Viewing Day

>You gaze longingly at your food dish.
>Not for the dry tasteless pellets and stale dusty water.
>But for the real food it reminds you of.
>Your mouth waters at the mere thought of a proper meal.
>A basic hay sandwich.
>You feel dampness forming at the corners of your eyes.
>Just the bread would be enough.
>It's the only thing in the concrete cell which doesn't remind you of the coming ordeal.
>Today was a viewing day, and you never slept well before a viewing day.
>So instead you just lay restlessly in your tiny cot, barely covered in a small blanket, and stare at it.
>On the left wall was a large glass window.
>The room behind it was darkened, allowing you to see only your reflection in the glass.
>Soon, the people who'd been hurt and their families would gather there to watch.
>At the far end of the room was a padded vertical table, leather cuffs dangling over the top on heavy chains.
>It was surrounded by a variety of belts, canes and whips, arranged neatly on hooks and pegs.
>The echoing sound of distant approaching footsteps jars you out of your cot.
>Your heart races as you struggle to breath.
>You hear metal against metal as the door is unlocked, swinging open to reveal Anon.
>A high pitched whine fills your ears as your pulse sky rockets.
>You're.. not ready for this.
>He is a bit slow closing the door, leaving a clear line between you and the dim light from the hallway.
>The possibility of escaping your fate is too much to resist and you make a run for it.
>He easily grabs you around the waist with one arm, casually closing the door as you struggle violently.
“No! Please! Let me go!”
>You beg, thrashing around in his arms as he carries you over to the end of the room.
“I.. I've learned my lesson! Please.. not again.. don't do this! No! Please!”
>Your futile begging finally gives way to harsh sobs as he secures your front hooves in the leather restraints.
>The table leans at a slight angle, causing your own weight to press you into the padded surface.
>Your back legs barely touch the floor, forcing you to strain awkwardly.
>You feel the familiar crushing tightness as a heavy strap is tightened around your back, holding your wings tightly against your body.
>”Learned your lesson have you..”
>Your squirm desperately in your bonds, moaning tearfully as he steps off to the side.
>You don't want to look, but you can't help it.
>From the corner of your eye you see him pick a coiled leather strap from one of the hooks.
>It's about 2 inches wide and at least a meter long, ending in a simple wrapped handle.
>You breath only in sharp staggared breaths as he makes his way behind you.
>There is little pomp or show to it, just the soft sound of the uncoiling leather hitting the ground to warn you of the impending pain.
>Instinctively you brace at the sound of air being shoved aside.
*WHAP!*
>You let out a shrill scream as it makes contact across your back.
>”You know the rules Derpy, if you don't count 'em, they don't count.”
“Wh.. wh. One.”
>You manage to stammer.
*CRACK*
“AAAHhh! Two!”
>You barely have time to get enough breath between lashes.
>Each stroke adding to the fire burning through your back.
>By the 8'th you can no longer hold your own footing.
>Your body goes limp, your own weight pulling harshly at your front hooves as your legs twist uselessly.
>You struggle to keep count, to even breath as he picks up the pace.
“Nih*CRACK*te*CRACK*helleve*CRACK*”
>You wheeze and sputter, points of light dot your vision as your lungs burn within your chest.
>Every desperate gulp of air aggravating your now raw throat.
>He finally takes mercy on you when you get to 13, your speech now totally incoherent.
>Finally able to get a good lung full of air you let out one last throat ravaging scream followed by a steady crying.
>You gasp desperately for air in between sobs as he moves towards to the glass window.
>“The court thanks you for your attendance. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the clerk at the front exit.”
>You hear the door close behind him.
>He'll come back later, after everyone has left.
>You'll be to cleaned and let down.
>And left to heal for next time.
>...
>Though many sessions have since passed, you still can't sleep before a viewing day.
>You find yourself once again laying uncomfortably in your small cot.
>Your stomach in knots of anticipation.
>Fixated as usual on your mostly untouched dinner, ears straining as you listen intently for your master.
