Carte Blanche: The Paradox of Hedonism

Carte Blanche: The Paradox of Hedonism Chapter 3

Whoazambique left many foreign visitors awestruck by the sheer originality of the city. Standing out as the major port for Zebrica, creatures from all over the world were met with ornately sculpted and decorated buildings. Roofs rose high into the air in massive domes, obelisks depicted knowledge and history from known Zebrican tribes tales and folklore, and narrow streets with tarps draped from rooftops so as to protect citizens from the sunlight. And since Zebrica lacked any major forests because of its vast deserts and harsh climates, most buildings were built from sturdy sandstone compared to the wooden and stone structures from other countries. Albeit not quite as strong as the other materials, sandstone proved a much better choice so as to easily keep buildings cooler than outside.

Dragged down one of the narrow Zebrican streets, Caligula could not hold back her curiosity over the vastly different atmosphere that Whoazambique held for her. Nyeusi had said nary a word to her since he dragged her off of the auction stage, instead preferring to move through the crowded streets quickly with the leash held in his mouth. Caligula was left to her thoughts, to which she took the time to observe the city as she was hastily pulled through the maze of the city.

Early on it became clear that Jua’s advice was correct, and that many of the citizens within Whoazambique went about their ways without so much as throwing a glance Caligula’s way. Even the slaves, other ponies or zebras who had leashes pulling them along and strange wraps around their tails, didn’t look at her, instead with most keeping their eyes pointed at the ground that moved under their hooves. The little filly’s ears slowly folded back against her head, feeling that even if nopony paid any attention to her, it was as if the entire world had its eyes on her back.

Nyeusi and Caligula passed by small shop vendors who would spread out their wares on any piece of ground that wasn’t expected to become trampled by hooves as ponies walked by. If there was an open alley or a lesser tread speck of ground, it was possible to find a zebra trying to sell something. Food, magical trinkets, dishes, plants, strange powders and odd smelling potions that made Caligula’s nose wrinkle.

“Carrots! Fresh Carrots!”

“Get your lucky wards here! Everything to keep the spirits out of your homes!”

“Want to find the zebra of your dreams? Don’t worry, I have a potion for that!”

Caligula squeezed her ears tighter against her head, trying to block out the noise from all of the vendors. They were visible everywhere she turned, but it was clear that there was one spot within the city that they were centrally located. Even with all of the noise the vendors made on the individual streets, towards the center of the city came the unmistakable whir of noise that could only belong to a market.

It quickly became clear to Caligula that the residential part of the city that was closer to the docks was supposed to be ponies who had some kind of lesser income or wealth than others in the city. As the tall building with the many statue’s on its roof came closer and closer, the buildings all around her became larger and more beautifully furbished than the ones she left behind. Houses and apartments with beautiful palm trees, fruit trees, and lush grass covered their yards, and banners and tapestries hung from windows to depict certain kinds of symbols or paintings. Even the roofs here were more beautiful, ranging from different colors other than red and brown.

Not soon after Nyeusi and Caligula transitioned to the wealthier district did they come to a stop at a large iron gate. The gate connected to a small sandstone wall that spanned around the garden of a magnificent manor, with outer walls that looked made of white plaster and a light blue roof that covered the entire building. A walkway lead through the gate and around a fountain that sprayed water from the mouth of a tall zebra mare, who wore a dress that flowed as if it were rippling in the wind.

A zebra waiting behind the gate unlatched the lock and pulled it open. Nyeusi nodded his thanks to the zebra and then stepped through, pulling Caligula along with him. She was lead up around the walkway and past the fountain, with which both she and her master were met by two zebras standing guard in front of a set of massive, wooden double doors. Nyeusi hoofed over Caligula’s leash to one of the guards.

“Welcome back, sir,” the other guard said, bowing. “The auction was a success, then?”

“More than just a success,” Nyeusi said, his voice deep and commanding. “Take a look at what kind of filly I managed to acquire.”

The guard cocked an eyebrow and left his post, taking a look at Caligula. When he found nothing out of the ordinary from her, he began to circle and stopped, his eyes drifting onto her flank. Caligula tried to make herself look smaller, but the guard ignored her and returned his gaze back to Nyeusi.

“A blank flank?” the guard asked, surprised. “No one out bid you?”

“Not this time,” Nyeusi replied with satisfaction. “She’s still young, too young to be of much use yet, but given enough time I might be able to attract some of the other houses to my parties. Today was an off day for most of the other higher bidders, fortunately.”

The guard nodded. “A stroke of luck, I tell you. The Red Sun is always a good omen.”

“That it is.” Nyeusi turned to the other guard holding Caligula’s leash. “Take her to the slave organizer so that she can receive her introductions and assignments.” The guard nodded and turned to leave, but Nyeusi opened his mouth again. “And take her through the slave quarters door this time, not the guards barracks. I will not be having the whole house know that we have a blank flank until the slave organizer has spoken with her. Is that clear?”

