Side-Effects
Both the humans and the ponies were gathering in the infirmary. While Pete was resting on a bed in one of the nearby rooms.
“So any chance Pete’s going to sprout a horn and start flinging around magic?” Liz asked sarcastically.
“Personally I don’t know, he might.” Jay answered.
“I was just being sarcastic.” Liz responded.
“Yeah well for all I know that might just end up happening.” Jay said with a serious tone. Both Matt and Liz were a little surprised by Jay’s sudden change. “We’re dealing with an entire different species that not only has little to no similarities to us, but also possesses magic. There’s no telling the possibilities.” Jay told them. “I mean just a few possible options I can think of are that one he dies, two nothing happens, three he actually becomes a pony or four he becomes some sort of hybrid human-pony thing. There’s no telling what might happen.” The few sitting around were passing each other worried glances.
“Ahem.” Those sitting around turned around and looked towards the door. Princess Luna was standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there have been some new developments that I need to discuss with all of you.” The Princess said to the group.
“What’s up?” Jay questioned.
“Some scouts have returned with a troubling report. I’m still waiting for Shining Armor to gather some of his troops. I’ve asked him to meet me in the throne room once he’s gathered his remaining forces. I would like you all to join us there.” Luna answered.
“What about Pete?” Liz asked.
“I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure that Fluttershy and our doctors will take good care of him in you absence.” Luna told them.
They nodded with a few worried glances and started with Luna towards the throne room. They arrived shortly later meeting Shining Armor already inside along with Rainbow Dash.
“Princess, what’s the news you wished to tell us?” Jay asked.
“It is regarding the infected.” The princess answered. “I’ve been receiving reports from some of our scouts that the infected have been moving closer and closer to the castle. If they continue in the direction they’re going a large group will reach the castle sometime in the next week.”
“It would probably be very problematic if they reached the castle.” Matt said
“I’ll say, you should’ve seen the size of just one of the herds I’ve scouted.” Rainbow said. “I’d say that the largest I’ve seen is probably somewhere above a hundred.”
“And that’s only one of the herds? That could be very troublesome if multiple reached the castle.” Liz said
“So…What do we do about it?” Jay asked.
“I was hoping you could tell us.” Luna answered. “As you have proven before. You have more experience dealing with them than we do.”
“Well then you’re out of luck.” Matt said. “Out of the four of us Pete’s always the one who came up with a plan. The rest of us just try not to get spotted, and if we do get seen we just run and keep on shooting until we’re safe.”
“Well, that’s just a wonderful plan.” Twilight said sarcastically.
“Hey, before we found Pete it was working out pretty well.” Matt said to her.
Twilight was about to counter but the doors opening to the throne room interrupted her. The group turned to see Fluttershy walking into the room.
“Fluttershy, what are you doing here?” Twilight asked.
“Oh well, you see, Pete just woke up and he’s asking to leave the clinic. I told him that he needs to rest. He told me to come here and ask you.” Fluttershy answered.
“Well I agree with your judgment.” Luna told her. “He definitely needs time to rest, and I think-” Luna started but was interrupted as the doors to the room opened a second time. This time with Nurse Redheart walking into the room.
“That’s it! I’m done! You can deal with him!” Nurse Redheart said loudly pointing to the door showing a smirking Pete. Nurse Redheart looked at the three humans. “I feel for you. I don’t know how you’ve dealt with him for so long.”
Everyone in the room looked over to Pete who simple chuckled. “I was never planning on listening to the doctors. I just told Fluttershy to go and ask the princess because I didn’t want her to be there when I let loose.”
Now everyone was looking at Nurse Redheart. “What did he do?” Twilight asked.
Nurse Redheart’s eye twitched. “He would not shut up. He just kept talking and talking. I didn’t even know some of the things he talked about. What the hay are eighteen wheelers, firearms, and google?! Furthermore what did any of the things he said have to do with a donkey!?”
“I was only gone for a few minutes.” Fluttershy said.
“Well as far as I’m concerned that was way too long.” Redheart said. “If you’ll excuse me I’m going to get some painkillers and take a nap.” She said walking out of the throne room leaving Pete with the others.
“So, what’s on the agenda?” Pete asked.
The princess sighed. “I’m tempted not to tell you, but I’m a bit more concerned that you’ll find out anyways and go off on your own.”
Pete thought for a moment. “Yeah, that sounds like me.”
The Princess sighed with a small smile and shook her head. She then walked over to the side of the throne room were a table was set up. The rest of those around gathered around the table.
“Alright, we’ve spotted many herds of infected heading towards the castle. We need to find some way to keep them from attacking the castle.” Luna said to him.
Pete thought for a moment. “I remember seeing a bell tower in the town we went to before. If we go there and ring the bell loud enough if should attract even the groups far away.” Pete said.
“We could use a sound magnification spell to amplify the sound.” Twilight said.
“That should work.” Pete said reaching down and taking a sip from a glass of water. Pete looked at all those around who were now staring at him. “What?”
“Pete… that glass of water was sitting on the other side of the table.” Liz told Pete.
Pete looked at the glass in his hand. He thought back to when he walked up to the table. He remembered that the glass had been sitting next to Luna when he approached the table, but he was standing on the other side of the table. How did it get over to his hand? “How- how did I get this?” He asked.
“It moved on its own.” Matt answered him. “It glowed black and just moved.”
“Just like a levitation spell.” Twilight told them.
“Okay so a pony moved the water over to my side?” Pete asked.
“Pete, neither Twilight nor I have a magic aura that looks like that, and there’s no other pony that can use magic here.” Luna said to him.
“What does that mean?” Pete asked.
“It means that it wasn’t a pony that used the magic.” Twilight answered.
“So if it wasn’t a pony, what used the magic?” Pete asked.
“Pete, I think it was you.” Liz told him.
“M-me? How could I use magic? I’m just a human. I can’t use magic.” Pete responded.
“Yes a human, a human that has the blood of a unicorn running through his veins” Jay said with a smirk.
Everyone looked back and forth between Pete, Jay, and Twilight.
“Are you saying that because Pete has some of my blood, he can use magic?” Twilight asked.
“That appears to be the case?” Jay answered.
“That’s not possible. I- I can’t use magic. I mean I’m just- just me.” Pete said backing into a wall to support himself.
“I agree, that goes against every form of logic. Unicorn blood has been transfused into Earth Ponies and it’s never given them any form of unicorn magic.” Twilight said.
“Yeah, well if you’ll notice. We’re not really your average pony.” Jay said smiling.
Pete moved away from the wall walking back over to the table and leaning on the side of it. “I think that this is going to be a lot for me to get used to.” He said.
“I think for more than just you.” Luna said to him.
“Hey Luna, do you think you could do me a favor?” Pete asked the princess.
“Of course. What is it you would like me to do?” She responded to him.
“Could you tell Nurse Redheart that I apologize for being annoying earlier?” Pete told her.
The princess was skeptical for a moment. “I would think that it would mean more if you told her, but I will tell her for you. Why do you want me to do this though?” she asked.
“Well because I don’t think she’ll be too keen on taking care of me considering the terms of our last meeting.” Pete answered.
“Take care of you? Why would she need to take care of you?” Twilight asked.
“Well, that’s quite simple Twilight.” Pete said as his eyes rolled back in his head and he lost consciousness again.