Author's Note
Allow me to present the side story/prequel to the ESDE story that expands on the relationship between Daring Do and Mystic Moon (not self insert so don't state as such)
anyway a warning this story is much darker in tone than the original
1-strangers on the train
Celestia awoke with a start, breathing heavily her face held fear. “This can’t be,” Celestia said in disbelief before climbing out of bed and grabbing a robe. “Guards!” and almost instantly the door to her chambers opened revealing two of her royal guards.
“Yes your majesty,” They answered in unison with a bow.
“I need you to find a miss A.K. Yearling she is our leading authority on arcane artifacts in all of Equestria,” Celestia ordered to which the guards bowed once more before leaving. “I hope I am not too late to stop it.”
A.K. Yearling sat at her desk typing another one of her novels. With a huff she pushed the typewriter away and laid her head down on her desk. “Why is it so frustrating to write this stupid novel,” Yearling said with a huff looking up from her tan arms. "Who knew it would be difficult writing a story from scratch, guess retirement from the adventurer life was bad for my writing career." she took off her glasses and leaned back in the chair to stare at the ceiling.
A knock soon came from her door drawing her attention away from the ceiling. "Go away I'm busy!" Yearling yelled to whoever was knocking on the wood door.
"Royal guard, this is an urgent summons by Princess Celestia," a commanding voice said from behind the door. Yearling fell backwards in her chair in surprise from hearing that Celestia has summoned her of all people to Canterlot, but why?
Meanwhile...
Celestia descended the dark stairway of her old castle in the Everfree forest. Everyone is in danger unless this threat is stopped and she is the most qualified person to deal with this threat, Celestia thought to herself as she reached bottom of the staircase. “I just wish it didn’t rely on her of all people,” Celestia sighed as she walked down a dark corridor with the only light coming from a solid star forged metal door with glowing yellow magic symbols.
With a nervous sigh she dispelled the magic and opened the door to pure darkness, this seemed odd to Celestia as she had guards posted here to keep the girl company and they wouldn’t sit in the darkness something was wrong. So her horn glowed and it illuminated a horrible sight her guards were scattered across the room torn to pieces.
No, she must have broken free and killed my guards I knew this would--, Celestia’s thoughts were cut off.
“Well, I wish I was the one to do this,” A cheerful voice said from the ceiling causing Celestia to jerk upward to see a small girl dressed in a form fitting black suit with a dopey grin on her face hanging there by a thick glowing golden chain. “Because I wouldn’t leave such a mess.”
“Mystic Moon, so you didn’t escape th-” Celestia started but was cut off by the girl.
“Come on little Tia, you know I wouldn’t break our agreement,” Mystic Moon said swinging back and forth on the chain. “And I really hope you don’t break your end of the deal.”
“Of course I haven’t, I have come here to follow through with the bargain and set you free as promised,” With that, Celestia snapped her fingers and the gold chain vanished causing the young girl to fall hard on the marble floor.
“ Something horrible is underway if you decided to release me,” Mystic laughed before picking herself up. “So your majesty, what job do you have of me?” she said licking her lips in anticipation.
Yearling sat at the train station dressed in her red cloak and thick framed glasses. I wonder why Celestia ordered her guards to fetch me, she thought nervous about the reason of the summons.
“Now Boarding,” The conductor yelled out dragging her out of her thoughts she boarded the train she was led by three guards to a car that was filled with more guards that surrounded a young woman with pale skin, metallic gold eyes, and black hair that reached her back. Her hands were chained together, but despite that she still had a bright smile on her face.
Moon looked at the woman that Celestia’s goons brought in and gave her a friendly smile before looking out the window. it had been an extremely long time since she seen the daylight and even longer since she seen so many happy people it felt almost like a dream to her. Growing bored with the view she turned her gaze to Ms.Yearling who was now looking out the window trying to ignore the golden eyed girl.
“Hello miss,” Yearling heard a voice whisper in her ear, turning around she was face to face with the black haired prisoner.
