“I think he likes them,” Twilight whispered as the human tore through the apple pies.
“It’s like he ain’t eaten in days,” Applejack commented, feeling sorry for him. And not only because she had injured him.
“Those were good,” the human commented, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The basket was empty.
Twilight just stared for a moment. “You ate them all already?” she asked, stunned. “There was enough there for three ponies!”
“The last time I ate was before I saved your friend,” he replied, now licking his fingers. “Eugh, I think I ate some dirt. Again,” he said, muttering the last part as though hoping she wouldn’t hear it.
“Do ya think you could stop talkin’ gibberish for a moment?” Applejack asked, not happy with being left out of the conversation.
“We’re speaking Zebrican, Applejack, not gibberish,” Twilight admonished as she switched back to Equestrian, a little unhappy with her friend’s lack of sensitivity.
“Sorry, Twi, I just don’t like it when somepony’s havin’ a conversation and Ah can’t understand a word they’re sayin’.” Applejack glared at the human, who noticed and glared right back. “And Ah don’t trust this fella, even if he did save Rainbow.”
The orange didn’t trust me. I could just tell, something about its tone.
I sound crazy, I know. That’s why I’m telling you this, no-one else would even consider what I’m saying to have any truth to it. I talked to my own brain, and this sounds crazy to me!
What did they look like? Guess I never really told you, huh? Okay, the one with the horn, Twilight Sparkle. She had a purple coat, and her mane and tail were a darker purple. Somehow they had a hot pink stripe running through it. On her flank - Yes I looked at her flank, what of it? Anyway, there was some strange starburst symbol kinda thing there. What colours? Err, the star itself was bright pink, and had six points. There were five stars around it, all white and with five points. I’ll try and draw a picture later.
The other one, the one with the Stetson, her name was Applejack. I know, the names sound stupid to me too. Anyway, she was orange. Her mane and tail were blond. I mean the clean kind of blond you’d see when people were still, y’know, able to bathe on a regular basis. I can’t remember the last time I had a bath. They were both tied up into a ponytail. Yes, a horse with two ponytails, one of them her own actual tail. Sounds fucking stupid, I know. And of course, a Stetson. How she had a Stetson, I still don’t know. Her flank had three apples. Just apples, yes. Nothing special.
The building I was in? There were a fuckton of books on the walls in shelves, so a library. And when I say a fuckton of books, I mean there were probably more intact books there than there are in the Mojave combined.
Did I tell you how tall they were? No? Okay, well, they were about four feet high at the head, maybe a bit taller. What? You’re telling me they’re actually called ponies? I thought that word existed only on their world! Okay, this is some seriously weird shit. You have any idea how that even makes sense? If it makes sense?
“So what do ya plan on doin’ with this fella, anyways?” Applejack asked, taking back the basket.
“He’ll need a place to stay,” Twilight mused. “I don’t have much room here, so...” She turned to her farmer friend expectantly.
“I ain’t lettin’ him stay at the farm, Twi,” Applejack replied.
“But why not?”
“Because there ain’t no tellin’ just what that fella might do. Din’t Rainbow say that he killed a pair of manticores?” She pointed an accusing hoof at the human. “Ah don’t want anythin’ like that anywhere near mah kin!”
“It only killed them because it saw that she was in danger.” Applejack noted the hesitation in her voice.
“If yer so sure, why doncha ask him?”
Twilight turned to the human, who had been watching them the whole time. “Excuse me, mister...” She trailed off awkwardly. “Do you have a name?”
He seemed to laugh at the idea of not having one. “Of course I have a name. For now, though, you can just call me the Courier.”
Twilight was not amused by his answer. “That’s not a name, that’s a job title.”
“A title, yeah. One I’m fond of.” The Courier scratched himself. “After all, it’s what I did for a while. So,” he asked abruptly, “what do I call you, little purple horse?”
“My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am a unicorn.” Twilight replied, unhappy with how the conversation was going. “That’s my friend Applejack. You’re in my home in Ponyville, which is in Equestria.”