The guard nodded again, then tugged on Caligula’s leash, leading her away from the double doors and down another path that snaked around the building.

“In any case,” Nyeusi said to the first guard, “this calls for a celebration, so I would like for you to-”

His voice disappeared as the guard lead Caligula around the back of a beautifully cut bush wall. Back here a set of doors that remained opened led to the inside of the manor, but the guard carrying Caligula’s leash merely walked past them. Voices were heard inside; deep and heavy ones that no doubt belonged to mercenaries that were being stationed in the manor. Caligula’s tail tucked between her legs and she hurried her pace a little bit, walking closer to the guard who led the way.

Once they were far from the opened doors, they came to another door that remained closed. The guard stopped at the door, pulled out a set of keys from a pouch that sat on his side, and unlocked the door. When he pulled the door opened, voices that were speaking inside immediately fell silent. When Caligula peered around the guard, she was met with many other eyes of both ponies and zebras.

The guard tugged on Caligula’s leash and pulled her through the door, and the voices resumed for only a moment before there were several gasps off to Caligula’s side. She turned to look in the direction of two earth ponies and a zebra and saw that they were staring at her. No, they were staring at her flank, to which Caligula released a small whimper.

“She’s a blank flank,” an earth pony whispered.

“A blank flank? Here?” the other earth pony asked.

“Look.”

Slowly the rest of the room trained all of their eyes on Caligula, and the whispers started to fly. Caligula’s eyes shot to the floor, keeping her head low and her ears flat against her head in the hopes that maybe it would block out the sound. Unfortunately, she still heard all of their whispers.

“She’s a unicorn.”

“Blank flank.”

“How did Nyeusi get her? Did he buy her from somepony else?”

“What do you think will be done with her?”

“Blank flank.”

“She’s quite pretty.”

“Look at her little hooves!”

“The poor thing…”

“Blank flank.”

“Blank flank.”

Finally the guard led Caligula through another pair of doors and then down a narrow hallway. A plush rug covered the bare floor underneath, and large windows covered one side of the hall as they looked out into what was unmistakably the backyard of the manor. Two more fountains lay out in the garden that had statues similar to the one in the front, and orchards of mango and papaya trees spread out down two long rows to the sandstone wall in the back. Mahogany tables and chairs covered the top of a beautiful stone patio, with umbrellas poking up through the middle of each table.

Strange looking birds of a variety of colors soared over the trees and perched themselves on the branches, singing beautiful melodies that put the birds back in Equestria to shame. For a moment Caligula almost wanted to ask the guard if they could wait for a moment so that she could listen, but when she felt the sudden tug on her collar she threw every notion of such an idea out the window.

This time the guard and Caligula came to a stop at a large wooden door, and the guard knocked. After a few moments the door opened and a thin zebra mare poked her head out. She noticed the leash attached to Caligula’s collar, and she opened the door the rest of the way, allowing for the guard and the filly to step through.

Inside the room a desk sat in the center with paintings covering the walls. Several pillows lay stacked up against the side of the desk with little frills attached to the sides, and there were plants decorating every corner of empty space.

The guard attached Caligula’s leash to a tack that was nailed to the desk, before he spun around on his hooves and trotted out. The zebra mare shut the door behind him with a quiet click, then turned to face Caligula. She had several multi-colored piercings in her ears and wore gold rings on all four of her hooves.

“Well now, what do we have here?” the mare asked, slowly advancing on Caligula. “Nyeusi is leaving me in charge of foals now? What kind of ma-” She stopped when her eyes fell onto Caligula’s flank, whose tail slowly wrapped around her hooves as she sat down. “Oh, you’re a blank flank. I wonder how he managed to acquire somepony such as yourself?”

The mare walked around Caligula and then took a seat behind the desk, flipping open a book and taking a quill from an ink well. She began writing something into the book, leaving Caligula in silence for several minutes. The filly fidgeted in place, her eyes slowly drifting around the room.

“So, blank flank,” the mare said, snapping Caligula back to her. “What’s your name?”

“C-caligula, ma’am,” Caligula said quietly.

“Speak up more,” the mare said, writing something down. “Slaves will not be asked to repeat what they have said if the other fails to recognize what they have said.” Caligula nodded. “Good. At least you’re quiet, nonetheless. Those slaves down in the slave quarters are a fucking noisy bunch.”

Caligula winced and looked at the floor. The zebra mare finished writing something else into the book before setting the quill down.

“Now, you will address me as Mistress Sandra, understood?” the mare asked. Caligula nodded again. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Y-yes, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula said, trying to sound a little louder.

“You will always address me as such whenever I am speaking to you,” Mistress Sandra said curtly, “and you will always address Mister Nyeusi as Master Nyeusi. He is your master now and you will remember as such.” She clicked her tongue. “You are his property, and therefore you will always remain in his possession until he says otherwise. That means that, like all of his other possessions, you will remain here in the house unless otherwise instructed, and you will take orders from those that he has given command to give orders. Those ponies include Mister Nyeusi, his wife, myself, guests of Mister Nyeusi, and guards upon certain requests.”

