Ugh...oh god.
The light from outside had struck Walker directly in the face the next morning, and naturally, he turned away from it. But it was too late. No matter how much he tried to nuzzle back into the comfortable couch and try to sleep, the light wasn't helping. Neither were his headache or his thirst.
Hold the phone. Couch?
He blearily sat up, squinting, and looked around to find a place completely unfamiliar to him. He was sitting on a large green couch in what looked like some kind of living room. There was a large window, a few bookshelves, a couple of large chairs, and a fireplace.
Where am I exactly? I don't remember this...
Walker winced and held a hoof to his head as he looked at the window; he didn't know what time it was, but it was definitely too bright. He needed darkness. And maybe a drink of something cool and refreshing.
He shakily slid off the couch onto the carpeted floor and moved carefully to the next room, which happened to be a kitchen. To his slight surprise, there were two ponies with wizard hats sitting at stools in front of the counter already. One of them was hunched over and holding their head.
"Fire, are you sure you don't know a hangover cure spell?" the hunched-over one groaned.
"I'm sorry," said the other one, "but you know we didn't cover that in school, and I didn't see a reason to learn it myself."
"Ugh..."
Hey, wait a second... thought Walker, holding his head. I remember these ponies... He cleared his throat and approached them slowly.
The not-hunched over one turned and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you're awake!" he said.
Walker winced and his ears folded back. "Not so loud!" he said quietly. "My head hurts!"
The other stallion winced. "I'm sorry," he said more quietly. "Do you have a hangover as well?"
"I guess," Walker mumbled, looking around as his ears straightened up again. "Wait...you're...Firefall Strider, right?" he asked as a few memories presented themselves. "You were at the bar...and so was the other...Tempora; that must be her there, right?"
The hunched-over Tempora groaned in response as Firefall nodded.
"Where am I?" Walker muttered, looking around.
"This is our house," said Firefall, gesturing to himself and his sister. "I brought you here last night because you couldn't remember where you lived, remember?"
"Oh...yeah..." Walker rubbed his head. "Right...where's my saddlebag?"
"By the couch," said Firefall, pointing. "Would you like a drink or something to eat?
Walker recoiled. "No. I've inconvenienced you enough already. I was drunk and I slept here. It would probably be best if I left."
"Stay," muttered Tempora. "You're fine. Just keep your voice down."
"Okay, fine...can I have some water?"
Firefall nodded and turned to the cabinet. The door glowed orange, it opened, and a glass floated out. Firefall magically filled the glass at the sink and levitated it to the pegasus, who took a healthy drink.
"Oh god, that's good," he muttered, refreshed.
"God?" Firefall questioned.
"Yeah, someone so many people believe in...how do I know this?" he said, rubbing his head.
Tempora's ears pricked up suddenly and she shifted herself.
"You know, I really should just leave," Walker sighed. "I...there's no reason to stay. At all, really."
Walker scooted over to the counter and set the half full glass down. Tempora raised her head, revealing bloodshot eyes. "You got a hangover."
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," Walker snarked as he squinted at the mare. "I might have a throbbing headache...and be thirsty...and a bit hungry...and hate sunlight...but this isn't where I live and I don't wanna impose or anything."
Tempora narrowed her eyes and Walker's ears folded back. "You. Shut the face, okay? You're not imposing. Unless you got work on a Sunday, you got no good reason to leave. So eat something, drink something, or lie down."
"Tem, I don't know if..." Firefall quietly tried to interject.
"Well, I do know," said Tempora fiercely, hissing in pain and pressing a hoof to her forehead, knocking her hat slightly askew. "What kind of...ow...what kind of ponies would we be if we let him go out like that?"
"Fine..." sighed the two stallions simultaneously. Walker turned, eyes screwed mostly shut against the sunlight, and moved back to the couch.
Well, that was nice of her, he thought as he climbed up onto the couch and threw the blanket over himself, including his head. Ow...but she seemed pretty intent...ugh...on making me stay...
Well, this sucks, thought Tempora as she laid her head on the counter. Shoulda held back last night, I guess...
A wave of pain traveled through her head and she winced. Trying to ignore it, she directed her thoughts to the pegasus in the next room.
You know, it sounded like he was having memory trouble or something... and he said some weird stuff last night...I think. I can't remember.
She looked at Firefall, who had gotten up to go to the fridge.
Hang on...is Walker suffering from whatever Fire is? Both amnesia or something, and so close to each other...
With effort, Tempora raised her head and tried to keep from letting it slam back onto the counter. I bet he is! And by Celestia, I swear I'm gonna figure out why!
She squinted at the floor and slid off of her stool, but not without a wave of nausea. "Ugh..." she groaned, holding her stomach.
"Tempora?" said Firefall in surprise, looking over as he shut the fridge, levitating a carton of orange juice. "What are you doing? Are you all right?"
"I'm going back to bed," she muttered, hoping not to puke. "It's way more comfortable than that stupid counter. And darker, too."
"Um, okay..."
Tempora could feel her brother's stare as she left the room, but she was too uncomfortable to care; her mind was buzzing as best as it could with the headache and slight nausea. I'd do it about now...but I can't. It's too inconvenient. As she began ascending the stairs carefully, she let out a low chuckle to herself. Though, with how Walker has memory problems...I'll probably be doing it twice.
She paused at the top of the stairs and held her head briefly. What kind of pony would I be if I didn't? she asked herself as she turned and moved toward her bedroom.
A few spells raced through Tempora's mind, but she pushed them to the back. Not now. A nap later, I should be good...I hope.