//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Enigma of Indigo Moon // by IndigoMoon //------------------------------// Chapter 1 March 22nd, 1007 C.R. I was working in the office reserved for the Head of the Magical Experimentation Division, otherwise known as my office, working on a pile of paperwork, mostly spell copyright permits and experiment requests when a knock on my door distracted me from my thoughts. My friend Gaia poker her head into the room, her purple antennae bouncing slightly on the stalks that sprouted from her teal and blue mane. I shall take a quick moment to describe my odd-looking friend. Gaia Tempera is part of a race of 4th Dimensional beings called Guardians, who monitor the time-space continuum, and imprison those who mess with it, or those who come from alternate dimensions and try to interfere with history. But Guardians themselves discourage creating attachments to ponies, or any life form other than themselves. They’re typically “stuck up, narcissistic prats” to quote Gaia. They also have exceptionally long lifespans, as Gaia herself was 2,002. Now, according to Gaia, Guardians can look like whatever they choose. They also discourage any extremely deviant appearances and lifestyles, but Gaia was always odd. Apart from being bisexual, she constantly always did the exact opposite of what the Guardians discouraged. She meddled in history by not arresting Discord when he tried to change the future, instead choosing to assist the Princesses in turning him to stone the first time, she went with a dramatically abnormal appearance, and always wore odd clothes. Gaia herself was a medium orchid colour, with two antennae of the same colour sticking out of her mane, which was a dark teal colour with two blue strips. She had the back up in a ponytail, while the front was like that of Vinyl Scratch. She had a blue tail that matched the stripes in her mane, that had three blades at the end, the middle, the same blue with the ones on either side the same dark teal as her mane. Her ears were violet colour and resembled bat pony, and she had a raspberry coloured nose. Her antennae functioned similarly to a unicorn horn, giving her the ability to do magic. Her outfit was another thing altogether, weirder than her “natural” appearance, yet tame in comparison at the same time. She wore green and brown striped socks on all four legs, a brown cloak that attached around her neck, and over the cloak, she wore a striped scarf with the 4-color pattern of green, blue, red, and pink. She had a cutie mark of a paintbrush, with the brush covered in blue paint. Her speciality was art-based magic, hence her position in the Magical Experimentation Division But perhaps the most distinguishing feature of hers was her eyes. She had black pupils like any pony would, but that’s where the similarities ended. Her irises were a neon pink that seemed to glow, and the whites of her eyes weren’t white, but a vivid cobalt blue. I looked up from my paperwork to my odd-looking friend. "Yes?" "I have a summons for you." Gaia pulled a rolled-up document from under her cloak and gave it to me. "Thanks," I said. I opened the scroll and read it. To my surprise, it was an official summons from Princess Celestia herself requesting that Gaia and myself join her in the Throne Room. I immediately darted out of my office and through the labs, quickly stopping by Gaia’s workspace to get her. We sprinted through the castle to the throne room. We slowed as we approached the large double doors that led into the throne room. I showed the scroll containing the summons to the guards. The opened the doors as one of them shouted out, "Announcing the Head of the Magical Experimentation Division, Indigo Moon, and Gaia Tempera, Emergency Advisor to the Princesses and Scientist at the Magical Experimentation Division.” I walked through the door, blushing slightly because of the announcement, while Gaia elbowed me, grinning. It wasn't that I wasn't proud of the title, I just didn't like boasting it around, too much at least. Princess Celestia smiled at us as we walked in. I tugged slightly at the collar of my shirt. "Ummm... Hello, Your Majesty," I said nervously, while Gaia waved enthusiastically at the Princess. Celestia's smile seemed to grow slightly. Her glowed and in a yellow flash, three grey bean bag chairs appeared. Gaia and I each went and sat in one. Gaia sat in hers in a peculiar position, similar to the position a mint-green unicorn sat in around Ponyville. I sat with my back straight and sweating slightly with nervousness. "Hello, Indigo. And hello to you too, Gaia. I see you’re both looking well." she said. "There's no need for formalities here, so you can sit with ease. You already look like you're going to pass out from nervousness." My face heated up in embarrassment, and I slouched to how I normally sat. "Well," I said as I fiddled with the vest I was wearing. "It's not every day you receive a summons from the leader of your country." Celestia nodded. "That is true, but I've called you here for a reason. I have something to ask of you two but we are waiting for somepony else first." “And who might that be?” asked Gaia. As if on cue, the door swung open as the same guard from earlier called out, "Announcing the famous author, A.K. Yearling!!" A golden pony with a grey hat, big, red glasses and a purple cloak walked in. "So, whatcha' need me for, Princess?" asked Yearling. I sat there with my mouth hanging agape in shock. "A... K.... Yearling? W-wow!" I gushed. "I can't believe it's really you! I love your books!" Celestia giggled and Gaia howled with laughter as I began gushing over A.K. as the author leaned away from me. "Alright, Indigo. Now that Ms Yearling has arrived, we can begin. Also, you can drop the act, Ms Yearling." I glanced back at the famous author as I walked back to join Gaia in the row of bean bag chairs. A.K. looked