Fanfic question, what should I refer to bat ponies as?

[SFyr 1,982]

So, stupid and simple-ish question, but I'm debating what term to use for bat ponies.

Obviously, I want something a little more legitimate than 'bat pony', as it feels like calling a pegasus a flying pony.

Also... While I know I'll at least half-fail at the task (yay early projects), what I'm writing is meant to take place in the years following the banishment of Nightmare Moon--my old-english repertoire is pretty limited, but I'm hoping to just get it in the realm of sounding on par with Luna's speech, as to be fitting of the time period she was banished. I'm not sure if that matters hugely, but that's what I want the word to fit to dialect/sound wise.

 

Anyways...

The different terms I've heard have mainly been:

Bat Pony

Thestral

Chiropony

Some lesser ones I've dug up:

Stygians

Vesper Pony

Draconic Pony

Noctrals
Negasi

Tulpar

Moori

 

 

So. Bat pony sounds too informal/simple/modern to me... while Thestral to me just sounds the most accurate and fitting. Though it seems more fitting of the mythological creature that I feel is distinct from the bat ponies of MLP. This makes me think the bat ponies could be connected to the lore as either a reimagination of a thestral (which may in turn be taken from germanic Nightmares?), or are named after it because of a resemblance and inherent distrust from from the main three races. But, I'd honestly rather have a thestral and bat pony... not really be the same thing, as one strikes me as a flesh-and-blood being and the other a dark spirit/creature distinct from the bloodlines of ponies.

Meanwhile, Chiropony just sounds... too scientific for the more medieval-esque setting I'm trying to work with.

 

Stygian looks to be just a note of being related to the river of Styx and the underworld.

Vesper seems to be connected to star and evening? Making a vesper pony a star pony, evening pony, or maybe night pony or something.

Draconic pony... I don't really peg them as draconic, or related to dragons personally.

Noctral.. something to do with night I guess.

Tulpar is a turkish winged horse, I think, which has feathers.

The rest I'm not sure about yet.

 

 

So bottom line, TL;DR, and all that.

Bat ponies in medieval-esque times. Opinion on what to call them?

Edited May 13, 2014 by SFyr

[Adorkable 2,737]

Hi! ^^

 

It's up to you, friend. When it all comes down to deciding.

 

However, since you're writing a fan fic, I would recommend sticking with the term "Bat Pony", as every brony already knows what a "Bat Pony" is. ^^

 

Just a suggestion though! If you gave the bat ponies a new name, readers of your story may not know what you're speaking of right off the bat. (No pun intended)

 

To the best of luck to you with your fan fic! I hope it turns out to be something huge! ^^ (\

[SFyr 1,982]

Hi! ^^

 

It's up to you, friend. When it all comes down to deciding.

 

However, since you're writing a fan fic, I would recommend sticking with the term "Bat Pony", as every brony already knows what a "Bat Pony" is. ^^

 

Just a suggestion though! If you gave the bat ponies a new name, readers of your story may not know what you're speaking of right off the bat. (No pun intended)

 

To the best of luck to you with your fan fic! I hope it turns out to be something huge! ^^ (\

Thanks for the comment.   And yeah, you have a point. Though, if I can get away with it, I'd rather use another term within the story itself.   No way I'm trying that in the overview and such though.

 

And that was actually a rather good pun, hah.   Anyways, thank you! I doubt it'll be big, but I hope to at least make sure it's finished. 

Edited May 13, 2014 by SFyr

[Adorkable 2,737]

Thanks for the comment.   And yeah, you have a point. Though, if I can get away with it, I'd rather use another term within the story itself.   No way I'm trying that in the overview and such though.

 

And that was actually a rather good pun, hah.   Anyways, thank you! I doubt it'll be big, but I hope to at least make sure it's finished. 

