• Published 29th Jun 2015
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Research and Development - Jigsaw



A pair of exuberant inventors move to Ponyville.

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Chapter 4 - New Places, New Faces

The last few unused tools were being packed into a black trash bag as Jigsaw examined the last few items. A heavy saw bearing his namesake was set inside the steel shack, and a pair of brass welding goggles were hung around his neck. He smiled and hefted the black bag with his dampened magic, setting it on his back.

He began trotting to the street as Short Circuit rounded a corner with an expression he could only describe as the look. It was a look of such stoicism that it can only be translated into anger.

The bag slid off Jigsaw's back as he asked, "You alright?"

Short snorted before responding curtly, "I'm fine."

Jigsaw raised his eyebrows, tipping his head, "You do not look fine."

Short's emotions chipped at her stoicism as she responded, "It's nothing."

There was roll of his eyes, and a response, "I seriously doubt that," and Short's facade came crashing down.

She grimaced, "I met some ponies earlier today: nice folks at the time. I thought, you know, we could be friendly, but instead one of them began criticising me for everything from my coat color to my enjoyment of books! I thought having some friends in this town would be nice, but if they don't want to be friends, they don't have to be."

She stood tall, trying to go back to her stoic expression. After being broken, that dam was hard to close back up. Jigsaw put a comforting hoof over her shoulder, and smiled at her. She met his glance, rolled her eyes, and smiled.

Jigsaw pulled back, "See? Was it that hard? If she was trying to insult you, that's on her, but she's probably just some prissy Canterlot snob. Her opinion is only such. You are an egghead, though."

She rolled her eyes, "Have you taken those tools back yet?"

He pointed a splinted hoof at the black bag, "I was just about to." He waved his broken leg, "Mind giving me a hoof?" She nodded. He smiled.

She lifted the bag in a golden aura, "Alright, little brother. Lead the way."

A voice sounded behind them, "Uhh. Short?"

Short turned to find one of the ponies at the table standing down the road. The purple unicorn carried a book on her back, "Hey, uhh, I'm still sort-of new to this whole friendship thing, but I'm sorry about Rarity. Oh, uh, my name's Twilight Sparkle. Pleasure to meet you."

Short sighed, "It's fine. Just... What do you want?"

Twilight rubbed the back of her head, "Well, firstly to apologise. Secondly, I, uh, wanted to let you have this." She turned her head, holding Short's borrowed book in an outstretched hoof.

He trotted over, taking the book and setting it on his back. He smiled and replied, "Well, thank you miss Sparkle. Now, we've got to return some tools we borrowed."

Twilight smiled sheepishly, "I'll see you around sometime?"

Short nodded, "Yeah, I hope so. Take care, Twilight. Also, I forgive you, not Rarity."

Twilight lifted a hoof and prepared to respond. As Short turned away, she decided against it, and set her hoof back down. She sighed and started down the street in another direction.

"Short, go with her."

Short jerked her neck around to look at her brother, "What?"

Jigsaw threw on a smile, "I'll deal with the bag of goods. You go make some friends."

"But- Your leg!"

He nodded, "Yeah, and I'm gonna have to deal with this for at least another month. Maybe more. Besides, it's not like this is the first time. Now, go!"

Short scoffed, "I thought you were supposed to be the younger sibling."

He chuckled, "Legally, I am. Mentally, eeh... Now, go or I'll smash my leg with a hammer."

She raised a hoof in defence, "Alright, alright! Jeez." She turned and trotted after the downcast mare as Jigsaw smiled and left down the street. She was a few feet behind Twilight when she decided to get her attention, "Hey, uh, sorry about that. I've just had a... really long day. You want to hang out or something?"

Twilight turned, confused, to Short, "Uhh, alright? What do you want to do?"

Short let out a nervous chuckle, "To be honest, I have no idea. My little brother just wanted me to make some friends." Strangely, this made Twilight giggle. "What's so funny?"

She tossed a hoof, chuckling, "I got that same advice from a mentor of mine a few months ago."

Short asked, "Who was that?"

