The day began soon enough, and he was finally able to feel the filly stir from her slumber.

Scootaloo yawned in an almost cartoonish manner as her bright, expressive eyes opened up. She blinked a few times as her vision began to unblur itself, making his intimidating mask come into view.

“Six, you up?” she asked softly.

“Yeah,” came the tired, dry sounding reply. It was like he hadn’t had anything to drink all night.

“You sleep good?” she asked, a bit concerned.

“Sure,” he said simply, before gently picking her up and lifting her off of his chest.

Her hooves clattered against the floor as he gently sat her down. After a moment, he stood up and stretched, looking at the All-American and Knock-Knock, which were both sitting a few feet away.

As he stretched, he heard the faint popping sounds of his joints loosening up after about eight hours of sore stillness. He groaned almost like an old grumpy man as he reached into a satchel and retrieved something out of it.

Scootaloo frowned as she saw him pull out a small box of cigarettes.

“You smoke?” she asked.

“Yeah?” he said, as if it was obvious.

“That stuff can kill your lungs, you know,” she pointed out.

“Which is why you probably shouldn’t pick it up, kid,” he answered back. “I’m not an addict or anything. It just helps fill the stomach whenever there’s nothing to eat.”

He’d been running off of a stick of gum, a cupcake, a box of InstaMash, and some pinyon nuts for the past two days. The Cram and Pork n Beans were still an option, but they were the few pieces of food he had that were airtight. No need to waste them yet.

“Well, alright,” she nodded unsurely.

Six nodded back and walked out of the cave.

He made it several paces over to the initial campground. The fire had burnt out by now, and only a few small, dropped marshmallows littered the ground, soon to be eaten by the wildlife.

The human stood in front of the campfire, adjusting his mask a bit to let his lower face out to the open air. The shadows still cast by the rising sun made it impossible to notice any distinctive details.

He put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, taking a moment to huff down the smoke. It filled his lungs and eased the faint, familiar pangs of hunger in his stomach.

The Courier examined the lighter for a moment before stashing it away once more in one of his many satchels. He gave a satisfied ‘hmm’ before finally pulling the cancer stick from his mouth and billowing out the foul air that had been settling inside him.

He took a moment to admire the greenery before taking another drag off the smoke. The mailman nodded to himself, letting the sounds of buzzing insects, chirping birds, and mother nature herself fill his ears.

By the time his smoke break was done, he heard the other ponies coming out from the cave, chattering amongst themselves. He finished off the cigarette and shoved the filter back into his cigarette package, stowing it away to trash later.

More smoke left his mouth as he exhaled one final time and then readjusted his helmet. Rainbow Dash landed next to him a moment later.

“We’re about to head up to the falls, they’re just a few minutes hike that way,” she said, pointing down the trail with a forehoof.

“I’ll get the kid’s friend’s luggage so she isn’t breaking her back, just give me a minute,” he nodded.

“You do realize they have names, right?” Rainbow pointed out with a huff.

“Most things do,” he agreed.

She just sighed and flew off.

Sweetie Belle wasn’t a bad kid. Strange name, but they all had those. She gave him a cupcake anyway, so she deserved some help in return. Sister was a bit… snobbish though.

Rarity. Yeah, reminded him a bit of the White Gloves, though there definitely wasn’t anything nearly as dark behind the false smiles. He couldn’t completely blame her apprehensive nature. She seemed to care about the kids and her friends. But him?...

Maybe he’d hate him too if he was in her shoes…

Hooves?

Doesn’t matter.

It was about ten minutes later they were walking the trail. Rarity seemed a bit perturbed about him carrying her luggage again, but she was very slightly less jumpy this time.

Half an hour later, they broke through the forest completely, and emerged into a massive clearing, with a massive lake. The lake, however, wasn’t the strange part.

“What in the fuck?” he said, nearly dropping Rarity’s luggage as he looked up at the rainbow-colored waterfalls.

It was a bizarre sight, almost biblical in a strange way. Colors water shouldn’t or couldn’t actually be. Reds, greens, purples, yellows streamed down into the huge reservoir, creating a large amount of mist as they did.

He just stood there in shock and awe as the other ponies walked by him.

“Pretty sweet huh?” Rainbow Dash asked with a smirk, landing beside him.

“Water’s not…” he shook off his stupor, trying to formulate what he’d say. “It’s not supposed to be that color- those colors.”

“Uhh, why not?” she asked.

“I guess it’s some type of large-scale refraction but… it doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen,” he managed, sounding confused.

