I have had always lived a hard life, struggling to survive in the harsh mountains where I was born. Life was not easy though when I was born, the entire village was always rebuilding something and desperately finding shelter for those unfortunate enough. Till almost everypony had moved into the caves just weak and not having the spirit to even want to live. those who had enough of this place went in other places. someplace warmer and firmer.
All this display moved me. My clan was starving desperately finding shelter and hungry for anything to eat.
till one day I was determined to find a better life not just for me but my entire clan, and so I Collected my possessions, ;warm clothing ,4 bits, and set out on a journey to seek a better fortune.
On my way down to a place called pony ville I was wondering hither and yon looking for a place to settle, and a place to work. I had been traveling for many days now on foot trying to find a job, and a place to stay. I was tired and sore from walking for such long distances. It seems like everywhere I went there were no jobs available. and no one to accept 4 bits as a payment. it was fine though as I was uses to sleeping on the ground.
I arrived in the center of town beginning to lay down on the much warmed ground. then i saw her. a purple unicorn who wore a simple black dress with matching boots, her mane was purple and wavy flowing over her shoulders, her eyes were blue and shone bright like the moon itself. Her horn was a light purple color and pointed straight outwards slightly upwards giving off a very regal look.
"Hello!" She said cheerfully, waving at me. "You must be new here. Are you okay?"
I reply with a smile. "Yes ma'am! I'm Jig Saw. I came from the mountain."
"That's a long way away from here," The Mare said. "I'm Twilight. How did you find our town?"
"I've been traveling for weeks, looking for work, needing money." I say. "I'm a bit weary, but here I am! I finally found your town. I was hoping to find a place to sleep tonight."
"Well, not to tell you what to do, but sleeping outside isn't really the safest thing to do here," Twilight said looking at my vere crude blanket of leaves I put together while we were talking. "Come, my new friend! You should sleep inside my castle tonight."
"I'm not familiar with the term 'castle'," I admitted. "My education might be weak, as I only learned how to read and write. and survive?"
"Survive?" questioned Twilight.
"Yes, survive," I say. "I had to learn how to take care of myself in the wilderness."
"I see," Twilight said. "Well, you won't have to worry about survival tonight. You can rest easy in my castle. It's a safe and comfortable place."
"thank you mam but I do not wish to be a bother!" I Say, eyes widened
"You're not a bother at all," Twilight said, her smile warm and reassuring. "I want to help you, Jig Saw. It's the least I can do, especially after you've traveled so far and been through so much. And by the looks of it, you're positively thin. You must be starving. Would you like something to eat?"
"I might be a tad hungry," I admit my stomach growling.
Twilight laughed gently and led Jig Saw towards her house, which somehow looked like a castle. She opened the door and they stepped inside a large room filled with bookshelves, tables, and chairs. The room had a musty smell, a mixture of dust and old books. In the center of the room stood a large desk with a chair behind it, facing a window that overlooked the town square below.
"Well, here we are, my castle!" Twilight said. "You can sleep here if you wish. But don't worry, tomorrow I'll take you around and show you everything. You'll get a better sense of the town and maybe even find some work."
"This house is huge! Why do you live in such a large place?" I asked, looking around in wonder.
"It's a castle, Jig Saw," Twilight explained. "Castles are big homes where royalty lives."
"Oh, I see, "I said, a confused look on my face. "What is royalty?"
"Well, it's something special to us ponies," Twilight said. "Rulers, or royalty, are individuals who are responsible for watching over their province, protecting their subjects, and ensuring that they are happy and safe. That's what kings and queens do for their people."
"What makes someone a ruler?" I ask, still trying to understand.
"Well, they need to know how to rule and lead their subjects," Twilight said. "They also need to be strong and brave, and always willing to help others. In short, they need to be good leaders."
"Am I a ruler?" I ask "I mean, I have looked after my people just like your description only I don't have a castle and our entire town lives in a cave"
"It sounds like you have a lot of the qualities of a good leader, Jig Saw," Twilight said. "You were responsible for looking after your people and trying to keep them safe and happy. That's a very important role, and one that requires a lot of dedication and hard work."
