"Could I trouble you to hand over your weapons?" -Ultra Luxe doorman

"Could I trouble you to blow it out your ass?" -Courier

While Courier perched on the operating table, the ponies all took a moment to get comfortable. Applejack and Rainbow Dash went to get some cushioned chairs from the room next door while Twilight poured over the random assortment of material that Courier had offered her so freely. As she sorted the materials she recognized some of the items; a gear, some bolts, and a few nails which made her shiver uncomfortably as she remembered the doctors pulling one out of Courier only a few hours prior. She looked up at the human: Courier was busy pushing buttons and twisting nobs on the metal thing attached to her arm. A light, amber glow emanated from the device, casting a warm glow on the humans face. Twilight winced internally, the light from the device highlighted a jagged scar that ran from the bridge of her nose to the center of her cheek. Millions of questions, too many for Twilight to process, ran through her head. Courier notice her staring out of the corner of her eye and sent a sideways glance at Twilight. The small, hazel eye seemed to take in every inch of Twilight at once, and made the mare want to run and hide.

"I- ughhhh..." Twilight fumbled with her words, trying to think of something that would explain the situation less awkward. She slid her hoof over something and brought it up between her and Courier, "What's this?"

Courier raised her eyebrows, "That... is a chip."

Twilight's eyes darted over to the 'Chip'. It was a small, plastic circle, slightly smaller than an Equestrian bit. There was lots of squigly script on one side and a picture on the other. She squinted, the picture was faded and worn, but she could just make out the visage of a human female, like Courier, but with dark black fur and a flowing dress.

"What's a chip?" she asked as she hoofed it over to Courier, who seemed to hesitate before she took it, "And is this your language? Also, who's that mare on this side?"

Courier took a deep breath, "Usually, they're called poker chips. They're used to play lots of games. Well, make bets in games. They symbolize the money you have, and the amount of chips you bet determines how much money you are willing to lose." she explained, "Although, this one is different. It's a chip for a place called the 'Sierra Madre,' that's what it says on this side. These were used to buy things as will as gamble. The girl on the back is Vera. Famous person. Didn't know her." Courier flipped the chip back to Twilight, who set it back in the pile.

She sat there for a second, then something occurred to her, "How come we speak the same language, but I can't read your words?"

"Probably for plot reasons!"

Courier and Twilight turned to turned to the doorway to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack accompanied by two new ponies; The source of the chipper voice was a the ever-cheery Pinkie Pie, followed by the unicorn Rarity, whose eyes were locked on Courier.

"What are you talking about Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

"Well it's obvious that the circumstances behind us speaking the same language are impossible to explain, so it has to be for the plot!" she exclaimed, then she looked to Courier, "Hi Miss Alien! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name?"

"Courier."

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Twilight started again, "There has to be a logical way to-"

"Twilight, darling, there are simply more important things to discuss right now!" Rarity said, "I for one, am thankful that our acquaintance speaks our language. It makes it all that easier to thank her!" She bowed her head to Courier, "Without you, I - we - would have been a meal for those dreadful timberwolves. You have my sincere thanks."

Courier, for her part, looked confused, "I saved you?"

All the ponies looked at her, perplexed, "Yes, you did." Rarity repeated, "In the forest. You rose up from behind us and scared away a pack of timberwolves by looking at them, then you... killed one. It bit you as well. Are you saying you don't remember any of that?"

Courier's brow knit in thought, "I... It's a bit hazy. I remember the Lucky 38, then... a break-in? The NCR..." then her face paled and her eyes grew stony, "Never mind. Doesn't matter. I... I think I remember something about a forest, but it's all blurry."

A thought occurred to Twilight, "You jabbed yourself with some kind of needle when you woke up. Does that have anything to do with it?"

Courier's eyes widened and flew to the contraption on her arm, which she immediately started fiddling with again.

The room was silent for a moment, as if Courier didn't sense that time was moving as she pressed buttons and flipped switches. Twilight spoke up again, "Miss Courier, what are you doing?"

Courier was silent for a moment before she let out a groan and put her arm down, "I was checking my inventory. I'm missing a dose of psycho, so if what you say is true, then when I woke up I accidentally injected a combat drug instead of a healing one."

"Oh." Twilight didn't know what 'Psycho' or 'Combat drugs' were, but considering the 'combat' that happened after she used it, it wasn't hard to figure out what it meant. She filed that thought away for later, "How do you check your inventory on that thing, and for that matter, what is it?"

