═ The ══════════
Ambassador's
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Chapter Nineteen
Wheels Within Wheels
An MLP:FiM Fanfiction by Midnight Shadow
"You want to what?" hissed Silver Chalice, eyes wide and fastened onto the large yellow and scaly forms that were currently stuck in what was left of the doorway.
"I want to make you my slaves, but I promise I'll let you go when this is all over," said Chip, his eyes also not leaving the two dragons who were forcing their way into the basement, overturning piles of clothes and boxes of junk as they came.
"How dare you suggest... that's crazy! Why?"
"Because those two," Chip nodded his head at the dragons, "have a contract to kill you, and I'm not convinced I can stop them. Unless you belong to me. Or do you think you can take them?"
"Both of them?"
"I could probably kill one," Chip said off-hoofedly, eyes never leaving the advancing yellow menace. Snorting, he shrugged himself out of his leather saddlebags and pawed a hoof at the two other dragons.
Silver blanched, the items he still held fast in his magical field dipping slightly as he flinched in fear. "I don't think I'd want to try."
"Then..." Chip hung his head, looking at the ground for a moment before he fastened a steely gaze back on the dragons, "submit."
"How?" Sunshine asked, her small voice quavering with fear from behind her sire's legs. She darted out and took Chip's saddlebags, squeezing herself into them and fleeing back as far out of harm's way as possible.
"I don't know!" Chip wailed, "But it's the only chance you've got."
"I know. If you'll let me help." called a new voice, rough and deep.
Chip raised his head and looked behind the group, into the tunnel, where it had come from. It was a voice that caused Silver Chalice to prance and put himself between his daughter and the bearer.
"Pig Iron?" Chip called uncertainly, "What are you doing down there?"
"I heard through the grape vine that you had run into a little trouble, young dragon. I came to help, and to apologize." the voice echoed back, cordially.
"For what?" Chip asked, glancing back and forth, calling to the as-yet unseen newcomer.
"You know... whoever or whatever that is?" Silver Chalice asked, ears flattened against his skull.
"That's Pig Iron," hissed Chip, "a friend of mine. A dragon."
"I'd say if that's a friend, then I'd hate to meet your enemies, but..."
"Yeah, you worked for one."
"A good reason to stay on your good side, I'd say."
Chip laughed, weakly, as the former butler smiled wryly. "You could say that." Chip briefly turned, still backing up, and called back down the corridor, "For what?"
"Well, I heard you had a run-in with some whizbang. Where'd you think it was purchased? I'm terribly sorry. When I heard who it was for, I decided to make it up to you. It looks like I was just in time, too." Pig Iron, when he came into view, was limping slightly and one wing was torn, "Apparently I had quite a bit of making up to do. On the plus side, I now own some of those gem-eyed darlings I was talking about." He laughed, scratching at a scab and flicking it away with a torn scale or two.
"Oh?" Chip couldn't take his eyes off the two dragons, now. They were close now, eyes fixated on the two ponies behind him, but they'd momentarily stopped their advance.
"It's amazing what a brush with death will do for the soul. It makes some think that little things like liberty are worth a lot less than breathing."
"I can't say I agree with you," Silver Chalice said, snarling.
"And yet here we are." Pig Iron smirked, "and you're preparing to do just that."
"I would never-"
"Pig Iron," Chip growled, a flicker of green fire dancing around his muzzle, "lay a paw on my friends and you will regret it."
Pig Iron threw up his paws, one of which was bleeding from what looked like bites, "Hey, they're beautiful specimens, but I know they're not for sale. More's the pity."
"Are you going to help me or what?" Chip grumbled, stomping a hoof. "I promise, I'll let you guys go just as soon as this is over, but until then... it's the only way I can think of to keep you safe, from monsters like them!" Suddenly, Chip leaped at the pair of dragons, catching one with the bolas on his tail and striking the other with his metal-clad hooves. They yowled and screeched, breathing fire that bathed the room in heat and light. The flames caught the clothing and other junk easily, sending crackling sparks towards the ceiling, which was rapidly turning black and starting to bubble. "Quickly! Decide!"
Pig Iron fixed the two unicorns with a steady gaze, "I can only say he's right. There are two ways to do this, and he's a little... busy."
