Flirty Birdy (Patreon)

the original premise of jam and artemis' relationship has long become stale to me (it's just Jam pestering Artie into dating her, ick), so i'm changing it up

Although Artemis and Jam had always seen glimpses of each other growing up, the first time they meet formally is when Jam is arrested in Canterlot. It's her first time in the big city on her own, so her schemes were admittedly a bit crude. What can she say? She was a rookie back then! She's set up a small gambling ring to prey on Canterlot nobles when she's caught by none other than Artemis, heir to Queen Luna, captain of the royal guard, and official No-Fun McFeatherface. Oops.

Artemis swiftly arrests the charlatan and leads her away for processing. Despite being informed she has the right to remain silent, the little pink pony simply won't. Stop. Talking. About the most inane things! The weather, how Artemis likes it here in Canterlot, recipes for bundt cake....and good lord, the flirting. Artemis has never met such a cheeky commoner, nopony has ever dared to cuddle up to the Alicorn of the Eventide. The impudence! The audacity! The unmitigated gall!

Meanwhile, Artemis hasn't yet noticed that Jam's shimmied her cuffed arms from behind her back to her front, and is quietly picking the locks with a bobby pin.

And so Jam gives ol' Artie the slip.  Artemis spends all day doggedly pursuing her, but she always just manages to evade them and their night guard, leaving Artemis annoyed, exhausted, and..........admittedly, somewhat entertained. 

Artemis wonders......after all these years, and all this boredom.....have they finally discovered a worthy adversary?