Canterlot Castle

Dawn rose over the spires of Canterlot Castle but within its walls a certain lavender alicorn had already been up for two days straight researching and took no note. The staff who had been with the castle archives had smiled knowingly among themselves. Only a few years ago Twilight Sparkle had been a familiar presence in the archives and had pulled all nighters more than once.

As such the archivists were not surprised at all when Twilight had come in, commandeered a table in a familiar corner and started pulling book after book and scroll after scroll from the shelves. Most archive visitors were only allowed to have a few items at a time off the shelves. But the archivists knew that Twilight's love of books and knowledge rivaled their own and she would care for the books like her own children.

So, as the hours passed, the pile of volumes and scrolls on the table grew ever higher. Sometimes Twilight paused to make notes, other times she would frown and return a book to the shelves. Only two things were unusual with Twilight to the staff. First, her 'Number One Assistant', aka Spike the Dragon, was nowhere to be seen. Second, unlike previous research and study binges, this time Twilight was taking regular breaks.

Every five hours she would get up, stretch, eat and drink a small snack, use the facilites and return to work. Every second one of these breaks would also involve a brisk walk up and down the corridor outside the library. The archivists all approved. Twice while Twilight was Celestia's personal student they had been forced to evict her from the archives when she passed out onto a book. Creasing the pages and getting drool on them. Twilight's embarrassment had been the stuff of legends.

So, everyone was a little startled when the peace of the study area was interrupted by soft 'pop' as a scroll materialized in front of Twilight and plopped down onto the scroll she was reading.

Twilight frowned at the sudden interruption. Spike knew she was busy, why was he interrupting her? Then her face grew concerned as she realized that Spike would not have interrupted her unless he thought it was necessary. Grasping the message with her magic, Twilight read the contents.

"Twilight,
Rarity went into the Badlands gem hunting a few days after you left for Canterlot. I've been checking in with her every evening using the talking crystals we got from the Crystal Empire, but last night I couldn't get an answer from her. I've tried and tried but no answer. I'm really worried about her. I think she might be in some kind of trouble. She could even be hurt. What do you think we should do?

Spike"

Twilight sighed. Sometimes Spike's crush on Rarity made him a little less dependable than usual even though his heart was always in the right place. Checking the time and noticing the hour Twilight wrote a quick reply.

"Spike,
You know how Rarity gets when she is 'in the zone'. She is probably so focused on something she found that she simply forgot to contact you last night and likely hasn't noticed the crystal trying to get her attention. The standard point to worry about someone going missing is twenty-four hours after you lose track of them.

If you can't get ahold of her by tonight then we can start being concerned. Until then, don't worry too much. You will probably be talking to her tonight.

Just to let you know that I should have this research finished for Princess Celestia later today. It really has been fascinating to look into the history of Equestria through the treaties and agreements that have been made with other species over the years.
Anyway I should be on my home via the train tomorrow. I will need to get some sleep after I present my findings and I sleep better on a bed than on a train.

Hugs, Twilight"

Twilight sent the message winging its way to Spike with her magic and returned to her work. As she buried herself into a thick book of legal precedents she thought to herself, "That's odd. Most of these treaties and precedents I've been researching for the Princesses have to do with the Badlands."

Equestrian Badlands

The pack of dogs holding Rarity had set out at first light. They had set a relatively quick pace considering their leader was burdened with carrying Rarity. Even though she was bound up like a package she had to be an awkward burden for Raarg.

The night's sleep had restored some of Rarity's energy so while her body was held immobile her mind had energy to roam freely. "I have to work this out", she thought to herself, "Why are they doing this?" "First I am snared, pursued and captured altogether too much like a wild animal. Then, once I am caught they make no attempt to kill or injure me but instead treat me with respect and care. Even urgency when I collapsed. But then I am still tightly and inescapably bound with a disturbing degree of confidence and skill."

"I'm missing something here", Rarity concluded in her thoughts, "Time for some direct questions."

"Raarg", said Rarity aloud, turning her head up toward the dog carrying her, "May I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Of course, Valiente", replied Raarg, "it will make the journey go faster."

"Raarg, what have I done to warrant being snared, hunted, caught and bound like a wild animal?", Rarity asked jingling the chains of her hobbles. For the journey the hobbles had been tightened to only a couple of inches apart and the connecting strap between fore and rear tightened as much as possible. "Also", Rarity continued, "what is in store for me when we reach your camp?"

"Both valid questions, my little pony", Raarg replied. "To answer I must first ask you a question. How much do you know about the history of the war between the Crystal Empire under King Sombra and Equestria?"

"I know what most ponies know", Rarity replied. "King Sombra became evil and wanted to conquer all of Equestria. To that end he brainwashed and enslave..." Rarity's voice trailed off as the word formed the missing piece of the puzzle that dropped into place as a terrible realization washed over her.

