During the Events of "Suited for Success"...
I flew into town above the clouds and looked around. Nothing was really going on for the past few days. More research was going into the 7th element now, several scholars were looking into it. The Princess excused me from doing such and said she wanted me to relax for about a week. I initially refused, but when Princess Luna, the captain of the guard Shining Armor, and the archives director also insisted, I caved in. I didn't always feel the need to do something, so I guess I can't complain. I flew down from the clouds and surprised a unicorn, but she got over it. I walked around town for a while until I saw Rainbow crash into Rarity's shop. I know I should be concerned, but I've seen her crash into mountains and walk away without a scratch. Still, I decide to head in and check on her. When I enter, the girls are talking about some sort of "gala"... or... something... I walk inside and see a barrage of different fabrics and jewels. To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting this. I lift up a piece of red ribbon and find a small diamond. From the looks of it, they're more common in her shop than a piece of dirt is in the jungle. I hear more chatter from the upstairs room. When I enter the room, I see the Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow standing there. For some reason Rainbow has a bucket on her head.
"Tinder! It's so good to see you dear! What brings you here?" Rarity asks while she observes a small yellow dress. Not sure what that was there for, based on the mannequins I saw all over the place, it didn't look like her work.
"Well I saw Rainbow crash and figured I would check to see if see if she was alright." I say. Rainbow laughs and says she's taken a lot worse. Not surprising.
"What were you girls talking about in here?" I ask as I check out another mannequin. This one contains a shorter dress that has blue stripes running across it diagonally, with green gems running along every third line. Certainly something that could only be created by a master.
"The Grand Galloping Gala! I'm making everypony dresses for the occasion!" Rarity said with pride in her voice. I raised my eyebrow.
"The what?" I ask as I turn to face the girls. Rarity gasps.
"You don't know what the Grand Galloping Gala is?" She asks with dread in her voice. I facehoof. Honestly... When are these girls going to understand that I don't know what this stuff is? I explain that I never heard of it due to me being on the battlefield all the time, and she apologizes sheepishly.
"It's annual ball that Princess Celestia holds every year. You have to have an invitation to get in." Twilight says. I nod. Glad I didn't have an invitation... I hate dancing. Besides, if there were three things I knew about royal balls, it's that they were boring, slow, and always had at least one dirtbag running around. Rarity gasps and looks at me.
"I just realized that you can't go!" She says with sympathy in her voice. I shrug, but the girls all appear to be sorry for me. Why, I'll never know.
"It's no big deal." I say, but Twilight offers to write a letter to the Princess asking to allow me to go. I try to say no, but the girls are so excited by the idea of me going, I just cave in and agree. Rarity then offers to make me a tuxedo, but I say that a regular suit will be fine. I never liked tuxedos. The only times I ever wore one was during my induction to the PSF (which is where I found out how much I hated them) and Sand Staff's funeral (special occasion). The girls chat for a little while longer before Rarity says she needs to get to work. Hope the Princess says no...
Shortly After The Events of "Suited for Success" ...
I was walking home when a gray pegasus crashed to the ground in front of me. I backed away slightly, taken aback by what had just occurred. The pegasus leaps up, smiling with more enthusiasm then a jack o lantern. I raise my eyebrow and ask if she's alright, and she just nods her head.
"Are you Tinder Spark?" She asks.
"... Yes?" I say with confusion. She smiles and reaches into a saddle bag, holding out an envelope. I cautiously take it and thank her. She's smiles and zooms off, only to crash into a building. She's up in a matter of seconds though, and flies off again. I shake my head and sit at a nearby table to open and read the letter.
Tinder Spark. I hear that you are attempting to discover the 7th Element of Harmony. Perhaps I can be of assistance. Go to Amareica, Meadow of Memorial at 11:00 tonight. You know where it is. There will be a clue there, as well as information I have acquired of the Element. Follow the clue to find more evidence.