"However, being a ruler also involves having a certain level of authority and being recognized as such by a larger community or society," Twilight added. "It's not just about taking care of your own group of people, but also being recognized as a leader by others. Do you have that kind of recognition in your community?"
"I see what you mean," I say, considering Twilight's words. "No, I don't think I have that kind of recognition in my community. We all just try to take care of each other and survive in our cave."
"Well, that's still very important work," Twilight said, giving me a reassuring smile. "And who knows, maybe one day you will be recognized as a leader in your community. You have the qualities and the dedication to make a positive difference in the lives of others."
"but see that's why I'm here, I'm trying to get a good paying job so I can send supplies to my clan" I Say.
"I understand," Twilight said, nodding sympathetically. "It can be difficult to find good paying work, especially when you're in a new place. But don't worry, Jig Saw. I'll do my best to help you find a job and get settled in our town. And if there's anything else I can do to support your community back home, just let me know. I'll do what I can to help."
"I won't ask of you to borrow funds for my community I won't allow it.," I say, feeling grateful for her kindness. "It would not be fair to you asking something like that!"
"I understand," Twilight said, giving me a warm smile. "You're a good person, Jig Saw. I have a feeling that you'll be able to make a positive difference in the world, no matter where you go."
"Is being royalty a lot of responsibility?" I ask, wondering what it was like.
"No, it's actually a lot of fun!" Twilight exclaimed. "I get to be everyone's favorite friend and playmate, and sometimes even their teacher!"
"Teacher, huh?" I say, intrigued. "What do you teach?"
"Well, recently I taught someone what royalty is!" Twilight said, looking directly at me with a twinkle in her eye.
I chuckled at her implication. "Fair enough!" he said, looking around the room. "I'm still learning about all of this. It's a lot to take in.
"Take your time," Twilight said, smiling at how nice I was. "My husband would like to meet you in a bit, though. He's a good man and he'll be happy to help you in any way he can."
"Ah a lucky mare to be married!" I exclaim. "Back home, we have to marry at a shelter of prayer," I say, my eyes taking on a distant look. "But that shelter was demolished after a recent snow storm. It's been tough for our community, but we're doing our best to rebuild and move forward."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Twilight said, her expression turning sympathetic.
"What is your husband's name?" I ask, curious about Twilight's family.
"His name is Artemis," Twilight replied. "He has a crown, and he wears it all the time."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
"Well, he likes wearing it around so that all the citizens see him as the leader of our kingdom," Twilight explained. "It's important for him to be visible and present in our community."
"Do you wear yours all the time?" I asked, wondering about Twilight's own role as a ruler.
"No, I prefer to wear mine when I go out in public or when I give speeches to the common folk," Twilight said. "Otherwise, I use a different crown that's made specifically for royalty. It's important to show respect for the symbols of our office, but it's also important to be able to relax and be myself when I'm not performing my duties."
I fidget a little as he met Twilight, feeling nervous about meeting royalty. He had never seen a creature like her before and took a good look at her, trying to get a sense of who she was. Despite being covered up, he could tell that she was a unicorn.
"You're a unicorn, by the looks of it," I say.
"Actually, I'm an alicorn," Twilight corrected him.
"Ali-what? I've never heard of that," I said, my brow furrowing in confusion. "What does it stand for?"
"It means I have all of the species' powers," Twilight explained. "I have earth pony strength, unicorn magic, and pegasus flight abilities."
I stop in mid stride and almost fell over backwards, My eyes widen with shock As I realize what this creature was.
"What's wrong?" Twilight asked with concern.
"You're a goddess!" I exclaim.
Twilight giggled lightly. "Thank you for the compliment, but I'm just a pony, just like you," she said.
"My studies at my school only mentioned alicorns once, as a rare creature of legend," I said, still trying to wrap my head around this new information. "A creature with the power of magic and flight."
