During the Events of "Fall Weather Friends"...

I flipped the page of the book, still nothing. I wasn't getting anywhere on this research. Clearly the 7th element wasn't what would be accessible to the common pony. I had to find a way to get my hooves on a higher standard, someway that didn't involve breaking and entering or thievery. Such acts were detestable, and dishonorable. Especially to a soldier. I shut the book and stared out my window for a while. I had been cooped up in here for a few hours now, and I honestly can't say it was worth it. The day seems nice. I shake my head and get back to research. I couldn't stray. I was brought here to help in the investigation, and that was exactly what I was going to do.

Eventually I grew tired of not getting any results, so I decided to head over to Twilight's to see if I could find any books that could help me there. If anypony could help point me in the right direction, she could. When I reached town, it was strangely empty. I sighed. This better not be some ridiculous thing like when Zecora showed up. I walked around for a while before I heard a mass cheer, it was faint, but I could still hear it. Confused, I took to the sky and looked around. Still, there was nopony nearby. I scratched my head as I wondered what could be going on. When the cheer sounded again, I noticed it coming from the south. That was about where Sweet Apple Acres was located, maybe that was where everypony was? Either way, it couldn't hurt to check.

I arrived at the Acres in time to see Applejack and Rainbow in a deadlock at how many push ups they could do. This was what this was all about? Then again, the score board said it was tied at five, so I guess there were more challenges previously. I decided not to head down to the ground, no need to get stuck in that herd. So I just found a decently large cloud and rested. Honestly, I could beat these two in just about anything if I wanted too, except applebucking and flying, but probably anything else. I guess that comes with being a soldier rather than an athlete. The two mares were dead even until Applejack's legs gave out and Rainbow beat her by one push up.

...

As time progressed, I noticed a large amount of cheating on Rainbow's part. She was constantly using her wings to help her win challenges, rather than losing honorably. I shook my head when she used her wings to shield chicks from getting dirty, as where Applejack had no way to protect them from the mud. I can honestly say I'm disgusted with Rainbow's use of her wings. Wings were a luxury, not a tool. I wanted to fly down there myself and tell her what I thought, but I managed to restrain myself. Soon the final challenge arrived. I smiled. There was no way Rainbow could win this one. I had seen first hand how strong AJ was, and she didn't stand a chance. Or at least I thought. Once things looked bad for Dash, she used her wings to carry Applejack into the air. I could tell Applejack was infuriated, and I was pretty mad at the pegasus as well. What's worse, she tricked Applejack into letting go of the rope, and she fell deep into the mud.

"Woo-hoo! I win by a landslide! Or mud slide in your case." I rolled my eyes at the pun.

"I am the Iron Pony!" She shouts. By this point, I've had enough.

"Yeah that's not true." I say from above. The cyan pegasus looks around for the source of the noise as I fly down to the mud pit. When I land, I distinguish stones from Applejack and help her up. I wipe away a some of the mud and she spits some out of her mouth.

"You alright?" I ask. She nods, although she appears frustrated with Rainbow. I can understand why.

"Tinder? How long have you been here?" I hear Twilight say. I look over to her once I get AJ out of the mud pit.

"Long enough to see Rainbow abusing her wings." I say. Rainbow scoffs. AJ accuses her friend of cheating, and Rainbow denies this. Applejack points out that she just used her wings to win most of the contests. Unsurprisingly, Rainbow accuses Applejack of being a sore loser. I just fly away. I can't bear to hear any more of this trash.

...

When things cooled down and everypony went back to town, I stopped by Twilight's and found a few books that seemed promising. And by that I mean I just grabbed any book that began with "Elements of Harmony" or had the number seven on it. Twilight started to check out my stack of books, and I looked out the window, then back to her.

"So what's going on with Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee?" I ask. Twilight gives a slight chuckle at my joke as she stamps another book.

