Moon Knight, By Anon {wip}

https://archive.moe/mlp/thread/21906989

>City.
>A city dearest sister calls it
>Manehattan is more akin to a cesspool
>During the day, under cover of our sister’s sun everything looks pristine, bustling ponies, and non ponies alike
>It would fool any passersby, thinking it a quaint town. No, not a town Luna, it’s more *advanced*
>It’s a city
>But during the night, *our* night. This place shows it’s true from.
>Equestrians of all kinds too scared to walk the streets, and those who do, either act out of necessity or, those who don’t fear our darkness are the ones spreading the fear.
>These creatures stalk the night, *OUR* night. Fulfilling their own purposes. Money, mares, magic, power
>Ooooooh but they’re all *good* beings under cover of sun, business owners, fillyanthropists, bankers, spellsmiths
>”They couldn’t have done it,” “You must act with friendship little sister,” “No, we mustn’t impose on our citizens the laws have held fine since your departure”
>More of Celestia’s whining comes to mind before you shake it off, focusing on the files in front of you. There’s a common theme, but no evidence. Whispers from the guard
“*Sigh* We love thee sister, truly. But thou hath fallen in responsibility, thou raised our moon, but did not raise the sword of justice” you say to yourself enjoying the sound of something other than shuffled parchment
>Being the solar shield would do that we suppose, Shield are meant to protect and serve, swords offer no protection, they are a weapon only, they are meant to strike only
>Leaving a shield in charge of justice is an act done out of desperation, but it’s too late now, the laws are set and you cannot change them
>Armored hooves knock on your door in a panicked manner, and we’re certain what’s going to follow, you tense up expecting to hear the words

>”Princess!" shouts the Manehattan guard “We’ve got more ponies tied up near the theatre, the-“
>SLAM
>Our hooves strike the table, scattering the files to the ground and startling the guard. A blurry photo of a tall figure dressed in white lands face up, mocking us
“Who in Tartarus is MOON KNIGHT?!”

>Be Anonymous
>Be six months ago
>”Anon are you listening to me?” Says a disgruntled voice
“Yeah, I can hear you” you reply with some strain. Racking the weight back sitting up to look at the mare speaking to you
>”Hearing isn’t the same as listening you know?” she was with a slight frown on her mint green face
>Heh, she’s kinda cute when she’s grumpy
>Her face immediately twists into a huge grin “Whatever though, I looked at your designs and modified them a bit to be more realistic, LOOK!”
>Thrusting a sheet of parchment into your face, looking at it, then at her, you can’t help but match her enthusiasm
>It’s finally happening
“Lyra. This, this is amazing! It’s exactly what I had in mind”
>She blushes. Well blushes harder anyway. You should really keep your workouts when she’s busy with the shop
>”I’ve even made some prototypes, they’re cooling right now!” she chirps clapping her hooves together
>”All we need now is for *her* to finish up her end” she huffs while rolling her golden eyes
“Hey, Coco’s almost done” you reply sternly poking her horn with your index finger “It’s certainly not any easier for her to make the parts all separately so she doesn’t know what I-We’re doing.”
>You walk over to the pile of white cloth in the corner of Lyra’s basement, aka your room, formed in the shapes of arms, legs, chest, hood. You hold in your hands designed for plates that insert in the suit, and crescent shaped throwing weapons

