Applejack's eyes fluttered open and for a moment she had not even the slightest idea of where she was. Then slowly the events of last night came back to her. She'd given her own bed to Trixie and had gone to sleep the night in the spare room. Thus explaining the unfamiliar ceiling that now greeted her on waking. She couldn't help but grin. Mac had, in his stoic kindness, offered to take care of her chores while she took their guest on a tour of the town. She had Trixie to herself for a whole day. "Nervicited" was the portmanteau that Pinkie had come up with for just such a feeling as this.
She stretched out her four legs and began to rise up when suddenly she noticed something odd. There was something in the bed with her. Or somepony. Applebloom? The little filly had not slept in the same bed as her big sister in nearly a year, a luxury that she had abandoned in her constant quest to be more mature. The lump lying next to her was too large to be Applebloom anyway.
AJ pulled back the covers and then nearly had a heart attack on the spot. Trixie was curled up in a little ball next to her. Her pale cornflower blue tail was wrapped around her and her dainty hooves were tucked under her chin. The magician's flank gently rose and fell with her breath, her mouth still slightly open, her lips leaving a damp imprint on the mattress.
Applejack had to quickly turn away, simply to avoid hyperventilating.
Did we...? Ah mean, did I...? Aw, heck! Heck and blast it! Ah told mahself this gal's too broken up to be in a relationship right now and then Ah went ahead and took advantage of her. Or did Ah? Ah can't remember anything like that happening last night. We talked for a couple of hours and then Ah put her in bed. Tucked her in mahself. So what in the hay is she doin' sleepin' next to me then?
AJ pulled back the covers to take another longing look at the sleeping blue unicorn. One of Trixie's back hooves was kicking idly at the air and Applejack could faintly hear her mumbling to herself. She leaned closer to see if she could hear her a little better.
"But Applejack... pinecones are... not so bad once you get used to... used to them. Just got to get past that... first bite and then... hmhmh..."
AJ desperately stifled a giggle.
If she isn't jus' the cutest lil' thing. Ah wanna kiss her so bad. No! Come on now, Applejack. You promised you'd at least test the waters first. Ya gotta make sure she's comfortable with you. She needs a friend right now, not a lover. If things don't work out then she'd be all alone again. She's doin' so well and a breakup would ruin her. Stop thinkin' about yerself! Now put the covers back and git up! Stop staring at her... Stop...
She didn't stop staring. She couldn't. Similar struggles had been going on inside the earth pony's mind since Trixie had arrived. AJ was terrible at hiding her feelings and even worse at suppressing them. Twilight had specifically told her to be as gentle and friendly as she could.
And Ah would be gentle. Ah'd be as gentle as a field mouse. Jus' one kiss. She wouldn't even know. No! No, no, no, no, no!
After what seemed like an eternity of internal conflict Trixie stirred. She dreamily lifted her head. Her eyes slowly opened and took in her surroundings. For a long moment the two stared at each other. Then Trixie squawked and fell out of bed.
"Applejack! Good morning!" Trixie seemed to be having difficulty controlling the volume of her voice.
"Mornin' sugarcube, wanna tell me why yer sleepin' in here?"
"Cold!" piped Trixie, "I was cold."
AJ frowned, "But Ah left ya with a mountain of blankets and such..."
"No... uh... you!" Trixie was clearly panicking at this point, "You were cold! Trixie thought that maybe you might be cold so she... she decided to sleep with you and keep you warm..."
"Did ya have a bad dream?" asked Applejack. Her Trixie-translator was getting keener with each conversation the two had.
"No... maybe..." Trixie mumbled, "Trixie had hoped to wake up before you, so she could slip out of your bed without you knowing she had been there."
"Wakin' up before a farm gal takes a fair bit of practice, Ah'm afraid. But don't you fret none. S'perfectly okay to want a pony in yer bed-" Applejack scolded herself for the Freudian slip, "- to rely on yer friends for comfort and such. Now come on, let's go get some breakfast."
Food always had the power to cheer Trixie up. She trotted happily after AJ as the two went downstairs.
"Do ya often have bad dreams or is it jus' 'cos yer in an unfamiliar house?" asked Applejack. She had been the one to suggest that Trixie stay with her during her time in Ponyville after all. She certainly hoped it wasn't troubling the fragile unicorn. It was still dark outside but AJ could hear big Mac chopping wood out back. Was it possible that the big red stallion been the trigger? Trixie seemed to still be a little nervous around her brother.
"Not that something as trivial as dreams would bother the Great and Powerful Trixie... but yes, there have been many bad dreams. Since she used the amulet Trixie has had a bit of trouble sleeping. And there are... other things. But that's not why Trixie climbed into your bed last night, mind you..." Trixie was determined to avoid looking vulnerable. But the news of the amulet's possible residual after-effects worried AJ. They'd have to see Twilight about this as soon as they could.
"Um... Applejack?"
AJ turned to face the unicorn. Trixie had stopped walking and her ears were burning red.
"Trixie didn't have bad dreams when you were next to her..."
Aw heck, it's gonna take all of mah willpower to keep my hooves off her. Why's she gotta be so darn adorable?
"Well... uh... I reckon there's enough room for two... in mah bed."