Overdone
Pete was laying down in the infirmary. In what had been dubbed his room considering it was one of the only with a bed long enough for him. He had multiple wires linked up to IVs giving him fluids while he was incapacitated. The group had returned around three hours earlier. Cadence and the guards had been transported to the hospital as well, but they didn’t have as severe cases as Pete’s. The guards had woken up and were just resting, Cadence had been up and about with Luna after they finished with her checkup. Shining Armor, Twilight, Luna, Cadence, and the other humans were all sitting in Pete’s room waiting for the doctor to return with news of his condition, but they didn’t really need it to know what was wrong with him.
“I don’t believe him!” Twilight ranted. “I told him using those types of spells were too dangerous, but did he listen?! No!”
“Twilight I’m sure he-” Cadence started.
“He what? Is a complete idiot? Well I have to agree with you there.” Twilight interrupted.
Matt stepped towards Twilight and towered over her, causing her to fall silent. “Let me explain something to you.” He said in an intimidating voice. “If Pete hadn’t done what he did, all of us would be dead right now. I don’t want to hear you complaining okay?” He finished telling her.
Twilight was shivering slightly in fear. She had never seen Matt angry like this.
“Matt I swear if you don’t start using your inside voice, I’m going to punch you in the throat. I’m trying to get some rest here.” Everyone in the room turned to face the voice and saw Pete sitting up on the bed. A hand on his head grimacing.
“Sorry Pete.” Matt apologized a slight smile on his face.
“Seriously I know you get angry when someone doesn’t understand what’s needed for surviving, but seriously.” Pete said rubbing his temple. “Oh my head is killing me!”
“That would be magical exhaustion.” Nurse Redheart said walking in.
“Magical what-now?” Pete asked.
“Magical exhaustion, it means you’ve used more of you internal magic than your body can handle.” Redheart explained.
“Like using a long range mass teleportation spell while you’ve still barely even learned how to use a basic levitation spell.” Twilight lectured.
“Not my fault, you’re the one that taught me about it.” Pete countered.
“Saying that I can barely even do it myself, so don’t try and shift the blame to me.” Twilight responded.
“Blah, blah, blah, details, details.” Pete said.
Twilight’s eye began to twitch.
“If you two are done squabbling, can I please give my follow up on Pete’s physical condition.” Jay said walking up beside the bed.
“Fine.” Twilight said walking away from the bed.
Jay took out a few tools and started his checkup.
“Well, pupil dilation is normal, heart rate is a bit high, but acceptable. All in all your physical body is fine, but magic wise I’m not the one to talk to.” Jay told him looking over at Twilight.
She sighed. “From what I can tell the only reason you got hurt in the first place is because you weren’t used to using that much magic at one time. You internal magic was enough for the spell, barely, so there’s no permanent damage to your magic reserves, but some rehabilitation will be necessary. Though I’m honestly surprised, and relieved, I didn’t think you had enough internal supply for the spell.” She said.
“What happens if you don’t have enough supply to cast a spell?” Pete asked.
Twilight grimaced slightly. “Well…the spell ends up working, but… typically the caster doesn’t make it.”
“Oh…well it’s a good thing I got my magic from the most magical unicorn.” Pete said.
Twilight blushed slightly. “I don’t know if I would go that far.” She said with a small chuckle.
“Anyway, I don’t suppose you know anybody who specializes in magic that can help me with that rehabilitation?” Pete joked.
“As a matter of fact yes I do. I already asked Luna.” Twilight told him.
“Good, we can- wait… Luna?!” Pete asked surprised.
“I’m joking.” Twilight said with a smile.
“…Okay you got me.” Pete said with a small laugh. Then he groaned. “Oh man it hurts to laugh!” He shouted grabbing his head.
“Oh my Celestia, I thought you said he was okay!” Twilight said suddenly to Jay.
“He is, he just likes to get even early.” Jay said with a smile.
“Wha-” Twilight started before turning and seeing the smirking Pete.
“Now we’re even.” He said with a smirk.
“That’s not funny.” She told him.
“I beg to differ.” Jay said with a chuckle.
Twilight just glared at him.
“Anyways.” Luna interrupted. “I think that since Pete is away we should discuss what has happened.” She continued.