"I wouldn't know about that," Twilight said with a shrug. "I've only met nine other alicorns so far."
"Nine?" I said, my mouth hanging open in surprise. "Of course you know other alicorns. What rare species wouldn't know of their own rarity?"
"Oh, you know Rarity?" Twilight asked, misunderstanding my comment.
"Only rare creatures like yourself," I said, a little flustered.
"Oh, sorry. I thought you were talking about the element of Generosity," Twilight said with a laugh.
Twilight opened a door, gesturing for me to go through first, and then followed behind him closely. Inside, there were many rooms filled with beautiful furniture from various cultures across Equestria. But in front of me stood a very large creature with a green aura and small hooves that gave off light blue sparkles.
I deduced that this creature was a green alicorn who had a black mane flowing freely, just like Twilight Sparkle's did, except his didn't reach down past his waistline where they both ended abruptly, making them appear short compared to hers. His body looked muscular yet lean, with muscles that seemed to glow slightly whenever he moved quickly or jumped high into the air while holding something heavy, such as books. The color scheme used throughout his entire body gave off hints of purple and blue, contrasting against dark grey skin. There wasn't much else distinguishable about him, except for some strange tattoos covering most of his upper arms, along with what appeared to be several scars running vertically underneath each arm, ending near his elbow joint area.
I gulped and bowed before this creature. "H-Hail, husband of Twilight Sparkle," I Say, stuttering a bit.
Artemis bowed back. "Hail he who honors our presence," he said.
"Please sir, call me Jig Saw," I said.
"Very well, Jig Saw. Please approach here," Artemis said, beckoning me closer towards another room containing more chairs scattered everywhere. Once inside, I took a seat on the rug that lay below him, hoping it was safe enough to sit upon since they hadn't been introduced properly. Artemis shook his ever flowing mane. "Welcome to our castle, Jig Saw. Know that you are highly valued here as a guest of Twilight Sparkle," he said. He looked at Twilight and asked in a booming voice, "Friend of yours?"
"Nope, just met!" Twilight said. "He came looking for help after encountering trouble in his village..."
The king rose to his feet. "A proper introduction, then! I am Artemis, a dinosaur changeling and the king of the providence known as Equestria. Now, tell us your story, young one. How did you arrive here on my doorstep..." Artemis began pacing slowly around the chamber, shifting his weight every now and then, causing his tail to flap rapidly, creating a loud noise. After staying quiet, watching how things played out, I decided to speak.
"...To be honest, King, I don't think anyone has ever heard of us," I said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I have almost no connections to the outside world, and I had never heard of Ponyville until yesterday when I saw the sign for the city. I was just looking for a place to rest and find some work."
"Told you that sign is helpful!" Twilight interrupted, giving the king a knowing look as if he owed her a bit for a bet he had lost. She turned away, shaking her head and laughing softly. "He always loses," she said with a chuckle.
The king sighed in defeat. "Spoken truly, Princess. I will keep that sign up a while longer," he said.
Twilight cantered in delight as the king coughed up a few bits of grass dust that had gotten stuck between his teeth. He swiped his tongue furiously, trying to get rid of it, but was unsuccessful. Finally managing to spit it onto the floor, he left trails of dirt leading downward towards the ground beneath his feet. Then, turning to look directly ahead, he focused intently, not bothering to notice anything going on around him anymore.
I looked at him awkwardly as I continued my tale.
"I was born in the mountain, my liege. Life was hard living among animals like myself, without any contact with others, save those within my tribe. We lived together, hunting game and eating whatever food nature provided. However, sometimes wolves would attack us, viciously tearing apart whoever got caught by chance alone during these attacks. My father died protecting me, killing two wolves, but he was injured in the process and I had to stay home and take care of my mother. After a while, a huge snowstorm hit, destroying most of our homes, including mine.
