A Night on the Town
═ The ══════════
Ambassador's
══════════ Son ═
Chapter Sixteen
A Night on the Town
An MLP:FiM Fanfiction by Midnight Shadow
Chip wandered down well-paved streets, which slowly gave way to dingier, cobbled alleyways. By now it was well and truly dark. Luna's moon shone brightly somewhere in the sky, but it wasn't visible from ground level. From street-level the soft silvery light was all but non-existent. Stalliongrad was a city of industry, a city of shift workers and factory mules, of long hours and short pay. This left a visible pall that hung over the more industrial and often poorer areas.
Uncle Pyrite lived on a hill; from his mansion, almost the whole of Stalliongrad was visible when the smog was thin enough. Down here in the gloom, lit only by wan firefly lanterns, it was a whole other story. Still, something pulled Chip onwards. He was a restless soul, called onwards by the siren song of the new city. Maybe he was just in need of proving his independence from his uncle, in however clandestine a manner, but Chip felt something calling to him, and that call he obeyed.
The houses here were smaller, thinner and taller than those he remembered in Neighvada. In Neighvada, apartment buildings were tall and brightly lit. The poorer homes were gaudy and tacky, the richer homes gaudier. Here, they were worn and cramped and mostly dark, stained with soot and dirt. Strange shapes flitted about above the streets, from their raucous cries a good deal of them were griffons. Chip could only wander what they were hunting, there didn't appear to be much wildlife. Other shapes, though - other shapes told a different story. He could feel it now, deep in his bones. A kind of thrum, like he was a plucked guitar string. Dragons.
It was this strange feeling, and his nose for the peculiarly unique draconic scent, than led him to his final destination, many blocks from his new home. The draconic quarter spread out before him, distinct in architecture from the upper crust pony quarter, or the lower class working-class quarter and differing once again from the griffon quarter. The latter two had wider doorways and lower windows. The Griffons had tall eyries built for winged access, or underground homes marked with crude yet efficient animal-fat torches for those that preferred a dig to a perch.
Dragons, on the other hoof, had no windows or doors, not as such. They had basking rocks, large ledges for sunning on, and winding stone-clad hallways that spun into magefire-lit cavern-like rooms. One such building appeared to be somehow raised out of a small mountain, by either improbable magic or surprisingly handy natural formation. Chip doubted that it could be called something as mundane as a 'building', but he lacked the proper vocabulary. It rose into the sky, lit by torches and belches of flame from dragons both arriving and leaving. Music could be heard from within, and the hum and chatter of voices.
Chip stood for a moment, eyes closed, just drinking in the new sensations that flooded his body and mind. He had never felt this before, not even with his parents or friends, not like this. It was like the unspoken bond of a herd, but subtly different and - in this place, with hundreds of dragons within - far more powerful.
A hiss that snapped him out of his reverie. Looking up, Chip saw three pairs of eyes watching him from a first floor ledge. Two of the pairs of eyes, attached to one dragon each, leaped to the ground on either side of him.
"Hello there, you lost?" came the voice, soft and syrupy yet possessing a granite hardness that suggested he had better know exactly what he wanted.
Chip shook his head, looking up at the silvery-white dragon without fear, "I've been looking for you, kinda."
"Looking for dragons? That's begging for trouble, little pony."
There was another hiss from his left, "Nnnooo, Pig Iron, thisss... sssomething elssse."
Pig Iron, apparently the name of the silvery white dragon, spread his wings and almost flowed through the air down to street level. "Oh, ohhh, that's interesting, little one. I don't recognize your clan, but I do recognize your training spikes. Are you fit to wear such an honourable weapon? Or did you steal it from your master?"
Chip flicked his tail and the bolas that adorned it menacingly, "I have more armour, Pig Iron, and if you want I can show you how well I can use it."
"Feisty. I like that. You interest me, little one. You're something I've not seen before, though I have heard legends. Amethyst, fetch the boy a snack. It's a cold night, he's come a long way to Pig Iron's Palace. Bauxite, I'll send you out something."
"Yesss, boss." Bauxite, a red dragon that was little larger than Chip himself, scrambled up the side of the rock-face to the ledge he had sat on before, where he curled up and put his head on his tail, eyes scanning the darkness. Amethyst scuttled inside ahead of Pig Iron and Chip.
"You must be new around these parts, kid. I know every dragon around here, but I don't know you. You, I have to say, I would know. Name your clan."
"I am Chiphoof Irontail Leatherback, of the Diamond Expanse. Friends call me Chip."
"Leatherback, hmm? How is old Sharptooth then, you must have met him." Pig Iron's eyes gleamed in the darkness, draconic senses telling him one thing, eyes another.
"Sharptooth is my father." said Chip, after a few seconds, "he sent me to live with my uncle."
"Sharptooth has no brother, not in Stalliongrad." growled Pig Iron.
"It's complicated." Chip nodded. Pig Iron hissed appreciatively.
