"Are you ready to begin?" Luna asks as she levitates a small sleeping pill towards you. You nod in response. Taking a sip of water from the glass on the bedside table, you swallow the pill. As you lay your head upon the pillows, Luna slips into bed beside you. Your gaze meets hers and you smile at the thought of finally being rid of these dreams/nightmares.

"Thank you, my love," you say as your eyelids droop. Within moments you are fast asleep.

Once again you find yourself awaking to the sound of the dungeon door unlocking. Squeaking as it opens, it reveals the familiar face of your tormentor. Celestia narrows her eyes at you, closing the door before opening her mouth to speak.

"So, have you yet chosen to accept my offer?" she says with a gleam in her eyes.

"By now you should know my answer. I have not yet wavered, nor do I intend to. I love Luna too much to betray her." You throw your words at her like poisoned daggers. "Do what you will to me, my mind will not be changed."

Her face skews in anger as she summons forth her energy blade. "So be it!" she shouts as her magic slams and shackles you against the wall. the feeling of a thousand needles shoots through your back and up your spine. Your body shakes as you mentally prepare for the coming pain. Adrenaline pumps through your body as her blade draws near, swaying to and fro in the air. Sweat builds on your brow from apprehension as you feel the razor-sharp edge on against your cheek. Celestia laughs as she plunges the knife forward, slicing clean through your flesh.

You cry out in pain, tears welling in your eyes, as you feel your blood seep from the wound and trail down your face. Its metallic taste greets your tongue as it flows into your mouth. A chain of coughs is forced from your lungs, some of the blood having reached your throat. Suddenly the chain that tethers you to the wall wraps around your neck, stifling your breathing. You desperately gasp for breath as Celestia makes her next incision, this time slowly dragging the blade up the front length of your right foreleg.

The tears you have been holding back break though your mental dam and begin to flow freely from your eyes, cascading down your face. They wash over the wound on your cheek, igniting a stinging sensation. You tighten your neck muscles and clench your jaw, trying your best to ignore it. Celestia's eye's sparkle as she takes notice of your tears.

"Are you ready to submit?" she asks as she gives you a look of pity. "Don't you wish for this pain to end?"

You glare at her, eyes full of anger and pain. "This pain is nothing... compared to what she's been through," you choke out.

Her face hardens again before you feel relief as the chain slips from your neck, only to be greeted by the sensation of her blade impaling your flank. Your eyes fly open and your mouth hangs agape from the shock. The knife remains embedded in you for a moment before being agonizingly dragged across your cutie mark, ripping the moon and paintbrush mark in two. Being one of the most sensitive parts of pony anatomy, the pain is almost unbearable as it is torn asunder. Your mouth moves as if to scream, but no sound escapes from you. You let your head drop, unable to keep it up any longer.

Your legs hang limp almost completely numb. Blood drips from your coat and pools on the stone floor beneath you. Your breathing is ragged and your vision gradually begins to dim. The last thing you thing you hear is Celestia's crazed laughter as you slip from consciousness.

Coming to, you find the cell dark and empty. Sprawled out on the floor laying in your own blood, your thoughts jump to your wounds. You sluggishly examine your flesh to find it has been completely healed again. Celestia must have used her magic to mend your wounds once more.

Your muscles are stiff and your entire body aches from what feels like days of abuse. You forego attempting to stand knowing full well you are unable to do so. Your blood soaked fur clings tightly to your skin. A low grumbling sound reaches your ears, the sound of an empty stomach. You try and recall when the last time you ate even was.

You remember Celestia had brought you some water. But how long ago had that been? Three, maybe four torture sessions ago? Time is hard to gauge when you can't see the sun or moon. It has all but lost its meaning. The only thing that makes time matter in the slightest is that someday soon Luna will return. Then this nightmare will be over.

