The so-called “Tournament of Freedom” was one of the most important civic events in Accipio. Even when tensions between the great clans were highest, even when the clan lords would’ve attacked each other rather than speak publicly, the Tournament went on. That truism proved accurate even now, where the land of Accipio and all that had been accomplished there was buried under feet of ash.
Gina of the Office of Imperial Enforcement, 2nd Seal, had not been kept abreast of developments in the Homeland. As interested as she was to hear what the Emperor’s exploration boats had learned, her own responsibilities were just too important to let herself be distracted. Particularly with the Tournament of Freedom basically stopping civic life for the next three days.
New Scythia filled with the birds of all four surviving clans, but for once there were no accommodations for them and the slaves they brought to compete. So instead they set up camps around the city, meaning enforcers like Gina had much further to go. Her crisp uniform and polished bronze buttons were enough to intimidate most into obedience even if the city watch did not protect her.
Most, but not all. House Valor was as obedient to the law as they had ever been, even if they didn’t always agree with the will of the emperor. But Victory’s birds refused to let her and her enforcers into their camp for nearly six hours, until the city watch was dispatched to force the issue. And Vengeance… most of her friends weren’t even brave enough to enter their camp. Birds affiliated with Virtue had a strange habit of going missing in their new city of Kios.
Gina was obviously not a Virtue bird by birth. Her coat resembled a tiger, with gray stripes on white, instead of the eagle resemblance of Virtue. But Gina still wore the imperial seal on her neck. She had no illusions about what Vengeance intended. But with the first day of the tournament only a day away, someone had to issue competition licenses and inspect their camp. Today, that bird would be her.
Gina had brought friends—not city guards, though she could’ve had them if she wanted. Bringing the watch would just be a painful reminder to Vengeance of the ultimate source of her authority. As much as Gina was loyal to the law first, she also understood the need to be diplomatic. So, she brought her own slaves.
All of them had been personal friends—friends made long ago, following the destruction of house Purity. Two were chief among her slaves—Hogarth the minotaur, who was large and powerful even for one of his kind, and Isabel, her spellcaster. There were a few others. A zebra to pull the cart, a few more wearing guard uniforms.
Gina’s wealth had grown in service to the imperial seal. Nothing near what it had once been, when she had still been an honored citizen of clan Purity. But a free bird could still go far.
As she had expected, the camp of clan Vengeance was a disorderly mess. The ground had turned into a slimy mud-pit across much of the area, making travel between the sloppy tents difficult. The soldiers and citizens milling about often wore nothing at all—far below the respect their stations deserved.
But she wasn’t there to enforce a dress code—there were no laws about fashion. “Take me to the competitors,” she said, leading her small band of slaves and attendants through the camp. “I’m here to issue competition plates.”
And so they did. The slaves didn’t even have tents, or sleeping bags, or anything other than a troth of water and some rations. At least no one had spilled anything in their dusty sleeping area, and it was kept mostly dry.
This wasn’t mistreatment in her eyes, though it was a sign of poverty. Contrary to pony belief, slaves did earn a wage, fixed by law at one tenth the amount a free citizen would be paid for the same work. Seeing the huddled masses of slaves attending today suggested something about the character of the contestants was different this year. These aren’t the well-trained looking for glory. They’re the desperate fleeing for relief.
“Real bunch of wretches this year,” said the guard leading her, his coat reddish and a nasty scar running up his beak. “Doesn’t look good for the clan, you ‘an plainly see.”
“Doesn’t look good for the others either,” Gina answered, though she kept her voice down. She didn’t want the slaves to overhear her agreement. “The others are like this too. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect that the clan lords weren’t allowing their more eligible candidates to compete. But that can’t be happening, can it?”
The soldier shifted uncomfortably, looking away. “Not in our camp. If you’d like to meet with Lord Santiago…”
Gina cleared her throat. “I’m not making an accusation.” She waved him off with one wing. “Looks like there are less than fifty participants here. I should be finished before nightfall.”
The soldier looked relieved—she couldn’t really blame him there. She was here to enforce imperial law—but if she actually found a violation, the public was unlikely to ever learn. Clan lords just paid their fines in private and avoided embarrassment.
