Note: This is a side story to "Everyday Life With Guardsmares", but you don’t have to have read that first. All you need to know is that these batponies were created a thousand years ago when Nightmare Moon was banished to the Moon, and developed their own militaristic culture there in anticipation of Her return. They assaulted Royal Guard strongholds during that event, but had to submit when Luna rejoined her sister in peaceful co-rulership. Also, they're Spanish.
After years of poor relations following Nightmare Moon's defeat, a Royal Guard attaché officer sent to improve relations with the batponies and learn more about their alien military culture & traditions is permitted to attend their "Caça de Bruixes": the "Witch-Hunt", a harrowing ritual in which one of their number is willingly given over to a dark power in order to allow other warriors the chance to learn how to fight the possessed monster under semi-controlled conditions. The Maestro Cazador, the Master of the Hunt, presides over the affair and is responsible for the safety of everyone involved.
This story was originally written for the 2022 SPOOK contest.
Ive seen this image before..... maybe it was this story dunno
Great story, and a welcome chance to visit this world again. Not trusting that “complete” label though, kinda waiting for Chapter Two to surprise us further into Spooky Season. Quadra was cautioned again and again to not use his magic, can there really be no consequences for OPENING the FLOW..? That Accursed Shadow might not be as dead as Luciana, Quadra might have brought more out of Well of Shadows than an enhanced reputation.
But thanks either way!
I like how that's just tossed out there, as if it were a trivial detail.
Well that was a thing entire, always a pleasure to see something more of this setting.
Batponies are good. Batponies speaking a different language than all the other ponies have my curiosity. Batponies praying before a hunt get my attention. (I speak Spanish and I immediately recognize the ponifications of the Our Father (Padre Nuestro) and the Hail Mary, with the adaptations to Luna as the blessed mother...) I love how the IRL language and a bit of IRL culture were both seamlessly integrated into the story. I'm a sucker for good worldbuilding and lore, and this is among the best I've seen.
11403302
Probably bottles of Jagermeister. At least, that's where I remember it from... that and the college parties of my misspent youth. 😬 Strangely enough, "jager meister" in German has the same meaning as "maestro cazador" in Spanish- hunting master. Though for Spanish-speaking batponies, I'm guessing Bacardi would be the alcohol of choice.
Okay, interesting!
11403302
As 11403942 recognized, this story's logo is a Photoshop job I did of one version of the Jaegermeister logo with Princess Luna's crescent mark up top. In Everyday Life With Guardsmares, "Maestro Cazador" (after Jaegermeister) is also the name of an alcoholic digestif which the main characters try at one point (and all the other drinks name-dropped in the story are also parodies of various real ones).
11403860
To a certain extent, it is. I flavour the batpony society with bits of Spanish and Catalonian culture (food & drink, figures of speech, etc.) but when it comes to what they actually *are* and *do* it's not "Spanish", it's a blend of sci-fi inspirations and my own invention.
The original idea actually was that they would have posh English accents, as a contrast against American (or mid-Atlantic) Equestrians. Readers of the story convinced me to go Spanish when the first batpony appeared in the text. I think it's worked out better this way; the bigger language gap yields a greater sense of separation between the two cultures.
11404200
I meant more the way it was dropped at the end of everything else in the descriptive block. Like an "oh yeah, and also this" moment.
Oh, and may I say, I like the Psygnosis logo you're using.
Reynauldo! It’s good to see he’s still around, having survived that idiot lieutenant from the RUC at the Gala.
It’s great to see a background character get a chance to shine. Great treat, TMFAT.
Gud story. Fun to read. Am hopeful this means moar content for the main story in the works.
Glad to see this series is still being worked on! Everything about it is great!
11404200
I remember now, it was on a cold brew starbucks bottle at work. Does this story involve starbucks?
11404200
Nvm that was an antelope this is a buck fiddy
Cool to see how deadly those things can be if they’ve been in contact with something multiple times. The first time we saw one it knew the names of the ponies around it without anyone ever saying those names. If it can tell you’re name just by looking at you imagine what it can learn about you and your kind from multiple fights with it. It could probably recognize all possible movement a creatures body is capable of so it would know every martial art there is, was, or ever could be and know how to instinctually counter them. Monsters that learn more about you just by being in your presence is a very scary thing and I think by having the beast immediately jump into a dominant display the way it did, recognize there was a unicorn with magic in its presence and the opportunity that comes with and then create a plan to possess and escape showed that amazingly.
An instant favorite for me, as I'm a huge fan of the world building in Every day life with Guardsmares, and eagerly welcome the original author with open arms.
Your story is brilliant!
Heh
11407927
All in a day's work for a salty disenchanted earth pony Corporal, a slutty racist unicorn specialist, and a bright-eyed optimistic heavily armored pegasus specialist.
11403942
Nice to see that I'm not the only one to recognize a ponified Spanish Our Father.
Is this canon to the main story?
11436503
Yes, though in terms of chronology it takes place later than the current story point, as evidenced by several items, such as Luis Reynaldo apparently no longer being on assignment with the Night Guard at Canterlot Palace, as he was on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala.
11436891
Cool!
Hey Maestro, wanted to ask about the main story. It's still going, right? Because I am positively DYING to know what happens after the chapter that Bobbles posted. This is one of my most favourite stories on this site, no doubt. Thanks for being an awesome writer!
11446599
Yeah, you're not alone there. I struggle to think of a more popular greentext than this one. Yet practically nobody read this side story. Go figure.
11446796
I guess they didn't hear about. Also, it's awesome, just read it
11446599
As I've mentioned in a recent blogpost, I've been struggling with health issues on top of general family commitments (young kid, elderly parent) that has sucked away a lot of my time and energy, but I haven't given up. I will be pushing to get out at least one ELWG update over the holiday break.
11448132
Oh, sorry to hear that, hope everything will get better for you! Don't push yourself super hard.