"...so, erm, yeah. That's basically about it. What do you think?"

Cotton Fluff stared at the comlink's speaker from which the words had emanated in a crackly burst. Then, she frowned. "You've got to be kidding me, Gloss. You can't seriously mean that."

"I've been really thinking about it, like I said, and I really think it could work." Gloss's voice paused. "And no, I'm not joking."

"Ugh," Cotton Fluff groaned, pulling her cheeks down with her hooves. "That's the worst part—it wouldn't even be funny if you were."

"Really? Is it really that bad of an idea?"

"Gloss... I don't even know what to say. The divorce was your idea in the first place and, if you don't mind me saying so, that was probably the most sensible decision either of us ever made."

"As a matter of fact, I do mind."

"Whatever. Basically, what I mean to say is no. There's no way in Tartarus I'd ever want to even consider being with you like that ever again, and I'm honestly kind of disgusted that you even asked."

"Cotton..."

"No. If I weren't stuck doing you this as a favour, I'd ask you to never talk to me again."

"Cotton, I miss you. Please, at least give it a chance."

"I'm going to try to call you again before we get there. Goodbye." With that, the mare pressed the rectangular 'end call' button and found herself quite satisfied when his voice cut off with a click. Leaning back on the edge of the hovercraft, Cotton Fluff let out a long, drawn out sigh.

"What was that all about?" came a chipper voice from behind her.

Cotton Fluff jumped up from where she sat, turning around to see the pink mare staring up at her from the ground. "M-Mochi?"

"The one and only! And look, I brought friends!" Mochi waved a hoof towards Scootaloo, Kevin, and Flight, the last of whom wore a sheepish grin.

Cotton Fluff blinked. "How long have you been there?"

"Only since you said, 'No, I hate you and this is just for a favour, and screw you!' and the pony on the other line was all like, 'But please bae I need you,' and you were like, 'Bitch please,' and then you hung up." Mochi grinned. "Or something like that."

Cotton Fluff facehoofed. "Yeah, something like that."

"Who even was that?" Scootaloo asked inquisitively.

"Eheh... that was just... my ex. Really not a fan of him."

"But that's not even your comlink—how did he get the number?" Flight asked.

"Er... um... well..." Cotton Fluff could feel a bead of sweat on her forehead as she glanced around nervously. "I called him, actually. I realised that I... left the door unlocked on my apartment. Yeah, that's it. He's the first pony in town I thought of that I trust. Or at least trusted... heh."

"Yikes. He's not giving you trouble, is he?" Flight asked.

"No, nothing like that. He's just a bit of a sad sack. Super lonely type, and nopony's been with him since me and that was, like, five years ago. But I can deal with him, don't worry."

"Hate to interrupt this all," Kevin interrupted, "but could we maybe get back on the ship? My hooves are killing me..."

"Yes, yes, of course," Cotton Fluff said, trotting over to the gate. Carefully she unlatched it, holding it open for the other four ponies to hop aboard.

"Whew... thanks," Kevin said, exhaling tiredly as he slid his saddlebags off onto the floor at the back of the ship and then plopped down himself. "I've barely been away from this thing for a few hours and already I'm praising the heavens that we're back."

Cotton Fluff raised an eyebrow. "What happened to you guys?"

"Oh mare," Scootaloo said, "that's a story you've got to hear."

"And I'm curious to, for sure, but maybe we should get this show on the road," Cotton Fluff suggested, glancing over her shoulder at the steering wheel.

"Definitely," Scootaloo agreed, nodding vigorously.

As Cotton Fluff turned around and got to working the controls, Flight too lowered her saddlebags and sat down next to Kevin. "Hey there."

"Hiya," Kevin replied, turning to face her. "What's up?"

"Nothing, thank goodness," Flight said with a sigh. "I'm just ready to get to this next town so we can do whatever we need to do and go home, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Kevin said, nodding. "Yeah." As he spoke, the ship jolted forward beneath them, leaning the young ponies slightly forward. "Dammit, Cotton! Give us a warning!"

In response, Cotton swerved a hard right to circumvent a patch of trees, earning a few surprised yelps from her passengers. Unseen by any of them, the mare smiled wryly.