“Sounds like you didn’t wander enough,” she snarked at him, expecting a retort.

Her smirk vanished when he didn’t wittily respond back.

“Hey, you alright?” she asked after a few moments.

“I think, I just…” he shrugged. “I don’t know. Everything’s been strange for me these past few days.”

“Wanna talk about it?” she offered.

“No,” he stonewalled, continuing forwards with Rarity’s luggage.

Rainbow Dash just sighed for her part.

A little while later, he returned the bags to the fashionista and was soon examining the water by the lakeside. He ran a hand through it, creating a ripple of miniature waves. Nothing seemed strange about it. As a matter of fact, he was reminded of Lake Mead. This seemed even fresher than that though.

The Courier thought it over for a minute, before he nodded and grabbed the jug from his waist. He refilled it in the lake and took a deep, mighty swig, draining a large portion of it. He then refilled it back to full again and screwed back on the cap.

After he refitted it around his belt again, he pulled out a small canteen. It had a blue piece of cloth wrapped around it, and a large yellow “13” emblazoned on the side. Scootaloo had been watching him for a few minutes by now and after a bit of thought, she walked over.

“What’s the number mean?” she asked, making him turn towards her for a second as he refilled the small flask.

“It’s from Vault 13,” he answered, before screwing its lid back on.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“A place a long way away from here,” he answered simply, putting the trusty canteen away.

“Oh foo, you know what I meant,” she huffed, and he shrugged.

“So, you gonna go back to your sister or whatever?” he asked, pointing back to the group, who were frolicking about and admiring the beauty of the falls.

“Hey, you’re the guest on this trip! I figured I’d spend a bit of time with you,” she explained.

“Oh come on kid, after I had that sister talk and everything?” he responded with a sigh.

“I’m not mad at her!” squeaked the filly. “I just wanna spend a little bit of time with you before you go.”

“It’s a sisterly trip,” the human pointed out.

“Hey, sisterhood doesn’t mean I can’t hang out with you!” Scootaloo huffed. “One time Apple Bloom’s brother dressed up as a girl to spend time with her!”

“I really hope you don’t want me to put on a dress,” he said flatly.

“Not the point!” Scootaloo sighed. “The point is that family is what you make of it!”

“Kid, no offense, but you’ve known me for like, three days,” the Courier explained. “Calling me family is a stretch.”

“Well, I didn’t mean that you were but… you’re still my friend!” managed the little pegasus. “And friends spend time with each other, no matter what!”

“Alright look, I’ll stay here for a bit, but after a few hours, when you guys get ready to pack it up, I’m heading for a straight shot back to Ponyville, then Canterlot,” he laid out.

“But you still need to wait for Rainbow Dash and the others to set up a meeting with Princess Twilight!” pointed out Scootaloo.

“Yeah, but-” he was interrupted.

“And if you just stroll into Ponyville or Canterlot, they’ll have a freakout due to how you look!” she continued.

“I know, but-”

“But if you stay with us, we can-” he cut her off this time.

“Okay, you’re going a bit too far, kid,” explained the mailman with a huff, before elaborating on his plan. “Look, I’ll stick low, form a plan with Dash, the adults, or whatever, and hang out around the outskirts of Ponyville until the princess is ready to see me.”

“Oh that’s awesome! I can totally come visit you every day and-” she began, before he cut her off again.

“Hey, hey!” he said, his tone raised. “That isn’t a permanent thing, alright? Just for a little while. A week, two, hopefully three tops. After that, if I get situated and figure up a way back home, I’m gone. You understand?”

Scootaloo sighed, remaining silent as she nodded.

“Now don’t give me the depressed shit again,” he said, pausing for a moment after his swear, before continuing with a sigh. “Look, I’ll take it slower for now. But in a few hours, I really need to go and get my stuff back, alright?”

“Alright,” she said, nodding once more.

“And…” he said, sighing, “I’ll try to see you while I’m hanging low in Ponyville-”

The little filly squeaked, her spirits up.

“-On occasion,” he concluded.

She still seemed excited at the prospect.

“But don’t go thinking you’re spending the rest of your life stapled to me, alright? Again, me sticking around isn’t a permanent thing!” he hammered home the point.

“I understand, but I’m still excited!” Scootaloo said with glee.

“Alright then, now, I guess we can do something,” he finally offered.

“Oh, that’s great!” Scootaloo said with a smile. “We’re having a picnic just over by the bodega!”

“I’ll join, but I’m not really hungry,” he said, though he could feel his stomach rumble a bit.

