//------------------------------// // Surprising Outcome // Story: My Little Caboose: Blue is Magic! // by DarkWing //------------------------------// Church woke up at ten in the morning, but stared at the ceiling for half an hour, thinking. Waiting. Waiting for something good to happen for once. He looked to his side and saw Tex, fast asleep. Her dark red hair hanging over her face, which was as peaceful as it's ever been. Being here was doing a lot for Tex, and though she would never admit it, Church knows that she finds the peaceful pace of life a relief. Church looked at her face and saw a small smile hiding under her hair, and that made him smile. With a sigh he slowly got out of the bed, sure not to wake her up. Not just because he wanted to let her sleep, but because she is a nasty bitch when she wakes up. Once he was off the bed, he made his way out the door and down the stairs. He instinctively went into the kitchen and grabbed a bite to eat. "Hey Church." Spike said, descending from the stairs, rubbing his eyes along the way. "Hey Spike." Church muffled as he chomped into his food. "Hell of a party, huh?" "Yeah, I probably should have went to bed earlier though." Spike said, stretching his arms as wide as he could. "You seem happy." "Is that a bad thing?" Church asked curiously. "No, it's just surprising." Spike laughed, jumping on the seat next to Church. "Was a little nervous when I saw your smile." "I was going to say the same thing." The Necronomicon muttered. "I don't like it when he isn't moping around." "Why, because you can't get to me?" Church smirked. "Exactly. You are the muse to my quick wit. Without you being easily annoyed, I can't have any fun pestering you." "What a shame." Church grunted, smile faltering slightly. "At least you have Blaring Who or whatever the fuck her name is." "It's Daring Do." The Necronomicon growled. "You don't see me tormenting you about your lady, do you?" "Actually, you're always tormenting me about Tex..." Church said, glaring at the book. "Baby, you know I don't mean it." "You are undoubtedly one of the most annoying fucking talking objects I've ever had the displeasure of knowing, you know that?" Church asked coldly as he finished his small breakfast. "And I've met Andy, and that guy is a full out prick." "Come now, you're not trying to make me cry, are you? I'm a very emotional book, and I have feelings! I'd hate to let Daring see me like that." "Anything I can bribe you with to make you stop talking?" "Your soul!" The Necronomicon boomed darkly, then coughed awkwardly when Spike and Church focused on him. "Sorry, I get that from my father's side." "You're fucked up." Church muttered, turning back to Spike. "So what are you doing up so early?" "Uh, I'll tell you later if she let's me." Spike said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Who, Twilight?" Church asked. "Can't say." Spike shook his head. "I promised. Sorry." "I've already told you I'm used to being left out of the loop, so there's no need to be sorry." Church murmured as he peeled off his chair. "I should probably get going anyways. Need to go grab Delta." "Okay, I guess." Spike nodded, half waving at Church. "See you later." Church waved back, before making his way to the edge of the Everfree Forest. Church walked through the forest, making good time. The path to the ruins had been cleared a bit since the last time, and Church could only assume it was either Delta or Zecora, so he kept up his pace, intending to get in and out as soon as possible. To pass the time, Church let his mind wander onto other things, like what the other fragments Cutie Marks are going to be, when Gary is going to get his, and whether or not the fragments would truley fit in. Church knew the place was tolerant to most things, and even didn't seem to mind their foul language. But he was wondering how they would react to Gary once the plans church knew he had set into motion, or how they would react to Sigma and O'Malley. Or rather how they would react to them. He tried thinking of something else, but that question kept coming back to him. Soon enough, he arrived at the catacombs, glad to take his mind off of the questions which were now piling up. "Out of the frying pan and into the fire." Church grunted as he reached the staircase, which had till not been cleared out as to not let any of the fragments escape without them knowing. Church closed his eyes and pictured the bottom of the staircase in hi minds, and using his magic he teleported into the catacombs. He opened his eyes again and saw nothing but darkness, but before he could say anything he took a step forward and tripped down the steps. He had accidentally missed his target location and fell to the bottom of the stairs. "God damn it." Church hissed, holding the side of his head that had connected with one of the steps. Church glanced up, ignoring the pain, and saw Theta, Sigma and O'Malley spread out, sitting way from each other. "Good morning, brother." Sigma greeted him, but not warmly. "Have a nice trip?" "Delta out with Zecora?" Church asked, taking a seat next to Theta. "Yeah, and it's starting to get annoying." Theta said honestly, staring at the podiums where their new bodies used to stand. "He leaves for longer amounts of time each time, leaving me to watch after them for hours on end." "Maybe he's trying to get you ready for when he comes with us. You know, conditioning you so you aren't suddenly overwhelmed." "That does seem like Delta." Theta smiled. "Oh yes, Delta is so merciful to us. Even though we can't be trusted, he still keeps us informed with everything." Sigma said, grinning darkly. "I guess he knows we AI really need to stick together." "Right." Church said, slowly looking from Sigma, to O'Malley, then to Theta. "Did I miss something?" Church asked, and Theta's eyes instantly darted to O'Malley. "What is it?" "Nothing." Theta said dismissively. He turned to Church and shrugged. "Not much has happened. What about Gary, I assume he's fitting in alright?" "As much as he's going to, I guess." Church shrugged limply. "He managed to wiggle his way into being the Mayor's assistant." "That doesn't sound good." Theta mumbled pensively, eyes narrowing as he thought of all the outcomes of that. "It's not." Church agreed, mouth turned into a mistrusting sneer. "Too many things can go wrong, but I know he won't try to do anything too bad while we're all watching him, so the only thing we can do is bring in you guys and keep our eyes on him." Church sighed and looked at O'Malley. "I'm not sure why, but I think I'll have an easier time with you up there. At least your intentions are clear." "You really know me for me." O'Malley said, putting his forehooves over his heart. "I will have to remember that when I'm reeling out your stomach like an organ grinding monkey." A green flare erupted from the stairwell, making Church shield his eyes. He did not panic, however, since he knew it was Delta, so he lowered his hoof to see Delta and Zecora staring at him. "I assume things with Gamma are not working out as planned and you want some help." Delta said when Church opened his mouth to speak. "Yeah." Church said with a forced laugh. "I'm still a little worried about-" "-Leaving Omega and Sigma in the hands of Theta." Delta interrupted, as usual he had read his intentions flawlessly. "Stop doing that speaking before I do crap." Church groaned. "I apologize. I will try to do as you wish." Delta bowed his head. "Thank you." Church sighed. "I guess maybe we can get-" "-Zecora to help Theta watch over them. That would be the most acceptable outcome." Delta nodded, then raised a brow as Church shook his head. "I apologize once again." Church grunted, then something on Delta flashed out of the corner of his eye. Church snapped his vision down, and saw a symbol on Delta's flank. "It is an abacus, twisted in the form of a double helix." Delta said simply, looking at Zecora, who was smiling at him. "You got it without us." Church said dumbly, not having expected that. "It is as simple as knowing what you are good at." Delta explained. "The chances of my mark being related to anything other than science was one to fifteen thousand." "Of course." Church muttered, still looking at it. After a few seconds of that he glanced up and made eye contact with Delta. "When did you get it?" "I believe to explain it would require time." "We have time." Church assured him, taking a seat in the catacombs, no longer caring about getting home as fast as he could. "Very well." Delta nodded. "I suppose I should start from when you left with Gary..."