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What are your thoughts on the naming convention for Luna's Royal Guard? Are they bat ponies? Thestrals? Just pegasi with bat wings?
And this may or may not be connected to something I'm writing... but if it were then this is your change to influence what term I may or may not use!
-Derek (aka DoD)
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Or Grim Darkstone. Make it happen already.
Thestrals. Sounds so much better. If not that, then Lunar Pegasus, but then that can open up more doors you may not want to have open.
I'm preferential to Thestrals, personally.
2966574 Also, this.
Think of it like this.
If you want them to be cute and cuddly, call them bat ponies.
If you want them to be fearsome and deadly, call them thestrals.
They are not bats and I will list the reason why: bat's don't have silted eyes. If anything they're dragon ponies.
I have Thestrals as the official name, but bat ponies is the more casual term that everypony uses.
2966574
Grim Darkstone rechecked the power levels on his dual-wands and cursed. Arcano-plasma levels were dangerously low. But then, considering how many techno-mummies he'd had to put down, it was a blessing he wasn't running on empty.
He peeked over his impromptu cover and spotted something bandaged and blinking moving through the darkness of the Digital Pyramid's long-disued crypt. A spell passed over his eye, picking out the techno-mummy and its two compatriots. Three com- Five. Seven. Twelve.
Grim sighed as he switched off his wands' safeties. "This is going to be a long night."
I've become most attached to the idea of the casual, layman's term for them being "Bat Ponies" and their official, technically correct name being "Thestrals".
I generally refer to them as batponies or bat ponies if it's just left up to me, but I try to use a particular universe's term when speaking of that universe's batponies.
Thestral all the way~
2966657
I agree with this. I see the terms as being pretty much the same thing.
I prefer Thestrals, even if originally they were skeleton horses and had little resemblance to MLP thestrals. I just prefer one word names. I don't like the term Earth Pony for the same reason.
Bat ponies, since that other word is too hard to spell.
2966657 2966692 I also concur full heartedly!
2966657
I think this is what I'm leaning towards myself.
mmmm. i would say both. bat ponies being the general term, and thestrals the proper term.
2966727
I actually feel the same way. I wish there was a one-word term for earth ponies, but any fan-created name would sound silly and forced in my eyes... ears?... no, eyes.
A new question would be how to properly describe a thestral / bat pony's eyes?
Slitted?
2966768 true enough.
2966768 Even if a fan term didn't sound bad, there'd be no way to get it to spread too. In the early fandom, ideas could spread and stick because only a few thousand or so had to hear/see it before a majority knew about it. Now, a few hundred thousand would have to hear/see it to get it to stick. And the only way to get those numbers is through canon, and even then only the actually show and not comics.
I've always thought batponies. All one word, or hyphenated, like so: bat-ponies.
I consider Thestral to be the official, formal name. While Batpony is more of a slang term. Perhaps some even consider the latter derogatory?
Thestral sounds pretty, but batpony is something everyone would get right away. After seeing pics (not a fan of the books. they're terrible.) of these thestrals from the harry potter universe, I don't think its a good analog.
They're lunar ponies or bat ponies to me.
Thestrals! I have a whole thing on my pastebin about it!
I will admit that thestral sounds better, but for me personally I get a moment of annoyance every time I hear it since I know it's from Harry Potter.
So personally, I still prefer bat-pony even if it's slightly clunkier sounding.
FanOfMostEverything likes to use the term Chiroptera, "An order of mammal that comprises the bats." It sounds scientific, eh? Nice, science-y ring to it.
Personally, I like the name Thestral. It gives bat ponies a bit of mythological oomph, much like Pegasus. Like, in my mind, if we go with bat ponies, then shouldn't pegasus be called "wing ponies" or "bird ponies"?
The word "Thestral" also gives me imagery of a race that's more inclined to the dark side of things. Or, at least, the bright side of the dark side. In my own headcannon, I see them cracking out more gallows humour, and even sardonic quips. I see them having a healthy respect for the dead, showing reverence and perhaps fascination. I see them having a strong sense of individuality and non-conformity. And I imagine them enjoying the likes of HIM, Voltaire, NIN, or perhaps even black metal. And I see them as being a quite prideful, yet regal, race filled with romanticism.
Thestrals. They sound more official for some reason..
2967638
I will admit that the name is awesome, but the HP connection does tarnish it. If only it was something HP adopted and not created, I would enjoy the term a lot more...
I say bat pony, because THAT'S WHAT'S CORRECT! :<
... also because Present Perfect convinced me.
Since both are used in the community, I'd use thestral as the actual name of the sub race and bat pony as a term commonly used to describe them.
As for story writing I go with pretty much all non ponies would refer to them as bat ponies. Most ponies do too while educated ponies and thestrals themselves refer to them as thestrals.
As for what they are where they came from. Just try to conveniently avoid their origin. If you want to create an origin try not to break canon too much. There are 3 established tribes not 4 or 5. (sry sea pony fans) So maybe a group of pegasi loyal to Luna underwent a ritual to become the first thestrals or some mambo jambo magic experiments created them etc.
Threstral.
Nocturnal, blood drinking, meat eating ponies.
Made by Luna when she practiced the magic version of genetic engineering and molecular biology.
Thestral.
Thestral.
I mean, calling one a bat-pony would be like calling a unicorn a Horn-pony. Descriptive, but not something that rolls off the tongue.
...
And now i’m Wondering what to call Crystal-Ponies...
Huh, I always thought batponies were the pure blooded and theatrics were mixed between pony and Batpony..... Idk anymore
Bat ponies have fangs and just look scary, Thestral haven't got fangs an just look weird....
I think they are neither Bat-ponies nor Thestral. I don't even think there are any Bat-ponies or Thestral in MLP. Luna's Royal Guard are very different from any pony ever shown in TV, with their bat wings and pointy ears (althought Flutterbat....), and this can make one think of a new race or kind... But, when Starlight and Twilight created the alternate universe where Nightmare Moon was never defeated, season 5, Rainbow Dash was a member of the royal guard and she had the same bat wings of the other guards, althought she had not the pointy ears. Rainbow is a pegasus not a bat-pony so why she had those wings? I think the armor they wear is enchanted in order to allow them to work at night: night vision, camouflage and (maybe) sonar, like bats and this could explain because they are so different. Even if...the idea of a Thestral in MLP...with their look and their "particular" invisibility...a little excites me.