It explained everything. It explained the diamond dogs equipment, the snare and hunt. It explained their proficiency. It even explained why Raarg would not use her actual name and why his stroking last night had seemed somewhat odd. Raarg hadn't been comforting her. He had been 'gentling' her!

Cold fear gathered in her belly and began to rise up her throat, threatening to strangle her. But Rarity was a Bearer of an Element of Harmony. She was a heroine of Equestria several times over and had faced more dangers than any pony twice her age. So halfway up her throat the fear was burned away by anger. The anger gathered in her breast where it kindled into a blazing fury. That fury then rose and gathered behind her eyes, which blazed like twin suns.

Raarg's head recoiled back as the genteel, polite and docile pony in his arms suddenly turned into a raging elemental force. A being of incandescent lavender rage who directed a lance of pure fury between his eyes with her eyes and voice.

"HOW DARE YOU! I AM RARITY OF PONYVILLE, BEARER OF THE ELEMENT OF GENEROSITY, LOYAL SERVANT OF THE TWO SISTERS AND BY CELESTIA'S SUN AND LUNA'S MOON I SWEAR THAT IF YOU CARRY OUT YOUR INTENTIONS I WILL DESTROY YOU!", Rarity thundered into Raarg's face at point blank range.

And even as she directed the full force of her rage and personality at the diamond dog Rarity threw every ounce of strength her body possessed into breaking her bonds. Leather stretched and chain began to bend. But those who had made Rarity's bonds knew their trade and as the seconds passed they held.

Undaunted, Rarity continued to struggle. Squirming and writhing in Raarg's arms she lashed out with the one remaining weapon in her arsenal. Her teeth. Which clamped down hard on Raarg's bicep. Raarg, stunned by the sudden assault on mind and body could not hold her and Rarity dropped to the ground.

The impact jarred her but also enabled her to slip her rear hooves from their hobbles. Rarity quickly scrambled to a three legged stance as a quick thinking dog closed in. Rarity saw the dog rushing in. Shifting her weight to her still linked front hooves she kicked out with her free rear hooves. They solidly connected, dislocating the dog's knee and sending him writhing to the ground.

As her rear hooves landed back on the ground Rarity reared up on them to assume a classic Equido stance to confront the dogs. In the space of ten seconds flat their helplessly bound captive had become a battle ready opponent in their midst. Who pronounced:

IT IS ON!

Rarity did not hesitate. She attacked with the force of the raging storm inside her and the needle-like precision of a seamstress's eye. Toes were crunched, joints dislocated, and heads received stunning blows. The dogs unlimbered their bludgeons, intending to club Rarity into submission. Only to find their clumsy weapons useless against an opponent who dodged their blows with ease.

Had Rarity possessed even a quarter of her regular vitality she might have defeated all twelve dogs and made good her escape. But her body had only just recovered from the collapse of the previous day. Fury and adrenaline could only sustain her body for so long. She began to tire and slow. Finally, she made a mistake with a dodge and a thrown club connected with the back of her head, stunning her. The remaining dogs swarmed over her and Rarity went down under a sea of grey fur.

The whole scene had lasted maybe ten minutes from beginning to end. Such is the speed of hoof to hoof combat. But now Rarity was bound more securely ever. The hobbles had been reapplied and tightened. Then, they had been fastened a harness that had been buckled over her body so that her legs now lay parallel to her belly. Even worse, her bridle had been attached by a short strap to the body harness which prevented her from bending her head forward and kept it high and upright.

And, of course, the bit had been reapplied.

Raarg moved to stand near her. "Valiente", he said, breathless, with evident pain in his voice, "your reaction is understandale and I even commend your spirit and will. But know this. That once that bridle became attached to you, by law, you ceased to be Rarity of Ponyville and became the property of the Diamond Dog nation."

Rarity made a defiant noise at Raarg through the bit. She took some satisfaction that he and half his pack were nursing wounds of varying degrees now.

"Even with the bit in I can understand that", Raarg answered her with slight humour in his tone. "But what you don't know is that the law under which you have become property is, in fact, not our law, but a law signed and agreed to by both Celestia and Luna themselves."
Rarity looked up at Raarg in frank shock and disbelief.

"It is true. As we continue to camp let me tell you some of the deep history of the war between Equestria and the Crystal Empire", said the dog, motioning toward four of his six unhurt minions.

The four dogs ran two long poles through loops at the top of the harness on the pony. Thus Rarity made the central bar of an 'H' with the poles being the legs. Lifting the poles lifted Rarity. With her suspended by the poles and harness the pack began to once more move toward their camp. Slowed somewhat by their wounded members.

Raarg walked alongside Rarity where she could see him, saying, "Now then, Valiente, first let me assure you that all of what I am about to tell you is true. Afterwards, if you are willing to speak calmly I will remove the bit so that you may ask questions."

