On the other side of the pond, about a dozen metres away, Mochi lay back, relaxed, in a shallow boggy area. The mud rose up several centimetres, engulfing her hooves and getting into all the little cracks and crevices. And yet...

"This is so relaxing," Mochi called out as she let her hooves soak in the muddy floor of the water. "So... refreshing."

Cotton Fluff, who was standing on the small grassy area between the trees and the muddy shoreline, merely shrugged. The look on her face, however, betrayed her disdain towards the mudhole. "Each to her own, I suppose," she said, looking down at a hoof; Clove, who sat next to her on the grass, merely nodded.

While Mochi continued to relax in the pool of murky brown water, the other two sat adjacent to the slumbering green body of Later, who, despite any of their movements or discussions, did not wake and merely rolled over with any signs of exteral stimulus.

"Do you think we could look at the plans to the palace?" Cotton asked, turning to Clove.

"Doesn't really hurt to look 'cause she said she's got it," Clove replied, looking over his fellow officer. "And I am curious what exactly we're gonna do, as well." He reached over to Later's saddlebag which lay limply on the ground, and opened up one of the pouches, starting to rifle through. "Hmm..."