Amber stared at the paper for some time, then set it down to look at the book for possible answers. Opening it, she looked through the worn pages quickly, not seeing anything about a paper with invisible ink. Closing the book and trotting over to the paper, she looked at it blankly. Then, suddenly, the paper started to move. It floated around the room like it was on strings. Deciding to follow it, Amber noticed it stopping over a burning candle.
Confused, and terrified that it would catch fire and burn her whole house down, she galloped up to it. Looking at the piece of parchment, she noticed that it was no longer blank but held a map, with a caption under it reading:
"Should the Phoenix turn to ash, or the Nightingale be captured, this will lead you to help."
Amber tried to make out the strange caption, and where the map would end up taking her, but she wasn't very good at navigation or riddles. Seeing that she would need help, she grabbed the paper and galloped out the door, making for the one pony she knew could help.
Twilight was sleeping soundly in the library, dreaming about magic, impressing the princess, and most of all, books. Twilight never understood why people wanted to count sheep, when they could count books. Books where like, the greatest things in the world!
Twilight started having a nightmare, though. One about a blue pegasus stallions death. Strike's death. She had seen it with her own eyes. It was shocking, seeing a stallion so good at avoiding death to the point that everyone forgot he was mortal, actually die. It was strange seeing him get shot up and fall over dead... It didn't seem to make any sense, almost like it was impossible, yet possible at the same time.
Just then a fast, heavy series of knocks on her front door aroused her from her half slumber, half mind rant. Considering the time of night she considered not answering it, but because of the slight chance of it being the princess, she decided to answer.
"I'm coming!" Twilight shouted groggily. Slowly making her way out of bed and heading to her bedroom door, she tripped over a table. Cursing under her breath she got up and headed for the front door, unlocked it, and opened it angrily.
"What do you want?" Asked a sleepy, confused Twi.
"Well, Miss Sparkle, I have this book. And... It's hard to explain but..."
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm closed." Twilight said apologetically.
"But it's not just any book. This is Mr. Strikes autobiography. The original one." Amber said.
Twilights eyes went wide. "Can I see it?"
"Of course." Amber said, hoofing her the book.
"Amazing... The handwriting, the golden ink... The inscription..."
"But that's not the problem. The problem is this." She said hoofing her the map.
"It's blank." Twilight stated, simply.
"Hold it over a candle and you'll see." Amber told her, motioning to one of the candles in the library.
"What do you mean? It's not like it's got invisible ink on it, right? Heh..." Twilight said, staring into Ambers eyes, which were deathly serious. "Hehehe... Oh my Celestia, there is invisible link isn't there?!"
Amber just nodded solemnly.
Twilight, not believing her ears, galloped inside to one of her lit candles. The flame danced in the dark room, seemingly happy to help in the solving of this mystery.
Amber, who was standing in the cold outside, let herself in and stood behind the lavender mare. Considering the nature of the situation, she knew Twilight wouldn't mind.
"Impossible... 'Should the phoenix turn to ash or the nightingale be captured, this will guide you to help'?" Twilight read. "And this map... It leads no-where..." She said even more confused...
"Every map leads somewhere..." Amber deadpanned.
"Well, technically it leads somewhere. But that somewhere is in the middle of nowhere." Twilight stated, exasperated.
"Why would it lead nowhere unless there was something there?" the brown mare asked.
That was a valid point. There had to be something there. If only a plank of wood with an arrow on it, or even Strikes dead body... Maybe his weapons stash. Whatever it was, it was where the map lead.
Giving the map back to Amber, Twilight yawned. "I'll ask the princess tomorrow."
"I'll be going to bed. Let me know what she says." Amber said, heading for the door.
"Alright. I'm sure she'll know something. Anything..." The lavender mare stated nervously.
"I hope so.... I really hope so...." Amber said, worriedly, closing the door.