Carte Blanche: The Paradox of Hedonism

Carte Blanche: The Paradox of Hedonism Chapter 2

Shouts from above deck woke Caligula from her slumber. What sounded like hundreds of hooves moved every which way above her, thudding loudly as they raced from one side of the ship to the other in a hurry. The voices above were undoubtedly zebras, and they continued to say something about reaching a port or getting ready to dock and unload the cargo. Caligula’s ears strained to make out what all of the zebras were saying, but between the sudden chatter rising from amongst the slaves and the thudding hooves still moving above deck she could not make out everything.

Several minutes later Mira busted through the door into the room and stopped. Two other zebras came waltzing in after her and paused at her side, remaining silent for a few moments before Mira stepped forward several paces.

“Get them up and secure their restraints,” Mira said. “We need them unloaded and moved to the pens before the top of the hour.”

One of the zebras began to remove the pegs that secured the chains connected to each pony’s manacles, but the other paused. He walked up next to Mira and asked, “What should we do with the filly?”

Mira stood in silence for a moment, her eyes falling on Caligula. The little filly whimpered and curled up into a ball, clutching her parent’s note tight against her chest.

“Put her in the pen with the rest of the mares,” Mira said. “She’s going to get the same treatment as everypony else.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the zebra said before he went to work on the pegs.

Mira turned and walked back up the stairs to above deck, leaving the other two zebras to deal with the slaves. They worked quickly over the pegs, pulling one out after the other before just as quickly pushing them back in. In no time the rows of slaves pushed themselves to their hooves and stretched their legs, groaning and grumbling quietly to themselves as they moved their limbs for the first time in perhaps over a week.

Caligula was not exempt from her legs feeling like they were made of jello, and when one of the zebras zipped by her and pulled up the peg, she nearly fell flat on her face when she stood up. Gaining her balance, she picked up the note from her parents and after she looked over it one last time, she folded and tucked it in between one of her manacles and her hoof. Once it was securely stowed away, the filly looked up once more towards the zebras, but neither of them had neither seen nor bothered to pay attention to where she hid her note.

Once the zebras finished pulling the pegs up from the chain links, they trotted back up towards the door and took the very ends of the chain links into their mouths. They both glanced at each other, and when the zebra that held the chain link that Caligula was a part of nodded, the other zebra made his way through the door and up the stairs to the top deck. The ponies connected to the other chain link let out a few groans and whimpers as they shuffled their way forward, their bones creaking and muscles aching from nary any use.

Caligula watched on as the last of the ponies from the other chain disappeared up the stairs, then felt the tug on the chains as her chain link was forced to move next. The ponies of this chain groaned as well, but with a hiss from the zebra pulling the chain everypony else fell silent. They shuffled forward, and soon Caligula took her first step on the staircase that led up to above deck. The air here smelled more like salt mixed with the smells of fish and cooked vegetables compared to the damp, molding, putrid smells from the belly of the ship. Her stomach growled and her mouth watered, the fresh smells stirring in her a hunger that the waves at sea and the rock of the ship during the voyage took away.

Then came the blinding light. Being forced below deck rendered Caligula’s eyes more accustomed to darkness, with the only light being tiny rays pushing their way through small cracks in the ship’s wooden hull. She squinted and blinked, nearly losing her balance a second time as the pony walking behind her bumped into her. She squeaked and glanced behind her, but the other pony apparently had not even noticed her presence, instead looking off towards the port side of the ship. Still reeling from the sun tearing into her retinas, she followed the pony’s gaze.

The filly’s eyes unmistakably met Whoazambique. Moderately sized walls made of sandstone rose up on either side of the city’s massive port, which ran around in a circle around the city and protected its inhabitants from the mysteries that lay out in Zebrica’s sands. Huge watch towers soared high into the air above all of the other city buildings, with zebras making their patrols around and around the tops of the towers to look over the city and the land beyond the wall. Not even the central building within the city rose higher than the watchtowers, but it still made an impressive display with the many eagle and vulture statues that covered the building’s roof.