>Part of you longs to hear his footsteps.
>To just end this agonizing wait.
>You clutch your blanket tightly around your body, both for the bit of warmth it provides and a small measure of comfort.
>Your tail tucked up under you, legs twisted uncomfortably in attempt to keep as much of you covered as possible.
>It provides you a tiny measure of security.
>Like a foal protecting themselves from monsters in the closet.
>A familiar moistness begins to form around your eyes.
>Only now you were that monster.
>One of the ponies who'd been hurt.. that you'd hurt.. had a foal.
>You sniffle loudly.
>How had they explained this to him.
>The tears have already begun to run down your cheek.
>Had he laid in his own bed afterward, seeking the same comfort you did now.
>Your insides go cold as a deep chill runs through you.
>Did it work any better for him?
>Sniffles give way to gentle sobs, echoing quietly off the cool walls.
>Eventually your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
>It's.. it's time.
>You dry your eyes a bit with the edge of your blanket before pushing it neatly aside.
>One last sob escaping as you slide yourself out of the cot and onto your hooves.
>You make your way to the far wall as the sound of your masters footsteps draws closer.
>Carefully, you pluck a coiled whip off its hook with your mouth, turning around just as he enters the room.
>Quickly you avert your gaze to the floor
>Bowing your head slightly downward, whip firmly held between your teeth, you slowly make your way back towards his feet.
>Your tongue curling a bit, still unaccustomed to the taste the leather left in your mouth.
>This was a relatively new torment he had added.
>No longer satisfied with your mere cooperation, he now expected you to bring him the implement of your punishment.
>As you draw closer, you notice that he has left the door open.
>He sometimes does this now, it having been a long time since you tried to run for it, dreams of escape long vanished.
>No, you had accepted this as your life now.
>You keep walking, just a few steps to go.
>Yes, you were here forever.
>This was all that would ever contribute to the world.
>All you would ever amount to.
>One step at a time, you force your legs to continue.
>This was your entire purpose now.
>To suffer.
>To give whatever comfort your pain could bring to others.
>You force yourself to take the final step.
>If you did it well enough, maybe your life could still have some kind of meaning.
>A purpose.
>Lowering your head, you gently place the whip at your masters feet.
>Another quiet sniffle escapes as you shuffle a few steps backward, keeping your head bowed.
>Your eyes firmly glued to the floor.
>You wait.
>And wait.
>His unseen stare burning into the top of your head.
>You can hear him breathing, but he has not said anything.
>Not ordered you to the familiar table against the far wall.
>A familiar sickness floods your stomach.
>Silence is never good.
>Silence means he's got something new.
>Your suspicions are soon confirmed.
>”We won't be needing that today, Derpy.”
>Involuntary quakes run through your gut.
>You can feel his continued downward gaze on the top of your head.
>What would he do to you now.
>He is shuffling something around in his hands.
>How much worse would it be.
>A muffled sob escapes you amid your stammered breathing.
>Fresh tears forming around your eyes as you continue to gaze at the floor.
>”Derpy Hooves, as the court appointed facilitator of your punishment, it is my duty to inform you that...”
>His voice slows down a bit as he rustles what you now recognize as paper.
>”Having reviewed and found acceptable a petition from your court recognized victims group indicating that the punitive component of your sentence has been fulfilled to their satisfaction”
>He pauses briefly, taking in another deep breath before continuing to read from the page.
>”The Criminal Court of Canterlot hereby orders you to be remanded to a rehabilitation program chosen at the discretion of the custodial office, where you are to begin a supervised re-introduction into society.”
>”It is further ordered that you participate in speaking engagements relating to workplace safety when requested by appropriate charities through this court.”
>”We express our sincere hope that you take full advantage of the second chance you have been given here today.”
>Several moments of silence pass as reality tries to soak through.
“Th.. they.. they're letting me go?”
>He lets out a relaxed sigh.
>”Come on.”
>His voice softening as he steps aside and motions towards the open door.
>”Your time here is done.”