Happy’s Damnation

Chapter 2 - Hello darkness

The guards did as instructed, depositing the mistress's monster in the manor’s small dungeon, Then promptly splitting up to finish their remaining orders.

One guard went about retrieving the family healer Hard Pill another highborn thestral but lacking the family prestige that elevated others like Miss Eclipse, The other left the main house to go to the worker's quarters on the edge of the property where the smithy worked, a hardy but lowborn thestral named Solid Hoof.

Hard Pill being inside the main house was the closest and subsequently reached by the guard first, He firmly rapped his hoof against the sturdy ironwood door.

“ Miss Pill your services have been requested by Miss Eclipse, You are to report to the dungeon and take care of your new charge.” The guard, having completed his order, returned to his regular patrol.

He left long before a still half-asleep and disheveled Hard Pill could be seen stumbling out of her room fumbling with her medical equipment and supplies not expecting to have to work so early taking to celebrating their mistress’s coming of age ceremony with the rest of the staff the night before. She felt groggy and had a splitting headache being a medical professional herself she could easily identify her current condition as a wicked hangover.

Shaking her head clear and reorganizing her things she moved at a brisk trot towards the dungeon to see what fool had probably partaken too much and hurt themselves in the process.

Well, that is what she thought she would be dealing with instead when she reached the seldom-used holding cells she met an uneasy-looking Solid Hoof standing at the entrance of the cell seemingly unwilling to enter its dimly lit confines.

Frustrated at the hold-up Pill quickly voiced her disappointment at being forestalled. “Um-hum” she cleared her throat and continued “Solid why are you standing there like a spooked filly?” the only response she received was a hoof pointed into the cell itself.

Following where the hoof was pointing she began to rebuke the mare once more but the words quickly died in her throat. In the cell spilled over the small cot was something huge, something she had never seen before its long limbs hung over the cot haphazardly easily reaching the floor, It was covered in torn, burned fabric that did little to hide the hideous wounds that littered its body concentrated on what was most likely its head.

Knowing that wounds like this needed to be tended to with utmost haste she quickly recovered from her shock and gently bumped Solid Hoof with her flank signaling the spooked mare to move, She quietly did so allowing Pill to enter and see how severe the burns truly were, Severe they were indeed most of its exposed skin appeared to be discolored and burned although that could be fixed with time and magic what she was most worried about is what remained of its face.

The heat-infused magic had vaporized nearly all organic material on its skull leaving charred chunks of cooked flesh and blackened bone, She noted the two recesses of it's face meant it had forward-facing eyes emphasis on had with both optical organs missing, She had seen some nasty injuries in her time but this was on a whole new level she would have a hard time keeping it alive but with enough blood, sweat and no small amount of magic it should be possible especially if her mistress deemed it so.

Solid Hoof took the opportunity to express her thoughts on their new charge having heard about the incident from a fellow worker, Who had seen the event take place before the guard had instructed that her skills had been requested by Miss Eclipse

“We should let that thing die, no good ever comes from summoning magic you know that stuff's evil right? Remember what happened to Plum’s family a bit back?”

Pill sharply replayed “It’s not your place to decide Hoof, we have a duty to fulfill and I'll see it done, now unless you want to find yourself a nice room down here I suggest you get to work, And the Plums disappeared while traveling to canterlot on diplomatic work not summoning some sort of monster you should stop listing to the wild rumors those mares at the bar keep telling you.”

Maneuvering her wing tips to gently shift it's head from it's laying position she cracked a grim grin and peaked back at Hoof “You know with how the jaw is exposed it sort of looks like it's smiling” she said gently facing the limp head towards her disgruntled companion watching her visibly blanch chuckling at her friend's unease she asked her what they wanted of the blacksmith batmare “So why’d they call a blacksmith for a burn victim?”

