"...Anypony got a deck of cards?" Clove Hitch asked as he made his way back over to the group.

Flight reached back into her bag. "I swear, I usually bring one with me to school, but I must have left it at home..."

"Hmm... that means that I'm all out of ideas." The stallion sat down between Mochi and Cotton Fluff in the makeshift circle of ponies that had formed in the absense of any official instruction.

"I'm going to duck out, if that's alright," the red-coated stallion with the blue mane said in a low voice. "I've got things to do downstairs."

"Oh, sure thing," Even Later said, cheerily. "We've got it totally under control up here."

Nodding, the stallion turned tail and took off down the same hallway through which Turnip Acres and Nerves had disappeared just a few minutes before.

"What's his deal?" Scootaloo asked, looking from Even Later to Clove Hitch.

"That's just how the Chronicler is, honey," Even Later said in a sweet tone. "He likes to know what's going on with ponies, but more just to write it down rather than to actually be sociable. It can take some getting used to, but that's how he is."

"Oh, that makes sense," Scootaloo replied. "Kinda reminds me of Princess Twilight, at times..."

Even Later raised an eyebrow. "Friend of yours? I don't think I've ever heard of a princess by that name..."

"Eheh... long story," Scootaloo replied, quickly growing quiet.

"Is 'the Chronicler' really his name?" Flight asked.

"It's the name he chooses to go by," Clove Hitch replied, "and that's good enough for me. I don't believe it's his birth name, but I don't think anypony here knows that."

"Sooooo... how about downstairs?" Even Later asked to nobody in particular, standing up. When nobody replied, she frowned. "Aw, come on... all the cool kids are doing it!"

"Are Turnip Acres and Nerves the cool kids, now?" Clove Hitch asked with a skeptical expression on his face.

Even Later glared at the stallion. "Shush, you. I'm sure the kids would love to see the architecture down there... it's pretty darn unique."

"I would appreciate a walk," Cotton Fluff said. "I know we were just walking through the woods, but my hooves were glued to that hovercraft for hours."

Kevin stood up. "As long as it's not just looking at... 'architecture', I'm in."

"Schweet! Let's go!" Even Later hopped up from where she sat and dashed over to the hallway's entrance, turning around and bouncing around impatiently as the others pulled themselves up and over to her.

As Flight trotted over, she took a moment to trot up to Kevin, who was making his way himself over to the hall. "Hey."

Kevin blinked. "Um, hi? What's up?"

"I just wanted to ask you that, actually," Flight said. "You okay?"

"Yep, peachy keen. How come?"

"I dunno... you just seemed a little quiet. I was worried you were down in the dumps about something, I guess."

"Huh. Nope." Kevin shrugged. "Just kinda tired, that's all. I'll be excited when we get to sleep. If we get to sleep..."

"Aw, I'm sure we will. Just talk to Later or Clove or somepony and I'm sure they'll set you up with a bed."

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Kevin said, nodding. "I'll think about it."

"Hurry up, slowpokes!" Mochi exclaimed, grinning where she stood at the end of the hallway. Even through the low level of light, they could see that the other ponies had already made it halfway down the hall in question, leaving Flight and Kevin no choice but to gallop past Mochi to catch up.