Elements of Harmony: A study by Twilight Sparkle

Dear Princess Celestia,

As you well know the Elements of Harmony are a mystery even to me and my friends.  Because of this I have decided to devote some of my free time towards the study of the elements.  With the assistance of Rainbowdash, Applejack, Pinky Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity I hope to unravel some of the mysteries and leave something behind for the future.

As you well know, the elements were found and taken from the tree of harmony located in the Everfree Forest, controlling the forest's growth.  Unfortunately do to the events surrounding the tree and it's lose of magic we are no longer in possession of the elements.  However this does not mean they will not be needed in the future.

There are six known elements, no more no less. These include Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, and Magic.  The first five elements appeared to my friends when they proved worthy of them, and my own appeared in a similar manner but only after the other five had already been gained by the girls.  Why it happens like this I do not know but I may have something to do with the tree.  On the tree of harmony the first five elements are on the trees branches while the element of magic is on the trunk.  Ignoring the fact that both yours and Princess Luna's cutie marks are also found on the trunk, it is easy to deduce that the element of magic is more directly connected to each element then they are to each other.

This would also explain why Magic takes the form of a crown while the other five are necklaces, this may have no significance whatsoever but it is something to consider.

The possibility of this connection through the element of magic could also imply that the element itself supplies the necessary energy to the others but this is purely speculation.

We also know through our first conflict with Discord, before his reform, that when a pony acts against their nature, and in turn their element, that pony can no longer wield their element. This is understandable considering what each element represents and how they are earned.

I have already told you how we each gained our elements so I don't believe I need to go over that again.

As of now this is all I know and have been able gather about the elements, as my study continues I will talk with my friends about their experience with their own elements and see what I can learn from them.

I will keep you up to date on what I learn.

Your student,

Twilight Sparkle