We had nothing left but the clothes we wore and we sat shivering in a cave ever since. It took days before anyone could make it back to visit us, because no one wanted to risk falling victim to another pack of wolves waiting nearby, ready to pounce should someone slip up even once, let alone twice. During this time, I learned how to survive, relying solely on my wits if needed, rather than brute strength. If possible, I also tried to keep track of time passing, using stones placed atop boulders to mark certain times. One day soon thereafter, I saw my suffering clan and decided to journey somewhere to raise funds to rebuild their lives, which were so long ago destroyed beyond repair. So far, I've managed to gather four spare gold pieces, but it's barely made a dent in what we really need, sadly."
Artemis interrupted the story, speaking loudly. "It seems you need funds, son. As ambassadors of friendship, we are willing to feed you for tonight, and we shall send you to a place that pays well if you feel like working, son?"
I nodded eagerly. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get my clan fed, sire. Thank you very kindly, indeed, yes."
"Good boy," Artemis said, nodding approvingly. "Good luck finding work. At least you can eat right?"
I looked over to see Twilight smiling happily, and she nodded excitedly, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"How long have you been together?" I ask with the wide dynamic being felt in the room.
"Not long," Twilight replied. "We've been married for a few years now, but we've known each other for much longer than that."
Artemis laughed as he picked up a photo album of them. "Would you like to see some pictures of us?" Artemis asked, picking up a photo album from a nearby shelf. "We have plenty of pictures from all sorts of adventures and special occasions. It's always fun to look back and remember the good times we've shared together. and it also quickly shows where we have been.
"I would like that" I said eagerly absorbing this new knowledge
"Great!" Artemis said, opening the album and flipping through the pages. "Here's a picture of us on our wedding day. It was such a beautiful ceremony, and we were surrounded by all of our friends and family. And here's a picture of us on a trip to Canterlot. We visited all sorts of amazing places and saw so many beautiful sights. And here's a picture of us at the Summer Sun Celebration. It's one of our favorite holidays, and we always have a blast celebrating the longest day of the year with all of our friends."
As Artemis showed me the pictures, I eagerly absorbed this new knowledge, fascinated by all of the adventures and special moments that Twilight and Artemis had shared together. It was clear that they were deeply in love and had a strong bond, and it made me feel happy and warm inside to see such a loving relationship.
I stop at picture with a curious creature I'm not familiar with. "Hey, who is that purple thing right next to you it small and has wings... I'm familiar with that creature."
"Oh, that's my assistant Spike!" Twilight said, pointing to the small purple creature with wings in the picture. "He's a dragon, and he's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He's a little mischievous sometimes, but he's always there for me when I need him. He's the best helper a pony could ask for."
My eyes go wide hearing this "d-did you say dragon?" I say shuddering afraid
"Yes, I said dragon," Twilight replied, noticing my reaction. "Is that a problem?"
"I-I've " I stuttered, trying to hide my fear. "I've heard stories about them being fierce and dangerous creatures.
"Oh, Spike is a good dragon," Twilight reassured me. "He may be a little mischievous at times, but he's never hurt anyone intentionally. Dragons can be just like any other creature, with their own unique personalities and ways of being. Spike is one of the kindest, most loyal friends I've ever had, and I'm grateful to have him in my life."
"pardon me while I don't believe you... is he here? oh god! please tell me he's not here?"
Twilight chuckled at my reaction. "Don't worry, I can go get him if you'd like to meet him. He's really nice, I promise. And I can vouch for him. Here, let me go get him." Twilight called out, "Spike! Can you come here for a moment?"
"No please!..." I say in total petrification.
A few seconds later, a small purple dragon with green spikes emerged from another room. He had a friendly expression on his face as he approached us.
"Hey, Twilight," Spike said. "What's up?"
"Spike, this is-"
"DRAGON!" I yell promptly passing out.
"Jig Saw, Jig Saw, wake up," Spike said, shaking my shoulder gently.
I slowly came to, still a little disoriented. "W-what happened?" I asked, groggily.
"You fainted," Twilight said, looking concerned. "Are you okay? Do you need some water or something to eat?"