The port was nearly as large as the city itself. Ships from all over the world lay docked all over the port with all manners of creatures loading and unloading all sorts of cargo. Crates and wooden boxes lay scattered all over the port, their wares left mostly unguarded as their owners wandered off to the many taverns or pleasure clubs present along the edges of the port. Seagulls flew overhead, as well, their squawking reverberating through the whole city.

It’s so… different, Caligula thought to herself, her eyes trained on the building with the many statues. There’s so much sand and… and the colors seem to all mesh together like some sort of camouflage. It’s not like Equestria where the colors of the buildings stand out from the wildlife in the background, vibrant and exciting. Here? Here it’s dull and… terrifying.

“Keep moving,” a zebra growled as he kicked the pony in front of Caligula. The line moved again more hastily as the ponies were led off of the ships and onto a wooden dock. Sturdy land felt wonderful under Caligula’s hooves once again, but a chill crept up her spine as the zebra tugging on the chains led them deeper and deeper into the docks. Once the column disappeared behind several crates, any time Caligula looked back she was no longer able to see the ship she came in on.

After what seemed like half an hour, the zebra finally led the ponies to a large warehouse. He pulled them all inside, then fastened the chain to a wall hook before pulling out a set of keys that he used to detach the manacles from each pony’s hooves. Another zebra stood waiting for each pony to have themselves freed from the chain so that he could push them back into one of the pens that lay at the back of the warehouse. The writing above the pens was nothing like Caligula had ever seen before, but their words were clear. They marked the different genders as mares were herded into one pen and stallions herded into another.

When the zebra reached Caligula to detach her manacles, several shouts rang out over next to the chain link that had walked in front of Caligula’s. Both she and the zebra looked up in time to see a stallion make a break for the door leading out of the warehouse. In no time one of the zebras standing over near the pens raised his crossbow and took aim at the stallion, then fired a bolt. The shot hit true and embedded itself into one of the pony’s hind legs, sending him tumbling head over hooves until he skidded to a stop on his face.

The zebra rushed over and slammed the ponies head to the ground when he tried to lift it, snarling.

“Oh, that was very brave of you, but where do you think you’re going, klutz?” the zebra asked slowly, his hoof digging into the stallions cheek. “Last pony who tried to make a break for it under my watch didn’t last long when I gave him a pair of cynderblock flippers.”

“This isn’t right!” the stallion shouted, yelping when he felt the zebra place more pressure onto his face. “You can’t just do this to ponies! We’re free.”

“Who says that we can’t?” the zebra sneered, lowering his head close to the stallions. “Ah ah, don’t squirm. From the way I see it, you’ve got no where to go in this city. Who’s going to listen to you? The guard? The common rabble?” He lifted his hoof from the stallions face before yanking the bolt out of the stallion’s leg. “I don’t think so. Slaves have their place here in Zebrica as they are a valuable commodity. In fact, you should be honored that zebras with money will even pay attention to you.”

“Honored… to be treated like… an object and… not a pony?” the stallion asked through ragged gasps, reeling in pain.

The zebra kicked the stallion in the stomach, forcing him to roll over onto his other side.

“Does it really matter?” the zebra snicked and turned. “When you walked off of that boat you no longer belonged to your home nation. You’re ours now, welp, whether you like it or not.” He trotted back over to his post, issuing orders over to the zebra who was in charge of the stallion. “Put some wax on his hind leg and clean him up. Good as new, eh?”

The zebra standing over Caligula unfastened the lock and detached her manacles from the chain, then gave her a shove towards the direction of the pens. Tucking her tail between her legs, Caligula slowly made her trek across the floor of the warehouse. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed the stallion raising himself up to his hooves with the help of another zebra, then getting very nearly dragged right behind her. She folded her ears behind her head, trying to block out the whimpers and yelps of pain the stallion released whenever he put pressure on his hind hoof.