Chip bellowed as he fought, a roar that caused the two unicorns to flinch. The pony-shaped dragon kicked his forehooves and struck one of the pair, turning his head as he breathed first in and then out - a gout of green flame spewed over the other, causing it to roar in retaliation and swipe a claw, throwing Chip off and gouging rivulets through his armour.
Pig Iron appeared non-plussed, "You have to repeat this after me, but say it at him." The dragon pointed with a claw, "And you have to mean it! I will tell you now, you are giving your life to him. All you have is his word he will let you go - he will be under no such geas, unlike you. For you, it is life long."
"I trust him." squeaked Sunshine, fearfully.
"And I will not abandon my little princess."
Pig Iron nodded, and said a few short phrases in a scratchy, guttural tongue. The ponies repeated it, stumbling a little. Pig Iron held up a claw for silence, and said another few phrases. Again he was copied. They hesitated, a little, but Pig Iron nodded, and took a breath to utter the next set of phrases.
Sunshine whimpered, mid-repetition, as Chip was thrown clean through a support post that also happened to be on fire. He groaned and stood up, and charged back into the fray.
Pig Iron said one last phrase, and then shouted out to Chip, "Do you agree? Do you take them"?
"I do! I do!" Chip shouted, and he gasped as something unseen washed over him. For a moment, everything stopped. He dropped to the floor, the two dragons growling in dissatisfaction.
Silver Chalice hissed and jinked sideways, looking at his hips, "Ow! What did you..."
"Ah, good, good. Come here, little one, you too... let me check." Pig Iron gently but firmly turned Sunshine' body so he could see her flanks. He nodded, satisfied, and let her go.
"What! What is he doing?" Silver bared his teeth at Pig Iron, who held up his paws again.
"Your cutie marks," Chip answered, "they're mine, now. They display my family's clan design."
Silver looked at his daughter's cutie mark. Chip was right. The tea-set was unchanged, but on the side of each piece was a new image, a strange sigil like an intricate diamond. A quick glance at his own hips verified that his mark, too, was the same.
The dragons snarled, and looked at each other. There followed a quick-fire round of guttural snarling that apparently passed for speech, before one of them turned to Chip, throwing him to the floor and knocking his breath out. "There are contracts still valid, Diamond. Don't think you are safe."
One of the two dragons spat, and he set fire to more of the basement before hurling one more final gob of liquid flame, and left. The other quickly followed suit. There was an ominous rumble, and the smoke and flames burst down from the floor above. The mansion was not only ablaze, it was collapsing around them.
"I suggest, Chiphoof, that we get as far away from here as possible. Come on, I have some ponies I want you to meet." There was another crash as the roof near the stairs fell in, obscuring them from view. "It's not like you have much choice."
Chip stood in the archway to the basement as his friend and his slaves trotted down into the darkness. He was breathing heavily, mostly unaffected by the smoke. Limping slightly, he turned and followed them.
With a practiced flick of his tail, he shattered the supports. Weakened, the entrance collapsed. They were sealed in.
♦♦♦
The tunnel was dark, lit only by Chip's green flames that still flickered around his muzzle, and the softly glowing horn of Silver the unicorn. The walls were no longer shored up with wood, but seemingly hewed from solid rock. They were oddly smooth, as if melted, and the solid rocky floor was uneven with the ruts made from many hooves passing.
Chip was breathing hard and trembling, still worked up from the fight. His lip was bleeding and one eye was bruised and swelling. He had some rake-marks from his stifle to his flank, where the haunch-plate hadn't quite protected him enough, but he held himself high. He'd held off two relatively-mature dragons. And survived. Intact. He'd technically been winning. Most of that may have been due to their general unwillingness to injure the son of a dragon-lord, but still...
Silver Chalice walked behind his daughter, who walked between the two. His horn was lit up to carry his new master's box of personal belongings as well as his own. The soft silver glow danced lithely around as they moved. He'd sold himself into slavery, but he'd done it to protect his daughter. He guessed best intentions often led to some pretty dark places. He hadn't guessed they would be literally dark, though.
"Chip?"
"Address him as Master." informed Pig Iron, nonchalantly. They were new slaves, after all, and couldn't be expected to know all the formalities.
"Just call me Chip. What?"
"I... need to tell you something."
"Letting your slaves talk back to you is bad for morale.." chided Pig Iron. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
"Really not helping, Pig Iron. What, Silver?"
"This concerns you, too, Sunshine. Years ago, I was in the guard. The nightguards. I guess I thought the bat wings would look good on me."