"I-I'm fine, I think,"I too a brief view looking a spike and immediately backed away. "agh, dragon! dragon! dragon!" I say panicking.
"Jig Saw, it's okay," Twilight said, trying to calm me down. "Spike is a good dragon, he's not going to hurt you. You don't have to be afraid of him."
"Dragon!" I keep saying "small... tiny... baby... dragon..." I finally calm down panting in fear calm down. "your a dragon? for real?"
"Yes, I'm a real dragon," Spike said, smiling at me. "But I'm not a baby dragon. I'm actually an adult dragon, just a little smaller than most dragons my age. It's not uncommon for dragons to come in different sizes."
I take more deep breaths "I read about you! you were the worst kind of monster to attack my village!"
"Woah way to accuse some one you just met!" Said Spike "I'm sorry, but I don't think that was me," Spike said, looking confused. "I've never been to your village, and I would never attack anyone. I'm a peaceful dragon, and I try to avoid violence whenever possible. Heck I don't even know your name!"
"No, not you," I say, trying to hide from the dragon. "But one of your kind has set in motion the destruction of our village."
"I thought it was wolves and a bad storm that caused the destruction of your village," Twilight inquired.
"Well, that was the final straw, but it all started with a dragon just a year before I was born!"
"I see," Spike said, looking concerned. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. It's not fair that one dragon's actions could have such a huge impact on your village. But please don't hold all dragons responsible for the actions of one. Not all of us are like that, and I hope that you can see that we can be trusted and can be good friends too."
"its going to take a while spike," I said "I was taught all my life to beware the dragon. my school took every week to duck and cover under our desks to hide... it just... it left me scarred spike... I'm sure you are a nice dragon but truth be told... i was taught to hide from them so excuse me while I will just stay over here for a bit."
"I understand, Jig Saw," Spike said, looking sympathetic. "It's understandable that you would have some fear and mistrust after experiencing such trauma. But please know that I am here for you and I want to help you overcome those fears. I am not like the dragon that harmed your village, and I hope that you can see that I am a good and kind dragon. I'm here to help and support you, not to cause you any more harm or fear. Please don't be afraid to talk to me or ask me any questions you might have. I'm here to listen and to help in any way that I can."
"I know you aren't that dragon... but please I'm just going to have to ask you to keep your distance until I do trust you. after all our first meetings as a species didn't go over very well."
"I understand, Jig Saw," Spike said, nodding. "I will respect your boundaries and give you the space you need. But please know that I am always here for you if you ever want to talk or if you have any questions. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about dragons or anything else. Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help you feel more comfortable and at ease."
"It's getting late, Twilight," Artemis said, coughing a little. "Why don't we go to bed and talk more tomorrow?"
Twilight looked surprised by the suggestion. "What about food for our guest?" she asked.
"Oh, of course," Artemis replied. He stamped his hoof and summoned the baker. "Prepare a feast for our guest right now!"
With a salute and a bow, the baker left the room, leaving the four characters alone together once again.
After several minutes passed food was presented in hopes to get me fed properly while Artemis left the room "Where are you going?" I ask "A tough day for a king I go to rest up myself," Artimis answers back. then walks off into another part of the castle where no human eyes should dare look."
Twilight stook around a bit longer and spike promptly left to return what he was doing. "well?" said Twilight "what are you hungry for?"
"Ill take this Lettice leaf" I reply. promptly munching it.
Twilight asked in surprise, "Is that all you're going to eat? Just a lettuce leaf?"
I nodded, munching on the leaf. "Yeah, that's fine. My clan never ate extravagantly anyway, plus I'm still recovering from all that walking."
"I see," Twilight said, "Well, if you're going to stay here, I suppose I should show you around the castle..."
I followed Twilight as she led me through the halls, my stomach feeling full from the lettuce leaf.
Our first stop was the kitchen , which was filled with all sorts of delicious looking food. There were fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of baked goods. I couldn't believe my eyes.
"you have stored enough food here for an army let alone my village" I comment "do all ponies possess such amounts of food?"
