A few minutes later, the small group was within sight of the main path. It was Mochi, walking ahead, who spied it first, pointing it out as she stopped.

"Shh, be quiet," Later admonished, frowning. "We need to make sure there's nopony coming when Cotton and I go out there, or else it'll look suspicious as hell." She looked from side to side at the rest of the group. "And if anyone hears us back here... well, they'll probably bring us straight to the guards. It's not like going out here is illegal or anything, but it just simply isn't done."

"Unless you're looking for trouble, that is." Cotton Fluff leaned forward, gaining a little of her peripheral vision as she looked between the trees. "Hm, yeah, there's still quite a few ponies trotting here," she murmured. "Best we wait a bit."

"Alright, thanks," Later replied. She turned to the rest of the group. "That doesn't mean you ponies can't get going, however; the sooner you start moving, the better. I think it's a ways across the dome, so it'll be a long walk. You'll probably get there before we do, of course, but not much before. And we won't have much time once we're in the maintenance shaft, so it would be super helpful if you got there first."

"Sure thing," Mochi said, beckoning the three smaller ponies towards her. "C'mon, you kids, let's get walking. You got that spell prepared, Kaylee?"

"Yeah, I think so," Kaylee replied with a nod. "I'll start it once we get to the edge of the trees."

"Great," Later said. "Ta-ta for now."

"Bye," Scootaloo said, looking up at the green mare with an odd expression. Later watched as they trotted away into the trees, towards the wide expanse of the dome.