>You feel a cold chill on your midriff.
>As you try to slip back to sleep, the freezing air is immediately vanquished by something warm and wet.
>It slithers across your skin playfully, lapping at your chin.
>The searching creature rubs against your body, probing any inch of skin it hasn't touched.
>Unfortunately you're quite ticklish.
>You squirm at the foreign object, as if forcing you awake.
>Giggling at the playful tickling, you slowly open your eyes.
>Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you see Lyra's large head take up your entire vision.
>Along with her tongue, practically plastered to your body.
>Being far too sleepy to react, you do the only rational thing you could think of.
>Make the most disgusted face you can muster.
>Eyebrow arched, eye twitching and mouth contorted to the point of deformity.
>Your expression achieved in having her tongue slip back into her mouth, smacking her lips briefly.
>She only responds with an incredibly stoic look.
>Eyes unflinching and snout frozen still, she slowly backs away from you.
>”...Let's face it, you could've caught me doing much worse...”
>With your mind finally catching up to the current situation, you pull down your shirt to cover yourself.
>It was neatly folded up to your neck, much to your surprise.
>She even pulled your arms out of the sleeves to make sure the shirt doesn't fold back down from your arm movements.
>Lyra must've put a lot of thought into this.
>Aside from the fact that a large oral organ slapping your body is a great formula for waking up.
>Your shirt gets a little soaked as you pull it down over yourself.
“Eghh...”
>”Yeah, you might want a change of clothes first before we go, maybe even a shower.”
>You look at her curiously as she returns the glance.
“Wait, 'we?'”
>She nods in affirmation.
>”Yes, 'we.'  Why... don't tell me you had a plan to go out there yourself?”
>Remembering the sorry state of your world, you scratch your head in frustration as a smile crawls over her mouth.
>”Exactly, you're going to need a guardian pony in these trying times for humans, and I'm the perfect unicorn for the job!”
>Her face exudes confidence as you look over in disbelief.
>You put a hand to your soggy shirt, feeling her idea of “protection.”
>Your displeased expression as you touched your soaked clothes causes Lyra's expression falter a bit.
>”Eh heh... well... I may give into temptation from time to time... but you're in reliable hooves!”
>She sticks a forearm out in expectation.
>”Shake on it?”
>Staring blankly at the token of friendship being offered, you audibly sigh.
“Well, it's not like I have much of a choice, now do I...”
>As you reach out to shake, her foreleg goes limp a bit at your words.
>”Umm... you don't have to stay with me...”
>Her tone of voice has a tinge of sorrow, as you regret your comment.
>”I know we invaded and everything, but I really want to help you.”
>Her radiant eyes stare straight at you as her words ring with authenticity.
>”I've always wanted to make friends with your kind, and you seem like a nice human, so I want to help you.  I can be a little weird at times, but I swear I'm well-meaning!”
>She paws at the ground with her other hoof, deep in thought.
>”So, if you want to leave, I won't stop you or follow you.  But I'd really like it.”
>Lyra stiffens her extended leg out to you with an optimistic look.
>”So, friends until the end?”
>You cringe a bit at her ending statement, but you swiftly take her hoof in both hands.
>Rubbing a bit of the saliva from your shirt hand, you shake her leg vigorously.
“It's a deal then, friend.”
>Her eyes light up and immediately takes you up in her hooves.
>She holds you close as her excitement takes over her, squeezing you like a teddy bear.
>You gasp for air as your cold shirt is pressed uncomfortably against you.
>Wiggling in her grip, you manage to get enough air to speak.
“Okay, okay... we'll have plenty of time for this once I'm done getting ready.”
>She puts you down on the ground, blushing.
>”Ah yeah, sorry about that.  You go do what humans do to get ready, I'll wait for you.”
>Turning away, you walk towards your bathroom one last time.
>A quick glance reveals her ecstatic expression bottled up as she shivers with excitement.
>Her ears point straight up as her tail wags across the floor in large, sweeping motions.
>This would be a lot cuter if she wasn't the size of a small car.
>Rolling your eyes, you prepare for the journey ahead.