“Uh, you sure?” she asked, concerned. “I can spare a cupcake and a cucumber sandwich, if you want?”

“I’m fine, really,” he answered.

If his stomach could, it would’ve smacked him.

For now, he just ignored it.

“I uh, filled up on that cigarette from this morning,” the human offered.

“Six, you don’t have to give me the cold shoulder, friends give each other stuff all the time, even food,” she said.

“I’m not going to starve, alright?” he said, attempting to defuse her. “I’m just not hungry right now, really. I have uh… leftovers for later.”

“Well, alright,” Scootaloo concluded after a few minutes, and slowly walked over towards the others, who were under the bodega on the other side of the lake.

Six allowed her to continue on for a few minutes as he stood still. His mind was racing through various thoughts.

On the kid. On what to do. On how to leave this place. On whatever else.

Finally, he silenced it, giving a sigh.

“One thing at a time,” he reminded himself, and finally made his way over to join the ponies.

He took his seat on the edge of the group, off the blanket, allowing them to continue their conversations uninterrupted as he just listened in.

“-anyways, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind judging my next dress lineup, Applejack,” Rarity said with a smile. “This time it will have a much smaller scale, so you won’t have to worry about critiquing anyone’s work but mine.”

“Well sure thing Rarity, but it’ll have to wait a little while, I’ve got a whole helpin’ of trees to buck startin’ tomorrow,” offered the farm pony, taking a bite of an apple fritter.

“Oh no worries, dear, take all the time you need!” the fashionista offered, raising a floating napkin to her mouth.

Wait…

Floating?

“What the fuck?” he said aloud, standing up to look at the napkin in question.

Both it and Rarity’s horn were surrounded by a light blue aura.

Had she done this before? How was he just now noticing something as huge as that!

“Good heavens!” said the unicorn in response to the sudden swear.

“Six!” growled Rainbow Dash, pointing a hoof to the fillies.

“Why in the hell is it floating!?!” he managed with a shocked tone.

“What, ya mean Rarity’s magic?” Applejack asked.

“Magic?” he questioned.

“Yeah, duh, everyone has magic in some way!” Rainbow Dash explained, as if it were obvious.

“But magic isn’t…” he began out of instinct, but trailed off, remembering the numerous prior conversations about Cutie Marks, special talents, the like.

Well, even if it was real, it shouldn’t be.

“Are you alright?” Rarity asked, her shock wearing off.

“I uh… I guess,” he managed.

First the rainbow water, now this? This had gone beyond just mutations as an explanation. Something was definitely wrong here!

No shit, sherlock. You knew from the get-go something was wrong.

Still, seeing actual, fully functioning telekinesis… Well, that was different from just talking about ass-tattoos and friendship powers.

He sighed to himself, and just sat back down.

“Just… carry on,” he sighed with a faintly pondering tone. “Overreaction on my part.”

Scootaloo looked at him with worry for a moment, considering consoling him, but she herself didn’t even know where to begin.

How was there a creature who didn’t know magic existed to this extent? It was almost as ridiculous as a pony who thought the sky was green!

Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were also giving the human the side eye, but they didn’t say anything, likely for Scoot’s sake.

It was a while later that the Courier came back into existence from his deep thoughts. The picnic was almost done, given most of the food had been consumed.

“Hey, uh, Rarity, Applejack?” he began, getting their attention as they were interrupted from their small talk.

“Yes dear?” Rarity answered, a bit hesitant.

“The princess… Twilight, yeah?” he asked, getting a pair of nods before he continued. “She could help me get back home. Rainbow Dash said that. You two know her, right?”

“We're some of her closest friends,” Applejack nodded.

“Good,” he nodded back. “I just need to learn some things. This magic stuff it’s uh, new to me.”

“What would you like to know?” offered the generous unicorn. “I’m not on the same level as Twilight, but I know a thing or two, obviously.”

“Well, it’s not the magic that’s the issue,” he stopped. Didn’t expect to say that today, that’s for sure. Regardless, he continued. “It’s just, I’m not from here. I know I said that before but, I just need to take some time to learn, orientate myself. All that.”

“Well, she has an entire library’s worth of books for ya to borrow if ya need to catch up on some studies,” offered Applejack.

“Yeah that’ll, that’ll be fine,” he paused and instinctively added. “They are new books, right? Like, Post War.”

“Well, some of them are thousands of years old,” pondered Rarity. “What war do you mean, specifically? There are quite a few of those, I’m afraid.”

“I mean like…” he trailed off, taking in what she was saying.

Alright, wait.

