"Well, I think that's nearly the whole pond, and I ain't run into anything pony-like, dead or alive," Mochi declared as her head emerged from the water. Kaylee couldn't help but let out a giggle at the sight of the pink mare, flecks of dirt sliding all down her mane and face. Then, as she remembered that it was the same water that she currently stood waist-deep in, Kaylee sobered.

"Um... yeah, I haven't found anything either," Kaylee replied. "Though I think I've gotten the hang of this spell... it feels like I have some weird claw arm, grabbing around at the mud and stuff."

"Yeah? What's that like?" Mochi asked, looking interested.

"Pretty strange, actually. It doesn't really feel... part of me. Like, it feels like something alien, grafted on, that I don't know how to use. Actually, kind of like..." Then, as she realised what she was saying, Kaylee stopped. Her lips pursed, she just stood there in the water, eyes wide. "Uh..."

Mochi cocked her head. "It's like what?"

Kaylee could feel her heart thumping hard in her chest and her stomach churning, nausea returning. "I don't... erm... I forgot."

"You sure?" Mochi asked. The water rippled as she took a step forward and, had any other pony been in her position, the gesture would have seemed threatening; however, Kaylee felt oddly comforted as the mare stepped closer. "I mean... oh, how do I say this? Your business is your own, y'hear? I don't ever wanna pry somethin' out that you don't wanna share, 'cause everypony has their right to privacy and whatnot. But I just want to say... I'm here, if there's anything you want to talk about. Maybe it's just the stress of this whole thing—'cause Aureate knows I'm stressed too—but I just couldn't help but notice that... maybe there's somethin' else. Somethin' I've noticed ever since I first met you 'n' Flight 'n' Cotton."

Everything felt wrong. Kaylee knew that she had to tell the other ponies at some point and she was starting to come to terms with that, but... it felt surreal. Of course, Mochi didn't yet know.

Kaylee took a deep breath. Would it be so bad, telling Mochi? She was a nice pony. At least, as far as Kaylee could tell. On the other hand, the rest of her friends all seemed to be nice ponies too, and that didn't make her any less terrified.

"As I said, Kevin, it's fine if you don't wanna tell me. Or even if nothing's up... maybe it's just me bein' overobservant or whatnot. Heaven knows I do that too much."

The last several words had blurred together, though, as Kaylee focused on that name—that infernal name—and felt her stomach drop. She wanted to cry. Throw up. Run away. She couldn't take it anymore. So, she didn't.

Kaylee looked over her shoulder to see Clove Hitch on the far end of the pond, looking in some other direction. Still, it wouldn't hurt to be too careful. "M-Mochi?" she stammered.

"Mhm?"

"Could you come closer?"

Nodding, the pink mare waded forward, emerging slightly from the water as she came up onto the part where Kaylee could comfortably stand without going underwater.

Once Mochi was within reach, Kaylee beckoned for her to lean down. The filly leaned into to her ear. She felt like she was going to puke up her heart. Weakly, clumsily, she stumbled around words but, somehow, was able to whisper out a few short sentences.

With each, Mochi nodded. Once Kaylee sounded like she had finished, Mochi remained there for a moment before pulling back. She stood there over the filly for a short time in the water, giving her an odd look, before Kaylee noticed there were tears in the mare's eyes.

Before Kaylee realised what was happening, Mochi had enveloped her in a big hug, damp yet warming. Breathing a sigh of relief, Kaylee reached up and hugged her back.

"Not a word to anypony, I promise," Mochi whispered. "At least until you're ready."

"Th-thank you."

They stood there motionless for a few moments. And then...

"Hey, guys, we found Scootaloo!"