It was late, I knew that much. Glancing outside my window, I could make out the moon, so I should still be sleeping. But something woke me up as it tickled my face.

I slowly opened my eyes, wiping away the crud with one hand and blindly reaching for the lamp switch with the other. After struggling to grip the dangling chain, I yanked it and turned on the dim bedside lamp. Turning my head, I notice a blob of white fidgeting around with a fuzzy blue tail that must have brushed my face. I wiped my eyes a bit more to clear up my vision, to find a certain unicorn out of bed. I focused more on what Vinyl was doing as she was tugging on the hat she used as a sleeping bag with her mouth.

"Vinyl, what are you doing this late?" I ask drearily. She whips around and side-steps, revealing a sleeping Octavia curled up inside the hat. I focused more and noticed the unicorn's sibling was shivering. The hat was not warm enough to counter the Autumn winds pushing against the window. Vinyl had a frown from attempting to drag the hat to a warmer place so her sister could sleep in peace.

Vinyl must really care about her.

"Let me help you with that," I spoke to her as she moved out of my way so I could grab the garment with a sleeping pony inside. It felt weird since I didn't bother sitting up, instead looking at everything sideways and adjusting my grip to accommodate the sideways gravity. I moved my arms at an uncomfortable angle and gently placed the hat beside me on the bed. Vinyl, meanwhile, had scurried off the nightstand, jumped onto the edge of my bed, and is not taking the liberty to squander over my face.

"Warmer?" I asked, adjusting the hat so it was underneath the covers and close to me. The combination of being buried under my blanket and my body heat reaching the hat was enough to slowly watch Octavia settle in a comfortable position in her sleep. Vinyl was very close to my face, smiling a 'thank you' kind of smile. "Don't worry about it," I said, moving my hand to stroke her back and calm her. Her fur was ticklish to my fingers, and she was beginning to warm up with the difference in temperature of near a cold window on a wooden table to beside me on my bed. I seemed to find the act of petting such a small, soft creature relaxing, and Vinyl didn't seem to mind, since she was pushing herself up into my touch.

She yawned after a scratch behind her head before booping my nose with a hoof. The furry appendage was amazingly soft with fur, while the flat underside gently pressed against the cartilage of my nose. The gesture was calming before she pranced back to the hat to rejoin her sister in the warm embrace of sleep.