"They've agreed to compete in the Running of the Leaves tomorrow. Rainbow isn't allowed to use her wings." I nodded. Good thing too, if she did, she would probably just fly above the others and cheat again. I had never heard about the Running of the Leaves, all weather occurs naturally in Amareica. We can still use our abilities to influence it, but we hardly ever do. This didn't really seem like something interesting anyway. But just out of curiosity, I asked about it.

From the sound of it, it's just a marathon. She asked if I was going to go, but I said no. It didn't sound particularly interesting anyway.

The Next Day...

I threw the book across the room and let my head slip into my hooves. I rubbed my head as I tried to keep myself from growing too angry. I was just about ready to give up. I had looked through almost every single one of those books , from Snow and the Seven Mules to Ancient History of the Elements of Harmony. Sighing, I leaned back in my chair and looked around the pigsty of a house that I was studying in. I sighed again as I began to run my hoof through my mane. Looking to my right, I noticed one book that I had yet to read. EoH: Ancient Myths and Legends. I sighed and picked it up, opening to the table of contents. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't discover anything here, but it was a possibility. I looked through the contents until I spotted chapter 12, which was: Element Number Seven. Pg. 156-164. I instantly flipped to page 156, which explained the formation of the six elements, and how a possible seventh may have been created, in secret. I already knew all of this however, and flipped to the next page. This one included several different encounters with seven spheres representing the elements rather than the usual six. The cases were far between, sometimes even being hundreds of years between sightings. I flipped a few pages forward, which contained the full mythology of the element. I quickly began to read.

Ch. 12, Sec. 5

It is believed that the seventh element was created to redeem, assist, and or save the Elements of Harmony should they ever fail. During the first hundred years, a suitable representative was unable to be found, and the seventh element faded from memory. There was no proof or reason to believe in it until over 200 years later, when a dark evil kidnapped the elements. A bright sphere was found by the ruler of that time, and when she entered inside, she discovered the Elements, all resting before her. Scholars debated on what this light source was for years, with some believing it to be a hidden seventh element. There was not another report until 300 years since that event passed, and the Elements were corrupted, becoming the exact opposite of what they were to represent. However, an average stallion came forward, and gave his life force to redeem the Elements. Afterward, he became a sphere of light, and helped the Elements eliminate a large hostility among ponies, and replaced it with an era of kindness, and harmony. Once again it vanished, and the representative became a pony once more. There was not another case for several hundred years. Until the reign of Discord began, in which the Elements became lost, and corrupted. In an eyewitness report, the Princesses reported seeing the Elements in dark, grey conditions, in no condition to fight off Discord. But when ponies everywhere began to hope, a sphere appeared by the doorstep of the Elements. When placed next to the six crystals representing the elements, it vanished in to a burst of six lights, and each shot into an Element. As a result, the crystals regained their color, and were able to be used to defeat Discord.

Royal Palace... Six Hours Later... After the Running of the Leaves...

"No other appearances of a seventh element or anything similar has been reported ever since, but some great scholars hold firm to the belief that there is a seventh element." I read aloud. I had requested a presence with the princesses, who instantly accepted. In addition, they had invited the girls, since they represented the Elements. They looked at me with anticipation, clearly as amazed as I was when I had first read it. I continued.

"It is foretold that the seventh element is kept secret to protect it from those who would wish to do it harm. Therefore, it is revealed when, and only when the Elements have failed, or are in serious jeopardy. The name of the Seventh Element of Harmony has not been discovered, as it has appeared in several different forms, such as hope, love, and comfort. Scholars have yet to even agree it exists. For many things could account for the events in which it is believed it arrived. However, the element remains a mystery, and is highly supported by a great deal of ponies. Although they are still a minority. For now, it is foretold that the Elements will once again fail, and the land will fall into chaos..." I paused at the next line, shuddering. The others encouraged me to keep going. And I cleared my throat.

"But it is also foretold that soon after this occurs, an unknown force will arise to save the day. Supports believe that that force will be..." I pause again, and the others look at me in concern as I lift my head from the book. I can barely choke out the next words.

"The Seventh Element of Harmony."