Guilt & Penance

"I'm not sure you know what you know what you're asking me to do, Twily."

Twilight Sparkle had been waiting hours on end, sitting in the middle of a rather empty field where the grass had long since been cut away and left a sandy thick layer of dirt. There were several wooden bleachers that seemed to encircle the field. Though they were empty, aside from a few royal guards who seemed to be rather curious about the Princess' presence. So far, she had said nothing except for one request.

"Princess Twilight, you want me to get what again?," the elder Royal Guard unicorn asked, hoping that he had heard her wrong.

"You heard me clearly, please don't make me repeat myself," Twilight vocalized with more than a hint of annoyance in her voice. She wasn't in the mood to be questioned nor to be answering them. "Now get it, he'll be here soon enough," she ordered, utilizing a voice that was both stern and commanding that made the elder pony shrink back in a twinge of fear.

"Yes, right away, Princess Twilight Sparkle," the unicorn bowed and moved off to fulfill his command. He was quick enough, having rallied a few younger Royal Guards whom were helping move out the contraption. It was basically a platform with a pillory attached to it, with several straps used to hold a pony in place. They moved it to the center of the field, finally letting it come to rest in front of Twilight Sparkle. "There you go, Princess... as you asked," the Royal Guard ponies bowed and moved away after Twilight Sparkle thanked them for their effort.

Twilight felt fear knot up in her throat as she eyed the apparatus. It wasn't so menacing in design, but more so in it's purpose. It was used to hold ponies in place when they were to sentenced to a lashing as a punishment. It wasn't Twilight's first time seeing it, for she had witnessed a public whipping of a few young Royal Guards for endangering themselves and others after having indulged in illegally acquired alcoholic beverages they had sneaked into their barracks.

"Makes your stomach just drop a little seeing it, huh? You've only seen it in action once, but I've witnessed it's use more times than I care to count," chimed in the familiar voice that got closer and stopped once at her side. It was Shining Armor, whom was looking quite amused at his sibling as they both stared at the contraption. His presence drew the attention of several ponies, all whom stopped in their tracks when he eyed them. The expression on his face alone was enough to draw to the conclusion that he wasn't to be trifled with right now. "So, this is why you called me? I was hoping it was some bonding brother sister time," Shining Armor layed a foreleg over his sister, pulling her close. She didn't resist, but she didn't seem eager to return his affection.

"I don't need my brother right now," Twilight Sparkle remarked, trying not to push her brother's embrace away like she wanted. "I need the Commander of the Royal Guards who knows how to do his duty and follow an order given by royalty," the princess spoke rather dryly.

Shining Armor flinched, he was a little hurt, but seemed to understand. He leaned down and nuzzled her, much to Twilight's annoyance, "Twily, please... there's plenty of time for that, but can't we just talk? I know you don't want my emotions getting in the way for what you're going to ask me to do, but I'm quite capable of separating the two when necessary."

Twilight sighed, her stern attitude quickly being eaten away by her brother's love and concern. Maybe he had a point, but Twilight wasn't about to validate it. It's only then she noticed an opaque shield had enveloped the surrounding field. It cut off all prying eyes, save for two more large figures whom were watching from the benches. Twilight offered both Princess Celestia and Luna a glance, but said nothing as she turned back to the pillory in front of her. "Didn't think they'd come... I wanted witnesses. I'm not sure why, really," Twilight kicked a hoof at earth, stirring up a small cloud of dirt.

Shining Armor wrapped his forelegs around his sister, pulling her into a full blown hug, "Twily, I just want you to know something... I love you no matter what."

The alicorn sighed, surrendering her iron determination as her own forelegs wrapped around her brother's neck, "I love you too, Shiny. I'm sorry I'm putting this burden on you, but I think you know why I requested you of all ponies to carry this out."

Shining Armor nodded, backing down from their embrace. He used his magic to levitation unravel a long corded whip with several knots along it's length from around his neck, "I was... certainly shocked when I got the letter. I'm just glad Cadence didn't ask me to explain when I told her I needed to come see you. I told her it was... a personal matter."

Twilight eyed the instrument, both anxiety and fear swept over her as she thought about how soon her backside would soon be well acquainted with it. "It's going to hurt a lot, right?," asked the lavender alicorn, now looking back to the pillory and occasionally giving the two alicorns behind her a glance with the corner of her eye.

Shining Armor nodded, "More than you're probably imagining. I'm not holding back, after all. By your request, Princess Twilight Sparkle," the stallion spoke with a stern respectful professionalism that seemed more befitting of one who was once the Commander of the Royal Guard. Her brother was gone, Commander Shining Armor had taken his place. He didn't break his stoic expression as Twilight smiled at him.

"Thank you, Commander Shining Armor. We shall proceed then, no time like the present," Twilight said just as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia trotted up to the two of them. They said nothing, remaining silent as they greeted both Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle with a nod.

Shining Armor saluted Twilight Sparkle, then turned and saluted the Princesses of the Sun and Moon, "I am honored to have your assistance in carrying out this punishment." The stallion offered a bow, then continued to address them, "Please see to it that Princess Twilight Sparkle is secured properly in the harnesses. I shall await your signal to begin." Shining Armor saluted them again, they nodded in approval then he turned and saluted Twilight Sparkle one last time before trotting off to prepare himself mentally.

Twilight looked up at both Luna and Celestia, who's faces offered no sympathy for her situation. She expected nothing less. They followed at her sides as she moved toward the stock, which she climbed into and put her leg and head in their appropriated places. She could feel the leather bindings being pulled taut against her limbs and body, locking into her place so that there'd be no chance of escaping. The last finishing touch was a metal ring Celestia put on her horn, an anti-magic ring which nullified her ability to use magic. She felt their presences leave her side, knowing well they were only several feet away to observe her punishment from a closer perspective. Silence fell across the shielded off field. Fear and anxiety were running through her, but it watered down by the confidence she had Shining Armor to perform his duty. She only could wait for the first painful lash that would be one of many.