“Ah!” she screamed startling the guards who brought their spears to the prisoners throat.
“Hey easy now fellas you don’t want to kill someone that your supposed to protect,” She said with a wide grin before she seemed to shatter like glass, before she seemingly appeared behind the guards. “Besides if I wanted to escape I would have already,” she laughed as she sat down the chains around her wrists fell away.
Yearling looked at the really strange behavior of the girl and was a bit taken back by her display of magic, not everyone has magic especially not teleportation magic which is rare even among the star people who are all magic user. Is she a member of the star people, She asked herself as she watched the guards put the chains back onto the stranger.
After the incident on the train the guards kept a closer eye on Moon, Yearling stared out the window still thinking about why Celestia would send for her. after about six hours of silence the train began to slow.
“Final stop Canterlot!” The conductor yelled which brought a huge smile across Moon’s face.
“Oh this is where the fun begins,” she said with glee, while Yearling grew nervous as the two women were escorted off of the train.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER TWO
2-the meeting with Celestia
Yearling stood in the throne room both confused and curious about what Princess Celestia wanted with her. What worried her most was the fact Celestia was pacing, her regal hair was disheveled, and luna looked a bit scared about something. Soon Celestia looked at Yearling her pale pink eyes seemed full of guilt like something bad happened.
“Sorry Yearling for dragging you out here on such short notice,” Celestia apologised to the former explorer before she continued. “But this is urgent you see there have been a massive disappearance of all the inhabitants of Doma Island off the coast of Manehattan,” She explained to Yearling who was at a loss of words.
“And we have received terrible news from a recon team we sent there,” Luna injected to the explanation.
“What is the terrible news,” Yealing asked curious about what happened.
“It seems one of the defenders were on the Island when the disappearance event happened,” Celestia answered sadly, yearling eyes widened with worry.
“Which one?” she asked worried that it might be someone she knew.
“It was Starlight Glimmer one of the newest defenders,” Celestia informed the adventurer, who felt dread at the revelation. “She was there on vacation, apparently she was ordered to take it by Twilight.”
“Does she know?” Yearling asked worried about the youngest of the princesses.
“No, cause she will rush there without thought,” Celestia answered honestly, but it raised a question.
“Why are you telling me this?” Daring asked the light tan Princess.
“Yes, about that,” she said hesitantly. “I wanted to ask you for your help in finding out what happened on the island?”
“wait you need my help for what reason?” Yearling asked the princess.
“I think the cause maybe an ancient magic relic that has taken the inhabitants of the island,” Celestia explained to the adventurer.
“If that is the case the relic is nothing I seen before,” Yearling said bringing her right hand to her chin, thinking of all the artifacts she recovered. “from my experience all artifacts need someone to activate them, that means someone is doing this on purpose,” She concluded.
“Yes I assumed the same, that's why I am sending you with the most experienced Paranormal hunter in Equestria to be your bodyguard,” The sun goddess informed the adventurer. “That is if you accept.
“This seems like it could have an impact on the entire world of left to its own devices,” Yearling said to herself. “There is a chance I won't be coming back, “ She concluded as she looked Celestia in the eyes and said. “I'm in.”
“That's Good to hear,” Celestia said relieved.
“Now who is this expert?” Yearling asked curious about her so called bodyguard.
“Well if you want to know let me introduce you two,” the celestial princess said cheerfully. Yearling heard the large doors open behind her, turning around she froze in place, standing in front of her with a smile on their face stood the young woman from the train whose golden eyes stared at the two women. “Daring Doo,” Celestia began using Yearling’s nickname. “Meet Mystic Moon your bodyguard and partner for the investigation.”
“Awesome I get to work with the cutie from the train ride here,” The dark haired girl said giving the adventurer a seductive wink causing Daring to turn bright red. “This is gonna be a fun hunt,” Moon giggled before looking at Celestia who was rolling her eyes.
“You haven't changed a bit Moon,” The princess commented.