"You're not a pegasus." Chip said, flatly.
"Indeed, I was rather young and stupid and didn't really think things through. Anyway, I... was eventually sent on a diplomatic mission."
"So?"
"...With the Baroness Anthracite Irontail."
Chip was subdued as they walked, hooves echoing down the long corridor. "Carry on."
"Daddy?" Sunshine whispered.
"We were sent on a long trip to an amazing, faraway land. There were griffons there, by the thousands. It was hot, dry, and so very, very sunny. The days were long, the evenings longer. I was required to be near her, every day, all day. I guarded her at night as I watched over her in the day. The mission lasted for months. I don't really remember. What I do remember... is her."
"What happened?" asked Chip softly, though he felt he knew.
"Something that probably shouldn't have."
"You slept with Baroness Irontail?"
"And for it, I lost my job."
Chip stopped, looking back over his shoulder, first at Silver Chalice, and then down at Sunshine Filigree. "Go on."
"I was honourably discharged almost immediately from the guard when we returned. I was forced to wander Equestria, penniless and virtually destitute. There are surprisingly few jobs available for an ex-nightguard. That is the price one pays for dalliances with the upper crust and a mare of means. Eventually, I found my way to Stalliongrad, and a house, with big iron gates and a crest that I recognized. She was... gravid. It was late in her pregnancy, and the foal had not yet dropped, but the signs were visible. I signed on as her personal attache, and helped her run her business and her estate."
"What happened then?" Chip asked, stopping resolutely. Pig Iron hung back, silently observing for once.
"What do you think happened? She gave birth. I, we... persuaded a mare to be seen leaving our daughter on the steps of the mansion, I was suitably chastised for my infidelity and it was let known that this had been the reason for my disgrace. I cared not, I had my darling Sunshine. With her, no day was ever cloudy again." Silver Chalice smiled down at Sunshine Filigree, whose eyes were wide with shock. Chip could see the smile, even in the darkness.
"And we took the foal in. From then on, she was my princess."
Chip brightened, smiling, "Do you know what this means? It means I have a cousin!"
"And... I guess I finally know who mummy was, don't I?" Sunshine added, sadly.
"You do, princess. I'm sorry she could never tell you. She meant to, but... it was for the best, until you were older. We thought so, at least, and then... she died."
"She was murdered before I got to call her Mommy! She wa-was murdered by Py-Pyrite and-" Sunshine hoof-stomped, tears in her eyes.
"And look what happened to him," Silver chided softly, "look where his hate and jealousy took us."
"I don't want to lose you too, I couldn't-" Sunshine looked over at Chip, and gasped, "not that, I mean, uh..."
"At least I knew them both, for a while. That's why... I couldn't let those dragons hurt you. You're all I have." Chip looked so forlorn that Sunshine nuzzled him, gently. He nuzzled her back, "You're safe now. Both of you. Actually, I want to help make that clearer. Silver, can you take this neck-piece off? And my wither-guards?"
Silver Chalice nodded, placing the other objects he was floating around his head on the ground. With a few deft manipulations, the two pieces of armour were removed.
"I want the neck piece to go to Sunshine, and I want you to have the wither-guards. You're going to stay with Pig Iron, who owes me, until this all blows over. He will look after you as if you were his."
Pig Iron nodded his assent.
"Now wait just a-"
"No," Chip said, shaking his head and mane, "you will go with Pig Iron, when we get out of here, and he will look after you. Please," Chip's voice was strained, "don't make me make you."
"You can do that?" Silver's voice was hoarse, worried.
"I own you," Chip said, remembering Oak Keg. He opened up his leather box and placed all of Silver's belongings inside it before closing it up again. He hoofed it over to the unicorn, smiling sadly and gesturing for Silver to lift it, "I can do anything."
♦♦♦
There hadn't been much talking since the last pause in the tunnel. Chip had wandered on ahead of Silver and Sunshine. Sunshine walked behind him, Silver brought up the rear. Chip swore he could feel the glare of the unicorn boring into his skull.
"The first few weeks are the hardest, Chip. They'll get used to it."
"I don't want them to get used to it!"
Pig Iron scratched himself, easing a wing out and back as if massaging it. There was a faint pop as it stretched and Pig Iron visibly relaxed, "You weren't listening, were you?"
"Listening to what?"
"There are still contracts out. On you."