Raarg began his story,

Sombra was intelligent and knew many things about the ways of war. So he knew that even with an entire nation of slave warriors who would lay down their lives for him it would be very hard for him to conquer Equestria. After all, his opponents would be led by a pair of literal demigoddesses.

So, Sombra did his best to make allies. He reached out to our nation and to the Kingdom of Griffonstone. The griffons rebuffed his advances but Sombra was able to conclude an alliance with us. So, we planned that when he and his forces attacked from the north we would open up a second front in the south.

In return for allying with him he offered us all the lands of Equestria south of the Everfree Forest and east of Ghastly Gorge. This would have greatly expanded the size of our territory and for a species that has its young in litters the offer was too sweet to ignore.
As agreed, when Sombra attacked from the north we waited for a week and then attacked from the south. Now, normally a pony will have advantages over a diamond dog due to your magic, your flight or your strength. But Sombra gave us the skills and tools to negate those abilities. Tools like the bridle snare that caught you.

So, our assault was a great success in the beginning. With the most of Equestria's forces in the north there was little to oppose us. Town after town fell to us. Thousands of ponies were taken captive. Those ponies were then sent via ship to the Crystal Empire, where they were then enslaved into Sombra's army.

Then disaster from what should have been a famous victory. We had just captured a small town when Princess Luna herself landed there with only a small personal guard to check on some matter regarding supplies from the town.

Oh, to have been there, Valiente. Such a battle. The Princess of the Night, Equestria's Lady of Battle, with ten of her personal guard matched against a full battle pack. Taken unaware, outnumbered fifty to one and still she almost won free. But in the end, six Night Guards lay dead, four were taken alive and Luna herself was bridled and chained with no less than three inhibitor rings bound to her horn.

There was great rejoicing among the survivors of the battle pack. Surely, with Luna as our prisoner Celestia would have to sue for peace lest her own sister become one of Sombra's brainwashed slaves. The war seemed to be all but won.

But that night, the Princess of the Night taught us that neither enchantment, nor steel, nor rope were barriers to her power.
She visited each and every dog in that town in their dreams and showed each of them their darkest fears. She visited such terror upon them that the next morning the dogs scrambled to release her and begged her forgiveness for taking her captive. They offered their own lives to her to answer for the death of her guardsponies.

Luna did not forgive, but she did understand. She and her guard were legitimate targets of war and as such she understood what had happened and accepted it as an act of war and not murder.

Looking down upon the cowering Alpha of the battle pack she ordered him to send messengers back to our ruler, offering a truce in place while she and our Supreme Alpha negotiated terms to end our part in the conflict.

She had her teeth on our collective throats. We had no defence against what she could do to us in our dreams and she knew it. And despite that, despite our killing her loyal guardsponies, despite placing her in chains, she offered us mercy. She brokered a lasting peace and spared lives. Little wonder that to this day many diamond dogs are active worshipers of Luna and her moon. You can hear the howls of praise and prayer to her any night the moon can be seen.

So, a truce came to be, followed by a negotiated end to our part in the war. Which, after the war, became a formal treaty that was ratified into law by both sides. Part of that treaty included clauses that gave us the rights to the territory of the Badlands and, I quote, "all goods, chattels and properties of value within, above and upon those lands."

"So you see, my dear", said Raarg concluding his story. "You are of value, and you were on our lands. As such, under treaty, you are now our property."

Rarity stared at Raarg. The tale was fantastic, unbelievable and yet it could be true. Few knew all the details of what had happened during the Crystal Empire war and having encountered the shade of Sombra she could easily believe that he would seek the downfall of Celestia and Luna through whatever means possible.

Rarity felt a hand at her muzzle. It was Raarg. "Are you willing to not attempt to bite me again?", he asked. Rarity nodded as best she could with her head secured. As Raarg once again removed the bit from her mouth Rarity said, "First off, let me apologize Raarg."

Raarg's eyebrows rose. "I apologize for biting you", she clarified. "It was a barbaric and unladylike method of attack for a pony to engage in."

"I accept your apology", Raarg answered gravely. "But, let me be clear. Any further resistance from you will require me to create your compliance with pain."

"Well Raarg, let also me be perfectly clear", responded Rarity without an ounce of give in her voice. "Do not expect me to quietly yield to enslavement and servitude."

"Once before I was captured by diamond dogs and won free due to my friends and my determination to never surrender", Rarity continued with defiance in her voice and her eyes. "Treaty or not, bonds or not, I shall never stop resisting and fighting to regain my freedom."

"Yes, Valiente, I remembered your name and know that once before you fell into the hands of diamond dogs", Raarg answered her. "But, a trio of teenage idiots are different than adult, intelligent dogs, who know what they are doing."