>It’s been a year and a half here in Equestria
>Your first few months were shaky at best, what with the whole, being deemed "a threat to Equestria and the world at large” when you first got here
>This world was so much more lax than Earth, usually if anybody died it was because they choked on a marshmallow, or died from hugs or some shit
>Boy were you wrong.
>You moved to Manehattan after telling the princess about your world and how you grew up in buildings with 15 floors
>Sure Ponyville was great and Twilight and her friends are alright
>Except Fluttershy, thankfully the equestrian version of rape (so you thought) was basically chest nuzzles, and it was cute, but got old quickly.
>But it was kind of nicer to be in something that resembled a city in your world
>Then you learned the truth about this world, you feel like an idiot for thinking any world could be perfect
>Celestia’s lies, and Twilight just spewing them out like the cute little pone puppet princess that she was just made the truth hurt that much more
>This place was vile at night
>The guard wouldn’t do anything about it
>Celestial just brushed off your concerns with a hoof wave “You’re just misunderstanding” “I’m certain if you give it time you’ll understand our customs”
>Rape ain’t no misunderstanding! And this time you mean real rape
>You broke it up, and only then did the guard show. To arrest you!
>Breaking and entering.
>What a joke
>You maybe weren’t the most upstanding person on Earth, but you’d like to think you knew right from wrong, at least if comic books, t.v., games and movies thought you anything, which they did
>And this place, Manehattan was wrong
>Thankfully you were smart about keeping one thing secret, which you only did out of the reaction you got when you told them you were an omnivore
>This world’s gravity is lower than Earth’s, meaning that even though you weren’t very strong, or fast, or hardy, or anything. Here you were.

>Still present time, and currently checking yourself for equipment
>Crescent weapons, check
>Concussive “insta-party” bombs (thanks Pinkie), check
>Magi-fix (in case you get too roughed up during a scrap), check
>Sandwich (patrolling make you hungry), check
>Going over the last things you’ve got affords you some time to reminisce
>A little over six months ago you and Lyra were starting the foundation to what would lead to you up on to being on this roof right now
>You learned a few things the night you got arrested
>Your identity is way too easy to spot, but luckily
>Youngish dragons, and minotaurs have a frame that’s very similar to yours
> and lastly regular ponies have terrible night vision
>That night in the cells, that’s when you hated this stupid plan, you knew mostly how to get what you needed, but you were missing one thing
>Something ponies fear
>Thankfully that night you learned exactly what it was, most ponies are afraid of the dark, the ones that aren’t use it as a tool to get what they need
>They’re the ones you’re after, so you needed something more. And you found it.
>Thanks to one glorious princess, Everything that can fear is very afraid…
>Of the Moon.
>”Anon are you ready up there” Lyra calls using the mindstone affixed to the inside of your mask, right at the ear
>"I heard word of a gang of Gryphons meeting up near the docks from a customer earlier today.
>Donning your white mask and feeling a grin spread across your face
“Maybe they’re just going fishing Lyra, I’d like to see what they’re going to catch”

>Bounding into the air sends you three rooftops over
>“Today makes your first week 'on the job’ y’know?” She says with some concern
“Yeeess?”
>”Well it’s just... I’ve also been hearing the guard, they’re getting pretty restless at this ‘white phantom’” she continues
“Yeah, well I didn’t expect them to be on my side in this. I had to do something Lyra. You kn-“
>”YEAH. oop, sorry, I mean yes, I know you do. and I’m glad you are out there” she hesitates
> you clear another few buildings working over to the docks now
“buuuut?” you bait
>but… just be careful” she finishes
>You can imagine her pacing back and forth in her room, looking out the window

>Be Princess Luna
>Be interrogating … “discussing with” the criminals who… “aspiring performers” who decided to do an improvisation in the alleyways near the theatre
>Improv that looked very similarly to rape if the photos left behind with the tied crime-“PERFORMERS” are to be believed
>”I-i-i-it was some giant phantom!” Tight Lips manages to spit out between fits of shivering and wetting himself
>”Yeah! It looked like the moon itself was coming down on-“
“THE ONLY MOON BEARING DOWN UPON THEE CRETINS IS US, NOW FOCUS AND GIVE US DETAILS”
>And now they’ve cowered even further and *sniff* wet themselves even more. Pathetic.
>Walking out of the “discussion room” you turn to the guard stationed by the door
“Guide these miscreants to their cells, we shall deal with them later”
>You start to walk off before the guard responds “B-b-b-but they’re, related to-“
>Whipping around to get into his face
“We care not whom they are related to, do as we command!” turning back you call over your local second in command and he follows you down the hallway
“How are our plans for the Gryphon trap tonight Night Beat?”