“Form a line, you lot!” bellowed Hogarth, his voice carrying easily through the slaves’ assembly grounds. “No jostling, now.” He thumped his cudgel once on the ground for emphasis, and all the slaves scrambled.
They were mostly zebras, though there was a single bird and a few ponies as well. Many were alone—the property of house Vengeance. They would not need their owners with them to attest to their status. But some belonged to citizens of the house, and in that case they had their birds with them. Most looking bored or annoyed to have to stand around in the mud and wait in a slave line.
I wonder if any of them know they could get freedom if they make it far enough north. Of course, most slaves knew that running away wasn’t a good idea. Gina did not relish the idea of trying to recapture slaves that had escaped over the border. There were already complaints, but she always filed them to the bottom of her priorities.
Gina had the law to guide her now.
Her servants set up a portable desk and set out ledgers and the box of competition medallions. Only when everything was finally prepared did Gina sit down.
The bird was at the front of the line, little to her surprise. She tried to look the other way—there was no missing the familiar pattern of his fur, the dark feathers. A displaced son of clan Purity. In theory, all slaves were the same rank—in practice, bird slaves got preferential treatment. They were the ones most likely to earn their freedom. When they did, they could take their friends with them to a better life.
“Name,” she said, not looking up.
“Gaillard,” he said, voice fierce. As though he expected an insult at any moment and was waiting for an excuse to fight.
She didn’t give it to him. “Do you understand the terms of this tournament, Gaillard?”
He glowered down at her notebook. “I know I’m free if I win.”
“Yes,” she repeated. “That’s… part of it. But you could be hurt or killed. Every year there’s an accident or two. You understand you’re taking on those risks freely, and that you may not win? That your owner may choose to release you if your injures make you unable to work?”
Gaillard shrugged one apathetic wing. “See? Free either way. Put my name down.”
She didn’t pick up the quill. “And you haven’t been compelled into this? If you have, I can take you into custody right now, protect you, and bring your case directly to the emperor.”
“No,” Gaillard cut her off. “I wasn’t forced or tricked. Put my name down.”
She did, then offered him a metal disk. “Welcome to the tournament, four-twenty-nine.”
He practically ripped it out of her claw, lifting the little chain around his neck.
Hogarth thunked his cudgel down loudly, only a foot or so away from the bird. “Move along, friend. Before you say something you regret.”
Gaillard looked like he might object—but apparently he thought better of it, because he turned sharply away and went back to where he’d been loafing.
Gina went through the same procedure with two dozen others, all of which were more polite. A few asked questions, inquiring about the specific prizes being offered this year or the consequences for defeat. A few even decided better of the competition and were dragged away by Vengeance guards to immediately resume their duties. The tournament’s exemption from work didn’t apply to those who weren’t going to compete.
There was only one troubled case. She could tell the instant she saw the way a particularly angry-looking bird dragged an earth pony by a spiked chain around his neck—the only thing compelling the pony to obey. Were it not for those spikes, an earth pony could easily outpull a griffon on the ground. Gina couldn’t tell which of them was angrier.
“One for the tournament,” said the bird, as though placing an order at a kebob stand. “His name is Kelee.”
Gina acted as though she couldn’t even hear him. She ignored his insistent stance, instead meeting the eyes of the slave. “Kelee, is that right?” She didn’t actually write it down, though. She could already tell how this was going to go.
He nodded, tugging once at the chain around his neck.
“He’s mute,” the bird squawked at her. “He knows the rules and wants to fight, just put him down and I can get out of here.”
Gina gestured with her claws, and her unicorn stepped forward, aiming her horn at the bird.
“Drop that chain, citizen. Right now.”
He made as if to yank it again, hard. Isabel was faster, severing the end of it with a flash of power that melted links and splashed the bird with a little molten metal. Hogarth stepped up, getting in his way before he could touch the chain.
“Don’t move,” Gina said, turning back to Kelee. “Now, slave. Have you been in any way compelled to this position?”
He didn’t move, only glanced to one side, past the minotaur to where his master was glaring daggers at him.
“If you have been,” Gina went on, “I will immediately take you into imperial custody.”
“Yes!” he exclaimed, his voice raspy with disuse. “Yes, obviously!”