"Goodnight Vinyl. Goodnight Octavia," I whispered before pulling the chain again and shutting off the lights. The last thing I heard was another high-pitched yawn before I too, began a steady breathing in slumber.

~~~QTH~~~

The chirps of birds in a tree outside my window began to pull me from my dreams. I didn't remember what I was dreaming about, but I know it was comforting. I didn't want to wake up, but the sun's rays were sneaking through my blinds and striking my closed eyelids. I simply turned over so the sun would stop troubling me. I wouldn't fall back to sleep, but I just wanted to stay in bed a few more minutes. After a bit, I opened my eyes to the sunlight cascading in. The birds stopped chirping and I noticed a shadow zoom past my window. I carefully sat up as to not wake up my guests who were still peacefully sleeping in my hat.

After carefully leaving my bed, I grabbed some clothes for the day and prepared for a refreshing shower.

The water warmed up while I undressed and stepped inside. I gave my hair a good wash, accidentally using a bit more shampoo than needed. After the rinse, I washed my face and the rest of my body. Showers have always been a relaxing thing for me, which is the reason I liked doing it in the morning instead of the night. I shut off the water and stepped onto a towel I had set up on the floor. Drying myself off, I threw on the clothes I picked out and put the towel in the washbasin.

I began to make my way to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast, before I heard a high-pitched squeak come from my bedroom. I knew only one thing could have made that kind of noise, spurring me to rush into the room. As I walked inside, I noticed Vinyl on the edge of the mattress, inching forward on the surface with a somewhat scared look on her face as she readied a jump to the floor below. As soon as she spotted me, she jumped down and scurried to my sock covered foot. I knelt down to greet her with my open palm on the floor. She stepped into my hand sitting back and throwing her hooves up, asking for a lift. I complied, raising my hand to my face to look at her at eye level. As soon as I did, she lept at my face, grasping my nose in a warm hug. Her small body did no physical harm, apart from making my heart explode. I quickly caught her with my hand to make sure she didn’t slide off my face. I had a hunch hugs were going to become a common thing. And I would never get tired of them.

“Good morning to you, too!” I chuckled as she climbed off of me and back into the palm of my hand. She sat back on her rump and opened her mouth, pointing inside of it in the universal gesture for 'hungry'.

"I was about to go make some breakfast before you started calling out from here," I spoke calmly. "How's Octavia? Is she still out?" I crouched over my bed and examined the hat sitting near the center. The two inch tall pony was still huddled in the cloth, looking like a bear hibernating in a cave. "Still resting. Maybe she'll be up when breakfast is done. I bet she's had a rough time."

I stood up straight and returned on the path to the kitchen, Vinyl enjoying the ride in my palm. Once there, I placed Vinyl on the counter and went to the fridge for ingredients. "How does French toast sound?" I asked out loud. I could hear a 'boing' sound coming from behind me. I turned around to notice Vinyl jumping up and down. How she's making that sound with her legs, I'll never know. I wonder if she even knows what French toast is, oris she just happy that I'm making her food. "I'll just take that as a 'yes'," I spoke with a smile, turning back to the fridge to fetch some bread and other necessities.

Vinyl simply watched from afar as I whisked up some batter and heated a pan. Once the batter was done, I dipped the bread into it and moved it to the pan, cooking four at a time. Vinyl was sniffing the air and I could have sworn I heard a tiny tummy rumble emit from her direction. When I glanced at her, she was blushing and trying to hide her face behind her bangs. I mearly chuckled, extending my hand to pet her head, effectively calming her. "It's okay," I spoke, "I'm just as hungry as you are."  It was so cute how she seemed to melt into my touch as I stroked her mane.

I flipped the bread when it was done, beginning to cook the other side. It didn't take long, at least it didn't feel like it since I occupied myself watching Vinyl play around. I had brought out a mug on the counter. With Vinyl's size, the whole world might as well be a playground for her. She was jumping through the handle of the mug like a circus animal and when she grew tired, she hopped inside the mug and curled up inside.

The bowl of batter emptied as the last slices of French toast were pulled out of the pan. I didn't make too much, just enough for me and the two alien creatures I housed. With breakfast piled on a plate, I carried it and the mug containing Vinyl to the dinner table. Once placed, Vinyl jumped out and began sniffing the slices in delight. I asked her to wait while I went back to the kitchen to grab two plates and some powdered sugar, then to my bedroom to retrieve Octavia. If she was hungry, maybe the smell of food could wake her up. I was carrying the hat ever so gently with me back to the table. I set down both plates and served a slice of French toast on each, sifting some powdered sugar on both. I then carefully cupped my hand and fished Octavia from her giant sleeping bag. I placed her on the table, next to a plate while Vinyl rushed to her side, awaiting a reaction.

Both Vinyl and I looked closely at the sleeping pony on the table. Octavia was breathing steadily, eyelids still shut. After a few seconds, I noticed her tiny nose twitch in reaction to the scent of food nearby. She sniffed the air a few times before her head slowly lifted from the surface of the table. Vinyl and I looked wide-eyed at the scene, Octavia slowly coming to her senses as her eyes lazily opened. The grey pony made a sound similar to a 'huh?' before she was tackled by Vinyl. Vinyl was squeezing with joy that her sister was still alive and well. The two of them rolled around in a ball of grey, white, and blue before they clunked themselves into one of the plates.