 

You never know! I bet it will end up on Equestria Daily very easily. ^^

 

If you don't wish to use "Bat Pony" and prefer something medieval instead...I dunno, they were pretty plain with their words back then, you know? Like they called non-icing cup cakes "Sweet Rolls", so I don't think they get too technical with their words.

 

How about "Winged-Night Horse"? That's probably too long.

 

Trying to think of how you can say "bat wings" without being so plain about it. Bats and darkness are one, so let's build off that.

 

I dunno, I'm trying to help here. ^^"

[SFyr 1,982]

You never know! I bet it will end up on Equestria Daily very easily. ^^

 

If you don't wish to use "Bat Pony" and prefer something medieval instead...I dunno, they were pretty plain with their words back then, you know? Like they called non-icing cup cakes "Sweet Rolls", so I don't think they get too technical with their words.

 

How about "Winged-Night Horse"? That's probably too long.

 

Trying to think of how you can say "bat wings" without being so plain about it. Bats and darkness are one, so let's build off that.

 

I dunno, I'm trying to help here. ^^"

I appreciate the help, haha. And the faith that I'm not wasting my time with it, and it may wind up being decent.   

Honestly, at some point I might just give up and just refer to them as 'the Nightborn', as in literally born of the night (Nightmare Moon, specifically)--Kinda would be building off of that I'm having 'nightborn' be a surname of parentless or abandoned bat ponies to denote that they're seen as outsiders of sorts that most ponies don't want connected 100% to their families.

Still, that maaay fit your suggestion of being kinda straight-forward with it? Not sure. 

Edited May 13, 2014 by SFyr

[Adorkable 2,737]

Honestly, at some point I might just give up and just refer to them as 'the Nightborn',

 

Hey, that's actually a really good term! I love it! ^^

 

Why not use it? Sounds perfect to me! (\

[SFyr 1,982]

Hey, that's actually a really good term! I love it! ^^

 

Why not use it? Sounds perfect to me! (\

Suppose I'm between that and Thestrals, which I have more reasons to not use.  Thanks for your input!   It's quite appreciated~♪

[Adorkable 2,737]

Of course! I'm more than happy to help a friend out! ^^ (\

[Zygen 6,066]

Hey, that's actually a really good term! I love it! ^^

 

Why not use it? Sounds perfect to me! (\

I'm all for Nightborn as a more formal term, Bat ponies does sound kinda informal. Just make sure you clarify that whatever term you use is a Bat pony in whatever fashion works best. 

 

And good luck to you!

[SFyr 1,982]

I'm all for Nightborn as a more formal term, Bat ponies does sound kinda informal. Just make sure you clarify that whatever term you use is a Bat pony in whatever fashion works best. 

 

And good luck to you!

I think Nightborn is becoming the approved-of term, haha. Thanks for you input! 

Thanks again!

[Zygen 6,066]

I think Nightborn is becoming the approved-of term, haha. Thanks for you input! 

Thanks again!

Yeah, idk, i just like the ring to it. it doesn't necessarily have to be any kind of Cannon term. Many fanfics don't use completely cannon terms. Really the only reason cannon terms are used is so that we all know what each other is speaking about.

 

But as long as the connection of Bat ponies being whatever is made it shouldn't matter in the end, whatever works best for you.

[SFyr 1,982]

Yeah, idk, i just like the ring to it. it doesn't necessarily have to be any kind of Cannon term. Many fanfics don't use completely cannon terms. Really the only reason cannon terms are used is so that we all know what each other is speaking about.

 

But as long as the connection of Bat ponies being whatever is made it shouldn't matter in the end, whatever works best for you.

This seems like sound logic to me, thank you.   I dunno, I'm kinda afraid of using a really out-there or uncommon term because it may come off as... unnecessary and aimed to throw in uniqueness where ease of understanding would be preferable.  But, I guess Nightborn would be kinda familiar enough in terms of component words to not really be that bad, despite that I haven't really heard it used for bat ponies yet. 