Courier smiled and held out her wrist for the ponies to see, "It's a Pip-Boy. It stands for 'Personal-Information-Processor' and, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea how it works." she said, "It has a map, recorder, information downloader, and an on board medical suite. It's a beautiful piece of machinery. I never leave home without it."

All the ponies let out little noises of wonder as Courier flipped through multiple displays of a little cartoon human in different poses. They then sat down and got comfortable in the chairs they specifically went out to get.

"If you don't mind me asking," Rarity started once everyone was situated, "You seem to be taking being here really well. Rainbow Dash and Applejack told me of your mysterious circumstances among other things, and I must say, I would not be doing as well in your place. How are you so calm?"

Courier shrugged, "Experience." she said simply, "Been to much different places under much different circumstances. I've found that keeping a level head works better than freaking out."

"So this 'Mohave' place you told us about. You said you live there, but it's normal for you to leave often? Do you not like it?

"It's my home, of course I love it, but right now... there are some guests that I think have overstayed their visit." she said, her eyes darkening once again, "It's a shame, really: I'm the one who helped them get there in the first place. I'll have to fix that when I get back." all the ponies looked quizzically at her, "It's a problem for later. Don't worry."

"Speaking of getting back," Twilight chimed happily, "when the Princesses get here they should be able to figure out what sent you here and find a way to get you back home! But until then, you can stay here and enjoy Equestria!"

"Then you should probably tell me what to expect outside this hospital, then."

"But darling, you simply must let me design you something more... not that." Rarity whined to Courier as the human smirked back.

The group had listened as Twilight gave Courier the basics of Equestria, the other ponies adding their own banter every so often. Courier seemed to absorb every ounce of information being thrown at her, even commenting on the political structure of the Equestrian monarchy as a fragile, but genius system when Twilight told her about the Princesses she would be meeting soon. At Twilight and the others encouragement, Courier told them of her home. She detailed a barren, dusty desert filled with humans of all kinds of looks and affiliations. She told them of the shining jewel that was the city of New Vegas. When asked about the Old Vegas, she merely laughed and said that 'they left it in the old world'.

"This is armor, not regular clothes, so unless you're a smith; I'll pass." Courier said, "Besides, I like it! It's comfy and lightweight and I just got this sweet cape for it..." she gestured to the bedsheet she sewed over her shoulder.

"Why do you need armor?"

Courier's smile fell as all eyes turned on her. Twilight had to admit, she really wanted to know. Courier had proven more than adept at deflecting questions whenever it turned to things like her injuries or her skill with a sword. Twilight had a feeling her answer would explain much.
'

"Well," she started, "There's hungry animals looking for a meal out in the Mohave, and a lone Courier seems like easy prey. It's up to me to make myself a hard meal to catch." she said, "There's also people who would rather not have a Courier make their delivery. Or maybe they want what a courier's carrying all for themselves. So a courier has to be prepared to defend themselves."

Twilight and the others looked at Courier, unconvinced. They had all either seen the scars or were told of them, even the simple look of the doctors and whispers of the nurses was enough for the simplest pony to figure out that she was not telling the whole truth.

"...OK. You got me. I was a soldier. Fought in a big battle, probably the biggest in two hundred years. That's all i'm telling you, though."

A nurse opened the door hesitantly with a glasses of water held aloft in her magic. She made her way over to the group and up to Courier, "The doctors say you're clear for discharge. Just try not to come into contact with any high amounts of magic and you should be fine."

Courier took a glass of water from the nurse and nodded, "Thank you, this is perfect." she said as she looked at the glass.

Twilight tilted her head and looked at the water, "What's perfect?"

Courier didn't answer. Instead, she threw the water out of the glass and into a corner of the room.

The ponies watched the odd display, completely confused at the human's antics, "Why'd you do that?": Rainbow Dash asked.

Courier simply pointed a finger at the corner she threw the water at, "I know you're there. Now you're gonna stop hiding or i'm going to make you."

Twilight looked at the corner, questioning the human's sanity, until she noticed something odd. There was water still falling to the ground. Dripping every so often as it ran down the side of something that wasn't there.

"OHHHHHH!" Pinkie shouted, "You noticed mrs. hidey-secret-corner-mare too? I knew you had a high perception score!"

"Now," Courier got off the table and stood to her full, impressive height and cracked her knuckles, "you have thirty seconds to explain why you're here and what you're doing before I find out the hard way."

Author's Note

The Courier may be a force of good, but that doesn't mean she can't be a bitch when she needs to be.

Gonna edit the previous chapters before I post any new ones. Thanks for reading!

As always, constructive criticism is always accepted.