The sounds, the pain; I wish that they’d all stop. Caligula pleaded to herself.

When Caligula reached the mare’s pen, she was shoved once again through the doors to stand among the rest of the mares sitting within the confines of the steel cage. Glancing around the pen, she spotted a small hole between two pegasi mares butted up against the metal bars. Sighing to herself and looking at the ground, she started to make her way over to the open spot. Unfortunately for her, Caligula bumped right into another zebra.

Timidly, Caligula’s head rose until her eyes met a zebra mare, and thenhastily looked away. She tried to skirt around the mare, but was blocked once again when the mare moved along with her.

“The auction is already in progress, filly,” the mare said icily, “and you are to be put up on that stage as quickly as possible.”

Caligula looked back up at the zebra mare and nodded her head, but she stood there as she was unsure of what to do next. The zebra narrowed her eyes and snapped her teeth onto Caligula’s ear, who let out a yelp as she felt herself lose her balance. She was then dragged across the pen towards a steel door, and when the zebra pushed the door open Caligula heard the first of the shouts and cheers coming from outside of the warehouse.

Fear crept into Caligula’s mind, the thought of her getting dragged out onto the stage in front of however many zebras may be present outside terrifying her. Her limbs shook and she shut her eyes.

This is a bad dream, she thought, sniffling. This is all a bad dream. The sounds, the ponies, it can’t be real.

Once she dropped off the filly for another zebra, Caligula’s handler spit her ear out and stomped back over to the door leading to the pens. She disappeared behind the steel door and let it swing shut. Caligula whimpered and opened her eyes, staring up at the zebra that stood in front of her. She was a heavyset mare with a very tall mane and ears covered in silver and gold piercings. Both of her forehooves wore rings of various sizes and colors.

Caligula flinched when the mare reached for her, causing the mare to pause. She slowly lowered her hoof back down to the floor and turned, instead rifling through various grooming instruments present on a table top.

“There is no need to fear me, little one,” the mare said in a sweet, zebrican accent. “Unlike those… handlers out there, I don’t see your current status of something that deserves the loathing that you undoubtedly receive.”

Caligula slowly returned her gaze to the mare, her tail wrapping around her hooves as she sat down. The zebra caught the filly’s eye and smiled.

“Why don’t you come closer?” the mare asked, waving a hoof at Caligula. “We need to get you cleaned up before you are to be put on stage.”

After hesitating only a moment, Caligula stepped forward and sat on top of a small drain grate. She craned her neck to try to peer around the zebra to get a look at the instruments that were on the table.

“That’s better,” the mare said, then procured a nozzle and positioned it over Caligulas head. With a squeeze of her hoof, cool water emptied out of the nozzle and instantly soaked the filly, who yelped and squirmed. “I know it’s cold, but slaves are not allowed access to hot water. I’ll work quickly.” The mare turned the water off and then dipped her hooves into a bowl filled with a strange, green liquid. “My name is Jua, by the way. What is your name, little one?”

Caligula shivered when she felt Jua’s hooves rub into her back. “M-my name’s… Caligula, m-ma’am.”

“Caligula?” Jua slid her hooves over Caligula’s own hooves, rubbing the foaming liquid into her coat. “That’s quite the name for a filly. Tell you what, Caligula, since you’re being so sweet and cooperative I’m going to give you some advice once you leave this room.”

Caligula nodded her head and looked down at the floor, her ears flopping back against her head. The sounds emanating from the auction going on outside echoed more prominently than before, the voices shouting out different prices.

“Just because you are a filly doesn’t mean that the buyers will go easy on you,” Jua said. “Here in Zebrica, blank flank fillies are the most sought after commodity when it comes to the slave industry. They represent purity and innocence in their truest forms. You have not found what you are good at, and slave masters will do their best to repress that aspect of you to keep you in line. A blank flank filly will more likely grow attached to their master rather than a filly with a cutiemark.”

