Applejack hopped down from Giddyup. "Woah, hold up..."
Not that Giddyup had been racing ahead. He wasn't advancing at all. "We should wait."
"What ah was sayin'!" She turned to where they had left Stan. "Ah wanna check this out... but goin' in without 'em feels powerful rude."
So they had to wait, but they were quite visible, and the ponies weren't entirely oblivious. Several grizzled ponies approached, one with a revolver held firmly in their jaw.
Applejack raised a hoof at them. "Howdy pardners!"
The brown earth pony with the full beard cracked a smile, advancing a little faster. "Shoot, how'd you know the password?"
The white unicorn frowned. "That ain't the password. We don't got no damn password and you know it!"
The light brown unicorn waved downwards. "Easy, boys. She don't look like trouble, this close. Heya, Miss. Ya got a right fancy automaton thin' there. It safe?"
"I am verified to be safe for children ages five through eighteen."
Applejack cocked a brow at Giddyup. "That's nice, but ah get the feelin' none of us are actually in that range ya just gave."
"You are not a child," reasoned Giddyup, confident. "You are a friend of my child. I am not verified safe, but I will do my best. Did you enjoy the ride I provided? You gave indications that you did."
The earth pony tipped his hat forward with a low chuckle. "That sure don't sound like no rampagin' bot. Doubt we're in much trouble from a nannyin' bot, even if ah ain't ever seen one shaped like that."
The white unicorn closed with Applejack, still looking a bit tense. "What's yer name, and where ya comin' from?"
"Name's Applejack." She waved grandly up at Giddyup. "That there's Giddyup, right friendly. Behind us, catchin' up, is Stan. He's a human, but one of the good'uns, promise."
The brown unicorn nodded with each new fact. "You didn't say where you're from, ma'am. Humans are chancy things... If you weren't already speakin' up for him, we'd have a problem. He used to ponies?"
"Child detected."
Applejack looked around, but didn't see Stan. "Where?"
Giddyup went off at a light trot to Stan's side, who had been hiding behind a sign. It would have been a fine place, if not for Giddyup giving it away. "Child located."
Stan swatted at his mechanical buddy, but it did a poor job of actually forcing him to move. "Shoot..." He emerged from his hiding place. "Hey."
The white unicorn shook his head. "What is it wit' humans hiding behind signs? Do they only build 'em fer hidin'?"
"Ain't like that," laughed out Applejack, waving Stan closer. "This' Stan, done told you 'bout him. Stan, they're friendly."
"Good to hear." Stan came up with Giddyup at his side. "A town of ponies?"
The earth pony nodded. "Right proud of it. It's our home. Welcome to Ponyville."
Stan tried to prevent a laugh, only mildly succeeding. "Ponyville?"
"It's the name she picked." The brown unicorn shrugged. "An' what she says, goes. Now, we're told yer a polite sort, so yer welcome so long as you follow the rules, and the rules are powerful simple."
The white unicorn prodded Stan firmly. "No drawin' that gun 'less there's a powerful good reason. Super mutants crashin' in? Ya can draw then. Not too much less than that. Trust us to handle any less."
"Huh. Impressed." Stan left his rifle slung on his back, hands nowhere near it.
The earth pony cocked a brow. "At?"
"Got a proper police force." Stan shrugged. "Got good commonsense gun laws. No arguments here."
The white unicorn nodded and turned back for town. "Sounds like we ain't got a problem. Oh, we accept bottlecaps. What everythin' round here takes, so not takin' it was a dead end real fast."
"Ah can see that." Stan waved for Giddyup, not that his robot friend needed the reminding to remain close. "We're couriers, by the way. We came with a delivery. Giddyup, target?"
"Rarity."
"That. Shoulda known from the name, but ah've seen humans with such names afore... Got a delivery for them, you know 'em?"
The brown earth pony perked at the name. "Miss Rarity?! Shoot, shoulda started with that. If ya got a package or letter for her, let's get it to her." He pointed the way. "She's in that buildin' right there. All hers. She's inside more often than not, workin' her trade. Right industrious mare, she is."
Stan smiled, advancing on the building. "Alrighty then! Always nice when this part's easy. Thanks kindly."
The local sheriffs said their goodbyes and mosied on, confident the town was safe for the time being.
Applejack walked at Stan's side. "A whole town of ponies... This is... not the same as the vault. Half these... They were built with pony hooves. The police are pony police followin' pony rules... Look at that!" They were close enough to see pony dolls in the window of the building, each one wearing a different outfit, ranging from handsome to belle of the ball. "It's pony life! Ah can't even beleive what ah'm seein'..."
Stan took a moment to examine the pony fashion samples. "Huh... Must be doin' well enough to be carin' overmuch about any of that..." But there was one bipedal dummy, wearing a business suit. "Woah... She makes human outfits too? That looks newly made... Well, dang... Ah'm impressed."
Applejack reared up, hoof on either of Stan's shoulders. "That's jus' smart! There are a lot more humans out there than ponies, even if she has a lot of ponies nearby. Now I wanna meet this Rarity. Hope she's a nice sort." She slid back to all fours, tail lashing with a joyful swish. "Let's go in an' say howdy."