Anyways, as usual, thanks for the input/thoughts. 

[Batbrony 16,055]

I think it depends where the term shows up.  Someone like Twilight, the princesses, or a military official would be more likely to refer to bat ponies as "thestrals" in dialogue.  On the other hand, somepony else like Pinkie Pie might call them bat ponies more often ("Ooooo, look at all the batty ponies!" seriously, couldn't you just see her saying that?), or fillies and colts I'm sure would do the same.  Princess Luna herself might call them thestrals, but could just as easily refer to them as children of the Night.  Outside of dialogue, I favor referring to them as thestrals, just because it's a more formal name for them.  Besides, I think most readers would know or be able to find out what you're talking about, so I don't think there'd really be any confusion employing that term.

 

EDIT: BTW, for any and all authors on MLP Forums, check out the new group being run by HarmoniousWhovian and I, The MLP Forums Authors Helping Authors Group, now pinned in Creative Resources!  See your fics stored in the first ever MLP Forums fanfiction library in an easy-to-find location for all your fellow readers and writers!!! 

Edited May 13, 2014 by Batbrony

[SFyr 1,982]

I think it depends where the term shows up.  Someone like Twilight, the princesses, or a military official would be more likely to refer to bat ponies as "thestrals" in dialogue.  On the other hand, somepony else like Pinkie Pie might call them bat ponies more often ("Ooooo, look at all the batty ponies!" seriously, couldn't you just see her saying that?), or fillies and colts I'm sure would do the same.  Princess Luna herself might call them thestrals, but could just as easily refer to them as children of the Night.  Outside of dialogue, I favor referring to them as thestrals, just because it's a more formal name for them.  Besides, I think most readers would know or be able to find out what you're talking about, so I don't think there'd really be any confusion employing that term.

 

EDIT: BTW, for any and all authors on MLP Forums, check out the new group being run by HarmoniousWhovian and I, The MLP Forums Authors Helping Authors Group, now pinned in Creative Resources!  See your fics stored in the first ever MLP Forums fanfiction library in an easy-to-find location for all your fellow readers and writers!!! 

I think I would agree, although given the timeframe difference I don't feel bat pony would really be used yet--it seems like something that'd come up in the more modern dialogue, after bat ponies became a thing. What I'm shooting for is them being a new creation, which most ponies don't really trust yet or feel that informal/laid-back approach for.  It just... feels off to use bat pony given the context; workable, but in a could-be-better way.

Otherwise, I totally agree though, as I've said.     Thestrals is kinda what I like most of the ones listed, minus Nightborn which technically wasn't (especially since it relates to something in the fic already).

 

 

Also, that's awesome.   I'll definitely have to take a look at it, haha.  Though, my fic is a good ways away from being presentable just yet--I don't want to be one of those people who goes 1-3 chapters and stops (because I am one of those people, more or less), so I'm trying to get a good 5-10 done before I put up the first.

EDIT: Well, if not having the entire thing more or less written in some form, as was the original plan.

Edited May 13, 2014 by SFyr

[IceBeerG 55]

If that will any help...

 

I heard once somepony called the bat pony - Vampony. Simply goes with stereotypical vision of vampire bats.

Edited May 13, 2014 by IceBeerG

[SFyr 1,982]

If that will any help...

 

I heard once somepony called the bat pony - Vampony. Simply goes with stereotypical vision of vampire bats.

Oh yeah. Looks like I missed that one.   Very likely won't use it, but thanks!

[Batbrony 16,055]

I think I would agree, although given the timeframe difference I don't feel bat pony would really be used yet--it seems like something that'd come up in the more modern dialogue, after bat ponies became a thing. What I'm shooting for is them being a new creation, which most ponies don't really trust yet or feel that informal/laid-back approach for.  It just... feels off to use bat pony given the context; workable, but in a could-be-better way.