“Neither have you Celestia,” She commented before taking a closer look at the Princess who stood a good foot and a half taller than the hunter. “Well you did get taller.”
“Wait a second,” Daring interrupted the two. “You two know each other? And secondly isn't she a criminal?”
“Yes to both questions,” Moon answered nonchalantly.
“And your gonna send me into a hostile environment with a criminal who could be more dangerous than what is on that island,” The adventurer exclaimed in fear.
“Yes, that's the point,” Celestia confirmed.
“Ok I need the details,” Moon asked in a serious tone. “how many people were on the island before the disappearances started?”
“Close to a thousand people,” Celestia answered grimly returning back to the situation at hand.
“Damn that will make things difficult for us,” Moon said coldly. “If this is related to the incident that happened in Blood Hoof, this will be very dangerous.”
“Blood Hoof?” Daring asked confused.
“It was a large village that completely vanished two thousand years ago,” Celestia explained to the adventurer before turning Moon. “So what gear do you need?”
“I need my old gear back especially my Blade,” Moon started before turning to Daring and assessed the adventurer. “A revolver and a shotgun,” she added before walking towards the exit. “Send them to the smithy I want to do some modifications. We will be leaving in 3 hours Daring Doo so gather whatever it is you need.”
After the young woman left, Daring was stunned it seemed like Moon's joking nature disappeared and was replaced by more serious one. “She seems different from when she first came in here,” Daring observed.
“Yes, when it comes to protecting Equestria she takes it seriously,” Celestia told Daring. “Well you need to gather your gear, you are on a schedule.”
“Yes princess,” Daring said with a bow before she left.
3 hours later…
Moon was standing on the landing strip tapping her foot impatiently. “Where is Daring?” She asked herself, she now wore a black leather duster over her black jumpsuit with a belt lined with several small knives, and on her left hip was a two foot long silver blade. Standing behind the young woman were eight soldiers who are gonna accompany the hunter and adventurer on their mission.
Moon was soon answered by a running Daring Doo who wore a khaki safari outfit. She stopped in front of the smaller Hunter.
“Sorry,” she apologized before pausing to catch her breath. “I lost track of time,” the grey haired adventurer added. “Why did you want to leave so soon anyway?”
“cause if this is anything like Blood hoof we need to get there as soon as possible,” The pale skinned girl answered cryptically.
“Okay,” Daring said confused by Moon's words. “So how are we getting there Anyway?”
“Well by boat of course it's the only way to get to an island duh,” she answered matter of factly.
“um I think you're forgetting about a plane,” Daring told the huntress who cocked her head quizzically, confused by this Daring decided to question the young woman “You do know what a plane is right?”
“No, because it sounds like something you made up,” Mystic Moon said smugly but the smug look on her face change to one of amazement as a large eagle shaped flying machine landed next to Daring.
“That is a plane,” it was Daring’s turn to be smug. “What was it you said I made it up.”
“The times truly have changed,” The distracted Moon muttered to herself completely ignoring the adventurer’s gloating. “I hope this change wasn't too drastic.”
Once on board the plane, the soldiers and the two civilians were addressed by a large man who could be mistaken for a small giant.
“Greetings I am Captain Crimson Field and I will be leading this rescue team,” he introduced himself with his deep commanding voice. “Now time for roll call, we're going to go around the plane i need to know your name and skill set if I am gonna be an effective leader,” he finished by pointing at Daring.
“My name is Daring Do and I am the magical artifacts expert but I am rather stealthy,” Daring introduced herself to be met by murmurs from the soldiers.
“What about you young lady?” Crimson asked the huntress who smiled.
“The names Mystic Moon, but call me Moon,” She started happily before continuing in a more sinister tone. “My skill set is specifically in killing everything that could rip you all to shreds so I am gonna let you all know that most of you won't be coming back.”
End of chapter 2
Author's Note
Sorry for the late chapter but I been working on my other stories. But hopefully I can get to this more often. Until next time have a wonderful day 