The silvery-white dragon put a claw on Chip's withers as they entered the main interior hall, waving the other around expansively as he presented his demesnes. "This is Pig Iron's Palace, Chip. Welcome to the best dragon bar in Stalliongrad. Every dragon comes here, every dragon is welcome, as long as you obey my rules. This is an Enclave, young... dragon," Pig Iron barely hesitated, to his credit, "a sanctuary. All feuds are left or dealt with outside, and everybody and everything inside is under my protection."
"I didn't come here to fight." Chip stated, as hundreds of pairs of eyes momentarily fastened on him, and then looked away, uninterested.
"Though you can if need be, I understand. Fire in the blood is hot in one so young, even for you I bet. I smell blood on you, Chip. How many?"
"One." Chip answered softly, "A diamond dog."
Pig Iron hissed angrily, "Mongrels. We don't tolerate their sort up here. Our workers of choice are the gem-eyed ponies from the Under Deeps. Loyal, hard-working. I don't own any though I sometimes wish I did."
Chip blinked, and was once again reminded how different dragons were. Amethyst ran up then, forestalling further speech. The small, light purple dragon had a tray with a selection of rocks, meat and gems in neat piles, held in his claws. It was a snack, of sorts, and it set Chip's mouth watering.
"On the house, Chip." Pig Iron said, as the tray was placed on a table. Chip's stomach growled, and Pig Iron laughed.
"Diamonds! They're my favourite." Chip bent and took a couple in his muzzle, chewing happily. He savoured their odd flavour - these were spicier than back home, subtly different. It still surprised him that what would have been mere decoration a few weeks ago was now a treat.
"You live up to your clan then, young dragon." Pig Iron said, relaxing.
Chip nodded, oblivious that he had passed some test, as he sampled the different snacks on offer. Emeralds tasted like fruity mints, sapphires somehow tasted like berries, coal was an interesting mixture of bread and apples and there was some sort of greyish powdery rock that tasted for all the world like baked scones. He wondered, idly, if it was his unique heritage that somehow translated flavours - or if it was this way for all dragons. He thought about it, and decided it would be as pointless as discussing colour vision.
Looking around the stone-clad multi-level room, Chip got a sense of age. Whenever dragons were involved, things were so rarely new. This tavern, inn, bar - whatever it was - was no exception. Thick smoke wafted high up where dark shapes flitted to and fro, some serving drinks or snacks, others just on the move. Hookahs were lit and re-lit with dragonfire and magelight, deep voices conversing in a lilting tongue that made his mane stand on end. Music wafted from whirling thaumatic machines, the resulting cacophony not entirely drowned out by the chattering hum of draconic speech that melted together into an audible melange. Companion creatures waited on their masters and mistresses, some were ponies, others were imp-like trolls with wings or without. Others still looked like oddly malformed miniature dragons. Some were bright-eyed and obedient, others fearful, still others were slovenly and sullen, stealing what scraps they could to feed themselves. There was the occasional screech and chattering as an errant servant was chastised, followed by heavy laughter or fierce muttering. There were griffons, too, pecking at plates of raw or at least barely-cooked meat from thankfully unidentifiable sources as they spoke in hushed squawks with other griffons or dragons. Of pony customers, there appeared to be none.
"So what brings you to Stalliongrad, so far from Lord Diamond?" Pig Iron asked, finally.
"I'm... I don't know. There was trouble, but Sharptooth hasn't told me everything." Chip said, between mouthfuls. "I want to go home, I'm a dragon, I can look after myself."
"That's the spirit." Pig Iron sat on his haunches and watched the strangely equine dragon eating. "Your story intrigues me, young Chip. I would hear more."
"What do you want to know?"
"I ask," Pig Iron said, gesticulating at his chest with a wave of his claw, "for my hoard. Do you have a hoard yet?"
Chip thought for a moment, glancing around the large cavernous room. Dragons lay all around; some sat on their haunches, others perched on spikes, others lounged in depressions similar to Sharptooth's weir.
"I do, but it is small."
Pig Iron nodded slowly, "Do you see all this? Do you know who owns it?"
"I thought you did," Chip said. "Don't you?"
"Listen to me, young dragon, because I am going to tell you something important, a story for a story, is that fair? The biggest hoard a dragon should have is not measured in floor space, it is measured in the amount of pages it would fill. You seem like a dragon who can appreciate my viewpoint, so I share it, in the manner of my clan, the Iron Hall Clan."
"You mean knowledge, don't you." Chip said, ears perking up.
"Indeed. These dragons, some of them my good friends, most don't appreciate it. They explore, fight, dig, collect - and then they come to my Enclave. They give me their baubles and their time and chatter. I don't have to fight, I give freely, and in return I collect so much more. My hoard grows without my intervention. Do you understand?"
Chip nodded, "Sharptooth's hoard has a lot less gold and jewels than I would have expected, a lot more... paintings and models and stuff."
Pig Iron's eyes narrowed, "Go on, tell me how a dragon such as yourself came to be."