- Anonymous
What? Who was this? How did they know who I was? How could I even be sure this pony could be trusted? Then again, why would they send a letter to somepony who they knew could harm them? I don't know what to do... I look up to the ponies around me, who are walking around happy and carefree as can be. I look back down to the note, and feel something on the back. I flip it around and see a packet on the back. I take off the paper and observe it for a moment. I look back down to the table and place the letter there, where I find writing where the packet used to be.
What is inside this is for your eyes only. DO NOT allow anypony else to see it. It could jeopardize my intentions.
I fly home and observe what is inside, and it contains photos. One contains a picture of the six gems representing the elements, but behind them is a glowing light, also in the shape of the gems. Other pictures follow the same idea, but one contains a dark sphere attempting to corrupt the elements, but is blocked by sphere that is absorbing it. This guy had definitely done his research...
Amareica... Meadow of Memorial... 11:02 PM...
I shined my flashlight on a gravestone, trying to find out where this "clue" was supposed to be. I heard something crunch behind me, and I turned. I nearly gave a shout of panic, but I held it in. Standing there in the light was a hooded figure. It was clearly a pony, but it's legs were black, as was it's snout. Every other part of it's body was covered by the hood. In one hoof was a letter. I clench my teeth and charge at it.
"Hey you!" I shout. The figure drops the letter and takes off into the darkness, and I rush after it. I pause when I reach the letter, and I pick it up.
No, you can not know what I look like yet. I have to earn your trust first.
I crumbled the letter and put into my saddle bag. This stallion, or mare was going to have to have a good reason for me to trust them. I turned my flashlight again, seeing the figure again. The figure was there again. I turned to him.
"What do you want?" I say with a threatening voice. It holds a hoof to it's mouth, and gives a shushing noise. I back down slightly, but prepare the knife I had kept hidden. No reason to not be cautious. The pony takes the hoof away from his mouth and points to a particular grave. I turn my head, and I see another letter there. I observe the grave for a moment. It is that of General Horn. He died during the attack on an enemy occupied city. We won the battle because he sacrificed himself. Perhaps a possible clue? I turn back to the pony, but it was gone. In it's place, a letter on the ground. I cautiously walked over and took the note.
I see you are cautious of who you ally yourself with. An honorable trait. Please, allow me to gain your trust. Take the clue, I must assist in your investigation. I can't tell you why, but know this. I want to help. My research has proved fruitful, but I have no contact to the Princess. You do. I don't know why... But I feel the prophesized day of chaos is soon upon us. We must discover the seventh element before then.
- Anonymous
I lowered the note, trying to process what was going on. How did this pony know about the day of chaos? Let alone that I knew about it? Maybe they just assumed, but I still wasn't sure I could trust this pony. Regardless, I needed the clues they would provide. I have at least let them think I trust them. I walked over to the General's grave and grab the letter. Behind it is a folder, and I grab that as well. I eye each carefully. I look at the letter, and I begin to read.
Good, you came. I was afraid you wouldn't show up. Inside this folder is various newspaper clippings. I know that you will recognize some, but others will be a mystery to you. I have set the papers in order based on date. Each set of same date newspapers are clipped together. If you wish to find another clue, go to Pine Ridge at 11:00 PM, one week from now. Guard this information well Tinder. I just know it will cause havoc if found by the wrong pony...
- Anonymous
As I finished the note, I lower the folder and open it. Sure enough, just as the note said, it contains several clipped articles of newspapers. One group starts with a story marking General Horn's death. Behind it, a article form Canterlot. It reported seeing a shining from the Everfree Forest, the believed resting place of the elements. Strange... was the General's death connected to the seventh element? As I continued to look, another article from Amareica detailed a pegasus surrendering his wings, which allowed doctors to give them to a young, injured child. Behind it, a story from Baltimare. It was stated that there was a strange occurrence with a piece of artwork. Usually it had six diamonds, one for each element, but according to the newspaper, there was a smaller, seventh one in the background for three days, then vanished. Pictures proved it. I saw several other related stories, as well as a note detailing how a griffon left the comfort of his home to stand up for ponies, because he knew it was right. These single acts didn't have anything to do with the element... It was actions. But there were so many different ones, hope, love, unity, bravery, and strength. They all varied greatly... There had to be some sort of connection...