at Celestia warily. "Are you sure?" she asked, looking at me and my friend. Celestia nodded. "Everything will be fine." "For the record," I began. "I have no idea what's going on if that makes you feel better." A.K. looked at me with a creased brow. "It doesn't," she grunted. “But I do~,” sang Gaia. A.K. glanced at Gaia, then began staring as she noticed how odd my friend looked. A.K. pointed at Gaia. “Uh, no offense or anything, but Princess, what is that?” Gaia frowned and raised her eyebrow at the rather crass comment. Celestia’s smile faded slightly as well. “A.K., if you’d be so kind as to reveal your secret, I can explain what Gaia is and why she looks peculiar. As Ms Yearling began removing her hat, cloak, and glasses, Gaia quickly leaned over and whispered in my ear: “She’s Daring Do.” I’d like to say I was calm, but in truth, I really just shouted, “WHAT!?! She’s DARING DO?!?!” A.K. Yearling, now most definitely Daring Do glared at me. “Quiet down, will you?” she snapped. I frowned, not liking the attitude Daring was putting across. “Sorry,” I mumbled, miffed. “I didn’t realize that I needed to be quieter than a rock.” "Now that that’s done," Celestia began, “I guess I shall explain Gaia’s appearance, unless she’d rather do it herself.” Gaia nodded and rose from her beanbag chair. “To give you a basic explanation, I’m a 4th Dimensional being, meaning I come from a place outside of time, and my kind can move freely through it without any sort of device or anything, though I prefer riding through in a big, cardboard box. As to my appearance, my kind, called Guardians, can look like whatever we want.” Daring looked at her with a confused expression. “So… you’re an alien?” she asked. Gaia considered this before a moment. “A time alien, but yeah. Basically.” “Huh,” Daring said. She walked over and sat down in the third bean bag. “This is going to take some getting used to,” she said. Princess Celestia smiled. “Daring, since you and Gaia are now acquainted, allow me to introduce the leader of your little group, Indigo Moon.” Daring turned and looked at me, as I waved hesitantly. “Hi. Hey, wait-, did you say leader?” I asked, turning back to the Princess. She nodded. “Yes, I did.” I have gathered you three here because I have a mission for you.” While the Princess had been introducing Daring to me, Gaia had been slowly floating upwards using the magic conducted from her antennae. But at the mention of a mission, she immediately became focused on the Princess along with myself and Daring, causing her to plop back into the beanbag chair as she cut the spell. “A mission?” Gaia asked. “What kind of mission?” The Princess floated a brown, leather-bound journal from beside her throne over to me. "This is your mission," she said. "A journal?" asked Daring. "Hey, kid, is there anything inside?" I went to flip through it when Celestia spoke up. "You won't find anything in there," she said. "But there is more to be explained. I want you to go out, across Equestria and document something for me." "What?" I asked. Daring nodded in agreement. Gaia giggled knowingly. "I want you to go out and document all known magical flora, fauna, and artifacts. And maybe discover some new ones, if you can," she said. "'All known?' But that could take years!" cried Daring. Celestia nodded. "I know. That is why you have as much time as you need, and the Canterlot Gold Reserves at your disposal, so you needn't worry about expenses." Daring and I sat there for a moment while Gaia began cackling like a maniac. All known magical things? 'That’s impossible', I thought. "There is a fourth member who will go with you, but he was unable to attend this meeting," Celestia said. "Alright, who is he then? And why isn't he here?" asked Daring. "He is almost impossible to schedule, with his profession. That is why you will be bringing this to him, when you go get him,” Celestia said, floating an envelope over to me, which I took in my magic. "Who are we getting?" I asked. "Go to Ponyville. Ask Pinkie Pie for the animal expert, but be sure to specifically mention it isn't Fluttershy. And, if I recall correctly, you have already met him, Daring." "Huh? I have?" Daring asked, confused. I was confused as well, and for once, Gaia looked confused too. Celestia smiled. "You'll know him when you see him," she said. "Now go on, off to Ponyville to begin your crusade." “Goodbye, Princess,” I said as the three of us got up to leave. “Goodbye, Indigo,” she said. “And good luck!” Daring pulled her disguise back on and we both walked out of the throne room while Gaia floated out on her back instead, waving bye to the Princess. “So, do we head out to Ponyville now?” asked Daring. I shook my head. “I want to grab some things from my office first, and I’m sure Gaia does as well.” Gaia nodded in affirmation. “I can take the both of us back in time to during our meeting to get out stuff, and then meetup with Daring back here and now.” “Wait, you can time travel?” Daring asked. Gaia nodded. “I can, indeed-y. But I can only take one pony with me other than myself, and I can’t travel any more than 48 hours forward or backwards, lest I risk being arrested by a fellow Guardian and sentenced to death for unauthorized time travel outside of our domain. The only time anyone can get authorized for unlimited time jumps with no restrictions is if they are going assignment to catch a rogue time traveller. There’s only one example of someone who isn’t a Guardian who’s allowed to tamper with time, and that’s only because he ends up saving the world every time. He’s got a codename, too. He calls himself “The Doctor”. He’s also got a time machine and everything. But that’s not important. We’ve got our own world-saving adventure to depart on!” Gaia looped her hoof around my arm, as I replied, “I highly doubt that this will be a world-saving adventure.” And with that, Gaia and I popped back in time.