Stan dusted his hoof-dusted shoulders. "We haveta. How else are we gonna finish the delivery?"
With that decided, they headed inside, causing a bell to jingle with the opening of the door. "Moment," called a female voice from inside. The owner, a white unicorn mare, came trolling out with a bright smile. "Well, how do you do? Welcome to Ponyville." She nodded at each of them. "Please park your robot there." She pointed to an empty spot not far from the door."
Giddyup inclined his head. "I do not require parking."
"But I do," argued Rarity. "We don't need any smoke on the outfits, darling. No offense, but robots go there." She pointed all the more firmly.
Giddyup seemed to perk. "Misunderstanding detected. I am powered entirely through kinetic motion and an atomic core. I do not emit any particulate. I am safe for asthma-suffering children."
Stan patted Giddyup's side. "He's safe 'round yer dresses. May even be a customer if you got somethin' in his size."
It was Rarity's turn to perk. "A clean robot that has an interest in fashion? Darling, I must be dreaming." She waved them in. "Now, how can I be of help to you today? No offense, but you two look like you haven't updated your fashion in moons. Criminal! But easily fixed, dears. Just trust me. Oh! Silly me, I'm Rarity. Pleased to meet you."
Stan knocked on Giddyup, prompting his side to pop open. He reached inside and struggled to get the heavy parcel out. "This is... for you." He set it down as carefully as he could manage with its bulk. "From someone you did a favor for, who wanted to return it."
"How delightful!" He horn glowed as she peeled the wrapping off of it, revealing a metal ball. "Ooooo, I've been wanting one of these for simply ages." She burst into a titter. "Sometimes, it pays to be generous. It comes 'right around when you least expect it, dear." She lifted the ball, showing her horn had fairly good strength as she hefted it up without looking too overloaded.
Applejack followed after Rarity as the fashionista went to put away her new toy. "Pardon the askin'... Ya don't owe us no explination, but if yer feelin' it... What is that? Looks like jus' a heavy ball from where ah'm standin'."
Rarity looked over her shoulder. "Just a ball? I should think not, darling!" She floated the ball in range and knocked on it with a firm clop, causing several needles to pop out, blunt-side first. "This thing is full of needles. A little thing, one might think, but needles are hard to find, and good ones? Even harder. I will treasure this forever, dear! At least until it runs out. I may run out before it does."
Applejack let out a huh of a noise. "That makes sense..." She tapped at the ground as they walked. "Awful clean in here."
Rarity tucked the big metal ball of needles away. "Please... I don't know how humans put up with it. No offense, dear, but cleaning your space? The absolute minimum! A good sweeping really makes the place better." Her store really was clean, no debris or junk anywhere, smooth floors that looked polished even. She was a clean mare, and her shop was the same. "Now, you've been wonderfu..." She trailed off. "Oh... Couriers delivered something and here I am, not paying them. How rude of me."
Applejack rubbed behind her head. "We got some afore headin' this way."
Stan casually slipped a hand over Applejack's face. "An' we can get the rest now. Thank you, Miss Rarity. Always a pleasure to serve."
"Of course." She drew out a bag and bottlecaps floated free of it in her magic to hand over to Stan. "Here you are! Such industrious workers. Now... How about you spend some of those caps and freshen your look? While I'm certain what you're wearing has served you well, we can do better, and you deserve it."
Stan pocketed the caps. "Thanks, but ah ain't one of those fancy ghouls, thinkin' they can hide an ugly body with pretty clothes. Not mah thin'."
Applejack reached up to tap her hat. "Ah got this hat and my gun has a place to rest, most of what ah need."
"That's barely the start." Rarity looked Applejack over critically. "Mmm, you're putting out... Yes... We can make you a true belle." She brought over several floating string rulers. "Let me get a few measurements, dear, and we can get started on your new fashion journey."
Applejack colored mildly, but wasn't moving away. "If ya... think so?" Her eyes followed the motions of the rulers, but was accepting their presence. "It can't get in the way. Ah'm an active mare, out in the middle of nowhere more oft than not. Gotta climb through brambles or trade shots with ruffians. Ain't an easy life."
"Certainly doesn't sound like it..." Rarity made notes on the measurements she gained. "But that's good to know. Rough, rugged... Something that can take a beating and still look marvelous... A challenge! And the kind I absolutely adore, dear. Yes, we'll make you the best-dressed warrior of the wastelands!" She tucked her notepad aside, turning to Stan. "Now, as for you, clothes are made to draw attention to or pull away from features. Surely you..." It was at that moment she really took the time to study Stan.
She saw his peeled skin and sunken features. He was a ghoul, and being one of those had a lot of physical requirements that... "Hm... Darling, I know what you need first."
Stan cocked a brow. "Do ya now? Now ah gotta hear..." He folded his arms on his chest.
Giddyup leaned in towards Rarity, whispering, poorly, "Please do not attract attention towards his skin condition."
Stan rolled his eyes at that. "Ah ain't ashamed of bein' what ah am, consarnit. But it ain't somethin' yer gonna make better."
"Pish posh." Rarity waved that right off. "First step, you need to treat yourself to some well-deserved pampering. You're so dry! Let's take care of that first with a luxuriating spa day."
Applejack blinked dumbly. "Spa day? What's that?"