"Me?"
"And your father."
"Is that what my late uncle was doing down here?"
"Judging by the trouble I had on the way in, yes. We're almost there, now. This tunnel will open up in a second to-"
The dragon was correct, the seemingly endless tunnel did indeed end, and was replaced with a gigantic cavern that did a far better approximation of forever than mere open sky ever could. It was daunting; as Pig Iron summoned a large glowing ball of magelight that he sent upwards, the scale of the thing became visible.
"We're under the Howling Mountains, now, in the Under Deep. This is dragon country, always has been. For millenia, before Equestria even, we dragons were here. Those ponies that came to inhabit our lands... we tolerate them and their presence, but occasionally we demand our dues."
Pig Iron whistled, once, and waited. He didn't have to wait long. A small group of gem-eyed ponies, smaller and stockier than Silver or Sunshine, hustled up to the dragon, seemingly both eager and very reluctant to approach him.
"Ah, my pets, I am glad to see you have recovered from our brief altercation before. Now, how do we greet our new master? Hmm?"
One by one, the ponies fell to their front hooves, inclining their heads to the floor. Chip, embarrassed and slightly revolted, looked away.
"That's right, well done! Up you get now, up. Tell me, my pretties, who was the contract for? For whom did you think fighting a dragon was worth?"
There was a lot of shuffling of hooves, and finally an earth pony spoke up, her voice soft, "We don't know who we were working for. We were to-told it would mean we wo-would no longer have to fight for the Under Deeps. The diamond dogs would be gone."
"Ah, they sold you dreams," Pig Iron said, shaking his head, "I don't think-"
"Actually," Chip spoke up, "I think that's what this is all about. My parents... I... Sharptooth supposedly has a map, I don't know what it leads to, but... whatever it was, the diamond dogs must have wanted it enough to... to... to kill my parents for Pyrite."
Pig Iron growled, "Then wheels are in motion, Chip, I fear I cannot help you much more." The dragon looked at the ground around him, idly stroking the ears of his new pets. They were still fearful of him. He murmured to them softly, calming them for a few moments. Brief flashes of magefire burst from his clawtips as he healed their various cuts and scrapes. The first few were balking, but soon they gathered round for his ministrations. "These ponies, dragon, are used to a master. All they have are dreams..."
"So?" Chip asked impatiently, when a longer pause yielded no continuation of the sentence.
"So, dreams are powerful. They drive creatures to do wonderful, terrible things. If you stand between somebody and their dreams, you had better be ready for trouble." Pig Iron looked worried.
"Then take good care of my family. I have to get back to Tacksworn! If whatever ponies Pyrite was working with decide to cause trouble by looking for whatever this map is there, I have to stop it."
"And if they're following you, they won't be following your slaves."
"I'm a dragon, I can take care of myself. They're just ponies, I can't let them get into trouble. That's kind of what Sharptooth did, I see that now."
"Now just a minute here!" Silver protested, "I was in the guard!"
"And now you have a daughter, my cousin. I'm responsible for you until I see this ended." Chip stomped a hoof, "I lost my parents, I won't lose her. Or you."
"I shall take care of them as if they were my very own." Pig Iron said.
"Put them to work in your bar, where you can keep an eye on them."
"I will not-"
Chip turned on Silver, "You will. You will follow his orders as if they were mine because they may just save your life, and if he dares abuse that privilege, it will cost him his."
Pig Iron raised an eye-ridge, but said nothing.
Chip carried on, "This is the way it works, Silver. I'm sorry, but it has to be like this. I don't know what is out there, and you're only safe with Pig Iron. You will submit."
Silver bared his teeth, snarling, lashing his tail. His horn glowed in fits and spurts as if he were trying to use it. He probably was. Sweat beaded on his brow, he tried to nicker and lunge, but couldn't. Eventually, some force he could not resist bore him down, down, down, until his stomach was on the floor. Panting, he lay on his side, raising his legs so his belly was exposed. He shuddered, weeping, trying to spit out the words, "I'll kill you!" but not managing it.
"Please," Chip said, lips quivering, "I don't want to do this."
"Then don't!" Silver spat, immobile and supplicant.
"Daddy!" Sunshine screamed, "Let him go, Chip! I trusted you! You don't have to do this!"
"I have to! You have to! Pig Iron, tell them!" Chip sounded desperate.