Chip looked at Pig Iron carefully, considering, "My... father, my pony father, would have told me to watch my mane with you, because I'd find it missing if I gave you half a chance."
Pig Iron laughed, "Indeed you would! There is no pressure here, but I offer you something in return - your appearance has piqued my interest, young Chip. Indulge me, you may find my lesson rewarding."
"Okay." Chip took a bite of the meat, he wasn't sure what animal it was from, but he knew meat by now. It was foreign again to gems and rocks, but... it had something that grabbed his tongue and wouldn't let go. He chewed, thoughtfully. Whatever it was, was dead. It had been killed, skinned, stripped, blooded, sliced up and cooked. Wasting such a gift, even one taken not given, didn't sit well with Chip. He wasn't sure he liked it, but... he could eat it.
"I was born Chiphoof Irontail, from Neighvada. My parents died, in a mining accident. A diamond dog mine collapsed on them and the trolls they were with. Celestia sent me to live with Sharptooth, and he adopted me, said something about keeping me safe. I didn't know it would... do this, but it did. Now," Chip stopped, swallowing another chunk of meat, "now Sharptooth sent me here, to my uncle Pyrite."
"Pyrite, huh? Young dragon, what do you think of Stalliongrad?"
"I'm not supposed to be out, my uncle locks me in. It's dirty, big, busy... and it has dragons and griffons and ponies and it's really cool, and I can take care of myself. Pyrite doesn't know that."
"I bet you haven't tried to explain your... situation either, have you?"
Chip shook his head.
Pig Iron sat, silently regarding the strange dragon before him, as around the pair, the Enclave thrummed with life. "Chip, as a friend, do not tell Pyrite what you are. He couldn't understand anyway, little one, and it is far more than eating rocks and flesh."
"I know, I think," Chip said. "Sharptooth was teaching me all about being a dragon. He started with the training spikes, and breathing fire, and roaring."
"Then let me continue your training. I want to show you something. Oak Keg! Oak, come!" Pig Iron turned to the bar, where an earth pony was tending to customers, serving them drinks that bubbled, smoked, steamed or just plain burst into flames. He was a large red stallion, with dark brown-and-green flecked mane and tail. His fetlocks were long and creamy white and a wooden cask adorned his flank as a cutie mark.
"Oak, submit."
Chip watched as the large, red pony bent down on his knees until his belly was on the floor. Oak then lay his head on the ground, and rolled over onto his side, upper fore and hind legs raised to expose his belly, head angled upwards in relation to his back so his neck was similarly open. The pony trembled, fearfully.
"Look around, Chip, tell me what you see."
"I, I..."
"I said look around, not at my pet."
"Nopo- nobody is watching? They're all... mostly at least, just... drinking, eating, talking."
"And yet here lies a pony, in front of me. I could kill him now, you understand? I could spill his blood on my floor, rend and tear his flesh, and do you know what would happen?"
"N-no." Chip shook, slightly, looking down at the pony before him. Chip could hear a soft whimper from the creature.
"Nothing. I'd have to clean the floor myself, that's what would happen." Pig Iron placed a claw on the pony's withers, "Be at peace, Oak my pet, I love you far too much to ever make such an example of you. Relax, relax, you're needed here a while, okay?"
Chip watched, visibly disturbed, as the strange white dragon with the red eyes comforted the scared pony until Oak visibly went slack, lowering his fore and hind legs until they were on the ground, folded up as if he were sleeping, breathing easier. The pony's eyes remained closed, he was resting.
"I saved his grandsire, long ago, from certain death. In return, his life became mine. I owned him, body and soul. I didn't own his mares, but I did own their foals, and their foals' foals, and so on. Most I release from direct bondship, I am not a harsh owner, but some I keep. Oak Keg, here, is one such. He technically owns Pig Iron's Palace, and I own him. See his cutie mark? Look again."
Chip wandered closer, and looked carefully at the cask on the pony's flank. On the cask was a stylized iron bar, the bar itself had various lines and markings that reminded him of... Chip looked up, "That's your clan sign, isn't it?"
"Indeed, young dragon. I own him, from tip to tail, and his cutie mark displays his status. This is what it means to be a dragon, Chip. When we take others into the darkness beyond twilight, it is not a mere formality. I have had Celestia herself petition for the release of my 'slaves', but she will not have them, not without my say so, because I am a dragon. I am beyond her commands, and I am at liberty to keep what pets are rightfully mine. There was no trick, no duplicity. A pony would have died, I saved that pony's life, and in return, his life was mine. I treasured him as I treasured his foals, as I treasure their foals' foals."
Pig Iron stroked the pony, making soft and gentle noises. He looked back up at Chip from where he crouched, "I dislike the term slaves, though that is what other dragons may call them. They are pets, Chip. Pets are part of the family, they work for the family. A slave is not, a slave toils for a master. From one pony, little Chip, grew a small herd. In time, that herd may rival Equestria itself. My lifetime as a dragon will be a long one, and I invest my time and power where I see fit. This is another lesson you must learn, young one. Gold does not multiply itself, but deeds and knowledge does. In every deed, see to it that you do as a dragon would do, and do not bring shame to our kind."