>”Whu-bu, our plans?” he asks confusedly
>Calm thy-… “your"self Luna. We-YOU…you, you have been in Equestria for over a year now, don’t let the stress revert you back to old habits.
“My plans, Lieutenant Beat.” you correct yourself noting his eyes widen in shock as he realizes what you mean
“Th-You know, the gryphon branch?” you continue hoping to get him to cease shaking “Dressing up as-“
>”AH! Yes! Uh, they’re in position and we had some undercover guards spreading rumors just like you asked your highness” he states, finally finding his shaken confidence
“Excellent!” you smirk, crossing the doorway to Lieutenant Beat’s office, aka your temporary office during your stay in Manehattan
>Night Beat follows you in standing awkwardly in the center of the room
“Do you require anything Lieutenant?” you ask after he continues to stand there for about a minute
>”Yes, well uh. It’s just that…” his brow glistens slightly but he continues, trying to keep his voice steady, “we’ve never done something like this before, lying to somepony”
“Lying?!” you ask, baffled
>The situation is worse than you thought, back when Equestria was getting started, traps were necessary for catching all manner of dangerous creature
>This being was dangerous, but if your hunch is correct it has a bait it will take. Yes, no different than hunting manticores that slay your ponies some 2000 years ago.
>The notion that they’ve never set traps could mean they haven’t needed to, or they don’t hunt for dangers. Thinking to what you’ve seen upon your return tells you that it’s the latter.
“Lieutenant.” you respond after what must be a painful amount of time spent in silence for him
>Tread carefully Luna, Celestia has shown you the laws she has set forth for the guard and this is technically towing the line

“We aren’t lying to anypony” you say with as much reassurance in your voice as possible
>”But the law says-“
“We-...I am very aware of what the law says Lieutenant, and we are within the statute of them” you respond walking over to him and pulling a wing around the unicorn's withers
>Gently you pull him along to the “command room” which comprised of some scribes, and audio equipment
“This is merely ‘more involved’ undercover work” you coo trying to ease his concerns “Besides, you wish to see this creature caught as much as I do no?”
>”Well, yeah I do... Just so we can get its side of the story, maybe it’s just cranky?” he replies, seeming more sure of himself
>[ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE INTERNALLY]
>No wait, this could work
“Yeeeess, precisely. Perhaps this creature is merely cranky” you respond through the most forced smile you can muster
>It’s certainly not some violent creature assaulting civilians on the street, thankfully it’s resorted to persons of interest to you otherwise you may have called in the elements for assistance
>NO, there should be no need. Even with these pesky laws in the way, you will capture this assailant
>If some violent brute can’t be caught than what hope do you have to finally pin down Do-
>”We’ve got movement!” shouts a scribe drawing your attention away from your thoughts “I can sense something near the guard, but it’s fuzzy.” she says scrunching up her muzzle
>Floating the microphone over to hover in front of your mouth to speak
“Gryphons, remain on high alert. But act as though nothing is going on, recall that you are criminals! You are shipping … nefarious things... through the harbor”
>Nefarious things? You are out of touch.
>Regardless, should they perform their parts well you may just succeed tonight
>A good catch requires good bait after all