"The young master speaks the truth, my little ponies. If you care for your hides, especially for your pretty daughter, Silver Chalice, was it? If you care for her, you will do as Chip says. I promise, my word to you is my bond, I will look after you as if you were my own. Would it help... would it help if I showed you what that means?"
"Rise," Chip said, turning away. He felt bile in his throat, and deep disgust. He couldn't look back at Silver or Sunshine, the latter had a heart-breakingly angry look on her muzzle. He looked at the floor, despondant.
"I want to show someone to you, to all of you. Truth be told," Pig Iron laughed, scratching his head and turning to Chip, "I want to give someone to you."
Chip choked, "What?"
"Meet Hairpin, Hairpin Turn. She's one of my best flyers. Not the fastest, but a fine strong mare. And now, she's yours."
"You what?" asked Chip, shouting, his voice echoing from the distant walls. "I don't want-"
Pig Iron whistled, and a few minutes later a silver-grey pegasus with a golden mane trotted into view. Her blue eyes shone even in the gloom, and the lightning bolt twirling around three white clouds on her flank spoke of her prowess in the air.
"Meet hairpin turn, she's one of my favourites. I'll miss her, but she's yours."
"I... wait... I set her free! I don't want any more-"
The pegasus snorted, and rattled off some very precise-sounding words in Old Draconic, abasing herself before Chip.
"What did you just-"
Pig Iron laughed, and tousled the mane of the pegasus, "She's also smart."
"My master is not pleased?" she said, soft tone of voice belying her quick manner.
"But, I... how did she..?"
"She knows draconic spells, Chip, so you're not going to get rid of her that easily. I suggest you quit trying. She was excited when I told her she'd be the personal slave of the scion of a real dragon lord's clan."
The pegasus snorted, flicking her mane out of her eyes, "I can't say I was expecting you, but... are you really a dragon-lord?"
"No."
The pegasus made a moue of annoyance.
"My father is though." Chip finished.
"A bonafide dragon lord. I can dig it. I'll be very pleased to... serve my new master, in any way he desires." The pegasus trotted around Chip, flicking her tail across his muzzle and batting her eyelids.
Chip gulped, and rolled his eyes, "I can see why you wanted shot of her."
Pig Iron's maw lolled open in a draconic smile, "She grows on you, but you need her. In truth, she is rather a lot to handle, but she's quick, clever, and strong... and I do owe you for all the trouble."
"Pin, tell these nice ponies what fun it is working for a dragon."
"You expect me to take the word of a slave about how wonderful it is to be one?" Silver snorted with derision.
"I can make her tell the truth, Silver," Chip still couldn't look at his friend, let alone meet his gaze.
"Silver, was it? Lemme tell you, I've been all over Equestria, and there ain't nothing better than this. Griffons, dragons, diamond dogs, ain't nopony tangling with a dragon's pet. I get free drinks, the best service, the best food. The perks... ain't no beating the perks."
"Pet. Slave. Traitor."
"I've said I'll let you go!" Chip wailed.
"When it comes time, you may not want your freedom."
"That's what I'm worried about," Silver growled.
"So, you believe me now? Pig Iron will look after you, keep you safe?"
"I do, master," Silver spat, "but I will not thank you for it."
"I know," Chip hung his head, "but I care about you. I can't lose you."
"Does that mean you won't be able to free us, when it's time?"
"I hope not," Chip whispered, "because that's not what I want to be."
"Come," Pig Iron said, after bidding farewell to his gem-eyed pets, "we have to head to the surface. From here, it's easy. We're not going to learn anything more from my new pets, but I'll be keeping an eye on them. If anything comes up, I'll send it via dragon-mail. We have to head back down to Stalliongrad, to get you on your way."
"I need to get to Tacksworn, and fast!"
"Well, I don't have enough pegasi for a charriot, and I'm not sure you'd be safe in the skies if there are more dragons after you. Accidents happen, after all, but there is one way for you to get where you need to get to."
"And that is?"
"The postal service. My girl... sorry, your girl, is one of the best couriers in Equestria. She knows all the routes, knows all the stops, knows all the teamsters. Get on the mail train, it goes all the way down. We're headed for the train station."
♦♦♦
Another wonderful chapter, really curious to see Sharptooth's reaction to all of this
The master/servant relationship is strange, but I like how your fleshing it out a bit more.
Still don't quite approve, as it seems to devalue ponies heavily, but there it is...