Chip looked down at the pony on the floor, a pet of the dragon that stroked his mane idly and cooed softly. Chip looked at himself. He could never be like that pony on the floor, not anymore; he was beyond it, changed by everything. He wore a body of hooves, mane and tail, but his heart was that of a dragon, his mind had to be too.
"Your pet does your clan proud," Chip said, lamely. He didn't know the proper words, but he thought he understood how it should work. "He is a fine specimen."
"I thank you, Chiphoof, young lord of the Diamond Expanse." Pig Iron nodded, pleased with both the wording and the understanding, "As a gesture of my thanks, allow me to open you a tab at the bar. Spend within reason, and pay up within a century or so, and we shall remain in good graces with each other."
"Why do you keep... pets, though?" Chip asked, "If it brings you trouble with Celestia?"
"You can answer that one yourself, can't you?"
Chip nodded slowly, he cleared his throat before answering. "It's because... they're under your protection. You help keep the peace in Stalliongrad, between dragons and ponies. Your... pets live and work all over the city, even the ones that you don't keep like this one." Chip pointed to the 'animal' on the floor, realising where he stood in relation to it.
"The peace between us dragons and ponies like my pet here is fragile at times, seeing as dragons are carnivores as well as lithovores. No dragon may harm my property, so touching any pony becomes a possible matter of draconic honour. I serve the Equestrian Crown even as I defy it. And in return, Celestia owes me, and my hoard grows in importance again. You're learning. Now, what would you like to drink?"
Chip licked his lips as Pig Iron bid Oak Keg rise and tend the bar once more, "What would you suggest?"
Pig Iron smiled as he led the way to the bar, stepping behind it himself and gesturing for Chip to take a seat. "Well, there's a flaming sulfur screwball, a diamond glitter snowball, or whizbang if you're uncouth enough. I detest the stuff, but there are a few regulars who can handle it."
"What's 'Whizbang'?" Chip asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pig Iron snorted, "Something you'd best forget about. It gets popular every few years before the hatchlings grow up enough to get over it or the clan lords around here stamp it out. You can either inhale it powdered or drink it mixed, if you must know. For those unable to control their baser natures it can easily become a habit. It's not truly addictive, and its effects are mildly enjoyable, when taken in moderation. It's utterly fatal to almost every other form of life in Equestria, with no known cure and has rightly been made illegal almost everywhere. Which is the only real reason to stock it. Even having seen you make short work of that snack-tray, I can't recommend it. A youngster like you, it'd likely just cause you a bellyache, put out your fire and make you sick for the night."
"If it doesn't?"
"I'm told it's fantastic," Pig Iron rolled his eyes as he made something that hissed and bubbled, smelling rather strongly of fire and brimstone. He pushed the goblet to Chip, who sipped at it gingerly. The mixture warmed him all the way down, and caused him to hiccup. A small burst of flame shot out his nose and he grinned like an idiot as the glow seemed to spread.
"Personally, I'd stick to this stuff. A good healthy mix of sulfur and arsenic."
Chip hiccupped again, sending a gout of flame spewing across the bar. Pig Iron laughed, "See? Good for what ails you."
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Man, dragons know how to mix the best drinks
A little unnerved how Pig Iron refers to his charges, but there is hopefully genuine compassion between the relationship between him and his ponies. Though I would like for someone to tell him to use the term friend other than pet, or at least remember to appreciate them always. Sorry just muttering, I love what your doing and writing, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Free cheers for dragons!
Interesting. Pig Iron says "I am not a harsh master," but and then later says "a slave toils for a master." His definition of "pet" and "slave" leave a lot to desire. His justifications were laughable as was his logic.
It's an interesting if not incredibly out of place concept to have in the world of MLP.
Good, if rather disturbing picture of Draconic possession. I can't imagine Celestia really standing for that though.
243146
Given how Chip even began to see them as nothing more than 'animals', I would highly doubt that there was any compassion there at all. This of course begs a very important question, if the dragons do not see other sentient beings as worthy of life then what stops them from just wrecking everyone's shit and taking over? Pig Iron's arguments made it clear that being self-aware does not qualify them for person-hood.
243148
You're right, actually. I should change that first 'master' to 'owner'. What he means is that he is genuinely kind to the ponies he owns - he takes the long view, and can see a much more fruitful enterprise if he uses kindness rather than might with his 'pets'. I used the word 'master' there ambiguously, so consider it changed.
Care to elaborate on his logic?
243146
As I remarked to some pony I had pre-read, when he told me the usage of the word 'pet' was unnerving, it's supposed to stick in your throat. I'm trying to underscore just how different draconic society is to ponydom. I am working with old canon as well as head-canon here - remember the gem-eyed ponies? They really were the thralls of an evil magician, as was Spike. Celestia doesn't approve, you're not supposed to either.