Hoof replied moving her head to the side to remove the creature from her view “Miss Eclipse wished for its face to be covered and I can see why” She reached a wing into her apron retrieving her measuring instruments then hastily taking quick measurements of it's skull and facial dimensions, She turned away with a shudder, completing her work she gave a parting word before leaving “I'll get to work, Good luck keeping that thing alive.” With that she left, leaving Pill alone with her newest patient.

“Well then,” she said, cracking her stiff neck “Let’s get to work then.”

When Solid Hoof returned several hours later carrying a package wrapped in cloth she trotted into the cell just in time to see Pill wiping blood from her wings and hooves with a damp rag, having just recently finished cleaning and bandaging the creature, Using magic harnessed with her wing to close and heal the creature's many wounds, she was able to stabilize it.

Pill looked over and asked Hoof “Done so soon? I'm interested to see what you have come up with.”

“Well you should remember Im damn good at what I do Pill so don't be too surprised and take a gander at this,” she said as she used one wing to hold the package and the other to quickly remove the cloth with a flourish revealing a bronze mask, made to look like the creature's skull equipped with a hinged jaw and thin leather padding lining it's interior to act as skin that would serve to protect the creatures exposed wounds and bone, A thick leather strap was attached to back to hold it in place. “Pretty good right?”

It's kind of distasteful isn't it?” Pill asked, tilting her head to the side and squinting her eyes at the mask “I would have made something that looked a little closer to what it had been like before it's deformation.” she answered

Hoof shrugged “And how was I supposed to possibly know what this thing looked like before it got burned?”

“Beats me” Pill returned a shrug of her own.

“Well then let's put it to the real test shall we.” Hoof moved to the creature's side and affixed the mask to the creature's face using one wing to move in into place and her other to tighten the strap to the back of it's bandaged head, Stepping back to admire her work she spoke “Yeah I think it's pretty good work myself nearly fits just right, with a couple of adjustments I bet it would be perfect.”

“Well I think you and I have a different definition of perfect, But it should do for now, So do you want to tell the Mistress that her new toy is ready?” asked Pill before turning towards the sound of the door being pushed open behind her.

“There will be no need to burden yourself so Miss Pill, I intended to grace you with my presence so I can inspect my “new toy” as you called it,” Eclipse said as she pushed past the door into the cell she addressed Hard Pill once more “Now what can you tell me about this my creature Pill?”

Pill quickly replied “Well after removing its coverings I have discovered that it is a male furthermore possibly intelligent being that it possessed clothing and metal trinkets, as far as injuries are concerned it's lower body being covered sustained only minor burns and bruises. However, I fear because of the intensity of the burns to the cranium, It is without a doubt blind, possibly deaf, and mute as well.”

“Possibly intelligent, blind, mute, and deaf?” Eclipse paused in thought then continued.

“Hmm yes I believe we might get some use out of the creature yet, There are ways to surmount such disabilities I’ll just have to review some of the older rune scrolls and if it does turn out to be intelligent it will be easier for you to train” she nodded to herself than began to leave the room now having confirmed her previous orders had been fulfilled nearly leaving before Hard Pill asked about the sudden task of training the creature.

“Are you sure Miss Eclipse? I’m better suited to healing than I am to monster taming, I just can't be the best option for this task.”

Without turning back Eclipse replied, “I certainly hope you aren't second-guessing my judgments, Miss Hard Pill I would certainly hate to have to make Father find a new resident physician.”

Hard PIll bowed her head “Apologies Miss Eclipse I did not mean to insinuate such a thing, I look forward to fulfilling your orders to the utmost of my abilities.” she said, not raising her head until Eclipse had left the room.

“I suppose we should probably name it unless you just want to just keep calling it “it” you know, I kinda liked what you said earlier about it looking like it had a smile, So let's call it Happy.” Solid Hoof said from the edge of the room.

With a dry chuckle, Pill looked up at Hoof and commented “Once again with the horrible taste, But fine it will have to do for now at least.” After slowly pouring water into Happy's mouth and double-checking the bandages the two Thestrals left to return to their regular nightly duties not knowing the full extent the creature's sudden appearance would affect their lives.