The Courier processed that information slowly. “Well, there goes all hope of being anywhere on Earth,” he said.
“’Earth’? That’s a strange name for a world,” Twilight commented.
“Well I didn’t name it,” the Courier responded harshly, as though being accused of suffering from a lack of imagination. “I just live there.”
“Oooooookay...” Twilight said carefully, a little wary of the perceived aggression. “So where are you from?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“The city of New Vegas, in the Mojave Wasteland,” he answered. “Well, not exactly, but that’s where I live now. Kind of.”
Twilight’s questioning was interrupted by Applejack. “Dangit, Twi, could ya not do that?” the farmer asked indignantly. “And what did he say?”
“He says to call him ‘Courier’, and he’s from somewhere called ‘New Vegas’.”
Applejack looked at her expectantly. “And?” she asked. Twilight blinked in confusion, further aggravating the farmer. “Urgh! I asked you ta ask him why he killed them manticores!”
“Oh, right,” Twilight replied sheepishly. She turned back to the human. “Mr. Courier, why did you kill the manticores?”
“Manti-what nows?” he asked, confused.
“The two things you killed in the Everfree Forest,” Twilight elaborated.
“Oh! Those,” he exclaimed. “Well, the first one, I was pretty sure that it was attacking an intelligent creature, one that came from something resembling civilisation. I had no idea at the time, though.” he explained. “Glad I did. The second one probably heard me trying to talk with your colourful friend.”
Twilight turned back to Applejack. “He says that he killed the first one to protect Rainbow. The second one was self-defense,” she translated to the farmer, hoping that it would help her relax. It didn’t.
“And you believe him?” she asked. “This here alien shows up and kills a pair of manticores like they were nothin’! And you’re happy to let him wander around Ponyville!?” Applejack didn’t care that she was yelling at the top of her lungs. She just wanted the human nowhere near Ponyville.
I couldn’t understand a word that was being said, but I didn’t really need to. The orange one seemed happy to try and run me out of town. I didn’t have much to work with, though. Threatening them was only going to end badly, it always does. I knew I had to talk to her, but there was no way I’d be able to pull that off. Language barriers fucking suck.
Of course, I’m a quick thinker. Wouldn’t be running a casino if I wasn’t. But as is natural in such situations, I needed help. “Twilight,” I asked. Yes, I asked the damn pony for help. “Is there any way you can get your friend there to understand what I’m saying?”
She seemed shocked. Probably doesn’t help that I was looking pretty damn angry. That’s what I was told, anyway. I wouldn’t have a clue, you just don’t notice it yourself. “I-I guess? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” The fact that she was concerned for my safety was one of the reasons I liked her.
“Probably not, but I’ll risk radiation poisoning and broken ribs if it gets her off my back.” Speaking of radiation poisoning, I could feel the effects of it. It was taking everything I had to not throw up. It also felt like the room was spinning.
“I... I might be able to get her to understand Zebrican with a translation spell.” She was obviously weighing her options. “But it’ll be a one-way thing, and temporary.”
Not a perfect solution, I know, but better than nothing, right? “That’ll have to do.”
“He wants to speak to you. Directly,” Twilight said in response to the farmer’s most recent angry outburst about being left in the dark.
“How is he meant to do that?” Applejack asked, her anger mixing with curiosity.
“If you stay still, I should be able to make it so you can understand what he’s saying,” the unicorn explained. “I’m not sure how long it’ll last, though,” she said, her horn glowing purple.
After a few seconds with nothing seemingly happening, Applejack spoke up. “Well? Ain’t ya doin’ this?”
“I think she already did.” The farmer jumped and turned to the source of the new voice, the human. “Nice hat, by the way,” he said with a nod.
“Thanks?” the orange pony said carefully.
“He can’t understand you,” Twilight said as the Courier looked blankly at them.
