan in appearance. A simple but large bed, a desk overflowing with books and a plain dresser……on top of which rests a picture of a very young Band and at the base of the picture……rose petals…Royal Reds.

Seeing the flowers the Pegasus tears up and looks to her brother, “Pen...I knew it, I just knew it was you. After all you got me Bella.”

“Bella?” he asks.

“The Pegasus stuffed doll you got me,” Band giggles.

“Oh, yeah, I remember that,” he says, smiling at the memory.

“I loved the look on your face when you opened the gift in your bedroom when mother was not looking,” he hums warmly.

Band gives a small, cute yawn, “Looks like I am getting sleepy, guess I’ll hit the hay.”

“Don’t do that it’s……” Pen copies the yawn, “……contagious.”

She giggles a bit as she heads to her new room, “Goodnight brother, love you.”

“Goodnight sis, love you too,” he says, feeling joyous he gets to say that again.

Entering the room she flops on the bed, looking around her new home, and almost giddy being beside Pen again, memories of how nice he was flooding her heart and soul. Taking a deep breath she takes in all that has happened, finding Pen, him so open and happy to see her, finding out her mother is indeed a part of a foul organization, and now possible dates, dates with Pen! Why is she so excited about that? True she never had time for romance while pursuing her education but Pen wanted this relationship, didn’t he? Why would he offer if he had not?

Meanwhile in Pen’s room the stallion was almost kicking himself, why did he say dates? Why not dinners of something else? But she looked so happy when he said it, happy…and excited. And he, he didn’t actually correct it then and there did he? She was, no is, a beautiful mare, the first one to ever warm his heart when she was a foal, but she…she is not a foal now is she? She is a mare, a grown mare, a grown mare who may want more out of him. And yet, somehow, he is not appalled by these thoughts. She has been gone so long, and she did have a different and obviously more positive life then she would have had under House Platinum’s roof. Maybe, just maybe he can be what she wants, what she sees, his only two hopes is he can live up to the Pen that lives in her heart and that he’ll never break the same heart.

Waking early Pen closes the shop with a sign saying “Out For Errands, Be Back Soon.” And sets out with Band to the City Grand Municipal Building, an almost horrendous five story plain grey building with windows so evenly spaced it feels quite like an optical illusion. Entering the building the pair are confronted by what can only be described as the most average pony ever, rather androgynous with their hair combed hiding a horn if they had one wearing a suit that covers any wings they may have, their coat a neutral grey, a mane a neutral brown, and eyes the same blue seen again and again. On the desk this pony sits at is a name plaque that reads ‘Chief Directory Receptionist Precision Placement’.

They look upon the pair and in an enthusiastic if not very tenor voice says, “Welcome to the City Grand Municipal Building, where may I direct you today?”

“We would like an artisan’s license and an official stamp for signature entry card,” Pen notes.

“For the artisan’s license you will need an example of work or diploma from a fully accredited school with either the craft in question or one focused on said craft, and an ID. I would suggest getting the stamp for signature done first as you can add it to your artisan’s license. To obtain the stamp for signature you need to go to the Stamp Registry Clerk and request a stamp registry form and a sworn statement form, fill them out in triplicate then take them to the Office of Legal Registrations and have a Letter of Accord, Letter of Authority, Letter of Legal Statement, Letter of Legal Standing, and a Letter of Writ filled out. After that return to the Stamp Registry Clerk with all the forms and your ID then after a small filing fee it will be registered to you and in a week be able to be used as your signature in any and all official documents.” Precision lists. “If need be I can give directions to each.”

“Pen, I don’t have a Cantermore ID only a Crystal Kingdom one, will that do?” Band asks.

Before he can answer the receptionist gives a quiet sigh of “And again with this.”, “Then I would suggest getting your ID first, rather simple task, all you need is your birth certificate and a witness. The offices are numbered as so, the first number is the floor, then the numbers start at zero one at the front entrance, clockwise. For example that office,” they say, pointing at the first office on the first floor, “is Office 101. You need Office 210, then 322, then 251, than back to 322.”

Pen sighs, “Well lets’ go on a bureaucratic adventure.” He says leading the way.

“Pen, I don’t have my birth certificate,” Band whispers.

