Backdated to this morning

[forgedinbattle]

[Xena does wake up where she went to sleep. Instead, she finds herself in the lobby this morning- in a much smaller (and much cuter) form.

Don't mind her, she's just going to be scurrying about, trying to avoid being stepped on and figuring out what exactly she's supposed to do until this wears off. Feel free to harass the hedgehog. Just don't expect her to be happy about it.]

Comments

[3_butterflies]

[OH MY CELESTIA. The sheer second the Pegasus sees the Hedgehog, she begins galloping up in sure squeeing joy.]

What an adorable little hedgehog~!

[forgedinbattle]

[Galloping. Galloping is bad when you are this small. Adorable little hedgehog will be scurrying out of the way and peering at Fluttershy from a safer position.]

[3_butterflies]

[Eep, oh no! She quickly skids to a halt.]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to have scared you, little one!

[forgedinbattle]

[Well, that's better. The hedgehog edges out toward Fluttershy, rather curious. A talking technicolor pony. That's new.]

[traken_master]

[The Master sees the hedgehog and kneels down for a closer look. Yes, that is definitely a specimen of erinaceus europaeus. He wonders why it's here. No one had mentioned the castle bringing animals to it.]

Well, you are an interesting find.

[forgedinbattle]

[If she were not a hedgehog, Xena would no doubt be making snarky remarks about his particular choice of wardrobe. He's a rather interesting find himself, if you ask her.

But alas, he'll have to settle for a rather skeptical expression on the hedgehog's face. Don't ask how that works. It just does.]

[traken_master]

[Hedgehogs aren't known for making such intelligent expressions. The Master peers closer, realizing something must be wrong. He reaches a gloved hand out slowly, curious to see how the hedgehog will react.]

[forgedinbattle]

[The hedgehog moves forward and sniffs his hand before backing up again, still watching him in a very unhedgehog-like way. She's not entirely trusting and being under a foot tall has made her a little more cautious than usual.]

[childofkrypton]

[Oh the 9 year old is totally trying to catch and pick up and hold the hedgehog.]

[forgedinbattle]

[Noooooo! Xena is not all that thrilled about the prospect of being handled by a kid. Hope he's up for chasing a hedgehog around the lobby.]

[childofkrypton]

Hey, come back! What are you doing in here? Do you want to go back outside...? [Since he figures that she ran in through the castle doors somehow.]

[forgedinbattle]

[Stops scurrying! But she doesn't come any closer just yet. Instead, she's just peering around a corner of a table, giving the child a skeptical look. So not sure about you...]

[fanstheflame]

[well, this is definitely not what Gale was expecting to see when he came down to get breakfast.

he crouches down to get a look at the hedgehog.]

How'd you get in here...

[forgedinbattle]

["Magic castle. How else?" Or that's what Xena would say if she could answer properly. As it is, Gale will have to settle for some huffing and puffing for a response as the hedgehog stares back up at him.

Hope that helps.]

[fanstheflame]

[he tilts his head. okay, it's a little pissy. but he knows hedgehogs don't actually bite as a defense, so he pulls the sleeves of his shirt up over his hands and reaches down to carefully scoop her up]

Come on. Let's get you outside before someone else does something dumb.

[forgedinbattle]

[Whoa. Whoa. Those pissy little noises increase for a bit when he scoops her up, but she does realize that he's trying to be helpful, so eventually she quiets down.

She's still not happy about the situation, though, so there's still a little hedgehog glare aimed at Gale.]

[mom_to_us_all]

...

[Having never seen a hedgehog before, Ammy stares intently as it passes by, wondering what it would eat... Hmmm.]

[forgedinbattle]

[Oh. Person staring intently. Xena stops and stares right back. This is, unfortunately, rather less intimidating than it would normally be.

What?]

[mom_to_us_all]

[Kneels down to its level, her chin nearly touching ground.

Magically, (yes, magically) some herbs appear in front of her, then she pushes them slowly towards the little animal.]

[walkinthruwalls]

[ There's a little girl currently walking through the lobby with her stuffed bunny when she spots the hedgehog, looking curiously at it before slowly stepping a little closer. She's never seen one so close before ]

[forgedinbattle]

[Hedgehog freezes. Not running away, but regarding the girl with a suspicious look. She knows how you kids are, wanting to touch everything and/or throw it around.]

[walkinthruwalls]

[ Kitty stops as well, crouching down to look closer at the hedgehog but not moving any more, just holding tightly to her bunny ]

[withmymind]

[ River had been laid on the floor of the lobby, enjoying the silence and peace that the floor gave her when she heard the scuttling of the hedgehog's feet. Without looking her hand shot out, pointing in its direction (scarily accurately so) before so turned her head ]

New.

[forgedinbattle]

[Wow. That's...creepy. Xena just kind of stares in her hedgehog way. Not really new, no. Just...new to this form.]

[withmymind]

[ Her hand stays drawn out towards the hedgehog, looking in its direction, eyes fixed on it, unblinking ]

Shouldn't have happened. Wrong.