Mitzi

 (You sit in front of me, awaiting my judgment.)

Far beyond the quilted blankets of the mortal sky, nestled deep within the shimmering clouds of the Great Beyond, sat the Ancient One. With a beard that cascaded like winter snow down to his toes, hair woven of starlight, and comfortable linen yoga trousers that rustled softly with every breath, he surveyed the cosmos.

Today, however, his wise old eyes were fixed entirely upon a very small, very wiggly creature sitting right at his feet.

Her name was Mitzi, and she was a pure-bred Jack Russell Terrier with a coat as bright as morning toast and an unmistakable zest for life. Unfortunately, due to a whimsical mix-up in the celestial workshop, Mitzi had been born carrying a peculiar burden: two small, jagged, undeniably demonic horns curling proudly from her forehead. While her spirit was as sweet as clover honey, her appearance tended to send the local cherubim scrambling behind the nearest nebula.

Mitzi tilted her head at a forty-five-degree angle, dropped her ears into the universal posture of supreme humbleness, and deployed her absolute cutiest, widest-eyed puppy stare straight up toward the Ancient One.

The wise being could not help it. A deep, rumbling chuckle broke the quiet, and a warm smile spread across his weathered face.

"Ah, little one," the being murmured, leaning forward with arms resting on his knees. "You have carried a heavy look for far too long. Fear not. I shall remove your horns, and they shall be replaced with small, round, halo-looking marks upon the very top of your cute head."

With a gentle flick of a finger dusted in starlight, a soft golden warmth enveloped Mitzi. The heavy, shadowy weight vanished from her brow. In place of the old horns, two delicate, perfectly circular golden rings—like tiny, inked halos—shimmered softly in her white fur.

Mitzi immediately sprang up on her hind legs, her tail vibrating like a bumblebee's wings, and let out a sharp, joyful ‘Ruff!’—which, translated loosely for those who do not speak dog, clearly meant: Behold, mortals! I am officially an angel.

The Ancient One chuckled again, reaching down to give her chin one final, affectionate scratch.

"A formidable transformation," the being whispered, watching her spin in an ecstatic circle. "Now, go. I shall send you down to the green valleys of planet Earth, to wander the lanes and be a steadfast local friend to those who need you most. Go forth, my angel dog."