"What was that thing?" Rainbow Dash asked, stepping closer to the skeleton laying on the floor.
"A Shadow Pony." Twilight replied. "They were created by King Sombra during the siege of the Crystal Empire, but they were thought to have been destroyed with him."
"What Ah'd like to know is what one was doin' creepin' around the room with Discord." Applejack said, glaring at the bones as if making sure they weren't going to reanimate.
"My guess is it was trying to kill him. But why?" The violet alicorn lifted a rib bone with her magic and examined it.
Shadow Ponies were drones. They were bred-created-to obey orders."
"So the question is, who ordered this...thing to kill Discord." Rarity said from where she and Fluttershy were trying to soothe the young Chaos Lord back to sleep.
"And why!" Pinkie added, surprisingly not quite as bubbly as she normally was. Apparently even Pinkie disliked being woken from her sleep in the middle of the night.
"I think we should keep our elements on until we know more about this threat." Twilight told her friends. The other Bearers agreed and Twilight trotted to the ornate chest that she carried the Elements in, handing each gem to its respective Bearer.
"Is it done?" The deep voice echoed from the shadows of the large elm tree.
The unicorn shook her head slightly. "N-no, sir. The Elements...they're guarding Discord!"
There was a noise like a thunderclap and the shadows formed the shape of a tall unicorn stallion. Noctis stood over the mare, glowering at her. "The Elements are no more than normal ponies! How is it that they could defeat a Shadow Drone?"
The mare shrunk down, ears lowering. "T-the new princess, Lord Noctis! S-she is well versed in magic!"
Noctis gave a low growl. "This new princess is becoming a thorn in our flank. Something must be done with her and her little posse."