"My magic teacher, of all people. I was at Celestia's school since I was a filly. It's... a long story. Maybe I'll tell you later. Seriously though, your brother? He looks nothing like you."

Short rolled her eyes, "Another long story. Tell you what, when you tell me yours, I'll tell you mine. Deal?"

Twilight nodded, "Deal. You want to, uh, help me catalogue some books? I live in the Golden Oaks Library, and there's still a few out of place after the last time Rainbow Dash crashed into it. She's the technicolor pegasus, by the way."

Short smiled, "Sounds like a plan. Hey, you mind stopping for something to eat? I had a small lunch."

Twilight smiled, "Sure. How about the Hayburger?"

Her new friend turned another shade of green before her grumbling response, "Actually, I think I just lost my appetite."


Jigsaw peered around a corner, dragging the black bag across the path behind him. His eyes passed over the construction site, cataloguing the locations of each of the workers. He inched around the corner, trotted merrily down the street and sat nonchalante behind a small pile of steel girders.

He carefully set the clanking bag of tools next to him as he tried to work up a small burst of magical energy. Green aura whipped around his horn and the black bag as the latter was flung into the air over his cover. A loud thud resounded, a few workers turned to the source of the noise, and a bronze pony racing away from said noise.

Naturally, it didn't take long for the construction workers to realize their tools had been returned. They shared a laugh about it, complained they couldn't get any work done, and went on with their day.

Jigsaw fought the urge to run, and instead quickly trotted back to his house. Rounding a corner too quickly, he ran head-first into an orange mare wearing a stetson. The impact staggered the mare, and sent Jigsaw to the ground. The mare quickly apologised with a southern drawl, "Sorry 'bout that, mister. Need a hoof?" He grabbed the mare's outstretched hoof with his good one, and was quickly brought back onto his feet.

She took off and dusted her stetson before introducing herself, "My name's Applejack. Say, you look familiar. What's your name?"

"My name's Jigsaw. Nice to meet you."

Applejack touched a hoof to her chin, "I can't place the name. Sorry."

Jigsaw nodded politely, "It's quite alright. I've only just got here today."

"Ah, you're that stallion that fell from the sky earlier. I guess that explains the broken leg. Wait. That means your friends with-" Jigsaw nodded, "Aw, shucks. I'm sorry about the things we were saying earlier. We didn't mean ta-"

Jigsaw held up a hoof to quiet the mare, "It's alright. She's over it. Somewhat. What do you do here in town, Applejack?"

Applejack stood straighter with pride, "My family runs the local apple orchard. What about you, Jigsaw?"

Jigsaw smiled, "Aspiring inventor. You saw the auto-chariot, and how well it turned out. We were planning on bringing it to the Fillydelphia Expo. Bit of a shame, but I'm not giving up on its design just yet."

Applejack chuckled, "You're honestly considering rebuilding that deathtrap?"

He shrugged, "I think we could start with a redesign. Move the fuel away from the engines, more support. A little hard work and elbow grease will get it working, and better than ever."

The mare nodded, "I can respect that. A little hard work goes a long way."

Jigsaw smiled sadly, "What's your family like?"

Applejack simply beamed, "Well, there's Granny Smith. She was here when Ponyville was first founded. Big Macintosh is my big brother. He doesn't talk much, but he's got a heart of gold. My little sister, Apple Bloom, is pretty rambunctious, especially with those friends of her's. Then there's the extended Apple family. They're good folks. Why do you ask?"

Jigsaw sighed, "I was just curious. They sound nice."

"Yeah, they are. Just don't get in the way of Big Mac. If he's got his mind set to something, there's no stopping it. He can be even more boneheaded than even me, sometimes."

He smiled, "Well, I think everyone gets a bit boneheaded once in awhile."

"Well, I kinda enjoyed our little friendly conversation. Even if we were both pretty boneheaded when we met."

Jigsaw chuckled, "Yeah, that was a pain in the flank."

Applejack joined in the small laughter, "Say, this was fun and all, but it's time I got back to the farm. I'll be needin' to get back to work. See ya around, Jigsaw."

Jigsaw bowed his head a notch, "Likewise," and began trotting back down the road.

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