“Yes, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula said in a shaky voice.

“Good, now, under no circumstances should you ever disobey any commands given to you or leave the house premises. Disobeying commands is punishable under whipping, solitary confinement, starvation, and larger workloads. Leaving the premises is punishable under whipping or death. Do I make myself clear?”

“Y-yes, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula replied, nodding her head quickly. Her whole body shook under the guidelines that Mistress Sandra was laying out for her.

“Being that you are a filly,” the zebra went on, “you are restricted from entering places such as the guard barracks and the family apartments located on the top floor. In no circumstances are you to enter such an area or you will be met with… painful consequences.”

“Yes, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula said one more time, her voice hardly above a squeak.

Mistress Sandra sat back in her chair and stared at Caligula for a moment, her eyes tracing over the filly’s face. She had eyes that felt like needles boring into her skin, and Caligula wanted to look away if she didn’t fear for what would happen to her if she did.

“Mister Nyeusi has been trying to acquire a blank flank filly for a long time now,” Mistress Sandra said. “For the most part, auctions down at the docks usually attract the attention of one of the wealthier houses here in Whoazambique and Zevera, and for zebras like Mister Nyeusi he can’t hope to compete with such ponies. But now he has you…” She leaned forward.

“I-I don’t understand, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula squeaked, remember what Jua had said. “Blank flanks are really that p-popular?”

“They most certainly are,” Mistress Sandra said. “And a blank flank unicorn pony, no doubt. The innocence that the likes of you carry within you is a commodity sought after by the wealthiest in the nation. Zebras will pay sums up to fifty thousand kipandes to get their hooves on somepony such as you.”

“So, that means that… that Master Nyeusi is very proud to have a pony like me?” Caligula asked.

Mistress Sandra chuckled and stepped around the desk approaching Caligula. “Don’t let the thought of you being a blank flank forget the fact that you are just a slave, child. You still must adhere to the rules of the house, and failure to do so results in very much the same sort of consequences that a pony with a cutiemark should suffer from.” Her voice grew ice cold. “You’re smart; very dangerous for a pony of your stature. If you’re not careful, saying something like that could earn you a few lashes on the block.”

Caligula shrank back and her tail tightened around her hooves. “Y-yes, Mistress Sandra. I won’t say s-something like that ever again.”

“Very good.” Mistress Sandra straightened herself out. “If that will be all, I already have a few assignments for you to complete.” She walked back to her desk and picked up a piece of paper. “Mister Nyeusi is hosting a party tonight and he is going to need table clothes washed and pressed before then. You will find slaves already working on the order in the laundry room.”

“Yes, Mistress Sandra,” Caligula said as she bowed her head. She felt the leash attached to her collar coming undone.

“Very good,” Mistress Sandra said, tossing the leash away. She then pulled a long, white strip of cloth from the desk and walked to behind Caligula. “I don’t know if you noticed on your way over here, slaves here in Whoazambique are required to wear a tail wrap so that they may be easily recognized by the rest of the citizens. Stand up and lift your tail.”

Caligula did so, standing back onto her hooves and lifting her tail like she was asked. Fresh memories flashed before her eyes and she whimpered, feeling the strip of cloth wrapping around the base of her tail. When Mistress Sandra was done, she tied the tail wrap off and walked back behind the desk.

“You are free to leave.”

Mistress Sandra looked at Caligula for a moment longer, then sat back down and began looking over the mess of papers on her desk. Caligula took her cue and turned, exiting out of the room and back out into the hall. Nopony lay in sight, and the filly stopped in front of one of the large windows and stared out. A trio of birds circled around each other above a mango tree, their blissful chirps putting Caligula’s heart at ease for a moment.

How can this be happening? Caligula thought to herself. She felt the paper tucked under her manacle burn against her skin for a moment. What could possibly have… happened to my parents for them to do this?

The birds all landed on one of the branches and began sticking their long beaks through the feathers on their wings, preening themselves. Caligula sighed and rested her head on the window sill.

Will I ever see them again?

Staring only for a moment longer, she then turned off and trotted down the hall and back towards the slave quarters. The tail wrap around her tail felt odd and out of place, and it took all of her composition to not walk with some sort of funny limp when she stepped into the room. Upon seeing her with the tail wrap, everypony inside fell quiet.

Caligula stared into the room, her blood running cold and her tail slowing tucking to in between her legs. With a gulp, she walked up to the nearest pony near her; a small, creme colored pegasus mare.

“Um, excuse me, miss,” Caligula started, “could you tell me where the laundry room is?”

The pegasus mare hesitated for a moment, then said, “It’s down the hall to Mistress Sandra’s office and off to the left.”

“Th-thank you,” Caligula said quietly.

When she left the room, she heard the voices inside resume once again. She knew what they were all talking about, which only kicked her trot into a near gallop as she sped off down the hall to the laundry room.