“W-what happens if I earn my cutiemark?” Caligula asked quietly.

Jua gave a visible look of disgust, although it was not directed at Caligula. “Best you not think about it, sweetie. Your blank flank is the most valuable trait of your being and when a master purchases you, you begin a dangerous game of chance.” Jua finished lathering Caligula up in the strange soap, then took the water nozzle and doused her in cold water once again. “Some mares go their entire life being blank flanks, their masters keeping them protected and guarded.

“But don’t let the prospect of earning your cutie mark scare you,” Jua added. “As horrible as it sounds, a pretty little filly such as yourself will more than likely receive certain treatment from your master that will do everything in their power from keeping you from earning your cutiemark.” Jua tossed the nozzle to the side and grabbed a towel from the table, using it to dry Caligula off. “You see, masters do not enjoy hurting their slaves. Scaring them, manipulating them, yes, but hurting? No, all slaves are valuable assets to their house and masters will have paid good money for you. It would be like kicking an expensive lamp or jumping on a pricey piece of furniture.”

Caligula’s head drooped and she let her tail wrap around her hooves once again. “S-so it’s like the stallion and the captain said. I’m an object of another pony now.”

Jua sighed and hastily dried Caligula’s mane. “Yes, that are what slaves are viewed as. Lower than the rabble and the slums of the most destitute of cities, yet valued more than the lives of our tribal leaders or kings. Fit to be used as common maids or shaped into monstrous killing machines for our armies. They are the strongest economic beneficiary to Zebrica, yet they are demeaned and broken into depressive and lost shells of the ponies that they once were, or what they once could have been.

“Caligula, the life you will enter when you walk up onto that stage is not something that anypony should have to undergo or even witness.” Jua put her hooves on Caligula’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “It’s cruel, it’s inpony, but here in Zebrica there is nothing that anypony can do about it.”

Jua took a brush off from the desk and ran it through Caligula’s mane, coat, and tail. The filly felt knots being broken in her mane, and although she whimpered from the little pangs of pain running through her scalp, it didn’t compare to the terror of the sounds of the zebras shouting outside. They’re fighting over some burly stallion standing on that stage, prices calling out and profanity being thrown back and forth between bidders. Then she heard Jua humming to herself—a sweet melody that reverberated a warmth through Caligula’s bones.

Inside the walls of our mother’s home

With the fresh smells of the grass and brome

We sit around the fire and tell our stories

About all the dirt and grime and inglories

Never have we thought to ourselves of the love that we share

Radiant and prominent in the wistful night air

But more of the sought after revenge

that has been the heart of pony’s goals

Something destroys us more and more

until what we no longer see are souls

So in light we must see

In the mirrors we are free

And so will we ever be

And so will we ever be

Jua pulled away from Caligula once she ran the brush through the filly’s tail one last time. She stared at Caligula, her eyes soft and searching, watching as a small spark gleamed in her eyes. She patted Caligula on the head.

“When you walk out there, Caligula,” Jua said. “Fear will grip your mind and pain will rattle your bones, but never forget that hope is ever present and willing to lend a hoof when you most need it. You may be a filly, but I’ve seen younger than you make masters quiver with fear in their shoes.” She rose and pushed Caligula towards the door leading towards the sounds of the auction. “From small beginnings comes great adventures. No matter what you think, you will always be in control of yours.”

The door to the plaza opened and Caligula was met with the full frontal force of the sounds of the auction. Zebras shouting prices, handlers yelling over the zebras to get the slaves moving, and auctioneers shouting over both the zebras and handlers over who currently had the highest bid. Again, Caligula’s ears flopped back against the sides of her head as she did her best to drown at the noise. She looked back towards Jua, but instead she found the door to the warehouse closed behind her and Jua nowhere to be seen.

“Let’s get moving, filly!” a zebra yelled at Caligula, fastening a collar around her neck that was connected to a leash. “You are slotted to be next on the list for the stage!”

