It seems that crystal wasn't as harmless as we thought. I've gained some kind of connection to Skipper, and I can feel his nightmares. What he dreams of, I can only imagine, but even he can't keep up his strong face forever under a strain like the Queen of Nightmares can place on a pony, if even half of the Thestral legends are true.
Meanwhile, it seems that even Celestia doesn't know everything. If Cumulus is able to sneak into the palace unseen, then none of us are safe from his machinations, even here. Why is all of this happening? The truth is out there somewhere. But will we be able to pay the price it asks of us?