Now that the welcome from her sister was out of the way, Octavia began to observe her surroundings. She looked at the food on the plate before turning and seeing me. When she did, a look of fear struck her face, likely because she hasn't actually seen me before. She tried to stand up, but winced when she put pressure on her wounded leg. She glanced back and noticed the makeshift bandage covering her limb. She fell back and tried to scramble away before Vinyl stopped her. All I could hear were squeaks and improvised sound effects as Vinyl supposably explained the story to her frightened sister. I suppose she was speaking to her, but I didn't understand how her voice could only come out as a squeak. I couldn't figure out what she was saying, but her excessive gestures gave me an idea. She was flinging her hooves in the air, crouching and pouncing, and making little explosion sounds as she told the tale of how she got here. My question was when was there ever an explosion? I didn't ask it out loud, deciding I'd rather let Vinyl have her fun telling the story.

It eventually came to a point where Vinyl pointed at me with a smile. I waved meekly when Octavia gave me a look of curiosity. She looked back to Vinyl and asked something. Vinyl simply nodded and Octavia bowed to me.

"Aww, you're welcome," I spoke with a soothing tone. I slowly reached out to pet Octavia. She flinched with an 'eep', not knowing what to expect before her expression contorted. My finger was scratching her behind the ear and she chirped in happiness to the petting. To my surprise, her fur was somewhat softer than Vinyl's. Her face radiated joy as I move lower to rub her back. Something about petting these little ponies just blanketed me in wonder how such a creature could exist.

A small rumble broke me from the moment as Vinyl looked at me with a blush. Her hoof moved to her stomach as I rememberd the food in front of us. "Oh, right. Go ahead and dig in you two!" I exclaimed as Vinyl began to help her sister to her hooves. Octavia managed to strut onto the plate using only three legs to avoid the pain in her fourth. Her and Vinyl had hopped on the plate and pounced the breakfast treat.

When I said dig in, I meant the expression. But these two ponies took my words seriously. Both of them dove in head-first taking chomps into the bread. It was adorable how their cheeks stretched out with such big bites. Vinyl raised her head to swallow. After the big gulp, her face contorted in an odd way. I was about to question whether or not she was okay, until she sneezed in a puff of white from the powdered sugar and tumbled in a backwards summersault. Me and Octavia both paused our eating to crack up at Vinyl's powdered face. Her hair changed from its two-tone blue to a frosty white and her face was unchanged. She shook off the powder and began to laugh with us.

After our laughing fit, each of us continued eating normally. That is, if diving head-first into your meal is normal. Eventually, each of us finished, and I went to retrieve a plastic sandwich bag to keep the leftover pieces of French toast in. I could store them in the fridge, saving them for another time. When I came back, Vinyl and Octavia were leaning against each other with full bellies. They both looked very satisfied from the meal, both of them wearing a goofy grin. I approached the two of them. If they were going to be staying with me, I'm going to need some answers.

"Do you guys mind if I ask you some questions?" I asked to the both of them, gaining their attention.

They both looked at me, nodding and giving me their attention as I sat back down with my elbows on the table and my chin resting on my hands.

"Okay," I spoke while pulling out my phone. They might need it to speak with me. I opened up the notepad app and placed the device before the pair. "First of all, I know Vinyl can understand me, but can you understand me, Octavia?" I asked. She nodded. "Good. Now, do you guys know where you are?" I asked. Both of them shook their head. Vinyl started typing on my phone with her tiny hooves.

But the food was good. Is there more?

"Well, yes. I have some other foods, but I'll need to stop by the market soon to pick up more. If either of you ever get hungry, just let me know. I'll make you something. As for where you are, this is my apartment. It's nowhere near the best, but will suffice as a home. But do you know where you're from?" I asked.

Vinyl opened her mouth to speak, but paused with a face of pension. She turned to Octavia for help, but she just shrugged. Vinyl then turned to face me and shook her head. Then her head lowered and her ears went flat. Octavia mirrored the action. Octavia went to my phone, having picked up on what the contraption does when her sister used it.

I do remember being in a forest. It was where my leg got hurt. I know we dont live in the forest, but that's all I can remember...

It felt like an arrow to my chest. These two had no idea where they came from and neither did I. I hunched down to look them dead in the eyes.

"That may be so, but I will do what I can to get you guys back home. You both can live here with me as long as you like. I promise to do everything I can to keep you safe."

They both looked up to me, smiles crawling on their lips. It wasn't long before the two of them tackled my face. I laughed from their fur ticking my cheeks, each of their warm bodies gave me a reassuring feeling that I would always have friends, big and small, and I would never be alone. I will always be here for these two.

"You're welcome, guys," I spoke while they jumped back to the table, "but I should be thanking you two. Without you, I'd be living alone in this apartment like a bum." I stood up. "Anyways, I need to get the morning paper. You don't mind if I drop out really quick, do you? I'll be right back," I asked to the two of them. They both nodded and saw me off.

I left the apartment and went downstairs to the mailboxes. I opened mine and pulled out the newspaper. As I closed it up, a man approached me with a grin on his face.

"How you doing there?" He said. It was the landlord.

"I'm fine, just getting the paper. How have you been?" I asked, making small talk with the old man. He was likely in his forties, sporting a nice goatee.

"I'm fine, in fact, my niece is abo- wait. What is that on your face?" he pointed his finger in my face.

"What's what?" I asked nervously. His expression shifted quickly from jolly to suspicious.

"That, right there. Is that a hair?" He asked, still pointing his finger at me.

I reached up and touched my face. Sure enough, I felt something tickle my cheek. I pinched it, and brought it in front of me to see. In my hand before me, was a small, white hair. It looked like it came from Vinyl's coat.

"Is that a hair?" he asked again, "You know the rules kid, no pets allowed. If you have a pet of any kind, I'm gonna have to ask you to get rid of it," he said in a serious tone.