243158 Granted this is all just one dragon's point of view, I doubt Sharptooth would appreciate Pig Iron putting such views on his impressionable son. (I hope.)
243158
And nice catch there, too. Chip doesn't see the bartender as an animal, but he understands that other dragons do. Not all, but some - maybe most. It is part and parcel of the ethos that comes with being a sentient creature, and is the thing that lets us have slaves at all, where it is culturally acceptable.
If you look at slavery, slaves become less than human for the owner. They cease being real people and instead become property.
Animals are property, slaves are property. The thing I'm pushing here (and it's not my view, but that of Pig Iron), is that he sees a slave as inherently worth far less than a prize animal - which is how it used to be. A war horse was worth a great deal of money, but the slave that looked after it? Almost nothing.
243167
Indeed, please don't forget (and I'm actually glad that this is stirring up feelings, that means I'm doing it right) that this is the limited viewpoints of the characters in question. If I wasn't at liberty to present such differing, strange and often unacceptable or just plain contrary things, I could not write a good story.
243162 Yeah I thought that was what you were going for. I was just imposing my beliefs on another one's point of view, (I am being a bad brony
) Anyway best wishes always!
243178
Dear pony, that's what the comments are for!
Personally, slavery is abhorrent and I cannot think of any reason for it being a good thing - but Pig Iron doesn't see things that way. He certainly disagrees with needless cruelty, and sees no profit in keeping pets he is unable or unwilling to look after, but he doesn't see anything wrong with owning other animals, even ones that can speak.
243193 Admittedly we know that most animals in Equestria are self-aware, yet ponies have pets like Wiona Opal or Angel, which makes perhaps the term pet in Equestria is different in comparison to how we use the term pet. Though for Pig Iron's case having talking pets would probably unnerve ponies just as it unnerves us.
More backstory on how the dragon society works and more exploring what it means to be a pony shaped dragon.
:D
243209
and is more the mute, put-upon house-husband. Twilight's owl seems to appreciate being a helpful critter, Tank appears just to want to be with Rainbow Dash. The only thing near a "pet" that can talk back is Spike, and he's the put-upon butt-monkey more often than not, as Twilight's so often hilariously inconsiderate (it's played for laughs, but he does get smacked around a lot). Winona, apart from being a dog, appears to be closer to a partner than a pet, and it's only really Opal I'd call a pet-pet, as that little monster does nothing useful apart from hiss at Rarity and approve or disapprove of Rarity's fashion sense.
What makes me laugh about Fluttershy is that Angel's the alpha
In Pig Iron's case, I want it to also stand out that the "city" of Stalliongrad is closer to a collection of nation-states. Legally, Oak Cask could probably leave Pig Iron at any time, but it's kind of a case of a protection racket... and as was stated, the safety of ponies all over Stalliongrad come down to that protection.
243171
The distinction between "pet" and "slave" is cute and all but completely ignores the fact that the concept of "pet" doesn't have the concept of self-awareness/sentience bound up with it. My dog is a pet and, in a sense, he is a slave as well. The point is he is not self aware, he acts on instinct and breeding, has no higher form of communication and doesn't have a culture of his own. We have defined him as not having rights because he cannot self advocate and as such I can force him to do things if it suits me. Ponies, are self aware, they have culture, language, and their own nation. This is a huge distinction that was glossed over.
So given what Iron said you can look at it one of two ways, that anything "lesser" than a dragon isn't "worthy" of free will and thus all non-dragons are non-persons, able to be mistreated, abused, bought, sold and traded without penalty or he is just using very bad logic to justify owning slaves. I think you would have to lay down one hell of a justification to convince me that taking away a being with sentience's free will would not qualify as slavery. Or that the princesses would stand by and let this happen.
243171
I think you're still missing the crux of the issue here.
"If you look at slavery, slaves become less than human for the owner. They cease being real people and instead become property."
By the definition you have given Oak is a slave. He is not free to do as he pleases, and can be killed without repercussions. He has no rights, if that's not slavery I don't know what is. Just because Pig Iron isn't a cruel master doesn't make his practice any less abhorrent, nor does calling him a "pet" actually make him such. Oak has no personhood, he is property as far as Pig Iron and all other dragons acted.
243244
I am so glad you're "worked up" enough (if I may say that) to comment about this!
First of all, take dragons as a part of pony society - foreign nationals, if you will, where each foreign national is still a sovereign citizen of a completely alien nation. Dragons and ponies - in my fanon at least - do not live in perfect harmony. We have a being like Spike, who is essentially an Equestrian citizen, and then we have other wild dragons like the one on the mountain and the one in the forest cave. One of them attempted to fry Spike, the owl and Twilight. The other one was evicted from his home by a well-timed stare from Fluttershy - and he certainly was able to speak.
This eviction essentially relegated that red dragon to "unwanted beast", talker or not.
