A Place To Lay My Head

Applejack felt something quite warm and plush wrapped around her. It was alien to her, at least it was for the past eight years, but it definitely wasn't unwelcome. She embraced the plushy object and snuggled into it: it was comfortable and so very warm. The best part was that it smelled so sweet, like sprinkles and freshly baked cupcakes. Then it giggled.

"Gee AJ, I didn't take you for the cuddling type." Applejack's eyes fluttered open, her emerald orbs taking in the curly tufts of pink hair that blocked her vision. After that, the events of last night flooded back to her in one burst of mental acuity. Pinkie and Applebloom had nightmares and came to sleep in her bed.

"Sorry Pinkie..." Applejack let out a large yawn and let go of her friend. She wasn't embarrassed about being cuddled up to the soft pink pony, why should she be? It was a simple mistake while she was asleep, and not one she immediately regretted, she had slept better last night than any night before. "Ah guess ah'm just not used ta sleepin' next to somepony." Applejack's eyes were drawn to the clock on her wall. 5:15 in the morning, still 15 minutes until the rest of the family was up. "What're you awake for so early?" Applejack drew her hooves away from Pinkie and stretched.

"Well I usually have to wake up and start the ovens this early. It's not like I just sleep all day, silly. I'm not Dashie!" A wide, gleaming smile accompanied this statement, perhaps Pinkie would fit in with the Apple family after all. Well, as long as she's a good worker.

"Alright then. Say...where'd Applebloom go?" The little filly was missing from her place on the other side of the plush pink pony where she had gone to sleep last night.

"Oh, I moved her back to her room earlier. It would be a little embarrassing for her to be seen snuggling up with her big sister by her friends, wouldn't it?" Pinkie snuggled back up with Applejack and closed her eyes. "I think it would be."

"Smart move, Pinkie. Never thought of that..." Applejack tried to pry her friend off, but Pinkie wouldn't budge. "Can ya get offa me? Ah need ta get up." An early start on a day could be very advantageous on the farmstead, it meant getting done faster, even if it was only by fifteen minutes.

"C'mon AJ, ten more minutes." Pinkie looked up with wide eyes and a quivering lower lip, something Applebloom dubbed 'the puppy dog look.' "I weally like laying next to you Applejack." And just like Applebloom, she talked in an overly cute voice.

"Fine..." It seemed like she was going to be saying that a lot around Pinkie.

--

Big Macintosh awoke with a big yawn, just as he did every day. With a throw of his sheets and a roll to his hooves, he was up and out of bed. The white, apple adorned night cap he wore was taken off and placed on the bed post. Why he wore it was more of a family tradition, plus it didn't look too bad.

He was usually the first one up in the morning, it was his job to get the family up and going. After all, he was the stallion of the house. The mountain of a pony slipped on the yoke around his neck. It was a comfortable weight that helped balance him out while he worked, it was something he adopted early in his life in order to put on the bulk needed to do farm work.

With a grunt and a crack of each of his knees he left his room, quietly shutting the door behind him. The apple red stallion lumbered over to his little sister's door and pushed it open as gently as he could. Inside, the three fillies were all sleeping peacefully, each little chest rising and falling in perfect harmony. Macintosh simply smiled at the sight and shut the door without a word.

Next room was Granny's, he could hear the old mare's snoring from outside the room. Any sounds were good. It means another day with Granny around.

Finally, Applejack's room. He put his ear against the door, nothing, not a single sound. He usually heard Applejack's rather loud and obnoxious snore, but not now. Curious, Macintosh slowly pushed open the door. What he saw inside made his brow furrow. Pinkie and Applejack were snuggled up against each other, smiles plastered on their faces.

"APPLEJACK!" The whole house shook with the thunderous roar, even the birds flew away from the house in fear of the stallion. The two snuggling mares jolted up resulting in Applejack falling off of the bed with a loud crash. Three fillies in the next room over could be heard letting out an ear piercing scream. Pinkie simply sat up, and without even flinching, asked a simple question.

"What's up, Big Mac?" The stallion's blood boiled.