“I got it, don’t worry,” he says waving the document.

“How did you get that!” she exclaims.

“I may have left the House but I still have access to it, I just need to get it back before Due Date does her weekly book and records check,” Pen notes.

“Seriously, Pen!? I may not remember much from the House but even I remember the tight hoofed organization she has on the Family Library,” Band worries.

“I have three days before she checks, it is fine,” he assures her.

“Okay, so long as you are sure,” she sighs.

Entering Office 210 they see a younger Pegasus mare behind a desk whom notices their entry, “Hello and welcome to the Identification Card Application and Issuance Office, how many I help you?”

“We need an ID for my sister, Band, here is her birth certificate and I am willing to act as witness,” Pen says giving the document to the clerk.

“One moment, this should take just a moment,” the clerk says disappearing deeper into the office. She returns a moment later, “Uh, ma’am, I don’t know how to say this, but, you’re dead. At least the record says you are dead, we need this corrected as soon as possible, please, um, wait here I need my director.” With that she scampers off returning with an older, tired looking unicorn pony.

“Which of you are supposed to be dead?” he asks as Band raises her hoof. “Well we can correct the error on our end…or on your end,” he says the last part trying to be creepy but barely hides his giggles.

“Whichever allows me to get an ID, please sir,” she replies.

The older clerk sighs, “You’re no fun, well we need a hoofprint and some of your and his blood, if all is in order we’ll have it sorted out soon.”

“Whatever you need sir,” the jeweler smiles, holding out her hoof to be printed.

He prints the mare then says, “A nurse will be in soon, just wait here please.”

A few moments pass as a unicorn mare steps in, levitating a blood draw kit behind her, “Who is here for the blood draws?” The siblings raise their hooves. “Very well, one Platinum Band correct? According to the birth certificate, that is?”

“Yes ma’am, that is me,” she nods.

“Where do you want the blood drawn, wrist or wing?” the nurse asks.

“Wrist,” Band responds offering her wrist and looking away as a sharp sting is felt, causing her to gasp in air. “Still not used to needles,” she complains.

“It is okay ma’am, it is a common fear,” the nurse says taking two samples and tucking away one inside an inner pocket. She then takes one sample from Pen and takes the sibling samples to the back. After fifteen minutes the nurse returns and speaks to the older unicorn, “I can say within 85% certainty that this is indeed Ms. Platinum Band.”

“What do you mean 85%?” Band asks.

“I do not have the equipment here to run a better test that is all I can get. It is enough to get the redaction, though,” the nurse curtly states before leaving.

Band looks to the two office clerks, “Can I still get my ID today?”

The older stallion smiles, “Yes, well a legally applicable temporary copy and we will send you a permanent one to a given address.” Before long Band has her temporary ID and is now moving up the legal food chain.

“Paperwork, the life’s blood of the Governmental Machine,” Pen chuckles.

“It’s not that funny, we’ll be here all day and I got stabbed for all this,” Band huffs.

After a few more stops, and a lot more paperwork the mare has a Cantermore ID, a artisan’s license, and the ability for her artisan stamp to act as her signature.

The pair returns to the bookstore both mentally and physically drained, Band with a deep sigh looks to her brother, “PP, could you get me to the bath, please?”

Even though he prickles at his foalhood nickname, he sighs, “Sure sis, I got you.” He draws the bath and helps her in, his heart racing a bit as she sighs in pleasure.

“You could join me,” Band hums, content.

The stallion’s pulse jumps as shivers run up his spine, “No thank you, I’ll…take one after you.” She shrugs as he moves to his bedroom, trying to calm himself down.

Time passes quickly for most, but for Pen an eternity until a knock on his door lets him know it’s his turn. Stepping in after his sister a scent hits his nose as again his heart races, estrus, Band is going into heat, “Wonderful.”, he thinks trying to shake thoughts and the churning of his own loins. “What am I going to do, what am going to say, no , what can I say? Seriously, now? Why now? What do I do? She is her own mare, do I cross that line? Does she want to cross that line?” The unicorn’s mind races as he finishes his bath and goes to bed, dreams filled with a dozen scenarios, some wonderful, some terrible, all flowing through unheeded and unchecked.