>You are Anonymous
>Fuck, wait no. You are Moon Knight!
>And what the fuck are you looking at?
>You made to the harbor district a little while ago and started scouting the region looking for these supposed gryphons
>Boy did you find them alright
>They seem odd
>Stiff and robotic, not that that word means anything in this world
>It’s like they’re going through motions
>Stack this, move that, say swears like “bucking” and "donkey hat.”
>It’s cute how awkward they are
>Maybe you’re starting to have an impact, they’re scared so badly they can’t even haul … nefarious things… right.
>Man, you need to figure out what stuff is drugs and what stuff is magic shit if you’re gonna keep this up. Good note to ask Lyra about.
“Hey, Lyra?” you ask pressing the mindstone to your ear since the sea wind is picking up around your hearing
>”YES?” she asks timidly
“Hey, I’m fine. Relax.” you say as calmly as you can. Which elicits a sigh on the other side “Are you sure you heard Docks? I’m seeing some gryphons, but I can’t really see if they’re up to anyth-“
>Sudden motion from all the gryphons cuts your statement short as you look over to what they’re looking at
>Another group is making their way over to the Gryphons
>Ponies, diamond dogs, gryphons and minotaurs are marching over
“Well, now. This just got interesting”
>”What is it Ano-er Moon Knight? You know my scribing isn’t very good.”
“Another group just walked up, going to listen in. Look for any pathways I can use to get away if things get bad, and be ready if I call in”
>A rustling of parchment tells you she’s looking for harbor district maps, she says they’re because she was contracted to do metalwork for the city
>”Okay, please be careful”

>Psh, I’m always careful
>”No you’re not! You got stabbed dealing with the ponies by the theatre early this morning” she hisses
>It was a cut! Thanks to those metal sheets it wasn’t a very deep one and-
"Wait, you heard that? I thought it was speech only?”
>”Thoughts with strong emotion get picked up too”
>Ah man, I hope she didn’t hear about when you were thinking about her ass yesterday
>She’s silent, good. She probably didn’t hear that then

>Be Lyra
>You totally did, but what “Moon Knight” doesn’t know won’t hurt him
>Speaking of, you hope he doesn’t get hurt.
>You never want to see him the way you did when Bo-
>CRACK
>”The new group is firing off magic, time to ‘handle’ the situation hero style”
>You can practically hear the confidence in his voice
>You straighten up a bit and look through the maps some more, letting his confidence boost you as well

>Be Moon Knight
>The two groups are fighting, and thankfully the gryphons stick to the ground.
>Oddly enough Pegasii are usually the sky fighters, maybe because they don’t have claws
>CRACK
>Focus dumbass!
>Right! Gotta take out the unicorns first. The metal plates are enchanted to resist magic somewhat but you never know what a unicorn is capable of
>Inhale
>Hold
>Hold
>Exhale
>Ready.
>Jump.

>Be Moon Princess
>Everything is ruined
>Now you have actual thugs mixing in with your undercover guards
>No, stay calm. You’ve waged wars you know. You can handle a few miscreants, with your …passive… poorly trained guards
>The goal was the element of surprise, but now that’s out
>”Okay, team just act normally and explain the situation to them”
“ART THOU MAD?” you royally declare eliciting a jump from everyone
“Go on the defensive! You’re all enchanted with a magic resistant spell so you shouldst be able to withstand a few strikes.” you command to the microphone sending the signal to your guard
“The moment they strike first is the moment you returneth the favor ten-fold!” you declare
>Calm down Luna, tis- it’s no war. Just a minor scuffle at most
>CRACK
> “Gallad has been struck Lieu- uh Princess” replies the mare scribe looking between both you and Night Beat
>”Uh, maybe it was a misunderstanding. right?!” he squeaks rubbing a hoof behind his head
>it would appear his voice cracks under pressure
>”Unicorns have been known to-“
>CRACK
>"Gale was struck while the others were trying to take cover Princess Luna, she’s got a paralyzed leg”
“Damnation! Alright, here’s what we do. Gawain and Greta we desire thee to fly out near the water and draw the attention of the unicorns.” you command
“Be sporadic, unicorns are much better at hitting a steady target. Now Gar-“
>”AH! I’ve got confirmation," shouts Far Sight nearly jumping out of her seat “He’s here!”
“Use Mind’s Eye quickly! Gale! Peek around cover and do not lose sight of this Phantom!”
>Far Sight now projecting the Gryphoness’ vision for everyone to see yields quite the sight indeed.