“I want you to listen to what I’m going to say,” he said. “Might help you understand why I’m the way I am.” Applejack nodded warily. “Barely two months ago, I was in a battle, the most recent in a long war between the New California Republic and Caesar’s Legion.” Both ponies stared at him; the concept of war, while not alien, was one they found almost impossible to grasp. “Before that, about two hundred years, a war my ancestors fought nearly wiped out all life on the planet. We’re still picking up the pieces,” he said bitterly. “The world I come from, it’s kill or be killed. That’s why I was so ready with threatening you with a weapon before. If you wake up after being attacked, it usually means some very bad things are about to happen.” He scowled. “Last time that happened to me, a bunch of crazy robots pulled out my heart, my spine and my brain,” he said offhandedly. “I’m simply a product of my environment. I’m sure you haven’t gone days without food, water and sleep. I bet you haven’t had to limp for six hours with a knife in your leg because a fight didn’t go as well as it should’ve and he got lucky. And you’ve never walked into a town and seen the streets littered with bodies.”
Both ponies were on the verge of being sick, the idea of such hardship, pain and all-round wrongness too much for them. How could one being survive so much and still seem so... happy? And having his brain removed! There was no way he should still be alive!
“You have no right to judge me, Miss Applejack. Not until you’ve been through what I have.” He turned away and put a hand to his mouth. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to throw up and pass out in my own vomit.” Both ponies gave a confused stare which quickly turned to shock and horror as he did just that.
Author’s Notes:
A tad late, but eh.
Also, a quick bit of research revealed to me that nausea and vomiting are actual symptoms of radiation poisoning. Also, radiation isn’t as deadly in the Fallout universe as it is in ours.
First!!! Gold foreveryeah. And great story keep it up.
481880
You can also be the first reader banished to the moon!
Seriously, please, none of this "FIRST!" crap, it's irritating.
Fallout story's are always awesome and this is definitively no exception. Love it so far
Ha! Applejack got served
But I have to agree with The Courier, she had no right to judge him.
Dat rad poisoning. Hope he has some Radaways!
481928
What kind of idiot doesn't walk around without at least a dozen Radaways and 30 Stimpaks?
481931 One who wants to die.
481892 sorry i'll stop.
481892
I know right whenever i see it on a fic i just want to kill the person who wrote it
481931
I know right? And NEVER go anywhere without a magnum because that shit is dope.
Brain removed meh, didnt need it anyway.
481931 And the Rad Degen (Name?) perk. Which should be useful if he ever wants to have magic used on him for any sensible amount of time.
482154
As a habit, I tend to COMPLETELY avoid areas of radiation at all. Unless strictly necessary, like for a quest or unique weapon. So that perk never gets taken.
482164 Still saves you a bit of cash if you have rads less than 200, and are planning on doing a far amount of walking.
482103
Actually, he got it put back in. Good thing too, because there is no way in hell he is close enough, at all, for the signal from Big MT to reach him.
Will any of the other main 6 come in on their conversation because I fell the fourth wall is about to break anytime now because of her
481931
Just 30 Stimpacks? I walk around with no less then 50, at all times. My Wanderer right now, I believe she has 90, maybe a few more. Call it what you will, I call it being prepared.
Although the dozen RadAways doesn't really happen, I'm lucky to break 10, they're so rare.
Indeed, radiation in the Fallout universe is a lot less deadly that in our own universe.
...That may be because the bombs fell two centuries ago, making the radiation there (In the surface, at least) about two centuries old.
Y'know, I was going to mention how the Courier fell back on a patch of Poison Jokes back in chapter 1, but when I went to check it, I noticed how it said he had been completely covered and used a filter, "so nothing bad happened".
...It'd be quite fun to see what effects the flower would have on him.
And so, the Courier scars the ponies with tales of war and passes out in a pool of his own vomit.
Now that's a hero, ladies and gents.
482523 only 90? i have 150, and that because i don't have any of the DLC's.
482774
I guess some people are more OCD about stimpaks them I am. o.o
483005 and (dropping all modesty here) my fallout 3 player has somewhere between 450 to 500 stims.
483078
That is a lot of stims. o.o I don't think I've had more then 200 at any one time. And I buy as many stims as they have/I can afford.