Caligula whimpered and looked down at the collar around her neck, but before she was able to get a good look at it the zebra yanked on the leash. She yelped and was promptly dragged forward, being led around the the back of the stage to stand behind a stack of crates that hid slaves who were next in line from view. She stared forward, up the steps and onto a large stallion earth pony who stood at the center of the stage. The leash attached to his own collar was secured to the stage by a peg.

“And that’s five thousand kipandes!” the zebra standing on the stage said over the roar of the zebras in the crowd. He wore a large brimmed hat, his pierced ears sticking up along the sides of the bowl of the hat. His legs were covered in all sorts of ornate rings, and his teeth had been filed down into fangs. “Do I hear five thousand five hundred kipandes? Five point five thousand kipandes? Anypony? Ah, you there? No? Well, how about you? Come on now, he’s a big, healthy stallion. Just look at him!”

Caligula cringed as she watched the stallion hang his head. She saw from his posture that he wanted to burst into tears, but the fear from what the other zebras might do to him kept his eyes dry.

“No more bids?” the zebra on stage asked one more time. “Then sold to Mr. Koni!”

Caligula watched as a large zebra with a thick goatee stepped on stage. His face was covered in piercings and his tail was trimmed very short. He carried a scimitar across his back as well as padding strapped to his knees and his underbelly. Mr. Koni hoofed over a bag filled with what was unmistakably kipandes, then picked up the leash and led the stallion of stage. When the both pony and zebra left the stage, there was a huge roar of applause.

“How about that, eh?” the zebra on stage said. “We all know where that stallion is going! He’s going to make a fine, oh so fine, addition to Mr. Koni’s personal army. Wouldn’t you all agree?” There was a cheer and the zebra smiled. “I thought so. Well, I’m sure you all will get a kick for what’s up next on our list. Strong, muscular stallions are all well and good. They can tend your crops, provide as bodyguards, even act as… entertainers.” There were a few whistles from the mares in the crowd. “However, there is one type of pony that we all are looking for who is worth more than ten of those stallions.” A few whispers ran through the crowd. “I’m sure you all know what I’m talking about. Bring her up!”

The zebra holding Caligula’s leash gave a yank, and together they made their way up the steps and onto the platform. The entire crowd looked on in silence, watching the filly as she was led to the center of the platform, then had her leash secured to the stage. Caligula refused to look at the crowd, her head held low and staring at the ground and her hooves, scanning over the grooves in the wood of the platform.

The zebra who pulled Caligula up onto stage gave her a shove so that her body faced the crowd, then he pushed her head up so that she was no longer staring at the floor. She watched in horror from all of the zebras looking up at her. Zebras with face piercings and tattoos, with expensive dresses and suits or tattered armor, with rings around their legs and wrappings around their tails.

The whispers, however, were the worst. Whispers of her being a blank flank, whispers of the jobs she can do, whispers of how beautiful and innocent she really looked. Fresh for the taking, ripe for the picking. She was going to be a master’s entertainer, a simple maid, a toy for the house guards. She could be used as a sacrifice, she could be used as a diplomat. Caligula stood, gazing out on the crowd with fear shaking her legs.

“Hailing from the southern coasts of Equestria,” the zebra on stage said cheerily, “she retained the dark coat that is usually prominent of the unicorns in the area. Beautiful blue eyes, eloquent and uniquely colored mane and tail, she is quite a sight to behold. How many of you would agree?” There were nods and more whispers from the crowd. “Inspection starts… now. You have ten minutes.”

Several zebras rushed forward to the stage, scrambling up the other side where a small gate was located. They then crowded around Caligula, who whimpered and tried to back away from them as they approached. The zebra announcer, smiling as widely as he could manage, blocked the filly from back peddling anymore and kicked her in the flank, forcing her to stand up straight and stay where she was.