Hairpin Turn hun? Oh lord, a randy pegasus.
Looks up 0_0
My god you have become one with the page i salute you
Great chapter.
Also I really like the replaced FimFiction logo with Sharptooth (unless it's some other large green dragon in this story).
Chip gulped, and rolled his eyes, "I can see why you wanted shot of her."
Did I miss something here? My brain can't parse this.
Awsome chip gota hot new slave
"A bonafide dragon lord. I can dig it. I'll be very pleased to... serve my new master, in any way he desires."
You can praticaly see Chip chewing his lower lip there.
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...When a stallion impregnates a mare, it is called servicing. If you don't know what the big words mean, ask your parents
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It's not really there to be admired, it's a part of dragon society as I see it. It harkens back to ancient Greece or Rome (mostly Greece) where slavery was a normal part of society. There, if a master were to mistreat a slave, it would be the very height of bad manners, and would not end well for the citizen in business or social life. Slaves could own property, and indeed deal with his or her master with that business, but the master owned the slave. The very life of the slave was held in the master's hand, yet whilst he could kill the slave for any reason, it was a very poor decision to behave like that.
This is how it is for dragons - and whether you agree or not, Pig Iron thinks he is doing not only the right thing, but a good thing. He really does see them as pets, and mistreating pets is just not done. You or I see that as abhorrent, but there is more to it than that. Under Chip, Silver and Sunshine really are safe... but if you asked Chip right now whether he did the right thing, he would heartily disagree. He also would not change his mind. The road to hell, as they say, is paved with good intentions.
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Thanks!
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Yup, that's supposed to be Sharptooth!
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Oh boy is Carmine not going to be impressed...
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I'm thinking Princess Leia slave outfit...
341631
I was more wondering if those odd unused things called "articles," like the letter "a", or this amazing word called "the" would have been appropriate . If you're unfamiliar with them you can always check google
Ido like the Turn of events, in this chapter... nugdenugde, know what I mean, saynomore saynomore....
341631
Not really where I was going. I understand the relations and can even see the benefit from both sides, but it seems to devalue ponies in the extreme. I mean, are they truly only so much as cattle relative to dragons that they are dominated and enslaved so readily? Plus the psudo-magical bond that forms affects their very mentality and essence (cutie mark).
Seems a bit much, I just can't imagine ponies submitting like they do, or pony society as a whole condoning such a relation. You can't really say it's by pure choice, and Pig Iron, for all he puts on airs of a good 'owner', is far from benevolent, if such a thing can even be said for dragons as a whole...
I'm just wondering, if Chip, an I'm guessing young-teen relative pony-turned-dragon can hold his own against diamond dogs, and multiple mature dragons, is that because he's actually a dragon now, or how much is inherent?
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Oh I'm sorry if I used that foreign language called English. I'll try to be careful in the future.
For those who don't get the vernacular, 'wanted to get shot of her' translates perfectly to 'wanted to get rid of her'. The even shorter 'wanted shot of her' is also correct, if very colloquial.
Sorry for any confusion.
Not sure if start of great adventure, or prequel to ending.
341687
Huh, I had no clue that was grammatical. Fair enough, I've never heard that expression before. Lesson learned. I thought you were being an ignorant smarmy ass. Now I know you're not ignorant .
Ok eating crow and insulting each other aside this raises an interesting question, in your dragon society if Chip were to have foals with Hairpin would they be bound by the slave contract, would the draconic blood override it (assuming that he can pass down those traits), or would they get both?
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Yes, it does devalue ponies. Yes, it is terrible. You are correct!
For backstory I haven't written, there is a tenuous peace between dragons, griffons, diamond dogs and the other races that share Equestria. Dragons cannot just go around enslaving ponies, that would be a declaration of war against the ponies. Pig Iron, for all you may think badly of him, has not been creating war. He really did save the life of Oak Keg's grandsire (and all offspring he hasn't freed).
Now, the gem-eyed ponies are technically not Equestrian, and did attack first... but Pig Iron is walking that line just as hard as he can.
And as for Chip - he is growing into his draconicity. Normal ponies could not do what he did. Guard ponies could, the Elements could, but either way war would be costly to all.
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Seeing as Chip is a dragon, they would be dragons. If you asked Pig Iron, he'd tell you that the slave-oath doesn't work on dragons. The reason is because dragoons wouldn't submit.