Your mind is drawn back to reality as it registers a barely audible noise. You strain your ears as you try and recognize the dull clunking. It sounds like wheels rolling on stone. As it grows louder you begin to wonder just what Celestia could possibly be bringing. Some food? Highly unlikely. A cart full of knives, saws, and other sharp implements? No, she can conjure blades composed of pure magical energy. A horrifying notion crosses your mind. Could she have found your sister and is now bringing her here to use as blackmail? You shake your head and quickly cast this thought aside. That would be impossible, your sister is living in the Griffon Nations. Besides, not enough time had passed for her to have been found. However, this still leaves you with the question of what in Equestria Celestia could be bringing.

Your question is soon answered when the door opens and the princess rolls in what you can only describe as a box of torture. Its frame is made of steel and is four feet tall, three feet wide, and seven feet long. The top four corners of the frame have a set of pulleys mounted upon them. Ropes are threaded through each, trail down the sides to another set of pulleys, and disappear into the box. Ten rotating bars cross the top of the box, connecting the two longest sides of the frame. Each of the bars runs through a set of six semi smooth circular stones. They seem to still possess some rough and jagged edges. Three brown straps hang down from the two longest sides, presumably to hold somepony to the stones. The last feature you notice is a crank attached to the side. You can only assume it controls the ropes.

As you stare at the contraption with a mixture of awe and terror a smile spreads across Celestia's face.

"Do you like it? I built it myself. It doesn't have a name yet, seeing as how it has not been tested. But now" - she moves the box beside you - "is the time for its first trial run."

Her yellow magic aura surrounds you as you are lifted up and your back is placed upon the stones. The ropes are tied tightly around your legs and the straps hold you down against the machine. The aura fades after Celestia inspects the restraints, ensuring they are taut.

"Being its first practical application, I want you tell me exactly how it makes you feel. And please, be honest. After all I may want to make a few minor adjustments based on your testimony." Celestia looks you in the eyes and grins. "Let's begin with the ropes shall we."

A clicking noise emanates from below you as the crank starts turning in a clockwise motion. You feel the ropes slowly pulling your legs in each direction. The joints in your legs pop and the feeling of stiffness steadily fades from your limbs. Now only your back remains uncomfortable. Just a little more and... there. You hear your spine pop. A quarter turn more and the crank comes to a halt.

"So, how do you feel?" Celestia inquires.

"Actually I feel pretty good. I thought I'd never get that tension out of my back," you remark. You look at her with a smug look across your face.

She frowns in disappointment. "I see. That is unfortunate. But no matter, you will not feel so easy for much longer," she says as her mouth turns up in an evil grin.

Once again the crank begins to rotate, pulling the ropes even further. You clench your jaw from the new strain on your muscles. You are starting to feel more than a little discomfort. The crank finishes another full rotation before halting. Celestia opens her mouth to speak but you quickly interrupt.

"You are going to have to do better than this if you plan to break me, Celestia," you state, your growing contempt for her clearly evident in your voice.

Pain. The stones have begun to spin. Their jagged edges dig into your back, cutting and tearing and slicing open your flesh. Bits and pieces of flesh and fur fly as they are ripped from your back. Your remaining fur pastes itself upon you as it soaks up most of the blood dripping from your new wounds, the rest no doubt painting the machine red. A scream builds in your throat, but you are temporarily able to hold it back. The crank spins round three times, causing the ropes to pull your shoulder and flank joints out of socket which forces the scream from your throat.

Suddenly the bars cease their movement. Your heart pounds in your ears. Your back is partially shredded. Tears roll down to your mane and your entire body feels numb. You close your eyes, wishing it would all end.

You awake to find Luna shaking you with all her might. "Please wake up!" she cries, tears pouring down her face. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Your eyes open wide. "What's wrong, Luna?" you ask in confusion as she wraps her forelegs around you, holding you tight.

"I'm so sorry. If only I had known. I thought she had changed. I feel so horrible!" she sobbed.

"What are you talking about? Known what? Who changed? What are you talking about?" You grab Luna's shoulders, moving her in front of you so you can look her in the eyes. "What is going on?" you inquire, still gripped by confusion. "What happened to me?"

Author's Note

I accidentally threw in a Fullmetal Alchemist reference in here and I didn't realize it till the end but for all those who have seen the show it is there.
If you find it then Bravo.