Gina snapped her claws together, and Hogarth lifted the bird up like an angry sack of potatoes. “Your behavior has been witnessed by an imperial enforcer. Your property is hereby ordered confiscated.” She ignored his screams—screams of vengeance, promises of what he would do to the slave, then her when he was finished.
“I only wish there was a harsher punishment.” Gina glowered at him, then gestured again. Hogarth threw him across the field, so hard that he soared past half the line before landing with a splash of mud.
“Wait by my cart,” Gina instructed, her voice softening. “You are still a slave. But you’ll find the imperial house isn’t so harsh a master.” She looked over her shoulder. “Isabel, get him a regular collar.”
Eventually every one of the slaves who wished to compete had been given their medals, and it was time to pack things up. Gina retreated as Isabel began levitating all the accoutrements of her temporary scribe station back into the various cases, walking away to wait.
“Imperial enforcement,” said a voice from beside her. “A pleasure to see you in my camp.”
Gina turned, then immediately lowered her head in a polite bow. More would be expected if she weren’t on imperial business—but while she wore that seal, she was required to show only cursory respect. “Lord Santiago. Yes, I’ve finished my work for the evening. Every one of your contestants has been entered into the rolls, unless there are more slaves somewhere else.”
“No, this is it.” The new Lord Vengeance was much like his father—handsome, intelligent, and extremely dangerous. Also tactless. “I know most of them don’t have much of a chance. My father and I normally spend a great deal to recruit and train the best, but… under the circumstances…” He let that dangle for a minute. Nevermind that half of the slaves seemed to be listening, albeit covertly.
Gina could only imagine how crushing it must be to hear the one bird in all the world who should’ve had faith in them say ‘they don’t have much of a chance.’ But it wasn’t her place to reprimand. “I’m sure every slave here is eager to bring honor to your clan,” she said instead, voice stiff. She glanced once over her shoulder, but Isabel wasn’t finished packing yet.
“Eager is one word for it.” Santiago stopped beside her, surrounded by his small retinue of guards. They looked far better-armed than the camp peacemakers who had escorted her, though none had firearms.
But do they have illegal guns stashed away in Kios I wonder. Thankfully, Gina hadn’t been sent to enforce that particular provision of the treaty. Eventually enforcers would have to make it out to the ancillary settlements. Once that happened, the true power of the crown would be decided.
It seemed unlikely Gina would be the one.
But she shouldn’t get lost in thought. Santiago was still speaking. “I know you can’t reveal confidential information—but surely you can give me an idea. The other clans, are they much better off? I wouldn’t think they would have the time for this any more than we do.”
“They don’t,” Gina said. “Not Valor, not anyone. The Tournament of Freedom might be returning to an earlier age.” An age before politics had gotten involved, and the honor and reputation of the clans. Back when it had been a chance for any slave who dared to earn their freedom through blood. Back when slaves had died by the dozen in each tournament.
But those had been less civilized times. Also, they’d been before the professional army. In previous years, even those who didn’t win might still end up with a chance to earn their freedom in military service. But not this year. Nobody’s hiring soldiers.
“Yes, an earlier age”. Santiago turned away from her, making a clicking sound with his beak. “Back when we hunted rabbits and fought over mates. How delightful.”
There was a brief, awkward silence. “I take it you have found everything to your satisfaction, enforcer?”
She nodded. “The Crown is pleased at your obedience, Lord Santiago. Only one from your house attempting to force a slave into the event, and he has been punished accordingly.” She gestured over her shoulder, where the bulky earth pony now stood beside her slaves, awkward and uneasy. “Good luck to you and yours in the tournament.”
“You hear that?” Santiago called over his shoulder. “At least someone wishes you luck. Best enjoy it, it’s the only sympathy you’ll get.” He left without another world.
Gina wasn’t attacked on her way out of the camp of house Vengeance, despite the rumors. The most her little caravan got were angry glares, and most of those were from Gaillard. “Good luck, clan brother,” she whispered to herself, once they were back on the trail into New Scythia. “I hope you will win your freedom tomorrow.”
She could only hope there wouldn’t be many ponies around to watch.
Next Chapter: There were many ponies around to watch.
Mmmhmm. Equestria totally has slavery in another form. Sure...it's exactly like this. The emperor's son is full of shit. That or unbelievably naive when it comes to the very practices he says are perfectly fine.