A tall zebra decked out in various piercings and chains linked to his body stepped forward, taking charge of all of the zebras that were crowded around Caligula. He stared down at her, then roughly placed a hoof on the top of her head and jerked it around, closely inspecting her cheeks and her jaw. All of the zebras around the two began muttering to themselves and casting side glances at each other.

Satisfied, the tall zebra then pushed open Caligula’s mouth and moved her head around, making sure that all of the zebras around the filly received a good look. More murmurs arose from the crowd of zebras, followed by a few nods and a very quiet whimper from Caligula herself. The zebra pulled his hoof back and allowed her to close her mouth. She did so, but then stared up at the zebra with wide eyes when she saw him twirling his hoof around in a circle.

Tears flooded Caligula’s eyes and she very slowly turned around, keeping her tail tucked tightly between her legs. When she finally had spun completely around, the zebra auctioneer forced Caligula’s face to the floor and stared down at her with hard eyes.

“Don’t you dare move, filly,” he said quietly to her, “or you’ll regret it.”

The cold stare disappeared from his eyes and he looked back up once again to the other zebras crowded around Caligula. He nodded his head at what was probably the tall zebra, and it didn’t take long for the filly to realize what the zebras were doing when she felt a hoof on her flanks. More tears rolled down her face when she felt her tail getting pushed out of the way, and she hardly managed to refrain from shaking as she heard one last murmur run through the crowd of zebras who were up on stage.

After what felt like an eternity for Caligula, she finally felt the zebra letting go of her tail. The auctioneer shoved Caligula’s head back up to the upright position, then spun her around.

“That’s it!” the auctioneer said, holding a hoof in the air. “Inspection is over. You may all return to the crowd.”

The zebras on stage filed down the steps one after the other, some occasionally throwing a few last glances towards the tearful and humiliated filly. Caligula stood staring at her hooves, her tail tucked tightly between her hind legs.

“Right! Well then.” The announcer ran a hoof through his mane and smiled at the crowd. “She’s quite the beautiful specimen, wouldn’t you all agree?” He paused as he heard several mutterings of approval from the crowd. “Good, good… I thought as much. Well, let’s start the bids, shall we? One thousand kipandes!”

Caligula looked up and caught a zebra out in the crowd raise his hoof in the air. The auctioneer pointed at the zebra.

“One thousand five hundred kipandes!”

More hooves rose into the air and Caligula’s breath caught in her throat. One of the zebras was wearing tattered armor.

“Two thousand kipandes! Three thousand kipandes!” A hoof went down. “Four thousand kipandes! Five thousand kipandes!” Several more hooves went down.

Caligula’s eyes snapped back down to her hooves as fresh tears rolled down her face. They all wanted her. Not just the wealthy looking zebra mares, but also mercenaries and what looked like zebra merchants, too. She was just a filly, a blank flank, yet that is what everypony wanted.

“Six thousand kipandes!”

Her hooves shook under her knees. The mercenaries had all put their hooves down, but there were also no longer any wealthy looking zebra mares bidding either. As prices rose on her purchase, Caligula felt as if the world was slowing down more and more.

“Seven thousand kipandes! Eight thousand kipandes!”

The note from her parents burned against Caligula’s hoof, and the mere thought of them brought more tears to her eyes. They had to give her up, no, they were forced to give her up. They couldn’t pay with what they had, so they had to pay with some other sort of currency.

“Eight thousand five hundred kipandes!”

The hooves in the air were quickly receding. Caligula was nothing but a product, an object, a payment; something that had physical monetary value. The mind that she had, the emotions that she carried, no longer gave weight to what other ponies thought of her. Her blank flank was all that had worth now.

“Eight thousand five hundred kipandes going once!”

Caligula stood on the stage waiting for somepony to give her some kind of price tag.

“Eight thousand five hundred kipandes going twice!”

She looked up and stared at the sole remaining hoof in the air. It was from the tall zebra.

“Sold! To Mister Nyeusi from the Red Sun house!”