Otherwise, I totally agree though, as I've said.     Thestrals is kinda what I like most of the ones listed, minus Nightborn which technically wasn't (especially since it relates to something in the fic already).

 

Well yeah, if you've got a medieval-setting (I was just a little confused what you meant when you said that, wasn't sure if that meant modern Equestria or not), then I'd definitely stick solely with 'thestral' or a similar, formal-sounding name for them.  Again, the only deviation might ever be if Luna (or the thestrals themselves) ever refers to them as the children of the Night, but that's about it for that given time period, in my opinion.  Good luck! 

[SFyr 1,982]

Well yeah, if you've got a medieval-setting (I was just a little confused what you meant when you said that, wasn't sure if that meant modern Equestria or not), then I'd definitely stick solely with 'thestral' or a similar, formal-sounding name for them.  Again, the only deviation might ever be if Luna (or the thestrals themselves) ever refers to them as the children of the Night, but that's about it for that given time period, in my opinion.  Good luck! 

I think I could agree with that, haha. Thanks again for your comments! 

[Fhaolan 4,484]

I came up with my own term. Though to be perfectly honest I *stole* it.

 

Sdukʷalbixʷ is the name of a local native tribe, it translates into 'Children of the Moon'. That was just so appropriate, I couldn't help myself. So I call the bat-ponies the Sdu for short in my fictions.

 

Spelled out in English, it's 'Snoqualmie' (or Snu-kwal-biw to be accurate) but I kept the native spelling because it was fascinating.

[Sobori 46]

I would use the term Negisi. I would also write a foreword or something before the story going into the sorce and origin of the Negisi:Bat Pony. Almost like a text book or guide might describe them giving description, traits and other need to knows such as origin and such. If it is a mutation describe the mutation if it is a genetic thing like a unicorn, or pegusus would be. I would sugest looking into mythology and the D&D Moster manuals. That would give you a good idea as what things are important to tell people and what might be just a little too wordy and unneeded.

 

If you want anything else go ahead and message me. I create lots of creatures and have tons of story and "Mythos" for cretures and I would love to help in any way I can.

[SFyr 1,982]

@@Fhaolan, I have to say that is a pretty awesome and unusual approach to the matter.   I don't think it's something that would work for me, but it's interesting to hear what other approaches people are taking on this. I wish you the best with your fictions--they sound like they'd have some pretty cool elements in it.  :comeatus:

 

@@Sobori, that sounds like a great approach, but one I've already half decided against in my current plot/etc outline...   Though, I'd enjoy your opinion if you're willing to offer it on how I'm currently planning on going about it.

 

Thanks for the comments and thoughts, both of you! 

[Fhaolan 4,484]

@@Fhaolan, I have to say that is a pretty awesome and unusual approach to the matter.   I don't think it's something that would work for me, but it's interesting to hear what other approaches people are taking on this. I wish you the best with your fictions--they sound like they'd have some pretty cool elements in it.  :comeatus:

Thanks. Yeah, I'm sure my version of the Sdu wouldn't work, as I tend to make things a bit overcomplicated. In my fiction, the bat-ponies are just one of three Sdu 'breeds'. Each being a variant of the three normal pony breeds, supposedly created by Luna before the Nightmare Moon incident. Supposedly, because it's all legend at the point of the story, so it's likely not accurate. In my headcannon the bat-ponies are pegasi Sdu, Sombra was a unicorn Sdu before falling to the lure of dark magic (which modified him further), and there are earth pony Sdu but I'm still not entirely clear myself what that means. Basically they all have the slit eyes, tuffed ears, and tend towards earth tones and roaning (speckled, sorta faded colors) instead of the bright, solid pastels of non-Sdu ponies.

[Apologies.MC 50]

I've seen them referred to as Sasorians

[SFyr 1,982]

I've seen them referred to as Sasorians

Interesting. I've never come across that one before.  I kinda wonder about the origin--a lot of the others I can kinda piece together, but... That one, it escapes me for now.