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!

[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.

[childofkrypton]

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

[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]

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

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[3_butterflies]

[She smiles, staying in place so she won't frighten the hedgehog again.]

Hello... it's so very nice to meet you. My name is Fluttershy, and I just love cute animals like you...

[forgedinbattle]

[Oh, gods. She is a cute animal, isn't she? What is her life coming to? She would answer you, Fluttershy, except that she can't really talk, so it all comes out in little huffs and puffs. At least she's not running away?]

[3_butterflies]

Such a small creature in such a large room... It might be a little scary. Would you like me to get you to a smaller room?

[forgedinbattle]

[Oh, hey. That actually sounds pretty good. Being in a place with less traffic sounds a lot safer.

Xena does her best to nod her little hedgehog head (difficult when you don't have much neck to speak of) and generally look approving.]

[3_butterflies]

Okay! Here...

[She crouches down, laying her wings out on the floor.]

You can climb on me, and I'll take you around.

[forgedinbattle]

[This is so strange... but Xena can't really talk; she's suddenly a hedgehog. So she scurries up the wings and tries to find a way to cling to Fluttershy. Be careful with her, little pony!]

[3_butterflies]

[Once the hog is one, she stands back up.]

Now we can go for a nice little walk... And when you want me to stop, just tug on my mane.

[She then begins to walk, gently, slowly...]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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?]

[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]

[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.]

[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...]