The Crystal Empire's a special place, more than anypony knows. The Crystal Heart affects magic all over Equestria but what most ponies don't understand is the scope at which it does. The magic that flows through that heart can reach every corner of Equestria but it doesn't stop there- it keeps going. We didn't know that until we got there.
Until we already lost it.
When the Crystal Empire returned, we regained access to knowledge we thought was lost. Ancient spells, potions, artifacts, magic of all kinds- it was ours again and it came back to us in a rush of enlightenment unlike any we'd ever seen. We started applying most of it, reintegrating the crystal ponies with Equestria's ponies, rebuilding what was lost. We uncovered much of the knowledge of the past and used it to build a better future.
But there were some secrets we didn't tell anypony.
The princesses understood that the Crystal Empire was important. They set up a secret research installation built by Equestrians and staffed by the brightest minds, the most intelligent ponies in Equestria at the time. And we all set out to uncover the secrets of the Crystal Empire, of magic, of everything with one goal in mind:
Make sure we never lost it again. No matter what.
From the Crystal Empire's magic, we were able to see into different worlds. Mirrors like the one to Canterlot High had already existed but it was soon after we found out how they were made. The Crystal Heart collects magic from all over Equestria and focuses it, channeling it into a single source and then reinvigorating it before sending it back. It's a process that actively evolves magic and creatures touched by magic throughout Equestria. But we discovered it's more complicated than that:
The Crystal Heart doesn't just regulate magic in Equestria; it regulates magic in all Equestrias.
Every Equestria, every dimension connected to them, everything that ever is or ever was or ever is going to be is touched by the magic of the Crystal Heart. It draws magic from all universes, pooling them together into a single point of power and then rushing them back. By studying these different pathways, we were able to follow them back to the source. Through the channels, we were able to see into the different universes like doorways. We were able to see the past, the future, the present of so many different worlds all at the same time. It was glorious.
Through these different dimensions, we only took one thing: knowledge. We learned without affecting these different worlds, only studying what they were and what we could be. We began to find solutions to problems- energy, agriculture, communication, and we began applying these solutions to our world, making our Equestria a better place. And the more doors we opened, the more we learned. But then, something happened.
Something else started coming through the doors. Something we couldn't stop.
We saw the future of one Equestria where something horrible had happened. A terrible war and the resulting fallout reduced the entire world to a wasteland. The knowledge we had worked so hard to defend, to preserve was gone in an instance of blinding light, heat and radiation. And it was just the first one.
We started finding more. Hundreds of them. Thousands. Infinite numbers of destroyed Equestrias… never-ending fallout.
It was unthinkable. For so many different universes to have the same exact events was a mathematic impossibility. It defied everything we knew of magic and of science, yet it was still there. And there was nothing we could do about it. The only future we couldn't see into was our own. However, we were scientists. This revelation was a new challenge for us, a new problem to solve and it brought with it a new energy to Big Fountain. We sought to tackle it the same way we had before and we knew that some where, in one dimension or the next, the solution was waiting for us. All we had to do was keep an open mind, strive on and keep opening doors.
But we never found one.
We kept searching for a single point that started these events, the catalyst that led to the chain reaction. But we kept finding different ones. In our Equestria, in our own home universe, we began compensating for these catalysts. We began removing those who would or could cause the events. But it wasn't enough. We started removing anypony that was in any way related to anything that could possibly lead to the destruction of all we held dear. It was only too late we came to the realization:
We were the catalyst.
It was science to us; probability, predicted outcomes, percentages, likelihoods. First we were just 'adjusting' certain ponies' destinies, altering what we saw their futures could've been by changing certain things. A cutie mark here or there altered, a mare or a pegasus here or there changed. But then it wasn't good enough. We started imprisoning them- detaining them for no reason, without cause, without evidence. And… worse.
The Big Fountain became red.
It wasn't long before our Equestria had become vacant. There weren't enough creatures left to create bonds, to create the magic that fed the Crystal Heart on our world. Our sun and moon stopped moving. The waters all became still. The knowledge was ours alone…
Mine alone.
Seeing so many different worlds, so many different ponies and creatures, I forgot about the one I was living in. I forgot who I was working with. I forgot who I loved. It was all numbers and words, spells and formulas, probability and prediction. None of it was real.
So I moved on. I found a new Equestria, one that maybe, I could save this time. I could start earlier, find a pony good with machines, things would be different this time. And if not, then they'd be different the next time. And the next time.
And the next time. And the next time. And the next time. And the next time.
Now… it's been quite a few times, I guess. It's almost funny now how they all wind up the same. Every single time. I wonder… I wonder if things will be different this time. I guess the only thing that's different here is… the fact that HE's here. It probably won't be enough. It never is, anyway. But still, it's not my fault. It's never my fault; I'm just a scientist.
It's all I ever was. I just told the others what to do and they did it. I'm… I'm just…
The Director.
Former CIA Division Leader- Director of Combined Equestrian Projects
The Director
The Final Threat to Equestria's Future
"It's good to see you, Dan."