Ponies are REALLY not going to like this.
8716478
Far more accurate to say that it's nice and ripe and juicy at first, but it'll rot in your mouth the moment you bite into it.
They don't even seem to be trying to hide that they've still kept pony slaves if an actual enforcer of the emperor has a unicorn slave and no comment at all on the pony slaves in front of her.
Since that's against the terms of their agreement, there'll surely be fireworks back in Equestria if one of those slaves wins their freedom in the competition and brings the story back with them...
I'm more curious on how GILDA will see this.
God I hope she sees the tournament. The best AND worst of the birds at the same time.
8730623
They have not broken any parts of the agreement it said they can not keep ponies slaves if they enter equestria but the land they were given is not considered equestria.
Didn't they give up their pony and ponylike slaves?
Author mistake or intentional inclusion?
8730654
Not a mistake. Intentional "diplomatic" interpretation of the treaty from earlier. It's probably not hard to predict what ponies will think about this interpretation once they discover it.
8730649
Oh ho. Clever rules lawyering on their part.
That being said, this bit of trickery is very likely to backfire on them -- if nothing else, it's not going to do their image in Equestrian eyes any favors. There isn't a lot of appeal in making deals and treaties with people who have proved themselves willing to twist their way past the spirit of their agreements while sticking to the word by technicalities, so that they can continue to do what they agreed not to.
...You know, I know you're probably trying to show culture clash and differing values and whatnot, but honestly? The more I see of your griffons the more I think they should all have been buried in lava.
8730787
Not far off from what Nightmare Moon wanted...
8730838
So, yeah, the sun thing always bugged me. Celestia is needed to raise the sun, but to the sun is always raising somewhere, 24 hours a day. So wouldn't that mean Celestia shouldn't be able to sleep at all, because she needs to be continuously raising the sun somewhere...
Which is why I believe there is more then one creature controlling the sun.
8730897
If it were, then the cycle wouldn't be so heavily disrupted almost every time the two were indisposed. We've even had a moment where night and day were in the sky at the same time. Not the sun and moon, but night and day.
Equestria's cosmology be wack yo.
8730897
More than a few stories have used the idea that it's a satellite that needs regular upkeep. Daily or otherwise.
8730897
The Sun is Pinkie Pie
Just accept it... it's for the best
8730984
My headcanon is that it is tied in with Discord. He caused it all those years ago that the Sun and Moon needed to be manually moved along their paths. Before the reign of Discord, the sun & moon moved on their own naturally
So the Griffins better hope they never end up as villians toward the ponies. Non pony villians have a very poor track record when it comes to being redeemed and forgiven for such transactions.
It goes with my idea that all ponies are good at their core. They just get lost and need to be lead back.
Every pony villian has gotten better. (Starlight, Trixie, Luna, Sunset, Tempest, Stygian)
While every non pony hasn't. (Crystalis, Sombra, Tirek, The Darkness, StormKing, Sirens)
Discord only has part of a pony body part, so he's only good part of the time. Having been turned to stone again and having betrayed them.
Hmm. Remember everyone. For future seasons, if the villian is a pony, they're going to get reformed quickly. If they are not a pony, they're not going to get reformed or its going to take a hell of a long time.
Might be why they don't get punished. Celestia knows all her little ponies are good at heart and its kind of like they are all her children. And punishing somepony who has found their way back home accomplishes nothing except create more resentment. DWK said it best when he said 'Celestia is Equestria's Mom'.
Wow, these griffons are almost all scum. Even Gina, the best of the lot this chapter, is just another slaver. I know Equestria is busy keeping everyone safe and fed from the effects of the volcano, but there needs to be a reckoning. I'm sure it was mentioned that Celestia was the only reason the ponies didn't fall to conquest like every other race. Whether that was due to her raw power alone or in combination at the head of an army, there are now 4 adult alicorns and a presumably Equestria friendly Discord, not to mention skilled ponies such as Starlight and Shining Armor. A show of force would not be unwarranted here, at least in direction of one of these clans. Nice chapter.
Hmmmm... I smell some clash in the future. Most likely between some of the slave-owning griffons and Oh-so-holy-ponies.
