You were in that magical place between sleep and waking, where you’re only vaguely aware of your surroundings and your brain has officially turned off. You were content to sleep right here on the couch and were all set to drift off to sleep when something heavy plopped down on your lap.

“I don’t need this,” said the purple one, ‘Aria’ if you had heard correctly, who had put her head on your lap like the other two before her. She frowned up at you like you had done something to anger her, “Got it? I don’t need this. I’m just itchy.”

Still half-asleep, you didn’t clue in until she waggled her cheek fin at you. You shrugged and reached for her, hesitating slightly when she winced as you came close to touching her, and began to rub her cheek just at the base of the fin.

“A bit harder,” she said, “Use your nails.” She nervously looked over at the other two, both of whom were curled up and asleep on the floor. “Right there,” she whispered, “Keep going.” She continued to frown as you scratched, but you could tell she was enjoying it. She noticed your faint smirk and she blushed faintly, “I said I don’t need this,” she whispered angrily.

“Want me to stop?”

She glared for a moment or two and her frown waivered. “…No,” she said. You kept going, massaging around the base of her ears and stroking her cheek, until she finally pushed your hand away. She climbed up and leaned in uncomfortably close, “Don’t tell those two,” she whispered, “…and thanks.”

With that she pulled away and curled up on the floor with her back to you. You smiled ear to ear and leaned back on the couch, feeling stupid for believing, even for a second, that these three were ‘monsters that nearly conquered Equestria.’