"...and I'm really starting to think I shouldn't have come along with you ponies. Like, seriously... what was I thinking?" Later asked rhetorically as she trotted briskly alongside Clove Hitch.

"I'm kinda guessing you weren't," Clove grumbled in reply. He was struggling to keep up with the mare; carrying Cotton Fluff on his back seemed to be taking quite a toll on the stallion.

Later rolled her eyes. "Shush, you. It was rhetorical."

After a pause, Clove Hitch spoke again. "You know, I was wondering... why did you come with us? Seriously, you were asking to come even before we left... it's a wonder Turnip didn't see it coming what with your, uh, general disregard for the rules."

"Hrmph," Later replied, kicking a small patch of dirt sideways towards the stallion's hooves. "I just don't always agree with the ponies in charge. I thought I would be pretty valuable to this mission, and haven't I been? There's no way you could've accessed that computer terminal without me, you know. Not with the ponies there... conspicuously missi—huh?" The mare's step faltered, her hoof shaking below her as she felt a burst of energy course through her horn. Although the green light above flickered, it did not go out.

Clove paused and reached out a hoof to steady the mare. "You okay? What happened?"

Later blinked, looking down at the mossy ground and then back up at the maroon stallion. "Yeah, I think I'm fine. I don't know what that was, though... some sort of powerful magic just got released."

"Any idea how far away?" Clove asked, looking concerned. "I hope it's not some sort of follow-up to that business at the pond..."

"I'm sure it's nothing," Later replied, though she sounded hesitant. "You know I'm not even used to having this horn yet... sometimes it acts up. Could just be a comet going by with a greater-than-usual manastone composition."

Clove looked up through the overhanging branches, catching a glimpse of the dark, starry sky. "I... suppose. Still, it wouldn't hurt to be careful, especially after the pond. We have no idea what's lurking out here. Come to think of it... maybe Scootaloo shouldn't be by herself up at the front?"

Later nodded. "You're right—that was silly of me to let her do that. Could you excuse me for a bit? Just 'cause I'm annoyed with the filly doesn't mean I shouldn't be looking out for her."

"Of course," Clove replied, nodding as well. He started trotting again, this time at a slightly quicker pace so he could catch up with the rest of the group. Later bid him farewell before starting a canter, catching up with and circumventing Kevin and Flight and then Mochi.

As she said a brief yet cautious hello to Scootaloo, Kevin and Flight were in the midst of their own conversation.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Flight asked, peering over at Kaylee, looking concerned.

"I told you, I'm fine. Just a... magic... thing."

Flight frowned, obviously discontent with that answer. "C'mon, Kev... you looked like you really got hurt. It can't just be nothing!"

Kaylee let out a sigh. "Flight, I promise, if I do have a major issue, I'll tell you. But seriously, right now I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

"Hmph. Fine. Be that way." Flight turned back to look ahead. "Boys."

Kaylee frowned. Of course. Of course. She cleared her throat.

"So, erm... met any, uh, nice boys at school?" Kaylee asked, trying her best to sound innocent. She scratched the back of her mane with a hoof.

Flight's eyes shifted leftward, making Kaylee blush ever so slightly. "Oh? Why do you ask?"

Kaylee bit her lip, feeling her cheeks grow warmer. "Uh... no reason. Just wondering. About life and stuff. You know."

"Mmm..." Flight hummed, smirking. "Well, if you must know, no. I haven't met any nice boys at school. Not exactly."

"Yeah?" Kaylee felt her heart flutter. "What about... nice... girls?"

Flight shot her an odd look. "Kevin, are you messing with me? I swear, I told you, I just don't like girls like that."

Before she could help herself, Kaylee replied, "N-not any? Not at all?"

Flight's expression of confusion grew, and she tilted her head. "Um, what? Why in Argent's name would you care?"

Kaylee bit her lip. Somewhere ahead, there was a faint buzzing. "Erm... just wondering, I guess."

By Flight's expression, she didn't exactly find this answer satisfactory. "Kevin... please, I know you're not thick. You... ugh, please don't mess with me!"

Kaylee blinked. "Wh-what? I'm not... I don't... what?"

Flight let out a long, drawn out sigh, finally turning to Kaylee and giving her a frustrated look. "Kevin, I just... I can't take this anymore. I really can't. Since you're apparently too thick to figure it out... I need to tell you..." Flight gulped, and closed her eyes. "I have a cr—"

"N-no!" Kaylee exclaimed, reaching out a hoof to put it over Flight's mouth. The yellow filly opened her eyes, startled, and coiled back. Kaylee could see Mochi glance back from ahead, and she could feel a bead of sweat on her forehead. Clumsily, she mumbled, "I mean... I can't..."

"Wh-what?" Flight stammered. Her cheeks were pale.

"I... I know, Flight," Kaylee replied, looking down, trying as hard as she could to avoid the filly's gaze. "I know what you're going to say, but I can't hear it. I can't."

"I don't understand," Flight whimpered. Kaylee stole a glance before turning back away, but in that brief second she could see tears welling up in her best friend's eyes. "I thought... I thought you liked me back," she choked.

"I-I do," Kaylee whispered, barely loud enough for Flight to hear. "I really, really do."

"Then..." Flight murmured, pausing where she stood. She glanced to the side, only to see that Clove Hitch was a dozen metres back, too busy adjusting Cotton Fluff's unconscious form to be paying attention. "...why can't I do this?" She reached to the side, hooves outstretched, trying as she might to pull Kaylee into a hug.

Time nearly stopped. Kaylee could feel her heart pumping so fast as she instinctively reached out with a hoof to bat Flight's forelimbs aside. "Don't." She breathed heavily, over and over, feeling like she should cry but she couldn't. Kaylee looked at Flight.

And, in that moment, Flight looked crushed—absolutely destroyed. Her gaze, staring right at Kaylee with bloodshot eyes, was so weak, so helpless, as she watched the pony she had pined for over many moons literally push her away. They stood there like that for a few moments, gazing straight at each other's eyes.

"Fine," Flight finally mumbled. "Don't talk to me, then, not if you're going to be a bitch about it. Whatever. I didn't even like you, anyway." By the time she finished, her whisper had turned into a snarl. She started walking again, a canter to catch back up with Mochi.

Kaylee started walking again too, albeit slower. She felt awful for what she had said, and yet... she didn't know if she would do it differently given the chance. She'd done what she'd had to. Right?

And, despite the malice in the pegasus' words, Kaylee couldn't help but take pride in Flight's final insult. If only she knew.