Now, the conceit I have is that dragons, griffons and ponies (and other forms of sentient life) do more or less live together, in certain parts of Greater Equestria. Some of these societies are going to be more trouble than others.
The reason, in my book, that Pig Iron is "allowed" his 'pets' is that he got Oak Cask's Grandsire fair and square. The pony could have died, could have possibly made any other deal, but in the end he sold his life to the dragon in return for not dying. Once that happened, we were no longer dealing with a subject of the Equestria Crown, and it became a legal grey area.
If Celestia wanted, she certainly could zap in there, flay Pig Iron alive and take everything he owned, but then that would be tantamount to war against the draconic hegemony, at best it would be a major embarrassment and at worst there would be bloodshed. She may be a goddess, or she may merely be a princess, but either way she cannot simply ignore the laws and customs of another realm, at least where it pertains to citizens of that realm, without consequences.
Make no mistake, Oak Cask and the rest of his family under the geis are not citizens of Equestria.
Now, any study of slavery would know that at one time, slavery was allowed (almost) everywhere in the British Empire, except on British Shores. Any slave landing in Britain was immediately free. This was a system where the crown was the ultimate power in the land, at least in Britain. My conceit, therefore, is that elsewhere in Greater Equestria does not fall under quite the level of control that the Equestria nearer Canterlot does.
Will it be trouble in the future? Possibly - such a thing might form the basis of other stories in my fanon world. Is it impossible or unlikely? No, I don't think so.
Is Pig Iron kidding himself that his 'pets' are not 'slaves'? Quite probably - as he says, he calls them pets, other dragons might not, and he even admits that 'slaves' is the more correct term.
Yes, the fact that Oak Cask belongs to Pig Iron is not supposed to sit well with you, nor is his use of pet supposed to change your mind.
Remember, Pig Iron's views aren't mine, aren't from our society and aren't going to be agreeable to everyone even within my own story!
243287
I understand all that completely well, I just don't like bad logic.
Oak's ancestor may have traded his life but the fact that it can be put upon his descendents without end or recourse says more than anything.
Bah, this is never going to go over the core of the issue that bothers me given your setting. I have no problem that you chose to write about it; I just feel that you have no done so to your usual level of quality. For what should be a fairly serious point is brushed away without exploring any of critical issues or questions.
For a story that has overall been enjoyable I can deal with a part or two that is flubbed.
243322
Well, the deal was better for the dragon than the pony - honestly, I do not believe I have ever encountered a situation where the children of slaves have not been slaves themselves (not that I have any slaves, mind).
From my history lessons, slaves were often encouraged to breed because hey, free workforce. The fact that they were so often so badly treated, and females did the best they could not to become pregnant, was so visible to the slave-owners that healthy young female slaves often fetched ludicrously high prices when compared to males, and young females were often sold as "good breeding stock", and were expected to have four or five kids by the time they were twenty.
I don't think I've "flubbed" anything, I think I've hit something that you, rightly, disagree with.
A bar run by a dragon?
Awesome.
243399
Where everybody knows your clan!
I adore Pig Iron... even if the whole 'pets' thing sticks in my craw (which, as you've said, it should), but in context, it actually makes SENSE.
... Wonder what Sharptooth thinks of him.
243463
If you want the long(ish) version, Sharptooth would not approve, but would agree that it was actually to the benefit of both ponies and dragons.
It benefits ponies because it makes it that much harder for a pony to have a fatal accident, under the talons of either griffons (who historically have preyed upon horses) or dragons (who historically eat almost anything).
It benefits one dragon in particular directly, and the rest indirectly because - as was stated in the story itself - it helps keep the sometimes-uneasy peace by not giving Celestia a reason to unleash her armies on the dragons. This again benefits Pig Iron as Celestia now, despite how much she hates it, owes him personally.
Celestia can't just stop time and wipe minds - or if she could and did, she would be a worse dictator than any in recorded history. She has an imperfect system setup that she is bound to live by and would not want to hit the reset button on, one way or another. This means avoiding bloodshed, preventing wars, encouraging trade and ensuring happiness to the best of her ability.
She's got time on her hooves to sit and watch how Pig Iron treats the ponies he owns, and is most likely attempting to engineer a way for it to end to the benefit of at least her ponies, if not everybody. She could make a nasty accident happen at any time for Pig Iron, but that would result in far less protection for the ponies, which would require military aid, which would result in increased tensions with the dragons themselves. Far better for her to muscle in on one dragon and make it clear that stepping out of line would result in him being turned into a garden ornament, than to actually make good on that threat.
Sharptooth would see both sides of this, and would both urge Pig Iron to cut down on the number of pets as well as work to keep Celestia from rearranging her garden to fit in another sculpture. It's what he does.
It's the exercising of soft power expertly that marks a competent ruler. Even whilst Pig Iron is legally able to do anything he wants to his 'pets', it should be quite clear to him that should he seriously fall out with the Crown, far worse would happen to him.
Think of him as a mini Arch Duke Ferdinand - not to say he actually will play such a part in this story, but that he could.