It is a choice, sometimes that choice is 'or death'. Dragons are jerks.
Also, to be fair, I'm English, I do occasionally come up with these... Englishisms that throw non-native speakers, as it were.
I haven't even started reading yet, but I'm chuckling over the Dune ref in the title.
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That's another one of my favourite series!
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Huh interesting. Actually probably best I don't think about it too hard. As interesting as this is it's not really important to the story.
I was curious if Chip would be able to pass on being draconic because of what Sharptooth did. I almost wish you had brought that up earlier (unless I missed it), it really makes what he did all the more powerful. He didn't just make Chip a dragon, he mixed his lineage with ponies and all of Chip's foals will be draconic. Given how traditionalist the dragons are this seems huge and is a really interesting aspect of the story. Since most of the dragons he's met have seemed pretty ok with the situation I imagine this isn't the first time this has happened.
Dragons are jerks, but I'd looooove a dragon burger.
341786
It's something I've spoken about with various readers and friends. It's not something that is likely to be a part of the story, but I do have a shed load of backstory I've not written down.
One of those is that Chip really is a dragon, and all of his "foals" would be dragons too, no matter whether they were ponies or, should he be with Carmine, hippogriffs. In effect, they would be draconequus, which (from the canon of the show) I'm taking are a mixture of pony, dragon and potentially other creatures. In Chip's case (and those of any offspring), the draconequus part would be more by default than anything else, and at least for the first few generations they would be looked upon as dragons.
What it would do ultimately, since we're dealing with a magical world here, is up for grabs. It's "future backstory" that hasn't and probably won't be written, but feel free to speculate.
341798
You have such an interesting take on the MLP universe, certainly keeps me coming back. Well thanks for explaining that I feel my curiosity sated now .
341862
My pleasure. I honestly did think you didn't understand the "servicing" joke... I do sometimes forget that not everypony knows the lingo I know, and every so often something painfully British pops out.
I do like, as long as it doesn't concern coming plot points, talking about the world I'm building, and it's always fun to hear observations and ideas from others.
While there may be a few ideological things in here I detest, this is warming up to being an absolutely awesome story.
its truly torture having to wait for you to write the next one
Great worldbuilding chapter. You've clearly been doing a lot of thinking about the psychology of dragons.
Between the numerous contracts and Hairpin's *ahem* eagerness, I'm looking forward to the myriad ways in which the trip back to Tacksworn can and likely will go wrong.
341895
Bloody Yanks! Wait that's me .
It's cool, I couldn't tell whether it was a sexual reference about killing her. Threw me off pretty bad .
As usual look forward to your next chapter
"It's amazing what a brush with death will do for the soul. It makes some think that little things like liberty are worth a lot less than breathing."
You wouldn't happen to have an at-least passing interest in philosophy, would you? These last few chapters have drawn on a fair bit of it, though this is better than otherwise methinks.
I knew it. I knew it the moment he mentioned his daughter having traits of "the mistress" in her. Yay for being right! So now he's actually protecting the rightful heir of the Irontail estate. Of course, he owns them now, and with that, technically, once again, 'her' estate, lol. Full circle.
341687 I wondered about it too, but eh, I know how you use language, so I just assumed the most logical thing and read on. Looks like I was right
341779 Wanted shot of her, while not often used in America, is still a well-known phrase, so yeah, you're good. Also, "servicing is definitely not a British-only word used in that context.
Fantastic chapter, with marvelous inner conflicts and desperate choices, a constant feeling of movement and threat, and the experience of encountering the alien, the foreign, the Draconic. Your dragons are becoming more real and vital to me than most of the second season of MLP:FIM. Perhaps all of it. Your worldbuilding has integrity and continuity, and the world you craft is both interesting and solid.
I feel... well serviced... by this story, and I am... panting... for more.
CRUSADE ME! With more Ambassador's Son. Please.
Ha! You got very positive feedback from Chatoyance - one of the best writers hosted on Fimfiction. Anything I could add would just be sprinkles on that particular cupcake!
That being said, I am looking forward to the next chapter in a big way!
342139
In this case, I was deliberately referencing the fact that whilst people often claim to have high ideals, actually living up to them can be a lot harder. Things are rarely that simple, either, but Pig Iron was right. Cue uncomfortable moment.