"Not all ponies have access to such large amounts of food," Twilight explained. "We are lucky to have a strong and productive farming community that helps us to grow and harvest a variety of crops and produce. We also have trade agreements with other communities and countries that allow us to obtain different types of food. As a castle, we also have the resources to store and preserve large quantities of food to use during times of need or emergency within our own boarders."
She continued showing me various rooms throughout the castle; her bedroom, bathroom, library, dining hall, throne room, storage areas- everything seemed perfect! "and that's the tour!" Twilight said "you are welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms any one you want."
"Thank you so much for the tour, Twilight," I say, feeling grateful for her kindness. "This castle is amazing. I've never seen anything like it before."
"I'm glad you like it," Twilight says, smiling. "Now, let's go find you a guest room. You must be tired from your journey."
We walk down the hallway and Twilight points to a few doors. "These are the guest rooms. You can choose any one you like."
I look at the doors and decide on the one at the end of the hallway. "I'll take this one," I say, opening the door to reveal a comfortable looking bed and a few other amenities.
"Great, I'll leave you to get some rest then," Twilight says, turning to leave. "If you need anything, just let me know."
"Thank you, Twilight," I say, grateful for her help. "I really appreciate it."
Twilight smiles and closes the door behind her, leaving me to rest in the comfortable guest room.
My mind races to comprehend what had transpired today. feeling grateful and exhausted. As I lay down to sleep, I can't help but reflect on the events of the day and how much my life has changed in such a short time. I fall into a deep sleep, dreaming of the possibilities that the future may hold.
I am suddenly awakened by a growling noise coming from my sheets. Fearful that it might be Spike trying to eat me, I quickly yank the covers off to reveal that it was just my own stomach growling. Relieved, my heart rate returns to normal and I realize that I am in a place where food is readily available. So, I get up from my bed and head down to the kitchen to satisfy my hunger. Upon entering the kitchen try to recall the current prices at the local market. an apple was worth 2 bits i would have to pay the king later i decide. so i grabbed one from the fruit bowl and headed over back to my bedroom where i ate the rest of it gorging myself until there wasn't even a crumb remaining. soon after finishing eating i fell asleep again.
When the morning came, I woke up feeling well rested. As I got out of bed, I saw Twilight standing in my bedroom, wearing only a bathrobe. "Did you sleep well, Jig Saw?" she asked, trying to start a conversation since I hadn't spoken much the previous night.
"There's no need to bow, Jig Saw," Twilight said, smiling. "You are my guest, not my subject. Just relax and make yourself at home."
"Thank you, Twilight," I said, feeling grateful for her kindness. "I'm not used to such luxury, but I will try my best to enjoy it."
"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Twilight said, laughing. "Now, would you like to join me for breakfast? I'm sure Spike has already prepared something delicious for us."
"Actually I would like to talk to the king first, is he up?"
"He should be up by now," Twilight replied. "I'll go see if he's awake and let him know you want to speak with him, Do you have any specific requests or questions you want to ask him?"
"I just need to tell him something"
Twilight nods and heads off to speak to Artemis about arranging a meeting with him. A few minutes later, she returns with news "the king is willing to meet with you you can go see him"
"Good morning, Jig Saw," Artemis greets me with a nod. "What can I do for you today?"
"I just wanted to thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Your Majesty," I say, bowing my head in respect. "I am forever grateful for your help and I hope to repay your generosity in some way."
Artemis smiles warmly. "You are welcome, Jig Saw. It is our duty as rulers to help those in need,"
I continued "That being said, I owe you four bits for the food I took last night."
Artemis chuckled and waved his hoof dismissively. "Consider it a gift, my friend. You are welcome here any time. You have been through a lot, and we want to help in any way we can."
"I don't mean for the feast my liege, I meant for the apple I snacked on last night"
There was a very long pause.
"You stole from us?" Artemis growled his voice rose
"Its not stealing if I'm giving you money right now to pay for it."
I did not hear his reply as a bright light met me and zapped me where I stood killing me instantly.