The metal felt cold against his skin as the pony pressed it against his chest. The gnoll watched in silence as doctor Caretrot listened to his heartbeat. After a moment Caretrot pulled the instrument away, "Alright, heartbeat is nice and steady. All vitals are good and those cuts and burns seem to be healing nicely. You'll have some scars but other than that you'll be fine. Shame we can't do anything about that eye, but things like that need to be healed immediately or they'll stay and with all that magical residue after, well..." the doctor gave a sigh.
"Is alright, Scar still has one eye left."
Doctor Caretrot put on a weak smile, "Let's just hope you don't run into any other dark legends in the future." He turned to Purple Haze, "Your head injury seems to be recovering fine as well, although it's a bit reddened. I'll put some disinfectant on it just to be on the safe side, the princess has insisted that I keep a good eye on your health." He went to a cupboard and took out a small bottle as well as a cloth and some band-aids, "Now this might burn a bit but..." he turned around to see that the gnoll had gotten up and was watching him with a glint in his eye.
"Scar wants to do that." he said with a small smile, Purple Haze was starting to get pale
---
Princess Celestia walked through Canterlot Central with brisk steps, the guards accompanying her having trouble to keep pace with their ruler. She had a tight schedule that barely offered free time for any other activities, but for this she had simply made herself some time. The royals and their worries could wait, this was something she wanted to do personally.
As she made her way to Caretrot's office she could hear Purple Haze talk with an agitated voice, "Wait! You're not supposed to put the whole bottle on it! Why did you even give him a towel?! Scar,... just wait... Scar!" there was a shuffle followed by a shout, "Argh! Dammit that burns! Stop holding it down already!"
Celestia could hear the gnoll chuckle, "Is supposed to burn. Hold still or Scar will spill it."
"You can't spill it, you already put the whole damn bottle on that towel!" Celestia couldn't help but smile as she heard the two. As she stepped through the door Caretrot was putting a band-aid on Purple Haze's head while she was giving a broadly smiling gnoll sour looks.
"Hello Scar, hello captain Purple Haze. It is good to see you returned well and sound. Doctor Caretrot, I hope they are in good health?"
Purple Haze struck a quick salute as the gnoll greeted Celestia, "Gnoll is happy to be back. Was long travel."
"They are both recovering nicely, princess." Doctor Caretrot said with a smile as he finished his work.
For a moment a shade of sadness passed over Celestia's face as she looked at the gnoll's features. Fresh scars ran over the side of his face, his destroyed eye covered by an improvised eye clap. Both she and her sister had poured as much magic into healing him as they could spare, but the magical residue left from his battle with Sombra had proven too chaotic and strong even for them. She had shed many tears that day.
He still looked thinner than usual, but his smile was enough to carry her worries away. She remembered when she and Luna had tried to convince him to leave Purple Haze's side for a moment, and how he had lost his temper. Celestia pushed the memory aside again as she returned the gnoll's smile. It didn't matter now, both Purple Haze and Scar had returned to them. "When I heard both of you were here I wanted to come personally to express an invitation."
Purple Haze looked at Celestia with surprise, "Princess?"
"This evening my sister and I will hold a banquet as it will be the founding day of our nation. The both of you are invited as our guests of honor." she turned to doctor Caretrot, "I trust you will join our celebration as well?"
"Of course, princess." Caretrot replied happily.
"The founder's gala? Princess, I am honored but I thought that only the high society of Equestria would be invited?"
"The nobles come and go my dear captain, but this celebration is also for the heroes of Equestria and those that my sister and I hold dear. You and Scar are both. The bearers of the elements are also invited, I hope to see you there as well." Celestia replied with a motherly voice.
"Thank you princess." Purple Haze bowed her head.
Scar gave Celestia a questioning look, "It doesn't know what gala or banquet means... is party?"
Celestia chuckled, "Indeed it is. Will you come?"
The gnoll thought for a moment, "Scar will come with Purple Haze..." he looked down at himself, "Though Scar may need to change clothes first..." he still wore the red and black garments Rarity had made for him. They were covered with cuts and burns and some of the stones were missing as well. He still had the white one so it would be fine, but Rarity would probably throw a fit should she see him like this.
"I will see you at the gala then. It has been good to see the both of you." Celestia bid them goodbye and left the room, there was still much preparation to be done.
When Purple Haze was sure the princess had left she took a deep breath, "The founder's gala... I used to do guard duty at the door and now I get to take part as an honor guest." a small smile started to spread her lips, "I'm going to polish my armor until it shines. It's time those nobles see what a real mare is."
The gnoll scratched his chin, "Scar wonders..." he turned to Purple Haze, "Should Scar bring Tag along?"
"Sorry, but no weapons allowed." the gnoll started to say something, "Especially talking, magical weapons. Though I'm sure princess Celestia will want to meet him later." much later she hoped.
---
She had built a closet around him. This world was cruel. Had he said something wrong to trigger this reaction or did she simply dislike hammers? At least he had gotten his mustache, the little dragon had a surprising talent for drawing. But what would he do now? His master would come and pick him up if something needed smashing he knew, but how would he pass his time until then? He wondered how anything could not need a thorough smashing. He noticed a mop standing next to him, he felt his nonexistent heart beat faster. "Helllooooo..."