>”It is a Phantom!” comes another squeak
>Night Beat, get a hold of yourself
>That said the “Phantom” is curious
>It is tall and… long?
>Nay, That’s some form of clothing surely. It looks not like plumage or flesh.
>It’s fast too
>Upon descending, seemingly out of nowhere, it quickly strikes out at one unicorn with its claws
>In one attack it’s out cold. Such power behind it’s lanky frame
>Something familiar about it...
>You see your two Gryphon team out of the corner of Gale’s vision which breaks your thoughts
“HALT! Return to cover! Prepare to jump out into a position where you could surround this creature” Forcing the two gryphons to halt mid air and turn around
>Rather, they would if the two gryphons from the other group didn’t tackle yours down
>DAMNATION, Luna you’re rusty. Of course they’d take advantage
>Quickly though the Phantom lunges at the gryphon pile, just before making contact however it swivels around
>Why would it do th-
>Ah, A smal barb of some kind pierces the chest of the other conscious unicorn, stunning it from releasing the spell it was charging
>Does it shoot poison of some kind? How vile.
“Gale, cease with your shaking. We need a clear view” you state calmly
>Yelling would only shake her up more
>In an instant its grabbed both of the assaulting Gryphons and heaved them back, one into the recovering Unicorn and the other into a diamond dog that was charging up
>Diamond dog and gryphon go hurtling into the water and the dog appears to be unable to swim incapacitating the Gryphon in the process
>Clever beast

>In just a few motions this creature has felled five of the eight assailants
>This could be trouble...
>Although it took out the weakest ones of the group, so perhaps you are overstating its ability
>Now the Minotaurs are charging in, the phantom danced around them
>Fear causing them to strike wildly
>Most strikes the minotaurs try to land merely graze its …cloak?
>You fear that these gryphons are outmatched
>The constant shaking of your viewpoint is beginning to attest to that
>One thing that strikes you odd is that this phantom never seems to approach your guards
>Surely it's aware of them all aside from the two that were attacked
>Isn’t it?
>You’d be taking a gamble, but you may have the element of surprise
“Calm yourselves. We may yet have the element of surprise. Gawain and Greta hold positions, fein being wounded”
>”I am wounded” you hear Gawain groan out
“Then all the merrier! The rest of you keep out of sight until I give the command”
>One Minotaur seems to have struck the other square in the face out of sheer panic
>The Diamond Dog rises out of the earth and grabs the phantom by its legs, allowing the Minotaur a solid strike to the phantoms middle
>The phantom doubles over but does not fall
>It’s middle may be a weakness to exploit
>!! Some kind of spell?!
>The area around the Phantom is coated in a thick fog, and confetti?
“Report! Is there any magical arua emanating from the phantom?”
>”None that we could sense Princess” states another scribe
>Could this creatures create a gas much like a squid does ink?
>Two bodies fly out from the cloud and slide along the ground
>One swing of its cloak? and the cloud dissipates while the phantom closes in on your gryphons
>This next part will not be easy

>Be broken ribbed An-MOON KNIGHT
>You’re not crying
>It’s just dusty
>Inside the mask
>Fuck you.
>”A-Moon Knight! Are you okay? Do you need that way out now?!”
”Ssssss-”
>Breathing in hurts
"No, I’m fine. I think I got the bad guys. I’m gonna check on- AH!”
>Breathing in general hurts apparently
>Still, it’s not as bad as when you-
“Hello! Uh, citizens!” you speak in your most ‘I’m not about to cry like a bitch’ voice
>Smooth
“Are you all alright?” you ask as non threateningly as possible
>They’re still terrified
>Damn
>Looking over their injuries, they seem minor
>You roll your magi fix over to them
“Drink, It’s not tampered with. You can see that for yourselves” you force yourself not to wheeze that sentence out
>They still don’t move
“I would be careful about hanging around the docks, it’s not very safe at night”
>Implying anything is safe at night in this city
>With that you brace yourself
>Hard.
>You propel yourself back up to the rooftops and make for a random path to resume patrol
>Totally not to cry without the mask so Lyra can’t hear you
>”Mm”
>!!
>FUCK EMOTIONAL THOUGHT