Dozens of wars. A pre-established culture. No mentions of humans. Magic. Cutie Marks.

Maybe there was a better explanation for all this?

Machines run amok?... No, he’d dealt with that before.

Fake world created by AI?... That’s dumb.

Alternate timelines and universes?... Stupid.

Hmm…

Wait…

…

Aliens.

Alien planets.

Yes, he had been transported to an alien planet…

…by the Transportalponder malfunctioning, and he was dealing with alien talking ponies, some of whom just so happened to look like ancient mythological pegasi, unicorns, and they all also just so happened to speak just like normal, everyday, modern humans.

And also magic was real.

It all made sense now!

Oh thank God.

He’d begun to worry he was in Europe there for a moment...

This was way more manageable!

“Mister Six?” Rarity called.

Suddenly he zoned back in.

“Yeah?” he asked, his tone dulled and almost dream-like.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

He noticed all of the ponies were staring at him.

“Yeah ya kinda just zoned out there for a few minutes,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Did I?” he asked, putting his crackpot theory into the dark creases of his brain for later.

“We kinda began to worry a bit there,” admitted Scootaloo.

“Look, I’m fine,” he nodded. “Let’s just get back to the Twilight topic before my brain implodes.”

“Well, we can try ta get ya into a meeting before long,” mused Applejack.

“How long is ‘before long’ gonna be?” the Courier asked.

“Lemmie see, uh…” Dash began, thinking it over.

“Perhaps in roughly three weeks?” offered Rarity.

“Alright,” he managed.

Not bad, maybe?

“Well, what am I supposed to do in those three weeks?” he asked with a shrug.

“Well, as we said, you could hang out around Ponyville,” Scootaloo inserted herself into the conversation.

“I don’t know if folks would be keen on some red-eyed monster lurkin’ about,” Applejack began, before quickly adding. “I don’t mean yer a monster, I just mean-”

“Yeah we’ve been over that,” he huffed.

“If I may? Why don’t you just take your mask off?” offered Rarity.

He was silent for a moment.

“Why don’t you just peel your face and horn off?” the human asked back.

The unicorn cringed at the thought.

“Oh come on,” Rainbow huffed, “it’s not like that mask’s your face!”

“It is,” he countered, before pointing at his riot helmet. “You wanna see my face? You’re looking at it.”

“I guess it’d be like me without my hat,” Applejack pondered.

“Well, maybe you could stay with somepony while you wait?” offered Rarity.

“I volun-” Scootaloo was cut off.

“I appreciate the hospitality but I’m not looking for handouts or free beds,” he interrupted. “I just wanna figure this crap out, get a plan going, and I’ll be good.”

“We can try to spread word throughout Ponyville and perhaps introduce you as a friend?” Rarity said, trying to think up an idea.

“That’ll keep the number of terrified ponies down at least,” shrugged Rainbow Dash.

“Alright, that might work,” the Courier mused. “I’m not gonna hang around, I just need the ability to buy…”

He didn't finish that thought.

“Hm?” Rarity offered a few moments after he trailed off.

The human didn’t answer, and instead grabbed at his satchels, opening one of them and pulling out a bottlecap of all things. The Courier sat there, looking at it in his hands.

“Ah fuck,” he huffed.

“Six,” Rainbow Dash groaned.

“Fillies, I know, I get it, but listen,” he began, “where I’m from, bottlecaps are the dominant currency.”

“What?” asked the pegasus, now confused.

“Why is that?” questioned Rarity.

“Not important now,” the mailman said. “Point is, I need to know what you use as money around here.”

“Oh, well we use bits!” the fashionista explained, reaching into her saddlebags with her magic and pulling out a small, gold coin, which floated up to the Courier. “I always carry a few spares; would you like one?”

“No, I just,” he paused, before unsurely grabbing it out of her magical field, “needed to see what they looked like.”

“Need a job I take it?” Applejack smirked.

“Looks like it,” he said while pondering the bit. “For three weeks anyways.”

He then flicked it back over to Rarity, who grabbed the small coin with her magic and returned it to her saddlebags.

“Well, what are you good at?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I can do physical labor, if that’s a thing needed here,” Six answered.

“Hmm, Big Mac an’ I could use some help at Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack decided.

“Sure they won’t mind a big scary monster?” the Courier smirked.

“Pssh, I have a feelin’ Big Mac an’ ya would get along just fine!” laughed Applejack.

“And… I might have an opening at the Carousel Boutique,” Rarity offered with an unsure tone. “I have plenty of dresses to finish for my next lineup, and my previous assistant has… recently had greater priorities.”