"War. War never changes. Two hundred years ago our world was reduced to ash in nuclear firestorm... Or it might have been pastel pony magic. Works the same."
Ok. At first I thought that the whole magic=rads thing was going to end with the Courier overreacting or some such, and magic being actually harmless.
Now that it turns out that he can actually get rad sickness from being around Twilight's spells, I have to say... That I love it! Original and with a dozen of delightful implications and ideas. Keep it up
The Courier might want to stay away from Celestia at sunrise and sunset, though.
482595
No, actually, hitting 600 rads here is enough to kill about 50% of people.
Though that could be attributed to the people there having developed an immunity of sorts, what with pre-War America having fission-powered cars and radioactive soft drinks.
484511
95%, actually. But anyway, yeah, I did some research on it and I guess the "bombs fell two centuries ago" argument was a bit far-fetched, to be honest.
...I'd like to point out that I prepared this huge text about how radiation was less deadly in the Fallout universe before a voice in the back of my head said "I don't think Tony's disagreeing with you on that."
So yeah, I'll just be over here...
...Facepalming.
483092
Celestia and Luna are basically living conduits of pure magic, much like Glowing Ones are living conduits of radiation. Being around them AT ALL is detrimental.
Great chapter my friend. Still trying to find out who the Courier is talking to, no ides yet.
I like your approach to the language barrier still, especially how you highlited the text in green.
And i wonder how long it will take Twilight to figure out the magic is dangerous to humans. Hopefully before he becomes a ghoul, I have a feeling theyd be even less trusting of him then.
As alwasys looking forward to more
487169
Twilight already has her suspicions that it's not good for him. Chapter 03 has this in dialogue between her and AJ.
487203
Dang it!
You are correct sit, you already said she suspected it... "Facepalm"
Now I have to fact check all my comments
Aw well, whatcha nothing i can do now. Keep up the great story my friend.
Wait a sec I know! I could edit it to make it look like i didn't mess up
Jk, i wouldnt do that
WELL! At least he was polite enough to warn them. such a gentleman.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to throw up and pass out in my own vomit.” Both ponies gave a confused stare which quickly turned to shock and horror as he did just that.
FUCKING GENIUS BAHAHAHAHAHAHHA i always wanted to something like that!!
497314
Pass out in your own vomit?
Mate, I think you need to analyze your priorities...
I simply love how (you the writer or) the Courier speaks for him self in very normal tone that you would expect to hear from people who have gone to hell and back I love the way the story is written in short
of course radiation isnt as bad families built up a slight immunity as each generation passes.
481931 The most stimpaks I've had at once was 57 normal and 21 super. Never underestimate the deathclaws....
Now if u excuse me im going to throw up and pass out in my own vomit LOL
705353
481931 im going to assume that meds are harder to obtain in vegas than in 3? because i usually go in surplus of over a hundred stimpacks and 50 radaways
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to throw up and pass out in my own vomit.” LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL FUCKING PRICELESS
481931
One who is already dead and looted?
Dat ending be epic.
778697 Hurk...Bleah
Radiation in our universe is painful and slow, I wouldn't mind it being a little like the fallout universe
Damn, the hero in this story is such an asshole. I love him!
705353 If you mean Fallout: New Vegas, get the hunting Shotgun, the long tube for it, then get the Shotgun Surgeon, Bloody mess, and the And Stay Back! perks, and your shotgun will automatically take away at least 10 DT, then the knockdown effect, plus the usage of various shells. the Hunting Shotty has the smallest shotgun spread, last I check, or it is when you add the barrel choke. I can one-shot most enemies when point blank, and 1 & 2 them with slugs at medium to light far ranges.
482027 and if i did it? would you still try
sounds like something a drunk person would say then do
Good Googalie Moogalie! The Magic really is frying his cells like hugging a Mr. Fusion!
482154 Rad regen, close though.
Yeah, I know what radiation does irl, makes your skin fall off.
Me, because Radaways are typically hard to get a hold of and are almost always needed immediatly and I do have a bunch of useless stimpacks, Regeneration aug forever!