Also: Wow... Plenty of griffon hate in comment's ... Sure not all of them are nice, but neither are all of ponies... So much for friendliness/friendship toward non-ponies I guess...
8730831
that would mean something worse might then rise up, due to power wacuum.
I'm a bit surprised that Celestia hasn't tried to buy pony slaves from them. Although most griffons are likely to be smart enough to realize that labourers are soon to become more valuable than gold, she should at least have made such offer.
8731526
Slavery deserves neither tolerance nor acceptance. The opposite, if anything.
8731785
Oh, I agree on that. Just hoping the slavery could be removed more peacefully, and without no-one dying on any side, so they all could just concentrate on surviving the supreme volcanic aftermath. And without it seeming kinda of racist/bashing on anything/anyone from any side.
Huh; I thought that there was was mention of all ponies being released from slavery as part of the treaty? Did I misremember that part, or has it simply not been enforced yet?
trough. English is a stupid language.
8732056
Twilight does that by destroying the other timelines. To restorevthe first timeline, she has to destroy the new one. So they are both guilty of it. 😈
8731200
Shining Armor and Starlight are both incredible spellcasters. Sure, he's not nearly as versatile as she is, but protecting an entire city, even when asleep, and even when being drained... impressive.
I hear Equestria also has this small, multi-tribal group of special agents used to get things done when Celestia orders it. They say those agents pose as a hamless band of plucky young mares. We know better, though.
Maybe it was the spiked collar, but this actually kind of felt like a postapocalyptic tribal scene ala Mad Max... which for the griffons and most of the rest of the planet, I guess it is.
8733484
Hah, true. I just tend to consider them civilians, despite all of the bullshit they've powered through over the years.
8732669
Eyup. Terrible horses them.
8730897
From what we have seen in the show, I don't think Equestria is on a world with any kind of orbital cosmology. Remember, when both the sun and moon were in the sky, the result was the sky literally being divided between day and night with a sharp line dividing the two.
8733829
Think of the countless ponies that ceased to exist because Twilight put her timelines well being ahead of theirs. Six times over.
8735057
I would prioritize my community over the communities of people half a world away. They aren't less than me, but that wouldn't stop me from doing anything to protect those around me. Besides, those timelines were wrong. They were created out of an attempt to change the course of history, so there is less harm in destroying the altered timelines than simply letting the original continue to exist. That and it is impossible to say for certain what happened to those timelines. Whether they always existed and were simply visited, or if they were actually created and actually destroyed.
8738148
Still doesn't change the fact that their were countless ponies born in those timelines that won't exist now because of Twilight. Let's say you were a pony who was only born because that particular timeline played out. Try to justify to that pony why you're erasing them because, to them, that is the correct timeline.
Starlight only did that to one Universe. Twilight did it to six.
8738272
The people and events around me and in my community mean more to me than every other community combined. I would do anything to protect them, and if that includes completely eliminating a timeline (especially one that should not exist in the first place), then so be it. Besides, never having existed is much different than dying.
8730804
Actually, thinking about this some more... imagine what would happen if Celestia gets wise to these shenanigans and sends Princess I-love-lists Sparkle to write the next treaty.
I don't think the Griffons know who they'd be dealing with.
8746782
Might go like it did when Yakyakistan declared war...
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/156225392200515584/415557137175937024/ce70500cd4cd9c3b15d2453c365e8a47--comic-party-mlp-comics.jpg
8747811
Nah. Everyone can just go smash things. The Yaks are experts at it even. No, you beat them in the arena of words. If the Griffons wish to be so pedantic about the meaning of the treaty they signed, they should get the pleasure of negotiating with Princess Bookhorse. Twilight will write them a nice list of what that treaty entails, and they'll be happy to sign it before having read it all simply because their eyes are bleeding and they start hearing voices just from trying.
It has already been stated that all murder turkeys must release Pony slaves when they entered the land. We now have proof that house vengeance has already broken the treaty and none of the murder turkeys is going to do anything about it. This is going downhill fast. So much for grypbon honor and following their word. It is already apparent none of that actually matters to them, except MAYBE the king.
I thought the treaty stated all pony slaves were to be freed
9785141
When was that decided? I thought the rule was that only birds without slaves could conduct business outside of the accipio refugee zone, not that they had to free them.