The group quickly got ready and set off for the castle's ruins in an attempt to find any clues that could lead to any of the fragments. Church, Twilight and Spike were a few meters behind Delta who was ahead of the pack while the rest of the group kept a few meters behind Church because the girls were still not too sure on either Church's or Delta's intentions.
"So." Spike said suddenly as they neared Fluttershy's cottage.
"So." Church repeated.
"Do you think those other guys like you could live in Ponyville?" Spike asked. "I mean, Delta sorta seems alright, but what about that rage guy and the deceit guy?"
"I'm not sure." Church shrugged.
"Don't you think it would be better to come up with a plan before doing this then?"
"I'm open to suggestions."
"Well we could ask Celestia-"
"Okay I'm going to stop you right there. I don't want that bitch to have anything to do in my affairs."
"So you really don't like her, huh?" Spike said quietly.
"That's an understatement." Church grunted.
"Y'know, maybe the reason the girls are kinda wary of you know is because you hate Celestia so much."
"As far as I'm concerned they can think what they want and I can think what I want." Church shrugged. "It's not like I'm hating on her for no reason. She treats her so called subjects poorly, and what goes around comes around."
"Please Church, she does what she feels is necessary." Twilight insisted.
"How can you still defend her after the wedding?"
"She just didn't have enough time to apologize, that's all." Twilight said confidently.
"She's the Princess, she can make time."
"Church-"
"Your arguing is nonsensical. I would advise both of you lay this conversation to rest unless you wish to say something both of you will regret." Delta said loudly, as he entered the forest.
"Glad somebody said it." Tucker muttered.
"So what are the others like? I understand that they have larger traits that define who they are, but that cannot be their only attribute."
"O'Mally likes to talk a lot, Tex is a complete psycho bitch, Sigma seems to want a lot of power and Gamma says terrible jokes."
"Okay, what else?"
"That's pretty much all we know."
"So we don't know where they are, we don't know what they're like and we don't have a plan?" Rainbow Dash muttered disbelievingly.
"Exactly."
"I don't think this is going to end well..."
"Well when you put it that way of course it doesn't."
"What way would you put it in to make it sound better?"
"We'll play it by ear." Tucker said with a smile. "Y'know, ad-lib. Wing i-"
"I don't think the following sentence can be said enough. This seems like a horrible idea."
"Of course it is." Simmons said. "If it was a good idea we wouldn't be the ones doing it."
"Hey, uh, I just thought of something." Grif muttered. "What's stopping the AI guys from trying to possess us or whatever?"
Delta stopped and looked back to Grif, trying to think of something to say.
"That's what I thought. So should we-"
"No, this is good. We now have the means of which to capture them, that is assuming they are still capable of doing so."
"Here's an idea, how about we turn back and leave and just let those guys live in the forest." Grif said sincerely. "It's not even that bad in there. I mean sure, there are those wolves..."
"And snake chicken things..." Tucker added.
"And the multi-headed lizard..."
"No Church blew that one up, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Well there you go, now it's not even so bad in there. Sure they might get turned into a tree or a statue, but so what?" Grif asked.
"They will not be stopped by mere animals." Delta explained. "They may not be functioning as fully as they will be, but they are still infinitely more dangerous than most of the creatures in this forest. If we do not find them then they will undoubtedly end up finding us. It is best if we are the ones doing the finding since it allows us to have the element of surprise and possibly end this quickly before it gets out of control."
"Want to know what? Fuck you and your logic."
"I do not believe that is physically possible, nor would I want to do so even if it were." Delta said. Grif opened his mouth to argue, but Delta interrupted him. "We are approaching the bridge so I would suggest calming yourself unless it is in your interest to see if there are any of the fragments nearby. More specifically if you wish to see if Allison recalls who you are."
Grif looked quickly looked around and ducked behind a bush.
"I find your decision to be quite agreeable."
"Shut up."
"Tucker I would recommend that you stand guard out here while the rest of us go inside."
"What? Why?" Tucker asked hesitantly.
"Because we will need someone to notify us if any of the other fragments come back."
"Why can't I stay out here?" Grif asked. "I can totally stand guard."
"Your eye is not as keen as Tucker's." Delta remarked as he began to walk over the bridge.
"My eyes are totally keen." Grif grumbled as he trudged across the bridge.
One by one the group crossed the bridge until everyone but Tucker was looking through the doorway. Some of the pillars that were upright were now destroyed, the vines ad cobwebs had been torn off the walls and the statue that was in place to hold the elements was cracked in half.
"Okay Grif, you go to the middle of the room and see if any of them are watching." Church said, pushing Grif ahead of him.
"Fuck that, look at the place. It's a wreck. Whoever did this is probably long gone."
"I do not believe this to be the case." Delta said as he looked at the damage done to the building. "One of them may be using this place as shelter for the night."
"But why do I have to do it?"
"Because you are the most disposable."
Grif sighed and walked to the middle of the room and began to look at the pillars, checking to make sure nobody was hiding behind them.
"Say something." Church said quietly.
"Anybody here?" Grif called out. After no answer he smiled and began to walk back to the others. "What can I say? I tried my hardest. Oh well, no harm no fou-"
"Hello?" A weak voice said, which caused Grif to come to a slow stop.
Grif turned around to see a dark gray pony came out of the shadows of one of the pillars. She looked to be strong, but she had crimson red hair that swept over her face which gave her a weak demeanor. Because the pony appeared harmless, making the girls think that she was not apart of the Alpha, but simply just lost. It wasn't until Church groaned that the girls understood who it was.
"Tex."