243525
So, effectively, Pig Iron, Celestia and Sharptooth are all playing the long game... it's just that Sharpie's playing both ends against the middle, in a diplomatic sense, it seems.
If there's one thing all three have in common, it's plenty of patience for the waiting game.
243587
You remember way back in Chapter 1 when I talked about Chess?
This is... at least four-way Chess, with Chip as an unwitting piece. He's no longer a pawn, but he's still not quite free to make his own moves.
243592
Crap, I do remember... so what's that make him now, a knight? he's certainly not adhering to any particular lines, either horizontal, vertical or diagonal...
243610
Haha! I also remind you I didn't want to bash that imagery over the head of my readers
243673
Hey, it makes sense...
Now THAT is what I call good ol' ''Firewater''
This is probably the best chapter yet, the other chapter being the fare. <3
So is Chip a pony or a dragon.... or a mix of both... for one he is able to eat gems, arsenic, sulfur... etc and not keel over from ingesting them... Yet he has the body of a pony... what actually caused him to be able to eat like a dragon? Was it the general thinking of "I am a dragon now"?
I like the Lockean-influenced perspective of dragons you have there
Sulfur and Arsenic in a drink is good, But I prefer inhaling paint, battery acid, insecticide, industrial solvent, rocket fuel and arsenic in smoke myself.
I get everything you're saying, and I agree that he feelings being stirred up mean you're doing a fantastic job as a writer, though I could tell you that!
I get the whole protection racket aspect, but it still sticks in my craw. The main thig hat got my dander up was Oak's behavior. When he rolled over, not knowing the dragon would kill him, then rolling over and being petted like a damn dog. Now, I'm obviously no pony psychologist( though that would be awesome) but this reeks of Stockholm Syndrome. Again, his is NOT a dog, or cat. This is a living, sentient being. All the posturing in the world, all the rhetoric and justifications and well-wishes in Equestria do NOT change the fact that this dragon has turned a free-willed being into property. I'd wager that you could tell Oak that he could leave scot free right now, and he wouldn't, not even thinking about "protection." Now, you may say its because he was most likely born into slavery, so it's all he knows. But still, some real smart guy said, "It's the will of all intelligent beings to be free." or something like that. Free will is born into us. Now, is it for ponies, who most likely have weaker wills than most humans? We don't know. All I do know is when Oak rolled over like that and let himself be pet while being talked about like he wasn't even there, I felt this overwhelming urge to throw on some Hatebreed or Rage Against The Machine, jump into the story and punch that dragon in the face.
Of course, his all means you're an amazing writer, because oh pissed me off enough to want to punch an imaginary dragon. Two points, good sir!!
243151if she denied the dragons there rights to keep pets within equestria it could be construed as a declaration of WAR. Better to allow them to keep and possibly abuse a few ponys than to cause an international incident.
Man. I love this story. You are doing so wonderfully.
I must say that I love this story...
And, er... I spotted a spelling error. "Chip could only wander what they were hunting, there didn't appear to be much wildlife."
Other than that, top-notch worldbuilding, and I cannot wait to read more!
I have to say, I am utterly amazed with this story. It might not have the epicness of Past sins or Empty Room, but this catches me, your amazeing dragon-pony relationship and this marvelous universe. This is certainly something I am egerly awaiting updates on.
243692
I'm not sure if they're playing chess, chequers, bridge or canasta...
244239
A mixture of both. His adoption made him a dragon, for as long as he wants. So far he hasn't wanted to change that, and changing back probably isn't as simple...
244443
Sounds like a recipe for whizbang, or a drink you'll remember for the rest of your life...
244631
Yeah, getting Oak to leave his owner would be tough. Even should Celestia pronounce them all legally free, you're dealing with a place her powers don't fully reach. I'm glad you get it
245881
drat! caught it!
246295 So if a dragon adopts a griffon or one of the other sentient species as a sone or daughter... then that also makes them a dragon and allows them to eat rocks and gems and highly poisonous chemicals?
246218
thank you!
244290
I'm glad you like it - it's a mixture of both Lockean and, well, quite the opposite - being a dragon is something innate, but it can be gifted and still has to be learned. Spike is similar, in that pony-ness has been gifted to him through his association with Twilight, but he is still a dragon.
246311
Essentially, yes. I am suggesting that, under the influence of magic and with certain magical creatures, what would otherwise be purely physical and mental traits can be passed on by basically willpower alone.
If you've read Mort by Terry Pratchett, you'd recognize it.
It's fun to play with, and forms the backdrop to this story of intrigue and adventure.
With every chapter, your story, and your world grows larger and more interesting. It's like watching a fractal unfold, with every step in his journey, Chip is expanding Equestria for me, filling in what dragons are, what the world is and what wonders exist within it.
Dragons have become scary, wonderful, horrifying, cultured, beautiful and disturbing. You have made of them the sublime.
