//------------------------------//
// Punishment 
// Story: Something Worth Fighting for 
// by Blade Heart 
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Orisian was watching over a specific group of recruits, his mind focused on what had happened between him and Morning Pen last night.  He was slightly ashamed of what he had done, but a different part of him was welcoming his actions.  He briefly remembered Emerald Dagger's advice not to trust her, but pushed it away as he saw Luna walking towards him, not exactly seeming pleased.

"Orisian."

The way she said his name snapped his full attention on her, and knowing that he was in trouble, kneeled to give her a better vantage point for whatever physical punishment she was about to deliver.

"Get up, Orisian.  Thou has a lot of explaining to do."

Doing as he was told, Orisian stood and kept his head looking straight forward, back straight, like any soldier standing at attention.  His mind was blank, ready to receive any question thrown at him, and answer in the most descriptive, clear, and honest way possible.

Luna stared at him for a long while before moving past him and looking at the recruits under his command.  Picking out a single group of three Lunar trainees, she watched every move they made, noting how normal training regimens would have never gotten such perfectly honed soldiers.  Each one had an expertise over their weapon of choice, a kind of mastery one can only get with years of combat experience.  Luna also noted that out of the three recruits, all of them had bandages, and there was a crutch nearby.

"Explain this group Orisian.  Why is there an instrument for the crippled nearby?"

Orisian immediately turned around, following her gaze back to the group of trainees he was originally watching.  Taking in all he was looking at, he prepared the most scholarly answer an uneducated warrior could give.

"They are currently going through weapon excercises.  They are watching each other, absorbing any information they can, so when they are faced with an opponent of the same variety - weapons, armor, build, experience - they may have an idea of what attacks to use, where any weaknesses might be, and what kind of initiative they have.  I believe the crutch is for the one on the right.  He shattered his ankle three days ago, as well as cracked his thigh bone.  I don't believe he takes the medicine prescribed to him by the doctor, otherwise his mind wouldn't be completely on his task at hand."

"Shattered ankle?  He doesn't look as if he is wounded."

"Neither would a Kingsman, Princess.  The training regimen I set them on has left them all with the ability to ignore pain.  Muscle tearing, broken bones, open wounds, nothing will cripple them.  Nothing but blood loss and death,  that is.  I have even seen most of them fit to starve.  Only three recruits here have had lunch in the past seven days, and none have had water for at least twenty-four hours."

"And this isn't fatal to any of them?"

"I have only starved those who can survive, Princess.  I would never think of ending a warrior's glory before it starts."

Luna turned her gaze to other trainees, all of which were far past the expectations for recruits, even for the Lunar Armies.  Needless to say, she was very impressed, but Orisian's deserved praise would have to wait.  Turning back to him, she asked her next question with a steel blade.

"Why did thou injure Emerald Dagger so?"

"Morning Pen had requested that I challenge him on her behalf.  I chose to use my fists, and he chose to use a dagger.  We were fighting in an enclosed space, and strength was the main factor for victory."

Luna returned her attention to the three Lunar recruits, her eye moving to the one who supposedly had a shattered ankle.  His movements weren't forced, or shaky like they should be if he had such a crippling injury.  Luna was about to ask another question before Orisian spoke.

"You have excellent recruits, Princess.  The three who aren't starving are all Celestial, and there are a few of yours here who are close to equaling a Kingsman.  The one with the shattered ankle is especially promising, he has been here almost 24/7 since I began training these soldiers, and he has yet to quit without nearly dying from exhaustion.  Hehe, he reminds me of myself in my youth.  He seems completely devoted to you.  He continues to request duels from me, even with his injury, and I have no doubt that he redoubled his efforts when he saw you were watching.  I'm sure he will make you proud."

"What is his name?  I would like to meet him soon."

"Lunar Fury, I believe.  His skills with an axe are phenomenal, and he prefers to wield two at once.  I have seen him take on four other Lunar recruits, and win.  Just yesterday, if I remember correctly.  He disarmed them with a veteran's proficiency, and gave them more than a few bruises to take home, along with a broken bone or two."

"Is that so?  Perhaps, then, thou should duel him."

"I'm waiting for your blessing, and for his ankle to heal.  The doctor forbid him from training, and said he would make a full recovery in about a month and a half, but while he is still training...  I'm not sure it will heal.  And I don't think he cares."

"Thou has my blessing to duel him, Orisian, so long as I am notified of when the duel will take place.  I will also see what I can do about speeding the healing process of his injury.  However, that is not why I am here.  Do you know who Emerald Dagger was?"

