That evening I staggered home after far too many wheat beers. I didn’t drink normally, or smoke for that matter, but the send off for our comrades had been a grand affair and I had indulged myself fully. The watch had really pushed the boat out on this, and well it should have. Equestrians mourn their dead at the funeral, but celebrate their lives afterwards, turning tears into smiles. At least, that was the theory. I was so inebriated I didn’t much care one way or the other. In a fuse of drunken logic, I had turned down the offer of a taxi and tried to find my own way home, which, thank Luna, I actually managed to achieve.

Falling headlong into the porch, I fumbled for my key. Damn it, the Celestia cursed thing was here somewhere. I could feel it in my pocket but for some bizarre reason my alcohol soaked brain couldn’t seem to co-ordinate my hooves to get the bloody thing it out. My magic only made matters worse and I ended up with my coat stuck half over my head.

My pitiful cries for help were answered by a mare opening the door and announcing in a flat tone, “You’re home”.

“Oh thank Luna, i’m stuck. Meadow, help me get my coat off love”. There was no reply. Hell, she was still mad at me. I’d have to make it up to her in the morning, right now I’d have ……

I coughed, “Oh Goddess, I think...I think I’m going to be…Meadow…I…”. I belched loudly, following rapidly up with the contents of my stomach, “Eurgh ! Help ! Meadow…I…cant breath in here. Oh Luna, some went up my nose. Urrrgh……”. My stomach retched over and over, vomit filled my mouth, nose and eyes. I was trapped in a cloth and puke prison, my hind legs sliding helpless on the tiled porch floor. “Meadow ! I….”, she shoved me back out with both forelegs and with a bang, the front door slammed shut. I heard the bolts slide into place and the click of the light.

“MEADOW !” I shouted, coughing on my sick. Was that carrot in there ? Shit, oh bollocks, “Urrrrggh…..”. I was burning hot, covered in sick and the world was spinning around me. There was a horrible feeling of falling and a heavy crack as my head hit the inner porch wall on the way down. Considering how I must have looked and smelt, I was glad unconsciousness followed.

Birds sang a beautiful melody outside the bedroom window, the bloody noisy things. Everything hurt, my head, my eyes, my ears. Oh Goddesses, was I aching. I turned over to find Meadow wasn’t there, the space she normally occupied, cold. Groaning, I rolled out of the soft, comfy bed and headed for the shower, my poor legs nearly giving way as the room lurched slightly. At least I didn’t feel sick any more, thank Celestia.

The warm water felt fantastic on my coat, freshening me up and bringing new life to my tired bones. Some pony, Meadow obviously, must have cleaned me up last night before putting me to bed. Hadn’t she ? I thought I’d been locked in the porch ! Bollocks, I was in so much trouble. Where in Equestria had she gotten to ?

I finished the shower and towelled off, dry out the old ears, a quick flank floss and I was good to go. My rain coat and hat were missing from the stand, no surprise there I supposed. I’d probably have to buy new ones after last night’s escapade. A damned shame too, they’d been my constant companions on many a shift in the watch, but nothing lasts forever. Especially when plastered with your stomach contents. Bugger it all….

I searched the house but of Meadow, there was no sign. Her nurses uniform was still hanging in the wardrobe but her hat and scarf were gone. Perhaps she’d gone shopping and left a note for me ? I checked the fridge door and the coffee table, the usual places for any household missives, but no sign of any note. I sat down, nursing my poor battered head in my hooves, damn you alcohol ! My behaviour in the porch started to come back to me bit by bit. Worse, my behaviour towards Meadow recently began replaying though my mind adding to the agony of the hangover.

Oh Luna, Celestia, what had I done ?

I took my old watch coat out of the cloakroom, knocked back a couple of candied pain killers and headed out the door to find my wife.

Manehatten General Hospital was a huge white complex of buildings, each wing capable of housing hundreds of ponies. Everything from sore fetlocks to mane loss was treated here; quite common knowledge of course. What a lot of the city ponies didn’t know though, was that a lot of watch ponies had been treated here recently too and for reasons a lot more serious than they would ever know. Some would never be able to return to work due their injuries, others, had not returned home at all. I hung my head at the memory of my lost comrades and with heavy hooves, climbed the steps to reception.

A yellow earth pony nurse with a feather cutie mark and white nurses cap trotted up to me. “Hi Fairlight ! How ya doing ? No Meadow ?”, Quill looked past me to the door obviously expecting Meadow to be there.

“No Quill, I don’t know where she is, I thought she might be here.” I said solemnly.

“Ah. You two had a fight ?”

“Yeah, something like that.”, I replied.

Quill nodded, eyes closed, a knowing smile on her face, “Drinking was it ? Came home plastered and she was angry, right ? Woke up and she’s disappeared. Am I in the right ball park ?”

“How did you…. !?”, I exclaimed as Quill laughed and clopped her fore hooves together, “Oh I knew it !”, she squealed, “My tail was twitching when you plodded in and I just knew !”.

“Plodded…. in ?” I muttered.

“Oh yes ! Twitchy tail, itchy nose, you know, they tell me when something’s going to happen ! Or, in your case, has happened !”.

Celestia, my head….. I didn’t have time for this. Quills energy was making my headache worse, if that was even possible.

“Quill….” I began, “Hmmmm ?”, she replied, “I think you ought to see a doctor.”