He noticed she looked sad after saying that last bit. Must’ve been someone close.

“Well, I can pull a double shift whenever,” he offered. “But I’m heading back to grab some stuff before long and then I’m taking a straight shot for Ponyville. Anywhere you want me to meet up at?”

“Sweet Apple Acres is probably the best spot,” Applejack admitted.

“Alright, I just need the best directions you can give,” he said, opening up his Pip-Boy’s notes.

After a few minutes, he’d readied himself for the layout of Ponyville, and before long, he finally got ready to break off from the group. He'd secured Knock-Knock and the All-American, and headed down the trail.

As the Courier walked towards the treeline though, he felt a tug at his duster, and looked down.

Scootaloo’s saddened visage stared back up at him.

“Kid, I told you about me not sticking around,” he scolded.

“I know,” she began with a sigh, “but I really am gonna miss you.”

“For what, two days?” he chortled.

“I’m serious!” she huffed. “I mean, it’s two days now, but what if you ever find a way back home? What then? I don’t wanna say goodbye to a friend I just made!”

“Kid…” he stated, before trying to ease his voice down into a softer one, shockingly soft despite its still sounding a bit gruff. “Sometimes, we all have to say goodbye to the things we love. Alright?”

“I think I know more about that than a lot of ponies my age,” admitted Scootaloo. “I did that with my parents. I’ve not seen them in a long time.”

He remained silent, as he could tell she was on the verge of tears.

After a moment, the Courier got onto one knee and reached down a gloved hand and gently placed his fingers on the underside of her chin. He lifted her head up enough so that her bright, big, expressive eyes stared back into his smaller, red, off-putting lenses. She could see herself reflected in them as he spoke.

“Scootaloo,” he said, making her gasp lightly at the mention of her real name, “you aren’t the first person to tell me that. I doubt you’ll be the last. But what matters is that they loved you, right?”

She nodded.

“Then even if there’s someone you like,” he continued, “someone you really, really like, and they like you back, despite not being there with you physically, you will always have the memory of the fact that they cared for you. No matter what you do, a piece of them is with you, in some way. Emotionally, at least.”

The little filly nodded once more.

“I know that might not help much,” he reached a hand up and rubbed the back of his neck for a moment, feeling its tenseness before he continued, “but it’s the truth… in a way at least.”

“Yeah, but sometimes it still hurts; the emptiness, I mean,” she responded.

“I know kid,” he said, reaching into his satchel to pull out a small bottlecap.

It was the same one that he’d collected whenever he first downed the Sunset Sarsaparilla after saving the filly.

He smirked, and then flipped it over to her with a thumb.

She grabbed it with her forehooves and looked up at him in surprise.

“Nice catch,” he complimented. “I know it’s not much. I’m not exactly a gift-giver.”

“These bottlecaps were like bits to you, yeah?” she asked.

“Yeah, weird, I know,” he said with a smirk. “No use for ‘em now though.”

“Well, thank you, Six,” she beamed up at him.

“Yeah no problem just uh… don’t lick it, alright?” he said. “Maybe disinfect it and put it in a picture frame or something too, so no one touches it barehanded, just in case.”

“What?” she asked, obviously confused.

“I’m kidding,” he smirked.

Thankfully Sunset Sarsaparillas themselves also seemed far more resistant to radiation than Nuka-Colas. Still though, he would occasionally clean and disinfect their exteriors with RadAway and alcohol, just to be safe.

“Now take care, kid,” he chuckled, standing up. “Catch you on the flipside.”

“Bye, Six!” Scootaloo squeaked, waiving him off as the other CMC members walked up beside her.

After the Courier disappeared in the treeline, Sweetie Belle turned to her orange friend and spoke.

“He gave you a bottlecap?” she asked in confusion.

“It don’t look like he owns much else,” pointed out Apple Bloom.

“It’s not the gift that matters, it’s the thought behind it,” elaborated Scoots with a smirk. “And between you girls, I bet he thinks a lot of me!”

The trio looked down at the bottlecap as Scootaloo examined it in her hooves.

This caused the filly’s smirk to grow into a smile.

Despite the chipped paint and dullness of the metal, it reminded her of a friend.

And that was enough for her.

Author's Note

And thus concludes "Act 1" of my story! Act 1 of... probably more than 3 Acts, lol. Chapters from here on out might slow down a bit, but I hope you all have enjoyed this thus far!

Comments and reviews are deeply appreciated. Thank you for your time!