Scootaloo had initially protested and thought the idea ridiculous, but it turned out, as they put her plan into action, that Mochi had been right. The mare stood directly beneath the ledge and waited as, in order, Kevin, Flight, and then Scootaloo clambered to stand on top of one another. It was uncomfortable and a little bit painful, sure, but they were just tall enough for Scootaloo to reach that ledge and hoisted herself up onto its surface. Once she had gotten to her hooves and taken a step back, she watched as Flight grabbed Kevin's torso and painstakingly flapped her wings to lift him the metre so that she could drop Kevin down to scramble onto the ledge before safely landing herself. And then, finally, as Mochi gazed up at the three young ponies.

"I-I don't know if I can do it," Kevin stammered. "I've only done this spell a few times before, and I have nowhere near enough strength to do it while keeping the light going."

"Then put out the light, doofus," Scootaloo admonished.

"I would, but that just makes it harder," Kevin explained. "I have to visualise both Mochi and the spot I want her to appear with complete accuracy, or else she could end up someplace else."

"You've got a big imagination—I'm sure you can do it," Scootaloo countered.

With a worried expression, Kevin looked to Flight. The filly just shrugged and nodded, offering him a weak smile. With a sigh, Kevin extinguished the light from his horn and then, shrouded in darkness, he concentrated with all his might.

There was a soft magical pop. For a moment, silence lingered in the darkness. Scootaloo realised that she was holding her breath.

Then, there was a flash of light.

"Ughhh, my head," Mochi complained weakly.

"Sweet Argent!" Kevin exclaimed. "It worked! It really worked!"

"Good job, Kev!" Flight reached out in the dark to clap him on the back with a hoof.

"Heh, thanks..." Mochi managed. "Still, wouldn't want to be doin' that again anytime soon. Guh... nearly feel like I'm gonna puke."

"We can sit for a bit if ya want," Scootaloo offered. "No hurry."

"Nah, I'll be fine," came Mochi's reply. "Nothin' a little walking around won't fix right up."

"If you're sure..." Scootaloo turned and, reaching a hoof out into the darkness, felt around until her hooftip was tracing the smooth surface of the wall. "Alright, follow me," the filly declared as she took a few steps forward, careful not to slip.

A moment later, Kevin spoke up. "Mochi, were there any other places a pony could fall like that one back there? Just don't want a repeat performance on Scootaloo's part."

"Nope, not at all," came Mochi's reply. "At least not that I could see. Pretty much just a straight line from here to the way out, give or take a kink or two. And once we get 'round the exit, we should be able to see some light from above."

"Thank Celestia," Scootaloo said. "I don't know how much more falling I can take."

And so onward through the darkness the four ponies trotted, letting the ever-fresher air inflate their lungs and add a little more spring to their steps.