Once Mochi turned the corner, she saw Kaylee had settled by a tree stump so she trotted over, coming to a stop on the other side of the stump as if it were a table between them. "So... Kaylee... what'd ya want to talk about?"

"Flight..." Kaylee replied quietly, avoiding Mochi's gaze as she looked down at the stump. "I think I might've messed up."

"What'd ya say to her, anyway?" Mochi asked, her tone soothing yet curious. "Why'd she get all upset before and why isn't she talkin' to you?"

Kaylee frowned. "She tried to tell me that she likes me. Like, like likes me."

"Aw, shoot, ain't that a good thing?" Mochi asked, almost smiling before she realised Kaylee just looked even more sombre. "Are you try'na tell me that you don't actually like the filly?"

Kaylee shook her head. "No, I do like her... and I told her that, too."

Mochi scratched her head with a hoof. "Filly, what you're sayin' ain't makin' a lick of sense. If you like her, and she likes you... well, I know you ponies are a bit young, but shouldn't you be doin' the whole smoochy-smooches thing or at least puttin' yer arm around the gal and callin' her yours?"

Kaylee actually looked up at that, and raised an eyebrow. "I mean, not in public. Doing those things in front of other ponies is just... weird."

Mochi shrugged. "Meh, you stop carin' about what other ponies think so much when ya get older. You start realisin' they care way much more about themselves than they ever will about you."

"Hm, I guess I never really thought of it like that," Kaylee said, her expression actually lightening slightly. Of course, then she immediately frowned again. "But it doesn't matter. I told her we can't be together."

Mochi straight up facehoofed, making a loud thwack as her hoof collided with her forehead. "Why? Why would you do that?"

"Because... because she doesn't like girls," Kaylee replied in a small voice. "And if she doesn't like girls, and she likes me... where does that put me? How do you think that makes me feel?"

Mochi's expression softened. "Oh, you poor thing..." She trotted around the stump and pulled Kaylee into a motherly side-hug. "Maybe Flight just... doesn't know she likes fillies too?" She offered. "Heaven knows I didn't at that age..."

"I dunno..." Kaylee said, biting her lip. Nonetheless, she hugged closer to Mochi's side. "I'm afraid. I should probably just... probably just tell her, but this just seemed easier. I thought she wouldn't mind that much."

"...Really?" Mochi asked in disbelief. "C'mon... you can't be that oblivious to how other ponies are gonna react."

"Hmph, you're right," Kaylee replied. "I just... don't know what to do."

"If you want my honest opinion... I think you should just tell her the truth," Mochi said. "I don't wanna push you toward anything or nothing, but... this ain't gonna turn out any better if you keep hidin' the truth. Worst case scenario, she just don't like you but she understands why and can move on. Maybe it'll hurt, or be scary, but... it'll end up fine. Now... neither of ya really get any closure, and nopony's happy."

"I guess..." Kaylee murmured.

"Again, it's up to you," Mochi continued, "but I just don't want to see you hurt more than ya have to be, Kaylee. Not when you've already been going through so much hurt of your own."