Twilight nodded.
“So how long have I been out, and what happened since?” Pete asked.
“You’ve been unconscious for around three hours now. The guards as well as Cadence have recovered since they’ve arrived.” Luna told Pete indicating to Cadence who gave an appreciative nod.
“Any other news?” Pete asked.
“Well we’ve received reports from some scouts about a group of survivors hold up in Manehattan.” Luna said.
“…Did you say Manehattan?” Pete questioned
“Well yes why?” Luna answered.
Pete turned to look at the other three humans. “I’m not the only one seeing a pattern here am I?” He asked them.
“Yeah we see it.” Matt responded.
“See what? What connection?” Twilight asked.
“Well back where we’re from we have a city called Manhattan and an old story about a castle called Camelot. There’s obviously a connection.” Pete told them. “Are there any other big cities out there?” He asked.
“Well there’s Las Pegasus.” Twilight answered.
Pete’s eyes widened and he reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, as were Matt and Liz. “Oh god no, they have a Vegas here.”
“What’s a Vegas.” Luna asked.
“PACK YOUR BAGS EVERYBODY, WE’RE GOING GAMBLING!” Jay shouted into the air suddenly.
Everyone in the room except for the three other humans looked at him in surprise.
“Jay we are not going to go to any place that might end up like Vegas.” Pete scolded.
“Oh come on it wasn’t that bad.” Jay responded.
“You got three different gangs pissed at us.” Pete told him.
“It’s not my fault, they were the ones who didn’t check for whoopee cushions under their seats.” Jay countered.
“You put a live grenade their chairs.” Pete said
“Well if they had checked for whoopee cushions they would’ve found them and still have their legs.” Jay responded.
Pete’s eye began to twitch. “They chased us across the state for that.”
“Well they should’ve followed the rule ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.’” Jay argued.
“That’s just a saying.” Pete told him.
“So is ‘I’m so hungry I could eat a hor-ouse house’ and you remember what happened down in Texas.” Jay countered.
“Matt, since I am in recovery please slap Jay for me.” Pete said turning to the large man. Matt then hit Jay on the back of his head.
“Oh come on, why can’t we go to Las Pegasus?” Jay begged.
“One, because I am in recovery. Two, I don’t want to risk getting any more gangs mad at us. Three, whenever you gamble you always lose. And Four, no…just no.” Pete answered.
“You’re no fun.” Jay pouted.
“We are in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. You’ll have time for fun when you’re dead.” Pete told him.
“Can we at least have a poker night here?” Jay asked.
“…Go get a deck of cards.” Pete told him. Jay happily sprinted off in search of some cards.
“We’re not going to be getting any sleep tonight are we?” Matt asked.
“Knowing him, no, no we are not.” Pete responded. “Don’t suppose any of you feel like not sleeping tonight and playing some cards?” Pete asked.
“I am actually interested.” Luna said. “I have to normally stay up late into the night anyway, having something to do would be a nice change of pace.” She said.
“I’ll play too.” Twilight said. “I need to make sure you don’t do anything else stupid.” She told Pete.
“I got a deck from my pack!” Jay called coming back into the room.
“Alright.” Twilight said. “So what is poker?” She asked sheepishly.
Pete just rolled his eyes. “If you’re going to play a game at least know the rules first.”
The four humans explained the basics of the game to the two ponies playing with them. They got the idea down pretty quickly, and the six began to play, and they found some interesting surprises.
“Royal Flush.” Twilight said triumphantly laying her cards down on the table.
“How in the bloody hell!?” Pete shouted as Twilight pulled more of the makeshift chips over to her side of the table.
“Pete are we sure she’s not using magic or something?” Jay asked.
“Yes I’m sure.” Pete said putting his head into his hands. “This is why I didn’t want to go to Vegas!” Pete shouted as he started to indicate to the tiny piles of chips each of them had. “We. Never. Win.”
“I’m sure you’re overreacting.” Twilight told him.
“Says the mare that just got the best possible cards in the entire game.” He responded. “That’s it I’m done. I’m going to bed. Get out of my room.” He said laying down on the bed.
“Don’t be upset just because you lost Pete.” Twilight said jokingly.
“I can’t hear you I am asleep.” He responded.