Rarity could believe him. Raarg was vastly different than the three dogs she had encountered near Ponyville a few years back. So was his pack, to a lesser degree. Everything about that trio had been rough and crude. Everything about this group was smooth and polished.

Well, so what. So what if they were smarter, tougher and altogether too good at making a pony obey their commands. These dogs had never met her. Sooner or later, Rarity knew, they would make a mistake and that opportunity would find her ready and determined to act as a true pony. Not some submissive slave mare unable to act unless her master commanded it. Even if that opportunity did not come, her friends would. As surely as the sun rose, her friends would come. That thought comforted Rarity as a walled encampment appeared in the middle distance.

Sometime later, the group trooped through a gate in a wooden palisade. Raarg exchanged greetings with the guards there. Then he sent all but the four of his dogs carrying Rarity off to fetch food for them all. The four carrying Rarity placed the arrangement holding her into a frame that held her suspended off the ground.

Rarity studied everything she could see. Anything could provide a means of escape at some point. The palisade surrounded an encampment of at least two or three hundred dogs. There were several structures which appeared to be such things as a kitchen, barracks and other buildings.

As she studied the buildings and the many dogs moving to and fro Rarity saw a dog even larger than Raarg approach her and her captor.
"Pack Leader Raarg", said the newcomer in a stern tone. "You've been gone a full day. What has kept you?"

"Den Master Howl", replied Raarg in a formally. "The chase was a long one and the quarry collapsed from hunt exhaustion soon after capture."

"Really?", said the Den Master, sarcasm tinging his voice. "This unicorn looks to be in excellent condition. If she is so exhausted why do you have her in a full restraint harness and why is half your pursuit pack injured?"

"Her condition is due to my dogs and I stabilizing her using our own supplies and allowing her to rest overnight rather than force marching overnight", Raarg answered his senior stiffly. "Her bonds and my pack's wounds are due to her spirit being greater than her body."

Just then one of Raarg's dogs ran up, carrying a feedbag. A delicious smell rose from the bag causing Rarity's stomach to audibly growl.
"So, it would seem Raarg", said the Howl, his tone suddenly pleased. "You've done well, this unicorn does look like she will be of great value." The den leader then sighed.

"I'm sorry I barked at you but things are tense after the last sale", he continued. He made a motion to the dog holding the feed bag.
"Better get that food into her, cub", Howl said. speaking to the junior dog. "I'm sure she needs it."

The dog attached the feed bag to Rarity's bridle. Oatmeal with honey and molasses. Rarity set to with a will. It had been over a day since she had last eaten something solid and her body was all too ready for some solid nourishment.

As Rarity ate the older dog took the opportunity to examine her. Rarity was too occupied at that moment with her meal to pay much attention to him as he did so. Howl examined her legs, neck and back. Checking Rarity's muscle tone as he did so. For the most part Rarity continued to ignore him. Right up to the point where he lifted her tail at the dock with one paw and began examining her marehood with the other.

"Excuse me, Sir!", pronounced Rarity with clear outraged dignity, even muffled as she was by the feed bag. "One does not handle a captive, no matter what their status, in such a fashion. "You sir, are an officer. I would expect an officer to set a proper example for his subordinates", chided Rarity. "Honestly. From your respective conduct I would think Raarg the officer, and you the subordinate."

Den Leader Howl's paws leaped off of Rarity as if her body had become red hot. He glanced at Raarg, who gave him an "I told you so" look.

"You are correct, pony", said Howl after a moment, chagrined. "My apologies. I only sought to examine you for injury." "And by way of apology, I will release you from some of your bonds", he continued.

Then he put action to words. First he released the strap holding Rarity's head back toward the harness. He also removed the almost empty feed bag. Then following that, one at a time, he released her legs. For the first time since her abortive escape attempt Rarity had hooves on solid ground.

The harness was still attached to the frame, so Rarity wasn't going anywhere. While she wasn't buying his 'checking your for injury' line it did feel good to be able to flex and move both her head and her legs again after their enforced immobility.

"Thank you, sir", Rarity said, directing a level look at the senior dog. "I accept your apology, but let me be perfectly clear about something."
"I may be your captive, and it may be that at some point, you will indeed make into a bondmare", Rarity continued in a no nonsense tone. "However, I am not and never shall be an object. No matter my status, I am and always shall be, a person."

The two dogs stood there, dumbfounded, trying to mentally catch up, as Rarity effortlessly shifted their paradigm on captives without a clutch.

"Step one, accomplished", thought Rarity as she took in their stares. "Make them see me as a person and not a thing."

Author's Note

I'd like to thank those of you who have liked, favorited and are following this story. This is the very first full story I have ever written and I hope I can do well by your attention. Just knowing that people are reading this gives me great incentive to keep writing.