The Connection

They searched through every section that was there. Pinkie Pie sometimes found books that had to do with dimensions, and saying that it could be possible. But the group knew that already. Luna was checking around the back of the library, where the older books lied. They had considerably more information to give, but none that they didn't already know. Rainbow Dash was getting antsy and had been getting fustrated because no books had what they needed.

"Have we found anything new?" she asked.

"Nope. Sorry RD." Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash started to fly around the library, checking book titles for a second before dashing to the next row. Twilight was in her own world, these were texts she had never read before and she was soaking it all in. If nothing here had anything else on dimensions, Twilight figured that they should at least get a better understanding of what they already know.

Dimensional travel is a theory. If the universe is all matter, then there could- and should be- exact copies made of those particles, which would mean another universe or dimension. This theory has yet to be tested. However with magic it could be possible. The only problem is the universe contains massive amounts of energy, whether stored or in use. A unicorn would need more energy than the universe, which wouldn't be a good thing in the first place. Every step the pony would take would make pieces of the earth disappear. And the entire planet would be vaporized eventually.

"So if he was able to........" Twilight said to herself. She looked at Terras, searching through rows just as much as everyone else. She didn't even think Terras knew how much power he actually had. Either that or something happened in the short period of time it took to make that portal. Something that boosted his power to beyond the universe.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Celestia had only been to this secret room in the restricted section twice. Both times just to relive old memories. But now the fate of the planet depended on Starswirl the Bearded's personal writings. His journal contained theories and unknown information regarding dark magic, outer space, and most importantly, the universe and multiple dimensions.

May 1

I have found a peculiar line shaped object while looking through my telescope. I will investigate further. Hopefully it is not a bad omen.

May 2

The line has disappeared. I assume a supernova has taken place near our solar system. I will search for this supernova to see if it is a danger to Earth.

May 5

Today, while looking at the stars, I found a two legged creature with full comprehension of our language. I found him in a delusional state. It looked like it had been in a fight. I've been housing it and taking care of it. I will also inform Celestia about this. Something tells me that explosion wasn't a supernova.

May 10

His name is Raphelli. Apparently he's from a planet called Crystoria, banished by his elders to whater place he may end up in. I have no idea what for, but it puts me on edge as to what he may be capable of.

The entries stopped right there. But Celestia had more than enough information to go on. Terras' kind has been here before. Thousands of years before, and then faded into books kept secret. Dimensions were involved now, not just planets. Infinite universes threatened by this evil force. She stepped out of the concealed room and out the restricted section. Twilight was the first to notice her.

"Princess Celestia, what were you doing in there?"

"Gathering information" Celestia said. "Terras' kind has been here long ago. Starswirl the Bearded wrote about it in his journal."

"Terras!" Celestia called.

He floated down to the ground and set a stack of books on a table.

"Whatcha need?"

"Do you know of anyone named Raphelli?" Celestia asked.

"Raphelli......no, never heard of anyone like that. Is he important?"

"Yes he is. He is a Crystorian that arrived here thousands of years ago."

"Wait, what?" Terras asked. "A Crystorian, here?"

"Yes. He was banished by his elders to any random place. He came here." Celestia said.

"Just like the story....." Terras whispered to himself.

"Story? What story?" Twilight said.

"My father told me a story once. A Crystorian warrior was banished to a far away place. And he found his way back....... He told of amazing scenery, and the locals weren't too bad either."

Terras drew a three ovals overlapping each other in the center, making a rounded, six pointed star.

"Apparently, it was that symbol that transported him to and from Crystoria."

"Was there a lesson learned? Anything involving the planet's history?" Celestia asked.

"No, it was just something to pass the time. My father never told me where the story came from, or if it was true."

Celestia walked to the window, and stared at the darkness outside. She didn't know what to do, there was all this information and what to do with it? That symbol, she had seen it in the back of his book, but ignored it as there was nothing written about it.

"I'll be right back. Luna, I would like you to come with me." Celestia said, and stepped back inside the restricted section. Once the door was closed Celestia put her hoof to the wall, opening the secret room dedicated to Starswirl's personal journals.

"That important huh?' said Luna.

Celestia nodded her head and opened he journal to the very back, to find the symbol had disappeared. "Darn, it went away. Luna this may be magic concealing more magic. I'm not as skilled in this field as you are, do you mind?"

"Of course not" Luna said and set the journal down on it's stand. She first checked for any physical signs of magic, pushing her face so close to the page her eye almost touched it. Then she pulled back and cast a spell to scan the back page for magical concealment. Luna's eyes began to glow, and her horn glowed purple as she checked the entire page for the slightest magical trace. She found it. In the very center, there was a trace of magical concealment on the page. She snapped out of her trance, and turned to Celestia.

"Something is definitely being hidden on that page. It looks very complicated as well, but I believe I will be able to break it."

Celestia looked on as Luna started her process again, but this time lasting longer. Luna began to sweat a little, which meant this spell must have been tightly locked. Celestia gave some of her strength to her sister and that seemed to help as Luna seemed like some weight was taken off her shoulders. The symbol was beginning to show itself, so Luna was succeeding. After a few more seconds, Luna came out of it slightly panting.

"That spell was more difficult than I thought" Luna said. "I need a moment."

