Not much activity’s been around since Cozy Glow was summoned by the map to Baltimare. In that roughly past month and a half, our fox, Lorien, has grown to full size and matches me and Cozy’s height.
This morning, I wake up to the sun and start decorating as soon as I can… okay the more festive stuff is already up, just not the foyer banner. After drawing on it and nailing it to the railing above, I fly backwards slightly to get a good view of it.
I sigh in accomplishment, looking at the resulting depiction of our planned guests. “Nothing says a warm welcome like an illustrative banner. When our guests see this, they’ll feel right at home.”
In the distance, a familiar clicking noise alerts me to one of the flights of stairs at the ends of the foyer. Of course, it’s Lorien. “Good morning!” I say as I land in front of him. “What’s up, Lorien?”
Lorien looks right past me, which I detect immediately. “Oh that? I was just putting up a banner with all our upcoming guests on it.”
I pick Lorien up and give him a clear view of the banner. He starts to pant and laugh. “From right to left,” I explain. “on our guest list we have Tight Knit, Amber Glow, Bright Trail, Sheriff Mangle, Lily Trail, Smoky, former queen Areola, and Spike.”
Lorien leans his head back and kisses me on the cheek, clearly looking forward to the reunions Cozy, Chrysalis and I have planned. Of course, because of how busy me and Chrysalis’ circles of friends are, we only can reunite with one each, rather than the elaborate six Cozy Glow has in store.
As soon as I put him back on the floor, I’m alerted by a knock on the door. Using my magic to open it reveals Fluttershy on the top of the stoop.
“Fluttershy? What’re you doing here?” I ask her.
“I just came to check on your new fox. And I can already see he considers himself a long-time resident at your home.” Lorien and I initially look at each other in confusion, but he ultimately greets Fluttershy with a kiss on her cheek that makes her chuckle. “You were always a good judge of character… does he have a different name now?”
“I’m almost certain it’s different, but he does go by Lorien now,” I say.
“Okay, it is. Originally it was Kevin, but he looks perfectly happy with you calling him Lorien.” As I nod to her, Fluttershy turns around only to look back at me and Lorien. “And from the looks of it, he seems to’ve remembered his scent training throughout the fall. But for now, I’m confident that’s all I came for. See you at the Hearth’s Warming party, Aita.”
“Actually,” I interject. “Chrysalis, Cozy and I organized a reunion. Apologies in advance.”
“That’s okay. Come to Sugar Cube Corner any time you feel like it, and that also includes anyone else in the castle.”
Fluttershy waves me goodbye by crossing her forehoof. I walk to the edge of the stoop, waving back as Lorien joins me.