"He is a blacksmith, a very good one.  His products are all works of art, and I suppose he made more than just a few for your armies?"

"Not only mine, but my sister's as well.  With his injuries, that border on being fatal, he is no longer able to produce, repair, or teach recruits how to maintain their equipment.  The doctors tell us they have no idea when he will recover, if he ever will.  This presents an obvious problem, one I hope you know how to fix."

"I know how to make weapons and armor, Princess.  Although, I am not a skilled blacksmith.  I am not proficient in taking the measurements of buyers, and I have more skill in maintaining and repairing equipment than I do of making.  I will do my best to take over for Emerald Dagger, if that is what you wish, but I cannot promise quality work."

"Thou need not worry.  We have already replaced Emerald Dagger.  The problem I was referring to, was that some have heard of what thee did.  Nobles who have no trust, patience, or empathy for one such as thineself.  They demand a punishment, and I have decided what that punishment is."

"By your command, Princess."

"Thine punishment will be a change of scenery.  For three days, and three nights, thee and myself will retreat to an old Lunar training field, where you will be broken."

Orisian looked at Luna with the face a soldier should have:  perfectly calm, with no emotion.  Although, in his head, Orisian was practically screaming with delight.  Three whole days and nights to test his mettle against what the princess of the Lunar Armies could throw at him.  He wondered if she knew this was exciting for him, or if she actually thought of this as a punishment, and when he raised the question, Luna smiled, and told him to meet her here at midnight.





Orisian was slightly disoriented, and was very sick.  He was currently trying to keep himself from retching after Luna had teleported them from the training grounds, to a large, flat, and empty field that more resembled a mountain than a field.  More than half of the ground was stone, and the rest was sand.

"If thou is uneasy from a simple teleportation spell, then thy magic resistance might prove fatal.  For the next three days and nights, I must cast seven spells on you.  One, is to ensure that thou does not fall asleep."

Orisian was still struggling to keep his lunch, but he heard every word she said.  He thought back to his first days training to become a Kingsman, how he thought he was going to die, how his body refused to listen to him.  He would be feeling that all over again, and with the bad parts come the good.  Overcoming the magic that will be effecting his body will be glorious, and he looks forward to whatever misery it could bring.

"Two, is to restrain thine muscles.  Thou will not be as strong, and fatigue will come much more quickly."

Sounds as though he will be young again.

"Three, is to cloud thine mind.  Thou will not understand where thee is, and survival instincts will take over.  Four, is to lower thine heart rate.  Thou will be slower, and everything will be painful.  Five, is to remove the thought of hunger and thirst.  This is to offset anything that may come from thine instincts being thine only thoughts.  Six, is to enhance thine nerves.  Everything thee will feel shall be magnified.  Seven, is by far the most powerful.  It is a spell I haven't used for over a thousand years, far before Nightmare Moon had come into existence.  This spell, is meant to bring thine nightmares to life, for only thee."

Luna's horn began to glow as she finished the last sentence, and Orisian began to lose sight of any brightness as everything faded to black.





Orisian awoke with no memory of where he was, what he had been doing, or why he hurt in every place.  What he did know, was that Luna was standing over him, a slight smile on her face as he quickly got up and stood at attention.

"Thou wasn't killed during thine punishment."

Orisian began thinking of what she meant, before he remembered that she was supposed to be breaking him as punishment for injuring Emerald Dagger as bad as he did.  

"Thine resistance to magic rose far faster than any would have thought."

"I apologize Princess, but I am confused as to what happened."

"The three days and nights are up, Orisian.  Thou has been punished.  How does it feel?"

"Painful, although I don't remember the punishment."

"Does thou remember the spells I had to cast on thee before thine punishment?"

"I don't believe so, Princess."

"One was a mind clouding spell.  Thou shouldn't remember anything from thine punishment, lest thine mind be as unyielding as steel."

"But... If I don't remember anything from the punishment, was I not punished?"

"It is unimportant to me if thou remembers thine punishment.  There were those who wished thee Ill, and they have received what they desire."

"But, Princess, I-"

"If thou are asked of this, then thee will respond that thou were put through hell, and did not enjoy it.  Correct?"

"Yes, Princess."

"Good.  Now, I believe thou still has recruits to train, and Morning Pen has gotten fairly worried for thine well-being."

Luna had the slightest smile as she winked at Orisian, and her horn began to glow.  A few moments later, Orisian realized they were back at the training grounds, and it was midnight.  If he knew any better, he might have thought they never left.