Archduke Archduke, first of his name and his wife, Archduchess Archduchess, first of her name. The two watched the proceedings with an air of superiority. They need it more than ever since that dreadful night. And to make matters worse, Princess Celestia's chosen Detectives are on site and investigating the so called murder. Archduke couldn't be more ashamed of the kingdom. As for Archduchess, she's made that she had to cancel her spa appointment because of this horrendous quarantine.

Major Tomato and his pitiful excuse of a wife exited the dining room wearing relieved faces. That was good, Archduke supposed. A foe who is comfortable and off guard can be hunted with ease.

That Melody mare poked her head out and called out for one "Fish Fillet."

Nopony stood up. Archduke scoffed, whoever this Fillet pony is, must be a coward. Won't even stand up at the call of their name. How shameful. He watched as the detective murmured something behind her and turned back to them and called out his and his wife's names.

"Come honey, those useless ponies playing dress up want to talk to us." He said in a teasing manner but at the same time, very seriously. His wife sighed and heaved herself upwards and together, they trotted to the dining hall with their heads held up high.

"Good good, please take a seat and we'll ask you some questions and then you may leave. That sounds good?" The Melody mare asked.

"That is sufficient." Archduke replied.

"Indeed, but please do hurry. I wish to leave." Archduchess bemoaned.

"It all depends on how fast you tell your story."

"Our story. What do you take us for? A court jester?" Archduke guffawed at that. His wife tittered behind a raised hoof. The Melody Mare rolled her eyes while behind her, the Scratch mare held her composure with such rigidity, Archduke just had to wonder if she was comfortable.

"Yes, your story. From when you arrived at the Thatcher's residence."

"I suppose we could do that. Would you like to go first, dear?"

"Oh no, you can go. I insist."

The family of three arrived precisely on time. They are never late nor are they early, it would simply not do. Their son, their sweet sweet son, Embezzle. Bless his heart, looked utterly bored.

"Do cheer up, sugar." Archduchess said before putting on a huge smile and opened the door that led out of the carriage.

They were immediately greeted by Thatcher and Major Tomato. The two were grinning like buffoons. The host trotted up to them like a proper host should and greeted them appropriately. It was most pleasing to the Archduke. It was most unproper, however, when he realized that he was drunk and giggling like a maniac.

"Would you like some brandy, perhaps?" Thatcher asked with little to no slur.

"Brandy sounds delightful. May my son partake as well?"

"Of course!" The party of four now went on to find more brandy and to have a guys night.

As for Archduchess, she was left alone, so she entered and was hoping to find somepony to help her out. She immediately spotted Margherita and Mint cooking in the kitchen so delicately and timely that it made Archduchess envious. She quickly bit back those feelings before they could overwhelm her. Emotions are dangerous.

She quickly found her place among the mares and got to work. While it seemed like not much work had been left for her, there was still plenty for her to do. It was at the end of that work when the doors burst open spilling four stallions out onto the floor.

A few moments before that, Archduke was having the time of his life before he started seeing visions of the world ending. The flood was on fire! It was literally raining cats and dogs! Spike covered Volkswagens (whatever those are) fell from the sky too. Coltfornia broke off form Equestria and was now sinking! It seemed that there was no end to the disasters when a clap from Thatcher ended it all.

"Let us..." He drifted off, his gaze somewhere else. Embezzle, Archduke, and Tomato all cheered like it was the most amazing speech ever. "Let us....go!"

"HURRAH!" The four marched out and into the living room, colliding with each other, sending them sprawling. They swiftly got up and made their way to the game room Thatcher spoke of.

"I say we have some fun, what say you?" Margherita asked innocently. Archduchess readily agreed to this mischievousness. Her stallions shouldn't have left her all alone like that, they deserve to be punished.

She quietly stalked her stallions while Mint and Margherita dragged away their husbands. Archduke was regaling their son about his adventurous exploits in Kirea where he once fought a tiger. They rounded a corner and Archduchess quickly followed. She was then super confused when she found out that only Archduke was there and not her son.

He had slipped out a window after excusing himself. Archduke didn't seem to have a problem with that. Archduchess did.

"Dear."

"Wha...?" The stallion in question whipped around and the momentum caught him off balance and had him crashing to the ground in a heap.

"Come on, we need to find our son!" She heaved him up to his hooves and with support, they were able to exit the building and go searching for their son.

Nearly an hour had passed and he was nowhere to be found. They searched the house, the garden, the surrounding forest, even their carriage, but nothing. She called in the towel and dragged her drunk husband back. Perhaps he was at the party, although she wasn't all that optimistic.

"Honey." She asked.

"Yeshhhh........dear?"

"Our son is lost. Again. And it's all my fault." Archduchess couldn't help herself and started sobbing right in front of the door. Even while drunk, Archduke was a gentlestallion. He lifted his coat off his shoulders and placed it on hers.

"It'sh alright, it'sh alright. We'll find him again. Ish what we do." He nodded, confident in his words. "If not, that'sh okay. He'sh hish own shtallion now."

The two stood there, comforting each other for a while before Archduchess brightened up.

"Oh well. We'll just have to worry about that later. Let's go party!" The mare dragged her husband through the doorway, the door nearly slamming into Margherita. The two scampered past and into the living room. Many ponies had already arrived and were socializing. "Come on, honey! Let's have some fun!"

Archduke watched as his wife trapezed around the room with elegant maneuvers. She flitted from pony to pony with no agenda, just for the enjoyment of talking. All he could think about in that moment was that she was beautiful. Then lightning struck, sending everything dark. For a moment, Archduke thought he had one drink too many and the effects were finally catching up. His second thought after Thatcher started talking was that he had been blindfolded, by his wife perhaps. Then the lights turned on and everything was back to normal.

Archduchess was very concerned when it happened. She even let out a frightened scream when it happened and nearly jumped into Poof's lap, the poor stallion wouldn't be able to handle her...yet. She calmed down though when Tatcher explained the situation. It was reasonable and believable, so she believed him. She had a bright grin plastered on her face when the lights flickered back on.

Being an Archduchess isn't all that riveting, so to spend her time, she would paint and draw. Cultivating that hobby had led her to have very perceptive eyes, capable of finding details in the smallest things. So it was most curious to find Van Dime in the room with a bandage on his head. Then after some thought, the Archduchess thought nothing of it. Van Dime was the butler, he's probably just serving somepony.

Lord Branded asked his stupid question and Thatcher then replied with calm patience. That Thatcher was an enigma in Archduke's eyes. He never seemed to get drunk nor did he ever seem to be tired or sane. Curious thoughts like that flickered through his head. When the second lightning hit, Archduke was wondering whether or not it should be a potato man. His musings were cut short when the light flickered back on revealing the dead Poof.

"Wait, that it?" The Melody Mare asked, disbelief dripping on her face.

"Quite so, it was very eventful." Archduke nodded sadly. His wife murmured some nonsense and he took that as encouragement.

"Huh, I see. Well, thank you for your time. You may leave now."

"My thanks." Archduke bowed slightly while making rude gestures in his head and trotted away, Archduchess wasn't too far behind. They made their way back to the couch and plopped down satisfied.

"We did good, honey."