After a decidedly unpleasant social gathering under his watch, the Crown Prince is left to contemplate his life, and all others stand in the wreckage, and can only wonder... What dark happenings did manifest in the Festival? Why is Artemis sitting with a frowny face? Is Celestia in fact a cyborg constructed by fastidious use of pretzels and piloted by communist iguanas from Bocha? Does being The Alicorn of Pink mean Cadence is required by law to be seen as in possession of the powers of Slut, or does Shining Armor pay lobbyists to promote of her slut as a weekend and holiday pursuit? Does Twilight's milk shakes doth make thine colts come to the yard?

And can it forever remain unnoticed that, to his ponies, this debacle rated on the scale of events in the vast majority of lives, from 1 to Can't Even, as "Meh...".

Its strange... to lay here with you, my daughter. Yes Midnight, I call you such, though not of clan nor blood, you are as my own. There is a question on your lips... it suits you ill to leave any query unasked, no matter the hurt or trouble it causes you.

You fear me? Why? Child, I cannot speak as to my heart if I do not know what might be abouts, so I may be angry, or sad, or...

I see... a bargain it is then? So be it... state your terms. You will speak in full... and ask in exchange I do the same. I don't understand. I have ever sought too be true in all things with you and your mother, so...

Ah, you mean my ways. You are not my only unicorn kin to take me to task on it... I should see your hide's tanned thinking to tell me anything you barely weened pups just out of den can say fuck all to my long toothed tail.

But so be it. Sit, drink. We will speak then of many things, and begin with a vexed filly taking offense at my countenance.

It is interesting fact of pony life that ones cutie mark can possess more then one meaning, often being metaphorical and cryptic.

Celestia's, for example, not only means she raises the sun but seeks to be light for others, a guide. Shadow possessed a wingblade as hers, where its been proposed it meant her skill in asymmetrical warfare. She stated it meant she knew what it meant to use a blade, and that one always carried it with them, whether seen or not.

Star has always thought hers meant she was a tracker, a stalker. What it means is she is curious, and she by nature must follow a trail, a quarry.

She now stands at the side of one of the worlds greatest enigmas, a mare so apart from temper and manner as to seem almost antithesis to her sister. So, how does one seek such a trail, winding and working back through the long years of their Diarchy?

Simple. Approach the matter with the well known Kicker means of broaching the improper and possibly dangerous.

With all the sublety of a sledge hammer.

We have, as requested your Highness, have thus established the whereabouts and status of the Magus in question. She has agreed to your terms, as has her host, and we have obtained her report.

We will, after your reading, see said report made public, and make it known it was verified.

On a personal note... I have no idea why anyone lives there.