//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - "Curious Mind" // Story: My Little Caboose II: Friendship is Fragmented! // by DarkWing //------------------------------// "So what do you need shovels for?" Theta inquired as Apple Bloom began sorting through a pile of objects that Applejack had brought them. "We're goin' t' go dig for fossils near our headquarters," Apple Bloom said as she picked the trowel up with her teeth and spat it in the bag. "We thought gettin' our Cutie Marks for finding old things in the ground could be pretty neat." "First we need to stop by the library, though," Sweetie Belle murmured. "We have to make sure we're doing this the right way, so we're going to ask Twilight if she has anything on excavation." "What will you do if you find something?" Theta asked. "We were thinking we might keep it. Maybe put it on display over at the headquarters," Scootaloo said. "Or if we find something that's never been found before, we'll probably give it to a museum and have our names on display with it," Sweetie Belle added. "Think of how cool it would be to have discovered a new extinct species. We'd be immortalized forever. And we could name it too!" "What would you name it?" "We have to find it before we name it," Scootaloo said, rolling her eyes jokingly as Apple Bloom finished filling the bag with supplies. "All set," Apple Bloom said, throwing the bag over her back and bent over slightly from the weight. She then took a step forward and fell to the ground, bag falling on top of her, making the others giggle. "Don't everypony all help at once..." "If I may ask, why are you packing supplies when you aren't even sure what we'll need?" Sigma asked, then pulled the bag off of the entrapped filly with his mouth. "S'just the basics that Ah know we'll need," she coughed, opening the bag to look through it. "We got our uniforms, a few small shovels and some snacks." "Perhaps we should see if the library has a book on the subject, then pack all the tools we'll need. There's no use packing when we're not even sure of what we will need for certain." Apple Bloom glanced at the bag and sighed deeply. "Good point." Scootaloo grabbed the bag of supplies and pushed it against the wall for when they returned, then the five of them set off to the library. Once they made it halfway to the gate of the property when Delta, Gary and O'Malley walked through it. “Greetings, girls,” Delta said, walking towards them with Gary and O'Malley in tow. "Hey, D. Nice day, ain't it?" Apple Bloom greeted the green unicorn with a big smile. "It is bright and sunny, the temperature is a comfortable warmth and the breeze is noticeable, but not rough. So yes, I suppose today could be considered a good day by a technical standpoint." "Uh, yeah," she chuckled at the strange unicorn, finding the way he broke things down to be humorous. She then looked to the others and her smile wavered slightly, always having been uncomfortable with the two bald stallions. "What are we? Chopped liver?" O'Malley growled, giving the small earth pony a small, threatening glare. "N-no. Howdy O'Malley. Heya, Neighoming." she mumbled, smile cracking. "That sounded like a very forced hello," he grunted, leaning forward imposingly. "It's just Ah'm so... happy? T' see ya, Ah mean. Ah was wonderin' where y'all went." "We went on a business trip together," Gary huffed annoyingly. "That is all you need to know." "Gamma, Omega, there is no need to be so rude towards the girls," Delta said, then shifted his gaze to the two smaller fragments. "I do not suppose you have seen Eta and Iota, have you?" "They're inside with Applejack with the others," Theta replied instantly. "Thank you, Theta," Delta said. He then turned to Sigma and tilted his head at the way he stared at him. "Sigma, are you-" "Yes, I am fine," Sigma answered immediately. "Do not worry, brother." "Brother?" Sweetie Belle asked, raising her brow at the orange colt. "Er, slip of the tongue," Sigma mumbled, then glanced to the gate and forced a smile. "Now how about we go see Twilight Sparkle? I am sure Delta and the others have their own business to attend to as well." "Very well," Delta said. "It was good to see you girls again. I hope we may speak again soon." "Wait a sec, Delta," Apple Bloom said as he began to walk away. "How may I be of assistance?" "Do ya happen t' know anythin' about diggin'?" "I happen to know a lot about digging. I know that there are many different tools used for different jobs. One that I've often seen is-" "Never mind, Ah'm sure th' book will explain it just as well," Apple Bloom said sheepishly. "I am sure it could as well," he said. "If you happen to need anything, I will most likely be here." "Okay. Thanks, Delta," she chuckled, watching as Delta led his charges to the farm house. "Come on, Sigma," Theta said, starting to trot away. "I'll race you to the gate!" The girls watched as Sigma looked at the ground and trudged after Theta, matching his speed, but not his vigor. "I'm glad they're back," Scootaloo chuckled. "Things just haven't felt the same without them, you know?" "Yup," Apple Bloom concurred. "Coulda done without Neighoming and O'Malley, though. They sorta creep me out." "Yeah," Sweetie Belle said hesitantly. "Hey, have you guys ever wondered why Delta sometimes calls them Gamma and Omega?" "Nah, that guy has always seemed a little odd to me," Scootaloo chuckled. "Why do you ask?" "I don't know, I guess I just found it a little silly. I think he's one of the smartest ponies in town. Maybe even smarter than Twilight or Simmons." "And?" "I don't think he'd ever mess up anybody's name. He's to formal and focused for that." "Maybe a lil bit too focused," Apple Bloom giggled. "He'd always go on and on about th' silliest things. He's probably just thinkin' about a way t' cure some disease." "That's true, but don’t you think it's a little strange that they all came back at the same time?" Sweetie Belle asked noticeably. "Nah, they left at th' same time too," Apple Bloom chuckled. "S'just lucky timin', that's all." "I guess so," the small unicorn murmured in reply, curiosity growing as she looked to the two colts walk towards the library. She then looked back at the other fragments going into the farmhouse. "But still…" "But nothing," Scootaloo whooped, trotting after the two boys. "Let's get going to the library already!" Sweetie Belle shook her head and began following her friends, but glanced back at the trio as they disappeared into the Apple family's home, unable able to shake the feeling that she was onto something.