That you have painted a validity to draconic slavery within this scenario is impressive; only a brilliant writer like you could have managed it in such a small space of words. I am beyond impressed.
Chip's hooves have become magic to me; with every step the universe grows.
246295
Actually, its a cigarette.
I must find this bar.
I've been lurking your (AWSOME) story for a time but lack of time due to work has kept me from commenting.
...
That hasn't changed but this last chapter so deserves a comment that I can do with a glare from my boss just so I can do it :P
The way I see it, this last chapter (and Pig Iron's explanation that has caused such debate) pretty much explains why Sharpie is an Ambassador. His post is needed to mediate situations like the one presented in this chapter where laws from two different nations conflict and a grey area must be found. Admittedly, since Pig Iron is living on Equestrian soil, common wisdom would dictate that he had to observe equestrian laws. Since he does not, I imagine that Celestia sees that so long as the dragon treats his pets decently, this particular aspect helps her keep the peace in the city with the griffons and diamond dogs without needing a significant military presence. I don't know if I agree with it, it's not pretty but it is certainly efficient.
That aside, there's a question I have about a past chapter... Carmine mentions hippogriphs as if there were some sort of stigma placed on them (and their parents I'd imagine)... what is the cause behind this? Equestrians seem a fairly open minded lot, if a bit skittish on first meetings -judging from Zecora's experience- so I'd imagine the problem to be with her parents (she did say her father would never approve). Would that be because he's a pony? or because he's assumed to be a commoner (since I think no one from Tacksworn actually knows Chip is a Baron)? It also made me wonder why were hippogriphs portrayed as monsters (way back several chapters when Chip read about them in a book) if they seem to be sentient and not particularly ugly. Granted, I don't know how you picture them but if you've ever played or seen World of Warcraft's hippogriphs you can imagine my mental picture of them and they look pretty regal all things considered. They just needed to ditch the horns to be perfect... but that's neither here nor there.
Will we be seeing more of Carmine, Thorn and Sharpie in the future? I miss them with Chip since the time he spent with his friends was also a lot of fun to read. Plus, someone needs to clue Sharptooth in to the fact that his son is better protected with huge fire breathing dragon rather than on his lonesome among strangers.
Congratulations on an awesome story both excellently written and very well planned out. The plot is much more complex than I initially suspected and that was a very nice treat.
See you next chapter!
248254
That's a big comment! So many questions, let's see if I can get to them all:
* dragons and obeying Celestia's laws
This comes down to the fact that dragons are big fierce creatures that could raze entire cities to the ground if they so chose. It's not that ponies couldn't deal with them, it's that she'd rather not have the bloodshed that accompanied war.
In Pig Iron's case, he has a legal (for a dragon) right to the slaves he has (technically not Equestrians), and more to the point Celestia is not able to enforce her will in a soft manner (even if she made it illegal, it would still happen, and Oak would still not leave his master) and is unwilling to go to war for it - when the result even through soft means would be a potential increase in pony suffering. So instead, she bides her time.
* seeing Carmine, thorn and Tacksworn again
Semi-spoiler, but yes, you will. I'm starting to track now two locations - Chip, and Tacksworn. If you've read 800 year promise, you'll know Chip does go home (though this universe is separate from that one), the interesting parts are the how and why, and what happens in between.
* Carmine's father not approving of Chip, and hippogriffs as monsters
Well, the first is because Carmine is her father's little princess. It is a father's duty to disapprove of almost any potential suitor, especially if they're not the same species
Having said that, hippogriffs are the offspring between ponies (horses) and griffons. If you consult any bestiary, then for us, both griffons and hippogriffs would be classed as monsters. My conceit in my story is that certain species are naturally occuring, and count as citizens, but crossbreeds are a bit special. Naturally occuring creatures include dragons, griffons, diamond dogs and more.
Non-sentient beasts may count as monsters if they are magical (timberwolves might, cockatrice do) but the sentient offspring between naturally-occuring citizens will technically be classed as monsters if they are crossbreeds - i.e. the draconequus and the hippogriff.
Some communities and citizens may be better accepting of crossbreeds than others, and legally under Equestrian law, any sentient crossbreed offspring would of course be a citizen him or herself, but technicalities are there.
Carmine's hesitation is because she does actually like Chip, she knows her father wouldn't approve, and thinking that far ahead and even considering offspring seems ridiculous to her - and knowing the wording and that it would work is an awkward "did I really just figure that out" moment.
...and yes, Sharptooth is quite capable of being an idiot. He doesn't exactly know the sort of trouble Chip could get himself into alone...
WHY CAN'T I "LIKE" THIS TEN THOUSAND TIMES!?!?
This was an enjoyable chapter, as usually. I have a question, well more like food for thought: If your tracking 72 stories, shouldn't you get at least three or four updates a day? Is it just my internet is broken from giving it to too many author in return for great works...? Maybe *sniff* maybe.
Anyone else in the mood for some beer laced with sulfur and arsenic?
Side effects may include loss of mental control, bad gas, and/or instant death.