"Of course, thank you Luna." Celestia said.

The symbol had a slight blue glow to it, and there were runes below it. It was Old Equestrian.  Celestia could make out most of the words.

The mountain holds your key. Beyond Equestria and into inhabited, but unknown lands.

"Inhabited but unknown...." Celestia thought out loud. What land could be inhabited, but still unknown? It was like being somewhere without being somewhere. *Unless.......*

"Luna, get ready. We're going to the Land of the Griffons. I'm going to tell the others."

Celestia left her sister to rest up and read the riddle that showed her the way. In the center of the library Celestia saw the six ponies at a table conversing among themselves. She silently stepped over to them, and called for their attention.

"Everypony, listen. Luna and I are going to the Land of the Griffons. We believe that some clues will be found regarding the........current situation."

"You mean that there are jet black acidic ponies trying to kill us and destroy our planet?" Rainbow Dash blurted out.

"Well, yes. I want you all to join the ponies in the mountain. Twilight, I'm leaving leadership to you. If anypony asks what's happening, just reassure them that we're investigating. It's not that far of a walk from here. When you're all ready we will depart."

"Did we find what we were looking for?" Applejack asked.

"Yes we did" Celestia replied *Now where is Terras.......*

*  *  *  *  *  *

Terras sat on the shambles of the roof. He was thinking of how he got here, what would've happened if he hadn't come here, and how he was going to get back. But after only a few days, did he want to go back? The civilians here showed more hospitality than his planet. However that was probably because more than half his life was spent in a base camp training and killing those formations. The one thing that kept bothering him was that he even teleported in the first place. He was afraid of the prospect of death, something that was revered throughout Crystoria. If he hadn't been afraid, if he had just accepted his fate, he wouldn't be here. The ponies wouldn't be witnessing their demise.

Terras had been on top of the library before, once when he had nothing to do. The view had reminded him of a place in Florida where a giant hill overlooked a field of wheat. Instead of a hill there was a roof and it was overlooking buildings. If it weren't for the way he was raised the majority of his life, Terras would've cried.

Imagining the scenery and his life in the past left his guard down, leaving him open to be eaten by one of the formations, which they jumped on instantly. The only warning Terras had was a low gurgling sound by one of them. Then they were scrambling to get on him. It would have been easy to disperse them, but his back was turned, making him seem like an easy target. I don't think so Terras thought to himself.

He started with a normal blast to destroy the formation leading the charge. He then began to shoot individual targets with concentrated blasts from his hand. The group was finished in less than twenty seconds. He stood there in the calm, relaxing his nerves. Another slip up like that and he may not be able to blast his way out. He turned around to see two more lunge at him.

Terras grabbed them both by their necks. Their weight pushed him to the ground. Terras was in a weak position. There could be more coming. He had to destroy these now or face a horde. Terras was charging another energy blast with his hands still wrapped around the formations' necks. Then the two things started to have beams of light emanate from their bodies. They were simply vaporized, eaten by the light inside them. Terras took a wild guess that it was the big alicorn standing in front of him.

"I had them" Terras said.

"I know, but I wanted to make sure you did." Celestia replied.

"Don't act like I'm weaker than you. Just because I had my guard down doesn't mean I'm fragile."

"I wasn't saying that" Celestia said. She looked around the rooftop and back at Terras. "What were you doing here alone?"

"I'm sorry if you missed me." Terras said, slightly frowning.

"Terras I'm being serious, what if you got swarmed?"

"Actually I think I welcome the prospect of death at this point. Not that I want to rush out and get myself killed."

"Terras what are you doing out here?" Celestia asked.

Terras sighed, and looked out to the dark horizon. "Remembering."

"May I ask what?"

A glare from Terras told Celestia that he wasn't going to tell her anything. Understanding that, she got to the point. "Luna and I are going to the Land of the Griffons. I would like you to come with us."

"Why would you need me to come along?" Terras asked.

Celestia thought for a while, trying to word it differently than what what she was actually thinking. "Call it 'royal secret service'. Not only that but you seem to know the most out of all of us about the symbol."

"Wait, what about the symbol? Did you find something?"

"Yes. Raphelli may not be just a character in a story after all."

"I'm in." Terras said.

And with that the elements, Celestia, Luna, and Terras all prepared for their departure. After a quick discussion with five royal guards to tell the others that Twilight Sparkle was to take temporary power of Equestria. The princesses decided not to tell the public that they were leaving, so that no panic or discontent would arise. The other five ponies would be living in the mountain as regular ponies, and they all Pinkie Pie sweared  to not tell anyone. Luna, Celestia, and Terras were at the edge of the mountain where they would fly since none of the princesses knew that place well enough to picture a place to teleport to.

"How long will it take us?" Terras asked.

"If we fly quickly, it should only take a few hours." said Luna. "Given that those things don't give us trouble in the air."

"It's worth the risk if it means I can save a planet from what mine went through."

Celestia turned to both of them. "Are you both ready?"

"I am" Luna replied.

"Let's do it." Terras said.

The three took off, at whatever time of day it was, hoping for smooth winds and no interaction with the formations. And hoping that they find something, anything about this Raphelli. For the symbol that was just a thing of fiction has now become reality.