343207
Could I perhaps persuade you to look up the Social Contract, from the perspectives of either Hobbes or Locke? You seem to be brushing their perspectives without any direct knowledge of them. It's like mentally watching two things occupy the same space but in different dimensions, vaguely drawing from the same inspiration. I hope I still make sense by this point.
Basically, the former (who invented the concept) stated that to merely survive in the State of Nature is 'brutish, harsh and short-lived', and that it's better to surrender for the individuals to surrender their liberties to a mutual sovereign. With this perspective in mind, guess who that title could apply to in this tale.
341631
I actually think this makes dragon society more interesting I am not saying slavery is right I am saying this is a believable behavior.
343245
I remember reading about it, and the absolute best thing for any writer is to be a reader. I shall indeed.
343398
Jolly good. I'll stop ordering stuff at you now.
Very good chapter, chip is an epic fighter and I cant wait until he is going to be able to fly. Also I hope silver doesnt hate chip too much for what he did , I mean it was to protect them and that was important to him.
341798 Sooooooo.... Chip's offspring becomes Discord...
Fantastic job as usual.
One concern, the part immediately after the reveal of who Sunshine's mother was very confusing. Really just the part "She was murdered..." to "Chip look so forlorn..." I had to reread that part several times and I'm still not 100% on what exactly is being conveyed in that scene.
343856
I added a bit there - I wanted the exchange to feel cut off like so many angered speeches from children are, but I think I may have cut it off a mite too early.
342754
I am very glad to be of service and I hope you enjoy the crusading as Chip finds his way home
344745
What he was saying was "this is dragon territory, get out now whilst you still can". Threatening him with slavery seemed to be the only way he could get them to shift. He had just saved their lives, blood debt is a powerful thing.
344766 Yes, yes it is.
My reaction to seeing an update...
dl.dropbox.com/u/38493835/MLP/By-Celestias-Beard.jpg
What a twist!
If Chip were to... I don't know... abdicate his position as Baron, would Sunshine become the new Baroness?
342754
Oh dear, there's that CRUSADE ME business again. If it's something unseemly, I do would like to publicly request that you privately message me with the terrible story. The curiosity is getting to me!
345339
...Don't ask, it's the sort of silly potty-humour I should have grown out of many years ago.
and it's not really a story, so I can't send it to you
Hey Midnight, are dragons monogamous? I think I just realized something that could make poor Chip's life a lot more "exciting" than he probably wants
345727
Ah! Now, that's a question I've not exactly written.
I decided when I did "The Business Trip" (which is nominally in the same universe as this) that dragons would be people. Just like us. In the same way that humans here on Earth sometimes have multiple life partners, dragons in that story are implied to have multiple partners in certain circumstances (usually down to marriage being a stable way to cement long-term agreements and contracts).
Human family arrangements are often complex - if you want to read fiction that delves into this, you will not go amiss with anything by Heinlein. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress is a perfect place to start; fantastic story, golden-age sci-fi and a very interesting book on social commentary.
Humans have done (and still do engage in) more family arrangements than merely pair bonding. We have same sex couple, mixed sex couples, one man multiple wives and (less commonly) one woman multiple males, and even polyamories (I'm not sure of the spelling there). Heinlein even introduced the idea of a "line marriage" where partners marry in to the marriage such that it never dies. Personally, when I write pony fiction, if I want to add a little spice into the story, I'll add the fact that horses essentially herd-bond: there will be an alpha mare with several junior mares, a few males kept for breeding purposes, and then the immature colts and fillies, or the alpha stallion, junior males, and the females kept as a harem, with the immature offspring following along.
In the show, it is implied they pair-bond, so for the most part that's what I write, but I cannot deny that it is fascinating as an idea and a story topic to delve into poly-amorous situations.
For simplicity's sake, I imagined that if I ever delved into telling a story with Chip and a possible beau, I would deal with a monogamous bonded pair... but that's not to say I wouldn't mix things up or that my mind wouldn't change.
345761
Wow thanks for the in depth reply. I suppose making them like human does make it not only easier for the reader to relate with but does fit to a certain extent. I was wondering if the fact that they have a lifespan in the quadruple digits had any impact on how they worked biologically/sociologically.
Given how much you have deviated from the show I'm actually surprised you took that into account at all. Though...actually...I don't think there ever was much of an implication that they are that way. I suppose it's all interpretation at this point. Thanks for clearing that up. Wonder if Carmine will share him :3